Author Archives: Helen White

Qi Gong Can Be A Tool To Treat ADD And Relieve States Of Anxiety

Are you aware that qi gong can be a way to change the chemistry of your brain and increase circulation to it to relieve levels of anxiety and attention problems?

According to a study conducted by the University of CA at Irvine, when people suffering from ADD got Qi emissions from a master of qi gong, their brain scans showed following qi emission showed a higher blood perfusion to certain areas of the brain than scans before qi emission.

Better mental clarity and attention occur and there is reduced atrophy of brain tissue when there is an increase in blood flow to the brain.

Yet, you can still receive these benefits even without working with a qi gong master. Just indulging in a practice of qi gong meditations and movements regularly can also protect the brain against premature aging and enhance attention levels.

Qi Gong practice activates alpha brain waves, which are related to focused concentration (as in states of meditation) and also with deep states of relaxation. It also stimulates the thamalus and visual cortex which result in lower levels of anxiety.

In October 2007, the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Researchers published a study stating that due to qi gong’s therapeutic effects, it can be used as an alternative form of treatment against anxiety for people who prefer non-pharmacologic treatment approaches.

Qi gong’s flowing and gentle motions also assist the brain by challenging coordination between breathing and motions which nourishes the neurological system to treat dementia among the elderly.

Hence, tai chi and qi gong are often used to counter neurological atrophy and challenge the brain to stay healthy and vibrant every day.

Qi gong can be used as a clinical tool to help adults and children suffering from sensory processing problems, anxiety, ADD, autism, and learning difficulties to improve the way they process and interact with the world.

The Advantages Of Using Medical Silicone Massage Cups In Cupping Therapy

In this day and age, we find a growing number of people turning to natural alternative therapies as a way of relieving a myriad of illnesses and ailments in our modern society. We are witnessing a revival in Chinese Cupping Therapy and acupuncture as therapeutic methods and techniques to address health conditions. If we base these practices purely on how long they’ve been used, these healing modalities then obviously work extremely well. Cupping therapy has been documented as a remedy for pain as far back as 2000 years ago. TCM or Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the principle that the blockage of chi or energy flow, through the energy pathways of the body (called meridians) result in toxic accumulation and stagnation that eventually leads illness and dis-ease.

These underlying causes of illnesses and diseases can be addressed through cupping therapy, which applies pressure and suction to literally suck out toxins and stored waste material through the skin and out of the body. Cupping therapy helps restore the smooth flow of chi through the body’s meridians. Today, it is being practiced by modern-day therapists who use cups made out of glass, bamboo, or plastic to treat patients.

Recently, a company in South Africa introduced medical silicone massage cups. Because these cups are pliable, they are easier to manipulate by cupping therapists and practitioners. Just a simple squeeze of the cup after being applied to the skin generates the suction effect required to initiate the treatment. The therapist/practitioner then can perform massage over an area compared to the old traditional way in which the cup stays in place on a specific problem area. One excellent use of these cups is in therapeutic massage cupping targeted to eliminate cellulite.

Cellulite usually entails coverage over a large area on the buttocks or thighs; the cup is manipulated and moved over the entire area in circular, zig-zag, and up and down motions. This natural alternative form of removal or reduction of cellulite is wonderful news to women who have all but given up on ever resolving their “cellulite problems”.

The fibroblast cells are stimulated by the massage resulting in the rise of elastin and collagen production, and the enhancement of lymphatic drainage and blood flow vastly improve the texture and tone of the skin. One other extremely important difference to the old style of cupping is the fact that the silicone cups do not leave the trade mark purple blue bruises on the skin.

Silicone cups are ideal for people conscious of their image who are concerned of having “cup marks” or worse, redness (albeit a healthy redness) appearing on their skin. Throughout the world, cupping therapy is an ever growing popular holistic and natural treatment that can be used for various disorders including fibromyalgia, lung conditions, addictions, migraines, eczema, stretch marks, varicose veins, colon blocks, and many more others.

Being manipulative and pliable, silicone cups, can lead to new and exciting massage techniques in the future as a way to treat stress related modern day ailments.

