Traditional Chinese Medicine

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Your immune system is what keeps you healthy and helps you ward off pathogens like the flu or a cold. Most of us don’t spend a lot of time worrying about our immune system until we’re sick. Then we reach for the over-the-counter medications to help relieve our symptoms. But the fact of the matter is that we can take control of our immune systems naturally. There are many ways to boost the immune system. Let’s explore some of the options available.

1. Don’t smoke.

   Smoking lessens the body’s immune system and actually makes you more susceptible to infections. Smoking destroys antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants fight off free radicals. When the body is overcome by free radicals, the immune system becomes compromised and diseases can develop. If quitting smoking is a goal, look into acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture helps thousands of people quit smoking every year and it can help you too.

2. Eat a well-balanced diet.

   The immune system functions best when it has the proper
   building blocks. Proper nutrition keeps the cells in the body healthy and allows the immune system to do its job effectively. Micronutrients like zinc, iron, copper and selenium are vital for the immune system to function. When these nutrients are missing, disease may develop. Micronutrients are found in abundance in vegetables and fruits. This is why it is recommended to eat at least five to seven servings of fruits
   and vegetables daily. Also including probiotics in the diet is extremely beneficial. The link between a healthy gastrointestinal tract and the immune system is undeniable. Daily ingestion of fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir have been shown to improve the overall health of the gastrointestinal tract. And when the gut is healthy, the immune system functions better.

3. Manage stress.

   Emotions were once thought to be of no consequence on the body’s health. But now it is becoming more evident that emotions can play a huge role in how the body functions,
   including the immune system. When the body is stressed, disease can occur. So finding ways to manage stress are very beneficial to the body. Meditation is just one way stress can be managed and it takes little time or money to accomplish. As little as 10 minutes per day can boost the immune system and keep
   the body healthy.

4. Exercise regularly.

   Just as eating a well-balanced diet can keep the body functioning
   properly, so can regular exercise. Exercise promotes healthy circulation, which can then allow the immune cells to do their job more efficiently.

5. Do some deep breathing.

   Deep breathing is a very old tradition thought to have been
   around for thousands of years and tightly associated with yoga and meditation. Deep breathing, also known as diaphragmatic breathing is very simple to do and it is believed to actually help control the body’s sympathetic nervous system. This is the system that partially controls the immune response within the
   body.

6. Take in some sunlight.

   Sunlight provides vitamin D. When vitamin D is insufficient,
   respiratory infections can take hold and they are much harder to get rid of. Just 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight, without sunscreen, is enough for most people. During the winter months though, artificial light may be necessary to get the needed exposure.

7. Get acupuncture treatments.

   Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and it is a
   wonderful way to boost the immune system. There are several acupuncture points that help boost the immune system. One in particular is along the large intestine channel. The point is large intestine 11. It is located at the outer end of the elbow crease, when the arm is flexed. Acupuncturists use this point frequently when a person comes in with an illness because large intestine 11 is a great immune-boosting point.

As stated, there are many ways to naturally boost the immune system. The examples given are just a few.

No matter what though, make sure to take care of the immune system before

Acupuncture is part of an ancient medical system known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is commonly used to treat a multitude of ailments in adults and is gaining popularity among pediatrics. There are licensed acupuncturists who specialize in treating children and are in high demand. These pediatric acupuncturists are helping children where others can’t and for many, it is lifesaving.

Most kids, as well as a lot of adults, are afraid of needles. So the pairing of acupuncture and kids might not be an obvious one. However, more and more parents are seeking alternative methods of treatment for their children. This is because our conventional medical system is faltering a bit. Pharmaceuticals are proving to be more harmful than beneficial for many, especially kids. And with the bodies and brains of children still being developed, who can really blame a parent for wanting to find an alternative to drugs with adverse side effects?

Parents are turning to acupuncture because it provides a safe resolution of illness, while also preventing future illnesses. This happens because acupuncture and acupressure stimulate the body’s ability to restore and heal itself. Our bodies are fully capable of fighting off disease and healing injuries when the right tools are provided. Acupuncture not only stimulates the immune system, but also relaxes the nervous system and regulates the digestive and hormonal systems. All of these things need to be in balance for the body to heal.

Kids are more prone to getting sick because their immune systems are still being built. Children also tend to be more susceptible to bacteria and viruses because of their immature immune systems. For some kids, school can create added stress that taxes the immune system. There are a lot of factors involved when it comes to staying healthy. This is where TCM can be very beneficial.

