by Andy Wong | Jun 1, 2018 | Chinese Medicine
With the colder weather well and truly here, now is an important time to take some extra measures to ensure you don’t fall ill throughout the winter. Follow these top Traditional Chinese Medicine tips to keep your immune system strong and fight off the dreaded symptoms of cold and flu.
Herbal medicine
The immune-boosting benefits of Chinese herbal medicine are widely acknowledged, so much so that many Western practitioners are also advocating them to their patients too. Some of the top choices to stock up on as we head into winter are echinacea (antiviral and antibacterial herb), ginger (a powerful antihistamine and decongestant) and yin chiao (a nine-herb formula, which soothes the lungs and stomach and clears the nasal passages).
Acupuncture
We all know that our bodies can have an adverse reaction to changes in the weather, but did you know that acupuncture can help? Among its many benefits, acupuncture can help your body find balance after experiencing changes in the environment, so with every changing of the seasons, it’s a good idea to book a session with a trusted acupuncturist.
Cupping
A large part of the reason we fall ill in the first place is due to our body’s inability to fight off the germs and toxins we encounter in our external environment. Cupping therapy promotes healing and can help draw out toxins. In turn, this allows us to recover much faster and can dramatically shorten the length of time we spend feeling unwell.
by Andy Wong | May 17, 2018 | Health
Practicing yoga offers a vast number of benefits to the body and mind, but did you know that regular acupuncture treatments can actually compliment your yoga routine?
Here’s how the two go hand in hand.
Heal injuries quickly
One of the most common reasons why we seek acupuncture is to help promote healing of injuries and remove nagging aches and pains. Should you injure yourself during yoga practice or some other form of physical activity, you may be required to take some time off, thus suspending your practice. However, with the help of a few acupuncture sessions, you could be back on the yoga mat before you know it.
Improve balance
Practicing yoga requires a great deal of balance and coordination, especially when you are undertaking some of the more complex poses or sequences. Studies show the acupuncture has the power to reprogram the pathways our internal pathways and improve the signals sent from our brain to our limbs. This in turn helps to improve our balance which helps us to maintain some of the more advanced moves in our yoga practice.
Advanced savasana
Acupuncture treatments offer an opportunity to rest, restore and let your system reset. By stimulating certain areas of the body, acupuncture treatments promote the smooth flow of natural functions and leave you feeling calm, rejuvenated and in an improved state. Many yoga devotees compare this sensation to the feel after savasana, the pose which you would normally conclude your yoga practice with.
by Andy Wong | May 2, 2018 | Chinese Medicine
Do you often find yourself tossing and turning, and unable to sleep at night?
Restless nights can leave us feeling drained and fatigued, and frequently feeling this way can have a harmful impact on our daily lives. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine practices can offer a number of natural remedies to help you get a good nights rest.
Herbal medicine
For those who suffer from insomnia, there is a range of different herbs can natural supplements that can encourage relaxation and help some much-need rest. Some of the most effective herbs include chamomile, valerian root, passionflower, hops, and lemon balm. The most simple way to consume these are by brewing them in tea, so consider making a nighttime cup of tea part of your regular routine.
Acupuncture
Stress is one of the most common causes of insomnia. Often, we find it difficult to switch off from the stresses of our everyday lives which in turn prevents us from relaxing into a restful sleep. While acupuncture is known to be one of the most effective ways to relieve stress and tension in our bodies, it can actually have an amazing effect on our emotional and mental stress as well.
Physical activity
A lack of physical activity throughout the day can have a harmful effect on our sleeping pattern – however this does not necessarily mean you need to exercise until the point of fatigue. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine practices, to get the best nights sleep we must ensure that we are active within moderation. Consider taking up a gentle practice such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong to cultivate good postures, strong breathing techniques and bring balance back into your life.
by Andy Wong | Apr 14, 2018 | Health
From the Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, feeling fatigued, run-down or being prone to colds and flus is likely to be due to an imbalance in the “Qi” – the body’s circulating life force. It is believed that many people suffer from an imbalance in their “Defensive Qi”, causing a lack of resistance to illness due to a weakened immune system. Imbalances of the Defensive Qi are often caused by stress, illness or malnutrition.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the focus is not so much strengthening the immune system specifically, but targeting the body as a whole to encourage the immune system to function at its best.
