Good morning readers!

Today I will write a bit about Acupuncture in Pediatrics. What are the differences between adults and children/teenagers? What should we consider normal? What should we treat?

When we receive in our offices a child or a teenager (remember that in Chinese Medicine are considered children until 12 years old and between 12 and 18 we consider teenager), we must know exactly what’s the physiological difference in people that lay in this age range comparing to an adult, and thus only consider what’s normal and what’s pathological, as shown next:

1) Children/ Teenagers have Yang Excess in Heart and Liver.

1.a) The elevated Heart Yang makes children and teenagers more anxious, curious, and easily lose coherence in relation to how they should act in certain situations. Sweating more, having an elevated heart rate. Sleep is agitated and scares are more frequent. Some say we should never scare a child, so that we don’t create trauma in the heart. Keeping the attention and stillness of a child or a teenager, as like in a classroom, is a really hard mission, once that, it’s a natural behavior for this age group to “discover the world” and not remain focused 100% of the time. From this, we can see how many children are treated wrongly, diagnosed with attention deficit and other similar problems.

1.b) The elevated Liver Yang makes children and teenager more irritable, impatient, and stubborn. Start to have strong headaches when undergoing the changes caused by adolescence, mainly on the back of the eyes and the side of the head. Dream too much, have nightmares, feel growing pain.  In Chinese Medicine the Liver is the one that controls the “animal extinct”, thus, when in excess children and teenagers may become extremely violent.

** Regarding excess problems, how should we proceed?

We must only treat a child or a teenager due to excess when those are badly affecting their day to day lives. Example: when a child cannot sleep caused by having too many nightmares, or when the lack of attention in school is affecting colleagues or grades or even when they become aggressive towards colleagues or teachers.

In the cases where Liver Yang, naturally elevated, becomes higher than it should, it’s possible, using acupuncture, to treat the behavioral problems, thus making it so that the person becomes clearly calmer and patient.

For Heart excesses, the most used points are: HT5, HT7 and for Liver excesses, it’s common to use the points LV2 and LV3. In both cases, it can be combined with other treatment points.

2) Children/Teenagers have Qi Deficiency in Liver, Lung and Spleen.

2.a) Kidney is the organ that commands growing and development. Children and teenagers are constantly “spending” Kidney energy to develop, and the overload exercised upon this organ makes him goes  Deficiency (energy). In this stage, then, the child/teen feel sleepy, lazy, developing teeth problems, as well as easy-solving fractures. If Kidney energy is even smaller than what’s considered physiologic, the child/teen will present growing problems, such as dwarfism, cretinism, bone growing failure, mental problems and more.

2.b) The Lung is the organ responsible for immunity in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since immunity is developing in the child/teen until 12 years old (average), the organ is also overloaded, therefore, diseases like flu, colds, sinus inflammation, respiratory or skin allergies are also very common in this age group. The respiratory diseases during this stage easily become severe, however with a fast and effective interference, are easily healed. Acupuncture is efficient not only in pathological states, but also in increasing the immunity and preventing diseases, having a huge positive impact in allergic rhinitis.

2.c) The Spleen in children/teenagers is in adaptation since birth, when the baby stops feeding from mother’s milk and starts including new foods to its diet. It’s also responsible for the growth of the digestive tube matching with height changes, this makes it overloaded. The Spleen, in Chinese Medicine, is responsible for removing humidity from the body (fluids that aren’t used in normal physiologic functions) and when it’s overloaded, it stops removing these fluids, causing them phlegm formation, that basically are masses distributed over the body. These masses, many times not visible to naked eye, can induce headache, hunger sensation without eating readily, nausea, vomit, digestive and intestinal problems with diverse symptoms, fever that doesn’t stop with transpiration, weight gain and memory loss.  Acupuncture is very effective when we are talking about strengthening Spleen, making the digestive process much more effective and improving memory (including studying). Spleen is also responsible for anxiety, and if well done, improves concentration, memory, and calms the mind in order to get a good test grade, such as, SAT.

To treat Kidney Deficiency, it’s common to use the points KI3 and KI6. For Lung Deficiency we use points LU7 and LU9 (and few others, depending on the symptoms) and for Spleen, SP1, SP3, SP6, and SP9 are the most common ones, being SP3 considered the target point for memory improvement.

Therefore, finding a child/teenager anxious, irritated, lazy, indigestible and with bad memory does not mean they are sick, however all of this, is part of an adult life transition period. What we must do is do a maintenance in health and never let any of the “normal” symptoms exacerbate and prejudice the natural development of the said person. Preventing/diminish the pathological excess, nourish anormal deficiencies, are the mission of a good acupuncturist in order to take good care of this unique age group.

I hope that you liked it!

A big hug!!

