Tui Na for Digestion

    Rubbing the abdomen, clockwise, around the umbilicus (belly button) aids digestion. Rubbing it counterclockwise slows digestion down. This is a Tui Na (Chinese medicinal massage) technique called Round Rubbing. 

     For weak digestion rubbing clockwise helps, for diarrhea, counter clockwise. Clockwise is for deficient syndromes and counter clockwise is for excess. Basically, which ever way feels the best, is the right way. Most small children will push a hand away if the massage doesn't feel right, and infants are usually amazing adept at letting people know their likes and dislikes. For older children and adults ask for feed back. With self massage, tuning in and listening to the body is always important. 

                                                              Health & Happiness,

                                                                                    Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

Next Talk

Sept. 27, 2012

Ashland YMCA

    7:00 PM 

Contact Information

Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

534 Washington St. 

Ashalnd, OR     97520

      541-646-0134

Nutrients Under Tongue

     There are veins under the tongue that are closer to the surface of the skin than anywhere else in the body. Therefore, substances may be absorbed from under the tongue, straight into the blood stream, faster than any way except injection. This is why Homeopathics, pills or liquids, are held under the tongue when taken. 

     Studies done on people in famine situations showed that people who chewed what little food was available, until it was liquid, had a much higher rate of survival than those who gobbled their food. Nutrients were able to be absorbed directly under the tongue instead of traveling through the digestive before being distributed by the blood. 

    Chewing food well, and getting the jump on assimilating what the body needs, also lets people know when they are full much sooner, a great way to feel satisfied with less food. 

                                                                         Health & Happiness, 

                                                                                                Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                           Kale & Sausage Saute

1/2 onion, sliced

1 large clove garlic, chopped

1 large clove scallion, chopped

1 tomato, cut in small pieces

1/4 yellow pepper, chopped

1/4 orange pepper, chopped

1 small zucchini, chopped   

handful of green beans, chopped

handful raw sunflower seeds

6 organic turkey breakfast sausages, cut in 1/2 inch slices

4 leaves kale, chopped, after extracting stems

grape seed oil, enough to coat bottom of pan

olive oil, enough to coat vegetables to keep from sticking, as cooking

Coat bottom of frying pan with grape seed oil.  Saute onions, garlic, scallions, and sunflower seeds, until onions are soft. Add turkey sausage, and green beans, cook until done. Add peppers, tomato and zucchini, cook until zucchini is tender, add kale. Turn heat to low, put lid on pan and let kale steam a few minutes, until tender but still bright green. This is a great meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner.   Enjoy!

       Kale is on my list of super foods. Very high in calcium, it is also great for the thyroid, so it gives people energy, and helps with weight loss.

                                                                   Health & Happiness,
                                                                           Nancy Burton, L.Ac.                     

  

A Promise  

For years my patients have been asking me to write down all the information I give them. "Where can I read everything that you've told me in one place?" they ask. They wanted to to review what I had said, and to share the information with family and friends. "Well," I would reply, " I haven't written it yet." 

What they had been asking for is a mix of TCM and dietary therapy, nutritional counseling, exercises, recipes, and what I have learned from other practitioners, seminars, books, an eclectic mix from all over that I compiled and use as tools for health. These tools help my patients regain their health at an accelerated rate, and help to maintain it. "And when you write it," a number of them told me, " include your stories, including your story of your journey to health."        

So, after all these years, I am trying to fulfill a promise I have made to share these tools for health, with my patients, their family and friends, and anyone else who cares to use them. 

Health & Happiness,

Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

Chinese Tea Eggs

            A high protein snack in China, for taking on hikes, offered in tea houses, by street vendors, and made at home. After boiling, shells are cracked for a marbled effect, then simmered and steeped in black tea, soy sauce and spices. One of my favorites!

            Eggs have gotten a bad rap in the US.The studies about how bad they are for health  came out about the same time corporations were trying to convince people that cereal, from a box, was a healthy breakfast. Eggs are one of nature’s wonder foods, easy to digest, a great source of protein, vitamin D, and good fats. Eggs supply the kind of fats that promotes the HDLs (good fats) as opposed to the LDLs (bad fats). Though not to be eaten every day, as they are a damp food (foods that contain or create oils or fat in the body), they are a wise choice to include in a healthy diet, as long as they are organic”.

