Phoenix, AZ- February 10, 2010-Like its ferocious roar, the year of the Tiger will be a wild one. The Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture declares if you have never tried Acupuncture before, this is the year to get your Qi in order. Chinese New Year is February 14th this year and, while many will be celebrating love with St. Valentine, thousands more will be celebrating Chinese New Year!  PIHMA predicts the year of the Tiger to be quite a wild ride.

Chinese New Year Could Be a Wild Ride! The Year of the Tiger, true to form, will be a year of aggression, challenge and difficulty. Many will be forced to make tough choices. It may be a year of difficult circumstances and you will have to look for ways to overcome these challenges. 

“It’s important to look on the bright side: a year like this will bring out the best in us as we rise to overcome challenges, think creatively and strategize to find hidden good fortune and possibilities”, says Catherine Niemiec, PIHMA President and Founder. Niemiec says this is the year for taking advantage of exciting opportunities that may come your way.

We will all need help managing stress and staying positive. There may be several Liver ailments that come up throughout the year. According to Chinese medical theory, the Liver governs the tendons and there could be problems with the year of the Tiger. Some alignments include stress-induced digestive problems, muscle tension, headaches and eye ailments, gall bladder, irregular hormonal cycles and even PMS. Acupuncture can balance all this out and regulate stress. Specifically, as it is the year of the White (Metal) Tiger, there may also be lung and respiratory ailments. Thus, since stress lowers the immune system, cold and flu will be more likely to occur.

Niemiec states that the most important thing to do is stay flexible, emotionally balanced and healthy as this year takes on a wild ride. Don’t forget to meditate and take time to move the "thinking" mind to "non-thinking", which helps the body to self-regulate as well.  PIHMA Acupuncture College & Clinic, which offers these modalities, are wonderful resource in the community to help one successfully navigate the ferocious Year of the Tiger..

About PIHMA
The Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture (PIHMA), now in its 13th year, is the Valley's only accredited Asian medical college, offering 4-year Master of Science degrees in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Located at 301 E. Bethany Home Road, the graduate programs offer the highest level of training in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, with over 3000 hours of Oriental medical theory & practicum, herbal medicine & dietary therapy, Western science, and an extensive clinical internship, including an onsite community clinic. PIHMA graduates work in independent practice, at hospitals and integrative medical clinics, and in professional therapeutic settings. PIHMA also offers a speakers bureau to educate the public on how Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine works.