Acupuncture & Natural Healing Therapies

Acupuncture after joint replacement surgery

2011-02-10T06:48:00.000-08:00

During the past year I've seen several patient after total joint replacement surgery. Acupuncture helped relieve pain and assisted their progress towards regaining strength and range of motion through better performance during physical therapy sessions. There were no cases of infections and the scars healed well.

A study was conducted by Raj K. Sinha, Deidre Braun, and Robert Murphy and published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 90-B, Issue SUPP_I, 184. They concluded that acupuncture indeed "reduced narcotic usage and improve physical therapy after totaljoint replacement." See the complete article:

POSTOPERATIVE ACUPUNCTURE DECREASES NARCOTIC REQUIREMENT AFTER TOTAL HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENT

More studies need to be done on this subject, but my experience has been so positive that I encourage those needing joint replacement to seek treatments from a licensed acupuncturist for help with pain relief and optimal healing.

Diet Guidelines for Menopausal Women

2010-12-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

Eat the following vegetables in amounts that are moderate and satisfying; that portion should then be eaten regularly, perhaps 4 to 6 times a week.

- Asparagus: Helps cleanse arteries of cholesterol and is useful for vascular health. Too much can irritate the kidneys. It improves the feminine principle.

- Beets: strengthens the heart, sedates the spirit, improves circulation, purifies the blood, benefit’s the liver.

- Cabbage: Green and purple varieties. Helps mental depression and irritability.

- Food to build yin: wheat germ and its oil, mung bean, mung bean sprouts, string bean, seaweed, spirulina, millet, black bean, tofu, kidney bean, barley, and black sesame seed.

- Use restraint with alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, excessive and poor-quality meat.

- Important supplements: Vitamin E, B-complex, C, A and mineral calcium.

- Adequate magnesium and vitamin D from sunshine are necessary cofactors in calcium metabolism.

- Vitamin E stimulates production of estrogen. Wheat germ and wheat germ oil are especially good sources. Whole wheat also calms the spirit and strengthens the kidney-adrenal function. Take approximately 300 I.U of vitamin E three times a day at meal times if menopausal difficulties persist in spite of a good diet.

- For Chinese herbs, dang gui (angelica sinensis) brings relief from all symptoms. Also can use motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca).

- Aloe vera gel can be useful for those who don’t feel too cold. Use 2 teaspoons gel stirred into 1 cup of water 2 or 3 times a day.

- Royal jelly can notify feminine hormonal system. A normal dosage is just 100-400 milligrams daily.

Source: Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford

Back Pain Study

2010-09-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

Brian Berman and colleagues of the University of Maryland School of Medicine published findings of a review of acupuncture for back pain in the July issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

From Psychology Today
+ Most people (70%) have experienced serious lower back pain; indeed, lower back pain is one of the most common reasons for visits to a physician. Low-back pain can be disabling, but usually the pain responds to treatment. Unfortunately some people (7%) develop chronic low back pain that cannot be resolved with drugs or physical therapy. Many of these people turn to alternative therapies, including acupuncture, for relief.

+ A study of 6359 patients suffering chronic lower back pain compared the results of providing these patients with acupuncture, no treatment, or treating them with mock acupuncture. The results showed that both the patients receiving real acupuncture and the ones receiving mock acupuncture experienced significant pain relief compared to people who received no treatment.

Weight Loss & Sugar Cravings

2010-07-08T12:12:00.000-07:00

I've recently worked with several clients seeking help with weight loss. One in particular had sugar cravings, specifically, strong cravings for carbonated sodas. The sweeteners and artificial ingredients from the beverages created additional cravings for sugar as well as inflammation in her abdomen.

We decided to apply a acupuncture protocol often used for tobacco or drug addictions. It includes auricular needles with a small electric stimulation that is completely safe and comfortable. The result was amazing. My patient completely lost interest in sodas and sugar and is now happily drinking water with lemon. It was a natural transition from a state of imbalance to a more healthy state of harmony where the body craves what benefits it and dislikes that which is artificial or harmful.

I researched the topic and found this article to share.

I'm thrilled to help patients with their weight loss goals. The addiction protocol is simple, quick and effective and is certainly worth trying if you are struggling with unhealthy food or tobacco cravings.

Acupuncture for pain relief

2010-06-16T16:02:00.000-07:00

A study published May 30, 2010 through the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York found that acupuncture stimulates the release of the naturally occurring chemical Adenosine faster than pain medication. Adenosine is a chemical released to help increase blood flow and dull the sensation of pain.

From an article in News by the Second:

"It’s an interesting contribution to our growing understanding of the complex intervention which is acupuncture” said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Rochester University.

Acupuncture for Eye Disorders

2010-06-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

Acupuncture has been found to improve the eyesight of children suffering from lazy eye. Professor Dennis Shun-chiu Lam, who led the research, said the acupuncture accelerated the treatment response, improved the overall treatment results and shortened the total treatment duration. See details from the study here.

