The Element of Spring: Wood

The foundation of Chinese philosophy is based on the idea that human beings are a part of this universe and integral to the dynamic flow of nature just as animals and plants. For that reason, living in harmony with the seasons is a key component to health. According to Chinese Medicine, the universe is forever changing and to be at our best we must continually adapt to these changes. In Chinese medicine, the season of Spring is associated with the Wood element.

Attributes of Spring:
Element: Wood
Color: Green
Nature: Yang
Organs: Liver, Gallbladder
Emotion: Anger

Wood exemplifies the energy of growth, change, and pushing through obstacles. It represents a very active energy that allows for a lot of movement and progress, both internally and externally. When constrained, it is also the energy that contributes to frustration, anger and stress. Like the Wood element, anger can make us hard and unbendable - like the tree that snaps in a strong wind instead of swaying. So what can we learn from the Wood element? The key here is flexibility. Stand tall, plant your roots deeply, and remain flexible rather than rigid so you don’t snap. Think about the experience of anger – it is often the feeling of snapping that occurs when frustration and obstacles thwart us. Use the new energy of spring to get moving on projects. Spring is a time of action, change and rebirth.

Acupuncture Is Being Used To Advantage Among Military Doctors In Afghanistan

I am always so gratified when more and more people begin to understand and use acupuncture.  Here is an article that describes the way the military is using acupuncture treatments for minor traumatic head injuries.  This is particularly smart because it means that soldiers with head injuries can be treated without introducing unnecessary chemicals into their systems.

From The Wall Street Journal (WSJ.com) ~ Can Needles Soothe Wounded Warriors? "Military doctors in Afghanistan are using acupuncture to treat brain injuries, with promising results"

"In a bit of battlefield improvisation, the Navy is experimenting with acupuncture and soothing atmospherics to treat Marines suffering from mild cases of traumatic brain injury, commonly called concussions—the most prevalent wound of the Afghan war.

After hitting on the idea in late November, Cmdr. Keith Stuessi used acupuncture, along with the music and lights, to treat more than 20 patients suffering from mild brain injuries. All but two or three saw marked improvements, including easier sleep, reduced anxiety and fewer headaches, he says. Cmdr. Earl Frantz, who replaced Cmdr. Stuessi at Camp Leatherneck last month, has taken charge of the acupuncture project and treated 28 more concussion patients.

"I think a couple years down the road, this will be standard care," predicts Cmdr. Stuessi, a sports-medicine specialist turned acupuncture acolyte. "At some point you have to drink the Kool-Aid, and I have drunk the Kool-Aid.""

To read more click here

New Research Reports: Acupuncture Can Benefit Women With PCOS

By Cathy Margolin L.A.c.

A recently published study in the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism concluded that low frequency electro-acupuncture improved menstrual frequency and balanced sex steroid levels in women with PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea are common problems associated with PCOS. The study measured that electro-acupuncture improved menstrual regularity in women with PCOS. 

It is believed that electro-acupuncture may help induce ovulation in women attempting to conceive since participants showed significant improvement in monthly menstrual frequency.

Traditional Chinese Medicine which includes Acupuncture, Chinese herbs and herbal formulas have been used for centuries successfully throughout Asia to treat a range of womens health concerns.  PMS and menstrual cramps are also treated very successfully with Chinese herbs and most Asian women do not suffer the same as American women. 

Reference: Elizabeth Jedel, Fernand Labrie, Anders Odén, Göran Holm, Lars Nilsson, Per Olof Janson, Anna-Karin Lind, Claes Ohlsson, and Elisabet Stener-Victorin. Impact of electro-acupuncture and physical exercise on hyperandrogenismand oligo/amenorrhea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 300: E37–E45, 2011.

*To read more from Cathy check out PacHerbs 

Being Green

Happy Earth Day!

Caffeine’s Effects on Fertility and Miscarriage: The Research

Are you trying to get pregnant? Do you love coffee? You might want to keep it to one cup or less a day.  There are some rigorous studies that have shown links between caffeine, decreased fertility, and miscarriage. Of course, there are many old wives tales about fertility so it remains important for us to stay in touch with emerging research on the topic.  Here are the results of world wide studies that attempted to link caffeine, fertility and miscarriage.

