White sugar is sugar cane juice that has been highly refined, so all that is left is “empty” energy.
The less refined the sugar product, the more complex it is, because it contains other nutrients. Substituting more complex sugars in place of white sugar can be an important first step in breaking a sugar addiction. Use this chart to see what you can find at the health food store to use in place of white sugar in recipes.
Sweetener -- Substitution for each cup of refined sugar -- Reduction of total liquid per cup of sugar
Barley malt or rice syrup -- 1 ½ cups -- Slightly
Honey -- ¾ cup -- 1/8 cup
Fruit juice concentrate -- ¾ cup -- 1/8 cup
Maple syrup -- ¾ cup -- 1/8 cup
Maple granules -- 1 cup -- None
Molasses -- ½ cup -- None
Unrefined cane juice powder -- ¾ cup -- None
Stevia (leaf powder) -- 1 teaspoon -- Add 1/8 cup
Source: Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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.
01 June 2008
Cough season – kids and asthma
Do your kids get lots of coughs and colds in winter? If they have asthma, this can mean a potentially dangerous situation. From a Chinese medicine perspective, asthma is usually due to a weakness in one of the body’s organ systems. The drugs that kids take for asthma can further weaken their systems. When it comes to their safety, however, it is always best to have all available tools at your disposal.
The strength of Chinese medicine is that it can control the coughs and colds so kids get better sooner and, eventually, gives them better immunity so they don’t get sick as often. It can actually strengthen their organs and put them on track for a lifetime of better health. Please call the Clinic for more information.
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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.
The strength of Chinese medicine is that it can control the coughs and colds so kids get better sooner and, eventually, gives them better immunity so they don’t get sick as often. It can actually strengthen their organs and put them on track for a lifetime of better health. Please call the Clinic for more information.
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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.
Winter is a time of stillness
As the shortest day of the year approaches, the yearly cycle of Yin and Yang moves into the phase of maximum Yin. This is the ultimate time to embrace stillness.
Yang is warmth, energy, light, dryness, day, summer, activity and movement. Yin is coolness, substance, darkness, moisture, night, winter, passivity and stillness. Yin and Yang are constantly changing from one to the other. Yin grows from Yang and Yang grows from Yin. Just as we can still have daylight (Yang) in the middle of winter (Yin), so everything is both Yin and Yang – it’s all about the balance.
Western culture values Yang to the detriment of Yin. We expect our minds and our lives to be incessantly busy. We value economic growth and cannot cope with decline. We obsess over youth and devalue maturity. We create artificial daylight in our workplaces and homes so we can continue being busy into the night. We charge our bodies and minds with refined stimulants such as sugar, caffeine and alcohol. We eat at our desks or on the run or, even worse, skip meals altogether. In order to relax, we then have to numb the mind with television or alcohol or continue the frenetic pace with excessive socialising, extreme exercise or overwork. Modern life is making us sick!
Try to spend a little time in stillness, and make a habit of it. Understandably, most of us have forgotten how. You could take a bath, listen to music by candlelight or go for a walk in nature. It is often in these moments, when the noise of the world becomes a little quieter, that our capacity for insight and inspiration is given a chance to shine through.
Stillness contains the seeds of your contentment, peace of mind and life satisfaction. By spending time in stillness, the choppy waves of the mind are given permission to settle. Without constantly Doing, we can enjoy the fullness of each moment by just Being.
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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.
Yang is warmth, energy, light, dryness, day, summer, activity and movement. Yin is coolness, substance, darkness, moisture, night, winter, passivity and stillness. Yin and Yang are constantly changing from one to the other. Yin grows from Yang and Yang grows from Yin. Just as we can still have daylight (Yang) in the middle of winter (Yin), so everything is both Yin and Yang – it’s all about the balance.
Western culture values Yang to the detriment of Yin. We expect our minds and our lives to be incessantly busy. We value economic growth and cannot cope with decline. We obsess over youth and devalue maturity. We create artificial daylight in our workplaces and homes so we can continue being busy into the night. We charge our bodies and minds with refined stimulants such as sugar, caffeine and alcohol. We eat at our desks or on the run or, even worse, skip meals altogether. In order to relax, we then have to numb the mind with television or alcohol or continue the frenetic pace with excessive socialising, extreme exercise or overwork. Modern life is making us sick!
