Chinese Medicine and Essential Oils: A Profound Combination

For the past 2 years, I have been incorporating essentials oils into my acupuncture practice and daily life. I have to say, the results have been pretty amazing. The use of essential oils is not new to Chinese Medicine. Its use was first recorded in China between 2697-2597 B.C.E. during the reign of Huang Ti, The Yellow Emperor. More well known is the use of herbal medicine as an integral part of Traditonal Chinese Medicine. Many of the plants used in herbology can also be used as Essential Oils for the same issues. In the essential oil form, they are a lot more potent. For example, 1 drop of peppermint oil is equivalent to 27 cups of peppermint tea. Inhalation can be the most direct delivery method of the many components in essential oils, since the chemical messengers in the nasal cavity have direct access to the brain. Oils can also be used topically with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil. When essential oils are applied to the skin, their healing components are absorbed into the bloodstream by the pores and hair follicles. Once inside the bloodstream, they disperse to the specific organs and systems on which they work. The following is a very small sample of Chinese herbs that are also used in essential oil form. Sheng Jiang : Ginger Ginger root and ginger oil are often used for upset stomachs. It is one of the best remedies for indigestion, stomach ache, dyspepsia, colic, spasms, diarrhea, flatulence and other stomach and bowel related problems. Ginger or ginger oil is often added to recipes, especially in India, as it helps in improving digestion. Ginger tea is also used for relieving stomach problems. Furthermore, it can increase your appetite, for this reason, I often recommend it to people who have a difficult time eating in the morning.

Bo He : Mint The health benefits of peppermint oil include its ability to treat indigestion, respiratory problems, headache, nausea, fever, stomach and bowel spasms and pain. It helps to increase immunity, reduces bad breath, keeps teeth and gums healthy, stimulates mental activity and reduces sugar cravings. I often suggest it for morning sickness caused by internal heat as opposed to ginger which would be morning sickness caused by cold. A qualified TCM practitioner can determine your pattern through a thorough intake.

Ru Xiang : Frankinscence The benefits of Frankincense are numerous. It is used to boost the immune system, aid in easing menstrual discomfort, may help in shrinking fibroids, helps wounds heal faster, helps fade stretch marks and scars, improves digestion, has anti aging properties, lowers blood pressure, relieves pain associated with rheumatism and arthritis, has a sedative effect and may help with anxiety and focus. There are numerous studies on Frankincense’s ability to suppress cancer cell viability. Here is just one of those studies that shows its effectiveness on bladder cancer: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2664784/.

These are just a few examples of common uses of essential oils that coincide with uses of Chinese Herbs. The difference is that Chinese herbal formulas are more complex. There is generally at least 4 herbs in a formula and they each have their own individual jobs. In that way, they help to strengthen and guide each other by working together. I remember a great teacher of mine saying, “why do we need to use more than one herb or one point if that one herb and one point does what we want?” Often with essential oils we can get great benefit from using just one oil. However, there are many great blends that do exist and work amazingly well.

In my practice, I find that using specific oils on specific acupuncture points along with the treatments can provide some really great results. For example, the liver in Chinese medicine is responsible for moving the Qi throughout the body. Often times, when one is stressed or easily frustrated, we want to help move the liver Qi which results in an ability to relax and let go. In this case, I may recommend a patient put lavender oil on a liver point that is found on the top of the foot between the big toe and the 2nd toe. In another example, I may have a patient coming in for digestive issues and I will massage a digestive blend mixed with coconut oil into their abdomen along with the treatment. One more great example where I have found the use of essential oils has greatly enhanced the acupuncture treatment is in the use of encouraging the body to go into labor. At the end of a treatment, I will often massage clary sage into the sacrum, the triangular area at the base of your spine. I have found this method to be very effective at getting contractions going. I often recommend moms use clary sage throughout labor to keep contractions going and the feedback has been great.

There are many methods out there for using essential oils. I have found that my knowledge of Chinese Medicine and the location of acupuncture points throughout the body helps me to utilize them in a way that may be very different from what is found in a typical aromatherapy text. Whether it be aromatically or topically, the combination has made a difference in my practice and in my household.

If you are interested in learning more about how to use essential oils and acupressure points at home on yourself and your loved ones, contact Chantal Davis, L.Ac. at freeflowhealth@gmail.com.

