Many people will not try acupuncture because they are afraid that the needles will hurt or that the experience will be unpleasant. This is really a tragedy, as acupuncture has the capacity to effectively treat a variety of chronic health conditions that typically do not respond to other forms of intervention.

In my practice, I have used acupuncture to treat both children and adults. In fact, I have done full acupuncture treatments on kids as young as 4, including needling points on the face, scalp, hands, and feet. Even patients this age typically do not experience any discomfort that lasts for more than a second or two.

The truth of the matter is that nobody really likes needles. We are generally conditioned to have an aversion to them because of the trauma involved in getting shots and other procedures using hypodermic needles. It is always funny when a new patient comes in and confesses in a voice that suggest their situation is utterly unique, ‘I don’t like needles.’ Most new patients make this confession– and most are very surprised by how pleasant the treatment actually is, even though it involves needles.

There are times where you can feel an insertion prick with the needles that lasts for a couple of seconds. You can also feel a nervy sensation that radiates through the area being worked on for a brief period of time. Other sensations include a dull achiness or pressure around the needles.

Many traditional Chinese doctors use a more aggressive style of needling that involves strong stimulation and thick needles. I have found this to be a turnoff for many Westerners, as excellent results can be achieved without having to induce strong sensations around the needles.

If you are interested in acupuncture but are reluctant to try it because of the potential pain involved in treatment, I encourage you to move through that fear, as you will likely find acupuncture to be a pleasant, gentle, and very effective form of treatment for your health care needs.

I hope this helps you overcome any apprehension so you can get proactive about your health using this ancient and powerful form of medicine.

Dr. Adam Chen

Globe and Mail Update

Published on Monday, May. 24, 2010 6:38PM EDT

Last updated on Tuesday, May. 25, 2010 12:15PM EDT

We ask the experts to settle common questions we’ve all wondered about.

QUESTION

When should I consider using acupuncture? How do the needles work? How painful are the needles? What are the risks of acupuncture?

ANSWER

According to practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is an important therapy for every person’s overall well-being. They use it for the prevention and treatment of a long list of medical conditions including migraines, insomnia, stress, depression, fertility issues, pain, neurological conditions and shingles, as well as drug, alcohol and smoking addictions.

Aside from these conditions, they recommend it for everyone (regardless of health status) twice a year between fall and winter, and in spring and summer as well-being maintenance. They suggest that these seasonal adjustments are important because the body can have a difficult time adapting to a new season, making it more vulnerable to diseases and infections. That’s why, they say, you see a spike in flu cases in late winter and early spring. The basis of acupuncture is simple. In Chinese medicine, it’s believed that in a healthy body, energy flows through channels smoothly. If that energy flow is disrupted, the person may become ill or suffer from pain.

Each person’s body has more than 300 acu-points where energy flow can be disrupted. Acupuncturists determine the disruptions by taking the patient’s pulse, reading his or her tongue and feeling his or her muscle tone. Needles are placed at the disrupted acu-points to resume the energy flow, which is thought to improve the patient’s well-being.

Some research studies have suggested that stimulating acu-points triggers the brain to produce many different compounds – such as endorphins – which improve an individual’s disease condition or reduce pain.Because no two individuals are identical and their conditions are different, the required frequency of acupuncture treatments ranges between patients. Through an initial assessment of the patient, the practitioner will determine the best treatment plan.

The degree of acupuncture’s effectiveness also differs between patients. For some, the treatment reduces symptoms, and for others it is believed to cure the condition. Acupuncture clinical trials are challenging because it’s difficult to come up with a proper placebo; however the results are intriguing. Researchers often compare “real acupuncture” with a control group called a placebo or “sham” in which non-traditional sites are used, or the needles retract into the handles when pressed against the body so they don’t penetrate the skin. A double-blind, controlled study in Australia revealed that inserting needle to a single traditional point (the forearm, close to the wrist) reduced post-surgery nausea, while the sham therapy did not have the same effect.

However, in a recent German study involving headache patients, the participants getting the “real acupuncture” reported feeling only slightly better than the group who received the placebo. It seems that pressing a faux needle against the skin may be enough to produce the desired effect. Or, there is simply a strong “placebo effect” to acupuncture treatment itself.

