Mountain Phoenix Acupuncture LLC.

For those who have been out of touch, we have been through an array of changes recently and the website, business structure, and a great deal of what happens here are all under construction.

We have recently relocated to the City Park area of Denver at 1529 York St.

Parking is available for clients behind the facility, the spaces are clearly marked for our office.   If that parking is unavailable, please park on York Street or across the street at CCMU there is a pay lot.  I dispense all my herbs from Yanjing Supply, which is located just across Colfax 1 block away.

At this time, my current location entrances do have stairs at either doorway.  If you need a practitioner with a wheelchair entrance, please feel free to reach out via email, phone, or text and I am happy to make a referral to a practitioner who works nearby.  Unfortunately, I do not have a ramp in our current building, as the location predates those requirements.

Hi all,

These are weird and wild times.  What we are all living through presently will (I am certain) later be studied.  It is my hope that the world will come out on the other side of this more informed as a whole and more prepared to face future diseases with a clear head, calm heart, and science at the root of our approaches.

I also hope that this is an eye opening experience for those of us living through it about the nature of health care and the importance of prevention.  I talk with my clients continuously about how these bodies we are driving around should come with instruction manuals.

I wanted to check in with you and also give some advice about keeping yourselves healthy during the Covid 19 pandemic.

First of all, I think everyone should be trying to pay attention to what the experts are telling us.  Experts:  meaning people who work in healthcare, work with diseases, and work in viral epidemiology.  For this reason, I strongly recommend checking the World Health Organization website for regular updates.  You can also follow them on twitter and facebook.

In addition to the good advice that professionals are giving right now around hand washing and social distancing, I want to give a few reminders about every day things you can do to help promote wellness and immunity:

*Eat a well-balanced, nourishing diet with lots of fruits and veggies.  I know a lot of people are stockpiling canned and dry goods, frozen foods, etc.  I hope that you are all considering support of your overall health and wellbeing while choosing the foods that you will consume during this time.

*Stay fit.  A lot of folks are having their exercise routines thrown off by social distancing and its impact on their ability to attend the gym or fitness classes.  Remember that there are a lot of ways to get a little exercise while still being socially responsible.  There are a lot of yoga videos available on the internet, you can practice your taiqi and qigong, you can have a living room dance party.   No one likes being an indoor cat, but there are ways to make it fun for yourself while still giving your body what it needs.

*Keep it cool.  By cool, I mean calm.  By calm, I mean– stress depletes your immune function.  These are stressful times for a lot of folks.  Economic and food insecurity, worries for people in our lives who are ill or more succeptable to illness, worries for our own health, frustration over needing to pull in, frustration over having less personal space/time than you are used to– all of these things contribute to the stress we are all experiencing daily, and that stress takes a toll on your mind and body.

I suggest taking some time every day (even if it is just a few minutes) to do something that helps you feel calm and relaxed.  Whether it’s deep breathing, hitting a heavy bag, listening to calm music (or punk rock, or hip hop, or hardcore industrial) take a few minutes to do something to unwind.  Also try to take a break from your social media feeds and the news if they are giving you anxiety– It’s good to be informed, but there is such a thing as over-immersed.  Take some time to write, draw, read, color, play with your kids, etc.  Your body will thank you.

Get Rest.  Be sure to let your body and mind replenish themselves.  This can be a struggle with increased stress and anxiety.  Keeping a normal bedtime routine can help you to strategize and help your body to fall asleep even in times when you are less relaxed.  Keep your bedroom dedicated to sleep.  Listen to the same music or do the same activities around bedtime (like reading a book, drinking herbal (decaffeinated) tea, or talking with your significant other).  Try to stay away from screens for at least an hour before bed.

Hydrate.   Keep drinking fluids.  Best advice is to drink half your body weight number (in ounces) daily to maintain good hydration.

Take care of each other.  We are practicing social distancing to help #flattenthecurve and slow the spread of this disease– but that doesn’t mean we leave each other out here for ourselves.  In times like this, I am most encouraged to remember that we have each other.  Say something kind to the grocery clerk.  Check in on your friends who work in the service industry (they are scared right now)– can you spare a roll of toilet paper or some canned goods to help them out?  If you are well, check in on the people in your lives who are more at risk.  Do they need someone to pick up groceries, drop off bill payments, etc.  Doing things to help others is good for your heart, your spirit, and your community, so let’s stay safe out there, but also remember to take care of one another.  We’re all we’ve got, and that isn’t anything to sneeze at.

What do you mean, I shouldn’t eat raw?

One of the biggest surprises for patients new to TCM is the idea that raw foods can have a negative impact on digestion.  

After all, what’s healthier than a good salad?   

While some patients may consistently eat raw food and see little impact on their digestion, this is all dependant on your personal constitution, and most patients find that eating a majority of their meals warm can have a positive overall impact on their digestive system.  

