Chinese Herbal Support for Your Family
This year continues to bring all sorts of unpredictable twists and turns. Back to school time is here and for many families, there are even more changes underway. My 5 year old daughter is starting kindergarten this year so for me, this is big transition. The wonders of school await!!... online that is! I never imagined PE class for a 5 year old... Online. At home. But, here we are.
I sincerely hope that all of your families are getting through this transition smoothly and effortlessly. How are you and your family supporting each other? How are you finding ways to support human connection in your home? Some people’s lives haven’t changed much and others have changed drastically. Our occupation was particularly impacted by the closure in May because it is an industry that is dependent on person-to-person contact. At Alpenglow, we are working hard to continue to make sure the office is clean and safe for our community and our patients so we aren’t contributing further to the spread of COVID.
In my last blog post, I mentioned Liver Qi stagnation and the need for the Liver to move and be free flowing and that means less stress, less pain, less anxiety and less overload for your system. After 11 years of practicing acupuncture and Chinese medicine and working for many years in Chinese herbal manufacturing, there is one formula that is indispensable for patients and practitioners: Xiao Yao San, Free and Easy Wanderer or “Rambling Without Destination” Formula. When casually talking with friends and family, this is the formula I most often recommend that people have on hand all the time.
Xiao Yao San was developed in 1107 CE. That’s over 900 years old. It contains many herbs that have become very popular like Dang Gui or Chinese Angelica root, Buplerum root, Atractylodes root, White Peony root, Poria mushroom, Ginger root, Mint and Licorice root. As with all very old Chinese herbal formulas, it is the balanced formula that gives the formula its effectiveness. Taking each of these herbs individually will not produce the same result.
The 1st sign of Liver Qi stagnation is sighing. The lungs are actually trying to help circulate that stuck energy in the body, and what better way. We get so focused or so much momentum or so overwhelmed— all are ways we build up excess energy in the body, and what do we do... we take a big inhale and big exhale and let it all go. Our mind feels a little clearer, our body stops holding on to things. My daughter watches a lot of Daniel Tiger, which always has a wonderful song anecdote for the problems we face. One episode in particular is him running around being frustrated. He learns to sing “Give a squeeze, nice a slow, take a deep breath (inhale... exhale) and let it go”. This is what Free and Easy Wanderer does.
The formula can help to re-balance the body for many problems including digestive upset, menstrual irregularity, menstrual cramps, reflux, headaches, vertigo, chest and stomach fullness, difficulty falling asleep, fatigue, anemia and poor appetite. How does it help with such a broad array of symptoms? Because it addresses the underlying root of the problem, Liver Qi Stagnation. Maybe if we lived in a different culture in a different time, but we are Americans and we like doing things the American way and that brings with it the repercussions of daily stress on our body and on our mind.
Chinese herbal medicine is very powerful and potent and is an incredible way for anyone to continue receiving and support the positive effects of their acupuncture sessions. Chinese herbs and acupuncture work together just as diet and exercise continue to support your health at home. Please ask your acupuncturist about this whether this formula is a good fit for you and your family. It can be a great support for us all during these times where life is so unpredictable.