Recharging your Batteries

Well it seems as though most people are on the path to total burn out myself included. I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone of the importance of recharging your batteries, filling your soul, smelling the flowers etc. So I cannot stress how important it is to make sure that you are taking the time that you need at least once a week to do something that you love,spend quality time with friends and family and recharge. Some people recharge with sitting down for some quiet time reading, riding their bikes, walking in the forest etc. I encourage you to make a list of the top five things that bring you the most joy, love and effortless smiles in your life. Now really stop reading this and make a list. Now when was the last time that you did one or all of these things? If it has been to long than it is time to change those priorities and make recharging your soul and finding your happiness a real priority.
Not so long ago I was listening to some Brian Tracy a great person to listen to if you are interested in goal setting and well I think just being a better and more aware person. Anyway he was talking about sitting down and writing out what your goals are on one piece of paper. On a second piece of paper writing out your goals as if money was of no hindrance and you could do what ever you wanted. On the third piece of paper making a list of what your goals would be if you found out that you only had six months to live. I found the third list to be the hardest myself, with a limited time what could I cram into this list? He suggests that you then look at these three lists and see if there are some common goals between the three. If you are not working towards the goals on the third list now you really need to re-evaluate what is important to you and start recharging and fulfilling your goals now.
It is almost that time of the year in which the new years resolutions come out and the drive to be better is in full force. I hope that you will take the time to make these three lists for yourself and focus on taking the time to fulfill your soul and recharge your batteries.  We look forward to hearing all of your plans to recharge your own souls and to make this the best life that you have.
Happy new year!

Acupuncture Relieves Chemotherapy Induced Neuropathic Pain

A recent study performed at the Hamburg school of medicine in Germany shows that Acupuncture has been proven through Randomized clinical control study to increase nerve conduction in patients with Chemo-Induced Neuropathic Pain (CINP).  Neuropathic pain is described as when the nerve fibers themselves may be damaged, injured or idiopathic in origin. These damaged nerve fibers then send incorrect or wrong signals to other pain centers in the body. Nerve injury includes a change in nerve function not only at the site of injury but in areas around the injury as well.
The study performed by the British Medical Journal and Acupuncture in Medicine found “an improvement in the nerve conduction study after treatment in five of the six patients treated with acupuncture. In the control group, one patient showed improvement, one showed impairment, and three showed no difference in the nerve conduction study. ‘The data suggest that acupuncture has a positive effect on CIPN as measured by objective parameters nerve conduction study” (Lowry 2011). As acupuncture moves further into the medical arena it is becoming clearer how effective and how beneficial it is in many disciplines and specialties in medicine.
People suffering from CINP and other nerve related injuries or diseases can now find clinically proven treatments for their pain through acupuncture. This is a great option as it does not have the negative side effects of many drugs or the potential for addiction or abuse. Many people suffering from nerve related pain also find that they become tolerant to their medication and that they no longer provide relief from their pain any longer. Lowry finalizes the research by stating that "this pilot study shows encouraging results for the application of acupuncture in CIPN.”
One of the researchers in the study Dr. Schroeder reports that "It has been shown that acupuncture may increase the blood flow in the limbs," he said, explaining how acupuncture might work in this condition. "Increased blood flow to the vasa nervorum and dependent capillary beds supplying the neurons may contribute to nerve repair with measurable improvement of axons or myelin sheaths" (Lowry 2011). This potential mechanism of action also explains how acupuncture could help other injuries and problem areas in the human body.  The increase in blood flow will help to allow the body’s own healing mechanisms to reach the injured area more quickly. Like many things in medicine we do not completely know how acupuncture benefits the body, what we do know for fact and through proven medical and clinical studies is that it does work. You can read the article and get more information at this website http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/25131
If you know of any of the one in five Americans that has some type of cancer and is experiencing CINP or anyone who is having nerve pain make sure you make them aware of the acupuncture option in their care, it may just be the best thing that they have tried for their pain.

Healthy Holiday Tips

how to enjoy the holidays with a few healthy tips

How to find peace and well-being during this festive (and hectic!) time of year
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…it’s also the season of heartburn, headaches and hangovers. So, as you enjoy the season, be sure to keep your health in mind. Here are 10 healthy holiday tips that can help keep you feeling your best.
# 1. Get your sleep – the best case scenario is to get a full eight hours of sleep a night. Sometimes, especially during a hectic holiday season, that’s just not possible. So, to ensure that the sleep you do get is as high quality as possible, try to refrain from watching TV right before turning in and don’t eat a heavy meal in the two hours leading up to going to bed.
#2. Drink your water – dehydration can cause fatigue and poor concentration, which can slow you down anytime, but definitely during the holidays. Doctors recommend that you drink eight glasses of water a day. It helps keep you hydrated, flush toxins from your vital organs and keeps your body’s systems running smoothly.
#3. Get some sunshine – while we’ve come a long way in sun block protection and reducing sunburn (and its harmful and even cancerous effects), humans now are exposed to less sunshine than any other time in history. Because vitamin D is such a critical vitamin and sunshine is the primary source, there are now unprecedented levels of vitamin D deficiency. So, be smart about your sun protection, but get outside and get some vitamin D.
#4. Eat Healthy – One of the best ways to feel (and be!) healthy is to eat healthy. Instead of trying to cut out a whole class of foods (eating no fats, for example), it’s best to eat a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. A good rule of thumb is also to eat a variety of foods with different rich colors (think dark green spinach, purple eggplant and orange carrots).
#5. Don’t overindulge when it comes to food – this tip builds on #4. For many families, the holidays mean food…a lot of food. Many doctors recommend that you eat until you feel 70-80% full, not “stuffed.” By not-overdoing it, you will be far more likely to avoid heartburn, indigestion and the five holiday pounds that often sneak in!
#6. Toast to the season, but don’t take too many sips – many doctors agree that there are health benefits associated with alcohol – especially red wine – in moderation. But, if the holidays have taught us anything, it’s that there can be too much of a good thing. So, if you are sipping red wine, egg nog or your favorite holiday cocktail, pace yourself.
#7. Don’t forget to move – everyone knows that getting your exercise can reduce your stress, keep your heart healthy and keep your weight in check. It’s also a great way to enjoy the holidays. Walk around your neighborhood. See the lights. Say hi to your neighbors. Maybe even give your dog some holiday exercise. Everyone will be happier.
#8. Acupuncture – I see a lot of harried patients around the holidays that find relief after acupuncture. If the season gets to be too much, a licensed acupuncture expert can help customize a treatment regimen that eases pain, decreases stress or even helps you sleep better.
#9. Relax, slow down and enjoy – Remember that one of the best ways to keep your body healthy is to keep it relaxed and de-stressed. Breathe. Take a moment for yourself. Clear you mind. This will undoubtedly help you enjoy the holidays a bit more.
# 10. Spend time with family and friends – the holidays are about a lot of things, but one of the most important is your family and friends. Make sure to spend time with them and enjoy the season!

Probiotics and your health

The internal battle.

A Healthy body and immune system is truly dependent upon the bodies friends, those healthy bacteria which live in our digestive system and help us to break down food and have a healthy immune system.  A recent Cochrane Review reported that, “probiotics were better than placebo in reducing the number of participants experiencing episodes of acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and reducing antibiotic use. This indicates that probiotics may be more beneficial than placebo for preventing acute URTIs. However, the results have some limitations and there were no data for older people” (Cochrane 2011).  This information is crucial to battling infections and improving our immune systems.
So what are probiotics? Well probiotics are actually healthy bacteria that are naturally found in our digestive tracts.  We kill these healthy bacteria when we are sick and we take antibioti
cs which destroy the bacteria that make us sick but will also destroy our healthy bacteria.
We can replenish or boost our healthy bacteria through foods or through supplementation.  The food route includes eating healthy fermented foods like Kimche, sourkruat and yogurt. Also we can increase our healthy bacteria through drinking fermented beverages including Kvass and Kombucha.

Holiday Stress and Acupuncture

November 28th, 2011 Sharon

Let’s face it, while they are indeed “merry & bright”, the holidays can also be a stressful time of the year. Big spending, big eating and big chunks of time with family, work colleagues and friends can be a volatile mix and can wreak havoc on your ability to keep cool, calm and collected.
With consumer spending confidence at a decade low, the stock market see-sawing wildly and the Occupy Wall Street movement occupying the national psyche, this year may be even more stressful than years past. So, let’s think about how acupuncture and Oriental Medicine might help lighten your load and make the holidays festive again…
There are growing numbers of people and organizations that are turning to Oriental Medicine and, specifically, acupuncture as a safe and effective stress reliever.
In 2010, the Wall Street Journal wrote a great article about how “U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army doctors are using acupuncture to treat musculoskeletal problems, pain and stress in stateside hospitals and combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.” The piece continued on to talk about how “delegations from Acupuncturists Without Borders are holding communal ear-needling sessions to reduce stress among earthquake victims in Haiti.”
Additionally, a 2003 study conducted at the Yale University School of Medicine and presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting that year showed that mothers that were given acupuncture when their children were going into surgery had less anxiety. Experts said that this was key because when parents are less anxious, there is less anxiety in children.
So, as you kick off this joyous time of year, remember to take a few moments to breathe. If relieving your stress is on your holiday list of To Dos, you may want to consider an acupuncture session with a licensed practitioner. It could be the best gift you receive this season.
Happy Holidays!

Acupuncture for lower back pain

There is no shortage of people who suffer from lower back pain. The research tells us time and time again that Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for lower back pain. Now a recent study in the Journal of Complementary Medicine concluded that “patients with LBP (Lower Back Pain) were less likely to visit physicians for LBP after acupuncture treatment. This led to reduced health services spending on LBP” (Moritz et al). This study looked at 2000 patient records in the socialized healthcare system of Canada to see who was treated with acupuncture for lower back pain and who then followed up with medical care from their physician. The study shows that people treated with acupuncture were less likely to see their physician after the acupuncture for the care of their lower back pain. Not only does this study show us the effectiveness for acupuncture in treating lower back pain, it also shows us that it is cost effective to the healthcare system as well.
Remember that the worst thing that you can do is to not treat you lower back and to allow the pain to just get worse. It is our heartfelt philosophy that you should try everything until you find something that works for you. Follow the research.

Works Cited.

Sabine Moritz, Ming F. Liu, Badri Rickhi, Tracy J. Xu, Patricia Paccagnan, and Hude Quan. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. November 2011, 17(11): 1015-1019. doi:10.1089/acm.2010.0619.

Acupuncture and your Immune System

acupuncture can help strengthen the immune system

As you may know, acupuncture has been in use for more than 2,000 years – and over a decade here at Empirical Point in Philadelphia – and is more and more being used for the treatment of common conditions and ailments like stress, pain and immune system disorders. When the immune system is overstimulated, your body reacts (as in a seasonal allergy reaction) and can be calmed by acupuncture. At the other end of the immunity continuum, you have a weakened immune system. Several important recent studies show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients looking to address this weakened state and strengthen their immune systems.
When it comes to cancer and the immune system, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has cited numerous preclinical studies that suggest that acupuncture can reduce vomiting caused by chemotherapy and may help the immune system be stronger during chemotherapy. The NCI has also highlighted animal studies that support the use of electroacupuncture to relieve cancer pain and that additional preclinical research has examined how acupuncture works for cancer treatment, including the role of acupuncture in stimulating immune functions. The NCI also talks about human studies and the effect of acupuncture on cancer patients, saying that it has “shown that it changes immune system response” and “boosts immune system activity.”
BreastCancer.org also provides patients with information about managing their cancer and states that “researchers propose that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to release natural painkillers and immune system cells. They then travel to weakened areas of the body and relieve symptoms.” In addition to this immune system response, BreastCancer.org outlines that recent studies show that acupuncture may help fight fatigue, control hot flashes, help decrease nausea, reduce vomiting and lessen pain.
Additionally, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports acupuncture research by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School, that has shown “physiological effects – changes in the brain’s pain centers – with acupuncture…gene expression and molecular changes in the nervous and immune systems.”
There is a growing wealth of research and data pointing to the real and significant impact of acupuncture on the immune system. Here at my practice, I see patients from all over the Philadelphia region who are also seeing these benefits. This increase in measurable effect along with the growing use of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine could translate into broader acceptance of this centuries-old practice in the future.

