Immune Support

School is back in session now, and I’m starting to see colds, runny noses, and even strep!  Building up your immunity year-round is important. Acupuncture is a great way of naturally enhancing your immune system. Studies have shown that acupuncture improves your body’s immune functions. Improvements actually show 72 hours after a single acupuncture session. These improvements persist for one month after completing a 10-course treatment.

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17265549)

Acupuncture heals the body by calming the stresses and anxieties your body experiences daily.  Our lives are full of stress and anxieties that impair our immune system. If your body is focused on dealing with stressors, then your immune system comes in second place. When your body is managing stress better, then it can focus on providing your immune system with the support needed to fight germs and viruses. Research has demonstrated that acupuncture can regulate immunity resulting in anti-inflammation effects on your overall body. 

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4540978/) 

If needles are not your thing, no worries!  We have other options as well. Herbals and vitamins can help build up your immune system. Traditional Chinese medicine tonics help your body remain healthy.

Astragalus is a traditional Chinese herb that is antiviral and a potent immune booster because it increases the activity of natural killer cells and macrophages in your system. In one study, astragalus was found to help promote and maintain respiratory health. A strong respiratory system is important when you are fighting off colds and the flu.  

Echinacea is an herb used for both the common cold and for upper respiratory tract infections. Echinacea supports the immune system by activating white blood cells. Research has found that echinacea decreased the odds of developing the common cold by 58%. Echinacea can shorten a cold by 1.4 days. 

Acupressure points can also help you to enhance your health. One point is called Stomach 36 (Leg Three Miles). It is located about one hand-width below the bottom of the kneecap. This point helps energize you, boost your immune system, AND help with any digestive issues.  Using your middle finger, apply pressure to this point by firmly pressing down on the point for about 2 minutes, with your index and ring fingers on either side as support.

If you can’t get Chinese herbs, then check out these great vitamin lines that have products to improve and support your immune system: Shaklee (https://lantran.myshaklee.com), Standard Process, and Pure Encapsulation.

Give us a call 847-275-3298 or send us an email to set up an appointment or for more information at atran@pointsofwellness.net.

Anh(Ann) Tran

Reducing Anxiety

Do you worry about everything? Are you continuously anxious? Well, you are not alone with those feelings. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in today’s society. About 40 million adults are affected annually by anxiety disorders, such as General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We are all looking for ways to reduce our anxiety and help us manage our daily stressesnaturally and with less pharmaceuticals.

Acupuncture is a great, natural option for reducing anxiety. Studies have shown that acupuncture releases endorphins and activates natural pain killers. According to a comprehensive literature review that appeared in CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics, acupuncture is comparable to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a commonly used treatment foranxiety (Errington-Evans, 2011). In 2013, another study published in the Journal of Endocrinology stated that stress hormones were lower in rats after receiving electric acupuncture (Eshkevari, Permaul and Mulroney, 2013). The researchers found that acupuncture provided a protective effect in response to the stress hormones.

At Points of Wellness, our patients notice a subtle change in how their mind and body react to stress and anxiety after going through an acupuncture treatment. One patient stated that she did not feel like “bursting into tears” when someone simply asked how she’s doing. Most patients find the experience of acupuncture pleasant and relaxing. The patient lies quietly on the table with low lighting and relaxing music playing. Someeven fall asleep during the session.

Please note that all your anxiety will NOT go away in one treatment, especially if you’ve had anxiety for a long time. Your body will feel the positive effects relatively quickly, however, to maintain the positive effect, a longer game plan is needed. Typically, a course of treatment in acupuncture is about 10 sessions. If you do not like needles, no worries. We have other options that do not involve needles and are just as effective.

Call us to prepare your mind and body for an anxiety-free summer.

Thanksgiving…what’s not to love? Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, apple pie…how can you not love a holiday focused on food…and LOVE! Not just love for food, but also for all the people in your life, and the many blessings that have come to you and yours!

However, if you don’t watch it, indigestion can soon follow all that love and happy eating!

To help prevent post-holiday indigestion:

• Practice mindfulness as you eat. Enjoy and savor every bite – taste the juiciness of the turkey; the creaminess of the mashed potatoes, and the sweetness of the pumpkin pie – taste the love that went into the food.

• Remember: you can always get more. Start small so you have room to try everything. Pay attention when you are full, and take breaks as needed. You can always go up for seconds and thirds throughout the day/evening.

• Be with the people you are with. This holiday is about being with those you love. Talk to those around you; use your phone to enhance the moment, not to ignore those who are there in-person. Take pictures of the event; play games using your phone or not using your phone; live in the moment.

• Stay hydrated. Balance alcoholic beverages with water. If you are hosting, set out room temperature water with slices of lemon (this will help with digestion).

If post-holiday indigestion still hits you, there are herbal formulas that can help.  

• Bao He Wan helps the body's digestive system break down meats, grains, and fats to keep the food moving through the digestive tract properly. After taking this, you'll feel good enough to get out for a healthy, post-Thanksgiving walk (I strongly recommend this). If you’re interested in trying this, email me (atran@pointsofwellness.net).

• Zypan improves your digestion by supporting your gastrointestinal system and provides enzymatic support for protein digestion.

• Acupressure also helps with digestion. Apply pressure in the spot shown in the picture below (about 3-fingers width below the wrist). This point will help relieve nausea, an upset stomach, motion sickness, carpal tunnel syndrome, and headaches.

• Also, rubbing your tummy clock-wise for about 5 minutes after eating will also help.

In addition, there are teas and beverages that also help when you aren’t feeling so good after a big meal.

• Hot Ginger Tea is excellent for soothing stomachaches and aiding digestion.

o Ingredients:

▪ About 2 inches of fresh raw ginger (use more or less, depending on how strong you want it!)

▪ 2 cups water

o Instructions:

▪ First, prepare the fresh ginger by peeling it and slicing it thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.

▪ Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. 

▪ Remove from heat and add honey to taste if you like it sweeter.

• Ginger Limeade

o Ingredients

▪ 1.5 cups of fresh lime juice (about 10 -12 limes)

▪ 3 oz. fresh ginger, roughly chopped

▪ 3 tbsp water

▪ 1 cup of sugar

▪ 1 cup of water

▪ Pinch of salt

▪ 3 cups of sparkling water, club soda or plain water to dilute

o Instructions:

▪ Place the sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan and heat over medium heat to dissolve the sugar.Bring to a simmer. Once all the sugar has dissolved and the syrup starts to boil, set it aside to cool. (You can also make a honey syrup byheating equal parts honey and water in a saucepan until the honey melts into the water.)

▪ Place the fresh ginger and 3 tbsp water in a mini processor, and pulse until well blended and pureed.

• Strain the ginger juice through a sieve, pressing down on the pulp to get the most out of the ginger.

• Set aside ¼ cup of this ginger juice.

• Alternatively, if you have a juicer, juice enough ginger to get 3 tbsp of pure ginger juice.

▪ Mix the ginger and salt with the lime juice. Add up to 1 - 1.5 cups of sugar syrup to sweeten the ginger lime juice to taste.

▪ Pour into a clean bottle/jar and chill.

Finally, I can always help with indigestion as well. Give me a call!  I’ll have you feeling better well before the Christmas season. J

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the feast before you and the people next to you!

Winter is coming

The weather is starting to get cold in most regions of the country, and that cold air puts a lot of stress on your body. It’s time to prep your body’s defenses to keep you healthy during this time of colds, flus, and other illnesses that can hit during the Fall season, and to keep you strong as we head into Winter. 

As Mother Nature prepares for winter, we, too, must prepare our bodies for the cold months ahead. This is a good time of year to detox your body. As with the changing weather, your body is looking to makes changes as well. A detox is a good way to kick off these changes. As your body comes off the detox, make sure to eat warmer and more nourishing foods, such as roasted veggies and warm soups.

Foods, such vegetables and herbs, can help you stay strong through the colder months. Amp up a bowl of soup by adding garlic, ginger, fresh green onions, and chives. These same herbs are even more important to include when you start feeling a cold coming on. The pungent flavors will open up your pores to help you sweat out the cold.

Finally, be good to your body and come in for an acupuncture session. Fall is an ideal time to get back into your acupuncture routine, especially if you are sufferingfrom a cold, pneumonia, asthma, depression, fatigue, arthritis, or any illness really.

Acupuncture is great to include as part of your illness prevention plan. Acupuncture directly boosts your immune system to make you less susceptible to illnesses. As you prepare your house, car, and closet for Winter, make sure to prepare yourself as well for the coming cold.

Happy Fall, everyone!

atran@pointsofwellness.net

(847) 275-3298

Hours are by appointment only; available evenings and weekends

Long Grove Executive House

4180 North Route 83, Suite 100

Long Grove, IL 60047

[Located east of the Long Grove historic downtown district]

Mike George Fitness System

314 West Superior Street, Suite LL-E

Chicago, IL 60654

Call (312) 943-6700 for appointments at this location.

[Located on the northeast corner of W. Superior Street and N. Orleans Street]

Happy 4th of July!

Summer is my favorite season – farmers markets, warm weather, swimming, and everyone is just happier (I think it’s all of the festivals and sun – wakes us up from the chill of winter). According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Summer is the season of energy and life. It is associated with the Fire element, which is associated with the heart, small intestines, and tongue. As much as I love summer, this season can also come with health concerns, such as excess body heat, profuse sweating, parched mouth and throat, constipation, and heart palpitations. What can you do to help with these summer health concerns? Eat cool foods, of course.

Cooling foods, like lettuce, cucumbers, and strawberries, clear heat and toxins in the body; thus, cooling and calming the blood and nourishing your yin. If you know me, then you’ve heard me say, “Eat according to the season.” One of the easiest ways to do that is to belong to a coop or shop at your local farmers market. Sourcing your food locally is excellent for your health and supports your local environment.

Keep in mind: though raw foods, like salads, are good for cooling down your body, they take more energy for your body to process. Hence, if you have digestion problems, slightly stir-fry or sauté your veggies. Balancing raw foods with hot foods is a good way to follow a moderate eating plan and is good for your well-being.

Another function of Fire is to circulate oxygen-rich blood to your whole body. Hence, getting your heart pumping keeps it strong. Take advantage of the Summer – be active outside! But, remember to have fun doing so!

Happy July 4th, everyone!

One last thought: when you do get hot this summer, try these great drinks.

Cucumber Water (good for your skin)

Ingredients

1 cucumber sliced

4 stalks of celery

1 lime, sliced

Watermelon rind (a few if you can get some)

Soak all of the ingredients overnight in a pitcher of water in the fridge, and enjoy! You can eat the ingredients or toss them. Do not leave the veggies and fruits in the water too long; it will make the water a bit bitter.

Cold Chrysanthemum Tea (helps prevent sunstroke and clears heat from your body, which is great for alleviating urinary tract infections)

Ingredients

60 - 80 White Chrysanthemum Flowers (http://www.enjoyingtea.com/imwhitchryst.html or https://www.mayway.com/store/product.do?productId=1079)

Rock sugar (candy) or honey (if you want it sweetened) (no sweeteners if you are using for UTI issues)

4 liters of water

Instructions

1. Wash the chrysanthemum

2. Pour in 4 liters of water and bring it to boiling

3. Reduce heat and add chrysanthemum into a cooking pot

4. Continue to cook for 10 minutes and add in rock sugar or honey

5. Turn off the heat and allow the tea to seep for another ten

6. Remove pot from the heat and let tea cool to room temperature

7. Strain the tea and refrigerator

8. Serve the tea chilled

Spring is upon us!

Spring, a season of growth and rebirth, is upon us. Living things, now more than any other time of the year, require good nutrients to support the growth that comes during this time. According to Chinese medicine, Spring also represents the liver and gallbladder. Hence, the green season vegetables that sprout up during this time are good for nourishing the liver.

This time of year is also when many of us do our “spring cleaning.” Besides our homes, this is an ideal time to also “spring clean” our bodies. The body hibernates during the winter months, and can use a greener diet to wake it up. The kale and lemon smoothie below is an excellent way to “wake up” the body and start your day.

Kale and Lemon Smoothie 

Ingredients

3 kale leaves

1 whole lemon (remove the skin)

1 – 2 slices of ginger

1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1 cup of water or almond milk

Directions

1.    Place ingredients in a Vitamix or blender.

2.    Blend until smooth.

3.    Store in glass bottles in the refrigerator until you are ready to drink it.

If you prefer warmer drinks in the morning, make the smoothie a bit thicker and ad warm water to it before drinking.

Some green leafy vegetables can be bitter, which is good for nourishing the liver. Use a something sour, such as a lemon, to offset the bitterness and the fast growing energy of this season.

 

Points of Wellness wishes everyone a happy Spring, and leave you with another great recipe below to keep you healthy and nourished through the season.

Warm Kale with Avocado oil

Ingredients

2 cups of curly kale leaves (de-stemmed)
2 garlic cloves sliced

Juice from half a lemon

2 tbsp avocado oil

Almond slices for topping

Directions

1.    Heat up a wok or frying pan with avocado oil.

2.    Once the oil is hot, add the garlic.

3.    Once the garlic is slightly browned, add in the kale.

4.    Lightly sauté the kale.

5.    Add salt and pepper to taste, and then squeeze in the lemon juice.

 

 

 

Happy Lunar New Year

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” ~ Socrates

In the last few years, I have been on a journey to simplify my life. It’s been a continual work in progress.  With the Lunar New Year approaching, I want to focus this coming year on the concept of less.  

I hear from many of my patients, especially the ones I’m treating for stress or anxiety, that they want to simplify their life. YET, at the same time, they tell me about the new things they are addingto their schedules.  Of course, we all want to take the “chores” out of our lives and only do the fun and leisurely things. While that is a nice thought, it’s not realistic. 

There will always be chores, tasks, and responsibilities that are not fun or pleasant, but we have to do them. Most of us, including myself, keep adding more to our hectic schedules to convince ourselves we can have and do it “all.” In fact, the only thing we seem to be removing from our schedules is time for rest and sleep.

As a society, we glorify busy.  We have a knack of making even enjoyable events seem stressful because we are so overwhelmed.The following are some goals I’m setting for myself in 2015 to help me enjoy life with “less.”  

• I want to take an event off my schedule and NOT replace it with something else.  

• I want to have more moderation in my life, especially in terms of food. I’d like to have a more balanced intake of food, especially sugar.

• I want to stop practicing “retail therapy” when I’m stressed.

What are your “less” goals for the year? I hope this year of less will lead to a lifetime of more happiness.

Points of Wellness would like to wish everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! Let’s welcome in the year of the Green Sheep. The sheep is seen as a symbol of peace, balance, harmony and calmness. Come and visit us if you are looking for balance and calmness in the New Year!