tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83925015234789255452024-03-12T14:26:30.997-07:00Tread LightlyA Wandering Acupuncturist's Musings on Health, Wealth, and MinimalismJen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-90576794752135143402017-09-21T18:38:00.002-07:002017-09-21T18:38:45.318-07:00The Role of bodywork in Integrative Medicine<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is one of the most frequent questions I receive in my practice - what do you mean by bodywork. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The importance of bodywork as a part of general maintenance cannot be </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">overstated, and the topic is so vast I almost don’t know where to begin. First, let’s </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">clarify what I mean by bodywork: chiropractic, therapeutic massage, acupuncture </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">and oriental massage, bioenergetics, feldenkrais, and yoga therapy are just the tip </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">of the body-work iceberg and play an important role in both the healing process </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">and general preventive maintenance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><b><i>In the beginning…</i></b>One of the basic tenants in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the adage “Where there is blockage, there is pain.” We learned it on our first day of graduate school, and continued to hear it throughout our education. From the standpoint of classical acupuncture, whenever the free-flowing nature of qi is blocked or moved from its natural<br />course, it will accumulate and cause pain or internal disease. To keep things simple, we will discuss a few basic reasons for this: excess, deficiency and stasis/stagnation. You may find it helpful to keep in mind the idea of a stream bed for this principle.<br /><br />Picture, if you will, a mountain stream with ample water running through it so that the water moves freely, and is clean, clear; it stays within its natural boundaries, and it is fresh – nourishing to what surrounds it. This is a good metaphor for the movement of qi through the body in the absence of disease. Now a river at the end of the summer or during times of drought has less volume moving in thecreek bed; it pools up in places because there is not enough water to push through the rocks, due to a deficiency. When water pools, it becomes stagnant (with all the bugs and scum floating on the top). Now translate this principle into the human body: when there is a deficiency of qi so that there is not enough to flow through its natural course, it will pool and stagnate. If left unattended, it will<br />accumulate to cause pain or disease (maybe that is our layer of scum at the top of<br />the pool…)<br /><br />Similarly, a creek bed in the springtime after the snow melt will often overflow the banks, with water flooding outside the normal course. This is due to too much water flowing through the river bed, causing flooding and damage to the surrounding area. This also results in stagnation – only this time due to an excess, which also will cause pain or disease if left unattended. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The purpose of regular bodywork is to ensure that the body’s vital energy moves in its proper direction, that there is enough of it so that things do not pool up and become stagnant, or overflow and cause ‘flooding.’ How much and what type of bodywork to get may seem confusing, but there are some general concepts to keep in mind that may be helpful when exploring this for the first time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><b><i>Structural Integrity</i></b>Fans of Star Trek (my favorite analogy) will have heard about ‘<i>structural integrity</i>’. in terms of the ship staying in one piece. Our physical body is similar to the Enterprise – it is the vessel for our travels though time and space. In this case, I<br />define structural problems as musculoskeletal (and joints). The large muscle groups support the alignment of the body: the quadriceps, periformis, psoas, and hamstrings support the alignment of the pelvis, the erector spinae on either side of the spinal column help maintain the spine in its proper curvature, shoulder and cervical muscles connect in the neck region. While it may be obvious that sprain/strain, insufficient exercise, injury and trauma will cause these muscle groups to move out of balance (resulting in inflammation and pain), you may not understand that it also takes qi or vital energy to hold bones and muscles in their proper alignment, not just strength and flexibility. It is how someone with a TCM diagnosis of kidney deficiency may have mild low back pain as a symptom. The<br />vital energy of the kidneys (separate from Kidney organ function) help to strengthen that area of the body. It is also why someone with an excess of liver qi may experience sharp pain down the sides of the legs – the energetics of this organ influence this region of the body. Because a long-term deficiency or excess can result in a structural problem even in the absence of an injury, regular bodywork is essential to maintaining structural integrity.<br /><br />In my private practice, I use acupuncture and oriental medicine to regulate qi flow,<br />since it is wonderful for relieving the pain of stagnation whether it caused by<br />excess or deficiency (usually things are a mixture of both). We build up the body<br />when there is not enough “water” moving through the stream, and drain areas<br />when there is too much. Generally, my patients with chronic back pain often<br />require a structural adjustment from a chiropractor followed by deep tissue<br />massage or acupuncture to breakup the scar tissue or muscle tension that moved<br />the vertebrae out to begin with. The muscles of the body have memory – and it<br />takes time and physical manipulation to coax them back into proper alignment,<br />and relieve the pain of inflammation.<br /><br />How quickly someone responds to treatment is a mixture of things:<br />• How long have you had the condition?<br />• How severe is the problem?<br />• How healthy were you to begin with? Do you have an underlying internal<br />condition that hampers your recovery?<br />• Are you willing to take supportive measures such as yoga and strength<br />training to prevent recurrences?<br /><br />For patients who are particularly deficient from chronic endocrine disorder such as<br />hypothyroid or diabetes, immuno-compromised, or undergoing multiple drug<br />regimens, it will take longer to experience physical relief because the body is often<br />too weak to hold itself together properly for any length of time. It is why you may<br />feel really good for a day or two after a treatment, only to find the body returning<br />to the old pattern a few days later. Rest assured it is a good sign - your body is<br />responding to treatment. The muscles have just not healed enough to stay in<br />their proper position.<br /><br />A good rule of thumb is to allow one month of regular treatment (regular meaning 2x per week) for every month you have had the condition. Multiple modalities, such as massage with acupuncture and chiropractic will generally yield faster results that are more complete, because you are addressing several aspects at the same time – bones (chiropractic), muscles (deep tissue massage), pain/ inflammation/ weakness and atrophy (acupuncture and oriental medicine) . </span></div>
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Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-31545764681738741402015-10-06T23:55:00.001-07:002016-02-17T10:15:04.323-08:00Financial Freedom is an Envelope Away<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">( While seemingly off topic, this is a loose transcription of a Finance Course I recently taught at the local Acupuncture School. Enjoy!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I first began working in the finance industry prior to becoming an acupuncturist, I worked with a financial planner whose approach to money management was rooted in the principles of Debtors Anonymous. Its precepts espouse mindfulness, living on a disciplined budget, incurring no further debt. Pretty typical for most folks who follow Dave Ramsey or Suzy Ormand's philosophy. What perhaps separates the DA program from others is the insistence that pleasure and savings must be included in your spending plan, and that as you pay down debt, you don't just roll over the additional cash flow to paying down your next vendor, you in fact spread the wealth to your other categories like vacation, hobbies, savings, educational goals, with an eye to never incurring more debt. In short, it focuses much more on creating a LIFE as opposed to eliminating debt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have fundamental issues with many of the financial pundits because their focus is on eliminating debt as fast as possible, with not enough attention being given to creating a meaningful budget that can be sustained LONG TERM. It is almost as if the fact that we have incurred the debt means that we have to wear the proverbial hair shirt and live a Spartan existence devoid of pleasure and beauty until we are debt free and earn the right to have joy in our lives again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Remember what happened to Jack Nicholson in The Shining? </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Exactly</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But all work and debt repayment ALSO makes Jack a whim based crazed shopper, leading to impulse purchases and buyer's remorse. An emergency fund of only $1000 (another Ormand/Ramsey rule) even for a single person is ridiculously small. (4 tires, a canine UTI, and an unexpected new windshield last year took care of mine last year). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As a small business owner (firmly steeped in the principles of DA) I didn't know that to begin a business requires capital and that in fact 5 years into my practice I would have over $30K in business start up debt. Stuff happens, clinics fail or move, cash flow is dicey the first 5-10 years, economic down turns happen. In fact, I was my own worst enemy in terms of self-flagellation with regard to carrying business debt. But being steeped in mindfulness in spending, once cash flow was established, those balances were put on automatic payments and basically forgotten about. I turned my attention to cash flow and creating wealth and in order to do that, I had to include a basic principle that is overlooked by most of financial planners: <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>PAY YOURSELF FIRST</b></span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You are more important than your credit card (or other kinds) of debt. You, your family, your life. And in my experience, an eye to wealth creating brings in more wealth. I had to take my mental focus OFF the debt repayment, and I keep those payments low enough to PAY MYSELF FIRST so that by the time I paid off all my start up debt, I also had a decent amount in savings (which then got used during the downturn in 2009 and 2010, so grateful I had it). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I didn't start this practice until I had been in practice at least 6 years, and I wish I had done it sooner. Things are often sporadic in terms of cash flow in a new business, and I tended to squirrel money away in fits and starts rather than in a systematic payment. Things really changed when I started paying myself on the first with an automatic draw into my savings account. And while it may sound crazy, somehow there was always money remaining at the end of the month even though I took out a chunk for myself and the IRS. This was my first step toward wealth accumulation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Somewhere in this process, I had the great good fortune to read a book by </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dr. John </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Di Martini, noted author and new-age philosopher of sorts, which lifted the emotional charge I had to my business debt years ago and changed everything. Instead of castigating myself for the CC debt I had engendered starting my business, I needed to reframe how I saw the credit card companies. These companies (namely Citibank, Chase and MasterCard) were in fact my </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><u>investors:</u> </i></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">they believed in me enough to supply me with the capital I needed to grow my business at a time where no one else would. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now you can be cynical about these companies and complain about interest payments, etc. but the fact of the matter is that new business owners do not qualify for business financing through the SBA unless they have been successfully turning a profit for two years and have at least 50K in capitol reserves. Sorry, but if I had that kind of operating capitol back in the early days, I WOULD NOT NEED THE CREDIT CARDS.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The fact is that Citibank and Chase loaned me that money, and this simple change in perspective allowed me to stop blaming myself and feeling guilt. I shifted my focus to gratitude that I had been able to have that capitol when I needed it, and gratitude is</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">an incredibly powerful tool in terms of attracting more abundance. I took advantage of teaser rates and balance transfers as I paid down the balances, but I took my focus OFF the interest I was paying and looked more to creating a sustaining and meaningful budget which supported my life. Even now that all that is long since paid off, my budget hasn't really changed much in the last 5 years, since my basic needs are being met (I added opera lessons). Now my attention has turned to long term savings and repayment of student loans. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have counseled dozens of students, friends, and colleagues in what I call the "<i><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Come-to-Jesus-talk-about-money-and-finance,</b></span></i>" and professionally lecture on these principles at the graduate level. What I have discovered is that almost no one is taught sound principles about how to handle money in a powerful and confident manner. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The biggest mistakes I see in working with individuals and families is under-budgeting in areas such as food, household or lack of emergency fund, and many times trying to pay down debt too fast.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When starting a mindfulness approach to budgeting, I have found the following tools helpful:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET</b></span>: </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Create a savings and spending plan for yourself which includes categories for every aspect of your life. Jerry Mundis' book "</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How to Get out of Debt, Stay out of Debt and Live Prosperously</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">" is one of the best books I have ever read on the principles of DA and creating a spending plan, and you can buy a copy used for $1 at Amazon </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0553283960/ref=tmm_mmp_used_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=&sr=" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. He demonstrates how to create a working savings and spending plan which includes both paying yourself first and disciplined debt repayment. I include categories like vacation savings, gift savings, beauty products, clothing, emergency, pet, entertainment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="color: #20124d;">Keep a spending journal. </b>Yes, until you have this down, write down every single purchase for one month. It can be illuminating. One of my former students was lucky enough that her parents covered her tuition and rent while she was in school. She had basically no financial aide. She took out some student loan money near the end of school to help cushion the cost of board exams and licensing, and actually ran out of money before the end of term. I had her go through three prior months of bank statements and list every single purchase. She came back shocked that she had spent over $6000 going out and drinking beer, a new surf board, impulse road trips, etc. A spending journal is<span style="color: #990000;"><b> essential</b></span> if you don't know where your money has gone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="color: #20124d;">CUT UP or freeze your cards in a block of ice. </b><i>(really) </i>I rarely make impulse purchases with cash.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you don't have 2-3 months of expenses in savings, <b><span style="color: #990000;">PAY YOURSELF FIRST</span></b> until you do. Keep your debt payments smaller, and create a cushion. Once that is established, THEN you can focus on paying down the remainder of the debt. Sitting in the discomfort of carrying debt is also a crucible of sorts, a means of transformation in itself. "<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>But what about the interest</b></i></span>," you ask. Fugedaboutit! At least until you have some savings. Paying yourself first is more important and sets the stage to avoid future debt. (An exception is if you are over your limit and incurring overance charges.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">LIVE on CASH</span></b>: If you have trouble with impulse purchases or going over your budget, consider moving to the envelope method in terms of your personal budget. On the 1st (or the 15th or whatever your pay period is), consider putting cash in envelopes for each of your categories. I have used this meethod for years and rarely have issues with it. If there is a month where I splurged on a pedicure, or dinner out, then it may been to come out of another envelope. If I don't use the money, I carry it over to the next month. Folks who have big families with kids and pets also know that unexpected expenses come up with greater frequency so need to allow for that in their budgets. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When it all become too much, and paying down that bill looks never ending, like my student loans do at times, I have to remind myself to stay in the moment. The truth is I have enough to last me until I go to bed tonight; I have a warm bed to sleep in and a roof over my head, running water. It's a good day, better than for many people in the world. I am one of the lucky ones. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I had to be careful not to let the budget become a tool for rigidity or deprivation. This is a plan, not a sacred tomb found in a burning bush. I have made big financial mistakes (especially in business, yikes!), and if I learn from them then so much the better. My financial mistakes ironically are sources of unbridled mirth when my former students do the same thing, and I like to think that the fact that I can laugh about it now (when I wept about this 10 years ago) is healing of a different sort. We all make these mistakes. <b>We are ALLOWED TO</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Perhaps the biggest difference that I learned in the DA program (as opposed to other types of financial approaches) was that miracles happen when we become clear in our approach to money, regardless of our spiritual path. But the miracles I experienced were not rooted in the airy-fairy "<span style="color: #20124d;"><i>I created my vision board and now it will all manifest effortlessly</i></span>." No, these miracles were borne out of hard work, sacrifice, and not a little nail biting. They say courage is just fear that has said its prayers, well I say AMEN brothers and sisters. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Unexpected windfalls and cash flow happened sometimes in the nick of time, and sometimes things got paid off even sooner than I had budgeted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For me, moving to a minimalist lifestyle includes an exploration of what is meaningful to me and creating a life that supports that. It seems that financial clarity was part of that journey even before I started giving stuff away, so I am curious to see how this may change in the future as I strive to simplify further. </span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-60864320377917918342015-07-21T12:57:00.000-07:002015-07-21T12:57:17.612-07:00And then there were seven.....<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Socks that is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">I think I understand why a move toward minimalism seems to take a year or so, or at least many months. I think it is because our senses get refined: the more stuff we unload, the more clearly we see what is around us. It becomes easier to question "Why am I hanging on to that and what purpose does it serve?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">My most recent epiphany was in my underwear drawer. Now in terms of full disclosure, I have had a completely unusable underwear drawer for over a decade (although to put things in perspective, one of my patients asked recently "You only have one drawer for your delicates?" so maybe not <i>so</i> bad.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Ok how many drawers should I have? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">With a less than </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; text-align: right;">500 sq. foot apartment, drawer space is a premium, but again, since it is an unusable drawer filled to the brim with I don't know what, isn’t it wasted space? I rarely find socks that match (even though I just washed and matched them – and yes, in the winter I often wear unmatched socks in my boots </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; text-align: right;">L</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; text-align: right;">). The good (and boring) undies (you know your favorites) are on top of the ones you never wear (seductive but uncomfortable).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">So as I de-clutter and “de-own” as Josh Becker likes to call it, a come-to-Jesus moment of truth took place with my underwear, a divinely inspired moment of clarity. I turned it over on the bed like my grandmother used to do when we were kids if it wasn’t tidy enough, while my dog Piglet looked on with interest, hoping for her chance to steal the socks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">I took out 7 pairs of socks, one for every day in winter. I saved a few of pairs of gym/tennis socks since sometimes you do wear more than a pair in a day. One pair of panty hose in black and white. One slip. One cami. Bras in the front.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">(OMG I can FIND them, and who knew I had 5?).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Out went all the unmatched socks, the silly Christmas socks which I never wear (did I really need 6 pair with various kinds of snowmen?). Ditto the uncomfortable underwear that promised so much but never actually delivered (you hear me Victoria’s secret?), all the tights and panty hose left over for a corporate life I no longer have. I don’t like to waste things so many of these items stayed regardless of the fact that I live in San Diego where open toed shoes are de rigour 9 months out of the year. (But I might need them <i>someday</i>…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Out went the extra jammies, I kept the newest. The extra camis, the extra tee shirts and mis-matched workout clothes. Everything paired down to 2. My drawers are basically now only half full.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">There is actually a bottom of the drawer visible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Now if I don’t do laundry weekly there will be no socks or undies to wear, and putting the clothes away is a pleasure simply because they all fit without me stuffing them in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I finally have an underwear drawer that would make Grandma proud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-6208232400639376262015-07-19T12:06:00.003-07:002015-07-19T12:10:46.068-07:00Buyers Remorse<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Buyers remorse seems to be a common affliction for aspiring minimalists. As we start to go through the towering heaps, regret for the wasted money is inevitable. I am no exception. I have been moving in this direction for a long time, and being mindful about purchases is a long-time habit, so I have been paring down my wardrobe in particular for the last few years. Insightful advice about purchases, such as "If it's a maybe, it's a no" have already prevented me from some unnecessary items over the last few years. Likewise, recognizing that if I <i>need</i> something, and buy something on sale which fills the need, but in fact wasn't what I wanted, I tend not to ... (wear it, use it, insert verb here)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Surprisingly this lesson was inspired by a gift from my sister a few years ago. In one of her many travels to southern California for work, she brought me a very generous gift. Someone had gifted her a Coach bag (actually two of them) and she did not like the color of one of them so gave it to me. I thought she was crazy, it was gorgeous, a perfect color, perfect size. She was also honest enough to acknowledge that she wasn't going to use it since she had one she liked better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ok can I just say..... I. Love. This. Bag. Perfect travel size, goes with all my stuff (or what's left of it), fits all essentials in the plane, really classy for going out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And I would never have bought one for myself. (It's a <i>COACH</i>, and I am an acupuncturist. Not in the budget). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">( I buy bags on clearance from Ross or JC Penney's).</span><br />
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<a href="https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DJN.9Fco7pdndV2t%252fAw4DWSp2Q%26pid%3D15.1&f=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DJN.9Fco7pdndV2t%252fAw4DWSp2Q%26pid%3D15.1&f=1" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I began clearing out my closets over the last few months, again With an eye to rigorous honesty about my stuff, I realized that in the last couple of years since receiving said bag, that I only use a few of them. My coach bag of course, a few others for every day, one basic black for dress-up. That was it. All of the others, nada. Zip. Zilch. Zero. Little to no use. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(aarrgghh, Melting. Regret.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here starts the buyers remorse, since 10 cheap bags more than makes up for that nice bag).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Minimalism is not about cheap, not about punishment or going without. It IS about looking at what adds value to our life and pleasure, and personal freedom. And exploring how much of my time am I willing to trade for that freedom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As a small business owner, I have already been doing that for years, specifically the idea of time for money. Since I am in solo practice with limited staff, there is a physical limit to the number of clients I can see per day, per hour. How many patients per hour does it take to pay for that purchase, and is it worth it? More often than not, my time was more valuable to me than going to that store on a crowded weekend to save $15. So I have been headed here for a while. However, we get into habits, or go unconscious in certain areas of our life, or get seduced by pithy advertising campaigns that promise so much and rarely deliver. I am no exception. That next great thing in fact did not change my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what did I do with this realization? </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(squirm) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I gave most of the bags to friends, and donated the rest. Most of these were brand new, rarely if ever used. The look on the face of the folks at Goodwill was utter shock. Who gives away that kind of nice stuff?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My shame has been mitigated by their pleasure, knowing someone will use them with joy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And hopefully I won't jump down <i>that</i> rabbit hole again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Buy one thing of value, use it with gratitude until it wears out. Replace with one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lather. Rinse. Repeat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you "Auntie" Kiki for a timeless lesson. </span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-89989849033992346322015-07-19T09:19:00.002-07:002015-07-23T09:46:24.682-07:00Stuff and Nonsense<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa8xHmEJkW0N7o6su9pruGmB7qLJOtegj0sBV3wA36ukl534xdqHsZ6Mn_Qus7hXaVn_4BcaKrOqvrplLW7xHj9MLYqDbFCH_y9D6nhyphenhyphencKzXisGvYxO6e_7giry5NcqEvp5nd17lMeuu-/s1600/kona-hed-2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa8xHmEJkW0N7o6su9pruGmB7qLJOtegj0sBV3wA36ukl534xdqHsZ6Mn_Qus7hXaVn_4BcaKrOqvrplLW7xHj9MLYqDbFCH_y9D6nhyphenhyphencKzXisGvYxO6e_7giry5NcqEvp5nd17lMeuu-/s320/kona-hed-2014.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">propos of nothing, first let me say that I LOVE this ad.
The Kona Brewing ad campaign isn’t just
clever, (they get people like me to giggle even though I don’t drink beer)
it is downright brilliant and a call to mindfulness. Why not make 1 hour
sad hour and the rest 23 happy? Genius.</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">For all its cuteness, this ad begs attention to
some more fundamental questions:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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What is it all for?</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How much do I really need?</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is the meaning of life?</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maybe not in so many terms, but it manages to at least get you
thinking. How much of our freedom are we sacrificing to our stuff, our
pursuit of stuff (physical stuff, emotional stuff, existential stuff like love,
security, health) and our organizing of our stuff? And what is the price
for that freedom? </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My students and some of my patients, know I am exploring the
concepts of minimalism as part of an ongoing inner dialog about the meaning of
life, my purpose here, where can I find balance (or is there balance?)
This is due, in part, to treating some incredibly sick people in the clinic,
and a peri-menopausal hormone-induced existential crises.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Recently inspired by swapping out some old furniture and the
opportunity to repaint and de-clutter, in the last 12 weeks, I have been
“moving without moving” as I like to call it. And while I have not taken
the “pack-your-entire apartment-and-only-keep-what you need for 30 days, donate
the rest” plunge as aspiring minimalists espouse, I <i>am</i> giving every single thing in my life
a level of scrutiny not even encountered in my last move across country
(Did I REALLY pay someone to move this from New York? What was I
THINKING?).</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I strive for rigorous honesty in my possessions inventory, it
is amazing the mind-tape which proclaims that I might need this someday,
frequently referred to as the "just-in-case" items. When
preparing to donate several hundred dollars of beautiful clothing which I have
not used or worn in a decade (I no longer work in the finance industry or at a
major university), the voice loudly insists that I may need that sweater in
case global warming changes the ocean currents, plunging us into a new ice age
(I live in San Diego). Likewise the sleeping-bag-with-arms inspired coat
that was my outerwear when I lived in the big apple. I am learning that
it is important to give this voice a platform instead of suppressing it.
It is a protective voice born of deprivation, stress, years of not getting basic
needs met. In short, it is trying to keep me safe.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The problem with these inner voices is that we seldom question
the truth in our running dialog. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moving toward a minimalist lifestyle seems to be, for me at any
rate, part of being mindful. I frequently remind my patients that not
everything we believe is the truth (this usually in response to some health
practice they have been following which does them no benefit and wastes time
and/or money). Likewise, not everything I think about stuff and security is
true.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><b><i><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are the essentials?</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><b><i><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So many of the minimalist-inspired blog talk is about a return
to basics or exploring what is essential for them. Again, those values
are individual and should not be judged. The idea is to do-away with
things (stuff) that interferes with those essentials. Hmmmm…</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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and meaning to my life, and these are in no particular order:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teaching</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maintenance of health – body, mind, spirit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Financial clarity</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note that work is only part of this long list and yet it takes
up 90% of my time, and has for the last 17 years, leaving precious little
leftover for the rest. Interesting that lots of “things” isn't part of
the list, neither is home ownership at this point. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
reading the wonderful essays from Josh and Ryan on “The Minimalists.com”, both
of them had “soul-sucking” jobs at which they both excelled leaving them with
little to no time for the rest of their lives along with mountains of
personal debt (in spite of 6-figure salaries). </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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As an acupuncturist I don't make a lot
of money, so living within my means has been a long-time habit. But can I
do better? Can I pare things down further to allow more freedom for what <b><i>is</i></b>
important to me?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let's see.....</span></div>
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Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-82461694622884189132011-11-03T11:05:00.000-07:002011-11-03T11:05:44.312-07:00The Link between Celiac and ADHD<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There's evidence suggesting that gluten sensitivity may be at the root of many neurological and psychiatric conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>What is gluten?</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's a protein found in wheat grain and part of "gluey" proline and glutamine rich proteins known as prolamines. Prolamines are found in all cereal grains, even rice, corn and oats, but only wheat, and to a lesser extent rye, spelt and einkorn, are assosiated with the serious neurological and autoimmune reactions often linked to autism spectrum disorder. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gluten is only found in wheat species. Spelt or einhorn gluten has dramatically lower antigenicity of common wheat (Triticulum aestivum) that is used in bread products. Other cereal grasses have what are known as prolamines (proline-glutamine rich proteins) with rye containing secalin, barley containing horedin, etc, but they have very little cross-reactivity with antigens associated with wheat intolerance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It has long been known that people with celiac disease are also more likely to suffer from ADHD, another condition that is heavily influenced by dietary habits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However, while the treatment of celiac disease is a completely gluten-free diet, with ADHD the most oft-cited dietary villain is sugar, whereas grains are often overlooked (even though they act much like sugar in your body). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It turns out, though, that there may be a closer link between the symptoms of celiac disease and ADHD than was previously recognized, and that connection is gluten.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWW4gFLMTuCpdw40aN6vcONluTvIXI9wfXXoflQnIvU9NYqs9lwfMvl1Rx-pCfzUVt_x7Cg_JgUeL-5z95hWsSyU8C7QxrYIviFVRSZaVh9jP5YJp1fpxeUsqhfan3TbG1mXUBM3G8jXc/s1600/Herbs++a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWW4gFLMTuCpdw40aN6vcONluTvIXI9wfXXoflQnIvU9NYqs9lwfMvl1Rx-pCfzUVt_x7Cg_JgUeL-5z95hWsSyU8C7QxrYIviFVRSZaVh9jP5YJp1fpxeUsqhfan3TbG1mXUBM3G8jXc/s200/Herbs++a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Gluten-Free Diet May "Cure" ADHD</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Many children with ADHD do not respond well to most grains, especially wheat. This could be because they have full-blown celiac disease, which impacts an average of one out of every 133 people in the United States (although some studies have found that this number may be as high as 1 in 33 in at-risk populations) -- or because they have a less obvious condition known as gluten sensitivity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">People with gluten sensitivity, which may comprise 10 percent of the U.S. population or more, experience many of the same symptoms as celiac disease causes, including headaches, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, gas and more, but may be unaware that the culprit triggering these symptoms is wheat and other gluten-containing grains. It's also very possible to have celiac disease and not know it … as researchers state, "in many cases, the disease may be clinically silent despite manifest small bowel mucosal lesions."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But the psychological and behavioral symptoms of ADHD are now overlapping so often with those of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity that it's recommended "celiac disease … be included in the ADHD symptom checklist." This suggestion was prompted by a new study, which found people with ADHD who tested positive for celiac disease improved significantly after following a gluten-free diet for at least six months. The researchers noted:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"After initiation of the gluten-free diet, patients or their parents reported a significant improvement in their behavior and functioning compared to the period before celiac diagnosis and treatment … "</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It may sound strange to you that eating a grain that wreaks havoc on your gut would manifest as symptoms related to your brain, rather than your digestion, but grains are inherently pro-inflammatory and will worsen any condition that has chronic inflammation at its root -- and not just inflammation in your gut, but anywhere in your body. Chronic inflammation in your body can wreak havoc in your brain, and the importance of reducing inflammation when dealing with mental health issues is well known. It is very common for people to experience a wide variety of mental health and emotional improvements upon eliminating gluten from their diet.