Some Vegetables Which Prevent & Treat Cold & Flu

日本鍼灸院

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC (480) 246-0624

600 N. 4th Street, Unit 147, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Some Vegetables, No 2

Vegetables Which Prevent & Treat Cold & Flu

Periillae (Zi Su Ye in Chinese, Shi-soh in Japanese)

Highly aromatic herbal leaf disperses cold and nasal congestion, reduces nausea and vomiting. Full of vitamins and minerals: carotene, vitamin C, B1, B2, calcium, potassium, iron, perilla aldehyde. There are purple and green perillas: purple one contains slightly less carotene.

A sushi chef may make give you a perilla wrapped sushi (especially good with squid). Fresh one, you can place a leaf at the bottom of tea cup and pour hot water and drink as tea. You can also dry the leaves and make it as tea. Sprinkle chopped perilla in a salad.

Green Onion

November and December are the best months for green onions. Cold weather adds sweetness and softness to the onion (comes March, they become hardened).

How To Select:

White part of the onion should have luster and the separation of the part to the green part is clear and distinct. If you press on it, you should sense certain hardness, and upon picking up, it should have a weight. (Unfortunately, green onions we see in supermarket are not the quality we would want. I suggest trying Asian markets to see if they have fresh ones).

Power of Green Onion:

In the white part, it contain large amount of allicin (garlic has it). Allicin helps absorb vitamin B1 and helps reduce fatigue. It is antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic. Green onion also contains large amount of vitamin C and calcium and keeps the blood vessel and the bone healthy. (other vitamins: vitamin K, carotene).

Cooking:

Do not overcook. When cooked with meat or fish, it neutralizes the smell. When catching cold or fatigued, I suggest that you make miso soup with a large amount of chopped green onions (Soup will control sweating, reduce the aversion to cold and headache)

Lotus Root

Power of Lotus Root

Full of vitamin C, B1 and B2. Contains potassium, iron, copper, tannin (antioxidant, good for stopping cough), and fiber. It has mucin, which turns to glucuronic acid to eliminate toxic substances (also good for people with high blood pressure and diabetes). The root has starch, unusual for vegetable, and vitamin C is in the starch, so the break up of the C is minimum. This combination will give you energy and warmth to the body.

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC ã2010

How To Prevent Cold & Flu This Season

 

How To Prevent Catching Cold & Flu This Season

I have not gotten sick for more than ten years now and I write what I do to prevent getting sick this fall and winter seasons.

 

1]  Start preparing in the month of September.  Preparing in October when people around you are getting sick is too late.  In October, people start catching cold when an influx of visitors from the East Coast with sickness come to Arizona.

a)  Stop drinking alcohol.  Alcohol weakens the liver and the immune system.  If you drink, be careful a day after.  Drink lots of water, supplement with vitamin C.

b)  Start wearing socks.  No more sandals or flops.  We catch cold from the foot.  If you feel slight cold air in your feet one day, then you must know a pathogen is coming into your body.  Keep your feet warm.

c)  We also catch cold from the back of the neck.  If you feel slight cold as on the foot, then a pathogen is entering your body system.  Keep the back of the neck warm.

d)  Remember, earlier the detection is faster your recovery (once, I felt I was catching cold, and I gave a shiatsu/acupressure treatment on one point, and I literally felt the pathogen getting away from my body.  It took only three seconds.).

e)  Eat well and drink lots of fluid.  Sleep extra hours.  Winter is not the time to stay awake late at night.

f)  Be careful when you transit one environment to another:  for example, getting up from warm bed to cool morning air; getting out of  hot shower or from pool, etc.

g)  Avoid large gatherings.  If someone blows his breathe to your face, I can almost guarantee that you will get sick.  Also, avoid smoking and toxic environment.  

