Spring Vegetable Stir Fry

Eating plenty of fresh, young vegetables in spring is a good way to cleanse the body after the dark days of winter.  Asparagus is bitter and warm to re-stimulate the digestion, while the spring onions are also therapeutic – helping to disperse cold, strengthen Qi and warm the stomach.  Early springs of mint and the first chives from the garden will add to the flavor – and help provide warming, yang herbs as the weather starts to change.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

12oz asparagus, cut into 2in pieces

12oz snow peas

bunch of spring onions, chopped

tamari or soy sauce to taste

1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar

2 tablespoons of fresh mint

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives

Fresh mint springs to garnish

Preparation:

Heat a wok, then add oil and stir fry the asparagus and snow peas for 2 minutes.  Add spring onions.

Remove the wok from heat, add vinegar, chopped mint, chives and toss to mix.  Garnish with mint.

Mung Bean Sprouts Stir-Fry

Serves 2 – 4

Ingredients:

1 cup (about 2 ounces) mung bean sprouts

1 tablespoon soy sauce

salt to taste

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

few drops of sesame oil

cilantro for garnish

Preparation:

Wash and drain the bean sprouts, trimming the ends if desired.

Add oil to a heated wok or heavy skillet. When oil is ready, add the bean sprouts and stir-fry briefly. Add the soy sauce, vinegar and salt. Stir-fry another few seconds and add the sesame oil. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

Diagnosis

Fallopian tube obstruction can be diagnosed in a number of ways.  Laparsocopy is a surgical procedure which uses a small lighted tube that is inserted through a tiny incision (cut) on the abdomen.  With this procedure, a surgeon is able to see directly into the abdominal cavity and check the state of the fallopian tubes on the outside and the inside by injecting colored dye through the cervix and watching for its appearance at the end of the tube.

Hysterosalpingogram is a procedure in which a dye is injected into the uterus and the uterus is examined via X ray to see if the dye spills into the tubes and pelvic cavity.  These diagnostic techniques are quite invasive so they are not done routinely unless a woman has been trying to conceive for a long period of time without  success (and male factor infertility has been ruled out).

Causes

The common reason for the fallopian tube blockage is a pelvic infection which may produce minor symptoms or no symptoms at all.  However, if the infection was left untreated it can cause scarring, adhesions and complete obstruction of one or both tubes.  In cases of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), opportunistic bacteria coming from the uterus can spread to the fallopian tubes since they are the structures closest to the uterus.  If a woman is experiencing acute infection, antibiotic therapy is indicated in order to prevent damage to the fallopian tubes.  However, if a woman already has obstruction and damage of the fallopian tubes, a surgery that can repair the damage may be indicated.

Endometriosis can be another possible cause for fallopian tube obstruction.

It’s also possible that fallopian tubes are blocked only some of the time.  This type of blockage is referred to as a “functional blockage”.  This scenario is typical in women who experience a lot of stress.  Stress tends to constrict pelvic musculature and decrease blood flow and this can be a factor in inability to conceive.  This type of functional blockage responds very well to acupuncture as well as Chinese herbal medicine.   Also, excessive mucous buildup within the tube can create a plug and cause blockage.  In Chinese medicine, this would be refered to as “damp accumulation” and would be treated through dietary therapy, herbs and acupuncture.

Infertility Treatment for Blocked Fallopian Tubes

If there is an extensive damage and scarring in both fallopian tubes  it is very difficult (or nearly impossible) for a woman to conceive and IVF is probably the best route to take.  IVF was actually developed for women with extensive fallopian tube obstruction and damage since it can bypass the problem.

Using acupuncture prior to an IVF treatment is a wise decision since  it can help decrease side effects of drugs, decrease stress levels and remove any stagnant blood and energy in order to ensure successful implantation.

Microsurgery is another treatment option for women whose tubes are not damaged along too much of their length.  Surgery seems to be more effective if the damage is in the area closer to the uterus.

