Preparing for the Winter Season

Western Medicine Causes for Winter Ailments

From a western medicine perspective, bacterial and viral infections are the main cause of winter ailments. Lack of sunlight and low temperatures in the cold seasons provide an ideal setting for viral and bacterial infections, which can give rise to colds, coughs, sore throats, flu and other winter illnesses. Furthermore the body’s immunity also tends to get weakened during the colder season and therefore it is more susceptible to attacks from various viruses and bacteria. These infections are also highly contagious and can be passed on easily from one person to another by simple actions like coughing or sneezing. This is one of the main reasons why common colds and coughs spread so easily. People who suffer from various allergies also have a difficult time during the winter months. These allergies also tend to last longer because most people prefer staying indoors when the temperatures are lower. Winter ailments can affect people of all age groups but tend to affect older individuals sooner than others because of their lowered immunity. Even pregnant women and individuals who suffer from immune system disorders are more prone to winter ailments because of a weakened immunity. People who have unhealthy eating habits and follow a sedentary lifestyle are also more at risk from different types of winter ailments. Poor eating habits and a lack of physical activity can directly impact a person’s immunity and raise the risk of succumbing to winter diseases. Therefore it is very important to follow a healthy balanced diet that can provide the body with all the essential nutrients it needs to be strong and healthy. Regular exercise can also help a great deal to increase your general fitness levels, boost your immune and help prevent not just infections, but minimize allergic reactions as well. Winter ailments like chilblain can also be avoided with the help of a good diet and regular exercise.

Chinese Medicine Model of Winter Disease

In Chinese medicine, each one of the seasons necessitates we modify our lifestyle and diet. Each season is characterized by a primary significant pathogenic factor. The winter months provide a stronger opportunity for the Cold pathogenic factor to affect our bodies. Cold affects the body by stagnating Qi, Blood and Body Fluids. Cold transforms active energy in the various organs and their associative acupuncture meridians and channels and converts the activated energy to potential or stagnant energy. Potential energy in the body is energy that is waiting to be activated. Chinese medical theory recognizes that activated energy in the body is required to maintain good health, increase longevity, boost immunity and minimize disease symptoms. Unfortunately, the Cold pathogenic factor of the winter season deactivates the body’s energy by stagnating it. An important precept of Chinese medicine is when all the body’s subtle energies are moving harmoniously then health will be manifested. Conversely, when these energies are stagnant then the disease process and accompanying symptoms will be manifested.

If you suspect that you’re experiencing a Cold Invasion, here are a few of the typical symptoms: chilliness, cold and weak knees, cold limbs, fatigue, low back pain, swelling or edema in the lower body, reduced appetite, desire for warm places, food and drinks, lack of thirst, loose stools, abundant clear urine, white tongue coating, pale complexion, blue tinged lips, fingers, toes or extremities.

Combating the Cold pathogenic factor can be accomplished in two major ways: diet and exercise.

In winter the selection of whole foods is sparse compared to the abundant choices we have during the summer. However, the foods that are readily available are perfectly suited for winter. Some excellent food choices for the winter season are shown below.

Spices/Herbs: basil, bay leaves, black pepper, capers, cardamom, cayenne, chives, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, dill seed, fennel seed, garlic, ginger, mustard seed, nutmeg, pine kernel, rosemary, spearmint, anise, fenugreek

Foods: cherry, chestnut, chicken, dates, goat, lamb, leek, lychee, longan, mussel, mustard leaf, mutton, onion, peach, scallion, shrimp, squash, sweet rice, trout, turnip, vinegar, walnut, lobster, venison

The exercises that you would normally engage in during the other seasons can be done in the winter. However, more emphasis should be placed on strengthening exercises rather than cardiovascular exercises. Winter is the Yin time of year. This is the time of year that is more consolidating and less active. It is a time for rebuilding and nourishing the body’s energy, instead of expending energy. In nature, this is a quieter, less active time and should be reflected in our lives, as well.

Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture are great ways to boost your immune system as well as treating winter diseases and disorders, without the side affects typical of western drug therapies.

Caution! Do not self medicate. To determine the correct herbal combinations for your specific conditions (bronchitis, influenza, respiratory infections, ear infections, etc) obtain an herbal consultation with an Oriental Medical practitioner to get an accurate diagnosis and proper course of treatment recommendation. 

Meridian Harmonics

Pain Management Using Oriental Medicine

How does Acupuncture treat Pain?

In Chinese medicine, acupuncture meridian theory states that there are 14 primary channels of energy within the body. These channels or meridians are similar to a highway system. Qi, pronounced chee, (energy and information) is transmitted through the meridians so the body can perform specific tasks. When there is an interruption of the flow of energy or information in the meridian systems, one of the first signs can be discomfort or pain. Each of the meridians has internal and external branches or pathways. Acupuncture points lie on the external branches. The internal branches connect to other meridians or channels and to the internal organs. In this way acupuncture points can treat both pain and disharmony in the organs.

How does Tai Chi and Qi Gong help to relieve pain?

Chinese medicine is rooted in several major concepts and laws that govern the physical universe. One of these concepts is that Movement = Health and Non-movement (Stagnation) = Disease. To use this concept we need to understand that the body consists of meridians that transport Qi, blood vessels that transport Blood and tissues/organs that transport specific body fluids or food. These systems are designed to be dynamic or moving. When they cease to move efficiently or effectively, then the body will suffer. Longstanding lack of movement will, eventually, cause pain. To prevent or reduce pain, the ancient Chinese discovered that physical movement was one of the keys to health.

