Acupuncture & Wellness Clinic

Healthy Eating on the Run: A Month of Tips

2011-03-02T13:44:00.000-08:00

Healthy Eating on the Run: A Month of Tips

You probably eat out a lot—most Americans do. People are looking for fast, easy and good-tasting foods to fit a busy lifestyle. Whether it’s carry-out, food court, office cafeteria or sit-down restaurant, there are smart choices everywhere. Here are 30 tips to help you eat healthy when eating out.

1. Think ahead and plan where you will eat. Consider what meal options are available. Look for restaurants or carry-out with a wide range of menu items.

2. Take time to look over the menu and make careful selections. Some restaurant menus may have a special section for “healthier” choices.

3. Read restaurant menus carefully for clues to fat and calorie content. Menu terms that can mean less fat and calories: baked, braised, broiled, grilled, poached, roasted, steamed.

4. Menu terms that can mean more fat and calories: batter-fried, pan-fried, buttered, creamed, crispy, breaded. Choose these foods only occasionally and in small portions.

5. Order the regular or child-size portion. Mega-sized servings are probably more than you need. For a lighter meal, order an appetizer in place of a main course.

6. It’s OK to make special requests, just keep them simple. For example, ask for a baked potato or side salad in place of French fries; no mayonnaise or bacon on your sandwich; sauces served on the side.

7. Hunger can drive you to eat too much bread before your meal arrives. Hold the bread or chips until your meal is served. Out of sight, out of mind.

8. Think about your food choices for the entire day. If you’re planning a special restaurant meal in the evening, have a light breakfast and lunch.

9. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. No more than one drink for women and two for men. Alcohol tends to increase your appetite and provides calories without any nutrients.

10. Tempted by sweet, creamy desserts? Order one dessert with enough forks for everyone at the table to have a bite.

11. Split your order. Share an extra large sandwich or main course with a friend or take half home for another meal.

12. Boost the nutrition in all types of sandwiches by adding tomato, lettuce, peppers or other vegetables.13. A baked potato offers more fiber, fewer calories and less fat than fries if you skip the sour cream and butter. Top your potato with broccoli and a sprinkle of cheese or salsa.

14. At the sandwich shop, choose lean beef, ham, turkey or chicken on whole grain bread. Ask for mustard, ketchup, salsa or lowfat spreads. And, don’t forget the veggies.

15. In place of fries or chips, choose a sidesalad, fruit or baked potato. Or, share a regular order of fries with a friend.

16. Enjoy ethnic foods such as Chinese stirfry, vegetable-stuffed pita or Mexican fajitas. Go easy on the sour cream, cheese and guacamole.

17. At the salad bar, pile on the dark leafy greens, carrots, peppers and other fresh vegetables. Lighten up on mayonnaise-based salads and high- fat toppings. Enjoy fresh fruit as your dessert.

18. Eat your lower-calorie food first. Soup or salad is a good choice. Follow up with a light main course.

19. Ask for sauces, dressings and toppings to be served “on the side.” Then you control how much you eat.

20. Pass up all-you-can-eat specials, buffets and unlimited salad bars if you tend to eat too much.

21. If you do choose the buffet, fill up on salads and vegetables first. Take no more than two trips and use the small plate that holds less food.

22. Load up your pizza with vegetable toppings. If you add meat, make it lean ham, Canadian bacon, chicken or shrimp.

23. Look for a sandwich wrap in a soft tortilla. Fillings such as rice mixed with seafood, chicken, or grilled vegetables are usually lower in fat and calories.

24. Build a better breakfast sandwich: replace bacon or sausage with Canadian bacon or ham and order your sandwich on a whole grain English muffin or bagel.

25. Be size-wise about muffins, bagels, croissants and biscuits. A jumbo muffin has more than twice the fat and calories of the regular size.

26. Try a smoothie made with juice, fruit and yogurt for a light lunch or snack.

27. Refrigerate carry-out or leftovers if the food won’t be eaten right away. Toss foods kept at room temperature for more than two hours.

28. Grabbing dinner at the supermarket deli? Select rotisserie chicken, salad-in-a-bag and freshly baked bread. Or, try sliced lean roast beef, onion rolls, potato salad and fresh fruit.

29. Always eating on the go? Tuck portable, nonperishable foods in your purse, tote, briefcase or backpack for an on-the-run meal. Some suggestions are peanut butter and crackers, granola bars, a piece of fresh fruit, trail mix, single serve packages of whole grain cereal or crackers.

30. For desk-top dining, keep single-serve packages of crackers, fruit, peanut butter, soup, or tuna in your desk for a quick lunch.

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Acupressure to treat traumatic brain injury

2011-03-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

Acupressure to treat traumatic brain injury

ANI,Mar 1, 2011, 01.11pm IST

Brain injury

A new study has shown that an ancient form of complementary medicine may be effective in helping to treat people with mild traumatic brain injury.

The study involved a treatment known as acupressure in which one's fingertips are used to stimulate particular points on a person's body - points similar to those stimulated with needles in standard acupuncture treatments, said University of Colorado Boulder Professor Theresa Hernandez and lead author.

The results indicate a link between the acupressure treatments and enhanced cognitive function in study subjects with mild traumatic brain injury, or TBI.

The acupressure treatment type used in the study is called Jin Shin.

For the study, Hernandez and her colleagues targeted the 26 points on the human body used in standard Jin Shin treatments ranging from the head to the feet. The study subjects all received treatments by trained Jin Shin practitioners.

According to practitioners, Jin Shin acupressure points are found along "meridians" running through the body that are associated with specific energy pathways. It is believed that each point is tied to the health of specific body organs, as well as the entire body and brain, Hernandez said.

The study involved 38 study subjects, each of whom was randomly assigned to one of two groups - an experimental group that received active acupressure treatments from trained experts and a control group that received treatments from the same experts on places on the body that are not considered to be acupressure points, acting as a placebo.

The team used a standard battery of neuropsychological tests to assess the results.

In one test known as the Digit Span Test, subjects were asked to repeat strings of numbers after hearing them, in both forward and backward order, to see how many digits they could recall. Those subjects receiving active acupressure treatments showed increased memory function, said Hernandez.

A second standard psychology test used for the study, called the Stroop Task, measured working memory and attention.

The test subjects were shown the names of colors like blue, green or red on a computer screen. When the names of the particular colors are viewed on the screen in a different color of ink - like the word "green" spelled out in blue ink - test subjects take longer to name the ink color and the results are more error-prone, according to Hernandez.

The Stroop Test subjects in the CU-Boulder study wore special caps wired with electrodes to measure the brain activity tied to specific stimuli. The results showed those who received the active acupressure treatments responded to stimuli more rapidly than those who received the placebo treatments, Hernandez said.

The study was published in the January issue of the Journal of Neurotrauma.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-01/health/28643217_1_acupressure-brain-injury-test-subjects

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Happy Chinese New Year 2011: The year of the Rabbit

2011-02-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year 2011: The year of the Rabbit

February 3, 2011 is the first day of the Chinese New Year and starts the year of the Rabbit. A hot Google trend, Chinese New Year 2011 begins with the New Moon on the first day of the new year (February 3) and ends on the full moon 15 days later (February 17).

The 15th day is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays. The Chinese New Year festivities are sometimes called the Lunar New Year, especially by people outside China.

Traditions for the Chinese New Year are plentiful. It's a time that families come together, decorate their homes, and celebrate. For the 2011 Chinese New Year, many toys and decorations will have a rabbit theme.

Parents typically give their children money in red paper envelopes (Ang Pows) to greet the new year and homes are decorated with flowers, Chinese lanterns, fruits and red paper cut-outs with themes such as happiness, longevity and wealth.

Were you born under the sign of the Rabbit?

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012. The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animals signs. The Rabbit is a lucky sign. Rabbits are private individuals and a bit introverted. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are reasonably friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends. They are good teachers, counselors and communicators, but also need their own space.

According to Chinese tradition, the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves. It is a time for negotiation. Don't try to force issues, because if you do you will ultimately fail. To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and your relationships with women and children. Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.

Not many people know that the Rabbit is the symbol of the Moon, while the Peacock is the symbol of the Sun, and that together, these two animal signs signify the start of day and night, represent the Yin and Yang of life. It is said that anyone making supplications for wishes to be fulfilled are certain to get what they want... and in the Year of the Rabbit, the wish-granting aspect of the Sun and the Moon combined is multiplied. The Moon is YIN and this is the Yin of Heaven, signifying magic. Thus on each of the Full Moon nights of this year, go out into your garden to gaze into the Full Moon and visualize plenty of Moon dust and Moon glow flowing into you, filling your whole body with bright white light and granting you fearlessness, love and courage. This will not only strengthen your inner "Chi" energy, it will also bring wisdom into your life.

Going Under the Needle: Cancer Pain Report

2011-01-25T17:19:00.000-08:00

Going Under the Needle: Cancer Pain Report

Getting dozens of needle pricks probably does not sound good, especially if you are already going through cancer.

HealthFirst reporter Leslie Toldo shows us how acupuncture is actually helping people fight back at cancer pain.

Patients are getting results with less or even no pain medication.

That's a very big benefit, considering at least half of the people battling late-stage cancers face severe pain as a side-effect of some cancer treatments.

A few years ago, 83-year-old Janet Davis was enjoying her plane and her retirement. She flew wherever and whenever she wanted.

But a second mastectomy grounded her last April. She's now fighting the effects of bone cancer, chemo and radiation - just one of the 1.1 million people who suffer from cancer pain each year.

So the University of North Carolina medical school's Dr. Jongbae Park stepped in to help. His solution was acupuncture.

Davis would rather have needles than pain killers.

Park inserts thin needles into specific acupuncture points on the skin - 365 in all. The goal is to stimulate the nervous system and release natural painkillers like adenosine.

"It reduces the pain. It's just not there anymore," Davis said.

"As treatment effect of acupuncture becomes noticeable, patients start to reduce their narcotics or pain killers," Park said.

The proof? Studies show acupuncture alone cut post-chemotherapy fatigue by 31 percent. It also cut hot flashes by 50 percent and slashed overall cancer pain by 36 percent.

It's no cure, but it's working for Davis, and, honestly, that's all she needs.

"What more can I ask?" she said.

It can take as many as six, 30 minute sessions for patients to notice a difference in their pain level.