6-8 Organic Eggs, hard boiled

2 Black Tea Bags

2 teaspoons Palm Sugar

½  cup Tamari Soy Sauce, or Braggs Amino Acid

1 teaspoon Sea Salt

Sat Anise  4 pieces

2 Tablespoons Five Spice Mix (available in most Health Food and and grocery stores)

Mirin  dash ( a rice cooking wine available in Asian section of grocery stores)

Boil eggs 10 minutes. Pour out water. Let eggs cool. Crack shells with back of knife or spoon, cracking shell of entire egg. This needs to be done with enough force that the shell and membrane underneath are cracked, for a marbled effect.  Fill pan with enough water to cover eggs. Add all ingredients, mix, then add eggs. Simmer for 1 hour, then let cool and steep in mixture overnight, in refrigerator. Enjoy!

                                                                                 

                                                                                 Health & Happiness,

                                                                                                Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

Watermelon, Rice, and Sinus Infections 

     All natural substances are considered herbs in Chinese Medicine, with properties to heal. Various foods can be powerful remedies for many ailments. As I mentioned in a previous post, watermelon is the coolest food there is, cool being a medicinal quality.  

     Infections bring heat to the body, whether it is a sore throat, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), yellow or colored mucus from and cold or flu, or a sinus infection. Chuan Xin Lian is an antibacterial Chinese herbal formula for infections, available at Health Food Stores. Adding medicinal foods to other treatments speeds recovery, and can sooth symptoms. Watermelon is good for most infections, especially those with burning pain.
     White rice is drying, so suitable to help resolve mucous and phlegm (with the exception of a dry cough). White rice "Bind the Bowels", a Chinese saying meaning that it also helps with diarrhea, another case where drying is needed. For constipation it is advisable to avoid rice.   
    For a sinus infection rice, rice crackers, rice tortillas (toasted is nice), rice pasta, and watermelon are foods that help dry and cool the sinuses.

                                                                   Health & Happiness, 

                                                                               Nancy Burton, L.Ac. 

Quick & Easy Vegetable Stew

    Vegetable stew, or soup, is a great thing to make when there are a lot of vegetables that need using. Any vegetables can be used. Served with a fresh salad and it is a lovely meal. 

1 onion, chopped

1 scallion, if desired, chopped

1 yellow summer squash, chopped

1 handful of okra, if desired   (Okra  is great for the mucosal lining of the digestive  system)                     

1 zucchini, chopped                                                   

1 handful of green beans

1 carrot, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

1-2 cans of organic Great Northern Beans  (or any beans)

1 box Imagine Chicken Broth    (Imagine brand is the only one I have found without Cane Juice in it)

1 14.5 oz can of organic fire roasted crushed tomatoes

1 Tablespoon of olive or grape seed oil       (my 2 favorite cooking oils)

In large cooking pot, cook onions and scallions in oil, until soft. Add rest of ingredients and simmer until vegetables are soft. 

This is about 6 servings. When cooking I always try to make extra for quick meals later in the week. This also makes a fast breakfast, or is good taken for lunch. I use a glass bowl with a plastic lid, put it in a thermal, soft lunch box and eat it at room temperature. Extra is also good for freezing for quick meals on down the line. 

Keep in mind, though this dish has lots of vegetables, they are cooked enough to destroy many of the nutrients, and live enzymes. It is best to eat with either a salad, or throw some additional vegetables in at the end of  cooking or when heating up. When vegetables are still crunchy and colorful they still have the nutrients and live enzymes needed for health and energy.    Enjoy!

                                  

                                                     Health & Happiness,

                                                                      Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

  

Acupuncture Points Everyone Should Know

Du 26

     Du 26, or Ren Zhong, which means Middle of Man is where the Du /Governing channel, and the Ren /Conception channel meet, in other words, the main Yang and Yin channels of energy in the body. It is one of those magical points on the body everyone should know about.

     Du 26 can stop dizziness, unconsciousness, seizures, shock and is also great for over the top back pain. It can help stabilize the situation until qualified medical care arrives. Firmly massaging this point, or pressing in with a fingernail can have fairly quick results. For back pain press point and move the back in ways that have been hurting and the pain should dissipate enough to get to qualified Holistic medical help. It is great for  times when sitting or standing up cause light headedness. Again, something that should be checked out, but good to have tools in the meantime. 

