Here is a nice article from AcuTake describing a simple self-care method for dealing with seasonal allergies.
7 acupuncture points that can save your life this spring
Also, be sure to check out my Spring newsletter (lower right corner of Home page titled “Acupuncture and Spring”). It has other good tips and tricks for dealing with Spring and allergies.
And if you suffer from seasonal allergies, start getting acupuncture before the symptoms start! Call today for more info.
http://gma.yahoo.com/13-things-diet-experts-wont-tell-weight-loss-170358888–abc-news.html
Above is a link to a quick article from ABC News about dietary advice. It’s a quick summary from “The Diet Digest”, a new book about weight loss and healthy living. I have not had a chance to read the book yet, but I really liked the article from ABC News. I agree with most of it, the exception being #3 – Dairy promotes weight loss. I don’t disagree with the research, I just disagree with this being appropriate advice for everyone trying to lose weight. In a lot of my patients that are trying to lose weight I think dairy is overconsumed. Otherwise this is a great article for anyone to read if they are trying to lose weight.
Bowel movements are generally not a topic of conversation in polite company. Yet if you were to ask around you would find that a lot of people suffer from constipation, frequent diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I’m not encouraging you to ask around, I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.
One thing I find common amongst people dealing with constipation is the use of senna leaf (main ingredient in brands such as Senokot, Ex-Lax and Swiss Kriss). Many of these products market themselves as “natural” and “gentle”. What many people do not see on the label is that they are intended for occasional constipation, and is for short-term use. All to often I see patients who have chronic constipation and use senna based products for long periods of time. This can create a dependency on the laxative because the bowels lose their ability to function normally. Senna can also cause nausea, stomach cramps/discomfort, and in severe cases rectal bleeding.
More serious effects are possible as well. Senna contains chemicals called anthraquinone glycosides. Long-term use can cause damage to the large intenstine and liver and cause loss of electrolyte (specifically hypokalemia). It is also suspected to cause kidney damage.
A great alternative way to treat constipation is with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Acupuncture alone can regulate the bowels to help with constipation (as well as IBS and diarrhea). There are also various Chinese herbal formulas that help move the bowels without the use of stimulant laxatives (such as senna) making them safer for longer term use.
If a financial planner told you not to bother saving for retirement and that you can “worry about it when you get there”, you would probably think he was crazy. Most of us know the importance of putting money into 401(k) plans and other investments while we are working so that we can enjoy our golden years. If a doctor told you not to worry about your health and that “we will fix it when it becomes an issue” would you think that doctor was crazy?
For many their attitude towards health is just like the statements above, a “I’ll worry about it when I have a problem” mentality. In some ways health and finances are similar.
Let’s try out this analogy:
When it comes to finances some of us inherit money, some are born into poverty. Some of us get good paying jobs, while others struggle to get by. Some of us make smart decisions and plan for the future while others live paycheck to paycheck and scramble to pay bills when they empty their bank account and/or need to rely on assistance from the government or others.
In health some of us inherit good healthy genes while some of us inherit genetic diseases. Some of us grow up in a healthy environment while some of us are exposed to dangerous chemicals. Some of us take care of ourselves and make healthy decisions while others wait until they are sick to start making changes in their life and/or need to rely on outside intervention to help them.
Whether we are talking money or health don’t we all want to be in the first group of each statement? Unfortunately we don’t have any control over the situations we are born into or our genetic inheritance. Those circumstances also determine to some extent what obstacles we do or don’t have to overcome later in life. We do, however, have a lot of control over how we live our lives and the decisions we make every day. Making poor decisions in either health or finances will eventually catch up to us.
Just like with retirement planning, the sooner you start working on your health the better you will be down the road. If you wait until you get older it is possible to still be healthy into your “golden years” but it will take much more work (and expense). The groundwork for our adult health is laid during childhood, and many chronic diseases that become a problem for older generation are to due changes that start to occur as early as adolescence.
Unlike most medical treatments you do not have to wait to be sick to start using acupuncture. It is perfectly safe and suitable for healthy individuals. When added to a healthy diet, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep it can be a great way to keep oneself healthy. So if you have not tried acupuncture before consider giving it a try and start contributing to your “401(k) of health” today.
