As I write this, I have had my office closed for over 3 weeks, and have attended many online meetings most recently with a town hall for acupuncturists in our nation with out 3000 practitioners in attendance. One big topic was how we can help during this crisis we have in our world now.
Although I voluntarily closed for face to face appointments, one thing I can do now is offer online telemedicine appointments gears towards your health issues. Assistance can be given in the areas of acupressure for stress, insomnia, aide in pain relief etc. Aromatherapy and nutrition, supplement guidance is available also. Although the office is closed, pickup of oils, supplements etc are going on on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-12. If you need a different time- don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
It you are an insurance patient, the telemedicine visits are billable for you. If you are private pay, these visits are $1.00 per minute . Reach out if interested but in meantime enjoy the newsletter.

Blessings

Andy

I offer a disclaimer here that any of the below information is for your education, not to replace advice from your PCP.

Lets Being with:

FOOD- Inflammatory foods- just cut way back. Do it.
Remember inflammatory foods are generally those that are already prepared, boxed, canned or frozen.
Stick with fresh as much as possible.
Remember * If you’re having pain, there is inflammation, when aren’t feeling well, there is more inflammation.
Trying not to add further inflammation= makes good sense and is much better for you 🙂

* Make snacks a special once a week treat, and even less often.
Consider healthier snacks: your own popped corn, roasted chick peas, homemade trail mix with raw seeds, and nuts.
If you have chocolate cravings- try this, here are two things to try
1) take a small little herb bowl, if you don’t have one, use a tbsp. Put the amount of chocolate bits or nibbles into the this tiny bowl, it will be about a tbsp. That’s your amount
2) I like to use raw Cacao powder and make a hot cacao drink, satisfies the chocolate craving and is healthier for you. recipe to follow soon.

SPRING is the season of renewal and in Acupuncture medicine, it is the season of the Liver. That is one reason why so much produce that is good for the Liver is harvested in the Spring. Examples include: Dandelion greens, Swiss chard, asparagus, garlic, arugula, spring onions,mint, artichokes to name a few. Consider adding arugula as your next pesto recipe, makes an awesome dip for veggies or a topper for your soup.

Spring is a great time to cleanse the body also. Here is recipe for a Spring Liver drink. Drink first thing in the morning and wait about an hour before having anything else to ear.

SPRING LIVER CLEANSE DRINK

1 whole lemon
1 whole orange- can be mandarin, blood orange or
grapefruit
1 garlic clove
1-2 inch fresh ginger root
1 tbsp ground flax seed
1 tbsp olive oil- Braggs please
dash or two of Cayenne pepper
1/4 cup water apporximately

blend all ingredients in a strong blender or vitamin
mix. This drink should be a bit lumpy. This makes one
serving and can easily be doubled. Try for at least one
week and no need to go longer than one month.During this
cleanse, no processed foods please.

SPRING HOT TEA

1 tsp, dried Dandelion leaf
1 tsp. dried Green tea leaves ( I like Jasmine green)
You can add ginger root juice to this if you’re not
doing the above drink with ginger.Add 8 oz hot water
and steep for at least 4 minutes up to 6.

Aromatherapy for Spring and current events:

here is a short list of essential oils and how those can help to balance your system.
* There are safety precautions for most essential oils. Reach out if you have questions. Again these tidbits are to help you.
The properties listed are not an exhaustive list, just a few.
My email: allradiant@icloud.com.
two great sites for oils_ stillpointaromatics.com and naturesgift.com
* also it is important to mention that just because an oil might a good anti-viral etc there is a time to use and a time to hold back. When it’s cold and damp, there are oils that might be a better choice – and if someone has a fever or chills that may also change the oil you pick to use.
If you’ve been in the office when I diffusing oils, I generally tell you what we diffusing that day, what you might not know is that Im choosing them based on weather, time of year, current pathogens, etc.
* all of these oils are ones I have in stock. There are some in this list you may not have heard about and the descriptions are again just in brief.

ROSEMARY verbenone= sometimes we think of Rosemary for things like hair or circulation and pain relief. However this particular Rosemary packs a punch for Respiratory symptoms. Especially when it involves the lung. This oils makes a fabulous oral inhaler- just like the nasal ones you have used but these are for oral. ** you can’t use an inhaler for bother nasal and oral cavities.
This oil is one I travel with, It’s truly amazing.

