The New Year is such a glorious time. Everyone is still in holiday mode (or actually just on holiday), Sydney is super quiet and everyone is planning the year to come.

Do you like to start the year with resolutions? Or a plan? Or any idea of what you’d like to achieve this year? Or a picture of where you’d like to see yourself in 12 months time?

If you’re like me, you might like to set some intentions for what you want to achieve in the coming year. Or are you new to the whole ‘intention’ thingo? I know that it can be a bit daunting at first. All of the #newyearnewyou pullava seems to require a few too many dieting/gym-going/world-domination vibes to seem like a long-term viable thing. Instead, I like to check-in with my inside people and figure out what I INTEND to do and what my VALUES and GOALS are. And perhaps visualise what I would like to achieve in the year. But really it’s as easy as popping on the kettle, having a brainstorm and drawing some mind maps or dotting out some bullet points.

So…..are you ready to get started?

Well……

Essentially, our INTENTIONS are what we what we ‘intend’ to do or would like to achieve and they’re the first step to figuring out our action plan. Our GOALS are the actions that we would like to achieve (begin a new job, paint a picture everyday, travel to Italy) whilst our VALUES are the principles and standards that we find important in life (i.e. intimacy, freedom, creativity, independence or belonging).

HOW TO: Put the kettle on for a cuppa and grab some paper and a pen. Once you’re settled, begin to visualise what you would like your year to look and feel like. Are there any outstanding emotions, images or even colours that stand out to you? Write them down. If you feel like it, perhaps make a mood board, or begin collecting ideas, quotes or images that express what you’d like to achieve during the year. Can you pick out 3-5 that really stand out to you? It’s best not to pick too many because then your focus could become too thinly spread. Instead, it’s best to focus on a few things and make sure that you cover them fully. Write them down and make them fully formed ideas. More structured intentions like ‘train to swim 1km continuously by July to compete in a swimming competition’ tend to work better than loosely woven ideas like ‘start swimming’.

Once you’ve figured out your intentions for the year it is time to move onto the next step - your Goals and Values! By defining these areas and making sure that they’re aligned it’s possible to begin making an internal plan to achieve our dreams.

HOW TO: Begin by using your intentions to begin imagining what you would like to achieve in the next 12 months. Think about and then jot down what your 5 main goals and your 5 main values will be for the year. Once you’ve settled on what you’d like to achieve, work backwards and figure out the main steps you need to take. Do you need to update your qualifications for a new job? Save up the money for a flight to Italy or invest in some painting classes?

Once you’ve figured out your action plan the only thing to do is get started! The sooner you begin taking those steps the sooner you achieve your goals. I manage this by getting myself a super snazzy diary every year. That way I can keep everything together and set myself reminders for when I need to check in. Last year I went a little overboard with the planning/intentions thing (yes, that is how many notebooks I had going). This year though, I’ve gone with a single Passion Planner as it seems to have EVERYTHING a gal (or guy) could possibly need to keep in touch with what you want to achieve.

And you’re done! The only thing left to do is get started on achieving your intentions and goals.

P.S. It also might be a good idea to RE-EVALUATE where you’re up to throughout the year. I like to do this quarterly to see if I’m meeting my goals, and also reassess if my original goals still work for me. Sometimes my focus begins to change, and so I reassess what I want from the year. This evaluation and change is completely okay. After all, they’re my goals!

Did you know that Chinese Medicine is more than just Acupuncture, Massage and Cupping? No? Well, it totally is! Chinese Medicine also encompasses a whole lot of herbal medicine. In fact, practitioners have been using herbs, teas, decoctions and pills for several thousand years. Ancient Chinese Medicine practitioners discovered hundreds of formulas made up of between 2-20 traditional herbs, all for a range of different disorders. There are formulas for digestion, insomnia, headaches, stress, period pain, arthritis….honestly, the list goes on! But that doesn’t mean that it’s complicated. Actually, it’s quite simple and many of the herbs that we use in our formulas can be found in your kitchen. If I do give a herbal remedy to a client, I like to keep it super simple. This means that many of the remedies are able to be made at home from everyday ingredients. So, if you fancied getting to know your ginger from your galangal or if you think it would be useful to find out how to use cinnamon quills to help muscle recovery, read on!

| PEPPERMINT | HERBA MENTHA | BO HE |

Looking for a summertime herb? Look no further than the humble garden mint. This lovely little garden herb is one with sooooo many uses. From a Chinese medicine perspective it is cooling, acrid and travels to the Lung and Liver meridians. It also has a diaphoretic effect and will help you to sweat when you first get a cold.

When should you use Mint? Do you get rashes easily? Or sore eyes and an itchy throat? Are you feeling a bit feverish? Drink a cup of peppermint tea. Mint helps to vent all the Summer Yang that floats upwards to our heads and gets stuck there - essentially it ‘lets off all the steam’. This is fantastic for Summer when throats often get raw and scratchy and headaches can pop up due to all the upward flowing seasonal Qi.

Strangely enough, the active ingredients in Mint are quite volatile, which in Chinese medicine translates as being fantastic for strongly moving Qi. This makes Mint a great addition to your PMS routine or if you get regular headaches.

If you’re rather partial to mint, run off to your local market or garden shop and grab a seedling. Mint is a perennial herb and so it’s super easy to grow in your veggie patch or on your windowsill. Just make sure you keep it in it’s own little pot otherwise it will invade ALL of the other plants in your garden (ahem, yes i did learn that the hard way).

HOW TO: To incorporate into your routine just make a big pot of peppermint tea and sip on it a day or two before your period arrives or when you feel a headache coming on. Make sure not to steep your tea too long through, all of the oils in the mint leaves are delicate and so 3-4 minutes is more than enough.

| GINGER ROOT | SHENG JIANG | ZINGIBERIS OFFICINALE |

One of my favourite things is showing how everyday ingredients can be used as a medicine. Case in point - Ginger. This little rhizome is both completely delicious and completely medicinal. In Chinese medicine Ginger (Sheng Jiang) is a diaphoretic - meaning that it helps you to start sweating. This is essential if you’re at the beginning stages of a cold or flu as it’s acrid flavour opens up your skin to help you sweat and expel whatever nasty is getting you sick. The active compound in Ginger is called Gingerols, which are potent anti-inflammatories, causing them to have great pain-relief capacities especially when used for arthritis conditions. It is also a circulation stimulant, making it fantastic to boost blood flow to the limbs.

Ginger is quickly becoming famous as a carminative and intestinal spasmolytic making it great for your tummy (it helps to expel intestinal gas). This is fantastic if you get bloating, gassy, nausea or vomiting. It has an anti-emetic effect too, helping to decrease and stop vomiting. All those ladies in the early stages of pregnancy – I’m looking at you! A little bit of ginger tea has been shown to greatly affect and help morning sickness. Even GP’s are getting on the ginger bandwagon now!

HOW TO: to get the most from gingers' anti-emetic factors for nausea, have a 1/2cm slice of ginger steeped in hot water. For the anti-inflammatory and circulation-boosting aspects cook a 1/2-1cm slice finely chopped into one meal a day. If you can feel a cold or flu coming on, steep a 1/2cm slice in a tea pot with a few slices of lemon, a big stick of cinnamon stick and a 1/2 tsp of raw/manuka honey.

| TURMERIC | JIANG HUANG | CURCUMAE LONGAE RHIZOMA |

Turmeric has been showing up in the press A LOT lately, and probably for good reason. This little power-house of a herb has been shown to be super effective for a range of issues. It is anti-inflammatory and a natural painkiller (by inhibiting COX-2); it's full of anti-oxidants to help the damage done by free radicals; it’s anti-fungal and anti-bacterial and so great to use on cuts, grazes and skin disorders to decrease their severity. New studies are even beginning to understand how it can decrease the rate of cancer metastases and limit the progression of Alzheimers. Totally WOW – amiright?!

From a Chinese medicine perspective Jiang Huang will boost digestion by targeting the Stomach, Spleen and Liver organs as well as moving the Blood very strongly - making it perfect for pain relief. No wonder the Ayurvedic doctors of India cook with Turmeric in all of their dishes!

HOW TO: If you want in on the Turmeric action add a pinch of the ground spice (organic if you can) to soups, stews, stir-fries, your salad dressings, your breakfast smoothies and even your porridge for an early anti-inflammatory kick! If you can add a bit of black pepper and ground ginger you’ll also increase the bioavailability of Curcumin (the active ingredient). If you’re super keen, do the same but with the fresh root. I get mine from Paddy’s Market but it’s available at most good green grocers. BEWARE: the fresh root will stain EVERYTHING yellow. I kinda think that adds a slight festive air to the kitchen though.

What are you waiting for? Get into it!

| CINNAMON BARK | ROU GUI | CINNAMOMI CORTEX |

What’s your favourite spice? Mine is definitely cinnamon, hands done! Now, when I say cinnamon, I mean the bark, not the twig (Gui Zhi), which is a herb for another time. From a Western perspective, cinnamon can regulate your blood sugar levels, making it a fantastic addition to a diet if you have insulin troubles (think PCOS or early onset-diabetes). It also helps with blood circulation, so if you get bad period pain or DOMS after your workout, perhaps think about adding cinnamon to your diet to help flush your body with fresh warm Blood. This will help to increase oxygen levels to your tissues and help get rid of waste products from your cells and muscles.

From a Chinese Medicine perspective, this delightful spice is super warming for your insides - it tonifies your digestive organs and builds your Yang to heat you up from the inside out. We use it in patients with poor digestive, heavy limbs and fertility issues such as heavy bleeding, fibroids and endometriosis.

HOW TO: get some fresh (and organic if you can) cinnamon powder. Add 1/2 a teaspoon to your smoothie, porridge or chai tea to get a hit of Yang-boosting goodness. Or, add a cinnamon bark stick to your water bottle, top the water bottle up with boiling water (or 1/2 hot and 1/2 cold if you’re in a rush), let it sit for a while and then enjoy delightfully sweet water all day!

| ROSE BUDS | MEI GUI HUA | ROSA RUGOSA |

These little beauties are as functional as they are gorgeous. Did you know that the ancient Romans used to prepare roses to eat to celebrate the victories or great events? Or that they’re often candied and added to Middle Eastern desserts? By the By they’re also a fantastic source of Vitamin C.

From a Chinese Medicine perspective though, Mei Gua Hua are truly a herb for ladies - they gently move Qi, stimulate Blood and sooth the Liver to help menstrual difficulties. Western studies have even shown that they stimulate the female reproductive system! So roses truly are the flower for romance…

HOW TO: Grab a small handful and steep in hot water for 3-5 minutes. Strain and enjoy! These are best used a few days before your period is about to start and are perfect if you’re feeling a bit irritable, you’ve got some breast tenderness or menstrual irregularity and cramps. Also, they look super pretty.

If you would like any more information, have any questions or would like to make a booking please feel free to get in touch via phone (0408 402 512 / 1300 067 836), via email (info@rebeccamarks.com.au) or book online.

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are right for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

It’s spring! The days are beginning to get longer and the flowers are blooming. I’m starting to see people frolicking in the sun, lounging in parks and generally getting happy that the end of winter has finally arrived. I’ve definitely been kicking off my shoes and digging my toes into grass during lunchtime jaunts to the park. Isn’t it fabulous?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we think of the body as a small version of the universe around us - a microcosm of the macrocosm. As the seasons change, so should we. Humans should be adaptable; to flow with the seasons is to live in harmony. By doing this, we can avoid illness.

What happens to our Qi in spring?

Spring is the season of the WOOD element. The corresponding organ is the LIVER; the flavor is SOUR; the energetic movement is UP and OUT. This is a time of expansion, growth, and change. Think of the new growth that happens at this time – gardens are full of new shoots that are growing upwards and outwards. If we are moving in harmony with the seasons we should be doing the same – our Qi should be expanding and moving outward after hunkering down and hibernating all winter. We should start to feel more energy, and with this change, the ability to make plans and start new projects.

Wood Organ – the Liver

In a Western biomedical sense the liver has roughly 500 functions, including the synthesis of amino acids, the production of bile (to aid digestion), blood flow, insulin regulation and the degradation of toxins for excretion. Basically, it supports the function of all the other organs in the body.

From a TCM perspective, the Liver is a very Yin organ with a Yang function – it both stores the Blood (a Yin fluid) as well as making sure that it moves the Blood around the body (a Yang function). The Liver regulates the volume of Blood in the body (for menstruation) and it nourishes the sinews and tendons of the body for good joint strength. The Liver also regulates the smooth flow of Qi around the body, allowing for appropriate energy levels and even moods. The Liver most importantly houses the Hun (ethereal soul), which is the part of our mind that plans and finds a clear path in life.

As you can see, our Liver is a super important organ, no matter which perspective you look at it from!

What does it look like is the Liver is out of balance? Wood (and Liver) energy is dynamic, unstoppable and action-centered. If the energy meets an obstacle or isn’t able to flow correctly (through a sedentary lifestyle, strong emotions or excess stress), then the energy builds up and becomes blocked. This stagnancy can become Heat, which further slows down the Qi movement – it’s a self-perpetuating cycle. This problem will begin to present itself as a pain in the ribs, stressful emotions, depression, sore muscles (especially the shoulders and neck), irregular menstruation and cramps, migraines, red sore eyes and tinnitus.

