Acupuncture of Iowa

July 10, 2010

Feng Shui: Wind and Water for Qi and Health

Filed under: Asian Medicine, Feng Shu, Lifestyle, Oriental Medicine Theory — Tags: , , , , , , , — Laura @ 1:17 pm

In the process of preparing my new clinic, I’ve been thinking a lot about Feng Shui. I’ve said before that the words mean wind and water. This morning we have the windows open, for the first time in several days, and I feel a nice breeze coming in. The air is slightly moist, but it feels good to hear birds singing and feel that gentle breeze.

Here is an example of wind and water at work, giving a positive, clean, refreshed feeling. This results in me feeling upbeat and hopeful, energized, and good about things. Ready to begin the day. The breeze (feng) and perfect moisture level of the air (shui) are presented in a perfect balance, so as to bring about a positive experience. The Qi flow around me enhances the Qi that I feel. Later today, the water level in the air may rise, leading to a less pleasant experience, and the breeze may decrease, making the feeling less pleasant and refreshing.

Then, I will improve the wind and water in my home by turning on the air conditioner, to reduce the moisture in the air to a comfortable level, to circulate the air, and to lower the temperature to a comfortable level. So wind and water will be managed in such a way to enhance the Qi of my home.

But did you ever notice that after a few days with the windows closed and a/c on, the air in the house gets sort of dead? The Qi is not good. There is not enough wind to make us feel good, even though the water level in the air is managed. So, running the blower fan on the a/c continuously can really help. Or opening the windows at night to let in some fresh air. Or just keeping fans going at low speeds all the time when the house is closed, as I do. Gotta have that wind for best Qi.

So the ideas of feng shui point to a set of conditions that make us feel  certain ways. Our mind and body are programmed to respond to certain conditions with particular responses.

At the new clinic we have a set of feng shui problems that are nice examples of common obstructions to Qi flow and we will work to correct them. We have a persistent smell of ‘medical clinic’. And no air flow. The air has been sealed up in there for years since the last occupancy, so it is dead. And the smell of medical clinic never leads to a positive experience. Who likes the smell of a hospital? Reminds me of the smell of my aunt’s medical clinic when I was a kid. Very same disinfectant, I think. So the smell evokes memories, not pleasant. And this is not good for our Qi, and for the quality and flow of Qi in the clinic. So today we open the windows and get the fans going to clear out the dead air and bring in wonderful new air with its healthy Qi.

The second problem in the clinic is a degree of filth. There are dead bugs everywhere. Very bad Qi. Dead Qi, in fact. So we need to vacuum those. And the carpets are really dirty. So we remove the old icky ones and thoroughly clean the not so icky ones. Then we will install new flooring in a large area. This will help get rid of the bad Qi that is hanging around. Finally, we need to clean the bathrooms, shine mirrors, scrub sinks to impeccable cleanliness, and basically wash or paint every surface. I think the act of touching every surface, especially touching with water, is a really good way to refresh the Qi. Its like splashing your face with water when you get up. Refreshes in a very basic way. There is water again, where the shui (water) of feng shui points to the enhancing effect of proper use of water. Good Qi.

Yesterday we tested the air handling system at the clinic. We wanted to see how the air flow worked, how noisy the blower was, and how moving the air would change the feel of things. Yes, it helped. The blower is on the roof, so not too noisy, and the air flow is good in every room. So the feng (wind) part of feng shui is improved.

Finally, we will improve the Qi flow by painting a couple of accent walls in the appropriate colors to support the space, based on the colors indicated by the Ba Gua map of feng shui, and position furniture and artwork for best Qi flow. We may have to spend some time thinking about this, but it will be really helpful to the health and positive experience of our patients, and to the health and energy of the people that work in the clinic. We will use the feng shui map of the clinic to help us with the location of furniture, to choose function of rooms, and to correct anything that blocks the Qi flow through the clinic.

I always say that I paint the colors of the walls a color that vitalizes me because I am the one who has to be there the most. I know that the current decorating trend of using neutrals, gold tones with red and earth tones, and possibly olive green tones makes me feel pretty icky. I am definitely a winter in the old color-me-beautiful scheme.  I look best in jewel tones and I feel best when looking at them. I don’t care that they are currenly not in fashion. (But thank goodness some magenta showed up on the racks this summer.) So I have a good idea already of what colors will energize me in the clinic.

After bringing home paint samples the other night, I did a test to see which exact off-white would be best for me. I had avoided choosing any that had a greenish, rustish, brownish, or greyish tinge, as I knew those would be bad for me. I stuck to ones that had a pink, cream, or peach tinge. Not blue, as I don’t want the clinic to be cold. But warm in a jewel tone way. So sitting with these color samples in front of me, I took them one by one and looked at the color. While looking, I turned my attention inward to see how my energy responded to the color. Looking at certain ones, I felt a gentle electric type of feeling in my hands and head, like I wanted to jump up and do something. Looking at others, I felt a bit tired, like I should lie down and rest. Interesting. I noted the energizing ones.

