Bai Ying Alternative Healing Arts

Acupuncture for Athletes

2008-08-08T10:40:00.012-06:00

By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM

All athletes and coaches are involved in a constant search for ways to improve performance and gain a competitive edge over their rivals. Many are finding that acupuncture can often provide that edge.

By following the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an acupuncture treatment can strengthen body function and restore internal harmony and balance. Professional sports teams and top athletes regularly have an acupuncturist on staff to treat injuries and to keep them performing at their peak.

Some of the best Olympic athletes are incorporating acupuncture into their wellness programs. China's most popular sportsman, the 7 foot 6 inch China basketball center, Yao Ming, used acupuncture and Oriental medicine to help him recover after undergoing surgery on his ankle in April, 2007.

Chinese swimmer, Wang Qun, was photographed doing some last minute training in Beijing with round marks on her back from an acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine treatment. The marks on the swimmers back were caused by cupping. Cupping is a technique in which a glass cup or bamboo jar is suctioned onto the body. It is used to relieve muscle pain, especially back pain from stiffness or injury; and to clear congestion in the chest, which can occur with common colds and influenza.

Studies on Acupuncture to Enhance Athletic Performance

Studies have shown that acupuncture has measurable effects on the flow of blood to certain areas of the body, which could in turn boost athletic performance. One such study conducted at the Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine involved athletes running 5,000 meters, and afterwards sitting for acupuncture treatments before they had a chance to catch their breath. The heart rates of the athletes who received the treatments recovered more quickly than those in the control group.

Another study published in the American Journal of Acupuncture measured the effects of acupuncture on anaerobic threshold and work capacity during exercise in healthy young males. Researchers found that individuals in the acupuncture treatment group had higher maximal exercise capacity and were able to perform higher workloads at the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) than individuals in the placebo group. The individuals that received acupuncture also had lower heart rates.

Acupuncture is well known for its effectiveness in reducing most types of pain, including sports-related injuries.

Acupuncture can be used to help decrease swelling, spasms and inflammation. Additionally, it can be used to control pain, increase range of motion and help promote healing. Because of its broad range of applications, acupuncture can be used during any of the phases of injury. The focus is not only to treat the injury but also to treat any underlying conditions that may predispose an individual to injuries. This is especially important when treating chronic or recurrent injuries that interfere with life activities or athletic performance.

Injuries occurring from sports are mostly due to trauma or overuse syndromes involving the musculoskeletal system and its soft tissues. Trauma to these soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons and muscles are generally the result from falls, blows, sprains/strains, collisions, compressions crushing and disruptions of the healing processes due to inflammation.

Some Commonly Treated Sports Injuries:

Muscle Pull
Neck Pain
Shoulder Impingement
Tennis Elbow
Lower Back Strain
Groin Pull
Hamstring Strain
Runner's Knee
Shin Splints
Ankle Sprain
Achilles Tendonitis
Arch Pain

If you have suffered an injury, want to avoid surgery, or would like to speed your post surgical recovery, acupuncture can help. Call me today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

IVF Complications???

2008-07-31T12:03:00.002-06:00

Oh here's an interesting study about birth risks and the use of IVF for fertility issues.

Apparently there was a study done of more than 1.2 million births in Norway that found an increased risk of low birth weight, premature birth or still birth after fertility treatment. However, further analysis showed this was unlikely to be related to the treatment itself.

In the latest study, babies born after fertility treatment were on average 25g smaller at birth, were born two days earlier and had a 31% increased risk of stillbirth.

However, when the researchers looked in more detail at a subgroup of 2,500 women who had had babies naturally and through fertility treatment they found no significant difference in outcomes between the two kinds of births.

This suggest that the increased chance of complication is not from the IVF but from the factors causing the fertility problems in the first place. This is telling me two things:

IVF can make you get pregnant but doesn't take care of the fertility problems (typical of western medicine though)
If you treat the fertility problems, you will not only get pregnant, but have a healthy child too.

So what is the best choice for fertility problems? It's not western medicine using IVF or other methods since it doesn't address the root problem. But Chinese medicine corrects the root problem and promotes overall health, which means:

Able to become pregnant
Able to carry the baby full term
Decreased pregnancy concerns (morning sickness, dizziness, etc.)
Strong efficient labor
Health baby
Decreased post-partum issues
Overall better health of the Mother and the Child

Why You Should Avoid Statin Drugs

2008-07-29T00:32:00.003-06:00

As you know I'm not a proponent for western medication, because of all the side effects and how they are usually just cover ups. So here I am reading an article about statin drugs, and some alternatives.

As many may know, a lot of the "super" drugs are heavily marketed by drug reps, and they make a lot of money to do so. Pharmaceutical drug companies can make Billions (yes with a B) with some of their drugs, and that's why they want people to use those drugs over more affordable drugs that may actually be better for you. A good example is Calcium Channel Blockers vs. Diuretics.

Ok so back to statins. A major problem with these (and most drugs) is the benefits are usually overstated and the risks are understated. Sure, many people have a hard time getting their cholesterol reduced just with diet and exercise (most aren't good at following a plan), so they may need extra help. But are statins the answer?

"in 2001, a statin marketed under the name Baycol was pulled from pharmacy shelves after being associated with rhabdomyolysis - a muscle-wasting condition in which toxic by products from muscle fragments enter the bloodstream and clog the kidneys, potentially causing organ failure and eventual death. ........ Some scientists have also questioned whether statin-associated spikes in blood levels of liver enzymes indicate trouble in the organ, and there is ongoing debate about the drugs causing memory loss"

As we know, most western drugs are highly toxic to the kidneys, liver or both. In both Western and Chinese medicine we know the liver has a strong association with the blood. So when the liver starts to get compromised, the blood gets compromised and then your overall health gets compromised. Since the liver produces most of the cholesterol that our body needs, when it isn't working well anymore, then that changes our body's function to deal with cholesterol, and we'll end up with problems. It makes sense that we should take care of our liver.

"While experts warn of understated risks, a growing number suggests that the benefits are equally overstated. A recent article in Business Week cited aggressive drug company marketing that employs tricky statistics (one statin ad boasted a 36 percent reduction in the risk of a heart attack even though the drug was only slightly more effective than a placebo). 'If you've already had a heart attack, taking a statin has a small but very real effect, but you'd need at least 50 people to take it for 5 years for one of them to benefit. Yet all will incur great costs for the drugs and the doctor visits, and will worry and risk side effects' ~ Dr. Jerome Hoffman M.D., professor of clinical medicine at UCLA"

So it would seem that a nice natural, safe and effective alternative is needed. Well, Chinese medicine has worked for over 3,500 years and it's always been natural, safe and effective.

So here are some things you can do to help, besides seeing your Chinese medicine practitioner.

For lowering your LDL, you can enjoy:

Red Grape Fruit ~ 1 daily reduces levels by 20%
Steel Cut Oat Meal ~ 3/4 cup daily reduces levels by 15%
Pecans ~ 1oz daily reduces levels by 13%
Pistachios ~ 3oz daily reduces levels by 12%
Promise Activ Spread ~ 3 servings daily reduces levels by 10%
Macadamia Nuts ~ 1.5oz daily reduces levels by 9%
Pinto Beans ~ 1/2 cup daily reduces levels by 7%
Walnuts and Almonds ~ 1oz daily reduces levels by 7%
Peanuts ~ 1oz daily reduces levels by 6%

For raising your HDL, you can enjoy:

Orange juice ~ three 8oz glasses daily boosts levels by 21%
Hazelnuts ~ 1.5ox daily boosts levels by 13%
Dark Chocolate ~ 2.5oz daily boosts levels by 11%
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil ~ 2 Tbsp daily boosts levels by 4%

For lowering your triglycerides, you can enjoy:

Fish Oil ~ 4 grams daily reduces levels up to 45%
Peanuts ~ 3oz daily reduces levels by up to 24%
Pistachios ~ 2-3oz daily reduces levels by 10 points

There are also many Chinese medicine herbs that help with lowering your cholesterol, and you can't go wrong with also taking Grape Seed Extract.

