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Chinese New Year 2008 Year of the Rat (7 February 2008 - 25 January 2009)
First of the animal signs, the Rat
year begins the 12 year cycle and is a time of renewal in so
many ways. The year of the Rat is
a time of plenty and good fortune
and can be a powerful year
when one is firm about their goals
and is willing to work hard. Despite
the current economy, it is
a good time to start a business or
buy real estate when plans are well
thought out. It is also a
good year to get married or begin
a new job.
In China, the Rat is well respected and regarded as courageous,
enterprising, clever, sociable
and family-minded. The Rat is easy-going
and considered the most sentimental
and romantic of
the signs. And they tend to collect
things.
There are 5 elements that correspond to the 12 animals, making
a 60 year cycle. This is the year
of the Earth Rat. The Earth Rat is
calm and less erratic than Rats of other years and will tend to
dislike change and wild adventure.
Cold and Flu season - nip it in the bud with Chinese medicine
From
the Chinese perspective, colds and influenzas are caused by external
pathogens invading the exterior of the body. To treat, we use herbs
that release the superficial layer of the body which gets
the pathogen out before it goes deeper.
Hot bathes, eating hot soup with
scallions and other means of sweating
are also recommended to release the
exterior.
There are different types of pathogens that can invade the body.
They are categorized as Wind Heat,
Wind Cold and Wind Damp. Wind Heat causes sore throats, nasal congestion
and fever while Wind Cold and Damp
shows up as body aches, runny nose and chills. I tend to
use "Gan Mao Ling" or "Yin Qiao Pian" for Wind Heat and "Dispel Invasion" for
Wind Cold and Damp. I have stocked
up on these formulas and if you would
like to have some for your medicine
cabinet, just let me know. There
are also herbal formulas for the
stomach flu. These formulas are primarily
available through licensed
practitioners.
It is important that the herbs are taken several times a day at
the initial onset of symptoms until
it is certain that the pathogen has
been expelled. My clients and my family
have found these formulas to
be extremely effective when taken
properly. These herbs have been shown
to kill viruses and bacteria.
Hot water with honey and lime or lemon (with or without tea) is
great for sore throats and coughs.
Both have anti-microbial properties
and honey, besides soothing the throat,
stimulates the immune system. Gargling with warm salt water
is also useful for persistent sore
throats and using warm salt
water in a neti pot is great for
nasal congestion and inflammation.
For people who catch colds frequently, it may be advisable to
take an herbal formula regularly
to build your immune system.
Zero Balancing
Zero Balancing (ZB) is a therapy that I have been studying and practicing for
the past two years. I am in the process of becoming a certified practitioner.
In
celebration of Zero Balancing awareness week (March 16-22), I am offering
initial treatments through March 22 for a special price
of $45 (first treatment, or first treatment of the year if you have had
sessions before). Regular price is $60. Sessions are deeply relaxing and are
received on a treatment table, fully clothed, without the use of needles and
last approximately 45 minutes.
ZB is a simple yet profoundly powerful hands-on body/mind system
that promotes greater health by aligning your energy body with
your physical structure (i.e. bones and ligaments). The practitioner
finds areas of resistance and releases these by applying fulcrums
and traction. ZB focuses on the whole person at the same time as
addressing specific needs. The result is the reduction of physical
and mental/emotional discomfort and promoting the sense of wholeness
and well being. for more info: www.zerobalancing.com
Natural Pregnancy
Support workshop at Sprout on Church Street February 4 and11
I will be giving a 30 minute workshop
about how to keep healthy during your pregnancy and how to help
yourself with ailments commonly experienced in pregnancy such as
nausea, colds and flu, anemia, digestive issues, muscle spasms,
other body discomforts and more. I will also discuss when to seek
outside help and what is available in terms of natural health care.
If you know anyone who would be interested, please let them know
about this talk which is coming up very soon.
FREE! Call Sprout to reserve a spot
- class size is limited.
Monday, February 4 at 5:30 pm & Monday, February 11 at 10:00
am
Sprout 110 Church Street, Burlington
865-0060 www.sproutparenting.com
Maternity Leave
I have been working with a lot of
clients who are pregnant or who would like to be pregnant. It
seems to be catchy because low and behold, I got married July
1st and got pregnant a week later!
I have been feeling great throughout my pregnancy - still doing
my usual activities including Kung Fu (martial arts) and yoga.
I am in my 7th month now and I am riding a wave of good health
and stamina. The baby is due in early April and I will be on maternity
leave during the months of April and May. I will be doing acupuncture
and Thai bodywork through the end of March. I am scheduling Thai
sessions through the end of February and
I'll play it by ear after that. If
you want a session, now's the time to schedule!
I will post on my website several practitioners who will be available
in my absence. If you have any questions feel free to send me an
email or call me.
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