Are You Ready to Thrive?

Acupressure: You may have seen motion sickness bands advertised. They're often a wrist sweat band with a little button on it to stimulate the acupuncture point Pericardium 6. This point is extremely good for easing nausea due to any cause! You don't need to find and buy these bands, though, you can simply massage the point! Pericardium 6 is located on the inside of your forearm 3 finger widths down from your wrist crease. Massage the area and you'll soon be feeling as good as new! If you need longer lasting relief, you can tape a bean to the point, and it will work just like the motion sickness bands!

Herbs: Ginger is quite the all-purpose herb to ease nausea. It's extremely useful for calming the stomach! You can include it in your favorite recipes. It can be consumed in the form of ginger ale (my particular favorite!). The Chinese medicine way to do it is to take slices of the fresh raw ginger root and steep them in boiling water for about 5-10 minutes and drink this "tea." Please be careful with consuming too much ginger, as it can cause insomnia.

Chinese Medicine: There is a lot more that can be done for nausea, but requires an acupuncturist or herbalist in order to diagnose you and then treat you accordingly.

Nausea can be one of the more uncomfortable aspects of your pregnancy, but with a little help can be greatly reduced! Do you have any other favorite ideas for easing morning sickness? Comment and share your tips!

Let's start with the simplest: Tea pills.
Teapills are little pills (about the size of BBs) that are pre-made in standard formulas. Because the herbs are already mixed and put together into these pills, there is no room for customizing the formula EXACTLY for each patient. Don't worry, though. Tea pills are often a pretty darn good match for many people, and most people won't experience any side effects from them. The best thing about tea pills is their convenience. You can take them with you, they're not messy and there's no preparation. There have been problems with tea pill formulas coming from China that include pharmaceuticals or heavy metals so make sure that the formula you are given is made in a Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) Certified factory.

The next step is the granular formula.
Granules are a substrate (a grain of some sort) that has been ground finely and had a Chinese herb decoction sprayed onto it. These granules can be single herbs or whole formulas. Because you can mix and match granules, you can customize the formula to each patient allowing for an exact match and no side effects. Granules are either dissolved in water and then swallowed, or some people prefer to place them on their tongue and "chase" the formula with water or their favorite juice. Granules are pretty convenient. You can bring them with you so that you can take them at the prescribed times. Granule formulas tend to have an "earthy" taste to them, with the exact flavor depending, of course, on the particular herbs used in the formula. A caution for those with food sensitivities: the substrate may be an allergenic grain (corn, wheat, rye, barley) so be sure to ask your practitioner if this is a concern.

The final type of herbal formula is a decoction.
A decoction is kind of like a tea that's made by boiling the actual dried herbs yourself at home. When I cook my herbs, I often find myself saying "Double, double toil, and trouble..." (and cackling. But hey, I'm an herb nerd!) However, you won't find eye of newt or toe of frog here - you'll usually find sticks, twigs, leaves, flowers, seeds, roots and berries. The ingredients are boiled for usually around 30 minutes, the herbs are scooped out and the liquid is what is consumed. Herbal decoctions are by far the strongest preparation of Chinese herbs, but they can take some time since you'll need to boil up a new batch of herbs everyday for the duration of the treatment. If you're vegetarian or vegan, and would prefer to not have animal products used in your formula, make sure to inform your practitioner, because there are occasionally animal products used in extreme cases.

So I did a search on Google for acupuncture today and was reading through some articles. Some were on the latest research. Some were on a new clinic that just opened up somewhere on the east coast. Some were written by acupuncturists who went through "Medical Acupuncture" training. This last group were the ones that caught my eye today and have spurred on this post. First off, I want to write a little bit of a disclaimer. I'm getting ready to hop up on my soapbox here, so if you're not interested, just close your browser window now ;)

And now, let the games begin!

First off, a little background on "Medical Acupuncture." Medical acupuncture is the result of biomedicine taking acupuncture and using it for their own purposes. They've seen that huge amounts of people get acupuncture done on a regular basis. They've seen that these people have had sometimes miraculous results. They've taken acupuncture and stripped it of its system (because Qi, Yin and Yang are faniciful, magical theories that can't exist) and turned it into a set of recipes. For pain you do this set of points. For nausea - this set. For diarrhea yet another set. There isn't a great amount of attention paid to the Chinese medical diagnosis, as there is to the symptoms. Biomedicine has found through research that certain points are used often in treating certain conditions and feels that all of the "magical" theory of Qi, Yin and Yang can be discarded. Sounds familiar, right? That's what biomedicine does! They want to find the active ingredient in order to turn it into a marketable pill. Forget that there may be other ingredients that are working with the active ingredient to make it even more powerful!

