Stonington Natural Health Center
October/2010
Come to SNHC to Prevent and Prepare for Colds & Flu

Welcome!


The changing leaves, pumpkins, and crisp sweet apples are here.  We are also starting to have cool, damp, windy autumn weather.  With this weather can come illnesses of the lungs:  colds, upper respiratory infections, sore throats, cough, and the flu.


It is time for you to get your Acupuncture tune-up and the appropriate Chinese herbal formulas to boost your immune system.  The flu shot does not prevent all strains of the flu and unless a person is immune compromised, the flu shot is often not necessary, especially when you prepare for flu season with seasonal Acupuncture tune-ups, specific Chinese Herbal Formulas and other lifestyle precautions listed below.  So, whether you do or do not decide to get a flu shot, staying healthy, having your seasonal Acupuncture tune-up, taking antiviral and antibacterial herbal formulas, and other precautions is the way to go to prevent the flu.  Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs have been used to prevent and to treat the flu for hundreds of years.

sick womanWhat else can I do to prevent the flu?
Both flu and cold viruses and bacteria live on surfaces. If you rub your eyes or nose, you've just infected yourself.  Here are some reminders of ways to protect yourself and others from the spread of bacteria and viruses (this list is inspired by WebMD)
  1. Wash your hands frequently. When water is not available, use thyme-based and other strong natural antibacterial gels and sprays to apply or spray on your hands, on doorknobs and on other surfaces -- these are available at your local health food store.  Don't touch your face, eyes, nose, or mouth. These are the areas that bacteria and viruses and other germs can enter your body.  If you need to touch your face, wash your hands before and after you do.
  2. Cough and sneeze into a tissue or into your hands, and turn your head away from others. Wash your hands afterward.  If you have a sudden sneeze and no tissue, bend your arm and sneeze into it.
  3. Wash any shared surfaces (like phones, keyboards, kitchen counters) frequently.  Germs can live on surfaces for several hours.
  4. Stay warm.  Dress in warm clothes and layers during these chillier months.  In Chinese Medicine, we say that External Pernicious Influences (EPIs), with two examples being wind-cold and wind-heat, invade the body and cause it to get colds and flus.  The areas that are easiest for EPIs to invade are the back of the neck, the lower back, and the shins.  If you think about it, these are the areas that can get chilled, so be sure to wear your scarf, a warm coat, and knee socks on those chilly days.  Putting a warmed up flax or rice bag on these areas sure feels good, too, and can make any car ride a pleasure while the car is still heating up or while sitting at an outdoor event. 
  5. Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and flush toxins and germs from your body.
  6. Take a hot sauna or hot bath -- submerge your whole body into the bath.  This induces a mini-fever to kill and denature unwanted bacteria and viruses.  Try adding hot boiled ginger water, ginger pieces and all, into your bath.  Ginger kills parasites and the heat of ginger in your bath feels incredible.
  7. Aerobic exercise -- increases oxygen and blood flow in the body, thereby increasing your body's natural virus-killer cells.
  8. A well-nourished immune system is better able to fight off infections. Fuel your body with natural vitamins found in foods such as dark green, red, and yellow vegetables or fruits.  Here at SNHC we stock, recommend, and prescribe high-quality organic vitamins as well.
  9. Omega-3 Fatty Acids fight inflammation -- here at SNHC we have the highest quality fish oil from Scandinavian (clean) waters.
  10. The friendly bacteria in yogurt helps stimulate the immune system -- here at SNHC we carry excellent probiotics to help your gut be healthy thereby making your immune system healthy.
  11. Don't smoke...  Quit smoking...  avoid smokers.  Smoking kills cilia that help the lungs and nasal passages clear bacteria, viruses, and phlegm. You can quit smoking with ear acupuncture right here at SNHC.
  12. "Relax -- If you can teach yourself to relax, you can activate your immune system on demand. There's evidence that when you put your relaxation skills into action, your interleukins -- leaders in the immune system response against cold and flu viruses -- increase in the bloodstream. Train yourself to picture an image you find pleasant or calming.  Do this 30 minutes a day for several months. Keep in mind, relaxation is a learnable skill, but it is not doing nothing. People who try to relax, but are in fact bored, show no changes in blood chemicals."  -- information from WebMD by Jonathan L Gelfand, MD on February 21, 2010.
Your holistic steps to good health during the cold season:

Step 1:  The holistic approach is to have a Seasonal Acupuncture Tune-Up with Dr. Megan Marco to boost your Wei Qi, Defensive Qi, which is in essence, your immune system.

