We Are Electric

We Are Electric

Hi - 

We ARE electric. 

It might sound kinda weird to say, but it is totally true.
We are basically electrical beings.

ECGs measure electrical currents in the heart.

EEGs measure electrical currents in the brain.

We eat fats and carbs to strip them of electrons to make the electricity that runs our bodies.

When we die, the electricity literally goes off.

Guess what?

I have a new tool that helps to measure how electricity is moving through the body.

It's called the Acugraph.
(It is really cool)
It is a device that measures the electrical resistance of the acupuncture channels at each Source point.
These are the main acupuncture points around the wrist and ankles.

This device shows us how electricity is moving through the channels.

Sometimes, there can be too much and this causes excess-type symptoms.
Think rush hour traffic on a Friday afternoon in the Summer.
Heat and stagnation.

Sometimes, there can be too little like a deficiency and this causes things to slow down and not function as well as possible.
Think of that little town that the highway bypassed and it slowly withered and died.
Fatigue and poor function

What we want is a nice even flow through all the channels. This will give us the best results.
Vitality and Health

The Acugraph is a way to measure this and see it in a graphic form and over time.

The red bars represent excess condition.
The blue bars represent and deficient condition.
The purple bars represent and split communication between the right and left sides of the body.
What we want is the green bars to form all across the graph.
This is the just right sweet Goldilocks spot.

I started using this technology back in February and use it with all new patients coming in and at each treatment.

It is a great objective way to see how electricity/energy/information is moving through the body and how this changes with treatment.

The scans take about 3 minutes and I can track progress over time.
Here is a short intro video on the Acugraph.

If you haven't been in recently, come on in and get a scan.
See how well you're doing and find out what needs improvement.

Call the clinic at 830 822 6315 or click the link to set up an appointment to get a reading.

Have an "electric" day!

Tim

Second Best Free Resource

Hi - 

One of the keys to managing stress and staying healthy is learning how to regulate your nervous system. 

The very best thing that you can learn to do is to breathe.

The second best thing you can do is ...

WALK

Yeah, I know. It's not super sexy or "cutting edge" or biohacker cool.
But, the benefits are too numerous to ignore it.

Why should you go for daily walks?

Our bodies were designed to be in motion.
Constantly.
They work best when we do lots of low-level movement, like walking.
For the majority of us, our current lifestyles incorporate very little movement.
Many of us sit at work.
We sit and watch tv or zone out on our various other screens.

Many hobbies are done while seated.

And then we sleep.

This leaves you with insufficient movement for the body to function as it should. Which can lead to poor health, physical symptoms/aches/pain, and negative emotions.

Benefits of Walking
These are the benefits of walking as promoted from the Mayo Clinic website.

• Maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat

• Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes

• Improve cardiovascular fitness

• Strengthen your bones and muscles

• Improve muscle endurance

• Increase energy levels

• Improve your mood, cognition, memory and sleep

• Improve your balance and coordination

• Strengthen immune system

• Reduce stress and tension

I heard a recent quote from a study that said, "Even increasing your daily step count by 1000 steps (that is like 10 minutes of walking) can lower your all-cause mortality by 12%."

Extra bonus... it's free and requires no equipment.

Extra extra bonus... if you do it outside, you can get your sun exposure. This will help to regulate your circadian rhythm which influences everything... hormones, neurotransmitters, gasotransmitters, sleep, digestion, and the list goes on.

Some of my results
I started regularly walking last January.
I usually try to get about 7500 steps or about 45 to 60 minutes a day.
The most shocking result I noticed was my blood pressure dropped by almost 20 points within about 2 weeks.
The other thing that really shocked me was how much better I felt emotionally.
It seemed the more I walked the calmer and happier I felt.

How to get started
I now recommend walking to all my patients.
You don't have to push it hard.
Just start slow and gradually increase the number of steps you take each day.
I initially started with a step counter, but now I know about how far my minimum dosage for steps is and I don't worry if I go over (or even slightly lower).

To beat the heat this Summer, I walked early before the sun came up.
I'll let you know what I do this Winter when it gets cold and wet.

Let me know if you have any ideas.

Happy Walking!

Tim Nicosia, L.Ac. 

Have You Ever Heard of Neuroplastic Pain?

Neuroplastic Pain is getting more and more attention as it seems to be the key to solving the pain puzzle for many people. 

I'm going to tell you what it is.

But first, a story. 

