|
Fall officially began this weekend. New seasons are an opportunity to assess our states of health and realign with our natural rhythms. From an acupuncture perspective, fall is about refinement. It's time to pare down, to let go of the excesses we allowed ourselves in summer and focus on what's necessary for winter.
Even before the crisp weather this past day or two, patients are noting a change in their health and sense of well-being. As you'll read below, this is all expected and very natural when considered within the Chinese Medical framework.
In Chinese medical theory, humans are viewed as microcosms of the natural world that surrounds them. Weather and climate, particularly during the transition from one season to another, factor significantly into acupuncture diagnoses and treatment plans.
The transition into fall is especially noteworthy because it signifies moving from the more active seasons to the more passive. This has significant implications for how we feel and how we prevent and treat illness.
In acupuncture, each season is linked with a natural element, organ and emotion. The element, organ and emotion of fall are, respectively, metal, Lung and grief. These three things usher us throughout the season, serving as barometers for where we are and offering insight on how to be better.
Considering metal, Lung and grief as our guides, below are seven acupuncture tips for staying healthy this fall.
Make a list of your priorities
Fall is when we ought to embrace our metal-esque qualities: strong, definitive, focused, discerning. It is time to get down to business, to gain clarity about what really matters to us.
As satisfying as this can be, it also can be overwhelming. If I hunker down at work, how will I make time for the kids? If I focus on cooking healthy meals and eating at home to save money, how will I socialize with friends? Make a list of which priorities deserve your attention. Write them down and glance at the list periodically throughout the season.
Fall heightens our innate ability to get things done. Take advantage of it by reminding yourself where to focus.
Wear a scarf
Acupuncturists are always going on about wearing scarves. It's for good reason.
Lung, the organ associated with fall, is considered the most exterior organ. It is the first line of defense against external pathogenic factors. As the weather turns cold and the wind picks up, the Lung organ is extra vulnerable.
Further, pathogenic factors such as cold and wind invade the body at the back of the neck, so keeping that area protected is very important in the fall. Even if it's sunny, always bring a scarf when you head outside.
Acupressure self care
One of the best points for strengthening the Lung organ is Lung 7. It helps promote the descending function of the Lungs, which makes it a great point for cough, shortness of breath and nasal congestion.
Lung 7 also is one of the most effective points for neck pain and stiffness. As mentioned above, wearing a scarf helps, but for protecting yourself against any residual wind and the resulting head and neck tension, Lung 7 will come in handy.
Lung 7 is easy to access yourself. Make a thumbs-up sign. When you do that, you'll see a depression at the base of your thumb (referred to as the anatomical snuffbox). From that depression, Lung 7 is located approximately two finger widths up your arm.
Stay hydrated
Dryness of all kinds is common in fall. Since Lung is the most exterior organ, it is the organ that relates most closely to the skin. Dry skin and even rashes tend to show up in fall. Drink a lot of water and keep your skin hydrated with non-alcoholic (alcohol will dry you out more) moisturizer.
Another reason to stay hydrated is to regulate digestion. The Lung's paired organ is the Large intestine, so sometimes digestive issues can flare up this time of year. Constipation, due to the dryness of the season, is most common, especially in people who struggle with the "letting go" aspect of transitioning into fall.
Use a neti pot
As fall encourages us to let go of the inessential priorities in our lives, many of us also find ourselves letting go from our nasal passages. Bring on the tissues! Fall is the most common time of year for the onset of nasal infections and post-nasal drip, both of which plague many people well into winter. Keep a neti pot in the shower and use it regularly throughout the season to help keep your nasal passages clear. Feel free to stop by the clinic for neti pot, salts, and instructions from our staff.
Reframe grief
The emotion associated with fall is grief. This is the time of year to pull inward, to grieve letting go and to reflect on any unresolved sadness. This can be an adjustment after the surge of energy and mood that many of us experience during summer, but it is normal to feel somewhat somber and pensive in the fall. To help ease this transition, acupuncture treatments in clinic, paired with essential oil care at home provide incredible relief.