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Why Even Whole, Sprouted Wheat is a Problem</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I recommend that everyone following my beginner nutrition plan eliminate all gluten from their diets, whether or not they have celiac disease or ADHD, because many experience health improvements upon doing so. Among the most important foods to avoid are those gluten-containing grains that contain gliadin molecules, such as wheat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When gliadin in the wheat protein complex (containing over 23,000 proteins) activates the protein zonulin in the gut, it opens up the gaps between the enterocytes causing an influx of improperly digested wheat proteins and stomach bacteria. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Therefore regardless of your sensitivity level to the wheat proteins, gliadin opens up a pandora's box of intestinal permeability, and subsequent systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wheat also contains high amounts of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), a glycoprotein classified as a lectin, which is largely responsible for many of wheat's ill effects. Other grains high in lectins include rice, spelt, and rye. Interestingly enough, the highest amounts of WGA is found in whole wheat, including its sprouted form, which is touted as being the most healthful form of all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lectins are actually designed to withstand degradation through a wide range of pH and temperatures, which is why sprouting, fermenting and cooking will NOT negate its ill effects. WGA lectin is particularly tough because it's actually formed by the same disulfide bonds that give strength and resilience to vulcanized rubber and human hair.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Furthermore, because lectins are so small and hard to digest, they tend to bioaccumulate in your body, where they can interfere with biological processes. WGA is particularly troublesome in this regard. Studies indicate it has a number of health-harming characteristics and activities:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Pro-inflammatory--WGA stimulates the synthesis of pro-inflammatory chemical messengers (cytokines) in intestinal and immune cells, and has been shown to play a causative role in chronic thin gut inflammation. Immunotoxicity--WGA induces thymus atrophy in rats , and anti-WGA antibodies in human blood have been shown to cross-react with other proteins, indicating that they may contribute to autoimmunity. In fact, WGA appears to play a role in celiac disease (CD) that is entirely distinct from that of gluten, due to significantly higher levels of IgG and IgA antibodies against WGA found in patients with CD, when compared with patients with other intestinal disorders. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Neurotoxicity-- WGA can cross your blood-brain barrier through a process called "adsorptive endocytosis," pulling other substances with it. WGA may attach to your myelin sheath and is capable of inhibiting nerve growth factor, which is important for the growth, maintenance, and survival of certain target neurons. Excitotoxicity-- Wheat, dairy, and soy contain exceptionally high levels of glutamic and aspartic acid, which makes them all potentially excitotoxic. Excitotoxicity is a pathological process where glutamic and aspartic acid cause an over-activation of your nerve cell receptors, which can lead to calcium-induced nerve and brain injury. These two amino acids may contribute to neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease, and other nervous system disorders such as epilepsy, ADD/ADHD and migraines. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cytotoxicity—WGA has been demonstrated to be cytotoxic to both normal and cancerous cell lines, capable of inducing either cell cycle arrest or programmed cell death (apoptosis). Disrupts Endocrine Function—WGA may contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance, and leptin resistance by blocking the leptin receptor in your hypothalamus. It also binds to both benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and interferes with the production of secretin from your pancreas, which can lead to digestive problems and pancreatic hypertrophy. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cardiotoxicity—WGA has a potent, disruptive effect on platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, which plays a key role in tissue regeneration and safely removing neutrophils from your blood vessels. Adversely effects gastrointestinal function by causing increased shedding of the intestinal brush border membranIt is my sincere hope that people will begin to realize that drug therapy, if at all necessary, should be a very last resort, after all other options have been exhausted, when it comes to behavioral problems such as ADHD. The first route of treatment should actually be dietary changes, including:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">•Eliminate most grains and sugars, including fructose, from your child's diet. Grains and sugars both tend to cause allergies in sensitive individuals. Even organic, whole, sprouted grain can cause problems in many children so it would be wise to give them a "grain holiday" and see if their behavior improves. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">•Replace soft drinks (whether diet and regular), fruit juices, and pasteurized milk with pure, clean non-fluoridated water. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">•Increase omega-3 fats by taking a high quality animal-based omega-3 oil. Research has confirmed that animal-based omega-3 fat can improve the symptoms of ADHD more effectively than drugs like Ritalin® and Concerta®. In my view, krill oil is the best option for this. It contains essential EPA and DHA in a double-chain phospholipid structure that makes it far more absorbable than the omega-3s in fish oil. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">•Minimize your use of nearly all processed fats, especially trans fats as they disrupt nerve cell intercommunication. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">•Avoid all processed foods, especially those containing fructose, artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, which may trigger or worsen symptoms. Gluten is also commonly hidden in processed foods like ready-made soups, soy sauce, candies, cold cuts, and various low- and no-fat products, as well as refined grain products like bread, pizza crust, pasta, cookies and pastries. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I also recommend you have your child follow a gluten-free diet to see if this eliminates their symptoms. Your best bet when deciding to eliminate gluten is to primarily base your diet on lean proteins, vegetables and raw dairy products, as described in my nutrition plan, and stick with the grains, seeds and flours available that are naturally gluten-free.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This includes:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rice Corn (only eat organic, non-GM corn) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Quinoa Sorghum </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Soy (but I don't recommend eating this for other reasons) Flax and amaranth seed </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Buckwheat and millet do not contain the gliadin molecule that can provoke the inflammatory reaction from gluten. Therefore, they are usually safe to eat as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gluten-free options are becoming much more in demand and as a result are showing up in grocery stores, restaurants and from caterers. But keep in mind, particularly if you are relying on processed gluten-free foods, that cross-contamination can and does occur, most likely during processing, and many companies simply aren't testing to make sure the final product is still gluten-free.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Finally, the benefits of a gluten-free diet do not always appear overnight. Some do experience improvements rapidly, but in others it can take <span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">9 to 12 months</span> before the lining of your small intestine is fully healed. Generally, allow 6 to 9 months of following a gluten-free diet before you expect symptoms to resolve.</span><br />
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</script>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-67763617752550306732011-08-07T11:46:00.000-07:002011-08-07T11:46:55.997-07:00The Stunning Effect of This Single Vitamin on CANCER...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In scathing commentary about Big Pharma in America and the for-profit drug industry, Dr. Mercola discusses the effect of the cancer industry and the profit motive. Now I think it is far too simplistc to say that the right version of D3 is the amazing cure-all that Mercola espouses. But most of us don't have this level of corruption in the psyche, which is why it is inconceivable to think that this information could be surpressed. Most of my fellow doctors would do pretty much anything to help their patients get well, but you are far more profitable as a sick person than maintaining your health. MDs do not get paid for this by the way, the drug companies do.... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Read on McDuff.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>What if a cure for cancer has been right here all along? What if the very agency charged with protecting your health is the one keeping you from that cure? </em></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Lawless, Rogue Agency Out of Control</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ten years ago a former New York State assemblyman, Daniel Haley, wrote a scathing exposé on how the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) systematically shuts the door on effective and non-toxic products, many for cancer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The FDA is the chief agency in charge of protecting and promoting Americans' health and safety. But in 10 stunning, true stories in his book, "The Politics of Healing," Haley describes how the FDA has suppressed and banned natural health cures – eight of them for cancer. He later wrote about two additional cancer cures that worked, which the FDA also disallowed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The FDA even admitted that one of these treatments, discovered by Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski, was successful with some of the most incurable forms of cancer. I shared this with you in a recent article that showed his film, but stories like this are far too common, and you can't help but wonder how many people have died while the FDA denied them cancer treatments that work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Haley brazenly calls the FDA a rogue, out of control agency that has lied in Congressional testimonies, deliberately falsified data, and destroyed evidence to prohibit cures like Burzynki's from coming to market. The FDA's loyalties are to the drug industry, not to individuals, Haley says.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">His claims mirror those of Dr. David Graham, who once worked in the FDA's Office of Drug Safety. In 2004 Dr. Graham blew the whistle on six drugs that were harming people, including Vioxx, but instead of acting on his warnings, Graham's superiors pulled him off his job. He fought back in a PBS television special when he told how he'd been chastised at the FDA for thinking the FDA served the public. The "FDA is there to serve the drug industry," Graham said his supervisors told him.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>'Virtually Every' Drug Company Now Targeting Cancer Therapies</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today, the FDA continues to serve its client, Big Pharma, by making sure that toxic chemotherapy, along with surgery and radiation, are the only cancer treatment options legally available to you. This industry is huge, with 139 cancer treatment drugs in the pipeline just for women alone. All told there are over 900 experimental cancer therapies under investigation. No wonder so many pharmaceutical companies are ramping up their cancer drug research! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">According to the New York Times:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>"Virtually every large pharmaceutical company seems to have discovered cancer, and a substantial portion of the smaller biotechnology companies are focused on it as well. Together, the companies are pouring billions of dollars into developing cancer drugs."</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Note they said drugs, not cures. That's because this industry isn't set up for a cure, even though they say that's what they're looking for. It's also why economic forecasts predict 20 million new cancers by 2025, with the $50 billion-a-year cancer treatment business increasing by 15 percent a year. Pfizer alone projects its annual cancer drug returns will be $11 billion by 2018.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Truth about Vitamin D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Everyone's talking about vitamin D right now, especially since the Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) updated their recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for it. The truth is that most Americans are deficient in vitamin D, and studies show that vitamin D supplementation can both prevent and kill many infections and diseases, including cancer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Vitamin D isn't actually a vitamin, although scientists refer to it as such. It's actually a steroid hormone that you get from sun exposure, food sources and/or supplementation. The term refers to either vitamin D2 or D3, but according to the National Vitamin D Council, D3 (chemical name 25-hydroxy vitamin D) is real vitamin D, and is the same substance produced naturally through your skin by sun exposure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Older research appears at odds on whether your body cares which form of D it's getting. But a study in the January 2011 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that D3 is 87 percent more effective than D2, and is the preferred form for treating vitamin D deficiency. It's measured in international units (IU's) in nanograms per milliliter, or ng/mL. The Vitamin D Council believes that a person's D3 levels should be at least 50 ng/mLfor your body to function properly. (To determine whether you might be deficient, you need to get your vitamin D levels tested, and ideally, you'll want to get tested regularly thereafter to ensure you're maintaining optimal levels year-round.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fourteen famous vitamin D researchers gave the FNB this information, but the FNB apparently ignored the information that the researchers presented because their "updated" RDA levels ended up being so pitifully low that it's doubtful it can significantly impact Americans' deficiency, let alone fight off diseases like cancer and heart disease. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Experts Protest 'Impossible' New RDA Levels</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Depending on your age, the new recommendations are 600 to 800 IUs a day for adults and between zero and 600 IUs a day for children. The FNB also said that taking vitamin D in amounts of 10,000 IUs or more could be dangerous – but that's ridiculous, seeing that a 30-minute dose of sunshine can give an adult more than 10,000 IUs! Since countless studies indicate that much higher levels of vitamin D are required for optimal health, it's no surprise that experts lost no time denouncing the FNB's recommendations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"It's almost impossible to significantly raise your vitamin D levels when supplementing (at the FNB levels)," the Vitamin D Council posted on its website.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hidden Agendas and Conflicts of Interest</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Suspecting that conflicts of interest and hidden agendas played a part in this, the Vitamin D Council filed Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests so they could examine the FNB's notes on the process. They're still waiting on an answer, but I'm wondering if it doesn't have something to do with the fact that over 1,350 clinical trials on vitamin D are currently being conducted by major drug companies, all based on the prevention or cure of many illnesses and diseases, including 388 for cancer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yes, cancer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From breast to prostate, to colorectal to brain cancers, and even basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer), Drug companies such as Pfizer and Merck are currently either sponsoring or collaborating on clinical trials based on the premise that vitamin D administered orally, intravenously or topically (for skin cancer) may either prevent or cure cancer. Cancer foundations and institutes are all in on the clinical study game as well, such as the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health. Even the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Veteran Affairs are studying ways to prevent and cure cancer with vitamin D! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What's really interesting is that several of these studies are using vitamin D in amounts of 50,000 IUs a day or more – which flies strongly in the face of the FNB's claims that self-supplementing with 10,000 could be dangerous to your health. Since recent studies show that supplements of up to 40,000 IUs a day don't appear to be toxic, and that doses as low as 400 IUs a day are too low to even maintain skeletal health, let alone prevent cancer.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The FDA's Definition of Drug vs. Supplement</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Over 800 studies already show that vitamin D could have cancer-prevention and/or treatment possibilities. But the problem is that it's a natural substance that can't be patented as a simple supplement, meaning there's no real revenue in it, compared to a prescription brand drug. That's why many drug studies involving vitamins of any kind hinge on how the FDA defines drugs and supplements. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A drug is defined as a product meant for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of a disease. A supplement is defined as a product that is meant to simply "supplement" or "enhance" a normal diet within the daily allowances recommended by the FDA. Drugs – and retailers who sell supplements are not allowed to tell you that vitamin D can possibly "prevent, mitigate or cure" cancer without having the FDA accuse them of selling a drug that hasn't been approved through the proper FDA process.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Again, Follow the Money if You Want to Know the Truth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That process of getting a drug to market costs an average $359 million and takes nearly 10 years– with a good portion of the money going directly to the FDA through user fees. Over the years these fees have become a major funding source for the FDA. What drug companies get in return is faster FDA reviews and drug approvals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As a result, a kind of you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours scenario has ensued, with drug companies maintaining major leverage over the FDA when it comes to protecting their revenue sources, including making sure the $60 billion-a-year supplement business doesn't get in the way of drug sales. The history of FDA laws and regulations on file at Harvard Law School, explains how years ago an FDA task force long ago established this policy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"… to ensure that the presence of dietary supplements on the market does not act as a disincentive to drug development." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">So how does this relate to too-low RDA levels for vitamin D?</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Let's look at the clinical trials shows that most of them involve "high-potency" D3 supplements, which puts them in the drug category if it turns out they can mitigate, treat or cure cancer. And that means they can be patented – and sold to you as prescriptions at sky-high prices. </span><br />
