September Equinox Newsletter

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” – Stanley Horowitz, poet

Welcome Fall 2019 with open arms and a bursting heart to take advantage of all it offers for optimal health. Each seasonal transition affects your body and mind in different ways. Getting to know the best way to use the autumn change to your advantage will not only increase your well being but it may also open doors you never knew existed.

Acupuncture and Autumn Organs

Each season correlates with specific systemic organs such as the heart, liver, bladder, and kidney. The organs associated with the season of fall are the lungs and large intestines.

Committing to a fall acupuncture protocol is to focus on strengthening these organs so they can run on all cylinders, easily transitioning into the next season. A licensed acupuncturist will asses the best pathways, known as meridians, to stimulate or calm scattered energy. For some, the term “energy” may be hard to swallow, just as it is for medical science. Yet, there is no other way to describe the profound reactions of millions reporting their beneficial experience associated with this over two thousand year old discipline.

Lung

The lung is a yin organ. Yin represents slow, gentle, female, passive, dark, mysterious, earthy and internal.

Imbalanced lung qi (“chee” aka life force) could present as:

• Deep held grief and sadness
• Excessive attachment
• Difficulty letting go

When the lung qi is flowing and balanced, one can experience enhanced:

• Clarity of thought
• Positive self-image
• Surrendering to and allowing inner peace and joy regardless of circumstances

Large Intestine

The large intestine is a yang organ. Yang represents rapid, energetic, male, assertive, light, obvious, heavenly and external.

An imbalanced large intestine channel is often associated with:

• Inability to let go
• Uptightness
• Stubbornness
• Stagnation
• Negative outlook (glass half empty vs. half full perspective)
• How we flow with life’s current

A balanced large intestine can be associated with increased:

• Sense of relaxation
• Release of what no longer serves you
• Flowing with life vs. resisting
• Focus on the day-to-day vs. big picture/meaning/purpose

A good acupuncturist will try to balance or stimulate these organs during the fall transition and even well into the season. Focusing on other factors that may be affecting your lungs and large intestine will be significant in recharging and rejuvenating a possible compromise as well.

Break Your Stagnation and Still Feel “Alive”

In addition to using acupuncture to align your autumn associations, investigating other ways to break your stagnation could be highly beneficial.

You may feel that aspects of your life are uneventful, always the same, or just plain boring. This is why so many people reach for vices like alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex, gambling, or any other unhealthy excess to make them feel, “alive”. Yet, these choices only complicate unresolved feelings creating a cycle of abuse that can eventually lead to a negatively compromised body and mind.

This fall, make an attempt to break this cycle and start living on a higher path. These are some ideas on ways you can start anew during a season that will surely, energetically embrace your every attempt. Break your stagnation and still feel, “alive” without the unhealthy, excessive vices.

Open Your Body

The two ancient practices of qi gong and tai chi offer a meditative, energy opening session that feeds the body’s meridians for optimal energy enhancement. Both of these practices involve following drawn out movements (almost like slow-motion martial art) that concentrates on balance, breathing, and meditation. These are excellent ways you can begin your journey beyond being stuck in one place. It is one of the best “jumping off points” if you’re holding yourself back due to laziness, injury, or fear. If injury is a factor, both these practices can be done gently from a seated position.

Purge Material Items

Cleaning out closets, cabinets, car trunks, garages, gym lockers or anything else that is holding material you just don’t use or have overused makes for a great stagnation breaker. Purging your material items into a recycling or donation program will make you feel lighter and clearer.

Talk Therapy

While you physically purge, you may want to emotionally purge as well. Finding a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker that you connect with for healthy talk therapy could be life changing. Don’t rely on friends or family to unload your stagnated energy on as this could cause more strife than you want to deal with. Find a practitioner and commit to making decisions that move you forward this fall, not backward.

You Must Sleep

Lack of sleep can derail all the above. No matter how much you try to improve your life, if you do not get seven to eight hours of sleep per night you will just be spinning your wheels. Studies show that as much as scientists are baffled by why we sleep, they do know that it cleanses the brain. NPR (national public radio) reported on the importance of sleep, stating that,

“While the brain sleeps, it clears out harmful toxins, a process that may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, researchers say. During sleep, the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain increases dramatically, washing away harmful waste proteins that build up between brain cells during waking hours”

In addition, adequate sleep may relieve anxiety. In a study published by PubMed (US Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health) it was concluded that,

“Sleep efficiency weakened the association between anxiety and inductive reasoning in middle-aged and older adults. Evidence from the study suggests better sleep may limit the negative effects of anxiety on executive functions in mid-to-late life.”

See if this fall you can break your stagnation by getting more sleep. It’s the best time to stay under the covers when the air gets cooler. If you spend a third of your life doing it, you may as well invest in some things that just might help you increase your slumber.

The Right Fall Recipes

Just as each season correlates with specific organs as well as color, sound, emotion and so much more, eating specifically for each season can be empowering as well. Incidentally, the additional constitutions associated with fall are:

• Sense organ – Nose
• Emotion – Grief and sadness
• Climate – Dryness
• Stage of development – Harvest
• Flavor – Pungent
• Color – White
• Sound – Crying
• Healing sound – “Sssssssss”

Eating foods that mesh with the autumn season supports these constitutions to help rebalance your system. These are some of the right fall recipes you can try to get you started on a path of utilizing fall friendly foods.

