The Chinese New Year is a 15-day event that starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The first day of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. The celebration includes dedicating each year to a specific animal. The Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Rat, Boar, Rabbit, Dog, Rooster, Ox, Tiger, Snake, and Ram are the twelve animals that are part of this tradition.

In 2014, on the Western calendar, the start of the New Year falls on January 31st and is The Year of the Horse. During this important celebration in the Asian culture, it is traditional to wear red, meant to ward off evil spirits.

The following is a guide, compliments of about.com, to the 2014 Chinese New Year events in Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

In Maryland

• Gaithersburg Chinese New Year Events
  January 27-February 9, 2014. Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland. View beautiful Chinese New Year decorations and exhibits throughout the mall. Live entertainment (weekends, noon-5:00 p.m.) includes traditional lion and dragon dances, folk dances and martial arts demonstrations. Demonstrations and workshops include flower/bonsai arrangement, arts and crafts, painting and games.
• Chinese New Year at Montgomery County Public Libraries
  Thirteen branches of the public libraries welcome the new year with a variety of programs. Music, dance and special performances feature the sights, sounds and cultures of China, Korea and Vietnam. Programs include introduction to customs behind the Lunar New Year, traditional dances, hands-on art activities, puppet shows, healing and martial arts demonstrations including tai-chi and kung fu, calligraphy, crafts, customs, Chinese yo-yo, workshops and children’s activities, and the traditional Chinese lion dance. For specific schedules, visit the Montgomery County Public Libraries website

In Washington, DC

• Chinese New Year Parade and Festival in Washington, DC
  February 2, 2014, 2-4:30 p.m. Chinatown – on H Street, NW, between 6th and 8th Streets. Each year a parade is held in Chinatown to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The event features the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, Kung Fu demonstrations and live musical entertainment.

  Celebrate from 12-5 p.m. at the Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival, Chinatown Community Cultural Center, 616 H Street, NW Washington, DC. Programs and activities will include: live music and dance performances, traditional Chinese calligraphy, children’s crafts, face painting, tai chi and kung fu demonstrations, lion dancing, poetry readings, film screenings, art and photo exhibits, raffle prizes, New Year souvenirs, free giveaways, and much more. Special guest performances by: Wong People and students of Yu Ying Public Charter School.

• Chinese New Year Dining Specials in Washington DC
  Throughout the month of February, many restaurants in the Washington DC area offer specials in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Celebrate the “Year of the Horse” with special tasting menus.

In Northern Virginia

• Chinese New Year Festival – Falls Church
  February 1, 2014, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA. The event, hosted by the Asian Community Service Center, offers performances from China, Korea, India, Thailand, Vietnam, among others including the beautiful Chinese sword dance; Dragon Parade, fashion show, Asian plant art, Asian foods, Chinese cooking demo, teaching of Chinese characters, crafts, kids activities and more. FREE Admission.
• Fair Oaks Mall Lunar New Year Celebration
  February 1-2, 2014, 1-6 p.m. Fair Oaks Mall, 11750 Fair Oaks, Fairfax, VA. Ceremonies, performances and exhibitions will be presented from each day, with most of the events centered in the Fair Oaks Mall Grand Court. Presented by the Washington Hai Hua Community Center, the event will feature traditional Chinese dragon dances; music and dance performances; martial arts demonstrations; children’s crafts; and a special lantern festival. More than 200 performers will participate in this year’s Lunar New Year festival, representing such countries and regions as China, Korea, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Polynesia and the 50th state of Hawaii.

Between 4 and 6 percent of the U.S. population suffer from SAD. It is more commonly observed in those who live at high latitudes (areas farther away from the equator to the north and south). Seasonal changes are generally more extreme in these regions, supporting the idea that SAD is caused by changes in sunlight availability.

Seasonal Affective Disorder can occur during summer with limited symptoms such as weight loss, trouble sleeping, and decreased appetite. Winter symptoms tend to be more severe. They include fatigue, increased need for sleep, decreased energy levels, weight gain, increase in appetite, difficulty concentrating, and increased desire to be alone.

The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine states that, “People and nature are inseparable.” The TCM yin and yang forces of the seasons coincide with those of the body. While yang’s warmth, activity, and brightness work throughout the spring and summer months, yin’s passivity, coldness, and darkness begin in autumn and continue until spring equinox. Therefore, the winter months, which represent the height of the yin cycle and the water element, can cause those whose constitution tends toward yin to feel the effects of this season more acutely.