Qi Gong As A Treatment For Various Types Of Ailments

Similar to Tai Chi and Taoism, Qi gong is an ancient Chinese practice that has been passed down by qigong masters from one generation to the next. No one knows how it actually began. What is known though is that it has been kept a secret by and for the Chinese elite and their initiates and is very much cloaked in mysterious rituals.

Since the modern age, however, the exercises of qigong have become very popular worldwide. Its name is derived from two Chinese words Qi, which refers to the vital energy flowing in the universe and within the body of a person and Gong, which means skill or accomplishment that is refined through constant practice. This practice is a powerful way to make people more “powered” in a certain sense. Qi gong is made up of light movements and breathing exercises. Its benefits have been acknowledged by a lot of practitioners who have experienced them during practice.

Qi gong can be used to treat various types of ailments. It can help relieve and manage stress, boost the immune and nervous systems, cleanse the entire body including the muscles, skin, circulation, bones, and internal organs, foster a sense of well being, and eliminate or relieve pain. While this practice has extra advantages, these aforementioned benefits are the major and better known ones.

The vital energy workouts are grounded on an ideology of nature. Practicing qi gong has been known to tap in energy from the cosmos or the entire universe, the sky, the oceans, the sun, earth and several other natural sources. This feeling of connection to the cosmos is an integral part of the entire Qi gong philosophy. It is also a major factor in the art of meditation.

Meditation entails a specific kind of focus within a tranquil environment. Meditation qi gong can be facilitated by meditative sounds. The power of qi is believed to be strengthened through meditation and the movements of qi. In their original form, some of the principles behind the practice of qi gong can be a bit difficult to comprehend. These days, however, there are so many programs that have new contrived forms of qi gong. These are mostly simplified qi gong movements, which means, the principles are a bit easier to understand even for those not acquainted with spiritual techniques. Whatever type of qi gong exercise you choose, make sure you select the ones that best fit your needs.

Qi gong exercises practice can also be combined with Tai chi and other techniques of the same nature. These are softer versions of martial arts that can help nurture the soul and at the same time improve the body.

Cupping Therapy For The Relief Of Fibromyalgia Symptoms

In the treatment of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, it is just as important to know what medical treatments will work best for you as it is important to learn the alternative therapies that can provide relief for the symptoms. This is because unlike conventional drugs and treatments a wide range of alternative treatments do not have any negative side effects.

For some sufferers of fibromyalgia, there are a lot of alternative remedies available that are powerful enough to alleviate pain. Cupping therapy, which has turned into a very popular therapy for fibromyalgia patients, is one such therapy.

What is cupping therapy?

A healing technique that’s a part of TCM or traditional Chinese medicine, cupping therapy involves the use of glass cups heated and applied to the skin to help restore proper circulation, clear toxins, and relieve pain in the body. Heat is applied inside the cup creating a vacuum inside the cup. Then the cups are placed on selected trigger points (or acupuncture points in acupuncture) and left in place for about 10 to 15 minutes.

The two most commonly used forms of cupping are:

1. Stationary cupping – In this type of cupping, glass cups are applied to the skin and remain stationary till the end of the treatment.

2. Massage cupping – In massage cupping, the glass cups are moved around the site of the problem in a massage-like movement help massage painful muscles and joints.

How is cupping session therapy administered?

Cupping therapy is usually done with the following tools: matches, candles, rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, and glass cups. It is performed in the following manner:

1. First, the practitioner soaks a cotton ball in alcohol and a burning candle is used to set the cotton ball on fire.
2. The practitioner holds the lit ball inside the cup creating a vacuum within the cup.
3. The cotton ball is removed once a vacuum is created and the cup is quickly placed on the acupuncture point on the skin.
4. During a session, four to six cups are usually used and left in the body for fifteen minutes more or less.

While cupping therapy uses fire for healing, it is actually not a painful form of treatment for most people. In fact, the only thing a person may feel is the suctioning sensation of the cup while it is placed on the skin. After the procedure, the patient may sport red circle marks on his skin due to the cups. Those circle marks disappear after a few days. Chinese practitioners actually believe that the marks are a sign that blood circulation has improved inside your body.

