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!

Feeling jolly this holiday season!

Holiday season is upon us. Our calendars are filling up with holiday dinners and parties, where many of us will gorge on a bountiful of food and drinks.

The tips below will keep you feeling jolly through this time of year.

·         Drink too much? Counteract the effects by drinking a large amount of green tea as soon as possible. Researchers have found that antioxidants (called catechins) found in green tea inhibit absorption of alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to less of an inflammatory response and faster elimination.

·         Stuffed from eating too much? Oolong tea helps settle an upset stomach, improves digestion, and prevents acid reflux.

·         Feeling under the weather?

o   Senna tea is a natural laxative, preventing constipation and relieves the discomfort caused by food that builds up in the colon.

o   Apply pressure to the following acupressure point: In the middle of your inner wrist, two-and-one-half finger widths below the wrist crease. As you press down on the point, take a deep breath and release your breath slowly. This point relieves stomachaches, indigestion, nausea, and anxiety.

o   Apply White Flower oil to your belly and rub your stomach clockwise for about 2 minutes. This helps with constipation and stomachaches.

Finally, eat mindfully. Enjoy and savor every single bite; take in the moment; and be thankful for the experience!

Points of Wellness wishes everyone a healthy and happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for each and every one of you!

Year of the Green Horse

The Lunar New Year begins on January 31, 2014. With this new year, we welcome in the Year of the Green Horse, and say good bye to the Year of the Snake. Green symbolizes Spring, which is full of new life and energy. This Year of the Horse promises productive energies. I advise taking advantage of the positive energy this year brings by putting your goals into action, such as your health goals.

How can you improve your health this year? I hope that each and every one of you makes prevention a key part of your goals. Prevention is the key to staying well. Why wait until you have a heart attack to make changes in your life? Why not make those changes now and prevent the heart attack from happening? Think about and put into motion how you can become healthier and stay healthier this year.

Here are some tips to help you:

1.

First, evaluate your eating habits and food intake. As many of you know, I am a big advocate of food as medicine. For example, chicken soup can help treat a cold. Natural foods have healing properties. For instance, fresh ginger tea is a great anti-bacterial for stomach issues, from nausea to stomach pains. Learn the basics of food nutrition and it will truly enhance your journey to better health.

2.

Next, evaluate your lifestyle. From how you live to what you eat, live according to the seasons. It's winter so don't be too hard on your body if it desires more rest. Your body needs to rest and get ready for Spring. Keep up with your vitamins, especially if you are not keeping up with your food nutrition. Also, if you feel a cold coming on, stop by the clinic and checkout some of our herbals to help you stay healthy. Bug Beater is a great herbal for helping to keep colds at bay. The winter is also a good time to eat warmer foods. If you must have a salad, couple it with a cup of soup. Try lightly sauteeing or steaming your vegetables to warm them up.  

3.

Finally, live mindfully. Do everything with a purpose and live in the moment: enjoy what you eat and do. When exercising, listen to your body. Work your body hard, but do not over do it. Show your body appreciation by eating good, nutritious foods that not only nourishes it, but feeds your soul. Show your body and mind how to destress and enjoy what life has to offer. Choose to live.

If you are having trouble starting the Year of the Green Horse on the right track, come by theclinic and we can put you on the right track. Regular acupuncture treatments will help you maintain all your hardwork. This year, remember, prevention is key: do not let your pain or ailments get bad before you come in to see me. Let’s treat that stress before it tears down your immune system.

Use the energy of the Green Horse wisely; don’t waste it by taking on so much that you end up doing nothing. Set a goal each month, or small goals each week. Do what it takes to make this year different and better!

Points of Wellness would like to you wish you and your family a healthy and productive Year of the Green Horse!

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season

Feeling less energetic? Getting tired earlier in the evening? It might be just the energy of the season. Many animals hibernate this time of year. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this time of year is governed by Yin energy, which is dark, cold, slow, and composed of inward energy.

