This Post Holiday Edition follows on from the prior article about boosting your immune system and now focuses on how to get rid of the bugs and get back in shape

How to Recover from the Holidays:  Immune Boosters versus Bug Busters …

Tips from the Private Practice of Drs Julian and Susan Lange, OMD, L.Ac, Doctors of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture

If the after effects of the holidays have left you feeling sluggish and bloated, you’re not alone. Have you gained a few pounds or do you feel all bloated?

Lots of people have got colds and flu. This year colds seem to be leaving people feeling absolutely exhausted – unless they are following the right tips.

Studies have shown that after all those parties and watching TV, some people are actually very glad to get back to work and into a more normal routine. The holidays can be super stressful to our immune systems – especially after all that sugar and alcohol.

Also, we might have had erratic sleep patterns, not enough rest, and family stress if kids are around for the holidays. No wonder you’re more susceptible to colds during this season.

So… back to wholesome eating, more rest to allow your immune system to catch up with itself, and funny movies!

In our last article we touched on some of the issues that affect the immune system. Do you remember that 70% -80% of our immune power comes from the digestive tract?

We also made an important clarification between Immune boosters and Bug Busters.

Immune Boosters and tonics have a very different affect on your body than the

Bug Busters which you would take when you actually have a cold or flu.

So what are these Bug Busters?

Internet “Bug Busters”

We looked on the internet and found a lot of home remedies recommended for colds and flu’s that are much too generalized, are ineffective and that can actually confuse your immune system. They don’t kill the bugs.

For example: salt gargles will dry you out. Do NOT use cooked cinnamon, or cooked ginger.

Astragalus and Schizandra are only okay as immune tonics; do not use them for bug busting.

Real Bug Busters:

Chinese Medicine includes a very sophisticated herbal system and a lot of research has been done in China on some of the following herbs:

• Lonicera,
• Chrysanthemum – has anti-inflammatory and anti pyretic effects
• Andrographis
• Isatis for viral conditions
• Echinacea is best at the beginning of a cold
• Goldenseal is another good bug buster

There are many Chinese herbal formulas for various stages of the flu which a qualified Chinese Herbal Practitioner can help you with.

If you’re usually pretty healthy then try the simple formula Yin Chiao (honeysuckle and forsythia) – at the beginning stages of a flu.

Remember a lot of the bug busters should be taken only for the short term as they can be harsh on the digestion.

Simple home remedies include: raw ginger, cinnamon twigs, raw scallions, raw garlic, all to be taken at the beginning of a cold and of course remember to help your digestion with high quality pre and probiotics.

You can go back to your immune boosters after your cold has ended and if you would like more simple tips and in depth information check out our FREE audio recording on "How to Recover from the Holidays:  Immune Boosters Versus Bug Busters" at http://www.meridianholistic.com/holidayrecovery.html

The information contained in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease.  All material provided by us is for educational purposes only.  We always suggest that one seeks the advice of their physician, or other qualified healthcare provider, with any questions they may have regarding a medical condition or taking any diet, exercise, or other health program – especially with health challenges or a weak immune system

Tips from the Private Practice of Drs Julian and Susan Lange, OMD, L.Ac, Doctors of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture

As the Holiday Season comes into full swing we always get asked “Help! The holidays are coming…. my family is coming to stay…. how can I make sure I don’t get sick?

So how do you boost Your Immune System over the holidays and not get sick?

First, do you know if your immune system, or Wei qi as we call it in Chinese Medicine, is weak?
Some key signs of a weak immune system:
·    Gas and bloating
·    Susceptible to weather changes
·    Aches and Pains
·    Low Energy
·    Weight Gain or loss
·    Skin Problems
·    Frequent colds and flu’s

What are the key challenges that will be stressing our immune systems this holiday season?

·    Rich foods – if your digestion is thrown off balance your immune system gets weakened
·    Sugar especially weakens the immune system
·    Lack of sleep as we party the night away, – or even irregular sleep like staying up later than usual watching that special holiday TV show
·   Stress – often parents are under super charged levels of stress trying to cope with everything with a smile on their face
·   stressful emotions such as depression and anger – both very common at this time of year.
·   Taking the wrong home remedies to combat flus and colds – so then you have to resort to strong medication that can weaken your immune system even more. (Yes, sometimes even home remedies can cause adverse effects.)

