Mancini Acupuncture, P.C.

After his stroke, Herb Stead couldn't talk or move. Fortunately, he was treated with the clot-busting drug t-PA at the hospital within the critical three-hour window after symptom onset. The quick response may have saved his life. Still, Stead's stroke left one side of his body weak.

"When I stood up, I'd tilt to one side," Stead said. "I've always been an athletic person, and felt like my body had let me down."

Stead took a proactive approach to recovery. He began liftin weights and enrolled in a tai chi class at the Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minn.

Tai chi is a form of exercise, meditation and martial arts that has been practiced in China for thousands of years. It consists of a series of slow, gentle movements designed to restore health and calm the mind. Tai chi has become popular in the United States because it is a low-impact, low intensity exercise that can be performed by people of various abilities. And because tai chi can improve balance and coordination, lower blood pressure, promote relaxation, and improve mood, the exercise may be especially well suited for stroke survivors.

Fairview Southdale Hospital has sponsored a tai chi class for stroke survivors and caregivers for more than six years. The class meets once a week for one hour, but students are encouraged to practice on their own.

"It's such a gentle exercise, there are no vigorous movements," that once you learn the movements, you can practice everyday at home," said Lindsey McDivitt, the hospital's stroke outreach director. "If you do it every day, you really see the benefits."

People usually enroll in the class to improve their balance, but McDivitt said many discover other benefits such as stress reduction, improved concentration and increased confidence.

"It's an exercise in relaxation," said stroke survivor Bob Wilson, who has practiced tai chi with his wife for years. "It puts you in a sort of hypnotic state and helps you relax, concentrate and focus your mind."

Research on the benefits of tai chi for stroke survivors is limited. But, there is much research proving effectiveness of tai chi in other populations.

There are several forms of tai chi. Fairview Southdale's class teaches tai chi chih, which uses fewer movements and requires less pivoting. Instructor Ruth Anne Plourde said the 20 movements may take a few months to master, but people often will see benefits after just a few times.

Not all tai chi classes are suited for older adults or stroke survivors. Plourde said you should observe any class before enrolling. She suggested looking for a class offered at a senior center or community college. And, avoid one taught at a martial arts studio, which may be too rigorous. Always check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Like all aspects of recovery, tai chi requires patience and effort, but for Stead, the benefits have been worth it.

"I was searching for the peace I had before my stroke," Stead said. "Today, I walk around with a smile inside."

ACUPUNCTURE ENABLES STROKE VICTIM TO RECOVER BALANCE, VISION, MOBILITY AND OTHER FACULTIES
Ruth Lycke lives in America’s heartland, Marshalltown, Iowa.

In 2001, she suffered a stroke that left her 100% disabled. While she was told that whatever recovery she made in the first 12 months was all she would ever make, she refused to believe it.
Instead, in 2004, she traveled to China to undergo a course of acupuncture treatment. Now, a year later, she has regained her balance, vision, mobility, cognitive brain functions and increased her fine motor skills and her energy level. She has regained a normal lifestyle. “You don’t know how good it feels to get things back after years. I’m glad I was not content.”

With the help of foreign exchange students from China, she found her way to Tianjin, China, where she was the first American patient ever treated. Each day, she received two acupuncture treatments lasting 20 to 30 minutes each.

“After only 8 weeks of Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, they completely restored the feeling on my right side and made tremendous progress on restoring the fine motor movement and balance. I extended my stay for five months allowing me to maximize the affect that the acupuncture had on restoring my vision.

“A year ago, I was convinced I had little to offer and was considered 100 percent disabled. Now I can bring hope to hundreds if not thousands of stroke survivors who are simply existing and not truly living.”

She now sets up trips to China for other stroke survivors.

SOURCE: http://www.timesrepublican.com/news/story/0622202005_new news.asp; http://www.strokesurvivors.net/

STEP1: LET GO OF PATTERNS THAT ARE NOT WORKING
Only you can make a change because you are responsible for the choices you make. This is good news because it means that you have the freedom to make new and different choices. Starting today you can begin living your life to your fullest potential, all while losing weight and increasing your energy level.

Begin by letting go of old mind-sets and understand that our bodies want to be perfectly healthy. Here are some new ways of thinking:

Instead of:
“Starting Monday I am going to eat better and exercise everyday….”
Try:
“I try my best to always choose the healthiest foods and habits for myself when opportunities support me.”

Instead of:
“I never will be at my healthy weight, energetic, disease-free, or happy…”
Try:
Visualizing yourself as the healthiest version of you every day! See and feel yourself living life exactly how
you want: playing sports, having fun with your family or whatever makes you feel good.

Instead of:
Always counting calories and obsessing about what is going into your mouth…
Try:
Being grateful for your food, and believe you are nourishing yourself no matter what it is, as long as it gives
you the energy and outcome you desired.

Instead of:
“This is bad for me. I shouldn’t be eating it.”
Try:
I’m CONSCIOUSLY rewarding myself for the many wonderful achievements of today. I will savor and
enjoy this moment and be fully satisfied with it and myself.

Instead of:
It is too hard to eat healthy.
Try:
We all have had goals that were unreachable, until we focused on them and they changed our lives.

STEP 2: CUT THE CRAP - ELIMINATING CERTAIN FOODS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
Some of the foods that you are eating everyday can make it harder to achieve success. These foods can cause mental fog, depression, fatigue, headaches, acne, sleeplessness, belly fat, digestive difficulties, cellulite and disease. Sounds pretty nasty right?

Try eliminating:
-Sugar substitutes (Splenda/Sucralose, NutraSweet/Aspartame, Saccharin, Sweet-n-Low)
-High fructose corn syrup
-Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils
-White flour and processed wheat (bread, crackers, cereal, pasta)
-Non-fat pasteurized cow dairy (skim milk, fat free yogurt, cheese)
-Soy products (processed and non-fermented)
-Peanuts and peanut butter
-Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO))
-Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
-Foods that include ingredients you cannot pronounce

To read more go to ConsciousNutrition.com

EASTERN MEDICINE OFFERS IBS TREATMENTS

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 followed 116 patients who were suffering from IBS. Participants were divided into three treatment groups: individualized Chinese herbal formulations, standard Chinese herbal formulations or a placebo.

The results of the double-blind placebo-controlled trial found patients being actively treated saw significant improvement in their bowel condition. Herbal treatments tailored to the patient were no more effective than the standard treatment.

Researchers concluded Chinese herbal formulations improved the conditions of IBS patients.
Acupuncture has long been used in Eastern cultures as a method of treating a variety of ailments. There are some 2,000 acupuncture points where needles can reportedly stimulate and regulate the flow of chi. Pam Marsh, an IBS patient in Golden, Colo., turned to acupuncture after suffering for many years.

"My internist referred me to an acupuncturist for treatment," she says. "He had seen good results with other patients with IBS and Crohn's symptoms."

"The process takes about an hour," she describes. "The acupuncturist first takes my pulse and other readings. He sometimes checks my tongue, puts pressure on certain points, etc. I lie on my back on a massage table and needles are applied. Usually the needles are left in for 20 to 30 minutes. They are placed in a variety of places: toes, foot, stomach, hands and wrist. It never hurts, but will sometimes create a burning sensation for the first couple of seconds. Breathing deeply and slowly helps reduce the sensation. Afterward, I feel a bit spacey for a half an hour or so. If I have symptoms or discomfort before a session, I most likely leave feeling much better."

Marsh says she is using this alternative treatment, along with behavioral changes, to improve the illness she has been suffering from for 20 years.

"I have used various medicines," she says, "but I have also made changes to my diet and keep to a daily exercise program."

She says while initially hesitant to trust treatment outside of the Western methodology, she recommends the procedure to others.

"I am a believer," she says. "I have been able to go off of the over-the-counter and prescriptive drugs with the acupuncture treatments. I was raised with traditional Western medicine beliefs, with my father being a pharmacist. So it was a stretch for me to trust this Eastern medicine. I believe acupuncture can help with a variety of problems. I recently had damage to the trigeminal nerve and have found relief through acupuncture. Like any other medical practice, however, I think you need to search out acupuncturists who are well-respected and recommended in the community."

Source: Kelli M. Donley (2002); http://www.endonurse.com/articles/2a1feat2.html

10 WAYS TO SQUEEZE IN A WORKOUT DURING THE HOLIDAYS
by Sarah Winkler (http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/10-ways-to-workout-during-holidays.htm)

From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, some people can gain up to 5 to 7 pounds (2.26 to 3.17 kilograms). Even if you only gain 1 pound (0.4 kilograms) during the holiday season, the weight adds up and can reach 10 to 20 pounds (4.5 to 9 kilograms) over a decade [source: Science Daily].

The holiday season can make keeping to a consistent workout routine difficult; between the chilly temperatures, shorter daylight hours, travel to visit with family, food-oriented gatherings and frantic shopping schedules, squeezing in physical activity is tough. But staying active during the holidays can be easier and more fun than you might think. We've compiled a list of 10 easy ways to squeeze in a workout during the holidays that will surely keep you active and even boost your holiday spirit.

10: Park Far Away
Parking lots are notoriously crowded during the holiday season. You could turn that congested parking lot into an opportunity to burn some calories. If you're headed to the mall to do some holiday shopping, avoid those fiercely fought over prime parking spots and park far away from the entrance. If you park five minutes away from the mall and walk at a pace of 4 miles per hour (6.4 kilometers per hour), you could burn about 25 calories [source: Health Discovery]. Those calories definitely can add up after multiple mall visits to find perfect gifts for friends and family.

9: Lap the Mall
Before you head directly to the store where you always buy a sweater for your uncle, take a quickly paced, full lap around the mall. In addition to beating the cold temperatures outside, you'll get in some extra exercise and window shop while you're at it. You might even spot an alternative to that boring holiday sweater you usually purchase.

8: Play with the Kids
During the holiday season, you're likely to be around more small children than usual. Take advantage of having the little ones around, and try to feed off of their holiday excitement. Instead of being burdened by the extra responsibilities of having tiny tots around, play with your nieces and nephews. You can chase the active toddlers around the house or take the older kids on a stroll around the neighborhood to check out holiday decorations. You'll be squeezing in a workout during the manic holiday season, and it's likely that the kids will put you in the holiday spirit.

7: Workout Indoors
Working out can be difficult during the holidays for people who like to exercise outdoors. Taking a walk or going for a run might be next to impossible in freezing temperatures. Instead of being a couch potato while you're stuck indoors, come up with a workout you can do inside. Climb up and down the stairs in your house for a good cardio workout. Focus on weight training, Palates, yoga or invest in some fitness videos to stay trim during the holiday season. You could even put some of these items on your gift wish list.

6: Winter Sports
Some sports were made for the holiday season. A perfect way to bond with family and get a workout could be a trip to the ice rink. For every hour you ice skate, you can burn about 600 calories, the same number of calories burned when you run 5 miles (8 kilometers) [source: Active]. Ice skating is an excellent form of exercise for people of all ages; the kids will love sliding around on the ice, and older people will appreciate skating's low impact on the joints and its calorie burning benefits. Along with these health benefits, bundling up in the crisp winter air to take to the ice is sure to put you in the holiday spirit.

5: Set Goals
The holidays can get so busy and hectic that an important activity such as exercise might simply fall to the wayside. To avoid forgetting about workouts, make exercise appointments on your calendar, and keep these appointments just as you would any other.
Be realistic with your exercise goals, and be consistent. For example, if you're having trouble getting motivated, commit to at least 10 minutes of exercise per day. A 10-minute commitment may not seem like much, but it will help you start a routine. You also could commit to walking 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) or working out for 10 minutes for every $10 you spend on holiday shopping.