For the record, I don't actually have a problem with "Medical Acupuncture." People who practice this style of acupuncture get results and patients DO feel better!

However. Yes, there's a however. (You should know me by now!) This system of acupuncture has been watered down, and I think the results get watered down in the process as well. By ignoring the theories of Chinese medicine, you leave out its main purpose - to treat not just the symptoms, but the body as a whole.

Chinese medicine has been in existence for at least 5000 years. The system has been tried and true and is still used as a MAJOR form of healthcare in China. Can't we just leave it at that? Do we HAVE to know HOW it works? We know from reasearch that acupuncture releases endorphins. We know that it effects our nervous system. However, science still can't explain HOW it works. Acupuncture may effect nerves and endorphins, but it goes beyond that, and science can't figure out what "that" is!

I'm not saying stop the research. Not at all. What I'm saying is that researchers and those reading the studies need to understand that there's more working here than endorphins and neurons, and that the system doesn't work by using just one point! When you read a study that says, "this point doesn't work for that symptom," please keep in mind that no point is meant to work in isolation. Acupuncture is a system, not a pill. Also, "that point" may not work on everyone with "that symptom," because not every patient has the Chinese medical diagnosis that calls for "that point;" they may need another point that is also good for "that symptom."

When you take a system that is not based on science (though science often CAN support that it works) and try to look at it through your scientific lens, you might not get to see it for what it is. When you boil that system down to try to find what makes it tick, you lose the magic that holds it together. You lose that which makes it work. Don't ignore the stuff that makes it work. Let's not forget that Qi and Yin and Yang and all of the theories of Chinese medicine ARE Chinese medicine. Let there be some scientific unknowns. Let there be magic!

We all suffer from it at some point in our lives. Some of us more than others. It may be due to that long, hard week at work, or the 3 years you've been in college while working full-time with one more year still ahead of you and you'd really like to be done NOW so you can just sleep fatigue. No matter the cause of your fatigue, you may consider trying acupuncture to give you a little more pep in your day.

Acupuncture can help relieve the components of fatigue : Stress, unproductive sleep and lack of energy.

Acupuncture is a god-send when it comes to reducing stress. There are many acupoints that exist just to serve this purpose! (read Self-acupressure to try some of these at home, or work, or school... where ever you find yourself with a little extra time and need to relax!)

When it comes to improving sleep without the typical side effects associated with medications, Chinese medicine can't be beat! Chinese medicine reminds your body how to sleep efficiently, without the need to force it to sleep using a foreign substance. Acupuncture can help you fall asleep easier, stay asleep and make your sleep productive so that you wake feeling rested and ready to take on your day. All this is achieved without the drowsiness, "drugged feeling" or dependency that can be associated with medications.

As for the last component of fatigue, Chinese medicine is particularly helpful for regaining your energy. We've all worked ourselves too hard and noticed that we just don't feel like the energy is THERE anymore. Chinese Medicine helps your body to refill its stores of energy so that you can do all the things that you want to do in your day - and more!

If you suffer from fatigue, consider Chinese medicine. You might be surprised at how much better you feel, and how quickly that energy can be unlocked!

Most people suffer from periodic heartburn. Some people suffer from chronic heartburn. If you're the type of person who suffers from chronic, recurring heartburn, or you know someone who does, I want you to listen up.

Chronic heartburn, you may have heard it called GERD (Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease), isn't just an annoyance. The cells of your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach) are not meant to be exposed to stomach acid, so if they are exposed, the cells begin to change in order to protect themselves. The condition where your esophagus cells start changing is called Barrett's Esophagus.

While Barrett's Esophagus isn't considered cancerous, there are changes to the cells which could lead to esophageal cancer. It's extremely important to talk to your doctor about Barrett's Esophagus if you've suffered from GERD. Your doctor may recommend you have your esophagus examined using an endoscope (a camera that can look down your throat).

