When many people think about Chinese herbal medicine, they may think about odd looking roots, barks, seeds and plants, or jars full of odd embalmed animals and animal parts. Maybe you envision a scene from the movie Gremlins or an old martial arts film. In reality, many Chinese medicinals in the Pharmacopeia come right from your kitchen!
As I stated in last month's post, Food as Medicine, what you eat can either improve your health or increase and exacerbate various imbalances in your body. Different foods will affect the body in different ways, with each food having its own energetics. Some foods are more warming, like ginger and cinnamon, while others are more cooling, like mint and cucumbers. Some build Blood, like beef and beets, some help get rid of Phlegm, like radish and mustard leaf. Some are more moistening, like figs and barley, while others are more drying (water removing), like artichoke and alfalfa.
Here is a short list of Chinese medicinals that you can find in your own kitchen and what effect they have:
Ginger: Raw ginger (Sheng Jiang) is warming, especially for the Stomach and Spleen, and helps with nausea and vomiting. Raw ginger is often used when treating colds as it encourages sweating. Dried ginger (Gan Jiang) is hot and is a better option if you are cold all of the time. It also helps nausea and vomiting but if you tend to run warm, stick to the raw variety.
Mint: Mint (Bo He) is cooling, even when consumed as warm tea. It helps with red eyes, headache and sore throat due to illness. It can also help move your Liver Qi, so if you are feeling emotionally stuck, mint may help.
Turmeric: Turmeric (Yu Jin) has been touted in recent years for its anti-inflammatory properties, but has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to invigorate the blood and break up blood stasis, as well as move Liver Qi. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) "when there is pain there is no free flow and when there is free flow there is no pain." Using Turmeric for pain makes sense, no matter who you ask.
Watermelon: Watermelon (Xi Gua) is cooling and great for generating fluids for rehydration due to over heating in the summer. It also promotes urination (which will help get rid of heat).
Goji Berries: Goji Berries (Gou Qi Zi) are a superfood that is high in anti-oxidants. In Chinese medicine, they are used to supplement Liver Blood to benefit the eyes and vision, as well as support Kidney Yin, for symptoms such as sore lower back and legs or low-grade abdominal pain.
Asparagus: Asparagus (Tian Men Dong) is another Yin supplement that benefits the Kidneys, but is also targeted to upper body Yin, for dry mouth, since it helps generate fluids.
This is just a small sample of the many different types of foods and spices that can benefit your health. To truly make a significant difference and to target your particular health challenges it is best to see a licensed practitioner who can prescribe the best diet and herbal formula for you. Not all symptoms are caused by the same imbalance, so it is important to get the proper diagnosis before proceeding with using food as medicine. Food is powerful!
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Monday, February 2, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Food As Medicine
One of my favorite topics is food as medicine. The idea is simple and powerful and unfortunately very underutilized, especially in the United States. This time of year, many of us have indulged over the holidays and are looking to "be better" about the food that we're eating now that life is getting back to normal. You might have set some New Year's Resolutions, and are looking to alter your eating habits on a more global level.
I'd like to start by saying this is the worst time of year to do a "detox," for many reasons, the biggest of which is that "cleanses" don't actually exist. Your body is detoxing you every day no matter what you eat. That being said, the worse you eat, the more work there is to be done, and the more time and effort is spent getting rid of the bad stuff. Rather than having energy available to use in your daily life, your energy will be spent healing and repairing yourself from the damage caused by consuming chemicals and "food-like" substances. That is why eating processed, high sugar or high chemical "foods" leaves you feeling tired, sluggish and bloated. Eating well will inevitably make you feel better in the long run because it gives you usable energy for living your life. The food that you eat can either move you toward health or away from it. Choose wisely!
Animals use food for nourishment and fuel. As humans, we often look to food for other reasons as well: comfort, replacement for something else we're seeking, pacification, satisfaction for an addiction, and others. Ideally food should be used only as fuel for your body. If food is only something to stop your hunger, you will make different choices than if you see food as nourishment. If you are hungry, you'll grab anything to stop the discomfort, but if you are looking for sustenance, you'll be more choosy.
When you are sick or symptomatic, you should always start by looking at what you are eating and notice whether it is right for your body. No food that is found, grown or caught in nature is inherently good or bad, but it may be good or bad for you, depending on your particular health challenges, the climate in which you live, food allergies and the season. The only exception to this is Genetically Modified foods (GMOs) since they are created first in a laboratory and then grown--these are always harmful and should be avoided.
Start by seeing if you can recognize the food that you are eating as food; when you read the label, is it full of chemicals or items that you can't picture in your mind? If so, chances are you are eating food-like substances made in a laboratory and your body is going to spend a lot of energy working to filter that out. If your body can't remove the chemicals, they get stored in your body and can eventually become inflammation and/or cancer. "Diet" foods are usually laden with chemicals and actually contribute more to weight gain than weight loss. You are also typically left feeling tired, sluggish, bloated, phlegmy and craving more. The cravings come from failing to supply your body with the nutrients that it is actually looking for. For example, when you have chocolate cravings, you are actually craving magnesium, so you should eat more nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables instead of the chocolate chip cookies (although a little dark chocolate is okay). When you supply your body with actual food, you don't typically have cravings since you are supplying your body with the nourishment it requires. If your food doesn't have labels (because it is produce, lean meat or fish) then you are probably headed in the right direction.
First food, then medicine.
If after adjusting your eating habits toward a more whole food diet you are still feeling sick or symptomatic, then that is when you seek out medical intervention. Even then, the medical professional should begin by looking at your diet and seeing if there is anything else that seems out of balance for you. An acupuncturist will look at your diet in relation to the seasons and what your particular symptoms are in order to tailor your diet to what will make you feel better. You might need to eat more meat, you might need to eat less. You might need more root vegetables, you might need less. You might need to eat more grains, no grains, more dairy, no dairy. There is no one-size-fits-all way to eat. Each person has their own requirements based on their internal body chemistry and set of symptoms. Food can be really good medicine when you understand its purpose and use it accordingly.
A great, easy to read book on whole food eating is called Food Rules by Michael Pollan. It is one of my favorites and very helpful for learning the benefits of eating real food. If you are interested in looking at food from a Chinese Medicine perspective to help understand and balance your symptoms, Paul Pitchford's book Healing with Whole Foods is a must.
If you'd like to receive monthly email notifications of my new posts, click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
If you'd like to learn more about me and how I help people feel better with acupuncture, click here.
I'd like to start by saying this is the worst time of year to do a "detox," for many reasons, the biggest of which is that "cleanses" don't actually exist. Your body is detoxing you every day no matter what you eat. That being said, the worse you eat, the more work there is to be done, and the more time and effort is spent getting rid of the bad stuff. Rather than having energy available to use in your daily life, your energy will be spent healing and repairing yourself from the damage caused by consuming chemicals and "food-like" substances. That is why eating processed, high sugar or high chemical "foods" leaves you feeling tired, sluggish and bloated. Eating well will inevitably make you feel better in the long run because it gives you usable energy for living your life. The food that you eat can either move you toward health or away from it. Choose wisely!
Animals use food for nourishment and fuel. As humans, we often look to food for other reasons as well: comfort, replacement for something else we're seeking, pacification, satisfaction for an addiction, and others. Ideally food should be used only as fuel for your body. If food is only something to stop your hunger, you will make different choices than if you see food as nourishment. If you are hungry, you'll grab anything to stop the discomfort, but if you are looking for sustenance, you'll be more choosy.
When you are sick or symptomatic, you should always start by looking at what you are eating and notice whether it is right for your body. No food that is found, grown or caught in nature is inherently good or bad, but it may be good or bad for you, depending on your particular health challenges, the climate in which you live, food allergies and the season. The only exception to this is Genetically Modified foods (GMOs) since they are created first in a laboratory and then grown--these are always harmful and should be avoided.
Start by seeing if you can recognize the food that you are eating as food; when you read the label, is it full of chemicals or items that you can't picture in your mind? If so, chances are you are eating food-like substances made in a laboratory and your body is going to spend a lot of energy working to filter that out. If your body can't remove the chemicals, they get stored in your body and can eventually become inflammation and/or cancer. "Diet" foods are usually laden with chemicals and actually contribute more to weight gain than weight loss. You are also typically left feeling tired, sluggish, bloated, phlegmy and craving more. The cravings come from failing to supply your body with the nutrients that it is actually looking for. For example, when you have chocolate cravings, you are actually craving magnesium, so you should eat more nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables instead of the chocolate chip cookies (although a little dark chocolate is okay). When you supply your body with actual food, you don't typically have cravings since you are supplying your body with the nourishment it requires. If your food doesn't have labels (because it is produce, lean meat or fish) then you are probably headed in the right direction.
First food, then medicine.
If after adjusting your eating habits toward a more whole food diet you are still feeling sick or symptomatic, then that is when you seek out medical intervention. Even then, the medical professional should begin by looking at your diet and seeing if there is anything else that seems out of balance for you. An acupuncturist will look at your diet in relation to the seasons and what your particular symptoms are in order to tailor your diet to what will make you feel better. You might need to eat more meat, you might need to eat less. You might need more root vegetables, you might need less. You might need to eat more grains, no grains, more dairy, no dairy. There is no one-size-fits-all way to eat. Each person has their own requirements based on their internal body chemistry and set of symptoms. Food can be really good medicine when you understand its purpose and use it accordingly.
A great, easy to read book on whole food eating is called Food Rules by Michael Pollan. It is one of my favorites and very helpful for learning the benefits of eating real food. If you are interested in looking at food from a Chinese Medicine perspective to help understand and balance your symptoms, Paul Pitchford's book Healing with Whole Foods is a must.
If you'd like to receive monthly email notifications of my new posts, click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
If you'd like to learn more about me and how I help people feel better with acupuncture, click here.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Can Acupuncture Help Me Sleep? 7 Tips for Better Sleep
Sleep. It is one of the most important things you can do for your health (in addition to eating well, exercising and controlling stress). Sleep can affect mood, weight, immunity, stress levels (see sleep-stress cycle), how quickly we heal from illness or injury as well as our memory and mental clarity. Unfortunately for many, a good night's sleep can be elusive. Sometimes no matter how tired we are we just can't fall asleep. Or if we fall asleep, we wake up and spend hours trying to get back to sleep. Sometimes we are up all night with hot flashes and night sweats. There are many things keeping us awake at night. How often do you get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night?
Here are some Chinese medicine reasons why insomina happens and what can be done about it.
Nighttime is the time of Yin where darkness and cooler temperatures take over. This is the ideal time to sleep. According to Chinese Medicine, during the day, the Spirit resides in our Heart/Brain and animates us through our day. At night the Spirit leaves the Heart and goes into the Liver to rest for the night. If the Liver cannot contain the Spirit (due to any of a variety of Liver imbalances), the Spirit gets up and walks around at night; this leaves us with insomnia, either with trouble falling asleep (onset insomnia) or with staying asleep (matitudinal insomnia). This is also why alcohol can cause sleep problems for some people, especially between 1-3am. This is the peak time for Liver energy (all internal organs have a 2 hour window of peak energy and nadir of energy 12 hours later). If the Liver is trying to process the alcohol, rather than trying to contain the Spirit, the Spirit becomes disturbed and cannot rest, so it is common to have insomnia symptoms occur during this time.
If the Liver (Blood) is weak (symptoms of dizziness, blurred vision, floaters, dry skin/hair, trouble falling asleep, light menstrual flow), the Liver isn't strong enough to contain the Spirit. If you notice your mind racing, keeping you from falling asleep or staying asleep, you may also have a Kidney weakness which is failing to support and ground the Liver. You may have some form of heat rising (Yang or Fire) which is agitating the spirit, preventing sleep from happening; this is often the case where hormonal changes are interfering with sleep (symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability or anxiety).
