by Andy Wong | Jan 12, 2018 | Health
With the New Year upon us, there is no better time than the present to refresh your health and wellness regime.
Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, these four healthy habits help you on the way to achieving your optimal health and will have you feeling refreshed and revitalised.
Consider a detox diet
Have you overindulged in the festivities this holiday season? Too much food and drink can have us feeling sluggish and bloated, and ultimately our bodies will not be running at their best.
A simple detox can be a great way to cleanse the system and help get you back on track.
Spend some time outdoors
Fresh air is important, and in Traditional Chinese Medicine time spent outdoors is considered to help build up our Qi or energy.
Many people also find spending time outdoors to be highly relaxing, but be mindful not to spend too much time in periods of peak UV rays.
Gradually build your exercise routine
The benefits of keeping active are highly regarded throughout Traditional Chinese Medicine, however it’s important to start out slowly.
Jumping straight into a strenuous exercise program can increase your risk of injury, and can be difficult to maintain.
Get back into a sleep pattern
Our sleep affects many areas of our health, but as we take time out from our regular routines it’s easy to fall out of our normal sleeping patterns – as many of us take the opportunity to stay out later.
Work out what is the most practical sleep period for you and set an intention to stick to it. Before long you’ll find it easier to fall asleep as well as to rise in the morning.
by Andy Wong | Dec 17, 2017 | Chinese Medicine
With Christmas just around the corner, December can be one of the busiest times of the year. Finalising projects at work whilst simultaneously organising gifts and annual holiday plans can cause an accumulation of stress that sits heavy on the body and mind. Navigating this stress can be difficult, but Traditional Chinese Medicine can help you unwind, relax and find inner balance and harmony.
Acupuncture and cupping
Stress tightens your muscles and leaves you feeling wound up and stiff. Whilst a massage is a good way to relieve stress, acupuncture and cupping methods apply much more pressure to knots and overworked muscles.
Traditional Chinese Medicine targets and stimulates areas of tension, oxygenating body tissue and increasing blood circulation. This helps to release endorphins, keep cortisol (the stress hormone) at bay, and loosen taut muscles – all of which aids in relieving stress.
Chinese herbal medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine treats the body as a single organism which can occasionally fall out of balance. That’s why herbal therapy is used to support and supplement inner remedial processes and restore equilibrium by removing stress, or ‘calming the spirit’. They can also stabilise your mood and help with weight loss.
Custom herb blends are accessible as capsules, granules, liquid extracts, powders, and teas. Chinese herbal medicine offers a wide spectrum of herbal formulas that treat specific symptoms of stress, such as the ‘Relaxed Wanderer’, which treats irritability, agitation, and body tension. A qualified herbal medicine practitioner can help you take the right herbal formula that’s tailored to your specific lifestyle and needs.
Be mindful of your diet
A good diet is central to good health and a strong energy flow. In periods of festival celebration such as Christmas, it’s common to indulge in unhealthy foods, which increases physical stress. You can prevent this by following Traditional Chinese Medicine’s dietary principles, which encourages maintaining a healthy, balanced diet in conjunction with herbal formulas, exercise, and acupuncture therapy.
A balanced meal is inextricably tied to inner balance. It’s recommended to consume fruits and vegetables that are rich in colour, and low-oil meals that contain a small portion of meat. Vitamin rich foods can also help reduce stress.
by Andy Wong | Dec 13, 2017 | Chinese Medicine
The fast arrival of the summer has swept many of us off our feet this year, and while most people are excited for warm days and balmy nights, the drastic increase in temperature can often make it more challenging to manage our health.
The principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine affirm the importance of living in harmony with the changing seasons, and as such we would like to share our top tips to stay healthy throughout this summer season.
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Incorporating more seasonal summer fruits and vegetables into your diet allows you to fuel your body with extra vitamins and minerals. By nourishing your body with healthy foods like watermelon, berries, cucumber and leafy greens, you can help curb temptation and ensure optimal health throughout the festive season.