Then, just for kicks, I did the same exercise, but this time I looked at the backs of the samples. Color side down, I focused my intention on each card, one by one. This time I knew I would eliminate any pre-judgement I had about what I liked or what was best. Guess what. Yes, I chose the same samples. Now I have it down to two off-whites.

Now I don’t want anyone to accuse me of being crazy or psychic, but I do believe that we each have an electromagnetic field and that it is in contact with the fields of everything around us, and that since color has a bit to do with light, and since light is electromagnetic energy…..It is just a matter of being able to turn my attention to my inner experience to sense my response to a particular energy field. Maybe woo woo, maybe physics, maybe both. But certainly a fun experiment.

So, I have chosen my paint colors, and have a specific plan of what we need to do to prepare the new clinic. And the wind and water will work wonderfully to optimize the Qi of the clinic, and the Qi of everyone who passes through it.

July 7, 2010

Feng Shui: Reputation and Fame

Filed under: Feng Shu — Tags: — Laura @ 2:19 am

More introduction to Feng Shui for everyone. And a review for some.

Today I want to write about the area that corresponds to your reputation or fame. This is the area of a room that is at the center of the wall which is directly across from you when you walk in the door. It corresponds with the direction of South, the element of Fire, the color Red. It relates to how others see you. Your reputation in your community, your family, your workplace, and other groups you participate in.

This can be an important area to enhance if you are looking for a new job, starting a business, or just trying to repair some relationships. It is especially important if you have problems with self esteem or problems with how people see you.

In your analysis of your home or other space, look at what is in the area of the wall opposite the door at about the 12 o’clock position on the clock face. Do you have a window there? If so, Qi may be leaking out and injuring the available energy in that area. Do you have a large piece of furniture there that blocks Qi? Or do you have something broken, dirty, ugly, or something you just don’t like.

It is very important that if you have such an obstruction or problem in that area, to remedy it. That means clean, repair, get rid of, or otherwise deal with it. That is always the first thing. If a window is leaking Qi, find a drapery, shutters, or other attractive thing to block or partially block the window. In one of my offices I have red sheer drapes, to both block the leakage of Qi, and contribute to the energy of that area, since the color there is red.

If you don’t have a problem there, consider enhancing that spot with something that either symbolizes the reputation you want to have, is red in color, or has the shape and/or color of fire. You could use a piece of artwork that shows fire, a red flower, like a Georgia O’Keefe painting (one of my favorites for this area), or something beautiful and valuable. You could also put something that represents your reputation as you want it to be known, such as your diplomas, a fantastic creation of yours, or another thing that symbolizes the reputation you want to have.

In my new clinic, I realized that the treatment rooms in the reputation part of the clinic could be occupied either by me, or by my associates. I decided to take over those rooms, so that I can carefully influence the reputation of the clinic, and of myself by beautifully decorating them. I feel that this is very important for the success of the clinic. And I have chosen to place a large photo of a red peony just opposite the door of the waiting room so that people will see it when they first walk in. What a great start to their time in the clinic.

It is really fun and interesting to play with this stuff. And it is not hocus pocus. It is a system that, I believe, codifies the way the human mind responds to and correlates symbols and experiences.

Come and check out the big red flower in my waiting room, starting August 2!

July 3, 2010

Summer Heat and Chinese Medicine

Filed under: Acupuncture, Asian Medical Nutrition, Asian Medicine, Conditions, Nutrition, Recipes — Tags: , , — Laura @ 12:58 pm

You probably think this is another column about weather. Well, you are partially correct, but it is really about a condition that Chinese medicine identifies and treats very successfully.

Now that we are at the beginning of the weekend of July 4th, and people are getting ready to set out for the famous Iowa City Jazz Fest where they will sit out in the sun for two days straight, I thought it was a good time to bring up this subject.

The diagnosis of Summer Heat is given when a patient presents with the following symptoms: feeling excessively hot, or chilled after exposure to excessive heat, stopping sweating, as well as thirst but not wanting to drink, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, dark colored urine or reduced urination……Sound familiar? Yes, this is very similar to what we call heat stroke or sun stroke.

On Acupuncture.com the symptoms are listed thus:

Fever, anhidrosis (lack of sweating), mild chilliness, heavy and painful sensation over the limbs, headache, dizziness, thirst and desire for a little drink, oppressive feeling over the chest, vomiting, nausea, yellow and greasy tongue coating and rapid and soft-floating pulse.

The good news is that we have some very effective treatments for this condition. The best are herbal but acupuncture can also really help.

I remember a few years back when I was in Hawaii, I was rooming with a friend who is from the mountains of Colorado. She and I played in the water and the sun for a few days, and then she started complaining of not feeling well. She was chilled and took to her bed under the covers, said that she had a headache that did not respond to tylenol or ibuprofen, and felt vaguely nauseated. She was thirsty but afraid that drinking water would make her vomit. I did not have any herbs with me, which are the preferred treatment for this condition, but I did have some acupuncture needles, both gold and stainless, so I did one of the treatments I know to reduce excess heat in the body with the combination of gold and stainless needles. She immediately felt better. We realized then that she was suffering from a case of Summer Heat. It seemed so obvious later, but as each day went by and she felt a little bad and getting worse, we didn’t see it because it was a gradual process. More commonly a person will be out all day in the heat and suddenly get very sick. We realized that since she is from a cool, dry climate in Boulder, she was very vulnerable to the heat and increased humidity of the island.

