The theory of the Five Elements, or Wu Xing, dates back as early as 300 B.C. and is used to
identify how our diet, movements, and emotions are interconnected with nature and our
environment.
Why Breakfast?
Breakfast is a key start to every single day... The word literally means “breaking the fast” after 8-12 hours without food or liquids. Breakfast is a regularly skipped meal with common excuses like, “I am not hungry, I am rushed, or I feel nauseated after breakfast.” While there can be many reasons for not wanting breakfast, it is common that digestion is sluggish, cold, or just not functioning properly. Americans are accustomed to fairly limited ideas of what breakfast consists of, and may be depriving themselves of vital nutrients, proteins, and proper warmth that aids the digestive process.
TRY THIS: Have warm soup in the morning. A cup of organic broth will do. Soup is simple to make or reheat and stimulates digestion, igniting your "digestive fire" and prepares your digestive tract for later meals. Soup has a lot of proteins, minerals, and nutrients with a high water content that will help rehydrate your body after sleeping. When time is a factor, start waking up 5-10 minutes earlier to prevent eating on the go. Limit distractions while you eat. Start small and keep it simple.
the B I G G E R WHY?
Digestion is strongest in the morning and weakest in the evening. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognizes the rhythm of energy movement between organs and has identified 7-9am as the most active time for digestion (7-9pm being the least active). Modern studies have supported this finding by showing how the habit of eating breakfast contributes to more regulated weight, more stable blood sugar, and better energy levels through the day.
Breakfast does not have to be massive in size. The stomach is not a very large organ, and the quality of food we eat is far more important than the quantity. Starting the day with a cup of broth-based soup that contains a variety of vegetables, meats, and seasonings will provide many essential nutrients needed for the body to function well. Incorporating seasonal foods (produce that is "in season") will enhance this quality. Adjusting the temperature and density of your breakfast by the seasons is also valuable. Cold winter days invite a mug of steaming hot soup, but mid-summer heat may require fresh, mildly warm, cooling foods or chilled soups.
Digestion is a warm process that is easily influenced by the thermal properties of food, beverages, and environmental conditions. Healthy eating includes respecting this need for heat in the digestive process. Eating mostly warm, cooked foods supports this need for heat. If we are eating cold, raw foods in the cold winter months we are weakening this digestive fire and creating sluggish, weak, cold digestion. Many people start the day with a smoothie- which is fine- if adding a warming property to the list of ingredients. Some warming elements to throw into a smoothie (if your body is not always feeling overheated or showing redness in the face) include: ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne. Eating raw (cold) foods can also be aided with the use of warming ingredients such as mustard, black pepper, horseradish, vinegar, and warming ginger or green tea after a meal.
So... BREAKFAST. Stoke that digestive fire at the start of every day. Think quality over quantity- but always keep that stomach warm so you can get the most from the foods you eat all day.
Seasonal Allergy Relief
While the newness of spring breathes life back into plants, trees, flowers, and wildlife that have been dormant all winter, this same rebirth awakens unpleasant seasonal allergies for many people. According to TCM, allergies, or bi yuan, meaning nose-pool, are caused by a blockage of wei Qi to the nose and sinuses. Acupuncture and herbal medicine manage symptoms by decreasing pain and inflammation, bolstering the immune system, and regulating the body’s histamine response to aggravates like pollen or dust, relieving symptoms before they start. The shift into spring is a great time to bolster your defenses and prepare your body for the allergies to come using essential oils, herbal formulas, and acupuncture. A western approach to allergy relief is a saline rinse via a neti pot. The saline, a sanitary salt solution, washes out irritating allergens like pollen, and calms inflamed tissues while easing congestion in the sinuses.
Aromatherapy for Symptom Relief
Essential oils have been used for centuries to aid the body in healing, and can even be used to treat allergy symptoms. Use the following essential oils as a shower steam, chest rub, in a diffuser, or directly inhale the oil to calm and relieve unpleasant symptoms like headaches, congestion, itching, and runny nose. Make sure to not apply oils directly to skin without diluting in a carrier oil, and research whether these oils are safe around kids or pets. If a reaction occurs, it could be an allergic reaction and should be washed off immediately.
Eucalyptus: Though a known cause for allergies in some people, eucalyptus is an anti-inflammatory oil that can help with congestion relief, reduce inflammation, open up the sinuses and lungs, improve circulation, and clear mucus.
Peppermint: Peppermint is a strong oil that opens clogged sinuses, is anti-inflammatory, relieves pain, opens airways, relieves a scratchy throat, has decongestant properties, and disperses wind-heat symptoms. Thi oil also enters the liver acupuncture meridian, unblocking qi stagnation and helping the body to release and relax.
Frankincense and Sandalwood: Studies have shown that the combination of frankincense and sandalwood with eucalyptus ravensara can ease symptoms related to hay fever caused by pollen. This anti-inflammatory combination helped unblock nasal passages, eased runny and itchy noses, lessened frequency of sneezing, aided in better sleep.
Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint Blend: Lemon, lavender, and peppermint are all anti-inflammatory oils that combined is a natural antihistamine that relieves mucus and cools down the inflammatory reaction to irritants like pollen or dust. Avoid direct sunlight on exposed skin when using lemon oil.
Herbal Formulas for Symptom Relief
Chinese herbal formulas that address spring allergies are often created with warm acrid herbs that release exterior wind-cold. These formulas are curated to best combat symptoms like mucus build up, congestion, itchy eyes and nose, and sore throat. Before taking herbal formulas, consult a specialist to determine the correct one for your symptoms and to ensure no negative side effects or reactions.
