So now here we are. We cleansed by cleaning up our diet, doing an elimination diet or a detox. We're eating well, we're getting (semi) regular exercise, we're trying to improve our sleep habits and get good rest. We're paying some attention to stress and trying to manage it. Its rebuilding time, but what does that really mean?
In Chinese medicine rebuilding can also be called tonification - the strengthening of areas where our Qi is weak. As I've already discussed, diet, exercise and good habits create the foundation for tonification to naturally happen, but there's quite a bit more you can do.
First - see an acupuncturist because a strong offense is your best defense.
Remember that thousands of years ago there were no blood tests or x-rays or MRIs. Acupuncturists, or Chinese Medicine Doctors, used array of questions along with tongue and pulse diagnosis to help them identify patterns of illness and this is still how Chinese Medicine works today. It is both subtle and effective. These patterns correlate with specific energetic imbalances and by treating the energetic imbalance through acupuncture, herbs, dietary and lifestyle advice, the illness will improve and health will return.
Once a healthy state is achieved, the vibrations of the pulse and the specific constitutional clues evident on the tongue can be monitored. Then rebalancing is done through regular preventative acupuncture treatment to help you STAY well.
Its ideal to come in for treatment once a month just to stay on track, de-stress, keep your energy balanced and stay accountable to your health and wellness goals.
Second - you can supplement. My standard recommendation once again is as follows:
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Multivitamin
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Vitamin D
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Fish Oil/Omega Fatty Acid
Then depending on your needs, an additional
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B Vitamin Complex
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Chinese herbs
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Green Food Supplement
Okay... you might say. Why? What? How? Here's the answer:
You can eat great and still not get optimal nutrition. If you look at a multivitamin and try to parcel out how much food you'd have to eat to get all of those nutrients through diet, you will find that you could spend all day eating a variety of things and still miss the mark. A good multivitamin is your insurance policy - it doesn't mean that you can eat anything you want and live on junk food and be well, it just means that if you can't eat every color of vegetable, a variety of fruits etc. etc. your internal organs aren't going to suffer for it.
When I say a "good" multivitamin I do mean something specific - something that is well balanced and accessible to your body; i.e. in a form your body can digest and absorb. This means a liquid, a capsule, or a tablet made from known ingredients that your digestion can actually eat through in a reasonable period of time. This is the difference between a provider-only brand like Biotics or Standard Process and something you'd find over the counter - bioavailability.
Next on the list is Vitamin D - sunshine! But listen, it is virtually impossible for most of us to generate enough Vitamin D from sun exposure for our immune systems and bones to be well - plus, you know, there's that whole sun cancer thing. Don't mess with it. Take a liquid Vitamin D supplement. Everyone. Period.
Fish Oil or Omega Fatty Acids are also important because they act as a mild blood thinner contributing to heart health, they nourish your skin which is your first line of defense against environmental factors, and they provide your body with good fats which are the building blocks for literally every single cell in the body - without cholesterol our cells would have no structure and we would just be mushy people soup. Don't be people soup - get good fats.
Those are the basics, and then there's the more optional stuff.
At the top of the list there is B Vitamins and frankly, everyone can probably use those too. B vitamins are essential to the function of your nervous system - they literally allow your nerves to conduct electrical impulses - and when you are stressed or "nervous" you burn through them. Extra B vitamins decrease the negative nervous system effects of stress and thereby improve your energy. You also can't take too much of them - your body excretes what isn't used - so they are very safe.
Next is a green food supplement. If you're vegetarian or vegan you probably don't need one of these, but if you struggle to get 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day, or if "green things" are not a staple of your diet, a green food supplement is for you. I take one every day myself because I like the support it gives me against busy-hard-to-eat-right days and I even put some in the fruit smoothies I make for my family (shh... don't tell my husband!).
Last but far from least are Chinese Herbs. Chinese herbs are an essential part of Chinese Medicine and can be combined in very complex and personalized ways. There are also simple single herbs that are excellent for improving your health and tonifying the body energetically towards reaching your ultimate health and wellness goal - Finding Your Well(ness) and holding on tight! There are three single herbs in particular I want to mention:
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Cordyceps - Cordyceps is one of my most favorite Chinese herbs. A gentle Yang tonic, it enters the Lung and Kidneys can be used for asthma, immune system weakness, fatigue and thyroid issues. It is often used as a single herb at low doses as a general tonic for people who tend towards feeling cold and fatigued.
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Reishi Mushroom - Reishi has long been hailed in China as a primary herb to promote peacefullness and longevity. It calms the spirit - which means it enters the heart energetically - and also tonifies the lung. Its calming effect is useful for treating stress, anxiety and insomnia as well as creating a sense of general wellbeing.
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Ginseng - the king of all herbs in the Chinese Materia Medica. With a strong focus to the Kidney energetically it is a powerful tonic used to decrease fatigue and increase vitality.
These can be used individually or in combination. They are one of the primary ways you can accelerate your efforts to "add funds to the anti-aging Kidney bank" as we discussed last month.
For these type of herbs, my favorite method of delivery is high concentration capsule. I carry some of these individually and in combination from a local company called People's Herbs that formulate pure, ethically sourced herbs and supplements. I see great effect from their products and trust them highly.
The best way to determine what herbs and supplements at what duration are right for you, however, is to work with a trusted practitioner to create a program that fits your lifestyle, your needs and your goals. If you feel like you're interested in learning more or need help getting or staying on track, please feel free to contact me or ask for a qualified referral and I will be overjoyed to help. |
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