I have some exciting news to announce!
»  One, I have upgraded my title from registered Practitioner of TCM  to registered Doctor of TCM. 
»  Two, I am starting my own clinic in Kitsilano and will be having an open house in October that you are welcome to attend.  In fact, I am offering 30 minute TCM consultations by donation, so you choose what you want to pay...see below for details.
»  Three, I am recently back from a trip to South America.  If you would like to see a few photos, I have them uploaded on my blog site melissacarr.blogspot.com.

Do you feel it?  Do you feel the change in the air as autumn makes its appearance?  Besides pulling your jackets out of the closet, there are many other changes that you can make keep healthy.

I have so many things that I would like to write about for my e-newsletters, but I am always happy to take requests and will do my best to oblige. If you no longer wish to receive these mailings, please let me know and I will remove you from my list.

	Autumnal changes Back from a recent trip to South America, I would like to share some of what I learned and how you might benefit.
	Don't let yourself fall prey to the common cold The kids are back in school and you know what that means.  For many it means fighting off those pesky colds that school grounds seem to breed.  As fall is the season of the Lungs and Large Intestine, here are some ways to keep those systems strong.
	Strengthen your Lungs Make yourself this yummy soup, and while you're waiting for it to cook, practice this breathing exercise.  A cold will never catch you now!
Helping you help yourself! My goal: To work in partnership with you to bring you to your optimal health. My focus: Ongoing health, not just temporary relief. This is active health.

South America, New Clinic Open House, and Donations for the Environment...

As many of you know, I had the wonderful chance to go to South America for 3 weeks this summer.  When asked how it was, I can best sum it up in two words...an adventure.  Some of it was challenging.  Some of it was difficult.  But ultimately it was an unforgettable learning experience!

First of all, without trying to be preachy, I want to say that despite the problems that we have in Canada with our health care, we are extremely fortunate in many ways.  We have many choices that others do not.  And yet, even with little, many people there are able to perform some incredible healings.While the impact of the vastness of the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu was beyond words, the greatest influence of this trip for me was from the natural elements. 

As with all native cultures around the world, medicine from herbs and food is powerful stuff.  In the Amazon jungle, I was shown plants from which teas, brews, or foods are made to tame fevers, eliminate toxins, treat pain, and ease childbirth.  At the Galapagos Islands I was astounded by the uniqueness of the landscapes and the animals that live there.  It frightened me that despite their strength to survive thousands of years of natural environmental changes, we have managed to destroy so much in so relatively little time. 

My goal is to try to do what I can to help the preservation and conservation of our environment and animals.  You might wonder why I feel so passionate about this when my practice is in medicine and humans.  Yet, while we may think we are separate from our environments--creating our own small biospheres with air-conditioned or heated offices and homes that are regulated for humidity and so on--we are not immune to the changes that happen around us.  The things that are harmful to our environments are also ultimately harmful to us.  This has been demonstrated to us in so many, many ways, and yet it is still a lesson we struggle to learn.

My contribution is that I plan on offering periodic days when I will give 30 minute consultations by donation.  You choose what you want to donate and the proceeds will be given to causes that I feel are important, such as the David Suzuki Foundation (at the Open House).  If you or anyone you know is interested in giving TCM a try, my first day to offer this is going to be at the open house to my new office.  The day is set for Monday, October 24th on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day from 12-6 p.m.  

TCM Essentials about Fall
Element: metal
TCM Organ systems: Lungs and Large Intestines – systems important for proper elimination of toxins
Colour: white – who says you can’t wear white after Labour Day?!
Emotion: sadness/grief – eliminate the toxins of old emotions
Flavour: pungent – a bit of garlic, ginger, and onions can go a long way
Body tissue: skin – just as your lungs breathe, so too does your skin, so choose wisely when selecting lotions, makeup, and clothing, trying to be as natural as possible
Sense organ: nose – use essential oils with scents you enjoy; if you are usually congested, try eucalyptus or peppermint
Health Issues to Address: Related to the Lungs—Allergies (even if they only occur in the spring), asthma, respiratory disorders, skin disorders (eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, etc.); Getting ready for Winter – Arthritis and other joint pains worsened by cold weather, poor circulation, urinary bladder and kidney disorders

Making the Common Cold Less Common
The common cold could not be more aptly named.  In fact, statistics state that 72 percent of Canadians contract a cold every year with adults averaging 2.5 colds per year.  Because children are often in close contact with each other and because their immune systems are immature, they average 6 to 10 colds and often bring home as many as 12 colds a year.  We have been noted to spend more than $20 million a year on cold remedies and the social costs of the common cold, at $400 million per year, are more than the combined expenditures on asthma, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease!

