​I use Moxa as an essential part of my Toyohari Japanese acupuncture treatments. Patients find it extremely relaxing and it can help to reduce pain, stress, hot flushes, improve blood count and immune function and balance the meridians.

The term for ‘Acupuncture’ in Chinese is Zhenjiu. Zhen is ‘needle’ and Jiu is ‘moxibustion’. Moxibustion or moxa is the often forgotten, ‘poor relation’ to acupuncture. However, its history predates the use of needles and it has powerful therapeutic effects.

Moxa uses the refined product of the selectively picked leaves of the mugwort plant which are smouldered over key points on the skin in specific ways. This plant found in temperate zones of the northern hemisphere is generally classified as a weed, although it still has a reputation for its more esoteric properties in many traditional cultures. It is only in East Asia, however, that it has been used therapeutically by being burnt over the skin.

Moxa was first referred to in Chinese literature by some of the famous Chinese philosophers. Its early use in China actually provided the seminal theoretical inspiration for meridian-focused holistic acupuncture two thousand years ago.

20th century Japanese research into responses to direct moxibustion provide positive indicators of whole body responses particularly in respect of changes in blood chemistry, in immune response and relating to effects within the autonomic nervous system. Early in the 20th century, it was being successfully used to treat Tuberculosis (TB) and as a tool to counter outbreaks of cholera.

Research also suggest that Moxa can reduce the frequency and severity of hot flushes experienced in menopause or as a result of cancer treatment such as chemotherapy.(1)

Jenny Craig and Merlin Young (2) (fellow Toyohari UK acupuncturists) investigated the record of its use in the 1930s in Japan to treat TB before the advent of antibiotics. They set up a charity, Moxafrica, to systematically investigate the possibility that moxa may play a significant role in treating TB in the developing world where drugs and appropriate diagnosis are so scarce.

Their first Ugandan study found that patients using Moxa responded faster and better to their treatment than those who have only first line drugs. A second study was conducted by the North Korean government based on the findings from Uganda. Using higher doses of moxa on patients with multi drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), results showed that 85% of their Moxa patients recovered successfully from MDR-TB compared to 60% using only drugs.(3)

References
1. Park JE et al, Moxibustion for treating menopausal hot flashes: a randomized clinical trial
2. Young M, The Moon over Matsushima - Insights into Moxa and Mugwort
3. https://www.moxafrica.org

The origins of the Chinese Zodiac go back a few thousand years. According to the myths, Buddha decided to call all the animals on earth. But only twelve came. In recompense, he assigned each of these animals a year on the cycle affirming that children born in that year would acquire the personality traits of the animal assigned to that year.

In order to decide their order in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, the animals held a very exciting race. The first one to cross the river would be granted the first year, the second to come in would be the second animal in the cycle, and so on.

The strong, hardworking Ox was in the lead. Suddenly, the clever Rat, jumped on the Ox’s back, he did not even feel the little thing getting a free ride. At the last second before reaching shore, the Rat jumped on land, winning the race! The Ox came in second, the Tiger third, and so it went... the happy-go-lucky Pig took his time and came in last. Thus the Chinese Zodiac and its twelve signs were born.


25 January 2020 - 11 Feb 2021: the metal element is linked with the colour white and symbolises autumn and when associated with the Chinese zodiac sign of the Rat is therefore a period during which the individuals having invested in important projects the preceding years can expect to reap the benefits.

A Metal Rat Year combines a witty, smart and bold Rat with the robust and firm characteristics of Metal, it heralds a year with vast productive and ingenious energy. Take advantage of the invigorating characteristics of Metal to accomplish anything you have been postponing. As the beginning of the 12-year cycle, the Year of the Rat denotes a fresh start, a new beginning. This could mean anything from starting a new project, acquiring new habits, rebuilding lost friendships and relationships.

What to watch out for? The bold and shrewd disposition of the Rat needs to be harnessed so it does not become guileful or irresponsible. Make the best of the opportunities and chances life will offer always keeping a good balance. This will be a very intense year and when you are too goal-oriented you might miss the joy of the journey.