How does Chinese Herbal Medicine treat Pain?

They’re numerous pathogenic causes to pain. In western medicine most of these causes are rooted in nervous system disorders. Chinese Medicine, however, is not based on the nervous system. Therefore, pain can be caused by disharmonies with Qi, Blood, Body Fluids and environmental factors. Some examples of these disharmonies and just a few herbs to treat them are listed below.

Qi (Energy) Deficiency: Pain is worse with exertion; fatigue, weakness, swelling, distending pain; pain alleviated with pressure

Astragulus Root – augments Qi, strengthens blood; for numbness in limbs and painful obstructions

Licorice root – replenishes Qi, reduces toxity, relieves spasms & pain

Qi (Energy) Stagnation: Achy pain, especially in the rib cage; anxiety, irritability, depression; pain aggravated with pressure

Tangerine Peel – regulates Qi, normalizes Spleen and Stomach functioning

Bupleurum – soothes Liver for pain in abdomen, chest and rib cage

Blood Deficiency: Heart palpitations, restless, irritable, fatigue, depression, anxiety, dizziness, insomnia, inability to concentrate, poor memory, muscle weakness, spasms, numbness, irritability; pain alleviated by pressure

Angelica Root – nourishes and invigorates blood to stop pain; especially beneficial for all female disorders

White Peony root – nourishes blood, soothes Liver, stops pain

Blood Stagnation: Heart palpitations, cold extremities (hands, feet, legs, arms), sharp stabbing pain, insomnia, dark or purplish coloration, restless; pain aggravated by pressure

Turmeric – aids with pain due to stagnation of blood

Lovage Root – invigorates blood, moves Qi, stops pain

Heat: Pain is aggravated by heat; red coloration with possible swelling

Phellodendrum bark – clears heat & inflammation, reduces swelling

Gypsum – strongly clears heat and inflammation to stop pain

Cold (Yang Deficiency or Cold Climate): Pain is aggravated by cold; pale, blue or purplish coloration with possible swelling

Peppers – contain Capsaicin (extremely hot): best for pain aggravated by cold 

Aconite – dispels cold to stop pain

Damp: Pain is aggravated by damp, humid conditions; swelling or edema

Ginger – aids in resolving damp/phlegm accumulations in joints; also helpful with nausea and vomiting due to damp/phlegm/food

Atractylodes – resolves dampness to stop pain, especially in knee and foot joints

Dry (Yin Deficiency or Dry Climate): Aggravated by dryness, low grade fever, irritability, irritability, dry mouth and throat, dry skin, thirst, restless, low back pain, bone pain, constipation due to dry stools

Foxglove Root – nourishes Blood to stop pain, relieves dryness

Scrophularia root – clears heat nourishes Yin, purges heat, relieves toxity to stop pain

Food Stagnation: Stagnation of food in the gastrointestinal track can cause pain in the chest, abdomen, rib cage, back and intestines.

Pinellia rhizome – dries damp accumulations, lowers adverse Qi to stop nausea, vomiting and pain

Hawthorn fruit – dissipates clumps, reduces food stagnation for abdominal distention, pain, chest pain

Caution! Do not self medicate. To determine the correct herbal combinations for your specific type of pain, obtain an herbal consultation with an Oriental Medical practitioner to get an accurate diagnosis and proper course of treatment recommendation.

Power Foods to Increase Your Energy

If you're wondering why you're tired after a full night's sleep the answer might be on your plate. Nutritional deficiencies can make you feel under the weather. And eating too much of the wrong things can have the same effect. So if you haven't been functioning at 100 percent, try these foods to give your well-being a big boost. 

Eat this to boost energy Feel like every day is a labor to just get through? You may not be getting enough iron. Add in the fact that you lose the mineral when you menstruate, and you may feel groggy and fuzzy-headed even if you don't have a full-blown deficiency.

The remedy: Eat more red meats, fish, and poultry—the best animal-based sources of iron. (Liver contains one of the highest amounts, too, but steer clear if you're pregnant, since its high vitamin A content may be dangerous to a developing baby.) Don't eat meat? Go for soybeans, lentils, spinach, and fortified cereals. Iron isn't as easily absorbed by your body in those forms, but adding vitamin C will help, so enjoy a glass of orange juice with those cornflakes.

If you tend to have heavy periods, you're probably losing more iron than the average woman, so be extra sure you're eating plenty of iron-rich foods.

Eat this to feel calm You know that caffeine can put you on edge. But here's another source of jitters: too many refined carbs—foods high in white flour (cookies, sugary cereals, white bread, etc.) and stripped of nutrients and fiber that normally keep your blood sugar stable.

A big dose of refined carbs causes your blood sugar level to soar and an excessive amount of insulin to be secreted by the pancreas. You may be antsy as a result: think toe-tapping and/or an inability to focus. Then, the extra insulin will make your blood sugar plummet, Levine explains, leaving you feeling sluggish.

To help prevent those drastic spikes and drops in blood sugar, Levine says, your meals and snacks should be based around lean protein, healthy fats, and unrefined carbohydrates. That means loading up on brown rice, whole-grain bread and pasta, whole oats, and, of course, fruits, veggies, and legumes.