This story is taken from a book called "The Way Out: A Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing Chronic Pain" by Alan Gordon. 

The pain started on my fortieth birthday. It was a big milestone, and I wasn't where I thought I would be in life. I was divorced and single, my kids were getting older, and I had an underlying fear that I would be alone for the rest of my life.

Of course, at the time, I didn't realize that turning forty was what did it. I thought my back hurt because I had gardened too much the day before. Over the next few years, I tried everything: I saw a chiropractor. I tried a physical therapist. Tried yoga. Tried a different kind of yoga hoping it would get deeper into my muscles. Then I kind of gave up and said, "This is just a part of me now."

Being in pain is depressing. My whole mindset changed. Before the pain started, I was a positive, optimistic, outgoing, love-to-have-fun person. But after, it was hard to even smile sometimes. Everything was a grey fog.

I have a pretty high threshold for pain. There's not a whole lot that scares me. I wouldn't say I was fearful of the pain. It was more like I felt beat down. I tried all these different things but it was like brick wall after brick wall, dead end after dead end. I just felt defeated.

When I learned about neuroplastic pain, I started seeing the pain in a new way. At first I was hopeless, because I didn't think it was going to change. But eventually, when I had the tools, I realized I was in control and it doesn't have to be that way. I went from feeling like I was at the pain's mercy to feeling like I had the power back. - Lindsay

Neuroplastic pain is pain that persists after an injury has healed or pain that has no clear physical cause.

For so many people, the pain persists after this physical cause has been resolved. I see it almost every day.

That is why I am pursuing other methods of addressing this kind of pain. I am taking a course right now to learn how to help resolve neuroplastic pain.

Before the end of the year, I will be incorporating this approach into treatment plans. I'm very excited about this and know it will help so many people.

Angry? Stressed? You are not alone.

I heard about a story that aired on Good Morning America yesterday. It was about the high numbers of people who are experiencing ANGER and AGGRESSION

It showed video after video of angry people acting aggressively in cities all across the country.

I know this is a very tense time for so many of us. Probably all of us.
The daily pressures we usually face seem amplified. We are all living at some level of overwhelm.

And there appears to be no end in sight.

If you find yourself feeling extra stressed, quicker to anger (or aggression), and generally more on edge than usual, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Here is what is happening in your nervous system...

Hyperarousal.

You are stuck in the sympathetic nervous system which is FIGHT or FLIGHT with no vacation in sight.

The fix is to get your body to switch into a parasympathetic state. And then train your brain to more easily return to this state.

A parasympathetic state is one of rest, repair, and relaxation. The parasympathetic state is so important (not just to keep you from aggressive behavior) but to help your body function optimally.

GUESS WHAT WILL SWITCH YOU INTO A PARASYMPATHETIC STATE??

GUESS WHAT WILL TRAIN YOUR BRAIN TO MAINTAIN THAT RETURN TO A PARASYMPATHETIC STATE???

Acupuncture. (It's like exercise for the nervous system)

One treatment a week will make a huge difference in your feelings of stress, anger, and aggression.

So I know I can't fix many of the things that might be elevating your stress levels. (Believe me. If I could, I would)

What I CAN do is set you up to better handle the stress of daily life.

Cheers to parasympathetic states.

Why Do We Look At Tongues

In the days before modern imaging and testing, healers practiced with a principle of nature:

As above, so below

They sought the microcosm in the macrocosm - the fractal nature of how things are designed and function.

Everything follows basic mathematical and natural laws. This gives rise to microsystems.

You will find this same principle in foot reflexology and iridology theories. This is the idea that we can diagnose and treat the whole body using just one part.

Tongue diagnosis falls in alignment with this principle.

In particular, the tongue lets us see all the organ systems broken into 3 levels:

Upper-- Lungs/Respiratory and Heart = Respiratory Microbiome
Middle-- Digestion/Liver = Gut Microbiome
Lower-- Reproductive/Bladder = Urogenital Microbiome

In each area, we are looking for 3 things along a spectrum

Moisture-- Dampness to Dryness
Temperature-- Hot to Cold
Gas Pressure (gasotransmitters)-- Excess/Stagnation/Deficiency

These variables will affect the internal climate and create an ideal terrain for different bacteria, viruses, molds, fungus, etc. to grow and thrive.

This then gives us a diagnosis of what is out of balance and how to MOVE the 3 variables to return the body to the right conditions for the beneficial bacteria/viruses/molds etc to regain healthy control or balance.

