Managing Symptoms with Food Energetics

How differently would you approach meals and diet if you didn’t have to concern yourself with the western concept of nutrients: carbs, fats, proteins, amino acids, sugar, vitamins and minerals? In Chinese medicine, diet and nutrition is as different from the traditional western nutritional concept as night and day. Most of our patients require dietary modifications, in addition to their acupuncture and herbal treatments, in order to experience significant progress in the treatment of their health problems.

It’s funny how most people say they want to improve their health, but when it comes to changing their diet or lifestyle they think that they can continue doing the same thing and expect to get different results. Someone once said that’s the definition of insanity. Chinese nutrition and dietary therapy is based on matching specific foods to each patient, based on the energetic and constitution of both. In Chinese medicine, the energetic properties of food are actually more important than their western nutritional content.

Most patients, in our modern western society, exhibit many of these symptoms: inflammation, fatigue, stress, burnout, insomnia, acid reflux, headaches, various pain, hypertension, blood sugar abnormalities, cholesterol problems, joint pain, asthma, allergies, abdominal pain, menstrual pain and irregularity, and the like. Though these conditions will respond well to acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, patients find it surprising that their progress can be hindered if they fail to adhere to some simple dietary suggestions.

For example, patients who are being treated for pain and also have a weight problem, are advised to avoid or drastically reduce certain foods that aggravate the weight problem, which exacerbates their pain: cold beverages, ice cream, caffeine, sugar, milk, and dairy products, rich or fried foods; as well as red meat and seafood - as they contain high levels of uric acid.

Adequate intake of minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, are essential for pain management. Deficiency of these minerals will lead to spasms, cramps, and tense muscles. In Chinese dietary therapy, these nutrients act as muscle relaxants and are best consumed in natural occurring foods: Green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, collards, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, and bok choy or Chinese cabbage; salmon and sardines canned with their soft bones, shellfish, almonds, Brazil nuts, dried beans, bananas, dried apricots, and avocados, cashews, peas and beans (legumes), seeds, soy products (such as soy flour and tofu), whole grains (such as brown rice and millet), broccoli, lima beans, tomatoes, potatoes (especially their skins), sweet potatoes, and winter squashes, citrus fruits, cantaloupe, bananas, kiwi, and prunes.

The beneficial foods for pain management prevent the accumulation of dampness and phlegm in the body, which stagnates both the flow of energy (Qi) and blood, and increases pain and inflammation. The goal of Food Energetics is to match a patient’s constitution with foods that balance them, energetically.

Meridian Harmonics

Chinese Pulse Diagnosis - Part 1

8000 years ago, ancient Chinese physicians developed a simple way to diagnose diseases and disorders, without the use of all the fancy toys of western medicine. In fact, there are times when the western lab tests fall short when it comes to picking up imbalances that don’t “fit” within the range that the western lab test is designed to reveal. The pillar of diagnostic procedures in Chinese medicine is rooted in pulse diagnosis, which is more than how fast or slow a person’s heart rate is. There are several different methods for deciphering pulse qualities, some ancient, others more modern.

Meridian Harmonics has developed a unique style of pulse diagnosis combining several different methods with some new strategies. We call this the Pulse Matrix ©. Each person has a unique set of pulse qualities that constitute their individual Pulse Matrix ©. One’s Pulse Matrix © can change, but often only varies within a small span along the Pulse Matrix © scale. A persons individual Pulse Matrix © discloses a great deal of information: the underlying pathogenic factors affecting them, the acupuncture meridians and points to use in treatment, the affected organ systems, the correct herbal strategies, vertebral misalignment and the affected endocrine organs, to name a few. Pulse assessment and interpretation only takes a few minutes and leads to more accurate diagnosis and robust treatment strategies.



Read more at The Pulse Matrix

Meridian Harmonics

Exercise Holds Off Aging

Physically active people have cells that look younger on a molecular level than those of couch potatoes, according to research that offers fundamental new insight into how exercise may help stave off aging.

Researchers have found that exercise appears to slow the shriveling of the tips that protect bundles of genes inside cells, perhaps keeping frailty at bay. Being physically active reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases, potentially extending longevity. Researchers examined structures inside cells known as telomeres. They are using telomere length as a marker of biological aging. Telomeres cap the ends of chromosomes, the structures that carry genes. Every time a cell divides, telomeres get shorter. When telomeres get too short, cells can no longer divide. Scientists believe that aging occurs as more and more cells reach the end of their telomeres and die - muscles weaken, skin wrinkles, eyesight and hearing fade, organs fail and thinking clouds.

In Chinese medicine, exercise stimulates healthy cellular activity in all the body’s organs. Cardiovascular exercise dramatically increases oxygen levels in the body. Abundant oxygen seems to be the catalyst for a cascade of beneficial physical activities that lead to delayed aging. Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can minimize those deficiencies responsible for premature aging.

Meridian Harmonics

Molecular Basis of Meridians

One of the most puzzling questions in Chinese medicine for 8000 years is that nobody has yet found any trace of meridians, despite the incredible usefulness of meridians in diagnosis and treatment of diseases. A current theory describes meridians as being made up of aligned stable water clusters that have an electric dipole, with a positive charge on one end and a negative charge on the other. Since these stable water clusters are made up of only water molecules, it is impossible to find them among ordinary water in the tissue.

If meridians are made up of water clusters, they will conduct electricity better because water conducts electricity better than ordinary tissues in the human body. Hence, body-surface conductivity is found to be higher on acupoints than on other points of the skin. At our clinic we can confirm this through electro-dermal screening. Therefore, meridians will also act like tubes or channels with water in them. Furthermore, the negative and positive characteristics of stable water clusters agree with the concept of yin and yang.

Since the majority of the mass of a water molecule comprises the element oxygen (oxygen is 16 times heaver than hydrogen), it could be said that oxygen is the determining factor of the state of the meridians. Therefore, when a person’s body lacks sufficient oxygen levels it affects the integrity of the stable water clusters, which, in turn affect the meridian systems and their associated organs. The lack of sufficient oxygen in the body first appears in the blood, which the body uses to supply nutrition and oxygen to every cell in the body. Any lack of nutrition and oxygen in the blood eventually affects the health of the entire body.

Treating acupoints along the course of the acupuncture meridians influences the health of the body and its internal organs. In essence, acupuncture stimulates these stable water clusters to:

1) strongly conduct the body’s own bioelectric current along the course of the meridian
2) strengthens the integrity of these stable water clusters
3) drains pathogenic influences from the meridian and its associated organ
4) boost the health of the internal organs
5) increase blood flow to various regions and tissues along the course of the meridian.

How can we use this information? Stable water clusters are formed from normal water in the body. When a person consumes insufficient amounts of water it affects the formation of adequate stable water clusters, which, in turn, affects the integrity of the meridian system and their associated organs. Also, when a person consumes food, prescription drugs or fluids that dries out the body’s inherent moisture it creates a significant imbalance in the body that can be difficult for the body to compensate for, on it’s own. When this happens it is necessary to intervene with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to restore balance to body.

Meridian Harmonics

Happy New Year – Year of the Yin Earth Ox

2009 is a Yin Earth Ox year. It's going to be a year concentrating on sensitive and earthy things to do with food, patience, finances, support, nurturing and resources. The Ox year is a often conservative year, one of traditions and values, not a year to be too outrageous. A slow but steady year. This Ox year will bring stability and slow growth, so patience and diligence will pay off.

This is a year of harvest, when we reap what we have sown in the past. Take care of your health this coming year. Do not let things slide. Focus on earth themes – rebuilding, reconstruction, health, housing, and agricultural to ensure a sufficient supply of food, and make progress in environment repair.

Earth in general relates to stomach, pancreas, muscles and cells. Health problems related to Earth could be stomach problems, food poisoning, or diarrhea. Disorder in the Earth elements can mean problems with muscles and cells, and can bring obesity, diabetes, or cancer. Diabetes is a sickness caused by insulin disorders produced by the pancreas symbolized by Earth element in Chinese medicine. Diabetes is also caused by imbalances in the Earth element. 2009 will see these health problems in focus in the Ox year.

For health matters this year, pay special attention to these: related to the mouth, lungs, reproductive organs, bladder, kidney and ears. Terminal illnesses such as cancers will rise, being ruled by soggy or damp Earth in Chinese medicine.

Meridian Harmonics

The China Study, Part 3: Growth of Cancer Cells

In T. Colin Campbell’s book, "The China Study”, he discusses the three stages of cancer growth: initiation, promotion and progression. Cancer growth is similar to the growth of seeds planted in the ground. The initiation of cancer begins with specific chemicals or carcinogens that transform or mutate healthy cells into cancer prone cells. This mutation can take as little as a few minutes. Once the mutated cells are formed they are considered to be irreversible. At this point the newly formed mutated cells are ready to grow and multiply. This stage normally occurs over an extended period of time.

Cancer cells require a favorable environment in order to grow. If any favorable environmental factors are lacking then the cancer cells will become dormant. In other words the promotion cycle of cancer cells is reversible, given the proper growth environment is removed. Cancer cell growth and decline is highly sensitive to dietary factors, since dietary characteristics create specific internal environments in the body.

The progression of cancer cells is similar to an overgrowth of weeds in a lawn. The cancer cells migrate away from their point of origin, to invade or infest other regions. This stage is also known as malignancy. Metastasizing cancer is when the cancer cells actually break away from the point of origin and moves to a new location.

The initiation phase begins when enzymes in the body metabolize carcinogens. If the correct enzymes are present, the carcinogens are detoxified and cancer cell initiation never begins. If the correct enzymes are not present then the body’s environment is favorable for cancer development. The determining state of the enzymes is related to proteins consumed in the diet, of which there are many.

Per Dr. Campbell’s research, decreasing protein consumption from 20% to 5% of a persons diet reduces carcinogen mutation of healthy cells to cancer cells by 76%! In fact, cancer precursor cell growth is almost entirely dependent on the amount of protein consumed! Even more surprising the research shows that reducing protein intake reversed high quantity of cancer precursor cells from multiplying! His research concluded that protein consumption is the catalyst or switch to turn cancer cell growth on and off. This is good news!

Unfortunately, the average American consumes 15% (60-70 grams) or more protein per day. Dr. Campbell’s research indicates that cancer growth is switched on when the amount of protein consumed per day is above 10% or 50-60 grams. Even more important, cancer cell growth actually declined on a diet of 5% protein. The most astonishing fact that came from the research was that the protein source does influence the cancer growth results: animal protein is responsible for cancer growth, whereas plant based proteins had no influence on cancer cell proliferation.

One of the most potent cancer promoting animal proteins is casein, found only in cow’s milk and it’s byproducts. So, in this Earth Ox year it would be prudent to focus on eating a diet that is more rooted in the earth.

Meridian Harmonics

Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs for Stress

Researchers have found more people are turning to acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to alleviate symptoms caused by the emotional stress of everyday life. Their findings indicate more people are seeking acupuncture and herbal treatments for emotional issues such as depression, stress and anxiety.

With people working longer hours and dealing with the economic and social pressures of today, many are finding it hard to cope. The top three emotional issues for which acupuncture treatment is sought are depression (18%), anxiety (13%) and insomnia (10%) with stress following closely behind.

At least one out of every six people becomes depressed or anxious in the course of their lives. One in 20 is clinically depressed. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are playing a bigger part in the way patients address mental health issues. Stress, anxiety, depression and other psycho-emotional disorders tend to bind up and stagnate the flow energy and blood in the body, which can lead to even more serious health problems.

Depression and anxiety are, actually, one of the most common health issues acupuncturists are approached about. An acupuncture session completely focuses on the patient and hears what they experience. It involves one-on-one time in order to understand them as an individual with their treatment plan specifically custom made. This, in combination with the needling to lift mood and give much needed relief, can be very powerful. Depression is in the top five health problems among acupuncture patients alongside back pain, fertility, headaches and skin problems.

Acupuncture is an Oriental therapy that aims to improve the overall wellbeing of the patient, rather than treating specific symptoms in isolation. Traditional Chinese philosophy states that our health is dependent on the body's motivating energy - known as Qi - moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of meridians (channels) beneath the skin.

For any number of reasons the flow of Qi can be disturbed leading to impaired health. By inserting fine needles into the channels or meridians of energy or Qi, an acupuncturist can stimulate one’s own healing response and help restore its natural balance. For many patients a natural approach is preferred over western pharmacological drug therapies, which never actually treat the root cause of these disorders.

Meridian Harmonics

Acupuncture Beats Aspirin For Chronic Headache

Researchers report acupuncture works better than drugs like aspirin to reduce the severity and frequency of chronic headaches. The study involved nearly 4,000 patients with migraine, tension headache and other forms of chronic headache and showed 62 percent of the acupuncture patients reported headache relief compared to 45 percent of people taking medications. Researchers say 53 percent of patients given true acupuncture were helped, compared to 45 percent receiving sham therapy involving needles inserted in non-medical positions.

