Health WellNews FALL has arrived... © 2018 Copyright Acupuncture Media Works, All Rights Reserved. The information contained within the Health WellNews newsletter is only used to educate and inform. This newsletter is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed and registered health care provider. Seek prompt attention for emergencies. Consult a health care provider for specific health concerns, and before starting a diet, cleanse or exercise routine. Fall is a time of transition for nature, as well as our own bodies. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each season is associated with specific organ systems. During the autumn months, the lung and large intestine energetic meridians are in control. It is extremely important to improve lung function during the fall months to allow for an easy transitional period and to prepare for the upcoming winter months. The lung system in TCM is responsible for the body’s immunity or Wei Qi (pronounced “way chee”). When the Wei Qi becomes depleted or deficient, the body becomes ill. And during the fall months, when the weather is transitioning and temperatures are falling, it becomes vital to take precautions so the immune system and Wei Qi don’t fail our bodies, allowing disease to take root. The most common diseases of the fall season are allergies, colds and the flu. But there are ways to boost or tonify the Wei Qi. Traditional Chinese Medicine utilizes many different modalities to help keep the body free from disease. These modalities include acupuncture, moxibustion, nutrition, qi gong, tai chi and herbal formulations. It is these herbal formulations we are discussing today. Chinese herbal medicine has been used for millennia to keep the body free from disease and to help remove disease when it attacks. Herbs can be used alone or combined to make stronger herbal formulas. And while not all of the herbs we will discuss here are specific to TCM, they can be found and utilized easily. Astragalus or Huang Qi: This herb is a favorite among TCM practitioners. It is an excellent tonic herb, as well as an adaptogen that can be used year-round to ensure good health. In TCM, it is considered to be one of the best tonic herbs available, especially for those who are already fatigued. Specifically, this herb is known for its ability to strengthen the Wei Qi. Cordyceps or Dong Chong Xia Cao: This herb is known to enrich the bone marrow, where white blood cells are made. White blood cells are a large part of the immune system and they specifically fight off infections in the body. In this way, Dong Chong Xia Cao definitely plays a role in tonifying the Wei Qi. This herb is also used to replenish the adrenal glands when there is adrenal fatigue. When the adrenals are fatigued, the whole body is running at a deficient level. Reishi Mushroom or Ling Zhi: This herb is sometimes called the “great protector” because it guards the body against the detrimental effects stress can have on the physical body. When taken regularly, it has been shown to improve immunity, while also calming the nerves. Specifically, it can help inhibit tumor growth in both breast and prostate cancer. As you can see, herbs can be very beneficial and help keep the body free from illness. The herbs mentioned above are just a few examples that would be good to have around during the season of fall to help boost your immune system. Strengthen Your Immune System Herbal Tonics for Fall It’s that time of year again...the weather is getting colder, the leaves are beginning to fall and people are beginning to trickle into the office with autumn colds and allergies. Acupunctureists have lots of tools and tricks in their bag to stay healthy during cold season. You know how your mom always made you wear a scarf when you were a kid, telling you that you’d catch a cold if you didn’t? As it turns out, there was something to it after all! In the world of Chinese medicine, there is an area at the back of the neck which can absorb wind and cold, allowing it to permeate into your system and creating an ideal situation to catch an actual cold. By keeping this area warm and covered, you are putting up a shield between yourself and this invading wind, increasing your chances of avoiding colds. Since acupuncturists view cold as an entity that can migrate into your system, adding warm foods into your diet can help to balance out that cold, keeping you healthy or speeding up your recovery once a cold has set in. Eating chicken soup to ward off illness isn’t just a fallacy; the temperature of the soup is helpful, but there are also lots of “warm” ingredients within the soup. Every food has an energetic quality, and warm spicy foods balance out excess cold in the system. Most good chicken soup has garlic, pepper and other spices that are considered “warm” in TCM. Adding spicy foods into your diet when cold season hits is a way to protect