Hello to my new and old friends in Hudson Valley!

I am extremely excited to be joining the community of health care practitioners at 28 West gym, alongside physical therapists Dr. Meg & Dr. Alicia. It has been a goal of mine over the past three years of working as a professional acupuncturist in New York City to eventually return to the area from time-to-time and provide my services more consistently. 

My name is Kayleigh Stack and I am a Licensed Acupuncturist both in the state of New York and Washington. I grew up in Woodstock, NY where I was taught at a young age the power the body has in being able to heal itself if offered the right tools, environment, and support. With an upbringing in alternative medicine and land cultivation stemming directly from my parents, it was not a shock that after years working as a performance artist and researcher in the field of anthropology, that I eventually became a yoga teacher and Chinese Medicine Practitioner.

My areas of focus stem from my personal interests, research, and continuing education in Functional Medicine alongside reputable MDs in the field of Women's health, longevity, metabolism and brain optimization. I believe we are at an extraordinary time in being able to understand the body in ways that our ancestors did not have the same ability to when it comes to today's tools in the medical sciences. Therefore, as a practitioner in acupuncture, herbal and functional medicine, I include a hybrid of both ancient wisdom and modern day research by sharing my both lived and acquired knowledge about food, fasting, epigenetics, sleep, stress, rest, hormesis, exercise cycling, community engagement, and various cutting edge therapies to support my patients in order to not only heal, but thrive.

More importantly, in this ever changing world, what I love about Chinese Medicine is its consistency, seemingly being able to continue to validate all the findings that today’s science is just now able to verify through tests and labs. Chinese medicine is all about balance, and with this, I provide my patients with the same support that is so intrinsic to the medicine’s philosophy— that there is no one way toward the cultivation of personal health. 

Over the past three years as a practitioner in very busy clinics in Manhattan where we worked alongside Mt Sinai doctors, what I saw over and over again was an epidemic in mental health, sleep, digestive issues, and nutrition concerns given the onset of the ever changing guidelines on “what to eat”. 

The first thing I often discuss with patients struggling with digestion, weight or nutrition concerns, or even sleep for that matter, are the elimination the five inflammatory factors-refined sugars (reading ingredient labels for different types of sugars)-this also includes eliminating sugary drinks and even fruit juices; omitting foods high in trans fat (hydrogenated vegetable, canola and rancid seed oils, and instead cooking with either butter, coconut oil or water sauté in any high heat scenarios); eliminating processed foods (most foods in packages or with more than three to five ingredients); doing away with aspartame and sugar substitutes; and either eliminating or decrease alcohol consumption. Cutting out these five forms of foods or “food-like “ products that contribute to inflammation, not only help with digestion, weight loss, and sleep but also decrease potential “cytokines storms” (often considered systemic inflammation), which will greatly correlate to making healthier choices in the long run—because many feel so good they don’t want to go back to what they were eating before.

For more specific digestive and bowel movement concerns, I will have patients utilize magnesium nitrate or increase fiber for over all motility of the colon, if constipation is something they are experiencing. If looser stools, at times psyllium husk can help, as well as looking at  ro-or-prebiotic supplements for extra digestive support. 

As a Chinese medicine practitioner, I work with the seasons when it comes to meal planning. In general, stemmed, cooked veggies, sweet potatoes, squashes and broths, and if not vegetarian, including cooked organic meats into one's diet 1-3 times a week, can all be very beneficial for easing digestive health and decreasing bloating. Reason being is that our spleen and stomach, the engines in which most of our food is digested and many nutrients absorbed, have a much easier time with foods that are“pre-digested” i.e. cooked! When raw, or when too many salads, smoothies, and juices are consumed, people will often find themselves with bellies that are distended, gassy, bloated and in pain. Giving the stomach a helping hand by eating warmer meals not only provides digestive relief, but can yield an energy pike, as less time is being invested by the body digesting all the cold meals and, therefore, more time to play, think, and be creative! 

If low in energy or having difficulty with sleeping, this is where I become a big advocate of intermittent fasting. Fasting has such a connotation that many shutter at the thought of it and, therefore, look away. However, many of us fast on a nightly basis from the time we go to sleep from the time we wake in the morning. It is a beautiful intrinsic system that gives our digestive organs the much needed rest in order to do it all over again the next day. The fasting window for everyone is different. Especially for women during different times in their cycles. Where someone can do a 16 hour fast no problem (i.e. ending the last meal at 6:30pm and having breakfast the next day around 10:30 am, others might need to eat upon waking and just do a 10 hour fast (8pm-6am). Both are fine. The standard for weight loss, blood sugar control, as well as sleep is 12 hours. Also, making sure to leave three to four hours for full digestion prior to heading to bed can greatly assist in deepening our REM sleep cycle, which is where we receive the most nourishing Zzzzz and, with this, feel our best around waking.

More tips and shares to come in upcoming videos, blogs, newsletters and instagram feeds! Sign up for the membership for extended offerings!

Until then, I deeply look forward to meeting and working alongside more of the Hudson Valley community over the years to come.

In warmth,

Kayleigh