It’s the most basic of human functions. Yet few of us do it properly. Relax. Feel your breath. Just being aware of it will calm you. Draw in the air slowly. Let it charge you with its energy. Spend some time savouring the feeling. It helps us come into the present moment…we don’t remember days or years, we remember moments.
Acupuncture has been found to inhibit osteoarthritis-induced pain by activating serotonin to modulate pain receptors, improve weight bearing, and improve joint function. –Alternative Medicine Vol 2011
In Chinese Medicine arthritis is categorized as follows:
Cold Arthritis: characterized by sharp, stabbing pain in a fixed location and cold sensation in joints, relieved by heat. Recommended foods: garlic, scallions, black beans, black sesame seeds, chicken, lamb, greens, and ginger. Also 10-20 min sunshine and fresh air daily, warm liniments on area, drinking cinnamon/ginger tea and avoiding cold raw foods and cold weather.
Heat arthritis: characterized by red swollen joints, painful and hot, and usually sudden onset. Recommended foods: fresh fruits, veges, cabbage, mung beans & soybeans sprouts. Avoiding: spicy foods, alcohol, smoking and green onions.
Damp arthritis: characterized by heavy feeling in extremities, stiffness, swelling, dull aching pain that lingers and sluggishness. Recommended foods: barley, mung beans, greens, red beans, millet, cornsilk tea (natural diuretic). Cook barley,, mung beans and red beans together.
Kidney deficient arthritis: characterized by coldness, low energy, low back pain, knee pain, weakness, poor hearing, urine retension problems. Recommended foods: warming foods- chicken, lamb, scallions, sesame seeds, fish, baked tofu, walnuts, black beans, lentils and drinking cinnamon/ginger teas. Avoid cold raw foods and fruits.
Kidney deficient arthritis with heat: characterized by irritability, insomnia, nite sweats, damp palms, dry mouth, low back pain, and blurry vision. Recommended foods: cooling foods, apples, peaches, pears, fresh veges, beans, tofu, chrysanthemum tea. Avoid: spicy foods, smoking, alcohol and stress.
Cinnamon: sweet & warm: increases circulation, aids digestion, helps increase lean muscle mass, is a natural antibiotic/antiviral ( during the 1918 influenza outbreak- workers at cinnamon factories had boosted immunity to the Spanish flu), evens out blood sugar levels, and its’ fragrance boosts brain function and cognitive skills. It’s great on: oatmeal, yams, butternut squash, baked apples & pears, and in coffee or decaf.
Ginger: pungent & warm: natural antihistamine & anti-inflammatory, dispells phlegm and cough, reduces nausea, decreases the stickiness of red blood cells/platelets/helpful in atherosclerosis. A few slices in hot water with honey helps ward off colds/flu, as does ginger tea, also may be added to baked yams, butternut squash, oatmeal, baked apples & pears.
Chai tea is a combination of warming spices(cardomom/ginger) that aid digestion and circulation.
Pareto’s Law: States that for many events 80% of the outcomes result from 20% of the causes. For example: 80% of our happiness derives from about 20% of our activities or endeavors. The challenge is to get better at identifying the 20% of what we do that makes us happy. What has most effectively created and caused your happiness this year? What were the key ingredients that led to your feeling good? ( specific events, interactions, people, thoughts and behaviors) Writing something down is a step toward understanding and creating it anew. -excerpt from ” 100 Ways to Happiness” by Dr. Timothy Sharp
Happiness, peace and contentment to you and yours in this Holiday Season and all the year through. Sincerely, Dr. Geri
When you take your morning or evening walks this holiday season, think about all the things in your life for which you are thankful. You can direct your thanks to a specific person or God or the world at large. Notice how you feel as a result. By doing so, that exercise time is transformed to a sacred time.
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – GK Chesterton
Autumn is the season of the harvest, gathering the seeds and wisdom we’ve learned this year for continued growth in the spring. It’s also a time for eliminating what is unnecessary, and storing up only what is needed for winter. As spring was an expansive time, fall is a contractive, simplifying time.
Autumn is the season of the Lung organ. In Chinese medicine, weakness of the Lung causes difficulty with respiratory disorders-asthma, frequent colds, lowered immunity in general, sinus headaches, skin ailments ( the skin is regarded as the third lung) and dryness- constipation. Also, unresolved sadness and grief, can deplete the lung energy.
The pungent quality of some foods and spices help to open and expand the lung qi/energy to clear grief and respiratory problems. Pungent foods are: garlic, ginger, horseradish, daikon radish, and cabbage. They can be used uncooked if you run cold in nature, but if you run warm they are best eaten after being cooked. Since Autumn is a dry season, foods that help moisten and nourish the lungs are : cooked pears, baked apples ( with cinnamon) and squash, along with persimmons, almonds, barley, milley and soy.
A position to open the lungs: lie on your back, place a towel rolled into a column, under your back, under the length of your spine. Put a pillow under your knees, and your arms stretched out at your sides. Take slow deep breaths .
Balanced Lung qi/energy is reflected in the ability to have boundaries, knowing what to let in and what to keep out, when to say yes, when to say no, and finally when to hold on and when to let go.
