Aging Well with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Oriental medicine
has a long history of healing and rejuvenation that teaches us a great deal
about aging well. Two thousand years ago, ancient Chinese scholars
described the stages of aging in the Huang Di Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s
Internal Classic). They remind us that we cannot change our genetics, but
we can change how we live to extend and improve the quality of our lives.
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine emphasize prevention over treatment. This
makes a great deal of sense because treating an illness that has already
damaged the body is much more difficult then preventing the illness from
occurring in the first place. It is never too late. You can begin today.
Whatever your starting point, you can make positive changes to enhance the
quality of your life. Supporting the different ways of improving your
health and preventing illness, Oriental medicine promotes living a balanced
life. A healthy diet, active lifestyle and emotional well-being are the
basic components of Oriental medicine that help point you on the path
toward a long and quality life.
Call today to see how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help you
live a longer and healthier life!
Six Easy Tips for Greater Health and Longevity
Aging may be inevitable, but your later years can be
vibrant and healthy if attention is given to supporting your physical,
mental and emotional well-being. These tips are just a few of the ways that
you can bring balance into your life. You don’t need to try doing all of
them at once. Focus on one or two of them at a time.
Practice Gratitude
Grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, life
satisfaction, vitality, optimism and lower levels of depression and stress
according to Robert A. Emmons, a researcher and professor at University of
California-Davis, who has authored four books on the subject of the
psychology of gratitude. Dr. Emmons states that the disposition toward
gratitude appears to enhance pleasant feeling states more than it diminishes
unpleasant emotions. Grateful people do not deny or ignore the negative
aspects of life, but they have a healthy attitude towards them.
Choose friends who are joyous people. See these people frequently and you
will find your spirits rise. The older you get, the more important it is to
make it a priority to spend time with people who give you joy. If you have
people in your life who are constantly unhappy, limit the amount of time
you spend with them. Try it, and you may find that you perk up!
Make Exercise a Priority
People who exercise more are less likely to be stressed and more likely to
be satisfied with life, according to Danish researchers. Compared with
sedentary people, joggers are 70 percent less likely to have high stress
levels and life dissatisfaction.
We hear it all the time and it's true – if you don't use it you will lose
it! Exercise keeps our bodies and minds in good shape. Couch potatoes who
start moderate exercise (the equivalent of 17 to 34 minutes a day)
experience the greatest happiness lift.
If jogging is not the best exercise for you, go for a long walk or try a
traditional exercise like Tai Chi or Qi Gong. Qi Gong and Tai Chi are
non-impact exercises that focus on repetitive movements with attention to
breathing. Tai Chi and Qi Gong use gentle movements and low physical
impact, which are ideal for aging bodies.
The benefits of these exercises include a slower heart rate, lowered blood
pressure, and drops in adrenaline and cortisol levels. Making these
exercises a regular practice can lead to better health and vitality. The
Mayo Clinic reported results from two studies on these ancient practices
that concluded they can also alleviate chronic pain.
Take a Day of Rest
Take a day of rest per week from your regular schedule to recharge.
Rejuvenation for the body and mind is worth its weight in gold and you will
be more productive with the rest of your time!
Get Good Sleep Regularly
Your body repairs itself best at night so allow plenty of time for it to do
so. Good sleep patterns follow nature. Morning is bright and the most Yang
time of day, indicating activity. Night is the dark period, a time to slow
down and enter the Yin phase of the day.
Poor sleep has been linked to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart
failure, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes and obesity. Research has shown
that getting at least eight hours of sleep is needed for good heart health.
Acupuncture has been proven successful in treating a wide array of sleep
problems by focusing on the root of any disharmony in the body. It gives
those who take advantage of it a better night’s sleep and an overall
improvement in physical and mental health.
Alleviate and Manage Stress Levels
Stress is a normal part of life, but if left unmanaged, stress can lead to
emotional, psychological, and even physical problems, including heart
disease, high blood pressure, chest pains or an irregular heartbeat.
Humans were designed to handle short periods of intensely high stress
followed by periods of relaxation. We were not designed to live with a
constant low level stress that keeps us feeling overwhelmed. If you feel
you have been under too many pressures for too long, stress reduction
acupuncture can help you enjoy a more peaceful life.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the substantial benefits of acupuncture
in the treatment of stress, anxiety and mental health. In addition to
acupuncture, Oriental medicine offers a whole gamut of tools and techniques
that can be integrated into your life to keep stress in check. These tools
include Tui Na, Qi Gong exercises, herbal medicine, dietary therapy,
meditations and acupressure that you can administer at home.
Address Health Concerns Quickly: Don't Wait!
Many diseases can be cured easily if they are caught early, but people
often put off seeking treatment. They ignore important signals that
something is wrong with their body. We all get warnings about our health
and well-being, but these warnings are like traffic lights. They tell us
what we ought to do, but they cannot make us do it.
Want to learn more about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can
enrich and improve your life? Call for an appointment today! 434-316-9101
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In This Issue
·
Aging Well
with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
·
Six Easy
Tips for Greater Health and Longevity
·
Health
Boosting Foods
Health Boosting Foods
Fruits,
vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins are part of any healthy diet.
Here are six nutrients that can enhance your health and vitality.
Garlic - Garlic boosts your immunity, increasing your ability to
fight off infection. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels. One or two
cloves of garlic a day is recommended for optimum health, so include it in
your cooking!
Ginger - Ginger has been taken as a medicine by numerous cultures
for thousands of years. This amazing spice is anti-inflammatory, reduces
pain, and is excellent for many types of digestive distress (especially
nausea.) More than one study has found that ginger may also be a potent
cancer fighter.
Goji Berries - Small fruits that grow on evergreen shrubs in the
Himalayas, Gou Qi Zi are slightly chewy and have a mild flavor. High in
fiber and containing the highest antioxidant powers of any berry or fruit,
they are used in Chinese medicine to increase longevity, strengthen the
immune system, improve vision, protect the liver and improve circulation.
The goji or wolf berry is widely available dried, and easily found as whole
fruit or juice in natural-food stores.
Green Tea - There has been much research on the anti-carcinogenic
properties of green tea. Studies of people in Asia who drink copious
amounts of green tea daily have shown a correlation between green tea
consumption and lower rates of a variety of cancers. Green tea is easy to
find and can be purchased in most grocery stores and health food stores. It
is refreshing iced or hot.
Honey - Known as Feng Mi in Oriental medicine, honey has many health
benefits, and is often used in combination with other herbs. It contains
anti-oxidants and the darker the honey, the higher the anti-oxidant content
and deeper the flavor. Honey can be eaten or applied topically. It is
anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal.
Throughout history, honey has been used to soothe and clear the skin, and
encourage the growth of healthy tissue. You might enjoy trying raw honey as
a facial mask. Organic raw honey that has not been pasteurized, clarified
or filtered is your best choice.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Anti-inflammatory essential fatty acids help
keep joints healthy, reduce pain and swelling and can also help with
depression, stress, arthritis and menopause. Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9
oils are fats that directly affect cognitive, cellular and kidney function.
Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include: salmon, sardines, tuna and other
cold water fish; nuts and seeds, notably flaxseeds, hemp seeds and walnuts;
and soybeans and winter squash.
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