ACUPUNCTURE

🇬🇧 This page contains some advice on the latest developments regarding the current worldwide outbreak of the new coronavirus and available self-care solutions during the exceptional closure of the acupuncture clinics.

A healthy immune system should be able to ward off any pathogens from our organisms, maintaining a protective layer at the level of our skin, known as Wei Qi or Protective Energy in Chinese medicine. At the same time, this warding-off function should be used intelligently, without causing harm to the healthy organs and systems of our bodies. A well balanced immune system should remain between these two opposites – extreme weakness and excessive strength.

You can support the health of your immune system and your natural defences by:
✓ following the current hygiene and contact advice;
✓ having good quality food, rich in vitamins (especially C & D) and minerals (especially zinc & magnesium);
✓ having enough rest and sleep;
✓ keeping calm & using stress reduction techniques/exercises.

For latest developments and advice for Switzerland, please see the following FOPH (OFSP) guidance:

www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov.html

Please remember that the currently encouraged “Stay at home” strategy serves several important purposes:
a) Observing self-quarantine allows us to ensure we are not infected and, in case we are, not to contaminate other people;
b) The above steps will reduce the load on the first-line health workers and will give everybody more time to study the current situation and develop more effective treatment/prevention solutions.

You can naturally reinforce your immune systems during this period by using simple self-acupressure techniques in the comfort of your home (please see below).

Mind & spirit hygiene:
• create a stable daily rhythm
• keep informed of the current news without getting overwhelmed
• create dedicated moments for rest and entertainment
• keep positive, connected and helpful to others

Energy:


We have three main sources of energy, which are complementary and interchangeable:
• sunlight & heat
• quality food
• good sleep


If we miss the natural sunlight (which we do right now), we can compensate for it with eating more warming and nourishing foods and/or sleeping for longer.

Exercise:


Physical movement is important for several reasons – maintaining a healthy cardio-vascular system, moving the lymphatic fluid (cleaning up!), keeping the muscle tone up and improving our moods. We are made to be mobile, that is why, as the joke goes, “we have legs instead of roots”. Ideally, we should still spend 20-30 minutes per day outdoors to take in fresh air, daylight and let our eyes wander. If the weather is really-really bad, we can develop a comfortable exercise programme at home (yoga, qi-gong, tai-qi, dancing, hula-hooping, jumping, etc.).

Some dietary advice:

Please try to reduce, substitute or eliminate the following elements from your diet to keep the immune system healthy:


Refined sugars – highly addictive, acidifying and heating to our bodies, refined sugars take us on a blood sugar roller coaster and disrupt our immunity, contributing to the formation of phlegm and mucus, making us sluggish and lethargic. Try using naturally sweet fruits, honey, agave syrup or coconut sugar instead.


Cow’s dairy – very acidifying and difficult to absorb, milk provides a supportive environment for both viruses and bacteria to thrive on. Why not try almond, rice or oat based drinks instead?


Avoid hyper-stimulants, if possible. In order to heal, our bodies need to be in a recovery or parasympathetic mode. This is what happens when we sleep, we restore our psycho-physical balance. When we are over-active or under stress, it is much more difficult for our bodies to heal. So it is a good idea to moderate our coffee consumption, for example.


Other helpful tips:


We know by now that COVID-19 initially lodges and multiplies in the nose and throat before moving deeper into the body. Therefore, we need to pay special attention to the hygiene of these two areas.


Natural solutions include salty nasal sprays, neti pots for sinuses and warm salty water gargles for the throat. While brushing your teeth, you can also add 5-7 drops of hydrogen peroxide (l’eau oxygénée) on top of the toothbrush, which will enhance its anti-viral properties. A 3% hydrogen peroxide solution is readily available from regular pharmacies.

Keep well, remain positive, gathered and connected.

🙏 Slava

🇫🇷  Cette page contient des conseils sur les derniers développements concernant l’actuelle épidémie mondiale du coronavirus et les solutions d’auto-soins disponibles pendant la fermeture exceptionnelle des cliniques d’acupuncture.

Un système immunitaire sain devrait être capable d’éliminer tous les agents pathogènes de notre organisme, en maintenant une couche protectrice au niveau de notre peau, connue en médecine chinoise sous le nom de Wei Qi ou énergie protectrice. En parallèle, cette fonction protectrice doit être utilisée intelligemment, sans nuire aux organes et aux systèmes sains de notre corps. Ainsi, un système immunitaire équilibré doit se trouver entre ces deux opposés : une faiblesse extrême (hypoactive) et une intensité excessive (hyperactive).

Vous pouvez soutenir votre santé, votre système immunitaire et vos défenses naturelles en :
✓ suivant les conseils d’hygiène et de “gestes barrière” recommandés par les médecins ;
✓ en privilégiant une nourriture de bonne qualité riche en vitamines (particulièrement la vitamine C et la vitamine D) et en minéraux (particulièrement le zinc et le magnésium) ;
✓ suffisamment de repos et un sommeil de qualité ;
✓ en mettant en place des techniques et pratiques afin de diminuer le stress.

Afin d’être au courant des derniers développements et conseils pour la Suisse, veuillez consulter les conseils suivants de l’OFSP :

www.bag.admin.ch/bag/fr/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov.html

N’oubliez pas que la stratégie actuellement encouragée de «rester à la maison» sert plusieurs objectifs importants :
a) l’observation de l’auto-quarantaine nous permet d’assurer que nous ne sommes pas infectés et, si nous le sommes, nous ne pourrons pas contaminer les gens autour de nous ;
b) le respect des étapes ci-dessus réduiront considérablement la charge des services de santé et donneront à chacun plus de temps pour étudier la situation actuelle et développer des solutions de traitement / confinement plus efficaces.

En parallèle, vous pouvez naturellement renforcer votre système immunitaire pendant cette période en utilisant de simples techniques d’acupression dans le confort de votre foyer.

Prenez soin de vous, restez positifs, centrés et connectés.

🙏 Slava

🇬🇧 Here is a visual selection of some effective and simple to find five acupressure points you can use in the comfort of your home until you can get back to your acupuncture treatments. You can press these points for about 30 seconds each, releasing and repeating four times before moving onto the next point. You can repeat this protocol as often as you like. Remember to breathe slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth, making this sequence a self-care exercise to calm and strengthen your body and mind ☯️

🇫🇷 Voici une sélection visuelle de quelques points d’acupression efficaces et simples à utiliser dans le confort de votre maison jusqu’à ce que vous puissiez reprendre vos traitements d’acupuncture. Vous pouvez appuyer sur chacun de ces points pendant environ 30 secondes, relâchez et répétez quatre fois avant de passer au point suivant. Vous pouvez répéter ce protocole aussi souvent que vous le souhaitez. N’oubliez pas d’inspirer lentement par le nez et d’expirer par la bouche en réalisant cette séquence d’auto-soins afin de calmer votre corps et votre esprit ☯️