Staying Healthy Archives - Page 2 of 6 - Acupuncture in the Park

The Healing Power of Smell

Have you ever caught a whiff of some smell that immediately brought you back to your childhood? It may be the smell of bread or cookies baking, the scent of a plant that grew near your childhood home, or the familiar smell of a building where you spent a lot of time as a kid. For me, the smell of fresh lavender immediately reminds me of my grandmother who treasured her tiny garden of this fragrant herb. The smell of balsam also evokes memories of my childhood in New England; the woods of New Hampshire, balsam scented incense, and eating maple sugar candy.

Your sense of smell is one of the most powerful triggers for memory that exists. This distinct connection between your sense of smell and memories makes it apparent that what you smell affects your brain. I have to admit that I used to be very skeptical of the ability of scented essential oils to have any effect on your health. However, I’m now convinced that there are a number of ways that your sense of smell can be used to heal. Here are a few examples:

-The smell of Eucalyptus may trigger memories of when you were sick as a kid–I know it does for me. It’s the smell of Vicks Vaporub and Mentholatum—stuff that was only used when I was sick. There’s a reason for this. The camphor, minty, and gum scents are stimulating and open up your respiratory tract and ease breathing. Whether it’s applied to your chest or in a steam mist, the scent of Eucalyptus is a non-toxic and non-irritating way to treat the common cold.

-In Chinese medicine, the use of heat has long been considered to be an important healing tool. Centuries before electricity was discovered, the Chinese used something called moxabustion to warm achy joints, sore muscles, and acupuncture points for the purpose of healing. Moxabustion (or moxa) involves the herb Artemesia Vulgarius, which is rolled into small cones, a long stick or even used loose. When lit, this herb burns very hot and can effectively warm areas on your body that have become cold, stiff, or need more circulation. The reason why Artemesia is used in this way is that while the heat is very penetrating, the smell of the burning herb is also incredibly dense and penetrating, which is an important part of its healing properties.

-Did you know that what you smell when you walk in the woods or other natural settings can actually be good for your well-being? The health benefits of walking in the woods was originally discovered by Japanese researchers, who called the activity Shinrin-Yoku, or Forest Bathing. They found that Forest Bathing can have positive benefits such as reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, decreasing depression, and improving immunity. What does this have to do with the healing power of smell? It seems that the healthy benefits of forest bathing comes from something called phytoncides, which are strong smelling chemicals that are given off by trees and other plants for the purpose of protection. So when you stand in a grove of pine trees and take a deep breath, not only does it smell good; it’s also good for your health.

-When I first discovered aromatherapy, I thought it was a lot of nonsense, relegated to the status of mood rings and Pyramid Power. Over time, however, I have come to realize that essential oils can be useful, but they have been used throughout history for religious practices, cultural traditions, and healing purposes. Aromatherapy is based on the fact that different scents have different energetics and affect your brain’s ability to heal based on the properties of the scent. For example, some of the floral scents like rose, ylang ylang, or jasmine are relaxing and can be used for calming or as a gentle sleep aid. In contrast, the scent of conifers, citrus, or eucalyptus can be invigorating and are best used to boost energy.

The potential of using scent shouldn’t be overlooked in the healing process. I work with a great number of patients who are using a combination of acupuncture, herbs, diet, work/rest balance, and visualization to heal. Some are looking for more ways to be healthy. So why not add the power of smell into the healing mix?

Cloudy With a Chance of Aches and Pains

I love the early days of autumn! It’s still hot during the daytime, but the nights are beginning to cool off. The oppressive humidity of July and early August is gone, and in its place are dry, sharp days with a deep blue sky and nights with a cool edge that is perfect for sleeping. While the end of summer dishes up perfect weather, there is one downside, and it’s that you can feel a hint of winter coming. The cooler nights and darker mornings are enough to trigger mild depression and low energy in some weather-sensitive people.

While seasonal transitions are stressful on your body, the transition from summer to fall can be one of the most difficult. While an increase in light and warmth is a welcome change in the spring, moving into the dark days of fall and winter can be a tough transition. And while you might not think that what’s going on outdoors as stressful, the reality is that we are all affected by the weather and seasonal changes to some degree.

