In Chinese Medicine, we also address dietary therapy: what to eat for what organ system or to change a deficiency/excess condition with the use of food. We also discuss with our clients the temperature of the food. How to store them, how to eat them at what temperature and if you can’t change the temp of the food (i.e.: dairy products), how can you balance it out with a different temperature (i.e.: warm tea). I came upon this article from the Chopra Center that discusses what foods to refrigerate and which ones don’t need to be. It’s in a nice A-Z list that you can put right on your fridge to remind you! And if you are interested in learning more about dietary therapy for your best health, contact your acupuncturist! They are a wealth of knowledge!
Herbal Remedies/Recipes
Acupuncture and Thanksgiving
‘Tis the season of giving thanks for what we have received this year, thankfulness for our family and friends, and most importantly our health. it has been a wonderful year full of great weather moments and sad global experiences. All of which causes us to pause an d think about how truly blessed we are living the lives we are living. So while you are at the table, about to enjoy the food that has thoughtfully been prepared for you, take a moment and say thank you out loud. Some may look up and wonder what you are doing but hopefully everyone will join you in a simple thank you. And please remember that the practitioners at the Marlborough Wellness Center wish you and your families the best of the holiday season, full of prosperity and good health!
PS: If you feel that food coma come on after you devoured the largest amount of turkey ever, call us because we have the perfect remedy for it…Shan Zha wafers! Little wafer candies that aid in the digestion of fats and lower blood pressure (a side effect for some when family is in town)!
Acupuncture & Herbs: Herbs For Stress Relief
Though there is a long list of drugs to handle stress, the list of their side effects is equally long. So everyone is on the look out for natural stress relief techniques which are very effective and at the same time don’t have many side effects. Herbal treatments usually have a significant chunk of followers. Herbs are natural stress relievers with little or no side effects and can be used as a single herb or combination product in stress management therapy. Valerian is said to be the oldest in the herbal treatment of stress while Kava Kava is the latest addition. The following different herbs have medicinal values in the treatment of stress:
Kava Kava
Kava Kava, or simply Kava, is the latest sensation in the stress management therapy. It is a derivative of the pepper family ‘Piper methysticum’. This plant family is indigenous to the Indonesian and the Polynesian group of islands. The herb was initially used in drinks while welcoming dignitaries. Kava can be taken as a whole herb or as extracts of the herb. Kava as a stress relief product that comes in both liquid and pill forms.
Kava, when ingested, gives a sense of well being. The herb contains Kava lactones which help in relaxation. The unique feature of Kava is that it does not affect the memories and the mental alertness. Kava can be used to relieve stress, relax muscles and get a peaceful sleep.
Valerian Root
Valerian is said to be the oldest among the herbal stress relievers. It is mentioned even in Ayurvedic literature. It is akin to the drug ‘Diazepam’ which is used to calm a person. Valerian relaxes the nervous system and induces deep sleep. It also relaxes tensed muscles and is very useful to relieve the muscle cramps of pre- menstrual tension.
Passion Flower
It is used either singly or as a combination product. It contains flavinoids which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances which neutralize the highly damaging oxygen ions. Passion flower also acts as a sedative as it decreases anxiety and can induce a deep sleep.
Scull Cap
This herb is used as a nerve tonic. It stabilizes the mood during periods of stress.
Hops
This is a mild tranquilizer. It pacifies a stressed mind. It is used if there are sleeplessness and irritability.
Catnip
Catnip acts on two systems – the nervous system and the digestive system. It calms down an anxious person by acting on the brain. It is effective in relieving the symptoms of peptic ulcer disease and irritable bowel syndrome which are oftentimes associated with stress.
Chamomile
It boosts immunity which is usually depressed during stress and thus prevents infection. It also acts as a tranquilizer by calming down a person. The gastro- intestinal symptoms and signs of stress are also relieved.
Rhodiola
This acts on the heart. The irregular heartbeat is controlled so that the heart is made to pump at the normal rhythm.
We have created special proprietary tea blends to help with stress and anxiety so if you are interested, please visit www.marlboroughwellnesscenter.com and go to our Natural Store! Order online for ease and find yourself beginning down the path to calm!
Super Life Healing Salve for Sunburns: See The Difference!
So I know I have posted on this topic before but I have to include pictures this time! Yes, Virginia…there is a Santa Claus and a solution for your sunburns! Super Life Healing Salve for Sunburns!
