Springs Community Acupuncture

COVID-19: understand your risks and preventive measures.

3/9/2020

The new corona virus, COVID-19, is causing a lot of concern worldwide. With the first confirmed cases in Colorado just last week, we've been fielding a lot of questions from patients about how to be prepared and how the clinic is handling this threat. Please start by reading our previous blog post, "5 Tried & True Ways to Protect Yourself During Cold & Flu Season" for a firm foundation. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of self-care and utilizing basic immune boosting strategies.

Prevent exposure to pathogens. This is an addendum to the previous post: the 6th tried & true practice. Protect yourself by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water (20 seconds recommended). We've heard it all before, and yet it bears repeating. Especially when out in public, frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizer and avoiding touching your face are your best defense. We suggest keeping hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes in the car or at your desk at work, for easy use. Eco-friendly options are available, although supplies may be limited.

Understand your risks and manage your stress. This can be a tricky balance. Stay informed and monitor your risk. Check out these sources we look to for updates:
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
US Department of State travel advisories
State of Colorado
El Paso County Health Department
And an article we like on quarantine preparation:
www.treehugger.com/health/how-prepare-quarantine.html
We need to be able to assess our risk level in order to feel prepared and make good decisions about travel or attending events. We should all stay tuned for updates and follow the latest public health guidelines.

Keep in mind that following the news can be stressful and stress suppresses the immune system. We must balance the need to understand our risks with healthy practices that minimize our stress and keep our immune systems strong. With so many factors beyond our control, let's focus on what we can control: eating well, getting plenty of fresh air, sunshine, exercise, good sleep and maintaining a positive mindset. (See our previous post for more details.)

What else can we do? There are two more items that I'd like to address, based on our experience and the best research we have available.

1. Managing Allergies. Spring allergy season is upon us. Tree pollen counts have been high since February and many of our patients are feeling the effects. Take care to address these symptoms early, to keep prevent inflammation in your airways. Consider running an air filter at night at home. Change your furnace filters regularly and pay a little extra for a high quality HEPA filter that will trap pollen, dust and mold spores. Take herbs, supplements and/or medications necessary to manage your symptoms. We have lots of recommendations on this front - schedule an herbal or nutrition consult to learn more.

2. Chinese Herbs to boost immunity. Here at the clinic, we are following the latest research and recommendations in Chinese medicine. One study during the SARS outbreak (another strand of coronavirus) showed that two Chinese herbal formulas were very effective in preventing the disease. While we do not have any studies available yet in regards to COVID-19, we believe these formulas may also be effective.

The recommended formulas are Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Windscreen Powder) and Sang Ju Yin (Mulberry Leaf & Chrysanthemum Decoction). Many of our patients take Yu Ping Feng San for allergies or to boost immunity, and we recommend they continue doing so. We have ordered a supply of Sang Ju Yin, which we hope will be helpful to many of our patients who are concerned about COVID-19. If you have questions about the availability of these formulas or which herbs and supplements to take to boost your immune system, please give us a call or schedule an herb consult so we can determine the support that is best for you.

We will continue to post updates as the epidemic unfolds. Until then, stay informed, manage your stress and take good care!

-Hannah Beachy, L.Ac.

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5 Tried & True Ways to Protect Yourself During Cold & Flu Season

2/27/2020

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1. Acupuncture --
Receiving acupuncture weekly or bimonthly is a great regular maintenance plan to keep the immune system strong. Acupuncture helps regulate stress response and encourages deep sleep to keep your body healthy and immune system strong.

2. Gua Sha -- Traditional Chinese skin brushing.
This technique is great for the early stage of illness, as well as cough or asthma. Common areas to brush include the upper chest, upper back and lung channels. The scraping method helps to vent pathogens by opening the pores and releasing heat and toxins before they get deeper in the body. Look for videos on YouTube to better understand this practice. Gua Sha tools and liniments are available at the clinic or online.

3. Chinese Herbs --
There are many different patterns that can distinguish how to treat the common cold and many different herbal formulas that can help with prevention and help stop the pathogen in its tracks. You can schedule an herbal consult to know which formulas are best for you to keep handy in the medicine cabinet.

4. Dress for the Weather --
Stay bundled up and follow grandmotherly, common sense advice. Keep your head, neck, and feet warm during the winter season. These are the areas where pathogens like to creep in. A scarf, hat, and gloves go a long way to protect the body. Try layering with wool and avoiding cotton in order to wick away moisture and keep the body warm. Traditionally, keeping the kidney area warm is also recommended.

5. Take Your Vitamins --

Vitamin D -- Spend some time outside and get some sunshine!
Vitamin C -- Found in citrus foods and supplements like Emergen-C are great for boosting the immune system quickly.
Eat healthy foods! Wholesome foods will help you get the nutrients, vitamins, phytochemicals, and fiber you need in bio-active formats. Aim for colorful dishes to maximize your nutrient-density mealtimes. Keep healthy snack items available to avoid food-crashes and the intake of empty calories/junk foods. Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine.
It's the season for rich bone broths, slowly roasted foods, root vegetables, stews, and warming herbal teas.
Avoid eating cold and raw foods, such as salads, juices, and ice cream. Excessive intake of cold foods can be very hard on the body in the wintertime. Add warming components to juices and salads, such as raw garlic, ginger, or spicy peppers to counteract their cold nature.

- Kimberly Brown, L.Ac.