Xanthium Powder (Cang Er Zi San): This formula is commonly prepared as a teapill, and combines warming acrid herbs that help dry mucus, and cooling herbs that clear phlegm. Magnolia flowers are used to unblock nasal passageways and remove excess thin mucus. This formula works best for relieving mucus symptoms, but does not address symptoms like itchy eyes and nose, and throat irritation that are commonly associated with allergic rhinitis, or hay fever.
Bi Yan Pian: This widely known formula is available in pill and tincture form, and is especially useful when sinus congestion is lingering and mucus becomes thick and yellow. Used to alleviate excess heat, it includes warming and transforming herbs, as well as herbs used for clearing heat like chrysanthemum, Japanese catnip, forsythia, and platycodon. Other herbs like licorice and schizandra balance the drying effects of these herbs.
Ju hua (Chrysanthemum): This cooling herb is used to clear heat and dispel wind, and clear the liver and the eyes. It enters the Lung channel, which opens up into the nose, head, and eyes. The wind element is associated with symptoms of pain or itchiness, and symptoms that appear quickly and change constantly. These symptoms include sneezing, headaches, and dry or itchy eyes. This formula is great to use when symptoms first hit and can offer fast relief. To use, make a compress from the tea and put over your eyes when they feel hot, dry, or itchy.
Other herbs that are used on their own: Butterbur has been shown to be as effective as prescription antihistamines, but without the drowsiness. Use with caution if you have a ragweed allergy, as they are in the same family. Quercetin is an herbal extract from foods like onions, grapes, or berries that is considered a natural antihistamine. Euphrasia officinalis (eyebright) and Scutellaria (Chinese skullcap) treat symptoms of hay fever like congestion and watery eyes.
Acupuncture for Symptom Relief
During an acupuncture session to relieve allergy symptoms, needles are placed on acu-points and meridians associated with body parts more affected by allergies, like the head, nose, and eyes.
Large Intestine 4 (LI-4): This point is located in the muscle between the thumb and index finger, and is used to treat all symptoms related to the head and face. It helps alleviate red and itchy eyes, fevers, heat in the face, sinus troubles, strengthens the immune system, regulates sweating, and moves Qi and blood stagnation to stop pain.
Stomach 36 (ST-36): This point below the kneecap is used to tonify Qi, warm the stomach and lungs, and strengthen defensive Qi. Defensive Qi, or Wei Qi, is connected to immunity, and is the body’s barrier against pathogens. Working mostly around the skin and muscles, Wei Qi induces symptoms like fever, chills, and shivering. The higher the response, the stronger one’s immune system. Good for eliminating stagnation, it can help your body move through allergy season more quickly.
Large Intestine 20 (LI-20): This point is perfect for short-term allergy relief, and is used to open your nasal passage to immediately relieve sinus pressure. This point can be found on the sides of your nasolabial folds, just to the outside of the nostril. Try pressing both points of the nose at once and breathe deeply through your nose as you go.
Gua Sha: Gua sha is a scraping technique where a spoon shaped tool is used to rub over acupressure points and fascia to improve blood flow to an area, release tension, and stimulate the immune system through lymphatic drainage. This helps alleviate cold and flu symptoms. Gua sha is often used to stimulate lymphatic drainage throughout the body and face, and when applied to the face, can relieve congestion in the sinuses. This also relieves sinus headaches and pressure in the upper respiratory system.
Allergies can take a toll on the energetic and new cycle of spring, but through the Chinese medicine practices of aromatherapy, neti pots, herbal remedies, gua sha, and acupuncture, those unpleasant symptoms can be relieved. Blend your own special mix of essential oils to ease congestion, try an herbal remedy to eliminate excess heat, increase Qi flow with acupuncture, or remove waste and fluids from the face and body with gua sha.
References
Goodman, Steve. “Chinese Herbs and Spring Allergies.” Retrieved from https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2014/09/01/chinese-herbs-and-spring-allergies.
Mrazek, Katie. “Press Pause On Spring Allergies With These 3 Acupressure Points”. Retrieved from https://evolvewellnessvancouver.ca/2021/06/23/press-pause-on-spring-allergies-with-these-3-acupressure-points/.
Orosz, Grace. “Essential Oils for Seasonal Allergies”. Retrieved from https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/healthu/2018/06/26/essential-oils-for-seasonal-allergies#.ZC81rezMKRs.
Zappin, Benjamin. “Surviving Pollen Season with Chinese Medicine”. Retrieved from https://fiveflavorsherbs.com/blog/surviving-pollen-season-with-chinese-medicine/.
“Allergy Relief with Essential Oils”. Retrieved from https://www.energymattersonline.com/blog/allergy-relief-with-essential-oils.
“A TCM Toolkit for Seasonal Allergies.” Retrieved from https://balancecharleston.com/blog/2020/4/27/a-chinese-medicine-toolkit-fornbspallergies.
“Essential Oils for Allergies”. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/essential-oils-for-allergies#blend-of-oils.
“How acupuncture can improve allergy symptoms”. Retrieved from https://www.mainlinehealth.org/blog/allergies-and-acupuncture.
“Your First Line of Defense: Wei Qi”. Retrieved from https://mendacupuncture.com/your-first-line-of-defense-wei-qi/.