September 8, 2023 Yin Metal Rooster Month

In the Chinese calendar, September 8, 2023, is the first day of Yin Metal Rooster Month. 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. The Yin Metal Rooster month extends till October 7, 2023.

The Yin Metal Rooster refers to the 58th hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Lake over Lake.  The Yin Metal Rooster represents "Joy " and is one of eight hexagrams with the same trigram above and below. It is an image of slight weakness, with an undertone of strength. 

The Yin Metal Rooster hexagram:

From the body and health perspective, the Yin Metal Rooster hexagram represents a shift away from the overbearing energetic nature of the previous month. The environmental influences are moving out of full Summer mode to a more subtle energetic state. As a result of the constant exposure to summer heat and indoor air conditioning, the human body develops a weakness in the Wei or Defensive Qi. This is the Qi that acts as a barrier to environmental influences.  

The effect now has caused a different pathogenic influence. The Yin Metal Rooster has a less energetic nature. The previous month was characterized by extreme heat, inflammation, and dryness. This month the heat and inflammation have calmed down but the dryness remains.  Residual dryness impacts the Lungs first and then cascades inward to other regions: Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach, Spleen, Bladder, and nervous system. The dominant pathological influences began with heat and inflammation in the previous months and transitioned to dryness, fluid deficiencies, and fatigue. 

The Lake trigram originates in the Metal element and is related to dry conditions. In addition to the latent heat and inflammation from the summer heat, dryness is accentuated by consuming foods that are devoid of fluid nourishment or incompatible with one's constitution.

Each season consists of various energetic states, often in conflict. These conditions will be reflected in nature and, more importantly, our bodies. As mentioned before, the Yin Metal Rooster represents a generalized pattern of dryness that affects various organs, tissues, and body regions. Each of these patterns has its own set of signs and symptoms.

Common problems during the Yin Metal Rooster month are: 

headache, dry eyes, dry nasal passages, nosebleed, fever, dry and sore throat, hoarseness, dry face, dry scalp, falling hair

nervousness, irritability, insomnia, high blood pressure, migraine headache, nervousness, chronic fatigue

heartburn, indigestion, dream-disturbed sleep, cardiac pain, palpitations, chest pain, rib pain

painful or scanty urination, constipation, abdominal pain, menstrual problems

Internal organ dryness patterns are aggravated by:

• excess consumption of alcohol, spicy, and sweet foods
• long-term emotional upset or anger
• exterior heat invading the digestive organs
• long-term physical, mental, or emotional stress

Many of the signs and symptoms of dryness from excess exposure to heat and inflammation are quite debilitating. Fortunately, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have great treatment options for all the above conditions.

The key to the Yin Metal Rooster month is to support fluid nourishment and prevent overheating the body Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are very effective in treating these patterns. schedule a consultation

I recommend patients schedule a personal consultation to determine the correct foods for them as most diet programs miss the mark. Michelle offers a free 20-minute Ayurvedic Health Consultation to help with identifying those foods that will prevent extreme heat from accumulating, specifically for you.

If you are in need of remedies from our herbal compounding pharmacy, or any condition, please reach out to us. In most cases, we can schedule a telemedicine visit for you.

Our special this month: 10% Discount on Summer Cool, our in-house Chinese herbal formula to address the many signs and symptoms associated with Texas summers. We developed this formula for folks who exercise or work outdoors in the Texas heat. This formula comes in a 200-capsule bottle and helps with summertime heat and dryness with the following signs: influenza, acute skin rashes, acute tonsillitis, acute upper tract infection, early-stage acute bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, and acute conjunctivitis. Summer Cool is suitable for a low-grade fever, chills, headache, body aches, sneezing, coughing, red eyes, thirst, and sore throat. 

This herbal formula is great for those who spend a lot of time in the heat of summertime, whether it is work or play!

Schedule an herbal appointment

Schedule an herbal refill

Schedule an Ayurveda appointment

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

Closed: Sat, Sun, Mon

Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Herbal Compounding Pharmacy

www.mhaom.com

August 8, 2023 Yang Metal Monkey

In the Chinese calendar, August 8, 2023, is the first day of Yang Metal Monkey Month. 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. The Yang Metal Monkey month extends till September 7, 2023.

The Yang Metal Monkey refers to the 2nd hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Heaven over Heaven.  The Yang Metal Monkey represents "Creation". It is an image of strength, and since it is without weakness, its essence is power or energy. 

The Yang Metal Monkey hexagram:

From the body and health perspective, the Yang Metal Monkey hexagram represents a shift away from the solid energetic nature of early springtime. The environmental influences, currently, are in full Summer mode. As a result, the effect now has caused a different pathogenic influence. The Yang Metal Monkey is a highly energetic hexagram. It represents a hyperactive movement of systemic energies throughout the body. This happens as a result of the extreme environmental heat of summertime. When inflammation overwhelms our body's tissues and organs systemic heat and inflammation set in. The dominant pathological influences begin with heat and transition to inflammation, dryness, fluid deficiencies, and fatigue. During the Yang Metal Monkey month, dry heat patterns have their root in external climatic pathogenic factors coupled with internal organ inflammation. This culminates in an exuberance of Yang Qi. 

The Heaven trigram originates in the Metal element and is related to extremely dry hot conditions affecting the Lungs, Large Intestine, Bladder, Gallbladder, and nervous system. Internal organ inflammation pathology in the summertime often results from eating the wrong foods for the summer season. Essentially, the Yang Metal Monkey month represents a perfect storm of inflammation.

Each season consists of various energetic states, often in conflict. These conditions will be reflected in nature and, more importantly, our bodies. As mentioned before, the Yang Metal Monkey represents a generalized pattern of extreme heat accumulation that affects various organs, tissues, and body regions. In addition to the environmental heat of summertime, systemic inflammation during the Yang Metal Monkey month involves the Urinary Bladder, Gallbladder, Large Intestine, and the peripheral nervous system, Each of these patterns has its own set of signs and symptoms.

Common problems during the Yang Metal Monkey month are: 

Taiyang Level (peripheral nervous system) - headache, eye pain, nasal congestion, epistaxis, fevers, apoplexy, loss of consciousness, acute mastitis, sore throat, conjunctivitis, headache

Upper Jiao key signs: problems in the head, pituitary gland, scalp, facial bones, brain, inner & middle ear, sympathetic nervous system; Headaches, nervousness, insomnia, head colds, high blood pressure, migraine headache, nervousness, amnesia, chronic fatigue, dizziness

Middle Jiao key signs: Heart valves, arteries, pericardium; Functional heart conditions and certain chest conditions

Lower Jio key signs: Kidney problems, hardening of the arteries, chronic fatigue, nephritis, pyelitis

Yangming Level (stomach/large intestine inflammation) - swelling of the face, toothache, sore throat, nosebleeds, nightmares or dream-disturbed sleep, manic psychosis

Taiyin Level (GI tract, fluid metabolism) - menstrual problems, abdominal distension, 

Shaoyang Level (hormones/lymphatic system) - Migraine, redness and pain of the eye, pain in the hypochondrium, tinnitus, deafness, hemiplegia

Jueyin Level (circulatory system) - heat stroke, cardiac pain, irritability, swelling, and stiffness of the tongue

Shaoyin Level (central nervous system) - Loss of consciousness, headache, neck pain, dizziness, manic psychosis, nausea, vomiting, swelling of the pharynx, dryness of the tongue, painful urination, constipation, heat sensation in the sole, palpitations, cardiac pain, chest pain, rib pain, fever

Internal organ inflammation patterns are caused by:

• excess consumption of alcohol, spicy, salty, and sweet foods
• long-term emotional upset or anger
• exterior heat invading the digestive organs
• long-term physical, mental, or emotional stress

As you can see many of the signs and symptoms of extreme heat and inflammation are quite debilitating. Fortunately, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have great treatment options for all the above conditions.

The key to the Yang Metal Monkey month is to prevent overheating the body and consuming foods inappropriate for the summer. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are very effective in treating these patterns. schedule a consultation

I recommend patients schedule a personal consultation to determine the correct foods for them as most diet programs miss the mark. Michelle offers a free 20-minute Ayurvedic Health Consultation to help with identifying those foods that will prevent extreme heat from accumulating, specifically for you.

If you are in need of remedies from our herbal compounding pharmacy, or any condition, please reach out to us. In most cases, we can schedule a telemedicine visit for you.

Our special this month: 10% Discount on Summer Cool, our in-house Chinese herbal formula to address the many signs and symptoms associated with Texas summers. We developed this formula for folks who exercise or work outdoors in the Texas heat. This formula comes in a 200-capsule bottle and helps with summertime influenza, acute skin rashes, acute tonsillitis, acute upper tract infection, early-stage acute bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, and acute conjunctivitis. Summer Cool is suitable for a low-grade fever, chills, headache, body aches, sneezing, coughing, red eyes, thirst, and sore throat. 

This herbal formula is great for those who spend a lot of time in the heat of summertime, whether it is work or play!

Schedule an herbal appointment

Schedule an herbal refill

Schedule an Ayurveda appointment

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

Closed: Sat, Sun, Mon

Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Herbal Compounding Pharmacy

www.mhaom.com

July 7, 2023 Yin Earth Goat

In the Chinese calendar, July 7, 2023, is the first day of Yin Earth Goat Month. 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. The Yin Earth Goat month extends till August 7, 2023.

The Yin Earth Goat refers to the 2nd hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Earth over Earth.  The Yin Earth Goat represents "Reception". It is an image of the dark, yielding, receptive primal power of yin. 

The Yin Earth Goat hexagram:

From the body and health perspective, the Yin Earth Goat hexagram represents a shift away from the solid energetic nature of early springtime. Though the environmental influences have moved to the Summer season, the effect now has caused a different pathogenic influence. The Yin Earth Goat Horse is a stagnant hexagram. Its image is Earth over Earth. The Yin Earth Goat represents a stagnant movement of systemic energies throughout the body. This happens as a result of the extreme environmental heat of summertime. When inflammation overwhelms our body's tissues and organs systemic weakness and fatigue sets in. The dominant pathological influences begin with heat and transition to stagnant damp accumulation. During the Yin Earth Goat month, damp patterns have their root in internal organ weakness. 

The Earth trigram originates in the Earth element and is related to stagnant dampness in the Spleen, Pancreas, Liver, Kidneys, and reproduction systems. Internal organ stagnant damp pathology in the summertime often results from eating the wrong foods for the summer season along with excessive internal organ inflammation. Essentially, the Yin Earth Goat month represents a perfect storm of inflammation coupled with internal organ fatigue.

Each season consists of various energetic states, often in conflict. These conditions will be reflected in nature and, more importantly, our bodies. As mentioned before, the Yin Earth Goat represents a generalized pattern of stagnant damp accumulation that affects various organs, tissues, and body regions. In addition to the environmental heat of summertime, systemic inflammation involves the Urinary Bladder, Gallbladder, Large Intestine, and the peripheral nervous system, Each of these patterns has its own set of signs and symptoms.

Common problems during the Yin Earth Goat month are: 

Chest problems: cough, asthma, sore throat, afternoon fever, chest congestion, palpitation, shortness of breath, poor appetite, cardiac pain, spasmodic pain and numbness of the elbow and arm, hand tremor

Headache, dizziness, swelling and pain of the eye, blurring vision, toothache

Urine retention, dysuria, incontinence of urine, edema

Joint pain in upper limbs, hemiplegia, pain and motor impairment of the shoulder, swelling, knee pain, lumbar pain, spasm and weakness of the lower extremities

Irregular menstruation, various skin rashes, genital pain, dysmenorrhea, impotence, hernia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis

Emaciation due to general deficiency, lassitude, insomnia 

The liver and gallbladder are very susceptible to internal damp-heat conditions, causing fullness and discomfort of the solar plexus, inhibited circulation, blood pressure problems, joint pain, and fatty liver or elevated cholesterol. Typical problems include jaundice, poor or low appetite, fever, bitter taste in the mouth, anorexia, dark scanty urine, abdominal distention, hypochondria pain & fullness, nausea, vomiting sour & bitter fluid, yellow vaginal discharge with a foul odor, pruritus vulvae pain & swelling and burning sensation in testicles.

The large intestine is also affected by damp stagnation, causing constipation, colitis, dysentery, and diarrhea. Other signs include fever with profuse sweating, heaviness & tiredness in body, and limbs, diarrhea with tenesmus which intensifies after a bowel movement, frequent small quantity stools, yellow or brown, thin watery stools with a foul odor or sticky and pasty, sticky fluid, with pus & blood, mucus & blood in stool, burning hot sensation in the anus, abdominal pain, scanty dark or red urination, anorexia, vomiting, lump in epigastrium, dry mouth with no desire to drink, and fullness in the chest.

The Spleen and Stomach belong to the Earth element and are, naturally, affected by damp conditions resulting in general fatigue or lassitude, acute abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea, low-grade fever, heavy sensation in the body, palpitations, fullness in the abdomen, loss of appetite, copious urine, constipation or loose stools, fullness in the chest, nausea, vomiting, little thirst, dizziness, and stickiness in the mouth. Typical d include acute hepatitis, acute pancreatitis, acute cholecystitis, acute gastric inflammation, and early or late-stage cirrhosis of the liver.

Internal organ stagnant damp patterns are caused by:

• excess consumption of alcohol, greasy, fried, spicy, salty and sweet foods
• excess consumption of cold or raw foods
• long-term emotional upset or anger
• exterior dampness invading the digestive organs
• long-term physical, mental, or emotional stress
• weak digestion

Internal dampness can lead to phlegm. Dampness primarily affects the organs below the diaphragm. Phlegm affects the lungs and heart.

Lung phlegm conditions include bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and pulmonary abscess. There are two patterns of lung phlegm. The first involves an exterior invasion of Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat. The second pattern belongs to the current discussion in this post and has its root in the Spleen and Stomach dampness.

Heart phlegm has its root in emotional turmoil, depression, frustration, irregular diet, and excess consumption of hot greasy, or fried foods. Typical signs include irritability, palpitations, restlessness, coma, sticky taste in the mouth, insomnia, coarse breathing, dream-disturbed sleep, easily startled, alternating depression & confusion, crying & laughing without reason, aphasia, depression, and schizophrenia,

As you can see many of the signs and symptoms of dampness and phlegm can be quite debilitating. Fortunately, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have great treatment options for all the above conditions.

The key to the Yin Earth Goat month is preventing Dampness from accumulating in the internal organs below the diaphragm. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are very effective in treating these patterns. schedule a consultation

I recommend patients schedule a personal consultation to determine the correct foods for them as most diet programs miss the mark. Michelle offers a free 20-minute Ayurvedic Health Consultation to help with identifying those foods that will prevent damp-heat from accumulating, specifically for you.

If you are in need of remedies from our herbal compounding pharmacy, or any condition, please reach out to us. In most cases, we can schedule a telemedicine visit for you.

Our special this month: 10% Discount on Summer Cool, our in-house Chinese herbal formula to address the many signs and symptoms associated with Texas summers. We developed this formula for folks who exercise or work outdoors in the Texas heat. This formula comes in a 200-capsule bottle and helps with summertime influenza, acute skin rashes, acute tonsillitis, acute upper tract infection, early-stage acute bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, and acute conjunctivitis. Summer Cool is suitable for a low-grade fever, chills, headache, body aches, sneezing, coughing, red eyes, thirst, and sore throat. 

This herbal formula is great for those who spend a lot of time in the heat of summertime, whether it is work or play!

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an herbal refill

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

Closed: Sat, Sun, Mon

Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Herbal Compounding Pharmacy

www.mhaom.com

June 6, 2023 Yang Earth Horse

In the Chinese calendar, Jun 6, 2023, is the first day of Yang Earth Horse Month. 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. The Yang Earth Horse month extends till July 7, 2023.

The Yang Earth Horse refers to the 22nd hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Mountain over Fire.  The Yang Earth Horse signifies "Grace". It represents an image of fire illuminating the mountain. 

The Yang Earth Horse hexagram:

From the body and health perspective, the Yang Earth Horse hexagram continues a strong energetic shift away from early springtime. The environmental influences have moved to the Summer season. The Yang Earth Horse is an energetic hexagram. Its image is Mountain over Fire. The Yang Earth Horse represents an imbalance in the movement of systemic energies and inhibited digestive, circulatory, and elimination functions. These imbalances are due to internal organ inflammation and low-grade organ infections. The dominant pathological influences are characterized by heat and dampness. During the Yang Earth Horse month, damp heat patterns have their root mostly, in internal organ problems and secondarily, in external hot damp or humid weather.

The Mountain trigram originates in the Earth element and is related to damp heat in the Spleen, Stomach, Small Intestine, and lymphatic systems. Internal organ damp heat pathology often results from eating the wrong foods for the summer season. The Fire trigram originates in the Fire element and is related to the Heart, Small Intestine, and Spleen. Its nature is heat rising. Essentially, the Yang Earth Horse month represents a perfect storm of inflammation coupled with low-grade internal organ infection.

Each season consists of various energetic states, often in conflict. These energetic states will be reflected in nature and more importantly in our bodies. As mentioned before, the Yang Earth Horse represents a generalized pattern of Damp Heat that affects various organs, tissues, and body regions. Each of these patterns has its own set of signs and symptoms.

Common problems during the Yang Earth Horse month are: 

• Hay fever with either stuffy or runny nose, dry or swollen lips and mouth, swollen or inflamed eustachian tube, diminished hearing, and sore or swollen throat

• The liver and gallbladder are very susceptible to internal damp-heat conditions, causing fullness and discomfort of the solar plexus, inhibited circulation, blood pressure problems, joint pain, and fatty liver or elevated cholesterol. Typical problems include jaundice, poor or low appetite, fever, bitter taste in the mouth, anorexia, dark scanty urine, abdominal distention, hypochondria pain & fullness, nausea, vomiting sour & bitter fluid, yellow vaginal discharge with a foul odor, pruritus vulvae pain & swelling and burning sensation in testicles.

• The large intestine is also affected by damp heat, causing constipation, colitis, dysentery, and diarrhea. Other signs include fever with profuse sweating, heaviness & tiredness in body, and limbs, diarrhea with tenesmus which intensifies after a bowel movement, frequent small quantity stools, yellow or brown, thin watery stools with a foul odor or sticky and pasty, sticky fluid, with pus & blood, mucus & blood in stool, burning hot sensation in the anus, abdominal pain, scanty dark or red urination, anorexia, vomiting, lump in epigastrium, dry mouth with no desire to drink, and fullness in the chest.

