Turning Point Acupuncture Newsletter
Vol. 2 Number 4
Healthy Coping
Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Patients,
In ancient China the role of the medical practitioner was to keep his patient healthy. To that end the patients took herbs with the
change of season and received regular acupuncture to keep the vital life force energy (Qi) flowing freely and in balance. Chinese
medicine, which grew out of Taoism, is about balance. When our Qi is strong, free and balanced we enjoy radiant health on the
physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Today the environment we live in is wildly out of balance. What can we do now to maintain
our health? I met with the Turning Point staff to discuss this challenge and we have come up with many strategies that can be
beneficial.
Some of these strategies are specific Chinese medicinal herbal and acupuncture protocols, developed to address the needs of
these times, that we will offer during our regular business hours. It is well known that acupuncture is good for the immune system,
increasing the number of white blood cells and the ability of those cells to fight infection, to give but one example. In our herbal
formulary are compounds that include Isatis, a very broad spectrum antimicrobial, Astragalus and Cordyceps which are well known
to improve immune function (increases Natural Killer cells and helps the body manufacture various immune factors, e.g., interleukin,
interferon, TNF). Hong Su has procured for us a low cost Isatis herbal tea "cube" that we are all using now for our daily care. In the
interest of providing needed health care, Turning Point will now offer massage, Reiki and homeopathy as adjunctive therapies as
needed. See the news section below for details.
Others strategies include simple things that we can all do at home and in our daily routine. All are designed to help us maintain a
strong immune system and a serene courage that will serve us well at work and at home. These are the substance of this newsletter.
Table of Contents:
1. Home Applications of Traditional Chinese Medicine --Shane Hoffman
2. Practical ideas for daily living -- Deborah Oster Pannell
3. Things to avoid and why! --Cautionary words from Dr. R...
4. Turning Point Acupuncture News
5. Bonus Autumn Recipe
1. Home Applications of Traditional Chinese Medicine
"The Tao of the Day" - Shane Hoffman, Turning Point Acupuncturist
In this time of reflection the tenets of Chinese medicine gently guide us to a path of actions which lead to a place of wholeness.
World events impact each of us differently with each passing moment. The news of the day can be an instructive reminder to us that
as we and others suffer, there is something we can do. We can serve by taking care of ourselves so that in nourishing ourselves we
might be available to serve others from a place of strength.
A prime consideration is the Taoist tenet of conservation of energy. Sounds scientific? Well it is, in an alchemical sense. In order to
best afford our bodies the chance to produce and maintain the best energy, which we need to thrive in a stressful environment, we
need to carefully consider each energy expense with discretion. Our body is an elegant factory of myriad systems working to
maintain our health and charm through a constant flux. Each activity or expenditure taxes the being. To best care for oneself, this
tenet suggests that one forego all unnecessary expenditures. In doing so, one reserves energy and makes it available for greater
and deeper function. Energy that your body would have used to keep you warm on a quick trip down to the deli could be spared and
used to strengthen your Kidney*, if you choose to wear a coat to stave off the cold.
Ongoing stress gets processed in our bodies in one or many of several different ways. The deepest is at the Kidney system. The
taxed Kidney gives way to fear. The strong Kidney provides the body with clear will to discharge the duties of the intention. The
weary Kidney cannot steam body humors and hence cool the fiery Heart. The result is a tendency for anxiety and insomnia. The
strong, cooled Heart pumps courage.
A simple home strategy to benefit the Kidney is to take a nice warm bath. Not boiling hot, but warm enough for the heat to penetrate
the body and nourish the Kidney. If you haven't got a tub, take a nice warm shower. Rest in the warm water until it penetrates your
abdomen and low back, about 15-20 minutes. As you leave the bath, find a place to sit in the steamy room. If nothing else, close the
lid and sit on the toilet. Squirt a dollop of any kind of lotion or crême into the palm of your hand. Cross an ankle onto the opposite
knee and get to work massaging the elevated foot. Attend to the whole foot. Then lavish attention on the spot on the heel side of the
ball of the foot between the big toe and the second toe.
(An illustration of this point is attached to this email and can also be found on our website
http://www.nycacupuncture.com/trauma.html along with other acupressure sites).
