tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33000548230781344722024-03-05T14:07:14.677-05:00Green AcuClinic Wellness BlogMusings on health and wellness by licensed acupuncturist Teresa Green.Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-15900807126948134742012-12-25T15:42:00.000-05:002012-12-25T15:44:44.228-05:00Five Foods that Fight Phlegm<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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In Chinese medicine, we blame a lot of problems on phlegm. There's your garden variety snot, of course, which you find up your nose and in your head when you have sinus problems.<br />
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But we also blame that heavy feeling you get on rainy days as "phlegm misting the mind"--and use the same diagnosis for problems that involve unclear thinking, which can mean anything from dementia to schizophrenia.<br />
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Phlegm also is part of obesity (all those dimpled fat lumps are considered phlegm as well as the cholesterol that gets in your blood vessels); a major component of stroke disability (when limbs are paralyzed or don't work properly one diagnosis of the problem is "phlegm blocking the channels"); and can be a component of vertigo.<br />
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So dealing with phlegm is important for your health. Of course, you cannot treat a major illness simply by adding a few foods to your diet. But diet can certainly be a useful part of any health regimen. If you are on any kind of medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist before trying these foods, since some of them can change the way you metabolize medicine. Here are five foods you can add to your diet to begin the fight against phlegm.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://sxc.hu/">Stock.xchng</a></td></tr>
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<li><b><i>Ginger</i></b> strengthens the digestion, making it possible for your system to break down phlegm early in the digestive process. It is delicious as a tea. Take about a teaspoon of ginger and pour boiling water over it. Let it sit for 5 minutes or so, and sip. Ginger is also great in <a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2012/09/peanut-sesame-chicken.html">stir-fries</a>,<a href="http://glutenfreecooking.about.com/od/seasonalandholiday/r/gfgingerbread.htm"> baked goods</a>, <a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2010/11/carrot-soup.html">soups</a>, and <a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2012/10/curried-chicken-soup-and-variations.html">curried foods</a>. If you just don't like ginger, the other "spice cake" spices are also good: cardamon, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It is warming, especially if you use dry ginger instead of fresh. If you have trouble with being hot all the time, or have bad breath or bad smelling sweat (heat usually makes things stink), try one of the other options. </li>
<li><b><i>Pears</i></b> are amazing for "moistening the Lungs" in Chinese medicine. Moistening provides extra liquid to dissolve phlegm. Pears are especially good for the phlegm that comes from colds and allergies. To make them even more phlegm fighting, poach them lightly, then add a little honey and some of the spices mentioned above. If you get hot easily, forget the spices and just have some gently cooked pear. By itself, pear is cooling.</li>
<li><b><i>Bamboo shoots</i></b> are cooling and good for resolving phlegm in much the same way as pears. Use them in stir fries, or in Asian-themed soups.</li>
<li><b><i>Citrus fruits</i></b>, especially the peels, are actually used as herbs in Chinese medicine. Adding citrus (again, especially the minced peels--from organic fruit, of course!) to dishes using <a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2010/11/lemon-herb-chicken-steamed-cabbage-and.html">chicken</a> or <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/citrus-herb-grilled-vegetables-50400000114269/">vegetables</a> or even fruit is a great way to improve the flavor and make your dish easier to digest. I often simply reach for a cup of Earl Grey tea, which has bergamot, a relative of the orange. </li>
<li><i style="font-weight: bold;">Green tea </i>is a great beverage for you if you want less phlegm. It has been shown to<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/17/us-tea-idUSTRE7AG0BD20111117"> lower cholesterol </a>slightly, and is considered a great digestive aid in Chinese medicine. Using green tea with lemon or citrus as a flavoring will only increase its phlegm-busting effects. Be sure to drink your tea hot, and within an hour of making it--some research suggests many of the beneficial chemicals in green tea dissipate after an hour.</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.sxc.hu/profile/BenDad">BenDad</a></td></tr>
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Using these foods to help your body deal with phelgm will give your system a break. Over time, you may see some improvement in allergy symptoms, and find when you catch a cold it is less severe. Let me know which of the foods are your favorites in the comments!</div>
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Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-4535473313716270662012-11-10T19:33:00.000-05:002013-01-13T21:59:56.555-05:00Mending Meditation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Today, I hemmed some slacks. I know, it doesn't sound earth-shattering. But for some reason, anything related to sewing seems to scare me. I tried making a dress in college. After cutting a hole in the (very expensive wool) fabric with a serger, I burnt a larger hole in the material while trying to patch the original damage. For years, I carried the dress around, thinking someday I would finish it and finally wear my creating. It never happened.</span></div>
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I tried again. I got a simple pattern, and had a friend who sews help me with it. This time, I did much better, until my sewing machine died just as I reached the last few stitches. Rather than hand-sew it, I wrapped it into a plastic bag, and it continues to travel with me until I give up on it, too.
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So when the hem came out of my slacks, I ignored it for a long time. I didn't want to spend the money to get someone else to alter them, and I didn't want to do it myself.
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Finally, today, something snapped. The place in my brain that houses my self-respect had enough. While Jimmy and I sat together, I dragged out a sewing kit and my bedraggled britches. Snarl one: I'm older than I think I am. I can't see to thread the needle. Part of me tried to give up--I had made an effort, but I could keep trying for an hour and the needle might never get threaded.
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But Miss Self-Respect was made out of sterner stuff this time around. Up I got, dug out a second sewing kit, and found the handy little needle threader, and a pair of Jim's reading glasses (as long as they hold out I don't have to buy my own!).
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And I started hemming. At first, I was restless. My fingers itched for the computer keyboard instead of the unfamiliar feel of thread. Sewing is so quiet--at least when I'm writing the keys click a little. My mind dragged out all the things I could be doing. It's not really so important to fix this hem. I should be writing, or entertaining myself on Facebook, or something more interesting than watching a needle burst through fabric while trying not to stab myself or unthread the needle.
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After about ten minutes, my mind settled. I began to enjoy the repetition of stiching. My stitches weren't pretty--I can't write, or cut in a straight line, and I sew in the same erratic pattern. As I progressed, though, I tried to make them straighter, with some success. I began to feel calm and my worries drifted off.
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Something else happened, too. I began to feel accomplished. In a world where we can do hours of work and never see a conclusive result or reward for our labors, I spent a half hour or so and ended with nicely hemmed slacks. I felt like a character on Little House on the Prairie doing the mending for the family. I almost pulled out another hemming job, then decided it was late enough to shut down Teresa's Sewing Station for the night.
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Our world is fast-paced. We touch buttons and do things our great-grandparents could not even dream of accomplishing. But the further we are removed from the actual action--the more often we can turn our lights on from our computer, drop our laundry off at the cleaners, or move across the continent on an airplane--the less our brain has to fully engage. We text while driving, talk to friends while watching television, and surf the internet while doing just about anything else.
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Even if we don't have an accident because of splitting our attention, we pay a price. Never being fully present confuses our brains, and gives us an undercurrent of stress as our system tries to overdo.
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Sometimes multi-tasking is necessary, and may even be beneficial. But today, look for the chance to do something simple, repetitive even, with your whole attention. Notice how your mind and body relax, as if taken out of the harness of over-accomplishment. Find a moment of contentment in the slight pull of thread in cloth, in the elasticity of fresh bread dough, or in the swoosh of a broom on a floor. These domestic tasks allow your brain to release its job of managing everything, and gives you real, restful, refreshing pause. And sometimes, it helps you look a lot nicer, too.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Thanks to <a href="http://www.sxc.hu/profile/jzlomek">jzlomek at stock.xchng</a> for the lovely photo. </i></span></b></div>
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Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-33990435214752847612012-10-28T14:56:00.000-04:002012-12-25T15:54:53.317-05:00Basics of Rest vs. Exercise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been dealing with a cold for the past couple of weeks. The only symptom I have left is extreme fatigue, and that is finally easing off, too. I try to use any health problems that turn up to put myself in my patients' shoes so I can serve them better. My fatigue for the past few weeks made me think about the balance of rest and exercise. <br />
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Many people who come into my clinic are tired. Really, really tired. Sometimes they aren't sleeping well, but some sleep fine. Usually a well-meaning friend or medical practitioner recommends they exercise to improve their energy. Again, for some this does the trick. Others say "Exercise only made me more tired. Should I keep exercising, even if it exhausts me?"<br />
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Chinese medicine sees fatigue as coming from either excess or deficiency. Fatigue from excess conditions is usually accompanied by boredom, frustration, and seems to improve when you're doing something fun. If it is from an excess of dampness, or phlegm (usually caused by poor digestion and/or poor food choices) you will also have heavy headedness, extreme lassitude, and the ability to sleep for hours and hours without feeling rested. <br />
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Fatigue that is from an excess condition usually improves dramatically with exercise. Excess conditions means there is too much of something--thoughts, dampness, stagnation, stress--that makes your body malfunction. The energy you would normally use to accomplish things is stuck, so you can't use it. You feel fatigued, but usually find it improves when you force yourself to move.<br />
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Fatigue from deficiency, on the other hand, is the opposite. You have exhausted your available energy. Sleep does help, but not enough to feel full of energy. Usually, you'll have no interest in life or food. You aren't bored, and you're just as tired when you are doing something fun as you are in stressful situations. <br />
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Trying to exercise when you are in this kind of fatigue is disasterous. You deplete your already perilously low stores of energy, and feel even worse. Only the mildest exercise, preferably some kind of yoga or qi gong, is adviseable. <br />
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How do you treat this kind of fatigue? First, rest as much as possible. Eliminate all stress, as much as you are able. Eat simple foods--broth-based soups, steamed vegetables, small portions of meat. Seek out an acupuncturist or herbalist trained in treating fatigue. And don't try to work through it. Sometimes being tired really does mean you just have to rest.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Thanks to <a href="http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Col6085">Col6085</a> at stock.xchng for the use of the photo. </i></span>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-7228593453257180262012-09-24T14:37:00.000-04:002012-09-24T14:37:00.361-04:00Marvels of Moxa<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I often feel the need to kick myself when I suffer needlessly from something I know how to fix. I usually think of all the possibilities for my patients, but when I'm the one who's sick or hurting, my memory is not as wonderful. Today was one of those 'kick me' days. I have felt listless, tired, and achy off and on for a week or so, and yesterday had a headache and thought I was catching a cold. After moping around for the morning, I remembered the marvels of moxibustion.</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;">Most people have heard of acupuncture, but far fewer have heard of moxa, a blend of herbs usually including a type of artemisia that is used in Chinese medicine to treat many different problems. It is used to warm areas that are cold or deficient, or to move qi and blood in areas that are painful or where there is trauma. Some of the many problems acupuncturists treat with moxibustion include infertility, arthritis, general fatigue or weakness, bed-wetting, heavy menstrual bleeding, and any kind of trauma.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The moxa can be held over a point, placed on a needle, or even burned in tiny amounts just on the skin. Our clinic uses indirect moxa held over a point because there is the least risk of burning the patient with this technique. In the picture above, I used a tiny moxa stick attached to an adhesive on a point on my hand. These tiny pieces of moxa do not get super-hot, and can be removed if they get too warm. As I burned several sticks on various parts of my hand, and used a thin stick of moxa near points on my feet, I began to feel stronger, warmer, and more energized. My neck, which had been stiff and achy, began to relax and move easily. When used properly, the warmth and properties of moxa will energize you while making you feel relaxed at the same time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Moxa comes in several forms. Most look vaguely like cigarettes. The picture on the left is of a loosely rolled moxa. I don't use this type often because it smokes a lot and, frankly, stinks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Most of the moxa I use is compressed into a very tight roll. It is hard to light, but makes very little smoke. It has some odor, but it is not pronounced and dissipates quickly. I especially use very thin rolls of moxa. While there are good reasons to use larger ones, my office treats a lot of patients with chemical sensitivities, so we do whatever we can to minimize the chances of a sensitive patient encountering an allergen such as smoke.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">When using moxa on patients, we get the moxa stick lighted, then hold it over points to warm them. When the point is deficient, meaning it feels weak and/or cold, we hold it steady to build the warmth up just until it is slightly uncomfortable, then move to another area. When the area is in excess, such as when something is strained or swollen, we move the moxa stick around frequently over the larger area to encourage energy to move.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Often people feel an immediate improvement in their symptoms after moxa, but not always. Sometimes it takes several treatments to begin to feel stronger or in less pain. If you need moxa, we usually do several sessions before evaluating its effectiveness. Depending on what your symptoms and diagnoses are, we may need to do moxa often to maintain improvements.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you have any symptoms of fatigue, poor appetite, listlessness, chronic pain or a recent injury, ask your acupuncturist about moxibustion. As I was reminded today, it can be a real help!</span>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-27856577338180119262012-09-17T16:10:00.000-04:002012-09-17T16:10:00.703-04:00Rising Like A Phoenix From Burnout<br />
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Burnout affects you in every area of life: food doesn't taste as good, people are not as much fun, memories are reduced to 'the time when I was happy' and 'the times when I was hurt.' Burnout is depression, disappointment, anger and sadness run together until you have no passion left. You're just <em>here</em>, and where you want to be is <em>there</em>, and no road seems to connect the two. The 'stuckness' and frustration that comes with burnout can be deadly when you decide it will never end. People have taken their own lives because they couldn't face another day of getting nowhere. As soon as you realize you are in a burnout situation, take steps to address it. Get professional help if you need it. These tips can also help.<br />
