Powerful Home Therapies which will Improve Your Health

As an practitioner of acupuncture and shiatsu in Portland, people frequently ask me about home therapy. I’m a great believer in home remedies and home treatment. First of all, learning to take care of ourselves and our family is a primary responsibility for every person. Second, learning self therapy empowers each of us so that we don’t have to depend on others every time we are out of balance for one reason or another.

Here is a list of the 7 most powerful things you can do for your health at home.

1) Eat Slowly and Chew Your Food Thoroughly All traditional systems of medicine agree that a strong and complete digestion is the foundation of good health.  By eating slowly and chewing thoroughly, we get three benefits.  We dramatically enhance our digestion, we naturally eat less without feeling deprived and we enjoy our food more than ever.  Especially carbohydrates should be liquefied before you swallow them. Over the years, this one recommendation will make a huge difference in the length and quality of your life.

2) Skin brushing is a powerful way to detox the lymphatic system and stimulate the flow of blood and qi energy. And it only takes about 2 or 3 minutes in the morning. To learn about skin brushing, go to: http://www.naturalhealthscience.com/

3) An inversion table for 2 minutes a day will counteract the effects of gravity on the blood and organs. Also, it’s an excellent way to stretch out the muscles and ligaments in the spine and pelvic region. The best inversion tables for the money are made by Teeter Hang Ups at: http://www.teeter-inversion.com/

4) A 30 second cold water shower at the end of your morning bath or shower, along with deep breathing, will help to flush the skin and surface tissues with fresh blood. This is an excellent way to move the qi energy and blood at the beginning of the day.

5) A teaspoon of cod liver oil every day Recommended brands are Carlson’s and Nordic Naturals. If you have a particular health problem like joint pain, anxiety or depression, a special concentrated fish oil product may be better for you. But otherwise, simple cod liver oil is recommended for overall nutrition and health maintenance. For more information about the benefits of fish oil, see article on Dietary Fats.

6) 20 minutes of vigorous exercise every day. By moving and stretching the muscles every day, we help the circulation of energy and fluids, balance the hormones and blood chemistry and assist in the elimination of toxins and waste. For most people bicycling, jogging, swimming or any other moderate aerobic exercise is excellent.  But if you have an ongoing health condition, lighter exercises such as walking or swimming may be more appropriate.  In this case, discuss exercise with your health care professional in order to design a program that is best suited for you.

7) Meditation for 20 minutes twice a day. Transcendental Meditation (TM) has proven to have profound health benefits, including lowering of blood pressure and stress reduction. Most cities have TM centers where meditation classes are available.

8) Organic Goat Milk Kefir – Drink 6 to 8 ounces of organic, unsweetened, goat milk kefir every morning on an empty stomach, about 30 minutes before taking food.

In addition to the above recommended home therapies, here’s a list of 9 things you can avoid in order to live longer and improve the quality of life.

1) Tobacco in all forms

2) Marijuana, narcotics or other recreational drugs. Drugs often flood and then deplete serotonin in the brain. For many people this can lead to a vicious cycle of dependence and depression.

3) Alcohol in excess of a glass of wine or beer with your main meal of the day. The body is not able to process and eliminate excessive alcohol consumption. A little bit a few times a week is tolerable for most people. But excessive alcohol puts a strain on the system on a number of levels and leads to premature aging.

4) Dairy products create so many problems for most people that I recommend everyone reduce or avoid it. The fats and proteins in processed cow’s milk are simply not compatible for the majority of westerners. Most people experience fewer allergies and improvement in overall health after eliminating dairy for a few months. The exception to this recommendation is one serving per day of organic, unsweetened yogurt or kefir (at room temperature). Oat or almond beverages are excellent milk substitutes

5) Meat in excess of 5 ounces per day. Studies show that people live longer and enjoy better health if they keep animal proteins to a minimum.

6) The artificial sweetener Aspartame, also known under brand names NutraSweet, Canderel, and AminoSweet. This chemical is a known neuro-toxin that has serious long term health implications. Why the FDA has not banned it is a mystery.

7) The flavor additive MSG. MSG is a problem for many people. If you are eating out, I recommend that you request no MSG in your food. MSG is particularly prevalent in Vietnamese and Chinese foods.

8  Transfats, hydrogenated fats or heavily processed fats and oils.

9) High fructose corn syrup. This sweetener is extremely concentrated in most sodas and many processed foods. It stimulated the craving for more sweets and I believe is responsible for the epidemics of obesity and diabetes in the U.S., especially among young people. This means avoiding all sodas.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have questions about acupuncture and shiatsu, or if you have a specific health concern, please contact me at:

Bart Walton, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Portland, Oregon
503/939-5805