Let It Go

Breathe in and picture the word "LET " Breathe out and see "GO "

These are the words my yoga teacher spoke as she began class a few weeks ago. All I could think was I soooo need to be here! “Let it go” I say it often. What about you? Are you good at letting things go? It is wise advice but hard to follow.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be” - Lao Tzu

Everyday I remind myself to practice letting go. If I get annoyed by petty problems, I try to remind myself that focusing on little irritations takes away from attending to the more positive aspects of my life. When I devote precious energy to silly irritations, I cannot use it elsewhere for much better purposes. When I sit back and track my thoughts, I understand how easily I am distracted by inconsequential thoughts.

I know that I have a lot of company in finding it difficult to "let go." Here are some tips for all of us.

*Ask yourself if it helps you to ruminate over this event or are you trying to solve some experience in the past and are reliving the past?

*Let go of “being right”. Realize that you may cling to things because they might make you feel that you have the moral high ground. It gives you a certain sense of satisfaction but does it serve a purpose? Does this other person care if you are right? Does anyone but you care if you are right?

*Understand that "Letting Go" takes practice. Things come up and do your best to let it go. As you repeat this process you will become more and more open to letting things go. You can start practicing today! It is pretty common that whatever you have let go will show up in your thoughts again. And that’s ok. Just let it go each time it shows up. It will quietly vanish over time.

*Accept reality - things are what they are.

*Let go of negative, petty and unimportant stuff.

“If you treat every situation as a life and death matter, you’ll die a lot of times.” - Dean Smith

You know what is truly important to you - don’t waste your time on the rest.

Happy Passover

Passover is the 8 day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II.

Acupuncture Relieves Pain For Breast Cancer Patients

Breast cancer hormone therapy can cause side effects such as joint pain and stiffness. Sometimes these symptoms can become so severe that treatment must be discontinued. The Journal of Clinical Oncology recently published the results of a new study, that showed acupuncture helped relieve pain and stiffness in breast cancer patients being treated with hormone therapies.

This randomized, controlled, blinded study,used a small group, 51 post menopausal women, who were undergoing hormone therapy for breast cancer, specifically with aromatase inhibitors (AIs). The research compared "true acupuncture" vs. "sham acupuncture" for relieving joint pain and stiffness in these patients.

The study found that the true acupuncture group had significant improvement in joint pain and stiffness as well as an improved sense of well-being. Furthermore, 20 percent of the patients taking pain relief medications did not need them after receiving acupuncture. This benefit was not seen in the control group.

The researchers at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center in New York City concluded that " Women with AI-induced arthralgias treated with TA ("true acupuncture") had significant improvement of joint pain and stiffness, which was not seen with SA ("sham acupuncture"). Acupuncture is an effective and well-tolerated strategy for managing this common treatment-related side effect."

Are You Standing In Your Own Sunshine?

"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine"

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Acupuncture Provides Proven Relief For Migraines

Acupuncture often provides lasting relief from the pain of chronic headaches, such as migraines. This study was written about on WebMD and is from 2004. I hadn’t read it before and it is too important to pass up.

"Researchers found that compared with standard medical care, acupuncture offers substantial benefits in preventing headaches and improving the quality of life for people who suffer from frequent headaches, especially migraines."

The British Medical Journal published a study of 401 adults who suffered from chronic migraines. The results continued to be impressive 1 year later for the group that was treated with acupuncture , including:

·They had 22 fewer days with headaches
·They used 15% less medication
·They made 25% fewer visits to their doctor
·They took 15% fewer days off sick from work than the control group

It makes me wonder: Who wouldn’t try acupuncture for this terrible problem?

To read about the entire study, click here.
For more information about acupuncture and migraines click here.

Dr. Oz Recommends Acupuncture!

The Houston Chronicle recently published The You Docs: Why we still like ancient acupuncture By Michael Riizen, M.D.and Mehmet OZ, M.D.. Here are a few excerpts from the article.

"What do Cher, Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams and Titan, the world's tallest dog, have in common? Like more than 20 million Americans and Canadians, they're on pins and needles.

It's been around thousands of years, but it's backed by an impressive body of 21st-century research. Often, acupuncture can help when drugs can't be tolerated or when conventional treatments fail.

