H1N1; How Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Help

Many People are concerned about catching the H1N1 Virus. Chinese Medicine has several herbal remedies for colds and flu. Plus acupuncture boosts the immune system and relieves unpleasant symptoms like congestion, nausea and body aches.

Below is a very helpful and informative post from The Portland Acupuncture Blog by, Amy Chitwood Burslem LAc

"I wasn’t planning to write a post about the flu, but the H1N1 ’situation’ is still around, and I wanted to spread some of the good information I’ve been looking into. The H1N1 flu (we’ll just call it “the flu”) has a lot of people talking and a good deal of media coverage (EVERWHERE!).

Now that school has started up again, parents are worried about having their kids exposed to thousands of colds and sniffles, and the hype of the flu is lingering into the fall and winter seasons. UrbanMamas blog has a good discussion going about kids and the flu- check it out if you have little ones in school. It’s hard to decide if a vaccine is in your future or not. Regardless, it’s best to get as much information about options before you make that decision.

Chinese Medicine: Natural approaches are great and effective options to combat influenza- there are very powerful herbs we use to treat the symptoms. Herbs are being used all over China to treat the symptoms of the flu with great success!

A good list of formulas listed on this site are:

• Gan Mao Ling: This is definitely one of the most widely utilized Chinese patents to treat flu related fatigue, headaches, sore throats, swollen lymph glands, high fever, chills, and back and neck aches.
• Yin Qiao: In a very similar fashion to Gan Mao Ling, Yin Chiao is generally prescribed for the same set of flu symptoms.
• Zhong Gan Ling: This medicine is indicated for more severe conditions such as sudden, high fevers with sore throats and coughing, swollen lymph nodes, aching limbs and headaches.
• Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Wan(Correct the Qi Pills): Primarily prescribed for stomach flus with digestive difficulties of diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea and for chills, fever and headaches.
• Yu Ping Feng Wan (Jade Screen Pills): This medicine is prescribed primarily for insufficient immune system in the presence of frequent colds and flu, sore throat, swollen face, sinus congestion and inflammation, and sinus pain headaches.

Depending on your symptoms, the practitioner may make you an individualized formula if you are experiencing a combination of these symptoms.

Vaccines: It’s completely your choice if you choose to get the vaccine- every individual has their right to choose. But I am a firm believer in knowing the facts and researching what our options are. Liz Richards, LAc of Blossom Clinic posted a note about pregnancy and the H1N1 vaccine for expectant mothers concerned with mercury in the vaccines. Liz clarifies that the single dose does not contain mercury, but the 10 vial dose does. She also has a link to a video about the vaccine.

Prevention: Treat the swine flu as you would treat the regular ol’ flu, which means you must take care of yourself!!

Here is a good list of strategies to prevent spreading sickness from Dr. Lorne Brown of Acubalance:

• wash your hand frequently
• avoid sugary foods
• get adequate sleep
• reduce alcohol
• eat a whole foods, mostly plant based diet
• reduce stress

Nutrition: WellWire.com posted a delicious recipe for an immune-boosting soup- I’m definitely making this tonight! Remember to drink plenty of clean water, and eat lots of garlic and ginger!

Anti H1N1 Soup for 2

1 handful dry shiitake mushrooms, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 4 cloves garlic thinly sliced, 1 onion thinly sliced, 1 small piece ginger thinly sliced, 3 cups pork stock (lol kidding, this is hard to find – any stock will do), 4 glugs of sake, 2 spring onions.

Soak the mushrooms in boiling water until tender. Remove the soaking liquid. Saute the mushrooms, onions and garlic in a tablespoon of oil until tender but not browned. Add the stock and the ginger and simmer on low heat for about ten minutes. Season to taste and just before serving add the sake and spring onions.

Whatever route you choose is up to you. Just make sure you have all of the correct information before you take action.

Stay healthy!"

Oscar Winner Sandra Bullock Makes Acupuncture Part of the Set

I love it! Sandra Bullock expects acupuncture to be on her movie set, check it out.