Foods to Remove Harmful Environmental Toxins

2010-04-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

It is common practice to ignore our exposures to environmental toxins. The human body will detoxify under the right conditions, but the detoxification is less effective if the body's systems are already overwhelmed with toxins from processed foods and substances such as drugs, medicines, and alcohol. One way you can help your body detoxify is to choose foods for their medicinal value. The following are suggestions for some of the more common environmental exposures.

For exposure to toxic metals, consider adding the following foods to your diet:

Garlic
Seaweeds or Algin
Miso
Wheat or Barley grass
Mung beans (to remove lead)

For exposure to minor doses of radiation, such as medical x-rays or other radiation treatments, take one or two of the following daily for 3 days. For greater contamination, take one or more for several weeks:

Seaweeds or Algin
Miso
Wheat or Barley grass
Spirulina, chlorella, and wild blue-green micro-algae
Panax and Siberian ginseng
Buckwheat products
Apples
Fresh sunflower seeds
Lecithin ( 1 teaspoon daily)
Initate cell renewal: Essential fatty acids: 1 Tablespoon fresh flax oil daily

A fantastic external treatment for medical radiation exposure is to take a bath of sea salt and baking soda. Add 1 pound of both into a warm bath and soak 20 minutes; rinse with cool water. Repeat 3 times a week for a month.

There are also acupuncture and herbal treatments to assist in more targeted detoxification. Consult with your local acupuncturist for more options.

Acupuncture and public safety

2010-03-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

I'm surprised to see so many reports in the news about a research paper that came out in Hong Kong that says bacterial infections, hepatitis and possibly HIV infections are being transmitted by contaminated acupuncture needles. They say tougher regulations and infection control measures such as disposable needles and disinfection techniques are needed.

While that may be true in Hong Kong, licensed acupuncturists in the US are trained and legally required to use clean needle techniques which include single use of sterilized needles.

I've never heard of an infection from an acupuncture needle by a licensed practitioner here in the US. While it is important to keep informed about health care issues and possible risks, it is also important not to jump to conclusions from news items that don't clearly state where and under what circumstances the problem occurs. I guess the researchers were referring to acupuncture as it is practiced in Hong Kong where perhaps people practice using the same standards as they have for generations. I don't know anything about the training or regulation of acupuncture there, but modern practitioners are aware of how to prevent infections.

In any case, you can rest assured that licensed practitioners here in the US have been educated and trained to prevent infections and you can therefore enjoy your totally safe acupuncture sessions with a peaceful mind.

Fibromyalgia

2010-03-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

The number of Fibromyalgia cases I've seen has grown over the past couple of years. Flare ups appear to be connected with incidents of toxicity, infections such as Parvo, or lack of proper nutritional care as newborns. In any case, with acupuncture, herbs and dietary regiment my patients are experiencing greater periods of comfort and energy.

There is a good article about Fibromyalgia in Natural News.com Fibromyalgia Remedies . It recommends people suffering from Fibromyalgia to try acupuncture, citing, "The National Institutes of Health has deemed acupuncture to be an acceptable alternative, or part of a comprehensive treatment program, for several types of pain."

If you have questions, most acupuncturists offer free consultations and would be happy to talk to you about their experience with patients with Fibromyalgia.

Western medicine often masks symptoms

2010-03-08T10:07:00.000-08:00

There is an interesting article on PR Online:

Western medicine masks the symptoms of disease

It starts:
"Alternative medicine has been popular in the United States for decades, but until recently many traditional physicians preferred to use medications as treatment for disease, illness, depression and other common ailments. As many of the world’s most popular physicians, including Dr. Oz, begin to announce their belief in alternative treatments such as herbs and acupuncture (http://www.orangecountyacupuncture.com), many of the nations leading alternative medicine physicians are seeing an increase in patient demand for more holistic care. "

New Study for use of Acupuncture in Pain Management

2010-03-06T19:05:00.000-08:00

For the first time a study has been done about inpatient integrative medicine program in a hospital setting. The study, "The Impact of Integrative Medicine on Pain Management in a Tertiary Care Hospital" was published March 5 in the Journal of Patient Safety.

The study included 1,837 cardiovascular, medical, surgical, orthopedics, spine, rehabilitation, oncology, and women's health patients at Abbott Northwestern between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009. These patients were given treatments included non-pharmaceutical services: mind body therapies to elicit the relaxation response, acupuncture, acupressure, massage therapy, healing touch, music therapy, aromatherapy, and reflexology.

Jeffery A. Dusek, Ph.D., research director for the Penny George Institute for Health said, "Our real-world study broadly shows that these therapies effectively reduce pain by over 50 percent across numerous patient populations. Furthermore, they can be clinically implemented in real time, across, and under the operational and financial constraints within an acute care hospital."

"I think we will find that integrative approaches to pain management during the hospital stay will improve patient satisfaction and outcomes, and we will see cost savings from patients using fewer drugs and experiencing fewer adverse events," said Lori Knutson, RN, BSN, HN-BC, executive director of the George Institute.

Hopefully the other hospitals will follow the lead of Penny George Institute for Health and consider using non-pharmaceutical methods for pain relief.

