We’re home from our holiday and it’s back to work, for me at least.  After our weekend in the mountains and a long drive through the desert, John found himself in bed with chest cold.  This afternoon he came to the office complaining of a dry cough and “super congestion” in his chest.  I decided that cupping would best in order to break up some of the mucus that was causing his congestion.  What is cupping you ask?  We all remember in 2004 when Gwyneth Paltrow showed up at that NY film premier with those alien-like markings on her back.  Well…that’s from cupping.  The papers described it then as “some kind of acupuncture.”  Talk about publicity for the art.

Cupping is just one of the modalities of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. The cups are applied by reducing the inside pressure, through either suction or flame, which draws the skin up into the cup and creates a hold.  I used a plastic cupping set with a suction pump.  This is much easier and safer than the classic glass fish bowl looking ones.  Cupping is often used for such ailments as respiratory illness, gynecological issues and pain.  The intention is to break up underlying stagnation that is causing the condition.

Since John was presenting with congestion or stagnation of phlegm in his chest that he could not cough up, cups seemed to be the perfect choice for treatment.  I first treated him with needles and let him rest for a while. I used mostly tonifying points in order to boost his immune system and help him fight the illness.

John showing off his freshly cupped back

After John’s acupuncture treatment, I applied cups on either side of his thoracic spine and slid them up and down his back as if I was giving him a massage.  What began to appear were the dark colored marks that you can see in this picture. He felt some slight tenderness but no pain. After a few minutes, I removed the cups and let him sit up.  Immediately he explained that his chest felt looser and he looked a lot less dreary.

Now as I write this he’s starting to cough up the phlegm which had been lodged in his lungs for two days. The marks will last about a week or so. No backless Halloween costumes for him. He has been careful to keep the area covered as he is now more susceptible to the elements. Tomorrow he’ll be able to take a warm shower and should be feeling much better. Hooray to acupuncture and its mysterious modalities.  Hooray to John for forgoing over-the-counter decongestants and seeking out a healthier method of treatment.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has declared this week, October 5 – 11, 2009, Get Smart about Antibiotics Week.  Their efforts originate from the need to educate the population about antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic use.

Antibiotics have been around since even before the hailed Penicillin was discovered.  Ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Greek and medi-evil Arabs all used plants and molds with antibiotic-like properties to fight infection.  Today no one has to go out to the field in search of plants, or set aside an slice of bread and wait for mold to grow in order to obtain these powerful antimicrobial compounds.  Antibiotics are as easy as a trip to your family doctor and their effectiveness is just as simple.  Well, almost…

While antibiotics are fabulous against bacterial infection, they do not fight infections caused by viruses, which, I hate to tell ya, is the category common colds and flu fall into.  Doctors everyday see children and adults for sore throats, ear infections, upper respiratory infections, sinus infections, all of which could be a bacterial infection, but more often than not are viral.  By prescribing an antibiotic to these patients before finding out the cause, they are doing more harm than good, both to the patient and the population.

When antibiotics are used too often for things they can’t treat, they can stop working effectively against bacteria.  Antibiotic resistance has been a concern for years and is considered one of the world’s most pressing public health problems.  Widespread overuse of antibiotics is fueling an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. So the next time you or your child really needs an antibiotic for a bacterial infection, it may not work. ¹

Watch this short video put out by National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) to help parents and kids learn more about improper antibiotic prescription:

Also read NY Times columnist ANAHAD O’CONNOR’s Really? The Claim: Antibiotics Will Beat a Sinus Infection for facts about antibiotics and sinus infections.

References
¹ Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work

One of the advantages I have being an Alternative Health-care professional are the tools of the trade that I’ve picked up along the way. My medicine cabinet is filled with herbal remedies for anything from PMS to fullness after meals.  One of my favorites and the one I recommend most frequently is an original formula made by Blue Poppy Enterprises, Inc. called Cold Quell.

Based on the formula, Xiao Chai Hu Tang Si Wu Tang Jia Jian (that’s Chinese for a bunch of herbs mixed together), this herbal supplement can be used at first sign of common cold and flu, characterized by sore throat, fever and headache. I take 3 capsules twice a day for three days and, more often than not, my symptoms are resolved and I never miss a day of work.

