Neil Kingham

In the Mediterranean, Fennel seed has traditionally been as popular as a medicinal herb as it has been as a cooking herb. It excels as a digestive and urinary tonic.

Acting on the digestive system it relieves flatulence, abdominal distention and dull pain. In Chinese terms it can be said to warm the middle and resolve dampness. It is ideal for use after or with a big, heavy, rich meal for this reason. In regard to the urinary system is is used for incontinence, difficult or irritated urination. It is also said to benefit the vision and regulated menstruation.

To use fennel seed, simply crush a teaspoon or so and pour on boiling water to make a tea. Keep it covered while it brews to keep in the volatile oils. Excellent as an after-dinner tea to support the digestion! It is also excellent used in cooking to improve the digestibility of food, especially with rich meals or fatty meats. In many parts of Pakistan and India roasted fennel seeds are consumed as an after-meal digestive and breath freshener.

Fennel seed has a distinctive anise-flavour and is brown or green in colour when fresh. For cooking, look for green seeds, which are fresher.

CAUTION: Not for use during pregnancy as fennel stimulates the uterus.

As the name suggests, The acupoint Large Intestine 20, ‘Welcome Fragrance’ benefits the nose and treats nasal problems.

It can be used for nasal congestion, runny nose, sinusitis, rhinitis, hay fever, sneezing and so on. It is useful whether the problem is acute or chronic.

The point is easily located on either side of the nostrils in the naso-labial groove (the lines that runs from the nostrils down to the corners of the mouth.) To use this point apply firm pressure with your fingertips for a minute or 2, or until the point feels sore or a Qi sensation is felt. Blocked noses can clear instantly using this point!

It is rare to see a well designed, randomized controlled study on qigong, and it is nice to see that the benefits of this ancient health art are being shown by modern scientific studies.

This recent study, published in American journal ‘Daibetes Care’, looked at 251 adults with type 2 diabetes, and assigned them randomly to a qigong group, a control group or a progressive resistance training (PRT) group as an active comparison. Conventional diabetes care was continued at the same time.

After 12 weeks statistically significant reductions in plasma glucose levels were observed in the Qigong group, with a reduction found in every participant in this group. Fasting glucose of the Qigong group significantly improved compared with that of the PRT group and the control group.

The authors conclude that ‘Qigong therapy for 12 weeks resulted in significant reductions in fasting glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and demonstrated trends toward improvement in insulin resistance and A1C. These results suggest that Qigong may be an effective complementary therapy for individuals with type 2 diabetes.’

Read the full article

It should be no surprise that what we eat makes a massive difference to our energy levels. After all, food is our fuel. Using the knowledge and theories of Chinese Medicine, it is possible to determine the best energy-boosting foods for our own circumstances.

According to Chinese medicine, our day to day Qi energy is derived from the Qi of the foods we consume. We wouldn’t dream of putting the wrong kind of fuel into our cars, yet we regularly try to fuel ourselves with inappropriate foods. Our own Qi then suffers as a result of the poor quality Qi we consume, leaving us weak, tired, with poor immunity and at increased risk of degenerative diseases.

Fresh Organic Ingredients:

The more we process a food the more we damage its Qi. Extended storage also depletes the Qi of foods. It stands to reason that fresh, organic food has a stronger ‘life force’ than old, processed food. Additionally, there is little or no useful Qi in artificial additives, preservatives etc, and these substances can be harmful in themselves.

So, opting for unprocessed, fresh organic produce as much as possible will provide your body with far more nourishment than heavily processed, pre-packaged foods. This means cooking from scratch with natural ingredients as much as possible.

Protein:

Naturally, it is sensible to eat a wide range of different foods to ensure that you are getting all the nutrients you need. If you are vegetarian, make sure you are getting enough protein, as protein deficiency can leave you feeling very weak and tired. Good sources of protein include most beans, peas and nuts. Grains contain moderate levels of protein, with amaranth and quinoa having the most. Most seaweed contains high levels of protein, especially nori.