Eat this to get sharp So you misplaced your car keys. Again. A lack of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12—both brain-boosting nutrients—could be to blame.

"Omega-3s are loaded with DHA, a type of fatty acid that helps promote well-functioning synapses," says Dr. Joseph Quinn, associate professor of neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.

Translation: It keeps neurons in your brain firing more effectively. A lack of B12, meanwhile, has been linked with confusion, numbness, and fatigue. Up to 15 percent of Americans could be low on B12, according to the NIH, in part because some people may have trouble absorbing the nutrient.

Get your brain back on track by including more fatty, omega-3-rich fish like mackerel, trout, herring, tuna, and salmon. To get more B12, try fortified breakfast cereal (many have 100 percent of the recommended daily value), liver, cooked clams, yogurt, cheese, whole eggs, and ham, as well as fish like salmon and trout. If you're upping your intake of these foods and still feel disoriented, ask your doctor if you should consider having your B12 level tested.

Eat this to beat bloating Yes, veggies and legumes are great for you. But certain ones—like beans, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower—can produce lots of gas, leaving you with major bloat. (Complex sugars may be the culprit - difficult to digest for some folks.) Carbonated drinks can also increase bloating, both because they're bubbly and because their artificial sweeteners can be hard for your body to break down.

If your belly's feeling swollen, try halving the amount of bloat-boosting veggies you normally eat for a week to see if that helps. Don't cut them out completely, though, because they provide crucial nutrients.

Avoid soda and seltzer, but keep drinking flat water, which helps relieve constipation—another cause of bloating. Taking probiotic supplements may help, too; talk to your doctor about which one might be right for you.

Eat this to curb cramps Cramps could mean you're low on electrolytes like potassium or magnesium. Potassium works with sodium to keep muscle contractions in check, so if you sweat it out, you may also have to deal with some pain in your calves or feet.

Your food Rx: While bananas are the most famous source of potassium, you actually get twice as much of the mineral from a medium-size baked potato. Prunes and orange juice have lots of it, too. As for magnesium, go for almonds and most other nuts, greens like spinach, and bran flakes and other unrefined grains. Consuming calcium also helps; get it from low-fat milk, tofu, and dark, leafy greens like collards. Dehydration can cause cramps, too, so don't forget to keep chugging H2O.

Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) with Chinese Medicine

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression, is a debilitating problem that interferes with the quality of life of thousands of patients, especially during the fall, winter and early spring. It is considered to be a seasonal disruption of mood that typically occurs during the winter months, SAD symptoms usually begin in September when days begin to shorten and last until March when the days begin to lengthen again. Individuals with SAD feel depressed, slow down, overeat, and crave carbohydrates in the winter. In the summer, these same individuals feel elated, active and energetic. Both adults and children can be affected. In individuals intolerant to heat, SAD symptoms may occur in summer.

This syndrome seems to be a worldwide phenomenon and occurs cross culturally, especially in countries far from the equator. Symptoms that reappear regularly with the seasonal changes include: lethargy, difficulty concentrating, depression, negative thoughts, elevated cravings for carbohydrates with corresponding overeating and weight gain, hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness), tiredness in the morning, diminished libido, and decreased social interaction. Patients typically become more anxious by the end of the summer as they anticipate the coming months, during which less sunlight is present and their symptoms return.

Patients may have other mental problems as well, such as substance abuse disorders, personality disorders and anxiety disorders, which, further exacerbate the degree of the SAD patient's symptoms. SAD is regarded as "a variant of bipolar disorder characterized by cyclic manic, depressive or mixed mood states that are somehow triggered by external clues to changing seasons, including principally, increased or decreased day length. Individuals with SAD tend to become depressed during the autumn months and manic during the springtime." This is a complicated disorder that can accompany many severe illnesses such as cardiovascular and endocrine disease, and for which a patient should seek qualified professional help.

Seasonal affective disorder does, however, respond well to treatment with Oriental medicine. I prefer to use acupuncture, herbs and lifestyle modifications to address the problem. While there are a core group of symptoms that patients share, each patient has their own medical history and clinical manifestations, along with mental or physical illnesses. Treating the root pattern allows for individualized treatment with corresponding best results obtained.

So how does one determine the underlying pattern(s) responsible for the symptoms of SAD? Personally, I choose to use the Pulse Matrix pulse diagnosis system to determine the primary pathological conditions and treatment strategies. This allows for extremely detailed and customized strategies for each patient. There are some general guidelines that can help structure the treatments:

* Keep your treatments simple by addressing the root of the disorder instead of treating symptoms.
* Begin treatment at any time; however, the summer is ideal. By doing so, there is a good chance your doctor can break up the cyclic pattern of symptoms so that they are reduced or even eliminated before the problematic seasons arrive.
* Seek treatment 1-2 times a week, depending upon which interval works best for you and in light of the degree of your symptoms.

Advice for Seasonal Affective Disorder

* With seasonal affective disorder, one may crave carbohydrates in the form of starches and sweets. If needed, consume breads, pastas and pastries made of whole grains instead of white flour. Add more protein to the diet such as nuts, lean meat, fish and small amounts of fat from cheeses or other sources; some fresh fruit; and plenty of cooked leafy vegetables, whole grains and baked vegetables such as yams or baked potatoes.