Quinoa for Breakfast: Alternative to Oatmeal

Here is one of my favorite breakfast meals. You can make a large pot at the beginning of the week and warm it daily for a quick healthy breakfast. It is gluten free and dairy free. The Quinoa is a good source of protein that keeps you satisfied much longer than a bowl of oatmeal. Use this recipe as a guideline but you can add and remove anything to your liking Quinoa Breakfast: Nourishes Qi and Blood, Strengthens Spleen, Encourages production of fluids 1 cup Quinoa (washed) slightly less than 2 cups of water handful of cranberries, currants or dates handful of crushed Walnuts, Almonds or Cashews The juice from one orange and zest of the orange 1 tbs of agave nectar, honey or maple syrup Almond or Coconut milk

Wash one cup of Quinoa thoroughly. This will avoid a bitter taste. As the quinoa remains quite wet, you don't need to use a full 2 cups but just under, about 1 3/4 cups of water. Place 1 cup of quinoa and 1 3/4 cups of water in pot, cover and bring to a boil. Do not remove lid while cooking. Once Quinoa has opened up and water has been absorbed it is done, approximately 15 minutes.  When Quinoa is finished, squeeze orange juice, add nuts, cranberries, whichever sweetener you have chosen and add milk to consistency of your liking. Enjoy!

Benefits according to Traditional Chinese Medicine: Quinoa: sweet and warming, Tonifies Qi, strengthens spleen, warms yang, relieves internal coldness good source of Vitamin E which helps keep blood “slippery” and flowing, which therefore reduces blood stagnation and clotting. It is also rich in protein and iron. Walnuts: slightly warm and sweet, tonifies kidney, aids erratic or rebellious Qi almonds are also a good source of Vitamin E. Orange: strengthens spleen, promotes body fluids. Good for stagnant Qi. Agave nectar/honey: natural sweetner very similar to honey except lower on glycemic index which makes this a great substitute. Neutral, sweet, nourishes yin, lubricates dryness, tonifies weakness, harmonizes, strengthens spleen.

Taking care of yourself: Stressed out Mama

As an Acupuncturist. I hope to exude health, calm and balance to all of my patients. However, I am a mother of two children under the age of 4. When I am in my office, I believe I do exude all of the qualities I hope to help my patients achieve because it is the place I feel the most relaxed. Outside of the office has been a whole different story for me since the birth of my second son. January of this year I found that I had been in the worse shape of my life physically, mentally and emotionally. I kept hearing myself say "I have never been so stressed out and overwhelmed in my life."  I was experiencing migraines 2 to 3 times a week, digestive issues, and anxiety. All of this had been going on for almost a year. Of course I was completely sleep deprived on top of being acupuncture, yoga, proper diet and water intake deprived. I knew I did not like where this was heading and that I had to begin taking control of my health before I ended up somewhere I certainly did not want to be. Not to mention, I always prided myself on practicing what I preach. I began receiving acupuncture again, drinking tons of water, taking my magnesium tea before bed and after a few weeks my headaches began to go away. I haven't had a migraine in several months now. The yoga is on hold for the time being but once both kids are in school, it is the first thing I will bring back regularly into my life. I try to do at least 10 sun salutations a day but it doesn't always happen, especially when my boys are around and mistake me for a jungle gym. As a practitioner that works with a lot of fertility issues, I put a lot of time and thought into doing research for my patients to assure I am doing all that I can to help them regain balance and optimal health. I realized how important it is that I do this for myself as well so that I can be the best mother and wife for my children and husband. I am still working on the balance and trying desperately to reduce the levels of stress that come along with parenthood and running your own practice. This may be a life long journey. I am so blessed to have a supportive husband who gives me the time I need to take care of myself.

What I do notice in my practice is that I see so many moms prenatally and then either never again or not until the next pregnancy. I was guilty of this as well. Chinese Medicine has been an invaluable tool for me to get back on the path to regaining my balance and I should have resumed treatments directly after the birth of my son. It is definitely one of the tools that has helped stop the chronic migraines. When I am consistent with treatments my sleep improves and I feel better able to manage the stress in my life.  There is so much required of your body after you have a child and you are nursing around the clock all on the least amount of sleep you have ever experienced for an extended period of time. Do yourself and your family a favor and take care of yourself first so that you can take care of them to your fullest potential!

Nourishing Coconut Beet Soup

I recently made some of my favorite soup to nourish a dear friend of mine who just had a baby. This soup sounds strange but believe me it is delicious and super good for you. In Chinese Medicine there is the idea that things in nature that resemble certain parts of the body are useful in curing issues with those parts of the body. In Western medicine this concept was developed by Paracelsus stating that "nature marks each growth according to it's curative benefit". Later this became to be known as the Doctrine of Signatures. Just looking at a beet tells you exactly what it is useful for, building blood. This concept is further proven by the fact that beets contain many blood building minerals such as iron, folate and manganese. It is known to purify blood to aid in detoxification, increase blood flow which helps lower blood pressure and helps with constipation due to it's high fiber content. You can see why this would be beneficial for a new mom. Coconut is specifically beneficial for building Yin which comprises the fluids of the body, one of which is blood. The fat in coconut oil is unique and different from most all other fats and possesses many health giving properties such as relieving pain and irritation from hemorrhoids, reducing inflammation and improving absorption of many vitamins and minerals. In Aryuvedic tradition, it is often suggested to women to improve milk supply,  as the milk that a mother produces is directly made from Yin/Blood.  In terms of fertility, signs of abundant yin can be seen leading up to ovulation in the amount of fertile mucus that is produced.  When yin is depleted, your body shows signs of heating up, as Yin is the cooling and moistening system of the body.

During pregnancy, Qi and blood become fully abundant resulting in thicker hair and nails and that glow that so many talk about. During the birth process, a woman loses a lot of qi and blood. This can show up postpartum with symptoms such as hair loss, anxiety, depression, low milk supply, fatigue, and memory loss. It is important to get on top of replenishing immediately postpartum in order to feel well and nourished.

This recipe is beneficial for everyone, whether it be fertility issues, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, menopause or general wellbeing. It is nutritious and absolutely delicious.

Coconut Beet Soup

ingredients:

2 to 3 small sized beets or one large beet cooked, chopped and peeled

2 to 3 cloves of minced garlic

1 tbs chicken or vegetable better than boullian (contains no msg) or even better homemade chicken stock.

1 can full fat coconut milk

1 tbs of virgin, unrefined organic coconut oil

sea salt to desired taste

Directions:

Wash and cook beets in about 4 cups of water. I use a pressure cooker which takes about 12 minutes. Run beets under cold water and remove the skin and chop. If using boullian, reserve 2 cups of water from the cooked beets and set aside. In a medium sized pot, melt the coconut oil and add the garlic until it becomes fragrant. Add the beet water, the boullian and the sea salt. To that, add the chopped beets. Using a handheld blender, puree the beets. To finish off add the coconut milk. Enjoy!

Acupuncture To Prepare For Labor

Did you know acupuncture can help you prepare for timely labor and delivery? Beginning at 36 weeks, acupuncture is administered on a weekly basis as a safe and effective treatment to encourage natural labor. Studies show (see abstract below) that gently needling specific points on the body can help: *reduce the length of labor *prevent overdue births *accelerate cervical ripening and dilation

I'd like to emphasize that the intention is to encourage your body to go into labor naturally as well as to encourage a natural progression through each stage of labor. It is not meant to induce labor as is done with pitocin. Often times when the body is not prepared for labor, yet forced into it, there is not a smooth progression. Contractions can slow down causing dilation to slow down leading to the need for interventions.

It is also important to note the other major benefits of receiving acupuncture in order to prepare for labor. Acupuncture puts you in a state of relaxation, benefits sleep, and reduces pain. Mom does best when going into labor in a relaxed, restful state of being as does baby.

If you are close to 36 weeks, I encourage you to schedule your appointment today. If you know of anyone who is pregnant, please share this information with them. It can make a world of difference in their birthing experience.

Acupuncture for cervical ripening and induction of labor at term--a randomized controlled trial. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna, Austria. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether acupuncture at term can influence cervical ripening, induce labor and thus reduce the need for postdates induction. METHODS: On the estimated date of confinement (EDC) women were prospectively randomized to an acupuncture group (AG) or a control group (CG). Data of 45 women were evaluated (AG, n = 25; CG, n = 20). Inclusion criteria were as follows: confirmed EDC, uncomplicated course of pregnancy, singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation. Exclusion criteria were as follows: cervical dilation > 3 cm, active labor, premature rupture of membranes, previous cesarean section, pathologies in mother or fetus. Women were examined at 2-day intervals. The cervical length was measured with vaginal ultrasonography, cervical mucus was obtained for a fetal Fibronectin test and the cervical status was assessed according to the Bishop score. In the AG, the points Hegu (Large Intestine 4) and Sanyinjiao (Spleen 6) were pierced on both sides every second day. If women were not delivered 10 days after EDC, labor was induced by administering vaginal prostaglandin tablets. RESULTS: The cervical length in the AG was shorter than that in the CG on day 6 and day 8 after EDC (P = 0.04 for both). In the AG the time period from the first positive Fibronectin test to delivery was 2.3 days, while that in the CG was 4.2 days (P = 0.08). The time period from EDC to delivery was on average 5.0 days in the AG and 7.9 days in the CG (P = 0.03). Labor was induced in 20% of women in the AG (n = 5) and in 35% in the CG (n = 7) (P = 0.3). Overall duration of labor, and first and second stage of labor were not different in the two groups. In 56% of women who underwent acupuncture (n = 14) and in 65% of controls (n = 13), Oxytocin was used to augment labor. (P = 0.54). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at points LI4 and SP 6 supports cervical ripening at term and can shorten the time interval between the EDC and the actual time of delivery.