The good news is that modern technology does help women with tubal blockage have a healthy pregnancy and birth. If you decide to use assisted reproductive technology, you should make an effort to take good care of yourself in order to create optimal conditions for a new life to flourish. Nutritious diet, proper rest, moderate exercise and stress reduction are the most important things that you can do to improve your health as well as increase your chances of conception.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”

You have probably come across this famous quote written by Hippocrates (460 BC-377 BC), an ancient Greek doctor who is considered the father of Western medicine.  Sounds nice, right?  But how many of us really take this quote to heart?  How many of us really believe that we can cure ourselves with food?  Ancient Chinese doctors were strong believers in that food can be used as medicine.  During their time, when patients got sick, the first thing that the doctor would do is to change their diet.  Back then, these doctors didn’t have to deal with removing processed, denatured, chemically treated, high fructose corn syrup infused “food” that most of today’s population consumes.  They were concerned with making sure that the food was perfectly balanced energetically.  For example, if patient experienced symptoms of “dryness” e.g. dry skin, dry mouth, constipation with hard stools, doctor would prescribe foods that “moisten dryness” such as: pears, apples, soybean products, honey, eggs. clams etc.  If food therapy was not sufficient to completely cure particular symptoms, herbal medicine was prescribed as well as certain physical exercises that patient can do at home.  Each patient received different dietary recommendations because there is not such thing as one diet that fits all, a concept that we are struggling to prove wrong today.
Amazingly enough, ancient Chinese doctors were also aware that most of our immunity comes from our gut or Stomach and Spleen energies.  What we eat, how we eat it and most importantly how we digest it will have a direct impact on our energy, emotional state and immune system functioning.  After all, eating is something that we do multiple times every single day so it would be foolish to think that the quality of the food that we have consume will not have an impact on our health.  In order to increase the functioning of our immune system, it is important to increase the functioning of our gut.  How do you do that?

GENERAL GUIDELINES

1.  Regularly consume fermented foods rich in beneficial bacteria which help with digestive process.  Examples of fermented foods include: sauerkraut, kimchi, plain yogurt, kefir, miso, tempeh.  Small amount is all that you need but it has to be consumed regularly.  If you truly can’t stand any of these foods then it would be important to supplement with beneficial bacteria supplements.  I believe that no supplement can match the innate wisdom of food that nature has provided for us but something is better than nothing.  Acidophilus capsules can be found in most health food stores.  Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the brands that I recommend.

For more info on fermented food please visit: http://www.westonaprice.org/foodfeatures/lacto.html

2.  Remove highly processed foods from your diet.  Avoid products made with artificial ingredients, colors, preservatives, partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated trans fats (e.g. margarine and other fake butter spreads, non dairy creamers,), artificial sweeteners, highly processed and bleached wheat flour. Bottom line is: if a product that you are buying has a ton of ingredients that you can’t even pronounce, it is fair to say that it contains artificial ingredients that are bad for you.  Ideally, you want to switch to real food that has no ingredients other than what it is e.g. apple, potato, celery, carrot, kale (you see where I am going with this one).  Artificial ingredients and chemicals tax our immune system.  Toxic chemicals are unfortunately a daily part of our lives so if we can give our body a little break by not consuming toxic foods, it will thank us by providing us with more energy, better digestion and a healthier immune system.

3.  Drink only small amounts of room temperature or warm liquids during your meal.  Large amounts of ice water can dilute digestive enzymes present in your saliva as well as slow down your digestive process.  Certain amount of heat has to be present in order for stomach to function efficiently and digest food. It is better to take small sips of hot tea, clear soup or room temperature water during meals or drink liquids 15-30 minutes after a meal.

4.  Eat at regular times.  Eating at regular times and starting your day with nutritious breakfast which contains protein helps keep your blood sugar stable and makes your crave less unhealthy foods.  Eating at regular times also helps with having regular bowel movements.

5.  Don’t eat late at night.  According to Chinese medicine, our digestive system receives the most energy between 7-9am.  Make the most out of your breakfast and lunch time and try to eat less in the evening.  Digestive system should be resting at night while you sleep as opposed to working hard to digest the food that was eaten shortly before bed time.  Laying down right after a meal can cause heart burn and can interfere with your sleep.

5.  Don’t eat while emotionally stressed.  When we are under stress, our sympathetic nervous system diverts blood flow from out gut to other places e.g. muscles (in order to prepare us for the “fight or flight” response).  Stress is also known to alter our appetite and while some people have no appetite at all while stressed, others tend to overeat.  It is also important not to eat in places that you associated with stress (e.g. place where you pay your monthly bills) but to reserve a calm, comfortable area where you can relax and enjoy your food.