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<script language="javascript" src="http://www.mercola.com/js/citation.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-12841794958125347222011-07-21T13:33:00.000-07:002015-11-21T09:55:51.650-08:00Treatment of Automimmune Disease with Oriental Medicine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8IXBBU9GERmmxFUDXpZXaXK2DCl4hhtGmYed9RmmzZKBzSooLfXE0Uol-_2Xr0ts6szoIEIN-uN2IsRTn5IPL4PMqKjCCHshYBPl0nqWU5YeZ0vpPpcPpy56zYJZBmLjq9cAgkHlNV1j/s1600/holistic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8IXBBU9GERmmxFUDXpZXaXK2DCl4hhtGmYed9RmmzZKBzSooLfXE0Uol-_2Xr0ts6szoIEIN-uN2IsRTn5IPL4PMqKjCCHshYBPl0nqWU5YeZ0vpPpcPpy56zYJZBmLjq9cAgkHlNV1j/s1600/holistic3.jpg" t="" true="" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the immune system attacks the body and destroys or alters tissues. There are more than eighty serious chronic illnesses in this category including rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, lupus, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Addison's disease, pernicious anemia, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and GuillainBarré syndrome. According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) twenty percent of the population suffers from autoimmune disorders. Each disease appears uncommon on an individual basis but, as a group, the disorders make up the fourth-largest cause of disability among women. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Due to the complexity of treating autoimmune disorders, integrative medicine solutions including acupuncture and Oriental medicine have received much attention as successful therapies in their treatment particularly for use in providing pain relief, regulating the immune system, managing symptoms and improving overall quality of life.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><strong>What Causes Autoimmune Disease?</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Under normal conditions, an immune response cannot be triggered against the cells of one's own body. In certain cases, however, immune cells make a mistake and attack the very cells that they are meant to protect. This can lead to a variety of autoimmune diseases which encompass a broad category of over 100 diseases in which the person's immune system attacks his or her own tissue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The exact mechanisms causing these changes are not completely understood, but bacteria, viruses, toxins, and some drugs may play a role in triggering an autoimmune process in someone who already has a genetic (inherited) predisposition to develop such a disorder. It is theorized that the inflammation initiated by these agents, toxic or infectious, somehow provokes in the body a "sensitization" (autoimmune reaction) in the involved tissues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As the disease develops vague symptoms start to appear, such as joint and muscle pain, general muscle weakness, possible rashes or low-grade fever, trouble concentrating, or weight loss. The following symptoms may point toward something being wrong: numbness and tingling in hands and feet, dry eyes, hair loss, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, or repeated miscarriages can also be caused by an autoimmune response.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How Acupuncture Treats Autoimmune Disorders</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">According to Oriental medicine, autoimmune disorders occur when there is imbalance within the body. Imbalance can come from an excess or deficiency of yin and yang that disrupts the flow of Qi, or vital energy, through the body. Acupuncture is used to help the body restore balance, treating the root of the disorder, while specifically addressing the symptoms that are unique to each individual. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Clinical research has shown that acupuncture causes physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain. These responses can cause the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions. It is proposed that, by these actions, acupuncture affects blood pressure, body temperature and the immune system.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In addition to acupuncture, your treatment program to manage your autoimmune disorder may involve a combination of therapies including stress reducing exercises, moderate physical activity, herbal medicine and nutritional support.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Learn more about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can be safely and effectively incorporated into treating autoimmune disorders, call for a consultation today!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-63987848629072019592011-07-05T17:16:00.000-07:002011-07-05T17:16:01.866-07:00These Five Foods May Cause Problems VERY Similar to Wheat...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDirwk_D-zzRqpIF32W-MbqecTnwHiBrp9ND8rjNMMvPkuL44VEoMoBPhcYBKvE-KcZZPn8cT4xTMq296Zoz8DHeZob8tGi4j-XlndGA_b107q-vvaYJn062CSAEqSwRvY4odqqQdqK8K/s1600/untitled+b.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDirwk_D-zzRqpIF32W-MbqecTnwHiBrp9ND8rjNMMvPkuL44VEoMoBPhcYBKvE-KcZZPn8cT4xTMq296Zoz8DHeZob8tGi4j-XlndGA_b107q-vvaYJn062CSAEqSwRvY4odqqQdqK8K/s200/untitled+b.bmp" width="200" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As some of you know, I have espoused a gluten-free and anti-inflammatory diet for anyone with pain, thyroid, or other types of auto-immune conditions, including Type II diabetes, RA, fibromyalgia. Dr. Kharazian and Dr. Mercola advocate going even one better and ask us to consider eliminating grains entirely from our diet. This is more in keeping with a daoist form of eating. In the Shen Nong Ben Cao (circa 400 AD) the introduction of cultivated grains, including rice was the advent of the "1000 diseases." I have reprinted a portion fo Dr. Mercola's article here which addresses the lectin found even on rice, which is generally considered safe for a gluten-sensitive individual.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"While eliminating wheat from your diet is an excellent and necessary step for improving health, it may not be alone sufficient, especially in those with serious health challenges. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">According to a series of articles on the website Green Med Info, there are other foods in the Western diet that have properties similar to wheat, because they contain "chitin binding lectins", which are similar to wheat lectin (WGA). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Chitins are long polymers of n-acetyl-glucosamine, the primary binding target of wheat lectin. Wheat lectin and chitin-binding lectin are therefore functionally identical. Chitin-binding lectin containing foods include:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">•Potato </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">•Tomato </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">•Barley </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">•Rye </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">•Rice </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Additionally, sprouted grains, which are typically considered to be healthful fare can also be problematic for a couple of different reasons. Not only do sprouted whole wheat contain the highest amounts of wheat lectin, sprouted grains also contain benzoxazinoids (BAs)—a surprisingly toxic component! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Even a modest reduction in consumption of these types of carbohydrate-rich foods may promote loss of deep belly fat. This could help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, stroke and coronary artery disease, as excess visceral fat (intra-abdominal fat) raises the risk of these diseases. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">According to Eurekalert:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>"... [S]ubjects who consumed [a] moderately carb-restricted diet had 11 percent less deep abdominal fat than those who ate the standard diet ... [S]ubjects on both diets lost weight. However, the moderately carb-restricted diet promoted a 4 percent greater loss of total body fat". </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yesterday, I discussed how wheat can deteriorate your mental health, and I mentioned that even sprouted wheat can contribute to poor health. I'll delve into this a bit more in just a moment, but first, let's review the health effects of some other non-wheat grains. As it turns out, wheat is not the only grain that can wreak havoc on your health.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiZ_1UJ0M-5WV6f68BwH7Sl8PwCYDtBhlZyx_Yj02r-JZqawITYPPhi9UddvnqrfwF_I5w53pz5-2CkAEwjw-XjgEyLILEgc9pSptAEs7yjIUHks6vMrnV1pTrz5lZeb8T5_2AaBCuCoH/s1600/canstockphoto0237519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiZ_1UJ0M-5WV6f68BwH7Sl8PwCYDtBhlZyx_Yj02r-JZqawITYPPhi9UddvnqrfwF_I5w53pz5-2CkAEwjw-XjgEyLILEgc9pSptAEs7yjIUHks6vMrnV1pTrz5lZeb8T5_2AaBCuCoH/s200/canstockphoto0237519.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><em><strong>Non-Wheat Grains May Be Just as Bad as Wheat...</strong></em></span><br />
If you have celiac disease (gluten intolerance), it's absolutely imperative to avoid all kinds of gluten—primarily wheat. But did you know that other non-wheat grains, and even some vegetables, such as tomato, may be problematic as well? Yes, there are a number of other foods with very similar properties to wheat! The following foods contain "chitin binding lectins", which are similar to wheat lectin (WGA): <br />
•Potato <br />
•Tomato <br />
•Barley <br />
•Rye <br />
•Rice <br />
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"Chitins" are long polymers of n-acetyl-glucosamine, the primary binding target of wheat lectin. Wheat lectin and "chitin-binding lectin" are therefore functionally identical. This is probably news to most people, and could be an important tidbit for anyone struggling with celiac disease, or any other gastrointestinal issues.<br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: blue;"><em><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Be</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"> Careful</span> if You Have Insulin Resistance</span></em></span></strong><br />
About 85 percent of the people in the population have insulin resistance, and eating any grains, even healthy organic unprocessed ones can be a problem. How do you know if you have insulin resistance? <br />
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There are two ways:<br />
You can measure your fasting insulin level. It should be under 3. It is relatively inexpensive and I believe most people should have it done The higher it is, the worse your insulin resistance. If you want to forgo the hassle of a blood test then you can use clinical conditions as a gauge. If you have any of the following four conditions you most likely have insulin resistance:<br />
•Overweight <br />
•Diabetes <br />
•High blood pressure <br />
•High cholesterol <br />
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I have explained this information for many years, but now we have new scientific research documenting that grains have other problems that are appear to be unrelated to insulin resistance, and I will review them below.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Sprouted Grains—Perhaps Not as Healthful as You've Been Told</em></strong></span><br />
The sprouts of grains such as wheat, maize, and rye are increasingly being consumed as health foods, and are also used for the production of dietary supplements. However, sprouted wheat actually contains the highest amounts of wheat lectin (WGA)—which is responsible for many of wheat's ill health effects! And that's not all. These sprouts (wheat, maize and rye) also contain benzoxazinoids (BAs). Benzoxazinoids are part of the plants' defense system against pests, and are actually toxic components...<br />
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A study from 2007, published in the journal Cancer Letters, investigated the mutagenic activities of the two most abundant BA's in these sprouted grains. Both types of BA were found be mutagens, meaning capable of altering genetic material, and both were also found to be aneugenic, meaning they affect cell division and lead to aneuploidy, an incorrect number of chromosomes.<br />
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"This is an interesting observation as it is assumed that aneuploidy is a key event in cancer induction and at present no other aneugenic plant-derived substances of dietary relevance are known," the authors wrote. <br />
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Now, I think it may be risky to claim that sprouted grains are outright toxic when ingested. That's probably not exactly the case. There may be mitigating factors involved, as there often are when you're dealing with a whole food."<br />
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</script></span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-55501455591963717462011-06-27T12:43:00.000-07:002011-06-27T13:01:23.229-07:00Treating Diabetes with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Reprinted from our June Newsletter here: </em></span><a href="http://www.acunut.com/files/June_2011.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>http://www.acunut.com/files/June_2011.pdf</em></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2pdk5Opu6oJOMeA2NaFspeQb2invG-BW9mnmqARDaJUR-l9UrPob_Z76YUYGfyK3EL6RaOfaIeGoffWTyoHRaUMa0G8VylJpLHwP55Ywh-l8EYeLkFFv_CECPQw4nI4QvdfgThCXKq4t/s1600/acupuncture-rh-image.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2pdk5Opu6oJOMeA2NaFspeQb2invG-BW9mnmqARDaJUR-l9UrPob_Z76YUYGfyK3EL6RaOfaIeGoffWTyoHRaUMa0G8VylJpLHwP55Ywh-l8EYeLkFFv_CECPQw4nI4QvdfgThCXKq4t/s1600/acupuncture-rh-image.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It is estimated that 25.8 million men, women and children in the United States have diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the risk for death is approximately twice that of persons of similar age without diabetes. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. Complications of diabetes include heart disease, hypertension, eye problems, kidney disease, nervous system disease, periodontal disease, amputation, fatigue, depression, and complications during pregnancy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In order to manage diabetes, it is essential for people to make healthy lifestyle choices in diet, exercise, and other health habits. Another important factor when treating diabetes is creating a support team of health care professionals. This support team may include your primary doctor, an eye doctor, nurses, a dietitian, and a licensed acupuncturist.</span></div><br />
<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Diabetes according to Oriental Medicine</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">According to Traditional Oriental Medicine, diabetes is caused by an imbalance of the cyclical flow of Qi within the meridians and organ systems.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This particular imbalance produces heat that depletes the body’s fluids and Qi causing symptoms such as: </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fatigue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lethargy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Unexplained Weight Loss</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Excessive Thirst (Polydipsia)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Excessive Urination (Polyuria)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Excessive Eating (Polyphagia)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Poor Wound Healing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Infections</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Irritability</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Blurry Vision</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">How Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Treats Diabetes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In treating diabetes, Oriental medicine offers a way to address each patient individually to eliminate the symptoms associated with diabetes and reduce the need for insulin. A variety of techniques may be used during treatment including acupuncture, herbal medicine, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and energetic exercises. The treatment for diabetes focuses on regulating the circulation of blood and Qi and balancing the organ systems to improve pancreatic function and address internal heat and the depletion of fluids. When treating diabetes, acupuncture and Oriental medicine can assist the body to regain its normal healthy functioning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are a lot of complications caused by diabetes that require extra attention. If you have diabetes make sure you monitor these five areas on a regular basis. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Blood Sugar: Understand how diabetes changes how food affects your body. Know the signs of low blood sugar. Have a plan in place to correct your blood sugar levels when necessary. </span></li><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Heart Health: Diabetics have a higher risk of heart attacks and stroke. Optimal cholesterol and blood pressure goals are lower for diabetics. </span></li><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Infections: Due to higher blood sugar levels bacteria grow and infections develop more quickly. Treating infections early on can prevent serious complications later. </span></li><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Feet: Diabetics may suffer from neuropathy, or nerve death in their feet and can get an injury or serious infection without feeling it. </span></li><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Exercise: Exercise has been shown to decrease blood sugars and improve insulin resistance, the main issue in those with type II diabetes.</span></li><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To add acupuncture and Oriental medicine to your arsenal when fighting diabetes and learn more about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can improve your health and well being call for a consultation today!</span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-66589300441679122882011-05-24T12:11:00.000-07:002011-05-24T12:11:57.728-07:00THE FIRST ORDER OF QI CULTIVATION – DIETOk, so in order for food to have qi or vital energy in it, it must look at least a little like how it looked in nature. NO, protein bars and energy powders do not count. By the time many folks are desperate enough to try acupuncture, many of them are literally starving to death. This is not just dramatic license on my part! Proper nutrition is more than minimizing carbs, or the proper combination of vitamins and minerals. Many people go months or years without eating a single living thing. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfQxjzhxY5nxrCif2u9CeRaInAUytvvqHktZqANnZt9hCp-YE-niAuLRJX-O9ZRrzwTdSrkFhjnfOtHp6bupaV7SIcs2ZpCanmubAINfpluvjwR9WzkfWJDd-650iXjNWpS1e94i7hrvH/s1600/664-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfQxjzhxY5nxrCif2u9CeRaInAUytvvqHktZqANnZt9hCp-YE-niAuLRJX-O9ZRrzwTdSrkFhjnfOtHp6bupaV7SIcs2ZpCanmubAINfpluvjwR9WzkfWJDd-650iXjNWpS1e94i7hrvH/s1600/664-sm.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><em>How may servings per day?</em><br />