From Acupuncture Today
November, 2002, Vol. 03, Issue 11

Celebrities are renowned for the free gifts, or "perks," they have written into their contracts before going on tour or starting work on a new movie. Actress Sandra Bullock, the star of movies such as "Speed" and "Miss Congeniality," has taken the idea of perks to a new level. According to an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, one of Ms. Bullock's requirements is that before she signs up for a motion picture, she will be provided with an on-site wellness center that includes licensed acupuncturists and massage therapists.

"It's kind of fun just to see what you can get," Bullock told the BBC. She also admitted that while she tries to get as many benefits as possible from a studio, she makes sure the rest of the crew gets to enjoy the benefits of acupuncture.

"Now actors get such ridiculous perks that you might as well make some of those perks something that benefits everybody," she said.

Acupuncture For Headaches

Another great article from acufinder.com

Headaches are extremely common. While everyone experiences an occasional headache, statistics show that 1 out of 6 people suffer from chronic headaches.

Acupuncture can effectively relieve headaches, as well as treat their underlying causes. In fact, headaches are one of the conditions most commonly seen in acupuncture clinics today. It can offer powerful relief without the side effects that prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause.

Headaches that can be treated with acupuncture include migraines, tension headaches, headaches occurring around the menstrual cycle, sinus headaches and stress-related headaches.

How Acupuncture Treats Headaches

Many variables are looked at in order to properly diagnose and successfully treat headaches. Each individual is treated differently depending on their unique symptoms.

Some of the factors that will determine what acupuncture points and other treatment techniques are used include: what triggers the headaches; the location, frequency and intensity of the headaches; the quality of the pain; the time of day that they occur; what helps the headaches and what makes them worse.

Types of Headaches

When treating with acupuncture, headaches are often classified by their location. This is only a broad guideline which needs to be further refined and integrated into the treatment for each individual, but this shows meridians and patterns that affect each area of the head.

Top of Head: Liver Meridian (Liver Blood Deficiency, Liver Yang Rising)

Sides of Head: Gall-Bladder Meridian (Liver-Yang, Liver-Fire or Liver-Wind Rising)

One Side Only: Gall-Bladder Meridian (Liver-Yang or Liver-Fire Rising)

Temples: Gall-Bladder Meridian (Liver-Yang, Liver-Fire or Liver-Wind Rising)

Behind the Eyes: Liver Meridian (Liver Blood Deficiency, Liver Yang Rising)

Forehead: Stomach Meridian (Stomach Deficiency or Stomach-Heat)

Back of Head (Occipital): Bladder Meridian (Kidney Deficiency or Damp-Heat in the Bladder) or External Wind

Whole Head: Kidney-Essence Deficiency or External Wind

Acupuncture can significantly relieve headaches and is an important component to managing recurring headaches and migraines. If you have any questions, please call for a consultation.

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Let Your Expectations FALL Away

Fall has returned! In this season, nature lets go of its abundant creation of the past year in a grand final display. Leaves turn brilliant colors and drop back to the earth, enriching it to promote (nourish) the coming growth. In autumn, we can learn more about ourselves because, after a harvest, everything is bare. Autumn marks the end of the growing season, so it becomes a natural turning inward. Outer-directed energy falls away to be replaced by reflection and then creation.

Nature instructs us about the cycle of creation and letting go: Trees in autumn don’t stubbornly hold onto their leaves because they might need to wear them next year. Yet how many of us defy the cycle and hold onto what we’ve produced or collected - those decayed leaves in the form of old negativity, outdated attitudes, or fears? How can we hope for a healthy harvest next year unless we release the old, rest and start fresh with renewed focus?

The lesson of this season, more than any other, tells us to release the waste, the old, and the stale aspects of our lives in order to uncover all that is meaningful and fresh.

We all have feelings and experiences that make us think, “I wish this moment could last forever”. It is so human to want to hold on to special times and we often structure our lives hoping to create a reality in which that good feeling endures. But our expectations and preconceived notions of what we SHOULD feel, what we SHOULD need, what we SHOULD receive also get us into trouble. We also carry assumptions about what a friend, partner, son, teacher, or parent SHOULD be. Why does this cause trouble?? It doesn’t allow reality to exist. Most of the times our ideas of what people SHOULD be very rarely coincides with the ways they actually behave or express themselves. Autumn is the season that teaches us to let go. Try dropping a few of those old ideas (like leaves) and see how much lighter you feel. This will also allow space for new ideas and growth.