Whole Foods

2010-03-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

The general condition of many people I encounter at the clinic seeking relief from degenerative diseases are conditions of nutritional deficiency. How can that be in this land of plenty? No one I see appears to be starving. In fact, most are rich in calorie intake yet deficient in minerals and nutrients, despite taking multivitamins and other supplements.

The problem is that they eat refined food. Refined is nice in a human being, but horrible in food. White flour, white sugar, refined oils - you can find these robbers of health even in organic products. Common canola and other oils, like vegetable, sunflower, and corn, are some of the worst substances you can put in your body. Try to find "convenient" foods without those ingredients and your shopping cart is likely to be pretty empty.

What to do? Rules of thumbs, or a large notecard:

1. Read the label. If you see words like refined white flour or sugar, evaporated cane sugar or syrup, or any oil besides olive or grape seed, put the product back quick.
2. Read the label. If you can't pronounce any of the ingredients or have to take a breath to get through the entire name, then those ingredients are likely not to be whole food, so don't put it into your body. Put the product back. Your body needs real to goodness food.
3. The safest place to shop are the 2 ends of the store: the produce and the freezer section. Be careful of foods in the middle aisles.
4. Organic is better, but not if it has refined ingredients mentioned in rules 1 through 3. White organic bread is still refined flour and all the benefits have been beaten out of it. Cane products (evaporated, juiced or powder) cause inflammation and spikes in your sugar level, leaving you tired and puffy. Even if it is organic. Put it back.

I know you are busy, but you need to learn to cook, even if simply. Those packaged foods are fast and you might find them tasty, but if you change your diet now to whole foods, you are less likely to be seeking the help of a health practitioner later. Please believe me on that one.

To good health!

Try an Acupuncture Facial

2010-02-27T18:43:00.000-08:00

Movie star Lucy Liu confessed she avoids facials, peels, plastic surgery or anything with the word “abrasion” in it. Instead, she goes for acupuncture treatments once a month. "It has been a part of my culture and my life for a long time, and it really, really works.”

People pump their face with botulism and scour their skin with harsh abrasions to get a smooth glowing look, but acupuncture can provide similar results, with additional health benefits.

Acupuncture balances the body and cosmetic appearance is also improved due to an increase of qi and blood flow to the face and décolletage.

Small needles applied to specific points on the face improve fine lines and wrinkles, brightens the skin and increases skin elasticity. Acupuncture can also bring relief from acne, rosacea and puffy eyes. Acupuncture patients can expect visible improvement after the first visit, with ten treatments recommended for lasting results.

If you are interested, I offer reduced rates for programs involving multiple acupuncture sessions, including acupuncture facial treatments. Call (210) 204-2305 for a free consultation.

What causes your illnesses?

2010-02-23T13:39:00.000-08:00

Most of my patients can tell me why they are sick.

The most commonly stated reasons are ones you can probably guess: family history, lifestyle (diet, smoking, lack of exercise, overweight, alcohol, drugs). Some cite bad luck of the draw. And then there are those we hear about all the time in the media: stress, a fast paced life, sleep deprivation and toxins in the environment.

If all those reasons are valid, then it would be difficult to find a single healthy person. The answer has to be more complicated.

Acupuncture is pretty clear and to the point: When there is balance, the body is healthy. Where there is imbalance, there is disease.

Lets put all of it together.

Perhaps, instead of reasons for disease, my patients are actually stating the smoking gun that brought them down. They were in a state of imbalance, so one or more disease potentials were able to cause their illness. Had they been in a more balanced state, they may have remained healthy despite their exposure, or lifestyle or genetics.

This meshes with the spiritually-minded belief that illness is something we create for ourselves. We have a say in whether we are sick or healthy due to the mind, body, and spirit connection we possess. The goal then, is not simply to learn how to take care of ourselves physically, but to learn how to live well.

Just food for thought for today.

Acupuncture for Rheumatoid Arthritis

2010-02-21T20:49:00.000-08:00

I am currently treating several people suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis with a combination of electroacupuncture, herbs, and diet. Their pain and swelling have been reduced. Acupuncture releases tight, spasmed, shortened muscles to a more relaxed state. It stimulates the release of natural pain-fighting endorphins and prompts the body to heal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging shows that deep needling of acupuncture points deactivates the part of the brain that deals with our perception of pain.

A double-blind controlled pilot study by Lai-Shan Tam and a team of researchers tested the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (see Complementary Alternative Medicine 7: 35).
The study found that both electroacupuncture and traditional Chinese acupuncture may serve as a valuable adjunct to drug therapy by reducing the number of tender joints in patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis, as compare to sham acupuncture.

Acupuncture treatments, along with diet changes and herbs, can be beneficial for those suffering from this painful condition.

Smoking Cessation Program

2010-02-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

Now is the time to stop smoking. Acupuncture can help.

Smoking damages the respiratory system, the heart and circulatory system, and the nervous system. It causes cancers, chronic bronchitis, pneumo-heart syndromes, stomach and duodenal ulcers, and liver cirrhosis. Smoking increases the death rate related with those disorders.

According to acupuncture theory, the poisonous substances in cigarettes cause an imbalance of Yin and Yang. The chemicals in cigarettes cause the dysfunction of Zang-Fu organs and Qi and Blood.

Acupuncture smoking cessation programs can help you quit the smoking habit. It reduces the symptoms of withdraw which can include lower energy, restlessness, belching, reduced taste, heaviness in the chest, anxiety, depression, and lack of sensation. Acupuncture rebalances the Yin and Yang, harmonizes the Zang-Fu, helping you regain a state of health and well-being.

My program consists of a 5 day period including 3 acupuncture treatments, a herbal tea to be consumed two to three times daily, and a workbook containing dietary guidelines and other exercises to help with the lifestyle change of becoming a non-smoker. Please call for more details (210) 204-2305.

Further Studies on Pain Relief

2010-02-17T11:04:00.000-08:00

Twenty three studies of 3,000 women found that acupuncture may be more effective than drugs or herbal medicines in relieving menstrual cramps.

Researchers from the Oriental Hospital at Kyung Hee University Medical Center wrote, "There is convincing evidence on the effectiveness of using acupuncture to treat pain as it stimulates the production of endorphins and serotonin in the central nervous system.

"Compared with pharmacological treatment or herbal medicine, acupuncture was associated with a significant reduction in pain," they added in their paper published in the latest issue of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health has cited acupuncture as a possibly effective way of dealing with menstrual cramps. Menstrual cramps can be accompanied by bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and headache.

About 10 percent of working women call in sick due to menstrual cramps.

Contact Lisa Schlegel at (210) 204-2305 for more details on how acupuncture can help this and other GYN issues.

Acupuncture is effective for chronic pain

2010-02-14T14:48:00.000-08:00

For those with chronic health conditions, acupuncture can provide relief, especially when other options are ineffective or limited. Conventional medicine is turning to acupuncture for help. For example, the following article:

Rush University Medical Center News Release

states, "The lack of options for pain management in children has been reported as one of the most difficult aspects of providing care to pediatric patients. Research indicates that up to 70 percent of pediatric patients experience pain and those with chronic illnesses often do not have adequate relief or prevention of pain."

"Doctors at Rush University Medical Center are offering pediatric patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses acupuncture therapy to help ease the pain and negative side effects like nausea, fatigue, and vomiting caused by chronic health conditions and intensive treatments."

It is refreshing to see Western medical doctors incorporate acupuncture into their practice. For all in the healing profession, the patient's wellness comes first.

Food to alleviate hot flashes

2010-02-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

Those suffering with hot flashes from hormonal imbalances will

find relief by following these dietary suggestions:

1. Add foods that build the yin: wheat germ and its oil (contains lots of Vitamin E which stimulates production of estrogen), mung bean, mung bean sprouts, string bean, seaweed, spirulina, millet, black bean, tofu, kidney
bean, barley, and black sesame seed.

2. Add soy and tofu products, Eat more calcium-rich foods, magnesium-rich foods and foods rich in vitamin E -- like cold-pressed oils, green leafy vegetables, nuts and almonds, as well as plenty of mineral- and fiber-rich foods, like whole grains and fresh vegetables.

3. Avoid these hot flash triggers:

    * alcohol (especially red wine), caffeine (including soft drinks)
    * diet pills
    * spicy food, hot food
    * hot tubs, saunas
    * poor quality meats & dairy products (high protein and fat), excess sugar
    * hot showers, hot beds, hot rooms, hot weather
    * smoking

4. Most important vitamins: E (300 IU 3 times a day at meal times), B-complex, C, A and Calcium. To help absorb calcium, need adequate Magnesium and D.

5. Good Herbs: Aloe vera gel (unless you are often cold or have loose stools), take 2 teaspoons into 1 cup of water 2 or 3 times a day.

6. Some women find a low fat diet is helpful. So, if you are going to cut down or cut out meat, use Royal jelly (100-400 milligrams daily)

7. Drink plenty of water and fresh vegetable juices

Acupuncture treatments are also very helpful, and herbal formulas

are sometimes prescribed. Contact your local acupuncturist for a

consultation on alleviating this and other symptoms of menopause

or side effects from medications such as chemotherapy.

Research on Acupuncture and pregnancy depression

2010-02-09T07:11:00.000-08:00

Women who are pregnant are just as likely as other women their age to be depressed. According to research, about "10 percent meet the criteria for major depression and almost 20 percent have increased symptoms of depression." Since it is not advisable for pregnant women to take medication, many have turned to acupuncture for relief from their depression.

At the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Chicago, researchers presented the results of a study. See Acupuncture for pregnancy depression

The following is a quote from the article:

"Schnyer and colleagues conducted an evaluator-blinded randomized trial in which 150 pregnant women who met the criteria of major depressive disorder received either eight weeks of acupuncture specific for depression or one of two active controls -- control acupuncture or massage. Women receiving acupuncture specific for depression experienced a significantly greater decrease in depression severity compared to the controls."

The Basics: What is Acupuncture?

2010-02-08T11:58:00.000-08:00

I've been asked to give a description of acupuncture so it will be available for visitors of this blog. The following is from the FAQs on my website: www.acupuncture-sa.com

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a safe and effective natural therapy that is used to heal illnesses, prevent disease and improve well being. Acupuncture therapies are believed to have originated in China approximately five thousand years ago.

