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With the cold and flu seasons fast approaching, it's important to keep your body healthy and stress levels low. There are plenty of well known Western immediate fixes for our health problems, but why not learn a little more about three Eastern, easy and natural remedies. They won't leave a bitter taste in your mouth or have any of the upsetting side effects that medications might have. Ginger and green teas are two of natures best kept secrets, while massage is becoming increasingly popular in spas across the world. Hopefully these tips can help keep the doctor at bay and eliminate congestion, upset stomachs, weight gain & stress. Although the below remedies won't all be quick fixes; they also won't upset the natural energy (Qi) of your body.
Ginger
For more than 2,000 years, ginger has been used for ailments of all kinds. From bloating and nausea to joint pain and congestion, ginger has been known to reduce symptoms and discomfort. Maybe you remember when you were younger and your parents gave you ginger ale when you had an upset stomach? Well, it turns out it was a reason behind it after all and not just a placebo effect. Ginger reduces the feeling of nausea. Studies show that ginger is more effective than Dramamine in reducing car sickness when consumed 20-30 minutes before traveling. Since the active ingredient (gingerol) is natural, there are little to no side effects. While there are many well know natural aides that help with bloating, what isn't as widely known is that ginger is one of them. The next time you feel your pants getting a little tight, try drinking some ginger tea.
Looking for another use for this magical root? Put a few drops of ginger essence (oil) into a sink full of hot water, place your head over the sink and cover with a towel. The steam from the ginger water will help clear up your pesky sniffles.
Green Tea
Worried about an expanding waistline? Preliminary tests show that green tea not only helps with digestion, but also may aid in warding off fat. Full of antioxidants, green tea has been keeping people healthy by fighting off damaging free radicals (the oxidants that age our bodies) we encounter in our everyday environments. As an ancient proverb once said," Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one." Green tea can be served both hot or cold and is made from unfermented tea leaves. With a third the amount of caffeine coffee has, you can keep yourself hydrated with two to three cups of this yummy, healthy drink per day. There are many varieties of green tea, but Chinese and Japanese green teas are the most prominent and abundant. While green tea is rumored to help with a myriad of other diseases (such as thinning of the blood, aiding in cardiovascular disease and ridding the body of cancer), these claims have yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Massage
With all the pain, sickness and stiffness our worries and fears can bring to our bodies, it's important to take time to rejuvenate with a little muscle massaging each day. In the Chinese culture when one has a cold, oil is rubbed onto the sick person's back and then a ceramic item (like a spoon or massaging tool) is used to scrape the back. Although it will leave the back red, tradition says that it will take the heat and the sickness away.
Massage dates back more than 4,000 years ago in China and since then, more than 100 different techniques have been developed. Chinese traditions have taught the world that there are spots (meridians) in the body that can get blocked with stagnant energy and it's up to us to find a way to release it. Massage can be worked into the busiest of schedules. For instance at work, there are plenty of exercises you can do to help keeps your energy flowing.
This ceramic Lion's Head massaging tool can be used anywhere on the body to release tension. The carefully crafted ridges on the jade color handheld massager turn the tool into a miracle worker eliminating the kinks from your neck, back, shoulders and even feet. Just be careful not to step on or drop it, as this is made of breakable material. Another way to release stress is to massage your brown line, down to your temples and then take the time to move to the nape of the neck. You may also notice that as you massage your pressure points, any headaches may begin to ease and for those with insomnia, sleep might finally come naturally. If you notice a friend who is feeling a little stiff or stressed, why not try treating them to a luxurious massage. Light a green tea scented candle and watch as the relaxation begins.
Take a look at Mrs. Lin's Kitchen for all your home, kitchen and gift needs that will keep your home and office looking unique and sophisticated. Although the ideas of the products are from the ancient, Eastern way of life, these Asian home decors have been reinvented and improved upon to keep up with a modern way of living.
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