If you tend towards these problems they can become heightened in the spring as your Qi naturally tries to move but comes into contact with internal blockages. When you come up against these symptoms it is generally your Liver yelling ‘Hey! Look at me! Fix me!’ and trying to make itself heard so that you can make the necessary lifestyle changes.

As spring is the time of the Liver organ it’s the perfect time to make a few small changes so that you can avoid these kinds of Liver stagnation issues.

Emotional health in spring – setting intentions

As the Qi of spring is constantly growing and moving outwards the main themes of the season tend to revolve around, SELF-ASSERTION, BIRTH and RENEWAL. If the Liver is balanced and the body is harmonious then you should be feeling kindness and forgiveness. However if the Liver is unbalanced and the Qi isn’t moving then the dominant emotions will be anger and frustration. Like that feeling when a new project doesn’t unfold as we want it to – our forward momentum is set back and the resulting emotional conflict builds up leading to disappointment (and later, stagnant Qi).

The Liver and its corresponding Yang organ the Gall Bladder are both concerned with decision-making, judgment and clarity. This is a time to let go of old thought patterns, create new visions and begin new projects. The Liver organ is in charge of our eyes, the health of our vision and how we see the world. It is also important to understand that this is more than just WHAT we see – it’s also HOW we see and what we ENVISAGE i.e. what we want to do with our future and how we can make that happen.

Basically, this is a perfect time to create mood boards, set goals, define your values and figure out what you want from the coming days and months.

Spring health tips

MOVEMENT – of all of the elements, Wood is the one that likes to move the most. In fact, movement is it’s natural state. One of the best ways to avoid the negative parts of the Wood element is to stretch and move your body. Stretching and exercising (even gentle walking) improves blood flow to all parts of your body and can help to unwind some of those physical and energetic knots in your body. Yoga can be good, but if that’s not your thing pick something that floats your boat – jogging, walking, hiking, weights or cycling are great as long as you enjoy them.

LET GO – spring is the time of new beginnings. Let go of anything that was weighing you down during the previous heavy winter months. Take some time to sit down and clarify your goals and values. What brings you joy and happiness? Are you able to replace any of the things that have been negative in your life with these new positive aspects? The Liver is a very emotional organ that loves to hold on to old anger and worries. Let these go! Take this season as an opportunity to emotionally relinquish things that are no longer serving you – situations, relationships and emotions – and welcome in the space for new exciting times.

EAT FRESH, GREEN + SOUR – this is the time to lighten your digestive load after the heavier eating of winter. Start making some swaps for fresher and lightly cooked foods. One of the easiest ways to get sour foods into your diet is to add a fresh squeeze of lemon juice over your vegies or have a shot of apple cider vinegar in warm water 30 minutes before meals.

GET ACUPUNCTURE - Acupuncture is an amazing and gentle way to even out any ‘stuck bits’ in the body – be it physical, emotional or energetic. If you’re feeling sick, stuck, sad or just plain confused, see your local acupuncturist for a seasonal tune-up. You might find that while you’re doing all the above things in the right way a good Acupuncture session or two can really help to turn things around. There are also some fantastic herbal formulas that might be up your ally too.

Spring foods

ANYTHING GREEN – lots of fresh greens and herbs (the more varieties the better), cucumbers, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, sprouts, peas and fennel – the list could go on forever! Green veggies are generally filled with magnesium + chlorophyll that alkalize the blood, relax muscles, calm the mind and help the Liver regulate and excrete toxins.

ANYTHING SOUR – sour apples, lemons, limes, grapefruits, kiwis, honeydew melon and apple cider vinegar. Sour is the flavor of Wood and the Liver. It helps to pacify angry, stagnant Liver Qi and gently move it where it needs to go.

FOODS TO AVOID – anything dense, heavy and stagnating can clog your Liver’s ability to move freely. Spicy foods, alcohol and coffee tend to aggravate the Liver so it’s best to keep these things in moderation. Instead, why not have a cup of green tea? It contains L-theanine – an amino acid that increases positive neurotransmitters, alpha brain waves and dopamine. All of which will help to improve your clarity, concentration and put a bit of pep in your step!

COOK LIGHT – Instead of eating anything too oily, fried or spicy, stick with light and fresh foods. Prepare meals simply, and cook them quickly – stir-fried, steamed and lightly sautéed foods are definitely best at this time.

Welcome to spring!

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are right for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

So, since I’ve started posting regular pictures of my lunches a funny thing has happened….at least 3 people came up to me last week and said ‘dude, you inspired me. Check out my lunch - it’s just like yours’ This is both a humbling thing, (yay! people are packing their lunches) and slightly terrifying thing (oh my god people actually read what I write here). Now people have been telling me that my lunches look fantastic for years - between workmates at jobs, study mates at uni and lazy housemates who want to steal my lunches, people have been asking me how I put these things together.

And yanno what…it’s really not hard. Honestly, those lunches that I pop together take about 90 seconds of planning (while at the fruit n’ veg market), 10 minutes of prepping/chopping, 1 episode of Offspring/3 chapters of my book/40 mins of knitting while everything cooks and then 10 mins to pack everything up and do the washing up. That’s not very long, amiright?

So the process goes a little something like this….

STEP ONE: Pick a grain

STEP TWO: Pick a protein.

STEP THREE: Pick a roast veggie

STEP FOUR: Pick a salad mix

STEP FIVE: Pick a dressing.

STEP SIX: Mix it up and shove it in your face.

Well….not quite…there’s a bit more to it than that. But not that much.

Mix & Match Ideas

GRAINS: brown rice, barley, quinoa, wholemeal pasta,couscous.

PROTEINS: boiled eggs, tinned tuna/salmon, feta, left-over roast meat, tins of chick-peas or butter beans, lentils.

ROAST VEG: pumpkin, sweet potato, capsicum, eggplant, zucchini, onions, carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, green beans, brussel sprouts – basically, anything that is a vegetable.

SALAD MIX: roquette, baby spinach, mixed lettuce, witlof, cabbage, micro herbs, chard, radicchio.

DRESSINGS: EVOO, any other delicious oil, tahini, miso paste, minced herbs, lemon juice, ACV, S+P vinegars.

Top Tips

Tip #1 - make sure you pick a mix that you ACTUALLY will like and eat.

Tip #2- Plan ahead by knowing roughly what you’ve got planned for the week. I generally make enough for 2-3 days at a time so that everything is fairly fresh. In the past I have made 5-7 days of lunches in one big hit. Honestly though, I prefer them to be fresher. And also, if an impromptu lunch date pops up you can just leave your home-made lunch in the fridge and carry on without worrying too much about waste.

Tip #3 - keep everything that you’ve cooked in separate tupperware in the fridge and then pop into your lunch box the night before.

Tip #4- The order you put things in your lunchbox matters. Grains are often fine on the bottom as they soak up excess juices/flavours well. Harder veggies work well in the middle but leaves should only sit on the top of the container (unless you like soggy salad leaves) and definitely keep dressings in a seperate container (a tiny jar or round tupperware work well).

Tip #5- Add a pickle if you fancy. A bit of sauerkraut or kimchi or any fermented goodie will help to up the value of your lunch by adding some probiotic goodness and extra deliciousness.

Tip #6 - Get a bit spicy! If you fancy add some different flavour bombs to your roasted veg. I often add dried herbs (oregano, rosemary, thyme) or lemon and garlic or a mixture of spices (turmeric, cumin and smokey paprika are good) over the whole lot to add extra flavour.

Tip #7- MIX IT UP. Just because you hit a bonza mix one week doesn’t mean you should do it every week. Believe me, you’ll get bored. Just play around with flavours and see what happens. Some weeks you’ll get an amazing week, and others may be less so but you’ll soon find what works for you.

Tip #8 - Make is seasonal. Make sure you follow the seasons and use produce that is right for the time of year. I also try to match my cooking techniques to the seasons. This means including less raw foods during the colder months, while in the summer months eating more uncooked foods.

Tip #9 - Enjoy!

Here are a couple of examples to get you started.....

AUTUMN LUNCH:

Roasted sweet potato + zucchini with quinoa, feta and radicchio.

WINTER LUNCH:

Roasted pumpkin + brussel sprouts with turmeric, cumin + cinnamon plus quinoa, spinach and radicchio.

SPRING LUNCH:

Brown rice, roasted carrots, mixed green leaves, cucumber, radish and boiled eggs.

SUMMER LUNCH:

Cous cous, grated carrot + radish, fresh capsicum and cucumber, mint + parsley, roquette.

If you would like any more information, have any questions or would like to make a booking please feel free to get in touch via phone (0408 402 512 / 1300 067 836), via email (info@rebeccamarks.com.au) or book online

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are right for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

So, a couple of weeks ago I got sick. Not just like a cold/flu sick. In hospital sick. For a couple of days. And I made them let me leave early because the lady next to me kept yelling at 3am and I couldn’t get any sleep. Let’s not go into details, but it wasn’t a fantastic situation. After a 40 degree fever, at least 2 (or was it 3? I can’t remember) kinds of IV antibiotics, lots of very strong painkillers and many, many hugs later I made it home with several prescriptions for more antibiotics, 2 boxes of panadol, and the promise to sit very still for a little while and let myself get better. In fact, here’s a picture of me at 11pm in my ward bed, listening to yoga podcasts, wearing my favourite wolf sweater and about to wash my late night painkillers n’ panadol combo down with hospital pudding (the only food I could keep down except for vegemite toast), The moral of the story? Even health practitioners get sick sometimes. And truly, it’s best to make sure you’re really super ready to go back to work before you do - even if that means that you need a little bit of time to put yourself back together.

The silver lining to this situation is that I’ve learnt a crapload about how to put yourself back together after a major illness. And yanno what? I thought I would share it with you all. I hope you’re never in that sort of situation (because really, hospitals are not at all comfortable places to get better in), but if you are, here’s a head start on how to begin the healing process.

DIET

This is a time to really nourish your digestive organs. As much as you might want to subsist solely on vegemite toast and cups of tea, it’s really not the best (believe me, I tried and found out the hard way). This is the time to eat soft, warm mushy foods. Think bone broths, soups, stews and porridges. Bone broth will really help to calm you tummy and all the lovely minerals in it will help to rebuild you gut and muscles. It’s also a fantastic idea to add a bit spoonful of fermented veggie to each meal. Just one should be plenty, and if you don’t like the taste very much just mix it in with all the other delicious things that your chowing down on. Your body will thank you for it.

GUT HEALTH

Did you know that scientists and doctors are constantly discovering more and more about the gut, the biome and its intense interconnectedness with the rest of the body? No? well, seriously. The gut is super important in all parts of the body, especially the immune system. In fact, a large proportion of your immune system lives there!

If you’ve just had a big illness you need to make sure that looking after your tummy is your number one priority … after napping and eating vegemite toast of course. This is especially important if you’ve been taking antibiotics or other intense medications, which can play havoc with your gut-flora. This is the time to get a quality probiotic, start chugging Kombucha, upping your soluble/insoluble fibres plus adding a few prebiotics into the mix. Sound difficult? It’s really not.

All you have to do is:

- Take a probiotic capsules in the morning,

- Add a spoonful of pickles to your lunch,

- Have a cup of Kombucha with afternoon tea,

- Take a teaspoon of a gut-supplement before bed (think Psyllium Husk, Slippery Elm Powderor better yet just grab some Motion Potion .

These things will help to clear out waste but will also help to create a good environment for all the probiotics that you’re loading in with the capsules and kombucha.

Seriously, it’s that easy!

SUPPLEMENTS

I love a good supplement, but only if it’s needed. Most of the time I don’t supplement with anything but there is most certainly a time and a place for these things. If you’ve been very sick then go and see your local Herbalist / Naturopath / Dietician / Chinese Medicine Practitioner / etc etc and get them to hook you up with some good stuff. Vitamin C, Zinc and Iron are a great place to start but make sure you talk to a qualified professional to get the best prescription for what your body needs. In my case I hit up some Vitamin C and Zinc pretty hard and then added a chaser of Oregano oil for it’s fantastic anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Once things started to settle down I added in some Floradix to help pump up my energy levels. Now that it’s a few weeks post-infection I’m looking at mixing things up a bit again!

ALLIED HEALTH THERAPIES

I completely let loose in the two weeks after I got out of hospital. I booked myself in for two sessions of Acupuncture each week and once I was up and walking around properly I booked myself into the Osteo to help fix up all the damage I’d done by spending two weeks curled into a ball. Not pretty, but true.

If you know what works for your body - be it Physiotherapy, Naturopathy or anything else - get in to it as soon as possible and hit it hard for a good 2 weeks after the illness. I always suggest to my clients to pop in 2-3 times in 10 days after a bit event like that and then once the symptoms begin to calm down you can space things out to once per week.

