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Healthy Foods for Fall

traditional chinese medicine foods for fall

The season of fall brings cooler weather and shorter days. As with any season, the world adjusts accordingly. Plants begin to go dormant, animals begin scrounging for food to store to get them through the upcoming winter months and humans start winterizing everything.

As fall descends on the land, it reminds us we need to start cutting back on the numerous cooling foods that are consumed during the summer months. Things like raw foods, salads, juices and fruits should be decreased because they can create too much cold in the body, according to traditional Chinese medicine. continue reading »

Five Reasons to Get Acupuncture for Low Back Pain

Statistics show eight out of 10 people will experience low back pain at some point during their life. Seeking medical treatment for back pain is very common. Typically back pain is fleeting and can be easily resolved with rest, heat and an occasional anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. However, once the damage is done, the recurrence of back pain can be as high as 50 percent. Part of this is because as we age, things like muscles and tendons become less flexible and pliable. It is also very well known in the United States, people are too sedentary and this leads to excess weight gain that can create added pressure on the body, especially the low back. continue reading »

Express Yourself ~ Creativity and Children

According to the the ancient Chinese wisdom of Feng Shui, the Creativity and Children section of the home relates to thinking outside the box… unleashing your creative self. This locale is also associated with children, since they are usually the people who think creatively (like thinking of how to climb the kitchen cabinets to get to the treats at the top shelf.) Anything to do with the kiddos – this is the spot to work with them.images-1

Power Tools: metal, white, round stuff, earth, yellow, flat or square stuff, television, toys & games, candy, magic tricks, parties, music, art, hobbies & crafts, bed, lights, bells, symbols or creativity, symbols of children.

Hazardous Materials: fire, red, triangular or pointy objects.

 

Happy decorating/rearranging!

8 Ways to Reduce Chances of a Stroke

According to the American Stroke Association, approximately 700,000 Americans will suffer a new or recurrent stroke this year. That means, on average, someone in America has a stroke every 45 seconds. Strokes are a leading cause of severe, long-term disability and addressing the associated risk factors can help prevent their often devastating consequences.Heart with Weights

To help minimize the risk of stroke, consider the following suggestions:

  1. Control your blood pressure either through lifestyle changes or medication if necessary.
  2. Exercise. People who exercise consistently have increased cardiovascular health and a lower risk of suffering a stroke.
  3. If you smoke, quit. Smoking is the leading preventable risk factor for stroke.
  4. Limit alcohol intake. If you drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. Moderate alcohol intake is defined as no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
  5. Lower total cholesterol levels into a healthy range by adhering to a healthy diet, exercising regularly and working with your doctor.
  6. Focus on your diet. Follow an eating plan designed for those with high blood pressure and heart disease, such as the DASH diet – it may be helpful in preventing strokes

White tea is a natural cancer fighter, and keeps you wrinkle-free

White tea is an age-old elixir that has been forgotten with the rise of pharmaceuticals, and yet it is one of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatories around, say researchers from Kingston University in London. UnknownWhite tea was the most powerful of 21 herbal concoctions that the researchers tested on human skin cells to discover their ability to suppress problamatic agents that play a key role in inflammation, linked to cancer, heart disease and arthritis.

White tea is made from immature tea leaves that are picked before the buds have fully opened. The tea leaves are so close to their natural state it allows for white tea to contain more polyphenols, the powerful anti-oxidant that fights and kills cancer-causing cells.

“It appears that drinking a simple cup of white tea might well help reduce an individual’s risk of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or even just age-associated wrinkles,” says lead researcher Professor Declan Naughton. (Journal of Inflammation, 2011; 8:27)

8 Home Remedies That Work

Duct Tape to Remove Warts

In 2002, a group of doctors compared duct tape’s effectiveness with liquid nitrogen in removing warts. After two months of wearing duct tape on a daily basis and using a pumice stone about once a week to exfoliate the dead skin, 85 percent of patients’ warts were gone, whereas freezing only removed 60 percent. “The question is whether there is something in the chemical adhesive itself, or if the occlusion (suffocation) causes the destruction of the wart,” says New York City–based dermatologist, Robin Blum, MD. “The other thinking is that the duct tape causes irritation, which stimulates our body’s immune cells to attack the wart.” Photo: Thinkstock

 

Vapor Rub to Cure Nail Fungus

While there are no studies to prove coating infected toenails with vapor rub once or twice a day is an effective treatment for nail fungus, a basic Internet search results in a number of personal testaments to the medicinal ointment’s fungus-killing powers. “I’ve heard many patients say that vapor rub does help, but I’m not exactly sure why,” Dr. Blum admits. While some argue it’s the menthol in the balm that kills the fungus and others say it’s the smothering effect of the thick gel, if used consistently, vapor rub has been shown to get rid of not just the fungus, but the infected toenail, too, which will turn black and eventually fall off. When the new nail grows in, it should be fungus-free. Photo: Thinkstock

 

