Health Guidance

The winter is a time for hibernation. Our bodies want to slow down, our energy is a little lower, we want to sleep more, we want warm, heartier foods. Leaves are falling, animals are hibernating, plants are underground, nighttime comes sooner. How can we be in harmony in the Winter? By recognizing and accepting our connection to nature. The answer is around us.

In Chinese Medicine, Winter is the season of the Kidney organ. The Kidneys house the root of our energy – the energetic fire that activates all our body’s functions. The cold weather drives this “fire” deeply inward, where the body can conserve this energy so it is important to protect ourselves from cold. Make sure to protect the lower back area where the Kidneys are located. Wear lots of layers- a scarf, hat, and gloves. Protect yourself from the wind, especially wind hitting the back of your neck and your lower back.

The foods to eat are the ones that naturally grow in the Winter. Squashes, root vegetables, winter greens, mushrooms, apples, pears and citrus fruits. Foods harvested in the fall and dried for the winter include nuts, beans and grains. Fermented vegetables are a naturally preserved food that are wonderful to add beneficial enzymes and healthy bacteria to our diet. In the Winter our body needs warm foods- so soups made from vegetables and rich stocks made from animal bones are nourishing in this season. Drink warm herbal teas throughout the day to keep warm. As for cooking methods, it is best to bake, roast, stew and slow-cook foods in the Winter. Warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom are delicious to add to recipes. In Traditional Chinese Medicine we don’t recommend very hot spicy food in the Winter because these foods create sweating, which is actually a cooling process. However, a small pinch of hot spice helps increase circulation, which is beneficial. So, add a small amount of pepper and other flavorful spices for taste, but avoid lots of hot spices. Continue reading ‘Winter Health According to Traditional Chinese Medicine’ »

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The quality of the air in your home may not be up to a healthy standard of living. The air we breathe in on a regular basis just performing indoor activities is reported to be 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside. Amongst the many contributing factors are natural gas, chemical cleaners, smokers, mold, and our efforts to conserve energy. Yes, believe it or not our most recent efforts to seal up our homes are actually keeping the polluted air inside, thus the need for air purifiers.

The people most at risk are the elderly, young children, pregnant women, individuals with lung disease and those who suffer from allergies. This is due to the amount of time spent indoors. According to the American Lung Association here are a few ways to help reduce the amount of pollution in the home:

• Do not allow smoking indoors.
• Keep moisture out.
• Protect against Radon.
• Make sure where ever you are using a natural gas the space is properly ventilated.
• Open your windows when the weather permits.
• Purchase a quality air purifier. You can find out more by visiting the American Lung Association website referenced below. Continue reading ‘Causes and Remedies of Indoor Air Pollution’ »

We all know that life today is not as easy as it was in the past. With the advancement in technology our lifestyle has changed drastically and today we are packed with tons of things that we have to do. We have our professional work life where we have to meet with hectic schedules and deadlines and nagging bosses. At home we are stuffed with all the household work that demands more attention and concentration, so where is the time to exercise and walk?

Most of the people prefer moving from one place to another in cars as it almost makes their jobs easy and they can reach their destination quickly. We eat all that junk food that accumulates a lot of fats inside us and we have no option to burn it out because we hardly have time to exercise. If you think that you want to do something good for your body but you don’t have enough time than here are some useful tips that can really help you find time for walking. Continue reading ‘Are You Running Out of Time to Walk?’ »

Everybody seems to know it. It grows everywhere – bitter-leaf. Vernonia amydalia is a very homely plant. Wherever it grows, it flourishes. Evergreen. The Yorubas call it Ewuro. The Igbo call it Onugbu. The Hausas call it Shiwaka. Perhaps the most distinctive part of the bitter-leaf plant is its bitterness. Every part of the plant is bitter! the leaves, stems, root and bark.

The fact is that bitter herbs are good for the body. They remind us that life is not always sweet, that life is not a bed of roses, that both sweetness and bitterness are essential parts of life and so are not opposed. Bitter herbs help to tone the vital organs of the body, especially the liver and kidney. The liver is the largest organ of the body. Its weight is between 1-3 kg in the adult. Its major functions are (a) secretion of bile and (b) formation of glycogen. The liver is essential in the metabolism of fats and protein. It must, therefore, be well taken care of. Once the liver has any defect, it is hard to correct. Continue reading ‘Health Benefits of Bitter-Leaf’ »

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Many of us suffer with acne and it can be an embarrassing and frustrating problem. But here are some simple, low cost and effective solutions available to get rid of acne fast. But first here is a key misconception that most of us make.

Treat the cause not the symptom

There is no question that the medical community and the drug companies make millions upon millions of dollars selling us treatments and products which by and large address the symptoms of acne rather than the causes. Yes over the counter medications containing benzoyl peroxide can help to clear up acne breakouts in the short run but they are harsh on the skin and ultimately increase the likelihood of future breakouts. Continue reading ‘Get Rid of Acne Fast – Simple, Low Cost and Effective Solutions’ »