If you want to improve your immunity to protect yourself from getting sick, here are some tips from Chinese medicine to boost your immune system.
First, you have to understand that according to classical Chinese medicine, your body’s immune system is determined by the health of three main organ systems in the body: the Lungs, the Spleen and the Kidneys. We could say that these three represent the three burners of your immune system: upper (lungs), middle (spleen) and lower (kidneys).
The Lungs are the upper and most superficial system, as they have direct exposure to pathogenic elements in our environment through breathing the air around us. This often leads to direct exposure to bacterias, viruses, allergens and toxins in the air. The nose, sinuses and skin are all connected to the lung system as well in Chinese medicine. This is why it’s common to have sinus and skin symptoms when the body has acute exposure to environmental pathogenic influences.
The ancient battle of two forces – Xie Qi vs. Zheng Qi
The Lungs are our first line of defence against what is called Xie Qi according to the Chinese medicine theory. Xie Qi translates to “harmful qi,” often referred to as “evil qi”.
Qi is translated as “energy” or “air” or “influence”.
This Xie Qi is a general term used to describe any pathogenic influence that can enter the body and do harm to the health of the living organism. The stronger the Xie Qi is, the harder it is for the body to defend against it. But luckily our bodies have a hero of their own to protect us against the evil forces that intend to do our health harm.
Our body’s hero is named Zheng Qi
Zheng Qi is often translated as constitutional integrity, which for all intents and practical purposes, we can translate to our entire immune health. Why these two translations would be synonymous will become clearer as you keep reading.
According to the fundamentals of Chinese medicine, if your Zheng Qi is strong, the Xie Qi cannot invade your body, and you won’t get sick. Consequently, if your Zheng Qi is weak, then it opens the door for Xie Qi to come inside and do damage to your health.
This explains why some people were unaffected by the great plague of the Middle Ages, or why some people don’t get sick during an epidemic outbreak – because their immune strength was greater than the pathological influence.
This also explains why some people get sick often and easily – because their immune strength is weak and it’s easily overcome by pathological influence.
This understanding is one of the fundamental principles of Chinese medicine because it underlies the assumption that disease and illness can only harm us under two circumstances: 1) when there is an excessively strong Xie Qi (pathological influence) or 2) when your Zheng Qi (immune health) is compromised.
This also paves the way for a clear and effective therapeutic approach to improving immunity and warding off illness and disease, using the simple approach of strengthening Zheng Qi and minimizing exposure to Xie Qi.
The three pillars of immunity
Our Zheng Qi is determined largely by the health of these three spectacular organ systems: the Lungs, Spleen and Kidneys.
As mentioned above, the Lungs are your first line of immune defence.
If your Lungs are strong and healthy, then the mucus membranes in your nose, sinuses and lungs will be functioning properly and will easily defeat any bacteria, allergen or virus that enters it.
Conversely, if the Lungs are weak, the mucus membranes can easily get inflamed and malfunction when invaded by Xie Qi, leading to the creation of excessive phlegm.
The next line of defence is the Spleen, which in Chinese medicine plays the most important role in the digestive system of extracting nutrients from the food and using them to create the Qi and blood for the entire body.
The Spleen and the Lungs have the unique and similar functions of directly drawing Qi from our environment and transforming it into usable Qi for our blood system and body.
The Lungs absorb Qi from the air in the form of oxygen and vital elements and pass it directly into our bloodstream.
The Spleen absorbs the Qi from food and water in the form of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and molecules and passes it directly into our bloodstream.
It’s understood from Chinese medicine that the Qi absorbed by the Spleen through food is mixed with the Qi that is absorbed by the Lungs from the air, which is then mixed with the Qi from the Kidneys to make the body’s Zheng Qi.
Understanding this gives us a clear roadmap of our health on how to improve our immune health and keep it balanced.
That roadmap is making our Lungs, Spleens and Kidneys as happy as possible. So let’s look at how to do that. Over the last five millenia, Chinese medicine has clearly mapped out what harms and strengthens these systems. Let’s take a look at each of their profiles to understand their needs.
The Lungs
Season: Fall Element: Metal Partner organ: Large intestine Governs: Skin, nose, sinuses Function: Breathing, oxygen supply, circulation, immune defence Emotional force: Bonding, communication, trust Likes: Deep breathing/exercise, fresh air, acceptance, Dislikes: Phlegm, dryness, shallow breathing, inflammation, constipation, wind-cold, wind-heat
The Spleen
Season: Long-summer Element: Earth Partner organ: Stomach Governs: Mouth, lips, fat, lymph Function: Digestion, creation of Blood and Qi, extraction of nutrients Emotional force: Awareness, discernment Likes: Healthy nutrition (fresh, clean, simple, natural, unprocessed), peace of mind Dislikes: Too much sweet or rich foods, worry, obsession, dampness, sitting or looking excessively
The Kidneys
Season: Winter Element: Water Partner organ: Urinary bladder Governs: Bones, marrow, teeth, hair, ears, brain, essence, libido Function: Water metabolism, reproduction, hormones, adrenals Emotional force: Will-power, fear Likes: Restful sleep, good work-life balance, proper posture, healthy sex life Dislikes: Excessive amounts of: work, physical labour, sex, exercise, adrenaline, fear, anxiety
Keeping the above in mind while navigating these colder months will serve your body well and make you less vulnerable to catching colds and other sicknesses. Align yourself with the intention that you will serve your immune organs well this winter.
So what should you do if you are symptomatic of a weakened immune system or have existing issues with any of the three burner organs?
Book an appointment or consultation with a registered Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, who will be able to isolate where and how your Zheng Qi is being compromised. Regular acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbal remedies can assist in both preventative and remedial cases.