In order to get good sleep, you must prepare your body for it. Creating a bedtime routine or a good sleep environment in your home, or at least your bedroom, can help your body know that sleep is coming soon. Here are 7 ways to help prepare your body for sleep:
1. Turn off all electronics at least 30-60 minutes before you intend to fall asleep. Electronics are not only stimulating mentally, but by shining light directly into your eyes, it prevents your brain from manufacturing melatonin, the sleep hormone, which your brain only makes when you are in darkness. A great way to prepare for bed is to dim the lights a bit in your house, easing yourself into thinking about sleep.
2. Make sure you don't have "light pollution" in your bedroom. The bedroom should be for 2 things: sex and sleep. Having a television, digital alarm clock or light coming in from the street can all disrupt the darkness that your brain needs. Plus certain electronics create a low level "hum" that some people are sensitive to that can agitate the nervous system on an unconscious level interfering with the quality of sleep you get.
3. Avoid caffeine after noon. Caffeine can stay in your system for 8-12 hours so even if you have some in the afternoon it can affect your sleep. Watch out for hidden caffeine in chocolate and decaf teas and coffee. Only herbal tea is truly caffeine free. Decaf coffee and tea have a significant reduction in caffeine, but can still contain up to 3% of the original amount. If you are sensitive, even this amount can keep you awake.
4. Take a warm shower or bath before bed. Heating the body up creates a cool down period that is sleep inducing. You can also add lavender essential oils to the bath which will increase the relaxation factor.
5. Drinking a warm beverage, like chamomile or valerian tea or even warm milk before bed can help you feel more relaxed. This is good especially if you have trouble falling asleep due to an anxious or racing mind. If liquid before bed causes you to wake up in the night to urinate, you can use Rescue Remedy or Rescue Sleep, made by Bach Flower Essences. They have the same type of calming effect, but you only need 4 drops. You can also eat more melatonin producing foods, such as cherries and kiwis. Any of these remedies should be used about 30-60 minutes before bed, or if you wake during the night.
6. Deep breathing and sequential relaxation are techniques that you can use in bed, either to help you fall asleep or return to sleep.
7. If heat is the culprit, there is a yogic breathing technique called Sitali (pronounced shee-TAH-lee) that can help cool you down. Open your mouth and roll your tongue into a tube (if you can't roll your tongue, just stick it out). Inhale slowly through the "tongue tube." You'll notice the air is very cool on your tongue. Exhale through your nose with your mouth closed. Try to make the exhale at least as long or longer than your inhale. This type of pranayama, or breath work, is cooling and calming to the mind, and can be very helpful if hot flashes or night sweats are keeping you awake at night.
If, after you've tried all of these techniques, sleep still eludes you, you might want to call your local acupuncturist and get in for some treatment. Your acupuncturist can tailor your treatment to the specific imbalances that are preventing your sleep. He or she may also prescribe Chinese herbs or dietary changes if you've been suffering for a long time and need more intensive treatment.
If you would like to receive monthly email notifications about my new posts, please click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
If you'd like to learn more about me and what I do, please click here to visit my website.
Here are some Chinese medicine reasons why insomina happens and what can be done about it.
Nighttime is the time of Yin where darkness and cooler temperatures take over. This is the ideal time to sleep. According to Chinese Medicine, during the day, the Spirit resides in our Heart/Brain and animates us through our day. At night the Spirit leaves the Heart and goes into the Liver to rest for the night. If the Liver cannot contain the Spirit (due to any of a variety of Liver imbalances), the Spirit gets up and walks around at night; this leaves us with insomnia, either with trouble falling asleep (onset insomnia) or with staying asleep (matitudinal insomnia). This is also why alcohol can cause sleep problems for some people, especially between 1-3am. This is the peak time for Liver energy (all internal organs have a 2 hour window of peak energy and nadir of energy 12 hours later). If the Liver is trying to process the alcohol, rather than trying to contain the Spirit, the Spirit becomes disturbed and cannot rest, so it is common to have insomnia symptoms occur during this time.
If the Liver (Blood) is weak (symptoms of dizziness, blurred vision, floaters, dry skin/hair, trouble falling asleep, light menstrual flow), the Liver isn't strong enough to contain the Spirit. If you notice your mind racing, keeping you from falling asleep or staying asleep, you may also have a Kidney weakness which is failing to support and ground the Liver. You may have some form of heat rising (Yang or Fire) which is agitating the spirit, preventing sleep from happening; this is often the case where hormonal changes are interfering with sleep (symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability or anxiety).
In order to get good sleep, you must prepare your body for it. Creating a bedtime routine or a good sleep environment in your home, or at least your bedroom, can help your body know that sleep is coming soon. Here are 7 ways to help prepare your body for sleep:
1. Turn off all electronics at least 30-60 minutes before you intend to fall asleep. Electronics are not only stimulating mentally, but by shining light directly into your eyes, it prevents your brain from manufacturing melatonin, the sleep hormone, which your brain only makes when you are in darkness. A great way to prepare for bed is to dim the lights a bit in your house, easing yourself into thinking about sleep.
2. Make sure you don't have "light pollution" in your bedroom. The bedroom should be for 2 things: sex and sleep. Having a television, digital alarm clock or light coming in from the street can all disrupt the darkness that your brain needs. Plus certain electronics create a low level "hum" that some people are sensitive to that can agitate the nervous system on an unconscious level interfering with the quality of sleep you get.
3. Avoid caffeine after noon. Caffeine can stay in your system for 8-12 hours so even if you have some in the afternoon it can affect your sleep. Watch out for hidden caffeine in chocolate and decaf teas and coffee. Only herbal tea is truly caffeine free. Decaf coffee and tea have a significant reduction in caffeine, but can still contain up to 3% of the original amount. If you are sensitive, even this amount can keep you awake.
4. Take a warm shower or bath before bed. Heating the body up creates a cool down period that is sleep inducing. You can also add lavender essential oils to the bath which will increase the relaxation factor.
5. Drinking a warm beverage, like chamomile or valerian tea or even warm milk before bed can help you feel more relaxed. This is good especially if you have trouble falling asleep due to an anxious or racing mind. If liquid before bed causes you to wake up in the night to urinate, you can use Rescue Remedy or Rescue Sleep, made by Bach Flower Essences. They have the same type of calming effect, but you only need 4 drops. You can also eat more melatonin producing foods, such as cherries and kiwis. Any of these remedies should be used about 30-60 minutes before bed, or if you wake during the night.
