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Winter is here, and for many of us, especially those in northern areas, it means getting ready for it properly. One of the most significant ways to prepare for the winter in the past was to preserve food, and pickling is one of the oldest techniques to do it.
The word pickle comes from the Dutch word Pekel, meaning salt or brine. Salt has been an important tool used for food preservation throughout history. In places that had large deposits of salt, like ancient Mesopotamia, people cured meat with salt. Pickling was also used all over the ancient world, either with salt brine or through a fermentation process. People in India are credited with the pickling of the first cucumbers over 3,000 years ago, while the ancient Chinese used vinegar brines for pickling much of their meat.
Today, pickles continue to be a beloved worldwide treat, with many delicious variations and flavor innovations. Whether pickled in salt and/or vinegar or fermented (which imparts the extra probiotic benefits), there are many healthy reasons to indulge!
Before sharing an easy at-home pickling recipe, let’s look at some of the Chinese Medicinal aspects to the 2 basic pickling components: salt and vinegar
*Salt is a flavor that is associated with the kidneys, and in moderation can help with kidney function. It is known to help regulate water in the body, dissolve masses, counter toxins, and balance acidic food.
Speaking of acidic food…
*Vinegar is endowed with the ability to regulate blood, in that it both moves stagnant blood and helps to stop bleeding. And like salt, it helps to resolve toxins in the body.
Recipe:
Pickled Daikon Radish with Chinese Peppercorn & Garlic
Ingredients:
Directions:
*You can eat them as soon as the next day, and they will last in the fridge for about 2-4 weeks.
While your mouth waters anticipating the flavor explosion you have just set yourself up for, take a moment to delight in the health benefits of the additional ingredients.
Both garlic and peppercorn are known to tonify yang in Chinese medicine. The combined warming qualities of the garlic and peppercorn are balanced by the cooling nature of the radish, making it safe for even hot constitutions. All in all, it’s balanced, healthy, and tasty.
For nutritional approaches and snack suggestions more customized to your unique personal pattern, ask your acupuncturist at your next visit, we’re happy to help support you in all aspects of your health journey!
Autumn is more than just a season in Chinese Medicine. It is the time of year that resonates with the Metal Element. The Metal Element includes the Lung and Large Intestine. The Lung’s superpower is Inspiration – of physical breath and spiritual creativity. And the Large Intestine superpower is Letting Go. Autumn can be the ideal time to let go of not only physical clutter but also, mental/emotional clutter and situations in our life that are no longer serving us.
The Lung is also responsible for your immunity as the first place, the natural invasion takes place is through the breath. Now is a key time to focus on breathwork, meditation, and immunity enhancing foods for the Metal Element, such as garlic, onions, foods that are fresh and white at their center – potatoes, cauliflower, almonds, radishes, parsnip, pear, apple, oats, rice, and white peppercorn.
The Lung also manifests in the skin. So, if you have any chronic skin conditions acupuncture treatment for strengthening the lung could hold the answer for you.
We can assist our skin to be as radiant as possible by looking after our internal organs which are the root cause of our health. Namely the Lung, and the Spleen. The Spleen plays a key role in digestion – the transforming and transporting of food as nourishment. The Spleen ascends moisture and pure qi upwards towards the lungs. Keeping the Spleen healthy will assist the Lungs indirectly through our diet and digestion. We can see through the quality of our skin also the state of the Spleen as if the skin is greasy and has many pimples it can show the spleen is weak in its function of controlling dampness. Healthy digestion will show on your face as a radiant complexion. Foods like asparagus, papaya, beans, and turnips help to eliminate dampness, also avoid excessively cold foods like ice cream, dairy, iced drinks, and raw food diets.
Yin nourishing foods though will assist the lung in creating a youthful radiant glow. Think of foods like goji berries, beans, dates, and dandelions to name a few.
Using a jade roller on the face will boost circulation to the face and help with the elimination of stagnation and toxins, making your skin brighter and more elastic. Use it from the center of your face and roll outwards after your normal cleanse and moisturize routine.