* Exercise regularly by walking vigorously 20 minutes, 5-7 days per week, in the morning or when there is the most sunlight.
* Work with lots of light by the windows to allow exposure to natural light.
* Avoid overeating or gaining weight. Both will make you more tired and more sensitive and depressed.
* Try to go to bed earlier and get up earlier when there are more daylight hours. Avoid naps during the day, which can interfere with sleep in the evening.
* Think positive, happy thoughts. Try not to worry or be fearful. Enjoy the warmth of family, friends or any activity that brings "fire" to your life. Encourage the cultivation of joy in your life.

Breathing. We take if for granted because we don't think about breathing. Begin intentional breathing, especially during exercise (walking, jogging, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, etc.). Whatever you do intentionally begin to do some deep abdominal breathing. You'll be amazed at how energizing it is. The affects will begin to dispel many of the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder in no time at all! Of course, acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help dispel SAD even quicker. Enjoy the season. Even though it's a bit gloomy, don't let SAD ruin your days and your life. Happy Winter! Looking forward to Spring!

Meridian Harmonics

Acupuncture gains momentum in military health care

According to an Army News Service article published June 25, a report released by the Army's surgeon general June 23 recommended more than 100 changes in the Army's health care system. "The Pain Management Task Force's final report, which was initiated by Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker in August of 2009, addresses the lack of a comprehensive pain-management strategy across the Army, and suggests alternative treatments to medication such as acupuncture, meditation, biofeedback and yoga.

Also noted in the report is the fact that pain management has changed very little since the discovery of morphine in 1805. Warner Barracks is one of a few Army health clinics to respond to the pain-management strategy with the use of auricular acupuncture for mild Traumatic Brain Injury patients. Auricular acupuncture refers to points located on the ears. "This and further concerns about combining medications in drug therapy have led to an increase in alternative medicine throughout Army health care communities. I believe that the 'spread' going on reflects the fact that more and more physicians are pursuing training in acupuncture," said Lt.Col. Larry R. Patterson, Bamberg Health Clinic commander. "Treatments become more available because of a larger pool of trained physicians."

Dr. Natalia Whitman, a neurologist and medical director of the clinic has seen in past years that this method of treatment would greatly benefit patients suffering from a variety of ailments. Whitman is encouraged by findings published in "The American Family Physician." Volume 80, No. 5, Sept. 1, 2009 reads, "Acupuncture was found to improve headaches and health-related quality of life when added to medical management in patients with chronic daily headache." Multiple doctors at the Landstuhl Regional Medical center are qualified to perform acupuncture and are doing so through the Anesthesia Interventional Pain Management department and have begun utilizing acupuncture or hope to do so in the near future.

Study Links Weight Loss and Acupuncture

Could a few pinpricks make someone thinner? Evidence weighs heavily in favor of that proposition, according to the results of a new study to be presented at the Pacific Symposium in San Diego this week. The groundbreaking study, "The Effects of Acupuncture on Weight-Loss in Over-Weight and Obese Adults Over 24 Years Old," reports that 95 percent of its subjects lost weight in a six-week period after receiving regular acupuncture treatments. Of those subjects, another 50 percent continued to lose weight after treatments stopped. Dr. Edward Lamadrid, a doctor of acupuncture and oriental medicine, conducted the study and authored its findings. Lamadrid has treated thousands of patients with a variety of problems and health conditions, and he has long suspected that acupuncture assists in weight loss. However, it wasn't until this controlled, scientific study that the Chicago-based expert could positively confirm a more formal hypothesis and the positive conclusions.

"What's particularly interesting and somewhat shocking about the study's findings is that weight loss occurred across the board without much exercise or dieting, something everyone believes is essential to trimming down," Lamadrid says. "I certainly don't want to discount the importance of healthy habits such as good fitness and eating nutritionally, but this study confirms that acupuncture is a viable tool for successful weight loss." Key conclusions found that 81 percent of participants in Group A, which received three weeks of acupuncture treatments, lost weight, averaging 2 lbs. per week for men and 1 lb. per week for women. After the treatments ceased, 54 percent continued to lose weight. Meanwhile, 79 percent of those in Group B, the control group, which didn't receive acupuncture, gained weight over the three-week period.

At the end of those three weeks, this control group then received regular acupuncture treatments, and 77 percent then lost weight at a rate similar to Group A. Feedback from the subjects noted significant improvements both physically and emotionally. "Patients understand the importance of preventative medicine and a holistic approach to treatment," Lamadrid says. "This body of evidence on the acupuncture-weight loss link is groundbreaking for the worldwide healthcare and fitness community, considering obesity is now a global epidemic."

Chinese medicine approaches weight gain and obesity as imbalances or irregular functioning of one or more internal organs. All of the body’s organ systems are designed to interact with each other in a dynamic supportive manner. However, there are a variety of pathological conditions that contribute to the breakdown of each organ to operate at its optimal energy state. The key to successful treatment is to identify the key players and treat them at their source. In this way the body is able to resume maintaining its health on its own.

Tips for Losing Weight at Home

1. Set the mood Turn up the lighting in your kitchen and dining room. Dim lights make food look more attractive, which encourages binge eating. Music may help curb stress-related eating; it can fill an inner need that might otherwise lead to overeating. Keep your favorite calming song or CD on hand.