Acupuncture and specific Chinese herbal formulas are helpful at this seasonal change for optimal balance.
Ideally, all the organs & meridians of the body operate in balance and emotions are calm and appropriate to life’s situations. However, when the Qi/energy in our meridians gets out of balance, it can be difficult for us to maintain our normal emotional balance. Some people may experience anxiety,worry and other difficult emotional states.
In Chinese Medicine, these imbalances may manifest as follows:
Liver meridian/qi flow imbalance: can cause us to experience excessive or inappropriate anger, irritability, frustration, impatience and/or depression. Balanced liver qi/energy will help us to be generally relaxed, patient, and emotionally even, feeling a smooth flow of plans going forward.
Heart meridian imbalance may cause us to experience excessive anxiety, panic attacks, palpitations and insomnia. Balanced- creates calm and relaxed emotions.
Spleen meridian imbalance- excessive worry, tendency to overthink. Balanced-we have clear crisp thinking at a normal pace.
Lung meridian imbalance-can cause us to experience prolonged grief, sadness or melancholy. Balanced- general feeling of flow, able to move through our feelings and feel contentment.
Kidney Meridian- can manifest with excess worry and fear, loss of will and determination. When balanced-we are calm and able to proceed forward with ease and confidence.
The combination of Specific Chinese Herbal Remedies along with Acupuncture assist the balancing of emotions during times of stress and throughout the year.
It’s never too late to…live in the present. Most problems are fears of the future. Or worries from the past. If you live in the present they don’t exist. In the present you’re as alive as you can be. Your decisions are spontaneous. Your heart is open. Your spirit is free. -Patrick Lindsey
Chiropractors can help patients overcome one of the primary obstacles to exercise and activity: PAIN. When people are in pain they’re far less likely to begin or stay with a program of activity even if doing so might be beneficial in the long run. By combining Chiropractic care with exercise, Chiropractors assist their patients’ allignment and fluidity of movement, thereby facilitating optimal function as they progress in their workouts. Frequently, without proper allignment and training, people will engage in the wrong kind of exercise or do too vigorous a workout program in the hopes of improving their health or increasing the immunity benefits. Yet, heavy, long-term incorrect exercise could actually decrease the amount of white blood cells circulating and increase the presence of stress-related hormones. Getting a Chiropractic check-up allignment prior to starting a new exercise program is highly recommended to determine and facilitate optimal function.
Benefits of exercise: Flushes bacteria out of our lungs, decreasing the chance of a cold, flu or other airborne illness. The temporary rise in body temperature prevents bacterial growth. When exercise is not overdone it slows down the release of stress-related hormones and boosts endorphins and the immune system.
There are 1,440 minutes in every day. Schedule 30 of them for physical activity.
40 minute program, hosted by Bob Woodruff, an ABC journalist, who in Jan 2006 was injured in Iraq and experienced a NDE (Near Death Experience/ out of body experience). It mystified him so that he sought out and interviewed others who had had these experiences, along with medical researchers who study this field. This program can be viewed on your computer at: ABC Primetime Nightline: Beyond Belief: Out of Body Experiences- Season 1 Episode 7 ( under recent episodes) Hulu
Other books on this subject: Life after Life-Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Embraced by the Light-Betty Eadie, Lessons from the Light-Kenneth Ring
Avoid foods that are hot or create heat: spices, hot peppers, garlic, lamb, and shrimp. Eat foods that are cool such as Asian pears, melons, salads, mint or chrysanthemum teas. Avoid heavy outdoor activity especially between the hours of 11 am and 2 pm. Try an afternoon nap, the body naturally cools down when we rest. If you do get overheated, massage the acupressure point on your outer elbow crease, or spray water with a few drops of lavender essential oil on your legs and feet, or an ice pac wrapped in a pillow case on the back of your neck.
-Laurie Searle
Healthful Travel Tips
Grapefruit seed tablets: natural antibiotic, antiviral, antiparasitic and antifungal (3 tab /1x day for prevention, when traveling ,when others around you on the plane may be sick and coughing, also a dose the day prior to travel for additional prevention) Always take with food. Take 3-3x day if you feel cold/flu coming on.
Ginger altoids, trader joes’ ginger chews, ginger ale or ginger capsules: help with motion/air sickness or upset stomach. Take the capsules with food.
Eucalyptus or Lavender oil: natural antiviral oils, put some on a hanky in a plastic baggie, inhale throughout your plane journey, to prevent airborne virus and lavender is also calming. ( Aura Cacia-from whole foods or our office)
Nutrasleep: natural sleep aid (whole foods) and a natural muscle relaxer when traveling 1-3 tablets before bed. Also, specific Chinese Herbal formula (in office) for sleep.
These are muscle releasing techniques, used at our office that: restore normal blood circulation to contracted muscles, thereby increasing mobility, reducing nerve blockage and promoting healing. These techniques also allow Chiropractic adjustments to hold longer and Acupuncture to be more effective in restoring normal energy/qi flow.