Many people suffer from wrist and hand pain. Often this is due because of repetitive use from our jobs and/or hobbies. Since so many of us use our hands and wrists during our work day having wrist and hand pain can be very difficult to deal with. When wrist pain sufferers go to the doctor they usually end up with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel of the wrist. However, for many who are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome the problem is not in the wrist but is in the forearm. Specifically, through repetitive use, people will develop trigger points in the muscles. These trigger points cause pain that can often mimic carpal tunnel syndrome which is why they often get misdiagnosed.
The first course of treatment for these conditions is usually painkillers and cortisone shots. These may temporarily relieve the pain but do not address the underlying cause. Bracing can help true carpal tunnel syndrome but does not help with trigger points. So the next step for these patients is often carpal tunnel surgery. Obviously if the problem is in the forearm then operating on the wrist doesn’t make sense but it happens with surprising frequency.
Luckily acupuncture offers a great alternative to surgery. When the problem is caused by trigger points acupuncture is the best choice of treatment. Not only does acupuncture give immediate pain relief but it also addresses the root cause so that there can be long-lasting relief. And since it is much safer (and less expensive) it is a great option. After all, if acupuncture doesn’t help you can always try surgery after, but you can’t undo a surgery that did not help. In some cases a structural problem exists that does require surgery. In those cases acupuncture can still help with post-operative pain, improve recovery, and help deal with trigger points that might develop post-op in scar tissue and surrounding tissue.
If you are dealing with wrist pain consider trying acupuncture as a first step, not as a last resort.
For more information about acupuncture and wrist pain read this article – http://acutakehealth.com/everyone-and-no-one-has-carpal-tunnel
Two studies recently published show that acupuncture can be an option for treating hot flashes. Hot flashes are a common problem for menopausal women and as any woman who has suffered from them can tell you they can be very uncomfortable and have a significant impact on quality of life, particularly with sleep. I have seen great results treating hot flashes/night sweats in my patients. Results can be dramatic, some patients were having several a day before their first acupuncture treatment and had none or only an occasional occurrence after their first treatment. In some cases this was even with patients who had previously undergone hormone replacement therapy to treat their menopausal symptoms with no relief.
For more information check out an article summarizing the research here
This Sat. 10/22 from 9am-1pm at the Marley Education Building (765 Irving Avenue, Syracuse) Crouse Hospital will be hosting a free health fair featuring Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. There will be presentations on a variety of topics, interactive workshops for yoga, qigong, and meditation, and hands-on demonstrations of massage, reiki, and acupuncture. There will also be raffles for some great prizes. For more information go to http://www.crouse.org/services/integrative-medicine/ Click here to see the flyer for the event - Pathways to Wellness
Also check out my friend’s blog about the event which includes a little testimonial as well – http://yourcnyhomeblog.com/community-events/health-fair-this-weekend
Recent research has shown that dietary supplementation can be dangerous and lead to an increased risk of death. Here are two articles about this topic – BBC News and LiveScience.com. The research was only done on women and the death rate in women who took supplements versus those who did not was fairly small. However, research like this does call into question some of the daily health decisions we make. Obviously getting our nutrients from food is our best option, but most people think taking a dietary supplement to be a good way to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
I’ll admit to taking multi-vitamins at times. I’m sure many of you reading this take a multi-vitamin as well as other supplements. I’m not adding this post to discourage people from taking multi-vitamins or other supplements. However, I think it is important that people understand the consequences of their decisions. When it comes to supplementation it is best done at the recommendation of your doctor or other health care professionals. And definitely take any claims from the supplement manufacturers with a grain of salt.
With that said supplementation can sometimes be very useful. The herbal medicines I recommend to patients are considered “dietary supplements”. This is merely a legal definition and it is important to realize there is a difference between the supplements I recommend and the supplements being discussed in the research cited above. The articles I linked to are specifically discussing the dangers of taking excessive levels of vitamins and minerals, which over the long term, can build up to toxic levels in the body. Herbal supplements can also be dangerous to take long term, which is another reason to seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional rather than just buying your supplements online or at your local grocery or health food store. Any supplementation also needs to be tailored to an individual’s needs, so be wary of recommendations that are aimed at a broad audience.
http://www.neatorama.com/2011/09/30/how-cooked-food-made-us-human/#more-53719
This is a link to a little article about how cooking food was an important evolutionary step. Personally I’m not a big fan of the raw food diet or the similar “paleo-diet” that is becoming a fad in the diet world. Humans are meant to eat cooked food and eating a lot of raw food can be unhealthy, no matter how healthy those raw foods may otherwise be. Veggies are very important for a healthy diet but consider cooking them, at least steaming or stir-frying which does not ruin a lot of the nutrient value. This small change can mean a big change in metabolism and overall energy levels. For dieters increasing cooked veggies vs raw veggies can actually help weight loss.