Energetic imbalances, which are associated with emotional and physical disturbances in the body, can become more pronounced after a change in weather and sunlight. Western medicine currently treats seasonal affective disorder with light therapy and sometimes with antidepressants. The downside to these therapies is that they carry side effects such as eyestrain, headache, irritability, fatigue, insomnia, palpitations, high blood pressure, and reduced libido. Also, these therapies do not address the underlying problems, but merely offer symptom relief.

Acupuncture, which has shown promising results treating depression by releasing serotonin and noradrenaline-norepinephrine, has no side effects. Together with a treatment plan created by a licensed acupuncturist, acupuncture can improve balance of mood and energy, relieving the patient from the burdens of a depressed, unbalanced system.

The winter months are associated with the Kidney system, which is the base of qi, our vital energy. The Kidney creates fire and warmth and provides energy to other organs. As our bodies use up energy keeping warm, they begin to crave quick sources of new energy in high calorie foods, which are stored as fat to keep the body warm. These foods do not sustain energy levels in the body, nor do they properly nourish the Kidney, and with this energy depletion we tend to feel more lethargic and sensitive to our surroundings. This is why winter is a time to seek replenishment of body, mind and spirit.

Nourishment in all areas of life is especially important during the winter months when SAD is most common. Although many people head indoors during winter, it is important to continue outdoor activities to expose yourself to daylight, and to take part in activities that support inner balance. Physical and mental stress, as well as poor sleep and nutrition, further deplete the body’s energy and leave you susceptible to illness. You should rest and conserve energy, but also spend time with friends and loved ones, cultivate your inner dialogue and eat a well balanced diet. Eating less fruits, increasing whole grain intake and plenty of warming foods such as soup, is a great way to nourish the Kidney system.

Oriental medicine can restore the balance our bodies seek during seasonal transitions. While the tendency is to look inward or become preoccupied with one area of our health, such as maintaining energy and keeping warm, it is important to remember that balance in everything from your diet to your living environment is essential in sustaining a positive outlook and a healthy mood.

– See more at: http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-news/articles/439-seasonal-affective-disorder.html#sthash.DgARbWgL.dpuf

Alternate names:                                                                              
Pharmaceutical: Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae
Botanical: Cinnamomum Cassia
Japanese: keishi
Korean: kyeji
Common:  cinnamon twig

The practice of Traditional Chinese medicine incorporates the use of many herbs and plants.  Gui Zhi, also known as cinnamon, is used frequently in Chinese herbal medicine. It is pungent and sweet in flavor and warm in nature.   It may be used for some types of cold or flu, arthritis, and digestive issues.  Also, it is often used for menstrual irregularities and cramps, water retention and poor circulation.  Read more in an article from Acupuncture Today.

Cinnamon is one of the world’s most popular spices. It is also one of the oldest herbal medicines: some Chinese texts have mentioned its use in herbal remedies more than 4,000 years ago.

Cinnamon comes from the cinnamon tree, which grows in tropical areas, including parties of India, China, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean. The tree’s inner bark and essential oil are used to make herbal products. Pieces of the bark may be sold individually, or the bark may be crushed and sold in a powdered form.

The medicinal effects of cinnamon are attributed to terpenoids, substances found in the tree’s essential oil. Small studies conducted on AIDS patients have found that cinnamon oil as a potent anti-fungal, helping rid the body of oral candida infections. Cinnamon has also been shown to fight the bacteria that causes most ulcers. Test-tube studies have found that other substances in the essential oil, diterpenes, may help reduce allergies.

References

• Akira T, Tanaka S, Tabata M. Pharmacological studies on the antiulcerogenic activity of Chinese cinnamon. Planta Med 1986;(6):440.
• Azumi S, Tanimura A, Tanamoto K. A novel inhibitor of bacterial endotoxin derived from cinnamon bark. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1997;234:506—10.
• Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds) The Complete Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, pp. 110—1.
• Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics, 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996, pp. 168—70.
• Quale JM, Landman D, Zaman MM, et al. In vitro activity of cinnamomum zeylanicum against azole resistant and sensitive candida species and a pilot study of cinnamon for oral candidiasis. Am J Chin Med 1996;24:103—9.

By Andrew M. Seaman
NEW YORK | Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:02pm EDT

People with depression may benefit as much from acupuncture as they do from counseling, suggests a new study.

Researchers found one in three patients was no longer depressed after three months of acupuncture or counseling, compared to one in five who received neither treatment.

“For people who have depression, who have tried various medical options, who are still not getting the benefit they want, they should try acupuncture or counseling as options that are now known to be clinically effective,” said Hugh MacPherson, the study’s lead author from the University of York in the UK.

