Staying Healthy in Cold & Flu Season
Staying Healthy in Cold & Flu Season by Deanna Tasi With the days getting colder and the nights getting longer, we are officially entering cold and flu season. It’s important that we pay attention to our lifestyle as a preventive measure. Keeping a small arsenal of herbs on hand in case we do feel a bug creeping in can also be helpful. First, some reminders of what we can do everyday to stay well. You can also skip ahead to check out herbal recommendations to keep on hand. LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS Prioritize sleep: Our immune system works best when we are getting enough sleep. Now that the nights are longer, you may find that you’re needing more sleep than you did during the Summertimes. When we are fighting off a cold or feeling sick, it becomes even more crucial that we let our body get the sleep that it needs. Eat nourishing/cooked foods: It’s the time of year when we shift our diets from salads to soups; cooked foods are preferred over raw vegetables. Our digestion is intricately linked to our immune system, when our diet follows the seasons our body is better able to adapt to our environment. Eating with the seasons means that we eat what’s being harvested in our region. As we move through fall and winter, root vegetables and squashes come to the forefront; dark, leafy greens are more easily digested when cooked- even if they’re just blanched or quickly sauteed. If we do keep a bit of raw foods in our diet, fermented foods are especially good. Any raw or fermented foods we do consume should be kept at a smaller proportion to the rest of our meal. Manage stress: With the holidays around the corner, lots of folks find that their stress climbs as more family responsibilities and stresses get layered onto ongoing daily activities. Regular acupuncture treatments are a great way to keep stress tamped down- providing a reset with each treatment. When stress is high, we recommend weekly treatments; when it’s more moderate, every other week is helpful. Limit sugar and alcohol intake: We know processed sugar and alcohol both suppress the immune system. When we follow the above lifestyle recommendations, we’re also less likely to overindulge in processed sugar. But we know that with the holidays comes an uptick in sugar and alcohol intake, so just be sure to keep your regular meals nourishing and you may find your intake and cravings are easier to manage. Wear a scarf: This is a common folklore followed around the world. In Chinese medicine we emphasize this precaution when it’s cold and windy outside. From a “western” view of how our bodies work- keeping this area warm by wearing a scarf prevents the muscles in the area from getting cold and tensing up, while helping to keep good circulation in the area. Circulation is always fundamental to good health. There are an estimated 600 lymph nodes in our body and at least a third of them are in our throat and neck! By keeping your neck warm and protected from the cold-wind, you’re helping your lymph nodes do their never ending work of trapping and destroying invading pathogens. Mask up: Unfortunately Covid is still around and in recent years there’s been an uptick of other respiratory infections such as RSV, HMPV, etc. One of the best and easiest protections from respiratory infections is to wear a well-fitting mask in crowded indoor spaces. And of course when gathering indoors sans masks, make sure to have good air ventilation and/or filtration whenever possible. HERBAL FORMULAS TO KEEP ON-HAND Most folks can tell pretty early when their body is fighting something off; oftentimes we feel it in our throat. We know that the same illness can have varying symptoms in different people. For prescribing herbs, it’s good to know how your initial symptoms typically show up and always keep these herbs on hand. Oftentimes we either get a “scratchy” throat often with some sneezing, OR a sore throat. Although both formulas I’ll cover will help with either of these patterns, it’s good to take a dose of herbs as soon as you experience any signs that your body is fighting something off – the earlier the better. When caught early, you may only need a dose or two of an herbal formula to ward it off. Two formulas that are excellent for this are Gan Mao Ling and Yin Qiao San. With a quick differential, you’ll know what’s best for you to always have on hand: Gan Mao Ling: This is the best formula for a “scratchy” throat that may come with some sneezing and a runny nose. When caught early, often just one dose can help get