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The USDA recommends a daily serving of 4-5 vegetables and 2-4 fruit to meet our basic nutritional requirements. OK, that 9-10. Most of us are lucky to get one or two. But in order for the body to heal, there must be a surplus of qi and nutritional building blocks. Since food is how we provide the body with the building blocks needed for cellular processes including repair, missing even a few micronutrients can play make healing much more difficult. So begin to support the healing process by enjoying a balance of fresh foods that are in season. Please note that fresh does not necessarily mean raw. Many of us have digestion so compromised that even if we ate all those raw fruits and veggies, they would not be absorbed properly anyway. Fresh vegetables that are lightly steamed (not boiled to death) have plenty of qi and vitality in them, and are more easily assimilated by the body. <br />
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<em>“You will be assimilated”</em><br />
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For those of you who may not understand what I mean by “assimilated” I find it helpful to remember the Borg in certain Star Trek episodes. It is the job of the body to absorb and process all the nutrients available in the foods that we eat. But how well the body is able to do that depends upon 1) the quality of the food we are eating and 2) our own ability to actually take in that nutrition. Our ability to absorb butrients from the foods that we eat decreases as we get older, and is affected by other helath conditions. Smoking dramatically decreases how well we absorb nutrients; individuals who are immuno-comprimised, suffering from chornic disease, or or undergoing chemotherapy or HAART find that their medications can damage the lining of the stomach and intestine so that it is more difficult to digest food. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFVrhatMdDDnWzYDu6MZgpvplTTlAWLwQKSPFxsrIQTZ_TCqHdAuq7-40oMB6eNIesOtadzg_bjkBOdnNoJzUU34PM_s8MMJ4SOiBl4_9pK7-NYBRlBs7wki1rPtHZEraISrvT01hL89v/s1600/stomach.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFVrhatMdDDnWzYDu6MZgpvplTTlAWLwQKSPFxsrIQTZ_TCqHdAuq7-40oMB6eNIesOtadzg_bjkBOdnNoJzUU34PM_s8MMJ4SOiBl4_9pK7-NYBRlBs7wki1rPtHZEraISrvT01hL89v/s200/stomach.bmp" t8="true" width="184" /></a></div>Second, I think it is helpful to be realistic about diet: it is difficult, if not impossible to get everything we need from diet without a lot of work (e.g. shopping, chopping, scrubbing, cooking, chewing…Oy vey). Save yourself some anguish and find a good multi-vitamin, with additional herbs or supplements as needed. When determining which supplements to take, I cannot stress enough the importance (and ultimate cost savings) of working with a licensed practitioner to help determine guide you. All of us have yielded to, at one time or another, the temptation to try that one new supplement that our friend raved about thinking it might help. (Be honest, how many have an entire shelf or section of the counter devoted to various bottles, lotions, and herbal potions?) It all adds up. Secondly, for those folks who are taking a large number of western medications, indivisuals who are immuno-comprimised or undergoing chemotherapy, it is extremely important to work with someone who is competent in both eastern and western biomedicine.Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-47647390414750918122011-05-24T12:04:00.000-07:002011-05-24T12:04:34.130-07:00Women's Health Concerns and How Acupuncture Can Help<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Reprinted from our monthly newsletter...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The biggest threats to women's health are often preventable. Oriental medicine has always addressed the special needs of women throughout their lives and many health issues women face respond extremely well to acupuncture treatments. Taking small steps to improve your health can make a difference.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDirwk_D-zzRqpIF32W-MbqecTnwHiBrp9ND8rjNMMvPkuL44VEoMoBPhcYBKvE-KcZZPn8cT4xTMq296Zoz8DHeZob8tGi4j-XlndGA_b107q-vvaYJn062CSAEqSwRvY4odqqQdqK8K/s1600/untitled+b.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDirwk_D-zzRqpIF32W-MbqecTnwHiBrp9ND8rjNMMvPkuL44VEoMoBPhcYBKvE-KcZZPn8cT4xTMq296Zoz8DHeZob8tGi4j-XlndGA_b107q-vvaYJn062CSAEqSwRvY4odqqQdqK8K/s200/untitled+b.bmp" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The top health concerns affecting women and how acupuncture can help are:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: orange; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cardiovascular Disease</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As the number one threat to women's health, cardiovascular disease is not just a man's disease. In women, the condition is responsible for about 29% of deaths, reports the CDC. Although more men die of heart disease than women, females tend to be under diagnosed, often to the point that it's too late to help them once the condition is discovered. By integrating acupuncture and Oriental medicine into your heart healthy lifestyle, you can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as eighty percent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Steps to prevention include managing high blood pressure and cholesterol, quitting smoking, eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, physical activity, reducing stress and improved sleep - all of which can be helped with acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Acupuncture has been found to be particularly helpful in lowering blood pressure. By applying acupuncture needles at specific sites along the wrist, inside the forearm or in the leg, researchers have been able to stimulate the release of opiods, which decreases the heart's activity and its need for oxygen. This, in turn, lowers blood pressure. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeFfXDNS_B2YkdG0t8WtryHcU91nl8CvH5a3oaaz0bCIW7qXwzSUxRxqdVTt_FBWAdb0ichRQ7R0UcvdRM1eHGI-TlV5HjdlpsFBwnDyP4pcdtiqzXV5v7F6ktsXnq2F9kE-9dqGy1xwF/s1600/acupuncture-rh-image.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeFfXDNS_B2YkdG0t8WtryHcU91nl8CvH5a3oaaz0bCIW7qXwzSUxRxqdVTt_FBWAdb0ichRQ7R0UcvdRM1eHGI-TlV5HjdlpsFBwnDyP4pcdtiqzXV5v7F6ktsXnq2F9kE-9dqGy1xwF/s1600/acupuncture-rh-image.gif" t8="true" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cancer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There have been many advances in the early detection and treatment of cancer. While the standard medical care for cancer is effective, the treatments are aggressive and cause numerous unwanted side effects as well as a lowered immune system. The three most common cancers among women are breast, lung and colorectal cancer. While breast cancer is the most common cancer in women it is second in the leading cause of cancer death. Early detection screenings and recommended self examinations should be taken seriously. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Acupuncture has received much attention as an adjunctive therapy in cancer treatments for its use in pain relief, reducing side effects, accelerating recovery and improving overall quality of life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From a preventive approach Oriental medicine works to restore imbalances in the system with a variety of treatment modalities including acupuncture, herbal therapy, tui na, qi gong in addition to food, exercise and lifestyle suggestions. Seasonal acupuncture treatments just four times a year serve to tonify the inner organ systems and correct minor annoyances before they become serious problems.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1RfyFbFhglBvmdG4UBK343Ko-IQ5wv9rK7A3XBungmFnxPbsSFnhNYwaGDFf3JrneWXERnNbJyUUfTmvCDcjQXY7w5BAwsw7xv6s5EZq3wisRHHglK410FVadaTDgVIkIY5H3JnVwJS8/s1600/flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1RfyFbFhglBvmdG4UBK343Ko-IQ5wv9rK7A3XBungmFnxPbsSFnhNYwaGDFf3JrneWXERnNbJyUUfTmvCDcjQXY7w5BAwsw7xv6s5EZq3wisRHHglK410FVadaTDgVIkIY5H3JnVwJS8/s200/flower.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Osteoporosis</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Characterized by a decrease in bone mass and an increased likelihood of fractures osteoporosis is not simply a calcium deficiency. As a complex living tissue, bone is made of many different components and is influenced by many variables including the body's use of calcium from the bone to balance pH levels in the blood. Osteoporosis threatens 44 million Americans, of which 68% are women, reports the National Osteoporosis Foundation. "Osteoporosis is largely preventable," says Mark. "The behaviors that women develop in their childhood, in their adolescence, and in their early adult years really play a significant role in the development of the disease." That's because bodies build up most of bone mass until age 30. Then new bone stops forming and the focus switches to the maintenance of old bone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Acupuncture and Oriental medicine coupled with a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise, have much to offer in improving the quality of life for those who suffer from bone and joint problems.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Depression</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Depressive disorders affect 10%-25% of women at some point in their lives. The body’s immune system is compromised and symptoms reduce functioning, impair work performance and social relationships. Common symptoms of depressive disorders include: a decreased interest in most activities, insomnia, fatigue, and feeling empty and worthless. At its worst, hopelessness sets in and suicide becomes a desperate option for approximately 15% of people who suffer from severe depressive disorders.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oriental medicine does not view people as a collection of segmented parts to be treated independently but rather addresses the link between the body, spirit and mind. The goal of Oriental medicine is to bring all the human systems into a healthy balance, insuring that both the mind and body feel well and when used in conjunction with psychotherapy acupuncture has a positive and holistic effect on depressed patients. If you suffer from depression, consider acupuncture therapy in conjunction with your treatment plan to regain peace of mind, regulate your immune system and stay healthy. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Autoimmune Diseases</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbGkkpR22zZt6_DvDlvQz1nXHt2SrdtzHtd1JO5UYDEr7c5YK1k1zp8CegTb43g_46Vrhi_2I8N6jsCp3K6SThmO_8YCPhulNoouXPj7RX6s6oXu4xifVB8KjCHkUgZ15KDSJbN2Mn44e/s1600/canstock3029434%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbGkkpR22zZt6_DvDlvQz1nXHt2SrdtzHtd1JO5UYDEr7c5YK1k1zp8CegTb43g_46Vrhi_2I8N6jsCp3K6SThmO_8YCPhulNoouXPj7RX6s6oXu4xifVB8KjCHkUgZ15KDSJbN2Mn44e/s1600/canstock3029434%255B1%255D.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the immune system attacks the body and destroys or alters tissues. There are more than 80 serious chronic illnesses in this category, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes. According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), about 75% of autoimmune diseases occur in women. Individually, each disease appears uncommon with the exception of diabetes, thyroid disease, and lupus however as a group, the disorders make up the fourth-largest cause of disability among American women.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Due to the complexity of treating autoimmune disorders, integrative medicine solutions have received much attention as successful therapies in their treatment. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine are specifically noted for use in pain relief, regulating the immune system, managing symptoms and improving overall quality of life. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Menopause and Gynecological Health</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gynecological conditions including Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), fibroids, endometriosis, and infertility along with menopause are some of the most successfully treated problems by acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Oriental medicine has long recognized that health and vitality can be sustained over a woman's lifetime by restoring balance within the body and supporting the natural production of essential hormones. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Menopause is a transitional period marking the cessation of ovulation in a woman's body. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and are brought on as our bodies try to adapt to decreasing amounts of estrogen. Symptoms can include hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, memory loss, dryness, headaches, joint pain, and weight gain. Menopause patients are encouraged to maintain a healthy weight, stabilize blood sugar, and eliminate stress, tension and anxiety or learn new techniques to cope with them to diminish the effects they have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oriental medicine does not recognize menopause as one particular syndrome and aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual using a variety of techniques such as acupuncture, herbs, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and energetic exercises to restore imbalances found in the body. Therefore, if 10 women are treated each will receive a unique, customized treatment with different acupuncture points, different herbs and different lifestyle and diet recommendations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With support from Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine along with small changes in lifestyle and diet, menopause can be a time of a revival of vital energy and an opportunity for personal growth</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To learn more about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can improve your health and well being call for a consultation today or contact me directly at </span><a href="mailto:webmaster@acunut.com"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">webmaster@acunut.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-48038755067143192612011-04-14T13:15:00.000-07:002011-04-14T13:15:24.810-07:00Acupuncture for Weight Loss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaWrGxTBdz5WrY3FNYEJUYihLWK-wSasx9D0CjJE8HVMbDuGEwkSbhSHA2gTW3Tf-rjEwgJiRlbLiYPmnvxGhyphenhyphenBnpB38g-b6sy9rdOG5TooaiWtsNQGXRLSRQED-Z6ilOQredWDCQyJB1/s1600/canstockphoto3010707+spa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaWrGxTBdz5WrY3FNYEJUYihLWK-wSasx9D0CjJE8HVMbDuGEwkSbhSHA2gTW3Tf-rjEwgJiRlbLiYPmnvxGhyphenhyphenBnpB38g-b6sy9rdOG5TooaiWtsNQGXRLSRQED-Z6ilOQredWDCQyJB1/s200/canstockphoto3010707+spa.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In Oriental medicine the root of excess weight is an imbalance within the body caused by malfunctioning of the spleen and liver organ systems. Acupuncture points, foods and herbs selected to assist with weight loss directly influence the Qi of the spleen and liver systems to treat the imbalances causing the weight gain.</span> <br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The spleen is responsible for the proper functioning of the digestive system, ensuring that the food we eat is transformed into Qi, the vital substance of life. Disharmony of the spleen will have symptoms such as fatigue, slow metabolism, water retention, loose stool, and feeling of heaviness. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The liver’s job is to keep the flow of your body’s Qi, blood and emotions running smoothly. Our modern, fast-paced lifestyle and chronic stress can negatively impact the liver’s ability to function properly and smoothly, which, in turn, can cause the spleen and the whole digestive system to function poorly and decrease your metabolism. Liver disharmony can also cause some of the “triggers” that lead to cravings and compulsive eating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Acupuncture and Oriental medicine has been shown to have an effect on the functioning of the nervous, endocrine and digestive systems, food cravings, and metabolism. These functions all help energize the body, maximize the absorption of nutrients, regulate elimination, control overeating, suppress the appetite, and reduce anxiety. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>A Total Health Program</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Acupuncture and Oriental medicine address the issues of over-eating and low metabolism with effective tools to control appetite and increase energy. Energetic imbalances are corrected and the digestive and elimination processes are improved so that there is a physical shift in the body to naturally have more energy and desire less food. By addressing both the physiological and psychological aspects of weight loss acupuncture and Oriental medicine provide a comprehensive therapy for weight issues that promotes better digestion, smooths emotions, reduces appetite, improves metabolism, and eliminates food cravings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Each treatment is catered to the needs of the individual patient. Acupuncture points on the body are chosen for overall well being with the objective of increasing circulation of the blood and Qi (stimulating the metabolism) and calming the nervous system. Treatments can include a combination of auricular (ear) and body acupuncture, ear tacks or pellets to leave on in-between treatments, herbs and supplements, abdominal massage, breathing exercises, and food and lifestyle recommendations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In addition to treating the root of the imbalance within the body, different acupuncture points may be chosen for each treatment as different symptoms arise. For instance, if you are experiencing a desire to overeat related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) one week, then that can be addressed at that week’s appointment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The herbs and foods that are chosen during a weight loss treatment are for promoting healthy digestion, energizing the body, augmenting Qi, and improve elimination of water, toxins, and waste products. Most patients report a marked decline in appetite and cravings with acupuncture alone but herbs, healing foods, and exercises can definitely enhance the efficacy of the treatments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">Blueberry-Lemon Sorbet</span><span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">A healthy antioxidant rich treat at only 77 calories per 1/2 cup serving.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><span id="goog_1059340131"></span><span id="goog_1059340133"></span><span id="goog_1059340135"></span>3 cups blueberries</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">1/2 cup water</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">2 T honey</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">1 t lemon zest</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">2 T fresh lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">1/8 t salt</span><br />
<span id="goog_1059340136"></span><span id="goog_1059340134"></span><span id="goog_1059340132"></span><span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into a freezer safe container. Freeze 1 hour or until hard.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">Let stand 10 minutes before serving.</span><br />