This point is called Yong Quan or bubbling spring. It is the first point of the Kidney meridian. It is the place where the body kisses the
earth and from whence the body draws in the support of the earth. Even in the urban jungle, through yards of cement, the body
contacts that earth energy. Sound folkloric? Whether you believe this or not, rubbing your feet will help your Kidney by directing
energy to the meridian. Rub for about 3 to 90 minutes. Notice with both feet on the floor the difference in how each foot feels. Then
switch feet and do the other foot. Warming the Kidney and working the beginning of the meridian will benefit the Kidney directly and
support the Kidney in nourishing the Heart.
Simple bits of kind attention and care levied upon ourselves and others cannot help but improve the state of the world. Improving
one's own part of the world improves the greater whole. Be it for one moment or many, improvement is progress.
*(Kidney is capitalized here to differentiate the Traditional Chinese Medicine Kidney system rather then our western understanding
of the physical kidney organ.)
2. Practical ideas for daily living
Here are the thoughts of our Office Manager Deborah Oster Pannell:
Loving ourselves during tough times can be one of the biggest challenges. It's also the most fundamental ingredient to keeping our
sanity, especially when the rest of the world seems to be losing it. The following is a list of ideas you may want to choose from as
you endeavor to retain your balance and some measure of control in a world filled with uncertainty...
First of all, remember to breathe! This may seem obvious, but we really do forget to use our lungs when we are feeling anxious or
fearful. We tend to tighten up our diaphragms and breathe shallowly. Take a few long, deep breaths, closing your eyes if you can
(not while you're driving or operating heavy machinery)... Give yourself a peaceful or happy image to concentrate on - a loved one,
a beautiful place that is meaningful to you - anything that will help you to connect to a feeling of tranquility. Use this little tool
whenever you need to calm yourself down or regroup.
Do other things that you personally find relaxing, such as taking a walk, soaking in a hot tub, listening to music or watching a movie.
Take good care of your body. Feed yourself warm, nourishing food and get plenty of rest and exercise. (See the end of this
newsletter for my Baked Root Vegetable Casserole!)
Stay connected with people. Spend time with family and friends and reach out to members of your community or other people in
your neighborhood. Remind yourself that you are part of a larger collective and chances are other people are sharing many of the
feelings you are having right now. Take solace in your religious or spiritual practice to fortify your faith and strength.
Let your emotions out! Do not keep things bottled up inside. Talk to people. Keep a journal. Express your feelings creatively by
dancing, singing, drawing, painting, playing music... These are all good ways of discharging energy that may feel too intense to hold
inside your body. Artistic expression can be a good way of helping us to turn something overwhelming into something we can grasp
more easily. It can also be a model for transforming fear and anger into something more constructive and beautiful.
Create a safe and special environment for yourself. Treat yourself to small luxuries like incense and candles or use some exotic
herbs or spices in your food. Make a space that is uniquely yours where you can find some peace and quiet. Remind yourself that
you are special and worth taking some extra time to please.
Connect with nature and other beautiful things. Even those of us living in the concrete jungle have access to parks, gardens and
other wondrous sights. Take a walk in Central Park or visit one of the Botanical Gardens in other boroughs. Take advantage of one
of our great museums - the Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Museum of the Moving Image.
Share your energy with others. Donate your time or give blood or money to relief efforts. Offer your assistance to others in your
community who could benefit from a little help or comfort.
Take a break from the news, especially news outlets that repeat the same things over and over again without much insight. Avoid
repeated watchings of disturbing images, especially before bedtime.
By loving ourselves, we open our hearts to the possibility of sharing that love with others and creating the kind of world we want to
live in.
(Portions of this article were adapted from "A Time for Healing" in the November 2001 edition of Dr. Andrew Weil's newsletter, Self
Healing, copies of which are in the office. His web site is www.drweilselfhealing.com and has good links on this topic)
3. Things to avoid and why!
Cautionary words from Dr. R...
I am alarmed that there is an increase in the use of alcohol, drugs, caffeine and "comfort food" (mostly sugar) in the weeks following
September 11th. I will repeat the scheme I presented in my last newsletter to show how each of the internal organ systems in
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is associated with an emotion. With this understanding we can see how these substances may
be especially injurious:
Grief is associated with the Lung.
