Happy New Year !!!

May It Be Your Best Year Ever !

Acupuncture Changed Our Lives This Decade!

Last week ABC news published an article entitled "50 Things That Changed Our Lives This Decade". You can imagine how rewarding it is for those of us who have been practicing TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and patients who have benefited from Alternative Medicine to see that it has been RATED #2 on the list! The direct quote is...

"From acupuncture to herbal supplements to alternative ways of treating cancer, alternative medicine became more mainstream than ever."

To read about the other 49 life changing things of this decade click here.

My 10 Favorite Posts of 2009

1) U Michigan Study; How Acupuncture Affects the Brain’s Ability to Regulate Pain

Using brain imaging, researchers at the U-M Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center are the first to provide evidence that traditional Chinese acupuncture affects the brain's long-term ability to regulate pain. To read more click here

2) A Chicago Acupuncturist’s Open Letter to President Obama

As a fellow resident of Chicago, I join many others and support your message of change. You have been making important appointments to your cabinet. Well, in the spirit of change, I would like to humbly propose an official new White House Appointment, First Family’s Acupuncturist.

Why do you need an acupuncturist in the White House? Find out here

3) Surgery Patients at Duke Are Benefiting From Acupuncture

Surgery patients at Duke University Medical Center are finding that acupuncture relieves pain after surgery. A reporter from Durham, N.C., did a story describing how doctors from Duke are using acupuncture with anesthesia to speed recovery and reduce discomfort in patients. To read more click here

4) The Yin and Yang of The Menstrual Cycle

In Chinese Medicine, a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle is another example of how yin and yang works in the human body to maintain balance. From a Chinese medicine viewpoint, the menstrual cycle has 4 phases and there is a progression from yin to yang during the cycle. To read more click here

5) More Scientific Evidence Of How Acupuncture Works

acupuncture has become increasingly popular in the U.S. and cites a study published in the September issue of NeuroImage that concludes that acupuncture eases pain by regulating key receptors in the brain. To read more click here

6) H1N1; How Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Help

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!). To read more click here

7) Professor Wins Award For Her Pioneering Research On Acupuncture For Women

I am happy to report that Associate Professor Caroline Smith, from the Centre for Complementary Medicine at the University of Western Sydney, recently won the inaugural Award for Translational Research at the National Institute of Complementary Medicine's symposium in Brisbane. This is a major award and she earned it for her pioneering clinical research into acupuncture techniques for women. To read more click here

8) “Why Do I Have To Get Acupuncture Treatment So Often?”

New patients sometimes ask me, “Why do I have to come to acupuncture so often?” It is a particularly relevant question in a society like ours where doctors are visited to ‘fix’ a broken part but play very little role in keeping us healthy. Traditional Chinese Medicine has a different philosophy as well as a different practice.

My goal is to return you to a healthy state of being, where symptoms don't return. This takes time. Your body has work to do to reclaim and sustain health. Think of it as similar to taking a course of antibiotics regularly for a period of time in order to kill the infection; one strong pill is not enough to last. Acupuncture often will give you relief quickly, sometimes immediately, but to sustain the results, you need treatments over time. To read more click here

9) All About Ginseng

Did you know there are different types of ginseng and they are all considered potent herbs for helping the body adapt to stress - both mental and physical. Ginseng is best known for its ability to stimulate your immune system and fight fatigue and stress. Several dozen studies have shown that ginseng enhances physical and mental performance, improves mood, and aids metabolic function. Other studies suggest ginseng maybe anti-inflammatory and can provide a wealth of benefits including: improved blood cholesterol; lowered liver toxicity; lowered blood sugar levels; improved blood oxygen flow; control of respiratory diseases; and enhanced stamina.

To find out more about The 3 Most Well Known Types Of Ginseng click here

10) I Can Help The Real Housewives Of Atlanta With Chinese Medicine

To find out how I can perform that miracle click here

Merry Christmas !

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas

I'm So Happy To Be On Vacation!

But I will be back ! Have a wonderful holiday and I look forward to reconnecting in the new year.

10 Posts For Stressed Out Parents

This was my last post of 2009 for the blog Hopeful Parents. I thought some of the readers here might enjoy it, let me know what you think.