 

2]  Become aware how the body is responding:  slight headache you almost disregard in other time but be careful in fall and winter; slight sensation of chill; slight cough or dry mouth;  heavy sensation in the head; slight bodyache or fatigue, runny nose, etc.

a)  If you feel slight headache with slight bodyache, then, you must assume a pathogen is entering your body.

b)  If you start to feel slight cold sensation or movements of air in the neck or feet, you must assume you are getting sick.

c)  If one of your family member is getting sick, you must assume that you are vulnerable, too. 

d)  If you can prevent sickness above the diaphragm, you will recover faster:  coughing or/and sneezing stage.  However, once a pathogen passes through the diaphragm, then it is too late:  stomachache or diarrhea.  Recover will take lot longer and symptoms more severe.

 

3]  How to prevent.

a)  Immediately, start drinking lots of water.  Supplement with vitamin C and Bs.  Rest.  Do not stay up.  You must sleep well.  Wear warmer clothes.  Once you recover from slight headache and other symptoms, you will know that you have an immune system already build up for the season (in my opinion, you do not need a flu shot if you can recover from cold/flu symptoms as early as possible).  

b)  Double or triple the amount of green leafy vegetables.  Eat well and make sure your digestive system is well functioning.  If you have a diarrhea, you need to straighten the situation ASAP.   

c)  Sleep well.  Add extra hours for sleep.  

d)  Be strong mentally.  You can fight off disease like cold/flu at an early stage by your will alone (tell yourself you can beat it).

e)  Remember, once a pathogen passes through the diaphragm, it is too late:  stomachache, diarrhea, fever, etc.  In this case, you must take medicine and other remedies, and go see a doctor.

 

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC   copyright 2010

日本鍼灸院, Japanese Acupuncture: Cancer

日本鍼灸院

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC (480) 246-0624

600 N. 4th Street, Unit 147, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Cancer: How To Prevent and How To Cope

I lost my aunt to liver cancer in July. Since I lost my mother to lung cancer, it is time for me to write about cancer.

First Defense:

Change blood to alkaline. Stop drinking alcohol and change your diet.

How:

1) Start eating lot of dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, chard, and spinach. If you have cancer and cannot eat much, blend them together (you may drop some supplements), and drink the juice.

2) Eat seaweeds. Seaweeds cleanse blood and are anti-cancer (have fucoidan). You may buy a box of seaweed pills; triple the dosage if you have cancer.

3) You must stop drinking all types of alcohol. I do not know anyone who has beaten cancer while drinking. When comes to cancer, it is all about the liver. You must not weaken the functions of liver, or you will face the consequence.

(Also be aware, many drugs will weaken the liver. You must consult your doctor if prescribed drugs you take are really beneficial to your conditions). Stop eating all junk foods, spicy greasy foods, especially fried.

4) Cleanse the colon and do the liver detox. Do colonic once a month or after a severe diarrhea. Do the liver detox at the same time once in a while. In my opinion, the liver detox should be no longer than 14 days. An important part many of us forget is to strengthen the liver after a detox program. This is crucial because any liver detox will weaken the liver slightly. Eat green leafy vegetables and take Vit B supplements as soon as you are done with detox. Avoid stimulants such as hot spices, coffee, fried foods, strong drugs, etc.

5) Reduce stress. You must reduce stress. If you are in a stressful situation, you must question your priority. For example, if you think you are getting sicker having a job that you do not enjoy, then quit. It is not worth dying for. Find a direction in life and search for peace.

Second Defense:

Do not deny. If your heart* tells you that you need to change, you must act (surprisingly, so many people do not act and do nothing until too late). Have a support system. You should have someone in your peer group to talk to. You should seek answers from a doctor or an alternative practitioner. Once you have cancer, your family members will suffer as much as you do. You should have a support group to go through a difficult time. Have a strong mental mind. Do not be afraid. Many cancers with early detections are treatable. If you tell yourself that you are healthy and devoid of malignant cells, your subconscious has no other way but to make you healthy. There is always hope. (*"heart": note that I did not write "brain." Brain always lies to us. Here, you must "feel" rather than "think.")