You can also consult the organ profiles above to determine individualized areas of need that best fit your life and schedule.
Perhaps you will commit to more conscious deep breathing or strengthening the communication in your relationship this fall to benefit the lungs, or work on better sleeping strategies during the long hibernating months of winter to benefit the kidneys.
Whichever area you choose to focus on, celebrate in the fact that you are becoming more organ-mindful and immune healthy!
For further practical tips to help boost and maintain a strong immune system, you may want to read the following blog posts:
“The Long-Summer corresponds to the Spleen & Stomach and the element of Earth” – Traditional Chinese Medicine Fundamentals
The Spleen builds the Qi and the Blood. It supports the Immune System.
The 5-Element System of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The 5 Element System includes a fifth season that we know in the West as ‘Indian Summer’.
The Chinese call this season the “Long Summer”, and it corresponds to the element of Earth and the Spleen and Stomach.
Just around the corner we have the Fall, which connects to the Lungs. Both of these organs are vital in our immune system.
The Spleen nourishes the Lungs, so it’s important this time of year to give your Spleen a boost, so that your Lungs will be strong for the upcoming cold and flu seasons in Fall and Winter.
Here’s a few tips to tonify your Spleen Qi this time of year…
6 Tips to Nourish Your Spleen in the Long Summer.
Tip 1: Eat food from the Earth
Try to eat as much fresh, local and organic vegetables and fruits. Eating directly from the garden is ideal. If you don’t have a garden, go to a farmers market and stock up.
Eat less meat products, especially if you’ve been BBQing a lot this summer, this is a good time to reduce your meat intake and triple your fresh produce consumption.
Tip 2: Eat more cooked and warmed foods
Start cooking your veggies more. Don’t eat only raw salads. Start adding stews, steams and sautés to your meals. Throw more potatoes, zuccinis and squashes on your BBQ. Cook up some corn on the cob.
The Spleen prefers cooked foods as they are easier to digest and assimilate. Too much raw or cold foods can injure the spleen and create dampness in the body. Keep enjoying your salads and raw veggies too, but start adding more cooked and heated foods to your meals.
Tip 3: Meditate and reduce over-thinking
It is said that over-thinking and worry can injure the Spleen.
When the Spleen is injured 3 things can happen:
1. Digestion is compromised: Less nutrients are absorbed
2. Less Qi and Blood is created.
3. Dampness and Phlegm can grow.
The virtue of the Earth element is called “Yi”, which means “Awareness and Attention”. When we let worry consume our thoughts, we lose awareness and attention of the present moment and get lost in obsessing about the future or past. This causes harm to the Earth element and the Spleen and Stomach Qi is compromised.
Doing regular meditation, qigong, yoga, walking in nature, making art or playing music – or any activity to quiet the mind can help restore the Earth element in the body through a serene mental state.
Tip 4: Avoid dampness forming foods
Mmmm, these doughnuts may be delicious, but the sticker, sweeter, doughier and more chemical any pastry or sweet is, the more damp-forming it will be.
According to Chinese medicine, certain foods create dampness in the body. Dampness can weaken the Spleen and the Qi in the body.
Important: If you have any of these symptoms and want help to clear the dampness from your body, schedule an appointment with me at my clinic for acupuncture and herbal solutions. You can schedule your appointment online or call 613-702-5377.
The Spleen Meridian travels up the inside of your foot, along the side of your big toe and inner arch. Stimulating these points can help boost your Spleen Qi.
Rub these important Acu-Points before you go to bed, or anytime during the day that you need a little boost of energy or rest from stress. Rub along these points shown on the image below on the inside of your foot.
Tip 6: Take a walk after eating
While going for a nice walk after eating, try to bring your attention to your breath and avoid thinking or worrying about anything outside the present moment.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s said that excessive “sitting” and “staring” can injure the spleen. So instead of going straight back to your computer desk after lunch, taking an easy and short 10 minute walk after eating can greatly assist the digestive system and renew the Spleen’s energy.
This is a great thing to do after dinner too. Especially if you overate.
Don’t make it a power walk. Call upon the energy of the Earth element and make it more of a leisurely stroll.
Walk slowly and easily, let your eyes look at different things, breathe the fresh air and try to be in the present moment.
The breathing and slow walking without worrying about anything will give your metabolism a boost and renew your mind at the same time.
Excessive heat in the summer months can cause rashes, heatstroke, dehydration and even death.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has long recognized the negative health effects of excessive heat in the body.
Heat not only comes from outside, but inside too. Internal heat can be generated by certain foods, emotions and organ dysfunction.
If you already have some internal heat in your body, then when it gets hot out, you suffer more.
If you’ve visited my clinic and I’ve diagnosed you with some kind of heat imbalance in your body, then you already know what I’m talking about.
But excessive summer heat can affect everyone.
In fact, if you overheat, sometimes this heat can stay locked inside your system and cause more health problems down the road.
So I’ve put together five easy tips based on Traditional Chinese Medicine that you can follow that will help cool you down and avoid absorbing excessive heat in the summer.
5 TCM Tips to Keep You Cool in a Heat Wave
#1: Drink a lot of pure water
Yes, tip #1 is universally obvious, but it cannot be emphasized enough. Balance fire with water.
Pure water is often better than commercially touted sports drinks like gatorade or vitamin water. These products have excessive amounts of sugar in them, which can actually increase internal heat through the high blood-sugar and insulin spike inflammatoryresponse cycle.
#2: If you have to spend time in the sun, cover your head and put a lot of sunscreen on this acu-point
This acu-point is called Du-14 or “da zhui”. It is the meeting of all “yang” in the body, and is the main point for clearing heat in the body.