Previous studies looking at whether acupuncture helps ease depression have been inconclusive. Those studies were also small and didn’t compare acupuncture to other treatment options.

“What’s more important for the patient is does it work in practice and that is the question we were asking,” MacPherson said.

For their study, he and his colleagues recruited 755 people with moderate or severe depression. The researchers split participants into three groups: 302 were randomly assigned to receive 12 weekly acupuncture sessions, another 302 received weekly counseling sessions and 151 received usual care only.

About 70 percent of people had taken antidepressants in the three months before the study and about half reported taking pain medications. People did not have to stop taking their medicine to participate in the study.

At the outset, participants had an average depression score of 16 on a scale from 0 to 27, with higher scores symbolizing more severe depression. A 16 is considered moderately severe depression.

After three months, people assigned to the acupuncture group had an average score of about 9 – on the higher end of the mild depression category. Scores fell to 11 among members of the counseling group and about 13 in the usual care group, both considered moderate depression.

Participants who received acupuncture or counseling saw larger improvements over three months than those who had neither treatment. Those benefits remained for an additional three months after the treatments stopped.

However, any differences between acupuncture and counseling could have been due to chance, the researchers reported Tuesday in PLOS Medicine.

They found doctors would need to treat seven people using acupuncture and 10 people with counseling for one person to no longer be depressed.

“What this says is if you don’t get completely better, there are other options,” Dr. Philip Muskin, a psychiatrist at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, told Reuters Health.

“One option would be to take a different medication, but by this study these would be valid options,” said Muskin, who was not involved with the new research.

He cautioned, however, that counseling and acupuncture are not replacements for medication. The majority of study participants were still taking antidepressants at the end of the three months.

Muskin said the study also doesn’t show what types of patients respond best to acupuncture or counseling.

“What I can’t tell from this study is who’s who. Not everybody got better,” he said.

MacPherson said it’s best to ask patients for their treatment preference.

“If you talk to people, they would almost always have a leaning one way or the other,” he said.

Acupuncture is only covered by health insurance in the UK for chronic pain, MacPherson said. In the U.S., some plans also cover acupuncture for pain or nausea.

According to online information from the Mayo Clinic, the risks of acupuncture are low if people hire competent and certified practitioners. Complications can include soreness, organ injury and infections.

“Cleary acupuncture is a new option,” MacPherson said. “This is the first evidence that acupuncture really helps.”

SOURCE: bit.ly/1803MNo PLOS Medicine, online September 24, 2013.

Acupuncture ‘boosts IVF success’
BBC News

Women undergoing fertility treatment could have their chances of success boosted by acupuncture.

German researchers said they have increased success rates by almost 50% in women having in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

The theory is that acupuncture can affect the autonomic nervous system, which is involved in the control of muscles and glands, and could therefore make the lining of the uterus more receptive to receiving an embryo.

But the scientists admit they do not know for certain why the complementary therapy helped, and plan to carry out more studies in a bid to find out.

Fertility techniques are used to help couples who cannot conceive naturally.

“If these findings are confirmed, they may help us improve the odds for our IVF patients achieving pregnancy” — Dr. Sandra Carson, American Society of Reproductive Medicine

The theory of acupuncture is based on pathways called meridians. Research has shown it can help relieve nausea caused by anaesthetics during surgery or chemotherapy and to relieve dental pain.

It may also help relieve other conditions including headaches and menstrual cramps.
‘A useful tool’

A report published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found the pregnancy rate in the group receiving acupuncture group was 42.5%, compared to the group which did not receive the therapy, where the rate was 26.3%.
The German researchers worked with doctors at the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China.

Of 160 women undergoing IVF, half received standard in vitro fertilisation, while half were given acupuncture treatments before and after.

The researchers chose acupuncture points which traditional Chinese medicine says relax the uterus. They also used needles to stimulate meridians involving the spleen, stomach and colon, to improve blood flow and create “more energy in the uterus.”  Key relaxation points were also stimulated.

The research team, led by Dr. Wolfgang Paulus and colleagues at the Christian-Lauritzen-Institut in Ulm, Germany, wrote in the journal: “Acupuncture seems to be a useful tool for improving pregnancy rate after assisted reproductive techniques.

They add: “To rule out the possibility that acupuncture produces only psychological or psychosomatic effects, we plan to use a placebo needle set as a control in a future study.”

Such a study would involve people having needles inserted in the same way as in acupuncture, but not at the acupuncture points.

Dr. Sandra Carson, president-elect of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, which publishes the journal, said: “If these findings are confirmed, they may help us improve the odds for our (in vitro fertilisation) patients’ achieving pregnancy.”