Nonetheless, acupuncture is considered a safe and recognized practice that is increasingly being used alongside Western medicine. A properly trained acupuncturist will place a needle gently so that it is painless, or the pain is no worse than a mosquito bite. Like most treatments, however, there are risks if it is administered incorrectly. There are rare instances when a practitioner inserts a needle improperly, puncturing a patient’s organ or causing serious internal bleeding. The other risk is contracting a bacterial or viral infection through the needles. This can be avoided by using disposable needles and using the right technique (which most reputable practitioners do). To be safe, ask your acupuncturist at your first assessment about his or her training and experience to confirm the quality of care.

If you’re considering acupuncture, a good first step is to speak to your family physician for more information about how acupuncture and Western treatment can work together to improve your health.

Dr. Adam Chen is associate director of acupuncture at the Rehab and Wellbeing Centre of Mount Sinai in Toronto.

Recently, a long-standing patient came in for her acupuncture treatment and asked whether I thought I could help her with a new symptom. She said since about the week before Thanksgiving, she had become anxious. She was having trouble sleeping and during the day she had a general sense of being “not at ease.” Maybe a few flutters of her heart here and there; maybe a moment of mild panic when overwhelming thoughts would get the best of her. Of course, Chinese medicine has a long history of treating both physical and mental conditions, using the natural world as a mirror for what goes on inside us. That we were coming upon winter, the time of year associated with fear in Chinese medicine, made me think acupuncture could relieve her anxiety quickly, especially if we looked at it in the context of the season.

According to Chinese medicine, each of the five seasons—winter, spring, summer, late summer and fall—have certain physical and mental attributes that manifest in the human body during that time. Why, then, is fear the emotion associated with the winter season? Certainly the holidays ramp everything up a notch this time of year. But as Christmas isn’t really a phenomenon of the natural world, isn’t it curious that many of us feel more tense, more ill-at-ease than we do, say, in summer? In treating people over the years and seeing how anxieties always rise this time of year, I have a few ideas why.

With winter come many inconveniences to our modern life-style. Shorter days and colder temperatures should make us feel more introverted; realistically, everything should slow down. We think of bears hibernating, plants going dormant, and, unless we live in the tropics, our own lives should reflect this turning inward, this slower pace, this effort to conserve and consolidate our energies until the warmer months arrive. But, because we are all busy, because we all maintain jobs or families or causes to which we are dedicated; because we have to feed ourselves, clean our homes, keep contact with our loved ones and often times devote ourselves to people or things which drain rather than support our energies, because of all of these things, it is nearly impossible to slow down come winter time. And, because of our calendar year, because Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and the New Year all come within weeks of each other, we have more to do, more to accomplish and more places to be. Yet, naturally, perhaps by some internal rhythm to which we are all still, albeit distantly in-tune, we feel the need to turn inward.

The urge or even the necessity to push though the natural pull to rest is perhaps what makes us feel more anxious in winter. When we go against our own rhythm, when our body and hearts say one thing but our heads (or our families, bosses, friends or colleagues) say another, the natural response in our system is to respond with fear. It’s as if we are saying, “How on earth will I have the reserves to accomplish all this if I never get a chance to rest?” This internal struggle between what we have to do and what we want to do can certainly make us feel anxious.

In treating the patient I mentioned, she found relief from her anxiety with only a couple acupuncture treatments. But part of her treatment involved finding time every day to do nothing. What she found was that she was usually tired but still had things on her list that she wanted to do and she’d begin to feel overwhelmed at the thought of doing more. But instead of returning another phone call, running another errand or even finishing up the dishes, she took a brief moment to sit down, take some deep breaths, and gather her energies back up for herself. After taking one or two minutes to do this every time she found herself feeling anxious, she began to feel calmer, more centered and, best of all, better able to finish the tasks at hand.

So if these last months of winter are brewing in you a sense of anxiety, remember that acupuncture is exceptional at relieving anxiety and fear—whether you’ve had it for weeks or years. Remember also that fear is part of the natural rhythm of the season. You can harness the power of winter by using the anxiety as a reminder to find out whether you are doing what is best for yourself and the people you love. And if you find time to “consolidate,” to rest in order to replenish your energy this winter, you will find you are able to devote yourself to the things you need without feeling scattered, rushed or anxious.