Acupuncture is becoming a favorable option for a variety of purposes, ranging from enhancing fertility to decreasing post-operative pain, because people experience significantly fewer side effects and it can be less expensive than other options. One of the barriers to treatment with acupuncture is getting people to understand that while needles are used, it is not a painful experience. It is a method for releasing your body's own natural painkillers.

The researchers found it took on average five to six visits for patients to report sustained headache relief. In Chinese medicine, headaches have a number of different etiologies. Each requires unique therapeutic strategies to treat successfully. The key is determining the individual cause for each patient's particular type of headache.


Meridian Harmonics

Nervous System Damage by Excitotoxins

Excitotoxins are chemical compounds that damage nerve cells. Long term exposure to excitotoxins can be a contributing factor in the development of spinal cord injuries, stroke, traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as Multiple sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, Alcoholism and Huntington's disease, hypoglycemia and brain seizures.

They come in a variety of forms. The most common are found in processed or package foods: glutamates (MSG), and aspartame. They affect the nervous system by creating lesions or diseased tissues inhibiting normal cellular and organ function. As a result, they can play an active role in chronic diseases and the insidious progress of a number of pathological disease processes in the body.

The majority of patients have various levels of excitotoxicty. Consequently, it is imperative that their treatments involve a detoxification of these substances, as well as others, that prevent their bodies from returning to optimal health. Another aspect is limiting or avoiding exposure to these substances in the diet.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can provide treatment strategies that allow patients a safe method for not only purging toxins from the body but also restoring vibrant health to the body’s organs and nervous system.

Meridian Harmonics

Prolonging Diseases with Food

Why is it that most people are still so resistant to eating a healthier diet? I’m convinced that it is due to the fact that certain artificial flavoring and coloring that “enhances” the tastes of nutritionally substandard processed foods actually is addictive.
It is no different than being addicted to recreational or pharmaceutical drugs, sugar, dairy products, chocolate, excessively spicy foods and fried or greasy foods. In working with patients, I often find they are eating foods and chemically enhanced food products that are actually contributing or prolonging their particular signs and symptoms of disease. Over the last fifty years, food processors have steadily increased the amount of MSG added to foods. One of the primary and most consistent effects of MSG and other excitotoxins is triggering "an insulin/adrenalin/fat storage/food craving response." That response is what causes the, "I'm hungry again an hour after I eat fast food," quandary. It is also why some of us crave potato chips and other snack foods that contain monosodium glutamate, even though we're full. MSG abnormally increases the weight of the adrenal gland increasing the levels of adrenal adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin in the body leading to development of Type II Diabetes.

MSG causes us to crave the foods processed with MSG-and a majority of processed and prepackaged foods now contain monosodium glutamate. In fact, monosodium glutamate is crucial ingredients in low-fat and non-fat foods, since much of the natural flavors are lost when processed. One characteristic of obesity induced by excitotoxins is that it doesn't appear to depend on food intake. This explains why some people cannot diet away their obesity – it’s a toxicity problem. Food labels hide MSG by renaming them: natural pork flavoring, bouillon, natural beef flavoring, whey protein concentrate, whey protein, whey protein isolate, maltodextrin, ultra-pasteurized, barley malt, protease, protease enzymes, soy sauce, soy protein, anything protein fortified, natural flavor(s), seasonings.

The pharmaceutical industry also uses MSG, and sugar, to improve the taste of some otherwise bitter drugs. Monosodium glutamate was used in powdered baby formula until the 1960's when it was determined MSG had detrimental neurological impact on the brain of infants.

Often MSG reactivity is called the "Fast Food Syndrome" because of the physical symptoms that some people often experience after eating fast food. Some of the most common symptoms of MSG sensitivity or allergy include headache, sometimes called MSG headache, flushing, numbness or tingling in or around the mouth, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, muscle tightening, or lightheadedness, migraines and even mood changes.

The solution to many of our modern diseases is two-fold: 1) patient education to empower them with specialized knowledge, and 2) natural and holistic treatment strategies that treat the disease process at its root rather than “band-aiding” it. This is precisely the goal of Chinese Medicine.

Meridian Harmonics

Notes from The China Study, Part 2

Current healthcare problems in the U.S:

1) Vascular (heart and arteries) disease. The most pervasive killer in our culture is heart disease. Heart disease will kill 1 out of 3 Americans. 60 million Americans currently suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.

2) 1 out of 2 men and 1 out of 3 women will develop cancer.

3) Obesity in the US now significantly outnumbers those who maintain a healthy weight. Over 33% of adults 20 years of age and over are obese.

4) 1 out of 13 Americans now has diabetes. The annual economic cost of diabetes is $98 Billion! Diabetes and obesity are SYPMTOMS of poor health. They rarely exist in isolation of other diseases and often predict deeper, more serious health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and stroke. MILLIONS of Americans unknowingly are developing diabetes and will suffer its consequences, including blindness, limb amputation, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and premature death. Despite this fact, fast food restaurants that serve nutritionally defunct foods are now fixtures in nearly every town. Americans spend more time watching TV, playing video games, and using the computer and thus are less physically active.

5) Physician error, medication error and adverse events from drugs or surgery kill 225,400 people per year. That makes our health care system the THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH in the United States, behind cancer and heart disease. Even with the use of approved medicines and correct medication procedures, over 100,000 people die every year from unintended reactions to the “medicine”. 7% (1 out of 15) of all hospitalized patients have experienced a serious adverse drug reaction that prolonged their hospitalization or permanently disabled them or resulted in their death.

There is a way to a life free from disease. It begins with the recommendations from this great book, The China Study, and using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to rid one's body from the pathological processes leading to the disease process. It really is this simple.

Meridian Harmonics

Antibiotics Damage Tendons

U.S. health regulators recently revealed certain drugs such as Cipro, Avelox, Factive, Levaquin, Floxin, Noroxin and Proquin XR need stronger warnings about the risk of tendonitis and ruptured tendons. The estimated risk of tendon ruptures is about three to four times higher with these drugs or about 1 in 100,000 in the general population. Most cases involve the Achilles tendon, which attaches the calf muscle to the heel. Less frequent ruptures affected tendons in the shoulders, biceps, hands and elsewhere.

Government data indicates 262 reported tendon ruptures, 258 cases of tendonitis and 274 other tendon disorders through the end of 2005. Since then, roughly 100 more cases have been reported. The risk is greater in patient’s ages 60 and older, those who have had certain organ transplants and those using steroid therapy.

Despite existing warnings, the FDA continues to receive a considerable number of reports of tendon-related adverse events. The FDA believes that these new labeling changes will better inform health-care providers and patients about the risk. In some cases the damage is irreversible, in spite of surgical therapy.
Many patients are unaware that Chinese herbal medicine is a suitable alternative to western drugs, without the dangerous side effects.

Meridian Harmonics

Notes from The China Study, Part 1

A new standard of nutrition is surfacing from recently published research, spanning more than 30 years, documented in the book The China Study. The evidence is overwhelming. A few of the findings:

Many of the diseases Americans are facing are actually rooted in three things: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our food has become the worse enemy of our health and wellbeing. Certain people and companies are making a lot of money selling foods, which are actually, killing us. In fact they want us to continue eating these foods, even though they make us fat, depletes our vitality and shortens and degrades our lives. Their goal is to keep us docile, compliant and ignorant. They are afraid of informed, active and passionately alive consumers. They are willing to spend billions of dollars doing so.

Good diet is the most powerful weapon we have against disease and sickness. Misinformation dominates our society. As a result Americas health is failing. Our country’s strength depends on the strength and vitality of its citizens. If our society continues on its present track, our nation’s enemy’s ability to defeat us increases simply due to the fact we are already dying, from the inside out.

America spends more on health care, per capita, than any other society on the planet. Yet two thirds of Americans are overweight, and 15 million Americans have diabetes. 50% of Americans have a health problem that requires taking a prescription drug, every week for the rest of their lives. Over 100 million Americans have high cholesterol.

American children are in the worse condition than they have ever been. One third are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. They are developing diabetes at an ever-increasing younger age. And now, American children are taking more prescription drugs than ever before. Children who eat the highest protein diet are the ones most likely to get liver cancer – typically children of the wealthiest families.

Nutrition trumps chemical carcinogens in controlling cancer. After cancer initiation, low protein diets block subsequent cancer growth. Dietary protein proved to be so powerful in its effect that cancer growth can be turned on and off by simply changing the level of protein consumed. (more to come…)

Meridian Harmonics

The Cost of Neck & Back Pain

Back and neck problems are the most common pain in the United States. In 2002 26 percent of respondents reported low back pain and 14 percent reported neck pain in the previous three months. The proportion of people with impaired function due to back and neck problems increased drastically from 1997 to 2005, even after considering the aging factor.

The medical cost for treating back and neck problems have jumped faster than general medical expenditures during the past decade, but the increase apparently has not resulted in a health status that matches the magnitude of the increased cost. The cost for treatments of back and neck problems in the United States reached $86 billion in 2005, a 65 percent increase from 1997 after adjusting for inflation. When inflation was counted, medical expenditures for Americans with back and or neck problems rose about 65% from 1997 to 2005.

In 2005 the average medical expenditure among those with spine or back and neck problems was $6,096! The data suggests that spine problems are expensive, due both to large numbers of affected persons and to high costs per person. Unfortunately, improvements in health outcomes from drug or surgical therapies were not correspondent with the costs.

As a result, more patients are turning to alternative treatments for both acute and chronic neck, back and spinal pain. Many patients find tremendous pain relief using acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapies. They, often, return to normal daily life, without drugs and surgery, much quicker than they would have with traditional therapies.

Meridian Harmonics

Identifying and Treating Adrenal Fatigue

Often times, patients complain of being burned out with symptoms of premature aging, fatigue, no energy, lack of interest, drive and satisfaction. Most of the time this is due to excessive stress, anxiety, tension, overwork, and insufficient rest. In Chinese medicine this is known as an excessive consumption of Qi (life force or energy), blood, Yin, Yang and Essence. This will be accompanied by weakness in several organs and their associated meridians: Spleen, Stomach, Heart and Kidneys. Other signs associated with this disorder are generalized weakness, forgetfulness, being easily frightened, low-grade fever, night sweats, decreased libido, compromised immune system, obesity, depression, insomnia and other sexual disorders.

Its important for patients to realize that simple lifestyle changes can improve the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, also known as Addison’s disease. Beginning with nutrition: increase the consumption of more fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds and nuts, fish, fish oils, onions, garlic, olives, olive oil, soy products, yogurt, fiber, sea vegetables (kelp and dulse will replenish magnesium, potassium, calcium, iodine and iron), vitamin B complex. Avoid and reduce: red meat, alcohol, fats, processed foods and stimulants (coffee, sodas, sugar foods). Food allergies and chemical sensitivities place additional stress on the organs, draining them of energy and causing fatigue.

In western medicine, adrenal fatigue is related to imbalances in the endocrine system, the primary organs of which are the pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, and adrenal glands. Normal functioning of endocrine system is essential for health. Imbalance of the endocrine system will lead to disease. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used to stimulate the endocrine system in order to balance hormone levels, resulting in improved circulation of energy, blood and body fluids, increased energy and well-being.

Benefits of Cinnamon

In Chinese herbal medicine, cinnamon, known as gui zhi, is a very commonly used herb in many traditional formulas for thousands of years. Recently, the western medical community has begun to take notice of many of its benefits. It is classified as a warm acrid herb that is chiefly used for releasing cold pathogenic factors from the interior of the body by inducing sweating, in the case of colds, influenza, allergies where there are more cold signs and symptoms.

It is to be used cautiously for patients or conditions where there are heat signs: fever, inflammation, hot flashes, night sweating, sore throat, dry mouth, bleeding disorders, heavy menstrual periods and pregnancy.

It acts strongly on the Lung and Bladder meridians, which play a major role in colds, influenza and allergies. Cinnamon can also be used to treat painful obstructions (i.e. arthritis) in the joints that are aggravated by cold damp weather. For women with painful menstruation due to “cold trapped in the uterus”, cinnamon can be used to move blood and energy in the uterus.

It is important for patients to know that to properly determine whether they are candidates for cinnamon, they consult with a physician of Chinese medicine to undergo traditional tongue and pulse diagnosis. Self-medicating with cinnamon, or any other herb, can be counterproductive to a patients condition, especially if the nature of the herb and the condition are not fully known.

Since cinnamon has a warm nature it can adversely affect patients with high blood pressure. Western medicine has recently discovered that cinnamon may improve glucose and lipid control in some patients with type 2 diabetes. It is important to note that not all patients will respond positively to cinnamon therapy.

Chinese medicine is all about restoring balance to the body’s organs and meridians. This can be achieved through acupuncture and Chinese herbs. When used together, the results can be very powerful.

Meridian Harmonics

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Health Care Crisis

From Hale "Bonddad" Stewart at the HuffingtonPost.com a great article on the problem with health care in the United States.

Michael Moore's movie SiCKO has promoted the health care debate to front and center. While I have not seen the movie -- and probably won't -- I firmly agree with the need to create some type of national health insurance. There are three primary reasons for this.

