It's Summer!
Summer is a time of full growth, red, hot, joy, spiritual awareness and traveling. Life is at it's greatest potential in the summer. Trees, plants, grasses and seeds are now at their full peak offering up the "fruits of their labor"!
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we have a healing methodology called the 5 Phases (Elements). Summer is ruled by the Fire element and is expressed in nature as well as in the body. Growth, joy and spiritual awareness between the heart and mind are the focus during this season. Summer-heat belongs to the element of fire and is predominant during the summer season.
Element: Fire
Nature: Yang
Organs: Heart, Small Intestine, Tongue and Complexion
Emotion: Joy
Symptoms of summer heat are excess body heat, profuse sweating, parched mouth and throat, constipation, and heart palpitations. Consider a healthy, nutritional diet, getting good quality sleep and moderate exercise; this can keep our physical form at it's best, always. Need help? Consider Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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Skin and Beauty
The skin reflects and reacts to your entire being –physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual. To keep you skin looking beautiful, wrinkle free, youthful and smooth on the outside, you must work on the inside of your body as well. Specific areas of the face indicate internal health, because the face is connected to your internal organs, and as "Qi" or "Chi" (vital energy) moves and circulates, it strengthens the functioning of organs connected to that area. Beautiful skin begins with good Chi, and blood circulation. Chi is the invisible envelope that revitalizes/lifts your energy. You can lift your face by lifting Chi. This can been done with acupuncture, as well as good herbal medicine.
Acupuncture is a wonderful, holistic, alternative approach to fighting the aging process:
- Increasing the flow of energy, blood and lymph circulation improves the face’s natural, healthy color, diminishes wrinkles and eliminates fine lines.
- Promoting collagen production increases muscle tone and elasticity helping to firm the skin, fill out wrinkles, and reduce bags and sagging.
- Stimulating the formation of body fluids nourishes the skin and encourages it to be moister, softer, smoother, and more lustrous. Chinese herbs work excellently in replenishing Yin energy (body fluid), which is extremely beneficial in the prevention and/or improvement of wrinkles resulting from menopause or cigarette smoking.
- Healing physical, emotional and spiritual issues to reduce stress and improve overall health and well being. Since the body/mind/spirit are all connected, negative emotions reflect in the face and change the appearance of skin texture, color, and tension. Acupuncture can eliminate stress and bring out the innate strength, vitality and health.
- In addition to enhancing skin appearance, most people are pleased to find that their sinus problems, headaches, toothache, TMJ, PMS and menopause have distinctly improved! You will not only look younger but also most certainly feel younger.
Start today – move towards a healthier, more beautiful, energized, and younger - looking you!
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
A number of studies have been conducted on treating IBS with Chinese medicine, especially in China. These studies have documented that Chinese medicine successfully treated IBS in an effective, safe, and drug-free way.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, IBS is considered a disharmony between the Liver and the Spleen. The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of substances throughout the body. This flow can be upset by emotions or stress, causing stagnation of Qi (energy) or blood. The Spleen in Traditional Chinese Medicine is associated with the function of digestion and transforming food into energy (Qi and Blood). The Spleen can be weakened by a number of factors, including overeating unhealthy foods, overwork, too much worry, fatigue, and lack of exercise. When the Spleen is weak and Liver Qi is not moving smoothly, a number of other conditions can arise that manifest as symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Practitioners of Acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine may use a variety of modalities to correct a Liver/Spleen disharmony. They may use acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary therapy and lifestyle changes to facilitate healing of this condition.
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In This Issue
It's Summer!
Skin and Beauty
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Cold Chrysanthemum Tea
Cold Chrysanthemum Tea
This is an ideal drink for hot summer days. As well as helping to prevent sunstroke it also clears Heat, benefits Qi, promotes body fluid secretion and is an excellent thirst quencher!
Ingredients:
* 60 - 80 White Chrysanthemum Flowers
* 3 teaspoon of Jasmine Yinhao Green Tea
* Rock sugar or honey
* 4 liters of water
Instruction:
1. Wash the chrysanthemum.
2. Put chrysanthemum and tea into a cooking pot.
3. Pour in 4 liters of water and bring it to boiling.
4. Reduce heat and continue to cook for 20 minutes.
5. Put in rock sugar or honey.
6. Remove pot from the heat and allow to cool till room temperature.
7. Strain the tea and put into refrigerator.
8. Serve the tea chilled and enjoy!
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