GOING GREEN: Post 7. Holiday Greenliness by Katrine Knauer - www.globalwellnessevolution.com

GOING GREEN: Post 7. Holiday Greenliness

With the holiday season approaching, I thought I would try to gather some green ideas for gift giving. When I was younger, I always would watch as my mom would make piles and piles of delicious Austrian cookies, vanilla kipferln, and then place them beautifully on pretty ceramic plates as gifts for neighbors and friends.

The gift of food never disappoints, it shows that time and love have been put into it. And then rather than a paper plate, the ceramic plate acted as a more permanent gift. To this day, I have friends requesting the infamous kipferln ! And during the holiday season, the house is always filled with the warm scent of baking.

Even if you don’t have the desire to bake the cold days away, there are many other ways to let your creativity shine in the gifts that you share with friends and family…

* I am a big fan of Christmas markets. Though this is not as common as in Europe, there still exit markets where you have the opportunity to buy hand made local goods. There are a lot of pop up shops, as well as artist collectives, in Los Angeles that could be a good start to the holiday gift search.

* Recently, a friend lost their mother. It is hard to express yourself in times like this. Instead, we found a way to remember her by donating a tree to beplanted in her honor. During this season of giving, we often find that friends or family have enough, and giving a donation in their name, can be a nice way to help a local charity or cause that your friend believes in.

* If you are the creative type and like getting into a bit of a mess, you canmake beauty products for your friends like a bath scrub or bath bombs (http://www.marthastewart.com/271871/bath-fizzies). Or grab an old t-shirt and pair of scissors and make a necklace (http://www.wholeliving.com/article/t-shirt-necklace).

* Lastly, get rid of the wrapping paper ! It is a waste or paper and trees, when there are so many other options to get creative. Reuse newspaper or brown paper bags, paint them, add pretty ribbons… Grab old cloth that has been hiding in the closet and artfully twist and tie it up. The image above, beautifully exhibits how cool it can look.

Sounds green . Thank you Katrine .


wellness evolution
ACUPUNCTURE GROUP
607 N. Huntley Dr.
West Hollywood, Ca 90069
310-289-1155

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Acupressure Points for Better Vision incl. Instructions for doing self-acupressure for eye health:

Acupressure Points for Better Vision
By: Dr. Marc Grossman O.D. L.Ac.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), all diseases involving the eye are closely related to the liver. It is also understood that the eye is nourished by all of the internal organs in the body. The lens of the eye and the pupil basically belong to the kidney, the sclera to the lungs, the arteries and veins to the heart, the top eyelid to the spleen, the bottom eyelid to the stomach, and the cornea and iris to the liver. The Spleen and Stomach also control circulation in the eyes. Therefore an imbalance in any of the internal organs may lead to eye disease. 

MAJOR ACUPRESSURE EYE POINTS

There are a number of acupuncture/acupressure points around the eyes (basically around the orbits of the eyes which are the bones that surround the eyeballs). The points shown above are some of the major local eye points.

• Jingming (UB-1) Urinary Bladder Channel, lies where the inner corner of the eye meets the nose. Bladder 1 and 2 are perhaps the best two points for eye problems of all kinds from early-stage cataracts or glaucoma to hysteria with vision loss. They are also used for problems with conjunctivitis due to Wind-Heat and Liver Heat, to blurred vision in the elderly due to Deficient Jing and Blood

• Zanzhu (UB-2) Urinary Bladder Channel, lies in the depressions at the inner ends of the eyebrows. Bladder 1 and 2 are perhaps the best two points for eye problems of all kinds from early-stage cataracts or glaucoma to hysteria with vision loss. They are also used for problems with conjunctivitis due to Wind-Heat and Liver Heat, to blurred vision in the elderly due to Deficient Jing and Blood

• Yuyao Midpoint of the eyebrow in the hollow. Good for eye problems related to worry, excessive study and mental strain.

• Sizhukong (SJ 23) Sanjiao or Triple Burner Channel, in the depression at the outside end of the eyebrow. This is a local point good for eye and facial problems, whether due to Wind invasion or the Liver Yang and Fire.

• Tongziliao (GB 1) Gall Bladder Channel, lies in the cavities on the outside corners of the eye sockets. Good for eye problems including conjunctivitis, red sore eyes, photophobia, dry, itchy eyes, early-stage cataracts and blurred vision, as well as lateral headaches.

• Qiuhou Midway between St-1 and GB-1 along the orbit of the eyes.

• Chengqi (St 1) directly blow the pupil on the infraorbital ridge bone. This is a main point for all eye problems, including those due to Wind Cold, Wind Heat and Hyperactive Liver Yang.

Instructions for doing self-acupressure for eye health:

GENTLY massage each acupuncture point around the orbit of the eye, starting with B1-1 and massaging each point as you go up and outward. Each point should be massaged for approximately 5-10 seconds. You can massage both eyes at the same time. You can do this massage as often as you like over the course of the day. You may find that each point feels different in terms of sensitivity.

Keep BREATHING as you massage. Deep breathing helps the cells of your eyes receive the oxygen they need for healing. Practice long, slow abdominal breathing while massaging the acupressure points.
CAUTION: If you are pregnant, consult a trained acupuncturist before treating yourself. Do not massage on an area if it has a scar, burn or infection.

SELF-HELP
Since we consider most eye conditions to be a reflection of the health of the whole body, lifestyle choices and diet can play a major factor in getting and maintaining good vision. Below are some recommendations:

• The Vision Diet.  Recommended in Natural Eye Care, co-authored by Marc Grossman, O.D., L.Ac. Studies show patients can reduce their eye pressure by five to seven millimeters with an improved diet and supplement program. In general, a diet high in betacarotene, vitamins C and E, and sulfur-bearing amino acids are recommended. Foods containing those nutrients include garlic, onions, beans, spinach, celery, turnips, yellow and orange vegetables, green leafy vegetables, seaweed, apples, oranges and tomatoes.

• Daily Juicing (organic if possible) – 1 pint per day minimum. Up to 2-8 pints per day for healing. Vegetables used should be mostly greens.

• Drink lots of water - 8-10 glasses of purified water. Avoid carbonated, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. They can actually dehydrate your eyes.

• Manage your stress - meditate, take a walk in nature, practice yoga, visualization techniques or prayer on a daily basis.

• Exercise daily - do at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. Walking and swimming are two excellent forms of exercise.

• Eye exercises can help to bring energy and blood to the eyes, thereby helping to drain away toxins or congestion to the eyes.  

• Avoid foods to which you are allergic: a study of 113 patients with chronic simple glaucoma showed immediate IOP increases of up to 20 millimeters when they were exposed to foods in to which they were allergic. Manage stress. Take up meditation, yoga, tai chi, or any practice that helps you relax. Some consider glaucoma a stress related condition.

CAUTION: If you are pregnant, consult a trained acupuncturist before treating yourself. Do not massage on an area if it has a scar, burn or infection.

About the Author
 
Dr. Grossman, OD, L.Ac. is one of the leading holistic eye doctors, has been in practice for over 27 years, and is the author of a number of 5 books on natural eye care including the following: co-author of Magic Eye - A 3D Guide (Andrews and McMeel, 1995), Natural Vision Care - An Encyclopedia (Keats Publishing) printed in April, 1999, Greater Vision (McGraw Hill) printed in September, 200, and “Natural Eye Care: A Comprehensive Manual for Practitioners of Oriental Medicine”, which is a 230-page manual describing both the Western and Eastern approaches to preserving eyesight for over 20 specific eye conditions. His newest book was just released in June, 2004 and is entitled Beyond 3D : Improve Your Vision with Magic Eye by Marc Grossman (Author), Magic Eye Inc. (Author)

Dr. Grossman lectures nationally on topics such as Natural Vision Improvement, Vision and Nutrition, Psycho-Emotional Aspects of Visual Conditions, Vision & Learning, Holistic Integrative Visual Therapy, and Chinese Medicine and Vision Care. He also teaches workshops for health care professionals including acupuncturists, physical therapists, chiropractors and body workers, social workers, occupational therapists, naturopaths and other optometrists. Dr. Grossman is a consultant to school systems, rehabilitation centers and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.