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July 12, 2015
Dang Gui Chicken Soup
4 pieces da zao
6 grams gan cao
6 grams shan yao
6 grams dang gui
organic chicken broth or water to coverDirections
- Wash chicken, cut into halves, remove skin and fat and put in boiling water to rinse for 5 minutes, retrieve and rinse.
- Rinse herbs and dates.
- Put all ingredients in a casserole with enough hot water to cover the chicken and put on the cover.
- Place the casserole on a stainless steel cooling stand inside a pot or a wok with enough hot water at the bottom to reach up to the lower third of the casserole. Cover the pot or wok with lid.
- Steam over medium-high heat for 3 hours. Add boiling water to the cooking whenever necessary to maintain the steaming and prevent burning.
- Remove and add salt to serve. Drink soup mainly.
Combine all of the ingredients in a crock pot and cook on high for 1 1⁄2 –2 hours. Discard the herbs when the soup is ready.
**Dang Gui is NOT recommended if you are pregnant, have diarrhea or have abdominal fullness. Do not take this if you are pregnant of think you may be. This soup is also not to be taken during your period and it is a blood mover. **
Bob Wong was raised in a traditional Chinese medicine family and moved to mainland China to study and train for almost a decade. During that time, he was able to learn from some of the top acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine practitioners in at the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. His mission is not bring that knowledge and experience to help his patients.
Bob Wong currently maintains an acupuncture practice in the Brisbane area and lectures at the Endeavour College of Natural Health. For more information you can read his full bio or schedule and appointment.
*The owner of this site is not liable for any misfortune that should befall a visitor to this site.This site does not offer personal advice & no information on it can be construed as personal advice. In the event that you may feel our therapies may be of benefit, we advise you to contact the clinic to make an appointment for diagnosis and treatment.
July 12, 2015
Top 5 Fertility Chinese Herbs
菊花 枸杞子
Chinese herbs have a long history of use in aiding fertility. Records indicating herbal treatment of infertility and miscarriage date back to 200 A.D. If you are looking for a way to enhance your fertility using Chinese medicine these may help you in your journey. These herbs are consumed as an herbal tea/ decoction or put in soups or porridges, depending on how a practitioner prescribes them. The top 5 herbs Chinese Medicine practitioners use when treating fertility:
1) Dang gui 当归 Angelicae Sinensis is best known for it’s blood tonifying properties. It is often prescribed for gynaelogical problems – menstrual irregularities and fertility issues, as well as poor blood circulation resulting in dizziness, paleness, fatigue. It has the ability to regulate a woman’s cycle and nourish the hormonal components and also supports estrogen production.[1] Dang gui can also be used in soups (recipe here) to help a woman’s body heal and rebuild after menses and or giving birth.
2 Gou qi zi 枸杞子 goji berries are high in antioxidants, Vitamins C, B1, and B2. It has gained much attention due to marketing in recently and labeled a “super food” but the Chinese having been using it for centuries to improve and maintain health. Goji berries have the ability to strengthen follicular activity and stimulates the uterus to thicken the lining. In men, It can improve sperm motility.[2] You can mix it with chrysanthemum and drink goji berries as a tea or use it as a garnish in soups.
枸杞子
3) Tu si zi (菟丝子) doddler seeds are known to improve semen production in men and reduces chromosomal issues. In women, it can improve egg quality and can be beneficial for ovulation.[3] According to Chinese Medicine, it tonifies the kidneys and is indicated for impotence, nocturnal emission, and is traditionally used to calm the fetus in threatened miscarriage.
4) Rou cong rong 肉苁蓉 Cistanche is great because it helps clean the bowels and has a detoxing effect on the body. It has the ability to warm the uterus and increase blood circulation thereby improving hormonal release.[3] It has also been shown to be benifical during the profliferation.
5) Ba ji tian 巴戟天 Morinda officinalis is often used to treat PMS by stimulating blood circulation around the uterus. It may also help decrease aches and pains during pregnancy along with reducing the risk of miscarriage. Men can also use ba ji tian for erectile dysfunction (ED) and other sexual performance problems.[5]
As tempting as it may be to run out with this list and make your own formula, It is highly recommended that you use these herbs only under the guidance of a qualified, licensed practitioner of Chinese medicine. As complimentary medicine grows, more people are seeking out alternative ways to enhance fertility and improve their health. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at: info@artofacupuncture.com.au
Bob Wong was raised in a traditional Chinese medicine family and moved to mainland China to study and train for almost a decade. During that time, he was able to learn from some of the top acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine practitioners in at the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. His mission is not bring that knowledge and experience to help his patients.
