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Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 6.
In this video you will learn:
16. Right Leg Up Folding Arms
17. Turn Body Pushing Palm
18. Hand Holding Bass Violin
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 5.
In this video you will learn:
14. Brush Knee Motion Pushing Palm
15. Cross Hands Motion
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 4.
In this video you will learn:
11. White Cranes Glittering Wings 1
12. White Cranes Glittering Wings 2
13. White Cranes Glittering Wings 3
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 3.
In this video you will learn:
7. Single Whip Motion
8. Right Arm Closes with Left Hand
9. Left Hand Lifted Leg Lifted
10. Right Hand Up Left Leg Kick
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 2.
In this video you will learn:
4. Left Leg Lifted Movement
5. Right Leg Lifted Movement
6. Peacock Fanning His Tail
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 1.
In this video you will learn:
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this premier video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over the opening exercises (Ba Duan Jin) we do in the in-person classes.
In this video you will learn:
Ba Duan Jin (Eight Sections Brocade):
Basic Exercises:
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Migraines affect about 10% of people worldwide.[1] Anyone who suffers from migraines can tell you, as far as headaches go, migraines are in a class of their own. In general, migraines tend to be one-sided with severe pain, but what differentiates a migraine from other headaches are the accompanying symptoms that can include visual disturbances, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and even temporary paralysis. Western medicine subdivides and categorizes migraines based on symptomatology.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has its own subdivisions for migraines based on etiology and symptomatology. If you are someone that suffers from migraines, can you relate to any of these categories?
In Chinese Medicine, external wind refers to forces of energy affecting us from the outside of the body and are often related to the invasion of bacteria and viruses when our immune system gets overwhelmed. If you have suffered from migraines triggered by the onset of a cold or flu, then you have experienced a migraine brought on by external wind. Accompanying symptoms can include a stiff neck, body aches, chills, fever, sore throat, congestion, and mild dizziness.
This is a big category, as liver pathology expresses itself in various ways. The liver in Chinese medicine is a very important organ for its role in keeping qi (energy) flowing smoothly. Blood follows qi, so while blood stagnation is in another category of its own, one of the root imbalances that can lead to that are issues with liver function.
Women are 3 times more likely to experience migraines[2] which is thought to be due to hormone fluctuations. The liver also regulates menstruation, according to TCM, so migraines related to cyclical hormone changes will generally fall under this category too.
Migraines related to Liver qi stagnation may come with an expanding/distending feeling and will often be triggered by stress and/or hormonal changes.
There is sometimes heat accumulation in the liver as well. Liver fire-type migraines can be identified by red, burning eyes, and occasionally labored breathing.
When the excess liver energy rises in the body, we call it: Liver yang up and you may be dealing with this if you experience dizziness, a bitter taste in the mouth, and find yourself short-tempered with a flushed face. If you have high blood pressure and/or ear ringing that goes along with your migraine, you may fall into this category as well.
Since excess liver energy will often ‘attack’ the digestion, Liver excess-type migraines may also include symptoms like gas, belching, and acid reflux.
There are many reasons the body can be in a deficient state. Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle reasons abound. Simply put though, if your migraines come along with extreme fatigue and exhaustion and possibly a pale complexion, you could fall into this category.
When we think of blood stagnation in Chinese Medicine, the main symptom we think of is pain. These tend to be the most severe migraines. Pain is sharp, in a fixed location, persistent, and steady. There may be associated memory loss and palpitations. These are also common with a history of head injury.
Some digestive symptoms were mentioned in relation to liver pathology, but someone who presents with an excess of damp or phlegm may have more extreme digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These may be relieved by the warmth if the body is also retaining cold energy. Also, while wind-type and ‘liver yang up’ migraines may be accompanied by some dizziness, with a phlegm buildup in the body it would be more pronounced, along with heavier sensations in the head.
No matter what is causing your migraine, acupuncture can help! Get in for a series of treatments that will rebalance these patterns and help keep you migraine-free. Call us today!
[1] https://www.medscape.com/answers/1142556-170220/what-is-the-global-prevalence-of-migraine-headache
[2] https://migrainebuddy.com/understanding-migraines-the-gender-divide/
It’s estimated that more than 37 million people in the United States suffer from migraines. Migraines are characterized by recurrent headaches with moderate-to-severe pain, usually occurring in a specific area of the head. While most headaches are minor and short-lived, migraines are more debilitating, often forcing the individual to miss work and/or reschedule his or her activities.
To make matters worse, however, many doctors and physicians prescribe harsh drugs for migraine sufferers that do more harm than good. A better solution is to first try one of the following drug-free ways to fight your migraines.