Dating back to 2000, a joint US/Swedish study of 562 women found that subjects who drank 1-3 cups of coffee daily increased their miscarriage rate by 30%.  Women who drank more than 5 cups daily increased the rate by 40%, indicating that more caffeine meant more trouble.(1)

A Yale University School of Medicine study of 1,900 women found that the risk of  infertility was 55% higher for those women who drank 1 cup of coffee per day, 100% higher for women who drank 1 and 1 ½ - 3 cups, and 176% higher for those who drank more than 3 cups of coffee per day.(2) More recently, in a study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in San Francisco, 1063 women were monitored and the results showed that those subjects who consumed 200 mg or more of caffeine per day had twice the miscarriage risk as women who consumed no caffeine.  200 milligrams of caffeine is high; it is the equivalent of two 7.5 ounce cups of coffee or five twelve ounce cans of soda. The increased risk of miscarriage appeared to be due to the caffeine itself, rather than other possible chemicals in coffee because caffeine intake from non-coffee sources such as caffeinated soda, tea and hot chocolate showed a similar increased risk of miscarriage.

JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association, has published two studies that assessed the safety of caffeine consumption during pregnancy but the conclusions were not in agreement. In a prospective cohort study of 431 pregnant women, Mills and others reported that moderate caffeine consumption of less than 300 milligrams (or about three cups of coffee) did not increase their risk of miscarriage but other researchers found that heavy consumption above 300 milligrams did appear to be related to problems. (3)

Finally, a Danish study seems to confirm the problems with heavy caffeine intake. They also found that 3 or more cups a day by women or their partners doubled the rate of miscarriage. (4)

More and more studies are being done but the emerging results seem to indicate that caffeine in any form – not just coffee – should be moderated (maybe avoided) during pregnancy because it can be absorbed through the placenta by the fetus.  There is enough evidence to urge caution.
   
1) Cnattingius, S. et al, New England Journal of Medicine Vol.343(25):1839-1845, Dec., 2000.
2) Yale University School of Medicine, Epidemiological Reviews Vol 14, pg 83, 1992 JAMA, December 22, 1993
3) American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 160, No 7, 2004, 661-67).
4) American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Jan 2008

*Graham, N., Hammond, C.J. and Gold, M. (2008) Caffeine in miscarriages: It’s not just in the coffee. 
*American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 199(5), e15.

Acupuncture For Men's Health

During the years that I've been in practice, I have noticed that more women turn to acupuncture than men. This is true in my Chicago acupuncture practice and my colleagues say the same thing. I'm not sure why guys don't give acupuncture a try because it certainly could help the top health concerns that affect men. If you want to learn more, an article on acufinder.com describes how acupuncture can help men with; cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, prostate problems, depression, and sexual health, such as low sperm count and decreased libido. Interesting? read more here..

Tax Day...

I'm proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money. ~Arthur Godfrey

2 Things That I Love About Stephen Collins

I never watched his long running hit show, “7th Heaven”, so it isn’t that. So, what about him piques my interest?

# 1: Stephen was in the first Star Trek movie, and you all know how I love most things Star Trek.  But here’s the best part

#2: Stephen Collins strongly endorses acupuncture and tweets about his love of receiving treatment. Here are a couple of his recent tweets below (his grammar, not mine).

3/31/11 "About to have #acupuncture, which I LOVE."

4/7/11  "Just finished meditating. about to have #acupuncture, which I love."

Thank you Stephen!! I bet the acupuncture keeps you ready in case you decide to climb back into that Star Trek Captain’s uniform.

Americans Are Turning To Acupuncture For Better Health And To Save Money

Americans continue to spend out-of-pocket money for acupuncture and other less conventional therapies. This article from dailyfinance, reports that many people find they are saving money in the long run, by using "alternative" treatments. I believe that they are also looking for a different type of individualized, non-drug, non-invasive care. 

As Medical Costs Rise, More Americans Turn to Acupuncture By Bruce Kennedy

"A year after President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, many Americans are still struggling to get their insurance to cover basic medical treatments. A new report by Deloitte and Oxford Economics finds that consumers spent $363 billion dollars more for health-care goods and services in 2009 than official government statistics acknowledged -- a discrepancy of nearly 15%.

These out-of-pocket medical costs include "purchases that are outside of conventional therapies and treatments," as well as other products and services not covered by insurance programs and care for others. The finding joins a growing body of evidence that more Americans are exploring often less expensive alternatives to traditional Western medicine.

A 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which polled Americans about their use of so-called complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), estimated that 3.1 million U.S. adults and 150,000 children had used acupuncture during the previous year. And in the five years leading up to the survey, the use of acupuncture -- the traditional Asian medical technique that involves the insertion of thin needles at skin-level, into key areas of the body -- had increased among U.S. adults by 0.3%, or about 1 million people."

*Read more here

April Fools ;)