Bob Wong currently maintains an acupuncture practice in the Brisbane area and lectures at the Endeavour College of Natural Health. For more information you can read his full bio or schedule and appointment.
*The owner of this site is not liable for any misfortune that should befall a visitor to this site.This site does not offer personal advice & no information on it can be construed as personal advice. In the event that you may feel our therapies may be of benefit, we advise you to contact the clinic to make an appointment for diagnosis and treatment.
July 11, 2015
Treating Bell’s Palsy With Chinese Medicine
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Initial Exam $47
Includes: Tongue and Pulse Diagnosis, Facial Grading Assessment
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Bell’s Palsy is a form of paralysis on one side of the face characterized by deviated mouth, difficulty blinking and closing the eye, frowning and or smiling. It results from the 7th cranial nerve being inflamed and often times onset is very acute and rapid. It is the result of an audio-immune system function failure, Epstein Barr, post-viral infection. It may also be caused by herpes simplex virus (shingles.)(1)
Often times, patients with Bell’s Palsy will wake up all of the sudden and they can’t close their eyelids fully and start drooling or they start to feel numbness of one side of the face accompanied with headaches and dizziness. Patients usually rush to the emergency room or go to their local GP to rule out any possibility of stroke and neurological function failure. They are then often sent home with steroids or told “it will just go away on its own.” Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. This article will talk about 3 things you can do for Facial palsy using Chinese Medicine:
Acupuncture
1) The first thing that you should do for Bell’s Palsy is to see a licensed acupuncturist. What acupuncture does is it promote the body’s healing process and reduces the inflammation around the facial nerve. Acupuncture also works to improve the blood circulation in the area locally. Going through something like Bell’s palsy can be quite stressful and scary for some people. What acupuncture does is also releases endorphins which act as a natural pain reliever and has a calming effect.
Avoid Wind
2) Keep your face covered and avoid any air conditioned rooms, winds or cold drafts. According to Chinese medicine Bell’s Palsy is caused by “wind.” Often times patients report having slept with the window open or riding a motor cycle under heavy wind before waking up the next morning with facial palsy. To prevent the symptoms from getting worse keep the affected side of the face covered and away from cold drafts or air conditioned places.
Herbal Medicine
3) In Chinese Medicine, Bell’s Palsy is termed “External Wind-Cold attacking the channels of the face”. China, herbs have been used for thousands of years to assist in Bell’s Palsy recovery, and the initial treatment goal according to TCM would be to expel Wind and promote blood circulation to the face. Herbal remedies can help soothe the patient, expedite the paralysis from dissipating, and enhance nerve function.
Bob Wong was raised in a traditional Chinese medicine family and moved to mainland China to study and train for almost a decade. During that time, he was able to learn from some of the top acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine practitioners in at the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. His mission is not bring that knowledge and experience to help his patients.
Bob Wong currently maintains an acupuncture practice in the Brisbane area and lectures at the Endeavour College of Natural Health. For more information you can read his full bio or schedule and appointment.
*The owner of this site is not liable for any misfortune that should befall a visitor to this site.This site does not offer personal advice & no information on it can be construed as personal advice. In the event that you may feel our therapies may be of benefit, we advise you to contact the clinic to make an appointment for diagnosis and treatment.
Special Offer
Initial Exam $47
Includes: Tongue and Pulse Diagnosis, Facial Grading Assessment
Call Now
July 10, 2015
Tips For Lower Back Pain Acupuncture Brisbane
Tips For Relieving Lower Back Pain Acupuncture Brisbane
Image courtesy of at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Most of us, at one point in our lives have or will suffer from some type of back pain. It is one of the leading causes of missed work days & affects millions of lives daily. Most back pain will go away by itself over time but sometimes chronic pain could mean something a little more serious such as lumbar disc protrusion. Most of the time, people quickly reach for painkillers but over time, these painkillers can have negative effects on your body’s digestive system. Instead of reaching right away for the painkillers, here are some natural ways you can relieve that pain. The following are just a few simple things you can do to relieve and prevent back pain:
1) Nutrition:
Although it may not be obvious at first glance, poor nutrition is actually one of the top root causes of back pain. Being overweight increases the weight bearing pressure on your spine which may cause your muscles to tense and lock up. lack of water affects the muscles and joints as well. (1) Also, heavily processed foods containing lots of sugar, salt, and fat, have an inflammatory effect on the body. It is best to drink plenty of water to keep the disc spaces in your spine hydrated. Ginger tea and turmeric also have great anti-inflammatory properties.