Acupuncture facials are second to none for an immediate boost of collagen to the face, and a course of facial treatments can give phenomenal results. A facial acupuncture treatment will also be combined with body points according to your unique diagnosis to strengthen the internal organs and promote the smooth flow of qi and an immense sense of wellbeing.
Acupuncture points you can self-massage with acupressure are Heavenly Appearance, located behind the curve of the jaw, and LI4 located in between the thumb and first finger on the mound of muscle there.
These are some TCM recommendations and of course good hydration, exercise, and sleep are imperative too. Happy autumn.
If you are looking for a way to help with an easier transition into a brand-new season, give us a call today, we can help.
The season of Thanksgiving is upon us. Gratitude is such a powerful healer and the gateway into love. Ultimately Love is the most powerful healing agent in any situation and gratitude is the first step to embodying it.
Gratitude and Love help to balance and heal the fire element within us, as do connection and social engagement. Making this season the perfect time for some heart healing – and let’s take a look at how we can maximize this holiday to balance all of our elements.
Fire: Associated organs, Heart, Small Intestine. Gratitude lists, connections, and time spent with family and friends.
Earth: Associated organs, Stomach, Spleen. Eat mindfully, eat according to the season with lots of orange autumnal seasonal, nourishing foods. Eating in good company at leisure, exactly the way our digestion works best will help to keep your Earth element in balance throughout the thanksgiving festivities.
The Earth element really is the epicenter of our entire system. A balanced Earth gives you a clear mind. A clear mind will give you the ability to manifest what you want in your life – but meditating BEFORE breakfast or the movement in your digestive system will create more movement in your mind. And don’t forget – sweet is the flavor of this element – but try not to overindulge!
Water; Associated organs, Kidneys, Bladder. Did you know that your Kidneys store your life essence and your bladder channel represents your nervous system? Most of us are running around in a perceived deficit of time all day every day, this keeps our nervous system on high alert or as we say in Chinese Medicine, keeps us in Yang mode all day long. When do you take a break? I mean a real break, a Yin nourishing break. We are designed to take Yin nourishing time during the day, every day and very few of us are actually doing it. Your whole being deserves to be given some well-earned rest, capitalize on it this holiday and take some time out for doing absolutely nothing.
Metal: Associated organs, Lung, Large Intestine. Get out into that magical crisp autumn air for an after-dinner walk – this will not only get your digestion moving but you can also fill your lungs with air and inspiration. Whether you go alone and reconnect to your precious self, or together with loved ones, this one ticks a lot of boxes. There are also sponsored 5k walks like the ‘Turkey Trot for Hunger that you can take part in, you can walk you don’t need to run – or you could run and earn that thanksgiving dinner!
Wood: Associated organs, Liver, Gallbladder. I couldn’t leave a holiday article finished without mentioning how to bounce back from little (or not so little) indulgences! Your Liver may be the only one not getting a break this holiday so make sure to show it some love by eating/drinking plenty of greens. Add some lemon to your water and allow yourself some space and time to process any emotions that are brought to the surface during this time which can be highly charged for many. Wood also controls the Earth Element so keeping your Liver happy will help to digest all of that extra rich food!
So, if you’re looking for a little more balance this time of year, give us a call. You’ll be thankful you did!
Halloween is thought to have started in the ancient Celtic civilization around 4000 BC and is celebrated as a period when the veil between worlds is thin. Spirits were welcomed and honored during this time, which marked the conclusion of the harvest season and the start of the darker half of the year. Some spirits, on the other hand, were regarded to be bad and so unwanted. Costumes were worn for protection and to ward off evil spirits. This practice gave rise to the modern-day Halloween practices that we are all familiar in the West.
