What's bugging your gut, part 2: Dientamoeba fragilis

Dientamoeba fragilis is a single-cell parasite that infects our lower gastrointestinal tract. It is usually the cause of "Travellers' diarrhoea", chronic abdominal pain, chronic fatigue and failure to thrive in children.

It is known to spread via contaminated water and is connected with poor sanitation, however it is becoming more prevalent in industrialised countries in children. D.fragilis is also closely associated with pinworm, where it is thought that the trophozoite is found in the eggs of the pinworm.


The main symptoms one would experience if infected with this parasite are abdominal pain and diarrhoea (which can can come and go for about two weeks). In children, symptoms can be more severe. Other known symptoms include:

• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Urticaria (skin rash)
• Pruritis (itchiness)
• Biliary infection

Diagnosis involves three fixed stool samples, as it is not uncommon for a single test to show no infection, yet subsequent stool samples show increasing amounts of the parasite.

Because the symptoms of infection resemble those of IBS, many medical doctors will dismiss the notion of infection and some have been known to refuse to perform stool testing. In a 2002 Australian study, a large number of patients who were thought to have IBS actually were infected with D. fragilis.

Inflammation, hives, arthritis, low iron, leaky gut have all been associated in the scientific literature with D.fragilis or B.hominis.

It is known that restricting high carbohydrate foods (ie, grains) from our diet helps, as it this parasite - alongside B. hominis - thrive from the carbohydrate chains found in these foods.

Like B.hominis, the answer is to clear the gut of the parasite, using a similar herbal mix which pierces through the mucosal capsule surrounding the capsule and then flushing it out of the intestines. The gut then needs to be repaired using good quality pre- and pro-biotics. Even the herbal remedies for clearing this can cause problems if not prescribed in correct dosages, so it is best to consult a qualified, registered herbalist with experieince treating these and other types of intestinal parasites.

Eating our way out of our mood swings

There is a link between our mood and blood-sugar which is well known. With diabetes on the rise, the dangers of drops in blood-sugar and how to deal with them are now being taught in First Aid courses, describing the tell-tale signs of mood swings and irritability linked with long periods of not eating. The more serious symptoms include seizures, and unconsciousness (and in extreme cases, death!).

One does not need to be diabetic to suffer from lowered-blood sugar, nor from the shakiness and irritability associated with lowered blood-sugar - when there is no detectable reduction in blood-sugar, it is usually associated with the drop in energy a few hours after a meal. The usual symptoms are shakiness, a general sense of weakness, altered mood, confusion, fatigue, anxiety, a pale complexion, abnormal sweating, an increased pulse rate, and hunger.
It's not just the food we eat, but also the type of bugs (good and bad) that live in the digestive tract, that can affect mood. The evidence for the wider implications for gut bacteria affecting the nervous system is slowly growing, with disorders of these microbes being linked with medical conditions such as obesity and inflammatory bowel disease. There is also growing speculation and research into the link with the state of the gut flora and its effect on mood.

In Chinese Medicine, the health of the digestive system is associated with the organ-systems of the Spleen and the Liver. The digestive system is one of the main parts of the body where vital energy (Qi) is produced, however if a person is tired, run down or has weakened digestive function, their Qi will become depleted because of an impaired ability to absorb nutrients and energy from food. A lack of Qi puts strain onto the liver and creates symptoms of anger and frustration. When the qi is lacking, soon to follow is a deficiency of a nutritive substance called Xue (roughly translates to blood),  because the poorly functioning digestive system (Spleen) is not absorbing and distributing the basic building blocks of Blood from the diet. Blood in Chinese Medicine has a large role in housing the Shen (spirit, or Mind), so if the Blood becomes depleted, the mind lacks the support and grounding it needs. This can leave people feeling easily overwhelmed, easily brought to tears, or feeling generally unsettled and out of sorts. People who suffer from mood swings can fluctuate between the symptoms of depleted blood and constrained qi - feeling tired and cranky when you're hungry, or being driven to emotional eating when upset. Common symptoms of a weak digestion - not necessarily a problem that is fixed by antidepressants or a nice relaxing holiday.
The key in fixing these very common types of mood fluctuations is in looking after the health of the digestive system. Ensuring that the diet provides the foundational building blocks required to function on a daily basis is a good start. What we eat is going to make a difference not just to the energy to move our physical bodies, but also to maintain psychological and emotional wellbeing. A substantial quantity of good quality green vegetables is vital (3-6 cups per day). A good healthy dose of ‘good fats’, so that we can produce cholesterol and maintain a healthy endocrine system. Because hormones like estrogen and testosterone have a role to play in disorders such as depression, eating dietary fat that converts to hormones is important.