Here's what acupuncture clearly has been shown to help so far:

• Peaceful sleep. Just months ago, a Hong Kong University study of 60 insomniacs found that those who got acupuncture fell asleep faster and were more likely to stay that way than those who got a fake version of the treatment.

• Relief from arthritis. British researchers who analyzed five studies of 1,334 people with bum knees have confirmed that acupuncture relieves debilitating joint pain related to arthritis.

• Squelching pain. In a landmark German study of 1,162 back-pain sufferers, twice as many got relief from acupuncture as from conventional fixes such as drugs or physical therapy. Acupuncture also has been proven at least as effective as pain drugs not only for treating migraines, but for preventing them, too.

• Reducing treatment side effects. Dozens of studies show that acupuncture helps quell pain, nausea, fatigue, hot flashes and dry mouth in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation.

• How can one therapy do so much? Eastern and Western medical philosophies merge when a licensed acupuncturist inserts those sterile, disposable needles into your skin. Eastern practitioners say the needles remove blockages so that the body's energy, called qi, flows freely. Western science shows that acupuncture boosts levels of pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory chemicals called endorphins in the brain and bloodstream. And that changes how your nerve impulses flow."

To read the entire article click here

To read more of Dr. Oz's thoughts about acupuncture click here

A Chinese Herb For Weight-Loss?

Licorice for Weight-Loss? I’m skeptical

by Cathy Margolin

Who really needs another article about weight loss plans and products? We’re inundated with advertising on weight loss supplements and the last thing we need is more of the same. Alas, I’m asked all the time, “Don’t you have herbs for weight loss?” People who know me, know I would never suggest Chinese herbs for quick fix weight loss. I’m resigned to the good old fashion diet, eat more veggies, cut the carb’s and do some exercise. There is simply no magic bullet. Chinese herbs are great for a kick start and can help with “draining damp” and “moving qi” or in layman's language "a little clean-out" but even then lifestyle changes are still necessary.

Then this study comes along and suggests that the oil in a common herb/food we know as licorice, can reduce total body fat and visceral fat. Wait, I'm a skeptic. What do you mean? All this time licorice has been masking as Chinese medicine when really it’s a weight loss herb?…. Licorice contains hydrophobic flavonoids and researchers have been studying these flavonoids for years. Many herbs contain flavonoids and they are a major ingredient in Chinese medicine. A recent clinical trial with 56 men and 28 postmenopausal women participating used licorice in concentrated extract capsules. Having changed no other aspect of their lives, all lost weight.

In this trial, some participants were given a placebo capsule and others took capsules of 300 mg of the licorice extract, once daily for eight weeks. The researchers found that the non- placebo group had decreases from baseline body weight and body mass index after the 4 and 8 weeks mark of treatment. Other studies on the Chinese herb licorice have seen similar results with LDL cholesterol reduction.

The researchers of this study concluded, “that the observed reduction in body weight and fat could be caused by increasing energy expenditure through the enhancement of beta-oxidation and inhibition of lipogenesis.” Further studies are always necessary. But the researchers also remarked “ that supplementation (with licorice) may prevent or ameliorate obesity and metabolic syndrome when combined with lifestyle modifications including diet and exercise. “

Although this may not be a definitive way to lose weight Chinese herbs prove again to be superb health supplements. Whether you are trying to reduce cholesterol or lose weight, Chinese herbs have benefits you may never have thought about.

I always provide links to the original studies so take a detour here if you want to see the whole study.

Cathy Margolin is a Licensed Acupuncturist and consumer health advocate with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health through the use of Chinese herbal formulas. She enjoys impacting the lives of readers around the world who haven’t yet experienced the phenomenal health benefits from the ancient wisdom of Chinese herbal medicine. She currently maintains an Acupuncture & Chinese herbal medicine practice, writes herbal formulas for her patients and works at PACHerbs.com.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Alternative Medicine Provides Relief From Post-Surgical Pain

Patients are becoming increasingly sophisticated about their treatments and many are looking for non-invasive, non-prescriptive pain relief. Hospitals are slowly catching on. The Journal of Patient Safety published a study in which physicians used non-traditional therapies to relieve post-surgical pain and found relief for as many of 50 percent of their patients. 

