Immune Boost, Coronavirus and More: Spring Newsletter 2020

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” — Thích Nhất Hạnh

Welcome to the glorious season of spring which offers hope, positivity, action and growth. Rise above the anxious noise and chatter to replace with calm, movement, immune system strengthening, supplemental support and much more. For most regions this winter was mild, a sober reminder of our environmental change. This spring, lessen your carbon footprint while advancing your health at the same time. Put immune boosting recipes on your plate and learn ways to protect yourself from the current coronavirus pandemic and viruses in general.

All this, and more, in the Integrative Med. Solutions Spring Newsletter 2020.

Wood: Imbalance Into Balance

Out from under a winter blanket the spring season associated element ‘wood’ abounds. This element is all about growth and success. During this time of potent wood function, you can find ways to take advantage of this element’s enormous power while quelling any imbalance that compromises your optimal wood flow. Doing so will enhance your immune system and when using acupuncture, seasonal eating, and supplementation in correlation you just made glide through spring healthier than ever before.

These are some actions you might consider implementing during the season of wood:

• Make plans
• Embrace change
• Follow your vision
• Formulate new ideas
• Move, do not sit still
• Follow positive affirmations

However, before you jump into action, take pause of your possible wood imbalance. If you can identify with a constant indication of one or more of these below, they could be clues you may have a wood imbalance:

• Dry Eyes
• Joint pain
• Frustration
• Depression
• Headaches
• Feeling “stuck”
• Volatile emotions
• High blood pressure
• Hormonal imbalances

Recognizing these signs will help you commit to rebalancing your wood constitution. The best move is to first shore up your immune system. By encouraging your body to rev up its viral, bacterial and other levels of protection response, you will create the best foundation to enhance your spring season growth.

Acupuncture and Immunity

Acupuncture can treat a variety of ailments. It is currently being used in many hospitals for cancer treatment relief and post surgery recovery to sports injuries and immune boosting support. Now, more than ever, you will need an immune system booster to help safeguard yourself from strains like the current coronavirus (COVID19).

The paper ‘Acupuncture and Immunity’ published in Evidence Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine cites one acupuncture point (of many) notable for immune system assist and virus prevention. The point is called stomach 36 (ST36) and it is located a few finger lengths below the knee on the soft outside (lateral) part of each shinbone.

“The acupuncture point ST36 is widely applied in immune-related diseases… ST36 obviously ameliorated CLP [cecal ligation and puncture – lab created] induced intestinal injury and high permeability and exerted protective effects on intestinal mucosal immune barrier by increasing the concentration of sIgA and the percentage of CD3+, γ/δ, and CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells, which eventually decreased the mortality of sepsis [infection].”

T-cells are the white blood fighter cells we all need to protect from bacterial and viral interlopers. This study of acupuncture and immunity shows a direct link to T-cell production from a strengthened immune system due to acupuncture treatment.

A biological response often constitutes a palpable approach but what if your immune system is compromised because of an emotional response? You may not realize it but dealing with a recent emotional struggle or maintaining a deep harboring of an unresolved issue can significantly impact your immune system health. This also correlates with the panicky, anxiety-ridden response to viral outbreaks such as COVID19. Staying safe and vigilant should not involve emotional panic that can weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to illness.

Med News Today reported that,

“A study conducted by specialists from Pennsylvania State University in State College has found that negative moods may change the way in which the immune response functions, and they are associated with an increased risk of exacerbated inflammation.”

Acupuncture can help reduce your anxiety, depression, stress, negativity, or panic which in turn can allow your immune system to do more important work, like dealing with a virus. During the crossover into spring give yourself a head start to increase your healing capability by embracing a good immune boosting acupuncture protocol (1-2x per week for 4-6 weeks). This spring is an opportunity to protect yourself from circulating pathogens as well as create a solid anti-allergy response so you can hit the ground running to put all those spring plans into action.

Regulate Your Qi, Increase Your Immune Response

Qi (“chee”) is your life force and when this is compromised you can become susceptible to any number of health compromises. Acupuncture will keep your qi flowing and in addition, regulating your qi through proper seasonal eating is an excellent acupuncture partner. During spring, more than ever, the wood element is connected to your liver. When these two important aspects of spring are in synch your body’s immune boosting abilities become wholly strengthened.

