Lynn Cheng- Holistic Healing

Marvelous Mint: BoHe

In Traditional Chinese medicine, mint, known as Bo He (薄荷), isn't just a refreshing herb—it's a powerhouse in herbalism! Here's why:

1️⃣ Cooling Properties: Mint is revered for its ability to cool the body and disperse heat, making it perfect for hot summer days or when you need a refreshing pick-me-up.

2️⃣ Soothes Digestion: Sip on some mint tea after meals to ease digestion and alleviate bloating

3️⃣ Clears the Mind: Used to clear the head and improve focus, mint helps sharpen mental clarity and relieve stress.

4️⃣ Lifts Spirits: Its uplifting aroma can boost mood and chase away fatigue

5️⃣ Respiratory Relief: From coughs to congestion, mint's anti-inflammatory properties provide respiratory relief and soothe throat irritations.

Here's my attempt today to use BoHe to cool down during this heatwave: mint lemonade! It was DELICIOUS!

Spring has sprung! The hills are green, trees are blooming, and seasonal allergies are kicking in as a result.

Here are a few acupuncture points that can bring relief. Using your fingertips, apply gradual and steady pressure on these points for approximately 3 minutes.

If your allergies are still bothersome, reach out to me! Besides acupuncture, there are some very effective herbal formulas that don't have side effects like drowsiness or dry mouth.
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What are the health benefits of eating Chicken?

In Chinese Medicine, chicken is considered warm in temperature and sweet in flavor. That's why chicken soup on a cold day feels so nourishing. It's both warm in temperature (degrees) and in its nature. However, if you have conditions with excess heat (think inflammation), eating too much chicken may introduce unwanted additional heat in the body.

Eating chicken benefits the Spleen, Stomach, our Essence, and tonifies qi.

It's helpful to treat diarrhea, edema, fatigue, emaciation, and poor appetite.

What's your favorite way to prepare chicken?

HEADACHES

So many of my patients have complained about headaches this past week. Are you experiencing them too? Here are a few acupuncture points that can bring relief.

Using your fingertips, apply gradual and steady pressure on these points for approximately 3 minutes, while taking long and deep breaths.

Having an occasional headache is normal, but please reach out to me if it continues, gets worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms. ⠀
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Tongue Diagnosis.

Did you know that in Chinese Medicine, the tongue is a powerful map and a key diagnostic tool, providing insights into our overall health and vitality?

When you come in for an acupuncture session, I pay close attention to the color, coating, and shape of your tongue. Each element tells a unique story about the state of your internal organs, energy flow, and overall well-being.

A pale tongue (as shown on our furry friend) may indicate Qi or Blood deficiency, while a red tongue might signal excess heat. A puffy or teeth-marked tongue can indicate a weakness in the Earth Element. The thickness and color of the tongue coating can reveal the state of your digestive system. Cracks may indicate Yin or Body Fluid imbalances.

Through the ancient art of tongue and pulse diagnosis, I tailor your acupuncture treatment to address imbalances and promote harmony within your body. So, next time you're on the acupuncture table, I'll explain to you what I see on your tongue and what that indicates for your body's internal landscape.

RICE

Rice is a staple in my household and the ultimate comfort food. There's a good reason for that too! In Traditional Chinese Medicine, rice supports spleen Qi, and thus promotes optimal digestion and nutrient absorption and supports beneficial gut bacteria.

Rice is believed to balance the body's Qi (energy) and Blood, helps in maintaining harmonious energy flow, and promotes overall well-being.

Rice embodies the balance of Yin and Yang energies. Its neutral nature is gentle on the digestive system, making it suitable for various constitutions.

Personally, I love having rice with a stir fry or making a nourishing and immune-boosting congee. How do you like yours?

BOOSTING IMMUNITY

Whether you've encountered illness or simply find yourself feeling fatigued, fortifying your immunity is essential. Prioritize a nourishing diet, ample sleep, and stress reduction.

Acupuncture and acupressure can help too! Here are some acupressure points you can do on yourself for some relief. Use your fingers or thumbs to press and hold the point firmly, but not too hard or painfully for about 3 minutes. The pressure should be consistent and gradual, and you should breathe deeply and evenly throughout the process.

Remember, I'm here to support your well-being every step of the way!

Happy Lunar New Year!

Welcome to the year 2024, the year of the Yang Wood Dragon. We're in for an exciting journey as each aspect—Wood, Yang, and Dragon—brings its own special energy to shape our experiences this year. Let's dive in and explore what this means for us.