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<li><b><i>Stabilize</i></b>. First, take immediate steps to stop the freefall into emotions like anxiety, apathy, and depression with nourishing and fun activities. Get a massage. Take a nap. Take a day off and spend time with friends and family. Eat good food and get a little exercise, preferably outside in the sun. Even if you don't 'feel like' doing something social or nourishing, do it anyway. Getting out of the cage of disappointment and apathy is like opening a window in a stuffy room--at first it seems less cozy, but then that fresh air kicks in and you feel invigorated.</li>
<li><i style="font-weight: bold;">Prioritize. </i>Burnout robs you of your energy and will to complete. . .anything. Accept the fact that you may be even less productive for a few weeks or months as you refill your creative well. Make room to recover by ruthlessly cutting as many things as possible from your calendar. Make rebuilding your emotional bank account, maintaining your health, and strengthening your social and family life your top priority.</li>
<li><b><i>Get real.</i></b> Honestly face the things that are not working--make a list. Do something positive to correct them. Even if the action ends up being less than ideal, movement begets movement. Movement with honest assessment eventually equals progress. Once you are on your way, you can correct your course. The important thing is taking that first step to get out of the hole.</li>
<li><i><b>Tackle and maintain.</b></i> Once you have a good idea of how you got on the burnout train, roll up your sleeves and do-<i>but in manageable hunks</i>. Overwork may have contributed to your burnout. Deliberately underschedule yourself. Really question each commitment you have. Is it really critical for you to make dinner each night? What if you make extra two nights a week for instant leftovers, or got healthy take-out? Can you delegate any of your work to someone who enjoys the task more or is better at it? Hire help for anything you can, or barter with a friend--which has the added benefit of social interaction. Remember, it's more important to get where you are going than to get there fast. </li>
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Burnout can affect anyone who stops finding fulfillment in their day-to-day life. Revisiting your goals, and following these tips can help you climb out of the burnout hole!</div>
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Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-74907584668613408262012-09-13T13:43:00.001-04:002012-09-13T15:12:07.147-04:00An Awesome Autumn the Chinese Medicine Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Tahoma; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It seems like summer is barely over, and here it is time to write about autumn. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Tahoma; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Autumn is a time dominated by the Metal Element, which involves the Lung and Large Intestine function and meridians. Its quality is dryness, although as summer turns to autumn there can still be dampness afoot. Some schools of Chinese medicine see the first weeks of switching from one season to the next as pertaining to Earth element, in which Spleen and Stomach function is dominant. If you have digestive issues, they can flare up as your body makes the transition from one season to the other. A mild cleanse of broth-based soup and simple grains will warm your stomach and get your digestion ready for the heartier foods of winter. Eating warm, natural foods, with ginger, mint, or other mild herbs (oregano, basil, etc.) will usually calm mild belly jitters.</span><br />
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The emotions of autumn are grief, nostalgia, and letting go. You may find old sadnesses cropping up again. I always hit a wave of nostalgia every autumn, and often pore over old picture books, missing friends who have drifted away and family that have died. If you suffer from depression, it may worsen this time of year. Extra acupuncture or herbal treatment, or medication if necessary, can help you adjust to the season.</div>
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Autumn is a great time to clean house in preparation for Winter. Looking over your commitments and belongings to decide what you want to keep, and what you want to release is also especially suited to this time of year. If you have kids in school, you are doing this anyway, deciding what new clothes and supplies each child needs, and remembering the years that have gone by.</div>
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There are foods to help your body adjust more easily to autumn. Soups of any kind, especially broth-based vegetable soups using seasonal vegetables are best. Adding meat with warming qualities, like lamb, venison, or goat, is also healthy. Fruits that are juicy will moisten the lungs and build your immune system for the coming cold and flu season. Pears are especially good at fighting phelgm and moistening the lungs. Adding some ginger and chopped walnuts or pecans to cooked pears makes them even better for you.</div>
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Autumn is a time when Metal energy is strongest. Metal deals with your body's immune system and sense of boundaries, and plays a large role in your sense of order. Picking activities to do each autumn year after year gives you a sense of stability. Picking apples, snuggling with your family for movie night, or going over your goals for the next year--or five--give you a tradition to follow each autumn, appealing to this season's sense of order.</div>
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What are your favorite parts of Autumn? Do you have traditions you follow each year? Please share in the comments!<br />
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Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-73542647617002618922012-08-01T15:52:00.000-04:002012-09-13T15:15:38.217-04:00Summertime, and the Living is. . .HOT!<br />
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It took a while for summer to be recognizable here in my home state of Virginia, but it's here now! We've had several days over 100 degrees, and many more close to it. The unusually low humidity we've enjoyed is also a thing of the past.<br />
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I once suffered with the heat much more than I do since I became a student of Chinese medicine. Here are some of the things I've learned that help me and my patients deal with the heat and make the hot weather more enjoyable. <br />
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Summertime has its own special challenges according to Chinese medicine. Here are a few of the problems that can be more pronounced in the summer:<br />
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<li><b>Heat:</b> If this point doesn't seem like we're dipping into genius mode, I understand. The tricky thing is, Chinese medicine give summer two halves--early summer, where heat and dryness can be problems, and late summer, where heat and humidity are issues. Some people do better in one half than the other. Besides the obvious problems of "feeling hot," heat has many other effects. You may become more sensitive to spicy food, less tolerant of loud noises or crowds, or have more aches and pains. The pain will typically be more on the upper body than the lower body, and usually will be worse in the damp late summer for most people. Those with breathing problems or heart trouble will also be more at risk at this time. </li>
<li><b>Anxiety:</b> In Chinese medicine, your heart and small intestine channels and organs are responsible for clear thinking, speaking, gladness, and play a big roll in water metabolism. Anxiety is associated with Heart issues. While your physical heart muscle may be completely healthy, if you have chronic anxiety you have some issue with the functions your "Heart System" is supposed to manage. Because Heart Energy is most easily affected by hot summer weather, you may have more anxiety in the summer, even if the events in your life don't change or even if they improve. If you feel your anxiety increase this time of year, remember that it is probably a temporary phenomenon, and by autumn symptoms may improve. </li>
<li><b>Cold Food: </b>Many people probably scratch their heads over this one. Summer is a time that abounds with cold food--salads, ice cream, iced drinks, watermelon, potato salad--you name it and it gets served cold in the summer. While it seems sensible to eat and drink cold things when it's hot to cool down, in reality it can be bad for you. Chinese medicine sees your stomach as a soup pot, always breaking down food so you have a ready source of energy. If you've ever had soup simmering on the stove and put in some frozed vegetables, you know what happens when cold things go into a hot liquid. The liquid cools and has to come back up to temperature. When your stomach has to take extra energy to heat food or to break down raw food, the energy is not available to the rest of your body. If you are in vibrant health and full of healthy energy, you may not notice this pull. But if you have any health problem, most especially fatigue, digestive issues, or chronic pain, cold or raw food is draining your resources to deal with the health condition.</li>
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<b>Treatment:</b> Now that you see all the problems that summer can cause, how do you treat them? To treat heat problems with diet, first eliminate cold or raw food from your diet, and add foods that have cooling properties instead. Such foods include leafy greens, cucumbers, mung beans or black-eyed peas (without spicy flavorings), watermelon (at room temperature or warmer), tart berries, cherries, peaches, and pears, millet or quinoa, and green, mint, or chamomile tea. Try to avoid large amounts of alcohol, fried foods, grilled foods, or just large portions in general. <br />
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Use common sense. When it's sweltering outside, get plenty of water, and limit your most strenuous activities to the cooler parts of the day. <br />
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<a href="http://lifefacilitator.blogspot.com/2012/06/aggressive-positivity.html">Take steps to address worry and negative thinking.</a> If you have a chronic health problem, be sure to take any necessary steps for extra self-care that you need.<br />
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Practicing deep breathing and avoiding large amounts of sugar and
caffeine can help anxiety symptoms. If you have serious anxiety symptoms that affect your
ability to function, seek counseling and medical help. Many therapists
offer great strategies to deal with anxiety, and using them will help
you avoid medication or need as little as possible to deal with your
problem. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be helpful in treating anxiety when offered by a competent licensed acupuncturist.<br />
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Summer is a time for sun, fun, and friends. Use these tips to have the best summer you can! If you have any questions, feel free to email or comment. And if you have any tips for beating the heat, please put them in the comments!Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-458539462226486992012-06-07T23:07:00.000-04:002012-06-07T23:07:40.486-04:00Making Natural Healthcare AffordableAs an acupuncturist, I strive to offer top quality healthcare. Visits in a natural clinic take a lot of time, and of course the more time something takes, the more it will cost. I try to help those with income issues when I can. Here are a few tips you can use with me if you are local or apply the principle with your holistic practitioner wherever you live:<br />
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<li><b>Look for discount promotions.</b> I occasionally run promotional offers. I have one promotion with Amazon Local starting Friday, June 8. To see it, visit: <a href="http://local.amazon.com/richmond">http://local.amazon.com/richmond</a>. If you are not in the Richmond, VA area, look to services like Amazon Local, Groupon, or Living Social to see if there are practitioners offering similar deals. </li>
<li><b>Follow natural healthcare on social media.</b> Most businesses offer discounts on their Facebook or Twitter pages. If you want to see a particular practitioner or health food/service provider, see if they have a Facebook page or Twitter account. (You can "like" my Facebook Page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Greenacuclinic">https://www.facebook.com/Greenacuclinic</a>, and follow me on Twitter
<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/taygreen">http://twitter.com/#!/taygreen</a> ). If they offer a newsletter, sign up for that, too. I always let my email subscribers in on any special deals, and most other practitioners do, too!</li>
<li><b>See if there is a community practice or if a provider offers lower priced services.</b> For instance, I offer ear acupuncture every Thursday evening from 4-6pm, and it
only costs $20/visit. It may take a little longer to see lasting results
than with a regular treatment, but it diminishes stress and manages pain
well. For those who cannot afford "deluxe care," it offers an affordable way to get basic wellness treatments. Many acupuncturists and chiropractors offer discounted rates on certain days, or build their practice around community practice, where they offer a simplified treatment to several patients at once to lower costs.</li>
<li><b>Be up front with your provider.</b> I work with my patients to put together a treatment plan that addresses their health, as well as time and money parameters. In my practice, we intermix ear and regular acupuncture, or focus more on herbal treatment to save money on the more expensive acupuncture visits (and herbal therapy has been a viable stand-alone therapeutic method for centuries). Talk to your provider to see if they have money saving strategies for you. Remember that going for "no-frills" care may mean sticking with a treatment a little longer to see results.<br />
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<li><b>Take care of yourself.</b> I give all my patients plenty of lifestyle recommendations. Those who follow them tend to see results more quickly and need fewer treatments. Ask your practitioner if they recommend certain exercises, or foods, or supplements to make your progress faster. </li>
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I hope this helps. I am committed to helping you with your natural
healthcare needs--whether you are a patient in my clinic or just want some advice to apply to your situation. Please feel free to comment or email me at greenacuclinic(at)gmail.com if you have any
other questions!Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-48874539487188990402012-05-28T13:00:00.002-04:002012-05-28T13:00:44.360-04:00Health Advice: To Follow or Not to FollowA large part of my practice involves giving health advice based on my expertise in Chinese medicine. I suggest ways to reduce stress, foods to "nourish Yin," "drain Dampness," and "move Blood"-which can be used to treat anything from headaches to infertility.<br />
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Most patients follow some of my advice, but not all of it. A few completely ignore everything I say, and a few follow my every word exactly to the letter.<br />
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While having sound advice ignored can be frustrating, I would be a hypocrite if I got too upset over it. I ignore advice all the time. And I seek a lot of advice. I subscribe to multiple blogs on everything from how to write to how to treat depression. I read professional journals, magazine articles, and books. I take classes. These information sources give differing advice on a daily basis--meat is good, meat is bad. Vitamins are useful, or useless. This diet plan works for everyone; no one diet plan works for everybody. I could not possibly follow all of this advice. Since most of my patients are also no doubt getting health advice from multiple sources, someone will have to be ignored, and sometimes inevitably it will be my turn.<br />
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So what guidelines should you follow in taking or ignoring advice? Here is my advice (which you can take or leave):<br />
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<li><i><b>Be upfront with the person giving advice</b></i>. I admit it: I get aggravated when I give simple advice that isn't followed. But I much prefer to be told this up front rather than to cajole, suggest, and give vast quantities of information, only to be told "I just don't eat vegetables" six months into treatment. I will give less advice, and have lower expectations for treatment. It is also useful to know if a patient simply does not have the time, money, or energy for some treatments. If I believe treatment will not be successful if my advice is not followed, I can save everyone time and money by suggesting the patient seek other healthcare--but usually there is something that can be improved, even if important self-care is ignored. </li>
<li><i><b>Look at the source.</b></i> As a trained Chinese herbalist, I spent several years memorizing and using incredible amounts of information so that I could treat people effectively, and then testing that information with clinical experience. Yet my advice often goes by the wayside because a patient has a friend (or hairdresser or neighbor who joined a multi-level herb company) who suggests some other product that usually costs more than what I suggest and doesn't fit the patient's particular problem. When anyone gives advice, look at their credentials. Have they had experience with your problem--whether treating it or living it? Perhaps the neighbor's advice is meaningful if they have the same health condition you do, and have seen great improvement with a new supplement. Do they have enough education to know the different options available for treatment, or what symptoms are dangerous and need further research? Especially when dealing with your health, you need to have many sources for information, and they need to be as reliable as possible.</li>
<li><i><b>Does the advice fit your outlook and beliefs?</b></i> I often recommend different meats to my patients as part of the Chinese medicine view of health. If my patient is a vegetarian, and does not want to eat meat, I am happy to alter my suggestions to fit their beliefs. Other patients come to me because they do not wish to take medications or have surgery if it can be avoided. I encourage them to get the information they need to make their healthcare decisions--what will happen if they never get surgery or never take a medication? What are the dangers? What if they wait 6 months and try a more holistic approach? What objective tests could be done to evaluate a holistic treatment to see if it works? Be open in sharing your beliefs with your healthcare team. A good doctor/acupuncturist/chiropractor will work within your worldview. If your practitioner refuses to acknowledge your right to make health decisions based on your beliefs, perhaps you need to find someone new for your healthcare.</li>