In my practice, I see many patients who are deeply affected by the weather. They may be suffering from arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, sinus issues, headaches, or allergies. Changes in barometric pressure, temperature, humidity, or precipitation all have the ability to aggravate their symptoms.

In Chinese medicine, if you have any kind of symptoms that fluctuate with the weather, it is considered to be an external issue—meaning that what’s bothering you is coming from the outside or is affecting your body at a superficial level. Colds, flu, and allergies are categorized as external conditions, but so is your arthritic knee or sinus headache that’s triggered by a change in barometric pressure. In contrast, internal conditions are those symptoms and illnesses that are triggered by imbalances deep within your body. Autoimmune illnesses, hormonal issues, and digestive problems almost always come under the heading of internal disease.

The nature of your symptoms are a little bit like bad weather affecting your body and give us practitioners key information about how best to help you. For example, if your arthritic knees blow up during the hot and humid weather, it’s likely that your diagnosis is related to heat and dampness. However, if you’re more achy when the weather gets cold, your symptoms would be classified as cold (and most likely damp, too). Pathogens that may affect your symptoms include:

-Heat. You may feel hot overall, your symptoms are worse in the heat, and your joints or headache may also feel hot. Often migraines, arthritis, and inflammation fall into this category.

-Cold. If you’re symptoms are worse in the cold weather, chances are good that there is an element of cold to your diagnosis. Cold contracts and feels stiff and achy.

-Dampness. This is your body’s inability to metabolize water well. It may manifest as swelling, heaviness, or edema. Almost all joint pain has some dampness associated with it, and symptoms are worse when the weather is humid or damp. You can have damp plus cold, in which the cold rainy weather aggravates your symptoms, or damp plus heat, in which the hot and humid weather lights things up.

-Wind. In almost every case, the wind is not your friend. When you have an external wind pathogen, your symptoms may come and go, move around, and even be itchy. Wind is also the pathogen behind most colds and flu.

In Chinese medicine, dealing with external conditions takes a dual approach. Your practitioner will work to strengthen your exterior. This is a little like bumping up immunity, but in Chinese medicine, immunity is more like a protective bubble that keeps external pathogens like heat, cold, or damp from making you sick. The second order of business is to deal directly with what pathogens are involved in your symptoms—clearing heat, drying dampness, warming cold, or extinguishing wind. This is done through a combination of acupuncture, herbs, diet, and even lifestyle tweaks.

If you struggle with external pathogens, there are couple of things you can do for yourself to help minimize symptoms including:

-Eat to reduce inflammation. Keep your sugar consumption to a minimum, avoid packaged foods, and choose lots of vegetables and fruits as well as healthy plant-based fats (nuts, seeds, olives and olive oil, and avocadoes).

-Also, eat to ease your particular pathogen. You’ll need a little help from your practitioner here, but in general, look for warm foods (like ginger, garlic, horseradish, and cinnamon) to help with cold pathogens, choose cooling foods (mint, bananas, cucumbers, and melons) for hot conditions, and drying foods (barley, celery, mushrooms, and onions) to drain dampness.

-Pay attention to not only the weather, but your physical reaction to it. If you’re feeling achy on a cold rainy day, use a heating pad to warm your body up. If the heat and humidity is aggravating a health condition, turn on the air conditioning—it will cool things off and dry out the air.

A Body in Motion: Chinese Medicine and Exercise

I grew up in a swimming pool. My Dad was a swimmer both in college and during World War II, and he expected us kids to be swimmers, too. I remember every summer weekday practicing at the local swim club, come rain or shine. Saturday mornings were devoted to meets to test our skills in the water against other kids in the area. Sometimes it was fun; sometimes not so much, but there was never a question about whether or not we wanted to participate; it was what we did.

So you would think as an adult I might reject all things active, but in reality just the opposite is true. I have spent a lifetime engaged in sports or activities of some kind. And I attribute my activity to an ethic that I developed from those early years in the pool.

