Chinese Medicine Natural Stress Busters

Posted on 24/04/2016 by rebekah

Stress has a very negative effect on the body. It causes muscle pain, insomnia, premature aging, digestive disorders, hormonal issues, poor decision making skills, and foot in mouth disease.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a great alternative for dealing with daily stress. These are TCM inspired stress busters.

Acupuncture

Muscle pain caused by stressed can include headaches, tight neck and shoulders, bad backs, and stomach cramps to name a few. Acupuncture is able to relieve muscle tension. It also improves circulation within the body, relieve emotional strain, improve sleep, improve digestion, and create a sense of well being.

Chinese Herbs

Stress can be caused by imbalances in the body and the stress scan result in imbalances. Chinese Medicine practitioners combine herbs together to create an individual formula for each patient. This is because everybody is different and have individual needs. This formula works balance the body and create relaxation.

Xiao Yao Wan

One popular Chinese Medicine formula is Xiao Yao Wan. This formula is popularly used for a condition called ‘Liver Qi Stagnation’. The emotion of the Liver is anger, stress, and frustration. This formula helps the Liver Qi to flow and relax rather than steaming up like a boiler.

Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua) Tea

Chrysanthemum tea is one of the most popular teas in China. People in China (& all around the world now!) drink Chrysanthemum tea on a regular basis for relaxation and maintaining a healthy Liver. In Chinese Medicine the sense organ of the Liver is the eyes. Check out our ‘Love your eyes‘ soup using Chrysanthemum.

Sour Jujube (Suan Zao Ren)

Suan Zao Ren is a Nervous System Depressant. This helps you to relax when the nervous system feels jangled from stress. There is a popular Chinese Medicine formula called Suan Zao Ren Tang (Sour Jujube Decoction). This is commonly given to people when they are stressed and cannot sleep.

Massage

Chinese Massage (Tui Na) works on the muscle and specifically on meridian pathways to unblock blocked energy. This allows the Qi to flow more freely within the meridians. Opening up the meridians channels allows the muscle to naturally relax. This style of massage is great at relieving bodyaches and pains.

Foot Massage (Reflexology)

In Chinese culture, the head is up in the clouds and the feet connect with the earth. To be more truly grounded and relaxed it’s important to treat your feet to a treat! Important organ meridians flow through the feet such as the Spleen, Liver, Kidney, and Bladder. The feet are also looked upon as it’s own microsystem. Reflecting the entire body. When you treat certain parts of the feet, you also treat other parts of the body.

Meditation

Meditation is popular in parks within China. Meditation is strongly promoted in China to reduce stress and promote health and wellbeing. There are different types of meditation. Some examples are QiGong, Tai Qi, Sitting Meditation, exercise therapy, and chinese medicine yoga.

Qi Gong or Tai Qi

Qi Gong and Tai Qi are gentle exercises that concentrate on moving the Qi around the body. Many people find this to be extremely relaxing and meditative. Tai Qi was originally designed to learn martial arts and can be a bit more tricky to get the precise movements. However, learning Tai Qi as a form of meditation and self defence can be very worthwhile. Alternatively, many people find Qi Gong more basic, easier to do and just as an effective form of meditation and exercise.

Yoga

There is yoga based on Chinese Medicine. This style of yoga works on opening up the meridians and ensuring the smooth flow of Qi. However most styles of yoga is relaxing and a good stress buster.

Walking Barefoot

Walking around barefoot helps to activate the meridian points in the feet. Try to walk on surfaces such as earth and sands to be more grounded and connected with the earth energies.

Gardening

Gardening results in contact with all 5 elements; wood (plants), fire (sunshine), earth (dirt), metal (spade, gardening equipment), and water (hose). The act of planting something into the ground and manual labour draws the hyperactive energy from out of the head and into the feet. This leaves you feeling more grounded, relaxed, and balanced.

Karaoke

This is considered an emotional release from constrained heart and liver energies.

Acupuncture compliments Yoga

Posted on 24/04/2016 by rebekah

Acupuncture complimenting yogaB
When comparing yoga and acupuncture, there are quite a few comparisons between yoga and acupuncture.Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioners (Acupuncturists) work to ensure the smooth flow of Qi around the body.Some people think of Qi as ‘life force’.

In Ayuverdic medicine, yoga practitioners refer to ‘Qi’ as Prana.TCM and Yoga activates the smooth flow of Qi/Prana in a different way but both are based on Eastern Philosophy and has similar ideas. Both Yoga and TCM are used to create free flowing energy whether it is Qi or Prana.

In TCM there are pathways in the body.
These pathways are called Meridians. Acupuncturists strive to remove any blockages within these pathways to create free flowing Qi within the meridians and to balance the body.

Likewise in Ayuverdic Medicine, there are pathways in the body known as Nadis. The intersections of these nadi are known as Chakras. Chakras are gathered energy points within the body. Some of the nadis and meridians are on the same pathway whereas others lay side by side or intersect each other.

Each Meridian/ Nadi correspond to certain organs, organ systems, elements, and emotions. Blocked energy within one of the pathways is considered to be the cause of illness. Acupuncture used on a certain meridian will have a positive effect on the related Nadi and also vice versa. Both Ayuverdic practitioners and TCM practitioners looks holistically at the patient, taking into account the physical, emotional, historical, and spiritual aspects of the person.

An example of this is thyroid conditions. A yoga practitioner will work on the 5th chakra (throat chakra) with poses such as shoulder stand. Shoulder stands are beneficial for; balancing hormones and dealing with emotional strain. In shoulder stand, TCM meridians running along the back of neck, shoulders are stretched which helps to release Qi or Prana that has become blocked.

A TCM Practitioner will treat thyroid conditions by treating the ears (an area which is associated with the 5th chakra). A TCM practitioner will also use acupuncture to enhance immunity, balance hormones, regulating emotions, and energy levels. All of these things play a role in thyroid function.

Acupuncture and yoga complement each other by further improving the smooth flow of energy in the body, removing blockages, cultivating wellbeing, accelerating the healing process, and used as a preventative to poor health. After all, the best cure is prevention. By using acupuncture and yoga
you can experience positive changes in your life.

Acupuncture enhances your awareness, boosts your energy and helps the muscles to relax faster after a yoga session. Yoga has it’s own diagnostic system. It uses your ability/ inability to do certain asanas (yoga poses) to identify physical and emotional issues. Some of these physical and emotional issues can be further released through acupuncture.

Acupuncture has its own diagnostic system which can illustrate which yoga poses are most beneficial to enhance you overall treatment. Acupuncture has the ability to complement your yoga work and vice versa. It helps to further open up pathways allowing your work more deeply into your yoga poses. You can experience these positive benefits by trying a combination of yoga & acupuncture.

There are many types of yoga. Some yoga styles use the philosophical basis of Chinese Medicine. It does this by identifying the TCM meridians(pathways) on the body and which poses activate these meridians.A persons ability or inability to do these poses identifies the persons constitutional organ
strengths & weaknesses. The poses that are difficult to do are considered weaknesses within the body.These are the poses that a person should concentrate on strengthening to become more healthy overall. Often one yoga pose contains multiple organ pathways and so you can still treat and
balance your body with yoga.

An example of combining Chinese Medicine with Chinese Medicine yoga is Bladder incontinence. You can use acupuncture and herbs to treat the bladder and kidney while doing bladder and kidney yoga poses to enhance the healing process. The Bladder and Kidney meridians are activated and strengthened by these yoga poses. An example of this is wide leg sit ups which from a western perspective strongly strenghtens the pelvic floor.

You can learn about which yoga poses are best suited to you by attending a yoga class based on Chinese Medicine and further enhance it by seeing your local TCM Practitioner. Some TCM Practitioners practice both TCM & TCM Yoga.

7 ways to improve your vision naturally B

Posted on 24/04/2016 by rebekah

There is a strong increase in people with impaired vision, needing glasses, and corrective surgery. This could be due to a variety of factors; Australian aging population, increased use of technology and a possible increase in stress.

You may be happy to know that you can improve your eye sight naturally through some simple exercise & lifestyle adjustments. However, if you have major eye problems, always consult your optometrist.

You may have noticed that recently your vision is blurry, fuzzy, un-focussed or feeling weak, or you may get sick of wearing glasses, or maybe you are looking to an alternative to expensive surgery. This article will provide you with some natural alternatives to enhance eyesight naturally.

Number 1: Eyestrain is a pain

Eye strain is commonly caused by staring at the computer or television for endless hours at a time. Take periodical breaks and allows your eyes ample rest. Instead of giving their eyes ample rest, some people tend to just slap glasses leading to further deterioration as the eyes still need a rest.

Number 2: Sleep

You recommended average time for sleeping is 8 hours daily. Depriving your eyes of rest is a major cause of eyestrain and can decrease your quality of vision over time.

Number 3: Anxiety

Anxiety and stress often leads to muscle tension in the back of the head which can squeeze on the optic nerve. This can be relaxed by addressing the causes or learning how to manage with the emotional strain, getting regular massages, acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, and other relevant health treatments.

Number 4: Yoga

In Yoga, there is a variety of yoga poses that enhance eyesight and vision. Especially in Japanese style Chinese Medicine Yoga. Yoga poses that are good for the ‘Chinese Medicine’ Liver are especially good for your eyesight.

Number 5: Dietary Benefits

Diet affects all aspects of your health including your vision. It is important to have a healthy and balanced diet. Foods that are beneficial for your eyesight are rich in beta carotenes, fiber, vitamin C, and Vitamin D.

Some examples of foods that can help your eye sight include:

Eggs
Garlic
Berries
Kale
Sardines
Tuna
Salmon

Number 6: Herbs

Some herbs that naturally improve vision (including your night vision) include:

Passionflower
Bilberry
Gingkobiloba

Of course, always consult with your GP or relevant health practitioner prior to taking herbs to see if they are appropriate for you.

Number 7: Eye Exercises/ Eye Work outs

There are a variety of ways to exercise the eyes. Just like other muscles, if you don’t use it, you loose it. The first basic exercise is to blink. Long at a point in the distance and start blinking quickly then shut your eyes till your eyes start to moisten then open your eyes and repeat the process. Remember to breath while doing the process. Do this around 4-6 times per a day periodically or when your eyes are starting to feel strained.

Another eye exercise is called ‘Palming’. While sitting with good posture, cover your eyes carefully with your palms. Do not put any stress on your eyes. Try to cover your eyes so that it is dark as possible. Leave your hands there for around 10 seconds and then slowly open your eyes and ease yourself out of this position. To achieve the best results, do this daily.

By making some of these simple lifestyle modification you too could find your vision naturally improved.