Right now, Dr. Park is studying acupuncture's effects on stroke and irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND OF ACUPUNCTURE: Originating in China, the practice of acupuncture is one of the main components of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and is deeply rooted in ancient philosophy. The most scientifically studied form is the practice of penetrating a person's skin at key points with thin metallic needles, which are then stimulated by movement or electrical currents. This practice is motivated by the traditional idea that the body is suspended between two opposing, and inseparable forces: the Yin and the Yang. The Yin represents the "cold, slow or passive aspects of the person," while the Yang represents the "hot, excited or active aspects." Disease and poor health are believed to occur when a person lacks balance in regard to these two completely different sides of their being. This imbalance blocks the flow of their vital life energy called qi, which travels along bodily routes called meridians. Acupuncture is designed to unblock the flow of qi by penetrating the skin at specific points along the meridians. The largely accepted belief is that the body contains 14 main meridians, which are connected by at least 2,000 acupuncture points in a complex web-like system. (Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine nccam.nih.gov)

ACUPUNCTURE IN THE U.S.: The practice of acupuncture became popularized in the United States in 1971, following an influential article in the New York Times by reporter James Reston. In 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that acupuncture was "widely" practiced by thousands of doctors, dentists, acupuncturists and other licensed professionals to treat pain and a number of other health conditions. In 2007, a National Health Interview Survey showed that an estimated 3.1 million adults and 150,000 children in the U.S. had been treated with acupuncture in the previous year. American acupuncture practices integrate traditional methods from other Asian countries such as Japan and Korea. (Source: nccam.nih.gov)

CANCER PAIN: Cancer pain has many causes. The first comes from the actual cancer itself, which often grows into or kills nearby tissues. When a tumor spreads, pressure is often put on nerves, bones and organs, which can cause a great deal of pain. The second comes from the chemicals excreted by the tumor, which can be painful on the part of the body absorbing them. Another cause is from cancer treatments. Chemotherapy has many painful side effects such as achy mouth sores, diarrhea and damage to the nerves. Radiation can leave a patient with a burning feeling in the treated area, or with painful scars. Surgical procedures are obviously painful as well, often requiring a period of recovery (Source: Mayo Clinic).

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/health&id=7916147

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Natural Cold Remedies

2011-01-18T14:38:00.000-08:00

Natural Cold Remedies
Taken at the first sign of symptoms, echinacea can reduce a cold's intensity and duration, often even preventing it from becoming a full-fledged infection.
Goldenseal helps clear mucus from the throat. It also contains the natural antibiotic berberine, which can help prevent bacterial infections that often follow colds.
One of the Best Cold Remedies
For a good "cold tea," combine equal parts of elder (Sambucus nigra), peppermint (Mentha piperita), and yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and steep 1 to 2 tsp of the mixture in 1 cup hot water. Take it hot just before going to bed. This will induce a sweat, and if the cold is caught early enough, may stop it altogether. Even if it is too late for this it will still be very useful. This tea can help the body handle fever and reduce achiness, congestion, and inflammation. They may be taken with a pinch of mixed spice and a little honey to soothe a painful throat.
Other herbs that may be added to the infusion include:
Cayenne (Capsicum minimum): a favorite North American Indian remedy: use 1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) of the powder to really stimulate the circulation.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): use a cinnamon stick, and break it into the mixture of herbs, for a gentle, warming and sweat-inducing effect.
Ginger (Zingiber officinalis): grate a small piece of fresh root ginger into the mixture for extra heat.
Caution: Peppermint tea may interfere with the beneficial action of homoeopathic remedies.
Herbal Fever Remedy
1 ounce dried Elder Flowers
1 ounce dried Peppermint Leaves
½ pint distilled water
Mix the herbs. Place in a quart saucepan. Pour 1/2 pints of distilled boiling water over it. Cover and allow to steep in a hot place for 10 to 15 minutes (do not boil). When ready, strain into another saucepan. Sweeten with honey if desired.
This remedy drops high temperature associated with flu quite effectively. In some cases, the temperature has been reduced from 104 to 99 degrees within two hours!! According to Dr. Dr. Edward E. Shook, well known herbalist, "there is no remedy for colds and fevers of any description equal to this simple life-saving formula."
Ginger Tea
Best Remedy from the Orient
In both ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, ginger is considered the best home remedy for colds. Drink a cup of ginger tea several times (at least 3 times) a day. Ginger contains a dozen antiviral compounds. And it tastes good. To make a tea, add 1 heaping teaspoon of grated fresh gingerroot to 1 cup of boiled water. Allow to steep for 10 minutes. If you use dried ginger powder use 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger per cup.
Children's Herbal Antibiotic Formula
2 cups water
½ teaspoon echinacea root
½ teaspoon licorice root and
½ teaspoon barberry bark (or Oregon grape root)
Place water and herbs in a saucepan. Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and steep for about 20 minutes. Strain out herbs. For a 50-pound child, give 1 cup of tea or half a dropperful (30 drops) of tincture daily. To improve the flavor, the tea can be mixed with an equal amount of juice. In fact, homemade apple and grape juice, unlike bottled juices, contain strong antiviral agents that fight colds and flu.
Other Herbal Remedies
Use inhalations of chamomile, eucalyptus or thyme to help loosen mucus and heals the throat, nasal passages and bronchial tubes. Horsetail inhalations reduce swelling of mucous membranes. Onion or nasturtium inhalations disinfect. Ginkgo biloba leaf inhalations kill bacteria and heal the cells of the damaged mucous membranes almost immediately.

Inhale steam for fifteen minutes three times daily in acute stage; when the condition is improving.

