The Fall of the Liver

by | Sep 30, 2020 | Acupuncture, General Wellness

The Fall of the Liver

Autumn: arguably one of the most enjoyable seasons in terms of temperature. We have officially arrived at more consistently cooler weather, leaves are changing colors, and boots, sweaters, and all things cozy are coming out of our storage closets. Autumn is a gorgeous season, and sometimes, if we’re lucky, the Colorado skies grant us a full month (or two, fingers crossed) before it starts to feel more like winter.

This fall has a slightly different feel than many of the ones that came before it. Along with the pizzazz of pumpkin spice and the enchanting delicacy of adorning earth tones, we Americans are experiencing a continued strain as a result of the ongoing pandemic, that has now officially killed more than 1 million people across the planet, and shows little signs of slowing as we enter the cooler months. And health experts across all over the globe are in agreement that for a virus that was believed to have been hindered by the warmer weather, autumn months now in places where temperatures significantly drop during this season may be dealing with an uptick in cases much like we saw at the end of spring.

So with the worry of a second surge in COVID cases lingering, and the double-whammy of the possibility of — and complications of — catching COVID and the Influenza virus at the same time, we believe this fall may be the best time to focus on your Liver, in both a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as well as allopathic perspective.

October of this year is Liver Awareness Month, a movement started by the American Liver Foundation (ALF), the largest US non profit organization promoting liver health and liver disease prevention. The ALF was formed in 1976, and since then has been funding countless research projects and supporting the education of the masses as to the dangers of liver disease. With over 100 different types of liver disease, the ALF has continued to stress the importance of prevention, rather than just treatment, and a thorough education is the best way to spread the word on how to avoid disease in the first place.

In terms of TCM, Liver is known as the “Commanding General” of the body, boasting over 500 different functions. The Liver is an organ that plays a huge role in connection with stress and emotional trauma. Admittedly, we are taking a slight departure from the traditional representation of the seasons by focusing on the Liver. Liver and Gallbladder are the paired organs that relate to Spring, not Fall. The Autumn months are traditionally linked to the Metal element, and thus, the Lungs and the Large Intestine. However, with 2020 being rather untraditional, we thought it appropriate, as Spring of this year was when the majority of our Liver Qi (or the energy associated with the Liver organ) began to significantly stagnate, for the majority of us. With the mandatory quarantine, business closures, widespread job loss and layoffs, and the economic recession which soon followed, this Spring was one of the toughest we’ve faced as a nation. So it seems befitting, thus, to take notice of the effects of Liver season carrying through, even into the Fall.

In Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Qi becomes “stuck,” as a result of stress and blocked emotions. Irritability, frustration, anger and depression can all result from Liver Qi Stagnation. If the stagnation is not dealt with appropriately, these stagnant emotions can begin to amplify, leading to other symptoms.

In addition to herbs and acupuncture, a healthy balanced diet can play a huge part in helping individuals avoid both liver disease and Liver Qi Stagnation. The ALF reports that a “balanced diet” includes foods from all food groups, including grains, meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables and fats, but stresses moderation and paying attention to the a body’s individual needs. In fact, an unhealthy diet and being overweight often leads to one of the most common types of liver disease — Fatty Liver Disease. Everything a person consumes, including food, drink, and even the air we breathe, passes through their liver. The liver transforms food and drink into energy, simultaneous cleaning the blood as it passes through. This is why keeping the liver healthy is so important; we only have one, and without one that can function properly, we would perish.

In TCM, we promote diets that are not just healthy, but appropriate for the season. As the weather cools, TCM stresses the importance of consuming warmer foods, to keep the digestion happy. Yes, salads may seem like a healthy option, but a diet of salads every single day will hurt digestive function over time, whereas taking the time to cook or warm your fruits and vegetables in the cooler months of the year will support digestive function. Like western medicine, TCM also recommends avoiding greasy fried foods and over-processed junk foods, overly sweet and sugary foods, as well as keeping alcohol intake to a minimum. Excessive alcohol consumption can damage liver cells, and can ultimately lead to the build up of fat in the liver, inflammation, swelling, and scarring. This can lead to fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis, respectively. Care should be taken with alcohol especially for those taking medications. The combination of alcohol and pharmaceuticals can be extremely damaging for the liver, and the results can often be fatal. Green tea is a good alternative to support liver function, with lots of antioxidant qualities. Garlic, beets, grapefruit, and carrots can also promote overall liver function. Finally, avoiding eating late at night, or less than 2 hours before bedtime, can aid the liver in cleaning and repairing itself while our bodies sleep.

By treating your Liver to the healthy habits of eating well, taking herbs that promote Liver Qi movement, and getting regular acupuncture which can support your Liver’s ability to regenerate itself, we may prevent Liver Qi Stagnation, and the keep liver function at top condition. Get in touch with your acupuncturist to schedule a treatment, or to have a conversation about diet and herbs that are best for you!