Chinese medicine is about restoring balance. A fresh start or renewing old ties can mean practicing taiji and qigong. Energy or qi can be harnessed and circulated around the meridians of the body to calm and control the mind and improve physical wellbeing. In order to bring the body into balance, an acupuncturist will take your pulse, looking for excesses or deficiencies in the Yin and Yang meridians. Acupuncture needling techniques and tuina massage are used to bring the body back into balance.
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Sources: karmaweather.com; thechinesezodiac.org; china-family-adventure.com

This year I’m offering patients the chance to experience Toyohari acupuncture. Based on the Chinese classical medical texts and meridian therapy, Japanese acupuncturists in the 1960s developed a non-invasive method of acupuncture and moxibustion based on pulse diagnosis. Like all traditional East Asian acupuncture the aim is to restore health by bringing the body back into balance, in terms of yin and yang, qi and blood, and the five elements or organs. 
Toyohari works on the “root” by tonifying  (strengthening) the weakest meridians before focussing on the “branches” or symptoms. A variety of methods in the Toyohari toolkit include non-inserted gold or silver needles, inserted steel needles, moxibustion (heat treatment using rice grains or cones of mugwort on the surface of the body) and various techniques using large non-inserted needles to balance qi in local areas and in the organs via the meridian system. 
In contrast to the no-pain no-gain or trigger point approach (which of course can also be very effective), Toyohari is a gentle method that rebalances the whole body. It is ideal for children and people with needle phobia or weak constitutions due to chronic illnesses and also conditions where needle insertion is contra-indicated in the UK, such as lymphodema or post surgery. 
For more information or to book an appointment click here.


Happy Year of the Earth Pig 
Chinese New Year in 2019 starts on 5 February 2019 and ends on 24 January 2020. This is the year of the Earth Pig. The Pig occupies the 12th or last position in the Chinese Zodiac. The dominant presence of the Earth element under its Yin polarity has the effect of stabilizing and fixing the often joyous and ephemeral year. The Year of the Pig marks the end of a complete cycle of rotation of the 12 signs of the zodiac and signals the time take a well-deserved break, an opportunity to do the analysis of previous 11 years, in order to be ready to project ourselves more serenely into the new cycle that begins the following year, with the Year of the Metal Rat 2020.A period of joy and relaxation, the benevolence of the sign of the Pig will be felt in many areas throughout 2019. Good will and motivation are renewed and strengthened.

Lifestyle and Health
Those among the 12 signs of the Chinese calendar who feel a little febrile and unstable during 2019 must take special care of their well-being, even if that means they appear to lack consideration for their relatives. If the periods of doubt are fortunately fleeting, the questioning they entail is always beneficial. Changing lifestyle (or living environment) forces us to find within ourselves new resources that we did not even suspect.
Be careful not to indulge yourself in gluttony during the Year of the Pig 2019. Watch for the quality and portions of your meals if you want to keep getting into your trousers by the end of 2019. Practicing a regular sport activity adapted to your body type is highly recommended. Above all in 2019, it is essential to avoid idleness.
Sources: karmaweather.com; thechinesezodiac.org
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3 warm-up exercises - watch here
I learnt these Hunyuan silk reeling exercises in the gardens of Heilongjian University for Traditional Chinese Medicine. A variation of Chen style taiji (tai chi) practice these were developed by Feng Zhi Qiang whose focus was on health rather than martial side of taijiquan.

They are excellent for shoulder pain, stagnation and stiffness by enabling qi or functional energy to flow through the body. Try them!

​Chinese New Year begins on 16 February 2018, which is the 4715th Chinese New Year. With each year there is a related element and this year it is earth so it is also said to be the Yellow Male Earth Dog year.  

According to Chinese horoscope theory, the Male Earth is represented by mountain and the sign of the Male Earth Dog is two mountains, representing a strong Earth. The focus will be on property, environment, territory, integrity whether spiritual or religious. 

As 2018 is the Mountain Dog year, this may be a wild dog that could block your way. This implies that there may obstacles along the path, so in order to execute your plan you need to use your wisdom to overcome the difficulties and then you will see a wide-open road ahead.  

The Dog is the 11th animal in 12 Chinese zodiac signs. Dog month is connected to the last month of autumn. Winter will come right after the Dog month. Winter is the season of Water. If you can climb on the mountain of the Dog, then you can see much further for the future. 2019 is year of Pig, which is the first year of Water. Therefore 2018 is a stepping stone and if you want to do well in 2019 the year of the Water Pig year, then need to well-planned in the 2018 of Dog year.