Inhale steam in the evening before retiring for a week or so to help heat the bronchial passages.
Boneset and sage help to break up congestion and bring down a fever. Take a cup of sage and boneset tea up to three times daily for three to five days.
At the onset of a cold, add 1/2 teaspoon each of cinnamon and ginger to 1 cup of scalded milk. Add 1 tablespoon of honey and drink while hot. This remedy is very soothing and stimulating.
Hyssop Tea may prevent Colds and Infections.
Hyssop Tea
Prevents Colds and Infections
Hyssop tea, if used on a regular basis, is said to help keep away infections.
Add several teaspoons of the chopped leaves of hyssop to 2 cups of boiling water. Allow it to steep 15 minutes. Strain. Sweeten with honey.
Take several cups of this tea warm per day if fighting a cold or infection or as a preventative.
Prepare a fresh cup for each dose. Sip the dosage slowly, never gulp it down. Swish it around the mouth before swallowing. This helps the liquid to mix with the enzymes in the saliva and rapidly assimilates the herbs into the blood stream.
Traditional Peppermint Cure for Fever helps to break a fever by causing the recipient to perspire.
Traditional Peppermint Cure for Fever
This remedy helps to break a fever by causing the recipient to perspire.
1 tablespoon elder flowers
1 tablespoon peppermint
1 tablespoon white yarrow
1 tablespoon feverfew
Mix the herbs. Pour 2 cups boiling water over the herb mix. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain, sweeten. Drink hot.
This remedy helps to break a fever by causing the recipient to perspire. The yarrow acts as a pain reliever and makes the recipient more comfortable. If the cold is not severe, you need add only 1 teaspoon of the herb mixture to 1 cup of boiling water. It also eases the recipient and helps to dispel mucus.
Comfrey - Elderberry Cold and Fever Remedy
This remedy reduces fever associated with cold by inducing perspiration.
1/2 cup of elderberries
several leaves of comfrey - chopped
1 cup of honey
1 cup of distilled water
Chop several leaves of comfrey. Add 1/2 cup of elderberries, 1 cup of honey, and 1 cup of water. Simmer for 30 minutes. Strain. Take as needed to produce perspiration and reduce fever.
The comfrey leaves produce an aspirin- like substance that help to ease the discomforts of a cold. It also soothes inflamed mucous membranes of the throat. Comfrey is a demulcent, and an expectorant. The elderberries, a diuretic, serve to flush the system.
Royal Herbal Tea For Severe Colds
Useful to treat severe cold symptoms.
1 cup - dried pennyroyal
1 cup - dried catnip
1 cup - dried horehound
1 cup - dried spearmint
1 cup - dried sage
1 cup - dried verbena
1 cup - dried white yarrow
Honey to taste.
Mix the herbs. Pour 1 pint of boiling water over 2-1/2 tablespoons of the herb mix. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Strain. Sweeten with honey.
Reheat and drink 1 cup every 2-3 hours. Use more often if sweating is desired.
Delicious Cold Remedy
This delicious cold remedy will get rid of symptoms of cold pretty fast. It will also clean your system.
1/4 pound seedless raisins
3 ounces ginger root
3 cups of honey
6 lemons
4 oranges
1 gallon of distilled water
Put the water in a large pan. Add the softened ginger root, honey, and seedless raisins. Bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour. Skim the top as needed. Cool, strain and place in a tightly closed container overnight in the refrigerator.
The next day, squeeze 6 lemons and 4 oranges and add to the mixture. Mix well.
Drink 2-3 glasses per day.
Take a cup of chamomile tea twice daily, as needed to help yourself rest and relax.
Mullein flower tea has a pleasant taste and is good to soothe inflamed conditions of the mucous membrane lining the throat. Also relieves coughing. Put a small handful of the mullein flowers in 1 pint of boiling water. Allow to steep 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey.
Take a soothing herbal bath with chamomile, calendula, rosemary, and/ or lavender if you are restless and irritable, . Keep the water comfortably warm and treat yourself to a long, lazy soak.
Put 1/2 pound of dried mustard in 2 quarts of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes. Add this liquid to foot bath to treat colds and respiratory problems.
Basil tea, made from the fresh or dried herb, may be used to encourage a slight sweat in the early stages of a cold, thus reducing feverishness. A pinch of ground cloves may also be added for flavor and encourage reduction of fever.
Elderberry may help to reduce both the severity and the duration of colds. Choose an extract standardized to contain 5 percent total flavonoids and take 500 milligrams three times daily.
Garlic (Allium sativum) appears to shorten a cold's duration and severity. Any form seems to work: capsules or tablets, oil rubbed on the skin, or whole garlic roasted or cooked in other foods. If you elect capsules, take three of them, three times daily, until the cold is over.
Important Herbs for Cold
Echinacea
Echinacea is believed to reduce the symptoms of Cold and Flu and helps in the recovery.
There are three main species of echinacea: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida. E. purpurea is the most widely used. It isn't clear if any one type is better than the others.
In Germany, echinacea is the main remedy for minor respiratory infections.
Echinacea is considered to be an immune stimulant. It appears to activate the body's infection-fighting capacity.
There are some evidence that, when taken at the onset of a cold or flu, echinacea can help you get better faster and reduce your symptoms while you are sick. For example, echinacea significantly reduced symptoms such as headache, lethargy, cough, and aching limbs^1,4 when administered to people with flu-like illnesses; echinacea administration to people immediately after they have started showing signs of getting a cold,³ resulted in them showing improvement in cold symptoms much sooner than in the placebo group (4 days instead of 8 days). In another clinical trial, echinacea was found to reduce the length of colds by about 30%,⁵ (the length of illness was reduced from 13 days to about 9.5 days, when echinacea was administered instead of placebo.
Interestingly, the dosage used is important for effectiveness. In a double-blind study involving 180 people with flu-like illnesses, participants were given either placebo or 450 mg or 900 mg of E. purpurea daily.² By about the third day, those participants receiving the higher dose of echinacea (900 mg) showed noticeable relief in the severity of symptoms. There was no real benefit in the placebo or low-dose echinacea group.
Investigators also tried to determine whether echinacea can prevent colds from occurring. The answer seems to be in the negative. In most studies reported so far, the regular use of echinacea failed to significantly reduce the incidence of colds.^6–9 In fact, in one study, echinacea was found to actually increase your risk slightly.¹⁰
The constituents found in echinacea was found to increase antibody production, raise white blood cell counts, and stimulate the activity of key white blood cells.^11–17
Recommended Dosage
Powdered extract - 300 mg 3 times daily.
Alcohol tincture (1:5) - 3 to 4 ml 3 times daily.
Echinacea juice - 2 to 3 ml 3 times daily.
Whole dried root - 1 to 2 g 3 times daily.
Many herbalists feel that liquid forms of echinacea are more effective than tablets or capsules because they believe that part of echinacea's benefit is due to direct contact with the tonsils and other lymphatic tissues at the back of the throat.¹⁸
Take echinacea at the first sign of a cold and continue for 7 to 14 days. Long-term use may not be helpful.
Andrographis
Andrographis is a shrub found throughout India and other Asian countries. It is sometimes called "Indian echinacea" because it is believed to provide much the same benefits as echinacea.
In fact, andrographis was found to both reduce the symptoms and shorten the duration of colds in clinical trials.
Those who were given andrographis¹⁹ reported that their colds were less intense than usual, reported less sick leave, they got well sooner.
Andrographis also reduced the cold symptoms such as fatigue, sore throat, sore muscles, runny nose, headache, and lymph node swelling.²⁰
As in the case of echinacea, the dosage used is important for its effectiveness. In a double-blind study involving 152 adults compared the effectiveness of andrographis (at either 3 g per day or 6 g per day) versus acetaminophen for sore throat and fever.²¹ The higher dose of andrographis (6 g) decreased symptoms of fever and throat pain, as did acetaminophen, while the lower dose of andrographis (3 g) did not. There were no significant side effects in either group.
Recommended Dosage
Take 400 mg 3 times daily with lots of liquids at mealtimes.
Andrographis is typically standardized to its andrographolide content, usually 4 to 6% in many commercial products.
Safety
No significant adverse effects have been reported in human studies of andrographis. .²²
However, it is not recommended for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease. There are some concerns from animal studies that andrographis may impair fertility.
Ginseng
In Eastern Europe, ginseng is widely believed to improve overall immunity to illness. It appears that regular use of ginseng may prevent colds.
There are actually three different herbs commonly called ginseng: Asian or Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), and Siberian "ginseng" (Eleutherococcus senticosus).
A double-blind placebo-controlled study looked at the potential immune-stimulating effects of Panax ginseng when taken by mouth.²³ This trial involved 227 individuals at three medical offices in Milan, Italy. Half were given ginseng at a dose of 100 mg daily, and the other half took placebo. Four weeks into the study, all participants received influenza vaccine.
The results showed a significant decline in the frequency of colds and flus in the treated group compared to the placebo group (15 versus 42 cases). Also, antibody measurements in response to the vaccination rose higher in the treated group than in the placebo group.
So finally we may have a herb that will prevent us from getting the cold afterall!
Recommended Dosage
Panax ginseng: 1 to 2 g of raw herb, or 200 mg daily of an extract standardized to contain 4 to 7% ginsenosides.
Eleutherococcus: 2 to 3 g whole herb or 300 to 400 mg of extract daily.
A 2- to 3-week period of using ginseng is recommended, followed by a 1- to 2-week "rest" period.
Russian herbal tradition suggests that ginseng should not be used by those under 40 years old.
Safety
The various forms of ginseng appear to be nontoxic, both in the short and long term, in animal studies. Ginseng also does not seem to be carcinogenic.^24-26
Side effects are rare. Occasionally women report menstrual abnormalities and/or breast tenderness when they take ginseng along with overstimulation and insomnia. Highly excessive dosages of ginseng can raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, and possibly cause other significant effects. Ginseng allergy can also occur.
Some herbalists believe that ginseng can interfere with drug metabolism, specifically drugs processed by an enzyme called "CYP 3A4." Ask your physician or pharmacist whether you are taking any medications of this type. Other reports showed ginseng interacting with MAO inhibitor drugs and digitalis. It is possible that some of these interactions are because of contamination in ginseng and may not have anything to do with the herb itself.
Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established. Chinese herbalists recommend that ginseng should not be used during pregnancy or lactation.
Ginger
Ginger contains nearly a dozen antiviral compounds. Scientists have isolated several chemicals (sesquiterpenes) in ginger that have specific effects against the most common family of cold viruses, the rhinoviruses. Some of these chemicals are remarkably potent in their anti-rhinovirus effects.
Other constituents in ginger, gingerols and shogaols, help relieve cold symptoms because they reduce pain and fever, suppress coughing and have a mild sedative effect that encourages rest.
Onion
Onion is a close to garlic biologically and contains many similar antiviral chemicals.
Steep raw onion slices overnight in honey. Take the resulting mixture at intervals like a cough syrup. You can also use more onions in cooking whenever you have a cold.
Anise
Commission E in Germany recommended aniseed as an expectorant for getting rid of phlegm. In large doses, it also has some antiviral benefits.
Make a tea by steeping one to two teaspoons of crushed aniseed in a cup or two of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Then strain it. Anise is often chewed by Asian Indians after their meals. It is also one of the ingredients used in "Indian Chai."
Suggested dose: one cup of tea, morning and/or night. This should help you cough up whatever's loose and also help you fight the cold.
Goldenseal
Goldenseal increases the blood supply to the spleen, an organ that's the staging area for the fighting cells of your immune system. It is antiseptic and immune stimulating.
The major healing component in goldenseal, berberine, activates special white blood cells (macrophages) that are responsible for destroying bacteria, fungi, viruses and tumor cells. Several related chemicals in the herb appear to help the berberine do its job.
Take 10 to 15 drops of goldenseal in an alcohol-free form, known as glycerite tincture, two to three times a day for seven to 10 days.
Licorice
Licorice contains antiviral compounds that induce the release of interferons, the body's own antiviral constituents.
Marsh mallow and other mallows
Marsh mallow has been used for thousands of years as a soothing herb for cold-related cough and sore throat and other respiratory conditions. Marsh mallow roots contain a spongy material called mucilage that soothes inflamed mucous membranes.
Most members of the mallow family, including okra and roselle, contain soothing mucilage. One way to take advantage of this is by adding a lot of okra to your chicken soup.
Seneca snakeroot
Seneca snakeroot is used as an expectorant for reducing upper respiratory phlegm in Germany. To make a tea, use about one teaspoon per cup of boiling water. (This herb is also recommended for treatment of bronchitis and emphysema.)
Slippery elm
Slippery elm bark contains large quantities of a mucilage that acts as an effective throat soother and cough suppressant.
Watercress
Use two to three teaspoons of dry watercress to make a tea for treating cold-related runny nose and cough. Or try an ounce of fresh watercress--it makes a great addition to a salad.
Other Herbs
Various herbs are said to work like ginseng and enhance immunity over the long term, including ashwagandha, astragalus, garlic, suma, reishi, and maitake.
Several herbs, including osha, yarrow, kudzu, and ginger, are said to help avert colds when taken at the first sign of infection. Other herbs sometimes recommended to reduce cold symptoms include mullein, marshmallow, and peppermint.
http://www.holisticonline.com/remedies/flu/cold_herbal-remedies-for-cold.htm
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China to Strengthen Traditional Chinese Medicine R&D

2011-01-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

China to Strengthen Traditional Chinese Medicine R&D

China will upgrade its research and development (R&D) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in 2011 by improving the systems for inheritance and innovation, according to a senior health official.

Wang Guoqiang, vice health minister and director of the State Administration of TCM (SATCM), made the remarks here Thursday at the annual national conference on traditional Chinese medicine.

In terms of inheritance, Wang urged efforts be made to establish databases of ancient traditional Chinese medicine publications, to study its basic theories and to conduct a general survey on TCM resources.

He also called for innovation in building a clinical R&D system, setting up key TCM labs, facilitating technology transfers into the industry and improving R&D management and quality control.

Wang also disclosed the following figures concerning the country's previous efforts in promoting traditional Chinese medicine:

In 2010, the SATCM accepted the registration of 400 important ancient traditional Chinese medicine books.

Besides providing inheritance studios for 181 TCM masters, the SATCM started a comprehensive service platform for the exchange of their clinical experiences and academic thoughts.

The first national level survey on traditional medicines of ethnic groups was also conducted last year, which identified 150 feature publications and 140 techniques for diagnosis and treatment.

In 2009, China spent 10.97 billion yuan supporting TCM, an increase of 165 percent over 2005.

From 2005 to 2009, the number of TCM hospitals grew 9.6 percent to 3,299 with 449,000 beds, 42.6 percent higher than 2005.

Wang also said that China would further develop traditional Chinese medicine amid the country's ongoing reform of the national health care system.

TCM generally refers to the comprehensive Chinese medical system based upon the body's balance and harmony. Among the components of TCM are acupuncture, diet, herbal and nutritional therapy, physical exercise, and remedial massage.

As a sign of the world's growing acceptance of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity last November by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

TCM is widely used in China, and policy-makers are promoting traditional Chinese medicine to reduce burdensome medical costs and allow universal access to health care.

However, the share of traditional Chinese medicine in the global medical market, which is dominated by Western medicine, remains low.

http://english.cri.cn/6909/2011/01/14/2743s615324.htm

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Acupuncture Cures Chronic Sinus Congestion – New Research

2011-01-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

Acupuncture Cures Chronic Sinus Congestion – New Research

A new clinical study examined acupuncture for treatment of chronic rhinitis. Rhinitis is nasal congestion usually accompanied with post-nasal drip. There is irritation and inflammation of nasal tissue. In western medicine, this is ascribed to a viral or bacterial infection (or other antigen such as pollen) that stimulates mucus production. The study examined a test group of 85 patients and notes that chronic rhinitis is due to wind-cold or wind-heat obstructing lung Qi. These perspectives, both from Chinese medicine and allopathic medicine, are reconcilable in that wind-cold and wind-heat typically involve either a microbial infection or another antigen-antibody response.