• The Spleen and Stomach belong to the Earth element and are, naturally, affected by damp-heat conditions resulting in general fatigue or lassitude, low-grade fever, heavy sensation in the body, palpitations, fullness in the abdomen, loss of appetite, scanty yellow urine, constipation or foul smelling loose stools, fullness in the chest, nausea, vomiting, thirst without the desire to drink, dizziness, bitter taste and stickiness in the mouth. Typical problems include acute hepatitis, acute pancreatitis, acute cholecystitis, acute gastric inflammation, and early or late-stage cirrhosis of the liver.

Internal organ Damp-Heat patterns are caused by:

• excess consumption of alcohol, greasy, fried, spicy, and sweet foods
• excess consumption of cold or raw foods
• long-term emotional upset or anger
• exterior damp heat invading the digestive organs
• long-term physical, mental, or emotional stress
• weak digestion

Internal damp heat can lead to phlegm heat. Damp heat primarily affects the organs below the diaphragm. Phlegm-heat affects the lungs and heart.

Lung phlegm heat conditions include bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and pulmonary abscess. There are two patterns of lung phlegm heat. The first involves an exterior invasion of Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat. The second pattern belongs to the current discussion in this post and has its root in the Spleen and Stomach damp-heat.

Heart phlegm heat has its root in emotional turmoil, depression, frustration, irregular diet, and excess consumption of hot greasy, or fried foods. Typical signs include irritability, palpitations, restlessness, coma, bitter taste in the mouth, insomnia, coarse breathing, flushed face, dream-disturbed sleep, easily startled, agitation, alternating depression & confusion, incoherent speech, crying & laughing without reason, mania, aphasia, irrational behavior, schizophrenia, manic depression, and constipation,

As you can see many of the signs and symptoms of damp heat and phlegm heat can be quite debilitating. Fortunately, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have great treatment options for all the above conditions.

The key to the Yang Earth Horse month is preventing Damp-Heat from accumulating in the internal organs below the diaphragm. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are very effective in treating these patterns. schedule a consultation

I recommend patients schedule a personal consultation to determine the correct foods for them as most diet programs miss the mark. Michelle offers a free 20-minute Ayurvedic Health Consultation to help with identifying those foods that will prevent damp-heat from accumulating, specifically for you.

If you are in need of remedies from our herbal compounding pharmacy, or any condition, please reach out to us. In most cases, we can schedule a telemedicine visit for you.

Our special this month: 10% Discount on Summer Cool, our in-house Chinese herbal formula to address the many signs and symptoms associated with Texas summers. We developed this formula for folks who exercise or work outdoors in the Texas heat. This formula comes in a 200-capsule bottle and helps with summertime influenza, acute skin rashes, acute tonsillitis, acute upper tract infection, early-stage acute bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, and acute conjunctivitis. Summer Cool is suitable for a low-grade fever, chills, headache, body aches, sneezing, coughing, red eyes, thirst, and sore throat. 

Since I cycle frequently during the summer months, I personally, take this formula to prevent heat exhaustion, fatigue, heat-type headaches, and the like. 

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an herbal refill

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

Closed: Sat, Sun, Mon

Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Herbal Compounding Pharmacy

www.mhaom.com

How to Live Longer and healthier - 7 ways to extend your best years

A recent article I found is a good reminder of what it means to live a long and healthy life. I've paraphrased it here along with some of my own thoughts and experience. Enjoy!

More and more people are living to age 100. The average life expectancy at birth in the United States is about 76 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But although we’re likely to live to an older age than our grandparents’ generation, that doesn’t mean we’re any healthier than they are.

“It’s between four and eight years that we live longer than our grandparents,” on average, says Greg Macpherson, cellular health expert and founder of SRW Laboratories, a biotechnology company.

“People are generally living longer, and we’re generally losing fewer people earlier. And those two things work together to increase our longevity”

Macpherson is also the author of the book “Harnessing the Nine Hallmarks of Aging.”

It turns out that our “health spans” just aren’t keeping up with our “lifespans”, Macpherson adds.

Lifespan is the number of years you live between birth and death, while health span is how long you’re living in good health without any issues.

“We’re living longer, but we’re kind of grinding our way through the last maybe 25% of our life with some form of health condition,” Macpherson says.

About 65% of people over the age of 60 are living with multiple health issues, he adds.

Here’s why our health span isn’t increasing at the same rate as our lifespan. Plus, seven ways you can help lengthen the healthiest years of your life.

The American healthcare system has a ‘break-fix model’

The biggest problem for our health spans is the reliance on medicine to fix health problems after they’ve already occurred, rather than prioritizing prevention.

Our healthcare system has “a break-fix model. Most Westerners believe when you get sick, you go to the doctor. Doctors today, for the most part, are practicing health crisis management medicine. Just a few hundred years ago this wasn't the case. People used to take a more active role in their health. This allowed doctors to practice preventative medicine. Unfortunately, that philosophy seems to have disappeared. 

“But what people are realizing now is just like we take our cars to get service every six months, because if we don’t it’s dangerous and it can be really expensive, what we have to transition to is preventative healthcare.”

Lifespan is increasing because we have newer and more advanced technology and medicine than what was available when our grandparents were our age.

“If a quarter of the world’s population turns up in 2050 over the age of 60, and we’re all ailing, it’s going to be really expensive,” he says. “Hopefully things will change, but right now we don’t have the capacity to deal with it.”

7 ways to help extend the healthy years of your life

Here are a few practices Macpherson encourages to add more years to your health span.

1. Don’t skip catching up with your medical team. As we age it's important to create your own personal medical group. This means staying current with your primary care provider and other healthcare providers that provide you with the best care for your own personal needs. 

2. Ditch sugar. “We cause our body a lot of problems when it has to deal with too much sugar, and it ages us and affects our health span,” he says. Unfortunately, most of us were raised with little to no education in basic nutrition. There are two nutritional models: western and eastern. Both are radically different from each other. Sugar provides a sweet flavor. Of the five basic flavors in Chinese medicine, the sweet flavor is one of two flavors that are the most overused and thus addictive. Though the sweet flavor has benefits the majority of people have a problem with knowing how much is too much. Overconsumption of the sweet flavor causes inflammation to accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract and eventually progresses to our limbs, joints, and nervous system.

