It's important to make realistic goals, find balance in a world of chaos - Ahwatukee Foothills News: Community Focus: In the new year many of us start to think about changes we can
do to help make it a better year. We may have been taught that it
is healthy to…
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Digestion Health for the Holidays
Digestion issues can be annoying and embarrassing. Whether it be your stomach talking, gas or having to run to the bathroom it can really disrupt your day. Some have major issues that have built up over the years. Most people don’t realize that their digestive health have led them to other major health issues. Many doctors and health care practitioners believe that the heart of good health starts with our digestion.
The majority of Americans will overeat at Thanksgiving. 95 million of Americans complain of some sort of stomach upset and we wonder why? First and foremost it could be because we are not listening to our bodies. We’ve suppressed those signals that tell us what we need to do in order to have proper digestion. I am definitely a believer of everything in moderation. Although each of our digestive needs are different. Each of us may need to gravitate towards certain foods and diminish or avoid other foods based on what our bodies need. The good news is we can do some simple steps to improve our digestion and build our systems stronger.
Keys to Digestive Wellness.
Listen to your internal signals
The first is to listen internally to your hunger signals. Eat when your hungry and stop when your satisfied. That means stop when you feel the first feelings of fullness. Another part of looking internally is to be aware of what foods may make you feel worse after eating them. If certain foods are upsetting your digestive system it is best to avoid them. Although avoiding them may not be enough. If you think you have a food allergy then it is best to contact a health provider who tests for food allergies. Our clinic does a body scan to test for food allergies and give protocols to help build up the digestive system. It makes a huge difference in a patients overall quality of well being to make small changes for their digestive health.
Walk after eating
One of the best things you can do for yourself after a big meal is to walk. The Chinese practice this regularly. It opens up the digestive system to work properly. If you have eaten too much and have stomach pains the simple thing is to walk around for about 10-15 minutes to relieve the pain. It works rather quickly and could be a great practice to do after your biggest meal of the day.
Take digestive enzymes
There are some who suffer a very slow digestion and really need the extra help with the proper digestive enzymes. There are many to choose from. I always suggest a plant based enzymes with Probiotics. This can make a huge difference in digestive health and may be all that a person needs to get better. One observation I have seen is that those who are over weight don’t have a strong digestion. Working with their digestion could make a huge difference in not only their well being but also their weight loss efforts.
Take Probiotics
In the past our foods had lots of Probiotics. Our preserved foods naturally had these good bacteria in them. So our bodies for generations have had these wonderful organisms. It has only been in the past century that bacteria seemed to become the enemy. Antibiotics in not only our medicine but our foods have caused a great imbalance internally. Now we know better and can offer good suggestions in both foods and supplements. Miso soup and Kefir are my favorite Probiotics food selections. It is my belief that along with a good whole food multi everyone should be also taking Probiotics. Even children do really well on these supplements. Each person is different in their needs for this supplement. Taking one a day may not be enough. A good natural medicine practitioner can help you find your needs for not only the type of Probiotics but how much you may need.
Be prepared with herbs
Lets say you find yourself eating too much for the holidays. There is a great formula that we as acupuncturist nickname “The Thanksgiving Formula.” Bao He Wan can help to relieve a full belly. This herb helps to relieve food stagnation and harmonize the stomach. It is in particular prescribed to those who have a tendency to eat too much or a person who once in awhile likes to eat a big meal. I think it is normal to over eat every so often as long as we don’t make a habit of it. It is still best to look inside for those internal signals especially if you have issues with frequent overeating.
Part of having a happy safe holiday season is to take responsibility for our digestive health and well being. Don’t ignore those signs your body is trying to tell you. Most importantly enjoy yourself and all the bounty and blessings that are given to us.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Energy: Where did it go? - Ahwatukee Foothills News: Community Focus
Energy: Where did it go? - Ahwatukee Foothills News: Community Focus: Whether you're in your 20's or 60's, energy can be something to
envy.
envy.
