Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chest pain is not something to be taken lightly, as many times it can be a precursor to something more serious like a heart attack. Therefore it is always recommended a person suffering from chest pain be checked out by a doctor, especially when that pain appears out of nowhere. Chest/breast pain can be an indication of many other problems too. For instance, anxiety, grief, depression, poor diet, external factors like a cold, accumulation of breast milk or even fatigue can all be factors when a person is experiencing chest/breast pain.

As long as the chest/breast pain is not cardiac related, Traditional Chinese Medicine can be a helpful tool for treating the pain. Acupuncture is one of the modalities used by TCM practitioners to help alleviate pain. Acupuncture helps the body heal itself by releasing endorphins, which are natural painkillers. Acupuncture also helps to dislodge or drain areas of stagnation commonly associated with pain. Think of a cyst. This is a type of stagnation in TCM and acupuncture can help break up these areas of stagnation and restore proper flow of both blood and lymph to the affected areas.

Chest/breast pain can involve many different organs and energetic pathways. The heart, lungs and stomach can all be affected. Therefore, the TCM practitioner must be able to determine the proper diagnosis before
treating each patient. Chest colds are treated much differently than a person suffering from chronic grief over the loss of a loved one. Since chest pain can be a result of an excess condition or a deficiency, the treatments will be very different. The TCM practitioner may suggest certain foods, exercises or overall lifestyle changes that will help the patient heal over time.

Foods

Ginger – This slightly spicy root has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help soothe an upset stomach that may be causing chest pain and acid reflux.

Cucumber – Cooling and draining in nature, this food helps to cleanse the lungs of mucus and phlegm, which can help relieve chest congestion and pain.

Kale – Full of vitamins, this leafy vegetable can cleanse the body of toxins that may be causing pain.

Melons – Due to the cooling nature of most melons, they are great for draining excess heat in the chest area.

Lifestyle

Excessive stress, anxiety and worry are all contributors to chest/breast pain. One way to combat these negative emotions is through the use of meditation. Meditation can be very beneficial when practiced regularly.

Avoiding the excessive consumption of dairy products, sweets, greasy foods, deep-fried foods, spicy foods and alcohol can also help greatly in the prevention of chest pain and breast pain.

Lastly, doing regular chest opening type stretches will help prevent and decrease any pectoral pain and re-establish proper blood flow into the area.

Acupuncture is an ancient treatment modality that is backed by thousands of years of documented success. Unfortunately, it is often used as a treatment of last resort. This is because our education is grounded in western science, which has no clear explanation for why or how acupuncture works. It is unfortunate because, in comparison to surgery and prescription painkillers, acupuncture is virtually painless, side-effect free, and imposes zero additional recovery time on the patient after each treatment session is completed.
When people do eventually come to acupuncture, they find it to be as, or more effective than other treatments they have tried so far. This is especially true for the treatment of chronic pain, inflammatory disorders, addiction, and more.

Acupuncture in Pain Management

Where this treatment modality shines is in managing pain. Acupuncture alters the way the nervous system functions, by allowing it to send fewer unnecessary pain signals to the brain. It does this by tapping into the ability of the brain and the nervous system as a whole to manage pain in healthy ways.

Consider the way a small child reacts to pain compared to an adult. When children get a bump or scrape, they often cry bitterly as if they have been badly wounded. An adult’s pain response will tend to be less pronounced. This is because an adult will know on an experiential level and an intuitive level that superficial damage is not a threat to her or his existence.

In short, our nervous systems mature as we do. Therefore, it can be said- based on long experience with the practice- that acupuncture can help our nervous system to develop more refined responses to pain.



Common Types of Painful Illnesses That are Successfully Treated Using Acupuncture

You will find that the types of pain acupuncture is best at treating are the ones that are caused by a disproportionate response of the body to injury or illness. Inflammation, for example, is what happens when the body responds to a perceived threat. But that response can be harmful if it is not properly regulated.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Damage to the gut lining and irritants in the digestive system will trigger an immune response, and causes obvious pain. Conditions like IBS result when the body cannot properly mount a well-regulated response. Acupuncture can reduce unhelpful levels of swelling in the gut.

Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Disorders

As with gastrointestinal disorders, allergies result when an irritant is ever-present, and the body, again, mounts a poorly regulated response. Acupuncture is well suited for this type of problem.

Immune Disorders

Sometimes, hyperactive immune responses are so strong that the body’s defense systems begin to attack the body itself. Immune disorders can be devastating and sometimes painful.

Musculoskeletal And Neurological Disorders



At some point in life, everyone experiences pain caused by a musculoskeletal and/or neurological disorder. These can be caused by poor posture, injury, illness, and age. Acupuncture can help the body to refrain from delivering manic pain signals while the patient strives to heal.

In this day and age, kids seem to always be glued to some sort of electronic device. Whether it is a phone, computer or tablet, there is always some form of technology kids can get their hands on, As a parent, it can be frustrating and difficult to limit screen time. Below are some alternatives to keep your kids occupied and having fun without the need for a screen!

Get them outside -
One of the best ways to keeps kids not only occupied but healthy is to get them playing outside. Whether it is hiking or playing catch, the outdoors have been proven to improve physical health as well as mental wellbeing. Studies have shown that kids who get more outdoor time can have reduced symptoms of ADHD. It is a great opportunity for children to let out energy in a constructive way while having fun.

