Edema can be triggered by the increase in blood volume associated with pregnancy, excess sodium in the diet, a lack of potassium in diet, standing too long, summer heat, and other medical conditions.

It is important to address edema early—when pregnancy-related, before 34 weeks. The longer edema is present in the body, the more it can interfere with the onset of labor, complicating its initiation or progression. When edema is present, it is often an indicator that other imbalances are present in the body. We need to strengthen the body and address fluid metabolism so that the body’s energy can be directed towards the preparation and initiation of labor.

Some contributing factors that put you at risk for edema are:
- overwork, hectic lifestyle
- emotional stress
- overconsumption of cold, raw foods and dairy
- excess sugar, salt or processed foods
- strenuous exercise or sedentary habits

Here are a few simple things you can do to prevent or allay edema:
- try not to sit or stand for more than 20 min at a time.
- stay hydrated
- get regular exercise (improves circulation)
- elevate your feet often
- avoid caffeine

Making some changes to your diet is also helpful. Introduce or increase consumption of these foods:

Coix (yi yi ren)—bland seeds that taste similar to barley. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the sweet bland, slightly cold seed has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of edema.

Barley Water— Helps strengthen the body’s energy, promotes urination and rids the body of excess fluids.

Recipe for Barley Water:

3/4 cup pearled barley
juice of 1 lime + zest (can substitute lemon)
1/2 cup honey (optional)
6 cups filtered water.

Place barley in a strainer and rinse under cold water until water runs clear.  Place barley in a sauce pan with the grated zest and 6 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, simmer for 10 minutes then strain mixture into bowl.  Discard the barley. Add the honey to bowl and stir to dissolve.  Stir in lime juice and let cool.  Can drink warm or cool.

Cucumber—In TCM, these are considered sweet and cool, go to the Stomach and Bladder channels to clear heat, and promote urination to reduce edema.

Grapes—generate fluids and promote urination, reducing edema.

Cornsilk—the silky threads that grow between the husk and the corn. In TCM it is sweet, bland in taste and drains dampness and clears damp-heat from the Liver and Gallbladder, thereby reducing water retention and edema.

Recipe for corn silk tea (which tastes like corn on the cob):

Boil about 1 1/2 cups water.  Place fresh cornsilk (amount from 2 ears of fresh corn) in the boiled water and steep covered for 10 minutes. strain out the cornsilk and enjoy. You can drink this several times a day. (from Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen)

1)  Signs of readiness: Listen to your children’s cues.  Babies should begin simple solids/tastes when they show interest by grabbing food off mom and dad’s plates, have lost their tongue thrust reflex, make clucking/mimicking sounds or gestures with mouth, and can sit up on their own.  Don’t give in to pressure by doctors, other moms, or your own mom to give solids before your child is ready.  Remember babies don’t NEED solid food. Your breastmilk is supplying them with complete nutrition for the first year of life.

2)  Appropriate food choices:  Introduce orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut and acorn squash) as well as nonglutinous grain cereals first (Millet, rice, and quinoa).  These foods tonify Spleen and help to set up healthy digestive function.

3) Introducing solids: Steam or slow cook all foods and always serve foods warmed to 100 degrees.  The 100 degree soup helps to aid in easy digestion of new solids. If your baby rejects food, maybe it’s too soon.  Stick with breast milk and try again in a week or few weeks.

4)  Foods to avoid: Avoid overly sweet foods first. Too much of the sweet flavor weakens the Spleen energy.  Therefore, fruit is not the best introduction to food.  It sets up expectations for overly sweet foods and may deter children from eating other things.  Bananas, although often discussed often as the perfect first food,  are actually very energetically cold, overly sweet, and potentially damaging to the young Spleen.  Avoid processed flours like crackers, puffs, teething cookies, cereal.  They provide little nutritional value and deter kids from eating other, more nutritious foods.  Whole food is always best.

5)  Food stagnation: How much is too much?  Initially, introduction of food should be just about “tastes.” Start by introducing only a tablespoon or less daily and repeat the same food for three days to determine any possible food allergies.  Introduce single foods, not food combinations, and never feed a full breast or bottle after a meal of solids.  This can cause accumulation in the stomach which leads to a type of pathologic heat.  Signs of overfeeding/food stagnation are red cheeks, gas pain, restlessness/agitation, insomnia, constipation/irregular bowel movements.  Food stagnation can weaken our Spleen energy which can lead to health issues such as eczema, asthma/allergies, chronic colds/flus, phlegm, ear infections, etc.