If you are in the sun, cover your head and cover this point or put a lot of sunscreen on it if you are at the beach. This will avoid too much heat from entering your system through this area.
#3: Cool down with a wet cloth
If you start to get too hot, put a cold wet cloth on your head or neck. Heat rises in the body and the head is considered the most “yang” part in the body.
When heat rises into the head, it can cause dizziness, tinnitus, sinus problems, headaches, heat stroke and even loss of consciousness.
#4: Avoid hot foods like coffee, alcohol, spice, deep fried, or too much sugar.
These foods are warm or hot in nature and will increase internal heat.
Instead go for water-rich and cooling foods like watermelon, cucumber, oranges, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, seaweed, alfalfa sprouts, tomatoes, peppermint tea, green tea, lemon water, etc.
Watermelon is particularly effective to bring down sunstroke and cool the body.
Check out this image to the right to learn a little about the nature of foods in Chinese medicine.
#5: Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can drain heat out of your body.
If you’re suffering in the heat, then you should consider acupuncture and Chinese herbs to help drain the heat from your system.
A lot of the patients I see in the clinic have internal heat issues, and I have personally observed how effective the treatments can be for many of them.
If you want to discuss a treatment or schedule one with me call 613-702-5377 or book directly online by clicking here: Book online now
Announcing: New Qigong Teacher Training Certification Course
This fall I am going to teach all my best knowledge on Qigong and Qi-Energy to a handful of students in this new course I’m putting together. Two other qigong masters will be visiting from BC and Florida to teach along with me. Anyone can take this course. Whether you’re brand new to qigong or you’ve been practising for years, or even if you’re already a teacher, this program will be great! Expect a life-changing experience.
This Qigong Teacher Training program is designed to make qigong accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and fitness levels.
This life changing program works on all levels of the body, mind and spirit, opening and strengthening your body while relaxing, energizing and healing your whole being. Whether you plan to teach qigong, use it to heal yourself or others, develop your own personal practice, or gain a deeper knowledge of this ancient Chinese healing power, this program will give you a firm foundation to teach safely, skilfully and with integrity.
Meeting over 12 weekends, this program is a total of 200+ hours, and includes training in the most important fundamentals of Qigong.
Have questions about the training?
FREE Open House Information Sessions: Drop in, ask questions and meet the Trainer! Our next date is:
Aug 4th at 6:30pm At 101 rue Symmes, Aylmer,Gatineau. Just behind the Christ Church, where we usually have our classes.
For more information about this program call 613-702-5377 or email info@blaiseryan.com
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the body is always engaged in a battle between “True Energy” and Evil Energy.” It may sound biblical, but it has nothing to do with religion. It has everything to do the healthy balance within the body.
“True Energy”, known as Zheng Qi in Chinese Medicine, is inseparable from the immune system. It’s what empowers the body to heal itself and ward off bacterias, viruses or allergens. Evil Energy, known as Xie Qi in Chinese, refers to nothing on the plane of morals but to pathogenic influences like virus, bacterias, allergens, toxins, poisons, molds, etc.
Based on this theory there are two ways we can get sick: Due to a very strong pathogen (Evil Energy) that overpowers our immune system (True Energy). Or if our True Energy gets weak enough then even a relatively weak pathogen can do us harm.
This explains why some people get sick all the time; because their True Energy is weak and easily overcome by any virus or bacteria that is circulating This also explains why during major epidemic outbreaks, like during the great plague, some people were immune to the illness; because their True Energy was stronger than the Evil Energy of the epidemic.
Those who suffer from seasonal or environmental allergies have a weakened True Energy so they are affected by influences which others are immune to. The traditional Chinese medical protocol for overcoming allergies is to strengthen the True Energy to be able to withstand these allergens and not react to them.
There are 3 main steps in Chinese medicine to doing this. The first is to cleanse the system of the influences that are weakening the True Energy in the first place. After it’s no longer being compromised by these the second step is to boost the True Energy of the body. Finally the third step is to open the meridian channels with Acu-Points.
Step 1. Cleanse & Detoxify
Most people suffering from allergies have toxins in their body which weaken their True Energy. This causes a systemic low-grade inflammation that gets triggered into a greater inflammatory response when they come into contact with an allergen.
Based on Chinese medicine, the sinuses, skin and lungs are connected with digestive health. Cleansing the body and the digestive system of toxins can often bring instant relief to allergy symptoms. There are dozens of ways to cleanse the body and thousands of “cleansing” products on the market.
But you don’t need to buy an expensive herbal cleanse program. Just follow the guidelines below for 3-7 weeks to detoxify your body. If you need a more intensive cleanse, then consult a qualified health practitioner who knows about safe and healthy cleansing.
9 Simple Cleansing Guidelines:
1. Avoid all processed foods and refined sugars.
2. Eat 30-50% less than usual
3. Eat nutrient-dense whole foods with minimal processing
4. Avoid dairy, wheat, gluten and anything with additives, preservatives or food coloring
5. Eat a lot of leafy & green vegetables with plenty of fibre
6. Drink at 4-6 litres a day of pure water (not tap water)
7. Every two days take an Epsom salt bath and relax
8. Sleep and rest more
9. Saunas are great too to sweat out toxins
Step 2. Strengthen your “True Energy”
Traditional Chinese medicine understands that there is a vital energy that flows through your whole body and is responsible for circulation, metabolism and vitality. It’s called “Qi” (pronounced ‘chee’). Boosting your “Qi” will strengthen your True Energy and regulate your immune system. Here are some ways to boost your “Qi”:
Exercise, but not to the extreme.
