Eastern Medicine Connection – August 2019
While drinking ice cold fluids may feel refreshing, too much can be counterproductive. When the stomach is cooled, it has to work harder to produce the heat needed for normal digestion, resulting in heating-up the rest of the body. One antidote for this is to take ginger. You can add it to smoothies, food dishes, take supplements or even make a tea. Now this may sound crazy, but a hot beverage on a hot day can actually cool you down. It dilates the blood vessels and makes one sweat. This of course lowers the body temperature as the sweat evaporates. Another nice decoction is peppermint with chrysanthemum. These herbs are classified as cool and acrid which relieve heat in the head and chest specifically. As a bonus they are beneficial to the liver, and help treat certain eye and skin conditions. Additionally, eating watermelon effectively cools heat in the body. The white part of the rind is especially potent and helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Mung beans are especially recommended to treat heat rash and acne due to their anti-oxidative effects. These attributes become more potent once they are sprouted.
Staying cool and calm during hot summer months is important for overall health. When our bodies are stressed, we become susceptible to ‘dis-ease’. I often see patients who will develop chronic illnesses such as cardiac disease or thyroid disease shortly after a stressful streak in their lives. In order to prevent life-altering pathologies, it’s smart to take preventive action to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For those who already suffer from a chronic disease it’s not too late to do something about it.
I encourage you to call for a free consultation (only offered during the month of August) and find out what else you can be doing to be a happier and healthier you.
Yvette Bedrossian is a licensed acupuncturist, board certified herbalist and Registered Nurse. She practices Chinese Medicine at Spa Jacksonville. You can reach her at 541-625-3566 to schedule an appointment.