4: Work Out with Family
Although it might seem difficult to take time to work out while you're surrounded by family, take advantage of having the whole gang around and plan some holiday-related exercise activities. For example, take your family on a walk though a park decked out in holiday lights and decorations. Or go on walk and sing carols through the neighborhood. Afterward, you could even reward you and yours with some coffee or hot chocolate. If you have a more adventurous crew, go sledding or skiing. You'll not only spend quality time with your family but also physically exert yourself during what could be a sedentary holiday gathering.

3: Wear a Pedometer
It's important to keep track of how active you are during the holidays. Chances are that when it's chilly and dark outside as you're leaving the office, you're going to be less active than when it's warm and sunny when you head home from work. To make sure you're staying active during the winter season, wear a pedometer to keep track of how much you're moving around.
A general rule of thumb is that you should walk about 10,000 steps daily -- about 5 miles (8 kilometers) -- to maintain a good level of fitness. By wearing a pedometer, you'll be able to check if you're maintaining your baseline of fitness and adjust if you're not. If you find you're falling behind, take the stairs at the office instead of riding the elevator or park a few blocks away from the restaurant if you're meeting your friends for a holiday meal.

2: Sign Up for a Race
Many towns and cities host annual holiday events such as Turkey Trots or Jingle Bell Runs. These "fun run" races are usually family-oriented and not too intense but still very good ways to stay in shape during the holiday season. Sign up for these events well in advance so that you can stay committed to working out in order to prepare for the event. You can incorporate daily exercise into your everyday holiday season routine. Holiday-themed races are the perfect way for the whole family to stay in shape and anticipate the season.

1: Stay Active While Traveling
If you're traveling out of town to visit friends and family during the holidays, it might be difficult to maintain your usual workout schedule. There are some things you can do, however, to squeeze in a workout on the go. In the airport, walk around the terminals in between flights. When booking a hotel, check out if they have a pool, fitness center or in-room exercise equipment. You can also ask if your gym membership extends to other gyms in your family's town. Additionally, let your family know that you intend to exercise during your visit. They'll hold you accountable for your goals.

ACUPUNCTURE BETTER THAN MEDICATION FOR CHRONIC HEADACHE
A systematic review has confirmed the benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic headache. The study, carried out by US authors, included 31 studies in its meta-analysis. The majority of trials comparing verum (true) acupuncture with sham acupuncture were found to show a trend in favor of verum acupuncture. The combined response rate in the acupuncture group was significantly higher compared with sham acupuncture both at early and late follow-up. Combined data also showed acupuncture to be superior to medication for headache intensity, headache frequency, physical function and treatment response rate. (Acupuncture for the management of chronic headache: a systematic review. Anesth Analg. 2008 Dec;107(6):2038-47).

ACUPUNCTURE INCREASES IVF SUCCESS
The beneficial effect of acupuncture on fertility treatment has once again been highlighted by the results of a major scientific study. The research found that women undergoing IVF treatment were much more likely to have a successful pregnancy if they also had acupuncture treatment on the day of embryo transfer. Acupuncture carried out on the day of embryo transfer was found to increase the chances of having live birth from one in five to one in three. The systematic review and meta-analysis, published as part of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and carried out by a team from the University of Southampton, identified a total of 16 trials involving acupuncture and assisted conception, of which 13 were considered high enough quality to be included in the study. These involved a total of more than 2000 IVF patients. Analysis of the pooled results led the authors to conclude that acupuncture around the time of embryo transfer achieved a higher live birth rate of 35% compared with 22% without active acupuncture. They found no evidence of benefit when acupuncture was performed in the days after embryo transfer, nor at the time of egg retrieval. (Acupuncture and assisted conception. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Oct 8;(4):CD006920).

ACUPUNCTURE EFFECTIVE FOR ALLERGIC RHINITIS
A large German randomized controlled trial involving 5,237 participants has compared the effectiveness of acupuncture in addition to routine care in allergic rhinitis patients with routine care alone. Patients were randomly allocated to receive up to 15 acupuncture sessions over three months or to a control group receiving no acupuncture. Patients who did not consent to randomization received acupuncture. All were allowed to receive usual medical care. The Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) and general health-related quality of life were evaluated at baseline and after three and six months. At three months, the RQLQ improved by a mean of 1.48 in the acupuncture group and by 0.50 in the control group. Quality-of-life improvements were also more pronounced in the acupuncture vs the control group. Six-month improvements in both acupuncture groups were lower than at three months. The authors conclude that treating allergic rhinitis patients with acupuncture in addition to routine care leads to clinically relevant and persistent benefits. (Acupuncture in patients with allergic rhinitis: a pragmatic randomized trial. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Nov;101(5):535-43).

Internal Combustion: How You Handle Stress, From The Inside Out

Stress happens. Your company restructures, and more work gets piled onto your desk.

Within a fraction of a second, your brain signals the adrenal glands, located just above the kidneys, to begin producing adrenaline. At the same time, your brain starts making cortisol, a stress hormone.

Within seconds, your adrenal glands start pumping out adrenaline so you have energy at your disposal to either fight or flee. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood-sugar levels rise, and you get that familiar hyper-alert, slightly sick feeling.

Within 10 minutes, once the stressor subsides, adrenaline production slows, but you continue to pump out cortisol.

Within hours, the immediate threat has passed, but your body is still reeling from the effects. All the cortisol you've been pumping out increases insulin production; you notice that you're famished.

IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING to counteract the constant stress, your body cycles through this process day after day, leading to:

Within a week, your chronically elevated cortisol level prevents insulin from moving sugar out of the bloodstream. The backup can raise your blood sugar to a prediabetic range.

Within two weeks, your testosterone starts to drop, which can make you lose muscle mass, feel fatigued and depressed, and bid your sex drive adieu. Your immune system is weakened, your metabolism slows, and you may feel tired, achy, and cranky - all of which leave you more likely to overeat and/or eat the wrong foods.

Within six weeks, there is likely to be a noticeable weight gain, probably in your abdominal region, where cortisol directs your body to store the extra fat.

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A Guide To Achieve 'Brilliant Health'

Does it ever seem like you were dealt a lousy health hand, while others around you seem to thrive and avoid physical ailments? Well, if you are on a quest for fabulous health, here's a recent book that we highly recommend: “Choosing Brilliant Health” (Perigee Trade, $23.95, by Rick Foster and Greg Hicks, along with Dr. Jen Seda).

Foster and Hicks' previous book, “How We Choose to be Happy,” was an exploration of the commitments and practices that lead to happiness and satisfaction in our lives; they traveled the world to identify the habits of happy people.
What Foster and Hicks found in their research for this book was that these practices led not only to great emotional health, but also to excellent physical health. They have become internationally known for their work, teaching and consulting with physicians and hospitals as well as patients and businesses, from the Mayo Clinic and the American Heart Association to Wells Fargo and General Electric.

So, what's the magic in their approach to “brilliant” health? Foster and Hicks outline the nine basic practices of people who are happy and healthy:

They are intentional. That is, they set an intention to be well and to follow the health and emotional practices that are needed to live within that intention.

This is done not only on a moment-by-moment basis, but also with long-term vision. They also live in integrity with their deepest core values.

They are accountable. They take ownership of their lives and its challenges; they are determined to be well and disciplined about their health practices. They give up blaming anyone or anything for their circumstances.

They identify those things that they love and are passionate about, that bring them joy, and they give them their detailed attention.

They practice centrality, meaning they live their passion by actively doing the things that bring them joy, by providing a central place in their lives for the things that they love.

They recast the difficult events in their lives, including illness, meaning that they accept and acknowledge that difficult emotions and events are a part of life, and then they look at them as opportunities for growth and action.

They look for new options; they believe that multiple new opportunities are always around the corner and they stay open to those opportunities; they give up thinking that life is supposed to look a certain way.

They are committed to appreciating everything in their lives in the present moment, including the miraculous ways in which their bodies work every day.

They live lives of service, generously give to others – giving their time, their support, their love and they allow others to give to them.

They are honest with themselves and others; they live by their personal truths, rather than living by “shoulds.”

If this all sounds Pollyana-ish to you, you might use that particular thought as a starting place to examine your own attitudes and sense of optimism, and then to assess your own physical well-being. Although these practices may not cure disease or lead to a permanently stress-free life, we are certain they will enhance your health and happiness while also leading to much more satisfaction in your life.

Source: MCT NEWS SERVICE, By Drs. Kay Judge and Maxine Barish-Wreden

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Creative Ways To Stay Fit
By Sandra Fong Young

“I’m too busy.” This is perhaps the most used excuse for not working out. Being “busy” includes a work week that does not neatly contain itself into a “nine to five” time frame, spilling into multiple to-do lists stuck on the fridge (and lining the car’s passenger seat and stuffed into briefcases), Blackberry alerts at 3 a.m. and emergencies on the job site that must be fixed within the next hour. Where’s the time?

Unfortunately, there’s not always a way to make more time available, but there are ways to squeeze in an exercise before lunch, a healthy habit after the last day’s conference call and a little cardio on the way to the car. Being “busy” does not have to automatically mean being “unhealthy.”

At the Office
Adverse health effects are causing 50% of top executives to leave their current positions, according to the Center for Work-Life Policy’s study, “Extreme Jobs: The Dangerous Allure of the 70-Hour Workweek.” So what are these health effects? What are the signs?

Ralph Havens, owner of Mission Hills Physical Therapy, notes that common work-related problems include back/hip pain, headaches and neck/shoulder/arm discomfort. Yet unfortunately, there are no exact signs to determine who will experience work-related health problems or chronic pain and who will not. “There could be two people, both with bad posture, eating bad food and who don’t exercise,” he says. “One could have chronic pain, and one could be exuberant for life.”

One trend Addie Merrill, co-owner of Addie’s Personal Training Studio, sees with her studio’s clients is that business owners and CEOs are the most prone to stress-related injuries. Stress can be a major cause of poor health—both physically and mentally. “Most of them are 40- to 50-year-old men who have built a tremendous financial fortune at the expense of their health,” says Addie.

And as usual, there is no easy solution, but there are preventive measures one can take. Addie recommends drinking water throughout the day. Not only is water the best liquid to intake, but “it will force you to take restroom breaks. You can use these breaks as time to walk and stretch.” She also advocates taking the stairs. What about the person working on the top floor of a skyscraper? He can take the elevator up a few floors short of his destination and power step his way up the rest.

Bringing lunch is another way to maintain a healthy workday, but this does not mean eating frozen food meals desk side, while typing up project outlines. Havens suggests watching the amount of grains, such as gluten, consumed and reducing processed sugar intake. Instead, have some zucchini baked with feta and parsley. Make Asian lettuce wraps with fresh romaine lettuce leaves, sliced white turkey meat and red peppers.

For many, it is hard to remember that lunchtime is also a well-deserved break time. So take it, and make use of it. Such advice may take a while to be adopted, as one of the Center for Work-Life Policy’s study announcements calls the working population’s current habits to be “the new American nightmare in all of its sexless, vacationless, eating-at-your-desk glory.” Not so appetizing.

Overtime
If a time after “work time” exists, what then? There may just be room for a little exercise in the day (or night). Fitness activities that are easy to incorporate into preexisting plans include a brisk walk to the mailbox or squats alternated with folding the laundry.

For 25-minute personalized exercise workouts “to support overstressed executives frantically juggling long hours and tight deadlines,” Addie’s Studio offers the Executive Express Program, an alternative to the traditional 55-minute or longer training session. But do not put off planning time for fitness—just like any other agenda item, it will be better remembered if it’s recorded.

“If you wait until Monday to put together your weekly workout schedule, you will find that all of your available time will have vanished,” warns Addie’s Studio co-owner Tyler Merrill. Sound too familiar? Try scheduling workouts, whether with a trainer, friend or solo, at least one month in advance. If canceling a scheduled workout session is absolutely necessary—the workstation printer is shooting out pages filled with the letter “T” and will not stop!—be sure to reschedule at that very same time.