2. Go blue Avoid painting the walls red, yellow, and orange in the kitchen and dining areas; these colors may make us hungry! If your walls aren’t blue and repainting is just too much work, use blue silverware, blue plates, napkins, or place mats to help get the same non-hungry effect. Use blue lights in your kitchen or dining room. In a study published in Contract magazine, gala attendees who dined in a blue room ate 33-percent less than those who ate in a yellow or red room. Blue lights make food look less appealing, while warmer colors, especially yellow, have the opposite effect. Fast-food restaurants have known and used this fact for decades, which is why almost all of them have yellowish interiors--they want you to eat more.

3. Downsize Extensive diet research shows that people eat what's put on their plates - even if it's more than they need to satisfy their hunger. If you have huge dinner plates, buy smaller dishes for your home. Buy smaller glasses so you don’t consume too many liquid calories. It’s more difficult to exercise portion control when you’re pouring into a large glass. Use smaller juice glasses and stay away from oversized wine glasses.

4. Stay out of the kitchen Many people talk on the kitchen phone and work at the kitchen table. They're always around food, which increases their likelihood of eating. Just like you sleep better when you don’t work in your bed, you’ll eat better if you don’t work in your kitchen. Don’t confuse the space.

5. Spray lavender on your bed pillows Studies show that natural remedies like lavender can help promote healthy sleep cycles, which in turn may help promote weight loss. People who sleep five hours a night versus the recommended seven to eight hours are 50-percent more likely to be obese.

6. Spray jasmine around the house Peppermint or jasmine scents have been linked to increased energy and alertness. Burn a candle or spray the scent around your home to help boost your energy.

7. Keep simple workout equipment around the house Having dumbbells or a yoga mat sitting around will help keep exercise on your mind. If you’re watching television in the evening and you see your dumbbells, you may be more inclined to pick them up and do a few sets of exercises than if they were hidden away in the closet. Also, if you have stairs, take advantage of them! The average person can burn 105 calories taking the stairs up and down for 15 minutes. If you do that every day for a week you'll burn at least 735 calories.

8. Get rid of "fat clothes" Women often have clothes that span in sizes; this makes it easy to gain weight back because you’re using the wide range of sizes as a safety net. Clean out your closet and get rid of the clothes that are bigger in size.

9. Decorate slim Keep a magazine clipping on your fridge. Use the visual to help you imagine how you will feel when you achieve your goal.

10. Get an App for that!  From a Chinese medical perspective, weight management is all about energy management or in terms of physics, energy conservation. As far as food is concerned, energy is measured in terms of kilo calories or calories, for short. Most people in western society consume in excess of 2500-3500 calories per day. Some folks are consuming close to 4000 or more calories each day. Most adults only need 1800-2000 calories each day for the body to perform its necessary functions. So what happens with all those extra-consumed calories? The body just simply stores them in fatty tissue. So, when a person is consuming 1500 calories a day more than they need, it won't take long for the weight to begin to add up!

One way to monitor calories consumed and calories expended is by using any of the many apps on your smartphone. They're great for storing your commonly consumed foods and your favorite workout and exercises. Many of these apps can keep you informed by emailing you a periodic report! That way you can monitor your daily weight, exercise calories and consumed foods and much more. One of my favorite iPhone apps is Tap & Track. Tap&Track has been recommended in New York Times, as one of the four apps ideal for losing weight! It's also the only paid app in the article and “Users say it's worth every penny!”

Meridian Harmonics

Acupuncture Improves Exercise Tolerance

German cardiology researchers have found that acupuncture can improve exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure.

Their study included 17 patients with congestive heart failure with mild or marked limitation to their activity, all on optimized medication.

Patients were randomized to receive acupuncture or placebo – a needle that simulates the procedure without piercing the skin.

No improvement in cardiac ejection fraction or peak oxygen uptake was seen. But the six minute walk distance was ‘remarkably increased’ in the acupuncture group by 32m on average, compared to a drop of 1m in the placebo group.

Post-exercise recovery and ventilatory efficiency were both improved in the acupuncture group but not in the placebo group.

Study leader Dr Johannes Backs, head of the research group at the department of cardiology of Heidelberg University Hospital, said: ‘This is the first indication that acupuncture may improve exercise tolerance in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients, when given in addition to optimized standard heart failure medication.'

The Science of Chinese Medicine

A major concept of Chinese medicine is Qi, (also chi or ki), pronounced chee. But what is it really? If you ask most acupuncturists or doctors of Oriental medicine, chances are you will receive a wide variety of answers.

Have you ever played the game, where in a large group of people someone whispers a message to the person sitting next to them and the idea is to whisper the exact same message to the next person and so on, until the last person receives the message and in a normal voice tells everyone in the room what the original message was "supposed" to be? Chinese medicine, in many of its major theories and ideas, is very similar to that.

Over the centuries and even thousands of years, early concepts have changed, or more accurately, were mangled, as a result of varying interpretations or translations of the original language and syntax. What this has produced, in our modern culture, is a population of practitioners who have no idea how acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine really work and more importantly, do not know how to intelligently explain the medicine to their patients or inquisitive doctors in other fields (MD's, DO's, DC's, etc.).

