Emotions and Chinese Medicine
Emotions and Chinese Medicine The practice of Chinese medicine has become quite mainstream over the last decade or so, but people still find it illusive and mysterious. And in some regard, it is. For example, the way we look at emotions in Chinese medicine is quite unique. Before we jump into how emotions are interconnected with the body, let’s reveal some basics. Traditional Chinese medicine has actually been around for over 3,000 years. The medicine is comprised of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion, Chinese nutrition and Tai Qi. The goal of all these modalities is to achieve balance in the body by way of manipulating Qi, blood, Yin and Yang. When there is balance in the body, we feel healthy, symptom-free, our mind is kind, our digestion is easy, our sleep is deep and rejuvenating, energy is bright and radiant and our body feels solid, grounded and flexible. Most people think that Chinese medicine is only effective in treating pain, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. While it’s true, acupuncture and herbal medicine are incredible at bringing down inflammation and healing pain, the medicine is actually an incredible asset to every single system in the body. One area where this medicine is very different from Western medicine is around emotional wellness. Chinese medicine believes that each organ, will not only give way to physical symptoms when out of balance, but emotional symptoms as well. Let’s take the Liver for example. When the Liver is out of balance, meaning it’s not in harmony or perhaps there’s some stagnation or stuck energy, it will create symptoms or warning signals. With an imbalance, one might experience tension in the upper back and shoulders, headache, migraines, waking up between 1AM-3 AM, constipation, IBS, menstrual cramps, PMS to name a few. The emotions that the Liver rules are anger, frustration and depression and those too will come to the surface more easily when there’s an internal imbalance. Now, how do organs get out of balance? Many things can cause this and nothing too surprising; too little sleep, too much alcohol, too much fried or rich food, too much work, too much stress. And being in a particular emotion much of the time can also create physical symptoms. For example, a body that is deeply rooted in sadness and grief might start to further that imbalance by becoming asthmatic, thereby making it even harder to move through or past that emotion. Here’s a list of organs and their associated difficult emotion, but also the virtue or antidote that can rebalance it. Lung Sadness and grief The virtue is Courage Heart Impatience The virtue is Love Spleen Worry and pensiveness The virtue is Trust and Sincerity Liver Anger, frustration or depression The virtue is Kindness Kidney Fear and shock The virtue is Peace San Jiao (The Triple Burner, basically the Sacral, Solar Plexus and Heart Chakra) Panic The virtue is Balance If you are experiencing any kind of emotional challenge or stress, consider connecting with us. We can help immensely and support you in all areas. The beauty of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine is that we treat all of you; body, mind and spirit.
Secrets to a Great Night’s Sleep
Secrets to a Great Night’s Sleep Many, many people can’t sleep through the night. Some people wake up at 3am and can’t fall back to sleep for hours, some people wake up super early like 5am and once they are up, that’s it! Still others need 1-2 hours just to fall asleep initially and some wake up feeling like they haven’t slept at all, even if it’s been 10 hours! Furthermore, so many think waking up for an hour in the middle of the night is normal? Some need the TV on all night other wise they can’t sleep at all. So, what’s got us so twisted up and restless during what should be the easiest and sweetest part of our lives? The rule of thumb from a Chinese medicine point of view is that adults need 8 hours of sleep. Obviously babies and teens need more and most seniors seem to get less, but as an average adult, we need 8 hours. Some people boast that they only need 4 or 5 hours and they feel great, we think it’s possible that they just forgot what ‘great ‘actually feels like. Sleep is a time where our body relaxes, our muscles recover, we heal, we are reborn every single night. For our health, it’s one of the most important things we do! What Are the Benefits of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep? The benefits of a good night sleep are endless, but here’s the top seven! Boosts your immune system Regulates metabolism Balances emotional wellness Decreases inflammation Reduces the risk of disease Memory and learning Increase of collagen for skin moisture and elasticity What Are Some Tips for a Better Sleep? Here’s 6 areas that could need a little tweaking so you can get that good night’s sleep, every night! Stick to the schedule I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but a bedtime routine is essential. Staying