So in general here are some things to live by:

If it's not food, don't eat it ~ eat natural foods as much as possible
Reduce your meat intake ~ 10% of the meal should be meat, the rest vegetable and rice
Enjoy 5-6 small meals throughout the day ~ a handful of almonds can be considered one meal for your snack
Drink your water without ice and at room temperature
Vegetables should be slightly steamed ~ raw is too hard on your digestive system
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise ~ just a little goes a long way, Tai Ji (tai chi) is a wonderful form to start as young as possible

Hoping you a long and healthy life ~ White-Eagle

New Decision

2008-07-29T00:20:00.002-06:00

So I figured that on the rare occasion of posting an occasional full article from somewhere, I'll make my blog more of a commentary, but give you a link to go to the full article.

Also I'll be adding something new every Monday and Thursday, and then the newsletter should be coming out every other week.

Good reading, and if you have any questions, just call the office.

With All Good Medicine
White-Eagle

8 Drugs Doctors Would Never Take

2008-07-25T11:58:00.003-06:00

If they won't use these medications, why should you?

By: Morgan Lord, Photographs by: Bill Diodato

With 3,480 pages of fine print, the Physicians' Desk Reference (a.k.a. PDR) is not a quick read. That's because it contains every iota of information on more than 4,000 prescription medications. Heck, the PDR is medication -- a humongous sleeping pill.

Doctors count on this compendium to help them make smart prescribing decisions -- in other words, to choose drugs that will solve their patients' medical problems without creating new ones. Unfortunately, it seems some doctors rarely pull the PDR off the shelf. Or if they do crack it open, they don't stay versed on emerging research that may suddenly make a once-trusted treatment one to avoid. Worst case: You swallow something that has no business being inside your body.

Of course, plenty of M.D.'s do know which prescription and over-the-counter drugs are duds, dangers, or both. So we asked them, "Which medications would you skip?" Their list is your second opinion. If you're on any of these meds, talk to your doctor. Maybe he or she will finally open that big red book with all the dust on it.

Advair

It's asthma medicine . . . that could make your asthma deadly. Advair contains the long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) salmeterol. A 2006 analysis of 19 trials, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that regular use of LABAs can increase the severity of an asthma attack. Because salmeterol is more widely prescribed than other LABAs, the danger is greater -- the researchers estimate that salmeterol may contribute to as many as 5,000 asthma-related deaths in the United States each year. In 2006, similarly disturbing findings from an earlier salmeterol study prompted the FDA to tag Advair with a "black box" warning -- the agency's highest caution level.

Your New Strategy No matter what you may have heard, a LABA, such as the one in Advair, is not the only option, says Philip Rodgers, Pharm.D., a clinical associate professor at the University of North Carolina school of pharmacy. For instance, if you have mild asthma, an inhaled corticosteroid such as Flovent is often all you need. Still wheezing? "Patients can also consider an inhaled corticosteroid paired with a leukotriene modifier," says Dr. Rodgers. This combo won't create dangerous inflammation, and according to a Scottish review, it's as effective as a corticosteroid-and-LABA combo.

Avandia

Diabetes is destructive enough on its own, but if you try to control it with rosiglitazone -- better known by the brand name Avandia -- you could be headed for a heart attack. Last September, a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study found that people who took rosiglitazone for at least a year increased their risk of heart failure or a heart attack by 109 percent and 42 percent, respectively, compared with those who took other oral diabetes medications or a placebo.

The reason? While there have been some reports that Avandia use may cause dangerous fluid retention or raise artery-clogging LDL cholesterol, no one is sure if these are the culprits. That's because the results of similar large studies have been mixed. So the FDA has asked GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Avandia, to conduct a new long-term study assessing users' heart risks. There's only one problem: The study isn't expected to start until later this year.

Your New Strategy Stick with a proven performer. "I prefer metformin, an older, cheaper, more dependable medication," says Sonal Singh, M.D., the lead author of the JAMA study. "Avandia is now a last resort." Dr. Singh recommends that you talk to your doctor about cholesterol-lowering medicines, such as statins or the B vitamin niacin. Swallowing high doses (1,000 milligrams) of niacin daily may raise your HDL (good) cholesterol by as much as 24 percent, while at the same time lowering your LDL and triglyceride levels.

Celebrex

Once nicknamed "super aspirin," Celebrex is now better known for its side effects than for its pain-relieving prowess. The drug has been linked to increased risks of stomach bleeding, kidney trouble, and liver damage. But according to a 2005 New England Journal of Medicine study, the biggest threat is to your heart: People taking 200 mg of Celebrex twice a day more than doubled their risk of dying of cardiovascular disease. Those on 400 mg twice a day more than tripled their risk, compared with people taking a placebo.

And yet Celebrex, a COX-2 inhibitor, is still available, even though two other drugs of that class, Bextra and Vioxx, were pulled off the market due to a similar risk of heart damage. The caveat to the consumer? In 2004, the FDA advised doctors to consider alternatives to Celebrex.

Your New Strategy What you don't want to do is stop swallowing Celebrex and begin knocking back ibuprofen, because regular use of high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding. A safer swap is acupuncture. A German study found that for people suffering from chronic lower-back pain, twice-weekly acupuncture sessions were twice as effective as conventional treatments with drugs, physical therapy, and exercise. The strategic needling may stimulate central-nervous-system pathways to release the body's own painkillers, including endorphins and enkephalins, says Duke University anesthesiologist Tong-Joo Gan, M.D. You can find a certified acupuncturist in your area at acufinder.com.

Ketek

Most bacteria in the lungs and sinuses don't stand a chance against Ketek, but you might not either. This antibiotic, which has traditionally been prescribed for respiratory-tract infections, carries a higher risk of severe liver side effects than similar antibiotics do. "Ketek can cause heart-rhythm problems, can lead to liver disease, and could interact poorly with other medications you may be taking," says Dr. Rodgers. "Unfortunately, it's still available, and although many doctors are aware of the risks, some may still prescribe it without caution." In February 2007, the FDA limited the usage of Ketek to the treatment of pneumonia.

Your New Strategy Can't imagine catching pneumonia? The last time the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculated the top 10 killers of men, this deadly lung infection (along with the flu) came in seventh. Avoid backing yourself into a corner where you might need Ketek by always signing up for your annual flu shot -- if you have pneumonia, it'll reduce your risk of dying of the infection by 40 percent. And if you still end up staring at a scrip for Ketek, Dr. Rodgers recommends asking to be treated with one of several safer alternatives, such as Augmentin or the antibiotics doxycycline or Zithromax.

Prilosec and Nexium

Heartburn can be uncomfortable, but heart attacks can be fatal, which is why the FDA has investigated a suspected link between cardiac trouble and the acid-reflux remedies Prilosec and Nexium. In December 2007, the agency concluded that there was no "likely" connection. Translation: The scientific jury is still out. In the meantime, there are other reasons to be concerned. Because Prilosec and Nexium are proton-pump inhibitors, they are both incredibly effective at stopping acid production in the stomach -- perhaps too effective.

