Now is the time of year when the sun becomes irresistible. As tempting as it is to spend as much time as possible in the warmth of the sun, there are a few precautions to take to protect your skin from harmful rays.
Our skin is the largest organ in the body. It reflects our health and age. Today, there’s much concern about sunbathing leading to an increase in skin damage and skin cancer. continue reading
Spring is not just a time to clean and refresh your home, but also a great opportunity to rejuvenate and cleanse your body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is associated with the Wood element, which refers to growth and nourishment in the human body.
Spring represents a new beginning and a time to refresh the mind and body.
TCM values the liver as one of the most important organs in the body. The main job of the liver is to spread and regulate QI (energy flow) throughout the rest of the body. This is why the liver is one of the organs emphasized for spring. The liver absorbs everything our body takes in and ingests, being the holder and detoxifier of blood that is circulated throughout the body.
Symptoms of an imbalance in the liver can include anger, depression, irritability, nausea, stiff muscles and bruising. Acupuncture and TCM can aid to restore the liver and body back into balance.
There are 14 acupuncture points for the liver that begin at the edge of the big toenail all the way up to just under the rib cage. When the liver is overloaded, toxins can build up and lead to a blockage in the Qi and blood flow throughout the body. Acupuncture can help to release this blockage and restore our bodies natural flow.
Spring is the perfect time to bring more self-awareness to your body and the toxins that are ingested on a daily basis. Paying closer attention to your diet and getting rid of processed foods and chemicals can help to detox your liver and diminish acute problems that may have formed.
Dietary suggestions for spring include eliminating alcohol, saturated fats, coffee, and chemical additives. On the other hand, natural and whole foods such as spinach, sesame seeds, strawberries and quinoa are encouraged and beneficial for the liver. These unrefined foods can improve the quality of our blood, therefore improving and strengthening the liver.
The liver is believed to be closely connected to the mind. Because of this, when your mind is at peace, your liver is able to function properly. Getting enough sleep on a regular basis and taking time to rest your mind can help your liver function at its best.
With the help of acupuncture, take the spring season to rejuvenate your body and mind.
Sources: “Staying Healthy with The Seasons”, by Elson M. Haas, M.D., “Body Wisdom: Chinese and Natural Medicine for Self-Healing”, by Jennifer Harper
1) Seek Acupuncture
We can’t talk about ways to cleanse the body this spring without mentioning acupuncture. From relieving seasonal allergies to reducing pain and inflammation, the benefits of this Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are endless.
2) Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey
You can make a powerful, all-natural detoxifying beverage by mixing together one tablespoon of unfiltered apple cider vinegar (with the ‘Mother’), one tablespoon of honey, and 12 ounces of water. The vinegar works to stabilize your body’s internal pH level, while the honey works to regulate your blood sugar levels. When combined together, it offers a superb cleansing and detoxifying beverage that’s perfect for the spring season. Even the Greek philosopher Socrates prescribed apple cider vinegar to his patients.
3) Take Care of Your Eyes
Did you know that your eyes are connected to every organ in your body in some manner? With that said, the liver has the strongest connection to the eyes. When your eye health begins to decline, so does your liver. Take care of your eyes by limiting your time in front of electronic displays (e.g. computers and television) and have an eye exam performed by a licensed optometrist at least once every two years.
4) Chlorophyll
Consuming chlorophyll – the pigment responsible for giving all green plants their color – will strengthen your liver. Chlorophyll is known to exhibit antioxidant properties, fighting harmful chemicals within the body known as free radicals. Some excellent sources of chlorophyll include spinach, parsley, garden cress, green beans, green peppers, Brussels sprouts, green peas, asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, cucumbers, green apples, melon, honeydew and kiwi.
5) Get Outdoors
The blooming plant life and warming temperatures offers the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and exercise. Exercise and fresh outdoor air stimulate the body’s energy (Qi), keeping it moving and flowing throughout the body. When Qi becomes stagnant, it increases the risk of disease and illness. Something as simple as a 30-minute walk outside can make a world of difference in your health.
Spring is the time for your body to start anew and rid yourself of harmful toxins that may be affecting your daily life.
Everything from overeating, not resting enough and eating processed and refined foods can be putting your body out of balance.
Spring is the season to focus on your liver and gall bladder and return your body to balance and natural flow. Here are some recipes and suggestions that will cleanse your liver and give your body a reboot, ultimately improving your mood and ailments you may be facing.
Cleansing is an important part of restarting and bringing balance back to your body. This practice can include abstaining from solid foods for a short period of time and focusing on drinking fruits and vegetables or eliminating certain food groups from your diet. Having a liquid-based diet or removing certain foods from your diet can eliminate toxic buildup in your organs and allow for your body to be cleansed.
This common cleanse is easy to follow, cheap and has been largely popular in recent years.
The Master Cleanser is also known as the “lemonade diet” and consists of drinking a mixture of water, squeezed lemon, maple syrup and cayenne pepper for ten days.
You are suggested to drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of the mixture throughout the day and whenever you feel hungry, as well as a laxative tea such as peppermint tea at night.
To the right is a list of foods that can be added to your diet to help eliminate toxins and help promote a healthy liver.
These natural foods include everything from antioxidants, diuretics and vitamin-rich nutrients. If you are looking for an alternative to a strict cleanse, add these superfoods to your daily diet to help cleanse your liver and improve overall body wellness!