<li><i><b>Remember, at the end of the day, it's your call.</b></i> No one truly knows exactly what is best for you. We all approach our decisions based on our individual expertise, experience, and beliefs. I give the advice I would want someone to give me if I had the same condition. Most health practitioners do the same. </li>
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If you get health advice from someone, take the time to consciously make a decision whether to follow it or not. See if the advice fits the areas you are willing and able to change. Look at the track record and education of the person giving the advice. Make sure the advice is something in harmony with your values. Ask as many questions as you need to get enough information to make a decision. Then accept the responsibility for making that decision. <br />
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I hope you will find these tips useful the next time you seek health advice!Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-17037368135261848292012-05-22T14:00:00.000-04:002012-05-22T11:45:19.410-04:00Positive Psychology<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Here's a re-issue of a past blog. Optimism is powerful stuff!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of the ways I am improving my acupuncture practice is through the use of Positive Psychology. Most days, I see patients who have all manner of health problems aggravated (and sometimes caused) almost entirely by stress. IBS, anxiety attacks, migraines, depression, pain of any and all types, PMS, hypertension--any health problem can be rendered worse by stress, worry, disappointment or frustration, and many problems can actually be caused solely by your mind's interpretation of the events around you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Positive Psychology is a branch of psychology that seeks the ways people are happy and mentally healthy instead of focusing study on how people can be mentally unhealthy. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;">Subjects include optimism, use of exercise and proper diet, specific outlooks and exercises that promote mental well-being, and studies to determine which methods yield the best result. Everything from married life to work life to the way people cope with obstacles are discussed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am not a psychologist, and hold no degree related to the field of psychology, so my steps into Positive Psychology are purely as they intersect with Chinese medicine and my own personal philosophy. But I have found many of the ideas that come under Positive Psychology helpful in my life and the health of my patients. Here are a few of the best tips I use:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Change your thoughts, change your life.</b> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most people do not realize just how much they "talk to themselves" every day, nor do they realize how often this "self-talk" is negative or damaging. Thoughts like "something always go wrong," "maybe I'm just not smart enough to be good at [name your desired activity]" or "I'll always be poor/sick/unattractive/alone" shut down happiness and creativity before they can even start. Because these thoughts are usually repetitive, and have been in your mind a long time, you may not even be aware you use them. When you encounter an obstacle, listen to what you say to yourself. If you don't like it, give yourself some better thoughts to counter the negative. One of my poor self-talk phrases was "I have to" do whatever thing I didn't want to do. While certainly I had obligations that needed to be kept, or proactive activities that I would be wise to pursue, phrasing them as "I have to's" certainly did not help me feel good about how I spent my time. I began consciously changing that phrasing to "I choose to" do whatever it was I wanted to accomplish. Immediately I felt a lift in energy. Choosing something, even if it ends up having negative consequences, puts you in control. You can always choose to change what you are doing if it doesn't work. "I have to" implies you are trapped."</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Never use phrases that are images of poor health, or use poor health as a reason to avoid issues you need to address. </b>My father died when my mother was 54 years old. At the time, she was in fairly good health, but she became depressed after his death, and began telling anyone who would listen that she "wouldn't live to see 60." She died a few months before her 60th birthday. I had a patient once who said she'd "rather get a root canal" than have to do something the following week. Although she had no dental problems that she knew of, she had to cancel her next appointment with me because she needed a root canal. When I reminded her of her comment, she was surprised--she had forgotten about her remark. I also had a patient I treated for migraines. The day she said she was pain free for the first time in 40 years was the last time I saw her. She had family issues, and the only way she knew of to get away from her family stress was to lock herself in her room when she had a migraine. When our treatment helped her migraines, she had lost her escape hatch. I do not believe all illness has a direct link to our words; however, I have seen to many cases where people's health problems were so exactly like their words or mental outlook that I do not believe it is always coincidence. Look at what you say when you are stressed--are you "torn up inside?" Are stresses a "pain in the neck?" Do things "make your blood boil?" Look at your health problems--hypertension, chronic pain, and chronic digestive ailments all respond to stress, and I've seen plenty of indications that stress alone can be the cause of many chronic problems. While changing how you describe your problems may not cure your ills on its own, being more mindful of how you see your problems will certainly help your body's reaction to them. <a href="http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/can-positive-thinking-really-improve-your-life/">Here</a> are some more information and ideas on improving your skills at optimism.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Remember your body responds to food on both a physical and emotional level.</b> I am very sensitive to corn syrup, especially in sodas. On the very rare occasion that I have one, I usually spend the next day feeling grumpy, anxious, irritable, and depressed. At the time, all my reactions seem completely rational and correct, and it is only in hindsight I realize I was responding to reality from a chemically changed body. I often see this phenomenon in my patients as well. Many times a patient will be doing well with emotional symptoms, and then go out of town and eat differently than they are used to. I am rarely surprised to hear that everything in their life is going wrong, and that they don't believe their treatment with me is helping at all. When I remind them of the improvement they reported in the usually recent past, they are surprised because their emotions of the moment are so strong they can't remember when they were better. When I ask them about their diet over the preceding 2-3 days, usually they've had something overly processed, overly sweet, or with artificial ingredients like sucralose, food coloring, or nitrates. I tell them to eat healthfully for a few days and get plenty of water, and to see how much their outlook on life changes. If you have emotional symptoms and feel you have dealt with the big emotional issues in your life, look at your diet. It may be the key to improvement.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Moderate exercise is your friend. </b>People who exercise regularly know that a few days off from their workout routine will leave them cranky, stiff, and frustrated with life. For those who do not exercise regularly, it is often a surprise how good a walk can feel, and how much the stress of day-to-day life dissipates with a little movement. In Chinese medicine, we call those frustrations "qi stagnation" and say that even gentle exercise can move the "stuck" energy and improve your health. You don't have to run a marathon (indeed, such overexertion can sometimes deplete your reserves to a point that it isn't healthy); a walk around the block or a quick swim can be enough.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Positive Psychology can be a useful tool to improve your outlook and your health. I encourage you to monitor and change negative self-talk and the way you describe your obstacles and stressed, and to eat and exercise healthfully. Please feel free to comment if the article inspires thoughts! </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-57632313271281864902012-04-29T19:35:00.000-04:002012-04-29T19:35:39.630-04:00Taking a BreakYou would be amazed at the number of people I treat who never take a day off. Or maybe you wouldn't be surprised--maybe you don't take a break, either. I don't mean a "working break"--going to the beach with your laptop and email, and doing business while you watch the kids play. While it may be a nice fill in, that doesn't cut it for a real break. <br />
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I mean a day off--a real, no one can reach me, don't call me, business is put down for while--<span style="font-style: italic;">no work--day off</span>. The kind we used to take when no one had email or cell phones. The world didn't end because someone else had to fill in for a day or two, and people were able to recharge. To really separate themselves from their jobs, and relax without interruption.<br />
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I am fortunate that my religious practices give me that break. Every 7th day, I take the day OFF. Nothing short of a true emergency (the Bible calls it "an ox in a ditch"-you're the only one there to help, and great suffering will result if you don't act) will intrude on my break, called the Sabbath. Even 50 years ago, most people had a day set aside for rest and their spiritual practice. These days, even those devoted to their beliefs hesitate to take time away from work for spiritual renewal. Throughout the year, I keep other religious festivals ranging from one day to over a week to celebrate my beliefs and remind me life is more than my career, however rewarding it may be.<br />
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Having those times off is truly a blessing. Because it is part of my belief system, it transcends my temporary wants and needs. It's a rule in my life, so I don't have to rethink it each week or each year and decide if I "can afford"-financially or otherwise--to "miss" the time. It's regular, so I don't have long stretches of unbroken work with no relief in sight. As I keep my renewal days, I incorporate spiritual practice to the exclusion of housework or yard work, so my "day off" doesn't become "cleaning day," as happens to so many others. My mind gets a rest from teasing out patient problems, house duties, paperwork, phone calls, and all the other little things that constitute work. I spend times with like-minded friends and family, and come back refreshed. <br />
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I got into my profession because I love what I do, but even a job you love will wear you down with no breaks. Whatever your beliefs, consider giving yourself one day a week to be completely disengaged from work of any kind. At first it may seem overly indulgent, impossible, or even slightly crazy--but I've done it most of my life, and once you establish it as a personal rule, you'd be surprised how easy--and essential--it becomes.Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-51089743993840572512012-04-01T09:05:00.000-04:002012-04-01T16:08:20.991-04:00The Importance of Starting the Day ProperlyGrab the keys--wait!<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Find</span> the keys, <span style="font-weight: bold;">find</span> the purse, grab those papers, rush out the door. Oh, no! Forgot breakfast, forgot to brush my teeth--did I put on deodorant? No time to go back. Hurry, hurry, hurry to work--people are waiting. . . .<br />
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Does this sound like your morning? I know I've had a few in my time. How do you feel the rest of the day? Behind, rushed, waiting for the other Things You Forgot to jump up and grab you. Over the years, I've reduced the number of "rush mornings." I hope you will, too. Here's why:<br />
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<li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rushing messes with your nervous system.</span> In acupuncture, everything is about qi. The closest Western counterpart I've been able to find to qi is the working of your nervous system. Having to lunge for stuff and run out the door triggers your <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/sr00001" style="font-weight: bold;">stress response</a>. If your stress response is over-stimulated, it can lead to chronic health problems, such as hypertension, poor sleep, anxiety, high cholesterol, and digestive problems. </li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;">You lose a beautiful day.</span> I've rushed out the door, on the road, and off to work before I even notice the sun in the sky, the delicate breeze in the air, the smell of honeysuckle, or freshly mown grass, or the beauty of flowers. Rushing makes us change our focus to the things we need to survive. You lose the joy of just enjoying your surroundings.</li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">You affect other people. <span style="font-weight: normal;">I hate</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">to be around people who are rushing. I feel in the way, nervous waiting for the frustrated outburst they seem on the verge of having, and unable to help them. If I'm in the middle of a project myself, it's hard to concentrate with a rushed person making a whirlwind around me. If I am doing something peaceful and enjoyable, their fractured energy makes it hard to continue my recreation. If you want to serve your fellow man, try to live your life so you don't have to rush.</span></li>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>We will all have times when we need to pick up the pace. Sometimes we have things we absolutely must do, and the only way to do them is to pack the obligations in and rush from one to the other. There will be times the alarm does not go off, the traffic slows you down, or life just does not go your way. But when you can exert control over your schedule, try not to rush. Savor the time in your life--it's a limited supply!</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-82102221477361192502012-03-30T16:01:00.001-04:002012-03-30T16:04:15.841-04:00The Natural Sinus Remedy System<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">The American Journal of Medicine estimates that Americans suffer at least 24 million cases of sinusitis each year. Many of these end up being treated by antibiotics, which can lead to the development of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_resistance">superbugs</a>. There is also concern about antibiotics <a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/killing-beneficial-bacteria/">harming your body's beneficial bacteria,</a> and impeding digestion.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses many techniques to treat conditions related to mucous production, including </span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">diet therapy</span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">. Food recommendations depend on the cause of the sinus problem. Here are a few of the recommendations by the TCM diagnosis.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;"><b>Phlegm/Damp Congestion</b>: Sometimes a person simply makes too much mucus, or is overly sensitive to foods and weather conditions that cause mucus. People with </span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">phlegm congestion may also be achy all
over, especially in their sinus area, with a feeling of heaviness or
even vertigo. Their tongue usually is swollen or has a greasy white or
yellow coating. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Chinese medicine sees this condition as analogous to having a swamp in your body. Like a swamp, the extra water that does not flow properly becomes a hotbed for bacteria to grow, increasing the risk of infection. It is common for people with phlegm or damp congestion to also have recurring yeast infections, skin rashes, or other problems associated with fungus or bacteria having a field day in your system.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Avoiding dairy and soy, minimizing the use of eggs, fatty foods, and large amounts of starches, including beans will minimize the raw materials necessary to overproduce mucus. Eating more broth-based soups gives your body extra water to "flush out" the excess mucus. Look for soups containing </span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">barley, mushrooms, chicken, garlic, and slightly sweet vegetables like squash and carrots. </span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Bitter melon, a vegetable available in Asian markets, is specifically good for phlegm. Such soups are easy to digest, and have anti-inflammatory properties. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;"><b>Cold: </b> If your </span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">sinus
problems are related to cold you will have mostly clear, copious mucus. People with cold-type sinus problems may also be achy, but are
less likely to feel vertigo, and often tear up in cold weather or wind. </span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">The predominance of cold can originate from a problem with
your body heating properly (such as for people with thyroid disorders),
or be due to too much exposure to cold. Cold food and not dressing
warmly enough for weather conditions make it hard for your body to