Some Vegetables, No 2: for cancer

1) Seaweeds (sea vegetables)

SAD (Standard American Diet) lacks the mineral intake from the sea. All seaweeds contain iodine (good for thyroid) and fucoidan (anti-cancer). They cleanse blood.

2) Mushrooms

Reduce cholesterol, inhibit tumor growth, increase the immune function.

3) Ginseng

Antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic. Ginseng is a strong herb, and I must caution you for overdose. Also, do not take with green tea.

4) Cauliflower & Broccoli

Contains isothiocyanate which helps the liver to detoxify carcinogenic substances.

5) Any green leafy vegetables are recommended.

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC copyright 2010

July 2010 Special

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC

600 N. 4^th Street, Unit 147, Phoenix, AZ 85004

480-246-0624

July 2010 Special

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Chinese herb formula: $28 plus tax (9.3 %: AZ resident), free shipping.

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Supply is limited (you may wait for a week for the Chinese formula).

Offer ends on July 31, 2010

Call: 480-246-0624

Some Vegetable, No. 1: Japan Acupuncture/日本鍼灸/Phoenix, Arizona

日本鍼灸院

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC (480) 246-0624

600 N. 4th Street, Unit 147, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Just A Caution

I recently bought a bottle of cranberry juice because it read "Zero Sugar Added." After drinking it, I thought it was unusually sweet and I felt somewhat weird. I reread the label and at the bottle's corner it was written in smaller letters "Sweetened with Splenda." Be aware and read the label carefully. The brand name I picked up was Langers.

Some Vegetables, No 1

Carrots:

Full of potassium (helps proper function of muscles and nerves; reduces the risk of high blood pressure), and beta-carotene (enhances the immune function; reduces free radicals). Leaves have full of vitamin C and calcium. Try to cook them.

How to select carrots and preserve:

Try to buy carrots with top leaves. If leaves are cut off, then, look at the base of the carrot's neck. If it is blackish, has some cracks (de-hydrated and hard) or too big or fat compare to the rest, choose an another.

Carrots are very weak against humidity and high temperature. Wipe moist with paper towel.

Put in plastic bag and refrigerate. Leftover should be wrapped.

Tips for cooking:

Soak carrot pieces in slightly salty water for a few minutes before cooking; they will retain the bright color of red (also detoxifying).

Tomatoes:

Full of vitamin C, lycopene (caratenoid and antioxidant) and beta-carotene. When cooked, they increase the sweetness. Although vitamin C is destroyed by cooking, the lycopene absorption rate and concentration increase. Pectin in tomatoes softens fats in meat and fish. Tomatoes are also compatible with vegetables, beans, and eggs.

How to pick tomatoes and preserve:

The form should be round. If it looks pointy or square-ish, it may contain a hollow space within. Skin and color should have brightness. You can freeze them. If you worry about pesticides, the skin of frozen tomatoes can be peeled easily (soak in cold water for a few minuets before peeling).

Asparagus:

Full of vitamin C, E, B, beta-carotene, and aspartic acid (type of amino acid which reduces fatigue).

How to select asparagus and preserve:

It is hard to find fresh asparagus in the market. When you find, smell them. They should have strong aroma. If you find purple asparagus, buy them. They contain more polyphenol (antioxidant) and taste sweeter (turn to green when cooked). The stem should have a soft luster on the surface. Cut out at the base of spear should be round in shape. The top (crown) part should be tight and not open. Asparagus looses its sweetness only one day after harvest. If they are fresh, eat them sooner. When you buy fresh ones, cut the bottoms about 1/8 of an inch. If water droplets come out, wipe lightly, then pray water mist, wrap with newspaper, then wrap once more with plastic before refrigeration.

Cabbages:

Full of vitamin C (antioxidant, cofactor in the synthesis of collagen), vitamin K (helps blood clotting and bone loss), and vitamin U (helps gastric disorders).

