Blog » Ira Wahrman L.Ac | Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine in Mamaroneck, NY

NEVER WALK BAREFOOT ON A COLD FLOOR!!!

By Ira Wahrman | Published March 7, 2016

Cold is a major disease factor in Chinese medicine. Cold causes qi and blood to slow down and stagnate. This slowing down has an effect on your physical body as well as your mental and emotional body. Cold is referred to as a yin pathogen and overtime will harm the bodies life force or yang energy.

Chinese Medicine theory always reflects on the natural world and how the functions of the body are reflections of the natural world. For example all of the external pathological factors causing illness are phenomena that exist in nature. These being wind, dampness, dryness, cold, heat, and summer heat. All are related to a particular season and patterns of disease. In this posting I will mostly discuss cold because as Americans we expose ourselves to coldness more than any other pathological factor. This is due partially to the way we dress but mostly due to the way we eat and drink. All processes in the human body require warmth. When excessive cold is introduced into the body it causes functioning of many different organ systems to slow.

Posted in Healthy Habits | Tagged cold, digestive health, painful period | Comments Off

Steamed Sweet Potatoes – A Superfood For Your Digestion

By Ira Wahrman | Published February 24, 2016

Sweet potatoes are a great tonic food for the digestive system. It is a great food to eat if you have weak digestion. They are helpful for both loose stools and for constipation. It is also really good at helping with blood sugar imbalances. I suggest to my patients that they should eat their sweet potatoes steamed. If you eat too much baked sweet potato it can cause constipation. Steamed sweet potato generally does not cause this problem. I will talk about the effects of different cooking methods in future posts.

It is best to have one sweet potato per day or at least every other day. There are many varieties of sweet potato. Orange flesh, purple flesh, white flesh, etc. Some are from the Americas some are from Japan there are probably many others. If you have diabetes or blood sugar issues it is probably best to eat the orange variety. They are not as sweet as the other varieties. Best is to buy organic if you can. Try having sweet potato regularly for two to three weeks. You may notice some changes in your digestion.

Posted in Digestive Health | Tagged blood sugar, constipation, diet, loose stool | Comments Off

Drink Hot Water For Better Health Part II

By Ira Wahrman | Published February 10, 2016

It has been quite a while since I wrote the original posting on the benefits of drinking hot water. I was inspired to write more on the benefits of drinking hot water since we are in the middle of the winter season and this is the most important time of the year to consume warm food and beverages. The original post was put up in 2012 and I have gained some more insight and easier ways of explaining the benefits of consuming hot water rather than cold.

While working with patients I have noticed how different temperatures of water effect people in three distinct ways. In very basic terms ice water will cause and aggravate many chronic health conditions. Drinking room temperature water will not have a negative effect on health. It also will not have a very obvious effect on improving health aside from drinking enough fluids will keep a person hydrated. Consuming hot water on the other hand will not only prevent the worsening of a patients symptoms but will also act as a mild treatment for many chronic conditions. continue reading »

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Go To Bed Early To Combat Chronic Disease

By Ira Wahrman | Published February 5, 2016

Many patients come to see me in Mamaroneck seeking acupuncture for various conditions. Most of these patients not only get acupuncture and herbal medicine but they also get help through lifestyle adjustments. Adjusting your sleep is one of them, Going to bed at a reasonable time can have a strong effect on your mental, emotional and physical health.

In ancient China people believed the cycles of the body followed the cycles of the natural world. They thought if you go against these natural cycles disease will arise. The ancient Chinese also believed you should not only dress properly for the seasons but you should also attune your exercise, rest, sleep, diet and lifestyle to fit with the changing of the seasons. For example, in winter time you should eat more warming and nourishing foods such as meat, root vegetables, cabbage and other winter vegetables. You should also eat more cooked foods and fewer raw foods. In the winter time you should also go to bed earlier and sleep a little later. Exercise should be more contemplative and meditative. Qigong and meditation are good for the winter time. Life should slow down during this time of the year. The winter time in Chinese medicine corresponds to the water element. In Chinese Cosmology the organ related to the water element are the Kidneys. The Kidneys should be nourished during the times that correspond to the water element.

Posted in Healthy Habits | Tagged Fertility, sleep | Comments Off

Ira Wahrman L.Ac on Proper Dosage of Acupuncture Treatment

By Ira Wahrman | Published January 21, 2016

At the acupuncture office in Mamaroneck patients often ask how often they need to come for treatment. Acupuncture is no different from any other form of medical intervention. When you take prescription medication the dosage is listed on the bottle. When you take herbal medicine you are also given a proper dosage to achieve the desired results. Proper dosage of acupuncture allows for effective treatment and good results. When I say dosage of acupuncture I am referring to individual treatment length, frequency of visits and amount of needle stimulation.

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