Postpartum Depression Is More Common Than You Think, Here’s How The Chines Practice of One Month Sitting Can Help

Don’t ignore or feel shame if you are experiencing postpartum depression. 1 in 7 women are affected.

In Asian and Chinese culture tradition is to have a rest period postpartum. This is referred to as one month of sitting or “Zuo Yue Zi” / 坐月子. It is an ancient practice which entails healing, regenerating and bonding with the baby. Special foods and medicinal soups are prepared prior to delivery that will aid in recovery from the birth and prevent illness.

All women that experience child birth experience a lot of physical, hormonal, emotional, and psychological changes throughout their pregnancy. No matter how much research and planning, each women will have their own personal experience.

Society has many expectations and judgement of women and how they should be as a Mother. It is a myth that women are overwhelmed with feelings of joy at first sight of their baby. Having a bThere is an adjustment period

It is completely normal to experience crying, sadness and anxiety after having a baby . It takes time to adjust and it can feel like you stepped into someone else’s life. Research indicates that 1 in 7 women will experience postpartum depression.

A new Mom may be surprised that she is struggling with motherhood and hide her intense feelings of shame, guilt, anxiety and depression.

The one month (approximately 4 weeks) sitting focuses on resting, eating nutrient dense foods that help with lactation, building blood (from loss) and sleep. No stress or many visitors only the core family of support and no doing house chores. This is because house work and interacting with many people can be stressful. This is a critical time for both mother and baby to heal and bond.

“Baby blues” which last around 2-3 weeks include crying spells, mood swings, anxiety and sleep difficulties.

In contrast postpartum depression symptoms longer and have more severe with intensifying feelings of depression and anxiety that adversely affect a woman’s ability to adjust to her new role as a mother.

Feelings of overwhelm, and worry about being a good mother, anxiety and panic attacks, fatigue and loss of appetite and worry about self harm or harming the baby can be part of it.

What puts a woman at risk for postpartum depression?

Stress before and around delivery is associated with higher risk of postpartum depression, this includes a difficult pregnancy and difficulty getting pregnant (IVF, IUI, RPL) A history of trauma, depression, health issues and eating disorders.

Identifying before pregnancy and delivery helps to develop a plan of support so that you don’t get overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness and sadness. This plan should include acupuncture, before during and after pregnancy.

New Mom’s really need to put self-care at the top of the priority lists by asking for help and time for healing.

Home Remedies for Colds , Cough & Sore Throats

Everyday is an opportunity to support your health.

Knowing which herbs, spices and plants that are antiviral and medicinal can help keep you and your family healthier and protect yourself from flus and viruses such as Covid-19. Including them in recipes is a way to maintain good health and also create your own natural medicine cabinet.

Immune and prevention

• Raw Honey: Its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-fungal it helps soothe sore throats and can be used for wound disinfectant and healing. Manuka honey comes from the Manuka tree that is in the Tea Tree family. 

Add to tea, hot water and lemon.

Cough and bronchitis: 

Poached pear recipe: This adaptation of a classic Chinese remedy for dry cough, bronchitis and sore throat also boosts the immune system. The original is poached pears with rock candy, but instead substitute with honey.

Poached pears are great to have in the morning as well.

• Ingredients: 2 pears (asian pears preferable) ginger, lemon, and honey.

• Cut the core from the pear, place in water with sliced ginger, bring to a boil, then let simmer for 15-20mins, then add lemon and last honey. 

• The pears will be infused with the ginger and lemon and can be stored in the refrigerator, the juice you can drink. 

• Pears contain high levels of antioxidants (cancer fighting), including vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber. The natural properties from the pear (pectin) soothes the throat and moistens dryness of the cough and reduces the phlegm. Poached pear helps to keep your respiratory tract hydrated, soothe throat irritations, alleviate dry coughs

• Great for kids and you can add cinnamon to make it a dessert

Upset stomach and lung

• Ginger: The healing properties of ginger are many and can be added to soups and tea.  For upset stomach rice that is cooked with ginger and broth until a gruel consistency is easy on the digestion especially post during illness where the body needs simple foods. Ginger has many antimicrobial and anti viral properties and aids with digestion and upset stomach.Research shows fresh ginger is effective against respiratory viruses.  Ginger is a root that is added to almost all Chinese herbal formulas because it helps with absorption of nutrients.

Cough, asthma and bronchitis:

• Thyme: Thyme for bronchitis. Studies showed Thyme along with primrose helped with cough and bronchitis and was far superior for treating bronchitis compared to a placebo.You can make thyme flavored water, by taking fresh sprigs and bruising to release the oils in the herb and infusing water. You can keep cooled in the refrigerator.

If you don’t have fresh thyme, you can make tea with dried thyme, add 2 tsps to a cup of hot water and let it steep.  

• Tulsi tea: ( holy basil) Research shows it is a “super herb” that has antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, the list is long for it’s healing properties. It is ideal for immune support and easy to keep with you in tea form or as an essential oil.

Tulsi is excellent for asthma and coughs, it can be inhaled by using essential oil in a diffuser or a couple drops in the palms and taking a couple of deep breaths, the healing. You can purchase tulsi tea in the supermarket or online.

