In Memory of Acupuncturist David Sokulski

David Edward Sokulski, age 50, passed away suddenly in Pittsburgh, PA, on Monday, January 7, 2019.

David was born on June 13, 1968 in Pittsburgh, to Edward and Rita (Estu) Sokulski. David graduated Plum High School in 1986, then earned a degree in Chemistry from Duquesne University in 1990. In 1995 he spent a year teaching English in South Korea, and returned to the United States to earn a Masters Degree in Acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture, then in Watertown MA, in 1999. That same year he married Melissa Oliphant, also an acupuncturist, and his first daughter, Molly Sara Sokulski, was born. Together in 2000, they returned to Pittsburgh. In 2004 David and Melissa had their second daughter, Ella Dara, and in 2005 opened the Birch Center for Health on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

In 2007, David was preceded in death by his daughter Molly, then 8 years old.

David was a valued member of the community, quick to help others any way he could. He was friendly and outgoing.

David is survived by his wife Melissa; daughter Ella, 14; sister Sharon Mannella and her husband David; and parents Rita and Edward.

The Birch Center is closed indefinitely.

Rest in Peace, my love.

Acupuncture Helps People With Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

The days are getting shorter and we are losing the light earlier each evening. Many people are so effected by the loss of the sun that their daily lives suffer. This is called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of SAD may include:

• Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
• Losing interest in activities 
• Low energy
• Problems with sleeping, such as oversleeping or insomnia
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Feeling sluggish or agitated
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty

Acupuncture offers relief of these symptoms, by helping to balance out the qi (pronounced "chee") of the body.

"Many people think of acupuncture in terms of pain relief, and it is amazing for that," says Birch Center acupuncturist David Sokulski. "But another thing acupuncture excels in treating is mood disorders, like anxiety, depression, and SAD."

According to Scientific American, in the article Can Acupuncture Treat Depression (July1, 2014), research has proven that six weeks of acupuncture treatments were just as effective as six weeks on Prosac in reducing symptoms of depression. In fact, according to the article, acupuncture worked faster in reducing symptoms than the drug did. A higher percentage of acupuncture patients said they received "great improvement."

"Depression is nothing to mess with," says Mr. Sokulski, "and these Pittsburgh winters can be hard. We have seen a lot of great results in treating people with depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder. People enjoy winter - and their lives - again."

Further reading:

• Penn State article on Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Mayo Clinic info on SAD
• Scientific American: Can Acupuncture Treat Depression

David Sokulski, L.Ac.

Free Ear Acupuncture Treatments in Response to Tragedy at Tree of Life

Our hearts are heavy after the horrible shooting in Squirrel Hill over the weekend. We lost eleven friends and neighbors. May their memories be a blessing.

My daughter was in Hebrew School at Dor Hadash - one of the three congregations which met at Tree of Life. They are a loving, welcoming, joyous, and wonderful congregation, as were the others who met at Tree of Life. We were there not long ago to celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of my daughter's friend.

The outpouring of love and togetherness from Pittsburgh is what this city is all about. From the memorial Saturday night organized by students of the local public high school, to the service on Sunday where leaders of all faiths came together, to the beautiful flowers, fundraisers, and offers from all around the city.

In the spirit of healing, the Birch Center is offering free ear acupuncture treatments Tuesday October 30, Wednesday October 31, and Thursday November 1, by appointment: (412) 381-0116.  Everyone is welcome.

Ear treatments relieve shock, stress, and anxiety, balance the nervous and hormonal systems, and help deal with grief, fear, and anger. Please spread the word and give us a call. We are located on Pittsburgh's south side.

Also, if you are on facebook, follow our facebook page, where I will post updates of all the offers I can find, from free community acupuncture to reiki, to nature walks. I will share anything I hear that may be of help.

Please call us if you'd like to come in for a free ear acupuncture treatment. They are amazing and as our friend Amanda shared this morning on facebook, "Ear treatments have been incredibly helpful for me during bouts of stress and anxiety."


Shalom. Peace. Shanti.

Love to all,

Melissa and David Sokulski, L.Acs.

Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Your Health in Autumn

The ancient Chinese text, The Inner Classic, says:

The forces of Autumn create dryness in Heaven and metal on Earth, they create the lung organ and the skin upon the body...and the nose, and the white color, and the pungent flavor...the emotion grief, and the ability to make a weeping sound.