For diet, be wary of “weekend damage control,” as Tyler terms it. It’s 5 o’clock on Friday, and the immediate craving is for something sweet or salty or maybe even both. Noshing on the couch can quickly turn into a junk food fest that makes a person feel sluggish and drained, instead of revived and ready for a wonderful (dare say, relaxing) weekend.

Havens also reminds workers that it is key to review their whole condition before determining what to remedy. At Mission Hills Physical Therapy, this initial examination includes assessing a person’s mindfulness, diet, toxicity, the physical and the mental. For example, an ache a person may have with a hand may actually be tied to a problem in the shoulder. The larger picture must be looked at to find out what truly needs to be set right. Havens’ recommendations can include exercises, herbs and changes in diet—he rarely sees only one answer for a problem.

Unhealthy habits and painful injuries may occur throughout one’s work and home life, but they can be treated—and perhaps even prevented. Addie adds, “Without your health in tact, your fortune will be enjoyed by someone other than you.”

Here are three office-friendly exercises, courtesy of Mission Hills Physical Therapy:

Chin Tuck
This simple stretch helps relax the muscles in the back of the neck. Use as a quick break from staring at the computer or while waiting in line to use the copy machine.
• Tuck your chin into your body.
• Try to keep back straight.
• Drop your head slowly forward.

Doorway Pectoralis Stretch
This stretch will help with the hunched-over feeling that results from sitting in one place for too long, often with bad posture. Repeat as needed to stretch out chest muscles and bring shoulders back and down to a comfortable resting position.
• Stand in a doorway and put your forearm on one side of the doorway, with your palm against the wall a little above your shoulder. Body should be facing forward inside the doorway.
• Turn your feet and the rest of your body at a 45-degree angle from the doorway except for your arm.
• Return to your original position and move your forearm up, so that your palm is against the wall near your head.
• Repeat turning your body and feet 45 degrees from the doorway except for your arm.
• Return to your original position and move your forearm up, so that your palm is against the wall a little above your head.
• Repeat turning your body and feet 45 degrees from the doorway except for your arm.
• Switch to the other side of the doorway, and do all the steps above for the other side of your body.

Picking Fruit
This exercise is ideal to stretch out areas such as the sides of your body, lower back and hamstrings. Repeat as desired.
• Stand up straight with both arms and hands overhead.
• Stretch your left arm up higher than your right arm (as if reaching to pick fruit).
• Return your arm to its original position over your head.
• Stretch your right arm up higher than your left arm.
• Alternate your arms to stretch up higher from each other.
NOTE: If you have any lower body pain, do not do the last step below.
• Let your arms and upper body hang down from your waist with fingertips toward the ground. Legs should be straight, but not locked into place.
Relax.

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Weight Loss: Spotting Fad Diets

There are literally hundreds of different diets that have at one time or another been promoted as the best approach to losing weight. Unfortunately, most of them, in their efforts to success, involve omitting certain foods, and sometimes even entire food groups (for example, high-protein diets suggest significantly reducing the percent of carbohydrates in the diet, an important component of the recommended eating guidelines based on the food pyramid).

Fad diets take form in many ways: low-fat, low-carbohydrates, high-protein, or focusing on one particular food item such as grapefruit. These diets lack major nutrients such as dietary fiber and carbohydrates, as well as selected vitamins, minerals, and protective phytochemicals, such as antioxidants (substances found in vegetables, which are protective against disease). Over the long term, by not receiving the proper amounts of these nutrients, you may develop serious health problems later in life.

For the food groups that these diets do permit, the proportions are either well above or well below those recommended by major health organization such as the American Heart Association and the American Dietetic Association, as well as the Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Some common claims of these diets include blaming particular hormones for weight gain, suggesting that food can change body chemistry, or touting or banning a particular food. However, they all have one thing in common: They offer only a temporary solution to what for many people is a lifelong and chronic condition. Once the diet is stopped, the lost weight is usually regained quickly, and when weight is lost rapidly, chances are it is not fat that is lost but water weight and precious muscle - but when it is regained, it is usually all gained as fat. This is because none of these diets teach you how to eat right.

How Do I Spot a Fad Diet?
While there is not set approach to identifying a fad diet, many have the following characteristics:

* Recommendation that promise a quick fix.
* Dire warnings of dangers from a single product or regimen.
* Claims that sound too good to be true.
* Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study.
* Recommendations based on a single study or testimonials.
* Dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organizations.
* Lists of 'good' and 'bad' foods.
* Recommendations made to help sell a product.
* Recommendations based on studies published without review by other researchers.
* Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups.
* Eliminating 1 or more of the 5 food groups.

Devoting yourself to a lifestyle that includes exercise and eating a proper diet with moderate portions is still the best method to lose weight and to keep it off. Most people who make that change from a typical high-fat diet and sedentary lifestyle to one that follows a diet based on the recommended food pyramid will slowly and safely lose weight.

Reviewed by the Department of Nutrition Therapy at The Cleveland Clinic.

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Control Your Appetite and Lose Weight Through Acupuncture

The effectiveness of Acupuncture on weight loss was investigated in a series of studies.

Researchers wanted to determine if Acupuncture could be used to decrease the weight of patients with arthritis in order to reduce the stress on weight-bearing joints.

During the first study, both groups received Acupuncture treatment. The stomach and hunger points were used on the treatment group and sham ear points were used on the placebo group.

Results showed that the treatment group showed significant improvement in appetite control; no improvement occurred in the placebo group.

Another study was conducted utilizing the stomach and hunger points, but also included the Shen Men point which has an overall calming effect. Of the 61 people who participated, all were obese and put on a low calorie diet. 79% of those who were successful at following the low carb diet had weight loss.

A third study was conducted on 19 obese patients with arthritis of the knee. These patients took part in a diet and exercise regimen and were treated with electroacupuncture, where low currents of electricity are sent to the needles.

Results showed that 89% of participants lost 5 to 10 kg following treatment.

Results of this study show that acupuncture treatment may be effective in controlling appetite, which makes losing weight an easier feat.

SOURCE: American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 1995;23(1):15-25.

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Acupuncture Holds Benefits for Diabetes Sufferers

Patients with diabetes may have new hope for treatment – Acupuncture.

A recent study conducted in a country exhibiting exceptionally high rates of diabetes in both its general population as well as foreign residents may offer new hope for persons suffering from this condition anywhere in the world.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) demonstrates a very high rate of Type II Diabetes (non-insulin dependent) in its population. Estimates run as high as 25% of the population suffering from diabetes and 90% of these are in the Type II position. Apparently, the cause is both a lack of physical activity and poor eating habits.

The Acupuncture study was conducted at the Dubai Wellbeing Center and was spurred by the fact that 1 in 3 visitors to the center show signs of diabetes. The 17 doctors from the center administered Acupuncture treatment and traditional diabetes treatments to 60 patients divided into two treatment groups.

The Acupuncture group of 38 patients received treatment at three points administered once daily for 30 days. The control group of 22 took usual diabetes prescribed drugs. Both groups followed the same regulated diet during the study.

Besides the major benefit to the Acupuncture group of marked improvement to their condition, none of the participants showed any side effects to their treatment. Officially, 27 (71%) of this group were successfully treated and only 11 (29%) needed some additional treatment.

In the drug-taking control group, 12 (55%) cases were rated as effectively treated and 8 (36%) significantly helped. However, 20 (91%) of them showed serious side effects to the drugs, including kidney failure.

The study concluded that Acupuncture treatments are a better alternative than existing drug treatments for diabetes and have no side effects. It is another study showing Acupuncture to be effective in a territory beyond only the handling of pain, where many people commonly think the benefits end.

SOURCE: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/11/prweb315733.htm; http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/q&a/diabetes.html

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Acupuncture Brings Benefits to Women with Bladder Problems

Many older adult women experience problems with complete bladder control, experiencing leakage in moments of physical stress such as laughter or sneezing, or getting an uncontrollable urge to void. In the U.S., 17% of men and women suffer from this condition.

There are medications that help – but they are accompanied by side effects such as rapid heartbeat, anxiety or agitation, sleeplessness, difficulty breathing and more.

A new study shows that Acupuncture can provide the same benefits as medication without the side effects.

A study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology reported that 85
women were treated with either Acupuncture treatment specifically intended to benefit the overactive bladder or acupuncture treatment for general relaxation.
The women who received general relaxation treatment reported a significant improvement in incontinent episodes but no improvement to the other symptoms of incontinence.

The women who received the specific acupuncture treatments for overactive bladder reported improvements in all symptoms: incontinent episodes, voiding frequency, urinary urgency and bladder capacity.

The improvements in both groups were comparable to the improvements offered by drug therapy or behavior therapy.

SOURCE: http://www. my. webmd. com/ content/ Article/ 108/ 109010. htm

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Long-Term Relief for Chronic Neck & Shoulder Pain

Researchers followed 24 female office workers who had suffered from chronic neck and shoulder pain to determine whether Acupuncture was an effective treatment and to assess any side effects associated with the treatment.

The 24 women were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Those in the treatment group received 10 sessions of Acupuncture treatments during a three to four-week period.

Acupuncture was either applied to anti-pain Acu-points or at placebo points.
Prior to the first treatment, a physician measured each of the participants’ pain threshold. This was again measured at the last treatment and at a six-month follow-up.

Participants answered questionnaires which focused on muscle pain and headaches during these times and again three years after the last treatment.

Women who received Acupuncture reported less pain than before the treatment and also reported a reduction in frequency and duration.

The study also revealed that the results were long-lasting; the improvements still existed three years after the study.

SOURCE: Science Direct, www. sciencedirect.com, June 2004

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Acupuncture Enhances Fertility and In Vitro Fertilization Success

Lucy Appert had suffered through two miscarriages, a stillbirth and an intensive illness during pregnancy that resulted in surgery.

After five years of trying to bring a healthy baby to term, she and her husband found success after she underwent a series of Acupuncture treatments. In March 2005, she delivered a healthy baby boy. Appert stated, “I recommend Acupuncture to everyone. It does work. I did everything possible for years to have a baby. I almost lost hope.”

Acupuncture has become more popular as a remedy for female infertility after a handful of American and European studies showed that it improved the success rate of in vitro fertilization.

Dr. Paul Magarelli, an infertility doctor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, said, “Do I believe in it? Absolutely.” Dr. Magarelli is the co-author of an ongoing study into the use of Acupuncture with in vitro fertilization with Dr. Diane Cridennda. Dr. Cridennda is a licensed Acupuncturist with a master’s degree in Oriental Medicine. Dr. Magarelli, while initially skeptical of the possible benefits of Acupuncture, finally admitted, “No matter how I look at this data, I see an improvement. I’m pretty much of a convert.”

In general, studies seem to indicate that doing Acupuncture about 30 minutes before and after in vitro fertilization can increase the chance that the embryo will be implanted successfully. The Colorado study so far shows a 7% higher birth rate among those who received Acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture seems to help some women conceive because it improves circulation to the ovaries which makes for healthier eggs, and to the uterus which increases the chances that the lining will be strong enough to hold those eggs to full-term.

SOURCE: www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,154472.00.html

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Acupuncture As Effective Treatment for Pain of Osteoarthritis

A landmark study published in The Annals of Internal Medicine and funded by the National Institutes of Health has finally provided objective proof that Acupuncture provides real hope and help for those suffering from osteoarthritis.

The study team enrolled 570 patients aged 50 or older with osteoarthritis of the knee. Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: Acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or participation in a control group that followed the Arthritis Foundation’s self-help course for managing their condition.

On joining the study, patients’ pain and knee function were assessed using standard arthritis research survey instruments and standard measurement tools. Patients’ progress was assessed at 4, 8, 14, and 26 weeks. By week 8, participants receiving Acupuncture were showing a significant increase in function and by week 14 a significant decrease in pain, compared with the sham and control groups. These results held through week 26. Overall, those who received Acupuncture had a 40% decrease in pain and a nearly 40% improvement in function compared to baseline assessments.

