From an Eastern Perspective

2010-05-24T00:46:00.000-04:00

Can Acupuncture Help with My Depression?

One of the things that many people have to deal with nowadays is depression. As a matter of fact, more people have to deal with depression than most people realize. Although there are a lot of medicines that a person can take in order to deal with this problem, many people do not want to manipulate their bodies in such a way. For those individuals, it is a much better idea to do things naturally in one way or another. One way in which many people have found relief from their depression is through acupuncture.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese art in which the energy within our body is manipulated and balanced through the insertion of very tiny, hair thin needles. According to traditional Chinese medicine, all of us have an energy that is often referred to as Chi and this energy is what causes all life to flow within us as individuals. A balance between the good and the bad energies in our body is necessary for us to maintain health. This balance can be realized and maintained through the use of acupuncture.

According to many naturalists, depression is often caused by an imbalance in the body in some form or another. It often happens as a result of stress because of lifestyle changes that we may be going through, problems that we are experiencing with work or other situations in our lives. The depression that we feel is quite real and can be life altering and make it difficult for us to lead a normal life. By bringing our body back into balance, however, we are able to overcome many of the difficulties that are experienced in life, including that of depression.

Acupuncture has come under a bit of scrutiny in the past several decades since it has gained popularity in the United States. Rather than disproving the theory, however, it actually has done much to promote it. Although it is difficult to use acupuncture in the control group, some studies have shown that by manipulating acupuncture points, an increase in blood flow and energy can be seen in the targeted areas.

If you are experiencing depression or are having a difficult time in life then acupuncture may be able to help you. It has been practiced for thousands of years and has helped an untold number of individuals to deal with their life as they know it.

2010-05-21T02:23:00.001-04:00

Acupuncture - Asian Roots and a New World Treatment

By some estimates, acupuncture was first being practiced in ancient China almost 5000 years ago. Traditional Chinese medicine is something that is of interest to many people because of the centuries of practical use and because of the fact that most of the medicine is natural and not pharmaceutical. As the practice of acupuncture began to spread out through the Asian world, many things were added to it but the general roots of acupuncture itself can be traced back to China.

Over the past several decades, the practice of acupuncture has gained quite a bit of popularity in Western lands, specifically the United States. Many people have turned to acupuncture in order to help them with their overall health as well as with specific problems that they are experiencing. These problems range anywhere from headaches and overall pain to an inability to conceive a child. Is acupuncture actually able to help you with these individual treatments, especially when they are at a specific as these?

Several tests have been done on acupuncture since the popularity of the practice has increased in the United States. Although it is difficult to administer improper acupuncture in order to offer a control group to the testing process, some of the experiments that were done actually monitored blood flow throughout the patients. Whenever the individuals were under the acupuncture treatment, there was a noted blood flow increased to certain areas of the body, specifically those that were being targeted.

Although acupuncture is one of the least dangerous medical treatments that can be taken, there are still some problems that need to be considered. One of these is the use of prepackaged, one use needles in acupuncture treatment. Reusing the needles, even if they are sterilized is an invitation to infection and disease. The FDA is now monitoring the use of these needles and their production. This has led to a much safer practice overall and one that many people are enjoying without having to worry about infection or other related problems.

As we continue to learn more about the practice, more people will, no doubt, turn to acupuncture in an effort to take care of their physical problems. Although some new methods have been added, we will always look back to the roots of acupuncture for guidance. Although it may be changed to a certain extent because of modern treatment, it's still is something that was founded many centuries ago.

2010-05-18T23:03:00.000-04:00

Restore and Maintain Your Health with Acupuncture Treatment

For thousands of years, acupuncture has been practiced in China and has spread throughout most of Asia. These particular treatments have also become very popular in other lands in recent times. This is because of an upsurge of interest in people taking care of their overall health through natural means. Many individuals are trying to get away from the pharmaceutical cures that are often held out as a way to overcome physical problems and other maladies. By manipulating our life force through the use of acupuncture, many people have experienced relief from their trouble.

One example of how acupuncture can help individuals is through the treatment of pain. Not only is acupuncture able to help people who are experiencing such things as headaches or carpal tunnel syndrome, it is also becoming very common for use before, during and even after surgery. This is because, by manipulating the flow of energy within the body, we are able to disrupt the sensors which send the pain throughout our body. We are also able to get into a balanced state in which many of the diseases and problems that caused this pain in ourselves is unable to thrive.

Another interesting way that acupuncture is now used in order to restore and maintain health is through appetite suppression. The acupuncture points for appetite suppression are located in and around the ear and by manipulating these points with acupuncture needles, many people are experiencing relief from their insatiable appetites. It also has a side benefit of detoxification at the same pressure points and also benefit us in that particular way. Although acupuncture for appetite suppression is not always the main goal of a visit to the acupuncturist, it is often requested as a side benefit to the treatment.

One other way that acupuncture is used on a regular basis is in order to help people to conceive a child. Many people that are unable to conceive naturally go for in vitro fertilization treatments which are costly and very uncomfortable. By using acupuncture, many people have been ample to increase their odds of conceiving children by up to 10%. Not only is it good for those who are going through in vitro fertilization, it has also been shown to help with the actual conception of a child by normal means. By bringing the body back into balance, it is able to help us to do things in a natural way.

2010-05-17T02:44:00.000-04:00

Maintaining Balance in the Body through Acupuncture

There are many different things that we can do in order to improve our overall health. One of the main things that involves our health in general, however, is the balance that is within our bodies. This balance has had many different names over the centuries but for the most part, it was simply a way of keeping the negative and positive parts of our body in check. The ancient Chinese culture used to refer to the energy that was our life force as Chi. they also began to manipulate this life force in various ways, one of them was through the use of acupuncture.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the flow of energy through our body took place in one of dozens of different channels. If one of these channels should happen to get redirected or if the flow of energy was not constant through our body, illness took place. The various illnesses that we could experience as a result of this imbalance ranged from pain to cancer and anywhere in between. Acupuncture offered a way to manipulate the flow of energy in our body through the insertion of hair thin needles to various depths, according to the particular channel that needed adjusted.

Along with acupuncture, however, the acupuncturist has always offered suggestions on other ways to treat yourself naturally. Most of them do not consider acupuncture to be the end-all when it comes to natural medicine but only a step that will help to get you into a balanced state. They may also provide you with information on supplementation and other health regimes that will help to keep your body in check as well. By following a proper course of health, which includes the use of acupuncture in many cases, you can experience a more balanced life force and a better overall sense of well-being.

Although this art of acupuncture is, by some estimates, 5000 years old, it is still one that has many uses and benefits that are experienced even today. Not only is it a way for us to restore our health, it is something that could keep us in balance balance. It also a way that we can maintain our health even if we are not feeling any ill effects at the moment. Through regular visits to the acupuncturist and a general healthy lifestyle, we may be able to keep ourselves free from the diseases that plague most of mankind.

2010-05-13T21:39:00.001-04:00

Suppressing Your Appetite through Acupuncture

One of the most difficult things to overcome is a problem with overeating. As a matter of fact, it is more common for a person to have the difficulty with overeating then for them to be balanced in their diet. This shows up as the epidemic of obesity that we are experiencing in many nations around the world. Often, the problem with overeating is something that comes from our childhood and is a learned trait that may have been with us for many years. If we do not have the willpower to overcome these urges then what can be done to help us along?

Although acupuncture is typically used for pain management and to bring the body back into a balanced state, it can also be used in order to suppress the appetite. In fact, many people who go in for acupuncture in order to help with the physical malady that they are experiencing end up having this supplemental form of acupuncture administered in order to help them with their eating disorder. Many people who use acupuncture for this reason experience relief from their insatiable appetites and actually can begin losing weight as long as the treatments are being administered.

The acupuncture points for appetite control and weight loss are located in and around the ear. By manipulating these particular acupuncture points through the use of needles, you are able to block your appetite and the same points can also be used for general detoxification. Not only can it to suppress your appetite in general, it may also be able to block certain cravings that you have for things such as carbohydrates or highly fatty foods. All of this can benefit you in the way of weight loss.

Although the practice of acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, it has really only become popular in western lands in the past several decades. Since that time, however, many people have embraced acupuncture as a way to keep the body balanced and working in union. The benefit of using acupuncture to decrease your appetite is actually only one of the number of things that can be done through manipulation of the body's energy with acupuncture. If appetite has been a problem for most of your life, however, it is difficult to ignore this way of being able to overcome your difficulty and finally gain control of your weight.

2010-05-12T07:28:00.001-04:00

Effective Acupuncture Treatments before Surgery

There are times in which our health necessitates us going in for surgery for one reason or another. For some of us, it may be what is referred to as a routine procedure but for others, the surgery that we are going through may be life altering and very severe. Regardless of why we are going in for the surgery or of how severe the treatment, acupuncture is one way that has been used to help us to get through the process easier. What different things can acupuncture do for us when we need to have surgery?

Acupuncture has actually been used for thousands of years but it is only recently become popular in the westernized world. As more people are using the procedure, they are finding that it benefits us in many different ways. One of the ways in which it benefits us is through pain management and by keeping our body in a balanced state. The entire concept of Chi, the energy that flows through our body and of the balance that needs to exist in all things is what brought about the art of acupuncture. Now, they're using this ancient Chinese medicine in order to help us when we are undergoing surgery.

Acupuncture can be administered before and after surgery as a way to reduce the amount of pain that an individual is feeling. As a matter of fact, it is sometimes administered during surgery in order to keep the individual from feeling some of the pain of the surgery itself. Not only is it available to block pain to a certain extent, it is able to help us to heal so that we have a shorter recovery time that involves less pain. It also keeps us from having to take too much pain medication during that time.

Another thing that acupuncture is able to do is to reduce the amount of nausea that is experienced by women who are undergoing breast surgery. Nausea is a fairly common side effect that is felt by these women but acupuncture is able to overcome some of the discomfort and negative experiences that they may have.

As we continue to learn more about the benefits of using acupuncture during surgery, it's hard to tell how frequently it will be used in order to control pain and to help keep the body in a balanced condition.

2010-05-10T09:59:00.000-04:00

Stopping Your Headache with Acupuncture

There are a lot of things that we have to deal with on a regular basis which affects our health. One very common thing that is experienced by people in general are headaches. As a matter of fact, some people have headaches so frequently that they simply learn to live with them and deal with the pain as best they can. Still others have headaches, such as migraines, which are almost impossible to ignore and become a life altering because of their intensity. As a result of these headaches, many people have turned acupuncture in order to find some relief from their suffering.

There are really two different types of individuals who come to an acupuncturist in order to seek relief from their headaches. There are those who are currently experiencing a headache and those that are to are trying to get some kind of preventative care in order to stop the next headache from coming or to decrease its intensity. These are two very different situations and are treated differently from the acupuncturist's standpoint. Depending on your situation when you enter their office will make a difference in how you are treated.

The reason why this is the case is because acupuncture is a way of moving energy throughout your body and it also can increase blood flow to certain areas. The way of treating an existing headache differs somewhat from the treatment that will assist in blocking future headaches. Your doctor will be able to make that determination and to adjust the treatment accordingly.

Many people try acupuncture treatments to stop their headaches but they are nervous whenever they enter into the office. Perhaps they have never experienced acupuncture before and are wondering how it is going to feel or if it is dangerous. The fact is, acupuncture is one of the least dangerous medical treatments that exists. Although it is possible for problems to happen, it is very rare and if the doctor is competent and uses sterile means when inserting the needles there is little need for worry. The needles themselves rarely hurt whenever they enter into the skin and often make the individual field either relaxed or even rejuvenated.

So, if you are experiencing headaches, the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture may be able to assist you in dealing with them. By bringing your body back into balance, you may be able to overcome your headaches once and for all.

2010-05-07T00:07:00.001-04:00

Acupuncture for Pain Relief

It's amazing the number of people who live with pain on a regular basis. For some people, the pain is something that they simply live with but it does not alter their life necessarily. For others, the pain gets quite intense and they have to live around the pain instead of simply incorporating it into their lifestyle. One thing that almost all pain has in common, however, is an imbalance that exists in our body. If we were to bring our body back into line with where it should be, most of the pain that we feel would stop happening.

Although there are many different ways for people to deal with pain that range from prescription medications to therapeutic exercise, one way that is often overlooked is acupuncture. The fact is, acupuncture is able to help with pain in a lot of different ways and to help individuals to get over pain or to be able to reduce it so that it is easily manageable. How is acupuncture able to do this? It does this by bringing our body back into balance with where it should be.

Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years in Asia and is now becoming very popular in the Western world. It is based on the principle that we all have an energy which is referred to as Chi. It is a balanced energy that exists in between two extremes, the negative and positive. If all things in our body or balanced, according to these theories, then we can enjoy good health. Acupuncture is a way of manipulating the energy that flows through our body and brings us back into a balanced state.

What kind of pain can be controlled by acupuncture? People actually visit acupuncturists for a wide variety of pain that includes lower back pain, headaches, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. It is also very common for people to visit the doctor before and after surgery for additional pain management. So not only is acupuncture good for the relief of pain, it also may help with the prevention of pain as well.

As acupuncture continues to grow a popularity and additional testing helps to prove what it can do for us, more people will use these treatments in order to deal with their ill health. By bringing us back into a balanced state naturally, acupuncture is able to allow us to heal from the inside out.

2010-05-05T03:29:00.000-04:00

Should I Worry about Getting Acupuncture

It's natural for a person to worry about something that they are not informed about. One thing that many people are nervous over is their first acupuncture treatment, especially if they have preconceived ideas about the practice that are inaccurate. Let's talk a little bit about acupuncture, where it came from and what you can expect from your visit to the acupuncturist.

Acupuncture is actually in ancient Chinese medical treatment in which small needles are inserted into specific areas of the body in order to promote a flow of energy throughout our body. This energy, known as Chi is important to keep balanced in order to maintain proper health. By manipulating the flow of Chi in our system, we are helping ourselves to maintain this balance and to enjoy the overall health benefits that come as a result.

The insertion of the needles is relatively painless and is typically totally painless. Many people experience either in exhilaration or relaxation whenever the needles are inserted. They are so thin, much thinner than the typical needles that you see at the doctors office that they don't cause the pain that is typically associated with doctors and needles. Once inserted in the body, they may be manipulated in one way or another or perhaps even heated in order to help with the flow of energy.

Your first visit to the acupuncturist may not actually include any needles at all. Your doctor will want to take the time to get to know you and to understand your particular circumstances so that he can treat you in the proper way. It will also give you the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have on your mind, most of which I'm sure that he has heard and can answer quite easily.

Acupuncture is used for dozens of different problems that people are experiencing from flatulence to severe pain management. Anything that has to do with the natural flow of energy in our body and our overall natural health can be maintained or enhanced through the use of acupuncture. Although it is not a total treatment unto itself, as many acupuncturist will actually also put you on a health regime, it can help individuals in many cases to overcome problems that medical science is unable to handle. So don't be nervous about your trip to the acupuncturist, be optimistic.

2010-05-02T23:13:00.000-04:00

Your First Acupuncture Visit

Even though acupuncture is becoming more prevalent in today's society, there are still many people that are nervous about the practice in general. These people may have preconceived ideas that are inaccurate or may be resting their ideas on the fact that it is actually a medical practice that was first done in ancient Asia thousands of years ago. Regardless of why they are nervous or hesitant about going to an acupuncturist, however, they need to have their minds put at ease. If you are facing your first visit to the acupuncturist, here are some things that you can expect.

First of all, you are not going to enter into your acupuncture session and immediately be stuck full of needles. Not only that, you are entering into an environment that is not unlike an environment that is typically found in many doctors offices. Even though this is a form of natural medicine, it is still considered medicine and most acupuncturists hold to the medical profession's idea of what is expected in their practice. Don't be overly worried about your first session because you may not actually end up getting acupuncture on your first visit at all.

The first visit is an introductory visit in which the doctor will ask you a lot of questions about your medical history, your particular problem in any surrounding issues that may also need to be taken into consideration. It will also give you the opportunity to get to know your doctor a little bit and ask them any questions that you may have on your mind. Depending on what your problem is, you may not even have an acupuncture treatment on your first visit. If you do, by the time you actually have the treatment done, you will be more at ease because of having the time with your doctor before any treatment is actually administered.

The acupuncture itself is actually done by inserting hair thin needles into the skin to various depths. Most people do not feel uncomfortable whenever this is done other than a slight stinging in some instances. The needles are much smaller than the needles that are typically used by a doctor so there really is not much pain, if any involved. These needles will remain in your skin for anywhere from five to 20 minutes until they are removed. That's basically all that there is to your first acupuncture visit. It's not much to worry about.

2010-04-30T05:08:00.001-04:00

What Can I Expect from My Acupuncture Treatment?

Although it is been done for thousands of years in Asia, some people are still very nervous about going to an acupuncturist for treatment. As the practice becomes more accepted, however, and the use of acupuncture is becoming more prevalent, many individuals will find themselves getting this treatment for the first time. If you are a little bit nervous about your acupuncture treatment, you are in good company but that doesn't mean that you have a need for alarm. Here is what you can expect from your visit to the acupuncturist.

The first visit will actually be a question-and-answer session and may or may not include acupuncture at all. Your doctor will want to know almost everything about your medical condition, and the underlying issues and anything else that may help him in his treatment of your condition. Once the proper treatment is discerned, however, your treatments will start, perhaps even on the first visit.

This is where most people get nervous because they are unsure about the dangers that may exist from acupuncture. Let me put your mind at ease. It is very rare for there to be any problems from acupuncture treatment and, as long as you're acupuncturist is using clean needles and knows what they are doing, you have little to worry about at all. It is possible for infection to set in or for an organ to be punctured but this is very rare if you're acupuncturist is qualified.