This week I have seen two patients in the clinic that had the symptoms of Summer Heat. They both had diarrhea, sweating, fever, and chills, nausea, and extreme thirst that had reduced to not much thirst, and reduced urine output. They were feeling terrible and did not realize it was probably a case of getting too much heat exposure. It is not surprising to see this condition in teenagers when they are detasseling corn in the summer, and I remember getting it during my childhood after being at the pool too long. We also see it in people who have been inside a lot, and suddenly spend a day outside in high heat and humidity, such as what happens at the Jazz Fest.

One of the great Chinese herbal remedies for this, Kang Ning Wan, which is also known as ‘Pill Curing,’  or ‘Curing Pills’ comes in convenient pill form, and can be kept on hand for any time you get too hot and end up feeling nauseated.  In the old version of the remedy, it came in cool little vials of tiny orange pills. Each vial was packaged in a neat little red oblong cardboard box. These were really easy to keep in your pocket if you were out in the sun. You could dump all or part of the contents of the vial onto your tongue and easily swallow. The pills were coated with a sweet coating so it was easy for kids to take. It also happens to be good for nausea from other causes as well. We always have it in stock in the clinic and recommend people take it along on cruises to the Carribean and trips to Hawaii and the like. In our clinic it is sold under the brand of Golden Flower Chinese Herbs as ‘Ease Digestion’ in pill form. It can help a number of digestive problems as well as summer heat.

Of course, the very best way to get treated for this awful condition, is to come in to the clinic, have an acupuncture treatment designed to dispel the summer heat ‘evil’ that has invaded your body, and get a custom formulated herb tea to take for a day or two. We really can help you.

Interestingly, the ancient doctors of China realized that a condition of Summer Heat can be the start of a long series of health problems. These problems can be almost anything. So in some cases, we cannot get full improvement in a condition until the original event of too much sun and heat exposure is treated successfully, even if it is no longer obviously present.

I found the following material on the Acufinder.com website and I think it is great advice. Here is a recipe for a traditional cooling drink that is actually sold on the streets all over southeast Asia, as well as dietary recommendations for summer.

We stock chrysanthemum flowers in the clinic, by the way. All of the yellow flowers such as chrysanthemum, calendula, and chamomile are known for their properties of cooling excess heat in the body.

Cold Chrysanthemum Tea (For Quenching Thirst & Mild Sunstroke)

This is an ideal drink for hot summer days. As well as helping to prevent sunstroke it also clears Heat, benefits Qi, promotes body fluid secretion and is an excellent thirst quencher! This is an ideal drink for hot summer parties.

Ingredients:

  • 60 – 80 White Chrysanthemum Flowers
  • 3 teaspoon of Jasmine Yinhao Green Tea
  • Rock sugar or honey
  • 4 liters of water

Instructions:

  1. Wash the chrysanthemum.
  2. Put chrysanthemum and tea into a cooking pot.
  3. Pour in 4 liters of water and bring it to boiling.
  4. Reduce heat and continue to cook for 20 minutes.
  5. Put in rock sugar or honey.
  6. Remove pot from the heat and allow to cool till room temperature.
  7. Strain the tea and put into refrigerator.
  8. Serve the tea chilled and enjoy!

Do’s in summer recipes:

  • white lentils (not sure what these are, but perhaps similar to the yellow dal lentils of India)
  • mung beans (traditionally made into a soup, can be cooked and served cold in a salad)
  • pear
  • watermelon
  • dark plum
  • sugar cane
  • strawberries
  • mulberries
  • grapes
  • coconut milk
  • lemon
  • watermelon peel (just the outermost peel)
  • persimmons
  • pineapples
  • water chestnuts
  • bitter melon (found in asian grocery stores)
  • winter melon (get at asian grocery)
  • hairy gourd (another one in asian grocery stores)
  • sweet potato
  • snake melon (find in asian grocery)
  • cucumber
  • tomato
  • Chinese spinach
  • straw mushrooms
  • lotus roots
  • Chinese wolfberry (goji berry) leaves (You may not be able to get these in the grocery store)

Many of these could be incorporated into a fruit salad or smoothie. Others would be great in a cold salad or steamed, or part of a stir fry.

Most importantly, be sure to stay pre-hydrated, keep up on your salt and potassium when spending a lot of time outdoors in the extreme heat, and watch for early signs of Summer Heat so you can get treated before you are terribly sick.

June 30, 2010

Feng Shui and Your Health

Filed under: Asian Medicine, Feng Shu — Tags: , — Laura @ 12:43 pm

As I prepare to move the clinic, I am once again brushing up on my Feng Shui. For those who are not familiar, the words mean ‘wind and water’.  And are pronounced ‘fung shwey’.