with the same bedtime; give or take 30 min, does wonders for your circadian rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is a pattern throughout the day and night and is measured by cortisol. Cortisol is naturally high in the morning and lowest at night. For people with crazy schedules, like working graveyard one week and then swing the next, then days- and yes, I know people with this schedule! Cortisol is usually all over the place, but luckily most of us have more predictability! With a predictable rhythm and pattern in place, the brain gets the signal and responds by releasing those lovely and very effective hormones to help us drift off easier. Tip: If you are curious what your circadian rhythm looks like, we can assess your cortisol through saliva testing, and out of those results, choose some herbal remedies and supplements that can help support the rise and fall of Cortisol at the desired time. Please note, Western MDs do measure Cortisol as well but with a blood test, unfortunately this does not give us enough info about the rhythm, since saliva testing is done at four intervals throughout the day, it’s the best choice. Not Too Hungry , Not Too Thirsty! We all know we shouldn’t drink too much water before bed since that only leads to getting up in the middle of the night to urinate. But we also don’t want to be too hungry or too full. If we are hungry, the brain has a hard time settling. Too full and the liver works overtime during the night, waking us up. And as for caffeine and alcohol, beware! Caffeine actually sticks around up to 10 hours after you’ve consumed it, so if you are having a 3pm pick-me-up that might be the culprit to keeping you up until 1am. (Read more about the bigger picture on caffeine Here) As for alcohol, the initial effects might make you sleepy, but afterwards many patients report waking up between 1am-3am. Makes total sense to us, that is the block of time when the liver organ is working its hardest processing toxins and the day’s stress (each organ in the body gets its own 2 hour window). In addition, women who are approaching menopause reported that alcohol always made sleep horrible and night sweats outrageous. So, beware! Tip: Eat a spoonful of a nut butter before bed, drink a glass of Natural Calm or eat a little bit of a raw potato! Yes, patients have said all these work, some better than others depending on the person. Go caffeine and alcohol free for a month and see what happens! Your Environment Matters! I think we know all the things; blackout shades, eye mask, ear plugs, a mattress that is less than 10 years old, the perfect pillows dependent on if you are a back or a side sleeper and lastly, turn off those screens! All of those are so true and we think the biggie are those screens, including TVs. Screens are noise, distraction and entertainment and it keeps the eyes full and the mind busy. But the biggest reason, blue light powerfully suppresses melatonin which is necessary for sleep. Here’s a short article from Harvard talking about the Dark Side Of Blue Light. They recommend getting off screens for 2-3 hours before bedtime, but let’s be honest, even I love to scroll through Instagram before bed, so I try to get off about an hour before. As for TV, not only does it emit blue light but if you’ve fallen asleep, chances are there is audio playing for hours and possibly all night. It’s just not conducive to sweet dreams or deep sleep. Tip: Not only turn off those screens an hour before bed, but put your phone on airplane mode as well. Most of us have our phones charging on the night table next to us or in the bed, did you know that your phone looks for a cell phone tower to connect to every 30 minutes? And if you’re on WIFI, the Electromagnetic Rays (EMR) are equivalent to standing
More Recipes for a Dreamy Restful Sleep during Perimenopause and Menopause
More Recipes for a Dreamy Restful Sleep during Menopause Written by Emily Edmonds Loved our last post and looking for more recipes to provide you with restful sleep during the hormone fluctuations of menopause? Read on… Grilled Tofu with Reishi, Shiitake and Wood Ear Mushrooms Firm Tofu – 1 package Wood Ear Mushroom – 16 oz Shiitake Mushrooms – 16 oz Reishi Mushroom Powder – Dried – 1 tsp Porcini Powder – optional – 1/2 tsp Black Sesame Seeds – 1 tbsp Tamari or Soy Sauce – 1 tbsp Sesame Oil – 1 tbsp Ginger – 1” knob – freshly ground 10. Green Onion – 1 fresh – white rings sliced only 11. Miso – 1 tbsp 12.Ume Plum Vinegar – 1 tbsp 13.Maple syrup – 1 tsp Make sauce – peel ginger and zest with a microplane. Combine soy sauce or Tamari, sesame oil, ginger, green onion, miso, maple syrup and Ume plum vinegar into a bowl or blender and mix thoroughly. Slice tofu in 1/2” slices. In a small frying pan, heat sesame oil until hot. Add tofu to frying pan and grill until cooked through. Finish by brushing with sauce. Remove from heat, set aside and brush with sauce. Wash the mushrooms and dry thoroughly. Add more sesame oil to the pan and sauteé mushrooms until