“For the first time, a clinical trial with sufficient rigor, size, and duration has shown that Acupuncture reduces the pain and functional impairment of osteoarthritis of the knee,” said National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Director Stephen E. Straus, D.C. “These results also indicate that Acupuncture can serve as an effective addition to a standard regimen of care and improve quality of life for knee osteoarthritis sufferers.

“More than 20 million Americans have osteoarthritis. This disease is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability among adults,” said Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Director. “Thus, seeking an effective means of decreasing osteoarthritis pain and increasing function is of critical importance.”

SOURCE:http://nccam.nih.gov/news/2004/acu-osteo/pressrelease.htm

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Methyl Mercury in Fish
Make safer seafood choices. What you might not know can hurt you.

FISH SPECIES	RANGE TESTED (ppm)	RECOMMENDATION
NO TILAPIA	(all farmed)	Don’t Eat
Bass, freshwater	0.15-0.34	OK
Catfish, fresh and saltwater	0.10-0.31	OK
Cod	Trace	Excellent
Crab	0.10-0.15	Excellent
Founder	0.00-0.08	Excellent
Haddock	Trace	Excellent
Hake	Trace	Excellent
Halibut	0.12-0.63	Guessing
Lobster	0.10-0.14	Excellent
Mackerel	0.10-0.23	OK
Mahi Mahi (dolphin)	0.11-0.21	OK
Marlin	0.10-0.92	Guessing
Orange Roughy	0.42-0.71	Don't Eat
Oysters	0.00-0.09	Excellent
Perch, freshwater	0.00-0.31	OK
Perch, salt/rose fish/red rockfish	Trace-0.03	Excellent
Pike	0.00-0.10	Excellent
Pollack	0.00-0.10	Excellent
Salmon (fresh & canned) - wild caught, not farmed	0.00-0.11	Excellent
Shrimp	0.00-0.09	Excellent
Shark (NO!)	0.23-2.95	Don't Eat
Snapper, red	0.07-0.26	OK
Swordfish (WATCH OUT!)	0.26-3.22	Don't Eat
Trout	0.00-0.13	Excellent
Tuna, canned only	0.10-0.75	Bad Guess
Tuna (fresh and frozen)	0.10-0.75	Bad Guess

Samples from imported Shark were lower (7.0); Imported canned and fresh tuna were the same as above as was swordfish; October 1990 - October 2001 FDA sampling data; Recommendations by David Getoff, C.C.N.; (Note: FDA action level is 1 part per million); (Additional info added from Oct. 92 - Sept. 94, FDA sampling)

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Fat: How Much Is Enough of a Good Thing
By Christine McKinney, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.

Just the other day, I was reading the label on a loaf of bread I bought and noticed it was fortified with omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat.

You can now find eggs, cereal, waffles, milk, margarine spreads, and even orange juice fortified with omega-3s. But do you know what these fatty acids can do for you and how much you are supposed to consume?

Researchers have identified a number of benefits from consuming omega-3 fatty acids:
• Improving inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and asthma
• Lowering blood pressure and triglycerides
• Increasing HDL (good) cholesterol
• Reducing depression, as well as the symptoms of bipolar disorder and Alzheimer's disease
The American Heart Association recommends we consume the following amounts of omega-3s:
• for people without heart disease, at least two servings each week of a fatty fish such as salmon
• for people with heart disease, 1 gram each of DHA and EPA (types of omega-3s) daily
• for people with elevated triglycerides, 2 to 4 grams each of DHA and EPA daily, in capsule form

This supplementation should be done under your doctor's supervision.
Foods that naturally contain omega-3s include fish (salmon, tuna, white fish), flaxseed, walnuts, pinto beans, and broccoli, as well as canola, soybean, and flaxseed oils. To find out how much omega-3s are in some of the foods you eat, look up particular foods in NutritionData.

Enjoy some of the really good fats — think about your intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

© 2007 Johns Hopkins University. All Rights Reserved. This article from Johns Hopkins University is provided as a service by Yahoo. All materials are produced independently by Johns Hopkins University, which is solely responsible for its content.

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Add Acupuncture for Greater Weight Loss

Obesity in America has reached what might be considered epidemic proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of people who meet the definition of obesity has more than doubled over the past two decades. Approximately 65 million American adults could be considered to be clinically obese.

Acupuncture is being researched for its benefits in aiding weight loss. Previous studies have shown mixed results. A 2003 study found Acupuncture to be effective in weight loss treatment. In that sample, weekly ear acupuncture helped women lose weight more effectively.

An Australian trial has added credibility to the idea that Acupuncture can help in the fight against obesity. The results of the trial, published in a recent issue of Medical Acupuncture, suggest that acupuncture can be effective when used in conjunction with a diet and exercise program in helping obese people lose weight. It produces benefits beyond those experienced by diet and exercise alone.

The study involved 30 adult patients who were recruited from a general practice clinic in
Australia. All of the patients where considered to be clinically obese, were not suffering from any type of debilitating diseases, and weighed between 172 and 265 pounds at the start of the trial.

In the control group, patients were instructed to follow a restricted diet that required them to consume two-thirds of their usual dietary intake and to limit fat intake for five weeks. They were also asked to follow an aerobic exercise program that required between 20 and 30 minutes of walking, cycling or swimming three times per week.

Patients in the acupuncture group were asked to follow the same diet and exercise program as the control group, but also received 20 minutes of Acupuncture twice per week for five weeks. In addition, a small patch containing a stainless steel pellet was taped over the hunger point of each ear, and worn for the duration of the study. Patients were asked to press on the pellets for one minute upon waking, before each meal or snack, and at other times in the morning and afternoon.

Analysis of measurements taken before and after the study showed significantly greater weight loss in the patients who received acupuncture compared to those who did not. Patients in the acupuncture group lost an average 10.6 pounds per person. Patients who followed the diet and exercise program, but who were not treated with acupuncture, only lost an average of 5.3 pounds over the same period of time. Nine acupuncture patients lost at least 11 pound during the course of treatment; only three control patients experienced the same type of weight loss.

The results of this study show that acupuncture can be an effective addition to regular exercise and a sensible diet in the promotion of weight loss.

SOURCE: Acupuncture Today http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2006/may/05obesity.html

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Acupuncture & MS

Studies show that, when used in conjunction with other modalities, acupuncture can provide effective relief for many MS symptoms. Because MS damages myelin in the central nervous system, the disease interferes with messages between the body and the brain. Acupuncture can mediate the effects of this disease because it releases endorphins and peptides in the brain, which modulate sensory information between the brain and body.

In a survey conducted by the MS Clinic at the University of British Columbia, 566 patients with definite MS reported using alternative therapies, with acupuncture being the most common method used. The rest of the questionnaire focused on the reported effects of acupuncture, with respondents citing reduced pain, decreased spasticity, improved bladder and bowel dysfunction, and alleviating tingling and numbness, among others.

Dr. Duong Hoang reports a study of 40 victims of MS who were treated with acupuncture. According to the study, "MS patients that had been suffering for a lesser number of years improved even before the completion of 10 acupuncture treatments."

In one case, a 53-year-old Caucasian female had been suffering from MS for 15 years. She had been confined to a wheelchair because of parethesias on both legs, loss of balance and weakness. She also had optic neuritis, insomnia, bladder control difficulties, low back pain, muscle spasms and nervousness. After 10 acupuncture treatments, the patient was able to walk – sometimes without a cane. Her vision, sleep, muscle spasms, and general health improved, and her bladder control became normal again.

Another member of Hoang’s study was a 42-year-old man who had also suffered from MS for 15 years. He had to use a cane to walk because of parethesias on the left side of his body, and also suffered from poor vision and equilibrium, low back pain, and trouble choking on foods. He had also been sexually impotent for nine years and experienced problems with bladder control. After the first acupuncture treatment, the patient had no more problems swallowing food. After the third treatment, his bladder and vision functioned normally. After six treatments, his impotence was improved and after nine treatments he was able to walk without a cane.

Some patients have even come forward of their own accord to testify how acupuncture has helped them deal with MS. Duane Perron has had Progressive-Relapsing MS since 1978. The treatments he tried - a mixture of ACTH and Cyclospasmal – could only keep his MS from getting worse for five years. Perron’s MS was concentrated on the entire left side of his body; the optic nerve in his left eye did not function and he had no hearing in his left ear. He also had trigeminal neuralgia on the left side of his face and could not lift his left foot.

Perron decided to try acupuncture for his MS. After two months, he could hardly believe the results. His testimony on acupunctue.com states, "My wife and I went grocery shopping and as we left the store I said to her, ‘Stay behind me and watch how I walk.’ She did and she said, ‘You are taking much larger steps, you are lifting up your left leg not dragging it, and you are standing up straight!’"

Perron went on to say, "Then that Wednesday I had an appointment with my eye doctor for a six-month checkup and he said to me, ‘I don't know the reason, but in all the tests run today, the parameters on the results have at least doubled. That should not occur but it did!’ I also have cut down on the medication I was taking for trigeminal neuralgia from four tablets a day to one tablet a day."

Perron also wrote that the most exciting result of his acupuncture treatments was that he and his wife could now "walk through the beach sand to the water and waded in the water and waves a number of times each day. Now, I haven't been able to walk in the sand at a beach or let waves hit my legs for at least 12 years! But I did that week, and I did it bare-footed without my brace, just my cane for balance."

Larger studies also report the benefits of acupuncture for MS. According to a study conducted by the Washington Acupuncture Centre in which 10,000 patients were treated and tracked for three years, patients with MS significantly improved by 85 percent.

SOURCE: Carie Elizabeth Sklar, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine

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Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia

CINCINNATI (Ivanhoe Newswire) Reported September 23, 2002 -- Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that's plagued by vagueness and skepticism. Patients report pain all over, while doctors routinely run medical tests that come back normal. More than 6 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia. Many go for years before a correct diagnosis is made. Now an old treatment is helping these patients. Acupuncture has been around for centuries.

Family physician Steve Amoils, M.D., says, "You treat the current symptoms. You treat the symptoms that have happened in the past, and you prevent symptoms from happening in the future."

Today, Dr. Amoils is working to relieve numbness, tingling and back pain for Jim Leonard, M.D. "I was kind of up against possibly having to go see a neurosurgeon," says Dr. Leonard.
After one treatment, Dr. Leonard found relief. Once a skeptic of alternative treatments, this former orthopedic surgeon gave up his practice and now works with Dr. Amoils using acupuncture.

"Instead of working in the operating room all day on Tuesday, I would operate until about 12:00, and I'd go to his office at 1:00 or 1:30. Then I'd work with him on Tuesday afternoon," says Dr. Leonard, an acupuncturist and physician at the Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine in Cincinnati.

Dr. Leonard believes acupuncture may be one of few treatments to help fibromyalgia.
Samantha Platt tried more than a dozen medications and countless other remedies, but with no relief. She says, "At the worst, it's been to the point where I couldn't even get out of bed. I had tried many other things, and this was basically the last thing on my list to try and get some relief."

In a Swiss study of 70 patients, 75 percent showed improvement in their disease.
"It's the only thing that I've found to be helpful with fibromyalgia," says Dr. Leonard.
Platt says, "It's been really an amazing difference." In fact, she says her pain used to be at a 10 everyday. Now, it's nearly gone and she's back to normal activities.

Dr. Leonard says acupuncture works best in conjunction with other treatments. He encourages patients to maintain their relationship with their doctor.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/. Reference list available upon request.