you back on track again. This is my go-to formula that I always have with me. Yin Qiao San: This is THE formula for sore throats. Folks with this pattern may also develop some congestion with yellow phlegm. For a sore throat, often we need a few doses of Yin Qiao San for it to resolve again. But you can also keep taking it as long as your throat is sore. As with most herbal formulas, it’s good to take these formulas between meals; neither should upset your stomach if taken on an empty stomach. I personally travel with both of these formulas in my medicine bag and recommend taking a dose of Gan Mao Ling while you’re traveling if you’re someone who always gets sick when you travel. We carry both of these formulas in the clinic and we’re happy to answer questions and talk about dosing in more detail during one of your visits. If you still end up getting sick and your symptoms progress, we have other excellent formulas in stock that will help you recover faster. Simply email your regular acupuncturist with your symptoms and we’ll leave herbs outside for pick up. And for the continued safety of everyone in the clinic, if you do
The Importance of Rest During the Yin Time of Year
The Importance of Rest During the Yin Time of Year As we head into the holiday season, it can become easy to get caught up in everything we need to do and become overwhelmed or stressed. But as the days become shorter and the northern hemisphere experiences more stillness, it’s important to take time to slow down and rest. By now most folks have heard the term “flight or fight” which corresponds to the sympathetic nervous system’s response to stress. In this state we feel more alert and ready to take on the world. Experiencing moments of stress are normal and can even be healthy, but problems arise when we stay in this state over long periods of time leading to, among other things, anxiety, tension- especially in our neck and shoulders, and a rapid heartbeat that continues even when we’re not in a stressful situation. When we are constantly in this high gear it can also begin to impact our sleep and digestion- leading to trouble sleeping and digestion irregularities like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and even nausea. It’s important we balance this high gear with its healing counterpart- the parasympathetic system. This “rest and digest” state is when we feel most relaxed and our body is able to use its resources to properly digest what we’re taking in and recover from life’s stresses. When we’re able to settle into this state we’re also able to sleep well- falling easily and staying asleep through the night. During deep sleep is also when our body does all of its repair work. In Taoist cosmology, which Chinese medicine has its roots in, we use the concept of Yin and Yang to describe both the world around us and our physiology, as a reflection of this world. The theory of Yin and Yang simplifies as the binary relationships we can observe. We ascribe Yin to stillness and Yang to activity; Yin is cool and moist while Yang is warm and dry. Nighttime and Winter are both Yin, while Daytime and Summer are Yang. Throughout the day or year there are varying amounts of Yin and Yang in our environment. During the peak of Summer Yang is at its strongest and Yin is weak, while in the Winter the opposite is true with Yin growing in strength and Yang becoming weak. In this same way, we can say that the autonomic nervous system also carries this Yin and Yang aspects, with Yin being the parasympathetic nervous system and Yang being the sympathetic nervous system. Another principle of Chinese medicine is that when we follow the flow of this Yin and Yang around us, we can cultivate good health. Most of us do this inherently to some degree, the best example being that we sleep at night and we’re awake during the day. The same rhythm can be applied throughout the seasons, and as the days become shorter we see the energy of the world around us retreat internally. Many plants go dormant and animals become less active and sleep more. Even our domestic furry friends, cats and dogs, nap more in the Wintertime. And it’s completely normal and healthy that we may find ourselves sleeping and resting more than the rest of the year. With most folks averaging eight hours of sleep per night, it’s not uncommon for folks to vary that throughout the year- maybe you feel good on seven hours of sleep in the Summer but in the Winter there’s nights that you sleep nine hours. Naps can be the same. Maybe a 10-20 min cat nap in the height of Summer refreshes