The energy of fall is downward and inward. We can see this as we watch leaves fall from the trees and seeds dropping from plants. Grasses and leaves lose their bright green color. Sap from trees go back to the roots to be stored for the winter. The plants dry out.

As the season cools, we put more heat and energy into our foods, cooking soups and stews, roasting root vegetables. We smell delicious odors of cooking food (the nose relates to the Lungs, which relates to the Metal element and the autumn.)

Dryness prevails in the fall season, and this can have an effect on our health. We may notice thirst, dryness in skin, lips, throat, and itchy skin conditions. We can also develop cough and allergies more easily this time of year. Because the lungs open on the nose, we also may experience conditions in our sinuses and air passageways this time of year.

Meditation and breath practices (which are called pranayama in the yogic tradition) are beneficial this time of year. Taking time to slow down and focus on our breathing can be helpful. Eating foods like beans and grains, which absorb a lot of water in cooking, is also helpful.

Acupuncture is excellent to help balance dryness and boost the energy of the lungs (and large intestine, its related organ). Lung and large intestine points are paired with other points to balance energy in the body helping to clear cough, allergies, skin conditions, increase energy, and help sleep this time of year.

Autumn is also the season of grief and sadness, which also relates to the lungs. When we realize that this is the time of year of contraction and inward focus, we get clues on how to deal with the grief that arises. We are encouraged to look within, focus internally, and share our feelings with others when helpful. Acupuncture works to balance the mind and spirit as well as body.

Autumn is a wonderful time of year to start or return to acupuncture treatments.

David and Melissa Sokulski, L.Acs.
Birch Center for Acupuncture
South Side, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203



References: Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford.

Fall Feng Shui Challenge: Clear Clutter

Let's celebrate fall with Feng Shui! Feng Shui is a Chinese practice of creating harmonious surroundings to bring good energy flow to your home, and health, love, and prosperity to your life. This is an over-simplified definition; there is quite a lot to Feng Shui. People study for years under masters and still only scratch the surface. However one thing is certain: even if your door faces the right direction, your walls are the correct color, you have mirrors and fountains just where they are meant to be, if you have clutter clogging up your home, energy cannot move through and none of it matters (well, it matters less anyway.)

This year, autumn officially starts September 22, but I wanted a nice round number (10) so I'm going to start a day early -  September 21.

So for the next 10 days: September 21 through 30, I'm going to challenge myself to CLEAR THE CLUTTER FROM MY HOME, one space at a time. I hope you will join me! I'll post an update a day, and if you feel moved, please comment and let me know what you have been doing too.

Can't get motivated? Feeling stuck? Acupuncture is a great way to balance your energy and get it flowing!

Hope to see you soon, and happy decluttering!

~ Melissa and David Sokulski, L.Acs.

End Of Summer Health Tips

It's the end of the summer! In Chinese Medicine, this important season is known as "late summer" and it corresponds to the Earth element. In our bodies, the earth element manifests as digestion, and our stomach, spleen and pancreas.

Yellow-orange is the color of the Earth element, as as we look around at the ripening pumpkins and winter squash, corn and grains we get some idea why. Eating yellow/orange food like squash, sweet potatoes and millet is a great way to support the digestion. When digestion is weak all other organ systems are effected, so now is a wonderful time to focus on digestive health.

 If experiencing problems in this area, such as

• weight gain or loss
• bloating or gas
• difficulty digestion
• no appetite or too much appetite
• constipation or loose stools
• stomach ache
• heart burn
• slow digestion

This is a great time of year to get back on track. Acupuncture can help immensely.

Anything you can do to support your digestion will help during this time of year, including:

• Do not overeat at one sitting.
• Limit snacks. Give yourself time to digest your food before eating again.
• Whole foods such as whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits are easy on our body and are perfect foods to support digestive health.
• Avoid foods to which you react negatively. For some of us that may be wheat, dairy, sugar, oil.

Acupuncture can do wonders for all kinds of digestive problems; this is one of the things we've had great success with. Points on the stomach and spleen meridians (on the legs, feet and abdomen) help regulate, relax and nourish the digestion. Moxa can be applied to warm and strengthen the meridians if necessary, and the relaxing effect of a balancing acupuncture treatment is without compare.

Now is an excellent time for an acupuncture tune up or to begin treatments. 


In health,
David and Melissa Sokulski
licensed acupuncturists

Happy New Year: Year of the Dog!