Traditional schools of alopathic medicine do an excellent job of preparing doctors. Medical students are extensively taught the hard science of their medicine: organic chemistry, biochemistry, endocrinology, anatomy and physiology. Acupuncture schools do a fairly good job of preparing students to become competent practitioners. Unfortunately, schools of Oriental medicine do a poor job of teaching the hard science of our medicine. This is evident whenever a practitioner of Oriental medicine is asked a technical question and is unable to satisfactorily answer the question. Most likely, this is due to the fact that most Oriental medical school faculties are not trained or have backgrounds rooted in these sciences. When I was in school my classmates and I were taught that Chinese medicine was much different from alopathic medicine and operated under different rules or laws. This is not entirely true. There are universal laws that govern everything in the universe. All matter in the universe must comply with these laws. There are no exceptions. Western medicine and Chinese medicine have unique paradigms, though, the laws that govern both must comply with universal laws. The way for western and eastern medicine to be integrated is through these universal laws.

What's unfortunate is most practitioners do not have a background or education rooted in hard or difficult sciences. In a followup post, I'll discuss the foundational sciences of Chinese medicine and how amazing it is that the ancient doctors of Chinese medicine had extensive knowledge of these sciences and how to apply them to physical, mental and spiritual health.

Improving Vision With Chinese Medicine

Researchers in Hong Kong have found acupuncture to improve the eyesight of children suffering from lazy eye.

Two studies found that a course of acupuncture along with wearing spectacles improved the eyesight in almost 60 per cent of children aged 3 to 6, compared with 14 per cent of those who wore glasses alone.

Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is a condition that affects around 4 per cent of children under 6 worldwide. It occurs because the brain does not acknowledge signals from one eye and, left untreated, can cause loss of vision and depth perception.

It is usually treated by occlusion therapy, covering the good eye with a patch to train the lazy eye, and also with spectacles. The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Chinese University in Hong Kong and Shantou University in southern China did the research, involving 171 children.

In the two clinical trials, two groups of children, aged 3 to 6 and the other aged 7 to 12, were given acupuncture as supplementary or alternative therapy. The needles were applied to five points on the head, ankle and hand five times a week.

In the younger group, an improvement was seen in 57.5 per cent of those who underwent acupuncture within 15 weeks, compared with 14.6 per cent of the children who were treated with spectacles only.

In the older group, an improvement was seen within 25 weeks in 42.1 per cent of those who underwent acupuncture, compared with 30 per cent of those who wore spectacles only.

Professor Dennis Shun-chiu Lam, who led the research, said the acupuncture accelerated the treatment response, improved the overall treatment results and shortened the total treatment duration.

He said the study also opened up the potential use of acupuncture in treating other eye disorders and diseases. In addition to lazy eye, there are acupuncture and herbal strategies for treating such eye disorders as macular degeneration.

The Chemistry Behind Acupuncture For Pain Management

Medical science is getting a better understanding of how acupuncture works, and some of the findings could demonstrate why it works well for many people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The research revealed that acupuncture activates several biochemical and electromagnetic mechanisms in the body. One of these biochemical mechanisms involves the release of adenosine, which produces an anti-inflammatory affect.

Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center say that acupuncture triggers the release of adenosine, a natural painkiller in the body, as well as metabolites of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the major source of cellular energy.

Adenosine blocks pain signals to keep them from being sent to the brain. It's typically released in response to injury. While the acupuncture needle typically causes little or no pain, it damages enough cells to trigger adenosine release.

The results are interesting for sleep and energy, as well as pain. Adenosine is believed to be involved in regulating the sleep cycle, which is typically deregulated in people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. ATP, which was also increased in the study, provides energy for cellular function -- and some studies have suggested that ATP is deficient in people with these illnesses.

After an acupuncture session, patients report feeling less pain, more relaxed and energized. Another side affect is they sleep really well for a night or two, following their treatments.

Acupuncture has been a mainstay of medical treatment in certain parts of the world for over 4,000 years, but because it has not been understood completely, many people have remained skeptical.

Even though the ancient Chinese physicians were unfamiliar with the complex biochemistry of the body, their concept of re-establishing harmony and balance is designed to reflect a variety of changes in order to facilitate the goal of relieving pain or some other internal medical disorder. What’s so amazing is that this ancient medicine does exactly that!

Pulse Matrix Chinese Pulse Diagnosis

Now Available: Pulse Matrix Chinese Pulse Diagnosis
MERIDIAN HARMONICS Announces Revolutionary Pulse Diagnosis

Revolutionary Diagnostic System Invented by Meridian Harmonics

Chinese medicine has steadily been gaining credibility in the United States since the mid 1970's. Unfortunately, most doctors of Oriental medicine are not trained in the "hard science" of this 8000 year old medicine. Why? Because most practitioners and instructors in this field are not trained in the scientific disciplines that comprise the foundational basis for ALL medicine.

Most people do not realize that there are scientific principles and laws governing all matter in the universe. Nothing is exempt, especially medicine. This applies to western and eastern medicine. Both must play by the same rules.

For 13 years Mark Tryling has been studying the primary diagnostic system of Chinese medicine, pulse diagnosis, for a way to merge the concepts of western science with eastern medicine. His new book, for professionals, The Pulse Matrix, describes this system in great detail. He is now using this system, exclusively, with all his patients. A few of the benefits of this system are shown below:

Vascular Efficiency
Spinal Segment Imbalance Relationships to Systemic Organic Disorders
Treatment Strategy Options
Organ Stability and Volatility
Abdominal and Thoracic Cavity Organ Vitality
Endocrine System Imbalances
Organ Toxicity


He is a certified and credentialed CME (Continued Medical Education) Instructor for the Texas Medical Board and will begin teaching this complete system of diagnosis and treatment to other physicians and practitioners this year.