In this December article we draw on the principles of Ancient Chinese wisdom (TCM – Traditional Chinese Medicine) to clarify some important misconceptions. We’re focusing on some key Immune Boosters to help you to avoid getting sick over the holidays and in the January issue we will be focusing more on the Bug Busters.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention is KEY.

Immune Boosters are what you take to strengthen your immune system when you don’t have an infection – otherwise you are strengthening the bugs. We want to help prevent you from getting sick
Bug Busters are what you take as soon as you realize you are coming down with a cold. These are used specifically to fight bugs. They are NOT used for strengthening your system because they are often too harsh. You take them short term.

Immune System Boosters:                                                                                                                                       Get your digestive system nice and healthy. Did you know that 70 – 80% of your immune system comes from your digestive tract? So be mindful this season of what you eat. Consider tasty healthy alternatives such as fresh berries that boost your immune system instead of the sugary pies, simple baked yams without all the extra sugar. Every time you reach for the sugar pot, ask yourself if you really need it. Studies have shown that sugar literally stops the white blood cells from moving for several hours.  Yikes, that gives time for the bugs to invade! Choose organic whole foods to keep your energy up.

Take a break from TV, the computer and your cell phone to go for long walks with the family. You will sleep better and help your immune system.

Laugh and have fun with your friends. Watch funny movies together. You’ll be boosting your immune systems at the same time!

And finally, some remedies: Take extra probiotics to help your gut.
Here are some time tested herbs that have been extensively researched in China and found to boost the immune system:                                                                                                                                    Astragalus has been used for centuries,
Reishi mushrooms are a very popular Asian tonic,
Eleutherococcus regulates blood sugar levels naturally and boosts white blood cells
Codonopsis acts a little like ginseng but without disrupting or over stimulating other functions of the body. (Chinese Medicine doctors do not over use ginseng)
jujube dates pacify the digestion.
A traditional herbal formula like Jade Screen contains Astragalus and has been used for centuries to strengthen the Wei qi, boost the immune system and prevent susceptibility to flu's and colds. It is also used also for allergic rhinitis, allergies, hay fever.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season and if you would like more in depth tips to boost your immune system check out our FREE audio recording: “Special Holiday Edition: Immune Boosters for your Health and Digestion” at:

http://www.MeridianHolistic.com/holidayspecial.html

If you would like a copy of the Digestive Health and Immune System Evaluator that we use to help you assess the effectiveness of any cleanse that you’re doing, whether off the shelf, with a fitness trainer, or a Celebrity cleanse (ie the latest and greatest) go to:

http://www.MeridianHolistic.com/holidayspecial.html

PS  Sources:
Even Wholefoods carries some of the items mentioned like the Astragalus, Reishi Mushrooms and Jade Screen. Many Health Food stores will special order for you if they don't have them in stock.
So you don't have to venture to China Town anymore!

Drs Julian and Susan Lange, OMD, L.Ac can be found at

http://www.MeridianHolisticHealth.com

They hold Healing Retreats in Ojai and have their private
practice in Santa Monica, California.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease.  All material provided by us is for educational purposes only.  We always suggest that you seek the advice of your physician, or other qualified healthcare provider, with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or taking any diet, exercise, or other health program.  Much of the material comes from the 2000 year old tradition of Chinese Medicine and has not been evaluated by the FDA. If you have any immune system concerns or are taking immunosuppressant medications consult with your qualified health practitioner, Acupuncturist or Chinese Herbal Doctor

Acne and Pimples: Top 7 Factors to Healing Acne, Pimples and Other Skin Conditions with Chinese Medicine

Don't we all hanker after a healthy looking face and beautiful skin? Worrisome skin problems can range from symptoms as excruciating as acne, pimples, psoriasis and eczema to simply having a sallow dull skin complexion. In Chinese Medicine there are some basic principles that we follow to heal skin problems such as acne, pimples, eczema and psoriasis. No matter what type of skin problem we might have it can be very uncomfortable and embarrassing if it affects our face. For long term skin and face health you need a multi pronged approach. Don't get seduced by the single quick fixes for acne and pimples and other skin problems that you read about on the internet – especially the topical creams that you put on your face and skin. They may be simple but they are usually not effective enough for face and skin health.

There are seven key factors that need to be addressed to have a healthy face and healthy skin. They are as follows: 

1. Treat the gut: leaky gut and parasite issues are in fact a big deal in the treatment of face health and skin health through Chinese Medicine. This approach is not well known or widely used in Western or conventional treatments. Conventional treatments focus mostly on topical skin treatments: skin and face creams, antibiotics and steroids which of course affect the digestion, kill off the good bacteria and can make the acne and pimples worse. When the digestion gets worse the face and skin get worse and it becomes one aggravating and frustrating, even embarrassing vicious cycle. So improving your digestion is an important step to improve face health and skin health and to reduce acne, pimples and other skin problems.

2. Improve your Diet: a simple first step is to determine if you are more Yin or more Yang. A lot has been written about general diet for the management of acne, pimples and other skin problems, for example avoid greasy foods, eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, go on a detox diet, but in Chinese Medicine we are much more specific. We hold the same general principles but why is it important to determine if you are Yin or Yang? Because then you can be more aware of the foods that are right for you and therefore be more effective in reducing acne, pimples and other skin conditions. If you're more Yang for example you would want to avoid hot spicy foods because they would exacerbate the heat toxin that is already in your body creating the skin condition of acne or pimples. If you are too Yin you would want to avoid cold or damp foods, which contribute to different skin and face problems.

3. Reduce Heat Toxins: in Chinese Medicine there are various forms of heat such as heat in the liver, heat in the stomach or lungs, heat in the blood and damp heat. Different kinds of heat can result in different kinds of skin and face problems.

4. Healthy Breathing: oxygenates the blood, improves circulation and lymph flow and helps the body, face and skin to detoxify so that acne, pimples, psoriasis and eczema symptoms can be reduced. Tai Chi, Chi Kung, Yoga breathing, – these are all good ways to improve the circulation to your skin, help your body detox impurities from the skin, get that heat toxin flushed out and acne and pimples on the skin cleared up

5. Avoid toxic skin products: these can contribute to the heat toxins in your body and skin and contribute to acne and pimples on the skin. Even in "organic" skin products you can find petrochemicals and preservatives that don't just irritate your surface skin but also get absorbed through the skin into your body. So read the labels and become skin care savvy. eg avoid methyl and propyl parabens, vaseline, and excessive use of skin creams that might have a petroleum base. Household and garden chemicals, household cleaning products can also create heat toxins which affect your skin health.

6. Release old Trauma: areas of your body where you have had accidents can be weaker than the rest of you and therefore be more susceptible to skin problems. Any area of trauma or emotional distress creates what we call "stagnation" in Chinese Medicine and contributes to heat toxins in the blood. This can manifest as skin problems such as acne, pimples, psoriasis or eczema.

7. Emotions: in Chinese Medicine bottled up emotions build and create heat just like old trauma, so make sure you de-stress as much as you can, to reduce the chance of acne and pimples on your skin and face.

Bonus tip: Probably the most important question that a doctor of Chinese Medicine should ask someone one with acne, pimples, eczema or psoriasis is "are you constipated?" This would also help them determine what kind of Yin or Yang foods and activities would help the skin. So make sure that you're not constipated and pay attention to the above factors for beautiful, healthy face and skin.

And get your FREE self evaluation copy of

"Are You Yin or Are You Yang? Why You Need to Know This",

to help you on your way to beautiful healthy skin

when you sign up for our monthly FREE Healthy Skin and Digestion coaching calls at http://www.MyHealthyDigestion.com

To Your Best Health

From Dr Susan Lange OMD, L.Ac and the Meridian Center for Holistic Medicine

Are you continually wrestling with your weight and feeling deprived by austere diet regimes? Maybe you are living on salads and forever counting calories?

Would you be suprised to know that eating nothing but salads can actually make you gain weight? Well it’s so!

What about weight loss without dieting? What a concept!

