Fend Off Colds and Flus this Autumn

Gone is the Summer sunshine and warmth and as the weather gets colder, wetter and windier (especially of late), people are more likely to develop signs of colds (cough, sore throat, runny nose) or flu. The best way to treat a disease is to prevent it.  So, do something to boost your immune system now before you start showing any symptom. Chinese herbs such as Huang Qi (Astralagus) are used to strengthen Qi and to boost the immune system.

Acupuncture can help rebalance energy, regulate the Qi and stimulate the immune system. Several clinical studies have demonstrated that acupuncture and herbal medicine in particular reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection and shorten the length of time one is ill. When you get sick with a cold or the flu, do not wait. Start acupuncture treatments in the early stages. It may help eliminate pathogenic influences.
Regular exercise of sufficient intensity (to warm you up, but not to make you sweat- not overdoing it) has been shown to reduce the incidence of the flu. Exercise such as Qi-gong, Tai-Chi, and Yoga can help reduce emotional and physical stress. It also strengthens the immune system and prevents disease from arising.

Keep a good diet. Make sure to eat a full balanced diet that is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. Foods containing beta-carotene are thought to help boost your immune system and keep your mucous membranes and upper respiratory system healthy and harder to infect. Carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, garlic and tomatoes are high in beta-carotene. Eating lots of them during the flu season may help you avoid illness, or recover sooner.

Drink water to prevent dehydration. Ample liquids can help your body flush the invaders and the debris from their battle with your immune system. Chicken soup is recommended because it adds extra water and expels mucous to help you get rid of the illness. Try to drink an 8-ounce glass of water every hour. This is very important to help your body recover from the flu.
Extra rest will help you save energy for battling the illness. This is particularly important if you became sick when you were already tired or run down. Get more sleep and take a nap in the afternoon; it will help you recover faster.

Diet can help alleviate rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition characterized by the fact that the immune cells, or lymphocytes, promote inflammation of the joints. The exact causes are still unknown and this chronic disease can lead to long-term joint damage resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability.

Rheumatoid arthritis progresses in three stages. The first stage is persisting synovitis, the inflammation of the synovial lining of the joints causing pain, warmth, stiffness, swelling and redness. In the second stage, the rapid division and growth of cells causes the synovium to thicken to the extent that it is palpable as a "boggy" swelling around the joints and tendons. In the third stage, the inflamed cells release enzymes that will damage the underlying cartilage, causing it to thin.  Over time, the joint will lose its shape and alignment, eliciting more pain and loss of movement. Rheumatoid arthritis may at times last only for a while and go away; it may also go into remission and then flare up again, or it may continue indefinitely.

In Chinese Medicine, this condition is called Bi syndrome and is typically characterized into four types: Wind-Cold, Cold, Damp and Heat. During an initial consultation, including an assessment of the pulse and tongue, a diagnosis is made and your type of arthritis is determined. Specific acupuncture points are used and an appropriate diet is designed.

Green onions and ginger will help cases of Wind Bi. For Cold-Bi, black pepper and dry ginger are beneficial. Soy bean sprouts and pearl barley help cases of Damp-Bi while mung bean sprouts and winter melon are advised for Heat-Bi.

In addition, the following are useful for arthritis:

Helpful herbs and spices:

Black peppercorn, dill, fennel, coriander, marjoram, sage, saffron, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, onion, chives, garlic, horseradish (best if pickled in vinegar) and ginger root.  Of these foods, onion and garlic are especially helpful in reducing the formation of inflammation as they contain the bioflavonid quercetin.

Beneficial Foods:

Fish with ample Omega-3 such as trout, anchovy, sardines, salmon, tuna and butterfish, chicken

Angelica, cinnamon bark (these last two as part of a herbal treatment).  Pearl barley, tofu, celery and Chinese yam to help alleviate swollen joints.

You should also avoid any calcium inhibitors: excess meat or protein from any source (especially red meat, which tends to cause more inflammation), intoxicants (alcohol, tobacco, coffee), refined sugar and too many sweets, excess salt.  Also restrict foods in oxalic acid, such as rhubarb, cranberry, plum, chard, beet greens and spinach.

Arthritis relief with Acupuncture

A number of recent scientific studies have found evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture in both providing pain relief and improving function for people with arthritis.

Western medicine defines arthritis as an inflammatory condition of the joints that is characterized by pain, swelling, heat, redness, and limitation of movement. In terms of Chinese medicine, arthritis can be linked to several patterns of disease, and acupuncture treatment will take into account both the root of the problem and its symptoms (for instance a prior exposure to cold that damaged joint, leading to an obstruction in the natural flow of Qi and blood and manifesting as pain in the joint).  The acupuncture diagnosis will also vary depending on the types of symptoms (heat, stiffness, sharp pain, dull ache) and the overall state of the individual. The treatment protocol is therefore tailored to the person's specific symptoms and general physical and emotional state and is likely to be different from person to person.

The use of acupuncture in combination with gentle exercise such as taichi or qigong can be a very effective way to treat and manage joint and musculoskeletal disorders including arthritis. If you would like to start a course of treatment for your arthritis or joint pain, or a free 15-minute consultation visit our website http://5element-acupuncture.com/contact.html for contact details in the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar.