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I’m admittedly a little bit biased, but I think acupuncture/Chinese medicine offers the best “bang for the buck” in the medical world. With acupuncture you can have multiple issues treated in the same visit, and leave the office feeling better than when you walked in. How often does that happen when you see other doctors/specialists? It is also one of the least expensive forms of medicine, though this is not always obvious because of insurance coverage. Whether you pay out of pocket or only pay a co-pay here are some things to keep in mind to help you get the most out of your acupuncture sessions.

1. Take it easy – acupuncture helps to tune down the sympathetic nervous system (the “flight-or-fight” response) and turn up the parasympathetic nervous system (“rest-and-digest”). Being in “rest- and-digest” mode helps our bodies heal optimally, so when possible enjoy that nice relaxed feeling after an acupuncture session and take it easy for the rest of the day.

2. Consistency – think of acupuncture like a medication or exercise. Would you expect a drug to help you if you only take it when you think about it, maybe 2-3 times a week instead of daily as instructed? Do you think you’ll build muscle and lose weight if you only go to the gym a couple of times each month versus four or five times a month? Acupuncture is the same way, the effects of one treatment builds on the effects of previous visits. Luckily as your body gets healthier you need less treatment so you won’t need to have weekly visits forever.

3. Treat it like an investment – this goes along with point #2 above. Your health should be a top priority. Just like other investments a little extra up front will pay you back for years to come with good health. This is especially important if your health condition might prevent you from working. Trying to “budget” your treatments by putting too much time in between can sometimes be counter-productive. Not finishing a course of treatment can also become a waste of the time and money spent if you do not stick with the treatment long enough to reach your goals.

4. Team Approach – acupuncture can often get great results when combined with other treatments such as physical therapy, massage, and/or chiropractic. Likewise combining acupuncture with herbal treatment can be a great way to get a better value. Herbal medicine can help improve results and reduce the total number of acupuncture treatments needed.

5. Speak up and ask questions – you might have a health problem that we have not discussed. Never assume that it is something acupuncture cannot help. Let me know whatever is bothering you and I will let you know how/if acupuncture or herbal medicine can help. Likewise the more you know about your body the better you can make healthy decisions. You get to spend more time with me than you will generally spend with any of your doctors. Feel free to use that time to discuss your health concerns with me. It is also important to discuss any challenges you think you might have with following the recommended course of treatment. Whether its schedule or financial let me know and we’ll work together to see how we can best meet your goals.

6. Get a tune up – Even if you are not experiencing any specific symptoms your body can always use a little help. Our bodies are always under stress, and not just the mental kind (though many of us have plenty of that) but also environmental stresses, exposure to pathogens, even gravity. Your car needs periodic maintenance to keep it running at its best and think how much more complex your body is. Many patients find a once a month tune up keeps them feeling great, but even at the transitions of the seasons it can be a great way to protect your investment.

This time of year a lot of people are hoping to lose the “holiday pounds”.  You know what I mean, those extra pounds and inches that started to show up like uninvited guests to your holiday party.  Losing weight is not difficult, but figuring out how to do it safely and effectively is. Proper diet and nutrition are the backbone of proper weight loss but you can give yourself a leg up with acupuncture. East Side Acupuncture now offers a special weight loss package that combines acupuncture, herbal medicine, and patient education to help you lose weight. Call today to get more information.

New research has shown that acupuncture is more than a placebo.  This particular study reviewed the data from 29 clinical trials which included just under 18,000 participants being treated for chronic pain including neck and back pain, chronic headaches and osteoarthritis. Some of the studies reviewed compared acupuncture to standard treatments such as pain killers or physical therapy, while some compared real acupuncture to “sham” acupuncture. The data showed that real acupuncture does offer better pain relief than “sham” acupuncture. Many studies that compare these two treatments indicated that real acupuncture did not work significantly better than the “sham” leading to a conclusion that acupuncture works via the placebo effect.

The conclusion that acupuncture is only a placebo has been a stumbling block for the acceptance of acupuncture into the mainstream. Opponents hold onto those conclusions as evidence that acupuncture does not work.  This new study shows that it is more than just a placebo effect, so that is a big step forward for acupuncture.  More important, in my opinion, are the studies that compare acupuncture to standard treatment. These studies often show acupuncture (and even the “sham” acupuncture) offers better pain relief than pain killers and physical therapy. Conveniently, those opposed to acupuncture gloss over this fact. The important conclusion to be made is that acupuncture is effect at pain relief, is not just a placebo effect, and can be a more effective and/or safer alternative to other methods of pain relief.

If  anyone you know suffers from chronic pain encourage them to try acupuncture.

For more info about the study read the consumer reports article here – http://news.consumerreports.org/

August has finally arrived, though here in Syracuse it has felt like August for the past few months. For most August means the end of the carefree days of summer. For me it means the end of carefree days in general. I made an announcement in an earlier newsletter, but for those who missed it I will be welcoming a daughter, Eliana, into the world in about 2 weeks. I will be out of the office from August 13 -26 and back on the 27^th.

Since continuing care is an important part of successful acupuncture I will have someone covering for me during those two weeks. Her name is Kere Paz and like me, is a graduate of the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. In September, Kere will become a permanent member of the East Side Acupuncture team. Read more about Kere on her bio page – LINK

So I’m gaining a new member of my nuclear family, and a new member of my work family. This is really exciting for me in many ways. As a dad I will get to have whole new experiences. I know they won’t all be pleasant, per se, but will all be learning experiences. I will also be taking every opportunity to learn about pediatric acupuncture (don’t worry it’s actually aneedle-less technique), so if you know any young ones struggling with anything from ear infections and colic, to sleep problems or chronic illness give me a call.

Having another acupuncturist in the practice will also be a great benefit to not only me, but to you, our patients. We will be able to expand hours (evenings and possibly a weekend day). And as the saying goes “two heads are better than one” which means that we can offer even better quality care to you and your loved ones.

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.

If you’re like me you think summer ends at Labor Day. School starts the following week (at least here in the Syracuse area) and the weather starts turning colder. However, based on the solar calendar (rather than arbitrary federal holidays) Fall officially starts tomorrow. I think we can all agree that each season has a different “vibe” and a different pace. Here in Central New York fall is about the pretty foliage, digging out the jackets from the back of the closet, and reminiscing about all of the fun we had this past summer. We also get to celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, and apple season.

In Chinese medicine, the change of seasons are very important. As the weather changes our bodies adapt to the colder temperatures and shorter days. This transition can be smooth for some and rough for others. This sometimes have to do with how well we took care of ourselves during the previous season. Other times it can be due to a very sudden change in weather (not uncommon in Central New York).

The primary organ system that we focus on with acupuncture and Chinese medicine during this season is the lung system. Obviously the lung is primarily associated with breathing and therefore we need to be concerned with diseases like asthma and upper respiratory infections. The lung system is also associated with immunity. So at this point of the year we want to improve the lung system so that we can strengthen our immunity as we go into the cold and flu season.

Whether or not you’ve had acupuncture before now is a great time to consider having a treatment.  Even if you feel you are otherwise healthy a treatment during this seasonal transition can help you stay healthy in the months to come.  For other information and healthy tips for fall check out the “Acupuncture and Autumn” Newsletter (click here – note this newsletter changes seasonally)

https://www.eastside-acupuncture.comsletter.php

I can be surprisingly slow in keeping up with trends and technology.  What do you expect from someone who practices a medicine that is over 2,000 years old? If there are any topics you would like to see discussed in upcoming posts please contact me or leave a comment.