Some of the conditions that may benefit from these techniques are: Whiplash of the neck and upper back, TMJ, Sprain/strain of the lower back/ knees/hips/ ankles, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, sciatica . Foot reflexology- for plantar fascitis.
It’s never too late to… start again. Look at nature. Nothing stays the same. Why should you? Use change wisely. Like a sporting champion, change a losing game. Keep the things that matter. Lose the things that don’t. Start afresh. - Patrick Lindsey
“Chiropractic is far safer, more effective, and less expensive than epidural injection therapy for pain reduction of the neck and back. “ As revealed by recent studies by the North American Spine Society and a review of 131 journal articles on spinal manipulation.
“Chiropractic often resolves the problems entirely. This is proven by the fact that when Chiropractic was added to a large health plan with 700,000 members, the number of low back surgeries and hospitalizations declined by one third.”
Anesthesiologists at Stockholms’s famed Karolinska Institute have found that when people hum, the oscillating sound waves reverberate through the sinus cavities that surround the nose and the eyes. These vibrations have a cleansing effect on the sinuses by clearing them of secretions and promoting air flow between the sinuses. Their research suggests that humming might be helpful in preventing or treating the sinus stuffiness of common colds and sinusitis. Excerpt from ” The Extraordinary healing power of ordinary things” by Dr LarryDossey
The summer, in Chinese Medicine, belongs to fire, one of the five elements. Fire is symbolic of maximum activity or greatest Yang, which means that it is the time of heat, and moving outward into nature and in our lives. The heart, mind and spirit are ruled by the fire element. When the fire element is in balance, the heart is strong, the mind is calm and sleep is sound. When it is unbalanced, there may be symptoms of depression, anxiety, nervousness, heart burn, and insomnia. Acupuncture and herbs help to balance the fire element.
Summer, cooling (yin) foods are: watermelon,cantalope, citrus, peaches, apricots, cucumber, asparagus, broccoli, bok choy, white mushrooms, spinach, mint, dill and cilantro.
Tips for summer health: awakening earlier in the morning, afternoon naps, eating lighter/cooler foods, avoiding heavier oily foods, and keeping a pitcher of water with slices of lemon & cucumber or lemon & fresh mint to sip on throughout the day.
And most importantly, it’s summer….take time to nourish your spirit with some joyful jaunts in nature, sitting with your feet in the grass or sand while taking some deep breaths.
Tests were given measuring creative thinking before and after a Chiropractic adjustment. Participants responses indicated an increased creative approach to real-world creative tasks as well as a renewed energy concerning creative projects that had already been planned. - Research from Masarsky: “Effect of a single Chiropractic Adjustment on creative output”
It’s never too late to…
Watch the waves. Smell the sea air. Feel the spray. It’s one of nature’s most soothing forces. The endless rhythm. The expansive power. The constant ebb and flow. The variety of the swells. Let the motion calm you. Meditate on the magnificence. – Patrick Lindsey
“It’s one thing to say you’re going to slow down, but a slow hobby helps you put those words into practice.” says author of “In Praise of Slowness”, Carl Honore.
1. A slow hobby- like painting, photography, reading, gardening, tai qi and swimming, can act as a brake on your hectic pace. “Slow hobbies, help you cultivate the lost art of concentration and being in the moment. They have a meditative quality to them, and that calming effect goes beyond the act itself. Maintaining that inner stillness enables you to negotiate the fast moving waters of the rest of your day.”
2. Become a gardener- caring for flowering plants may help you relax and get grounded. Japanese researchers found that re-potting plants lowered fatigue and promoted physiological relaxation. They also found that working with flowers seemed to have an even stronger positive effect than working with nonflowering plants. Even just looking at flowers and a green garden, can reduce blood pressure, increase concentration, productivity, and help you recover from illness. It also shortens postoperative hospital stays, with less need for pain meds.
3. Practice slow yoga- it emphasizes drawn-out breath, for each movement you make. Like tai chi, it uses many repetitive flowing moves, creating more awareness between mind and body. Swimming not only elongates and releases our muscles but also increases endorphins which uplift us.
4. Take a nap- a Harvard study found that people who regularly napped at least three times a week for an average of 30 minutes, had a 37 percent lower risk of heart attack than those who didn’t nap. It also boosts serotonin, which may lead to improved memory and performance, and weight loss.
5. Do one thing at a time- alot of us believe we get more done by multitasking. But research at the University of Michigan shows that the opposite is true. “If you concentrate on one task at a time, you get more done faster and make fewer mistakes.” Taking on chores one at a time reduces chronic stress and protects your short-term memory, which comes under fire if the brain is overtaxed.
6. Meditation- teaches us to focus. All day your mind is chattering and when you meditate, you can hear your own inner wisdom and breath. Studies have shown that practicing meditation and breathing improves blood pressure, can help reduce chronic pain, enhances mental clarity, fortifies the immune system, and promotes a sense of well-being.
One of my favorite guided meditation CD’s are by Jon Kabat-Zinn : Guided mindfulness meditation (it includes 4 CD’s, seated meditation, 2 yoga cd’s and the one I use the most-Body scan meditation: Using the breath, he guides your attention thru the entire body)
