REST,
RESTORE, REVITALIZE
In nature, winter is the season where
all living things slow down, conserve their energy and prepare for
the outburst of new life and energy in the spring. Our bodies are
instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of winter –
rest, restoration and revitalization.
The Nei Ching,
one of the earliest surviving medical books on acupuncture, advises:
“During the winter months one should refrain from overusing
energy. Retire early and get up with the sunrise, which is later in
winter. Desires and mental activity should be kept quiet and
subdued, as if keeping a happy secret.”
Eating warm
hearty soups, dressing warmly, and refraining from cold and raw
foods is also recommended.
Element:
Water
Nature: Yin
Organs: Kidney, Urinary
Bladder, Adrenal Glands, Ears and Hair
Emotion: Fear and
Depression
Flavor: Salty
Seasonal
acupuncture treatments in winter serve to nurture and nourish kidney
Qi (the organ associated with winter) which can greatly enhance the
body's ability to thrive in times of stress and aid in healing,
preventing illness, and increase vitality.
Call now for more
information or to schedule your seasonal tune-up
De-stress
this Winter with Acupuncture
While optimal health and well-being in
the winter season calls for rest, energy conservation and the
revitalization of body and spirit, your holiday activities may have
a different agenda. This year can be filled with a mad scramble of
visitors, family get-togethers and frantic shopping trips. Compound
the usual seasonal pressures with the constant barrage of bad
economic news and you may find this to be one of the most stressful
times of the year.
Stress, frustration and unresolved anger
can cause a disruption in the flow of qi or energy through the body.
These energetic imbalances can throw off the immune system or cause
symptoms of pain, sleep disturbances, mood changes, abnormal
digestion, headaches, and menstrual irregularities, and, over time,
more serious illnesses can develop. Acupuncture treatments can
correct these imbalances and directly effect the way you manage
stress.
Studies on Acupuncture and
Stress
Numerous studies have demonstrated the substantial
benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of stress.
A 2008
study published in Anesthesia & Analgesia found that
acupuncture point alleviated preoperative anxiety in children while
a 2003 study conducted at Yale University showed that ear
acupuncture significantly lowered the stress level of the mothers of
children that were scheduled for surgery.
A German study
published in Circulation found that acupuncture significantly
lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The extent of the
blood pressure reductions by acupuncture treatments was comparable
to those seen with antihypertensive medication or aggressive
lifestyle changes, including radical salt
restrictions.
Another study from the University of New Mexico
measured the affects of acupuncture on 73 men and women with
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The researchers found the
acupuncture treatments to be as helpful as the standard treatment of
cognitive behavioral therapy.
Needless to say, if the stress
in your life is throwing you off balance, consider acupuncture
therapy to regain peace of mind, regulate your immune system and
stay healthy.
Miso
Soup with Scallions
Did you
know that Miso Soup with Scallions is actually an ancient herbal
remedy for colds?
In 300 AD famous herbalist, Ge Hong,
writes about Miso Soup with Scallions in a book called, Bei ji
zhou hou fang or Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One’s Sleeve.
The soup is indicated for the onset of a cold when a
person is just beginning to feel a headache, stuffy nose and a
slight fever. So, the next time you feel a cold coming on, be sure
to have your miso!
Miso Soup (Serves
4)
Ingredients:
* 6 cups water
* 3-4 Tablespoons
Aka Miso or red soy bean paste (usually sold in the refrigerated
section)
* 3-5 green onions stalks,
chopped
Directions:
* Dissolve the miso in a little
bit of boiling water (about 2 tsp.)
* Bring water to a boil in a
saucepan and add the miso & scallions.
* Simmer for 5-10
minutes.
* Remove from heat top with green onions and
serve.
Variations: you can add various other ingredients
to make a more substantial soup, such as tofu, seaweed, fresh
mushrooms, cooked shrimp, snow pea sprouts, cooked rice noodles, or
paper-thin slices of fresh ginger.
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In
This Issue
- REST, RESTORE, REVITALIZE
- De-stress this Winter with Acupuncture
- Miso Soup with Scallions
- Stress Busting Foods
Stress
Busting Foods
The
foods that you eat play a crucial role in your overall well-being as
well as your ability to handle stress.Over 1400 chemical
changes occur as stress hormones, such as cortisone, sap important
nutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin C and magnesium from the
body. Here are three foods that can replenish your supply of
these nutrients and enhance your ability to manage
stress: Cauliflower – Cauliflower and other
cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, and kale are
chock full of stress-relieving B vitamins. Cauliflower is also one
of the very best sources of vitamin B5 or pantothenic
acid. Pantothenic acid helps turn carbohydrates and fats into
usable energy and improves your ability to respond to stress by
supporting your adrenal glands. Fatigue, listlessness, numbness and
tingling or burning pain in the feet are all indications that you
may need more vitamin B5 in your diet. Salmon – Salmon
is a healthy and delicious way to get your dose of B vitamins and
omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin B12 supports production of red blood
cells, allows nerve cells to develop properly and is essential to
the synthesis of the “happy” brain chemical serotonin. Among
the many benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, a 2003 study published in
Diabetes & Metabolism found that a diet rich in omega-3
fatty acids significantly reduced the stress response and kept the
stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine in
check. Blackberries – Blackberries are jam packed with
Vitamin C, calcium and magnesium. Vitamin C has shown to be a
powerful stress reducer that can lower blood pressure and return
cortisol levels to normal faster when taken during periods of
stress. Magnesium and calcium act together to help regulate
the body's nerves and muscle tone. When there is too little
magnesium in your diet, nerve cells can become over activated and
can trigger muscle tension, muscle soreness, muscle spasms, muscle
cramps, and muscle fatigue. Blackberries have more than
double the amounts of vitamin C, calcium and magnesium than their
popular cousin, the blueberry. |
