I feel Energised

Energy is such a precious resource to our human world - it can seem like a finite resource - we only have so much and then once used, it is gone. We often use phrases like "conserve your energy" or "that took up alot of energy" or "I dont feel like I have the energy for that".

In life things take time but also take energy. Some things can seem to take us longer when they are energy-draining tasks.

In Chinese medicine we think a great deal about energy. It is one of our bodies vital substances - known as Qi (pronounced Chee), it is made from Air and Food, and uses the finite resource of Kidney Jing Energy (that you are born with) to assist with Qi formation. Good breathing, Clean Air, Good Digestion and Good food that is healthy and and a mostly cooked diet will lead to good Qi production in one's body. Although Qi production does use some finite resource, the body is constantly able to make Qi provided the right ingredients (Food and Air) and manufucturing equipment (the health of your organs) are in good working order.

Your organs make Qi but they also require Qi to run the machine. Chinese medicine also considers the management of energy as a way to enhance health.

Quite often when we feel tired, it is not from exhaustion of Qi (i.e. not Enough energy) but from a stagnation of Qi. In stagnation, the body is producing enough Qi but it is stuck and not easily accesable.

The main differentating symptom here is in stagnation, the person will feel better with exercise, and in Qi deficency they will feel exhausted from doing exercise.

There are things which mentally energise us. Putting us in a "good mood" or some tasks can be energy-givers. Some people are energised by social life, others by solitude and time alone to refelct and think. Some find nature is the most peaceful and energising place, others like the stimulation of a big city with the hustle and bustle of something going on.

Energy-suckers are often things we have to do but we loathe the thought of them. It might be people who bieng around are just simply draining. When you leave their company it seems they have sucked the life out of you.

When life gets busy, it can seem like all our time is spent doing important things, but there isnt any left for the Energy-giving activities.

What are your energy-givers? Make time and plan in sometihing energy-giving this week.

What are your energy-suckers? How can you minimise the impact of Energy sucker activity on you?

If you struggle with sleep, digestion or find yourself sighing alot then acupuncture can help a great deal in your energy production and mobilisation of Qi. Seek out an acupuncturist near you that can help re-balance your bodies Qi so your Energy factory is at optimum working level. 

Self Help - Natural ways to relieve pain

Pain is an interesting phenomena of the human body.

Firstly, you need to know why you have the pain. Pain is a signal of something wrong and shouldn’t just be ignored or self-medicated without knowing it’s cause. In Chinese medicine, practitioners are all about getting to the root cause of the problem. We don’t just treat the symptoms but the Root as well (In TCM, this theory is called the Ben and Biao).

 

This post is really for people in chronic pain, when you know the cause and may need to manage it. There are lots of natural remedies on this earth which can alleviate pain. Please don’t take this advice as a replacement for seeing your health care professional or Western medical doctor.

Pain in the muscles or joints is a common one where we may easily know the cause. A simple over-working at the gym or sleeping incorrectly can cause us to wake up with muscular pain. If pain continues or gets worse, its advisable to seek professional advice and treatment. 

Natural ways to relieve pain:

• Warming

Heat makes blood vessels expand, which increases the blood supply to the heated area. If there is infection, then heat should NOT be applied. In Chinese medicine we usually suggest using heat at a hot but tolerable level (not a lukewarm hotpack) applied to the area for 20 minutes at a time.

Heat gets Blood flow to the area, while massage or movement can move some of the stagnation and assist repair and healing.  Heat shouldn’t be continuously applied without any movement or massage in-between each dose.

• Acupressure

Thousands of years people have been rubbing where it hurts, as an instinctive reaction to pain. Acupressure and Tuina-Chinese massage has been born out of this instinctive touching where pain occurs to relieve it. Knowing which channels and points are good for different areas of pain is the key to successful self-acupressure.