Many countries have similar celebrations and festivities to honor the spirit world. China has a festival called Teng Chieh, the ‘ghost festival’ which began as a religious ritual nearly 2000 years ago. While it is currently celebrated in July and not October, it’s rooted in the same recognition of life beyond the physical. Lanterns and bonfires are lit to help guide spirits back to their earthly homes and allow the living a chance to honor deceased loved ones. This is a time to leave food, water, and gifts with portraits of family members who have passed.
The Metal element is related to the Fall in Chinese Medicine, and the corresponding emotion is sadness, which is held in the lungs. Grief is a natural aspect of life that we must all face at some point. If grief is suppressed and not adequately processed, it can lead to health problems, particularly lung illness. Taking time to commemorate loved ones who have passed away and allowing emotions to flow can help with disease prevention and health maintenance in the long run. According to Chinese Medicine seasonal energies, the fall is an excellent time to accomplish this. Halloween, a chance to face the dark side of death with a certain amount of playful protection, can be a reminder to put aside the spooky fun for a moment and lovingly honor our deceased friends and relatives.
*Find a picture of a departed loved one, frame it, and display it in an area, with room for a candle and some memory-honoring items.
* You can include some items they owned or passed down.
*Make an ‘offering’ of their favorite things such as food, flowers, or even pictures of things they liked.
*Write a letter of things unsaid or things worthy of being repeated.
* Donate in their honor to a cause they valued.
*Acupressure point to tap into ancestral wisdom and connect with your lineage:
TW 7: MEETING OF THE ANCESTORS:
Location: On the posterior forearm, between the radius and ulna, approx. 3 inches up from the wrist crease, and slightly closer to the pinky side.
On a spiritual level, this is a way to connect with your ancestors. Stimulating this point is like calling a clan meeting with generations passed, to gain their heavenly perspective and get their wise counsel.
Chinese Medicine is rooted in Taoist philosophy which views death as a natural part of life that we all must accept and goes so far as to suggest that life is an illusion while death is an awakening. Regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs, it can be a healing practice to take time to remember people in our lives who have passed on to the great mystery.
Enjoy all the feelings of the season, the changing smells, colors, and of course the fun of the fall holidays. Don’t forget to make time for some Acupuncture to assist with the emotional energies that naturally arise during this time, which can include grief and sadness. Acupuncture can help open the pathways that allow these emotions to flow in a healthy, supported way. We’re here for you!
October has been recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month for more than 30 years. In the history of the condition, which has been around for at least 5000 years, this campaign to raise awareness and funds for study can be considered a recent undertaking. Cases reaching back to 3,000 BC are described in medical writings. Approximately 1 in every 8 women may get invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. (The lifetime risk of breast cancer for a man is approximately 1 in 883.) Educational efforts highlighting warning indicators such as breast enlargement or discomfort, nipple soreness, or pitted skin are used to promote early detection. Researchers in Western medicine have discovered hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors that may increase the risk of breast cancer, but the cause remains a mystery.
Chinese Medicine organizes causative factors into the following categories which can also interact in complex ways:
*Stagnation (liver qi): The liver oversees the moving of the qi in the body, dispersing stagnation caused by various influences (such as the other causative factors listed below). Emotional stress can cause a weakness in its capacity for qi distribution and regulation. The liver channel also connects directly with the breasts. Unchecked stagnation can cause dense tissue and masses to form.
*Heat: On a very basic level, heat in TCM can be likened to inflammation. This can be caused by internal or external influences. One of the main external influences that can lead to heat (and therefore inflammation) in the body are environmental toxins.
*Deficiencies: Both qi and blood deficiencies can contribute to the development of breast cancer. The immune system needs enough qi to target and remove abnormal (potentially cancerous) cells and regenerate healthy ones. A deficiency of blood can lead to stagnation if there is not enough blood to maintain vigorous circulation (picture a river during a drought). Also, a deficiency of spleen qi (related to digestion) often leads to dampness in Chinese Medicine.
