The other day I was reading in the newspaper and there was an article that caught my eye. The article was about four different ways to prevent colds. In the course of reading the article one of the main methods that they mentioned was to quit smoking.
This sparked my interest as to why stop smoking would be a method of preventing common colds. As I thought about it, it made total sense. According to Chinese medicine, the lung has a strong relationship to external pathogens. When external pathogens invade the body it usually starts with the lung. So if the lung is weak then yes it will be easier for someone to get sick and catch a cold.
Smoking overall will damage the lung not only according to Chinese medicine, but also according to Western medicine as well. When the lung is not functioning properly the righteous qi or protective qi is not strong enough to fight the external pathogens making it easier to get sick. How do we go about stop smoking? Here are some tips that may help you to quit smoking.
The first one is to have a desire to quit smoking. Once we have the mental attitude and desire to quit, it will be much easier to quit. So many times there have been patients who look at quitting, but their mentality at the time is not ready to quit so it is much difficult for them to quit. Make the decision first that you are willing to quit smoking.
The second tip is to cleanse your body and change your environment. By cleansing your body, I mean to do a cleanse of some sort. There are so many different types of cleanses you can do. I usually recommend people to change their diet and eat healthier. Eating more fruit and vegetables and not so much processed foods can help and assist you to cleanse your body. It is important to eat whole foods. By eating healthier you will feel much better and have a more desire to quit smoking. Changing your environment is also a key component. You should throw away ash trays, lighters, and anything that reminds you of smoking. You should not be around people who are currently smoking also. By doing these two things your chances of quitting will be higher.
Another tip is to do acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for addictions including smoking. Acupuncture will assist you to overcome your cravings, withdrawl symptoms,, and change the taste of the cigarrette. It will also help you reduce your stress and calm your mind. Acupuncture will also improve your energy and build your body up so you will not get sick easily. Chinese herbs will also help you. There are Chinese herbal formulas that help with the cravings and addiction of smoking. In combination with acupuncture, Chinese herbs are effective for smoking addictions.
These are a few tips for quitting smoking. I hope this helps you. You are welcome to contact Master Lu's Health Center anytime at (801) 463-1101 for more information or a free consultation on how we can help you quit smoking.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
3 Great Ways to Stay Healthy
Staying healthy is one of the main things that are on people's minds a lot of the time. When we are healthy, we are happier and we can accomplish the things that we desire to do. I am suggesting three simple things we can do to remain healthy and improve our overall wellness. These suggestions are things that we may already know, but they are difficult at times to implement.
Nutrition
One of the most important things that we can do to remain healthy throughout our lives is to eat better. There are so many different diets and suggestions on what to eat. We are bombarded daily with many different ideas and suggestions on what to eat and how to eat. There are times when we can be confused and in the long run it can actually hurt our own health.
One of the best things that we can do is to eat balanced. In one of the oldest medical classics, Yellow Emperor's Internal Medicine Classics, it says to live the yin and yang. It is important to live in a balanced way. When we eat balanced then our health can improve and become better. It is important to eat our vegetables and fruits. Grains are important to eat daily. In my opinion meat can be eaten sparingly. Fish is important to eat. One of the things that I see often is when people eat too much of one thing though it can be good overtime it can harm the body. Again it comes to balance. So a balanced diet with lots of different colors in the diet is important and can be crucial to you health.
Exercise
Exercise is another important method to remain healthy in our lives. Daily exercise is recommended among all health care practitioners. It is recommended to exercise 5 days a week for 30 min. You can do more it is better. If you are not capable of exercising that much, you can break it down in to smaller segments throughout the day. You can also start slow and build up so you can get used to exercise. Sedentary lifestyles are a contributing factor to the obesity problem we have here in the United States.
Start now to exercise and make new goals for the coming year to start exercising. One great exercise that you can start anytime is Tai Chi. Tai Chi is great for stress reduction, aerobic exercise, flexibility, coordination, and self defense. We do offer almost daily classes.
It does not matter what type of exercise you do. The important thing is that you are doing something you enjoy and that will give you health benefits. That is the most important thing.
Relaxation
This is important for your mental health. Take time each day to relax and meditate. Focus on what you really want out of life and what brings you the greatest joy. According to Chinese medicine, too much stress overtime can cause disease and affect the health of your body. So by doing things to help you relax can help you feel better and improve you health.
Some things that you can do each day to relax is to take time to meditate in a quiet area, do deep breathing, and acupuncture. Periodic acupuncture treatments will help you feel relaxed and allow you to control you stress better. In the long run this will allow you to maintain better health.
