Much of this unwillingness to accept TCM seems to stem from the lack of the Eastern culture to effectively get the right message to those in the West. There are numerous case studies that cite many of TCM’s practices as being not only healthful, but potentially life prolonging, but with explanations such as “expelling toxins” and “clearing heat from the body” and techniques such as cupping and acupuncture, most who are familiar with more modern practices view these things as silly and nonsensical. It seems a shame as well since it is possible that the only thing standing between traditional Chinese medicine and the rest of the world is an effective marketing message.

There has been some headway made in certain areas of the world however. For instance, the government of Australia has recently adopted a huge registry of Chinese doctors and pharmacists which will go into effect sometime and 2012 and because of this, the House of Commons in Canada is reviewing the information for possible consideration as well. This is great news for practitioners of Chinese medicine in these areas, but potentially also for the patients who will be eligible to receive treatments they were never able to before.

So, with the lack of a global understanding of this mysterious Chinese culture, it seems the task of spreading the word about the effectiveness of these unique treatments and medicines is largely left to the individual. Those Westerners who try TCM themselves, receive the benefits, and tell others. This word of mouth marketing is one of the best ways to help others overcome their fears and misconceptions about this centuries old medicine and can potentially make the difference in helping East meet West and allow traditional Chinese medicine to become the well known and respected practice all over the world that it is in China already today.

One study which was recently conducted in Heidelberg, Germany by German cardiologists focused on the effects of acupuncture on heart patients’ exercise programs. One key aspect of recovery for heart patients is to begin to become more physically active so this experiment was designed to see if a group of patients who underwent acupuncture had any noticeable positive benefits from acupuncture versus another group who performed the same amount of exercise but with no acupuncture treatments.

As the data rolled in, the results clearly showed that the group who received acupuncture not only was able to exercise at a higher capacity for longer periods of time, but their overall perception of pain and discomfort was significantly less. While important to note the testing did not show any increased capability of the heart functionality in these patients, the increased amount of exercise performed could surely lead to a more speedy and possibly more significant recovery for patients who have had heart conditions.

Another study, conducted at the acupuncture research center in Taiwan, focused on a group of 20 males and was designed to see if acupuncture treatments had any effect on post exercise pain, known as delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS. This pain is associated with a combination of factors but most notably is related to the damage and subsequent repair of muscular tissue allowing the body to recuperate and become better conditioned. The results clearly showed that the perception of pain in the group that received acupuncture was significantly less than in the group who received no treatments.

Again, while no specific physiological effects were noted, but the decrease in pain alone shows promise in that regular acupuncture treatments may help support a healthy exercise program and lessen the pain experienced by those who exercise regularly and at high intensities. In this case, we might be able to say goodbye to the phrase “No Pain, No Gain” once and for all…IF you get your acupuncture treatments that is…

Calm nerves, relieve pain and reduce a racing heart before your next visit to the dentist with acupuncture with the new approach to support holistic dentistry at the Covent Garden Dental Spa.

Recent studies in Sheffield and Denmark concluded that acupuncture, the complementary therapy in which fine needles are inserted into specific points on the body, before dental treatments has a ‘beneficial effect on the level of unease in patients with dental anxiety’. The study found that just five minutes of acupuncture in the top of the head can cut anxiety levels by more than half.

Upon arrival at the Covent Garden Dental Spa, patients are asked to fill in a form about daily aspects of their life and well-being, followed by a personal consultation with professionally qualified in-house acupuncturist, Jake Gold, in a comforting massage chair in the relax and massage room. This helps to determine where the needles will be strategically administered for optimal results.

‘Acupuncture rebalances the body to positively affect health. The effects can be subtle, giving you a calm relaxed feeling, as it is a natural sedative, while at the same time being able to help with real physical issues,’ says Jake Gold, a member of the British Acupuncture Council. ‘It is virtually safe and can be done on a regular basis’.

The Covent Garden Dental Spa has tried and tested acupuncture on a selection of patients before performing dental treatments, with positive responses including feeling more relaxed and calm, helping overcome fears and anxiety and finding it an enjoyable experience.

‘I have met patients with dental anxieties, some I would call ‘dental phobes’ and after acupuncture sessions and treatments in my dental chair, they now walk in and out of here with smiles of glee,’ says Dr. Flora Chigwedere, Founder and Principal Dentist at Covent Garden Dental Spa.