For an in-depth explanation check out Dr. Andrew Miles 5 part podcast on Tongue Diagnosis here.

Circadian Rhythm and Chronic Pain

Fall has arrived.

The way I can tell is I'm now having to wake up before the sun to help our son get ready and off to school.

The days are getting shorter and the weather is cooler (relatively speaking).

This makes me remember how important regulating our Circadian Rhythm is.

What does this mean?

Your body and all its many varied functions (including hormonal, immune, neurotransmitters, and sleep) are regulated by the signals your body receives from the solar light you are exposed to on a daily basis.

Something you might not be aware of is chronic pain is also influenced by this daily regulation.

When you become out of sync with the natural cycle your pain can get worse.

A common example that I see of this is when someone has a bad night of sleep, then the next day they might be more sensitive to an acupuncture treatment.

So, if you are experiencing chronic pain it is important to get your Circadian Rhythm right.

How do you do this?

Get up and watch the sunrise, every day, for at least 5 minutes. Try to do this with no glasses or contacts - just let the natural light in your eyes (don't stare at the sun).
Get barefoot on the ground if possible.
Get as much skin exposure as possible to the light also.
Get multiple doses of UV light during the middle of the day.
Don't get burned.
Watch the sun go down.
Go to bed before 10 pm.
Avoid blue light at night, including screens, phones, and LED lights.

Try this for 30 days and see if you notice an improvement in your pain.

Let me know.

This is also a good practice to help transition into the new season and overcome jet lag.

What Do You Do When You Get Stressed?

As much as we try to avoid big stress in our lives, it happens.

So how do you deal with it?

Do you go for a walk? A run?
Do you eat sweets? (my favorite) 
Do you get out in nature?
Do you have a drink? Or two? Or three? 

There are many ways to cope with stress.

Some positive. Some maybe not so much.

(Acupuncture helps with stress, btw) 

I have shared this with you before. Given the levels of stress that I am seeing in patients recently, I think it is worth sharing again. 

This is a tool to put in your repertoire for quickly reducing your stress level.  

A Breathing Technique To Instantly Reduce Stress

This technique is called Exhale Breath.

You can do this any time to quickly bring stress levels down.

This is also a good one to do right before bed as it can help you fall asleep.
 

When you start to yawn, you know you are done. 

Click on the link below for a short video explaining how to do this simple technique. 

Deep breaths, y'all. Everything is going to be alright. 

Click Here for EXHALE BREATH Technique

When You Drift Off To Sleep... It's A Golden Opportunity

Just like the light between day and night, there is a sweet spot between conscious awareness... and... sleep.

This is the space where we can access our subconscious mind.

This is where we can consciously change the thoughts, emotions, beliefs, interpretations, and patterns that fill our subconscious headspace. These subconscious elements are the ones that create the habits and behaviors that run our lives - 95% of the time on autopilot and beyond our conscious control.

Some of these elements we absorbed as children from the moment we were conceived until about the age of 7 to 8.

Those thoughts become the foundations of our personality and identity.

But in that magical space just before and after sleep, you have a golden opportunity to change these elements. And it is really not that hard.

Here is how to do it.

The subconscious is literal. Whatever you tell it, it perceives it as real.

So, in that time just before drifting off to sleep and just when you wake up, imagine yourself exactly how you want to be. Use as much feeling and specific details as possible.

How do you look?
How do you feel?
What do you see?
What do you smell and taste?
How do you act?

Again, the subconscious is literal and will go to work in helping you to experience this imagination.

I'm starting to have patients do this exercise as they get acupuncture and begin to drift into that twilight space.

You can do this for yourself, twice every day.

Give it a go for 30 days and let me know what results you see.

Ladder of Emotions

I came across this a few weeks ago and I'd like to share it with you.

It is called the Ladder of Emotions.

It was created by a psychologist from Houston named Colette Streicher. (video) Colette is interesting in that she helps people by working with the Superconscious aspect of themselves.

The ladder starts at the bottom with feelings such as fear, grief, despair, depression and then moves up until you find feelings of joy, appreciation, happiness, freedom, love, and empowerment.

