April 5, 2022 Yang Wood Dragon Month

April 5, 2022, is the first day of the Yang Wood Dragon month in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese calendar assigns one of the twelve animals, five elements, and the polarity of yin or yang to each year, month, day, and hour. What does this mean regarding how Meridian Harmonics approaches health and treatment strategies? 

The Yang Wood Dragon refers to one of the sixty-four hexagrams described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Thunder over Mountain and signifies weakness above and below and strength in the interior. The image is of thunder in the mountains – an energetic state without support resulting in a struggling state.

 

This hexagram is the image of Thunder sinking downward against the rising energy of Yang Earth Mountain. Yang Earth Mountain exerts a force against the sinking energy of Thunder creating struggle. It occurs during a time of the year when the season is transitioning from late winter to early spring. Thus, the struggle. 

Common disorders during this month are:

Headaches, dizziness, low back pain, sciatica, joint weakness, wrist/arm/elbow pain, leg weakness and paralysis, foot pain and swelling, heel pain

Hemorrhoids, warts

Cough, phlegm, asthma

Teeth problems, hearing loss, facial paralysis (Bell’s Palsy), manic psychosis, epilepsy, loss of voice

Menstrual problems, dysuria, enuresis, genital itching or pain, constipation, dementia, depression, irritability

Chest and rib pain, palpitations

The transition from the winter season into springtime can be a tumultuous period. The climate is often very windy and changes very quickly. During the writing of this post, the BA.2 derivative of the COVID-19 Omicron variant is the most prevalent pathogen in the United States. It’s still a good time to remain vigilant against unexpected changes in the environmental pathogenic factors such as windy cold or windy heat settings that can trigger the various conditions listed.

Here at Meridian Harmonics, during this month we will supplement our treatments to support the Yang Wood Dragon month for each patient. This can be accomplished using specific acupuncture and herbal therapies. Each patient is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for every patient. We will assess each patient, individually, on what strategies are best suited for them. 

Modifying one’s lifestyle can support this period and the springtime season. This transitional period in the year brings varying weather patterns. Climatic pathogenic factors are always transported by this prevalent windy pattern. It’s important to protect yourself from the wind as it is the carrier of pathogenic factors. This season typically sees a huge uptick in allergy symptoms with commons symptoms of headaches, facial pain, asthma, sinusitis, and rhinitis.  

This transitional period allows us to be more flexible with our meals while remaining mindful that the undercurrent of the springtime encourages us to consume different foods than what is recommended during the winter months.  

Reduce or eliminate intake of dairy foods (i.e., milk, cream, yogurt, cheese, ice cream), as they create dampness and increase mucus production.

Drink plenty of distilled water throughout the day to promote drainage.

Make sure the diet is adequate in supplies of vitamin A and C. Vitamin A is essential for the healthy mucous lining of the respiratory tract. Vitamin C is well recognized for its effect to prevent and treat an infection.

Avoid raw or cold food and beverages such as sashimi, sushi, salads, steak tartar, and seared meat. Eat cooked vegetables and nothing straight from the refrigerator.

Avoid fried or greasy foods as they create dampness and phlegm.

One more recommendation involves activity. Spring is a time that is characterized by an awakening from a slumber. Engaging in activities that are in harmony with this attribute will encourage the body to begin building cardiovascular strength and endurance. Activities like power walking, vinyasa yoga, tennis, jogging, or casual cycling are more beneficial for the body.

Our focus this month is helping patients identify and desensitize common allergens in the environment and the diet. We use an FDA cleared computerized system for the assessment and cold laser therapy for the desensitization. 

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Clinic hours: Tue - Fri 8:00 - 12:00, 1:30 - 6:30

Closed: Sat, Sun, Mon

Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

www.mhaom.com

Mar 6, 2022 Yin Water Rabbit Month

Mar 6, 2022, is the first day of the Yin Water Rabbit month of the Chinese calendar. The Chinese calendar assigns one of the twelve animals, five elements, and the polarity of yin or yang to each year, month, day and hour. What does this mean regarding how Meridian Harmonics approaches health and treatment strategies? 

The Yin Water Rabbit refers to one of the sixty-four hexagrams described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image represents Water over Wind and signifies the downward movement of Water or rain over the ascending movement of Yang Wood, Thunder. Thunder and Rain create chaotic confusion and difficulty. Fortunately, this energy state will not last and will lead to a more calming state.

This hexagram is the image of Water sinking downward against the sinking energy of Yin Wood or The Well. The image derives from the pole-and-bucket well of ancient China. The wood represents not the buckets, which in ancient times were made of clay, but rather the wooden poles by which the water is hauled up from the well. The image also refers to the world of plants, which lift water out of the earth by means of their fibers. The well from which water is drawn conveys the further idea of an inexhaustible dispensing of nourishment. 

Neglecting this time for consolidation and preparation can result in the following general disorders: 

nervous system and some digestive system problems: headache, dizziness, epistaxis, pain and weakness of the lumbar and leg, sciatica, hemorrhoids, weakness of the joints, aching and dysfunction of the elbow, warts 

disorders of the head, chest and rib cage and lower limbs: eye pain, night blindness, blurring of vision, weakness, numbness, and pain of the lower extremities, distention and pain of the breast,  febrile disease, headache, redness, swelling, and pain of the eye, tinnitus, deafness, pain in the hypochondrium, spasm and pain of the upper extremities

urinary, respiratory, circulatory, and nervous system disorders: retention of urine, enuresis, constipation, hemoptysis, asthma, dementia, pain in the heel, sudden loss of voice, stiffness of the tongue, pain in the wrist and arm, and palpitations 

We’re at the beginning stage of moving from the winter season into springtime. It’s still a good time to remain vigilant against unexpected changes in the environmental pathogenic factors such as windy cold or windy heat settings that can trigger the various conditions listed.

Here at Meridian Harmonics, during this month we will supplement our treatments to support these systems of each patient. This can be accomplished using specific acupuncture and herbal therapies. Each patient is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for every patient. We will assess each patient, individually, on what strategies are best suited for them. 

Modifying one’s lifestyle can support this period and the winter season in general. This transitional period in the year brings varying weather patterns. Climatic pathogenic factors are always transported by the wind. Protecting yourself from the wind cold of winter or the wind cold of indoor air conditioning is a must. Likewise, the occasional wind-heat from warmer weather or from indoor heating from furnaces can also manifest internally in the body with diverse symptoms, depending on the individual. Overexposure to the wind, cold, or heat causes external climatic pathogenic factors to invade the acupuncture channels and leads to the energy of Qi within the channels being inhibited or blocked. In the Yin Water Rabbit month, the wind pathogen is predominant and invades the organs leading to the various internal medical conditions listed. 

This transitional period allows us to be more flexible with our meals while remaining mindful that the undercurrent of the winter encourages us to continue consuming more warming foods and fluids, which are more beneficial to the internal organs. While the previous months have focused more on exercise for building and recovery, we’re moving into a period where we can begin introducing more cardiovascular exercises. The wind of springtime moves us to be more active.

Clinic hours: Tue - Fri 8:00 - 12:00, 1:30 - 6:30

Closed: Sat, Sun, Mon

Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

www.mhaom.com