As a traditional medical practice, they encompass several treatment methods. The main method is the use of needles to puncture the skin at very specific locations called Acupuncture points. Secondarily, Moxibustion is the application of heat to acupuncture points and is one of the oldest and most effective forms of oriental therapy. There are two different types of moxibustion: direct and indirect. Both direct and indirect methods create heat by burning moxa, an herb derived from drying the leaves of the mugwort plant. The indirect method involves burning moxa on the tip of the acupuncture needle.

Direct moxibustion is applied by using the fingers to roll a small amount of moxa into the size of a half of a grain of rice. This piece is then placed on the skin at an acupuncture point and burned with incense. The result is an quick, penetrating heat that stimulates the acupuncture point without being uncomfortable for the patient.

Direct moxibustion causes an elevation in blood cell counts, especially white blood cells. This strengthens immunity and is effective in reducing pain and inflammation.

Auricular and laser acupuncture, cupping, and ion pumping cords are examples of some of the many supplementary techniques used in acupuncture. The clinical effectiveness of acupuncture therapies is evidenced by their continued and extensive use in modern China, their spread to other Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, and their more recent arrival in the West where they are weathering the rigorous scrutiny of the Western scientific method and slowly revealing the biological reasons for their effectiveness.

Throughout a long and venerable history, a multitude of acupuncture theories and clinical systems have evolved. In some cases these have retained their original form, and in other cases, they have adapted to the passage of time, transforming under the scrutiny of clinicians and scholars.

At Acupuncture & Natural Healing Therapies, our goal is to provide patients with the most effective techniques, both ancient and modern. If you would like to know more about how acupuncture can benefit your health, please call (210) 204-2305 and schedule a free consultation.

A healthier living tip you might not know #1

2010-02-07T19:07:00.000-08:00

Consider giving up the use of dryer sheets. Most commercial dryer sheets contain Benzyl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Chloroform and Linalool. Some of these are carcinogens, and none are good for the environment.

The fumes alone can cause respiratory irritation, anxiety attacks, nervous system disorders, irritability and burn sensitive skin. Chemical exposure can cause long term effects on your liver, pancreas, or gastrointestinal track. Many people suffer from a "fragrance fog" feeling after exposure to fumes from dryers where dryer sheets are being used. Children are highly susceptible to these chemicals.

There are alternatives:

1. Wear natural fabrics to avoid static cling or at least wash and dry cottons and synthetic fabrics separately.

2. Make your own dryer sheets using a wash cloth and an environmentally friendly fabric softener. Or, use an eco-friendly fabric softener during the wash cycle.

3. Try reusable, chemical-free dryer sheets

4. Add vinegar to the wash

5. Do not dry clothes quite completely. The small amount of remaining moisture keeps static cling from getting a foothold. Dry on a rack or clothesline.

6. Try dryer balls. I've ordered Nellie's PVC Free Dryer balls

from Amazon. They should arrive this week. If anyone is interested in my opinion of them once I've tried them for a week or two, let me know in the comments section of this post.

Thanks for reading!

Unhealthy food cravings, and their healthy antedote

2010-02-04T18:24:00.000-08:00

I found the great suggestions for relieving food cravings from a naturopathic medical doctor at naturopathyworks.com/pages/cravings.html. Most of the information makes sense from my training in acupuncture. I've removed reference to meat products and referenced organic products as I normally suggest for my patients.

If you crave:

Chocolate you need Magnesium so you should eat Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits

Sweets you need
1. Chromium so you should eat Broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans
2. Carbon so you should eat Fresh fruits
3. Phosphorus so you should eat organic eggs and/or dairy, nuts, legumes, grains
4. Sulfur so you should eat Cranberries, horseradish, cruciferous vegetables, kale, cabbage
5. Tryptophan so you should eat organic cheese, raisins, sweet potato, spinach

Bread, toast you need Nitrogen so you should eat High protein foods: nuts, beans, grains such as quinoa

Oily snacks, fatty foods you need Calcium so you should eat Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, organic cheese, sesame

Coffee or tea you need
1. Phosphorous so you should eat organic eggs and/or dairy, nuts, legumes
2. Sulfur so you should eat organic egg yolks, red peppers, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables
3. NaCl (salt) so you should eat Sea salt, apple cider vinegar (on salad)
4. Iron so you should eat seaweed, greens, black cherries

Alcohol, recreational drugs you need
1. Protein so you should eat organic dairy, nuts, quinoa
2. Avenin so you should eat Granola, oatmeal
3. Calcium so you should eat Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, organic cheese, sesame
4. Glutamine so you should eat Supplement glutamine powder for withdrawal, raw cabbage juice
5. Potassium so you should eat Sun-dried black olives, potato peel broth, seaweed, bitter greens

Chewing ice you need Iron so you should eat seaweed, greens, black cherries

Burned food you need Carbon so you should eat Fresh fruits

Carbonated drinks you need Calcium so you should eat Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, organic cheese, sesame

Salty foods you need Chloride so you should eat Raw goat milk, wild caught fish, unrefined sea salt

Acid foods you need Magnesium so you should eat Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits

Liquids rather than solids you need Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.