In order to boost your immune system and maintain optimal health and wellbeing, individuals should implement the following strategies and tips where possible.
Digest herbs
Chinese herbs have been proven to contain immunity-enhancing effects. Adaptogenic herbs are believed to be the best, as these plants will react to your body. For example, if your immune system is reacting too strongly, these herbs will restore balance. Conversely, if your immune system has been weakened, adaptogenic herbs will provide strength. Some of the most powerful adaptogenic herbs are believed to be Ginseng, Astragalus and Amachazuru.
Destress
As many people know, stress hormones will suppress the immune system and put extra pressure on the human body. When the immune system is weakened, an individual is more likely to suffer from ailments such as the common cold, flu and other viruses. Additionally, when the body’s immune system is weakened, it will take significantly longer to recover from sicknesses.
In order to destress, you should look towards the things you find to be calming – perhaps exercise, meditation, mindfulness, massage or acupuncture. Acupuncture is believed to beneficial towards alleviating stress as it works to correct imbalances within the body, essentially “re-training” the body to function in a more optimal manner. Some people may also find it calming to partake in Traditional Chinese practices such as cupping or scrubbing.
Sleep regularly
A good night’s sleep is incredibly important when it comes to maintaining your health. Sleep deprivation has been proven to lower the production of critical antibodies needed to fight infection. When you are lacking a regular, high-quality sleeping pattern, the chemicals produced by your immune system that are designed to fight infection and illness will be significantly weakened.
Studies have shown that sleep deprivation (this is considered to be less than seven hours per night) will triple one’s chances of becoming sick with a common cold or flu virus. By allowing yourself adequate rest and practicing regular sleep patterns, you will improve not only your energy levels and emotional mindset, but you will significantly increase your immune function and overall health.
by Andy Wong | Apr 2, 2018 | Chinese Medicine
According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, digestive function is of vital importance when it comes to managing our overall health and wellbeing.
In Western society, digestive problems and deficiencies are a leading cause of poor nutrition as many people are unable to absorb the vitamins and minerals from the food they are consuming. This is due to a weakened digestive tract which is present in most individuals nowadays, generally stemming from poor eating habits and lifestyle choices. In order to restore your gut health, here are a few tips to try.
Eat at appropriate times
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, your digestive energy is at its peak between early and mid-morning, and it is at this point that you should consume breakfast. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners recommend avoiding large meals at the common dinner time of approximately 8pm, as it is at this point that your digestive energy is believed to weaken.
Many Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors also recommend abstaining from consuming any beverages for up to 2 hours following a meal. Drinking soon after a meal is considered detrimental towards your digestive strength and is believed to be counterproductive if you are trying to heal any digestive issues.
Avoid antibiotics
Traditional Chinese Medicine states that even one small dosage of antibiotics can majorly disrupt the digestive tract and eliminate a significant amount of beneficial bacteria. As pharmaceutical antibiotics are generically designed, they will destroy all types of intestinal bacteria, booth good and bad. While antibiotics may minimise symptoms for a small period of time, digestive problems may soon arise given the opportunity for harmful pathogens to grow.
Rather than using pharmaceutical antibiotics, it is considered to be far more effective to utilise natural antibiotic medicines that destroy disease-causing bacteria, though maintain essential and positive bacteria. Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests colloidal silver and the oil of wild oregano to be the most superior alternatives.
Try acupuncture
Traditional Chinese Medicine specialists believe your digestive system is composed of the “earth elements”, otherwise known as your spleen and stomach. As the stomach begins the digestive process, the spleen will separate nutrients from waste and pass these through the body respectively. In order for the digestive system to operate at a functional level, both the stomach and spleen must be in good health.
Acupuncture has been known to address a wide variety of digestive symptoms and diseases for a number of years now. Acupuncture works by utilising a needle to stimulate the acupoints within the body to promote the circulation of “Qi” and to restore the balance of the body. The main goal of acupuncture with digestive health is to bring an individual’s “middle” back to harmony in order to optimise gastrointestinal function.
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