A lack of acid may raise your risk of pneumonia, because the same stuff that makes your chest feel as if it's burning also kills incoming bacteria and viruses. You may also have an elevated risk of bone loss -- in the less acidic environment, certain forms of calcium may not be absorbed effectively during digestion. "The risk of a fracture has been estimated to be over 40 percent higher in patients who use these drugs long-term, and the risk clearly increases with duration of therapy," says Dr. Rodgers.

Your New Strategy When you feel the fire, first try to extinguish it with Zantac 150 or Pepcid AC. Both of these OTC products work by blocking histamine from stimulating the stomach cells that produce acid. Just know that neither drug is a long-term fix.

"To really cure the problem, lose weight," says Michael Roizen, M.D., chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic and coauthor of YOU: The Owner's Manual. That's because when you're overweight, excess belly fat puts pressure on and changes the angle of your esophagus, pulling open the valve that's supposed to prevent stomach-acid leaks. This in turn makes it easier for that burning sensation to travel up into your chest.

Visine Original

What possible harm to your peepers could come from these seemingly innocuous eyedrops? "Visine gets the red out, but it does so by shrinking blood vessels, just like Afrin shrinks the vessels in your nose," says Thomas Steinemann, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Overuse of the active ingredient tetrahydrozoline can perpetuate the vessel dilating-and-constricting cycle and may cause even more redness.

Your New Strategy If you still want to rely on Visine, at least make sure you don't use too many drops per dose and you don't use the stuff for more than 3 or 4 days. But you'd really be better off figuring out the underlying cause of the redness and treating that instead. If it's dryness, use preservative-free artificial tears, recommends Dr. Steinemann. Visine Pure Tears Portables is a good choice for moisture minus side effects. On the other hand, if your eyes are itchy and red because of allergies, pick up OTC antiallergy drops, such as Zaditor. It contains an antihistamine to interrupt the allergic response but no vasoconstrictor to cause rebound redness.

Pseudoephedrine

Forget that this decongestant can be turned into methamphetamine. People with heart disease or hypertension should watch out for any legitimate drug that contains pseudoephedrine. See, pseudoephedrine doesn't just constrict the blood vessels in your nose and sinuses; it can also raise blood pressure and heart rate, setting the stage for vascular catastrophe. Over the years, pseudoephedrine has been linked to heart attacks and strokes. "Pseudoephedrine can also worsen symptoms of benign prostate disease and glaucoma," says Dr. Rodgers.

Your New Strategy Other OTC oral nasal decongestants can contain phenylephrine, which has a safety profile similar to pseudoephedrine's. A 2007 review didn't find enough evidence that phenylephrine was effective. Our advice: Avoid meds altogether and clear your nasal passages with a neti pot, the strangely named system that allows you to flush your sinuses with saline ($15, sinucleanse.com). University of Wisconsin researchers found that people who used a neti pot felt their congestion and head pain improve by as much as 57 percent. Granted, the flushing sensation is odd at first, but give it a chance. Dr. Roizen did: "I do it every day after I brush my teeth," he says.

(For my readers, just let me let you know that all these health conditions these drugs are supposed to treat, they can all be treated naturally, effectively and safely with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine ~ White-Eagle)

Allergy Alert: Breathe Easy, Naturally

2008-05-16T11:46:00.001-06:00

By Dr. Maoshing Ni, L.Ac., D.O.M., Ph.D.

Itchy, watery eyes, running nose, an aching head, and sinus congestion. Sound familiar? You may be among the 37 million people in the United States who suffer from allergic rhinitis or sinusitis. Consider combating your springtime woes naturally with these time-tested self-healing techniques.

Allergens in the Air

When your sinuses, the air-filled hollow cavities around your nose and nasal passages, become inflamed, fluid can accumulate and interfere with normal drainage of mucus in the sinuses. This condition is known as acute sinusitis. The result? You may have trouble breathing through your nose and feel your eyes and facial tissue swell up.

Your symptoms may include a headache, fever, a nagging cough, post-nasal drip, thick green or yellow discharge, and a feeling of facial "fullness" that gets worse when you lean forward; during a severe sinus infection, some people even experience a toothache.

This uncomfortable condition has many possible causes, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, allergies, or a deviated septum. Synonymous with spring, allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever, is the inflammatory result of your immune system's overreaction to allergens in the air.

Pollen is one famous offender. Other allergens include dirt, pollution, animal hair, food particles cloth fibers, and mold. A healthy alternative to allergy medication is Allergy Tamer, which is a blend of effective Chinese herbs to naturally relieve allergy symptoms.

Surprising Secrets for Sinus Health

Here are some all-natural ways to gain freedom from sinus suffering.

Clear your sinuses and your mind with a steamy stovetop spa. Add a few drops of wintergreen oil to a pot of boiling water and inhale the steam. Take care not to be burned by the vapor.
Herbs and spices like ginger, scallion, basil, garlic, oregano, cayenne peppers, white pepper, horseradish and turmeric will have your sinus passageways unblocked in no time!
The supplement bromelain - a papaya and pineapple-based enzyme - helps reduce histamine release, the body's natural allergic response.
Clear your nasal passageway daily for healthy, happy sinuses. Add 1 tsp of sea salt, 1 drop of oregano oil, and 1 drop of wintergreen to a cup of warm water. Fill a small-spouted squeeze bottle with this warm solution. Squirt into one nostril at a time and blow out through the nose. Alternate nostrils.
Press one clove of garlic, mix with 1 tsp of olive oil and soak a clean cotton ball with the oil mixture and place in nostrils after having washed the nostril with warm salt water. Leave in for 20 minutes and repeat three times a day until the symptoms clear up.
These two simple self-massage practices that follow are incredibly effective for relieving sinus congestion. For both, sit at the tip of a sturdy chair with your back erect, spine stretched, and your head tilted slightly forward.
1. Inhale and gently press your forehead just inside the temples with your palms. Exhale and release. Repeat three times.

2. Cross your middle and index fingers by placing the tips of your middle fingers on top of the fingernails on your index fingers. Rub the sides of your nose 36 times in a circular motion, warming your fingers first if they're cold.

What You Eat Affects Your Sinus Health

Avoid the foods that produce mucous and dampness: dairy products, cold and raw foods, corn (including corn syrup), and simple sugars. Choose whole grains like quinoa, amaranth and brown rice instead of wheat, rye and barley, which are typically high allergy grains. Opt for papaya, cranberries, pear, pineapple, cherries, mango, and citrus fruits. Eat more green vegetables such as artichoke, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and spinach.

Both alcohol and smoking should be avoided during a sinus flare-up as they irritate the respiratory tract and worsen nasal inflammation. Also, sinus congestion is often worse with lack of quality rest so be sure to get plenty of sleep and keep your stress level low.

I hope that you find the ways to keep your sinuses clear and freely flowing. I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

My Heart Goes Out

2008-05-16T11:44:00.003-06:00

To all those that have suffered, or are suffering from these recent natural disasters in Asia, my greatest sympathy to you. It's a hard process to live through, but as a world we can all recover from such tragedies.

With All Good Medicine
White-Eagle

Acupuncture Helps Relieve Pain During Pregnancy

2008-04-21T16:31:00.001-06:00

Appears superior to standard treatment alone in treating mixed pelvic/back pain.

By Kathryn Feather

A study recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology sought to establish the effectiveness of needle acupuncture in treating the common and often disabling issue of pelvic and back pain during pregnancy.