you, while you find yourself leaning into a 30-50 min nap in the Winter. There’s no one size fits all when it comes to sleep and rest, but often the amount of sleep we need varies throughout the year and this is healthy and normal. During this time of shorter days, it’s helpful to shift into this “rest and digest”, parasympathetic mode for periods of time during the daytime as well. While most of us still have a lot to get done, we can take breaks throughout the day instead of pushing through like we may do during the Summer months. We can sit with a cup of tea between errands and chores. We can kick up our feet and read a book we find pleasurable. We can stare out the window and checkout birds soaring overhead or the trees doing their thing. Anything that helps slow us down to help us relax. It’s not uncommon when our stress has been high for a long period of time we find that even when we stop moving we’re still filled with anxiety, stress, tension, a busy mind, rapid breathing, etc. We may need to make a concerted effort to switch gears. Before getting into some tips on how to relax, it’s good to take a look at a few basics to create a steady baseline: Make sure you’re eating well. While it’s OK to indulge sometimes, it’s best to always make sure you’re getting your basic dietary needs met. By eating enough protein, healthy fats, and fiber throughout your day you stabilize your blood sugar which helps stabilize your mood. Designate your sleep hours and stick with them. Most of us have set work hours that we are dedicated to, the same approach can be used with our sleep. While there are things that impact our sleep that can be out of our control, like a sick kid or our pets stirring at night, we should limit anything else that takes away from our sleep that we have control over. Oftentimes it feels like our nighttime self and morning self have different priorities (especially if we’re night owls), but we should always consider the toll that staying up late takes on our wellbeing the next day. If we’re doing everything we can to relax, “rest and digest”, but we still find we need help, it’s time to incorporate healing
Back to Basics
Back to Basics By Deanna Tasi L.Ac. As we round the corner into the homestretch of 2021 many of us are finding our new rhythm of life. No one could deny the intensity of the past 18+ months. And as we resume back into the routines that Fall brings – it’s good to take a breath and reflect. Many folks have experienced heightened stress since the pandemic began. It’s good to check in with our bodies to see how we’re handling things. Here’s five cornerstones we can use to gauge our health: Sleep Are you getting enough sleep? The amount of sleep folks need varies- but when our sleep is healthy we fall asleep within a few minutes of bedtime, we stay asleep through the night; and if we need to get up to use the restroom, check on kids, etc., we’re able to resume quickly. When we’re getting enough sleep we are able to wake without an alarm in the morning. Digestion How do you feel after you eat? Are you moving your bowels at least once per day? Does your belly generally feel OK or do you experience bloating, gas or pain? There’s many factors that can influence digestion- including diet, movement, and stress. Mood Is there an overriding emotion that you are experiencing? Or do you feel calm when you have a chance to relax? Are there emotions you need to take time to sit with? Or do you need to prioritize ways that help calm your nervous system? Physicality Are you moving regularly? How’s your back? Your shoulders? Your jaw? How does your head feel on a day to day basis? If you mostly work in front of a computer- is your set up OK or is it causing you increased pain somewhere in your body? Do you take breaks regularly? Are you getting an average of 30 minutes of movement per day? Do you have an injury that needs attention? Energy Do you have enough energy to move through your day? Often any of the above – on their own or in tandem can affect our energy levels. Additional factors like overworking and/or long-term stress can also lead to feeling fatigued. If any of your systems are feeling off, it’s important to take the time to tune into what it needs. Acupuncture can also be beneficial to help you regulate your systems and move stagnant Qi that may show up as stuck emotions, GI issues, pain, etc. We’re always here to help- so make an appointment to come see us! In health, Deanna Tasi, L.Ac. Tao to Wellness 809 Hearst Ave Berkeley, California 94710 510-883-0383
Chinese New Year Dos and Don’ts!