Try to spend a little time in stillness, and make a habit of it. Understandably, most of us have forgotten how. You could take a bath, listen to music by candlelight or go for a walk in nature. It is often in these moments, when the noise of the world becomes a little quieter, that our capacity for insight and inspiration is given a chance to shine through.
Stillness contains the seeds of your contentment, peace of mind and life satisfaction. By spending time in stillness, the choppy waves of the mind are given permission to settle. Without constantly Doing, we can enjoy the fullness of each moment by just Being.
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” - Sir John Lubbock
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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.
01 April 2008
Ginseng – the wonder herb
Feeling tired? Finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning? Feeling the effects of stress? Looking for a pick-me-up that's better than caffeine? Maybe you need ginseng!
Ginseng has been revered in Asia for thousands of years. Modern research is just beginning to show the many amazing qualities and properties of ginseng.
There are lots of ways you can use ginseng to improve your health. The easiest way is to buy some sliced, dried ginseng root from your local Asian grocery store. Then put a pinch of it in a cup and steep in hot water for an energising alternative to tea and coffee. Or put a few slices in with the next soup or stew that you make. Call the Clinic if you want to use ginseng in a herbal formula for your health problems. For a delicious and revitalising chicken ginseng soup, see the recipe below.
Healing properties of ginseng
Ginseng is used in Chinese medicine to strengthen the Qi (energy). Ginseng works on many of your body’s systems as well as providing all-over benefits. Here are just some of the properties of ginseng that have been revealed by modern science:
Types of ginseng
There are several different types of ginseng and each type has its own properties in Chinese medicine.
Ginseng recipe – Samgyetang (Korean chicken & ginseng soup)
This is a wonderful soup to strengthen the body’s energy and combat the effects of stress.
1/3 cup glutinous rice
5 dried Chinese red dates (Hong Zao)
4 dried chestnuts
2 fingers dried ginseng
1 whole organic chicken
Salt and pepper
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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.
Ginseng has been revered in Asia for thousands of years. Modern research is just beginning to show the many amazing qualities and properties of ginseng.
There are lots of ways you can use ginseng to improve your health. The easiest way is to buy some sliced, dried ginseng root from your local Asian grocery store. Then put a pinch of it in a cup and steep in hot water for an energising alternative to tea and coffee. Or put a few slices in with the next soup or stew that you make. Call the Clinic if you want to use ginseng in a herbal formula for your health problems. For a delicious and revitalising chicken ginseng soup, see the recipe below.
Healing properties of ginseng
Ginseng is used in Chinese medicine to strengthen the Qi (energy). Ginseng works on many of your body’s systems as well as providing all-over benefits. Here are just some of the properties of ginseng that have been revealed by modern science:
- Cardiovascular system: Stimulates the heart at low doses, slows the heart at high doses. Dilates (widens) vessels in the heart and brain. Stimulates production of white and red blood cells.
- Nervous system: Sedative and tranquillising effects. Significantly improves alertness, relaxation, appetite and vitality.
- Endocrine: Stimulates production of hormones that deal with stress and reproduction.
- Metabolism: Lowers blood glucose. Improves protein metabolism, appetite, body weight and growth rate. Lowers cholesterol.
- General: Regulates immune system to increase disease resistance. Anticancer activity. Anti X-irradiation activity. Anti-ageing effect. Anti-inflammatory.
- Adaptogen: Helps the body to deal with stress.
- Ginseng is a source of the trace element Germanium. Germanium foods and supplements are used as cancer remedies and to generally strengthen the immune system.
Types of ginseng
There are several different types of ginseng and each type has its own properties in Chinese medicine.
- Standard ginseng is called Ren Shen (Panax Ginseng) which means “human root” in Chinese. It strengthens the body’s core energy as well as the energy of the lungs, digestion and heart. It is calming and generates fluids to stop thirst. The best quality is wild ginseng from Ji Lin province, called Ji Lin Shen.