yourself from succumbing to the sniffles. Whenever you begin to feel a cold coming on, try sauteing slices of ginger with a little butter or oil, and add it to a tea made with lemon, honey, cinnamon, clove and a dash of cayenne. Let the ginger soften as you drink the tea, and then eat the ginger. Staying warm and eating the right foods are two ways to stay healthy, and another is acupuncture. If you don’t have access to an acupuncturist, the next best thing is to utilize some acupressure points to crank up your immune system. If you slide your finger down the side of your thumb, you will hit a bone just below the wrist crease. Keep sliding down about an inch or so, and press hard while feeling for a tender spot. This is Lung 7, which is a powerful point to build up the energy of the lung, which boosts the immunity. Another great immunity point is Stomach 36. This point is located approximately four fingers down from the bottom of the knee cap, along the outer boundary of the shin bone. This Photo Credits: ©iStock.com/borchee, ©iStock.com/aireowrt point boosts the energy of the entire body, so massaging it will help to keep your “Wei Qi” up. This Wei Qi is your defensive energy, which creates a barrier between yourself and pathogens that cause harm. In Western terminology, it would be the equivalent of the immune system. Pressing on both of these points will allow you to tap into the positive effects of acupuncture, minus the nedles.
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Health WellNewsFALL has arrived...
© 2018 Copyright Acupuncture Media Works, All Rights Reserved. The information contained within the Health WellNews newsletter is only used to educate and inform. This newsletter is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed and registered health care provider. Seek prompt attention for emergencies. Consult a health care provider for specific health concerns, and before starting a diet, cleanse or exercise routine.
Fall is a time of transition for nature, as well as our own bodies. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each season is associated with specific organ systems. During the autumn months, the lung and large intestine energetic meridians are in control. It is extremely important to improve lung function during the fall months to allow for an easy transitional period and to prepare for the upcoming winter months.
The lung system in TCM is responsible for the body’s immunity or Wei Qi (pronounced “way chee”). When the Wei Qi becomes depleted or deficient, the body becomes ill. And during the fall months, when the weather is transitioning and temperatures are falling, it becomes vital to take precautions so the immune system and Wei Qi don’t fail our bodies, allowing disease to take root. The most common diseases of the fall season are allergies, colds and the flu. But there are ways to boost or tonify the Wei Qi.
Traditional Chinese Medicine utilizes many different modalities to help keep the body free from disease. These modalities include acupuncture, moxibustion, nutrition, qi gong, tai chi and herbal formulations. It is these herbal formulations we are discussing today.
Chinese herbal medicine has been used for millennia to keep the body free from disease and to help remove disease when it attacks. Herbs can be used alone or combined to make stronger herbal formulas. And while not all of the herbs we will discuss here are specific to TCM, they can be found and utilized easily.
Astragalus or Huang Qi: This herb is a favorite among TCM practitioners. It is an excellent tonic herb, as well as an adaptogen that can be used year-round to ensure good health. In TCM, it is considered to be one of the best tonic herbs available, especially for those who are already fatigued. Specifically, this herb is
known for its ability to strengthen the Wei Qi.
Cordyceps or Dong Chong Xia Cao: This herb is known to enrich the bone marrow, where white blood
cells are made. White blood cells are a large part of the immune system and they specifically fight off
infections in the body. In this way, Dong Chong Xia Cao definitely plays a role in tonifying the Wei Qi. This herb is also used to replenish the adrenal glands when there is adrenal fatigue. When the adrenals are fatigued, the whole body is running at a deficient level.
Reishi Mushroom or Ling Zhi: This herb is sometimes called the “great protector” because it guards the body against the detrimental effects stress can have on the physical body. When taken regularly, it has been shown to improve
immunity, while also calming the nerves. Specifically, it can help inhibit tumor growth in
both breast and prostate cancer.
As you can see, herbs can be very beneficial and help keep the body free from illness. The herbs
mentioned above are just a few examples that would be good to have around during the season of fall to help boost
your immune system.