In most states, Cold Quell and other herbal supplements can only be distributed by a licensed professional.  To find a Chinese Medicine practitioner in your area visit the Acufinder website.

Fall is here! The long warm days are almost gone (except for in So. Cal where I’m still sweating!  It was 99° today!).  My fortunate friends and relatives on the East coast will soon be enjoying the brilliant colors of autumn, and eventually, even here, I’ll be snuggling up under the afghan my grandmother made me, watching the sun take an earlier bedtime.

Picture taken by Michael Metzdorff

In Autumn, just as the sap of the tree withdraws from its branches to be stored in its trunk in hopes of an early spring, likewise the “Yang” of the body begins to turn inward, building a storage of nutrients in order to fuel us through the long and cold winter.  Like the animals who scurry around at first sign of falling leaves, collecting nuts and reserves for the winter, we too can take the opportunity to nourish our bodies, build our immune system and prepare for whatever mother nature may have in store.

Stay warm. If you read my blog-post Scarves – Not just for Fashion, then you already know that warm clothes are your first line of defense against the cooler weather, and especially the scarf should be worn whenever the winds are blowing.  Be mindful to shield yourself from the November rains as well and  keep your feet dry. Whenever possible, carry an extra pair socks (this goes out especially to you city folks).

Eat foods rich in nutrients.  One of the best parts of fall is the harvest.  Plants have been soaking in the summer sun and using the rich soil to grow brightly colored vegetables for your soups and stews.  Winter squash, sweet potatoes, beets and pumpkin (among others) will soon be reaching their peek and appearing at the local farmers’ markets.  Sour foods such as sauerkraut, olives and pickles, apples, plums and yogurt are also recommended in order to stimulate the process of contraction in the body. When cooking, use less water and simmer at lower temperatures for a longer period of time.  Sauteing and baking, which release the fragrant essence of food, is also recommended.

Supplement the Lung. In Chinese Medicine, the organ associated with Fall is the Lung.  The Lung is also referred to as the “delicate canopy” and it is very susceptible to dryness.  In California, the Santa Ana winds are starting to blow and many of us are experiencing what is called Lung dryness.  To understand this, think of a canopy of leaves in a forest.  As the sap withdraws from the leaves, they begin dry up.  The lungs are much like leaves.  They can easily dry out if they are not supplemented by moistening factors.  Foods such as millet, spinach and especially pears can help to moisten the Lungs and prevent dryness.

Conserve your energy.  While it is important to continue with a healthy exercise regimen, the same routine that worked for you all summer long may be too exhausting for the colder months.  Perhaps it’s time to set aside the boxing gloves and give Yoga or Tai Chi a try.  The body will appreciate this change and you’ll receive many therapeutic benefits from it as well.  Most importantly, if you do continue with your strenuous workouts, get plenty of rest afterward.  Our bodies know how much rest we need and if we’re deprived, the body will let us know.

While it’s still warm outside, it’s important to prepare so that we don’t find ourselves battling the winter flu without the proper reserves to manage it.  And if you do end up in bed with the sniffles, allow the time to get well… And see if you can get someone to make you some tasty soup, filled with all the goodies of Fall.

Happy Equinox!

With the fall months rolling in and the cool weather following suit (if you’re anywhere but the South West that is, where it’s still 90 degrees), then it’s time to put away the tank tops and Bermuda shorts and reach for warmer threads.  Warm sunny days are turning into crisp cool nights and the winds are starting to blow in the reminders that winter is just around the corner.  When I think of fall, I’m reminded of many mothers’ wise words, “Don’t forget your scarf.”

While the scarf may go in and out of the fashion trends, it should always be a staple in any wardrobe.  Even on the warmer days there may still be a strong breeze that we need to protect our bodies from, especially the neck. In Chinese medicine, the Urinary Bladder channel, which helps to govern the exterior of the body, passes through the back of the neck.  External pathogens such as Wind and Cold can easily enter the body through this channel and cause common cold symptoms.  When your mother said, “Put on your scarf or you might catch cold,”  she wasn’t just uttering an old wives’ tale expression.

The same goes for you So. Cal residents.  Even though the temperatures may still be high, those Santa Ana winds are on their way and they are no more merciful than their colder counterparts.