Summer Solstice 2017

Make Your Resolution Now!

Find your inner light during the summer of ’17. Grab this season and run with it because waiting until New Year’s Eve to make a change may not bring the vast opportunities summertime has to offer. Why commit to a resolution during a time most people hibernate? Do something in a season when your body and mind are raring to go during hours of elongated daylight, flourishing flora, and a wide variety of foods. It is the perfect opportunity to combine a welcoming atmosphere with a welcome change.

Choose something you’ve been wanting to achieve, such as:

• Lose weight
• Start a workout regiment
• Change your diet
• Launch a new project
• Begin a relationship
• Rekindle a relationship
• Incorporate more nature

However, before you embark on your summer mission, taking the time to build a healthy foundation could result in significant support for your body and mind. When your  system is in synch with the season, aspirations that require focus, stamina, and reliability are much easier to attain. The key is utilizing an acupuncture protocol with the healing properties of herbal, nutritional and supplemental naturopathic medicine to support any endeavor you put your mind to. It’s not about fancy gadgets, classes or fads to get you there, it’s about tapping into that pilot light that is always burning within you, ready to take to flame the minute you commit.

Follow Your Yin-Yang

According to Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM), yin and yang make up the two forces in the Universe (fyi, yang is pronounced: “yong”).

Yin is a passive, negative force and yang is an active, positive force. When it comes to each season, regulating your life according to these two forces is a tool, when mindful, you can utilize and the rewards could be significant.

The yin-yang according to The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine (the Neijing Suwen ~ 240 BC) is described as,

“Heaven is round, earth is square; people’s heads are round, their feet are square and thereby correspond to them. Heaven has the sun and moon, people have two eyes; Earth has nine regions, people have nine orifices. Heaven has wind and rain, people have joy and anger; Heaven has thunder and lightning, people have the notes and sounds. Heaven has four seasons, people have four limbs. Heaven has five tones, people have the five depots; Heaven has six pitches, people have six palaces. Heaven has winter and summer, people have cold and hot [ailments]. Heaven has ten days, people have the hands’ ten fingers … Heaven has yin and yang; people have man and wife. The year has 365 days; the body has 360 joints.”

The summer is yang season. In the beginning, the fire of yang begins to rise giving great flow and energy. Then by about July 22 it is believed that the yang peaks and the yin begins to takeover.

There are several steps you can take to harvest your summer yin/yang. All it takes is working with a naturopathic doctor to encourage some personal motivation applied to one step and the rest will follow. By the end of the summer you could transform your body and mind to soar through autumn and beyond.

Association Acupuncture

Using the energy enhancing and releasing abilities of acupuncture during the summer is to ‘tune up’ your meridians (aka life pathways) that may be struggling for optimal motion. When these meridians slow down or become blocked it is believed that various ailments can occur. With acupuncture, cellular changes can occur that begin to re-animate meridian flow.

According to Dr. John Longhurst professor of medicine at the University of California, Irvine,

“There’s evidence from our laboratory and many other laboratories to suggest that the cells quiet down after acupuncture,”

The heart organ and fire element are part of summer’s essential associations and, as they coincide with a rising yang, it is important to keep them running on all cylinders. If the heart is struggling during this period it could create conspicuous or even inconspicuous systemic struggles which may significantly impede your cardiovascular health.

One testimonial as reported by ABC News came from a patient with high blood pressure who stated that,

“In my late 30s, I was probably 145/95; with medication, I got it down to 130/80. And since I’ve been on acupuncture and not taking medication, I’ve been averaging 125/75.”

More research is validating the application of acupuncture for many ailments including hypertension, with one study by the Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Gazi University Medical Faculty, Ankara/Turkey stating,

“We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggest that acupuncture should be in the hypertension treatment guidelines and widely used for blood pressure regulation.”

A naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist can assess any of your summer associations that may be in a weak state and, with acupuncture and naturopathic remedies, attempt to strengthen them for overall, optimal health.

Dive Into a Summer Feast

All seasons coincide with specific food choices. This has been practiced by cultures all over the globe which is why local, seasonal eating is not only good for the environment (it reduces unnecessary fossil fuel transport and encourages local farming), but it also feeds the natural ebb and flow of your life force known as Qi (“chee”).

Stick to cooling foods such as cucumbers, beans, melons, lettuce, and berries to keep your heart and other summer association, kidneys, in good flux.

These are an example of some summer associated recipes:

Pineapple Fried Rice

Properties: Slightly cool, sweet and sour
Benefits: Helps with digestion, treats excess heat and is a diuretic
Pick a pineapple that is ripe, sweet and not acidic
Avoid if you have peptic ulcers or skin discharges

Ingredients:

1½ cups pineapples cut into small cubes
½ cup red pepper, diced
½ cup green pepper, diced
½ cup Carrot, diced
½ onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
3 cups of cooked white/brown basmati rice
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp sesame seed oil (optional)
2 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

Heat olive oil in pan, fry onion till soften. Then add garlic and fry till lightly browned.
Add in all the vegetables, sauté until they slightly soften.
Add in the rice and pineapple last, mix all the ingredients together. Salt and pepper to taste.
Turn off the heat and add sesame seed oil.
If you prefer, you can add the egg in during the last 5 minute of cooking.
(Recipe courtesy of Petersen Wellness)

Radicchio Salad

Supports summer associations of bitter flavor and the color red.

Ingredients:

1 head radicchio, shredded
1/8 cup shavings of aged parmesan, or asiago
Optional: arugula, miniature tomatoes

Dressing:

2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp  apple cider vinegar
A drizzle of maple syrup (less than a tsp)
Dash of salt and pepper

Make the dressing a day ahead of time to allow the garlic to infuse the dressing. In a small bowl combine the olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup, salt and pepper.  Use a small whisk, and whisk all the ingredients together for about 20-30 seconds to fully combine the dressing. Taste and adjust ingredients as necessary. Shred or roughly chop the radicchio head. Use a cheese slicer and thinly slice the parmesan into the shredded radicchio.

Try to break it up into uneven, roughly one to two inch slices. Toss the salad with the dressing, either in individual bowls or commit the entire salad to the dressing. Serve as is or on a bed of arugula accented by a handful of miniature cherry tomatoes.

(Recipe courtesy of Stick Out Your Tongue)

Summer Preparedness

When you get a sunburn it has been shown that the cells actual self-terminate to protect you from their DNA transformation. It is well known that extended exposure to sun rays can lead to cancer, yet most people do not have enough natural choices alongside synthetic ones.

In 2014, The San Francisco Chronicle reported on FDA ‘log jams’ of natural sunscreen product approval. In some cases the red tape lasted up to ten years when highly funded, even dangerous drugs wait one to three years to make it to market. That said, there are now more natural choices finally becoming available which compete just as well as conventional sunscreens offering waterproof, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic ingredients.

Avoid sunscreens that contain parabens, oxybenzone, or avobenzone which have been linked to breaking down into carcinogens and hormone blocking compounds. Instead, look for products containing:

• Zinc oxide
• Titanium oxide
• Olive Oil
• Cocoa butter
• Aloe Vera
• Seaweed extract
• Beta glucan
• Vitamin E
• Bio-Melanin
• Green tea

There is also the possibility of additional protection through ingested supplements. The extract of the fern plant Polypodium leucotomos has been used for centuries by Guatemalan and Honduras cultures. Other supplements that may be helpful include: vitamin C and D, green tea, lycopene, and astaxanthin. Never rely on sunscreens or supplements alone as you should always remain vigilant by using hats, sunglasses, umbrellas and cover ups.

News and Noteworthy

Rutgers Reports ‘No Need for Antibacterial Soap’

You may be swayed to pay extra money when you see the word ‘antibacterial’ on your soap label. A new study by researchers at Rutgers University confirms this unnecessary marketing move which may also risk depleting good bacteria along with bad which could have an adverse affect on the body.

As reported by Naturopathic Doctor News and Review (NDNR),

“Rutgers researchers confirmed that antibacterial soap is not necessary to remove bacteria during hand washing. They also found that the amount of soap used and the temperature of the water are also not important factors in ensuring hand cleanliness. This study is in confirmation of the FDA report issued last year that antimicrobial soaps were not better than other soaps, and could cause health problems.”

Paris Climate Agreement Pullout: Don’t Panic

Even though the American President has pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement there is no reason to panic. This agreement was never an international law, it was basically a gentleman’s agreement amongst 195 countries to reduce carbon emissions. There was also the fact that many smaller, poorer countries being assisted by larger, wealthier countries were in jeopardy of corruption and misusing funds.

Even though it may have been better to remain in the agreement to support an overall global effort, Americans have shown great mobilization against a government holding on to archaic views. Governors and mayors alike have announced moving forward with plans for even more efforts to reduce carbon emissions without government assistance.

ACP Low Back Pain Guidelines Updated

The NDNR also reported that,

“The American College of Physicians have recently updated their guidelines on the treatment and management of acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain.¹ The recommendations, which are deemed “strong recommendations,” are incredibly favorable to holistic practitioners – acupuncture, massage, and mindfulness techniques are referred to specifically. The recommendations conform to the knowledge that most acute back pain resolves on its own regardless of treatment. The chronic recommendations are emphasized in an effort to limit opioid prescribing.”

At Integrative Med Solutions, we will design an acupuncture and naturopathic treatment program that works for you. In many cases, insurance covers portions of the acupuncture treatment. Allow us to support you to achieve optimal health.  To make an appointment or find out more about how acupuncture and naturopathic medicine can benefit you, please call our office at 914.337.2980 or Click Here to schedule an online appointment.

*Please Click Here to see a current list of Insurance Companies that commonly carry acupuncture benefits for its members. Please call 914.337.2980 or securely email.