Profa. Fernanda Mara

Hello readers!

Today I decided to talk about the importance of Breathing in Chinese Medicine.

We always talk about needles, moxibustion, cupping, auriculotherapy and other techniques, however, the vast majority of them are only possible once the individual seeks professional help. That’s why I’ve decided to write this text. Breathing exercises are an excellent way to perform self-care.

Do you know why?

In Chinese Medicine, the main organ for energy transformation is the Lung. It receives the air we breathe (which by itself is already consider a kind of Qi/energy), receives food energy (or Gu Qi) from Spleen and then turns it in Wei Qi (defense energy) and Ying Qi (Nourishing energy). Thus, we realize the Lung is the organ responsible for our immunity and also for our body tissues nourishment.

On top of that, the Lung is responsible for the energy dispelling through all the body and it also controls the water path, using breathing movements to send retained body liquids to the Kidney. 

Therefore, when we take a little break during the day to exercise our breath and we breathe well, our immunology is improved, our body tissues are better nourished, and there isn’t any liquid retention, besides there is an improvement on our organs effectiveness.

What is breathing well?

Breathing well is being able to take all the air we inhale till our Lung base, the one which is protected by our last ribs and rests over the diaphragm. So, a full breath is the one when we manage to inflate the abdomen.

Usually, throughout the day, we do not have such an effective breath, mostly due to the fact we are always worried, agitated, working, focusing on “another world” or anything but not our breath. This way, although we don’t feel any difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, our usual breath is in no way therapy, so in order to have the therapy effects of breath, I suggest some exercises, to be done daily or at least 3x times a week.

Exercise 1:

• Lay down comfortably, tummy up, arms along the body with hands facing upwards. Inhale and exhale 3 times, slowly and deeply, feel as your body relax and try not to think about anything. Following these 3 initial breaths, picture all energy from your head moving to the inferior region of your abdomen, repeating this path 36x, being each full breath counting as 1 time. After finishing all 36 full breath cycles, slowly move your hand and your feet and you’re free to return your usual activities.

Exercise 2:

• Slowly and deeply inhale and when you cannot fit any more air into your Lungs, hold the air in this maximum inhale position for the most you can. When you can’t hold back anymore, slowly let the air flow back as you exhale, always through the nose. Once you get to the state of maximum exhale, hold this position for the most you can. Then return slowly to inhale maximum capacity again. Repeat this process from 3 to 8x a day. It’s a quick exercise that shall bring to the Lung tons of effectiveness and quality.

Exercise 3:

• Sit yourself in a comfortable manner and close your eyes. Inhale while imagining the energy climbing through abdomen and chest front, getting to the head, place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and exhale while picturing the energy flowing down through the back of your head, going through your back until it reaches your gluteus with the tongue now on mouth floor. Repeat the inhales and exhales from 8 to 36x times.

There are tons of other breathing exercises that shall help Lung and its functions and all of them can be done easily, without the need of a professional.

Keep in mind that on top of all mentioned benefits, the Lung is the organ responsible for our emotions, sadness, angst, frustration, excess of self-criticism..It controls the healthiness of our skin, our voice tone and the capacity of retraction or expansion before the world.

Practicing breathing exercises balances, the then aggressive emotions, keeps our skin beautiful and puts us strong facing life and the universe.

Shall we practice?

Hope that you enjoyed it!

A very tight hug!

Profa. Fernanda Mara

Hello readers,

Given the many requests on my social networks, today I will write about Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system, incurable, which worsens over time and affects mainly people between 60 and 90 years old.

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by dementia or loss of cognitive functions (memory, orientation, behavior, language, calculus), caused by the death of brain cells.

It is not yet clear why Alzheimer’s disease occurs, although some lesions and brain changes characteristic of this disease are known, such as:

• Senile plaques resulting from the abnormally produced beta-amyloid protein deposit;
• Neurofibrillary tangles, fruits of the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein;
• Reduction in the number of nerve cells (neurons) and the connections between them (synapses), with progressive decrease in brain volume.

As in Western Medicine, in Chinese Medicine the cause of the development and progression of Alzheimer’s is not known, however, there is a suspicion that the disease is related to the Kidney, which is the organ that has the Vital Essence and controls all the diseases. body functions, including aging and death.

Alzheimer’s is divided into classic symptoms, which will be described below in relation to the organs and how we can treat them in Chinese Medicine:

1. Aggressiveness

Many people suffering from Alzheimer’s have this stage quite evident. They get aggressive, speak loudly, blame people for having hidden or even stolen something of their personal use.

In Chinese Medicine we can understand that due to a Deficiency of the Essence, especially the Kidney Yin, it does not nourish the Liver Yin thus generating an excessive Yang. It is the excessive Yang of the Kidney that we correlate with anger, stress, excessive attitudes.

