Sarah George Acupuncture and Natural Health Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture) | Launceston's acupuncturist for women's health, fertility & pregnancy | Ph: 0448 128 858 acupuncture launceston, pregnancy acupuncture, acupuncture induction, birth acupuncture, PCOS acupuncture, endometriosis acupuncture, period pain acupuncture

There’s nothing worse than being stuck on public transport and the person behind you is sneezing constantly and coughing up something repulsive at the back of your head. You can almost feel the ‘goobs’ sinking into your skin and infecting your body. This could happen anywhere though, in the office or even in your own home – think: kids – they seem to take the ‘sharing is caring’ sentiment a little too literally!

With the cold and flu season upon us, how can you prime your body’s defence force (or wei qi as it is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine) to be ready for combat at the first sign of an invading enemy virus?

Keep your lungs strong
- Not such a crazy idea when you consider that the common cold attacks the respiratory system. This means avoid smoking, manage or resolve any ongoing respiratory conditions (e.g. asthma, cough, post-nasal drip) prior to cold and flu season and practice good posture that allows you to open your chest so that you breathe deeply and well.
You are what you eat
- We need a strong army of wei qi (immune system) to fight off any invading bugs and the army need to be fed well to do their job – chips and pizza just won’t cut it. Make sure you are getting your five serves of vegetables each day, preferably stir-fried, steamed or made into soup.
- Choose pungent foods (such as onions, ginger and garlic) that force your wei qi to the surface of your body. A great example is a Vietnamese noodle soup. And don’t forget to sip on some spiced tea or chai. Avoid cold, raw, excessive oily and fatty foods that bring your qi inwards (or encourage your army to become cowardly, retreating and surrendering territory to the lurgy.)
If you are in need of some additional weapons – then some astragalus (huang qi) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine herb of choice to build wei qi as a cold and flu preventative. Western herbalists favour echinacea for the immune system. It’s best to discuss your concerns with a herbalist to ensure you are taking the right herb/s for your situation. Acupuncture may also be useful to those who are highly susceptable to every bug around, start treatment just prior to the cold and flu season.

Now is the time to show action and put these plans into play to give your defences a boost. Attention!

If you have already been bitten by a cold or flu and symptoms are manifesting here are some tips:

To book an appointment at the clinic or further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), massage therapy and natural health.

Today is the 16th February, just two days after Valentine’s Day. It’s gorgeous to see that many people are wandering around still exhibiting the after-glow generated by gifts of flowers, chocolates, champagne and time with their loved one. (Although, shouldn’t it be like this most of the time?)

Valentine’s Day, even though it’s origins are in nothing more significant than a greeting card marketing exercise, has become symbolic to many as a day to celebrate romantic love. This day has been responsible for igniting new love, but sadly, with the pressures it brings, has also been known to be a catalyst in the demise of relationships.

Recently, I have seen several patients in my clinic, looking for support in matters of the heart. (Yes, who would have thought it? Acupuncture can do more than just relieve physical pain!) So, today it seems timely to discuss ‘the broken heart’ from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective.

Break-ups are rarely ever easy, for either partner, and the emotions they conjure up can create undesired effects in our bodies. The old saying “time heals all wounds” is applicable here as the broken-hearted embark on an emotional journey (often laced with mysterious physical symptoms like nausea or muscle tension) to mend. When these issues do not resolve in a timely manner, professional counselling is highly recommended.

The five element theory that is deeply rooted within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) gives us some clues in treating matters of the heart. This theory pairs the organs of the body with emotional states. Whilst, the heart is seen as the organ that is tied to our ‘spirit’, many other organs are also tied to common emotions that may be experienced following a break up. I should point out here, that in TCM each organ is given some additional ‘energetic’ functions in addition to their biomedical functions so you can have a TCM ‘liver disorder’ without having a physical liver problem.

So, simply and generally put, the five elements can explain some of the mental and physical symptoms of a broken heart as follows:

Fire Element – Heart and pericardium – the pericardium is the protector of the heart and emotionally characterised by feeling anxious or a lack of joy. Physical symptoms may include insomnia, palpitations or inappropriate behaviour.
Wood Element – Liver – for feelings of anger, ‘stuckness’, resentment, irritation, frustration, depression and mood swings. Physical symptoms may include neck and shoulder tension, chest tightness, nausea and digestive disorders that have a direct correlation to your emotional state.
Earth Element – Spleen & Stomach – for feelings of worry, obsessive thoughts and inability to concentrate. Physical symptoms may include lack of appetite, low energy, digestive disorders and sweet cravings.
Metal Element – Lungs – when grief and sadness are the principal feelings surrounding the break-up. Physical symptoms may include low energy, respiratory disorders, concave chest posture, weak voice and skin problems.
Water Element – Kidneys – when fear is a primary emotion. Physical symptoms may include poor memory, urinary problems, reproductive system disorders and lower back ache.

Through discussing a person’s emotional and physical symptoms an individualised acupuncture treatment for supporting someone with ‘love sickness’ can be designed. It would usually include some lifestyle advice so that the patient may begin to take control of their own situation and feel better, more quickly, between treatments. I have seen many patients respond well to acupuncture treatment in gaining clarity of mind and renewed energy allowing them to face their new path with enthusiasm.

What to do now? Check out my five Chinese Medicine tips for mending a broken heart.