The Chinese New Year starts today, February 16, 2018.

Gung Hay Fat Choy: Happy New Year!

It's the year of the Dog!

2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922

Dog people are honest, loyal, and friendly. Dogs are also sensitive and can take on the issues of people around them, especially people they love most. Make sure this year is full of good self care.

Dog's energy is social and bountiful, making it a great year of opportunities, especially in business. Everyone will notice this energy and be able to take advantage of it, not just people born in dog years.

Celebrities who are born in these years include Benjamin Franklin, Prince William, Madonna, Queen Latifah, and Ellen Degeneres. You can find a more complete list here.

Welcome Year of the Dog!

Lentil Sweet Potato Chili To Warm These Cold Winter Days

It's snowing again! And soooo cold out. I want to share with you one of my favorite recipes ever, though in the winter it somehow soars even higher than usual. Lentil Sweet Potato Chili. I make this recipe at least once a week. 

The original recipe is from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's 21 Day Kickstart, which I can't recommend enough. Fantastic whole food plant based meal plans and recipes which come to you for 21 days, starting the first of the month.

Yum, look at that sweet potato! Full of beta carotene and vitamin C, plus lots of other minerals and vitamins. In Chinese medicine, its sweet taste and rich orange color let you know it's beneficial to the Spleen/Pancreas and Stomach - Earth element - and excellent for digestion and to boost energy (qi).

Here is how I make this delicious vegan chili:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown lentils, rinsed
• 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 3-5 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 large or 2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
• 2-3 handfuls of baby spinach (it shrinks!) or lots of chopped kale or other chopped greens to add at end
• 1/2 -1 Tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp paprika
• red pepper flakes, optional
• salt and pepper to taste
• 6-8 cups water (or you can use broth or veggie broth cubes or whatever, I just use water)
• 28 oz crushed tomatoes or 14 oz tomato sauce or small jar tomato paste, whatever you have around

Directions:

* Because I don't use oil in cooking and because I like to make things as easy as possible, I just put everything into a pot without sauteing things first, so...

1. Into 6 cups of water (or broth) as it comes to boiling, add:

• both kinds of rinsed lentils
• onion
• celery
• garlic
• sweet potatoes
• spices

2. Let that come to a boil, then cover and simmer until the lentils are cooked through, about 25 minutes, adding water and stirring as necessary so it doesn't burn.

3. Then add the tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes, let it come back up to boil again.

4. Finally add the greens at the very end, and cook until wilted. 

5. Taste to adjust seasonings and enjoy!

I love to eat this chili with hot sauce.

If you don't have (or don't like) sweet potatoes, it is delicious with regular potatoes as well. 

Enjoy!

~ Melissa

Cinnamon, Ginger, Onions, and Garlic Strongly Protect Us From Colds and Flu

Cinnamon sticks
maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com

As the winter progresses, the cold weather can affect our Lungs in the form of coughs, sinus issues, colds and flu. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the metal element corresponds to the Lungs. The taste that strengthens the Lungs is pungent: the spicy flavor of foods and spices like cinnamon, ginger, garlic, and onions.

In traditional Chinese medical theory, when one gets sick with colds or flu it is thought that an external pathogen has invaded the system. Western medicine similarly holds that colds and flu are caused by bacteria or viruses. Each of the five tastes (sweet, salty, bitter, sour and pungent) has a specific action. The pungent taste has the action of pushing outward and dispersing unwanted "invaders" through the skin, as evidenced by sweating.

When coming down with a cold or flu the herb to take is actually a food: scallions. Known as the Chinese herb cong bai, scallions release the pathogen by inducing sweating. Simmer scallion or other onion along with garlic and ginger and drink the broth to keep a cold or flu from going deeper.

scallions

If a cold or flu has gone deeper and has affected the muscles, the herb of choice is cinnamon, known in Chinese as gui zhi. Cinnamon is warming and can help when the person is feeling weak especially if sweating does not help them feel better. In this case, cinnamon will warm, strengthen and increase immunity.

cinnamon

Fresh ginger (sheng jiang) is also warm and releases the pathogen. Ginger is especially good if the person feels cold and is coughing. Similar to cinnamon, ginger strengthens the immunity for weaker people who are sweating without relief of symptoms.

ginger

A nice tea when feeling chilled and recovering from a cold or flu, is made by simmering a couple of cinnamon sticks and sliced fresh ginger in water for at least 20 minutes, strain and drink as needed.