Head to the library – Reading is a great pastime for a number of reasons. Making books and reading a regular activity in your household will not only help your child improve their reading skills, but will keep them focused and their imagination active. Take them to the library to explore and find what types of books they really like.

Consider a family pet -
Family pets have benefits not only for kids but parents as well. They can be great companions for kids and their emotional development. Studies have shown that children who grow up with animals are better adjusted later on in life. Pets encourage nurturing, comfort and responsibility.
Make chores fun
Chores can be a drag, but also are important for children to learn responsibility and keep them busy and off their electronics. Make chores a game or a competition. Set goals and tell them when they complete a certain task they are on to the next “level”. Make chores a task that kids will look forward to doing!

It is especially important to limit screen time in summer when kids are out of school. Signing them up for a day camp or sport activity during summer can help keep them active and social. There are many different types of camps for kids from theatre and dance to outdoor and sport camps. This is also a great way to get them off your plate for a bit!

Whether we are at the office, in the car or at home, we spend much of our day sitting down. So much time in fact that it can impact how active we are throughout the remainder of our day. Because of the amount of sitting we do, it can be hard to find times to be active and burn calories. If you still want to lose weight, but can’t avoid the huge amount of sitting throughout your day, check out these three sitting exercises that promote healthy weight loss.

1. Replace your chair

This is a super easy way to get in some key exercise while you are sitting at work. Take your old office chair and replace it with an exercise ball. More specifically, a stability ball. A stability ball will help you tighten and strengthen various parts of your body, including your core, leg and back muscles. It has been proven that when you do this you can burn up to an extra 100 calories a day!

2. Set healthy reminders for yourself

This is a simple practice that can greatly improve your health, quality of life and weight. If you set healthy reminders for yourself throughout the day while at work you can avoid staying stagnant and eating potentially unhealthy foods. For example, set reminders on your phone to tell yourself to get up and walk around the office for a few minutes, or to walk up and down a set of stairs. In addition, you can set reminders telling yourself what snacks you should eat during the work day, or what healthy option you should have during your lunch break.

3. Drink lots of water

Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Keeping yourself properly hydrated is very important. And by doing this you can even help yourself lose weight without getting up and impacting your work day. Drinking lots of water ensures that your metabolism and other bodily functions can work to the best of their ability. Keeping your metabolism hydrated and fully operational helps reduce your calorie intake.

Autumn is the season of letting go. We watch as the trees release their beautiful but ‘ready to fall’ foliage. There is a sadness to it, but a gracefulness as well. The same energy is asked of us, as humans, in Autumn. We must let go of what is no longer needed in order to consolidate our resources. This is not a time for emotional or physical constipation. And yet, some of us find ourselves extra congested come autumn, congested with emotions, with phlegm and with poop! Why is this and how do we fix it?

Autumn, in TCM, belongs to the metal element which is represented in the body by the Lung and Large Intestine energies. These are both involved in refinement and elimination, key functions associated with the metal element and the fall season. The Lungs filter the air we breathe, obtaining purified oxygen for energy while releasing carbon dioxide. The large intestine extracts the last bit of usable moisture from the body’s waste products before their final elimination. 

These organs also deal with grief. Sadness and loss are the emotional themes of the season. Mourning is a fact of life and one we must face with bravery, love and patience but it is not meant to be a chronic condition. Emotional constipation can lead to a variety of more serious and physical health threats. Honoring loss also means letting it go. To everything there is a season…

Nasal congestion is also a potential seasonal issue. The lungs are said to open into the nose, so when our lungs are not ‘letting go’ properly we may feel ‘blocked up’ in our sinuses. Phlegm can also be a result of a weak earth element (digestive function) which may be causing buildup in the lungs, as the lungs are considered to be the offspring of the digestive organs and directly affected by them. Practice breathwork for lung function and avoid cold, raw and damp (such as dairy) foods to help prevent the buildup of phlegm. 

Intestinal constipation is also one of the main health concerns of the season. The large intestine is designed for preparing the waste for release and then actually delivering it out of the body. There are many challenges to this system, especially with this change of season. We are shifting gears in Autumn, from the extreme yang outward energy of summer to the first inward turn of yin, beginning to prepare for winter. During this internal pull, there may be a temptation to hold on to what is not essential while drawing in resources. That pull can actually inhibit peristalsis, the natural rhythmic movement of our intestines that guides the stool out of the body. Autumn is also a time of dryness, as the humidity of summer is drained out of the air, and pulled back into the earth. This ‘drying out’ energy can be overdone in our intestines, leading to a dry constipation. 

Combat Constipation with:

• The practice of letting go of stuck emotions: requires awareness of emotional energies and time and space to process them. Give it a go!
• Abdominal massage: castor oil is a great oil to penetrate the tissues and encourage movement of stagnation. You can use clockwise circular motions on your lower belly.
• Fiber: eat your prunes! The fiber binds to toxins in the intestines and gives the intestinal walls something to work with to assist peristalsis.
• Stay hydrated: With Autumn being the season of dryness, keep a healthy fluid balance in the intestines with daily water intake and occasional aloe vera juice for internal hydration.
• Acupuncture and Chinese herbs: Acupuncture is fantastic at helping to balance patterns associated with constipation. There are also chinese herbal formulas such as Ma Zi Ren Wan that help alleviate intestinal dryness, as well as other formulas geared to other causes. These should be used with guidance from a qualified herbalist.

Let us help you flow and let go with the season, schedule an appointment to assist your body in making the shift!