We’d like to take this time to thank each and every one of you for making 2016 a great year at Heritage Acupuncture. It’s an honor to be on your health and wellness team! In China, the New Year is celebrated by starting fresh. Traditionally, the Chinese clean the house, get a haircut, buy new clothes and paint a fresh coat on their front doors. “Lucky money” gifts are exchanged in special red envelopes. Others may decorate their houses with red and gold banners, symbolizing good luck and prosperity. We all know good health is not only a matter of good luck — and maybe genetics — but also reflects commitment of practitioner and patient. At Heritage Acupuncture, we are absolutely committed to the art and science of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We thank you for being part of our lifelong learning experience and hope you reap ample rewards!
Do you have a desk job? Do you experience back, neck or wrist pain? Prolonged sitting can be hazardous to your health, but our latest newsletter describes how postural adjustments and simple stretches can help you stay productive and avoid pain:
At Heritage Acupuncture, we’re always on the lookout for tasty gluten-free staples to spice up your daily meal rotation. These mung bean crepes will prove a delicious and flexible addition to your menus. Use them to wrap some scrambled eggs, roll up a lunch wrap or to sop up a curry for dinner.
In Chinese medicine terms, mung beans are detoxifying to the body. They help clear such skin conditions as acne and rashes. Mung beans also contain compounds that help boost collagen in skin. So along with the fiber and nutritional benefits, this is one healthy crepe. Enjoy!
Ingredients 1 cup whole mung beans 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into chunks 2 garlic cloves, peeled, halved 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 1/4 tsp. turmeric 1/2 cup rice or chick pea flour 1/2 to 1 cup warm water salt to taste
1/3 cup vegetable oil or as needed cilantro chutney- for serving 8 scallions, sliced very thinly
Soak mung beans in warm water to cover by at least an inch for at least 8 hours in a dark place. Drain and transfer to a food processor with the remaining batter ingredients starting with the 1/2 cup water and puree. The batter should be slightly thicker than a typical crepe batter consistency. Transfer batter to a bowl.
Heat a large skillet over high heat and brush lightly with oil. Stir batter and ladle out about 1/3 cup on the griddle. Quickly spread the batter into a thin crepe, by tilting the pan. Pour a little oil around the crepe and cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes on each side, until nicely brown. Serve with cilantro chutney and scallions sprinkled on top.
The documentary 9,000 Needles is a powerful portrayal of an all-American man in the prime of his life who suffers a devastating stroke. His health insurance doesn’t allow him to continue post-stroke care in the U.S., so he seeks treatment in China at a special stroke clinic.
9,000 Needles documents the amazing stroke treatment centers in mainland China, where patients from all over the world receive comprehensive care with acupuncture, Chinese herbalism and various physical therapies. Check out the trailer:
We all try to stay away from sugar, but because there are those occasional times when we indulge, it’s comforting to use recipes that are mindful of our health and our tastebuds. Even if you’re not celiac or gluten-intolerant, most people who go gluten-free experience positive results ranging from weight loss to less joint pain. Just like dairy, gluten is considered a heavy, sticky and damp food in Chinese medicine terms. Eating such foods can cause weight gain, bloating and sluggishness. So if you’re going to treat yourself, going gluten-free makes a lot of sense.
Here are some delicious recipes — for gluten-free brownies, chocolate cupcakes and blueberry muffins — from chef extraordinaire Amanda Cushman. Amanda, who recently settled in Durham, NC, is a culinary educator who has cooked professionally for 30 years. She began her food career in Manhattan and worked with Martha Stewart and Glorious Foods before becoming a writer for such publications as Food and Wine and Cooking Light. As a private chef and cooking instructor in Los Angeles, she worked with clients such as Neil Patrick Harris, Molly Sims, Anne Archer and Randy Newman.
1/2 cup coconut flour 6 tablespoons Valhrona cocoa powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 6 large organic eggs 1/2 cup maple syrup 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted 2 teaspoons vanilla
Frosting
4 Tb. unsalted butter 3 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1 Tb. lemon zest 2 Tb. lemon juice 1/2 cup gluten free confectioner’s sugar, sifted unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted, for garnish
Procedure:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners or spray with cooking spray.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. In a separate bowl whisk together eggs, syrup, coconut oil and vanilla. Pour wet into dry ingredients and quickly whisk together.
Spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Combine butter, cream cheese and vanilla and mix well with electric mixer. Add lemon juice, zest and powdered sugar and beat. Spread frosting over cupcakes and garnish with shredded coconut if desired.
Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins (Makes 12 muffins)
4 Tb. unsalted butter, melted or coconut oil 1 cup milk or almond milk 2 large eggs 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 cup honey 1 1/2 cups almond flour 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. cardamom 1/2 tsp. salt 1 1/4 cups fresh organic blueberries
Topping:
4 Tb. cold unsalted butter, melted 1/4 cup almond flour 1/4 cup coconut sugar 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds
Grease muffin pan. Heat oven to 350 Fahrenheit.
Combine butter, milk, eggs, vanilla and honey in medium bowl and whisk.
Combine flour, baking soda, spices and salt in large bowl. Add wet ingredients and stir until just combined; do not over-mix. Fold in blueberries. Divide batter among the 12 cups.
Combine topping ingredients in small bowl and sprinkle over the muffin batter.
Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool before removing to a wire rack.
*These muffins can be frozen.
Gluten Free Brownies (Makes 16 brownies)
Ingredients:
2/3 cup good quality cocoa powder 6 Tb. coconut oil, melted 1/2 cup brown rice or almond flour 2/3 cup maple syrup 1/3 cup coconut sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ cup chopped walnuts, optional
Procedure:
Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit. Combine cocoa powder and coconut oil in small bowl and mix well. In separate bowl mix flour, sugars and salt. Add the cocoa mixture, eggs and vanilla and blend well.
Bake in 8 by 8 inch greased square pan for about 20 to 25 minutes or until brownies are firm but slightly soft in the center. Cool and then cut into squares.
Do you want a clean house without using chemical-based cleaners? Use the amazing powers of essential oils to keep a clean and green house. In the final installment of our essential oil series, we’ll learn some of the many ways to employ essential oils to enhance existing cleaning products or make your own products from scratch.
Most essential oils with powerful cleaning properties happen to smell great as well. Basil, rosemary, sage, oregano, spearmint, eucalyptus, thyme, ginger, clove, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint and rose geranium have antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and antiviral actions. Mix and match according to your personal preference. For example, lemongrass smells great with sage and also mixes well with ginger.
Here are some fresh ideas for green cleaning:
▪Dishwashing: Want to keep it simple? Use your own natural dishwashing liquid and add a few drops of essential oils to boost its antiseptic and aromatic qualities. Try lavender, pine, lemon, bergamot or Melaleuca.
▪All-Purpose Spray: Combine two cups water plus two cups white vinegar with 20 to 30 drops of lemon, orange, eucalyptus, peppermint or lavender (or any appealing combination thereof) in a glass spray bottle. Shake thoroughly before use.
▪Laundry: Just 2-3 drops of essential oils in the wash cycle enhances the cleanliness of your detergent, imparts a fresh aroma and helps the washing machine stay clean. Try fir, spruce, cedarwood, rosemary or geranium.
▪Carpet: Deodorize your carpet naturally by adding 15-20 drops of essential oils to a cup of baking soda. Mix well and let sit in a covered container overnight to give the oils time to absorb. The next day, sprinkle the mixture over your carpet, let sit for 30 minutes to an hour, then vacuum. Great essential oil choices for carpets include grapefruit, ginger, lemon, bergamot, rosewood, lemon and mandarin.
Bathroom: Here’s a great recipe for tubs, showers and countertops. To use, shake well first and then spray over the surface (toilet, countertop, bathtub, floor) and wipe clean. Combine in a six-ounce spray bottle:
40 drops lemon essential oil
30 drops tea tree essential oil
30 drops peppermint essential oil
20 drops cinnamon bark (or leaf) essential oil
Then fill to the top with white vinegar.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our series on essential oils. Whether you’re cleaning the house, relaxing after a long day or making a skin care blend, these precious oils offer many powerful and pleasing choices.
For pain increasing in cold weather, Chinese medicine offers an explanation and relief
Photo by sixninepixels.
Does the cold air of winter flare up your joint pain? Do you find your neck, back or knees ache more in winter weather? In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) terms, this very real medical phenomenon is called bi syndrome. Bi syndrome relates to Western diagnoses such as arthritis and fibromyalgia, although the TCM condition is much more specific.
There are, for example, different types of bi syndrome depending on symptom presentation. Although all people with “arthritis” have pain, some may also have swollen joints, while others feel worse with cold and still others have hot, swollen joints. Bi syndrome, then can be rooted in damp, cold or heat. Cold, however, is the most common root cause of both bi syndrome and pain in general.
Why is cold so detrimental to the body? Cold hurts because it contracts an area, limiting blood flow and rendering muscles, tendons and ligaments stiff and inflexible. Cold also damages your body’s Yang energy, which empowers warmth, energy and movement in the body. Without Yang, your blood turns cold and stagnant. What happens when the blood is cold and stagnant? You guessed it – pain!
So how can you relieve cold weather pain? Acupuncture, of course, is an excellent way to dissolve stagnation, strengthen blood and open the channels that supply nourishment to every bodily cell and tissue. Moxibustion, or the external application of an herb called mugwort, also warms the body and promotes circulation. An acupuncturist uses moxibustion or “moxa” by burning prepared mugwort and holding the moxa stick over specific acupuncture points.