     Du 26 is located directly below the middle of the nose, 2/3 up from the lip to the bottom of the nose.

                                                          Health & Happiness,

                                                                  Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

  

Cast Iron Skillets

     After years of using other cookware I was introduced, by my husband, to caste iron. Now I am actually using some of my grandmother's skillets and loving it. 

    Caste Iron is the original non-stick cookware. Unlike Teflon and other non-stick surfaces, it doesn't scrape off with or during use, so ingesting pieces of it isn't a problem. Knives, metal spatulas, forks, or spoons can't scratch it. Wash,after use, heat on the stove to dry, lightly oil, and it is ready for the next meal. 

    If food does stick, wash it when the pan is still heated, using a potholder to carry. Scrape the surface with a spatula, to remove as much food as possible, then wash. Or let the pan cool first and briefly soak, then scrape and wash, heat to dry, oil and it is good to go.

    

                               

                                                                      Health & Happiness,

                                                                                Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

Corn and Wheat

      The corn and wheat we eat today is very different from the grain it was a century or two ago. What we have currently are hybrids, to make them more drought, and insect resistant, and to produce larger yields. Even before GMO (Genetically Modified Foods), what we have now is very different from what our grandparents or great-grandparents ate. 

      What has changed, along with making them better cash crops, is how digestible they are. Corn and wheat cause insulin insensitivity. Some people are able to digest them better than others, but for a large part of the population corn and wheat cause weight gain, and various health problems, including diabetes. 

       Eating a diet of protein, vegetables and minimizing grains, white potatoes, sugars, corn and wheat, along with Holistically addressing any digestive issues, can actually reverse adult onset diabetes. 

       Considering how much is spent nationally due to diabetes and the resulting health issues, this is one of the many ways a simple diet change could go a long way to heal our national health care. 

                                                           Health & Happiness,

                                                                    Nancy Burton, L.Ac. 

    

      

Grains I

       Historically, grains were the ultimate peasant food. It was cheap, what people  lived on when they couldn’t afford meats, poultry, fish, or eggs. Many times through out the year vegetables weren’t available. Grains filled the stomach and got hard working people through the day. If they didn’t have good protein and vegetables they didn’t live long, but grains provided what was needed for strenuous physical activity, at least short term.

      We are no longer a country of physically hard working people. We work in front of computers, driving instead of walking, or biking to commute. Eating too many grains, and then just sitting, we store them, when physical exertion or seasonal famine are not depleting our reserve.
      Grains are high on the glycemic index, that means, since everything we eat is converted to sugar (glucose), foods like grains are converted much faster than other things. What we don't immediately burn off is stored. 

      How do farmers make animals fat to bring them to market quickly? They put them in crowded feed lots, to keep them from moving around much, and feed them grains, instead of letting them walk around and eat grass (herbivore vegetables). Race horses and plow horses need lots of grains, as do athletes and people with very high metabolisms. The rest of us have a tendency to eat too many grain products considering our lifestyle.

      Other than wheat and corn, whole grains can be part of a healthy diet. How much we consume daily should depend on how physically active we are that day. Consuming them before physical activity provides energy. Activity adds digestion of the grains. Eating them when we are sedate robs our bodies of energy, and can cause fatigue, weight gain and health problems.

      Our lifestyle today is different than that of our grandparents or great-grandparents. It is time that the amount of grains in our diets changed as well.

                                                            Health & Happiness,

                                                                   Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

Lettus Wraps

Stories: The Grocery Store

      Rarely do I enter grocery stores, since I shop mostly at Health Food stores and local farmers markets, but once found myself waiting in line at one of the larger chains. The woman in front of me was unloading her cart, sugar covered cereal, chips, sodas, packaged pastries, processed frozen and boxed dinners. No vegetables, no fruits, no protein that didn't come from a box. "So," I commented, " bet you have kids."  "How could you tell? " she laughed. " Bet they're always sick." I continued. Her jaw dropped. " How did you know?" 