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<em>Source: Health, 2006</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Come in for a consultation to see how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can assist you with your weight management goals and help you to live a long, healthy life! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Reprinted from our April Newsletter at <a href="http://www.acunut.com/files/April_Newsletter_-.htm">http://www.acunut.com/files/April_Newsletter_-.htm</a></span></em></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-32840225777031040022010-02-10T15:53:00.000-08:002010-02-10T16:27:22.398-08:00I (Heart) the Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0sMhTzY7HJvKoyqdFgN6jtTPimD_UMgw2VzyA464HD0zRRfT2CNUvRsU-DAT5a4X7mp8G8wcjh83UgUyw6Bb1gs_qXCBGbSlId5hG_spSknyQQfSfG3eTXJMch1YOuYzmlOqRtKmbMfB/s1600-h/canstockphoto0045998+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0sMhTzY7HJvKoyqdFgN6jtTPimD_UMgw2VzyA464HD0zRRfT2CNUvRsU-DAT5a4X7mp8G8wcjh83UgUyw6Bb1gs_qXCBGbSlId5hG_spSknyQQfSfG3eTXJMch1YOuYzmlOqRtKmbMfB/s200/canstockphoto0045998+c.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">February is the American Heart Association's Heart Health Awareness Month, emphasizing the dangers of heart disease and the importance of heart health. Heart disease includes conditions affecting the heart, such as coronary heart disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Despite dramatic medical advances over the past fifty years, heart disease remains a leading cause of death globally and the number one cause of death in the United States. By integrating acupuncture and Oriental medicine into your heart healthy lifestyle, you can dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Taking small steps to improve your health can reduce your risk for heart disease by as much as eighty percent. Steps to prevention include managing high blood pressure, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing stress and improved sleep - all of which can be helped with acupuncture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>1. Manage High Blood Pressure</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">High blood pressure makes the heart work harder, increasing its oxygen demands and contributing to angina. This excessive pressure can lead to an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly), as well as damage to blood vessels in the kidneys and brain. It increases the risk of heart attacks, stroke and kidney disease.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Acupuncture has been found to be particularly helpful in lowering blood pressure. By applying acupuncture needles at specific sites along the wrist, inside the forearm or in the leg, researchers at the Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, were able to stimulate the release of opioids, which decreases the heart's activity and thus its need for oxygen. This, in turn, lowers blood pressure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>2. Quit Smoking</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Most people associate cigarette smoking with breathing problems and lung cancer. But did you know that smoking is also a major cause of coronary artery disease? In fact, about twenty percent of all deaths from heart disease are directly related to cigarette smoking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Acupuncture has shown to be an effective treatment for smoking. Acupuncture treatments for smoking cessation focus on jitters, cravings, irritability, and restlessness; symptoms that people commonly complain about when they quit. It also aids in relaxation and detoxification.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrfgMxpDBNm-29MdxhysA8EUg60vb3ifmDecICFcWsrw5SaZHRjv1bM3u7ubpuLHikxqKIgxDECm3IIqx9_37WhNGcRloOzggPiPYubM9hx5Q7RTsEu01X7jIAJAuGSNZ8hjXTrbe5vrQ/s1600-h/surya-sequence-blue.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrfgMxpDBNm-29MdxhysA8EUg60vb3ifmDecICFcWsrw5SaZHRjv1bM3u7ubpuLHikxqKIgxDECm3IIqx9_37WhNGcRloOzggPiPYubM9hx5Q7RTsEu01X7jIAJAuGSNZ8hjXTrbe5vrQ/s400/surya-sequence-blue.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>3. Maintain a Healthy Weight</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Obesity is associated with diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, all of which increase the risk of developing heart disease, but studies have shown that excess body weight itself (and not just the associated medical conditions) can also lead to heart failure. Even if you are entirely healthy otherwise, being overweight still places you at a greater risk of developing heart failure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine are an excellent adjunctive tool when it comes to losing weight. They can help to energize the body, maximize the absorption of nutrients, regulate elimination, control overeating, suppress the appetite, and reduce anxiety.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>4. Reduce Stress</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stress is a normal part of life. But if left unmanaged, stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, chest pains, or irregular heart beats. Medical researchers aren't sure exactly how stress increases the risk of heart disease. Stress itself might be a risk factor, or it could be that high levels of stress make other risk factors worse. For example, if you are under stress, your blood pressure goes up, you may overeat, you may exercise less, and you may be more likely to smoke.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi-tjrwGq9CqMxrM-ymEqEOSj_o1_34XeEwa9NnEIxZEiV-HMD1WteJTmT1DhQU8FBAR32n8fmSas62ILmwCfFsZJMIy2JcSVxCHDBofU_-STx83f1F7Lsp9hxnPqr3AYEBse_egJr-uQ/s1600-h/acupuncture-rh-image.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi-tjrwGq9CqMxrM-ymEqEOSj_o1_34XeEwa9NnEIxZEiV-HMD1WteJTmT1DhQU8FBAR32n8fmSas62ILmwCfFsZJMIy2JcSVxCHDBofU_-STx83f1F7Lsp9hxnPqr3AYEBse_egJr-uQ/s200/acupuncture-rh-image.gif" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Numerous studies have demonstrated the substantial benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of stress, anxiety and mental health. In addition to acupuncture, Oriental medicine offers a whole gamut of tools and techniques that can be integrated into your life to keep stress in check. These tools include Tui Na, Qi Gong exercises, herbal medicine, dietary therapy, meditations and acupressure that you can administer at home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>5. Improve Sleep</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Poor sleep has been linked with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart failure, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, and obesity. Researchers have shown that getting at least eight hours of sleep is needed for good heart health and getting less than eight hours of sleep can put you at a greater risk for developing heart disease.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Acupuncture has shown great success treating a wide array of sleep problems without any of the side effects of prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids. The acupuncture treatments for problems sleeping focus on the root disharmony within the body that is causing the insomnia. Therefore, those who use acupuncture for insomnia achieve not only better sleep, but also an overall improvement of physical and mental health.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Come in for a consultation during Heart Health Awareness Month to see how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can assist you with your heart health and help you to live a longer, healthy life. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Reprinted from our </em></span><a href="http://www.acunut.com/files/February_Acupuncture_Newsletter_-_Heart_Health.htm"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>February Newsletter</em></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em> here.</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-91186314502726296282010-01-16T23:13:00.000-08:002010-01-18T13:05:42.477-08:00As Above, So below…<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">This week my back fell apart, and for many of my patients their bodies fell apart (inexplicably for most). And for hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti on Tuesday night, their entire world fell apart. <br />
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I have, after having literally thousands of patient visits, become used to the way our bodies mirror the changes taking place on the planet, and the way many of my clients are tuned in to SOMETHING happening even before it does. For many over the last few weeks, sleep has been poor, feelings of impatient and anxiety “climbing the walls” and the desire to hunker down at home have been common. The spine and digestion seem to be the big winners in our physical radar for something shifting massively on the planet over the last week. <br />
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While separated by thousands of miles we are not separated from the people in Haiti. Even if you don’t subscribe to the quantum physics piece that we are all connected at the atomic and energetic levels, we still connected as members of the human family. So an entire country in ruins, the loss and grief of thousands of souls transitioning affects our collective family even if you don’t believe in energy of any kind. <br />
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Hold them in your thoughts, keep sending positive energy and if you can send some money. Thoughts are real, they have energy and intent, and if one soul is soothed by you holding them with love and good will then that will service be indeed. Often we will not know the effects that our prayers or good thoughts have in the collective but I believe in that power nevertheless. <br />
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As the ground stops shaking and the recovery begins, our bodies will again find their center, although true north will be forever changed by what has transpired this week. Certain eastern traditions teach us that when this many souls agree to transition together, a tremendous space in opened for all of humanity, for a paradigm shift in the heart of some kind. I have seent his now with 9/11, Katrina, the tsunami. We won’t know the nature of that shift for some time – a massive letting go. Watch your dreams – are you dreaming at night of old friends, family, lovers, boyfriends, girlfriends? Any unfinished business being wrapped up? This is the energetic equivalent of a warm reboot and your relationship to everything that has happened in the past, your energetic and emotional relationship to all things will be shifted on some level. You may just feel a sense of release or letting go, a sense of peace for that friend or your ex for whom there was some left over stuff. This may be followed by pain and discomfort in the thoracic spine (over the heart region), crying unexpectedly or feeling moved to tears, or pain in the low back and hips (root chakra or family - how we ground into the earth has moved).<br />
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Let us be grateful for the souls in Haiti who agreed to hold this space for us to continue our growth process, and perhaps now a measure of peace and healing can finally come to this tiny nation who has continued to survive while in the midst of tremendous corruption and so little support. <br />
</div>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-36217653642329219582010-01-16T22:44:00.000-08:002010-03-01T12:40:37.570-08:00Resolutions Schmesolutions (1/06/2010)<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">See if you can pronounce that 5 times fast.<br />
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Now well into the second week of the new year and not having written a word for well over a month may not be a good start to the new year. Wanting to explore the idea of new years resolutions about health and how to make them palatable. Did you know that for 7/10 people include weight loss and exercise and other health related items as part of their new years resolutions? I am certainly no exception (although I did have a couple of golden years right before I went into private practice where I sort of gave up the ghost on that). <br />
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But what to do when you don’t like veggies, are gluten free and (this one generously donated by the mother of one of my Mexican friends) thus will never enjoy connubial bliss due to my lack in the culinary area, particularly my inability to make (or eat for that matter) tortillas or tamales. <br />
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I have always included health-related things as part of my new years resolutions, usually something like I will exercise more, take more yoga classes, lose the last 8 pounds of the 35 I put on my first couple years of practice, and the piece de resistance, run a half marathon (my secret desire to no longer look like a shar-pei in a bikini). Forget about the fact that running is torture. Plain and simple, work. Not fun. No play, No way. (Not like tennis which has all sorts of opportunities for bullet-like profanity and hitting things with a resounding smack).<br />
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And what about my resolution to actually learn how to cook? Smitten as I’m sure thousands are by Julie/Julia, and infatuated with the idea of actually figuring out how to make Beef Bourguignon and that in this was might secure lasting happiness of the culinary kind, how does 4 pounds of butter weekly and TONS of cow coincide with my health? And let’s not forget the fact that as a reformed vegetarian, I never quite got the meat thing down. I am 0/5 with meat dishes for my friends, now relegated to salads and appetizers like cream cheese stuffed in salami or whatever will sit on a Ritz. Add to that a near obsession for researching new trends in nutrition and Joel Fuhrman’s humorless assertion that we should all be strict vegans, with not even olive oil to keep us company (Eat to Live). [Brrr, it's cold in that oil-free world].<br />
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Well, I began my journey into the notion of cooking SOMETHING by going to the bookstore and actually looking at Julia Child’s book, and I am happy to say that it looks like my 1963 Edition of Stryer (Biochem) and pretty much reads like my Pchem text. And who Knew her Beef Bourguignon used BACON (she lost me right there). Happily, this puts to rest my brief infatuation of cooking a la Julia, (and hosting Texas hold em nights with lovely French food). My thighs are thanking me already and I truly believe this was the intervention of a higher power. (Now if only I can break up with cheese).<br />
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Strangely enough though, it has brought me back into the kitchen, and I realize belatedly that while my culinary skills are lacking in the animal department, I have a certain talent for vegetables. You see (and I am outing myself to patients here) I really don’t like them very much. (I know – shock and betrayal) I am a meat and potatoes girl at heart (sadly having given up any wheat laced pasta long ago). But since one of my resolutions is to move to a more plant based diet, which includes wholesome foods that I actually COOK (note to readers: my specialty to date is salad. I KNOW, but really great salads). And I am discovering that I have a certain talent for disguising vegetables so that they don’t really seem so much like vegetables (we can thank my travels in Italy– and no I do not mean they are covered in red tomato sauce ala the Cowboy curry my ex used to make (don’t ask). <br />
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So how do we make our new year's resolutions palatable? Regardless of our resolutions, they have to be pleasurable on some level, tasty, playful, a joy, or we just won’t do them. So whether yours is to spend 1-2 days a week walking more, or not eating junk food, or visiting your acupuncturist more (wink), or not getting angry over things you cannot control (#5 on my list), they need to be realistic, kind (to ourselves and others – I mean it just would not do to abandon the family nightly to hang with the personal trainer) and fun. We spend enough time “should-ing” ourselves as it is. <br />
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So tonight, I made a large pot of broccoli soup, and sautéed a bunch of veggies in lemon and cilantro with parmesan to have over greens I grew in my community garden. It was good day, and already that’s better than anything I did last year in the kitchen. (OK if you think about it I have no where to go but up]. Maybe that’s my theme – for most of us, pick on or two small things – walk 10 minutes a day, go to bed 30 minutes earlier, get body work once a month. These are doable, and will build on themselves.<br />
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And hopefully by the end of the year we will be able to button out trousers while standing up...<br />