As I consider the areas of the new clinic, what they symbolize, and how I wish to make the clinic most healthy for my and my patients in every way, I realized that the area of health is not so often spoken of when I hear people talk about feng shui. In this system, we divide a room, or a whole house, or a whole yard, into 9 squares. The Qi (‘chee’) flows around in the space and must be able to smoothly flow through each area without obstruction. Each of the 9 areas represents a facet of our lives, such as family, community, reputation, career, prosperity, love. The most center one represents health. And since that would be in the center of a room, we are not so often thinking about what we can do there to enhance health. It is easier to think of what to hang on the walls, where furniture should be positioned around the room, and what stuff might be impeding the Qi flow in an area.

So as I consider the center of each room in my home, I mostly notice that there is no problem there. In the bedrooms, the bed usually is there, and beds are made, for the most part, so no obstruction to the energy. Now, if there was a big pile of stuff on the bed, we would want to move it so as to clear the flow of Qi there. In the case of the bathroom, pretty much nothing is there, either obstructing or enabling Qi flow. In the case of the living room, in the center is a rocking chair and a coffee table with some dog toys around. I don’t see much of a problem, except that this chair is kind of sitting there out in the open. Perhaps I need a little table next to it. It seems like a blockage to movement through the room as it is now, and in fact it seems to move around a lot because nobody ever sits there are we are always moving it out of the way. I’ll think about how to approach this situation. Perhaps it needs a little occasional table next to it so as to anchor it in the space more. Or maybe we should just move it to another position where it does not seem to be in the way. Or maybe we can decorate it with something that makes it seem more stable.

So, in the case of my rocker, it is a problem in the ‘health’ area because it represents a hazard, and because it really always is in the way.  The coffee table is fine, for the most part, except when it gets piled with junk. And come to think of it, now that we have a smaller one, it does not get piled with junk as much. That is good feng shui because it looks nice and there is no disorganized stuff there to confuse the Qi flow.

In the case of the kitchen, of course the middle of the room is empty, because I do not have an island. However, as I think of it, there is a tall stool there that is often in the way. Again, we move it around because it seems to always be in the way when I am working. Perhaps we should store that stool and just get it out when needed. Additionally, there are a couple of throw rugs in the center of the kitchen. They are great for picking up all the stuff that falls there, but they have gotten hazardous because their rubber backings have just about gone from so much washing. Again, I need to either get rid of them, or get new ones that are less of a trip hazard. That would be good for the feng shui of the health area in the kitchen. And since the kitchen is an area that really empowers health and abundance in general, these changes seem really important, as well as keeping the kitchen neat, clean, and dishes in the dishwasher.

The last area, and perhaps the worst, is the dining room. Our table, like yours, I bet, ends up being a place to eat, but also a place to do projects, a desk full of little scraps of paper and articles we are reading, a place where stuff sits until we figure out where to put it, and a place that seems to accumulate junk for two weeks until the cleaning folks are coming and I clear it off for them.

This is probably the worst part of the house for the feng shui of ‘health’. We have a constant clutter there, dust, cat hair, stuff not related to eating, and general chaos. That does not promote smooth flow of Qi. The clutter represents health problems in general, and impedes progress on those problems. The dust also represent chronic, low grade health issues that accumulate without our realizing it, and which we can ignore for a long time until they get really noticeable, and then we might still ignore them. Except in our dining room, where the Western sun comes across the table every day and shows all the dust. The materials on the table that are not related to eating represent a diversion from progress in health, a confusion about health, and more obstruction to progress in health.

So, now I have convinced myself that it is essential for my health, and the health of my family, to keep the table free of clutter of every sort, as well as dust and hair, and limit the use of the table to eating, and spending quality time with family and friends. That will really empower health related activities around here.

I don’t have space or time here to explain why Feng Shui works. But suffice it to say that our minds are set up with these correlations built in. The Chinese have just systematized it so we can use it. Or maybe it is just a myth, and we enjoy playing with the ideas. Either way, it is rewarding to investigate and make the small changes through the house that are indicated.

Read any book on Feng Shui. I recommend Feng Shui for Dummies, believe it or not, because it is a really easy to understand presentation of the simplest type of Feng Shui for beginners. It is my go to reference when I need it.

And now, I’ll go and start mapping out the office to see what we need to do to optimize the ‘health’ area, as well as all the other areas in the space. This will be one of the most fun parts of moving.

June 23, 2010

Yin (and Yang) and Damp Weather

Filed under: Acupuncture, Allergies, Asian Medical Nutrition, Asian Medicine, Conditions, Diagnosis, Herbal Medicine, Oriental Medicine Theory — Tags: , , — Laura @ 1:57 pm

This is the first article that I have written regarding these mysterious ideas of Yin and Yang. Today I want to focus on Yin. I think this has come to my mind because of the amazing amounts of rain we are having, and the effects that I am seeing on my clients and my self.

Yin and Yang can be likened to water and fire, though this is a very simplistic and limited idea. Traditionally, Yin is thought of as representing the shady side of a mountain where it is always damp and still. Yin is interior, downward moving, dense, cool, wet, female, stillness. Yang is the sunny side of the mountain, warm, hot even, exterior, upward moving, diffuse, male, activity.

When we evaluate a patient in the clinic, one of the first things we ask is ‘is this person more Yin or more Yang?’ So this is a basic way of beginning to assess our patient. The same can be asked of a weather pattern.