The quality of the Blood/Xue depends on vital minerals and vitamins, such as Vitamin B, D, C, and zinc, calcium, and magnesium. The state of the gut flora needs to be protected, and clearing nasty bacteria, parasites and yeasts such as candida and others, while re-building good flora with the use of probiotics can greatly improve the health of our digestion.

Get serious and cut down on the amount of sugar you consume, as this is what will ‘damage the Spleen’ and therefore damage digestion and the production of Qi. A routine of regular, gentle exercise that moves Qi and Blood, such as walking, Yoga, or Tai-chi is also useful. At the same time, looking after the nervous system by eliminating or minimising exposure to serious stressors such as "general life stress", chemical toxicity, emotionally toxic people, and changing your inner emotional landscape to look more like the hills from the sound of music, rather than a wartorn battlefield. Strategies to help reduce stress can be enhanced by learning to meditating, learning how to relax, and maintaining regular sleeping patterns.


Of course, your Chinese Medicine practitioner can prescribe herbal medicines, acupuncture and tailored advice to you so that you can really quickly regain balance in your mood and in your mind. Once you achieve harmony, it's much easier to maintain it using these strategies listed above.
In these ways, it is possible to maintain the health of the physical, emotional and mental aspects of ourselves.

Kids & Coughs

Coughing is something that all children experience when they ‘catch a cold’, and sometimes it can be most distressing for parents. Usually, a child will experience severe coughing fits at night whilst they - and everyone else - are trying to sleep.

Whilst it can be an inconvenience for the busy, modern parents, the best thing for children is to be kept home from school and allow the body’s own natural healing process to take place, but more importantly it also means that a child won’t ‘share’ their illness with all their classmates; the common cold - or upper respiratory tract infection - is probably the most common cause for school absence.

Paediatrics as a specialist medicine was really developed during the Song dynasty period in China, around the 11th Century. The understanding that children required something slightly different to adults led to the development of specific massage (tui-na) and acupuncture techniques, as well as paediatric herbal formulas. Children are understood to be inherently more yang - as this is the period of phenomenal growth and development, which requires an abundance of Qi and yang-energies. This also means that there is a relative deficiency of yin, and so this constitutional factor needs to be taken into account when developing treatments for children. Their immune systems are also considered inherently weaker, as they are still in the process of developing fully, and so tend to get sicker easier and quicker; the upshot to that is that they also get better quicker than adults too! As with adults, and congenital factors also need to be taken into account.

There are some key things to look out for, and let your practitioner know about which assist in determining the correct treatment. What does the cough sound like - is it a strong, loud barking cough; or a weak, quiet one? Is it dry? If there is phlegm, is it coming up easily? What colour is the phlegm? Is the throat sore? Is there a headache? Is there a fever? Is the child sore? Is there any nasal mucus, and if so what colour is it? How long has the cough been going for?

Chinese herbal medicine is particular good for this kind of ailment, but it is also useful to be combined with a session of acupuncture and/or massage. Most children may not be keen on having acupuncture needles stuck in them, which is why massage that stimulates the same points and channels can be better in these situations. The other benefit of taking your child into seeing a Chinese Medicine practitioner is so they can assess the nature of the condition and guide you to what needs to be done.

