Jun 24, 2019
One of the ways of slowing the aging process is to prevent the body from becoming chronically inflamed. How does one become chronically inflamed, and how do we prevent it? The inflammatory process is a normal response in the body and serves as a defense mechanism when we get ill or injured. The body produces histamine, fluids and leukocytes to help heal injured areas of the body, and as a result, one may experience more swelling, redness, increased mucus, watery eyes and inflammation. This usually lasts a few days then the body returns to its normal state. Chronic inflammation occurs when the body has repeated acute inflammatory reactions, such as someone experiencing bad seasonal allergies. With chronic inflammation, the body is exposed to irritants over...
Mar 25, 2019
Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum flower) is a perennial plant that grows worldwide but is native to China. It grows up to 3 feet in height, requires lots of sun, and comes in a variety of colors. The medicinal part of the plant is the flower. It is aromatic and filled with various volatile oils such as borneol, camphor, chrysanthenone, and thymol. Other ingredients include amino acids and flavonoids such as quercetin. Ju Hua is slightly bitter in taste, cooling, light and aromatic. In Chinese Medicine, it enters the Lung and Liver meridians, and its main action is to disperse wind heat from the head. Secondarily, it calms the liver for ascendant liver yang, relieves toxicity, and disperses wind heat in the lungs. In one of the...
Feb 20, 2019
Rosebud Rosebud has long been seen as the symbol of love, making it most appropriate to serve as my herb of the month for February. Personally, it is one of my favorites, not only aesthetically appeasing but also with a taste that is aromatic and sweet. Rosebud is especially tasty when combined with other herbs such as lavender and chamomile, and either alone or taken with other herbs, it can be quite refreshing and soothing. Rosebuds are warm in nature, so it is in turn warming to the body when ingested. This herb regulates the Qi and invigorates the blood. It’s primarily used for chest pain, epigastric pain, rib side pain, irregular menstruation, and pre-menstrual breast tenderness. Mei Gua Hua enters the liver, spleen and...
Jan 30, 2019
Feeling those winter blues? January is the time of year when people are recovering from the holiday rush, detoxing from their overly-rich holiday diet, and feeling the pressure of fulfilling their New Year’s resolution. In Chinese Medicine there are 2 universal energies that create balance in life: one is Yin and the other is Yang. January is the Yin time of year with energy being more passive, inward, and resting — all elements related to darkness. Yang is the opposite — being more active, aggressive, energetic, and full of light. During the winter, people stay inside, are not as active, often curling up due to the cold weather outside and experiencing more darkness in the morning and evening, as well as more cloudy days. Yang...
Jan 12, 2019
He Huan Hua- (Flos Albizziae Julibrissin)- Mimosa tree flower He Huan Pi- (Cortex Albizziae Julibrissin)- Mimosa tree bark This beautiful flower comes from the Mimosa tree that is native to China. Also known as Persian Silk Tree, the Mimosa grows up to 50 feet tall and produces fern like leaves and 7 inch seed pods that are toxic. This tree needs to be fully mature before it blooms with its beautiful flowers that can be red, pink, or white in color. The flowers are round but very thin and thread like, hence the name Silk tree. Non-native to the United States, this tree can be found growing in southern areas such as the Gulf Coast and Florida where the climate tends to be warm and...
Sep 05, 2018
As the summer comes to an end, we prepare for another season change, transitioning into fall. Each change of season leaves some of us feeling vulnerable to illness. Our bodies have to acclimatize to the weather, sleep/wake cycles, dietary habits, and the potential exposure to different bacteria and/or viruses that all lead to stress on the body. The body works to maintain our internal balance with the changes in our external environment. Everything changes from the temperature, to what we eat, and how we dress. In Chinese Medicine, we teach patients about the importance of eating and dressing appropriately for the seasons in order to prevent illness. For example, we do not want to eat the same way in the fall as we do in...
