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.”

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.