Chinese New Year Dos and Don’ts! The Year of the Pig It is upon us, February 5th marks the beginning of the Year of the Pig! Get ready ladies and gents! This seems to be the most talked about post we do all year, because who couldn’t use some LUCK! This is my personal New Year and I take (almost) all this to heart, especially whatever you do on New Year’s Day is what you’ll be doing all year, so choose wisely, do something unique or different! A Chinese proverb states that all creations are reborn on New Year’s day. The Chinese New Year is a celebration of change … out with the old and in with the new! By Chinese New Year’s Eve, you should have done the following: Clean the entire home to get rid of all the things that are associated with the old year. Put away all brooms and brushes. Pay debts. Resolve differences with family members, friends, neighbors and business associates. Buy oranges (good health and long life), tangerines (long relationships, fruitful and multiply for having children or persimmons (happiness and wealth). Fresh flowers, if a flower blooms on New Year’s Day this is a sign of prosperity all year. Get together with close family members for the “reunion” dinner. Open every door and window in your home at midnight of New Year’s Eve to let go of the old year. On Chinese New Year’s Day… What you do today is what you’ll be doing ALL year long, choose wisely! Do not lend any money, otherwise you’ll be lending all year. Do not use foul language or unlucky words, like the word ‘four” which is the word for death, do not talk about death or ghosts on this day. Do not reference the past year or things in the past, only speak of the coming year. Wear new clothes or shoes, especially bright red. Eat candy in the morning for luck and also fish and chicken during the day. Do not wash your hair. Do not cry on New Year’s Day or you will cry throughout the whole year. Do not sweep the floor. Bad luck! Do not greet people who are in mourning. Do not drop your chopsticks. Do not use knives or scissors. The first person you meet or first words heard are indicative of the setting of the whole year. And for those most superstitious, before leaving the house to call on others, the Almanac should be consulted to find the best time to leave the home and the direction, which is most auspicious to head out. (Maybe a little overboard!) Happy Chinese New Year! In Prosperity, Christina Martin Tao to Wellness
Tips to having an awesome lymphatic system!
Tips to having an awesome lymphatic system! The lymphatic system, which is a complicated network of fluid filled lymphs, glands, organs and vessels, is rarely talked about, but so important. It’s basically the body’s garbage man or waste management, which in New York is really code word for mafia, but I digress. For patients who experience chronic problems, they might be a little more familiar with this slightly mysterious system. The lymphatic system’s main job is to get rid of toxins (internal and external) and protect the body against invasions. The largest lymphatic tissue in the body is the Spleen and plays a huge part in immune defense and red and white blood cells. One of the interesting things about lymph is, unlike blood, there is no pump, it relies on relaxation and contraction of muscles and joints to move it, so the lymphatic system can get sluggish and easily stagnant. When it becomes overwhelmed, it can lead to impaired immunity, cellulite, edema, chronic pain, fatty deposits, sinusitis and upper respiratory issues. As you can see it’s super important to keep this system moving! Thanks to The Chalkboard, A Guide to Living Well, here’s some easy tips to keeping the garbage men happy! ACUPUNCTURE You knew this was coming, right? Acupuncture is incredible for moving and balancing the lymphatic system, it’s one of the only modalities that can focus directly on the Qi and blood of the Spleen, which is the largest lymphatic organ. We also believe that stress plays a huge part in that potential stagnating energy of the lymphatic system, so acupuncture can also address stress in the whole body and the Qi flow of the liver as well. Remember there is no pump in the lymphatic system, so the body needs free flowing energy of Qi to transport those toxins. Acupuncture is your answer! REBOUNDING Rebounding is one of the easiest ways to pump the lymph. Rebounding is the practice of jumping on a trampoline (yes, remember when we did this for fun!?) for ten to thirty minutes. This passively moves the lymph while stimulating the circulation of blood throughout the body. Numerous studies have proven its efficacy, and have even shown it to improve muscle tone. INVERSION TABLE An inversion table is a padded table that allows one to invert upside down while strapped in by the feet. The inversion process decompresses the joints of the body and stimulates the lymphatic and circulatory system. This brings blood and oxygen to the tissues, which helps to clear the muscles of toxic build-up. By inverting, gravity works with, not against, the body, encouraging the movement of the lymph. It also improves spinal health by rehydrating the discs, reducing pressure on the nerves and relaxing tense muscles. LEMON WATER Lymph is about 95% water, making water essential for its health. Stay hydrated by drinking half your weight in ounces of water a day. Without adequate water, lymphatic fluid cannot flow properly. And one of the most common causes of lymph congestion is dehydration. Water, and only water, can adequately rehydrate