Beating the Summer Blues in Japan
So you’re a little tired these days with feeling of heaviness and lethargy, perhaps?
You go to the office and feel a light headache last throughout the day. You have no appetite lately and have difficulty concentrating. You go to the doctor, do a few tests and he tells you that you’re perfectly healthy. You’re wondering what may be wrong. Well, it’s quite simple. You may be suffering from “Natsu Bate” in Japanese, meaning that your body has lost out to the summer heat. It’s quite common in Japan to experience the “Summer Blues.”
Acupuncture is very effective for treating the summer blues as well as other symptoms that cannot be diagnosed by Western medicine. If you want to learn a bit more about the differences between Western medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine, there’s a little explanation about it at the end of this newsletter.
There are several causes:
1. Difference in temperature
Your body functions at an optimal level when your temperature is between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius. In order to adapt to outside temperature, your body sweats to lower the temperature. When you sweat, you also loose a lot of minerals and as a result, may feel lethargic.
2. Indigestion
As a result of perspiration, you body needs to take in a lot of fluid. However, when you drink too many cold liquids, your stomach and intestines will be affected by excessive coldness and as a result cause indigestion and lack of appetite.
3. Too much air-conditioning
Air-conditioning in Japan can be excessively strong. The autonomic nerves control your body temperature by sweating when hot and closing your pores when cold. Huge temperature differences inside and outside the building can cause your autonomic nerves to malfunction.
So how can you protect yourself from summer blues?
1. A Balanced Diet
A well balanced diet is naturally essential -- lots of fruit and vegetables to replace lost minerals and vitamins lost. Eat lots of tofu and bean products. Unagi, or eel is one of the favorite foods among the Japanese to eat during the summer – it’s a legendary stamina giver. If you haven’t tired it yet, I strongly recommend you to do so. It’s delicious.
2. Rest well
Try to go to bed early and sleep well. Do not leave the air-conditioning on when you sleep. Try to use a timer that will shut it down an hour or two after going to sleep. If you find that difficult, be sure to put it in ‘dry’ mode, and set the temperature at 26 degrees or higher.
3. Protect yourself
Being exposed to the cool air from the air-conditioner may result in stiff neck, joint pains and cold-like symptoms. Wear something light on top and cover your skin from direct exposure.
4. Take a hot bath
At the end of the day, take a hot bath to get rid of the coldness you put inside your body from excessive air-conditioning. Drink hot tea after you get out of the bath. I know you have the urgency to gulp down a cold drink, but try to hold that urge. You’ll realize that hot drinks can also quench your thirst. By doing this, you are able to warm your body, not only from the inside, but from the outside as well.
You’ll realize that these small changes can do a lot for you, and protect you from the summer blues.
Some pressure points you can use for yourself at home
The most common point used is called “Sanri” and is located four fingers below your knee above your shin. Shown on the left is the approximate location of the point. Sit down on a chair and stimulate the point by pressing it with your thumb. After 2-3 min of stimulation, you should feel that your leg feel much lighter than before. If you continue this everyday before you go to sleep, the point helps you restore your body balance and strengthens your stomach.
Differences between Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have long been viewed as two distinct and divergent medicines. Their approaches to physiology and healing appear quite different in perspective. While Western medicine separates the various systems and organs of the body and delves deeper and deeper into the particles that comprise matter, Chinese medicine views the body and further, the whole person, as a unified organic whole. Spiritual, mental, emotional and physical aspects are all seen as interrelated and interdependent.
Western medicine treats illness by isolating the diseased area and giving drug medications to alter and counteract the individual problem. Chinese medicine treats illness by identifying which parts of the whole are out of balance and the resulting energy patterns they form. These are then treated with energetic therapies and herbal medications to correct the imbalance and bring the whole to stasis. This is the reason why many illnesses unidentifiable or incurable by Western medicine are often quite treatable by oriental medicine.
TCM is completely drug-free and has been one of the best healing systems available to us for more than 5,000 years. Come and experience for yourself the powerful healing benefit of acupuncture.
ACURA Acupuncture Clinic
-Relief can be immediate
-Individual Assessment
-Supportive rehabilitation
-Drug Free/Disposable needles
Fully accredited member, Japan Acupuncture Association
www.acuraclinic.com
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