Sinus Infections & What You Can Do About Them

I've only had two of these in my life, but they were very memorable occasions. Who can forget a feeling like being stabbed in the eye socket with an ice pick? The Chinese Medical diagnosis for this condition is "Phlegm Damp Heat Brewing and Binding in the Orifices". Sounds delightful... NOT!  Sinus infections can linger for weeks making us feel vaguely run down and yucky, or they can fester and create intense pain and discomfort. Either way they need attention. Why? First, it's an infection and second, the sinuses are right next to your brain. We don't want it moving from one to the other.

Western Medicine always treats sinus infections with antibiotics regardless of whether or not they are bacterial or viral. The drawback to this approach are many.  Quite a few people experience loose stools and poor digestion for weeks after antibiotics due to the disruption of their gut flora. In addition, the overuse of antibiotics has been creating new and more virulent strains of bacteria. Finally, if the infection is viral, antibiotics only serve to disrupt your system.

What are the symptoms of a sinus infection?

1. Thick yellow or green nasal discharge that smells foul
2. No nasal discharge, but a sense of congestion 
3. Post-nasal drip
4. Pain or pressure behind the eyes, in the forehead, or beneath the cheek bones. Sometimes they will manifest as what feels like tooth pain.
5. Sharp, episodic pain especially with position or pressure changes (like bending over or changing altitude)
6. Slight dizziness or vertigo when changing position
7. A cold that won't go away
8. Lingering fatigue after a cold
9. Bad breath

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs

1. Acupuncture See your acupuncturist for treatments. I know a lot of you aren't a fan of the "kitty whisker" needles I put in your cheeks, but trust me, these babies are magical! Many times they cause instant opening of the nasal passages. We will use other points on your body to stimulate the immune system, drain phlegm, and boost energy.
2. Chinese Herbs See your Chinese herbalist for remedies: I (Caroline) have a new favorite way to treat sinus infections. I'm excited because it's a blend of two ready made tablets that I carry in the office, so they are convenient and easy for you to use. Bi Yan Pian addresses the sinus congestion, the "Phlegm Dampness" mentioned above. Pu Ju Xiao Du Yin clears away the "Heat Toxins".  It's an herbal formula known for it's antibiotic and antiviral properties. Together, they combine to make a one/two punch that usually has patients feeling better right away. These aren't appropriate for folks taking certain medications or those with weak digestive systems. Please check with your practitioner first. 

Neti pot

Nasal aspirator

Self Care

1. Absolutely NO sugar, wheat or dairy! If you know me at all, you know that I'm usually rather gentle with my diet advice, but this is an exception. Eating these substances just perpetuates your problem and makes it harder for your body to clear the infection. 
2. Irrigate your sinuses Use a neti pot or nasal aspirator to irrigate your sinuses.
1. Sterilize your neti pot or nasal aspirator with boiling water, set aside. Neti pots can be sterilized in the dishwasher.
2. Boil 1 cup of water, allow it to cool. (Very important)
3. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt
4. Turn your head sideways over a sink, hold the lower nostril closed with your finger. 
5. Use the your neti pot/aspirator to slowly dribble the saline solution into your nose. Do not force the saline up your nose or pour it too quickly: this will hurt.
6. Roll your head slowly backwards and "swish" the saline around.
7. Allow the saline to run out the nostril you previously held closed.
8. Repeat on the other side.
9. *Gently* blow your nose to remove nasal discharge
10. Tips: 
1. Always use fresh saline and a clean pot/aspirator  
2. if you experience greater pressure or pain, stop 
3. if nothing comes out of your nose after doing this for a couple of days, stop. 
3. Get plenty of rest. You may not feel very sick. Pushing yourself will only make the duration of the illness longer.

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Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 

at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 

scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 

fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 

an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 

Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of health 

issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression, headaches, 

fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, infertility and many other health concerns.

UTI woes?

Do you suffer from urinary tract infections? Anyone who's had one knows the burning urination, urgent urination and bladder pain are not a fun experience. Here are our tips for you:

Prevention:

1) Drink plenty of water 

3) Urinate when you feel the need. Don't resist the urge to go! 

4) For women, wipe from front to back 

5) Urinate immediately after sexual intercourse 

6) Consume a quality probiotic supplement or yogurt frequently to keep your gut flora healthy.

Remedies:

Quit with the cranberry juice! It's loaded with both sugar and acid. Although the acid helps fight the infection, it's often irritating to the delicate tissues of the ureters and bladder. Sugar is what bacteria thrives on. 

1) At the first sign of the beginning of a UTI dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup of water. Drink this away from other fluids. You can repeat up to 3 times a day.

2) Another great way to combat UTIs is taking d-Mannos. d-Mannos is a sugar that occurs in fruits like cranberries and peaches. It is thought to stop UTIs by preventing bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. Take d-Mannos as directed on the package. See if this does not start helping out right away!

3) Drink unsweetened blueberry juice has the same effect as cranberry juice and is much gentler to the system. Blueberries are a marvelous to use proactively as they are high in antioxidants.