the body, but if you want to expedite the process, add lemon to your water. Lemon is an alkaline fruit that helps to mineralize the body and lymph. Try sipping on warm lemon water throughout the day, but don’t forget your straw! This protects the teeth’s enamel from the lemon. ENZYMES Enzymes are produced by the body to break down food substances and to expedite countless metabolic processes. They are also utilized by the body to clear toxic-waste buildup in the lymph and blood, making their supplementation a key way to improve lymphatic health. Using proteolytic enzymes between meals can help to “digest” or breakdown organic debris in the circulatory and lymph systems, increasing lymphatic flow. They also help to ease the burden of allergy-like compounds, freeing the immune fractions traveling in the lymph system for other work. MASSAGE We all love a good massage, and here’s just one more reason why. Lymphatic massage is a special form of massage that specifically targets the flow of lymph in the body. It uses a specific amount of pressure and rhythmic circular movements to stimulate the lymph, encouraging its movement towards the heart for the drainage of fluid and waste. Lymphatic massage has shown in studies to push up to 78 percent of stagnant lymph back into circulation. This mobilizes toxins for clearance, lessening the burden on the lymphatic system. HERBS Many herbs have proven to be effective in improving lymphatic health, whether in their ability to increase lymphatic flow and drainage or in expediting the clearance of toxic substances. Red clover is a popular herb for the lymph, increasing flow, which helps to detoxify the body and reduce inflammation. Cleavers is another herb to try. Also known as clivers or goosegrass, it has been used for centuries and considered one of the best tonics to stimulate and help drain the lymphatic system. Coming from the Ayurvedic tradition is manjistha. Manjistha is an herb that is primarily utilized for its ability to de-stagnate lymph. It does this by detoxifying the tissue and supporting lymph flow. Finally, bupleurum (Chai Hu) and rehmannia (Sheng Di Huang) are herbal tonics known to treat lymphatic conditions in traditional Chinese medicine. We carry both of these at Tao to Wellness. These herbs are famous in Asia for maintaining the cleanliness of the lymphatic system and thus for naturally removing toxins from deep within the body on an on-going basis. DRY BRUSHING Dry skin brushing is a favorite Chinese medicine practice. It’s a technique commonly utilized in Ayurveda for assisting in lymphatic flow and boosting circulation. You simply take a dry brush with coarse bristle and brush the skin towards the heart. This stimulates the sweat glands, opens pores, and gets rid of dead skin cells. It also encourages the movement of lymph and blood in underlying organs and tissues of the body, which helps clear built-up toxins. As a result, it
What’s on the magical Tao to Wellness headphones?
What’s on the magical Tao to Wellness headphones? I wouldn’t have believed the hype, the website alone makes me cringe, you know those never ending websites with the HUGE “Try Us Now” button. It just screams scam to me. Guess what? It’s not a scam. In 2000 I shared an office with crystal healer, Clifton Harrison, he introduced me to these magical tracks and I’ve been throwing noise cancellation headphones on every patient since then. Amazing! The two tracks created by Centerpointe Institute are called Dive and Immersion, they are both 30 minutes each. The Dive helps ‘catch’ your brain as Clifton calls it, and slows it down into a meditative state, Delta to be exact. It then continues to take you deeper and deeper into The Matrix with Neo and Trinity, just kidding, just deeper into Delta states. Immersion follows and as the name implies brings you even deeper, however during an acupuncture treatment it actually brings you out of Delta and back to current space and time. I don’t have a solid answer as to why this happens, but I believe it’s a combination of the two working together. Acupuncture works with the Qi or energy of the body. It takes 23 minutes for the Qi to cycle through each organ, so it makes sense to me that in about 35 minutes or so the patient ‘returns’ since it takes most patients 10 minutes to drop into a quiet state initially. Almost every patient loves these tracks! And then every once in awhile, I would get a patient who felt irritated by them or a patient that couldn’t ‘drop down’. Maybe they hated the Bells (Dive) or they preferred the Rain only (Immersion). I came to find that these patients needed a little extra time in the initial stage, their brainwaves were moving much, much faster than others. So, I threw the headphones on and then I came back in 5 minutes, quietly entered the room and hit rewind to the beginning of the track, and then I did it again in another 5 minutes. It worked! After my 2 rewinds, patients were able to relax and go deeper like everyone else. Even more interesting is I usually only needed to do this for about 3 treatments, after that patients took to the Delta states much easier. To give you an idea of what all this feels like for a patient, here’s some quotes: I’m kind of here in the room, but not really here. I felt like I was levitating. It’s better than drugs! (my personal favorite) I felt like I was in another universe. That was an out of body experience. Christina Martin, L.Ac. Tao to Wellness Berkeley, California 510.883.0383
Fertility Boosting Foods!