Cupping Therapy for Fibromyalgia

After a cupping therapy session, patients often report a feeling of deep relaxation. The areas that have been targeted for treatment also feel agile and light. This is because cupping has the ability to foster speedy healing of ligaments, tendons, and muscles, to eliminate toxins from the body, and to increase blood flow.

These are the additional benefits that fibromyalgia sufferers can get from cupping:

 Alleviation of stress
 Less feelings of anxiety and depression
 Enhanced overall range of movement and muscle flexibility
 Decrease of painful trigger points
 Stiffness and pain relief for tissues and muscles

For people with fibromyalgia, cupping is an extremely safe treatment as it does not exacerbate their ailments.

One should not administer cupping therapy on their own, nor should anyone allow someone not qualified to perform the therapy on you or anyone else. If you are seeking cupping treatment for your fibromyalgia, you need to search for a qualified therapist. You can find one in holistic treatment centers and in local clinics. You may also ask your massage therapist if he or she has been trained in this healing art or they know as qualified cupping therapist. You can also search online and type in “cupping therapy” and your location as the main keywords.

Cupping Therapy Is An Excellent Cure For Diseases Related To Pain

Cupping therapy has been used by countless number of people since time immemorial. It is a multi-millennial healing therapy mostly used to relieve pain. There are no records on how this therapy actually originated but because of its versatility and extreme effectiveness, it is widely used in several parts of the world for various types of illnesses.

Cupping therapy is a method in which cups are applied on the skin. The cups are used to generate low pressure on the skin. This eventually leads to the curing of certain types of diseases. A mechanical or heating device can also be used during the treatment as a way to enhance the flow of blood in the body. Cupping is a perfect treatment for various types of diseases related to pain.

This therapy’s healing mechanism is fairly simple. It generates a low pressure area on the skin causing the blood flow to increase within the tissues. This boost in circulation increases the supply of nutrients to the bones and muscles of the body.

This increased circulation provides additional strength to the bones and muscles. The strength neutralizes the uncomfortable effects of pain. Cupping is a very effective treatment for back pain. Millions of people in the US are suffering from back pain due to an unhealthy lifestyle. Back pain can occur when the spinal cord becomes weak. Cupping therapy can cure back pain related to weak vertebrae through the application of heated cups on various parts of the back where pain is felt. The cups are oftentimes placed on specific points on the body known as acupuncture points.

The low pressure generated by cupping is extremely beneficial in helping increase the flow of blood into the tissues of the body and this increases the amount of nourishment received by the tissues and cells in the body. This leads to the betterment of the spinal muscle’s overall capacity and function.

Cupping works quite well in the treatment of neck pain. According to Chinese medicine, there are five lines in the energy channels or meridians of the body. The cups are usually applied along these lines. The fire and heat from the cups are meant furnish energy on various acupuncture points on the skin.

Cupping therapy is usually done by an experienced and qualified therapist or practitioner. Anyone can avail themselves of this treatment if they require relief from diseases such as rheumatism, migraines, fatigue, stiff muscles, neck pains, etc. Cupping therapy is indeed an ideal treatment for these diseases.

 

 

Tui Na Is A Physical And Energetic Form Of Bodywork Therapy

Tui Na is an ancient form of Chinese Massage and is sometimes called ‘anmo’. It comprises one of the major components of Chinese medicine alongside qi gong/tai chi, herbal medicine, nutritional therapy, and acupuncture. In the West, this type of bodywork is still relatively unknown, but in China, it is widely used in many Chinese clinics and hospitals. Tui Na has been practiced for over 3000 years, and several modern massage techniques like Shiatsu and Swedish massage have evolved from it.

In both theory and practice, Tui Na is dissimilar to any other type of massage. Besides treating the physical body, practitioners also work with the energetic body; they utilize what one would consider as massage techniques to relax the tension and knots out of the muscles, whilst stimulating the acupuncture points and energy channels (meridians) to balance and regulate the movement of qi or energy in the same manner as acupuncture. This means in Tui Na, there are several kinds of ‘acupressure’ techniques. In fact, Tui Na is sometimes referred to as ‘acupressure massage’, although that term is also applied to more basic acupressure methods that lack the understanding and underlying theories of Tui Na.