Here are some of my favourite self-acupressure points which may be useful for pain relief:

 Houxi SI 3 – Neck pain

Make a fist and look at your pinky finger. This point is just above where your pinky finger sits in the fist – under the knuckle bone of the 5^th metacarpal bone. The pressure should be directed towards the thumb under the bones, Use on the same side as the neck pain. For a stiff neck press it for about 2-3 minutes until a dull-achy sore feeling  is in the hand, continue pressing it and slowly rotate the neck from side to side according to it’s natural position.

  Hegu LI4 – Head pain, neck pain, shoulder and arm pain.

This point strongly stimulates release of the bodies natural pain killers. It is commonly called the “headache point” although in my 10+ years of practice I rarely find it a cure-all for headaches, sometimes it can make a strong headache worse. It is a very strong point for treating pain along it’s channel (the Large Intestine Channel) which goes from the index finger to the elbow and up onto the face. Press it the with your thumb or the back of a pen to get the right pressure

Diji Sp8 – Period pain

This point is the number one point for treating abdominal and period pain. It will be very sensitive during the period so the best way to use it with acupressure is to press it in with the back (not sharp) end of a pen. It is 3 cun measurements from the crease of the popliteal crease of the inside of the leg – Easy way to find it is the width of the four fingers, below the crease of the knee. See the picture that will make more sense! The point is right next to the bone.

Press this one for about 5 minutes until the pain starts to subside. When the pain is coming back you can press it again as many times as needed. 

• Plants

Plants have pain relieving properties – ranging from the opium poppy to essential oils, many of our pharmaceutical pain relieving drugs have natural plant origins.

• Essential Oils

Essential oils that can relieve muscular pain or menstrual pain (period pain) are CLARY SAGE and FRANKINSENCE oil. These are not the fragrance oils but the essential oils.

Frankinsense is a Chinese herb called Ru Xiang. It’s main function is to “move Blood” or as some author’s say it “quickens the Blood to dispel stasis”. Stasis or stagnation of Blood causes sharp and stabbing pain which is fixed in location.

These oils would normally be applied externally to the affected area. Don’t apply any oils to an open or healing scar site. It’s always appropriate to seek professional advice about whether it’s ok to use Essential oils in your specific health /sickness circumstances or in cases such as in pregnancy.

• Moxibustion

Heat is used in the treatment for pain in Chinese medicine, going back thousands of years. Heat was used in the form of Moxa, or Moxibustion well before there were microwaves to make wheat-bag hot packs.

If youre not familiar with moxa or moxibustion, you can click here for the post: Whats that Moxa smell all about?

The moxa box is a great invention of Chinese medicine which essentially houses the moxa stick and makes it easy to apply to the self.

MARIE HOPKINSON - Practice Details at www.metrohealth.com.au

Busting Winter Blues

In winter, the lack of sunshine rays makes some people more vunerable to feelings of depression, flatness and even sadness. 

 

Lithium is a natural chemical that our bodies absorb through the skin which is present in rays of sunshine. Natural sunlight has the ability to wake us up with a rejuvenation or brightness to face the day. Often our work schedules are not conducive to this “waking up with the sun” routine either. 

So how can we combat the “winter blues”? In Chinese medicine we recognise life has diferent seasons. While it’s not normal to sit around and sulk in winter, or just become a big slug on the couch, we needn’t have the same expectations of our life or body in winter that we do of summer or spring. Winter is a season of STORAGE and GATHERING of energy. Not expending or “doing” as we would in expect in the warmer seasons of spring and summer. 

Foods which nourish the Yang Qi (Energy) are slow cooked meats. Nuts like walnuts and almonds can be roasted or toasted with honey to make warming and nourishing snacks. For Vegetarians, try lots of slow cooked root vegetables, more legumes which are combined with underground vegies.

For people with stagnation, you should continue to do some exercise – most importantly to keep your body moving, rather than do strenuous Gym or aerobic type exercises. Keep active in stretching and exercise which promotes light (not heavy) sweating. Winter is also good season to cultivate yoga, tai qi and qi gong practices. Your TCM practitioner can advise you on more specific foods for your pattern of disharmony or body constitution.