It’s not always been easy to stay motivated to exercise; it’s a constant struggle to this day. However, over the years I used various tricks and strategies that have helped. In the days that I was running a lot, a local road race was a great motivator. Hiking trips, active vacations, having an exercise buddy, switching activities, or working with a trainer have kept me going over the years, especially when I wasn’t feeling the exercise love.

I also realize that if there were such a thing as the fountain of youth, exercise would be it. Whether we are talking about Western medicine or Chinese medicine, the consensus is that being physically active is a good thing. However, while Western medicine focuses mostly on the physical and physiological benefits of activity, Chinese medicine has a slightly different spin. Here are a few thoughts on exercise, based on Chinese theory:

-Movement creates more movement. In Chinese medicine, good health is all about movement in the form of flow. Chinese medicine is energetic in nature, and the two basic tenets are that you need enough energy for your body to perform and secondly, that energy needs to flow. Think about it; blood flows through your vessels, food moves through your digestive system, and nerve signals flow to and from your brain. Even your emotions flow. When that flow is impeded, you begin to have signs and symptoms of imbalance. Blood clots, heart disease, indigestion, heartburn, neuropathy, stress, and depression—these are all symptoms that your flow has been hindered in some way.

So when I say that movement creates more movement, I am also saying that movement creates flow. When you exercise, you are ramping up your heart and lungs, and your blood gets moving. Your muscles are firing, and even your digestion is moving a little better. On the emotional front, feel-good endorphins are circulating in your brain in increasing numbers. This fuels the flow of joyfulness—or releases stress at the very least. Exercise is the antidote to stagnation on every level.

-Pay attention to the balance of work and rest. Just as important as getting enough exercise is getting enough rest. Exercise is active and warming and considered to be Yang in nature. In contrast, rest and sleep are rejuvenating and Yin in nature. You need enough of both to stay healthy and balanced.

-A few words on overdoing it. In Chinese medicine, something called overwork is a real thing and is considered to be a cause of illness. Too many hours at the office, caregiving without relief, studying too long, and over exercising are all considered to be overworking. Exercise is a good thing, but it is absolutely possible to do too much. If you’re increasing your exercise levels, remember to only bump it up by about ten percent a week. Some common signals that you’re overtraining is a disruption in your sleep, irritability, and overuse injuries.

-Pay attention to the Yin and Yang of the seasons. When I first moved to Minnesota, I was committed to running regardless of the weather outdoors. I managed to run even when the temperature was well below zero. After a couple of years, I developed exercise induced asthma, which was triggered by the cold weather—a love note from my body that maybe I needed to take a break on the coldest days of the winter.

Your body will be happier if you pay attention to seasonal shifts. During the spring and especially in the summer, you’re meant to really go outside and play. Then as the days turn cooler and winter sets in, what your body really wants is a little less exercise and a little more rest and warmth. So in honor of the Yin and Yang of the seasons, I do a lot more exercise outdoors during the warm months, and either slow down or take my activity indoors when it’s really cold outside.

-Take it outside when you can. Chinese medicine is based on patterns in nature. When you are outside, you’re more in touch with the natural world. You can feel the weather changing, hear the birds migrating, and see the plants sprouting in the spring. Being outdoors in nature puts you in touch not only with your own natural patterns, but it puts you in touch with the divine Qi—the power that allows seasons to change, plants to grow, and the sun to shine. This is a good thing.

The bottom line is that exercise is kind of like a magic bullet—it keeps your body functional and your mind active. The challenge is to stay motivated; exercise should be fun, it should feel good, and it should mostly be done outdoors.

Hearing, Tinnitus, and Chinese Medicine

About a week ago, I caught a head cold. It was the kind of cold where my nose ran continually, to the point that I felt like I was losing brain matter. Then for a couple of days my right ear plugged up, making everything sound like my head was trapped in a tin. I could handle the runny nose and gravelly voice without too much drama, but the ear thing made me a little crazy and very irritable.

