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As many of you know, I mostly use Kamwo Pharmacy for herbal prescriptions, as they have an enormous selection that allows for greater flexibility in customizing formulas for each individual. However, there are a few products that I keep on hand from the company, Botanical Biohacking, as they use premium grade, organic herbs, and have one of the top reputations in the country for quality of care.

From left to right:

AQUADA is a formula that comes in the (tiniest) pill form, and contains only two ingredients, atractylodes and phellodendron, with the intention of reducing inflammatory dysbiosis in the urogenital microbiome. This is commonly prescribed for tendencies such as urinary tract infections, yeast infections, gout disease, jockage, infertility, neuropathies, or any other condition where a pathological blockage is creating issues “below the belt.”

WARM HEARTH is a more complex formula, that also contains atractylodes, but within the context of many other herbs to both complement and balance its potentially systemic drying effects. Put plain and simple, the intention of Warm Hearth is to reduce old, stuck, fluid retention and dysbiosis in the gastrointestinal microbiome. It generally makes people pee a lot, and then subsequently thirsty for plain water, which is the antithesis of a vicious cycle and something we are trying to encourage. It can be great for weight loss, acid reflux, asthma, and a whole host of other stomach and lung conditions where the root cause of the pathology is trapped phlegm in the collaterals.

Finally, BAO HE WAN: This is a dangerous combination—not because the herbs are remotely dangerous—but because it is nicknamed by many herbalists as “The Green Light” remedy, to kind of do, eat, and drink as we please, at least for a night or a few nights here and there. This formula is not from Botanical Biohacking, but it is loosely based on one of their other brilliant creations designed to either purge old inflammation from the gut or mitigate the side effects of brief indulgent gluttony. I always keep it on hand, frankly because we live in America, where it could arguably be the most indicated combination in all of traditional medicine. A great bottle to have on hand entering the holidays, but again, definitely not something that will ultimately absolve anyone from not having to exercise, eat cooked vegetables, and avoid sugar.

Keep in mind that this is holistic medicine. Just because you may have seen your condition listed as one of the indications for any of these formulas does NOT necessarily mean it is the correct one for you at any given time. Each individual has not only our own unique pattern, but a pattern that is ever-changing as we change, either with the seasons, with fluctuating stress levels, workloads, improved or degenerated levels of health. It is important to always consult an herbalist who diagnoses based on patterns, not symptoms, when prescribing “natural remedies.”

In the meantime, know that because these are a few of my favorite and most commonly prescribed formulas, they are always on hand at the office, and potentially available should we determine them appropriate for you. Please do not hesitate with any questions about whether real, actual holistic medicine is appropriate for you right now.

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Paying it forward, passing it along, whether “it” is in reference to kindness, generosity, wisdom, or information (the latter two of which are not mutually interdependent), in my opinion, is one of the most important actions in life. In contrast to its pathological expressions, such as stealing or mindless echoing, passing along the good is the simplest and most convenient way to make the world a better place.

My friend and brilliant comedian, Myq Kaplan, introduced me to the newsletter of James Clear, and in the most recent note from the latter was another great example of passing it along, as Clear quoted Oscar Wilde: “If you don’t get everything you want, think of the things you don’t get that you don’t want.”

In the past three months my wife and I have endured all of the typical good and bad that comes with having a newborn … at times some of the “bad” has admittedly been not so typical, but at least typical to us and our issues. For everything that has not gone according to plan, everything that has felt like hell or at least disappointment, I’ve often reminded my wife that the baby is healthy, smiling and laughing daily, and in our completely unbiased opinion, the most beautiful baby in the world.

The gift and curse of being a health care provider is that every day in clinic we get a front row seat to just how bad things can get. On one hand it is a great reminder to be exorbitantly disciplined in our self-care—to constantly improve with the awareness of our vulnerable mortality. On the other hand, it can turn us all into the Woody Allen’s of holistic medicine, wondering if every skin tag, every 48-hour period of indigestion or insomnia might be a precursor to some formal diagnosis. Obviously, such neuroses are heightened for first-time parents, maybe especially for those of us of a Semitic background. To bring this stream of consciousness full circle, a former best friend of mine, Tre, used to echo his Caribbean father’s fortune cookie wisdom: Be glad that you have your problems. Somewhat synonymous with Oscar Wilde’s saying, and a reminder that most of us, in our darkest times, can find gratitude in particular voids of suffering.

DISCOUNT$

FOR ALL PATIENTS: Fullscript supplements are offering discounts on products up to 20% from November 29th-December 1st. In case anyone is running low on their multi vitamin, fish oil, vitamin D, magnesium, or anything else, this is the most reputable company I’m aware of, and surely a good idea to be stocked up entering the winter season: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/davidfosteracupuncture

FOR CASH PATIENTS: As a showing of appreciation, I would like to match Fullscript’s offer by taking 20% off of all treatments between now and the new year. Of course, I cannot legally apply this to package discounts or insurance copays  Wishing everyone a happy remainder of this holiday weekend, and I’m looking forward to seeing and hopefully helping you through the next month.

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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.

Otherwise CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION.

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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.

And contact me with any questions!

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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.

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