I went back through my blog and selected the 10 posts that I believe will be useful to the readers of Hopeful Parents. I wish all of you a happy, healthy, hopeful holiday season and new year. I look forward to sharing new ideas in 2010 and would like you to tell me what topics you to write about from a Chinese Medicine perspective.

1. Anger, The Wood Element and Chinese Medicine

Being Clear With Anger....

According to the theory behind Classical Five Element Acupuncture, each of the five elements has a particular emotion related to it. The emotion of the Wood Element is Anger. First let me say that all five of the emotions are healthy to feel and express… despite our Western culture being particularly hard on Anger and Fear (the emotion of the Water element). Though like everything else, can manifest to an excessive degree, a deficient or repressed degree, or as we talk about in Zen… finding the Middle Way. To read more click here

2. What Foods are Best for Reducing Depression?

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids would also be important to include in a list of foods potentially helpful with depression. Several recent research studies have shown positive results in this regard. To read more click here

3. Acupuncture For Stress Relief

Stress is real. It harms the body and exacerbates previously existing conditions. Oprah’s favorite doctor, Dr. Oz, says that the, "major agers," the activities that age us the quickest, include a diet high in fat and sugar, not getting enough exercise, lack of sleep and too much exposure to the sun. BUT, the number one “ager” is stress.

First and foremost, acupuncture can calm you down. Often after one session, patients feel better. Chinese herbal medicine is also very helpful, but herbs are not as instantaneous as acupuncture can be. The two together, over time, can have powerful, long lasting effects. Chinese Medicine is wonderful for treating all the conditions mentioned above and many other problems that are created by stressful circumstances. To read more click here

4. Managing Anxiety

Anxiety, at its core, is a fear reaction. It is the expectation of danger. An example - When you wait for the doctor to walk into the office with test results, the moment the door opens, your stomach tightens and you hold your breath. You are afraid that you are going to receive news that will negatively change your life. The answer to these feelings can’t be, “So, don’t go to the doctor.”

What is the answer? I know that I sound like the politicians when I say that there is no quick and easy answer, but here are some tips to manage anxiety....to read more click here


5. 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.

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! To read more click here

6. Top 5 Calming CDs Used in my Treatments

7. Keys to a Healthy Winter Lifestyle

“During the winter months all things in nature wither, hide, return home, and enter a resting period. This is a time when yin dominates yang.”The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Chinese Medicine

Thinking of winter, one recalls family gatherings, holiday parties, big bold foods, warm ciders, thick socks, chilly weather, and of course, colds and flu. How do we take care of ourselves, mentally and physically? We do so by living according to nature, eating seasonal foods, and keeping life simple. To read more click here

8. Why This Chicago Acupuncturist Loves Ginger

Ginger’s rhizome (the underground stem) is highly spicy and widely touted to aid digestion. That is why ginger tea is very popular. In addition to a lovely flavor, it is anti inflammatory and eases digestion. To read more click here

9. 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. To read more click here

10. Helen Keller On Suffering

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

Grapefruit Enhances The Liver's Ability To Remove Cancer-Causing Toxins

I was interested to find out that grapefruit is not only a excellent source of vitamin C, but this fruit also helps eliminate toxins including carcinogens. Below is an explanation from The World's Healthiest Foods of how grapefruit helps our liver do this important work.

Grapefruit Boosts Liver Enzymes That Clear Out Carcinogens

"Grapefruit juice significantly increases the production and activity of liver detoxification enzymes responsible for preparing toxic compounds for elimination from the body.

The liver clears out toxins, including carcinogens, using a two step process called Phase I and Phase II detoxification. In the first part of this process, Phase I, enzymes belonging to the cytochrome P450 family, work on the toxin to make it more attractive to enzymes involved in the second part of the process, Phase II. Unfortunately, the action of Phase I enzymes often renders the toxin not only more attractive to Phase II enzymes, but even more dangerous, and some foods contain compounds that only increase the activity of Phase I without also turning up Phase II.

Grapefruit increases the activity not only of the Phase I enzyme CYP1A1, but also that of NAD(P)H:quinone reductase 1, a Phase II detoxification enzyme that protects cells against oxidative stress and toxic quinones.

