Peace and Health During the Holiday Season
November 2021
By Patty Jones, LAc, MSTOM, Dipl. OM, DCCM, PharmD., RPh
and Anjalee Patel, LAc, DACM, Dipl. OM, PTA
The holiday season is a time of year that inspires fun and excitement. Activities like putting up holiday decorations, parties, shopping for gifts and holiday baking can bring joy to many. While these activities are fun, it is often the most stressful time of year. People get so busy with the extra work of holiday preparations and taking care of their families that they can forget to take care of themselves. Let’s talk about a couple things that can come up during the holiday season that can be addressed to ease stress and maintain health: emotional experiences or imbalances and gut imbalances.
Emotional Experiences or Imbalances
The holidays can bring an array of emotions, such as, joy and excitement. However, some people also may find the holiday season brings up emotions like anxiety, depression and even trauma, especially if they have lost a loved one recently or previously during the holiday season. These experiences can have a significant impact on the body. Sleep can suffer, which can lead people to become more susceptible to colds, flus and other viruses. Some people might even experience more physical pain because of their emotional pain. During this time of emotional experiences or imbalances, self-care (hint: acupuncture) is more important than ever.
Gut Imbalances
Big holiday meals can affect digestion, causing reflux, bloating, bowel changes and even a spike in blood glucose levels. Sugary sweets and alcohol can cause irritation to the gastrointestinal (GI) system that can in turn, affect sleep and even the body’s immunity. When indulging in sweets or alcohol, there a few tips to remember. First, try to consume these two right after the meal to avoid another spike in glucose levels. In fact, try not to let 10-15 minutes go by before reaching for the sugary treat or alcohol. This will help maintain the blood glucose spike raised by the main meal and will not cause another spike to occur. Second, after eating sweets or consuming alcohol, drink a ginger tea. This will help boost and warm the GI system to keep things moving because sweets and alcohol are known to affect digestion. Third, make sure to consume Vitamin C to help boost the immune system. Sugar and alcohol are known to decrease the immune system, so it is important to boost it as soon as possible. Lastly, take probiotics with prebiotics as part of a supplement or herbal medicine regiment. These will provide healthy bacteria into the gut that helps with digestion and absorption of foods. Follow these tips to feel well and avoid experiencing dietary changes.
Don’t forget, A Touch of Ginger (ATOG) can treat all the issues mentioned with acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Regular acupuncture treatments can help the body stay ahead of the struggles during season because it promotes relaxation, supports digestion and helps with emotional imbalances.
Schedule an Appointment
For those who are new to acupuncture, now is a great time to give it a try to discover its benefits. For those who have a friend or family member who has been thinking about trying acupuncture, gift certificates to ATOG are available. Get ready for the season by booking acupuncture treatments throughout the holidays!
You can schedule an appointment with Patty or Anjalee by calling ATOG at (630) 299-3464 or click here to schedule an appointment online.
From all of us at ATOG, we wish you and your family a peaceful and healthy holiday!
Patty Jones, LAc, MSTOM, Dipl. OM, DCCM, PharmD., RPh, is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate of Acupuncture, Diplomate of Canonical Chinese Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy and a Registered Pharmacist at ATOG. Anjalee Patel, LAc, DACM, Dipl. OM, PTA, is a Licensed Acupuncturist, a Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine and a Physical Therapist Assistant at ATOG.