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Wellness

Spring is Here!

 

Spring Settles Upon Us


Spring brings with it warmer weather and renewed physical and mental energy. For many people, however, the transition from winter to spring isn‘t always easy. The cold winter months are a natural time for rest and introspection so it can be a challenge to get moving again.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tells us that settling into spring can be even more difficult if there is an imbalance in the Liver, which is responsible for the flow of Qi (Life Energy) throughout the body. An imbalance or lack of Qi can cause a whole range of emotional and physical symptoms such as anger, depression, mood swings, abdominal pain, menstrual problems, and even allergies. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, then you are aware that they can be barriers to moving forward and living in harmony with the seasons.

The good news is that you can take charge of your health and kick-start your spring. First, talk to me about how to address any underlying imbalances that might be affecting your energy levels. I’ll have some suggestions for you, and may even talk about dietary changes, supplements, herbs or exercises that can help.
Next, decide how to tackle any stressors at work or home that might be keeping you from feeling your best. Consider acupuncture, acupressure, meditation, yoga, massage, or talk therapy to help you handle stress and keep from becoming overwhelmed.
Lastly, plan to get moving. Exercise is an important way to boost your energy and keep your Qi flowing. Keep these tips in mind:

Take it slow, especially if you haven’t exercised over the winter. Use common sense to avoid overdoing it and injuring yourself.
Set small goals for yourself such as walking for 15 minutes each day. Set new goals as your fitness level improves.
Warm up before exercising and always remember to stretch.
Do something you enjoy, so your workout doesn’t feel like work.
With a little planning and some assistance from TCM you can shake off those winter blahs and enjoy all the wonderful benefits of spring.

References:
Ready, Set, Grow, Connors, C., Body & Brain magazine. Spring 2005.
The Liver and Liver Qi Stagnation, Acufinder Magazine. http://www.acufinder.com

Spring is a happy time

Spring is a happy time.  Bunnies hop about.  Flowers emerge in long forgotten corners of your garden.  The birds return and sing so loudly they wake you in the morning.

This is not a time to be angry.

But according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, being angry is exactly what you can expect if you don’t balance your wood element.

In TCM, spring is represented by the element wood.  Wood represents birth and newness, the time for fresh ideas and new starts.  Unsurprisingly, its color is green like the fresh growth of spring.

Wood governs your spine, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons.  A wood imbalance can lead to spinal problems, poor flexibility or arthritis.  Wood also governs your eyes.

But most important for your mood, wood governs your liver.  Your liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi (energy) and smooth flowing Qi means health and vitality.  The emotion associated with your liver is anger.  If your liver is imbalanced your Qi will be disrupted and you’ll be angry.

Healthy (and happy) spring acupuncture practices mean balancing your wood element and caring for your liver.

Healthy Spring Acupuncture Practices

Try these spring acupuncture recommendations, to keep your wood balanced and your liver healthy.

  • Cleanse.  Cleaning your colon releases accumulated toxins, undigested food, parasites and fungi.  With a clean colon your digestion is more efficient and your body is healthier.
  • Detox your liver.  Reduce or eliminate alcohol or drugs that are toxic to your liver.  Consider a detox that specifically targets your liver.  Call me if you need suggestions.
  • Stretch.  Start or recommit to a healthy stretching routine.  Try yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or other exercises that move, loosen and flex your joints.
  • Exercise your eyes.  Massage your face, especially around your eyes.  Roll your eyes and move them in figure 8s.  Practice focusing on distant objects and then focusing on close objects in quick succession.  Put time limits on your computer sessions.  These exercises strengthen your eyes and can improve your eyesight.
  • Control your anger.  Create a healthy anger management plan.  Journal, meditate or get counseling.  Put limits on stressful situations.  Find activities that refocus your anger in healthy ways.

Healthy Spring Acupuncture Diet

Follow these tips for a healthy spring diet that supports your liver.