It’s human nature not to think too much about things until something goes wrong, and ears are no exception. Lately, we’ve seen a number of patients in the clinic with issues either directly or indirectly related to their ears. While all things ear-related may seem pretty straightforward, there’s a lot to know about ears from the realm of Chinese medicine, including the following:

-As acupuncturists, we think of ear-related symptoms as having to do with your Chinese Kidney system. Your Kidney is the organ that’s responsible for your overall body constitution and the home to vital substances such as Yin and Yang. Each organ system has a sensory component, and for the Kidney that component is hearing and your ears. The Kidney is associated with growth, development, fertility, and even how well we age. When your Kidney is depleted, one common sign that often shows up is a loss of hearing or ringing in your ears (tinnitus). Conversely, if you were to come into the clinic with tinnitus or hearing loss, we would always want to talk about the health of your Kidney system.

-As you age, tinnitus and hearing loss may become a fact of life. It’s a sign that the steady decline of your Kidney Essence, or body constitution, has affected your ears. Tinnitus may be alleviated through Chinese medicine, but it can take a long time—mostly because our job is undoing years of burning the candle at both ends and working under unrelenting stress—both of which deplete your Kidney system.

-From a Western perspective, tinnitus is your brain’s way of compensating for hearing loss; it’s working overtime to help you hear. Think of it as turning on your stereo system and turning the volume onto high, but without any music. You can hear a buzz, because your speakers are ramped up, but no sound is coming out.

-It’s natural to experience some hearing loss as you age. However, that loss can be accelerated from exposure to loud noises. Loud traffic, living near the airport, and sitting in the front row at too many rock concerts can all damage your hearing.

-Taking too much aspirin can also make your ears ring. That’s because the salicylates in aspirin are excreted through the Kidneys, and stress to your Kidneys can make your ears ring. The good news in this case, is when you stop taking aspirin and it’s been completely excreted from your body, the tinnitus should stop.

-Ear problems can also arise from other causes. Clenching your jaws at night and temporal mandibular joint problems (also known as TMJ, which is the joint right in front of your ears) can affect your hearing and cause ear pain.

-Blocked Eustachian tubes can plug up your ears and affect your hearing. This kind of blockage should resolve within a couple of days if it’s caused by a cold or flu, but if you’re suffering from chronic ear or sinus problems, it’s likely that digestive issues are causing your body to build up phlegm and dampness.

-Also part of the sensory system of the ear is your inner ear, which is responsible for maintaining your balance and proprioception (your sense of where you are in space). Dizziness and vertigo are inner ear problems that tend to be diagnosed as internal wind in Chinese medicine. Essentially, wind is considered to be movement where there should be none, and beyond dizziness and vertigo, may include lightheadedness, tremors, twitches, and even numbness and tingling. In most cases, internal wind is caused by a Kidney Yin depletion, which is a little like being down a quart of moistening Yin, which causes active Yang to rise upward triggering your symptoms.

Fortunately, my ear symptoms were short-lived. I got over my cold, clogged ears, and irritability within a couple of days. While you don’t think much about your ears and hearing until something is up, avoid really loud noises and keep your Chinese Kidney system as healthy as possible is good prevention. Get enough rest, avoid long-term stress, and eat many darkly colored foods that you prepare yourself are good ways to start. Your Kidneys will thank you!

Five Truths About Cosmetic Acupuncture

We live in a time and place that values youth and beauty, sometimes above all else. Billions of dollars are spent annually by both women and men attempting to hold onto that elusive glowing, wrinkle-free look of their youth, which becomes increasingly difficult to do as we age.

Chinese medicine offers up a solution in the form of cosmetic acupuncture, which consists of a series of acupuncture treatments dedicated to improving skin tone and reverse some of the signs of aging. Each treatment involves the insertion of tiny needles into your face, along with a few points on the rest of your body for overall health. A lot has been written about cosmetic acupuncture, sometimes with great exaggeration and misleading information, so here are a few points that should make things clearer.

-Cosmetic acupuncture is not the same thing as a facelift. The results of cosmetic acupuncture have been compared to a facelift, Botox, and fillers, which is just not true. Acupuncture in general is a kinder, gentler form of healing, and the results from cosmetic acupuncture reflects that as well. People who have had a full series of cosmetic acupuncture treatments will notice that their skin tone looks brighter and more even. They may also find their face less puffy, fine wrinkles may be reduced, and deeper wrinkles may look softer. In addition, some patients may notice slight lifting around their jowls and eyes. However, those changes will be subtle; like you’ve had a little something done—not like you’ve had surgery.