6.  Take your time, chew properly and enjoy every bite.  Eating while driving, working on computer, talking on a phone or doing crossword puzzles interferes with proper digestive process.  It is not incidental that in most cultures people used to (or still do) say a short prayer right before they start their meal.  Having a small ritual, saying a prayer, or simply being grateful for the food that you have can trigger the release of digestive enzymes and prepare your body to accept the nourishment.

SPECIFIC FOODS THAT INCREASE IMMUNITY

Foods which increase energy of the Stomach and Spleen have traditionally been used in Chinese dietary therapy to improve energy and immunity.  The dietary treatment for Spleen qi deficiency involves foods that are either warming or at least neutral in their thermal nature.  Foods with cooling properties weaken digestion as well as “digestive fire” necessary for healthy extraction and absorption of nutrients.  In order to strengthen your immune system you should eat:

Vegetables. Mushrooms are especially helpful for immunity so are: onions and garlic, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, yams, peas, pumpkin, cabbage, kale, leeks, chives, parsnips, green leafy vegetables as well as sea vegetables like kelp and other seaweeds.  Avoid eating raw, uncooked vegetables since they take more energy to digest and can cause loose stools.  Small amounts of salad in addition to your meal is fine especially in the summer time when vegetables are fresh and abundant.

Whole grains.  Rice, barley, oats and quinoa are recommended.  If you experience excessive mucous and chronic nasal congestion you might want to experiment with completely avoiding wheat and wheat products for two weeks.  If you notice that your condition is getting better it means that you could have an intolerance to gluten.  Gluten intolerance is also known to cause infertility and recurrent miscarriage.

Fruits. In Chinese medicine, most fruit has cooling energetic nature.  That is why fruit is abundant during summer time or tropical climates.  It is used to refresh us and cool us down.   Fruits that has neutral temperature includes: cherries, apricots , peaches, berries and are more appropriate for people who tend to run cold.  Fruits should be eaten in larger amounts during summer time.  In winter time, cooking or baking fruit is more advisable.

Beans and legumes. Garbanzo beans are especially good for tonifying the Spleen energy.  Other beans like black bans, kidney beans and all forms of lentils are also helpful.  You can start your day by eating rice and beans for breakfast.  Beans digest slowly and keep your blood sugar levels even so you will feel full of energy and satisfied until lunch time.  You will also be less likely to reach out for sugary treats during the day.

Meats and fish. Small amounts of of chicken, beef and lamb are used to tonify the energy.  It is important that meat is of highest quality and organically raised.  Smaller fish like sardines, trout, mackerel should be eaten in larger quantity as opposed to large fish like tuna and salmon because larger fish contains higher mercury content.

Warming spices like onions, garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, fennel, basil, dill, cumin and rosemary should be added to food.

Milk and dairy products.  Milk has a cooling energy and tends to exacerbate mucous conditions.  Small amounts of high quality raw milk can be consumed if you don’t suffer from too much mucous (or asthma).  Yogurt is best when consumed plain and it is easier to digest than plain milk.  For more information on milk and dairy please refer to my article “Got Real Milk?”.

So, you have decided you want to try acupuncture for your fertility concerns.  If you don’t know anybody who is seeing an acupuncturist or if your doctor does not have any referral sources, what do you do?  Do you start searching the Internet first or do you get your phone book out and call the first person that you randomly selected by sticking a pencil into the page with your eyes closed?  How do you find an acupuncturist that you can trust who can address your needs?

Searching for the right practitioner is not an easy task.  Some practitioners might have great personalities and charisma but have mediocre medical skills.  On the other hand, some might have strong personalities and terrible bed side manners but excel in their medical knowledge.  Just like in any profession, there are practitioners who devote lots of time and energy to constantly better their skills while there are others that are happy with what they already know and don’t put much effort into increasing their knowledge.

Acupuncture for the treatment of infertility has received a lot positive of press in the past couple of years .  As a result of that, more and more practitioners of Chinese medicine are deciding to advertise infertility treatment as part of their practice.   The truth is, most practitioners of Chinese medicine receive very minimal training in treating infertility. Chinese medicine schools don’t offer specialties, so if an acupuncturist calls him/herself  “specialist”  in any area, that does not necessarily mean that they received years of extra training in that particular area.  It is not equal to a “specialist” title in Western medicine which usually required years of extra medical training.