The inability to settle into this emotional shift, or transition out of it, may suggest an imbalance. However, before labeling yourself with seasonal affective disorder, or SAD -- a common biomedical diagnosis for people who feel depressed in the colder, darker months -- consider that you may be experiencing a natural heightened awareness of grief. If you sense it might be more than that, by all means, see your doctor.
Eat warm foods
Step away from the salad! The cool, raw, refreshing salads of summer will not do you any favors come fall. Just as we need to start keeping our bodies warmer on the outside, we need to stay warm on the inside as well.
In fall, eat warm, cooked food. Instead of cold cereal with milk, choose oatmeal. Trade the salads for oven-roasted veggies over brown rice. When cooking, throw in some onions, ginger, garlic or mustard; according to Chinese medical dietary theory, these pungent foods benefit the Lung system.
Veggie wise, root vegetables such as beets, turnips, carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and squash are ideal. If you go for out-of-season vegetables, make sure they are cooked. If you're craving fruit, reach for something seasonal such as apples, pears, grapes, figs or persimmons.
Please feel to email or call Rachel if you'd like support during this seasonal transition. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is particularly powerful for preventative care. Wishing you a happy and healthy fall!
As many of our patients know, when acupuncture is researched in this country, some authors question the efficacy of this medicine (this is an entirely different conversation - about the appropriateness of 'sham' acupuncture and other methods that may be utilized at the control, but more on that at another time). These same patients will most likely tell you that in their experience, acupuncture DOES work, no question. Of course in order for our broader community to even be willing to try acupuncture, and for physicians to feel comfortable suggesting or supporting this approach, support through rigorous research is invaluable. Last week the NYTimes had a wonderful article about the benefits of acupuncture and pain relief. And here it is...
A new study of acupuncture — the most rigorous and detailed analysis of the treatment to date — found that it can ease migraines and arthritis and other forms of chronic pain.
The findings provide strong scientific support for an age-old therapy used by an estimated three million Americans each year. Though acupuncture has been studied for decades, the body of medical research on it has been mixed and mired to some extent by small and poor-quality studies. Financed by the National Institutes of Health and carried out over about half a decade, the new research was a detailed analysis of earlier research that involved data on nearly 18,000 patients.
The researchers, who published their results in Archives of Internal Medicine, found that acupuncture outperformed sham treatments and standard care when used by people suffering from osteoarthritis, migraines and chronic back, neck and shoulder pain.
“This has been a controversial subject for a long time,” said Dr. Andrew J. Vickers, attending research methodologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and the lead author of the study. “But when you try to answer the question the right way, as we did, you get very clear answers.
“We think there’s firm evidence supporting acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain.”
Acupuncture, which involves inserting needles at various places on the body to stimulate so-called acupoints, is among the most widely practiced forms of alternative medicine in the country and is offered by many hospitals. Most commonly the treatment is sought by adults looking for relief from chronic pain, though it is also used with growing frequency in children. According to government estimates, about 150,000 children in the United States underwent acupuncture in 2007.
But for all its popularity, questions about its efficacy have long been commonplace. Are those who swear by it experiencing true relief or the psychological balm of the placebo effect?
Dr. Vickers and a team of scientists from around the world — England, Germany, Sweden and elsewhere — sought an answer by pooling years of data. Rather than averaging the results or conclusions from years of previous studies, a common but less rigorous form of meta-analysis, Dr. Vickers and his colleagues first selected 29 randomized studies of acupuncture that they determined to be of high quality. Then they contacted the authors to obtain their raw data, which they scrutinized and pooled for further analysis. This helped them correct for statistical and methodological problems with the previous studies, allowing them to reach more precise and reliable conclusions about whether acupuncture actually works.
All told, the painstaking process took the team about six years. “Replicating pretty much every single number reported in dozens of papers is no quick or easy task,” Dr. Vickers said.
The meta-analysis included studies that compared acupuncture with usual care, like over-the-counter pain relievers and other standard medicines. It also included studies that used sham acupuncture treatments, in which needles were inserted only superficially, for example, or in which patients in control groups were treated with needles that covertly retracted into handles.
