Posts Tagged ‘colds’
What is Chinese Medicine?
Feb 13, 2012
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a term that refers to medicine practices developed in China and other parts of Asia. Traditional Chinese Medicine generally covers many types of modalities including acupuncture and moxibustion, Chinese Herbal remedies, Tui Na or Chinese Medical Massage, as well as other manual therapies including gua sha (spoon massage or coining) and cupping.
In China, the term Chinese medicine (in Chinese it is called Zhong Yi 中医) often refers to the practice of Chinese herbal medicine. Although it can also refer to the entire practice of Chinese medicine. While acupuncture refers to acupuncture and moxibustion.
Some of these therapies are performed only by experienced physicians, such as prescribing complex herbal formulas or doing acupuncture. But others are considered more home remedies. This may include folk herbal remedies for common colds or manual therapies such as gua sha which can be used for nausea, car sickness, the common cold, and other common illnesses.
Common ideas in Chinese Medicine
While the therapies are diverse, done both by physician and family members, they all rest on the holistic view of the body and health that developed over 2000 years ago. A primary idea is that health is a state of balance in the body and between the body and the environment. The body has qi, energy, which flows through channel and meridians. Also, that environmental factors such as cold, heat, and dampness can cause illness. And these environmental factors represent certain illness within the body.
For example, if you have a cold, a physician may write an herbal prescription to release the heat to help you get rid of the cold. But the home remedy of gua sha spoon massage on the neck and upper back can also release the heat.
Chinese Medicine: An Evolution of Ideas
Many of the dominant concepts in Chinese medicine were discussed in the early books of the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classics as well as the Treatise on Cold Diseases. Although they referenced older works, they are no longer in existence. Over the years, physicians and scholars have debated these ideas evolving into the contemporary tradition of modern Chinese Medicine.
Yet, it is important to understand that Chinese medicine is an evolving tradition. These are not static concepts, but ideas that scholars, physicians and even individual family lineages have expanded on and explored. Chinese medicine has a strong tradition of writing, discussion, and debate. There is a great diversity of ideas. Through experience and training a Chinese Medicine practitioner will develop their own style.
For example, certain physicians believed that the best way to use Chinese medicine for psoriasis was to clear heat and toxins from the body. However, other physicians believed that psoriasis developed from internal cold and the body must be warmed. These debates continue today.
In fact, some of the significant therapeutic strategies of modern Chinese medicine physicians were not developed until recently. As I mentioned in my last post, the development of electro-acupuncture for pain was only developed within the last century, a relatively short time for the history of Chinese medicine.
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.
Conditions
Oct 5, 2011
Below is in-depth information about conditions we commonly treat. No list can be complete. If you do not see your concern please call and ask us about it.
Many of the diseases on this list are linked to articles we’ve written.
Pain:
- Chronic pain
- Arthritis
- Chronic low back pain
- Neck pain
- Knee pain
- Shoulder pain
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Sciatica
- Fibromyalgia
- Frozen Shoulder
- Tendonitis
- Neuropathy
Skin Conditions:
- Acne
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Atopic eczema
- Pompholyx eczema
- Nummular Eczema
- Perioral Dermatitis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Hives
- Rosacea
Urology Conditions:
- Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome
- Overactive bladder
- Interstital cystitis
- Bladder Spasms
- Frequent Urination
- Post Prostate Cancer Recovery
- Erectile Dysfunction
Headaches:
Wellbeing:
Respiratory Health:
- Seasonal Allergies
- Asthma
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Frequent colds
- Smoking Cessation
Women’s Health:
- Infertility
- Acupuncture for IVF
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
- Painful and Irregular Cycles
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Hotflashes
Digestive Health:
- Poor Digestion
- Constipation
- Nausea and morning sickness
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
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!
SEARCH
Sign up
GET RSS FEED
CATEGORIES
ARCHIVES
Like us on Facebook
RECENT BLOG POSTS
Recommended by