Building Resilience to a Stressful World

by | Jun 30, 2020 | Acupuncture, Chinese Medicinal Herbs, General Wellness

Building Resilience to a Stressful World

We’ve all heard the expression, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.” This glib and memorable articulation elucidates upon a very poignant concept — choosing to be mindful of the things that cause us to stress. What we may be less aware of, is that the purpose behind this attempt to be more cognizant of our stressors is less philosophical and more scientific. We are creatures of biology, and in this fact, our emotions heave much more than a heavy toll on our minds.

Our biological make-up is negatively affected as a result of stress, via increased levels of cortisol, otherwise known as the “stress hormone.” While cortisol plays an important part in getting us to react quickly to an incident where stress is merited (such as needing to run away from a dangerous animal in the wild), it is less helpful in a society where the stress becomes chronic, and therefore consistently elevates our cortisol levels. Consistently elevated cortisol levels decrease the functioning of our immune systems, impede learning, interfere with memory, and increases blood pressure, and raises cholesterol. The affects in tandem lead to an increase in heart disease, which is one of the more prominent killer-diseases in our modern society.

So we understand and agree, then: Stress = Bad.  

Okay, that’s all well and fine. Notwithstanding, the real problem of the times we are living in in relation to this is, well… the times we are living in. What happens when stress is everywhere? From a worldwide pandemic, to epic economic crisis, to rampant unemployment, to national uprisings regarding societal injustices, to political wildfires erupting seemingly daily, to literal wildfires ravaging the planet, these major historic events will forever shape the reality of the world we all continue to exist in. With so much palpable stress, how do we not sweat the small stuff? Because it’s NOT small stuff. None of it is. So what now?

 

 This word has gotten thrown around quite a bit in recent times, understandably, but we are truly living in unprecedented times. Unprecedented,” meaning, “uncommon, abnormal, and extraordinary.” However the COVID closures upon society may have affected us, we are all likely dealing with a very different society than the one we knew before the world closed down. And as we all work to navigate our new “normals,” it is indisputable that things may feel rather strange. The lack of familiarity alone is enough to cause anxiety. And when you mix that into all the other things happening around us, it’s nigh unto a perfect storm, in terms of stress levels. 

 

 Because of this, we’re here to remind you that SELF-CARE is needed, now more than ever.  

How does self-care make a difference in this world? How does getting an acupuncture appointment, or Chinese Medical Massage, or Fascia Stretch Therapy session, or Reiki appointment really change the planet? It’s simple. It changes YOU, and YOU are a part of this planet. Self-care, in any modality, will force you to slow down, be present, take a deep breath, and simply BE. And in a world where we are consistently dealing with new crises, maneuvering and operating at a million miles an hour, that small break in your day, or in your week, becomes a game-changer.

 • Acupuncture can treat everything from stress to anxiety to sleep problems to blood pressure. Studies show consistent treatments (2-4x/month) have the greatest efficacy and create the most long-lasting results.

• Chinese Medical Massage addresses physical discomforts as well as emotional imbalances through intentional touch and massage, creating elevated levels of endorphin, dopamine and oxytocin (chemicals directly correlated to happiness).

• Fascia Stretch Therapy (FST) can help treat pain, flexibility, range of motion, and, because its techniques are rooted in the central nervous system, nerve function is greatly improved. It targets fascia, which is found around joints, muscles, the spinal cord, arteries, veins, and even the brain.

• Reiki therapy can improve everything from energy levels to quality of sleep, while simultaneously creating a sense of zen and calmness that can be carried out into the world post-treatment. It is an energetic reset that can benefit both the emotions and the physical body.

• Cupping is used extensively by professional athletes and stressed soccer-moms alike. It’s the form of therapy that offers a unique pulling-away treatment for the skin, rather than the pushing-in therapies of massage. Beneficial for pain, relaxation, detoxification, and overall stress reduction, cupping improves circulation, which helps fend off heart disease.

 • If all that weren’t enough, we also offer world-class Health Coaching to help you identify bad habits, create distance from those habits, and start to shape healthier newer ones. Working with a health coach can make a huge impact on your success at eliminating unhealthy behaviors consistently present in your life and creating a whole new healthier, happier you.

 

By reintegrating into a consistent treatment schedule, you will begin to build a resiliency to the stressors of the world. And by creating a better version of yourself, and by becoming happier in the process, you are directly impacting the happiness levels of those around you.

Whether you’re in need of an emotional re-tuning, or working to decrease overall stress levels, Herb + Legend has a myriad of options for you to choose from, and we are open 6 days a week (Tuesday-Sunday) to give you the plenty of availability to make it an appointment or three. Click the “BOOK ONLINE” button above to schedule a treatment today!

