Three Easy Tips for a Healthy Autumn

It’s happening...the weather is changing and everyone here in Iowa City has pulled their fleece jackets out of the closets. So, here are some easy, surefire tips to a healthy Autumn.

1) Eat warmer foods and seasonal foods - Instead of summer’s raw salads which can cause gas and bloating, try to eat more stews, soups and steamed vegetables. This is beneficial for your digestion, warms you up on cold nights and supplements your qi. Good food suggestions for Autumn include spicy/pungent foods like onion, garlic, radish, and ginger. Apples and pears (especially Asian pears) benefit the respiratory system. Pumpkins, winter squash and sweet potato warm your yang energy as the weather becomes cooler.

2) Let It Go - Whatever it is! Nature instructs us about the cycle of creation and letting go every year. Autumn marks the end of the growing season and is a time to turn inward, conserving energy. Trees lose their leaves in preparation for winter. How can we expect a healthy harvest next year if we don’t release the old and stagnant aspects of our lives? The most powerful lesson of Fall is to release the clutter that unnecessarily complicates our lives in order to discover all that is meaningful and fresh.

3) Protect - As the weather changes, it’s easier for us to catch colds and flus. Certain areas of our bodies are more vulnerable when left exposed, so it is particularly important to protect the back of your neck and chest from the wind with a scarf or collar. Also, no bare feet, especially if you have hardwood floors. Walking around on cold floors chills the entire body.

Acupuncture eases symptoms of severe depression

Acupuncture therapy combined with anti-depressants has been found to relieve symptoms of depression more effectively than drugs alone

Acupuncture alongside anti-depressants can help ease depression, a British study found.

New research, conducted by Dr Hugh MacPherson and colleagues from the University of York, found patients who had acupuncture alongside their antidepressants improved more after three months than those who simply took medication.

Their symptoms reduced on the same scale as those who had counseling alongside their normal treatment. The researchers felt the study was of great importance as many patients would like to be offered non-pharmacological treatment options such as acupuncture or counseling.

At present, the vast majority of sufferers are only offered antidepressants, which are ineffective for 60 per cent of people. 

The study included 755 men and women with moderate to severe depression. The patients were divided in groups to receive up to 12 weekly sessions of acupuncture plus usual care (302 patients), up to 12 weekly sessions of counseling plus usual care (302 patients) or usual care alone (151 patients).

The findings, published in the PLoS Medicine Journal, found that the 2,000-year-old Chinese method improved symptoms for up to six months.

It is thought that it alleviates symptoms such as overwhelming sadness and hopelessness, by stimulating the release of endorphins and other "feel-good" chemicals.

Mandy Laing, a qualified member of the British Acupuncture Council comments: "For some anxiety sufferers, life is extremely tough. A lot of people don't realize that this condition can cause a considerable amount of stress and disability for the person... Traditional acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment choice."

The illness currently affects more than 350 million people worldwide and about one in six people will have an episode of depression during their lifetime.

For people who are clinically depressed, feelings of severe sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, and worthlessness can last for months and years. And affected individuals lose interest in activities they used to enjoy and sometimes have physical symptoms such as disturbed sleep, leaving many unable to work.

This research could open up new treatment options for those who suffer from moderate or severe depression.

If you or someone you knows suffers from depression, let them know that acupuncture with Health On Point may help!

Autumn Means Change Within... and Without

September 22nd marked the beginning of Fall this year....

In the spirit of Traditional Chinese Medicine, fall is the time of the Lung. This means that our lungs and skin are more likely to have problems now with complaints such as eczema or psoriasis, and coughs, colds and flu. This season requires that we start dressing a warmer, eat nourishing foods, drink plenty of fresh water, and get enough sleep.

Fall in TCM is also the time of dryness, much as we see all around us in the trees. Autumn leaves turn beautiful - often vibrant - colors, then fade as they dry out and ultimately fall from their branches. This may be reflected in each of us when we consider this on an emotional level.
Just this week many patients are noting an awareness of grief for past losses. Several individuals on my table shared their struggles with this season and its 'timing' - be it in terms of the academic calendar or the sense that winter is not far behind.
I'd love to remind you what my medicine tradition teaches us. This a time for us to practice letting go. We may struggle, dig our heels in and resist! But this just exhausts us physically and emotionally. Consider that much as a tree losing its leaves is inevitable this season, so too are losses and change in our lives. How would it feel if you didn't fight, didn't struggle? What would that mean for you in your life?