We always teach that to reach and maintain a healthy weight it’s important to have really healthy digestion. We believe that good digestion is the foundation for good health. If you would like to learn more you can listen to our FREE recordings where we talk about digestion that are archived under "resources" at our main website, www.MeridianHolistic.com <http://www.meridianholistic.com/>

We also offer a FREE monthly teleseminar on the first Monday of each month where we answer your questions and debunk myths about digestive health and digestive cleanses.

*But here’s a completely different “Quantum Weight Loss Approach” that we want to share with you …***

Yesterday, Susan and I had a fun visit with the psychotherapist and author of the book “Freedom from Food", Patricia Bisch. Patricia is a lovely person who drew largely from her own experience in creating her book. What I think is unique about her approach to weight loss is that she isn’t promoting a new kind of diet, instead she addresses one’s need to eat and what one is trying to emotionally fill or solve by eating. Her approach is directed towards identifying the psychological wounds that drive us to consume food and gain excess weight. She then gives really practical advice about how to resolve these issues with the ultimate goal being that we can eat what we want to without having to be over weight.

I believe “Freedom from Food” is a worthwhile read and presents a good method for anyone interested in weight loss without dieting. But the main reason I want to bring Patricia’s work to your attention is that it furthers the ideal of achieving better health through inner change and that is something that Susan and I will always support.

And by the way, when she wasn’t looking we spied in her refrigerator and it was stuffed with all kinds of goodies. She told us that she’s famous for having a fridge with no room in it. And Patricia really enjoys her food, we know, because we saw her freely savour several slices of the date bread we brought. I wonder how she stays so slim and gorgeous? Find out in her book which you can get, along with her CD, at her website www.FreedomFromFood.net <http://www.freedomfromfood.net/>

And if you'd like some ongoing tips and encouragement to reduce bloating, improve your digestion and to feel better about yourself join us on our free monthly conference calls at http://www.My-Digestive-Health.com 
 

How to avoid the mistakes of the young and foolish when traveling, and to stay healthy and sound in your body, mind and spirit.  A parable by Dr Susan Lange, OMD, L.Ac (1996)

I first became intimately acquainted with parasites and digestive problems when I was twenty years old. I was hitchhiking from England to India during a University summer vacation. Having been berated by a fellow traveler in southern Iran for throwing away a date with a maggot in it (food was scarce in the desert and we needed our protein), I obediently – or was it foolishly? -drank the Holy water at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India – just like everybody else there. Along with the other worshippers, I took a bowl, dipped it into the turbid brown water and drank it reverently. Later, I watched idly as two old men washed themselves down in the very same temple pool. I was young …….

 That night we took a train to Delhi. The carriages were packed with families, children and animals. I was lucky because I managed to clamber up onto a narrow luggage rack where I would remain immobile until dawn, high above the cacophony and the struggle for space below. My triumph was short lived. To find out what happened next  click on the next page  

]]> http://meridianholistic.com/healthyliving/dr-susan-lange-omd-lac-healthy-living-blog/comedy-of-parasites-an-adventure-into-the-bowels-of-india/feed 1 http://meridianholistic.com/healthyliving/healthy-digestion/from-hysterectomy-and-despair-to-healing-and-hope http://meridianholistic.com/healthyliving/healthy-digestion/from-hysterectomy-and-despair-to-healing-and-hope#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2008 07:06:19 +0000 Susan Lange http://meridianholistic.com/healthyliving/2008/02/08/from-hysterectomy-and-despair-to-healing-and-hope/ If only she had come in before her hysterectomy!

If you are suffering from any kind of symptoms such as leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome, menstrual problems, or hormonal issues please read Catherine's story  before you take any kind of drastic action.

Excerpt from a Hysterectomy Testimonial by Catherine
about the benefits of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

 “My name is Catherine and I first came to Dr Julian Lange probably about a year following a hysterectomy in which I fought for my right to keep my ovaries.What began to happen is that the ovaries, particularly my left ovary, began to swell and I was in a considerable amount of pain on a daily basis, but also had intermittent, what I called, attacks, where basically I was bedridden. These attacks came once a month, once every couple months, as time went on they became more and more regular. My GI tract was completely stopped up and I was in pain whenever I ate. [The] surgeons recommended that I have surgery again.

(This does have a happy ending. To find out  go to the next page.)

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