6. Deep breathing and sequential relaxation are techniques that you can use in bed, either to help you fall asleep or return to sleep.
- For deep breathing, lie down in bed on your back, close your eyes and place your hands on your lower abdomen. First just observe yourself breathing, noticing if your chest or your belly is rising and falling. If your chest is moving, actively try to breathe into your belly, feeling your hands rise with your inhale and fall with the exhale. Imagine that your belly is a balloon and that as you inhale you are filling the balloon causing it to expand, and as you exhale the balloon deflates. Performing deep breathing for 3-5 minutes can help you let go of the day, let go of the anxiety over falling asleep and help you drop into your body so that sleep can overtake you.
- Sequential relaxation is another useful technique. Lie on your back, close your eyes and breathe naturally. Bring your attention to the top of your head and try to relax the muscles there. Focus on your eyebrows and relax them apart. Let your eyes fall back into their sockets. Continue like this, relaxing one body part at a time, moving your attention from your head down to your feet. By the end you have either already fallen asleep or you are so relaxed that it is easier to drift off.
7. If heat is the culprit, there is a yogic breathing technique called Sitali (pronounced shee-TAH-lee) that can help cool you down. Open your mouth and roll your tongue into a tube (if you can't roll your tongue, just stick it out). Inhale slowly through the "tongue tube." You'll notice the air is very cool on your tongue. Exhale through your nose with your mouth closed. Try to make the exhale at least as long or longer than your inhale. This type of pranayama, or breath work, is cooling and calming to the mind, and can be very helpful if hot flashes or night sweats are keeping you awake at night.
If, after you've tried all of these techniques, sleep still eludes you, you might want to call your local acupuncturist and get in for some treatment. Your acupuncturist can tailor your treatment to the specific imbalances that are preventing your sleep. He or she may also prescribe Chinese herbs or dietary changes if you've been suffering for a long time and need more intensive treatment.
If you would like to receive monthly email notifications about my new posts, please click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
If you'd like to learn more about me and what I do, please click here to visit my website.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Using Acupuncture to Get Help for Addiction
Many people struggle with some form of addiction: to food, alcohol, sugar, shopping, sex, drugs, gambling, drama, the internet--the list goes on and on. For some it has a mild impact on their life, where perhaps they spend too much time on social media or their credit card bills get a little high, but generally speaking things are more or less under control. Over time, however, addiction can take over and it can cause a lot of damage to a person's relationships, work, physical and emotional health and even their mortality. Sometimes addiction can be managed by the addicted person, but many times it can't; when addiction begins interfering with one's ability to function in day to day life, outside help is essential.
In the early 1970's, Dr. Michael O. Smith at Lincoln Hospital in South Bronx, NY, began using auricular, or ear, acupuncture with the addicted patients under his care in the rehab facility; this program grew into the National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA). The patients were also receiving counseling and other treatments as is usual in the treatment of addiction. However, when the patients received acupuncture, they were less agitated, had fewer cravings and felt more at ease.
Since then, the 5 point "NADA protocol" has been used over and over to promote wellness, calmness and healing for many people struggling with addition, as well as struggling with the stress and trauma that can often lead to addiction. This protocol creates a deep sense of well-being as it "resets" the nervous system in a positive way. Addiction often starts when a person feels something that he/she doesn't want to feel (sadness, shame, regret, loneliness, self-loathing, etc.) and is looking for something to make him or her feel better. When someone has an addiction, the body and mind have become dependent on a substance or behavior in order to feel "okay." It has gone beyond the "not feeling bad" stage to needing to use in order to feel at baseline. When the substance is removed or the behavior is not practiced, the body becomes agitated and feels "not okay," until the next fix. When the body is "not okay," the nervous system is sent into a state of stress, or Fight or Flight, where the only thing the person with addiction thinks he or she can do is use. With some substances that is actually true (like with alcohol), which is why medical intervention and supervision is often required to help a person detox. Other times, however, what he or she needs is something safer and less self-destructive that will also reset the nervous system into feeling "okay" again; acupuncture can help do that.
During the detox/withdrawal period and the months after, acupuncture can be a very supportive adjunctive therapy, helping a person with addiction manage cravings, stress and anxiety while lessening the need to use. Many suppressed feelings often come up during this time, which can be overwhelming, which is why ideally the person with addiction should also attend some sort of talk therapy/group therapy or other support system during this process. If someone is doing outpatient rehab work, getting acupuncture is a great way to encourage success as it helps with the feelings of overwhelm, depression, anxiety and stress. The person with addiction can get acupuncture treatments daily or weekly, depending on the level of support that he or she requires. Many acupuncturists can also apply press balls or press seeds which are tiny spheres that are taped onto the ear points so that the client can press the points and get more support between treatments. These methods create a constant, low level of stimulation to some or all of the NADA protocol points. These press balls or seeds can be left on the ears for 3-5 days.
For more information on the benefits of acupuncture for addiction, go to the National Acupuncture Detox Association's website. To find an acupuncturist near you, go to the NCCAOM website. To find a NADA specialist in your area, call (888)765-6232.
If you would like to receive email notifications once a month about my new posts, please click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
To learn more about me and what I do, please go to my website.
In the early 1970's, Dr. Michael O. Smith at Lincoln Hospital in South Bronx, NY, began using auricular, or ear, acupuncture with the addicted patients under his care in the rehab facility; this program grew into the National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA). The patients were also receiving counseling and other treatments as is usual in the treatment of addiction. However, when the patients received acupuncture, they were less agitated, had fewer cravings and felt more at ease.