Oatmeal to Soothe Eczema

“This is absolutely true, as oats have anti-inflammatory properties,” Dr. Blum says. Whether it’s used as a paste or poured into a bath, most experts recommend choosing colloidal (finely ground) oatmeal and soaking the affected area for at least 15 minutes. In addition to reducing inflammation, oats are thought to have an antihistamine effect, Dr. Blum says. By lowering levels of histamine, which triggers inflammation as part of the immune system’s recovery response, she explains, oats prevent or reduce the redness. Photo: Thinkstock

 

Yogurt to Cure Bad Breath

Bad breath comes from a number of places, the two most common being the mouth and the stomach. The neutralizing powers of yogurt and other probiotics treat the latter cause. “Yogurt shouldn’t have any effect at all on the bacteria that live on the tongue because it’s not there long enough,” says Robert Meltzer, MD, a New York City–based gastroenterologist and attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital. However, it likely has a neutralizing effect on the acid that resides anywhere between the mouth and the stomach, including the back of the throat and the esophagus, he explains. “I think almost any milk product or food that contains live cultures would have the same effect.” While yogurt can get rid of bad breath that results from gastrological conditions, like acid reflux, it won’t have any real effect on bad breath that is the product of gum, liver or lung disease, says Ohio-based dentist Matthew Messina, DDS. Photo: Thinkstock

 

A Spoonful of Sugar to Cure Hiccups

In 1971, Edgar Engelman, MD, conducted a study to find out if a spoonful of sugar really is an effective cure for hiccups. He assembled a group of 20 patients who had been experiencing intractable hiccups for more than six hours, eight of whom had had them anywhere from a full day to six weeks. Each of the test subjects was given one teaspoon of white granulated sugar to swallow dry, and for 19 of the 20 hiccup patients, the cure was immediate. André Dubois, MD, a gastroenterologist in Bethesda, Maryland, noted in The Doctors Book of Home Remedies that “the sugar is probably acting in the mouth to modify the nervous impulses that would otherwise tell the muscles in the diaphragm to contract spasmodically.” Photo: iStockphoto

 

Bite a Pencil to Cure a Headache

While doctors aren’t sure why we do it, clenching our teeth is a common side effect of stress. According to Fred Sheftell, MD, director of the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, Connecticut, when we clench up, we strain the muscle that connects the jaw to the temples, which can trigger a tension headache. By placing a pencil between our teeth—but not biting down—we relax our jaw muscles, which eradicates tension and reduces pain. Just remember, the remedy really only applies to tension headaches—not migraines or headaches caused by sinus pressure, etc. Photo: Thinkstock

 

Olives for Motion Sickness

According to the National Library of Medicine, there are a number of symptoms that present themselves as a result of motion sickness, including increased salivation, which is the body’s way of protecting the teeth from the high doses of acid accompanied by vomit. Enter olives, which contain tannins that, when released in the mouth, work to dry saliva—first eliminating the symptom and then the body’s instinct to follow suit. However, the treatment is only effective during the early stages of nausea, when the salivation changes first appear. Photo: Thinkstock

 

Gargle Salt Water for a Sore Throat

When you were a kid and had a sore throat, your mom likely made you gargle warm water with salt in it…and she was definitely on to something. According to Douglas Hoffman MD, PhD, author of the website The Medical Consumer’s Advocate, a sore throat is an inflammatory response of the infected tissues, and the salt helps draw out the excess fluid to temporarily decrease swelling and the pain it causes. Most remedies call for a ratio of 1 tablespoon salt to 8 ounces of water, but it’s always better to opt for more salt rather than less. Just keep in mind that you are treating the symptoms—not the illness. As Dr. Hoffman notes on his website: “The relief is very real, but also tends to be short-lived, since the gargle has done nothing to remove the cause of the sore throat.” Photo: Thinkstock
Article from – Woman’s Day

Points Toward Health

acupuncturepoint_lu7_modRubbing acupressure points with your finger for 30-60 seconds can stimulate these points and promote health and well-being.

Lung 7 Location: Approx. 1.5” from the base of the thumb on the styloid process of the forearm.

Function: Used for fever, shills, shivering, nasal congestion and discharge, sore throat, cough with or without phlegm, headaches and migraines. Great point to use when you feel a cold coming on.

Autumn Skin Care

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The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It provides protection and sensation, regulates body heat, and allows secretion. As summer turns to autumn your skin also changes with the season. The skin retains less moisture because of the cooler, drier air. As we shift our daily activities from outdoors to indoors, our skin gets effected by the heat.

During the fall, the skin needs extra nourishment and protection. Three ways to provide the best care for your skin include: drinking lots of water to remain hydrated, applying moisturizer before going outside and continuing to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Smaller areas on our bodies (such as face, hands, nails and feet) present different challenges.

Face & Head

In spite of the waning sunlight, it is still important to use sunscreen in autumn. It is important to continue moisturizing, regardless of skin type. People with dandruff may experience autumn flare-ups. This chronic inflammatory skin disorder, which affects up to three percent of the population, is more common in men than women. This condition can be helped by warm oil treatments – you rub the warm oil into your wet hair and scalp, then wrap a hot damp towel over your head, sit and let it all steam-soak in. The only problem here is that your hair will be quite oily/weighed down (even for curly hair). Getting it out the might involve the apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Do it weekly. Try neem, olive, almond, or coconut.