TCM approaches illness and ailments from a very different angle. In TCM, wind is one of the six external pathogens that can invade the body and produce symptoms. The external pathogens responsible for the cold are seen as invasions of wind. The body is protected by something known as the Wei Qi (defensive Qi, pronounced “way chee”). The Wei Qi is comparable to the immune system in conventional medicine and acts as the first line of defense when the body is under attack from external pathogens. If the Wei Qi is strong, then the body is capable of fighting off invaders like viruses and bacteria. The Wei Qi keeps the pores of the skin closed and prevents wind from entering.

There are specific acupressure points on the body that can help improve a child’s immune system. There are also other techniques that are used in TCM that may help, like gua sha or cupping. Both of these techniques stimulate blood flow and help remove toxins through the skin, which can boost immunity.

Not only is acupuncture cost effective for treating children, but it is a logical approach to healing their illnesses.

It’s that time of year again…the weather is getting colder, the leaves have fallen off the trees and people are beginning to trickle into the office with autumn colds and allergies. As an acupuncturist, I have to say I rarely get sick. I have lots of tools and tricks in my bag to stay healthy during cold season, and I’m happy to share some of them with you!

You know how your mom always made you wear a scarf when you were a kid, telling you that you’d catch a cold if you didn’t? I used to think that she was just saying that, but as it turns out, there was something to it after all! In the world of Chinese medicine, there is an area at the back of the neck which can absorb wind and cold, allowing it to permeate into your system and creating an ideal situation to catch an actual cold. By keeping this area warm and covered, you are putting up a shield between yourself and this invading wind, increasing your chances of avoiding colds.

Since we acupuncturists view cold as an entity that can migrate into your system, adding warm foods into your diet can help to balance out that cold, keeping you healthy or speeding up your recovery once a cold has set in. Eating chicken soup to ward off illness isn’t just a fallacy; the temperature of the soup is helpful, but there are also lots of “warm” ingredients within the soup. Every food has an energetic quality, and warm spicy foods balance out excess cold in the system. Most good chicken soup has garlic, pepper and other spices that are considered “warm” in TCM.

Adding spicy foods into your diet when cold season hits is a way to protect yourself from succumbing to the sniffles. Whenever I begin to feel a cold coming on, I sautee slices of ginger with a little butter or oil, and add it to a tea made with lemon, honey, cinnamon, clove and a dash of cayenne. I let the ginger soften as I drink the tea, and then eat the ginger. This never fails to get me feeling healthy again, if I drink it before the cold settles into my system. It’s also delicious!

Staying warm and eating the right foods are two ways to stay healthy, and another is acupuncture. If you don’t have access to your acupuncturist, the next best thing is to utilize some acupressure points to crank up your immune system. If you slide your finger down the side of your thumb, you will hit a bone just below the wrist crease. Keep sliding down about an inch or so, and press hard while feeling for a tender spot. This is Lung 7, which is a powerful point to build up the energy of the lung, which boosts the immunity. Another great immunity point is Stomach 36. This point is located approximately four fingers down from the bottom of the knee cap, along the outer boundary of the shin bone. This point boosts the energy of the entire body, so massaging it will help to keep your “Wei Qi” up. This Wei Qi is your defensive energy, which creates a barrier between yourself and pathogens that cause harm. In Western terminology, it would be the equivalent of the immune system.  Pressing on both of these points will allow you to tap into the positive effects of acupuncture, minus the needles.

Meridian Point For Winter: Stomach 36

Stomach 36 can easily be said to be the number one acupuncture point in the body. This point
is named Zu San Li in Chinese, which can be translated to mean leg three measure. This name describes its location below the knee on the outer side of the shin bone. Other alternative names for this influential point are Lower Sea of Qi, Ghost Evil and Lower Mound.
Although it is located on the leg, this point is the command point of the abdomen. Because of this function, Stomach 36 can be used for all digestive problems, including constipation, food stagnation, stomach pain, diarrhea, indigestion, vomiting, hiccups and gastroenteritis.
The spleen and stomach organs in Chinese medicine are the source of post-natal Qi, this Qi which is acquired after we are born. Because of this, Stomach 36 is a very tonifying and energy-building point. It can help with weakness and dizziness, as well as promoting longevity, especially when combined with moxibustion (the burning of the herb moxa on acupuncture points). Wei Qi is the defensive Qi in the body and can likened to the immune system and Stomach 36 can help build Wei Qi to defend against illness.
Locally, Stomach 36 can be used for edema and swelling in the leg, pain in the leg, atrophy
of the lower limbs, varicose veins and just promoting good circulation. Stomach 36 helps pass urinary and gall stones, promotes lactation, reduces hypertension and helps with difficult urination and incontinence.

