Nutrition
TCM Food Therapy Spotlight: Watermelon (Xi Gua)
Xi gua, or watermelon as we call it, is a beloved refreshment for summertime, but did you know that it is used as food therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine? TCM views food from a standpoint of energetics, or how the food affects the body and its processes. Watermelon is cold in energetic temperature, sweet in flavor and it enters the Stomach, Heart, and Urinary Bladder channels (there are 12 main channels that run throughout the entire body). According to Five Element Theory, the flavor of sweet is harmonizing, tonifying, moistening, contains Fire, and directs Qi to the Spleen. It is especially good at clearing heat, resolving water accumulation, and is used to treat overexposure to the sun, kidney infection, liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Acupuncture and Nutritional Support
If you are one of the millions of people who made a New Year’s resolution last month to eat better and make healthier choices in 2023, then it might be time to take stock of how that process is going. Are you already off the wagon and back to your unhealthy habits? Or are you keeping your eye on your goals and making progress? No matter which side of the coin you fall on, you might want to talk to your acupuncturist about your nutritional goals. They can be a wealth of information and help as you look to build a better and stronger you. continue reading
Food as Medicine
Mama Always Said: You Are What You Eat
Maybe mom really did know best when it came to nutrition. As research has shown, what we eat can actually impact our health profoundly. Over the years, we have learned that our dietary choices can influence our risk of disease. And some have made it a profitable business to teach us new ways to look at food (anti-inflammatory diet, Keto, heart healthy, etc.). continue reading