- There are two types of ginseng that have a stronger property for generating fluids and nourishing Yin. One is cultivated ginseng from China called Sheng Shai Shen. The other is American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolia) – Xi Yang Shen. These types are cooler and are better for people with “heat” (eg red face, thirst, feeling hot, night sweating or constipation).
- When cultivated ginseng is cured by steaming, it changes colour from white to red and is called Hong Shen (“red root”). Most Korean ginseng is cured in this way. Red ginseng is warmer than other ginsengs and is good for people with “cold” signs (cold hands and feet, fluid retention, feeling cold or sluggish digestion).
Ginseng recipe – Samgyetang (Korean chicken & ginseng soup)
This is a wonderful soup to strengthen the body’s energy and combat the effects of stress.
1/3 cup glutinous rice
5 dried Chinese red dates (Hong Zao)
4 dried chestnuts
2 fingers dried ginseng
1 whole organic chicken
Salt and pepper
- Wash rice and soak in water for ½ hour
- Rinse dates, chestnuts and ginseng
- Clean the chicken and place the rice, jujubes, chestnuts, ginseng and six cloves of whole peeled garlic into the cavity. Tie the cavity shut with string to keep the ingredients inside while cooking.
- In a very large pot, boil water and place the chicken carefully in the water. Return the water to the boil then simmer for around three hours. Skim the top to keep the broth clear.
- To serve, place some broth and meat into bowls and garnish with stuffing ingredients (eg dates). Salt and pepper to taste. Serve the rice stuffing in a separate bowl.
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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.
01 March 2008
Making the most of Autumn
The weather is getting cooler, the days are getting shorter and the still afternoon air echoes with the sound of migrating birds heading for warmer places. Autumn is a time to gather together the abundance created throughout the Summer, and to store it away for the cooler months. It is a time to start looking inward, to prepare for the stillness of Winter.
Letting go
In Chinese medicine philosophy, Autumn is associated with the element of Metal. Metal relates to the ability to let go and to express grief. If your Metal element is healthy, you are able to hold on to your values and principles, while letting go of the ideas and possessions that no longer serve you. Autumn is a great time to get rid of clutter, to simplify your surroundings and to only hold on to the things you need.
Nurturing foods
While it is a good time to "detox" your home or office, Autumn is not a great time to detox your body.
Instead, it’s a time to start having more nurturing foods. Root vegetables are nature’s energy storage and you can start introducing them now – try baked potato, carrot, sweet potato, kumera and parsnip.
Raw food is too draining in cool weather, so you can start replacing salads with healthy stir fries instead (use a tiny bit of oil and splash in water so you are steaming rather than frying). Light soups are a great way to extract the energy from your food to help with storage.
Autumn’s energy is abundant but contracting, so use sour-flavoured foods to astringe the food’s energy, drawing it inwards to help with storage. Sour foods include sourdough bread, sauerkraut, olives, pickles, leeks, aduki beans, salt plums, rosehip tea, vinegar, cheese, yoghurt, lemons, limes, grapefruit and sour varieties of apples, plums and grapes.
“Metal” symptoms
The organ energies that relate to Autumn and the Metal element are Lung and Large Intestine. These also relate to the nose, air passages, skin, mucous membranes and immunity. Imbalance in any of these areas can signify that your Metal element needs adjusting.
If you have symptoms in any of these areas then please contact the Clinic for further advice. You might need some acupuncture or herbal treatment, or we can give you a personalised food plan to support you.
Easy Autumn recipe – Shepherd’s Barley Soup
¼ onion, chopped (optional)
4 carrots, grated
2 parsnips, diced
1 tablespoon oil
2 ½ litres water
1 cup barley
1/3 teaspoon ginger, grated
1 teaspoon sea salt or 1 tablespoon natto miso
Parsley
• Sauté onion, carrots and parsnips in oil
• Add water, barley and ginger. Simmer 1 ½ hours
• Add salt/ miso and simmer 15 minutes
• Garnish with parsley
Serves 8
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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.