It is up to the therapist, not only to strengthen the Kidney Yin but also to calm the Yang Liver. Points like KI-6 and LR-8 are of great help, as well as black sesame tea.

2. Loss of Recent Memory

The most well-known stage of Alzheimer’s is memory loss. You start by forgetting a lighted lamp, or the stove on. Then it is no longer known if he took a shower that day, or tells the same story several times a day.

In Chinese Medicine, chronic Kidney deficiency leads to chronic Spleen deficiency. It is the Spleen that is responsible for recent memories and daily activities. So, once again, the therapist must strengthen the Kidney Yin and in this case, strengthen the Spleen Qi. In addition to KI-6, SP-2, SP-3 and ST-8 can be used. The consumption of roots at this stage is also very important, with yam being the most suitable.

3. Loss of consistency, discernment and logical reasoning

After a period without ideal memory about the knowledge of everyday life, the Alzheimer’s patient begins to suffer from memory difficulties of things he previously knew by heart. The path to a place “x”, or how to speak a word and another language or even ride a bicycle.

It is in this phase that in addition to the loss of another type of memory, we have a sudden change in behavior. The Alzheimer’s patient loses his logical reasoning, the conversations are “crossed and incomplete”, he cannot decide between the right, the wrong and what must be done first in a task. You lose track of time and space. It is common for you to remember only the past.

A classic example is the desire to “come home” when you are already at home. This is because there is no memory of where you live today, you only remember the past.

Based on the loss of Kidney Essence, there is, by law of Dominance in Chinese Medicine, an excess of the energy of the Heart, bringing the mind agitated (disturbed Shen).

Once again, the therapist aims to strengthen the energy of the Kidney, but at that time, he also needs to work on the energy of the Heart. Points KI-3, KI-6, PC-7, and HT-7 are indicated, as well as fresh Heart foods, such as melons, can be used.

4. Loss of connection with the past

This is the terminal phase of Alzheimer’s.

The patient not only does not remember the day to day and has already lost the coherence of the acts, but also has no memory of the past. He does not know who he is, where he came from, and he does not remember the closest people, such as children, spouses. He does not even know where a pain is in the body, because he does not remember the name of the affected body part.

It is the time when the Kidney Essence (Jing) is at its lowest concentration. Remembering that it is when Jing ends, that life comes to an end.

At that point, the only thing the therapist can do is try to keep the little Jing left. Points such as CV-3, CV-4, KI-3, KI-6, or even the use of Wonderful Vases can give the patient survival, but it will not cure him.

Maintaining healthy living habits, especially good food and respecting rest, will prevent the end of life from being so memoryless.

I hope I helped you.

A big hug.

Profa. Fernanda Mara

Hello Readers!

Today I am going to write about Phantom Pain.

Phantom pain is pain related to amputations, which can be of two types.

– Phantom limb pain – Unpleasant sensation in the limb that no longer exists due to amputation.

– Pain in the amputation stump – Related to the place where the limb was amputated (stump).

In Western medicine, these pains have little explanation and most of them refer to a sensation generated by neurons that are distributed throughout the body.

In Chinese Medicine, the phantom pain happens because despite the amputation, the energy of that member continues to exist, as in the case of removed internal organs, such as Spleen, Vesicle, Uterus, among others.

We will give the example of the organs. In Chinese Medicine, when you remove an organ, the energy meridian that passes through it continues to exist, so, even if its physical part no longer exists, the functions of this organ, in part, continue to exist because who coordinates them is the energy of the meridian that passes through there. In some cases, the patient may experience symptoms of deficiency of the organ removed in the first months after surgery.

With an affected member, the story is no different. Acupuncture meridians continue to exist even after amputation. This is due to the fact that the energies are interconnected, and meridians that start at the head will end at the foot. Others that start at the foot will have their continuity in the chest. Thus, energetic sensations continue to exist until that energy is rebalanced.

How can we rebalance the energy of the phantom limb?

In Chinese Medicine, we know that the “high” controls the “low”, the “anterior” controls the “posterior” and the “right” controls the “left”.

The first step in eliminating phantom pain is to use needles that control pain on the unamputed side. Good examples are the points: ST-36, GB-34, GB-39, SP-6, for the lower limbs and LI-4, SJ-5, SJ-8, LI-11 and LI-14 for the upper limbs.

In addition to this option, we can work on the meridians that would reach the affected member. For example: Spleen, Stomach, Kidney, Bladder, Liver and Gallbladder meridians have points on the upper body, their points can be used in lower limb amputations, as the energy will circulate throughout the meridian.

The Lung, Large Intestine, Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium and San Jiao have points on the head and / or trunk and can work pains in upper limb amputations.

