February 4th 2007 - Many people wonder how they
can stay well
this winter, considering the onset of the flu season
and the
fear of a possible influenza epidemic.
Fortunately, acupuncture and Oriental
medicine
provide proven steps toward preventing illness
and maintaining
good health in cold weather.
We hear about so many people catching the
flu -
but in reality it is only a portion of those exposed
to a virus that
get sick. Why? According to Oriental medicine's
teachings, our bodies get
sick when we are in a
weakened state. It is only when our immune
systems
are weakened and our bodies are out of
balance that we are vulnerable to
sickness.
Acupuncture originated in China between
3,000 and 5,000
years ago. It corrects imbalances
in the body's energy systems that cause
illness.
Practitioners of Oriental medicine identify Qi
(pronounced
"chee") as the life giving energy
that needs to flow freely through the body
for
good health. Integrated with a wise lifestyle,
Oriental medicine can
help prevent illness.
Here are Five Tips for Avoiding Illness This Flu
Season:
1. Exercise a little bit everyday. Exercise moves
the
lymphatic system, thereby helping to detoxify the poisons
in your
body.
2. Keep warm. Make sure your neck and chest are
protected from
wind, drafts and cold. Use a scarf
around your neck when going outside and
wear turtle neck
shirts or sweaters. The neck is an area where wind
can
invade the body and cause sickness. The Oriental
medical perspective is that
wind invasions make people
more vulnerable to developing colds and
flu.
Always keep your feet warm and dry.
3. Get adequate sleep and
relaxation. Your body is
vulnerable to stress without enough rest. Think
about
doing some deep breathing exercises to help relax and
unwind at the
end of the day. Use stress-reduction
methods like Qi Gong meditation or
yoga.
4. Eat smart. Avoid refined sugars (processed
food and baked
goods, alcohol, etc.). A diet of
refined or simple carbohydrates (white
sugar,
white bread) raises the body's Ph and allows
bacteria, mold, yeast
and fungi to thrive. Simple carbohydrates
suck up the nutrition your body
needs to
detoxify, nourish and build new cells and
antibodies. This makes
you MORE susceptible to illness.
Vitalize your nutrition by eating more
fresh, organic
foods and less processed food. This food has
more "Qi" in
it.
5. Get Acupuncture. When you get regular
acupuncture treatments
(as little as once per month)
it actually boosts your immune system.
Acupuncture
strengthen the "Wei Qi" or the protective energy
that
safeguards us against colds and flu.
Use these Five Tips for Avoiding
Illness to keep your
body strong and healthy this winter. You
can resist
illness, the flu or the common
cold.
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For
more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped
people transform their health
problems into
solutions for attaining better health. Steven is
a licensed
acupuncturist, Oriental bodywork
therapist and herbalist. He offers
complete
health care with acupuncture, Chinese herbs,
nutritional
counseling, Oriental massage, and
facial rejuvenation. He is licensed by
the
Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified
by the National
Certification Commission for
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
For more
information visit www.orientalmedcare.com or write to [email protected]
or call 612-866-4000.
Copyright © 2005 by Steven Sonmore. All rights
reserved.