About 10 percent of couples struggle with infertility and an inability to conceive, according to the Centers for Disease Control. For those struggling to have children, fertility treatment can become tiring and expensive very quickly. There are numerous alternative treatments including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that have been thought to improve fertility. continue reading
There’s a certain level of mysticism surrounding the ancient holistic practice of acupuncture. Those who haven’t tried it may view it as some sham practice with no real value or benefit. On the other hand, those who have tried are fully aware of its powerful effects on the human body.
Acupuncture is typically performed on specific points throughout the body, including points both along the meridian and outside the meridian. The number of acupuncture points continues to change on a regular basis, but the latest estimate is around 695 (not including ear treatments). continue reading
Clutter is a common problem in today’s society. Families are busier than ever trying to keep up with their careers, children in extra-curricular activities, household responsibilities, mail, errands, business and personal travel, email, etc. At some point, most people get overwhelmed. Clutter seems to appear overnight and is hard to tackle for most people. In some cases, in my opinion, it is also an outward physical manifestation of something that is going on inside, generally stemming from emotional distress. People that are generally pushed to the breaking point are usually in the midst of a major life transition. The transitions in life I see that cause the most chaos and clutter in someone’s life are as follows:
“Normal” everyday life is stressful enough, but when people are going through these transitions, stress and anxiety escalate. Their main focus is on the situation at hand, and not on the physical contents of the home or office. The pain of the clutter doesn’t generally manifest itself until the current situation is handled and the person realizes that they want to get their life back, put order back into their home or office, and are too overwhelmed at that point and don’t know where to start. Also during major transitions in life, stress increases even more so because there is either a lack of time or money to address the situation, or people sometimes don’t have the knowledge or skills to adapt and deal with the clutter thus feeling helpless. I have observed first-hand the correlation between clutter, stress, unbalanced lifestyles and increased medical issues. The more clutter I see, the more prescription drugs I see in the cabinet. The more clutter I see, the more unhealthy food I see in the pantry. The more clutter I see, the more I hear clients complain of medical conditions and the inability to sleep, rest or relax.
It is very important to follow some simple steps in order to manage the stress and move forward into the next phase of life.
I think the real truth about where the clutter started and how to rid yourself of it once and for all starts with the act of physically decluttering a particular space and in some cases your entire home. Remember, it took you quite some time to get cluttered and you can’t expect for it to disappear overnight. You will need to be ready to work thru the process and be open to learning what the physical clutter is trying to tell you about what’s going on inside. By working thru the physical process of decluttering, you will most likely find the answer about what clutter has to do with it. Once you discover this, you can then continue taking the steps to heal yourself physically and emotionally.
Sharon Toston, The Clutter Coach
www.commandyourclutter.com
727.420.1746
CleaningPart of celebrating the Chinese New Year (February 19) involves cleaning. Traditionally, homes are cleaned before the New Year, but sweeping and dusting isn’t done until the third day after New Year out of fear that good fortune will be swept away. The floors can be swept, starting by brushing the dust and dirt towards the middle of the house or building. Once the debris is piled into the center, it’s moved to the corners where it remains until the fifth day, at which point it can be thrown out. continue reading
2015 is the Year of The Goat in Chinese astrology. Ranking eighth in the long list of animals tied to the Chinese zodiac, people who are born under this sign are said to be calm, mild-mannered, good-hearted, sympathetic, dependable and intelligent. They also prefer to avoid being the center of attention – a trait that’s rare among other Chinese zodiacs. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the characteristics of the Year of The Goat. continue reading
The thought of treating pain by sticking yourself with dozens of tiny needles might sound like a misnomer. After all, wouldn’t this make the problem worse by creating more pain? The holistic practice of acupuncture is a safe and effective solution for relieving pain. Whether it’s chronic or temporary pain, acupuncture has proven effective time and time again at relieving pain. continue reading
The three pillars of health that I put above any other healthcare (physicians, acupuncturists, chiropractors, supplements, etc) are as follows:
1. Sleep
2. Food
3. Movement
4. Healthcare
You’ll notice that I didn’t put “exercise” – I put movement. That isn’t accidental. I believe that being stationary is detrimental to our health. Here are some exercises I’d like you to do three times a day at your desk to loosen up!
Go ahead! Try it now!
How does that feel?
Obesity remains a top concern among health professionals in the U.S. According to a study published in the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA), more than one third of adults in the U.S. are clinically obese (source). People who fall under this category are more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer.
While there’s no substitution for exercise and a well-balanced diet, the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture may promote weight loss in adults battling obesity. Numerous studies have reinforced the belief that acupuncture can aid in weight loss. So instead of embarking on a potentially dangerous “fad” diet, such as an all-liquid lemon detox diet, consider acupuncture treatment to assist in your weight loss efforts. continue reading
Sometimes, over dinner with a new group of friends, I am asked to explain “what is it you do, exactly?”. It seems like the biggest part of my role as healthcare provider is in education. One of the most important areas that I seem to be spending a growing amount of time is on the topic of antibiotics.
“Should I go on an antibiotic?”
“Would an antibiotic make this go away faster?”
“I’ve been on antibiotics for weeks and I’m still having symptoms, now what?”
There is a time and place for antibiotics. One of the biggest concerns in medicine used to be bacterial infection. There are disease that are being close to eradicated due to the invention and prescriptions of antibiotics like penicillin. Thanks Dr. Fleming! The discovery of penicillin was a turning point in modern medicine and in our history.
One of the fastest growing health concerns in current modern medicine is growing antibiotic resistance. Despite the growing education that antibiotics do not treat viruses and are not a “cure-all” for every sniffle, cough, sneeze, or wheeze, it seems many doctors still prescribe them just in case.
“Researchers from George Washington, Cornell and Johns Hopkins universities surveyed 113 patients in an urban hospital to test their understanding of antibiotics. They discovered a widespread misconception: patients may want antibiotics, even if they know that, if they have a viral infection, the drugs will not make them better. These patients believe that taking the medication will not worsen their condition—and that the risk of taking unnecessary antibiotics does not outweigh the possibility that they may help.“
“More than half of the patients we surveyed already knew that antibiotics don’t work against viruses, but they still agreed with taking antibiotics just in case,” Dr. Broniatowski said. “We need to fight fire with fire. If patients think that antibiotics can’t hurt, we can’t just focus on telling them that they probably have a virus. We need to let them know that antibiotics can have some pretty bad side effects, and that they will definitely not help cure a viral infection.“
Ok. So now what? I suppose that’s where I come in to play in a dinner conversation.
In Chinese Medicine there is an evaluation of the entire condition as it is currently presenting, coming up with a “unique to the patient” diagnosis and treatment plan. In evaluating why someone might be coughing, or sneezing, or itching that weird rash, we can find the right treatment (Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, dietary changes, etc) to correct the condition without having to go on antibiotics initially.
The first known record of infectious disease was recorded in the Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) which was compiled in the first or second century CE. The Huang Di Ne Jing recognized different types, causes, and manifestations of infections and pathogens. The Chinese herbal formulas recorded in the Nei Jing have been used for thousands of years for a variety of conditions, quite successfully. A fantastic breakdown of some of these formulas can be found here.
In Western medicine, the discovery of antibiotic drugs is one of the major breakthroughs in modern medicine. It enables doctors to effectively treat many different types of infections. Unfortunately, decades of abuse and misuse have led to growing problems of bacterial mutation and resistance. Many of these “super bugs” can only be treated with the newest and most potent antibiotic drugs. Unfortunately, many of them have potent side effects as well. The key points are to select the correct antibiotic drug with least potential side effects and make sure the patient finishes the entire course of therapy.
In traditional Chinese medicine, herbs and herbal formulas are also extremely effective for treatment of various infections. In fact, most modern pharmaceutical drugs were originally derived from natural sources, including penicillin (the oldest antibiotic) and gentimicin (one of the most potent). One of the main benefits of using herbs is their wide spectrum of antibiotic effect, with indications for bacterial and viral infections. Furthermore, most of these herbs are extremely safe, and do not have the same harsh side effects as drugs.
In summary, both drugs and herbs are effective to treat mild to moderate cases of bacterial infections. However, because drugs are more immediately potent and can be prescribed with more laboratory precision (via cultures and sensitivity tests), they are more appropriate for life-threatening infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis, or mutant strains of bacteria, such as beta-lactam-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). On the other hand, use of herbs is far more effective than drugs for treating certain viral infections, such as the common cold and influenza. Most importantly, herbs are much gentler to the body and safer than drugs. In other words, herbs treat infection without damaging the patient’s underlying constitution. This allows the patient to recover faster and become more resistant to secondary or re-current infections.
If you’ve been wondering what you should do with your healthcare, I am always available for a free phone consult.
727-216-6929