With getting your child to take medicine, I find that using a syringe (around 10ml) is useful, as it also turns the taking of the medicine into a kind of game - they get to squeeze the syringe themselves, thus also teaching them (in a subtle manner) about taking responsibility for their own health. It also means the medicine will get through and bypassing most of the taste buds! When coughing is the main complaint, I will often combine the medicine with a herbal cough syrup - usually containing honey - which will sweeten the flavour somewhat. There are quite a few good herbal cough syrups that are available from most Asian grocery stores as well as Chinese Medicine dispensaries.
 
And there is plenty that a parent can do at home to speed up recovery. Dietary therapy is of particular importance for all kinds of paediatric illnesses, due to the undeveloped nature of the child’s digestive system. Teas are very useful for treating the common cold, and particularly so for a cough and a sore throat. The types of teas are again dependant on which pattern of illness your child presents with. ‘Heat’ patterns need to be treated with ‘cool’ teas, foods, and herbs, while ‘cold’ patterns need the opposite. If the Lungs are dry (distinguished by a dry cough), they need moistening; whilst the presence of phlegm suggests the use of substances that will ‘dry up’ the mucus.

Another useful method is massaging the child’s chest with some Tiger Balm when they go to bed. Tiger Balm is said to help promote the movement of Qi and disperse the Qi-stagnation in the Lungs. The smell of the camphor can also help clear the nasal passages, allowing the child to breathe easier through their nose, thus reducing the need to breathe through their mouth, where pathogens lodge in the throat (the first signs of a cold are usually the distinctive sore throat and blocked nose). Baby-boomers may remember having camphor pinned to their undergarments to prevent getting sick; dabbing a spot of Tiger Balm behind the ears and on the throat is used for the same reason.

Here is our family recipe for Chicken Soup - it’s what we were always given when we were sick growing up. It provides nourishment (Qi) to help keep the body strong and fight infection. And it tastes wonderful, and kids love it! Enjoy....

“Avgolemono” - Chicken soup with egg & lemon

Ingredients
1x whole chicken - free-range or organic
1x carrot
1x stick celery
1x onion
pepper & salt

1x cup rice
2-3x free-range/organic eggs
3-4x lemons

20-30g sliced Huang Qi (Astragalus radix) - available from all good Asian grocers. This is optional.

Method
In a large pot of water, bring to the boil the chicken, carrot, celery, onion, and salt/pepper. Boil for 1 hour. If using the Astragalus root, stuff it into the cavity of the chicken.
After this time, remove the vegies & the chicken (carefully) and place in an oven tray. The chicken can be roasted, to provide a second meal, thus getting value for money!

Add the rice to the broth, and boil until rice is ready.
Whilst the rice is cooking, beat the eggs and the juice of the lemon together in a large bowl. When the rice is cooked, turn off heat, and begin to slowly ladle the liquid (not the rice) into your egg/lemon mixture, and continue to beat to create a fluffy mixture. The purpose of this is to slowly bring the egg/lemon mixture to the same temperature as the soup, so the egg will not curdle. Keep ladling soup into the bowl until it feels the same temperature as the soup pot. Then transfer this back into the soup pot. Add salt/lemon juice to taste (if necessary). Serve with some ground pepper.

Constipation in Babies and Children

Aetiology
There are many causes of constipation:
-    overeating
-    irregular eating times
-    weaning the child too early
-    stress
-    not drinking enough water
-    eating ice-cold foods
-    drinking ice-cold drinks

Treatment of Constipation
-    regular meal times without snacks
-    avoiding frozen foods like ice-cream
-    drinking room temperature water instead of chilled water
-    reduce cold-energy foods
-    eat more foods that are easy to digest and lubricate the intestines

Foods to Lubricate the Intestines (avoid if bowels are loose or poorly formed)
-    bananas
-    nuts and seeds
-    prune juice
-    fig syrup
-    apples, pears, oranges, plums, cucumber, mung beans, tomatoes,

Foods to Avoid
-    ice-cream, frozen yoghurt, icy poles (except very hot days 35 degrees +)
-    reduce the amount of high protein foods (eggs, meat) that exacerbate constipation
-    spices, fried or grilled foods, fatty and rich foods

DAMP. What is it. How did I get it. How do I clear it.