Body & Trunk

One of the most important things we can do to improve the condition and feel of our skin is moisturizing when the body is slightly damp after bathing, concentrating on rough spots including the elbows, knees and feet. Be sure to pick a natural product that does not include these harmful ingredients:

Phthalates. These petrochemical plasticizers once used to soften your child’s rubber ducky (and that are linked to sexual development abnormalities) are also used to enhance the fragrance of your favorite personal care products. Companies are not required to list phthalates on labels (except in California), so look for products designated phthalate-free.

Parabens. This group of synthetic, estrogenic preservatives contains the aforementioned methylparaben, along with propylparaben, butylparaben, and pretty much anything with a -paraben in its name. And they’re everywhere: A 2006 CDC study found parabens in nearly all of the urine samples collected from over 2,500 American adults.

Fragrance. Since scent is considered a trade secret and is not required by law to be disclosed, the generic term fragrance on a label is actually a catch-all term for nearly 4,000 (mostly man-made) chemicals that can trigger allergies, disrupt hormones, and act as neurotoxins. Unfortunately, even products labeled unscented can contain harmful masking agents, so look for those that specify essential oils in lieu of fragrance.

Sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate. The World Health Organization classifies this ingredient as a possible carcinogen, but the truth is that SLS, as it’s widely known, is an effective detergent found in nearly 90 percent of all commercial shampoos. Even natural hair care lines sold at health food stores can contain the chemical, so read labels carefully.

Oxybenzone. A petrochemical used in sunscreens and other cosmetics because it absorbs UVA rays, oxybenzone, ironically, has also been shown to release compounds that may contribute to skin cancer. Don’t want to get burned? Look for mineral sunscreens that list zinc or titanium as their active ingredient.

Hands & Arms

Sun damage over the years can result in age spots or liver spots on the most exposed parts of the body, generally the hands, shoulders and face. These flat, gray, brown or black marks are harmless and don’t need treatment. Know your ABCDE’s of Melanoma:

A – Asymmetry, if you draw a line through this mole, the two halves will not match.

B – Border, The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven. The edges may be scalloped or notched.

C – Color, Having a variety of colors is another warning signal. A number of different shades of brown, tan or black could appear. A melanoma may also become red, blue or some other color.

D – Diameter, Melanomas usually are larger in diameter than the size of the eraser on your pencil (1/4 inch or 6 mm), but they may sometimes be smaller when first detected.

E – Evolving, Any change — in size, shape, color, elevation, or another trait, or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting — points to danger.

Nails

It is common for nails to start cracking or peeling as the leaves change. Frequent use of moisturizer and avoiding harsh soaps is usually the simplest way to care for them.

Feet

Wearing sandals or flip flops in summer, which don’t provide much protection for the heels, can result in dry, cracked heels. Cracked heel problems can vary in severity and will need different care. For the common dryness, using a natural foot scrub and pumice stone to slough away dead skin and moisturizing with olive oil or sesame should be sufficient.

Calcium without dairy

Chinese Diet Therapy discourages people from eating dairy. Many Westerners believe the only way to include calcium in the diet is by drinking milk and eating cheeses.  The good news is there are plenty of non-dairy foods that provide calcium:

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  • Cooked greens. Turnip greens, kale, and spinach are just a few examples of natural sources of calcium from the greens family. A half-cup of cooked spinach contains about 12 percent of your DV of calcium, one cup of cooked kale has nine percent, and a half-cup of boiled turnip greens offers 10 percent.
  • Canned salmon with bones. The bones of this fish are softened in the canning process, making them edible — and an excellent source of calcium. You’ll get a whopping 18 percent of your DV of calcium from three ounces of canned salmon (including bones). Choose canned salmon from sources in the wild (not farmed).
  • Broccoli. When eaten raw, you’ll get two percent of your DV of calcium from a half-cup of this versatile vegetable.
  • Tofu. Read the package label to make sure calcium was used in its preparation. If so, a half-cup of firm tofu typically contains 20 percent of your DV, while the same amount of soft tofu provides 14 percent.

So, load up on calcium and opt for a salmon sandwich with veggies as a healthy meal your bones will appreciate.

Chia for Health

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Chia is an edible seed that comes from the desert plant, Salvia hispanica,  that grows abundantly in southern Mexico.

Chia is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seeds.

Researchers suggest that chia forms into a gelatinous texture when in the stomach, slowing the process by which digestive enzymes break down carbohydrates and convert them into sugar. Therefore; you will be feeling fuller, longer.

Because of its nutritional value and stability, chia is already being added to a range of foods. Research has shown that adding it to chicken feed makes for eggs rich in omega-3s. Feeding chia to chickens enriches their meat with omega-3s; fed to cattle chia enriches milk with omega-3s. Chia can also be added to commercially prepared infant formulas, baby foods, baked goods, nutrition bars, yogurt, and other foods. Another bonus: insects don’t like the chia plant so it is easier to find organically grown varieties.

 

Simple delicious recipe

Mix 1 cup of warm water

1/3 cup of chia seeds

diced fruit (I like berries & bananas.)

1 tablespoon Agave nectar

Enjoy!

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