Solids rather than liquids You have been so dehydrated for so long that you have lost your thirst. Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.

Cool drinks you need Manganese so you should eat Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries

Pre-menstrual cravings you need Zinc so you should eat wild caught seafood, leafy vegetables, root vegetables

General overeating you need
1. Silicon so you should eat Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
2. Tryptophan so you should eat organic cheese, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
3. Tyrosine so you should eat Vitamin C supplements or orange, green, red fruits and vegetables

Lack of appetite you need
1. Vitamin B1 so you should eat Nuts, seeds, beans
2. Vitamin B3 so you should eat wild caught tuna, halibut, seeds and legumes
3. Manganese so you should eat Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
4. Chloride so you should eat Raw goat milk, unrefined sea salt

Tobacco you need
1. Silicon so you should eat Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
2. Tyrosine so you should eat Vitamin C supplements or orange, green and red fruits and vegetables

Body Detoxification

2010-01-28T07:39:00.000-08:00

Body detoxification eliminates harmful chemicals from the body that have been stored in the kidneys, liver, intestines, lymph, skin, lungs, and adipose tissue. You absorbs these toxic substances from processed foods as well as exposure to industrial chemicals such as those used in beauty products or unhealthy air.

Common symptoms that may call for detox are well known to be unexplained fatigue, dull skin or breakouts, general body aches and pains, digestive problems such as bloating, allergies or low grade infections, and bags under your eyes.

Pills, exercise and dietary advice for body detoxification are abundant and can be found on the web, at your local bookstore or even your local health food store. This is not new information and you shouldn't have to pay an arm and a leg for it. Natural ingredients can be used, so expensive products are beneficial to the sellers, but unnecessary for a good detox. The benefits of going through a detox are obvious, but if you have ever gone through one you may remember the downside effects as your body flushes toxins through skin, bowels and urination and other mucus. You can feel symptoms similar to those of a flu. Since you are probably denying yourself sugar and coffee, for example, you may also experience signs of withdraw such as headaches, nervousness, etc.

However, don't be discouraged because there are ways to go through a detoxification program more comfortably, using the natural rhythms of the body. Using acupuncture in addition to dietary guidelines and herbal supplements can ease the symptoms and shortened the time needed to detox. Acupuncture enhances blood and lymphatic fluid circulation which is necessary to transport toxins and wastes out of the body.

For example, acupuncture can produce a natural diuretic effect which helps your body eliminate toxins through the urinary tract. This is useful for drug detox programs as well as eliminating residual medications that may have caused allergic reactions or unwanted side effects.

Acupuncture treatment can help reduce unhealthy cravings for toxic foods such as those loaded with sugars or highly processed. Once toxins are eliminated and healthy foods are ingested, your body will crave foods that are good for you and you may even find yourself repulsed by unhealthy foods. While undergoing acupuncture, you will experience improvement in the your digestive system that will result in increased energy for a better detox.

Acupuncture is also helpful during detoxification as it reduces your stress level, which often allows you to finish the detox while working and dealing with the ongoing aspects of your life. By enhancing the immune system with acupuncture you are less likely to pick up a cold or flu during the process as well.

So, consider contacting a qualified acupuncturist for help during your next detoxification. They will often have special packages or programs to fit the needs of your health condition and your lifestyle. Happy detoxing!

Do Doctors & Chiropractors Practice Acupuncture?

2009-05-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

You may have come across health care practitioners who perform treatments they call "acupuncture", but who do not have the training nor qualifications of Licensed Acupuncturists.

Sometimes called ‘medical acupuncturists or chiropractors administering acupuncture’, these practitioners are often "certified" after only 100 - 220 hours or less of study, most of which are home study courses. In contrast, Licensed Acupuncturists qualification includes over 3,000 hours of structured study over 3 or more years, the equivalent of a Masters degree.

Patients should be aware of the potential dangers of receiving treatment from healthcare professional’s who are not licensed acupuncturists practitioners. As a Licensed Acupuncturist, I am most concerned about the negative perception of acupuncture and lost confidence of patients who have had a bad experience from 'medical acupuncture' or chiropractors saying they are administering acupuncture when in fact, they are practicing something totally different. Those patients often claim "acupuncture" was painful and had little healing effect. This is unfortunate because, in fact, well-executed acupuncture treatments can have a dramatic positive impact on health.

Some doctors or chiropractors have undergone the full training regiment and truly administer acupuncture. My advise is for patients to know the training of their practitioner and opt for those who will deliver the full benefit of this 2000 year old medicine.

Acupuncture Useful for Side Effects of Cancer Treatments

2009-05-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have successfully used acupuncture to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and other allopathic treatments. I've noticed news articles confirming my clinical experience. One such report appeared in the April 17th issue of Head and Neck describes a randomized controlled trial conducted by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to determine if radiation-induced xerostomia (dry mouth) secondary to radiation for cancer in the head and neck region can be reversed using acupuncture. "This pilot study demonstrates that acupuncture can improve the subjective symptoms of dry mouth in patients with radiation-induced xerostomia as early as two weeks after starting treatment, and the benefits can remain at least one month after treatment ends," the authors concluded. "Studies to investigate both prevention and treatment of acupuncture for radiation-induced xerostomia as well as other side effects of cancer treatment are greatly needed."

