Nowadays, our digital devices provide us with countless entertainment and social platforms at the touch of a button. It is very easy to become addicted. To some extent, we are all aware of the excessive time spent using these devices, but using these digital devices can cost you a lot more than just your time. As you use your devices more and more, they can also prevent you from achieving your goals, whilst slowly eating away your health. Here are some reasons why excessively using your digital devices is harming both your physical and mental health:
1. It steals time and opportunity
How many times have you launched an app to just watch a clip, but end up hours later having watched many clips? When you spend a lot of time engaging in meaningless internet browsing, you’ve wasted time that you could’ve put towards achieving something.
2. You develop bad habits
Each time you struggle to put down your device eats away at your self-discipline. You might start drowning yourself in negative thoughts like “I can’t live without my mobile”, “I cannot quit” and/or “I am not able to control myself”.
3. You give up more easily.
Your passions and interests take a backseat because you are not prioritising your time well. In reality, you’ve just become lazy and justify it with “I am busy with my mobile/PC”.
4. Your social skills decline
Only socialising via digital devices causes one to gradually lose interest in meeting people/friends in person. Over time, you’ll start to notice important habits, such as maintaining proper eye contact, take a dive and affect your social interactions.
5. You’ll lose sleep
Your priorities have shifted, and you’ll sacrifice a healthy night’s sleep in order to play or browse more.
6. It may lead to chronic pain
Without even noticing it, you may be maintaining a particular posture or position for a long time as your use your device. This creates many body aches, which, if not corrected over time, can develop into chronic pain.
7. You may lose touch with reality
Immersing yourself in the internet world for too long can cause you to lose the feeling of reality.
8. You’re at risk for severe medical issues
Your sedentary lifestyle leads to bad metabolism and weight gain. There have been many cases where people die in internet cafés due to playing online games for days without moving.
9. It can cause numbness and negative emotions
Dopamine is well known as the ‘happy hormone’ that the body produces when you have enough sleep, an appropriate amount of exercise and you’re achieving your goals. Using digital devices for too long can increase the risk of imbalanced dopamine release. Over time, a lack of dopamine can result in feelings of numbness, pessimism and boredom with life.
How we use digital entertainment in our everyday life is a serious matter. In order to live a meaningful and creative life, let’s use our devices in a way to enrich, instead of harm, our lives.
In order to ensure that you remain safe while visiting our clinics, we’ve implemented the appropriate measures in our clinics.
Here is our updated Infection Control and Prevention Protocol.
We’ve committed to make sure that you are safe.
Infection control and prevention protocol
All our staffs will:
Self check temperature on arrival of clinic;
Wear mask and gloves at all time;
Wash hands thoroughly after servicing each patient.
All patients:
Screen when making appointment
We will make sure that you are not returned from overseas in the last 14 days, or are suffering from cold or flu symptoms or been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 symptoms.
We will reschedule patients who are currently unwell or have been in contact with someone who has the virus.
Telehealth phone or video consultation is open if you are unable to attend our clinics. Chinese herbal medicine can be dropped in your car while you are waiting. We can also post herbs to your address as your choice.
Screen on arrival of clinic
Check your temperature;
You will be offered a mask to wear;
Hand sanitiser station for anyone attending the clinic. It is important that you wash hands thoroughly during your visit.
Clean – hourly cleaning of all public areas including:
Reception desk/herbal room:
Computer keyboard/mouse/hicaps/ftpos machine, and herbal room desk tables
Waiting room:
Mop floor at least 2 times per day
Toilet – spay wipe with disinfectant every one hour and after each usage
Clinic door handles, waiting room chairs – spray clean after each patient’s visit
Treatment/consultation Room:
Single used disposable cover sheets are used in all treatment;
Chairs/ desk/ treatment bed/table: spray clean with disinfectant after each visit;
Towel: all cover towels are washed and put in the cabinet – not left on treatment tables;
Gowns: wash after each visit and put inside the cabinet;
Face hole cover /paper cover: single sued disposable cover sheet. Change and spray clean the face hole after each patient;
Suction cups: wash and spray wipe with alcohol sanitiser after each using
Social distance
Ensure adequate social distancing by:
Spacing out chairs in waiting room and
Staggering appointment times. Allow adequate time for cleaning as well as appropriate social distancing.
The Coronarivus has been spreading in Australia. There are increasing information about the coronavirus from the media and social media. People are becoming more anxious about the virus – we see panic buying of toilet paper and other stuffs from the supermarket.
Here are a few things that I would like to share with you about the virus and tips to avoid COVID 19 infection at this special period of time.
First please remember – virus are opportunists.
Opportunistic infections happen when your immune systems are weak. If your immune systems are strong, you have less change of being infected, or have less severe symptoms if you are infected.
As the Bible of Chinese medicine – Yellow Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic Says:
正气存内，邪不可干 – When there is sufficient healthy qi inside, pathogenic factors have no way to invade the body
Therefore the most important thing is:
Don’t give virus any opportunity!
That includes two measures:
Firstly, keep your immune system strong
Secondly, avoid the virus
Here are a few tips for a healthy immune systems
Stay calm and have less stress – constant worry or persistent high stress blocks your energy flow and reduce your immune system.
Be mindful to have necessary and enough rest when you are tired – Do Not overstrain or overwork, especially when we are in a COVID pandemic.
Have enough sleep – Go to bed early if you can. Our body repairs, recovers and recreates energy during sleep, so does our immune system.
Keep warm – avoid get cold by wearing enough clothes.
Eat a healthy diet – Less drinking alcohol and have enough water
No smoking – smoker’s lung function have already been compromised. Evidence showed smokers have higher rate to become severe cases once they have contract Covid-19. It is time to quit smoking now.
Lots of sunlight – Sunlight is the nature’s greatest disinfectant because the ultraviolet light inactivates bacteria and viruses. Researchers found a certain spectrum of ultraviolet light — far-UVC easily kills airborne flu viruses while posing no risk to people.
Sunlight will also improve your vitamin D which is important to your immune system.
Now in Melbourne is Autumn – the most beautiful season and full of sunlight. So Let’s get outdoor and enjoy the sunshine.
Moderate exercises – Exercises contribute to general good health and boost your immune system. I suggest moderate intensity exercises such as power walking, jogging, light weight training, yoga, Taichi.
Important: Remember to take a shower straight away after your exercises if you sweat during exercises. Or at least change into dry clothes.
Why is that?
Although exercises improve your immune system, your body is temporarily vulnerable after exercise, especially if after perspiration:
– You are tired after exercises.
– Your core temperate is high however your body surface temperature is low from sweating because your clothes are still wet.
Taking a shower and change into dry clothes give you less opportunity for virus to attack you.
AVOID virus
虚邪贼风 避之有时
For evil pathogens, avoid at times – Yellow Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic
Wash your hands
Viruses bind with grease. Washing your hands with soap kills virus.
Hand sanitiser with 70~75% alcohol kills virus too.
If you can’t buy sanitiser you can make your own at home – buy the 95% methylated spirit and dilute into 70~75%.
Avoid touch you face, mouth, eyes and nose
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Ventilate your home and office – Poor ventilation traps virus. Increase ventilation by opening windows and room doors.
Chinese herbal medicine
I recently read articles in Chinese regarding Chinese herbal medicine treatment that seems to have the ability to reduce symptoms of coronavirus.
I’ve also read news that almost everyone is taking Chinese herbal medicine decoctions for those who have been isolated in the Fang-Chang hospitals （mobile cabin hospitals) with mild to moderate symptoms. It has reported that none of those patients turned into severe cases with herbal medicine.
20 years ago I worked at Wuhan Chinese Medicine Hospital. One of ex colleague, Dr. Lv have recently participated in treating patients at one of the mobile cabin hospitals. I had a few chats with him. He shared a lot of information about both WM and TCM diagnosis and treatment for Covid-19. He also shared some Chinese medicine formulas that they’ve used to prevent and treat the disease at those hospitals.
I am studying these herbal-medicine-formulas and will be prepared to engage in ‘telehealth’ sessions with anyone should you experience any symptoms.
If anyone of you, or your family members have any concern or experience any symptoms, please let us know by call 03 8802 1519.
Via the phone or video consultation I may be able to prepare the proper herbs for you to pick up or post to your address.
Influence of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in assisted reproductive technology
J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci. 2002;22(3):228
Zhang M, Huang G, Lu F, Paulus WE, Sterzik K.
Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030.
The clinical effects of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in sperm parameter and on therapeutic results in assisted reproductive technology were investigated. 22 patients failed in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with idiopathic male infertility were treated with acupuncture twice weekly for 8 weeks, followed by ICSI treatment again. The sperm concentration, motility, morphology, fertilization rates and embryo quality were observed. Quick sperm motility after acupuncture (18.3% +/- 9.6%) was significantly improved as compared with that before treatment (11.0% +/- 7.5%, P < 0.01). The normal sperm ratio was increased after acupuncture (21.1% +/- 10.4% vs 16.2% +/- 8.2%,P < 0.05). The fertilization rates after acupuncture (66.2%) were obviously higher than that before treatment (40.2%, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in sperm concentration and general sperm motility between before and afteracupuncture. The embryo quality after acupuncture was improved, but the difference between them was not significant (P > 0.05). Acupuncture can improve sperm quality and fertilization rates in assisted reproductive technology.
PMID: 12658811 [PubMed-indexed for MEDLINE]
Does acupuncture treatment affect sperm density in males with very low sperm count? A pilot study
Andrologia Volume 32 Issue 1 Page 31 January 2000
S. Siterman, F. Eltes, V. Wolfson, H. Lederman & B. Bartoov
Classic therapies are usually ineffective in the treatment of patients with very poor sperm density. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of acupuncture on these males. Semen samples of 20 patients with a history of azoospermia were examined by light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), with which a microsearch for spermatozoa was carried out. These examinations were performed before and 1 month after acupuncture treatment and revealed that the study group originally contained three severely oligoteratoasthenozoospermic (OTA), two pseudoazoospermic and 15 azoospermic patients. The control group was comprised of 20 untreated males who underwent two semen examinations within a period of 24 months and had initial andrological profiles similar to those of the experimental group. No changes in any of the parameters examined were observed in the control group. There was a marked but not significant improvement in the sperm counts of severely OTA males following acupuncture treatment (average=0.7±1.1 10 6 spermatozoa per ejaculate before treatment vs. 4.3±3.2 10 6 spermatozoa per ejaculate after treatment). A definite increase in sperm count was detected in the ejaculates of 10 (67%) of the 15 azoospermic patients. Seven of these males exhibited post-treatment spermatozoa that were detected even by LM. The sperm production of these seven males increased significantly, from 0 to an average of 1.5±2.4 10 6 spermatozoa per ejaculate (Z= 2.8, P <0.01). Males with genital tract inflammationexhibited the most remarkable improvement in sperm density (on average from 0.3±0.6 106 spermatozoa per ejaculate to 3.3±3.2 10 6spermatozoa per ejaculate; Z=2.4, P 0.02). Two pregnancies were achieved by the IVF-ICSI procedure.It is concluded thatacupuncture may be a useful, nontraumatic treatment for males with very poor spermdensity, especially those with a history of genital tract inflammation.
Modification of semen quality by acupuncture in subfertile males
[Article in German]
Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 1984 Aug;44(8):510
Fischl F, Riegler R, Bieglmayer C, Nasr F, Neumark J.
Our first attempt in treating subfertility by acupuncture was carried out on 28 males. The results obtained from the experiences in veterinary medicine encouraged us to attempt this type of therapy. Each patient received a total of 10 treatments for a period of three weeks. Several spermiograms were made afterdiagnosis subfertility. We checked spermiograms and hormone levels before and after acupuncture. Total count, concentration and motility were evaluated. In all cases we observed a statistically significant improvement of sperm quality. Having obtained these good results in our first studies, we now intend to continue acupuncture therapy in subfertile males for insemination or intercourse at the time of the ovulation of their female partners.
Fluid retention over period time? Eat the right food helps.
When menstrual period is due, some women find that their faces, fingers, calves and feet are swelling. It is because their body retains fluid. The fluid retention can increase their weight up to 2~4 kilos. At the same time, many women have abdominal bloating, sore or tender breasts.
What causes the fluids retention?
Fluid retention over period is due to the imbalance of hormone, mostly due to increasing of estrogen, which result in sodium and fluid stay in the body.
Often the feeling of swollen during period can be reduced via right diet and light exercise. For instance, stay away from sodium salty food, have more food such as, potato or cucumber.
Foods to reduce fluid retention over period
cucumber
Cucumber
90% of cucumber is water, it is a good source of food to get hydrated. The skin of cucumber contains a substance called isoquercitrin which is diuretic. Cucumber has been used in helping people reduce the excess fluid in the body since ancient China. There were records from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that cucumber was used in assisting treating cystitis and acute urine tract infection.
potato
Potato
Potato has been known for long as “the apple grows in the ground” in the East. There are plenty of organic sodium and potassium in potato. It can help our body to get rid of the extra culinary sodium and fluid. In order to get the best effect from potato, do not peel its skin.
red beans
Red Beans (azuki beans)
Red azuki beans is rich in potassium and saponin which is diuretic. It has been used to treat water retention in TCM. In order to maximise the best nutritious from red bean, it is better to cook it slowly.
winter melon
Winter melon (white gourd)
Winter melon is rich in potassium. It is a food well known as a natural diuretic. It traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the seeds and peel of winter melon are herbs both used for edema or water retention. It has a cooling effect and mostly importantly, taste good.