In general, there are two styles of Tui Na: the Yin and the Yang styles. Very light healing method using light touch is used in the Yin Style. It strengthens organ function, removes stagnation from the meridians, and balances and regulates the Qi. This therapy is an extremely relaxing and calming treatment.

To eliminate muscular tension and knots, the Yang style is a much more preferred style as it uses deep penetrating techniques. It is quite helpful in relaxing stiff and tight muscles, but in a painless manner, unlike most deep massages.

In fact, a competent practitioner will use both Yin and Yang styles as needed, and most therapies are somewhere between the two extremes. There are no preset routines, and therapies are always designed for each person based on their specific needs.

Tui Na involves the same specific diagnostic techniques and sophisticated understanding of the mind and body as other branches of Chinese medicine such as acupuncture. This is what makes it distinct from other types of massages. The theory and practice of Tui Na are basically inseparable.

This makes it appropriate conditions other than muscular problems. Basically, it can be used to successfully treat a number of ‘internal’ conditions including hormonal, psycho-emotional, digestive, circulatory, and respiratory conditions to name a few. It is also an ideal way to deal with stress and maintain health.

A Tui Na Treament

Before starting treatment, the practitioner will perform a full Chinese Diagnosis on the patient, just as one would if he was receiving acupuncture. The practitioner will ask a series of questions about your overall health and complaint. Then he will take your pulse and tongue.

Afterwards, the practitioner will then proceed with the treatment itself that will be customized to your unique needs, and is usually undertaken over clothing. Sometimes, if oil is to be used, the practitioner will ask to remove some of your clothing.

The practitioner takes clues from the patient’s body to determine the appropriate strength of the techniques and the procedure should involve no pain even when strong techniques are used. In certain instances, only very gentle and light techniques are used, although they can be just as effective.

Cupping Therapy And Its Capacity To Treat Various Types Of Ailments And Illnesses

Cupping is a very old type of alternative medicine in which a practitioner places special cups on the skin of a patient for a few minutes to generate suction. People choose this type of treatment for several reasons: for getting deep-tissue massage, for well being and relaxation, for better blood circulation, and for the relief of inflammation and pain.

The cups may be made of:

• Silicone
• Earthenware
• Bamboo
• Glass

Although it is now becoming a widely used type of treatment, cupping therapy has been practiced for thousands of years. Its use dates back to the ancient Egyptian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese cultures. In fact the Ebers Papyrus, one of the most ancient medical textbooks in the world tells how the ancient Egyptians practiced cupping therapy as early as 1,550 B.C.

The Different Forms of Cupping Therapy

The two different forms of cupping are wet and dry cupping.

In both forms of cupping, the practitioner places a flammable substance such as paper, herbs, or alcohol, into a cup and lights it up. As the fire slowly dies, the practitioner inverts the cup and applies it on the patient’s skin.

A vacuum is created inside the cup as the air cools. This causes your skin to turn red and rise as your blood vessels dilate. Usually, the cup is allowed to remain on the skin for about three minutes.

In wet cupping, the practitioner generates a mild suction by leaving a cup in place for about three minutes. He then removes the cup, takes a small scalpel, and creates tiny cuts on the patient’s skin. Next, the practitioner does a second round of suction to remove a small amount of blood in the cut areas.

In your initial session, three to five cups may be applied on certain parts of your body. Later on, to prevent infection, you may be treated with an antibiotic ointment and bandage. Usually, within ten days, your wounds have been healed and your skin should look normal again.

A newer version of cupping does not use fire but instead a rubber pump to generate a vacuum effect inside the cup. Some practitioners prefer silicone cups that can be easily moved from back and forth on the skin for a massage-like effect.

Those promoting this treatment think that wet cupping eliminates toxins and harmful substances from the body to foster healing. More studies are still being done to prove this theory.

There are practitioners who also provide “needle cupping.” In this technique, the practitioner first sticks acupuncture needles into the acupoints and then places the cups over them.

What Does Studies Show?

Unfortunately, there have been a few scientific studies done on cupping.

The Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in 2015 published a report that stated cupping can be a viable treatment for the management of pain, herpes zoster, and acne.