Sources: “Staying Healthy with the Seasons” by Elson M. Haas, M.D., http://bit.ly/VjUfiJ
Held annually on April 22nd, the world’s first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. Today, it’s a massive event orchestrated by the Earth Day Network and observed by more than 192 countries. To learn more about Earth Day and how you can show support for the environment on April 22nd.
Turn Off The Lights
Who says you celebrating Earth Day is hard? While there are plenty of laborious ways to support the environment, something as simple as turning off your lights can make a difference as well. Whether you’re working at the office or lounging around your home, turn off any unused lights. It only takes a split second to flip a switch, but doing so will promote a greener Earth while saving you money on your monthly utility bills in the process.
Plant a Tree
Thousands of classrooms, businesses and families plant trees on Earth Day. It’s a simple way to support the environment in a meaningful and tangible way. According to a report published by NC State University, a single tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide – a leading greenhouse gas – per year. Furthermore, trees produce and release fresh oxygen back into the atmosphere. So while industrial companies are tearing down forests left and right, you can lend a helping hand this Earth Day by planting a tree.
Recycle
We can’t talk about ways to celebrate Earth Day without mentioning recycling. Most people today toss their empty soda cans and bottles into the trash without thinking twice. Unfortunately, this behavior contributes to landfill pollution, filling up Earth’s valuable space with even more trash. Contact a local recycling company in your area to see if they are willing to pick up your aluminum and plastic. Most companies will gladly pick up these materials at no charge to you.
Carpool
The average car produces a whopping 606 pounds of carbon monoxide, 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, and 80 pounds of hydrocarbons each year! Carpooling, however, can cut these emissions in half. Assuming every passenger vehicle in the United States carried just one other person, we could save 33 million gallons of gas per day. Talk with your coworkers to see where they live and whether or not they are interested in carpooling to work.
Source: www.earthday.org
Acupuncture is mainstream these days, depending on the area of the country you live. It’s covered by most insurance plans (at least in Washington, where I practice) and every week I have at least one patient who experiences it for their very first time. Some are simply curious and others have tried “everything” to address their complaint. Often during these visits I get asked what acupuncture treats. My response it typically “everything”. Acupuncture stems from the larger medical theory and practice called Traditional Chinese Medicine which also include herbs, physical medicine, and Qi Gong. These are usually applied in combination. Rather than a vague answer though, let me sum up my experience for what acupuncture is very effective for.
1. Low Back Pain. Without a doubt one of the top complaints that walks into most acupuncturists’ offices. Western medicine has been trying to uncover how acupuncture is so darn good at treating this problem and the jury is still out. Much research has gone into studying low back pain and acupuncture, because, again and again, it works.
2. Migraines/Headaches. Whether a patient comes in in acute pain or they simply have a history of severe headaches, acupuncture can work immediately to reduce the severity of the headache, prolong the time before a reoccurrence and reduce the duration.
3. “Women’s issues”. Chinese Medicine has so many options for women with menstrual issues, acupuncture being just one. Whether you are experiencing amenorrhea (or no period), severe cramping before and during your period, irregular cycles, and general PMS symptoms, I encourage you to seek out a practitioner and give it a try over your next 3 cycles. I’ve had patients’ fibroids reduce in size just using acupuncture and periods returning.
4. Menopausal Symptoms. To piggy back on number 3. Bio-identical hormones are the hot topic and quick shotgun approach these in the natural health world to treat hormone imbalances and menopausal symptoms. However, I’ve found using acupuncture and Chinese herbs provides better, safer, and long-term benefits that ease women into the next phase of their life.
5. Smoking and Addiction. Acupuncture provides a great deal of benefit for those trying to quit smoking or overcome addiction. There is even a national training program that deals specifically with acupuncture and addiction treatment.
6. Stress-related illness. This is obviously a broad category. Being in health care it’s hard for me to think of a complaint that isn’t affected by stress. However, how many of us suffer from insomnia, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, and on and on. Acupuncture works by moving energy, stress stops the flow of energy which produces symptoms. By addressing the stress, acupuncture is able to treat this larger symptom picture.
7. IBS/GI conditions. How many of us experience something wrong in our GI system? I don’t just mean the occasional reaction after a glutinous meal. I mean those that have to know where a bathroom is at all times or those who haven’t used the bathroom for days. Our brain and gut our directly connected. Acupuncture is a wonderful tool at alleviated much of the emotional upheaval that then leads to a GI upheaval.
8. Fertility. Yes, you’ve all heard by now and maybe even experienced acupuncture in managing challenges associated with getting pregnant. There are acupuncture clinics solely devoted to fertility and improving one’s chances of conceiving. For some, it can be miraculous.
9. Acute Illness. Many of my own patients don’t even think about this. They come in to address a specific complaint with acupuncture. It’s at a later visit that they tell me they had a terrible sinus infection, cough, sore throat, etc. I smile and ask why they didn’t come to see me?! I’ve been the patient with stabbing pain in my throat, white spots on my tonsils and a fever unsure if I should go see a regular doctor, try and treat myself, or see what the acupuncturist could do for me. I walked out of any hour visit with the acupuncturist, sore throat completely gone, and functional within a couple days!
Image Credit: constipationexperts.co.uk
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