Acupuncture Before Or After Abdominal Surgery Reduces Pain

Several studies appearing in different, reputable journals conclude that acupuncture, either pre-op or post-op reduces pain following gynecologic and abdominal surgeries. This is particularly good news when we consider how rapidly patients are discharged from hospitals. To read more about this research check out HealthCMI's article here.

Me And The Dalai Lama

This week I will be attending a talk by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, who will speak about non-violence. I’m looking forward to it and expect it to be an inspiring talk. In addition, I am going with a good friend who spent two years in Tibet so she brings a unique perspective. I will update you on how it goes, but in preparation, I did a little research on his Holiness. I realized that although I knew who he was, and that he spoke on peace, I did not know much more. So here’s what I found out.

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” - Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibet. He is the 14th Dalai Lama and as those before him he is considered to be a reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have delayed their own nirvana. Instead, they have been reborn so that they could serve others. Translated Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom.

This Dalai Lama was born in 1935, to a farming family, in northeastern Tibet.  At the age of two he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. He was than taken to Lhasa, Tibet. He began his education at the age of six and in 1950 at the age of 15, Tenzin Gyatso was formally recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama and became the spiritual and supreme leader of Tibet. When he was 25, he completed the Geshe Lharampa Degree (Doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy).

In 1959, there was a Tibetan uprising and the Dalai Lama, fearing for his life, fled Tibet and eventually set up the Government of Tibet in Exile in Dharamshala, India, which also carries the nickname, little Lhasa.

In 1989 he won the Nobel Peace Prize

He is on twitter @DalaiLama and as of today he has 4,033,096 followers

In the talk this week, the Dalai Lama will talk about non-violence which is related to the other topics he seems to choose. When he speaks in other countries, he often advocates for better understanding and respect among the different faiths of the world. He has been willing to attend interfaith services so that he can demonstrate his message of universal responsibility, love, compassion and kindness. As our world becomes smaller and technology simultaneously brings us together and alienates us, he seems to stand for human face-to-face relationships on which we can depend; a willingness to lean on each other and be leaned upon. People and nations do better when we work together to solve problems because, sharing a small planet, we are all eventually affected.

“I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.” - Dalai Lama
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Chinese Herbal Medicine is Popular For a Reason

Long, long before the big drug boom, herbal remedies were used to treat people’s complaints and to help them maintain wellness. In China, the recorded history of herbs goes back to 500 AD. The book, known as The Huang Di Nei Jing, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, was the first to mention Chinese Herbal Medicine and it lists 28 herbal substances and 12 prescriptions.

When we talk about Chinese Herbal Medicine, we are talking about a sophisticated form of remedies that has been around much longer than Western Pharmaceuticals, both in China and in most other parts of the world. Herbal Medicine refers to the use of plants, flowers, minerals and animal sources for healing. When I did my internship in China, I studied at a Western hospital that included an herbal pharmacy as well as one for prescription drugs. This is not unusual in China, herbal shops and remedies are quite popular. The interest in using natural ingredients is reemerging in the United States and all over the world.  It makes sense, of course, to look to solutions that are closer to nature and usually have much fewer side effects than drugs. Sometimes, the herbal solutions are also less expensive. The increasing interest in herbs is only one element of a greater movement toward finding healthy alternative solutions to life’s problems.

What makes Chinese Herbal Medicine different from Western herbal medicine?

Chinese herbs are almost always prescribed as formulas of multiple herbs, not as individual herbs. There are many traditional Chinese herbal formulas. A careful balance of several different herbs is specifically tailored for each person. The formula is chosen for each person based on their symptoms and medical history. Unlike Western herbal medicine which tends to use one or two herbs to treat a specific symptom, a Chinese Herbal formula may have as many as 20 different herbs. This is why it is best to have a licensed Chinese Medicine practitioner select the best formula for you.

Chinese Herbs and Colon Cancer

Researchers are discovering more and more about the properties of Chinese herbs and how they can be used for your best health. In this article from the Wall Street Journal, researchers report that a specific combination of herbs seem to bolster colon-cancer treatment. They found that tests on animals with tumors have shown that administering the herbs along with chemotherapy drugs restored intestinal cells faster than when chemo was used alone. To read the article click here.

Lessons in Tolerance

"In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher." ~ Dalai Lama

I am very excited to be seeing the Dalai Lama when he visits Chicago!

Electroacupuncture Fights Disease with Highest Burden -> Depression

Electroacupuncture is the use of electric stimulation on selected acupuncture points where needles have been carefully inserted. I use these technique in my Chicago acupuncture practice and have found it to be helpful. Now, a study has just come from the School of  Chinese Medicine, University of Hong Kong where researchers used electroacupuncture to stimulate seven points on the heads of 73  participants who had suffered several bouts of depression in the last 7  years. The experimental group showed a drop in depression scores. Researcher Ng explained that, "When the acupoints  are stimulated, some brain centers responsible for producing serotonin  are stimulated."

The importance? The World Health  Organization predicts that by 2020, depression will compete with heart disease  for the unfortunate title of "highest disease burden." Read more here.
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