This mirrors the findings of a report published in PLoS One in 2012. Chinese and Australian researchers reviewed 135 studies related to cupping therapy. According to them, cupping can be of help to people who received other treatments, like drugs or acupuncture, for different illnesses and conditions such as:

• Cervical spondylosis
• Paralysis of the face
• Acne
• Herpes zoster

According to the British Cupping Society, cupping can be used to treat:

• Varicose veins
• Bronchial congestion brought about by asthma and allergies
• Depression and anxiety
• Migraines
• High blood pressure
• Skin disorders including acne and eczema
• Gynecological and fertility problems
• Rheumatic diseases including fibromyalgia and arthritis
• Blood disorders including hemophilia and anemia

Side Effects

As long as the cupping procedure is done by a trained health practitioner, cupping is fairly safe healing modality. Still, you may suffer from the following side effects in the parts of the body where the cups touch your skin:

• Skin infection
• Bruises
• Burns
• Mild discomfort

Reflexology Can Help Relieve Chemotherapy Side Effects And Diabetic Neuropathy Symptoms

Reflexology is an Oriental healing technique that balances the internal organs by stimulating acupressure points on the feet.

Practitioners of reflexology believe that various areas of the feet energetically connected with the various internal organs of the body. The area of the big toe, for instance, which goes down to the heel of the foot on the inner aspect of the foot is associated with the spine.

By stimulating this area of the foot with self-massage, tension and pain in the spine, neck, and shoulders can be loosened and relieved.

Try this simple exercise.

Observe where there is tension or where there is relaxed tissue in the neck by rolling your neck from side to side.

Then, for 3 minutes, massage the base of your big toe also rotating it as if giving your neck a massage. Do the same procedure on the big toe of the opposite foot.

Now rotate roll your neck from side to side. What did you observe?

People tend to feel a relaxation and relief of ache in the neck relaxing after the area of the feet have been manipulated.

Some reflexologists use a type of massage that targets the acupressure areas of the feet. The energetic healing are of qi emission enables energy to flow from the therapist to the client.

While this is a procedure mainly performed without massage and off-the-body, it is deeper than conventional reflexology as it also stimulates the energy meridians that exist in the feet that are connected with the internal organs. It is quite useful for imbalances affecting the nervous system.

This type of method can be of tremendous benefit for people undergoing chemotherapy or those suffering from diabetic neuropathy (e.g. tingling or numb feet).

If You Seriously Want To Quit Smoking, You Should Consider Auricular Acupuncture

With the all too many ill-effects smoking has, not only to our health but to the world around us, many of us (especially those who are addicted to nicotine) still find it unbelievably difficult to quit. Being a chronic smoker myself, I have already been through numerous counseling sessions and nicotine gum and patches in order to quit, all to no avail. Fortunately, I was able to discover an ancient Chinese secret and European healing innovation that has helped me break my smoking habit and turned my life around.

This article will talk about this secret in the hope that it will help you get over the difficulties in trying to quit smoking for good, especially in dealing with nicotine addiction withdrawal. This method, which has been practiced by the Chinese for thousands of years, is acupuncture, but specifically, the more than six decades of European medical innovation, research, and practice known as Auricular Acupuncture.

What is Auricular Acupuncture?

Auricular Acupuncture, also called ear acupuncture or auriculotherapy is a form of acupuncture treatment that originated and was refined in France. It is a procedure that utilizes the theories of traditional acupuncture and basic modern medical science (mainly based on neurology/neurophysiology).

Auricular Acupuncture basically involves the insertion of ultra-thin, single-use, disposable, and sterile needles onto the auricle or outer ear. A modern form uses low level laser instead of needles to stimulate the acupuncture points on the ear. Two to five acupoints are generally used for treatment, which is often combined with needling or “lasering” of selected acupoints on the body. Both needling and laser auriculotherapy are 100 percent safe and pain-free procedures that leaves you extremely comfortable and relaxed.

How Does Auricular Acupuncture Work?

Several theories have been postulated as to how acupuncture actually works. But with regards to Auricular Acupuncture, years of research have shown it to definitely work for a wide range of health conditions. When the outer ear auricle is stimulated, either with laser or needle (studies have shown the laser is less effective than needling but, nonetheless, still effective), natural pain-killing chemicals are released by the brain to calm and relax the person and ease the pain.