Each session will last about one half hour and your doctor will insert very tiny needles into the acupuncture points and may manipulate them somewhat with his hands, induce a very light electrical pulse or even warm them with moxa. The needles will remain in your body for anywhere from five to 20 minutes. Most people do not feel any discomfort at all from having these needles inserted and actually may feel invigorated in some cases or perhaps very relaxed.

After your first time of receiving acupuncture, you will find that it is not an unpleasant situation at all. As a matter of fact, you may leave the acupuncturist feeling very good, relaxed and with an overall sense of well-being. In fact, once you begin with your acupuncture treatments you will probably wonder why you waited so long to begin them in the first place. It's an ancient medical practice but it can still take care of many things for us today.

2010-04-28T01:53:00.000-04:00

Erasing Lines with Acupuncture

Getting older is something that none of us really enjoy. Not only does it make it more difficult for us to live life in general, it also begins to show, such as in the wrinkles on our face. Far too many people try to remove these wrinkles by use of dangerous medical treatments that include injecting chemicals under our skin or using them to actually peel part of our face away. Many people have turned to natural medicine in an effort to turn back the hands of time. One of the ways that they use is that of acupuncture. Is acupuncture actually able to give you a face lift?

As acupuncture becomes more common in Western society, many people have turned to this natural practice in order to help with their healing and their overall health. Although this practice is able to bring a balance back to our body, it cannot be considered as a facelift, regardless of what it can do for us individually. This is because acupuncture does not do anything to us medically that could be considered a facelift such as make incisions or use chemicals. That doesn't mean, however, that I cannot give us a more youthful appearance.

Maintaining our health from the inside out is one sure way for us to look younger and to feel younger. Acupuncture is simply one way for us to maintain this style of health. When used in conjunction with other natural methods such as supplementing with vitamins and eating a proper diet, you would be surprised at what it can do for your overall appearance. It can also help to stimulate areas of the face that will assist in removing some of the wrinkles hopefully but it will really do its wonders when it comes to improving our health from the inside.

Whenever we are healthy and in balance we sleep better, eat better and are overall more relaxed. This will do a lot for the way that we look on the outside because we are feeling good on the inside. Acupuncture can bring your body back into a naturally balanced condition that will give you this glow and make you feel and look younger. Of course, your acupuncturist may also ask you to maintain your help in other ways, but this Chinese practice can point you in the direction of a more youthful look.

2010-04-25T22:01:00.000-04:00

Acupuncture As a Facelift Alternative

Something that all of us struggle against is time. As a matter of fact, all of us are aging from the time we are born and as we get older, that age begins to display itself in one way or another. For some, it comes as a decreased metabolism and an inability to keep off excess weight. For others, it comes in the form of facial wrinkles and noticeable signs that point to the fact that we are getting older. Some people spend countless dollars on all kinds of treatments in order to get rid of these wrinkles, some of which are very unhealthy. A new way of looking at an old medicine, however, may give us some hope in order to turn back the hands of time. Is acupuncture actually being used as a facelift alternative?

First of all, you need to know that acupuncture itself is not a facelift at all. There is no surgery, chemical injections or any other alterations that are done through acupuncture that would classify it as such. That doesn't mean, however, that you're not able to enjoy a healthier complexion and more youthful look as a result of acupuncture treatments. The fact of the matter is, acupuncture is known to help with your general health and this can offer you a lot in the way of reduced aging.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is a way of bringing the body back into a naturally balanced state. Two opposing forces that govern our body in general often get pushed toward one extreme or the other. By maintaining a balance between these two extremes, we allow our life energy, or Chi to flow naturally throughout our body and to give us balance. This can help us in many different ways but for the most part, it helps us to enjoy natural health and all of the benefits that it gives to us.

So, can acupuncture remove your wrinkles? No, it can't remove the wrinkles from your face but it can give you a health that will radiate from within. It can help to remove a lot of the negative effects of aging that show up as a wrinkles on your face. If you maintain a healthier balance in your body, you will give off a more youthful appearance that will be plain for everyone to see.

2010-04-23T02:16:00.000-04:00

Do Acupuncture Treatments Hurt?

There are so many different ways that we can maintain or restore our health. For most of us, we understand that it is often a matter of restoring a balance in our body in order to enjoy the most helpful response. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that was developed in order to help maintain the balance between positive and negative charges in our body. Although these had specific terms attached to them that were used in Chinese philosophy and religion, the basic principles behind acupuncture are not generally brought into question, even my medical science. In fact, some studies that have been taken on acupuncture actually show that it does promote a flow of energy in the body.

One thing that many people are concerned about is the pain that is associated with acupuncture. One thing that many people do not like, even into their adulthood, are the needles that are typically associated with doctors' offices. Many of these needles are rather large and capable of producing quite a bit of pain in the human body. Most people just assume that the needles that are inserted during acupuncture also produce this kind of pain in on us as individuals.

The fact of the matter is, the needles that are used for acupuncture are much smaller than the needles typically found in many doctors offices. Whenever they are inserted into the body, many people do not feel any discomfort at all and, in fact, many actually find the experience pleasurable. As a result of their acupuncture treatment, it is also possible for individuals to feel relaxed or even accelerated.

A little more good news about the practice of acupuncture is that it is almost always safe to undergo. The only problems that may occur typically come as a result of the acupuncturist being inexperienced. As long as they are well practiced and are sure to use clean, one use needles then there is rarely ever a problem. The worst thing that can happen is that an organ can be punctured during a treatment but this is extremely rare.

All in all, acupuncture is a safe and effective way for you to maintain your natural health. Although you may be nervous about undergoing this treatment, there really is nothing to be nervous about. Once you take the plunge and go through with the treatment yourself, you will wonder why you waited so long to do it.

2010-04-21T03:04:00.000-04:00

Does Acupuncture Interfere with My Regular Medical Treatment?

In an effort to restore and maintain their health, many people have turned to the ancient practice of acupuncture. Acupuncture was actually conceived and tested in China thousands of years ago before it spread through other areas of Asia. It is a way of manipulating the energy in our body through the use of acupuncture points in order to bring it back into a natural balance. This balance which is found between the cold and hot forces that regulate our body is often the key to better health and an overall sense of well-being.

Unfortunately, many of us are riddled with illnesses and we may have already come under the care of a medical doctor. Although doctors are able to do some good things for us and to take care of our maladies to a certain extent, it may also interfere with our ability to be healed in a natural method. Acupuncture does not use any kind of medicine and is a totally natural way to bring our body back into balance. Many people are concerned, however, that by using acupuncture they are actually interfering with their regular medical treatments. Where does one strike a balance in this particular regard?

The best thing that you can do is to discuss the possibility of using acupuncture with both your acupuncturist and with your medical doctor. Whenever you go in for your first acupuncture visit, you will be asked a series of questions which will help the doctor to understand your particular situation and any surrounding circumstances in regards to your situation. This would include, of course, any current medical treatments that you're undergoing. It is very important that you let your acupuncturist now of any of these treatments as they may have a bearing on what kind of acupuncture treatment you will be able to receive.

Of course, in most cases acupuncture is perfectly fine even if a person is undergoing some other form of medical treatment or is taking a prescription medication. There may be some instances, however, that acupuncture is not a good idea such as when a person is wearing a pacemaker or is currently pregnant. As long as you don't hold back any information from either your doctor or your acupuncturist, you should be able to find out if you are able to take this kind of a treatment and seek a natural cure for your maladies.

2010-04-18T22:59:00.000-04:00

Acupuncture - the First Step to Natural Health

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in natural health. People are trying a variety of different things in order to bring their bodies into a balance state and to enjoy health that does not involve pharmaceutical solutions. They do this for a number of different reasons but for the most part, it is because they realize that not all medical treatments are actually making them 100% better. In fact, some people are actually becoming sicker as a result of taking pharmaceutical medication because of the side effects or because it does not agree with them in one way or another.

Although there are many different ways to bring your body into a balanced state, acupuncture is one way that should not be overlooked. It is an ancient Chinese procedure in which small needles are placed throughout the body at particular acupuncture points in order to manipulate the flow of energy in an individual. According to traditional Chinese medicine, this energy, otherwise known as Chi, is what controls everything in regard to our health. If that energy should be blocked to a certain extent or if it should lose its natural balance, a number of different problems could occur in our bodies that range from depression the whole way through to terminal illnesses.

The actual practice of acupuncture has been taking place in China for thousands of years but it has only recently come to the attention of those in the Western world to a large extent. Since that time, some different methods have been administered such as producing prepackaged, one time use needles and in different ways of manipulating the acupuncture needles electronically. Some of the more traditional methods of using acupuncture are still included within the new treatment, such as the use of moxa in order to heat the needles.

As we continue to learn more about this particular type of treatment, more individuals will look to acupuncture as a way to bring the body back into balance. As a result of coming into this balance, these individuals will be able to lead a more normal life, one that is free of pain and living with an overall sense of well-being. Although there are many different ways in which we can bring our body back into this balance, acupuncture as a part that cannot be overlooked. It is the first step to improved natural health.

2010-04-16T02:34:00.000-04:00

Can Acupuncture Help Me Quit Smoking?

Several thousand years ago, traditional Chinese medicine came up with a way of manipulating the channels that went through our body and distributed our life force. This life force, known as Chi is one of the basic parts of all Chinese medicine. As long as that energy is balanced between the positive and negative forces in our body, our health will be good as well. Since that time of its ancient beginning, however, many things have changed as far as acupuncture is concerned but the principle still remain the same.

People go through acupuncture treatment for a wide variety of reasons. Some of them go through this because of pain that they are experiencing or perhaps they are trying to get pregnant and want to bring their body into a natural balanced state. Still others go through acupuncture in order to get over a habit, such as smoking. Since smoking did not really take place in Chinese culture, at least to the point where it would be given up, can it really have a positive effect on our trying to quit?

Having a balanced environment within our bodies is very important for a number of different reasons. First of all, it promotes good health whenever our energy in our body is flowing freely. Another reason why acupuncture is great is because it gives us an overall sense of well-being. This can help us whenever we are trying to quit smoking because one of the problems with addiction withdrawal is that we lose our sense of well-being and are driven by our craving for another cigarette.

Another reason why acupuncture may be helpful with quitting smoking is because it has to do with our life force. This force, which is present in all of us needs to have a free flow in order for us to be balanced and healthy. If we are doing things that are harming our body, such as smoking cigarettes, we are interrupting the flow and causing a pattern which is sending us into a free fall. By using acupuncture in order to bypass the bad that the cigarettes are producing in us, we are giving ourselves the ability to quit without some of the negative side effects.

The fact of the matter is, people will try almost anything in order to kick the habit. By using something such as acupuncture, you may be up to give yourself the boost that you need and you will be doing it through natural means.

2010-04-14T04:57:00.003-04:00

Acupuncture Effective for Severe Menstrual Cramps

Severe menstrual cramps, otherwise known as primary dysmenorrhea, is one of the most common gynecological complaints. It can affect as many as half of young women.

A recent study in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology might have an answer for this painful disorder in the form of acupuncture treatments. A group of Korean researchers looked at 27 studies done on acupuncture for dysmenorrhea, which involved a total of 3,000 women.

By comparing findings, they determined "promising evidence" for the use of acupuncture to treat dysmenorrhea, as compared to either herbal or pharmacological medicine.

For more information on the many benefits of Oriental medicine, visit http://www.acupuncturetoday.com

Reference: Cho S-H, Hwang E-W. Acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea: a systematic review. BJOG 2010 Feb 17 [Epub ahead of print].

Herb of the Month - Lepidium Seed (ting li zi)

Also known as pepperweed and tansy mustard, lepidium is an annual plant, which grows to a height of 18 inches and bears feather-like leaves and white flowers. The plant grows in the Hebei and Liaoning provinces of China. The entire plant is harvested in the summer and dried in the sun. After drying out, the seeds are collected for use in herbal remedies.

In traditional Chinese medicine, lepidium seed has bitter, pungent and cold properties, and is associated with the Lung and Urinary Bladder meridians. Among the conditions lepidium seed is used to treat are asthma, edema and pleurisy. It can also be used to treat abdominal distention and dry mouth. Lepidium seed is often used with zizyphus and rhubarb.

The typical dose of lepidium seed is between 3 and 9 grams, boiled in water and taken as a decoction. It is often mixed with honey. Whole, dried lepidium seeds can be found at most Asian markets and specialty stores. Some herbal shops also sell lepidium seed powder, which can be mixed into herbal decoctions.

Some side effects have been noted in patients taking large amounts of lepidium seed, including nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate and lowered blood pressure. As a result, it should not be taken before consulting with a licensed health care provider. As always, make sure to speak with a qualified health care practitioner before taking lepidium seed or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.

Ask an Acupuncturist

Question: Could acupuncture help shin splints? I am a 70-year-old woman who exercises nearly every day on the treadmill and stationary bike. For the last 5 months, I have been having pain with exercising, which appears to be shin splints. I have had x-rays, etc, and nothing shows up. I have also had treatments with a chiropractor. It will seem to be better and then get worse. I really miss exercising.

Answer: It is quite likely acupuncture treatment can help to relieve your pain. There are questions about it the acupuncturist will ask you to know more about it. In general, you would have ten or twelve treatments to find out how you are able to respond.

2010-04-14T01:03:00.000-04:00

Is Acupuncture Safe for My Child?

Many people are aware of the benefits of acupuncture and what it can do to increase the balance inside our body and to give us an overall sense of well-being. What many people are unsure of, however, is if acupuncture treatments are safe for children or not. It would stand to reason that the same things that are of benefit to us as adults will be of benefit to our children. The fact of the matter is, acupuncture is used in children for a variety of different reasons and has been shown to give some benefits to them. What are some of these benefits?

Children tend to experience a lot of things that we no longer experience whenever we reach adulthood. The hormonal changes that are going through our body, especially during adolescence tend to throw it into a turmoil. By taking us out of our natural state which should be balanced, it throws us into an area of imbalance that can affect us in a number of different ways. Problems such as acne, mood swings and the difficulty in concentrating are only some of the signs that our body is no longer in balance. Acupuncture treatments may be able to help to restore this balance to your children.

Many people are concerned about acupuncture, not out of something that they know but out of something that they do not know. Even though this process is becoming more and more accepted in the Western world, there is still a lot of mystery that surrounds it. What can you do as a parent in order to help your child to go through the procedure without being nervous over the procedure itself? Even as adults, some of us are concerned and have a natural fear of needles because of the pain that they tend to inflict.

The best thing that you can do for your child is to inform them about acupuncture and let them know that it actually does not hurt at all. Of course, on their initial visit they will speak to the doctor and he will inform them about what is going to happen during the treatment. Typically, the fear that they are experiencing soon disappears whenever the initial treatment takes place.

Acupuncture can help your child in a number of different ways. By bringing their young bodies back into balance, it can improve their health and get rid of a lot of the problems that are indicative of youth.

2010-04-12T02:41:00.000-04:00

What Is Acupuncture, Anyway?

It doesn't matter how popular a natural medical technique becomes, there will always be some mystery that surrounds it. This is especially true in cases such as with acupuncture where the treatment itself is steeped in ancient medical customs. If you're apprehensive about going through acupuncture treatments because you're unaware of what is involved, you may actually be surprised to find out exactly how westernized the practice has become. Let's take a look at acupuncture and find out what you can expect whenever you go in for your visit to the acupuncturist.

Acupuncture has been around for about 5000 years but it really has only become popular in the United States in the past couple of decades. It is increasing in popularity, however, and millions of people are introducing themselves to this natural way of healing on a yearly basis. The process of acupuncture has more to do with the energy that resides in all of us than with the actual inserting of needles. If the energy that is within our bodies is out of balance, it can be readjusted and put back into a balanced state through acupuncture.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, this energy, known as Chi, flows through all of us through about 14 different channels. If one of these channels should distribute this energy improperly, it can cause physical maladies that we experience such as pain or depression. The needles that are used by an acupuncturist stimulate these different channels and cause a free flow of energy to the area that is being affected.

Most people are nervous over the needles that are used, mainly because they are accustomed to being hurt by needles at the doctor's office. The fact of the matter is, the needles that are used during an acupuncture treatment are much smaller than those that can deliver vaccines to us. Whenever they are inserted into the skin, more often than not, nothing is felt at all. If there is some pain, it is very slight and goes away quickly.

The best thing that you can do for yourself if you're apprehensive about visiting an acupuncturist is to go in for an initial consultation. You will see that they are not some kind of weird doctor but they are actually in the medical profession and willing to help you medically. By talking to them face to face, you will no doubt find the confidence that you need in order to go ahead with the treatment.

2010-04-09T02:12:00.002-04:00

Boosting Your Fertility through Acupuncture

It can be a very difficult thing when you're having trouble conceiving a child. Many married couples have experienced a lot of stress in their marriage over the disappointment of months going by without conception taking place. Perhaps you have gone to a fertility clinic and have found out that one if you is not producing the way that they should in order to have a child. Many different medical techniques may have been brought to your attention but something that you may have not considered is going through acupuncture in order to boost your fertility. How can he do this?

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the entire body is innerlinked through an energy source that is known as Chi. This energy flows through all of us and when it is in a balanced state, we enjoy good health and an overall sense of well-being. If this energy should get out of balance in some way, it can affect us in a number of different ways. Through the use of acupuncture, an acupuncturist is able to bring the body back into a balance condition where this energy can flow freely through us. Not only can this help us with various physical maladies, it may also be able to boost our fertility.

