Healing Soup for the Change of Seasons
Oct 6, 2011
As we all know that the change of season can easily cause a common cold. Eating soup is a good way to boost up your qi.
There is no big secret to vegetable soup. I eat it all the time, especially during the change of seasons to prevent colds from coming on. I particularly like it during the colder months, summer to fall, because it helps to warm the body and open the respiratory system with aromatic vegetables.
Ingredients:
1 large yellow onion
4 carrots
2 turnips
2 celery stalks
1 bay leaf
fresh parsley
1 teaspoon of sea salt or kosher salt
optional: broccoli stalks, cauliflower leaves, turnip greens, or any root vegetable
The simple directions for vegetable soup
Put 8 cups of water up to boil. Chop all the vegetables. Put in the ingredients in the soup. Gently boil for 20 minutes. Serve with toast or add noodles.
The Ingredients Analysis
Chinese medicine describes foods in terms of their properties. Aromatic vegetables, such as the onion and the turnips will help to fight off viruses by warming the body. Celery and parsley are bitter as well as aromatic. This will open the respiratory system but also create circulation in the body. Carrots are sweet and used to boost to body’s energy. Naturally healthy sweet foods tend to give the body qi.
Mix them together you get a rich tonifying soup.
Steamed Pears and Almonds: Dry Cough Remedy
Oct 4, 2011
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine has very specific remedies for different types of colds depending on the symptoms.
In the fall, the colds tend to be drying, there is a dry chronic cough. It is often by accompanied by a deep congestion in the chest. We call this dry phlegm because it is difficult to expectorate and causes and chronic long term dry cough.
Many cold remedies come from seasonal foods and herbs. By far my favorite food for dry cough is steamed Asian pear with almonds. It’s very easy to make. This is an adaptation of a traditional remedy called Chuan Bei Li, which is steamed Asian pear with the herb chuan bei mu, that helps to clear phlegm and nourish the lungs.
Steamed Asian Pear with Almonds
Asian Pear
1. Peel and core the pear.
2. Crush 5-8 almonds. Should be enough to fill the core with the almonds.
3. Put 1/3 cup of water into a pot. Bring to a boil.
4. Place the pear on a steamer, either stainless steel or bamboo.
5. Gently steam while covered until the pear is soft, about 6-8 minutes.
6. Remove the pear to a bowl. Pour the liquid over the pear and eat as a delicious sweet soup.
Enjoy!
Back Pain after a Car Accident
Sep 27, 2011
Chronic back pain and neck pain often develops after a car accident. It can happen directly after the accident or gradually over a period of time. Sometimes, people with chronic neck and back pain just doesn’t seem to get better, no matter what they try, even if there are no findings on the x-rays and MRI tests.
Acupuncture is very effective at reducing chronic back pain after a car accident.
In acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine the concept of circulation is unique and can be the reason acupuncture works when other therapies do not.
Acupuncture Channels
Acupuncture Meridians
The body is interconnected by acupuncture channels and meridians. These connect and protect the body. An injury or car accident causes a disruption in the circulation through the acupuncture meridians.
When there is Movement, There is No Pain
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have a concept called qi and blood stagnation. That means that the accident and injury has lead to lack of circulation in the meridians, as well as the muscles. This lack of circulation causes the pain.
Acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, acupressure, and cupping helps to correct this disruption has to be corrected in order for the body to heal and the pain to recede.
Please note, while acupuncture is very helpful for treating the chronic pain, it is very important to go to a physician or the emergency room after the accident.
If you have questions about acupuncture for chronic back pain, please e-mail or call us 917-887-4946 to make an appointment.
Chinese Medicine Pulse
Sep 26, 2011
It takes many years for an acupuncturist to develop skills in taking the pulse. A properly trained and skilled acupuncturist can find out a lot from your pulse.
The pulse is a significant aspect the Chinese medicine diagnosis process.
The pulse reflects the imbalances in the body and the strength of the body’s energy. This helps to determine the root cause of your health concern.
What does an acupuncturist look for in the pulse?
The pulse is a reflection of the what is going on inside the body. As an acupuncturist, when I take the pulse, I don’t just thin about if it is too fast or slow. I am looking for is it very strong, or very weak, is it bounding, or is it receding? Is the pulse thick or thin? Strong or weak?
