New hayfever treatments

New 4-5 week treatment programs for people with hayfever

For more information, please contact your acupuncturist
or phone the clinic on 9938 2182

While Spring means hayfever season for many people, others experience hayfever in Winter, or even year-round.  Also called "allergic rhinitis", hayfever is an allergic response that results in sneezing, blocked nose, itchy watery eyes and a foggy feeling in the head.

In Chinese medicine, we look at several body systems to determine the unique imbalance in every person. The allergic component of hayfever is usually dominated by one of the following organ energy systems:

• "Spleen-pancreas" - other symtpoms can include any of: loss of appetite; sluggish digestion; bloating; gas; loose stools or constipation; blood sugar fluctuations; weight issues; tiredness.
• "Kidney" - other symptoms may include: sore lower back; dark circles around the eyes; family history of allergy; fertility or sexual issues.
• "Lung" - where respiratory symptoms dominate.

Our hayfever program comprises herbal prescriptions in high doses over a short time period. This can be supported by acupuncture treatments to enhance the effect of the herbal medicine. The active components of the herbal medicines reduce inflammation and congestion, thus treating the symptoms.  Importantly, they also address the root imbalance so that you are creating a better environment overall and helping your whole body to function with more ease and vitality.

It's also a good idea to avoid common problem foods as recognised by Western and Chinese medicine, such as:

• dairy (cow's milk products)
• peanuts and tree nuts
• chocolate
• wheat
• shellfish
• eggs
• fish
• soybeans and soy products (eg soy milk, tofu, tempeh but read all packaged food labels)

As part of the program, aim to avoid these foods for a few months if you can. Your acupuncturist can suggest alternatives, such as a good brand of rice milk to replace cow milk and soy milk. We can also direct you to recipe sources for making your favourite meals without the problem ingredients above.

Once you've had several weeks away from the problem foods, you can bring them back one at a time, testing each one a few times to check for delayed reactions. For example, when re-introducing wheat you can try baked products three or four times over a week or two, starting with a small amount and building up, and checking your reactions as you go.

Hayfever can really impact on a person's quality of life.  This intense, short program is a great way to get the symptoms of hayfever under control, and heal the body's imbalances to create good health for the future.

New 4-5 week treatment programs for people with hayfever

For more information, please contact your acupuncturist
or phone the clinic on 9938 2182

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This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl.

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Ocean Acupuncture is a natural medicine centre of independent health practitioners. The views expressed in this blog are the author's only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the other Ocean Acupuncture practitioners.
The information presented in this blog, and on the Ocean Acupuncture website, is for interest and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for health or medical information or advice. For health or medical advice, please consult your health professional.

Best "fish oils" ever!!

We just keep hearing more and more evidence of the incredible healing effects of fish oils. They are anti-inflammatory so they're great for conditions like arthritis or autoimmune disorders where inflammation is a factor.

They also contain DHA, a fatty acid that is essential for brain development and therefore very important for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children, as well as adults who suffer from conditions such as depression, anxiety or stress.

In Chinese medicine, fish oils could be said to nourish the Yin as they have a cooling, nourishing and lubricating quality. As they benefit the brain, we would also say that fish oils strengthen the Kidney organ complex (Chinese medicine makes links between body systems that aren't immediately obvious from a Western medicine perspective!).

If you keep hearing about all of the amazing benefits of fish oils, but are reluctant to take them because:

• you're vegetarian
• you're worried about contamination from pesticides, heavy metals and other toxins
• you don't like the fishy taste
• you experience reflux after taking them
• you can't get your kids to take them
• you prefer to get your nutrients from food and not supplements

Then you will be pleased to know that there's a fantastic Omega-3 oil containing DHA that is:

• great for vegetarians - contains only plant-derived substances
• of very high purity, with all ingredients pesticide-free and/or organically grown
• pleasant, mild tasting and easy to use as part of your normal diet
• easy to digest for most people
• kid-friendly - because it's food, they won't know they're having it!!

The key thing that sets this product apart is how they get the DHA - it's incredibly clever!  You see, fish don't make their own "fish oils".  Big fish get fish oils from little fish, and the littlest fish get them from the algae in their diet.

Flax flower

The people at Udo's Oil have isolated this algae and cultivated it in pristine conditions. The result is a vegetarian source of DHA that is naturally free from contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides, with a naturally mild taste.  They combine this clean DHA with naturally-cultivated, cold-pressed super-food plant oils like flaxseed and evening primrose for Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. The ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 is carefully balanced for optimum health benefits.

This incredible super-food oil can be used in salad dressings, stirred through cooked food, drizzled into smoothies and even mixed into cake icing to make naughty food a bit healthier!!

(When heated, it loses a lot of it's important health-giving properties, but stirred through cooked food before serving is fine.)

So rather than popping capsules of fish oils or holding your nose while you swallow it in liquid form, why not grab a bottle or two of this amazing natural wonder food and get regular Omega-3, Omega-6 and DHA boosts throughout the day!

Call the clinic on 9938 2182 or contact your practitioner directly. 
Discounts available for bulk orders.

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This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl.

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Ocean Acupuncture is a natural medicine centre of independent health practitioners. The views expressed in this blog are the author's only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the other Ocean Acupuncture practitioners.
The information presented in this blog, and on the Ocean Acupuncture website, is for interest and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for health or medical information or advice. For health or medical advice, please consult your health professional.

Parenting workshops with a difference

For all parents who are looking for loving, effective ways to relate to their children and create a harmonious home:

Love in Action: An approach to discipline

A home of harmony and cooperation is possible for any family given the right tools. In this introduction to LOVE IN ACTION parenting, early childhood educator Galit Fisher works with parents of children under 12 to show them a recipe for a more loving way to resolve family conflict. Galit reveals ways to talk with children in a way that brings out the best in them. Come and join an interactive workshop where discussion is encouraged. Carers and teachers are also invited.

Discipline and Personality Types

Understanding your child's temperament (and your own) is the key to creating a harmonious home and resolving family conflict. This LOVE IN ACTION workshop, run by popular parenting expert Galit Fisher, will give parents tools to bring greater cooperation and more effective communication between parents and children. Learn how to bring out the best in your children by making the most of their natural abilities and how to recognise what your child's needs are when they act out or refuse to cooperate.

Discipline and Communicating with your children

Better behaviour is easily achieved when you speak your child's language. In this practical LOVE IN ACTION workshop popular parenting expert and teacher Galit Fisher will teach you to identify what your child most values and the most effective way of communicating. When a child feels loved and heard the result is a more harmonious home, with greater cooperation and less conflict. Share your parenting challenges in this interactive workshop.

Download the full brochure at: http://www.hkcc.nsw.edu.au/files/full-brochure.pdf

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This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl.

---

Ocean Acupuncture is a natural medicine centre of independent health practitioners. The views expressed in this blog are the author's only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the other Ocean Acupuncture practitioners.
The information presented in this blog, and on the Ocean Acupuncture website, is for interest and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for health or medical information or advice. For health or medical advice, please consult your health professional.