.Image courtesy of at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Stop Eating Crap
Your body depends on food and water for energy, healing, cleansing, and your very survival. [III] Avoid any inflammatory foods that are highly processed containing high sugar, sodas, msg, dairy from sick cows, excessive hormone fed animals and byproducts, etc. Not only do these foods hinder the body’s ability to heal, they are often the cause of obesity and puts extra weight on the spine and is another contributory factor in disc herniations (pictured below.) Alcohol and beer is another contributing factor because not only does it have an inflammatory effect on the body, it also contains heavy carbs which in turn gets stored as fat around the abdomen therefore putting even more strain on the lumbar discs.
Drink More Water
Keeping hydrated is also another key element in healing back pain. As we go about our daily activities, putting body weight on our discs, that water is squeezed out. Drinking enough water hydrates the body and allows the discs in our spine to move and absorb shock better. Drinking plenty of water also plays a key role in flushing out the body’s toxins.
2) Cold & Heat packs
For acute back pain cold packs may be very effective for relieving back pain. Cold numbs the pain and reduces swelling by constricting blood vessels and dampening the boy’s inflammatory reaction. (4) An ice pack or frozen bag of peas works just as well. For more chronic back pain (over three months) heat packs would be the better option.Warm heat packs are also a great way to relive pain because it helps in reducing cramping and muscle spasms. Heat improves the supply of oxygen the blood carries to the back by dilating (enlarging) the blood vessels. You can apply the heat pack directly to a sore or tense area of your back.(5)
3) Exercises:
Lower back pain affects millions of people daily and can be excruciatingly painful. It can cause much stress and frustration when left untreated. In my practice I’ve seen first hand how debilitating lower back pain is and how it affects us.
Below are several exercises I give to to my patients in my acupuncture Brisbane practice that can help if not heal the root cause:
Back Bridges
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Put your hands next to your hips with your palms on the floor. Keep your back straight as you lift your buttocks as high as you can off the mat. Be sure to exhale as you lift your buttocks on the way up. Pause. Lower your buttocks without touching the mat and breath in as you come down, then lift again. Do 8-12 repetitions. Rest and repeat the set. This exercise may be difficult; don’t continue to do it if painful.
Function: Stretches the muscles of the lower back and buttocks lower back and neck.
Katz, Jeffrey Neil, and Gloria Parkinson. “Non surgical treatments for your backache P.198.” Heal your aching back: what a Harvard doctor wants you to know about finding relief & keeping your back strong. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. . Print.
Trunk Extensions:
Lie on your stomach on a mat with your face up off the floor. Your arms should stretch out in front of you. Now raise your arms and legs as high as possible while extending your trunk. Hold for a count of 6-10 while breathing normally. Release slowly. Do 5-8 repetitions. Repeat the set. [II]
Function: Stretches the muscles of the lower back and buttocks lower back and neck.
Katz, Jeffrey Neil, and Gloria Parkinson. “Non surgical treatments for your backache P.198.” Heal your aching back: what a Harvard doctor wants you to know about finding relief & keeping your back strong. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. . Print.
Double Hip Rotations:
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Keep your shoulders on the floor at all times. Gently lower bot legs to on side, keeping both knees together., and turn your head to the opposite side. Hold for 20-30 seconds. Bring your knees back to the center and repeat on the other side.
Function: A gentle twist that stretches the muscles of the lower back, hip, side, and to a lesser extent the neck.
Katz, Jeffrey Neil, and Gloria Parkinson. “Non surgical treatments for your backache P.200.” Heal your aching back: what a Harvard doctor wants you to know about finding relief & keeping your back strong. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. . Print.