Yin energy in the winter months give life to the Yang energy of summer, which is light, hot, quick, and has more outward qualities. Hence, Yang energy encourages people to go out and be active.

Winter’s energy encourages us to look inward; it is a great time for meditation, yoga and T’ai Chi practices. In order to live according to the season, TCM teaches us that the foods in winter enrich yin and subdue yang. Look for foods that naturally grow in this season, such as squashes, potatoes, root vegetables, winter greens, mushrooms, apples, pears, and citrus fruits.

Most importantly, in the winter, our bodies need warming foods like soups made with hearty vegetables. Rich stocks cooked with animal bones are best. Use your leftover turkey bones to make a nutritious and warming soup, such as a turkey noodle soup. Other foods that are especially good for the winter months are black beans, kidney beans, lamb, chicken, walnuts, chestnuts, black sesame seeds, and dark leafy greens.

If you are feeling run down, take the time to rest and replenish. Nature tells us that this is the time of year to take good care of our entire body: physically, mentally and spiritually.

So, enjoy your bowl of turkey noodle soup!

Points of Wellness would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

Remember: give the gift of health, gift certificates are available.

 

 

Thanksgiving 2013

Ah, Thanksgiving! I’m not sure about your home, but mine is filled with an abundance of food: from the turkey and ham, to the mash potatoes, to the plethora of desserts. Time with family and friends to share an amazing meal, and then a long nap afterwards – what more can you ask for?

Food is such an integral part of our celebrations in life. And, food nutrition is an integral part of Chinese Medicine. Chinese Medicine categorizes foods by temperature, flavor, and therapeutic action. Your body’s underlying constitution, such as core body temperature and digestive health, determines which foods are most suitable for you.

In order to choose the appropriate foods, you need to identify where you are imbalanced in regards to your health. For example, a person who is always hot would benefit from eating foods that are cooling. On the other hand, someone who tends to have cold extremities should eat more foods that promote qicirculation. Come by the clinic and we can help you identify your body’s needs.

Below is a list of common Thanksgiving foods and spices, and their properties. 

•

Turkey is warm, sweet, and tonifies qi.

•

Spinach is cool, sweet, tonifies blood and yin, andcounteracts heat.

•

Apple is cooling, sweet and sour, tonifies yin and qi, counteracts heat, and removes toxins.

•

Cranberries are cold, sweet and sour, and counteract damp heat.

•

Carrot is neutral, sweet, tonifies qi, promotes qi circulation, counteracts heat and damp heat, and clears toxins.

•

Pumpkin is warm, sweet, tonifies qi, promotes blood circulation, counteracts cold and dampness, and resolves phlegm.

•

Potato is neutral, sweet, tonifies qi and yin, andcounteracts heat.

•

Sweet potato is neutral, sweet, tonifies qi, blood and yin, as well as removes toxins.

•

String beans are neutral, sweet, and tonify yin.

•

Pepper helps warm the interior.

•

Nutmeg is warm, pungent, tonifies yang, counteracts cold, and promotes qi and blood circulation.

Points of Wellness wishes everyone a healthy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for each and every one of you! 

Tricks and Treats

Where has 2013 gone? Halloween is just around the corner, and soon following will be Thanksgiving and Christmas. For those of us who are sweet lovers; it is a hard time of year. Candies, pastries, and all sorts of treats can be found all around us. Though we are surrounded by temptation, we can still make this time of year a healthy holiday season.
Follow the information below to learn how to do that.

Are you carving pumpkins? Remember to save the seeds and roast them! A half-cup of toasted pumpkin seeds provides 92 percent of your daily magnesium needs. Pumpkin seeds have a high content of iron, protein, and fiber. They also contain most of the B vitamins, folate, and vitamins A and C. Pumpkins themselves are a healthy, low-calorie food
(just 49 calories per cup). Their orange coloring reflects that they are full of beta-carotene, which helps reduce cell damage and improve immunity. Interestingly, pumpkins have also been shown to increase good cholesterol and improve prostate health.