      We are what we eat, literally. If we eat crap we are going to feel like crap. Eating a diet of processed foods that contain chemical preservatives, pesticides, hydrogenated oils, corn syrup/sugar, antibiotics, hormones, GMO's, and synthetic vitamins, people are starving to death as they get fatter, depressed, fatigued, and sick.
      Our bodies and brains need real food to function, to heal, to stay healthy and feel great. Fast food, junk food and 'convenience' foods rob us of our energy and our health. The food we eat today determines how we feel tomorrow. The food we eat in the next few years helps determine how many years we have, and if we spend those years healthy or with chronic illness and disease. Heres to Healthy Choices!

                                                    Health & Happiness, 

                                                             Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

        

More on Colds and Flu

   Each year viruses mutate, so this year’s viruses may be different from last year’s strain. Colds and flu are the body’s way of spring cleaning. When too many toxins accumulate in the body and one more virus, pollen, dust particle, pollutant, etc. comes along the body says, “That’s it…EVERYONE OUT!” Nasal discharge, fever, diarrhea, rashes, vomiting, colds and flu and allergies, are ways the body has of pushing toxins out fast. By stopping these symptoms, without treating the root cause, with over the counter medications the body is forced to retain the toxins.
    After attempting to treat a flu bug with over the counter medications and/or antibiotics many people experience a re-occurrence of the “same flu” in a relatively short amount of time. They have not contracted another virus. The body is trying to push the old virus out, which the medications have forced it to retain. This often results in more medications that prevent the body from healing and leads to a build up of toxins in the body.

“I never get colds or flu!” is something heard quite often either from people with strong immune systems, or from people with chronic health problems, diseases and cancer. When toxins are pushed down in the body and not appropriately resolved, over time, they will manifest in other ways. The body no longer has the strength to do spring cleaning and serious illnesses can result.
    Pharmaceutical antibiotics cause the additional problem of killing off beneficial bacteria in the body. Some bacteria is there for a reason. It is necessary for the digestive and immune systems. It takes six months to re-establish the positive bacteria in the body and in that amount of time, due to a depleted immune system, people often contract colds and flu again, then use more antibiotics which starts the cycle all over. JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) and the New England Journal of Medicine, the top U.S. medical journals, have been warning doctors, well over ten years, not to give out antibiotics for viruses at the risk of depleting the immune system. At times antibiotics are necessary for bacterial infections, but over-use can seriously deplete their effectiveness when needed.
    People can ingest up to 52 different antibiotics a day if they are eating meat, eggs and dairy that is not free range or organic. This also builds up a tolerance for antibiotics, so if they are needed, they don’t work, which is one reason for rampant staph infections in U.S. hospitals, and the "Super Flu's “ we are seeing today.
    GMO (Genetically Modified ) foods are likely another culprit. How are cells penetrated to insert DNA of one species into another? Viruses and bacteria! There no long term data on the results of ingesting foods infused with viruses and bacteria, but common sense would suggest avoiding such foods.
    What can be done to prevent colds and flu?
    Unfortunately, a magic pill is not always the answer for a depleted immune system. Strengthening the immune system is the answer in preventing colds, flu, allergies, and chronic disease. A healthy diet, as opposed to the SAD (Standard American Diet), exercise, and stress reduction, builds and protects the immune system. As we are all biochemically individual, a healthy diet for one person might not be so for another. Immune challenged individuals, including those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue, or Fibromyalgia, would benefit from seeing a Licensed Acupuncturist. Aside from taking Jade Screen, diet plays an essential role in a healthy immune system. Eating animal products free of antibiotics and artificial estrogen, that's used to increase animal weight and the production of milk and eggs, organic fruits and vegetables, as opposed to GMO and nutrient depleted foods, a wide range of many colors and textures of vegetables, which facilitates detoxification, while avoiding sugar, processed foods, and an excess of dairy products, can all help prevent illness. Digestive problems are a sign that food is not being assimilated, leaving the body deprived of the nutrients necessary for good health. Digestive issues should be addressed by a Holistic practitioner.
    Managing stress also plays an important role in a healthy immune system. Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong help relieve stress, as does meditation, and Acupuncture, by enabling the body to go into an relaxed Alpha state, in which the body can heal at an accelerated rate. Other exercise, including walking, running, biking, swimming, and sports increase the flow of Qi, or energy, in the body including the energy that protects the body from colds, flu and other pathogens. 
    It is possible to stay healthy throughout cold and flu season, even when exposed to viruses. Becoming familiar with these tools is a step on the road to reclaiming our health.