The end result: grapefruit works in both Phase I and Phase II to enhance the liver's ability to remove cancer-causing toxins."

*Check with your healthcare practitioner about consuming grapefruit juice if you're taking pharmaceutical drugs.

To read more about grapefruit's many benefit's click here

Acupuncture Can Treat Heartburn In Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very exciting time, but it can get uncomfortable. In my Chicago practice I often treat pregnant women for a variety of complaints including; back pain, allergies, morning sickness and other digestive issues. Below Amy Chitwood Burslem L.A.c. gives a great explanation of why heartburn occurs in pregnancy and some recent research on how Chinese Medicine can help.

Acupuncture And Heartburn In Pregnancy

The Chinese Medicine Times recently reviewed a study of acupuncture for symptoms of heartburn in pregnant women with positive results. The outcome of of treating 36 women – half with the standard treatment (medication and dietary advice), and half with acupuncture. Those receiving acupuncture were treated once or twice a week with drastically reduced symptoms.

The reason heartburn occurs in pregnancy is due to the hormone changes, mainly pregesterone, a hormone produces by the placenta. Progesterone relaxes the smooth muscle of the uterus, but is also relaxes the sphinter that keeps stomach acid out of your esophagus. The growing baby also pushes stomach acid back up where it wasn’t before. Even women who have never experienced heartburn may feel uncomfortable during pregnancy.

Besides treating heartburn, there is a long list of conditions acupuncture can treat during pregnancy (fatigue, morning sickness, and constipation to name a few). I recommend reading the article by Naomi Rabinowitz, Dipl.Ac. to read her views on how to treat these symptoms. It’s also important to find a pracitioner who is comfortable treating pregnant women, check out tcmdirectory.com or acufinder.com. Or if you are in the Chicago area come see me!

To see Amy's original post click here

Acupuncture Can Help You Beat The Flu

We are all trying to stay healthy this winter, I certainly am! In my Chicago office I have many patients who come in complaining of colds and flus this time of year. Personally I take Jade Screen everyday to ward off getting sick. Below is a article from acufinder.com that provides natural options for fighting off the flu.

By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM

Did you know that Tamiflu, a drug used to treat flu symptoms, is derived from Star Anise, an anti-viral plant that has been used by Oriental medicine herbalists for centuries?

When it comes to staying healthy during the flu season, Chinese medicine has a lot to offer.

Acupuncture for Prevention - Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help to prevent colds and flus by building up the immune system with just a few needles inserted into key points along the body's energy pathways. These points are known for strengthening the circulation of blood and energy and for consolidating the outer defense layers of the skin and muscle (Wei Qi) so that germs and viruses cannot enter through them.

Acupuncture to Get Better Faster - If you've already happened to catch that cold, acupuncture and herbal medicine can also help with the chills, sniffles, sore throat or fever in a safe, non-toxic way that doesn't bombard your body with harmful antibiotics.

Acupuncture does not interfere with Western medical treatment. On the contrary, it provides a welcome complement to it in most cases, and with its emphasis on treating the whole person, recovery time for illness is often shortened.

Herbal Medicine - There is a one thousand year old Chinese herbal formula that forms a handy complement to these immune-boosting treatments and it is elegantly entitled The Jade Windscreen Formula. It is made up of just three herbs: Radix Astragalus, Atractylodis Macrocephalae, and Radix Ledebouriellae. These three powerful herbs combine together to tonify the immune system and fortify the exterior of the body so that you can fight off wind-borne viruses and bacteria.

To read about foods that fend off the flu click here

I Just Thought This Quote Was Funny And Had To Share The Smile

"My philosophy of dating is to just fart right away."

Jenny McCarthy

Happy Hanukkah!

10 Credible Studies That Show Chinese Medicine Works!

I'm very excited to announce a new and very talented guest blogger. Her name is Yael Ernst and she comes to us all the way from Tel Aviv Israel. Yael's blog is called Chinese Medicine Notes, be sure to check it out.

The following post from Yael's blog; 10 Studies That Prove Chinese Medicine Actually Works is a great resource for research on TCM.

Don’t you just love it when you talk to people about Chinese Medicine and then they say something like “oh, that’s all good, but when it comes down to it, I want to be treated by something that really works. No offence but CM (Chinese Medicine) was never proved”?

Don’t you fall in-love with those articles on the Internet that tell you you’re a quack because you practice CM? And then they explain how you wasted money for 4 years on studying something that doesn’t work, isn’t correct, never was proved scientifically, and they go on telling the whole world to be careful from people like you, your friends, your teachers…

Research in Chinese Medicine is not a new thing. I personally think it’s a bit of a problem to force the research models that apply to Western Medicine on CM mainly because CM includes to much more. How do you research the pulse? How do you research the TMM channels? How do you research the treatment of Shen in Shen? And if you can’t do it according to the rules of research by Western Medicine, does this mean it’s all lies? Of course not. Not everything in this world is research-able. But they are important because this is just another way for Chinese Medicine to develop a serious dialogue with Western Medicine.

That being said, I give you 10 studies that prove Chinese Medicine actually works. And all those who need proof- here you have it. All good websites, note that they need registration- it’s free.

A pilot study on using Acupucnture and TENS to treat knee osteoarthritis- taken from the CMJournal. Note it.

Effects of Acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing IVF- taken from BMJ. Note it. A personal favorite of mine, because it can help those women who have so much going on due to huge amounts of hormones in them. Western Medicine hardly acknowledge the psychological and emotional impact those treatments have on women and don’t offer anything to help the women cope with it.

Effects of Yinchenhao Tang and related decoction on DMN induced cirrhosis/fibrosis in rats- taken from the CMJournal. Note it.

Blood Pressure changes with Acupuncture comparable to ACE-inhibitor monotherapy- taken from Medscape. Note it.

Randomised controlled study on ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion at shenque (CV8) on urination disorder poststroke- taken from PubMed. Note it.

Randomised trial of long term effect on acupuncture for shoulder pain- taken from PubMed. Note it.

Acupuncture: a promising treatment for depression during pregnancy- taken from PubMed. Note it. Another personal favorite, an answer to a popular problem all around the world, yet not enough women talk about it (for example the brave Brooke Shields).

Acupuncture may be helpful for pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy- taken from Medscape. Note it. Did someone say Dai Mai?

Acupuncture ‘more than a placebo’- taken from BBC news. Note it.

Tai Chi may reduce falls in the elderly- taken from Medscape. Note it. Another personal favorite, the need to think about the elderly and the art of Tai Chi steps in to help is beautiful.

You can find lots more in those websites mentioned.

Please leave your notes, I will be happy to read and respond.

To read the original post click here

Hope Means...

I got the inspiration for this post from my friend Christina’s blog; Hopeful Parents.

I want to share this quote from Maria Robinson with you,

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

There are so many, many sayings about each new day; the most overused being “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Ugh. The clichés get so repetitive that we lose the message. There is a good reason for the flood of ‘it’s a new day’ quotes – they contain wisdom that is terribly hard to remember when you are tired, weary, and stressed. We forget that lifetimes are simply an accumulation of thousands of small daily acts. We make choices every day and they add up. Hope, the belief that our best expectations are attainable, can drive those choices that allow us to write the endings we want.

Forms Of Ginseng And Where To Find Them

Last week, I described the three different varieties of ginseng. Today, I want to explain the available forms of ginseng and where to find them.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginseng is usually used in a formula with other Chinese herbs, rather than alone. A skilled Chinese herbalist can recommend the right formula or type of ginseng for you. Ginseng also can be used alone as a tonic. Alone, ginseng can be found raw, in capsules, and tinctures. Raw, unpeeled ginseng can be found at many Asian markets. Dried and peeled ginseng is available in powdered capsules or granules. The capsules and tinctures are easily found in Asian markets and in many health food stores. When you take ginseng, be sure to use standardized products that contain at least 1.5% ginsenosides. If you can't consult a herbalist, you can find general guidelines on what type of ginseng might be right for you by reading my previous post All About Ginseng. Please note the cautions and contraindications when you take ginseng or any other supplement.