DON’T BE SCARED OF WESTERN MEDICINE

If you’re a more ‘herbal’ or ‘alternative’ sort, don’t knock good ol’ conventional medicine. Everything has its proper place, and in a major illness or crisis sort of situation, western medicine will have your back. If your doctor prescribes you medication, it’s best to take it properly and for the full course. And if you have any nasty side effects (ladies, I’m sure you understand some of the nastier and more….uncomfortable side effects of antibiotics) there are both conventional AND natural things you can do to get your body back in balance. You’ll notice that some of my pictures even include some over the counter medications. This was because some of my symptoms were still pretty bad, even a few weeks after leaving hospital. Sometimes a girl just needs a couple of painkillers, and if these medications are taken once in a while with the guidance of a qualified health professional then this is okay.

SLEEP

This is one of the biggest healers of all! When our body sleeps our body begins to rest and rebuild itself. You know what that means? Nap time is totally a good thing. If you feel tired, have a nap. If you feel still feel tired, have another nap. Honestly, I was having 2-3 good naps a day in the first week out of hospital. The fact that you’re that tired indicates that you’re body physically NEEDS rest to get better.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF

Now, this one might be the hardest one of all. It took three seperate people saying this to me before I really understood what it meant. Do you know what being kind to yourself means? It means not pushing. It means not rushing. It means listening intently to what your body needs, right here right now. It means not feeling bad/guilty/upset/angry that your body isn’t functioning the way it normally does. It will again soon, once you’re better. And that might not be for a few weeks. But you know what? The sooner you rest, the sooner that will happen. So go get napping!

P.S. These tips are also fantastic if you’ve had surgery recently, or you find yourself being run-down or ill more often than not.

P.P.S. I hope you feel better soon! Xxx

If you would like any more information, have any questions or would like to make a booking please feel free to get in touch via phone (0408 402 512 / 1300 067 836), via email (info@rebeccamarks.com.au) or book online

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are right for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

Winter is the most Yin time of year, the time of year when the sun begins to disappear and the world begins to hibernate. This hibernation means that our exposure to the sun becomes less and less – both due to the fact that the days are shorter as well as the fact that we tend to spend more time inside under a doona napping. Even though rest is super important, the lack of Vitamin D can play havoc on our immune systems. This makes us more susceptible to colds, flus, cases of the sniffles and generally being run down. But what if I told you that you could increase your immune system from the couch? Well, not quite. You’ll have to walk to the kitchen. But you can sit on the couch while the soup is cooking and that’s kinda the same thing, right?

This soup is super easy to make. It can either be prepared ahead and portioned off into 1-2 cup containers to be frozen or it can be made super quickly if you’re in need of a pick me up. If you feel a cold coming on in the morning, stick all the ingredients in the slow cooker before work and by the time you come home it will be cooked and ready to give you an immune-boost!

This soup can be added to almost anything as a base. Simmer extra veggies in it to make a lovely and easy soup, cook your grains or beans in it or use it as a base for stews.

Ingredients

10 dried shitake mushrooms,

1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, grated

3-5 cloves of garlic

3-5 spring onions, finely chopped

2-3 pieces of Astragalus*

2 sticks of celery roughly chopped

2 carrots roughly chopped

2 litres water

To serve

A big bunch of coriander stems removed and roughly chopped.

Lemon wedges

Salt + Pepper

*Astragalus root is available in packages from Chinese grocery stores. I’ve seen it being sold on King Street (Newtown), the giant IGA at Haymarket and I’m fairly sure I’ve also seen it on Marrickville road. If in doubt, just ask your local Acupuncturist.

HOW TO – For vegetarians

Cover the shitake mushrooms in hot water for 10 minutes to rehydrate, then drain them, rinse and roughly chop them. Set them aside for now.

Place the ginger, garlic, spring onions in a large pot and saute with a big spoonful of coconut oil until they’re fragrant. Add in the carrots and celery and sauté a few further minutes before adding the shitakes and Astragalus root. Cover with water and bring it to the boil before turning it down to simmer. Simmer for 1-1.5 hours until everything is soft and delicious.

You can either then wait for the soup to cool before straining it to use as a stock OR eat it as is, sprinkled with the chopped coriander and lemon wedges. If you’re going to eat it all as is, then remove the Astragalus root. It doesn’t add much taste to the soup itself but it’s super chewy and you don’t want to deal with it getting stuck in your teeth.

HOW TO– For meat-eaters

Follow the above steps however add in ½ kilo of organic chicken wings or drumsticks. Once the soup is cooked and cooled, make sure to remove the meat from the bones. Add the meat back into the soup and discard the bones with the Astragalus root. This turns it into an almost Bone Broth kind of soup ().

ASTRAGALUS ROOT: this funny old root has been used for YEARS (like, a couple of thousand) in Chinese Medicine. It has been especially vital in moderating respiratory diseases (including colds and flus) and is fantastic at helping when you’ve sort of recovered from an illness which is lingering. Astragalus contains saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides, all of which help to modulate and strengthen the immune system. Awesome, huh? Also, you barely taste it in your soup.

GINGER, GARLIC & ONIONS: these are all extremely powerful immune-regulating foods. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, they’re all warming and pungent which helps to disperse illnesses. From a Biomedical perspective they are filled with sulphur-containing amino acids and phytochemicals to help boost your immune system. They’re like tiny household immune boosters, because honestly, who doesn’t have a bit or garlic or onion hanging around in their vege draw?

SHITAKE MUSHROOMS: these lil mushrooms are chocker full of B Vitamins and are an excellent source of Vitamin D. This is essential in Winter when our normal source of Vitamin D (the sun) is often hiding away. They also have specific anti-viral properties, which will help to fight away any nasty viruses that might be lurking.

And that’s it, folks! Give this immune-boosting soup a go and let me know how it works out for you.

If you would like any more information, have any questions or would like to make a booking please feel free to get in touch via phone (0408 402 512 / 1300 067 836), via email (info@rebeccamarks.com.au) or book online

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are right for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

Welcome to Winter! Brrrrrrrr….things are getting chilly! Can you feel that cold? Winter is definitely here, and with it the most Yin season of the year. Winter is the most YIN of all the seasons - Yin being earthy, dark, cold and inactive. In keeping with living with the seasons we should try to reflect the energetic nature of Winter and reflect the Yin in our lives. This is done by allowing ourselves some time to slow down, rest, prepare projects, brainstorm ideas to be launched in the warmer months. Eat more cooked and warm foods and make sure you add an extra layer of clothing to protect yourself from the cooler weather.

In Chinese Medicine we think of the body as a small version of the universe around us. As the seasons change, so should we. Humans should be adaptable; to flow with the seasons is to live in harmony. By doing this, we should avoid illness.

What happens to our Qi in Winter?

During this time our Qi should start to SLOW DOWN and move DOWNWARDS. Winter is the WATER time of year and the time of deepest Yin - a cold, dark and still time. These months relate to the KIDNEY and BLADDER organs, the colour is BLACK and the flavour is SALTY. This is a time of STORAGE and REST - making it the perfect time to work through your FEARS and achieve a sense of CALM for the coming Yang months.

The Water Organ – The Kidney

The KIDNEY is one of the strongest and most fundamental organs in Chinese Medicine. They store our JING(our essence that is meant to last our entire life) as well as our PRENTAL Qi (our constitution which we inherit from our parents). In a nutshell, our Kidneys are the source of our endurance and energy reserves that we use for our whole life. If we wear them out too quickly – through excess work, stress or even too much sex – we will deplete these essential reserves and wear ourselves down. That sounds a bit serious, right? So the message is to make sure you look after your Kidneys! If you love them then they’ll love you back and make sure that you have a long life with plenty of growth and graceful aging free from illness. The Kidneys also connect us to our ZHI or sense of WILL. This is our internal drive that gets us up in the morning and inspires us to work, live and enjoy life.

What does this mean for you? If your Kidneys are strong then you have plentiful energy and endurance, a strong lower back and knees, your hearing will be strong and your will power will get you through any task. However if your Kidneys become weaker due to excess work or stress you may begin to ache in your back and knees, you may experience excessive fear or insecurity, you will tire easily and your concentration will suffer.

The Winter months are a time of darkness, stillness and solitude, so if you’ve been overdoing things throughout the year this is a time to turn inwards and rejuvenate yourself!

Mental Health in Winter

In Winter, the Qi of the world becomes heavy and begins to move inwards to hibernate. By following this movement – by withdrawing, resting and becoming introspective – we can begin to conserve and renew our energies. This makes the Winter months all about:

REJUVENTATION INNER STRENGTH FEAR

Often so many of us are working at least one job (if not more), studying and often have dependents. These things are all important to continue but leave us little time for retreat. One of the best things about this period of downtime and stillness is that it allows us to REFLECT about what we feel and care strongly about. This reflection time is what allows us to feel rejuvenated and later ‘spring’ into action and kick start our goals and dreams once the warmer months begin.

As our Kidneys control our Zhi or Will, Winter is the time to do some inner searching to find out what scares us and what we FEAR. By beginning to understand some of our old fear patterns we can develop our own INNER STRENGTH. That way, by the time Spring comes around we have enough inner determination and are rejuvenated enough to charge after the things that we want from life.

Winter Health Tips

The Kidneys represent our vitality and longevity and the Winter months are a time to rejuvenate our energy stores and our immune systems.

SLEEP – good quality sleep is one of the best things to do for your Kidneys during Winter to replenish your energy stores. As the sun is rising later and going down earlier perhaps try to do the same? If you can aim for bedtime to be around 10pm and wake up time to be 6.30-7am you can get at least 8 solid hours of sleep every night.

EXERCISE – It’s super important to slow down your movement patterns during the cooler months. That doesn’t mean stopping exercise entirely, but perhaps swap high-intensity cardio activities for more gentle activities such as walking and yoga. This allows your adrenals to recover from the high amounts of activity that they’ve been stressed by over the warmer months.

REST – it’s important to let your Kidneys and adrenals rest during the Winter months so make sure to schedule in ‘unstructured rest time’ on days off as well as take regular pauses during your work days.

EAT WARM & SOUPY – As the external temperature is so cool we should begin to eat more warming and nourishing foods to literally warm us up from the inside’. Well-cooked and soup-based foods are also much easier on our digestive organs and help to give our tummies a break when our bodies are busy repairing the damage of the previous year.

ACUPUNCTURE - Acupuncture is an amazing and gentle way to even out any ‘stuck bits’ in the body – be it physical, emotional or energetic. If you’re feeling sick, stuck, sad or just plain confused, see your local acupuncturist for a seasonal tune-up. You might find that while you’re doing all the above things in the right way a good Acupuncture session or two can really help to turn things around. There are also some fantastic herbal formulas that might be up your ally too.

Winter Foods

EAT WHOLE FOODS – this is the time of the year to eat a wide range of foods – whole grains, legumes, meats, root veggies, greens, nut and fruits. This is when we replenish our depleted stores and so eating a range of foods from different groups will help to supplement any internal deficits.

EAT SOUPY – begin to make well-cooked porridges, soups and stews the majority of your diet. These warming, nourishing foods are easy to digest and provide your body with long-release energy throughout day. If you can cook these soups at a lower temperature for a longer time (or just use a slow-cooker) even better!

DRINK BROTH – drink a cup of warm water, soup, tea or broth with each meal. Perhaps try a small cup of Miso soup with lunch and dinner? The salty taste is particularly beneficial for the Kidneys and the fermented nature of it is fantastic for your gut health.

AVOID – stimulating foods and drinks such as chili, chocolate, caffeine and alcohol. Also try to steer clear of anything raw or lightly cooked as well as anything cold. This is the time to make digestion as easy as possible for your belly!

WELCOME TO WINTER!

There you go – I hope all of that has been super helpful for you! If you would like to learn more, or would like to book in for a consultation please get in touch via phone (1300 067 836 / 0408 402 512), email or book online.

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are important for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

Have you ever woken up with a stiff, sore neck? Or twisted your knee playing netball? Or had a tumble off your bike? Or done all of the above? Do you just generally have a few ongoing aches and pains? I hear ya. Having an active lifestyle can mean having an injury now and again which is definitely a downer. But that’s no reason to stop! You just need to have a few tools up your sleeve to help when injury rears its ugly head.

Did you know that Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have a long history of helping injuries (both chronic and acute)? In fact, the World Health Organisation have stated that Acupuncture has been proven effective in the treatment of many musculoskeletal injuries. These include:

Wry neck (Torticollis)HeadachesTennis / Golfers Elbow (Medial & Lateral Epicondylitis)Carpel TunnelPlantar FasciitisDisc Herniations/SubluxationsLower Back PainSpondylitisSciatica,Dental PainTMJ DisordersSprains & StrainsDisorders of the knee, shoulder and ankle

What does that mean?

Basically, Acupuncture is able to treat pain and injuries all over the body!

Injuries come under two categories

ACUTE INJURIES – injuries that have just occurred and are under 3 months old.

CHRONIC INJURIES - injuries and ongoing ‘niggles’ that are over 3 months old and don’t seem to be resolving.

So what does a treatment for an injury look like?

