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!

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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

Handling The Holidays When A Loved One Dies

by Mimi McDavid, guest blogger & "friend of the show"

Losing someone you love is often an emotional and painful experience.  When someone dies over the holidays it can cloud our ability to function and add stress to an already hectic time of year.  Learning to love and care for oneself during this challenging time is so important for emotional health and well-being, here are a few suggestions:

Express your grief in a way that works for you.  Talk, pray, or write a letter, but allow your tears and pain to find a way out of your heart and into some form of action. 

·       Be gentle and patient with yourself. This is not always easy when we are grieving…take a little time each day to listen to yourself and your feelings and do things that you know nurture your spirit. For some it might be getting outdoors for a hike, meditating or journaling.

·       Rituals are a powerful form of expression. Remembering your loved one will get easier over time. What did you love most about your loved one?  Remember these things and do not be afraid of your feelings.  Pay tribute to your loved one in a way that has meaning for you!

·       Trust that you will feel better and stronger over time. Give yourself whatever you need to get through this loss. And remember everyone grieves in their own way. If your grief is overwhelming you or not getting better over time – ask for help!

Mimi McDavid specializes in grief counseling and helping children and families through tough times and transition. She is the founder of Wonders Inc. – its sole mission… giving people the tools to manage the challenges of life and adversity.  You can contact Mimi @ 720.988.7482 or visit her website @ wondersinc.org.

____________________________________________________________________
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

Metal, the Element of Autumn

by Dennis Weigel, L. Ac.

In Chinese medical theory, Yin and Yang explain the relationship of duality, opposing forces interacting to create balance. The Five Elements explain how the forces of nature interact in cycles to generate or inhibit growth and decline.   The five elements are Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire.  Each element has a corresponding season, bodily organ, disease pattern, and emotional tendencies.  The cycle begins in the winter after the winter solstice and corresponds to the element water, then moves to spring and the element wood, then summer and the element fire, then late summer or harvest time which corresponds to earth, then autumn and the element metal.

In nature, Metal revitalizes the earth.  It describes the role of the solid bed of rock deep within the earth which is to provide a deep foundation and to prevent water essential for life from sinking into the earth.  This is why metal is said to “generate” water in the creation cycle of the five elements.

In autumn the trees wither, their leaves and fruits fall to the ground.  They rot, enter the earth and provide nutrients and minerals that nourish and enrich the earth’s capacity to grow new plants.  It is a time of death, downward and inward moving energy, of stillness and reflection on the past year, and receiving inspiration for the next cycle to come.  Many people feel sadness, melancholy, and grief as the days become shorter, and the temperatures drop.  Other common feelings which may be felt more intensely during this time include yearning, disappointment, and regret.  It is important to allow these feelings to flow and to confront them.  If they are suppressed, the qi can get stuck, usually in the chest, and may lead to lung related ailments in the future, and an inability to “let go” and move on.

The Lung and Large Intestine are the internal organs associated with metal.  The lungs receive qi and “inspiration” from the surrounding air, and the Large Intestine eliminates what is no longer needed.  People with Metal constitutions or who live in dry environments such as Colorado, are more prone to lung and colon related ailments such as cough, and constipation.  If the lungs are weak a person may experience shallow breathing resulting in lower energy.  Inspiration is also taken in by the lungs and, depending on their health, can determine one’s vitality and capacity to take things on spiritually.  The Large Intestine absorbs remaining nutrients from food just as the earth receives nutrients from the fallen leaves.  It also eliminates the waste that is no longer needed.  If this function is weakened, built up waste may accumulate in the body and may result in internal pollutants.  This function also applies to the mental level where the large intestine’s role is to decide what to let go of and what to hold on to.  Holding on to emotions that no longer serve us or various attachments can inhibit our ability to move on and form new healthy emotions and connections.

Any of this sound familiar?  It is important to know that it is completely natural to be experiencing any of the above mentioned feelings or conditions this time of year.  To align with the season, try staying home more with a book or nurturing movie, and follow the inward moving energy of autumn.  Reflect on the past year and open to inspiration for new possibilities in the year to come.

