We're excited at Health On Point to start 2013 explaining how acupuncture works and sharing acupuncture-inspired tips for leading a healthier, simpler, more meaningful life. Acupuncture helps us see the world differently -- with more hope, openness, intention, gratitude, compassion, patience and clarity. In doing so, it changes us.
Here are 13 specific ways that acupuncture can change your life in 2013.
1. It will open your mind.
Acupuncture requires us to think about health in entirely new ways. Despite noble efforts by many to find one, there is no biomedical equivalent for qi or meridians. Acupuncture turns mainstream medical tenets on their head. It will remind you that there are multiple ways of seeing the world.
2. It can help make you less stressed.
Acupuncture takes the edge off. It removes you from the perpetual state of sympathetic dominance in which so many of us find ourselves. By mellowing out the nervous system, acupuncture can help you feel less affected by and better equipped to manage the stressful aspects of life.
3. It will inspire you to get outside more.
In acupuncture theory, humans are viewed as microcosms of the natural world that surrounds them. Things like weather and seasonal shifts factor significantly into acupuncture diagnoses and treatment plans. When you start thinking about health in this way, realizing the intimate relationship that humans have with nature, it inspires a desire to get outside and commune with your natural habitat.
Look to the next few weeks as we reveal ten more ways you can benefit from acupuncture....
Today is our first snow fall - and tomorrow is winter solstice!
As the weather gets colder, it is a wise choice to take some time for yourself to restore your energy. Don't resist the urge to nestle into your snug home. It turns out that the law of nature requires you to slow down in the winter. Here are five secrets that will preserve your energy, bringing you health - and tranquility.
Winter: the sleep of nature
Winter season is when nature sleeps, and everything experiences the slowing of natural processes -- even our bodies. Humans stopped hibernating like their ancestral cousins long ago, but our bodies still experience the natural inclination to slow down in winter. The winter is a time to come back to quietness and rebuild your energy reserves. According to Chinese medicine, the winter season is linked to kidneys, the adrenal glands, and the bladder. When these bodily systems are out of balance, energy becomes depleted and this can pave the way to illness. During the cold months of winter, people are more prone to colds, flu, poor circulation, low Vitality, and seasonal mood disorders.
To stay healthy, happy, and vital, follow the wise winter advice of the Yellow Emperor:
1. Early to bed, rise when the sun is up
Go to sleep early and wait to let the sun bathe the house before rising from bed. Get your zzz's in -- at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Try taking a 20- to 30-minute easy walk one hour before you go to bed to improve the quality of your sleep.
2. Be content
The Yellow Emperor advises us to avoid experiencing excessive emotions in the winter because they drain your energy reserves.
Follow your bliss. Use the cold dark days of winter to stay in and cuddle up with a book, or pick up a new indoor hobby
Beat the winter blues with light therapy. Studies show that exposure to sunlight stimulates the pineal gland, which affects the production of other brain chemicals such as serotonin, the neurotransmitter sometimes called the "mood chemical." It can also boost your immune system, waking up the activities of the natural killer cells that patrol our borders looking for intruders and cancer cells. If weather permits, get outdoors daily and let the sun bathe you with its life-giving and spirit-lifting properties. Even in the winter, avoid overexposure with sunscreen if out in the sun between 10 am - 3 pm.
3. Nurture energy storage
The three months of winter are when all living things should return home and be conserved. Engage in activities that are in harmony with the energies of winter.
Avoid energy-depleting activities. Don't try to do too much in one day. Try making only one or two items a priority every day. And be sure you give yourself some personal time, not just from other people, but also from our modern amenities that claim ever more of our personal space, such as TV, computers, and smart phones. Try this: pick one day a week to perform your own "system restore." Turn off the TV. Don't watch the news. Limit your email time. These are the ways to maintain your energy and lessen stress.
4. Eat for the season: no raw, cold foods
To keep your health and energy up in the cold months of winter, the Yellow Emperor recommends avoiding cold and raw foods, reducing salt to protect your kidneys, and increasing bitter flavors (like kale, for instance.) So steer clear of raw vegetables, cold salads, and icy cold foods and beverages. Instead your diet should follow nature's menu for the seasons.
In winter, you'll tend toward a warming diet including leeks, onions, and turnips. Also, iron-rich foods can help warm you up: try spinach, broccoli, dried plums, oats, quinoa, sunflower and sesame seeds, walnuts, yams, squash, kale, garlic, scallions, and parsley. Hearty soups are good for you during the winter months. Drink only warm or hot water.
