In the Northern Hemisphere, where we live, on December 21st at 8:25 am PST we all experience the Winter Solstice. This marks when the earth is tilted furthest away from the sun, and results in the shortest day of the year. Since Nature is in balance, the Southern Hemisphere experiences their Summer Solstice, and their longest day of the year. In both hemispheres we all are affected by these subtle changes that occur, and if our system is compromised for any reason, we can experience one of the maladies that lurk in this festive season.
It’s not a coincidence that so many people experience poor health this time of year. We are affected by the lack of sunshine, increased stress around the holidays, and we get tempted by a lot of sweet foods. These and other factors tend to supress our immune system, and we become more susceptible to the common cold, flu, and many other ailments. An acupuncture treatment to balance our energy and boost our immune system can help us have a more enjoyable and healthy holiday.
So what else can I do to help stay healthy?
Number one is washing your hands, often and thoroughly. Use the trick of humming happy birthday to yourself (even if you aren’t a Capricorn) while washing, which provides the proper duration. Avoid sweets – sugar is very high on the list of substances that are detrimental to our health. Get lots of fresh air – germs generally don’t like oxygen. Therapeutic breathing will encourage a better use of your lung capacity.
Include Ginger Root in your eating program. The benefits of ginger (zingibar officinale) are so numerous; they could be a separate article. Basically, it is a warm and nutritious herb that will help fight off the symptoms of colds and flu – for that action, drink it as hot as you can tolerate it, sweetened with honey if you find it too pungent. Warming herbs and food follow the TCM approach of compensating for the cold dampness of winter, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Cinnamon is also a warming herb, and a carminative (expels gas from the bowels).
Did you know that honey is a natural anti-bacterial and disinfectant?
Other than the recommendation to never give honey to an infant less than a year old due to the risk of introducing the Clostridium botulinum spores into their immature digestive tract, honey is an elixir of immeasurable benefits. Yes, it is a pure carbohydrate and contains more calories than refined sugar, but the “refined” aspect gives sugar its addictive and poisonous qualities. Allow a teaspoon of raw honey to melt in your mouth, and a sore throat will evaporate. Burned from taking your turkey out of the oven? Apply honey topically as a soothing disinfectant that will accelerate the healing process.
A Girl’s Best Friend
Bee Pollen has earned the nickname “a girl’s best friend” for a reason. It is loaded with nutrients that will give your skin a healthy glow, and the natural balance of nutrients makes it an immune booster. Add Propolis to your home first aid kit as well since it is a natural antibiotic. Local bee products are best since they are more aligned with your personal biology.
One of the reasons that dark green leafy vegetables are mentioned so often to improve your health is that they contain chlorophyll. The centre atom of the chlorophyll molecule is almost identical to hemoglobin; the variation is magnesium instead of iron. Raw carrot juice has a similar structure.
There is a paradigm shift happening toward functional medicine
Simply explained, functional medicine practitioners focus on the whole person and root cause of a dis-ease causing imbalance versus the symptom focus of our disease maintenance system that big pharma promotes. Why would you want to heal a patient if you can get them on an expensive (profit generating) medication for life? It was the holistic approach of TCM that attracted me to my profession over three decades ago.
Chris Beats Cancer
Although not a doctor, one of the leaders in this area is Chris Wark, a cancer survivor who started “Square One” to share the knowledge he gained via his healing cancer coaching program. If you, or someone you know is dealing with cancer, contact me for a copy of his “20 Questions to ask your oncologist”. He warns that you could possibly get fired if you ask all twenty. Curious? Go to www.chrisbeatcancer.com
In Chris’ healing guide he rates Vitamin D3 as the #1 anti-cancer vitamin. It is a fact that the majority of people living north of Los Angeles’ latitude are D3 deficient. A study that showed females who took 5,000 IU of D3 per day had a 60% reduction in breast cancer incidence seemed to fall through the cracks of the Cancer Industry. Ask your doctor to order a blood test to determine your D3 blood level, or as a rule of thumb when your shadow gets longer than you are tall, increase your vitamin D3 intake. Take advantage of my December special below.
Did I mention to wash your hands, well and often?
December Special
My December special is that on your first treatment booked between now and the end of 2017, you will receive a free bottle of Vitamin D3 – the sunshine vitamin. Use my online booking system or give me a call at 604.524.6855 if you need a time outside of the calendar schedule, and I’ll do my best to accommodate your request. Be healthy for the holidays. Thank you for your business, trust and referrals in the past year. Merry Christmas. Dr. Bill