The reason why this is the case is because whenever our body is in balance, everything is in balance with it. From the way that we think to the way that we react all the way down to the amount of sperm or eggs that are produced in us as individuals. If we allow the free flow of energy to go through our body and put ourselves in a balance condition, we may find that our odds of conceiving a child increased greatly. As a matter of fact, in some studies done with those going through in vitro fertilization, a 10% increase in the rate of conception was realized through the use of acupuncture.

Before you try a medical treatment that may be costly and harm your body in some way, you might want to give acupuncture a try. It is a relatively safe and natural way for you to increase your fertility and the possibility of you conceiving a child naturally. Not only that, but it can help you to deal with any disappointment by giving you peace of mind.

2010-04-07T05:32:00.001-04:00

Can Acupuncture Improve the Outcome of IVF?

After several months of not being able to conceive a child, John and Linda became discouraged and ended up finding themselves arguing over small things because of their disappointment. After going to a fertility clinic, and they realized that because of infertility problems, one of the only options for them ever to conceive is by using in vitro fertilization. Although very costly and somewhat painful, this particular treatment did hold out hope for them to have a child of their own that they would bring into the world. Not wanting to lose any possibility of actually conceiving the child through in vitro fertilization, they also look to the possibility of adding acupuncture to their treatment process.

Acupuncture has been used for many thousands of years and has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine. Since coming to the United States, however, and gaining in popularity, this process has helped people to do a number of different things in regards to their health. It is used for those who are undergoing surgery and sometimes is administered even during the surgery itself. Many other problems that we face as humans can also be controlled with use of acupuncture to one degree or another.

One thing that acupuncture has been used for and has actually gone through testing is for increasing a person's fertility rate. As a matter of fact, in a controlled study those that went through in vitro fertilization along with acupuncture had a 10% greater chance of conceiving a child than those that did not have acupuncture. Those are amazing results and according to those, you may be able to increase your odds as well. This can be especially comforting considering what you have to go through in order to have an IVF in the first place.

Acupuncture has even been shown to increase the natural fertility that people have and may increase their odds of conceiving a child even without the use of in vitro fertilization. If you are already dealing with IVF, however, using acupuncture may help you to bring about the natural balance state within your body and to conceive a child with the help of medical science. Although it is not a 100% guaranteed cure, even a 10% increase in the success rate is well worth the effort considering all that you get out of treatments through acupuncture.

2010-04-05T01:00:00.000-04:00

Acupuncture at the Dentist

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years as a way to both restore and maintain our health and a balance within our bodies. According to Chinese medicine, we all have an energy that flows through our body which is generally referred to as Chi. as long as this energy is flowing freely, we enjoy a balanced life and good health along with an overall sense of well-being. If it should happen to get out of balance, however, we can experience all kinds of troubles that range from headaches and depression to life changing diseases.

One interesting way in which acupuncture has been used is for pain control at the dentist. It has also been shown to reduce our nervousness whenever we are sitting in the dentist chair. At times, acupuncture is provided for us in advance in order to prepare our bodies for dental surgery and at other times it is given to us while we are actually sitting in the chair so that we are relaxed and not feeling the nervousness that we may be feeling otherwise.

It's not only in going to the dentist where we feel the benefits of acupuncture; many procedures involve acupuncture either before, during or after the surgery actually takes place. Not only does it help in managing the pain and reducing the amount of pain medication that the person typically needs to take but it also helps with side effects of the surgery such as nausea and may even reduce the recovery time necessary from a surgical procedure.

Dental surgery can be very invasive and most of us are nervous about going to the dentist anyway. That is why many have turned to acupuncture and keep an acupuncturist on staff in order to administer treatments whenever we go in for any dental work at all. Even though not all dentists have embraced acupuncture as a way of treating their patients, many do so and it is not difficult to find a combination of the two.

Not only can it help us to overcome surgery and problems in the dentist chair, it also can help us in all areas of our life. By returning us to the balance that we are to have naturally, we enjoy a healthier life that emanates from within. If you use acupuncture along with other natural treatments, you would be surprised at how far these natural methods can take you.

2010-04-02T03:19:00.000-04:00

Will Acupuncture Cure Me?

With any kind of natural medicine, there is always some question as to whether it will be effective in your case. Of course, it all depends on how well founded your particular treatment is and what you're trying to cure. Although very little has been studied scientifically about natural cures, there are some that have been shown to work from a medical standpoint. One of these is the use of acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medical treatment that manipulates the energy in our body to our benefit.

Many people are concerned about going for acupuncture for one reason or another. One of the main causes of concern is because some consider it just to be a passing fad or something that is done and only helps those that are actually weak in mind. Let me put your mind at ease about something, acupuncture has been around for thousands of years even though it has only been popular in the United States for a few decades. Because of its growing popularity, some studies have been performed which help to show exactly what is behind acupuncture and whether or not it works.

It is difficult to actually test something like acupuncture because of the difficulty of putting in a control group. Administering acupuncture poorly can be damaging and is often difficult to do. Therefore, having a control group is somewhat out of the question as far as acupuncture is concerned. What scientists have been able to do, however, is to measure the amount of energy and blood flow that are going to particular areas of our body. Whenever acupuncture is administered, the areas of the body that are to be affected actually do show an increase in blood flow and energy levels. This goes to show you that there is actually something behind the practice itself.

Of course, any good acupuncturist will be quick to tell you that it is only part of the full equation. If you really want to bring your body into a naturally balance state, you will need to do several things that include supplementation, getting some exercise and acupuncture. Once your body is balance, it will be in a better position to be able to fight off the disease or problem that you are experiencing as a result of the imbalance. So can acupuncture cure you? If used properly, it can be part of the equation.

2010-03-31T00:51:00.000-04:00

Why Would I Avoid Acupuncture?

Natural treatments are something that people often look into in order to treat their various illnesses. Some of these natural treatments have been used for thousands of years and stem from some ancient scientific studies. One of these is the process of acupuncture, a way of manipulating the natural balance within the body through the insertion of very thin needles into specific points that are located on the body. Even though this particular type of natural medicine is gaining in popularity in the United States, it still comes under some scrutiny from time to time. Is acupuncture safe?

Acupuncture is something that has been done for thousands of years throughout a variety of cultures, especially those that are located in Asia. It's really only been within the past several decades that acupuncture has gained popularity in the Western world. Since that time, however, many millions of people have sought this kind of treatment in order to gain a natural healing for their bodies. Many people are concerned, however, because of the possibility of something going wrong during this treatment. Fortunately, those worries are not founded.

As long as it is done by somebody who is experienced, acupuncture is one of the safest forms of natural medicines that exist. The FDA now even regulates the needles that are used by acupuncturists in their treatments in order to ensure that they are sterile and that no infection will be passed on. The only real dangers, other than infection are the possibility of an organ being pierced or of some difficulty caused by an underlying condition such as pregnancy or the wearing of some kind of electronic device, such as a pacemaker.

On your initial visit to the acupuncturist, he will go over a series of questions with you in order to determine your health needs. You may also want to consult with your doctor before any acupuncture treatments are administered. In this way, you will be in a much safer position because one will not be working against the other.

All in all, acupuncture is an excellent way for you to regain the balance in your body and to improve your overall health. It may also help you with specific healthcare needs such as depression, appetite suppression or general pain. Regardless of why you go to an acupuncturist, however, the odds are that you will walk out of their feeling better than you felt when you walked in.

2010-03-29T02:25:00.000-04:00

Natural Healing through Acupuncture?

Many people are concerned when it comes to their health and rightly so. Your good health can have a positive influence on all areas of your life. Most people realize that there is some benefit to taking care of yourself naturally and trying to bring your body into a balanced state. Acupuncture is one way that you're able to do this and if administered properly, it can help you to gain an overall health to your body that you may have been trying to reach through other methods, such as supplementation. Of course other natural health methods have their place, as any reliable acupuncturist will let you know but acupuncture can play a major part in your overall health.

The practice itself has been around for thousands of years, being established in ancient China. After it was used in China successfully for quite some time, the medical practice spread throughout other Asian areas and their own flair was added to the original practice. Many thousands of years later, it has now become popular in the United States, especially since the 1980s. As people become more aware of the benefits of taking care of themselves naturally, acupuncture can play a part.

It actually has to do with the balance that is in our body and the energy that flows through all of us. This is really an indisputable fact but thousands of years ago it was referred to as Chi. Although it had some religious connotations, they were fairly close to the fact that this energy played an important role in all of our lives and health. As long as the energy was balanced and free-flowing, we enjoy good health. If it was blocked or imbalanced in some way, we have difficulties.

What acupuncture actually does is to send the energy into an area of our body that is affected in one way or another. This has actually been proven through tests which monitor blood flow and energy throughout the body. By building on the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture, many modern-day doctors have been able to help individuals to overcome problems that range from headaches to depression.

If you have been holding off trying acupuncture, you would probably be very surprised at how easy the procedure actually is. Why not try it out for yourself and see how far this natural medical practice can take you with your health?

2010-03-25T21:15:00.000-04:00

Getting Familiar with Acupuncture

As with anything in the natural health world, there is a lot of misinformation that is surrounding acupuncture. As a matter of fact, many people miss out on the benefits of acupuncture because they understand it to be something that it is not. If you're unfamiliar with acupuncture but think that you could benefit from some of the services that they provide, here is some information to help you to cut through the noise and find out the truth.

Acupuncture was started some 5000 years ago in ancient China and was a way to regulate the energy that flowed through the body. This energy, known as Chi according to Chinese medicine is present in all living things. Whenever it becomes imbalanced, however, it can cause problems for us as individuals that range from mild symptoms to severe disease. Acupuncture came along as a way to regulate the energy and to open up the channels that allow the energy to flow through our body normally.

Since that ancient time, acupuncture has come a very long way but they still adhere to many of the same things as the original natural medicine. Some of the differences include the fact that it does go along with modern medicine and the techniques that are used include such things as sterile needles and environments in which the acupuncture is performed.

Whenever you make your first trip to the acupuncturist, you will be given an interview by the doctor in order to find out exactly what you need and exactly where you stand as far as your health is concerned. They will ask you many questions and you will have the opportunity to give feedback and ask some questions of your own. Take this opportunity to become familiar, both with the doctor and with the practice of acupuncture in general.

The actual procedure is probably nothing like you had considered before you understood what it was. The needles that are inserted into your skin are hair thin and it rarely ever hurts at all. As a matter of fact, many people experience relaxation or rejuvenation as a result of the needles being inserted. If there is any pain involved, it is very temporary and light.

Although you may go in for a dozen acupuncture treatments for your problem, many people experience relief after the first treatment. They leave the office feeling rejuvenated and with a general sense of well-being.

2010-03-24T02:17:00.000-04:00

Can Acupuncture Work with Weight Loss?

Unfortunately, many people have to deal with problems with their weight on a regular basis and throughout their lifetime. For some of us, it is a problem that started whenever we were children and we developed some bad habits that are very difficult to break. For others, it is a hormonal problem such as those experienced by people with hypothyroidism. Regardless of why you're having a difficult time with your weight, it can be a real struggle to get the weight off and keep it off. One way in which many people have looked to for help with their weight loss efforts is acupuncture.

Acupuncture can indeed bring our body into a balance that it may be lacking. If we are having problems with our hormone levels which can cause weight gain, acupuncture can help to bring those back into line with where they should be. In general, the better you feel and the better you feel about yourself, the easier in that it will be for you to lose weight and keep it off. Unfortunately, for most people, that's not quite enough for them to realize the weight loss that they have been looking for. Acupuncture is able to overcome one more large hurdle.

On the inside and around the ear are specific acupuncture points that serve several different functions. Whenever these points are stimulated through the use of acupuncture needles, they help to control our appetite by suppressing it and they also work to detox the body. This works to our benefit in two different ways. Not only does it keep us from overeating out of habit but it also helps us to be able to lose weight quickly because our bodies are not clogged with a lot of toxins as a result of the acupuncture detox.

So, if you have been struggling with your weight for quite some time and do not seem to be able to control it through willpower and natural means, going to an acupuncturist may be exactly what you need. By suppressing your appetite and bringing your body back into a natural balance, you are assisting yourself to lose the weight naturally. The weight that you lose will be easier to keep off as a result of your overall general health being better. For some, it's the only thing that really helps them in their weight loss efforts.

2010-03-22T02:40:00.000-04:00

Can Acupuncture Help with Fibromyalgia?

Many individuals suffer from the disease that is known as fibromyalgia. For some of these people that suffer with this problem, just getting out of bed in the morning can be a very difficult task. It causes pain in specific areas of the body and saps all of the energy that we have away from us. The worst part is that some people don't even consider this to be a disease at all. They think that we are suffering for no reason or that it is simply all in our head. For those of us that live with the disease, however, we know exactly how real it can be. Whenever traditional medicine has failed us, is acupuncture able to step in and cure fibromyalgia?

Acupuncture is not actually a cure for any diseases. Although it does help in order to bring the body back into balance, it does not take the disease away from us, our body actually does that. What acupuncture can do for you, if you have fibromyalgia or another disease is to bring your body into unison with itself and allow the free flow of energy to move through your entire being. This is natural healing at its very roots and if you are able to heal your body and the flow of energy, it will be much easier for your body to remove diseases such as fibromyalgia.

The concept of Chi, or the energy that flows within all of us is at the basis of acupuncture. Thousands of years ago, in ancient China this practice came into being as a way to get Chi to flow freely through individuals. The Chinese felt that if the body was out of balance in any way and leaning either toward the positive or the negative that illness and disease would result. Although they did not have all of the details that we have as far as medical science is concerned, they were pretty close to the actual truth. When our body gets out of balance, we suffer.

So, if you are suffering from fibromyalgia and want to try acupuncture, it's a pretty good idea to do so. Not only can it help you by bringing your body back into balance but your acupuncturist will be able to guide you in other natural methods to help remove this disease from you, once and for all.

2010-03-18T23:12:00.000-04:00

What Is the Cost of Acupuncture?

Although it has come a long way since its roots some 5000 years ago, the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture is still something that is revered, even today. Since the 1980s, this practice has gained widespread use throughout much of the westernized world. Although it has changed as far as the type of needles that are used and the areas in which they are used, much of the ancient art still remains intact. If you would like to try acupuncture for yourself but are wondering about the cost, here is a breakdown on what it will cost you for treatment.

Of course, treatments for acupuncture vary from area to area but for the most part you can expect to pay anywhere from $50-$250 per treatment. This also includes your initial consultation in which your doctor will discuss all of the options with you and try to ascertain exactly what kind of treatment that you need. On this initial visit, the acupuncture may not even be administered. There are some acupuncturists, especially where competition is high in the area that will give you the initial consultation for free. If you are able to find such a deal, it may help you to afford the further treatments.

Unfortunately, acupuncture is not always a one-shot deal. As a matter of fact, for some types of treatments you can expect to be in the acupuncturist's office a dozen times or more. This can add up to a substantial amount of money if you are paying $100 per visit. What can be done to curtail the cost?

Depending on your particular treatment and the reason why you're visiting the acupuncturist, your insurance may actually cover all or part of the treatment. The best thing that you can do in this particular case is to contact your insurance company to see if they cover acupuncture treatments.

Of course, there is a negative affect to the cost of acupuncture as well. If you have a problem with your health and you do not seek help through an acupuncturist you may end up keeping that malady for quite some time. You have to balance this in your mind and try to put a price tag on what your health is worth. If you have been dealing with your illness for quite some time, the price of several acupuncture sessions may not be so big after all.

2010-03-16T02:36:00.000-04:00

What Can Acupuncture Do for Me?

There are a lot of people that are familiar with acupuncture in general but many of them may not be aware of all of the different things that acupuncture can do for them. As long as it has to do with your body's health, acupuncture can assist you in a natural way. This is because, at its essence, acupuncture is meant to allow the free flow of energy within the body in order to heal the body and to rejuvenate the senses. Although there is quite a long list of things that can be done at the acupuncturist office, here are a few of the more common things that are treated.

One thing that most people go to the acupuncturist for is control of pain. It doesn't matter what kind of pain an individual has, from back pain to carpal tunnel syndrome, the acupuncturist will be able to assist you. By allowing the free flow of energy through your body, the pain can either be blocked or the area can be healed. Pain management doesn't just stop in this area, however, it also includes surgical procedures.

Many individuals who are undergoing surgery seek out acupuncture treatments in order to control the pain and to help with some of the side effects from the surgery. Surgeons are catching on to the benefits of acupuncture as well and are administering it before and after the surgery in order to cut down on the amount of pain medicine that is needed. Some doctors are even administering the acupuncture whenever the surgery is taking place!

Acupuncture is also used for its calming effect in many cases. People with unusual phobias or that have a difficult time relaxing or sleeping may seek acupuncture therapy in order to help them to relax and to overcome their problems. This type of acupuncture may take ongoing treatments that last for quite some time but many people experience almost immediate relief from these type of problems.

One other thing that is fairly common for acupuncturist to do is to decrease a person's appetite. As a matter of fact, many people who undergo acupuncture treatments for various reasons also ask if they can be given acupuncture for appetite suppression. Although many acupuncturists will not focus on this area solely, they will administer this treatment in conjunction with the therapy that the person is already receiving.

2010-03-14T23:19:00.000-04:00

Is Acupuncture My Last Hope?

All of us have to deal with problems in our life. For some of us, the problems seem to be relatively light and they are something that we can deal with on a regular basis. For others, the problems may come fast and furious and it may be difficult to get a handle on the situation. Some people seek medical advice for their problems but, at times, doctors are able to do little more than give us something to suppress the symptoms when what is really needed is a cure for the disease itself. At times like these, many people turn to natural health and hope that it is able to take care of the problem.