cooked through, about 15-20 minutes. Add a small amount of soy sauce to season and add some black sesame seeds and finish cooking until liquid is boiled off. Add reishi powder and porcini powder while still warm and stir thoroughly. This makes enough for about 4-5 nights so have one serving and keep the rest in the refrigerator for future use. Serve warm! Sardines with Wild Yams and Pumpkin Seeds Sardines – 1 can – wild caught Eggs – 2 *Wild Yams – 1 large Pumpkin Seeds – 1 tbsp Vinegar – 1/4 cup Celtic Sea Salt – 1 tbsp Dulse – optional Rye bread – optional This is a simple recipe to put together, but it can be an acquired taste for those who do not like fish. But sardines are the richest source of B12, they are also high in omega 3 fatty acids and quality protein. If you can adapt yourself to the taste, the health benefits you will gain will pay off dividends. Fill a pot with water and heat on the stove until boiling. Generously season with salt. Score the potatoes around the middle and make a small cut just through the skin around the entire width of the potato. Boil until fork tender, around 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat with a slotted spoon and allow to cool. Set aside. Keep the water and add the vinegar. Bring water to a boil. Boil eggs in water with the shell on for about 7-10 minutes. Remove from water and allow to cool completely. This is good to make in advance and have in the refrigerator as needed. Remove the peels from the yams and slice into 1/2” circles. Peel the eggs and slice horizontally into small circles. Slice the bread in 1/2” rounds an gently toast. Toast pumpkin seeds gently over low flame. Drain the sardines and allow to dry on paper towels if necessary. Place 1 slice of wild yam, 3-4 small slices of egg, 1-2 sardines on one slice of toast. Top with pumpkin seeds and dulse, if using. Serve warm! *Note – If you have Hashimoto’s Disease or Graves Disease or if you have been diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis – avoid dulse and season with Celtic sea salt. If you have these conditions, eat only the whites of the egg not the yolk (yolk contains a lot of iodine). If you have an allergy to gluten, avoid the rye bread but I don’t recommend eating gluten free bread. If you cannot find wild yams, the white yams are the ones that are closest and will work fine in this recipe but the wild yams are best. Millet with Almond Butter, Figs and Mulberries Millet – 1/2 cup Figs – fresh or dried – 1/4 cup Mulberries – dried – 1/4 cup Almond Butter – 2 tbsp Pea Protein Powder – 2 scoops Date syrup – 1 tbsp Lavender Flowers – 1/2 tsp – optional Boil 1 cup of water and add millet. Add figs, mulberries and lavender flowers if using. Stir frequently over low heat until cooked. Sift or sieve in pea protein powder and stir vigorously to combine. Add almond flour and stir until dissolved. Add date syrup to taste. Serve while warm. Split Pea Soup Leek – 1 – rinsed and cut into quarters Celery – 3 stalks – cut into small pieces Carrots – 2 – peeled and cut into small pieces Dried Split Peas – 1 cup Bone Broth – 2 cups Water – 2 cups Olive Oil – 1 tbsp Bay Leaf – 1 Thyme – fresh – 5 sprigs 10.Celtic Sea Salt Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauteé leeks and celery for 3 minutes. Add bone broth, water and split peas and season with salt. Make a bundle of bay leaf and thyme and tie with a string or cheesecloth, then submerge into the liquid. Cover and simmer for 60-80 minutes, or use in a pressure cooker for 20 minutes. Add carrots to soup. Cover and continue to simmer for about 20 minutes, or until peas have broken down (if using a pressure cooker – 10 minutes is all that is needed). Season with some more salt if necessary. Adzuki Bean Stew Ginger – 1” knob – peeled and finely grated on a microplane zester Leeks – cut and rinsed, minced into small pieces Celery – 3 stalks Soy Sauce or Tamari – 1 tbsp Ume Plum Vinegar – 2 tbsp, divided Sesame Oil – 2 tbsp Date Syrup – 1/2 tsp Adzuki Beans – 1 cup Water – 4 cups, divided Reishi powder – optional Kombu – 1 small piece
Recipes for a Dreamy Restful Sleep during Menopause and Perimenopause
Recipes for a Dreamy Restful sleep during Menopause and Perimenopause Written by Emily Edmonds Many women lately are coming to see us for relief from menopause and peri-menopause symptoms. These symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, dry mouth and throat, joint pain, and insomnia. Women experiencing these symptoms often have difficulty with sleep, frequently waking up at night and unable to go back to sleep. It can feel very frustrating experiencing these symptoms when we still have to work and we still have our responsibilities! We need restful sleep every night for our health and for us to function well. If you are finding yourself waking up a lot at night, it could be b/c your blood sugar is low. Often, having a light meal before bed consisting of protein and resistant starch can be helpful to go to sleep and stay asleep through the night. Here