Chinese Medicine has some nutrition ideas to help you and your family enjoy a healthy fall season.

Foods - Eat more cooked and fewer raw foods. Sour, astringent foods like lemon, lime, pickle, vitamin C, seaweed, and sourdough bread can all benefit your health. Enjoy spicy/pungent foods like onion, garlic, radish, horseradish, and cabbage. Hearty concentrated foods like root vegetables, soy products and barley are also foods for Fall. Pumpkin ( pumpkin soup from the Chopra Center) , winter squash ( great recipe for ginger squash soup), and sweet potato are all great choices. Almonds, apples, and pears (especially Asian apple pears) are beneficial to the respiratory system.

Herbs - Astragalus is an herb that is often used to boost immunity and aid resistance to illness by increasing phagocytosis and your white blood cell count. Chinese research has shown it to have a protective effect against the common cold when taken consistently for two to eight weeks. Astragalus works best as a long-term preventive measure. It is best to take it as a tea through the cold and flu season to enhance immunity and prevent illness. For more information on Astragalus check my previous post here.

Thomas Edison Never Failed...

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Thomas Edison

One of the most famous and hard-working inventors in history.
Some of his most used inventions are the light bulb and the gramophone.

Hot Acupuncture News for Your Hot Flash

A multicenter study was recently conducted to assess acupuncture’s effectiveness for menopausal hot flashes. Dr. Einar Kristian Borud led a team of 10 researchers. They conducted a randomized, controlled trial that compared women who received a series of 10 acupuncture treatments in 12 weeks plus advice on self care with a group of women who only received advice on self care.

Even with this minimum amount of acupuncture, the results were impressive. Hot flashes decreased by 5.8 per day in the acupuncture group (n = 134) and only 3.7 per day in the control group (n = 133), a statistically (and personally) significant difference. The acupuncture group also reported better sleep and reduction in other somatic symptoms.

The researchers concluded that acupuncture plus self-care can significantly reduce hot flashes and increase quality of life in postmenopausal women.

Published in Menopause: May/June 2009 - Volume 16 - Issue 3 - pp 484-493
Borud, Einar Kristian MD, MPH; et al

Research Shows That Acupuncture Is Effective For Headaches

Headaches often bring people to my Chicago office. Acupuncture is a great alternative to drugs and often works quickly to relieve the pain. The article below is from acufinder.com. It details two studies which showed how effective acupuncture is for relieving the pain and frequency of headaches.

Studies Show that Acupuncture Stops Headaches

Two separate systematic reviews by Cochrane Researchers show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for prevention of headaches and migraines.

In each study, the researchers tried to establish whether acupuncture could reduce the occurrence of headaches. One study focused on mild to moderate but frequent "tension-type" headaches, whilst the other focused on more severe but less frequent headaches usually termed migraines. Together the two studies included 33 trials, involving a total of 6,736 patients.

Overall, following a course of at least eight weeks, patients treated with acupuncture suffered fewer headaches compared to those who were given only pain killers. In the migraine study, acupuncture was superior to proven prophylactic drug treatments.

In one specific study involving 270 patients, acupuncture cut tension headache rates almost in half. Researchers divided the patients who reported similarly severe tension headaches into three groups for the study. Over the project’s eight-week period, one group received traditional acupuncture, one received only minimal acupuncture (needles inserted at non-acupuncture points, and at only shallow levels), and the third group received no treatment.

Those receiving the traditional acupuncture reported headache rates of nearly half that of those who received no treatments, suffering 7 fewer days of headaches. The minimal acupuncture group suffered 6.6 fewer days, and the non-acupuncture group suffered 1.5 fewer days. When they received acupuncture after the main study period, the “no treatment” group also reported significantly fewer headache days.

The improvements continued for months after the treatments were concluded, rising slightly as time went on.

Sources: British Medical Journal, July 2005 Acupuncture for tension-type headache. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD007587 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007587 Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2009, Issue 1. Art.No.: CD001218 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub2

Helena Bonham Carter Used Acupuncture For Fertility And It Worked!