One natural healing method that many people try is that of acupuncture. In fact, you would probably be surprised with the number of individuals that try acupuncture in a last ditch effort to solve their problems. What these individuals find out, in many cases, is that the field of natural healing actually only begins with acupuncture but it goes much wider than that. A good acupuncturist will not claim to be able to heal the difficulties that you are having but they can guide you through the healing process.

Acupuncture has a lot to do with restoring and maintaining good health. It does this by promoting the free flow of life throughout our entire body. At times, the energy that is within us can become clogged or even imbalanced and that causes a lot of problems in us as individuals. By promoting good health through a balanced energy flow, acupuncture is able to help us to heal ourselves and is not necessarily doing the healing itself. When used in connection with other forms of natural healing, the effects can be quite powerful.

If you're contemplating acupuncture but are worried about the process, let me put your mind at ease. The process of acupuncture is relatively free of any problems whatsoever. In fact, the only problems that really occur could occur with any procedure, as they all involve the competence of the person administering the acupuncture. As long as your doctor is aware of what they are doing and uses clean and sterile needles from an unopened pack, you have very little, if anything, to worry about.

2010-03-11T22:41:00.000-05:00

Promoting the Free Flow of Energy through Acupuncture

There are many different ways that we can help ourselves naturally. For some people, they do a lot with their diets and perhaps meditation but for others, they may need a bit more of a natural boost. One way that we can help ourselves to heal and to rejuvenate is through the process that is known as acupuncture. Although this method of healing is thousands of years old, it is still revered as one of the basic ways to take care of ourselves and to balance the life force that is within all of us. What exactly can acupuncture do for you?

According to traditional Chinese medicine, we all have an energy within ourselves that is known as Chi. This energy flows freely through us and is the essence of what we actually are on the inside. Chinese medicine identified roughly 14 channels through which this life force flowed. From time to time, however, we may experience a blockage of the free flow of this life force which causes problems in us that range from minor aches and pains to serious illness.

Whenever we experience an imbalance in our Chi, acupuncture is able to bring our body back into a balanced state again. By stimulating various acupuncture points on our body, it can send energy and increased blood flow to other areas of our body. For example, the palm of the hand and the web of the thumb can be used to help with headaches. There are over 2000 of these acupuncture points that are found throughout the body that can help in numerous ways in order to promote good health and to aid in healing the body of the problems that it experiences.

Whenever our body is in balance and flowing properly, it does not hold disease in easily. This is also seen in the pH balance that is in our body and just goes to show exactly how important it is for us to stay within the lines of physical balance.

So, if you are experiencing pain or sickness, acupuncture may be up to bring you back to a state in which your body can remove it from itself. By using acupuncture as a basis for a natural, healthy life, you are giving yourself the opportunity to be free of disease and the problems that imbalance creates.

2010-03-10T22:31:00.002-05:00

Can Acupuncture Help Me Lose Weight?

One of the most difficult things that we have to deal with on a regular basis is problems with our weight. For many of us, this is been a problem that we have been dealing with for most of our lives. It may have been that we were even heavy when we were children and because of habits that we have had since we were young, it may be difficult for us not to overeat. Add to that the general lifestyle that most of us lead which is busy and full of sugary snacks and fast food and it's little wonder that we have a problem with our weight.

One thing that can help with weight loss and suppressing our appetite is the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture. Although most people think of acupuncture as being something that helps with general health and the relief of pain, it can also do a lot to help us with our weight loss efforts. It is true that acupuncture is a great method of working with our health naturally but, isn't taking care of our weight also a part of our natural health? Let's take a look at acupuncture and weight loss and see what it can do for you.

Acupuncture is a way of bringing our body back into balance, a natural balance that our body needs. According to traditional Chinese medicine, all of us have channels in our body which funnel energy from one part of our body into another. If our body is in balance, we are able to enjoy a natural flow of this energy, otherwise known as Chi. Acupuncture is able to manipulate the flow of energy that is within our body through the insertion of hair thin needles. If this energy is disrupted in some cases, it can help us by suppressing the energy as well. It does this through acupuncture and also helps by suppressing our appetite.

Many people who go in for acupuncture for pain or general healing may also be able to enjoy the benefits of a suppressed appetite through acupuncture as well. Your acupuncturist will be able to give you assistance and advice as far as this is concerned. What you will probably find, however, is that by reducing your appetite through acupuncture, you are able to eat less on a regular basis and maintain a healthier weight.

2010-03-09T02:24:00.000-05:00

Can Acupuncture Remove My Wrinkles?

All of us are fighting against a common foe, that of aging and all of the problems that it brings along with it. For some of us, it brings along problems that we need to fight on a continuous basis in the form of disease or decreased energy. For others, it may be a matter of the effects of aging showing on our face and other areas of our body. People will spend an unusual amount of money in order to make themselves look young again. Not only do they spend a lot of money, they may also take risks with their health in order to remove wrinkles.

Some of the most popular forms of face lifts include chemical peels, surgery and micro-dermabrasion. All of these are invasive and can damage our skin in order to make it look better. This has sparked an interest in natural health as a way to remove some of the wrinkles from our face, specifically through the use of acupuncture as a facelift. Is acupuncture actually able to help remove wrinkles from our face and to make us look young again? The answer may surprise you.

First of all, it's important for us to explain that acupuncture is not and never will be the same as a facelift. This is because treatment through acupuncture is natural and not invasive in any way. The only thing that is invasive about acupuncture are the needles that are used and they hardly even damage your skin at all. Regardless of the actual term, however, many people have experienced great benefits with their skin through the use of acupuncture. This is for several different reasons.

Some doctors will use acupuncture directly on the wrinkles in order to stimulate the skin to grow and to heal. Going deeper than that, however, acupuncture actually promotes the free flow of energy throughout the body which can make you feel and look better from the inside out. Whenever you are glowing and youthful as a result of your acupuncture treatments, the effects will be plain to see on the outside as well.

Although acupuncture cannot remove all of the wrinkles from your face, it is one step toward a more natural, healthy you. By keeping your body in balance and maintaining that balance, you will take a chunk out of the aging process that will show to everyone that looks.

2010-03-05T02:32:00.002-05:00

Treating Infertility through Acupuncture

One of the biggest disappointments that we can experience as a married couple is the inability to conceive a child. Even though we may try month after month, for some of us it is just a difficult thing to accomplish. If you are having a difficult time with conception and you don't necessarily want to go through in vitro fertilization, acupuncture may be able to offer you a natural treatment that has helped many. How can acupuncture help you to have a baby?

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical procedure in which the body's energy is brought back into balance. Through the stimulation of acupuncture points with the use of very fine needles, this life energy is sent throughout the body through various channels. Whenever we experience an imbalance in our body as a result of this energy leaning towards the positive or the negative, it can display itself in a number of different ways. For some, it displays as pain or disease but for others, it may show up as an inability to conceive a child.

Studies that have been done on acupuncture have shown that whenever certain areas of the body are stimulated through treatment, it does increase the amount of energy and blood flow to the targeted area. This can have a great impact on us in many different ways. If we are having a difficult time in producing the sperm and eggs that are necessary in order to conceive a child, giving these areas of our body additional blood flow may be exactly what is needed in order to produce an adequate supply. It may also be that by increasing the balance within our body and bringing ourselves into a more natural state, we give our bodies the ability to heal any problems that we may be experiencing in these areas.

Of course, many individuals also try in vitro fertilization in order to produce children and this can be stimulated by acupuncture as well. As a matter of fact, in several tests that were conducted, those people who were going through in vitro fertilization and using acupuncture increased their odds of conception by 10% or more when compared with those who were only going through IVF alone.

Acupuncture can certainly help you to bring your body into a balanced condition. It may also be a double to assist your body in healing itself and producing what is necessary in order for you to conceive a child.

2010-03-03T21:10:00.003-05:00

Acupuncture for Sinus Headaches

The human body is an amazing thing, and whenever it is working properly it has a wonderful ability to take care of itself. Whenever our body gets out of balance, however, problems can occur and show up in the form of pain and various diseases. In order to naturally remove these various maladies from ourselves, it is often necessary for us to seek out the natural balance that we may have lost. If you are having a difficult time with your sinuses and sinus headaches, it may be a sign of the balance missing from your body. You can bring this balance back through the use of acupuncture.

Many people are not aware of exactly how large the sinuses are. They are cavities which reach out into the cheek bones and above the eyes. Our sinuses are there for a specific reason much the same as everything on our body. Not only do they filter out the air before it enters into our lungs but they also reduce the risk of brain injury from blunt force trauma to the face and give our faces their unique shape. For those that suffer from sinus headaches, however, the benefits of their sinuses are outweighed by the trouble that they are causing.

By using acupuncture, you may be able to relieve some of the problems that you are experiencing from sinus headaches. If you are able to get your body back into alignment with itself through acupuncture and natural healing methods, you may be able to remove the headaches altogether.
By producing various chemicals in the bloodstream through acupuncture along with some of the pain relief that acupuncture is able to bring, you may experience an immediate relief from the headaches that you are having. With several treatments and a good regimen of natural health, you may be a ball to get rid of the headaches once and for all.

Of course, you will want to speak to your doctor and to your acupuncturist about the treatments in order to make sure that they don't conflict with one another. More than likely, however, you will be able to experience the relief that is typically found through acupuncture treatments. Many people experience immediate relief and if you are one of those, you may be wondering why it took you so long to try acupuncture in the first place.

2010-03-01T04:51:00.002-05:00

Acupuncture for Weight Loss

It's hard to meet anyone that is not at least a little bit concerned about their weight. The society that we live in as well as the type of lifestyle that many of us keep has led to an epidemic of weight gain that all of us are suffering from. Even those of us who are able to maintain a fairly lean lifestyle still struggle because of the difficulty of eating a healthy diet and maintaining our weight. There are some things that can be done, however, in order to help curb your appetite and to lose the extra pounds. Acupuncture is one of these.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that has been done for thousands of years. Even though it spread throughout many areas of Asia, it really has only become popular in the Western world in the past several decades. Since that time, many tests have revealed that there is a lot of truth in what acupuncture is able to do for us as individuals. In recent years, it has also been discovered that a natural balance in the body is one way for you to be able to combat weight gain and problems with overeating. Acupuncture is a natural way to maintain balance in the body so they work hand-in-hand.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, we all have an energy about us that is typically known as Chi. This energy has two basic parts that are opposite to each other but when they work in balance they give us the life force that we need. By manipulating certain parts of our body with acupuncture needles we are able to maintain the flow of energy and to find that balance that our body needs. This can do everything for us from removing pain and depression to helping us to maintain a healthy weight.

So, if you have been struggling with weight gain or have a difficulty with overeating, acupuncture can help you in several different ways. Not only can it bring you back into a balanced state where your body will work better as a unit, it can also help by suppressing our appetite and making it easier for us to maintain a healthy weight. Although it will still take willpower on our part to a certain extent, by using acupuncture to maintain healthy weight, you will be giving your self some help along the way.

2010-02-26T05:29:00.002-05:00

Acupuncture - an Old Cure with a New Twist

There are so many different ways that you can take care of your health and many of them can be taken care of naturally. One method that has been used for thousands of years and originally came from China is that of acupuncture. Although acupuncture is gaining in popularity in Western cultures, it is still basically misunderstood by many people who have never been through the process. If you are considering having some treatments done, here are some things that you may want to know before your first visit and what you can expect from your treatment by an acupuncturist.

More than likely, you will have to go through a series of visits whenever you visit the acupuncturist. The first visit may not actually have any treatments involved at all unless the problem that you are trying to deal with is fairly routine. The doctor will take a lot of time to ask you questions about your personal circumstances, what it is that you're trying to have healed and just generally trying to find out about your overall health. This will give him an idea of the type of treatment that he will give to you as well as any problems that may need to be taken into consideration.

Many people that are not familiar with acupuncture are very nervous about problems that may come up during the treatment. Let me put your mind at ease. Acupuncture is one natural treatment that rarely ever causes any problems for the individual undergoing the treatment. In fact, the only real problems that occur as a result of acupuncture, typically occur because of the acupuncturist not taking care with the needles that he uses. As long as they use clean, prepackaged needles and are careful to clean the area where they are inserted, there is little for you to worry about at all.

Acupuncture has been proven to work on a number of different problems that you may be dealing with that range from a wide variety of pain problems to a difficulty in getting pregnant. Some people even use acupuncture in order to lose weight! Although it is still not accepted as widely as modern medical practices, it still has a place as far as natural medicine is concerned. It has also proven to work in many cases by studies done in the scientific community.

2010-02-18T07:32:00.008-05:00

Does Acupuncture Really Work?

Things don't always necessarily need to be new in order to be helpful. This is true in a lot of areas in life and is also true when it comes to certain types of medical treatments. As a matter of fact, there were treatments that were being performed thousands of years ago in Asia that still have some medical benefits, even today. One of those is the practice of acupuncture, something that is becoming more popular in Western society today. What exactly is acupuncture and how can it help you with your health?

Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine in which small, hair sized needles are inserted into the body at specific locations in order to alter the flow of energy. These channels which, according to Chinese medicine, run through the body keep everything in line and balanced. If one of these should happen to get out of balance, however, it could cause a problem in the entire body and depending on where the imbalance occurred, it could affect a specific area of the body. This is really the essence of yin and yang, the two forces which regulate almost everything within the human body.

Many people are nervous about going to the acupuncturist but, as a matter of fact, it is actually one of the safest forms of medical treatment that there is. In fact, there are very few problems that can occur as long as a few safety guidelines are followed by a doctor. This would include such things as only using prepackaged, sterile needles and, of course, understanding what they are doing so that the needles are inserted in the proper areas.

Although it has not been totally embraced by all areas of the medical community, acupuncture is actually a relatively safe way for you to enhance your health through the use of natural medicine. Some of the studies that have been done on acupuncture actually show that it does contain some benefit and that it causes certain changes in a person's physiology that may help them in the healing process.

So, if you're having a difficult time with any number of things physically, acupuncture may be able to help you to get back on the road to better health. Even though it is not a total replacement for traditional medicine, it can still enhance your ability to live a healthy life.

2009-12-17T06:01:00.001-05:00

Linda explains how many sessions you may need when visiting an acupuncturist.

2009-12-16T05:59:00.000-05:00

Linda talks about whether or not you can eat or exercise before an acupuncture session.

2009-12-14T05:50:00.000-05:00

Linda Lloyd explains what Qi is and why it is important?

2009-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Linda explains what types of conditions can be treated with acupuncture?

2009-12-11T06:30:00.001-05:00

Linda Lloyd explains why you can remain clothed during an acupuncture session.

2009-12-09T07:30:00.000-05:00

Linda Lloyd explains what to expect during an acupuncture session

2009-12-07T11:30:00.001-05:00

Linda Lloyd talks about- How to choose an acupuncturist

2009-12-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

Linda talks about how big or rather SMALL the needles are in acupuncture.

2009-12-06T16:45:00.003-05:00

What is acupuncture and why would I choose it?

2009-11-12T01:48:00.004-05:00

Menopause is not a disease!

Have you noticed lately that since Suzanne Sommers and Oprah have started talking about menopause that suddenly women are up in arms about a natural physiological cycle? Why is it that doctors are now treating menopause like a disease? It's not.

Traditional medical treatments seem to only address the symptoms of menopause. However, acupuncture realizes that the signs and symptoms of menopause are just the tip of the iceberg.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine understand that the symptoms are indication of an imbalance. Acupuncture is a 3,000 year old healing art that focuses on the correcting underlying imbalances that have occurred over years. If these imbalances remain unchecked, a variety of signs and symptoms will appear and result in the Western diagnosis of menopause.

Menopause is a change of shifting in a woman's body Chinese medicine recognizes that the changes are a natural chemical change in the body. The estrogen in a woman's body is very similar to what acupuncturists call Jing Qi. At birth we have an abundant supply of Jing Qi. It provides us with energy and the ability to adapt to disease, illness and stress. However, as we age, the Jing Qi slowly decreases. As it declines our organ systems become imbalanced and it leads to various signs and symptoms such as low libido, graying of hair, urinary difficulty, poor memory backache and fatigue.

Another cause of menopause is when there is a slowing of Yin. Yin is like a cooling system in the body and when it declines women experience hot flashes, night sweats and restlessness, mood swings and insomnia. At the same time Yang begins to decline as well and it represents the warming and the metabolizing of functions in the body. When Yang is unbalanced, women experience cold hands and feet, weight gain and water retention.

At Acupuncture Center of Northern Virginia, I will conduct a thorough evaluation and complete health history. When treating menopausal symptoms I will need to determine where energy has shifted and which organ systems have become imbalanced. Once this is known then a I will know how to proceed to correct the imbalance.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is a safe, natural, drug- free and effective way to address menopause. If you are a woman suffering from the signs and symptoms of menopause and you do not want to take drugs call me today at Acupuncture Center of Northern Virginia to set up your appointment

2007-12-13T11:10:00.000-05:00

The Eyes Have it

This is the second in a series of blogs I will do on face reading. This information comes from Lillian Bridges’ book about Chinese face reading.

Eyes are the most expressive feature on the face and are the most easily marked with the passage of time. One has to look at eye size, shape, set, and corners. The size of someone’s eyes is determined by the vertical height of the eye in proportion to the rest of the face. Large eyes are associated with the openness of the heart and people born with large eyes have abundant fire energy. People with large eyes are more prone to be emotional and expressive. They react to their feelings before thinking. The genetic structure of the eye is not as important as how open people hold their eyes. How much the iris shows is what counts. If someone born with large eyes narrows their eyes, they are suppressing their emotions which may be a wise thing to do as these individuals tend to be more naïve and vulnerable and are therefore more easily disappointed.

By contrast, small-eyed people are better able to control their emotions and when they hold their eyes open they are trying to be more receptive and expressive. Small eyes mean that the fire energy is pushed into the brain so these individuals are more apt to have an active mental life and logically plan and calculate their reactions. They naturally have a more difficult time in expressing their emotions and are introspective. These individuals watch people carefully and have a tendency to be skeptical and wary of others.

There are five basic eye shapes. The round eye is nearly as wide as it is long. Round-eyed people have highly curved upper and lower lids and almost all of their irises show. These individuals are usually gregarious, emotional, and speak their minds easily. They tend to be dramatic and can have intense mood swings. These people are usually bold and possess abundant charm that can easily soothe ruffled feathers that they may cause. A variation of round eyes is large eyes. Large eyes are longer and the lower lid is straighter. These individuals live by their emotions and tend to be impulsive. They are usually quite attractive to the opposite sex and are sociable and charming. These individuals tend to be artistic and need to be creative to be happy. They do not like strict rules or confinement and enjoy living in their fantasy world.

Little eyes are the third type of eye shape. These eyes are much narrower and shorter. Individuals with little eyes are introverted, cautious and have a great need for privacy. These individuals hide their emotions from others and sometimes from themselves. They scrutinize people and situations and can be suspicious. People with little eyes are much more comfortable with thinking than with feeling. They are very good with details and are usually quite trustworthy and good at keeping secrets.

Almond shaped eyes are the fourth eye shape. Almond eyes have a slight curve on the top and bottom eyelids with most of the iris showing. This eye shape is longer than it is high. This shape is considered exotic because it conveys a sense of mystery. Individuals with almond eyes are sensitive, warm and yet exhibit caution and control over how best to express their emotions. They are considered to have more common sense than larger eyed people. These individuals are balanced in that they are open enough to receive and cautious enough to evaluate what they have gotten.

Rectangular eyes are the last eye shape. Rectangular eyes have eyelids that go straight across the iris. These eyes are much longer than they are high. Rectangular-eyed people are usually good at business because they rely more on logic and thinking than emotions and feeling. These individuals are difficult to get to know but are capable of great passion. These individuals have difficulty in expressing emotions, but are loyal to friends, which they normally keep for the long term. They are conscious of money and social status and are prone to envy. They can be very perceptive about other people’s motives.

The distance between the two eyes determines eye set. The average distance between the two eyes is one eye length. Anything over that distance is considered to be wide-set eyes and by contrast, narrow-set eyes are shorter than one eye length between the eyes. People with wide-set eyes are usually adaptable, flexible and tolerant. They tend to see life from a broad perspective and may have trouble concentrating on details. They are usually innovating thinkers and can appreciate alternative views of life.

By contrast, close-set eyes belong to individuals who are generally less tolerant of views other than their own. They do have the ability to concentrate and focus on details; they possess strong analytical skills and have keen powers of observation.

The slant of the eye is determined by whether one corner of the eye is higher than the other. When the outer corner is higher than the inner corner, this is an upturned eye and may be referred to as cat’s eyes. These individuals are generally optimistic, curious and ambitious. They can quickly spot an opportunity and are often entertaining and clever. A down-turned eye is just the opposite in that the outer corner of the eye is lower than the inner corner. These individuals are more prone to pessimism and discouragement and are often softhearted and kind.

The inner canthus is the corner of the eye closest to the nose. In face reading, it corresponds to the ability to use words, especially when used in anger. It’s a very simple correlation, the sharper the corner, the sharper the tongue. The more rounded the corner, the more words are chosen tactfully and carefully. When the inner canthus comes to a point, words are used with great accuracy. If the inner canthus is pointed and curved downwards, these individuals can use words as weapons when angry.

As long as we are discussing the set of eyes, we may as well mention eye depth. The depth of the eye indicates whether someone is an extrovert or an introvert. Deep-set eyes belong to introvert and thinkers and protruding eyes belong to extroverts who are usually bold and impulsive.

Eyelashes are the last feature. Long, thick and full lashes generally belong to emotional, romantic people. More pragmatic and realistic individuals tend to have straighter and thinner eyelashes.

So, there you have it. The next time you meet a stranger, you now have several tools you can use to evaluate what sort of an individual is standing in front of you as you look into their eyes.

2007-11-28T17:56:00.000-05:00

Chinese Face Reading

Reading faces in order to determine illness has a long history in Chinese medicine. Unfortunately, my school devoted only one three-hour lecture to the subject that I found inadequate to put the information to any good use. Fortunately, though, I recently finished a book by Lillian Bridges entitled “Face Reading in Chinese Medicine” that has sufficiently filled in the gaps. The information she offers in her book about analyzing faces is something that we may know innately, but she has broken it down by the various face components and has used the information that she has compiled over the past twenty something years to teach businessmen in areas of hiring and marketing, lawyers in facial characteristics to look for in picking juries, singles in choosing a mate, and physicians, nurses and oriental medicine practitioners on how to diagnose illness.

Face reading was a predominant means of diagnosis for illness in oriental medicine thousands of years ago when it was considered inappropriate for oriental doctors to palpate and examine female patients. Female patients would point to female nude statues to indicate where they were feeling discomfort and the doctor would assimilate this information with the facial diagnosis as well as tongue and pulse diagnosis. The Chinese still use face reading today but more as a fortune-telling tool. They believe that the face tells what has happened to the individual as well as where they will probably end up if they stay on the same path.

Face reading is not only the domain of the Chinese. Both Aristotle and Plato wrote about faces. Their writings introduced face reading to Europe. It was not a novel idea to our country either. Abraham Lincoln chose his cabinet members based on their faces and an out-of-print Maytag Sales Manual from the early 1900s taught how to read faces to sell appliances.

The Chinese believe that the face records traumatic events that occur during life. They have a saying that from birth to the age of 25 you have the face that your mother gave you; from 25 to 50 you have the face that you create and from 50 on you have the face that you deserve. Remember when your mother would tell you not to make that face because it would freeze that way? Well, she was right. Your make an expression over and over again, it will mark your face. If you don’t like a particular wrinkle that you have, put a piece of tape over the wrinkle and every time that you feel the tape pull, stop and ask yourself what emotion you are feeling at that moment. See if you can find insight into why you are feeling that particular emotion and ask yourself if it is something you need to feel or if it is an emotion you can release.

2007-10-22T15:33:00.000-04:00

The Pivot from Yang to Yin

Although it is hard to fathom given the incredibly warm weather we have been having , we entered the Fall season on September 21. Fall marks the pivot from the yang activity of summer to the yin stillness of winter. It is the time to harvest the bounty that grew during the summer. It is also the time to organize and prepare for the winter months ahead.

One of the beautiful aspects of Chinese medicine is that the ancient Chinese physicians observed the natural cycles of the seasons and recorded the best practices for staying healthy and harmonizing our energy with the season.

As each of the seasons has a corresponding element, metal corresponds to Fall. The metal element governs the mind, organization, order, and stability. People tend to be more reflective, turning inward to work and families. In nature, the life force is also turning inward and flowing down into the roots. Animals are turning inward by burrowing into the earth or stocking up supplies for the winter. It is a time to organize and prepare for the season ahead and a time to reflect.

Just as each of the seasons has a corresponding element, each also has an associated emotion. That of fall is grief and sadness. Those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD may negatively feel the effects of the shorter days. It is important during this time of year to keep the mind clear and release negative emotions which can impact health more strongly during this season.

The pathway or meridian system corresponding to fall is the Lung and Large Intestine. These two meridian systems are paired. The Lung is yin and is the only meridian system that directly interacts with the environment by taking in air from the outside into the lungs. Its partner, the Large Intestine is yang. Together they are in charge of respiration, digestion and elimination. Common symptoms associated with imbalances in these two systems are respiratory problems such as asthma, shortness of breath, frequent colds, sinus congestion, constipation and skin problems.

During the fall, the body is particularly susceptible to wind and dryness. Chinese medicine believes that one thousand diseases are carried on the wind. The back of the neck is the most vulnerable part of the body for the wind to attack; therefore, it is important to keep the back of the neck covered during windy days. Dryness can cause symptoms of coughing, dry nose, sore throat, dry skin, dry hair and scalp, dry mouth and cracked lips and hard and dry stools.

Adding more nourishing yin foods to your diet promote body fluid, soothe the lung and protect from dryness. Fall is the time to start eating more cooked foods and less raw foods such as salads. Substituting salads for soups and stews that contain tuber vegetables such as potatoes and yams help support the lung and large intestine. Other foods that help support the lung and large intestine are pears, winter squash, broccoli, cauliflower, figs, leeks, pomegranate, cabbage, brussel sprouts.

Fall is the time to begin revising our eating habits to eat more in keeping with the season. The taste associated with fall is spicy or pungent. Adding ginger and cinnamon to food also helps promote the lung and large intestine.

Taking deep breaths and filling your lungs with that crisp fall air also promotes lung qi. So many of us live in a state of “flight or fight” and breathe very shallowly. Studies have shown that breathing deeply lowers blood pressure, provides more oxygen to the brain for clearer thinking and to the body for more energy as well as calms the mind.

2007-09-21T11:23:00.000-04:00

Chinese Pathways

My charming friend here to the left is an acupuncture model displaying all the points on the left side of his body. And of course, as I have mentioned before, everything in Chinese medicine is either yin or yang. Yang pertains to that part of the body facing the sun which means the back and sides of the body since China was an agrarian society and farmers’ backs and sides were what were exposed to the sun. Yin, of course, was the opposite; all the pathways not facing the sun.

Twelve of the pathways are named after the organs in the body and points on these pathways do affect the organs that they are named after. Of these twelve pathways, there are six yang pathways: three begin on the hands and ascend up the arms to the head and three begin on the head and descend to the feet. There are also six yin pathways: three begin on the body and descend down the arm and three begin on the feet and ascend up the body.

The three yang meridian pathways that begin on the head are the Stomach, Urinary Bladder and Gall Bladder. All three of these pathways descend and end at the feet. Their yin partners are the three pathways that begin on the feet and end on the body. The Kidney yin meridian pairs with Urinary Bladder: Liver pairs with Gall Bladder, and Spleen pairs with stomach.

The three yang meridians that begin on the hands and end at the head are the Large Intestine, Triple Heater (in charge of metabolism) and the Small Intestine. Their yin partners begin on the body and end on the hands. The yin Lung pathway pairs with Large Intestine; Heart pairs with Small Intestine; and, Pericardium pairs with Triple Heater.

The most powerful points are those from the elbows and knees down to the hands and feet. The majority of the points I use in my practice are on the lower arms and legs because of their effectiveness. For example, for a toothache, I may use a point on the stomach meridian close to the second toe because the stomach meridian actually runs down the side of the mouth and out the middle toe. The points closest to the second toe are so powerful; a toothache can be stopped very quickly, within seconds. That explains why many points used in acupuncture treatments may be completely opposite of where the problem lies and hopefully explains to you why they are selected. Its all in the power of the points!!

2007-08-22T17:21:00.000-04:00

Longevity Secret of Orchestra Conductors

In a recent breathing workshop I took, our teacher, Linda MacDonald, presented the participants with an article about the longevity of orchestra conductors that I wanted to share because I found it very interesting.

Were you aware that orchestra conductors live longer than almost any other groups of people? Many famous conductors lived into their 80s and 90s when the average life expectancy was only 50. These conductors include Leopold Stokowski who lived to 95, Pablo Casals at 96, Nadia Boulanger at 90 and Arturo Toscanini at 89.

These conductors not only lived a long life, but they were vital and vibrant into their later years. Researchers at first thought that it was the exposure to music over long periods of time that enhanced their longevity, but this longevity did not prove true for other musicians.

The secret lies in the arm movement or “wing flapping” that conductors do in a very vigorous manner while performing. Research supports that upper body exercises provide better cardiovascular workout than lower body exercises such as walking, jogging or bicycling. So, rather than killing yourself running or jogging, you can get a good workout by spending ten minutes a day doing simple conducting movements.

Upper body movements expand the muscles of the chest and open the lungs. When the lungs are expanded, oxygen floods the body. In addition, the heart pumps more vigorously propelling blood to muscles and organs. When blood and oxygen can reach tight constricted areas blood pressure becomes lower and better circulation is provided for the brain which helps sharpen your thinking.

What a deal for such a simple activity!! The next time, you’re slumped over your desk and feeling fatigued, take a break by getting up, expanding your chest and flap away for a few minutes. I bet you’ll feel better.

2007-07-29T16:39:00.000-04:00

A new Logo for the Acupuncture Center of Northern Virginia

I've been busily preparing an e-newsletter which will debut in August. A dear friend of mine suggested that I have a logo for the newsletter and I decided to use the bagua pictured here.

I'm sure you all recognize the yin and yang symbols in the middle which depict that balance and co-dependence of opposites. The yin is the dark comma and symbolizes the nurturing supportive part of line and the lighter yang side symbolizes action and movement.

The lines surrounding the yin yang or wuji symbol are known as the bagua. The broken lines represent yin and the unbroken lines represent yang. The bagua dates back to the "I Ching" or the Book of Changes. Each grouping of three lines represents an element, a season and an acupuncture meridian. The symbol of summer is fire and is represented by the two unbroken lines on either side of the broken line to the left of the wuji symbol and directly in the middle.

The bagua has had great significance during each of the major Chinese dynasties and certain aspects of the bagua have changed with each dynasty which adds to its complexity. Doubling each of the groupings of three so that six lines are drawn represents the twelve acupuncture meridians that run through the body. As each of those six lines represent specific points and have specific meaning in the balancing process for acupuncture, I hope you can appreciate why I chose this symbol to represent my acupuncture practice. I use it everyday to determine what points I'm going to use to help someone become balanced. Afterall, balance means wellness.

2007-07-22T14:41:00.000-04:00

Attributes of Late Summer

Chinese culture recognizes late summer as a separate season that corresponds to late August and early September. Just as fire is the element of summer and the heart is the predominant organ; the earth is the element of late summer when the spleen and the stomach become predominant. Just as joy is the emotion associated with fire, compassion and worry are associated with the earth element. The taste associated with late summer is sweet and the associated color is yellow.

Late summer is the time of transition from the yang cycle of the seasons to the yin aspect; from the growth phases of spring and summer to the time of harvest and rest in the fall and winter. The earth element also represents this transitional center position between yin and yang. The spleen and stomach convert the nutrition of food, which is yin to energy needed to perform life’s activities, which are yang.

In Chinese medicine, the spleen is the most important organ for producing energy in the body. It has five main functions: transforming food into energy, transporting energy throughout the body, warms the body, holds the organs in place, and ensures that blood circulates in the body.

Individuals in harmony with the season are strong, have good endurance, good appetites and digestion, have fertile imagination and are generally hard working and practical. Those individuals that are out of balance with the season show general signs of a spleen-stomach imbalance. This imbalance is characterized by chronic fatigue, a feeling of “being stuck” that prevents them from being creative. These individuals typically have weak digestion which may be accompanied by nausea, poor appetite, abdominal bloating and loose stools.

2007-07-05T10:54:00.000-04:00

Your Heart's Delight

Over the millennium, Chinese medicine evolved into assigning seasons to the various organ systems. Summer time belongs to the Heart and its partner organ, the Small Intestine. Summer is the most yang season of the year when the days are the longest and the sun is the hottest. Energy has moved outward and it calls for living creatures to be outside and interacting with nature. The Chinese associate summer with the emotion of joy and expressing the Heart’s desire.

Chinese medicine considers the Heart to be the “emperor of the body”. The Heart rules the mind and houses the spirit. Research done by the Heartmath Institute now acknowledges what the Chinese have known for thousands of years that there are more neural pathways from the Heart to the brain than from the brain to the Heart. The Chinese have long believed that the Heart governs our emotional health, memory, thinking and sleeping.

A strong Heart is synonymous with a hearty constitution and a strong, vigorous life style. As in Western medicine, Chinese medicine also recognizes that the Heart controls the blood coursing through its pathways to nourish the body. Therefore, the Heart’s influence over the mind and body makes it supreme to the other functions of the body’s organs.

The Heart is yin compared to its yang partner organ, the Small Intestine. The main function of the Small Intestine is to separate and transform food. It also determines our ability to make clear decisions and sound judgments and is sometimes called the “Abdominal Brain” in Chinese medicine. So, not only does the Small Intestine receive and break down food so that it provides nourishment to the body and sends that which is unusable to the Large Intestine, it also receives and assimilates nourishment from the emotions, mental activity and spirit.

Some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate an imbalance in the Heart and Small Intestine include on an emotional level, anxiety, lack of joy, lack of social warmth, mental confusion, poor self-esteem, inability to make decisions, restlessness, and sadness. On a physical level, symptoms may include anemia, heart problems, digestive problems, poor circulation, sweating, and urinary problems.

Fire is the element that rules the Heart and Small Intestine. Just as we protect ourselves in winter from the cold, it is equally important to be mindful of the excesses of heat. Coherence with nature points to being more active and being outside, but not to the degree to cause heat stroke. As my esteemed teacher, Dr. Tan says, “keep yin and yang in your heart”, meaning to balance activity with rest.

The optimal foods to eat during the summer months are light cooling foods such as melons, seasonal fruits and fresh leafy green vegetables. These foods are going to be lighter and brighter in color and higher in water content which helps to keep our bodies cool.

Bitter is the flavor that supports the Heart and Small Intestine. Leafy green vegetables that are classified as bitter in Chinese medicine include escarole, watercress, endive, lettuce, and collard greens. Fortunately, coffee and chocolate are also considered bitter. Remember though, everything in moderation. To keep your meals exciting, use spices such as fresh ginger, cayenne, and black pepper. These spices will initially raise the body temperature, drawing heat out of the body through perspiration.

May you find your Heart’s desire this summer and be nourished.