process toxins well. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Warming foods help cold-related sinus issues. </span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Eat a little more spicy food, such as horseradish, and cayenne pepper, or milder ones such as </span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">ginger, garlic, and cinnamon,</span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;"> to open the sinuses. </span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;"> Sweet vegetables such as sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and parsnips warm the digestion so the stomach can “transform phlegm,” as we say in TCM. While not "warming," all citrus is considered good for
treating phlegm. You can have it in the form of fresh fruit, teas with
citrus peel as an ingredient, or by incorporating citrus zest and juice
in cooking.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;"><b>Avoiding cold foods and drinks is critical in this case.</b> Have soup instead of salads, hot tea instead of cold beverages, and especially avoid cold creamy foods like ice cream or cold tofu salads or soy or nut milks. If you feel cold, have a cup of hot tea, especially a chai or spice tea.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Wear warming clothes. If you have chronic sinus issues, dress a little warmer than you feel is necessary. Sometimes something as simple as wearing a scarf will give your body the support it needs to improve your mucus issues.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;"><b>Dryness: </b>Dryness related sinus problems will feature a dry nose, mouth, skin, eyes, hair, and nails. Usually a "dry" person will feel constant thirst, but not always. The mucus tends to be scanty and sticky, but this type of sinus issue may be more prone to infection because the mucus is less able to circulate out of the body. If you have a Dryness condition, you may also get itchy easily, and get dry red rashes. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Increasing beneficial fat in the diet often helps. A diet rich in olive oil, butter, yogurt, nuts and nut butters, and avocado provides extra lubrication to your sinuses. Be sure to get plenty of liquid from broth-based soups (mentioned above), and drinking extra water. Avoid caffeine, minimizing starches, especially processed starches in flavored chips, or pre-packaged foods. Preservatives are dehydrating because they require your body to do extra work to process the chemicals, requiring extra water.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;"><b>Heat:</b> Like dryness, heat-aggravated sinus problems rarely have copious mucus. They are most likely to lead to sinus infections. The mucus will have some color to it, usually becoming green with severe infection. Not surprisingly, people with heat problems often feel hot, and will have a red face. They are also often restless and irritable, or have difficulty sleeping.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Although treating for heat, food should still be served warm to allow quick and easy digestion. Leafy greens, rhubarb, cucumbers (served slightly steamed), mint or green tea, lemon or lime juice, and berries cool the body. Surprisingly, many people find they feel cooler overall when they drink warm water, because their bodies do not have to "turn up the thermostat" to process the cold water.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Emphasize steaming food over baking or grilling, and incorporate any cooking liquid from vegetables into the meal </span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">to avoid adding extra heat into your system</span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">. Avoid fried or greasy food, but small amounts of nuts, olive oil or avocado can be beneficial. Completely avoid spicy peppers, as these will aggravate heat. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;"><b>Qi Stagnation: </b>Stress is the main trigger for flare ups in this presentation related to energy blockage. Qi relates to the free flow of nerve signals, blood, lymph, water, and emotional ease. When qi is blocked, you feel frustrated easily, and are prone to wandering pains, general irritability, inability to handle frustration, and PMS symptoms.</span><span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;"> Sinus symptoms may come and go with little relationship to food, allergens, and even the medications used for treatment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-size: small;">Foods to treat qi stagnation give your digestion a break until the stress response settles down. Sour foods are useful, including vinegar, citrus, and bamboo shoots. Having frequent small meals rather than three large ones helps your body process foods while dealing with stress. Eating simple food with no preservatives, with an extra emphasis on vegetables over all other food groups also encourages qi movement and clears blockages.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #010101; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These tips may seem a little complicated. Health is rarely a one-size-fits-all proposition, and doing a little extra work to give your body what it needs will pay off in the long run. Take a look at your sinus issues, and if you have trouble deciding which symptoms best fit you, drop me an email or leave a comment. I'll be happy to help! </span></span></div>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-8792762664598039582012-02-16T20:23:00.000-05:002014-06-09T18:40:33.552-04:00Making the Switch: Moving to More Natural Eating<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dVuILoo5PeWMIcQ7fcyekGj9grzvF3nnPmM59oI-In2LATpGkpi7rXec7b06Hxj3YL03Qf7rq_uxNoAErIyvTQjnnNiqU5ZEW0YO7ckLtXUn3jCQLIGVRykdIlf7cBCWM9rxrezWexQ/s1600/Roast+veggies+and+wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dVuILoo5PeWMIcQ7fcyekGj9grzvF3nnPmM59oI-In2LATpGkpi7rXec7b06Hxj3YL03Qf7rq_uxNoAErIyvTQjnnNiqU5ZEW0YO7ckLtXUn3jCQLIGVRykdIlf7cBCWM9rxrezWexQ/s320/Roast+veggies+and+wine.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freeimages.com/photo/946451"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: FreeImages.com</span></a></td></tr>
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In my acupuncture practice, I advocate eating food in as natural a state as possible. Many patients will nod vigorously and say, "Oh, I know. I eat very healthfully. Everything at our house is all-natural, and we're very careful when we eat out." I used to smile happily, and left the treatment room optimistic about their health prognosis. Then I noticed how they came into the office--with diet sodas, packages of protein bars, or fast food bags.<br />
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So I started asking more questions to find out what "healthy eating" meant to them. <br />
<a name='more'></a>I discovered most people think they are eating healthfully if they cook at home using prepackaged ingredients, eat protein shakes for breakfast, and use artificially sweetened sodas. All of these practices make your body work harder to get fewer nutrients than simply eating real food, simply (and, one hopes, deliciously) prepared.<br />
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When I challenged the idea that chicken and frozen vegetables with a preservative-laden can of mushroom soup on top constituted healthy food, my bewildered patients asked me what they should eat instead. They didn't have time or know how to make gourmet meals at home and create all the fancy flavors they could buy in pre-made sauce mixes. But cooking healthy ingredients doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, you can still use some premade ingredients. Simply reading the labels as you go will help you avoid the chemicals so prevalent in most processed food. I have some recommendations below that have worked for me.<br />
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But first, what's the big deal about processed food? In <a href="http://www.allnaturalhealthylife.com/news/dangers-of-processed-food/">Dangers of Processed Food</a>, the website All Natural Healthy Life lists several reasons that processed foods are harmful, including:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>The use of genetically modified ingredients</b> (with a <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/03/25/doctors-warn-avoid-genetically-modified-food.aspx">link</a> to an article reporting on doctors recommending you avoid genetically modified foods)</li>
<li><b>T</b><b>he use of ingredients that adversely affect your endocrine system</b>, such as high fructose corn syrup, ingredients that can cause brain damage or neurological problems (such as MSG and artificial sweeteners) </li>
<li><b>Ingredients that contain xenoestrogens</b>, which can wreak havoc on your hormonal system. These ingredients are in almost all pre-packaged, non-organic foods to some degree. </li>
</ul>
In my practice, I have seen patients greatly reduce symptoms of everything from chronic pain to painful digestive symptoms by greatly limiting their intake of processed foods. So let's figure out how to eat naturally without spending hours in the kitchen!<br />
<br />
<b>1. The Better Bad Habit</b><br />
If you are eating almost all of your food out, or microwaved, this is a way to immediately improve your health by simply shopping differently.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKs5HafAQSf50m2KmLqGhqYwFU4P9kOi8B41SCGVCrsq_ZO8nJo7EfMoH1yj_9_rdT1Dc45bka8hPN8N2L_KLKYYPpKtrJJyv-IptL6RSfWpEXsAWn9Awn32WYE75gBGG8VBn1WqfmVzQ/s1600/pizza+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKs5HafAQSf50m2KmLqGhqYwFU4P9kOi8B41SCGVCrsq_ZO8nJo7EfMoH1yj_9_rdT1Dc45bka8hPN8N2L_KLKYYPpKtrJJyv-IptL6RSfWpEXsAWn9Awn32WYE75gBGG8VBn1WqfmVzQ/s320/pizza+close+up.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Teresa Y Green</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most stores now have a natural section that stocks more natural versions of the processed food you eat now. There are organic frozen pizzas, organic chips made with less salt, no artificial color and flavors, canned and boxed soups in similar flavors to the ones you have been eating. . .even natural soft drinks without high-fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors.<br />
<br />
These foods usually are still higher in salt and sugar than foods you make yourself, and will not be as fresh. They are not the ideal substitution for the majority of your food, but are certainly an improvement over their less natural counterparts. Even if all you do is have a natural frozen pizza instead of one full of artificial flavors and preservatives, you are giving your nervous and digestive systems a break and getting fresher food, since there are not artificial flavors designed to hide the taste of stale ingredients. <br />
<br />
<b>2. Making Good Substitutes </b><br />
When you are first doing things more naturally, you don't want to serve radically different food to your family. Continuing to make meals with similar tastes to what you are used to will help ease the (possibly reluctant) family into more healthy eating.<br />
<br />
<b>Casseroles: </b>If you eat a lot of casseroles, you probably use a cream of mushroom, or chicken soup as a base. Instead of buying it premade, make it yourself. It's not that difficult--here's the recipe:<br />
<ul>
<li>Equal parts (depending on the size of your dish, up to 1 cup of each) homemade or natural mushroom or chicken broth and some heavy cream (or whole or skim milk mixed with a tablespoon of corn starch or arrowroot per cup of milk), </li>
<li>1 T butter</li>
<li>salt and pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
Whisk these ingredients together and add to the casserole just before putting in the oven. When making the rest of the recipe, add 2 cloves of garlic and 1/4 cup more minced onion to your recipe than it normally requires. If you're worried about the fat, remember that naturally occurring fat has health benefits over chemical-laden low fat foods (even <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12049624">dairy fat</a>). If that recipe seems too bland, add some thyme, sage, basil, or oregano.<br />
<br />
<b>Flavor blends:</b> If you make tacos or spaghetti using "flavor packets," making a substitute is incredibly easy. Simply buy spices and mix them yourself, either with fresh herbs each time you make the dish, or make them ahead with dried spices: <br />
<ul>
<li><b>Taco:</b> 4 parts cumin, 1 part coriander, 2 parts basil, 1 part oregano, 1 part masa flour (you can find masa in the same section as ingredients for Hispanic cooking), and 1/2 part unsweetened cocoa. If you like your tacos spicy, add a little cayenne pepper to the mix, or chop some or all of a jalapeno pepper into your meat or veggie mixture about 5 minutes before you finish cooking it.</li>
<li><b>Italian:</b> I use fresh garlic, but if you want to use dried garlic in your spice blend, I would recommend 2 parts garlic, 1 part oregano, and 3 parts basil. If you want a more complicated taste, you can add one part sage and/or thyme.</li>
<li><b>Indian:</b> Indian cooking is one time I would use a pre-made spice blend of curry powder, but be sure all the blend contains is spices. If you can't find a dried spice blend containing just spices, here is a blend to try: 6 parts cumin, 2 part coriander, 1 part turmeric, 1 part ginger, 1 part cinnamon, 2 parts raw or organic sugar, 1 part cayenne (I leave out the cayenne because I don't handle spices well).</li>
</ul>
You can mix these blends ahead using a teaspoon as a 1 part measure, and bottle up your spice mix. When I use these blends, I cook it in some olive oil for 30 seconds before adding the veggies and other ingredients.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoEwkAU6rZdLS7HtUYmvxaPJsn-n1sWndr1DlcD1KQQAKburhPXQCgE_Oox0nR4PNZoTFTJuGzcoLAdmvBJGYXrr8-dZAoGs2HKrPQYdcPDy6zs2Y5tpmVuAKwgsRfW1zQLn55_pt3gI/s1600/orange+juice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoEwkAU6rZdLS7HtUYmvxaPJsn-n1sWndr1DlcD1KQQAKburhPXQCgE_Oox0nR4PNZoTFTJuGzcoLAdmvBJGYXrr8-dZAoGs2HKrPQYdcPDy6zs2Y5tpmVuAKwgsRfW1zQLn55_pt3gI/s200/orange+juice.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.freeimages.com/photo/1181511">FreeImages.com</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Sodas:</b> I like the occasional fizzy drink, but traditional sodas, even the natural versions, usually leave me jumpy from either caffeine or sugar content. I make a soda for myself using 2 parts sparkling water, and 1 part juice, slightly sweetened herbal tea, or white wine (if I make a sangria, it makes a truly memorable soda!).<br />
<br />
<b>3. Doing Something Completely Different</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRyOBt_qyUI6nTavwJnOOALI6y5qVG_EC_h4fI6GPkwIWDJ0BbGbcuikuRkSiA-j5hzlHtRZ1GAGVBVC5JgGbktf1Mrye-0tOYusixPG7q-23qdytSPICjnolZsLXEkGKXixqTH30cFM/s1600/hummus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRyOBt_qyUI6nTavwJnOOALI6y5qVG_EC_h4fI6GPkwIWDJ0BbGbcuikuRkSiA-j5hzlHtRZ1GAGVBVC5JgGbktf1Mrye-0tOYusixPG7q-23qdytSPICjnolZsLXEkGKXixqTH30cFM/s200/hummus.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freeimages.com/photo/549420"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: FreeImages.com</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><b>New foods and lots of veggies.</b> Sometimes going natural means finding new ways to eat. Before I started really concentrating on minimally processed foods, I had never eaten millet, and thought of vegetables as accompaniments, lending color to casseroles or parceled out as tiny side dishes. When you eat organic, healthy food, you discover how much taste you can find in vegetables. Now, I will steam some broccoli raab, toss it with some feta cheese, garlic, olives, and cooked pasta for a delicious main course. <a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2012/02/creamy-brussels-sprouts.html">Creamy Brussels sprouts</a> almost never turn up in pre-cooked bags, but are delicious.</li>
<li><b>Eating more homemade food allows you to be more creative. </b>You learn to take things you make at home, and use them in different ways. I made <a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2010/12/hummus-among-us.html">hummus</a> because I'm too cheap to pay store prices, and then found it made a great <a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2011/01/chicken-with-hummus-sauce.html">sauce for chicken</a>. I have atypical food combinations that turn out to be yummy, like <a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2011/11/hamburger-sliders-yellow-squash-with.html">Hamburger Sliders, Yellow Squash with Feta, Cannellini Beans with Spinach</a> because I'm not tied to what I can find in frozen bags.</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2011/11/hamburger-sliders-yellow-squash-with.html"></a><br />
<ul>
</ul>
You also learn how to decide when to use some pre-made ingredients. I use pre-made polenta because it has no artficial ingredients or chemicals, and can be pulled out for <a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2012/02/cannot-stoppa-this-tapa-polenta-and.html">spur-of-the moment dishes.</a> I don't press my own olive oil, and when my basil crop peters out too early in the summer, I'll use an organic bottled pesto--and I use it to flavor my <a href="http://whatsteresacookin.blogspot.com/2010/11/penne-in-tomato-sauce.html">homemade sauces</a>.<br />
<br />
Eating naturally may sometimes take more planning than eating from boxes and bags, and may even cost a bit more. Some of that time can be minimized by cooking staples, such as rice, millet, or beans ahead, making sauces in large quantity and freezing the rest, or using very few ingredients so a few quick chops makes your dish. And you can save money by recycling <a href="http://digg.com/newsbar/topnews/what_s_teresa_cookin_it_s_leftover_madness#_=_">leftovers</a>.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZYJh1mCpyK3UfLBZnyw_b3a6RbvLpBnc0ENyxvD3Beaml8syk_FLuxcbd8vCxtmntO9pTc2A1xnezXuBl176BnfAzIwU8ak8NOiWH9Qqw1NrsRRbH7330sbWZtm93dbZ1VcPsEIjLtY/s1600/Asparagus+and+Tomato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZYJh1mCpyK3UfLBZnyw_b3a6RbvLpBnc0ENyxvD3Beaml8syk_FLuxcbd8vCxtmntO9pTc2A1xnezXuBl176BnfAzIwU8ak8NOiWH9Qqw1NrsRRbH7330sbWZtm93dbZ1VcPsEIjLtY/s200/Asparagus+and+Tomato.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.freeimages.com/photo/1345289">FreeImages.com</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But even if it takes more time and money, the results are worth it. How much time does it take to feel bad? How much does it cost have low energy, digestive disruptions, and allergies? Any improvement towards a less processed lifestyle is helpful. If you double the amount of natural, whole food you eat (especially vegetables!), you have doubled your antioxidants, probably your nutrition, and given your body something it can digest. After the first possibly puzzling weeks of reaching beyond your comfort zone, you'll find you don't like the chemical taste in the processed foods nearly as much as food you've made with your own two hands.<br />