You may have heard the Chinese Medical term 'Dampness'.  What exactly is damp? How did it get there, and how do you get rid of it?

Internal dampness is directly due to the impaired transformative and transportive function of the digestive organs which results in some form of pathogenesis within the body, organs and meridians. Dampness can be thought of as the condition of "high humidity" inside the body.

A Damp condition creates symptoms of sluggish energy, a tendency to gain weight, a feeling of heaviness in the body, joints and or head, swelling or water retention, distended abdomen, sticky stools, loose bowels, phlegm discharge from lungs or nose, nodular masses, a sound of water sloshing in the stomach and or stomach rumblings, sores, weeping eczema, profuse purulent leukorrhea, turbid urine and stools containing mucus, no thirst, fatigue, and the tongue is often puffy with teeth marks and a greasy tongue coating at the back of the tongue. In Chinese Medicine, dampness is considered to be the cause of many illnesses such as high cholesterol, cancer, metabolic disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, Candida, Herpes outbreaks, fibromyalgia, allergies and environmental illness.

A collection of dampness over long periods of time generate heat to build in the body due to the nature of damp blocking Qi and blood flow. The damp and heat mixed together may lead to such problems as inflammation, allergies (especially food allergies), high blood sugar, weight gain, and urinary tract infections. Symptoms can include heaviness, a sensation of fullness in the chest, a smelly and sluggish bowel, abdominal pain, leukorrhea, eczema, and deep yellow colored urine. The tongue is commonly has a greasy coating.

Raw food is a controversy to Chinese medical practitioners. Traditional Chinese doctors work on the principle that raw food may be full of vitamins nutrients, however raw food can be very hard to digest and absorb these nutrients. This is the reason why we do not feed young babies raw food. Everything we feed a baby is cooked, warmed and soft. Baby food is easy to digest and thus nutrients are easily extracted.When the digestive system is not firing properly it is better to stay away from raw food until the digestive system has gained strength, this is especially true for anyone suffering from a damp condition. It is better to eat food that is is easy to digest and warming in nature.

What should I eat? Food Therapy for Dampness & Phlegm -

General Principles:

•    Ideal cooking methods are steaming, boiling, grilling, soup. Ideally always eat cooked meals that are warm when you eat them.

•    Avoid sugar, concentrated sweeteners, high glycemic index foods, yeast (check labels especially if you have Candida signs), alcohol and fruits except citrus and berries.

•    Avoid raw foods including salads and raw fruit (whole or juiced) until damp has cleared and digestion is stronger.

•    Eat a whole food diet and remove foods that are difficult to digest such as milk products, (small amounts of yoghurt are ok) soy milk, animal fat, greasy foods, and food and liquids that are cold in temperature ie. Icy or cold drinks, especially beer. (this also means we say good bye to ice cream)

•    Eat regularly, avoiding heavy meals especially in the evening

•    Eat rich, nutritious meals in small quantities that are well distributed throughout the day.

•    Eating on the run or when you’re stressed creates dampness as digestive enzymes are low or not available at these times. Food banks up when we eat at these times.

•  Limit the intake of nuts. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and almonds are less congesting however.

•    Worry, pensiveness and mental overwork often negatively affect the transporting and transforming function of the Spleen and contribute to deranged water metabolism as internal dampness. Take a deep breath, and spend a little quite time alone or start a meditation practice.

•    Overeating creates dampness due to food backing up. Eat until your 80% full.

•    Regular stretching and exercise (eg yoga) is an essential part of treatment

•    Increase the amount of mild spices in the diet (not chilli)

•    Avoid deep fried and ‘junk’ food

•    Avoid wheat and gluten products (wheat, rye, oats, barley)

•    Vinegar, mushrooms, fermented foods can also create damp – avoid if you experience Candida

•    Watch your Vitamin C intake, over 1-2g per day can contribute to dampness.