~If your symptoms do not improve, if you start running a fever or if you experience pain around your kidneys, see your PCP right away. A kidney infection is no laughing matter. ~

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Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 

at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 

scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 

fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 

an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 

Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of health 

issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression, headaches, 

fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, infertility and many other health concerns.

http://lefthandacu.com 
720-248-8626

Adrenal Fatigue: All revved up and too tired to go

Symptoms

Although the diagnosis of Adrenal Fatigue is not often recognized by those in mainstream Western medicine, it has been recognized by naturopaths, homeopaths, acupuncturists, nutritionist and other alternative medical practitioners. It is defined as the hypofuntion of the adrenal glands which secrete vital steroid hormones including cortisol. Adrenal Fatigue comprises a complex of symptoms which include, but are not limited to:

1. Fatigue not alleviated by sleep, inability to wake in the morning, difficulty in performing everyday tasks
2. Decreased sex drive
3. Cravings for salty foods
4. Decreased ability to handle stress, low tolerance for stressful people and situations
5. Frequent illnesses with increased recovery time
6. Lightheaded feeling upon standing
7. Depression and lack of enjoyment in life
8. Skipping meals or inadequate meals makes symptoms worse
9. The need to constantly snack or drink caffeinated beverages to keep going during the day
10. Fuzzy head, poor memory
11. A spike in energy after 6 pm. Inability to fully wake before 10 am; crash at 3-4 pm.

How does it happen:

From a Chinese Medical perspective, Adrenal Fatigue is the perfect storm. Since the adrenal gland sits on top of the Kidneys, it’s no surprise to me that the Kidneys are the root of this disease. In our medical paradigm, the Kidneys are the “batteries” on which we all rely to keep us going. When these batteries are used up, our life is over. The Kidneys are the root of all Yin and Yang in the body. Yin is everything that is moist, cooling, still, receptive, restful and nourishing in our body. Yang is everything that is dry, warm, active, defensive, dynamic, and building. Yin and Yang generate one another. Remember the Taiji, the symbol of Yin and Yang. Each one has a dot of the other inside of it, they are constantly generating, consuming and balancing the other.

Ironically, Adrenal Fatigue often affects the most driven of people. They work themselves to brink and past the brink of fatigue. These people go, go, go until they burn out their Yin. Think of driving your car at 90 miles an hour and never getting an oil change! Without the Yin, the Yang collapses in on itself and there’s no get up and go left. In addition to overwork, stress and poor diet are usually part of the picture. Stress primarily affects the Liver which in Chinese Medicine is in charge of the free flow of Qi in the body. Lack of exercize, emotional, physical and mental stress cause the Liver to become bound up and stagnant. This is like trying to drive around town with your emergency brake on. See my blog entry, “Your Liver and You” below. Poor diet damages the Spleen. A hypofunctioning Spleen leads to poor digestion, food cravings, a decrease in immunity, foggy head, weight gain and allergies. See my blog entry, “Me and My Spleen” below.

Factors leading to Adrenal Fatigue:

1. Overwork
2. Stress, lack of relaxation, lack of emotional outlets
3. Recent bouts of severe illness, surgeries, injuries, auto immune flare-ups
4. Dependence on caffeine and sugar to keep going
5. Consumption of poor quality foods including refined carbs, sugar, fried foods, fatty foods
6. Emotional traumas such as death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, financial strains
7. Lack of exercize

How can I recover from adrenal fatigue?

So, metaphorically, you’ve been driving around town at 90 miles an hour, with your emergency brake on, putting poor quality gasoline in your tank, you haven’t had an oil change in years. This will not a quick problem to fix, but it IS fixable. Here’s my list of changes you can make to feel better. These are good tips for almost anyone dealing with a stressful lifestyle and any level of fatigue.

1. Stop overworking yourself! You must slow down and cut back.
2. Get weekly acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture boosts your Kidney Yin and Yang, it soothes the Liver to decrease stress, it also tonifies the Spleen to improve digestion and immunity
3. Get to be before midnight. Resist the urge to stay up late- even if that’s when you feel most energetic. If you’re really burnt out, you might find you get the best sleep from 7 am to 9 am in the morning.
4. Be sure to give yourself breaks throughout the day
5. Eat regular meals and snacks. Stop skipping meals!
6. Get us to give you a lesson in how to use a moxa stick to tonify your Spleen and Kidneys on a daily basis. This is an easy way to feel better right away.
7. Ask us if Chinese Herbs are right for you and your condition. Chinese Herbs improve digestion, relieve stress and boost the adrenals.
8. Discover what’s draining your energy, then change your behavior and lifestyle to address them. Are there people in your life constantly bringing you down? Do you hate your job or certain aspects of your job? Are you overusing alcohol, over the counter medicines or recreational drugs? What can you do differently to limit the effect these have on you?
9. Exercise lightly and regularly, but not to exhaustion. See your MD to determine the best exercise plan for you.
10. Stop smoking, stop using recreational drugs, limit alcoholic beverages
11. Improve your diet. A few guidelines:
1. Make cooked vegetables one third of your daily intake. Soups and stews are delicious and also easy to digest. Think about making a nice pot on the weekend and enjoying it all week long
2. Make whole grains, (but NOT wheat) one third of your daily intake. Millet, quinoa, barley, and brown rice are especially good.
3. Limit animal protiens to no more than on fourth of your daily diet. Vegetarians may benefit by adding organic chicken broth, fish, eggs or chicken breast to their diets.
4. Limit fruit and do not eat fruit for breakfast
5. Limit dairy, wheat, sugar and unrefined carbs!
6. Avoid fast food! Avoid deep fried foods, highly spiced foods, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils
7. Please no coffee, energy drinks, soda, diet soda, fruit juice or cocoa! Try filtered water, herbal tea, green tea and barley tea instead.
8. Chew your food well!