"

Roughly 80 percent of patients report moderate to severe pain levels after surgery," says Gregory Plotnikoff, M.D., one of the study's authors and medical director of the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. "We struggle to provide effective pain control while trying to avoid the adverse effects of opioid medications.” 



The study included 1,837 patients who suffered from a mixture of ailments. The patients rated their pain verbally on a zero-to-ten scale before and after treatments. The treatments included:
acupuncture, acupressure, massage therapy, healing touch, music therapy, aromatherapy, and reflexology. 


Future research will focus on defining appropriate intervention doses, duration of pain relief, and developing profiles of which patients are most likely to respond to nonpharmacologic treatments.

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

The study, "The Impact of Integrative Medicine on Pain Management in a Tertiary Care Hospital" was published March 5, 2010, in the Journal of Patient Safety. 


Morning Sickness and Chinese Medicine

During pregnancy many women experience aches, pains, digestive problems and allergies. Acupuncture is very effective for all of these ailments and is a wonderful alternative to drugs, which is important as many pregnant patients are hesitant to take anything. In this post, from the Portland Acupuncture Blog, Amy writes about one of the most common ailments of pregnancy - morning sickness.

Why oh why is it called “morning” sickness? For so many women, this part of an otherwise joyous experience lasts all day, sometimes through the night, and occasionally in the afternoon. Many women I’ve spoken to say that they either had no symptoms, a little nausea, a lot of nausea, or were just constantly sick. The consensus seemed to be that the majority of the nausea was over by around 12 weeks, but for some it lasted 20 weeks (halfway through the pregnancy).

There are often changes with the symptoms as the levels of hormones change, and the body begins to adjust to life with extra hormones and blood. The hormone HGC (human chorionic gonadotropin) is said to be the possible cause of the heaving and nausea. Others say the shifting hormones make you out of balance, which is very close to the way we see it in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In the early stages of pregnancy, a woman’s body is Yin. When egg is fertilized, it begings to bring more Yang into the body, which in turn causes something of an upheaval and imbalance of the Yin and Yang within the body, leading to nausea.

Acupuncture practitioners have wonderful tools to help ease this sometimes difficult transition. Besides using acupuncture needles, a common formula for nausea is Gui Zhi Tang, which contains cinnamon bark, red dates, white peony, and ginger- a great combination to warm and ease the stomach as well as help balance out the struggle with the Yin and Yang of the body. Once this balance is achieved, the nausea should improve. There are other formulas that may be helpful, and acupuncture treatments are very safe and effective if you are worried about taking formulas or anything besides prenatal care. Also, keep in mind that this formula may not be for everyone- ALWAYS check with a practitioner before taking formulas during your pregnancy.

Common tips from women were:

-eat small meals frequently,

-try to eat a little protein in the morning

-keep crackers, dry toast, and clear soda near the bed to avoid getting hungry (which may lead to nausea)

-take prenatal vitamins on a full stomach

*If you experience a fever, or are vomiting so severely you cannot keep food or liquids down, contact your health care provider immediately*

I welcome any more tips for discussion! Chinese Medicine is a great tool, and I feel that sharing the wisdom passed down from women is the best way to learn more about how we can help each other at this special time. Also, check out Blossom Clinc’s recommendations for morning sickness!

Do You Have The Courage To Try Something New?

"You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore."

Christopher Columbus.

Acupuncture for Menstrual Cramps

Researchers from the Oriental Hospital at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in South Korea reviewed 27 studies (nearly 3,000 women), and found that acupuncture may be more effective than drugs or herbal medicines for severe menstrual period pain

Reuters in Hong Kong recently reported the study that found acupuncture to be helpful in alleviating menstrual cramps, a problem afflicting up to half of all young women. The researchers concluded that, "There is convincing evidence on the effectiveness of using acupuncture to treat pain as it stimulates the production of endorphins and serotonin in the central nervous system." Endorphins are compounds produced naturally by the human body during exercise and excitement and they result in a feeling of well-being. Serotonin is a brain chemical.

"Compared with pharmacological treatment or herbal medicine, acupuncture was associated with a significant reduction in pain," they wrote in their paper, which was published in the latest issue of the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Previously, the U.S. National Institutes of Health has also cited acupuncture as a possibly effective way of dealing with menstrual cramps.