•    Avocado, banana and tropical fruits are absolutely forbidden in the morning.

Beneficial foods:

Vegetables: Pumpkin, sweet potato, celeriac, squash, zucchini, carrot, parsley, Include all green leafy vegetables: broccoli, bok choy, cauliflower, brussel sprouts

Protein: chickpeas, black beans, yam, peas, walnuts, chicken, beef, lamb, liver, kidney, tuna, mackerel, anchovy

Beneificial spices:  Onion, leek, garlic, turnip, fresh ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel, cumin, coriander, cardamom, star anise, turmeric. 

Drinks: green tea, lemongrass and ginger

Unfortunately a Western diet is damp in nature. You may feel like you have to completely revolutionise your diet and lifestyle to get rid of Damp. All Western students of Traditional Chinese medicine thought the same thing when they found out about damp too. But once you make the change to a non damp diet you will feel younger,  look younger, loose weight, your skin will thankyou and you will feel energised, refreshed and liberated.

If this information is too much or confusing don’t opt out, just simply stick to a Japanese diet (except the tempura) and you’ll be fine.

How to fix your digestion with Chinese medicine.

When a patient arrives to a Chinese Medicine clinic with signs of bloating, loose stool, gas, gurgling in their belly, foggy thinking, cold hands and feet, poor circulation, easy bruising, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, heavy menstrual periods in women, and fatigue they call it ‘Spleen Qi deficiency’.  All of these symptoms, according to Traditional Chinese medicine, relate to poor digestion.  Poor digestion can be caused by: poor eating habits, eating late at night, not eating regularly, over eating, eating too much cold or raw food, drinking with meals, worry, overwork, illness, eating inappropriate foods for your constitution, stress, food allergies and certain medications.

With a weakened digestion, you are not able to effectively absorb all the nutrients in your diet - leading to malnutrition and fatigue. Struggling to digest and process the foods you eat leads to further digestive upset such as abdominal bloating. Without the proper nutrients, your circulatory system and blood vessel integrity can also become weakened – leading to easy bruising, varicose veins and poor circulation. The key to recovery is to strengthen the digestion so that your body can be nourished once again.

Dietary advice for Spleen Qi deficiency is focused on good quality nutrition that is easily digested. Raw food in particular is difficult to digest, as the cell wall of plant material is incredibly tough to penetrate – therefore minimal nutrition is available to us and it passes through as fibre. Cooking vegetables and stewing fruit (in water only - no sugar required!) breaks the cell wall of the plant, making it easier for us to access the nutrients within. As your digestion improves, you can gradually reintroduce small amounts of raw food at the end of a meal – however it can be several months before you reach this stage.

It is also important to avoid any foods that you have an allergy or intolerance to. This reaction does not necessarily have to be an anaphylactic type reaction with throat swelling or eyes puffing up, but can also be a reaction that happens at more of a micro level. Food intolerances are immune responses that occur typically as a result of increased intestinal permeability (sometimes called “leaky gut”).  Chronic inflammation in the gut wall leads to increased permeability, essentially the gaps that would normally let through digested proteins (called amino acids) are enlarged due to the inflammation and this allows some proteins to make it through your intestine wall and into the blood stream before they have had a chance to be broken down into an acceptable format. Your body then identifies the food protein as a foreign protein substance that shouldn’t be there and launches and immune response. With repeat exposure to the same food this immune response solidifies so that your body reacts on each exposure to that food.

 It can be especially worthwhile to test for reactions to common allergens such as wheat, gluten and dairy products, this can be done by avoiding all possible sources for at least 2 weeks, and then reintroducing and checking for re-emergence of symptoms.