Ultimately, Dr. Vickers and his colleagues found that at the end of treatment, about half of the patients treated with true acupuncture reported improvements, compared with about 30 percent of patients who did not undergo it.
“There were 30 or 40 people from all over the world involved in this research, and as a whole the sense was that this was a clinically important effect size,” Dr. Vickers said. That is especially the case, he added, given that acupuncture “is relatively noninvasive and relatively safe.”
Dr. Vickers said the results of the study suggest that people undergoing the treatment are getting more than just a psychological boost. “They’re not just getting some placebo effect,” he said. “It’s not some sort of strange healing ritual.”
In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Andrew L. Avins, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente who focuses on musculoskeletal pain and preventive medicine, wrote that the relationship between conventional medical care “and the world of complementary and alternative medicine remains ambiguous.” But at least in the case of acupuncture, he wrote, the new study provides “robust evidence” that it provides “modest benefits over usual care for patients with diverse sources of chronic pain.”
How has acupuncture worked for you? Join our discussion via Facebook or online testimonials!
Q: My allergies kick into high gear in the fall. Antihistamines and over-the-counter medications make me drowsy. What can I try that is more natural to stop my seasonal allergy symptoms?
A: It’s early fall. Harvest is starting, the sun is shining and the an extra dry summer breeze is scattering seeds … and pollen, and dust. Allergy season begins again!
While many over-the-counter medications offer temporary relief, an increasing number of allergy sufferers are exploring natural allergy remedies that have longer lasting results and none of the troubling side effects associated with Western drugs.
Natural medicine, herbs, and diet can alleviate or prevent allergies and asthma in four ways:
• Controlling inflammation of air passages
• Dilating air passages
• Thinning mucus in the lungs
• Preventing food-allergy reactions that can trigger respiratory allergies and asthma
How can you incorporate these benefits into your life?
Try acupuncture and herbal medicine! TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) has been used to treat allergies for hundreds of years. Several studies confirm that acupuncture and herbal medicine are helpful for allergic conditions such as asthma, eczema, and food allergies.
In a study published in Allergy, 52 people with allergic rhinitis were randomly assigned acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbal tea or sham acupuncture and herbs for six weeks. Nearly 85 percent of those people receiving real acupuncture and herbs had 100 percent or significant improvement of their symptoms, versus 40 percent of those getting the placebo treatment.
Spice it up: Spicy dishes can thin mucus secretions and clear nasal passages. Try adding cayenne pepper or ginger to your foods. Ginger is a natural antihistamine and decongestant. It may provide some relief from allergy symptoms by dilating constricted bronchial tubes.
Eat the right fat: Omega-3 essential fatty acids can counter the formation of chemicals that cause inflammation of the air passages. Good natural sources include flaxseed oil and salmon. Our clinic also offers high quality fish oil capsules that provide these very benefits.
Increase fiber and 'good' bacteria: Food intolerances seem to be connected with seasonal allergies. A healthy and active colon can decrease food sensitivity, which can, in turn, lighten the burden on your immune system and may reduce the impact of seasonal allergies. For maximum colon health, increase the fiber in your diet and consider probiotics. The active cultures in probiotics restores the balance between good and bad bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. At Health On Point, we special order probiotics for our patients. If making the purchase on your own, be sure that your product offers not only high dose but a variety of bacteria, is stored in a dark jar, and must be refrigerated.
An apple a day: Some foods, including apples, contain the flavanoid, quersetin that can cross-react with tree pollen. Quercetin can reduce allergic reactions by having an antihistamine effect. It also decreases inflammation. Quercetin is found naturally in certain foods, such as apples (with the skin on), berries, red grapes, red onions, capers, and black tea. Our clinic all sells an incredible herbal formula that contains quercetin - MANY of our patients swear by it!
Go orange: Carotenoids are a family of plant pigments, the most popular being beta-carotene. Although no randomized controlled trials show that carotenoids are effective treatments for hay fever, a lack of carotenoids in the diet is thought to promote inflammation in your airways. Good sources of carotenoids include foods easily found in our yards or local markets - carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach, kale, butternut squash, and collard greens. If you feel you are lacking in orange foods, I'm happy to suggest some wonderful recipes!
