holistic medicine

Jun

2015

Preparing for Acupuncture

It’s important to commit to healing and get the most out of your treatments. Here are some tips to prepare yourself for acupuncture and ensure that you receive the maximum benefit from your sessions with a licensed acupuncturist. Only visit a licensed acupuncturist.

1-2 Hours prior to your acupuncture appointment eat a snack or light meal. You do not want to be starving but you also do not want to be overly full. Avoid greasy, heavy foods, and caffeine that could upset your stomach or make your nervous system more active.

If you are asked to fill out forms, fill them out honestly and thoroughly. Do not shortchange yourself by responding as you think your acupuncturist might want or by omitting bad habits. Some questions may seem unrelated to your current condition but keep in mind that acupuncture is a holistic practice and deals with the interrelationship of all aspects of your body, mind, and spirit. The most effective personalized treatment plan will come from honest answers and a comprehensive health history. Be sure to inform your acupuncturist of other treatment you are currently receiving as well as any medications you are taking.

Refrain from alcohol and drugs for a minimum of 12 hours before your session. Avoid caffeine within a few hours of your treatment or avoid it all together on that day. Do not brush your tongue before your treatment. This allows your acupuncturist to accurately detect the color, texture, and coating on your tongue, useful as a diagnostic tool.

Wear underwear to your session, as you will be asked to lie in your under clothes. This allows for ease in accessing the acupuncture points and viewing the structures of the body, as well as for your comfort. Towels and blankets will be supplied should you like to use them.

Share your pertinent questions with your acupuncturist so that you feel well-informed, but also realize that Chinese medicine is a process that you will want to allow to unfold under the care of your qualified licensed acupuncture practitioner.

Once the needles have been inserted and your acupuncturist leaves the room, experience the treatment. It is quite relaxing.

For the rest of the day after an acupuncture treatment avoid alcohol, stressful situations, caffeine, sex, strenuous exercise, food or beverages that are heavy, rich, greasy, or spicy, and avoid being exposed to the elements or going swimming.

You may feel tired after a session so take it easy, drink some herbal tea and be in a comfortable balanced temperature and atmosphere. If you are drowsy or spacey you should rest. If not, it is fine to go to work, go to school, or other normal activities following treatment, but avoid over-exerting yourself.

Be realistic. There is no such thing as an instant cure. It may take several sessions before you feel relief.

After your acupuncture treatments, note how you felt during and after sessions. Share these observations with your practitioner so any necessary adjustments can be made.

Once you have undergone your first acupuncture treatment you will have a clearer sense of the process. Taking care of yourself before and after an appointment will assist your body’s healing capabilities. Keep an open mind. Positive energy always speeds healing.

Mar

2015

Bach Flower Essences

At their inception in the 1930’s, flower essences were conceived of by Dr. Edward Bach, MD., a visionary allopathic physician who comprehended the connection between feelings and actual physical illness, and sensed the bridge made possible to treat them by the original 39 essences he worked with. Flower essences are dilutions of flower or tree material, which through the sunlight-fueled process, become resonant with the vibrational qualities of each plant or tree. Flower essences are an energetic approach which address subtle layers of spirit-psyche. They are gentle, non-invasive, non-habit-forming, and engender no residual bio-chemical changes or side-effects whatsoever, which makes them entirely compatible with all other forms of treatment. The flower dilutions are suspended in a 50:50 solution of water and brandy. Each dosage should be diluted in at least one half liter of spring water if there is a known intolerance to alcohol. Up to 6 remedies can be effectively combined, although taking one remedy or a combining of two are usually suitable for deeper, long-standing characteristics.

Bach flower essence treatment falls within the realm deemed vibrational medicine, as would stones and crystals, aromatherapy, harmonic sound therapy, colorpuncture, and modalities based upon subtle-body resonance that reconciles energetic balance to the person. Flower essences are allies in shifting more subtle processes and therein encourage states of wholeness in people and in animals. Dr. Bach recognized the energetic signatures or ‘etheric tones’ inherent in trees and flowers and remarkably found a way to impart the essence and attributes of their presence in nature. Dr. Bach pioneered in this visionary form of treatment, and since his genius in the 1930’s, there have been further explorations into the uses of flower essences, both internally and externally. Bach Flower Essences, as well as other essence purveyors, can be sourced in most health food stores.

Pictured is one of my two sets of Bach flower essences. This set dates back to their original purchase made by my father in 1981 from the Bach Centre in the U.K.

Preparing Flower Essences

• Use a two ounce tincture bottle with dropper

• Fill it with pure water

• Add 4 drops of each of the remedies you wish

• Shake gently before each use

• Administer 4 drops under the tongue, 4 times per day

Note: Rescue Remedy is available pre-mixed and may be administered directly from the bottle under the tongue, with frequency as needed.

With All Best Wishes

If you would like to explore Bach flower essences further you may appreciate the following: Bach Essence Questionnaire

Aug

2014

Cholesterol from a TCM Perspective

Did you know that Yang-energy fight or flight hormones associated with stress rhythms can cause an elevation in cholesterol?

Traditional Chinese Yin-Yang theory is adaptable to classify all universal phenomena, including the modern dietary-lifestyle staples that play into most health conditions. Coffee, sugar, and alcohol, among the more ubiquitous, have an overwhelming and weakening effect on the interconnected systems of the body. In the polarity of Yin-Yang, these substances are seen to liberate a lot of Yang Qi, which is to say the active, warming, dynamic aspects of the functioning, material form. Stress hormones have a similar effect in liberating Yang Qi.

