Many men have an elevated PSA and can relate to the above urinary pathologies. As we age, the weakening of our pelvic saddle (the connective tissue in our pelvic floor), can cause the urinary patterns mentioned above. Medications may also cause urinary difficulties.
Allergies and A Myriad of Responses To The Natural World
Our blossoming trees and abundant plant life seemed to spring forth almost overnight. For many people allergies can put a damper in their enjoyment of being out and about. For some people this is cyclical, occurring in either the spring or fall, for others it’s a year round battle.
Our immune system is under assault, we have become out of sync with nature.
Digestion, The Microbiome and the Misuse of Antibiotics
How Acupuncture and Moxibustion Rectifies Poor Digestion
In Chinese Medicine, the spleen and stomach are pivotal to the digestive process. The stomach receives our food and is referred in classical texts as “the sea of grain and water.” After the food enters the stomach, it is “steamed” by the influence of stomach Qi. The main role of the spleen is to suck or extract the vital essence of our food to provide nourishment to the body. The dregs are discarded downwards and eliminated as waste. Another vital role of the spleen is to provide a healthy appetite and engender the sense of taste. There is an emotional influence related to each organ system in Chinese Medicine. For the spleen, excessive worry or pensiveness weakens its digestive power. Because the spleen is ruled by the earth element we may risk damage to our digestive Qi if we feel ungrounded or eat in a hurried or distracted mental state. An example of this is dashboard dining or eating lunch at our desk while working. Therefore eating in a relaxed state is very important.
Moxibustion (or Moxa)
I really enjoy using moxa in conjunction with acupuncture. Did you know that the characters in Chinese for acupuncture literally mean needle and fire? Fire here means moxibustion (moxa for short) the burning of the artemesia plant on or above the body and needle moxa, patients’ favorite, in which a compacted ball of moxa is burned on the handle of the needle. This provides a deep heat that patients love – great for boosting the adrenals when done on the low back.
Moxa has been scientifically proven to increase both red and white blood cell count, increase cellular immunity, as well as regulate blood sugar levels, a boon for diabetic patients. This pertains to direct moxa, when a “grain” of moxa is burned directly on the skin.
Digestive Issues Respond to Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Both science and Chinese Medicine acknowledge the role of our G.I. system in maintaining our health. You might have experienced the phenomena of not falling ill from a meal, while others who ate the same food, fell victim to food poisoning, resulting in vomiting and/or diarrhea. Classical Chinese Medicine texts explain the above scenario by saying “those with deficiency will fall ill.” Therefore, the people who didn’t become sick are said to have robust Qi or strong immune systems. [Read more…]
