Winter's Greetings

Winter Solstice

In the northern hemisphere, September 23rd marked the 2023 autumnal equinox, which a month later was followed by a first snow fall on Halloween.  While it felt like the return of winter was a bit early, the rise and falls of temperatures over the next month allowed for a more gradual transition into the season.  As we inch our way closer to the winter solstice on Thursday, December 21st , we have collectively been experiencing decreased hours of light with increased hours of dark.  The winter solstice, also known as Midwinter, occurs when the earth’s poles are furthest from the sun, gifting us with the shortest day and the longest night or period of darkness for any given year.  Over time and in various cultures, this day has often been marked with winter festivals of light and reflection to prepare for a gradual returning of the light. 

The “Lucky Holiday” Mushroom

If you have been in clinic lately, you will find the seasonal programs committee adding light in the form of tiny fairy lights to little mushroom clad scenes.  While many have seemed delighted by the mushroom décor as we prepare for the winter season, others might be asking: why mushrooms?  Fair question.  For the mycological enthusiasts among us, we are making models of the Amanita muscaria, the mushrooms who don red caps with white speckles.  In Germany, this mushroom is often referred to as Gluckspilz, or the lucky holiday mushroom because these are the fungi that readily grow next to pine trees.

The Doctrine of Signatures

Admittedly, we do not readily use the Amanita muscaria in our everyday East Asian herbal medicine.  That said, we do often use mushrooms in formulas to treat myriad conditions, from gynecological issues to hypertension.  Moreover, understanding a bit more about our ‘fungi friends,’ if you will, has the potential to give us further insight and broader understanding of how we are connecting with herbs in a general sense.  One guiding principle in East Asian herbal medicine practice is called Doctrine of Signatures.  This principle, also referred to as Systematic Correspondence or Sympathetic Magic, simply means that the herbs themselves are giving us clues as to what their therapeutic effects might be by simply being who they are.  In short, noticing where and how the herbs grow in the natural world, noticing the herb’s color, and distilling down what part of the plant substance we are using often gives us insight in what that herb might be doing when consumed medicinally.  

Mushrooms as Medicine

Poria cocos (Fu Ling) is a mushroom that we readily use in East Asian herbal formulas.  When thinking about where mushrooms grow from a Doctrine of Signatures perspective, we can all imagine the mushrooms coming into being in moist woodlands or the innards of a decaying tree that many of us have encountered on hikes in forested areas.  Even within the city limits, I have encountered mushroom clusters seemingly popping up at the base of boulevard trees overnight after a rain.  You can imagine by virtue of the damp environment in which mushrooms grow, that they may have a therapeutic action focused on managing dampness.  Not surprisingly, Pori cocos (Fu Ling) is the representative herb of the herbal medicine category, Herbs that Drain Dampness. 

Calming the Spirit 

Four layers of the Poria fungus are used in East Asian herbal medicine, with slightly different actions dependent on the layer used.  The innermost layer of the mushroom, which also includes part of the root of the pine it grows near, is called Fu Shen.  From a clinical perspective, this fungus helps to drain dampness but also has a particular affinity for calming the spirit—calming the shen in East Asian medicine terms—and helping to regulate the nervous system.  From a Doctrine of Signatures perspective, having the pine root integrated into the herb may represent the calming rootedness this herb is helping to provide our bodies when consumed.  While mushrooms can be lovely to consume as food, should you be interested in learning more about whether a formula containing mushrooms may be the right fit for your clinical presentation, it is always recommended to meet with one of Five Point’s herbalists who is formally trained in how to diagnose and treat specific health conditions.    

Connected Community   

In the clinic, we have been reflecting on how to best connect with community while continuing to move through these often turbulent, heartbreaking, and all too often troubling times.  We have been busy curating a Five Point Winter Open House and mini–Holistic Market to be held this upcoming Sunday, December 10th from 1:00 – 3:00 PM, trying to balance reflective practices with time to connect directly or indirectly in community. We will be sipping tea, practicing solitude together through an East Asian- and nature-inspired crafts for children and adults, and sharing our updated Five Point Apothecary with items to accompany you through the winter months ahead.  Patty Sugrue, LCPC will help us respond to winter’s invitation to rest with a Cozy Story Time for Grown-Ups, giving your busy mind a gentle place to explore, with cozy details and no drama. In addition, Hope, one of our psychotherapists, has been beautifully holding space to connect through art and embodied practices to come together in community throughout their Hope and Grief series, the last one which will be held this upcoming Saturday from 1:30 – 3:30 PM.  

Looking forward to connecting with you all when the time is right – be it at our Winter Open House or in clinic soon! 

