Time to Treat Those Seasonal Allergies.
Spring is just around the corner, and that means for thousands of people their seasonal allergies are about to flare. Chinese medicine has proven over the years to be very effective in helping people cope with hay-fever and other seasonal allergies. However, the key to lasting results is to strengthen the body before the symptoms begin. In Chinese medicine, conditions like hay-fever are due to a seasonal weakness, usually in the organ which it corresponds to (spring is Liver). So in the weeks leading up to spring, acupuncture and herbs can be used to strengthen and soothe your Liver so your allergies don’t flare when spring is in full swing. This principle is also applied during autumn, when we tonify your lung energy so you avoid those dreaded winter colds and flu’s. <!– @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } –>
Reduce fevers with Raspberry Jam
A simple old folk remedy, take one table spoon of good quality raspberry jam and dissolve in hot water to make a tea. Within 20min you should feel a sweat coming on. Jump under the covers and sweat out that nasty cold or flu. Traditionally Raspberry Leaves are used, but can be hard to come by, whereas a jar of jam can be stored away in the pantry and used whenever necessary.
The role of Nutrition in Fighting Cancer
A long term review of over 20yrs of studies and research by two Canadian Doctors has brought about a fabulous article on the role of nutrition in Cancer development. The data shows that almost 30% of cancer cases could’ve been adverted by simply altering diet, almost the same as for smoking. The information is completely unbiased as is merely a review of decades worth of research. Lots of useful information can be gained for everyone from this article. The success of the article has resulted in the Doctors publishing 2 very cheap books on diet and recipes for preventing cancer.
A copy can be downloaded here: role of nutrition in fighting cancer
Chinese Chicken Soup
Traditionally when we were sick mum would always make us chicken soup. Its an age old folk remedy when ill. This is because it is full of nutrients and easy to absorb when our body is weak when fighting a pathogen. However our body can also be weak from chronic illness, which too can cause people to have difficulties absorbing nutrients from their food. While chicken soup is fabulous, it isn’t quite enough to live off. A great alternative is rice porridge, or Congee (also called Jook). This dish is made of rice which has been cooked to the point of disintegration so it becomes a porridge. It keeps all the nutritional benefits of the rice, but as it is so soft, it is very easy on the digestion and thus readily absorbed (perfect when your sick). Traditionally in China, the strained juice was given to babies who’s mothers weren’t able to breastfeed, its that nutritious! As it is just plain rice, anything can be added to it, from soy sauce to fish to chicken or pork. Once cooled it can be frozen for months and thawed when needed. Only a 1/4 cup of rice is needed to make several bowls. Some basic recipes can be found here.
Good Fatty Avocados
Once shunned for their high fat content, the monounsaturated fat in avocados has been shown to reduce bad cholesterol and improve the good cholesterol. This obviously means good long term health for your cardiovascular system. Their high concentration of potassium helps reduce blood pressure and prevent stroke. Another big reason to add avocado to your diet is they greatly increase the absorption of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables. These antioxidants have been shown to ward off several forms of cancer. Along with their great taste, there’s no longer any reason to avoid this delicious fruit.
The Seasons Change
So everyone asks why we tend to fall sick in between seasons. The reason is the season’s change isn’t a simple flip of a switch, it is a gradual process. In the five element model, in the transition between each season there is a return to the earth phase. This is the period of time where our body’s (and the world) are beginning to adapt to the new season. Its a time for regeneration, but also a time to fall ill. This is because our body is more vulnerable during this transitional phase. In this phase it is important to look at slight changes in your diet and behaviour to adapt to the new season. You’ll also find your slightly unsettled mentally, this is normal. What is important is to be aware of all this and avoid excessive stress and worry. This will protect you from the common illnesses that strike during the seasons change.