Step 2:  Come to Stonington Natural Health Center to stock your medicine cabinet with herbal formulas that kill bacteria and viruses so that your immune system doesn't have to do all the work.  Ilex, Forsythia, Platycodon, Gan Mao Ling, Yin Chiao, Belamcanda, Bidens, Jade Screen Tablets, Lapis, Patrinia, Myrrh Tablets, Pinellia, Bi Yan Pian, Rhodiola, Trichosanthes Fruit, Minor Bupleurem, Pueraria, Zhong Gan Ling, Gardenia, and others...  depending on what stage of illness, your specific Herb Type, and what your symptoms are, we will pick the proper Chinese Herbal Formulas for you.  Please come in to prevent illness to keep you healthy, and when you're sick come in to get you healthy.

Herbs are much healthier for you than taking antibiotics.  As opposed to antibiotics, herbs kill bacteria and denature viruses, boost the immune system, leave the digestive flora intactand are the clean-up crews.  As one of my OCOM herbs teachers Dr. Li used to say, "Antibiotics kill bacteria and leave them there to rot.  On the other hand, Chinese Herbals kill bacteria and clear out the dead bacteria and clean out the phlegm while also treating the underlying imbalance." 

Doctors of Chinese Medicine have been creating and prescribing formulas for hundreds and thousands of years.  Chinese Herbal Formulas are not just one herb, but usually consist of 8 to 16 herbs.  These herbs act like a committee.  The first few herbs do the main job.  The herbs below that help to support those herbs.  Then there are a few herbs that help with digestion and help to make sure that the chief herbs are not doing too much.  Lastly, there is an herb or two that helps to harmonize so that all the herbs work well together.

Herbs direct themselves to certain organs and certain areas of the body.  With herbs for colds and flus, there are specific herbal formulas for each stage of the cold and for what depth the cold has gone into:  first stage being sneezing and runny nose, then going inwards to sinusitis or earaches, then throat, then into lungs, or into the stomach.

Call today to make your appointment for Acupuncture (Herbal Consultation is included) or for Herbal Consultation to get prepared for the season.  For starters, you'll want to get a bottle of Ilex -- take 2 per day when you're around anyone sick.  Ilex zaps bacteria and viruses so that your immune system doesn't have to do all the work.  Ilex is better than Echinacea as Echinacea increases White Blood Cell production while Ilex does the work so that White Blood Cell production does not need to be increased, and therefore you will have MORE energy.

Call today  860.536.3880
We now have Children's Herbal Formulas!We have always prescribed
kids our tablets, but NOW we have glycerin liquids that taste better, helping with compliancy, and healthy kids!

The Red Formulas are for adults or children.  The  

Blue Formulas are tastier
and therfore made for kids.

In every category, the glycerin children's formula is the Blue Formula.  Children can take the tablet formulas, too, but the Blue Formula is a sweet liquid, which helps for compliancy with kids.  Adults can take the kids formulas, but at a higher doseage.

Please come in to have Dr. Marco prescribe the specific Chinese Herbal Formula for you, your friends and family.

Ilex, Yin Chiao,

Zhong Gan Ling,

Gan Mao Ling, Platycodon, Forsythia, or

Windbreaker

Windbreaker is for:

  • Earaches
  • Sinusitis
  • Sore Throat
  • Colds
  • Flus
  • Allergies
  • Fever
  • Can also be used at early stages to prevent cold from coming on.

Gardenia, Pinellia, Citrus & Pinellia, Trichosanthes Fruit,

Chest Relief and Pipe Cleaner

Chest Relief is for:
  • Cough
  • Laryngitis
  • Phlegm
Pipe Cleaner is for:
  • Bronchitis
  • Painful Cough
  • Tenacious Phlegm

Fritallaria & Pinellia Syrup

Fritallaria & Pinellia Syrup

Fritallaria & Pinellia Syrup is for:
  • Cough with yellow, green or thick sticky phlegm
  • Cough, leading to vomiting
  • Fullness in chest
  • Thick, sticky phlegm
  • Sore Throat
  • For adults:  smoker's cough
  • Snoring

Coix, Stemona, Lonicera, Zaocys, Zhu Dan, Margarita Complexion, or

Fire Fighter

Fire Fighter is for:
  • rashes
  • hives
  • impetigo
  • insect bites
  • stings
  • acne, pimples
  • sores
  • eczema
  • dermatitis
Ping Chuan, Perilla Seed, Pinellia & Magnolia Bark Formula, Open Air and Deep Breath
Open Air is for:
  • Acute asthma
  • Wheezing
  • Chest Tightness
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Coughing
  • Phlegm

Deep Breath is for:

