Innate Health Centre

This versatile and common herb (North America and Europe) has astringent, diuretic and tonic properties. Nettle was favoured by European herbalists in medieval times as it was excellent for treating joint and skin conditions such as arthritis, gout and eczema.

Before beginning any herbal remedies, check with your naturopathic physician or herbal pharmacy professional for any contraindications with other medications that you are using.

Some benefits of Stinging Nettle (Uritca dioica)

• Diuretic – Nettle Leaf used as a daily infused tea is a gentle but effective diuretic
• Nettle Root has been found to increase a protein in the blood to which hormones bind thus reducing levels of ‘unbound’ hormones
• Nettle Root tincture benefits those with weakened bladders from chronic Cystitis – bladder infections
• Improves Kidney function and clears toxins from the blood
• Can ease dry and itching skin
• Cardiovascular health – has be known to assist in lowering blood pressure
• Eases the pain and swelling of hemorrhoids

For more information, visit http://www.allnatural.net/herbpages/stinging-nettle.shtml

By Sheela Szymkowiak, Certified Reflexologist and Holistic Health Educator

If you experience lack of balance, sciatica, lower lumbar pain, stiffness in the hips, neuralgia, calf muscle spasms, pain and stiffness in the knees, ankle or foot – Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests that it could be due to a blockage in the flow of energy (Chi or Qi) in your Urinary Bladder (UB) Meridian.

Upper Body and Head Conditions.  Particularly in Winter, a blockage in this Meridian may have you feeling lung & sinus congestion, eyebrow and top of head pains, dry eyes and overall emotional and mental fatigue.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this meridian is associated with the autonomic nervous system.

The UB Meridian is the partner Water Element and Winter organ to your Kidney Meridian (see Part I in December’s blog).  Besides numerous physical aliments, mental strain is also seen as being linked to blocked energy along the UB meridian because it begins in the head and face areas.  This is the body’s longest meridian with 67 acupoints in total from the head to the baby toe!

SELF-CARE TIPS

Since some of the UB acupoints below are located on the back, you will need to learn and practice with a partner.

This excellent acupoint helps relieve bladder infection (cystitis), intestinal cramps with flu and low back discomfort, especially sciatica.

Bladder 60: Locate this point on the outside of the ankle (baby toe side), halfway between the outside anklebone and the Achilles tendon. Caution – do not use Bladder 60 during pregnancy.

This website demonstrates a variety of great acupressure points for colds and flus, including:

(please link to the website for pictures to help locate the acupoints below)

To Relieve Colds, Sinus Congestion, Frontal Headaches & Tired Eyes – Bladder 2 (Drilling Bamboo) Location: On the face, in the indentations of the eye sockets. On either side of where the bridge of the nose meets the ridge of the eyebrows.

To Strengthen the Immune System, Alleviate Low Back Pain & Overall Fatigue – Bladder 23 (Sea of Vitality)  Location: These acupoints are found on the back, 2 finger widths in distance from the spine, both sides and level with the 2^nd and 3^rd lumbar vertebrae. To locate them easily, start at the 5^th lumbar at the base of the spine and count up to the 2^nd and 3^rd vertebrae. Benefits: strengthening the Immune System, alleviating low back pain and overall fatigue, fortifying the digestive system.

To Relieve Coughing, Breathing Difficulties, and Respiratory Problems – Bladder 38 (Vital Diaphram) Location: On the back, between the shoulder blade and the spine at the level of the heart.

By Sheela Szymkowiak, Certified Reflexologist and Holistic Health Educator

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the focus for Winter is on the Kidney and Bladder, which are both of the Water Element. This month, we’ll tell you how to boost your Kidney energy.  (Keep posted: in January, we’ll focus on Bladder Meridian health).

The Kidneys control the growth and development of bones and nourish the marrow, which is the body’s source of red and white blood cells. Weak kidney energy is therefore a prime cause of anemia and immune deficiency.