The body is made to move, stretch, sweat and push past it’s limits. The body loves exercise. It doesn’t really matter what kind of exercise you do, as long as you get a good cardiovascular workout with sweating and breathing. Just don’t overdo it. Some people get addicted to exercise and they end up exhausting their bodies by exercising too much. Very often I see people in my clinic who have exhausted their Qi by exercising too much! So find the balance that’s right for you – and enjoy recovery after exercise.
Get enough sleep & rest.
Our internal organs and cells repair themselves and build up Qi-Energy during sleep. You should get at least an average of 7-8 hours of solid restful sleep a night. Getting adequate rest and sleep will do wonders to build your Qi-Energy. Balance stress with rest. Even if you don’t get enough sleep, then make a point of resting during the day, so you can let your body rebuild the Qi. If you’re always moving and going, then you’re burning Qi. You need to rest to build it.
Breathe steadily and deeply.
Breathing is one of the ways we build Qi-Energy. Keep conscious of your breath throughout the day, while at work, shopping, driving, walking or doing anything. Many people with allergies tend to breathe shallow or hold their breath too much. Practicing yoga, qigong, meditation or tai chi are all good ways to get more in touch with your breathing.
Maintain good posture.
Our Qi-Energy flows through what are called “meridians” in the body. These are channels of circulation that connect our internal organs with our limbs and head. When your slouch or maintain a bad posture, then the meridians get blocked and the Qi-Energy can’t flow. This can cause all kinds of health problems like pain, allergies, digestive issues, chronic illnesses, etc. If you don’t think you have a good posture, then seek professional help. Learn qigong, do yoga, get acupuncture, rolfing or other therapy to help re-align your body, open your meridians and build your Qi-Energy
Step 3: Relieve Allergy Symptoms with Acu-Point Stimulation
Acupuncture uses hundreds of acu-points on the body to open the meridian channels and stimulate organ health.
This article isn’t long enough to explain how it works. And you don’t need to know all the points to get relief from allergy symptoms. You don’t always need acupuncture, you can stimulate the acu-points with your fingers.
The pictures below illustrate the most important acu-points to strengthen your immune system and reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Just press on these points for 5-15 seconds each while breathing slowly and deeply. Concentrate on relaxing your entire body while you do this. See for yourself how doing this whenever the symptoms appear brings you relief.
If you want to really get rid of your allergies, then seek the help of a registered traditional Chinese medicine practitioner (R.TCMP) or a registered acupuncturist (R.Ac). You can click on the appointments tab on this page to schedule an appointment with me.
Health is a journey of continual balance and adjustment. The ancient Chinese realized this through the yin and yang theory. Yin and yang represent the dualistic nature of reality: Night and day, up and down, dark and light, positive and negative, hot and cold, active and passive, etc.
Chinese medicine is about maintaining your balance while these opposing energies are pulling you this way and pushing you that way.
In today’s modern world, our days are filled with uncountable responsibilities, things to do, interactions and stressors. The key to good health is to find balance amidst the never-ending and constantly changing currents of life.
Maintaining our center and inner peace while the constant push (yang) and pull (yin) of the world invites us – or forces us – into this eternal dance we call “Life”.
After years of clinical practice, I’ve come up with “14 Habits for Good Health” to help my patients maintain this balance, empower their immune system and stay one step ahead of stress and illness.
Habit #1 Drink plenty of pure water.
We are made of 70% water. Chronic dehydration can cause all kinds of symptoms – from allergies, digestive disorders, fatigue, poor mental clarity to infections, inflammation and joint and muscular pain. Water is vital to proper cellular and metabolic health. The more stress you have, physical or mental, the more water you should drink. Water helps cleanse the body of toxins.
The quality of the water is important. Choose spring or distilled water over tap water, because tap water may contain chemicals such as chlorine, fluoride and even hormones, it may also contain heavy metal particles from pipes. According to classical Chinese longevity theory, long-term health is dependent on nourishing and tonifying the “water element”.
Habit #2 Make breakfast as nutritious as possible.
We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s true. Heed this wisdom and watch your health, digestion and energy in the day increase. Based on Chinese medicine, it is in the morning that your stomach and digestive energy is the strongest. Avoid empty carbohydrates and high sugar foods (like toast, sugar cereals, pastries, muffins, etc.).
Look into Japanese breakfasts for some great ideas for nutrient-packed morning meals. Never skip breakfast. The worst thing you can do is have only a coffee for breakfast. This will deplete your adrenals, dehydrate you, throw off your chemical balance and starve your cells of nutrition. Even if you have the habit of eating very little or nothing, force yourself to eat a solid nutritious meal and you will add years of health onto your life.
Habit #3: Silence your mind daily.
Dozens of scientific experiments and studies have proven the beneficial effects of meditation. Not only does it lower cortisol levels, which reduces internal inflammation, but it also helps clear the mental and emotional clutter that can easily build up due to today’s hectic and demanding world.
Meditation is really a way to be still and silence the mind. It doesn’t matter what kind of meditation you do. Take 5 minutes twice a day to just do nothing but focus on breathing and allow your mind to become silent. Silencing the mind isn’t only achieved through meditation. Art, yoga, tai chi, walking, bird watching, exercise and many other relaxing and rejuvenating activities can induce the silent mind.
Even if you just get 30 seconds of a silent mind, this emptiness is like a trash can for the build-up of stress. For every second of mental silence you achieve, you gain 1 minute of productive, vibrant and effective healthy energy. It’s a positive return on investment that is well worth your time and effort.
Habit # 4: Keep your spine and muscles limber.
Tension in your muscles will reduce the circulation of blood, lymph and neural signals in your body. It can also cause joints to compress, which can lead to arthritis and chronic pain. The spine is called the “central axis” in Chinese medicine and Tai Chi.
