Health is Wealth Tip, August 3, 2013, Year of the Snake:

Almost every day someone asks me about the cause of their pain.

If the person is complaining about right shoulder pain, I ask them if they are sleeping on their right side. Most of the time they are. Just think about it, if you are sleeping on your shoulder lifted in an awkward position for 8 hours, that is a long time your shoulder experienced lack of blood flow. If that happens for many nights, for years on end, the story begins to chronic right shoulder pain.

That is just one example. Have you ever spent a long time at the computer, and experienced tinging in your upper back and shoulder region? Well, there are several contributing factors, but one is lack of proper blood circulation. What can you do to help you in this case? First, bring your keyboard down to the level where your elbows and wrists have the widest angle. Next, bring up your chair or lower your desk. Your monitor should be at eye level so you do not look up or down.

Sit up straight. Roll your shoulders back. Strengthen your back to tilt your pelvis inward. Breathe deeply and often.

Look at the picture above. That is the anatomically correct position. When is doubt, think of this picture. When your body is in line, your Qi and blood flow smoothly. You will have no more pain. Stress will dissolve. Why not give it a try?

Have a peaceful day!
-Rachel

Health is Wealth Tip, July 2, 2013, Year of the Snake:

Make sole (so-lay)!

Sole is an incredible salt tonic that can be used in various ways. Sole is a solution of 26% salt and 74% water. This solution is essential for life, and part of the amniotic fluid during fetal development. Sole can provide all the essential electrolytes and trace minerals needed for healthy body function.

How do you make sole? Use crystal salt as it is more bio-available. My favorite is Himalayan pink crystal salt. Take rock salt and place in a jar of distilled water. Leave the salt in the jar until the rock stops dissolving and the water is fully saturated. Add more salt if you need to until they stop dissolving. That is sole.

Drink one teaspoon daily in the morning on an empty stomach. Kids, pets, and babies can take a few drops of sole daily.

So what are you waiting for? Make sole!

Heave a peaceful day!
-Rachelle Lambert, L.Ac.

Health is Wealth Tip, March 23, 2013, Year of the Snake:

One part of Chinese medicine is diet therapy. You really are what you eat. All food has certain properties, and can cause a reaction in the body. For example, peppermint can reduce your body's temperature. According to Chinese medicine, some foods are particular for calming the mind and nourishing your brain, helping you get a full night of restful sleep.

The foods include:
Lotus Root (pictured above, can be found at any Asian supermarket), Lotus Fruit and Seeds
Grapes
Longan Nuts (can be found at any Asian supermarket)
Dates
Licorice
Cooked Egg Yolk

Recipe: 15 longan nuts, 7 red dates, and 50 gm of rice in a saucepan. Add enough water till the level is 1 inch above the mixture. Boil until soft, and serve! You can add licorice if you want a sweeter flavor. Molasses makes a great sweetener as well, and great at nourishing the blood.

Have a peaceful day!
-Rachelle Lambert, L.Ac.

In case you have been wondering, I am busy with SXSW approaching, and I am planning an acupuncture event. My Blog posts will be less frequent for a few days as I prep for this. I will resume my Health is Wealth Tips as soon as I sanely can! Please visit me during my event!

Health is Wealth Tip, February 27, 2013, Year of the Snake:

Lemon juice is very important to your health.
Lemon is used medicinally in almost all cultures.
Lemon is a natural preservative.
Lemon juice used internally can clear inflammation in the skin.
Lemon juice is soothing for the throat.
Lemon has the property of cleansing and stimulating the Liver's function.
Lemon is alkalizing for the body.
Lemon is stress relieving and great to soothe stress headaches.
Lemon juice reduces anger and depression.
Lemon juice supports your immune system.
Lemon is used in Chinese medicine to move Liver Qi.

Why not try a shot of lemon juice every morning? Is is very easy to incorporate to your routine, just add a squeeze to your water bottle before leaving your house every day.

Have a peaceful day!
-Rachelle Lambert, L.Ac.

Health is Wealth Tip, February 23, 2013, Year of the Snake:

This winter season left us so dry we felt like we were becoming jerky! In my profession, I wash my hands at least three times every hour if not more. This drys out my hands even more, and you add on the very dry weather, my hands have been in bad shape this winter.

Past winters have dried out my skin to the point that my knuckles start to crack, which is manageable by sleeping with heavy hand cream and cotton gloves. This winter not only all my knuckles cracked but the entire back of my hands from my finger joints to my wrists had hundreds of tiny cracks, and the skin was red and irritated. The cotton glove trick did not work, and I tried over 20 types of creams and nothing was penetrating my skin.

Then one evening I was talking to a patient of mine. She told me about a traditional Italian remedy of olive oil and lemon juice for dry skin. So, I tried it, and it worked! It started to soothe the redness immediately, and I wore cotton gloves at night and in two days all the cracks healed. Olive oil helps to create a protective barrier and seal in moisture.

The picture is of a lovely Christmas present I received from another patient this year. She hand made a sugar scrub with olive oil, lemon juice, sugar, rosemary (from her garden), peppermint essential oil, and a few other ingredients. It has been amazing for not only my hands, but great for the whole body.

Give it a try!

Have a peaceful day!
-Rachelle Lambert, L.Ac.

Health is Wealth Tip, February 18, 2013, Year of the Snake:

Lately I have been in a "simplistic mood" with the concept of "less is more" on my mind. I am trying to be as simple as possible. My daily moisturizer is one ingredient- rose hip seed oil or argan oil (I like to alternate between the two). Today I was looking at my bottle of mouthwash on my bathroom counter and thought to myself, "What is the most simple form of mouthwash?"

My first thought was a beautiful ancient Greek lady rinsing with salt water. I don't know why that was the first thought, maybe because one of my favorite beaches is Paleokastritsa in Corfu, Greece.

Salt is naturally anti-bacterial. It is wonderful in preventing plaque and tartar build up. Salt can also heal canker sores and sore throats. My favorite type of salt to use with the body is Himalayan pink crystal salt. It is essential the salt you choose is in it's natural crystal form. Your body recognizes it more, or more bio-availablility.

And salt is cheap! So why not ditch that bottle of store bought mouthwash!

Have a peaceful day!
-Rachelle Lambert, L.Ac.