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Monday, October 25, 2010
It is moxa season!
What is moxa? Moxa is short for moxibustion, which is a modality used in Chinese medicine. It involves the use of an herb, Mugwort also known as Artemisia… sounds kind of Hogwartsish doesn’t it??? Well, wait till you hear what I do with it! So, moxa can be used in a number of ways:
• It comes in a stick form which looks like a cigar (though you don’t smoke it!). What you do, do with it, is light it on fire and hover over the skin, till the skin is pink and warm.
• It also comes in a loose form and is used directly on the skin. An ointment is used to protect your skin from getting burned as tiny pieces of moxa are lit on fire. As soon as you feel the heat you let me know, and I take it off.
• Moxa can be used on the needles too!
So, why is it moxa season?
Well, moxa is incredibly helpful in boosting your immune system and as the weather is changing, our bodies sometimes have a difficult time staying protected from pathogens. During Fall and Spring in particular I use moxa as my version of the flu shot. It is also great for nourishing your internal organs and giving them a little boost during these transitions. Moxa speaks to that initial fire in the body that gets everything else going metabolically. So, it is a very deep and restorative treatment.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Super Foods for Men
Adding nutrient-rich super foods to the diet can give men a healthy boost. Here are some foods that can help maintain muscle mass, prevent prostate cancer, and more.
Spinach: Popeye had this one right. Spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in existence. Spinach can help protect against prostate cancer, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, lower blood pressure and strengthen muscles.
Yogurt: Eating yogurt that contains live bacterial cultures everyday improves digestive health, boosts the immune system, provides protection against cancer and may help you live longer. Not all yogurts are probiotic though, so make sure the label says “live and active cultures.”
Avocados: Avocados are a good source of vitamin K, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folate and copper. Rich in potassium, avocados contain more of this nutrient than bananas. Potassium is needed to regulate nerves, heartbeat and, especially, blood pressure. An added bonus for men: Avocados inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells.
Walnuts: When it comes to their health benefits, walnuts are the king of nuts. Richer in heart-healthy omega-3s than salmon, loaded with more anti-oxidants than red wine, and packing half as much muscle-building protein as chicken, walnuts are one of the all time super foods.
Blackberries: Blackberries are packed with Vitamin C, calcium and magnesium with more than double the amounts than their popular cousin, the blueberry. Vitamin C is a powerful stress reducer that can lower blood pressure and return cortisol levels to normal faster when taken during periods of stress. Magnesium and calcium act together to help regulate the nerves and muscle tone. Too little magnesium in your diet can cause nerve cells to become over activated and can trigger muscular tension, soreness, spasms, cramps, and fatigue. Blackberries also score high on the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) scale assesses the antioxidant content of food: the higher the score, the better the food’s ability to neutralize cell-damaging free radicals that lead to cancer.
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