There seem to be ever-changing ideas and treatments for treating pain. They vary from long lasting cold packs to new anti-inflammatory medications, stretching exercises to modern joint manipulations, support pillows to old timey creams and more and more as far as the eye can see. Most mild injuries or discomforts heal by themselves over time and are easily tolerated when any given treatment is applied. But when pain or injury is severe or does not go away, it becomes obvious that most remedies and treatments are superficial at best, another ineffective version of the latest thing. But when considering acupuncture for the treatment of pain, this is precisely what sets it apart from all other inventions: it has been used continuously for thousands of years to treat pain. It is not a passing fad or some long forgotten method, it is the most consistently effective method ever used by people to treat pain.

Just as the most conservative MD acknowledges acupuncture can be helpful to treat pain, most people who’ve only heard of acupuncture know it can relieve and in some cases cure pain. Yet even though this seems to be common knowledge, most people do not understand when to use it for themselves. People will try everything and anything to reduce their discomfort and usually it is not until the physical therapy, massage, chiropractic adjustments, injections and medications do not work that they decide to try acupuncture. It’s always better when someone comes to acupuncture not long after they’ve had the condition, but even when acupuncture is a “last resort,” in most cases it still works after time has passed and the condition has worsened. It works because acupuncture has always understood that there are different types and levels of pain and that these need to be addressed individually in order for the person to heal.

Acupuncturists use different acupuncture points on different individuals, even if they present with the same problem. This often makes acupuncture difficult to examine in randomized control studies, but it results in each person receiving the exact treatment he or she needs. Acupuncture points affect different layers of the body as well as the specific place where the pain is located. Some points access the fascia or surrounding muscles, others access nerve routes, some stimulate the connections of tendons and ligaments and others penetrate to the joint. In addition there are certain acupuncture points that increase blood supply to an area and others that drain swelling or inflammation from an area. Interestingly enough, sometimes these acupuncture points are located right over the painful area and sometimes they are on the opposite side of the body. So there is not one acupuncture point for low back pain or for neck pain. Instead, there are several dozen acupuncture points that can affect different layers of the back or neck from different locations. This huge variety in the action and location of acupuncture points allows an acupuncturist to help relieve long standing and serious pain in most places.

A good example of how this plays out in real life is in chronic low back pain. Let’s imagine that one patient is elderly with severe low back pain in the center of her low back that has limited her ability to bend and has worsened over several years. The second is a middle aged person with chronic severe low back pain in the center of the low back that has begun to radiate down the leg. In the first case we would choose points directly over the painful area that increase blood supply to the spine while also including points that go to the muscle layer and release stiffness. In the second case we would choose acupuncture points located near the foot that affect the nerve level to address the radiating pain and also include additional points behind the knee that target the lumbar area, allowing us to address low back pain without using any points in the back itself. Both examples might say they have chronic low back pain that is getting worse, but both require very different treatments. In fact, the acupuncture points that would help one person might aggravate the other.

It is this deep reservoir of options with very specific functions that allow acupuncture to address pain in any location and any level of the body. And it is this understanding of acupuncture that should lead you to use it for the pain that does not go away. We at Triangle Acupuncture Clinic understand how to choose and apply the right acupuncture points to treat all types of pain. So call us or tell those you care about to use acupuncture for what it has and will always do best – relieve your pain now.

With cold and flu season around the corner, it is more important than ever to bolster your immune system this fall and winter. Here are some natural, simple solutions that will help protect you!

1. Chestnuts bolster immunity

In both Asia and the Mediterranean region, chestnuts have been popular for centuries. Chestnuts differ from other nuts with their low fat content and high fiber. They have a mild, sweet taste and a crumbly consistency. An excellent source of potassium, folate, vitamins B6 and C, chestnuts strengthen the kidney-adrenal system and bolster the immune system to fight off the flu and combat infections. This flu season, introduce more chestnuts into your cooking: they are good roasted in the oven, cooked with chicken, lamb, beef, or pork, or in any dish with beans and legumes.

2. Stimulate your thymus

Your thymus is a fist-size gland located behind your sternum in the center of your chest.  It plays a critical role in the functioning of the lymphatic and immune systems. It develops over time, reaching peak size when you are in your early 30s, then begins to physically diminish until it shrinks to the size of a pea around age 70. You experience the gland’s waning as waning energy in your body.