What I See When I Look At Your Tongue

Come to my Chicago office and I will ask you to stick out your tongue. A person's tongue says a lot about their physical and emotional well being. Want to know more? Perhaps even try a little self diagnosis? Read this helpful article from acufinder.com, written by Lynn Jaffee, LAc.

When your practitioner looks at your tongue, he or she is looking at the shape, color, size, coating and positioning or movement of the tongue, each of which offers a piece to the diagnostic puzzle.

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.

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.

Tongue color may also vary on different parts of the tongue. For example, a tongue that is red at the very tip indicates heat in the Heart, as the tip of the tongue correlates with conditions of the Heart. Just behind the tip corresponds to the Lungs; the sides of the tongue are associated with the Liver; the center of the tongue with the Spleen/Stomach or digestion; and the back of the tongue is associated with the condition of the Kidney.

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!

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.

Tongue diagnosis can be a subtle art. To try it yourself, observe the variations of your tongue 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.

Lynn Jaffee, LAc, Dipl. OM, MaOM is a licensed acupuncturist. Her practice is located in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
Website: http://www.acupunctureinthepark.com,

Thanks for a great article Lynn!

All About Ginseng

Did you know there are different types of ginseng and they are all considered potent herbs for helping the body adapt to stress - both mental and physical. Ginseng is best known for its ability to stimulate your immune system and fight fatigue and stress. Several dozen studies have shown that ginseng enhances physical and mental performance, improves mood, and aids metabolic function. Other studies suggest ginseng maybe anti-inflammatory and can provide a wealth of benefits including: improved blood cholesterol; lowered liver toxicity; lowered blood sugar levels; improved blood oxygen flow; control of respiratory diseases; and enhanced stamina.

The 3 Most Well Known Types Of Ginseng

Chinese Ginseng (Panax ginseng)

Considered the "king of all herbs" in many countries, found in the forests of northeast China, Manchuria and Korea. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese ginseng is used to tonify the "Qi" (vital energy or life energy force) and is a powerful "yang" or warming tonic herb. It has been reported to: stimulate the immune system; fight fatigue, combat stress, slow aging, balance blood sugar levels, enhance mental performance and memory, lower cholesterol, and strengthen the heart muscle. It may even have anti-tumor and anticancer properties. Before rushing off to get some Chinese Ginseng be aware that it's overuse can have some negative side effects including; irritability, insomnia and rapid heart beat.

*Panax ginseng has had a notorious reputation as a sexual rejuvenator, particularly for men, however much of this reputation seems to be over-hyped.

American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium)

Is indigenous to eastern woodlands from Georgia to Quebec, and was used by Native Americans. The picture in this post is of American Ginseng. While not as well known as Chinese Ginseng, American Ginseng has been around for hundreds of years. Jesuit Priests were reported to be trading American Ginseng to the Chinese as early as 1718. American Ginseng has a more "yin" or cooler nature than its Chinese counterpart. While still energizing the body, American Ginseng calms the central nervous system, quiets the brain and lowers blood pressure. Also, because of its more "yin" nature, it is generally better to use on a daily, long term basis than Chinese Ginseng. However if you tend to have a cold constitution, this might not be the herb for you.

Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)

Native to Siberia, Japan, Korea and China. Although not a "true ginseng", this variety is most highly prized. Eleuthero was traditionally used to promote longevity and general health. Many herbalists prefer Eleuthero as the ginseng for helping with women's health issues, particularly with depression associated with PMS and menopause. Research, mostly from Russia, confirms this herb's ability to increase mental and physical performance, stimulate the immune system, increase movement of white blood cells, promote circulation and enhance the benefits of medical radiation treatments while lessening its negative side-effects.

Cautions About Ginseng

Ginseng should be avoided by patients who are pregnant or have high blood pressure. In addition, ginseng may increase the effects of caffeine or other stimulants, which may cause sweating, insomnia, or an irregular heartbeat. It should not be used in conjunction with antipsychotic medications, steroids or hormones. As with all Chinese herbs it is best to consult with a Chinese Herbalist and see what is best for you before taking ginseng products.

Later this week I will post information about where to get Ginseng and how to take it.