-Cosmetic acupuncture is not just about your face. Each treatment combines facial points to stimulate circulation and collagen with acupuncture points on your body, selected to treat your specific health needs. As a result, many patients who have had cosmetic acupuncture have noticed improvements in their overall health, too. Patients have described sleeping better, improved digestion, and fewer hot flashes—just from undergoing cosmetic acupuncture. This is a good thing, as your good health is reflected in your skin.

-Cosmetic acupuncture is more than just an anti-aging treatment. Many patients have seen skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and eczema improve after undergoing cosmetic acupuncture treatments.

-You don’t need to choose between cosmetic acupuncture and aesthetic services—if fact you will get better results if you combine services such as facials, light therapy, and peels with cosmetic acupuncture. Your acupuncturist and aesthetician are on the same page, which is to give you the best results possible!

-You don’t need to suffer to beautiful. The bottom line is that while placing needles in your face may pinch a bit, it’s not considered by most patients to be painful. Instead, they will tell you that a cosmetic acupuncture session is actually incredibly relaxing, as acupuncture increases the production of endorphins and other feel-good chemicals in your brain. The result is that from the time you’re on the table, for hours, and sometimes several days after your treatment you will feel mellow, rested, and less stressed. And it will show on your face.

Dry Skin Solutions

I love being an acupuncturist, except for one thing. Every fall and throughout the winter, my hands dry out from all the washing in between patients. It’s only October, and already my hands are chapped. They catch on everything I touch, and no amount of lotions seems to rehydrate my skin completely. Furthermore, when I get out of the shower, my skin itches in places that have no business itching. I slather on lotion and cover up my cracked fingertips and itchy patches in the hope that this winter, things will be different.

The good news is that as soon as the humidity ramps up, the heat goes off, and I can open a window, my skin will be happy again. The bad news is that there are some people who deal with perpetually dry skin no matter the weather or time of year.

Is dry skin a big Minneapolis acupuncture clinic deal? Well, it can be if you consider that your skin is the largest organ in your body. Chronically dry skin can be a signal that something is going on deeper in your body. In Chinese medicine, your skin is related to your Lung organ system. While that
may not make much sense, remember your Lungs are considered to be the most exterior of your internal organs, because with every breath, the inside of your body comes into contact with the outside world. In addition, when you breathe on a mirror, you can see the moisture from your Lungs. So, as the keeper of all things external, the health of your Lungs can give off clues to the condition of your skin. For the clearest example of this, just look at the skin of heavy smokers, which is dry and prematurely aged.

In Chinese medicine, there are a number of reasons your skin can dry out. As mentioned above, your environment can have a huge impact on the condition of your skin. Environment plays a role, and living where it is dry, such as a Minnesota winter or the southwestern United States, can be a challenge. In addition, your skin dries out as you age–it’s a fact of life that most of us spend a lot of money trying to reverse.

Beyond aging and living in a dry place, there are a number of patterns in Chinese medicine that are associated with dry skin. Some causes include a change in hormonal status, recent illness, surgery, chronic dehydration, and not getting enough healthy oils in your diet.

The good news is that there are some fixes for your dry skin, especially if it is seasonal and superficial, and all of them are related to nourishing yourself. Among them:

–Use foods to nourish your skin from the inside. Healthy oils (olive, coconut, flax, fish, Evening Primrose, etc.) and oily plant-based foods, such as avocadoes and nuts are a good place to start. If you’ve been ill or have had a recent surgery, you may also need an herbal formula to help replenish your Yin and Blood, which act like nourishing coolants in your body.

-Moisturize your skin on the outside, too. As soon as you step out of the shower or tub, slop on moisturizer. It will seal in the moisture that you soaked up, and keep your skin protected from dryness for the entire day. My recommendation is to look for a really good skin cream that isn’t loaded with fragrance, parabens, and other harmful ingredients. If you’re unsure what to buy, check out the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website for safety ratings of skin care ingredients.