The micro-algaes chlorella and spirulina are exceptionally high in good quality protein – they are both classed as Qi and Blood tonics in Chinese medicine. They are available as powders or capsules from health food and supplement suppliers, and can be useful for anyone who is concerned about their protein intake.

If you eat meat, do not eat too much at once. Meat is a very strengthening, provided it can be digested, but too much in one go puts a big strain on the system. Small amounts can be used in stews, casseroles, soups or stir-fries.

Eat At The Right Time:

We can also help our digestion by always eating breakfast and not eating too much too late in the evening (the digestion is at its strongest between 7 and 11 am and at its weakest between 7 and 11 pm.) Eating breakfast gives us the energy we need for the start of the day, and stimulates the metabolism. A low sugar, carbohydrate rich breakfast such as porridge will keep your energy levels up through the morning.

The Qi tonics

Certain foods are known to be especially good at boosting energy levels – these are the Qi tonics. They include many kinds of meats, grains and root vegetables. For instance, Oats, Chicken, Carrot and Sweet potato are all very good energy-boosters. Which foods are most suitable depends on your exact symptoms – a Chinese Nutritionist will be able to help you with this.

Boost Your Energy Levels With The Chinese Health Arts

For more information about using nutrition and diet to strengthen energy levels, alongside the other Chinese health arts such as qi gong, acupressure and herbs, take a look at my Boosting Energy Levels programme

If part of you is dreading the approach of late Spring, and the pollen it will bring, acupuncture may hold the answer.

Chinese medicine provides an effective and side-effect free alternative for treatment of hay fever, which has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) who say that “In controlled studies, it has been shown that acupuncture is more effective than antihistamine drugs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Acupuncture’s lack of side-effects is a distinct advantage in treating this condition…”

Acupuncture works by regulating the immune system and reducing histamine production and can help to deal with the symptoms at the same time. Acupuncture and/or tui na massage are very effective treatments for hay fever, and can also be combined with nutritional advice where appropriate. For best results treatment should begin before the hay fever season starts, ideally at around 6 weeks before symptoms normally begin.

Hay Fever, or ‘seasonal allergic rhinitis’ is an allergic reaction to an airborne substance such as grass or tree pollen, chemicals or dust particles. It is caused by an over-sensitive immune system which produces histamine in response to the inhaled particles. This causes the characteristic itching, sore eyes, mucus, sneezing and so on.

Conventional treatment involves taking anti-histamines, corticosteroids, or the newer Leukotriene receptor antagonists. This can be effective, but often causes side-effects, which can be serious, and does not offer a long-term solution to the problem.

In Chinese medicine terms, hay fever is normally seen as an imbalance of the Wei Qi which is the defensive energy of the body, under control of the Lungs. As a chronic condition, other organs are normally involved, sometimes the Kidneys. Chinese Medicine is able to get at the root cause of the Hay Fever, and repeated treatment has a cumulative effect, lessening symptoms year on year.

For more information about the authors UK practice visit Bristol Acupuncture & Tui Na

This year I would like to encourage you to grow some Calendula (Pot Marigold) along with me. In my view, it ticks all the boxes for a herb to grow at home. I only have a small garden, so every plant needs to earn its keep. Calendula does so admirably – it has beautiful flowers, it’s easy to grow, very cheap, and has both medicinal and culinary uses.

Its bright orange-yellow petals brighten up salads, colour rice and add a pleasant taste to casseroles. They are also used medicinally to reduce inflammation, promote wound healing, and are used as an antiseptic. Used externally, calendula creams and ointments have strong healing properties. Later in the year, when the first flowers appear, I’ll share some recipes and remedies using Calendula that you might like to try.

I have some seed saved from last year’s plants which I’ll be sowing soon. If you’d like to grow some too, you can easily get the seed from any of the large seed suppliers, or buy the plants in a couple of months.

Make sure you get ‘Pot’ or ‘English’ marigold – the Latin name is Calendula. Do not mistake it for the French Marigold (Latin name Tagetes) which is a common garden plant.

This page has some good growing tips for Calendula.