TO YOUR HEALTH Your Health in Late Summer: Acupuncture Theory & Functional Medicine Approach
conditions can be managed naturally through dietary adjustments and herb- al supplements, as well as with recom- mendations for lifestyle changes. Here are just some of the ways to take care of your stomach and spleen/ pancreas: • Explore different diet protocols, e.g., Paleo, SCD, FODMAP, Gaps, Keto- genic, Mediterranean, Low Histamine, Blood type and more. • Choose natural supplements to coun- teract your symptoms such as proper digestive enzymes, blood sugar stabi- lizers, probiotics and natural antibac- terial and antifungal remedies. Check your micronutrients and supplement the missing ones. • Make nutritional adjustments to avoid food allergens, like gluten, grains or dairy. Very often eliminating grains and cow dairy helps tremendously. • Eliminate spicy foods, and fried and processed foods, all of which fuel acid production in the stomach. • Follow a food-combining chart for better and faster digestion. And sticking to some simple life- style tips can go a long way toward symptom prevention and supporting good digestive health: • Don’t worry, be happy! Worries, anx- iety and overthinking can negatively impact your digestive health. • Eat mostly cooked and warm foods and beverages. • Don’t overeat! And have dinner by no later than 7pm to give your stom- ach, along with your other organs, a chance to rest and digest fully before bed. • Increase your activity level! Nourish your muscles. Late Summer is the perfect time to get your digestive health in order. The wisdom of Chinese medicine encour- ages taking care of your stomach and spleen/pancreas, which also supports mind and spirit with strength and sta- bility. Western medicine echoes the finding that digestive wellness sup- ports mental wellness, and vice versa. Use the wisdom of the Earth element as the basis for balancing your body’s core. Helena Amos, M.Ac., L.Ac., is a li- censed acupuncturist, European physi- cian, and natural medicine practitioner since 1986. She is the owner of the Acu- puncture and Natural Medicine Clinic in Rockville, MD, and is available for in- office and telehealth complementary con- sultations. Visit rockvilleacupuncturemd. com/ for more information about clinic ser- vices and to sign up to receive her monthly health e-newsletters. LIKE on Facebook @ AmosAcupunctureAndNaturalMedicine. See also her ad on page 49.
BY HELENA AMOS, M.AC., L.AC., EURO. PHYSICIAN
As the days become shorter, the air cooler, and the harvests ready; we know we are entering late summer, which is the last “season” in our exploration of the Five Element Theory of acupunc- ture. So far we’ve discussed the follow- ing season-element pairs: Fall-Metal, Winter-Water, Spring-Wood, and Sum- mer-Fire. We’ve been examining the theory and how it is a guide to how each ele- ment corresponds to an internal organ system, and each system is associated with certain physical and psychological conditions. The late summer is ruled by the Earth element, which represents the core of the body in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), i.e., the Stomach and Spleen/Pancreas. It is about digestive vitality and emotional nourishment. Late Summer: The Earth Element There are 4 seasons. But Late Sum- mer, which is associated with Earth, is not a season in and of itself—it is much more. It is the field that enables the play of 4 seasons because Earth gives every- thing life. This season is characterized by sustaining both body and spirit. The activities of an Indian summer see indi- viduals taking advantage of what’s left of the light and warmth to begin har- vesting preparation for fall and winter. It is both a literal going to the ground to get the earth’s bounty, and a figurative grounding of one’s emotions. When the Earth element is unbal- anced emotionally, worry and anxiety are manifested. A person gets stuck in rumination and overthinking which impedes any action and contributes to feelings of being overwhelmed or pre- occupied. Brains are foggy and pensive. An emotionally balanced Earth element is found in a person who is strong, con- nected, and who can give and receive sympathy. That person would be clear thinking, able to receive and assimilate knowledge and have a sense of stability. And that person will be able to nourish the body with a healthy digestive sys- tem. When we speak of physical imbalanc- es in the Earth element, we are seeing symptoms associated with disorders and deficiencies within the stomach and spleen/pancreas—those organs responsible for digestive health. In my clinical practice, I see a demonstration of how almost all diseases related to imbalances of Earth Element, meaning Stomach and Spleen/Pancreas Meridi- ans, present as digestive tract disorders. These 2 meridians of the Earth element are at the heart of digestive health and this acupuncture theory intersects with Western medicine as the root of almost all medical conditions. Physical symptoms of spleen/pancreas deficiency include: • Exhaustion and fatigue • Lack of appetite
• Undigested foods in loose stool • Weight gain • Yeast and candida • Nausea and vomiting • Fibromyalgia • Organ prolapse • Weak muscles and tendons • Insulin issues, pre-diabetes, diabetes Stomach disorders are indicated by: •Epigastric hunger pain; constant hunger •Thick white or yellow coat on the tongue • Bloated feeling after eating • Sour regurgitation, belching and hic- cups • Halitosis There are also facial indicators of Earth element deficiencies. Stomach and spleen/pancreas organs are repre- sented on the face by lips and mouth. If there is a darker color around the mouth and skin and common out- breaks in that area, these are early signs of GI tract disorders. GI Tract: At the Earth (Element) Core GI tract disorders are the primary source of any Earth element imbal- ance, and right now, these conditions are running rampant. Examples of these physical disorders include: • Gastritis • GERD, aka Acid Reflux • IBS • SIBO (small intestine bacterial over- growth) • Candida • Leaky gut syndrome, • Insulin resistance • Diabetes, and more
Most GI tract issues are a result of problems with diet, lifestyle, and en- vironmental toxins interacting with our unique genetic susceptibilities. For example, with insulin resistance, cells cannot absorb glucose (sugar) for en- ergy production. Insulin builds up in the blood, creating high levels of blood sugar and A1C. As your insulin levels increase it leads to ramped up appe- tite, increasing weight gain around the belly, more inflammation and oxidative stress, and myriad downstream effects including diabetes, high blood pres- sure, high cholesterol, low HDL, high triglycerides, thickening of the blood, and increased risk of cancer, Alzheim- er’s, and depression. Another example is gastritis. This condition involves stomach inflamma- tion most often due to the presence of infection or excessive bacteria (H. py- lori) from a variety of different sourc- es, which cause persistent heartburn, bloating, and in some cases vomiting. The influencing factors of gastritis range from food allergies or sensitivi- ties to eating spicy foods and heavy meals before bedtime. Working Out Your Core: Treatment and Tips Insulin resistance, gastritis, and vir- tually all the GI tract disorders and their symptoms can be resolved by fol- lowing a special diet, detecting food allergies, cultivating your gut biome, and improving digestive enzymes and intestinal mucosa. In my clinic, we em- ploy a Functional Medicine approach to testing—meridian/organ testing, food allergy/sensitivity testing, blood tests, parasite tests, and more— and to treat- ment protocols, which safely and effec- tively identify and treat root causes as well as the symptoms. Overall, these
PATHWAYS—Fall 20—11
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