Ladder of Emotions

1. Joy/ Certainty/ Empowerment/ Freedom/ Love/ Appreciation

2. Passion

3. Enthusiasm/ Eagerness/Happiness

4. Positive Expectation/ Belief

5. Optimism

6. Hopefulness

7. Contentment

8. Boredom

9. Pessimism

10. Frustration/ Irritation/ Impatience

11. “Overwhelmed”

12. Disappointment

13. Doubt

14. Worry

15. Blame

16. Discouragement

17. Anger

18. Revenge

19. Hatred/ Rage

20. Jealousy

21. Insecurity/ Guilt/ Unworthiness

22. Fear/ Grief/ Depression/ Despair/ Powerlessness

I'm finding that this is a really good tool to evaluate where I am at in each moment.

It is also a good reminder that I have the power to move up the ladder at any moment.

So, how do you do this?

Well, glad you asked...

Surprise!

Acupuncture is a wonderful tool to help you move up the ladder.(breathwork and PrimeLight meditation are also good tools)

In Chinese Medicine, we have a statement of fact... "If there is free flow, there is no pain; If there is no free flow, there is pain.”

This applies to physical as well as emotional pain.

Acupuncture's main mechanism is to increase blood circulation and to re-train the brain to maintain that increased blood circulation.

With this increased circulation, your emotions move up the ladder.

This is why we feel better when we go for a walk or exercise.

So when you are feeling stuck or just want to feel better, acupuncture is a great choice.

How Diet is Driving COVID-19 Outcomes

Do you remember back in January when I told you all that my Chinese Medicine mentors were calling COVID-19 a "damp plague?"

This "dampness" that they are referring to (also known as gut dysbiosis or water metabolism dysregulation) is identical to the insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome that are caused by overconsumption of sugars, starches, and refined seed oils. 

Basically, the ingredients in all processed foods.

When consumed these food-like products cause chronic systemic inflammation and set the conditions for developing type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and even cancer.

Dr. Mark Hymann is one of the leading Functional Medicine doctors in the US. He goes into great detail of how COVID-19 and metabolic syndrome diseases are related. Here is a link to a podcast video from Dr. Mark Hymann.

This is a basic summary of what he addresses in the video:

"As we continue to learn more about COVID-19, we continue to see a pattern in those more at risk. People who aren’t metabolically healthy (think obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension) are much more likely to experience severe complications if they are to get the virus. And to put that in perspective, only 1 in 8 Americans are considered metabolically healthy. That means a lot of us are at risk during this already alarming time. We can start changing that today, though, and create a newfound health baseline while creating a greater level of resilience when it comes to chronic disease and future situations like this. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The US isn’t the only place dealing with an epidemic of obesity and other metabolic diseases. The UK and other parts of the world are also struggling, thanks to the spread of the ultra-processed food and a sedentary lifestyle." 

I am equipped to help you reverse these conditions and get a handle on your health, This is the best defense we have right now against this virus. 

Call 830-822-6315 and set up a consultation.

Do it now.
The situation is only going to get worse.

Corona Virus and Sugar are Related!

Bet you didn't see that coming....

One of the reasons I am created the 14 Day Sugar Elimination Challenge is because I have realized that from Chinese Medicine perspective DAMPNESS is a huge problem within our general population. This is due to our modern lifestyle of highly processed foods, lack of movement, and climate controlled living. All of these factors contribute to creating dampness in the body... or in western terms gut dysbiosis, poor water metabolism, and proliferation of lipopolysaccharides.

I see dampness in 90%+ of the people who come into the clinic. This is just because of our lifestyle and food supply. Refined sugar is one of the biggest culprits.

So to avoid or remedy the dampness, the sugar needs to go.

Now, on to the Corona virus.

Two of my current mentors, Dr. Andrew Miles and his wife XueLan Qiu as well as their mentor Dr. Jin Zhao, have been following and know the doctors that are on the front line of this epidemic. Dr. Zhao was one of the specialist called in to help diagnose the disease from a Chinese Medicine perspective.

His diagnosis is that root cause is DAMPNESS!

Specifically “湿瘟” Shi Wen (Damp Plague)

Here is a link to the Botanical Biohacking Podcast that just released a few hours ago.
Corona Virus Podcast
I'll talk more about this as information comes in.

Emotions, Dampness, and Aging

Dr. Andrew Miles just posted this on Facebook...

"Chen Wu said: “The seven emotions cause chaos leading to mucus.”

Li Yong Cui said: “Shock, fear, worry and pensiveness lead to mucus.”

Most emotions initially cause qi stagnation of the lung's ability to descend and the liver to ascend leading to dysregulation of water in the spleen and lungs. Dampness creates mucus which is stored in the lungs further blocking water metabolism, creating heat, and further anxiety.

