Good Life Acupuncture Late Summer Newsletter 2008

 

 

 Late summer is the time of dampness, the earth, the centre, the colour yellow, the taste of sweet, the sound  Hoo, as well as the spleen and stomach‘s digestive functions.  The transitional time we call late summer is actually a separate season according to Taoist thinking, which can create a whole new meaning behind the sights, smells and feelings at this time of year. Here are some pointers for you to help this time of the spleen be happy, comfortable, fulfilling and set the stage for a wonderful fall and winter to come.

 

 

Body:

 

The time of the spleen tends to be damp, when vegetation is rotting and composting and since the spleen and stomach are paired organs sluggish digestion is the main symptom when things are out of balance. This can manifest as gas, belching, diarrhea or a “sticky” kind of constipation. A“full feeling” in the stomach as well as haemorrhoids and other bowel problems can seem to manifest at this time of the season if the spleen is labouring with too much dampness in the system. “Heavy feelings” in the head and body can also be a problem, as well as menstrual complaints like bloating, headaches and heavy periods. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is still a good credo to live by and there are a few key things you can do to keep your spleen happy. First of all, avoid over eating so the digestive system does not have to work so hard. Also, cut back on sweets and dairy, both of which make the body accumulate dampness, a real spleen irritant. Exercise is always good and this is a great time to establish a daily routine like yoga or qi gong to gently move lymphatic fluids around the body and boost the immune system. Dry skin brushing before you shower moves lymph fluid too and makes the skin silky! Be sure to pay attention when your body starts giving you little signals that it is out of balance. Instead of trying to ignore things come on in for friendly chat and a maintenance acupuncture treatment to help you rebalance and get back on track so you feel good now and in the months to come.

 

 

Mind:

 

Too much worry can imbalance the energy of the spleen and cause a cascade of other problems to occur. Everyone worries now and then but when worry becomes compulsive and occupies a lot of your thinking the spleen cannot function well and the immune system can suffer. Many of us have experienced “butterflies” in the stomach when we are nervous and even nausea as the stomach energy becomes “rebellious” from too much worry. And when we are always “in our heads“, we are not “grounded” and the result is feeling spacey and unfocussed. So the remedy sounds simple “Don’t worry be happy” but it takes a concerted effort to change a habit and worry is just that, a habit.  It is worth some deep introspection to find out just what it is that may be causing your mind to be restless. Some counselling can be helpful in  helping you uncover old mental programs you may be still running long after they are useful. Letting go can be so liberating that you will one day look back and wonder how you suffered for so long. Soon the healthy daily habits you begin to establish, like positive thinking and deep relaxation will nourish your spleen and support your immune system for a healthier and happier you!

 

 

Spirit:

 

We are all spiritual beings having a human experience. If we begin to pay attention to how we think and feel we are better able to be in touch with how others think and feel. This is the basis of how doing our own spiritual work can help build a better world. What do you do with your spare time? Even if you feel you don’t have spare time just reflect on the thoughts that occupy your mind. Ask yourself if your thoughts are full of regret, anger, revenge or self righteous indignation or whether there is room for hope, understanding, forgiveness and generosity of spirit to grow in you. Thoughts create action. Action changes things. Consider during this time of the late summer how you make choices, separating that which is useful from the non useful in your life to help you stay on track and on your path. We all have this inner knowing of what we need and don’t need in our lives. It is just a matter of whether we listen to the voice inside and choose to act on our this innate wisdom. This time of year is when many of us feel a bit wistful as we watch the summer come to a close. It is also a time to really take stock of what kind of people we would like to be and what kind of world we would like to live in. Together we can all be the change we wish to see in the world!

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Good Life Newsletter - Summer 2008

 

 

Summer is here! Chinese medicine recognizes summer as the time of the Heart, the colour Red, the direction of South and the emotion of Joy. Also, as with nature, how we cultivate our health in one season reflects how we will feel the following season. So if you looked after your liver and you had a smooth spring with not too much “stuck qi” then summer will be a breeze. If you had a tough spring, no worries. It’s never too late to feel better with some attention to body, mind and spirit.

 

Body: Chinese medicine considers your heart to be the “king” of all the organs. It constantly pumps blood, which carries essential oxygen that every cell needs for survival. Because the heart’s blood vessels are so delicate it pays to take good care of your heart by regular exercise and good food that is not too rich or fatty. Strong emotions like anger and excitement can raise blood pressure and this combined with fatty deposits in the arteries can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. If you suffer from high blood pressure speak to your doctor about beginning acupuncture treatment to help reduce it. Many patients have successfully lowered their blood pressure with acupuncture treatment and have been able to reduce or eliminate their medications.

 

 

Mind: This is the season when we all need some time off. It is also usually a very busy time with work, family and visiting relatives! Sometimes it is easy to feel overwhelmed and even burdened because of all the multi-tasking we feel we must accomplish. If this sounds like you right now, try to make some changes to give yourself more time and space to really relax and recharge. If you are having trouble sleeping due to “too much on your mind” a “tune up” visit to your acupuncturist can help you rebalance so you can get sound sleep and feel more rested and recharged. There are also some safe and effective Chinese herbal formulas especially for helping calming the mind and restoring good rest.

 

 

Spirit: When new patients come to my office, in addition to getting their medical and lifestyle information I like to ask them what gives them joy in their lives. While many people will speak of family or hobbies others are not able to come up with an answer to the question of “where they find their joy”. Actually, my question should be “what puts you in touch with your joy?” Better said, “What kind of activities awaken the joy in you?” Actually, it is a great spiritual exercise to pay attention to those experiences, which unlock the feeling of joy. Whether it is a bird in a tree, the smile of a child, a sunny day or even an inexplicable tickle in your heart “for no good reason”, just noticing those moments of joy will create even more joy for you to notice! Now that’s a Good Life!

 

*Click here for a sheet of summertime health tips*

 

Thanks and Kindest Regards,

 

Rebekah McPhee R.Ac. , R.P.C.

 

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Good Life Newsletter - Spring 2008

 You Can Have a Healthy Body Mind and Spirit this Spring

 

Hi Everyone,

 

We’re all saying “Thank Goodness” now that Spring is well on its way. The daffodils are coming up and the days are getting a little bit longer. Isn’t it nice to see some daylight at the end of the work day! This is the time of year that is “most yang” so that means it is time to get moving!

I love spring time for many reasons. Spring is the time of the liver, according to Chinese medicine and that means it is a good time to think about clearing out the old and bringing in the new. This can have many implications for our bodies, minds and spirits to become clearer and lighter. See the reverse of this page for some more great tips to boost your health.

 

Spring Cleaning for Your Body

Since your liver works so hard to filter your blood and clear toxins from your system, Spring is a great time to eat lots of greens and take a break from fried foods and alcohol. At this time, pay special attention to drinking more water than usual (3-4 liters a day if you can) and also exercise in a way that suits you. Whether you like to walk, garden, jog, cycle or something else, just make sure that it is not drudgery but fun for you. Breathe the colour green deep into your liver and exhale all that old, stagnant qi! You’ll feel great!

 

Spring’s Inspiration for Your Mind

The liver is controlled by the wood element. Wood is a plant and like all plants it grows and changes constantly. Especially this time of year, our creativity can be inspired so that we get new ideas and discover new ways of thinking and doing things. This creativity can allow us to change relationships, make more money or become more satisfied with our lives in other ways by finding new perspectives to view life. Spend some time with yourself walking in the forest this time of year to allow the wood element to speak to you and inspire your mind.

 

The Spirit of Spring for Your Heart

Our spirits will grow our whole lives, ever expanding and accommodating the new information we take in. Actually, in our culture, we call spirit “heart”, and we speak about our hearts or spirits when we are talking about something that really matters to us. We talk about being “open hearted” or “broken hearted” or “good hearted” and what we really mean is that our spirits are being affected by something important. In Mandarin, the phrase for something close to our hearts is “xin xue”, (pronounced “shin shway”) which means “heart blood. What is your xin xue? Are you giving enough of your time and energy to the things in your life that are most important to you? Maybe it’s time to take a closer look in your heart. You might be surprised at what you see.

 

Click here for Spring Help Sheet!

 

With Kindest Regards,

 

 

Rebekah McPhee R.Ac., R.P.C.