Daily Doses of Ancient Chinese Herb Protects the Brain if You Have a Stroke

This Article is taken from the British Paper the Daily Mail
By Daily Mail Reporter
10th October 2008

Scientists have found that ginkgo reduces risk of brain damage after a stroke

Daily doses of an ancient Chinese remedy could help minimise the damage caused by strokes, say researchers. The scientists said ginkgo could eventually be routinely prescribed as a 'preventive measure'.

The U.S. study by the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, published in Stroke Journal, showed that mice fed the extract for a week before an induced stroke had 50 per cent less brain damage.

Lead researcher Sylvain Doré said: 'It's still a large leap from rodent brains to human brains but these results strongly suggest that further research into the protective effects of ginkgo is warranted.

'We could theoretically recommend a daily regimen of ginkgo to people at high risk of stroke as a preventive measure against brain damage.'

Previous research has found that ginkgo - used in Chinese medicine for more than 5,000 years - improves the circulation of blood, particularly to the brain.

In the study, researchers gave a laboratory-quality form of the extract ginkgo biloba to a group of normal mice and to a group of genetically engineered mice.
The second group lacked the gene to produce the enzyme HO-1. This would normally make cells respond to the beneficial effects of ginkgo.

Dr Doré and his team gave all the mice oral doses of ginkgo once a day for a week. They then induced a stroke in the mice by briefly blocking an artery to one side of the brain.

The Chinese have used ginkgo for 5,000 years to improve the circulation of blood to the brain

Results showed that the normal mice had 50 per cent less neurological dysfunction and 48 per cent smaller areas of brain damage than the genetically engineered mice which could not metabolise the ginkgo extract.

Dr Doré said: 'Our results suggest that some elements or elements in ginkgo actually protect brain cells during stroke.'

The research team has speculated that ginkgo's protective effects work by increasing levels of HO-1, stepping up antioxidant production and eliminating harmful free radicals at the site of the stroke.

However, previous research has suggested that ginkgo might slightly raise the stroke risk of some patients, probably due to its blood-thinning effects.

Joe Korner from The Stroke Association said: 'This research is potentially interesting. However it was undertaken in a very artificial situation.'

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

The Candidates’ Policies on Alternative Medicine

I was interested to learn that both Presidential candidates have taken a stand on the inclusion of alternative medicine in health care insurance.

In their health care proposals, Obama and McCain have the following differences.

Senator Obama supports preventative medical care and, under his plan, it is far more likely that insurance plans will cover alternative medicine, including acupuncture, therapy, and government approved herbs and vitamins.

This category alone could more than double the current spending by pharmaceutical companies and would give a boost to local market media as alternative care centers compete with traditional medicine. On the other hand, McCain has not come out in favor of the inclusion of alternative medicine in health insurance.

Taken from JackMyers.com

Acupuncture Provides More Relief for Back Pain than Conventional Treatments

In fall of 2007, The New York Times and other national newspapers reported on a new study that found six months of acupuncture provides more relief for back pain than conventional treatments.

The large German study of nearly 1,200 patients, published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine, is the largest and most rigorous analysis yet of the use of acupuncture to treat back pain. Some of the patients received real acupuncture, others were needled randomly, and the control group received conventional therapy. Nearly half the patients in the acupuncture group reported significant relief, compared to just 27 percent in the conventional therapy group. But surprisingly, fake acupuncture worked almost as well as the real thing with 44 percent of patients also reporting significant relief.

Real acupuncture did reduce the need for pain medicine. Only 15 percent of patients who received real acupuncture used extra pain medication, but 34 percent of patients in the sham group and 59 percent of patients in conventional therapy needed extra pain pills.

Chinese medicine may benefit eczema

This article is from Marie Claire Magazine
UK edition March 2008

A traditional combination of five Chinese herbs may alleviate eczema, new research suggests.

After a study in Hong Kong, determining the effect of 'pentaherbs formulation' on patients aged five to 21, scientists found that the quality of life improved by a third for those taking the five-herb concoction. The study also revealed that those taking the herbal medicine did not need to use as much of the steroid cream that is usually prescribed to eczema sufferers.

Nina Goad from the British Association of Dermatologists said: 'These early studies shows that children with atopic eczema may benefit from a specific concoction of traditional Chinese herbs, which could eventually pave the way for this remedy to find its way into mainstream medicine.

Acupuncture can Help Treating Pelvic Girdle Pain

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a condition of pregnancy where women experience pain in their buttocks and/or shooting down their legs. About 20% of pregnant women report this problem which can prevent them from doing simple tasks that require standing, sitting or turning in bed.

The BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology reports a two month study in which they used acupuncture on 58 women suffering the condition and “sham” acupuncture on another 57 expectant mothers. The women who received acupuncture were able to move about more freely and found it easier to do routine tasks, such as climbing a flight of stairs.