Strengthen Your Immune System
Herbal Tonics for Fall
It’s that time of year again...the weather is getting colder, the leaves are beginning to fall and people are beginning to trickle into the office with autumn colds and allergies. Acupunctureists have lots of tools and tricks in their bag to stay healthy during cold season.
You know how your mom always made you wear a scarf when you were a kid, telling you that you’d catch a cold if you didn’t? As it turns out, there was something to it after all! In the world of Chinese medicine, there is an area at the back of the neck which can absorb wind and cold, allowing it to permeate into your system and creating an ideal situation to catch an actual cold. By keeping this area warm and covered, you are putting up a shield between yourself and this invading wind, increasing your chances of avoiding colds.
Since acupuncturists view cold as an entity that can migrate into your system, adding warm foods into your diet can help to balance out that cold, keeping you healthy or speeding up your recovery once a cold has set in. Eating chicken soup to ward off illness isn’t just a fallacy; the temperature of the soup is helpful, but there are also lots of “warm” ingredients within the soup. Every food has an energetic quality, and warm spicy
foods balance out excess cold in the system. Most good chicken soup has garlic, pepper and other spices that are considered “warm” in TCM.
Adding spicy foods into your diet when cold season hits is a way to protect yourself from succumbing to the sniffles. Whenever you begin to feel a cold coming on, try sauteing slices of ginger with a little butter or oil, and add it to a tea made with lemon, honey, cinnamon, clove and a dash of cayenne. Let the ginger soften as you drink the tea, and then eat the ginger.
Staying warm and eating the right foods are two ways to stay healthy, and another is acupuncture. If you don’t have access to an acupuncturist, the next best thing is to utilize some acupressure points to crank up your immune system. If you slide your finger down the side of your thumb, you will hit a bone just below the wrist crease. Keep sliding down about an inch or so, and press hard while feeling for a tender spot. This is Lung 7, which is a powerful point to build up the energy of the lung, which boosts the immunity. Another great immunity point is Stomach 36. This point is located approximately four fingers down from the bottom of the knee cap, along the outer boundary of the shin bone. This
Photo Credits: ©iStock.com/borchee, ©iStock.com/aireowrt
point boosts the energy of the entire body, so massaging it will help to keep your “Wei Qi” up. This Wei Qi is your defensive energy, which creates a barrier between yourself and pathogens that cause harm. In Western terminology, it would be the equivalent of the immune system. Pressing on both of these points will allow you to tap into the positive effects of acupuncture, minus the nedles.
Health WellNewsFALL has arrived...
© 2018 Copyright Acupuncture Media Works, All Rights Reserved. The information contained within the Health WellNews newsletter is only used to educate and inform. This newsletter is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed and registered health care provider. Seek prompt attention for emergencies. Consult a health care provider for specific health concerns, and before starting a diet, cleanse or exercise routine.
Fall is a favorite season for many people. The weather starts to get a little cooler, things begin to slow down and preparations for the holidays are in full swing. For many others, fall is not so festive. Many people get sick during the fall months, allergies can flare up and many don’t like that the hours of sunlight decrease steadily, sometimes leading to seasonal depression.
There are many reasons to get acupuncture during the fall.
One of the biggest reasons is to avoid getting sick
as the seasons change. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), fall is associated with the lung and large intestine energetic pathways. These two pathways work symbiotically to control the immune system from both the inside and outside of your body. And, if you take good care of these energetic
pathways during the fall, you are bound to feel better throughout the
season. But just to be sure, getting regular acupuncture
treatments might be a good idea. It is recommended to
start a couple of weeks before fall really kicks in.
Autumn is associated with the element of metal. According to TCM, the element of metal governs the mind, order, stability and organization. As fall approaches, we tend to be more reflective, turning inward and going into hibernation mode. It’s a great time to organize and prepare for the upcoming winter months. Emotionally, fall is associated
with sadness and grief. Therefore, as the nights get longer, it is very important to
keep the mind clear and let go of your negative emotions. Acupuncture can
be a wonderful tool to help ward off depression, sadness and grief, both before
and during the months of fall. Acupuncture treatments help balance moods by
regulating hormones in the body.
