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 | Oct 11, 2017 | Chinese Medicine
As we head into the warmer months, many of us are feeling the effects of the extra calories we have consumed over winter. If you’re keen to shed a few kilos in time for summer, consider these 3 ways that Traditional Chinese Medicine can help you lose the winter weight.
Cleanse the body
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring is associated with the liver, and just as we spring clean our homes, we also need to spring clean our body.
A simple diet of fresh fruit and vegetables is an excellent way to detoxify your digestive system and start you on your way to losing weight. Try to include vitamin rich greens like alfalfa, asparagus, broccoli, lettuces, celery, fennel, cucumber and collard and reduce your consumption of coffee, alcohol, starches and sugar.
Herbal medicine
Chinese herbal medicine can be incredibly helpful to aid in weight loss. Herbal medicines are tailored to your individual needs, and different combinations of herbs can influence different factors.
Herbal medicines are intended help promote balance and better health, however they may help to stabilise hunger, improve your energy, and enhance your immune system – all important to be mindful of when losing weight.
Acupuncture
In conjunction with healthy diet and exercise, acupuncture can be a great addition to your weight loss plan.
For many people who experience difficulty losing weight, excessive hunger can be one of the biggest challenges. Acupuncture therapy can used to stimulate the hypothalamus, the part of the brain which regulates hormones and balances hunger levels.
Acupuncture has also been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, which can put an end to stress eating. Less stress can also work to control the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone which is responsible for stubborn fat deposits predominantly stored around the abdominal area.
For further guidance on how Traditional Chinese Medicine can assist you to lose weight, please contact us today.
by Andy Wong | Oct 11, 2017 | Chinese Medicine
Each year as we head into spring, millions of Australians start to experience symptoms of seasonal hayfever. Clinically known as Allergic Rhinitis, hayfever is one of the most chronic respiratory conditions in the country.
While we all look forward to the weather getting warmer, hayfever can be incredibly unpleasant, and often sends suffers running for anti-histamine medication. However, there are a variety of natural options that can be extremely useful in providing relief from hayfever and alleviating the associated symptoms.
According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, hayfever is the result of a weakened Wei Qi, or a weakened immune system, paired with the invasion of an external pathogen such as pollen. For this reason, Chinese herbal medicine seeks to provide relief from hayfever symptoms while simultaneously strengthening the immune system.
During consultation, your herbal medicine practitioner will consider each of your hayfever related symptoms as well as a variety of other lifestyle factors. Using this knowledge, they will then create an intricate herbal formula that is designed to alleviate your symptoms, balance your immune system and expel any harmful toxins.
Chinese herbal medicine maintains that each individual’s experience of seasonal hayfever is unique. Think of the last time you experienced hayfever. Did your partner or friend suffer identical symptoms? It’s unlikely – so why should your hayfever remedy be treated as such?
At Luciferous Traditional Chinese Medicine, we look at the underlying causes to examine what may be causing you to experience hayfever so that we can determine the best possible herbal medicine for you.
To book a consultation with one of our experienced practitioners, please contact us today.
Recent Comments