According to the study authors, “Acupuncture, as an adjunct to standard treatment, was superior to standard treatment alone and physiotherapy in relieving mixed pelvic/back pain. Women with well-defined pelvic pain had greater relief of pain with a combination of acupuncture and standard treatment, compared to standard treatment alone or stabilizing exercises and standard treatment.”

Estimates of pelvic and back pain among pregnant women range from 24 percent to 90 percent who seek medical attention and complain of this “minor” problem. The large range is attributed to different definitions of the condition. According to the study authors, 25 percent of women with pelvic pain in pregnancy will seek medical help for their pain, 8 percent are severely disabled and 7 percent continue to have pain beyond the pregnancy. The majority of women with back pain in pregnancy report disturbed sleep from their pain. Disability often involves simple activities of daily living and can result in significant absenteeism from work. Back pain in pregnancy also increases the risk of postpartum back pain.”

More than a third of the U.S. population utilizes complementary and alternative therapies, even during pregnancy, with 60 percent of women with lower back pain in pregnancy reporting they would try one of these alternative options for the treatment of their pain. Currently, more than 2 million people use acupuncture annually in the U.S.

In this study, two small trials on mixed pelvic/back pain and one large high-quality trial on pelvic pain met the inclusion criteria. In the first small trial, conducted in 2000, auricular points plus body acupuncture points (if needed) was provided for four weeks. The control group received physiotherapy plus physical therapies (defined as pelvic belt, warmth, massage or soft-tissue mobilization) for six to eight weeks. The study found a statistically significant reduction of pain in both groups, however there was greater pain relief reported by the acupuncture group. A total of 46 people completed this study (28 in the acupuncture group and 18 in the control group).

In the second small trial conducted in 2004, a total of 72 people participated. The acupuncture group received Chinese acupuncture plus tender points, and the control group received no additional treatment. However, physiotherapy and analgesics were allowed in both groups. More women in the acupuncture group reported a decrease in pain (60 percent in the acupuncture group vs. 14 percent in the control group).

In the third and largest study, conducted in 2005, a total of 321 people were either placed in the acupuncture group, the control group or a stabilizing exercise group. The acupuncture group received mixed Western and Chinese acupuncture plus standard treatment for six weeks. The control group received standard treatment (defined as advice, education, exercises and pelvic belt) for six weeks. The third group received stabilizing exercises and standard treatment for six weeks.

Acupuncture proved to be the best option in each of these studies. The authors conclude that while more evidence-based studies should be done, “Overall, our review finds limited, though promising evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture in managing pelvic and back pain in pregnancy. In particular, there seems to be good evidence that acupuncture, in addition to standard treatment, is superior to standard treatment alone and stabilizing exercises for well-defined pregnancy-related pelvic pain.

“Given that acupuncture is a relatively safe procedure, these findings should encourage primary health care providers, obstetricians and midwives to consider referring women to trained acupuncturists for management of this common, painful and disabling condition.”

Tai Chi 'helps improve diabetes'

2008-04-01T07:29:00.003-06:00

Tai Chi is defined as gentle exercise

Tai Chi exercises can help people with type 2 diabetes control their condition, research suggests.

Two separate studies found a 12-week programme of exercise was enough to boost the immune system, and to cut blood sugar levels.

The traditional Chinese martial art combines deep breathing and gentle movement to boost relaxation levels.

Both studies, by researchers in Taiwan and Australia, appear in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Around 1.8 million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes and another 750,000 are thought to be undiagnosed.

The first study, by a team in Taiwan, compared 30 people with diabetes with 30 healthy people acting as controls.

Over 12 weeks the participants learned 37 Tai Chi movements under the guidance of an expert, and took home a video to study the correct poses.

They took part in three hour-long sessions a week.

At the end of the programme, tests on the group with type 2 diabetes showed a drop in their blood sugar levels, and a boost in the level of cells and chemicals key to a healthy immune response.

Strenuous physical activity is known to depress the immune system, but the latest study suggests that more moderate exercise may have the opposite effect.

Other effects

Previous research has suggested Tai Chi boosts cardiovascular and respiratory function, as well as improving flexibility and relieving stress.

The researchers said that if Tai Chi improves the way the body breaks down sugar, it could have a beneficial impact on the immune system, which is sparked into excessive activity by the presence of high levels of sugar in the blood.

Alternatively, the exercise may simply boost the immune system by raising fitness levels, and engendering a feeling of wellbeing.

The second study by the University of Queensland, based on just 11 participants, produced similar results.

In this study the participants - who all had raised blood sugar levels - attended sessions of Tai Chi, and another similar martial art, Qigong, for 60 to 90 minutes three times a week.

As well as a drop in blood sugar levels, the participants lost weight, and recorded significant falls in blood pressure. Insulin resistance was also improved.

Participants also said they slept better, had more energy, felt less pain and had fewer food cravings while on the programme.

Cathy Moulton, of the charity Diabetes UK, said moderate exercise had been shown to have a beneficial impact on type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes UK recommends that people with diabetes do a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on at least five days of the week.

Ms Moulton said: "Any activity that leaves you feeling warm and slightly breathless but still able to hold a conversation counts as moderate exercise - including vigorously cleaning the house, briskly walking the dog and of course Tai Chi.

"In addition to the importance of moderate physical activity, the relaxation element of Tai Chi may help to reduce stress levels, preventing the release of adrenalin which can lead to insulin resistance and high blood glucose levels."

Can Pain Treatments Kill you? In one lady's case it sure did.

2008-03-27T11:56:00.000-06:00

Funeral services for Kacey Fine Furniture president Leslie Fishbein, who died Wednesday, were held Friday at Temple Emanuel in Denver.

Fishbein, 55, was widely known for her television commercials touting her furniture stores and for her philanthropy.

The Denver retailer was hospitalized March 4 after complications arose from treatment for back pain at a doctor's office.

Fishbein reportedly suffered an unexpected reaction to pain-killing injection and went into cardiac arrest.

RESEARCH SHOWS ACUPUNCTURE CAN LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE AS MUCH AS 40 PERCENT

2008-03-25T08:53:00.002-06:00

From the Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at UC Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. - The Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, dedicated to advancing patient care through education, evidence-based research and applied integrative medical therapies, today released findings that show acupuncture can help normalize blood pressure - lower pressure when it is elevated or raise pressure when it is too low - and complements treatments for cardiovascular patients. The Center found that acupuncture combined with low levels of electrical stimulation can lower elevations in blood pressure by as much as 40 percent.

In treating patients at their clinics, the Center also found once-weekly
30-minute acupuncture sessions will give substantial pressure reductions of 15-25 mmHg in three to four weeks. Acupuncture is a 3,000-year-old form of Chinese medicine that involves inserting needles at specific points on the body to help cure disease or relieve pain.

"At the Samueli Center, we are dedicated to promoting the integration of ancient healing practices with modern medical treatments to help develop optimum treatment solutions for patients," said Dr. John Longhurst, director of the Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine and study leader. "We believe these new findings on acupuncture and hypertension will help educate both Western and alternative medical practitioners while encouraging dialog on developing integrative treatment solutions."

An Alternative Solution

Though drug therapy and healthy lifestyle changes related to diet, exercise and weight loss are typically employed to treat high blood pressure, some patients are looking for alternative solutions. "In our real world of clinical practice, we're encountering patients who find it difficult to make these changes or who continue to have high pressure despite making real changes. They're looking for something else, and acupuncture is a potential solution that's relaxing and relatively painless," said Dr. Longhurst.

Slow Onset, Prolonged Effects

The Samueli Center's research also found that acupuncture has a slow onset and prolonged effect. If treatments were stopped, the pressure would stay down for another month or so, and then comes back up over a period of weeks.