____________________________________________________________________
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

The Kung Fu of Healing

As some of you know, I have been doing some physical therapy for a recent knee injury. I am of course, getting acupuncture for my knees, but I’m worried about being able to ski with my family this winter. While I was waiting in the lobby, I observed two other patients in the clinic. (The identifying characteristics of these patients have been changed.)

The first one was a young woman who, like me, was just starting her therapy. Her physical therapist was giving her suggestions on lifestyle changes, such as a different way to get out of her car. After each suggestion she explained in a loud voice why that wouldn’t work for her, or that she “had already tried that” or doing things that way sounded impossible. “Gads, what a handful!” I thought to myself. 

The second patient was a little old man, dressed as dapper as could be. He checked in, but instead of taking a seat in the waiting area, he hung up his hat and scarf. Walking with obvious pain, he got right into the “gym” area of the clinic and started working on the exercises that had been assigned to him.

My turn came. My therapist interviewed me, conducted a physical exam, and gave me some exercises to try. With each visit she gives me new things to do. The therapy that used to take me five minutes a night to do is now taking twenty five. Last night I thought to myself: “Going to all these appointments is a lot of bother... I thought I would feel better by now... This is taking a lot of time... This is hard work!” 

Then, I caught myself. 

Yes, going to all these appointments is a lot of bother, but if I want to be able to continue to work and ski without pain, then I’m going to have to follow through with my therapy. Yes, it’s a nice idea to think that I could go to physical therapy a couple of times and all my problems would vanish. However, as my therapist is showing me, my injury has been precipitated by a lifetime of bad habits. Bad habits take time to correct. And, yes, this is hard work! 

Healing - is - hard - work. 

Kung fu is a phrase that most people identify with martial arts. In reality, Kung fu translates roughly as “good hard work”. According to Wikipedia it is “a Chinese term referring to any study, learning, or practice that requires patience, energy, and time to complete”. So, there is the kung fu of martial arts, the kung fu of acupuncture,  the kung fu of skateboarding and the kung fu of healing. 

We would all like to take the magic pill and no longer be bothered by our ailments, but health is not like ordering at the drive through. It’s more like the cooking in Grandma’s kitchen: low and slow. Which patient did I want to resemble? The little old man who was committed to his healing or the woman who made every excuse for why this wasn’t going to work? 

Do you want to get better? I encourage you to do the following: 

1. love your body in spite of its flaws
2. have patience with yourself
3. be consistent with treatment
4. be willing to change your habits

I have committed myself to the kung fu of healing and I encourage you to do the same!

Acupuncture and Trauma: Yes, it can help!

It's been only a few short days since Colorado's 1000 year flood and yet many lives will be changed forever. 

Some might ask: I just lost my house, my business, my pets to the flood. How is acupuncture going to help me? My basement flooded. I’m worried about my friends up in the canyon. How is acupuncture going to help me? 

First, it calms the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system governs the fight or flight response. During stressful situations your blood pressure increases, your heart beats faster, adrenaline is released, and your digestion slows down. When we’re in a crisis situation, we need these things to happen so we can move fast and respond to threats. The problem comes in the aftermath. In situations like these it’s easy for us to get stuck in this hyperactive state. Even for those of us not directly affected by the floods it’s easy to slip into this state just by watching the news coverage. 

Acupuncture has been documented to sedate the sympathetic nervous system and activate the parasympathetic nervous system (rest & digest). Acupuncture treatments calm anxiety and promote deeper and more restful sleep. Patients often tell me they feel ‘clearer’ and ‘more centered’ after an acupuncture treatment. Unfortunately, I don’t have needles and acupuncture points that make money troubles vanish or ex spouses to stop annoying you, but I can make your response to those things more balanced. I tell folks that “your life is still your life, but after acupuncture it just seems more manageable.”

The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association auricular (ear) acupuncture protocol is used to help people overcome addictions of all kinds. It also happens to be extremely helpful in mitigating all sorts of emotional and psychological stressors. We use the NADA protocol and other ear protocols like it to help folks deal with traumatic events of all kinds. 