3. Maintain a healthy diet. Stick to a Mediterranean diet or plant-based diet, with meat occasionally for extra protein. One book I tend to recommend to patients is "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell. Following the guidelines in this book can be very helpful in restoring the body's natural born wellness. 

4. Sit less: “Sitting is bad, standing is good,” so consider a standing desk while you work, he suggests. Research has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns. They include obesity and a cluster of conditions: increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and unhealthy cholesterol levels. These conditions together make up metabolic syndrome and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes

5. Exercise often. Walk every day if that’s all you can manage, but aim to exercise a minimum of 30 minutes a day. Movement is so important. In Chinese medicine, movement is necessary for health. When a person becomes unable to adequately move on a daily basis, the disease process begins. It really doesn't require an intense exercise routine. Just get up from the couch and move. Walk around the neighborhood or around the house. Do whatever it takes to get your heart pumping and your lungs breathing. If you need guidance with how much is enough schedule an appointment and we'll be able to make some solid recommendations for you.

6. Remember to hydrate. “Generally healthy people” should drink four to six glasses of water each day, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Consult your doctor if you aren’t sure how much water you should be drinking daily. A typical recommendation I make to my patients is to divide the body weight, in pounds, by two. This gives a good rule of thumb for the number of ounces of water to consume each day. This may sound like a lot of water but remember, all the cells in our body require a certain level of water for them to function properly. If we consume just 8 ounces less than our recommended amount of water we will derail our body's cells to produce sufficient energy for our daily activities and efficient elimination of toxins that accumulate in our cells. This creates a condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome. And once it has set in, it can be very challenging to reverse.

7. Practice gratitude and mindfulness. “Gratitude, mindfulness, and a great social circle, I think, can add years, if not a decade to your life,” says Macpherson. One of the things I've noticed over the last three years with my patients is how much their health has been affected by the effects of the pandemic. Things like isolation from friends, family, coworkers, clients, etc. caused a great deal of stress mentally, physically, and spiritually. One thing that's helped me is to remember that there is still a lot I have to be grateful for. I find if I focus more on what I have to be thankful for I think less about setbacks and challenges. 

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an herbal refill

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

Closed: Sat, Sun, Mon

Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Herbal Compounding Pharmacy

www.mhaom.com

May 5, 2023 Yin Fire Snake

In the Chinese calendar, May 5, 2023, is the first day of Yin Fire Snake month. 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. The Yang Fire Snake month extends till June 5, 2023.

The Yin Fire Snake refers to the 30th hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Fire over Fire.  The Yin Fire Snake signifies "Clinging". It is one of eight hexagrams with the same trigram in the upper and lower portion of the hexagram. The Yin Fire Snake is represented by the Fire trigram in both the upper and lower regions of the hexagram. It represents an image of heat ascending. 

The Yin Fire Snake hexagram:

From the body and health perspective, the Yin Fire Snake hexagram continues a  dramatic shift from what was observed in previous months. The environmental influences are transitioning to the Summer season. The Yin Fire Snake is a highly energetic hexagram. Its image is the Fire over Fire. The Yin Fire Snake represents an imbalance in the movement of systemic energies and inhibited cardiovascular functions. There are two pathological influences: internal organ problems and external environmental factors. The dominant pathological influences are characterized by heat and dryness. During the Yin Fire Snake month dry heat patterns have their root in mostly, environmental influences and secondarily, in organ problems.

The Fire trigram originates in the Fire element and is related to the Heart, Small Intestine, and Spleen. Its nature is heat rising. During the Summer environmental heat enters the body through the skin. This is known as Wind-Heat. 

Each season consists of various energetic states, often in conflict. These energetic states will be reflected in nature and more importantly in our bodies. As mentioned before, the Yin Fire Snake represents a generalized pattern of Heat that affects various organs, tissues, and body regions. Each of these patterns has its own set of signs and symptoms.

Wind Heat enters, primarily, at the Taiyang level of the body. The Taiyang level is one of the six energetic levels of the body. It symbolizes the most exterior of the six levels and is easily affected by the external environment. Each of the six levels has links between the exterior and interior of our body. The Taiyang level links the nervous system with a major portion of our digestive tract. Unresolved external environmental heat can be transferred to the digestive tract. Likewise, digestive inflammation can result in inflammation within the nervous system. 

Common signs of Wind-Heat are headaches, fever, sore and swollen throat, red and painful eyes, runny or congested nasal passages with thick yellow discharge, thirst with desire to drink cold fluids, shortness of breath, and tightness or pain in the chest. Just like in the winter when we need to protect ourselves from Wind-Cold, we need to take similar precautions in the summer to protect ourselves from Wind-Heat.

Here are some tips to protect yourself from Wind-Heat:

Avoid exposure to windy and hot environments: Try to avoid exposure to windy and hot environments, particularly during the summer months. Wear appropriate clothing to protect yourself from the sun and wind.

Keep yourself hydrated: Drink plenty of water and avoid consuming hot or spicy foods, which can aggravate Wind-Heat symptoms.

Rest and relaxation: Make sure to get enough rest and relaxation. Stress and fatigue can weaken the body's immune system, making it more susceptible to Wind-Heat.

During the next few months, especially here in Texas, many of our patients come in for acupuncture and herbal medicine to release Wind-Heat and its effects on their bodies. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help regulate the body's energy flow and strengthen the immune system, thereby reducing the likelihood of Wind-Heat damage.

Another pattern of disharmony during the Yin Fire Snake month is associated with internal inflammation unassociated with an external Wind-Heat scenario. In this pattern, consuming foods inappropriate for the current season or unsuitable for one's constitution creates an inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal tract. It doesn't even have to be "bad" food. All it has to be is food incompatible with a person's particular energetic nature or constitution. When this is the case I will have them meet with Michelle. She helps clients zero in on foods that are better suited for them along with those that should be avoided or eliminated from their diet.

Yin Fire represents the Heart within the Five Element theory of Chinese medicine. Heart inflammation is a common problem in our modern culture. Typical signs of Heart inflammation are irritability, fever, palpitations, impulsiveness, tongue ulceration, erosion, and pain of mouth & tongue, thirst with desire for cold drinks, insomnia, possible red face or flushed face, bitter taste in the mouth, inability to stay asleep, anxiety, mental restlessness, heat sensation & disturbance in the chest, and excessively loud voice.