Internal Chinese medicine also contains an abundance of herbs to treat pain, specifically cold-related pain. Chinese herbs are among the safest forms of internal medicine. Many highly effective herbs are common household spices, such as ginger and cinnamon.
What can you do at home to build up your defenses to cold-related pain? A lot! Start by keeping warm. When the thermostat drops, keep your feet warm with socks inside and outside the home. Wearing weather-appropriate clothing (scarves are great!) outdoors protects your body from cold invasions – which frequently use wind as a vehicle. In TCM terms, it is possible to for cold to enter the body through the pores and settle into soft tissue and joints. Add a few drops of warming essential oils to your bath water or massage oil to help chase away cold and promote healthy circulation (frankincense, myrrh and ginger are good examples).
Your diet also can exacerbate or alleviate pain. Ingesting cold foods, including icy drinks and raw foods, makes cold-related pain worse. Focus on foods and herbs that warm the body and promote circulation, such as chives, oregano, cinnamon, eggplant, garlic, ginger and leeks.
Other essential allies in pain prevention are exercise and stretching. A gentle hatha yoga practice goes a long way in releasing stagnation in the body and promoting blood flow. To move circulation and energy in the body, it’s not necessary to exercise vigorously. Even a moderate walk (of at least 30 minutes in duration, at least 3 times per week) is excellent medicine for soft tissue and the circulatory system.
How can we help? Heritage Acupuncture & Wellness offers acupuncture, Chinese herbology, customized stretching routines, postural assessment and correction and private yoga instruction. Please call 919-685-2938 or email at info@heritageacupuncture.com if you’d like our help with pain relief.
There’s no shortage of variety in today’s skin care market, with a dizzying array of product lines and specialty ingredients. If you’re looking for a customized blend or want to use specific substances, essential oils offer infinite choices with ingredients ranging from the economical to the luxurious.
In general, blends consist of several different essential oils mixed with base oils. With an off-the-shelf product, you have no control over the quality of oils used or the amount. Mixing your own blends allows you to address specific concerns or use special oils that don’t make it into ready-made products – or if they do it’s in minute amounts. For example, you could indulge in an anti-aging blend of rose, frankincense and sandalwood essential oils with avocado oil. Or a wrinkle-fighting blend of rosewood, patchouli and myrrh with apricot kernel oil. You’ll love the options and the results!
These general guidelines will help you get some ideas about high quality, customized skin care products you can easily make yourself:
Oily skin: Oily skin needs substances to astringe oil and regulate oil production. Those include essential oils of eucalyptus, ginger, neem, rosemary and tea tree. Many of these oils also have anti-bacterial qualities for deep cleansing of the skin. Blend these with such base oils as grapeseed, coconut or jojoba.
Dry or mature skin: These skin types needs oils to moisten and nourish. Because dry and mature skin lacks optimal blood flow, essential oils like frankincense and myrrh contain powerful anti-aging and circulatory properties. Other oils that nourish these skin types include rose, helichrysum, geranium, sea buckthorn berry, carrot seed and lavender. Excellent base oils for dry and mature skin types include avocado, almond, apricot kernel and rosehip oils.
Sensitive skin: Sensitive skin needs soothing and anti-inflammatory oils. Important choices for this skin type are lavender, helichrysum, german chamomile, neroli, frankincense, jasmine and sandalwood. You can blend these with coconut, rosehip, olive or almond oils.
Discolored skin: Age spots take time to treat, but essential oils like frankincense, myrrh and sandalwood help boost circulation to break up the discolored spots. Add some lavender and/or helichrysum to nourish the skin and support local blood volume, which is essential for healthy skin coloration.
With few exceptions, essential oils must be blended with a carrier oil. Some oils, such as cinnamon and thyme, are too strong to apply directly to the skin. And as allergic reactions are unpredictable, dab a small amount of your blend on the neck or wrist before applying to your face. If you make the blend yourself, you can test a small amount of each oil. Other essential oils, such as lavender and tea tree, usually can be used neat, but it’s always better to test first.
Dilutions can vary depending on the age and health condition of the user, but most adults do well with a 2% dilution for skin care blends. That means 2 drops essential oil per 1 teaspoon of carrier oil or 10-12 drops essential oil per one ounce base oil. Happy blending!
Essential Oil DiffuserIf you’re just wading into the ocean of therapeutic essential oils, there’s no more rewarding first step than aromatherapy or using oils for physical and psychological well-being. Aromatherapy offers infinite benefits from making your home inviting to actually improving your health.
In many cases, there’s a lot more to aromatherapy than personal preference. In other words, just because you like an essential oil’s fragrance doesn’t necessarily mean the substance will benefit your specific needs. But with home aromatherapy, preference can take a front seat if your priority is making the house smell great.
