Kidney 3 - Point of the Month

Kidney 3 - Point of the Month

Kidney 3, also known as the Great Valley is a superstar acupoint for many reasons. Located on the inside of the ankle, in the depression between the medial malleolus and the tendo calcaneus, this point is aptly named because it is located in the valley between the achilles tendon and the malleolus. The tibial artery can even be considered a “stream” running through the valley.

Kidneys would include the kidney-urinary system, as well as the endocrine system. The kidneys would also be where you would find the adrenals. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidneys are also the storehouses of our Qi and have a direct relationship to reproduction and aging.

Locally this point can be used for heel and ankle pain, including plantar fasciitis. For reproduction, the kidneys are essential for sperm and egg health and Kidney 3 can help with impotence as well as irregular menstruation and endometriosis. For urinary health it can treat nighttime urination issues, as well as incontinence, chronic cystitis, frequent urination and even dry stools!

The kidney is related to the lungs and Kidney 3 can work for certain types of asthma, especially when there are issues taking deep breaths. It can help alleviate coughing as well as reduce wheezing. The kidney meridian has an internal branch that goes to the throat and Kidney 3 can be indicated for sore throats, dry mouth, throat, cough and laryngitis.

On a more emotional and spiritual level, Kidney 3 can help when there is an imbalance between the kidney and heart in cases of anxiety, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep and forgetfulness. For imbalances with the liver and kidney yin, this point can help with irritability. For people who need to be grounded, Kidney 3 can be combined with Stomach 36 for a very calming effect.

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Going Deeper: The Kidneys

The organs in Chinese medicine are more than just a physical representation. The organs include not only their physiological function, but also mental, emotional, spiritual and elemental qualities that align with nature and the seasons. Let’s explore the kidneys.

The kidney element in Chinese medicine governs water and is associated with the season of winter, where the energies are turning from the hotter yang months to the more yin of winter. Each organ has an element associated with it: liver and wood, stomach and earth, kidney and water, for example. There is also an emotion, a color and flavor associated with the organ system. For the kidneys, the emotion is fear, the color is dark or black and the flavor is salty. It also opens to the ear, has the direction of north and is paired with the bladder. The kidney element houses willpower and manifests in the teeth and luster of the hair.

The kidneys are the body’s root and contain both yin and yang energies. Yin is associated with what is dark, still, cold, feminine and is inward. Yang is more outward, hot, bright, moving and masculine. The kidneys control reproduction, growth and development and are associated with bones and marrow. The kidneys are said to store jing, which is likened to essence, what you’re born with and what’s inherited from your parents.

There are two types of essence:  

1.Pre-natal is from your parents and can be likened to one’s basic constitution and DNA.

2. Post-natal is what is transformed from the food you eat and lifestyle.

The second you have more control over health-wise. Ideally, there is a nice balance of kidney yin and yang energies, but if there is yin deficiency, there will be symptoms such as heat, sweating, dryness, irritability, insomnia and low back pain. If there is yang deficiency there are more cold signs such as cold extremities, cold and painful lower back, increased urinary frequency, fatigue, premature greying, water retention and low libido. There can also be an emotional component manifesting as increased phobias and anxieties. Many of the above mentioned symptoms can be tied to the thyroid and adrenal fatigue in Western medicine.

How to care for your kidney this winter:

Keep warm: The kidneys are affected by exposure to cold. Try a nice scarf to protect your neck from the elements, and keep your feet and low back warm in those frosty winter months. Moxibustion, which is heated mugwort, is a wonderful supplement to acupuncture that warms particular acupuncture points on the body.

Eat warm: Foods that are beneficial to the kidneys (in moderation) tend to be dark in color such as black beans, sesame seeds, seaweed, kelp, lamb and beef. Other beneficial warming foods include ginger, cinnamon, miso soup, soybeans, walnuts, chives and Goji berries. It’s best to see your acupuncturist or other health care professional to get an idea of foods that are good for your particular constitution, as some of these foods can be harmful if taken in large amounts (kelp and seaweed, in particular). It’s also best to not eat too many cold, raw vegetables or cold smoothies. Also try to ingest food and drink at room temperature. There are wonderful herbal formulas to assist the kidneys that your acupuncturist can include in your treatment plan.

   

Light exercise: Light exercise such as tai qi, qi gong or walking has wonderful health and anti-aging benefits and won’t cause exhaustion.

Avoid overwork, overexertion, high stress: Overdoing it depletes your kidney energy, and you might experience ill effects of burnout that are usually associated with adrenal fatigue. Ancient Chinese medical texts also recommend curbing excessive sexual activity to keep kidney energy strong and vibrant and to increase longevity.

New York Sports Acupuncture

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Fighting Flu Season with Acupuncture

While the flu is actually not a season, we have become programmed to think of it as the months of November through March. On average, the flu hospitalizes thousands every year, especially the young and elderly. There are also a number of deaths related to the flu, mostly due to people already having compromised immune systems.

The flu, also known as influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by a number of viruses. To date, there are approximately 26 to 30 different known strains of the flu virus. This is one of the reasons the flu vaccine has only mild efficacy. The flu vaccine itself, typically only covers five to seven strains of the flu.  Symptoms of the flu include fever, coughing, a sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, pains, runny nose and watery eyes.

The good news is we can avoid the flu by implementing healthy habits and taking care of ourselves throughout the year. The best way to treat a disease is to avoid it.  Traditional Chinese Medicine is a great tool to have in the toolbox for preventing the flu.  Utilizing botanical Chinese formulas and acupuncture treatments can be very beneficial in keeping the flu at bay.

Regular acupuncture treatments help boost immunity, while balancing and regulating the body’s energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”). Several studies have shown acupuncture can reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections and shorten the length of time that somebody is ill.

TCM botanicals or herbs are also a great way to ward off the flu bug. Two herbs in particular are specified for strengthening Qi and boosting the immune system. The first is huang qi or astragalus and the other is dang shen or codonopsis. There are a couple of other herbs commonly used as antivirals too. These are ban lan gen (isatis root) and da qing ye (isatis leaf).

Along with TCM, there are other things we can utilize to avoid catching the flu. Regular exercise, ample sleep and a proper healthy diet are two of the best things anybody can use to stay disease-free. Exercising enough to break a sweat without overdoing it has been shown to reduce the incidence of the flu. So incorporating practices like tai chi, qi gong and yoga can actually reduce physical and emotional stress, while strengthening the immune system and preventing disease.

Eating a healthy diet is essential for preventing any disease, not just the flu. This includes eating a very balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Foods that contain beta-carotene are especially helpful at boosting the immune system.  Carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes and garlic are good examples of beta-carotene rich foods. Also drinking at least 64 ounces of water on a daily basis is highly recommended.  Ample fluid intake helps the body flush out invaders and toxins, while keeping the mucus membranes and upper respiratory tract healthy enough to fight off the virus.

Taking advantage of what TCM can offer, while incorporating healthy daily habits will insure this upcoming flu season passes by without wreaking havoc on any of us.

New York Sports Acupuncture

www.NewYorkSportsAcupuncture.com

How to Boost Winter Energy with Traditional Chinese Medicine

How to Boost Winter Energy with Traditional Chinese Medicine

The season of winter is a time of slowing down and hibernation. According to Traditional Chinese Medical theory, the winter months are the perfect time to recharge your batteries and to start storing up the body’s vital energy reserves. The ancient Chinese believed humans should be at peace and in harmony with nature and follow the natural cycles of the seasons, while taking cues from the surrounding environment.

Winter is dominated by the water element in TCM theory. The water element is associated with the kidneys, bladder and adrenal glands. The kidneys are considered the source of all energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”) found within the body. They store the reserves of Qi in the body for usage during times of stress and change. This Qi also helps in healing, preventing illness and graceful aging. Fundamentally, during the winter months, our bodies are following the cues of nature, which include rest, reflection, storage and conservation.