The connection between your brain and the rest of your body and organs is linked through the spine and the spinal cord and nerves. Additionally, the spine acts like a supporting column for head, neck, shoulders, chest and abdomen. If the spine is stiff, all the organs suffer. If the muscles are tight, circulation is cut off, and your health will degenerate. Do yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong to stay limber. Get regular acupuncture and massages. Learn to relax and unwind. Don’t let tight muscles or a stiff spine go untreated.
Habit #5: Balance Stress and Rest.
We can’t avoid stress altogether. In fact some stress is good for us. This “good stress” is the pressure we feel when we push ourselves to meet our goals. This “good stress” is our own refusal to submit to inertia, but instead we push ourselves to step outside our comfort zone and grow beyond our limits. Some evenings we may not feel like going to our Qigong or Tai Chi or exercise class, so we may feel some “good stress” as our desire for self-improvement pushes against our crusty apathetic comfort zone.
The difference between “good stress” and “bad stress” can be measured by the result.
The result of good stress leaves us feeling empowered. We might be exhausted, but we feel fulfilled. Bad stress leaves us tense, frazzled, uneasy, or maybe even anxious. The effects of “bad stress” are destructive on our physical and mental health. Bad stress leaves us requiring more healing. Good stress can be balanced with simple rest.
You need to get enough rest to proportionately replenish yourself from the effects of stress, whether it’s good or bad. If not, even good stress will leave you depleted after a while and it will inevitably become “bad stress”.
Habit #6: Laugh out loud and visit with friends often.
“True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a desert island… to find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep him is a blessing.” – Author unknown
Our need for social connection and belonging is one of the most crucial needs we have. Researchers have concluded that those who maintain active social lives live longer, get sick less and are generally happier. Even the recovery from illness and surgery has proven to be faster when someone is actively socially engaged. Laughter truly is the best medicine. Do not suppress or hold back your laughter. As I always say, the angels dance whenever sincere laugher choruses in the air.
Habit #7: Cleanse your body and sweat frequently.
Our bodies are constantly consuming molecules, elements and nutrients that keep us alive. Through the process of consumption and energy expenditure, metabolic waste is created. This needs to be cleansed from our bodies. Just like the oil needs to be changed in your car at regular intervals, so should you cleanse your own body regularly too.
We naturally cleanse through going to the bathroom, sweating, crying and sometimes even allergic reactions, skin outbreaks and symptoms of the cold and flu are part of the cleansing process. Make it habit to do an intestinal cleanse at least once a year – give your digestive system a rest from the stress (see rule #5). Sweating is a great way to release toxic build-up and stress hormones. Do some exercise, have a sauna or take a steaming hot bath until your pores open and your flush your lymphatic system through a good sweat.
Habit #8: Every tear heals, don’t hold them back.
I know this rule seems odd because our society has taught us since our childhood that crying is a sign of weakness or “big boys (or girls) don’t cry”. Unfortunately, this social conditioning has caused us to suppress one of our most natural self-healing mechanisms. There is a reason that babies cry. There is a reason that children cry when they are hurt (physically or emotionally).
Crying is a way for us to heal from hurts – both physical and emotional. Studies have been done on the chemical make-up of human emotional tears and traces of stress hormones have been found in them. In this study, when they measured human tears caused by chopping onions, the stress hormones were not present. Combine this with your own experience of how good and clear minded you feel after having a good cry tells us that crying heals us. It is a way that our body can release toxic build-up. That’s why often snot and mucus can accompany tears during a good cry. So don’t hold them back. Even if you are male and you were told that men don’t cry… go ahead and let them out if you feel your eyes brimming. You will feel much better afterwards.
Habit #9: Exercise, move your body and breathe deeply.
It doesn’t really matter what kind of exercise you do, as long as you move your body and breathe deeply. Cardiovascular exercise is proven to be good, but you don’t need to do it every day – as long as you do it sometimes. Find some form of activity that requires you to move around and do it a couple of times a week. Qigong, tai chi, yoga, cycling, walking, tennis, swimming, skating, skiing, team sports… there are so many options. Don’t choose something you “think you should do”, instead find something that you enjoy because then you will make more of an effort to do it. If you want to learn authentic Qigong and Tai Chi, I teach two classes every week at www.AylmerQigong.com
Habit #10: Avoid processed foods and eat lots of fresh organics.
I receive so many questions about nutrition and healthy eating. Let’s face it, this subject can become more and more confusing and contradictory the more you google it. To keep healthy eating simple and sustainable, I follow a simple formula: Eat as close to nature as possible, choose fresh organics, and avoid inflammatory foods. Inflammatory foods are things that are hard to digest or that are known to cause inflammation in people who are sensitive, such as anything that has been overly processed or that is high in sugar, chemicals, preservatives, food colorings, or additives. Take some time to learn about “ingredients”.
To make it easy, I tend to avoid the biggest, most marketing and cheapest brand names, because they usually can spend more on marketing and charge a lower price because they use the cheapest ingredients with the highest level of preservatives to extend the shelf-life.
Habit # 11: Follow a path with heart
Your path with heart is the one that keeps you smiling. Above all, this is YOUR life. You get to decide your own destiny. What do you want your life to stand for? How happy and fulfilled to you want to be during the limited time that you are here on earth? Whatever makes you and those around you smile the most – that’s where your heart is. Follow your own unique path with heart. Don’t settle out of fear. Reach for your dreams if that’s what makes you smile.
Remember it’s not only about “what” you do, but also “how” you do it. Your life may be 90% aligned, but maybe your health is just what’s lagging? Maybe you need to step out of your comfort zone more. Maybe you need to stand up for yourself more? Maybe you need to stand down and let those around you stand up more? Connect with that sacred place in the center of your chest, allow it to bring peace and satisfaction to your soul, and live from there.
