It is true that poor diet, pollution and stresses of daily life
all have negative impact on our health and well-being. Let's face
it, in our very busy lives we are bombarded by physical and
emotional stress that robs us of our vital life energy called Qi.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi fuels the essence
that connects our body, mind and spirit. Qi travels and circulates
through the channels of our bodies. When your Qi is weak, it
stagnates in these channels instead of powerfully flowing. As you
age, you may feel as though you no longer have the energy that you
once had.
I don't about most of us but I am always searching
for a way for a Qi-boost. Most days. I am bombarded with the noise
of five children and information overload from AOM classes at
night, online classes for herbal studies and holistic nutrition
certification, then working part-time on and off campus,
volunteering 4 hours a week, hitting the gym 3 times a week--and
that's just my schedule not including my kid's extracurricular
activities
With all the non-stop activity, I easily feel drained,
scattered, stressed, and completely run-down. My desire is like
most of us who are busy people--how can I feel energetic and clear
minded and focus? Basically, I want to feel alive and not half-dead
most days.
My personal research has led to some great tips that I have
integrated into my life style that may be helpful for students,
faculty and our patients.
- Breathe deeply all day. Most people who are under a lot of
stress or tension breathe shallowly, up in the throat area. When
you breathe deeply into your lungs, you are naturally bringing in
more oxygen and activating Qi in your body.
- Learn to say no to Qi-robbers. These are activities or places
that drain your energy and leave you feeling depleted, for example
watching too much TV and experiencing and holding on to negative
emotions.
- Wear brightly colored clothing and listen to uplifting music to
stimulate the flow of your Qi.
- Have fun and be spontaneous! If you don't enjoy your day, then
your energy will naturally become suppressed.
- Eat a balanced diet and exercise. Remember foods and herbs that
possess special Qi-fortifying properties include: brown rice,
carrots, chicken, china root, eggs, fish, fox nut, ginseng, green
beans, leeks, longan fruit, nutmeg, lamb, lotus seed, oats, onion,
pearl barley, potatoes, pumpkin, soybeans, squash, string beans,
tofu, turnips, and yams.
Also, keep in mind that to receive optimal benefits from food
and herbs, it is crucial that you choose in-season, natural foods
with no chemical additives or residues. Also, avoid overeating and
under eating because both will rob you of a consistent source of
energy.
I am currently taking the herb, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Pian to help
boost my Qi.
I hope that these tips will renew your energy.
Thank you for the continued support of the AOM blog. Remember to
increase your Qi this week!