When you first hurt yourself and your injury is in the acute phase, your Acupuncturist will try to decrease any pain and swelling and restore the range of motion (ROM) to the area as soon as possible. Treatment methods may include:

CuppingMassage and stretchesGua Sha (scraping)Liniments (herbal liquids to be applied to the area topically)Acupuncture

These treatments will help to help decrease your pain and get you back on your feet ASAP. They may also suggest some herbal patches, liniments or herbs to be used at home in between treatments. During this stage it’s a good idea to have 2-3 treatments within 10 days to make sure that you’re on the right track towards getting betting.

If you’re injury is more severe and it doesn’t get better within 3-4 months, it is technically a ‘chronic’ issue. During the chronic phase a practitioner will generally want to make sure that any on-going pain is clearing up and that you’re regaining full use of the injured area. During this phase your Acupuncturist will use the same methods as in the acute phase, but tailored slightly differently. This is the time to really hit any injuries ‘on the head’ to make sure they go away and stay gone!

What does this mean for you?

If you’ve had a little accident and hurt yourself, or if you’ve got any ongoing niggles, aches or pains, perhaps give Acupuncture a go? Your practitioner will also be able to set you up with some herbal patches or liniments to make sure that you’re pain-free in no time at all!

If you would like any more information, have any questions or would like to make a booking please feel free to get in touch via phone (0408 402 512 / 1300 067 836), via email (info@rebeccamarks.com.au) or book online

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are right for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

Isn’t making skin care at home lovely? Not only is it cheap, but you know exactly what you’re putting on your body. And you can even divide up batches of skin care and flavour them with different herbs or essential oils. I’m rather partial to a face mask and a body scrub and this happens to be my most favourite body scrub recipe.

Autumn is the time of the Lung and the Large Intestine organs, both of which are organs of elimination and detox. The Lung in particular helps to eliminate the body’s waste products through the skin. This means that by giving yourself a good scrub in Autumn you’re giving your Lung a helping hand to detox your insides!

YOU NEED

1c used coffee grounds - if you make your coffee at home just pour the grounds out of the machine and into a jar. Store jar in the fridge until ready to use (if you live in my house then this really doesn’t take long) or you can grab some from a friend.

1/2c sugar - caster sugar for face, white or raw sugar for body (I use raw sugar because I’m hardcore and it also doubles as food for my Kombucha SCOOBY).

1/2c oil - olive, walnut, apricot kernel, coconut. Honestly I just use olive oil. It is reasonably cheap and plentiful.

2-10 drops essential oil - mix it up. Get creative. My favourite mix generally includes lavender or some ylang ylang overtones, but do whatever floats your boat.

HOW TO

Combine all ingredients in a big bowl. The mixture should be firm but a bit squishy - just add more wet or dry ingredients until you get a mix which sticks to your skin and can be rubbed in. Pour it all into a large jar (like a 1L coconut oil jar) and keep it in the shower.

Once or twice a week get all soggy in the shower, turn off the water, cover yourself in body scrub like the Creature From The Black Lagoon. Stand around for between 1-10 minutes then wash it all off.

FYI once you’re done looking like the Creature From The Black Lagoon, you’ll realise that your shower looks a bit like the Black Lagoon. This stuff gets everywhere. Never fear! It’s super easy to clean and can go down the drain.

Do you like to make natural skin care? What’s your favourite body scrub recipe?

If you would like any more information, have any questions or would like to make a booking please feel free to get in touch via phone (0408 402 512 / 1300 067 836), via email (info@rebeccamarks.com.au) or book online.

PLEASE NOTE In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are right for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

Do you sometimes get a headache, a toothache or a tummy ache and need a quick fix to make the pain go away? What if I told you that you could use Acupressure to give yourself a quick pain-relief top-up in between Acupuncture sessions?

ACUPRESSURE is an easy technique where you give yourself a brief massage using Acupuncture points. It works the same way as Acupuncture does by accessing our nervous system. It may feel a bit deep and intense but with a few well-chosen points you should feel the effects almost immediately. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a headache, your feeling stressed or you’ve got something silly like the hiccoughs (I always feel silly when I get the hiccoughs) you can give yourself a mini-treatment and before long you’ll be right as rain again.

HOW TO ACUPRESSURE

Pick your point, for example LI-4 for a toothache.Use a finger (thumb or index work best) to press into the point. This should feel sore and a bit unpleasant.Hold the pressure on for 60 seconds.Repeat on the other side.

FOR TUMMY ACHES

| ST-25 | TIANSHU | HEAVEN’S PIVOT |

This particularly point is may be located on the abdomen but it’s actually the meeting area of Yin and Yang in the body. Cool, eh? Basically this location is a place of balance where the Upper and Lower parts of the body meet and the Yin and Yang mingle and transform. They don’t call it Heaven’s Pivot for nothing! Just to make this point a little bit cooler, it’s also located over a reflex area for the Large Intestine, meaning that it helps to move or let go of things that are a bit stuck in your belly or your brain. Have you ever found that you’re a bit twisted or circular in your thought patterns and then realised that you may also be constipated? This is the point for you! It also works wonders is you’re feeling a bit bloated or things in your tummy aren’t moving the way you’d like them to.

HOW TO FIND IT

Find your belly button and use your index finger to measure out two knuckles. Press straight in to your belly muscles and feel your intestines start to move around!

FOR PALPITATIONS

| CV-17 | SHAN ZHONG | CHEST CENTRE |

This point is known as the ‘Chest Centre’ as it sits smack-bang in the middle of your chest. This means that it helps to open your ribs and shoulders, soothe your Shen (mind) and strengthen your Heart. It also has several important connections to the Pericardium (the case of tissue that protects our Heart from damage), which joins it to the Heart and Lungs. All three of these organs have intense emotional connections. They deal with joy, grief and how we process our emotions, so this point is seen as the home of our emotional selves. CV-17 literally unbinds your chest - it reaches into those emotional meridians and gently unravels the Qi that might be stuck there, giving the point it’s extra name, ‘The Sea of Tranquility’. This is one of the easiest point to begin to learn Acupressure with - if you’re feeling stressed, if you’re dealing with emotional upset, feeling anxious or need to stop a panic attack before it escalates, press on this point.

HOW TO FIND IT

You just need to count down from the collarbone to the fourth rib and press into the middle of the sternum. It might feel a bit gunky or sore but try to breath in deeply into where you’re feeling those sensations and then breath those feelings out. Then begin to feel your chest unwind and open up.

FOR TOOTHACHES

| LI-4 | HEGU | JOINING VALLEY |

This is one of the most well known Acupuncture points - and for good reason! Even though it's on the index finger it's connected to your Large Intestine, but its neural connections go up to the head. How odd, eh? Your Large Intestine being located in your head is such a funny image and it's definitely something that completely confused me at Acupuncture school. Anywhoo. This point is good for pain - especially toothaches, which is perfect if you’re in dire need of a visit to the dentist.

HOW TO FIND IT

Grab the webbing between your thumb and index finger and press down hard. This is going to hurt, but I guarantee you the pain will go down within 30 seconds.

FOR INSOMNIA

| M-HN-3 | YIN TANG | CELESTIAL PALACE |

Celestial Palace - that's got a certain je ne se quoi to it, doesn't it? You might feel like you get this point quite a lot during your monthly Acupuncture tune-up session. That's because it's a beauty. It sits right over your third eye and the pineal gland, which controls our sleep-wake cycles. That might just explain why we sleep so well after having it - the little acupuncture needle stimulates the pineal function allowing us to drift off promptly when we need to and wake up bright-eyed the next morning. From a TCM perspective, Yin Tang cracks open our mind, allowing us to integrate aspects of our daily life with our conscious and unconscious mind (which occurs during sleep) and also helps us to change our perceptions of the world and our experiences.

HOW TO FIND IT

Find the inside edges of your eyebrows and move your finger inwards until it is centred in between your eyebrows. Then move your finger up a 1/2cm and you’re at Yin Tang! Try massaging this spot with small circular motions if you’re having trouble sleeping at night.

FOR STRESS

| M-HN-1 | SI SHEN CONG | FOUR ALERT SPIRIT |

This point combination is known as the ‘Four Angels’, but I like to think of them as the ‘Four Guardian Angels’. These points gently work into your scalp to let out all the pent up steam that might be accumulating in your brainpan. They're fantastic if you’re feeling stressed, anxious or just a bit wound-up. I also think that they balance the left and right sides of the brain a bit too, helping you to integrate your physical Yang side with your emotional Yin side. Next time you're feeling stressed, just massage these points, lie back, feel the guardian angels gently giving you an internal Qi hug and relax!

HOW TO FIND IT

Find the highest point of your head by measuring from the top of your ears to the top of your head. These four points are roughly 1cm in front, behind and to the left and right of the highest point on the scalp. If you’re not quite sure which spot your looking for, just massage the whole area, making sure to pay extra attention to the spots that feel gummy or sore.

If you would like any more information, have any questions or would like to make a booking please feel free to get in touch via phone (0408 402 512 / 1300 067 836), via email (info@rebeccamarks.com.au) or book online

PLEASE NOTE In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are right for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

Welcome to Autumn! Even though the weather took a cooler turn a few weeks ago, I feel as though the crispy morning air and chilly evenings are truly upon us now. How are you finding the seasonal change? I for one certainly enjoy the cooler temperatures and the days are still long enough to fit in a microadventure or two after work!

In Chinese Medicine we think of the body as a small version of the universe around us. As the seasons change, so should we. Humans should be adaptable; to flow with the seasons is to live in harmony. By doing this, we should avoid illness. Autumn is a time to slow down and to harvest and enjoy the abundance of what you worked on and grew in Summer.

What happens to our Qi in Autumn?

The Metal season of Autumn is when the Yang movement of the Spring and Summer months comes to an end and the Yin months begin. Because of this, our Qi should start to CONTRACT and MOVE INWARDS. These months relate to our LUNG and LARGEINTESTINE organs, the colour is WHITE and the flavor is PUNGENT. This is a time of HARVEST, COMPLETION and REST – making it the perfect time to reflect deeply on your ATTACHMENTS and to LET GO of anything that no longer serves you.

The Metal Organ – The Lung

In Chinese Medicine, the LUNG is considered to be one of the most important organs (after the HEART, of course) – and its function is what determines the flow of Qi around the body. It is also in charge of your defense mechanism and immune system – known as Wei Qi. As the Wei Qi travels over the surface of the body to protect it, your Lung organ also looks after your skin to keep it moist and glowing. Your Lung houses the Po, which is your bodily soul and sense of self. This spirit gives our personality boundaries and establishes our connection between ourselves and the world around us.

The LARGE INTESTINE on the other hand is a digestive organ that deals with separating the foods you eat into pure fluids (that get used by the body) and impure fluids (that it excretes). In classical Chinese Medical texts it is known as ‘the great eliminator’ as it not only excretes things that don’t serve our body from a physical sense, but also lets go of emotional issues that no longer serve us.

If your Metal organs are functioning properly then you should have a clear sense of self and connection with the world. You should experience inspiration and hope and be able to breath deeply and your bowels should be regular. However, if your Lung or Large Intestine become dysfunctional your Po may scatter, leaving you filled with grief and depression, or with skin issues, sinus problems or bowel blockages.

As Autumn is the time of the Lung organ it is the perfect time to make a few small changes so that you can avoid these kinds of Lung deficiency issues and make the most of the magnificent Autumn months!

Mental Health in Autumn

As the Qi of Autum is constangly moving DOWNWARDS and INWARDS, the main themes of the season tend to revolve around

BOUNDARIESATTACHMENT LETTING GO

If your Lung and Po are balanced and the body is harmonious then you should feel hope and inspiration. However if the Liver is unbalanced and the Qi is stagnating then the dominant emotions will be sadness, grief and excessive attachment. This is no longer a time of abundance and action – instead it is a time of harvest and decline and as our Qi moves inwards, so do our emotions. This can provoke a sense of melancholy – not because anything in particular is wrong but instead because of our unbalanced Metal organs.

The Lung and the Large Intestine are also concerned with processing and elimination. After Summer when we focus on our INTERNAL BOUNDARIES, in Autumn we look outwards towards out EXTERNAL BOUNDARIES or how we approach and interact with the world. Basically, this is the perfect time to begin to reflect on your place in the world and how you would like that to change over the coming days and months. It also provides the perfect opportunity for you to LET GO (both emotionally and physically) of things that are no longer serving you.

Autumn Health Tips

EAT WARM – as the temperatures are dropping it is important to begin incorporating more warming and nourishing foods into the diet.

SLEEP – The move into a more Yin time of year means that our bodies begin to need more sleep. In order to match the shorter days make sure that you’re getting to bed by 10pm and prioritizing 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

HYDRATION – the Metal organs have a tendency to become dry and brittle as the external environment does (think of how your skin in Winter). To combat this, make sure that you drink plenty of water – at least 2L per day – and start the day with a big drink of water with Apple Cider Vinegar.

YOGA – Did you know that the Yogis and Ayurvedic practitioners also consider the gut to be the centre of our immune systems? All of their deep twisting poses allow us to let go of old matter and boost our immune systems. So get yourself to a yoga class, stat.