   
 Health and Happiness,

Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

Medicinal Foods for Colds and Flu

Sea Salt water: Phlegm in nasal passages can be remedied by snorting warm sea salt water up first one nostril and then the other, until it is felt running down the throat, blowing the nose between each application. Salt water can help flush a bacterial infection out of the sinuses. (Sea Salt is available in most Health Food Stores.)

Ginger Tea can be effective for alleviating chills, and the body aches that accompany them. Ginger, is a herb used in Chinese formulas to warm the entire body, dispel clear or white phlegm, and sooth the stomach. Phlegm in the stomach is one cause of nausea. Ginger in food, raw or powdered has medicinal qualities but should be avoided in cases of heat, since it is a warming herb. Cases of heat include yellow mucous and sore throat.

Mint cools the body. Mint tea is soothing for sore throats and fevers. It should be avoided in cases of chills.

Garlic is antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal. (Prolonged cases of sinus or lung infections are sometimes fungal. Using garlic with herbal formulas helps with these cases.) Garlic was used by the Roman legions to keep soldiers healthy, hence their nick name, Garlic Eaters. It was said the Roman army could be smelled down wind from a mile away. Many a battle was lost due to widespread illness of soldiers. Garlic was one of the reasons Roman soldiers were considered invincible.

Dairy products produce mucous, and should therefore be avoided at times of flu and cold, except in cases of an unproductive cough, when additional mucous can coat the dried phlegm that is already in the lungs to help bring it up.   

                                                                                 Health & Happiness,

                                                                                          Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                        

                                                   COLDS & FLU Cheat Sheet

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Remedies in Pill Form
Plum Flower Brand (GMP Rated) available 
from Acupuncturists and many Health Food Stores
For adult dose follow directions on bottles.

For Colds or Flu take either:

Gan Mao Ling   >  Kills Viruses
for initial stage & through out illness, 
continue 1-2 days after symptoms subside
Quickly alleviates symptoms if taken soon enough.
Take every 3-4 hours, during illness and 
3 times per day for 1-2 days after symptoms are gone.

or

Yin Chiao > Kills Viruses
for colds or flu with heat signs 
such as more fever than chills, 
sore throat, Red face, cheeks, tongue, 
or lips, irritability, yellow 
or colored mucous 
Take every 3-4 hours, during illness.
 3 times per day for 1-2 days 
after symptoms are gone

Combine with one of the above 
Formulas if needed:

Bi Yan Pian >  Nasal Discharge or Post Nasal Drip
for colds, flu or allergies with
Take every 3-4 hours as needed.


Chuan Xin Lian >  Herbal Antibiotic
 for colored mucous or phlegm
Take with Gan Mao Ling or Yin Chiao 
every 3-4 hours as needed during illness 
and 3 times per day for 1 day after symptoms are gone.
Also effective for treating UTI's

Jade Screen > Prevents Colds, Flu, and Allergies
Builds immune system.
Take once per day before & during cold and flu season
if in contact with people with cold and flu, 
increase to 2 times per day
if in intimate of continual contact with someone 
with a cold or flu, take 3 times per day
can be taken all year round to boost immune system   


Liquid formulas available from 
Acupuncturists for children or adults

If phlegm invades sinuses, throat or lungs 
make appointment for treatment 
& herbal formulas to expel phlegm, 
to reduce recovery time and feel better faster. 


                    Health & Happiness,
                            Nancy Burton, L.Ac. 

The Time is Now to Prevent Colds and Flu

   This may seem like a strange time of year for articles on Colds and Flu, but for prevention the time is right. In the Huang Di Nei Jing, the oldest known medical text, written over 2,500 years ago, people were advised to go outside in the late, hottest part of summer and vigorously exercise to build their immune systems and  prevent illnesses in the fall. TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) does not just treat about every type of health issue, it focuses on prevention of illness, using exercise, diet, herbal formulas, Tui Na (Medicinal Massage), and Acupuncture. 

    For those prone to colds and flu, in the fall and winter, now is the time to start taking an immune building formula like Jade Screen. For those with chronic problems with colds, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, ear infections, allergies... now is the time to find a good Acupuncturist to treat the root cause of the problem, and get ready for an illness free fall and winter season. 