Other allopathic treatment-induced side effects that respond well to acupuncture, in my experience, are nausea, itching, anxiety, sleeplessness, and body pain. Often patients welcome non-pharmaceutical options in their health care regiment.

Pain after Cancer Surgery

2007-03-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

Acupuncture is effective in decreasing pain and depression following surgery in cancer patients.
The findings of the randomized controlled clinical trial are reported in the March 2007 issue of the “Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.”

From UCSF News Office:

“This pilot study confirmed that pain after surgery decreased when patients underwent a combination of massage and acupuncture. This is a significant finding because there are implications for further study to see if these therapies should be offered to hospitalized patients for symptom management,” said Wolf Mehling, MD, lead author and UCSF assistant professor of family and community medicine.

The study compared the post-operative symptoms of pain, nausea and mood and the cost of symptom-related medications in two groups of hospitalized patients during the first three days after cancer-related surgery. One group underwent a combination of massage and acupuncture in addition to usual care, and one group had usual care alone. Usual care is defined as traditional treatment through medication.

Study results showed a greater decrease in both pain and depressive mood in the group that underwent massage/acupuncture therapy along with usual care. The study was conducted at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine.

According to Mehling, 40 percent of people with cancer are treated with complementary and alternative medicine therapies. Although the measurable benefits of these therapies have been promising, there have been no conclusive results, he said.

“The combination of massage and acupuncture for symptom management in perioperative cancer patients has never been studied,” said Mehling. “We know that integration of these therapies has shown short-term benefit on psychological well-being, but there has not been strong evidence to support it until now.”

In the study, cancer surgery was characterized as any surgery related to a diagnosis of malignancy: mastectomy or reconstructive surgery for breast cancer; abdominal surgery for intestinal or hepatic malignancies; pelvic surgery for ovarian, uterine or cervical malignancies; urological surgery for testicular, prostate, bladder or renal malignancies; and head and neck cancer surgery.

During the three-day post-operative period, patients used an 11-point (0-10) numeric rating scale to rank severity of current pain and of pain during the previous 24 hours.

“There was quite a variance when it came to level of pain for each patient. Patients who were very well medicated for pain and nausea still experienced dramatic ups and downs during their post-operative days,” Mehling said. “Getting up from bed for the first time after abdominal surgery or having a catheter removed probably contributed to the patient’s pain rating. For patients who received acupuncture and massage, it is possible that this personal attention contributed to a marked decrease in anxiety.”

Patients received Swedish massage, which involves kneading and applying long strokes to soft tissue and muscles, and an acupressure-type (shiatsu) foot massage for 10-30 minutes depending on their clinical needs and condition. Acupuncture treatment was based on the traditional Chinese medicine standardized core set of acupuncture points and was used to treat pain, nausea and anxiety.

“Pain decreased for those in the intervention group more than for those in the control group,” said Mehling. “Looking at an average pain baseline score, we found 1.1 point improvement in pain level on the first post-operative day for the group given massage and acupuncture, and only 0.1 point improvement in the control group that did not have intervention. Over the three days of the study, the average scores among patients reporting significant pain improved by 1.8 for the massage and acupuncture group compared to 0.3 in the control group.”

The important point here is that relieving pain will relieve stress, which will help overall healing and well-being. Talk to your doctor about using alternatives in the hospital, immediately following operations. You don't have to wait until you are sent home to take control of your own healing process. If your doctor is not open to the idea, please refer him/her to the article about acupuncture and massage in the March 2007 issue of the “Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.”

Hypertension

2007-01-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

Hypertension, commonly referred to as "high blood pressure", is a medical condition where the blood pressure is chronically elevated. Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Hypertension is often without symptoms. The simplest and easiest way to see if you are at risk or have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

Acupuncture is becoming more widely known as an alternative therapy for curbing high blood pressure. It provides an excellent complement to other medical treatments for high blood pressure and other heart-related conditons. During acupuncture, needles are inserted into specific body points to help relieve pain and disease. Studies have shown that acupuncture excites brain cells, causing them to release neurotransmitters that can inhibit or heighten the heart's activity.

When a needle is inserted at specific points, opioid chemicals in the brain that reduce excitatory responses in the cardiovascular system are released. This results in a decrease in heart activity and need for oxygen, which can lower blood pressure and promote the healing of heart-related conditions like myocardial ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the heart) and hypertension.

In the Journal of Applied Physiology from March 2005, researchers from the University of California applied electroacupuncture to sites on the forelimbs of rats. Low frequencies lowered elevated blood pressure rates by 40 percent to 50 percent. A 30-minute treatment was able to reduce blood pressure by 25 mmHg, and the reduction lasted for nearly two hours.

