Candy Crusher: finding your sugary sweet balance
Food: Candy alternative - Honeycomb
Acupuncture / Fascia: Great Rushing Point / Ante Pes
Yoga: Parivrtta Utkatasana Twisted Chair Pose
Adventures: Antwerp, Belgium
Book of the month: Katherine Eban Bottle of Lies
FOOD
October is a spooky month with trick-or-treat and lots and lots of sweet temptations. In October, candies and sweet baked treats abound in endless places - in our homes, our work places, and even stores. The tendency for most people is to over-indulge with friends and co-workers pressuring us that "candy never killed anyone." There is no one-size fits all remedy for the sweet addictions and the pressure to over-consume. Figure out what works for you. This requires you to be in touch with who you are and the natural rhythms.
Ancestrally, honey and fruit are nature's candy- the pods of Inga tree, berries, honey comb. However, these were only available occasionally and in the context of walking, moving, hunting, running... Instead of candy with processed high fructose corn syrup and binding agents, consider more natural alternatives, like the honeycomb. The honeycomb is a good alternative. Honeycomb contains raw honey, bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly (1). You can eat the whole honeycomb, including the honey and wax, which provides heart-healthy long-chain fatty acids and alcohols (2). These compounds may help lower cholesterol levels. Because it hasn’t been processed, raw honey contains enzymes like glucose oxidase, which give honey antimicrobial and antibacterial properties (3).
1. Pasupuleti VR, Sammugam L, Ramesh N, Gan SH. Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review of Their Biological Actions and Health Benefits. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017;2017:1259510. doi:10.1155/2017/12595102. Hargrove JL, Greenspan P, Hartle DK. Nutritional significance and metabolismof very long chain fatty alcohols and acids from dietary waxes. Exp Biol Med(Maywood). 2004 Mar;229(3):215-26. Review.3. Mohapatra DP, Thakur V, Brar SK. Antibacterial efficacy of raw and processed honey. Biotechnol Res Int. 2011;2011:917505. doi:10.4061/2011/917505
MEDITATION
Biodynamics treatment uses the principles of the golden ratio. The natural rhythms found in nature are the natural rhythms found in our body. When we are out of sync, we lose touch with our health and become fractured and restricted and look to places like food and over-indulgence to heal these fractures. This October try to feel the rhythm of nature around you during your meditation practice. Meditation modulates the posterior cingulate gyrus and enhances the cognitive process of self-reference – allowing you to let go of identification with foods, rumination and replacing these with a sense of connection and calm (1). For some of us, spending time in nature and outdoors is enough to feel replenished and in-sync. For other, we have to work to empty the mind to allow space to feel the natural rhythms around us.
As Halloween rolls in with all the sumptuous treats, candies, and Halloween parties, remember your roots. Become in touch with who you are through your spiritual practice, meditation, Yoga, etc. Know what the rhythm, needs, and desires of your body and spirit are. Then make a decision to indulge when, where and how you feel is the right way for you.
1. Brewer JA, Garrison KA, Whitfield-Gabrieli S. What about the "Self" is Processed in the Posterior Cingulate Cortex?. Front Hum Neurosci. 2013;7:647. Published 2013 Oct 2. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00647
ACUPUNCTURE / FASCIA
Great Rushing Point - Pes Ante Motion. As you deepen into October, over-consumption may become inevitable. Detoxification becomes important. The Great Rushing Point LV3 liver detoxification point is responsible for moving energy all directions. When energy and toxins gets “stuck” in the liver channel it then explodes and leads to symptoms such as anger, irritability, PMS, IBS, vision problems, headaches, lower back pain, and insomnia. Studies show treatment of the LV3 stimulates the posterior hippocampus and posterior cingulate (1). Treating this point can help detox your body and calm emotions.
This point located on the webbing between the big and the second toes corresponds to the Stecco Fascial Manipulation ante motion plane. Treating this point can also help with foot and leg pain the occurs from prolonged sitting and modern shoe wear, issues encountered from long hours at work.
1. Claunch JD, Chan ST, Nixon EE, et al. Commonality and specificity of acupuncture action at three acupoints as evidenced by FMRI. Am J Chin Med. 2012;40(4):695–712.
YOGA
Parivrtta Utkatasana: As you indulge this October, Yoga can be a great way to help with detoxification and digestion issues occurring from sweets and parties. The Twisted Chair pose (Parivrtta Utkatasana) enhances motor control of the hips and stimulates the internal organs and the Vagus Nerve,responsible for innervation and control of the liver and digestive system (1).
1. Gerritsen RJS, Band GPH. Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity. Front Hum Neurosci. 2018;12:397. Published 2018 Oct 9.
ADVENTURES
Dr. Wang will be presenting at the 10th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Girdle Pain in Antwerp, Belgium. The Congress is held every 3 years and is the world's only and truly multidisciplinary conference on lumbopelvic pain.Notable organizers and speakers are Andry Vleeming, Lieven Danneels, Ted Dreisinger, Britt Stuge, Jaap van Dieën, Bengt Sturesson, Paul Hodges, Robert Schleip, Carla Stecco, Hanne Albert, Jan Hartvigsen, Maurits van Tulder, Bart Koes
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boomhttps://www.katherineeban.com/praise
Are your medicines safe? According to Katherine Eban's book 90% of our pharmaceutical market is comprised of generics, the majority of which are manufactured overseas. 80% plus of generics have contaminants and are unsafe. Bottle of Lies exposes the deceit behind generic drug manufacturing—fraud is rampant, companies routinely falsify data, and executives circumvent almost every principle of safe manufacturing to minimize cost and maximize profit.
Avoid medications if you can with preventative measures and healthy life habits. Wean off medications if possible using alternatives like prolotherapy, exercise, yoga, meditation. If you must take meds, go to Katherine Eban's website to find out how to keep yourself safe: https://www.katherineeban.com/
For medications that have been chemically validated and independently tested for contaminates, purchase from a trusted source like Valisure: https://www.valisure.com/