While I will almost always advocate for a market based economic approach to allocating resources, health care is not an area where the profit motive should dominate decision making. Simply put, the end product is, always, a patient's health. Private health insurance has a conflict of interest between the insurance company and the insured which will be resolved in favor of the insurance company, almost, all the time.

Hypothetical case in point. Insured makes a claim with the insurance company, which is a publicly traded company. Because the insurance company is publicly traded they must turn a profit and increase their profits to maintain their share price. In order to make a profit they have every incentive to either

1. Deny the insureds claim, or
2. Delay payment to increase the possibility the insured will drop his claim

There are numerous stories about an insured making a routine claim only to be inundated with paperwork, or being told the policy doesn't cover that procedure, or being told the insurance company has to look into the claim to see if the insurance company can make a payment. In any of these situations the central idea of insurance -- to provide some safety for the insured at a specific cost -- is compromised.

In addition, insurance companies will seek to minimize the amount of money they would have to pay to the insured. Again, remember the product here is the patient's health. Supposed the insured has a disease where the cure is expensive but a cheaper alternative exists. However, the cheaper alternative would moderately or seriously compromise the insureds quality of life. Because the insurance company is profit-driven, it will probably opt for the cheaper treatment that compromises the insureds quality of life.

Secondly, private health care is more expensive than public health care. Here are three charts compiled from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The figures are from 2004.

First, the US spends the least amount of public money on health care.



However, the US spends the most on health care as a percentage of GDP


and on a per capita basis.



Notice the partially inverse relationship between public expenditures and total amount spent on health care. In short, publicly available health care is cheaper.

Finally there is the issue of competitiveness. General Motors of Canada is a good example.

"The Canadian plan has been a significant advantage for investing in Canada," says GM Canada spokesman David Patterson, noting that in the United States, GM spends $1,400 per car on health benefits. Indeed, with the provinces sharing 75 percent of the cost of Canadian health care, it's no surprise that GM, Ford and Chrysler have all been shifting car production across the border at such a rate that the name "Motor City" should belong to Windsor, not Detroit. Just two years ago, GM Canada's CEO Michael Grimaldi sent a letter co-signed by Canadian Autoworkers Union president Buzz Hargrave to a Crown Commission considering reforms of Canada's 35-year-old national health program that said, "The public health care system significantly reduces total labor costs for automobile manufacturing firms, compared to their cost of equivalent private insurance services purchased by U.S.-based automakers." That letter also said it was "vitally important that the publicly funded health care system be preserved and renewed, on the existing principles of universality, accessibility, portability, comprehensiveness and public administration," and went on to call not just for preservation but for an "updated range of services." CEOs of the Canadian units of Ford and Daimler-Chrysler wrote similar encomiums endorsing the national health system.

Health care costs are killing American business. Our international competitors don't have to deal with these costs. As a result, private health care is making US business less competitive. This in turn shifts jobs, business and money, overseas, thus impacting the US economy, even more. Get the picture?

So, public health eliminates a conflict of interest that compromises individual health, is cheaper and makes the US more competitive. And we don't have a public health system because?

Comparing Western and Chinese Medicine

The following article is result of several inquiries, over the years regarding the primary differences between western and Chinese medicine.

Age: Western medicine is a little over 200 years old. Chinese medicine dates back 8000 years ago.

Western medical philosophy: Wait for symptoms to appear, then treat the symptoms. Rooted in the concept of a collection of body parts and chemicals. Treatment methods involve the repair and replacement of body parts (surgery) and the "correction" of body chemistry by other chemicals (drugs).

Chinese medical philosophy: Prevent the occurrence of symptoms by keeping the entire mind-body-spirit in balance. Rooted in the concept that the body comprises complex energy systems continuosly striving to keep itself in balance.

Focus of western medicine: Trauma, emergency & surgical medicine. Analytical and compartmentalized approach. Superior in defending and eliminating external pathogens that threaten life.

Focus of Chinese medicine: Acute and chronic non-emergency medicine. Holistic approach. Superior in fundamentally prevention of disease and associated processes.

Western medical Cost's: Pay insurance premiums in order to have the right to have an average co-pay of $15 - 20 for office visits and $10 - 20 for prescription medications and annual deductible of $2000. Average monthly premium is between a car payment or mortgage payment or combination of the two ($200-1100 per month). Average family of four annual premium is $10,000, which approximates the annual salary of a minimum wage worker. Annual costs: $2400-13,200 + co-pays + average of $2000 deductible = $4400 - 15,200.

Chinese medical Cost's: Pay out of pocket for treatments. Average monthly maintenance & wellness treatments approx. $250. (1 acupuncture treatment, 1 massage, and custom herbal formulas). Annual costs for maintenance & wellness treatments are approximately $3000.

Western medical Care Responsibility: Managed care dictates that each patient relinquish control of their health and wellness over to the managed care provider (health insurance company).

Chinese medical Care Responsibility: Individual patient assumes control of their own health and wellness; works with their health care practitioner on obataining optimal results without third party insurance interference.

How western medicine succeeds: Insurance systems work best when the fewest number of participants actually use it (i.e. make claims). This way an insurer makes profit and is supposed to lower the premium which, in turn, brings more paying participants who are happy NOT TO USE the insurance, especially if it does not cost them too much. Remember, we are talking about real insurance and truly "insurable event" - something that is definitely undesirable.

How Chinese medicine succeeds: Health or wellness systems works best when the most people use it (i.e. get checkups, tests and preventative, maintenance treatments).

Western medical satisfaction: Managed health care, unfortunately, satisfies nobody. It enrages health care practitioners and consumers alike when it limits or denies payments on the grounds that the particular treatment or service is not medically necessary. It also frustrates insurers by mandating payment for routine services, whether they are really necessary or not. 46 million in US can not afford to have health insurance. 60% of uninsured are under the age of 35.

Chinese medical satisfaction: Those who are willing to take responsibility for their own health and wellness are the most satisfied, since they are working with their health care practitioner on a workable plan to attain optimum wellness.

Western medical Value System: Another basic problem with the current system: it's the belief that health care is a benefit of employment. So if you are unemployed, self-employed or employed by someone who lacks the negotiating power of big businesses - health insurance is not for you. The current fundamentally irrational health insurance system is designed for conflicts and lawsuits rather than providing the best health care at the best prices.

Chinese medical Value System: The value of Health is set predominately high versus placing high values on living a lifestyle or adopting habits that are counterproductive to health, longevity and wellness. Based on the concept of balance: mentally, physically, spiritually at a cost that is comparable to or less than health insurance premiums.

Western medical physician Malpractice Insurance: The cost of malpractice insurance has caused good doctors to leave there practices, due to ever increasing premiums, which are passed on to patients as increased treatment fees.

Chinese medical physician Malpractice Insurance: Since holistic medicine is less invasive, the risk of injury or death is dramatically lower, allowing for relatively low malpractice premiums, which allow for reduced fees for patient care.

Meridian Harmonics

Summer Referral Special

Refer a new patient and receive a $10 gift card to area merchants (ex. Starbucks, Movie Theaters, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. or $10 off your next acupuncture visit)

Discounts available from June through August 2007.
Not good with any other discount.

Green Tea Eases Rheumatoid Arthritis

Researchers have found that Green tea appears to act as a mild Cox-2 inhibitor. In addition to its cardiovascular and anticancer benefits, Green tea also seems to reduce inflammation and pain of rheumatoid arthritis. According to the Arthritis Foundation, about 2.1 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis.

Historically, green tea is used in Chinese herbal medicine and dietary therapy to treat inflammatory conditions. It also has the ability to calm the stomach; relieve diarrhea, nausea and vomiting; treat headaches and help with treating damp stagnation leading to obesity.

Green tea stimulates the central nervous system, thus benefiting chemotherapy patients. It also reduces the risk of developing colon polyps and reduces total blood cholesterol.

One expert said the new green tea study was intriguing. "This study is very specific," said Stephen Hsu, an associate professor of dentistry, molecular medicine and genetics at the medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

Professor Hsu has found that green tea may help protect against certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome, in which the body triggers an immune response, basically attacking its own cells.

Chinese herbal and dietary therapies are based on the concept of using the energetic properties of substances to counter the “nature” of a disease. Since green tea is bitter and cooling, it is easy to see how it can benefit most inflammatory conditions. There has been research that shows green tea mildly reversing MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and PRSA (pefloxacin-resistant S. aureus), both dangerous infectious bacterial strains. Green tea is a safe herb. The only caution is that it contains caffeine and may interact with certain prescription medications.

Meridian Harmonics

Summer Season’s Health Challenges

The recent onset of summer weather brings with it a season plagued with specific types of ailments. In Chinese medicine, each season is characterized by certain properties. The summer season will generally aggravate conditions having heat as an underlying cause.

Examples of symptoms and diseases sensitive to excessive external climatic heat are:

General signs & symptoms: skin rashes and itching, spasms, common cold, nodules and tumors, elevated sexual desire, diabetes, eczema, psoriasis, jaundice, hepatitis, convulsions, summer flu, acute viral and bacterial infections, edema, arthritis and joint pain, numbness, menopausal syndrome.

Upper Body: headache and migraines, emotional stress, red painful dry eyes, sore or swollen throat, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, high blood pressure, ringing in the ears, coughing with thick sputum, thirst, mouth ulcers, swollen and painful gums, mental confusion, cataracts, hyperthyroidism, dizziness, nosebleed, scrofula and goiter, upper respiratory problems, sinusitis, rhinitis, allergies, tuberculosis, asthma and wheezing, ear pain, insufficient lactation, strokes, lockjaw, hemiplegia, chest pain, palpitations.

Lower Body: constipation or diarrhea, urinary difficulty, hemorrhoids, urinary tract infections, menstrual problems, abdominal pain, miscarriage, genital itching, vaginal discharge, gallbladder pain, morning sickness, hernia, heartburn, acid reflux.

Oriental medicine is all about restoring the body to an optimal balanced state. Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese dietary therapy and acupuncture can all be used to treat “heat” type conditions. This is accomplished by clearing heat from the body, specific organs, and acupuncture meridians. One great example of a Chinese medicinal herb that clears heat from the body is green tea.

Meridian Harmonics

West Nile Virus Season & Buzzing Mosquitoes

When mosquitoes come so does the risk of West Nile Virus. People should take precautions to avoid infection of the West Nile Virus, which can seriously affect human health.

Mosquitoes that feed on infected birds carry WNV. When the infected mosquitoes feed on humans they transmit the disease. Usually, human infection starts to take hold in the mid to late summer.

Most humans who become infected will not get very ill. However, if more humans are infected in a given year, the number of complications and eventual deaths rises. The elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of health complications.

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water. If you can limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed you will be reducing your chances of being bitten. Some simple measures can make a massive difference:

-- Remove all stagnant water around your home.
-- Make sure there are no discarded car tires lying around
-- Check areas you may have overlooked for recipients, which may collect water
-- Clean out rain gutters
-- Expose as little of your skin as you can when you go out
-- Try not to go out during dawn and dusk
-- Place netting over infant carriers when outdoors

Typical symptoms of WNV are: headache, high fever, neck stiffness, vomiting, skin rashes, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness, tremors & convulsions, paralysis & coma. Chinese herbal medicine is a safe and effective treatment for WNV.

Meridian Harmonics

Weight Loss Prevention for Hypertension

Reducing body weight is a "major component" in the treatment of hypertension, according to current research. Researchers found for approximately every two pounds dropped, blood pressure falls about 1 mm Hg.

According to Chinese medicine, normal and healthy blood pressure requires a subtle balance between several different organ systems. Patients also struggling with weight gain or obesity tend to fall into one of two categories: 1) Spleen disorders, 2) Kidney disorders.

When either or both of these organ systems are out of balance the Heart system can suffer tremendously. Weight gain and obesity are considered to be an overabundance of the Chinese pathogenic factor Dampness, which overburden the lymphatic system of western medicine. This is a filtration system for our blood and body fluids. It literally is a connection between our blood and other fluids in the body. As a result it is a connection between the Heart, Spleen and Kidneys.

When this system becomes stagnant, fluids begin to congregate and are not properly processed by our body. Fluid stagnation continues to build up pressure in the whole body causing stress in each of the body’s organs. As this pressure continues to rise, it overwhelms the body’s organs, preventing them from successfully fulfilling their individual functions. If allowed to continue our organs become weaker and more fragile and will eventually shut down leading to severe health problems or even death.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be very effective tools for those patients with hypertension who also need to lose weight.

Meridian Harmonics

Cola Raises Women's Osteoporosis Risk

New research suggests carbonated cola’s boosts osteoporosis risk in women.
Women who drink cola daily had lower bone mineral density than those who drink it only once a week. If you are worried about osteoporosis, it is probably a good idea to switch to another beverage or to limit your cola to occasional use.