-Ashley 

Acupuncturist, herbalist, and public health-informed nature enthusiast 

Sources:

• Bensky, D., Gamble, A., and Kaptchuk, T. Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica Revised Edition, Eastland Press, Seattle, 1993. 

• Why Mushrooms are a popular Holiday Decoration Little Pine Learners.  Accessed December 6th, 2023.  

We're Moving!

After almost nine years at 3234 W Fullerton, we are preparing to move to a new, larger location. Our business outgrew our little storefront long ago, and expanding has been the topic of discussion for a few years. Last winter, the owners made the decision to start looking for a new space that better met our staffs’ and patients’ needs. We signed a lease in May, and construction on a new clinic began in September. 

Now, after almost one year of work, we are finally ready to announce the grand opening of Five Point’s new clinic at 2866 N Milwaukee Ave in April, and we are beyond thrilled with the opportunities this space provides for us. Our new home is in Avondale, around Milwaukee and Kimball, just 0.7 miles from our current location.

The new clinic is more than double the size of our current location, boasting four acupuncture rooms, two massage rooms, and two psychotherapy rooms. We’ll have a much bigger community room, which can also be sectioned off for our new service: Group Therapy. We still have a lot of work to do in the coming weeks before we’re ready to open, but we’ll be sharing our progress along the way.

This move represents a new beginning and a furthering of the mission and vision that was Five Point Holistic Health’s inception. With that in mind, we are hosting a couple of events so we have the chance to bring our community into our new space to help us celebrate before we are ‘officially’ open.

Open House

Please join us for our Open House event on Saturday, March 18 from 4-7pm. This event is for current patients, friends, family, and curious community members to tour the new clinic, meet our staff, learn about our services while enjoying music and light refreshments. We’ll have limited gift bags and a free raffle where you can win Five Point services and gifts donated by neighborhood businesses.

Please RSVP and spread the word!

Grand Opening

Our Grand Opening is Sunday, April 2 from 9:30-4:30pm. Enjoy FREE community acupuncture all day and 50% off all other services. Limited walk-in appointments will be available, but we recommend booking an appointment to reserve a spot. 

Our last day at 3234 W Fullerton is Wednesday, March 29, and Five Point will be closed March 30 through April 1 while we move. We hope you book an appointment in the next month to say goodbye to the space we called home for almost nine years.

We cannot thank our patient community enough for your continued support and feedback which made this new space possible. We look forward to serving you for the next nine years and beyond!

New Year Wellness Event

New Years resolutions are often accompanied by some commitment to taking better care of yourself, whether it be some nutrition goals, workout goals, or self-care goals. Often, these goals are only met for a brief period of time, but the the energy doesn’t seem to last and they fizzle out.

With that in mind, Five Point Holistic Health will be hosting a wellness event on January 18th from 5-7 pm. This event will feature brief talks from Kristin Ryan (Health Coach and Nutritional Services), Christian Villacres (acupuncture and simple home care), and Nathan Paulus (taichi and meditation).

Our aim is to keep up your inspiration and give you advance notice of upcoming events and ways to continue manifesting your best self.

Please come and join us for snacks, drinks, conversation and inspiration!

About Kristin Ryan

Kristin is a holistic health coach offering one-on-one nutritional consulting services for people who feel too busy & overwhelmed to prioritize their health. She believes in helping clients come home to themselves and recognize that in caring for themselves and their health, they can better serve others and show up more present & stronger in their lives. Too often, we allow our responsibilities to get in the way of showing up for ourselves. Maximizing the asset of your own health & wellness pays dividends in all other aspects of your life.

About Nathan Paulus

Besides being one of the owners / practitioners at Five Point Holistic Health, Nathan is an avid practitioner of Taichi and Meditation. Without a physical practice, real meditation is almost impossible. Without a good teacher/lineage, real self-development is likely to be limited to some small initial growth, but will quickly stagnate.

Tai Chi practice serves as a way to deepen and refine the quality of body energy and circulation; it helps to develop the emotional self and works to improve focus and concentration of the mind. Tai Chi is one of the true methods of self-development, and as with all the great arts, can work on multiple levels of a person simultaneously.

Nathan will be leading a Tai Chi beginners series in February at Alternative Health Group.

About Christian Villacres,

Christian is an soon-to-be-owner and acupuncturist at Five Point Holistic Health. Outside of Five Point, he is an avid practitioner of Wing-chung martial arts. Christian will be speaking on the benefits of receiving regular acupuncture and ways that Five Point makes getting regular acupuncture easy and affordable. He also has a host of simple home remedies that are basically universally helpful in self-care routines.

Pop-Up Meditation Class with Nathan

Saturday, June 1, 4:30pm - 5:30pm @ Tula Yoga Studio

Meditation is a tool that works to gradually refine a person from the inside out, and it is a very good counterbalance to a physical practice. The real aim of meditation is establishing some connection back to the highest part of yourself, while simultaneously creating a separation from our outer manifestations and the ego's perception of self.

This class will start a short movement sequence to wake up and center the body’s energy. There will be a brief talk about how and why the meditation works. Nathan will then lead a guided meditation practice with time for questions at the end.

Nathan has 7 years of study and practice with this form of meditation under the guidance of a good teacher. He has benefited greatly from meditation practice, and is happy to share from his experience.

Five Point Turns Five

It is difficult express how happy and grateful we are to be entering into our fifth year of business with such a wonderful community and neighborhood. From our hearts to yours, THANK YOU for your support and for sharing a vision of health, wellness, and care with us and our community.

As a way of expressing our gratitude to all of you, we will be offering discounted services for the entire day of Wednesday, May 29. Community acupuncture treatments will be $25 and all bodywork services are 25% off. We will have some snacks and goodies as well (besides our GinGins), so please come to the clinic to celebrate with us!

Logan Square Health + Wellness Fest

On March 16th, Five Point co-hosted the first Logan Square Wellness + Self Care Fest alongside our community partners, Logan Square Pilates, and Third Coast Birth. Additional participants included Dill Pickle Food Co-op, Chiya Chai, Mother Lover OT, Athletico Wicker Park, Dharma Delights, Dandelion Art Therapy, The Wax & Skin Lounge, Red Bird Reiki, Tula Yoga Studio, and Fluorescent City.

The free event incuded demos, workshops, samples, and special discounts from the best wellness and self care businesses in the neighborhood. Additional participants included Dill Pickle Food Co-op, Chiya Chai, Mother Lover OT, Athletico Wicker Park, Dharma Delights, Dandelion Art Therapy, The Wax & Skin Lounge, Red Bird Reiki, Tula Yoga Studio, and Fluorescent City.

The event had over 100 attendees and was a great success for year one. We would love to make this fest an annual event, perhaps taking it to a bigger space and adding more local businesses. Thank you to all who attended! 

Yoga for Core Stability, Hips, and Pelvic Floor

On Monday evenings in July, Nathan Paulus will be teaching a 4-week yoga workshop at Five Point. Learn simple, yoga-based sequences to help with your hips and lower back. This class series will emphasize exercises for gentle stretching of tight external muscles and activation of deep core muscles. Students will learn effective techniques to encourage deeper breathing and simple pelvic floor exercises that can be employed in everyday life. A study guide with the different exercises will be provided to help with home practice.

These classes will benefit anyone who has lower back sensitivity or tightness in the hips.  The exercises we work on are especially good for managing anxiety, high stress, and sleep difficulties.

Weeks 1 and 2: Floor postures, isolating deep core muscles, diaphragmatic breathing, and pelvic floor awareness. 

Weeks 3 and 4: Standing alignment with gravity, learning how to move towards “pelvic neutral,” and deep body awareness. Review, refine, and answer questions.

The series begins Monday, July 16th from 6:30-7:30pm. The cost of the series is $80. Some mats will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own. Space is limited, so book online to reserve a spot!

Introduction to Mindfulness

One definition of Mindfulness is “ the way we use our attention”. The way we use our attention can impact how we relate to others, our selves, our problems our emotions and thoughts. This 4-week course lead by Daniel Binaei, LCSW will examine how to incorporate mindfulness practices into your everyday life. Dan has been leading Mindfulness groups for 10 years and offers an introduction to basic practices that can enhance relaxation, help manage stress, and help us gain insight into our thoughts and emotions. The series will be broken down into the following topics: 

I. Beginner's mind

II. Training the body to relax/progressive muscle relaxation 

III. Understanding and relating to anger and anxiety in a healthy way/breathwork

IV. Mindfulness and perspective on our lives 

The course runs Fridays from 6:30-7:30pm from July 20th-August 10th. The cost is $80. Space is limited, so book online, and contact Dan with any questions. 

Hatha Yoga with Hannah Keene

Beginning Friday, January 19, Five Point is excited to offer a weekly Gentle Hatha Yoga Class led by Hannah Keene. This class focuses on slower, dynamic movement, synchronized with pranayama (breath) to allow for alignment of body and mind.  All levels welcome! Class will be held from 4:30 - 5:45 pm each Friday. The drop in rate will be $15.