                                                          Health & Happiness,

                                                                 Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

  

Overcoming Colds &Flu 

    If the immune system is strong people don't get sick, which is why some people get ill and others do not. The following article is cold and flu explained from a Traditional Chinese Medical perspective. This information is meant to be used as a tool, both to learn to avoid getting colds or flu, and to quickly contain, or minimize the effects of viruses, if contracted.

    Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been effectively treating colds and flu for thousands of years.

.
    Viruses cause colds and flu, which result in the formation of mucous. When mucous accumulates in the sinuses, or the lungs, it can create an environment for bacterial growth. This bacteria is evident when mucous becoming colored: yellow, green or brown. So colds and flu are initially viral but can turn into a bacterial infection. Once they become bacterial, as well as viral, colds and flu take longer to resolve.
      There are Chinese herbal formulas that kill viruses. Antibiotics do not kill viruses, they kill bacteria. If phlegm accumulates in the sinuses or chest, as a result of a virus, there are specific formulas, and Acupuncture treatments, that dispel the phlegm. There are hundreds of Chinese herbal formulas, for treating specific types of phlegm, whether it is in the sinuses or the chest, thick or thin, profuse or scanty, causing a productive or unproductive cough. There is even a formula for the phlegm stuck in the throat at the end of a viral episode. ( Something every vocalist should know about.) There are other formulas for inflammation of the sinuses or lungs, headache, sore throat, earaches and infections. There are also herbal formulas, and Acupuncture protocols, for stomach flu, and resolving the fatigue caused by a long bout of flu. And of course there are wonderful formulas and Acupuncture treatments to build the immune system to prevent colds, flu, allergies, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and sinus infections. Most patients feel immediate relief after an Acupuncture treatment from these assorted respiratory problems. 
    The following are Chinese herbal formulas for the initial stages of viral and bacterial infection. These are very old formulas and are therefore available in many brands. One should look for the GMP rating, which is an international certification, insuring purity and the integrity of the product. Plum Flower is one brand with GMP rating, offered in tablet form. The following formulas are available in pills, or liquid (from a practitioner) that can be added to juice for children, or people with difficulty swallowing pills. The pill forms of these are available from Acupuncturists and many Health Food Stores.

   Jade Screen is a formula that can be taken all year long to build up the immune system of someone prone to viral infections, taken just during flu season, or when exposed to viruses.
    Gan Mao Ling is a formula to treat colds or flu. It kills viruses. If taken at the very first signs or symptoms of a virus, illness can often be avoided.

    Yin Chiao is another formula for colds and flu. Pills can be swallowed, but if chewed, can sooth a sore throat on contact, and enter the blood stream quicker for faster results. Sore throat, fever, or colored mucous would be indications for this formula.

Chuan Xin Lian acts as a herbal antibiotic. Again, antibiotics do not kill viruses but if mucous becomes colored, indicating bacterial growth, this formula should be added to the viral formulas. If a bacterial infection starts, flu becomes more serious and prolonged.

Bi Yan Pian quicklyresolves nasal discharge and swollen inflamed mucous membranes. 

   

If taken soon and every 3-4 hours during the day, these formulas can usually prevent serious illness. If  phlegm develops in the sinuses, ears or chest, go to an Acupuncturist for treatment, for specific formulas, and relief of symptoms. This can shorten the duration of discomfort and down time.
     Creating labels, and marking each formula, assists in learning formulas, and quickly assessing which are appropriate when needed. 
     Starting Jade Screen in August, and continuing the formula though out cold and flu season, is a good way to build the immune system to prevent illness. 
    Keeping these formulas on hand, and learning to use them, can help keep people healthy throughout cold and flu season. 
                                            
                                                                     Health & Happiness,
                                                                               Nancy Burton, L.Ac.  

Acupuncture Points Everyone Should Know

     "Would you like some help?"  I ask the woman who came wheezing up the stairs from the beach croaking "I can't breath, I can't breath". She and her adult son nodded, terrified, as she desperately gasp for breath. 

     I explained I was a Licensed Acupuncturist and that I could use Tui Na, the Chinese medicinal massage, to help her breathing. Despite the situation, they didn't want to call 911. "Why don't you go and get your car, so you can take your mother to the hospital?" I suggested to her son, "I'll see what I can do." 