Habit #12: Breathe through sunny days and stormy ones too.
Life isn’t always a sunny day on the beach. It’s full of ups and downs. No one escapes life without experiencing sadness, loss and pain. That’s ok. It’s a part of the experience. It’s the stormy days that make us appreciate the sunny ones that much more. Just remember, keep breathing. Our first act in life is an inhale, and our last act before death will be an exhale. The mind is like a kite, the breath is the string that allows us to connect and control the kite.
So whether it’s stormy seas or a calm blue ocean, keep breathing. With each breath, appreciate the moment, because one day your last exhale will come. It’s death that gives life meaning. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the emotional energy associated with the Lungs is “acceptance”. Be like the supple tree that accepts the strong wind – bend and return without losing your roots.
If you struggle with the ups and downs of life, or if you have a hard time breathing deeply or steadily, get some acupuncture and learn qigong.
Habit #13: Connect with nature regularly.
Nature heals us. Time in nature will reset your mental, emotional and physical state. It recharges and grounds us. Go for a walk in the park. Contemplate a tree. Listen to the sound of water. Feel the ground. Breathe in the smells of nature. A great thing to do is to find your own personal nature sacred spot. Somewhere that you can go frequently to just unwind and clear your mind. Ideally find a spot where you will be all alone without any interruptions. But if that’s not possible it can be in your local park. Make a point of connecting with nature regularly.
Habit #14: Never stop growing and learning.
Growth happens outside your comfort zone. Growth is our nature. “If you’re not growing, you’re automatically dying” – Author unknown. Think about it, if a plant isn’t growing, it’s deteriorating and wilting. Humans are like plants, we need to keep growing. Our comfort zones are the edge of what we know. Explore the unknown a little. Stretch yourself past your limits. Cross something new off of your bucket list. Take a class, learn a new skill. Grow and thrive.
Watch this BBC documentary about the science of acupuncture
As part of the documentary, you will see an young women having an open heart surgery without any anaesthetics, using just acupuncture, a 3,000 years old medical procedure. You will also see how it helps to treat migraines and many other conditions. Millions people have started believing that acupuncture works better than conventional medicine. This documentary explains about astonishing healing power of acupuncture and its booming market in western world.
Acupuncture is a collection of procedures which involves the stimulation of points on the body using a variety of techniques, such as penetrating the skin with needles that are then manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation. It is one of the main treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and is among the oldest healing practices in the world.
Colds, coughs and the flu virus can affect us at any time of year. Some of us are more prone to catching them than others. Sometimes minor colds or stubborn coughs can linger for weeks, or escalate into a full-blown infection and knock us out of commission. Sometimes they come with fever, chills, sore throats, mucus, congestion, body aches and fatigue. The fall and winter and winter are the most common times to catch them. Here are some traditional Chinese medicine tips to protect yourself from colds and coughs this year:
1) Avoid getting chilled.
It’s often during the seasonal shifts where people get sick because their bodies don’t adjust the drastic changes in temperature. According to Chinese medicine, when you catch a chill, this is called an “invasion of wind-cold“. This is why even in English we call it “catching a cold“. The wind-cold goes into your skin and your immune system goes into hyper-drive to deal with it, causing mucus, fever, aches, etc.
If you get chilled, the best thing you can do is to sweat. Take a hot bath or a sauna. Or drink a warm-ginger tea and lie under some blankets to sweat it out. When you sweat, the “wind-cold” is released through your pores, and you will avoid getting more sick. If the wind-cold isn’t expelled, then it will go deeper into your body, possibly causing a cough or a full-blown cold. The key is catching it at the beginning stages and sweating it out.
Try it, you’ll see how well it works.
Acupuncture relieves stress and boosts the immune system.
2) Get Acupuncture
Acupuncture helps keep your immune system strong and in balance. When someone’s immune system is weak, they tend to get colds and coughs easily. When their immune system is out of balance, they tend to have allergic reactions to certain environmental influences or foods.
Acupuncture helps stabilize and reinforce your immune system, so it does it’s job properly and efficiently to defend your body against outside threats and maintain a balanced relationship between all your internal systems (organ system, nervous system, endocrine system, circulatory system, lymphatic system, etc.)
There are many factors that can weaken your immune system, like stress, adrenal fatigue, digestive problems, insomnia or internal inflammation. Getting regular acupuncture solves these issues and strengthens your body in the core, by affecting the internal organs through the acu-points.
3) Eat pears and drink ginger tea in the fall.
Ginger has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-fungal properties.
The fall is the season of the lungs. Pears moisten and nourish the lungs, which are one of the four main organs involved in your immune system, according to Chinese medicine.
The three other organ systems are the Kidneys, the Spleen and the Large Intestine. Choose organic pears and eat them with the skin for the best effects. Pears are great when you have a dry cough. Ginger empowers your spleen and lungs, and defends against “wind-cold” attacks.
The best way to make ginger tea is to boil fresh ginger for 5-10 minutes. Sweetening it with some honey is also good because honey strengthens the Spleen organ system and balances the drying and hot nature of ginger. Make sure you use real honey, not the cheap stuff made with corn syrup.
Ginger also has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and has even been shown to reduce ovarian cancer cells. Ginger is a powerful super-food and healing herb. I always have ginger in my fridge and so should you.
4) Avoid refined sugar.
Excessive refined sugar weakens the immune system and causes an internal inflammatory response, due to the spike in insulin levels triggered by the sugar intake. If you want to test this theory, the next time you start to feel like you might be coming down with something (you have scratchy throat, body aches, sniffles, fatigue, etc), then eat a bunch of doughnuts or sugar. You will likely get sicker very fast.
