by Dr. Elizabeth LangerWhat is Congee?
Congee is a rice porridge commonly consumed in Asian cuisine. It is easy on digestion and provides many health benefits. Though it takes a long time to cook, it is a highly versatile recipe and can be a solid foundation for creating a variety of meals.
If you have problems with digestion, such as bloating and IBS, congee is a great addition to your diet. With congee, the rice is soft and more easily broken down and your body expends energy to absorb nutrients. And because it is slow-cooked on low heat, congee retains most of its nutritional value.
Health Benefits of Brown Rice Congee can be made with any type of rice, though brown rice is the healthiest. The nutritional benefits of brown rice are primarily due to the high content of vitamins and minerals. As a whole-grain, brown rice is high in fiber and a great source of B vitamins, magnesium, manganese, and selenium.
B vitamins improve nerve conduction, boost metabolism, increase energy, and benefit mood.
Manganese helps to produce and regulate hormones, benefits the nervous system, improve energy, manage blood sugar, and increases calcium absorption.
Selenium assists in promoting cardiovascular health and improves the metabolism of insulin. Selenium helps to regulate the thyroid, which can impact weight. It also increases immune function and helps to fight against cancer and heart disease.
Along with benefiting blood sugar and insulin metabolism, brown rice has a glycemic index of 50, enabling it to provide energy without spiking blood sugar.
Brown rice is high in fiber which reduces cholesterol, regulates blood sugar, and protects against colon cancer
Both selenium and fiber help to reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Magnesium helps to reduce asthma symptoms, benefits blood pressure, reduces migraines and risk for heart attack and stroke. Magnesium regulates nerve and muscle tone by maintaining a balance with calcium. When supplementing with calcium, it is important to make sure that you are supplementing with magnesium as well as calcium.
Congee in Traditional Chinese Medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), congee is considered a bland and neutral food. When consumed, it balances the body and improves health. Medicinally, congee provides people who have problems with digestion with essential nutrients to strengthen health. Conditions congee may be used for are rheumatoid arthritis, where there is simultaneous inflammation and weakness in a person. Cancer patients who are experiencing extreme nausea may find congee a particularly soothing method to ingest whole grains.
In Chinese culture, congee is often consumed for breakfast. However, congee may also be enjoyed by itself or with vegetables, fruits, fish and other meats. When combined in healthy recipes, the nutritional value and health benefits of congee are remarkably increased.
Even though congee takes a long time to cook, it is an easy recipe to prepare. The health benefits provided by this simple food are numerous and many will find an improvement in health by adding this food to their diet.
Basic Congee Recipe
1. Add nine cups of water to a large pot and bring to a boil.
2. Once the water reaches a boil, add one cup of brown rice to the water and cover with a lid. Allow the rice to cook on medium-low heat for approximately three to five hours. Stir occasionally.
3.The congee is finished cooking when it has attained a creamy texture.
This recipe will yield about five to six cups of congee and can be enjoyed throughout the week. To save time, cook a half a cup of rice with four and a half cups of water. Congee may also be prepared in a crock-pot or slow-cooker.
Enjoy!
by Dr. Elizabeth Langer
Coughing, sneezing, red eyes, and a runny nose...
Welcome to allergy season!
Fortunately, you don't have to suffer. There are many ways to fight allergies, and acupuncture is one of the most effective.
What are allergies?
Allergies are overreactions of your body to normal stimulation. Allergens are factors that exacerbate allergies and originate from animals, dust, foods, and the change of seasons. Common allergy symptoms include coughing, sneezing, a runny nose, congestion, and red, watery eyes. Allergies may also cause you to experience fatigue, headaches, and mental fogginess. Given such a broad range of symptoms, allergies can often be mistaken for the flu, a cold, or a sinus infection.
In some cases, living with allergies is not difficult because the allergen can easily be removed. If milk makes you sick, eliminate it from your diet. If cats make you sneeze, avoid them. But if you have seasonal allergies or are bothered by dust and molds, avoidance is not possible. You need a treatment that will strengthen your body and prevent flareups.
How does acupuncture treat allergies?
Acupuncture relieves acute allergic reactions such as coughing, sneezing, irritated eyes, and congestion by dispersing the energy in your body, to provide almost immediate relief. However, acupuncture provides more than just symptomatic relief. Receiving regular acupuncture treatments can decrease the severity of symptoms if exposure to an irritating allergen occurs.
Seasonal allergies are often due to an excess of "pathogens," such as "Wind" and "Heat." Acupuncture stimulates specific points to eliminate these "pathogens" from your body, reducing symptoms upon exposure. At the same time, acupuncture strengthens your system so that you are more resilient to allergens that make you sick. Unlike antihistamines and allergy shots, acupuncture does not lower your immune system. After having allergy shots for over nine years, I know that if I was sick, then I was not able to receive a shot that week. If you are sick and must take medication, acupuncture will not interfere. It may even help to reduce some of the medication's side effects.
What about food allergies?
Though acupuncture is associated with treatment for seasonal allergies, it can also be used to manage food allergies. Food allergies can cause a wide range of symptoms such as mental fogginess, gas, and bloating. Other reactions may include swelling and edema, fatigue, rashes, and itching. Common foods that create allergic reactions include dairy, eggs, shellfish, soy, peanuts, and gluten. Allergies to these foods can often be controlled by eliminating them from the diet.
Acupuncture promotes digestion and absorption of nutrients by improving how food is processed. Some foods should always be avoided. If your symptoms are mild, you may be able to re-introduce some of these foods back into your diet. Check with your healthcare provider first.
If reactions are severe, which they tend to be in allergies to peanuts and shellfish, don’t rely completely on acupuncture for protection. Food allergies can create life-threatening reactions and you may go into anaphylactic shock.
Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylaxis is a severe and life-threatening reaction to an allergen. Upon exposure, these reactions can occur within seconds to minutes. Common allergens that create this state include, but are not limited to bee venom, shellfish, nuts, penicillin, and morphine.
If you have an allergy that you know can induce an anaphylactic reaction, please don’t rely on acupuncture treatments alone. Get medication and carry it with you at all times. These medicines may include oral diphenhydramines or injectable epinephrine.
While there may be some anecdotal evidence that acupuncture (or any other treatment) can cure allergies, do you really want to bet your life on it?
For more information on how acupuncture can help you this season, send me a message and I will be happy to answer any questions.
by Dr. Elizabeth Langer
Facial rejuvenation acupuncture is a safe and gentle way to erase wrinkles, firm sagging jawlines, and give your skin a healthy glow. Because it works from the inside out, your entire body is nourished and revitalized before the fresh energy is directed to your face. Results of facial rejuvenation acupuncture extend beyond enhanced beauty. After undergoing a series of treatments, you may experience greater energy, better mood, and less inflammation.
Why Acupuncture for Facial Rejuvenation?
Well, why Botox? Why a chemical peel? Because enhancing your appearance makes you feel good! A positive self-image helps you to become more confident, enjoy better communication, and have better relationships.
So why not do something that won’t hurt you and will ultimately be good for your health?
Facial rejuvenation acupuncture provides long-lasting results with minimal risk. There are no artificial substances, no medications, no invasive procedures, and no need to avoid the sun.
Think of a flower. For the flower to blossom, its roots must be nourished and healthy. What happens when the stems are cut? The flower withers and dies.
Typical Treatment Sessions
Treatments for facial rejuvenation typically take more time than regular acupuncture sessions. Your entire mental, emotional, and physical health must be nurtured before bringing energy to the face. Other treatments that may be provided include moxibustion, facial and body massage, energy work, and nutritional counseling.
Facial rejuvenation is a commitment to total health and wellness. The nourishing effects of acupuncture enhance beauty and vitality from the inside out, leaving you energized, balanced, and beautiful.