"Strange and difficult diseases come from mucus."

Let me translate this into Western Medicine for you. When your 

• Strong emotions(anger/fear/grief/stress/etc.) can cause dysregulation of gasotransmitters (especially nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide) and elevated cortisol levels-- this is "qi stagnation"

• Which leads to gut and respiratory microbiome dysbiosis

• Which leads to water metabolism dysregulation-- water collects in inapprorate areas and amounts-- this is the "dampness"

• Low grade systemic inflammation/heat begins when pathogens (molds/yeasts/fungus/bacteria/viruses) start populating the areas of water accumulation

• Biofilms are created by the pathogens to protect themselves from the immune system-- this is the "mucus/phlegm"

• Poor systemic circulation -- caused by the "qi stagnation/dampness/phlegm"

• Massive negative feed back loop is created

• Slow decline of health, vitality, and aging begins

So lets use "Molly" as an example.

Molly is a 45 year old mother of 3 school aged children. She is a full time stay at home mom who is creating a home based business sewing hats and selling them on etsy. She has a happy life and relationships, but a lot of things to manage, track, and maintain.
---(normal base line)

Sometimes she gets stressed and overwhelmed, but manages to keep it all together and take good care of her family. Molly's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago. She had surgery and chemo and is now cancer free.
---(strong emotions/stress/fear/etc.)

Molly spent lots of extra time/energy/presence to help her mom during that time.

Afterwards she noticed that she was having a hard time falling asleep. She woke feeling unrested and always like she was behind and could not keep up.
---(qi stagnation).

She stopped exercising as often (no time or energy) and started using carbs+fats+sugar to help control her stress levels and soothe her roller coaster emotions.
---(gut dysbiosis-those critters love sugar!)

She started to notice some weight gain, gas, bloating, loser stools, and her menstrual cycle was becoming more irregular with stronger PMS, especially sharp stabbing cramps and larger clots.
---(dampness/qi stagnation/decreased circulation).

She also noticed she was having more knee and low back pain.
--(dampness and decreased circulation)

She also began to have more anxiety and her seasonal cedar fever was much worse.
---(dampness/phlegm/decreased circulation)

She found herself sighing all the time.
---(qi stagnation)

She is taking 3 OTC medications for the allergies and the pain.
--(medications can often make the gut dysbiosis worse).

Each passing month, she has the nagging feeling that she is getting more and more fatigued.-
--(dampness/decreased circulation blocks energy production at the mitochondrial level).

The joy and laughter that she had with her family seems a little less bright and frequent lately.
---(dampness/phlegm can block the mind/spirit)

Molly keeps telling herself that this is just part of the process of "getting older".

She has resigned herself that this is as good as it gets...

But that is not true. Molly can stop and reverse this process. 

Chinese Medicine cracked this code many years ago.

I can help get Molly back on track and I can help you too. 

If you want some help determining where you are in the process and what you can do to break the cycle,

Give me a call.  830 822 6315

Remedy the Dampness: Part 2

Did you try any of the suggestions for clearing dampness that I included in the last post?

I'd love to hear how it went for you. Drop me a line and let me know info@comalspringsacupuncture.com 

In the meantime, I have a few more lifestyle modification ideas that you can implement to eliminate dampness and restore health. 

Avoid all processed food.

This includes refined sugar, processed flours, and seed oils. I know this is a biggy for a lot of us and can be a hard one to stick by. Remember I am not advocating for perfection, only improvement. 

My current favorite informational site on food is this one by Dr. Ted Naiman. I also love this highly useful tool called the Protein to Energy Ratio Calculator.

(This information and strategy is not specifically Traditional Chinese Medicine, but in my experience it is a good starting place to begin shifting dietary habits).

Get first morning sunlight, every day.

Science is beginning to realize the power of sunlight in regulating all metabolic functions in the body. Here is a good Ted X talk on this by Satchin Panda.

Ideally you should get 15 to 30 minutes of sun exposure every morning. This helps to reset the circadian rhythm, it helps to regulate hormone production, and it feels really good. Don't stare into the sun, but just be outside and watch the sun come up every day.

Don't wear sunglasses or contacts, but let the light into your eyes naturally. It is even better if you can do this barefoot on the ground. Even if the sky is grey and overcast, you will still get the light signals anyway, so don't skip days.

