Trying to lose weight but feel that there is an obstacle in your way? Having difficulty identifying that obstacle? Many of you have heard about the hCG diet, and while I am not a huge fan of fad diets, calorie restriction, or near starvation for short term gain, I have to say that we have seen some amazing changes this week. I was skeptical of homeopathic hCG having only experienced the “real” hCG with patients before, but we are seeing a high success rate using the homeopathic version of its pharmaceutical counterpart. Read More
Acupuncture Study Brings Hope For Parkinson’s Disease Patients
As an active health care practitioner, I am privileged to witness whole life stories and get to know people even more than their own families do.
There are times when, much as we try to stay grounded and neutral, our own stories get entangled. Memories come back and then you find yourself working on your issues too.
I love to say my work is very rewarding. And it is most of the time. Then, there are those times when you look at the person sitting next to you, telling their sorrows and pains, and realize that you are embarking on a journey that will most likely end with their life. And that can put one in a place where rewarding is not the most appropriate word. Working with people suffering from Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, or Multiple Sclerosis will set the ground in such a different way than working with a mere cold.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine has brought much hope to people suffering from such life-changing diseases. Though it is not a promise for cure, the promise for moving along this path in a much easier way is there.
An important study that I want to bring to your attention is the research study funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which is concerned with currently determining whether alternative Eastern medicine, specifically acupuncture, can help alleviate symptoms of severe fatigue in those living with Parkinson’s. The study was started by Dr. Benzi Kluger, assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Colorado Hospital in November 2010 and it is scheduled to end in 2013. Here is the article published in Acupuncture Today where you can learn more about this study.
While working with such cases brings back memories of my own father dying of Alzheimer’s disease, it also brings understanding, healing, humble thoughts and the drive to be an even better practitioner by truly listening to what the person coming to me is saying, and daring to be an exceptional practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Do you already take your thyroid medication away from food? If so, good job! You’re doing that correctly. However, some patients drink coffee or their morning espresso while waiting for their medication to be fully absorbed. Recent studies have indicated that this may not be such a good idea.
In the journal Thyroid, researchers found that in addition to what is already known about thyroid hormone and absorption (e.g. calcium, iron, and food eaten at the time of taking thyroid hormone lowers medication absorption), coffee also interferes with the intestinal absorption of levothyroxine. According to the finding, there is approximately a 25% reduction in the absorption of the medication and can be as high as 55%. It is recommended that medication users avoid coffee or espresso for one hour before or after taking medication.
The good news for many of you is that: 1) you could be feeling much better on your current dose of medication if you were absorbing more of it and 2) you may not need an increase in your meds to improve how you are feeling on them.
This may be bad news for those of you who are already tired and the only thing that gets you out of bed in the morning is the thought of your cup of Joe. One suggestion is to consult with your doctor about taking your synthroid at night. Many patients can do this without affecting their sleep. If you are one of those lucky people who do not struggle with their sleep, try taking your meds at night before bed.
Note: Unfortunately, this study did not differentiate between regular and decaffeinated coffee or caffeinated or herbal tea.
1. Get at least 8 hours of sleep per night.
2. Exercise 3-5 times per week, ideally outside.
3. Wash your and your kids’ hands frequently.
4. Drink at least 10 glasses of water/day to stay hydrated.
5. Take a multivitamin, vitamin C (3000-5000mg daily), fish oils, and probiotics.
6. Double your zinc intake to at least 50mg (take w/ food).
7. Increase vitamin D3 intake for the next month: 4,000 ius/day for kids & 8,000 ius/day for adults.
Looking for the ULTIMATE immune boost? Come in for an IV Nutrient Therapy Drip. Call or email us at info@holisticacare.com to learn more!
Wishing you health and happiness now and in the new year!
You may be hearing Walgreens advertising their Flu vaccine. You may be seeing Flu vaccine flyers at your conventional medical doctor’s office. Are you fearful of the impending cold and flu season that will soon be upon us?? Don’t be! The flu has yet to hit for the 2011/2012 season, and we are here to help.
While there are certain populations of people for whom the flu vaccine may be indicated, Flu vaccines are not absolutely mandatory, and each person needs to consider their own risk, immune status, and variables that could influence their risk of infection. Read More
“Alice: I simply must get through!