RELATED ARTICLE LINK: Chronic Pain Harms Brain's Wiring
(SOURCE: Northwestern University, news release, Feb. 5, 2008)

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Supercharge Your Metabolism

“With age, muscle mass diminishes and so does your metabolic rate (the number of calories your body burn throughout the day, whether you’re sleeping, sitting, or sprinting to catch a bus.) Making matters worse, many women unwittingly sabotage their calorie-burning potential with crash diets, ineffective exercise strategies, and other metabolism-busting habits.” Here are some common mistakes and sensible fixes from Good Housekeeping’s April article:

MISTAKE: Relying on just your scale.
THE FIX: Get an expert to weight in – go to your gym and ask for a free consultation with a trainer. “People who have been certified by the American College of Sports Medicine or who are exercise physiologists should have training in body-fat analysis.”

MISTAKE: Crash dieting.
THE FIX: Shed pounds S-L-O-W-L-Y – “when you slash too many calories, you send your body in starvation mode.” Be sure to take in enough calories, especially when exercising more… calories are your fuel.

MISTAKE: Only doing cardio.
THE FIX: Pump iron – this doesn’t mean you have to step up the major free weights. Any kind of resistance equals strength training. “If you’ve never pumped iron before, sign up for a few sessions with a personal trainer. That way, you’ll learn how to get the most out of each move – without risking injury.”

MISTAKE: Sticking to the same exercises.
THE FIX: Switch it up – “give your metabolic rate a big boost by adding a few short, fast-paces bursts of speed to your regular walking, biking, swimming or other aerobic routine.”

MISTAKE: Eating lightly (or not at all) before noon.
THE FIX: Much on more food in the morning – women who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight, according to several studies.

MISTAKE: Living a high-stress, low-sleep life.
THE FIX: Sleep more, stress less – “when things get extra-hectic, your levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, shoot up. And that can trigger cravings for high-fat, high-carb foods…. Aim for at least seven hours of slumber most nights.”

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Ask your doctor what is right for you. Everyone is unique so there is no one-size, quick fix when you are working on a diet, lifestyle or fitness goal. But these simple tips are a great start to a healthier you, so take them home and share them with your friends!

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Acupuncture Helps Reduce Nausea & Speed Healing After Cosmetic Surgery

Acupuncture is more effective at reducing nausea and vomiting after major breast surgery than the leading medication, U.S. researchers find. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., find patients who underwent Acupuncture decreased postoperative pain.

The study, published in the Journal Anesthesia and Analgesia, says about 70 percent of women who undergo major breast surgery with general anesthesia suffer from nausea.

“The patients in our randomized trial who received Acupuncture enjoyed a more comfortable recovery from their surgery than those who received an anti-sickness medication,” says study leader Dr. Tong Joo Gan.

Learning how to relax and reduce stress naturally isn’t always easy, especially after surgery when your body is in pain or especially fatigued.

Increased energy and strength are some of the leading benefits of acupuncture; since the post-surgery phase is a critical time for you to heal and bring the body in balance, acupuncture can help alleviate stress, pain and discomfort with ease.

Faster recovery rates are another reason to pursue acupuncture after surgery. Acupuncture helps to reduce the pain in joints and muscles, and may even help manage fatigue. Improving the rate of your recovery means your skin and muscles can heal quickly and help you get onto the road of good health with ease.

An improved sense of well-being is one of the key reasons why thousands of people maintain a steady acupuncture program. Experts suggest that acupuncture helps the body release endorphins – the body’s natural painkillers – and these provide a boost in mood.

Other benefits of acupuncture for post-surgery patients include:
• Preventative care for balanced body and mind
• Reduced anxiety and chances of depression
• Improved circulation that can also help with the healing process
• Increased immune response that can ward off disease and poor health

Sore muscles and joints often lead to pain and fatigue during your post-surgery period, and your body may need a few weeks of rest as it heals. Instead of relying only on painkillers to get you through those tough days ahead, you do have other options. Holistic medicine offers one alternative to traditional approaches, and may complement your recovery process.

SOURCES: Maumee Bay Health Online: Acupuncture Effective at Reducing Nausea, October 15, 2004; LocateADoc.com Medical Staff Writers & Duke University Medical Center

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The Sounds of Ringing In The Ears Relieved with Acupuncture

Relief for persons suffering from the annoying and ever-distracting sounds of tinnitus, known as ringing in the ears, can be achieved through the application of Acupuncture.

Ringing in the ears affects millions, and new research data released by York University in England shows that 5 out of 6 patients in a recent study improved after just two weeks of treatment.

The patients in the study ranged in age between 32 and 79 years.

Individuals had been enduring the condition for which there is no known cure from between one and twenty years.

Each group member was given 10 Acupuncture treatments over a two-week period of time. Needle sites and number of points utilized varied from person to person.

The positive result was that 5 of the 6 persons in the sample reported a drop in loudness and pitch as well as fewer hours affected by the tinnitus. Only the oldest member of the group did not respond in this fashion after only 10 treatments. Additionally, the majority of the group reported improved quality of sleep.

“More work is needed, but our results support the idea that Acupuncture might be beneficial for people with tinnitus,” says Dr. Hugh MacPherson, a senior research fellow at York University.

SOURCE: http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/content/news/news.asp?id=45

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Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Help Reduce Symptoms of Allergies

New research published in the journal Allergy determined that Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture ease the symptoms of hay fever and other seasonal allergies.

Fifty-two adults with moderate hay fever participated in the study. Half of the participants were treated with Acupuncture and Chinese herbs, while the remaining participants were given a placebo.

The treatment group received weekly Acupuncture treatments and three doses of herbal formulas per day. The placebo group was given a non-specific Chinese herbal formula and needles were applied to non-Acupuncture sites.

Following six weeks of treatment, 85% of the treatment group reported an overall improvement, whereas only 40% of the placebo group showed improvement.

In addition, the treatment group reported that their allergies were having less of an impact on their daily activities, sleep and general health.

The treatment group was also 50% more likely to experience a remission of their allergies and was also able to decrease the number of allergy medications consumed during the course of the study.

SOURCE: A l l e rg y, September 2004; Yahoo News, http://news.yahoo.com, October 19, 2004; WebIndia123, www.webindia123.com, September 1, 2004.

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Stress Management Tips
By Dr. Mario A. Mancini

Let’s face it, stress is here to stay. It’s like a bright light in your face… it can create a real strain if you keep focused on it all the time. Stress can be a tool to help us grow but without allowing ourselves time to adapt, the demands become too excessive and our bodies begin to break down. There is a very delicate balance between a stress breakdown and breakthrough. Understanding this amazing ability to adapt and grow from stress as the catalyst to mental and physical growth is your key to freedom. Take these tips. Use them. Share them with others. And start making stress work for you instead of on you.

Signs of Stress Overload
People who are experiencing stress overload may notice some of the following signs:
• physical symptoms, such as stomach problems, headaches, or even chest pain
• anxiety or panic attacks
• a feeling of being constantly pressured, hassled, and hurried
• problems sleeping
• depression or sadness
• irritability and moodiness
• allergic reactions, such as eczema or asthma
• drinking too much, smoking, overeating, or doing drugs

Everyone experiences stress a little differently. Some people become angry and act out their stress or take it out on others. Some people internalize it and develop eating disorders or substance abuse problems. And some people who have a chronic illness may find that the symptoms of their illness flare up under an overload of stress.

Take Control
What can you do to deal with stress overload? The most helpful method of dealing with stress is learning how to manage the stress that comes along with any new challenge, either it being bad or good. Stress-management skills work best when they're used on a regular basis, what I like to call ‘proactive prevention’. Knowing how to release the pressure cooker of stress buildup and doing it when things are going well builds the foundation when challenging times come up. Here are some things that can help you kill the stress bug.

• Schedule more ‘me’ time. Cut out an activity or two, choosing just the ones that are most important to you.

• Be realistic. Don't try to be perfect and don’t expect perfection from others. Do your best and expect the best from others. As long as you’re honest with yourself, you will always be doing your best.

• Learn to relax. The body's natural antidote to stress is called the relaxation response. It's your body's opposite of stress, and it creates a sense of well-being and calm. The chemical benefits of the relaxation response can be activated simply by relaxing. You can help trigger the relaxation response by learning simple breathing exercises and then using them when you're caught up in stressful situations. And ensure you stay relaxed by building time into your schedule for activities that are calming and pleasurable: reading a good book or making time for a hobby, spending time with your pet, or just taking a relaxing bath.

• Get a little more sleep. Better sleep is restorative and provides us with a better energy and improved ability to handle the pressures of the day. Getting enough sleep makes you better equipped to deal with any negative stressors.

• Be good to your body. Experts agree that getting regular exercise helps people manage stress. In addition, eating well to help your body get the right fuel to function at its best. It's easy when you're stressed out to eat on the run or eat junk food or fast food. But under stressful conditions, the body needs specific vitamins and minerals more than ever. Some people may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to ease tension. Although alcohol or drugs may seem to lift the stress temporarily, relying on them to cope with stress actually breaks down the body’s ability to bounce back.

• Stand guard at the door of your mind. Your attitude and thoughts influence the way you see things. A healthy dose of optimism can help you make the best of stressful circumstances. Even if you're out of practice, everyday put into your mind the outcome you want in the day. Keep focused on your outcome and over time, your positive attitude will carry you through and you will reap the benefits.

• Take control of your healthcare. Remember that you are at the center of integrated care. Take the best of all medicines to enhance your health. Taking opportunities to learn more can lead to simple lifestyle changes that could make all the difference.

Build Your Toughness (persistence + flexibility)
Ever notice that certain people seem to adapt quickly to stressful circumstances and take things in stride? They're cool under pressure and able to handle problems as they come up. Research has identified the qualities that make peak performers seem naturally resilient even when faced with heightened levels of stress. If you want to build your toughness against stress overload, practice what peak performers do:

• Schedule relaxation and fun on at least a weekly basis, daily is best

• See setbacks and problems as challenges and opportunities

• Think of change as an opportunity for growth

• Stay outcome focused and believe with certainty like the ground you walk on that you will succeed if you keep working toward your goals

• Build strong relationships that magnify the feelings you want

• Ask for help when your need it

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Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Help Reduce Symptoms of Allergies

New research published in the journal Allergy determined that Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture ease the symptoms of hay fever and other seasonal allergies.

Fifty-two adults with moderate hay fever participated in the study. Half of the participants were treated with Acupuncture and Chinese herbs, while the remaining participants were given
a placebo.

The treatment group received weekly Acupuncture treatments and three doses of herbal formulas per day. The placebo group was given a non-specific Chinese herbal formula and needles were applied to non-Acupuncture sites.

Following six weeks of treatment, 85% of the treatment group reported an overall improvement, whereas only 40% of the placebo group showed improvement.

In addition, the treatment group reported that their allergies were having less of an impact on their daily activities, sleep and general health.

The treatment group was also 50% more likely to experience a remission of their allergies and was also able to decrease the number of allergy medications consumed during the course of the study.

SOURCE: A l l e rg y, September 2004; Yahoo News, http://news.yahoo.com, October 19, 2004; WebIndia123, www.webindia123.com, September 1, 2004.

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10 Heath Tips For Spring
from USNews.com

Get in the Garden
Not only does it make your landscaping pretty, but gardening also burns approximately 250 to 350 calories an hour. For optimal health benefits, garden three times a week for an hour at a time. Anything that makes you sweat - mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, hauling mulch - qualifies as exercise. Rotate tasks every 20 minutes or so to give all your major muscle groups a workout and to avoid overstraining one set of muscles.

Sign Up Your Kids for Swimming Lessons
Drowning is the leading cause of accidents and deaths in children. But kids aren't ready for formal swim instruction until they're 4 years old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Until then, never allow babies or toddlers near a pool unsupervised - even for a minute. Most drownings occur in kids under 2 years old.