To read the article in reuters click here

The Health Benefits of Dandelion

Dandelion: A Medicinal Recognized by Chinese Herbal and Western Medicine

By: Cathy Margolin

Although Westerners commonly view dandelions as a type of weed, this plant has several beneficial effects on human health which western medicine has only begun exploring. Dandelion has been used for centuries both internally and externally by Asian cultures as a medicinal used for digestive disorders, appendicitis, and breast problems (such as inflammation or lack of milk flow). Now we find this plant being studied by western science for its medicinal value.

Recently, studies done in Germany have led to the dandelion root being approved in Germany for, “… anorexia, dyspepsia, and biliary abnormalities,” (Garner-Wizard 2009). Basically, dyspepsia is indigestion and biliary abnormalities are bile duct disorders. Bile is essential for digestion. It is a fluid secreted by the liver and gall bladder to emulsify fats for digestion. It was found that dandelion increases the flow of bile by 3 to 4 times.

Dandelion root is also commonly used as a diuretic. Furthermore, a case study that was carried out on 24 patients found that dandelion can be used to significantly reduce the pain associated with chronic colitis, as well as help to normalize the stool. This plant has also been found to have anti-cancer properties, as well as the ability to lower, “… elevated liver enzymes in hepatitis B patients.” Wow, powerful weed, no single western drug exists which can make these claims in a single pill.

The active substances of dandelion roots (those that have medicinal effects) include: sesquiterpene lactones, phenylpropanoids, triterpenoid saponins, polysaccherides, and inulin. Sesquiterpene lactones are found in numerous plant species and are believed to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Phenylpropanoids appear to have inflammation-modulating properties, while triterpenoid saponins are adaptogenic (combat stress), a property of many Chinese herbs. The polysaccherides present in dandelion may have positive effects on the immune system, as polysaccherides in general are, “… key intermediaries in immune interactions,” (Garner-Wizard 2009). Inulin is a type of dietary fiber and we can all use that in our diets. If that wasn’t enough to make your head spin, dandelion roots also have been found to have a soothing property for indigestion. Current studies are underway using dandelion extract for diabetic patients- results have yet to be finalized, but the study hopes to regulate the AGE’s or advanced gycation endproducts, harmful chemicals produced by those with high blood sugar levels.

Dandelion extract has been labeled as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for use in supplements and food, and both the root and leaf can be ingested as food (up to 50 grams per dose). Furthermore, this plant is widespread throughout the world and in no danger of overharvesting. However, dandelions in urban areas should probably be avoided if sprayed with herbicides- this is true of any herbal product. So next time you see that dandelion growing between the sidewalk cracks, you’ll know it as one of nature’s wonderful medicinal plants, not just a lowly weed.

References:

Garner-Wizard M. Re: Monograph of Dandelion. Integrative Med. April-May 2009; 8(2): 34-38. http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbclip/378/review050496-378.html.

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/dandelion-a-medicinal-recognized-by-chinese-herbal-and-western-medicine-989466.html"(ArticlesBase SC #989466)

Cathy Margolin is a Licensed Acupuncturist and consumer health advocate with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health through the use of Chinese herbal formulas. She enjoys impacting the lives of readers around the world who haven’t yet experienced the phenomenal health benefits from the ancient wisdom of Chinese herbal medicine. She currently maintains an Acupuncture & Chinese herbal medicine practice, writes herbal formulas for her patients and works at PACHerbs.com.

Supermodel Elle MacPherson Uses Chinese Medicine To Stay Healthy

Celebrity Health and Fitness recently interviewed Elle MacPherson about her secrets to staying so fit over 45. Here is an excerpt of the Supermodel discussing how she regularly uses Chinese Medicine to stay healthy.

"Supermodel Elle MacPherson , who made the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue into an annual institution, is now 45, but she hasn’t lost any of the curves that made her famous. She maintains her shape by taking her health seriously, she says.

“I have a very holistic perspective on health,” she said in an interview with UK tabloid News of the World.

“I do choose to look after my body from a Chinese medicine perspective, which promotes and maintains wellness rather than treats illness.”

MacPherson says she has acupuncture regularly and she sees a Chinese doctor who treats common ailments with herbs."

to read the rest of Elle's fitness secrets click here

Forgiveness and Your Future

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."

Paul Boose