If there are heat symptoms such as a sore throat or fever, switching to a cooler herb which still releases the pathogen is appropriate. One such herb is mint, or bo he. Flowers such as chrysanthemum (ye ju hua), honeysuckle (jin yin hua), and dandelion (pu gong ying) mix well with mint to cool the body and release the pathogen.

One important note: herbs such as ginseng, astragalus and bee pollen also strengthen the immune system, but these herbs have a sweet taste and will actually strengthen pathogens. They are wonderful to take as prevention, but if you end up coming down with a cold or flu, stop taking them and switch to one of the above remedies. Once the illness has passed completely, it is safe to take the sweet strengthening herbs again.

And of course acupuncture is always helpful to boost your immune system to prevent and/or recover from cold or flu.

Food is the best medicine! Eat well, drink lots of water, and incorporate these wonderful spicy tasting foods, herbs, and spices into your life!

Be well!

Melissa and David Sokulski, licensed acupuncturists

a version of this article first appeared in Natural News.

Winter And Traditional Chinese Medicine

Winter has no doubt arrived in Pittsburgh! With the temperatures below freezing for a week and counting, I think it's time to discuss winter, traditional Chinese medicine, and ways to keep warm!

Winter is the time of year which corresponds the water element. In our bodies, that relates to our Kidneys and Bladder. In five element theory, the color correspondence is black or blue, and the emotion is fear.

Symptoms which may be associated with the Water element include

• bladder and/or kidney infections
• low back pain
• knee pain
• cavities in teeth
• weak or broken bones
• infertility
• premature gray hair or hair loss
• ringing in the ears
• increase of phobias or fears

To strengthen the Water energy and keep the body in balance, it's important to keep yourself warm. Wear scarves around your neck and extra layers or scarves around your mid-section (in Japan, this is called a haramaki, or belly warmer: a tube of material which can be fashionable, which goes around your midsection to keep your abdomen and kidneys warm.)

If you are on a high raw or 100% raw food diet, you can add spices such as ginger to your juices and cinnamon to your foods. You can gently warm soups, and make sure to eat plenty of well blended food, as these meals are easier to digest. Fresh cranberries also make a nice addition to juices or purees this time of year, and help protect the bladder and kidneys from infection as well (especially if you are prone to this type of infection.)

Here is one of my favorite winter juice recipes:

Juice the following:

• 5 carrots
• 3 apples
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 inch knob fresh ginger

I usually add water to the juice, especially because this one is so sweet.

Warm miso soup is also a wonderful meal: heat the water and let it cool back down to ninety or one hundred degrees (warm to the touch.) Add scallions, sliced mushrooms, wakame (a sea vegetable), grated ginger and carrots, and miso, which is best first made into a paste with warm water and then added to the soup. Enjoy this soup warm.

In macrobiotic cooking, aduki beans and black beans are beneficial for the kidneys. Millet and winter squash are also good choices for balancing energy this time of year.

Herbs which benefit the kidneys are nettles, he shou wu (also known as Foti root), and the formula Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, or Rehmannia Six.

Now is a wonderful time of year to get acupuncture, especially if you notice any of the above symptoms. Points such as K3 and K6 on the ankle are helpful to boost the Kidney energy, as well as bladder points along the spine on the back. Moxibustion is wonderful this time of year to help add heat to the body via the acu-points, abdomen and meridians.


Stay cozy and warm!

Birch Center 2017 Review

It was so nice seeing you at the Birch Center in 2017!

Birch Center acupuncturist David Sokulski continued seeing acupuncture clients both at our South Side office and in his new location in Gibsonia, at St. Barnabas Health Center (open to the public.)

It's fun to sit down together and review our year, highlighting some of the top moments. I hope you take the time to do it for your year as well! Here are some of this year's highlights we came up with:

1. At the beginning of 2017, Dave and I went to Pittsburgh's Fermentation Festival at Spirit in Lawrenceville, where we took a workshop on making no knead sourdough bread, and hung out with friend Jenneta from Prescription Foods. We were inspired to bake delicious sourdough bread, make our own sauerkraut and kimchi, and brew bubbly kombucha throughout the year. Yum...and so good for you!

2. Spring arrived and Frick Park's Earth Day Celebration moved back to Beechwood Blvd for the unveiling of the NEW Environmental Center! It was an exciting day, and we found lots and lots of wild edibles, including dandelion, clover, burdock, chickweed, cleavers, violet, and so many more!

