Acupuncture was found to be effective in treating the symptoms of depression in a recent pilot study conducted by the University of Western Australia by the School of Neurosciences and Psychiatry. As with all pilot studies.....
Read moreSummer and chinese medicine
Summer is just around the corner and it looks like this year it is going to be a bit of a hot one. To help navigate the season we can look towards traditional East Asian thought. According to Chinese medicine, each season is associated with specific elements, organs, and energies. Summer is associated with the Fire element, which corresponds to the Heart and Small Intestine organs. It is believed that during this season, the body's energy, or Qi, is at its peak, and it is important to maintain a balance to prevent imbalances. Please note when we refer to the heart or other organs we mean to convey that this is according to Chinese medical thought and is separate from the modern western biomedical discrete organ system and understanding.
Some basic tips for summer
Chinese medicine has a pretty common sense approach to living with the seasons here are tips and advice from Chinese medicine to help you stay healthy during the summer:
1. Stay Hydrated: In Chinese medicine, summer is associated with heat and dryness. To counteract this, it is essential to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Opt for room temperature or slightly warm water, as cold drinks can shock the system and disrupt digestion.
2. Eat Cooling Foods: To balance the heat of summer, incorporate cooling foods into your diet. These include watermelon, cucumber, mung beans, and leafy greens. Avoid heavy, greasy, and spicy foods that can generate excess heat in the body.
3. Protect Your Heart: The Heart is the organ associated with summer in Chinese medicine. It is important to protect and nourish the Heart during this season. Engage in activities that bring you joy and happiness, spend time with loved ones, and practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation or gentle exercise.
4. Take Care of Your Digestion: The Small Intestine is another organ associated with summer. To support its function, eat smaller, more frequent meals and avoid overeating. Incorporate foods that aid digestion, such as ginger, mint, and fennel.
5. Get Plenty of Rest: Summer is a time of increased activity and longer days. However, it is crucial to prioritize rest and ensure you get enough sleep. Chinese medicine emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between activity and rest to support overall well-being.
6. Protect Yourself from Excessive Heat: While it is important to enjoy the warmth of summer, excessive heat can be detrimental to health. Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, using sunscreen, and seeking shade during the hottest parts of the day. Avoid prolonged exposure to air conditioning, as it can disrupt the body's natural temperature regulation.
7. Practice Mindful Movement: Engaging in gentle exercises such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong can help balance the body's energy and promote overall well-being. These practices focus on slow, flowing movements and deep breathing, which can help calm the mind and support the body's natural rhythms.
8. Stay Grounded: Summer can be a fun time to socialise and be out in the world, just as important is staying grounded. In Chinese medicine, summer is associated with the Fire element, which can be expansive and yang in nature. To stay balanced, incorporate grounding practices such as walking barefoot on grass or sand, spending time in nature, or practicing mindfulness.
What foods do you suggest?
To put it simply, eat food that is in season and where possible eat a wide range of colours and flavours. Moderation is always key as no foods are inherently good or bad. Some foods may be considered more preferable dependent on the season or weather, including how we prepare them. Although to be honest running an oven on a stinking hot day is not anyone’s idea of a good time. This where stir fries and very lightly cooked meals can be useful along with using your rice cooker over the stove. Find what works best for you.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are high in water content and essential nutrients, which can help to keep the body cool and hydrated. Some particularly good choices for summer include watermelon, cucumber, tomato, melon, and berries.
Choose lighter, easier-to-digest foods. During the summer months, the digestive system tends to be weaker. Avoid heavy, greasy foods, and instead opt for lighter, more easily digested foods such as steamed vegetables, poached fish, and yogurt.
Limit your intake of spicy foods. Spicy foods can increase the body's internal heat, which is not ideal during the summer months. If you do enjoy spicy foods, try to consume them in moderation.
Drink plenty of fluids. It is important to stay hydrated during the summer months, especially if you are active or sweating a lot. Drink plenty of water, unsweetened tea, and other hydrating beverages.
More of these
Fruits: Watermelon, cucumber, tomato, melon, berries, pear, apple, kiwi, orange, tangerine
Vegetables: Cucumber, spinach, Belgian endive hearts, tomato, lettuce, celery, zucchini, broccoli, asparagus
Protein: Fish, chicken, tofu, beans, lentils
Grains: Wheat, barley, rice, quinoa etc
Dairy: Yogurt or dairy free subsitutes
Drinks: Water, green tea, chrysanthemum tea, barley tea, mint tea, cucumber water, watermelon juice
Less of these
Ice cream and other cold foods and drinks. While cold foods and drinks may seem appealing on a hot day, TCM advises against them as a regular addition. Cold foods and drinks can damage the spleen, which is responsible for digestion and immunity.
Fried foods. Fried foods are heavy and greasy, and they can be difficult to digest.
Spicy foods. As mentioned above, spicy foods can increase the body's internal heat. Spicy foods can be good at dispersing qi not so good in dry weather but can be useful on a muggy day to break through the oppressive dampness
Sugary drinks and alcohol. Sugary drinks can dehydrate the body and contribute to generation of internal heat and other health problems.
In summary
Chinese medicine offers valuable and simple advice on how to enjoy the summer season. By staying hydrated, eating cooling foods, protecting your Heart, taking care of your digestion, getting enough rest, protecting yourself from excessive heat, practicing mindful movement, staying grounded, you can support your overall well-being and enjoy the summer to its fullest. Remember, maintaining balance is key in Chinese medicine as is common sense. There are no hard and fast rules. just enjoy the summer and take it easy.
If you are experiencing specific health concerns or imbalances, it is always advisable to seek guidance from a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner and you can book here
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Near Me Melbourne
A quick introduction
Many people will go to their trusty mobile phones and type in Acupuncture clinic near me when searching for a local acupuncture practice to help them. Coburg Chinese medicine is there for you when you need local acupuncture near you. Established in 2012 , we are about providing affordable, no nonsense and accessible healthcare to you and your community here in Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs. The client treats people from all over Melbourne including the northern suburbs of Preston, Coburg, Pascoe Vale, Fawkner, Coburg North and Brunswick
We have taken this opportunity to introduce ourselves to you via a new FAQ for those wishing to know more about our Chinese Medicine Clinic
What sort of treatments do you offer?
We offer a variety of treatments that fall under the umbrella of the ancient healthcare system know as Chinese Medicine. This includes Acupuncture, Moxa, cupping and Chinese herbs in our Melbourne Clinic. Click on the links below to find out further information.
What sort of conditions do you see in your clinic?
We get asked this all the time by patients and the easiest answer is that we see everyone and most conditions. If you have been considering acupuncture as a treatment or management option to help you my advice is to either give us a call or make an appointment. We have included some links about some commonly seen conditions if you need more information.
How does acupuncture work?
This is another common question and has a number of different answers depending on what specific we are answering. In broad terms the insertion of needles elicits a neurochemical response from the body causing a number of processes to occur within the body. This neurochemical response can help mediate pain, reduce inflammation, increase and decrease blood flow, mediate allergic response etc.
What are the clinic hours and how do i make an appointment?
Making an appointment is super easy and can be made clicking here or the button at the top of the page. Our hours of work are such to accommodate most 10-8pm Monday-Friday and Saturday 11am-3pm.
What will i need for my appointment?
For your appointment you will need yourself of course, copies of any relevant scan results or tests pertinent to your reason for coming, the names of any meds and supplements you are taking. It is often a good idea to wear loose clothing or even better bring along a t shirt and shorts to change into. it is suggested to attend your first appointment 10 mins early just remember that there may be a client in the treatment room so no dance parties in the waiting room. Headphones are always appreciated.
Where are you located?
We are located at 197 Sydney rd in coburg near reynard street. If inputting this address into a gps, remember to check that you entered Coburg and not Brunswick as it prevents embarrassing phone calls of why you’re running late. Our location and map details can also be found here
Do you need to believe in acupuncture for it to work?
Nope. A positive attitude always helps but having faith or belief in Chinese medicine is unnecessary .