Certain parts of the CNS (central nervous system) and the pituitary gland secrete the endorphins, which is triggered by Auricular Acupuncture. The treatment has been shown to influence the blood serum and endorphin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

A person addicted to nicotine (through tobacco smoking) will naturally show high levels of endorphins in his/her body. If this is the case, then how can Auricular Acupuncture help lessen a person’s smoking cravings since nicotine has already increased endorphin levels in the smoker’s bloodstream?

When a person has decided to give up smoking, the CNS will stop secreting endorphins in the body. This results in the rise of symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, which can be very difficult to overcome, and more often than not, is the reason why most people fail to stop smoking. Therefore, the endorphin levels of the person need to be maintained. Auricular Acupuncture actually doesn’t increase a person’s endorphin levels per se; it just stabilizes the rate of release. In this manner, people who have quit, and need assistance with the withdrawal symptoms can be helped, and people who need assistance in actually stopping their smoking can be treated.

As mentioned a while ago, Auricular Acupuncture can be extremely comfortable and relaxing to the patient. This occurs because of the treatment’s ability to release endorphins that brings about a state of analgesia. This effect is caused by the activity within the prefrontal cortex, somatosensory, thalamus, hypothalamus, and periaqueductal gray regions of the brain that is stimulated via needles/laser. This makes it possible to successfully treat symptoms of nicotine withdrawal including physical cravings, stress, restlessness, and anxiety.

What Does Auricular Acupuncture Treatment Involve?

Patients should first look for a trained and licensed acupuncturist who has specialized in Auricular Acupuncture and is preferably experienced. Most of these specialized acupuncturists have had done their training within specific clinics in the United States or Europe.

Treatment typically begins with a full evaluation of the patient’s condition by means of various diagnostic procedures. One specific mode of evaluation that acupuncturists use is the examining of laterality dysfunction. Laterality means the state of harmonic interaction between the brain’s two cerebral hemispheres. In order to select the correct acupoints to be used, the dominant hemisphere of the patient must first be determined (a left-handed person will have a dominant right hemisphere and vice versa). Laterality dysfunction may be caused by any emotional or physical trauma that a person experienced in life; it may happen at any time.

Laterality dysfunction may manifest through productivity problems (such as difficulty in coordination and concentration), behavioral issues (stress, anxiety, depression) and learning disorders (dyslexia, ADHD, ADD, etc.). Medical studies have revealed that people with substance addiction (specifically nicotine) are striving to re-balance or re-lateralize themselves. The studies show that Auricular Acupuncture is the quickest and most ideal mode of treatment for such disorders.

The issue of Laterality Dysfunction is often why a lot acupuncture treatments (like protocol based clinics) do not succeed. Laterality dysfunction is an obstruction to treatment, and should first be diagnosed and treated before actual acupuncture treatment is initiated.

Practitioners may utilize either a polarized object or filter combined with a certain pulse procedure called VAS or Vascular Autonomic Signal to identify the points on the outer ear that are the most “active”. This is important since the ear has hundreds of acupuncture points practitioners will be at a loss when finding the right acupoints to treat. Unfortunately, laser treatments that are protocol based are like this and hence, are usually unable to completely help the patient.

The Patient’s Role in the Treatment

The practitioner must explain to the patient the process that they will go through and how long the treatment will least. Most patients require between two to six sessions of therapies. A follow-up session is sometimes necessary to make sure the treatment is going as it should.

The cooperation of the patient is also needed. Before treatment, some acupuncturists will advise their patients to try not to smoke (for a few hours, at least), since to relieve their anxiety, many of them tend to smoke a cigarette before treatment. It is also advised that the patient should avoid any stressful situations and social settings in which they would normally smoke. This can be a bit difficult and its success will depend on the willpower of the patient.

Conclusion

For people who earnestly want to quit smoking, Auricular Acupuncture can be a very good option. The assumptions surrounding acupuncture about being uncomfortable and painful don’t really apply to this procedure, since after treatment most patients experience a renewed confidence in themselves, a deeper sense of relaxation, and a strong determination to quit.