Hannah graduated from Tula Yoga's teacher training program earlier in 2017, she has a great depth of knowledge from her committed study with some prominent local teachers, as well as her commitment to her own practice and continual evolution of learning. Hannah currently subs at Tula Yoga and holds weekly classes at Alternative Health Group on Mondays from 6-7 pm and Tuesday mornings from 8:15-9:15 am.

Teacher Appreciation Month

For the month of August, all teachers, school administrators, and school support staff get 10% off all services, including first-time visits.  Just mention your job and the school where you work when checking out, and we'll apply the discount. If you're not an educator yourself, pass this email on to a friend or family member who is. Thank you for all that you do, and know that we appreciate you!

Yoga for Core Stability, Hips, and Pelvic Floor

On Monday evenings in August, Nathan Paulus will be teaching a 4-week yoga workshop at Five Point. Learn simple, yoga-based sequences to help with your hips and lower back.  This class series will emphasize exercises for gentle stretching of tight external muscles and activation of deep core muscles. Students will learn effective techniques to encourage deeper breathing and simple pelvic floor exercises that can be employed in everyday life. A study guide with the different exercises will be provided to help with home practice.

These classes will benefit anyone who has lower back sensitivity or tightness in the hips.  The exercises we work on are especially good for managing anxiety, high stress and sleep difficulties.

Weeks 1 and 2: Floor postures, isolating deep core muscles, diaphragmatic breathing and pelvic floor awareness. 

Weeks 3 and 4: Standing alignment with gravity, learning how to move towards “pelvic neutral” and deep body awareness. Review, refine and answer questions.

The series begins Monday, August 7th from 6:45-8pm. The cost of the series is $80. Some mats will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own. Space is limited, so book online to reserve a spot!

International Women’s Day

As a predominantly women-owned small business, we support the equity, justice, and human rights of women and all gender oppressed people. On March 8th, International Women’s Day, we have decided to stay open because we provide self care and healthcare to the entire community, including women, other marginalized people, and their allies.

We are showing our support by donating 25% of our proceeds that day to Chicago Women’s Health Center, a local non-profit that offers affordable and accessible health services and education to women and trans people.

However you choose to spend the day, we stand with you and are here if you need some self care!

March Forth! Support your friends, family, and community

Five Point Community,

With the current cultural and political climate in the world, we have noticed an overwhelming sense of turmoil and instability within our communities. In times like these, it’s easy to focus on this turmoil and lose sight of taking care of yourself and loved ones. As a response, we want to do our part to help support our community, remaining steadfast in our mission of democracy, equality, and inclusivity.

For the month of March we want to bring our community together by offering your “Friends and Family” free treatments.  If you are already a patient or community partner, we want to extend our support to your friends and family with first time free treatments. This includes one 30 minute treatment of either Community Acupuncture, Bodywork with Nathan, Massage with Kate or an Herbal Consultation.

Also, on Wednesday, March 8th, International Women’s Day, our clinic will be donating 25% of all services to the wonderful Chicago Women’s Health Center, who offer a variety of health services in an accessible and affordable way.

So please, join us this month. Take care of yourself, take care of your friends and family, and help us take care of our community!

Intro to Mindfulness and Meditation

Five Point Holistic Health will be offering a 5-week Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation course starting Monday, January 16th from 7-8pm. This course, lead by Kim Vachon LCPC, will introduce basic practices of mindfulness and meditation and examine how to incorporate these practices into your every day life. Basic tenets of mindfulness and meditation include sitting in stillness with your breath, practicing gratitude, bringing your awareness to the present moment and much more. Benefits of these practices range from feeling at peace and content with the state of your life, to improving concentration skills to sleeping more soundly at night.

Participation is limited, so we encourage you to reserve a spot online. The series is intended to be taken in full and costs $75 for the five weeks. Please reach out to Kim Vachon at kim@fivepointholistic.com  with any further questions. We look forward to your participation.

Holidays on the Square

Five Point is participating in the 5th annual Holidays on the Square on Saturday, December 3rd. Support local businesses this holiday season during a day of special events, promotions and activities by Logan Square's small business and not-for-profit organizations. We have appointments available from 9am-3pm, so book a community acupuncture session between shopping destinations.

Five Point will be offering gift bags for gift certificate purchases of $90 or more. Keep the gift bag for yourself or give it alongside your gift card. Supplies are limited, so get one while they last! 

October Promotions

Hey Five Point Community!

October is a special month for us. We are expanding our hours to offer more appointment slots on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Also, October is National Co-op Month, and October 24th is Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day. In celebration, we are offering some nifty promotions through October 31st.

First-time patients can receive a free service, including community acupuncture, herbal consultation, or 30-min of bodywork. Click on the individual service links to book.

