Holiday Stress-Busters

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Or is it? A 2019 survey of 2,000 Americans found that 88% of respondents believe that the holidays are the most stressful time of year. In 2018 the American Psychological Association determined the top seasonal stressors were lack of time, money worries, over-commercialization and gift-giving pressures. Other holiday stressors include travel, family issues and remaining healthy (a stressor that is given all new meaning these days). So what advice can we seek from Chinese Medicine philosophy to assist with some of these festive-season buzz-killers?

*PLAN AHEAD: One of the best ways we can prevent feeling engulfed by these holiday waves is to strategize in advance. Fall is a great time to hone your organizational skills as it is the season of structure and discipline. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, Fall is associated with the metal element which loves methodology and planning. If possible, nip holiday stress in the bud by making lists, shopping early, setting up family and travel arrangements AND setting boundaries when it comes to what is actually do-able and healthy for you.

*SIMPLIFY: Take it from the Ancient Taoist Philosopher, Lao Tze:

“Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you”

Chinese Medicine is rooted in Taoism which respects the path of simplicity and minimalism. With supply chain limitations, this year may be the perfect opportunity to tap into this philosophy that runs counter to the drive of untethered consumerism. Find joy in the little things, the intangible, immaterial things, the moments of beauty, kindness, and hope. Slow down and revise expectations that keep us spinning in a wheel of unmet satisfaction. Choose contentment in the moment over constant desire, self-criticism and frustration.

*SELF-CARE: Planning ahead and modifying expectations can make a world of a difference, but despite our best efforts, stress can be a sneaky rascal and find its way through the cracks. In order to give ourselves the best chance at having a happy, healthy holiday season, we need to make time for self-care. Health as a holiday stressor has taken on added significance these past couple years. Eating clean (less sugar and processed food), exercising, and getting good sleep are key ingredients to healthy living. Acupuncture is also one of the best tools to support immunity and a stress-resilient body, mind and spirit. It has been shown to lower stress hormones, such as cortisol, while improving sleep and immune function. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce stress and prevent stress-related illness and a great way to stop and reset when the momentum of the season gets the best of us. Holistic Health Care Centers is here for you!

Let’s turn the ‘pressure to be jolly’ into the ‘pleasure to be jolly’ by planning ahead, adjusting expectations and making sure to take care of our health and well-being throughout the excitement of the holiday season!

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Mental Balance

Western medicine is catching up now on the fact that there’s a link between the gut and the brain. Chinese medicine has known this for thousands of years. Western thinking can actually complement Chinese medicine and vice versa. Patients with a lot of anxiety and worry can be treated with vitamins, particularly B vitamins. When the Earth element organs of the Stomach and Spleen are weak we crave sugar more. Sugar will compound this problem causing further weakness and an accumulation of dampness. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins – especially B-vitamins which are important for cognitive function and mental health.

Yi, or thought, is the spirit of the spleen. This is why overthinking can weaken the  spleen and a weakened spleen can lead to overthinking. As a Doctor of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, I hear patients telling me every day, “I can’t meditate because I can’t switch my mind off or I’ve got too many thoughts.” No amount of trying to control your thinking is going to work. Strengthening the Spleen will help and there are some ways you can:

• Eat your biggest meal between 7 and 11am.
•  avoid damp, sugary, cold, raw and greasy foods.
• eat more warming foods, herbs like ginger, plenty of warming soups, cooked vegetables – particularly orange vegetables are really, really, really nourishing for the spleen. And barley, rice and ginger tea etc.
• Acupuncture
• Energy Healing
• Meditation

Overthinking is the mental aspect and worry is the emotional aspect of a weakened spleen. Worry actually knots the chi of the stomach and spleen. So if you’re suffering right now from overthinking and worry, it’s a reflection of the state of your body, the way the chi is moving in your body, in your digestive system and the way your digestive system is transforming energy for other systems. If the emotions are not being heard then that can cause a lot of issues, physically and mentally as well.  90% of what I see coming into the treatment room is emotional in nature, compounded stuck emotion and then all the overthinking and the stories on top that have come from trying to work out why you are feeling that way. Having acupuncture and giving yourself space and time to process your emotions in a healthy way is the best treatment for this. The earth element also thrives on a good routine, eating at regular times, going to bed, getting up at regular times is important. Ideally you want to be going to bed as early as possible, waking up as early as possible and eating your main meal as early as possible for energy, for immunity, for lifelong strong earth element and clarity of mind. Our team at Holistic Health Care Centers can help bring your body and energies into balance.