Photo Credits: ©iStock.com/borchee, ©iStock.com/Squaredpixels, ©iStock.com/MediaProduction, ©iStock.com/AntonioGuillem, ©iStock.com/kupicoo, ©iStock.com/ipopba
5 Reasons to get Acupuncture this FallFor those who love the long hours
associated with the summer months, fall is not easy to
slide into, especially when it comes to sleep. Many people have difficulty going to sleep earlier, which is recommended when the days begin to shorten. This is where acupuncture can be beneficial. Certain acupuncture points are very effective at calming
the mind and helping induce rest and relaxation.
This is why so many people who receive regular acupuncture
tend to take a nap while the treatment is taking place.
Getting a handle on stress before the full swing of the holidays hits is always a good idea. Acupuncture can help with that too. Acupuncture treatments are
very relaxing for the majority of people. Around the holidays, people experience high
levels of stress. But receiving regular acupuncture treatments ahead of
the holidays, will allow for a smooth holiday season.
Lastly, acupuncture can help control, or at least tone down the allergy flare ups that frequently occur during the fall. This goes back to how acupuncture works on the immune system. But many people who suffer from allergies
only experience minor symptoms, like a runny nose and watery, itchy
eyes. A few little needles can help tremendously with allergy symptoms.
So what are you waiting for? Fall into hibernation mode through the use of acupuncture.
Health WellNewsFALL has arrived...
© 2018 Copyright Acupuncture Media Works, All Rights Reserved. The information contained within the Health WellNews newsletter is only used to educate and inform. This newsletter is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed and registered health care provider. Seek prompt attention for emergencies. Consult a health care provider for specific health concerns, and before starting a diet, cleanse or exercise routine.
Lung 7 This point is located bilaterally on the bony protuberance of the inner wrist. Lung 7 is a very beneficial point for opening up the lungs to help a person breathe freely. It can be used to treat sore throats and coughs associated with allergies too.
Large Intestine 11 This point is located bilaterally in the depression on the outside edge of the crease created when the elbow is flexed. This point is a great point to use when a person is feeling sick due to a cold or the flu. It can lower blood pressure, decrease a fever and help with abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. It also improves immunity within the body.
Spleen 6 This point is located bilaterally on the inner lower leg, about three thumb-breadths above the inner malleolus. Spleen 6 can help improve immune system function and decrease depression.
Fall is a season of great change. The weather starts to cool down, the days
become shorter and the foliage changes color and eventually goes dormant. Farmers harvest their crops during these months and for many people this brings about flare-ups in seasonal allergies from excess pollen in the air. Depression is also common for many, as the hours of daylight decrease. During this time, it is suggested we complete unfinished projects, remove clutter and debris and prepare for the upcoming harsher winter months.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical system that can help with many of the ailments that occur during the months of fall. TCM can also be used as preventive medicine to help keep the body healthy. This medical system views things slightly differently than Western medicine. In TCM, there are many associations with the seasons and fall is no different.
Fall is associated with the metal element in TCM theory. The lungs and the large intestine are the paired organ system that correlates to the season of fall. When the energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”) of either one of these organ systems becomes imbalanced, then a person may experience illness. This doesn’t just mean physical illness. It can also have an effect on our minds.
The lungs are responsible for the intake of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide from the body. While the large intestine is responsible for letting go of the waste from the body in the final stage of digestion. Stagnant or blocked Qi is frequently a problem when the seasons change. Acupuncture is just one modality of TCM that can help keep Qi flowing freely. And here are some specific acupuncture points that can be utilized during the season of fall to help maintain health.
