TIPS TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE THE HOLIDAY CRAZE!

Acupuncture is well known for helping to reduce and manage stress. During this time of year, it can be challenging to stay calm and balanced amidst the stress around us.

Stress comes in many forms. It can manifest in various ways from headaches, neck and back pain, allergies, and digestive disorders (to name a few). One way to help reduce and manage stress is to get acupuncture regularly. It can help you stay healthy and emotionally balanced. Another way to de-stress over the holidays is to follow these 5 natural health tips:

Take a Breath of Fresh Air. Do you notice if you take short shallow breaths, especially when you are stressed? The air we breathe combined with the food we eat help produce the Qi (Life Energy) necessary for the body to function optimally. Breathing can increase energy, reduce mental and physical fatigue, improve blood circulation, and boosts immunity. Additionally, breathing increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells throughout the body as well as eliminates toxic carbon dioxide.

Try this exercise: Let the tip of your tongue gently touch the roof of your mouth. Inhale and exhale through your nose. Inhale as if you are filling up your belly with air (notice as it slightly expands) and exhale through your mouth (as you slightly contract your abdominal muscles). This is a great exercise to practice during this holiday season.

Don’t Resist, Go with the Flow. The goal of Chinese medicine is to let the Qi flow freely through the channels throughout the body in order to achieve physical and emotional health. This can be done in many ways whether it is acupuncture, herbal medicine, Qi gong, or yoga. If there is no free flow, then there will be pain, discomfort, stress, and unhappiness.

One powerful way to let the Qi flow is to be mindful (especially during the holiday stress) that things don’t always go as planned, whether it has to do with planning a holiday party, gift giving, travel, etc. Focus less on the details and more on your ability to flow through them. Let it flow!

Enjoy Water. Water makes up about 60 percent of the body’s weight and facilitates the movement of Qi throughout. Every system in the body depends on water. In Chinese medicine, water represents the winter season. Water can especially serve as a holiday de-stressor.

Every morning upon awakening, drink 1 cup full of room temperature water squeezed with fresh lemon juice. Then take several slow deep breaths. This morning ritual can help start your day with ease as well as keep your body well hydrated. Water can help flush toxins out of vital organs and carries nutrients to the cells. Water can also complement the higher than usual intake of alcohol and caffeine during the holidays.

Don’t like the taste of water? Feel free to add natural flavor to your water. Add lemon, mint, orange, and/or cucumber. This can make your drink so much more flavorful! Enjoy.

Bring Purpose to Your Daily Routine. Our daily routines may seem mundane to many of us, but it actually supports us in many ways especially during times of stress. Stress can be chaotic, taxing, and tense causing imbalances in the body. In Chinese medicine, the body loves routine because it facilitates balance, grounding, and support. It helps the body flourish physically and mentally.

To help the body flourish even more, bring focused intention and purpose to your daily activities, such as preparing a meal for your family for breakfast and dinner, brushing your teeth, exercise with drive, washing the dishes, and even chewing your food, to name a few. Notice how your mind and body feel when you bring purpose to everything you do. The holiday stress is a perfect time to practice.

Be Present with Nature. During the holiday season, many of us get caught up in the craze of shopping, the stress of gift-giving, putting up decorations, making travel arrangements, and the details of party planning. Another great de-stressor is to notice the beautiful outdoors. Humans are an inherent part of the natural world. We naturally respond to our environment. No need to travel far and beyond to be in nature, just look outside. Look in your backyard. Taking at least 5-10 minutes of your day to take a break and notice your natural surroundings will help relax and de-stress your mind and body.

Notice that we don’t have to buy anything above to keep our sanity, our calm, and our balance. It is right here before our eyes and within. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine reminds us that the body knows exactly what we need during times of stress. We have everything we need to be well. Let’s take advantage of this this holiday season!

Happy Holidays from Diwa ~ Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine!