Year of the Fire Monkey

Happy Chinese New Year from M & R Acupuncture!

Chinese New Year is celebrated on the second new moon each year after the winter solstice.  This Chinese lunar year, we are entering the time of the fire monkey.

The monkey is a very important figure in Chinese mythology.  He is featured as the Monkey King in many folk stories and is mostly known as being brave, ingenious and resourceful while also being erratic, irrepressible and selfish.

What does this mean for you?  This year it is important to correlate your own Chinese astrological sign with the nature of the monkey.  Overall it is important to see yourself as a brave monkey hero that is relentless during adversity.

Below is a link for a well-researched article on how each Chinese astrological sign interacts with the year of the fire monkey:

Year of the Fire Monkey

Originally published February 9, 2016.

Chinese Herbal Soup Recipe for Building Immunity, Qi, & Blood

With the impending snowstorm and cold weather, it is important to build up your immunity to fight pathogens. Here is a Traditional Chicken Soup Recipe from one of my favorite professors at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine! Jeremy Pulsifer shared this recipe every semester with his Biological Aspects of Physics class because he knows how valuable it is to have strong Qi and blood.

Traditionally, herbs have been used in cooking for both their healing properties and for flavor enhancement. The food we eat should clear and energize the body and allow the spirit to flourish. This delicious Chinese herb soup will boost your immune system, support your lungs, and nourish your blood and Qi, your "life force". You will feel revitalized.

The herbs are tonifying and safe and help prevent common seasonal illnesses, such as colds and the flu.

1 Whole chicken, preferably organic

1 Packet of soup herbs (Astragalus Huang Qi, Ginseng Dang Shen, Reishi Mushroom Ling Zhi, Chinese Yam Shan Yao, Pear, Longan Fruit Long Yan Rou, Goji Berries Gou Qi Zi, & Honey fried Licorice Zhi Gan Cao)

Vegetables, your choice

After rinsing the chicken, place it in a large pot with the Chinese herbs. Fill the pot with cold water, allowing for two inches of water above the top of the chicken. Bring the water to a boil. Then put a lid on the pot, turn down the heat to allow a slow simmer, and continue cooking for about an hour. When the chicken is done, remove it from the broth and let it cool. (The meat will probably fall easily from the bones.) Add your favorite soup vegetables to the pot and continue cooking until the vegetables are done. Debone the chicken and return it to the soup.

Eat it in good health.

Dosage: Enjoy one bowl of soup daily, this recipe will last one person about one week.

This recipe is traditionally made as a chicken soup but it is still effective when the chicken is eliminated and only vegetables and the herbs are used.

The herb that looks like a tongue depressor should be removed as it has a woody texture and would not be pleasant to eat.

If any of these herbs are difficult to find, you can omit some of them. Otherwise, you can come in to the office and request them from us.

Originally published January 21, 2016.

Set Intentions

Stay rooted this new year with M & R Acupuncture!

With the new year comes the opportunity to set goals and intentions.  This is a time to embrace change and to make improvements in areas of your life that need a little extra attention.  Clear intention is a very powerful thing, and we at M & R Acupuncture believe than when the mind is backed by will, even the loftiest of goals can be achieved.

Here are some of our personal goals and intentions to stay rooted in the New Year...

1. Daily Meditation - every morning, before starting the day, we want to take 10 minutes to sit and meditate in a calm envieronment.  Ten minutes each day can provide a feeling of confidence and stillness that can help to establish a manageable rhythm for the day ahead.

2. Exercise - even a short walk can do the trick, making you feel more centered and providing an opportunity to gather your thoughts, work through stressful situations, and release some tension.  Our goal is to exercise at least five times a week!

3. Limit Cell Phone Use - we realized that it has become commonplace to play on our cell phones and browse the internet during down time, but what good comes from this habit?  None that we can think of.  We want to limit our cell phone use to communication and connecting with people, not for killing time.

4. Smile - it is often said, "smile at life, and life will smile back at you," and we believe this is true.  Maintaining a positive outlook and being frateful for all the good in your life, despite the bad, attracts more positivity and good fortune.  Remember to be kind to yourself and others, and extend a smile in the New Year!

Originally published January 1, 2016.

Natural Alternatives Radio Program

I had the pleasure recently of being featured on the Natural Alternatives radio program on WUSB 90.1 FM this past friday evening with Dr. Zampieron and Dr. Kamhi.  If you are interested in listening to this discussion of acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine, click this link here to download a .mp3:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/540cxce3uqgomys/Nat%20alt%20Nov%202015%20Rory%20Crous%20LAc.mp3?dl=0

Originally published November 30, 2015.

Make Your Spleen Happy & Prepare for the Holidays

The holidays are approaching and it is time to enjoy family and friends and stuff our faces with feasts and sweets. But how does this affect us? Be better prepared to digest this holiday season with these useful tips from M & R Acupuncture.

     According to traditional Chinese medicine, the most active parts of digestion occur in the spleen and stomach. The stomach stores food and drink, while the spleen processes it all. Changing the food from a delicious treat to nourishment & energy that the whole body can use. However, when the spleen or stomach are not strong, digestion can get out of whack.

     After over indulging in a thanksgiving feast, the stomach has trouble fully digesting. This leads to fullness and bloating in the belly with heart burn (acid regurgitation), belching, and discomfort. In many cases, the symptoms can be as bad as to include insomnia, loose stools, or constipation. The simplest way to prevent all this would be to not overeat. But hey, it’s thanksgiving! So, that’s easier said than done. The next best way to prevent food stagnation is to boost the spleen before the holidays.

     A healthy spleen, in Chinese medicine, will transform food into usable energy and transport this energy throughout the body to where it is needed most. However, an underfunctioning spleen can make it hard to enjoy a holiday meal. A weak spleen, or Spleen Qi deficiency, presents itself with symptoms like weakness, fatigue, abdominal distension (bloating), and loose stools. An easy way to boost Spleen Qi is by modifying your diet.

     Prior to the holidays, try eating more cooked warm foods and soups. These are easier for the spleen to digest and over time lead to more energy. Incorporate root veggies such as sweet potatoes, turnips, carrots, & beets into the diet and cook with cinnamon. Also, it is better to avoid raw vegetables during this time of the year. They take more effort for the spleen to digest because they need to be warmed up in the stomach first. Lastly, light exercise and deep breathing are great ways to strengthen spleen & stomach Qi without having to do much at all. A simple walk around the neighborhood every day with a 5-10 minute meditation can make a huge difference in your life.

     If the holidays have already come and gone and you feel the digestive toll of the holidays, come in for acupuncture and Chinese herbs. These are two very effective ways to get your body back in balance.

We at M & R Acupuncture hope that you have found this information helpful. Please use this article only for informational purposes. It is advised that you speak with a trained herbalist before taking traditional Chinese herbal medicine.

If you would like to speak to someone about how acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help you, please give us a call at (631) 338-2924 to book a free 15 minutes consultation

Originally published November 17, 2015.