Finally, acupuncture meets dentistry at the Covent Garden Dental Spa http://www.coventgardendentalspa.co.uk/ to make dental appointments a much more pleasant, enjoyable experience rather than something to dread.

Learn more about acupuncture facial rejuvenation, also called cosmetic acupuncture.

The loss of elasticity in our skin, the demise of collagen and the dryness associated with deep wrinkling are exacerbated by many factors.  Dermatologists warn against too much sun, too much alcohol and advise us never to smoke. Another common admonition we hear is that stress affects our face.  Not only do we frown more when bombarded with stress, (which causes additional wrinkles), our body, now in crisis mode while quickly becomes depleted of nutrients that support healthy hair and skin.

Much has been written about the viability of an acupuncture face-lift, and while utilizing acupuncture to increase collagen and diminish the depth of wrinkles can result in a face that looks less tired and drawn, its results should not be compared to those attained through radical corrective surgery.  Nonetheless, a radiant face and healthy demeanor can be achived if we partner with techniques designed to treat the whole person. Traditional Chinese Medicine has definitive tools at its disposal to do just that.  Their arsenal includes acupuncture, dietary therapy, qi gong and herbal medicine.

Acupuncture works in many ways, one of which is to increase stimulation. Skin that is not receiving vital blood circulation doesn’t obtain the nutrients and oxygen it requires.  It is important to note here that blood oxygen is a life-giving force.  We hear a great deal about anti-oxidants today, and many of us associate the terminology with the idea that blood oxygen is a bad thing.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Blood oxygen is held together by two electrons in its healthy state.  When one of these splits off, both of the now-isolated electrons seek a new partner.  They freely assuage other single molecules toward this end. (Thus, they are nicknamed free radicals). Since this electron transference alters the molecule it now adheres to, cell damage occurs.  In the simplest of terms, this process is called aging.  But there is evidence to support the hypothesis that many diseases and internal maladies (including cancers), might be attributed to this process.

Although the ancients of China did not know the particulars of this ravaging plight, they knew the results could be seen both on the skin and experienced within.  Today, Chinese practitioners look upon Western medicine as the science that has provided them with insight into what they have been observing about the human body for several thousand years.  And, in the same manner that Western medicine has evolved into a maternity that advises we eat a regimen of anti-oxidant rich foods, so too have the Chinese been ascribing herbal remedies that address the ravages of this plight.  Herbal Chinese teas are not only rich in anti-oxidants, but they are carefully disseminated according to any other symptoms presented at the time of treatment.

When you visit a TCM Acupuncturist, they will be able to determine to a large extent, the workings of your internal organs and your spiritual condition by looking at the five zones on your face. Through years of observation they have determined that our foreheads correlate to the health of our heart and small intestines, as well as to our emotional heart. Our nose can indicate that we are not currently able to process hot and spicy foods, and that we are not taking from and giving back to life in a way that is true to our nature.  When our kidneys, bladder or reproductive organs are affected, our chin will show it.  The appearance of our chin can also indicate that we are not standing in our own strengths, but either succumbing to tears or bowing our heads to others who may not deserve such an honor.  Our lung health is represented in our right cheek.  Spiritually, when we hold our breath rather than speaking to our concerns, it affects us not only physically, but spiritually as well.  And finally, our left cheek – an indicator that our liver or gallbladder may be full of toxins and that we too, are assimilating poisonous opinions as if they were truth, and further damaging our spirit.

The Chinese learned, long ago, that you cannot ask a person to improve their emotional forbearance when the body is crying out in pain or discomfort.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to appear your best, either.  In fact, cosmetic surgery is oftentimes one of the best prescriptions available to someone who is self-conscious because of physical flaws or signs of old age.  Whether spiritual, physical, degenerative or painful in nature, each symptom must be given proper credence in order for a person to heal as a whole. 

We are fortunate in today’s world to have at our disposal the wisdom of both Western and Chinese medicine along with holistic practitioners and nutritionists. Each of these contributors are beginning to understand the working of the body in ways previously unimaginable.  I am grateful that I can visit an acupuncturist and attain a more youthful infusion of collagen from simple acupuncture treatments.  But far more valuable to me is the awareness I depart with.  An awareness that encourages me to eat healthy foods, infuse myself with hopeful thoughts and learn from every source available how to continue living well.

Facial Rejuvenation: Avoid Surgery With Acupressure!

A good example of this is our Western tendency to insist dieters consume cold salads and fresh, uncooked vegetables. In TCM, this practice would only be suggested for people who were considered hot, (a term that identifies a person whose body metabolism is active, maintains its warmth and has high energy).  

A person who feels cold and fatigued all the time needs foods warmed in order to assist in digestion and assimilation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at the causes differently, as well.  Although they agree eating an overabundance of food will increase weight in most people – why are there those who seem able to eat anything and not suffer malady? 

Chinese medicine calls this fortunate group of people hot-dry.  In contrast, an obese person is normally hot-damp or cold-damp. They believe the reason behind these differences begin with the spleen. Our spleen is the organ that directs food moisture to the appropriate body structures after cleaning. The spleen may become damaged by many factors, among them an over-abundance of a single food group, an improper amount of both exercise and time between eating again, and emotional factors that cause us to hold our body’s breath, (analogy), therefore thwarting natural internal functioning.  If the spleen fails in its efforts to move and clean fluids in foods, these fluids compile and transform into excess dampness, congeal in phlegm and become fat tissue.

Once the spleen is thus encumbered, other organs follow.  That is why diagnosis becomes so imperative to weight control. Chinese medicine delivers treatment that will address the body-imperative functions first.  The heart, liver, kidneys, etc. Those organs correlate to emotional factors which will also be addressed.  Their treatments include herbs and foods, (often in combination), that soothe the affected parts and bring them back to their normal state.  They will devise a personalized acupuncture regimen, designed in part, not only to block the flow of unnecessary heat or cold to affected areas and to soothe affected organs, but also to assist in taming the desire to eat during emotional turmoil, or because the stomach is sending false signals. The spleen, the organ that reacts to all these changes, will be healing along with fellow organs.  Indeed, when the spleen is finally functioning properly, the body is once again in balance.

This simplified explanation does not address all the variables that will present themselves in one person and not in another.  But one truth about Chinese Medicine is that they never separate the person from the equation.  Headaches, a tendency to succumb to sudden bouts of anger or depression, an inability to focus, timid-ness and frustrations, synchronize with internal imbalance.  When emotional signals are not examined and treated alongside the physical manifestation of weight gain, the remedies can remain temporary. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a medicine that must be studied to be completely understood.  Although the potential lies within its structures to self-medicate, correlating the foods and herbs that bring our mind/body/spirit back into balance must be administered ever-so-gently.  In America, we tend to grasp a single concept and run with it until it no longer pertains to our situation.  Why?  Our body has amended with the initial treatment.  We need to make an on-going determination of the subsequent foods and treatments that will take us to the next step, and the next.  Like life, healing is a fluent and ever-changing process.

Learn more about natural weight loss options at http://www.optionsforweightloss.com

First of all, we have to separate our Western compunction for immediate results against the better course of addressing the multitude of issues that have lead to our current state of deterioration.  That’s right, I’m saying that our bodies, our hair, our face and our sexual organs are responding to numerous affronts that are presenting themselves in these symptoms.

The question today is, whether we can incorporate alternative medicines as a means to alleviate these symptoms.  The short answer is – Yes!  The long answer is, it takes study.

The human body responds to many forces.  Things like stress can deplete our energy, put strain upon our heart or, at the very least, lead to ulcers.  Prior to these major events occurring, however, our bodies provide indications that “not all is going well.”

Stress has been labeled the culprit responsible for everything from hair loss to hypertension, heart disease, and loss of libido.  There is actually supporting documentation from medical professionals for each of these events!

What are we to think?  That the medical profession is in a conspiracy to get us to succumb to additional medical treatments?  How about we relax for a minute and look at the facts.

A body in stress tenses.  Tensed muscles create an additional need for glucose or glycogen – the sugars that provide energy for muscle contraction and release.  Sugar that is used to energize tensed muscles is no longer available for use in other body functions such as artery contraction.  Wow!  Converted sugars, then, are assigned to perform myriads of bodily tasks.  When they become unavailable those organs do not perform well. 