As always, if you are interested in preventing or managing your seasonal allergies, please call or email Rachel. At Health on Point, we work with a protocol and variety of formulas to meet our individual patient's needs. Call to schedule your appointment today (319) 331 9312. Mention this article and receive 5% discount on your allergy treatment now through October 12!
Forget what you've been told. Acupuncture DOES have side effects. The unintended consequences of acupuncture, while not life-threatening, should not be overlooked. Side effects of acupuncture occur frequently and can seriously impact on your quality of life - for the better.
Here are the five most common side effects of acupuncture. (Consider yourself warned!)
Improved sleep
Insomnia is one of the most common complaints seen by acupuncturists, and acupuncture can be highly effective at resolving it. But even in people who do not recognize or mention sleep as a problem, acupuncture has a tendency to produce more restful nights. This often goes unnoticed until asked about on a follow-up visit. Many acupuncturists hear this refrain multiple times a day: "You know, now that you mention it, I have been sleeping a lot better since I started coming for acupuncture."
 More energy
Although it's common to find yourself in "acu land" -- a somewhat dazed, blissfully-relaxed state -- immediately following acupuncture treatment, the after effect is usually increased energy. Many people report having more energy in the hours, days and even weeks after acupuncture treatment. You may notice that you're avoiding that post-lunch coma, feeling more motivated to hit the gym, or just sensing a little extra spring in your step.
Mental clarity
Acupuncture can help resolve the stagnation that causes many of us to feel physically and mentally lethargic. In addition to the surge of physical energy that follows emerging from acu land, many people notice improved mental clarity. They're able to make decisions faster, with greater confidence. They feel more motivated and resolute about tackling items that have been lingering for months on their to-do lists. It's as if the mental cobwebs have been cleared out. Suddenly, you're able to get out of your own way.
Better digestion
Digestion is big in acupuncture. The organ systems and meridians that regulate digestion are intimately connected to all other structures and functions throughout the body, so a person's digestive health says a lot about his or her overall state of health. This is why acupuncturists ask such detailed questions about eating habits and bowel movements. It's also why getting acupuncture for shoulder pain, for example, might cause you to use the bathroom more regularly, feel less bloated after meals, and experience fewer food cravings.
Less stress
Stress reduction is a common reason for seeking acupuncture. However, not everyone admits or even feels that they have stress in their life. They've gotten so used to living with a certain level of stress that it has become their "normal." It's only in the absence of stress that they notice how stressed out they were to begin with. Acupuncture heightens our awareness such that stressful events, initially, can actually be felt more acutely. But over time, by evening out our moods, acupuncture allows us to feel less affected by and better equipped to manage the stressful aspects of our lives.
So there you have it. The truth, once and for all: Acupuncture has side effects that may significantly influence your quality of life. If you are new to acupuncture, or are in the mood for a tune up, these are five great reasons to schedule your next visit at Health On Point!
World Renowned Inventor, Donald Spector, Develops Patent For Wireless Electric Acupuncture Patches. Patch Will Increase Muscle Performance in Addition to Alleviating Pain Resolved by Acupuncture Needles
Many patients at Health On Point know the benefits not only of treatment while in clinic, but between sessions at home. When appropriate, we send patients home with adhesive patches with pointy studs on the underside, that continuously exert pressure on acupuncture points when applied to the skin. This new invention, in contrast, uses an electrical current to provide stimulation – and it only does so when instructed. This could be through direct finger contact on the patch, by wireless remote control, or even via a schedule that is programmed into a chip within the patch.
Donald Spector, a well-known serial entrepreneur inventor, has filed a groundbreaking patent on wireless acupuncture patches. The patches will cause electrical stimulation, either directly or by remote control, to specific acupuncture points and muscles. This stimulation will increase the muscle performance, as well as reducing lactic acid buildup and consequently reducing fatigue.
Spector stated, "While the patch provides benefits to athletes, it can also be used by patients suffering from pain and other ailments, for which acupuncture has been effective."
Dr. Mohammad Hashemipour, MD, PhD, Dean of Academic Affairs and former Olympic Team doctor, believes the new wireless electric acupuncture patch technology can reduce muscle fatigue and subsequently enhance muscle performance.