In the land of rain, where we have found ourselves lately so much, Yin is predominant. Yin in this case can be seen in the rain and humidity that seems constant these days. Yin can also be seen in the fact that because of this weather pattern, we are not inclined to go outside and walk, or to be active much in other ways. We are feeling more like sitting inside, reading, playing scrabble, or catching up on some quiet chores we have neglected this summer.

The symptoms of Yin excess in the body are showing up as well. These include stiff, sore, and swollen joints, runny noses, clammy skin, sinus type things, and increased numbers of fungal growths and damp rashes. People may be having more loose stools, even. Some report heavy headedness and sinus fullness. Or just feeling like sleeping a lot.

The dampness of the environment provokes the development of dampness in the human body.

Chinese medicine has noted these patterns for centuries. In fact, many of the diagnostic terms sound like weather patterns. This basic idea reflects the concept that the human body is part of the patterns of earth, and therefore responds or resonates with the earths activities at any given time.

So, if you go to your acupuncturist and they say you are suffering from dampness lodging in your joints, don’t be surprised. This is our way of understanding. And our way of developing a treatment. We have herbs for dampness, and acupuncture points that help the body deal with dampness.

It might also be a good time to avoid foods that contribute to the development of dampness, and instead try to consume more foods that warm the body and help it dry out. So we’d recommend that you avoid dairy products, alcohol, raw vegetables and fruits (I know that is hard when it is so hot out), and try eating more warm spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric and curry powder, and squashes and yams to help the organ called Spleen in its ability to transform and rid dampness from the body.

Hopefully soon we will get back to a better balance of Yin and Yang for the summer.

June 18, 2010

Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture

Filed under: Acupuncture, Asian Medical Nutrition, Asian Medicine, Herbal Medicine — Laura @ 1:14 pm

One of the therapies that most people are not so familiar with is the herbal tradition from Chinese medicine. This is a very old system of medicine, originating thousands of years ago and continuing to modernize and refine up to the present. Nowdays there is a lot of research going on in Japan and China regarding the application of specific herbal formulas for certain diseases and conditions.

In the US, we obtain herbs from China, of course. Many of the herbs in our pharmacopia are not found in the US at all. The better companies find excellent sources of raw herb materials and verify scientifically that the herb provided is the exact herb desired. This identification can be done by modern scientific instruments.In times past, unscrupulous vendors would substitute similar looking herbs to be more profitable. So we are certain the herb we think we’ve got is the correct one.  Additionally, the herbs are screened to be sure they are free of heavy metals, toxic farm chemicals, and other contaminants.

The herbs are processed according to longstanding traditions. Those processing methods insure that they dry out well, are free from mold and insects, and enable the herb to be easily cooked into a tea. So, for example, many roots are sliced to maximize the surface area available when they are simmered in water. Some herbs are packaged in traditional ways as well. Magnolia bark is traditionally cut into matchstick sized pieces and then bundled in small bundles with red thread. Another interesting one is the gelatin made from boiling the bones of animals. This gelatin is made into blocks about the size of half a deck of cards, and dried into solid dry blocks. It is traditionally stamped with Chinese characters in beautiful red ink. Another interesting one is the perilla leaf, which is dried and then stacked in little stacks, which are bundled with thread.

Chinese herbs are grown and harvested all over China. There are many that only grow in a particular area, or that are best in quality when grown in certain region. Some people are starting to grow them in the US, but they are expensive and difficult to obtain. We hope that more will be grown here in the future.

The traditional herb formulas will commonly involve 4, 6, 10, or even 16 herbs. These formulas have been developed over the centuries. Most of the formulas we use today are from 500 to 1500 years old. With that long time of use, their actions are well understood.

The formulas are chosen based on the Chinese medical diagnosis of the patient. That means that if the condition is one of dampness predominating and causing problems, we give a formula that rids excess dampness with diuretic herbs, as well as strengthening the organs of the body that help transform dampness. Typically, the formula will have 1-3 chief herbs, and then a number of assistant herbs that work synergistically with the chief ones, and perhaps a couple to offset any side effects.

Many herbalists prefer to create their own formulas based on these time honored recipes. But other practitioners will use off the shelf pills and capsules that contain standard formulas. These are easy for patients to take, along with whatever supplements they already use.

Modern production of herbal formulas in capsules and pills is just as safe as the manufacture of vitamins and supplements in the US. This makes the safety of Chinese herbal medicine right up there with all the other things we take for our health. We no longer have a problem with drugs being found in herbal medicines because of the strict control of manufacturing in the US. However, there still may be drugs or other ingredients found in herbal pills originating in China, if they have somehow gotten past our screening. All reputable vendors in the US are sourcing their herbal pills from safe manufacturers in China now days.

So, when you have a cold, flu, ache, or any other condition, for that matter, contact your acupuncturist to see what herbal remedy would be appropriate. These materials cannot really by self-prescribed, as they must be based on your diagnosis in the present time. Even a cold remedy should be chosen based on tongue and pulse diagnosis at the time it is being used, for best effectiveness.

Chinese herbal medicine is one of the most powerful tools in the complementary medicine array. We hope to see more and more people using this wonderful medicine.