Another tasty treat that can be relatively healthy are caramel apples. A medium apple contains 14% of your daily Vitamin C needs, which can boost your immunity. Apples are also high in phytonutrients, which help regulate blood sugar. You can also cover the apple with peanut butter, instead of caramel. Peanut butter adds protein and healthy fats
to the apple.

Another possible healthy treat are popcorn balls. My niece loves popcorn. Popcorn CAN be healthy, when it isn’t doused in butter. Popcorn boosts heart health and aids in weight management due to its high fiber content. For a sweet, savory snack, make popcorn balls with honey, peanut butter, dried fruit, and nuts.

A great drink at this time of year is apple cider. Now, do not confuse cider with apple juice. Apple cider includes high-fiber pulp and sediment. Thus, improving digestion, as well as lowering cholesterol. Also, spicing your apple cider with cinnamon sticks is great for blood sugar control.

Finally, chocolate! Chocolate can be healthy, but it has to be the dark kind. Dark chocolate is high in disease-fighting antioxidants and flavonoids, which have been linked to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. When shopping for dark chocolate, look for the higher numbers of cacao because the higher the percentage of cacao, the higher the amount of
flavanols. Beware of cacao that was “processed with alkali”; it contains less flavanols. So, instead of milk chocolate, drop dark chocolate into trick-or-treat bags.

Below is nutritional information for a few of the most common Halloween candy:

Tootsie Rolls six pieces (40 g) 140 calories 20 g of sugar
Brach's Candy Corn 22 pieces (40 g) 140 calories 28 g of sugar
Kit Kat one package (43 g) 210 calories 22 g of sugar
Milky Way one bar (58.12 g) 260 calories 35 g of sugar
Butterfinger one bar (60 g) 270 calories 29 g of sugar
Snickers* one bar (58.7 g) 280 calories 30 g of sugar
Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses nine pieces (41 g) 230 calories 21 g of sugar
M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies small bag (47.9 g) 240 calories 31 g of sugar
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups one package (51 g) 280calories 26 g of sugar

Notes:

• Above nutritional information came from http://www.familydoctormag.com/nutrition/1497-halloween-candy-nutrition-calories-fat-and-good-news.html

• * Opt for the Fun Size, where sugar, calories and saturated fat drop by two-thirds.)
Happy Haunting!

Changes at Points of Wellness

Fall is almost upon us! With the change in season coming, we want to update you on some changes at Points of Wellness.

First and foremost, the construction surrounding the parking lot at our Long Grove office is FINALLY complete. You may now enter at Robert Parker Coffin Rd, which is connected to the Sunset Foods Plaza. The Sunset Foods entrance allows easy access from either the north or south. You can still enter and exit through the original entrance, heading north on route 83.

Points of Wellness now offers Laser Acupuncture. It is a safe and effective form of treatment, especially for children, the elderly, and those with a fear of needles. Laser Acupuncture uses low-powered laser light from a hand-held device to stimulate acupuncture points. Research studies have indicated Laser Therapy benefits include: acceleration of natural healing time for wounds, pain reduction, improved blood circulation, and decreased tissue swelling.

Some other uses for Laser Therapy are:

• ·      Post-operative Nausea
• ·      Pain Control
• ·      Dental pain
• ·      Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• ·      Dry eyes

There are many other uses for Laser Therapy beyond those listed above. Please call us to discuss the best option for you.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD

This time of the year we have a tendency to over indulge, especially when it comes to food. Along with the desserts, appetizers, fried food, and so on, many of us experience heartburn or acid reflux. The medical term for acid reflux is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, can offer an effective and natural treatment for acid reflux.

Your acupuncturist will place thin needles into various parts of your body to regulate the flow of Qi (energy) to restore organs, such as the spleen, liver, heart, stomach and kidneys, to their normal function.

During the busy holiday season, if you cannot get in for a treatment here are some points you can use to help yourself.

• PC 6 (inner gate) is located on the palm side of you wrist, about 2 thumb widths above the wrist crease and in the center of the arm. Use the thumb of the opposite hand to apply firm pressure on the point; inhale and exhale deeply for a few minutes while applying pressure.

• ST 36 (three mile) is located on the lateral (outside) side of the lower leg, four fingers width from below the lower border of the kneecap and one finger width off the shin bone on the outside. Apply firm pressure for about a minute.

Regarding herbal remedies, your TCM practitioner will need to diagnose the cause of your reflux. For example, acid reflux may be caused by a TCM condition known as stomach fire, which indicates that excessive heat is flowing into your stomach and irritating it. Another cause for acid reflux could be an imbalance in the liver. One function of the liver, according to TCM, is to control the proper flow of Qi throughout the body. Qi flows through specific pathways, known as meridians, to ensure that all organs of the body are functioning properly. If the liver is not functioning at maximum potential, medical problems can develop in the body.

A number of factors may contribute to acid reflux:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Pregnancy
• Consumption of certain types of foods (such as spicy foods)

Lifestyle changes can cure or greatly reduce symptoms:

• Eat smaller meals throughout the day
• Do not eat right before bedtime
• A glass of warm water with lemon juice first thing in the morning
• Saltine crackers first thing in the morning
• 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 oz. of water
• If you feel you ate something that caused your stomach to be upset, then try chewing on a piece of ginger or drink ginger tea to help your stomach feel better.
• Most of all, reduce the stress in your life

For long term and lasting results, I would encourage you to talk to a Chinese Medicine practitioner for specifics on your reflux symptoms.

I would like to wish you and your family a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

 

Winter Eating

With the colder weather coming, this is a good time of year to assess your eating habits. 

One of the easiest ways to stay healthy is to eat according to what is available during the harvest of each season. It is important to transition into eating warmer, cooked foods during this time of year, and to save the salads and raw foods until next summer.

Foods in season during the fall:

                 

Beets

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Collard Greens

Fennel

Kale

Leeks

Mushrooms

Onions

Parsnips

Peppers

Potatoes

Pumpkins

Turnips

Winter Squash

Apples

Concord grapes

Pears

Duck

Wild Turkey

Atlantic Mackerel

Native Oysters

Pacific Salmon

Red Snapper

Scallops (bay and sea)

A good guideline to follow for eating during the fall is to see what is available at your local farmer's market. Use those foods as a template for building a meal that is appropriate to the season.  Also, look at what’s on sale in grocery stores; they tend to put on sale those foods that are in abundance and readily available.

                 

Additional tips for this season:

Carry around a sweater/sweatshirt/scarf - even if it feels warm outside. During the fall, it is cold in the shade and warm in the sun. This is typically the season where people still dress like it is summer, because the sun still has warmth during the high point of the day. This drastic change in temperature without the proper protection from the environment can put your body at risk. Make sure to dress in layers if you are working or exercising outdoors. You can shed the layers as your muscles warm up.

Eat soup - this is the time of season to begin thinking about and making more nourishing, wholesome, all-encompassing foods, like soups. The best soups contain a protein, veggies, and carbohydrates. They are a great all in one meal! The warm temperature is also beneficial to the yang to prepare oneself for winter.

Keep hydrated - autumn is a time of dryness. The moisture from the humid summer gives way to autumn’s dryness. Also, with the use of heaters, it’s extra dry. It is important to remember this. Drink tea or room temperature water to help your body remain hydrated.

See your acupuncturist – autumn, especially with school back in session, is often the time when people catch the most head colds.  Seeing your acupuncturist can build up your protective Qi to lessen colds during the winter.

Get out and enjoy the change of season, but remember to be prepared for the change in temperature. You don't want to be caught off guard.