     As she stood on the sidewalk, I started massaging Lung 1, the first point on the lung channel, which can resolve respiratory distress, faster than an inhaler, even faster than most people can find their inhaler. By this time the poor woman was hyper ventilating, so I added some calming ear points. 

     As her breathing improved she told me that she had smoked for years and had finally quit.  Unless they are organic, there are chemicals in cigarettes that ventilate the lungs. The purpose is to make the tobacco and additional chemicals even more addictive. As a result, many people develop emphysema after they quit smoking, and are no longer ingesting the drugs on a regular basis. 

     Wind had blown smoke in her face, from a bonfire they passed on the beach, near the foot of the stairs. It had triggered her reaction. By the time her son arrived with the car, she was fine.       

     The Lung Channel starts on the chest and runs down the inside of both arms, to the thumb. Lung 1, the point that assists breathing so quickly, is below the clavicle (collar bone), beside the space that is between the 1st and 2nd rib, towards the arm. Points are bilateral (on both sides of the body). Usually, Lung 1 is the most tender point in that area, so not too difficult to find.  

     Teaching patients with asthma, or other respiratory problems this point, while working on resolving the issues that cause the problem, has prevented many emergency room visits. 

                                                                              Health & Happiness,

                                                                                          Nancy Burton, L.Ac.        

Rice Pudding

1 cup Rice   ( white rice is good to use in cases of diarrhea or loose stools, otherwise brown is better)     

1/2 cup Hazelnut Milk

2 Eggs

1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg

Cardamon (just a dash, as it is very strong)

            Organic Grade B Maple Syrup if desired, sweeten to taste 

            Can also add dried fruit & or nuts, or serve with fresh fruit topping 

  

 Cook Rice. Turn off heat under rice. Beat eggs and hazelnut milk together, add spices and maple syrup, mix. When rice is cooked add hot add milk and egg mixture. Put lid back on sauce pan and  let sit 3-5 minutes, to let eggs cook. Serve hot or cool. Can top with fresh fruit.

To cook Rice Pudding with left over rice pour 1/4" hazelnut milk in sauce pan, add rice and cook on low. Beat up eggs, hazelnut milk, spices and maple syrup, add to rice mixture, stir constantly until liquid thickens to pudding consistency.   Enjoy!

                                                                 Health and Happiness,
                                                                             Nancy Burton, L.Ac. 

Inflammation verses Edema

Inflammation is a histamine response in the body, a defense mechanism. The swelling causes the circulation of blood to slow, in case of injury, to prevent excessive internal bleeding, which is evident as bruising when close to the surface of the skin. Inflammation also to slows down the distribution of toxins, by the blood stream, through out the body. An example of this is swelling caused by a bee sting, bug bite, or abdominal bloating in the case of food allergies. 

Edema is swelling caused by the accumulation of fluid under the skin. 

For swelling on the surface of the body, pressing the skin can determine whether it is inflammation or edema. Edema has a tendency to leave a depression with pressure, as opposed to inflammation which leaves no depression. Edema is often evident by marks left by the top of socks on the legs. 

While chronic swelling should be medically checked, occasional swelling can be dealt with at home. Bromelain is a digestive enzyme, available in Health Food Stores. Enzymatic Therapies is a good brand. Used with meals, it just digests food. One to two pills, 500 - 1,000 mg, between meals (an hour before or after) is incredible for inflammation and swelling. If stools become loose reduce or discontinue dosage, as it is an indication that the inflammation is resolved and so the food is being overly digested.

 Bromelain should not be used for head trauma, until concussion, or internal bleeding is ruled out. For other types of inflammation it is often more effective than other anti-inflammatory medication, and is now being used by plastic surgeons to quickly reduce swelling and speed recovery in their patients. 

Cucumber is good for edema, if eaten without salad dressing or other condiments. One whole cumber, sliced up and eaten through out the day is a good remedy for mild edema.  

                                                                                       Health and Happiness'

                                                                                                    Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

Quick and Easy Breakfasts

A soft boiled, organic egg, or a poached, or over easy egg with spelt or Ezekiel toast with a vegetable smoothie, is a great quick and easy breakfast. Though how many grains or grain products consumed depends on how physically active a person is, and eggs shouldn't be consumed daily, since they are a damp food (causing fat and phlegm in the body) , this is a more traditional, healthy breakfast, when eaten with vegetables.

A vegetable smoothie, with an egg, or an egg over easy or lightly poached, over stir fried vegetables is a lovely breakfast. After placing the cooked egg on the vegetables, when the yolk is cracked it is like a Hollandaise sauce.   

The reason for the lightly cooked egg, as opposed to hard boiled or well cooked, is to preserve the live enzymes in the protein. These enzymes help tone the muscles, helping people to stay firm, avoid the bags under the arms, and retain their structural alignment, since it is the strength of the muscles, ligaments and tendons that keep the bones in place. Rare red meat, sushi, seared tuna, lightly cooked eggs are good ways to ingest the type of protein needed. All good options for breakfast, as well as any other meal.

                                                                             Health and Happiness,
                                                                                       Nancy Burton, L.Ac. 

Vegetable Smoothie

This is a quick and easy way to consume a wide variety of organic vegetables, and one that even people who don't normally like vegetables usually enjoy. It is best to drink at room temperature, and good to drink with warm food or hot tea, since raw food is considered cold and damp in Traditional Chinese Medicine. How much raw food can be eaten depends upon a person's digestive system and the time of year. People naturally want more warming foods when it is cold outside, and more cooling and raw foods when it is hot. 

This is a nice combination of vegetables, though many combinations can be used.

1 Carrot                          a great source of vitamin A 

1 Celery stalk                 good for blood pressure

Beet                                a very small  beet or a piece of a larger beet.     

                                             beets thin the bile, which supports the gallbladder to break 

                                                    down fats and phlegm.

1/3 large Cucumber         good for edema 

Parsley a handful             good for detoxification

1/4  Lemon                       breaks down fats 

1/2 Apple

Place in a strong blender. Cover with warm water. Blend until smooth. If too thick add more water.

This is great for breakfast, with a good protein food, (as opposed to a protein powder or supplement), or as a high energy snack. This makes enough for breakfast, for my husband and I, and enough for us to take, in a glass jar, to work. I use an insulated, soft, lunch box, so I am not dependent on a refrigerator.  Enjoy!

                                                                                   Health and Happiness,

                                                                                          Nancy Burton, L.Ac. 

Breakfast: The Most Important Meal of the Day

It is called breakfast because it is literally a time of breaking a fast of  8-14 hours. Fasting at night is essential to let the digestive system work, and catch up, without giving it additional food to process.What the body wants, after not eating for this extended period, is nutrients, good fuel. Just like a car that runs well on the right gas, but poorly when given gas of inferior quality, or gas with sand or dirt in it, the body needs the proper fuel to run efficiently.The right breakfast can increase energy through out the day. 

What the body needs for breakfast is organic or free range protein, and organic vegetables. Protein provides energy, mental acuity, repairs tissues, and can cut down on cravings for sweets. A wide range of many different colors and textures of vegetables means a wider range of vitamins and minerals. It is easy to get stuck on the same old thing, but more variety provides more nutrients.Vitamins and minerals are needed for every bodily function, and for every organ and tissue.  

"Vegetables for Breakfast?" is the typical reaction from patients. "You don't care for omelets?" my usual response. An omelet or egg scramble, is a traditional American breakfast. Increasing the number of vegetables, without cheese, makes it a healthier, and tastier version. Most countries don't have the concept of breakfast foods that we do. I recommend people get over the idea of the conventional breakfast. While some people, occasional have breakfast for dinner, a healthier choice is to have dinner for breakfast. How many people would have their typical breakfast for dinner and consider it an acceptable meal? Dinner leftovers are a quick and easy solution, or leftovers added to organic broth for a quick and easy soup. Put through a blender, with a few added seasonings, this can be turned into a delicious cream soup. 

The typical American breakfast of starches and sugar, whether cereal, muffins, toast with jam, pastries,or just too much sugar in the form of fruit smoothies, are all high on the glycemic index and low on nutrients.This often causes an initial peak of energy followed by a crash in the afternoon, or sooner, depending on how much starch and sugar was consumed. This is asking the body and brain to run without fuel. Eating the right foods, good protein, and a variety of vegetables, preferably 6-10 different types through out the day, can make people feel, and look, younger, which also makes them feel more like exercising. Diet and exercise truly are the key to the Fountain of Youth and health.

                                              Health and Happiness,

                                                      Nancy Burton, L.Ac.