You don’t need to rely on processed jar food to start your baby on solids. Making your own baby food is easy and fun.  You don’t eat food out of a box or a jar, so why would you give that to your littlest one?

SIMPLE GRAIN GRUEL:

3 Tbl Millet or Rice or Quinoa
¾  to 1 cup water

Bring to boil.  Then simmer until grain has absorbed most of the water and is mushy.

After birth, our breast milk provides the perfect food for our rapidly growing babies. Breast milk supports immunity, wards off infection, and builds strong babies by balancing the gut. Here are some of the components of breast milk and how they function:

Immunoglobulins: All types of immunoglobulins are found in human milk. The highest concentration is found in colostrum, the pre-milk that is only available from the breast for the baby’s first three to five days of life. Secretory IGA, a type of immunoglobulin that protects the ears, nose, throat, and the GI tract, is found in high amounts in breast milk throughout the first year.

Lactoferrin: Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein that is found in human milk, but is not available in formulas. It limits the availability of iron to bacteria in the intestines, and determines which healthy bacteria will thrive in the gut. It is found in the highest concentrations in colostrum, but persists throughout the entire first year. It has a direct antibiotic effect on bacteria such as staphylococci and E. coli.

Lysozyme: Human breast milk contains lysozyme (a potent digestive ingredient) at a level thirty times higher than in any formula. While other components of breast milk vary widely between well-nourished and poorly nourished mothers, the amount of lysozyme is conserved, suggesting that it is very important to infant development. It has a strong influence on the type of bacteria that inhabit the intestinal tract.

Growth Factors: Human breast milk specifically encourages the growth of lactobacillaceae, which are helpful bacteria that can inhibit many of the disease-causing bacteria and parasites. There is a striking difference between the bacteria found in the guts of breast vs. formula-fed infants. Breast-fed infants have a level of lactobacillus that is typically 10 times greater than that of formula-fed infants.

Allergic factors: The cows’ milk protein used in most formulas is a foreign protein. When babies are exposed to non-human milk, they actually develop antibodies to the foreign protein.

Carnitine: While carnitine is present in both breast milk and formula, the carnitine in breast milk has higher bioavailability. Breast-fed babies have significantly higher carnitine levels than their counterparts. Carnitine is necessary to make use of fatty acids as an energy source.

DHA & ARA: The main long-chain fatty acids found in human milk are still not present in many formulas in the United States. These lipids are important structural components, particularly in the brain and the retina. Significantly different amounts of these ingredients have been found in the brains and retinas of breast-fed versus formula-fed infants.

The fact that breast milk plays such a huge role in the development of intestinal health underscores the importance of proper digestive function in human health overall.

In Chinese medicine, this concept of digestive function is summarized as the Spleen/Stomach. It is also thought that this digestive function is immature until the age of seven.

Those first seven years are vital for our little ones! Our job as caregivers is to give them a healthy start, not only by breastfeeding exclusively whenever possible, but also by responsibly starting solid foods.

In our next blog post we will outline five simple rules to follow when introducing solids.

There are several reasons, the most practical and beneficial from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) standpoint being placentophagia.  Placentophagia is the ancient practice of eating the placenta after the baby is born.  The Chinese call this Zi He Che (purple river vehicle).

In an article by Amy Weekly entitled “Placentophagia: Benefits of Eating the Placenta,” she outlines various benefits to the practice in detail: increasing breast milk production, staving off postpartum depression, helping the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state, and replenishing nutrients in the new mother such as iron and B12.  In TCM terms, the essence from the placenta enters the lung, liver and kidney channels to nourish the blood.

Consuming the placenta isn’t as rudimentary (or potentially distasteful) as eating it plain or just putting it in a soup.  Capsules can be made from it, to be taken orally like any other pill. After the placenta is delivered, it is gently washed off and placed in a sealed container so it may be delivered to us.  We specially prepare it, dry it, grind it into powder, add herbs and then put it into capsules. The new mom then takes these for the first few weeks after giving birth, or until she feels her strength has returned. If this is something you’d like more information about or would like to have planned for after your child is born, please call us for information and pricing at 773.267.0248.

What we put in our bodies is very important. Some guidelines to a good diet are fairly simple. Avoid sugar. Stay away from fast food and overly processed foods. The more natural the food, the better it is for you. Another way to help you decide what food choices are best is to eat with the seasons. What this means is eating foods that are in season; things that grow naturally during that time of the year in the part of the region/country that you are currently living in. Different parts of the world and even in different parts of the United States these options will vary, but there are some general guidelines to this way of eating and living.