It is recommended that during spring you should eat less sour foods and more mildly sweet foods. This, of course, does not mean you should be gorging on processed sugars but instead adding fresh fruit, sweet carrots, and other natural sweets can be empowering. My Dao Labs recommends these foods during spring:

• Green Foods: During spring, it is recommended to eat foods green in color and rich in chlorophyll that help accelerate rejuvenation of the liver. This includes things like spirulina, chlorella, parsley, wheat grass, kale, Swiss chard and collard greens.
• Radishes: Pungent in flavor, radishes are perfect for the spring time. They help move liver Qi and open up the liver meridian.
• Sour Citrus Fruits: Foods like lemons, limes and grapefruit are all good choices that help cut fats that may have been stored up in the body during the winter months, while also keeping the liver Qi moving smoothly.
• Bitter Leafy Greens: Spring is the appropriate time for liver cleansing, which is what the bitter flavor does. So adding things like dandelion greens, arugula, radicchio, mustard greens and spinach will help tremendously.
• A Little Sweetness: Think young vegetables such as young carrots and beets, this nourishes the blood and helps keep you vital during all the new activity.

Quick and easy liver nourishing, immune boosting, spring friendly recipes:

Dandelion and Arugula Salad

Ingredients:

Salad

1 cup Dandelion Leaves torn into pieces
1 cup wild arugula leaves torn into pieces
1 cup of mixed lettuce (I used red radicchio and butter lettuce)
6 grape tomatoes (I found a mix of multi-colored baby heirlooms) cut in half
8-10 Kalamata olives
2 Tbsp of dry toasted sunflower seeds

Dressing

3 parts extra virgin olive oil
1 part lemon juice
½ tsp stone ground Dijon mustard
crushed garlic 1-2 cloves
1 Tbsp plain yogurt
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Salad: On a salad plate, arrange the lettuce, dandelion and arugula leaves.
Add tomatoes, olives, and sunflower seeds

Dressing: Whisk together the oil, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, yogurt, salt and pepper
Drizzle over the salad and serve

*Recipe courtesy of: Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski

Lemon-Lime Detox Smoothie Recipe

1/2 medium lemon, peeled and deseeded
1/2 medium lime, peeled and deseeded
2 medium bananas, peeled
juice from 1 large orange
1-2 cups chopped dandelion greens, kale or spinach (optional)*

Start by adding the liquid to your blender, followed by the soft fruit. Add the greens to your blender last. Blend on high for 30 seconds or until the smoothie is creamy.

*Recipe courtesy of: Davy & Tracy Russell

10 Good News Facts About Coronavirus

Now that you know not to panic in the wake of this global pandemic, educating and protecting yourself is paramount. Here are ten good news facts about the COVID19:

1. We Know What It Is – Unlike diseases like the AIDS epidemic when information was scant and science had no clue how to combat it, the processes of COVID19 are understood including that its mutation rate is believed to be very low.
2. We Can Test – Detecting the virus is essential and testing has made it possible to track and begin containment of the virus.
3. China is Improving – Our only connection to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is by watching China, where coronavirus originated (believed to come from eating bat meat). Currently, new cases are no longer spiking and the disease seems to be receding.
4. Most Cases Are Not Serious – Unlike polio which afflicted babies to the elderly and everyone in-between, COVID19 presents as minimal in most people under 50 years old. Those above fifty are also at low risk if they have no health compromises or respiratory conditions. Therefore, it is essential to protect the elderly and sick. 80% of cases are mild.
5. Recovery – Don’t get panicked by reports of deaths as most people recover from COVID19.
6. Children – Today, children are rarely affected by this disease as their immune systems are strong enough to stop it.
7. You Can Clean It – Some viruses are more virulent but it has been proven that COVID19 can be eliminated by cleaning and washing.
8. Information Is Plentiful – It may seem like the news is reporting the end of the world but there are hundreds of research articles already published on COVID19. Information like this can only enhance a cure.
9. Vaccine Prototypes – Many vaccine prototypes are being developed with human trials soon to come. The University of Queensland, in Australia has announced a working prototype vaccine called a “molecular clamp”.
10. Antiviral Trials – Addressing those infected is just as important as a global vaccine. Currently, there are upwards of 80 clinical trials testing COVID19 antiviral treatments. One broad spectrum antiviral used to stop SARS/MERS and Ebola (two viruses that were taken under control) is called Remdesivir as well as Chloroquine used to combat malaria are both being tested against COVID19 with good results.

Keep your immune system strong with acupuncture, seasonal eating, and supplements like:

• Black elderberry
• Oregano oil
• Olive leaf extract
• Astragalus
• Ginseng
• Takuma
• Zinc
• Vitamin C
• Garlic

At Integrative Med Solutions, we will design an immune boosting and anti-viral 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

Best in Health from IMS!