by Andy Wong | Feb 7, 2019 | Chinese Medicine
Athletes training regimes are renowned for being strenuous on the body, with little time for recovery between sessions more often than not leading to injury and mental stress.
While many athletes utilise western remedies like physiotherapy, some have begun to turn to Traditional Chinese Medicine for a different answer. Why? From cupping to acupuncture and Gua Sha, Traditional Chinese Medicine can help benefit athletes of all levels to maintain a healthier, more balanced lifestyle, ease pain and so much more.
We go into more detail below.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient practice which is used to promote recovery, relieve pain and activate the body’s natural healing process. Involving the insertion of needles into specific muscles and joints – your practitioner can help pinpoint your pain and release it. On top of relieving pain, acupuncture can also provide relief for many other conditions such as digestive, musculoskeletal, psychological disorders and more… Perfect for the athlete in need of a little help!
Cupping
Cupping is ideal for athletes who are looking to soften painful, tense muscle tissue and reduce their recovery time. The process involves creating a vacuum-like suction through placing a cup on the body – gently withdrawing inflammation and toxins out from the specified area while also increasing the blood supply needed in stagnant areas to nourish and promote recovery. This means that athletes can be back on their A-game much faster than expected.
Gua Sha
With pain being a major issue that athletes experience, Gua Sha is a natural, immediate and drug-free pain reliever which focuses on correcting soft tissue injuries and other medical ailments. Another plus? Gua Sha can also boost immunity and help prevent common illnesses, helping athletes stay in tip top shape for longer.
Are you an athlete who’s incorporated Traditional Chinese Medicine into your lifestyle? Let us know your experiences in the comments!
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by Andy Wong | Jan 25, 2019 | Health
As we enter into the heart of summer, finding time to keep fit can be a real challenge, but it’s important to remain consistent if we want to maintain our best possible health into the New Year. Read on for our best tips on how to stay active and beat the summer heat!
Time it right
When it comes to working out in warm weather, timing really is everything. Ideally, you want to avoid exercising in peak temperatures which generally tends to be around midday to early afternoon, and instead get your workout in first thing in the morning before the sun has had time to heat up.
Stay hydrated
While you should be making an effort to stay hydrated when working out all year round, this step is especially important when you are exercising in high heat. Keep a cool bottle of water handy and try to sip before, during and after your work out, even if you don’t feel like it.
Listen to your body
Most importantly, be sure to always listen to your body and don’t push yourself further than you feel comfortable with. While you may be striving to reach a certain target or set a new personal best, doing so on a hot summers day may not be the best idea. Heat stroke and heat exhausting can have some very real consequences, and as well as making you unwell, any recovery time could even set your training back even further.
For more advice on how to stay in shape all year round, book an appointment at Luciferous Traditional Chinese Medicine today.
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by Andy Wong | Jan 14, 2019 | Health
For many of us, it seems our lives are becoming busier and busier – so much so that it can often be difficult to find time to take a break and switch off from the world. However, insufficient rest can lead to increased stress levels as well as a whole host of other ailments.
Thankfully, mindfulness can help. Defined as a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, mindfulness is a highly effective therapeutic technique used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Want to try it for yourself? Follow our three easy ways to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine and start experiencing the magic of mindfulness today.
Spend time with your thoughts
Start by setting a few minutes aside each day in which to simply sit with your thoughts, and focus your awareness on the emotions that follow. While it may seem simple, many first-timers are likely to be surprised at how challenging it can be to avoid distraction!
Switch off your autopilot
Do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions? An important part of mindfulness is learning how to switch off your autopilot and making a conscious effort to bring your awareness back to the task at hand.
Engage your senses
One of the key elements of mindfulness is to stay in the present moment. Rather than allowing your mind to wander, try to think about your surroundings. Brining your awareness to things like the sun on your face or the scent in the air is a great way to train yourself to do this is by engaging your senses.
Do you practice mindfulness as part of your regular routine? Let us know what works for you in the comments below.
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by Andy Wong | Dec 22, 2018 | Health
With the holiday season fast approaching, it can be difficult to stay on track with your regular health and wellness routine. From Christmas parties to family gatherings and end of year celebrations, we can often find ourselves eating and drinking far more than we usually would, and losing track of our regular fitness regime.
While we all deserve to treat ourselves from time to time, it’s important to be aware of our excess consumption and make a conscious effort to move our bodies a little more and do our best to stick to a good routine throughout the holiday period. Here are our top tips to help you enjoy the holidays without compromising your health!
Plan ahead
One of the best ways to ensure you stay on top of your health regime is to be aware of all of your upcoming events and plan ahead. If you have a get together where you expect there might be a lot of tasty treats on offer, try to fit in an extra workout earlier on in the week. If you’re likely to be eating a large meal for dinner, enjoy a lighter meal for lunch and ensure you stay well hydrated.