Monday, August 8, 2011
| An Explanation
I am starting a new series called Knowing the Cause. This subject is a broad one and will take awhile to write about. First I would like to explain a few things before going into this subject. Chinese medical diagnosis is much different from our traditional allopathic medical diagnosis. When an Oriental practitioner initially sees their patients they are looking at things a bit differently. We first look at signs and symptoms including hereditary background. Then we check their tongue and pulse to see what internal organs may be out of balance. We also look at a persons emotional well being. Then we look at their face and skin to see what clues may give us answers to their complaint. All this information is gathered and we come up with a diagnosis that will match the patterns of imbalance that they are experiencing. After the first initial visit a patient will receive an Oriental medical diagnosis. At this point we can come up some possible answers as to why a person is having difficulty with their health and well being. Knowing the Cause Part 1 We can find great freedom in knowing why things may happen. Every year many people are diagnosed with a chronic condition. This can happen at any age or time in a persons life. Many times that person may not know what had caused them to be susceptible to that particular disease or disorder. Once a person is diagnosed they are now on a journey to find help and healing. A huge part of that journey is finding the etiology (causation or origination) of their condition. When studying Chinese medicine I found it comforting that their were explanations as to why things happened. Almost every diagnosis came with an etiology. For instance - lets say a person is diagnosed with Kidney Qi (Chi) deficiency by their Oriental medical practitioner. The top signs and symptoms of Kidney Qi deficiency are: frequent urination, low back pain, knee pain and poor memory. Their are a few reasons as to why someone may have this condition. Things such as constitution, emotions (particularly fear), excess sexual activity, overwork, chronic illness and old age all affect the kidney Qi. Kidney Essence or "Jing" is considered to be our essential qi. It is stored in our Kidneys and responsible for human growth and development. This is what makes up our vitality. There are several factors that play into both our genetics and the development of a condition or disorder within our health. The first is constitution. The definition of constitution is a persons general physical and psychological makeup. It is also considered to be a persons state of well being currently. Constitution depends on two things: Our parents health at the time of conception and our Mother's health during her pregnancy. If the parents Kidney Essence is weak then the child's kidneys will also be weak. Adverse factors that will affect our constitution are: Conception in a state of drunkenness, a Mother's age at the time of conception, consumption of alcohol or smoking during pregnancy, or receiving a shock during pregnancy that will in turn affect the fetal Heart Qi. So a person's basic constitution will be largely determined at the time of conception and throughout the Mother's pregnancy. This is why I stress to my fertility patients the importance of taking care of yourself and getting healthy prior to getting pregnant. At the time of conception their is a fusion of Qi from "Heaven to Earth." It is said in ancient Chinese texts that all babies come from "Heavenly Qi." So let me give you a picture of how life is formed. The sperm hits the egg but the spark to create life comes from "Heavenly Qi." This will then start the production of a human being. I love that description! I come from a background where my Father was a minister for thirty-five years. Psalm 139:13-14 says that God "knit" us together in our Mothers womb and that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Despite those who may be born with a weak constitution there is hope for regeneration of both their Qi and Essence. A balanced lifestyle of adequate rest, the right nutrition, avoidance of stress, and breathing exercises can invigorate and regenerate our Qi. Qi Gong and Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi) can help build a persons Kidney Essence or vitality. An assessment of a persons constitution is an important part to Chinese medical diagnosis. It is important to understand that our bodies were created to regenerate and heal. This is a beautiful thing that we should never take for granted. There is hope for those who want healing in their lives. Knowledge is a powerful tool to take action against disease.
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Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Many Benefits to using Chinese Medicine
Many have found great benefits and healing through using herbs and supplements. Acupuncture is only one part of the solution treating from the outward in. Chinese medicine, supplements along with food therapy treats from the inside out. This will help with regeneration and allow the patient to get better quicker.  The first mention of herbs in the Bible is in Genesis 1:29. "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." (KJV) Even specific herbs are mentioned in the Bible such as garlic, aloe, hyssop and wormwood. These are some of the herbs I prescribe to my patients for a variety of treatments. Not only are herbs important but also our food can be used medicinally.
Hippocrotes once said "Let food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." Many of us suffer from nutritional decencies. Nutritional deficiencies occur when the body lacks essential nutrients (eg. macronutrients like protein, fat, carbohydrate, or micronutrients like vitamins and minerals ) that are obtained from food. That means every day our bodies require a certain amount of vitamins and minerals in order to function properly. If we lack those nutrients in one day then we are considered deficient. We would need to make up those nutrients in order for our bodies to be nourished. Nutritional deficiencies are responsible for a variety of conditions. Conditions such a Crohn's disease, Malabsorption syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and digestive issues. Even some emotional disorders like anxiety, depression and manic depression are linked to having a deficiency in minerals. Minerals work on the nervous system and help the body both physically and emotionally. Lately in the media a lot of attention is given to vitamin D deficiency. Doctors are now testing regularly for this.
Acu Pointe Healing Therapies now tests patients for nutritional deficiencies and offers easy to follow protocols and food therapies. Getting the proper nutrition daily can make a world of difference for someone who is suffering. Call today to find out how NRT can help you have a better quality of life. |
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