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5 Ways To Boost Your Fertility

 

  1.  Manage Your Weight
    Being either underweight or overweight can significantly reduce your chances of getting pregnant. One study involving the analysis of 2,112 female participants found that women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25-39 required twice the length of time to become pregnant as women with a healthy BMI of less than 19.
  2. Eat More Liver
    Some people might turn their head at the thought of eating liver, but it’s actually a delicious dish that can prove helpful in boosting your fertility. In fact, a report published by the Weston A. Price Foundation found liver to contain more nutrients, gram for gram, than any other food. Whether it’s beef or chicken, liver contains vitamin A, vitamin B, protein, folic acid, iron, purines (precursors for DNA) and more.
  3. Eat More Seafood
    Seafood–  fish, oysters, clams, mussels, lobster, crabs, etc. – are an excellent food for boosting your fertility. They contain large amounts of zinc, iron, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin D, omega fatty acids (the good type of fat), and other essential nutrients, many of which are directly linked to the body’s reproductive system. When choosing seafood, however, it’s recommended that you opt for smaller-sized fish to minimise your consumption of mercury. Because of its large size, tuna carries a heavy dose of the toxic chemical mercury, and therefore should be consumed sparingly.
  4.  Acupuncture
    You might be surprised to learn that acupuncture can improve your chances of conceiving. Back in 2002, a team of German researchers performed a study to determine the effects of acupuncture on fertility. Researchers split 160 women who were trying to conceive into two groups: one group received acupuncture, while the second group did not it. They concluded that 42% of the women who received acupuncture got pregnant, whereas only 26% of the control group got pregnant. Does this mean acupuncture will guarantee a pregnancy? Not necessarily, but this form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is proven to help couples conceive in less time.
  5.  Cut Back on Processed Foods
    Many women who struggle to conceive eat far too many processed foods. While a fast food burger and fries may seem appetising, it forces heavy amounts of saturated fat, sodium and even sugar into your body while offering little-to-no real nutritional value. Fertility experts say women should focus on a more natural diet if they want to conceive.
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Osteoarthritis and Remedial Massage

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Sometimes called degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints, affecting many Australians. OA can affect any joint, but it occurs most often in knees, hips, lower back and neck, small joints of the fingers and the bases of the thumb and big toe.

 

 

Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the whole joint including bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles.

It may include:

  • Inflammation of the tissue around a joint
  • Damage to joint cartilage
  • Bony spurs growing around the edge of a joint

Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease; signs and symptoms gradually worsen over time. There is no cure.

Cause of Osteoarthritis:

Osteoarthritis also known as degenerative or “wear-and tear” arthritis, it is more common among female than males, especially after the age of 50years. Younger people may also be affected; usually after an injury or as a result of another joint condition.

Symptoms of  Osteoarthritis:

  • Tenderness or pain(when walk, or bear weight)
  • Stiffness (especial in the morning)
  • Swelling in the joint

Benefit of  Remedial Massage for Osteoarthritis

  • Improving circulation
  • Reduce swelling
  • Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles
  • Increase joint flexibility
  • Reduce pain
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How to Eat Well When You Have Arthritis

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While there is no specific “diet” that people with arthritis should follow, researchers have identified certain foods that can help control inflammation. By eating certain anti-inflammatory foods—and limiting others—you may help ease the pain, stiffness, and other symptoms of arthritis.

Eating well can help you manage—or maintain—your weight. Not everyone with arthritis will need to lose weight, but if you are overweight, getting to a healthier weight by eating well can be helpful in managing your arthritis.

Foods to Eat to Help Ease Arthritis

Fruits and vegetables: These superfoods contain vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals (natural chemicals found in some plant foods) to help you combat joint pain and swelling. The more colorful the better. Red grapes, blueberries, carrots, and spinach are some examples of fruits and veggies that may have anti-inflammatory benefits.

Omega-3 fatty acids: Fish, such as salmon, and other foods with omega-3 fatty acids (essential fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation and pain) can help ease sore, achy joints. If you’re not a fan of fish, you can eat walnuts, flaxseed, and olive oil, or take an omega-3 supplement to get the same benefits.

Vitamin D: Foods with vitamin D, such as eggs, mushrooms, and fortified foods (eg, fortified orange juice and breakfast cereals), can help you manage arthritis pain.

Spices: Ginger, turmeric, dried chili peppers, and cinnamon can help ease arthritis symptoms: They may have anti-inflammatory effects on the body, helping to reduce swelling and stiffness. An added bonus is that these spices are brimming with flavor without adding any calories.

Foods to Limit with Arthritis

Aspartame: This man-made sweetener contains certain chemicals that can increase pain perception. They do this by triggering neurons in your brain. Aspartame can be found in all types of foods—from soft drinks to ice cream to seemingly healthier foods like yogurt.

Processed foods: Eating enough foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) or nitrates may eventually lead to inflammation. MSG is found in some frozen dinners, and nitrates can be found in hot dogs.

Trans fats and saturated fats: Think packaged baked goods and fast food French fries: These foods can promote inflammation—not to mention clog your arteries.

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Cooling off, the traditional way

 

mint-tea1Mint Tea

Ingredients: 3g green tea or black tea, 6g dried mint leaves, Honey (optional)

Method: infuse the tea and mint leaves in boiling water for about 5 minutes. Wait for it to cool a little and add honey to taste. This will reduce internal heat.

 

 

 

Bitter Melon with Honey Tisane

Ingredients: 15g dried bitter melon strips, 1tbsp honey

Method: Soak the bitter melon strips in 300ml boiling water for about 12 minutes, add honey and drink warm. This helps lower blood pressure.

 

 

 

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Wolfberry Tea

Ingredients: 10g wolfberries, 12g wuweizi, or magnolia vine,  6g chrysanthemum

Method: Place all ingredients in a large cup, pour over boiling water and infuse for 10minutes. It is good for lungs, and quenches thirst.

 

 

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Chill out with ‘cold’ foods

cucumber

A heat wave recently had the weather bureau send out high-temperature alerts to us. Such weather can cause, at best, sunburn and, at worst, heatstroke, with a spectrum of symptoms in between, such as headaches, bubbling colds, mouth ulcers, indigestion and low spirits.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, foods that are bitter and nourishing to the heart are most beneficial in the summer season. This bitterness will cool down internal heat and naturally flush the body. When you eat such foods, they will cool and detoxify your body, improve digestion, and even offer weight loss benefits!

 

 

4 COOLING FOODS FOR YOUR HEALTHIEST SUMMER YET

  1. Mung Bean Broth: The therapeutic value of mung beans is not in the bean itself, but in the water that you boil the bean in. In TCM, this liquid is so cooling and detoxifying that it has been reported useful in treating drug and alcohol poisoning. Most commonly, mung bean water is used to cool inflammation, especially acne and other red eruptions on the skin.
  2. Cucumber: Many of us are familiar with the cooling properties of cucumber. Bite into one, and you will instantly know why! Cucumber is commonly found in face tonics and used during facial treatments. According to TCM, this is another food that helps relieve acne due to its cooling nature. Chinese medicine also uses cucumber to cleanse the blood and clear internal heat from the body. Remember, internal heat often equals inflammation. Cucumber is thirst quenching and, therefore, is sometimes used to treat a sore throat. It is also detoxifying and promotes urination. Its draining nature means that it supports the spleen by pulling dampness out of the body.
  3. Purslane: Purslane is a rare and special plant. Well, rare in its qualities. It is actually so common that the FDA considers purslane a beneficial weed. What is unique about purslane is its omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) content. This is extraordinary for a land vegetable, as most omega-3 EPAs come from oily fish and microalgae. Like the other top summer foods, in TCM purslane is excellent at cooling inflammation in the body. It is a potent detoxifier and reduces internal heat. It has been reported as effective in treating conditions like dysentery and enteritis, which is inflammation of the small intestine. In TCM, the small intestine is related to the heart and falls under the element of Fire. Chinese medicine considers purslane to be effective in treating infections relating to the gums, lungs, bowels, and urinary tract.
  4. Aloe Vera: If you have ever sliced an aloe leaf open and smoothed it over a sunburn, you know about its cooling nature. In TCM, aloe vera reduces internal heat and can strongly promote a bowel movement. For this reason, when used discriminately, it can effectively treat constipation.

If you are not sure what foods suit you, you can also ask our Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners for some advice on foods that best fit your personal profile. To cool down this season, the TCM summer food diet might be just what you need!

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Migraine Relief: 6 Natural Ways To Ease The Pain

 

homemade fertilizer made from kitchen waste

If you’ve ever had a migraine, you know that when the first symptoms strike, it’s time to find relief — and fast. And when you find something that works, you stick with it.

Stretching

If you think tension might be contributing to your oncoming migraine, try stretches to relieve aching muscles. At the first sign of a migraine, stretch your neck by pointing your chin forward, up, and toward each shoulder and then shrug your shoulders up and forward and up and back.

Massage

Acupressure and reflexology points on the feet and hands can be massaged for quick relief of a migraine and headache pain. Try pressing on the webbed space between your thumb and pointer finger for possible relief. Head, shoulder, neck, and back massage can also provide relief by reducing muscle tension.

Acupuncture

Several studies have found that acupuncture provides some of the same long-term results as drugs but without side effects. A British review of 13 studies said, study-samples that received 12 acupuncture treatments over 3 months used 15% less pain medication than those that didn’t use acupuncture.

Ginger 

It’s believed ginger works against migraines because it contains anti-inflammatory elements, inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in addition to counteracting nausea that many migraine sufferers experience. Gently simmer three slices of gingerroot in two cups of water, covered, for 30 minutes.

Herbs

New recommendations from the American Academy of Neurology confirm that the herb butterbur can prevent migraines, possibly because it supports healthy blood flow to the brain. Dry-leaf capsules of feverfew may also reduce the frequency of migraines, though the clinical evidence is still inconclusive.

Essential Oils

In a study at the University of Kiel in Germany, researchers found that dabbing peppermint oil onto the forehead was an effective treatment for migraine pain, with relief usually occurring within 15 minutes. You can also try gently massaging a couple of drops of thyme and rosemary essential oil on your temples or forehead. Both of these essential oils contain carvacrol, a substance that inhibits COX-2, an enzyme responsible for inflammation and pain.

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Stress & Depression

Whether caused by relationships, work, family, or money, stress can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health. Stress can cause a variety of health problems over time if not managed effectively. Fortunately, Acupuncture treatment is a natural therapy that can help balance your mind and body, managing your stress levels. The common benefits of Acupuncture for stress relief include: reduced feeling of stress, improved overall health and wellbeing, mental clarity and enhanced concentration, improved sleep quality, increased energy and reduced muscle tension and pain.

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3 ways to remedy a wine headache

Waking up after having drunk just a few glasses of wine the night before, you’re pretty surprised to have pains around your temples, around your eye sockets and feeling groggy and slow. Sometimes, you don’t even drink that much and still wake up with a bad head! Here are three tips can help you to prevent a wine headache.

wine headache

Drink a glass of water with every glass of wine

The most common mistake that wine drinkers make is hydration. It’s easy to forget because you are drinking already. When we drink alcohol, we begin to pull water from every inch of our body in order to help our liver flush out the toxin. If we aren’t drinking water in addition to our booze consumption, our body sucks up whatever water it can find, so we tend to become dehydrated much faster, and therefore develop a splitting headache. One of the quickest solutions to this problem is drinking a glass of water prior to enjoying a glass of wine.

Don’t eat sugary things with wine

The only thing worse than a red wine headache is a cake-and-wine headache. Tiramisu sounds particularly amazing, especially after a glass of wine. However, alcohol and sugar are two substances that when combined can create a powerful headache. When you body consumes alcohol or sugar, your need lots of water in order to help process the substances. If you are not well hydrated, your body starts to pull the necessary water it needs from other parts or your body, including your head. As the liquid in your head starts to deplete, a headache forms.

Temple massage with peppermint oil

If you already got a wine headache, here is a simple tip to relieve your headache. Apply pressure with your three middle fingers in temple area for about 10 seconds. Repeat two to three times. It clears the blocked meridians so that energy may flow freely throughout the body. Enhance your temple massage with some aromatherapy. Essential oils of white flower, peppermint, or spearmint are high in menthol, which is noted for its pain-relieving properties. You could also rub some tiger balm, which is also high in menthol, on your temples.

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Sweet dreams are made of this

Sleep is a key component of restoring our physical and mental health, yet it is something so many people struggle to achieve. The medical Journal of Australia reported up to 35% of Australians experience disrupted sleep and inadequate amounts of sleep.

But since a well-rested life is a happy and healthy one, we’ve enlisted the help of specialists, nutritionists, yogis, acupuncturists, trainers, and more to nail down the best steps you can take throughout the day and night so you can get the most out of bedtime.

sweet dreams

Eat more protein

Adding more protein to the diet could play a major role in regulating your sleep and stabilizing blood sugar level. High protein food are ideal snack before bedtime because they boost satiety and increase your body’s energy expenditure.

Exercise Regular

Exercise regularly. Regular exercise can improve sleep quality and duration. However, exercising immediately before bedtime can have a stimulant effect on the body and should be avoided. Try to finish exercising at least three hours before you plan to retire for the night.

Make your sleeping environment comfortable

Temperature, lighting, and noise should be controlled to make the bedroom conducive to falling (and staying) asleep. Your bed should feel comfortable and if you have a pet that sleeps in the room with you, consider having the pet sleep somewhere else if it tends to make noise in the night.

Try Acupuncture

Acupuncture pinpoints the root of your sleeping woes, literally. High stress, high anxiety, and digestive disorders are all culprits of insomnia, and are luckily all curable via this practice. Acupuncture combined with Chinese herb remedies can address the root of stress and anxiety, as well as aid in digestion.

Embrace Essential Oil

Essential oils are used by many people experiencing sleep issues for their calming properties. Lavender, roman, chamomile and ylang ylang were particularly effective relaxants. Adding a few drops to a bath before bed or using the oils in a vaporizer or oil burner are fantastic ways to encourage restful sleep.

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Power foods for old age people

Old age brings along many health problems including insomnia, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, elevated blood pressure levels and increased risk of cardiac problems. Here are 6 power foods for old age that will help you prevent or at least delay the onset of these old age related health issues.

power foods

Whole Grain

One serving of whole grains a day makes old people 25% less prone to diabetes and cardiac problems compared to those who do not include whole grains in their meal. The dietary fibers in oats and folic acid in whole wheat help rejuvenate the body cells to carry on with a healthy life even during the last years of life. The minerals like magnesium and potassium in brown rice, bran and other cereal help maintain bone health and brain health.

Salmon

Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which is required to maintain a healthy bone density. Just three ounces of salmon a day can reduce cholesterol, blood pressure and the chances of a cardiac arrest and also the pain of rheumatoid arthritis! Alternatives include cold water fish like tuna, sardines or mackerel. For vegetarians, the alternative is lots of soybeans and a few walnuts and flaxseeds every day. Omega-3 fatty acids is also known to fight prostate cancer and depression!

Calcium And Vitamin D

Old age needs more than one source of calcium to prevent osteoporosis or the weakening of bones. Have enough skimmed milk, low-fat cheese and egg whites from early old age to avoid the pain of living with brittle bones. For vegans, broccoli, soy milk, apricots and figs are good alternatives. Include a small glass of orange juice or a small serving of unsweetened yogurt to get the required amount of vitamin D so that the body can assimilate most of the calcium it receives.

Beans

Beans are easy to digest if steamed and they taste great with a lean meat steak. This easily available vegetable can be cooked in easy-to-digest ways to give all the proteins, fibers and antioxidants an old body needs for energy, muscle strength and blood health respectively. Beans are known to reduce LDL or bad cholesterol and even prevents colon cancer! Have beans just thrice a week to go easy on the stomach.

Tomatoes

The lycopene in tomatoes fights against free radicals to prevent prostate, lung and stomach cancer. It can even decrease the Prostate-Specific Antigen in people who have already been diagnosed with cancer. The beta-carotene along with the lycopene also help rejuvenate the skin thereby delaying the occurrence of wrinkles on the skin.

Apples

Apples are one of the easiest-to-digest fruits and very good for the lungs too. The pectin in apples lowers LDL orbad cholesterol and keeps blood sugar levels under control. Boron present in apples also reduce the risk of osteoporosis and boost brain functions.

So these are the power foods for old age and also, don’t forget to drink enough water if there’s no restriction on liquid intake because water helps keep the aging skin hydrated and flushes out the toxins of medicines.