Headaches & Migraines — How Chinese Medicine Can Help

acupuncture and Chinese medicine relieve migraines

For those people that suffer regular headaches or chronic migraines, the pain and discomfort can be debilitating. But, acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment that can offer relief. In fact, there is a wealth of information available that outlines the effect acupuncture can have on reducing headaches and migraines. One study in the British Medical Journal followed a group of 400 patients suffering from headaches – half of the patients received acupuncture treatments. A year later, researchers found that the patients that received acupuncture treatments experienced 22 fewer days with headaches, used 15% less medication, made 25% fewer visits to their doctor and took 15% fewer days off sick from work than the patients that did NOT receive acupuncture.
Migraines can be particularly painful and can render a patient unable to participate in daily activities or go to school or work. Acupuncture treatments and herbal medicine regimens that are customized to each patient’s needs can make a huge difference. Working with individual patients to determine their headache profile, migraine triggers, optimal diet and the most effective treatment approach is one way Chinese Medicine experts can help minimize the strain and pain this condition can have. Here’s an interesting online resource from the University of Maryland Medical Center with more useful information about foods, triggers and treatments.

Acupuncture May Help Treat Depression In Expectant Mothers

According to a new study, acupuncture may be an effective way to treat depression in pregnant women.

Currently, nearly 20 percent of women report symptoms of despair during pregnancy, while approximately 10 percent meet the criteria for major depression. Coping with the disorder can be extremely difficult for many women who do not want to take anti-depressants during pregnancy out of concern for the developing fetus.

“Depression during pregnancy is an issue of concern because it has negative effects on both the mother and the baby as well as the rest of the family,” said study author Rosa Schnyer.

In the study, a total of 150 pregnant women meeting the standards for major depressive disorder were separated into three groups. One-third of the respondents were given acupuncture specific for depression, another one-third was given control or “sham” acupuncture and the others were treated only with massage.

The researchers found that the women who received depression-specific acupuncture experienced a significantly greater decrease in symptoms related to the disorder.

Acupuncture may also be used to help alleviate symptoms associated with headaches, lower back pain and menstrual cramps.

Infertility & Acupuncture

acupuncture helps increase fertility

A common and devastating condition that many people are coping with today is infertility – for couples trying to start or expand a family, the stress and frustration of dealing with infertility can be devastating and can make conceiving even more difficult. While by no means a “cure all” for infertility, acupuncture has been clinically shown to help increase the chances of success for some fertility treatments and can help treat conditions associated with fertility issues like hypo- or hyperthyroidism.
Often asked about information regarding infertility and acupuncture – and there’s a LOT out there. Our recommendation and opinion is that people closely review the literature and studies to really understand the facts. Here are a few resources and studies that we find helpful:
The American Pregnancy Association cites acupuncture, along with Chinese herbal medicine treatments as a centuries-old treatment for infertility. The Association offers some tips and information about acupuncture treatments to increase fertility here.
WebMD discusses acupuncture’s role in treating infertility and how it has been shown to increase the chances of success for in vitro fertilization here. WebMD also cites a recent medical study, illustrating the beneficial results of acupuncture for women undergoing IVF:
Indeed, in a study of 160 women, published April 2002 in the reproductive journal Fertility and Sterility, a group of German researchers found that adding acupuncture to the traditional IVF treatment protocols substantially increased pregnancy success.
Also, it’s important to note that not only women benefit from acupuncture when trying to increase fertility. In fact, a 1999 study published in Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine showed that men struggling with low fertility due to reduced sperm activity that received acupuncture treatments showed a significantly higher and improved fertility index (total functional sperm fraction, percentage of viability, total motile spermatozoa and integrity of axonema) than men who did not receive acupuncture treatment.
So, if you are trying to conceive, acupuncture can be a beneficial treatment, but please take the time to learn more about exactly HOW it can help and to determine if it’s a fit for you. It will be important to discuss your expectations and timelines with a licensed acupuncturist or Chinese Medicine practitioner to be certain that their treatment recommendations and protocols match up with your time and budget.

Oriental Medicine & Prostate Cancer

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help side effects of prostate cancer treatment

With more than 2 million survivors of prostate cancer in the U.S., it’s important to recognize that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month. It’s even more important when you realize that 1 out of every 6 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Thankfully, prostate cancer can be successfully treated for many patients with care ranging from “watchful waiting” to surgery and chemotherapy to hormone therapy. In addition to these approaches, many doctors are increasingly seeing the benefits of Oriental Medicine, including acupuncture, to help patients manage their overall health and treat some of the common side effects associated with their treatments.
For example, acupuncture has been shown to help alleviate cancer pain and the nausea associated with chemotherapy treatments. Also, a recent study published in International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics showed that acupuncture helped relieve the hot flashes that can be associated with prostate cancer surgery or hormone treatment.
In addition to acupuncture, the University of Maryland Medical Center outlines on its website select herbal medicine treatments that have shown promise for prostate cancer patients. These include:
Green tea – green tea extract has been shown to provide a slight benefit in certain types of prostate cancer
Milk Thistle – in a lab test, milk thistle was shown to stop prostate cancer cells from growing; these results have not yet been confirmed in human patients
Garlic – taking garlic extract has been shown to help fight cancer cells
Remember, a licensed practitioner of Oriental Medicine will help develop a custom and comprehensive treatment regimen for each patient, including acupuncture and herbal remedies.

Acupuncture Proves Better Than Common Medication for Migraines.