June 14, 2010

Acupuncture for Injuries

Filed under: Acupuncture, Asian Medicine, Conditions, Lifestyle, Physical Activity — Tags: , , , — Laura @ 1:03 pm

Yes, it is the time of home repair projects (some ending up a little more extensive than we imagined), softball, three-legged races, hiking, water skiing, and more. That means we are seeing more injuries and sore muscles in the acupuncture clinic.

Many people do not know that acupuncture is a really quick and easy way to help those sprained ankles, tennis elbows, golf elbows, sore backs and knees, and of course, sore necks.

Acupuncture can be used in a variety of ways to help. Many practitioners will simply place needles in the affected area. That can be really helpful. In addition, many acupuncturists like to use needles in other parts of the body that will improve the function of the painful area. For example, if your knee hurts, we can use your elbow as the treatment site, since there is a relationship between the elbow and the knee. Another possibility is using the point for knee that is located on the ear surface.

In the Chinese medicine system the knees are associated with the Kidney energy center, so we might use points along the Kidney meridian to help the knee.  Or, if your pain in the knee is along the Gallbladder meridian, we would use points on the Gallbladder meridian in the foot to help the knee.

Acupuncture reduces swelling, decreases stiffness and increases movement of joints and muscles involved in injuries. It does this primarily by increasing blood flow to the area, and helping to clear toxins out of the tissues. It also stimulates nerves to work better, and keeps the brain from getting the pain signals from an injury.

Acupuncture, along with the usual RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation is a really smart way to take care of yourself when you are hurting.

By the way, it also works really well at helping take down swelling after surgery, as well as increasing the range of motion and helping nerves regrow after an operation.

June 11, 2010

Acupuncture for Asthma and Allergies

Filed under: Acupuncture, Allergies, Asian Medicine, Conditions, Japanese Acupuncture, Lifestyle, Nutrition — Tags: — Laura @ 12:13 am

Yes, late spring is here and we are seeing the various allergies and asthma now. I wanted to write a little on this subject because many people may not know that acupuncture is not just for pain.

With the Japanese acupuncture that I now offer, I have been having fantastic results treating asthma and allergies. This is because I have a protocol for regulating the immune system so that it is optimized in its response to things. We use points near the elbows on the outside of the arm, points on the fronts of the legs, and points on the inner ankle, as well as some near the lymph nodes in the neck. The second phase involves using needles along the spine in the neck area, where there are also a lot of lymph nodes. This system comes from Dr. Nagano, whose style I primarily practice. Dr. Nagano was a blind man who practiced acupuncture for 60 years. Due to his blindness, he learned very well how to find acupuncture points and to evaluate the effects of his acupuncture on the patient by feeling the body with his hands. Kiiko Matsumoto, my teacher, has studied with him for over 10 years, and blends his work with many of her own understandings of the ancient books on Chinese medicine.

Of course, for the best outcome in acupuncture treatment, it is important for the patient to take a careful look at other factors in their life that may be contributing to allergies. The first of these is diet.

Many health care practitioners think that most people are at least somewhat sensitive to wheat gluten. This is certainly borne out by the fact that when I ask people to restrict their wheat intake, they find that many symptoms get better. So for allergies, we ask that people restrict their exposure to wheat, corn, dairy, and most importantly, white sugar. Studies have shown that soon after eating white sugar, people have an immune response that is measurable. This agrees as well with the opinions of many health care providers, who recommend no sugar in the diet for all kinds of problems.

In my practice, I strongly recommend that people eat no processed food. That means nothing instant, pre-cooked, or pre-made. Some of you are thinking, “then what can I eat?” Yes, it is true, the only things left for you to eat are meat, vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, and dairy products. But you have to prepare them yourself. The artificial flavorings, colorings, and preservatives are often the culprits that lead to allergies, as our bodies just weren’t designed to be exposed to those things.

I don’t insist that people eat organic, but I do recommend that you look for the list of what fruits and vegetables are sprayed the most with pesticides and herbicides, and try to get organic ones of those. And of course, the best thing is to either grown your own veges and put them up, or purchase from your farmer’s market, and preserve as you can for winter. More on that in another blog entry.

The final important step in dealing with allergies is to examine the home for chemicals and other materials that may be aggravating. First, one must keep a very clean home, vacuuming regularly, dusting, reducing pet hair, and getting rid of all mold in the home. Mold is a real problem for allergic people. Get a new shower curtain liner. Go ahead and use bleach to kill mold on any surface that can take it. Keep good air flow around the home and use a dehumidifier if needed.

The other half of the home issue is looking for all products that may be toxic or overwhelming to the system. I insist that allergic people remove all scented air fresheners and potpourri. Look for all cleaning products that have an artificial color or scent such as 409 cleaner, janitor in a drum, pinesol, scrubbing bubbles, and the like. Replace all of these with simple cleaning elements such as borax, vinegar, baking soda, castille soap, Bon Ami, a little amonia, a little bleach, and some rubbing alcohol. Orange cleaners are also useful at times. As is some elbow grease, and trying to eliminate dirt before it builds up. Get a water softener to reduce soap scum.