are some simple recipes that are easy to put together that have both protein and resistant starch. I’ve also included some foods that are helpful to relieve symptoms of menopause, such as night sweats and hot flashes. What is Resistant Starch (RS)? Resistant starch is a type of starch that passes through your digestive tract unchanged. It is similar in function to soluble fiber. There are three types of resistant starch and they come with a lot of benefits. The benefits of resistant starch include improving insulin sensitivity, balancing blood sugar levels, and reducing appetite by maintaining satiety. Resistant starch is also beneficial for women going through menopause, resistant starch is important b/c it feeds beneficial gut bacteria and contributing to a healthy gut microbiome. There are a few types of resistant starch, but we will focus on the first three. Type 1 resistant starch is found in grains, seeds and legumes. Type 2 resistant starch is found in potatoes and green (unripe) bananas. Type 3 resistant starch includes potatoes, rice, and pasta when cooked and then allowed to cool overnight. The cooling process converts many of the digestible starches into resistant starches through a process called retrogration. WHY IS RS important for SLEEP If you are able to go to sleep but have difficulty staying asleep, often times this is due to a drop in blood sugar. This is closely related to our cortisol / melatonin cycles and circadian rhythms. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands while we are sleeping to maintain blood sugar levels while they drop. Cortisol is normally low while sleeping and high when first waking up in the morning. If your blood sugar levels are too low at night, your body may produce too much cortisol to bring your blood sugar levels back up. This may cause you to wake up early and frequently, often with anxiety and racing thoughts. High cortisol levels will also prevent you from being able to go back to sleep and have a restful nights sleep. Often, this is due to unstable blood sugar and cortisol levels while we are sleeping. Resistant starch keeps your blood sugar levels stable at night so that you don’t experience these sudden swings. RS will not help you go to sleep, but it will keep your blood sugar from dropping for 7-9 hours so you can sleep soundly throughout the night. It’s important to note that many popular diets are lacking in RS. These include Paleo, Ketogenic Diet, and the Whole 30 diet. While these diets have benefits for other conditions, I wouldn’t recommend these diets for women going through menopause, especially those with the sleep patterns described. I would only recommend doing these diets under the care of a qualified health care practitioner. WHY is PROTEIN important for Menopause? Protein is important for human health, in general. But it is especially important for going through menopause b/c the drops in hormone levels can cause bone mineral loss and lean body mass. Protein is essential for all cellular functions, liver function, and tissue regeneration. To get optimal amounts of protein, we need b/w 35-65% of our body weight (in lbs) in grams. For example, if you are a 140 lb woman, you will need 50-90 grams of protein a day. If you are going through menopause, I recommend the higher end of this number (65%). Protein also stabilizes our blood sugar without raising our insulin levels too sharply. Protein also provides essential amino acids to keep your liver fueled without spiking insulin levels, cortisol levels, or triglycerides. This will keep you asleep at night. Pea Protein I like this product b/c it contains pea protein and pea starch, both excellent sources of plant based protein and resistant starch. I like pea protein b/c it is easy to incorporate, it is plant-based so it is a good source for vegans and vegetarians, it’s gluten free for those with allergies or sensitive GI tracts, it contains resistant starches, and it is more alkalizing than animal meats and doesn’t contribute to creating an acidic burden in the body. If you don’t like to cook – a simple thing you can do is add some water, pea protein, and stir. This simple recipe an help mitigate menopause symptoms and insomnia. Below are some recipes you can try if you are experiencing frequent waking, hot flashes or night sweats. If you find yourself waking up a lot at night, eat one serving of these recipes once a night before bed. One serving would be equivalent to about the size of a fist – that’s all. You don’t want to over-eat – just enough for a snack size is appropriate. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages within 3 hours of bedtime, and if your sleep doesn’t improve – avoid these altogether for at least one month. You can also prepare these for dinner and have a small amount before bed. It is best to prepare these recipes by dividing them into small quantities and keep them in the refrigerator as needed. Rosemary Boiled Potatoes with Turkey Slices Maca
Got Insomnia? Acupuncture can help!