The logic in this isn’t terribly difficult to understand.  As we discussed in the previous post about hydration, cold temperature foods have a slowing effect on your overall digestion.  Quite literally, your body has to work harder to digest them, and in TCM we say that this has a taxing effect on the “spleen.”  

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the “spleen” function is related largely to your pancreatic functions and your digestion.  Signs of spleen deficiency due to cold raw diets can include loose stools (with or without undigested food in them), fatigue, and cold abdomen.  Patients may also experience symptoms such as gas or bloating after meals.  

TCM strongly recommends consuming the majority of your meals warm, with vegetables lightly cooked.  

For patients with weak digestion, homemade soups are an optimal way to improve absorption of nutrients.  They are easy on digestion, and making soup at home can allow you better control over the level of sodium in your food (which is often very high in canned foods).  Many patients find that making soup in their crock pot is an easy place to begin, and there are a lot of great recipes out there that include the use of fresh, whole ingredients.  You can find recipes for all kinds of meal plans, including vegan and vegetarian.  I encourage you to search the web for new ideas if you don’t know where to start.   

Many health and fitness types push dietary plans that include things like cold-pressed juice or smoothies, but from a TCM perspective, these cold drinks may actually be damaging your digestive system over time.  

As a recovering juice and salad lover, I empathize.  I can tell you from experience, that when I started consuming more of my meals warm I saw a drastic improvement in my overall digestion and well-being.  

If you must have your green drinks or your salads, here are a few things to think about:

• • Salads, smoothies, and beverages should be consumed as close to room temperature as possible (if not consumed warm).

• • A small amount of ginger can be added to energetically warm these foods and help the stimulation of digestion (or you can drink ginger tea with them).  Be careful not to go overboard, though– ginger can be very warm if consumed in excess.

• • Try not to add ice to your smoothies or consume fruits and vegetables out of the freezer or refrigerator.  If you use frozen fruit, try to thaw it the night before.  

• Moderation is key– maybe you’re like me, and it doesn’t feel like summertime without a salad here and there– it’s ok to have one once in awhile, but eating cold raw foods everyday might be causing you unnecessary discomfort.  

***Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is provided for educational purposes only. Talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you feel you have a medical emergency, please contact emergency services by dialing 911.

It starts with water.  

While water consumption is not strictly a TCM concern, it is a necessary part of our health and wellness.

When I want to work on my personal wellness, I always start with water.  We are privileged to live in a place where clean water is a norm, yet, many people are probably not consuming enough water daily.  

Dehydration can lead to headaches, dizziness, fatigue, constipation, irritability, indigestion, cramping, and difficulty with memory and concentration problems (among other symptoms).   Dehydration can also contribute to difficulty with weight loss.  While some people say that the first sign of dehydration is thirst, patients can experience other signs first, particularly mental confusion and fatigue.  

A good indicator of your recommended hydration level is to divide your body weight in half to get the number of ounces you should be consuming daily.  This amount should also be increased in certain circumstances.  Nursing mothers, illness (especially if you are running a fever or have a UTI), if you are an athlete, or if you are a warm person you should be drinking additional water.  While athletes who train at a high level can benefit from sports drinks with added electrolytes, salts, and sugars– for most of us, just plain water is what we need to flush our system and maintain good function of circulation and organs.  

To get the optimal benefit of the water you consume, it is best to drink in sips throughout the day.  Drinking too much water at once can decrease your body’s absorption, and even be taxing on your kidneys.  

I suggest picking up a water filter, as our tap water can contain a high volume of chemicals and heavy minerals.  There are literally boatloads of filters out there in a range of prices.  You can put a filter on your tap, or have a container that filters your water such as a water bottle or pitcher.  My partner and I use a brita pitcher and our replacement filters usually last a little over a month.  

Given the potential for harmful chemicals to leech into water, I prefer a glass or metal water bottle or jar to a plastic one.  If you do drink from a water bottle, they should be washed daily, and any rubber or mobile pieces should be cleaned or changed regularly to help prevent build up of germs.  If you are going to purchase a water bottle, I suggest a BPA free bottle.  I personally try to avoid bottled water as much as possible to decrease my own environmental footprint.  

Traditional Chinese Medicine also recommends taking in fluids warm or at room temperature.  While some western sources encourage individuals to drink cold water to stimulate the amount of calories you burn, it should be noted that this has an impact on the whole system.  Drinking warm or room temperature fluids helps to keep your body’s functions moving, where cold fluids can slow down digestion, and for some patients, even cause pain and abdominal cramping.  

Proper hydration helps your body to flush out toxins and maintain body mass, after all, the human body is made of mostly water.  

When going from a state of dehydration to hydration, patients may notice a decrease in symptoms such as headaches, improved bowel movements, improved mental function, and healthier looking skin.  

When you are looking for a place to start with your overall well-being, ask yourself: “Am I drinking my water?”  

***Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is provided for educational purposes only. Talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you feel you have a medical emergency, please contact emergency services by dialing 911.