Acupuncture also deals with specific emotions themselves. Those directly affected have no doubt experienced fear and panic as they were forced to deal with these extremely frightening circumstances. Fear depletes the adrenal glands and can lead to adrenal fatigue, so it’s important to use acupuncture to boost up the Kidneys and calm fear. 

Grief and sorrow follow after the loses of friends, loved ones, pets and cherished possessions. This is a completely normal emotion when we experience a traumatic event. The goal of the acupuncturist is not to dull the grief that you feel, but to help you experience it in an authentic way and then move on. When we hold onto grief, it impacts the lungs. I can’t tell you how many folks I’ve met who have lost a family member and then gotten chronic cases of pneumonia and bronchitis because of the impact on the lungs. We want to nourish the lungs to make sure they’re ready for the fall and winter months ahead.

Worry is another common emotion. A lot of us have been worried about others and stuck in the over-thinking mode (myself included!). On an organ level, worry prevents proper digestion of our food. On a psychological level, it keeps us up at night.

It’s not an emotion, per se, but having water invade your home, your community and some of our favorite places pushes our boundaries. Acupuncture can also be used to boost those up.

Anger often pops up after the initial feelings of shock and sadness. As bystanders we feel frustrated that we can’t help more. As survivors we feel angry that things we’ve worked very hard for have been destroyed by a random act of the weather. Acupuncture helps the Qi of the body and the emotions to flow more freely. 

Our minds and bodies are intertwined, therefore when our mind is tense, our body becomes tense. How many of us cope with stressful situations by raising our shoulders closer and closer to our ears? Most of us I would say! When our body is tense or in pain, our emotions tend to get stuck in anger or fear or worry. It’s the acupuncturist’s job to get things flowing again. Think of how quickly a toddler flows through emotions: delight at seeing a new toy, frustration when s/he is unable to make it work properly, sadness someone else takes it and starts playing with it. Then back to joy when they see a butterfly. This is the ideal, to fully experience our emotions in the moment and not to get stuck in any one emotion for too long. 

So whether it’s sore muscles from mucking out a neighbor’s basement or stress from dealing with a disaster, acupuncture can and will help!

More about NADA: http://www.acudetox.com

What's this 'Spleen' you keep talking about?

By Caroline Adams, L. Ac. 

Many of you have heard me talk a lot about your Spleen. When your MD starts talking about your Liver or Spleen, it’s usually a fairly serious conversation about a disease like hepatitis or Epstein-Barr. Acupuncturists, on the other hand talk about the functions of these organs regularly! There’s no reason to be alarmed, it’s all normal and good. Chinese medicine doesn’t look at these organs in the same way as Western medicine.

From the Western medical perspective, the Spleen filters and stores the blood. It contributes to the production of red and white blood cells and helps the body fight infection. In Chinese medicine, the organs of the body fulfill energetic roles. Each organ is assigned a number of interrelated processes. The Spleen is not just a fist-sized organ  tucked under the left side of your ribcage, it’s a conglomeration of specific activities needed to keep the body healthy and functional. 

The Spleen’s main job is taking the food that you eat and making it into Qi or vital energy for your body needs to run away from a tiger, solve an engineering problem or heal an injury. For Chinese medicine, the Spleen is the main organ of digestion in the body. This is usually where I explain that what your acupuncturist calls your Spleen really has very little to do with the physical organ “the spleen”. We’re not sure why the ancient Chinese understood it this way. One theory is that they understood the Spleen and Pancreas to be one organ. People sometimes have their Spleens removed and want to know if something horrible is going to happen from a Chinese medical perspective. I tell them the energy and processes of the Spleen are still there and functional even though the physical organ is missing. It may be weaker, but the “Qi” of the Spleen remains intact.  

When the Spleen is doing a good job you feel energized after you eat, you have no stomach or GI upset, and stools are formed. If you’re Spleen is underperforming, you may feel tired after eating, have gas and bloating, little appetite, and loose stools. Here’s an example: after I eat Thanksgiving dinner, I usually feel like curling up on the couch and taking a nap. My kids on the other hand, although grumpy and tired before a meal, become super-charged after eating! They are still young and their Spleens are in good shape; mine, not so much.