For the laundry. Get rid of dryer sheets. These things make my eyes burn just thinking about them. And try to use the unscented laundry products such as XXXX FREE. Almost every brand now has a FREE version. I personally like the amway SA 8 laundry soap. Cleans great, economical, almost no scent. For dishwasher, I still recommend a commercial product, as some of the environmentally friendly ones just don’t work so well.

You can read all about natural home cleaning on the web.

And don’t forget to eliminate all personal care products that are scented such as deodorant, cologne and perfume, hairspray, even some shampoos and conditioners. These are less problematic but it is good to be alert to this. Most of the more natural brands from the health food store will be better in this regard, even if they do have some scent.

So, with a combination of acupuncture, dietary changes, and careful scrutiny and elimination of home products you have a real good chance of reducing or eliminating allergies all together.

May 19, 2010

Springtime detox smoothies (or any time)

Filed under: Detoxification, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Recipes — Tags: , , , , — Laura @ 3:31 pm

The season of weddings is here. And some of us want to look just a bit better when we show up in our finery. But even if you are not going to any fancy do this spring, you probably want to do a little cleansing and tightening before you put on your summer clothes. And even if you don’t care about how you look, you probably care about your health (part of how you got to this blog) so here are a couple of my ideas about quick breakfast or snack smoothies that will assist in promoting health.

These are smoothies that I actually drink most every day. I have found that I really do feel better all day if I start with protein, but I don’t always want to take the time to cook an egg, or peel one. I always keep hard boiled farm eggs in the fridge. I also am not that good at getting in my fruits every day. Veges are not a problem, as we pile them high at dinner, but fruits require peeling and the process of eating and chewing. All of these take time. So when I choose to write in my blog over coffee, or spend a little time knitting in the morning before the hectic day begins, or even if I have to rush off in the car to buy raw milk early in the morning, these are my choice. Then when I find myself in a hotel where, you know what the breakfasts are like, or with in laws out to breakfast at IHOP, I discover that I love these things and really miss them when I don’t have them. At times I will travel with the powder mix in a baggie and attempt to mix it in water on the road. Not too easy. But I suppose I could get one of those little battery powered wiggly things to mix my smoothie. Or, come to think of it, I have a shaker cup high up in the cupboard. It came with the whey powder I bought at the grocery store last winter. OK, I have no excuse. But the blender is really the best, because it can chop up frozen or fresh fruit, as well as mix your other stuff. So here you are.

Basic Smoothie

Combine the following into your blender and buzz a minute or two till fruit is finely chopped:

  • Protein Powder, 1 scoop (30 grams or so)
  • Frozen Fruit such as strawberries, peaches, blueberries or mixed berries, 1 cup
  • 1 1/2 – 2 cups water
  • 1 T Flax Oil (kept in fridge)

Variations:

Use different types of protein powder, I like whey because it promotes lean muscle mass, is very easy to assimilate, and safe for people, even who are lactose intolerant. You can also use soy or other types if you like. Some people should avoid soy and others can be sensitive to it. Milk is not so good, but will do in a pinch.

Add a scoop or two of a detox product like Designs for Health PaleoCleanse, or Ultraclear, to enhance the detoxification properties. These products have a number of ingredients that support the liver in its detoxification biology, and other ingredients that help cleanse the bowel and support kidney function.

Add 1 T of green food powder. There are lots of brands. Green Magma is one of the old standbys, it is from Japan and is very good quality. These products often have dried and powdered greens of every kind such as algae, beets, kale, spinach, etc. Some also have ground dried fruits and veges. Some have flavoring such as stevia for sweetness and mint or berry. You might start with a small amount in the smoothie till you get used to the taste. You can increase the amount slowly. You can use products of this sort from almost any vendor. We sell a good one at our clinic.

Add 1-2 T flax seed meal or freshly ground flax seed. The lignans in the flax meal are really important for gut health, and to help the body remove estrogenic compounds. This is really important since we are flooded with estrogenic compounds from our environment and food these days and they can be related to the development of cancer. Research this on the web.

Fresh fruit in season. I like pineapple, mango, papaya, peaches, nectarines, and even plums. You have to work a little for these. I like to buy a bunch of peaches when they are really at their best, bring them home and freeze them myself. I don’t bother peeling but wash with a very dilute bleach solution in the sink, and rinse, then slice a bunch. I then prepare cookie sheets by placing a silpat on them (a silicone non-stick mat). I arrange the slices on the cookie sheets so they are not touching but pretty crowded. Freeze in the freezer for a half day or so, then package in small zip top baggies, or what I do is package them with my suction freezer machine and bags. You can date them if you like. And store in the freezer. They keep really well, and if they get a little frost on them, its ok because they are just going into the smoothie. You could do the same with strawberries, other berries, nectarines, or plums if you like.

Add healthful herbs. I like to put in a tablespoon of Turmeric. I get it by the pound from Frontier (ask me about this and I can get you some). Turmeric is a really good antiinflammatory herb. Everybody should take it. You could also put in cinnamon for blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, or whatever other herbs and spices you like. If you are brave you can put in the granular chinese herbs you get at my clinic.