Photo Credits: ©iStock.com/borchee, ©iStock.com/gilaxia
Five Acupuncture Points for Fall
Lung 2 Located bilaterally in the depression below the collarbone, about six thumb-breadths lateral from the midline, next to the armpit. Lung 2 is a wonderful point for clearing lung heat, often associated with allergies. It is also good at decreasing irritability.
Large Intestine 4 Located bilaterally on the back of the hand. When the thumb and the forefinger are brought together, this point can be found directly in the middle of the fleshy mound that is created. This point can help soothe red, itchy eyes and the runny nose that often accompanies allergies. It is also helpful with lower abdominal pain and constipation.
Any of these points can be used alone or in conjunction with others. They can be manually stimulated using pressure from a finger or dull, rounded tool. But for best effects, it is recommended acupuncture be applied.
Health WellNewsFALL has arrived...
© 2018 Copyright Acupuncture Media Works, All Rights Reserved. The information contained within the Health WellNews newsletter is only used to educate and inform. This newsletter is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed and registered health care provider. Seek prompt attention for emergencies. Consult a health care provider for specific health concerns, and before starting a diet, cleanse or exercise routine.
Acupuncture improves the Qi throughout the body by stimulating the body’s own internal regulating systems. This will then allow the body to heal itself, by strengthening the body’s resistance and regulating the antigen/antibody reaction created by the body when it encounters pollen or dust that may trigger the hay fever attack. And since hay fever is attributed to having a weak immune system in TCM, the herbs usually given will help support and strengthen the person’s immunity.
This is also where nutritional counseling may play a part because many foods can create phlegm and dampness that exacerbate a person’s symptoms. Things like dairy and excess sugar may need to be avoided during the flare-ups. Also foods that generate or create heat are usually not advised. However, drinking plenty of water is always a good idea.
We can help determine if you are a good candidate for treatments and also help you to avoid suffering in the first place, as this medicine can and should be used as preventive medicine.
Hay fever, which is medically termed allergic rhinitis, is an ailment that affects nearly 20 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Hay fever is actually an allergy caused by pollen or dust, which causes the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose to become itchy and inflamed, resulting in sneezing, a runny nose and watery eyes. Hay fever is the fifth most common disease in the United States and it tends to affect people during three out of the four seasons in the year. There are multiple over-the-counter medications to treat hay fever, including antihistamine sprays, eye drops and nasal corticosteroids.
The problem with most of these suggested treatment methods is they all have adverse side effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), however, can treat the symptoms without any harsh side effects. A TCM practitioner has a whole host of modalities in their toolbox that can help the hay fever sufferer. This includes acupuncture, herbal formulas and nutritional counseling. When these tools are used in conjunction, studies have shown hay fever sufferers may experience a significant drop in their symptoms.
According to TCM theory, hay fever is usually attributed to a deficiency of the body’s essential
energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”), coupled with an invasion of wind heat in the lungs. But every patient is different and symptoms may differ from person to person. For most hay fever sufferers, TCM treatments will aim to open the lungs and expel the wind heat.
Acupuncture is a holistic medical technique that uses hair-thin solid stainless steel needles to stimulate acupressure points on the body. These acupressure points can do many different things, including reducing inflammation, decreasing lacrimation (watery eyes) and relieving sneezing. According to one study done by the Lishui Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, when acupuncture was used as a standalone therapy, the participants reported a nearly 67 percent decrease in their symptoms. When herbal formulas were added, that efficacy rate increased to over 71 percent.
There are several herbal formulas that can be used to treat hay fever. The one used, will depend on the specific symptoms of the patient. However, the base formula frequently used is known as Cang Er Zi San. The herbs in this formula can unblock the sinuses and alleviate pain. The biggest difference between over-the-counter remedies and TCM herbal formulas is the formulas can be changed as the person’s symptoms change.
Acupuncture and Hay Fever
Photo Credits: ©iStock.com/borchee, ©iStock.com/wundervisuals, ©iStock.com/Kontrec
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