A recent study published in Cephalgia concluded that, Acupuncture treatments was significant better than that of the common pharmacological therapy of Topiramate (Maxalt). The researchers showed that, “A significantly larger decrease in the mean monthly number of moderate/severe headache days (primary end point) from 20.2 ± 1.5 days to 9.8 ± 2.8 days was observed in the acupuncture group compared with 19.8 ± 1.7 days to 12.0 ± 4.1 days in the topiramate group (p < .01) Significant differences favoring acupuncture were also observed for all secondary efficacy variables. These significant differences still existed when we focused on those patients who were overusing acute medication. Adverse events occurred in 6% of acupuncture group and 66% of topiramate group” (Yang). What this tells us is that the Acupuncture group had a decrease of headache days on average of 11 less days of headache compared to the Maxalt group which had a decrease of only 7 days.
Acupuncture has no known side effects from treatment if performed correctly. Maxalt has the following list of potential side effects: Serious Reactions including coronary vasospasm, myocardial ischemia, MI, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, arrhythmias, life-threatening, HTN, severe hypertensive crisis, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, peripheral vascular ischemia, intestinal ischemia and serotonin syndrome.
Common Reactions: dizziness, somnolence, asthenia, fatigue, nausea, paresthesias, chest pain/pressure/tightness, jaw pain/pressure/tightness, neck pain/pressure/tightness and dry mouth.
Acupuncture may not work for you but the research states that it is clearly worth the try. Our philosophy is that you should try everything until you find what works best for you. Given the long list of potential and common side effects of Maxalt it seems logical to try Acupuncture first. What I suggest to people is that they give it a try along with lifestyle change for 2-4 weeks and see how they are feeling.
References:
Yang, C-P.  Acupuncture versus topiramate in chronic migraine prophylaxis: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Cephalalgia October 21, 2011

Staying Focused on Your Goals

How often we set goals and we get very excited about them. We can see ourselves having or living the fantastic dream and then we face an obstacle. What happens then, in most of the time, is that we concentrate on the obstacle. We analyze it, look at it from different angles and soon instead of concentrating on our objective, that is our dream, we get engulfed by the obstacle. By doing that we made the obstacle grow to a size of a mountain, and we lose sight of our goal. It is like driving a car, paying attention to the road which leads us to the destination – our goal, and suddenly having a big bug splashing on our windshield, just in front of our eyes. We try to concentrate on the road and there it is, that big spot, just in the middle of our view.  It is just a bug, and we can still see where we are going, yet for many people that bug takes over and soon it feels to them like the whole windshield is covered with it.
My advice to you is: concentrate on the road to your goal and forget the bug. Don’t let the bug, bug your life. After all it is only a bug. Don’t let the dead bug control YOUR life!

Nothing happens until something moves

“Nothing happens until something moves.” – Albert Einstein.
How true! You can set the most magnificent goal, you can have the most amazing dream, but if you don’t act on it nothing is going to happen. Thinking and acting are two lines of the same highway. You can not achieve your dream without the right thinking, but the right thinking is not enough to get you to your dream. You have to act on it!
Imagine you are a fisherman or fisherwoman. You decided you are going to have the most successful day in your life and you are going to catch many fish. You are all excited as you know how to think in the right way. You go to your living room, set on your couch and you think positively. You think that you are catching  so many fish, so many  At the end of the day you look around and you ask yourself, “Where are the fish?” No, fish. You see, you can not get it by thinking only. In order for you to get catch the fish, you have to go and get your boat and go to the sea, and you have to do all the necessary things in order to catch them. It is not going to happen by itself.
There are two basic ingredients of success; right thought and action, and you have to apply both in order to succeed. So, remember, thinking in a right way is great, but “Nothing happens until something moves.”

Could Acupuncture be the Key to Aging Gracefully?

acupuncture for joint pain

Growing older – we all do it. Some of us more begrudgingly than others. As time marches on, joints begin to ache, energy can fade and the face looking back at us in the mirror every morning can look…well…older.
As we age, everyone wants to stay healthy and with September being Healthy Aging Month, I thought I’d share with you a few of the acupuncture treatments that have been long-used and successfully proven to help keep us healthy longer.
Aches & Pains
As we get older, our joints and muscles get older, too. They remind us of this with sharp pains or dull aches. Numerous studies have shown that acupuncture treatments can help alleviate chronic pain like joint aches, arthritis and muscle strain. In fact, one of my specializations is in treating patients with chronic pain – there are so many people suffering from it and acupuncture has been shown to be so effective.
Energy
Recent studies of acupuncture have shown that it can be very effective in treating some of the side effects associated with cancer and traditional cancer treatments, including fatigue. Acupuncture treatments are widely used in these patients, as well as those suffering from depression, chronic fatigue or just a diminishing energy level to increase blood flow and boost energy.
Wrinkles & Appearance
Wrinkles, sagging skin, under eye circles – no one likes these hallmarks of getting older. But, as it increases blood circulation and helps to balance the body’s internal systems, many people have found that acupuncture can help reduce the look of lines, increase skin’s firmness and improve skin tone and texture.
So, go, enjoy the adventures, memories

New Research Into The Mind and Body Connection of Acupuncture.

New research into the Acupuncture point Pericardium 6 “NeiGuan” concludes that it has a clear interaction with the brain and the body through functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).  The study conducted at Harvard Medical School showed that, “The MRI imaging showed that true acupuncture yielded greater activity over sham acupuncture in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex of the brain. Real acupuncture produced significantly “greater activity in both cognitive/evaluative (posterior dmPFC) and emotional/interoceptive (anterior dmPFC) cortical regions” and the MRI results showed that true acupuncture “increased cognitive load.” [1] The continued research being done on the mind body connection and the efficacy of Acupuncture is truly showing the world what a great and safe form of therapy Acupuncture really is. The treatment of the many conditions that Acupuncture has and is proving to be effective for is growing with every study.
Acupuncture point P-6 NeiGuan is traditionally indicated for : “Heart pain, sudden Heart pain, stuffiness of the chest with agitation of the Heart, palpitations, pounding sensation of the Heart, disorders of Heart rate and rhythm, pain of the lateral costal region and Heart in women, pain of the lateral costal region, cough, asthma.  Insomnia, mania, poor memory, apprehension, fear and fright, sadness, loss of memory and hypertension. Nausea, vomiting, hiccup, epigastric pain, stabbing epigastric pain, low-grade abdominal pain.” [2] The efficacy of this point has been proven with both scientific examination conducted through fMRI and patient feedback studies.
What this tells us is that modern research through the use of fMRI now concludes that the actual needling of P-6 does in fact have a reaction in the brain. Clinically we use this point to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, motion sickness, anxiety, fear, and hypertension. I am always pleased when Sham Acupuncture is proven less effective that actually point located Acupuncture. There is a true mind body connection between Acupuncture points and there therapeutic functions in the body.  It is true that we are really waiting for modern science to catch up to Acupuncture in its clinical ability to treat patience for specific ailments. This point has shown its efficacy through time and study. The greatness of this point is that you can treat yourself with Acupressure and elicit some of the same effects. Acupressure has not been shown to have the same efficacy however; it is still an effective point to massage for; Nausea related to pregnancy and motion sickness, anxiety and depression.

How Acupuncture can help the effects of Chemotherapy

How Acupuncture can help the effects of Chemotherapy. Most of you all know my philosophy, “Try everything until you find what works best for you.” It is estimated that 11 million people across the country are suffering or diagnosed with one form of cancer or another. The effects of the treatment of cancer can sometimes be far worse than the patient or their family ever thought. Acupuncture has been used for since the invention of chemotherapy to treat the side effects of the chemotherapy. Many hospitals are even adding Acupuncture to their provided services to help those people going through chemotherapy. Here is a great news article about Acupuncturists working in hospitals, http://www.nbc-2.com/story/15696599/health-matters-using-acupuncture-for-side-effects-of-chemotherapy. The most common side effects of chemotherapy as reported by the National Cancer Institute include; Anemia, Appetite Changes, Bleeding Problems, Constipation, Diarrhea, Fatigue (Feeling Weak and Very Tired), Mouth and Throat Changes, Nausea and Vomiting, Nerve Changes, Pain, and Swelling. Many people are affected by these common side effects however, many people do not know that Acupuncture can effectively help those patients manage or resolve the life limiting side effects of chemotherapy. Recent research in the Journal of Complimentary Therapies in Medicine concluded that, “Acupuncture shows great potential in the management of cancer-related fatigue” (Molassiotis). It has also been studied from the department of Oncology in Hamburg Germany that, “Acupuncture as applied here seems to be effective in preventing nausea and vomiting in pediatric cancer patients” (Gottschling). The research is clear that Acupuncture can help those people suffering from the effects of chemotherapy and improve their quality of life as well as to limit their negative effects from the chemotherapy. One of the most common and proven effects of Acupuncture for chemotherapy is the decrease in Nausea reported from chemotherapy patients. In fact this is one of the main reasons health insurance companies cover Acupuncture for the treatment of the side effects of chemotherapy is because of the exhaustive research on the effectiveness of Acupuncture to resolve or manage the nausea caused by chemotherapy. If the evidence supports the use why not use it? If you know of anyone suffering the effects of chemotherapy let them know that there is help out there. Again, our philosophy is that you should try everything until you find what works best for you.

What is Anxiety? - Here are the Symptoms, Causes, Types, Treatments and Acupuncture

What is anxiety? In acupuncture and Chinese medicine, anxiety is understood as a frequent and normal reaction to life or sickness, or to receiving treatment and to the health care system itself. Typically, it is a response to a perceived threat, such as having an operation in hospital.

For some people, anxiety can also be a filter for their perceptions and reactions. For others, it may be part of their illness.

The definition of anxiety is explained as a vague, uneasy feeling. The source of the anxious feeling is often non-specific, or unknown, to the individual.

This vague or uneasy feeling can be associated with an anticipation of impending danger and dread to the extent that normal functioning is impaired. It is accompanied by restlessness, tension, tachycardia, and breathing difficulty – all of these not associated with an apparent stimulus.. This reaction may be expressed as a panic disorder, a phobia, or a compulsion.

n general, an anxious person tend to sit tensely or edgily, they can fidget with their fingers or fiddle with things such as clothes or keys. They may sigh frequently, lick their lips which are dry, they sweat more than average and they can actually tremble.
But some anxious people can fall silent, they may be unable to speak freely or confide in other people. Some try to convert their feelings with words, but in the process they busily avoid their own basic problems.

Anxiety State

If you experience physiologic changes such as sweating, tremors, rapid heartbeat, dilated pupils and dry mouth, then you’ve entered an “anxiety state.” When you are in this state, your body also produces a mental and/or emotional reaction characterised by apprehension, uncertainty and irrational fear.
In children, anxiety can elevate their body temperature.
In the acupuncture and Chinese medicine tradition it is considered that a brief and mild feeling of anxiety is common for the majority of people. It is a normal reaction for the body to respond to stress with an anxiety state; this occurs when you are faced with an important event such as an examination, a job interview, meeting the parents of a loved one for the very first time. However, if the symptoms reoccur too often or they start to interfere with your daily life, then you should see a doctor.
You should note that when the condition becomes chronic and associated with worry, it is termed Generalized Anxiety Disorder whereas if it is acute severe episodic anxiety, it is termed Panic Anxiety.
For more information on anxiety, look below for more for more of a detailed explanation of the below topics.

• Physical symptoms of anxiety
• Causes of anxiety
• Treatment of anxiety

Kinds of Anxiety

The following are some of the types of anxiety.

• Generalised anxiety disorder or “free-floating” anxiety
• Situational anxiety
• Performance anxiety
• Panic anxiety
• Castration anxiety (anxiety complex)

If you feel you'd like to receive treatment for your stress or anxiety, please contact us.

*Below is a further explanation of what is described above

The Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

The physical symptoms of anxiety in acupuncture and Chinese medicine is not isolated to just physical (somatic) manifestations but also mental (cognitive), both of which can affect emotional wellbeing.Physical symptoms are:

• Tremor
• Sweating
• Palpitations
• Chest pain
• Breathlessness
• Gastro-intestinal problems such as diarrhoea
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Poor concentration
• Insomnia
• And others such as Pacing back and forth

In contrast, the psychological or mental manifestations are:

• Apprehension
• Irritability
• Fear of impending disaster
• Depersonalisation
• And others such as worrying, intrusive thoughts

Defining Characteristics

The defining characteristics may be subjective or objective.
Subjective characteristics include increased tension, apprehension, persistent increased helplessness and feelings of uncertainly, inadequacy, fear, over-excitability, distress, worry, and impending doom.
Objective characteristics include increased heart rate, dilated pupils, restlessness, insomnia, glancing about, poor eye contact, trembling, facial tension, quivering voice, self focus, increased perspiration, and expressed concern regarding life events.
Note also that some people can hyperventilate when anxious. Hyperventilation can be episodic and can often be recurrent.
This hyperventilation is over-breathing - with resultant respiratory alkalosis and fall in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood. Breathing in and out of a paper or plastic bag sometimes helps.

Causes of Anxiety and Panic Anxiety Attack in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

The causes of anxiety: In my acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine practice, the following factors have been recognised as sources of anxiety:

• an unconscious conflict regarding essential values or goals of life
• threat to self concept
• threat of death
• threat to or of change in health status, the environment, or interaction patterns
• situational or maturational crises
• interpersonal transmission of contagion, and
• unmet needs.

Any one or more of the abovementioned can trigger an anxiety attack.
You should also know there are medical conditions that mimic anxiety disorders and they are:

• alcohol withdrawl
• hypoglycaemia (reduced amount of glucose in the blood)
• hyperthyroidism (hyperactive thyroid gland)
• paroxysmal arrhythmias (episodic severity of disturbed electrical rhythm of the heart)
• temporal lobe epilepsy (convulsive seizures arising from malfunctions in the temporal lobe of the brain)
• phaeochromocytoma (a tumour, quite rare, of chromaffin tissue which secretes catecholamines that causes high blood pressure)

Anxiety attack or Anxiety panic attack

For many people, an anxiety attack or an anxiety panic attack can occur at any time. An anxiety attack is described as an acute, psycho-biologic reaction manifested by intense anxiety and panic.
The symptoms you can experience are:

• palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, faintness, profuse sweating, pallor of the face and extremities, GI discomfort and a vague feeling of imminent doom or death.

Attacks usually occur suddenly, last for a few seconds to an hour or longer, and vary in frequency from several times a day to once a month.
One way to help a person with an acute anxiety attack is to reassure the person or separate the individual from the anxiety-producing situations.
If necessary, a western medical doctor could administer a sedative. For severe anxiety disorder, it is suggested that the individual receive appropriate psychotherapy to identify the stresses that are perceived as threatening.

Acupuncture and treatment of anxiety disorders, anti anxiety medications and natural treatments

Depending on the severity of the symptoms and the duration of the anxiety, a choice of acupuncture, Chinese herbs or drug therapy can be very helpful in the treatment of anxiety.Anti-anxiety medications or drugs belong to the anxiologic class of drugs, such as barbiturates, benzodiazepines and busperone.
During an acute anxiety attack, a western medical doctor could administer a sedative. But it is suggested that sufferers receive appropriate psychotherapy to identify the stresses that are perceived as threatening.

Drugs for anxiety or Anti anxiety medications

Adverse side effects can be experienced with various pharmaceutical drugs that are normally prescribed for anxiety disorders. For your information, therapy can include the following groups of drugs:

• Antidepressant drugs – have been indicated for anxiety disorders
• Benzodiazepines such as diazepam – have been used widely for treating insomnia and anxiety when symptoms are expected to last no longer than a few weeks. Withdrawl symptoms may occur if the drug is stopped abruptly.
• Beta Blocking drug such as propranolol - this is prescribed when the peripheral somatic symptoms of anxiety are prominent with tremor and palpitations

Natural treatments for anxiety

Some patients have successfully attempted to control or reduce their levels of anxiety. Anxiety control is achieved by taking control of one self, by taking personal actions to eliminate or reduce the feelings of apprehension and tension. Anxiety reduction is achieved by minimising apprehension, dread, foreboding or uneasiness. Keep in mind that these symptoms can be related to an un-identified source of anticipated danger.
Various relaxation and breathing methods, self healing exercises and mental self control techniques are helpful. It is suggested that natural therapies such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and self healing techniques, for example tai chi classes or lessons or dao yin qi gong healing exercises can be very effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders because there are no adverse side effects to treatment. These exercises are excellent because suffers learn to take control of their own mental, physical and emotional state.

Herbal remedies for anxiety or Natural anxiety medication

As a natural remedy for anxiety, there are a large number of herbs that are effective in treatment but success depends on correct diagnosis and a herbal mixture formulated to suit each individual.
This individualised diagnosis and treatment is the key to Chinese medicine because no two individuals are alike. For example, even if two anxious individuals manifest the same symptoms, their treatments would vary because each individual’s constitution, lifestyle, diet, medical history, and family history would be different. So a herbal formula is prepared to suit each individual’s picture. Therefore, an experienced doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine should be chosen.

Acupuncture - Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Symptoms

Although acupuncture and Chinese medicine regard anxiety and worry as part of universal human experiences, they become medically significant if they are dis-proportionate to stresses or persist after these have been resolved. So this persistence can become chronic thus affecting functioning and general health and wellbeing.Anxiety can appear unexpectedly. It can also be common with stress or during early stages of illness and it usually subsides with time. However, when anxiety is persistent, it becomes distressing and interferes with life. Medical management is then necessary and treatment usually requires specific attention.
Keep in mind that, here, generalized anxiety is chronic anxiety associated with worry. In contrast, episodic attacks of severe anxiety can cause symptoms of panic disorder
The chronic condition Generalised Anxiety is manifested with apprehension, fears, tensions or uneasiness that may be focused (phobia) or "free-floating". Free-floating means a general sense of ill-defined dread or impending doom.
Anxiety can make diagnosis of a disease difficult because symptoms of anxiety can complicate the presentation of an underlying physical illness. On the other hand, several physical conditions can initially manifest with anxiety before symptoms and signs of the disease develop. So if you are going to consult a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, you must choose one with sufficient experience and training.
In general, this disorder lacks a specific traumatic event or focus for concern. Excessive anxiety and worry, which sufferers can find hard to control, can be caused by a number of events or activities.
People suffer from anxiety either psychologically or somatically (physically). The disturbance causes significant distress and impairs social, occupational, or other important functions. At least three of the following symptoms listed below are present:
In brief, the symptoms of anxiety are listed below. But for more details please see also Symptoms of Anxiety.