<br />
For more information, see <a href="http://blog.zisboombah.com/2011/05/11/why-whole-is-better-than-processed-food/">6 Dangers of Processed Foods for Your Kids </a>and <a href="http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/107253.aspx">The Hidden Danger in Your Food.</a>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-21925106372909971312012-01-22T21:24:00.000-05:002012-02-18T21:50:46.802-05:00Fight Frustration<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_Qbtyzmg4VAnxGSbjLBf3uTMksA7oveIluXCKL-6pS5lzbJpKrzZbhgBcbIpYDiEBPIL3ZvAfXKCl36uLUL1Bhoj9PjtQE5m4Uot5Mlw1pHFA01BtsQ71ko5x1P7_tkmsAjhu2AV_BU/s1600/grumpy+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_Qbtyzmg4VAnxGSbjLBf3uTMksA7oveIluXCKL-6pS5lzbJpKrzZbhgBcbIpYDiEBPIL3ZvAfXKCl36uLUL1Bhoj9PjtQE5m4Uot5Mlw1pHFA01BtsQ71ko5x1P7_tkmsAjhu2AV_BU/s200/grumpy+girl.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Sometimes I
get a little. . .frustrated. Ok, a lot frustrated. Traffic jams, cancelled
visits, or a to-do list a LOT longer than my day can ruin my day. Seeing all
the things I want to do, accomplish and enjoy stifled by mundane problems
really makes me grit my teeth and clench my fists. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Unfortunately,
it's hard to have much “cred” as a natural health practitioner if your
expression looks like a mug shot from aggravation at life.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> I don't like
to yell at cars, hit malfunctioning printers, or scare my cat because I get so
irritated I want to cry. So long ago I decided to start working on
minimizing what I now call The Frustration Response. While I do still
resemble a 2-year-old in tantrum mode from time to time, I am much closer to
the peaceful acceptance of life that I desire. Here are some of the ways I
have found to minimize frustration:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Do less</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">. This point is pretty universal in
stress reduction literature, but is terribly hard for an overachiever. Or in my
case, someone who has lots of ideas, and can be a little ditzy about putting
them into practice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">I probably
won't run a magazine, be a best-selling author, top acupuncturist, master
gardener, professional chef, own a great gift shop/restaurant/tea shop/art
gallery, and run my own bath product company (oh, and if I can squeeze in some
voice lessons maybe do my own album--jazz standards) all at the same time--but
I really, really, really want to. So I try to do a little bit of all of
it RIGHT NOW. Which means I have about 15 minutes a day to devote to each
thing. Surprisingly, it doesn't work so well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">So this
year, I'm trying to do less, and accept that I won't become Martha Stewart,
Oprah Winfrey, and Steve Allen all rolled into one (and no, you probably will
never forget that visual)--at least not this year. I WILL choose some of those
goals to look at now, and pencil the others in on 5- or 10-year plans. I'm
working on whittling my to-do list to no more than 5 things a day--and if you
suffer a lot of frustration, you should too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Keep the big things in
focus</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">. In
addition to having a lot of dreams for the future, I also am easily
distracted. I regularly go to the computer to answer an email. After
checking Facebook, jotting down a random idea or two, checking for articles
about acupuncture, and even checking my email--I close everything up and walk
off. You guessed it--no answered email. To fight that, I try to keep my
eyes on my overall priorities as well as my daily goals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-nuoFTqC_xGLLcc-0jifRUQOvgYW6V2Q46NzN0fJeu8PHJsrV573_VuU2vN_q-hDCKpOpah6YkoAH3U4SlWaokaoADxAyuvBh41HIX9oVoIlBcFtO74_1fp1exuFRtJdjPaPXEKH97E/s1600/happy+girl+in+field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-nuoFTqC_xGLLcc-0jifRUQOvgYW6V2Q46NzN0fJeu8PHJsrV573_VuU2vN_q-hDCKpOpah6YkoAH3U4SlWaokaoADxAyuvBh41HIX9oVoIlBcFtO74_1fp1exuFRtJdjPaPXEKH97E/s200/happy+girl+in+field.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">To-do lists
help, but only if you are generating to-do lists from bigger goals instead of
catching random things you don't want to forget. You can find hundreds of books
on defining your priorities, and spend weeks just on that. But most people quickly
agree on the Big 3 Priorities. Family, Career, and some kind of Belief--whether
it's related to a specific church or your profound desire to rid the world of
Barney the Dinosaur. You probably have
some version of these three things in your life, and find them important.
Using your Big 3, look at your day and make sure you are giving them the
time they deserve. Maybe you're frustrated because you are frittering
away your life while Barney is still out there singing. You'll feel less
frustrated and more in control if you start each day looking at your Big 3
Priorities and make sure you have goals related to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Use
humor.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> It's nearly impossible to stay frustrated while
laughing. So much so, that I sometimes suggest patients just force
themselves to laugh to move their qi and benefit from all the great chemical
changes that happen when you laugh--whether you're laughing because something
is funny or not. When you feel like you might have to scream, try a good belly
laugh instead. You might not look any less crazy, but you'll have more
fun.<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Thanks to Steve Ford for the adorable picture of the grumpy girl.</span>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-21596163251840145922012-01-22T21:08:00.000-05:002012-02-18T21:51:05.239-05:00Herbs and Food for PMS Due to Cold or Yang Deficiency<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">This time of
year I recommend a lot of "warming" herbs and foods--things
that help your body battle cold. One problem we don’t think of as being
aggravated by cold is PMS. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Excess cold
(when your body is exposed to too much cold from climate or food), and Yang
Deficiency (when your body does not warm itself well) can affect your menstrual
cycle. Excess cold causes symptoms such as severe cramping, dark blood,
headaches, achiness, and contributes to cysts and indigestion. Deficient yang causes
dull aching cramps, extreme fatigue, bloating and can cause excessive bleeding.
Both can make you more tearful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Both also
usually respond well to treatment. Here are great ways to improve PMS related
to cold, whether it's deficient or excess:</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEZNr4f-xfjY_ti_X5HS-eHPV717oOWtGjStoxNWq6HLsZJlf090m8lR61fBiCfbDvn9C1ZjlWwOsTq9i0OEDQbcVb88D6haRl3TWvA6Bk83S7Cv2SGg1nzEaq4mShIyg3hBRwehLD3U/s1600/stock+soup+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEZNr4f-xfjY_ti_X5HS-eHPV717oOWtGjStoxNWq6HLsZJlf090m8lR61fBiCfbDvn9C1ZjlWwOsTq9i0OEDQbcVb88D6haRl3TWvA6Bk83S7Cv2SGg1nzEaq4mShIyg3hBRwehLD3U/s320/stock+soup+image.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Avoid cold food and drink, and avoid
all raw food: This step is absolutely critical to warming the body. Your body
has to give away precious heat to warm salads, ice cream, sushi, iced drinks,
cold cuts and any other cold foods you throw at it. Simply having
everything you eat or drink be warm (all month long, not only during your
period) will cause some improvement in your PMS symptoms, probably the very
first month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Add
warming foods to your diet. Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg,
allspice, curry powder, black pepper, cayenne or other spicy peppers
(only if you are easily chilled any time of the month), sweet potatoes,
butternut or acorn squashes, carrots, parsnips, lamb and brown rice give your
body tools to warm itself. You do not have to limit yourself to just
these foods; just add them into the mix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Dress warmly. Dress slightly more
warmly than you think you need to, especially around time for your period.
Use a scarf around your neck and shoulders, and wear a light jacket even
if it doesn't seem terribly cold to you. Wear socks to keep your feet warm, and
if it's even a little chilly wear gloves outside. If this slight
overdressing is new to you, give yourself a couple of weeks to get used to it.
. .you will find yourself craving the warmth after just a little while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-61372556891723867472012-01-22T20:59:00.001-05:002012-02-18T21:52:01.958-05:00Winter 2012 Newsletter<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYWcpvQDJorg7s8hd5DKgdYF6ELawtRWQ4IMJWGXrVzbXnXeiI5snTw8Q6V6cxKL6RZmvdujs8PVK6XArIfCpTg9MumIPd85aQvzJdxgr-pbqQrZ_8EEUtBCch6TIO-znhqsIAxOYiUY/s1600/winter_sun_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYWcpvQDJorg7s8hd5DKgdYF6ELawtRWQ4IMJWGXrVzbXnXeiI5snTw8Q6V6cxKL6RZmvdujs8PVK6XArIfCpTg9MumIPd85aQvzJdxgr-pbqQrZ_8EEUtBCch6TIO-znhqsIAxOYiUY/s1600/winter_sun_2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Winter 2012 Newsletter<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Editor’s Corner<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Acupuncture Happy Hour</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
Starting January 30, I will be offering Acupuncture Happy Hour every Tuesday
night from 4-6:30pm. Please call to make an appointment.
Acupuncture Happy Hour is a quick ear acupuncture session, done right in the
waiting room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">It takes
about 20 minutes, costs $20/session, and is great for stress relief. You will also get a coupon good for $20 off a
regular acupuncture session with your first ear acupuncture session. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">If you have
a specific health condition you want treated, you will need a regular
acupuncture visit, but the ear acupuncture can introduce you to acupuncture,
help you feel relaxed, and can usually minimize pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Review Your
Acupuncturist</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
I have links on the website of places where you can review Green AcuClinic.
Please let people know how you have benefitted from treatment. If there
is something you are unhappy with, please let me know first and I will do my
best to make it right. I want you to be happy and healthy; my goal is to help
you reach your health goals!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Testimonials</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
A person new to acupuncture or herbal treatment has a lot of worries (will this
help me? does it hurt? will it interfere with other treatments?). Hearing from
a patient who has benefitted from treatment can make them feel at ease.
If I have helped you with your health, please consider writing a short note
sharing your experience. I would like to use your testimonial on my website, in
brochures, and other information. You can use as much or as little detail as
you like, and I will only use your first name and the initial of your last name with the testimonial. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Classes<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">We
got off to a slow start on classes this year, but that doesn’t mean we won’t
have any. </span><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Going Natural: Making
the Switch From Processed Food</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> is the first installment in the Classes of 2012 at Green
AcuClinic. We will discuss some of the dangers of processed food, and ideas for
eating more naturally without breaking your budget. There will be recipes
for popular prepared foods, and menu ideas for main dishes, side dishes,
desserts, and snacks. Bring your favorite processed food (onion soup mix?
Cheese puffs?), and we’ll see what substitutes we can come up with. The class
will be held on February 21 from 6:30-8:00pm.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Thank you for your
dedication to <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Green AcuClinic!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Teresa Green, L. Ac.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Green <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bath</st1:city></st1:place> and Beauty <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">New Products!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">We are
almost ready to unveil some of our Green Bath and Beauty Products! Soon we will
offer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">15ml bottles of lavender, geranium,
tea tree, blue tansy, a diluted rose oil, and possibly some blends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">3 balms--one simple balm with
lavender and lemon oils, calendula, rose, and lavender to make your skin feel
great, and one that "moves blood" with frankincense, arnica,
lavender, and myrrh oils. All will smell wonderful, and have a base of
natural oils such as olive, coconut, jojoba, and rose hip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Bath Salts--all the bath salts will
be Epsom Salt based. One will be lavender and rose geranium-scented for maximum
pampering and relaxation; another will be a soothing blend with arnica,
frankincense, myrrh, and helichrysum, and one will be an invigorating blend of
mint, eucalyptus, orange, and grapefruit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">In the meantime, why not try a refreshing toner? Take ½ cup
strongly brewed green tea, add 3 drops of lavender essential oil, and shake
well. Use on your face after cleansing
to remove residue and leave your face feeling clean and healthy!<br />
</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Herbs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Warming herbs / foods for PMS: Yang Deficiency or Excess
Cold<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">This time of
year I recommend a lot of "warming" herbs and foods--things
that help your body battle cold. One problem we don’t think of as being
aggravated by cold is PMS. <a href="http://taygreenbutterfly.blogspot.com/2012/01/herbs-and-food-for-pms-due-to-cold-or.html">click to read more. . .</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Fight Frustration</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Sometimes I
get a little. . .frustrated. Ok, a lot frustrated. Traffic jams, cancelled
visits, or a to-do list a LOT longer than my day can ruin my day. Seeing all
the things I want to do, accomplish and enjoy stifled by mundane problems
really makes me grit my teeth and clench my fists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Unfortunately,
it's hard to have much “cred” as a natural health practitioner if your
expression looks like a mug shot from aggravation at life. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://taygreenbutterfly.blogspot.com/2012/01/fight-frustration.html">click to read more. . .</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><b><i>That's it for this issue. Please tell me what you liked!</i></b></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-59880826411548833572011-11-22T14:08:00.001-05:002012-02-18T21:52:21.807-05:00Stressed Out By Black Friday? Come to Acupuncture Happy Hour<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma; text-transform: uppercase;">OUR LATEST PRESS RELEASE: </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma; text-transform: uppercase;">Stressed Out By
Black Friday? Come to Acupuncture Happy Hour</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma; text-transform: uppercase;">l</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">ocal Acupuncturist Offers Ear
Acupuncture for Stress Relief</span><br />
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When asked to picture Black Friday, most people see crowds
fighting over the “in” toy for the year, fighting in parking lots for space,
even getting crushed by crowds eager for bargains. The stress is so great many
avoid going out all together. </div>
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Acupuncture, specifically ear acupuncture is used to relieve
stress and make it easier to face the frantic mall shoppers. Teresa Green, L. Ac. (Licensed Acupuncturist)
will be offering an ”Acupuncture Happy Hour" Friday, November 25,
from 8am-10am. </div>
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The treatment aims to relieve stress for those braving
crowded malls on Black Friday. Treatments last about 20 minutes, and are
by appointment.</div>
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Acupuncturists around the country use "Happy
Hours" to offer a quick stress relief treatment designed to treat mild
symptoms instead of complex health problems. The Happy Hours usually occur weekly, and
offer stressed out business people and shoppers a way to relax and quickly get the
benefits of acupuncture. </div>
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Green will begin offering weekly Happy Hours on Tuesday
evenings beginning in December.</div>
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Patients are seated together in a large room. Tiny, sterile,
disposable needles are placed on strategic points on the ears. Patients may
sit, read a relaxing book, or quietly converse with each other during the
treatment. They should avoid stressful activities during the treatment. </div>
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The United
States military uses auricular (or ear)
acupuncture to treat PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and pain. Addiction
centers and smoking cessation clinics also use the quick, minimally invasive
treatments as part of addiction therapy because it helps clients deal with the
stress of withdrawals and manage cravings.