During the winter months it is important to nourish the kidney qi, as this is also the time when this energy is most easily depleted. Some things that can help nourish the kidney qi include regular acupuncture treatments, moxibustion, proper diet, increased sleep and light exercise.

TCM utilizes numerous modalities and tools to help keep the body balanced and prepped for the seasonal changes. Acupuncture and moxibustion are two of the tools that are regularly used to boost the kidney qi. Moxibustion is a practice where dried mugwort is burned very near the skin to warm and boost the Qi within the body. There are certain acupuncture points that are essential for boosting kidney qi. Most are located either on the lower abdomen, below the umbilicus or on the lower back above the hip bones, in the areas of the kidneys. Applying moxibustion to these areas is a wonderful way to boost the kidney’s energy reserves.

Acupuncture can do essentially the same thing as moxibustion, but on a deeper level and it can physically affect the hormone levels of the adrenal glands, which sit just on top of the kidneys. When the adrenals are supported, they allow for balanced hormones throughout the body. This then helps the body use hormones properly without over-expenditure, thus preventing depletion of the body’s energy reserves.

As the kidneys are closely associated and ruled by the water element, which is the element associated with winter, it is important to remember that water is essential.  Drinking room temperature water is a vital step to keeping the kidney qi sufficient throughout the winter months.  Eating darkly colored foods like blueberries, blackberries and black beans are also recommended during the winter months, as they boost the kidney qi.  Warming foods like hearty soups, whole grains and roasted nuts also keep the body warm and nourished.

Keeping the body warm, getting ample amounts of restful sleep and going to sleep early are all recommended during the winter months.  Doing all of these things, getting regular acupuncture treatments and eating according to the season, will keep everybody healthy throughout the winter and when spring hits, energy reserves will be ample to take the body into the warmer months ahead.

New York Sports Acupuncture

www.NewYorkSportsAcupuncture.com

S.M.A.R.T Goals

S.M.A.R.T  Goals

Every New Year we lay out a numerous amount of positive goals we hope to achieve. With the New Year comes new responsibilities, changes and a chance to start fresh. New Year’s resolutions are a big part of most individual’s first week in January, but people begin to lose track of the goals they set as the month drags on. Work, school, family and other obligations can fill up your schedule, and you may find yourself forgetting about those New Year’s resolutions you made just a few weeks ago. But, with the SMART goal method you can make sure you achieve your New Year’s resolutions. The SMART method creates a full-proof plan to keep you on task and to make sure those resolutions become reality.

Specific

The “S” in the SMART method stands for specific. This is a very important first step to achieving your resolutions. You need to nail down the specifics of what you are striving to achieve. What do you want to accomplish? Who do you need to help you in order to accomplish it? When will you accomplish your goal? How will you accomplish your goal? Where will you accomplish your goal? All of these questions should be answered in order to have a clear understanding of your goal.

Measurable

Establish a way to track your progress. It is very key to make your goal measurable. Create a certain criteria that is quantifiable. For example, if your resolution is to eat less fast food in the new year, make sure to save your receipts and track how many times you go to fast food locations.

Achievable

This step in the SMART method is critical. It can also be the hardest part of the method. You have to understand how attainable your goals are. Make your goals realistic. If you have created some New Year’s resolutions that seem a little far-fetched you have to stop them before you begin. Only pursue goals that are attainable.

Realistic

To achieve anything you have to truly believe that you want it. Make your goals realistic to your opinions, beliefs and interests. If it really isn’t important to you, you will not strive to make it a reality.

Timely
Create a sense of urgency. By creating a sense of urgency you allow yourself to see the real progress you are making. Instead of claiming you will lose 25 pounds in the New Year, say you will lose five pounds a month for the next five months. This way not only do you create a sense of urgency built around your time-based goal, but in turn you are creating a metric that is measurable, when knowing how many pounds you lost a month. Did you meet your goal?

New York Sports Acupuncture

www.NewYorkSportsAcupuncture.com