  • Eat light.  Overeating taxes your liver.
  • Eat greens.  Sprouts, wheatgrass, spinach, kale and dandelions are particularly good foods in the spring.
  • Eat sour?  Sour is the flavor associated with spring, however sour flavors are only recommended for certain constitutions.  Instead of dousing your greens with vinegar or lemon juice dressings, consult with me to find out what flavors are best for you.
  • Drink milk thistle tea.  Milk thistle detoxes your liver.
  • Season your food.  Pungent spices like basil, fennel, marjoram, rosemary, caraway, dill and bay leaf are excellent for spring cooking—and they taste good.

By keeping your wood balanced and your liver healthy you will be happy.  You’ll feel vital, flexible and clear.  If you have questions about healthy spring acupuncture practices feel free to call me for recommendations.

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

How a Healthy Lifestyle Benefits Your Mind as Well as Body

apple-18721_640We all know that a healthy lifestyle, such as not smoking, keeping your weight down, eating right, regular exercise, and low moderate alcohol intake contributes to long-term health benefits. The recently completed Caerphilly Cohort Study expands the known benefits of a healthy lifestyle to include more evidence for improvements in cognitive function, and a reduced incidence of dementia.

The study began in 1979, and spanned a full 35 years. The health habits of 2,235 men between the ages of 45 and 59 were correlated to their incidences of diabetes, vascular disease, cancer, cognitive impairment, dementia and death (from all causes). The study tracked five healthy behaviors: continue reading »

Can You Use Acupuncture for Weight Loss?

weight-loss-03102014Everyone is looking for the secret to weight loss, without falling victim to the latest gimmicks. With so many different opinions about how to lose weight, it can be difficult to tell what will really work.

Fortunately there is a technique for weight loss that has been tested for centuries:  acupuncture.

This technique is safe, sound and reliable. And, even more exciting, using acupuncture for weight loss helps you lose weight in several different ways. continue reading »

The Definitive Guide to Chronic Fatigue and Alternative Treatments

sleepy-owlChronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a mysterious condition. There is no known cause. While the symptoms can be debilitating, there is no test to diagnosis it. Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with CFS. And most sufferers are between 25 and 45 years old, although there are cases in childhood and middle age.

Some people with CFS live active lives while 25% of the cases are disabled. Sometimes the disease is persistent and other times there is a pattern of relapse and remission. No one knows how many cases there are of CFS because The CFIDS Association of America estimates that fewer than 20 percent of CFS patients in the United States have been properly diagnosed.

CFS has several names. It is called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS).  No matter what it is called, the most effective way to manage chronic fatigue is with alternative treatments. continue reading »

Sticking to your New Year’s Resolution: The Trick is Not What You Think

new-years-resolution-1_lIt’s New Year’s again.  It’s time to make a resolution.

And you know the drill. You set goals.  You work on them for a couple of weeks.  You begin to flag.

Many times you give up by February.

Your New Year’s resolution becomes a distant memory until the next New Year’s when you feel slightly guilty and begin the whole process again.

If each year you make a resolution and each year you break it, something has to change.  The only way this year can be different is if you do something different.

The trick is not changing your resolution.  The trick to achieving your resolution is to use an entirely new plan to reach it. continue reading »

Interesting Ways to Help Your Kids Exercise in Winter

snow-drawingIt’s cold and dark outside.

You come home with the kids and all you want to do is snuggle on the couch.

Snuggling in winter may be fun (and I’m not going to say you shouldn’t snuggle) but your kids need something more.  In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), kids need at least 1 hour of physical activity—every day.  And depending on your children’s school program and sports activities, they may not even get close.

There are many benefits.  Exercise helps kids feel less stressed, have higher self-esteem, focus at school, sleep better and maintain a healthy weight.  You’ve probably noticed that parenting children who get enough exercise is also easier than parenting those who don’t.

Winter is a time for yin activities.  It’s healthy to be introspective and quiet.  However, children need physical activity—even in the winter.

But on a cold, dark day, how do you get your kids to exercise? continue reading »

The Holiday Survival Toolkit: How to Not Drink at Parties (And Still Have Fun)

cocktailThe holiday season is upon us and we all know what that means—parties.

Parties at work, parties at church, parties at school, fundraiser parties, caroling parties, Secret Santa parties…

It’s the season of so many parties that we long for a weekend night with nothing scheduled.

All the parties can lead to excess, but the biggest party of the season, New Year’s Eve, can be the topper.  Many people drink so much that it can take days to feel healthy again. And even if you don’t drink to drunkenness, your extra alcohol intake in the month of December can take its toll.

I think it’s great to celebrate and enjoy the company of your loved ones, but I don’t want to see you sick.  Find out how to not drink (or at least drink less) this party season. continue reading »

6 Facts to Know When Using Acupuncture to Quit Smoking

No_SmokingSmoking is a strong, complicated addiction.  Quitting smoking is no small task and you will need lots of support to be successful.  You need the best tools to help with the physical and emotional symptoms, and acupuncture is a great resource to help you succeed.

Here are the 6 things you should know about using acupuncture to quit smoking.  continue reading »

More than Needles: 3 Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapies You Can Do at Home

Baduanjin_qigong_smIf you asked the average person how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) keeps you healthy, they would probably answer that it uses acupuncture needles.

That is a good start.

TCM is a complex understanding of how Qi, or life force, affects your health.  Qi flows through meridians passing through points which can be used to regulate and control that flow.  When the flow of Qi increases, decreases or its quality changes, your health is affected.  The most common way to manage the flow of Qi is with acupuncture needles.

But TCM is much more than needles.

In the second part of our two-part series “More than Needles,” you will learn three ways to keep yourself healthy using Traditional Chinese Medicine principles at home.  By using these techniques in your daily life, you will be in charge of your health. continue reading »

Reiki

In my last post I talked about the relationship between reflexology and acupuncture.  This got me thinking about another topic I’m often asked about – reiki. There are many reiki Masters in Syracuse, and even a handful in Fayetteville. I even rent office space in Oneida from a Reiki Master (who also happens to by my aunt). In fact, I learned about reiki long before I started studying acupuncture (though I have not received attunements or any formal training yet).

Questions about reiki usually revolve around how reiki and acupuncture/Chinese medicine are related. Strictly speaking reiki is a distinct therapy method developed by a Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui in 1922. He claims that during meditation he received a divine inspiration showing him the symbols and methods that he used to create his reiki method. It uses hand positions on the body to transmit and direct energy from the universe into the energy centers (chakras) of the patient.

The main similarities between reiki and traditional Chinese medicine is the idea that the body needs to have sufficient levels of energy (called qi/chi/ki) that flow unimpeded through the body in order to be healthy. A lack of energy or a blockage of its flow can result in disease. The similarities pretty much end here.

In traditional Chinese medicine we use needles, herbs, and other hands-on techniques to stimulate the flow of energy in the body. Acupuncture does not direct the flow of “universal energy” into the body, rather it makes adjustments to the body’s own energy flow and improves its ability to create energy. Acupuncture does not make use of the “chakras”, or energy centers of the body that are a core concept in reiki. However, the 7 chakras all correspond to major acupuncture points located on the midline of the body.

While reiki and acupuncture share some surface similarities, it is important to note that they are distinctly separate therapies with different ideas about the body and disease. They can both be used for great effect, and there are many acupuncturists that are also trained in reiki and incorporate both methods.

However, when talking about reiki and traditional Chinese medicine it is important to bring up qigong.  I have discussed qigong in other posts, but simply put it is a method of self-care that uses deep breathing and simple movements to create a meditative state. Tai chi is the best known style of qigong and other martial arts use qigong techniques as part of their training. Qigong also has some similarities to yoga, and in fact was known as Chinese Yoga in the US for a while. Though qigong is focused on self healing, there are more advanced techniques of external energy transmission in which the practitioner directs energy into the body. These techniques are remarkably similar to reiki. It is my guess that Mikao Usui had some basic familiarity with these techniques. A main difference between the systems is that qigong practitioners often go through much more intensive training over a longer period of time. Reiki is much easier to learn. Qigong also uses the same theories and concepts as acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine while reiki has it’s own system. I use qigong methods for my own self-care and also have some training in the external qi transmission techniques.

To compare the effects of the reiki to acupuncture I think acupuncture does a much better job treating pain and other physical illnesses/symptoms. Reiki does a better job of dealing with the more subtle issues like emotional trauma. They can be used together for great effect.

 

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