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Acupuncture has been used for centuries to treat a myriad of
health problems, including pain, digestive problems, hormonal imbalances, and
any problem aggravated by stress. </div>
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Teresa Green has been a Licensed Acupuncturist for 7 years,
and specializes in emotional and digestive disorders, chronic pain and immune
system disorders. Her office is located at 9535 Kings Charter Drive in Ashland Virginia.
For more information, call Teresa at (804) 683-2979, or visit <a href="http://www.greenacuclinic.com/">www.greenacuclinic.com</a>.</div>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-11743642189207018412011-11-13T18:47:00.000-05:002012-02-18T21:52:41.923-05:00Building Your Immune System Using Chinese MedicineAutumn! With cooler weather comes the start of school, enjoying the outdoors, letting the wind blow on your face. . .and getting a cold. All those children together sharing viruses, along with your body adapting to cooler conditions mean you are faced with meaner bugs and less ability to fight against them. I used to get several colds each season, and could count on spending at least a third of the year either having a cold or recovering from one. Now I usually get one cold a year, at the end of winter when I let down on my herbal regimen, get tired, and don't rest enough. Here's what I do to keep my immune system strong:<br />
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<ol>
<li><b>Wash my hands, and wash them again</b>. Since I'm in healthcare, I wash my hands a lot, anyway, but I try to wash them not only between patients, but any time I touch anything that might have germs. . .phones, computers, pens, or pencils. I'm not obsessive about it, but germs are mostly shared from people getting gunk on their hands. When they then then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth, they lift the little bugs right into their body. Regular handwashing minimizes germ transport into the body.</li>
<li><b>Rinse.</b> I use either salt water or hydrogen peroxide, and rub each nostril with the water, and run a wet q-tip of salt water along the outside of my ear, or drop a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in each ear. Keeping these portals clean keeps viruses from gaining entrance into your body.</li>
<li><b>Warm, natural non-genetically modified food.</b> This principle is basic to Chinese medicine. Warm food is easier to digest, and that frees up energy your body can use to fight germs instead of breaking down food. Food that is natural, and high in vegetables, gives you body the tools it needs to function properly while not giving it strange ingredients to process. Genetically modified food (GM for short) has been linked to <a href="http://www.soyinfo.com/haz/gehaz.shtml">immune system damage in animals </a>, so buy organic as often as you possibly can.</li>
<li><b>Get plenty of rest</b>.<a href="http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/immune-system-lack-of-sleep"> Sleep has been linked to immune system function</a>. Burning the candle at both ends is a good way to get a cold. Most information available recommends 8-10 hours of sleep per night. When you are sick, rest. Don't push through--your body needs all its energy for immune system function.</li>
<li><b>Drink hot tea</b>--A study suggest regularly drinking green tea can diminish the risks of catching influenza. (<a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/13/could-a-cup-or-more-of-this-a-day-keep-the-flu-away.aspx">this article</a> has lots of other good info on immunity, too)</li>
<li><b>Herbs</b>--there are formulas to build immunity, others to help you system fight when you first get a cold, still others specifically for phlegm, or aches, or chills, or fever. These are best to get from an experienced herbalist. But when you start to feel the first bits of a bug coming on, try ginger if you feel more chilled, mint if you feel more hot, and if you can't decide whether you're cold or hot, mix ginger and mint together. To make the teas, take a 1-in piece of ginger, chop if finely, and simmer in hot water for 10 minutes. Strain the water, add honey if you like, and drink. For mint, take 1 teaspoon of dried mint and follow the same instructions. If you have fresh mint, just put a tablespoon of chopped leaves in a cup and pour boiling water over it. Steep 5 minutes and drink. This simple formula will often help your system fight a cold in the early stages.</li>
</ol>
These six tips are simple to do. They have made the difference in my life between being sick, almost sick, or just over being sick for most of the year, and being healthy most of the time. Putting these basic steps in practice can help you win the war on the common cold. . .and the uncommon cold, too!<br />
<ol>
</ol>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-56810625566133692992011-09-14T12:46:00.000-04:002012-02-18T21:53:32.138-05:00Chinese Medicine, Life, and WellnessMost people in any form of medical field get into the field to promote<b><i> wellness</i></b>. Wellness is about more than aches and pains, indigestion, or other symptoms. Wellness is a balance of mind, body, and spirit. Even if your health cannot be "perfect," you can be "well." Here are some of the things I've learned about wellness from Chinese medicine and my own experience:<br />
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<li><i><b>If your mind isn't well, you aren't well. </b></i>I'm something of a worrywort, although I've gotten better over the years. When I worry, I can't sleep, my muscles ache, it's hard to digest food (and I crave sugary, unhealthy things), and I'm cranky to everyone around me. Once I tackled my worry and started taking steps to have more peace of mind, these symptoms diminished dramatically. At first, learning not to worry was hard, but with practice it has become easier. I still worry, but I catch myself sooner, and use the worry to find areas that need change. <a href="http://stress.about.com/od/fearandstres1/a/anxiety.htm">Here</a> is an article on dealing with worry and anxiety. If you are dealing with worry, unresolved anger, stress, or depression, find the help you need to resolve these issues. Once your mind is at peace, your health will improve!</li>
<li><i><b>What you eat affects everything.</b></i> When I was working on my mental health, I sometimes found myself melting down over problems I thought I had dealt with emotionally. It took a few months to make the connection, but I finally realized that the food I eat affects my emotions. In my case, sugar, especially corn sugar affects my mood and makes me more easily affected by emotion. On the other hand, the more vegetables I have, the better I feel. I am more upbeat, have less pain, and have more energy. I have treated people where food affected skin conditions, asthma, pain, anxiety, and, of course, digestion. If you have a recurring health problem, keep a food log and a symptom log. A food log is just a list of everything you eat. There are several online and as mobile apps, some of them free. Do a search for "food log" to find one that is right for you. A symptom log can be as simple as putting a "good/fair/bad" marking on each calendar for how you feel to a detailed list of symptoms. Be sure to list "good" symptoms (great energy, lots of ideas, good digestion) as well--focusing on the positive is an important key to well-being. After keeping your logs for a few weeks, look them over. Notice if feeling particularly good or bad corresponds to eating a particular food. I find my food reactions tend to take place within 3 days or so of eating, so use that as a guide in making decisions about what may be causing your symptoms. </li>
<li><b><i>Eat things your body recognizes as food. </i></b>Our bodies digest food by breaking down the chemicals in food to usable substances. Foods that are natural have been around for thousands of years, and we are biologically better able to digest these foods. Foods tend to be better sources of nutrients than supplements for this reason. The chemistry of nutrition can be very complex (see <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_3953_absorb-calcium-supplements.html">this article</a> on absorbing calcium for a quick example), but for most people eating natural, minimally processed food, getting plenty of water, some sun and exercise will make sure you get what you need to absorb nutrients. Taking a lot of supplements sometimes throws off this balance, so unless you are very deficient or really will not eat well, food is a better option to get your nutrients. Also, avoid artificial ingredients, including GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Your body is not equipped to deal with the odd chemical components of artificial and artificially-modified foods. Problems vary, but <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/445792-do-preservatives-add-to-inflammation/">inflammation</a>, <a href="http://enhs.umn.edu/current/5103/gm/harmful.html">food allergies, and poor absorption </a>are some of the issues natural food advocates fear are caused by artificial ingredients.</li>
<li><i><b>Warm food and drink. </b></i>This concept is fairly unique to Chinese medicine, and for some reason is hard for most people to accept. In Chinese medicine, we say the digestive energy is<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hNMODOg0YTvOoknWb9_d6cJgGiMQpne-RpH5wcHBVkcHOjgcHb1-IUP0p5Qk7MCb81bix_uJPosO395qh_pdgMd0rCWWXrn-S7L-I3omjREaKJobxWqRJ6DV9oJzL1Zd4pZvE5SIQMo/s1600/stock+soup+image.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hNMODOg0YTvOoknWb9_d6cJgGiMQpne-RpH5wcHBVkcHOjgcHb1-IUP0p5Qk7MCb81bix_uJPosO395qh_pdgMd0rCWWXrn-S7L-I3omjREaKJobxWqRJ6DV9oJzL1Zd4pZvE5SIQMo/s320/stock+soup+image.jpg" width="212" /></a> like a giant soup pot, and all the different functions of the body are like people coming up to get a cup of soup so they have the energy to do their jobs. Ideally, the "soup pot" should be constantly simmering, always ready when a meal is needed. As anyone who cooks knows, when you have a simmering pot of soup and you add raw or frozen vegetables to it, the cooking stops as all the food is brought back up to temperature. In digestion, food that is cold or raw is harder to breakdown, and so takes a while to be usable. Eating warm, cooked food and warm beverages allows your body to use the extra energy it would need to break down food for fixing problems and better health. I have had patients with severe pain, poor sleep, and painful digestion see immediate improvement just by eating warm foods. </li>
<li>Be positive! Positive people are <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_895583649">h</a><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prescriptions-life/200911/dont-worry-be-happy-the-surprising-benefits-optimism">appier, healthier, and tend to have better things happen to them</a> . Even if you don't consider yourself an optimist, you can develop a more optimistic outlook. <a href="http://stress.about.com/od/optimismspirituality/ht/optimisthowto.htm">Here</a> is a good article to start with to become more optimistic.</li>
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In Chinese medicine, we say that if your digestion and emotions are in good shape, and you have pretty good genes, you will be healthy (barring being hit by a truck or something). I hope you use this article as a springboard to wellness!Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-20018617295753561742011-08-17T16:58:00.001-04:002012-02-18T21:53:52.500-05:00Autumn Newsletter<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Newsletter for Autumn, 2011</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">From the Editor’s Desk:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">A lot has taken place since my last newsletter! Please be sure to look over the entire newsletter so you don’t miss anything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Finding Green AcuClinic on the Web:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In addition to the web page, <a href="http://www.greenacuclinic.com/">www.GreenAcuClinic.com</a>, I also have a Facebook page (PLEASE like me!), “Green AcuClinic”; a twitter account, “@taygreen,” and several “sometimes active” blogs on Blogger: TayGreenButterfly, What’s Teresa Cookin’?, and Teresa’s Tea Time. Links to these are coming soon to the website. You can also rate my practice at <a href="http://www.wellness.com/dir/1454971/acupuncture-specialist/va/ashland/teresa-green-l-ac">wellness.com:</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Policy Updates</span></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Credit Cards:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> I am now using Square for my credit card processing. I have discontinued all other credit card processing. Square takes Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and even American Express, so I think it will serve you well. The program allows me to email you receipts; if you want a printed receipt I can handwrite one for you.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cancellation Policy:</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Effective with appointments scheduled for September 1, 2011: any appointments changed or cancelled with less than 24 hours notice will be assessed a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">$35 cancellation fee</b>. Two ways to avoid the fee:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Call to change or cancel the appointment prior to the 24-hour window <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OR</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">When you call to let me know you need to change your appointment, reschedule the appointment to a time within 2 business days of the canceled appointment (I am open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday). So if you realize at</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">the last minute that you will not be able to make your Sunday appointment, for example, you can avoid the cancellation</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">fee by making and keeping an appointment for Monday or</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Wednesday of the</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">same week. Thursday appointments would need to be rescheduled for Sunday or Monday, and so on. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">No-show appointments will automatically be charged the fee</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">. Emergencies (where rescheduling the appointment immediately is not an option) will be handled on a case-by-case basis. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">News:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">New Classes: Fall is the start of school around here, and I’m starting classes, too! Here’s a quick list of upcoming classes in the works this Fall and Winter. Visit <a href="http://www.greenacuclinic.com/">www.greenacuclinic.com</a> to check on the dates and to get more information:</span></div>
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<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Natural Beauty:</span></b></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i> Using Natural Products for Skin and Beauty Products.</i> (November 8) This class will feature a presentation from Stephanie Valente from Whole Foods Market with samples!</span></div>
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<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Wonders of Tea:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> Health Benefits and Surprising Uses for the World’s Most Common Beverage</span></i></div>
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<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Going Natural:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> Making the Switch From Processed Food</span></i></div>
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<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Chinese Diet Therapy:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> Using Food to Treat Illness</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Williamsburg</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> After years of serving the Williamsburg community, I will be closing down my Williamsburg practice to focus my energy in Richmond. I will still be coming to Williamsburg every other Tuesday through the end of September. I have enjoyed my time in Williamsburg, and will miss my patients who cannot follow me to my Richmond office. Thank you for the chance to serve!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Green Bath and Beauty </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">New Products!!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Pain balms</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"> with arnica, helichrysum, calendula, eucalyptus, and frankincense. AND a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">skin balm</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"> with calendula, lavender, rose, and helichrysum. Stay tuned, because it will a VERY limited batch. Email or call me if you'd like to pre-order.</span></h6>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Bath Salts:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"> Lovely bath salts featuring essential oils of lavender, frankincense, rose, geranium, mint, and others. If you call or email now, I can even to a custom blend if you have something you’re dying to try.</span></h6>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Facial Teas:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"> The teas I use to soothe skin after a facial acupuncture session. A mix of green tea, lavender blossoms, rose petals, and rose essential oil. Each tea bag can be used to make approximately 4 cups of tea, which you can store in the refrigerator to use on your face over several days.</span></h6>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">“Bathe twice a day to be really clean, once a day to be passably clean, once a week to avoid being a public menace. “<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/anthonybur390110.html"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Anthony Burgess</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Autumn</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h6>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The season is changing now, and we’re heading into Autumn. Autumn is the season of Metal, which involves the Lung and Large Intestine. Those with issues of grief, breathing, skin, or elimination disorders may find those symptoms to be more severe at this time of year. Lung energy also involves our immune system and our sense of boundaries, so do not be surprised if you see some issues in these area. Finally, Large Intestine deals with sorting and “eliminating” the things you don’t need, so this is a good time to look over your stuff (and life) and decide on anything you want to change or remove.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Foods beneficial to Metal energy include pears, horseradish, radishes, onion, apples, and fish. Herbs used more in autumn include astragalus, mint, chrysanthemum, isatis root, and mulberry leaves and bark. Which foods or herbs you choose to emphasize depends on what is out of balance in your life. I am available for Chinese diet therapy and herbal consultations.</span></h6>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Benefits of Optimism</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Optimists don’t just think things are better—they really are! Multiple studies have shown optimists have better health, higher achievement, better immune systems, less illness, live longer and enjoy their life more than pessimists. One gauge of optimism is your “explanatory style”—the way you explain events in your life. Do you see one bad thing in your life as being an isolated incidence, or is “everything wrong?” Do you see events in your life as something you have some control over, or do things “just happen” to you? Do you see life as full of possibilities or problems?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Optimism can be learned, no matter how pessimistic you are today! Here is a link to one article on developing optimism:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://stress.about.com/od/optimismspirituality/ht/optimisthowto.htm">http://stress.about.com/od/optimismspirituality/ht/optimisthowto.htm</a>. I hope you are taking steps to make you life more optimistic and full of joy!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">~P.D. James</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">That's it for this issue. I hope to see you at Green AcuClinic soon! </span></span></div>