Heart inflammation has its root in two organs: the Small Intestine and Gallbladder. The Small Intestine is the Yang aspect of the Fire element. The Gallbladder is the Yang aspect of the Wood element. Whenever one's Yang energies become excessive the Yin energies and their associated organs suffer. In the case of the Yin Fire Snake month, the Heart and Spleen are the organs affected.

Small Intestine inflammation is due to the food choices made that are often contraindicated for a person's constitution or the particular health challenges they face. As such, the inflammation here is easily transferred to the Liver, Heart, Spleen, Urinary Bladder, Kidneys, and nervous system. To protect ourselves from systemic inflammation that has its root in the Small Intestine it is necessary to modify one's diet to prevent inflammation from escalating. This often means including bitter green vegetables in the diet which aid in clearing and draining inflammation from the Small Intestine. Limiting or avoiding excessively hot, spicy foods is also, highly recommended.

In our society, I find it alarming the number of patients who've had their Gallbladders removed. The only reason this occurs is due to excessively eating foods that are fried, greasy, oily, or rich and creamy. Gallstones and gallbladder inflammation are problems with food choices.

In spite of the highly energetic nature of the Yin Fire Snake hexagram, there is an indication of weakness indicated by the broken bars in the second, and fifth positions. The weaknesses occur in the Jueyin and Yangming levels of the body. 

Weakness in the Jueyin level causes inhibited blood circulation which in turn causes a buildup of toxicity and heat in the blood, swelling, and edema. 

Weakness in the Yangming level affects the Large Intestine and Stomach leading to constipation or diarrhea, bloating, gas, fullness in the chest, abdominal pain, low-grade fever, and fatigue.

The key to the Yin Fire Snake is the Wind-Heat and Small Intestine inflammation. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are very effective in treating both of these patterns. schedule a consultation

I recommend patients schedule a personal consultation to determine the correct foods for them as most diet programs miss the mark. Michelle offers a free 20-minute Ayurvedic Health Consultation to help with identifying those foods that will promote Small imbalance health specifically for you.

If you are in need of remedies from our herbal compounding pharmacy, for any condition, please reach out to us. In most cases, we can schedule a telemedicine visit for you.

Our special this month: 

Special: 20% Discount on a New Patient Consultation Schedule today!

 

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Schedule an herbal refill

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

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Athletes - This is How to Repair Your Body

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat a wide range of health conditions. In recent years, these traditional Chinese therapies have gained popularity among athletes and sports medicine practitioners as a way to enhance performance, speed up recovery, and prevent injuries.

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of energy or Qi. According to traditional Chinese medicine, when Qi flows freely throughout the body, a person's physical and emotional health is optimal. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce pain, inflammation, and stress, which can be particularly beneficial for athletes.

In sports medicine, acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, muscle spasms, joint injuries, and sports-related stress. Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the body's natural healing processes, reduce inflammation, and increase blood flow to affected areas, speeding up recovery times and helping athletes get back to their sport faster.

Chinese herbs are another important component of traditional Chinese medicine. Chinese herbs are used to supplement acupuncture treatments and can be prescribed to address specific health conditions. There are hundreds of different Chinese herbs, each with its own unique set of healing properties.

In sports medicine, Chinese herbs can be used to reduce inflammation, promote healing, and improve overall physical performance. Some common herbs used in sports medicine include Ren Shen, which is used to improve endurance and reduce fatigue, and Huang Qi, which is used to boost the immune system and increase energy levels. 

One of the main benefits of acupuncture and Chinese herbs in sports medicine is that they are natural and non-invasive. Unlike traditional Western medicine treatments, acupuncture and Chinese herbs have few side effects and can be used with other treatments to help athletes achieve optimal health and performance.

Overall, acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of sports-related conditions. Whether you are a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, these traditional Chinese therapies can help you achieve your health and fitness goals while minimizing the risk of injury and enhancing your overall performance. If you are interested in trying acupuncture and Chinese herbs for sports medicine, be sure to consult with a licensed acupuncturist or herbalist who specializes in sports medicine to ensure that you receive the most effective and appropriate treatment for your needs. 

My own personal journey began in 1983 when I decided to embark on a fitness mission to lose 30 pounds and get my "whole" body in shape. My personal regime included running, walking, circuit training, tai chi, Qi Gong, meditation, hiking, and cycling. For me, the best strategy for fitness, mentally physically, and spiritually, is doing something a little different each day. I discovered focusing only on one type of exercise does little to help the body as a whole. 

Various forms of exercise are needed to keep the human body from overworking certain muscle groups and neglecting others. My primary form of aerobic exercise now is cycling. However, in the last couple of years, I've transitioned from cycling 120-150 miles per week to about 60-90 miles per week. This allows me to engage in other activities that focus on other muscle groups, as well as rest. Our bodies were designed to move. However, movement without rest eventually irreversibly tears down the body.

On the other hand, rest without movement creates stagnation. This leads to inhibited circulation of energy, blood, and body fluids. My practice is filled with patients exhibiting both excessive movements without rest and excessive rest without movement. For me, it isn't about going the farthest or the fastest, anymore. Really, the bottom line is what am I doing that benefits the whole body, including my muscles, nervous system, and internal organs? Also, what foods am I consuming that are doing the same? Most patients discover that a multifaceted approach to optimal health and wellness is necessary to make a long-lasting effect. Many times these strategies are contrary to the world's view. 

There are ways to maximize your athleticism and recover from exercise without traditional Western pharmaceutical medicine. The ancient Chinese warlords and their armies used these methods thousands of years ago. And to this day athletes continue to discover the overwhelming benefits of Chinese medicine. 

This article about how one of the world's most famous athletes repairs his body naturally is a great example for all professional and amateur athletes, as well as the occasional weekend warrior.

D. Mark Tryling, LAc, Dipl. AC, CH (Lic. AC00563, Texas Medical Board)

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Apr 5, 2023 Yang Fire Dragon

In the Chinese calendar, April 5, 2023, is the first day of Yang Fire Dragon month. 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. The Yang Fire Dragon month extends till May 5, 2023.

The Yang Fire Dragon refers to the 56th hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Fire over Mountain.  The Yang Fire Dragon signifies "Wanderer". It represents an image of heat ascending and damp descending. 