 

Coronavirus Updates – RE-OPENING

by | May 26, 2020 | Events

Coronavirus Updates – RE-OPENING

Patients, thanks for your patience (ha!) —

 

We are once again OPEN for in-person treatments. As a precaution, we have put some policies in place in order to keep our patients and practitioners as safe as possible while the world continues to navigate the COVID pandemic. Please read on for a full update:

 

• Appointments must be made ahead of time (at least 2 hours prior to appointment time). Online booking is preferred. Please do NOT arrive more than 5 minutes early for your appointment.

•Masks are mandatory for the duration of treatment, both for clinic staff as well as patients. Patients refusing to wear a mask will kindly be referred to a different clinic for treatment.

•Appointments will be spaced out to limit encounters between patients. If you do end up entering the facilities while another patient is checking-out, please have a seat in the waiting area to ensure you are a minimum of six feet away from the other patient.

• Upon arriving, patients will have their temperature taken via contactless thermometer to ensure they do not have a fever, and they will be offered a dollop of hand sanitizer. 

• Patients will be treated in one of the two private rooms, or they will be the only patient in the community area. If a community-style treatment was booked, Herb + Legend will honor community prices regardless if treatment took place in the private rooms or community area.

• Between treatments, commonly used surfaces will be wiped down, and all door handles will be disinfected in addition to all used linens being swapped out for clean sets.

We thank you for your understanding of these policies and are looking forward to seeing you again soon. Let’s get healthy and stay healthy, together.

 

Sincerely,

The H+L team

 

The Season of SADness

by | Feb 27, 2020 | General Wellness

The Season of SADness

Winter. It’s a beautiful time of year. The first big snowfall of the season is often magical and lends to feelings of nostalgia from winter memories of our youth. However, with the coming of beautiful winter days, we often lose sunlight, and with the loss of sunlight, sometimes comes emotional imbalances. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the winter months correspond to the Water element. The water element is associated with fear, and can manifest in different ways within the body. Excessive feelings of fear tends to injure the kidneys, and when the kidneys are deficient, energetically, we may see symptoms such as:

  • fatigue
  • shortness of breath
  • low back pain
  • knee pain
  • general feelings of weakness
  • anxiety
  • urinary retention problems
  • high blood pressure
  • inflexibility and resistance to change

While the majority of these symptoms may be rooted in the physical manifestations, the more emotional aspects of wintertime often tend towards sadness. And while “sadness” is typically associated with the Autumn season in Chinese Medicine, clinically, we’ve found it more abundant in the wintertimes, when the darker days and fewer sunshine hours truly start to take effect. Feelings of sadness are a normal part of life. However, when an individual experiences sadness significantly during the darker months, and not at all during the sunnier months, this disorder is categorized slightly different, due to its recurring pattern tied with the seasons. It is fitting, thus, that the official name for people who experience feelings of sadness and depression in the winter, for a pattern of at least two consecutive winters in a row, is Seasonal Affective Disorder, or “SAD.” 

Seasonal Affective Disorder is characterized by the typical symptoms of feeling depressed, along with feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, low energy, wanting to sleep for very long periods of time (hypersomnia), changes in appetite (often towards over-eating), and possibly losing interest in activities that were once enjoyed. Seasonal Affective Disorder may affect anyone, but it’s typically more prevalent in women, in people between the ages of 15-55, and those with a history of the disorder in their family. Younger aged individuals have a higher risk of SAD than older adults, and the risk of getting SAD for the first time decreases with age. 

Treating SAD may thus seem like a complex problem; as they say, “You can’t change the weather!” Nor the seasons. Thankfully, there are several ways to combat the seasonal blues and stay more emotionally balanced through the winter months:

  • Light Therapy — as one of the primary causes for SAD are the lack of sunlight, light therapy has emerged as a way to combat the symptoms via exposure to artificial light. Patients treated with light therapy sit near or even work next to a device called a “light therapy box,” which gives off a bright, sunlight-like light that imitates natural outdoor light. Morning treatments are often the most effective, and sessions should last for a minimum of 20 minutes. Several models of light therapy boxes are available for purchase online, however, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider before beginning light therapy to discuss cautions and contraindications, as well as the best way to engage in light therapy. 
  • Acupuncture — people with sad have been found to have trouble regulating a super-important neurotransmitter involved in mood: serotonin. Acupuncture treatments have a positive effect on mental health by affecting the nervous system pathways. Inserting the thin, filiform needles into the body can modulate a great deal of neuroactive components, which communicate to the brain using pathways of the afferent nervous system. The result is a significant increase in serotonin and endorphins, which boost moods and lead to increased feelings of happiness. 
  • Talk Therapy — often times, simply having a better understanding of why we are feeling the way we are gives us a sense of empowerment. Going to a psychotherapist and talking through emotions can thus be hugely beneficial. Psychotherapists may engage patients in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in order to help identify and change patterns in thinking and behavior that are harmful or ineffective for the patient. They then work to replace these patterns with more accurate, liberating thoughts, and functional behaviors. Therapists may often work with the patients continuously as they begin to practice these new patterns of thoughts and skills in their daily lives. 
  • Vitamin D — people with SAD sometimes have a deficiency of vitamin D, which is normally attained from a combination of food and sunlight. For individuals who live in climates and seasons with fewer hours of sunlight, having too little vitamin D in the body is very common. Supplementing vitamin D is a fairly easy fix for this disorder, but speaking to a healthcare professional about ways to increase foods that naturally contain this vitamin may be even healthier and more effective than supplementation.