When the Spleen is underperforming it creates what we call “Dampness”. Dampness is what gives you “brain fog” after you eat lunch. You were planning on writing up that report right after lunch and now you can’t remember a thing you wanted to say. Sound familiar? If you’re prone to allergies and asthma, dampness can become mucus that ends up in your sinuses and bronchi. It can also make your muscles feel heavy as if it takes extra energy to lift them. In the GI tract, dampness causes gas, bloating, loose stools, and diarrhea. 

Over time, dampness congeals into “Phlegm”. Phlegm can manifest as adipose tissue (fat), persistent sticky nasal discharge, constant post-nasal drip, a feeling of “stuckness” in the throat, swellings in the skin and lumps.

As you can see, it's important to keep your Spleen in tip top shape to feel your best and have the energy you need for your day.

One of my main tasks as an acupuncturist is making sure your Spleen functions correctly. I use a variety of points on your lower legs to make sure that your food gets digested properly so it gets turned into energy that you can use to go to the gym, think big thoughts, and do what needs to be done. Almost everybody's Spleen is weak to one degree or another; it's a fact of life. Ways to support your Spleen are: 

1) Eating your biggest meal of the day in the morning and smallest in the evening.

3) Eating 3-5 meals throughout the day (ie not skipping meals)

4) Chew each bite thoroughly!
5) Stop eating before you're full
6) Avoid processed foods, sugar, wheat and dairy
7) Cook most or all of your food 
8) Do not eat and work at the same time
9) Have a nice leisurely walk after meals

Acupuncture & Daydreaming: Is There a Connection?

Dennis Weigel, L. Ac.

     The key concept in Chinese Medicine is balance and harmony between the Yang or active state, and Yin or passive state.  American culture values hard work, goal achievement, and doing tasks at home on the weekends, and not much emphasis is placed on leisure, time with friends and family, and rest.  With this mindset comes an increase in cases of stress related ailments such as insomnia, anxiety, and depression.  Many are encouraged to engage in meditation, exercise, and more downtime to help with their symptoms.  Acupuncture has always been used to treat stress related ailments, and now scientists are investigating how it may work.

      In recent years, a plethora of studies have been conducted in the field of neuroscience using frequency magnetic resonance imaging (fmri) to study the effects of acupuncture on the brain.  One area of focus is the Default Mode Network (DMN), which was first introduced to neuroscience in 2001 and identifies a network of brain regions involved in a resting state.  Characteristics of DMN activation include resting, daydreaming, allowing the mind to drift freely, and introspective awareness.  This is in contrast to the Task Positive Network (TPN) where the brain is actively involved in a task.  This includes working, problem solving, thinking of future events, and extrospective awareness.  In a healthy individual, these two networks can toggle freely as needed, and are anti-correlated, meaning when one is active the other is inhibited and vice versa.  Ample time spent in each mode is necessary for optimal brain functioning.  When enough time is spent in the DMN phase, the brain recharges itself resulting in better performance, decision making, and clear thinking while performing tasks.  Studies show that in various mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, there is a lack of cohesive communication within the DMN.

     As this topic is being studied scientifically, most mental disorders are being shown to involve a disruption in the DMN such as depression, ADHD, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism, Alzheimer’s and many more.  Acupuncture is being shown to activate the DMN, restoring healthy communication among its involved brain regions, giving rise to improved mental states.  These results have positive implications on acupuncture’s ability to treat a variety of mental disorders.  As more studies are done, and eastern medicine and western medicine collaborate, perhaps a more holistic approach to treating illnesses will make its way into mainstream medicine, and the value of balancing work with rest will become a staple in maintaining good health.

References:

1.      http://resource.isvr.soton.ac.uk/staff/pubs/PubPDFs/Pub10650.pdf

2.      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579200/

3.      http://www.noelravi.ee/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Acupuncture-mobilizes-the-brain%C2%B4s-default-mode.pdf

4.      http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcolumbiachronicle.com%2Fneuroscience-advances-highlight-emotional-network-in-brain%2F&h=uAQGNVOpj