How it Works

Elevated blood pressure is due to either increased vascular constriction and stiffness, or to the heart pumping excess volume into the blood vessels. Diuretics and other antihypertensives typically help with the latter; acupuncture appears to help with the former. Other recent studies from the Susan Samueli Center indicate that acupuncture relaxes vessels mainly through action in the central nervous system. For additional information on the Center's research findings or to schedule an interview with Dr. Longhurst, please contact the Center's public relations' agency listed below.

About SSCIM

Founded in 2000, The Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at UCI successfully promotes integrative medicine by conducting rigorous fundamental and clinical research on complementary healing practices;
educating medical students, health professionals and the public about these practices, and creating a model of clinical care that emphasizes healing the whole person. The Center is rapidly becoming recognized for providing new knowledge bridging complementary and conventional treatments - all for the singular purpose of achieving better health. For more information, contact the Center at (949) 824-5763 or visit www.sscim.uci.edu

Released Dec. 17, 2007

Health Benefits of A Happy Marriage

2008-03-21T00:46:00.002-06:00

FROM BLOG: Psych Central News - Psychology, psychiatry and mental health news and research findings, updated every weekday.

The following blog post is from an independent writer and is not connected with Reuters News. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by Reuters.com.

The relationship between what happens in one’s life and the development of illness is well documented. Stressors that rank high for increasing the probability of illness include the death of a spouse and divorce. Conversely, a new research study finds that happily married adults have lower blood pressure than singles with supportive social networks, suggesting marriage may literally be a matter of the heart.

Brigham Young University professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad found that men and women in happy marriages scored four points lower on 24-hour blood pressure than single adults.

Having a network of supportive friends did not translate into improved blood pressure for singles or unhappily marrieds, which surprised Holt-Lunstad and her two student collaborators.

“There seem to be some unique health benefits from marriage,” said Holt-Lunstad, whose findings will be published March 20 in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. “It’s not just being married that benefits health - what’s really the most protective of health is having a happy marriage.”

The study also found, unsurprisingly, that unhappily married adults have higher blood pressure than both happily married and single adults.

Holt-Lunstad, a psychologist who studies relationships and health, arranged for 204 married and 99 single adults to wear portable blood pressure monitors, mostly concealed by their clothes, for 24 hours.

The monitors recorded blood pressure at random intervals throughout the day – even while participants slept. Each participant’s blood pressure level was recorded about 72 times.

“We wanted to capture participants’ blood pressure doing whatever they normally do in everyday life,” Holt-Lunstad said. “Getting one or two readings in a clinic is not really representative of the fluctuations that occur throughout the day.”

All participants completed a roster of friends in their social network and answered questions about the quality of those relationships. Married participants also completed questionnaires on the quality of the relationship with their spouses.

With the monitors recording blood pressure both day and night, the researchers could see that blood pressure for married adults – especially those happily married – dipped more during sleep than happens with singles.

“Research has shown that people whose blood pressure remains high throughout the night are at much greater risk of cardiovascular problems than people whose blood pressure dips,” Holt-Lunstad said.

Holt-Lunstad said that spouses can promote healthy habits, such as encouraging each other to see a doctor and to eat healthy. The marriage relationship is also a source of emotional support in good and bad times. Sharing good news, for example, generates positive emotions, which in turn boosts the body’s functioning.

The study was funded by the Anthony Marchionne Foundation, which supports research on the well-being of the never-married. Funding also came from BYU’s Family Studies Center.

A next step in the research for Holt-Lunstad is to study couples participating in marriage counseling to see if improvement in the marriage translates into improved health.

The study is titled “Is There Something Unique about Marriage? The Relative Impact of Marital Status, Relationship Quality, and Network Social Support on Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Mental Health.”

Source: Brigham Young University

Stressed parents 'make kids ill'

2008-03-18T19:56:00.002-06:00

Bad blood may impact on children

Parents with stressful lives may be making their children as well as themselves vulnerable to illness, research suggests.

A University of Rochester study, reported by New Scientist, found sickness levels were higher in children of anxious or depressed parents.

It also found links between stress and immune system activity in the children.

A UK scientist said children were "highly resilient", and urged parents not to worry about the findings.

I believe that children are highly resilient, and their systems are sufficiently robust to cope with this

Dr David Jessop
Bristol University

It has long been known that stress can cause immune system changes that make a person more prone to infections and other illnesses.

However, the new study, first published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, is the first to provide evidence that the problem can be transmitted from parent to child.

The researchers, led by Dr Mary Caserta, followed the parents of 169 children over a three-year period, with the parents recording instances of childhood illness, before undergoing six-monthly psychiatric evaluations.

The total number of illnesses was significantly higher in the children of parents with higher levels of "emotional stress".

In addition, immune cells in the blood of the children was measured, and those with more stressed parents had raised levels.

The researchers conceded that allowing parents to measure the illness in their children could skew the results, as over-anxious parents were more likely to record higher levels.

However, they said that the findings still strongly suggested a connection between parental stress and children's health.

Stress relief

Dr David Jessop, a researcher in stress and health at Bristol University, said that longer-term studies were needed to measure both the immediate impact of the stress, and how children recovered in periods of less parental anxiety.

He said that it would be wrong for the research to worsen the plight of parents already suffering from stress.

"The 64,000 dollar question is, once this stress is alleviated, do the children's immune systems return to normal, or are they scarred for life?

"I believe that children are highly resilient, and their systems are sufficiently robust to cope with this.

"Although it is a good study, parents should not let it worry them unduly."

**********************

This is a good reason to be treat with Acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It is very good at relieving stress.

Do Herbal Remedies Work?

2008-03-16T17:26:00.003-06:00

Today in the Parade magazine there was an article By Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld. The first paragraph sums up the effectiveness of acupuncture from the direct observations of a Wester Medical Doctor.

It's funny how many people, especially doctors will say that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is un-proven and just a placebo. Sorry folks, but after thousands of years of EFFECTIVENESS, it has proven it is NOT a placebo, but a Natural, Safe and Effective form of true health care.

Another interesting fact, is that people accept western anesthesia, however scientist today still don't know exactly how it works. I have been told there are six theories on how it works, but nobody knows for sure. They just know how to make it work. It's the same thing with acupuncture. When we look through the eyes of Western science we don't know exactly how acupuncture works, however we Acupuncturists know how to make it work!

*************************

Published: March 16, 2008

Years ago, I witnessed an open-heart operation at the University of Shanghai in China. The surgeons opened the chest of a young woman using acupuncture as the only “anesthesia.” This experience left me with an open mind about the possibilities of what was then called “alternative medicine.”

Natural remedies have been used for centuries. In fact, many of the prescription drugs we take are plant-based. Some 5 billion people worldwide rely solely on traditional plant-based treatments to heal what ails them, and more than half of Americans take dietary supplements, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Sinus bug antibiotics 'no good'

2008-03-16T11:19:00.002-06:00

Sinusitis can be very painful

Doctors should cut down on antibiotic prescriptions for a common infection because the drugs do not work, researchers say.

Around 90% of people with sinusitis in the UK are prescribed antibiotics.

But an analysis of nine trials published in The Lancet shows the drugs make no difference even if the patient has been ill for more than seven days.

Sinusitis is very common - often occurring after colds or flu - with 1-5% of adults diagnosed every year.

The infection of the sinuses - small air pockets inside the cheekbones and forehead - causes a high temperature, pain and tenderness in the face and forehead, and a blocked or runny nose.

