From www.acufinder.com

The Spirit of Renewal: Spring and Traditional Chinese Medicine
By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM Spring: It is the long-awaited change of winter to spring. Seeds sprout, flowers bloom, and the sun warms the earth. There is a sense of renewal and new life all around.

While winter was a time to conserve energy and reduce activity, spring is a time of regeneration, new beginnings, and a renewal of spirit.

The Principle of the Five Elements

The five elements refer to wood, fire, earth, metal, and water in Eastern philosophy. The Principle of the Five Elements (known as the Wu Hsing in Chinese) describes the flow of Qi and the balance of yin and yang.

According to the principle, all change — in the universe and in your body — occurs in five distinct stages. Each of these stages is associated with a particular time of year, a specific element in nature, and a pair of organs in the body. Change links together the seasons of the year, aspects of nature, and your body’s organs and bodily processes. A practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine uses this principle to diagnose and treat health problems, linking specific foods, herbs, and acupuncture points to the restoration of yin-yang and Qi.

SPRING:

Spring is the ideal time for cleansing and rejuvenation for overall health and well-being. As spring is represented by the wood element and includes the liver and its complementary organ, the gallbladder, these two organs are usually the primary targets for springtime cleansing and health regimens.

• Element: Wood
• Color: Green
• Nature: Yang
• Organs: Liver, Gallbladder
• Emotion: Anger
  

Learn more about the Liver and Liver Qi Stagnation

Put Some Spring into Your Step

Spring corresponds to the "Wood" element, which in turn is conceptually related to the liver and gallbladder organs. According to the philosophy of Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for the smooth flowing of Qi (energy) throughout the body. When the liver functions smoothly, physical and emotional activity throughout the body also runs smoothly. So, for optimum health this spring, move your Qi!

Stretch - The liver controls the tendons. According to Chinese medicine, the liver stores blood during periods of rest and then releases it to the tendons in times of activity, maintaining tendon health and flexibility. Incorporate a morning stretch into your routine. Try yoga or tai qi.

Eye Exercises - The liver opens into the eyes. Although all the organs have some connection to the health of the eyes, the liver is connected to proper eye function. Remember to take breaks when looking at a computer monitor for extended periods of time and do eye exercises.

Eat Green - Green is the color of the liver and of springtime. Eating young plants - fresh, leafy greens, sprouts, and immature cereal grasses - can improve the liver’s overall functions and aid in the movement of qi.

Taste Sour - Foods and drinks with sour tastes are thought to stimulate the liver's qi. Put lemon slices in your drinking water, use vinegar and olive oil for your salad dressing. Garnish your sandwich with a slice of dill pickle.

Do more outdoor activities - Outside air helps liver qi flow. If you have been feeling irritable, find an outdoor activity to smooth out that liver qi stagnation. Try hiking or take up golf.

Enjoy milk thistle tea
Milk thistle helps protect liver cells from incoming toxins and encourages the liver to cleanse itself of damaging substances, such as alcohol, medications, pesticides, environmental toxins, and even heavy metals such as mercury.

Get Acupuncture treatments- Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help improve the overall health of your liver as well as treat stress, anger and frustration, which are often associated with liver qi disharmony.

You can call Tanuja at 773-749-9101 or email her at tjagernauth@gmail.com to make an appointment. All sessions are sliding scale.

The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine is hosting another Vegan Kickstart beginning March 1st! If you are interested in learning more about incorporating more veggies into your diet, check it out! Even if you don't "go vegan" the kickstart offers a variety of great recipes and shopping tips.

And if you are wary about veggie-based foods being yummy and/or satisfying, you should take a trip to the Chicago Diner. They make consistently amazing vegetarian/vegan fare and are always a source of inspiration for me. Check 'em out!

Hooray! Another great resource for heart healthy recipes from Epicurious.

Check 'em out!

Holly Grigg-Spall blogs about her experiences with the birth control pill.

Hot off the press at Acufinder.com!

For Women With PCOS, Acupuncture And Exercise May Bring Relief, Reduce Risks
By: The American Physiological Society Study finds acupuncture and exercise decrease a key marker for disease

Exercise and electro-acupuncture treatments reduce sympathetic nerve activity in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), according to a new study. The finding is important because women with PCOS often have elevated sympathetic nerve activity, which plays a role in hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

The study also found that the electro-acupuncture treatments led to more regular menstrual cycles, reduced testosterone levels and reduced waist circumference.

