Recharge Your Battery this Winter with Acupuncture
If you feel tired and drained, you are not alone.
"Lack of energy" is one of the top five complaints that doctors hear
in their offices. According to Oriental medicine, the cold months of winter
are the perfect time to recharge your battery and generate vital energy –
Qi - in order to live, look, and feel your best.
The ancient Chinese believed that human beings should live in harmony with
the natural cycles of their environment. The cold and darkness of winter
urges us to slow down. This is the time of year to reflect on health,
replenish energy and conserve strength.
Winter is ruled by the Water element, which is associated with the Kidneys,
Bladder and Adrenal Glands. The Kidneys are considered the source of all
energy or “Qi” within the body. They store all of the reserve Qi in the
body so that it can be used in times of stress and change, or to heal,
prevent illness, and age gracefully.
During the winter months it is important to nurture and nourish our Kidney
Qi. It is the time where this energy can be most easily depleted. Our
bodies are instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of winter –
rest, reflection, conservation and storage.
The Nei Ching, an ancient Chinese classic, advises people to go to
sleep early and rise late, after the sun's rays have warmed the atmosphere
a bit. This preserves your own Yang Qi for the task of warming in the face
of cold.
Eating warm hearty soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts help to warm the
body’s core and to keep us nourished. Sleep early, rest well, stay warm,
and expend a minimum quantity of energy.
Seasonal acupuncture treatments in winter serve to nurture and nourish
kidney Qi which can greatly enhance the body's ability to thrive in times
of stress, aid in healing, prevent illness and increase vitality. Call now
for more information or to schedule your seasonal tune-up
Here are some dietary suggestions that can lead to an increase in
vitality and radiant health.
Water - The Kidneys are associated with the Water element. Drink ample
water, at room temperature, throughout the day.
Kidney Shaped Foods - Black beans and kidney beans are excellent
examples of kidney shaped foods that nourish and benefit Kidney Qi.
Blue and Black Foods - The colors blue and black correspond to the
Water element of the Kidneys and are thought to strengthen the Water
element. Include blueberries, blackberries, mulberry and black beans in
your diet.
Seeds - Flax, pumpkin, sunflower and black sesame seeds relate to
fertility and growth which is governed by Kidney Qi.
Nuts - Walnuts and chestnuts have been found to be especially
effective for increasing Kidney Qi.
Vegetables - Dark, leafy green vegetables are the best choice for
Kidney Qi. Other Kidney Qi boosting veggies include asparagus, cucumbers
and celery.
Natural Options for the Flu
Did you know that tamiflu, a drug used to treat flu
symptoms, is derived from star anise, an anti-viral plant that has been used
by Oriental medicine herbalists for centuries? When it comes to staying
healthy during the flu season, Oriental medicine has a lot to offer.
Acupuncture for Prevention - Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can
prevent colds and flus by building up the immune system with just a few
needles inserted into key points along the body's energy pathways. These
points are known for strengthening the circulation of blood and energy and
for consolidating the outer defense layers of the skin and muscle (Wei Qi)
so that germs and viruses cannot enter through them.
Acupuncture to Get Better Faster - If you've already happened to
catch that cold, acupuncture and herbal medicine can also help with the
chills, sniffles, sore throat or fever in a safe, non-toxic way that
doesn't 't bombard your body with harmful antibiotics.
Acupuncture does not interfere with Western medical treatment. On the
contrary, it provides a welcome complement to it in most cases, and with
its emphasis on treating the whole person, recovery time for illness is
often shortened.
Herbal Medicine - There is a one thousand year old Chinese herbal
formula that forms a handy complement to these immune-boosting treatments
and it is elegantly entitled The Jade Windscreen Formula. It is made
up of just three herbs: Radix Astragalus, Atractylodis Macrocephalae, and
Radix Ledebouriellae. These three powerful herbs combine together to tonify
the immune system and fortify the exterior of the body so that you can
fight off wind-borne viruses and bacteria.
|
|
In This Issue
·
Recharge
Your Battery this Winter with Acupuncture
·
Natural
Options for the Flu
·
Kidney Qi
Boosting Black Bean Soup
Kidney Qi Boosting Black Bean Soup
From an Eastern perspective, black beans are warming
in nature. They are thought to tonify the Kidney Qi and nourish Yin and
Blood.
From a Western perspective, black beans are rich in antioxidants and an
excellent source of protein, folate, iron and fiber.
Kidney Qi Boosting Black Bean Soup
Ingredients
1 pound black beans
1 bay leaf
1 large onion, sliced
Salt to taste
A few cloves of chopped garlic
1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1 cup dry sherry (not cooking sherry)
Instructions
1. Pick over beans to remove any dirt, stones or foreign objects. Wash
well, then soak for 8 hours in ample cold water.
2. Drain beans and cover with a generous amount of fresh water. Bring to a
boil over high heat in a large saucepan with the bay leaf. Skim off foam,
lower heat, and simmer, partially covered, until beans are just tender,
about 1 hour.
3. Add onion and continue to cook until onion becomes extremely soft, about
1 more hour.
4. Add salt to taste and garlic. Continue to cook, adding a little boiling
water if necessary, until beans are very soft, about 1-2 hours more.
5. Remove bay leaf and turn off heat. Ladle beans in batches into a blender
or food processor and puree, or use an immersion blender and puree soup
directly in the saucepan.
6. Add dry mustard powder and dry sherry. Correct seasoning. Reheat and
serve, adding any garnishes you wish, such as slices of lemon or freshly
chopped herbs.
|