____________________________________________________________________

Get your 'Qi' on at Left Hand Community Acupuncture

424 E. Simpson St. Lafayette, CO 

 www.lefthandacu.com

720-248-8626

Book your appointment today at:  

http://left-hand-community.genbook.com

Eating Healthy the "Chinese" Way

by Dennis Weigel, L. Ac.

The beginning of the new year is often a time to change old habits, and re-set the body and mind for the year to come.   For many people this involves new, healthier food choices and getting more exercise.  There are many different perspectives on how to eat healthy and can sometimes be confusing as to which foods are healthy and which ones should be avoided.   Chinese medicine offers a perspective which is less known and can be very effective at improving health, digestive strength and metabolism.   Before we list different foods that are considered healthy, let’s first look at the main organs involved in digestion, the spleen and stomach, and how they work in the body.

The Spleen and Stomach are considered the origin of “post heaven qi” or the main source of life force after birth.  This is because they work together to extract energy from food and drink, refine it, and distribute it to all organs of the body.  If the digestive system is not functioning properly, the rest of the body will suffer from lack of proper nourishment.   Some schools of thought in Chinese medicine consider this the primary area of treatment for all diseases.  “If the spleen and stomach are healthy there is health, if the spleen and stomach are unhealthy there is disease.”  The stomach’s role is to store the food after it is chewed and swallowed, and to break it down into a more digestible form.  The spleen’s role is to extract the “essence” or life force and nutrients from the food and to distribute it throughout the body to provide energy to all the organs and limbs.  If the spleen and stomach are healthy, the appetite will be good and the food will be broken down and transported efficiently.  If they are unhealthy, one may experience nausea, belching, or vomiting, or loose stools, and fatigue.  So what can we do to optimize the health of the spleen and stomach?  Let’s first take a look at what each organ “likes” and “dislikes” then we will be able to choose the foods that nourish each organ. 

The stomach is considered a yang organ because it is hollow and serves mainly as a reservoir, whereas the spleen is a yin organ because it is dense and provides the energy for digestion to occur.   Stomach qi descends, and spleen qi ascends, and the stomach likes wetness and dislikes dryness, while the spleen likes dryness and dislikes wetness.  If the stomach is too dry, stomach qi cannot descend and food cannot be moved down to the small intestine and if the spleen is too damp, spleen qi cannot ascend and fluids and food cannot be transformed, leading to an accumulation of dampness or phlegm.  The stomach likes cold, while the spleen likes warmth.  The stomach is damaged by excess and the spleen is damaged by deficiency.

The key to maintaining good digestive health is to eat foods with properties that are compatible with the spleen and stomach.  For example, eating too many foods that are drying such as chips, crackers, pretzels, etc. could damage the stomach, and an excess of foods that are moistening such as dairy, fats or oils, wheat, and sugar, can damage the spleen.  This is not to say that these foods should be avoided all together, but to be mindful about what your body can handle and what feels excessive.  If someone has nausea, or GERD, they might benefit from avoiding foods that are too dry and if someone has an accumulation of phlegm or dampness they would likely benefit from avoiding the foods that tax the spleen which are mentioned above.  An accumulation of fluids can lead to weight gain and is treatable by choosing foods that strengthen the spleen, and its ability to transform fluids.  Potatoes, yams, chicken, nuts, ginger, warm tea, steamed vegetables are some examples.  Also, the spleen likes warmth and the stomach prefers cold.  Extremes of temperatures of food or food properties can therefore damage each organ.   For example, hot, spicy foods in excess can damage the stomach, and too many cold foods such as frozen smoothies, ice water with meals, and even raw vegetables can weaken the spleen.  Mild use of spices, room temperature water, and lightly steamed vegetables would benefit the digestive system and harmonize the spleen and stomach.

Whether you are trying to lose weight or control nausea, bloating or any other digestive ailments, these tips can greatly improve your success over time.  Regular acupuncture treatments can jumpstart or re-enforce your efforts by balancing the body’s energy pathways assuring a smooth flow of nutrients to all areas and strengthening the spleen and stomach.  Again it is important to remember that these are guidelines and not absolutes, just suggestions on how to re-balance your system if it is out of balance, moderation is the key.  Happy New Year!

____________________________________________________________________
Get your 'Qi' on at Left Hand Community Acupuncture
424 E. Simpson St. Lafayette, CO 
 www.lefthandacu.com
720-248-8626
 
Book your appointment today at:  
http://left-hand-community.genbook.com