And we haven't forgotten about our loyal patients who already support us! Current patients who refer a new person to us can get half-off a community acupuncture appointment or herbal consult, limit one per person. Whomever you refer can put your name in their booking note while booking online or mention your name while calling.

This offer only lasts during the month of October, so start spreading the word!

Beginner Tai Chi Series

Often described as "meditation in motion," Tai Chi is a gentle form of martial arts that increases muscle strength, flexibility, and balance.

Evidence shows this low-impact exercise has endless benefits to physical and psychosocial health. Recent studies have linked Tai Chi practice to reduced heart disease, insomnia and chronic pain and improved cognitive function and immunity.

The next installment of the Beginner Series taught by Nathan Paulus begins on Monday, July 11th from 5:30-6:30. This 6-week course covers Tai Chi's basic principles, including five loosening exercises, the first section of short form and 4 of the 8 fixed push hand patterns. Once completing the 6-week beginner course, participants can attend the intermediate class on Mondays from 6:30-7:45.

We recommend you reserve a spot online since space is limited. The cost of the series is $80. Up to one class may be missed throughout the series, and that one session may be made up during the intermediate class at no charge. This series is run seasonally, so the next round will be in October.

Please email us with any questions, or ask your practitioner if Tai Chi may be beneficial for your condition.

Anniversary Celebration and Free Day!

On May 24th, Five Point turned 2-years-old! We wouldn't be here today without the support of our community including friends, patients and neighbors. In the spirit of tradition and giving back to those who made our business strong, we are offering a day of free services! 

On Saturday, June 18th from 9 am through 3 pm, we will offer free community acupuncture and 30-minute bodywork sessions. We will accept walk-ins, but we encourage you to book online since spots are limited. Bodywork sessions must be booked over phone or email. In lieu of yoga, Nathan will be offering a free 30-minute guided meditation from 4:30-5 on that day.

It's a great time to bring that friend or co-worker who has always wanted to try acupuncture. Bring your dad for a special Father's Day treat. We hope you'll come celebrate with us!

Prenatal Yoga Class

On Saturday, June 11th, Kelsey Tangel, an experienced prenatal and fertility yoga instructor, will facilitate a semi-private prenatal yoga class from 5:30-6:30pm at the Five Point clinic. Women of all levels of yoga practice and all stages of pregnancy are welcome to attend.

This class will address issues that arise in the later stages of pregnancy and will cover:

·      Labor induction

·      Postures to use during labor

·      Yoga for postpartum care

Along with personal instruction, handouts will be provided so students can continue their practice at home. The class costs $15, and a spot can be reserved online. Mats, blocks, and straps will be provided, but bring your own if you prefer. Contact Five Point at info@fivepointholistic.com with any questions.

Birthing Workshop and Prenatal Yoga

Third Coast’s Guide to Childbirth

Third Coast Birth, a trusted community partner of Five Point, offers childbirth education, birth doula support, postpartum and parenting support to Chicago area families. Beginning May 14th, they will be offering a six-week guide to childbirth series at our clinic.

Together with your birthing partner, learn about the process leading up to and throughout labor and birth, as well as what to expect in the early days with a new baby. Get to know other expectant parents and use this class as a starting point for you to build community as you begin this journey into parenthood.

Topics that this class covers include:

·      An in depth discussion of what to expect in each phase of labor

·      The role of support partners and care providers during each phase of labor

·      In depth discussion and hands-on practice of comfort measures including both natural and medical options

·      In depth discussion of medical interventions

·      Informed consent and what that looks like in labor and birth

·      What to expect in the first moments and days after your baby is born

·      Breastfeeding

·      Caring for your baby and yourself in the first weeks of parenthood

This class will run from May 14th-June 25th, skipping May 28th (Memorial Day weekend) from 7-9pm. The price for the entire series is $300. To sign up visit their event page, or email them at info@thirdcoastbirth.com.

Prenatal Yoga

An experienced prenatal and fertility yoga instructor, Kelsey Tangel, will facilitate two semi-private prenatal yoga classes before two of the birthing classes:

May 21st 5:30p – 6:45p

June 11th5:30p – 6:45p

Each class is tailored to address physical aspects appearing at different times during pregnancy and postpartum periods.

The first class will focus on:

·      How yoga can alleviate common pregnancy ailments

·      How to adapt your practice to your changing body

·      Helpful pelvic floor exercises

The second class will address:

·      Labor induction

·      Postures to use during labor

·      Yoga for postpartum care

Along with personal instruction, handouts will be provided so students can continue their practice at home. 

Each class costs $15 and can be attended as part of the birthing workshop series or on its own.  Contact Five Point at info@fivepointholistic.com with any questions.