breathing techniques

Food for Thought: Combating that Nagging Cough

acupuncture, acuPUNKture, cough, food for thought, natural remedies

Suffering from a nagging cough that just won’t quit? Try these natural remedies to knock out that cough for good!

Daikon, Ginger and Scallion Soup: *Popular for treating coughs as well as clearing nasal congestion, and counteracting body aches, weakness and lethargy due to colds*

3 cups (750 mL) water

1 medium daikon, cut it into 1/2 inch slices

1 tablespoons (15 grams) sliced fresh ginger

6 white heads of scallion, sliced

Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the daikon to the water. Continue to boil over a medium flame for 20 minutes, or until the daikon is soft (you should be able to push a chopstick or toothpick through the daikon slice with ease)

Add the sliced scallion scallion and ginger to the pot. Reduce the flame to low. Simmer for another 10 minutes, or until two-thirds of the water has evaporated. Remove from heat. Consume hot.

Daikon and Tangerine Peel Soup: *For treating a thick-mucous cough*

1 cup (250 mL) water

1 small daikon, cut it into 1/2 inch slices

1 organic tangerine peel, cut it into 1/2 inch slices

3 slices ginger

1 tsp (5 grams) white pepper

In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the daikon, tangerine peel, ginger and pepper to boiling water. Continue to boil over a medium flame for 10 minutes.

Pour into a bowl and allow to cool. Take the soup twice a day, after lunch and dinner.

Daikon Juice: *Drank warm or hot to relieve coughing*

4 cups (800 grams) fresh daikon, grated

1 TBSP (15 grams) brown sugar

Thin cotton towel or cheese cloth

Place the daikon in a thin cotton towel and squeeze in order to obtain the juice. Mix the juice and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the flame and allow to cool. Drink the juice 2x/day, warm or hot, to relive coughing.

Daikon, Ginger and Pear Juice: 

1/2 cup (100 grams) fresh daikon, grated

1/2 cup (100 grams) fresh ginger, grated

2 TBSP (30 mL) fresh pear juice

1 egg white

Place the daikon in a thin cotton towel and squeeze to extract 2 TBSP of juice. Repeat with the ginger.

Mix the ginger and daikon juice with the pear juice and egg white. Drink it cool once a day.

Jujube Tea:

5 Jujube (Chinese Dates)

1 TBSP (15 grams) minced fresh ginger

1 TBSP (15 grams) brown sugar

2 cups (500 mL) water

In a small saucepan, add all the dry ingredients to the water. Boil over a low flame for 15 minutes. Consume warm.

Garlic Juice: *Keep in the fridge until a cough remedy is needed*

1-2 cups (200-400 grams) fresh garlic cloves

1 cup (250 mL) water

1 tsp. (5 grams) white sugar

Peel and squeeze the garlic in order to extract the juice. Transfer to a clean bottle or jar and refrigerate.

When you need to use a cough remedy, boil 1 cup of water. Mix 1 TBSP of garlic juice and the sugar into the hot water.

Take 2x/day, morning and evening, until the cough has cleared. Drink the mixture hot.

Source: The Healing Cuisine of China: 300 recipes for vibrant health and longevity by ZHUO ZHAO & George Ellis

Grand Opening! AND Some Tips and Trick for Staying Healthy This Fall/Winter!

acupuncture, grand opening, tips and tricks, traditional chinese medicine

Hello Everyone!

We are opening our doors this week just in time for the fall! As seasonal allergies start to kick in and the changes in weather begin testing your immune defenses, remember a few key things to staying healthy this Fall/Winter!

–Drink room temperature or warm beverages. This helps your Spleen and Stomach energy aid in digestion and ultimately the production of Qi. Think about it…your body temperature runs at about 98.6 degrees F and the enzymes in your body function best around this temperature. Adding cold water to your body shocks your system! Tis’ the season for warm teas and stews! Try a hot coffee or tea next time you crave a cold drink- You might just be pleasantly surprised with how you feel!

–Avoid raw foods! Raw foods are considered cold energy foods and hurt the Spleen and Stomach energy. During the cold months, it is best to indulge in root vegetables and hearty stews and soups. Stay tuned to our blog for delicious and easy crock pot recipes to try out this Fall/Winter!

–Cover the back of your neck! ALWAYS! In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the nape of your neck is considered the Wind Gate. This is where pathogens and external invasions get into your body, aka how you get sick. This is the perfect time to break out your favorite shawls, hoodies, hats and infinity scarfs! Keep the back of your neck covered whenever it is windy or rainy, even if it is not cold out! Protecting yourself from the wind will help you fight off illness this Flu season.

–Wash your hands! Washing your hands is the BEST way to stop germs from spreading! Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses, from the common cold and flu to more serious diseases such as Hepatitis A and respiratory infections.

–Get regular acupuncture! Acupuncture is great for building up your immune system and your Wei Qi- aka your first line of defense in the body! The lungs helps regulate your wei qi (defensive qi) and if your lung qi is weak, then your wei-qi is also weak and can’t circulate properly. By strengthening your lung qi and keeping your energy balanced, you are strengthening your body’s natural resistance to disease!

–Just Breathe! Your breath is such a powerful tool, not only for living but for releasing tension in your body. Focus on your breathing at least 5 minutes a day. Place your hands on your abdomen and take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you inhale you should see and feel your belly rise into your hands (not your chest). Imagine your breathe entering your nose, flowing through your lungs and down through your belly, down your legs and into the soles of your feet, grounding you firmly in the earth.This simple exercise can have an extraordinary effect on the mind and body and leave you feeling calmer and grounded.

–Let go! In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Autumn is associated with the Metal element. The organs energetically associated with Metal are the Lung and Large Intestine. Grief is the emotion associated with these organs. Your job is to embrace this change in season and learn to let go! Greif is a natural process we all go through at some point in our lives but when the metal element is blocked, it can lead to depression. Fall/Winter is the time to reallign yourself and find balance. Conserve your energy and gear up for the dark, cold months ahead so you can come out stronger and more vibrant when Spring time rolls around. Reflect on your life and let go of the past experiences that are holding you back, so that your can rise up from the ashes like a beautiful, resilient flower, full of life and energy- physically, emotionally and spiritually- ready to stand firm in this world.

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