Start Thinking About Allergy Season
If you know you're prone to sniffles and sneezes as the weather warms up - GET ACUPUNCTURE! (Ha... we took a little professional liberty with that part. The article was suggesting stocking up on drugs, if you really want to know.)

Spring Clean Your Makeup Drawer
Like most products, cosmetics expire. So while you're cleaning out your medicine cabinet, toss out that tube of mascara, that concealer container, and any other makeup you've had so long you can't rememer when you bought it. This way, you'll be able to minimize your risk of eye infections or bacteria-induced breakouts.

Consider Becoming an Early Bird
Studies have shown that people who wake up earlier are healthier than those night owls who snooze the morning away. Taking advantage of the morning light will also give you a good dose of needed vitamin D. And you'll get a leg up on symptoms of depression.

Get Dirty
And let your kids get dirty, too. Getting dirty can be exposure to common bacteria, and common bacteria are good for you. When they routinely inhabit our bodies, they can produce vitamins and proteins we need to help make our immune and gastrointestinal systems work.

Think Global, Eat Local
Investigate community-supported agriculture. When you sign up for weekly deliveries or pickups, you get access to in-season fresh, vegetables, fruits, flowers and eggs while local farmers get a guaranteed income base. Most seasons run from late strping through early fall. Check out localharvest.org/csa/ to find the CSA program closest to you.

Take a Walk During Your Lunch Hour
Not only will it give you a chance to stop and smell the daffodils; a walk will also get you away from your desk and provide that moderate exercise doctors keep recommending.

Trade Your Flip-Flops for Foot-Friendly Kicks
Each year, as summer approaches, experts warn against those rubbery thongs. While convenient, they're flimsy, making wearers more susceptible to injuries like stubbed toes, rolled or sprained ankles, tendinitis, blistering, arch pain, and stress fractures. If you have to let your toes out, the American Podiatric Medical Association's web site offers alternative sandals that can give more support.

Change Your Pillows
Some experts estimate that, after five years, up to 10 percent of a pillow's weight is made up of allergy - or asthma-provoking bacteria, pollen, fungi, mold, and dust mites. Disgusting, yes, so take steps to allergyproof pillows with protective covers that seal out allergens, and wash pillowcases with hot water weekly. Can't remember when you actually bought you pillows? Experts like Philip Tierno of NYU Medical Center recommend tossing them out every three to five years.

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ACUPRESSURE BETTER FOR LOW BACK PAIN THAN PHYSICAL THERAPY

A study completed at the National Taiwan University in Taipei found Acupressure is a more effective treatment in reducing low back pain than conventional physical therapy.

A test group of 129 people, identified by researchers as suffering from chronic low pain, were recruited through an orthopedic clinic. Each received a standard disability questionnaire. 65 were assigned a standard physical therapy treatment regimen, and 64 received 6 Acupressure treatments over a one-month period.

Acupressure (pushing specific points with the fingertips to release tention and increase circulation) utilizes all of the same body points as Acupuncture. To keep the treatment consistent, all of the subjects received treatment from the same therapist.

The study concluded that Acupressure gave patients better, longer-lasting relief for low back pain. An 89% reduction in disability was reported for the Acupressure group, who also scored better on measures of pain and had fewer days off from work or school.

Perhaps the most significant conclusion of this study was that when the patients were followed-up six months later, they still had the benefits of the Acupressure treatment.

SOURCE: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_30076.html

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ACUPUNCTURE’S EFFECT ON BLOOD FLOW IN BRAIN EXPLAIN IT AS EFFECTIVE TREATMENT

A recent study revealed that Acupuncture decreases blood flow to key areas of the brain when applied to certain pain-relief points. This could give researchers a possible explanation as to how Acupuncture relieves pain and treats addiction.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School studied the effects of Acupuncture on a group of 20 healthy volunteers. MRIs were taken before, during, and after Acupuncture treatment to assess changes in blood flow and amounts of oxygen in the blood.

When Acupuncture needles were inserted to points on the hand associated with pain relief, MRI scans showed a decrease in blood flow to certain areas of the brain within seconds of volunteers reporting a heaviness on their hands. According to Acupuncturists, this sensation is a sign that the treatment is working correctly.

When patients reported pain, the MRI revealed an increase in blood flow to these same areas of the brain.

“When there’s less blood, the brain isn’t working as hard,” said Rosen. “In effect, Acupuncture is quieting down key regions of the brain,” he noted.

The specific areas of the brain are associated with mood, pain and craving, which could explain the effectiveness in treating depression, eating problems, addiction and pain.

Reduced blood flow could change levels of dopamine in the brain — a reward chemical that surges in reaction to drugs, food, pleasurable sights, and well-liked objects. This could also trigger the release of endorphins, the brain’s natural pain reliever and comforting chemicals.

SOURCE: USA Today, March 4, 2004.E A LT

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Acupuncture and Depression

Acupuncture has traditionally been successfully employed in China to treat most illnesses. There are several controlled medical studies confirming that acupuncture is an excellent therapy in the treatment of depression.

In one study in Italy involving 50 patients, auricular acupuncture (acupuncture treatment to the ear) was found to be effective in reducing anxiety and depression levels (1) . In another study at the Wayne County General Hospital in Michigan, USA, acupuncture treatment was given to 85 patients all suffering from psychological disorders (including depression). The treatment was shown to be beneficial in over 78% of the patients. (2) There is therefore little doubt that acupuncture is a prime therapy to consider in helping overcome depression.

Traditional acupuncturists treat the whole person rather than a disease and therefore attempt to get to the root cause of the problem rather than treating the symptoms and, like other holistic practitioners, will consider all lifestyle and environmental factors before commencing treatment.

Acupuncture is not commonly associated with mental depression, but researchers at Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing recently demonstrated that acupuncture may offer a therapeutic option for depressive patients.
Twenty patients suffering from mental depression were treated by needling at the extra channel points for a period of six weeks and the effective rate of the treatment was found to be 90%. At the same time, the researchers monitored a control group of an additional twenty one depressive patients who were treated with amitriptyline. Anxiety, cognitive disturbance, retardation, sleep disturbance and feelings of despair were all measured with Hamilton's scale and then analyzed.

The results showed that there was no statistical difference in the response rate in the two groups. Both the acupuncture and control groups showed an obvious decrease in the mean value, and the change in anxiety was considerably greater in the acupuncture group as compared with that in the control group. Analysis of brain wave patterns demonstrated that the acupuncture treatment had a positive influence on the patients’ brain waves.

The researchers concluded that six weeks of acupuncture resulted in a decrease of slow wave delta and increased the fast wave alpha , all significantly different as compared with that before and during the treatment.

It would have been helpful in interpreting the results if the researchers had used a third control group so that a placebo treatment could be included. However, despite this omission, and the obvious small numbers of participants, the study does demonstrate that acupuncture treatment may be a useful treatment considered to help treat patients suffering from depression, and will initiate further research in this area of medicine.

Recent research has found that cerebral serotonin has anti-depressant and analgesic effects and there have been reports that cerebral serotonin can be released by the stimulation of certain acupuncture points. Researchers at the Department of Anesthesiology, Wayne County General Hospital, Westland, Michigan, USA investigated these claims, observing the effects of sequential electric acupuncture treatment on eighty five (85) patients diagnosed with chronic physical disorders (e.g. intractable pain, headache) with most disorders complicated by reactive depression. Some of the patients’ problems were thought to be psychosomatic.

However, the researchers found that the percentage of improvement from slight to remarkable in the physical disorders was 77.1% and the improvement seen in mental disorders was found to be even higher at 78.8%. The researchers concluded that sequential electrical stimulation to certain acupuncture points was found to be effective in the treatment of stress related physical and mental disorders.

References available upon request

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Acupuncture Treats Migraines More Effectively Than Drugs

Results of a recent study found that Acupuncture treatment was more effective than drugs for curing or relieving the symptoms of migraine headaches.

268 patients were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture treatment or drug treatment.

RESULTS WERE AS FOLLOWS:

Clinically Cured:
54.6% of Acupuncture group
34.4% of Drug therapy group

Markedly Effective:
26.0% of Acupuncture group
23.0% of Drug therapy group

Effective:
14.1% of Acupuncture group
18.0% of Drug therapy group

Ineffective:
5.3% of Acupuncture group
24.6% of Drug therapy group

SOURCE: Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, September 2003; Acupuncture Today, December 2003, p. 1.

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Acupuncture Found as Valuable Means for Reducing Headache Pain

Acupuncture for the treatment of headache pain has shown positive results in the past. Now, another study recently completed at the University of North Carolina Headache Clinic lends even greater credibility to the value of Acupuncture for Americans in achieving headache pain relief.

Seventy-four patients already receiving medical treatment at the clinic were recruited to participate in the study. Only persons who suffered headaches at least 15 days a month qualified. Most of the patients in the study reported having headaches almost every single day.

One group of patients in the study continued to receive standard medical care for their condition.

The second group was randomly assigned to receive standard medical care, plus receive a course of 10 Acupuncture treatments over the next six weeks.
The same Acupuncturist administered all treatments. Since each individual’s body and their needs are considered to be different, the individual treatment regime was varied from person to person.

During the course of the six-week study, patients were instructed to maintain records of medications used and headache pain severity. They also were asked to complete standardized questionnaires designed to measure changes in quality of life, physical function, bodily pain and general health. Vitality, social functioning and general mental well-being were also noted.

The results were analyzed at both six-weeks and 12-weeks. At six weeks, the results showed that the Acupuncture group members were 3.7 times more likely to report less suffering from headaches than the patients only receiving standard medical care. Furthermore, patients who received the Acupuncture treatments reported significant improvements in many of the quality of life measures. Beyond simply feeling better, the vast majority of the Acupuncture group reported that their headache conditions had improved during each of the six-week segments.

Statistically, The group that received medical treatment alone did not report improvements.heir results remained essentially unchanged during the course of the study.
While researchers noted that more study is definitely needed in this area, the findings could be considered to be very encouraging to headache sufferers. Acupuncture may very well help them achieve levels of relief that can contribute to fewer days of pain and a higher quality of life.

SOURCE: http://unc.edu/news/archives/oct05/acupuncture.htm

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Children Benefit From Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been shown to be helpful in treating a variety of conditions in children.

At the Jane B. Pettit Comprehensive Pain Management Center at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, acupuncture treatments often include inserting needles into locations on the ear that correspond with body “trigger points.” This is usually in addition to inserting needles directly into the body’s trigger points. Sometimes very tiny needles are left in the ears for a couple of weeks, covered by tape, to extend treatment beyond the physician’s office.
Studies have shown that patients who are sedated to undergo acupuncture do not have as successful results as those who are conscious during the procedure.

Most acupuncture patients are 12 or older, however, a mature 10-year-old began receiving acupuncture treatments at the pain center for chronic abdominal pain that did not respond to surgery or medication and was causing the child to miss school. Initially, he received a one-hour treatment every three weeks. Today, he is pain free and plays hockey regularly. He receives acupuncture once every 10-12 weeks for maintenance.

In addition to abdominal pain, the pain management center has used acupuncture with success in treating ailments such as fibromyalgia (a chronic pain condition affecting muscles and connective tissues), chronic headaches, neck pain from whiplash, knee and hip pain from arthritis, asthma, pain caused by sickle-cell anemia and even shingles (a painful rash caused by a virus).

The pain center is conducting a study in which acupuncture is used to alleviate nausea following tonsillectomy.

Boston Study of Acupuncture and Children
In a study conducted at Children’s Hospital in Boston, and published in Pediatrics (Volume 105(4) supplement of April 2000), 70% of children who had acupuncture felt the treatment had helped their symptoms. Two-thirds of children rated the therapy as pleasant.

For example, one 17-year-old girl, diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis and headache, said, “Acupuncture was not painful, and was very relaxing.” Another 17-year-old girl, who had endometriosis, said, “It definitely helped the pain. It really works and is not painful, and it brought my energy back.” And a 17-year-old boy with pain and nerve problems remarked, “It helped the pain. I tried a lot of treatments. This was the last resort, but the best. I wish I had tried it first.”