RAVINTSARA- Extremely efficient antiviral, and anti-infectious oil, this one is good for kids. it is also a tonic, as well so nice for diffusion combines well with other oils also.

THYME- There are many good thymes ( pun intended :). That said, thyme lineally and thyme thujanol are gentle and can be powerful at the same time. both of these are great for kids. they are both generally airborne antimicrobials, and anti-viral.

BALSAM COPAIBA- Wonderful for pain relief, but is also a anti-septic, an anti-viral, and has immune stimulant properties.

CLOVE BUD- a warming oil, powerful antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory. Great for the diffuser combined with cinnamon bark, and a citrus.

CINNAMON BARK- antibacterial, warming oil just like clove and relives aches, chills. Dillution important.

GRAPEFRUIT/ LEMON- these are both cooling citruses, anti-inflammatory, air borne antibacterial, nice to add to cleaning.

BAY LAUREL- Good for muscle aches, most useful for respiratory support, a warming oil.

ADDIO GERMI- this one comes from Stillpoint aromatics as a power packed 12 different oil blend. I have a supply of this oil and Ive found that a very small amount 1-2 drops is more than enough in the diffuser.

For HERBAL REFERENCES
One I turn to is StephenHarrodbuhner.com. His books are paramount reading if you are interested in natural approaches based on science no fluff. I will pass along a caution, and I say this with the utmost respect for both authors with the same first name – Stephen, Buhner and King. The first 80 pages or so read like a King novel…. though nonfiction. If you know of anyone who has ever struggled to understand how viruses and bacteria work, read this. You and they will get it.

Of the top 7 antiviral herbs- 2 of them are quite readily available. Elderberry and ginger. Here are some tidbits on them.
In regards to Elder-
syrup from the berries is what is sold here. Or you can make your own.I like the sambucocl brand, although I’ve experimented with the powder this year and it seems decent. Buhner reports that in a ‘placebo controlled double blind study during an influenza epidemic…..those using the elderberry extract experienced a significant improvement in symptoms, including fever, in 2 days’
Ginger – potent anti-viral but ONLY when using the Fresh root. The dried root has different properties. You can make fresh juice easily with a powerful blender or vitamin.

Ginger Juice recipe- can drink up to 4-6- cups per day, less for kids under 10.

Ginger Root 4 pieces – 2-3 inches each
12 oz water
lime – squeeze about 1/4
1 tsp to 1 tbsp raw honey
1/8 tsp cayenne

* you can also make just the ginger juice alone without the extras in above recipe and freeze into ice cube trays. I try to do that and have them ready to go or just to add to the above tea recipe, with the dandelion.

BODY-MIND
Here are some breathing techniques you’ve either heard me talk about or have the handout from before.
One of my Yoga teachers used to say that if we weren’t breathing correctly we weren’t doing yoga. Most studies say that over half the population doesn’t breathe correctly.
COMPLETE BREATH- sit, stand or liw down with a straight spine.Inhale through the nostrils filling the abdomen first, and then up through the ribs, and the chest. Initially you may find you have to concentrate on allowing the belly to rise as most people take shallow breaths. Try to retain this breath for a few seconds and then exhale slowly, allowing the air to release from the lungs and lastly letting the belly pull in slightly with exhalation.
BENEFITS- increased calm, reduction of toxins, reduction of physical tension, increased oxygenation, and increases consciousness. This is also the breath you can do with the 4-7-8- method of breathing.

ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATH
in a sitting posture, close the right nostril with a finger from the right hand. Inhale slowly through the left nostril. Then block the left nostril and and exhale through the right nostril. Now, inhale from the right and exhale left.
BENEFITS- Restores the proper balance to breathing patterns, and equalizes the pathways of the nervous system. balances right and left sides of the brain, calms the mind and emotions.

FIRE BREATH- if you have hypertension, vertigo, or other respiratory issues please consult with me first before trying this one.
In a seated position, take a rapid inhalation and a rapid exhalation through the nose. It sounds like a steam engine only with your nose. The belly expands out greatly with the inhale and pulls back with the exhalation. Start with 30 seconds and work up from there.
BENEFITS- this helps to loosen phlegm, improved strength, and works the lungs.

i’ll send more breath exercises again, later on along with body movement tidbits.
For something else for your mind check out SacredAcoustics.com Many of you have listened to their brain wave sounds while having acupuncture. They are offering free webinars and downloads discounted or free if you need to do that.

Virtual hugs to all,

Andy