Foods can trigger up to half of the migraine sufferers. So, keep a journal in which you write down every food you eat, every beverage you drink, and every time you experience a migraine. The goal in doing so is to identify a connection between a specific food and your migraines. Gluten, for instance, may trigger a migraine if you have celiac disease, or perhaps the presence of artificial food coloring is triggering your migraines.
Acupuncture has been used to treat headaches and migraines for hundreds of years, and there’s no sign of this trend slowing down anytime soon. The American Headache Society has even recommended the use of acupuncture for treating migraines, attesting to its positive effects on this condition.
How exactly does acupuncture work? The practice involves the placement of thin needles in specific areas of the body with the goal of stimulating the individual’s Qi (Chee). The general belief is that stagnant Qi leads to illness, including migraines; therefore, correcting these blockages and restoring the Qi to its normal working order will treat migraines.
According to one study cited by Prevention, migraine sufferers who took 400 mg of riboflavin (a type of vitamin B2) reported fewer migraines after just 3 months. This water-soluble vitamin also plays a key role in maintaining energy levels and fighting fatigue.
Low-quality indoor air has been linked to an increased prevalence of migraines. Not long ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced indoor air pollution as being one of the top five environmental hazards. You can improve the air quality in your home or workplace, however, by cleaning the ductwork, changing the air filter on a regular basis, opening the windows, and adding plants.
If you are interested in becoming free of your migraines, call today and schedule your appointment.
Friday, June 10th is National Herb and Spice Day, a day to celebrate the diversity of flavors available to us through the powerful plant parts that have come to be known as herbs and spices. While this tradition is relatively recent in origin (first celebrated in 1999), the wonder of herbs and spices has been recognized throughout history, and not just for their culinary contributions. Former Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne (742-814 AD) had 74 different herbs growing in his garden and was quoted as saying:
“Herbs are the friends of physicians and the praise of cooks”
In Europe, by the middle ages, herbs and spices were commonly used in both cooking and medicine. As far back as around 2700 BC in Ancient China, however, a historical work known as The Classic Herbal mentioned more than a hundred medicinal plants, including cinnamon. It has been said that advisors to the royal court in China during the 3rd century BC carried cloves in their mouths so their breath was fresh when they addressed the emperors. In the 5th Century AD, according to Chinese records, ginger was carried on long sea journeys to prevent scurvy, as well as to delight the taste buds. [1]
Any student or practitioner of Chinese Medicine knows that Chinese food therapy (which includes many applications of medicinal herbs) was well documented in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic dating back to the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD).
So, if your medicine cabinet is looking a little bare, spice it up! If you’ve got some of these common seasonings in your kitchen, you’ve actually got a pretty well-stocked medicine cabinet!
Cinnamon: One of the most ancient spices still in use, the bark (Rou Gui) of the Cassia tree benefits circulation, and warms the body to expel cold and alleviate pain. Cinnamon is known to help support the body’s yang energy to stop diarrhea and even help with wound healing.
Ginger: Probably the most common seasoning in Chinese cooking, this root is used both fresh and dried. You may have the dried version in your cabinet as a powder. Dried ginger (Gan Jiang) is warming, aids in digestion, and boosts the qi for alleviating feelings of cold and fatigue.
Turmeric: Turmeric (Jiang Huang) is a root from a flowering plant related to ginger. It strongly moves the blood to unblock stasis, helping to ease arthritic, menstrual, and chest pain and to support liver health.
Clove: The penetrating aroma of clove (Ding Xiang) comes from the flower buds of a tree and when taken internally imparts strong warming energy that boosts yang qi in the body. They can help with hiccups, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Pepper: If you can’t find any of the other spices mentioned, you probably at least have this one on hand. Peppercorn (hu jiao) is the fruit of a flowering vine that warms the core of the body, descends rebellious qi, and dissipates phlegm to help with abdominal pain, vomiting, congestion, and epilepsy.
Mint: While many of these spices are considered warming. Mint leaves (bo he) is actually very strong in their ability to cool the body while promoting sweat and can ease symptoms of cold and flu, and help with headaches and menstrual cramps.
Garlic: In addition to scaring away vampires, this plant bulb (Da Suan) that is technically considered a vegetable (like an onion), is warm and dispersing. It is known for its ability to kill parasites, relieve toxicity in treating food poisoning, and can help clean the blood and reduce clotting.
Thyme: Much more than a delicious pizza topping, this herb was used by ancient Greeks and Romans as a way to stimulate courage. The Chinese use these shrub leaves (Bai Li Xiang) to tonify qi and warm the lungs. It has been used to treat cough and shortness of breath, and to strengthen immunity and digestion.
It’s good to know you’ve got some health resources right in your own spice cabinet, but it’s even better to know you’ve also got your local acupuncturist/herbalist on hand with even more tools to support your well-being. We’re here for you and look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!
[1] https://www.mccormickscienceinstitute.com/resources/history-of-spices
