Summer Newsletter 2018 – Soothe Your Inner Pathways

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ― Henry James

Summer means vacation, opened senses, easy movement and more daylight. During summer, maturation of abundance in nature easily mirrors much of what your body and mind go through.

The symbolism of plant growth to human growth could be regarded in what scholar Heiner Fruehauf wrote about summer in ‘A Classical Chinese Medicine Perspective on the Nature of Aging and Longevity’ stating,

“…when the energy expands further, the plant rapidly spreads out its stems and leaves; when the energy stabilizes at its climax of expansion in summer, plant growth stops and all activity turns inward, creating flavor and blossoms and seeds;”

This is the most exciting thing about summer. How your body and mind have filled up with spring energy and can now, literally, spring into action to reap the benefits during the summer season. Create your own flavor and blossoms and seeds by recognizing what is such in you. It’s not rocket science, it’s looking inward at what makes you fly and grabbing on to it as tight as you can during this opportune time.

Soothe Your Inner Pathways

Restoring your system to its most optimal functioning can be achieved through an acupuncture protocol. Applying such a protocol during your inner summer growth could be a significant move for taking full advantage of what this season has to offer.

Some ways acupuncture may benefit you during are that it:

• Supports joints
• Calms the mind
• Increases focus
• Enhances sleep
• Cools off the body
• Boosts the immune system
• Helps stave off allergens

A study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), as cited by Science Daily as ‘Acupuncture curbs severity of menopausal hot flushes’ reported,

“…the reduced severity of hot flashes might be that acupuncture boosts the production of endorphins, which may stabilize the body’s temperature controls.”

This is one example of how acupuncture can help you enhance your summer experience. By regulating your body temperature acupuncture may help you function without the extra drain of temperature exhaustion. In addition, you may not need to expose yourself to so much air conditioning which has been linked to reducing negative ions in the air. Negative ions are an essential component to well being.

Soothe your inner pathways and bring your summer season to a level you may have never thought possible by utilizing acupuncture. Even if you are a healthy skeptic, give one or two acupuncture sessions a try to very likely experience less pain and more ability to grab summer and swing through it with big smile on your face.

Mind Your Summer Yin-Yang

Attempting to harmonize your existence with the natural flow of your surrounding atmosphere may sound daunting but using various tools, such as acupuncture, it can easily be done.

According to the famous Taoist Yin-Yang symbol the dark dot represents the summer solstice. This spot is referred to as the smallest “shadow” or Yin energy and the leftover white is the “light” or Yang energy. On the other side is the white dot which represents the winter solstice, with opposite symbolism. The Yin-Yang, without words, represents the science of annual solar fluctuation as a result of the earth tilting toward and away from the sun and how important harmony is at all times.

Summer is coursing with the sun’s Yang energy so it is important to keep this dominating force balanced with its Yin counterpart. According to Five Element Healing, symptoms associated with imbalances in the Fire element include the following:

• Excessive perspiration, or lack of perspiration
• Rashes, hives, or hot skin eruptions
• Sleep disturbances, insomnia, and restless sleep
• Palpitations, or an irregular heartbeat
• Restless, agitated, or explosive energy
• Inappropriate laughter
• Anxiety and irrational fears and phobias

To help with a fire imbalance eat cooling foods like: tofu, watermelon and cucumbers; drink clean water infused with fruits; exercise and be sure to cool down with Yin powered meditation.

Light Fare for Summer Play

In ‘Promoting Health During The Four Seasons’ a translation by Heiner Fruehauf of ‘Eight Pieces on Observing the Fundamental Principles of Life’ (Zunsheng Bajian – 1575 A.D.), it is stated that,

“The three months of summer are governed by the energy of fire, and are thus in charge of the process of growing and ripening…During the summertime, one should decrease bitter foods and increase pungent flavors to nourish the lung”

Sticking to summer recipes that enhance your constitution will be the best fuel yet to keep you running on all cylinders. Examples of foods to look for in summer recipes that will enhance your Yin-Yang balance, as recommended by AOMA The Graduate School of  Integrative Medicine, include:

• Eggplant – Strengthens spleen, supports stomach regulation, nourishes the liver disperses heat, encourages urination, and minimizes edema.
• Coconut milk – Slightly sweet, ranges from warm to neutral, nourishes spleen, stomach, & kidney, generates fluid, relieves thirst.
• Cucumber – Nourishes stomach and small intestine clears heat, relieves thirst, promotes urination, clears toxins.
• Watermelon – Nourishes heart, stomach, bladder clears summer-heat, eliminates restlessness, relieves thirst, and promotes urination. Cautions: not good for diarrhea due to spleen deficient cold or for diabetics.