Exercise had no effect on the irregular or non-existent menstrual cycles that are common among women with PCOS, nor did it reduce waist circumference. However, exercise did lead to reductions in weight and body mass index.

"The findings that low-frequency electro-acupuncture and exercise decrease sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS indicates a possible alternative non-pharmacologic approach to reduce cardiovascular risk in these patients," said one of the researchers, Dr. Elisabet Stener-Victorin of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The findings regarding menstrual cycles and decrease in testosterone levels in the low-frequency electro-acupuncture are also of interest, according to the researcher.

The study, "Low-frequency electro-acupuncture and physical exercise decrease high muscle sympathetic nerve activity in polycystic ovary syndrome" was conducted by Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Elizabeth Jedel, Per Olof Janson and Vrsa Bergmann Sverrisdottir, all of the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden and the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. The study is in the online edition of the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, published by The American Physiological Society.

Common endocrine disorder

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders, affecting an estimated 10% of women of reproductive age. Among the problems associated with the condition are elevated levels of androgens (such as testosterone, the ‘male’ hormone found in both sexes), ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles and infertility.

PCOS is associated with increased sympathetic nerve activity in the blood vessels, part of the ‘fight or flight’ response that results in blood vessel constriction. Chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

The Swedish researchers had previously found that PCOS is associated with increased sympathetic nerve activity and said it may arise from the elevated testosterone level that is characteristic of PCOS.

Three groups

The researchers wanted to find a long-lasting treatment for PCOS that would have no adverse side effects, and so they looked at whether acupuncture or exercise could decrease the sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS. The study included 20 women, average age of 30 years, divided into the following groups:

• low-frequency electro-acupuncture (9)
• exercise (5)
• untreated controls (6)

The acupuncture group underwent 14 treatments during the 16-week study. Acupuncture points were located in abdominal muscles and back of the knee, points thought to be associated with the ovaries. The needles in the abdomen and leg were stimulated with a low-frequency electrical charge, enough to produce muscle contraction but not enough to produce pain or discomfort.

The exercise group received pulse watches and were told to take up regular exercise: brisk walking, cycling or any other aerobic exercise that was faster than walking but that they could sustain for at least 30 minutes. They exercised at least three days per week for 30-45 minutes, maintaining a pulse frequency above 120 beats per minute.

The researchers instructed the control group in the importance of exercise and a healthy diet, the same instructions the experimental groups received, but were not specifically assigned to do anything differently.

Key Findings

The researchers measured the muscle sympathetic nerve activity before and after the 16-week study. Following treatment, the study found the following:

• Both the acupuncture and exercise groups significantly decreased muscle sympathetic nerve activity compared to the control group.

• The acupuncture group experienced a drop in waist size, but not a drop in body mass index or weight.

• The exercise group experienced a drop in weight and body mass index but not in waist size.

• The acupuncture group experienced fewer menstrual irregularities but the exercise group’s irregularities did not change.

• In the acupuncture group, there was a significant drop in testosterone. This is an important indicator because the strongest independent predictor of high sympathetic nerve activity in women is the level of testosterone.

"This is the first study to demonstrate that repeated low-frequency electro-acupuncture and physical exercise can reduce high sympathetic nerve activity seen in women with PCOS,” according to the authors. “Furthermore, both therapies decreased measures of obesity while only low-frequency electro-acupuncture improved menstrual bleeding pattern."

The study has some limitations, including a small sample size, so further research is necessary, the authors wrote. To find the full study, click here

Resource:

Stener-Victorin et al. Low-frequency Electro-Acupuncture and Physical Exercise Decrease High Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2009; DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00197.2009

And Now For Something a Little Different:

Check out this great article on wellness, prevention and how we might use the principles of healing to approach our economic and political strategies.

I appreciate that acupuncture is positioned in this article as a modality that "nips it in the bud", "gets to the roots", and encourages us to look within for analysis instead of ever seeking external ease.

Thanks, Anand Giridharadas!

More delicious inspiration!

This time it's healthy Indian cuisine!

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Over at Devi Health, 2010 is going to be The Year of Exploring Vegan Food!

Yes, that's right! Vegan and vegetarian diets are known for being beneficial for those who struggle with diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), high cholesterol, weight control, heart disease, and more.

At the same time, in the TCM world, acupuncturists are often concerned for vegans and vegetarians, as many of them tend to present with what we call Blood Deficiency and Spleen Qi Deficiency, the signs of which may include: facial pallor, dry hair, anxiety, dry skin, scanty periods, dizziness, fatigue, and other signs and symptoms.

In folks who present with Excess and signs, however, a vegan/vegetarian diet may be one that clears excess Dampness, Phlegm, and Heat, reducing factors that impede the proper flow of Qi and Blood.

Therefore, I am interested in exploring how a sensible and well-balanced vegan/vegetarian diet may assist some while exacerbating unfavorable signs and symptoms for others - as always, there will never be one diet that is fit for all people - how boring (and dangerous) it would be if there was!

If you ask this acupuncturist, diets should be dynamic and flexible enough to put the health of the person first, emphasizing variety, ample fiber, healthy protein, joy, foods compatible with one's constitution, locality, and subjective aesthetic sensibilities. I am NOT interested in diets that feel like programs for self-punishment in disguise!!

That said, on today's resource!

To promote a plant-based diet, The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is sponsoring a 21-day vegan kickstart designed to get folks started on the path to eating a vegan diet. They are providing "technical assistance" in the form of videos, meal plans, and advice, so check the site out if you are interested!

Be well!

Holiday Eating

I found a great little article that has some sensible ideas about eating well this holiday season.


Enjoy - and breathe! ;)

I couldn't resist...

Thinking about Autumn Eating got me super excited about eating round, seasonal foods, so of course I began salivating about butternut squash soup! Here's an amazing recipe I am going to try from Vegetarian Times as reposted on YogaJournal.com

Try adding some of the following items to make it a medicinal treat:

• astragalus (huang qi): boosts the Lung Qi, can help to prevent illness
• sweet potatoes: boosts the Spleen Qi, drains dampness
• pearled barley (yi yi ren): boosts the Spleen Qi, drains dampness
  

Vegetarian Times Issue: November 1, 1999 p.38

For an extra-special touch, toast the squash seeds to sprinkle over the soup. Rinse seeds, pat dry with paper towels, spread on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 30 to 40 minutes, tossing occasionally. This make-ahead soup can be frozen for up to 1 month.

Ingredients

8 servings

• 3 medium or 2 large butternut or acorn squash (4 lbs.)
• 2 (14-oz.) cans vegetable broth (1 qt.)
• 1 tsp. coarse salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground white pepper
• 4 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil or 3 Tbs. vegetable oil and 1 Tbs. walnut oil
• 24 fresh small sage leaves
• 4 slices firm-textured white bread

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds; save seeds for toasting if desired (see above). Place squash halves cut side down on large baking sheet with sides. Bake until skins are browned and squash is tender, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
2. Scoop cooked squash from skins and transfer to large saucepan. Mash well with potato masher, then stir in broth and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat. Soup should be as thick as tomato sauce–add up to 1 cup more water to thin if necessary. If you prefer a finer texture, cool slightly then puree soup in a blender or food processor. Let cool completely, transfer to container with lid and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
3. Up to 4 hours before serving, heat 3 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add sage leaves and cook until lightly browned, turning once, about 1 minute. Using tongs, transfer sage to paper towels to drain. Reserve oil in skillet.
4. Trim crusts from bread, discarding crusts. Cut each bread slice diagonally into 4 triangles, then cut each triangle in half to make 32 croutons total.
5. Heat reserved oil in skillet over medium heat. Add half the croutons and cook, turning once, until golden on both sides, about 1 minute. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in skillet and cook remaining croutons as before.
6. Rewarm soup over low heat, stirring occasionally. Ladle soup into bowls and scatter 3 toasted sage leaves over each portion. Garnish each with 4 croutons and serve hot.

Autumn Eating

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is thought that disease comes from the conflict when a body or being struggles against the flow of change, whether that change comes happens within the microcosm of a person's life or the macrocosm of changing seasons. As we move into Autumn, I am suggesting to my patients that we begin eating the foods of Autumn.

Dr. Maoshing Ni, L.Ac., D.O.M., Ph.D, author of Secrets of Longevity Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100 suggests some great foods to consume this autumn. I've reposted his article from Acupuncture.com here:

Autumn marks the turning point between the heat of summer and the cold of winter. The cooling weather ushers in the harvest and heralds the dying cycle in nature. The seasonal change also causes the respiratory system to constrict, leading to cough, asthma, bronchitis, and even pneumonia. Chinese medicine has always associated autumn with the lungs and large intestine. The Yellow Emperor advises early to bed and early to rise, practice breathing exercises, avoid pungent flavors but increase sour ones in the diet, drink fluids and eat soups, and remain calm and relaxed to avoid the diseases typical of autumn.

Some Important Autumn Foods

Apples

The apple, a universally loved fruit, has long been a symbol of passion and temptation – and now, scientists have confirmed that it also contributes to a healthy heart. Eating two to three apples per day results in decreased cholesterol levels, thanks to the fruit’s rich pectin content. Pectin also helps prevent colon cancer, which ranks among the top causes of death in adults over the age of sixty.

Sweet Potatoes and Yams

These powerhouse foods contain higher amounts of beta-carotene and vitamin C than carrots, more protein than wheat and rice, and more fiber than oat bran. Sweet potatoes and yams also happen to be a rich source of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). This is a precursor hormone – a substance that remains latent until it converts into a hormone that the body needs. DHEA can become estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, all essential for your body’s ant-aging defenses to work. As one ages, however, the body’s level of precursor hormones like DHEA drop precipitously.

Oats

Oat bran, the outer coating of oats, contains high concentrations of soluble fibers, which help trap cholesterol and move it quickly through the intestines. Unfortunately, most people eat their oats in the refined form, which contains very little of the precious bran that contains beta-glucan and saponins. Whole oats are also rich in the antioxidants that stop cholesterol oxidation, the process that enables it to stick to artery walls.

More benefits: oats prevent colon cancer by binding toxic minerals and acids; they balance the body’s blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of carbohydrates; and the saponins in oats increase production of “killer cells,” a critical part of the body’s immune surveillance system. Try substituting a warm bowl of whole oats for your cold cereal in the morning. Your body will thank you – for years.

You probably noticed that these are foods that tend to feature prominently in Autumn soups, stews, and morning breakfasts or porridge or oatmeal. Slow cooking is the way to go during the Autumn. It imparts extra energy into the food and begins the digestion process in the pot. This means your body has less work to do. During the Autumn, it's a fantastic idea to begin conserving your energy for the harsh winter ahead (especially if you live in Chicago).

Gua Sha

Fall Illness is Not Inevitable

One tool that I use to prevent and treat Fall illnesses is Gua Sha, which means "scraping sha".
Sha is what you see when you press on someone's muscle tissue and see your fingertips leave behind a white mark surrounded by redness. Try this on a friend's neck or shoulders. If you press there and see your fingertips leave a mark, they could use some Gua Sha!

I use a smooth-edged tool to scrap the sha, applying oil and moderate pressure to the tissue. What is revealed are red-to-purple marks, petechia, which fade within 2-4 days. This allows for stagnant blood to leave the area, bringing fresh blood IN.

In addition to treating respiratory conditions, I love this modality for folks with chronically tense/painful neck and shoulder and back muscles.

For more information, check out this link.

SPECIAL OFFERS FROM DEVI HEALTH

1. For the months of September, October, and November, I am offering $40 30-minute Eastern Nutrition consultations.

This is a great way to discuss in-depth a strategy for preventing illness and treating what commonly ails you, from sinus infections to headaches. I have on hand some wonderful recipes for soups, stews, congees, and medicinal meals that may serve as home remedies to keep you and your family healthy.

2. For those who are new to acupuncture, I am offering 40% off the 90-minute initial appointment, a value of $40!! Please spread the word!

3. If you are thinking of giving a loved one a gift certificate for a 60-minute acupuncture session, I am offering gift packages this year! You may purchase 2 treatments for $120, 3 for $150, and 5 for $200.

These make great wedding gifts or support packages for wedding parties and/or families.

4. Group Acupuncture: If your family, co-workers, or friends could use a collective boost, talk to me about setting up a group acupuncture session for you all, which will include a group guided meditation and wellness discussion.