However the fastest and most accurate way to find out which foods your body is sensitive or intolerant to is to do an IgG Food Sensitivity Test. The IgG food sensitivity test is a blood test that detects antibodies that your body has developed against certain foods. You may have an allergen to foods like, corn, eggs, certain nuts, or yeast. It is very difficult to ascertain our allergens to these types of foods, as they are hidden in so many processed foods that we eat, and we may not know when we are eating them.

Removing foods that you have an IgG reaction to can help to alleviate symptoms associated with exposure. Common symptoms include:
-    constipation
-    loose bowels/diarrhea
-    abdominal pain/cramping
-    bloating
-    fatigue
-    low mood/fluctuating mood
-    skin conditions

This IgG food intolerance test can be ordered through practitioners at our clinic, Discover Chinese Medicine.

Anti-Candida Protocol

Going on the Anti-Candia protocol is a great way to boost digestion, even if you do not have Candida. For those with tiredness or other Candida type symptoms you should follow this diet for the next 20 days. Avoid the following foods and ingredients as strictly as possible:

•    Alcohol
•    Sugar (check labels!!)
•    Yeast
•    Cheese
•    Fermented products including miso, tofu and other soy products, vinegar etc
•    Mushrooms
•    Gluten grains (wheat, rye, oats, barley)
•    Processed foods, non-organic produce
•    Fruit


Avoiding these foods will limit the energy source for fungal overgrowths and allow the body a chance to restore balance.  At the end of the 20 day period, you can resume your normal diet. Reintroduce foods slowly, one group per day, and keep an eye out for negative reactions. It may be the case that you need to avoid these foods for longer.

Candex is a herbal formula that DiscoverTCM prescribes that combines ingredients to fight fungal infection and restore a natural balance of flora to the digestion and vaginal areas. This will help stubborn cases.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the clinic. Good luck!

General Principles for Eating to boost digestion:

    Absolutely avoid all raw food including salads. Salads using steamed vegetables are ok in warm weather.
    All foods to be cooked and eaten warmed, long slow cooking, soups, broth & stews are idea.
    Chew all food thoroughly to help reduce the strain on your digestion
    Simple combinations of a few ingredients,
    Smaller meals more often,
    Regular meal times
    No excess fluid with meals, overeating, missing meals or eating while working.
    Avoid food that is more than one day old. 

Increase protein intake, the best source of protein is animal protein, especially organic chicken (soups and stock), and green leafy vegetables are high in Iron content.  In vegetarian diets folic acid and Vit B12 can be taken as supplements.

Beneficial foods:

Light grains especially white rice and rice porridge (congee), oats, roasted barley, sweet rice, pumpkin, sweet potato, celeriac, squash, carrot, corn, parsley, chickpeas, black beans, yam, peas, walnuts, stewed fruit, chicken, beef, lamb, liver, kidney, tuna, mackerel, anchovy.

Moderate amounts of spices:  Onion, leek, garlic, turnip, pepper, fresh ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel and other kitchen spices.

Small amounts of natural sweeteners:  Molasses, dates, rice syrup, barley malt & palm sugar.

Restrict or avoid:
Uncooked, raw foods, salads, raw fruit (whole and juiced), wheat, sprouts, and cereal grasses, raw vegetables, tomato, spinach, tofu, millet, seaweeds, salt, too many sweet foods and concentrated sweeteners, brown rice, Vitamin C (over 1-2g per day). No yeast.

Especially avoid ice cream and dairy (except a little butter and yogurt), sugar, chocolate, nuts and seeds (except walnuts) and nut butters, spicy food, large amounts of black pepper.

How to naturally treat Painful Periods

According to Chinese Medicine, one of the main reasons why a woman would experience period pain is due to ‘Stagnant’ Liver energy or ‘Qi”.

According to the philosophy of Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi (energy) throughout the body, freeing up pain and smoothing out our reactions and emotions under stressful conditions. Painful periods, irregular periods, PMS, anger, irritability, and frustration are all signs that our Qi is not flowing smoothly.

Liver Qi stagnation is one of the most common conditions treated by Traditional Chinese Medicine in developed countries, like Australia.

