Blog by Melissa and David Sokulski, L.Acs.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Making Smudge Sticks and Moxibustion

You may know that one of our passions is teaching about and using wild plants as food and medicine. We write about that on a website called Food Under Foot. Today, because it is related to acupuncture and wellness, I am sharing with you what we have been doing this autumn with a wild plant found and collected locally.

We have gathered Mugwort or Artemisia vulgaris, which in Chinese Medicine is known as Ai Ye. It is considered warming (it is especially known as "warming the womb" and is used frequently to treat women with infertility.) One common way it is used is burned as moxa or moxabustion on or over acupuncture points or on acupuncture needles.

You can read a testimonial from Birch Center acupuncturist David Sokulski's patient, who came to see him with infertility. He treated her with a combination of acupuncture and moxibustion (as she describes) and the result: a beautiful baby girl!

This month we made our own moxa and smudges (which are used to clear energy) with wild local mugwort. Mugwort grows everywhere in Pittsburgh! It is considered by most to be a weed. It grows along the river, in the parks, in our yard, in vacant lots, along the road...you get the picture. One way to recognize it is to look at the underside of its feathery leaves: they will be white. This is a trademark of all Artemisia, connecting them to Artemis, the goddess of the moon. (The silvery white underside of its leaves links it to the moon.) If you crush the leaves in your hand you will notice a delicious fragrant aroma. You have found Artemisia vulgaris. (If you are ever able to go on a wild edibles walk with us, we point it out every time! To hear about our walks, sign up for Food Under Foot's newsletter.)

First we harvested lots of mugwort and we hung it to dry:

drying herbs


Once dry, we bundled it into smudges. To some of them we added lavender. Here is Ella bundling the smudges.
girl with herbs

Here are the finished smudges, which are available to purchase at the Birch Center. Proceeds from the smudge sales go to benefit Animal Friends (a no kill shelter) and Western PA Humane Society (from where we adopted our dear dog Maggie, who passed away last year.)

smudge sticks

We also took the loose leaves from the mugwort and crushed them into moxa. The white on the underside of the leaves is actually a fiber, and it is this fiber which makes the moxabustion:

herbs

moxa

Here is a picture of a burning moxa cone:

moxa cone

Our handmade moxa is so wonderful: green and incredibly fragrant, as are the smudges, which I cannot get enough of! The smudges burn slowly (you need to relight them unlike incense) and will last a long time.

Moxa is warming and moves energy and is used often in acupuncture treatments.

As the weather gets colder it is a great time for an acupuncture tune-up, or to deal with those nagging symptoms before winter.

Talk to you soon!

David and Melissa Sokulski
licensed acupuncturists

Read all of Dave's clients' testimonials!



Sunday, October 26, 2014

Testimonial - No More Back Pain

We just received a great testimonial from one of Birch Center Acupuncturist David Sokulski's clients and had to share it with you. Great to hear about people regaining health and happiness.

I just want to thank you for getting my back into optimal health!  I have tried so many different things and acupuncture as a last resort.  I wish I would have done it immediately and tell everyone how it has helped heal my back pain.  I felt depressed and defeated because not only was I in pain, but I had to stop all activities.  For an active person that was the hardest part.  I felt something immediately when I had my first treatment and definitely had relief after my first series.  I look forward to the Seasons changing so I can come in for my tune-ups!!!  Thank you so much again!
        ~ L.H. from Pittsburgh


Read more testimonials from David's clients! 

~ David and Melissa Sokulski
licensed acupuncturists


Sunday, July 13, 2014

10 Thing You May Not Know About The Birch Center...But Really Should

10 Things You May Not Know About Birch Center...But Really Should
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1.  Birch Center provides some of the best acupuncture the city has to offer! Birch Center Acupuncturist David Sokulski has been practicing acupuncture over 15 years and has been in the same location on the south side for nearly 9 years.

2. All acupuncturists at The Birch Center are licensed by Pennsylvania's Board of Medicine.

3. If your condition/treatment calls for extra techniques such as moxabustion, cupping, or gwa sha (a type of massage treatment) it is provided to you at NO EXTRA CHARGE.

4. Birch Center Acupuncturist David Sokulski regularly treats professional athletes, professional actors, dancers and musicians with excellent results.

5. We love to celebrate our Birch Center Babies: healthy happy babies born to moms who had come to the Birch Center and were successfully treated for infertility. Read about one mom's experience here.

6. We carry the absolute best Reishi - the mushroom of immortality - found anywhere in Pittsburgh or beyond. It has been legally and sustainably harvested (by us!) in Pennsylvania's old growth forests and thus contains no sprays, sulfites, or chemicals of any kind as the imported Reishi does. It is extremely fresh and powerful. AND, if you haven't tried it but would like to, Dave will give you a FREE SAMPLE of this Reishi at your next appointment, just ask.

7. We regularly use moxabustion to turn breech babies, which according to studies is 73% effective! This treatment requires NO NEEDLES and is relaxing, non-invasive and entirely pain-free.

8. On-street parking outside the office is EASY during the day, and is FREE after 6pm.

9. We were recently featured in NextPittsburgh's article Healthy South Side. You can also read about us in the Post-Gazette, Trib PM and City Paper.

10. Acupuncture treats mental/emotional conditions as well as physical conditions. People with anxiety, depression, insomnia, ADD/ADHD, autistic spectrum disorders, addictions, OCD and other disorders find much relief with acupuncture.


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Friday, July 11, 2014

Acupuncturist David Sokulski's Theatrical Debut

Acupuncturist David Sokulski's Theatrical Debut
banner for Damn Yankees

This month Birch Center Acupuncturist David Sokulski will make his musical theater debut in Robert Morris's production of Damn Yankees! Come see your acupuncturist sing, dance and act as The Commissioner of baseball!

The show runs Thursday July 24 through Sunday July 27. Sunday show will be a matinee and Thursday, Friday and Saturday are evening shows. Tickets are available at the door of Massey Theater (Colonial Theater) on Robert Morris's campus in Moon.

Hope to see you there! 
 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Dave Is Speaking At Our Clubhouse Tonight

Acupuncture Talk at Our Clubhouse
David Sokulski

Tonight, Wednesday, July 9, Birch Center Acupuncturist David Sokulski is giving a talk about acupuncture at Our Clubhouse, formerly Gilda's Club, in the Strip District.

Our Clubhouse provides comfort, care and hope to people who are touched by cancer. It is for those diagnosed with cancer and friends and family members of those diagnosed.

Dinner is at 6:00 pm and Dave's talk begins at 6:30. There are still some spots left. If you are a member of Our Clubhouse call to register at  412-338-1919.

If you are interested in membership check out their website or give them a call at the number above. Membership is free as are all activities offered there, including talks, support groups, arts and crafts and yoga.