• Spring brings new growth and greens. You can represent this with tender, leafy vegetables including Asparagus, Swiss chard, spinach, Romaine lettuce, fresh parsley, and basil.
• The heat of summer can be balanced with with light, cooling foods. These foods include fruits like strawberries, apple, pear, and plum; vegetables like summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and corn; and spices and seasonings like peppermint and cilantro.
• As autumn cools down, warm things up with the harvest. Foods that fit into this category are carrot, sweet potato, butter nut and acorn squash, pumpkin, onions, and garlic. Also emphasize the more warming spices and seasonings including ginger, peppercorns, and mustard seeds.
• With winter’s cold, it’s time to turn even more exclusively toward warming foods. Foods that take longer to grow are generally more warming than foods that grow quickly. All of the animal foods fall into the warming category (e.g., fish, chicken, beef, lamb, and venison). So do most of the root vegetables, including carrot, potato, onions and garlic. Eggs also fit in here, as do corn, and nuts.

-Adapted from Worlds Healthiest Foods

Another good resource for seasonal eating is the book by Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  She chronicles a year where she and her family grow and eat all their food in season. An interesting read.  Follow the seasons and you will be naturally led down the right path to right nutrition — a cornerstone in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Green beans are an extremely healthy vegetable packed full of nutrients that are perfect for feeding the spleen. Green beans are available year round, with peak season from May-October. They are are low in calories (just 43.75 calories in a whole cup), and an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. Green beans are also a very good source of the following: dietary fiber, potassium, folate, iron and vitamin A (notably through their concentration of carotenoids including beta-carotene). They are also a good source of magnesium, thiamin, riboflavin, copper, calcium, phosphorus, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and niacin.

Here is a delicious spleen strengthening recipe:

Butternut squash and green bean curry
8 oz butternut squash peeled and chopped into 1 inch cubes
1/2 cup water
salt
8 oz green beans
1 cup canned coconut milk
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
1-2 medium green serrano or jalapeno peppers (depending on how spicy you want it)
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped cashews or almonds

Place cubed squash in medium saucepan with water and a pinch of salt and bring to boil over high heat. Lower heat to medium, cover, and steam until squash is tender — about 6 minutes. Remove squash with slotted spoon and then add green beans to the pan. Repeat the process — add more water if needed.

Return squash and green beans to pan and any remaining cooking liquid, Add the coconut milk and a little more salt if necessary. Bring to a boil and immediately turn down the heat to low. Simmer the curry, uncovered, until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes - don’t allow the mixture to boil or it will curdle. Do not stir because squash may start to disintegrate; shake pan if you need to mix ingredients.
Transfer curry to a serving dish.

Make the tadka: Heat the oil in a small skillet or butter warmer over high heat. When the oil begins to smoke, add the mustard seeds, covering the pan with a lid or splatter screen. After the mustard seeds stop sputtering, add the chiles and cashews or almonds and shake the pan over medium heat until the cashews/almonds are lightly toasted and browned.

Pour this over he curry and serve.

Recipe taken from: 5 Spices, 50 Dishes by: Ruta Kahate

]]> 0 http://thenestchicago.com/organizing-the-body/ http://thenestchicago.com/organizing-the-body/#comments Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:36:15 +0000 jocelyn http://thenestchicago.com/?p=296 In Chinese Medicine, our digestion is thought to be the root of blood production in the body, which is an important component to female health. However, before we can speak to how blood is produced in the body, we need to describe basic organ function in Chinese Medicine. To start, when Chinese medicine references the…

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]]> In Chinese Medicine, our digestion is thought to be the root of blood production in the body, which is an important component to female health. However, before we can speak to how blood is produced in the body, we need to describe basic organ function in Chinese Medicine. To start, when Chinese medicine references the concept of “the organ,” it does not necessarily reference the solid organs described in our biology textbooks. Rather, organ in Chinese Medicine describes a series of functions which can be physiological as well as psychoemotional.

There was no deep understanding of internal anatomy at the inception of Chinese Medicine, and so Chinese Medicine had its root in observation and the description of how body functioned overall. Therefore, while there can be overlap in how Eastern and Western Medicine understands these organs (liver, kidney, heart, spleen, stomach, large and small intestines, etc), we must remember that in Chinese Medicine, “organ” is a description of function.