It's very important to get your heartburn under control to stop the exposure of your esophagus, which should allow the cells to return to their normal, healthy state. Diet changes, medications, herbal remedies and acupuncture can all be helpful to reduce that burn.

While medications are a great quick-fix, to stop the exposure to stomach acid immediately, they don't address the underlying causes of the heartburn, so people often have to continue taking the medication indefinitely. These medications also come with side effects that can include: decreased digestive abilities, vitamin deficiencies, cancer, and many more.

Chinese Medicine can be very effective at treating chronic heartburn. Because it addresses the underlying cause of the problem, not just the symptoms, it can more effectively help you stay heartburn-free long-term.

In Chinese medical theory, heartburn is usually diagnosed as Stomach Fire or Liver overacting the Stomach. These basically translate as having Stomach acid go where it doesn't belong. This can be due to too much Stomach acid causing an overflow, or the Stomach acid not being kept in the stomach due to a Stomach that has been weakened, often by stress. Chinese medicine can strengthen the Stomach energy keeping acid levels normal and in the stomach.

Remember, with Chinese medicine, unwanted symptoms aren't just covered up, your body is reminded how to function properly, how to live in health.

Hippocrates said, "Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food." It seems as though we've lost sight of that very wise piece of advice. As a society we feed ourselves foods that are easy for on-the-go eating. These foods, in the name of convenience, have been stripped of their nutritional value and have had some very unhealthy additives included. It's no wonder we find ourselves in such a poor state of affairs. We're not taking our medicines!

Here are a few things that you can do to improve your health, not through medications, but through your food!

• Keep a food diary for one week. Be honest. Don't change your diet to make it look better on paper. This is meant to make you aware of what you're eating, not beat you up about it! Feel no guilt about the way you have eaten in the past, get excited about the changes you're going to make that are going to positively affect your health!
• Add one serving of fruit or vegetable a day. Yep, that's it! We're not talking making HUGE changes here. Baby steps! Add a banana to your morning cereal. Or Take an apple to lunch. Take a second serving of vegetables at dinner, or add a second type of vegetable. Do this consistently for two weeks, then add another serving.
  
• Stop consistently eating something that doesn't lead you toward health. For example: Greatly decrease the number of sodas you drink per day, or discontinue them completely. You can take this in baby steps as well. If you drink 5 sodas per day, decrease to 4 for two weeks, then decrease to 3 for two more weeks, etc. I'm not saying that you can't ever have the food or drink ever again. What I'm saying is, save it as a treat. All of a sudden this food that you ate everyday becomes the most luxurious treat you've ever consumed!

In Chinese medicine, every food has healing properties to it, much like herbs, only milder. Some are great for improving digestion (oats, corn, millet, rice), some are helpful with nausea (lychee, pomelo, orange), some are great at clearing a phlegmy cough (pear, eggplant).

If we all started to think of our kitchens as our pharmacies and only stocked the cupboards with "medicines" that will lead us toward health, just think how our lives could change for the better!

It's what the doctor ordered!

When you're pregnant there are so many things in your life that change. You're going to have a kid soon! Your waistline is growing. You can't have that loved glass of wine. You also can't take everyday medications for everyday aches and pains. It may seem like a real test of your strength, but you don't have to suffer through! Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help ease so many symptoms associated with pregnancy.

• Morning Sickness
• Ankle Swelling
• Back and hip pain

And what if you catch a cold? No more Nyquil for you! But you don't have to suffer through that nasty virus. Herbal formulas can help get rid of that sore throat, your stuffy sinuses and the body aches.

Acupuncture is also useful for turning a fetus who isn't in the correct position for birth, stimulating labor and easing labor pains.

So many of the tough aspects of pregnancy can be eased by acupuncture and Chinese herbs, so if you're expecting a new little one, make it a more joyful time in your life by making it more comfortable for yourself!

I apologize for not writing anything in about a week. My computer caught a virus (or something) and has been feeling under the weather. But we're back up and running and ready to talk shop some more!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all you Irish and Today-I'm-Irish out there! :)

In Chinese medicine, each organ is associated with an element, and each element with a color. Since today is St. Patrick's Day, I thought it would be nice to talk about the color green. Plus, I'm a little partial with it being my favorite color and all!

Green is associated with the Liver. Yep, here we are, talking about the Liver again. It's probably because it's spring time - the season of the Liver. I promise, I'll talk about the other organs at some point! (I'll probably feel compelled to write about them as their seasons roll around.)

If you are experiencing Liver symptoms (PMS, stress, many menstrual complaints or eye problems just to list a few), consider wearing the color green. Eat green vegetables. Take a walk in a green forested area. When you surround yourself with the color associated with an organ, it's reminding that organ to be its healthiest.

Many people drink coffee to get their mornings started. Some people continue drinking coffee throughout the day. My question to you, if you're a coffee drinker, is - do you just like coffee? or do you NEED coffee? If you just like coffee and you're not reliant upon it to get through your day, all the more power to ya! Coffee is full of antioxidants which are anti-cancer nutrients. However, if you're finding that you need that next cup of coffee because your brain is foggy and your body is sluggish, let's have a talk.

Coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant. It makes you feel alert and able to respond to any challenges that may come your way. This sounds like a great bodily reaction, right? In a short-term sort of way, sure. The trouble begins when we start using caffeine as a replacement for our own natural energy. As we consume more caffeine, our bodies learn that they don't need to create our own energy, that it will be supplied from an outside source (coffee, tea, soda, etc.). So what happens when we're then separated from our precious caffeine source? Our bodies no longer know how to make appropriate levels of energy to get us through our day.

So what can you do to help your body re-learn how to be energetic on its own?

• First off, reduce the amount of caffeine that you consume, or stop drinking it altogether. I know this can be tough, but just take it slow. I usually recommend 0-2 cups of coffee or tea a day. (Yes, I recommend that people discontinue soda consumption altogether because there is NO healthful benefit to soda, unlike coffee and tea which at least contain antioxidants. If you absolutely can not live without a sweet, fizzy drink, consider Juice Squeezes or Izzes. They are carbonated fruit juices that are DELECTABLE!)

• Replace the caffeine that you normally would have consumed with water. Caffeine is very dehydrating, which can make it so your energy is unable to flow properly. If your energy can't get quickly to where it should be going, you'll get that sluggish feeling that we all know so well.

• Consider getting acupuncture to help your body re-learn to produce energy more quickly. You'll be feeling more energetic, so you won't NEED the caffeine so much. Acupuncture can also help mitigate any withdrawal symptoms you may experience.

Coffee is a lovely drink, but like everything, must be used in moderation. It's best to feel great on your own and to be able to have coffee as a treat that you enjoy, rather than a necessary crutch to get through your day.

We've all seen the news articles out there telling us how our chronically stressful lives are making us heavier as a nation. We're too busy to exercise. We're too busy to eat right. Stress increases cortisol, a hormone associated with our fight or flight responses. When we're stressed out we crave salty, fatty and sugary foods. All of these things are a part of the picture.

According to Chinese medicine, weight gain leads back to the Spleen. The Spleen is in charge of metabolizing our food and water intake. When our Spleen is weakened, it is easily overwhelmed by all the food and water coming in and isn't able to use it properly. To bring the stress into the picture - there is a special relationship between the Liver and the Spleen. Think of the Liver as the big brother, and the Spleen as the little brother. If the Liver gets riled up because of stress, he'll take it out on the Spleen - damaging the Spleen. When the Spleen is damaged, he's unable to properly metabolize our food and water, and so it gets stored in the form of fat deposits.

Remember that episode of "I Love Lucy" where she's working in the chocolate factory and she gets a little more behind with each passing moment? She's not sure what to do with all the candies, but knows she has to do SOMETHING with them, so she and Ethel start stuffing them in their mouths. This is similar to what happens when our Spleen gets overwhelmed and damaged by the Liver. It starts stuffing things anywhere it can.

Chinese medicine can be a great boost to your weight loss plan. I'm sorry, it can't do the work for you. You still need to make the necessary diet and exercise changes, but it can help speed the process along. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas can be used to set things straight between the Liver and Spleen to reduce stress levels and help heal the Spleen so that it can do its job properly.

If you're ready to get serious about losing some weight, or you've plateaued in your weight loss progress, consider talking to your acupuncturist. They can help your body remember how to be thin and healthy!