Doorknob: Sorry, you’re much too big. Simply impassible.
Alice: You mean impossible?
Doorknob: No, impassible. Nothing’s impossible.”
Some say Lewis Caroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” may not have been the same without his periodical attacks of migraine. It takes a superhuman resistance to pain to survive one. Then, miracles might as well come from such fierce pain.
As they come and go migraines leave an indelible mark on our lives. In fact, if there existed some kind of ranking for pain level, migraines would surely get the gold medal. People describe them as the kind of pain that makes you want to hit your head against the wall to have the pain go away. There is even a special name for us, the condemned, borrowed from French, and that is Migraineur. Now doesn’t that make you feel a little better?
Headaches can be split into two general groups, namely primary and secondary. Migraines belong to the primary one, along with tension, cluster, and trigeminal headaches. International Migraine Society (unfortunately, yes, there is such a society) further classifies migraines into common migraine, classic migraine, and specific migraine. They differ slightly but they all have in common repetitive attacks, gastrointestinal symptoms, certain visual disturbances, and may or may not have premonitory symptoms.
WHO (World Health Organization) recommends the use of acupuncture as one of the effective therapies in treating migraines. If combined with Tuina (Chinese medical massage) and herbs, results are greatly enhanced.
Chinese Medicine Diagnosis
The etiology of the disease should be assessed and the possibility of organic disease, such as tumors, vascular diseases, infection, etc. excluded.
Chinese Medicine will then make a diagnosis based on:
- What area the headache is located in, such as frontal, temporal, vertex or even the whole head.
- The nature of the headache such as throbbing, stabbing, distending, dull, or severe unbearable pain
- The duration of the headache, which can vary from minutes to hours, days, even weeks…
- All other associated symptoms
Treatments must necessarily take into account all the above factors rather than just the one symptom, which is migraine. What needs to be emphasized is that migraine is a symptom, not a disease, and when considered in relation with all the other symptoms present, it leads to a complex and all-embracing diagnosis. Depending on the pattern identified, treatments are tailored to the specific issues of each and every individual patient.
Here are some of the patterns most common in clinical experience:
- Hyperactivity of Liver Yang – distending headache, irritability, red eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, red complexion, etc.
- Syndrome of Phlegm Turbidity – heavy headache, nausea and/or vomiting, poor appetite, etc.
- Syndrome of Kidney Deficiency – empty headache, dizziness, low back and knee weakness or soreness, fatigue, etc.
- Syndrome of Blood Stasis – stabbing, constant pain, dark purple tongue, etc.
- Syndrome of Qi and Blood Deficiency – dull pain, aggravated by fatigue, poor appetite, fatigue, palpitation, etc.
These patterns are just examples and the symptoms presented are only brief presentations. There could be additional symptoms present that your practitioner will be able to asses. Besides, a patient does not need to experience all these symptoms to be diagnosed with a specific pattern. What matters more is the combination of these specific symptoms.
Diagnosis can also be made based on the different acupuncture meridians found in the human body. The above diagnosis, based on organs, is intrinsically related to meridians. A complex and complete diagnosis is born of the marriage between science and art.
One of the most effective folk remedies is dipping the hands in warm water for about 20 minutes. Add hot water periodically to keep the water temperature high for that specific amount of time.
Some tips on relieving headaches are offered in Safe and Effective Ways to Treat Migraine Headache.
In general, some sufferers may benefit from avoiding contraceptive and vasodilator drugs, and foods that have tryptophan, tyrosine, glutamic acid, monosodium glutamate, as well as some alcoholic and caffeine-containing drinks.
Here we are, back from what I trust was an informative journey in the world of migraines. I rest my case here, but allow me to leave you with some food for thought: If Alice sprang up out of a migraine, I wonder what amazing totally unheard of miracles lay ahead of YOU on the road to healing?
References:
Illustration of Migraine – Treated with Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina Massage, Cui Chengbin, Xing, Xiaomin, People’s Military Medical Press, 2009, China
Disclaimer
The information on this blog is provided for educational or reference purposes only and it is NOT a substitute for professional health care. No information obtained on this blog should be relied on as the basis for treating or diagnosing conditions, symptoms, or illness and all queries should be directed to your health care provider. No warranty or guarantee of a cure is expressed or implied with any information at this blog, nor does Damiana Corca make any representations regarding the use or the results obtained with the information. In no event shall Damiana Corca, her employees or associates be liable to any person or individual for any loss or damage whatsoever which may arise from the use of this blog or any of the information available on this blog.