Lynn M. Rusy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Medical College of Wisconsin
Jane B. Pettit Comprehensive Pain Management Center
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
ORIGINAL URL: http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/991233942.html

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Safe Alternatives to Prescription Pain Relief: Herbs, Acupuncture, Massage

Prescription pain killers have serious side effects and if taken long-term, they can cause irreversible damage to the body. Some common side effects of prolonged use include ulcers, kidney and liver damage.

In addition to the physical problems, new research is showing environmental effects of the pharmaceutical industry. When drugs enter the sewage system and waterways, they dissolve. This pollutes waterways and wildlife and can cause many health problems.

Alternative approaches are available that are not only free of drugs’ harmful side effects, but also dump less toxic byproducts into the water.

According to Janet Zand, a naturopathic physician, licensed acupuncturist, and Doctor of Oriental Medicine, herbs serve as a natural anti-inflammatory and help strengthen immune function.
“If you strengthen and balance the entire body, then the body often has less pain in general,” she said.

Some herbs have anti-inflammatory properties that ease back pain and muscle aches (camphor and clove), while others reduce bruising and muscle soreness (arnica), relieve arthritis pain (capsaicin, an extract of cayenne pepper), etc.

Acupuncture is another alternative to drug therapy that results in significant pain relief for both chronic and acute conditions including, neck pain, menstrual cramps, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome and kidney stones. Scientists believe acupuncture stimulates endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers.

Physicians from Beth Israel Hospital in Seattle published a report which showed massage was effective for chronic lower back pain. Similar studies have shown massage helps reduce the pain and swelling in breast cancer patients.

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles also found massages reduce muscle spasms in patients following heart bypass surgeries.

According to Kathleen Miller-Read, licensed massage therapist, “about 80% of my clients come to me because they are in pain.” She uses a combination of Swedish massage, deep tissue techniques, reflexology and acupressure and encourages her patients to make lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, aromatherapy, and if possible, Chiropractic and Acupuncture care.

SOURCE: “The Natural Alternative to Prescription Pain Relief,” Melissa Knopper, Environmental Magazine.

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Chronic Pain Harms Brain's Wiring
FRIDAY, Feb. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Chronic pain can disrupt brain function and cause problems such as disturbed sleep, depression, anxiety and difficulty making simple decisions, a U.S. study finds.

Researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago used functional MRI to scan brain activity in people with chronic low back pain while they tracked a moving bar on a computer screen. They did the same thing with a control group of people with no pain.

In those with no pain, the brain regions displayed a state of equilibrium. When one region was active, the other regions calmed down. But in people with chronic pain, the front region of the cortex mostly associated with emotion "never shuts up," study author Dante Chialvo, an associate research professor of physiology, said in a prepared statement.

This region remains highly active, which wears out neurons and alters their connections to each other. This constant firing of neurons could cause permanent damage.

"We know when neurons fire too much they may change their connections with other neurons or even die, because they can't sustain high activity for so long," Chialvo said.

"If you are a chronic pain patient, you have pain 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every minute of your life. That permanent perception of pain in your brain makes these areas in your brain continuously active. This continuous dysfunction in the equilibrium of the brain can change the wiring forever and could hurt the brain," Chialvo explained.

These changes "may make it harder for you to make a decision or be in a good mood to get up in the morning. It could be that pain produces depression and the other reported abnormalities, because it disturbs the balance of the brain as a whole," he said.

The study was published in the Feb. 6 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

Chialvo said the findings show that, along with finding new ways to treat pain, it's also important to develop methods to evaluate and prevent disruption of brain function caused by chronic pain.

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Food to Fight Against Heart Disease
By Dr. Mario A. Mancini

The various forms of heart disease are primarily the result of toxic impurities clogging blood vessels. This deprives the heart muscles and valves of oxygen and puts excessive chronic strain on the heart, which has to pump much harder than normal to push blood through a clogged circulatory system. A healthy heart pumps about 3,000 gallons of blood every 24 hours, but a heart under the stress of a clogged circulatory system must pump up to 25,000 gallons in 24 hours just to maintain sufficient circulation. Obviously, such an 8-fold increase in heart strain soon leads to heart exhaustion and disease. The prime source of the blood impurities and deposits that cause heart disease is a diet composed entirely of denatures and cooked foods. The following are some foods that can help prevent heart disease:

Carrot, celery, parsley, spinach juice: the most potent blend of juices for potassium, which quickly restores proper blood pH, helps remove deposits from blood vessels, and builds strong blood plasma, especially hemoglobin; 8 oz/4 oz/2 oz/4 oz, 1-2 pints daily.
Carrot, beet and cucumber juice: dissolves acid crystals in kidneys, enabling them to cleanse the blood more efficiently, thus removing impurities that can accumulate to cause heart disease; 10 oz/3 oz/3 oz, 1-2 pints daily.

Molasses: rich in organic iron and copper, as well as potassium, all of which alkalize the bloodstream and build strong blood plasma, which in turn benefits the heart tissues; 2 tbsp in warm water, twice daily.

Grapes: the grape cure= (nothing but 1-3 pounds of raw black grapes for 5-7 days) has been shown by experiments in the Soviet Union to have a direct tonifying effect on the muscles and valves of the heart; also purifies and balances the bloodstream.
Wheat germ oil: greatly enhances delivery of oxygen to the heart; best when used in conjunction with raw garlic; 1 tsp wheat germ oil and 2-3 cloves raw garlic, once or twice a day, after meals.

Pecans: raw pecans are nature=s richest source of readily assimilable organic pyridoxine (vitamin B6), an element that plays an essential role in converting the amino acids from consumed proteins into usable form for the body; thus, raw pecans assist in the regeneration of damaged cells in diseased hearts; 10-15 raw pecans (or 20-30 pecan halves) per day.

Other beneficial foods: raw spinach; cabbage; ripe bananas; wheat germ; lecithin; sunflower seeds; raw garlic.

Foods to avoid: refined starch, especially white bread and sweet pastries, refined sugar, especially sweet carbonated soft drinks (regular as well as diet), cooked eggs, pasteurized milk, cooked fatty meats, salt.

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Research: Acupuncture Benefits Blood Pressure & Heart Function

A study published in the J Tradit Chin Med 1996;16:273-4 by Weihai et al reported that it was found that acupuncture treatment and nifedipine (an antihypertensive medication) were equally effective in reducing blood pressure in 62 patients with hypertension. These positive results are supported by other controlled trials.

• According to a study done by Bobkova et al it was shown that acupuncture-related decline of arterial pressure occurs in participation of pituitary and adrenal hormones as well as the polypeptides beta-endorphin and neurotensin.

• According to a study done by Anshelevich et al it was concluded that acupuncture resulted in a hypoaldosteronemic effect which showed statistically significant correlation with a decrease in the arterial blood pressure. The results obtained made it possible to regard the effect of acupuncture as one of the most significant mechanisms of its therapeutic action in hypertension.

• A study done by Radzievsky et al established that as a result of acupuncture a stable hypotensive effect, improvement or normalization of contractile function and diastolic values, a decrease of energy loss, reversal of myocardial hypertrophy were achieved. It is the decrease of sympathetic influences on the circulation system that plays an Important part in the onset of these positive changes.

• According to a study reported in the Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society the clinical picture Improved in 96% of those patients with hypertension who were treated with acupuncture.

• A recent study which appeared in the American Journal of Physiology by Chao et al showed that electroacupuncture significantly reduced myocardial ischemia and improved regional myocardial dysfunction. This finding suggests that electroacupuncture causes myocytes in the ischemic region to resume near-normal contractile function. The authors conclude that acupuncture may be a useful therapeutic approach for the treatment of angina in some patients. In this regard success with this approach has been reported.

Sources available upon request.

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Acupuncture Helps Heart Transplant Patients

Acupuncture has long been known in the East for improving headaches, anxiety, joint pain and digestive problems. It has also made a striking difference in the survival of a young heart transplant patient.

Michiko Mills was just 22 when she needed a heart transplant as a result of a heart muscle disease called cardiomyopathy. Michiko Mills says, “Both my mother and brother had died from the same disease. So to learn that, it was very scary, you know, that I was the next one that would eventually die.”

Her heart muscle had become weak and her heart couldn’t pump blood efficiently. Thankfully, a donor heart became available. But right after surviving the transplant surgery, Michiko’s home was hit by back-to-back hurricanes.

Because of the storms, Michiko missed some of her follow-up appointments. As a result, she found out late that her body was rejecting her new heart. She would need another transplant.

Mills says, “The first one was pretty difficult, but the second one was a lot worse.” After that surgery, Mills became very ill. Nausea and vomiting kept her from gaining the strength she needed to get better.

That’s when neurosurgeon Ronald Reimer decided to try Acupuncture.

Dr. Reimer, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon, says that with acupuncture treatment, “many people who have been in bed, nauseous, vomiting or retching for weeks on end will have cessation of these symptoms and develop an appetite fairly soon after treatment.”

Four months later, Mills is thriving, enjoying her second gift of life.

Acupuncture can reduce nausea and vomiting by restoring balance to the nervous system. While everyone responds differently to Acupuncture, nearly everyone sees improvement after Acupuncture when other medications fail.

SOURCE:: http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail2820.cfm?Id=0,41680

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Know More About Menopause
By Dr. Mario A. Mancini

As a woman approaches mid life, in her mid forties to early fifties, her estrogen production declines, she stops ovulating, and her supply of eggs runs out. This stage of her life is called menopause, or "change of life." Menopause is not a disease. It is solely a life transition. The body never stops making estrogen entirely, but its production falls to levels insufficient to cause menstruation. Even when menstruation has stopped, however, sporadic ovulations can still occur. Therefore, it is advisable to be aware conception can still occur until two years after menstrual periods have ceased. Half of all women will stop menstruating by age 48; by age 52, 85 percent of all women will have reached menopause. Women who smoke will reach menopause 1 2 years earlier than nonsmokers.

One out of five women will experience no symptoms at menopause; their periods simply stop. The symptoms experienced by the others can include hot flashes, mood swings or depression, dry skin, mild headaches, backaches, and fatigue. About 49 percent will suffer hot flashes, and of these women 15 percent will seek medical relief because they find them so severe. Another side effect of menopause is an increased risk of heart attack due to lack of estrogen.

Of greater concern is that all women do experience some loss of bone density at menopause. Estrogen is crucial for the ability of bones to absorb calcium from the diet, and as a woman's estrogen levels drop during menopause, bone loss increases. This can lead to clinical osteoporosis, particularly in women who have small frames and lower bone density.

Your doctor can answer your questions concerning calcium supplements, hormonal therapy, and the benefits of a balanced diet and exercise in preventing osteoporosis. A study at Western New Mexico University showed that postmenopausal women who participated in high intensity exercise programs greatly increased their cardiovascular endurance. Also, exercise increases bone density in women over forty, many of whom are at high risk for menopausal bone loss.

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Dear Patients: Any of this sound familiar? Just in case you didn’t believe Dr. Mancini…

10-Second Stress Busters
15 ways to bliss out—fast!
Kris Wetherbee, Woman’s Day Magazine

Whether we're fretting over that pile of monthly bills or anticipating an exciting change like the birth of a new nephew, the million things we've got going on can leave us all feeling like big balls of stress—and that can wreak serious havoc on our health. But you don't need to turn your life inside out to beat the effects of stress. These quick and easy natural solutions can help you stay mellow in a crazy world.