*Dampness: One of the ways dampness expresses itself in the body is by the accumulation of excess fat. Also, dampness and heat combined usually generate ‘phlegm stagnation’ which can take the form of hardness, nodules, and tumors.
Luckily, the approach to prevention is not as complex as breaking down the causes.
Prevention tips:
Enjoy nutritious seasonal food to support the creation of new qi and blood.
Avoiding processed food will help to minimize toxic heat and dampness in the body and cut down on our body’s inflammatory responses.
Regular exercise helps us to maintain circulation and healthy weight while allowing us to sweat out toxins.
Filtering our air and water can help minimize our exposure to environmental toxins.
Liver detox teas and gentle cleansing protocols, especially during Spring (liver time), can be very beneficial in ridding the body of accumulated toxins and supporting the liver’s role in the free flow of qi.
Managing stress is critical. Target your biggest stressors in life and make changes to either remove them, limit them, or create better-coping strategies.
Massage and castor oil packs can be used preventatively to help avoid local stagnation, often found in fibrocystic (lumpy) breasts (though these direct approaches are usually avoided in the treatment of actual cancerous tumors).
Acupuncture and Herbs are wonderful tools for prevention and can also help to treat side effects of conventional cancer therapies (nausea, neuropathy, pain, etc.).
TCM’s approach to Breast cancer prevention is overall health promotion. Call us today to get in for some health-promoting acupuncture sessions, to help prevent cancer and other diseases, and feel your best!
Do you ever feel your life’s a ride that won’t ever stop? How many nights do you wait for Mr. Sandman to magically appear? How often do you truly take time for yourself? Do you have aches and pains almost daily? Are over-the-counter or prescription medications controlling your life? When was the last time you felt at peace? If any of these questions resonate with you, then it might be time to look at Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for an answer. People in Asian countries have known the magnificence of acupuncture for thousands of years. Traditional Chinese Medicine is growing in popularity in the United States and here are some reasons why you might want to consider utilizing it also.
Acupuncture can address imbalances in your body that may contribute to your
inability to get a good night’s sleep. The needles can encourage the brain to produce the chemicals that help you relax and sleep better. If you have difficulty falling asleep, you wake up frequently or you toss and turn a lot, acupuncture might just be the missing link.
Thousands of people in the U.S. suffer from depression and anxiety. And while there are many amazing therapists available to talk to, psychotherapy may not be enough. Also, many of the prescription medications available have terrible side effects. This is where acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas can help. Acupuncture can start to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety in as few as two treatments without any harsh side effects.
Runny nose? Sneezing? Watery, itchy eyes? Does this sound familiar?
Seasonal or otherwise, allergies can be debilitating. But multiple studies have shown that allergy symptoms can be decreased and sometimes even eliminated with the use of regular acupuncture treatments. Immunity begins in the gut and acupuncture treatments for allergies will focus on the energetic meridians that support your immune system.
For those who suffer from these monsters, life can be a toss of the dice. Migraines can come on without warning and can be completely devastating. And yet again, the pharmaceuticals that most migraine sufferers are prescribed can lead to harsh side effects. Acupuncture can reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines over time.
Many women suffer monthly from menstruation problems. It can be that the period is irregular, painful, or so heavy that it leads to anemia and fatigue. There can also be mental-health effects associated with periods such as depression and anger. Over-the-counter medications only mask the symptoms. To treat the root of the problem, give acupuncture a try. Once again, it’s all about balancing your body. That’s how acupuncture works to regulate menstrual problems.
Pain is the number one reason why people turn to acupuncture, and for good reason. If you’ve tried everything else and got little to no relief, acupuncture may be right for you. But remember, chronic pain took time to develop, and it will also take time for acupuncture treatments to work. Many people get some relief immediately, but acupuncture works on a cumulative basis, so commitment to the process is a must.
Did you know that acupuncture’s main function is to help keep you healthy? If not, then you’re not alone. While acupuncture may not be known for preventive care, it should be. Waiting until there is an injury or illness will only cause the treatments to take longer. Using acupuncture preemptively will help you fight off illness and let you recover more quickly. That’s reason enough to give it a try.
Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the brain particularly the pituitary and hypothalamus region. Research has shown that acupuncture will release different hormones, chemicals, and neurotransmitters. Some of the different substances that acupuncture has been shown to release are endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. The regulation and release of these natural substances in your body will allow your body to self-heal and become balanced again.
This is but a small list of things Acupuncture can help with. If you would like to know if something can be helped by using Acupuncture, give us a call today here at Master Lu’s Health Center and get feeling better today!
Your immune system is your body’s security system. When your body gets invaded by foreign invaders bacteria, parasites, and other microbe-causing infections it’s the job of the immune system to protect your body against such invaders. There are immune system disorders that range from common conditions such as mild seasonal allergies to more serious illnesses like leukemia. There are other common lifestyle and environmental factors that can contribute to weakening the immune system like stress, lack of sleep, which can make you vulnerable to infections.
Good news! Acupuncture therapy can treat a wide range of health conditions, including immune deficiency, by stimulating and balancing the immune system. Acupuncture can strengthen a weakened immune system by increasing red and white cell counts, T-cell count and enhancing humoral and cellular immunity. Acupuncture can regulate immune function and treat the underlying cause of the disease by reducing symptoms, speeding up the healing of infection, and normalizing the body’s immune response.
Get into a comfortable position so that you can easily access all points.
Begin with Kidney 27 and work your way down the body.
Kidney 27
Large Intestine 11
Lung 7
Stomach 36
Apply finger pressure in a slow, rhythmic manner to enable the layers of tissue and the internal organs to respond. Never press any area in an abrupt, forceful, or jarring way. Keep track of the results of your self-acupressure practice to pay close attention to your progress and well-being.
Acupressure To Support Immune Health
Kidney 27:
To locate Kidney 27 (KD27), place your hands on either side of the depression on the lower clavicle bone. From here (with your fingers below the clavicle) separate hands approximately 1-2i n horizontally (outward toward shoulders).
An excellent immune-boosting point used for common colds, influenza, and for people that have compromised immune systems. KD27 is known to open the chest, descend lung and stomach Qi, and stop coughing.
Large Intestine 11:
Large Intestine 11 (LI11) is located on the tip of the elbow. The easiest way to find this point is to bend your arm, look down the outer side of your forearm to the elbow, LI 11 lies there where the elbow crease meets the joint.
This point runs along the Large Intestine meridian, traveling up the index finger, through the arm, shoulder, and neck, into the face and nose. This point acts as a fever-reducing point, but it is also used to help prevent the flu and other immune-compromising conditions. It is known to be one of the strongest points in the body for clearing heat. Think of LI 11 as a great vent for the body to release a little steam whenever it’s needed.
Lung 7:
Lung 7 (LU 7) is located on the inside arm above the wrist. To find this point interlock your fingers (palms snuggly together) and direct your attention to your lowest thumb. On the outer edge of your thumb, you will find the crease of your wrist. The point lies roughly one inch down toward the elbow, in a depression between the sinew and the bone.
This is a very common point to use for systematic relief of cough, headache, and/or stiff neck. As the Luo point of the Lung channel, this point is used to treat anything related to the lungs (asthma, wheezing, bronchitis, cough, congestion, etc.) and can help symptoms associated with a weakened immune system.
Stomach 36:
ST 36 can be found on the anterior (front) aspect of the lower leg. To identify the acupressure massage point, measure roughly four fingers below the kneecap on the outside edge of your shinbone. You will know you’re in the right place by flexing your foot back to feel the muscle below (the tibialis anterior muscle) begin to flex
Performing acupressure on Stomach 36 is like a Vitamin C shot for your body. It is one of the most effective acupuncture points for strengthening the immune system, recovering from fatigue, and boosting endurance.
If you are interested in boosting your immune system, call today to schedule an appointment so we can help you prepare for the coming winter.
The effects of stress on college students and staff in a “big urban college population” were studied at Arizona State University. The experiment consisted of a two-group, randomized controlled trial in which subjects were given either sham or verum acupuncture. The study involved college students, faculty, and staff from a large public university, and it was approved by the university’s institutional review board with each participant’s agreement.
Prior to the start of the trial, each participant completed the Cohen’s Global Measure of Perceived Stress questionnaire at five distinct points. The goal of this stage was to see how stress levels altered or didn’t change for each participant during the treatment.
The acupuncture points that were used within the study were as follows: GV 20 / PC 6 / HT 7 / Ying Tang / Four Gates / CV 17 / CV 6 / ST 36.
These points were given to the treatment group which was set to undergo verum acupuncture. Each group reported to the acupuncture clinic once a week for a 30-minute session.
The second group (considered the control group) received sham acupuncture in 3 points that are not known to have any effect on stress. These points on the body are located between meridians and were inserted unilaterally and without stimulation or manipulation to ensure that de qi would not occur.
After the study was completed, each participant was asked about their stress levels six, twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four weeks later. The verum acupuncture group reported a 45.8% reduction in stress perception between the first treatment and the 24th-week post-treatment. Between the start of the trial and the end of therapy, the sham acupuncture group had a 40.3 percent difference in stress levels. The sham acupuncture group, on the other hand, showed a decrease in stress scores three months after treatment.
To reduce the amount of error in the study, they “treated every participant with the same point combination, no matter what their underlying energetics may have suggested.” This was to keep the acupuncture points as consistent as possible to obtain the most accurate results possible.
The study found that acupuncture lowered stress in the study participants, but that a larger sample size might benefit in obtaining more statistically consistent results.
This study appears promising for determining the effects of reducing stress on university-goers through the treatment of acupuncture. However, further study and testing would be necessary for more conclusive results.
If you are having high levels of stress while in college and you are trying to find a healthy way of releasing it, call us today and see how acupuncture can help you release your stress and lead to doing better in school.
Late summer signals the start of a new school year, so it’s a wonderful time for students to get ready for a successful school year. Your study area is a great place to start. Feng shui gold is decluttering! It’s time to tidy up your desk and make it more welcoming. You can also improve the energy by adding a plant. With that in mind, now is the time to clear and purify your mind and body, as well as provide some extra support, so you can face the excitement and difficulties of the new school year with strength, clarity, and tranquility.
This is the time to cut back on the indulgences of summer vacation and make sure to shift towards getting a full night’s sleep if you’ve been keeping late hours. It’s also important to increase hydration as your body will need the fluid to wash out any accumulated toxins. Cut back on ‘damp forming foods like excess dairy, sugar, and gluten which according to Chinese Medicine tax the spleen. The spleen houses the Yi our intellect, and these foods can fog the mind and weigh it down. They can also affect our ability to fight off colds/the flu as spleen qi is related to gut health and immunity.
In addition to allowing the body a chance to cleanse, it’s also time to detox the mind. The absolute best way to accomplish this is through meditation. Finding just 15 min a day to sit quietly without distraction and allow the mind to settle is essential to generating a focused intellect, releasing stress, and supporting our resistance to pathogens.
With some of the mind and body clutter cleared out, we can make room for extra support through diet, herbs, and acupressure. The shen (mind) rests in the heart but will get restless if there is a lack of blood. Prepare for study season with blood tonifying foods like dark leafy greens, dark red berries, and beets. To keep immunity strong, flavor dishes with ginger, garlic, and scallions. Walnuts are the perfect study snack, being an easy-to-grab kidney tonic with positive effects on brain health according to TCM.