To support thymus health, the Chinese use astragalus root. Studies show astralagus is an adaptogen, which means it corrects both high and low metabolic imbalances, acts on invaders wherever they attack the body, and promotes overall vitality. The usual dosage is 100 to 150 mg per day in capsules or you can drink astragalus tincture or tea.

Another way to stimulate your thymus is to use acupressure. With your index and middle finger, gently tap against the sternum (midway between the nipples) 50 times, in the morning and evening.

3. Immune-supporting herbs

You can use the following herbs to help strengthen your immune system:

• Ligustrum has undergone much research recently, which has revealed this herb’s immune boosting functions. Its actions include increasing white blood cell production, phagocytosis, and T-lymphocyte help cell activities.

• Cherokee Rose is traditionally used to protect the body from external pathogens with its astringent properties. It is also one of the highest natural sources of vitamin C.

• Honeysuckle is a natural anti-microbial herb that has been used for centuries to increase resistance and fight against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.

You can find these herbs in health food stores, online, and at the offices of acupuncturists and Chinese herbalists.

Or look into a formula that combines all of these herbs in one immune-boosting herbal formula, called Perpetual Shield.

4. Be healthy with bee products

Royal jelly has long been regarded in Asia as a longevity tonic that enhances energy, virility, and immunity. Rich in vitamins and collagen, royal jelly is used to feed queen bees. An antibacterial protein in the substance, dubbed royalisin, is effective against certain bacteria, including streptococcus and staphylococcus.

Bee propolis is rich in flavonoids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains terpenoids that possess antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiprotozoan agents. Not unlike some prescription antibiotics, propolis prevents bacterial cell division and breaks down the invading organism’s cell walls and cytoplasm.

Find royal jelly and bee propolis in enriched honey or in supplement form from herb shops and health food stores.

5. Beta-carotene Builds Immunity

Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that improves immune function and promotes mucous membrane health. In fact, a 1997 study conducted by the Institute of Food Research in the United Kingdom suggested that dietary intake of beta-carotene can enhance cell-mediated immune responses. How to get these beta-benefits this flu season? Eat more orange-colored vegetables, including carrots, winter squash, butternut squash, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and yams. Additionally, these are all an excellent source of Vitamin C, a famous immune support.

6. An All-In-One Immunity Soup

Cook up a broth of shiitake mushrooms, any kind of seaweed, cabbage, any type of squash, carrots, fresh ginger, oregano, and onion in chicken or vegetable stock. Shiitake mushrooms contain polysaccharides, sterols, and coumarin, as well as vitamins and minerals that increase your immune function. Seaweed cleanses the body, cabbage has ability to increase your body’s ability to fight infection, ginger supports healthy digestion, and the remaining ingredients promote general health and well-being. Eat this soup every other day to build a strong and healthy immune system.

7. Treat Your Body Right

Encourage your body to fight flu and other infections by giving it the care it needs.

• Get at least 7 hours of quality sleep every night. Studies show that your immune system function drops by an average of 60% after just three nights of poor sleep.

• Keep your stress level low with meditation, tai chi, or yoga.

• Dry body brushing daily can activate lymph circulation that is important to clear out toxic debris and stimulate immunity.

• If you feel your immune system has already been compromised and illness is on the way, consider this Cold & Flu elixir, which supports recovery as it boosts your immune system.

I hope you find the ways to build your immunity for a winter free from cold and flu! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

Catching a cold is a real bummer. All kidding aside, though, the uncomfortable symptoms, the time away from work, the potential of infecting the rest of your family are all serious problems when it comes to cold and flu season. We’ve all roamed the aisles at the drugstore looking for a pill to help relieve the symptoms of a cold or flu, all the while knowing that we just have to “wait it out” until the illness passes. But Chinese medicine has a wealth of natural remedies that not only help lessen cold or flu symptoms, they also help treat the actual infections themselves. If taken at the first signs of a cold or flu, Chinese herbs can help you get over an illness more quickly and have a stronger immune system for it in the end. The good news is that, if you’re reading this article, then you have access to these natural remedies and the licensed practitioners who can help prescribe the perfect herbal treatments for when you need them.

When treating viral or bacterial infections naturally, there are two important mechanisms by which Chinese medicine works. The first is by fighting the illness itself and the second is by supporting our natural immunity. In order to treat the infection, there are several specific herbal formulas that you can have on hand. The main focus of these formulas is to address the symptoms of a cold or flu but they all have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties so they’re actually fighting the infection, too. If these formulas are taken at the first signs of a cold or even the flu, they can help decrease the severity of the symptoms and shorten your “sick time” by almost half. The following are the names of our clinic’s most popular cold and flu remedies and the symptoms they treat. If you know you are prone to certain kinds of illness—say, you always get some kind of intestinal flu each year—then having a formula at home that helps this kind of illness will help you tremendously in overcoming it.

• Cold Away – this modern Chinese herbal formula treats all the common cold symptoms: runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, mild body aches and headache.
• Yin Qiao – this classical Chinese formula whose name comes from two of its ingredients is a staple in any herbal medicine cabinet to treat milder symptoms at the onset of a cold like a sore throat and a stuffy or runny nose.
• Flu Ban – is a blend of herbs and homeopathic remedies that address the severe symptoms of the flu like chills and fever, body aches and fatigue. It can also be taken for a cold.
• Early Comfort – is a classical Chinese herbal formula that can treat vomiting and diarrhea associated with an intestinal flu.
• Antiphlogistic Formula – is a blend of very strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial herbs that address the early stages of strep throat or any illness that begins with a very sore throat.

The second and very important component of treating infections naturally is supporting the natural immunity of the “host.” This is what makes Chinese medicine so powerful and what sets it apart from western medicine’s approach to colds and flu. By supporting our immune systems during an illness, we help our body overcome it more quickly while simultaneously strengthening our overall immunity. There are several Chinese herbs that can be taken as prevention throughout the season and others that can be taken during an illness to help fight off the offending infection.

• Power Mushrooms – Mushrooms are known for their immune enhancing and anti-cancer capabilities. This blend of Chinese mushroom extracts can be taken whether you are sick or are just trying to prevent yourself from catching what everyone else has.
• Astragalus – this single herb is a powerful immune stimulator that helps prevent colds and flu. A note about astragalus though: it should only be taken when you are NOT sick. If you catch an infection, switch to something less stimulating, like the Power Mushrooms. We sell astragalus at our clinic as a powder, but it can also be found at your natural foods store as a tincture or pill.

Having one or two of these formulas on hand can mean the difference between getting sick for two weeks, or making it through an illness with a little less time and a lot less suffering. Of course, there’s no substitute for lots of rest, plenty of fluids (and maybe an acupuncture treatment!) to help you recover swiftly. But being prepared for this challenging season will help you to feel less powerless against the forces of the common cold and even the H1N1 virus. If you still have questions, talk to your acupuncturist about which formulas you might want to have at home.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine offer an effective, time-tested approach to enhancing fertility and treating infertility. In fact, acupuncture has been used successfully for infertility treatment for thousands of years.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be used in combination with conventional reproductive medical care or as a primary treatment approach. Acupuncture can be effective for women taking fertility drugs or reproductive technology techniques (such as IVF or IUI).
Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine can also be effective as a stand-alone approach to treat infertility for those not undergoing conventional medical treatment. Acupuncture helps to regulate hormonal activity, thus regulating menstruation, ovulation, and pregnancy.
A recent study from the British Medical Journal found that among women who received acupuncture and IVF, the pregnancy rates were 65% higher and the rates of live births were nearly twice as high than among women who received IVF with sham acupuncture or no acupuncture.

Acupuncture helps to reduce stress and decrease the hypersympathetic nervous system response. Studies have shown that high stress levels decrease the likelihood of conceiving. Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate chemical changes within the uterine lining, thickening the endometrium, and preparing the uterus for implantation.

In men, acupuncture can improve sperm motility, volume and concentration as well as increase libido. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, optimum fertility enhancement would involve a course of treatments with the aim of nourishing the Kidney Essence and regulating the menstrual cycle as well as clearing any pathogens that may be interfering with the natural process of conception.

Acupuncture a Brief History

Acupuncture and moxabustion have been used in the Far East to restore, promote, and maintain good health for over 5000 years. The first acupuncture needles were made from stone, and then later from bronze, gold and silver. The first known medical account of acupuncture was The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine (Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen), which dates from around 300 BC.