Letting go
In Chinese medicine philosophy, Autumn is associated with the element of Metal. Metal relates to the ability to let go and to express grief. If your Metal element is healthy, you are able to hold on to your values and principles, while letting go of the ideas and possessions that no longer serve you. Autumn is a great time to get rid of clutter, to simplify your surroundings and to only hold on to the things you need.
Nurturing foods
While it is a good time to "detox" your home or office, Autumn is not a great time to detox your body.
Instead, it’s a time to start having more nurturing foods. Root vegetables are nature’s energy storage and you can start introducing them now – try baked potato, carrot, sweet potato, kumera and parsnip.
Raw food is too draining in cool weather, so you can start replacing salads with healthy stir fries instead (use a tiny bit of oil and splash in water so you are steaming rather than frying). Light soups are a great way to extract the energy from your food to help with storage.
Autumn’s energy is abundant but contracting, so use sour-flavoured foods to astringe the food’s energy, drawing it inwards to help with storage. Sour foods include sourdough bread, sauerkraut, olives, pickles, leeks, aduki beans, salt plums, rosehip tea, vinegar, cheese, yoghurt, lemons, limes, grapefruit and sour varieties of apples, plums and grapes.
“Metal” symptoms
The organ energies that relate to Autumn and the Metal element are Lung and Large Intestine. These also relate to the nose, air passages, skin, mucous membranes and immunity. Imbalance in any of these areas can signify that your Metal element needs adjusting.
If you have symptoms in any of these areas then please contact the Clinic for further advice. You might need some acupuncture or herbal treatment, or we can give you a personalised food plan to support you.
Easy Autumn recipe – Shepherd’s Barley Soup
¼ onion, chopped (optional)
4 carrots, grated
2 parsnips, diced
1 tablespoon oil
2 ½ litres water
1 cup barley
1/3 teaspoon ginger, grated
1 teaspoon sea salt or 1 tablespoon natto miso
Parsley
• Sauté onion, carrots and parsnips in oil
• Add water, barley and ginger. Simmer 1 ½ hours
• Add salt/ miso and simmer 15 minutes
• Garnish with parsley
Serves 8
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist at Ocean Acupuncture in Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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.
01 August 2007
Winter warming
With the cold winter weather, it’s important to keep yourself warm, from the inside out. By taking care of yourself in the winter time, you are protecting your energy for the rest of the year.
Winter is associated with the Water element in Chinese medicine. The organs of the Water element are Bladder and Kidneys.
The Kidneys are very important organs as they store the “Vital Essence”, which is produced in utero and cannot be replenished. Essence is needed to sustain life, produce Blood and restore damage to the body. By living a moderate lifestyle and protecting our health, we use up less Essence than if we overdo it.
The Kidneys are also the root of the Yin and Yang of the body. Signs of Kidney weakness include sore lower back and/or knees, tinnitus, hearing difficulty and urogenital symptoms. In women, Kidney imbalance can lead to infertility.
Prevention
Chinese people always wear plenty of layers to keep their lower backs warm, as the lower back is the “residence” of the Kidneys. Never allow a gap in your clothing to let in cold air as this will tax the Kidney’s energy. Tuck in under-layers and make sure you always have a jacket to wear outside. If you do expose your lower back to the cold, then place a heat pack or hot water bottle on the area as soon as you get home.
You can also investigate traditional Chinese qi-protecting exercises such as Taiji (Tai Chi) or Qi Gong (Chi Kung). These exercise systems were designed by Taoist practitioners who wished to increase longevity. By practising Taiji or Qi Gong, you will feel relaxed and revitalised and you will also benefit your Kidney’s energy and protect your Vital Essence.
Winter is the time for eating hearty stews, baked root vegetables and warming teas. Foods with warming properties include most meats (especially lamb), black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, garlic, onion family, wine (in cooking), chestnuts and capsicum.
Chai tea
Chai tea uses hot-natured spices and is a great warming drink for winter.
