Nutrition
The Qi (Chi) Life
The Qi (Chi) Life holds the key to abundant health!
Dr. Michele Arnold-Pirtle’s new book
“It is my personal mission to spread the potential health benefits of nature’s plant medicines. Food, Herbs, spices, and essential oils can be used to cultivate a wellness lifestyle to enjoy a healthier, happier life-longer!
This is a small book with a lot of impact! If you want an easy to follow guide with simple natural ways to stay healthy, then this book is for you!
This book includes
- Commonly used Acupressure points
- Chinese Medicine healthy food rules
- Harmonize the liver and gall bladder naturally
- Congee, an Asian rice porridge for detoxification or illness
- Natural blood thinners and pain relievers
- Information about using Cannabinoid (CBD) oil.
Learn about Chinese Herbal Teas for improved blood flow, and analgesia
The following is an excerpt:
We use herbs that are concentrated granules of raw herbal ingredients boiled in an aqueous solution. They are free from preservatives, additives, and colors. They are certified pharmaceutical grade using GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices). The powder is mixed with warm water and drunk as a medicinal tea.
They also come in other forms of administration such as honey pills, capsules, tablets, or alcohol or glycerin extracted tinctures.
Where to buy
Herbal Formulas can be prescribed and purchased from your local Acupuncturist.
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Drive out Stasis in the Mansion of Blood Decoction).
TCM Diagnosis: Blood stagnation, especially of the upper body, head and chest.
Action: Nourishes and moves blood, a natural analgesic alternative.
Indications: Pain Acute, Severe, after Trauma, aggravated by wrong movement, fixed localized pain, occasional stabbing pain aggravated by certain postures or movement, and pain is worse at night, a natural alternative to aspirin.
Bio-medical or common disease names: acute endometritis, retained placenta, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, cirrhosis of the liver, intestinal obstruction, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, rheumatic valvular heart disease, hypertension, post-concussion syndrome, migraine, menopausal syndrome, urticaria, psychosis.
Ingredients: Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica), Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Root), Sheng Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia), Chi Shao (Red Peony), Tao Ren (Peach Pit), Hong Hua (Safflower), Chuan Niu Xi (Cyathula Root), Jie Geng (Platycodon, Balloon Flower Root), Zhi Ke (Bitter Orange Peel), Chai Hu (Bupleurum, Thorowax Root), Gan Cao (Licorice Root). Plus add turmeric-curcumin (Yu Jin), cinnamon bark (Rou Gui), Bai Shao (White Peony), and Gan Cao (Licorice).
How to Take: Take Before meals. In severe cases can increases dosage 50-100%, then reduced as treatment takes effect.
Contraindications/Cautions:
Contraindicated in pregnancy, excessive menstrual bleeding, bleeding diathesis, or hemorrhagic disorder. For women, stop taking during your period unless otherwise directed. Caution in patients taking anti-coagulants.
*Women being treated for menstrual problems may notice heavier, more painful periods, expulsion of clots, for one or two cycles as the stagnation is moved, and they are encouraged to continue formula for several cycles.
Dr. Michele Arnold is a doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (D.A.C.M.). She has been in private practice for over 18 years. She brings together both experience, and research for you to find out what to eat to stay healthy, how to use essential oils, herbs, and acupressure according to the balanced principles of Chinese Medicine.
Disclaimer: The products and information mentioned here have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products and methods recommended are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent illness or disease. It is not a substitute for medical advice.