A lot of my patients are coming to me to treat chronic pain conditions. There are over 116 million people suffering from pain in the US. The estimated cost of treating pain in the US is around $300 billion with another estimated $300 billion in lost productivity. Clearly as we try to find ways to reduce health care costs pain is a big factor.
With so many people suffering from chronic pain it’s no surprise that pain killers are one of the most used classes of drugs there is. Just about every household probably has at least one bottle of over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers in their medicine cabinet. Some people take them on a daily basis to help with their chronic pains and headaches. Many people take OTC medications and assume they are safe since no prescription is needed. But in fact, OTC pain meds are very dangerous especially with long term use. Pain meds actually account for a frighteningly large number of deaths in the US every year but it is often not included with the other causes of deaths such as heart disease and cancer when statistics are compiled.
There are many different drugs on the market for pain. One of the most common is acetaminophen, which is the main ingredient in Tylenol. Then there are all of the different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen. There are also prescription opioids such as oxycontin, vicodin, and hydrocodone. Most people are aware of the addictive nature of opioids, and because of this they are highly regulated drugs. Despite the extra caution most doctors take in prescribing opioids they still account for about 14,000 deaths annually.
The bigger problem, in my opinion comes from acetaminophen and NSAIDS. Acetaminophen is the main ingredient in Tylenol products, but can also be found in NyQuil, Sudafed, Alka-Seltzer, as well as many cold/flu and allergy medications. It’s also in vicodin and percocet. Not many people are aware of that so they end up taking too much acetaminophen because they take Tylenol for their headache, then when they’re sick add in the Sudafed and other products. Major risks of excess acetaminophen use is liver toxicity and kidney failure. A 1994 study by Johns Hopkins showed that patients who took 105-365 pills per year increased their chance of kidney failure by 40%. Over 365 pills a year caused a 270% increase. Over 1000 pills in a lifetime showed a 100% increase of kidney failure. So someone who takes just one Tylenol a day for a whole year means they dramatically increase their chances of kidney problems. Excessive doses of acetaminophen in a 24 hour period can damage the liver. The recommended maximum daily dose is 4 grams (eight extra-strength Tylenol). This amount can easily be exceeded by someone taking Tylenol at the same time as cold/flu medications. Add in some alcohol to the picture and liver damage becomes a very likely problem. Liver damage from acetaminophen use is thought to cause 50,000+ ER visits a year and accounts for 42% of all liver failures. Around 500 deaths annually are thought to be caused by acetaminophen.
NSAIDS can also cause damage to the kidneys, though the correlations are less clear. More of a concern with NSAIDS, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, is gastrointestinal problems, particularly stomach bleeding. In 1998 the American Journal of Medicine reports over 100,000 people were hospitalized due to NSAID related gastrointestinal problems. They are also believed to have caused over 16,000 deaths per year. One place I saw that statistic specifically mentioned 16,500 deaths in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers who use NSAIDs, so the actual number for the general population would be higher. Even at 16,500 that’s a scary number. The American Gastrointestinal Association reports that 60 million people regularly used NSAIDs and they state that around 120,000 hospital admissions each year are due to stomach bleeding from NSAID use.
I’m not completely against painkiller use, they have their time and place. But in my opinion they’re only appropriate for short term use in acute situations. For chronic pain other alternatives need to be better utilized. Clearly I’m biased in favor of people using acupuncture to treat their chronic pain. On a daily basis I see how well it can help people with chronic pain. But just as important I think the population as a whole needs to be better educated on the risks of taking over-the-counter pain medications so that they can make appropriate decisions. If you frequently use painkillers to deal with your chronic pain give me a call and find out how acupuncture can help you. And if you have friends or family who frequently use painkillers for their chronic pain, talk to them about the risks and let them know there may be alternatives for them.