Got Insomnia? Acupuncture can help! Got Insomnia? Acupuncture can help! There is nothing worse than not being able to sleep at night. Tossing and turning, watching the clock tick closer and closer to when you need to get up and start your day….its a dreadful feeling. There are a lot of commercial remedies out there, but who wants to become dependent on a nightly sleeping pill? Why not try Acupuncture instead?! There are several ways in which Acupuncture can help. Acupuncture can help your body produce more melatonin: In an article published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Spence et al. explored the relationship between melatonin and acupuncture treatments. They observed a significant increase in endogenous melatonin secretion in all of the 18 patients suffering from severe insomnia who were given acupuncture treatments twice a week for 5 weeks. Records of electrical and muscular states during the entire sleeping time indicated that, after acupuncture treatments, the patients took less time to fall asleep, had fewer occasions of waking up during sleep, and experienced increased total sleep time and deep sleep time. Anxiety, depression and fatigue were also decreased. Interestingly, alertness in the morning was reduced as well. Acupuncture can improve blood flow to improve sleep quality: Hecht and his colleagues studied the relationship between the blood flow to the brain and insomnia. They noted that an insufficient blood flow to the brain could lead to low sugar levels and spontaneous waking from sleep. Acupuncture can decrease effects of aging: The weakening of parasympathetic function results in the familiar signs of aging, including increased and irregular heartbeats, constipation, insomnia, erectile dysfunction, fluid retention, and systemic inflammation. These consequences may in turn contribute to many of the common diseases associated with aging, including Type-II diabetes, Alzheimer’s, arteriosclerosis, and cancer. The maintenance and restoration of parasympathetic function may boost the functions of the internal organs and slow the aging process. Acupuncture generally enhances the parasympathetic nervous system. Acupuncture can reduce pain: Acupuncture has a very good analgesic effect and can thereby help people with pain improve their sleep quality. Acupuncture can reduce stress hormones to treat insomnia: When we are under chronic stress, such as over-thinking and overworking, our body produces more cortisol to keep us alert during the daytime. When we are under acute stress, such as a fight-or-flight condition, our body produces more epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine. These two stress hormones deeply affect our sleep quality. Much love, Amanda Self Amanda Self wears a variety of hats at Tao To Wellness. From Social Media to Medical Billing, she brings healing energy to all that she touches. Amanda is a Reiki Master, a jeweler and is currently studying Herbalism, both in the classroom and out in the fields.