Clinical doctorates in Chinese medicine are a recent offering to practitioners who wish to receive more training in a particular area of interest.  Some colleges offer focused study on cancer therapies, women’s health, geriatric medicine etc.  Those programs definitely offer a more in depth study in particular areas and there is a lot of interest in Chinese medicine field in making a doctorate degree a standard education requirement for future incoming students.  That process may take a long while to become effective since most acupuncture schools are small and operate on non profit basis.

When I graduated with the Master’s degree in Chinese medicine in 2003, I started out as a general practitioner who treated anybody who would come through my door.  As time went by I started receiving more and more phone calls and interest from patients who were asking me if I treated infertility.  My answer was simple: “Sure, I treat infertility, no problem.”

The truth is, I didn’t even know how much I didn’t know about treating infertility.  I only knew the basic information that was presented to us in school which (now I realize) was not nearly enough to create a comprehensive treatment plan.  As I realized that I really enjoyed working with women and helping them with their infertility problems I decided to do more research, take continuing education classes, read more books, enroll in doctorate program …I was constantly amazed with the wealth of information available on the subject of infertility and I definitely learn something new every single day.  So, how does this information help you?

When trying to chose a practitioner who can help you with your fertility concerns you should be proactive and not be afraid to ask them questions.  Here are some of the examples that may help:

-How much of your practice focuses on infertility treatment? A practitioner who devotes most of his/her time to treating infertility is most likely more knowledgeable in that area.  A practitioner who sees an occasional infertility patient may not have enough experience or expertise to offer the best treatment available (which does not mean that they can not be helpful at all).

-Did you receive any extra training in infertility treatment? Where, how much and by whom? I think that this is an important piece of information since extra training is definitely needed in this particular field.

-Where you trained in herbal medicine? Some colleges offer programs in acupuncture only which do not include herbal training.  In China, herbal medicine has been the main therapy for treating infertility throughout the centuries.  Acupuncture is considered an adjunct therapy that is usually not used as a sole therapy for infertility.  Most of the time, it is common for women to have to take different herbal formulas at different parts of their menstrual cycle depending on their individual condition.  Don’t be surprised if you get 4 different herbal prescriptions to take throughout the month.

Just like with any medical treatment, you should be encouraged to ask questions and understand your treatment plan and options. Chinese medicine has a completely different way of looking at the human body. Sometimes it can be challenging to understand the theory behind it but your practitioner should explain to her/his best ability what it would take to treat your condition and what would be a reasonable prognosis.

Your practitioner should encourage you to get evaluated by a reproductive endocrinologist in order to get a clear picture of your condition. For example, if you have severe fallopian tube obstruction your only option may be the use of Western medicine in order to conceive. In that case, Chinese medicine can be used as an adjunct therapy to prepare you for assisted reproductive treatments like IVF. However, if your practitioner is unaware of that diagnosis you could be wasting precious time pursuing natural treatment.

Things to stay away from:

-Practitioners who give you promises that sound too good to be true e.g. “You can get pregnant in a month”. Nobody can really guarantee any results for sure. However, it is common for natural treatments to take longer in order to be successful. Three months of treatment are the minimum amount of time that you should consider. Some patients may require as much as one year of treatment. If you have been treated for over a year without success it is definitely time to consider other options.

-Practitioners who list unreasonably high success rates e.g. “75-80% of all my patients get pregnant”. It is important to know how big is their sample size. If somebody treated 3 infertility patients and all 3 happened to get pregnant that their success rate is 100%! Are the practitioners who list success rates counting live births or just pregnancies? Are practitioners counting patients who went through IVF and had acupuncture as their success stories? All of this questions are important when determining whether listed success rates are useful or not.

-Practitioners who claim that they have one and only special secret method that will bring you success. Needless to say, there isn’t a secret acupuncture point or herb that will cure your infertility. A successful treatment will probably have to include various diet and lifestyle changes, use of herbal medicines that are available to any practitioner and set of acupuncture points that every practitioner had to study.

I hope that these guidelines will be helpful for you and that you will be able to find the practitioner that meets your needs. I wish you all the best in your journey to become a parent!

Concept of Blood

The concept of blood (xue) in traditional Chinese medicine is closely related to the concept of blood in Western medicine except that it goes further to include functions such as tissue nourishment.  The diagnosis of “blood deficiency” in Chinese medicine often corresponds to iron deficiency anemia in Western medicine but a patient can still have “blood deficiency” by Chinese medical standards even though testing may reveal normal blood iron level.