I’ve always loved the work of actress Helena Bonham Carter. You may have seen her in Room with a View, Harry potter, Sweeny Todd, Fight Club and others. Well, she has earned my admiration again. At 43, Helena used acupuncture in conjunction with fertility drugs to help her get pregnant and it has worked. She has been spotted out and about with all her glorious curves. This ought to give inspiration to the over-40 group of women who are planning a baby.

to read the story click here

Cat Fancy

My Mother , my sister and I are all proud cat owners. We used to be a dog family and while we still love them, we have been slowly converted into a cat dominated family. We have always adopted adorable kittens. This year mom ventured forth and rescued an older cat, and wow, I have never seen her so immediately fall in love. Besides the many photo shoots, the email updates to my sister and I, my mother was also inspired to write this article. I think Ollie has found himself a devoted (and spoiled : ) home with my mom.

Here's Mom Raving about Ollie...

Two months ago I adopted my first ‘senior’ cat, Ollie. He matches my own senior status these days and marked a change in adoption practices. My family has had cats since 1980 and we have loved, in order, Sally, Nelson Velvet, Hestia (we didn’t all love Hestia), Winston and the strange, feral Priscilla. When I found myself catless after Priscilla died, I figured it was the right time to switch from the adorable kittens to owning a cat who had been around the block; one I could identify with.

I hesitated until my daughter Jenny insisted that we visit a shelter. Their bathroom and cat-greeting center is one and the same room, so we interviewed the cats one at a time sitting on the toilet seat next to the shower. The volunteer who guided us through the process was very knowledgeable and introduced the cats in turn. First, they brought Ollie in. Jenny had sighted him originally but I thought that he looked monsterously large. He was coded as a purple personality, reserved but social. Ollie was a contender but I was anxious. So, I turned on all my psychologist skills and interviewed the others. I passed on Julianna who yowled when she was left alone, Trisha who takes more meds than I do, and Fred who was just too depressed to qualify as a companion. We asked for Ollie to return for the final round and he won both our hearts. He is a gorgeous tuxedo cat who might be five years old or might be nine years old and was found starving and sick under a porch in Evanston. It’s hard to imagine. He certainly seems to have forgotten all about his traumatic winter.

I call him Ollie, The Perfect Cat. He is friendly but he doesn’t sleep on my face; independent but tolerates a hug, and social enough to greet each visitor to my home with a personal hello. Living with an older cat instead of a kitten is like having a mature friend who has brought his years of living to the relationship – less adorableness, but less need for training, and a strong sense of experiences lived that remain unspoken.

My mom adopted Ollie at the Evanston Animal Shelter if you are looking for your perfect companion check them out.

Acupuncturist Provides Relief To Injured Marines

Since I’ve been in this field, I’ve seen acupuncture become more and more mainstream and now even the military recognizes its benefits. The Star News Online recently reported that Karen Vaughn a Wilmington, Delaware, acupuncturist, volunteers her Fridays at Camp Lejeune performing free acupuncture procedures to help Marines injured in combat deal with their pain and stress. Check out the article below.

Here Now - Acupuncturist helps wounded Marines

By Si Cantwell
Si.Cantwell@StarNewsOnline.com

Karen Vaughn had done her work. Four Marines sat around a table in the barracks for the Wounded Warrior Battalion – East with needles sticking out of their ears. A fifth one browsed through Facebook at a computer workstation.

All had turned to acupuncture for relief of stress and pain.

“It helps me calm down,” said Lance Cpl. Justin Laddie, from Alabama. “I was pretty ill when I came here.”

Laddie had five needles in each ear (as I did at that point), plus four around the back of his neck, one in his forehead and one at the crown of his head.

“I'm going for that ‘Hellraiser' look,” he joked to a colleague, referring to a horror-movie character.

The Wounded Warrior Battalion was created in 2005 to support injured Marines. They get the fellowship of living and working together, rather than the discouraging effort of staying with uninjured troops.

Every Friday morning, Vaughn drives from Wilmington to Camp Lejeune to treat the wounded warriors.

She starts by leading them through a series of grace taiji exercises out in the yard. Then, in the recreation room of the Wounded Warrior barracks, she performs the five-needle protocol, five needles in each ear. She augments those treatments with other needles to relieve headaches and stress.

to read the rest of the article click here

Acupuncture Is For The Dogs

Phoenix Metro News recently ran a cute story about a German Shepard named Margo receiving acupuncture treatments from her vet. The story went on to say that the needles will not cure the cancer in the dog’s leg, but does help with the pain and keeps her calm. Check out Margo's story below.