4)Acupressure
Press on the point between the very base of your thumb and forefinger directly at the furthest junction of where the bone meet using your nail. One of the ways that acupuncture and acupressure work is that they cause certain compounds such as endorphins (the body’s natural pain killers) and serotonin (the body’s feel good chemical) to be released into the bloodstream.Therefore, pressing safely on certain spots hard enough to elicit achy pain, such as the fleshy point between the thumb and forefinger (called Ling gu), can be effective for treating pain back. While laying down on a sofa or bed, apply pressure on this point for at least 30 seconds and release it for another 5 seconds. Repeat at least 3x and wait to see how it impacts your back pain. (video below)
Video Courtesy Lu Therapy
5) Yoga
The practice of yoga is a combination of breathing and mental focus. It allows the mind and body to relax in a gentle non-invasive way. Because of this, I often recommend yoga to my chronic back pain patients. In December 2005 the annals of internal medicine published a randomized controlled trial which concluded that viniyoga was effective treatment for chronic lower back pain. (7) It is best to let your instructor know about your condition however, before any exercise regimen or program is started.
6) Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been proven to have great beneficial effect in treating lower back pain and may be the key to relieving your chronic back pain. According to a Pubmed study, people who received acupuncture treatments were more likely to find back pain relief than those receiving conventional care.
A typical acupuncture session would involve needling different points around the limbs which is very effective in relieving lower back pain. Acupuncture works on the limbic system which helps release of endorphin in the brain which tells the body to turn off the pain signals and increases blood circulation in the body. Acupuncture treatment would also involve local massage and cupping therapy to stimulate the affected area and improve blood circulation as well .
Below are case studies of the different types of lower back pain we see on a daily basis from our acupuncture Brisbane clinic:
Herbal Therapy
Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan (独活寄生丸)
Herbs are also effective for treating lower back pain. Chinese Herbal remedies expel the cold and dampness in the body (often seen in lower back pain patients) when patients are not receiving treatment and give the body that extra boost it needs to keep the inflammation away.
There is a very effective patent formula called Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan (独活寄生丸) for for lower back pain. You can pick it up at your local Chinese medicine practitioner and ask for more details. The main ingredients include Angelica pubescens root and Loranthus stem which are used to treat arthritic and orthopedic disorders. These both have anti- inflammatory and analgesic properties.Your practitioner may prescribe these herbs to help relieve inflammation and kick start the healing process.
source: www.bjypw.com
Tao Hong Su Wu Tang (桃红四物汤)
Another formula your practitioner may prescribe to you for lower back pain is Tao Hong Su Wu Tang. According to Chinese medicine most types of back pain are caused by blood stagnation. The old Chinese saying goes “When blood is not flowing freely there will be pain” （通则不痛.) In order to clear the stagnation and flow of blood we often use this formula which has Peach seed (桃仁) and Carthamus flower (红花) as it’s main active ingredient. Since it is blood mover, this formula should not be taken if a patient is on anti-coagulant medications or aspirin/ warfarin. For more details please ask your practitioner.
tao hong si wu pills. source: baidu.com
If you know anyone suffering from lower back pain please share this article or feel free to contact us for a free assessment. Please let them know that help is out there and that other options are available.
references:
I]Katz, Jeffrey Neil, and Gloria Parkinson. “p.200.” Heal your aching back: what a Harvard doctor wants you to know about finding relief & keeping your back strong. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. . Print.
[II]Katz, Jeffrey Neil, and Gloria Parkinson. “p.198.” Heal your aching back: what a Harvard doctor wants you to know about finding relief & keeping your back strong. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. . Print.
[III]Cannone, Jesse. “p.61.” The 7-day back pain cure: how thousands of people got relief without doctors, drugs, or surgery. San Francisco, CA: Innovation Press, 2009. . Print. lower back pain acupuncture brisbane
Bob Wong was raised in a traditional Chinese medicine family and moved to mainland China to study and train for almost a decade. During that time, he was able to learn from some of the top acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine practitioners in at the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. His mission is not bring that knowledge and experience to help his patients.
Bob Wong currently maintains an acupuncture practice in the Brisbane area and lectures at the Endeavour College of Natural Health. For more information you can read his full bio or schedule and appointment.
*The owner of this site is not liable for any misfortune that should befall a visitor to this site.This site does not offer personal advice & no information on it can be construed as personal advice. In the event that you may feel our therapies may be of benefit, we advise you to contact the clinic to make an appointment for diagnosis and treatment.