If untreated, chronic rhinitis can last many years. Rhinitis can involve many complicated patterns such as epistaxis (nose bleeding), thick yellow or profuse white phlegm in the sinus and throat, coughing, insomnia, unclear thinking, difficulties with olfaction, dyspnea, asthma, and many other clinical complications.

Acupuncture Effective Rate
This recent clinical study had an effective rate of 96.5 percent with 61 persons obtaining total recovery, 21 with marked improvement, and 3 with no effect. To achieve the standard of total recovery, the resolution of all of the patient’s symptoms required resolution. Rhinoscopy and absence of symptomology was used to confirm the results. A two year follow-up confirmed total recovery. At a rate of one treatment per day, fifteen acupuncture sessions consisted of one course of treatment. The 96.5 percent effective rate was achieved after two courses of treatment (30 acupuncture appointments) unless total recovery was achieved prior to completion of the second course of acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Treatment Protocol
The needles were 0.35 mm (28 guage) in diameter and 40-50 mm in length. The acupuncture points chosen were: GB20 (Fengchi), LI4 (Hegu), and St36 (Zusanli). Supplementary acupuncture points were UB12 (Fengmen), UB13 (Feishu), Yintang (Ex-HN 3), and Du14 (Dazhui). Supplementary acupuncture points were chosen dependent upon differential diagnostics. In many cases, 20 minutes of manual needle manipulation were applied at each acupuncture visit. Tonification and reduction acupuncture needle techniques and moxa were chosen dependent upon excess, deficient, heat, and cold diagnostics.

Etiology and Analysis of the Study
In one analysis, the initial response to the pathogenic attack begins to linger as a residual pathogenic influence that never fully clears from the bodily system. In western medicine, a pathogen lodges in the body and stimulates the inflammatory chemicals of the complement cascade. In Chinese medicine, chronic rhinitis usually begins as a Wei or Qi level attack (Wen Bing, 4 levels) or a Tai Yang Shan Han, Tai Yang Zhong Feng, Tai Yang Su Xue, or Tai Yang Su Shui attack (six stages of cold induced illness). The lung Qi becomes compromised and the bodily system may develop a complex of excess and deficient patterns lodging in the Taiyin and Yangming acupuncture channels.

There is no inconsistency with the modern medicine view that a microbial pathogen or other antigen is the cause of the chronic rhinitis. An antigen is sufficient to cause chronic rhinitis, however, other factors may initiate the inflammatory response absent invasive antigens. Therefore, antigens are not necessary to initiate rhinitis. In that sense, allopathic medicine measures some, but not all, of the etiological factors contributing to chronic rhinitis. In Chinese medicine, the overall physiological strength of the lungs and the pathways leading to the nasal system are equally as important as the immunological responses to antigens. Further, environmental conditions such as dryness, heat, dampness, coldness, etc… are important factors. Moreover, dietary and emotional factors play important roles in balancing the respiratory pathways.

Reference: An Hua, Qinhuangdao Port Hospital, Hebei, China. "Treatment of 85 Cases with Chronic Rhinitis by Acupuncture." J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 2010, 8 (5): 318.

http://www.healthcmi.com/index.php/acupuncturist-news-online/347-acupuncturecureschronicsinuscongestion1811

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It's January. Do you know where your thyroid is?

2011-01-06T13:40:00.000-08:00

It's January. Do you know where your thyroid is?

Thyroid Awareness Month: January 2011

I
Many people have never heard of this small but important butterfly-shaped gland located in the center of the neck- until it doesn’t work the way it should. Thyroid disease affects between 30 and 59 million people in the United States alone (http://www.thyroidawarenessmonth.com/)!

What does the thyroid gland do?

Similar to other glands, the thyroid secretes hormones. There are two main hormones released by the thyroid – triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which deliver energy to cells. These hormones are implicated in some of the body’s vital functions, including controlling metabolism, body temperature, and growth and development. During infancy and childhood, sufficient thyroid hormone is vital for brain development (WebMD).

This condition is often misdiagnosed as many of its symptoms are similar to other medical conditions such as depression. Thyroid disease affects women approximately 7 times more than men and can cause a myriad of health problems if not treated including weight gain/loss, infertility and miscarriages, fatigue and hair loss.

The most common thyroid conditions are described below: (WebMD)

Hyperthyroidism: Excessive thyroid hormone production. Hyperthyroidism is most often caused byGrave's disease or an overactive thyroid nodule. Symptoms can mimic anxiety.
Hypothyroidism: Low production of thyroid hormone. Thyroid damage caused by autoimmune disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Symptoms can often look like a depressive disorderand are often misdiagnosed.
Goiter: A general term for thyroid swelling. Goiters can be harmless, or can represent iodine deficiency or a condition associated with thyroid inflammation called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Thyroid nodule: A small abnormal mass or lump in the thyroid gland. Thyroid nodules are extremely common. Few are cancerous. They may secrete excess hormones, causing hyperthyroidism, or cause no problems.
Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the thyroid, usually from a viral infection or autoimmune condition. Thyroiditis can be painful, or have no symptoms at all.
Graves disease: An autoimmune condition in which the thyroid is overstimulated, causing hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid cancer: An uncommon form of cancer, thyroid cancer is slow to spread and usually curable. Surgery, radiation, and hormone treatments may be used to treat thyroid cancer.
Thyroid storm: A rare form of hyperthyroidism in which extremely elevated thyroid hormone levels cause serious illness.

Thyroid Tests:

Thyroid scan: A small amount of radioactive iodine is given by mouth to get images of the thyroid gland. Radioactive iodine is concentrated within the thyroid gland.
Thyroid biopsy: A small amount of thyroid tissue is removed, usually to look for thyroid cancer. Thyroid biopsy is typically done with a needle.
Blood tests: Blood work can detect thyroid hormones including thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH), T3 and T4.
Anti-TPO antibodies: In autoimmune thyroid disease, proteins mistakenly attack the thyroid peroxidase enzyme, which is used by the thyroid to make thyroid hormones.
Thyroid ultrasound: A probe is placed on the skin of the neck, and reflected sound waves can detect abnormal areas of thyroid tissue.
Thyroglobulins: A substance secreted by the thyroid that can be used as a marker of thyroid cancer. It is often measured during follow-up in patients with thyroid cancer. High levels indicate recurrence of the cancer (WebMD).

Keep in mind that thyroid levels are not often checked in regular blood work so make sure to ask your doctor to include it if you are concerned.

For more information:

Thyroid Nodule Centers- Buffalo, NY

Thyroid Cancer Treatment-Buffalo, NY

http://www.hormone.org/thyroid/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/thyroiddiseases.html

http://women.webmd.com/picture-of-the-thyroid

http://www.thyroidawarenessmonth.com/thyroid-gland.htm

http://www.examiner.com/wellness-in-buffalo/january-is-thyroid-awareness-month-learn-the-importance-of-your-thyroid-gland

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National Cancer Institute Favorable on Acupuncture