A Message from your acupuncturist:

Patient care is highly individualized. No two patients are considered to be the same in regards to their underlying disease processes or treatment strategies. At Meridian Harmonics, we understand this. As a result we work with each patient to design a treatment program to restore and maximize health and wellness in a timely fashion. Our best patients are those who are embrace the concepts of natural health and wellness, are willing to become educated in this 8000 year old medicine and team up with us in helping them reach their health goals.

D. Mark Tryling, LAC, D. AC, CH

About MERIDIAN HARMONICS
Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine is located in Bedford, Texas. It has been providing patient care since 2001. It provides the three primary disciplines of Chinese medicine: acupuncture, Chinese Medical massage (Tuina) and has a complete Chinese herbal compounding pharmacy to provide herbal solutions to internal medical disorders.

Treating Eczema with Chinese Medicine

An estimated 15 million people in the United States suffer from eczema, which usually looks like dry, scaly red skin patches accompanied by intense itching.
Standard treatment to reduce inflammation and itchiness can include corticosteroids, which have some serious side effects, including cataracts, glaucoma, gastrointestinal effects, hypertension, osteoporosis and weight gain.

A group of German researchers may have an answer to provide relief from the itching. Thirty people with eczema were treated right after being exposed to an allergen such as dust mites or pollen. All patients went through three different test conditions. The first treatment condition was "point-specific" acupuncture targeted at areas designed to treat itchy skin (Quchi and Xuehai points). The second treatment condition was "placebo-point" acupuncture treatment where the points selected were not those used to treat itchy skin. The third test condition was no treatment following allergen exposure.

It turned out that the subjects all reported lower levels of itchiness after receiving the point-specific acupuncture compared to either placebo acupuncture or no treatment. Even more interesting, when they got a second exposure to the allergen after the point-specific acupuncture, their flare-ups were less severe. Lead researcher Dr. Florian Pfab concluded: "Acupuncture at the correct points showed a significant reduction in type I hypersensitivity itch in patients with atopic eczema."

Another similar study was done in Israel two years ago, looking at the effectiveness of herbal medicine and acupuncture in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (the most common form of eczema). In that study, 20 patients between the ages of 13 and 48 were given a combined treatment of herbs and acupuncture three times daily for 12 weeks. All subjects were assessed at weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12. At the end of the 12 weeks, patient assessment of itch improved by 45 percent and quality of life improved by 39 percent. In that second study, the researchers concluded, "The results of this study suggest that the combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have a beneficial effect on patients with atopic dermatitis."

Many patients have some type of skin problem. Our skin is considered our largest organ and easily manifests internal imbalance, disharmony and toxicities. Depending on the severity and age of the problem, some patients will require a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. As with all internal medical conditions, Meridian Harmonics uses the Pulse Matrix™ diagnostic system to determine the correct acupuncture, herbal and dietary treatment strategies for each patient.

Signs & Symptoms of Exterior Pathogenic Cold

Cold is prevalent in winter. It usually attacks the body when the temperature is low and one fails to adapt oneself to the change by dressing properly. Pathogenic Cold may attack the Exterior of the body or invade the interior of the body directly. Diseases in the former case are called affliction of pathogenic Cold, and those in the latter case, direct attack of Cold on the interior.

Pathogenic Cold has the following features:

First, being a Yin pathogen, Cold tends to impair Yang Qi. Cold is the prevalent climate in winter, in which Yin Qi of nature is flourishing, so it is a Yin pathogen. Like attracts like. So Yin of the body will become hyperactive in the case of invasion of Cold and Yang Qi is over-restricted. For example, Cold attacking the Exterior often obstructs Defensive Qi (the immune system), leading to failure of the Exterior to be warmed and resultant chills. Direct attack of Cold on the Spleen and Stomach usually cause Cold pain in the abdomen, watery diarrhea, etc., meaning that Spleen Yang is impaired and its transforming and transporting actions are disturbed.

Second, cold is liable to cause coagulation of Blood and retention of Body Fluids. Blood and body fluids depend on the propelling effect of Yang Qi and a moderate temperature for their free circulation. If Cold invades the body, Yang Qi will be impaired and body temperature will be lowered. So the flow of Blood and Body Fluids will become sluggish, or even coagulated, which is clinically marked by pain. For example, rheumatic arthralgia is marked by Cold pain of the joints, which is usually severe and fixed.

Third, contracting nature of Cold. Cold often leads to inward movement of Qi, contraction of the muscle tissue and convulsion of tendons and vessels. If attacked by pathogenic Cold, the muscle tissue and the sweat pores will be closed, leading to obstruction of Defensive Qi, fever or chills and an absence of sweating. Cold Invasion into the vessels will cause coagulation of Qi and Blood and contraction of the vessels, leading to headache, pantalgia, tense pulse, etc. Inability of the limbs to flex and extend freely or Cold and numbness of the limbs will follow if the Cold attacks the Channels and joints and results in contraction of the tendons and Channels.

Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can be used to treat pathogenic Cold preventing it from creating more serious problems.

Meridian Harmonics

Brief History of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine

The origin of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be traced back to three legendary Emperors/mythical rulers: Fu Xi, Shen Nong, and Huang Di.