Chinese Nutritional Therapy Tips That Can Help Treat Eczema Symptoms

Eczema can be a severe disease that can affect both children and adults make their lives misery. It produces thick, scaly, and dry red skin constantly itches. For a lot of sufferers, eczema is set off an allergic response to certain; avoidance of these foods can alleviate the symptoms. Chinese nutritional therapy, an ancient holistic system of healing which is part of TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine, views diet in an entirely different perspective from our western diets. This article will talk about the six Chinese food secrets that may aid eczema sufferers and change their life for the better.

1. Avoid Foods that Generate Damp in the Body

In Chinese medicine, one of the major underlying causes of eczema is internal dampness. Hence, it is best to avoid foods can trigger eczema. These include sugar, bananas, orange juice, peanuts, wheat, and dairy products like cheese, ice cream, butter, and cow’s milk.

Cow’s milk is the most food that triggers eczema in children. By nature, cow’s milk is extremely damp and if your child has a weak digestive system, the milk can cause weeping and oozing lesions, rashes, and itchy skin. In Chinese nutritional therapy, milk is not a common ingredient and is very seldom used. In Western countries however, a lot of people tend to over consume milk which is the reason more and more of them are getting an allergic reaction to it. You need to look for milk substitutes if your baby is suffering from eczema. Less dampening alternatives such as goat’s or soy milk can be potential replacements.

2. Select nourishing and cooling foods

If you have eczema, you can treat the symptoms of itchy skin, inflammation, and redness as well as their underlying cause by eliminating excess heat in your body. You also need to tonify the blood and vital energy (qi) and moisten dryness. Moistening and cooling foods recommended include tomatoes, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, strawberry, pears, tofu (bean curd), barley, celery, cucumber, watermelon, seaweed, lettuce, and grapefruit.

Blueberries, aduki beans, kidney beans, beetroot and other dark red veggies and fruits as well as leafy green veggies are all very good for tonifying blood and qi. Meats such as chicken, kidneys, and, liver are all blood and qi tonifiers. Eating bowl of oat porridge added with a few dates is a great way to start the day.

3. Don’t Eat Greasy Foods

By nature, greasy fried foods are warm and extremely damp forming. Eczema is itself a sign of excess heat (Yang) in the body which leads to symptoms like thirst, inflammation, and redness. Cooking styles that are Yang by nature include sautéing, stir frying, deep frying, grilling, and roasting. If you have eczema, it may be preferable if you steam, braise, simmer, or boil your food as these cooking styles are yin by nature and when cooked these ways, the foods cooked in this way will be more nourishing to the skin and body and are naturally cooler.

4. Balance your Tastes/Flavors

The saying, “too much of one thing is bad for you” is applicable in Chinese nutritional therapy. You will find a balance of tastes – pungent, sweet, bitter, sour, and salty in most Chinese recipes. Salty foods like fish, pork, and seaweed, for instance, stimulate digestion, drain built up moisture, and regulate moisture balance. Overconsumption of salt, however, will cause dryness and dehydrate the body. Sweet foods such as milk, bananas, and sugar, tend to moisten dryness and lightly the flow of blood and qi. But when you consume a huge amount of sweet foods, it will cause the buildup of heat and dampness in the body which can result in eczema. Hence, it is a really good idea to follow a balanced diet that includes all the flavors. You may need to reduce or increase a specific flavor depending on your specific needs.

5. Enjoy your Food and Chew them properly

Eczema is often triggered by emotional stress. We tend to not enjoy, under eat, or overeat when we are under stress. When you are angry while you are eating this will impact the flow of qi and may cause it to stagnate. Over time, stagnation of qi can create an excess of heat in the body that can come in the form of skin inflammation and rashes.

6. Avoid Ice Cold and Raw Foods

Consuming too much chilled foods ((as opposed to cooling foods) or raw foods can harm your digestive system. This system needs digestive fire or warmth to operate properly and an excessive and prolonged consumption of ice-cold or raw foods can eventually impair this digestive fire. Because of this, you will notice that the Chinese seldom eat ice-cold foods or raw foods.

7. Concentrate on Your Food When You’re Eating

When you’re eating your meal, just focus on your food and stop reading, watching TV or any other thing. Each portion you take in should be chewed fully since this helps your digestive system to work more efficiently.