"Patients often forget or do not use acupuncture in a consistent way," stated Hashemipour. "While duplicating the advantages of leads that are temporarily connected to a patient, these patches can be left on for a prolonged period of time, including between visitations to an acupuncture specialist, during which time the chips can be programmed to stimulate at predetermined times or when needed."
There has yet to be a formal ruling on whether these patches, which may enhance sports performance, will be regulated by boxing commissions, team sports, individual sports or doping commissions. Based on current Olympic regulations, Hashemipour feels it will not be banned.
"Even though these patches will provide a significant advantage in muscle strength and endurance, I do not believe they should be outlawed under doping regulations. There are no drugs involved, except by the release of the wearer's own natural chemicals and neurotransmitters. While acupuncture has been used in the Far East for thousands of years, this patent simply makes it possible for an athlete to use electrical stimulation - often cumbersome - as a self-contained patch that can be made as a disposable product," added Hashemipour.
"The remote control aspect is extremely interesting in sports," stated Pamintaun, "The coach can stimulate muscle when the player is between periods or on the bench, between games, or a boxer is between rounds or in a time of inactivity. These can also be used on different muscles and muscle groups that are stimulated during different parts of a game, like serving in tennis versus receiving. Just as our whole world is changing with microchips, even the traditions of thousands of years can become part of the computer age."
Olympian and world vault champion McKayla Maroney from Long Beach, California cites using acupuncture as a helpful tool for injury recovery. Maroney re-injured a toe that was broken at an Olympic training session in Chicago two months ago. She noted, “On my beam routine, my round-off dismount, I split my big right toe.” She added that this is the third time she has injured the toe. Maroney said, “I’m doing acupuncture and icing it like 30 times a day.” Maroney stated, “It looks a lot better now.” According to the USA women’s coordinator, Maroney will compete in the vault and may forego the floor exercise competition as a precautionary measure.
The use of acupuncture by USA Olympians is not unusual. In the last summer Olympics, Gymnast Nastia Liukin took home the gymnastics women’s all-around Olympic gold medal after using acupuncture to recover from an ankle injury. Pole vaulter Jeremy Scott used acupuncture to help in the recovery of his knee and will be competing this year. Tennessee track and field Olympian Dee Dee Trotter trained extensively with the help of acupuncture and will compete in the London Summer Olympics. Five-time Olympian from Austin, Texas Amy Acuff cites the use of acupuncture as one of the reasons why she has lasted for many years in the injury prone sport of high jump. She will go for the gold in London... but that’s not all! Amy Acuff is not only an enduring Olympic athlete but is also a licensed acupuncturist.
Acupuncture makes another strong showing at the Olympic Games. Dr. Bret Moldenhauer, an acupuncturist from Chattanooga (Tennessee), will travel to the Olympics with world class runner and Team USA Olympian, Dee Dee Trotter. As her personal acupuncturist, he brought his acupuncture equipment to the track and treated Dee Dee Trotter on the spot during training. In pole vaulting, Team USA Olympian Jeremy Scott sailed through Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon. Acupuncture is included in his regime of care for the treatment of his knee.
Another acupuncturist is returning to the Olympics as a competitor! The London Olympics will be Amy Acuff’s fifth time on the USA Olympic team. A licensed acupuncturist in Austin, Texas; she attributes some of her long-term success in the sport of high jump to acupuncture. She notes that high jump is an injury-prone sport and that acupuncture is successful in the prevention and recovery from injuries.
Team USA isn’t the only Olympic team to benefit from acupuncture. The South Korean Olympic team has a successful history using acupuncture. Volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung notes that acupuncture boosts her performance capabilities. Men’s handball player Park Jung-geu notes that acupuncture provides rapid recoveries from sporting injuries.
Here in Iowa City, many of our patients utilized services at Health On Point to prepare themselves for the RAGBRAI which started on Sunday. Whether you're cycling or supporting local riders - everyone deserves a break and some rejuvenation. Come on by - specials are available for Ragbrai participants!
|
|
|
|