The report was published in the October issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

About 55 percent of Americans, mostly women, are at risk for developing osteoporosis.
Researchers collected data on more than 2,500 participants averaging just below 60 years of age. The researchers looked at bone mineral density at three different hip sites, as well as the spine.

They found that in women, drinking cola was associated with lower bone mineral density at all three hip sites, regardless of age, menopause, total calcium and vitamin D intake, or smoking or drinking alcohol. Women reported drinking an average of five carbonated drinks a week, four of which were cola.

Bone density among women who drank cola daily was almost 4 percent less, compared with women who didn't drink cola, which is quite significant when you are talking about the density of the skeleton.

Bone health is related to the Kidney organ system, in Chinese medicine. This research suggests that carbonated colas prevent the Kidney system from keeping the skeletal system strong, which is confirmed by the Chinese Five Element model of Earth overacting on Water. The Earth element represents the Spleen/Stomach organ system and is very sensitive to carbonated colas. When the Earth element is out of balance, it is unable to support the Water element, represented by the Kidney/Urinary Bladder organ system. Osteoporosis is just one sign of an imbalance in the Kidney organ system. Other signs of a Kidney imbalance are: low back pain, low libido, knee pain, poor hearing or hearing loss, loose or falling hair, gray hair and fatigue.

Meridian Harmonics

Sugary drinks linked to cancer risk

Drinking two sugary drinks a day almost doubles the risk of pancreatic cancer, a study suggests.

Researchers linked excess sugar, in fizzy drinks or added to tea and coffee to the increased risk.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition research looked at 80,000 men and women between 1997 and 2005 - 131 who developed pancreatic cancer.

A person's diet has a significant effect on their risk of several types of cancer including pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a deadly form of the disease, which is difficult to treat.
Just over 15,000 people are diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas each year.
Up to a third of cases are linked to smoking.

Pancreatic cancer is most common in people aged 60 or over. It is difficult to treat because it is often not diagnosed until it has spread beyond the pancreas.
The risk of developing pancreatic cancer was 70% higher for those who added sugar to their drinks at least five times a day.

Despite the fact that the chances of developing pancreatic cancer are relatively small, it's important to learn more about the risk factors behind the disease. It is perhaps the most serious form of cancer, with very poor prognosis for its victims. Since it's difficult to treat and is often discovered too late, it's particularly important that we learn to prevent it. We know that a person's diet has a significant effect on their risk of several types of cancer including pancreatic cancer.

Each Chinese organ system is sensitive to flavors. In the case of the Spleen and Pancreas, excessive sweet consumption tends to weaken both organs, whether sugar or artificial sweeteners. Some common signs of the weakened Spleen/Pancreas system are: fatigue, digestive disorders, weight gain, swellings in various regions, excessive mucus or phlegm, dizziness or vertigo, heart palpitations, worry or anxiety, muscle pain and bruising easily.

Meridian Harmonics

Sugar linked with mental problems

Researchers report teens that drank the most sugary soft drinks also had more mental health problems such as hyperactivity and distress.

Their study shows a clear and direct association between soft drink intake and hyperactivity, and a more complex link with other mental and behavioral disorders.
Researchers also found teens that skipped breakfast and lunch were among the heaviest soft drink consumers.

The worst problems were seen in boys and girls who drank four or more soft drinks a day. Ten percent of the boys and 2 percent of the girls drank this much.

In Chinese medicine an over consumption of sweets can impair several organs, preventing them from performing their functions at peak levels. Some of the results of consuming excessive sweets: 1) the inability of the body to transport and transform fluids resulting in weight gain, 2) lowered endocrine functioning (i.e. hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, etc.), 3) adverse affect to those organs that regulate mental and emotional health and well being, 4) an overproduction of phlegm and mucus in the respiratory and digestive tracks, 5) decreased blood circulation and 6) difficult respiration.

It’s important to point out that the sweets don’t have to be in the form of just sugar. In Chinese medicine an over abundance of natural and artificial sweets in the diet can cause the problems listed above.

Meridian Harmonics

Walking not enough to get fit

Researchers now say walking may not be enough, on its own, to produce significant health benefits. Generally, low-intensity activity such as walking alone is not likely to give anybody marked health benefits compared to programs that occasionally elevate the intensity. They are suggesting the current guidelines on how much exercise to take is set too low.

The researchers assessed impact on fitness by measuring blood pressure, and peak oxygen uptake, a measure of lung capacity. They found the 10,000-step program increased peak oxygen uptake by an average of 4% while the moderate intensity exercise group increased by 10%. Researchers suggest “you've got to do more than light exercise and move towards the inclusion of regular moderate activity, and don't be shy to interject an occasional period of time at the vigorous level."
Generally speaking an exercise program should include aerobic or cardiovascular workouts along with stretching, and resistance or weight training. Each type of exercise affects the body differently. I find that most patients are not including enough vigorous exercise in their daily routines to make a significant impact on their overall health.

I suggest patients begin a daily program including the following: 1) 10-20 minutes of stretching, 2) 10-15 minutes of weight training, and 3) 30-45 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity. I have found this to be the best mix for those seeking to maximize their overall health and longevity.

Of course exercise is just one component to getting and staying fit and healthy. Another important aspect is consuming foods best suited for one’s body type and underlying constitution. This is the essence of Chinese dietary therapy and Chinese Food Energetics.

Meridian Harmonics

Less Stress May Increase Pregnancy Odds

Researchers have evidence that some women may be able to improve their chances of getting pregnant by reducing stress.

Many factors, affecting both men and women, can cause fertility problems. It's long been thought that the stress of daily life is related to infertility.

Acupuncture techniques may improve the chances of conceiving a child by managing and reducing stress in women with a condition known as amenorrhea, in which a woman's monthly periods are interrupted and ovulation doesn't always occur. Amenorrhea is thought to be caused by poor nutrition and over-exercising.

A combination of stress management therapy and diet and exercise coaching restored fertility in 80 percent of the women who took part, compared to 25 percent in a control group.

The researchers measured stress by monitoring levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the women. The psychotherapy and behavioral therapy appeared to reduce the levels of cortisol and restore ovulation.

The researchers say this study underlines the contribution lifestyle factors play in fertility.

Failure to ovulate is thought to be the result of too much energy being used up by excessive exercise and poor nutrition. But the researchers in this study theorize that dieting and excessive exercise might actually be a way of trying to cope with underlying stress, especially in women who aren't ovulating.

If you are having trouble conceiving a child, talk to your doctor to get a diagnosis. There are many causes of infertility and many treatments available that have helped many couples. Chinese medicine can be very helpful to increase fertility chances.

Meridian Harmonics

Super-bug linked to tattooing

People who get tattoos from unlicensed sources are at risk of developing a drug-resistant bacterial skin infection, federal health officials warn.
Six recent outbreaks of infections with this "superbug," methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been traced to unlicensed tattoo artists, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

MRSA infection typically manifests as abscesses or areas of inflammation on the skin, though it can also lead to more serious problems such as pneumonia, blood infections or, in some cases, necrotizing fasciitis, also referred to as the "flesh-eating disease."

While the bug was once largely confined to hospitals, it is becoming increasingly common in the general public -- showing up among prison inmates, athletic teams and others who are in close contact and may share contaminated items.

The six tattoo-related outbreaks affected 44 people in Kentucky, Ohio and Vermont, the CDC reports in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Thirty-four had recently gotten a tattoo from an unlicensed source, while 10 others contracted the infection from close contact with the tattoo recipients.

Health officials' investigations found that the tattooists in many cases did not follow standard hygiene practices like changing gloves between clients, using skin antiseptic and disinfecting equipment. Three tattooists had recently been in prison, where they could have picked up MRSA. In some cases, the amateur artists used makeshift equipment like guitar strings and computer ink-jet cartridges instead of tattoo dye.

"Persons considering a tattoo should be aware of the potential for community-acquired MRSA infection and should only use the services of a licensed tattooist who follows proper infection-control procedures," the CDC advises.

That means using sterilized or single-use equipment, including needles, tattoo guns and inks.

Consideration should also be given to how tatooing affects a person's energy system. Tatooing, along with other scarring, will permanently obstruct the flow of the Qi or energy in the superficial meridian pathways, eventually affecting the ability of the associated organ to perform its functions at an optimal level. This, in turn, affects a persons overall health and vitality.

Meridian Harmonics

Diet Drinks & Weight Gain

There is a misconception, in our society, that drinking diet drinks can prevent weight gain. People who drink diet soft drinks don't lose weight. In fact, they gain weight. The findings come from eight years of data collected at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. All soft drink use is linked to overweight and obesity. What is surprising to most people is drinking diet soft drinks, increases the risk of obesity.

Researchers found that nearly all the obesity risk from soft drinks came from diet sodas.

For regular soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was: 32.8 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day, 47.2 percent for more than 2 cans each day.

For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was 54.5 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day, 57.1 percent for more than 2 cans each day.

For each can of diet soft drink consumed each day, a person's risk of obesity went up 41 percent.

Some soft drink studies do suggest that diet drinks stimulate appetite. For every twelve ounces of diet soda consumed, the body retains twenty-four ounces of fluid.

This should be a wake-up call to all soda drinkers but especially diet soda drinkers.

Meridian Harmonics

Potatoes & Diabetes

Avoiding potato chips and french fries may help you avoid type two diabetes. A new study finds potato lovers may have a higher risk of getting the disease. Researchers who followed nearly 85-thousand women found those who ate the most potatoes were 14 percent more likely to develop diabetes than women who did not eat a lot of potatoes. Potatoes are starchy and have a high glycemic index (GI). All foods with a high glycemic index cause a quick rise in blood sugar and over time can contribute to the development of type-two diabetes. They can also raise cholesterol levels, increase appetite and increases risk of heart disease.

Base your food choices primarily on overall nutrition – including vitamins, minerals and fiber. Don't dismiss healthy foods just because they have a high GI. Their other nutritional benefits make them good choices.

Try to choose at least one low GI food at each meal. If you choose a high GI food, combine it with a low GI food, for an overall medium GI meal.

Limit the amount of processed, refined starchy foods, as they tend to be low in fiber and other nutrients and have a higher GI.

Eat whole grain, pumpernickel and oat bran bread more often than white bread. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have a low GI, so they break down into sugar slowly in your body.

A good goal: five to ten servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

Choose parboiled, brown or white rice more often than instant rice. Eat pasta, rice, yams, lima beans or baked potatoes more often than mashed, boiled or instant potatoes. Eating potatoes cold, as in a salad, reduces their GI (but go easy on the mayo dressing).

Use vinaigrette instead of a creamy salad dressing. It's lower in fat, plus the acidity of the vinegar slows digestion, lowering the meal's GI.

Watch your portion sizes; the bigger the portion, the more it will increase your blood glucose, regardless of its GI rank.

In Chinese medicine, diabetes is seen as an imbalance between a person’s Yin and Yang aspects, mainly a deficiency of Yin. Predominant organ imbalances include the Kidneys, Spleen and Lung. Proper treatment includes correcting ones diet to avoid aggravating dryness and internal heat and inflammation. In addition, Chinese herbal medicine is used to nourish Yin, moisten dryness and clear heat.

Meridian Harmonics

Increase Use of Sleeping Pills Causes Concern

Americans are taking sleeping pills like never before, fueled by stress filled workdays that lead to a poor night's sleep, and lulled by a surge of consumer advertising that promises safe slumber with minimal side effects.

About 42 million sleeping pill prescriptions were filled last year, up nearly 60 percent since 2000.

Some experts worry that the drugs are being oversubscribed without enough regard to known, if rare, side effects or the implications of long-term use. And they fear doctors may be ignoring other conditions, like depression, that might be the cause of sleeplessness.

Although the newer drugs are not believed to carry the same risk of dependence as older ones like barbiturates, some researchers have reported what is called the "next day" effect, a continued sleepiness hours after awakening from a drug-induced slumber.

Ten percent of Americans report that they regularly struggle to fall asleep or to stay asleep throughout the night. And more and more are turning to a new generation of sleep aids like Ambien, the best seller, and its competitor, Lunesta. Experts acknowledge that insomnia has become a cultural benchmark — a side effect of an overworked, overwrought society.

Drug makers spent $298 million in the first 11 months of 2005 to convince consumers that the sleep aids are safe and effective. That was more than four times such ad spending in all of 2004.

Meridian Harmonics

Insomnia: a Symptom of Imbalance

One of the problems with the western approach to sleep disorders is that traditional pharmaceuticals attempt to treat the symptoms and not the underlying cause of the imbalances responsible for insomnia. This is also true for any other symptom, disease or disorder. The correct way to treat a particular disorder is to determine the underlying causes and treat the patient at that level along with the symptoms. In Chinese medicine this is called treating the root and the branch of a disease.