  • Chronic asthma
  • Wheezing
  • Shortness of Breath
  • To strengthen Lungs and Kidneys to resolve underlying weakness in acute asthmatic episodes
Grow and Thrive, Tummy Tamer, Easy Going, Belly Binder
Grow and Thrive is for:
  • Frailty
  • Weak Digestion
  • Poor Appetite
  • Low Resistance
Tummy Tamer is for:
  • Indigestion
  • Food Allergies and Sensitivities
  • Gastroenteritis
Easy Going is for:
  • Indigestion
  • Constipation
Belly Binder is for:
  • Indigestion
  • Diarrhea
Heavenly Emperor's Formula, Ardisia, Ginseng & Longan, Bupleurem D, Free and Easy Wanderer Plus, Quiet Calm
Quiet Calm is for:
  • Agitation
  • Crankiness
  • Mood Swings
  • Anxiety
  • Tantrums
  • Inabitility to focus
  • Hyperactivity
  • Troubled Sleep
  • Headaches
  • Pain
Call today to set up your Seasonal Acupuncture Tune-up to prepare for cold and flu season or to get rid of any Seasonal Allergies OR if you would prefer Herbs only, call today for your Chinese Herbal Consultation:  860.536.3880 

I have advanced training in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal prescribing, from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, from studying the Classical Formulas in China with Dr. Huang Huang, and from my experience with my patients, friends, and family.  I would love to help you, your friends, and family!

Sincerely,

Megan Marco
Megan Marco, D.Ac., L.Ac.

Doctor of Acupuncture, Director
Stonington Natural Health Center

Your Place for Health & Healing

Holistic Healthcare for the Whole Family 
860.536.3880

www.snhc.com      www.meganmarco.com

Herb Tip 1:  To preserve your Chinese Herbal tablets, leave the cotton in your bottles or add a few cotton balls back in to absorb any moisture.   A few years ago, the FDA mandated that herbal companies put an expiration date or manufacturing date on herbal formulas.  The companies informed practitioners and consumers that the herbs are still good after the date on the bottle.  We have observed that the herbs can last a very long time (over 10 years).  This is great news -- you can keep herbs on hand in case any health concerns come up!

 

Herb Tip 2:  Other ways to take Herbal Tablets:

a)  Dissolve them in a little teacup of hot water with some honey or sugar to taste

b)  Grind them up and put in a shot glass.  You can add a little hot water and then grape juice or just grape juice and briskly stir.

c)  Grind them up and mix with a little apple sauce or yogurt, followed by apple sauce or yogurt that does not have herbs.

d)  Grind them up and put them in a part of your smoothie.

Just make sure that the herbs are mixed in and have not settled to the bottom so that you get their full benefit.

 

Upcoming Events 

Come visit us at the following events where we will have a booth:

Friday, October 15th, 7 pm is  ~  Health & Happiness Expo before Diva Nation at the Garde Arts Center in New London -- The Expo is free.  We have coupons for $7 off the show -- just swing in to SNHC and we'll give you a coupon or email us and we'll email it to you (unfortunately I'm not able to insert it in constant contact because it's a pdf). 

 

Friday, October 22nd ~ Reinvention Convention at the Water's Edge in Westbrook, Connecticut.  Dr. Marco and Dr. Bethune are speakers.

Come enjoy our health services in the Qi Area.  Click here:  www.annegarlandenterprises.com or call 860.575.4970 to buy your ticket.  Buy your ticket by this Friday, October 15th at the special discount of only $150!!!

 

Sunday, October 24 ~ National Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Day

In celebration, on Monday, October 25th, we will offer

sample relaxation Acupuncture by donation! 

Just contact us to set up your sample:  860.536.3880   [email protected]

 

Saturday, November 20th ~ Forks over Knives Movie at

Old Mystick Village Art Cinemas.  Buy your tickets here at SNHC for only $10.

Contact us [email protected] 860.536.3880 us to reserve your tickets (get one of only 20 tickets!)

 


 

Come to our Five Year Anniversary & Holiday Party 

Saturday, December 5th, 12 - 5pm

 Sample health services new to you, wine and yummy appetizers,

like always!

 

  

Gift Certificate Specials are available when you come visit us at our booths and holiday party!

 

Do you have a fundraiser or silent auction?  Please call or email us if you would like a Gift Certificate donation.  We love supporting other locally owned businesses -- helping our community and local economy. 

  

We look forward to seeing you soon.

 
Stonington Natural Health Center

Your Place for Health & Healing

Holistic Healthcare for the Whole Family
www.snhc.com      [email protected]

860.536.3880

 

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