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</tbody></table>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-1316060322224230422011-01-11T19:09:00.001-05:002011-01-11T19:10:27.377-05:00January 2011 Newsletter<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Editor’s Corner</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">It always takes me a few months to get used to a new year . . . so you may see 2010 a few more times at Green AcuClinic. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">We’ve had colder, wetter weather than usual here in Virginia this year, so I have a few tips to help your body deal with the cold. Most are common sense, but a few are unique to Chinese medicine, and have helped me a lot over the years.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Our NAET Practitioner, Katie Larimer, and I encourage you to come in now for spring allergies. Pollen allergies are much harder to treat when you are constantly exposed to pollen; by starting treatment now you can get your body better prepared to deal with those tiny irritants. For other allergies, having fewer allergens around this time of year makes it easier to tackle the ones that are there. On another note, the points used to treat sinus allergies are the same ones used for wrinkle treatment in facial acupuncture. . .not as intense, but most people will still see some benefits. So come in now to reap the benefits this spring!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">We’re rolling out a few money-saving ideas this month as well. I’m offering discounted gift certificates year round now, and Katie has some great deals this month. Look for “Show Me the Money!” for more info.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">I hope your 2011 is wonderful, peaceful, prosperous and full of growth. Thank you for including Green AcuClinic in your health plans! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Teresa Green, L. Ac</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">Aromatherapy for Aches and Pains </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Many people know that massage therapists often use essential oils in their practice, but you may not know that they often use specific oils for muscle pain. Of course, all the usual caveats apply—if you’re pregnant, or have a major health issue, or are unusually sensitive to a lot of things, check with a doctor and knowledgeable aromatherapist. Here are some of the ways I use essential oils to treat pain:</span></span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">In Epsom salt soaks. I usually use a combination of eucalyptus, ginger, frankincense, and maybe some black spruce into Epsom salt. Use at least 1 cup of salt (some people use as much as a ½ lb or more even for a foot soak, so use them generously. Use enough oil to get a good strong scent—at least 10 or 15 drops of each, going heavier on the eucalyptus.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">In topical essential oil blends. Adding a little frankincense, eucalyptus, ginger, mint or other oil (in the proper dilution) can make a massage oil work more effectively than it would on its own. Ask your aromatherapist or massage therapist for ideas on blends you can use at home.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">In a clay paste. I have used lavender, helichrysum, rose, or other oils mixed with green clay or Yunan Baiyao powder (a Chinese herb powder) to treat severe bruises or sore tendons where the pain was very localized. There are many oils that would be useful here, feel free to come in and I can make recommendations.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Inhalation: Keeping the scent of soothing oils can relax you and minimize stress during painful episodes. I use rose geranium, frankincense, lavender, or mint to soothe emotions and calm people who are overly tense from dealing with long term pain. The oils often relax them enough to get to sleep, which is almost always an issue when a person is dealing with pain.</span></span></li>
</ul><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">“</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">For last year's words belong to last year's language / And next year's words await another voice. / And to make an end is to make a beginning."</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> ~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">New Products Available</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">I finally locked myself in the creative corner and made several new items. There is a Chamomile Balm made from essential oils, natural beeswax, and olive oil. I also have Eucalyptus Bath Salts to soak away tired muscles, and a Calming Tea of Decaf Green Tea, Chinese Chrysanthemum, Rose Petals, and Peppermint. All are used for calming in Chinese medicine, and most are used to treat allergy symptoms. Call me if you would like them—I keep different products at the Richmond and Williamsburg Offices.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Show Me The Money!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">With the new year, everyone in both the Richmond and Williamsburg Office are offering specials. Here they are:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">January Only Specials (End January 31, 2011)</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Richmond Office:</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Teresa Green, L. Ac</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Will offer <b>the 2<sup>nd</sup> treatment</b> in a week for $20 for January <b>for those needing more than 1 treatment each week</b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Katie Larimer, NAET </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> will waive the New Patient Fee. A new patient visit <b>is usually $80</b>. For January only, it will <b>be just $60</b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Tamara Springle, CMT at Dr. Brown’s Office:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Offers <b>a 60 minute massage for $55</b> for the month of January.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Williamsburg Office:</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Northern Lights Spa</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Get the <i>Northern Wintergreen Mint Massage</i> (60 minutes) <b>for just $60</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">New Year Specials</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Richmond Office:</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Teresa Green, L. Ac.:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Buy gift certificates <b>for 3 regular acupuncture treatments (1 hour) for $195 ($65 /treatment).</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Katie Larimer, NAET:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">The first visit of the New Year for each patient will be <b>$10 off</b> a regularly priced treatment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Dr. Rob Brown, DC</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Always offers adjustments for police and firefighters for <b>$20</b> </span></div><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">“</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> ~</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Henry Moore</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Dealing With Cold – Quick Tips</span></b></div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Eat and drink warm things. </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">To me, this is common sense, but I see a lot of people drinking iced drinks or even eating ice cream as they complain about the cold weather. Raw food is also a no-no, as it is usually cold, and takes a lot of energy to digest. Having warm food and drink means you give your body a head start at staying warm. As an added bonus, warm food makes your digestion smoother, so if you already have digestive problems, warm food will probably make that significantly better, too.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Keep covered.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> Again, this seems self-evident to me. I suggest staying a little warmer than you think is comfortable, and especially keeping your torso warm will go a long way toward keeping the rest of you warm as well.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Eat warming foods. </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In addition to<b> </b>eating warm foods, certain foods are inherently more warming than others. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, lamb, sweet potatoes, millet and squash are just a few of the foods that naturally warm your body.</span></li>
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</tbody></table>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-8653668251674752512010-12-07T12:54:00.000-05:002010-12-07T12:54:08.483-05:00Northern Lights Spa Newsletter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRHnGlPSnRhsSVF-yEjvUTiDy7Ccy8L-z_hGBoNZyPc_-UOLklggAYQ6lqC7s_2_NZQ9Ro0V2atYolNvD0lRqKDKJqrOOhmx0B7jA2ljvMPg3fnNQbmfIG9ljhzZ67O-vNHsg3_fSVEk/s1600/Northern+Lights+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRHnGlPSnRhsSVF-yEjvUTiDy7Ccy8L-z_hGBoNZyPc_-UOLklggAYQ6lqC7s_2_NZQ9Ro0V2atYolNvD0lRqKDKJqrOOhmx0B7jA2ljvMPg3fnNQbmfIG9ljhzZ67O-vNHsg3_fSVEk/s1600/Northern+Lights+Logo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">From the Editor:</span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In nature, Winter is the time to store up nutrition and then slow down your life so you don't run out of supplies before Spring. Squirrels, bears, and other mammals hoard food all fall, then hibernate or greatly reduce their activities all winter so they conserve fuel. Trees release their leaves to "lower maintenance costs" over the winter, and work on their root systems, soaking up the water from snow and rainy seasons to use in Spring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here in human civilization, we only observe half of that process. Here in the US at least, we get the hoarding with our wonderful big holiday meals and treats while visiting friends and family. But instead of then resting, saving our energy, and planning for springtime, we are more active at the end of the year than possibly at any other time. Worst of all, because of all the activity, we sometimes don't take time out to take care of ourselves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> This year, do something different! If you must be busy, make sure you enjoy the majority of your activities. And take time to take care of yourself--get regular massage, treat yourself to a facial, do a series of acupuncture visits to alleviate stress and keep your immune system strong. Make your Winter a healthy time!</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aromatherapy: Something Spicy:</span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This season, spicy flavors and scents are abundant--gingerbread, spice cake, peppermint, pumpkin pie spice, cinnammon oatmeal cookies, all the tastes and scents that go with increased cooking. Those spices have tremendous health value. Ginger is well-known as a digestive aid and helpful for nausea, cinnamon is useful in managing blood sugar, and clove is great for digestion, and is considered an anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial functions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can use these spices virtually without restraint in food (unless you have specific health issues, such as using coumadin or other medications). If you want to use the essential oils, you can add a drop or two to some hot water to scent a room. All of them increase blood circulation, so they are also useful topically--but be sure to dilute them as they can irritate your skin if used neat (at full strength). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We are using some of these oils this season in our treatment specials--for not one, but two specials! Have a 30-minute Winter Wonderland Snuggle Up Heat Treatment--a detox treatment combined with warmth for extra benefit--for just $30. We also offer a Ginger Bread Massage for $70--a massage featuring ginger to increase muscular relaxation. Both of these specials will leave you feeling pampered and rejuvenated!</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Treatment Showcase: Heat Therapy</span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heat therapy is a common part of a massage treatment. In addition to feeling great, heath therapy:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dilates the blood vessels, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. The more nutrients to the muscles, the more healing to damaged muscle tissue. </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heat stimulates the surface of the skin, Heat stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin, which means that applying heat to the lower back will decrease transmissions of pain signals to the brain and partially relieve the discomfort.</span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heat application facilitates stretching the soft tissues around the spine, including muscles, connective tissue, and adhesions. Consequently, with heat therapy, there will be a decrease in stiffness as well as injury, with an increase in flexibility and overall feeling of comfort. Flexibility is very important for a healthy back.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heat therapy is great in the winter--it relaxes you and makes a great contrast to the cold weather outside!</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">New Therapies!</span></b><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thai Herbal Ball Massage 60 min...$80 </span></i><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Traditional Chinese herbs are wrapped inside steamed bundles of fabric. Then the Therapist applies the heated herbal balls along acupressure points and joints. This massage has a special energy flow that is both invigorating and relaxing. It opens the body's pathways to soothe aching muscles, reduce stiffness, and inflammation in the joints.</span><br />
<i><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Warm Bamboo Massage</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">60 min...$80 </span></i><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Natural Bamboo sticks are heated, rolled, rubbed and pressed over the body to reduce life's everyday strain. The warmth of the bamboo rolling over your muscles will soothe and revitalize you. This massage increases lymphatic circulation, reduces stress and fatigue and leaves the skin feeling supple.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Important Date</span></b><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Elisa and Trina will offer a Couples Massage class<b> Sunday, Jan. 23rd from 3-6pm.</b> The class will cover basic massage technique for a couple to practice on each other. This is a hands on class that will teach you how to give that special someone in your life a massage! The cost for this comprehensive class is just $200. To sign up, call 757-903-4302.</span><br />
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<br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Northern Lights Spa </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">109 Bulifants Blvd.. Suite A</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Williamsburg, VA 23118</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(757) 903-4302 </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" />Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-66138913735929601002010-11-30T14:45:00.001-05:002010-12-13T21:38:49.597-05:00December Newsletter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3_FHOYOgb7XLZupKOM20vy04c1u_cnCXvFYLpMZjyvTqNt-Mdn6_6BSHnnqmZ52Kn_ESGS3EcYiMj-3Ka0-jiRqnv9H4u52PKytl3ojhS3UcuIuQ6zTmmM0RrITU1kl5np_ekRTJMQNM/s1600/LogoColorTextRight+%2528Small%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3_FHOYOgb7XLZupKOM20vy04c1u_cnCXvFYLpMZjyvTqNt-Mdn6_6BSHnnqmZ52Kn_ESGS3EcYiMj-3Ka0-jiRqnv9H4u52PKytl3ojhS3UcuIuQ6zTmmM0RrITU1kl5np_ekRTJMQNM/s200/LogoColorTextRight+%2528Small%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Editor's Corner</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">So many new things to report! We discussed the new office in Williamsburg in the last newsletter. Now the new Richmond office is up and running! Our new office is at 9535 Kings Charter Drive. The mailing address says Ashland, but we're actually only about 5 minutes from VA Center Commons, in the Kings Charter shopping center. We're sharing office space with Dr. Robert Brown, who has a chiropractic practice, and Tamara Sprinkle, a massage therapist. Please be patient as we'll be making some improvements to our office, and it might look a little rough for the next few months. On the plus side, I will have more hours available. Appointments are available on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday from 10am to 6pm in Richmond, and on Thursdays from 10am to 1pm. Tuesdays I am in Williamsburg from 10am to 6pm, and will add a half day on Fridays for the month of December for "spa services"--acupressure and facial acupuncture. </span><br />
