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Acupuncture & Financial Worries Article
Check out my article on www.DownToEarthFinance.com!
http://downtoearthfinance.com/2010/09/acupuncture-financial-worries/
Irritible Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
What is IBS? IBS is a digestive disorder that occurs in 1 in 5 people, and most of these are women, according to the NIH*. The main symptoms of IBS are gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain. Often times, IBS patients have a sluggish gastrointestinal tract, or low motility. This means that the peristaltic movements that pass the waste along the intestines are stalling. Sometimes, painful spasms occur (hence the term “spastic colon”). The degree of these symptoms may vary: for some people, it’s simply a nuisance, while for others it can be debilitating and may force them to be near a bathroom at all times. (more…)
Goji Berry & Chrysanthemum Tea
This is a great tea for the summer. Chrysanthemum flowers have heat-clearing properties, so even if you drink a hot cup of this tea, it will cool you down. The Chinese customarily drink this tea with sugar. Goji berries (these look like bright red raisins) have recently become popular because of their amazing health benefits, and can be eaten as raisins or tossed into hot cereal or tea. Goji berries are good for the kidneys, the lungs, the liver, and also for the yin of the body. I usually brew a pot of chrysanthemum tea and then throw a small handful of goji berries into it; they absorb the water and plump up as they float in the tea. This combination is great for vision problems. You can find these ingredients at health food stores and tea shops. I can also order goji berries if you want them.
TCM & Cardio Workouts
In the west, we think of exercise as an essential part of health- just like eating right. Most of us think good forms of exercise include going to the gym, lifting weights, taking aerobic-type classes, running and so on. The eastern perspective is that over-doing it can actually deplete your energy, not just because of injury and illness, but because the internal qi, or energy, is neglected in these activities. Meditation, qigong, tai-chi and even yoga are slow-moving exercises that cultivate the qi that animates each of us. It must be protected and nurtured in order for us to sustain long and healthy lives. (more…)
Basic Concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Yin and Yang
The theory of yin and yang comes from ancient Chinese philosophy. It served as the framework through which the natural world could be observed, analyzed and understood. The theory states that there are two opposing influences, yin and yang, which comprise all related entities in the universe. Yin is the negative force, yang the positive. Yin is the moon, yang is the sun, yin is winter, yang is summer, yin is cold, yang is hot, yin is female, yang is male, yin is passive, yang is active, and so on. While these forces oppose one another, they also balance each other and are interdependent: one could not exist without the other. (more…)
The Liver & Springtime
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is the season associated with the liver. It is also linked with windy weather, the color green, the emotion anger, the wood element, and sour taste. In TCM, the liver has a tremendous role and many of its functions are similar to those described in western medicine. Essentially, the liver stores blood, maintains the free flow of the qi and blood throughout the body, opens into the eyes, and relates to the tendons and nails. If this organ is injured or does not function properly, the result may be: mood swings, depression, PMS, digestive disturbances, blurry vision or other visual impairments, headaches, hypertension, insomnia just to name a few. Most patients have a syndrome that involves the liver in some way. (more…)