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</div>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-30550721312927081802009-12-08T13:49:00.000-08:002009-12-08T17:42:58.358-08:00There are more things on heaven and earth, Horatio....<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Welcome back to another edition of <span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">AcuNut's Health Watch</span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the midst of the ever-present debate about the national health care system, I felt the need to explore the idea of health and healing as a commodity in our society, the notion that health and healing can be packaged and bought. The baby boomers are beginning to hit their "senior" birthdays, and have been raised in a culture where technology and the advances in medicine seemingly had no limits, particularly with the miracles of vaccines and antibiotics. Add to that the introduction of the HMO and the idea of a $10 copay and we have a fundamental shift with regards to personal responsibility, and a relinqushing of personal power over to HMOs. In bygone days, when health care was less ubiquitous and not readily paid for (or you had a high deductible), I think more emphasis as placed on prevention - stay home when you are sick, eat your vegetables, have 2 prunes a day, the daily constitutional, and my personal favorite - nap time (so civilized). In addition people had to save for their annual deductibles, and this could be a few thousand dollars annually. There was, on some level, an understanding that health care was part of the family budget.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The fundamental health crises in our country may be less about the ability for us to save lives or even prevent disease then it is about personal responsibility, about being proactive with your health and not necessarily accepting the MD's word as final or the only option. Technology has a price, not only in $$ but in quality of life. The basics of preventive medicine have been sacrificed to feed the beast of technology because insurance companies cannot afford to pay doctors for the time it takes to council patients. It is quicker to just give them the little purple pill and move on. And the pharmaceutical companies will make far more $$ from you as a diabetic over 25 years than if you use diet and exercises. There is no financial incentive for wellness as a culture at present in the US.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As an ancillary provider (alternative to conventional medicine such as chiro, acupuncture, naturopathic, massage, etc.) many times I see patients only after they have had their condition for months or years, have tried multiple trips to the doctor, and been put on a potent mix of medications. If there was one message I could impart to the general public, it would be to seek help sooner, that they have the means to live a pain-free or more energetic life, the downside being that they may have to pay for some of it outside of their conventional medicine. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqA2XW6WPsb69Fjl3pc0B5wL1gEVARw0Ei8J91VkkeTCyISHoKJvXHtBvzawAZZ4XFG1NCMTelUIfBSCIOd20prj0qs3PL0IvESuC6n-wEZ4TZ_HDKZcUI9p6pIdnBxoDsELu1DADJ_1y/s1600-h/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqA2XW6WPsb69Fjl3pc0B5wL1gEVARw0Ei8J91VkkeTCyISHoKJvXHtBvzawAZZ4XFG1NCMTelUIfBSCIOd20prj0qs3PL0IvESuC6n-wEZ4TZ_HDKZcUI9p6pIdnBxoDsELu1DADJ_1y/s200/untitled.bmp" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As to the arguments that these modalities have not been "scientifically proven" I would encourage people to become their own scientists with regards to their bodies. The advantage of working with a licensed and credentialed provider of alternative medicine is that you will experience far fewer side effects or permanent injury than with many conventional therapies, particularly drugs. <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">(<em>It may come as a shock to many people that in the Physician's Desk reference, that for over half the meds, they don't understand the mechanism of action, which is med speak for they don't know how the drugs work in the body. This may also explain why they cannot explain the side affects associated with the drugs</em>).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In general, with a provider with whom you have a poor fit, or with whom you have a bad exeprience you will just not get better rather than experience lasting harm. I have seen quite a few lame ducks in my own journey to wellness. Although it seemed like wasted money at the time, my experience has been that with persistence I eventually am lead to a great provider, one with whom I have a good rapport. Trial and error is part of the scientific process. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><em>The Journey of a thousand miles....</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>begins with one step</em>. I had a teacher who likened the search for the right provider to a pilgrimage of sorts - a refining process that happens when we become willing to search for our recovery and perhaps to go to any lengths to get better. She likened it to a sword being tempered by fire, sharpened, the blade made perfect. Furthermore, the journey to health is seldom simple because we are often unclear in our intentions. While we may want this or that to be "fixed," sometimes we are not ready to work our side of the street, to take the steps to achieve health. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The journey, the longing for recovery is sharpened by the suffering, and we find our ego being whittled away in the process, creating an energetic opening through which grace can pass. For me, the search created willingness to do what was asked, perhaps to abstain from certain foods, to exercise more, meditate, to take foul tasting herbs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." (Hamlet Act 1, scene 5, 159–167).</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Perhaps it was my background as a research scientist that caused me to look outside the box when confronted with my own health care crises back in the 80s, where the answers I heard from my primary care didn't work for me and neither did the idea of taking Vicodin for the rest of my life or walking with a cane. It took several years to find a combo of modalities that worked and then several years of treatment before things were a lot better. Have I been cured? Gosh no, I manage the structural issues by regular bodywork and I have to budget accordingly, because like many of you, my insurance does not cover ANY of my ancillary services. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Given that I have spent the better part of the down-payment on a house on my health in the last decade, you may want to ask if it was worth the investment... Absolutely. And now when there are periodic flare-ups - and trust me, at least once a year I manage to mangle myself pretty badly to where I am laid up <em>again</em> and I have to get a lot more bodywork ($$), at least now I know how and what to do. That may be the biggest difference with my clients is that I know with certainty that within a few months things will be better. It is an empowering thing to feel like I have a choice, that I am not locked into the HMO having the last word, that I can make my own choices with regards to my health care as an educated consumer. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHkjanAAnEcfU5B8O4gHYL4uwrADc9UJR2NcGKRimCkKuhwFwWnD9F34MPHBPhDbj3fXT8oVaZUyi-64YA_Ytwoide0P4oO4bZihVvZ6tTfWXtoLPCebeEmSPbun3WTTrbVUGuWoka13N/s1600-h/untitled+b.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHkjanAAnEcfU5B8O4gHYL4uwrADc9UJR2NcGKRimCkKuhwFwWnD9F34MPHBPhDbj3fXT8oVaZUyi-64YA_Ytwoide0P4oO4bZihVvZ6tTfWXtoLPCebeEmSPbun3WTTrbVUGuWoka13N/s200/untitled+b.bmp" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Consider that no treatment or practitioner can fix you - all physicians, no matter what style of medicine they practice, merely help make it possible for your body to heal. With the health care consuming a great deal of the airwaves at present, i</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">t might be a helpful to consider what aspects of our health we would like to improve in 2010 </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and what we are able and willing to pay for that care. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Contact me directly at </span><a href="mailto:jmoffitt@acunut.com"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">jmoffitt@acunut.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.</span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-37111091281085460032009-11-20T14:45:00.000-08:002009-11-20T14:51:12.039-08:00Digestive Issues Galore<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Welcome back to <span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Health Watch, San Diego Health News you can use.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I recently made some revisions to my marketing campaigns for my website and decided to include some material specific to Digestive issues since we have had such a great success treating chronic digestive issues at the clinic. After only 5 days, there have been over 20,000 inquiries just in San Diego County, and they estimate traffic to be over a million over a year. Wow, that is a lot of upset tummies and a whole lot of meds. I have decided to answer the most recent questions via blog to cut down on correspondence time.</span><br />
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</div><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What types of conditions do I see regularly in the clinic which respond to acupuncture and oriental medicine?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Almost every kind of digestive problem responds, and the wonderful thing about Integrative Medicine is that we actually work toward the cure as opposed to managing or suppressing symptoms. Western meds will frequently use pharmaceutical medication to suppress a symptom which to us, is one part of an entire pattern of disharmony. Proton pump inhibitors cause permanent damage to the lining of the stomach and their use should be avoided where possible.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Do you treat acid reflux?</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yes, and I have never yet seen a case that is due to excess stomach acid. In Chinese Medicine, there are literally dozens of reasons why a patient has reflux symptoms, such as food allergies, weak stomach acid, or my personal favorite (and most often misdiagnosed) which is chronic biliary disease, aka gallbladder problems. Sometimes a patient will have a vertebrae out of alignment, which we can tell during the back treatment. For this, I will refer out to a chiropractor to have the vertebra adjusted, and then we finish up with a few treatments after to help them hold the adjustment. Sometimes patients are actually eating foods which trigger their symptoms or they need herbal medicine to help strengthen their digestion.</span></li>
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">What about Constipation/Diarrhea/ Abdominal pain?</span> </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Again, there are many causes of either, and sometimes the treatment is very straightforward. I have several cases of sub-clinical celiac patients (often diagnosed as IBS or Crohn's) - this is a slowly growing diagnosis in gastroenterology and can be diagnosed with a simple blood test, although the dietary cheanges will confirm it in about 4 days. Dietary changes, along with acupuncture and herbs, and many patients are great in about 6 weeks. Medications such as statin drugs or BP medication can also cause these symptoms and cannot be ruled out. OB-GYN issues are common in women, post partum or even beyond and many times we need to clear up those issues. Simple nutritional issues are common too such as Magnesium deficiency, which is much more common in women.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Stay tuned as we explore this further.</span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-18878873579253600012009-11-19T12:56:00.000-08:002009-11-19T13:14:48.366-08:00Qi Cultivation (3/3): Pray/Play<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7n_G7i59DcmXLLFeeXN_F0EMGGLK-xQ91iqaDjSePMDGUJyU02vVcx3yaPljEsKaz6h279sSU6gS92eGn1wR9X7or-TnuDRBCkmP5MZ0S7oebZuHaflnIQQU532OhieO7MvSmgvAp7Zu/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7n_G7i59DcmXLLFeeXN_F0EMGGLK-xQ91iqaDjSePMDGUJyU02vVcx3yaPljEsKaz6h279sSU6gS92eGn1wR9X7or-TnuDRBCkmP5MZ0S7oebZuHaflnIQQU532OhieO7MvSmgvAp7Zu/s200/IMG_0510.JPG" yr="true" /></a><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Qi Cultivation (Tai Qi, qi gong, yoga, martial arts), Play/Pray, Exercise</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">I include the all of the above as Qi cultivation because in different ways they all help balance the cellular effects from certain physical and emotional states, and to help maintain the patency or ‘free-flowing’ nature of qi. Some of you who read my article on bodywork now understand that the nature of qi is like a river, and it needs to flow freely and evenly. Chronic pain and disease are signs that the qi has gotten diminished or stuck in some way. This category includes ways to help ensure that qi moves freely and smoothly, and also helps bring a level of self awareness into your body to help prevent recurrences in the future. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">What types of qi cultivation you choose depend on your personality and taste, and I don’t find one to be more beneficial than the other. It should be something in which you find immediate gratification (or you won’t continue doing it). I have experimented with almost everything – sadly I lack the temperament to do tai ji – gave it my best shot for over a year – do not have the patience for it. But found immediate results when I started doing yoga for my back. So to each his own. In general I find there is a need for something with movement and stretching (frees up the qi in the large muscle groups and maintains flexibility and strength) and something which allows for quiet time and contemplation (relieves stress and allows the body to mentally and physically recharge the batteries. Sometime they can be combined like long solitary walks on the beach, so again, search out ones that are pleasing. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">In addition to the physical benefits of clearing out stress, improving flexibility, freeing up stuck qi from the large muscle groups, the process of qi cultivation for me personally has brought with it a greater level of awareness of how I hold myself during the day, where my qi gets stuck, how my emotions affect me physically. This is very liberating because I am much less at the mercy of them – I am more aware that when I haven’t taken the time to stretch or have quiet time for inner contemplation, I am a little too tightly wrapped, both mentally and physically. And I have learned over time, that when this gets really out of balance, then I get grumpy, my back goes out, and the cycle begins again. The great news is that I have the practices to go back to, and within a fairly short period of time, the qi is flowing, and my body and mind are in better shape.</span><br />
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</span><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I also find that ‘play’ is one of the most important aspects of self-care, and one that seems to get left behind after childhood. Dogs and kids remember already know this. Play can be anything, but it should be something that genuinely is joyful, makes you glad to be alive, and renews the heart. Dinner parties with friends, tennis, golf, singing, salsa dancing, church choir. It doesn’t matter what. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Let’s be honest, martyrs are boring – remembering to play makes us more enjoyable to be around, and it provides a reserve of good feelings so that on bad days I am less likely to go home and kick the dog or yell at my spouse. (<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">All Work and No Play... remember the Shining? Not </span><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">good).</span> It gives us a cushion – which again is partly biochemical! If we go back to the idea of cellular chemistry, play has a powerful affect chemically on the body in terms of the pleasure receptors in the brain, and stimulates the immune system. From the TCM perspective, it helps to stimulate the heart energetic (joy), and relieves mental and physical stagnation. Seriousness of mind leads to seriousness (or stuck- ness) of the body, and we now know what happens now when the qi gets stuck. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the oriental classic, The Great Dao (6) (a great read by the way), great attention is given to qi cultivation and self- care – meaning right diet, right action, right thought, bodywork like tui na, etc. Acupuncture was considered crude and invasive – it was only used when the other aspects had been neglected. For the practitioner who was skilled in therapeutic massage and offering wise counsel in terms of diet, exercise, and mindfulness, there was no need to resort to something as crude as needles…. While I am not yet ready to give up my weekly acupuncture visits, this brought me to a renewed respect for all the elements of self-care, including qi cultivation. Truth be told, there are not enough hours in the day for me to do everything I need to to maintain myself so that I don’t need to rely on bodywork to help balance the equation. I would rather go horseback riding….</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Contact me directly at jmoffitt@acunut.com.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1. Pert CB. Molecules of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine. New York, N.Y.: Touchstone, 1997, p. 9.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2. Psychoneuroimmunology: Body-spirit-mind medicine (http://www.journeyofhearts.org/jofh/transition/pni_p)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company: 2000. Available at: http://www.bartleby.com/61/59/P0635950.html.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">4. Maier SF, Watkins LR, Fleshner M. Psychoneuroimmunology: The Interface between Behavior, Brain and Immunity. American Psychologist. 1994;49;1004-17.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">5. http://www.what-is-cancer.com/index.html</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">6. The Great Dao Doctrine was founded by Liu Deren, who declared that an old man had taught him the mysterious Dao in the second Huangtong year (AD 1142) of the Jin dynasty (1115-1234), leading to the birth of the Great Dao Doctrine. (http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daoism/major-daoist-sects/pg1-3-18.asp)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">© Copyright 2003 - 2009 Jennifer Moffitt, Healing Arts Center Press, and AcuNut.com. All rights reserved. </span><br />
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</div>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-12733028994893610842009-11-17T14:50:00.000-08:002009-11-19T13:07:31.083-08:00Qi Cultivation (2/3): The New Paradigm of Body and Mind<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ok so in our last letter I mentioned PNI - becasue the medical effects of the mind and emotions are much deeper than just stress, or depression. In order to illustrate this I am going to introduce a fairly new field of medicine: </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Psychoneuro-immunology (PNI)…</span> a mouthful to say the least, and it is helpful to break up the word into it’s component parts: </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Psyche - the mind component or study of psychology, the cognitive and emotional processes involving mood states. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Neuro - the neurological connections e.g. neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine secretions, or study of neurology </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Immunology - how the immune system e.g. the cellular and humeral components are impacted, or the study of immunology.</span></li>
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The study of the interaction of behavioral, neural, and endocrine factors and the functioning of the immune system. (3) </span><br />
</div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The study of interactions, bidirectional communication occurring between behavior, brain, the immune and endocrine systems. (4)</span><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My personal favorite was from Dr. Kirsti Dyer’s website on Transitional Medicine: PNI is an interdisciplinary science that studies the interrelationships between psychological, behavioral, neuroendocrine processes and immunology. (2) </span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">PNI includes the effect of the mind and emotions on the immune system. We have Dr. Candice Pert to thank for her discovery of the opiate receptor in cell biology (a basic receptor responsible for the pleasure principle and my lingering addiction to chocolate). Basically PNI is extremely new, looking to discover how the body-mind-emotions affect cell repair, regulation, communication, protein synthesis – all things which we now understand affect qi production. Finally! A Medical paradigm that includes what Traditional Chinese Medicine has observed for several thousand years.</span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cells are repaired and regulated at different rates depending upon the type of cell - epithelia in the digestive lining live a couple of days, skin cells, three weeks; red blood cells 120 days, and bone cells, several years. Dying cells are replaced with newly formed cells, a process known as cell turnover. (5) As you may have already guessed, the strength and speed by which cells are repaired depend upon the raw materials that we provide for it (diet, cellular nutition, sleep), and how effectively the body is able to make that repair (bodywork, sleep). However, what you may not know is that the cells are bathed in neuropeptides, hormones, protein fragments, and enzymes that all dictate how well we metabolize our food, the strength of our immune system, inflammatory processes in the body. They are dramatically affected by our emotions because of the chemical messengers released during certain emotional states (e.g. prostaglandins, cortisol, adrenaline). Someone who lives in chronic fear, worry, or stress bathes their cells in a very different chemical environment than someone who meditates every day in a cave, or who gets to run and play on a daily basis; they have a different cellular environment to show for it. Added up over time, these micro-changes play a much larger role for things like cell-to-cell communication, fertility, metabolism. </span><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The time needed for cell reproduction and repair is one of the fundamental reasons that chronic disease and pain are not healed quickly – this is something I have to explain constantly to patients. It takes time for the cells to repair themselves, and a long period of proper nutrients, rest, exercise, bodywork to support the healing process. As we have stated before, even if it <span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">seems like it happened overnight</span>, unless you were in an accident, <span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">it didn’t</span>. And it takes time for the body to heal. The hardest part of my job is when a patient leaves before the miracle happens, or who absolutely won’t take any action to help support this process on their own. For them, at most all I can do is make them comfortable a few days a week.</span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Not surprisingly then, our emotions are a reflection of our cellular health and well-being. At some point in the not too distant future, they will be able to predict with some certainty the chemical effects that the various emotions have on the immune system. </span><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> In future columns we will cover more about the TCM approach to the mind and emotions and how they affect the physical organs. For now I want to make a pitch to include some of the following activities in your self-care routine and briefly explain why. (See 3/3)</span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> © Copyright 2003 - 2009 Jennifer Moffitt, Healing Arts Center Press, and AcuNut.com. All rights reserved. <br />