TCM doctors view the spinal cord and the brain as forms of marrow, and therefore poor memory, inability to think clearly, and backache are all regarded as indicators of impaired kidney function and deficient kidney energy.

The Kidney’s positive emotional attributes are wisdom, rationality, clear perception, gentleness, and self-understanding. The negative attributes are fear, loneliness, insecurity and shock.

Kidney Acupressure Point (Caution: do not use if pregnant or with low blood pressure)

Locate Kidney 1 in the crease of the ball of the foot, where the colour changes from the ball to the sole. Massage slowly with your thumb or have a partner tonify (rest gently on acupoint with gentle pressure) this point with their elbow. Dispersing stagnated kidney flow can assist all the other meridian flows in the body to balance as well. (Caution: do not use Kidney 1 if pregnant or have low blood pressure)

Best foods to boost your Kidney energy

Vegetables and fruits - Dark, leafy green vegetables are the best choice. Other Kidney Qi boosting veggies include asparagus, cucumbers and celery. Include these fruits: blueberries, blackberries, mulberry, etc. – all being dark blue or black hues, the colour of the Water Element.

Black beans and kidney beans are excellent examples of kidney shaped foods that nourish and benefit Kidney energy (Qi).

Seeds and nuts – Flax, pumpkin, sunflower, black sesame seeds, walnuts and chestnuts

Suggested websites:   http://www.naturalnews.com/027908_Chinese_Medicine_kidneys.html

http://www.yinyanghouse.com/acupuncturepoints/kidney_meridian_graphic

Supporting our mental, physical and emotional health during Fall & Winter                                          Sheela Szymkowiak, Reflexologist and Holistic Health Educator

In the Winter months, we often feel an increase in fatigue, sleep disorders, food cravings and weight gain, not to mention an increase of emotional ups and downs, including seasonal depression or SAD.  This can be the result of misaligned sleep cycles with shorter daylight hours, more dark and melatonin production (via our nervous system). 

Through Acupressure self-care techniques, we can influence in positive ways the function of our entire nervous system – which is comprised of our brain (pineal gland), the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves that run throughout our bodies.

Try these easy to locate acupressure points for achieving daily support to calm and gently stimulate your nervous and endocrine systems.    

(Tips on doing Acupressure massage: Apply steady even pressure, press down gently, then rock your finger or thumb around the point. Alternate holding the point steadily for about 10 to 30 seconds, with periods of active massage)

Liver 3 – Headaches, irritability, digestion, menstrual and sleep disorders.  Find the Liver meridian line on the top of the foot, in the furrow, between the 1^st and 2^nd toes. Liver 3 is located down the foot about 2/3 finger widths, where the bones merge. Helps to disperse excess Heat in the Upper Body – alleviates headaches, irritability plus digestive, menstrual and sleep disorders. 

Spleen 6 (do not use if pregnant) – Depression, insomnia, PMS, cravings, fatigue, sluggish circulation.  This point is 4 finger widths above the inside ankle bone, just behind the tibia. Working this point increases Yin Chi which assists in treating depression and insomnia, PMS symptoms, sugar cravings and hypoglycemia, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue associated with sluggish circulation throughout the entire body.   

Heart 7 – Improves blood circulation, heart palpitations, anxiety and stress. Locate this point on the little finger side, just below the wrist crease. Working Heart 7 improves blood circulation in the chest area thus treating heart palpitations and anxiety, mental stress and confusion plus emotional mood swings.    

Pericardium 6 – Anxiety, nausea, chronic indigestion, heartburn, sadness.  Locate this point on the palm side of the lower forearm (centre location) 3 finger widths above the wrist crease, between the wrist/arm tendons. Working this point moves Chi congestion in the chest and stomach areas thus treating anxiety with nausea, chronic indigestion and heartburn, tight muscles in shoulder and neck, sadness and depression that cause sleep disturbances.