Acupuncturist also look for patterns such as stringlike. This pulse will hit our fingers like a guitar string.
Positions of the pulse
Different parts and aspects of the pulse provide information about your health. There are three positions to the Chinese medicine pulse. They pertain to different parts of the body. Acupuncturists also take the pulse from different depths to look for more information about the location of the imbalances in the body.
What does the Chinese medicine pulse mean?
Different pulses are represent specific imbalances. If your pulse is very fast or pounding it may reveal that there is heat in the body. If it is very weak and deep, then you may have qi stagnation. Then the acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment is focused on correcting these imbalances.
The meaning of the pulse is most powerfully explored in the context of the person as a whole. This deeper level takes many years of practice.
Acupuncture for Neck Pain: An Example from the Clinic
Illnesses can show signs of one imbalance such as stagnation or lack of circulation. This can often happen in chronic neck pain. The muscles can be tight and have knots. This looks like it may be stagnation because muscle of the muscle tightness. But if the pulse is very weak, then the root cause is lack of energy.
Often, people with an underlying weakness have tried many treatments and therapies without relief. The only way to improve this situation is through boosting the energy. A very strong treatment may even lead to further tightness.
In this example, the pulse will reveal the true nature of the imbalance, which is a weakness.
Read More: Acupuncture Success Stories
Acupuncture for Stress Induced Back Pain
Sep 15, 2011
This is the fourth article in a series focusing on acupuncture for back pain.
Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain
Car accidents, injuries, and training are not the only reason people develop back pain. Stress is also be a significant cause of back pain. Acupuncture is very effective for stress induced back pain because it can address both the physical and mental aspects of the cause of the pain.
This patient came to me with chronic back pain on the lower left side. When I asked where the pain was specifically, she pointed to the sacro iliac joint. This is a very common location for lower back pain. Stress also causes back pain by creating muscle tension and spasms.
She had back pain for a number of years and was not finding relief. Her pain was dull but persistent. While exercise made it feel better, the next day the pain was more intense. And the pain was worse with work stress.
The Acupuncture Treatment for Stress Induced Back Pain
Because of the chronic nature of the back pain and the weakness in the back muscles, this person does not have enough energy. The muscle stiffness should be relieved but also the qi of the body needs to be boosted to prevent the pain from returning.
To do this, I use less needles and more of a tonifying technique in the treatment. I also included acupressure. Focusing on points down the channels rather than at the pain helps. In this situation, I used 4 ashi, or ouch points, at the location of the pain. In addition I used UB 23, KI3, UB 40 to open up the back channel.
The acupuncture results
This patient responded remarkable well to the acupuncture. After only one treatment the pain had diminished greatly. The stiffness was much better and she was able to exercise without pain.
Gradually during the weeks that followed some pain returned. She followed up in two weeks for a second visit which provided pain relief again. Seeing that the treatments were effective but did not totally resolve the back pain, we created a maintainence schedule of coming once per month for a period of 6 months. The effects of acupuncture are cumulative and each visit can be more dramatic in effect.
After the 6 month treatment period she was mostly pain free with little back pain.
Read More about Acupuncture, Stress, and Back Pain:
- Stress, Depression, and Inflammation
- Acupuncture for Stress and Depression
- Relieve Back Pain with Acupuncture
An Athletic Back Pain
Sep 12, 2011
This is the third article in a series focusing on acupuncture for back pain treatment.
New York City Marathon
Back pain commonly challenges serious athletes. This next case study discusses a young man who was training for a marathon when he developed back pain.
This patient came to me after developing back pain while training for a marathon. He was building up strength and running time when he developed pain in the lower back on the right side. The pain was most intense after running and sometimes traveled down through the butt. Back stiffness and spasms were also a problem.
After a visit to his orthopedist and an MRI, he was diagnosed with a bulging disc.
Acupuncture treatment for lower back pain
We began with treatments once a week. This patient had more stagnation than deficiency, so I focused on creating circulation by using more needles and electro-acupuncture. But in athletes it is important also to boost the energy to support the training.
The points I used were UB 23, UB 32, Yao Yan, GB 30, and UB 40. KI 3 and KI 7 on the inside ankle were also used to help boost the qi.
I also looked for tender areas on the right ride, which are traditionally called ashi points, which literally means “ouch” points. There were a lot of ouch points along the upper part of pelvis. At the end of each acupuncture session, I did tui na to help relax the muscles and increase the circulation.