The Importance of Regular Maintenance
In ancient texts it was always written that a practitioner should treat people while they are healthy to prevent illness ever occurring. This of course was during a time when communities were much smaller and the practitioner knew and saw everyone regularly, so symptoms and illnesses were spotted early. Now days communities are much larger and people only seek treatment when they have already fallen ill, or have had an ailment for an extended period of time. Sadly many of these conditions could be avoided if people looked after their bodies in a similar manner we cared for our vehicles.
We service our cars to try and prevent them breaking down, which has many long term benefits; It increases the longevity of the vehicle, decreases the chances of faults occurring -which reduces long term expenses, and the vehicle runs more efficiently. This theory also applies to our health, keeping our body’s well maintained will decrease our chance of falling ill as well as improve our quality of life. This means less expenses in the long run, as fewer doctor visits will be needed, which means fewer drugs, less time off work, and more time and energy to do the things you really want to do. Chinese Medicine is proven to be able to keep you both physically and mentally strong. This means your ability to cope with life’s daily stresses is improved which further reduces your chances of falling ill.
Though western medicine cannot yet prove it, much research points to the idea that many diseases have an emotional root, which is a concept that has existed in Chinese Medicines for a thousand years. Your health is a very precious commodity, one which cannot be fully replenished if damaged severely. In the grand scheme of life, many of the forces which impact on our health can easily be avoided or cancelled out by simply having some form of regular maintenance. Whether it be bi-monthly acupuncture treatments, or weekly yoga and meditation classes, simple little practices can make a huge difference to the quality of your life in the long term.
Eating in Accordance with the Seasons
Most people don’t realise that as the season’s change so should our diet. Because we live in a world where food can be flown and sold all over the planet, many don’t realise when food is out of season for their locale. Ideally with fruit you should only eat what is in season for a given time of year. Why you may ask? Most summer fruits such as watermelon are cooling in nature, you eat them in summer when you want relief from the heat. Therefore why would you eat cooling foods when the weather is already cold?
Though it may sound rather non-scientific its really quite logical. During summer your body is working against the environment to stay cool, therefore you should eat cooling foods and avoid hot spicy meals. If you eat a nice spicy meal on a hot day, your effectively making your body work harder to try and maintain homeostasis. Similarly in winter, warm simple to digest meals and citrus fruits should be eaten to help keep the body warm and working at its peak. In the colder months avoid cold raw salads, ice drinks, ice cream and tropical fruits.
Think about it this way, you dress in accordance to the weather, even our sleeping patterns want to change, so should our diet. No drastic changes need be made, but just little adjustments like drinking warm tea instead of ice water can make all the difference. If we make it easier for our body to process food, it can use that spare energy for other purposes such as fighting off those terrible winter colds and flu.
A Simple Remedy for an Upset Stomach
This is a simple Chinese tea that anyone can make at home and is a great way to harmonise your digestive system and keep it strong. The herb is called “Chen Pi” in Chinese, which means “Roasted Citrus Peel”. Traditionally the peels were left out in the sun to dry, but this can take weeks, and pretty hard to do in the depths of winter. But now days there’s a much quicker and easier way to do it. Gather up enough Mandarin or Orange peels (not grapefruit) and lay them out on a baking tray. Put them in the oven on 180 degrees for about 12min. The speed at which they cook will obviously be dependent on the size of the pieces. They only need to be browned, not blackened.
All you need to do then is let it cool, break off a piece the size of your thumbnail, add hot water and let it draw for about 8 minutes. Then drink.
Store the herb in an airtight container, in a cool place away from sunlight. It never really goes off, so can use it even one year later!!
So what is it good for?
Its classically in many formulas for overeating, indigestion, nausea, bloating and reflux. Had too much to eat? morning sickness? bloating after food? stomach feeling queezy? this should work well for you. If you have nausea I’d advise adding some ginger into the tea also. The benefits and uses of ginger I will discuss at a later date.
This simple herb is a fabulous way to settle and aid digestion whatever the cause. If it doesn’t help at all, then I highly recommend seeking out an acupuncturist for an assessment and treatment.