Approaching the subject of pain is as appealing as a root canal. But we can’t ignore it, so we might as well explore it down to the tiniest detail and show you that your pain is not only in your head. Unless you have a headache.
If we could simplify pain to one short saying, we would have the following saying from The Yellow Emperor (Han period): “when there is stoppage, there is pain, when there is free flow, there is no pain.” Just like when constipation gets a hold of you: no flow equals pain, while free flow leads to no pain.
A wide range of factors can cause body pain. Way beyond strictly muscle, nerve, or joint organic causes. Our body is interconnected which means that even anger can actually cause body pain.
Chinese Medicine has a very complex way of diagnosing. It takes pain from the blunt saying “it hurts” to mincing it down to various types of pain. The different types of pain offer various treatment protocols instead of the one-pill fits all magic bullet.
Let’s explore the 9 most common types of pain.
1. The aching annoying pain – we all know it, it comes by and never quite leaves, it’s not sharp enough to skip a day at work but enough to make your co-workers wish you would just stay at home. This type of pain is commonly associated with weakness. For example, aching pain in the lower back is relieved by pressure and rubbing it. It is generally caused by a weakness in the Kidney energy.
2. Distending pain – in plain English, if it’s in the abdomen, it can be felt like bloating, if it is a headache, breast or ribcage pain, more of a throbbing sensation. This kind of pain is often associated with menstruation and it may move from place to place making you wonder if the hormones are messing with your head. And they are, but your pain is pretty much real too, unfortunately. Qi stagnation can be the culprit here. Acupuncture and herbal medicine shine in this area. Your better half will be forever grateful for Chinese Medicine, as this syndrome is very often associated with irritability.
3. Dull pain – it might sound boredom and uninteresting but it’s not painless. It is usually relieved by pressure and better with warmth. Headaches that are dull might come together with a form of uneasiness and dizziness. It could be caused by Blood deficiency within the Chinese Medicine’s patterns.
4. Cold pain – the name itself tells you that it is the kind of pain which feels cold. It is oftentimes relieved by warmth, at least momentarily. However, herbs and acupuncture must be used so it can act from the inside out.
5. Gripping pain – no more, no less, this is the kind of pain experienced with a heart attack or kidney stones. No further explanation needed or reassurance that this is severe pain.
6. Heavy pain – it feels like something is dragging you down. Heavy pain type of headache is like bag-over-the-head sensation. Sciatica pain can also feel heavy, along the sciatic nerve path down the leg to the big toe.
7. Pulling pain – most commonly seen in sport injuries. This specific pain will feel like it is stretching from one point to another.
8. Scorching pain – Burning is a small word here, but trigeminal neuralgia pain or shingles might give you the hint.
9. Stabbing pain – commonly experienced in the heel, upon walking. Also, headaches and abdominal pain can have a stabbing nature. In Chinese Medicine, it is caused by blood stagnation. Its sharp nature makes it one of the most painful kinds of aches.
All of these types of pain when associated with different symptoms give an accurate diagnosis, which leads to a correct treatment. Consequently, it will treat the root of the problem and give you a different perspective in life, that of pain free and full of hope. An easier life for the people around you as well, for that matter.
To learn more about acupuncture read one of our articles called Acupuncture 101 and one of the studies published in Science Daily on Chinese acupuncture’s effectiveness to affect brain’s ability to regulate pain, an University of Michigan study.
References:
1. Riley, Dagmar. Treating Pain with Traditional Chinese Medicine. (2003). Paradigm Publications. Brookline, MA & Taos, NM. Pg 11-14.
Disclaimer
The information on this blog is provided for educational or reference purposes only and it is NOT a substitute for professional health care. No information obtained on this blog should be relied on as the basis for treating or diagnosing conditions, symptoms, or illness and all queries should be directed to your health care provider. No warranty or guarantee of a cure is expressed or implied with any information at this blog, nor does Damiana Corca make any representations regarding the use or the results obtained with the information. In no event shall Damiana Corca, her employees or associates be liable to any person or individual for any loss or damage whatsoever which may arise from the use of this blog or any of the information available on this blog.