A real life patient spotlight: Teenage hormones, headaches and acupuncture
A real life patient spotlight: Teenage hormones, headaches and acupuncture Zoe is a sweet, sixteen-year-old girl. She’s like most kids these days, overbooked and overworked. She’s got tennis on Mondays, violin and soccer on Tuesdays, French lessons and volunteer work on Wednesdays and so on and so on. Zoe gets headaches almost every day, at least 4 times a week. They occur around 5pm and last until she goes to bed, luckily, she doesn’t wake up with them. They get much worse a few days before her period and on the day before her period she usually gets a migraine with nausea that leaves her not able to function. Also, her PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) has become full of mood swings, she feels sad, depressed and angry almost a full week before her flow. Zoe is very much like so many of our young patients at Tao to Wellness. Teens these days have a lot on their plate, they’re dealing with stress level comparable to adults. In Chinese medicine, when too much stress impacts the body things become out of balance. We get symptoms like headaches, insomnia, emotional mood swings, etc. It happens to all of us. The interesting thing about treating younger people is for some reason they respond faster to acupuncture, meaning they get faster results! In most cases, the younger a patient is the faster they get better, because the body isn’t impacted with age and deterioration. My youngest patient to date was 3 days old… the baby got his arm stuck while coming out of the vaginal canal during delivery and somehow it twisted resulting in what is called, an herb palsy. One treatment fixed his ‘broken wing’ so we called it. So, Zoe came in and felt immediate relief after her first acupuncture session. Her headaches were about half of what they used to be. I continued to see her for acupuncture only (no herbs) weekly for about two months. Once her body was able to hold her sessions longer, I saw her every two weeks and still do. Zoe says, “I don’t think I would be able to function in life if I didn’t have acupuncture, it resets my whole body so I can accomplish the things I want to do and feel like a normal teen.” Much love, Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM. christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.
The NYT says, “Sleep is the new status symbol.”
The NYT says, “Sleep is the new status symbol.” “Sleep today is a measure of success, a skill to be cultivated and nourished.” -says Tim Robinson in a new article in The New York Times. This is New York City, no more late nights? No more drinking until 5am? No more late night greasy burgers after a show? No, sleep is where it’s at, it’s the new status symbol and I LOVE IT! I’ve always been serious about my sleep– in Chinese medicine it is believed that sleep is the one of the main ways to regenerate the Qi of the body and 8 hours the correct amount. Think of it like your daily checking account, let’s say you start out with a 100 units, you spend 30 exercising, 50 at work, 20 at play, you’ll need to regenerate and put more units in for tomorrow– that’s where sleep comes in. ESPECIALLY like some of us who spend 30 exercising, 80 at work, 80 at play, you know who you are! Without sleep over a number of days you face potential damage to your adrenals, to brain chemistry, joint health, hormone regulation, aging inside and out, etc. Keep in mind, we aren’t just referring to those insomniacs who don’t sleep at all, damage also occurs for people that sleep only 4-6 hours a night, there is a deficit overtime which is a huge contributor to all the ailments above. A few things that can assist your sleep: A great mattress and the right pillows! I’ve been coined the pillow queen and I don’t mind it one bit. Positioning– back and side sleepers require different pillows heights, so be sure you have the right pillow! I’ve told my patients over the years, if you are a side sleeper, be sure your nose and the top of your shoulder is in a 90 degree angle. Stomach sleeping is pretty much a no-no, since it wreaks havoc on the neck… No screens, I know so many people that fall asleep with the TV on, first of all, you shouldn’t have a TV in your bedroom at all, but if you do the blue light spectrum can cause sleep disturbances or an inability to go deep. Cell phones on airplane mode! When you keep your cell phone on and since most of us use it as an alarm clock, we tend to have it close… consider that that phone is looking for a tower to connect to all night long (insert Lionel Ritchie hit, “All Night Long”). So please airplane mode it, we still don’t know the long term harm that cell phones can do. If you absolutely must have it on for emergencies, keep it 10 feet away from you. Having some real issues? Maybe a little melatonin can help? Melatonin is something your body already makes, so you are not adding a foreign substance to your flesh and bones. You can try 3mg or go up