Migraine headaches are debilitating for those who suffer from the pain. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, approximately 39 million people in the U.S. suffer from migraine disease. Some migraine studies predict that up to 12% of adults in the U.S. have migraines, with 4 million suffering from chronic migraines. Worldwide, it is estimated that 1 billion men, women, and even children suffer from migraine disease. continue reading
Those suffering from hypertension, or high blood pressure, are at risk for a host of other health issues including suffering a stroke or heart attack. And for some people, the prescription drugs used to treat high blood pressure either aren’t effective enough or bring on undesirable side effects. In recent years, studies have shown that acupuncture can be an effective and drug free alternative to combating high blood pressure. continue reading
If the pandemic didn’t separate us enough physically it seems to have done even more so mentally, as if that was even possible at its inception in the final year of Donald Trump’s term. In case we didn’t have enough sources of disagreement, we were handed a crisis the likes of which none of us had ever experienced, which inherently requests us to make potentially life-defining decisions on a daily basis.
This week we enter another time of the year when the planet Mercury is retrograde, when astrologers encourage us to plan for delays, technological SNAFU’s, and miscommunications of all forms. It is a time to double-check emails, choose your words carefully, think before we react, and be emotionally prepared for things like traffic, elevators breaking down, credit card machines (happened to my brother and I at dinner last night), train delays, etc. I understand that astrology is not for everyone, but these times of the year always recall for me a premise that transcends astrological theory, into the human experience of misunderstandings.
One of the things not only the pandemic, but having a baby in the pandemic, has highlighted for me, is what is at the core of many conflicts: Differences in opinions born from differing definitions of subjective terms: For example, how do you distinguish between someone being selfish versus having healthy boundaries? Conversely, how to define selflessness versus over-extension to the point of self-harm? Where is the line between intelligently cautious and paranoid, “living in fear” as some might label? Between courageous and stupid, even “globally inconsiderate” as others might label? Not only are these lines impossible to define, but they fluctuate depending on each individual context, as in the cases of higher risk individuals and those living with such individuals. It’s as if we are all on the same playing field, requested to play together, but each team has a different shaped ball of different weight, with multiple coaches all yelling different messages at us. This makes for a tough game.
I think in elementary school we are conditioned to believe that understanding is defined by knowing an objective concept: We understand the math equation, or that California is west of New York. As adults our job becomes to learn that true understanding comes via acceptance of differing perspectives on subjective concepts, and that the choices those concepts incite are not necessarily personal affronts. For example, while nothing could appear more personal than social distancing, it has nothing to do with personal feelings. The times that we are in are not only difficult for reasons of loneliness or financial despair, but also for the challenge they pose in our willingness to accept other perspectives without attaching to them our negative emotions.
In Chinese Medicine constraint is experienced by the liver channel (cortisol hormone), which if left unchecked then compromises other meridians, such as the stomach (vulnerable to worry) and lungs (vulnerable to grief and sadness) — all of which are potentially manageable. One of my favorite acupuncture points is at our “third eye.” Why is it so calming for people? Is there some special sedating neurotransmitter button immediately behind our forehead? No, instead what lies behind it is the frontal lobe, the part of our brain responsible for empathy, for understanding each other. If you cannot make it in for treatment now I recommend massaging this point, either before bed or even during commercials while watching TV. You may eventually become an even kinder, smarter individual.
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It isn’t every year that I get Fall allergies, but when I have experienced allergies in the past it’s always been of the Fall variety, and it seems this year, with the arrival of a newborn and compromised sleep, they have returned.
I can’t say for sure how many years in a row I felt allergy symptoms this time of year, but I know I didn’t get them last year, and it’s been a while since they’ve been consistently annual. I like to credit this at least partially to the fact that with every year, or at least every couple of years, my discipline in self-care has improved just a little more.
In the past year what has improved has probably been my commitment to responsible eating times, moderate intermittent fasting, and meditation practice, the latter of which was probably most inspired by the fact that I had a baby on the way and know I absolutely must be my “best self.” I think in the 1980s a pregnancy lit a fire under most peoples’ asses to get rich and make tons of money. My hope for the present and future is it will light a similar fire towards our spiritual maturity. I digress.
WHY ARE MY ALLERGIES HERE THIS YEAR?
Most likely it is my baby’s fault. With consistent sleep deprivation comes “qi deficiency,” which inhibits our metabolic and immunologic function, both of which play key roles in fending off allergy symptoms.
