Travel Rx: Staying Healthy on Holiday
Jet Lag Humans have biological rhythms, known as circadian rhythms, which are controlled by a biological clock, daily routines and exposure to light and dark. These affect body temperature, alertness, appetite, hormone secretion, etc. as well as sleep timing. Jet lag, medically known as desynchronosis, results from disruption of these circadian rhythms by traveling across multiple time zones. Your rhythms are out of sync with the new time zone, which can...
Spring Allergies and Respiratory Problems
Shanghai’s damp and dusty environment is a nightmare for allergy and asthma sufferers, and spring brings a new round of suffering. During spring, both nature and the human body are coming out of a state of winter passivity and transitioning to a more active (and hot/yang) period. Unfortunately, after a long, cold winter, the body is generally weak and vulnerable to external pathogenic factors. Therefore, the meridians transporting the flow...
Spring Can Be a Headache! TCM’s Approach to Migraines and Headaches
It’s wonderful when spring is here…we can enjoy longer sunny days and an end to those cold, grey and rainy winter days. Unfortunately during springtime, changing weather together with our modern lifestyle (sitting long hours in a bad position and eating unbalanced diets) often result in unpleasant headaches and migraines. As spring is the season of rebirth, growth, and blooming flowers, so is it for the human body which has to...
TCM Perspective: Nutrition During Pregnancy
TCM believes that every person is endowed from birth with an essence that lasts throughout the person’s life and provides the body with energy. This essence flows from the mother during pregnancy. Healthy lifestyle and good nutrition increases the amount and quality of this essential essence. To build up this life giving essence and guarantee the best health for the newborn, the soon-to-be mom is advised to eat a balanced diet...
Women’s Health Series: Infertility Solutions with TCM
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a child after two years of regular sexual intercourse without contraception. Western medical treatment focuses on the mechanical functioning of the reproductive organs and hormones. TCM understands that body and soul need to be balanced and harmonious for successful conception and a favorable environment for the embryo to grow. This is accomplished by establishing a healthy, regular menstrual cycle, an undisturbed flow...
Women’s Health Series: Relieving Menstrual Pain
Many women suffer from monthly menstrual pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Occasionally, this is related to a gynecological disease which need to be treated properly. However, for many women symptoms such as PMS (premenstrual syndrome), lower back pain, tender breasts, headaches, belly pain, and leg pain are part of their usual monthly cycle. These are often accompanied by fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and dizziness. Fortunately, TCM offers effective, natural relief. In...
TCM Perspective: Obtaining and Maintaining a Healthy Weight
New year, new you! How many of us, among other new year’s resolutions, intend to lose weight and maintain a healthy figure in 2016? Weight loss and maintenance are top concerns for many people but often, information overload and misconceptions make it hard to keep track of what to do to achieve such goals. Have you heard of globesity? Globesity is a new word created to emphasize the phenomenon of increasing...
TCM Treatments Series: Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a complementary therapy to acupuncture. The moxa used in this treatment is made with dried mugwort (艾叶) and this is burned to heat up areas along acupuncture points. In Chinese, this treatment is called jiǔ ( 灸) or jiǔshù ( 灸術). The most commonly practiced form of moxibustion today is indirect moxibustion, in which a moxa stick (or moxi cigar) is held near the acupoint or placed on...
TCM Treatments Series: Cupping
Cupping is a complementary therapy to acupuncture. Expats not familiar with cupping may wonder about the round, uniform marks they sometimes see on people who’ve received cupping treatment. Cupping is an ancient treatment used in many cultures around the world. Though it’s becoming more common in acupuncture practices in the west, it is still unfamiliar to many people. How Cupping Works Cups (most commonly made of glass) with negative pressure (created with...
TCM Treatments Series: Acupuncture
In our TCM (Tranditional Chinese Medicine)series, we'll be sharing insight into some of the major TCM treatments and answering frequently asked questions about them. One TCM method to cure diseases and restore balance is acupuncture. TCM Philosophy TCM believes a healthy body and mind is achieved through a free flow of vital energy (Qi) throughout the body. In TCM, the organs are interconnected and work together. An imbalance in one organ leads...