During female monthly cycle, blood plays a major roll in nourishing the endometrium (uterine lining) and preparing it for embryo implantation.   Endometrial tissue is very sensitive to hormonal fluctuations and as it gets closer to the ovulation, estrogen production increases which in turn provokes endometrial lining to proliferate and produce more blood vessels.   Nice and rich uterine lining creates a fertile ground for the new life to develop.  If uterine lining is too thin the process of conception becomes more difficult.  Uterine lining can be seen and measured via ultrasound and the thickness between 8 and 13 millimeters in the second part of the cycle (after ovulation) is generally considered normal.

What Causes Blood Deficiency?

Women are especially prone to blood deficiency if they have a history of heavy periods.  It is important to replenish the blood that has been lost during the period by eating blood nourishing and iron rich foods.  Inadequate protein intake is a very common contributing factor as well.  If a woman is consuming vegan or vegetarian diet she has to be especially careful to include enough protein with every meal, supplement vitamin B12 as well as include cereal grasses like wheat grass and micro algae such as spirulina and chlorella .  According to Chinese medical theory, overexercising tends to consume the blood which is why most professional athletes tend to stop menstruating.

Inability to absorb nutrients and gastrointestinal bleeding are important contributors to blood deficiency.  If a person experiences digestive issues it is important to address them first before prescribing blood tonic herbs which can be difficult to digest.  Anxiety, worry and over thinking can interact with the digestive process since the way we process our emotions is directly linked to the way we process our nutrients.  That is why our gut has been referred to as our “second brain” and functional GI disorders are closely linked to the amount of stress that we experience.

Signs and Symptoms of Blood Deficiency

Typical signs and symptoms of blood deficiency include:

-history of irregular periods

-light and short menstrual bleeding

-amenorrhea (complete cessation of periods)

-fatigue especially during and after periods

-dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss

-thin body constitution

-tingling and numbness in extremities, muscle tension

-tendency toward constipation and dry stools

-pale complexion, pale tongue, thin and weak pulse

How is Blood Deficiency Treated?

Blood deficiency responds well to dietary changes and usage of blood building herbal tonics.  To enrich blood with nutrition there are two general approaches:  improving digestive function and absorption of nutrients and adding blood building foods.   General guidelines for improving overall digestive function include:

-remove processed and denatured foods from your diet

-reduce or completely avoid sugar

-include fresh vegetables on daily basis

-eat fruit when in season

-consume only best quality organic meats

-regularly consume  fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, kefir, miso,

-drink only room temperature water and herbal tea, avoid fruit juices, coffee (especially decaf), sodas, energy drinks

Foods that are specifically used to build blood include:

-animal protein: chicken/beef liver, lamb,beef, chicken, turkey, gelatin, mussels, oysters, sardines, eggs

-grains: rice, oats, wheat, bran flakes, millet

-legumes: lentils, beans (black, kidney, navy, pinto), garbanzo beans, mung beans,

-vegetables: green leafy veggies (swiss chard, spinach, kale), beets, seaweed, sprouts, artichokes, mushrooms, cabbage, celery, watercress

-fruits: cherries, all berries (blackberry, raspberry…), grapes, dried apricots, dried figs, prunes

-nuts and seeds: almond, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, cashew

-herbs/other: nettles, wheat grass, spirulina, royal jelly, mugwort, white peony root, angelica root, rhemannia root, blackstrap molasses

General suggestions:

-chew your food properly

-sit down when you eat and avoid watching TV, reading, talking on the phone while eating

-try to rest as much as possible during your period and keep you body well dressed and warm

-don’t exercise to the point of exhaustion

-use meditation or any other mind calming exercises that help you relax

RECIPE:

Fast Beet Root Soup

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 medium beetroots, grated

1 large carrot, grated

1 onion, finely chopped

1 leek, cut into thin strips

4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 liter/1 3/4 pints beef/chicken/vegetable stock (or plain water)

salt and black pepper

2 tablespoons natural yogurt

Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the vegetables and garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add the stock, bring to the boil and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft. Before the end of cooking time add salt and pepper to taste. You can add yogurt just before serving.

Beetroot is nutritious and energizing, rich in potassium, silica, iron, amino acids and vitamins A, V and C. It is ideal blood tonic in anemia and is traditionally used in debilitating diseases and convalescence. Beef stock provides vital amino acids and nutrients for strengthening muscles and bones.