2 Teaspoons English breakfast tea
1 Cinnamon stick
3 Cardamom pods
2 Cloves
1 Teaspoon sugar or honey
2 Cloves of black pepper
1 Bay leaf
400mls whole fat milk, rice milk or organic soy milk*
Method:
Put English tea into a small saucepan. Break up the cinnamon stick, bruise the cardamom pods and add to the saucepan along with the cloves, sugar, pepper and bay leaf. Add the milk.
Boil and reduce down to thick syrup, reducing the liquid by half (being careful not to let the milk catch on the bottom of the saucepan). Strain.
You should end up with thick aromatic syrup a similar consistency to condensed milk.
* Organic soy milk uses the whole bean and avoids genetically modified products
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, Acupuncturist 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.
Winter is associated with the Water element in Chinese medicine. The organs of the Water element are Bladder and Kidneys.
The Kidneys are very important organs as they store the “Vital Essence”, which is produced in utero and cannot be replenished. Essence is needed to sustain life, produce Blood and restore damage to the body. By living a moderate lifestyle and protecting our health, we use up less Essence than if we overdo it.
The Kidneys are also the root of the Yin and Yang of the body. Signs of Kidney weakness include sore lower back and/or knees, tinnitus, hearing difficulty and urogenital symptoms. In women, Kidney imbalance can lead to infertility.
Prevention
Chinese people always wear plenty of layers to keep their lower backs warm, as the lower back is the “residence” of the Kidneys. Never allow a gap in your clothing to let in cold air as this will tax the Kidney’s energy. Tuck in under-layers and make sure you always have a jacket to wear outside. If you do expose your lower back to the cold, then place a heat pack or hot water bottle on the area as soon as you get home.
You can also investigate traditional Chinese qi-protecting exercises such as Taiji (Tai Chi) or Qi Gong (Chi Kung). These exercise systems were designed by Taoist practitioners who wished to increase longevity. By practising Taiji or Qi Gong, you will feel relaxed and revitalised and you will also benefit your Kidney’s energy and protect your Vital Essence.
Winter is the time for eating hearty stews, baked root vegetables and warming teas. Foods with warming properties include most meats (especially lamb), black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, garlic, onion family, wine (in cooking), chestnuts and capsicum.
Chai tea
Chai tea uses hot-natured spices and is a great warming drink for winter.
2 Teaspoons English breakfast tea
1 Cinnamon stick
3 Cardamom pods
2 Cloves
1 Teaspoon sugar or honey
2 Cloves of black pepper
1 Bay leaf
400mls whole fat milk, rice milk or organic soy milk*
Method:
Put English tea into a small saucepan. Break up the cinnamon stick, bruise the cardamom pods and add to the saucepan along with the cloves, sugar, pepper and bay leaf. Add the milk.
Boil and reduce down to thick syrup, reducing the liquid by half (being careful not to let the milk catch on the bottom of the saucepan). Strain.
You should end up with thick aromatic syrup a similar consistency to condensed milk.
* Organic soy milk uses the whole bean and avoids genetically modified products
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, Acupuncturist 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.
01 January 2007
Cooling “Summerheat-Dampness” – Food as medicine
If you live in Sydney, the recent hot and humid weather may have left you feeling heavy and lethargic.
You may have headaches, a fuzzy feeling in your head or a tight band across your forehead. Some people get gastrointestinal upsets or they feel thirsty but don’t want to drink anything.
Does this sound familiar? If so, you could be feeling the symptoms of “Summerheat-Dampness”.
As the weather gets hotter, your body can usually cool itself by sweating. The pores in your skin open up and release sweat, which evaporates into the air and cools your skin. However, when humid air surrounds your skin, not only does the sweat have trouble evaporating, but also the “Dampness” in the air can easily penetrate through your pores, according to Chinese medicine.
Dampness is heavy and sluggish in nature. It impedes and slows the movement of energy and vital substances in your body. As a result, your limbs and head feel heavy and tired. You could have aching joints as the Dampness settles there, especially if you’ve been inactive for a while (for example, sitting or sleeping).