The Acupuncture Results
New York City Marathon Finish Line
After the first visit, the patient began to feel better. His back was less stiff, and he experienced less pain after running. We continued with weekly sessions throughout his training. At times, when he increased his mileage during the training, his back pain was somewhat exacerbated. After the following acupuncture session, the pain was generally relieved and he could continue.
By the time the marathon rolled around his back pain was under control and muscle stiffness was virtually gone. He was able to successfully complete the New York City Marathon.
Car Accident Back Pain
Sep 7, 2011
This is the second article in a series focusing on acupuncture for the treatment of back pain.
This is a case explaining how acupuncture can treat back pain after a car accident.
The patient is a young man in his early thirties who came to me for acupuncture for his back pain after being in a car accident. The car accident had occurred over 2 years before he began treatment. Despite therapy, the pain persisted. The pain and tightness was focused in his lower back that sometimes radiated down his legs.
His back pain was very persistent, although he had no disc problems or nerve impairments diagnosed on his MRI.
The pain was very intense, it hurt all day during his job and even kept him from sleeping soundly. It was difficult for him to exercise. When people stop moving and using their region of pain, the pain is often exacerbated.
Naturally, his situation caused a lot of worry and anxiety that his condition would never improve.
Upon our first visit, I saw that he had restrited range of motion in his lower back. It was difficult to bend forward or to the side.
I assessed his problem as qi and blood stagnation.
The Acupuncture Treatment
Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain
Because he tended to have more stagnation than vacuity, I focused on increasing the circulation in the back. To do this, I will tend to use more needles, electro-acupuncture, acupressure and tui na and cupping.
The points I used were on the lower back, such as UB 23, UB 25, UB 32, GB 30, Yao Yao, as well as points on the legs that open up the back channels. UB 40 on the back of the knees is a special point for back pain. I also used Kidney 3 to boost the kidneys and relieve the pain. Electro-acupuncture was also used on the lower back to relieve the pain. I used tui na rolling technique as well.
The Results
Chinese Fire Cups
After the first two visits his back pain began to diminish. And he had increased range of flexibility. By the fourth visit, his back pain, tightness, and tingling in his legs was much less. After six visits, the pain was only minor.
At this point, I advised my patient to return to exercising. Light cardiovascular and a stretching routine. Stretching is very important to maintain flexibility and prevent back pain in the long run.
We continued with four more weekly visits. The pain was much diminished and range of motion had significantly returned.
The patient was now comfortable while working and was able to return to exercising.
If you have questions about acupuncture for chronic back pain, please e-mail or call us 917-887-4946 to make an appointment.
Acupuncture’s Unique Treatment of Back Pain
Sep 5, 2011
People with back pain often find relief in acupuncture after other treatments have not worked.
From a Chinese medicine and acupuncture point of view, this is because the underlying imbalance was not corrected. A successful treatment must be tailored specifically to what is going on with your back.
Physiologically, it is probably because acupuncture works holistically with the body, address many levels of the pain and condition. It works to relax the muscles, stimulate healing in the connective tissues, and reset the nervous system.
What are the imbalances that would need correcting?
The two major imbalances which cause back pain are deficiency and stagnation.
“When there is no movement, there is pain. When there is movement, there is no pain.”
Stagnation is when there is not enough flow of energy through the back. Trauma, stress, or injury can cause the qi flow, or energy flow, in the body to slow down and gets stuck. When there is no flow, pain develops. Car accident, sports injury, and stress can lead to development of stagnation.
Deficiency is when there is not enough energy in body. The body needs qi, or energy, in order to function healthy. Gradual, slow, chronic onset of back pain can be a sign that there is not enough energy, or a qi deficiency.
Sometimes there is a combination of deficiency and stagnation. This can happen after a long period of time after an accident and not getting better.
How do I Individualize the Acupuncture for Each Patient?
During the initial acupuncture visit, I will do an examination and assessment of what is the root cause of the back pain. Then I will create an individualized acupuncture treatment for that person.
The skill of effective acupuncture is matching the correct treatment to the root cause of the back pain. This involves choosing the correct acupuncture points, deciding what type of stimulation to give the acupuncture needles, and if I should use electro -acupuncture stimulation.