The Yang Fire Dragon hexagram:

From the perspective of the body and health, the Yang Fire Dragon hexagram continues a  dramatic shift from what was observed in previous months. The environmental influences have shifted to the Spring season. The Yang Fire Dragon is a highly energetic hexagram. Its image is the Fire over Mountain. The Yang Fire Dragon represents an imbalance of the cardiovascular and digestive systems. The pathological influences are now moving away from external environmental factors to more internal organ problems. The dominant pathological influences are characterized by heat and dampness. During the Yang Fire Dragon month damp heat patterns have their root in internal organ problems.

The Fire trigram originates in the Fire element and is related to the Heart, Small Intestine, and Spleen. Its nature is heat rising. The Mountain trigram originates in the Yang aspect of the Earth element. Its nature is unmoving dampness or stagnant accumulation of phlegm and dampness. Combined with heat, this becomes Damp or Phlegm Heat

In Chinese medicine, Damp Heat is the image of infection. Most of the time it is without fever but can include severe infections including small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), sinus infections, upper respiratory infections (URI), urinary tract infections (UTI), liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, and gallbladder disease or cholecystitis. 

Damp or Phlegm Heat many times is the result of consuming foods incompatible with each other, one's constitution, or due to a weakness in the Spleen, Pancreas, Stomach, or Small Intestine. Here in Texas, where I live, popular foods this time of year tend to promote Damp Heat conditions in the gastrointestinal tract. Cusines like Mexican food, Italian, barbeque, kolaches, and the like tend to create excessive internal heat and dampness.

Each season consists of various energetic states, often in conflict. These energetic states will be reflected in nature and more importantly in our bodies. As mentioned before, the Yang Fire Dragon represents a generalized pattern of Damp Heat that affect various organs. Each of these patterns has its own set of signs and symptoms.

Heart Phlegm Heat: caused by irregular or incorrect diet, stress, and frustration leading to irritability, palpitations restlessness, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, agitation, and depression 

Large Intestine Damp Heat: caused by unrestrained diet, excessive consumption of raw or cold food, spicy hot greasy food, or spoiled food leading to heaviness and fatigue in the body and limbs, diarrhea, or frequent small quantity stools, burning sensation in the anus, dark scanty or red urination, fullness in the chest

Liver & Gallbladder Damp Damp: caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, greasy fried food, long-standing emotional anger or stress leading to abdominal distention and pain, bloating, nausea, genital pain

Spleen Damp Damp: caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, fatty or sweet foods leading to abdominal distension, bloating, and pain; nausea or vomiting, foul smelling diarrhea or constipation

Spleen & Stomach Damp Heat: excess consumption of greasy, fried foods or alcohol leading to fatigue, low-grade fever, heaviness sensation  in the body, palpitations, scanty yellow during, constipation or foul smelling loose stools, chest fullness,

In spite of the highly energetic nature of the Yang Fire Dragon hexagram, there is an indication of weakness indicated by the broken bars in the first, second, and fifth positions. The weaknesses occur in the Shaoyin, Jueyin, and Yangming levels of the body. 

Weakness in the Shaoyin level is reflected in heart and kidney problems, with common issues of palpitations, fatigue, chest pain, urinary issues, stubborn skin rashes, and low back pain.

Weakness in the Jueyin level causes inhibited blood circulation which in turn causes a buildup of toxicity and heat in the blood, swelling, and edema. 

Weakness in the Yangming level affects the Large Intestine and Stomach leading to constipation or diarrhea, bloating, gas, fullness in the chest, abdominal pain, low-grade fever, and fatigue.

As you can see, common conditions seen during the Yang Fire Dragon month are, primarily, problems with digestion and elimination.

The Yang Fire Dragon month is a sign that changes have arrived. Fortunately, Chinese medicine has been treating Yang Fire Dragon conditions for thousands of years.

In previous posts, we've been relating important ideas our family uses to keep and maintain optimum health. We continue this discussion this month by discussing the effect of the Yang Fire Dragon on the gastrointestinal tract.

As mentioned before, the Yang Fire Dragon comprises the Fire trigram in the upper trigram and the Mountain trigram in the lower portion of the hexagram. The Fire trigram is the third most energetic trigram of the Ba Gwa. It is related to the Heart, Small Intestine, and Spleen in Chinese medicine. 

Yang Fire represents the Small Intestine within the Five Element theory of Chinese medicine. Small Intestine inflammation is a common problem in our modern culture. This is due to the food choices made that are often contraindicated for a person's constitution or the particular health challenges they face. As such, the inflammation here is easily transferred to the Liver, Heart, Spleen, Urinary Bladder, Kidneys, and nervous system. To protect ourselves from systemic inflammation that has its root in the Small Intestine it is necessary to modify one's diet to prevent inflammation from escalating. This often means including bitter green vegetables in the diet which aid in clearing and draining inflammation from the Small Intestine. Another strategy we use in our family is limiting or avoiding excessively hot, spicy foods.

The Mountain trigram in the lower portion of the hexagram for this month corresponds to the Yang aspect of the Earth element in Chinese medicine. Its nature is Damp Heat or Phlegm Heat. The Mountain trigram is related to the Stomach, Spleen, Small Intestine, lymphatic, and endocrine systems. The Mountain trigram is the fourth most energetic of the eight trigrams. The Mountain warns us to be careful when consuming overly fried, greasy, sticky, sweet, salty, or rich foods.  These are the foods that contribute to damp or phlegmy conditions in the body.

The key to the Yang Fire Dragon is the Small Intestine. For many people, this is where inflammation tends to have its source. As mentioned before, this is due, primarily, to dietary choices, and incompatible foods with a person's constitution. I recommend patients schedule a personal consultation to determine the correct foods for them as most diet programs miss the mark. Michelle offers a free 20-minute Ayurvedic Health Consultation to help with identifying those foods that will promote Small imbalance health specifically for you.

Chinese herbal medicine is very effective in treating gastrointestinal inflammation. schedule a herbal consultation

If you are in need of remedies from our herbal compounding pharmacy, for any condition, please reach out to us. In most cases, we can schedule a telemedicine visit for you.

Our special this month: 

Special: 20% Discount on a New Patient Consultation Schedule today!

 

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

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How does Chinese herbal medicine treat diseases and health disorders?