How to select cabbages and preserve:

When you pick it up, it should not feel too heavy in your hand (late harvest, over-grown, tastes bitter: however, winter cabbage tends to be heavier than spring cabbage). Top leaf and two or three layers below should be fresh green, have luster, and the layers should be tight. If cabbage is whitish, it is stored too long after harvest (most cabbages in supermarket). They are less tasty. Turn cabbage upside down. Look at the core of its stem. The size of the core should not be any more than an inch and a quarter big. If larger, it is overgrown and less tasty. Wrap and bag to store in refrigerator. Cabbage is famous for pickling such as sauerkraut for preservation.

Tips on usage:

Peel outer layer by layer for cooking rather than cut in half and chop (cabbage starts rotting from cut surfaces and loose vitamin C).

Snow Peas:

Full of beta-carotene, vitamin C (3 times more than tomato): also contains vitamin B1 and B2 , fiber, and minerals (potassium, calcium). Pea itself contains protein, vitamin B1, and lysine (essential amino acid that helps to reduce cholesterol, to form collagen, bones, and connective tissues).

How to select snow peas and preserve:

Do not go for the darkest green color. The green should be fresh and shiny looking. Snow pea has a hair (or shall I say, a tail) at the tip. This should be white and not sagging or droopy. Spray mist water, wrap with paper, place in plastic bag for refrigeration.

Continues to the next issue.

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC copyright 2010

Most Advised On Diet & Life Style: Japanese Acupuncture, Phoenix, Arizona, 日本鍼灸院

日本鍼灸院

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC (480) 246-0624:

600 N. 4th Street, Unit 147, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Most Advised on Diet and Life Style

1: Cut down on intake of cheeses. I know most of us love cheese but it is phlegm, and the phlegm is very hard to get rid from the body system. Ancient Chinese attributed phlegm as a cause of thousand weird diseases. Once cheese is ingested and heated by the body heat, it congeals and creates stagnation. Stagnation is the cause of diseases. Europeans eat cheeses everyday, but their products are more natural and less processed. Stay away from American cheeses that are highly processed.

One thing for sure, if you eat large amount of processed cheese every single day, you will get a heart attack. Loosing weight would be difficult when eating cheese. Avoid junk and fast foods. Choose goat or feta cheeses over others if you crave.

2: Increase intake of foods from the sea. Standard American Diet (SAD) lacks nutrients and minerals from the sea. We came from the sea and our blood plasma has the similar ionic composition as seawater. Unless you live in the remotest places from the sea, it is wise to consider benefits from the sea. Not many people like seaweeds (vegetables of the sea), and I advise to buy seaweed pills from health food stores. Seaweeds contain iodine that helps to balance the thyroid function and fucoidan that is anti-cancer (Japanese studies).

Seaweeds cleanse the blood, eliminate heavy metals, and detoxify the body. A suggestion for a cancer patient is to take, along with green leaf vegetable diet, highly concentrated seaweeds pills daily.

3: Reduce the stress level. Stress causes the blood to become acidic almost

immediately. Bacteria thrive on the acidic environment. With acidic blood, you are prone to fatigue and diseases. It also causes calcium deposits in the body; the most notable is the stenosis of heart valves. There are too many factors I can discuss regarding stress and I cannot possibly write here. Study yourself.

Do something immediately when stressed. If you start feeling queasiness in the stomach, it is too late. Take a deep breathe, concentrate on how you are breathing, try to change the frame of mind by paying attention to the light of the day, smell of things, greenness of trees and plants, beauty of flowers, etc. Try to change negative adjectives to

positives: i.e., anger to excitement, sadness to joy.

Walking and light exercises are good (increase dopamine). Read the section below to know what supplements to take.

4: Adrenal exhaustion and sympathetic dominance. Are you jumpy when you hear a sudden loud noise? Do you often have scary dreams? Are you living in a stressful environment? Are you depressed or feeling anxiety with fatigue? Do you think you do not know how to relax? Do you hide fear (or past issues) behind busy life style and do not know how to address the real issue behind it? If so, you may have either or both the adrenal exhaustion and the sympathetic dominant nervous system. A sympathetic dominant person is easy to detect (adrenal exhaustion is easily understood by symptoms). Usually, the person’s right neck, just below the earlobe (the sternocleidomastoid muscle), is fatter or bigger than the left. If you cannot relax your head and neck, mostly likely it is fear based. If you cannot relax the elbows, it may relate to childhood issues.