Anger with the Liver.
Fear with the Kidney.
Processing with the Spleen
Joy with the Heart.
The Lung is associated with grief. Yet if we smoke cigarettes or marijuana cigarettes, we injure the lung tissue which is cool and
moist in TCM. We put a "smoke screen" on our sadness and it cannot be accessed.
Alcohol and drugs (sedatives to sleep, etc.) damage the Liver where they are metabolized. Changes in the Liver Qi result in anger,
frustration and depression and hinder our ability to deal with those emotional issues.
Overeating, especially sweets, hurts the Spleen function. The Spleen allows us to process. Overwhelming that system leaves us
blocked, bloated and stuck, without being able to move forward.
The Kidney allows us to deal with fear. It is analogous in that function to the "fight or fright" adrenal response in western medical
thinking. Caffeine pushes the Kidney/adrenal axis and depletes the Kidney Qi. The depleted Kidney Qi makes us still more
vulnerable to fear as described so well by Shane in his essay above.
Putting these substances aside will let the body begin to heal. Acupuncture and herbs will help enormously to complete the detox
and restore the internal organ systems to balance.
4. Turning Point Acupuncture News
We are pleased to offer supportive bodywork at Turning Point by appointment:
Deep muscle massage with John T. Smith (For appointment call 212 579-4754)
Reiki with Reiki master Lourdes Guzman (For appointment call 212 580-9803)
In addition, Homeopathy appointments are available with Dr. Macredis on Mondays (call 489-5038 to schedule)
We will be open our usual hours six days a week during the Fall
.
We are closed Thanksgiving Day, but open the Friday afternoon following.
To review hours and staffing click here:
http://www.nycacupuncture.com/patientinfo.html
5. Bonus Recipe!
Here is an easy autumn root vegetable recipe that can be adapted and tailored to your individual tastes and/or needs. Root
vegetables are especially nourishing to the spirit this time of year as the temperatures begin to drop and also provide a good
assortment of vitamins and minerals.
Baked Root Vegetable Casserole
Feel free to alter the selection of vegetables as well as the quantity. The following is a good list to use as a guideline:
One large Onion - red or vidalia if possible, otherwise yellow or white
Two small Rutabagas (the white ones with the purple tops) or else one small turnip (the yellow ones with the waxy skin)
Three Parsnips
Three Carrots
Two large or four small Potatoes of your choice
Two Beets or one small Acorn Squash, seeded (keep in mind that the beets will turn the whole thing dark red...)
Two cloves of Garlic (at least)
Peel and chop all vegetables into small, 1/2 inch pieces, and place into a large, glass or stainless steel baking dish. Mince the
garlic or press in a garlic press, and sprinkle on vegetables.
Add:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - enough to lightly coat the vegetables and surface of the pan
Thyme - about one teaspoon, or to taste
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Any of your other favorite savory spices such as Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, or Sage, to taste. Another good seasoning, if you can
find it, is a salt-free mix called, "Cavender's All Purpose Greek Seasoning," which makes the kitchen smell amazing while the food
is cooking...
Toss the vegetables with the oil and spices until they are evenly coated, add
1/2 cup of water or broth (chicken or vegetable) and bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for approximately one hour or
until the vegetables are soft and slightly browned along the edges. About every 15 minutes, stir and baste the vegetables, so that all
sides can get browned. When all the vegetables are soft and just begin to mush together a bit, remove from heat, cool and serve.
Variations:
- Add one pound of cut and skinned chicken pieces to the pan with the vegetables for a heartier stew. The chicken will be done
when the meat easily removes from the bones and its juices are clear, not pink.
- Add one cup of peeled, stewed tomatoes in tomato juice, cut into small pieces, about 30 minutes into the baking. If you are using a
glass dish, make sure that the tomatoes in juice are at least room temperature or slightly warmed, as cold liquid could crack the pan.
Best wishes for healthy living!
Naomi Rabinowitz, MD and the Turning Point Acupuncture staff
30 October 2001
copyright 2001 Naomi Rabinowitz and Shane Hoffman
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