Some of the symptoms commonly associated with Liver Qi stagnation are:
•    Pain or discomfort anywhere along the sides of the body, or during menstruation
•    Irregular periods
•    Depression
•    Mood swings
•    PMS with irritability and swollen breasts
•    Sighing
•    Hiccups
•    Frustration
•    Inappropriate anger
•    Sensation of a lump in throat
•    Difficulty swallowing
•    Bitter taste in mouth
•    Constipation
•    Abdominal pain and discomfort
•    Stomachache that improves after massage
•    Stomachache that worsens with anger
•    Poor appetite
•    Churning sensation in stomach

The health of your liver reflects your overall health and well-being.  The Liver is responsible for:
Converting carbohydrates into glucose, thus an important organ for energy production.

Filtering and neutralising drugs, including alcohol, and hormones such as estrogen.

The liver also filters over a liter of blood every minute. It is responsible for detoxifying, nourishing, replenishing, and storing blood.

It also recombines amino acids to create the protein our bodies need to grow and repair tissue, and aiding in the production of body proteins such as hormones.

Changing ammonia (a toxic by-product of protein metabolism) into urea, which is then excreted in urine.

Bile production, which is then stored in the gall bladder and used to help break down dietary fats. This is crucial also for weight loss. Fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E and K need bile in order to be absorbed by the body.

If the Liver becomes over loaded it becomes toxic, or what is known as ‘Stagnant’.  The liver can become overloaded with dietary and environmental toxins, or hormone may build up like estrogen. When this happens the condition is known as Estrogen dominance.

Recommendations to Improve Liver Qi Stagnation:

General Principles

Eat less processed foods, and more freshly cooked meals. When eating out, choose meals that are prepared with less oil, sugar and salt. The best cooking methods are stir frying, poaching and steaming. Schedule main, heavier meals for the earlier part of the day where possible. Simplify your meals, don’t have too many food groups in one meal.

Up your intake of vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables and red vegetables. Aim for 3 cups of vegetables each day, and minimum of 2 pieces of fruit each day. 6-8 glasses of water each day as a target, more in summer. A high protein diet will contribute to “qi stagnation”; it is best to focus on the quality of protein consumed rather than the quantity.

Check packaging for additives, sugar and salt. Try to choose brands without preservatives, and with sugar and salt lower on the list. Remember that ingredients are listed from highest to lowest content. Avoid MSG (and related additives) wherever possible. Look for numbers 620-640 (flavour enhancers). Number 621 is MSG. Artificial sweeteners should also be avoided where possible.

Reduce caffeine, carbonated drinks, alcohol, cigarettes, recreational drugs, fatty foods, sugar and salt. Replace with herbal tea or coffee substitute, water or diluted fresh juice, freshly cooked meals.

Turbulent or volatile emotions at meal times are especially detrimental; meals should be eaten in a calm and relaxed environment. Relax whilst you’re eating and enjoy your food, and avoid eating whilst working, reading or watching TV. Ensure to leave adequate time each day to relax, whether meditating, listening to music, gardening etc. or some other form of activity that doesn’t involve reading or watching TV.

Reducing your workload and the amount of time you spend at work, spending time at least once each week doing something you enjoy. Where possible, get to bed before 11pm, try to avoid burning the candle at both ends. Remain conscious of where your true energy levels are and avoid “running on empty”.

Avoid eating too late in the evening, try to have your final meal by 7pm. Your body needs to rest at night, not spending all night digesting your dinner. Your energy levels can be quite low in the morning if you’ve had a large meal before going to bed.