Dragon Energy: Get Ready for Transformation and Growth
The Dragon brings transformation and urges us to embrace our inner power. It's a time to let go of negativity, cleanse our body, mind, and spirit, and undergo a personal makeover. 2024 is all about personal growth, embarking on new endeavors, or making important decisions. How thrilling is that? ⁠

Wood Energy: Nurturing Growth and Flexibility
The Wood element represents action, growth, vision, and passion. It's important to find balance and reduce stress levels to navigate potential negative emotions associated with Wood, like anger, irritability, and frustration. We want to maintain momentum and avoid self-sabotage during this time.

Yang Energy: Embrace Dynamic Power and Drive
Yang, symbolizing action and forward movement, adds fuel to the Wood nature of the Dragon year. As we embrace our driven nature, it's crucial to carefully consider our options before blazing ahead. Let's take the time to listen to others, ground ourselves, and find stability amidst the dynamic energy.

Overall, the powerful energy of 2024 sets the stage for potential major transformations, leading up to 2026, the Year of the Yang Fire Horse. As we embark on this new year, let the essence of Wood, Yang, and Dragon guide us toward personal growth, dynamic energy, and transformative experiences.

What's something you've been wanting to work on or contemplating starting? This is the perfect year to go for it. Lemme know in the comments and let's get this ball rolling!

Here's to a year of flourishing like the Wood, shining with the brilliance of Yang, and soaring with the power of the Dragon! Wishing you a wonderful New Year!

ORANGES

Lunar New Year is right around the corner and citrus fruits like oranges, mandarins, tangerines, and kumquats are often given as gifts in the New Year because they symbolize happiness and good fortune.

Not only that, they are great for your health! In Chinese medicine, oranges are considered sweet and sour in flavor, and cool to cold in temperature.

They support DIGESTIVE and RESPIRATORY health and help treat bloating, nausea, indigestion, or thirst. Because they have a moistening effect, consuming oranges helps with thirst and alleviates dry coughs. In addition, because they help clear internal heat, it helps reduce restlessness.

COUGH

Are you coming down with a cold/flu/covid and experiencing a cough? Or perhaps you still have a lingering one from being sick.

Here are some acupressure points you can do on yourself for some relief. Use your fingers or thumbs to press and hold the point firmly, but not too hard or painfully for about 3 minutes. The pressure should be consistent and gradual, and you should breathe deeply and evenly throughout the process.

And, of course, I'm here to help too! Reach out if I can assist.

Don't start a New Year's resolution!

You might be wondering if that was a typo. It isn't. More accurately, it should read: Don't start a New Year's resolution.....yet.

Here's why. In Chinese medicine, there are two oppositions: Yin and Yang. Yin is quiet, internal, slow, dark, cold. Yang is active, external, moving, light, hot. The Winter solstice occured on Dec. 21 and that is the most Yin day of the year. During the winter (yin within yin), we are supposed to hibernate, to go within, to rest, seek quiet and reflect. This is NOT the optimal time to start new things or to increase activity because these are all Yang in nature.

Therefore, the best time to make a resolution and increase the likelihood of success in those endeavours is in Early Spring (yin within yang). Think about it...Spring is all about rebirth, growth, and change: the optimal time to turn inspiration into action.

So, enjoy these last few weeks of Yin time. Rest and recover from the busy holidays. You can contemplate what you might change, act upon or pursue in 2024. And then come around the Lunar New Year (mid February), put these intentions into action.

Here's to looking forward to the possibilities. Wishing you a healthy, happy to and harmonious 2024.

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Did you overindulge in the holiday festivities? Feel the need to detox?

Here are some acupressure points that can bring relief. Use your fingers or thumbs to press and hold the point firmly, but not too hard or painfully for about 3 minutes. The pressure should be consistent and gradual, and you should breathe deeply and evenly throughout the process.

Embracing Winter

As the Winter Solstice graces us with its yin presence, let's heed the wisdom of the Water element for self-care during the winter months.

Winter, the season of Water, calls us to embody the fluidity of nature. This is the time of year to modify our routines to winter's slower, reflective pace. This is as Yin as it gets!

❄️ Nurture Your Kidneys: In TCM, the kidneys are associated with the Water element and play a crucial role during winter. Keep your belly and low back covered so they stay warm.
❄️ Embrace Stillness: Winter invites us to reflect and recharge. Take moments of stillness through meditation, deep breathing, or a warm cup of herbal tea.
❄️ Dive into Blue/Black Foods: Blue and black foods resonate with the Water element. Incorporate black beans, walnuts, kidney beans, blueberries, black sesame seeds, and seaweed into your diet to nourish your Jing essence.
❄️ Flow with Tai Chi/Yoga: Engage in gentle exercises like Tai Chi, Qi Gung, or Yoga to harmonize your movements with the rhythmic flow of the Water element. This mindful practice enhances flexibility and promotes balance.

Wishing you a harmonious and mindful winter journey!

Embracing Winter Wellness with Warm Foods

As the chilly days become the norm, it's time to nourish our bodies with the wisdom of Chinese Medicine.

Winter is a time to focus on warming foods to support our bodies and maintain balance. Now is not the time for salads, smoothies, and iced drinks. Opt for soups, stews, and steamed dishes that gently nourish and invigorate your Qi.

Warm foods promote circulation, boost digestion, and help to dispel the cold that may accumulate in our bodies during the winter months. Think ginger, garlic, cinnamon, and other spices to ignite that inner warmth!

Need some inspiration? Here's a hearty bowl of beef stew over polenta with butternut squash. Other good choices are soups with warming herbs and spices or a nourishing bowl of congee.

Let's enter this winter by nurturing ourselves with foods that align with nature's rhythm. Embrace the warmth and stay cozy!

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Let's talk about something that affects many of us but often goes unspoken: CONSTIPATION.

Acupuncture can be a game-changer for promoting healthy digestion. By targeting specific points in the body, acupuncture helps balance energy flow, relieving tension and promoting optimal function in the digestive system.

Whether you're dealing with occasional discomfort or chronic constipation, acupuncture offers a holistic approach to bringing your body back into balance. Reach out to me if it worsens, is ongoing, or to seek relief. I'm happy to help!

In the meantime, here are a few acupressure points that you can apply to yourself. Use your fingers or thumbs to press and hold the point firmly, but not too hard or painfully for about 3 minutes. The pressure should be consistent and gradual, and you should breathe deeply and evenly throughout the process. Combine it with lifestyle tweaks like hydration, fiber-rich foods, and mindful eating for a powerful digestive boost!

Time is running out to use your FSA/HSA benefits! Come in for a treatment now, buy a treatment package for the new year, and/or a gift certificate for a loved one. ⠀
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Take the time to do something good for your body and mind as we put this year to bed. ⠀⠀
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Papaya Health Properties

In Chinese Medicine, papayas are sweet and cold in temperature. It helps support healthy digestion, clears heat, and moistens the lungs. Indications such as cough, fever, indigestion, insufficient lactation, numbness and joint pain, and thirst can be improved by eating this delicious fruit.

My favorite variety is the strawberry (sunrise) papayas from Hawaii. It's super sweet and fragrant. If you are ever on the islands, you gotta go buy some!

Acupressure for Tinnitus relief

Whether it's a ringing, hissing, roaring, whooshing, or clicking sound, tinnitus can be bothersome, annoying, and concerning. In Chinese medicine, there are many reasons why this may occur. In order to treat tinnitus effectively, we first need to identify the cause.

If you are having a bout of tinnitus, one technique I have found particularly helpful is to stretch the side of the neck with the affected ear. (For instance, if the right ear is making the sound, lean your head to the left, relax your shoulders, and hold it there until the sound abates).

If you are experiencing tinnitus on a regular basis, please reach out to me! I'm here to help.

In the meantime, here are a few acupressure points that can bring relief. Use your fingers or thumbs to press and hold the point firmly, but not too hard or painfully for about 3 minutes. The pressure should be consistent and gradual, and you should breathe deeply and evenly throughout the process

Happy Autumn Equinox!

According to Chinese Medicine, Autumn is a time of letting go. Just as trees release their leaves, we too can shed what no longer serves us, making space for new beginnings, growth, and opportunities. The energy of the Metal element in Chinese medicine is associated with autumn-inspiring qualities like clarity, introspection, and organization.

Nourishing foods like root vegetables and warming spices support our Lungs and Large Intestine (the organs that comprise the Metal element), helping us align with the season's energy.

So let's sip on herbal teas and take mindful walks, allowing the vibrant hues of fall to inspire our own journey of introspection and growth.

It's apple season!

In Chinese Medicine, apples are helpful to clear heat and to generate fluids. They are good for treating diarrhea, dry cough, fever, irritability, poor appetite, restlessness, and thirst.

Time to head to your farmers market and try out all the different varieties!

Acupressure for Edema Relief

In the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine, edema is linked to imbalances in the Earth and Water elements which disrupt the harmonious flow of Qi and the transformation of body fluids. Here are a few acupressure points you can do on yourself. Use your fingers or thumbs to press and hold the point firmly, but not too hard or painfully for about 3 minutes. You can also use gentle circular or kneading motions to massage the point or tap or flick it lightly. The pressure should be consistent and gradual, and you should breathe deeply and evenly throughout the process.

Happy International Dog Day!

Hug your favorite furry friend today. 🐾