|
|
Here’s a few tips to help keep you cool this summer
Occassionally, we spend too much time in the sun, or the season changes so rapidly that we have problems adapting. Here are some simple tips to use when Summer heat invades.
Get out of the sun, and cool off—but not too much! Excessive cold will contract the pores and stop sweat—keeping heat locked in the body.
Reduce your activity.
Include the foods listed in Expanding into Summer’s Light.
Drink plenty of water. Again, avoid excessively cold drinks as they will chill you too rapidly and stop sweating and damage the tissues.
Avoid heavy foods like nuts, dairy, fried, meat and sweets that will stagnate the qi in the body.
If you aren’t sweating use mild pungent foods gently to start sweat: cayenne, cinnamon, curry, pepper, etc.
Come in for a treatment. Acupuncture and Amma Therapy are excellent ways to help the body regulate and adjust to the changing season.
contributed by April Crowell
contributed by
April Crowell, Dipl.ABT
The sun and warmth of summer allow for nature’s growth and maturation. Plants thrive and begin sharing their abundance with us. Longer, warmer days encourage us to be more active, spending greater time outdoors. This is a season of joy, health, vitality. A time when we are receptive and expansive like the earth around us.
The most ‘yang’ of all the seasons, summer relates to the fire element and the Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium and the Triple Heater organ systems of the body. To harmonize with the season, enjoy the glorious array of fresh vegetables, greens and fruits that are available. Eat bright colors and quickly cooked foods. Raw foods are more appropriate this season–if your digestion is strong. Avoid heavy, greasy, fried foods that will burden the body during the heat of summer.
With the rising temperatures and our increased fervor, comes the possibility of invasion of Summer Heat (heat stroke, in western terms). Signs of Summer Heat include: sudden high fever with profuse or no sweat, nausea, headache, extreme thirst, shortness of breath, dizziness, irritability, anger and aversion to heat.
Fortunately, nature provides us with foods that help to counter or prevent the effects of Summer Heat. Use pungent herbs such as cayenne, mustard, cinnamon and pepper to help disperse excess heat from the body by promoting sweat. Hibiscus, chamomile and mint teas help replenish fluids and cool the body. Foods that specifically reduce Summer Heat include: zucchini, cucumber, pineapple, coconut, lemon, lime and seaweeds.
From the inside out
Spring is soon upon us
From the depths of winters earth
Bursting forth with beauty
All notions given birth
Have you noticed? There’s not only a buzzing of excitement in the air, but in our bodies as well. This is definitely a time of change and growth. Our bodies want to move more, we have more energy within us and we want to Get Up and Go! Our minds are full of plans, ideas and our creative energy is sparked, we have come to life.
At Pulse Holistic Health we embody the aspect of becoming harmonious with the seasons. Like it or not our bodies change during the seasons, just as every aspect of nature. We are not immune to these laws of nature. If we are in harmony each change of season is accepted and we are delighted with the aspect of change. In disharmony, we resist the changes and encounter difficulties. During the spring this can result in agitation, angst, restlessness, feelings of being stuck in a situation and the inability to see any solutions. So, if one or more of these descriptions fit, here’s a few solutions for you:
To embody the season of spring, we must first clear out the past. The more debris left on the ground (our minds or body) it takes longer for the crocus and other bulbs to push through. Nutritionally this is a good time to do a gentle cleansing or fasting, with raw vegetables and fruit juices. Check with your practitioner to see if this is an option for you. Fasting isn’t for everyone, and can do more harm than good if you aren’t prepared well.
In general you diet will be more diverse and light in weight during the springtime. You may include raw foods- greens, sprouts, salads and fruits, while decreasing heavier foods such as dairy, meats and the denser root vegetables. It is also important to avoid fried foods at this time as well as processed foods, alcohol, caffeine and other drugs. These foods tend to aggravate the Wood Element, the element of spring.