“These are the before and after pictures of my husband’s back great site. The first one is the day before applying the Healing Salve. The second picture is from after 3 applications of the Healing Salve. I can’t get over the difference!!” – Sarah G.
So if you are someone who burns easily whenever you are in the sun, go to the Natural Store on the Marlborough Wellness Center website and pick some up today! You only need a little bit too because it goes a long way! Enjoy your summer!
Acupuncture and Herbs: “Eat With The Season!”
I get asked all the time what are the best food to eat during the summer? Healthy eating tips for the summer are a little tricky but my main mantra is “Eat With The Season”!
Since the weather is warm, you need light, cooling foods. Juicy peaches, sweet watermelons, tomatoes hot off the vine… and the right foods are easy to find. One trip through your garden or a walk through a farmer’s market and you’ll have the perfect summer meal.
But since you’re outside exercising and working in the garden, you build up an appetite. You work hard and play hard so you crave calories to keep the fire burning. Are cucumbers the first food you reach for after rototilling the garden? Most of my clients respond “probably not”. Unfortunately, many times craving calories trumps craving fresh food. You satisfy your appetite with a meal of tortilla chips and soda. Or brats and beer. Or hamburgers and ice cream. And afterward you feel full, bloated and hot.
Fortunately there is a solution! It is possible to eat well, have energy, and avoid feeling bloated. The trick is in the timing and with an easy tweak to your natural summer diet, you’ll feel fantastic.
It should come as no surprise that I recommend eating lots of fruits and vegetables in the summer. In fact, I recommend eating fruits and vegetables all year, but in the summer they are especially important. Summer is a yang season and is associated with the fire element. Fire governs the heart and small intestine. When fire is balanced within the body, the heart governs and circulates the blood properly and the intestines properly digest food. Emotionally, you are balanced, sensitive and enthusiastic. There are a few simple guidelines to keep fire balanced:
1. Focus on yin foods. Yin foods are wet and cool. Fruits and vegetables (especially green vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers and watercress) are yin. For protein, eat more fish or seafood than meat. Smoothies and salads are yin and are excellent summer meals.
2. Eat moderately. Avoid huge meals.
3. Eat bitter foods. Bitter foods support the fire element. Coffee, tea and chocolate (without sugar) are all bitter and moderate amounts of them are appropriate for summer health. This is the season you can call your coffee a health food! Asparagus, bitter greens like kale, arugula or escarole, celery and rhubarb are all good foods for the summer.
Eat Big in the Afternoon
If you focus on yin and bitter foods, your diet is cooling and light. But what happens when you need more energy than a slice of watermelon provides? This is when the timing of your meals matters. If you need a heavier meal, eat it mid to late afternoon. “Picnic time” is the best time to fuel up. Avoid eating a big meal early or late in the day. A healthy summer eating plan starts with a breakfast of fruit, smoothies or yogurt. Have a salad for lunch. Eat a heavy meal later in the afternoon and end your day with more fruit.
By eating mostly fresh, light, wet foods and including a heavy meal only in the afternoon, you will help your fire burn bright but not out of control. You’ll feel light, cool and energized. Your heart, circulation and digestion will be strong. You won’t feel bloated or full.
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses nutrition as a tool to maintain health and promote healing. Eating a yin diet with your heavy meal in the late afternoon is good general advice, but your constitution may need a slightly different routine. The proportion of yin food matters and varies from person to person. To get the best summer eating tips, contact me and together we’ll make a plan that’s perfect for you.
Another Reason to Try Our Super Life Healing Salve…
So when I first came up with the idea to make a healing salve, it was to help my fellow martial art students heal faster when they would get hurt. Since then, I started using it in the clinic for knee, hip, and low back pain with heat since using products that contain menthol can badly irritate the skin. My clients were happy! I even had one client tell me it is the only thing that works for the arthritis in her hands! Not to mention, it is the salve of choice for clients of a plastic surgeon because it works so well at erasing bruising! So I’m just starting to make a list of all the reasons to use our Super Life Healing Salve! The latest reason: SUNBURNS!!! Now I have a No-Itch Spray that works wonders also but I always go to pure aloe vera gel to heal a really red sunburn. But the other day, my son and I were out at his baseball game middle of the afternoon. And wouldn’t you know it, I resembled a lobster by the end of the game. That happens in the Spring here in New England…after this past winter, our skin hasn’t seen the light of day for months! So I put the pure aloe vera gel on with minimal relief. My son reported the same. I turned to the Super Life Healing Salve to see if it could stop the burning and resulting peeling. IT DID! The burn is slowly dissipating and turning into a slight tan without peeling or the uncomfortable burning sensation! It’s the essential oil blend that decreases inflammation while the arnica oil and shea butter base nourishes the skin while alleviating the pain. And it’s all available at the Natural Product Store on the website, www.marlboroughwellnesscenter.com
Acupuncture and Herbs: Purchase Allergies Away Tea ONLINE!