3. Birch Center acupuncturist Melissa Sokulski spent a weekend in June at the Satchidananda Ashram - Yogaville - meditating, writing, doing yoga, and nourishing herself with healthy, delicious, vegetarian food.

4. Birch Center acupuncturist David Sokulski continued providing acupuncture at Three Rivers Free Clinic for the People, which was mostly held at the Union Project the first Wednesday of each month, though sometimes the location moved around a bit.

5. David also had lots of speaking appearances and offered acupuncture demonstrations this year to people as diverse as Fed Ex employees to Duquesne nursing students.

6. In September we traveled west, and we harvested and enjoyed fresh prickly pear fruit for the first time in Sedona, AZ! Yum!

7. We tried lots of vegan restaurants all around the country, from Maryland to Ohio to Nevada to Arizona! Some of the highlights were:

• Glory Doughnuts in Frederick, MD
• Loving Hut, Columbus, OH
• Loving Hut, Cincinnati, OH
• Banana Leaf in Columbus, OH
• Vegenation, Las Vegas, NV
• Panchos Vegan Tacos, Las Vegas, NV
• Whyld Ass in Flagstaff, AZ

And in Pittsburgh we tried some new vegan restaurants as well:

• Onion Maiden 
• B52
• Apteka

And our tried and true favorite brunch spot:

• Zenith Tea Room

8. We were written about in newsletters and websites around Pittsburgh including St. Barnabas's Health Network and South Side Slopes summer newsletter (scroll to page 5 to find us!)

That's about it! We have big plans for 2018, including a YouTube channel promoting health and wellness. We hope you'll stay tuned.

Stay healthy this winter! 

Happy Holidays!

~ David and Melissa Sokulski
acupuncturists


photo credits: 
kombucha - pexels.com (free stock photos)
LOTUS (Light Of The Universal Shrine) Temple in Yogaville - Sokulski, 2017
prickly pear - Sokulski, 2017
vegan breakfast at Glory Doughnuts - Sokulski, 2017

Read About The Birch Center in South Side Slopes Newsletter!

Not only is the Birch Center located in Pittsburgh's beautiful south side, acupuncturists and owners David and Melissa Sokulski also live in the south side, right up the hill!

This summer, the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association's newsletter featured a story on the Sokulski family and the Birch Center, and you can read about it in the newsletter (scroll down to page five!)

And if clicking links is not your thing, I'll paste the article below:

Slopes residents, state-licensed acupuncturists, and husband and wife team David and Melissa Sokulski have been treating patients for conditions ranging from high blood pressure to depression in their East Carson Street health center, The Birch Center, since 2005. Time-tested for thousands of years, acupuncture is known around the world for its safety and effectiveness. Not only can treatment help balance the body's energy, allowing one to heal from pain and illness, but acupuncture can also be used to help prevent disease and optimize health and vitality.

David and Melissa treat people from all walks of life and all ages, including professional athletes, dancers, and musicians. They bring a wealth of knowledge to their clients and are also experts in wild edibles, leading walks throughout the city. Melissa recently won a grant from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council for writing, and she writes The Birch Center blog as well as monthly newsletters which help people lead healthy lives. David treats people at the office most weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and can answer any questions or to schedule an appointment. 

Acupuncture Alleviates Autumn Ailments :-)

photo: pixabay.com, public domain

Autumn is here! Cooler weather, windy days, beautiful leaves coloring our landscape.

At the Birch Center we are seeing lots of manifestations of the season: lung related ailments.

In Chinese Medicine, the season autumn relates to the metal element, which corresponds in the body to the Lungs and Large Intestine. People are noticing:

• asthma flair-ups
• colds and flu
• increase in allergies
• pneumonia
• coughs and bronchitis
• eczema and skin ailments
• IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) flair-ups
• constipation
• diarrhea

Fall is also a time of year when anything can make a comeback: old injuries, joint pain, sleeplessness, fatigue. It is a great time of year to come in for a treatment, whether for something specific or a tune-up! (We recommend acupuncture "tune-ups" at the change of seasons to clients who either have been in before and had their issue resolved as a way to maintain balance and optimal health, and also for people curious about acupuncture but who have no specific ailments.)


Thanks so much and we hope you are enjoying the beautiful autumn!

