Chinese Herbal Medicine, Essential Oils & Food Therapy

Some guidelines for diet and digestion:

Avoid iced drinks, ice cream, and too many raw fruits and vegetables.
If you need to improve your digestion, turn to soups and stews, as they are the most easily digested way to get the nutrients you need.
Avoid drinking too much alcohol, as it is dehydrating.

Very spicy foods are difficult to digest, and eating them too frequently can damage your digestion.
Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants, especially the colorful vegetables, and leafy greens.
Dietary therapy is included in all acupuncture sessions. Specific recommendations based on the principles of Chinese Medicine and your individual needs are discussed.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Herbal Formulas are often recommended for certain conditions. As a highly effective form of internal medicine, herbal formulas can be prescribed for nearly any ailment or disease that one might have; including dermatological problems, menstrual disorders, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune disease, menopausal symptoms, neurological disorders, common cold, respiratory problems, and much more.

Chinese herbology rarely uses single herbs (although exceptions do exist). Rather, formulas consisting of anywhere from 3-14 herbs are usually given. These formulas are often classical formulas, written hundreds or even thousands of years ago, and have been proven to be safe and effective medicinals through centuries of use.

These herbal remedies are strategically formulated for each individual who has received a complete clinical evaluation. Chinese herbal medicines are energetic agents that serve similar functions as acupuncture therapies. For patients who have challenging physical and/or mental health conditions, the use of both acupuncture and herbal medicine always yields the strongest results.

Essential Oils

An essential oil is a concentrated, liquid containing aroma and other medicinal compounds from plants. An oil is “essential” in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant. Essential oils have been used medicinally at different periods in history. Medical applications range from skin treatments to remedies for cancer, and are often based on historical use of these oils. Oils are diluted in a carrier oil and used topically, internally and diffused in the air by a nebulizer or by heating over a candle flame. Using essential oils as a supplemental therapy with acupuncture has proven to be effective.

Nutrition & Food Therapy

Chinese Medicine views digestion like a pot of soup constantly simmering on the stove at low heat. When we eat, we are adding ingredients to that pot of soup, and the quality of those ingredients greatly affects our health, and ultimately, how we look.

For example, if we add very cold things like iced drinks or ice cream to that pot, it takes a lot of energy to bring it back to a temperature where it is simmering again. The same is true of a lot of raw fruits and vegetables. It uses up energy to digest those foods. However, if they are cooked lightly, those same foods are much easier to digest. That’s why the Chinese diet rarely consists of eating or drinking cold or raw foods.

Chinese Herbal Medicine, Essential Oils & Food Therapy

Some guidelines for diet and digestion: