Fermented Foods and Intestinal Health

By admin | Published July 17, 2017

The modern world is changing every single day. Because of this constant state of change, our bodies are frequently having to adjust. We have a food supply being degraded and depleted of nutritional content, which in turn, causes our bodies to become depleted. Our soil and water is contaminated with antibiotics and deadly fertilizers. All of which become part of the food chain we rely upon. Because of this, antibiotics are failing and superbugs like MRSA are on the rise. Lack of nutrition and the overuse of antibiotics are just a couple of the things wreaking havoc on our intestinal health. But there are ways to combat this and keep the gut healthy. continue reading »

Posted in Nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine | Tagged digestive health, fermented food, nutrition | Comments Off

Bate’s Method of Eye Health

By bryce | Published July 10, 2017

Tired of having to use your glasses or contact lenses in order to see? Well, look no further, there is a natural way to regain your eyesight and retain optimal eye health. The method that makes this possible is called the Bate’s Method. Created by Dr. William H. Bates in 1891, the Bates Method has been used as an alternative form of ophthalmology for over a hundred years.

Bate’s believed his alternative therapy to regaining eyesight revolved around the idea that most eye problems were caused by habitual, or recurring strain to the eyes. Bate’s assumed glasses were ineffective and encouraged people to try his alternative solution to fixing eyesight. One part that makes up the method is a series of specific eye exercises, which aim to alleviate the strain causing the patient’s eye issues.

The first key exercise we will introduce is the near-to-far shifting of focus. This exercise will work to promote a balanced use of your eyes, it will help build flexibility in the eye muscles and increase your mind-eye coordination. The object of the exercise is to look at photograph while you hold one of your fingers about 10 inches away from your face. The idea is to shift focus between your finger and the photograph, this will either cause you to see an illusion of two fingers, or two photographs, depending on what you are focused on at the time.

Eye stretches are another exercise critical to the Bate’s Method. Eye stretches take around three minutes to complete and they are very easy to do. First, you must close your eyes and relax all of the parts of your face while maintaining deep and easy breathes. Now, with your eyes closed stretch your eyes in an up and down motion, repeat this 20 times. After you have stretched the eyes up and down, close the eyes again and roll them in both clockwise and counterclockwise motions, repeat this step 20 times as well. Eye stretches are imperative to optimal eye health, they reduce pressure in the eyes and help your eyes relax.

In addition to exercises for the eyes, the Bate’s Method calls for changes to diet and the amount of exposure you receive from the sun. In terms of diet changes, smart things to do when incorporating the Bate’s Method are to cut sugar and fat from the diet, and to add a hearty amount of fruit, nuts and vegetables. Although dieting won’t increase your exposure to the sun, sunning, an idea unique to the Bate’s method will.

Sunning is the idea that an individual’s eyesight will improve after staring directly at the sun. In order to stare at the sun you have to work up to it first, but overtime Bate’s stated you will notice improvement to your overall eye health. Sunning must first be started gradually with a small light source such as a lamp and then through practice and exercise you can then start staring at the sun.

There are many part to the Bate’s Method and you should be sure to do them all when trying to retain optimal eye health.

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Are Your Eyes Red or Inflamed?

By admin | Published July 3, 2017

In the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver energy flows upward into the eyes. When this energy is flowing smoothly and working as it should, your vision is clear and sharp, you have efficient night vision and the eyes are bright and well-lubricated.

When out of balance, the liver can generate heat that rises upward. This heat can manifest in dry eyes, itchy eyes or eyes that are red and irritated. Think about how red one’s eyes can get after a night of drinking. Alcohol adds heat to the liver, which in turn rises upward and creates hot, red eyes. The facial flushing you see after a night of imbibing is also indicative of this heat. continue reading »

Posted in Traditional Chinese Medicine | Tagged dry eyes, eyes, red eye | Comments Off

Acupuncture for Weight Loss

By admin | Published June 26, 2017

An article published in the Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, substantiates the usage of acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal formulations can help in the treatment of obesity and weight loss. The article reviewed four clinical studies and 16 animal studies on the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating obesity. There were different methods, but the results were ultimately the same. Obesity can be a result of total body inflammation or hormonal imbalances, and because of this, all the studies that were reviewed, had different approaches for treating the disease. All of the studies confirmed obesity can be managed utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques.