So if you want to avoid catching colds and coughs. The next time you notice people around you getting sick, or you are feeling like your immune system is low, stay away from refined sugars. Instead eat more fibrous foods, drink more pure water and get some rest.
Most efficient way to position your body on the toilet to optimize your bowel movements.
5) Keep your bowels moving.
Regular and complete bowel movements are the cornerstone to good health. If your large intestine isn’t excreting waste and toxins regularly, then you are likely re-absorbing toxins into your system. Instead of having a strong immune system standing by ready to defend against an external pathogen, your immune system will be too busy trying to cope with excess of toxins in your body.
If you do not have 1-2 regular and complete bowel movements per day, your immune system may be compromised.
To help your bowels move more regularly; drink more pure water, consume more fibre, get acupuncture, eliminate foods that are causing constipation, do an intestinal cleanse, change your posture on the toilet, or seek a Chinese herbal prescription to help your bowels move.
Everyone should have this herbal cough syrup in their home medicine cabinet. Safe for children too. Come into my clinic to get some.
Whether you have a cold, a cough, a sore throat, a fever or if you are healthy now but you tend to catch colds or coughs easily, arm yourself with some Chinese herbal formulas.
These formulas use 100% natural ingredients derived from plants. They are fully safe, with little to no side-effects, and have proven their efficacy to treat a wide variety of symptoms and health issues over thousands of years.
There are formulas that will help your immune system get stronger to defend itself against colds, coughs and the flu. Some herbal formulas are so effective I think everyone should keep them in their home medicine cabinet in case they start to feel unwell.
Like this herbal cough syrup, which I have available in my clinic. Come see me at my clinic to get the herbal formula that’s right for you, or consult your registered practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine for a herbal prescription.
Seasonal transitions are not always easy for even the healthiest of people. Especially this time of year when the days are getting shorter, Vitamin D is in short supply and our bodies shirk away from the cold winds of winter.
Traditional Chinese medicine understands how these seasonal changes affect the mind and body through the 5 element and yin-yang theory. Each season correlates to a different element, different organs and correspond to different stages in the yin-yang cycle.
The winter solstice marks the greatest depth of yin, just as the summer solstice is the highest peak of yang energy.
By using this knowledge a skilled traditional Chinese medicine acupuncturist will adjust their treatments based on the seasons, and take advantage of how the energy is circulating in your body.
Maintaining balance through these transitions is critical to our health and wellbeing. When proper self-care is ignored during a transition, then imbalance can happen and physical symptoms like colds, the flu, coughs, skin problems, insomnia, seasonal allergies, or aches and pains get worse. More frequently imbalances during these transitions also bring about psychological and mood disorders like SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture can reduce these problems by balancing the meridians and organ systems to better cope with the external and internal stresses of these season changes. Acupuncture can help strengthen the immune system and detoxify the body to prevent possible cold or flu-like symptoms from getting a grip on you. It can unblock stagnant points in meridians that cause mood disorders during seasonal change.
Avid acupuncture users frequently visit their acupuncturists for a “tune-up” or “seasonal treatment” to help them get back on track when they start to feel run down or just “a little off”. This is very wise preventative self-care.
Those who are even more tuned-in to taking care of themselves will seek acupuncture and TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) when going through life transitions. During acupuncture treatments the body processes the different stressors and stimuli which can otherwise overwhelm someone if they don’t take the healing time they need. Big life changes can be stressful, acupuncture can help increase your capacity to handle stress and process feelings and emotions.
With the holiday season approaching, and all the stress and activity that comes with that, combined with the winter solstice, short days and cold weather, it’s wise to book yourself in for some acupuncture to help fill up your own reserves so that you can handle the challenges ahead more harmoniously. Just request a “seasonal transition acupuncture treatment” and your acupuncturist will know exactly what to do.
Blaise T. Ryan is a Registered Acupuncturist and Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner. He accepts new patients at his Westboro location. Insurance receipts are available. You can book an appointment online or by calling 613-702-5377.
L’Acupuncture et les Transitions entre les Saisons
Les transitions d’une saison à l’autre ne sont pas toujours faciles, même pour les personnes en très bonne santé. C’est tout particulièrement vrai à ce temps-ci de l’année alors que les journées raccourcissent, que la vitamine D se fait rare, et que notre corps cherche à se réfugier loin des vents froids de l’hiver.
La Médecine Traditionnelle Chinoise explique, grâce à la Théorie des 5 Éléments et du Yin-Yang, comment les changements de saisons affectent l’esprit et le corps. Chacune des saisons est en corrélation avec un élément différent, des organes différents et correspond à différents aspects du Cycle Yin-Yang.
Au solstice d’hiver, le Yin se manifeste pleinement, tandis qu’au solstice d’été, l’énergie Yang est à son apogée.
En utilisant ces connaissances, un acupuncteur qualifié et expérimenté de la Médecine Traditionnelle Chinoise ajustera ses traitements aux saisons et prendra avantage de la façon dont l’énergie circule dans votre corps.
Garder notre équilibre dans ces transitions est primordial pour notre santé et notre bien-être. Lorsqu’on ne prend pas soin de soi pendant une transition, un déséquilibre peut survenir et des symptômes physiques tels que les rhumes, la grippe, la toux, les problèmes cutanés, l’insomnie, les allergies saisonnières, ou encore les douleurs, s’aggravent. Ces déséquilibres durant les périodes de transitions amènent fréquemment des désordres psychologiques et émotionnels tels que le TAS (Trouble Affectif Saisonnier).
L’acupuncture de la Médecine Traditionnelle Chinoise peut atténuer ces problèmes en équilibrant les sytèmes des méridiens et des organes, leur permettant ainsi de mieux faire face aux stress externes et internes qui surviennent lors des changements de saisons. L’acupuncture peut aider à renforcer le système immunitaire et à détoxifier le corps et donc prévenir un rhume éventuel ou les symptômes ressemblant à ceux de la grippe.