5. Avoid coldness and linger around warmth
Dress warmly, paying special attention to your middle. In Chinese medicine, the abdomen is considered the storehouse of the body's energy. Keeping your abdomen warm and protected from weather extremes has immense immunity benefits. A good way to replenish your energy bank is to regularly place a heat pack on your middle.
Drink warming tea to keep your Vitality fired up. At Health on Point, we have several organic bulk tea options.
Chinese herbs can protect your energy reserves and boost your immunity. Astragalus and ginseng are considered to be adaptogens -- natural substances that improve the body's resistance to physical and environmental stress, thereby enhancing the immune system.
Local, handmade lavender eye masks - perfect for winter
I hope this advice gives you the steps for a healthy, happy winter. I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.
Keep in mind, we will have limited office hours through the first of the year, so if you need to stop by for teas, herbs, or some newly created lavender eye masks - do call first!
A large glass of water w/ Herbal Resistance Formula aides in de-stressing AND boosts your immune system!
Acupuncture is well known for its potential ability to lower stress. Many people use acupuncture for stress reduction. And in my experience, even those who don't admit to or notice stress in their lives commonly report a greater sense of lightness and evenness to their moods after having acupuncture.
During the holiday season, many of us would benefit from the stress-reduction benefits of acupuncture. Too often though, we find it impossible to take the time for ourselves.
If you can swing going for acupuncture this time of year, all the better -- regular acupuncture treatments are, in my opinion, the best way to stay healthy and mentally balanced during high-stress times. But if you, like many people, are on a tighter schedule and budget for the coming month, we've got the next-best thing.
I asked acupuncturists and colleagues to share one piece of acupuncture-inspired advice for reducing holiday stress. I've simplified their suggestions for self-care tips that can be applied anytime, anywhere, and for next to nothing. This week and next week, we will share these ideas - and will offer related discounts both in clinic and as posted exclusively for fans on Facebook.
Appreciate Water
In acupuncture, each season has an associated natural element. Winter's is water. As the holidays cue our wintery instincts, we can use water literally and metaphorically as a natural holiday de-stressor.
I recommend starting every day with a large glass of lukewarm water. Fill your favorite glass with water and drink it slowly (even better if you add a few drops of Herbal Resistance Liquid), followed by taking some deep breaths into your abdomen. This morning ritual helps keep your body hydrated and relaxed at a time when more-than-usual amounts of alcohol and caffeine (both dehydrators) meet higher-than-usual stress levels.
Metaphorically, water serves as a model for coping with holiday stress. When stress starts to mount, close your eyes and imagine yourself as strong, yet fluid and flexible. You are easily able to adjust around whatever gets in your way. To truly live this experience, fill your tub with hot water and some bath salts. A variety of salts, including epsom - as well as essential oils - is an incredible treat.
For more information about Herbal Resistance or our special formulated bath soak 'Relax', contact us directly or find discounts for Facebook fans here.
Do you have a hard time catching the zzzzz’s you need? Six to eight hours of quality sleep every night is necessary for your immune system, digestion, energy, and mental health. It’s vital to recharge your body so you can conquer the day ahead! Here are some nutritional tips to help you settle down for the night:
Keep your caffeine to a minimum, and only in the morning.
Every body breaks down caffeine differently, but its effects always last longer than the initial buzz you feel. It can take anywhere from 5-11 hours for your body to metabolize caffeine completely. Limit your caffeine to less than 150mg per day (about one 8 oz coffee), and stick to drinking it in the morning. For the caffeine content of different beverages, check out this page from the Mayo Clinic.
No meals or snacks within 2 hours of bedtime.
While your body does require some restful time for digesting, the whole process does require quite a bit of energy. It can be hard to get to sleep when your digestive organs are still hard at work! Additionally, meals close to bedtime can result in weight gain and heartburn.
Make sure you’ve got magnesium in your diet.
Magnesium is necessary for relaxation in a number of different ways. Good sources of magnesium include seeds (like sunflower or flax) and dark leafy greens. If you find your digestion is irregular in addition to being wound up at bedtime, a magnesium supplement may be an excellent option to get things moving. At Health On Point we carry a product that patients and practitioners alike swear by. Stop in for a free sample!
Calm down with some herbal tea.