Antibiotics really don't look as if they work

Dr Ian Williamson

Several guidelines advise doctors to prescribe antibiotics only when the patient has been ill for seven to 10 days.

It has been thought that this length of illness may indicate a bacterial rather than viral infection which would be susceptible to antibiotics.

Not justified

The latest research, which looked at how long 2,600 patients were ill before they received treatment, found time of illness is not a good indicator of whether antibiotics will be effective.

Because of side-effects, costs, and the risk of resistance, antibiotics are not justified even if patients have been ill for longer than a week, the researchers concluded.

The figures showed 15 patients would need to be treated before one would be cured with antibiotics.

Study leader, Dr Jim Young, from the Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology in Switzerland, said: "If a patient comes to the GP and says they have had the complaint for seven to 10 days that's not a good enough reason for giving them the antibiotic."

He added it would be reasonable for GPs to advise patients to come back if symptoms got worse or went on for another week.

The National Institute for Clinical and health Excellence (NICE) published draft guidance this week advising GPs not to prescribe antibiotics or issue delayed prescriptions which patients can use if they do not get better.

Co-author, Dr Ian Williamson, a GP in Southampton and researcher at Southampton University, said sinusitis was a horrible condition and people expected to get antibiotics from their GP to help them.

"Antibiotics really don't look as if they work.

"We have found that antibiotics aren't effective for sore throats and ear infections but sinusitis, which is similar, is the one that people are slightly more die hard about."

Professor Steve Field, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said doctors had been working hard to reduce antibiotic use for sinusitis in recent years but there was probably still too many prescribed.

"This gives reassurance to GPs that even if patients have specific symptoms, it's unlikely antibiotics are going to make a dramatic difference."

He those suffering from the infection to relieve symptoms with steam, paracetamol and rest.

"You don't need to see the GP unless you've been ill for a week."

Medications In Drinking Water Prompts Congressional Hearing

2008-03-16T00:17:00.004-06:00

Denver Water Officials: ‘Drinking Water Is Safe’

DENVER -- Two U.S. Democratic senators said they plan to hold hearings in response to an Associated Press investigation into the presence of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies for more than 40 million Americans.

Barbara Boxer and Frank Lautenberg said the oversight hearings would likely be held in April.

And Democratic Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a national task force to investigate the issue and make recommendations to Congress. She said the AP report "raises serious questions about the safety and security of America's water system."

The AP report found that while water is screened for drugs by some suppliers, they usually don't tell their customers that they have found medication in it, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones.

"Denver's water is safe to drink," said Brian Good, Director of Operations for Denver Water.

In a statement, Denver Water said it decided to be proactive and participate in some of the earliest research projects looking for microconstituents (a project with Colorado State University in 2005).

Denver Water said it did not find any estrogenic compounds but did detect trace amounts of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals at part per trillion concentrations.

Good said one part per trillion is equivalent to one drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. "They pale in comparison to the concentrations found in watersheds in other parts of the country," Good told 7NEWS.

“It kind of makes you wonder where the pharmaceuticals are coming from," said Geoff Morneau, as he rode his bike home along Cherry Creek Monday.

Water experts said drugs that are flushed or not fully metabolized make their way to waste water treatment plants and then to rivers.

What we have to understand is, if some of these substances are harmful, at what level are they harmful," said Steve Frank, Public Information Officer for Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, which serves 1.6 million people in the Denver area.

Frank said the trace amounts were not even detectable using measuring technology that existed several years ago.

Good said some fish in Colorado are being negatively affected.“That definitely is enough reason to keep researching to see if this is going to be a problem for people," Good said.The Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement it will continue to support research on the topic.“To date, scientists have found no evidence of adverse human health effects from pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment,” the release stated.Denver Water said it has spent $100,000 in water research.According to the Associated Press story, trace amounts were found in the water supplies of at least 24 major metropolitan areas, from Southern California to northern New Jersey.

*****************************

And this is why I always advocate that everyone should have a RO system at their tap, not the Brita pitchers, etc. but a good RO system. ~ White-Eagle

Chinese medicine 'eases eczema'

2008-03-13T10:25:00.002-06:00

Eczema is linked to inflammatory immune system chemicals

A traditional Chinese herbal medicine consisting of five herbs may ease eczema symptoms, a study suggests.

Researchers found the treatment reduced the need for conventional medicines, and improved the quality of life for young patients with atopic eczema.

The study of 85 patients by the Chinese University of Hong Kong is reported in the British Journal of Dermatology.

However, UK experts warned against using Chinese herbal medicine without first consulting a doctor.

HERBS IN THE MEDICINE

Flos lonicerae (Japanese honeysuckle)

Herba menthae (peppermint)

Cortex moutan (root bark of peony tree)

Atractylodes Rhizome (underground stem of the atractylodes herb)

Cortex phellodendri (Amur cork-tree bark)

Eczema is a group of inflammatory skin disorders that make the skin dry, itchy, flaky, red and sore. In more severe forms the skin can become broken and weep or bleed.

The Hong Kong team assessed the effects of the "pentaherbs formulation" on patients with atopic eczema - the most common type of the disease which affects at least one in ten children.

The capsules contained extracts of five raw herbs based on a widely used ancestral Chinese concoction.

In the study, 85 patients were either given the medicine, or a placebo.

Patients who took the medicine reported that their quality of life improved by a third, while those who took the placebo reported no improvement.

The researchers also found the herbal remedy reduced patients' needs for the conventional treatment of topical steroids by an average of four days a month, compared to just one day a month in the placebo group.

Inflammatory chemicals

Further analysis revealed that patients who took the herbal remedy showed lower blood levels of four proteins thought to have inflammatory effects linked with eczema.

This finding was confirmed in lab tests in which the pentaherbs formulation was added to blood cells in a test tube.

Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: "These early studies show that children with atopic eczema may benefit from a specific concoction of traditional Chinese herbs, which could eventually pave the way for this remedy to find its way into mainstream medicine.

"However, we would warn against using Chinese herbal medications without first speaking to your doctor.

"Some retailers may not be reputable and the product they sell you may be of a low standard or could contain harmful ingredients."

Yao banking on Chinese medicine

2008-03-12T12:04:00.001-06:00

BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese officials are hoping to speed NBA star Yao Ming's recovery with a secret remedy -- traditional Chinese medicine.

The Houston Rockets center underwent surgery on Monday to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. Doctors in the United States said after the surgery that he was expected to recover in time to play for China at the Beijing Olympics in August.

However, back home they're taking no chances with Yao's health.

"After the surgery, Chinese medicine will be used to help Yao Ming's recovery," Hu Jiashi, deputy director of the Chinese Basketball Association, told the Beijing News.

"We've hired medical experts to diagnose Yao Ming's condition and communicate with American doctors and we've reached agreement."

Chinese remedies are widely believed across China to be effective, usually made of herbal compounds that have been used for centuries.

Hu also urged caution.

"Yao Ming's absence from the Olympics is something nobody wants to see," Hu said. "However, we have to listen to the doctors advice. We also need to face reality. If Yao doesn't fully recovered from the injury, he can't give his best performance plus it could hurt his career."

Yao is China's best-known athlete and has contracts with several Olympic sponsors including McDonald's and Coca-Cola. He is believed to earn about $25 million alone in sponsorship deals and is being heavily marketed across China in the run-up to the Games.

Acupuncture increases chances of success in IVF by 65%

2008-03-11T21:25:00.002-06:00

Women undergoing IVF were 65 percent more likely to become pregnant when they combined the procedure with acupuncture, a recent study has shown.