Stay away from sugar and processed foods as much as possible. No spicy and greasy foods and alcohol. Cut down on coffee or tea that has high caffeine content (i.e., early grey). Drink tea that is soothing (i.e., chamomile). Learn meditation and abdominal breathing techniques. Receive a re-birthing or other guidance. If you are in stressful environment, get out ASAP: it is not worth risking your health. Resolve stressful issues quickly and move on. Take a break. Get a massage or an acupuncture.

Recommended supplements: Vit B6/B12 (sublingual), Tyrosine, Taurine, CoQ-10, fish oil, magnesium and zinc (and other multi-minerals). There are more. Seek professional opinion.

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC ã2010

Life Style To Control High Blood Pressure: Japanese Acupuncture, LLC, Phoenix, Arizona

Japanese Acupuncture, LLC (480) 246-0624:

600 N. 4th Street, Unit 147, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Life Style To Control High Blood Pressure

5 Must Dos

1) Reduce salt intake

2) Avoid overeating, reduce weight

3) Exercise

4) Stop smoking and excessive alcohol intake

5) Reduce stress

1) Reduction of Salt

Use sour, aroma, and tastiness. Sour foods would stimulate digestion, increase absorption of important minerals (calcium for example), slow down the absorption of sugar into the blood stream. Aromatic condiments reduce the desire and needs to have salt in meals. Emphasize on tastiness of foods. Fresh foods are always tasty and do not need to add salt or other condiments. Think of the way to increase tastiness without salt in cooking. For example, steaming does not require oil or salt and foods smell good; broiling reduces the fat in meats and brings out aroma in vegetables (mushrooms for example).

2) Avoid Overeating

Watch BMI (Body Mass Index). If you are overweight (over 25), have a goal to reduce weight gradually (I would not recommend a fast reduction). Take time and be patient. Aim for the reduction. Eat more vegetables, fruits, and fish with less salt. Avoid snacks and impulsive eating.

3) Exercise

Walk for 30 min each day, or at least walk 30 min three times a week. Light cardio is recommended. Stretching and de-stress: do light yoga for example.

4) Stop Smoking & Drink Less Alcohol

If you are a smoker, try to quit as soon as possible. Seek help and increase your determination to quit. NOTHING is good about smoking. Sip instead of drink alcohol. Try to cut down the intake. Common sense here is: everything in moderation.

5) Reduce Stress

Stressful environment and thinking patterns are detrimental to the health of the body. Our blood turns to acidic when stressed, causing many complications including faster heart beats. Cannot really reduce high blood pressure when you are stressed.

Other Factors To Consider

Be watchful of temperature change. For example, when you get up from warm bed in the morning to go to bathroom. When taking shower, keep the bathroom warm especially in wintertime. Be watchful of sitting and standing up. Do not get up quickly and abruptly. If you are constipated, you need to do something to have a normal bowel movement back. I recommend Chinese herb formula, colonic, or liver/colon cleansing kit.

Try to include seaweeds in your diet. All seaweeds not only have anti-cancer agent (fucoidan), they cleanse the blood and reduce blood pressure. Eat mushrooms. They have amino acid which reduces cholesterol. You can soak Shitake mushrooms (hydrated) in a jar of honey for little over a week, and drink the honey with tea. Other foods recommended are crabs and shrimps, asparagus, banana, black sesame, and yams (there are many others).

Emergency

When you are having an acute symptom of high blood pressure such as severe dizziness, headache, nausea, nosebleed, and blurred vision, call 911. In Asia, pricking the apex of the ear (fold the ear with fingers forward, the apex is at the top of the ear where folded) and letting a droplet of blood out is known to reduce the blood pressure (do not try this when you are alone and always have someone supervising you).

Y. Frank Aoi/Japan Acupuncture 2010