By following the three important steps you will maintain great health and fell happier. So remember to Defend you Health!
Nutrition
One of the most important things that we can do to remain healthy throughout our lives is to eat better. There are so many different diets and suggestions on what to eat. We are bombarded daily with many different ideas and suggestions on what to eat and how to eat. There are times when we can be confused and in the long run it can actually hurt our own health.
One of the best things that we can do is to eat balanced. In one of the oldest medical classics, Yellow Emperor's Internal Medicine Classics, it says to live the yin and yang. It is important to live in a balanced way. When we eat balanced then our health can improve and become better. It is important to eat our vegetables and fruits. Grains are important to eat daily. In my opinion meat can be eaten sparingly. Fish is important to eat. One of the things that I see often is when people eat too much of one thing though it can be good overtime it can harm the body. Again it comes to balance. So a balanced diet with lots of different colors in the diet is important and can be crucial to you health.
Exercise
Exercise is another important method to remain healthy in our lives. Daily exercise is recommended among all health care practitioners. It is recommended to exercise 5 days a week for 30 min. You can do more it is better. If you are not capable of exercising that much, you can break it down in to smaller segments throughout the day. You can also start slow and build up so you can get used to exercise. Sedentary lifestyles are a contributing factor to the obesity problem we have here in the United States.
Start now to exercise and make new goals for the coming year to start exercising. One great exercise that you can start anytime is Tai Chi. Tai Chi is great for stress reduction, aerobic exercise, flexibility, coordination, and self defense. We do offer almost daily classes.
It does not matter what type of exercise you do. The important thing is that you are doing something you enjoy and that will give you health benefits. That is the most important thing.
Relaxation
This is important for your mental health. Take time each day to relax and meditate. Focus on what you really want out of life and what brings you the greatest joy. According to Chinese medicine, too much stress overtime can cause disease and affect the health of your body. So by doing things to help you relax can help you feel better and improve you health.
Some things that you can do each day to relax is to take time to meditate in a quiet area, do deep breathing, and acupuncture. Periodic acupuncture treatments will help you feel relaxed and allow you to control you stress better. In the long run this will allow you to maintain better health.
By following the three important steps you will maintain great health and fell happier. So remember to Defend you Health!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Remedies for the Common Cold
It is that time of year again when there are many people who catch a cold or the flu. Here are some common home remedies and Chinese medicine remedies that will help overcome the cold and prevent catching the cold.
Home Remedies
When you have a cold with coughing, running nose, fatigue and headache, you can try drinking ginger tea. Ginger according to Chinese medicine helps clear a common cold when there is coughing, and running nose with clear nasal discharge.
The way that we suggest to make ginger tea is to get fresh ginger root and cut a few slices then boil them in water. Afterwards, add some honey to sweeten it a little. I suggest you drink the ginger tea throughout the day at least 3-5 classes of tea. This will help resolve the common cold quicker and help you feel a lot better.
Another tea that is great for the common cold if you have a sore throat is lemon tea. It is prepared the same way as the ginger tea just cut slices of lemon and boil then add honey. Drink the tea throughout the day. Lemon tea will help with the sore throat along with the common cold.
One other home remedy that has been effective for the common cold with a lot of chest congestion and coughing is baking an orange and eating it warm. Get a whole orange and bake it at 375 degrees for half and hour. Afterwards, put it out, peel and eat it warm. That will help with the chest congestion and break up the stuff in the chest as well as help you feel better with the cold.
Chinese medicine remedies
Both acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been shown to be effective for the common cold. Acupuncture will allow you to feel better, improve your energy, and improve your immune system for prevention. Typically, for the common cold I would recommend 3-5 treatments of acupuncture and then re-evaluate. Acupuncture will promote your body's self healing mechanisms and get rid of the cold.
Chinese herbal formulas will also improve and get rid of the cold quickly. Depending on the signs and symptoms of the cold there are different Chinese herbal formulas. If you are experiencing running nose with clear nasal discharge along with regular common cold signs then Jing Fang Bai Du San will be appropriate to take. If you have sore throat with yellow nasal discharge then Yin Qiao San will be appropriate to take. These two herbal formulas are most common. If you have other signs and symptoms along with the common cold then I would suggest other herbs that fits your individual condition.
These types of remedies can help you prepare for the winter season when there are a lot of viruses and colds. Remember too one of the best ways to prevent from catching the cold is to always wash your hands and be sanitary. That has shown to be one of the best methods to prevent from catching the cold. If you do have a cold and none of the home remedies seem to not be helping then give us a call at Master Lu's Health Center and we can help you.