Drink More Tea

As if overnight, Autumn has arrived! Ease your body through this month of transition with our herbal tea bundle. Choose any three of our all organic, fresh hand-crafted herbal teas and you'll receive a gift that makes those mugs filled with deliciousness all the more satisfying.

Patients with Back Pain Find Relief with Acupuncture

Humans have always sought relief when they are in pain, so it is no wonder that an ancient practice has come to the aid of people suffering from low back pain.

Acupuncture is a procedure that started in Chinese medicine and has been adapted and is widely accepted in Western medicine, particularly to promote good health or to relieve pain or create a numbing sensation in a particular area of the body. In its Eastern tradition, the practice regulates chi in the body (its life force, or flow of energy) by placing needles in meridians (the channels through which chi flows) near the surface of the skin.

"When you insert needles, you release natural opiates such as endorphins," said David Mortell, an acupuncturist. "And MRI studies indicate acupuncture raises the threshold for pain in the brain."

Acupuncture heightens the effectiveness of the areas of the brain responsible for regulating pain signals, doctors at the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan found in a 2009 study.

In a clinical trial in South Korea in 2011, patients with severe back pain reported significantly more relief from acupuncture than did those in the control group, who were treated with the prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac. A metastudy of 13 trials in China indicated acupuncture "achieved better outcomes when compared with other treatments."

In a German study in 2007, low back pain sufferers who were treated with acupuncture reported more relief than those who were treated with drugs, physical therapy and exercise.

"Acupuncture represents a highly promising and effective treatment option for chronic back pain," concluded the researchers. "Patients experienced not only reduced pain intensity, but also reported improvements in the disability that often results from back pain."

It worked for Neal Griebling, 70, of Mount Washington. Mr. Griebling injured his back shoveling heavy snow in 1994, and has had low back pain off and on ever since. He sought treatment from a pain physician and from a chiropractor before trying acupuncture.

"On a scale of 10, the pain relief I get from a session with acupuncture is an 8, sometimes a 9," Mr. Griebling said. He gave the therapy he received from a chiropractor only a 4 on his pain relief scale. The injections he received from a physician didn't help at all. "They were a zero."

(original article printed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Migraine Treatment and Prevention

The countdown is on for Migraine Awareness Week. My patients (and friends!) will concede that one of my favorite parts of my practice is providing acupuncture for migraine sufferers. The techniques available to individuals when they come to our clinic are unique in our community. Many find immediate and profound relief from acupuncture, for others it may take a few sessions. Regardless, however, I believe that resolution IS possible. Offering education and guidance for at home care is always part of the regimen. Below are some of the key points. Read on and let us know - what is your experience with migraines and acupuncture relief? Have you discovered any techniques you can use on yourself that provide immediate relief?

Try massage at the red points above!

Pressure

Many people find that applying gentle pressure to the head, face, and neck during a migraine can help ease the pain. Techniques to try:

• Press the brow line and under the eyes.
• Rub the temples and jaw in a circular motion.
• Massage the base of the skull with a tennis ball.

Diet Changes

Some people find that certain foods trigger their migraines. Common trigger foods include alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, canned foods, cured or processed meats, aged cheeses, cultured dairy, MSG, and aspartame. Keeping track of what you eat with a food diary can help you identify what you ate before a migraine came on. Try eliminating these foods one at a time to see if it improves your migraines.

Good Habits Fight Migraines

Your lifestyle can have a big impact on how often you get migraines. These tips can help:

• Keep a migraine diary to track your triggers.
• Don't skip meals.
• Stay hydrated.
• Get regular exercise.
• Maintain a healthy weight.

Be Like The World’s Top Men’s Tennis Player - Drink Warm Water!

Djokovic May Be Hot But His Drinks Are Warm

Novak Djokovic is the No.1 male tennis player in the world right now, and he follows a strict diet to maintain his health and superiority on the court.
The Wall Street Journal wrote about Djokavic’s new book, in it he explains his diet. He writes that he does not consume caffeine or sugar and only drinks warm water all day long. Yes, warm water! This fact caught my interest because Chinese Medicine advocates that we drink water at room temperature or warm and that  to avoid ice water. In his book, Djokavic’s writes that cold water "slows digestion” and "diverts blood away from where I want it—in my muscles." He seems to have a philosophy that  is very similar to Chinese Medicine. In traditional Chinese Medicine, the constant consumption of cold water and the use of ice in drinks is harmful because our bodies need to maintain an internal heat in order to absorb nutrients. Cold, when ingested, constricts the blood vessels and hinders our digestive process. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Djokovic uses acupuncture and herbs.

What temperature is the water you drink? Are you willing to try to only drink warm water all day and see if you feel the benefits?