I also include acupressure, cupping, or gua sha as supplemental therapies for back pain. For some people we may also use ear magnets or auricular acupuncture, which is very powerful for pain relief. The proper combination of these treatments leads to profound and long term pain relief.
In the next couple posts I will share three stories to illustrate how acupuncture can help back pain. The first is a patient who had chronic back pain after a car accident, the second is a marathon runner who developed back pain while training, and the third is a woman with chronic back pain that gets much worse during periods of stress.
If you have questions about acupuncture for chronic back pain, please e-mail or call us 917-887-4946 to make an appointment.
photo: bateskobashigawa
How to Cook Chinese Herbs
Sep 2, 2011
Cooking Chinese herbs is easy. But it does take some time. Many people like to take the time to cook herbs as it gives them an opportunity to take part in their healing process.
Ceramic pot for cooking Chinese Herbs
It is good to get a Chinese herbal pot. You can buy a ceramic Chinese Herb cooking pot
If you cannot find a ceramic pot use glass or pyrex.
I would recommend against stainless steel because I have seen it become stained from herbs. Also, metals may interact with the properties of the herbs.
Cooking Instructions for Chinese herbs:
1. Place one packet or bag of the herbs in the herb pot. cover with 2 cups of water. Bring to boil, cook for 20 minutes.
2. After 20 minutes, remove the liquid. Save the herbs in the pot.
3. Fill pot again with 2 cups of water. Cook again for 30 minutes.
c4. Combine liquid from batch 1 with batch 2. Drink half in the morning and half in evening about 30 minutes to an hour after eating.
Cooking times may vary depending upon the particular instructions from your acupuncturist or herbalist. For example, for herbs for colds, you may cook it for a shorter period of time. But if you are using strong herbs to boost the energy in the body, you may cook it for a longer period of time.
Sometimes you cook certain herbs for a longer time in the beginning, or you may add herbs very close to the end of the cooking process. This helps to accentuate specific properties of each herb.
photo: Tianyake
How Chinese Herbs are Prepared
Aug 31, 2011
Chinese herbal remedies have been used for centuries for many conditions and to boost overall health. For many conditions the combination of acupuncture and herbs is the most effective approach. I almost always use herbs when treating acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.
The current Chinese pharmacopeia contains more than 5000 herbs and medicinal products. A pharmacy will most often contain 500-1000 of the most commonly used herbs. Some of the herbs are only used in the region they are grown and are not easy to find elsewhere.
Chinese herbs are most often combined into formulas rather than given as a single herb. This approach produces synergy, the combination is more powerful than any one herb. The herbs are combined and specifically tailored to your imbalance.
Chinese herbs are holistic, that is they target the underlying imbalance as well as the symptoms, herbs can address many conditions at the same time.
There are many ways to take Chinese herbs.
sheng di huang and dan shen
Raw Herbs: The most traditional way, and the most potent for certain conditions, are raw herbs. Raw herbs are generally dried herbs.
The are prepared by boiling in water to make a very strong tea. The herbal dregs are discarded and the tea is drank. The herbs should be cooked in a ceramic herb pot or a glass pot. Metal pots, even stainless steel, should be avoided.
Many herbal pharmacies have pressure cooking machines that can prepare the herbs for you. The tea is then vacuum packed into a small bag.
Raw herbs are very potent. I believe they are the strongest form of herbs. I most often use raw herbs for skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
Pills or Capsules
Chinese herbal pills
Herbal pills are possibly the most common way to take herbs. This is also a traditional method, as many formulas were designed to be made into honey pills. Honey pills consist of ground herbs which are binded together with honey.
I find prepared herbs very effective for many chronic health concerns such as anxiety, insomnia, and allergies. They are very easy to take and easy to store. They may not be strong enough for certain women’s health or skin conditions.
Tinctures
Herbal tincture
Tinctures are alcohol extracts of herbal formulas. That is, the herbal formula is boiled down to make a very concentrated tea. A small amount of alcohol is added as a preservative. They are very easy to use, quite effective, and affordable.
Granules or Powders
Granules are concentrated boiled herbs. The herbal formulas are boiled down and the liquid is concentrated. Mix this powder with warm water to reconstitute the herbs. Sometimes the herbs are also encapsulated for pills.
Contact Us
SEARCH
Sign up
GET RSS FEED
CATEGORIES
ARCHIVES
Like us on Facebook
RECENT BLOG POSTS
Recommended by