It is also important to use points that calm the mind and that stimulate the Central Nervous System to understand the new bodily form, such as PC-6, GV-24, ST-8, GB-13.

So,  it is necessary that the therapist who takes care of amputated people and with phantom pain, understand the need to treat the limb as if it were still there, always stimulating the energetic rebalancing of the whole body.

When it comes to pain in the surgical stump, it is important to stimulate nerve endings, through the use of moxa, needles, magnetotherapy and a suction cup when possible, reconnecting local energies.

Whenever there is a scar, the possibility exists that it is toxic, that is, to interrupt the flow of energy from the meridians. Thus, when stimulated, the energy returns to circulate in a harmonic way, interrupting the pain.

There is still much to be said and studied about phantom pain, but it is certain that acupuncture can help everyone who suffers from this problem.

Hope this helps!

A big hug to everyone!

Profa. Fernanda Mara

Hello Readers,

Therapeutical food is an important subject to discuss with our pacient and it’s one of the possible treatment methods with Tradicional Chinese Medicine.

So, this article was made to show you how to use the tables to guide your patient through foods that will help to improve health and rebalance energy.

Basic instructions for use:

1) Choose the Element you want to treat

2) Choose from the list of each element what you want:

a) to heat and / or remove humidity from the element use warm and / or hot foods

b) to cool the element, use fresh and / or cold food

c) to harmonize / strengthen the element use neutral foods

Examples:

• To remove humidity from the Spleen, use any food from the Warm or Hot column of the Earth element: cinnamon, anise, licorice, oregano, etc …
• To remove dryness of the Lung, use any food from the cold or fresh column of the Metal Element: banana, yogurt, mint, marjoram, etc.
• To Strengthen / Harmonize the Liver, use any food from the neutral column of the Wood element: yam, apricot, pineapple, date, etc …

and so on …

Note: there are foods that are present in more than one table.

You can use more than one food of different elements in the same treatment.

** All the tables in this article are a free translation of the book: “Dietoterapia energética según los cinco elementos en la Medicina Tradicional China”, Guerin, P., 2000.

1.Wood Element

Acidic foods or with affinity for the Liver and Gallbladder.

2.Fire Element


Bitter food or with affinity  for the Heart and Small Intestine.

3.Earth Element

Foods with a sweet taste or with an affinity for the Spleen and Stomach.

4.Metal Element

Spicy foods or with affinity for the Lung and Large Intestine.

5. Water Element
Salty food or with affinity for Kidney and Bladder.

** Tables in free translation of the book: “Dietoterapia energética según los cinco elementos en la Medicina Tradicional China”, Guerin, P., 2000.

Good afternoon readers!

Today we are going to talk a little bit about memory, or rather, the lack of it …

How many times have you started reading, but when you reached the bottom of the page, did you no longer remember the beginning? Or how many times did you open a drawer in your room and had to go back to the kitchen to remember what you got? Or yet … how many times have I said: “what was I really saying?”.

If you are experiencing frequent situations like this, this text can help.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we talk about 3 basic types of memory:

1- Memory of the past, such as remembering childhood: it is the Kidney’s responsibility

2- Learning memory: it’s  Spleen’s responsibility

3- Memory of things that have already been memorized in life, such as riding a bicycle or learning a language: it is the responsibility of the Heart.

In this text, I will talk about the imbalance of the Spleen and the Heart.

When the Spleen is unbalanced, the individual will have difficulty memorizing new facts as well as learning new things and even paying attention in a class.

Therefore, to improve the memory and intellectual capacity of a person who is experiencing any of these difficulties, we must tone the Spleen.

The SP-3 point, located on the foot, shows excellent results in improving memory. Another point that can be used with this function is the ST8, located on the head.

In auriculotherapy, we can use the Brain Stem point to improve the memory.

To help the in Spleen balance and improve memory, we can use foods that strengthen the Spleen, such as kale, yams, but in this case, in particular, eating nuts is an excellent option.

When the Heart is unbalanced, memory is lacking during a conversation, we no longer know what we were talking about, or we still can’t find the right word for the occasion. We forget the way to go work, we don’t remember another language we’ve learned.

In order to strengthen the Heart and to have coherence in thoughts, or order in what needs to be said, and to have less memory lapses, points HT-7 and PC-7 are of great importance. In ear acupuncture, the Heart point is also very good.

It is important to know that in this second case, the anxious state is responsible for most of the symptoms.

So, points like PC-6 in systemic acupuncture and the points of Anxiety in the ear are very good too. Avoiding excessive condiments in the diet will also make the patient feel calmer and improve memory.

And you reader? Do you have a good memory?

Acupuncture will definitely help you 😉

A big hug to everyone.

Profa. Fernanda Mara