Our Super Sleep herbal tea is compounded to help your body prepare for sleep. Take a few minutes away from the computer, television, or other distractions to clear your mind and help you settle down.
This week's article courtesy of Daily Dose Wellness.
The ability to focus and tune out distraction can be challenging for anyone. But for children and adults with ADHD, it is a daily, frustrating battle.
Medication and behavioral therapy are traditional methods of treatment. Now, Acupuncture is being used to ease the symptoms of ADHD.
A recent study by the Mayo Clinic finds that seven and a half percent of all school-age children are affected by ADHD. And symptoms vary from child to child. Some may struggle with focus, distractibility, impulsivity, hyperactivity, or a combination of them."Western medicine looks at ADHD as a brain dysfunction, a brain chemistry dysfunction," says licensed acupuncturist Allison Bower. "Eastern medicine looks at ADHD as the organ functions are malfunctioning, then causing the brain function to be off."
Acupuncture works well in addition to other treatments, such as behavioral therapy and nutritional plans. "If we can balance the energy, or the qi, of the organ systems in the body, then the brain chemistry can adjust," Bower explains. Acupuncture can help calm the disruptive nature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and it can also help to ease the side effects of the medications used to treat ADHD.
Gabrielle Belli was diagnosed with ADHD at age 11.
"Distractibility has always been sort of an issue," she admits. Impulsivity is also a problem, in addition to social anxiety. That's not uncommon. ADHD is often coupled with other disorders ranging from social anxiety to depression, or facial tics.
"ADHD often does not fly solo. It flies along with some anxiety or some depression. So we know that if acupuncture speaks to those conditions, it will most certainly speak to ADHD," according to Jill Zupon, Founder and Executive Director of The Attention Center, the Independence facility devoted solely to the care of children and adults with ADHD and ADD. In addition to testing, therapy, nutritional services and coaching Zupon saw the benefits of acupuncture and brought Bower on board.
"We are not a center that provides homeopathic medicine. But we knew that it would be a good alternative to those who didn't want to be medicated," Zupon explains. Belli tried medication, but found it didn't work for her. She came to The Attention Center for help managing her ADHD. When she heard they also offered acupuncture, Belli decided to give it a try. "I felt more like myself than I had probably in a whole year. So it was just the biggest relief," Belli claims.
We went with Gabrielle on a day she visited Bower. Home from Ohio University, she hadn't received acupuncture in about two months. She had lost two sets of keys in recent weeks, and says she struggled with her organization and thought processes. For Gabrielle, the benefits of acupuncture she says are almost immediate. "I can really tell. I speak different, my attitude is different," she tells us.
"I am centered. I am thinking clearly. I am organized," she says.
Acupuncture can help to calm the impulses that make it hard to stay still. It can also work to improve concentration and bolster the immune system and energy of the patient which can address both the sluggishness commonly associated with ADD patients and hyperactivity commonly seen in patients with ADHD.
Zupon believes a transformation takes place from the time that a client walks into Allison's office, to the moment they walk out. "We get to see someone go in one way and come out another way. It's wonderful," Zupon said.
Acupuncture in the management of ADHD is still relatively new. Currently, there is no scientific proof to support its benefits. But patients like Gabrielle believe it has made a difference in their lives.
For patients who take medicine, They say that the acupuncture can help alleviate common negative side effects of the drugs such as appetite suppression, sleeplessness and dry mouth.
In a perfect world, Gabrielle says she would like to get treatment every other week. But she must work it around her visits home from school. Treatment is different for each person. Some people need it every week, others go every other week, or every few months. If you or someone you know has ADD/ADHD, call for a consultation to see if acupuncture may help!
Women in study had less physical, mental fatigue and better quality of life
Offering breast cancer patients a relatively short regimen of acupuncture alongside standard treatment can help alleviate some of the crippling fatigue that often accompanies the disease, according to a new study.
The magnitude of help that patients undergoing acupuncture experienced was deemed by the study team to be "both statistically and clinically important."
"I am quite excited with these results," said study lead author Alex Molassiotis, a professor of cancer and supportive care with the school of nursing, midwifery and social work at the University of Manchester, in England. "They provide some good evidence of an effect of acupuncture for the management of a very debilitating and burdensome symptom for patients."
"The addition of a new treatment approach gives patients and health professionals more options," Molassiotis added, noting that the range of options specifically designed to address fatigue issues among cancer patients has been limited.