Another possibility is my appendix. It was removed this year! Contrary to western medicine’s historic void of understanding, the appendix — an ORGAN IN THE BODY — does in fact serve a purpose, and that purpose is to house part of the gut’s healthy immunological bacteria. I’ve lost some of my storage space, which could also be the culprit.
WHAT CAN I/WE DO TO COMBAT ALLERGIES?
1. Broken Record Alert: In holistic medicine there is no such thing as “the herb for allergies.” I can see an herbalist —one of my mentors or colleagues — and get them to interpret my individual pattern to decide either what is missing or what is in excess that is making me vulnerable this time around. Sure, we can assume there is “qi deficiency,” but WHAT IS CAUSING the qi deficiency? I could be retaining systemic dampness due either to the lack of sleep or lack of appendix, in which case it isn’t so simple as to prescribe “qi tonifying herbs.” We must address every layer of the proverbial onion.
2. Acupuncture and moxibustion, especially at the point Stomach 36 on front of the knee, is great for supporting the qi at this time of year, specifically to do with immune function.
3. If I’m being lazy and/or symptoms are mild — both of which are thus far the case — I’ll take quercetin daily for a few weeks, an awesome supplement that derives from the white part of the grapefruit peel, and that usually does the trick. If you are interested in this quick fix and don’t require the heavier artillery of Chinese Medicine treatment, please inquire as to which brands are best. PLEASE DO NOT GRAB JUST ANY SUPPLEMENT BRAND OFF THE SHELF AT CVS. That’s like buying your produce at Gristedes or BJ’s or Morton Williams, Associated, or any crap American market. Be good to yourself. Be a snob.
Of course, WHAT WE EAT might be most important, and definitely the most socially fetishized, but another consideration is how, when, and WHY we eat. In Chinese Medicine there are bodily motions associated with each organ channel that support them at the appropriate times. In a previous newsletter I discussed the liver channel’s relationship with stress and cortisol secretion, its according association with walking, which is why it is helpful to pace or go for a walk whenever we feel irritated.
The “motion of the stomach and spleen (or pancreas)” is to be seated, which is why we recommend not only eating while seated, but also to remain seated for a while afterwards to facilitate our first stage of digestion. Sure, a leisurely walk a half hour later might benefit the second stage—especially in cases of overeating and bloat—but during a meal optimum digestion is generally best found in a relaxed, but not reclined seat. I see too many Americans stand up to go as soon as the last bite is in their mouth, or worse, EATING WHILE WALKING DOWN THE STREET. There is no way they are not creating inflammation when doing this.
WHEN DO YOU EAT? For thousands of years Chinese Medicine has said that the stomach qi markedly weakens after 7pm. In recent generations western medicine has informed us that insulin resistance spikes after 7pm. These mean the same thing. Per this scientific truth we should eat our heaviest caloric meals for breakfast and lightest in the evening, which is obviously the opposite of what most Americans do. I too enjoy a fun, sociable, big dinner as much as anyone, but for the majority of quieter evenings this is a good fact to keep in mind.
HOW DO YOU EAT? Eating too quickly taxes the “stomach yin.” Failing to give our gut any breaks between bites is like not taking a break between sets at the gym. We exhaust our microbiome and end up not even absorbing all of the nutrients on our plate. If you’re like me and have trouble going slowly I recommend at least pausing for “halftime” midway through, placing your fork and plate down, and taking a breather. Food should be chewed thoroughly until it is a liquid consistency in our mouths. Failing to do so places a greater burden on the gut, which either a) exhausts it, or b) is too much for it to handle and results in excess fluid retention.
WHY DO YOU EAT? Are you truly hungry, or just bored, depressed, or THIRSTY? Often times our body mistakes dehydration for hunger. We overeat when we could have been satiated by a simple glass of room temperature water. Other times we are unconsciously seeking the dopamine or serotonin rush offered by certain snack foods. While this is OK once in a while, we can often find that same rush through either a 15-minute nap or 15-minute exercise workout.
I hope this was somewhat helpful, as I find that microscopic improvements in habituation over time can engender macroscopic improvements or prevention in the long run. If you take two people with identical genetics (or as close to as is possible) and identical diets, but one of them chews food thoroughly while seated and relaxed at the appropriate times of day we can be sure the physiological end result after decades will differ. For more information on how to improve YOUR INDIVIDUAL microbiome disharmonies please do not hesitate to contact me.