Fertility Boosting Foods! At Tao to Wellness we’ve mastered the science behind baby making through acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional support. Foods have properties just like herbal medicine. When a patient eats certain foods at certain times of their cycle, there is an impact… sometimes positive and sometimes negative. Since we want to give patients the best case scenario when they are under our care, we compiled a list of what foods support the two main phases of the cycle. Below you’ll find foods broken down into Follicular, which is from the end of the period until ovulation, this is a building phase for the lining and the nourishing phase of Yin. And Luteal, which is from ovulation until the period happens. The temperature warms, there can be a possibility of implantation and this is a time of Yang. An * is a food that is extremely strong and highly recommended for this time of the cycle. FOLLICULAR phase of your cycle: Fruits Apples, Apricots, Banana, Blueberry, Fig, Grape, Mango, Pear, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Watercress Vegetables Asparagus, Beets, Dandelion, Kelp, Leafy greens*- including kale, spinach (best with a splash of citrus), Lemon, Microalgae, Millet, Mulberry, Nettle*, Parsley, Pea, Seaweed, Spinach, String Bean, Sweet potato Grains Barley, Millet, Sweet rice Meats: Beef*, Bone Marrow- Bone Broth*, Cheese, Duck, Liver, Oxtail*, Pork, Sardines Other: Black sesame*, Honey, Royal Jelly* LUTEAL phase of your cycle: Fruits Citrus Vegetables Cabbage, Kale, Onion, Leek, Chive, Parsnip, Parsley, Mustard Greens, Winter Squash Grains Lentils, Quinoa Meats Anchovy, Lamb, Trout, Salmon (check with Seafoodwatch.org for sources) Nuts Chestnut, Pecan, Pistachio Spices Aniseed, Basil, Caraway, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Cumin, Dill Seed, Fennel Seed, Garlic, Ginger*, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Star Anise, Thyme To enjoy ANYTIME throughout your cycle! Avocado, Pineapple, Beans (Aduki, Black, Kidney), Cashews, Cherry, Dates, Eggs* and Walnuts Keep in mind Organic when possible Fruits and veggies that are in season In Health, Christina Martin, L.Ac. Tao to Wellness Acupuncture Berkeley, California 510.883.0383
paleo vs vegan
Paleo vs Vegan What’s a girl to do? There are so many diets out there and I’m not referring to fad diets necessarily. Just different ways of eating that work for different body types. How to choose… I personally have been on every single diet known to man (or woman) including the fad ones. Here’s what I came up with; eat what makes you feel good, eat what makes you feel alive and energetic. Case in point, I did Whole30 a few years ago (basically paleo, no dairy, alcohol, sugar, grains) and by day 25 I looked like I was ready for a coffin, I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open. Finally our acupuncturist, Nikole Maxey looked at me and said, “Why don’t you have just a little bit of rice?” What a brilliant idea, I was so hell bent on doing it right, and I obviously wasn’t thinking straight. I ate rice and my energy perked up immediately. So, Whole30 as wonderful as it is, is not for me. I also gained weight during those 25 days which again is not the norm for that particular diet. Paleo Diet or Vegetarian Diet? I’ve seen many patients over the years with exactly this profile, vegetarians/vegans with severe fatigue and high cholesterol. To be clear, I’m not a proponent either way of paleo or vegetarianism, I’m just more interested in a diet creating health and optimum balance for that patient. People think that high cholesterol is a marker showing too much red meat and rich foods, it can be, but it’s not the only way to get high cholesterol. From a functional medicine perspective, it can also be from too many carbs, not enough protein, so the body is deprived of amino acids for balanced brain chemistry, the thyroid isn’t regulated, the detoxification of the body is off and so on and so on, hence the body creates too much cholesterol. The fix I found; is Eggs. Eggs always seem to the harmless first step for vegetarians and vegans since so many choose that diet for moral reasons as well. I’ve also seen vegetarian patients eventually go Paleo all the way and they are feeling great. As the Dalia Lama says, “If you can, vegetarianism is the best way to go from a spiritual standpoint, but if protein is what your body needs, that’s fine too.” The Dalai Lama does eat meat now due to the urging of his Ayurvedic physician. I’ve also had a patient who was on a fad shake diet, shakes for breakfast and lunch and then a sensible dinner, doesn’t sound too horrible, right? The kicker was it had to be absolutely NO FAT, none at all, zero, nada, zilch. What do you think might have happened? She lost weight quickly, over a hundred pounds actually, but as the months went on her system grew dry. What that means, is achy joints, muscle pain everywhere, restless legs at night, arthritis type symptoms when she woke in the morning and even worse because she wasn’t getting any fats her brain was suffering and so was her sleep. We got her off that diet and got her on some good fats like olive oil, coconut oil and rice bran oil. And although some of the weight has returned she is feeling great now! So, what to choose? The answer: What feels good! Obviously, all diets (fad or not) will agree fast food, white flour, cookies, pastries, fried, etc are not good for you. Start by omitting those and see what makes you feel good otherwise! It takes a fair bit of awareness, but I think when you take some of the ‘crap’ out, you’re able to get a clearer picture of what’s working and what’s not. Some people thrive on Paleo, some Veganism while others do a modified version of the two, no two bodies are alike. In Health, Christina Martin Tao to Wellness Acupuncture in Berkeley www.taotowellness.com
The summer season is upon us…
The summer season is upon us… Even though the Bay area doesn’t quite have summer like the rest of the country, the energy and properties of summer still apply! Summer is a yang season and is associated with the Heart, Pericardium (“the Heart wrapper”), Small Intestine and the Triple Burner (a Chinese organ that closely resembles the 2nd, 3rd and 4th chakras). Summer is a period of luxurious growth. To be in harmony with the atmosphere of summer, awaken early in the morning and reach to the sun for nourishment. Summer offers abundant variety and the diet should reflect this. Minerals and oils are sweated out of the body, and their loss can cause weakness if they are not replaced by a varied diet. To be more comfortable, drink hot liquids and take warm showers to induce sudden sweating and to cool the body. Summer heat combined with too much cold food (Ex. salads and raw fruits, remember moderation!) can weaken the digestive organs, coldness causes contraction and interferes with digestion. Iced drinks and ice cream actually contract the stomach and stop digestion. Use plenty of brightly colored summer fruits and vegetables. Cook lightly and regularly, add a LITTLE spicy, pungent, or even fiery flavor, but not too much! When sautéing, use high heat for a very short time and keep in mind, olive oil is an unstable oil and under high heat can cause free radicals, try some new stable oils, like coconut (great for the thyroid and detoxifying the blood), canola and rice bran oil. Also, steam and simmer foods as quickly as possible. Use little salt and more water. Cooling fresh foods for summer are salads, sprouts (mung, soy and alfalfa), fruit, cucumber, tofu (not too much if you have estrogen dominance!), flower and leaf teas (mint, chrysanthemum and chamomile), watermelon, lemons and limes. The hot flavored spices are also considered appropriate in the warmest weather, at first their effect is to bring warmth, but ultimately they bring body heat out to the surface to be dispersed. With heat on the surface, one’s body mirrors the summer climate and therefore will be less affected by it. Red and green hot peppers, cayenne red pepper, fresh ginger, horseradish, black pepper are all ideal for this purpose, but if you are allergic to nightshades, do not use peppers. However, if too many dispersing foods are taken, then weakness and loss of yang will result, and the ability to stay warm and vital in the cooler seasons is lost. CALMING AND FOCUSING THE MIND… The Fire element rules the Heart in Chinese Medicine. This, not only, includes the organ itself but also the concept of the Heart as a mental/emotional center. Those with healthy hearts are friendly and humble. Clarity is a central attribute, they seem to see effortlessly through problems to arrive at brilliant solutions. Symptoms of a heart imbalance are: scattered and confused mind, excess or no laughter, confused speech, depression, loss of memory, poor circulation, insomnia, headache, irritability, palpitations/irregular heartbeat or excessive dreams. We of the ‘information age’ tend to have mental hyperactivity. Energy from excessive thought and worry races through the head while the heart is impoverished. A simple diet with occasional light fasting goes a long way. Avoid VERY spicy foods, refined sugar, alcohol, coffee, late night eating and large evening meals. The following reduce nervousness, treat insomnia and improve mental focus: Oyster Shell (Oyster shell calcium), whole wheat, brown rice, oats, mushrooms (esp. Reishi), oatstraw tea, cucumber, celery, lettuce, quality cow and goat milk, ghee (clarified butter), mulberries, lemons, Chia seeds, dill, basil, chamomile, catnip, skullcap and valerian. Of course, for insomnia, the classic remedy…drinking a cup of milk warm before bed works wonders. Stay cool, Christina Martin, L.Ac. Tao to Wellness Berkeley, CA 510.883.0383
Four foods for FERTILITY!
Four foods for FERTILITY! Four foods that are not to be overlooked that will support and assist your journey to parenthood! Raspberries Not only do raspberries register as the lowest fruit on the glycemic index, they are also extremely beneficial for boosting fertility in men and women! They contain high levels of Vitamin C (key in sperm health) and Magnesium (key in production of testosterone). Raspberries also protect sperm from oxidative stress. For women, antioxidants can decrease the risk of miscarriage and is great source of folate which is important in embryo development. Pineapple core Is this myth true? We don’t know. Will it hurt? We don’t think so… the active enzyme in pineapple is bromelain, which is more concentrated in the core of the pineapple. Bromelain is said to decrease inflammation in the body. So to us, it does make sense. On some level that’s what acupuncture is doing anyway! The prescription is one whole pineapple cut into 5 portions consumed the day after timed intercourse, IUI or IVF transfer for the next 5 days. Avocado An avocado a day… doesn’t keep the doctor away, hopefully it ends up with a doctor’s appointment. The scientists believe that monounsaturated fats, which are well known both to the heart, can increase fertility by decreasing inflammation in the body. Again, isn’t that what acupuncture is doing? Other sources of monounsaturated fats are olive oil, sunflower oil, nuts and seeds. Stick to the avocado though, we think it’s more bang for your buck. Poultry Chinese medicine categorizes herbs and nutrition by taste, temperature, property, meridians it enters and indication. Poultry has an interesting relationship with the uterus in that it tonifies this organ, thereby creating an upward energy. This is instrumental in implantation and your first trimester, since a downward motion of Qi in the uterus could indicate miscarriage. Chinese practitioners worldwide recommend eating poultry (turkey, chicken and duck) daily after ovulation and timed intercourse. Aside from nutritional guidelines, acupuncture for fertility is what most of our patients come to us for. Check out our Fertility page and Video for more information. Or email me with any questions you may have! In Health, Christina Martin christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Tao to Wellness
