Happy September! Summer is over and it is back to school time. As a result, we are starting to all get much busier in every aspect of our life. We have a few great articles to follow describing ways that you and your family can stay healthy this fall. First there is an article about what Autumn, the season of the Lung system entails. Second we have an article describing some acupuncture points that you can use on your own to maintain your health. Third there is a little article about keeping your kids healthy and another about some great healthy snacks. Hope that you enjoy them!

Jack Is Studying in China Again!

The Season of the Lung and Large Intestine Channels

For many others, fall is not so festive. Many people tend to get sick during the fall months, allergies can flare up for some, and many don’t like that the hours of sunlight decrease steadily, sometimes leading to seasonal depression. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, fall is the season associated with the lung and large intestine energetic meridians. These two meridians work in a symbiotic way to control the immune system from both the inside and outside of your body. And if you take good care of these two meridians during the fall, you are bound to feel better throughout the season. Here are some suggestions on how to get through the season of the lung and large intestine channels.

First off, start wearing scarves. The scarves don’t have to be thick or heavy, but they should cover the neck. The large intestine channel runs up the arms, across the shoulders, up the neck, over the face and ends next to the nose. As many people now know, the health of our gastrointestinal tract plays a big part in our immunity. So keeping the large intestine channel warm and preventing exposure from the elements will help to keep you healthy. Cold pathogens can enter the body through the pores or nasal cavity. But wrapping the neck and shoulders with a scarf can help ward off the pathogens.

Another way to keep the lung and large intestine channels balanced is to eat according to the season. This means eat foods that are available during the autumn months as well as foods that boost the energy of the lung and large intestine meridians. In the fall, you should eat fewer cold and raw foods like salads and instead you should eat more warm, cooked foods. Utilizing the foods that are available at this time of year is a good practice as well. Foods to enjoy during the fall months include apples, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, pears, yams, bananas, cabbage, carrots, cranberries, ginger, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and wild rice. Also hot herbal teas are a good addition to your daily diet, especially those containing ginger and lemon, which act as natural antibiotics.

The large intestine and the lungs need to stay moist to function properly. So drinking lots of water is important. Most people know how important it is to stay hydrated during the summer months, but it is just as vital during the autumn. Without proper hydration the skin, which is controlled by the lung meridian, can become dry and cracked allowing pathogens to easily enter the body. The large intestine meridian needs proper hydration to be able to expel any pathogens that have gotten into the system. So don’t forget to drink lots of water during the fall.

As we approach the fall months, it is also a good idea to increase your regular acupuncture treatments. There are several acupuncture points that help boost immunity and fight off colds. Why not utilize the natural power that your local licensed acupuncturist has to offer? By doing so, you might just survive the fall without ever getting sick.

3 Points to Balance Your Qi this Fall

1. Large Intestine 4 (LI 4) A reliever of headaches and tense muscles, LI 4 is a great point to use to balance energy. In addition to making sure you are balanced it promotes healthy bowel functionality throughout the body. LI 4, is referred to as He Gu, or the “Adjoining Valleys.” It is the point where energy cleanses the body and clears out what is no longer needed, this point clears the system and replenishes Qi. Position your left hand flat with your palm down, now squeeze your thumb and index finger together, locate a fleshy mound that appears between the two fingers and press on this point with your right thumb above and index finger below.

2. Large Intestine 11 (LI 11) To relieve pain within your arm, shoulder or elbow use this acupressure point. LI 11 also regulates the digestive tract and the blood, in addition, this point cools heat and alleviates dampness. LI 11, the earth point of the large intestine meridian, is located at the crease of your elbow. To find this point bend your elbow in a 90-degree angle, place your thumb on the outside of the elbow crease and press.

3. Lung 2 (LU 2) Yu Men, or the Gateway of Gathering Clouds is the gateway where we are able to receive fresh sunshine, the rain and cloudy days. This point is very useful for balancing energy when you are overwhelmed with stress, it calms the body. To find LU 2, locate the area above the collarbone where it meets the shoulder blade, at this location there should be a depression, apply pressure there to harness the balancing powers of this acupressure point.

Ways to Keep Kids Healthy

1. Limit the Screentime.

Technology is everywhere. It is true that 24/7 technology will be present in your life in some shape or form, and will influence or form our habits. But, it is best to try and limit these habits. They promote a lifestyle with less movement and activity, this has been shown to lead to increased obesity and cardiovascular disease. The use of technology should be limited, and especially when it comes to your children! You want to make sure your children stay active and healthy, and a good way to do this is to limit the amount they use technological appliances.

2. Eat Fruits and Vegetables with Every Meal!

This is very important. One major aspect of staying healthy is to introduce nutrient-rich raw foods into your diet. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and essential nutrients to enrich and keep the body functioning properly and get it to its best potential. Introduce a daily intake of fruits and vegetables into your child’s life. Make fruits and vegetables fun, start by implementing them as small snacks into every meal period throughout the day, and then as the kids catch on to how delicious they can be, start utilizing a plethora of fruits and veggies as main-course meals.

3. The Most Important Meal of the Day:
Breakfast.
Sticking with the food theme is so easy when it comes to talking about being healthy, so we have to mention breakfast. Breakfast is very important and can be critical to starting your child’s day off on the right foot. Make sure you are supplying them with a nutrient-rich breakfast including lots of carbohydrates and various essential vitamins. Don’t just overload on one thing. For example, a breakfast with fresh fruit, cereal and yogurt (for probiotics) can really be a game changer as your child heads back into the busy time the school year provides.

Healthy Power Snacks For Kids and Adults

1. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are great because they can be put into almost anything. In addition, chia seeds pack a powerful nutrient-rich punch, they are high in protein, fat and omega-3s. Chia seeds have been said to protect the body from chronic diseases. Sprinkle some chia seeds into your kid’s sandwich, yogurt or smoothie and they will instantly have a super lunch.

2. Avocado
Filled with mass amounts of fiber and potassium, avocado is truly one of the more delicious superfoods. And, with a plethora of uses it is easy to sneak in some avocado to your kid’s sack lunch. Start by introducing them to guacamole, and then you can put a little guacamole with some blue corn tortilla chips or veggie chips into their lunch. Once they warm up to the avocado, use it in sandwiches, salads or other main courses.

3. Blueberries
Finally, something a little easier. Everyone loves blueberries, right? I mean how can you now appreciate such a delicious fruit. Most importantly, this fruit is one of the most powerful superfoods you can consume. High in antioxidants and phytonutrients, low in sugars and rich in vitamin C, this berry is a modern-day wonder. But, perhaps the easiest thing about blueberries is that you don’t even have to sneak them in. Just put the berries in a small container in your child’s lunch and they are sure to eat them up.

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Stay Healthy!

Jack, Kim, Alicia, Jonathan, and Lynn