With the treatment options above, or some combination of them, often times Seasonal Affective Disorder can be manageable, or even resolvable. Practitioners at Herb + Legend can help with each of these treatments. If you or someone you know may be suffering from SAD, get in touch to book an appointment, and we can work to kick SAD’s butt together!

Health Benefits of Garlic, Ginger, and Apple Cider Vinegar

by | Feb 7, 2020 | Nutrition

Health Benefits of Garlic, Ginger, and Apple Cider Vinegar

When it comes to helpful, healthy supplements, sometimes, we only need to look so far as our refrigerators. Garlic and ginger are some of the most powerful foods we have ample access to all over the world. They have been used for centuries, as far back as the Egyptians, as health aids. Garlic and ginger are not only tasty additives for many of our favorite dishes, but have vast amounts of medicinal benefits. These pungent root herbs work in combination to relieve nausea, fight infection, strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Garlic is a plant in the Allium, or ‘Onion’, family, and was used plentifully through out history as it grows in many parts of the world. It was historically used to boost stamina, kill parasites, alleviate arthritis pains, and decreased the severity of infections.

Garlic is highly nutritious, containing high amounts of manganese, selenium, and vitamins C and B6. It’s properties boost immunity, which thus makes it a powerhouse when it comes to combating the common cold. Consuming garlic also lowers cholesterol, which means it may lower the risks of heart disease. Higher doses of garlic, such as are present in supplementation, have been shown to increase antioxidants within the body, which protect against oxidative damage by free radicals.

When it comes to cooking, perhaps the second most widely used seasoning after garlic is ginger. Ginger has been a popular home remedy for improving digestion, relieving nausea, stomach pain, and battling inflammation. Consuming ginger may help reduce digestive gasses that form in the intestinal tract, relieving discomfort and indigestion. It also benefits the enzymes trypsin and pancreatic lipase, which are important for digestion. Studies have recently shown that a daily dose of 2 grams of ginger can significantly reduce exercise-induced muscle pain, as well as pain felt in women directly before menstruating. It is one of the highest sources of antioxidants, and some studies have shown that ginger may even have properties capable of battling certain types of cancer.

Another hugely popular and widely accessible supplement is apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is made in a two-step process. First, apple juice and yeast are mixed together, which starts to break down the sugars in the apple juice and convert them into alcohol. Second, a special bacteria is added, which converts the alcohol into acetic acid. This bacteria is what is referred to as the “mother,” as it is the catalyst that gives rise to the vinegar. Often, store-bought apple cider vinegars do not include the “mother” as it gives the vinegar a murky appearance, which can be off-putting to some consumers. However, many scientists believe that the “mother” is the healthiest part of the apple cider vinegar concoction! It is home to dozens of strains of probiotics (good bacteria), which help keep our digestive systems functioning optimally.

Apple cider vinegar with the “mother” has numerous health benefits as a result of its potency and digestive support, including lowering cholesterol, reducing belly fat, helping with weight loss, and lowering blood sugar levels, which means it’s a fantastic tool to combat Diabetes. And while the liquid form may wear away tooth enamel when ingested regularly, as well as the taste being a bit abrasive and have a slight burning sensation on the throat, the pill form eliminates both those negatives factors. Consuming apple cider vinegar on a daily basis has also been shown to boost satiation within the body, meaning the body feels fuller longer, and thus reduces the desire to eat more food.

Finally, apple cider vinegar can help to kill many type of harmful pathogens, including bacteria. It has been used to preserve foods as it inhibits bacteria such as E-coli from spreading. It has the same protective effect on the stomach’s bacteria, killing the bad while preserving the good.

Getting the tremendous health benefits afforded by these powerful supplements is as easy as swallowing a few pills each morning. Herb + Legend is proud to keep all of these supplements in stock, and our knowledgeable practitioners are happy to discuss any questions you may have about which supplements may be best for you. Schedule a consult today!