The remarkable success rate occurred across seven acupuncture trials involving 1,366 women in a systematic review and meta-analysis published in a February, 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal.

Acupuncture was delivered either just before or just after embryo transfer – the moment when the embryo fertilized in the laboratory must attach itself to the wall of the womb to establish a pregnancy.

The research was carried out by scientists from the University of Maryland in America and the VU University Amsterdam in Holland. Researchers claim that because acupuncture costs only about $75 per session compared to $6000 to $10,000 per cycle for IVF, it would be a cost effective, safe and efficient way of boosting success rates in fertility treatment.

It is thought that acupuncture stimulates the neurotransmitters that trigger the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, which controls the menstrual cycle and a woman's ovulation.

Acupuncture is also thought to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and boost the production of endogenous opioids, inducing the body to relax.

Acupuncture has been used in China for centuries to regulate fertility. It has also been shown to be an effective treatment for chronic pain as well as many common and uncommon disorders.

Conditions that are commonly treated with acupuncture

Source: British Medical Journal, doi:10.1136/bmj.39471.430451.BE (February 2008)

Acupuncture Relieves Menstrual Pain, Study Finds

2008-03-10T23:39:00.001-06:00

A recent German study published in the February, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology confirms that acupuncture can relieve a woman of her menstrual pain.

In the study, 201 women were randomly assigned to acupuncture or no treatment for menstrual pain, severe cramps and discomfort. The majority of patients receiving acupuncture reported at least a 33 percent improvement in their pain level.

It was observed that after three months of treatment the average pain score was 3.1 in the acupuncture group, compared with 5.4 in the control group, using a pain scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst pain. The treatment included an average of about 10 sessions.

"Patients with chronic dysmenorrhea [menstrual pain] treated with acupuncture as an adjunct to routine care showed significant improvements in pain intensity and quality of life compared to patients who received routine care alone.” Dr. Claudia Witt of Charite University Medical Center in Berlin said.

This study is part of a large acupuncture research initiative of a group of social health insurance funds that provide coverage to approximately 10% of the German population. Until now, women have been using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, to treat menstrual cramps. These drugs, however, come with side effects as mentioned in the report.

Since 2000, the researchers note, Germany’s health insurers have recommended that acupuncture to relieve pain only be covered by insurance if it is delivered as part of a study to investigate its effectiveness.

"Our study showed that acupuncture was beneficial for women if offered as part of the health insurance system," the researchers write in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Based on these findings, the researchers conclude that “acupuncture should be considered as a viable option in the management of these patients.”

Acupuncture is extremely effective at treating menstrual disorders including: painful periods, irregular periods, amenorrhea and PMS.

Source: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 198, Issue 2, Pages 166.e1-166.e8 (February 2008)

Slow Down

2008-02-23T09:58:00.002-07:00

So many people run around their lives like they are in a race to get as much done as they can before they die. This really tends to cause a lot of health destroying stress in their lives. Remember the old saying.... "Take Time To Smell The Roses", there is such wisdom in this lesson.

When I would teach classes in awareness, the first thing I would have a person do is SLOW DOWN. They would start to slow down and walk to the beat of Mother Earth's heartbeat, not the fast beat of modern society. When you slow down, and you really can see this in nature, you notice so much that you've missed before.

I see so many people that seem to be in a hurry in everything they do. They drive fast, walk fast, talk fast, but does this really help them? Even commercials today are selling people on every second counts. But really, if you're a little late in most things will it cause major distress? Sure deadlines are important, but those should come few and far between.

Don't live by crisis mode. That is the reactive life, not a proactive life. Plan, work slow but steady and you'll get where you're going. Fast isn't necessarily the best way. As they say, haste makes waste.

So slow down, experience life, actually experience those things around you, not just speed through them.

Kirstie Alley Does Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

2008-02-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

Now the 57-year-old “Cheers” star has turned to an alternative medical procedure to curb her cravings and lose weight - a regimen featuring acupuncture and herbal medicines. She is going to the Chinese Healing Institute, which uses alternative medicine to treat a variety of health problems, including eating disorders.

“Kirstie has been going to the Institute a couple of times a week. She’s undergoing acupuncture to curb her cravings for unhealthy food, and receiving potent herbal medicines to suppress her appetite,” said her pal.

Acupuncture in Demand By Cancer Patients

2008-02-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

Acupuncture for cancer patients is gaining popularity at a time when medical research on the complementary therapy is also on the rise nationwide, researchers say.

"There has been an explosion of research in the area of acupuncture," says Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., associate professor in M. D. Anderson's Departments of Behavioral Science and Palliative Care & Rehabilitation Medicine, and director of the institution's Integrative Medicine Program. "The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, for instance, awarded a number of grants this past fall to several acupuncture studies. This included a $5.9 million grant to Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, to use neuro-imaging to understand the mechanisms of acupuncture."

At M. D. Anderson, acupuncture services are expanding this month to meet a growing patient demand as well, says Joseph Chiang, M.D., an anesthesiologist and professor in the Department of Anesthesiology who also is an acupuncturist. For the last five years, Chiang has offered acupuncture treatments to patients through a weekly clinic at the cancer center.

To accommodate more people, acupuncture services are moving to the M. D. Anderson's Place of wellness. "The need is much higher than what we could handle before, and most people need more frequent treatments," Chiang says.

Side effects relief

Patients seek acupuncture, he adds, because it gives them varying levels of relief from the effects of cancer treatments.

Those side effects include:

Fatigue
Nausea
Headache
Insomnia
Muscle ache
Constipation and diarrhea
Hiccupping (a side effect of radiation)
Hot flashes (a side effect of chemotherapy)

"Acupuncture will not cure cancer, but it may improve immune function," Chiang says. "It helps patients with those treatment-related side effects so they can continue to receive their cancer treatment. Maybe some side effects can be treated by western medicines, but a lot of times patients are already on so many medicines that they don't want to take more drugs, plus the drugs can be more expensive."

Acupuncture is the practice of piercing specific points on the body with thin needles to unblock "energy" obstructions that can cause discomfort or pain. Touted for thousands of years as a successful traditional Chinese preventive practice and treatment, acupuncture is based upon an ancient practice of regulating qi (pronounced "chee") - the source of energy believed to circulate both inside and outside the body.

Patient issues

Some insurance companies cover the costs of acupuncture, but many do not. Another issue cancer patients need to be aware of is talking to their doctor before receiving acupuncture.

Previous research studies have shown that acupuncture is safe for cancer patients, but some people with special conditions may need to abstain, Chiang says.

Caution should be taken with patients in the following situations:

Heavy chemotherapy dosages
Infection
Skin lesions
Fever
Flap reconstruction
Bone marrow transplants

All M. D. Anderson cancer patients requesting acupuncture must receive a formal referral from their oncologist in order to receive the complementary therapy, Chiang says.

Many cancer patients, in general, feel encouraged to undergo acupuncture treatments due to research that has confirmed its benefits. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Conference conducted in 1997, in fact, stated that clear evidence supports the positive effects of acupuncture in the control of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.

As findings from acupuncture research continue to grow and become public, they fuel interest in cancer patients and the general public. "Every time I speak about acupuncture at M. D. Anderson I receive lots of calls and requests," Chiang says. "In the past I had to turn people away because I didn't have the time to see them. With our added services, now we won't have to do that."

More Good Press for Acupuncture

2008-02-12T17:40:00.003-07:00

Acupuncture May Aid In Vitro Fertilization

Needles Seen To Help Implantation In Studies

Sticking needles in women to help them become pregnant may sound far-fetched, but a scientific review suggests that acupuncture might improve the odds of conceiving if done right before or after embryos are placed in the womb.