Chinese Medicine divides the organs into two categories, Yin organs and Yang organs. Yang organs represent the “hollow” organs (gall bladder, stomach, small and large intestines, bladder and triple burner).  Yang organs are organs that receive and transform while the Yin organs are solid and have relationships with the vital substances of Yin and Blood (liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys). That being said, we’ll turn back to digestive function.  In Chinese Medicine, this is the job of the spleen (Yin) and stomach (Yang) organs.  This Yin and Yang organ pair work together to make new blood for all the organs to utilize.  Spleen is an organ that works to digest and interpret our environment.  It functions in traditional digestion to break down ingested food, but it also has a more ethereal role in digesting information.  Spleen has an important job in helping us to process information and analyze our environment to help us make decisions, stay organized, and be calm.

A common imbalance in Chinese Medicine, is Spleen Qi Deficiency.  In modern western living, 90% of us show some aspect of Spleen Qi Deficiency. That is because we are ALWAYS on the go, mentally and physically.  Spleen easily becomes overburdened when we work long hours, read and analyze without ample rest (like students often do), worry excessively, eat on the go, eat low quality foods, etc. The Spleen needs to time to rest from information processing as well as a dedicated time to digest our foods. That is why you will often hear us remind our patients at The Nest to reinstitute meal times. Meals allow time for us to focus on eating as a time to nourish ourselves and give the Spleen the proper environment for digestion and transformation. When we eat, it should be a time to look, smell, chew and taste our food slowly and deliberately.  We all can remember a time recently when we shoveled something down our throats without consciously consuming it.

What really is the big deal about Spleen Deficiency?  Well, initially symptoms of Spleen Qi Deficiency might be more mild. Slight fatigue, some discomforts with eating, like mild gas or bloating, but as Spleen Qi Deficiency becomes more profound so do the symptoms.  Fatigue can become crushing, digestive symptoms more serious, and psychoemotional symptoms, like obsessive overthinking may start to manifest and become emotionally debilitating.  Because Spleen is a root of blood, as transformation weakens, so does the output of blood.  Symptoms of blood deficiency may start to manifest and so the domino effect continues.

Another major consideration of a compromised spleen system is something called Phlegm Damp. When transformation of food is ineffectual, the weakened spleen doesn’t make bright clear useful Yin and Blood, it makes a goopy viscous substance, described by Chinese Medicine as Phlegm Damp.  Phlegm Damp is insipid.  The longer it lingers, the more problems it causes. It can show up as physical phlegm which complicates other organs, chronic sinus congestion or infections, productive coughs, mucus in stools, chronic yeast infections, etc.  It can also show up as difficult to pinpoint symptoms, like foggy thinking, heavy head, extreme fatigue, and lack of motivation.

The bottom line is healthy digestion and strong spleen is a major cornerstone in healthy living and overall wellness.  How we eat matters just as much as what we eat.  So stay tuned for our next post, which will continue this discussion of how to care for our Spleen with specific foods, cooking styles, and the benefits of REST!

]]> 0 http://thenestchicago.com/blood-basics-in-chinese-medicine/ http://thenestchicago.com/blood-basics-in-chinese-medicine/#comments Sat, 22 May 2010 17:10:59 +0000 jenniferpaschen http://thenestchicago.com/?p=273 Most of us don’t think about our blood very often; we just take for granted that it will be there, flowing through our arteries and veins. When we do think about blood, it’s often in a negative light. Chinese Medicine looks at blood from an entirely different angle, one that has a much deeper and…

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]]> Most of us don’t think about our blood very often; we just take for granted that it will be there, flowing through our arteries and veins. When we do think about blood, it’s often in a negative light. Chinese Medicine looks at blood from an entirely different angle, one that has a much deeper and more descriptive function that it does in Western medicine. Blood in Chinese Medicine is an extension of Yin, a nutritive, sedating, calming substance that nourishes the mind and spirit as well as the physical body.

Blood is elemental to our survival and greatly influences our health, especially in the areas of fertility, pregnancy, labor and delivery. In order to build a strong foundation for women’s health, Chinese Medicine first looks to bolstering blood. This vital substance is the root for a healthy menstrual cycle, which promotes fertility, and is the cornerstone of a healthy pregnancy and labor/delivery. Practitioners of Chinese Medicine place great emphasis on the quality and efficacy of the blood when evaluating health concerns.

Constitutional imbalances are often characterized in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as either a deficiency or a stagnation, requiring a building up in the first instance or a resumption of flow in the second. For many women, their particular health issue has a blood deficiency or blood stagnation as its root cause. Signs and symptoms can range from irregular periods, fibroids, cysts, and infertility to difficulties in pregnancy like miscarriage, preterm labor, inability to initiate labor naturally, stalled labor, and failure to progress in labor.

Blood Deficiency

Blood deficiency can be caused by heavy periods, over-exercising and/or an insufficient amount of protein in the diet. Vegetarians and vegans need to be particularly mindful of protein intake and often need to supplement their diets with vitamin B12. Including wheat grass, spirulina and chlorella in the diet is also especially recommended for those who are not eating meat.

With patterns of blood deficiency, we might expect to see shortened, light or absent menstrual cycles, weakness, paleness, brittle hair and nails, dizziness, restlessness and insomnia. Lots of stress, anxiety and “racing brain” can interfere with our digestion; the way we absorb and process the nutrients in our food is directly related to how we deal with our emotions. This, in turn, can interfere with the body’s blood building process.

Blood Stagnation

With blood stagnation, where blood does not move effectively, we might see symptoms of painful and clotty periods, endometriosis, fibroids, or sharp stabbing pains with period or at ovulation. TCM treatments incorporate acupuncture, herbs, and nutrition to resolve these imbalances and support a healthy body.

Blood production is rooted in digestion. Chinese Medicine says when we transform food, we produce new blood. That is why at The Nest we have such a strong focus on nutrition! We understand that when we improve digestion and improve the quality of the foods that a patient consumes, we have a direct impact on the quality of the blood that is being produced. Good food and a healthy digestive system are the best ways to build a strong root for healthful women’s bodies. Some blood building and blood regulating foods include: dark leafy greens, blueberries, raspberries, dates, figs, and beets. Fruits and vegetables that are dark in color are particularly beneficial for the blood.

A Bit About Beets

Beets are a blood building powerhouse. While they are available year-round, the best time to buy them is June through October, when they are at their most tender. Look for unblemished bulbs with sturdy, unwilted greens. Roasting is the easiest way to cook beets, not least because the skins will slip right off. Cooking them this way is easy.

EASY ROASTED BEET RECIPE:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cut the greens away from the beets, leaving about 1/4 inch of stems. Scrub the beets and place in a baking dish or lidded ovenproof casserole dish. Add 1/4 inch of water to the dish. Cover tightly. Place in the oven and roast small beets (three ounces or less) for 30 to 40 minutes, medium beets (four to six ounces) for 40 to 45 minutes, and large beets (eight ounces or more) for 50 to 60 minutes. They’re done when they’re easily penetrated with the tip of a knife. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool in the covered baking dish. Cut away the ends and slip off the skins.

Roasted beets are wonderful on their own or simply dressed with a vinaigrette, and they will keep for five days in a covered bowl in the refrigerator. It’s best not to peel them until you plan to eat them.

]]> 0 http://thenestchicago.com/eggs-from-the-nest-a-blog-is-hatched/ http://thenestchicago.com/eggs-from-the-nest-a-blog-is-hatched/#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 14:49:24 +0000 jenniferpaschen http://thenestchicago.com/?p=262 Welcome to The Nest’s blog, “Eggs From The Nest.” The blog will be a regular source of information about the world of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture and the practical ways that its teachings can be integrated into our lives. Readers can expect information on a wide variety of topics, but also a consistent return to…

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]]> Welcome to The Nest’s blog, “Eggs From The Nest.” The blog will be a regular source of information about the world of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture and the practical ways that its teachings can be integrated into our lives. Readers can expect information on a wide variety of topics, but also a consistent return to some of the categories and issues that we specialize in here at The Nest—fertility, women’s health, all stages of pregnancy and pediatrics—just to name a few.

The blog will be a way for us to educate people about the elegant and comprehensive system of Chinese Medicine. We will help people understand how Chinese Medicine works, how it differs from Western medicine, as well as how it integrates well with Western medicine (and other forms of therapy), and the broad range of health concerns it treats—we want it to be understood that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine goes way beyond the treatment of pain.

We want readers to understand the idea of “foundational healing”—Chinese Medicine addresses health at the core, thus allowing the body to reset and rebalance, which stimulates healing. This idea of foundational healing will appear over and over in our posts— as it is the basis of everything! Whether it be the food we eat, the rest we get, or the state of our mental health, Chinese Medicine seeks to treat the person as a whole, rather than as a symptom of disease. Prevention of illness is much more helpful than having to compensate for a weakened system.

We want to provide solid information and share the wisdom of this ancient medicine that has survived for over 5,000 years. We aspire to inspire readers to become more tuned into to their health and to keep life simple. We look forward to going on this journey with you and we hope that you are educated, informed and at times, entertained.

Eat when you’re hungry. Drink when you’re thirsty. Sleep when you’re tired.~ Buddhist Proverb

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