Insomnia is often seen as just one symptom in a multiple number of Chinese disease patterns. Disease patterns are rooted in disharmony at the organ level of the body. Chinese medicine seeks to correct imbalances at this level. Typically, sleep disorders are related to imbalances with the Heart organ. However, other organs can cause an underlying Heart imbalance. There are five systems primarily responsible for keeping the Heart healthy: Kidneys, Gallbladder, Small Intestine, Endocrine system and Spleen. For example stress affecting the Liver can prevent the smooth flow of Qi or energy in the Heart preventing patients from sleeping. A prolonged Kidney imbalance drains the Heart since these two organs share an important energetic level in the body. The Small Intestine is the paired organ with the Heart and is prone to becoming toxic, which then disturbs the Heart. The Gallbladder is an organ that is easily affected by specific foods. When we eat foods that upset the Gallbladder, it will also create imbalance in the Heart. In Chinese medicine the Spleen has an important function of producing quality blood. When this function is depleted it affects the Heart. The endocrine system represents a complex system of inter-relating organs that are responsible for balanced hormones in the body. When this system is out of balance it affects all the organs in the body, including the Heart. Once a patient’s underlying constitution is determined the correct treatment can be used to restore health, wellness and good sleep.

Meridian Harmonics

Happy Chinese New Year, Year of the Red Dog

The new year of the dog is “red” to represent the color corresponding to the year’s energetic element of Fire. It also possesses the Earth elemental energy in a supportive role. Fire, symbolized by the sun, gives forth light, warmth and openness. The earth, with its contained quality causes introspection and the yearning for spiritual meaning. Therefore, the year 2006 shall bring more open dialogue among nations and between people, as well as a collective drive for spiritual meaning.

In nature, potentially disruptive fire and earth events, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes may be more prevalent in 2006. The weather pattern in North America, smarting from a record number of hurricanes in 2005 may exhibit more scorching, dry weather punctuated with dramatic lightening storms and landslides.

In health, people will be more prone to diseases relating to the fire and earth elements including cardiovascular diseases, digestive problems, muscle inflammation (especially shoulder pain), kidney disease, diabetes and cancers. Here is my advice for your health in the upcoming year:

Prevent illness by balancing your fire and earth elements through appropriate dietary choices and lifestyle changes. A diet rich in whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, beans and legumes, poultry and fish should form the foundation of your eating program. Make sure to have plenty of specific foods for heart and digestive health, such as the bran from rice, oats and wheat, ginger, garlic, turmeric, squash, pumpkin, yam/sweet potato, cherry, grape, garbanzo/ chickpea and adzuki beans. Lower your intake of fats and sweets.

Stress is a big cause of heart disease and digestive disorders. Therefore, work on reducing your stress through meditation, exercise, qi gong, journaling and artistic expressions. I strongly recommend the Calm Tea formula to keep you tranquil and serene. Naturally, seek treatment at the earliest opportunity if you suspect any of the conditions above in order to take care of problem while it’s still small.

In summary, the year of the Red Dog should bring more spiritual awareness and prompt communities to come together for common causes. Be on the lookout for cardiovascular conditions as well as digestive disorders. Work on your diet, exercise and stress reduction programs, smile a lot and move forward in your endeavors with optimism. Also, remember that the qualities of a dog - loyalty, fidelity and commitment - will win you friends and influence people at the end of the day and bring harmony to all. Don’t forget to stay flexible and adapt to all changes. You will find health, happiness and success are within your grasp.

Meridian Harmonics

The Holidays & Diabetes

The holidays are coming soon and so is the season for indulging in chocolates, cookies and pies. Why is sugar so bad, you ask? When you consume simple sugars and refined carbohydrates (cookies, pastries made with refined flour), the pancreas produces and releases insulin, a hormone that empties the sugar in your blood stream into all the tissues and cells for usage. In this case, the action is done too quickly, often inducing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, which causes fatigue, shaking, sweats, difficulty concentrating, mood swings and increased allergy symptoms.

Eventually, the pancreas gives out when it is exhausted from a poor diet. As its function decreases, one's body is unable to uptake the sugar normally from the blood so the sugar level rises until it becomes damaging to healthy tissues. This results is diabetes. In Chinese medicine, it is called "Depletion and Thirst Syndrome." Why should you fear diabetes? Because it is a degenerative condition that literally "eats" away your body. Complications from diabetes include diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness and peripheral neuropathy that can eventually result in gangrene of the foot and possible amputation if infection is allowed to set in, kidney failure, coronary heart disease and skin conditions resulting in itching and infections. Even if you have Type II diabetes, there is still hope that you can reverse the disease and restore your health. It's never too late to start, as long as you follow some simple guidelines and make a commitment to follow through.

The 4 step approach is: 1) Stop eating refined sugar in any form & reduce natural sugars like fruits, honey and maple syrup; 2) Start a program of daily cardiovascular exercises of at least 20 minutes; 3) Start a stress reduction program; 4) Get annual check ups with your general practitioner.

Chinese medicine has a lot to offer both hypoglycemic and diabetic patients. Schedule an appointment today and restore your good health.

Meridian Harmonics

Chinese Herb Ba Jiao Key Flu Ingredient

A Chinese spice that increases the flavor of food has become the center of public attention, thanks to the growing profile of bird flu. Ba Jiao, an herbal fruit mainly grown in China, as well as Viet Nam, is a primary ingredient in the production of an anti-viral drug which helps to fight bird flu symptoms.

More specifically, ba jiao is the basic component for Shikimic acid. Shikimic acid is the base material for the production of Tamiflu, the only drug available that combats the deadly strain of avian flu, which some fear may kill millions of humans. The new market value and soaring fears of a Tamiflu shortage have triggered a price surge for ba jiao in its main production regions of China. Despite its new fame as the key ingredient of Tamiflu, ba jiao, it traditionally is used to treat hernia, abdominal and back pain.

Meridian Harmonics

Foods to stop Cancer

A diet rich in beans, nuts and cereals could be a way to prevent cancer. Scientists have discovered that these everyday foods contain a potent anti-cancer compound. This blocks a key enzyme involved in tumor growth. Scientists have been exploring specific enzymes as a target for cancer treatment for some time but inhibitors have been difficult to develop because of problems with chemical stability and toxicity.

Researchers have discovered that a natural compound, called inositol pentakisphosphate, which is found in most legumes as well as in wheat bran and nuts, blocks the activity of the enzyme. When they tested its action in mice with ovarian and lung cancer they found it not only blocked tumor growth but also enhanced the effect of other cancer-killing drugs. It also appeared to be non-toxic, unlike conventional chemotherapy agents.

It is always encouraging when a newly discovered chemical is shown to have anti-cancer activity in the laboratory, especially when it occurs naturally in foods like beans and peas. A diet that includes at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer.

Meridian Harmonics

The Holidays and Diabetes

The holidays are coming soon and so is the season for indulging in chocolates, cookies and pies. Why is sugar so bad, you ask? When you consume simple sugars and refined carbohydrates (cookies, pastries made with refined flour), the pancreas produces and releases insulin, a hormone that empties the sugar in your blood stream into all the tissues and cells for usage. In this case, the action is done too quickly, often inducing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, which causes fatigue, shaking, sweats, difficulty concentrating, mood swings and increased allergy symptoms.

Eventually, the pancreas gives out when it is exhausted from a poor diet. As its function decreases, one's body is unable to uptake the sugar normally from the blood so the sugar level rises until it becomes damaging to healthy tissues. This results in diabetes. In Chinese medicine, it is called "Depletion and Thirst Syndrome." Why should you fear diabetes? Because it is a degenerative condition that literally "eats" away your body. Complications from diabetes include diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness, peripheral neuropathy that can eventually result in gangrene of the foot and possible amputation if infection is allowed to set in, kidney failure, coronary heart disease and skin conditions resulting in itching and infections. Even if you have Type II diabetes, there is still hope that you can reverse the disease and restore your health. It's never too late to start, as long as you follow some simple guidelines and make a commitment to follow through.

The 4 step approach is: 1) Stop eating refined sugar in any form & reduce natural sugars like fruits, honey and maple syrup; 2) Start a program of daily cardiovascular exercises of at least 20 minutes; 3) Start a stress reduction program; 4) Get annual check ups with your general practitioner.

Chinese medicine has a lot to offer both hypoglycemic and diabetic patients. Schedule an appointment today and get your good health back.

Meridian Harmonics

Building Immunity Part 2 – Environment

The immune system is our body's defense system against infections and diseases. Organs, tissues, and cells work together to respond to dangerous organisms (like viruses or bacteria) and substances that may enter the body from the environment. Maintaining a pleasant living and working environment is the second facet of building immunity. Key aspects are sunlight, clean and fresh air and pure drinking water. Avoid overexposure to damp conditions and the other four extreme climatic factors: heat, cold, dryness and wind. The common denominator for lowering immunity involves any type of stress, physical, mental, emotional, etc.

Our environment can be a source of stress, leading to diminished immunity. Environmental stress initially causes a Qi or Energetic mechanism imbalance within our organ systems. Prolonged organ imbalance weakens our organs and their ability to perform their functions. Our organs exist in a very sensitive balance with each other. Their relationships revolve around promoting wellness in each other and preventing disharmony within the organ network. Environmental stress comes in the form of air & water pollution, chemical additives in foods and overexposure to toxic chemicals used in both industrial and residential applications.

To overcome environmental stress, we recommend specific lymphatic massage to drain toxins from the lymphatic system and immune boosting acupuncture and herbal treatments to strengthen the body’s immune system.

Meridian Harmonics

Sports drinks & tooth decay

Consumption of sports drinks increases with the summer temperature. The hotter the day, the more young athletes and adults consume sports drinks with electrolytes. Researchers tested some of the most popular sports drinks. They found the beverages caused three to 11 times more tooth enamel damage than cola-based drinks.

From a dental perspective, the concern is the acid, the sugar—that constant quenching, drenching the teeth with it. There’s no rest time. Acid on the teeth combines with sugars in the mouth and erodes the surface of the tooth. Liquid sugar does not clear from the mouth for 20 minutes.

Any drink under 5.7 on the ph scale can cause dental erosion. Gatorade tested at 2.8; Powerade was 2.6 and Cytomax was 3.2. One exposure to a drink high in acid causes an acid attack that lasts for about 20 minutes. So if you consume a sports drink over a long period of time, you also extend the acid attack and increase the risk of cavities.

If someone is going to consume a sports drink, it is better to drink it all at once. This summer, encourage your children to drink lots of water instead of bottled drinks, because the pH of water is always just right.

Meridian Harmonics

Building Immunity Part 1 – Attitudinal Healing

Attitude, especially gratitude and forgiveness, are the foundation for immunity. One of the ancient texts of Chinese medicine states “Those who act with bravery and courage will overcome diseases, while those who act out of fear will fall ill”.

Belief is a very powerful universal force. Patient’s, who have a strong belief in their medicine of choice, whether it is acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine or traditional western pharmacological medicine, tend to respond much more favorably to treatments. Those who simply go through the motions, don’t believe in the medicine and don’t support the therapies, in regards to diet, lifestyle, exercise, etc. tend not to respond favorably to treatment. In fact, I find it very shocking that patients come in and say they want to get well but their actions and attitudes don’t support what their saying.

According to traditional Chinese physiology, getting rid of old resentments clears the liver of obstructions, which in turn permits the smooth and vigorous circulation of protective and other bodily energies. It really is true that physiologically, we hurt ourselves with anger or resentment. Without first resolving the attitudes and emotions surrounding any disease or disorder, patients tend to continue eating and living a lifestyle that supports the disease or disorder, itself.

Chinese medicine has always recognized the importance of one’s emotional environment. Physical symptoms can be alleviated or agitated depending one’s emotional environment. In order to elicit change at the physical level of the body, one must first elicit change at the psycho-emotional level of the mind. This is where true long-lasting healing occurs.

Meridian Harmonics

Dandruff in Air Pollution

Research studies show humans and animals contribute as much to air pollution as automobile exhaust and industrial smoke do. Fur, pollens, cell fragments, skin particles, spores, bacteria, protein crystals and fungi shed by humans, animals and plants are present widely in aerosols in the atmosphere, according to the Institute for Atmospheric Physics at Mainz University, Germany.

Samples of air over a period of 15 years, found that biological matter constituted almost as much as 40 per cent of all aerosols in some areas and around 25 per cent in others.

Aerosols are involved in climate regulation, by warming the atmosphere by absorbing heat and cooling it by reflecting sunlight. This research can help climate scientists to study the effects of air pollution on climate and can also provide keys to certain health problems related to certain geographical regions.
Concentration of pollens was higher in spring, while the presence of cellular material was higher during winter and fall.

Scientists are being urged to take the role of bio-aerosols seriously in health and climate research.

Meridian Harmonics

Seasonal Treatments Boost’s Immune Systems

In Chinese medicine, seasonal treatments occurring during the beginning of each season will help keep a person’s immune system strong. In addition to the four seasons, there also exists 24 periods or festivals within Chinese astrology, that are designated either Yin or Yang. Since Chinese medicine emphasizes balance of the Yin and Yang energies of the body, those who receive acupuncture treatments during these pivotal points in the natural energetic cycles of the body, tend to have less incidence of compromised health. These festivals are dependent on the Chinese New Year and occur about every 15 days and are based on a combination of both the solar and lunar months.