Some of many fall associated foods include:

• Olives
• Vinegars
• Sweet potatoes
• Cooked vegetables
• Walnuts, Chestnuts
• Adzuki beans, Navy beans
• Onions, Garlic, Horseradish, Parsnips
• Orange vegetables like winter squashes
• Lemons, Limes, Apples, Pears Warming soups and stews
• Fermented foods (including yogurt, miso, sauerkraut, tempeh)
• Dark, leafy winter greens such as kale, chard, mustard greens, etc.
• Spices: bay leaves, black pepper, chili, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, rosemary

Plant-Based Autumn Eating

Now that everywhere you look, non-dairy, plant-based eating is becoming more of an option and for good reason.

According to a recent study published i the esteemed British Medical Journal (BMJ), it was concluded that,

“This systematic review demonstrates evidence that a plant-based diet can significantly improve psychological well-being, quality of life, control of T2D [type 2 diabetes] measured by HbA1c [glycated hemoglobin] and a number of physical characteristics (weight loss, FBG [fasting blood glucose], total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides) in people with T2D.”

Terms like vegan and vegetarian are being replaced by ‘plant-based’ to change naysayers minds toward healthier choices. Below are some recipes that fall into the plant-based category however some still use the vegan/vegetarian titles.

Citrus Sesame Kale

2 tsp. sesame oil (toasted)
1 tsp. grated ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bunch kale (about 3/4 lb.), tough stems removed & leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
1 1/2 tsp. soy sauce or tamari
1 tbsp. fresh orange juice
2 tsp. sesame seeds
pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Heat sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic; cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add kale and stir until coated with oil. Stir in soy sauce and orange juice; cover and cook for 3 minutes, or until kale is softened. Stir in sesame seeds and red pepper flakes (if using) and serve.

*Recipe courtesy of Oh My Veggies

Vegan White Bean Soup

4 cups white beans, cooked or 8 oz dried (use Navy, Lima, Cannellini, Great Northern)
2 cups vegetable broth, or water
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium potato, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/2 teaspoon ground paprika
2 tablespoons coconut milk
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes, or 2 teaspoon fresh leaves chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, or 1 sprig of fresh
Pinch ground allspice
1 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Pinch Cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes

If you are using dried beans, prepare 8 oz of dried beans by sorting and washing. Soak in water to cover for 8 hours or overnight. The following day, drain and rinse beans and cook in water until tender.

Place beans, water, onion, garlic, potato, carrot, marjoram, paprika, coconut milk, parsley, thyme, allspice, salt, cayenne pepper, bay leaf in a large pot. Bring to a boil, and reduce to simmer for 30 minutes or until desired thickness is reached. Add yeast flakes, check seasoning and serve immediately.

*Recipe courtesy of Healthier Steps

Stick total friendly foods to keep your lungs and large intestine in synch with seasonal eating. It will fire up your qi and tamp down any unnecessary drag you may be feeling. Avoiding processed, packaged, sugar or salt laden foods while following a good exercise protocol (even walking for a half hour per day!) can make all the difference.

News and Noteworthy

Herbs for Diabetes

Healthline recently published the article, ‘Treating Diabetes with Herbal Medicine?’ It first cited a California herbalist who was negligent in treating a 13 year old boy. He prescribed an herbal remedy and recommended he forego his insulin. The boy died and the herbalist was jailed. The article went on to warn of using naturopathic doctors who were not licensed or diligent in their approach which should be similar to a conventional doctor, especially when it comes to life threatening diseases. The article then cited safe approaches under a capable, naturopathic doctor’s care, specific herbs that are recommended for diabetes.

Some of these include:

• Fenugreek – This spice and long-time traditional medicine for diabetes, has demonstrated efficacy in both animal and human trials. In one recent study of 60 people with Type 2 diabetes, adding fenugreek seeds to their diet was found to have a significant effect on controlling blood sugar.
• Cinnamon – Numerous studies have shown that consuming about half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day can result in significant improvement in blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.
• Holy basil – This herb is commonly used in India as a traditional medicine for diabetes. Studies in animals suggest that holy basil may increase the secretion of insulin. A controlled trial of holy basil in people with Type 2 diabetes some years ago showed a positive effect on both fasting and post-meal blood sugar.

Acupuncture for Menopause and Bell’s Palsy

US News reported how acupuncture could help menopausal symptoms stating,

“Acupuncture for menopausal symptoms is a realistic option for women who cannot or do not wish to use [hormone therapy]” to ease hot flashes, sleep issues or mood swings, said a team led by KammaSundgaardLund, from the department of public health at the University of Copenhagen.”

Also, a study published by PubMed (US Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health) stated that, ‘Acupuncture Treatment Outcomes in Treating Bell’s Palsy may be a valid option. Bell’s Palsy is a condition in which the muscles on one side of your face become weak or paralyzed.

Researchers from the College of Acupuncture and Massage, Chengdu University stated that,

“Eight-hundred twenty-six subjects were analyzed. Among these, 698 (85%) subjects had a good prognosis”

At Integrative Med Solutions (IMS), Dr. Lisanti 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 info@intmedsolutions.com to verify your specific benefits. If you are emailing, please include your full name, date of birth and insurance identification card number.