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States. As many as one quarter of all Americans are considered overweight. And because of this, nearly $33 billion will be spent annually on weight loss programs. However, almost 85 percent of those trying to lose weight, will fail. There are many reasons why Americans are getting larger waistlines, but ultimately, the burden falls upon the individual. There are methods that can help people lose pounds and maintain a healthy weight though.

TCM is a non-invasive, safe and effective method for helping with weight loss. Unfortunately, a vast majority of people tend to look for the “quick fix” and this is definitely not what TCM provides. But, if a person is willing to take control and be held accountable for their actions and decisions, then TCM can be quite helpful with regards to shedding pounds.

Multiple studies have shown when TCM modalities, such as acupuncture and herbal formulas, are combined with traditional methods of weight loss, the patients actually lose more weight. TCM views the body and how it functions differently than Western medicine. Everything in TCM is based upon the fact that every cell in the human body is a form of energy. When there is an imbalance of energies throughout the body, then disease or illness may arise. Obesity is a disease that requires balancing. When it comes to weight loss, there are two or three main areas that TCM practitioners focus on, the spleen, liver and kidney meridians.

The three areas that focus on weight loss in TCM, the spleen, liver and kidney meridians, are the powerhouses of the body. The kidney meridian equates to the endocrine system and this is treated to reduce water retention and to rebalance hormone levels. The spleen meridian is targeted to regulate sugar metabolism. The liver meridian is treated to reduce stress, which can lead to binge eating and other unhealthy eating habits. Increased levels of stress can also deplete the hormones that are responsible for metabolism in the body.

Acupuncture for weight loss is not a silver bullet and traditional methods should be used in conjunction with acupuncture. Obviously monitoring the diet and getting proper exercise and rest are all crucial when trying to lose weight. But if all these things are done together, losing weight should not be extremely difficult. It will still take time, but it can be achieved.

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Seven Ways to Protect Against Skin Cancer

By admin | Published June 26, 2017

Skin cancer can be deadly if you let it manifest. The leading cause of skin cancer is overexposure to the sun. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways we can prevent against skin cancer. Check out these tips that you should be practicing to avoid getting skin cancer.

Sunscreen. Sunscreen is integral to preventing skin cancer. When you are going outside in the sun for extended periods of time you should make sure to apply a good sunscreen. Avoid spray types of sunscreen and use lotion types, also, make sure to use a sunscreen at least 40 SPF or above.
Dermatology check-ups. Schedule annual dermatology check-ups just to ensure you do not have skin cancer or another problem with your skin.
Avoid sunbathing. I know, I know, this may be one of the sole reasons you go to the beach. But, it has been proven that sunbathing is bad for you…even if you have applied sunscreen! Ultraviolet rays are harmful to the skin and it is important to protect against them however possible.
Say bye-bye to the tanning salon. Radiation is terrible for our skin, and radiation is found aplenty at tanning salons, it has even been shown that some tanning beds produce radiation stronger than the sun! So think about that the next time you decide to go into a tanning bed… just don’t do it!
Wear protective clothing. It is one thing to apply sunscreen, but you should also combo that with protective clothing. Wear hats, sunglasses and garments with a ultraviolet protection factor rating.
Use essential oils. Use lemon, sappan wood and mate leaf essential oils in order to encourage healing and repair of damaged skin in order to prevent potential patterns of skin cancer.
Detoxify your liver and kidneys. Your liver and kidneys are major players in converting vitamin D from the sunlight and the food you eat. One way to guarantee you are consuming enough vitamin D is to drink milk thistle tea or taking a milk thistle tea supplement.

Three Ways to Protect Your Kids From the Sun

Skin cancer is no joke. Sunburns received as a child can end up resulting in skin cancer as an adult. The good thing is both sunburns and skin cancer are easily preventable, you just need to take action against the sun’s powerful ultraviolet rays. Follow these tips in order to protect your children from the power of the sun.

Choose the right sunscreen. Choosing the right sunscreen is very important, you want to make sure you are selecting a sunscreen that is water-resistant and at least 40 SPF. Also choose a lotion type of sunblock as compared to the spray kind. Spray sunscreens can miss spots sometimes and don’t always guarantee protection.
Dress appropriately. Make sure to dress the right way when you will be experiencing lots of exposure to the sun. Wear hats, sunglasses and garments that have a ultraviolet protection factor rating.
Reapply! Reapply! Reapply! Make sure to always reapply sunscreen during your outings in the sun. This is the most important step, if you only put sunscreen on initially you could still get burned. So avoid this, and make sure to reapply.