Staying Healthy in Winter

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Ask Mary Beth

Q. Does acupuncture hurt?
A. Many patients report that their experiences range from feeling almost nothing at all to a brief ache, or sensations of energetic activity near the needle. Many people who have been fearful of acupuncture also report being amazed and surprised by the pleasant experience of complete relaxation. The needles, being the width of a human hair, are the finest needles and only shallowly inserted into the body.

Nourishment for Optimum Health

One of the primary focuses and interests in Chinese medicine is the practice of good nourishment; the Chinese characters for this concept actually mean medicine. When I work with each patient we craft the best possible nourishment for each person. We always tailor your food to provide you with the energy that you require, and we seek the highest quality and most nutritious food.

With reference and homage to the ancients, we are always in the practice of sustainable agriculture. We harmonize flavors and food energetics in accordance with the seasons. In observing nature, we match our foods with the season’s energy (the thermic nature of the food). In springtime, for instance, we eat asparagus which corresponds to the viridity, suppleness, and expansive flexibility of the emerging shoots of spring. In summer we have only to visit a farmer’s market to find the cooling juicy foods such as succulent tomatoes, juicy cucumbers, and fresh seasonal berries. They are perfect for us in their own season. In autumn we look to the orange vegetables and root crops, and then to adding warming spices to dishes in the winter.

As a diagnostic tool, we always observe and listen to the rhythm of your digestion and elimination. We pay attention to any food stagnation.

We residents of Northern Virginia are fortunate to have many local farmers’ markets and CSAs (community supported agricultural co-ops.) These are just a handful of favorite references that I wish to share with you.

More information:

Please visit www.moutouxorchard.com.

The Omnivores’ Dilemma by Michael Pollan.
This book features Polyface Farm, a pasture-based  beyond organic farm in our own Shenandoah Valley. The farm features a buyer’s club that delivers grass-fed beef, chicken, pork, and dairy to Falls Church, VA. Visit www.polyfacefarms.com.

Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Tradition and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford.

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite by Dr. David A. Kessler, M.D.

Eating Mindfully: How to End Mindless Eating by Susan Albers.

50 Ways to Soothe Yourself without Food by Susan Albers.

The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia by Rebecca Woods.

The Acid–Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health by Christopher Vasey, N.D.

The pH Miracle: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health by Robert O. Young, Ph.D.

The Smart Student’s Guide to Healthy Living: How to Survive Stress, Late Nights, and the College Cafeteria by N. J. Smith.

Cookies for Breakfast: A Teen's Not-so-bad Guide to Wheat and Gluten Free Baking by Michael Perlman.

For inspired nourishment and recipes, please refer to my colleague's website, www.going beyondwellness.com, click on Recipes.

Refer also to the Center for Science in the Public Interest at www.cspinet.org.