2007-06-12T13:18:00.000-04:00

Unfairness and Heart Risk

It’s been ages again since I’ve written to my blog. Now that all the plants have been pruned, transferred, replanted or dug up, I now hope to have a little more time to attend to my blog.

A news blurb from the Heart Math Institute that sends out periodic e-newsletters recently caught my eye about a study conducted in England that found that people with a deep sense of injustice had a 55 percent higher chance of suffering from serious heart disease. Researchers believe that a sense of injustice engenders negative emotions which prompt biochemical changes in the body.

The study looked at 8,000 senior civil servants working for the U.K. government over an 11 year period. The participating civil servants were asked to rank from one to six their agreement with the statement, “I often have the feeling that I am being treated unfairly.”

The results showed that those reporting more unfair treatment had a greater risk of suffering a heart attack or angina.

It reminded me of another study I read about in the Washington Post which showed the benefits of altruism and health. Although completely opposite of the study mentioned above, this study showed that our brains may be hardwired to perform altruistic acts by helping each other. The study showed that the act of helping others in need did in fact, release endorphins and other “feel good” hormones in the brain.

Studies in contrast and something to ponder. . .

2007-05-16T16:53:00.000-04:00

The Seven Levels of Healing

For the past 2500 years, Chinese medicine has recognized the importance that the mind and spirit has on the health of the body. Its premise defines health as a balance between the mind, body and spirit. At long last, Western medicine has begun to appreciate the value of looking at health from a more multi-dimensional framework and the huge impact emotions and beliefs have on the general health of individuals.

Jeremy Geffen, an oncologist in Boulder, Colorado who embraces a multi-dimensional approach to health has formulated seven levels of healing that his staff uses in caring for patients of his medical practice. I offer these steps here because of the simplicity and clarity that each of these steps provide as a means to finding optimal health and living a meaningful life especially when an individual’s health has become compromised.

The first three steps address the immediate needs of an individual facing a serious health issue. Educating the patient on their illness and all the possible modalities of care allow the patient to take an active role in healing. Connecting with others to provide support is the next step which modern medicine can now confirm the benefit of this support through a growing body of scientific evidence. Introducing complementary and alternative healing modalities is the third step to support the patient and their immune system.

The next two steps deal with “the mind”. The first is emotional healing by exploring feelings and emotions and learning to release negative emotions and replacing them with love, forgiveness and acceptance. The second step explores an individual’s belief system and how that influences personal meaning assigned to life experiences.

The last two steps delve into the spiritual element of life. The first looks at life assessment by exploring the aspirations, goals and purposes of patients’ lives. The second explores the nature of spirit that embraces the nonphysical aspect of life that exists outside of time and space and connects with the source of love, joy and peace.

I was profoundly touched to read Dr. Geffen’s guest editorial in “Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine” in which he expounded his seven steps to healing because the importance of mind and spirit played such a major role in healing, a belief the Chinese have held over the millennia.

2007-04-26T15:43:00.000-04:00

The War Against Cancer

The editor’s page in the January/February edition of “Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine” pointed out that western medicine has lost the war against cancer. This is based on data that shows that deaths from cancer are stable or increasing despite all the treatment therapies used to combat cancer. In 2005, cancer was the cause of death of 570,000 people in this country. This is the equivalent to one in three people having cancer in their lifetime.

It takes an average of thirty years for cancer cells to develop into the clinical manifestation of a solid tumor. This means that roughly 17 million Americans are walking around with cancer that is somewhere on the continuum from the nascent development of cancer cells to the clinical manifestation of a full blown cancer.

The article went on to point out that western medicine’s failure is because it enters the fight at the manifestation of cancer rather than earlier where the likelihood of preventing or reversing latent cancers would be far easier.

The editor recalled that when he rotated through oncology in medical school, he asked his professor what percentage of cancers was related to diet. He was shocked when his professor answered “70 percent”.

Having read this article, I was reminded of a lecture I heard while in school about a famous ancient Chinese medical doctor who theorized that most diseases originated in the digestive tract. At the time I questioned the validity of this famous doctor’s theory. Now, I suspect this ancient doctor’s theory was right

The simplicity and magic of Chinese medicine lies in its Taoist root that “maintaining order rather than correcting disorder is the ultimate principle of wisdom. To cure disease after it has appeared is like digging a well when one already feels thirsty or forging weapons after the war has already begun.”

2007-04-17T10:53:00.000-04:00

Emotions and the Environment

It’s been several weeks since I’ve written to my blog. A busy schedule at work, preparing for taxes and preparing for spring when the weather was still spring-like devoured my time.

Today, I wanted to report on a conference I recently attended in Virginia Beach where Gregg Braden spoke over Easter weekend. Gregg Braden is a former scientist in the space industry that has devoted the past fifteen to twenty years to linking spirituality to science. He has written several books, The Divine Matrix, being the latest. He has also done several fascinating audio programs which discuss his travels all over the world exploring the belief systems of many varied cultures. I have become a real devotee of his work and find all of it very thought provoking and worthy of presenting one kernel of his message here.

I am also very much attracted to the message found in the movie and book by the same name, The Secret. This book points out the power of our thoughts and emotions on the events that occur in our life. Negative emotions and feelings evoke negative circumstances and positive emotions and feelings evoke positive circumstances.

Gregg takes the message of the Law of Attraction as proposed in The Secret to the cosmic level. Our feelings and emotions have a very real effect on the environment. Scientific data has proven that when DNA is introduced to a group of photons in an experiment, the photons align themselves along beside the DNA. Prior to the introduction, the photons were randomly moving. When the DNA is removed, the photons still hold the same patterns as if the DNA were still present. In essence, our mere presence affects everything that surrounds us as the world is made up of photons and neutrons.

Another experiment showed how emotions affect our DNA. Anger, frustration, and other negative emotions cause DNA to contract into a ball that can easily lead to mutation. On the other hand, positive emotions such as joy, gratitude and appreciation cause DNA to relax to the point of replication.

I am certainly not a scientist and admittedly, I did not take any notes during Mr. Braden’s conference. What I did walk away with from the conference, was that our emotions also play a role in the climate change we experience and we have a responsibility to “clean up our act” in how we treat each other and our world.

2007-03-25T18:53:00.000-04:00

Feng Shui and Clutter

The literal translation of feng shui means wind (feng) water (shui). The practice of feng shui dates back thousands of years and can attribute its foundation to the “I Ching”, the ancient Chinese book of philosophy that describes how man can live in harmony with his environment. Figuratively, feng shui means the art of living in harmony with the surrounding environment. Although feng shui is not part of traditional Chinese medicine, it does originate from the same philosophy that how we live in our environment directly impacts our well-being. The fundamental purpose of Chinese medicine is to bring the body into harmony, which in turn strengthens the immune system, soothes the spirit, and wards off disease. The same can be said of feng shui. To bring harmony into the home promotes health by creating a space to nurture the soul as well as the body.

Bringing harmony into the home also creates a sense of peace, a respite from the busyness of the world, and a place to nurture our family and ourselves. Feng shui recognizes that our homes are extensions of ourselves. They mirror who we are, where we have been and where we are going. Quantum physics confirms that everything is vibrating energy. All physical matter has its own vibrational pattern, no matter how solid it appears. This also includes the empty space that surrounds us as well as our own being. The study of feng shui concerns itself with this energy and how it flows through our home. The underlying belief is that promoting the optimal flow of energy through the home will bring beneficial changes in wealth, health, happiness, opportunities, and relationships.

Clutter in the home negatively affects this optimal flow of energy. Clutter means an accumulation of too much stuff without proper organization. Just as stagnant energy in the body can cause pain, disharmony and disease, clutter can cause stagnant energy in the home. Clutter signifies confusion, lack of focus, instability, or chaos. A cluttered home may indicate that the occupant has too much going on and lacks direction and a sense of priorities. Clutter can represent confusion about what a person stands for and what their goals are in life.

Not only does clutter represent confusion, it also can represent old baggage. Clutter in the form of old, worn-out, seldom used items points to an individual who is holding on to old ideas or attitudes that clutter their psyche. Their old baggage they hold onto in their home may be holding them back from making a fresh start or taking a more opportune path in life.

Obstacles are another form of clutter that causes energy to get stuck in a home. Creating obstacles with piles of stuff impedes movement on a physical level and hampers progress in attaining goals on a more spiritual level.

From a feng shui perspective, clearing out the clutter in the home can actually clear up difficulties in one’s life by promoting the smooth flow of energy. Free space allows the energy to flow in the home which in turn attracts new opportunities to appear and enhances creativity.

2007-03-15T18:16:00.000-04:00

New Studies Just Released About Acupuncture

So many of my patients ask me how acupuncture works. I often find it difficult to answer this question from a research-based, western diagnostic viewpoint as fitting traditional Chinese medicine into the paradigm of western medicine and its scientifically-based research is the same of fitting the proverbial square peg into a round hole. It just doesn’t work.

However, there are a few studies that have been conducted, most of them in Europe, which does document the efficacy and acupuncture. One Swedish study showed that acupuncture helped relieve pelvic pain for pregnant women, a common problem for women world wide.

A German study consisting of more than 3,600 adults who had hip and knee arthritis pain showed that acupuncture was able to provide pain relief during treatment and at three and six months intervals after treatment. Based on the results of the study, Germany is now considering adding acupuncture to its standard coverage in its health system.

A study conducted in this country by the National Center for Contemporary and Alternative Medicine confirmed the use of acupuncture as an adjunctive treatment for the treatment of arthritis.

Another study performed in this country showed acupuncture to be effective in treating overactive bladders. The study was published in Obstretics and Gynecology. The study concluded that four weekly treatments showed significant improvement in bladder control, frequency of urination and urgency.

2007-03-02T12:38:00.000-05:00

Cultivating Qi

Many of you know about yoga as a form of exercise originating in India that includes stretches, breathing exercises and meditation. The Chinese parallel to yoga is qi gong, which can be translated as the cultivation of qi. Qi is the equivalent of prana, the yogic term for life breath. You can think of qi and prana as that which separates the living from the dead. The whole basis of Chinese medicine is to bring the body into harmony by moving qi and blood through the body. When there are blockages of either qi or blood, disharmony results that ultimately causes disease.

Just as there are various forms of yoga, there are different forms of qi gong as well. Qi gong can consist primarily of sitting or standing meditation or limited and slowly executed physical motion. No matter what form is practiced, focusing on deep breathing is a fundamental part of qi gong.

Researchers, mainly in China and Europe, have been able to document the flow of qi through the meridians or pathways used in acupuncture, but they have not been able to directly link the benefits of practicing qi gong until recently when several studies show promising results from the practice of qi gong.

One study conducted in Shanghai over 20 years included over 400 people who had high blood pressure. All of the participants took medication for their blood pressure. Half of the research subjects practiced qi gong twice daily for thirty minutes. Over the course of the study, thirty percent of the qi gong group was able to reduce their medication as compared to an increase of blood pressure and medication for the control group who did not practice qi gong.

Another study indicated that the practice of qi gong promoted bone density. A bone density study of men between the ages of 50 and 69 showed significant improvement in those who practiced qi gong daily as compared to those who did not.

A study of the effects of chemotherapy also indicated that the practice of qi gong lessened the effects of chemotherapy. Those subjects practicing qi gong improved their strength, appetite, bowel function and weight as compared to the control group.

2007-02-25T16:33:00.000-05:00

Acknowledging the Spring Within

Although it's hard to believe, given the fact that the Washington area is currently inundated with snow, spring will officially arrive in a few weeks with the spring equinox on March 21st. I thought you may want to know what spring means from a traditional Chinese medical perspective so that you may be aware of the subtle changes your body may experience in the weeks ahead.

In order to appreciate the correspondence of internal changes that our body may be undergoing, let’s first look at what’s going on in nature. From a yin and yang perspective, the world is transitioning from winter, the most yin season, into spring, the beginning of the yang cycle of the year. Tree sap that has stayed dormant in its roots during winter will soon begin to flow upwards and burst forth with new growth. As I go on my daily strolls with my dogs through the neighborhood I can already see daffodils and crocuses beginning to emerge. As the warmer weather approaches, nature will soon provide us with the vibrant colors of spring flowers. The qi of the earth or life force has started its ascent upward and outward reversing its flow of inward and downward during the autumn and winter months.

Internally, the qi of our bodies has also started its ascent upwards and outwards. How many of you are now more inclined to go out and take a walk with the warmer weather as compared to winter when you were glad to stay inside? Remember the giddiness of spring fever when you were a kid when it was just great to be alive? That’s how we’re supposed to feel with the upward ascent of qi. What can you do to encourage this feeling of joy and appreciate the spring within?

Perhaps one way is to examine the philosophy of Hippocrates who believed that food is your best medicine. As a health practitioner of oriental medicine, I strongly encourage patients to eat according to the seasons in order to maintain optimal health. Just as winter is the time to encourage the inward and downward flow of qi by eating stews and soups made up primarily of tubers and root vegetables, eating lightly during spring will encourage qi to flow upward and outward. Now is the time to consider shedding those extra pounds by consuming only fresh whole foods and staying away from all processed foods.

One of the best ways to encourage the upward raising of qi is to pursue a liver detoxifcation program for the next few weeks. It's an excellent way to cleanse the body of all the accumulated toxins. The easiest way to follow a liver detoxification is to purchase one from your local health food store and follow the suggested regimen for the next several weeks. It usually requires restricting the intake of alcohol, limiting fats and sugars and concentrating on whole foods. In addition, herbs in capsule form are taken both morning and evening to help flush the toxins out.

2007-02-14T16:50:00.000-05:00

Winter R and R

Just last week I was enjoying the warmth and hospitality of the Sandals Resort in Antigua. Getting away for a week of down time in the winter is good for the soul, renews the spirit, refreshes the mind and relaxes the body.

Although as I sit here and write this, the winds are beginning to howl outside as the temperature drop, I can still envision the warmth and the complete state of relaxation I was feeling last week. I'm going to try and hold on to that feeling as long as I can.

It certainly makes me aware of how important it is for all of us to get away from the normal stresses of life and seek out those wonderful vacation spots where one can completely relax and enjoy being alive. I try to offer to my patients tools that they can use to help improve their health and state of being. I have been remiss in suggesting vacations, but after last week, I will probably suggest to everyone who walks into my clinic that a winter vacation is in order.

2007-02-01T13:43:00.000-05:00

Feeling Fulfilled

I subscribe to a newsletter from the Heart Math group (heartmath.com). They’re a wonderful organization that researches how emotions play such a powerful role on our health and well-being.

One of their recent newsletters provided some food for thought on discovering core values. Core values give meaning to life and make us who we are. Living by the principles of our core value rejuvenates our spirit, gives us a sense of purpose and creates a sense of well-being. When our values are aligned with what we do, we feel fulfilled.

When we are aligned, we are acting from our heart. The more we act from the heart, the better able we are to feel compassion, love, joy, appreciation, and the better life seems to work for us.

So take a few minutes to ask yourself the following questions:

What matters most to you?
What’s important to you in your work life?
What’s important to you outside of work?
What values do the people you admire exemplify?
What motivates you to work hard?
Which values are you consistently living?
Which ones would you like to live more?

Feeling fulfilled nourishes us on all levels – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Discovering “core values” and living those values is a pathway to better health.

2007-01-28T16:35:00.000-05:00

Coffee Lovers Rejoice

Those of you who enjoy a good cup of coffee can do so now without guilt. The September '06 Alternative Medicine Magazine had a small blurb about research studies that have shown that coffee has positive impacts on ailments such as asthma, type-2 diabetes, lack of stamina and focus and even Parkinson's disease. A University of Scranton study showed coffee beating out cranberries and tea in antioxidant levels.

Another study shows that coffee helps reduce the risk of cirrhosis of the liver; as much as 22 percent for a single cup of coffee a day. Apparently the benefits are dose related, meaning the more coffee you drink the more benefit you derive.

A word of caution however; caffeine does increase heart rates and blood pressure. Also, drinking coffee late in the afternoon can make falling asleep difficult.

2007-01-22T17:43:00.000-05:00

Enjoy Your Food to Nourish your Body

It is difficult to turn on the television, pick up a magazine, or read a newspaper without finding some reference to the necessity of eating properly to maintain a healthy weight. Within the past two years, the newest food pyramid was published emphasizing the intake of whole grains and cereals. Obesity in America has become a major health issue in newspaper headlines. Television commercials for weight loss programs bombard the airwaves day and night. All of the health magazines that I have in my office emphasize eating balanced meals consisting of plenty of vegetables and fruit. I have even dedicated many of my “From An Eastern Perspective” columns in the Old Town Crier to the need to eat properly and according to the season.

However, something that I have failed to emphasize and that has also been ignored by all the news articles, television commercials and magazine ads is the absolute need to enjoy eating in order to receive optimum nutrient absorption. Research has shown that nutrient absorption is 60 to 70 percent greater when the food is eaten in a relaxed state versus in a harried or agitated state. Just as drug research not only studies how the test drug affects the body, it also studies how the body affects the drug. If the body breaks down the drug in the stomach and excretes it through the colon without any absorption, then the drug is useless. The same concept holds true for food. No matter how wonderfully organic a food may be, if the consumer of that food is emotionally upset or eating hurriedly, the nutrient absorption declines dramatically as compared to eating the same food in a relaxed and calm state of mind.

One train of thought of why so many Americans have a weight problem is that we have lost the ability to savor food and enjoy it. We eat quickly, wolfing down a large quantity of food to fill a void so that we can go on to the next task. If we ate slowly, after about twenty minutes our digestive feedback system would kick in and we would feel full; perhaps consuming half the calories we would have if we had inhaled a larger meal. The nutrient absorption of the meal eaten more slowly would also be higher.