-In a dry environment, add moisture to the air so it’s not drawn out of your skin. Use a humidifier, lots of plants, or even a shallow dish of water placed near your heat register.

-Avoid bathing in very hot water. No matter how good it feels in the cold, dark days of winter, very hot showers or baths strip the natural oils from your skin, making it dry and itchy.

-Avoid harsh, alkaline soaps. In fact, unless you’re particularly sweaty or dirty, you can get away with very little soap at all and still be squeaky clean.

-Drink plenty of water. While water won’t actually moisturize your skin, being chronically dehydrated will give your skin the appearance of being dry.

-If your skin is dry and flaky year round, accompanied by dry, brittle nails, and/or dry hair, you will likely need a little more help. Chinese medicine can offer a specific diagnosis plus acupuncture, herbs, and food therapy, and may be just what you need to change your skin from dry to glowing.

Rx for Fall Allergies

When I was a kid, allergies were something that was not on my radar. I grew up in a large family, and one of my sisters seemed to suffer for all the rest of us. She walked around the house with red eyes, a stuffy nose, and a tissue in hand. I know she was miserable, but I couldn’t relate.

Actually I couldn’t relate until I was about 30 and living in Colorado. One spring I found myself completely stuffed up with itchy eyes, ears, and entire face. I felt like my brains had been removed and replaced with cotton. Could this be allergies? As a grown-up?

Turns out that you can develop allergies at any time in your life. And it also turned out that for me it was the Russian Olive trees in bloom that were making my life a living hell.

Lately, I’ve been thinking lots about seasonal allergies. It’s the end of summer and drying out here in Minnesota, which means two things: no mosquitoes (good) and a bumper crop of ragweed (bad). I see the golden-yellow spikes of ragweed in full bloom in the empty fields and marshes throughout the countryside. While it adds color the the landscape, ragweed is like kryptonite to anyone who suffers from hay fever.
We practitioners of Chinese medicine consider allergens to be external pathogens–invaders from the outside that can make you sick, especially if you’re susceptible to them. However, you have a defense system called Wei Qi that guards the exterior of your body like a protective bubble or shield. When Wei Qi is weak, all kinds of pathogens, usually carried by the wind, can get into your body and cause colds, flu, and allergies.

Wei Qi is connected to your Lung system in Chinese medicine, because in most cases it’s the first organ that’s affected when pathogens attack. You may have a cough, sore throat, or runny/stuffy nose–all considered to be symptoms associated with your Lungs. In addition, your Lungs are the most exterior of all your organs, because they are constantly in contact with the outside world through the air you breathe. So you can say that your Lungs guard the exterior of your body, and weak Lungs are the primary cause of weak Wei Qi.

The solution to dealing with allergies is two-fold in Chinese medicine. On the superficial level, you need to deal with the pathogens (allergens) that are causing your symptoms. At a deeper level, you will need to strengthen your protective Wei Qi, which can be done through a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and in some cases food therapy.

The short-term fix is to think of pollen as a toxic dust that settles on your clothes, hair, carpet, and even your pets. If you can get rid of the pollen, you can decrease your symptoms dramatically. Here are a few steps:

-Close your windows, especially when the weather is dry and windy.

-Shower in the evening to get the day’s toxic dust off your skin and out of your hair.

-Wash your hands after handling a pet that’s been outside. Wipe down your pet with a moist towel when it comes indoors (and wash your hands!).

-Get a really good vacuum, as pollen is extremely fine and will settle on your floors and pretty much everywhere else. Dusting is good, too. And you really should get someone who does not suffer from allergies to dust and vacuum for you.

-Change your clothes after you’ve been working outdoors.

-Get a Neti Pot and use it. (It’s a small pot to help you cleanse your nasal passages, and can be found at most drug stores.)

-A good time to go outdoors during allergy season is just after it has rained. The moisture washes away some of the pollen and causes it to settle for a day or two.

I still suffer from allergies for about two weeks in early June when the Russian Olives are blooming. However, here in Minnesota, there are far fewer of these evil trees. During those two weeks, I stay inside, take a lot of showers, and wait it out.