Recommended Foods (Eat More)

Vegetables: artichoke, asparagus, beet, beet leaves, brussels sprouts, carrot, celery, cucumber, green leafy vegetables rich with chlorophyll, a small amount of lemon with warm water on an empty stomach, lettuce (cos), mung bean sprouts, mushroom, rhubarb, seaweeds

Fruit: apple, coconut, mango, mulberries, passion fruit, pear, persimmon, plum, watermelon

Grains: millet, pearl barley, rice

Meat: Small amounts of organic beef, turkey, chicken

Nuts, seeds, legumes: flaxseed (linseed), flaxseed oil, mung beans, pine nuts, soy beans, tofu, yellow beans, yellow bean sprouts,

Fish: tuna, anchovy, halibut

Herbs: basil, dill, fennel, rosemary

Spices: cardamom, cumin,

Beverages: cow’s milk, soy milk, peppermint tea, green tea

Restrict/Avoid (Eat Less)

Foods that upset the Liver such as: Alcohol, coffee, spicy food, sugar, fried foods, fatty red meat, sweets, preservatives, additives, recreational drugs.

Heating foods: cinnamon, garlic, ginger, onion, shallots, leek, basil, cloves, wasabi, lamb, prawns, veal, pigeon, game birds, vinegar, citrus, pickles, coffee, tea, cigarettes, alcohol and recreational stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy).

Foods that are bad for the skin/skin disorders: chili, coriander, shellfish (including crayfish, lobster, mussels, oysters, prawns, shrimp)

Acupressure Points for Moving Qi

A popular treatment for the stress, anger, and frustration associated with Liver Qi Stagnation is known as the “four gates.” The four gates are the right and left side acupuncture points Lv 3–Liver 3 and Large Intestine 4.

Liver 3 is at the top of your foot, in the valley between your big toe and second toe.

Large Intestine 4  is found between the bones of the thumb and first finger). It lies at the highest point formed when the thumb is brought to rest against the index finger.

This can also be combined with LV13, located on the end of the 11th floating rib.

Castor Oil Pack Instructions

Indications: To remove blockages from any part of the body  –Endometriosis, PCOS, infertility, blocked tubes, phlegm cysts, lumpy breast, prostate blockage.

You will need:
Castor Oil
An old towel
Glad wrap
Hot water bottle (optional)

Instructions:

Warm ½ cup of Castor Oil on the stove.

Soak an old towel with the warmed oil

Whilst the oil is still warm on the towel, place the towel on your abdomen from the base of your ribs to pubic bone. (If using the castor oil pack for lumpy breast of cysyts in the body, place in that area.

Then wrap yourself in glad wrap, so the towel is unable to come off and you can protect your sheets from stains..

Place a Hot water bottle over you’re the wrap (optional, but for best results use the heat)

Go to bed and take it off in the morning.

Do you have Estrogen Dominance? What does this mean for you health?

Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

• Allergies and Asthma
• Missed or irregular periods
• Swollen or Fibroycystic Breasts
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• PMS
• Infertility
• PCOS
• Fibroids
• Mood Swings
• Magnesium deficiency
• Thyroid dysfunction

Causes of Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen is primarily generated in thecal cells of ovaries in menstruating women, and in the adrenals in post-menopausal women.
Sugar intake promotes estrogen production, stimulates thecal cells in ovaries, increase in testosterone production, aromatisation of testosterone to produce more estrogen. (positive feedback loop). Need to cut out sugar!!!
Can also be a problem with liver not properly detoxifying hormones properly leading to a buildup in the body.
• stress
• obesity
• birth control pills
• plant estrogens (soy, flaxseed)
• hormone replacement therapy
• peri-menopause
• glandular dysfunction
• environmental estrogens (read more at http://www.energeticnutrition.com/vitalzym/xeno_phyto_estrogens.html)

Increase Anti-estrogen foods

• cruciferous vegetables (like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts) - have natural antiestrogenic indoles
• all green vegetables
• citrus fruits, berries - contain flavonoids
• green tea - polyphenols
• herbs: resveratrol, passionflower, chamomile, and turmeric, rosemary
• conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in grass-fed, organic milk products
• nuts, seeds, avocado and fertilized eggs - high-fat, "male" (y-chromosome) containing foods that nourish the hormone system
• Goji berries (preferably organic)
• Fish oil/flaxseed oil
• Garlic, onion