Popular Stress Relief Treatment Going To The Dogs

Reported by: Corey Rangel
Email: crangel@abc15.com

PHOENIX -- With about a dozen needles stuck in her, Margo, a German Shepard, almost looked like a pincushion.

The dog went to the vet recently to receive an acupuncture treatment. While the needles won't cure the cancer in her leg, her owner, Jolie Wymore, said the treatment helps with the pain.

“We've been able to keep the pain medication to a minimum with acupuncture because it keeps her calm and treats the pain,” said Wymore.

In the past month, Margo has had four treatments. Vets say the process quick is and painless. Generally, between 20 and 30 needles are used and stay in for about 15 minutes.

“We're basically just doing some points that will stimulate the immune system that will help the body function in pain management,” said Dr. Jeff Jenkins, a vet for the Ahwatukee Animal Care Hospital located at 10855 S 48th Street in Phoenix.

After treatment, Jenkins said animals can feel stronger and more energetic – especially those with arthritis or similar problems.

Jenkins said he knows there are skeptics out there.

“I had some friends who thought this was hocus pocus, not true."

But Wymore said she has seen it work.

“It really, really helped. It calmed her down immediately on the first visit.”

The cost can depend on several factors but generally costs between $80-$100.

to check out original article and see the video click here

I'm On Vacation !

Happy Labor Day Everyone !

I will be on Vacation this weekend (yea!) but will be back to posting regularly after the holiday.

Athletics, Acupuncture and Philosophy

I just read about my acupuncture soulmate. Haro Ogawa, MSOM, LAc, CMT, ATC, acupuncturist for the SF Giants, national basketball teams, and NASCAR drivers was interviewed by Acupuncture today and he shared some of his background and philosophy

"My treatments are basically the same for every sport because meridian therapy is a balance treatment. It increases the human immune system and also enhances the healing process, as well as protecting the body from injuries…. I am also a certified athletic trainer.”

In college, my major was Kinesiology, the study of the body in motion. Later, I was a personal trainer at the East Bank Club and Lakeshore Athletic Club before going back to school to get my 4 years Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Haro Ogawa expresses my beliefs as well when he emphasizes the idea of balance and the need to understand the body’s movement as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques.

The Many Health Benefits Of Blueberries

I love blueberries! I can eat a whole container in one sitting. So I decided to investigate some of the many health benefits blueberries can offer us. The Worlds Healthiest Foods is a great web site for learning about the health benefits of many popular fruits and vegetables. The information below is excerpted from their site. Check it out....

"Blueberries are literally bursting with nutrients and flavor, yet very low in calories. Recently, researchers at Tufts University analyzed 60 fruits and vegetables for their antioxidant capability. Blueberries came out on top, rating highest in their capacity to destroy free radicals"

An Antioxidant Powerhouse

"Packed with antioxidant phytonutrients called anthocyanidins, blueberries neutralize free radical damage to the collagen matrix of cells and tissues that can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, heart disease and cancer. Anthocyanins, the blue-red pigments found in blueberries, improve the integrity of support structures in the veins and entire vascular system. Anthocyanins have been shown to enhance the effects of vitamin C, improve capillary integrity, and stabilize the collagen matrix (the ground substance of all body tissues). They work their protective magic by preventing free-radical damage, inhibiting enzymes from cleaving the collagen matrix, and directly cross-linking with collagen fibers to form a more stable collagen matrix."

Healthier Elimination

"Blueberries can help relieve both diarrhea and constipation. In addition to soluble and insoluble fiber, blueberries also contain tannins, which act as astringents in the digestive system to reduce inflammation. Blueberries also promote urinary tract health. Blueberries contain the same compounds found in cranberries that help prevent or eliminate urinary tract infections. In order for bacteria to infect, they must first adhere to the mucosal lining of the urethra and bladder. Components found in cranberry and blueberry juice reduce the ability of E. coli, the bacteria that is the most common cause of urinary tract infections (UTI), to adhere."

Blueberries can also improve night vision and protect against Macular Degeneration.

To learn more click here