In health,

David Sokulski

licensed acupuncturist

Birch Center for Health
1931 East Carson Street, 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh PA 15203

(412) 381-0116

Spring and Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Chinese Medicine, spring is associated with the wood element and the color green. In our bodies the wood element relates to the liver and gallbladder. If our liver is strained or out of balance, we may experience symptoms relating to the liver:

• anger
• headaches
• dizziness
• aches and pains
• digestive complaints
• menstrual complaints
• insomnia
• depression
• mood swings
• jaundice
• hepatitis
• a feeling of "stuck-ness", not moving forward with life goals
• a groggy feeling in the morning

Acupuncture at the Birch Center is a wonderful way to balance the liver energy. There are powerful points such as Liver 3 on the foot and Liver 8 near the knee which move and smooth the energy of the body. Gall bladder points on the back of the head and neck can ease headaches and help us sleep more soundly.

There is also a wonderful point combination: Liver 3 on the foot and Large Intestine 4 on the hand, which when paired are called The Four Gates. This treatment gently yet powerfully allows the energy in the entire body to flow freely. 

Herbs such as dandelion, burdock, milk thistle and motherwort can also work on balancing the liver and often grow wild all around the United States. (For more information on Wild Edible Plants, visit our sister site Food Under Foot.)

The spring has a lot of wonderful energy too: growth, creativity, movement!

Spring is an excellent time to come in for acupuncture. Acupuncture helps keeps us strong and balanced, especially during the change of seasons when we are most vulnerable to finding ourselves off balance, run down, and coming down with something. If you'd like to schedule an acupuncture treatment, please give us a call at (412) 381-0116.

Happy Spring!

~ David and Melissa Sokulski
licensed acupuncturists

Spring!

Last year's crabapple with this year's new leaves.

Spring is here! 

Today was the first true warm sunny day of spring. In Chinese Medicine spring relates to the wood element and the color green. All around we see green appearing over the earth, bringing the creativity and growth of the season.

Motherwort or Leonurus cardiaca, an herb which can be found in the wild, used in both western and Chinese medicine to treat stress, anxiety, insomnia, nervous irritablity and heart palpitations.

If the energies of creativity and growth are blocked, anger can result. When wood energy stagnates in the body, symptoms such as anger, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, PMS, and emotional instability can result.

Acupuncture can help the wood energy flow smoothly in the body. Often a combination of the points Liver 3 on the foot and Large Intestine 4 on the hand (which together are called The Four Gates) is used to help energy flow smoothly through the body.

The start of a new season can sometimes bring stress to the body, and is a great time to come in for an acupuncture "tune-up." 

Enjoy the spring!

~ Melissa and David Sokulski

licensed acupuncturists

Happy Lunar New Year: Year of the Goat/Sheep!

Gong Hay Fat Choi!

"In this year of the goat, may you

be proud and exalted in life,

revel in your business success,

have a smooth career path,

and be free from worries.

May you become rich,

and be happy every day!"

(Chinese New Years Greetings)

February 19, 2015 begins the year of the Goat. Goat/Sheep years include: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015. The Goat is the 8th of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, which go (in order): rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.  There are many legends as to how these animals were chosen and in why in that order. One such story is called Legend of the Chinese Zodiac, and is found in the book Identities, An Anthology, published by Calvert Education. 

Goat people tend to be calm, gentle, creative and thoughtful. They are persevering and honest. Goats tend to have fewer health problems and eliminating meat from their diet, focusing instead on fresh fruits and vegetables is very healthy for them. Fresh air, trees and sunshine suit goats very well.

Recently we read In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, by Bette Bao Lord. In this book, set in 1947 (the year of the Boar and the rookie year of Jackie Robinson), a young Chinese girl leaves China for a new beginning with her parents in America. In January we see her celebrating Chinese New Year with her extended family in China, in February she travels to America by boat, in March she begins public school in Brooklyn New York, as the only Chinese girl in the school, who does not speak any English.

For the best health in the year of the goat:

• Get plenty of fresh air and exercise
• Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits
• Acupuncture for balancing energy during the change of seasons and when symptoms appear

May the coming new year bring you joy, health and peace.

Good luck, good health and good cheer for a happy and healthy new year!

~ David Sokulski, L.Ac. and Melissa Sokulski, L.Ac.

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:

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

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.)

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:

Here is a picture of a burning 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!

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

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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Acupuncturist David Sokulski's Theatrical Debut

Acupuncturist David Sokulski's Theatrical Debut

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!