Summer 2008 Newsletter

We should all be eating right, getting good deep sleep, getting exercise, and managing our stress.  In short, we should be living life in Balance.   This is easier said than done as we face environmental challenges, the myriad of activities that come with the end of school, and fair weather commitments.  Environmental challenges: The weather has been windy and changeable  this spring.  We have had a heat wave, rain, chilly evenings, and morning fog.  Our bodies--our immune systems--have a hard time adjusting to this shifting environment.  This means colds and flu!  Until the weather settles into its consistent summer's warmth do your best to carry extra layers in your car, keep hydrated, eat well, and sleep well. This will give your body the best chance to avoid falling ill.    Allergies to grasses are in full swing.  Therefore headaches, sinus congestion, wheezing, coughing, fatigue---cold/flu like symptoms--could really be your body's reaction to your environment.  Social commitments: At the end of the school year, we are busy helping our children and ourselves to tie up lose ends, finish projects and finals, and making summer plans to keep everybody busy, happy, and taken care of. This can be crazy making.  It is more important than ever to commit ourselves to ourselves.  Whether your commitment is going to a yoga class once a week (could you fit in more?), taking a walk around your neighborhood, meditating more regularly, getting a massage or acupuncture treatment...it is important to take time just for yourself for emotional, physical, and "spiritual" health.   By taking care of  yourself you will be more energized and in a better state of mind and attitude to complete what you have to do.  You can also think of it is as a civic duty:  by doing things for ourselves we model this for our children. We give them the opportunity to see the full potential of being an adult: that, while adults have responsibilities (parenting, working, contributing to the community), adult lives are also rewarding and enriching by commitments to and the pursuit of hobbies, activities, and personal health.   Often hectic times lead to sleeplessness, anxiety, worry, and stress.  Herbal remedies can help ease anxiety, worry and stress and help re-establish good sleep, correct appetite, improve irritability,and  PMS. Acupuncture can also produce an immediate relaxing effect that carries continues after getting up from the table.   If you are an established patient of mine and feel that you do not have time for an acupuncture treatment please call for a time to come in so I can take your pulse and look at your tongue, discuss briefly your current symptoms and I will get you an herbal formula specific for your situation.  In these financially strained times it may seem more difficult than ever, but hiking, walking the dog, riding around the block on your bike, flying a kite,  having a picnic at the park are creative ways of enjoying life and lowering stress.  Oh yeah, and DO forget the cell phone for a few hours.

Spring 2008 Newsletter

Cold, Flu, and Allergy Season Spring is in evidence with the Acacia trees, apple blossoms, bulbs, and weeds in bloom! However, the weather and temperatures are in a time of flux. It can be sunny and hot one moment and damp and foggy the next. Late afternoon and evenings are still quite chilly. Allergies and weather fluctuations can be hard on the immune system! Not to mention that the cold and flu season is not yet over. A few suggestions for staying healthy: • Herbs and acupuncture can fortify the body's immune system to help minimize allergy suffering. Ideally, acupuncture and herbs should taken prior to the onset of symptoms for best results. • Wash your hands before meals. Avoid touching your eyes and nose as well as your mouth as these are points of germ entry. • Dress in layers and wear a scarf or high collar and be sure to have appropriate wet weather gear. Change as soon as possible if you become wet, this includes sweaty workout clothes. Wearing wet clothes can result in becoming chilled further challenging the immune system which can make one susceptible to illness. • Getting an acupuncture treatment when "feeling worn down" or when you feel a cold/flu coming on can help prevent or lessen the severity of a cold or flu. • Chinese herbal formulas can help strengthen the immune system to help ward off or lessen the severity of colds and flu. If you feel the beginnings of a cold act right away: • Make sure you get plenty of sleep, tone down rigorous exercise routines until you feel fully recovered. • Drink plenty of fluids (room temperature or tea temperature, not cold/icy) and soups (as they are nourishing and easy for the body to digest). • Drink fresh ginger tea to help keep a cold from settling in. Drink it as long as any nasal/cough discharge you may be having stays clear (stop drinking if phlegm turns yellow or green). • Make sure you are taking Vitamin C in appropriate dosage. • You may have discovered Chinese herbal formulas for colds, flu, cough, etc. at your local health food store. I would recommend calling me or consult another Chinese herbalist before taking any Chinese herbal formula as Chinese herbal formulas are made for specific stages of colds and flu. It is important to have guidance so as not to make your cold or flu worse. If you suffer from allergies: • Not always practical...but minimize exposure to allergens. If you have a cat, you can keep the cat indoors so s/he doesn't bring pollen in on their fur. Another option is brushing the cat with a dander brush and keeping the cat off bedclothes. • Irrigating your nose is a good way to wash out the allergens. There are several ways to do this. Instructions can be found at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nasal-lavage/MM00552. The Neti Pot makes nasal irrigation easy with its clever design and included instructions. One piece of advice: if you plan to use the Neti Pot in the shower or tub, use a plastic model! • Chinese herbs are especially effective at fortifying the immune system and minimizing allergy symptoms if they are taken for the 6 weeks prior to the advent of allergy season. • Acupuncture treatments and herbs can be very helpful in alleviating symptoms and lessening the severity of allergies.