Allergy season is coming and don’t wait one more minute! Get your Allergies Away tea at our online store as well as the Sinus Solutions oil to clear your sinuses and the Breathe Easy Chest Balm for the times it settles into your chest! Do not suffer needlessly…be proactive with natural organic product solutions, made at the Marlborough Wellness Center by licensed herbalists! Visit our Store today!
NEW Product for GVHD: Dry Skin
As promised, more products are coming available to aid and assist those who suffer from the signs and symptoms of Graft-vs-Host Disease (GvHD) as a result of stem cell transplants and any other life saving transplant. One of the biggest symptom that the majority of people who have GvHD complain about is dry or cracked skin all over their body. Nothing seems to help that comes over the counter so I created the “Ultimate Soft Skin Solution”. It contains all natural and organic ingredients, items you can pronounce and probably even know what they are! A proprietary blend of organic shea butter, organic cocoa butter, organic coconut oil, and all natural calendula oil make up this soft, creamy solution to your skin’s needs. Please try it for yourself and you will not be disappointed! And let’s not forget that if it works on severely dry or cracked skin, you can bet it will be the answer for your annual winter dry skin conditions too!
Acupuncture and Herbal Options for GvHD (Graft-vs-Host Disease)
As some of you may know or not know, I am an acupuncturist, and herbalist, and mother, a sister, a friend, and a daughter. My role as a daughter to someone who is currently challenged by active Graft-vs-Host disease (GvHD) as a result of a stem cell transplant got me thinking, incorporating some of the other roles I have in my life to help those who suffer from the signs/symptoms of GvHD!
Although there are strict regimens and protocols for transplant patients, topical natural remedies are available and usually allowed by the transplant teams (please check with your team first). For the dry skin that results from the skin rash, a classic sugar scrub can be a simple solution. Apply it to the face and body 2-3 times a week, more in the dead of a New England winter! May I suggest One Mini Moment’s sugar scrub line…www.oneminimoment.com, made locally in Massachusetts. They have a delightful line of scents and are not super oily to use.
For the sinuses, our Sinus Solutions is truly the perfect solution! You can apply it right under your nose and on the sinus passages to open them up and alleviate the discomfort from the pressure. If dryness in the air is something you battle with on a daily basis, run that humidifier with a little of our Sinus Solutions in it and you can take care of two issues at once.
For the aches and pains that may plague your body, try our Super Life Healing Salve! You can put it everywhere and anywhere you are uncomfortable. It works especially well on arthritic hands, knees, backs, necks, and any area where there is muscle soreness. If you have any bruising from IV’s or blood test needles, rub a little of the Super Life Healing Salve in the affected area everyday and watch the bruise disappear, thanks to the Arnica Oil in the cream! Arnica is an herb that naturally treats bruising and sore muscles/joints.
Acupuncture is a natural treatment that can also alleviate many of the signs and symptoms of GvHD and is endorsed by Dana Farber Cancer Institute. If you are already getting your fair share of needles, why not add a few that would help your condition?
At a time when GvHD takes over and leaves so many people lost and struggling everyday, just know there are options and natural ones too! More on this topic in the future because as you know, GvHD is a chronic condition that deserves some attention! Please feel free to visit our store for the products listed above, schedule an appointment, and/or leave us any comments or suggestions for us!
Acupuncture and Herbs: Autumn Diet Suggestions
Nature has a way of providing us with what we need, when we need it. That’s especially true when it comes to the foods that become available with each season. Autumn brings with it a bounty of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that nourish the body and support health and well-being. Being aware of seasonal foods and attuning your diet to your body’s needs is a great way to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
The harvest season is a time to prepare your body for the cold winter ahead. Your diet should shift toward richer, denser foods that will provide you with extra energy and warmth. Consider increasing your intake of protein, fats, and whole grains but be sure to keep up your exercise program, to control weight gain.