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Now that Katie Larimer, the NAET practitioner, and I will be in the office simultaneously, I wanted to remind all patients visiting the office to please refrain from wearing any perfumes or strong-smelling deodorants, hair spray, or other body care products. I see people with chemical sensitivities, but Katie sees even more people with these problems. For those with environmental allergies, even a tiny exposure to an allergen can cause symptoms ranging from a headache to skin conditions to breathing difficulties or even anaphylactic shock. Please help us help as many people as possible by avoiding strong smelling body care products.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thank you so much for letting me serve you. I am excited by the changes this year, and look forward to all the wonderful things 2011 will bring!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Teresa</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNecGdQpaRQe7UW7CBlfu7Ju7nrK3IjINknX9fsPpkO3oJ8TFSuOUhkg9_2fumuMROA5Q9LVpUv68xyHRX4f5OpgGWyvJXhMWErqHtwqz2Qsn9YfL23r1xumEz9AE5-sms2VY9e-6t9tr/s1600/basil+in+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNecGdQpaRQe7UW7CBlfu7Ju7nrK3IjINknX9fsPpkO3oJ8TFSuOUhkg9_2fumuMROA5Q9LVpUv68xyHRX4f5OpgGWyvJXhMWErqHtwqz2Qsn9YfL23r1xumEz9AE5-sms2VY9e-6t9tr/s320/basil+in+garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Aromatherapy: Calm </b></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">This time of year, many people get carried away with visiting family, shopping, and cooking in addition to all their regular responsibilities. Aromatherapy can help you keep calm in crowded lines, cooped up driving conditions, and frenetic activities. I put a couple of drops of one or more of essential oil on a cotton ball and toss them into the trash cans in a room that feels stressed, or add a couple of drops to my bath water. </span><br />
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Here are a few of the oils I reach for when I feel restless or stressed:</span><br />
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<b>Lavender:</b> one of the "universal oils" it's good for just about any emotional state, and is wonderful in lotions or sprinkled in bathwater to rejuvenate you skin. I also by buy lavender buds and make tea, adding a little lemon and sugar for extra flavor.</span><br />
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<b>Rose Geranium:</b> one of the most calming oils around, rose geranium was actually shown to immediately lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients with just a whiff. It is very floral, so a light hand is best. </span><br />
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<b>Frankincense:</b> this is one of my favorite oils. It is a tree resin. In Chinese medicine we use i to move blood for pain conditions, and it seems to soothe Heart function, making it good for anxiety and feeling the need to be "on" for guests. You can sometimes find the actual frankincense resin, and adding a piece or two to your fire in the fireplace will scent the whole house. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Herb Corner: Prepare Now for Allergy Season</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now is a great time to prepare your body for allergy season. Eight weeks of treatment now will greatly reduce your reaction to allergens come spring. Acupuncture will help your immune system avoid overreacting to allergens, and herbal therapy gives your immune system the nutrition it needs to stay healthy without allergies.</span><br />
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Here are some formulas we use in treating allergies:</span><br />
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<b>Yu Ping Fang San/Ren Shen Bai Du Wan:</b> Highlighted in last month's newsletter, these formulas both build immune system function by increasing the energy available to your body to ward off bugs and evaluate possible pathogens.</span><br />
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<b>Pe Min Kan Wan:</b> This formula is used in the acute stage of allergy to decrease phlegm and congestion.</span><br />
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<b>Xiao Yao San/Gan Mai Da Zao Wan:</b> While not actually for allergies, these formulas help emotional balance, minimizing the effects of stress on your immune system.</span><br />
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Please contact Teresa for more information on herbal therapy to help your allergies.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">NAET: Come in now to treat allergies before holiday parties!</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">If food allergies ruin your ability to chow down at holiday parties, or if environmental allergies make it hard for you to enjoy all scents of winter and cooking, come in and see Katie asap! For many people, starting treatment now can have you significantly less sensitive to allergens in just a few days or weeks. Call Katie Larimer at (804) 399-1700.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkyQ4oOxoBbq7G4MxlqqqL5owGS_p14lmVXQqeStKvaDdvy9WtZ-Tjt6mIfcxSN8ob9bFAngZ6qurtFBmlQbmovwk48anvhTXtAXbGoK8GG-2fd1nP-9uiXasIT24zUxRjt0KvPjXX95C/s1600/pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkyQ4oOxoBbq7G4MxlqqqL5owGS_p14lmVXQqeStKvaDdvy9WtZ-Tjt6mIfcxSN8ob9bFAngZ6qurtFBmlQbmovwk48anvhTXtAXbGoK8GG-2fd1nP-9uiXasIT24zUxRjt0KvPjXX95C/s1600/pizza.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Northern Lights Spa</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Specials this month at <a href="http://www.northernlightsspa.com/">Northern Lights Spa</a> (Teresa's Williamsburg office): <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">$30 Winter Wonderland Snuggle Up Heat Treatment<br />
$70 Ginger Bread Massage<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Call Northern Lights Spa at (757) 903-4302 for more information.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">New Services (December only):<br />
I will offer Facial Acupuncture ($150 for 1.5hr session) and Acupressure ($40 for 1/2 hour session) at Northern Lights on Fridays from 10am -1pm. To schedule these appointments, please call me at (757) 561-1258, or schedule through the spa at (757) 903-4302.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Teresa Green, L. Ac. (804) 683-2979 / (757) 561-1258</span></b>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300054823078134472.post-8505730786567826512010-10-14T21:38:00.000-04:002010-10-14T21:38:58.893-04:00October 2010 Newsletter<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://www.blogger.comhttp://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">I love autumn! Crisper air, that different slant to the sun, the foods of fall—pumpkin, kale, apples, and the last bounty of summer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">I guess it’s the training from all those years of school, but autumn also seems to always herald new beginnings.<span> </span>This fall, my new beginning is a new office in Williamsburg.<span> </span>I am now located at Northern Lights Spa.<span> </span>I had 4 very good years with Refresh! Center for Massage and Healing, but it’s time to move on.<span> </span>Northern Lights is newly opened, and you can learn more about them at <a href="http://www.northernlightsspa.com/"><span style="color: black;">www.NorthernLightsSpa.com</span></a>.<span> </span>Soon I will also know where my new Richmond office will be—stay tuned for that big news!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">October is National Non-GMO month, so I am temporarily bumping my essential oil column to highlight the importance of organic, non-genetically modified food.<span> </span>What you eat is critical to your health, and I hope this article will help you find the healthiest food possible.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">One last item.<span> </span>I am now a blogger!<span> </span>You can find my blog at <a href="http://taygreenbutterfly.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://taygreenbutterfly.blogspot.com/</span></a>, and visit<span> </span>my Facebook page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandston-VA/Green-AcuClinic/320687087145"><span style="color: black;">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandston-VA/Green-AcuClinic/320687087145</span></a>.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Thank you for your support and patronage this year.<span> </span>I hope I have been of service!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Teresa Green, L. Ac</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>October is National Non-GMO Month! </b></span></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></i></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://www.blogger.comhttp://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">A Little About GMOs</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">I pulled most of this info from <a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/"><span style="color: black;">www.nongmoproject.org</span></a>.<span> </span>I also have links to various other articles on GMOs on my Facebook page.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 5pt;"></span></div><ul><li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">What are GMOs?</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> GMOs (or “genetically modified organisms”) are made with gene-splicing biotechnology.<span> </span>DNA from one species is injected into another species, creating dna combinations not found in nature and that cannot occur as part of natural hybridizing processes. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">How do I know what foods are genetically modified?<span> </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Those who make and sell GMO products are not required to label these products in any way to differentiate them from natural products.<span> </span>The only way to avoid them is to buy certified organic products, which cannot intentionally contain GMOs, or to buy food with the “Non-GMO Project” Seal.<span> </span>Products with this seal have been independently verified to comply with standards of GMO avoidance.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 5pt;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Are GMOs safe? </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Thirty countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, require restrictions on GMO production, or ban them outright because they are not considered safe, and due to fears of cross-polination contamination of other food sources.<span> </span>Human studies have not been done, but in laboratory animals, GMO diets have resulted in stomach ulcerations, liver enlargement, changes in the stomach lining, and poor growth. Some are concerned that those with severe allergies may not be able to determine if a GMO food contains genetic material from the food they are allergic to, thus putting them at risk. In one case of anaphylactic reaction to soy, the victims were not allergic to soy, but were allergic to peanuts, which had been used in genetically altering the soy. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">How Common are GMOs:<span> </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">From the non-GMO Project website:<span> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">According to the USDA, in 2009, 93% of soy, 93% of cotton, and 86% of corn grown in the U.S. were GMO. It is estimated that over 90% of canola grown is GMO, and there are also</span> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">commercially produced GM varieties of sugar beets, squash and Hawaiian Papaya. As a result, it is estimated that GMOs are now present in more than 80% of packaged products in the average U.S. or Canadian grocery store.</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"></span></b></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Limiting your intake of GMO products could be vital to your health! </span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"It's important to watch what you eat. Otherwise, how are you going to get it into your mouth ?" </span> </span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">— </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Matt Diamond</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tea Talk-Organic, organic, organic!</span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Tea itself is not currently genetically modified, but the flavorings used in tea may be.<span> </span>Using organic tea with organic flavorings will avoid GMOs.<span> </span>Buying organic also protects from pesticide residues in tea, since tea is not washed after harvesting because that affects its oxidation.<span> </span>If the tea you drink was grown using fertilizer or pesticides, that’s what you’re drinking!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">To buy organic tea, read the label.<span> </span>The tea should be certified 100% organic, flavorings and all.<span> </span>Fortunately, organic tea is not wildly more expensive than the non-organic varieties, so make a good cup of healthy, uncontaminated organic tea and ENJOY!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Herb Corner: Cold and Flu </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">I’ve already caught my first (and hopefully last) cold of the season, and I hear coughing and sniffles all around me.<span> </span>Here are a few food tips when you are sick, and some of the herbs used to keep you well and prevent colds from occurring in the first place:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Food Cures</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Simple Diet:</span></i></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">When you first feel a cold coming on, simplifying your diet by eliminating dairy, soy, fatty foods, sweets and processed foods for a few days will allow your body to focus on getting well instead of digesting these complicated foods.<span> </span>Broth-based soups are one of the best choices while fighting a cold.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Special Tips:</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> Drinking a blend of ginger and mint tea, and adding scallions, garlic, and citrus or other fruit high in vitamin C to your diet are also helpful in aiding your body’s defense system.<span> </span>For cough and sore throat, Chinese medicine uses cooked pears sweetened with honey (added after the pears are cooked) to strengthen your lungs and immune system.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Herbal Therapy</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Yu Ping Feng San: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Also known as Jade Windscreen remedy, this simple formula of three herbs is recommended for long term use to build the immune system in those who catch cold easily or have compromised immune systems.<span> </span>Research on the main ingredient of the formula, astragalus, suggests it has antiviral properties, as well as being beneficial in various conditions, including diabetes, HIV, and the side effects of chemotherapy. It can interact with medications, and can aggravate hypertension in some people.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Ren Shen Bai Du Wan:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> Classically used to treat colds, this formula is now often also used long-term to prevent colds.<span> </span>Ren shen is the pinyin for ginseng, and in formulas containing ginseng herb-drug interactions can be a concern.<span> </span>Many versions of this formula use dang shen, or codonopsis, which is less prone to interactions.<span> </span>This formula is usually ok for people with hypertension managed by medication.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">NAET Info</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Katie Larimer has been with Green AcuClinic for several months now, and we are excited about combining Chinese medicine with NAET therapy.<span> </span>NAET stands for Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques.<span> </span>It is a non-invasive treatment that treats symptoms resulting from allergies or sensitivities to a variety of substances, such as foods or chemicals, or even your body’s reaction to beliefs or experiences.<span> </span>We have found that using acupuncture to keep the meridians functioning at optimum levels during NAET treatment has subjects seeing greater improvements more quickly than those receiving either therapy alone.<span> </span>Acupuncture works to make your entire body function better, with the various body systems acting in harmony.<span> </span>NAET therapy then “clears” specific, stubborn reactions that may not respond well to other therapies.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Because of my own NAET treatments from Katie, I have dramatically better energy, tolerate foods better, and have less pain.<span> </span>NAET treatments played a major role in eliminating a problem I was having with kidney stones for the past 2 years.<span> </span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Katie Larimer is a Certified NAET practitioner with a background in massage therapy and Asian studies.<span> </span>She is at the Green AcuClinic offices by appointment and can be reached at (804) 399-1700.<span> </span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Northern Lights Spa</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">My new office at Northern Lights Spa in Williamsburg is offering a special<span> </span></span><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">North Pumpkin Patch Mud Treatment for only $70! </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Contact Northern Lights Spa at<span> </span>(757) 903-4302 for more information</span><strong><span style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">“<span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning.</span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">”</span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">--Thomas Jefferson</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">That’s it for this issue.<span> </span>Hope to see you soon!</span></b></div>Teresa Y Green, L. Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06662392568425508439noreply@blogger.com0