We should also devote a portion of time to mental relaxation, meditation. This allows the mind to be open increasing the ability to focus and to make clear decisions. Our physical activity will encourage the movement of qi through the body. It is extremely important to add stretching to our exercise routine, giving us flexibility in our bodies and our mind.
If you have any questions about this article please call us or talk to your pratitioner.
Winter is here, bringing holidays, parties and feasts.
Ah, yes, food–
Nothing in life is more fundamental than the food we eat. Every day the choices we make about how we nourish ourselves, and it is these choices that can have a profound effect on our well-being.
Traditionally, a great deal of time went in to selecting and preparing meals. Ingredients were whole, minimally processed foods, and largely made up of cereal grains (whole rice, millet, etc) and vegetables. People stopped what they were doing to gather with friends and family, to eat, replenish and show appreciation. Today the trend in industrial portions of the world has moved from these traditions. Modern diets include increased animal products, processed and refined foods, additives and preservatives with little (if any) whole grains or vegetables. Many of us have taken to eating meals in a frenzied manner, barely even tasting the food we ingest. At the same time we have seen a tremendous rise in degenerative diseases, cancer, nervous disorders, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, irritable bowel and Attention Deficit Disorder –to name a few.
For many, the relationship to food has become a tainted chore. Poor eating habits like eating to fulfill emotional needs, skipping meals or binging are common, creating a myriad of other health problems.
Understanding proper nutritional habits can be some of the simplest, most profound changes that one can make in taking responsibility for our health and the well-being of the planet.
Holistic Nutrition incorporates the energetic principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and detailed, cutting-edge western information. Steeped in tenants of whole food wisdom, Holistic Nutrition focuses on whole, local, organic and seasonal foods that offer the best choice for optimum health for our bodies and our planet.
The fundamental aim is to create awareness in ourselves, matching the diet to each individual while reestablishing or creating a healthy relationship to food.
The key is moderation. There is no ‘perfect’ diet and our needs change: shifting with seasons, life stages and times of illness. It is not just choosing the freshest food that matters—it is also how and with whom we eat that nourishes our entire being.
Over thousands of years the Chinese have evolved a system of medicine that has stood the test of time. Its adaptability and application is even used in nutrition! All foods can be identified by their energetic quality—do they warm the body? Cool it? Descend the energy? (good for those who are “ungrounded”), eliminate excess or counter deficiency? By understanding these qualities, one can choose foods to specifically treat patterns. Someone who is always cold, would want to increase foods that are cooked (warmer than raw) and choose foods that impart energetic warmth when eaten, such as, winter squash and cinnamon. By eating seasonally appropriate foods we can also aid our bodies in adapting to the seasonal change and build our immunity.
Besides energetics, flavors play a role. Each of the 5 flavors enter a particular organ system. By either increasing or decreasing a flavor you can address specific disharmonies. For example, a runner with very tight tendons would want to avoid excess sour that enters the Liver and overly astringes the tendons. But for someone with very loose muscle tone, that need to be tightened, the sour flavor may be appropriate.
From a western perspective foods are most often viewed by their nutrition quantity. How much vitamin C? Iron? Carbohydrates? By understanding these concepts and the role proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals play, one can identify how to improve the diet for over-all health. For example, iron deficiency (called blood deficiency in Chinese medicine) is common in many vegetarians. Utilizing concepts from both an eastern and western perspective, foods can be selected that are both blood building and high in iron, thereby possibly avoiding the need for additional supplementation.
Everyone can benefit from improved nutrition. From the young to old, sick to healthy. Foods can reduce symptoms, heal and strengthen.
Above all, the food we eat should be enjoyed—and provide nourishment for mind, body and spirit.
At Pulse we work closely with our clients to educate and inspire and understanding of nutrition and foods that will help them towards better health and vitality!
Be Well!
Contributed by April Crowell, Dipl. ABT, CHN, AOBTA CI
As Autumn gives way to Winter’s chilly darkness, we should feel an urge to slow down. Winter is a time of reflection and introspection, a time to rest and conserve your Qi, rebuilding our strength for Spring’s rapid burst of new life.