2011-01-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

National Cancer Institute Favorable on Acupuncture

Questions and Answers About Acupuncture

What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture applies needles, heat, pressure, and other treatments to certain places on the skin to cause a change in the physical functions of the body. The use of acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM is a medical system that has been used for thousands of years to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.
Acupuncture is based on the belief that qi (vital energy) flows through the body along a network of paths, called meridians. Qi is said to affect a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical condition. According to TCM, qi has two forces, yin and yang. Yin and yang are opposite forces that work together to form a whole. The forces of yin and yang depend on each other and are made from each other in an unending cycle, such as hot and cold, day and night, and health and disease. Nothing is ever all yin or all yang, both exist in all things, including people. Many of the major organs of the body are believed to be yin-yang pairs that must be in balance to be healthy. When a person's yin and yang are not in balance, qi can become blocked. Blocked qi causes pain, illness, or other health problems. TCM uses acupuncture, diet, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise, and massage to restore health by unblocking qi and correcting the balance of yin and yang within the person.
Most acupuncturists in the United States practice acupuncture according to the traditions of Chinese medicine. However, there are other types of acupuncture, including some used for medical treatment, that have different theories about meridians and acupoint locations.
What is the history of the discovery and use of acupuncture as a complementary and alternative treatment for cancer?
The oldest medical book known, written in China 4000 years ago, describes the use of acupuncture to treat medical problems. The use of the treatment spread to other Asian countries and to other regions of the world, including to Europe by the 1700s. In the United States, acupuncture has been used for about 200 years.
Research on acupuncture began in the United States in 1976. Twenty years later, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the acupuncture needle as a medical device. Many illnesses are treated with acupuncture, but it is used mainly to control pain, including pain incancer patients and to help control nausea and vomiting. Its primary use in cancer patients has been as an addition to conventional (standard) therapy.
What is the theory behind the claim that acupuncture is useful in treating cancer?
According to TCM, qi can be unblocked by using acupuncture at certain places on the skin, calledacupoints. Acupoints are places where the meridians come to the surface of the body. There are more than 2,000 acupoints on the human body, with specific acupoints for each condition being treated.
What physical effects may acupuncture have when used in cancer patients?
Acupuncture may cause physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain. These responses can cause the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions. It is proposed that, in this way, acupuncture affects blood pressure and body temperature, boosts immune system activity, and causes the body's natural painkillers, such as endorphins, to be released.
How is acupuncture administered?
The acupuncture method most well-known uses needles. Disposable, stainless steel needles that are slightly thicker than a human hair are inserted into the skin at acupoints. The acupuncturepractitioner determines the correct acupoints to use for the problem being treated. The inserted needles may be twirled, moved up and down at different speeds and depths, heated, or charged with a weak electric current. There are other acupuncture methods that do not use needles.
Some acupuncture techniques include the following:
- Electroacupuncture: A procedure in which pulses of weak electrical current are sent through acupuncture needles into acupoints in the skin.
- Trigger point acupuncture: The placing of acupuncture needles in a place on the skin that is away from the painful part of the body. Trigger points have to do with referred pain, pain that is not felt at the site of injury, but is sent along nerves and felt elsewhere in the body.
- Laser acupuncture: The use of a weak laser beam instead of an acupuncture needle to stimulate an acupoint.
- Acupuncture point injection: The use of a syringe and needle to inject drugs, vitamins, herbalextracts, or other fluids into the body at an acupoint.
- Microwave acupuncture: The use of a microwave device attached to an acupuncture needle to deliver microwave radiation to an acupoint.
- Acupressure: A type of massage therapy in which the fingers are used to press on an acupoint. In cancer patients, acupressure has been used to control symptoms such as pain ornausea and vomiting.
- Moxibustion: A type of heat therapy in which an herb is burned above the body to warm a meridian at an acupoint and increase the flow of blood and qi. The herb may be placed directly on the skin, held close to the skin for several minutes, or placed on the tip of an acupuncture needle.
- Cupping: A procedure in which a rounded glass cup is warmed and placed upside down over an area of the body, making a vacuum that holds the cup to the skin. Cupping is used to increase the flow of blood and qi. It is believed to open up the skin’s pores and allow toxins to leave the body.
Have any preclinical (laboratory or animal) studies been conducted using acupuncture?
Scientific studies on the use of acupuncture to treat cancer and side effects of cancer began only recently. Laboratory and animal studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce vomiting caused bychemotherapy and may help the immune system be stronger during chemotherapy. Animal studies support the use of electroacupuncture to relieve cancer pain. Laboratory and animal studies have also looked at how acupuncture works for cancer treatment, such as the role of acupuncture in stimulating immune functions, including increasing blood cell count and enhancing lymphocyte and natural killer cell activity.
Have any clinical trials (research studies with people) of acupuncture been conducted?
Most studies of the use of acupuncture in cancer patients have been done in China. In 1997, theNational Institutes of Health (NIH) began evaluating the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture as a complementary and alternative therapy.
- Studies of the effect of acupuncture on the immune system
  Human studies on the effect of acupuncture have shown that it changes immune system response.
- Studies of the effect of acupuncture on pain
  In clinical studies, acupuncture reduced the amount of pain in some cancer patients. In one study, most of the patients treated with acupuncture were able to stop taking drugs for pain relief or to take smaller doses. The findings from these studies are not considered strong, however, because of weaknesses in study design and size. Studies using strict scientificmethods are needed to prove how acupuncture affects pain.
- Studies of the effect of acupuncture on muscle and joint pain from aromatase inhibitors
  Aromatase inhibitors, a type of hormone therapy for postmenopausal women who have hormone-dependent breast cancer, may cause muscle and joint pain. A randomized studyfound that true acupuncture was much more effective in relieving joint pain and stiffness thansham (inactive) acupuncture in patients taking aromatase inhibitors.
- Studies of the effect of acupuncture on nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
  The strongest evidence of the effect of acupuncture has come from clinical trials on the use of acupuncture to relieve nausea and vomiting. Several types of clinical trials using different acupuncture methods showed acupuncture reduced nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, surgery, and morning sickness. It appears to be more effective in preventing vomiting than in reducing nausea.
  A study of acupuncture, vitamin B6 injections, or both for nausea and vomiting in patients treated with chemotherapy for ovarian cancer found that acupuncture and vitamin B6 together gave more relief from vomiting than acupuncture or vitamin B6 alone.
- Studies of the effect of acupuncture on hot flashes in patients treated for cancer
  Hormone therapy may cause hot flashes in women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer. Some studies have shown that acupuncture may be effective in relieving hot flashes in these patients.
- Study of the effect of acupuncture on fatigue in patients treated for cancer
  A randomized study of patients with cancer-related fatigue found that those who had a series of acupuncture treatments had less fatigue compared to those who had acupressure or sham acupressure treatments.
- Studies of the effect of acupuncture on cancer symptoms (other than nausea) and side effects of cancer treatment
  The aim of most acupuncture clinical observation and clinical trials in cancer patients has been to study the effects of acupuncture on cancer symptoms and side effects caused by cancer treatment, including weight loss, cough, coughing up blood, anxiety, depression, dry mouth, proctitis, speech problems, blocked esophagus, hiccups, and fluid in the arms or legs. Studies have shown that, for many patients, treatment with acupuncture either relieves symptoms or keeps them from getting worse.
Have any side effects or risks been reported from acupuncture?
There have been few complications reported. Problems are caused by using needles that are notsterile (free of germs) and from placing the needle in the wrong place, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle. Problems include soreness and pain during treatment; feeling tired, lightheaded, or sleepy; and infections. Because chemotherapy and radiation therapy weaken the body's immune system, a strict clean needle method must be used when acupuncture treatment is given to cancer patients. It is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner who uses a new set of disposable (single-use) needles for each patient.
Is acupuncture approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a cancer treatment in the United States?
The FDA approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only.
More than 40 states and the District of Columbia have laws regulating acupuncture practice (seewww.acufinder.com for an online database of licensed acupuncture providers). The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (www.nccaom.org) certifies practitioners of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Most states require this certification.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/acupuncture/Patient/page2
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Are Low Fat Diets Helping to Cause Type 2 Diabetes?

2010-12-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

Are Low Fat Diets Helping to Cause Type 2 Diabetes?

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health1, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, have come to the conclusion that dietary intake of high-fat dairy offers significant protection against developing a variety of metabolic

PRLog (Press Release) – Dec 27, 2010 – Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health1, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, have come to the conclusion that dietary intake of high-fat dairy offers significant protection against developing a variety of metabolic problems, including the onset of type 2 diabetes. The researchers were stunned to report that Americans with a fatty acid in their blood (trans-palmitoleate), which elevates in direct proportion to the amount of high-fat dairy products that are consumed, had a rather amazing three-fold less likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. The study turns public health dogma about eating a low-fat diet on its head.

The idea that eating a low-fat diet somehow produces health has actually never been proven. It has been proven that overeating is not a good thing, and high fat intake is often a dietary staple of those prone to overeating. It has also been proven that eating a high-fat diet with a deficiency of fiber, plant polyphenols, and DHA is not a good thing. Furthermore, it has been proven that over-eating a diet that is high-sugar and high-fat is one of the fastest ways on earth to become type 2 diabetic. But it has never been proven that fat in and of itself, as a higher percentage of calories of a normal amount of food, has any adverse health consequences.

This study followed 3,736 participants in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded Cardiovascular Health Study, who have been followed for 20 years in an observational study to evaluate risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in older adults. Blood samples were collected back in 1992, including an analysis of the fatty acids present in their blood. At baseline, higher circulating levels of trans-palmitoleic acid were associated with healthier levels of blood cholesterol, inflammatory markers, insulin levels, and insulin sensitivity. During follow-up, individuals with higher circulating levels of trans-palmitoleic acid had a much lower risk of developing diabetes, with about a 60% lower risk among participants in the highest quintile (fifth) of trans-palmitoleic acid levels, compared to individuals in the lowest quintile. “This represents an almost three-fold difference in risk of developing diabetes among individuals with the highest blood levels of this fatty acid,” said Mozaffarian, lead author of the study. “This is an extremely strong protective effect, stronger than other things we know can be beneficial against diabetes.”

Unlike dangerous synthetic trans-fats that ruined the health of a generation, this type of trans fat is naturally produced by the digestive tract of a cow. Trans-palmitoleic acid is almost exclusively found in naturally-occurring dairy and meat.

In the new world of nutrition and gene science it is quite clear that fatty acids of different types have different metabolic signaling effects. Trans-palmitoleic acid is associated with higher levels of protective HDL cholesterol, less inflammation, less insulin resistance, better insulin sensitivity, and a significantly reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This means that the concept of “fat grams” as bad is a surface-level notion about health. Those who wish to be proactive about health need to rise above public health nutrition dogma, which is tied closely to the sales of billions and billions of dollars worth of cardiovascular and diabetic medication.

http://www.prlog.org/11178809-are-low-fat-diets-helping-to-cause-type-2-diabetes.html

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FirstLine Therapy can help you regain health! Illness is not a normal part of aging!

2010-12-29T15:42:00.000-08:00

FirstLine Therapy can help you regain health!

Illness is not a normal part of aging!

Did you know:

• Chronic diseases account for 78% of annual healthcare costs.1

• Chronic diseases also account for one-third of the years of potential life lost before age 65.1

• Most chronic diseases are caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits. For example, 91% of type 2 diabetes is caused by unhealthy habits and forms of behavior.2

• Chronic, disabling conditions cause major limitations in activity for more than one of every 10 Americans.1

• The prolonged course of illness and disability from chronic diseases results in extended pain and suffering and decreased quality of life.1

“Everyhumanbeingistheauthorofhisownhealthordisease.” —GautamaSiddhartha

You can changeyour health Doesn’t everybody want good health? High energy, mental clarity, full function,

and absence of disease well into old age. It’s yours for the taking!

What do you want?

More strength? More sex drive? More energy? Clearer thinking? More “good” days? Less stress? Better mood? Less pain? Better sleep quality? Better mobility? Greater control over health? More independence? More living!?

FirstLine Therapy (FLT) is a specialized therapeutic lifestyle change program unlike any other in that the FLT system targets the underlying causes of chronic illnesses by incorporating a sensible eating plan, exercise, nutritional supplementation, and stress management. In fact, the following key characteristics are unique to the FLT program:

FLT is not just a weight loss program

• Most programs are focused on weight while FLT is best used as a first line treatment for common, chronic health problems (e.g., high cholesterol, insulin resistance, unhealthy body composition).

The FLT eating plan is different • MostprogramsarefocusedonlowfatdietswhileFLTemphasizestheimportance

of a low-glycemic eating plan that is consistent with current research.

FLT incorporates medical foods and nutritional supplements

• The appropriate use of medical foods and supplements enhances program effectiveness and shortens the time it takes for you to achieve risk reduction goals.

FLT has been demonstrated to be effective in human clinical studies • Most programs lack clinical evidence of effectiveness.

Getting Started—A Matter of Fat

In order to measure your progress, you first need to know your current health status. A variety of health assessments may be performed, including a quick, non-invasive measurement of your body fat and lean muscle mass.

Excess body fat can greatly increase your health risks. But a higher ratio of muscle increases your metabolism and is associated with a lower incidence of illness. Improving your muscle-to-fat ratio is perhaps the most powerful tool in controlling the aging process and restoring vitality. And that’s what FirstLine Therapy is all about.

Extensive scientific research demonstrates that many of the chronic diseases associated with aging can be prevented or even treated by adopting a healthy lifestyle:

• Heart disease • High blood pressure • Stroke • Osteoarthritis

• Diabetes • High cholesterol • Metabolic syndrome • Osteoporosis

A therapeutic lifestyle change program is recommended by leading health organizations as a first-line treatment option for many of the conditions above, as well as:

• Stress-related disorders • Fatigue disorders • Polycystic ovary syndrome • Premenstrual syndrome

A “therapeutic lifestyle” means...

• Making choices every day that will enhance health and help prevent disease

• Adopting habits of living that may delay the onset of illness in old age

• Increasing your years of good health and full function • Enabling yourself to achieve a full, healthy life!

Your personal

FirstLine Therapy

program offers:

• Initial and follow-up testing

• Practitioner consultations

• Program guidebook • Solutions for staying

active

• Simple eating guidelines

• Progress tracking

• Lifestyle counseling

• Nutritional product recommendations

“A therapeutic lifestyle is the most powerful tool there is to

positively impact your health for life.”

1.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Disease-Overview. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm. Accessed February 19, 2007.

2. Hu FB, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, et al. Diet, lifestyle, and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in women. N Engl J MedMed 2001;345(11):790-97

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Top 10 New Years resolutions for 2011

2010-12-29T15:27:00.000-08:00

Top 10 New Years resolutions for 2011

With the coming of a fresh year people always strive hard to have a good beginning. Every year most of us make unique and new resolutions. We plan it well and stay determined to fulfill those resolutions. But somehow only a few have the relentlessness to keep up their resolutions.

With the coming of 2010, many people made various resolutions. Some of them might have succeeded and others couldn’t because of the simple reason that they did not try hard enough to fulfill them. No matter how successful you were in 2010, the new year, 2011 will be your year to have a new beginning and start with a fresh zeal. If you haven’t made your list of resolutions yet, here are the top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2011 to see if they can be applied to your life.

1. Lose Weight

This is probably one of the resolutions which are common to many people who always dream of having a beautiful and lean body. Was this one of your resolutions from past year? If so, be encouraged this year to follow it until you see positive results. Make a plan of what you will give up (late night snacks, that extra meal) in exchange for a lean body. You only have to make this shift once in your lifetime to get lasting results.

2. Getting Organized

Punctuality and organization is very crucial in a man’s life. People should always organize things accordingly and never delay any work what so ever. Work planning is very important both in office and also in home. The 2011 resolution must also include being organized and well planned. This will not only help in becoming a disciplined person but can also help in earning appreciation. In life problems are inevitable but handling these problems in planned and organized way is the main thing. Therefore a person’s resolution must include being disciplined. Simple things such as making a daily goal list before you start the day can go a long way.

3. Spend Less, Save More

How did you do financially in 2010? Many people spend money on unnecessary things without any justification. Money is an important thing in life and should be spent very carefully no matter how rich a person may be. Here’s a simple rule for you to follow in 2011. Before you buy something, always spend some time justifying the reason. You should spend the same amount of time it took you to earn that money on reasoning before you buy. If you do this, you will be able to cut most of the impulse purchases and you will be drawn to a better deal elsewhere.

4. Enjoy life to the Fullest

Life comes once and should be enjoyed as much as possible in the right way. Staying alone and isolated, and staying morose does not help. It is an individual’s duty to motivate oneself more and more so that they can reach the goal that they intend for. As the years are passing by, you are moving closer to the end of life. This should be seen as a positive aspect in life, because it encourages you to enjoy what you have in your life right now. Therefore make a resolution to find a reason everyday to enjoy life, enjoy everything that you do and enjoy every little moment in life, and then the life becomes worth living.

5. Staying Fit and Healthy

There are many people who lead a much undisciplined life and do not take care of their health. Staying physically and mentally fit should be another important resolution which can change your life positively and effectively. Regular exercise for half an hour everyday can help a lot in keeping mental peace.

6. Learn Something Exciting

Time waits for none and it should never be wasted. There are so many things that a person might engage himself or herself into apart from what they do. Where do you waste most of your time everyday? Do you spend idle time during waiting for the bus or train? Carry a book or an audio book on your career or profession every time you travel. Can you cut down on the time you spend watching TV, and learn a new skill? You’re never too young or old to learn a new skill. Therefore, make a resolution to upgrade your skills.

7. Quit Smoking

Smoking is injurious to health and it is known to all. Many people cannot give up smoking even after trying a lot. If you’re still addicted, your 2011 resolution should be to quit smoking. It will not only help you, but it will help everyone else whom you see everyday.

8. Helping Others in Their Dreams

Everybody thinks about oneself but there are few people who care for others. A great resolution is to help others. It always feels very nice to know that our actions can make other people smile and this is something to be proud about. You don’t need to be rich to help others. You can help others in 2011 with your time and skills. The more you help others, later you will also receive favors from other people because of the law of reciprocity.

9. Fall in Love

Love is a wonderful feeling, a feeling that comes from within. Are you in a relationship and is it the time to get engaged?, or is it the time to find someone in your life to share your experiences with? It’s never too late to fall in love.

10. Spend More Time with Family

Your 2011 resolutions should include loving family members. Every family member is dependent on each other and so spending time with family is very essential. An individual stays with its family for most of the time and should devote as much time as possible. Something that most successful businessmen and women regret is not spending enough time with their families when they could’ve. Spending time with the family gives a person a chance to know each other, share feelings with each other, share joy and sorrow. This is indeed an important resolution that will give you fulfillment in life.

These were some of the top 10 chosen resolution for year 2011. Some of them may be applicable for your and some may not. However, 2011 is a new beginning in your life. Create your own list of resolutions and make a quantum leap in your life this new year!

http://www.2011resolutions.org/

www.awcsandiego.com

TAKE BACK YOUR HEALTH!

2010-12-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

FREE WORKSHOP!

TAKE BACK YOUR HEALTH!

“Alternative Approaches to Preventing and Handling Common Illnesses”

Do You Suffer From:

High blood pressure
Heart disease
Osteoarthritis
Diabetes
High cholesterol
Metabolic syndrome
Osteoporosis
Stress-related disorders
Fatigue disorders
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome
Menopause
Prostate problems
Conditions related to overweight & obesity

Do You Wonder What’s Wrong and How to FIX it? Find Out …..

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 6:30-7:30pm

Mission Valley Library in the Community Room

Call NOW to register! (619)4-HEALTH (443-2584)

••••Light snacks will be provided!••••
SEATING IS LIMITED SIGN UP TODAY!

How Is It that We Eat More and Get Less?

2010-12-20T10:06:00.000-08:00

How Is It that We Eat More and Get Less?

Why We’re Getting Fewer Nutrients

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 80% of women and 70% of men consume less than two-thirds of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for one or more essential nutrients.

What are nutrients?

There are two types of nutrients. Macronutrients include proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals found in dietary sources that fuel proper body functioning, such as vitamins A, C, B12, D, calcium, magnesium, and iron.

Why is it most of us don’t get enough nutrients?

Reason #1: We eat empty calories (foods that contain little nutritional value), such as: Heavily Processed Foods, Baked Goods, Soda, Candy, and Desserts

Reason #2: Most people don’t know that many aspects of daily living can increase the level of nutrients your body needs, accelerate nutrient losses, or impair proper nutrient absorption. These include:

Antacids—Certain antacids might block the absorption of nutrients such as calcium or iron. Long- term antacid use in some cases has been associated with nutritional deficiencies.

Caffeine—The tannins in coffee and tea can interfere with absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, and B vitamins. Because caffeine has a diuretic action, it also might deplete nutrients such as vitamin B6. Caffeine can also increase emotional stress (see Emotional Stress below), increase cravings for unhealthy foods, and cause heartburn (see Antacids above).

Surgery—Recovery from surgery (like any illness or injury) requires additional nutrients, such as protein and antioxidants. Some surgical procedures (gastric bypass, intestinal resection) can also permanently affect dietary absorption of important nutrients such as vitamin B12.

Pregnancy—Mothers need additional nutrients such as folic acid in pregnancy. Nutritional deficiencies may force the mother and fetus to compete for nutrients and might lead to complications for either or both. Nutrient depletion also sets the stage for postpartum ailments such as depression.

Influenza (the Flu)—A body depleted of nutrients not only makes a better host for infectious diseases like the flu but also increases the body’s need for antioxidants (E, C, beta carotene) found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. A healthy balance of intestinal bacteria also positively influences the body’s immune system and can be fostered by a healthy diet and probiotics.

Emotional Stress—In addition to physical stress, the body might encounter increased nutritional needs (like vitamin C) due to emotional stress—which can also cause unhealthy eating. And a poor diet—lacking in protein, Essential Fatty Acids, and key vitamins—on its own can be the cause of emotional stress. Stress also restricts the body’s flow of blood (which carries nutrients) by tightening muscles.

Prescription/OTC Drugs—Corticosteroids can inhibit calcium absorption, birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy can deplete B vitamins, statin medications can deplete essential CoQ10, and certain weight loss drugs or “fat blockers” can reduce the absorption of other nutrients—just to name a few. Plus, some foods and nutritional supplements should be taken separately from certain medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for details.

Your Doctor Might Recommend...

Supplements for Better Health

Along with a healthy eating plan, regular exercise, adequate rest and relaxation, your physician might recommend specific supplements to ensure you receive enough nutrients. Some of the things he or she might recommend are:

EFAs

Essential fatty acids (EFAs, such as omega-3 found in fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts) are important for about every function in our bodies. Unlike the fat contained in cookies and cakes, these fats (when taken properly) can have a dramatic effect on health and vitality. And, since it’s difficult to get all the EFAs we might need from foods without eating large quantities of fish, a supplement is often recommended.

Probiotics

We’ve been hearing a lot about these recently. The term probiotic refers to friendly bacteria that live in our intestines. It may not sound too appealing, but these friendly bacteria work hard to keep us healthy by aiding in our digestion, supporting regular bowel movements, and supporting our immune systems. While certain yogurts have certified “live and active” bacteria cultures, they might also contain a lot of sugar, fruit syrups, and empty calories.

Fiber

Americans are averaging about 10 grams-15 grams of fiber per day; the recommended intake by health organizations is 20 grams-35 grams. Fiber also has broad-ranging health effects like supporting a healthy colon and cholesterol levels, and aiding in managing weight. It’s important to add fiber supplements slowly in graduated amounts with plenty of fluids to allow your digestive system to adjust.

Meal Replacement

A nutritious beverage containing optimal ratios of protein, carbohydrates, fat, and other essential nutrients can work to help stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent hunger surges and cravings. And, with the busy schedules most of us keep these days, a good meal replacement can save us time.

What you need to know about quality:

You should understand that not all nutritional supplement manufacturers meet the same standards. It’s best to look for companies that are certified by the Natural Products Association and NSF for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). These companies are audited to ensure good manufacturing practices are followed and, therefore, quality products are produced. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider to recommend a brand of safe and effective supplements manufactured by a company with history, longevity, respect in the marketplace, and certified GMP manufacturing.

Make your appointment at one of our clinics to have a brief nutritional consultation to learn about our new detox and therapeutic lifestyle program. Take back your health is 2011! Call now and mention this blog! (619)339-3482.

www.awcsandiego.com

Doctors Use Acupuncture as Newest Battlefield Tool

2010-12-16T10:08:00.000-08:00

Doctors Use Acupuncture as Newest Battlefield Tool

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2010 – J.D. Nichols, a retired Navy flight officer and cryptologist, limped into the Air Force Acupuncture Center at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland early yesterday morning, leaning heavily on a cane.