L’acupuncture peut débloquer les points stagnants dans les méridiens qui causent les désordres de l’humeur lors des changements de saisons.
Les habitués avides d’acupuncture rendent souvent visite à leur acupuncteur pour une “mise au point” ou un “traitement saisonnier” dans le but d’obtenir de l’aide pour “se remettre sur les rails” quand ils commencent à se sentir fatigués ou juste “pas très bien”. C’est une pratique de soins à soi-même préventive très sage.
Ceux qui sont encore plus enclins à prendre soin d’eux-mêmes vont vouloir recevoir de l’acupuncture et de la MTC (Médecine Traditionnelle Chinoise) dans les périodes de transition de la vie. Pendant les traitements d’acupuncture, le corps traite les différents stresseurs et stimuli qui autrement peuvent accabler une personne si elle ne prend pas le temps qu’il faut pour guérir. Les grands changements de la vie peuvent être stressants et l’acupuncture peut aider à augmenter votre capacité de faire face au stress et d’adresser les sentiments et les émotions.
Avec la saison des Fêtes qui approche et son lot de stress et d’activités, combinée au solstice d’hiver, aux journées courtes et au froid, il est sage de vous réserver des séances d’acupuncture pour vous aider à accroître vos réserves d’énergie et ainsi vous permettre de faire face aux défis de façon plus harmonieuse. Vous n’avez qu’à demander un “traitement d’acupuncture de transition saisonnière” et votre acunpuncteur saura exactement ce qu’il doit faire.
Blaise T. Ryan est un Acupuncteur enregistré et un Praticien de Médecine Traditionnelle Chinoise enregistré. Il accepte de nouveaux clients à son bureau situé dans Westboro. Les reçus pour fins de couverture par les assurances sont disponibles. Vous pouvez prendre rendez-vous avec lui en ligne iciou en composant le 613-702-5377.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine have proven to be successful in treating a wide variety of health conditions. A lot of people are drawn to acupuncture and Chinese medicine as a “last resort” to try and help a medical problem that may be serious and complex. It is common for people to find that acupuncture and the traditional Chinese approach to health can help them when other treatments could not. This is why acupuncture is being used by more people every year to help with all kinds of different health issues.
Watch this video to learn about the health issues acupuncture can treat:
In addition to treating acute or serious health problems, acupuncture is often used as a preventative medicine. Many people see their acupuncturist only a few times a year to help with “seasonal transitions” or as a “tune up” or “balancing” treatment. This can be effective in keeping in good health, energy and vitality as well as for preventing illness.
A TCM-trained (Traditional Chinese Medicine) acupuncturist will determine the best treatment based on what your body needs to find balance and restore health. Each patient must have a full TCM health assessment in order for the practitioner to correctly diagnose the syndrome and imbalances in the body.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) will assess the states of the organ systems, the meridians, the fluid metabolism, circulation and the vital energy “Qi” of the body.
Based on the licensed acupuncturist’s diagnosis, a treatment plan will be prepared in order to address both the root-cause of the health problem, as well as the symptoms and manifestations of the issue. For example, someone with a skin disorder may be diagnosed with a weakness in the lungs or it may be caused by toxins in the digestive system. So, the treatment would focus on not only the skin, but also on the cause in the lungs or digestive system.
What health problems are commonly treated with Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is well-known for treating pain-related issues. For example, arthritis, back, neck,
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complete medical system that is capable of diagnosing and successfully treating a wide range of conditions including knee and shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica. Yet, it can also treat many other health disorders.
(This is not a complete list of what Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can treat.)
Musculoskeletal and Neurological Disorders
Chronic Pain
Acute Pain
Sports Injuries
Arthritis
Neuralgia
Sciatica
Back Pain
Bursitis
Tendonitis
Stiff Neck
Bell’s Palsy
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Headaches and Migraines
Fibromyalgia
Stroke
Cerebral Palsy
Polio
Sprains
Muscle Spasms
Shingles
Respiratory Disorders
Asthma
Coughs
Emphysema
Bronchitis
Colds and Flus
Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat Disorders
Sinusitis
Sore Throat
Hay Fever
Earache
Nerve Deafness
Ringing in the Ears
Dizziness
Poor Eyesight
Circulatory Disorders
High Blood Pressure
Angina Pectoris
Arteriosclerosis
Anemia
Poor circulation in the legs, hands or feet
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Nausea
Digestive Problems
Weight Gain
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Spastic Colon
Colitis
Constipation
Diarrhea
Food Allergies
Parasites
Gallstones
Ulcers
Gastritis
Abdominal Bloating
Hemorrhoids
Gynecological / Genitourinary Disorders
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Irregular, Heavy or Painful Menstruation
Fertility Problems
Endometriosis
Menopause Symptoms (Night sweats, hot flashes, etc)
Fibroids
Chronic Bladder Infection
Complications in Pregnancy
Morning Sickness
Kidney Stones
Impotence
Infertility in Men and Women
Sexual Dysfunction
Immune Disorders
Allergies
Candida
Chronic Fatigue
Lupus, Lymes Disease
Addiction
Smoking Cessation
Drugs
Alcohol
Emotional and Psychological Disorders
Anxiety
Insomnia
Depression
Stress
ADHD, Attention Deficit Disorders
PTSD
Acupuncture Also Treats
Chemotherapy/Radiation Side Effects
Diabetes
Dermatological Disorders
Premature Aging Symptoms
Weight Control
Post-Surgical Recovery
Always get acupuncture from a registered, trained and licensed professional.