Chinese Food Therapy at the Farmers Market

I love going to the farmers market! I’ve been to some fabulous farmers markets all over the world including Melbourne, Australia; Florence, Italy; and one in an ancient city center outside of Rouen, France. Here in the United States, I’ve managed to hit some outstanding markets, from Pike’s Place Market in Seattle, to Boulder’s upscale market, and Santa Fe’s market for lovers of all things chili.

While I enjoy checking out farmers markets when I travel, I have to admit that the Twin Cities has its share of great markets. Whether you hit the big one in Minneapolis, the Mill City farmers market, or a small market in your community, the bounty found at these gatherings offer some of the best produce grown in the area.

Why write about farmers markets in a blog about Chinese medicine? The answer is simple: Farmers markets promote good health in ways that align with Chinese medicine. Here are some examples:

-When you shop at a farmers market, you are eating produce that’s in season. That’s a good thing according to Chinese food therapy, because each season’s foods impact your health in different ways. For example, the early shoots and greens of spring are good for the health of your liver—almost like a spring tonic. During the summer, the produce in season is cooling and moistening to help you hydrate and deal with the heat. And in the fall, the heavier squashes, root vegetables, and legumes are important nutritionally as you prepare to hunker down for the winter months.

-Produce at the farmers market is local. That means it’s more flavorful because there is a shorter time between harvest and your table.

-Your produce is cleaner in general. In Chinese medicine, one cause of illness is eating food that is “wrecked”. In ancient times that meant food that has spoiled due to a lack of refrigeration. Today, wrecked food is that which has been contaminated through the many steps from harvesting, washing, shipping, and distributing. Wrecked food is also that which has been laced with chemicals. Shopping at the farmers market means that you can keep the chemicals off your plate; much of the produce is grown organically, and frequently you can ask the farmer in person how it was grown.

-In Chinese food therapy, one recommendation is to eat a wide variety of foods. While we live in a mono-crop culture in which huge swaths of land are committed to a single crop (usually corn); at the farmers market, you can find a huge variety of different kinds of produce.

-Finally, much of Chinese medicine is based on metaphors from nature. Our health is tied to the health of the planet and even that of our local farmers’ fields. When we get sick, our symptoms in Chinese medicine are described as bad weather—we can have heat, wind, cold, damp, dryness, and even summer heat. By shopping at the farmers market, you are placing yourself in touch with the goodness of nature, and by patronizing local farmers; you are helping to maintain farmland and green space in your community.

Ready to hit the farmers market, but not sure where to go? Start with here for a list farmers markets in the Twin Cities area and a rundown of what’s open today.

Bought a bunch of green things and don’t know exactly what to do with them? Try a cookbook geared toward fresh produce. I just bought the Gardeners Community Cookbook, but also like Moosewood New Classics. Either one will give you lots of ideas for delicious meals!

Upper Back and Shoulder Pain and Our Evolving Bodies

About a month ago I attended an acupuncture symposium, at which the keynote speaker talked about treating musculoskeletal injuries and pain. Early on in his presentation he made the remark that the bodies he treated thirty years ago are very different from those he treats today.

It took a minute for me to understand how profound a statement this was, because my first thought was, sure…we’re all getting older, so of course our bodies are different. But what he meant was that collectively our bodies are changing. We are evolving right before our very eyes.

So what’s happening, and why are we changing? A few things:

-For starters, we didn’t use computers thirty years ago in the way we do today. The vast majority of people around the world are sitting at a keyboard typing away at work, on social media, and even watching TV. Thirty years ago, typing was delegated to the office assistant or secretary. Today, both your boss and your eight-year-old type.

-In addition, we text today…hunched over a phone firing off witty messages with our opposable digits.

-Have you watched kids heading off to the school bus lately? They are wearing backpacks loaded down with books, folders, and school supplies. The weight of those packs cause most kids to lean forward to stabilize that weight.

-Even more than thirty years ago, women carried handbags. These were purses, or where I grew up, pocketbooks, with a short handle. The idea was that they were to be carried in your hand. Today, most bags come with a shoulder strap and are meant to be worn over one shoulder. And if you’re like me, worn over the same shoulder all the time, causing one shoulder to be perpetually higher than the other.