Home Remedies
When you have a cold with coughing, running nose, fatigue and headache, you can try drinking ginger tea. Ginger according to Chinese medicine helps clear a common cold when there is coughing, and running nose with clear nasal discharge.
The way that we suggest to make ginger tea is to get fresh ginger root and cut a few slices then boil them in water. Afterwards, add some honey to sweeten it a little. I suggest you drink the ginger tea throughout the day at least 3-5 classes of tea. This will help resolve the common cold quicker and help you feel a lot better.
Another tea that is great for the common cold if you have a sore throat is lemon tea. It is prepared the same way as the ginger tea just cut slices of lemon and boil then add honey. Drink the tea throughout the day. Lemon tea will help with the sore throat along with the common cold.
One other home remedy that has been effective for the common cold with a lot of chest congestion and coughing is baking an orange and eating it warm. Get a whole orange and bake it at 375 degrees for half and hour. Afterwards, put it out, peel and eat it warm. That will help with the chest congestion and break up the stuff in the chest as well as help you feel better with the cold.
Chinese medicine remedies
Both acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been shown to be effective for the common cold. Acupuncture will allow you to feel better, improve your energy, and improve your immune system for prevention. Typically, for the common cold I would recommend 3-5 treatments of acupuncture and then re-evaluate. Acupuncture will promote your body's self healing mechanisms and get rid of the cold.
Chinese herbal formulas will also improve and get rid of the cold quickly. Depending on the signs and symptoms of the cold there are different Chinese herbal formulas. If you are experiencing running nose with clear nasal discharge along with regular common cold signs then Jing Fang Bai Du San will be appropriate to take. If you have sore throat with yellow nasal discharge then Yin Qiao San will be appropriate to take. These two herbal formulas are most common. If you have other signs and symptoms along with the common cold then I would suggest other herbs that fits your individual condition.
These types of remedies can help you prepare for the winter season when there are a lot of viruses and colds. Remember too one of the best ways to prevent from catching the cold is to always wash your hands and be sanitary. That has shown to be one of the best methods to prevent from catching the cold. If you do have a cold and none of the home remedies seem to not be helping then give us a call at Master Lu's Health Center and we can help you.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
A little about Chinese medicine
It has been a long time since our last blog post. Sorry for not keeping it up. We always have great content and information that relates to healthy living and wellness according to Chinese medicine.
One question that we see all of the time is what is Chinese medicine? Chinese medicine is over two thousands years old. It is a complete medical system in diagnosing and treating disease. One of the confusions that arises, at least in the United States, is the title Licensed Acupuncturist. Acupuncture is only a component of Chinese medicine. So even though you may see a Licensed Acupuncturist he or she will be able to practice other components of Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine comprises of five major branches, acupuncture, herbal therapy, tui na (Chinese medical massage), food therapy, and exercise. A Chinese medical practitioner most typically utilize one or two of the main branches of Chinese medicine for medical treatment. Diagnosis utilizes the same principles and theories for each area of Chinese medicine.
Diagnosis and treatment is what makes Chinese medicine truly unique. There is a Chinese medical statement of fact that says "same disease treat different, different disease treat the same". (同病異治，異病同治）Clinically, this means that if a Chinese medical practitioner saw two patients with the same health condition like headache, the treatment may be different. If two patients came in with different diseases depending on their Chinese medical diagnosis their treatment could be the same. The reason why treatment is like this is because Chinese medicine treatment and diagnosis is based on pattern discrimination or differentiation of syndromes. The treatment principles and plan are based on the patterns of disharmony that a practitioner can find. It is the patterns that make Chinese medicine a form of holistic medicine also.
There is a lot to say about Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine is a viable form of health care and can be integrated with Western or conventional medicine. There is more and more evidence of Chinese medicine becoming more mainstream especially with acupuncture. There are more hospitals in the US that are utilizing acupuncture to help patients more. I hope this helps a little bit about understanding Chinese medicine a little bit more.
To find out more go to www.luhealthcenter.com
One question that we see all of the time is what is Chinese medicine? Chinese medicine is over two thousands years old. It is a complete medical system in diagnosing and treating disease. One of the confusions that arises, at least in the United States, is the title Licensed Acupuncturist. Acupuncture is only a component of Chinese medicine. So even though you may see a Licensed Acupuncturist he or she will be able to practice other components of Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine comprises of five major branches, acupuncture, herbal therapy, tui na (Chinese medical massage), food therapy, and exercise. A Chinese medical practitioner most typically utilize one or two of the main branches of Chinese medicine for medical treatment. Diagnosis utilizes the same principles and theories for each area of Chinese medicine.