What happens when we eat food under stress? The safety mechanism of the central nervous system comes into play switching on the sympathetic response to stress. This feedback system has evolved over thousands of years to protect us from life-threatening events. When the body activates the stress response, blood pressure increases, hormones such as cortisol are released into the blood stream to provide energy, the blood flow is rerouted away from the midsection to the brain for quick thinking and to the legs and arms to provide power for quick action. The digestive system shuts down. When the body is geared to protecting you from a saber-toothed tiger, digesting this morning’s breakfast is of little concern.

So, let’s update this scenario. You grab a muffin on your way out the door to work and eat it as you dodge traffic because you’re already late. Lunch is inhaled at your desk while you’re answering your phone and trying to complete a deadline. You return home and eat dinner in front of the television while thinking about the miserable day you had at work. The body has been on high alert all day and has initiated the stress response thus shutting down the digestive system. Is it any wonder that you have abdominal pains and feel that food is just sitting there in your stomach? Well, that is exactly what is happening. Food is just sitting in your stomach awaiting the parasympathetic response to turn digestion on which may take several hours.

Let’s examine this further as to what is really going on from a physiological standpoint. When digestion is turned off in response to stress, salivation in the mouth is decreased which is the first step in digestion; enzymes that breakdown protein, fat and carbohydrates in the stomach are decreased, and blood flow to the small intestine is decreased. The limitation of blood flow to the small intestine can decrease the nutrient assimilation by as much as four-fold. This means that all of the nutrients that would have been absorbed if food were eaten in a relaxed state are excreted. Other byproducts of the stress response that can remain in the body are increased blood cholesterol, elevated cortisol and insulin, gastrointestinal reflux, decreased levels of essential hormones such as growth hormone, sex hormones, and thyroid hormones, and reduced presence of healthy gut flora just to name a few.

Digestion really begins in the mind. It begins when we experience the pleasure and satisfaction we feel to the aroma, taste, and visual stimulation of a meal. Nutritional experts estimate that as much as thirty to forty percent of the total digestive response is due to our awareness of what we’re eating. Think about your all time favorite meal for a moment and focus on what it smells like, the texture of the food on your tongue, the pleasure you feel as you are chewing. Is your mouth watering in response to this thought? Smelling food, tasting, chewing and being aware of what we eat initiates the parasympathetic response. Anticipation and awareness of our meal initiates increased salivation in our mouth, gastric acid and enzymes in our stomach and the full production of pancreatic enzymes. Blood rushes to the digestive organs so that the stomach rhythmically contracts, and electrolyte concentrations shift in preparation for the anticipated incoming food.

What happens when we are not consciously aware of what we are eating? If we eat a meal on the go or are preoccupied with doing another task at the same time, our brain has not experienced the taste, pleasure, aroma, and satisfaction from food and registers this missed experience as hunger. The brain doesn’t remember stuffing down the breakfast muffin, or inhaling the lunch salad between phone calls and answering emails or absent-mindedly eating dinner in front of the television. The brain simply remembers not being satisfied which registers as hunger so we reach for more food.

In closing, enjoying our food plays just as big a role in nourishing our bodies as eating all the correct foods. Take time to enjoy your breakfast, get out from behind your desk and enjoy your lunch, prepare a decent supper and focus on what you’re eating. Use this time to decompress and relax so that the food you eat can also nourish you.

2007-01-17T16:50:00.000-05:00

Guidelines to Good Health and Those Who Follow

In the back of the Journal of Chinese Medicine, there is a section called "News, News, News" which is just chock a block full of little tidbits of health studies conducted all over the world. I'm always perusing the literature I receive to report in this blog and also to serve as reference material for my monthly submissions to the Old Town Crier newspaper.

This following study appeared in the October '06 edition of the Journal. Over 153,000 Americans were contacted by telephone to survey how many of them followed the four guidelines for good health: not smoking, maintaining a normal weight, eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and exercising for thirty minutes five times a week. Responses showed that 76 percent of those contacted did not smoke, 40 percent maintained a good weight, 23 percent ate five servings of fruits and vegetables, and 22 percent exercised.

How many followed all four guidelines? Only three percent - a shocking number considering that following all four guidelines has greater benefit for health than anything that medicine can offer and that following these guidelines could eliminate most chronic diseases as stated by the authors of the study which was sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

2007-01-14T14:10:00.000-05:00

Mini-Meditation for Health and Beauty

I must report that I don't live the most exciting of lives. Last night I was catching up on my reading while my dearly beloved was watching football. I was looking through my AARP magazine and ran across a blurb on taking a breather for stress reduction and it reminded me of a simlar blurb in the June 2006 edition of Alternative Medicine.

I'm always looking for nuggets to report on in this blog as I feel very impassioned about self care tools that will sustain health and provide a higher quality of life. These two articles fill the bill and are worthy of being repeated here.

This mini-meditation exercise involves taking three to five minutes to breathe deeply. Sit in a comfortable chair, feet flat on the chair. Inhale slowly taking five to seven seconds to inhale through your nose. Each inhalation should be a "belly" breath; meaning that if you had your hand on your belly, each inhalation would extend your belly and push your hand up. As you exhale slowly, your hand would sink back into your belly as your belly recedes. You can either exhale through your nose or through your mouth. The important thing is to do it slowly.

Unfortunately, most of us have forgotten that we used to breathe through our bellies just as babies do quite naturally. Most of us breathe shallowly in our upper chests.

Taking a breather twice a day reduces muscle and emotional tension and temporarily lowers blood pressure and heart rate. It also delivers additional oxygen to cells. Dr. David Katz,MD, cited by AARP, also reports that there is some evidence that brief, regular deep breathing can reduce food cravings, and may improve sleep quality and enhance energy levels.

Dr. Judity Orloff, MD, cited in Alternative Medicine, approaches the mini-meditation from the perspective that peace emanating from within promotes stress reduction, energizes, and restores composure when aggravated.

In addition to the deep and slow breathing, she also adds placing your palm over your heart and visualizing a positive experience that you have had and then focusing on a feeling of love and peace that can be felt flowing throughout the body.

Adding her technique of focus will accentuate the benefits of the mini-meditation as well as put you in a better frame of mind for the rest of the day.

2007-01-10T17:37:00.000-05:00

Have You Flossed Today?

Several years ago I remember reading in a health magazine that flossing everyday helped reduce heart disease. At that time, it was suspected that decayed food particles left in the mouth leached out of the mouth cavity and could become lodged near heart valves where it eroded the valves and thus contributed to heart disease. When I mentioned it to my dentist, she confirmed that research was ongoing about the corollation between dental and overall health.

A February 2006 conference sponsored by the American Dental Association and the American Medical Association concluded that gum and mouth disease is associated with more widespread ailments in the body. An alarming percentage of Americans, over 80 percent suffer with some form of periodontal disease. Researchers presenting papers at the conference believe that oral disease can trigger other disorders because oral bacteria enters the bloodstream and either causes inflammation of other tissues or triggers an inflammatory immune response.

The research concluded that there was an association with premature delivery and moderate to serious dental disease, almost doubling the risk. Also, untreated periodontal disease may exacerbate diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

After reading this, I remembered reading the earlier article and I have made more of an effort to keep my teeth and mouth clean, especially at night. It's much easier to floss now than think about recovering from a valve replacement later.

2007-01-07T14:01:00.000-05:00

An Attitude of Gratitude

To write an article for publication in the Old Town Crier requires that it be submitted about two weeks prior to publication. As I sit here and write my column for the January paper, Christmas is still several days away and the winter solstice will begin tomorrow evening. I’m trying to envision what sort of mood will prevail for many of us right on the heels of the holidays.

Many of us may be glad they are over. All the frenetic activity will have ceased and life can return to normal. Some of us may feel more let down with the passing of the holidays and all the excitement that they generate. Others of us may feel renewed with the chance to begin afresh in the new year.

Whatever the mood you may be feeling, embracing an attitude of gratitude will help you put life in perspective for the New Year. Hopefully, during the lull between the holidays, you had time to reflect and take stock of what’s really important in your life and to acknowledge that importance.

Many of us take our lives for granted and let the petty annoyances drive our moods rather than being grateful for all the many moments of beauty that present themselves everyday. From a Chinese perspective, allowing these petty annoyances to drive our emotions constricts the movement of qi in our bodies which can lead to imbalance. On the other hand, by embracing an attitude of gratitude where we can appreciate what life has to offer expands our qi and helps to maintain balance.

Here are a few suggestions that you may want to keep in mind to keep the qi flowing throughout the rest of the year.

Create a thank you list. We’re all accustomed to making lists in order to keep ourselves organized. Grocery lists, to do lists, Christmas card lists are necessities. Your most recent lists may have been your Christmas gift list. Why not add a new list to include a thank you list of everything you are grateful for by jotting down those things that bring you a sense of satisfaction and peace. When you’re feeling down you can pull out this list for an immediate spirit booster. The joy in life comes in segments of seconds, not hours, such as the beauty of a sunrise or the warmth of a child’s smile. In time, this list will be far longer than any of the more mundane lists to which we attach such importance.

Say thank you often. Unfortunately, most of us do not acknowledge all the efforts people make for us. A simple thank you goes a long way in human relations so say it in public, say in private, send a thank you email, write a thank you note, make a telephone call for the sole purpose of thanking someone.

Accept, acknowledge, and appreciate. Substitute these three “A’s”: accept acknowledge and appreciate for the three “C’s”: complaining, condemning, and criticizing. The three “A’s” will expand your shen, or spirit and will help to develop positive relationships with coworkers, friends and family members. The three “C’s” constrict shen which can lead to emotional imbalances if too frequently used.

Putting it all in perspective. I’d like to leave you with a quote from George Washington Carver –

“How far you go in your life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.”

2007-01-04T10:29:00.000-05:00

Additions for the Medicine Cabinet

The holidays got the best of me and it's been weeks since I've published anything to this blogspot. As we have had a mild winter so far in the Washington area, I am concerned that there will be some lingering viruses that are usually killed off over a typically colder winter season.

The magazine, Alternative Medicine, noted in their June 2006 three additions that one can add to the medicine cabinet to help combat avian flu. I mention them here in this blog as they would be good additions to consider taking at the first signs that you may be coming down with the flu. These symptoms include achiness, headaches, fatigue, and general malaise.

Selenium

Research done at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill shows that deficient selenium in the body compromises the immune system and allows a flu virus to mutate into a more aggressive strain of virus. Dr. Marcus Laux, a naturopathic physician recommends taking 200 mcg of selenium daily and increasing the dose to 400 mcg during an active infection.

N-Acetylceysteine

A study performed in Genoa, Italy on 262 people showed that one in four individuals taking NAC developed flu symptoms and those were generally mild as compared to the four out of five people taking placebos who had far more debilitating flu symptoms. The study used 600 mg of NAC twice daily during the flu season and the dosage can be increased to 3,000 to 4,000 mg daily during an active infection.

L-Lysine

Research conduced in China has shown that L-Lysine enhanced the immune system in combatting the hepatitis B virus and has great potential in preventing infections. Lysine prevents replication which prevents the virus from spreading in the body. A dosage of 500 to 2000 mg is recommended daily.

Olive Leaf Extract

Additionally, olive leaf extract, acts to boost the immune system and is a supplement that I take during the fall and winter months.

2006-12-17T14:44:00.000-05:00

Finding the Yin Within

As we are now officially in the holiday season many of us are feeling overwhelmed. Gifts may still need to be purchased. The house has to be prepared to accommodate guests. Holiday cards haven't been completed. Special holiday cookies remain to be baked. The list seems to become longer with each passing year. Many of us are glad when the holidays are over and life can return to normal.

I would like to remind everyone that the holiday season is a season of giving and the best gift one can give is the gift of oneself by being fully present with friends and family. Many of us have a hard time staying focused in the present at this time of year because of all the frenetic activities that we are allowing to invade our lives. We may be thinking about all that we have to do that day and the list that has to be accomplished the next day rather than being fully present right now. I know that many times when I have too many things to do I am not fully present and therefore am unable to fully give of myself. I am living in my head. I can be with someone I really care about, but my monkey mind has taken over and I am barely aware of what they may be saying to me. When I’m in this state, I can neither give of myself nor receive the love and attention others may want to give to me.

The best way I have found to overcome this “monkey mind” is to reserve a few minutes each day to shut down, close my eyes, concentrate on my breathing and focus on my breath. Something very profound happens when I am able to still my mind. A sense of peace exudes from the very core of my being and I feel a sense of connectedness with life. I am finding the “yin within”.

The whole principle of Chinese medicine revolves around yin and yang. Yin nourishes and yang activates. Blood is yin and nourishes the body. Qi, or life force, is yang and moves the body. Yin and yang cannot exist without each other just as the body cannot move without the vital presence of blood. We restore this balance between yin and yang by eating, breathing and sleeping. We can upset this balance by too many activities which depletes our yin.

Yin and yang also apply to the seasons of the year. Winter begins in late December which means that we are entering into the most yin period of the year. It is the time of quiet and stillness. The earth is at rest. Most wildlife has either migrated to warmer climes or has burrowed in for protection from the cold. To be in concert with nature, we, too, should seek that sense of quiet and calmness by limiting our activities and reserving time to reflect and contemplate.

From a physical standpoint, western medicine has recognized the benefits of meditation as lowering heart rates, decreasing blood pressure, increasing the cortical density of the brain, and reducing the probability of Alzheimer’s disease. Meditation can be as simple as sitting quietly in a chair for seven to ten minutes, breathing deeply and concentrating on each breath. By bringing attention to each breath, the focus is on the body rather than the “monkey mind”.

May you find the “yin within” and have a glorious holiday season.

2006-12-01T15:50:00.000-05:00

The Benefits of Green Tea

I receive a quarterly journal, The Journal of Chinese Medicine that reserves a section of the journal exclusively to studies that have been conducted around the world that would be of interest to practitioners of Chinese medicine. It’s amazing to me how many interesting studies are performed outside the United States that actually focus on something other than pharmaceuticals.

Two studies that I found interesting concerned the effects of green tea on breast health and cognitive decline. The one about breast health showed a 20 percent reduction in risk of developing breast cancer with high green tea consumption. There were no comparable results with consumption of black tea. Apparently, the anti-cancer benefits of tea are linked to the presence of water-extractable polyphenols that are much higher in green tea than black tea.

In the study on cognitive decline, according to a study conducted in Japan of more than 1000 adults in their 70’s, those that consumed two or more cups a day of green tea were half as likely to show cognitive impairment as compared to those adults who consumed two to three cups of green tea a week.

Although the study couldn’t clearly show a connection between consuming green tea and mental acuity, it may help explain why there is less dementia, especially Alzheimer’s in Japan as compared to Europe and North America.

These studies have certainly convinced me to increase my intake of green tea. My all time favorite tea supplier is Teavana that has a store in Tysons Corner. You can also order on line from them. All of their tea is loose and once you sample one cup of brewed tea, you’ll never go back to tea bags.

2006-11-22T13:39:00.000-05:00

Building Protective Qi.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, there are fifteen types of qi or life energy flowing in the body. The protective qi or wei qi is the body’s most active or most yang qi. It is controlled by the lung and constantly circles the periphery of the body protecting it from viruses, germs and other environmental invaders. From a Western perspective, wei qi is the immune system.

Here are some simple suggestions to support the immune system.

Exercise. Regular exercise helps body metabolism and increases the production of endorphins which improves the immune system and gives a general feeling of well-being.

Diet. Limit the intake of processed foods, avoid eating late, eat whole foods and a simple combination of grains and vegetables.

Environment. Surround yourself with a supportive and healthy environment. This includes an orderly work environment, a pleasant home, positive friends, an ample intake of sunlight and fresh air, and, large quantities of filtered water to flush toxins out of your body.

Positive Attitude. Having a positive attitude is key to maintaining a healthy immune system. Spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, affirmation, visualization help focus the mind and smooth the flow of qi through the body which in turn helps the protective qi of the immune system.

2006-11-15T17:04:00.000-05:00

A Maintenance Manual for Longevity

Unfortunately for us, we do not arrive in this world with a maintenance manual. If we want to achieve as long and healthy a life as possible, we need guidance on basic lifestyle factors such as controlling our emotions, sleep, diet, exercise, and so on.

Chinese medicine has long believed that it is far easier to maintain health than it is to cure disease. An ancient Chinese saying which has become my mantra in practicing Chinese medicine states that “maintaining health is ultimate wisdom; to cure disease is like digging a well when you are thirsty, or forging weapons when the war has begun.”

With that in mind, I encourage patients to do their own self-examination as to how their daily life choices impact their health. As I so often point out to patients, they are only in my clinic for an hour; the choices they make outside of my office have a far greater impact than anything that I can do for them.

Modern research on life choices has gained momentum over the past few years as pharmaceutical remedies have failed to adequately address serious chronic health issues. Western medical journals are now beginning to include clinically based studies on life style choices and how it impacts health.

I believe that health is based on the interaction of mind, body and spirit. How we interact with others, the dialogue that is playing in our mind on a moment-to-moment basis, and our general outlook on life play a far greater role on our physical health that modern science is just now beginning to recognize. There is now ample evidence that avoiding intense negative emotions, calming the mind, laughing, and cultivating generosity contribute to good health and longevity.

Recent studies have shown that happiness and laughter are clearly beneficial to health. Blood flow was significantly increased in research subjects after they watched comedy film clips, but was reduced after watching violent films. Another study of women subjects showed a decrease in stress levels and an increase in immune response after watching a humorous movie. A study of subjects with type 2 diabetes showed an increased ability to process sugar after watching a comedy show. These studies prove that feeling happy has virtually immediate effects on the immune system. They show that within 20 minutes of happy thoughts being experienced, the immune factor found in saliva doubles and remains raised for at least three hours.