The ancient Chinese developed a system of medicine thousands of years ago and that system is still used around the world today. This system incorporates more than just medicine though. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners also educate their patients on how the seasons affect the body and ways to stay healthy. This will ultimately lead to a long, healthy life.

Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches that humans should live in harmony with the seasons. According to TCM there are five seasons – winter, spring, summer, late summer and fall. Each season has many associations that help us change our habits allowing for a more balanced mind and body. When these systems were being developed, people were living in harmony with nature. People rose with the sun, ate what was available during the different seasons and they were much more aware of their natural environment. What to wear, when to wake up, when to go to sleep and what activities to engage in were all dependent on the weather and the environment. Because of this, people were capable of staying healthy throughout the year and their immune and organ systems were strong enough to ward off disease.

In this system, the season of winter is a time of repair and rejuvenation. Winter is associated with the kidneys, which hold the body’s fundamental energies. Harmonizing with the seasons will help the body stay healthy and prepared for each succeeding season. Rest is important for revitalizing the kidneys and this is why some animals hibernate during the winter months. Winter is also a really good time to turn inward and do some reflection. This is why practices like tai chi, qi gong and yoga can be very beneficial during the winter season. These practices help us connect to our inner selves, while supporting the kidney energy. These practices help relax the mind and calm our emotions.

Winter is also associated with ears in this system. Our ability to hear is related to the health of our kidneys. The stillness of the winter months allows us to hear the world more clearly and forces us to slow down. The bones are also associated with winter, which means that it is important to tonify and heal any orthopedic problems during these months.

There are many foods that are beneficial to eat during the winter season. These foods should be the ones that naturally grow during this season. Food items like squash, potatoes, root vegetables, winter greens, cabbage, carrots, apples, pears and mushrooms are all examples of things that should be incorporated into the daily diet during the winter months. Also warming foods such as soups and bone broth are highly recommended. There are foods that specifically target and nourish the kidneys too. These foods include black beans, kidney beans, lamb, walnuts, chicken, dark leafy greens and black sesame seeds. It is recommended to cook items for longer periods of time, on lower heat and with less water, as the food should be warming as well as nourishing.

When we align ourselves with the natural processes of life and the seasons, our bodies will adjust and perform optimally, just as they are intended to. This is how we are supposed to live and can quite possibly be why there is so much more disease now than in the past. So to be the healthiest you possible, learning to take cues from the seasons might just be the best suggestion ever.

3 Alternative Gifts to Give this Winter

The holidays are about giving. Whether it be giving gifts to your family, community or co-workers, everyone knows it is the season to help other people. Unfortunately, not everyone has the same living situation as one another and there are millions of people throughout the world that are in need. A great gift to give someone you love is the gift of helping people who need it most. Here are a list of charitable foundations and alternative gifts you can give your loved ones to not only make them happy, but to make loads of other individuals have a warm and bountiful holiday season as well.

1. World Vision – Sponsor a child

   World Vision is a well-renowned charity that allows you the option to sponsor a child, the child can be sponsored in your name or in lieu of somebody else you plan on giving the gift too. This truly is a remarkable charity. When you sponsor a child you can help them work their way out of poverty. World Vision states that they help more than four million children in over 100 different countries. To learn how you can sponsor a child go to www.worldvision.org

2. World Vision – Donate an Animal

   Another beneficial opportunity World Vision offers to help those in need is the donation of an animal, and there are a plethora of different options. The World Vision site offers price points and specifics on what animals you can give to families in need. From goats and chickens to alpacas there are many options you can choose from to really assist those who need help.

3. Big Sunday

   Big Sunday is a charitable organization that donates to shelters, food banks and various social programs across the country. Big Sunday has an emphasis of helping people get back on their feet so they can live their lives to their fullest potential. There are various ways to help out a Big Sunday in order to bring cheer to those less fortunate. Donate money, clothes, gently used items and books are key examples of how you can help at Big Sunday. But those are just a few of the over 2,000 ways Big Sunday states they offer to help the underprivileged.