So, Halloween is over and it’s time to start preparing for the upcoming Holidays! If you have kids, chances are you’re trying very hard to stop yourself from digging in to their recent candy inheritance, while also trying to moderate their blood sugar levels to keep them from bouncing off the walls. At the same time, you know that the upcoming months are going to be a festival of food and drink between Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday parties, and New Years Eve. From here on out, it’s all about the turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, casseroles, gravy, pies and other delicious goodies. My taste buds can’t wait….but my poor little stomach can. This may be my favorite time of year, but it’s also the time of year that my stomach tends to rebel against me the most.
So, the point of this week’s blog is to give you a little health tip on getting through the holidays without having to deal with uninvited guests like heartburn, constipation, bloating and other nasty digestive issues. That tip is one of my favorite herbal formulas: Bao He Wan (Bow-Heh-Wan) – AKA “Preserve the Harmony” – how great is that? Now, as a healthcare provider, it’s my job to tell you that the best thing you can do for yourself during the holidays is to practice moderation. Which you still should, but lets face it, holiday food is often too yummy to resist, and that’s where this wonderful herbal formula comes in. Bao He Wan is an herbal formula that you take after you’ve thoroughly engorged yourself to help you digest and eliminate without the nasty side effects of a night of over-indulgence. And since I know some of you are wondering, Bao He Wan is also good for when you’ve had a little too much fun with wine and spirits.
The main ingredient in this harmony preserving formula is called Shan Zha, which is Hawthorn Berry. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hawthorn holds properties that eliminate the stagnation of food in the digestive system by moving Qi and Blood downward. The remaining ingredients help support this process and include: medicated leaven, radish seeds, orange peel, pinella rhizome, poria, and forsythia. Western medicine has also recognized the benefits of Hawthorn due to its high concentration of bioflavonoids that help reduce blood pressure and increase blood flow in the coronary arteries. This makes Hawthorn an excellent candidate for reducing hypertention and high cholesterol. The American Herbal Products Association has given Hawthorn a Class I rating, meaning it’s very safe to use. However, because of its ability to move Qi and Blood downward, it is contraindicated for use during pregnancy.
So, where can you get some Bao He Wan? Come in for some acupuncture and discuss using this herbal formula with Hardin or myself.
Eating Tips During the Holidays
Try to eat “tapas” style. If you’re like me – the turkey and ham are not my favorites when it comes to the holiday meals – it’s all about the side dishes. Take smaller portions and enjoy the variety!
Eat slowly – eating slowly and chewing your food completely not only helps digestion, but it actually enhances the flavors!
Make the meal “about the meal” – while the dinner table is a great place for family bonding, try not to eat with too many distractions (TV, work, computers). Your mealtime is a great opportunity to practice mindfulness and kindness to your digestion.
Wait 20min before going back for seconds. This gives your stomach some time to really decide whether or not it’s still hungry.
Take some time to digest between dinner and dessert – again – I’ve got a major sweet tooth so there’s no way I’m skipping out on the pies. And despite the rumors on the internet, you do not have a “secret dessert stomach”.
Small Sips: While it’s great to stay hydrated, try to take smaller sips during mealtime. A lot of traditional nutritionists will tell you not to drink at all while you’re eating, but a lot of the time you need something to wash the food down. And I’m a realist, I’m not about to tell everybody to put away their cups during dinner.
The Colon Massage: If you’re starting to feel the effects of too much food and drink, give your stomach a massage. This stimulates Qi and blood in the abdomen (the intestines specifically) and can help move things along. Start on the lower right area of your abdomen, and make small circular (clockwise) massage movements upward until you feel your ribs – then massage towards the left and then downwards.
Well guys, I think that should about do it for this week. Happy Holidays, and don’t forget about these awesome events coming up! Call us to sign up today!
November 15: 6:30pm “Mindful Eating” with Mandy Kiley, LMT
November 19: 7:30pm “Acupuncture Info Night” with Hardin Field V CAc & Andrea Johnston CAc
November 26: 7:30pm “Meditation Introduction” with Andrea Johnston CAc
Be Well Everybody! – Andrea