By contrast, studies show that anger has the most powerful and harmful impact on the body. Loss of temper can trigger a stroke within two hours. Men with anger prone personalities are at greater risk of atrial fibrillation and have a 20 percent greater risk of dying from any cause than men with a cooler temperament. The ancient Chinese saying that, “Anger speeds up aging, laughter makes you younger” is now scientifically validated.

Although our modern world has indoctrinated us that acquisition offers happiness and fulfillment, satisfaction and a sense of well-being has little to do with our possessions. A survey comparing the Masai tribe in East Africa to 400 of the richest Americans according to the Forbes list shows about an equal sense of satisfaction and well-being. The Masai live in dung huts and have no electricity or running water.

Compare this to a study which indicates that generosity and altruism benefit health. In a five-year study of 423 older couples, of the 134 individuals that died during this time frame, almost two-thirds of these individuals had said they do not help others compared to the one-third that were known to be helpful and giving to others.

Meditation is now recognized as a valid means of calming the mind. A short, eight-week program of mindfulness meditation showed long lasting changes in the left frontal region of the brain, an area related to positivity and optimism and the function of the immune system. Prostrate and breast cancer patients who meditated were found to enhance overall quality of life and decrease stress. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome who meditated twice a day for fifteen minutes had a significant improvement in symptoms. Those who continued to meditate for a year continued to improve.

Research now validates the Chinese medical text classic saying of 2000 years ago that says,” In caring for life, the wise must adapt themselves to the fluctuations of cold and heat in the four seasons, live peacefully and practice temperance in joy and anger; balance between yin and yang, strength and gentleness. Hence no outward evil can impair their health and they will enjoy long lives.”

2006-11-11T17:17:00.000-05:00

Arthritis Eased by Acupuncture

Just ran across this interesting research being done in Germany using acupuncture as a modality to treat arthritis.

A study by a German team of researchers may give hope to the more than 46 million people who suffer from some form of arthritis. The study, published in the November 2006 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism, suggests acupuncture can help reduce pain and improve quality of life, which is particularly encouraging news for the millions who suffer from arthritis and would like to avoid conventional medical approaches to treatment, which usually involves drugs.

The 3,633 participants of the study were divided into three groups: an acupuncture group (357), a control group (355), and a nonrandomized acupuncture group (2,921). All of the patients were allowed to continue their regular medical care during the study. The two acupuncture groups received 15 sessions within the first three months; while the control group was offered the acupuncture treatments in the final three months. A symptom and pain questionnaire was completed by all subjects at the beginning and end of the six-month period.

Survey results showed that patients who received the initial round of treatments experienced a sustained improvement during the next three months. Those who underwent the second round of sessions had comparable improvement at the end of the three months. Also, those who continued their routine medical care demonstrated a significant improvement in their quality of life, which included pain reduction and increased mobility.

Resource
Witt C, Jena S, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip: a randomized, controlled trial with an additional nonrandomized arm. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2006;54(11):3485-3493.

2006-11-08T15:57:00.000-05:00

Nuts to You

This month’s Cooking Light magazine, a staple in our house, offered a good comparison of almonds and walnuts. Although all nuts are sources of “good” mono- and polyunsaturated fats, almonds and walnuts particularly stand out for their individual merits.

An ounce of almonds contain almost half of the recommended daily intake of vitamin E which helps boost your immune system. Almonds also have almost twice the fiber intake as compared to walnuts and more than double the calcium of walnuts.

However, where walnuts shine is in their content of omega-3 fatty acids. An ounce of walnuts offers 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids. Compare this to the daily intake recommendation for men of 1.6 grams and for women of 1.1 grams.

Here’s an easy analysis of walnuts and almonds:

Almonds Walnuts

164 calories 185 calories
14 grams fat 19 grams fat
3 grams fiber 2 grams fiber
7 milligrams vitamin E 0 milligrams vitamin E
70 milligrams calcium 28 milligrams calcium
0 grams omega-3 fatty acids 3 grams omega-3 fatty acids

Remember, an ounce is only a small handful. Calories from nuts add up quickly given their fat content. Three handfuls would almost be a meal from a calorie standpoint.

2006-11-02T14:50:00.000-05:00

The Nose Knows

Fall is the time of the lung according to Chinese medicine and the facial feature most prominently associated with this time of the year is the nose. To honor the debut of fall, this month’s column will focus on the shapes and sizes of noses and the personality traits associated with the various sizes and shapes according to Lillian Bridges' book on Chinese face reading.

Face reading is part of our own historical development. Plato and Aristotle wrote about personality types associated with facial characteristics. It is also documented that Abraham Lincoln chose his cabinet based on facial characteristics.

The ancient Chinese associated large noses with nomadic ancestors who came from cold climates. Noses had to be large and long to warm the air before it entered the lung so as not to damage the lung. Living in such a cold climate required an ego that would sustain the belief that one was supposed to survive which gave the individual ambition to work hard in order to live. Thus, someone with a large nose probably has a healthy ego and a long nose will probably belong to a person who is ambitious. The effects of a cold climate could also isolate people so large noses can also imply a longer mentality and an independent spirit.

A person whose nose comes off their face by over an inch can be thought of as a trailblazer. Protruding noses usually belong to individuals who like to do things in new and different ways. The Chinese were amazed at the size of the noses of the first Western sailors that landed on their shores and actually nicknamed them “big noses”. The Chinese were impressed with how far their noses came off their face, as this was a rare trait to be found among the Chinese. They believed that the Western sailors had to leave the comfort and security of home to explore the unknown because of the size of their noses.

By contrast, smaller noses belong to people whose ancestors came from warm climates where the air was warmer and easier to breathe. Food was more plentiful and people did not have to struggle to survive. Consequently, people with small noses usually are more passive and group oriented. They live socially and cooperatively with their neighbor and prefer to blend in and not stick out in a crowd. They prefer an easier life and a relaxed work environment. Play is an important part of life. These individuals enjoy group activities and being part of the crowd. People with small noses are not personally ambitious.

Flatter noses belong to people who are content to live life as it has always been lived. They do not readily grasp innovative ways to change and definitely prefer the tried and true methods to new ways. These individuals conform and are not adventurous. They prefer to travel with someone or with a tour group. They prefer to live adventures vicariously rather than first hand. These individuals may have security issues and prefer the anonymity of groups.

The ancient Chinese also considered the nose to be the “moneybox of the face”. The bridge of the nose shows how much energy a person has to earn money. A wide bridge indicates an individual who has extra energy for making money. Money comes in easily and in large quantities. A narrow bridge indicates an individual who has less energy to expend and money is earned in smaller increments.

A bump on the bridge of the nose indicates a person who likes to be in charge. This person is not a good follower, but makes a good leader. If the nose turns upward at the end, this individual is more of a follower. The Chinese believe that an upturned nose indicates someone whose work will pay off to them later in life.

The base of the nose, which includes the nostrils, shows how much money can be saved. A fleshy nose indicates materialism and often belongs to someone who appreciates and accumulates things. A bulbous nose may indicate overindulgence in physical pleasures and someone who accumulates for the sake of acquiring things.

People with thin or narrow noses belong to people who value ideals over money. These individuals care more about quality than quantity and would rather do without than “make do” with something inferior. A bony nose indicates a person who lives simply and eschews material things. These individuals prefer hardship to pleasure and often live a monastic life.

The nostrils are also considered part of the “moneybox”. Wide nostrils indicate a person who spends money and energy easily. Narrowed nostrils often can be found on individuals shopping at warehouse discount houses and at sales. They indicate an individual who will spend money, but they want to save at the same time. Small nostrils belong to people who want to hold onto their energy and money. It does not mean that people with small nostrils are cheap, it just means that they are very aware of how much things cost and how long they have to work to earn the money to purchase items.

2006-10-26T14:52:00.000-04:00

Stress Rehearsal

This time of year is considered a time of transition according to traditional Chinese medicine. Summer, being the most yang time of the year, is slowly turning and entering into the yin cycle of fall and winter. The fire element of summer will slowly give way to the metal element of autumn. Most of us have taken our vacation and have enjoyed the relaxed lazy days of summer when it was too hot to do anything but stay inside. With the cooler days, comes a renewed sense of purpose. Unfortunately, this renewed sense of purpose for many of us translates into additional stress to get things done. As I believe that stress is a huge contributor to illness, I offer the following self-evaluation so that you can determine where you are on the stress continuum.

I obtained this little test from a newsletter to which I subscribe from the Heart Math Institute. The Heart Math Institute has done significant research into how our emotions and mental state of well being plays a significantly larger role on impacting our health than otherwise subscribed to by conventional medicine. They do fascinating work and you may want to visit their website which is easily found by searching under “HeartMath Institute.

Low Stress Levels:

I feel well
I am able to relax
Physical recreation brings me pleasure
Increasing pressure enhances my performance
My thinking is clear and I learn easily
I am able to say “No”
Others see me as adaptable and approachable
Others see me as energized and successful

Moderate Stress Levels:

I feel driven, hyperactive, and restless
I tend to make snap decisions but with errors
I feel over-burdened but can still say “No”
I often feel tired but am taking steps to recover
I often try to squeeze a few extra drops out of my performance
Discipline, fitness, social pressure and stimulants play a greater role in my ability to perform
My sleep is just about adequate
Others see me as tired yet successful

High Stress Levels:

I often lose perspective
I feel irritable and on edge
I complain and grumble regularly
I work longer hours but get less done
My home/work balance is suffering
I have repeated minor ailments, aches and pains
I don’t think as clearly as I used to
I have sleep problems
I feel like I’m operating in survival mode

If you’re more on the high end of these stress levels, you may want to remember that it’s not life events that cause the stress, it’s how you react to them. Take a few moments every day to focus on the area around your heart, take a deep breath and recall a positive time or feeling in your life. Shifting to a positive feeling is a quick stress buster and a good way to deal with the petty annoyances that crop up.

2006-10-23T15:18:00.000-04:00

Reducing Blood Pressure Naturally

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Association claims that nearly one-third of Americans suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure. Blood vessels are like thin-walled hoses holding too much water pressure and become stretched and fragile. This intense pressure can also endanger other organs leading to heart and kidney failure, strokes, or blindness.

For those of you with blood pressure readings higher than the norm of 120/80 and lower than 140/90, you are considered prehypertensive. Any reading of 140/90 or higher is considered hypertensive and any physician will recommend medication in order to lower these readings.

If you are in the “prehypertensive” category, you still need to take steps to reduce your blood pressure so that it doesn’t continue climbing. The two best interventions to lower blood pressure is reducing body fat to less than 20 percent and a vigorous exercise program which includes three hours of cardio workout and two hours of resistance training per week.

Prehypertensives should reduce salt intake, restrict refined carbohydrates, and limit alcohol. Smoking should be avoided at all costs. Eating a diet rich in potassium found in bananas, nuts and figs and magnesium found in leafy green vegetables, seafood, whole grains and nuts are beneficial. A magnesium supplement of 300 to 500 mg is also beneficial. Eating cold-water fish such as salmon and sardines as both of these fish are rich in omega 3 fatty acids that help to reduce blood pressure. Combining fish with garlic helps the assimilation of the omega 3 fatty acids.

Another good whole food for a hypertensive to include in their diet is olive oil because it contains polyphenols that is a compound that helps reduce inflammation. Polyphenols also increase the production of nitric oxide that is a gaseous molecule that relaxes blood vessel walls.

Dr. Roundtree, an integrative physician who writes the “ask the doctor” column for Alternative Medicine also recommends taking olive leaf extract supplements as olive leaves contain oleuropein, a chemical shown to lower blood pressure. Olive leaf extract supplements usually come in 500 mg capsules. He recommends taking three to four a day. He also recommends taking L-arginine, an amino acid at 2 grams twice a day folic acid, a B-complex vitamin, at 1,000 mcg daily.

Drinking hibiscus tea also helps reduce blood pressure. A study published in Phytomedicine in 2004 revealed that patients suffering from mild to moderate hypertension were able to reduce their blood pressure by drinking 10 grams of hibiscus tea as effectively as taking captopril, a leading drug for hypertension.

2006-10-16T14:35:00.000-04:00

Research News from the World of Alternative Medicine

I ran across some interesting research news from the world of alternative medicine that I found in the May 2006 Alternative Medicine magazine.

Arthritis Sufferers:

Recently the media has trashed the use of glucosamine/chondroitin supplements for relief of arthritis based on the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial study results. Obviously, interpretation is in the eye of the beholder because after close examination by the American College of Rheumatology it was found that glucosamine/chondroitin did indeed provide significant relief to study participants. Relief from glucoasmine/chondroitin was also the end result of a European study.

End result - if taking glucosamine/chondroitin gave you relief then continue taking them. If you don't get relief, you may want to switch brands as not all products contain the levels of glucosamine/chondroitin listed on the labels.

Chicken Soup: Good for the Body and the Soul:

A study conducted at Dartmouth Medical School that people who ate lots of chicken (the precise amount was not recorded) have a significantly reduced risk of colorectal cancer compared to those who ate the least.

The study also concluded that there was no association between fat intake or eating red meat with the risk of developing adenomas in the colon which can be the precursors of colorectal cancer. Processed meats such as hot dogs, bacon, and lunch meats posed a significant risk possibly because of the nitrates and nitrites used to preserve them.

To be continued. . .

2006-10-10T07:10:00.000-04:00

Living in Balance with the Season

Autumn is the time of year when the full yang of summer wanes and the earth begins its yin cycle into the full yin of winter. The energy of the earth has turned downward and has begun its descent into the bowels of the earth. One can witness this event by looking at the falling leaves and flowering plants shriveling and becoming dormant. The animal kingdom follows suit. Birds begin to migrate, squirrels and chipmunks gather food for their nests and burrows.

As we are part of this cycle, the energy in our bodies has also begun to descend downward. We are no longer as carefree as we were during the warm days of summer. Now, we have to concentrate on work and preparing our homes for the colder months ahead.

What can we do to make this transition into a new season? One way to support this descent is to change our food intake. The emphasis of eating raw produce, melons, and salads belong to the summer months when we need to cool down our bodies. Now the emphasis needs to shift to warming the body as the days become cooler. Including root vegetables in our diet such as carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and squashes promotes warmth. Denser, heartier foods need to be incorporated including whole grains, protein and fat.

Another way to transition into the season is to pay attention to our lungs. Autumn is the season of the lung according to Chinese medicine. The lungs are a major player in the strength of our immune system and if there is an imbalance it will more than likely begin to show up now. It may be in the form of frequently catching colds, coming down with sinus infections or reacting to environmental allergies.

A qi gong exercise to strengthen the lungs involves nothing more than swinging your arms in unison to the front and back of the body. This activity stimulates the first acupuncture point on the lung meridian located in the front of the shoulder. The optimal number of times to swing your arms is 300 to fully strengthen the lungs; however, as little as a minute or two of exercise would still be of benefit.

The taste associated with autumn is pungent or spicy. If you feel that you are coming down with a cold, try eating pungent food. I prefer Indian food because of all the wonderful spices. Drinking ginger tea will also help clear the lungs and lift congestion.

The emotion associated with the autumn is one of sadness or melancholy. Many people are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder at this time of year as the days get shorter. Try to go outside during daylight so that exposure to the sun can promote the body’s natural production of Vitamin D which in turn will promote the production of serotonin levels.

2006-10-03T10:32:00.000-04:00

The Principles of Yin and Yang

What do you think of when you hear the words "yin and yang". If you're like most people you think of opposites. For those of us practicing Chinese medicine, yin and yang is the whole foundation of our medicine. When yin and yang are in balance, there is health. When out of balance, there is disorder and disease.

Ancient Chinese culture used the description of yin and yang to describe the existing agrarian way of life. Yang relates to activity and the growing cycles of life. The sun is yang. The seasons of spring and summer are yang. On the other hand yin relates to the quiet, contemplative time. The moon is yin. Night time is yin. Autumn and winter are the yin cycles of the year.

Ancient Chinese physicians borrowed from this concept of yin and yang and used it as the foundation for traditional Chinese medicine. Yin relates to blood; yang relates to qi, or energy. The bodies organ systems are either defined as yin or yang depending on their function. Yin and yang form the first of the eight basic principles of Chinese medicine. The remaining six are subsets of yin and yang. The remaining six are cold and hot; deficiency and excess; and, interior and exterior. Cold, deficiency, and interior are considered yin. Hot, excess, and exterior are yang.

What does that mean? Say, you just caught a cold from being outside and you're running a slight fever. If you went to a Chinese health practitioner, your diagnosis would be a yang exterior condition with heat present. If this condition worsened and became pneumonia leaving you fatigued and chilled, then the diagnosis would be a yin, interior cold and deficient condition. The principle of treatment is to restore the yin and yang balance and thus restore health.

So, rather than thinking of opposites the next time you hear the term yin and yang, think of balance and health.

May you live in balance!

2006-09-11T13:25:00.000-04:00

An old Chinese saying says that a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. This is my "first step" into the world of blogging.

I wanted to start blogging in order to reach out to my client base and share any interesting tidbits on health and well being that I run across in my work.

For instance, I recently ran across an article in "Alternative Medicine" that eating a red grapefruit on a daily basis can significantly lower cholesterol levels based on a study done in Israel at Hebrew University. The volunteers used in the study all had a previous history of high blood cholesterol. They were divided into three groups: one ate a red grapefruit daily, one ate white grapefruit and the third ate a standard lowfat diet. Both grapefruit groups were better at lowering cholesterol than the lowfat diet group, but those volunteers eating the red grapefruit significantly reduced total cholesterol as well as LDL levels and triglycerides.

Maybe some food for thought for those of you battling cholesterol problems.

In health and wellness, Linda