Walnuts and Your Brain
Many people like to add walnuts to food to add some zest and a little crunchy kick, but walnuts are much more than a flavor additive, as they are chock full of healthy properties and have been used in Asia as an overall health tonic and brain booster for years. Let’s take a nutty look at walnuts. continue reading
Eating According to TCM: Five Foods for Spring
Spring is a time of renewal, regeneration, growth and energy. The plants and animals awaken from the slumber of the cold winter months. The vital nutrients that have been stored in the roots of the plants and the bodies of the animals, comes to the surface and life becomes more vibrant and fluid. Human beings are no different. Humans tend to stay indoors more during the winter months and sometimes pack on a little extra weight in the process. As the weather warms, humans become more gregarious and spend more time outside enjoying nature. This is just a natural process. continue reading
Fermented Foods and Intestinal Health
The modern world is changing every single day. Because of this constant state of change, our bodies are frequently having to adjust. We have a food supply being degraded and depleted of nutritional content, which in turn, causes our bodies to become depleted. Our soil and water is contaminated with antibiotics and deadly fertilizers. All of which become part of the food chain we rely upon. Because of this, antibiotics are failing and superbugs like MRSA are on the rise. Lack of nutrition and the overuse of antibiotics are just a couple of the things wreaking havoc on our intestinal health. But there are ways to combat this and keep the gut healthy. continue reading
Ten Ways to Cut Sugar Cravings
10 ways to cut Sugar Cravings
Sugar or glucose is our major life force needed for metabolic energy. Therefore, we need the sweet flavor in our diets. According to Chinese Medicine the whole foods that provide the sweet flavor as well as its beneficial properties are non-glutenous rice, legumes, sweet vegetables such as carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, fruit, and dates. The sugars in these foods are balanced with proper minerals.
The simple carbohydrates such as white granulated sugar, brown sugar, turbinado sugar, raw sugar, sucrose, fructose, dextrose, high fructose corn syrup, and agave (is highly processed with chemicals) are not recommended.
Other simple sugars such as maple sugar, rice syrup, unrefined cane juice powder, barley malt, black-strap molasses, malt sugar, raw unpasteurized honey may be eaten sparingly.
When sugars are refined and processed other minerals and naturally occurring enzymes as well as any healthful benefits are lost. Unfortunately, sugar can be addicting and contributes to disease and unhappiness. Many degenerative diseases have been attributed to sugar such as obesity, tooth decay, hypoglycemia, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, anemia, immune deficiency, yeast infections, Candida, and bone loss.
Here are 10 ways to cut sugar cravings!
- Have a non-sweet breakfast containing a protein-rich food. Choose a whole grain or protein such as: eggs, lox, smoked fish, lean poultry sausage, soy products, beans, nuts or seeds. If you choose meats balance them with radishes, mushrooms, potatoes, or salads.
- Eat salty foods sparingly because they contribute to craving sweets. Salty foods may include sea salt, pickles, miso, soy sauce, meats, cheeses, or fish.
- Avoid excess raw fruits and vegetables and juice. Fruits, especially the juice are higher in sugars and leave your blood sugar low creating a desire for more sweets. They are also energetically cooling creating a desire for more warming foods such as sugar. A good rule of thumb for an appropriate proportion of your vegetables and fruits that are eaten cold, raw, or juiced is 5-10% of your daily fruits and veggies. Eat them mostly lightly cooked and warm.
- Eat green leafy vegetables daily, especially if chocolate cravings are a problem. Eat them mostly cooked and warm.
- Drink green tea daily. It helps maintain blood sugar levels, minimizing sugar cravings.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners. Your body responds as if they are actual sugars.
- Reduce or eliminate refined sugars such as, sucrose, fructose, fruit juice, commercial honey, and syrups.
- Get adequate full-spectrum lighting. Natural light is essential for the brain to produce serotonin. Serotonin is a calming brain chemical which can help reduce sugar cravings. Take a 20 minute walk, sit near a bright window, or use full-spectrum lighting in your work place.
- Include good fats with essential fatty acids such as, flax seed, pumpkin, hemp, fish oils, or avocado. Nuts and seeds are best purchased if they are in the shell, sprouted, or are unsalted, and lightly roasted. Raw shelled nuts go rancid quite easily and may harbor parasites.
- Try supplements of magnesium (350-500 mg) and chromium (200-500 meg). Minerals that help stabilize blood sugars. Or use herbs: fennel leaf, licorice root.
May your sweet tooth be satisfied!