While colds are often thought of as a necessary nuisance, providing practice for the strengthening of our immune systems so we can fight off more serious infections, no one wants to suffer.  So what can you do to prevent colds and flus and reduce the severity and duration if you do succumb? 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that colds (called gan mao) occur when an external environmental pathogen such as wind combined with cold (Wind-Cold gan mao) attacks and overwhelms the body.  An example of this is if you are tired and go outside without a scarf and jacket when the temperature drops, and a cold wind blows strongly on the nape of your neck, giving you a chill.  The next day you wake up with a stiff neck and upper back, headache, runny nose, itchy throat, and perhaps a cough.  Another common TCM gan mao is caused by Wind-Heat.  While it may not actually be caused by a hot wind, the symptoms of this kind of cold are different from the Wind-Cold type.  Wind-Heat sufferers tend to get warm easily, perspire easily, and may suffer from constipation and have more fiery personalities.  Symptoms of Wind-Heat include a sore throat, fever, yellow mucus, thirst, and sweating.  It is important to note that each kind of cold is treated differently by TCM. 

It is true that there is no evidence that being chilled or overheated will make you catch a cold, but putting stress on the body, both physical and emotional, can lower your immune system, thus making you more likely to get sick when a virus does attack.  So, one way to prevent catching a cold is to reduce the stress on your body.  Now this does not mean stay in bed all day and avoid all potentially difficult situations or people.  You can live your life.  Just make sure to balance it with enough sleep, healthy food and water, and relaxation and enjoyment time.  Common sense to prevent the common cold.

You’ve probably also heard the most recommended ways to avoid being exposed to viruses and bacteria, but it’s always worth the reminder.  Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth so that you don’t introduce viruses into your body.  Be considerate and cover your mouth or nose when you sneeze or cough.  Try to avoid those with colds, although this is obviously not always possible. 

Those are the basics.  The following are some TCM suggestions.

Prevention

»     Dress appropriately for the weather and layer if necessary.  Keep your neck warm with a scarf, turned up collar, or turtleneck.

»      Strengthen your lung system by practicing deep breathing (see Lung exercise article)

»      Try adding some pungent foods to your diet, but don’t overdo it.  Examples are garlic, ginger, horseradish, onions, turnip, daikon radish, and radish.  Pungent foods cleanse the Lungs and Large Intestines and help to protect them.

»      Avoid sweets and stimulants (caffeine) as they weaken our bodies and strengthen the pathogen.

»      Cook with some immune boosting herbs such as reishi mushroom, shiitake mushroom, and astragalus (huang qi).  All have been shown by research to increase the production of white blood cells. (see recipe)

»      As the weather gets colder, more warming foods are appropriate.  Unless you know that you tend toward overheating, avoid excess raw and cold foods.  Try eating more soups and stews, steaming your vegetables, and start using warming herbs like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper.

Treatments

»      For Wind-Cold type colds, try eating miso soup with the white part of spring onion and fresh ginger.  It will make you sweat, so go to bed, cover up and stay warm, and let your body sweat it out.

»      For Wind-Heat type colds, try one or a combination of isatis (ban lan gen), chrysanthemum (ju hua), and/or honeysuckle (jin yin hua) as a tea by boiling in hot water.  Talk to a TCM doctor or herbalist to find these herbs, or you can shop in Chinatown.

»      If you do get the beginning signs of a cold, avoid tonifying herbs such as ginseng as they will strengthen the pathogen.

»      Acupressure can bring relief of symptoms and strengthen your body for a faster recovery.  One point is on the back of the hand in the fleshy part between the index finger and thumb, close to the index finger bone.  This point is good to relieve frontal headaches and nasal congestion, but should not be used during pregnancy.  Another point is on the thumb side of the forearm, about 1.5 inches from the base of the thumb.  This point strengthens the lungs and respiratory system and treats nasal congestion, cough, problems breathing, and runny nose.  For nasal congestion, press the points about one finger width to the side of the nostrils.  Try breathing deeply and you will often find it easier to do when these points are pressed.

The proverbial get some rest, eat chicken soup, and drink lots of fluids are good suggestions as well, but “take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning” may not be the ideal solution.  According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “Researchers also have shown that using aspirin to treat colds increases the amount of virus in nasal secretions, possibly making the cold sufferer more of a hazard to others”.

A cold generally lasts no more than 2 weeks, with most resolving within one week, but if you have the following symptoms, it may be wise to consult a doctor: shortness of breath or chest pain, persistent fever, inability to keep fluids down, painful swallowing, persistent coughing, or persistent congestion and headaches. 

Remember that you can keep your body strong with regular treatments, and a healthy body is less likely to get sick than a weak one.

One of the fantastic creatures of the Galapagos Islands – the Galapagos Giant Tortoise. During the 19th century, whalers and sealers heavily depleted their numbers. They took them for their meat and oil as they found they could keep them live on their boats for  up to a year without feeding them food or water. Conservation efforts are now being made to restore their populations, including finding a mate for the only found Pinta Island giant tortoise, Lonesome George.

And finally, let me know your birthday
so I can email you a birthday card and gift at the right time!