In my practice, I see a lot of patients with long-term, chronic conditions that cannot be resolved through conventional medical protocols. In fact, in many cases, I am their last resort. I do my best, but there are some cases I cannot address despite my best efforts. Acupuncture works like a magic in reducing pain and inflammation in human bodies, and some internal/emotional disorders. Nonetheless, I have found that the principles in traditional Chinese medicine are somewhat at odds in resolving deeply-ingrained, internal conditions.
Deeply frustrated, I sought to understand why my training in Chinese medicine seemed to be falling short. Then, one day, I had an epiphany at an alternative healing seminar in New York, where an immunologist from Harvard Medical School explained the disturbing increase of autism, ADHD, male/female infertility, fibromyalsia, and early onset of Alzeimer’s disease with a simple statement: “We live in a highly toxic environment.”
I regrettably agree with this assessment. The air we breathe, foods we consume, water we drink, relentless usage of antibiotics and steroids, and most importantly, the level of stress we deal with on a daily basis together form a dangerous and toxic environment. It’s not easy to be healthy these days. That being said, there are a few things we can do to boost our immune functions, normalize hormonal imbalances, and to mitigate age-related health concerns.
1. Minimize the amount of wheat and sugar in your diet. Wheat produced in the US is largely derived from genetically modified and chemically treated seeds. Our bodies simply are not compatible with chemical chain reactions that wheat-based foods cause internally. Sugar, even sugar straight from organic sugar cane, is a major culprit in an unprecedented growth of candida albicans (yeast and fungus that thrive in highly-sweetened environments) which may be the biggest health threat in modern times.
2. Eat locally grown foods, preferably all organic, that match the season. In other words, eating watermelon during cold winter directly contradicts the Nature’s law.
3. Use antibiotics and steroid-based medications minimally.
4. Remove mercury from your teeth, regardless how much it costs to remove them. We are already living in a highly toxic environment. Nobody needs toxic gases from mercury fillings.
5. Eat a well-balanced breakfast and a small dinner.
If you religiously follow the above points for few months, you will be astounded to find a surge of energy, better sleep, and far less chances of getting sick from cold, flu, or sinus infections.
Lastly, I cannot stress enough how important it is to meditate. Contrary to many believe, one doesn’t need to set aside a big block of time for meditation. It can be done anywhere, anytime, such as when you are riding in a bus or train, waiting for a cashier at grocery stores, or even brushing your teeth. Health benefits of meditations are too numerous to mention.