Sleep. 

Sleep is critical for the body to repair and rebuild. Try to be in bed and asleep before 10 pm. If sleep is something that you struggle with, come talk to me. I can treat insomnia. 

In conjunction with sleep, you must avoid blue light (especially after sunset). Blue light exposure signals the body that it is still noon. That misinformation then dis-regulates all hormonal and metabolic function. 

Here is a quick intro video on blue light at night and sleep.

My final recommendation for now is not free, but I highly recommend the book Enlighten Weight by Andrew Miles and Xuelan Qiu. This is the best "owner's mannual" that I have come across. 
It is easy to read and understand. You will come away with a greater ability to think about what you need to do to help balance the body through diet and exercise.

So what to expect as the dampness begins to clear?

• You should notice an increase in energy.

• Brain fog will decrease and focus and motivation will return.

• You might lose some weight.

• Your digestion will improve.

• You will be more relaxed and sleep better.

This a a lot of information to take in.

The best way to begin is to pick one thing.
Set a habit goal that is so easy you can't fail.
Then every day you build on your success.

Remedy the Dampness Part 1

In the last post, we talked about dampness and how to identify dampness in your body. As promised I'm going to give you some simple things that you can do right now to start clearing the dampness. 

Think of this as reestablishing your internal garden after a big flood. 

You must regulate the water balance by controlling dampness.

The first thing you need to do is MOVE.

Most of us just do not move with the frequency and intensity that our ancestors did. Our bodies are designed for steady and continuous movement (such as walking). Getting enough walking IN will help significantly with getting the dampness OUT. Aim for 10,000 steps every day. You can start slow and gradually build up to the 10K. I use an app on my phone to track my steps. (There are many, many apps - free and paid - available to help you track steps). 

The second thing you can do is ABDOMINAL MASSAGE. 

You read that right. I want you to rub your belly. Dampness originates in the gut. Just as you must circulate your blood through exercise, you must also directly circulate and move the stagnation in the abdomen. This is a small step that will take 10-15 minutes and offer you profound results
. 
Here is a link to a video by Nick Baker. He explains and walks you through basic abdominal massage in the first half of the video. 

The third thing you can do is FOCUSED BREATHING EXERCISES.

A simple Exhale Breath is a great way to start. It goes like this: 

Breath in through your nose... INHALE... then EXHALE out of your mouth with a long, audible breath. Imagine a forced and extended SIGH. That kind of breath helps to regulate gasotransmitters, which in turn help you clear the dampness. You know you've done enough when you start to yawn uncontrollably, you fall asleep, or you are able to do this exercise continuously for 15 minutes.

Here is the advanced version of the Exhale Breath recorded by Kristen Horner Warren. This version is called the "Huff'n'Puff." I usually recommend doing this exercise for 5 days in a row, then use as needed. It also works well for pain, stress, anxiety, and many more conditions.

If you do these three simple things, you will make huge strides toward clearing the dampness. 

As the dampness clears, your symptoms will too.

The best way to begin is to pick one thing.
Set a habit goal that is so easy you can't fail.
Then every day you build on your success.

In the next email, I will send you a few more actions you can take to address the dampness as well as the ways that herbs and acupuncture can fast track the healing. 

Diagnosing Dampness

Simple Signs of Dampness

You've heard me talk about dampness. And you will likely keep hearing me talk about it. That is because dampness is one of the most common issues that Americans face.

So what does dampness look like? How can you tell if you've got it?

I'm going to share with you a few key signs that are easy to see that will indicate dampness in the body.

But first let's put this in context. 

Dampness is the main cause of most of our chronic internal medicine and chronic pain conditions. This is why I will keep bring it up. Dampness is the root of what is reeking havoc on our health. It is so pervasive, I could almost change the name of my clinic to the "Clear Dampness Clinic." 

Dampness is directly caused by our modern diet. Most of us consume the "Standard American Diet (SAD)" that, even in it's healthiest form, often includes an abundance of refined carbohydrates, sugar, and seed oils.

Pair this "SAD" diet with low daily physical activity.

This combo creates a perfect storm where the body's ability to process these foods becomes overwhelmed.

Damp accumulation is the result.

Here are some symptoms to look out for:

• Waist to Height ratio greater than .5

• Fatigue

• Heaviness

• Swelling or Edema

• Dull Ache or Pain

• Lethargy

• Brain Fog

• Oily Skin

• Dark Circles under the Eyes

• No desire to drink Water

Also look at your tongue. If you see these signs it is part of a dampness pattern.