Natural Remedies for a Sore Throat

Most sore throats are from a viral infection from a cold or a flu, but they can also come from a bacterial infection as in the case of strep throat. 

The nose and throat are the gateway of infection into the body. At the onset of a scratchy or sore throat taking natural remedy can quickly and effectively relieve the inflammation and  prevent more serious infection. The key with any medicinals is to use them appropriately to support the body’s natural healing mechanism.

Most natural remedies are safe to use and effective for children and during pregnancy, but it is always wise to consult your doctor if you have any concerns.

Classic Chinese herbal remedies from the Han dynasty 200BC-220AD to Qing dynasty 1644-1836 successfully treat sore throats as well as more serious febrile diseases. They are in use today because of their efficacy.

Yin Qiao Ma Bo San: Honeysuckle, Forsythia, and Puffball powder)  Treats severe sore throat with difficulty swallowing as with febrile diseases such as covid-19.  

Contains: Honeysuckle, Forsythia, burdock root, Belamcanda Rhizome, .Puffball, the fruiting body of mushrooms), 

Forsythia: (Lian Qiao)has anti-inflammatory properties and is a main herb in many Chinese herbal formulas involving sore throats and fevers. 

Honeysuckle: (Jin Yin Hua) studies show that it has strong anti-viral properties. In chinese herbal medicine honeysuckle is called Jin Yin Hua and is a main herb in many formulas used for prevention and treatment of Covid-19. 

Burdock root seed: (Niu Bang Zi) Burdock root is both food and medicine. In Chinese medicine it is called Niu Bang and the seeds Niu Bang Zi are used for treating “heat” conditions such as fever, cough, and a sore, red swollen throat.  It is combined with other herbs to create fever formulas and “heat” conditions.

Heat conditions in Chinese medicine are inflammations such as arthritis or infections, in particular studies show that Burdock root is anti-inflammatory and also antioxidant meaning that it is cancer fighting. Research shows that the extracts of burdock root are able to break down the biofilm of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics treatment of bladder infections. 

Puffball mushroom(Ma Bo) -  Mature fruiting body has many antioxidant properties and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity.

Yin Qiao San: (Honeysuckle and Forsythia powder) Treats fever, headache, cough and sore throat. This is the early stage of getting sick, and patients take it as soon as they feel a little scratchy throat. The chief herbs Honeysuckle and Forsythia.

Research  shows this formula is effective for upper respiratory infections and common colds. It is a classic Chinese medicine formula.

Ban Lan Gen and Da Qing Ye: Isatis root and Isatis leaf treat influenza and sore throat. Usually these herbs are part of a formula, but can be found and used as a single herb in a tincture or in a lozenge form in an Asian herbal shop.

Herbs and herbal teas can be brewed alone or in combinations, all one needs is hot water and let them steep. Teas can also be stored in the refrigerator as a cold beverage. 

• Peppermint tea: Helps with digestion and the menthol in peppermint helps with opening the sinuses. In Chinese herbal medicine it is called Bo He and is a chief herb for sinus and throat formulas. 

• Dandelion flower tea: Sore throats and mastitis, it is also good for “heat” conditions such as  bladder infections and inflammation. In Chinese herbal medicine it is called Pu Gong Ying and is used in formulas for breast tenderness and mastitis with breastfeeding and detoxing the liver.  Studies show that dandelion also helps with liver function and  has anti-diabetic effects which helps with blood sugar regulation.

• Honeysuckle: Use for sinus upper respiratory tract infections including colds, influenza, pneumonia, digestive disorders and studies show that it has strong anti-viral properties. In Chinese herbal medicine honeysuckle is called Jin Yin Hua and is a main herb in many formulas used for prevention and treatment of Covid-19. 

• Chrysanthemum flower tea: Is used traditionally for summer teas and is as popular as green tea. It is called Ju Hua in Chinese medicine and studies show that it can help reduce inflammation, extracts of chrysanthemum show that it can help with osteoporosis. Similar to Dandelion Ju Hua also can relieve liver toxicity by “cooling” the blood. 

• Gargling with apple cider vinegar and warm salt water. Vinegar and salt water can help relieve swollen and inflamed tissue in the throat and break up mucus. Both vinegar and salt create an environment that is unfriendly to bacteria that may be causing the inflammation. They both disrupt the biofilms formed by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. 1-2 teaspoons of ACV in warm water with salt, gargle 20-30 seconds then spit.

• Honey, Lemon and Ginger for a Sore throat: I recommend to my patients Manuka honey to add to their tea with lemon and ginger.  Manuka honey comes from the flowers of Manuka shrub that are in the Tea Tree family that have stronger antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties than average honey. 

Autoimmune Conditions Seem To Be On The Rise...How Can Acupuncture Help?

Having an autoimmune condition really sucks. It usually takes years to figure out what is wrong and often no one believes that you actually have pain or suffer.

Many people with autoimmune conditions find Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine gives them relief. #acupuncture #painrelief #rheumatoidarthritis

What are autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune diseases are an abnormal inflammatory response related to chronic illnesses. and they are on the rise in the us. According to AARDA (American Autoimmune Disease Related Association), close to 24% of the US population has an autoimmune condition. 