Stay accountable
December can be one of the most chaotic times of the year, and with so much else on our minds it’s all too easy to skip a few workouts here and indulge in a few treats there – but in time, these things can really add up without us even realising! Try to stay accountable by recording your workouts in a schedule, or you may even want to recruit a friend to workout with. If you’re having trouble with all the extra treats, you might even consider tracking your food intake in a diary. For some, seeing it all in black and white can really help put things into perspective and give you the willpower to say no!
Don’t overdo it
At the end of the day, the holidays are here to be enjoyed – and it’s important to remember that you don’t need to deprive yourself, as long as you don’t overdo it! Like most things in life, the key is to find a happy balance between enjoying yourself and not undoing your hard work from throughout the year.
For further support on staying healthy throughout the holiday period and bringing balance back into your life, contact Luciferous Traditional Chinese Medicine today. What helps you stick to your routine throughout the holidays? What would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments!
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by Andy Wong | Dec 10, 2018 | Health
Bell’s Palsy is a serious condition in which patients experience a sudden onset weakness or paralysis in one side of the face. While the condition is in most cases only temporary, the effects can be highly distressing as it can often result in a ‘droopy’ or ‘lopsided’ appearance and even lead to difficulty in eating, drinking and blinking. Thankfully, Traditional Chinese Medicine can help.
According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, Bells Palsy is the result of a deficiency within a person’s underlying qi, in which external wind and cold are attacking the channels of the face. As such, Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment for Bell’s Palsy involves expelling the wind and removing dampness while stimulating blood circulation in order to restore balance within the face.
To achieve this, your Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner may prescribe a number of different methods to help you overcome Bell’s Palsy and regain control of your facial nerves.
Acupuncture
In most cases, acupuncture is likely to be the first step in your Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment plan. To reap to full rewards that acupuncture can offer, you will most likely be required to attend a minimum of one to two sessions per week to enhance your facial mobility and overcome Bell’s Palsy.
Herbal Medicine
For a truly holistic approach, patients may wish to add herbal medicine options to their treatment regime. A customised prescription of herbal medicine may help to target underlying symptoms and restore a greater sense of overall balance within the body, which can really help speed up the Bell’s Palsy recovery period.
Relaxation
Often, Bell’s Palsy can lead cause patients to experience a great deal of stress – which is actually counterintuitive to your recovery. Higher stress levels make it more difficult to overcome the condition, and can even extend your recovery period. Your practitioner will likely recommend you try to find a way to relax, whether it be by meditation, regular massages or taking some time away from your normal responsibilities, finding a way to relax is highly important.
Here at Luciferous Traditional Chinese Medicine, we’ve had great success in helping patients overcome Bell’s Palsy. For more information on how we can help you, please get in touch with us today via the contact page.
Have you or one of your loved ones experienced Bell’s Palsy before? What has worked for you? Let us know in the comments section below!
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by Andy Wong | Nov 27, 2018 | Chinese Medicine
Here at Luciferous Traditional Chinese Medicine, we believe that your treatment shouldn’t stop when you leave the clinic. For many of our patients, their overall goal is to achieve balance in their life, and given that our homes are the place where we spend most of our spare time, it’s important that our residences reflect these intentions.
To help you create a space that will support your journey towards a more balanced lifestyle, we’ve put together a list of simple Traditional Chinese Medicine tips to help you achieve balance in your home.
Remove unnecessary clutter
The first step is to do a total sweep of your home and remove all unnecessary clutter from your living spaces to create a calm and peaceful environment. Too much clutter can cloud your mental state, and some people even report that it can make it difficult to focus on certain tasks.
Embrace fresh air
Next, open your windows wide and embrace the fresh air. The air we breathe can have a notable effect on our overall health and wellbeing, so it’s important to ensure that your air is clean and has as few pollutants as possible. If the air from outside is not ideal, you may want to consider investing in an air purifying device, or even purchasing some house plants known for their air purifying properties.
Use natural light
Finally, try to utilise as much natural light as possible. Make sure your curtains or blinds allow plenty of natural light, and minimise your use of artificial lighting. Not only will it lower your electricity bill, but it will also ensure your circadian rhythm remains stable and significantly improve your overall wellbeing.
Have you implemented any of these strategies into your home? We’d love to hear from you, let us know in the comments what has worked for you! For further advice, visit the online booking portal to schedule an appointment at Luciferous Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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by | Nov 8, 2018 | Chinese Medicine
Each year, acupuncture attracts thousands of new patients seeking treatment for a diverse range of injuries and ailments. From young children through to elderly adults, acupuncture is popular with patients of all ages, and the benefits of this ancient Chinese treatment method are highly regarded by health professionals all over the world.
Here are some of the reasons why acupuncture can benefit people of all ages and why it remains a preferred treatment option after more than 2000 years.
Provides effective relief from pain
One of the most common reasons why people turn to acupuncture is to seek relief from acute or chronic pain. For many people, acupuncture provides far more effective relief from pain, and in some patients even report that it is the only treatment that allows them to live comfortably.