"This study shows that acupuncture had no superior effect compared with non-penetrating sham acupuncture on pain relief but real acupuncture improved women's functional ability to perform daily activities," co-author Dr Helen Elden, from the Institute of Clinical Sciences at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Göteborg, Sweden, said.

Green Tea, Cholesterol and Heart Health

Some Heart Healthy news about Green Tea from

Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM

There have been some intriguing studies indicating that green tea can be extremely effective in the fight against high cholesterol. Specifically, the beverage reduces “bad” cholesterol and boosts “good” cholesterol, improving an individuals overall cholesterol profile.

In addition, green tea appears to lower overall cholesterol levels, helping to reduce ones risk of developing heart disease. Similarly, green tea enhances cardiovascular health by improving the consistency of platelets in the blood.

Researchers have also found that green tea appears to protect against oxygen-induced damage to bad cholesterol. Drinking green tea also seems to enhance cardiovascular health by improving the consistency of platelets in the blood.

British Medical Journal Reports that Acupuncture increased the chances of Pregnancy with IVF by 65%

In the February 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal, it was reported that acupuncture increased the chances of pregnancy in IVF treatments by 65%.

The remarkable success rate occurred across seven acupuncture trials involving 1,366 women in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture was delivered either just before or just after embryo transfer - the moment when the embryo fertilized in the laboratory must attach itself to the wall of the womb to establish a pregnancy.

The research was carried out by scientists from the University of Maryland and the VU University Amsterdam in Holland. Researchers claim that because acupuncture costs only about $75 per session compared to $6000 to $10,000 per cycle for IVF, it would be a cost effective, safe and efficient way of boosting success rates in fertility treatment.

It is thought that acupuncture stimulates the neurotransmitters that trigger the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, which controls the menstrual cycle and a woman's ovulation. Acupuncture is also thought to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and boost the production of endogenous opioids, inducing the body to relax.


British Medical Journal, doi:10.1136/bmj.39471.430451.BE (February 2008)

How to have a Happy and Healthy Halloween

I love Halloween! Here are some suggestions from MSNBC Nutritionist Joy Bauer. She has some smart ideas for managing the sugar overdose that comes with mixing kids, candy, and Halloween.

*Choose smaller sized candy, often labeled as “fun size” or “mini” and select candy that take a while to eat like lollipops or sucking candies.

*Buy value packs of sugarless gum.

*Look for the 100-calorie snack packs.

*Stock up on 100% fruit chews.

*Select dark chocolate candy options. The darker the chocolate, the more antioxidants.

*Skip the candy and give out baseball cards, wacky packs, glow stick bracelets and necklaces.

For your own kids

*Make sure they have a full dinner before they go trick or treating because, if they are hungry, they will eat more candy en route.

*Avoid all unnecessary sugar (soda, fruit drinks, sugar cereals and pancake syrup) on Halloween.

*Most importantly, make sure your kids walk and walk and walk as they trick-or-treat.

Decide together how much of the candy they can eat each day and don’t let kids keep their candy stashes in their rooms.

More News on Breast Cancer and Acupuncture

Fighting Cancer On All Fronts

This Story was reported by
MIAMI (CBS4) ―Sep 8, 2008

For many patients the diagnosis of cancer can be physically devastating with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. But for some, the disease takes even a larger toll. The psychological stress can put a strain on families and friends, even finances. But, one local cancer center is aggressively treating those other aspects of cancer care.

Nori Pomphrey is not taking her breast cancer lying down; she's using acupuncture to beat the disease. "By receiving an acupuncture treatment," Pomphrey says. "My energy level is back to normal." The 37-year-old says the treatments lessened the stress, pain and nausea during chemotherapy.

"We see the patients on a regular basis, to address their psychosocial needs," says Blanca Barcenes, a social worker at the Courtelis Center at the University of Miami's Sylvester Cancer Center adding that cancer care is not only about chemo, radiation, and surgery. For many patients, the psychological toll is devastating. "Depression is very common, panic attacks, anxiety," Barcenes says.

The diagnosis also puts a strain on families, friends and finances. That's why the Courtelis Center uses psychologist and social workers, music therapy, massage, acupuncture, art therapy and nutritionists to maximize cancer care. Some cancer patients even lose their faith--for them there's also pastoral counseling.

"We integrate the psychosocial well being, the emotional well being, the spiritual well being and also alternative medicine like acupuncture into the physical aspect of the treatment," Barcenes said. By integrating all aspects of cancer care under one roof, the hope is, even the darkest days will seem be a bit brighter.

to read the rest of the article click here

Goji Berries/Gou Qi Zi

Goji berries, known as Gou Qi Zi in Chinese Herbal Medicine, are small fruits that grow on evergreen shrubs in the Himalayas. They are slightly chewy and have a mild flavor. In this country, the goji berry (or wolfberry) is widely available dried and easily found as berries or juice in natural-food stores. The berries are even available covered in dark chocolate.

