Fighting
cold, flu, and other winter ills with the principles of Chinese
Medicine
At this time of year people brace themselves- not only against the
wind, or the impending arrival of relatives for the holidays, but the
seeming inevitability of a bout or two with a cold or the flu. Cold and
flu viruses have been with human beings for a long time, and Chinese
Medicine has been working on protections and remedies for at least a few
thousand years. Our first and most critical line of defense from cold and
flu viruses is to avoid getting them. People pick them up at this time of
year because they spend more time confined indoors, where these germs are
happily swirling about. While we won't likely force ourselves to sit
outside on a subfreezing day, we can do a few things to make our indoor
environment cleaner. Consider investing in a HEPA filter for the bedroom,
and open all the windows in the house on a temperate afternoon to circulate
the stale air out. Also, be sure to open the chimney flu completely when
starting fires in a fireplace or wood stove, and keep wood ashes and
household dust to a minimum with frequent dusting and vacuuming. Clean
door knobs, sinks, toilets, and other surfaces that get handled frequently
to reduce the germ load. And keep your own hands clean by washing with
warm water and soap several times per day.
This will reduce your encounters with cold and flu bugs, but they
can't be eliminated altogether, so it's important to strengthen the body's
immune defenses at the same time. Chinese herbal medicine has developed a
gentle but extremely effective immune support formula called Jade
Windscreen. This formula is thought to protect the body from "wind
invasions" of airborne viruses that cause cold and flu. It accomplishes
that with astragalus (huang qi), an herb that boosts immune strength and
increases endurance, and ledebouriella (fang feng), an herb with
anti-viral properties. In my practice, I recommend that patients with
sensitivities to respiratory infections include Jade Windscreen among
their daily supplements during the fall and winter. The formula has no
side effects and is also very cost-effective.
Finally, a seasonal "immune tune-up" acupuncture treatment is
recommended in Traditional Chinese Medicine to help the body adjust to
changes in weather and dietary habits. In fact, Chinese physicians used
to be paid by their patients for keeping them well. If patients did fall
ill, these physicians were usually fired.... or worse! Come in and see
your acupuncturist to strengthen your body before illness strikes.
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Acupuncture
and Chronic Pain
Medical research is continuing to support the safety and
effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for all types of chronic pain.
Last month the Archives of Internal Medicine released the results of a
study from the German Acupuncture Trials that compared acupuncture with
conventional therapies (physical therapy, exercises, and anti-inflammatory
medications) in the treatment of chronic low back pain. The study involved
more than 1,100 patients, and found that acupuncture provided relief in
nearly 50% of patients treated, while conventional treatments provided
relief less than 25% of the time.
Surprisingly, the authors of the study found that even "sham
acupuncture" (the shallow insertion of acupuncture needles at
non-acupuncture points) resulted in higher levels of pain relief than
conventional treatments.
The authors wrote, "The superiority of both forms of acupuncture
suggests a common underlying mechanism that may act on pain generation,
transmission of pain signals, or processing of pain signals by the central
nervous system and that is stronger than the action mechanism of
conventional therapy."
Though Western and Chinese Medicine describe the efficacy of
acupuncture in different terms, the results are the same: relief from
chronic pain without drugs, side effects, or expensive surgeries.
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Feng Shui: The
Chinese Art of Home Health
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Creating
balance in the home through intentional placement
Though Montezuma County usually manages to stay out of the fray of
most cultural fads, most of us here have heard about Feng Shui. This
ancient Chinese art of arrangement has been enthusiastically adopted by
American architects, designers, business people, and home owners seeking
to arrange buildings, objects, furnishings, plants, and people for the
most harmonious possible relationships.
Feng Shui is all about harmonious arrangements, providing a system
through which people can enhance their wellness, wealth, and relationships
through intentional placements of objects in their environment. The
underlying principle is very simple: that we increase opportunities for
whatever we think about most. If we look at happy images of ourselves, we
tend to think of ourselves as happy. And the opposite is also true.
To increase the health of your body and mind in the coming months, try
these traditional Feng Shui "cures" in your home or office:
Remove clutter from corners, broken or unwanted objects, and plants
that are languishing and straggly.
Keep floor space under beds and desks clear, and also space around
drains, windows, and doorways- this allows for a freer flow of energy
through the house- a key component to wellness in the Chinese system of
thought.
Add fresh, healthy plants, an inviting bowl of ripe fruit, and images
of yourself in a happy and healthy state.
Remember, whatever we suggest to ourselves, we are more likely to
create!
My wife, Laura Hawes, has studied the art of Feng Shui in the U.S. and
Asia for more than ten years. She is available for Feng Shui consultations
in your home or business. Call Cortez Family Acupuncture at 565-0230 for
more information.
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This
Month at Cortez Family Acupuncture
The Miracle of Chinese Medicine: A Free
Informational Series!
Through the month of November, Benjamin Hawes, Lic. Ac. will offer
free talks on how Chinese medicine treats specific conditions. All talks
are Wednesdays, Noon-1 PM, in the Cortez Family Acupuncture Office on 1
West First Street.
November 7: Ear Infections and Other Childhood Illnesses (successful
treatments without antibiotics... or needles!)
November 14: Asthma and Sinusitis
November 28: PMS & Menopause Symptoms
Tell your friends!
Healing
at Home
Recipe of the Month: Grandma Chang's Chicken Soup
Packed with warming garlic and ginger, and lung-soothing root
vegetables, this chicken soup keeps the doctor away.
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 quarter-sized pieces of fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced into thin slivers
3 Tbps vegetable oil
4 cups chicken stock
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into fine rounds
3 stalks celery, sliced thin
1/2 cup of peas
1 cup cooked chicken meat, cubed
*****
Prepare garlic, ginger, and onions. Saute with oil on medium heat
until the onions and garlic begin to soften (about 3 minutes). Add stock
and bring to a boil. Add sliced vegetables and reduce to a simmer.
Simmer for ten minutes, then add peas and cooked chicken. Simmer until
peas turn bright green, about 5 more minutes. Serve immediately,
garnished with fresh cilantro and a dash of toasted sesame
oil.
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