• Feeling restless, keyed up, or on edge
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Easily fatigued
• Difficulty in concentrating or the mind goes blank
• Difficulty in falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep

The symptoms range from mild, chronic tenseness, with feelings of timidity, fatigue, apprehension, and indecisiveness, to more intense states of restlessness and irritability that may lead to aggressive acts, persistent helplessness, or withdrawl.
In extreme cases, the overwhelming emotional discomfort is accompanied by physical responses, including tremor, sustained muscle tension, tachycardia, dyspnoea, hypertension, increased respiration, and profuse perspiration.
Other physical signs include changes in skin colour, nausea, vomiting, dirrhoea, restlessness, immobilisation, insomnia and changes in appetite, all occuring without identification of a known underlying organic cause.
Anxiety disorders cause great distress and impair function, but those affected are not psychotic. The disorders are distinguished by either the symptoms, the entities feared or the stressors. Please see also the following as the links become available:

• Acute stress disorder
• Post traumatic stress disorder

• Causes of Anxiety and Panic Anxiety Attack in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine
• The causes of anxiety: In my acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine practice, the following factors have been recognised as sources of anxiety:
  • an unconscious conflict regarding essential values or goals of life
  • threat to self concept
  • threat of death
  • threat to or of change in health status, the environment, or interaction patterns
  • situational or maturational crises
  • interpersonal transmission of contagion, and
  • unmet needs.
  Any one or more of the abovementioned can trigger an anxiety attack.
  You should also know there are medical conditions that mimic anxiety disorders and they are:
  • alcohol withdrawl
  • hypoglycaemia (reduced amount of glucose in the blood)
  • hyperthyroidism (hyperactive thyroid gland)
  • paroxysmal arrhythmias (episodic severity of disturbed electrical rhythm of the heart)
  • temporal lobe epilepsy (convulsive seizures arising from malfunctions in the temporal lobe of the brain)
  • phaeochromocytoma (a tumour, quite rare, of chromaffin tissue which secretes catecholamines that causes high blood pressure)

  Anxiety attack or Anxiety panic attack

  For many people, an anxiety attack or an anxiety panic attack can occur at any time. An anxiety attack is described as an acute, psycho-biologic reaction manifested by intense anxiety and panic.
  The symptoms you can experience are:
  • palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, faintness, profuse sweating, pallor of the face and extremities, GI discomfort and a vague feeling of imminent doom or death.
  Attacks usually occur suddenly, last for a few seconds to an hour or longer, and vary in frequency from several times a day to once a month.
  One way to help a person with an acute anxiety attack is to reassure the person or separate the individual from the anxiety-producing situations.
  If necessary, a western medical doctor could administer a sedative. For severe anxiety disorder, it is suggested that the individual receive appropriate psychotherapy to identify the stresses that are perceived as threatening.

Meditation Reduces Pain Perception

Meditation has many health benefits, including a reduced sensitivity to pain. Meditators do feel pain but they simply don’t dwell on it as much, according to a new University of Montreal study.
These findings may have implications for chronic pain sufferers, such as those with arthritis, back pain or cancer. “meditators have lower pain sensitivity. The aim of the current study was to determine how they are achieving this,” says senior author Pierre Rainville, researcher at the University of Montreal.
“Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we demonstrated that although the meditators were aware of the pain, this sensation wasn’t processed in the part of their brains responsible for appraisal, reasoning or memory formation. We think that they feel the sensations, but cut the process short, refraining from interpretation or labeling of the stimuli as painful.”
Comparing the response of 13 Zen meditators to 13 non-meditators to a painful heat stimulus, the most experienced Zen practitioners showed lower pain responses and decreased activity in the brain areas responsible for cognition, emotion and memory (the prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus). In addition, there was a decrease in the communication between a part of the brain that senses the pain and the prefrontal cortex.
“Our findings lead to new insights into mind/brain function,” says author Joshua Grant, a doctoral student at the University of Montreal. “These results challenge current concepts of mental control, which is thought to be achieved by increasing cognitive activity or effort. Instead, we suggest it is possible to self-regulate in a more passive manner, by ‘turning off’’ certain areas of the brain, which in this case are normally involved in processing pain.”
The results suggest that Zen meditators may have a training-related ability to disengage some higher-order brain processes, while still experiencing the stimulus. “Such an ability could have widespread and profound implications for pain, emotion regulation and cognitive control,” says Rainville. “This behavior is consistent with the mindset of Zen and with the notion of mindfulness.”
Benefits of meditation:
• Reduces stress.
• Improves concentration.
• Promotes positive thinking.
• Grows inner strength.

Infertility and Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be beneficial in the treatment of many infertility-related conditions including: Uterine fibroids, hormonal imbalance, amenorrhea, recurrent miscarriage, and endometriosis. Acupuncture improves ovarian function by regulating the endocrine system, which aids in stabilizing hormone levels.
When utilized as a complementary infertility therapy, acupuncture can aid in promoting relaxation during IVF treatment. Benefits of acupuncture for the treatment of infertility:

• Reduces stress levels.
• Reharmonizes sleep patterns.
• Increases energy.
• Enhances overall mind/body health.

Reproductive health can be benefited in many ways with acupuncture. By balancing hormone levels, therapy can regulate menstruation and ovulation. Follicle production is increased with acupuncture, which stimulates blood flow to the ovaries.
Acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterus, resulting in thickening of the endometrial lining, which is necessary for implantation. When utilized as a primary therapy, acupuncture can increase egg production naturally for women who choose not to take fertility medications. Your acupuncture physician may recommend Chinese herbal formulas as a supplement.