In Yin-Yang theory of TCM, to balance excessive Yang, the body functionally secretes Yin to compensate to bring balance to the Yang excess, which includes secretion of the inherently densely Yin substance of cholesterol. Due to factors of over-consumption of strongly Yang-natured substances, and possible familial predisposition, often this compensation of Yin in the form of cholesterol occurs to pathological levels. Much more than avoiding eggs (which can be refuted as irrelevant) to prevent or reduce cholesterol are the dietary factors of coffee, sugar, and alcohol that are far more debilitating. In Chinese medical theory balancing Yin and Yang is key to physical health and mental well being. Eliminating stress and the dietary factors that liberate an abundance of Yang Qi in the body is the first step to reducing elevated Yin-levels of cholesterol, and it is the final step in maintaining healthy blood cholesterol.

Nov

2013

LONGEVITY PRACTICES FROM A 102 YEAR OLD ☯

Mr. Tsui

飯勿吃太飽，覺要睡得好，運動每天做，營養不可少，

盡量找快樂，切莫尋煩惱，赤子心常在，百年也不老，

不作虧心事，人格比天高，為人不貪墨，子孫也逍遙。

Sleep well, Exercise daily, Do not over-eat, but never be in want of adequate nutrition.

Always try to be happy; keep yourself free from worries and troubles, and always retain a good conscience.

Then, you may live in good health and youthfulness even when you have reached the age of 102.

102 year old Mr. Tsui says: “The normal human life span is about 125-150 years. Longevity lies in adequate sustenance, adequate sleep, adequate exercise, having a cheerful spirit and a good conscience.”

Before his retirement at age 66, Tsui, like people his age, was showing usual symptoms of aging. After retirement he began practicing a daily routine that he had learned as a young man in the army, taught to him by a Buddhist monk in a temple in Manchuria. Since retirement, Mr. Tsui has practiced this regimen without missing a day; rising at 4:30am, opening windows to let fresh air circulate through his house, then doing his exercises (analogous to Qigong) in bed. The results are evident and Mr. Tsui has not used his medical insurance nor been to a doctor since commencing his longevity practices.

☯ Mr. Tsui’s Life-Nurturing, Longevity Regimen ☯

• The primary key to longevity is always be happy and optimistic without quandary or drama. Living life naturally and exercising often, even when tired.

• Mr. Tsui exercises everyday in his bed, practicing 20 modalities such as fetal breathing, eye massage, ear massage, hair-combing, hip-swinging, and others.

• Turtle breathing is natural respiration, but with deep, long, smoothing breaths; completely relaxed, which stimulates the self-healing power inherent in the body.

• Always eat breakfast of hot porridge (congee).

• Walk in a nearby park or place of nature after breakfast.

• Walk everywhere that is in walking distance.

• Diet should be comprised mainly of vegetables. Picky eating is unuseful.

• No eating meat, or fried, frozen, overly-spicy or salty foods.

• Refrain from sweets.

• Soak vegetables in water for 20 minutes before rinsing and cooking them.

• Do not eat exotic foods such as abalone, shark’s fin, etc. Simply enjoy tea and simple foods.

• Never ingest anything other than drinking water after 7:00pm.

• Never smoke, drink or chew gum or betel nut.

• Health of the brain: “Comb” all ten fingers through your hair from front to back of the head 108 times.

• Health of the brain-also: Place one hand on the forehead and the other on the back of the head to massage the head horizontally 108 times.

• Health of the brain: Never play mahjong more than eight rounds, and never sacrifice sleep staying up late playing games.

• Teeth health: Concentrate energy in your teeth. Clench them together during bowel movement. This action helps to prevent tooth decay.

• Mouth hygiene: Do not use toothpaste. Only brush with salt to clean your teeth.

• Preserve eyesight: Press the tips of your thumbs on the inner aspects (canthi) of both eyes 180 times.

• Preserve eyesight-also: Use both the middle and ring fingers to massage the rims of eyes outward 108 times.

• Preserve eyesight: Use saliva secreted from your mouth to wipe your eyes.

• Preserve good hearing: Hold both earlobes between middle and ring fingers and massage up and down 108 times.

• Preserve good hearing-also: Use middle fingers to massage the areas in front of the upper earlobes 108 times.

• Preserve good hearing: Use both hands to massage the entire area of both earlobes 36 times.

• Digestive health: Place your index, middle and ring fingers on the navel area, massaging clockwise 81 times.

• Health of bladder: Place your hands one on the top of the other below your navel and rub 108 times.

• Alleviate waist pain and stiffness: Lie down with both legs drawn to the abdomen and kick out 108 times.

• Alleviate hemorrhoid pain: Lie down, bending the tips of both feet inwards while contracting your anus 10 times.

• Preserve leg strength: Lie down, bending the tips of both feet inward while stretching both legs straight out, lifting upward 30 times.

• Keep shoulders straight: Hold hands together in front and lifting them above head 36 times.

• Strengthen arms and waist: Do 36 pushups.

• Self-healing exercise: In lotus posture, breathe deeply 36 times with tongue lightly touching the upper palate of the mouth, while inhaling through the nose – exhaling through the mouth.