Ever feel like you lacked mental energy – that your mind felt muddled? Chances are, important chemicals are not reaching your brain.  Have you ever experienced the feeling of tiredness after eating a meal?  Oftentimes that is because your body is busy sending converted food chemicals to body organs that are crying out for assistance.  Your body is going to protect life first.  It will therefore attempt to send operational assistance to your internal organs, first.  Even then however, it can become diverted. If you muscles are tensed, it has to respond! At this point, your body has a limited amount of energy to spend, according to what you have provided it.  In the Western World, when our bodies send this signal, we push through the temporary lassitude, drink something caffeinated and cause further distress to our over-taxed system that now has to make a chemical adjustment.  It is no wonder there is nothing left with which to rejuvenate hair, make our skin glow or give us abounding energy

Alternative medicines, including Traditional Chinese Medicine , can tell a lot about what is going on inside your body by observing the condition of your skin tone, your face color and your body posture.  By the time you seek help, your body is usually in crisis.  At that point, they have to address the most pressing issues in order to stabilize your system. The same would be true if you were in a medical physician’s office.  They too would be taking emergency measures to stabilize you.  At this point, your body’s adrenal system may be taxed from attempting to rid your body of toxins that your liver, skin and/or kidneys can no longer respond to, because they are so over-worked.  Thus, an alternative medicine practitioner’s choice of an herbal remedy to ward off the crisis is not  going to be the herb that can help address hair loss.  It will be the one that prevents your liver or other internal organs from failing!

Ever since we in the Western World realized that alternative medicines had tapped into nature’s capacity to heal naturally, we have been attempting to self-medicate with herbs that treat our most annoying symptoms, or that will make us cosmetically more appealing.  Sadly, we have not studied well enough to realize that most alternative medicinal practices are based on solid research that, when applied as intended, can address the whole person and thus help us build health, layer upon layer.

When you realize that the body completely rebuilds tissues, bone and cell structure every seven years, you begin to appreciate the opportunity this truly provides. That’s a great gift! With the assistance of educated practitioners in Traditional Chinese Medicine, holistic medicine and other soundly-based alternative approaches that, when applied correctly, can help us understand and appreciate the workings of our body, mind and spirit, we could soon be on the road to the kind of healing that will last a lifetime. 

It is time we took the opportunity to find out why some have dedicated their entire lives to these methodologies, and to appreciate the knowledge they so freely offer to share.  If we followed their instruction, more than just libido and hair loss might be alleviated.  Mental clarity and an abundance of energy might follow, as well.

This simplified synopsis cannot begin to address the subtle interactions at play.  But by examining one aspect of these techniques, that of reading faces, we might begin to understand. 

I’m sure you have heard the comment…  “Lines of worry are showing on her face.”

To a Chinese practitioner, those lines are a roadmap.  Our faces, it turns out, contain regions that can actually alert us to current or compiling afflictions within our body/mind/spirit.

The five Chinese elements, (fire, earth, water, metal and wood), correspond to different organs in our body.  The organs are associated with emotional indicators. Thus, the five regions in our face direct us toward clues that can alert us to current or impending issues.

The forehead region represents the fire element.  Strongly affiliated with the mind and spirit – its bodily manifestation naturally lies within the heart and small intestines.  But understanding this correlation is not enough.  There are things to watch for.  For example, if your forehead changes to a bright red and you can see the small blood vessels more prominently than normal, something is going on with either your physical or emotional heart.  Have you recently weathered a highly-charged emotional event?  If so, it is time to treat yourself with kindness and let the healing process begin.  If you have been feeling a bit weak while your forehead is communicating these symptoms, it may be time to have your heart checked.  In either case, your heart is the organ that is responding to these two corresponding pathways, so addressing both your emotions and maintaining a heart-healthy diet would be advisable. 

Another tell-tale sign is a furrowing between your eyebrows.  These occur most often when events in your life have caused you constant worry or stress.  Practice letting  go of repetitive negative thoughts.  If their intrusion is overwhelming, watch for a subtle bluish-green hue on your forehead.  If the discoloration is accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat or any of the other well-known symptoms of a heart attack, seek medical help immediately.

Our nose knows a lot about us as well.  It is an earth element.  It is the body’s clarifier. It resides between what the earth offers us and what our body gives back to the earth.  Its purpose is to balance yin and yang.  Besides becoming clogged when overloaded in its attempt to maintain this balance, it is connected to the stomach, spleen and pancreas network.

Our nose knows therefore, when we are experiencing internal discord.  We may get a simple pimple on the tip or side of our nose.  This responsive organ is telling on us.  Did we eat something too rich, too greasy or too spicy the previous day?  Did we hold back our emotions?  In either event, we may soon suffer indigestion, constipation, diarrhea or other stomach discomforts.

If we suffer excessive worry or use alcohol or other toxic substances in excess, broken capillaries and redness across the bridge of the nose may occur.  Untreated, we may soon be the victim of stomach ulcers.  Our nose is telling us to seek other ways of de-stressing.

Keeping our chin up may actually be good advice.  Our chin represents the water element and is directly associated with kidneys, bladder and the hormonal system.  Did you know that if you constantly tuck in your chin it may indicate you are allowing another to dominate you?  In the case of acquiescing to someone that we know and trust, we are devising for them a humble elevation.  In the case of having to accept unfair remarks by others, tilting the chin and/or irregular physical appearances on the chin may manifest because we have become too timid to act.  Discoloration around the chin, accompanied by blemishes may attest to kidney or bladder problems.  Recurrent blemishes may be indicative of a hormonal imbalance.  The area just above the lips, the indentation called the philtrum, relates to the reproductive organs in both men and women.  If horizontal lines, blemishes and discoloration occur in this area, it may be best to have these internal organs checked.

The fourth region on the face is the right cheek. This zone is linked to the element metal and its corresponding body parts are the lung and large intestine.  A healthy-colored right cheek person is someone who is happy in social situations.  They do not lose their identity in the face of other, stronger personalities.  When we shield ourselves emotionally from social situations, we shut down our metal. It is as if we are constantly holding our breath. If our lungs and intestinal network are presenting signs of illness, we may see discoloration, blemishes, eczema or patchiness in this area. 

Oftentimes people who suffer from allergies or asthma will show either flushing or eczema on their right cheek prior to an attack.  During an attack, this area of the face may present a rash or change color toward a blue-green hue – and indication that the lungs are not receiving enough oxygen.

Our left cheek is associated with wood.  The emotions associated with this element are affected by how well we maintain balance in our daily life.  Pent-up anger may occur if we don’t assess the day’s issues and work toward resolution.  The internal organs correlating to wood are those within the liver and gallbladder network.  The liver is one of the body’s most formidable detoxifiers. The presence of toxins in the liver shows up as broken capillaries on the left cheek, extending to the bridge of the nose.  Redness on this side of the face can indicate heat, and would suggest that this organ is inflamed or septic.  Bulging veins, redness and rash can denote high blood pressure, or co-existing pent-up anger or depression.

What does this knowledge mean to you?  In Western Society it means that we can learn from the observations of this age-old medicine.  Then, we can consult with those who know the rest of the story, Chinese practitioners who have studied extensively issues such as whether and over-abundance or depletion of energy is affecting  us.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine they liken this situation to the story of a plant…a plant will die if it gets too much water.  It will die if it does not get enough.  It will burn if it gets too much light, and wilt if it does not get enough.  Learning these correlations takes dedication.  In the meantime, they share this knowledge with us in order that we might learn to protect ourselves in whatever way we currently comprehend.

Face Reading in Chinese Medicine

Mian Xiang Discover Face Reading- Your Guide to the Art of Chinese Face Reading

Although there are women who are physiologically or genetically incapable of childbirth, almost all women experience some period of infertility during their reproductive years. And for some, this infertile period may last a long time.

Fortunately, improvements in medical technology have allowed experts to thwart this all too natural trend. Infertility clinics are sprouting like mushrooms these days. The vast majority of these clinics recommend aggressive surgical, chemical and technological intervention to treat infertility.

But there is also a better, non-invasive way to deal with infertility. Jill Blakeway, a licensed Acupuncturist and Board Certified Herbalist, with a specialty in acupuncture infertility, has formulated natural ways to treat infertility in her latest book Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility.

Making Babies discusses a novel three-month program that will help couples, especially women, condition their body for conceiving naturally. It is very informative in that it covers eye-opening facts about human reproduction, lifestyle factors that may increase or decrease fertility, and proper nutrition to enhance fertility.

The book is unique from other fertility guides because it not only educates the reader, but also aims to engage them to be interactive. Based on Chinese medicine categories, Jill comes up with five types of fertility in the book: Tired, Dry, Stuck, Pale, and Waterlogged. Readers can take a quiz to determine what their fertility type is—whether specific or combined—and scan following pages to discover possible reasons for their infertility, tailor-made lifestyle choices that optimize fertility, and other efficacious fertility strategies, like acupuncture .

Ridiculed in Western medicine for many decades, many experts are now recognizing the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating various ailments. Recently, scientific evidence that acupuncture can effectively relieve pain and depression has been demonstrated by separate studies conducted by British and American doctors.