The Best Thing You Can Do to Protect Your Health and Happiness

Truth Expresses Feelings That Become Healing
The best thing you can do to protect your health and happiness is to tell the truth.  It doesn’t matter if you think you don’t know “the whole truth” – who does?
It doesn’t matter how or what you feel, and yet how and what you feel helps greatly define what the truth really is.  How or what you feel also blows open the door to greater insight and spiritual connectedness – in other words, it is our direct “ticket” to the divine.
Telling the Truth Supports Wellness
Mind-body healing says when we fully face and truthfully express our feelings, and admit to ourselves and others that what we feel to be true keeps us healthy. This profoundly, centrally links to all corresponding healing.
There are a lot of things truth telling isn’t.  It doesn’t guarantee anything, or what you most want to have happen.
It Keeps You in the Power of What’s Real
It doesn’t make anyone else feel or do better, or solve any problems.  It won’t necessarily produce “happy ever after endings” or any resolution in and of itself.
It does name what’s real, so you stay real – and present –as well as reality-based.  That means you stay connected to your only and real source of power.
Become Your Divine Observer to Tell the Truth
It keeps you in the role of detached observer.  This effectively shuts down “fight or flight”, thereby allowing you to access, within your innate balance and flowing rhythm of multidimensional consciousness, your full creative and divine capacity to come to wherever the real resolution exists.
Telling the truth is a most courageous act, especially considering the at times seemingly impossible and complicated challenges involving dismantling faulty belief systems, cultural conditioning, completing unfinished therapeutic business and its residual core trauma from the past; and plain not knowing what all is going to happen.  It is an act of  spiritual faith that restores heroism as our best and highest way of functioning, which then becomes doing – which then becomes being.
Meditation Reveals What’s True
Completing what I call “observer questions” keenly and profoundly guide us to successfully “make the leap” to tell the truth.  So if you feel stuck, stressed, scared, and scattered, dare to ask yourself who, what, where, when, how and why is this happening?
Better yet, ask after you’ve first settled back in a comfortable, supported space, eyes closed, making sure you’ll not be interrupted.  Take several deep, regular, cleansing breaths; and as you feel yourself quite easily and naturally falling into a deeper meditative state, imagine these questions like gentle rain falling deep and deeper still into the very core of your heart.
These are the Steps to Restore Personal Power and Effect Mind-Body Healing
Listen to whatever comes up by way of answers, and then, continuing to feel very open, very much at ease, record them.  Then ask yourself how you feel, once again listening; and then similarly record whatever happens.
You’ve just taken yourself through the steps involved to fully access and express your inner truth.  You’ve just taken yourself through the steps involved to fully access and express your infinite source of power and healing.

Take Responsibility For Your Own Health...and Wealth

All to often in life, people tend to think that their actions (or inaction's) and the results they produce are independent of each other.
For every effect there is a cause. And for every cause there is an effect.
These laws are Universal and apply to all things at all times.
People seem to be amazed when they run themselves into the ground, don't get enough rest, eat poorly, then get sick. They will say "I got that bug that's been going around". Hey...those bugs are always there.
When your body is sick and run down it becomes food for those bugs. When your body is strong and healthy from smart decisions by YOU, they could dip you in a pool of these bugs and you would not get sick.
When it comes to wealth creation I have seen it all. And similar rules apply to creating wealth as do creating health. The conditions must be right. Not only conditions created by someone else...YOU must be part of the equation...or the results will only be temporary if any at all.
It's hard to take advantage of opportunity if you are not prepared.
And it's not anybody's job but your own to make sure this happens.
Just like it's hard to adapt to adverse environmental conditions such as mental stress, long hours, and germs if your body is not prepared. It's hard to take advantage of wealth creating opportunities if your mind is not prepared.
The solution is to accept full responsibility for your own health and wealth.
Make yourself valuable. As an employer I can tell you this...you are a lot more valuable when you are healthy and prepared.
And when you exceed expectations not just meet them. You should always be looking to do more...not less.
And there is always time to get the job done. It's about decisions not time.
For me, chiropractic, acupuncture, and yoga makes a lot of sense here. Chiropractic,acupuncture, and yoga  helps keep my body strong and healthy, and it's quick. And the lifestyle of clean eating, plenty of rest and water, exercise, and stress management, gives me the edge I need to deliver a very high quality product (on the job) day in and day out.
And I know that my bank account is determined by the quality of my work and the decisions I make each day to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Nobody decides my financial state of health but me. When I am lazy I pay the price. When I work hard and learn new things I reap the rewards. The ball is in my court.
I also like to associate with like minded people...in health and wealth. They say you are the average of the 3 friends you spend the most amount of time communicationg with. And that can be scary.

Everyday Benefits Of Acupuncture

With the rising cost of normal medication and the issues connected with drug dependence, many people are turning to alternate sorts of medication. Many of those are ancient cures that have rich history and practices. One such type of alternate medicine is the usage of acupuncture. Modern acupuncture incorporates traditional Chinese medicine and is used in clinics and by private practitioners across the world.
So just what is acupuncture? Acupuncture treats patients by the insertion and manipulations of thin needles in definite bits of the body, depending on the patient’s infirmity. Long time patients of acupuncture claim that it disposes of chronic pain, can increase fertility, prevent disease and promote overall health. The 1st recorded use of acupuncture is in the Huangdi Neijing and is dated around 200 B.C.E. Other nations such as Japan and Korea utilised acupuncture but deviated in that they didn't also use traditional Chinese herbal drugs with the needles.
Traditional Chinese acupuncture is based on the concept that there is a paradigm of medication that believes in that all the parts of universe are connected, and thus so are the parts of the body. They believe in an energy force called Qi that flows throughout the body in channels called meridians and that there are specific spots on the body that are related to the channels connecting to every part of the body. Thus needles are inserted dependent on where the issue originates.
During the diagnoses process, the acupuncturist will inspect different parts of the body before deciding on a course of treatment. There will be a thorough inspection of the face, especially the tongue which is thought to contain a map of the entire body and will let the acupuncturist know whereabouts to find specific points to manipulate. Questions about bodily functions will get asked and the acupuncturist will listen to you breathe, focusing on any puffing or afflictions. An inspection will be taken of all of the pulse points of the body including the 3 radial artery points of the arm that are believed to correspond to the internal organs.
Because most Western cultures rely on ‘evidence based ‘ medication, acupuncture has had some trouble in providing enough ‘evidence ‘ of its advantages to satisfy some skeptics. What it does have nevertheless , is many accounts of practitioners who suffered for years with chronic pain and were ultimately able to find relief. Or sufferers of infertility or breathing infirmities who believe they have found a cure.
Even the World Health Organisation has stated that acupuncture can be useful in the treatment of some neurological infirmities and pain. So if you are trying to find a substitute for dear and frequently drug-dependent medical therapies, acupuncture could be the answer you have been searching for.