These natural cycles are similar to circadian rhythms. Chinese medicine has several interactive cycles. One cycle repeats every 60 years and is rooted in the concept of Yin, Yang, Chinese 5 Element theory and the Chinese astrological animal. Since 2005 is a Green Rooster year, the next Green Rooster year will not occur until 2065. An example of a shorter cycle is the concept of the Chinese clock. It recognizes that certain times of the day are either Yin or Yang and that specific organs are related, energetically, with specific periods of the day. For instance, the Liver is associated with the period between 1-3 AM and is responsible for patients who have difficulty sleeping during this time and afterwards.

When we begin to observe and respect the natural cycles that govern both the natural world, as well as our own lives, we can begin to maximize our health and wellness.

Meridian Harmonics

Children Dying Sooner Than Parents

For the first time in modern history, today's younger generation will have shorter and less healthy lives than their parents. Within 50 years obesity will shorten the average life span two to five years to 72.6. Obesity is now affecting nearly 2 out of 10 of U.S. school-age children.

Some sobering obesity statistics: 2 out of 3 U.S. adults are overweight or obese; 1 out of 3 adults qualify as obese; 30 percent of U.S. children are overweight. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 25 years; Childhood diabetes has increased 10-fold in the past 20 years; 4 to 16 year-old children are developing Type 2 diabetes at an alarming rate.

Chinese medicine and food energetics can play a major role in helping people to prevent obesity and its related health risks. Restoring balance to the body is a key factor in addressing the root causes of obesity, the disease process and a poor quality of life. Examples of food energetics are the cooling properties of watermelon, the warming and blood moving aspect of cinnamon, the lubricating and yin nurturing quality of bananas and the diuretic and diaphoretic actions of onions. Food selection can either hinder or boost a person’s ability to recover from diseases and disorders. The key is to choose your food wisely.

Meridian Harmonics

Work Burnout Linked to Poor Sleep

Worker burnout is triggered by a drastic resetting of sleep patterns. Burnout is not recognized in the classic manuals of mental health disorders. But the main symptoms are taken to be long-term, excessive fatigue and cognitive impairment.

It usually affects people who are very committed to work. One day they wake up and they just can’t get out of bed. Then they take a few weeks sick leave, but they don’t improve. Researchers took regular sleep EEG readings of 35 patients who had been off work for a minimum of three months. The tests consistently showed extreme sleep fragmentation and disruption. These patients were living on as little as four or five hours of sleep each night, with a 40% reduction in slow-wave sleep compared with healthy people. If you experience stress for a long period of time, you establish a new high baseline of physiological activation - and this interferes with sleep.

The strongest predictor of burnout is personality. People who score high on emotionality scales experience more distress as a result of workplace pressures and stress.

Chinese medicine has been shown to improve or eliminate the symptoms of burnout and insomnia.

Meridian Harmonics

Low Fat vs. Low Carb Diets

Regardless of how they shed pounds in the first place, big losers stayed that way by limiting fat rather than carbohydrates, according to new research that could add fuel to the backlash against low-carb diets.

Researchers studied 2,700 people who entered the National Weight Control Registry from 1995 through 2003. Their average age was 47, most were women, and they had lost an average of 72 pounds initially. Doctors compared their diets to see whether one type or another made a difference in how much weight they had lost and how much they had regained a year later.

All reported eating only about 1,400 calories a day, but the portion that came from fat rose -- from 24 percent in 1995 to more than 29 percent in 2003 -- while the part from carbohydrates fell, from 56 percent to 49 percent.

The number on low-carb diets (less than 90 grams a day) rose from 6 percent to 17 percent during the same period. The type of diet -- low-fat, low-carb or in between -- made no difference in how people lost weight initially. But those who increased their fat intake over a year regained the most weight. That meant they ate less carbohydrates, because the amount of protein in their diets stayed the same. People who are keeping the weight off are eating a low-fat, high-carb diet.

Though patients want to believe in a magic treatment, common dietary sense seems to prevail.

Meridian Harmonics

Body Mass Index Linked to Heart Disease

It’s official: Obesity is inked to subclinical changes in cardiac structure and function.

Even in the absence of overt heart disease, obesity appears to have an adverse effect on left ventricular (LV) structure and function, according to the Journal of the American Heart Association.

"The study showed a direct relationship between the level of obesity and the degree of myocardial dysfunction. The impact was independent of other risk factors such as hypertension, and indicates a direct metabolic effect of obesity on the heart muscle."

Researchers found a direct correlation between body mass index (BMI) and LV mass and wall thickness. Moreover, severely obese subjects (BMI > 35) had markedly reduced systolic and diastolic function.

As a service to our patients we will calculate your BMI to determine your risks for dysfunctions in the Heart. Patients can also have a complete Meridian Stress Assessment performed to determine imbalances in all the body’s organs and meridian systems.

Meridian Harmonics

Stress Increases Aging

Severe emotional distress - like that caused by divorce, the loss of a job, or caring for an ill child or parent - may speed up the aging of the body's cells at the genetic level. Though doctors have linked chronic psychological stress to weakened immune function and an increased risk of catching colds, among other things, there is now a link between stresses and damaged or weakened tissue.

According to Chinese Medicine, stress causes a significant imbalance in the body’s Qi mechanism. One organ system affected, early on, is the Liver. From a western medical viewpoint the Liver plays an important role in re-building blood cells, as well as several other metabolic functions related to longevity and health. As the Qi dysfunction progresses, other systems will become involved: Heart, Spleen/pancreas, Intestines, Lung and Kidney. All the body’s organs have specific roles in governing the aging process. If allowed to go unchecked, prolonged stress can eventually overwhelm individual organ systems. When this happens the body is unable to re-establish balance or homeostasis. Rapid deterioration will result, thus decreasing the ability of the body to heal itself.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can have a tremendous affect on restoring balance to the body’s Qi mechanism. As a result of regular preventative wellness treatments, patients can considerably slow down the aging process.

Meridian Harmonics

Yin & Yang – The Basics of Chinese Medicine

In my classes, I tell my students that when they can understand the entire theory of Yin and Yang then they will completely understand all there is to know about Chinese medicine.

So what is Yin and Yang? Yin and Yang represent the bipolar energies existing in all matter, both at the atomic and astronomical levels. Think about it. All matter, including our bodies, is made up of basic building blocks vibrating at unique and specific frequencies. Because of this, every person is unique and individual. At the level of our bodies, Yin and Yang has an infinite number of ways to be expressed. Some examples or Yin are: female, cold, interior diseases, stillness, nighttime, winter and deficiency. Examples of Yang are; male, heat, exterior diseases, activity, daytime, summer and excess. Even symptoms, disorders and disease can be classified as either Yin or Yang.

Every patient has a variety of imbalances that make up their unique health challenge. Some are Yin and others are Yang. Most patients exhibit a little disparity of both Yin and Yang. The focus of treatment is always in correcting this imbalance either with acupuncture or Chinese herbs, or both.

Meridian Harmonics

Infertility Treatment with Chinese Medicine

A San Francisco woman and her husband, tried for three frustrating years to get pregnant. For their final desperate attempt, the couple tried acupuncture. Her doctor gave her a 5 percent chance of getting pregnant, given her age of 40.

More Western doctors are recommending acupuncture to couples with fertility problems. Dr. Vick Sahakian of UCLA believes it can reduce stress for women trying to get pregnant. It can improve pregnancy rates by improving blood flow to the uterus where the embryos are basically implanted.

A study by German researches found that women who used acupuncture while undergoing in-vitro fertilization increased their success rates by almost 50 percent. Sahakian said his own patients have expressed confidence in the procedure.
Alternative therapies may still raise some eyebrows in the scientific community, but many of these couples say they have all the proof they need. The San Francisco couple says it worked for them — twice.

Infertility, in women, can have a variety of causes. To maximize treatment results women are recommended to schedule a consultation to determine if they are good candidates for Oriental medicine. Typical etiologies include emotional stress, internal cold or heat, Kidney Essence deficiency or an accumulation of Phlegm-Dampness in one or more organ-meridian systems. Once the underlying cause is identified, treatment will involve acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. The focus of treatment is to remove the underlying mechanisms, allowing the natural process of pregnancy to resume.

Patients with obstetric and gynecological disorders have numerous treatment options available to them with Chinese medicine. Most have no side affects.

Meridian Harmonics

Permanent Makeup Scarring

The Food and Drug Administration recently issued an alert warning of possible disfigurements from injecting permanent ink as eyeliner, lip liner or eyebrow coloring.

The notice listed scarring and difficulty eating among the worst side effects of so-called "permanent makeup."

The FDA is investigating the 50 claims it has received thus far, according to an agency statement.

Swelling, cracking, peeling, blistering, scarring and the forming of granulomas -- chronic swelling and infection in tissue near the eyes or lips -- were listed among the side effects.

In some cases, the effects reported, caused serious disfigurement, resulting in difficulty in eating and talking.

Allergic reactions to permanent pigments can result in inflammation, itching, cracking, scarring and granuloma formation.

Allergic reactions to pigment can be severe and treatment is difficult.

Tattoos are cosmetics and ink pigments are color additives requiring federal approval before sale, the FDA states. But, traditionally, the FDA has not exercised oversight of tattoos or pigments. Local jurisdictions regulate tattooing.

Green & Oolong Tea Reduces Risk of Hypertension

Consumption of 4 ounces per day or more of green or oolong tea in moderate strength for one year significantly reduces the risk of developing hypertension, according to results from an epidemiologic study published in the July 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Tea contains more than 4000 chemical compounds that may affect the human body in many aspects.

To examine the long-term effects of tea drinking on the risk of newly diagnosed hypertension, the investigators recruited 1,507 subjects aged 20 years and older with no history of the disease. Of these, 600 subjects (39.8%) were habitual tea drinkers, consuming 4 ounces per day or more for at least one year.

Subjects who drank 4 ounces to 20 ounces of tea per day showed a 46% decrease in risk of developing hypertension compared with non-habitual drinkers. The risk further decreased by 65% in those 20 ounces or more of tea each day.

Results adjusted using five lifestyle factors (total physical activity, high sodium intake, smoking, alcohol intake, and coffee intake), seven dietary factors (vegetable, fruit, unrefined grain, fish, milk, food with visible fat, and deep-fried food intake), and traditional risk factors for hypertension (age, sex, family history, body mass index, waist-hip circumference ratio, and socioeconomic index).

Meridian Harmonics

Childhood Health Issues

An obesity epidemic threatens to wipe out other improvements in children's health and safety over the past three decades. Childhood obesity has risen to a point that it can be considered a modern day epidemic, according to Duke University researchers. About 15.6 percent of American children between 12 and 19 were obese in 2002, up from 6.1 percent in 1974, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is more unnerving is that most cases of child obesity are preventable.

In my practice I see children as young as 18 months old. What is startling is that many of the children, under the age of 14, already have well established weight problems. And yet, parents do not even see it as a health issue. In fact, most parents do not see the relationship between obesity and most of the childhood disorders that are presented to me. Most of the childhood disorders that I treat are related to: allergies, sinusitis, skin rashes, eczema, sleeping disorders and anxiety or depression. Obesity tends to make all of these disorders much worse.

Parents are surprised to discover that the child’s diet is not only responsible for the obesity problem, but their health problems, as well. A lot of what I do, in addition to their treatments, is educating parents and children on how their lifestyle has contributed to their obesity problem and the other health issues of their child. Lifestyle is more than just diet. It also entails exercise, and parents providing a positive example for the children to live by. Children respond very quickly, when parents work with me to help their children get and stay well.

If you suspect your child has a weight problem or other health concern, call today, to schedule a consutation.

Seasonal Adjustments to your Lifestyle

Recently, there was a news story about the fluctuation of cholesterol levels in certain patients from the spring/summer season to fall/winter. In my classes on Chinese medicine, I discuss how the changing seasons affect our bodies meridian systems and their associated organs systems. I also share how our lifestyles require adjustment with the changing seasons.

For example, the summer season’s primary characteristic is one of heat. Heat is one of the five climatic factors within Chinese medicine. As a result, our bodies are more susceptible to becoming over-heated during this season. One of the ways I suggest patient’s combat this is to eat a diet of primarily cool natured foods during this season.

Diet is one aspect of lifestyle management that patients have total control over. Some foods are quite warm or even hot, in their underlying nature. These foods should be avoided or reduced during the summer months. Each one of the seasons has a particular environment that defines the characteristic of the foods that are both beneficial and detrimental to a persons well being. The fall and winter season often tend to be damp. Dampness is another climatic factor that can affect the body. Congealed dampness produces phlegm in the body and can actually increase cholesterol levels as well as aggravate many other conditions.

If you tend to have a medical condition that seems to flare up in certain seasons or environments, consider a personal consultation, to determine the correct course of action to restore balance to your body.

