Newsletters:
Winter Tips
With winter in full swing, it is important that we respect our bodies needs
for warmth. Some easy but very effective practices you can implement are:
• Eat lots of warming soups and stews
- with fresh grated ginger
- meat
- if you are a vegetarian you could use legumes
- tofu is a cooling food so legumes could replace this
• Drink warm herbal teas, tepid water & refrain from iced
drinks (the spleen energy in Chinese Medicine likes warmth & does not like cold and damp. Removing ice
from your drinks may resolve minor digestive issues)
• Instead of ice cream for dessert, try baked pears or apples.
• Try to eat cooked vegetables rather than raw salads
during this season.
Come in out of the Cold
Are you having difficulty keeping warm this winter? Are you the one who is adding
layers of clothing and more covers to your bed when others are not? You may be what
is called “yang deficient” in Chinese Medicine.
We all have the opposing forces of yin and yang within us. Sometimes these energies
can become imbalanced. Yang energy is the fire, heat and passion within us, while yin
energy is cool and quiet. The fire of yang is called the fire of the gate of life (Ming Men) which provides the warmth to generate all of the body’s processes…for example
metabolism and blood circulation.
One can stimulate the fire of yang to get the flame burning vibrantly…hence you will
be less susceptible to the cold. Just how do you stimulate that flame? By the use
of acupuncture and something called moxibustion.
Acupuncture
Is a safe and effective way of supporting the body’s own natural processes by using
sterile, single use needles. An acupuncturist will stimulate the “Qi” (energy) at specific
acupuncture points to build, disperse or regulate it according to the individual’s needs.
You may feel a tiny prickle upon the insertion of hair thin needles. Many describe
a sensation of warmth, light pressure or a tingling at the site of the needle and at times
in other areas of the body. Treatments are usually very relaxing.
Moxibustion
Treats and prevents disease by applying heat to acupuncture points or perhaps a
specific location on the body – for example the low back. Artemesia Vulgaris, which
is a species of chrysanthemum is a “wool like” substance that is formed into cones
or sticks which can be used to warm the meridians, the yang of the body and expel
cold.
Doesn’t it seem that living in a winter wonderland such as Vermont, optimizing
our ability to enjoy it just makes sense? This is just one of the many ways in which
acupuncture can positively impact your health. Kiah D. shares her experience with
acupuncture:
“I was seeing Annie for acupuncture and I mentioned that I always felt cold. She
said that we could address that too. I found that it didn’t matter how many layers
of clothing I wore (even in the house) I could not keep warm. I even tried putting
an electric blanket on my bed, but felt that I was cold right down to my bones.
After having just a few sessions with Annie I am able to walk around campus in
very cold temperatures and am ok. My hands and feet are even warm.”
