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Chah Acutherapy is not only for pain but also for nutritional counseling. You will see some lists below that show how foods affect our organs and how Chinese Medicine considers all aspects of the body, both internally and externally.
What are we not seeing that is there? It starts with a thought and that can turn into reality. A big tenant of Chinese medicine is Qi (or Chi), which is your energy, your life force. We don’t always think about this major fact of life - what is out there (in the universe) is in us! As Carl Sagan famously said, “The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of star stuff.”
As we continue to share in these blogs you will see how things flow together. It is astounding how everything feeds into each other. There are herbs you can take to create balance in your body. You can also focus on areas you wish to give more attention to. If you are like me, you might see the image below and think it is cool but maybe a bit overwhelming or perhaps this is exactly what you needed or wanted. Everyone is different. Maria Chah, L.Ac., LMT, MMP - Licensed Acupuncturist & Oriental Medicine Physician who owns and operates her practice called Chah Acutherapy is a wealth of information. She truly knows and understands how herbs can be useful for you. She has many years of experience as a practitioner and is well educated on this subject matter.
Following are some herbal TIPS:
We all start somewhere so you can start small, take a deep dive, or just learn as we go. Whatever works. This article is born from a desire to share information while impacting you in a positive way.
Let’s hear what Dr. Maria has to say about this:
“These herbs will help nourish and build your organs defenses against the environmental elements such as heat, wind and the importance of hydration and herbs that clear out any kind of anomalies like excess damp heat, this is when you drink a lot of alcohol, or you eat a lot of cheese. Using the cheese example, the heat (in your body) kind of melts that cheese and it gets all gooey inside. Next thing you know you have a UTI (urinary tract infection) or yeast infection. When we get these kinds of anomalies, these physiology imbalances, herbs for organs or the herbs that are given specifically target the organs affected and the herbs help them eliminate these unwanted pathogens. In Chinese Medicine, pathogen means the air, the wind, the temperature (in and out of your body); anything that puts the body out of balance.”
Temperature Terms
Let’s talk about these temperature terms and what they mean. In Western culture we know these terms to mean something different than Eastern culture. I’m giving basic definitions as we could write a blog on each one. Another point to know, a food can be a combination of types.
Bitter: Bitter simply means it drains fluids in your body and draws energy away from the heart (can be dehydrating). Not always related to the “taste” of foods. (Examples - coffee, kale, vinegar)
Cooling: Cooling foods are calming for your body, can relax things, diminish heat in your body, promote healthy flow of your blood, and remove toxins. (Examples - watermelon, green tea, avocado)
Warming: Raise the heat in the body. (Examples - garlic, black pepper, ginger)
Drying: Drying foods dry out your body fluids. (Examples - bread, crackers, cinnamon)
Dampness: Simply means water retention. (Examples - most dairy products - cheese, refined sugars, processed foods)
Lastly, we have an oldie but a goodie article that is still on point to share with you:
11 Medicinal Uses for Food
By Annemarie Conte Posted August 21, 2009 from WomansDay.com
Clearing up infections? Healing wounds? Getting rid of head lice? There are pills and creams that can help, but also amazing foods that will work in a pinch. We asked Lynne C. David, ND, LAc, a naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist at the Center for Integrative Medicine in Washington, DC, and Mark Moyad, MD, MPH, the Jenkins Director of Preventive and Alternative Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center, for details. “This is not mumbo-jumbo,” says Dr. Moyad. “There’s a lot of folk wisdom out there that’s now being proven right.” Behold, the healing power of food.
Honey: Cuts, Scrapes and Sore Throats
Because honey has a compound similar to hydrogen peroxide, it can be applied topically for wound treatment. It’s so effective that it’s currently being used in the Iraq war; a thin layer is applied to bandages and placed on bullet wounds and burns. “It’s acidic, so it makes it difficult for bacteria to survive, and it’s a humectant, so any bacteria will shift into the honey, killing the bacteria,” says Dr. Moyad. A study in 2007 also found that non-diluted darker honey (like buckwheat honey) worked just as well as OTC medicine for coughs and sore throats.
Black Tea: Stinky Feet
The tannins in black tea are antimicrobial and astringent, so they tighten and dry out skin. It’s the same reason tea bags are good for puffy eyes. “But be careful,” advises Dr. Moyad, “green tea has little to no tannins, so you need to use black tea.”
Bitter Melon: Diabetes
Head to your local Asian market, because this bumpy green oblong vegetable can be great for diabetes and high-glucose support. “Bitter melon reduces blood glucose, insulin resistance and high blood pressure,” says Dr. David. It can be eaten raw, but true to its name, bitter melon is bitter, so Dr. David recommends cutting it up and mixing it with scrambled eggs to improve the flavor.
Hot Pepper: Pain
“There are topical creams that contain cayenne to reduce pain, but you can make your own pretty easily,” says Dr. David. Start with a vitamin E cream or coconut oil that doesn’t contain petroleum product (“If you wouldn’t ingest it, you shouldn’t put it in your cream,” says Dr. David). Then add a pinch of cayenne powder for every ounce of cream or oil. Use it to help reduce pain in joint areas like knees and ankles. “It’s the capsaicin in the peppers that shuts down the production of the compound that causes pain. The catch is that when you’re handling hot peppers, don’t rub your eyes or you’ll have bigger problems,” says Dr. Moyad.
Olive Oil: Dry Lips and Lice
Olive oil has oleic acid, which creates a nice covering to soothe dry lips. “There was also a recent study in which extra-virgin olive oil had an impact on protecting the skin from everything from dryness to skin cancer,” says Dr. Moyad. But most surprising, heavy oils, like canola and olive, can be coated on lice infestation and, when allowed to dry, will suffocate the pests.
Oats: Dry, Itchy Skin
“Oats have avenanthramides-they’re anti-inflammatory in nature and can be used for itchy, dry skin,” says Dr. Moyad, who recommends either putting a sock filled with oats into a hot bath or just buying an oatmeal lotion.
Ginger: Nausea
Ginger is a common remedy for nausea, with almost no side effects, and is great during pregnancy. “It is possible that too much ginger can give you acne. It’s a warming food, and with too much heat, it may produce heat on the face, which would give acne. But you’d have to eat a lot of it,” says Dr. David. To use, slice up fresh ginger root and make a tea out of it or just chew on the raw root.
Skim Milk: Sunburn
Skim milk that’s slightly cooler than room temperature will hydrate skin and help relieve pain associated with sunburns. “The milk forms a collagen web. Just dip gauze in there and apply it to the area but watch out because whole milk can reduce healing time,” warns Dr. Moyad.
Banana: Warts
“The inside [of a banana peel] is supposed to contain potassium and an unidentified compound that may shift immune balance of the skin to help relieve warts,” says Dr. Moyad. Though data is lacking, there seems to be a lot of anecdotal evidence to support it. Try pressing a banana peel onto an affected area and leaving it there for a little while-since it can’t hurt.
Each month we will share more info to help you. Also, Chah Acutherapy is a FullScript physician provider, and you can purchase professional Good Manufacturing Grade (GMP) vitamins, homeopathic and Phyto plant based herbs.
Subscribe and/or schedule a nutritional counseling for Maria Chah to guide and recommend what is most effective for you to buy.
You can live your best life and we are here to help you and share our knowledge. It’s all about taking little steps. Save this article as a reference guide for you to get started or enhance what you are currently doing.
Be well and keep enjoying life!