• pale

• swollen

• teeth marks on the sides

• central crack

• thick or thin coating

• white or yellow coating

• visible moisture

(For comparison, a healthy tongue is medium pink, not to fat or thin, and no coat or very slight coat.)

If you suspect dampness in your body, have no fear! There is hope. I have lots of tools and tricks to Conquer the Dampness.  

Next up - I'll share some simple things you can do to help overcome the dampness in your body.

The Best 10 Minutes You Will Spend Today

Botanical Biohacking has wowed us again.

I've been using the Botanical Biohacking herbs in the clinic for the last year and a half. I am constantly amazed at the results they produce not only for my patients but for myself and my family too. These are the highest quality herbs available and come directly from the growers/harvesters in China, through advanced processing and testing, and then straight to Comal Springs Acupuncture.

That is just about as close the source as you can get. 

Andrew and Xue Lan (the founders) just released this gorgeous ebook that explains more about each formula, where the herbs grow, what each formula treats, and some easy lifestyle suggestions that support each formula's function.

This book is especially for you if you are doing foot soaks (in clinic or at home), if you are taking microgard or microgard plus, if you are drinking Xiao Yao San or Wind tea, or if you are curious about any of the above. They also talk about a few upcoming products.. including one that might incorporate chocolate? (We'll let you know as soon as we find out more about that one)

Do yourself a favor. Take 10 minutes and check out this beautiful, informative, and free ebook online here:
https://botanicalbiohacking.com/flipbook

My current favorite product they offer is the Wind tea.  This tea helps to regulate immune function, dissolve biofilms and then kill the hiding pathogens. It also helps regulate bowel function and is great for reducing low grade systemic inflammation.  It also tastes great (which is highly unusual for most Chinese herbal formulas). 

I've been drinking it daily for 2 weeks now and I have had no allergy symptoms at all and I'm usually highly allergic to cedar.

I'll be serving Wind tea in the clinic for the rest of January.
Come on by and have a cup.

Your Gut and Your Skin

I came across this article that talks about the relationship between the gut and the skin.
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/boost-radiance-with-these-inflammation-reducing-tips

From our Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, this relationship has been known about for thousands of years. The Lungs and the Large Intestine have a primary relationship and directly manifests in skin conditions. The best way to have health + clear skin is to manage what you eat by eating foods that are not inflammatory. (Think like this: if it came from the store in a box or bag, it causes inflammation)
So here are the three big things plus one that you can also do to support optimal gut flora health, reduce inflammation, and improve your skin.

• Sleep (go to bed early or by 10 pm)

• Breath (daily deep breathing or meditation)

• Move (walk 10,000 steps daily)

• Plus One -- Avoid consuming anything that numbs you out 

All easier said than done.
These are the things I've been consciously working on since March last year.
Still haven't mastered all at the same time, but I really believe these 3 plus 1 will get most people to where they really want to be if done together and consistently.

The Dampness is Real

Let's talk about dampness...

In Chinese Medicine Dampness is considered an excess yin pathogen. This means it has a physical basis and can be seen and felt. It is responsible for that heavy lethargic feeling you get when all you just want to do is sit on the couch and do nothing. Often pain has an underlying “damp” component to it. Meaning that heavy, dull, achy sensation you might sometimes feel. This is fluid/water accumulating in places it doesn't belong. It could be happening at the cellular or the tissue level. Think swelling and edema. Or pain that is worse with damp weather or changes in pressure. The best analogy I've heard is to picture dampness as an internal swamp. And what grows in swamps? Bacteria. Viruses. Molds. Fungus. And many other opportunistic pathogens.

So how does this dampness occur?

It can be caused by an external invasion such as that “cold that penetrates to the bone" or stifling humidity. In most cases it is a result of our modern lifestyle... too much food and not enough movement. The best way to avoid dampness is by avoiding damp causing foods. Think heavy, fried foods, highly refined and processed foods, sugar, dairy, alcohol... you know all those holiday favorites. If you can't completely avoid these foods, then you are completely normal! However, you can use movement and exercise can help the body to utilize the fuel it is getting and drain the swamp. One of the best things to do is to just walk more through out the day. A good goal is to try to get up to 10,000 steps in daily.

So get a jump on the season and increase your movement to avoid accumulating the dampness that occurs during this time of the year.