2 packets of wonton or dumpling wrappers (you will often find these in the freezer at a local chinese supermarket)
 
Dumpling Filling
250g white cabbage
250g pork mince
Half bunch spring onions, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2cm piece of ginger finely grated
2 tbs soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
 
Dipping Sauce
¼ cup soy sauce
2 tbs rice wine vinegar
1 tsp chopped spring onions
¼ tsp toasted sesame seeds
½ tsp ground black pepper
 
 
Method:
Finely chop the cabbage (you can also do this in a food processor), sprinkle lightly with salt and allow to rest for 10 mins before squeezing out the excess liquid.
 
In a large bowl combine, pork mince, cabbage, spring onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil.  Mix together until evenly coated.
 
Hold the dumpling wrapper flat in one hand and place about 2 tsp of filling in the centre. Wet the edges of the wrapper with some water and fold in half to form a half moon shape. Pinch the edges together in pleats, being sure to seal fully.
Repeat until all the filling is used
 
Pan-Fry Dumplings:
In a non-stick fry pan add 2 tbs vegetable oil and add the dumplings and cook for 2 mins until golden. Add 1 cup of water, cover and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer until wrappers become translucent and filling is cooked through (around 8-10 mins), uncover and allow the rest of the water to evaporate and bottoms of the dumplings become crisp.
 
Dipping Sauce:
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl, serve on the side.

​Poor sleep impacts on a range of health issues from obesity, cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, hormone regulation, poor memory, anxiety and generally stress and inflammation in the body.
 
Many people find that coming for acupuncture helps them sleep better - even if sleep is not the main reason for having acupuncture.
 
There are a number of different patterns that we will look at when you come for acupuncture to help with insomnia and sleep. As part of the consultation we’ll look at what is out of balance and develop a treatment plan based on your particular combination of symptoms.
 
Some of the things that we’ll look at include whether you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep. If you wake through the night, is it the same time every night or does this vary? Do you experience palpitations, dizziness or anxiety? Do you feel hot and restless?
 
We’ll also look at your diet and routine and often add some tailored recommendations of things to include (or to stop) which can also balance the patterns of disharmony.
 
Tips for a good night sleep:
● Reduce the use of screens including tablets, mobile phones and even your television. If you can’t break this habit then make sure you switch on “blue light” mode (or download an app that does this) which is said to help to change the colours in the screen that are said to impact on the melatonin production in the body
 
● Avoid eating before bed. As our days get busier we often find ourselves eating later in the day and then heading straight to bed. Sleep is a time for rest and repair and if your digestive system is busy working the body is losing out on valuable restorative time. Eating late at night also has a link to obesity and sleep is often more disrupted or fragmented.
 
● Pillows - how long since you’ve replaced your pillows? Although it can be difficult to find the pillow that is just right for you - investing in a good quality pillow can make a world of difference. If you normally sleep on two or more pillows investing in a single good quality pillow that supports your neck and alignment can make a big difference to the quality of your sleep
 
● Empty your mind - often people with difficulty sleeping find that they are laying there over thinking or worrying about the day that’s just happened or thinking about the future. Try taking 10 mins before you go to sleep to write in a notebook or journal everything on your mind. Do it in free flowing style - whatever comes to mind (you don’t ever need to read it back) and empty all the worries out on paper. Although it can take a while to get into the habit - this simple technique often helps you drift off faster.

Ingredients
1 lemon (preferably organic)
1-2 cloves of garlic (depends on size of cloves)
1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon of honey (preferably Manuka but at least Raw)

1. Cut a lemon in halves ​
2. Squeeze all the lemon juice out of one half and place in a small bowl. Keep the half you extracted the juice for later use (step 5). 
3. Chop the garlic and it let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Then add it to the lemon juice with the cayenne pepper.
4. Add the honey to the mix and stir all ingredients well.
5. Pour the entire mixture back into the lemon half (which you extracted the juice from in step 2)
6. Consume the finished product in its entirety including all the lemon pulp. Hold it in your hand and cup it as if you're holding a fruit. Repeat recipe in 4 hours with the other lemon half

References
https://news.wsu.edu/2012/05/01/garlic-compound-fights-source-of-food-borne-illness/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110412201713.htm