John F. Bilsky Sr. receives acupuncture for pain from a military doctor during a workshop at the Air Force Acupuncture Center at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Dec. 9, 2010. The purpose of the class was to teach battlefield acupuncture to military physicians from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. DOD photo by Cheryl Pellerin
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

A couple of hours later, moving easily without the cane and with the ends of tiny gold needles glittering in both ears, he waved goodbye to the military doctors who had reduced his pain using a technique called battlefield acupuncture.

The doctors, from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, were part of a workshop on the technique developed by Dr. Richard Niemtzow, a retired Air Force colonel who practiced medicine as a radiation oncologist before he studied acupuncture in 1994.

Nichols was one of four patients who volunteered for treatment at the 779th Medical Group’s acupuncture clinic, where Niemtzow and Dr. Stephen Burns, a retired Air Force colonel and full-time Air Force acupuncturist, train military doctors and treat patients.

“I walked yesterday and I barely made it home with the cane. That’s how much pain there was,” Nichols told the doctors after his treatment. “Now I’m walking without pain, as though I didn’t have the problem.”

“You said you felt like you could walk a mile,” Niemtzow said. “Would you have said that this morning when you first came here?”

“I didn’t think I was going to make it to the car,” Nichols said.

Niemtzow estimates that he and Burns have trained 60 physicians so far this year at Andrews and at Air Force and Army bases in Germany, Korea, Washington, Florida and Alaska.

“The Air Force Acupuncture Center is the first facility of its kind in DOD ever,” Air Force Col. (Dr.) John Baxter said. “It is a full-time acupuncture facility, and not only is it here to treat patients, it’s here to teach other providers and to do research.”

Baxter is director of the Pentagon Flight Medicine Clinic and a credentialed acupuncturist.

Acupuncture is being used as a treatment everywhere in the Defense Department, “but the Air Force led the way with two formal training programs of 20 physicians each,” Baxter said. “The Navy has one training program with 20 physicians and efforts are underway to have another tri-service training program.”

Healers in China and other Asian countries have practiced acupuncture for thousands of years. According to traditional Chinese medicine, disease is due to an internal imbalance of the opposing forces of yin and yang. Such an imbalance is believed to lead to a blockage in the flow of qi [pronounced chi], the vital life energy that flows along pathways called meridians, the philosophy says.

Meridians connect all systems in the body through a web-like matrix of at least 2,000 acupuncture points. Acupuncture is believed to unblock that vital energy.

Treating patients involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.

The practice is controversial among some in the United States, but the National Institutes of Health recognizes acupuncture as evidence-based therapy that works for many kinds of medical conditions, Baxter said.

Scientists are studying the efficacy of acupuncture for a range of conditions, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Bethesda, Md.

According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included a survey of complementary and alternative medicine use by Americans, 3.1 million U.S. adults and 150,000 children had used acupuncture in the previous year.

And in June, the Army surgeon general released a report that recommended “a holistic, patient-centered approach” to pain management that uses all kinds of therapy, from conventional medicine to “complementary and alternative modes such as acupuncture, meditation, biofeedback, yoga and others.”

In traditional acupuncture, practitioners use all 20 or so meridians. For battlefield acupuncture, Niemtzow uses only five points on each ear. Small, 1-millimeter gold or stainless steel needles are inserted and stay in place until they fall out or the patient removes them several days later.

The positive effects, Burns said, “last two hours, two days, two weeks, two months or two years -- we’ve seen everything.”

Most patients receive three to four treatments over several months and come to walk-in acupuncture clinics, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, if their pain returns.

“Doctor Niemtzow developed the technique over many years of working with patients,” Baxter said.

“He localized five points and prioritized them into a protocol that any provider can use, without knowing anything else, like on a battlefield when you’ve got someone in serious pain,” he added. “It will take you five minutes or less and chances are you’re going to drastically reduce that patient’s pain.”

Before the workshop began, Niemtzow said, “All the patients we see at the U.S. Air Force Acupuncture Center have not responded well to Western medicine.”

Many patients “have complicated medical problems and traditional medicine hasn’t helped them. They’ve been to the orthopedic surgeon, to traditional pain management clinics, to neurologists and dermatologists and they’ve taken drugs for pain relief,” he said.

“The majority of patients come to our clinic seeking relief from pain. The pain medication they’re taking has not been satisfactory or they’ve not responded well,” Niemtzow said.

“For many patients it is a last resort, but our success rate is very high here, which is very rewarding for the patient and also for myself and Doctor Burns,” he added.

Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Christian Hanley, also a credentialed acupuncturist, said acupuncture hasn’t replaced traditional medicine, but it’s a very good adjunct.

“This is a great gift we’ve been given,” he said, “so we take it and use it.”

During the workshop, the doctors treated three more patients, all of whom left the clinic with less pain than they arrived with.

“Nowhere in my experience of medicine in all these years have we had so many people walking away happy right from our interaction,” Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Dan Balog said.

Balog, who practices psychiatry and family medicine at the 79th Medical Group at Andrews, has used acupuncture on patients he treats for anxiety and depression.

“It’s pretty rewarding from the clinical side to see this,” he said, adding that acupuncture is also an avenue for patients who already take a lot of medications.

With multiple medications, Balog said, “there’s a lot of collateral damage that we don’t always anticipate.”

“There are people who still doubt this and I think they always will,” Niemtzow said, “but for us who are in the clinic every day, we see people suffering from the war and from this or that and there’s nothing left to offer them. And we can put 50-cent needles in an individual’s ear, and they look at you and smile and say, ‘my God, I feel better!”

“The question that comes to my mind is,” Baxter said, “if you can make the majority of patients better during their clinic visit without medicines, then why are you still treating patients the old way?

“We certainly would never go back [to practicing without acupuncture],” he said, “and I think the future for acupuncture will be bright.”

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=62053

www.awcsandiego.com

Acupuncture May Be Effective for Amblyopia in Some Older Children

2010-12-14T13:34:00.000-08:00

Acupuncture May Be Effective for Amblyopia in Some Older Children

Laurie Barclay, MD

December 14, 2010 — Acupuncture could potentially become an alternative to patching for treating some older children with amblyopia, according to the results of a single-center, randomized controlled trial published online December 13 in the Archives of Ophthalmology.

"A more effective and convenient alternative treatment for anisometropic amblyopia is required, especially for older children," write Jianhao Zhao, MD, from Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and Chinese University of Hong Kong in Shantou, China, and colleagues.

"Acupuncture...has been used for treating ophthalmic disorders such as dry eye, myopia, and amblyopia. In recent years, the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging has demonstrated a correlation between vision-related acupoint stimulation and visual cortical activation, suggesting a possible basis for the use of acupuncture in treating amblyopia."

The study goal was to compare the efficacy of daily patching for 2 hours with that of acupuncture in treating anisometropic amblyopia. Participants were 88 children, aged 7 to 12 years, with an amblyopic eye, who had worn optimal eyeglasses for at least 16 weeks and had achieved a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) of 0.3 to 0.8 logMAR at baseline. Children were randomly assigned to receive patching of the nonamblyopic eye for 2 hours daily or 5 sessions of acupuncture weekly. In addition, all participants received constant optical correction, 1 hour of near-vision activities daily, and follow-up at weeks 5, 10, 15, and 25. The primary study endpoint was BSCVA in the amblyopic eye at 15 weeks.

In the patching group, mean BSCVA of the amblyopic eye improved by 1.83 lines from baseline to 15 weeks compared with 2.27 lines in the acupuncture group. These improvements met the definition of equivalence (difference within 1 line) after baseline adjustment, with mean between-group difference in BSCVA of 0.049 logMAR (95% confidence interval, .005 - .092; P = .03).

Improvement in BSCVA by 2 lines or more occurred in 28 eyes (66.7%) in the patching group and in 31 eyes (75.6%) in the acupuncture group, and resolution of amblyopia occurred in 7 (16.7%) and 17 (41.5%) eyes, respectively. Tolerability and compliance were good for both treatments, with no serious adverse effects in either group.

"Acupuncture produced equivalent treatment effect for anisometropic amblyopia, compared with patching, and was statistically superior," the study authors write. "Further studies are warranted to investigate its value in the treatment of amblyopia."

Limitations of this study include the possibility that some of the observed treatment effect may have resulted from continued optical correction, and the inability to compare different durations of patching or use of different acupoints.

"Although the treatment effect of acupuncture appears promising, the mechanism underlying its success as a treatment for amblyopia remains unclear," the study authors conclude. "Acupuncture at vision-related acupoints may modulate the activity of the visual cortex. Moreover, acupuncture has been shown to be effective in increasing blood flow to the cerebral and ocular vasculatures (including the choroid), stimulating the expression of retinal nerve growth factors and leading to metabolic changes in the central nervous system."

The Mr. Lai Seung Hung and Mrs. Lai Chan Pui Ngong Eye Fund and the Edith C. Blum Foundation supported this study. Several of the study authors have filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office a provisional patent application for the stimulation of specific acupuncture points for the improvement of vision.

Arch Ophthalmol. Published online December 13, 2010.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/734197

www.awcsandiego.com

Help Us to Help the San Diego Food Bank!

2010-12-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

Help Us to Help the San Diego Food Bank!

This year we are holding a food drive to benefit the San Diego Food Bank, come out to either clinic and help us make it a success! For every donation we will repay your generosity with a gift from the clinic. You may pick from a 25% off massage coupon, a $250 gift certificate for a loved one and a $1500 corporate wellness package you workplace, church or community organization.

San Diego Food Bank - Hunger Fact Sheet 2010

Hunger and poverty in San Diego County:

Of San Diego County’s 3.1 million residents, 483,000 people live at or near the federal poverty level.* 273,000 are children.* These individuals, the majority of whom are children, face “food insecurity” which means that little or no food is available at home, and they will face times when they will not know where their next meal will come from. (*U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2008. Compiled by SANDAG, January 2010.)

About the San Diego Food Bank:

The San Diego Food Bank feeds over 342,000 people per month in partnership with over 350 nonprofit community partners including: food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, low-income daycare centers, senior centers, churches, schools, and day centers for the elderly and disabled.

The Food Bank’s nonprofit partners collect food from its 72,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Miramar and distribute the food directly to people in need in their local communities. By acting as a central distribution point and through its own direct distributions, the Food Bank and its nonprofit partners provide food to communities throughout the county’s 4,200 square mile radius.

In the fiscal year 2009 - 2010, the Food Bank distributed 15.3 million pounds of food – the equivalent of 12 million meals.

Demand for food is soaring:

The prolonged economic downturn has deeply affected San Diego County. With an unemployment rate over 10%, continuing job layoffs, home foreclosures and high gas prices tens of thousands of additional families and fixed-income seniors are turning to the Food Bank to help put food on the table.