REGULATE YOUR BOWELS - Make sure your bowels are letting go! As the Large Intestine helps you to excrete both physical and emotional impurities, make sure that you have to …ahem…’go’ everyday by adding a bit of soluble fibre into your diet daily by like psyllium husk or slippery elm bark.

BREATHING – Part of Autumn is based around ‘letting go’ and our body lets go through our skin and our bowels. If you can sit and practice some sort of mindful meditation for 10-15 minutes everyday you will not only notice a sense of calm and ease but also you’ll help your body to clear itself out! Perhaps even try some Square Breathing.

REFLECTION – Schedule in 10-15 minutes 2-3 times per week to reflect. How do you feel in your daily life? Are you finding fulfillment in your relationships, job, family, hobbies etc? This is a perfect time to begin journaling and exploring your thoughts, feelings and inner world which will allow you to connect with yourself but also with how you feel about your connections with the world around you.

CLEAR YOUR SINUSES – as the Lung detoxifies through your breath and skin, it’s important to keep your sinuses clear from pollens, mucus and excess bacteria. Autumn is the time when chronic respiratory issues like sinus infections and asthma begin to rear their ugly heads so make sure you keep your airways clean by using a Neti Pot.

ACUPUNCTURE & HERBS – Acupuncture is an amazing and gentle way to even out any ‘stuck bits’ in the body – be it physical, emotional or energetic. If you’re feeling sick, stuck, sad or just plain confused, see your local acupuncturist for a seasonal tune-up. You might find that while you’re doing all the above things in the right way a good Acupuncture session or two can really help to turn things around. There are also some fantastic herbal formulas that might be up your ally too.

Autumn Foods

EAT WARM AND COOKED – begin to cook foods for longer periods such as baking or sautéing. Having foods with more warmth (and Yang) in them will help to keep our insides warmer while longer cooking times makes the food easier to digest. This is a great time to get into cooking soups and stews!

ANYTHING WHITE – cauliflower, brown pears, mushrooms, garlic, potatoes, onions, ginger, parsnips. White fruits and vegetables tend to have a higher amount of phytochemicals such as allicin, which has fantastic antibacterial and antiviral properties. Other white veggies are a fantastic source of potassium and magnesium too!

ADD IN PROBIOTICS – as the function of the Large Intestine is the centre of our digestion AND immune system, it’s super important to keep it happy in Autumn. If you can, add 1-2 doses of probiotics in each day. Try adding some yogurt to your breakfast, pop a spoon of sauerkraut or kimchi in your salad or have a glass of kombucha in the evenings.

FOODS TO AVOID – If you find that you tend to get more sinus infections or constipation it may be a good idea to avoid things that exacerbate the problem, e.g. dairy products, refined white foods (sugar, white flours and rice). Anything excessively ‘hot’ (like alcohol and coffee) can also dry out the mucous membranes, increasing the likelihood of a sinus infection.

WELCOME TO AUTUMN!

There you go – I hope all of that has been super helpful for you! If you would like to learn more, or would like to book in for a consultation please get in touch via phone (1300 067 836 / 0408 402 512), email, or book online.

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are important for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

Sometimes in life we can feel positively on top of the world, but other times we feel somewhat sub-optimal. We might get more headaches than usual, or our IBS might play up. Perhaps something has triggered your anxiety or PMS to flare up. Often these things seem unconnected, but they're confusing, annoying and they get in the way of the things we have to do!

The world of health can be a confusing place to dive into, especially when faced with a number of different ailments. Where does one start to make them better?

But you know what? Health is important!

And more importantly, it doesn't have to be hard.

Ask yourself the following questions....

Has pain been stopping you from training?

Have tummy troubles been keeping you from your social life?

Are headaches and neck tightness stealing your thunder?

Have you been struggling to find balance in your daily life?

Have you just been feeling a bit drained or less than fantastic?

Did you make a bunch of new years goals but somehow got side-tracked?

If any of these sound like you, then Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine might be right up your alley. Acupuncture works by fine-tuning the nervous and endocrine systems of the body. It's a safe, effective treatment for a multitude of ailments and each treatment is specifically tailored to the client's particular health needs. Often by combining regular Acupuncture treatments with some small tweaks to your lifestyle, diet and exercise regimes you can feel a whole lot better.

Are you curious about Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine but not sure if it's what you need?

I totally understand how confusing the world of health can be, which is why I’m offering free 15 minute initial consultations during March.

This is the perfect time for you to find out more about Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine as well as discuss your health and wellness goals.

During this time we will:

Discuss your health + wellness goalsDivise a brief treatment plan of 4-6 weeks to prioritise your short-term goals.Plan out a series of small lifestyle tweaks in place to manage your long-term wellness.

Does this sound like something you’d like to do?

These initial consults can take place either via phone or in person at Sydney Health Professionals. If so, please get in touch via phone or emailorbook onlineunder the heading 'Special Offer'.

In the meantime, if you're curious about what Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can treat have a read of The Top Ten Reasons to Try Acupuncture.

I look forward to working with you soon!

xxx Rebecca

NOTE: this offer ends 31st March 2017 and is valid for one 15 minute intro consultation with Rebecca.

Have you been hearing about this thing called 'Acupuncture' but not quite sure what it is or what it can treat?

I’m sure you’ve heard of it - the odd Chinese therapy where someone sticks pins in you. I grew up in a household that used Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture as the main source of treatment for all ailments and so to me it seems like such a simple, safe and effective treatment method. For others though, I know it can sound a bit strange.

How does Acupuncture work?

In a nutshell?

Neurofeedback.

What that means is that Acupuncture accesses your nervous system. By inserting needles into certain points on the body, your Acupuncturist stimulates your nerve pathways to create a specific effect. Some points have an analgesic effect (for pain relief), other points can stimulate your immune system, while different points calm the nervous system. It also helps to stimulate certain hormones, such as melatonin to help you sleep, or insulin to help your energy levels stay balanced. For example, the classic point LI-4 (in between the thumb and first finger) is over the neural pathway that go to the jaw. By stimulating that point your Acupuncturist can decrease jaw and tooth pain - perfect if you’ve about to go to the dentist!

So….why get Acupuncture?

Now, no treatment is 100% effective 100% of the time, but I think that Acupuncture comes pretty darn close.

If you’ve got any questions, queries or would like to find out how Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help you, feel free to get in touch via phone (1300 068 836 / 0408 402 512) or via email (info@rebeccamarks.com.au).

Sometimes it’s fun not to be controlled. To go out with the girls (or the guys), have a glass of wine (or two - but no more than that for me because I’m a lightweight) and possibly something completely delicious for dinner. And dessert. Because what is dinner without dessert when you're out with friends and there are enough of you to share everything on the menu? Basically it isn’t dinner, that’s what.

If you have, don’t worry. We all have. You haven’t fallen off any particular wagon. You just had fun. Instead of berating yourself the next day, just relish that moment and make sure that you enjoyed it to the upmost. That is what matters. Having your cake, eating it too and enjoying every last mouthful.

The next day if you’re tummy or your head feel a bit off there’s a few things you can do:

Pop a bit of mandarin peel or a cinnamon stick in some water and sip on it like tea. Top it up. Enjoy frequently. Better yet - stick some in your water bottle, top it up with freshly boiled water and sip on it all day.Go for a walk. Nothing soothes angry, stagnant Liver Qi like a lovely walk. If you can, dig your toes into the earth for some Grounding action.Eat some delicious and nutritious meals. Good ol’ oats for breakfast and earthy, nourishing root veggies with your lunch and steamed greens with dinner. Sweet potatoes are a great way to help stick your digestion back on track.Herbal medicine - most Chinese medicine practitioners have more than a few formulas in their first aid kit for certain things. I’m sure they keep a bit of Bao He Wan in there too - also known as the 'Hang Over Formula'. I kid you not - that is actually a thing.Have a nap. Yep, if you get tired at 3pm just curl up for 30 minutes or so. Don’t sleep the afternoon away, just have a little shut eye so that you can carry on with your afternoon while feeling rejuvenated.Share these tips with your friends - they’re probably feeling as sub-optimal as you are.

And don’t forget to enjoy yourself! The Silly Season is meant to be enjoyed!

Welcome to Summer! Even though we’ve been enjoying the warm weather for a little while now, the time is truly neigh for beach adventures. I for one am truly getting sandy and heading outdoors as much as possible to frolic in the waves. I’m not much of a swimmer but there is definitely something fantastic about paddling around in the surf and pretending to be a mermaid.

In Chinese Medicine we think of the body as a small version of the universe around us. As the seasons change, so should we. Humans should be adaptable; to flow with the seasons is to live in harmony. By doing this, we should avoid illness. Summer is a time to laugh, embellish in life, enjoy yourself and connect with those around you. There is such delight to be found in the warm weather and long days. You can be outside for hours, catch up with friends, play with the kids and generally just enjoy the world around you.

What happens to our Qi in summer?

Summer is the season of the FIRE element, its organ is the HEART, its flavor is BITTER and its Qi Movement is UPWARDS and OUTWARDS. This is a time of GROWTH, MANIFESTATION and CONNECTION. Did you know that lots of plants require fire to germinate and reproduce? Imagine yourself as a plant. After the beginning of upward Qi movement in Spring where we begin to VISUALISE and GROW, Summer is the time to fully embrace our PASSIONS and DREAMS. The Summer months are the time of utmost Yang and therefore the most appropriate time to engage in thoughtful action. This makes it quite special in terms of personal growth and internal journies.

The Fire Organ – the Heart

In Chinese Medicine the HEART is considered the Emperor of the organs – it is the highest and most important of the organs and it’s function is what determines your overall bodily constitution. When your Fire organs are balanced your emotional state should be joyful and enthusiastic yet controlled, your circulation should be excellent with your hands and feet always being warm. The Heart also houses the SHEN – a concept that is loosely translated as our mind and spirit, or our mental and emotional being. The Shen is what gives our eyes their sparkle and our personalities the sense of joy that we experience when we are happy. It is also what allows us to sleep deeply by settling into the Blood at night.

@cloud_gate_therapeutics

If your Heart becomes unsettled or dysfunctional then the body will suffer from an overall lack of strength. You will most likely experience physical discomforts such as high blood pressure, palpitations and insomnia. Your emotions will also become confused with a decrease in mental clarity and an increase in anxiety, despair and controlling tendencies. Your body temperature will also not self-regulate as well as it should and you may find yourself over-heating and becoming restless or becoming cold and withdrawing. If you tend towards these problems, they can become heightened in Summer as your Qi naturally tries to move more but comes into contact with internal deficiencies.

As Summer is the time of the Heart organ it is the perfect time to make a few small changes so that you can avoid these kinds of Heart deficiency issues and make the most of the magnificent Summer months!

Emotional Health in Summer – Manifest your Dreams

The Qi of the summer months is constant growth – your Qi and the environmental Qi is moving UPWARDS and OUTWARDS constantly. Due to this, the main themes of the season tend to revolve around

WARMTH GROWTH MANIFESTATION

What does that mean? Basically, after the Spring months when we began to visualize the things we wanted to create in life, NOW is the time to begin creating them. The days are longer and warmer and we have the energy (due to the increase in environmental Yang) to make these dreams and ideas a reality. It is super important to decide exactly what DREAMS you would like to MANIFEST before figuring out what steps need to happen to make these dreams a reality. The Fire element is all about heat – if you’re lukewarm or less than super-enthused about these dreams then they’re unlikely to get off the ground. On the flip side, if you spend all your time on talking, planning, exploring ideas you may burn yourself out too quickly. Treat yourself like a slow-burning fire. Make sure you’ve got plenty of fuel (both emotional and physical nourishment) to keep a good slow burn going all summer.

The Fire months are a time to discover our internal boundaries around CONTROL. There is a paradox in the summer months - to manifest our wishes and grow we must learn to control ourselves and be disciplined to put ourselves on the correct path. However, we must also relinquish control of what the things that are outside of us – the things that we cannot control.

The Heart also rules our speech and gives us our ability to express ourselves properly. We can damage our Heart Qi by expressing ourselves through negative or excessive speech. The Summer months are a time where communication is key – it’s best to express yourself, communicate with your partner and loved ones and add more warmth into your relationships with people. This leads into our ability to develop COMPASSION and our ability to engage with others and their world, as well as our ability to understand other points of view.

Finally, because the Heart and the Shen are connected, Summer is the best time to HEAL PAST HURTS that we have carried with us from the previous year. By processing our previous emotional injuries and letting them go we open up space in our hearts for joy, compassion and more positive future experiences.

Phew. That’s a lot to think about. Basically – to create the life that we want it’s important to combine the JOY of self-expression and creation with the exercise of CONTROL and precision that is required for success.

Summer Health Tips

SLEEP - Make sure you’re getting restful sleep. This means getting to bed by 11pm (10pm would be great if possible) and prioritizing 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

WAKE UP EARLY – rising with the sun not only helps us to absorb more of its nourishing Yang waves but also sets our circadian rhythms. It also means that you get the most out of the day. As the days are longer you can also go to bed a little bit later, giving you more hours in the day to achieve your goals.

