Acupuncture Energy and Clinical Nutrition for Optimal Health

The resilience of the human body can wane over time so it is more important than ever to take proactive measures to mitigate future health challenges. During the spring months, as the wood energy surges, shedding winter anchors is essential to keeping up into summer. Acupuncture can help stoke dormant energy reserves while at the same time clinical nutrition can work in tandem to utilize systemic functions. Explore the tools of acupuncture energy and clinical nutrition for optimal health.

Opening Pathways for Energy Release

The practice of acupuncture follows specific pathways aka meridians which are believed to vertically run throughout the body. When these meridians are compromised through the accumulation of stuck or stagnant energy the systemic response can be that of low energy, fatigue, or even chronic fatigue depending on how blocked the meridians are.

Acupuncture can be used to open these pathways and move through this compromised energy similar to removing rocks from a flowing river. Some points shown to improve low energy that may be addressed during an acupuncture session include:

• Third Eye Point – between the eyebrows
• Sea of Energy – underneath the belly button
• Gates of Consciousness – base of the skull
• Sea of Vitality – lower back
• Outer Gate Point – above the wrist crease

A randomized controlled study conducted in four hospitals obtained data taken from 150 participants to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture on chronic fatigue syndrome [CFS] and idiopathic [spontaneous] chronic fatigue [ICF]. Combined researchers from five different Universities in South Korea concluded that, “The results of this study suggest that 4 weeks of body acupuncture therapy added to usual care can improve fatigue symptoms of CFS and ICF patients.” (1)

When it comes to addressing low energy, CFS and ICF symptoms are the most serious and the results of acupuncture on these symptoms show how powerful it can really be.

Another study shows the effects of acupuncture on those suffering the low energy and cognitive compromise of ‘burnout syndrome’. Subjects in this study were experiencing EE (emotional exhaustion), depersonalization, and low feelings of personal accomplishment. It was found that acupuncture acted as an “epigenetic control mediated by DNA methylation changes”. Epigenetic is described as the study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. This study by researchers from the General Medicine, Acupuncture and Chinese Pharmacotherapy Office, Rolle, Switzerland and the Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland found that,

“Acupuncture treatment was found to be highly effective on all burnout dimensions and the epigenetic targets identified were involved in some major disturbances of this syndrome.” (2)

These examples of how acupuncture can improve energy, stamina, and overall general well-being show the importance of this ancient practice. By including a clean, clinical nutrition recommended eating protocol you can significantly improve your quality of life (QOL).

Energy and Nutrition

Energy and nutrition go hand-in-hand. The term “you are what you eat” emerged decades ago but the message is still trying to get through. So many people choose to disconnect from nutritious eating in the name of taste, convenience, or lack of information. By working with a profession trained in clinical nutrition (not a dietician as these are two different things) a per-individual protocol can be developed. Add in the practice of Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) and nutrition choices are raised to a level of potential transformation, particularly when combined with acupuncture.

Working with the 5 taste model, nutrition can be obtained through some surprising CCM applications. Some examples of this include:

Bitter foods and herbs – These tend to have a ‘drying’ effect as well as a cold association. Foods such as broccoli rabe, kale, collard greens, and arugula are good for treating what is considered Damp Heat conditions. Damp heat has been linked to:

• High cholesterol
• Cancer
• Metabolic disorders
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Multiple sclerosis
• Fibromyalgia
• Eczema
• Allergies
• Environmental illness

In addition, some symptoms of damp heat include:

• Hot body
• Headaches
• Fever
• Swollen neck glands

Tastes and Organs – As CCM explores the association of specific tastes, correlating with particular organs, as well as applicable seasons, can clue in an acupuncturist as to where the best course of action should be applied. the connection is described as follows:

• Salty > Kidneys and Bladder
• Sour > Liver and Gall Bladder
• Bitter > Heart and Small Intestine
• Spicy > Lungs and Large Intestine
• Sweet > Spleen and Stomach

*Bland foods are considered able to reach areas unreachable by other tastes.

According to the Pacific College of Health and Sciences,

“A diet rich in grains and legumes and poor in fats and refined sugars frees qi [“chee” – life energy] so it can move through your system. This flow can cause negative emotions until it has a chance to become established. You should attempt a gradual and comfortable transition. To help the body purify itself, eat Liver-cleansing foods such as beets, carrots and burdock. It is also wise to work in conjunction with other aspects of healing, such as acupuncture and herbs.” (3)

These 5 behaviors to avoid are also cited:

• Eating what should not be eaten – foods that are out of season or bad for you
• Immoderate eating – consumption in excess of one’s needs.
• Eating contrary to custom – eating at odd hours and eating a variety of foods that are new to your body without adjusting.
• Failure to discharge the old before the arrival of the new – eating before you have finished digesting the previous meal, eating when you are not hungry.
• Intentional retention of digested foods – basically this means suppressing natural processes such as belching, vomiting and gas as well as urination and bowel movements. (3)

Acupuncture energy and clinical nutrition for optimal health is an excellent combination to prime the system for a path of more mindful living. At Integrative Med Solutions, we will design an acupuncture energy and clinical nutrition program that works for you. In many cases, insurance covers portions of the 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. For more info, please call 914-337-2980 or securely email us at info@intmedsolutions.com.

Best in health from Integrative Med Solutions.

Sources:

(1) https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-015-0857-0

(2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34875647/

(3) https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2014/05/22/chinese-medicine-and-nutrition