Drink Tea
Black tea has been shown to have an effect on stress hormone levels in the body. Researchers in England have found that people who drink black tea de-stress more quickly than those drinking a fake tea substitute. Tea contains catechins, polyphenols, flavonoids and amino acids that affect your brain's neurotransmitters and ultimately reduce blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Go Nuts
Next time you feel a bit cracked up, forgo the junk food and snack on some nuts instead. Nuts are typically high in tryptophan and magnesium, two key nutrients that support serotonin production. And almonds are especially high in stress-busting B vitamins, zinc, vitamin E and antioxidants.

Rub Your Ears
"According to Ayurveda, India's 5,000-year-old 'science of life,' there are marma points—like acupuncture points—in the ears that correspond to the various parts of the body," says Lissa Coffey, author/producer of the Dosha Yoga DVD. Simply rub the circumference of each ear—right hand on right ear and left hand on left ear—to instantly ease tension.

Take a Whiff
Aromatherapy has calming effects that can tame the tension in no time. Proven stress-reducing aromas include lavender, lemon balm, chamomile and geranium. Carol Duncan, a registered aromatherapist and owner of Massage Central says to place a few drops of essential oils on cotton balls and place them a few inches from fans or heater vents or underneath your car seat. "Each time air passes over the cotton ball, the essential oils are reintroduced to the area," she explains.

Pop a Vitamin C Pill
Researchers at the University of Alabama say that vitamin C reduces the levels of stress hormones in the blood, which may alleviate the body's response to stress. Studies suggest that 1,000 mg of vitamin C is most helpful.

Put on the Pressure
"Self-administer acupressure," suggests Susan Lark MD, a leading authority on integrative medicine and women's health. Put your left finger at the base of your skull, then move it down the width of one finger, and then move it to the left the width of one finger. Position your right finger in the same place on the right side. Press both points for one to three minutes. According to Dr. Lark, a second stress-busting point is located four finger-widths below your kneecap and one finger-width to the outside of your shin. (You should feel a slight indentation.)

Eat Berries
Blueberries, blackberries and other berries contain some of nature's most powerful antioxidants and are jam-packed with vitamin C, making them potent stress-busters. Stress causes the body to release free radicals—highly unstable oxygen molecules that can damage normal cells—and antioxidants help to neutralize those harmful molecules.

Strike a Yoga Pose
"When we get stressed, we tend to tense up and cave our chest in," says Lissa. She recommends folding your hands as if in prayer behind your back, then pulling your shoulders back, tilting your head back and breathing deeply.

Stretch for Balance
Another move that Lissa suggests is to sit in a chair with your left foot on the floor. Put your right ankle on your left knee and lean forward with a stretch. Hold it as far as you can go, then bend forward a bit more. Repeat on the other side. "This opens up your hips and balances that tensed up muscle feeling," she adds.

Reframe Your Thoughts
"Reframing simply means putting a different context around the situation," says Jay Winner, M.D., author of Take the Stress Out of Your Life. For example, Winner suggests thinking of time spent in a long line as a break from a busy day—a chance to relax your mind or meet someone new like the person standing next to you. A positive spin can counteract the stress-induced physiological changes that wreak havoc on your body.

Crave Complex Carbs
Complex carbohydrates boost serotonin levels and keep a heightened sense of calm and relaxation for a longer period of time. Target carbs include whole-grain foods and cereals—such as whole-grain breads, oats and brown rice—as well as legumes such as peas, beans and lentils.

Take 10
Brian Jump, multi-day tour sales manager for Arizona Outback Adventures, breaks the tension of his long days by doing 10 jumping jacks, push-ups or anything that gets the blood flowing through the body. "This helps to release endorphins, which are a natural stress reliever," he says.

Laugh Out Loud
According to a University of California, Irvine study, even the expectation of a laugh boosts stress-busting hormones and increases hormones that induce relaxation—an effect that can last for up to 24 hours. Read a comic strip, check out the joke of the day or make funny faces in the mirror until you bust out with a belly laugh.

Eat "Good Mood" Foods
Certain foods contain compounds that may help the body produce mood-boosting neurochemicals. Dr. Lark, who's also author of Dr. Susan Lark's Hormone Revolution, says the following foods have been shown to produce a noticeable calming effect: turkey (high in tryptophan, taurine and B6); pumpkin seeds, spinach and black beans (all high in magnesium); papaya (high in vitamin C); and bananas (high in potassium).

Be in the Moment
Focus on what's right in front of you, using your senses to connect with the environment. Dr. Winner suggests, for example, taking 10 seconds to smell the aroma of the food you're eating and savor its taste. "Take a few steps and let go of thoughts, feeling the ground massaging your feet with each step," he adds.

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Anti-Cancer Compound in Green Tea Identified
By Patricia Reaney (Reuters)

Spanish and British scientists have discovered how green tea helps to prevent certain types of cancer.

Researchers at the University of Murcia in Spain (UMU) and the John Innes Center (JIC) in Norwich, England have shown that a compound called EGCG in green tea prevents cancer cells from growing by binding to a specific enzyme.

"We have shown for the first time that EGCG, which is present in green tea at relatively high concentrations, inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which is a recognized, established target for anti-cancer drugs, " Professor Roger Thorneley, of JIC, stated.
"This is the first time, to our knowledge, a known target for an anti-cancer drug has been identified as being inhibited by EGCG," he added.

Green tea has about five times as much EGCG as regular tea, studies have shown. It decreased rates of certain cancers but scientists were not sure what compounds were involved or how they worked. Nor had they determined how much green tea a person would have to drink to have a beneficial effect, he said.

Thorneley said EGCG is probably just one of a number of anti-cancer mechanisms in green tea.

"We have identified this enzyme in tumour cells that EGCG targets and understand how it stops this enzyme from making DNA. This means we may be able to develop new anti-cancer drugs based on the structure of the EGCG molecule," Thorneley explained.
The scientists decided to look at ECGC after they realized its structure was similar to a cancer drug called methotrexate.

"We discovered that EGCG can kill cancer cells in the same way as methotrexate," Dr Jose Neptuno Rodriguez-Lopez, of UMU, a joint author of the research published in the journal Cancer Research.

EGCG binds strongly to DHFR, which is essential in both healthy and cancerous cells. But it does not bind as tightly as methotrexate, so its side effects on healthy cells could be less severe than those of the drug.

Thorneley said EGCG could be a lead compound for new anti-cancer drugs.

The findings could also explain why women who drink large amounts of green tea around the time they conceive and early in their pregnancy may have an increased risk of having a child with spina bifida or other neural tube disorders.

Women are advised to take supplements of folic acid because it protects against spina bifida. But large amounts of green tea could decrease the effectiveness of folic acid.
"This enzyme, (DHFR), is the one folic acid supplements are given for. Folic acid deficiency leads to neural tube development defects," Thorneley added.

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ACUPUNCTURE PROVES TO BE NATURAL REMEDY FOR INSOMNIA

A recent survey published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences analyzed the effects of Acupuncture treatment on patients suffering with insomnia.

Eighteen adults who suffered with anxiety and insomnia participated in the study. Each patient received two Acupuncture treatments per week for a five-week period.

Patients underwent a variety of tests one week before and one week after treatment. The tests measured changes in melatonin levels, sleep quality, total time spent asleep, as well as other variables.

Prior to starting treatment the average anxiety levels were reported to be 86%; following the treatment regimen, anxiety levels had dropped 10%.

The average sleep efficiency was 66% prior to treatment. Following Acupuncture the average of efficient sleep increased to 88.6%.

Researchers noted that Acupuncture could promote sleep in insomnia patients due to the increase of nighttime melatonin levels following Acupuncture.

SOURCE: Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Winter 2004:16(1):19-28; Acupuncture Today, May 2004, p. 1.

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Holiday Eating & Mindfulness
By Dr. Mario A. Mancini

During any holiday season is when mindfulness becomes a necessity if your goal is optimal health. Mindfulness means paying attention. Instead of zoning out and eating without thought, really sit there with moment to moment awareness. It’s not easy but it’s truly worth it. Practicing mindfulness prevents us from overeating which is one of the biggest challenges to deal with when food is presented in large displays. As you practice mindfulness you will notice that you can enjoy the food without overindulging. That’s the key, that is, to enjoy and not overindulge. Let this be your mantra and at the forefront of your mind when placing anything in your mouth, especially during the filling holiday season.

So how can you be mindful when eating? A great place to start is to utilize your senses of seeing, smelling, tasting and feeling. Now wait a minute! Of course I see the food, smell, taste and feel it. Well maybe you do, but not with full color attention. See the art of improving your mindfulness like connecting the dots and adding intense color to your senses. Instead of glimpsing at the food, smelling only the strongest scent and tasting only the most obvious flavor, look deeper as if you’re a detective. Observe the food as if you’ve never seen it. Really smell the many subtle fragrances never noticed before. When placing the food in your mouth feel the pressure it creates. Notice the subtle experiences we call flavors that burst in your mouth. Now let’s pick that delicious dessert. Instead of warming up and inhaling your first slice with the intention of eating another, stop for a moment. Simply stop and turn on your senses at full color and full magnitude as if you just turned up the volume 10 notches. Fully enjoy the dessert as if this is the first time eating it.

Realize that eating one slice will taste the same as eating the 2nd, 3rd 4th, etc. One piece is the same as the whole. Coming to terms with the fact that all foods that are outside your optimal fuel (foods that are strictly for the care, maintenance and improvement of your mind/body health) are simply to be enjoyed by the senses and not for survival. When you maintain the mind set that fun foods are strictly to satiate the senses and not for health, you will truly enjoy that holiday dessert. Desserts are simply to be enjoyed by the senses and that’s it. Don’t confuse foods like cake, candy, sodas, etc. with foods that provide nutrition. This difference cannot be overlooked. Think deeply about this.

Your mission, if you choose to accept being healthier, is to SLOW DOWN and magnify smelling, seeing, feeling the texture and tasting the food you eat. So with this new perspective on fun foods and survival foods, appreciate each for what they offer, that is, pleasure for the senses and nutrition for the body.

DO YOU CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS? HOW ABOUT A LITTLE LESS STRESS THIS YEAR?

We understand that the end of the calendar year can mean a lot of extra stress and strain, particularly when it comes to your budget. More than ever, you need to prioritize your spending. In the spirit of Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season, we want to help reduce a little bit of that stress. Instead of cutting holiday gifts from your priority list – or worse, cutting back an important part of your life just to afford holiday gifts – let us pay for your gifts this year.

We would like to provide you with a beautiful holiday greeting card, postage and a $50 gift certificate good for an initial consultation visit at our center to everyone on your holiday list. You fill out the card and envelope and we’ll take care of the rest. For your loved ones who live locally it could be the most valuable and thoughtful gift they receive. As always, there is no obligation for them to use the gift certificate and we will NOT keep the addresses on file for any other purposes. We only want to help, and we sincerely hope that you take this opportunity to help others and, more importantly, to help yourself to a little extra relief this year.

There is no limit on the number of cards you can send out to your friends, family and co-workers in Southern California. Just make a list (check it twice) and let go of one more holiday stressor.

You already understand the benefits to your health when you reduce any kind of stress in your life, but also consider the cost savings…

YOU DO THE WORK	LET US DO THE WORK
Holiday cards… $1.00/card on average	Holiday cards… $0
Postage… $0.42/card	Postage… $0
Gift Certificates … $50 each	Gift Certificates… $0
TOTAL… $51.42/per person	TOTAL… $0

When you add on the additional costs of your time and gas to shop for cards, stamps and gift cards, a small list of 10 people adds up to a savings of well over $500. Even if don’t calculate the $50 gift, you can still save at least $15 and every penny counts so why not? And remember, by letting us help you; you are also helping others by giving them the opportunity to learn more about natural healthcare options.

If you have any questions about our holiday card program, please ask Judianne or Kelly.

Thank you again for putting yourself at the center of integrative care.

HEALTHY HOLIDAYS!
Dr. Mancini & Staff

Healthy Habits
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