But how does acupuncture work for infertility patients? It has been shown that acupuncture benefits women with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and chronic anovulation, two of the main causes of infertility among women. It promotes blood circulation in the pelvic cavity and enhances ovarian function. Acupuncture treatment has also been observed to promote factors essential for fertility, such as increase follicle production, uterine blood flow, and improve uterine lining thickness.

Get a copy of Making Babies now and learn more about Jill Blakeway’s natural techniques to treat infertility.

Jill Blakeway is founder and directory of Yinova, which is a New York acupuncture center specializing in fertility disorders.

Chinese physicians incorporated Western Medicine into their society early in the 20^th Century.  For a period of time, it appeared they would adopt the Western approach without concerning themselves with whether the knowledge they had preserved through so many generations was viable. Thank goodness they later ascertained its role. Just as Western Medicine has recently learned to assess the correlation between illness and things like stress factors, so too had the ancients of China. Thankfully, a dialogue has begun. Chinese medical students are now offered courses in both Western and Traditional medicine.

In Western Medicine, psychological conditions that interfered with a person’s life have always been addressed. But until recently, when it came to treating medical issues, physicians were called upon to assist. Western doctors have now begun to accept the premise that stress, emotional turmoil, and depression can affect a person’s physical health. 


The whole-person approach has always been at the crux of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The term illness in Chinese Medicine has as much to do with the term ill at ease as it does physical manifestations of discomfort. Their use of acupuncture and herbal treatments are applicable to this science in several ways. First, by applying negative and positive connotations to all the things that bombard us, both spiritually and physically, one can determine whether a person is too cold or too hot.  Herbs that address these conditions can be administered in order to gain a foothold on the most pressing issues. (Later, herbs that heal internal organs are also prescribed). In Chinese medicine it is believed that opposing forces have found pathways though the body that causes discomfort. By using acupuncture techniques, they can block this progression and thereby alleviate symptoms. But they don’t stop treatment when the symptoms desist.

There is a correlation, the Chinese practitioners believe, between our internal organs and our emotional life.  They have found a way to identify these factors by incorporating their knowledge of the five elements of the earth.  Namely, earth, fire, water, metal and wood. 

Earth is an element that takes and gives in constant succession. It represents the balance we maintain in life between taking and giving. Its physical manifestation is the nose which is connected both spiritually and physically to the spleen, pancreas and stomach. Our nose becomes clogged when we over-do any substance. At that point, it cannot maintain the balance between what we put into our body and what we give back to the air and earth. People who hold things inside develop ulcers. Thus, the analogy.

Fire is a strong emotion and is related to the heart and small intestines. Likewise, in emotional terms, it indicates matters of the heart and spirit. A heart that is clogged with too much fat or too little oxygen cannot perform well. Neither can our emotional hearts, if they are prone to high ideals without the substance of living well among one another. 

The water element physically represents the bladder and kidneys. It also represents our tendency to need tears. But we will succumb to depression if we allow ourselves too many tears without moving forward and creating positive interactions. 

The metal element is interesting. A well-balanced person will interact well socially, in spite of the bombardment of stronger personalities. So too, will their lungs and large intestine function well, because they are not constantly holding their breath or clogging up their digestive system by holding back their contribution. 

Finally, wood. Wood is associated with the liver, the body’s greatest detoxifier. Spiritually, if we allow ourselves to accept negative commentary as absolute truth, we are incorporating toxins that destroy us both physically and mentally, and we become ill at ease with the world.

Although this dissertation provides a basic outline to the concepts apparent in Chinese Medicine, it cannot, in so short a space, build a picture of the delicate diagnostic tools that can weed out a person’s tendency to process certain types of emotions in multiple ways. Nor can it address the appreciation the Chinese Medical field holds for the Western medical approach. They admire the Western world for having so clearly defined the mechanisms of bacterial and viral forces that assail our bodies. They acquiesce that some of the Western World’s methodologies alleviate symptoms in a manner that is quick and certain. What they encourage, however, is that we incorporate into our view the possibility that some of these assaults would be less affrontive to our physical well-being if we would incorporate the philosophy of concerning ourselves with all aspects of a person’s well-being.

In Chinese Medicine, Winter is the season of the Kidney organ. The Kidneys house the root of our energy – the energetic fire that activates all our body’s functions. The cold weather drives this “fire” deeply inward, where the body can conserve this energy so it is important to protect ourselves from cold. Make sure to protect the lower back area where the Kidneys are located. Wear lots of layers- a scarf, hat, and gloves. Protect yourself from the wind, especially wind hitting the back of your neck and your lower back.