Treats a wide range of symptoms
As well as pain relief, acupuncture can also be highly effective in treating an extensive list of physical, emotional and mental conditions that can affect adults and children. Respectively, these conditions can allergies, infertility, arthritis, migraines, insomnia, stress, anxiety and many more.
No harmful side effects
In most instances, patients turn to acupuncture over western medicine treatments in favour of a more natural approach. One of the most highly praised traits of acupuncture is the fact that treatment causes no harmful side effects and in many cases can limit the need for further medication.
To find out more about whether acupuncture is the right treatment option for you or your loved one, contact Luciferous Traditional Chinese Medicine today.
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by Andy Wong | Oct 24, 2018 | Health
Do you often find yourself repeatedly hitting the snooze button and struggling to get out of bed? If so, you’re far from alone, but there are actually a few very simple Traditional Chinese Medicine inspired solutions that can help you start every day with a positive outlook and wake up with a spring in your step.
- Plan ahead
According to TCM principles, too much stress can wreak havoc on our internal systems and cause a variety of undesirable effects. Avoid the morning rush and any unnecessary stress by planning for your day the night before, whether it be laying out your clothes, packing your bag, or preparing a simple breakfast to eat before you head out the door.
- Avoid screens
For many of us, our entire day can revolve around screens, so it’s best to avoid them for as long as possible when we wake up. Rather than reaching for your phone or turning on the TV, consider reading a book, listening to some music or tuning into a podcast, and save your screen time for later in the day.
- Hydrate
After going hours without water, it’s best to start hydrating as soon as you wake up to start clearing away any toxins that may have built up in your digestive tract overnight. For an extra boost of vitamin C that kickstarts your metabolism, try adding a splash of fresh lemon juice!
- Stretch
For a great burst of energy without relying on caffeine, consider adding some simple stretches into your daily morning ritual. Remember to be gentle, and don’t expect your body to be at its peak flexibility first thing! Add in some deep breaths and you’ll soon be feeling revitalised and ready to take on whatever the day throws your way.
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by Andy Wong | Oct 9, 2018 | Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Health
As anyone who has experienced them will attest to, gallstones can be highly uncomfortable and in some cases can even lead to intense pain. While 70% of those with gallstones won’t feel any symptoms at all, those who do may experience nausea, vomiting, dark urine, stomach pain, burping, diarrhea and indigestion.
What are gallstones?
Gallstones are stone-like deposits of digestive fluid and calcium salts that form when there is too much cholesterol or bilirubin in the bile stored in the gallbladder. Depending on the cause, the gallstones can either be a yellow or dark brown colour.
What causes gallstones?
While the root cause of gallstones remains unconfirmed, it is widely believed that a number of lifestyle factors contribute to the bile imbalances that can lead to gallstones. These factors include being overweight, consuming a high fat diet, rapid weight loss and having diabetes mellitus.
How can Chinese medicine help?
While many who suffer from gallstones turn to invasive surgeries for treatment, there are actually quite a number of simple Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment options that can greatly reduce the effects of gallstones.
According to TCM principles, the gallbladder is closely linked with the liver, and is regulated by the liver qi. By supporting the liver with a healthy diet and eliminating greasy, fatty, rich or spicy foods, the liver is able to operate much more efficiently, and thereby so can the gallbladder.
Further to this, your TCM practitioner can prescribe you with a personalised combination of Chinese herbs and a tailored acupuncture treatment plan to help minimise the effects of gallstones and restore your overall sense of health and wellbeing.
Say no to surgery and opt for a more natural gallstones treatment method that people all over the world have followed with success for thousands of years. Contact Luciferous Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Melbourne today.
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by Andy Wong | Sep 20, 2018 | Chinese Medicine
Acne is something that most of us will experience in our lives at one point or another, but for some, it’s a condition can be particularly challenging to overcome. While most western remedies advocate for a variety of medicated ointments and washes, Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a holistic approach, and aims to treat acne from within.
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, Chinese medicine practitioners understand that each case is unique, and that the symptoms should be treated accordingly. While for some, the answer could be as simple as a change in diet, other patients’ conditions may require further investigation and a more thorough treatment plan.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, acne is one of the many different effects that can occur when the body’s internal system falls out of balance. This can occur for a variety of reasons, but in terms of acne, it is like to be owing to things that cause excess heat to rise up through the body, such as stress, agitation, hot foods and poor circulation.
As well as this, excess dampness can have an undesirable effect on the skin, and things such as damp environments, raw foods, insufficient sweating and poor digestion could all contribute to the overall condition.
With so many possible causes, it’s important to talk to an experience Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner who can uncover the root of your condition and create a customised treatment plan to get you back on your way to clear and healthy skin.
To book a consultation with Luciferous Traditional Chinese Medicine, contact us today on (03) 9576 8538 or make an appointment online now.
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