The Spleen-Pancreas energy is responsible for transforming and transporting fluid and nutrients around your body and is especially sensitive to Dampness. If the digestive function of the Spleen-Pancreas is affected, you might feel abdominal pains, nausea, diarrhea or constipation. If the Spleen-Pancreas can’t transform and transport fluids then you will feel thirsty because the fluid isn’t properly distributed, but you won’t feel like drinking because of the extra moisture lurking in your body.
Fortunately, writers and physicians of Chinese medicine have been observing and documenting the interactions between the body and the seasons for many thousands of years. Following are some food remedies that you can easily make for yourself, and some tips on preventing further attacks of Summerheat-Dampness. To help you find the ingredients in an Asian grocery, the Chinese names in the recipes are included in brackets.
Prevention
In hot weather, it’s tempting to reach for refrigerated drinks and sit in air-conditioned spaces. However, putting cold food and drinks into your body means you have to use your own vital energy to increase the temperature of the food. Over time, this saps your energy and quells your “digestive fire,” leading to sluggish digestion and long-term problems such as fluid retention, skin problems and poor appetite.
In many tropical countries, the locals drink light teas to stay cool. By choosing a cooling herb such as peppermint, the tea can induce a mild sweat and help your body to cool down. Have food at room temperature or lightly steamed and avoid heavy, greasy, spicy or warming foods such as red meat, chilli, spices, dairy and deep fried food.
Rather than switching on the air-con, try putting your hands and feet in cool water and hold a damp washcloth to your forehead and the back of your neck. Gentle movement of air will evaporate the water and cool you down. However, avoid strong wind and air-conditioning, which can invade your open pores and lead to cold and flu symptoms.
Watermelon juice
Nature provides us with cooling watermelons right at the time that our bodies need them. Scoop out the flesh of a watermelon and whiz it in a blender or put it through a juicer. Watermelons should be kept in the fridge for freshness, but always try to avoid eating or drinking foods that are iced or that come directly from the fridge (see “Prevention” above). Let the juice come to room temperature before drinking.
Mung bean congee
Congee is a kind of rice porridge that has its own healing properties. You can also add ingredients at different times of the year to promote good health and combat illness.
Congee is cooling, moistening and nourishing. It harmonises the digestion and strengthens the body’s energy (Qi).
The standard recipe is one part rice to six parts water, cooked at very low heat for four to six hours (a crock-pot is ideal). To make mung bean congee, include 3 tablespoons of mung beans (Lu Dou) per cup of rice. Optional extra: include a small handful of moisturising lily bulb (Bai He). Add some grated fresh ginger towards the end of cooking if nausea is more severe.
Chrysanthemum tea
This tea is a favourite summertime drink in China. It can be made in batches and stored in the fridge, but again, try to let it approach room temperature before drinking.
Ingredients:
60 - 80 White Chrysanthemum Flowers (Ju Hua)
3 teaspoons Jasmine Green Tea
Rock sugar (Bing Tang) or honey to taste
4 litres water
Optional:
2 teaspoons Bamboo Leaf (Dan Zhu Ye)
2 teaspoons Lotus Seed (He Zi)
5 pieces dried Licorice Root (Gan Cao – caution in high blood pressure)
Instructions:
Wash the herbs and put with tea into a cooking pot. Add 4 litres of water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add rock sugar or honey. Allow to cool to room temperature. Store in refrigerator if not drinking immediately. Serve at room temperature - Enjoy!
If these recipes and preventive measures don’t resolve your symptoms, then please phone the Clinic for further advice or to make an appointment for an acupuncture treatment and herbal formula tailored to your unique condition.
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, Acupuncturist 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.
You may have headaches, a fuzzy feeling in your head or a tight band across your forehead. Some people get gastrointestinal upsets or they feel thirsty but don’t want to drink anything.
Does this sound familiar? If so, you could be feeling the symptoms of “Summerheat-Dampness”.
As the weather gets hotter, your body can usually cool itself by sweating. The pores in your skin open up and release sweat, which evaporates into the air and cools your skin. However, when humid air surrounds your skin, not only does the sweat have trouble evaporating, but also the “Dampness” in the air can easily penetrate through your pores, according to Chinese medicine.
Dampness is heavy and sluggish in nature. It impedes and slows the movement of energy and vital substances in your body. As a result, your limbs and head feel heavy and tired. You could have aching joints as the Dampness settles there, especially if you’ve been inactive for a while (for example, sitting or sleeping).
The Spleen-Pancreas energy is responsible for transforming and transporting fluid and nutrients around your body and is especially sensitive to Dampness. If the digestive function of the Spleen-Pancreas is affected, you might feel abdominal pains, nausea, diarrhea or constipation. If the Spleen-Pancreas can’t transform and transport fluids then you will feel thirsty because the fluid isn’t properly distributed, but you won’t feel like drinking because of the extra moisture lurking in your body.
Fortunately, writers and physicians of Chinese medicine have been observing and documenting the interactions between the body and the seasons for many thousands of years. Following are some food remedies that you can easily make for yourself, and some tips on preventing further attacks of Summerheat-Dampness. To help you find the ingredients in an Asian grocery, the Chinese names in the recipes are included in brackets.
Prevention
In hot weather, it’s tempting to reach for refrigerated drinks and sit in air-conditioned spaces. However, putting cold food and drinks into your body means you have to use your own vital energy to increase the temperature of the food. Over time, this saps your energy and quells your “digestive fire,” leading to sluggish digestion and long-term problems such as fluid retention, skin problems and poor appetite.
In many tropical countries, the locals drink light teas to stay cool. By choosing a cooling herb such as peppermint, the tea can induce a mild sweat and help your body to cool down. Have food at room temperature or lightly steamed and avoid heavy, greasy, spicy or warming foods such as red meat, chilli, spices, dairy and deep fried food.
Rather than switching on the air-con, try putting your hands and feet in cool water and hold a damp washcloth to your forehead and the back of your neck. Gentle movement of air will evaporate the water and cool you down. However, avoid strong wind and air-conditioning, which can invade your open pores and lead to cold and flu symptoms.
Watermelon juice
Nature provides us with cooling watermelons right at the time that our bodies need them. Scoop out the flesh of a watermelon and whiz it in a blender or put it through a juicer. Watermelons should be kept in the fridge for freshness, but always try to avoid eating or drinking foods that are iced or that come directly from the fridge (see “Prevention” above). Let the juice come to room temperature before drinking.
Mung bean congee
Congee is a kind of rice porridge that has its own healing properties. You can also add ingredients at different times of the year to promote good health and combat illness.
Congee is cooling, moistening and nourishing. It harmonises the digestion and strengthens the body’s energy (Qi).
The standard recipe is one part rice to six parts water, cooked at very low heat for four to six hours (a crock-pot is ideal). To make mung bean congee, include 3 tablespoons of mung beans (Lu Dou) per cup of rice. Optional extra: include a small handful of moisturising lily bulb (Bai He). Add some grated fresh ginger towards the end of cooking if nausea is more severe.
Chrysanthemum tea
This tea is a favourite summertime drink in China. It can be made in batches and stored in the fridge, but again, try to let it approach room temperature before drinking.
Ingredients:
60 - 80 White Chrysanthemum Flowers (Ju Hua)
3 teaspoons Jasmine Green Tea
Rock sugar (Bing Tang) or honey to taste
4 litres water
Optional:
2 teaspoons Bamboo Leaf (Dan Zhu Ye)
2 teaspoons Lotus Seed (He Zi)
5 pieces dried Licorice Root (Gan Cao – caution in high blood pressure)
Instructions:
Wash the herbs and put with tea into a cooking pot. Add 4 litres of water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add rock sugar or honey. Allow to cool to room temperature. Store in refrigerator if not drinking immediately. Serve at room temperature - Enjoy!
If these recipes and preventive measures don’t resolve your symptoms, then please phone the Clinic for further advice or to make an appointment for an acupuncture treatment and herbal formula tailored to your unique condition.
This post is brought to you by Lois Nethery, Acupuncturist 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.
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