Meridian Harmonics

Symptoms of Stress

Stress in America has become a serious problem. There are several types of stress: emotional, physical, mental and spiritual. Stress causes an imbalance in the distribution of energy in the body, known as Qi. This Qi imbalance can affect any or all of the organs in the body. A Qi imbalance in the Heart can cause insomnia, palpitations or emotional disturbances; in the Spleen it can cause digestive disorders, fatigue, diarrhea, hemorrhoids or muscle disorders; in the Lungs it can cause asthma, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest or chest pain; in the Kidneys it can cause low back pain, sexual dysfunction, or urinary problems.

Many patients come to me with varying symptoms of stress that are reflected in several organ systems. The most effective way to treat stress is to treat the underlying cause for a person’s particular set of stress symptoms. Stress is successfully treated with Chinese Medicine. A typical patient’s individual treatment focuses on targeting the root of their disorder, as well as the symptoms. This plan includes adjusting their diet and lifestyle to maximize their overall treatment and recovery efficacy. Most stress disorders can be treated in a relatively short period of time. Afterwards, it is recommended patients get regular “wellness tune-ups” to maintain overall balance.

Meridian Harmonics

Allergies and Lifestyle Management

Allergies are a very common disorder shared by a majority of the population. In Chinese medicine, allergies result when the body’s organ systems become imbalanced in a way that their ability to return to balance is hindered in some way.

Some allergies are rooted in biochemical imbalances in the body, whereas others have as their source a bio-energetic imbalance. Conventional allergy testing helps to reveal biochemical allergies. Bio-energetic allergies often are not revealed with conventional testing procedures.

Meridian Harmonics provides unique bio-energetic meridian stress assessment for patients suffering from allergies. This procedure is especially helpful for those patients that do not respond to conventional tests and treatments. For many patients, identifying the risk factor associated with their particular allergy is the first step in designing their unique treatment plan.

Patients can control many of these risk factors: food selections, exercise, weight management, proper rest and stress management. Treatment involves identifying the imbalanced organ systems and correcting the mechanism that has elicited their particular set of symptoms. Many patients see tremendous improvement in their allergy symptoms when they seek regular treatments. As a result they miss less school, work, recreational and social events.

Meridian Harmonics

Treating Weight Problems in China

The macho workout motto conjures images of sweat and brawn but the regime is somewhat pricklier at the Aimin Fat Reduction Hospital in northern China, where the chronically obese from Europe to Oceania come to poke away pounds with acupuncture. Aimin workout sessions look almost effortless: acupuncture in the morning and light dance aerobics in the afternoon, interspersed with well-balanced meals and counseling. The clinic has been a leading brand in an upstart industry popularizing Chinese medicine as a shortcut to slim down.

Chinese medical theory traditionally holds that overweight people have imbalanced digestive systems. And in the past two decades, the ranks of the imbalanced have swelled with the country's booming economy. As the affluent gorge on dozen-course banquets and their children munch on Kentucky Fried Chicken, entrepreneurial apothecaries are concocting diet teas and tonics to help Chinese fight the battle of the bulge. Some clinical studies have discounted the role of acupressure, acupuncture and reflexology in weight loss while doctors and dieticians in the West have condemned sham practitioners of hokum, "new age" treatments.

Shi Lidong, the director of the hospital indicates using the correct acupuncture points can help redress the body's imbalance by stimulating the metabolism and curbing the appetite. It effectively controls the desire for food and reduces hunger. At the same time it also speeds up the digestive system's ability to break down fat. The former military hospital's most celebrated case was a 23-year-old Chinese man who cut his weight from 473 pounds in June 2000 to 198 pounds by September 2001. Aimin has 260 beds and treats around 200 foreign customers a year from places like Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Switzerland. The clinic has also opened branches in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. But many journey to the former British concession of Tianjin to visit the original gurus.

There are many causes for weight gain and obesity. In order to successfully treat these conditions it is imperative that patients receive an accurate diagnosis. In this way a correct treatment plan can be designed specifically for them.

Meridian Harmonics

How to Worsen Asthma

It is now understood why asthma patients who use the most common types of inhalers often suffer from a rebound effect that makes their condition worse. Airway-opening inhalers, including albuterol, ventolin and salbutamol, appear to cause a biochemical reaction that exacerbates swelling in the body's airway. The swelling, in turn, can block airflow and make breathing more difficult.

Over the past two decades, a new generation of medications known as beta2-agonists, commonly found in inhalers, has let asthmatics breathe more easily by opening up their airways. But doctors have long known those patients can relapse if they don't use another kind of inhaler that reduces inflammation in the airway, which causes constriction in the first place. As the inflammation on the walls of the airway gets worse, the reliever inhalers fail to work properly as they become overwhelmed. It actually worsens the problem in the long term. The airway constriction can even last for weeks after a patient stops using the reliever inhalers.

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati examined genetically altered mice that were designed to have different levels of a receptor that works to keep the airway open and unblocked by swelling. The results of the study appear in the Aug. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The researchers report they discovered an interaction between chemicals that contributes to the growth of inflammation. In a separate development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned users of three asthma drugs that those medications carry a small risk of a life-threatening asthma attack.

Drugs with salmeterol, a long-acting bronchodilator, were likelier to have a dangerous asthma episode. The affected drugs are sold under the names Serevent Inhalation Aerosol, Serevent Diskus and Advair Diskus, all of which are made by GlaxoSmithKline.

Chinese medicine is a wonderful alternative to western drugs for treating asthma, without side effects and life threatening risk’s.

Meridian Harmonics

A Cure for PMS

Premenstrual syndrome” (PMS) is the cyclic recurrence of a group of symptoms that peak 7 to 10 days before menstruation and disappear a few hours after the onset of the menstrual flow. This condition is characterized by multiple and diverse symptoms including, but not limited to: breast tenderness, transient weight gain, bloating, constipation, insomnia, acne, headache, pelvic pain, irritability, depression, mood swings, poor concentration, confusion, social withdrawal, impulsiveness and appetite changes. While many women experience mild symptoms of short duration, other women have more severe symptoms that last for many days and temporarily disturb their normal functioning.

PMS is due to unbalanced hormonal fluctuations. A mixture of correct diet, adequate exercise, and emotional clarity, along with acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs can correct imbalances and bring long-term relief.

Chinese medicine offers many tools to address premenstrual syndrome. Acupuncture removes energy blockages and in turn stabilizes hormonal fluctuations. It also provides deep relaxation that helps to calm the mind. Chinese herbs work together with acupuncture to regulate the flow of energy and substances in the body. Together they stimulate the body’s natural functions and encourage it to establish optimum balance.

Women do not have to accept and live with premenstrual syndrome. When the symptoms of PMS are reduced or eliminated, women feel more energetic -- physically, mentally, emotionally and creatively.

Meridian Harmonics

Green tea – the cancer blocker

Green tea's ability to fight cancer is even more potent and varied than scientists suspected, research suggests. Scientists already know that green tea contains anti-oxidants, which may have a protective effect against cancer.

But now they have discovered that chemicals in the tea also shut down a key molecule, which can play a significant role in the development of cancer. It's likely that the compounds in green tea act through many different pathways. The molecule, known as the aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptor, has the ability to activate genes - but not always in a positive way. Tobacco smoke and dioxins, in particular, disrupt the functioning of the molecule and cause it to trigger potentially harmful gene activity.

The researchers, from Rochester University, found that two chemicals in green tea inhibit AH activity. Both chemicals are similar to compounds called flavonoids, which are found in broccoli, cabbage, grapes and red wine, and which are also known to help prevent cancer. Researcher Professor Thomas Gasiewicz said: "Green tea may work differently than we thought to exert its anti-cancer activity. "It's likely that the compounds in green tea act through many different pathways." The Rochester team showed that the chemicals shut down the AH receptor in cancerous mouse cells. Early results indicate the same is true in human cells. However, the scientists say that the results in the laboratory do not necessarily translate to everyday life as the crucial factor is how green tea is broken down inside the body. In addition, there are a lot of differences between various types of green tea. Dr Julie Sharp, a science information office at Cancer Research UK, said: "This research describes additional properties of green tea that may be beneficial but which have yet to be tested properly.

"The causes of cancer are complex and both diet and our genetic make-up act together to influence our risk of developing the disease. "Cancer Research UK is currently involved in a large-scale study of diet and health that is researching the eating habits of over half a million people in 10 European countries to try and help unravel this complexity." Research has also suggested that green tea may help to reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and to lower cholesterol levels.

Meridian Harmonics

Flu & Cold Season – Prevention is the Key

In just a few weeks, the flu season will be here. Along with the common cold, allergies and the flu, Oriental medicine has a lot to offer patients who suffer from these disorders.

Most patients aren’t aware of the fact that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been used for thousands of years to treat these conditions. In addition to the common cold and influenza, North Texas has its share of air pollution and environmental allergens. This can provide a tremendous degree of discomfort for those patients sensitive to these substances. Many patients report that their respiratory symptoms improve dramatically or are eliminated once they begin receiving regular treatments. At its core, Oriental medicine stimulates and boosts the immune system in order to minimize the affects of respiratory diseases. Regular wellness treatments have an cumulative effect, nurturing the defensive systems in the body. Patients are encouraged to make their wellness appointments early to ward off the attack of the flu season and minimize the effects of hayfever, pollution and seasonal allergies.

Meridian Harmonics

Ice Age Acupuncture!

In 1991, the scientific world was rocked by the discovery of Otzi, a 5,000-year-old mummified man found in the mountains along the border between Austria and Italy. Named after the Otz valley in which it was discovered, the mummy's body was remarkably well preserved, as were most of his clothing, tools and weapons. Scientists have examined the mummy's remains thoroughly, learning much about the everyday life of ancient Europeans. One of the most remarkable discoveries was a complicated system of bluish-black tattoos running along Otzi's back, right knee and left ankle.

Experts from three acupuncture societies then examined the locations of the tattoos. In their opinion, nine tattoos could be identified as being located directly on, or within six millimeters of, traditional acupuncture points. Two more were located on an acupuncture meridian. One tattoo was used as a local point. The remaining three tattoos were situated between 6-13mm from the closest acupuncture point. X-rays of the ice man's body revealed evidence of arthritis in the hip joints, knees, ankles and lumbar spine. Nine of the mummy's 15 tattoos are located on the urinary bladder meridian, a meridian commonly associated with treating back pain. In fact, one of the mummy's two cross-shaped tattoos is located near the left ankle on a point, which is considered by several texts as a master point for back pain. The fact that not randomly selected points, but rather corresponding groups of points were marked by tattoos, seems especially intriguing, the researchers noted.

From an acupuncturist's viewpoint, the combination of points selected represents a meaningful therapeutic regimen. It’s fascinating to see evidence that acupuncture was actually practiced in ancient civilizations.

Meridian Harmonics

Oriental Medicine – More Than Treating Pain

I am asked all the time exactly what conditions can be treated using Oriental Medicine. Often, patients are surprised to discover that most conditions treated by a western doctor are successfully treated with Oriental Medicine. Most patients equate Oriental Medicine with acupuncture. The fact is that OM involves many different modalities designed to correct imbalances and disharmonies manifesting as symptoms. Symptoms commonly seen in my clinic are all the female related disorders: menopausal, gynecological, menstruation, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, as well as others affecting both men and women: migraines, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, emotional stress, depression, anxiety, acid reflux, hives, psoriasis, eczema, post stroke paralysis, seizures, epilepsy, arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, smoking cessation, weight loss and of course, pain, to name a few. Once a patient realizes OM has an 8000 year history, it really isn’t that surprising to see the many conditions treated using Oriental Medicine.

Meridian Harmonics

The Summer Season

The summer season increases the opportunity for heat related disorders to develop or become aggravated. Heat affects many aspects of our bodies. Heat can enter the blood system creating symptoms such as: rashes, bloody or painful urination, coughing with blood streaked sputum, nose bleeds, vomiting blood, menstrual problems, intestinal disorders, uterine bleeding, acute febrile diseases, high fever, unconsciousness, delirium, swollen & sore throat, scrofula, subcutaneous nodules and gangrene of fingers or toes. Heat affects our internal organs. Heat entering the stomach may cause irritability, thirst, mouth sores, swollen painful gums, stomach and intestinal ulcers and headaches. Heat can also affect the Heart with symptoms of restlessness, melancholia and insomnia. The liver and gallbladder are especially prone to heat disorders. Typical symptoms are red swollen eyes, vaginal discharge, migraines, jaundice and malaria. Fortunately, Chinese medicine is highly effective in treating all types of heat disorders. In treating heat disorders, a variety of methods are useful including, diet and lifestyle adjustments, proper exercise, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines. To ward off the effects of the summer heat, make your wellness appointment today.

Meridian Harmonics

Heart Psychophysiology

In Chinese Medicine, organ physiology is known as Zang-Fu. The organs are either Yin or Yang, nature. The Heart is considered one of the Yin organs. It shares the energetic level known as Shaoyin with another Yin organ, the Kidney.