Spring And Chinese Medicine
Spring has sprung! Chinese medicine has a number of recommendations for people to live in accordance with spring
Chinese Medicine Tips for Autumn
Ancient Chinese Medicine Tips for Autumn
As the summer fades and the warm sunny days become fewer, It becomes appropriate to look at the ancient Chinese wisdom for the Autumnal Season. The most revered books about Chinese medicine is the Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen (AKA Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon or the Su Wen). This series of collected works was composed sometime between 2200 and 2400 years ago and contains the principles of Chinese medicine. Within its pages it provides many treatments for a variety of diseases and illness, as well as advice of how to prevent illness and support health and wellbeing.
Chinese Medicine and Yin And Yang
Chinese medicine will often make reference to yin and yang, seemingly opposing forces used by the ancient Chinese to describe phenomena
Examples of Yin And Yang
Light is yang and dark is yin,
Male is yang and female is yin,
Heat is yang and cold is yin.
The seasons also can be broken into yin and yang.
Summer is yang because it is warm and sunny
Winter is yin because it is cold and dark
The relationship between yin and yang is relative, for example a hot summer days is considered yang but when compared to the heat of surface of the sun it is yin. When we look at the symbol above for yin and yang we see that the image is in movement, Moving from utmost yang to utmost Yin, and each yin and yang tadpoley thing has a little nucleus of yin or yang contained within. What this image is trying to convey that yin and yang is in a state of flux and movement. It is this cycle of yang becoming yin and yin becoming yang that the Chinese used as a way of understanding not only the outward environment but also the mysteries of the body.
Chinese Medicine and Autumn
Chinese medicine discusses 5 seasons, the typical Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring and an additional long summer, which is a warm damp season. Although we will only be referencing the 4 main seasons it is worthwhile noting there has been Season models proposed for Melbourne of 6 or more distinct seasons. Autumn is considered a season where the yang of summer is turning into the Yin of Winter, Autumn is associated with the Chinese understanding of the lungs and the element of metal. Below we have included a section from the Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen (Su Wen) regarding advice for autumn.
“The three months of autumn,
they denote taking in and balance.
The qi of heaven becomes tense.
The qi of the earth becomes bright.
Go to rest early and rise early,
get up together with the chicken.
Let the mind be peaceful and tranquil,
so as to temper the punishment carried out in autumn.
Collect the spirit qi and
cause the autumn qi to be balanced.
Do not direct your mind to the outside and
cause the lung qi to be clear.
This is correspondence with the qi of autumn and
it is the Way to nourish gathering.
Opposing it harms the lung.
In winter this causes outflow of [undigested] food and
there is little to support storage.”
Self Care Tips for Autumn
Here are our Chinese medicine top 3 tips for autumn
1. Go to Bed Early and Wake Early
In the Su Wen you are advised to retire earlier to avoid the chillier air and wake with chickens, or more accurately at dawn. Yang is beginning to decline so you are encouraged to begin conserving not only qi but also your yang by avoiding the cold and the rain of the evenings. Also there is nothing better than getting a good restorative sleep to help keep the mind calm.
2. Calm the Mind
The importance of keeping a a calm mind and oneself focused and balanced is referenced a few times. Autumn is associated with metal and in ancient days, capital punishment was advised to be undertaken in the autumn. In the modern Australian context this is not a relevant concern, but certainly being able to have a calm mind to be able to make considered and cool decisions is. We regularly recommend mindfulness apps as a way to maintain balance and a calm mind. Have a look at our article for our Top 3 Guided Meditations
3. Eat Warmer Foods and Wear Warmer Clothes
This tip seems like a no brainer but it is worth being reiterated. If you to oppose the qi of autumn, such as continuing with autumn as it were summer, the result may be for illness to develop in winter. The best way to avoid this is to dress and eat foods appropriate to the season. In this case we mean for you to not only eat the fruits and vegetables that are available seasonally but also to consider changing your cooking method for the season. In general we suggest you to have much less raw food, and more cooked breakfast and lunches. Also as the weather cools it may be a good idea to consider a scarf and hat before heading out into the elements
We hold no guarantees that following this advice will result in perfect health for you this season, but it is some good time proven general advice for you to consider.
OUR CLINIC
Based in Melbourne, the Coburg Acupuncture clinic is located in the heart of Coburg on Sydney Rd and provides Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, massage and cupping services. The Coburg Clinic services people from Coburg and surrounding Northern suburbs such as Brunswick, Pascoe Vale, Preston, Fawkner, Thornbury, Northcote.