HYDRATION – since we begin to sweat more in the heat, it’s important to replenish our body fluids (Jin Ye) with plenty of moisture-filled foods. Things like cucumbers and watermelons are perfect! Drink adequate water in small sips – not too much that you need to rush to the bathroom, but enough to stop you from feeling thirsty.

COOL OCEAN WATERS – make sure to keep your showers on the cooler side or skin-temperature. If you can, have a delightful swim in the ocean to help keep you cool.

ACUPUNCTURE – Acupuncture is an amazing and gentle way to even out any ‘stuck bits’ in the body – be it physical, emotional or energetic. If you’re feeling sick, stuck, sad or just plain confused, see your local acupuncturist for a seasonal tune-up. You might find that while you’re doing all the above things in the right way a good Acupuncture session or two can really help to turn things around. There are also some fantastic herbal formulas that might be up your ally too.

Summer Foods

Summer is all about abundance. There are so many available fruits and vegetables – we are super lucky to have a multitude of choices when it comes to what we want to eat. In saying that though, it is important to stay cool and hydrated in the hotter months and make sure that we preserve our Yang.

EAT LIGHT AND FRESH – Eat lightly during this time. As the Summer is so hot, our bodies should be increasingly more Yang with the surrounding environment. This means that our bodies should be strong enough to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables. In saying that, make sure to maintain a ration of 50:50 raw:cooked foods, and definitely nothing cold (i.e. iced water). We want to maintain and strengthen our digestive Yang by nourishing it – not dampening it with raw and cold foods.

ANYTHING RED – capsicums, red onions, tomatoes, stone fruits, watermelon, berries, radishes and radicchio are all great options for a balanced Summer diet. Red vegetables tend to have a higher amount of lycopene – an antioxidant that helps to keep our hearts healthy!

ANYTHING BITTER – asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, radish, capsicum, basil, dill, cumin, coriander and chili are all bitter flavours. Bitter foods help to clear excess Heat from the body, thereby balancing the external Yang of Summer with any excess Heat that may build up in your body.

FOODS TO AVOID – even though this is the time of utmost Yang, anything Cold and Sweet can damage your body’s stores of Yang and clog up your digestive organs. So, try to keep ice cream and milkshakes to a minimum – perhaps once per week. And definitely stay away if you find you get a sore tummy or bloating afterwards. Instead you could always have a fresh berry smoothie. Yummo!

There you go. I hope all of that has been super helpful for you. If you would like any further information, or you have any questions please feel free to call me on 0408 402 512 or email me at info@rebeccamarks.com.au.

Welcome to Summer!

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are important for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

Have you noticed any fine lines lately? Is your skin looking a bit dull or dehydrated? Do you have acne, rosacea, or hyper-pigmentation?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we believe that the patient’s face acts as a mirror for the overall health and wellbeing of the body. Different areas of the face relate to the internal organs, while different colours can indicate dysfunctions. For example, we relate areas of redness with internal Heat and blue skin shades as internal Cold. The face also reflects the client’s mental, emotional and spiritual health, which the practitioner assesses by looking into the client’s eyes, at their tongue and listening to their voice. As much as it may sound crazy a TCM practitioner can tell a lot about the state of your health and wellbeing just by looking at you!

What is cosmetic acupuncture?

Cosmetic facial rejuvenation acupuncture is a process where the client and the practitioner work closely together to achieve a desired effect. You will receive both a full-body system acupuncture session as well as a specific facial rejuvenation treatment. This is because acupuncture works systemically – we seek to restore balance throughout the whole body in order to increase your overall health as well as provide you with a facial rejuvenation treatment.

How does cosmetic facial rejuvenation acupuncture work?

Cosmetic facial rejuvenation acupuncture works on two levels.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE - needling the face creates a ‘positive microtrauma’. This may sound crazy, but what we’re doing is needling the skin to activate the body’s healing process. By inserting a needle we are pinpointing an area so that they body’s defence mechanisms will travel there and begin to correct the tiny injury that we’ve caused. This stimulates the tissue production centres (the fibroblasts) in the deeper tissue layers, as well as helping to increase the production of collagen and elastin in the skin. This is why your face looks plumper and fine lines begin to fill out directly after a cosmetic rejuvenation session – we’re showing the body exactly where to lay down more collagen and elastin fibres!

CHINESE MEDICINE PERSPECTIVE – needling the face causes Qi and Blood to be transported to the area, increasing the nutrients available to the skin. This is what gives you a rosy, radiant glow and brings a new light to your face.

What should I expect from a cosmetic facial rejuvenation session?

When you first come in for a cosmetic facial rejuvenation appointment, you will sit down (probably with a cup of tea) and assess your current skin issues and what you would like to address – i.e. fine lines, discolouration, acne etc. I would then chat to you about your other health concerns before formulating a treatment plan that incorporates your facial rejuvenation desires and your health needs. To start with you will receive a normal bodily acupuncture treatment to target your systemic body needles before you receive the facial treatment. You will then get to relax and enjoy a fantastic acupuncture nap underneath the Hot House for roughly 30 minutes. Once the needles have been removed you will experience a gentle facial massage with jade rollers.

WHY JADE? Jade has been used by the Chinese for centuries to cool the skin, improve its texture and smooth away fine lines and impurities in the skin. The massage and the jade rollers will stimulate the blood and lymphatic drainage in the face further and will also help you to return to the land of the living after your blissful acupuncture nap.

What skin conditions can be treated using facial rejuvenation acupuncture?

Most skin conditions can be treated using facial rejuvenation acupuncture. Most generally it is used for dull, dry, dehydrated skin, flaky skin, fine lines and wrinkles, ptosis (drooping eyelids), to lift jowls or just to flush the face with more oxygen and blood to create a radiant glow. In saying that, facial rejuvenation acupuncture can also be hugely helpful for acne, eczema or rosacea. Patients have even found it helpful for Bell’s Palsy, Trigeminal Neuralgia, temperomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) and sinus problems!

Honestly, the options are endless.

How should I look after my skin post-treatment?

After you’ve had a cosmetic acupuncture treatment your skin will be a little bit tender. Not sore, but perhaps like you’ve had a few gentle pins stuck in. You might be a little bit blotchy or have a few small red marks. But apart from that, you should look fairly glowing within 2-5 minutes of getting off the table.

It’s best to drink plenty of water after your treatment (aiming as usual for 6-8 cups per day) and avoid coffee and alcohol – both of which are diuretics and will dehydrate you. Stay out of the sun if possible, and avoid any heavy makeup for the rest of the day. Instead,

let your skin breath! It will be looking pretty

fabulous anyway.

If you wash your face in the evening and put a bit of moisturiser on, maybe give your face a little massage. Use gentle upwards strokes to work your moisturiser or face oil into the skin. It will feel fabulous, help you relax, increase the blood flow in the skin and help increase skin tone.

(Photo: Kim Andreolli, Vogue September 1997)

How many sessions do I need to have?

In order to get the full benefits of facial rejuvenation acupuncture it’s best to have a series of treatments. Generally an initial series is 10 treatments spaced out twice a week of a 5-7 week period. I saw 5-7 weeks because sometimes you can’t make it twice a week. But really, consistency is key. The more you keep to the schedule, the better your results will be. Once you’ve had an initial series, I generally recommend a treatment once a month. The once per month maintenance treatment is quite important to keep up the fantastic glow you receive from the treatments.

How long do the effects last?

Once you’ve had the initial series of 10 treatments you should continue to see the results for 3-6 months after you’ve completed the series of treatments. The effects will vary depending on your lifestyle – such as how much water you drink, whether or not you smoke, how much you’re in the sun and how you look after your skin in general. I’ve had some clients that have come back to me 12 months after they finished their initial series of tre

atments saying that they’re friends still comment on how fantastic they look. Seriously – it is that amazing!

Are there any side effects?

Like with acupuncture treatment, there are some side effects can occur. Minor bruising or small amounts of bleeding are possible, especially as we are needling delicate facial skin. However, I do use specific Chinese herbal liniments when removing the needles to decrease the chances of this. There can also be occasional discomfort or nervy sensations. This can be avoided by letting me know if I’ve hit a particularly tender point.

Where can I find out more?

If you’ve got any questions or you would like to find out if facial rejuvenation acupuncture is for you, give me a call – 0408 402 512 or email me at info@rebeccamarks.com.au. I look forward to chatting with you!

So this week I’ve had a sore tummy. A really, really sore tummy. Like things are a bit stuck, a bit bloated (like a big, round drum-skin), a bit sore (especially after eating), I’m really not hungry and I’m more than a bit gassy. Now, that all might be a bit TMI (and sorry if it is) but as I chat to more and more people, I realise that this is a normal thing for lots of ladies and dudes. Not just an ‘I’m feeling a bit off and outta whack’ sort of thing, but an everyday thing. That’s not okay. Your tummy is meant to be your friend not your enemy and if you’re getting any (or all) of the troubles that I’ve been getting then your tummy is trying to tell you something.

I used to have these kinds of troubles a lot as a teenager and I tried lots of different things to alleviate the weird rumbling pressure I would feel in my abdomen. For years I saw an Ayurvedic doctor – an older dude who was a complete boss. He totally knew his stuff, but one of the things he used to get me to do was drink castor oil to give my intestines a good clean out. Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever tried castor oil, but it’s disgusting. Seriously, the stuff used to make me wretch so much I could never get it down. The whole ‘intestine clean out’ thing just became so fraught that it was easier to just deal with the sore tummy.

Once I got a little bit older (and discovered the powers of Google and Chinese Medicine school) I started to encounter new ways to help my tummy smile. They’re not difficult. They’re not expensive. They do take a little bit of forethought, but that’s a heap easier than having a heavy belly weighing you down all day. They’re now my go-to when my tummy is feeling a bit flat (or bloated, as the case may be). You can pick one or two of them (mix and match as you please) or go whole-hog and try the lot. Not all at once though -please remember that your tummy is feeling delicate and throwing a whole lot of remedies at it will probably make the situation worse. Maybe pick one or two a day to add into your routine slowly so that you’re doing a digestive health sneak-attack instead of a full-frontal ‘I AM SPARTA’ onslaught.

Digestion from a Chinese Medicine point of view

The two main digestive organs in the TCM body are the SPLEEN and the STOMACH. The Stomach starts off the digestive process by taking in food and beginning to ‘rot and ripen’ it (or mush it up for later digestive processes). The Spleen, on the other hand is the centre of the body. It is the main organ that takes what the Stomach has mushed and separates it into pure and impure fluids. It sends the impure fluids downwards for excretion but sends the pure fluids upwards to create your Jin Ye (body fluids) and Blood. It also uses these pure fluids to feed your ‘four sides’ (the four limbs of the body). Therefore if your digestion is sluggish, you’re getting pain after eating or you’re bloated, it’s your Spleen that we need to look at.

Digestive health mix n’ match

KEEP IT LIGHT AND WARM – This is a good tip to stick to regardless of whether your tummy is feeling strong or not. Keep your meals smallish - your stomach is only the size of your two palms cupped together – to make sure that you’re not overloading your digestive system while it’s feeling sluggish. Try to have the majority of your food cooked and make sure that nothing is cold. Your digestive system functions at body temperature (around 37 degrees Celsius). As soon as your eat or drink something straight cooler than that (i.e. straight from the fridge), your Spleen and other digestive organs have to work harder to heat the food up to body temperature before they can even begin to digestive it.

MINDFUL EATING – do you eat while scrolling, reading, watching, walking around or just generally focusing on everything except what you’re feeding your face? Hmmmm…. it’s not the best habit to be in (don’t worry – I do it too). If you can, start to really focus on your meal. Slow down, look at it, taste it, chew it and really get all up and into your meal. Digestion starts in our mouths with our saliva (which has a heap of digestive enzymes in it), and often when we’re scrolling or focusing on other things our salivary glands don’t realize that we’re eating and completely miss out on the action. If our salivary glands don’t get started, then our tummies don’t start to secrete Hydrochloric Acid (HCL - the enzyme that is responsible for breaking down proteins into digestible amino acids in the stomach) and other enzymes that we need later on in the digestive process. Basically, our bodies don’t realize that we need to digest! By sitting down in a calm and quiet place to eat you, you not only give your body a chance to chill out, but you also allow your body to go through the full digestive process.

ACUPRESSURE – ST-25 – this particular acupuncture is the front-Mu point of the Large Intestine organ, the middle of the body (from a TCM perspective) and the meeting point of Yin and Yang in the body. It’s located two knuckles on either side of your belly button and right over the nerve reflex for your large intestine. All of this aside, it’s a bonza point for stimulating a bit of action in your bowels if things are feeling stuck.

HOW TO: If you feel a bit bloated or you’re on the loo and things aren’t moving, find the point on your belly, take a deep breath in, press the point inwards quite hard and breath out slowly. Keep the pressure on the point for 5-10 deep, slow breaths and see what a difference it makes!