Diagnosis and treatment is what makes Chinese medicine truly unique. There is a Chinese medical statement of fact that says "same disease treat different, different disease treat the same". (同病異治，異病同治）Clinically, this means that if a Chinese medical practitioner saw two patients with the same health condition like headache, the treatment may be different. If two patients came in with different diseases depending on their Chinese medical diagnosis their treatment could be the same. The reason why treatment is like this is because Chinese medicine treatment and diagnosis is based on pattern discrimination or differentiation of syndromes. The treatment principles and plan are based on the patterns of disharmony that a practitioner can find. It is the patterns that make Chinese medicine a form of holistic medicine also.
There is a lot to say about Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine is a viable form of health care and can be integrated with Western or conventional medicine. There is more and more evidence of Chinese medicine becoming more mainstream especially with acupuncture. There are more hospitals in the US that are utilizing acupuncture to help patients more. I hope this helps a little bit about understanding Chinese medicine a little bit more.
To find out more go to www.luhealthcenter.com
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
One Third of our Tai Chi Form
Old Yang Style Tai Chi
This is one third of our Tai Chi form that we practice at Master Lu's Health Center. This form is very old and unique. Master Lu learned this form from his master Grandmaster Yin Chian Ho. I have not seen this form practiced anywhere else outside of Grandmaster Yin's lineage and students.
This Tai Chi is characterized by large and low movements. It has many different health benefits such as flexibility, balance, stress reduction, cardiovascular, and self defense. We have classes throughout the week. You are welcome to come and check out our classes anytime.
This is one third of our Tai Chi form that we practice at Master Lu's Health Center. This form is very old and unique. Master Lu learned this form from his master Grandmaster Yin Chian Ho. I have not seen this form practiced anywhere else outside of Grandmaster Yin's lineage and students.
This Tai Chi is characterized by large and low movements. It has many different health benefits such as flexibility, balance, stress reduction, cardiovascular, and self defense. We have classes throughout the week. You are welcome to come and check out our classes anytime.
Prevention from Illness is the Key
Prevention
One of the most important principles in Chinese medicine is prevention. Prevention is one of the key components in being healthy. In the Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine), it states that we should live the yin and yang. As Chinese medical parishioners we are always looking at balance within the body. Whenever there is an imbalance then disease can arise.
Here is an excerpt from the Huang Di Nei Jing about balance and living the correct way:
“In the past, people practiced the Tao, the Way of Life. They understood the principle of balance, of yin and yang, as represented by the transformation of the energies of the universe. Thus, they formulated practices such as Dao-in, an exercise combining stretching, massaging, and breathing to promote energy flow, and meditation to help maintain and harmonize themselves with the universe. They ate a balanced diet at regular times, arose and retired at regular hours, avoided overstressing their bodies and minds, and refrained from overindulgence of all kinds. They maintained well-being of body and mind; thus, it is not surprising that they lived over one hundred years. These days, people have changed their way of life. They drink wine as though it were water, indulge excessively in destructive activities, drain their jing-the body’s essence that is stored in the kidney’s- and deplete their qi. They do not know the secret of conserving their energy and vitality. Seeking emotional excitement and momentary pleasures, people disregard the natural rhythm and order of the universe. They fail to regulate their lifestyle and diet, and sleep improperly. So it is not surprising that they look old at fifty and die soon after.” R. Ni Mao Shing The Yellow Emperor Classic of Medicine: A New Translation of the Neijing Su Wen
It is important to live in a balance way. Some examples of how disease can arise are like eating too much sweet and greasy food, eating too much raw food, sleeping too much or too little, over work, lack of exercise, and trauma. These are just to name a few. It is not saying that we cannot eat raw food or sweet food, it is the over indulgence in these foods over a period of time that may lead to imbalance within the body.
Some things that we can do to keep balance within our lives:
One good quote from a Chinese Physician states “Classical methods of acupuncture are not primarily focused on relieving symptoms, but in restoring dynamic equilibrium to the body and mind by allowing self-healing mechanisms to take effect.” Zev Rosenburg L.Ac.
Remember to live in a balance way and you will find health and wellness.
Come down and check out our Tai Chi classes and Acupuncture treatments anytime.
One of the most important principles in Chinese medicine is prevention. Prevention is one of the key components in being healthy. In the Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine), it states that we should live the yin and yang. As Chinese medical parishioners we are always looking at balance within the body. Whenever there is an imbalance then disease can arise.