Simple Summer Tomato Cucumber Salad

This recipe is practically effortless but always hits the spot on a hot summer day.

Ingredients:
1-2 red onion
1-3 tomato
1-2 cucumbers
Dill spice

Directions:
Dice red onion, chop up tomatoes and cucumbers. Mix up the ingredients with virgin olive oil, and add some dill, salt, and pepper to taste. Tip: Place ingredients in a plastic bowl with lid and gently shake to mix.

Chia Fresca Recipe

For the ultimate in summer hydration try this refreshing beverage.

Ingredients:
2 cups water or coconut water
1.5 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice, or to taste
Maple syrup or honey (optional)

Directions:
Add chia seeds and water into a jar or glass and stir very well to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes to allow the chia seeds to swell up.

Add lime or lemon juice and sweetener to taste. Stir or shake well to combine and enjoy

Health Note: Chia seeds are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (even more than flax seed)

They help with hydration due to their ability to absorb up to 9-10 times their weight in water

Chia seeds contain fiber, protein, calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc among many other nutrients. *Recipe and info courtesy of Turning Leaf

3 Quick Surprising Natural Summer Fixes

When high activity summer days get heated up these quick natural fixes may help you avoid medication or a doctor’s visit.

• • Mayonnaise and Sunburn – A number one symptom of too much summer, is sunburn. For immediate relief slather on some mayonnaise. The cool temperature as well as proteins will soothe the burn and the egg whites will moisturize and strengthen your skin at the same time.

• Toothpaste and Bee Stings – There is inevitably someone stung by a bee somewhere this summer. If it’s you or someone you know clean the area with soap and water and then try rubbing it with toothpaste. The alkaline quality of toothpaste is believed to neutralize the acidity of the bee venom (it won’t work on wasp venom).
• DIY Bug Spray – If you don’t like chemicals sprayed on your hair, skin, and clothes try making your own bug spray. Add these essential oils, alone or combined, to a small spray bottle of distilled water: lemon, eucalyptus, lavender, cinnamon or tea tree. Carry around on your hiking trip or while working in the yard for a super natural, nice smelling bug forcefield.

News and Noteworthy

Each season new advancements and integrations in naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and many other alternative applications arise in mainstream news. Here are some notable mentions:

Gut Biodiversity and Atherosclerosis

Eat more probiotic rich foods and/or consume a probiotic supplement seems to be what conventional medicine is finally figuring out. Traditional medicine has been using good bacteria to maintain optimal health for thousands of years however a new study corroborates decades of observational results. Published in the European Heart Journal (5/18) a study by researchers concluded that,

“Gut microbiome diversity is inversely associated with arterial stiffness in women. [] This first human observation linking the gut microbiome to arterial stiffness suggests that targeting the microbiome may be a way to treat arterial aging.”

Mindful Breathing, Big Results

European researchers found, yet again, proof of a myriad of benefits when one practices mindful breathing. The study, published in the April 2018 journal Psychophysiology reported cognitive advantages such as:

• Decreasing mind wandering
• Increasing focus
• Enhanced levels of arousal
• Increased positivity
• Decrease in emotional reactivity

Take the time to breathe (in your nose, out your mouth is always best) any time you can.

Ovarian Cancer and Epilepsy Treated With Marijuana

Every day we find out about new applications for medical and recreational marijuana. According to two studies as reported by Naturopathic Doctor News and Review,

“…hemp extract slowed cell migration of ovarian cancer cells. This indicates that a hemp derived extract may be helpful in reducing risk of metastasis.” and “inflammatory cytokines [of ovarian cancer cells] were altered after administration of the hemp extract.”

Also reported by NDNR was how the FDA recently approved cannabidiol for use in treating epilepsy.

“The panel has recommended the drug for only two forms of epilepsy – Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. These two types of epilepsy are very difficult to control. Dravet syndrome typically presents during the first year of life, and associated with a recent febrile condition. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome usually appears a little later, in toddlers. Both conditions are commonly refractory to treatment and often cause developmental and intellectual disabilities from the uncontrollable seizures. Only about 30,000 individuals carry a diagnosis of either one of these conditions.”

This summer take advantage of seasonal changes and alternative applications. 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.