Classically, the Chinese (and other cultures) believed that we should live in harmony with the seasons. This was out of necessity in ages where life was dominated by the elements—simply catching a cold could be life threatening. Today, those of us living in the industrialized world suffer little from the extremes of nature yet learning to harmonize with each season can make a huge impact on our health and well being.
The Five Element Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) carefully observed the natural phenomenon and flow of the seasons. Each season was assigned an element, organ system, quality, sound, taste and emotion (to name a few categories). These correlations became guidelines for everything from when to go to war to identifying disease patterns in the physical body.
Winter is ruled by the Water element, which is associated with the kidneys, bladder and adrenal glands. In TCM, the kidneys are the source of Qi and store all energy or “Qi” within the body. These storehouses of Qi are dipped into to heal, prevent illness, and age gracefully. If we lead lifestyles that overly deplete the stores, the body depletes and withers.
During the winter months it is important to nurture and nourish our kidney Qi. It is the time when this energy can be most easily depleted. Our bodies are instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of winter – rest, reflection, conservation and storage.
Many of us find ourselves increasingly busy during winter. Holidays and parties can be stressful; many people battle with depression during the colder months. The current economic situation plays a role, as many people fear for their savings and reserves—a characteristic of the water element.
Below are a few simple tips to help you embrace the winter season. By recognizing the potential value within each seasonal element we can move through our lives with greater ease.
- Nourish yourself — eating warm hearty soups, root vegetables, winter squash, whole grains, and roasted nuts help to warm the body’s core.
- Rest appropriately — sleep early, rest well, stay warm, and expend a minimum quantity of energy.
- Get moderate exercise — movement helps lift the spirits. Keep with the energy of the season. If you don’t exercise much, bundle up and go for a walk. If you exercise excessively, slow down a little to conserve your Qi.
- Brighten your space — whether or not you celebrate the holidays, refresh your home or workspace with cheerful colors or seasonal décor. Hollies bright berries, pine’s uplifting scent and a few splashes of red can add warmth to your space.
Qi gong is an excellent exercise that all of us can do during the winter in order to keep our physical and mental stamina in shape. It doesn’t matter what our current level of activity is, we can improve our function with a consistent practice of Qi gong. On a very basic level, Qi gong affects the cardiovascular system, respiratory, immune system, and circulation. Qi gong improves posture (musculoskeletal), brain function, mental health and longevity. Studies have proven that a steady practice of Qi gong benefits the cardiovascular system by stabilizing heart activity and blood pressure. It also improves the circulation of blood (great for those chilly feet at night), as well as enhances the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange. That alone would be an incredible reason for doing Qi gong, but wait there’s more!
By improving the circulation of blood and oxygen, the respiratory system benefits too! Our respiration rate slows down and recovery time improves after physical exertion. This is great for those that suffer from asthma, bronchitis, recurring pneumonia, colds and/or flu. More oxygen in the body means more for the brain, improving our thinking ability and memory. This is imperative for people who have experienced injury from stroke, seizure or other disorders involving the brain. The enhanced function of the brain can calm the emotions and curb reactionary responses toward various stimuli. The emotions are more balanced, our response toward stress is improved, even anxiety and depression can be alleviated with the practice of Qi gong.
Qi gong forms range from simple breathing exercises to more complicated versions that synchronize the breath with specific movements. Getting started is extremely easy. The best way to learn a form is with a Qi gong instructor. There are several instructors in the Boise area. The Wellspring School for Healing Arts offers on going Qi gong classes. Videos are helpful, but for the more complex Qi gong forms, it can be difficult to follow. Here are a few books that you may want to look over:
A Complete Guide to Chi-Cung – Daniel Reid
Beginning Qi gong – Steven Kuie & Stephen Crane
Chi Kung – Ives Requena
Way of Qigong – Kenneth Cohen
|
|
Loading...