What if you don’t know where to start? You can’t go wrong with clearing the air, especially if you’ve got cats, strong cooking smells or poor ventilation in your home. Commercial air fresheners with synthetic fragrances often clear odors by emitting toxic chemicals to mask them. Clearly, there are healthier ways to refresh your environment.
Citrus oils are excellent choices to cleanse the air while also providing antiviral and antibacterial benefits. Choose from bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lemongrass and tangerine. Sage and rosemary are great air purifiers as well. An appealing blend could consist of simply lemon with sage essential oil. Try mixing about 10 drops of essential oils with 1 cup water into a spray bottle to freshen the air. Water diffusers are an ideal way to send a fine mist of fragrant oil into a room. With water diffusers, 3-4 drops of essential oil should provide around 3 hours of aromatherapy.
Another popular use of aromatherapy is boosting the immune system – especially during cold and flu season. An excellent way to do this is with antiviral essential oils, many of which also fight bacteria as well. Aromatic antiviral oils include clove, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, lemon and rosemary. Eucalyptus also works to clear phlegm from the lungs and sinuses. You can’t go wrong combining eucalyptus and lemon for a fresh immune-boosting blend.
Essential oils even have the ability to positively affect your mood. Frankincense, for example, is said to promote contemplation. The citruses – especially bergamot and tangerine – are uplifting to the mind. Other oils help promote relaxation and sound sleep, including ylang ylang, geranium, clary sage, marjoram, rosewood, Roman chamomile and lemon balm. Some stress-busting blends include lavender with clary sage, patchouli with tangerine and a combination of Roman chamomile, lavender and marjoram.
Keep in mind you can purchase ready-made blends from many essential oil companies. In some cases – especially if the blend includes several individual oils or expensive oils – it’s more economical to buy a blend than to purchase separate oils. It all depends how deep you want to wade into the essential oil ocean. With essential oils, you’ll benefit whether you make a modest or major investment.
What’s the most convenient way to have an herbal medicine cabinet in your home? An essential oil collection gives you an infinite number of ways to address physical, emotional and beauty concerns – all while making your home smell amazing. At Heritage Acupuncture, we use essential oils to make our treatment room smell great, to cleanse the air and to relax clients. We also include essential oils in skin care services. With these aromatic plant extracts, it’s easy to adjust a treatment for a particular skin type – whether the skin is oily, dry or sensitive.
Your choices in essential oils number in the hundreds. So where do you start learning about them? If you focus on your health and wellness needs, you can try out different oils and get an idea of their powerful effects. This four-part series by Heritage Acupuncture will explore the use of essential oils for aromatherapy, skin care and household use.
First of all, what is an essential oil? These liquids are the results of a distillation process – typically from steam or water – of the leaves, flowers, bark, roots or other parts of a plant. The result is a concentrated extract that can be inhaled, applied to the body (usually combined with carrier oils) or even, in the case of medical grade oils, ingested.
Your essential oil collection could range from flowers like rose to food substances such as orange peel to resins such as amber. Their hundreds of uses include helping to alleviate aches and pains, heal the skin, relieve insomnia and reduce stress.
If you’d like to get started experiencing the healing properties of essential oils, here are a few tried and true home remedies. Note: Always check for allergies before using essential oils by applying a small amount to the skin. Many oils must be diluted in a carrier oil before application. A good user’s guide is The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.
Burns: Lavender is one of the handfuls of essential oils that may be applied directly to the skin without dilution in carrier oil. For minor household burns (those without an open wound), apply lavender directly to the affected area and repeat every 3-4 hours.
Airline Travel: Are you prone to respiratory infections after flying? Open up a bottle of eucalyptus essential oil and move it slowly under both nostrils inhaling deeply every half hour or so during your flight. You will definitely fare better in the stale recycled air with this preventative measure.
General air freshening: Here’s where your choices are unlimited. Do you like a sweeter smell? Try one of the flower essential oils, such as jasmine. Do you enjoy a citrus smell? Your choices include lemon, orange, mandarin, lemongrass and bergamot essential oils. Many essential oil companies make blends that cater to your mood or goal, whether it’s de-stressing, concentrating or alleviating depression.
You’re probably wondering where to purchase essential oils. Again, the choices are infinite and everyone’s got an opinion and/or preference. If you’d like to know our preferences, feel free to email us at info@localhost/heritage.
Join us for the next part of this series, where we’ll discuss more benefits of diffusing essential oils for aromatherapy.
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Heritage Acupuncture serves the Durham Chapel Hill RTP area and offers acupuncture, Chinese herbalism and Asian skin care services. Janet Lee, L.Ac., specializes in orthopedics and internal medicine.
