Recharge
Your Battery this Winter with Acupuncture
If
you feel tired and drained, you are not alone. "Lack of energy" is
one of the top five complaints that doctors hear in their offices.
According to Oriental medicine, the cold months of winter are the
perfect time to recharge your battery and generate vital energy – Qi
- in order to live, look, and feel your best.
The ancient
Chinese believed that human beings should live in harmony with the
natural cycles of their environment. The cold and darkness of winter
urges us to slow down. This is the time of year to reflect on
health, replenish energy and conserve strength.
Winter is
ruled by the Water element, which is associated with the Kidneys,
Bladder and Adrenal Glands. The Kidneys are considered the source of
all energy or “Qi” within the body. They store all of the reserve Qi
in the body so that it can be used in times of stress and change, or
to heal, prevent illness, and age gracefully.
During the
winter months it is important to nurture and nourish our Kidney Qi.
It is the time where this energy can be most easily depleted. Our
bodies are instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of
winter – rest, reflection, conservation and storage.
The
Nei Ching, an ancient Chinese classic, advises people to go
to sleep early and rise late, after the sun's rays have warmed the
atmosphere a bit. This preserves your own Yang Qi for the task of
warming in the face of cold.
Eating warm hearty soups, whole
grains, and roasted nuts help to warm the body’s core and to keep us
nourished. Sleep early, rest well, stay warm, and expend a minimum
quantity of energy.
Seasonal acupuncture treatments in
winter serve to nurture and nourish kidney Qi which can greatly
enhance the body's ability to thrive in times of stress, aid in
healing, prevent illness and increase vitality. Call now for more
information or to schedule your seasonal tune-up
Here
are some dietary suggestions that can lead to an increase in
vitality and radiant health.
Water - The Kidneys are
associated with the Water element. Drink ample water, at room
temperature, throughout the day.
Kidney Shaped Foods -
Black beans and kidney beans are excellent examples of kidney
shaped foods that nourish and benefit Kidney Qi.
Blue and
Black Foods - The colors blue and black correspond to the Water
element of the Kidneys and are thought to strengthen the Water
element. Include blueberries, blackberries, mulberry and black beans
in your diet.
Seeds - Flax, pumpkin, sunflower and
black sesame seeds relate to fertility and growth which is governed
by Kidney Qi.
Nuts - Walnuts and chestnuts have been
found to be especially effective for increasing Kidney
Qi.
Vegetables - Dark, leafy green vegetables are the
best choice for Kidney Qi. Other Kidney Qi boosting veggies include
asparagus, cucumbers and celery.
Natural
Options for the Flu
Did
you know that tamiflu, a drug used to treat flu symptoms, is derived
from star anise, an anti-viral plant that has been used by Oriental
medicine herbalists for centuries? When it comes to staying healthy
during the flu season, Oriental medicine has a lot to
offer.
Acupuncture for Prevention - Acupuncture and
Oriental medicine can prevent colds and flus by building up the
immune system with just a few needles inserted into key points along
the body's energy pathways. These points are known for strengthening
the circulation of blood and energy and for consolidating the outer
defense layers of the skin and muscle (Wei Qi) so that germs and
viruses cannot enter through them.
Acupuncture to Get
Better Faster - If you've already happened to catch that cold,
acupuncture and herbal medicine can also help with the chills,
sniffles, sore throat or fever in a safe, non-toxic way that doesn't
't bombard your body with harmful antibiotics.
Acupuncture
does not interfere with Western medical treatment. On the contrary,
it provides a welcome complement to it in most cases, and with its
emphasis on treating the whole person, recovery time for illness is
often shortened.
Herbal Medicine - There is a one
thousand year old Chinese herbal formula that forms a handy
complement to these immune-boosting treatments and it is elegantly
entitled The Jade Windscreen Formula. It is made up of just
three herbs: Radix Astragalus, Atractylodis Macrocephalae, and Radix
Ledebouriellae. These three powerful herbs combine together to
tonify the immune system and fortify the exterior of the body so
that you can fight off wind-borne viruses and bacteria.
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In
This Issue
- Recharge Your Battery this Winter with Acupuncture
- Natural Options for the Flu
- Kidney Qi Boosting Black Bean Soup
Kidney
Qi Boosting Black Bean Soup
From an
Eastern perspective, black beans are warming in nature. They are
thought to tonify the Kidney Qi and nourish Yin and
Blood. From a Western perspective, black beans are rich in
antioxidants and an excellent source of protein, folate, iron and
fiber. Kidney Qi Boosting Black Bean
Soup
Ingredients1 pound black beans 1 bay
leaf 1 large onion, sliced Salt to taste A few cloves of
chopped garlic 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder 1 cup dry sherry
(not cooking sherry) Instructions1. Pick over
beans to remove any dirt, stones or foreign objects. Wash well, then
soak for 8 hours in ample cold water. 2. Drain beans and
cover with a generous amount of fresh water. Bring to a boil over
high heat in a large saucepan with the bay leaf. Skim off foam,
lower heat, and simmer, partially covered, until beans are just
tender, about 1 hour. 3. Add onion and continue to cook until
onion becomes extremely soft, about 1 more hour. 4. Add salt
to taste and garlic. Continue to cook, adding a little boiling water
if necessary, until beans are very soft, about 1-2 hours
more. 5. Remove bay leaf and turn off heat. Ladle beans in
batches into a blender or food processor and puree, or use an
immersion blender and puree soup directly in the saucepan. 6.
Add dry mustard powder and dry sherry. Correct seasoning. Reheat and
serve, adding any garnishes you wish, such as slices of lemon or
freshly chopped herbs. |