Acupuncture is rooted in the Daoist philosophy of change, growth, balance, and harmony. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic outlines the principles of natural law and the phases of life – yin and yang, the five elements, the organ system and the meridian network along which the vital acupuncture points are located. These records also contain details of pathology and physiology, which some 2,000 years later provide the theoretical foundation for acupuncture today.

Although acupuncture is used far more extensively in China than in the West, the last few decades have seen huge growth in people seeking the benefits of this safe and highly effective treatment.

How Acupuncture Works

The ancient Chinese believed that there is a universal life energy, called Chi, present in all things ranging from infinitely tiny molecules to living breathing human beings. 

This Chi is said to circulate throughout the body along specific pathways or meridians. As long as this energy flows freely throughout the meridians, health is maintained, but once the flow of energy is blocked, the homeostatic system is disrupted resulting in pain or illness. 

Visualize if you will, rivers that flood and cause disasters or an electrical grid short-circuiting that causes blackouts etc. This is what happens to our somatic and spiritual landscapes when our Chi is not flowing harmoniously. The insertion of needles into specific points on these “channels” allows for the manipulation and harmonization of ones Chi, which results in improved health, and thus, increased fertility.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”

You have probably come across this famous quote written by Hippocrates (460 BC-377 BC), an ancient Greek doctor who is considered the father of Western medicine.  Sounds nice, right?  But how many of us really take this quote to heart?  How many of us really believe that we can cure ourselves with food?  Ancient Chinese doctors were strong believers in that food can be used as medicine.  During their time, when patients got sick, the first thing that the doctor would do is to change their diet.  Back then, these doctors didn’t have to deal with removing processed, denatured, chemically treated, high fructose corn syrup infused “food” that most of today’s population consumes.  They were concerned with making sure that the food was perfectly balanced energetically.  For example, if patient experienced symptoms of “dryness” e.g. dry skin, dry mouth, constipation with hard stools, doctor would prescribe foods that “moisten dryness” such as: pears, apples, soybean products, honey, eggs. clams etc.  If food therapy was not sufficient to completely cure particular symptoms, herbal medicine was prescribed as well as certain physical exercises that patient can do at home.  Each patient received different dietary recommendations because there is not such thing as one diet that fits all, a concept that we are struggling to prove wrong today.
Amazingly enough, ancient Chinese doctors were also aware that most of our immunity comes from our gut or Stomach and Spleen energies.  What we eat, how we eat it and most importantly how we digest it will have a direct impact on our energy, emotional state and immune system functioning.  After all, eating is something that we do multiple times every single day so it would be foolish to think that the quality of the food that we have consume will not have an impact on our health.  In order to increase the functioning of our immune system, it is important to increase the functioning of our gut.  How do you do that?

GENERAL GUIDELINES

1.  Regularly consume fermented foods rich in beneficial bacteria which help with digestive process.  Examples of fermented foods include: sauerkraut, kimchi, plain yogurt, kefir, miso, tempeh.  Small amount is all that you need but it has to be consumed regularly.  If you truly can’t stand any of these foods then it would be important to supplement with beneficial bacteria supplements.  I believe that no supplement can match the innate wisdom of food that nature has provided for us but something is better than nothing.  Acidophilus capsules can be found in most health food stores.  Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the brands that I recommend.

For more info on fermented food please visit: http://www.westonaprice.org/foodfeatures/lacto.html

2.  Remove highly processed foods from your diet.  Avoid products made with artificial ingredients, colors, preservatives, partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated trans fats (e.g. margarine and other fake butter spreads, non dairy creamers,), artificial sweeteners, highly processed and bleached wheat flour. Bottom line is: if a product that you are buying has a ton of ingredients that you can’t even pronounce, it is fair to say that it contains artificial ingredients that are bad for you.  Ideally, you want to switch to real food that has no ingredients other than what it is e.g. apple, potato, celery, carrot, kale (you see where I am going with this one).  Artificial ingredients and chemicals tax our immune system.  Toxic chemicals are unfortunately a daily part of our lives so if we can give our body a little break by not consuming toxic foods, it will thank us by providing us with more energy, better digestion and a healthier immune system.

3.  Drink only small amounts of room temperature or warm liquids during your meal.  Large amounts of ice water can dilute digestive enzymes present in your saliva as well as slow down your digestive process.  Certain amount of heat has to be present in order for stomach to function efficiently and digest food. It is better to take small sips of hot tea, clear soup or room temperature water during meals or drink liquids 15-30 minutes after a meal.