Nourishing your immune system is also very important at this time. Take advantage of dark green and golden-orange vegetables that are rich in beta-carotene to strengthen the body’s Wei Qi (immune system). These include carrots, pumpkin, squash, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, and many more.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it’s important to maintain the body’s balance during this season by adding sour foods such as sauerkraut, leeks, yogurt, and sour apples to your diet. Pungent foods such as garlic, turnips, and horseradish should also be added to your autumn diet, since they cleanse and protect the lungs.
It’s also important to moderate your caffeine use this season. As autumn settles in, you may notice yourself feeling a little more tired than usual and increasing your coffee intake to boost your energy. Before you lift that next cup, consider making a healthy change and switching from coffee to tea, specifically the Chaga mushroom tea.
Tea has been found to have a variety of health benefits, including protecting against heart disease and some types of cancer, reducing inflammation and blood pressure, and even increasing bone density. Green and white teas contain especially high amounts of antioxidants, which protect against cellular damage. Chaga tea has adaptogenic properties that van help your body and immune system rid itself of free radicals and oxidative stress.
These are just simple suggestions. Consult with your acupuncturist or healthcare provider reporting dietary changes you are considering. The herbalists at the Marlborough Wellness Center are well-versed in Traditional Chinese medicine as well as Western Herbalism, homeopathy, and essential oils use for good health.
TCM: Cleveland Clinic Partners with Crane Herb!
The Marlborough Wellness Center fills it’s herbal pharmacy with the quality products from Crane Herb and now the well known Cleveland Clinic will too! () So if you have been wondering about what Chinese herbs could possibly do for you, contact us and our experienced Chinese herbalist can answer any questions you may have.
All Natural Bug Spray and Itch-Be-Gone Available Now!
‘Tis the season for the heat, BBQ’s, and biting bugs!
I know I happen to be one of the lucky ones (as well as both my children) who when a mosquito bites my skin, I welt up something fierce and the itching is intolerable. One of my friends began my quest to find an all natural bug spray once I heard all the horrible health issues with bug sprays that include DEET. With research done, I have created an all natural bug spray that truly keeps the biting critters away! NOTE: if you go to a place that you know is going to be super buggy (ie: some of the hiking trails in Callahan State Park in Marlborough/Framingham), place the all natural bug spray on your skin and the DEET containing products on your clothes. This is the safer way to go for full protection! $15.00/4 oz spray bottle…lasts much longer than anticipated.
But let’s say you go out for the evening to a BBQ or camping for the weekend, by water, at dusk (key mosquito time!!), and you manage to get a bite or two….introducing the Itch-Be-Gone solution! Thanks to NourishingTreaures.com, I found a fantastic recipe for taking the itch away from bug bites, heat rash, and minor sunburns. I have used this on myself and my children with great success for anything itchy!! $10.00/1 oz dropper bottle…also lasts much longer than one would expect since you are using drops at a time.
Both are kid, adult and pet friendly! Will need to re-apply after swimming or excessive sweating. Please use with caution when pregnant, consult a physician if there are any questions.
So if you are interested and intrigued, wanting to give the 2 all natural, essential oil blend/witch hazel base solutions a try, please call 508-460-3399 because they are going fast….just as fast as the mosquito biting your lower leg now….!
Allergies, Ear Infections, Spring Fevers…OH MY!!
“The Time has come,”, the Walrus said, “To speak of many things….” -Alice in Wonderland
Ah yes, the springtime is upon us and for some of us, it can be a double-edged sword! We love the sun and the bright garden colors but dislike to the Nth degree the pollen and molds that come with it all. Sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fevers, itchy eyes, sore necks/shoulders, foggy thinking, sinus pain, leaky noses, post-nasal drip…just to name a few of the common symptoms associated with springtime environmental allergies. Most of you may go for an over the counter option or prescription medications to mask the symptoms but with those, a new array of side effects plague our already tortured upper bodies!
There are natural options available to you! Herbal formulas with Chinese and Western herbs, Center-created sinus oils applied to the sinuses/nose, and children’s ear infection formulas are here at the Marlborough Wellness Center and may cost you the amount you would pay for a co-pay to the doctor. Except with the herbal options, there are not extra side effects to worry about and most can remove the allergic reaction altogether! And all of the options available are adult and KID friendly!
So, please so not suffer needlessly and contact us! We can find the right, individualized answer for your Spring issues today!
Licensed Herbalists Can Help You Manage Your Herbal Supplements
When you go to your Western medical practitioner, they usually ask you about your pharmaceutical medications. They want to know what you are taking and how they are interacting in your body. They are trained to manage these so that their patients can live full, healthy lives. Many doctors have begun to ask what herbal prescriptions and/or supplements you may also be taking but bottom line, that isn’t what they were formally trained to manage.