The study appeared online Oct. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
More than 40 percent of breast cancer patients experience significant cancer-related fatigue, according to background information included in the study. For some patients the problem may persist at a moderate or even severe level for years following the cessation of treatment.
To explore the potential of acupuncture treatment, the authors focused on more than 300 women with breast cancer who were being cared for as outpatients at one of nine health care facilities across the United Kingdom.
At the time of the study, participants had been diagnosed with either stage 1, 2 or 3 breast cancer, and all had been experiencing at least moderate levels of fatigue for an average of 18 months. Most were white, and their average age was 53.
For a six-week period, all patients continued to receive the same care they had been receiving before the study, and all were additionally given an information booklet that tackled the issue of fatigue management.
However, more than 200 of the patients also were randomly chosen to undergo weekly 20-minute acupuncture sessions that involved needle placement at three different entry points.
By the end of the six-week period, those who had received acupuncture appeared to fare better on every measure of fatigue that the team assessed.
Specifically, those in the acupuncture group reported feeling notably better than the "usual-care" group in terms of overall fatigue, physical and mental fatigue, anxiety and depression levels, functional well-being, emotional well-being, social functioning, and overall quality of life.
"Acupuncture is a complementary therapy that not only can have direct effects on the symptom experience of patients, but also ... provide the opportunity [for] patients to be more involved with their symptom management and empower them more," Molassiotis said. "Patients also like 'natural' and 'traditional' approaches to health management."...
Dr. Laura Kruper, director of the Cooper-Finkel Women's Health Center and chief of the breast surgery service at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif., described the British effort as both "well done" and "strong."
"Acupuncture has been used in a variety of settings within medicine, such as to control chemotherapy-related nausea, post-operative nausea, migraines and chronic pain," she said. "It is still not exactly known how acupuncture works, but that does not mean it does not have therapeutic benefit."
But, while noting that "many patients turn to complementary therapies to bridge the gaps that Western medicine does not fill," Kruper stressed the need "to ensure that these therapies are safe, effective and reliable."
"In the world of medicine, we rely on investigational studies to guide our treatment decisions so that we provide evidence-based medicine," she said. "Complementary therapies need to undergo the same rigorous tests that Western medicine does. This study was exemplary in that it was conducted with adherence to the principles of scientific method, and hopefully a study like this will be the first of many."
More and more of our patients are interested in how they can care for themselves outside the clinic. On a daily basis I hear, "What can I do between treatments?" or "Is there anything I can do on my own to help me reach my goals?". What I love about my practice and what Health On Point has to offer, is that it is NOT a passive experience. What happens in the treatment room is invaluable, but so are the behaviors and choices you make once you walk out into the world. We are on the cusp of winter, and often it is a season of neglect. Many become distracted by holidays and family excitement (or troubles!) and of course the impending cold which leaves many feeling cooped up and unhealthy. In response to your inquiries and concern for self care, I will be posting monthly - if not bi-weekly - articles on self care. Some will take the form of nutrition/supplement support. Other articles will include whole foods recipes or special offers available in clinic. We are incredibly excited to share this with you. Please let us know what you think - and if you have particular interests or requests, we are all ears!
Today's article is from a colleague's website. She is a wonderful nutritionist and is thrilled to share her knowledge with us. The topic we’ll discuss this week is what current research says about the effectiveness of taking a daily multivitamin. Keep in mind that vitamins and supplements are just as serious as prescription drugs; so don’t take anything new without talking it over with a healthcare professional!
Many people like the concept of a multivitamin. It seems like a good idea to take a pill to make up for any nutritional gaps in one’s diet. But does it actually do your body any good?
One 2011 study looked at the multivitamin use and health issues of 182,099 participants over the course of three years. They found no difference in cancer risk, heart disease, or mortality between the persons who used multivitamins and those who didn’t.
On the other hand, some studies have found that people who use multivitamins have lower rates of disease. Another study from 2011 found that breast cancer patients who took a multivitamin after treatment had higher survival rates. These studies also find that people who take multivitamins tend to eat more plant foods and exercise, so it can be hard to tell if the vitamin is adding any additional benefit.
Based on the current research, it appears that a multivitamin does no visible harm or good. Some people with specific health needs may benefit from a vitamin or herbal supplement. It’s important to discuss supplements with a Nutritionist, Dietitian, Herbalist, or Pharmacist before trying anything new. For the most part, your dollars will be better spent on wholesome fresh foods instead of pills!