Gojis have high fiber, the highest antioxidant powers of any berry or fruit, and are used in Chinese medicine to increase longevity, strengthen the immune system, improve vision, protect the liver, boost sperm production and improve circulation. In recent years, goji juice has become popular as a health beverage. In traditional Chinese medicine, gou qi zi is eaten raw or dried, brewed into a tea, added to Chinese soups, and herbal formulas.

References:

Cheng CY et al. "Fasting plasma zeaxanthin response to Fructus barbarum L. (wolfberry; Kei Tze) in a food-based human supplementation trial." British Journal of Nutrition. 93.1 (2005):123-30.

Lam AY et al. "Possible interaction between warfarin and Lycium barbarum L." Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 35.10 (2001):1199-201.

Wu H et al. "Effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on the improvement of antioxidant ability and DNA damage in NIDDM rats." Yakugaku Zasshi. 126.5 (2006):365-71.

Fertility Research with Acupuncture Delivers Healthy Results

By: Jennifer Dubowsky L.A.C, M.S.O.M., Dipl.Ac

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced for thousands of years. Amazingly, the first written gynecological records date back to the Shang dynasty (1500 BC- 1000 BC), but here in the U.S. and other Western countries, people are just beginning to understand and appreciate the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

It isn't easy to compare Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine because there are profound differences that underlie the basic notions of your health, body and treatment. Western medicine often takes a more mechanistic view of people - your body may be treated as if it is a collection of machine parts rather than one whole, integrated system. Alternatively, Traditional Chinese Medicine sees individuals as personal ecosystems, with each part depending on, and influencing, all the other parts. This "whole body" approach means that treatment addresses the complete systems of your body rather than just attending to your symptoms. As a result of such a treatment strategy, most patients experience an improvement in their specific condition and also a better overall sense of health and well being.

TCM and Fertility: The Research

There are many factors that may make your conception difficult to achieve and, even after conception, you may face problems bringing your pregnancy to term, which causes frustration, upset and increased stress. However, research using acupuncture to enhance fertility is providing reason for new optimism in the struggle with this old problem.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be used alone or in conjunction with Western medicine. A 2002 German study that received a lot of attention found significantly higher conception rates (42.5% vs. 26.3%) when acupuncture was used with IVF.[1] More recently, two studies published in May 2006, showed that acupuncture can improve IVF success rates. First, in Germany, 225 women undergoing in vitro fertilization participated in a study. Of these, 116 patients received luteal phase (the phase after ovulation) acupuncture according to the principles of TCM and 109 people received a standard protocol of acupuncture. The treatment group using TCM principles had a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate than the placebo group (33.6% vs. 15.6% respectively). [2] Second, a Denmark study published at the same time examined the effect of acupuncture received on the day of embryo transfer vs. no acupuncture, and they also found a significant increase in pregnancy rates (39% vs. 26%). The researchers concluded that acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer improved the outcome of IVF.[3] A third study published at the same time found the results too small to be considered clinically significant but these researchers also concluded that acupuncture was safe for women undergoing IVF.[4]

Other research is showing acupuncture's effectiveness with men. A study published in 2005 demonstrated that sperm motility and quality improved after the men received treatment with acupuncture.[5]

As further proof that TCM has gained acceptance and success, in September, 2005, the University of Maryland received $400,000 from The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institute of Health, to research the benefits of Acupuncture combined with IVF.

In Vancouver on May 18, 2007, Dr. Paul Magarelli, an infertility physician at the Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center, and Diane Cridennda, an acupuncturist at East Winds, both centers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, presented their research results which were published in Infertility and Sterility in April, 2007. This is one of several studies the two have completed. In the protocol, they used a minimum of 9 acupuncture treatments within 2 months before the embryo transfer. Since this was a research study, each patient received the same treatment. No modification in points was allowed. From a clinical TCM/acupuncture perspective, the treatment protocols were very limited compared to individulized treatment of each patient.

What were their results? Lorne Brown, Doctor of TCM, founder and clinical director of Acubalance Wellness Centre, the first TCM clinic in British Columbia dedicated to reproductive wellness, analyzed the data Dr. Magarelli presented and has posted the following conclusions on his website:

*Acupuncture does not cause harm to fertility or negatively interfere with an IVF outcome.

*Acupuncture can statistically improve the live birth rate from IVF to between 10-15%.

*Acupuncture reduces the number of ectopic pregnancies in an IVF setting. The acupuncture protocol (minimum of 9 treatments using set points) did not affect egg quality BUT it did improve the host. Therefore, it seemed to improve factors affecting implanation rather the egg quality itself.

*The mechanism by which acupuncture improves implantation and live birth rates results from acupuncture's ability to regulate the body's hormone levels (particularly prolactin and cortisol) to mimic these hormone levels in a natural cycle.

Why Does TCM Work?

Why? "Acupuncture provides better circulation and better blood flow to the womb," said Dr. Raymond Chang, director of New York's Meridian Medical Group, who has been incorporating acupuncture into fertility treatments for the past decade. "It will give a better chance for the eggs to be nourished and therefore carried." Acupuncture seems to help some women because it improves circulation to your ovaries and to your uterus. It aids ovarian stimulation, improves the thickness of uterine lining, and therefore can help with implantation. Acupuncture is relaxing, which helps to lower your cortisol levels and increase progesterone output, important factors in decreasing your chance of having a miscarriage.

Western medicine works with an eye on the numbers. The main goal is to increase the quantity of eggs or sperm, thereby increasing your chances of a viable pregnancy. In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine is holistic and cumulative. It will likely include suggestions about diet and lifestyle as well as acupuncture. TCM is very personalized. Your practitioner will needle specific points and may suggest specific herbs, all depending on your body and your situation. When your body is healthy and balanced, you increase your chances of getting pregnant and producing a healthy child. The goal of acupuncture is to return your body to a state of health. The effects take time; the results get better over time. Even if your Western doctor does not understand the benefits of acupuncture, most physicians now agree that it does not cause harm.

"Nourish the Soil before Planting the Seed"

Plan ahead. The ideal time to begin preparing your body for a baby is three months before conception or an IVF cycle. This is the time to begin acupuncture treatments, but many couples wait until they are actively trying to conceive. In my practice, I recommend twice weekly treatments until we get a positive pregnancy test and once a week for the first trimester to reduce the risk of miscarriage.

Of course, making good nutritional choices is always important for both mother and child. Specific suggestions can be found in one of my previous articles, "The ABCs of Fertility: Acupuncture, Babies, Chinese Medicine"

You can also help your body's readiness by attending to the following suggestions:

Caffeine : Reduce or cut out coffee from your diet. A joint US/Swedish study of 562 women found that 1-3 cups of coffee increased miscarriage rate by 30% and more than 5 cups increased it by 40%.[6] Also, in another study conducted during the first trimester of pregnancy, women who had a high caffeine intake showed an increased risk of repeated miscarriage.[7]

Stress : Stress has been linked to irregularieties in ovulation and abnormal sperm development. When you can lower your levels of physiological stress, you have increased your chances of conception.

Sleep : Treatment in Chinese medicine always aims to improve your sleeping pattern. Lack of sleep has long been recognized as influencing fertility. It leads to physiological disruptions including the inhibition of growth hormones.

Alcohol : Women who drink alcohol may delay conception because it is poorly metabolised and can lead to a disturbance of the oestrogen/ progesterone balance. During IVF, men and women are both advised to avoid alcohol because, in women, it can lead to reduced egg production and, in men, it may reduce the number of healthy sperm.

Weight : Being too thin or too heavy can have an impact on how quickly you conceive. Excessive thinness is known to interfere with menstrual periods. Now, it is also believed that if both partners are overweight or obese, conception will take longer.

Smoking : Smokers have an increased rate of repeated miscarriage.[8] Women smokers have been shown to have lower levels of oestrogen which may delay conception. Smoking is also thought to influence tubal factor infertility, and can cause early menopause. In men, smoking may damage sperm. When men stop smoking, their sperm count increases quickly.

By following the Chinese medicine approach to balancing your body, mind and spirit, you will not only boost your fertility but you will feel more energized, sleep better and experience a greater sense of wellbeing.

Summary

In summary, Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have a long history of benefiting fertility in many ways. Benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine include:

*Improvements in your uterine lining

*Increased blood flow to your uterus

*Regulation of your hormones

*Reduction of your stress associated with fertility problems

*Improved function of your ovaries

*Increased conception with or without ART

*Increased live birth rates

*Lower rates of ectopic pregnancies

And for men...

*Improved semen quality and quantity

*Reduce stress and improve well being.

Additional references

The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies by Dr. Randine Lewis. Human Reproduction Journal, Volume 11, Number 6, 1996.

Fertility and Sterility, Volume 78, Number 6, December 2002 Raised cortisol predicts spontaneous abortion Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2006. Early online publication

[1] Paulus, W., et al. Fertility and Sterility. April, Vol. 77 (4):721-724, 2002.

[2] Dieterle,S., Ying, G., Hatzmann, W., Neuer, A. Fertility and Sterility, May, Vol. 85 (5):1347-135, 2006.