Researcher Professor John Longhurst, a specialist in heart medicine at the University’s Irvine campus, said: "This type of electroacupuncture is only effective on elevated blood pressure levels, such as those present in hypertension, and the treatment has no impact on standing blood pressure rates.

"Our goal is to help establish a standard of acupuncture treatment that can benefit everyone who has hypertension and other cardiac ailments."

He added: "This study suggests that acupuncture can be an excellent complement to other medical treatments, especially for those treating the cardiac system. "

Not all research studies on acupuncture and hypertension agree. In my experience, acupuncture depends on proper diagnosis, proper choice of acupuncture points, and proper needle technique. These are difficult factors to control in research studies, and may be why results often differ.

A trained Acupuncturist can recognize the origins of high blood pressure by observing certain symptoms. Headache, dizziness, eye disorders, and numbness suggest a Liver imbalance. Palpitations, poor memory, and insomnia represent Heart distress. And ringing in the ears and accumulation are resultant of Kidney disorder. Control studies prefer to use the same acupuncture points on all test subjects, which is not a proper test for acupuncture.

Conflicting studies are why it is important to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture for yourself. In addition, if one acupuncturist is unable to help, consider trying another who may be better able to help you. In any case, don't give up on your health, or accept the results of a single strategy. There are many health options and you need to find the one that is right for you.

Migraines

2006-12-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

Migraine sufferers seem to be especially vulnerable during the holidays. People are indulging more than they might at other times of the year, along with other changes in behavior such as sleep schedules, trawling shopping centers, eating different foods - all key factors in the onset of migraine.

Babylonians were bemoaning migraine as early as 3,000 B.C. and people have experimented with a battery of treatments ever since. Migraine disease affects approximately 30 million Americans, with up to 38 million Americans having migraine genetic propensity. More women have migraines than men since another chief trigger is the menstrual cycle. In the U.S. many people are prescribed a battery of medications, and for many, the headaches always come back.

According to MAGNUM (Migraine Awareness Group: A National Understanding for Migraineurs), migraine is "a neurological, and often times hereditary, disease typically characterized by severe, recurring head pain, usually located on one side of the head and one or more of the following associated symptoms: nausea; vomiting; and increased sensitivity to light, sound and smell. Other associated symptoms may include lightheadedness, diarrhea and scalp tenderness. Migraine symptoms vary for each individual sufferer, making diagnosis -- the key to an effective treatment program -- complicated."

MAGNUM finds that acupuncture can offer relief and a better quality of life, but not everyone is helped by acupuncture. Given the choice, however, even those who may be skeptical of acupuncture are willing to give it a fair test. For chronic migraine sufferers, 12 or more acupuncture sessions are often needed. After acupuncture, many experience less frequent migraines, and they find that acupuncture increases the effectiveness of their migraine medication.

In the research article, "Acupuncture for chronic headache in primary care: large, pragmatic, randomised trial" (Vickers AJ, et al. BMJ Epub 2004 Mar 15.), Andrew J Vickers and fellow researchers determined the effects of acupuncture on patients with chronic headaches, particularly migraines. They randomly allocated patients to receive up to 12 acupuncture treatments over three months or to a control intervention offering usual care. After a year headaches were lower in the acupuncture group than in controls. Patients in the acupuncture group experienced the equivalent of 22 fewer days of headache per year (8 to 38). Compared with controls, patients randomized to acupuncture used 15% less medication, made 25% fewer visits to general practitioners and took 15% fewer days off sick. The researchers concluded that acupuncture leads to persisting, clinically relevant benefits for primary care patients with chronic headache, particularly migraine.

I am encouraged that research is confirming what I have seen demonstrated over and over again in acupuncture clinics, and I hope that migraine sufferers will consult licensed acupuncturists to see if the therapy can work for them.

Arthritis & Rheumatism

2006-12-10T19:43:00.000-08:00

In the November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism (Vol. 54, pp. 3485-93, 3375-77), the researchers wrote that acupuncture may help reduce the need for patients with arthritis to take anti-inflammatory drugs. Anti-inflammatory drugs have significant side effects for many people, and generally give only short term relief for the chronic pain and inflammation of arthritis and rheumatism.

The reports says that patients who were treated with acupuncture in addition to routine care showed significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life compared with patients who received routine care alone. "The addition of acupuncture to the treatment regimen resulted in a clinically relevant and persistent benefit," the researchers concluded. The improvement in symptoms continued after the treatment had ended.

In 2004, I worked at an elderly day care center in Massachusetts during one of my student clinics and was dismayed by the number of medications prescribed to our clients. Many of my patients expressed frustration with the effort needed to keep track of the dosages, and many experienced side effects, which often resulted in additional medications.

Research shows, and I have witnessed, that acupuncture treatments can reduce or eliminate the need for some medications. It was a joy in my day to hear patients express their personal success whenever their doctors cut back their prescriptions. The doctors themselves were equally pleased, I assume, as they continued to refer patients to our clinic.

It is my hope that anyone who is dissatisfied with relying on drugs for their health will at least try acupuncture as a complementary therapy. As an acupuncturist, I welcome working with western medical doctors in an effort to improve the quality of life for our clients.