Chinese herbal medicine is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which views the body as an interconnected system of organs, channels, and energy (Qi) flowing through the body. In TCM, illness is believed to result from imbalances or blockages in the flow of Qi, and the goal of treatment is to restore balance and promote the body's natural healing abilities.

Chinese herbal medicine involves the use of plants, minerals, and other natural substances to create a customized treatment plan based on the individual's specific symptoms, medical history, and underlying constitution. The herbs are often combined into formulas that are tailored to the patient's needs and administered as teas, powders, or pills.

Chinese herbal medicine treats diseases and health disorders by addressing the underlying imbalances or blockages in the body that are causing the symptoms. For example, a formula may be prescribed to strengthen the digestive system for a patient with chronic digestive issues or to promote circulation and reduce inflammation for a patient with arthritis.

The effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine is believed to come from the complex interactions between the various components in the herbs, which work together to restore balance and promote healing. Modern research has shown that many of the herbs used in Chinese herbal medicine have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulating properties that can help to prevent and treat a wide range of health conditions.

Overall, Chinese herbal medicine aims to treat the whole person, rather than just the symptoms of a disease, by addressing the root cause of the problem and promoting long-term health and wellness.

Meridian Harmonics Chinese Herbal Compounding Pharmacy

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Common conditions suitable for Chinese Herbal Medicine

March 6, 2023 Yin Wood Rabbit Month

In the Chinese calendar, March 6, 2023, is the first day of Yin Wood Rabbit month. 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. The Yin Wood Rabbit month extends till April 4, 2023.

The Yin Wood Rabbit refers to the 57th hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Wind over Wind.  The Yin Wood Rabbit signifies "Gentle" or "Penetrating Wind". It represents an image of the winds' powerful influence. The Wind trigram has its source in the Wood element and has a movement property due to Wind. The Yin Wood Rabbit is just one of eight hexagrams with identical trigrams in the upper and lower position.

The Yin Wood Rabbit hexagram:

From the perspective of the body and health, the Yin Wood Rabbit hexagram represents a  dramatic shift from what was observed in the previous two months. The environmental influences are shifting as the Spring season approaches. The significant differences are the highly energetic nature of the Yin Wood trigram. The Yin Wood Rabbit represents an imbalance in the body's endocrine, lymphatic, and Yin aspects, resulting in hormonal changes, lymphatic toxicity, and various body fluid retention. The dominant environmental influences are characterized by warm dry windy weather which can affect ones health in multiple ways.

The Wind is the mechanism for change. It transports external pathogenic factors. For example, this past week in north Texas we experienced a couple of days where dust from the Texas panhandle blew in filling and permeating the air. It actually looked like the smog within a large city that just hangs there. Obviously, this is unhealthy to breathe and resulted in a lot of patients in the clinic with distressed respiratory issues. Springtime is the windy season bringing dust, pollen, varying temperature changes, and environmental pollutants with it. All of these external factors affect the health of the body. Later this same week we had extreme wind coupled with thunderstorms. Wind brings change. Wind occurs externally, as the two previous examples illustrate, and can also occur internally. Internally, Wind can cause muscle spasms, muscle tics, and in severe cases epileptic seizures and Parkinson's disease.

Each season consists of various energetic states, often in conflict. These energetic states will be reflected in nature and more importantly in our bodies. The influence of Yin Wood represents the nature of Wind in the environment and the results of Wind in the body. During this month the springtime winds begin to move the external environment. The highly energetic nature of Wind affects the body in the form of Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, or Wind Dampness. Each of these patterns has its own set of signs and symptoms.

Wind Cold: aversion to wind, chills, fever, headaches, muscle aches and pain, runny nose, and cough

Wind Heat: fever, sweating headache, red eyes, sore throat, thirst, cough with yellow thick sputum, respiratory problems, constipation, nosebleed

Wind Damp: pain and achy arms and legs, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, joint pain, dizziness, spasms

In spite of the highly energetic nature of the Yin Wood Rabbit hexagram, there is a subtle indication of weakness indicated by the broken bars in the first and fourth positions. The weaknesses occur in the Shaoyang and Shaoyin levels of the body. 

Weakness in the Shaoyang level causes lymphatic congestion which in turn causes a toxic buildup in the blood, swelling, and edema. Shaoyang weakness during the Yin Wood Rabbit month can also result in pituitary imbalance symptoms: anxiety, depression, hair loss, hypertension, irregular menstrual periods, low energy, low libido, and stunted growth.

Weakness in the Shaoyin level is reflected in heart and kidney problems, with common issues of palpitations, fatigue, chest pain, urinary issues, stubborn skin rashes, and low back pain.

Common conditions seen during the Yin Water Rabbit month are problems with vision and sinuses, such as allergies, eye pain, earaches, and hearing problems; lung problems, especially bronchitis, pneumonia, influenza, and chest congestion.

The Yin Wood Rabbit month is a sign that changes have arrived. Fortunately, Chinese medicine has been treating Yin Wood Rabbit conditions for thousands of years.

In previous posts, we've been relating important ideas our family uses to keep and maintain optimum health. We continue this discussion this month by discussing the effect of the Wind trigram and the Yin Wood Rabbit on the Lungs.

As mentioned before, the Yin Wood Rabbit comprises the Wind trigram in the upper and lower portion of the hexagram. The Wind trigram is the second most energetic trigram of the Ba Gwa. It is related to the Lungs and Liver in Chinese medicine. As such, the Lung is very sensitive to Liver imbalances. In Chinese medicine, the Liver is the first line of defense when we are stressed emotionally, physically, or spiritually.  The key to preventing Lung problems that result from Liver problems are: 

* stress reduction activities like meditation, exercise, yoga, tai-chi, and mindful breathing (Michelle's favorites are hiking and yoga; mine are cycling and weight training)

* foods to balance the Liver: Michelle offers a free 20-minute Ayurvedic Health Consultation to help with identifying those foods that will prevent Liver imbalance

* using Chinese herbal medicine to balance the Liver: schedule a herbal consultation

Stress relief acupuncture is another strategy used for Liver and Lung imbalances. Most people are amazed at how relaxed they become with a single acupuncture treatment. 

If you are in need of remedies from our herbal compounding pharmacy, for any condition, please reach out to us. In most cases, we can schedule a telemedicine visit for you.

Our special this month: 

Special: 20% Discount on a New Patient Consultation Schedule today!

 

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