Licensed herbalists can help you manage your herbal supplements because this is what we have been formally trained to do!
I personally have continued my herbal education with a focus on herb-drug interaction, thanks to the fantastic knowledge and education imparted from Dr. John Chen, pharmacist, herbalist, and owner of Evergreen Herbs and the Lotus Institute in California. I have only begun my education in this area but have learned key aspects regarding the body’s metabolic processes of medications, when to take volitile pharmaceuticals and herbal formulas without absorption interference in the cells, and how to prevent and recognize herb-drug adverse reactions. I have had several clients of mine recently mix Western pharmaceuticals and herbal supplements, suffering from minimal to severe side effects. This can be prevented by making me (or a licensed herbalist with continued education in herb-drug interactions) your Go-To source for your herbal medicine management. Always find a licensed herbalist who is willing to work with your Western medical practitioners for a comprehensive approach to your health. I look forward to working with you in the near future!
Spicy Chicken Sandwiches with Cilantro-Lime Mayo
(excerpted from Cooking Light magazine, December 2008)
Mayo:
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice 1 garlic clove
Chicken:
1/4 egg substitute, 3 tablespoons hot sauce (such as Tabasco), 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, 4-1/2 ounces baked tortilla chips (about 6 cups), 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Remaining Ingredients:
4 (2 ounce) Kaiser rolls, split, 12 (1/8 inch thick) red onion slices, 4 lettuce leaves.
1. To prepare the mayo, combine the first 4 ingredients.
2. To prepare the chicken, combine the egg substitute, hot sauce, oregano, and salt into a large zip-top plastic bag. Cut the chicken breast halves in half horizontally to form 4 cutlets. Add chicken to the bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 2 hours or up to 8 hours, turning the bag occasionally.
3. Place tortilla chips in a food processor; process 1 minute or until ground. Place ground chips in a shallow dish.
4. Working with one cutlet at a time, remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Coat chicken completely in chips. Set aside. Repeat procedure with remaining chicken and chips.
5. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned and done. Spread mayo evenly over cut sides of rolls. Layer bottom half of each roll with 3 onion slices, 1 lettuce leaf, and 1 chicken cutlet; top with top half of rolls.
Yields: 4 servings (1 sandwich).
Irradiation and our Food: things that make you go hmmmm…
ok, so although I am not a licensed dietician or Naturopathic doctor, I am a conscientious practitioner and parent who wants only the best food to be ingested by clients and family. I read this article and was very happy I had invested some money and time into my local organic CSA (community supported agriculture) farm! Check it out and believe what you may…
by the Inkslinger
Ear infections and Garlic/Ginger
Did you know…that by placing a slice of garlic or ginger in the outside part of your child’s ear, covering it with a cotton ball, and taping it in place for about an hour, the extreme peircing pain associated with the ear infection itself can be greatly reduced without the use of pediatric Motrin or Tylenol? Great!! But there is a catch…this works best with cold conditions causing the ear infection! How do you know what kind of condition is causing your child’s ear infections? Go see an acupuncturist that has experience with pediatrics for a diagnosis and to see if that easy strategy would be beneficial for your little one!
Acupuncture and Herbal Options
I have read so many articles on the web and in print on the hazards of using herbal supplements and medicinals that are found over-the-counter or without proper medical supervision. And I have to agree to some extent. I know many people who have used herbal medicinals without the supervision of an Herbalist or a Naturopathic Doctor, and have found themselves having side effects or not feeling any effects at all. You see, professionals who are trained in prescribing herbal medicinals and supplements know how much of a specific herb a person can take, what the proper dosages are to achieve desired results. Traditional Chinese and Western herbs are great for treating a variety of ailments Western pharmaceutical medicines can’t seem to affect without causing significant undesired side effects….MS, blood disorders, arthritis pain, colds/flus and viral infections, headaches, and the list goes on and on. So please, do not be afraid to contact your herbal practitioner if you have any questions regarding what herbal medicinals can do for you. It is the people who do not ask the questions, that just take them over-the-counter, that are giving the FDA ammunition to remove these valuable herbal options from the public’s available pharmacoepia. Because what the FDA hears is only the negative reactions to the herbal medicinals, when things go awry. But these times are significantly rare as long as people are under the supervision of a licensed professional.