4.  Eat at regular times.  Eating at regular times and starting your day with nutritious breakfast which contains protein helps keep your blood sugar stable and makes your crave less unhealthy foods.  Eating at regular times also helps with having regular bowel movements.

5.  Don’t eat late at night.  According to Chinese medicine, our digestive system receives the most energy between 7-9am.  Make the most out of your breakfast and lunch time and try to eat less in the evening.  Digestive system should be resting at night while you sleep as opposed to working hard to digest the food that was eaten shortly before bed time.  Laying down right after a meal can cause heart burn and can interfere with your sleep.

5.  Don’t eat while emotionally stressed.  When we are under stress, our sympathetic nervous system diverts blood flow from out gut to other places e.g. muscles (in order to prepare us for the “fight or flight” response).  Stress is also known to alter our appetite and while some people have no appetite at all while stressed, others tend to overeat.  It is also important not to eat in places that you associated with stress (e.g. place where you pay your monthly bills) but to reserve a calm, comfortable area where you can relax and enjoy your food.

6.  Take your time, chew properly and enjoy every bite.  Eating while driving, working on computer, talking on a phone or doing crossword puzzles interferes with proper digestive process.  It is not incidental that in most cultures people used to (or still do) say a short prayer right before they start their meal.  Having a small ritual, saying a prayer, or simply being grateful for the food that you have can trigger the release of digestive enzymes and prepare your body to accept the nourishment.

SPECIFIC FOODS THAT INCREASE IMMUNITY

Foods which increase energy of the Stomach and Spleen have traditionally been used in Chinese dietary therapy to improve energy and immunity.  The dietary treatment for Spleen qi deficiency involves foods that are either warming or at least neutral in their thermal nature.  Foods with cooling properties weaken digestion as well as “digestive fire” necessary for healthy extraction and absorption of nutrients.  In order to strengthen your immune system you should eat:

Vegetables. Mushrooms are especially helpful for immunity so are: onions and garlic, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, yams, peas, pumpkin, cabbage, kale, leeks, chives, parsnips, green leafy vegetables as well as sea vegetables like kelp and other seaweeds.  Avoid eating raw, uncooked vegetables since they take more energy to digest and can cause loose stools.  Small amounts of salad in addition to your meal is fine especially in the summer time when vegetables are fresh and abundant.

Whole grains.  Rice, barley, oats and quinoa are recommended.  If you experience excessive mucous and chronic nasal congestion you might want to experiment with completely avoiding wheat and wheat products for two weeks.  If you notice that your condition is getting better it means that you could have an intolerance to gluten.  Gluten intolerance is also known to cause infertility and recurrent miscarriage.

Fruits. In Chinese medicine, most fruit has cooling energetic nature.  That is why fruit is abundant during summer time or tropical climates.  It is used to refresh us and cool us down.   Fruits that has neutral temperature includes: cherries, apricots , peaches, berries and are more appropriate for people who tend to run cold.  Fruits should be eaten in larger amounts during summer time.  In winter time, cooking or baking fruit is more advisable.

Beans and legumes. Garbanzo beans are especially good for tonifying the Spleen energy.  Other beans like black bans, kidney beans and all forms of lentils are also helpful.  You can start your day by eating rice and beans for breakfast.  Beans digest slowly and keep your blood sugar levels even so you will feel full of energy and satisfied until lunch time.  You will also be less likely to reach out for sugary treats during the day.

Meats and fish. Small amounts of of chicken, beef and lamb are used to tonify the energy.  It is important that meat is of highest quality and organically raised.  Smaller fish like sardines, trout, mackerel should be eaten in larger quantity as opposed to large fish like tuna and salmon because larger fish contains higher mercury content.

Warming spices like onions, garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, fennel, basil, dill, cumin and rosemary should be added to food.

Milk and dairy products.  Milk has a cooling energy and tends to exacerbate mucous conditions.  Small amounts of high quality raw milk can be consumed if you don’t suffer from too much mucous (or asthma).  Yogurt is best when consumed plain and it is easier to digest than plain milk.  For more information on milk and dairy please refer to my article “Got Real Milk?”.