[3] Westergaard, L., Mao, Q., et al. Fertility and Sterility, May, Vol. 85 (5): 1341-1346, 2006.

[4] Smith, C., Coyle, M., et al. Fertility and Sterility, May, Vol. 85 (5) 1352-1358, 2006.

[5] Pei, J., Strehler, E., Noss, U. et al. Fertility and Sterility, July, Vol. 84 (1), pgs. 141-7, 2005.

[6] Cnattingius, S. et al, New England Journal of Medicine Vol.343(25):1839-1845, Dec., 2000.

[7] George, L., et al. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Vol. 20 (2): 119-126, March, 2006.[8] Ibid.

More exciting studies on TCM and fertility should be coming out soon and I look forward to reporting on them.

Chinese Herbs Best for Period Pain

This article is From Marie Claire Magazine
October 2007

CHINESE HERBS ARE more effective at battling period pain than conventional drugs, claim researchers.

A group in Australia has discovered that herbal mixtures, including liquorice root, cinnamon bark and fennel fruit, will relieve painful cramps far better than anti-inflammatories or the Pill.

More than 3,5000 women took part in 39 individual trials across four countries to test the different forms of pain relief.

"All available measures of effectiveness confirmed the overall superiority of Chinese herbal medicine to placebo, no treatment, anti-inflammatory drugs, the contraceptive pill, acupuncture and heat compression," said the lead author of the report, Xiao Shu Zhu, from the University of Western Sydney's Centre for Complementary Medicine Research.

In my Chicago practice I often use Acupuncture and Chinese herbs to ease PMS with great success.

Acupressure Calms Children Before Surgery

Science Daily and UPI (10/2008) both reported a University of California/Yale University study that concluded that acupressure treatment applied to children undergoing anesthesia noticeably lowered their anxiety levels and made the stress of surgery more calming for them and their families.

The UC Irvine anesthesiologist, Dr. Zeev Kain and his Yale University collaborator Dr. Shu-Ming Wang, tried this noninvasive, drug-free method to reduce children’s stress during surgical preparation. Sedatives currently used before anesthesia can cause nausea and prolong sedation.

“Anxiety in children before surgery is bad because of the emotional toll on the child and parents, and this anxiety can lead to prolonged recovery and the increased use of analgesics for postoperative pain,” said Kain, who led the acupressure study. “What’s great about the use of acupressure is that it costs very little and has no side effects.”

In this study, Kain and his Yale colleagues applied adhesive acupressure beads to 52 children between the ages of 8 and 17 who were to undergo endoscopic stomach surgery. In half the children, a bead was applied to the Extra-1 acupoint, which is located in the midpoint between the eyebrows. In the other half, the bead was applied to a spot above the left eyebrow that has no reported clinical effects.

Thirty minutes later, the researchers noted decreased anxiety levels in the children who had the beads applied to the Extra-1 acupoint. In the other group, anxiety levels increased.

“As anesthesiologists, we need to look at all therapeutic opportunities to make the surgical process less stressful for all patients,” Kain said. “We can’t assume that Western medical approaches are the only viable ones, and we have an obligation to look at integrative treatments like acupressure as a way to improve the surgery experience.”

Study results appear in the September issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.

Pumpkin Soup

A Fall Recipe from The Chopra Center at La Costa Resort and Spa

Pumpkins are a winter squash with a sweet flavor that soothes Vata dosha. The cheerful pumpkin’s orange flesh is also packed with beta carotene, an antioxidant that helps improve immune function and reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. A cup of cooked pumpkin has just 49 calories, 2.7 grams of fiber, 567 mg of potassium, and 5,116 micrograms of vitamin A.

How to Choose a Pumpkin

Look for varieties specifically grown for eating, such as the sugar pumpkin. Choose a pumpkin that is brightly colored, blemish-free, and heavy for its size. Smaller pumpkins have more succulent, tasty flesh. A ripe pumpkin will have a tough skin. Test it by gently pressing with your fingernail; if you can leave a mark on the skin, the pumpkin isn’t ready for cooking.

Ingredients

1 large pumpkin (about 3 pounds), or 3 cups canned pumpkin
1½ cups water
1 teaspoon ghee (Indian clarified butter) or olive oil

How to make ghee

1 cup chopped leeks or onions
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon curry powder
½ teaspoon cloves, ground
2 to 3 cups vegetable stock
1 tablespoon Bragg Liquid Aminos or tamari
1 cup low-fat vanilla soymilk (regular milk is also fine)
Nutmeg for garnish

Preparation

If using fresh pumpkin, preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Wash the pumpkin, cut in half, and remove seeds. Place the pumpkin halves face down in a baking pan. Pour in the water and cover pan with foil. Bake for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the pumpkin pulls out easily.