Some herbs for keeping the mind serene and sharp, and the body healthy are Ginkgo Biloba, Reishi mushroom, and turmeric. Gingko Biloba has long been recognized for its cognitive health benefits. Reishi is considered the immunity mushroom, credited with the ability to increase the activity of white blood cells. Turmeric is also great for immunity and brain health but especially important to keep the liver clean and happy. According to Chinese Medicine, if the liver is happy, there is a smooth flow of qi, which translates to a feeling of ease and effortlessness.
Back in acupuncture school, a familiar sight before test time would be students with tiny antennas coming out of their heads. These 4 points called Si Shen Cong (meaning 4 Spirit Wisdom) were needled to bring qi and blood to the brain to revive concentration. To stimulate these with acupressure find the highest point of your head. From this central point find 4 points approximately 1 inch up, back, and side to side. Another common sight in school would be students applying moxibustion (the burning of mugwort) to a point on the leg referred to as STOMACH 36, also known as immunity’s master point. The ancients said if you burned moxa on this point daily you would never get sick. This is another acupressure gem. It’s located in a sensitive depression about 4 finger-widths down from the base of the kneecap, just to the outside of the shin bone. A final point to massage would be LIVER 3 (Great Surge), located between the big toe and second toe about an inch down. Many acupuncturists think of this as the ‘de-stress point as it assists the liver in moving qi through blockages, bringing a ‘great surge’ of calm over the system. With a calm, clear mind and body and these supportive tools, you’ll be ready for success!
Don’t forget to reward yourself for these efforts by scheduling a relaxing acupuncture treatment to further assist in seasonal detox and set yourself up with the support you need to thrive in the year ahead, whether that’s in grade school, college, or just life in general!
Traditional Chinese Medicine is made up of 5 branches: Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Nutrition, Tuina, and exercise. Acupuncture is probably one of the most popular of these branches, it’s commonly used to treat a multitude of ailments in adults and is gaining popularity among pediatrics. There are licensed acupuncturists who specialize in treating children and are in high demand. These pediatric acupuncturists are helping children where others can’t and for many, it is lifesaving.
Most kids, as well as a lot of adults, are afraid of needles. So, the pairing of acupuncture and kids might not be an obvious one. However, more and more parents are seeking alternative methods of treatment for their children. This is because our conventional medical system is faltering a bit. Pharmaceuticals are proving to be more harmful than beneficial for many, especially kids. And with the bodies and brains of children still being developed, who can really blame a parent for wanting to find an alternative to drugs with adverse side effects?
Parents are turning to acupuncture because it provides a safe resolution of illness, while also preventing future illnesses. This happens because acupuncture and acupressure stimulate the body’s ability to restore and heal itself. Our bodies are fully capable of fighting off disease and healing injuries when the right tools are provided. Acupuncture not only stimulates the immune system but also relaxes the nervous system and regulates the digestive and hormonal systems. All these things need to be in balance for the body to heal.
Kids are more prone to getting sick because their immune systems are still being built. Children also tend to be more susceptible to bacteria and viruses because of their immature immune systems. For some children, school can create added stress that taxes the immune system. There are a lot of factors involved when it comes to staying healthy. This is where TCM can be very beneficial.
TCM approaches illness and ailments from a very different angle. In TCM, wind is one of the six external pathogens that can invade the body and produce symptoms. The external pathogens responsible for the cold are seen as invasions of wind. The body is protected by something known as the Wei Qi (defensive Qi, pronounced “way chee”). The Wei Qi is comparable to the immune system in conventional medicine and acts as the first line of defense when the body is under attack from external pathogens. If the Wei Qi is strong, then the body can fight off invaders like viruses and bacteria. The Wei Qi keeps the pores of the skin closed and prevents wind from entering.
There are specific acupressure points on the body that can help improve a child’s immune system. There are also other techniques that are used in TCM that may help, like Gua Sha or cupping. Both techniques stimulate blood flow and help remove toxins through the skin, which can boost immunity.
Not only is acupuncture cost-effective for treating children, but it is a logical approach to healing their illnesses.
If you are looking for ways to improve your child’s immune system, give us a call today and schedule an appointment.