Swap strenuous exercise for yoga
Strenuous exercise can be risky in the warmer weather, and heatstroke is a common result that should be taken very seriously. We recommend trying something lighter and less intense on those very hot days, like a gentle and relaxing yoga session.
Don’t sit too close to the air conditioner
The cool breeze from your air conditioner can be a welcome relief, but we must recommend not sitting too close. By spending too long in front of the air conditioner you can cause your muscles to tighten and contract, and the recycled air can also cause illness and spread bacteria. Sit a sensible distance from the air conditioner, and if possible, aim the air flow away from your direction.
Ensure you are getting enough rest
Many of us struggle to sleep on those extremely hot nights, however we must still aim for those ever-important 8 hours. If you are having difficulties resting due to the heat, consider the use a herbal remedy such as reishi, known for its effective relaxation properties.
Stay hydrated
As the temperature rises, it is crucial to aim for a minimum intake of 2-3 litres of water per day. It is important to maintain the fluid that your body sweats to avoid dehydration, whilst simultaneously fighting infection and eliminating toxins from the body. However, be careful not to drink too much water in a short period of time. Doing so may result in water intoxication or hyperhydration – which can be fatal. With healthy kidneys, stick to no more than 1 lire of water per hour.
by Andy Wong | Nov 13, 2017 | Chinese Medicine
Anyone who has lived with chronic pain knows that it can be a harrowing experience, and it is often thought that high dosage pain medication is the only option for relief. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine may be just the thing to help ease pain and discomfort, in a completely drug-free environment.
Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a variety of natural pain relief options that may assist you to regain your quality of life, and get back to doing the things you love.
Taditional Chinese Medicine looks at the underlying causes as well as the symptoms, and unlike many Western pain relief medications, the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine have a strong focus minimising harmful and unpleasant side effects.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular among those who suffer from chronic pain, and is believed to help stimulate endorphins which counteract the pain, and promote neuroplasticity for more long-lasting effects.
In fact, there are even some top medical doctors in Australia who are now opting to use acupuncture in emergency departments to relieve acute pain.
Cupping and Gua Sha
Cupping is commonly used to treat pain in the back and shoulders, while Gua Sha works to alleviate chronic and acute pain by tracing the energy paths where the pain points are located.
Herbal Medicine
Herbal Medicine practitioners take a holistic approach, and make recommend a combination of therapies based on your individual needs.
Make an appointment to see one of our highly skilled practitioners to find out more about how Luciferous Traditional Chinese Medicine may be able to help you to manage your chronic pain
by Andy Wong | Nov 13, 2017 | Health
Mindfulness and acupuncture are two practices that go hand in hand, and when used in partnership can really accentuate one another’s benefits. Together, mindfulness and acupuncture can help to manage pain, restore balance naturally and support you on your journey to better health and happiness.
Mindfulness and acupuncture are two ancient eastern healing practices which have a widely recognised history of bringing monumental healing results.
Mindfulness is defined as the internal practice of paying attention to the present moment, and can help to manage difficult and painful thoughts, feelings and sensations.
Acupuncture takes a more physical approach, and is described as the careful practice of inserting thin needles into specific, strategic points on the body in order to treat pain and manage a whole host of physical and neurological symptoms.
Due to their similar outcomes, when used in conjunction the results of mindfulness and acupuncture are magnified, and often leads to a dramatic change in the client.
By employing techniques of mindfulness when undergoing acupuncture treatment, the client is able to fully tune in to the present moment and experience the complete benefit.
Conversely, acupuncture treatment can often leave clients in a more calm and relaxed frame of mind, and reduce their levels of pain. This can put them in the ideal state to practice being mindful. Overall, relaxing the mind helps to dissolve tension, which then allows energy to flow more freely through the body and reduce pain or discomfort.
If you’d like to learn more about mindfulness practice to compliment your next acupuncture session, visit the Mindful website.
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