Environmental factors such as pesticides, and our food are a source of toxicity and inflammation. 

Conditions like MS, Crohn’s disease, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, and Rheumatoid arthritis can have good days where everything is normal and days or weeks where you feel like your life is hijacked.

How Can Acupuncture Help?

Studies have shown it to be beneficial in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis, because of the anti-inflammatory effect, anti-oxidative effect and regulation of immune system function.

What causes autoimmune conditions to get worse?

Our lives are extremely stressful and stress hormones disrupt our immune system to then over respond and attack the body. 

Stress and stress hormones of fight or flight increase inflammation in the body and make it hard for the nervous system to rebalance. This is one of the underlying reasons why autoimmune conditions are so hard to treat. Once triggered the body becomes hypersensitive and can develop more sensitivities and triggers. Emotionally this also makes the worse.

Poor sleep will also interfere with the immune system and will inflammation, digestion and mood. It becomes a vicious cycle.

Are autoimmune diseases on the rise or is there more awareness than there used to be? 

There is more awareness about autoimmune diseases, but it is not always clear that the illnesses are autoimmune or a passing event. So many doctors don’t test patients for the autoimmune antibodies or 

Are there any theories about why?

There are lots of chemicals in our environment and pesticides, plastics, beauty products as well as processed foods and these are linked to increases in inflammation. Studies show that processed foods cause more inflammation in the body. 

Why are autoimmune commons, and so common in women?

Women have more nerve receptors as well as hormonal fluctuations compared to men.  Hormonal cycles along with stress can lead to more inflammation and contribute to chronic conditions autoimmune related illnesses such as fibromyalgia.  Research has shown estrogen plays a critical role in affecting pain receptors,  and inflammation. 

When do autoimmune illnesses typically surface and why they are they so difficult to diagnose?

Typically autoimmune conditions will surface after an event, such as the flu virus that can disrupt the intestinal flora and in turn cause an autoimmune response. Autoimmune conditions can also show up years later after suffering from mono or strep where the body never fully recovers and then over time develops more inflammations. This is what makes them so difficult to diagnose because the symptoms may come and go, and seem to be harmless, like a little allergy or digestive upset.

Something like food poisoning, can later cause chronic digestive problems such as IBS or colitis. 

Gut bacteria is crucial for our immune system and when it is out of balance our entire body suffers from a lowered immunity and a dysfunctional immune response. 

Why a Balanced Immune System is the Key to Total Body Wellness

Health is not a matter of luck. It is something you create.

The immune system is a regulatory function meaning that it is in a state of “dynamic balance” this is something that is observed in the Daoist principles of Chinese and East Asian Medicine. Using the metaphor of Qi or life energy flow helps to look at health as vital energy.

Wei Qi is the defensive Qi that surrounds us and protects us from illness that are referred to as “evil” pathogens.

For the most part we don’t notice our immune system at work unless we get a runny nose , a rash or a fever. A well balanced system just works, this is know as homeostasis.

When a person has a balanced immune system, they may not notice any “symptoms” because the immune system is able to recognize immediately pathogens surrounding them and escort them out or “kill them”. Their body can sense when there is something off and respond rapidly to auto-regulate. 

Getting sick is really our immune system responding to an attack and it just happens that we are the battlefield where the attack is taking place.

In Asian culture, the practice of cultivating health and longevity, this involves practices that strengthen the mind body connection. There are principles that support the development of optimal health and wellness. The 8 principles in East Asian medicine are. food, exercise, meditation/mindfulness, acupuncture, herbs, bodywork, cosmology (season and planetary influences) and Feng Shui (the art and science of placement).

How to work with the genetics you were born with so you can take charge of your health destiny.

You are born with a constitution (genetic predisposition) that has strengths and weaknesses and as you develop nutrition, activities, behaviors environmental factors influence your health and wellbeing.  

Scientific research shows that environmental factors play a role in our immune system in the form of epigenetics. Environmental chemicals, nutrition, emotional and stress challenge the immune system and your body chemistry can turn on certain genes that later can become chronic diseases. 

A balanced immune system does not mean you won’t get “sick” The symptoms we call sick such as, a runny nose, sneezing, fever, cough, sweating, vomiting and diarrhea are the body’s way of getting rid of a virus or bacteria. 

This means making sure to get proper nutrition, exercise, sleep as well as cultivate mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.  

The idea of “boosting” is really more like making sure that the immune system is supported so that your body will do what it does best balance and heal, and will have energy when it encounters a pathogen or virus.

• Start now even if it is a baby step!

• Hydrate with water and avoid sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol

• Foods that are plant based and anti-inflammatory

• Food that is nutrient dense so that the body can absorb and metabolize easily

• get regular exercise, this helps with circulation and mood

• sunshine and vitamin D

• probiotics to balance your gut flora

• getting restorative sleep

• relieving stress, acupuncture can immediately shift the brain chemistry to rest and digest

• keeping a healthy weight, relieve strain on joints, the heart, lungs and kidneys

• mindfulness practice of meditation to help calm the brain