to as high as 10mg with time release. A simple upgrade to your ritual! Dark and quiet– get some black out shades or a cute little snooze kit, complete with blind fold and ear plugs. Take a hot bath before bed to relax your muscles and mind. Magnesium– especially if you have some restless legs! Magnesium is a necessary mineral for 300 systems in the body. Take some before bed, it can help you relax deeper during sleep, helps tight muscles and also constipation, just don’t take too much or your stools may be a little loose in the morning. If all else fails, acupuncture and a custom herbal formula (custom, made by an herbalist, not off the shelf) is guaranteed for improving the quality of your sleep. Let us know if we can help! Here’s the article from the New York Times including a few sleep programs and new Apps, even one called “Dreaming with Jeff”, yes, it’s Jeff Bridges! Here’s to California Dreaming… Christina Martin
Golden Slumbers Healing Milk
Golden Slumbers Healing Milk Golden Slumbers fill your eyes Smiles await you when you rise Sleep pretty darling Do not cry And I will sing a lullaby. The Beatles Here’s my lullaby to you… I’ve seen this recipe in a few places just this past week. Not only does it promise a Golden Slumber, but with the turmeric; less inflammation and better repair of muscles and joints while you sleep. The coconut oil and milk adds a nourishing component and also is great for your thyroid and detoxification of the blood. Start with making the paste… 1/2 cup of water 1/4 cup of turmeric Heat for 7-10 minutes and put paste in a jar to store in the refrigerator. Then– drum roll please… 1 tsp of the turmeric paste 1/2 teasp cinnamon 2 cups of coconut milk 1 tsp of coconut oil 1 teasp of chopped ginger or powder (whatever you have, make it easy!) 1 teasp or less of honey or any other sweetener like maple syrup, stevia, agave 4-6 peppercorns Simmer for 10-15 minutes, strain with cheesecloth, add a little pinch of cinnamon and night, night! Makes 2 servings. A little more on turmeric; it really is one of the most important herbs available right now. Here’s what Dr. Axe has to say… Health Benefits of Turmeric When examining the research, turmeric benefits go beyond that of these 10 drugs: Anti-inflammatory drugs Anti-depressants (Prozac) Chemotherapy Anti-coagulants (Aspirin) Pain killers Diabetes drugs (Metformin) Arthritis medications Inflammatory bowel disease drugs Cholesterol drugs (Lipitor) Steroids As we grow older our bodies become dry and inflamed. So simply put, Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, if we can bring the inflammation down in our bodies then we will have more moisture, which creates less dryness, less heat or less aging, less issues. In Health, Christina Martin, L.Ac. Tao to Wellness 809 Hearst Ave Berkeley, CA 94710
Insomnia and Acupuncture (Berkeley Acupuncture)
Insomnia and Acupuncture (Berkeley Acupuncture) At Tao to Wellness we certainly see a lot of patients with trouble sleeping. In Chinese medicine, sleep is one of those magical times that you put ‘deposits into your bank account’ or as they say in ancient times, it’s when you replenish your righteous Qi (energy). Without quality sleep, a patient’s vitality, reserves, immunity and ability to handle stress gets disrupted. We see people who have trouble falling asleep initially, people who wake up multiple times in the night and people who wake up too early and can’t fall back asleep. We see them all. What do we do? A few things…the biggie is acupuncture. Even when a patient is coming for something completely different, let’s say fertility or low back pain, they ALMOST ALWAYS say that the night of the acupuncture session they sleep deeper and wake up feeling fantastic. A lot of times that trend continues for up to a week (remember acupuncture is a cumulative therapy, it takes time at first). So, this we know, the balancing that is done with acupuncture helps a person sleep. Herbs are the second thing we LOVE to prescribe for acupuncture, which herbs you ask? Hard to say, it’s all based on a person’s constitution and their exact issue in the slumber department. Either way, we find the right herbal formula for the patient and start working with the other side of coin (Acupuncture being the first side) Lastly, we look at their cortisol levels, because when cortisol (the stress hormone) is high at night, there can be many sleepless nights. This is a very Western take on things, but we work with the whole body at Tao to Wellness and we don’t want to leave any stone unturned. So, with a saliva test we can see what your cortisol trend is and if the rhythm is off go from there with supplements. These are the three things we do when it comes insomnia and it works! We’ve had endless satisfaction in this area, so if you or someone you know is struggling with their sleep send them in! Much love, Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM. christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.