So why are these changes a big deal? The answer is that the biomechanics of our daily lives have changed. Today our backs are hunched, shoulders are rolled forward, and one side is frequently elevated above the other. It becomes a big deal in that I see a lot of patients with rotator cuff muscle injuries, neck pain, shoulder pain, and headaches caused from this forward roll of our collective shoulders.

Here’s where acupuncture comes in. Though the use of some strategically placed needles, we can get those tight muscles to release, those painful shoulders to relax, and relieve the pain from chronic overuse and plain bad posture. In addition, your practitioner can give you some specific stretches and exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles involved. There are also things that you can do to help relieve the tightness, pain, and forward roll. Among them:

-Change your biomechanics. Can you work some of the time standing up? Our devices are now small enough that we can move them to just about anywhere. When I have the chance, I work standing with my iPad at chest height, which helps my posture dramatically.

-Open up your chest through stretching. One of the easiest is to stand in a doorway with your forearms in the frame and stretch your chest open. Do this with your upper arms in a “T” position, and then raise them and stretch in a “Y” position.

-Put a note on your computer to check your posture. It will take repeated reminders to change how you sit.

-Check your stress. Like the hackles on an alarmed dog, we tend to carry our stress in our shoulders and at the base of our neck. Whether it’s meditation, yoga, fishing, or taking a long vacation, do what it takes to get your stress under some kind of control.

-Shrug it off, really. Bring your shoulders up to your ears in a classic shrug and hold it there for a few seconds. Then very consciously let go of the shrug–it works wonders in loosening up a tight neck and shoulders.

-Deal with your shoulder bag. Either get a handbag with a short handle or wear your shoulder bag around your neck and across your chest. Either solution will help any imbalance you’ve developed from a handbag perpetually perched on one shoulder.

The Healing Power of Pets

More than once a patient has brought their pet into my acupuncture clinic for a visit (not a treatment). I have had visitors in the form of pocket-sized dogs, spaniels and bulldogs, and even a bird (no cats to date, though). I grew up with lots of animals–from turtles and gerbils to cats, dogs, and even horses, and appreciate the presence of pets in my life.

While animal companions are a positive presence, there is also considerable research that pets have the ability to improve your health. Some of the physical benefits of spending time with a pet include:

-They can enhance your mood. Time spent watching fish or playing with your cat actually lowers the stress hormone cortisol. As a result, having Fido or Tigger at home can help with depression, decrease stress, and produce calming effects. In addition, caring for your pet is a way to “switch the channel” away from your problems and focus on another being.

-Pets can improve your heart health. The calming effects of owning a pet can help regulate high blood pressure and decrease cholesterol.

-If you’re a dog owner, you can thank your pooch for the fitness points gained every time you take him for a walk.

-While there are many people who are allergic to animal dander, there is research that suggests that kids who grow up around pets actually have better immunity than kids who aren’t exposed to pets.

-Pets offer companionship. The negative health implications of loneliness and isolation are well-documented. Pets offer a positive presence for those who are housebound or socially isolated.

Beyond the positive effects on your health, our animal companions have much to teach us about living life to the fullest. Among their lessons:

-Animals live in the moment. Your cat is not rehashing events from the past, and isn’t thinking about the future either. While animals have memory, they pretty much live in the right now.

-Your pet, especially if it’s a dog, is all about loyalty. When I was a kid, we had a little cocker spaniel, Rippy, who walked us kids to the bus stop every day. In the afternoons when the bus dropped us off, there was Rippy waiting patiently. Dogs can be the most incredibly loyal critters on the planet.

-Pets are the only beings that are truly able to just listen. They’re not thinking about what to say next or how to deliver a snarky comment. They. Just. Listen.

-Animals are very forgiving. Your kitty is not holding a grudge for that day you forgot to scoop out the litter box, and your pup won’t love you less if you get home an hour late–in fact, she’ll be even more excited to see you when you walk through the door.

-Finally, animals teach us those lessons we tend to forget about playing with abandon. They’re not self-conscious and aren’t afraid to look silly. They have the ability to make us laugh, which is golden.

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !