Dear Present Sage Family,

During this challenging time as we are facing so many uncertainties with the rising tide of the coronavirus, staying calm so that we can move towards healing our communities together is of utmost importance. It is also my intention to help by adding wellness coaching to my services. More information on this new offering is included below.

In this newsletter I am focusing on prevention and including some of the best resources for mind and body I have come across up to this point, as well as some general recommendations for supporting your immune system. You might remember that in 2017 I traveled to China to study with several scholars of Chinese Medicine, including Dr. Liu Lihong; his article describing his experience of treating COVID 19 patients in Wuhan is also below. My teacher, Heiner Fruehauf, who led the China trip, authored the first two articles.

I have also included interesting information on how COVID 19 is being addressed in China and how Chinese Medicine is viewing this illness - which should help in understanding how to prevent it. General guidelines from national and local public health services - links below, are also very important for all to follow.





Wellness & Prevention Tips

  • Vitamin D, daily 2000 IUI recommended for prevention - immune support
  • Vitamin C, daily liposomal if possible 1000-2000 mg/day - immune support
  • Kukicha tea -helps to keep blood alkaline, immune support
  • Zinc Lozenges - immune support - effective with shortening common cold virus
  • Colloidal Silver - immune support
  • Honey in tea or warm water - immune support and keeps lungs/throat moist
  • Garlic - antiviral
  • Green tea - antiviral
  • Get good rest! (Going to bed at or before 10:00 allows the body to recover whereas anytime after 11:00 interferes with the liver function and with the body's ability to heal itself, according to Chinese Medicine)

Specific Foods that resolve phlegm in the lungs (eat for prevention and keep your lungs healthy)

  • Onion
  • Pear
  • Radish

Specific Foods to AVOID as they help create Dampness in the body (COVID 19 seems to be a disease of the DAMP-TOXIN category according to Chinese Medicine)

  • Cow Dairy products
  • Saturated fats
  • Concentrated juices, especially orange and tomato
  • Refined sugars
  • Wheat
  • Bread
  • Yeast
  • Beer
  • Pork
  • Peanuts

Dampness is also created with the consumption of raw, cold or sweet foods. What is considered healthy - a salad and a cold drink - is not healthy in this case. Focus on eating warm, cooked foods - like soups, lean meats, and sauteed or steamed greens.
Public Health Resources

  • For up-to-date health information please visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
  • Montgomery County also maintains a data hub with all COVID 19 updates related to PA and the County.
  • As Montgomery county residents, it is even more important for us to limit social engagements and practice all good hygiene recommendations which I am sure you already familiar with:
  • Washing hands well and often with soap and water.
  • Avoid touching your face unless your hands are clean.
  • Use a tissue or elbow to sneeze into.
  • Sterilize your phone and other contact surfaces in your home. At the clinic we have stepped up to using Decon-30 to sterilize between each patient along with the Seventh Generation herbal disinfectant cleaners we typically use.

If you are experiencing new flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath, call ahead to your primary care doctor so that she or he can take the next steps to get you tested and treated, if needed. If you are experiencing severe symptoms call 911.

While current reports on coronavirus suggest that healthy or robust individuals are unlikely to have any serious health complications related to the illness, it does pose a real threat to the elderly and to the immune compromised who may not have the qi to overcome the complications of this new virus. It is different from the flu in that there are no vaccines, western medications to treat it directly, and because humans have not yet developed antibodies to combat it.

How do we maintain our center during a time of change and unknowing?

Following all the public health guidelines as we receive them is imperative (see recommendations and links to the CDC below.)

We've also never experienced a public health crisis like this one during a time of constant connection to social media and devices. It is important to take time to pause and give the news media a break, so that your nervous system, and correspondingly your immune system, can recover.

On the level of mental and emotional health which supports your immune system and overall vitality - this time might take some extra soul-searching.
I have found that meditation and qi gong can help immensely with feeling grounded and peaceful - not just while you are practicing them. Their energetic effect ripples into your daily life, which ultimately is the purpose of these cultivational practices. Creative pursuits - writing, art, gardening can also help move the liver qi and in so doing regulate the emotions.

With Montgomery county essentially closing this could be an opportunity to take advantage of the time to go inward for those who feel called.

To the end of helping you stay grounded mentally and well emotionally I am now offering wellness coaching sessions - via Zoom or over the phone. 30 or 60 minute sessions can include meditations, qi gong for lung health and increasing immunity, and/or holistic medicine suggestions for foods and supplements. As my first acupuncture teacher said, "our words are our first needles." I am happy to offer mind-body wellness practices, qi gong and meditation instruction, and "word as needle" to help keep you healthy from a distance during challenging times.
Please call or email:
215-680-2362
mfatimah@me.com
The views and nutritional or supplemental advice or recommendations expressed by Mary Fatimah Weening L.Ac. and employees of The Present Sage Acupuncture (TPSA) are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. Information, recommendations and views expressed should not be interpreted as a diagnosis for any disease, nor an attempt to treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition. Information and statements regarding supplements, products and/or services provided by TPSA have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.