About Yogurt in smoothies. I don’t like it because I think whey protein is more healthful and gives more protein per volume.If you choose to use it, use the unflavored kind. Avoid the sugar or artificial sweeteners in many. I make my own yogurt weekly but we use it in other ways. See an earlier blog post on how to make yogurt.

About Bananas in smoothies. I don’t like these because they have high glycemic index. That means they rush sugar into your blood stream which raises insulin levels in the blood, and can contribute to the development of insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. I also think bananas are too caloric for daily use. Perhaps a half banana once a week as a treat.

You can really be creative with smoothies. I recently purchased many bags of frozen blueberries when they were on sale and have been using them. Now frozen strawberries are on sale so I am stocking up. Of course, it requires an extra freezer to keep all this stuff, but I think it is worth having one to save some money and time.

About flax oil and flax seed. You must keep these refrigerated. They will go rancid quickly. You must also keep them in light-obscuring packages. Flax oil is a really good anti-inflammatory and I think we all should take it daily. One Tablespoon of the oil, or 2 T of ground seed produces the same amount of oil. Do not purchase flax seed from the bulk bins as it has been exposed to oxygen and light, and therefore, by being oxidized, will CONTRIBUTE to health problems rather then prevent them. MOST importantly, grind your flax seed at the time of use. Use an electric coffee grinder that is dedicated to this task. I have one that is just for flax seed and herbs and spices. Another one is for coffee.

Smoothies are great to take with you in the car. You can blend it up and place in a jar with a tight fitting lid for later. Can be used as a snack, or even lunch. You will need to keep it fairly cool and it will be OK for the day. If it gets hot the lid may get tight and you could have some fermentation. As I said earlier, when I travel I sometimes carry the powder part of the smoothie to mix up on the road. I can eat the fruit out of hand later.

The smoothie is a great thing for one of your meals in your 5-6 small meals per day regimen.

You may see powdered smoothie mixes at weight watchers and other places. Really, these are a waste of money and filled with artificial ingredients. Make your own. Get used to the taste of real food.

I think that is about everything I have to say about smoothies.

Enjoy!

May 14, 2010

April (May) Showers bring Damp Conditions

Filed under: Asian Medical Nutrition, Asian Medicine, Conditions, Diagnosis, Lifestyle — Tags: — Laura @ 12:55 pm

Well, here we are in the middle of our spring rains. Finally. It is a bit late, though. And it is really damp and cold. Everyone is complaining about being tired, achy, and cold. This makes sense in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system. We say that people with damp conditions are made worse by damp weather or damp environment. Likewise, people with cold pathologies are made worse by cold conditions. And if you put the two together, people who suffer from cold damp conditions are really in trouble in this weather. Or in a climate like Seattle.

Signs of dampness in the body would be: edema or water retention, frequent urination, feeling as if drinking water makes you feel nauseated, runny noses, diarrhea, vaginal discharge, and being exposed to wet conditions worsens the problem.  When dampness hangs around for a while, it can transform into phlegm. Phlegm would be, of course, thick phlegm in nose or lungs, vomiting thick stuff, mucus in the stool, or having rubbery nodules under the skin. Examples of cold are: conditions that are worse with exposure to cold, feeling cold a lot, avoiding cold beverages and foods, being generally pale.

So, it is obvious that your condition can be diagnosed partially by what weather makes it worse. Seems simple, but in practice it works, since that is how the diagnosis and treatment system of TCM is designed.

People who suffer from cold damp conditions need to be dried out and warmed up. That seems obvious, too. So we need to use acupuncture along with moxa to warm the acupoints, and use herbs that can drive out dampness and dry it up.

Some of those herbs are indeed diuretics to some degree. That means that they might increase urination to help rid excess dampness from the body. Others of those herbs are spongy or chalky and help the body absorb and utilize this excess dampness to accomplish physiologically beneficial tasks.  Those herbs are the ones you could write on the sidewalk with, like dried beans, barley, certain fungi like hoelen (a little like puffball while it is still solid), and chalky roots like Kudzu root, wild yam root, and a few others.

We would also want to warm the body to help it dry out and we’d use herbs like cinnamon bark,  fennel seed, dried ginger root, and others that we think of as dietary spices. You could say that these herbs help light the pilot light in the furnace of the metabolism, and thereby help the body process all this dampness out.

Interestingly, many of these herbs could also be used as foods. We could boil them into the decoction or tea that is traditional for Chinese medicine, or we could add them to our dishes as we cook and then eat them.

For our treatment, we’d also want to get the person out of any damp environment that we can. For example, when some people live or work in damp environments, their conditions worsen, so we want to change that if at all possible.

And there are foods that increase dampness and cold in the body. Cold conditions can be caused by eating cold foods like ice cream and ice cold drinks. Dampness can be the result of eating too many sweets and starchy foods like cookies, or slimy foods like milk products. So we would instruct the patient to avoid those things that are thought to make the condition worse.

I hope this discussion has shed some light on the ways that we look at people and their health in the Chinese medical system, and given some insight into some of the simple recommendations and treatments that would be used by an acupuncturist such as myself.

And we are looking forward to the short period of dry warm weather before the humidity arrives this summer.

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