Here is an excerpt from the Huang Di Nei Jing about balance and living the correct way:
“In the past, people practiced the Tao, the Way of Life. They understood the principle of balance, of yin and yang, as represented by the transformation of the energies of the universe. Thus, they formulated practices such as Dao-in, an exercise combining stretching, massaging, and breathing to promote energy flow, and meditation to help maintain and harmonize themselves with the universe. They ate a balanced diet at regular times, arose and retired at regular hours, avoided overstressing their bodies and minds, and refrained from overindulgence of all kinds. They maintained well-being of body and mind; thus, it is not surprising that they lived over one hundred years. These days, people have changed their way of life. They drink wine as though it were water, indulge excessively in destructive activities, drain their jing-the body’s essence that is stored in the kidney’s- and deplete their qi. They do not know the secret of conserving their energy and vitality. Seeking emotional excitement and momentary pleasures, people disregard the natural rhythm and order of the universe. They fail to regulate their lifestyle and diet, and sleep improperly. So it is not surprising that they look old at fifty and die soon after.” R. Ni Mao Shing The Yellow Emperor Classic of Medicine: A New Translation of the Neijing Su Wen
It is important to live in a balance way. Some examples of how disease can arise are like eating too much sweet and greasy food, eating too much raw food, sleeping too much or too little, over work, lack of exercise, and trauma. These are just to name a few. It is not saying that we cannot eat raw food or sweet food, it is the over indulgence in these foods over a period of time that may lead to imbalance within the body.
Some things that we can do to keep balance within our lives:
- Exercise (Tai Chi and Qi Gong are a good choice)
- Balanced diet
- Proper sleep
- A balance between work, life, and family
One good quote from a Chinese Physician states “Classical methods of acupuncture are not primarily focused on relieving symptoms, but in restoring dynamic equilibrium to the body and mind by allowing self-healing mechanisms to take effect.” Zev Rosenburg L.Ac.
Remember to live in a balance way and you will find health and wellness.
Come down and check out our Tai Chi classes and Acupuncture treatments anytime.
For all class times and more information about Master Lu's Health Center go to www.luhealthcenter.com
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Common Cold Remedies
This is the season when many people will have common colds and the "flu". Chinese medicine is very effective for relieving the common cold especially when there are signs such as fever, chills, body aches, nasal discharge, nasal congestion, cough, and headache. There are some natural home remedies that you can try at home to help relieve the cold.
The first remedy is a lemon tea. If you have signs of cough and sore throat you can make lemon tea from the comfort of your own home. What you need to do is get a fresh lemon and cut a few slices in a pot of water, then boil the water and make the tea. After the tea is done, put some honey to sweeten it. Now you are ready to drink. This will help when you are at home. Drink lemon tea throughout the day.
The second remedy is a ginger tea. If you are presenting with symptoms of cough, clear nasal discharge, headache, chills and fever then you would want to make a ginger tea. Get a ginger root and cut a few slices and put them in the pot to boil. After boiling the ginger root you can add green onion and orange peel if you want, but you would definitely want to add some honey to sweeten a little bit.
The third remedy is mainly if you have a cough. What you would want to do is get an orange and bake it in the oven at 350-375 degrees for 30 minutes. After you are done baking peel the orange and eat it warm. This warms up the lungs and help relieve the cough.
When you have cold and flu symptoms these home remedies can definitely help. If your symptoms are worse then you can get acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Along with the home remedies, the acupuncture and Chinese herbs can relieve the cold within one day on average. If you have any questions visit us at www.luhealthcenter.com
The first remedy is a lemon tea. If you have signs of cough and sore throat you can make lemon tea from the comfort of your own home. What you need to do is get a fresh lemon and cut a few slices in a pot of water, then boil the water and make the tea. After the tea is done, put some honey to sweeten it. Now you are ready to drink. This will help when you are at home. Drink lemon tea throughout the day.
The second remedy is a ginger tea. If you are presenting with symptoms of cough, clear nasal discharge, headache, chills and fever then you would want to make a ginger tea. Get a ginger root and cut a few slices and put them in the pot to boil. After boiling the ginger root you can add green onion and orange peel if you want, but you would definitely want to add some honey to sweeten a little bit.
The third remedy is mainly if you have a cough. What you would want to do is get an orange and bake it in the oven at 350-375 degrees for 30 minutes. After you are done baking peel the orange and eat it warm. This warms up the lungs and help relieve the cough.
When you have cold and flu symptoms these home remedies can definitely help. If your symptoms are worse then you can get acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Along with the home remedies, the acupuncture and Chinese herbs can relieve the cold within one day on average. If you have any questions visit us at www.luhealthcenter.com
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