As the barometer of the county’s economic health, the Food Bank’s distribution increases illustrate the impact of the economy on local families.

In 2008, the Food Bank fed 200,000 per month. This increased by 52% to 304,000 per month in 2009. In 2010, the Food Bank is feeding over 342,000 people per month.

How you can help:

There are many ways you can help the Food Bank.

Donate food – Host a food drive at your school, business or church, or donate at either of our clinic's locations and recieve a gift for your generosity;

Sorrento Valley

6370 Lusk Blvd. #F103, San Diego, CA. 92121

Mission Valley

2425 Camino Del Rio South #150, San Diego, CA. 92108

Donate time – The Food Bank relies on volunteers to sort and package tons of food everyday. Individuals and groups can volunteer at the Food Bank’s warehouse Tuesday through Saturday.

Donate money – Monetary donations help supplement the “lottery” of food drive donations. For every $1 donated the SDFB can provide three meals. $1 = 3 meals. Visit www.sandiegofoodbank.org/donate

Most needed food items:

canned meat & tuna canned soups canned fruits and vegetables canned beans, dry cereal, rice, mac & cheese and spaghetti.

Thank you and Happy Holidays to all of our friends and family!

www.awcsandiego.com

To The Point: Acupuncture: Its Growth In the United States & How It Works

2010-12-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

To The Point: Acupuncture: Its Growth In the United States & How It Works

by John D. Convey, L.Ac.

Over the past year I’ve observed the growth of Acupuncture and Asian Medicine and have witnessed it’s upswing in popularity not only in my practice but also within the community of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). In turn, this surge in popularity has spread amongst patients in the United States who in the past relied mostly on Western Medicine but now actively seek answers within the field of Acupuncture and Asian Medicine for means and methods to achieve health, well-being and overall care.

One of my objectives is to provide a better understanding about the use of Acupuncture and Asian Medicine within our society. Being part of a larger movement and having my own practice, I think it beneficial to share my knowledge and to increase public awareness of the progress, promise, and benefits that both alternatives provide and come under the umbrella of a specific community and definition known as CAM.

Defining CAM – Complementary And Alternative Medicine. Because the field of alternative medicine is constantly evolving we’ll apply a basic definition to the concept and understanding of what CAM is. CAM is a group of diverse health and medical care systems, practices and products that are not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine. Conventional Medicine also known as Western Medicine is associated with and practiced by holders of M.D. and D.O. degrees and by associated health professionals, such as psychologists, registered nurses and physical therapists.

It is important to note that the boundaries between CAM and conventional medicine are not absolute. And should not be seen as a divide. As the practices of Complementary and Alternative Medicine continues to become more widely accepted and relied upon in the respective fields of medicine, the definition grows and the two systems continue to merge. So in brief, Complementary Medicine refers to the use of CAM together with conventional medicine.

As a health care professional, I must stress how important it is that this merger continues to grow and increase so patients can receive optimal care, relief and overall treatment for an existing or new condition.

An estimated 36% of U.S. adults use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a survey by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a component of the National Institutes of Health. When megavitamin therapy and prayer, specifically for health reasons is included in the definition of CAM, the number of U.S. adults using some form of CAM in the past year rises to 62%. Among the common CAM practices identified by the survey were acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, tai chi and Qi gong.

As these methods of practice continue to sync we, as healers are seeing a trend that supports the idea that the use of conventional medicine along side and stride with alternative medicine is helping an increasing number of patients deal with illness and injury. In some instances many of these illnesses and injuries have been hard to diagnose or may still be without specific conclusion consequently patients who would have gone without treatment have now found a path through CAM to seek care and relief.

Acupuncture and Asian Medicine is a bridge between that which is known conclusively through medical or conventional practice and that, which is not known but is acknowledged by the body and mind’s own intuitive nature. Making alternative practices not only important but also necessary.

A survey by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine found that approximately one in ten adults had received acupuncture at least one time and 60% said they would readily consider acupuncture as a potential treatment option. Nearly half (48%) of the individuals surveyed who had received acupuncture reported that they were extremely satisfied or very satisfied with their treatment. In addition, one in five (21%) of the total NCCAOM survey respondents reported that they had utilized some other form of Oriental medicine besides acupuncture, such as herbs or bodywork (e.g., shiatsu).

These studies and others like them clearly demonstrate that CAM therapies such as acupuncture and Oriental medicine are common practice in today’s health care system. They also support the need for consumers to be provided accurate and reliable information regarding their treatment options. It is again important to stress that as alternative practices grow the benefits of receiving such forms of treatment are providing patients with restored health.

My personal goal in writing this goes beyond providing a basic understanding of Alternative practices but to zero in on my specific specialty. Which is acupuncture and I believe acupuncture truly works. My passion is to ensure I provide Americans with and understanding that ultimately helps each individual understand how to access this practice and to receive the benefits that come from its use.

The human body is made up of over 300 billion cells. Every one of those cells is encoded with DNA that serves cells much like blueprints help orchestrate the building of a structure. Each cell has a unique “calling” or “function” to perform; some cells become smooth muscle tissue, while others become part of the nervous system, and so on. The process of the cell developing and operating as precise types allows all the cells to collectively work as one unit, in this case the all important human body. And more specifically – your body.

Let me use the model of modern technology as analogy to the human organism. Imagine that each of those 300 billion cells that make up the human anatomy are like the inner workings of tiny wireless lap top computers and smart phones. Communication with these devices is initiated through an energy that has been termed Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi has the ability to send and receive pieces of information, images, emails, etc. through thin air with not so much as a trace for the human senses to recognize. The cells that make up you have the same complex and compressive modality to transfer and receive bits of information called “Qi” (Chi) – it is the bodies Wi-Fi.

The Qi transmits information to and from the cell to acupuncture points throughout the body. Acupuncture points are like routers for your home or office that connect an entire system to one unit. Cellular antennas if you will, are hardwired into the circulatory and nervous systems much as our computer devices are plugged into the wall or travel via cable to and from the main server. Information is received and collected at these points and is then sent up to the server, in this case, the brain.

As a Doctor of acupuncture, I listen to the signals if you well – or the body’s communication and transmissions much like a technician reads the make-up of an electronic unit, to develop and devise a routine for repairing and healing the internal system.

This wireless communication is at the root of cellular organization, development, and growth. Its ability to thrive as a single unit collectively creates the network that completes the human body. It is through the body’s Wi-Fi system that acupuncture communicates then triggers, and stimulates a specific area in need of healing. Understanding the concept of wireless communication, or using technology as analogy, helps to explain how the human organism, like a computer in sync with its software, enjoys cooperation and communication among its specific parts and areas. Specific to the human body, each cell makes up the organization of the entire organism, which consequently makes communication and healing possible.

It is a magnificent system that should not be underestimated or ignored because of this very unique ability to communicate the needs of the human infrastructure, exterior structure and the complete body. Along with Complementary and Alternative medicine and well versed practitioners, you are your own best friend when it comes to the cycle of health.

Your body is there to tell you everything there is to know. And I will be here to help translate, communicate understanding and heal the body’s instant message.

http://www.outimpact.com/features/health-spirituality-wellness/point-well-taken/point-acupuncture-growth-united-states-works/

www.awcsandiego.com

Acupuncture Changes How the Brain Processes, Responds to Pain

2010-12-02T15:28:00.000-08:00

Acupuncture Changes How the Brain Processes, Responds to Pain

While plenty of people who receive acupuncture for the relief of chronic pain swear by its effectiveness, the western medical community has long remained skeptical of this increasingly popular alternative treatment. More and more research studies, however, are confirming the idea that acupuncture has its place in western medicine. The latest, a study out of the University Hospital in Essen, Germany, suggests that acupuncture transforms the way the brain processes pain.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers led by Dr. Nina Theysohn from the University Hospital's department of diagnostic and interventional radiology and neuroradiology were able to observe the areas of the brain that typically deal with pain perception and response. By studying 18 healthy volunteers who received an electronic pain stimulus to their left ankles, radiologists discovered that when acupuncture needles were placed on the right side of the subjects' bodies, the activation of the brain's pain processing areas was substantially reduced.

Theysohn's findings were presented at the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting Tuesday in Chicago.

The results of this latest study, though small, are no surprise to Dr. Daniel Hsu, a doctor of acupuncture and herbal medicine at New York AcuHealth. "This is just one more in a growing number of studies that confirm acupuncture helps with chronic pain," he told AOL Health Wednesday morning.

Hsu says acupuncture addresses pain in two ways. It stimulates the body to produce naturally occurring pain-killing chemicals, and it interferes with pain signals to the brain. "With chronic pain, it's a good front line of defense," he adds. "With (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), you have to take more and more for them to continue to work." He also points out that NSAIDs constrict blood vessels and can also be hard on the liver with continued use.

"When you receive acupuncture, you're not only decreasing pain but increasing blood flow," Hsu explains. "And because there are very few side effects, it can be tried in just about anyone."

Hsu says he receives many patients who have tried everything to stop chronic pain and seek out acupuncture as a last resort. Hsu says it varies from patient to patient how well acupuncture works. Some people see immediate relief after one treatment, while others have to receive continued therapy over a period of months.

http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/12/01/acupuncture-brain-process-pain/

Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

2010-11-30T15:41:00.000-08:00

Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

By Adrienne Dwllwo

Research Brief

A small but growing body of evidence suggests that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

A recent Chinese study showed that 2 treatments from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) were effective -- acupuncture and Shenmai injection (which is composed of 2 common TCM herbs.) However, researchers say acupuncture was the far more effective treatment.

Specifically, researchers say the treatments made participants less fatigued and eased fatigue-related symptoms, such as brain function.

Last April, a separate study also out of China found that circadian rhythm (your internal "body clock") was abnormal in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, and that treatment with electroacupuncture was able to regulate the circadian rhythm and improve daytime cognitive function.

The term "electroacupuncture" has 2 different meanings. In TCM, it means using electricity in conjunction with needles to provide higher levels of stimulation. In the U.S., it's often used to describe treatment with low-voltage electricity instead of needles. The abstract didn't specify which form was used, and I can't read the article because it's in Chinese. However, since this was a Chinese study published in a Chinese journal, my assumption is that they used the TCM definition.

In Dec. 2009, another Chinese research group published a meta analysis of 28 published studies on acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome. It concluded that acupuncture does appear effective but that more high-quality studies need to be done before we know for sure.

Learn More: Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

If you're interested in trying acupuncture, it might help to print out the first two studies, linked above, so your acupuncturist knows which sites the researchers used.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2010/11/04/acupuncture-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm