People's Acupuncture

As you enter into the New Year, you’re probably planning for better health, security, and prosperity. Here are some self-care health tips from a Chinese medicine perspective that may be helpful to you.  Here is what I think really matters to your overall health:

1.    Circulation – More people die in the middle of winter, sleeping or upon waking due to Qi and blood stagnation in the body leading to a stroke/heart attack.  Tip: On waking and before breakfast, drink a tall glass of warm/hot water to keep circulation going, and to help moisten the intestines and move the bowels.

2.    Sleep – 90% of Americans suffer from insomnia, sleeplessness, poor sleep, or insufficient sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep is tricky. We rely on the body’s negative feedback mechanism to move us in synch each day with the so-called Circadian Clock (25-hours, running on a 24-hr cycle). We rely on the Yin (dark hours)/Yang (light hours) changes to reset our clock each day to synchronize with time in the cosmic world. At night we need to have enough Yin and not much Yang to fall asleep. Having too much Yang will keep us awake at night.  The opposite is somnolence when there’s not enough Yang in the body during the day to keep us awake. This could be adjusted through diet, exercise, stress management and sleep timing. If the body is out of balance, our negative feedback mechanism will not function correctly, leading to insomnia or somnolence. Tip #1: In Chinese medicine we believe there are crucial periods at night, one of which involves going to sleep no later than 11 pm.  This is s the start time for the gallbladder to retire and the 1-3am non-wakeful time for the liver, which allows it to rest. To nurture the desired sleeping pattern, there should be no eating or drinking past 9 pm to allow the spleen, stomach, kidney, bladder, and heart a break too. Poor sleep leads to fatigue and low energy during the day, cravings for comfort foods and weight gain. Tip #2: Sleep an hour longer in the winter, and less in the summer, to catch needed Yang energy in the morning.

3.    Bodily Wastes and Hydration – Body waste is full of toxins that the body needs to eliminate. Tip: Keeping well hydrated, having enough fiber in the diet, maintaining exercise routines, and avoiding processed food and chemical additives will help move toxins out efficiently. Too much dry heat or damp heat in the intestines, will lead to constipation or loose bowel movements. Congealed body fluid/blood due to coldness or heat such as cold damp weather and indoor heat or mental stress could lead to Qi and blood stagnation that makes the bowels hard to move.  Keeping hydrated will help maintain needed electrolytes and kidney health.   

4.    Diet – Keep a journal of what you eat and drink and assess them objectively to change any unhealthy patterns.  Tip: Eat regularly, slowly, and in smaller portions with warm or hot drinks rather than cold. Eat locally produced whole foods in season. Food temperatures should compliment the body’s temperature. Consume complex carbohydrates, fruits and veggies for Qi, and natural proteins from eggs, legumes, and small amounts of animal meats for building blood. Keeping hydrated without losing too many electrolytes may be a life or death matter. Knowing what specific foods to eat is another body of knowledge too vast to be addressed here.

5.    Stress – Stress can interfere or block all of the above 4 items.  Tip:  Daily physical exercise, walks or meditation – can help steer away from stress and worries of the day temporarily to offer a good shot of mental stamina and much needed relaxation.

Consult your physician or clinician along with these tips.  Call us if you have any questions!