Summer and the Fire Element

The weather is warming up and summer is well on it's way...  the days are longer and we are getting more sunlight, which is probably having a positive effect on your energy level and mood.  This is the time of year when Yang (the active, energetic, enthusiastic, and extroverted part of us) is at its peak for the year.  

Summer is associated with the Fire Element in Chinese Medicine, and the The Fire Element  has a corresponding Yin organ (Heart), Yang organ (Small Intestine), and emotion (Joy).  It's natural and healthy to feel more joyful this time of year, as well as more social, because the Heart enjoys connection, communication, and laughter.  Chinese Medicine refers to the Heart in an energetic sense, but it's important to take good care of the physical heart organ as well, and get regular exercise to keep our circulatory system flowing and healthy. 

Because Summer is a warmer time of year, and it is the peak time for the Fire element, it's a good time of year to enjoy more cooling foods such as watermelon and cucumber.  Even being near a body of water is soothing for the Heart, which needs water to feel balanced and grounded. 

Lastly, the Heart governs our sleep, and between the high energy and long daylight hours of summer, it's easy to skimp on sleep.  However, sleep is still essential this time of year, and it's the best time for your Heart to rest and renew. 

Use this summer to take good care of  your Fire element, your Heart will thank you!

Chinese Medicine for Urinary Bladder health

Urinary Tract Infections, or, UTI's, are diagnosed according to Chinese Medicine as "damp heat."   Symptoms often include frequent, burning, or painful urination, or the sensation of a bladder retaining urine even after urination.  Urine may be cloudy, and in some cases there is fever due to the excess heat and inflammation from the infection.  UTI's more commonly affect women because of shorter, more easily infected urinary ducts.  This type of infection can be extremely uncomfortable, yet many people don't realize that Acupuncture can help.

Many people have heard recommendations such as cranberry juice for urinary bladder health.  What other foods and herbs are beneficial?    Well, since an infection of this nature is "damp heat", you want to consume foods that are cooling, and foods that aren't acid forming (this contributes to "dampness.")  Acid forming foods are refined sugar and other sweeteners, greasy, oily foods, and too much starch.  Overeating can also contribute to dampness, so try to eat lightly, with broths and herbal teas.   Coffee and alcohol are too warming and can aggravate heat. 

Here are some cooling and alkalizing recommendations to help your body clear the infection: (you could even make a broth from these ingredients):  celery, carrots, asparagus, aduki beans, lima beans, mushrooms.

Fruits are cooling, but also have sugar, so some good options are: watermelon, lemon (diluted juice), cranberry (unsweetened juice), and huckleberries. 

Here are some beneficial herbal teas: uva ursi, dandelion leaf, plantain leaf.

Acupuncture is a great way to support bladder and kidney health, and help your body clear the infection even quicker.  We also have some great Chinese Herbal formulas that you can take on a daily basis between treatments.  Don't suffer, come on in and get some relief.

The Doyo

Happy Spring everyone!  The calendar says it is officially the first day of Spring and we can all feel it, yes?  More delicious sun breaks among the clouds and rain and temperatures are rising.  According to Chinese medicine, we have been in the "doyo," or the season between the seasons, when the weather can be rather tumultuous, stormy, windy and changeable.  Spring is a great time for a gentle cleanse or detox and the doyo is a common time for people to fall ill.  Acupuncture can assist in detoxification and even ultra-healthy people can benefit from a "tune up" treatment this time of year.

Spring allergies are also very common here in the Pacific Northwest and taking good care of ourselves to keep our immune systems strong is essential.  Eat well, stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, stay active and enjoy some natural vitamin D from the sun!  And if you are sneezy/sinusy, we have some very effective Chinese herbs for allergies and there's always acupuncture.