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (ACV) – this little bottle of goodness is one of the first things I like to introduce people to. This is a special type of vinegar made using apples that are crushed and then fermented. It's important to get the raw or organic versions as they contain a 'mother' - a super helpful bacterial mushroom that provides your tummy with a whole heap of happy tummy helpers. By having 1-3tsps of ACV in a glass of water 15-20 minutes before a meal you begin to increase the amount of HCL in your tummy. This helps to ease and quicken your digestive process. Generally I just do this in the morning when I first wake up, but when my tummy is having some trouble I do it before lunch and dinner as well.

MASSAGE – who doesn’t love massage? Did you know that you can give yourself a relaxing AND helpful treatment in 5 minutes before you go to bed at night? Grab a bit of body oil (or hand cream or whatever you’ve got lying around) and pop yourself off to bed. Rub a bit of oil/hand cream/whatever on to your tummy, and starting at the bottom right corner near your hipbone start massaging upwards to your ribs. Just go in the one direction, starting lightly at the surface and then working deeper. Then go from your right ribs across the diaphragm to your left ribs. Then down from your left ribs to your left hipbone. Make sure you keep this order – that way your freeing up your intestines in the way they naturally move. Start light and get deeper as your massage. By the time you’ve finished you should have moved your intestines around and relaxed yourself enough to sleep!

BTW: make sure you leave at least 2 hours in between dinner and the massage – it doesn’t feel so good on a full stomach.

MAGNESIUM – magnesium is one little wonder supplement that is completely essential to the body for more than 300 processes. One of the things it does is help to digestive processes by stimulating specific peptides to break down proteins in your digestive tract. It also facilitates ATP (the fundamental energy storage process in your cells), making it essential for your metabolism to function. Magnesium in the body also works in conjunction with Calcium to regulate electrical impulses in the body. In a nutshell, it regulates your muscular actions and helps them to relax. As your digestive tract is essentially a long muscle that works through peristalsis (or muscular contractions), by increasing your magnesium intake, you will generally have an increase in peristaltic (or digestive) action. If you’re constipated things will begin to move a bit more easily, while if your stools are loose you should be able to hold onto your food for a bit longer. There are a few ways to up your magnesium – either through a powder (chat to your local health food store and choose one you can have before bed), crystals you can add to your water bottle, or a gel you can rub into your muscles. You can also increase the types of nuts, whole grains and leafy greens that you eat – all three contain lots of magnesium!

SLIPPERY ELM POWDER – When something’s wrong and I don’t know why, this is the stuff that I turn to. This powder is made from the inner bark of the Slippery Elm tree and has been used for centuries by Native Americans to make salves for wounds, poultices for boils and ulcers and dressings for burns. It has this awesome quality where is becomes mucilaginous when it comes in contact with water. This means that it becomes slimy, slippery and gel-like (thus the name). This allows it to have a buffering and soothing effect on all mucous membranes. As you take it orally, the mucilage coats your mouth, oesophagus and gastrointestinal tracts with a residue that soothes inflammation. It also creates a great little barrier between your intestines and stomach acid - this both helps to heal and prevent any ulcers and inflammation you might be experiencing! It also has a mild ‘bulking’ effect once it’s absorbed water, so when it’s taken it helps to, ahem, clear our your digestive tract. Literally. This stuff tastes a bit weird and bland, but it’s totally like a big hug for your tummy. If you’re feeling a bit ‘off’ in the belly-region like I am today, give your insides a hug. Nip to the cupboard, grab a teaspoon or two of this, add enough warm water to turn it into loose sludge and drink it down!

BONE BROTH – bone broth is like normal stock but it’s made with big bones – generally sourced from the local butcher for a few dollars a kilo. The slow cooking with ACV leeches tones of nutrients (including chondroitin and glucosamine) out of the bones and into the broth to help those with inflammation and arthritis. You should find that your broth becomes jelly-like when cooled which means it’s full of gelatin to help rebuild your gut lining.

HOW TO: Chat to your butcher and get them to give you’re a kilo of bones (beef, lamb, pork, whatever) for a few dollars. Go home and stick them in the slow cooker. Cover them with water, a dash of ACV and then let them cook on low for 12-48 hours. Once done, take out the bones, let the broth cool in the fridge (leave it in the slow cooker pot) before skimming off the layer of fat on the top. Then portion into 1-2 cup containers and freeze. When you’re feeling crook, take a portion out of the freezer, heat up and drink with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

KOMBUCHA (& OTHER FERMENTED GOODIES) – there were a few days this week where I couldn’t eat – everything hurt too much and I was generally too nauseous. So….ginger beer to the rescue! Well, not quite. It was more like Kombucha to the rescue! This is a lovely effervescent and tangy drink that is kind of like a healthy soda. Except not as sweet. And it’s basically tea and sugar that has been fermented with a SCOBY (a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) so that all the sugars are digested and it becomes carbonated naturally. Basically any naturally fermented food is full of probiotic-goodness to help re-introduce good digestive bacteria into your tummy after being sick. It’s also tasty and gentle on tummies that don’t want to eat anything. And it’s a bit ‘zingy’ – to help give you some pep in your step.

CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE – Chinese medicine bases itself around the smooth flow of Qi and Blood around the body. When one of the organs is feeling low then there are a number of herbal formula that can be used to redirect QI and Blood where they’re meant to go and help boost up your internal organ function. This particular formula is one that I keep in my cupboard all the time to boost my Spleen function but there are quite a few others that can be used depending on your particular digestive needs.

ACUPUNCTURE – have a chat to your local acupuncturist. If your tummy is off there’s a few things they can do with the pins to tune up your digestive system. Once the digestive system is targeted in a treatment, clients begin to feel their digestive systems ignite, start to gurgle and things begin moving around again. Generally 2-3 treatments will be enough to super-charge your digestive system and get it back to it’s normal self.

Have you tried any of these things before?

Did they work for you?

Or have you got any fantastic remedies that you could share with everyone?

Let me know how you go!

P.S. Here's a picture of me getting some herbal patches for digestion stuck onto my tummy in Chengdu - oh the weird things we do for health!

If you would like any more information, or you have any questions please feel free to call me on 0408 402 512 or email me at info@rebeccamarks.com.au.

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, its super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are right for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

Do you feel tired at the end of the day? I sure do. Not terribly tired, just a bit weary and more than ready to hit the hay sooner rather than later (hey - Club Doona is the cool place to be, right?). Sometimes I have trouble getting to sleep though. There are too many things and thoughts and wishes that run through my brainpan at high speed squeaking 'YOU HAVE TO GET THIS DONE NOW'.

Now, Rational Me knows that that is not a true fact - they are not things that need to be done between the hours of 7-9pm. Those hours are for unwinding, and are meant to be spent either by yourself decompressing or connecting with loved ones. But once in this tired place Rational Me doesn't function so well. It’s more like Hyper-Emotional Strung Out Me that doesn’t know which way to go or what to focus on first.

SO. I've developed a little bedtime self-care plan. It doesn't take long, and it has the duel purpose of organising the squealing brainpan AND calming me down. Sound like something you might like to try out? It’s pretty simple - it takes 20 minutes tops and the hardest thing you have to do is put the kettle on….

Lets get started

After dinner I make myself a cup of delicious tea. For a while now it's been green tea with roasted rice (mmmmmm yummy phytonutrients) and while I'm enjoying it, I get a piece of paper and write down my goals for the next day. That way, the mind-squeakers get heard and prioritised. I figure out exactly what didn't get done today, and what needs to get done tomorrow. I write a list, there's numbering involved and often a bit of a flow chart - whatever I need to give order to the chaos in my head. Then five minutes later I put it away and leave it behind. There is nothing I can do about it right now - everything I need to do is organised for tomorrow and it will get done then. In some ways I am quite strict with myself and I make sure to let it go. Tomorrow is no longer an immediate concern - right now is.

Then I put my feet up. Literally - I lie on the floor and stick my legs up the wall. You Yogis and Yoginis out there will know this pose as Viparita Karani (aka supported shoulder stand). In Sanskrit Viparita means ‘inverted’ and Karani means ‘in action’ (because everyone reads Sanskrit, right?), so essentially this pose inverts the normal actions and reactions of the body that occur when it is sitting and standing. It takes our normal bodily processes, flips them around and reverses them.

The upside-downness of this pose does a few things. Firstly it gives our circulation a gentle shift towards our torso and head, which is so lovely after a day of sitting and standing. It also allows our lymphatic fluids to drain back into your pelvis, alleviated swollen ankles and allowing fresh fluids to flow back down to your legs when you eventually get up. Also, according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika it’s meant to make grey hairs and wrinkles miraculously vanish after 6 months of daily practice (neat, hey?). Mostly though, Viparita Karani shows us how much can be gained through inaction. It emphasizes that our still, Yin, feminine side needs to be nurtured just as much as our dynamic, Yang, masculine side - an idea that we all know but don’t always engage with.

Basically, this pose calms my farm in a big way. Especially if I take big deep inhales and slowly let out big deep exhales. I breathe into my diaphragm and lower belly, expand my rib cage and allow my pelvis to move with my breathing. I become completely connected with the movement of the air coming in and out through my nose.

It's soothing. It's calming.

After about 10 minutes of this I'm ready for a few slow stretches (some pigeons, some twists) and then it's bed time. And the wonderful thing about this little routine? Once I'm done there's generally no more noises in my head.

So go on, put your feet up ...literally. Take a deep breath and let your day go. Maybe even have a cuppa tea to go with it.

Let me know how you go xxx

P.S. If you’ve got high blood pressure, glaucoma or hernia-type problems, maybe give the legs-up-the-wall pose a miss. It won’t be super pleasant for you. Instead try some super simple forward bends!

So last week I ventured off to the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tassie for a bit of a hiking adventure. Let me just say that it was completely breathtaking. It was seven days of vast expanses of gorgeous scenery, fresh mountain air, wildlife, early nights and waking up with the first birdcalls of the day. Also I may have indulged in a slight bit of mountain climbing - let me say ladies, if anyone needs a bit of empowerment nothing makes you have an ‘I am woman’ moment more than climbing a mountain.

Totally. Awesome.

But, as with all good outdoors adventures there is a slight risk of injury. On day 5 I managed to twist an ankle and an old hamstring injury started to play up again on day 7. Now that I’m home again I’ve started cranking on the self-care – massage using liniments, herbal patches and a good ol’ cuppa tea.

This particular recipe was gifted to me by my friend Phil, who swears by it for reducing his arthritis and general body-achiness. It’s an amalgamation of a Golden Mylk type drink, with a bit of Chai infusion, but made into a paste that you can pop in the fridge and keep for a few days. The main ingredient is turmeric – the anti-inflammatory herb de jour – and the other ingredients are adjuncts to increase the bioavailability of Curcumin (its active components). Basically, it packs a whole lot of anti-inflammatory and pain-relief punch.

(photo: @halfwaytohealthy)

TUMERIC – this weird little rhizome contains Curcumin – a powerful anti-inflammatory chemical. New studies into the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis have shown that turmeric supplements are more powerful for decreasing pain than traditional arthritis treatments. It has also been shown to have positive benefits on inflammatory bowel disease patients as it allows similar anti-inflammatory processes to occur as traditional steroid treatments but without the long-term damage to the lining of the digestive tract. It also actives the opioid pathway in study patients, allowing the body to access it’s own pain-relief pathways. Now that’s some strong rhizome action!

CINNAMON – in Chinese herbal medicine cinnamon helps to increase peripheral circulation and flush tissues with fresh blood. As more blood is moving around, there is increased oxygenation to your limbs and more waste products removed – all helping to allow your injuries to heal more quickly!

BLACK PEPPER – Curcumin generally isn’t naturally bioavailable – when we eat it it’s mostly metabolized before it can be absorbed. The Piperine in black pepper increases how much Curcumin is digested. In order to get the most bang for your buck out of this cup of tea it’s a good idea to add a good pinch of black pepper.

COCONUT OIL – the coconut oil in this recipe has a few uses. It emulsifies all the ingredients so the spices meld really nicely. It’s also anti-inflammatory and as it helps the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins it will help your tummy to digest all of the spices that we’re using.

So…let’s get cookin’…

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY TEA

INGREDIANTS

400ml of your chosen milk (almond, coconut, rice etc etc)

½ c coconut oil (softened to a paste-consistency).

¼ - ½ c sweetener (raw honey, rice malt syrup, maple syrup)

4 tsp turmeric powder

3 tsp cinnamon powder

2 tsp cracked black pepper.

1 ½ tsp nutmeg powder

1 ½ tsp clove powder

1 ½ tsp star anise powder

1 ½ tsp dried ginger powder (or freshly grated ginger root)

STEP 1 – pull all the spices out from where they live in the back of the kitchen cupboard and measure them all out into a bowl. Combine them all together, making sure all the powders don’t fly up into the air and make you sneeze 12 times (whoops).

STEP 2 – add in the coconut oil and sweetener and stir it all up to make a thick paste. Make sure that you use a larger bowl than you need for this – turmeric goes everywhere and it tends to stain everything (note to self: please Google ‘how to remove turmeric from white jumper’ later). You’ll know when it’s ready as it will be a bit hard to mix (but should ideally be a spread-able consistency) and will look like brown sludge. Have a quick taste – add more spices to suit your particular taste buds or more coconut oil if you need it to be a bit more spreadable.