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Cast Iron Cooking: Enlightening facts on the kitchen essential

2/26/2020

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The classic cast-iron skillet has been a staple tool in home cooking for ages and can even be a beneficial way to get a small daily dose of iron in the diet. However, as with most everything, there is an appropriate time and a place for using it. Cast iron, when heated at high temperatures, leaches out iron which then is readily available for our digestive systems to absorb in the meals we cook.

That being said, be wary of how much iron you naturally obtain from your diet. There are many foods already rich in the mineral and adding more through cast-iron cooking can give your system an iron-overload. Excessive iron in the body becomes a "pro-oxidant" meaning it increases the free radical formation in the bloodstream which is exactly the opposite and possibly harmful effect of the beneficial anti-oxidants we should be seeking out.

You may not realize that a multitude of foods already contain adequate levels of iron: red meat, dark leafy greens, molasses, beans, lentils, dried fruits (peaches and apricots), pumpkin and sunflower seeds, nuts (walnuts, pistachios, almonds). If any of these are a big staple in your diet, odds are you are getting enough daily intake of iron. Cooking with cast-iron is most ideal for vegetarians/vegans, those with anemia, women (especially pre-menopausal) and kids.

Proper seasoning is essential for getting the most out of your cast-iron. While word on the street is that it's a high-maintenance piece of equipment, it is really very easy to care for. "Seasoning" is really just a fancy term for oiling a pan. Start by coating the skillet with vegetable oil and then let it sit in a warm oven for about an hour. Do this a few times with brand new cast-iron and then seasonally afterwards. When cleaning, do not use soap or scouring pads with cleanser. After each use, simply rinse with warm water, heat it on the stove to dry and apply a thin coat of oil to protect the seasoning. Over time, it will uphold a nice, natural, non-stick surface.

- Kyndl Mueller, L.Ac.

Photo credit: Simone Ritter Art

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Shinrin-yoku: a therapeutic arboreal past-time

2/25/2020

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How about trying a little eco-therapy to keep your sanity during the coming months when SAD (seasonal affective disorder) can be at its most winter-ferocious? Preventative measures must be taken to not sink down into the dumps of darkness. The act of forest-bathing is a very simple yet enlightening concept. Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese term that translates to "taking in the forest atmosphere". Instructions on achieving this do not require disappearing to a zen monastery to master the art form, perhaps just a nice stroll through your local neck of the woods for a day, a week, an afternoon, or a few hours.... As long as you are present amidst a living forest you can reap the health benefits of shinrin-yoku without cutting too greatly into your daily routine.

Reminder: keep it simple.
"Go to a forest. Walk slowly. Breathe. Open all your senses." (shinirinyoku.org)

Research has shown scientifically the rejuvenation and serene sense of calm a body can absorb from a living forest. Trees release organic compounds that our natural killer cells (think immune system) just eat right up. In a somatic sense other health benefits include: lowered blood pressure, uplifted moods and better focus, better sleep and mental clarity, and more ease in coping with stress with lower cortisol levels and down regulation of the nervous system.

Sensory immersion in a forest is naturally healing, it allows for a grounding within yourself and your reality. What better prescription for good health is there than a walk in the woods? Practice presence and absorb your surroundings in order to experience that moment of still-point where you become attuned with your own true conscious awareness; the ultimate mind-body-earth connection.

- Kyndl Mueller, L.Ac.

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Lend An Ear: On Auricular Acupuncture

2/24/2020

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For more on NADA and further research on the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture check out the links below:

NADA
acudetox.com

On smoking cessation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447300/

On Insomnia
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/38050061.pdf

Acupuncture of the ear, also known as auricular acupuncture if you want to get technical, is a powerful and simple tool that can effect great change. The ear is a micro-system for treating the entire body. In this there are specific areas that can be stimulated to influence the autonomic function of the nervous system, which is primarily responsible for our fight-or-flight response and with that the down-regulation thereof. This can be tremendously effective for treating anxiety, insomnia, PTSD, chronic pain, you name it and there's most likely a point on your ear that can help treat it.

A lot of research has been done in the area of addiction recovery with a combination of 5 of these points, called the NADA or Acu Detox 5 needle protocol. This protocol is practiced by certified trainees in a variety of professions, and used to help eliminate cravings and withdrawal symptoms, as well as treating a wide variety of symptoms associated with recovery.

We often use auricular points in addition to other points on the body in the treatment room. In certain settings, like our outreach program at Mt. Carmel, we primarily rely on these points. Patients report feeling more relaxed, sleeping more deeply, having reduced food cravings and more!

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COVID-19: understand your risks and preventive measures.

5 Tried & True Ways to Protect Yourself During Cold & Flu Season

Cast Iron Cooking: Enlightening facts on the kitchen essential

Shinrin-yoku: a therapeutic arboreal past-time

Lend An Ear: On Auricular Acupuncture

Authors:
Kimberly, Hannah and Kyndl

Archives

Categories

COVID-19: understand your risks and preventive measures.

5 Tried & True Ways to Protect Yourself During Cold & Flu Season

Cast Iron Cooking: Enlightening facts on the kitchen essential

Shinrin-yoku: a therapeutic arboreal past-time

Lend An Ear: On Auricular Acupuncture

Authors:Kimberly, Hannah and Kyndl

Archives

Categories

Authors:
Kimberly, Hannah and Kyndl