The foods to eat are the ones that naturally grow in the Winter. Squashes, root vegetables, winter greens, mushrooms, apples, pears and citrus fruits. Foods harvested in the fall and dried for the winter include nuts, beans and grains. Fermented vegetables are a naturally preserved food that are wonderful to add beneficial enzymes and healthy bacteria to our diet. In the Winter our body needs warm foods- so soups made from vegetables and rich stocks made from animal bones are nourishing in this season. Drink warm herbal teas throughout the day to keep warm. As for cooking methods, it is best to bake, roast, stew and slow-cook foods in the Winter. Warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom are delicious to add to recipes. In Traditional Chinese Medicine we don’t recommend very hot spicy food in the Winter because these foods create sweating, which is actually a cooling process. However, a small pinch of hot spice helps increase circulation, which is beneficial. So, add a small amount of pepper and other flavorful spices for taste, but avoid lots of hot spices.

Specific foods to nourish and warm the Kidneys include black beans, kidney beans, bone broths, lamb, chicken, walnuts, chestnuts, black sesame seeds and dark leafy greens. A small amount of unrefined sea salt added to home-cooked foods is also helpful since the taste associated with the Kidney organ is “salty.” Choose Celtic sea salt, french fleur de sel, and himalayan salt which contain beneficial minerals. Seaweeds also provide a salty quality when cooked in soups, grains and beans. Remember that we are always looking for balance. If we eat overly salty, high sodium foods from packaged, canned and restaurant foods, we will damage the kidneys from excess salt. So, we need to maintain moderation.

In the Winter it is healthiest to consume very little raw foods and definitely avoid cold temperature foods. The Winter is not the time for smoothies with frozen fruit and ice or for cold milk with cereal in the morning. Instead, eat warm grain porridges, eggs when available, toasted bread, and even warm soups. Iced foods and drinks are best avoided. Instead of cold, raw salads make delicious cooked salads with greens, roasted vegetables, and a flavorful dressing. My personal favorite is a salad of roasted kabocha squash slices on a bed of sauteed dino kale. I eat this warm topped with a homemade lemony tahini dressing. Instead of sugary cold ice cream for dessert, I suggest baked apples and pears with cinnamon. You can add a drizzle of raw honey if you need some more sweetness.

Satisfy Winter cravings for fats by eating healthy fats instead of fried and packaged/processed foods. Eat fattier cuts of meat from local, grass-fed animals which contain a healthier balance of Omega 3 fats than grain-fed animals. Add whole fat organic coconut milk to soups, stews and curries. Organic butter, ghee, olive oil, and coconut oil are stable fats to include in the diet. Ghee is clarified butter which is made by gently heating butter to separate protein solids from fat. This process removes the lactose and casein and leaves just butter fat, so it works well for most dairy-sensitive individuals. Ghee is a healing food in Ayurvedic medicine and is wonderful to cook with and add to recipes. Make sure your butter and ghee are from cows that have been grass-fed in order for these fats to be healthful. To help digest fats, eat sauerkraut (eat this at room temperature instead of straight from the refrigerator) or other fermented vegetable with your food. Bitter leafy greens also help in the digestion of these heavier foods.

Winter is a time to slow down in all aspects of life. It is healthy to respect our need for more sleep. “Early to bed and late to rise” is the key to Winter. Winter is a time for introspection and planning, but not thinking too much. It’s a time to replenish our reserves through rest. Spring is the time for new ideas and manifesting our ideas into action. Winter is a time for staying home and resting- a time for our social life to be less active. It is recommended for physical activity to be less strenuous and intense. If you enjoy outdoor physical activity, wear layers, and protect yourself from the cold air. In Chinese Medicine, we always think about balance. If we stop moving completely, we can cause stagnation in which our energy doesn’t move properly. To prevent stagnation, we need to maintain balance. Social connections, activity and exercise are still important. If you are feeling overly tired and unmotivated, I suggest scheduling a Chinese Medicine consultation and acupuncture treatment to help move stagnant energy.

In order to experience the lively, dynamic energy of the spring (the time of re-birth), it is important for our bodies to slow down and experience our roots in winter (the metaphorical death). When we are in harmony with the seasons, we are naturally healthier.