Let cool, then remove the pumpkin pulp from the rind with a spoon.

Place into a bowl and set aside. You should have about 3 cups of pumpkin pulp.

Heat a soup pot over medium heat and add the oil. Add the leeks and spices. Sauté for 4 or 5 minutes or until the leeks are translucent.

Add some stock if the mixture begins to dry.

Add the pumpkin pulp and continue to sauté for another 3 or 4 minutes.

Add the aminos or tamari and brown the pumpkin pulp slightly. Add the vegetable stock to cover the pumpkin and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Using a hand blender or food processor, puree the soup to a smooth and creamy consistency, adding the vanilla soymilk as you puree the soup. Return the soup to the pot and reheat if necessary.

Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Tip: Don’t throw away the pumpkin seeds! You can make a tasty snack by roasting these hearty seeds, which are a good source of protein, zinc, and other vitamins.

Nutritional Facts Per 1¼-cup Serving:Calories 172; Carbohydrates 23.8 g; Protein 12.2 g; Total fat 3 g; Saturated fat 0.4 g

To get more information on Winter Squash and another recipe check out a previous post.

http://chicagoacupuncture.blogspot.com/2008/09/winter-squash-soup.html

To get more information from the Chopra Center check out their website

http://chopra.com/

Pentagon Researches Alternative Treatment

This article was published in USA TODAY on 10/08/08

By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is seeking new ways to treat troops suffering from combat stress or brain damage by researching such alternative methods as acupuncture, meditation, yoga and the use of animals as therapy, military officials said.

"This new theme is a big departure for our cautious culture," Dr. S. Ward Casscells, the Pentagon's assistant secretary for health affairs, told USA TODAY.

Casscells said he pushed hard for the new research, because "we are struggling with" post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) "as we are with suicide and we are increasingly willing to take a hard look at even soft therapies."

So far this year, the Pentagon is spending $5 million to study the therapies. In the previous two years, the Pentagon had not spent any money on similar research, records show.

To read the entire article click here.

Matt Damon Likes Acupuncture

If you look very closely at Matt Damon's ear you'll notice something...

His rep stated that:

"Matt had a terrible spasm in his neck/back and he had to have acupuncture Those are acupuncture "needles' in his ear."

Sometimes after a treatment ear seeds or tiny needles are put into the ear with skin colored tape. This is done to help stimulate acupuncture points in the ear that correspond to different parts of the body. Ear seeds/needles can be helpful in sustaining the treatment effects.

I'm glad Matt is a fan of acupuncture!

Tongue Diagnosis

As many of you know (and for those of you who don't) a visit to my office usually involves a look at your tongue.

My hat is off to Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM who writes so many great articles about TCM for Acufinder.com. Here is another, where she gives a helpful explanation of tongue diagnosis.

Tongue diagnosis is an important part of the Chinese medical assessment. During an examination, the overall tongue coating, shape, and color is taken into account.

The tongue reflects the health of the internal organs and blood circulation. Changes in the tongue color usually reflect chronic illness. As your health changes, the condition of your tongue will change as well.

A normal tongue is pink in color, medium thickness, has no cracks, ulcers, or teeth marks and has a light white coat on it.

Color of Tongue

Tongue color varies widely from person to person, but is a good indicator of the overall nature of what is going on in the body. A red tongue indicates that there is heat present in the body, and the redder the tongue, the greater amount of heat present. A tongue that is pale indicates a deficiency of qi and blood or the presence of cold. A purple tongue tells your practitioner that there is stagnation somewhere in the body.

Pale: Excess cold, especially if thick white coating. Spleen qi deficiency, especially if thin white coating Blood deficiency, especially if dull, pale face and lips

Red: Excess heat, especially if there is a thick yellow tongue coating. Yin deficiency, especially if tongue body is thin and coating is thin, absent or peeled.

Purple: Stagnant qi or Stagnant blood if dark purple tongue body and/or red spots on the tongue

A Red Tipped Tongue

Different areas of the tongue are believed to reflect the health of the different organ systems. If there is an unusual color, coating, and/or shape in a certain area, special attention is paid to the corresponding organ system.

The tip of the tongue is related to the heart and fire element. When the tip of the tongue is red, it is an indication that emotional distress is causing an imbalance. Today’s fast paced lifestyle has created an epidemic of stress and anxiety. It is very common to see red tipped tongues in our culture.

In addition to a red tipped tongue, other symptoms of a heart imbalance can include insomnia or frequent nightmares, restlessness, agitation, mouth ulcers, heat sensation in the chest, palpitations with anxiety, dry mouth and a rapid pulse.

Each area of the tongue is connected to specific internal organs.

Sides of the tongue: Liver

Tip of the tongue: Heart

Center of the tongue: Spleen

Back of the tongue: Kidney

Shape and Size of Tongue

The shape and size of the tongue tends to address the status of fluids in the body. For example, a very large, puffy, or scalloped tongue suggests that fluids are not being properly metabolized in the body. In contrast, a very small, short tongue may indicate dryness, a deficiency of fluids, or deficiency in general. In addition to shape and size, any movement of the tongue can indicate a deficiency of energy or the presence of an internal wind pathogen.

Swollen or puffy: Spleen qi deficiency, especially if teeth marks on the sides or Damp heat

Thin: Blood deficiency or Fluid deficiency

Trembling: Spleen qi deficiency

Elongated: Heart heat

Sides curled up: Liver qi stagnation or, if the sides are swollen and red, it may indicate Liver Fire

Cracks: Excess heat or yin deficiency or Heart imbalance, especially if there is a crack down the middle of the tongue to the tip.

Tongue Coating

A coating on the tongue can also give your practitioner information about your health. The thickness of a coating is an indicator of the severity of the condition being treated. A thin coating, one in which you can see the tongue through the coating, indicates that any pathogen present is mild or on the exterior. A thick coating that obscures the tongue tells your practitioner that the condition is deeper and more serious.

The condition of the coating also speaks to the condition of fluids in the body. A moist or wet coating indicates poor fluid metabolism, and a dry coating indicates depleted fluids. A coating that is peeled off, either completely or partially, indicates some kind of heat or damage to the Stomach, possibly a depletion of Stomach Yin, or damage to Stomach Qi.

Tongue coatings also vary in color. In general, a thin white coating is normal, but can also appear in diseases associated with cold conditions. A yellow or brown coat indicates heat, and a gray or black coat indicates an extreme condition. It’s also important to note that foods such as red wine, orange juice, and coffee can alter the appearance of the coating. Needless to say, food dyes can dramatically alter the color of the tongue. In more than one instance, I have had a young patient stick out their tongue, only to see a bright blue, green, or pink coating! (This has happened to me too : )

Thick: Excess

Yellow, thick, glossy: Damp Heat

Dry, yellow: Excess heat

Peeled or absent: Deficient yin

The condition of your tongue will change as your health changes, but in general those changes appear on the tongue slowly. One exception is during a cold or flu when the patient has a high fever, a very red tongue will appear fairly quickly.
As with any assessment method, acupuncturists never rely on tongue diagnosis alone, but use it to provide a complete picture of a person's health.

Tongue diagnosis can be a subtle art. To try it yourself, observe the variations of your tongue's shape, color, size, and coating and compare it to that of friends or family members. After you have looked at a few tongues, you will see that they differ widely, and with a little study can tell you a lot about the overall health of a person!

10 Tips to Help Lower your Risk of Breast Cancer

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here are some ways to reduce
your risk.

1. Be Active – The American cancer society recommends 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise.

2. Control your Weight - Excess pounds boost your risk of cancer.

3. Essential Fatty Acids – Omega-3 fatty acids protect against the spread of solid-tumor cancers that are related to hormone production, particularly breast cancer. These are so important that I will devote a post to their benefits.

4. Eat Healthy – Increase your consumption of whole grains, fruits,vegetables calcium and decrease your intake of fats and sweets.

5. Cultivate a Good Attitude – Be grateful, don’t sweat the small stuff,nurture good relationships, and stay in touch with yourself.

6. Check your Birth Control Pills – The benefits of the pills might outweigh the risks but talk to your gynecologist about what is best for you.

7. Indulge in a Little Dark Chocolate – Dark chocolate contains an enzyme called kinase that kills cancerous cells and leaves healthy cells intact.

8. Eliminate Unnecessary Tests – Be cautious about tests that emit doses of radiation.

9. Get a Mammogram – And, if you have dense breasts, consider getting an MRI.

10. Eliminate Smoking – No explanation needed.

5 Cancer Problems that Respond to Acupuncture

There is, “good scientific evidence for this use,” states the website of the Susan G. Komen Foundation referring to acupuncture as a tool in cancer treatment. The Komen Foundation http://www.komen.org/ is a premier breast cancer research and advocacy group so when they say that the acupuncture evidence is strong, I’m especially delighted. The following are 5 health problems they rate as having solid evidence for success with acupuncture.

1. Anxiety and Depression
2. Back and Neck Pain
3. Nausea and Vomiting
4. Osteoarthritis
5. Post-Operative Pain

Marathon Runners and Acupuncture

Chinese Medicine is wonderful for marathon runners. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be helpful both pre and post race. TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) treats many ailments that may occur during training, including overuse injuries, joint pains and stiffness. It also helps improve your energy and overall wellness. Post race TCM helps speed recovery, reduce inflammation and soreness.