STEP 3 – find a nice jar or tupperwear container and pop the mixture in. It will keep well in the fridge for 3-5 days.

STEP 4 – when you’re ready to have a cuppa, grab a pot and add a big desert spoon of the paste. Pour in the 400ml of milk (or however much fits in your tea mug) and get stirring. The paste will be a bit blobby to start with, but as the milk heats up it will soften the coconut oil and emulsify all the spices into the milk.

STEP 5 – Drink and enjoy! I’ve started having a cup of this every night after dinner and it seems to be working a treat.

Thanks, Phil!

Now….to Google how to remove turmeric stains.

Spring is such a glorious time. After a fair bit of winter hibernation people are stripping off their winter woollies and venturing out into the sun. I even considered going to the beach this week.

The change of season and the new growth can bring with it a lot of pollen and other common allergens. Have you been noticing that your eyes are a bit itchy or red? Is your nose running or your sinuses beginning to play up? Has sneezing and hay fever started to make its way into your daily life again? Any headaches or achy neck pains? Has your dermatitis, eczema or hives started to play up? Is stuff just generally irritating you?

AAAAAACHHHHHOOOOOOO....!

Did you know that 10-20% of people experience allergies around the world? Read on to find out what they are, how they work and what you can do to help them.

What is an allergy?

Allergies are an allergic reaction caused by both internal and external factors. An essentially harmless environmental factor - like pollen, dust, animal dander (hairs and skin cells) or food products - can cause a reaction if your immune system is hyperactive or alert. Different types of allergies include respiratory-based issues such as allergic rhinitis or sinusitis as well as dermatological ones like urticarial (hives) and atopic dermatitis (the most common form of eczema).

From a TCM perspective, we believe that the body has a certain amount of Wei Qi (Protective Qi) that circulates over the surface of the body to protect it from external attacks. This is kind of like the equivalent of your immune system. If your Wei Qi is strong and your internal organs are balanced you will be protected from external attacks (such as Wind, Heat, Cold, Dry and Damp) and your internal organs won't have any signs of disharmony or dysfunction. However, if your Wei Qi is weak you will not be as well protected from external factors, allowing them to make their way internally to cause disharmonies such as respiratory, dermatological or digestive troubles.

When a TCM practitioner diagnoses allergies there are several different organs that we look at: the Kidney, the Lung, the Liver and the Spleen. Liver-type allergies generally occur in the Spring and often involve headaches or red, itchy eyes. If the Spleen is inhibited there will be phlegm - either in the chest or the sinuses. Lung allergies occur in the Autumn and are generally of a drier-type - think sneezing and dry, hacking coughs. Kidney-type allergies are long-term chronic affairs. If you have skin-issues such as eczema then the Lung and Spleen are often both to blame.

How do we treat allergies?

The difference between a Western allergy treatment and a TCM treatment are really quite different. Like chalk and cheese you might say.

Western medicine has two general treatment methods:

To remove the allergen from your environment – Um … how do we get rid of all the trees shedding pollen? Basically it’s impossible.Desensitise or suppress your immune system so that you are not affected by the allergen. This is generally done with injections, prescription medication or over-the-counter antihistamines. These can often have side effects such as drowsiness or increased heart rate, and on top of that you quickly build up a resistance to them (making them less effective the longer that you take them).

Generally, these treatments are only a short-term fix for a longer-term problem. While they may help you to moderate your symptoms for a little while they are not going to help you in the long run and you may well find yourself reaching for the anti-histamines every year as spring rolls around.

Unlike this, TCM treatments work a two-pronged approach looking at both the internal and external factors causing the allergy issue.

INTERNAL - by asking a serious of questions, we can find out which parts of your insides aren’t quite working at 100%. This allows your Acupuncturist to make up personalised Acupuncture and herbal prescriptions to redirect Qi and correct the internal imbalances.

EXTERNAL – if you’re being affected by seasonal changes or specific external factors are affecting you (like your flat mate’s cat or those pesky spring pollen flowers) then your Wei Qi isn’t circulating and protecting you like it should. Once you’re initial signs and symptoms have decreased we would look to strengthen your Wei Qi to stop the allergies happening in the future.

Simple, right? Basically all we need to do is sort out your insides, strengthen your outsides and Bob’s your uncle. Within 3-4 weeks of consistent treatments you should be fighting fit and ready to bury your nose in Fluffy’s heavily molting fur. With proper lifestyle maintenance and occasional treatments you should be able to maintain an allergy-free state as long as you like!

Foods to help allergies

FOODS TO AVOID – best to limit your intake of cold and raw foods for the moment. If you’re a bit snotty or your skin is playing up then your Spleen probably isn’t feeling amazing. Give it a bit of help by eating warm (or at least room-temperature) foods. If you eat anything cold your body needs to heat it up to body temperature (roughly 37 degrees Celsius) before it can even begin to digest it. Help a Spleen out, eh? Eat some warm foods so that it can get digesting straight off the bat. Or, if you are going to have something raw, make it a small amount, like some lovely pickle or a bit of radish on the side.

LIVER FOODS TO ADD – as it’s springtime it’s a good idea to eat as many greens as your can. Spring is the time of the Liver organ and by eating lots of bitter green vegies (broccoli, zucchini, bok choy etc etc) you are filling yourself up with magnesium and chlorophyll-rich foods that will help to alkalise your blood, relax your muscles, calm your mind and help the Liver to regulate and excrete any allergenic factors.

LUNG FOODS TO ADD – eat pears. Just do it. The lovely skin on pears is a complete boon for your Lungs. These little fruits are cool and sweet and so help to nourish your internal fluids properly and so moisten your Lungs. Your Lungs open to the outside (in terms of breathing, your skin and also your Wei Qi) so by looking after them properly you’re also looking after your immune function. If your tummy likes almonds and chickpeas add in a few handfuls of each into your lunches throughout the week – Lungs love them too.

GET YA SPICE ON - get into some cinnamon and dried ginger in your breakfast smoothie or on top of your muesli and porridge. Not only does cinnamon help to regulate your blood sugar levels, both are warming and help to increase peripheral circulation. By using these spices a bit more liberally you’ll be flushing your limbs with fresh oxygenated blood. If you’ve been experiencing any increase eczema this should help to slowly move it along and away.

Allergy health tips

GET ACUPUNCTURE – acupuncture works directly with the nervous system, directing the body’s Qi where it needs to go and where it needs attention to be held. In terms of allergies, your Acupuncturist will develop a personalized treatment strategy that works to balance your internal organs and strengthen your Wei Qi. There are specific points in the body that have been shown in clinical studies to boost your immune system. If you’re curious, maybe Google the immune-modulating effects of points like ST-36. We generally look at a series of four treatments over the course of a month to work through all of your symptoms and boost your immune system to 110%.

MASSAGE YO’SELF – There are a few points that you can use to help clear your sinuses at home. Start at the inner section of your eyebrow and use your second and third fingers to press in strongly upwards towards your hairline. It may be rather ouchie but persevere! Trace your fingers along your eyebrow ridge, always strongly and always with your fingers facing upwards. This works super quickly and you may find that this releases a bit of pent up phlegm. Don’t freak out! This is just the old stuff finally breaking free and running for the exit!

GRAB SOME HERBS – there are several pre-made Chinese herbal formulas for different allergy types. These are excellent treatments – they are both easy to take and swiftly relieve the symptoms of your allergies without any side effects. If you wanted to get to the root of the problem it’s also possible to take different formulas on a longer-term basis. The particular formula pictured works specifically to relieve the symptoms of hay fever. Neat, eh?

ADD SOME HUANG QI TO YOUR SOUP – if you’re making any chicken soup add a few pieces of Huang Qi (Astragalus) when it’s simmering. This lovely herb is basically tasteless in soup (you might get a slight herbal whiff at the back of your palate) but is one of the strongest TCM immune-modulating herbs you can get. It’s a beaut!

USE CHRYSANTHEMUMS – Ju Hua (Chrysanthemums) are delicate little yellow flowers that are used to treat colds and flus due to their anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-viral properties. They both super tasty and also great at decrease histamine production. So if your throat is feeling dry, scratchy and inflamed make a cup of tea with them and you should feel a difference fairly quickly! The flowers have flavones in them, which increases circulation as well as carotenoids that have a particular benefit for the eyes. They also work a treat in a compress if you’ve got an eye infection or the spring pollen affects your eyes.

How to – Chrysanthemum Compress:

Grab 3tbs or a small handful of fresh flowers (sans preservatives and sweeteners). These are available in any local Asian grocer.Steep these in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes.Strain the liquid into a cup and let the flowers drain and cool.Separate the flowers into 2 piles and wrap them in two clean handkerchiefs or some kitchen paper. Apply to sore, swollen eyelids (make sure the eyes are closed).You can either rehydrate the compresses with the leftover tea if they dry out. Or you can drink the delightful tea and just make more a bit later. I generally go with the second option.

NB: make sure that you apply one compress to one eye only i.e. keep one compress for the right eye and the other for the left. That way if either eye is infected you won’t spread it around.

Chrysanthemum is also said to cool the Liver, make it a lovely spring herb for anyone who is feeling a bit stressed, is detoxing or has high blood pressure.

PLEASE NOTE: In saying all of this, it’s super important to listen to your body. What does it want? What is it telling you? Is it saying that you need something in particular? It’s really important to gather information to make the choices that are right for you and your body. This information isn’t personal medical advice – rather it’s a guideline on ways that could help you to live a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is always wise to consult with a qualified health practitioner before starting any new herbs, supplements or dietary and lifestyle programs.

I grew up in a household with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

When I was growing up my aunt Suzie was studying TCM at UTS. I vividly remember being one of her case studies for a first year assessment! Suzie shared many tips and tricks with me – acupressure points, herbal tea recipes and diagnostic theory. It really sparked my interest in how the body works, TCM theory and how easy it is to live a healthy lifestyle.

I love the outdoors

I’ve always loved very long walks. If I ask you ‘shall we go for a stroll?’ there’s a very good chance that it might end up being longer than you imagined. In my early twenties I discovered the joy of the Blue Mountains and suddenly, my life changed! Ever since then I’ve been strolling the many trails from Springwood all the way out to Lithgow. Now I couldn’t imagine a life without hiking in it! Sydney is one of the few cities in the world with so many national parks accessible by public transport, and I’ve given myself the challenge of exploring as many of them as possible. My outdoor travels have taken me on so many different adventures. Now I’ve branched out to mountain biking and rock climbing too!

I’m a cyclist

Bicycles are my second favourite thing – after hiking of course – and so I can occasionally look slightly windswept. I like to think that this gives me a bit of a hard-core edge to my look, but really it’s just because there’s nothing better than rolling down a hill with the wind in your hair!

But on a more serious note, I’m a total advocate for urban cycling. From experience it makes life more easy, simple and streamlined. It decreased the need for cars, reduces your carbon emissions and helps you save money on gym memberships. Also, it’s kinda sexy. Who doesn’t love looking at pictures of suave Europeans looking fabulous on bicycles and the like?

I’ve been commuting on the roads for nearly 7 years now and overall I’ve found that it makes life easier. And it’s not as scary as it looks. I love that the City of Sydney Council are completely committed to making life more smooth and sustainable.

I struggle with acne

I’ve struggled with severe cystic acne since the age of 10. I find it’s a bit of a management process – some months are good, some aren’t. It’s a learning process that is constantly evolving for me and I’m always on the lookout for new tips and tricks to help. This is one of the main reasons that I got into Acupuncture and TCM in the first place – as a way of managing my skin and minimising the scarring. Now I use a combination of lifestyle modifications, stress relief, herbs and Acupuncture (including giving myself acupuncture facials!) to keep things under control.

I believe that TCM is a way of life – and I live my life that way

I’m a big believer in the idea that health should be simple. I’m a busy woman and so any health ideals that involve stringent rules and diets don’t really fit into my world. Nor should they. Health is about feeling your best and stressing over strict guidelines won’t help that! Instead, I incorporate small things – seasonal herbal teas, self-massage, magnesium sprays or liniment application for sore muscles, mindfulness breathing exercises when I’m stressed, apple cider vinegar in the mornings and herbal formulas when I need them.

These days many people find that their lives are rushed, hectic and often overwhelming. By using some of these techniques I fin that it’s possible to create little pockets of self-care. They don’t take long and overall life becomes kinder, gentler and more relaxed. Basically, I believe my own bullshit. If I ask one of my clients to make a little change to their lifestyle, they can rest assured that I’ve done the same (or at least something very similar).

I have an interest in community Acupuncture and making Acupuncture more accessible

I grew up working in a community-based GP clinic in Sydney’s inner city. There was a big emphasis on treating patients that couldn’t normally afford health care and making sure that they were given the best treatment available. This is a philosophy that has followed me throughout the years – especially in regards to Acupuncture.

Having completed internships in both India and China, I’ve seen first hand how well community acupuncture can work. I believe that Acupuncture should be accessible to everyone – regardless of whether they have private health insurance, or can afford the sometimes-expensive fees. In keeping with this, I always offer discounts to students, pensioners and healthcare cardholders.