The finding is far from proven, and there are only theories for how and why acupuncture might work. However, some fertility specialists say they are hopeful that this relatively inexpensive and simple treatment might ultimately prove to be a useful add-on to traditional methods.

"It is being taken more seriously across our specialty," and more doctors are training in it, said Dr. William Gibbons, who runs a fertility clinic in Baton Rouge, La., and is past president of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. "I have not seen proof ... but we wouldn't mind at all" if it turned out to work, he said.

The analysis was led by Eric Manheimer, a researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and paid for by a federal agency, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Results were published Friday in the British medical journal, BMJ.
Acupuncture involves placing very thin needles at specific points on the body to try to control pain and reduce stress. In fertility treatment, it is thought to increase blood flow to the uterus, relax the cervix and inhibit "fight or flight" stress hormones that can make it tougher for an embryo to implant, Manheimer said.

The analysis pools results from seven studies on 1,366 women in the United States, Germany, Australia and Denmark who are having in vitro fertilization, or IVF. It involves mixing sperm and eggs in a lab dish to create embryos that are placed in the womb.

Women were randomly assigned to receive IVF alone, IVF with acupuncture within a day of embryo transfer, or IVF plus sham acupuncture, in which needles were placed too shallowly or in spots not thought to matter.

Individually, only three of the studies found acupuncture beneficial, three found a trend toward benefit and one found no benefit. When results of these smaller studies were pooled, researchers found that the odds of conceiving went up about 65 percent for women given acupuncture.

Experts warn against focusing on that number, because this type of analysis with pooled results is not proof that acupuncture helps at all, let alone by how much. IVF results in pregnancy about 35 percent of the time. Adding acupuncture might boost that to around 45 percent, the researchers said.

The authors include doctors from the Netherlands and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. One is an acupuncturist but had no role in any studies that were analyzed.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has no policy on acupuncture. "There's been a lot of conflicting research" on its usefulness, said spokeswoman Eleanor Nicoll.

"It looks like, from the body of evidence out there, that some patients benefit," said Dr. James Grifo, head of the infertility program at New York University.

However, Dr. Zev Rosenwaks, director of infertility treatment at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, said other studies, reported at recent medical meetings and not included in the published analysis, did not find it helped.

"The jury is still out," he said, but added, "It's unlikely that acupuncture does any harm."

Dr. Ann Trevino, a 37-year-old family physician who recently moved to Houston, is pregnant and a believer. She had three unsuccessful pregnancy attempts with intrauterine insemination before trying acupuncture with IVF at a fertility clinic in San Antonio where she used to live.
"I had been reading about acupuncture, probably like every other patient on the Internet. I was just willing to do anything possible to improve our chances," she said. With acupuncture, "I just felt very warm and relaxed" when the embryos were placed.

Dr. Francisco Arredondo, who runs Reproductive Medicine Associates of Texas where Trevino was treated, said he started offering acupuncture in October, after patients requested it and because some studies suggested it helped.

Acupuncturist Kirsten Karchmer said she places about a dozen needles in the ears, hands, feet, lower legs, abdomen and sometimes the lower back. It costs $500 a month for treatments twice a week, and patients typically go for three months, she said.

IVF costs around $12,000 per attempt, so a treatment that improves its effectiveness might save money in the long run, Manheimer said.

Why I Have Problems With Western Drugs

2008-02-08T23:42:00.000-07:00

A lot of people ask me why I have so many issues about Western medicine, and why I say it's not Health Care. Well, don't get me wrong, Western Medicine does do a lot of good in many instances, but that's to medicate people that need it because their health is so poor, or to do surgery again when it's necessarily due to severely poor health. However, it's not about HEALTH. This blog gives a good example of what I mean.

I keep seeing these drug commercials on TV, and now they nicely state the side effects of their drugs, but some just really makes me wonder how they can even propose people take the stuff.

Recently I saw a TV commercial for a drug called Aciphex, and it's sold as a way to treat your acid reflux (or GERD). Well, actually it doesn't treat the disease but again just covers it up. What this drug actually does is reduces the acid levels (or pH) in your stomach, so that when you do experience your acid reflux it just doesn't hurt as much or at all. However you're still having the acid reflux, because it was never addressed. Then there are the side effects. They list that the most common is headaches, but can also include these major symptoms:

hives
swelling of your face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat, and trouble swallowing
asthma (wheezing) or other breathing problems such as chest tightness or shortness of breath
shock (loss of blood pressure and consciousness).

Now here is the whole list according to their materials:

Body as a Whole: asthenia, fever, allergic reaction, chills, malaise, chest pain substernal, neck rigidity, photosensitivity reaction. ~ Rare: abdomen enlarged, face edema, hangover effect.

Cardiovascular System: hypertension, myocardial infarct, electrocardiogram abnormal, migraine, syncope, angina pectoris, bundle branch block, palpitation, sinus bradycardia, tachycardia. ~ Rare: bradycardia, pulmonary embolus, supraventricular tachycardia, thrombophlebitis, vasodilation, QTC prolongation and ventricular tachycardia.

Digestive System: diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, dyspepsia, flatulence, constipation, dry mouth, eructation, gastroenteritis, rectal hemorrhage, melena, ano-rexia, cholelithiasis, mouth ulceration, stomatitis, dysphagia, gingivitis, cholecystitis, increased appetite, abnormal stools, colitis, esophagitis, glossitis, pancreatitis, proctitis. ~ Rare: bloody diarrhea, cholangitis, duodenitis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatitis, hepatoma, liver fatty deposit, salivary gland enlargement, thirst.

Endocrine System: hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism.

Hemic & Lymphatic System: anemia, ecchymosis, lymphadenopathy, hypochromic anemia.

Metabolic & Nutritional Disorders: peripheral edema, edema, weight gain, gout, dehydration, weight loss.

Musculo-Skeletal System: myalgia, arthritis, leg cramps, bone pain, arthrosis, bursitis. ~ Rare: twitching.

Nervous System: insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, depression, nervousness, somnolence, hypertonia, neuralgia, vertigo, convulsion, abnormal dreams, libido decreased, neuropathy, paresthesia, tremor. ~ Rare: agitation, amnesia, confusion, extrapyramidal syndrome, hyperkinesia.

Respiratory System: dyspnea, asthma, epistaxis, laryngitis, hiccup, hyperventilation. ~ Rare: apnea, hypoventilation.

Skin and Appendages: rash, pruritus, sweating, urticaria, alopecia. ~ Rare: dry skin, herpes zoster, psoriasis, skin discoloration.

Special Senses: cataract, amblyopia, glaucoma, dry eyes, abnormal vision, tinnitus, otitis media. ~ Rare: corneal opacity, blurry vision, diplopia, deafness, eye pain, retinal degeneration, strabismus.

Urogenital System: cystitis, urinary frequency, dysmenorrhea, dysuria, kidney calculus, metrorrhagia, polyuria. ~ Rare: breast enlargement, hematuria, impotence, leukorrhea, menorrhagia, orchitis, urinary incontinence.

Now don't you think these side effects are as bad or worse than what you're being treated for? And for what? Just to have your acid levels dropped so your reflux doesn't hurt. So you can have some major side effects (and if you didn't know it, a myocardial infarct means part of your heart muscle dies, and is another name for a heart attack), leading to a worse state of health and the issue you had in the first place hasn't even been treated.

So why Chinese Medicine? Because we don't just cover up your symptoms but treat the root cause and help the body to do it's own healing. The side effect is overall better health, vitality and longevity.