Chinese Medicine recognizes the Heart as the Sovereign ruler of the Body-Mind-Spirit. It is considered to be the most important of all the internal organs. It stores the Shen or Spirit-Mind-Consciousness. It regulates the blood vessels, Blood circulation and the pulse. It is manifested on the tongue through speech and expresses itself on the face. It controls all the Yin and Yang organs.

The Heart is associated with the season of Summer and the Fire phase. Its climate is, therefore, Hot. It derives its influence from the south. The Heart is also associated with flourishing growth. The Heart is very sensitive to excessive Heat.

Disharmonies in the Heart or its meridian system may manifest in the following disorders: circulation, perspiration, over excitement, excessive dreams, sleeping problems, speech disorders, mental and emotional problems, and memory problems. All dreams are related to the Heart whether there is excess or lack of dreaming.

Like all the organs, imbalances within the Heart or its meridian system rarely occur alone. Other organ disharmonies can have a huge impact on the health of the Heart. Since the Kidney shares the Shaoyin level with the Heart, Kidney disharmonies can be reflected in the Heart. Within Five Element Theory, the Heart is said to be “generated” by the Liver and when in balance, will successfully “generate” the Spleen. Imbalances within the Liver or Spleen result in excessive stress on the Heart.

Many times patients complain of symptoms generally associated with a Heart disorder. In light of the physical, mental and emotional stress we are experiencing as a result of economic uncertainty, fear of what the future may hold, family problems and self destructive behavior, it is no wonder that many people today are experiencing dis – ease of the Heart.

Meridian Harmonics

The Spring Season

The Spring season is a volatile time. It is typically characterized by wind, rain, and oscillating temperature ranges. Because of this, we can be more susceptible to invasion by external pathogenic factors.

Chinese medicine recognizes these pathogenic factors as wind, dampness, heat, cold and dryness. In the Spring time the primary pathogenic factor is Wind. It can act alone or be accompanied by any of the others. When one’s defensive system is weakened or compromised, the result may be: upper respiratory tract infections, the common cold, influenza, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, acute bronchitis and allergic rhinitis.

These disorders can occur during any season but are prevalent during the Spring. Oriental medicine is very effective in treating and preventing these disorders. If treated improperly or too late the external pathogenic factors progress inward affecting the internal organs. When this occurs the disease process becomes more severe. The changing seasons are good times of the year for maintenance or tune-up treatments. Many patients take advantage of the changing seasons by seeking preventative treatment in order to boost their defensive and immune systems. Call today to schedule your tune-up appointment.

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Ephedra , Ma Huang

The mass media has duped the American public. They have brainwashed most people to believe that Ephedra, known as Ma Huang, in Chinese, is a weight loss herb. In Chinese herbal pharmacology, ephedra belongs to a very important group of herbs for addressing such disorders as the common cold, influenza, asthma, and edema, to name a few. Nowhere in the ancient texts does it mention that ma huang should be used as a means to shed unnecessary weight. Its primary functions are to release pathogenic factors to the exterior, for early stage upper respiratory disorders. It achieves this by inducing perspiration.

Like all herbs, ma huang has its unique cautions and contraindications. It is a warm, acrid and bitter herb and is, therefore, contraindicated for people who have an underlying internal inflammatory condition or for those with hypertension, palpitations, spontaneous or nighttime sweating and insomnia.

Many people who struggle with weight problems concurrently have these disorders, as well. The reason for all the bad press over ma huang is due to the fact the diet drug industry has not properly educated consumers about the cautions of not only herbs but also mainstream western prescription and over-the-counter medications. It is extremely important not to self medicate yourself.

Before beginning any program that includes herbal medicine and/or prescription medications, consult with your healthcare provider on their cautions and contraindications for your unique constitutional and energetic profile. Doctors of Oriental Medicine are well trained in the proper use of herbal medicine as it relates to your particular disorder and can safely prescribe the correct herbal medicines to restore balance to your system and overall health. We are quickly approaching the Spring season. With it comes the incidental increase of upper respiratory diseases. In order to protect yourself during this changing season, make an appointment today for your Spring season wellness check-up and treatment.

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Allergies from a Oriental Medical Perspective

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, any disease can be the result of excessive or deficient energy within the body’s meridian and organ systems. Allergies and sensitivities are no different.

Every substance, natural and man-made, has a unique electromagnetic signature or profile. The human body is also comprised of electromagnetic energy. This is known as Qi. In the presence of a substance the body has only three responses: hyper-sensitivity, hypo-sensitivity or no response. This is true whether the substance is a food, a weed, a grass, a chemical, a pet, or whatever. The human body is constantly working to maintain balance in all of its systems. Its ability to do this is compromised, however, by overwork, emotional stress, poor diet, lack of sufficient sleep, etc.

If the body’s systems are imbalanced for an extended period of time, the immune system’s health also suffers. The effect of a substance on the body is directly related to the immune system and can be measured. This is called Bio Energetic Stress Testing. Meridian Harmonics uses FDA approved technology to determine excessive and deficient energy in the meridian systems of the body and thus a patient’s sensitivities. Once identified, the immune system can be reprogrammed to elicit no response to substances previously causing hyper or hypo sensitive symptoms. Additionally, modifying those lifestyle areas responsible for devitalizing the immune system will prevent the body from continually reacting to “allergic” substances. The result is a reduction or elimination in the episodes of allergic reactions and the number of medications needed to treat these symptoms.

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Diseases of the New Millennium

Have you noticed how many people seem to have the following health problems: arthritis, bronchitis, cholecystitis, colitis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis, encephalitis, endometritis, gastritis, gastroenteritis, hepatitis, meningitis, phlebitis, prostatitis, rhinitis, thyroiditis, urethritis, vaginitis, vulvitis, etc… Notice that each of these has the common suffix itis. That is, they are all inflammatory diseases. Though not new, they seem to be the most commonly diagnosed diseases of internal medical doctors in recent years. Though the terminology is somewhat different, Chinese medicine has recognized these diseases for thousands of years. Inflammatory diseases are successfully treated using Chinese medicine.

It is no coincidence that the largest group of herbs in the Chinese herbal pharmacy is a group of herbs that addresses all the many types of inflammatory diseases. This is a very powerful group of herbs, with antibacterial and antiviral properties. They are, typically, cold and bitter, in nature. This is to facilitate the mechanism of draining excess heat, dampness and toxins from the body. The wonderful aspect of Chinese herbal medicine is that it is free of the many worrisome side effects that western prescription medications have. However, all herbs have contraindications and are not to be used for certain conditions. Unfortunately, many people tend to self diagnose and self medicate themselves. Unless one has specialized knowledge of herbal energetics, more harm than good can result.

Doctors of Chinese medicine are well trained in the proper use of herbs. When used correctly herbal medicines have an amazing ability to correct the imbalances that cause inflammation. This is due to the fact that, in addition to treating the acute problems, Oriental medical doctors also treat the underlying constitutional imbalances that prevent a patient from maintaining optimum wellness. To discuss a particular problem, call today to schedule a consultation appointment.

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Chinese Lung Psychophysiology

In Traditional Chinese Medicine the Lung:
1) governs the Qi (body’s energy)
2) facilitates the immune function by assisting the dispersal of the Wei Qi (Protective, Defensive System)
3) regulates the rhythm of respiration, the pulse, and all bodily processes
4) is related to strength and sustainability
5) moves and adjusts fluid metabolism.

The Lungs are considered to be the most “external” of all the body’s organs. This is due to its direct connection to the environment through the bronchial tubes. Because of this, they are more susceptible to environmental changes.

Healthy expressions of the Lung are righteousness and courage. Imbalance, dysfunction, illness or weakness of the Lungs can be associated with excessive grief, sadness, worry, and depression. Worry depletes the Lung Qi (energy). Signs of a Lung imbalance include panting, yawning, sneezing, pain in the upper back, shoulder, and chest, colds with stuffed nose, hoarseness, wheezing respiration, frequent urination with small amounts, heavy chest, reduced lung capacity, coughing and nasal discharge.

It is important to note that imbalances in other organ systems may cause excess or deficiency signs in the Lung. It is very rare that a patient exhibits signs and symptoms associated with only one organ system. Most cases are more complex. Chinese medicine is based on correct diagnosis of the diseased system(s) and proper treatment to restore balance and harmony to the body. To keep your lungs healthy make a wellness checkup today before the “flu season” arrives.

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Treating Influenza with Chinese Medicine

Influenza is an acute viral respiratory illness. The disease is mostly seen in the winter. Most of the outbreaks and epidemics of flu are caused by the Influenza A virus, although illness caused by other viruses (rhinovirus, echovirus) may cause identical presentations and be called "the flu" even if the influenza virus was not at fault. Pandemics have occurred every 10-15 years since the Great Pandemic of 1918-19. The incubation period is 48 hours. The onset is usually extremely abrupt. The key signs and symptoms of influenza include: 1) Headache, 2) Fever, 3) Malaise, 4) Myalgias: especially the back and legs, 5) Respiratory illness: characterized by sore throat and cough, 6) Easy lacrimation, 7) Weakness and fatigue and 8) Inflammation of the oropharynx .

Chinese medicine recognizes several patterns responsible for influenza. In case you begin to feel down and out, be sure to make an appointment so that your particular pattern is identified and properly treated. Improper diagnosis and treatment may result in exacerbation of your symptoms.

Nutritionally, the recommended eating principles should be: 1) eat as little as possible, 2) increase foods rich in Vitamin C, 3) fast for a short period, 4) eat foods that are easy to digest, 5) drink plenty of liquids: water, water and honey, 6) support the spleen & stomach, nourish immune system (Wei Qi). Examples of therapeutic foods: lemon, orange, watercress; fresh juices: watercress and apple with 1/4 tsp. pure cream of tartar, lemon, orange, carrot and spinach, carrot/celery/spinach/parsley, horseradish and lemon.

Avoid these foods while you’re still symptomatic: heavy protein foods, fats, meats, vinegars, shellfish, cow's milk and other dairy products, white bread, refined foods, processed foods, sugar and sweets, catarrh-forming foods: tofu, ice cream, shellfish.

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Asthma Notes

Asthma is defined as hypersensitivity reaction causing brochospasm, mucosal edema and increased bronchial mucous secretion leading to respiratory distress. Asthma is most common in children under 10 years old, and is twice as common in males. It affects about 3% of the general population. Factors involved with asthmatic reactions include a variety of stimuli: upper respiratory infection; exercise; emotional upset; food sensitivities; inhalation of cold air or irritating substances (smoke, gas fumes, paint fumes); suppression of previously more minor diseases such as eczema or otitis media with drug therapy; and reactions to specific allergens, such as pollens. There are two types of asthma: 1) extrinsic asthma, also called atopic asthma, is considered to be IgE-mediated. Attacks are mostly initiated by exposure to allergens: dust, molds, pollens, animal dander, and foods; 2) intrinsic asthma does not seem related to an antigen-antibody complex. Rather, the bronchial reaction is due to other factors as mentioned above: cold air, exercise, infection, emotional upset and irritating inhalants. Most patients seem to have a mixture of the two types, although it is thought that the allergic type is the more common asthma in infants and children.
Bioenergetic Medicine is an ideal way to determine allergens responsible for eliciting asthmatic events. This process is known as Metabolic Stress Assessment and can be done in approximately 30-60 minutes. Maintaining organic and meridian balance prevents the immune system from being overwhelmed. Desensitization of particular allergens is accomplished through the use of acupuncture and homeopathic remedies. Call today to make your wellness check up appointment.

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Preventing Diseases of Autumn with Chinese Medicine

Did you know that Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes five seasons, rather than the standard four “western” seasons? TCM also recognizes each season has certain pathogenic factors associated with them and the pathogenic factors for each season typically affect particular organ systems. We normally transition from one season to the next without thinking about it. From a wellness perspective, there are specific measures we can take to prevent our health from suffering during these transitional phases, as well as maintaining health and wellness throughout the term of each season. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can actually boost and stimulate the immune system. In doing so, we have the ability to ward off the external pathogenic factors associated with the seasons. Along with proper diet, exercise and sleep, acupuncture and Chinese medicine can keep you and your family healthy when others seem to always get sick. Some foods to avoid, limit or remove from your diet during the fall season are: 1) allergens/food intolerances, especially milk and milk products; 2) grains, especially wheat; stimulating foods, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine and cold drinks; 3) white bread, refined foods, processed foods, sugar and sweets, catarrh-forming foods: oranges, tofu, tomatoes; 4) meat, ice cream, shellfish; 5) cooling foods and eggs are contraindicated for some conditions, while garlic, fresh ginger, pork, mustard green, sweet rice, sugar and walnuts should not be used for others.; 6) for excess phlegm in the lungs avoid dairy, soy products, coconut, sugar, sweet rice, persimmon, pork, almond, honey and peanuts. Make an appointment early so that you can learn more about your particular constitutional body type. That way a customized prevention program can be designed just for you. Enjoy the Autumn season with the changing fall colors without being distracted from the affects of a compromised immune system.

Meridian Harmonics