During the detox/withdrawal period and the months after, acupuncture can be a very supportive adjunctive therapy, helping a person with addiction manage cravings, stress and anxiety while lessening the need to use. Many suppressed feelings often come up during this time, which can be overwhelming, which is why ideally the person with addiction should also attend some sort of talk therapy/group therapy or other support system during this process. If someone is doing outpatient rehab work, getting acupuncture is a great way to encourage success as it helps with the feelings of overwhelm, depression, anxiety and stress. The person with addiction can get acupuncture treatments daily or weekly, depending on the level of support that he or she requires. Many acupuncturists can also apply press balls or press seeds which are tiny spheres that are taped onto the ear points so that the client can press the points and get more support between treatments. These methods create a constant, low level of stimulation to some or all of the NADA protocol points. These press balls or seeds can be left on the ears for 3-5 days.
For more information on the benefits of acupuncture for addiction, go to the National Acupuncture Detox Association's website. To find an acupuncturist near you, go to the NCCAOM website. To find a NADA specialist in your area, call (888)765-6232.
If you would like to receive email notifications once a month about my new posts, please click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
To learn more about me and what I do, please go to my website.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Sinus and Ear Infections: Alternatives to Antibiotics
It is getting to that time of year when illness strikes. The days are getting shorter, the weather a little cooler, our vitamin D stores from the summer are running low (unless you are supplementing, which I highly recommend).
It usually starts out as a cold: runny nose, headache, sinus congestion, post nasal drip, scratchy throat, fatigue. But, you compound it with poor quality or insufficient sleep, high stress and low quality nutrition, your body can't effectively fight off the cold and you may end up with a sinus or ear infection.
In Chinese Medicine we talk about these conditions as Stagnation of Phlegm, which is usually Hot Phlegm according to the color of the mucous and associated symptoms. Cold (Damp) Phlegm is usually clear or white and thinner, whereas Hot Phlegm (usually the case with infections like these) is yellow or green, maybe blood tinged, and more viscous and thick. Typically once Phlegm gets to the infection stage it is Hot. Antibiotics are cold in nature which is why they are often prescribed for infections. However, antibiotics kill off not only the bad bacteria, but the good as well; it is that good bacteria that is helping your body fight off illness.
What are some alternatives?
Studies have shown that for both sinus and ear infections, antibiotics don't help the body get rid of the illness any faster than the body would on its own (which is why you need to continue taking antibiotics for such a long period of time). Also, the chances of getting a recurrence of the infection is high since the antibiotics don't kill all of the bad bacteria, only those that are weaker than the medication; antibiotics reduce the overall number of bacteria that your body needs to fight off, but don't kill them all. This leaves you with a stronger infection still lingering, and since your immune system has been weakened by the antibiotics (70% of your immune system is in your gut where your good bacteria has just been killed off), it is much harder to combat. There are also the common side effects of digestive upset/nausea, diarrhea and yeast infections to name a few.
Chinese medicine works by treating the body, rather than the illness. Thousands of years ago, there was no knowledge of viruses, bacteria or fungi causing illness, the ancient Chinese doctors just saw the patient's symptoms and described them as an invasion of some sort of External Pathogenic Influence (EPI). Those EPIs could be Heat, Dampness or Phlegm, Cold, Wind or Dryness, based on the symptoms that presented. These different pathogens would affect the body in different ways and the ancient Chinese doctors would treat the patient according to how he or she was presenting. If the patient had a very sore throat there was a Heat pathogen lodged in the throat; if the patient had a runny nose, headache and hoarse voice, the doctor would treat for a Wind invasion. With Sinus and Ear infections, there is Heat and Phlegm in the Nose and Sinuses and/or Ear.
Acupuncture can very effectively help the body get rid of the Phlegm and Heat, while opening the sinuses and ears to ease the pain. Although there is Heat in the condition (usually seen as fever, irritability and yellow/green Phlegm) putting a warm compress on the affected area can help get the Phlegm to move and drain. Phlegm (whether hot or cold) is seen as a Yin fluid (Yin is cool, contracting, moving inward) so is often treated by using a Yang element like heat (Yang is warm, expanding, moving outward). That is why when you take a hot shower it can often open up your sinuses and help you breathe better; the heat is allowing the Phlegm to move so it is no longer stagnant creating pain. When there is stagnation, pressure builds up and causes pain; when the Phlegm moves, it allows the Qi to move, relieving the pressure and the pain goes away.
There are some great herbal remedies that I like to use either in addition to acupuncture or on its own. Be sure to purchase herbs either from a qualified herbalist or from a reputable company that uses herbs that are GMP certified. This ensures that they are not tainted with heavy metals or other contaminants and are made in a facility that is held to high standards of quality. Before trying any herbal remedies, it is important to be seen by a licensed acupuncturist or herbalist in your area to get the proper diagnosis and make sure that you are using the correct formula for you. Plus if you suffer from food or environmental allergies, that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in the formula. If you are allergic, the Chinese medicine practitioner can create a formula tailor made for you that doesn't contain the allergenic ingredient(s)--this flexibility is one of the reasons that I love Chinese medicine!
For Sinus infections I use the formula Bi Yan Pian. It is very effective and can help with sinus pain and pressure without negatively affecting your immune system. This formula helps your body get rid of the Phlegm and Heat, while opening the sinus passages. It also helps with any sore throat that might accompany the illness. For Ear infections Blue Poppy makes a great pediatric formula called Bupleurum and Angelica. It is a glycerine based tincture (no alcohol) and when I use it for adults I just increase the dosage. This formula also helps with the Heat and Phlegm but is more targeted toward the ears and throat. These are formulas that I've used myself and with my kids as well as many patients over the years with great success and no side effects. You may need an acupuncturist to order them for you (especially from Blue Poppy), and I highly recommend it.
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It usually starts out as a cold: runny nose, headache, sinus congestion, post nasal drip, scratchy throat, fatigue. But, you compound it with poor quality or insufficient sleep, high stress and low quality nutrition, your body can't effectively fight off the cold and you may end up with a sinus or ear infection.
In Chinese Medicine we talk about these conditions as Stagnation of Phlegm, which is usually Hot Phlegm according to the color of the mucous and associated symptoms. Cold (Damp) Phlegm is usually clear or white and thinner, whereas Hot Phlegm (usually the case with infections like these) is yellow or green, maybe blood tinged, and more viscous and thick. Typically once Phlegm gets to the infection stage it is Hot. Antibiotics are cold in nature which is why they are often prescribed for infections. However, antibiotics kill off not only the bad bacteria, but the good as well; it is that good bacteria that is helping your body fight off illness.
What are some alternatives?
Studies have shown that for both sinus and ear infections, antibiotics don't help the body get rid of the illness any faster than the body would on its own (which is why you need to continue taking antibiotics for such a long period of time). Also, the chances of getting a recurrence of the infection is high since the antibiotics don't kill all of the bad bacteria, only those that are weaker than the medication; antibiotics reduce the overall number of bacteria that your body needs to fight off, but don't kill them all. This leaves you with a stronger infection still lingering, and since your immune system has been weakened by the antibiotics (70% of your immune system is in your gut where your good bacteria has just been killed off), it is much harder to combat. There are also the common side effects of digestive upset/nausea, diarrhea and yeast infections to name a few.
Chinese medicine works by treating the body, rather than the illness. Thousands of years ago, there was no knowledge of viruses, bacteria or fungi causing illness, the ancient Chinese doctors just saw the patient's symptoms and described them as an invasion of some sort of External Pathogenic Influence (EPI). Those EPIs could be Heat, Dampness or Phlegm, Cold, Wind or Dryness, based on the symptoms that presented. These different pathogens would affect the body in different ways and the ancient Chinese doctors would treat the patient according to how he or she was presenting. If the patient had a very sore throat there was a Heat pathogen lodged in the throat; if the patient had a runny nose, headache and hoarse voice, the doctor would treat for a Wind invasion. With Sinus and Ear infections, there is Heat and Phlegm in the Nose and Sinuses and/or Ear.
Acupuncture can very effectively help the body get rid of the Phlegm and Heat, while opening the sinuses and ears to ease the pain. Although there is Heat in the condition (usually seen as fever, irritability and yellow/green Phlegm) putting a warm compress on the affected area can help get the Phlegm to move and drain. Phlegm (whether hot or cold) is seen as a Yin fluid (Yin is cool, contracting, moving inward) so is often treated by using a Yang element like heat (Yang is warm, expanding, moving outward). That is why when you take a hot shower it can often open up your sinuses and help you breathe better; the heat is allowing the Phlegm to move so it is no longer stagnant creating pain. When there is stagnation, pressure builds up and causes pain; when the Phlegm moves, it allows the Qi to move, relieving the pressure and the pain goes away.
There are some great herbal remedies that I like to use either in addition to acupuncture or on its own. Be sure to purchase herbs either from a qualified herbalist or from a reputable company that uses herbs that are GMP certified. This ensures that they are not tainted with heavy metals or other contaminants and are made in a facility that is held to high standards of quality. Before trying any herbal remedies, it is important to be seen by a licensed acupuncturist or herbalist in your area to get the proper diagnosis and make sure that you are using the correct formula for you. Plus if you suffer from food or environmental allergies, that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in the formula. If you are allergic, the Chinese medicine practitioner can create a formula tailor made for you that doesn't contain the allergenic ingredient(s)--this flexibility is one of the reasons that I love Chinese medicine!
For Sinus infections I use the formula Bi Yan Pian. It is very effective and can help with sinus pain and pressure without negatively affecting your immune system. This formula helps your body get rid of the Phlegm and Heat, while opening the sinus passages. It also helps with any sore throat that might accompany the illness. For Ear infections Blue Poppy makes a great pediatric formula called Bupleurum and Angelica. It is a glycerine based tincture (no alcohol) and when I use it for adults I just increase the dosage. This formula also helps with the Heat and Phlegm but is more targeted toward the ears and throat. These are formulas that I've used myself and with my kids as well as many patients over the years with great success and no side effects. You may need an acupuncturist to order them for you (especially from Blue Poppy), and I highly recommend it.
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Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Top 5 reasons why every parent needs acupuncture
If you are like most parents, your needs come last. The kids, the house and the job usually take priority and your personal needs often fall to the bottom of the pile. Because of this, it is really common for parents to be in a constant state of stress. You may call it being overly busy or having too much to do with not enough time to do it, but it boils down to the same thing: you are overwhelmed.
The best way to tackle this is by putting your needs first. You might think that that seems selfish given all your responsibilities, but hear me out. In an airplane emergency, you are supposed to put on your oxygen mask first before helping your child. That way you are still conscious and can be more helpful to those around you. In your day to day life, wouldn't it be better for your child(ren) if you were functioning at your best? How much easier is it to cope with a screaming child when you've eaten and had a good night's sleep, as opposed to when you are hungry and sleep deprived? I hope it doesn't take an airplane emergency for you to see the value in putting your needs first. As parents, we want to do the best job possible, but we can't be our best parental selves if we are stressed out, hungry, exhausted, under-exercised and overwhelmed.
Beyond the basics of good nutrition and exercise (which are both vitally important), acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be great supports to help you feel better and function more effectively as a parent, taking you out of your overwhelm and helping you feel better on a daily basis.
Here are my Top 5 ways that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help:
1. Stress/Depression/Anxiety. Life stress comes from many places. In previous posts I've mentioned improper diet, insufficient good quality sleep, and inappropriate exercise as a few causes, but parents have all kinds of additional stress. Whether it is the stress of new parents learning to take care of their newborn, or seasoned parents navigating the world of a teenager, or parents dealing with multiple children at different stages of life, parents feel stress. Acupuncture calms the nervous system and takes you out of your head and brings you back into your body, helping you feel more calm, relaxed and grounded. Worry and anxiety are common parts of parenthood, but they shouldn't dominate your thinking. If they do, reducing your stress and anxiety will improve your ability to relate to and take care of your child(ren).
2. Sleep. It is amazing to me how many people don't get enough good quality sleep. Of course as parents we sometimes have "little visitors" that wake us at night, but many parents don't sleep well anyway. The stress of life, technology shining in our faces, hormones, poor eating or drinking habits, are all things that can affect our sleep. If you are someone who ruminates over the to-do list at any time of day or night, I suggest keeping a pad and pen near your bed so that you can write things down; once your items are in black and white, you no longer have to remember them and you can go to sleep without worry. I don't advise using an electronic device only because it will be light shining in your eyes which will further impair your ability to sleep. When writing on the pad, you can just write in the dark or use very low light flashlight shining away from you. If you are awake in the middle of the night for no reason or have trouble falling or returning to sleep, acupuncture can help you find a more peaceful, better quality sleep. By regulating hormones, TCM helps to create internal balance, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Even if you are getting visitors at night (or half sleeping waiting for your teenager to get home), acupuncture can give you better quality sleep while you are sleeping and help you get back to sleep when you are awakened.
3. More Energy. What parent (or person in general) doesn't want better energy? TCM can help improve your energy without the use of stimulants. Although stimulants, like caffeine, can give you an energy boost when you need it, in the long run they can actually drain and deplete your energy. Stimulants cause the body to release a small shot of adrenaline, rather than giving you real usable fuel as energy. Improving your energy through diet, acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine can go a long way towards reducing your parental overwhelm. It is much easier to cope with life challenges when you have the energy to do it. Your fatigue might be related to lack of good sleep, poor food choices, too many stimulants, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Adrenal Fatigue, low Thyroid or a number of other causes. Having support can make a big difference in how you feel from day to day.
4. Menopause. Having hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and insomnia can make it much more difficult sleep, let alone handle missed curfews and back talk. Reducing perimenopause and menopause related symptoms can help make you more emotionally and physically comfortable, thus reducing your stress and overwhelm. When you are calm and rested, coping with life is just easier.
5. Nagging Chronic Conditions that prevent you from being your best. Whether it is a shoulder injury that keeps you from playing ball with your kids, migraines that interfere with your ability to function, Irritable Bowel Syndrome that keeps you close to a toilet at all times, or something else, these are things that interfere with your ability to be there for your kids in the way that you would like. There are many conditions that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can effectively treat. Talk to your local provider and see if your condition can be treated with these natural interventions.
If you need more parenting support, I recommend contacting Kathy Whitham at kathy@parentingbeyondwords.com. Kathy helps parents be the parents that they really want to be. She does both phone and in person consultations.
If you would like to receive monthly notifications of new posts, click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
The best way to tackle this is by putting your needs first. You might think that that seems selfish given all your responsibilities, but hear me out. In an airplane emergency, you are supposed to put on your oxygen mask first before helping your child. That way you are still conscious and can be more helpful to those around you. In your day to day life, wouldn't it be better for your child(ren) if you were functioning at your best? How much easier is it to cope with a screaming child when you've eaten and had a good night's sleep, as opposed to when you are hungry and sleep deprived? I hope it doesn't take an airplane emergency for you to see the value in putting your needs first. As parents, we want to do the best job possible, but we can't be our best parental selves if we are stressed out, hungry, exhausted, under-exercised and overwhelmed.
Beyond the basics of good nutrition and exercise (which are both vitally important), acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be great supports to help you feel better and function more effectively as a parent, taking you out of your overwhelm and helping you feel better on a daily basis.
Here are my Top 5 ways that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help:
1. Stress/Depression/Anxiety. Life stress comes from many places. In previous posts I've mentioned improper diet, insufficient good quality sleep, and inappropriate exercise as a few causes, but parents have all kinds of additional stress. Whether it is the stress of new parents learning to take care of their newborn, or seasoned parents navigating the world of a teenager, or parents dealing with multiple children at different stages of life, parents feel stress. Acupuncture calms the nervous system and takes you out of your head and brings you back into your body, helping you feel more calm, relaxed and grounded. Worry and anxiety are common parts of parenthood, but they shouldn't dominate your thinking. If they do, reducing your stress and anxiety will improve your ability to relate to and take care of your child(ren).
2. Sleep. It is amazing to me how many people don't get enough good quality sleep. Of course as parents we sometimes have "little visitors" that wake us at night, but many parents don't sleep well anyway. The stress of life, technology shining in our faces, hormones, poor eating or drinking habits, are all things that can affect our sleep. If you are someone who ruminates over the to-do list at any time of day or night, I suggest keeping a pad and pen near your bed so that you can write things down; once your items are in black and white, you no longer have to remember them and you can go to sleep without worry. I don't advise using an electronic device only because it will be light shining in your eyes which will further impair your ability to sleep. When writing on the pad, you can just write in the dark or use very low light flashlight shining away from you. If you are awake in the middle of the night for no reason or have trouble falling or returning to sleep, acupuncture can help you find a more peaceful, better quality sleep. By regulating hormones, TCM helps to create internal balance, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Even if you are getting visitors at night (or half sleeping waiting for your teenager to get home), acupuncture can give you better quality sleep while you are sleeping and help you get back to sleep when you are awakened.
3. More Energy. What parent (or person in general) doesn't want better energy? TCM can help improve your energy without the use of stimulants. Although stimulants, like caffeine, can give you an energy boost when you need it, in the long run they can actually drain and deplete your energy. Stimulants cause the body to release a small shot of adrenaline, rather than giving you real usable fuel as energy. Improving your energy through diet, acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine can go a long way towards reducing your parental overwhelm. It is much easier to cope with life challenges when you have the energy to do it. Your fatigue might be related to lack of good sleep, poor food choices, too many stimulants, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Adrenal Fatigue, low Thyroid or a number of other causes. Having support can make a big difference in how you feel from day to day.
4. Menopause. Having hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and insomnia can make it much more difficult sleep, let alone handle missed curfews and back talk. Reducing perimenopause and menopause related symptoms can help make you more emotionally and physically comfortable, thus reducing your stress and overwhelm. When you are calm and rested, coping with life is just easier.
5. Nagging Chronic Conditions that prevent you from being your best. Whether it is a shoulder injury that keeps you from playing ball with your kids, migraines that interfere with your ability to function, Irritable Bowel Syndrome that keeps you close to a toilet at all times, or something else, these are things that interfere with your ability to be there for your kids in the way that you would like. There are many conditions that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can effectively treat. Talk to your local provider and see if your condition can be treated with these natural interventions.
If you need more parenting support, I recommend contacting Kathy Whitham at kathy@parentingbeyondwords.com. Kathy helps parents be the parents that they really want to be. She does both phone and in person consultations.