Shen Nong and Fu Xi are believed to be early tribal leaders. Fu Xi developed the Yi Jing (I Ching) or Book of Changes.

Shen Nong was known as the "Divine Cultivator" by the Chinese, because he is considered the founder of herbal medicine, and taught people how to farm. In order to determine the nature of different herbal medicines, Shen Nong sampled various kinds of plants, ingesting them himself to test and analyzed their individual effects.

Shen Nong is believed to have tasted a hundred herbs, including 70 toxic substances in a single day, in order to rid people of their illnesses. As there were no written records, the discoveries of Shen Nong were passed down verbally from generation to generation. Many years later, the oldest known book on agriculture and medicinal plants was compiled - Shen Nong Bencao Jing.

In 1578, Li Shizhen completed the Bencao Gangmu, also known as the Compendium of Materia Medica, which has been translated into 20 languages and used as a Chinese herbal reference until today. Clinical diagnosis and treatment in TCM are mainly based on the yin-yang and five elements theories. These theories use natural laws to study of the physiological activities and pathological changes of the human body and its interrelationships.

TCM diagnostics are based on overall observation of human symptoms rather than laboratory tests. There are four types of TCM diagnostic methods: observe, hear and smell, ask questions and palpation.
The diagnostics of an ailment includes its cause, mechanism, location, and nature, and the confrontation between the pathogenic factor and body resistance. Treatment is not based only on the symptoms, but differentiation of specific patterns.

Consequently, those with identical ailments may be treated in different ways, and on the other hand, different ailments may result in the same syndrome and are treated in similar ways.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine comprise one of the oldest organized systems of medicine the world has ever seen (8000 years) and has been used to address nearly every health concern that allopathic medicine traditionally has been treating the last 200 years.

Meridian Harmonics

Chinese Pulse Diagnosis – Part 2

Western lab tests are based on biochemical markers. Unfortunately, if all the markers are within the normal range, the blood work is considered normal and the patient should not be experiencing any health problems. If they are, most doctors consider it a psycho-emotional problem and prescribe anti-depressant medications.

Many patients bring me their comprehensive blood test reports that indicate, “All is well” with them. They ask, “If their blood work is normal why do I have this particular problem or why do I feel so poorly?” This happens all the time. Chinese pulse diagnosis evaluates the energetic state of the body. The field of physics tells us that there are basically two types of energy in the universe, which permeate everything: kinetic and potential energy. Kinetic energy is moving energy. Potential energy is stationary or stagnant energy, waiting to be used. These two energetic states are just another aspect of the concept of Yin and Yang. To maintain health Yin and Yang must be balanced, which means the kinetic and potential energies in the body need to be balanced. When they’re not, disease and disorders develop. 8000 years ago, ancient Chinese physicians developed a simple way to diagnose diseases and disorders, without the use of all the elaborate tools of western medicine. The pillar of this diagnostic system is Chinese pulse diagnosis.

At our clinic we have developed a pulse diagnostic system we call the Pulse Matrix©. It is an elaborate system for determining a variety of systemic health imbalances in the body. In the Pulse Matrix© system, there are over 1000 different pulse images, each with its own degree of pathology. The Pulse Matrix© can help patients understand there is another health care paradigm which can clearly determine health problems that are not indicated in typical lab tests.




Read more at The Pulse Matrix

Meridian Harmonics

Vascular Efficiency

The body is a complex system of interconnected organ systems. They are not self-sufficient. They require support from other organs in order to stay healthy. Each organ has its own unique support system. For example, in Chinese medicine, the Lungs are supported by: the Spleen, Bladder, Large Intestine and Liver. When these other organs are strong, healthy and balanced then the Lungs have low volatility and thus very high Vascular Efficiency (VE). High VE leads to protecting the organs/meridians from pathogenic factors, maintains harmonious movement of Qi (energy) & Blood and promotes balanced fluid metabolism in the body. Meridian Harmonics has developed a proprietary non-invasive method for determining individual organ stability, as well as composite meridian volatility. Composite meridian VE is a measure of total body health and ranges from 0-100%. The goal of long term health and wellness is to have a composite meridian VE greater than 60%. An excellent VE goal is 80% or more. A VE of 30% or below is considered a serious condition.

I recently evaluated a patient who had been diagnosed and was undergoing traditional western treatments for a brain tumor. On her initial visit, we used The Pulse Matrix© to determine the entire health state of the body. Her VE was calculated at 16%. This is fairly significant and does not normally appear on traditional western circulation tests. Low VE is related to a considerable imbalance of moving and stagnant energy (Qi, chee) in the body. In her case the stagnant energy is overwhelming the moving energy. An important premise of Chinese medicine is that movement = health and stagnation = disease. The human body was designed to be in a state of movement more than in a state of stagnation. In Chinese medicine tumors are considered conditions where the blood flow is impaired enough to form an unhealthy or diseased mass. This made sense to her.

Another patient who had been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and was concerned about it developing into cancer. His doctor told him that there was nothing wrong with his circulatory system. However, his VE turned out to be 18%.

It’s easy for patients to see how their VE affects their overall health. It’s much easier to maintain a strong vascular system than one that is significantly impaired. The important thing is to identify it and treat it. High Vascular Efficiency leads to vascular health. It is so important for patients to realize that Chinese medicine, though different from western medicine in many respects, is all about restoring balance and health to the body.

Meridian Harmonics

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