In a 2004 issue of the Baylor College of Medicine newsletter, John Cianca, MD, a BCM associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation said, "Acupuncture can also be helpful for athletes, like cyclists and runners, who experience overuse injuries…. We have had excellent success with acupuncture in treating sprains and strains and other sports-related injuries. Within a treatment or two, many patients have noticed a 50- to 75-percent reduction in pain and swelling."

For more information on acupuncture and runners click here

New British Study Shows Good Results Combining Acupuncture and IVF

A study showing that acupuncture can help women having IVF to conceive has gotten good coverage in the United Kingdom. Here are the highlights……

Women who underwent the ancient Chinese treatment during IVF treatment increased their chances of having a baby from one in five to one in three, ( from 20% to 33%) according to the major scientific study.

Researchers led by Dr Ying Cheong, from the reproductive medicine unit at the University of Southampton and the city's Princess Anne hospital, looked at 13 studies carried out worldwide, involving more than 2,000 IVF patients who combined acupuncture with their fertility treatment. They concluded that 'acupuncture around the time of embryo transfer achieves a higher live birth rate of 35 per cent compared with 22 per cent without active acupuncture'.

Embryo transfer is when an embryo that has been fertilized in the laboratory is implanted into a woman's womb. Chances for a successful pregnancy increased significantly if a woman had acupuncture around the same time as the transfer but not if the treatment took place a few days later.

Dr Cheong said: 'We show that acupuncture, performed at the right stage, can have significant benefit. A woman who does so has a much greater chance of having a live birth than a woman who doesn't have acupuncture.'

Many women seeking to become pregnant already use alternative therapies such as acupuncture to help them cope with their treatment and general stress. In my Chicago practice I encourage women to start treatment before the IVF transfer.

Chicago Marathon And Acupuncture

Are you getting ready to run? Last year, a staff member from Runner’s World magazine developed plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the layer of tissue that supports the arch of the foot, got no conventional relief and decided it was time for an alternative therapy-acupuncture.

She felt some initial discomfort, but as she grew more comfortable with the process, the pain subsided. The acupuncturist also attached an electrical-stimulation device to a few of the needles. After 30 minutes, he detached the machine, removed the needles and the runner felt better-much better. She wrote, "After the second session, I went running, and there was absolutely no pain in my heel."

To read more about acupuncture for runners click here

You still have time…………

Acupuncture is a great way to relieve pain from many injuries that runners suffer during training.

Breast Cancer, Hot Flashes And Acupuncture

In support of Breast Cancer month, I want to reproduce a study that was posted on Integrative Medicine’s site on October 1, 2008.

The results of a study conducted at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit suggested that acupuncture controlled hot flashes as effectively as venlafaxine while also providing additional benefits to patients on anti-estrogen treatment for breast cancer.

Eleanor Walker, MD, a radiation oncologist at Henry Ford, presented the findings. Walker and colleagues randomly assigned 24 women with breast cancer to acupuncture and 23 to venlafaxine (Effexor, Wyeth). All patients were experiencing at least 14 hot flashes per week.

Patients were assigned to acupuncture twice per week during the first four weeks of the study and once per week during the remaining eight weeks. After one year of follow-up, all patients in the study had decreased hot flashes.

“The study showed acupuncture was as effective as venlafaxine in decreasing hot flashes in breast cancer patients on anti-estrogen hormone therapy, but what was even better was it had no adverse effects compared with venlafaxine,” Walker told Endocrine Today. “In addition, acupuncture had benefits. Women were more energetic, they had better clarity of thought, and, overall, their sense of well-being was better.”

Walker also said that some patients in the acupuncture arm had increased sex drive and that the treatment effect lasted longer than it did in patients assigned to venlafaxine.

“For women who took the drug therapy, two weeks after they stopped taking the drug, they started having increases in the number and intensity of their hot flashes,” she said. “Women who had acupuncture treatment did not start having an increase in the number of their hot flashes until 14 to 15 weeks after therapy.”

Walker said that more research is needed to determine the proper frequency and duration of treatment but that acupuncture should be more convenient and less expensive for patients with breast cancer

Perspective

This is a fabulous example of a small, tidy, well-done little study whose researchers only wanted to indicate equivalence between a holistic alternative medicine approach, acupuncture, and a very modern and somewhat expensive antidepressant. It is very exciting they were able to do this study, beautifully, and to show that acupuncture played

a very strong role during the course of the study. There are fewer than 50 patients in the whole study. Results of small studies like this would point to initiating a change in pattern of practice but yet following that with a lot more people during a longer period.

to read more about the benefits of acupuncture for breast cancer click here

ABC News Report On Acupuncture "Stick It To Surgery"

Here is another ABC News Video on the benefits of acupuncture. In this report, acupuncture is being used before, during and after surgery to lessen side effects and soothe pain.
To watch the video click here.