If you would like to receive monthly notifications of new posts, click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Cupping and Gua Sha: What are they and what are their benefits?
Cupping and Gua sha have gained some recognition in recent years, mostly when used by celebrities. The tell tale circles on people's backs are caused by the suction of cups against the muscles. But why would anyone do this to themselves? It looks so painful! The good news is that it is not painful and the techniques offer many benefits.
Cupping and Gua sha have many uses. They are most typically used when there is some form of Qi or Blood stagnation, usually indicated by tension, discomfort or pain. The tight neck you get from sitting too long at a computer is a good example of Qi stagnation. There is a Chinese saying, "When there is pain, there is no free flow; when there is free flow, there is no pain." Cupping and Gua sha improve circulation and reestablish proper Blood and Qi flow in muscles that are tight and not moving the way that they should.
Gua sha involves the use of a hard, smooth instrument, often a ceramic spoon (like the one you use at a Chinese restaurant for wonton soup) or a piece of jade. The practitioner scrapes the spoon against the skin along the tight muscles to release the underlying tension and stagnation; it is like getting a very deep massage, very quickly. Wherever there is stagnation, tension or muscle "knots" you will see a bright red/purple mark on the skin (see photo), akin to road rash but without the abrasion. This is an indication that the stagnation has released from the muscles and the Qi and Blood are starting to circulate again. Anywhere that doesn't have stagnation, you will just see light redness on the skin from the friction of the spoon. Usually after Gua sha, the patient has better range of motion and significantly less pain, although there might be some local superficial soreness. Gua sha is a great technique to use on any tight muscles, as long as there isn't any inflammation present.
Traditionally Cupping is done by lighting a cotton ball on fire and inserting it into a glass cup (the fire uses up all of the oxygen inside). Then the cotton is quickly removed and the cup is placed on the body. The lack of oxygen creates a vacuum, sucking the muscle up into the cup. If feels like when a massage therapist grabs your muscle and squeezes it. Today more practitioners use plastic cups (see photo) that come with a suction pump (no fire). I find them easier to use with less fire hazard, and they are just as effective. Cupping is very versatile in its uses. Like Gua sha it can be used for tight muscles, but it can also be used for respiratory problems, like asthma, chest colds or bronchitis, or for digestive problems like bloating, constipation or IBS. These conditions all involve some element of Qi stagnation. With many respiratory conditions, Phlegm is getting stuck in the Lungs and chest causing breathing difficulty; when Phlegm gets stuck, Qi gets stuck. When you can get the Qi flowing again, it is easier to expectorate the Phlegm, the chest and upper back are more relaxed so breathing is easier. With digestive issues, sliding the cups on the abdomen in a clockwise motion can encourage movement in the direction of the natural flow of the intestines to release discomfort and make evacuation a little easier. Cupping tends to be a bit gentler, and the amount of suction can be adjusted as well. Afterward patients look like they were attacked by an octopus, but the relief is immediate.
Cupping and Gua sha can be stand alone treatments or used in conjunction with Acupuncture or Moxibustion. They are very effective techniques and the results are felt right away. The only downside is that they can leave a mark for 3-7 days, so you might want to warn your significant other before you take off your shirt.
If you would like to get email notifications once a month about my new posts, please click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Cupping and Gua sha have many uses. They are most typically used when there is some form of Qi or Blood stagnation, usually indicated by tension, discomfort or pain. The tight neck you get from sitting too long at a computer is a good example of Qi stagnation. There is a Chinese saying, "When there is pain, there is no free flow; when there is free flow, there is no pain." Cupping and Gua sha improve circulation and reestablish proper Blood and Qi flow in muscles that are tight and not moving the way that they should.
Gua sha involves the use of a hard, smooth instrument, often a ceramic spoon (like the one you use at a Chinese restaurant for wonton soup) or a piece of jade. The practitioner scrapes the spoon against the skin along the tight muscles to release the underlying tension and stagnation; it is like getting a very deep massage, very quickly. Wherever there is stagnation, tension or muscle "knots" you will see a bright red/purple mark on the skin (see photo), akin to road rash but without the abrasion. This is an indication that the stagnation has released from the muscles and the Qi and Blood are starting to circulate again. Anywhere that doesn't have stagnation, you will just see light redness on the skin from the friction of the spoon. Usually after Gua sha, the patient has better range of motion and significantly less pain, although there might be some local superficial soreness. Gua sha is a great technique to use on any tight muscles, as long as there isn't any inflammation present. Traditionally Cupping is done by lighting a cotton ball on fire and inserting it into a glass cup (the fire uses up all of the oxygen inside). Then the cotton is quickly removed and the cup is placed on the body. The lack of oxygen creates a vacuum, sucking the muscle up into the cup. If feels like when a massage therapist grabs your muscle and squeezes it. Today more practitioners use plastic cups (see photo) that come with a suction pump (no fire). I find them easier to use with less fire hazard, and they are just as effective. Cupping is very versatile in its uses. Like Gua sha it can be used for tight muscles, but it can also be used for respiratory problems, like asthma, chest colds or bronchitis, or for digestive problems like bloating, constipation or IBS. These conditions all involve some element of Qi stagnation. With many respiratory conditions, Phlegm is getting stuck in the Lungs and chest causing breathing difficulty; when Phlegm gets stuck, Qi gets stuck. When you can get the Qi flowing again, it is easier to expectorate the Phlegm, the chest and upper back are more relaxed so breathing is easier. With digestive issues, sliding the cups on the abdomen in a clockwise motion can encourage movement in the direction of the natural flow of the intestines to release discomfort and make evacuation a little easier. Cupping tends to be a bit gentler, and the amount of suction can be adjusted as well. Afterward patients look like they were attacked by an octopus, but the relief is immediate. Cupping and Gua sha can be stand alone treatments or used in conjunction with Acupuncture or Moxibustion. They are very effective techniques and the results are felt right away. The only downside is that they can leave a mark for 3-7 days, so you might want to warn your significant other before you take off your shirt.
If you would like to get email notifications once a month about my new posts, please click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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