</div>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-29979046721759111862009-11-16T13:45:00.000-08:002009-11-16T13:45:49.446-08:00Back to Basics: Qi Cultivation<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For those of you who have been following this series of articles, we are exploring the “Basics” in our approach to maintaining and restoring health. We will be covering diet and cellular nutrition, sleep, and the use of bodywork in Integrative medicine, all with an eye to qi cultivation, preservation, and patency (smooth flow). As you already know, qi is the body’s vital energy – sort of like gasoline to a car – although it can seem more elusive in concept. I have tried to show that there is a lot to maintaining our engine - the physical body. At every level, if something is neglected there is potential for us to ‘spring a leak.’</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I find it helpful to think of healing and health in terms of a pie chart – we can even give it a title. In our “Pie Chart of Self Care” every aspect must be present in order for the chart to be complete. Let’s consider the ideal first…</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Perfect World (sigh):</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCCF6a43KikeaBh_MktSforYpxVKiUtAX-g-av-XT__GCMVxaMKPqLWl8yaGKHxjalf9HAUAzSItWLJHlThN_-DW9JmXrqIIUwk3uSJlbeiASOcno8CnHuB0Ft30dNwVOkUhZSeESTbJH/s320/Picture1.gif" yr="true" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In our idealized view, as you can see, all the elements of self care are pretty evenly represented, with a category I like to refer to as “Sheer Luck” being the smallest of all the values at around 5 %. By ‘luck’ I mean that margin of error (or grace for the more optimistically inclined), by which we can use and abuse this balance and avoid health pitfalls or injury. You know – all those near misses on the freeway, too many Frappacino’s in the summer, not enough veggies – they draw from the ‘luck’ category. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the ‘<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Pie Chart of Self-Care’</span> in the folks I see clinically usually looks more like this: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZCaVhKRbRUbw_0agrXFBpWIeSh2YlvaP-9yIy9GffvOB1s21873usXdbiJEeeBJ0MiTz4xJ6F3OMQw95n_VQZriTien2GYKTrg-XAIGm4WpljgwjvwqSRVIjeZ0MGYNL1iP0sp1a4pMv/s320/Picture2.gif" yr="true" /></span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hmmm, not enough of several elements, and far too much reliance on ‘luck.’ </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For the patients who come in with a chronic illness or acute injury, often it seems like luck has run out. And then we have an added category which I like to call “Meds’ which has with it pros and cons as well. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The reason I bring out visual aides this month is to drive home the point that all the elements of self-care are important. Far too frequently we rely on one or another and hope it is enough. Then we go to the physician (of whatever modality) and expect them to fix the deficits in our self care, preferably as quickly as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For chronic conditions which have been around a long time, whether pain or internal medicine – many times there are been aspects of self-care which may have been neglected for months or years. I find this is true even with an injury that is sudden onset – an accident or a pulled muscle that is very painful and which refuses to heal. How entrenched an injury becomes is often a reflection of the care and maintenance that was given to the body prior to the onset of the problem. So even if you never had a chronic backache before, if it suddenly shows up over night, and you have not been including bodywork, nutrition, exercise, play, etc. realize that you were primed for a condition to develop. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Realize there is no blame here – these are aspects which have been ignored and minimized by western medicine for far too long. I may be dating myself here by mentioning that the sayings my grandmother used to quote (while sneaking last night’s peas into my pancakes) were true more often than not, I just had to go through 10 years of school to realize it. The good news is that the word is out – now you know too and you can use all these tools to help restore and maintain your health.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now there are a few slices on the chart which I have not covered yet – qi cultivation, play/pray, and exercise. We will cover these as a unit because they have a common theme. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lest we relegate this column to the realm of the ‘touchy-feely,’ let me assure you there is a medical basis to include these items in our “Chart of Self-Care.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In our next installement: <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Psycho Neuro Immunology (PNI)</span></span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-48820904449876841802009-11-14T15:31:00.000-08:002009-11-16T10:27:02.720-08:00Back to Basics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Welcome to another issue of AcuNut's Health Watch.<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I had the good fortune last night after work to go for a walk out in the canyons near my home. It was a cooler than usual fall day, and it felt like fall for the first time. (Living in San Diego, sometimes we have to hunt for changes of season). While pondering the onset of winter, aka the loss of my flip flops, I started to think more specifically about yin-yang balance and how that changes the treatment principle for my patients. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE86sl6qOI9qPzGT8I4a_Mw_Mfjy7C8ZB4-S6AtsiPLfGyK4nkaplfrFMNTzu6SdQDru5JxpIvHaeZpWFTJ6FGYCTlpxcdtpMA8FkP19vulcemdvfTmJXktMPtDXt4KoHPV5OrzGkyUdTa/s1600-h/yin_yang+s.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE86sl6qOI9qPzGT8I4a_Mw_Mfjy7C8ZB4-S6AtsiPLfGyK4nkaplfrFMNTzu6SdQDru5JxpIvHaeZpWFTJ6FGYCTlpxcdtpMA8FkP19vulcemdvfTmJXktMPtDXt4KoHPV5OrzGkyUdTa/s200/yin_yang+s.gif" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yin and Yang are the basis of Oriental medicine, a fundamental subdivision that the early Chinese scholars used to try and describe the nature of the universe. Yin is everything that is cool, and moist, water, black, night, winter, nourishing, calm, and immobile. Yang, on the other hand, is the pure fire element: warm, moving, summer, upward, vibrant, and energetic. Everything in the universe breaks down into the balance between yin and yang. Nothing is firmly one or the other - there is always a small element of yin within the yang, and a small element of yang within the yin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">While Oriental medicine can seem foreign in the beginning, the basis of the medicine is really about restoring this intrinsic balance within the body. For those who suffer from chronic pain or illness, the change of seasons is a great time to work on resolving their conditions. Spring and summer are about nature's increasing yang: flowers begin to bloom, gardens grow, and there are more daylight hours. The yang energy is moving up and out as growth and development. In winter, the yang energy dives deep into the body, the plants go to sleep (hopefully not in our winter garden though), and there is a hunkering down, a turning inward to rest and rejuvenate. We are not separate from this process - this eb and flow happens in us as well, and a skilled practitioner knows how to use this flow to reinforce the healing process.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><em>What is the Flow?</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In my practice, it seems like returning patient to the flow includes a lot of the basics, things like your breath, sleep, food, poop (OK no laughing matter when you have a client who has been constipated for 10 years, or diarrhea for 20). The flow is simple, simple, simple.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For many of us, going "back to basics" <em>is</em> too simple. We like things complex and multi-layered. Our lifestyles move at a hectic pace, supported by technology so fast we can barely keep up. We are used to having the world at our fingertips - all the answers to our problems merely a "Google-click" away, even on the phone. Somehow, it feels like we have lost touch with the process, the quality of the journey itself. Something to consider: Perhaps that techonology that allows us to blast off to the moon via our smartphones isn't so great if we are constipated when we get there. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj399-El3cqhnvedSuxFt-aZREfYDNIGwB9RjNJ3BU_jjFknFuU7fe_yAfatFvwhjxJF7ztgyOFNKwVJ9fXiB8N6uxB4pWA1NuwBLopr02jw4k53vJWcJZm86hJbsXHYpi5ASPU4R2WiS1w/s1600-h/medical_doctors+c.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj399-El3cqhnvedSuxFt-aZREfYDNIGwB9RjNJ3BU_jjFknFuU7fe_yAfatFvwhjxJF7ztgyOFNKwVJ9fXiB8N6uxB4pWA1NuwBLopr02jw4k53vJWcJZm86hJbsXHYpi5ASPU4R2WiS1w/s320/medical_doctors+c.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">We want medicine to be magical</span></em>. Our over-reliance on pharmaceuticals and technology has created a false picture about the body and the healing process in general. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Everything should be quick and easily diagnosed. Hollywood shows like ER and Grey's have only reinforced this notion, luring us to think everything should be neatly resolved in a one-hour segment, (and that we should look <span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><em>good</em> </span>while doing it).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Interesting that no one on these shows ever has a chronic degenerative problem that is difficult to diagnose or smelly - intractable diarrhea or bloating. It's always the cool flashy stuff, multiple organ transplants, racing with the little refrigerated lunchbox through the hospital in the nick of time…</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But the advances in science and medicine have not translated to better health or a better quality of life; in fact, many of us feel worse than ever before. We are a nation struggling with obesity. Endocrine, autoimmune, and cardiovascular disorders are widespread. Chronic degenerative conditions like Alzheimer's are on the rise, and almost 10% of our children have been diagnosed with attention deficit or behavioral disorders. The US ranks 30th in the world for infant mortality, largely due to high rates of pre-term babies. MAny many people drowning under the weight of poly-pharmacy, taking meds that supress a symptom but do nothing to cure them. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Why has science failed us? </span></span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><strong><em>What if it hasn't?<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></em></strong></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">What if we have just forgotten the basics, the abc's of good health? I think the dazzling power of emergency medicine has blinded us to the subtle (and even obvious) signs of a body moving out of balance, of impending illness or injury. Then, when we fail to overcome that bad cold, or the back pain becomes chronic, it's a mystery. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Stay tuned as we start to explore the Basics of Preventive Medicine and good health. Yours in health, Jen</span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-57382675212875183152009-11-05T14:09:00.000-08:002009-11-05T18:14:59.567-08:00<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;">Acunut's Heath Watch, San Diego's Health News You Can Use</span>.</span></em></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In our last chapter we discussed the current Flu epidemic and introduced ways to build up your immune system naturally to prevent getting sick in the first place. Be aware, these are not sexy, nor are they shortcuts. And they are going to sound a lot like stuff your grandmother used to yell at you (ok mine did). While I know in the US it has become normal to expect a cool high tech approach to wellness, I have to tell you that there really are no short cuts when it comes to the body.</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;">Get enough sleep!</span> </span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The body needs at least 8 hours and in the US we average about 5. (For a more detailed explanation on the importance of sleep, you can read my <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">article </span><a href="http://www.acunut.com/backtobasics3a.html"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Back To Basics: A Good Night's Sleep)</span></a><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">. This is one of the most important ways to restore the wei qi (pronounced Way - chee) of the body, so don't overlook this. </span></span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Clean up your diet.</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is helpful in so many regards, and we have been beaten over the head with all the different weight loss options available. There are many to choose from, my personal favorites are the South Beach Diet for those who have a few pounds to lose and are Blood Type O. Alternatively, as a former research biochemist, I like The Blood Type Diet by Peter d'Adamo for those who are already at goal or have immune issues. I particularly like the Blood-type Diet to help provide a cushion of vital energy so that if there is a hit to the system in the form of a virus, there are more resources available to defend it. (You can download food lists for each blood type <a href="http://www.curezone.com/ER4YT/default.asp">here</a>).</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mild to Moderate Exercise</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Seems pretty straight forward, doesn't it? But there are deeper reasons biochemically as to why this is so important for the immune system. Elevated levels of stress create elevated levels of certain chemicals which, when unchecked, have a damaging effect on the immune system. Add to it the benefits of more restful sleep, and an elevated metabolism to help strengthen the body against external attack and maintain weight, you have a pretty important addition to the package. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjSmb42MNkOk3rJl6L7_IiO3N88uYT23oNsruijLw5c7DUn0aZBJ9G0x88cBRc8ZtxsdwwE3248ajKZMf-Fs4l7QatkpyBJrHs_MGLmhTrVy-d9AMkS88072FNl3N2Qz4KvkEHuPDIIRw/s1600-h/Herbs++a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjSmb42MNkOk3rJl6L7_IiO3N88uYT23oNsruijLw5c7DUn0aZBJ9G0x88cBRc8ZtxsdwwE3248ajKZMf-Fs4l7QatkpyBJrHs_MGLmhTrVy-d9AMkS88072FNl3N2Qz4KvkEHuPDIIRw/s200/Herbs++a.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><u><em>Supplementation:</em></u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The judicious use of herbs or supplements to help strengthen the immune system is a time-honored tradition in many cultures and ours is no exception. There are no magic herbs to recommend - what you need is as individual the color of your hair. If you are really concerned or more prone to exposure (from the kids, for example), cut to the chase and have an herbal consult with a licensed practitioner (such as an acupuncturist or naturopathic physician). You will save money over the long run by targeting herbs and supplements to your condition - and you prevent that pile of pill bottles in the kitchen with herbs you don't neeed. A competent professional should be able to help you prioritise which are the most important for you now, and will be able to advise you if your condition changes and new ones are needed. The body is not static - it changes over time, and your needs for supplementation will change with it. Also, you have the benefit of working with professional grade products, and can be assured of their quality.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><u>A caveat:</u></strong> Beware of any practitioner who wants to charge hundreds of dollars for 'diagnostic testing' or herbs/supplements. Even my most physically challenged patients don't spend usually spend more than $25 per week. It is my job to help them prioritise so that this is a long term affordable addition to their health care. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1167HIXUQpxUERb1-fixPcm71eNepkYymcKMNoQ44750VoU7-OUwdBz9xw3HEcSE7Ch853wgb_FVZjN4vZiJQLW1iNXW6qHyPx5D8jV0v8rotaFtX5mW_kGNbh_LeQZvtCaqPqLUy3xva/s1600-h/acupuncture-rh-image.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1167HIXUQpxUERb1-fixPcm71eNepkYymcKMNoQ44750VoU7-OUwdBz9xw3HEcSE7Ch853wgb_FVZjN4vZiJQLW1iNXW6qHyPx5D8jV0v8rotaFtX5mW_kGNbh_LeQZvtCaqPqLUy3xva/s200/acupuncture-rh-image.gif" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;"><strong><u><em>Bodywork</em></u></strong>:</span> In addition to supplements, I think that bodywork is hugely important in preventive medicine. By Bodywork I mean acupuncture, massage work, or chiropractic / Osteopathic adjustments. While I may be biased as an acupuncturist, we have had the cure for the common cold for over 2,000 years. A well timed visit when you become symptomatic may mean you are down for a day instead of coughing for a month. For many of my patient's who come in at the start of a cold, they are usually better within 36 hours.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Some of this may be disappointing for those of you used to Grey's Anatomy and ER, and it is hard to admit that Gran was right. You can read more about the benefits of acupuncture and alternative medicine on my <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">website</span> at <a href="http://www.acunut.com/">http://www.acunut.com/</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Until next time, yours in health!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Copyright 2003 - 2009 Jennifer Moffitt, Healing Arts Center Press, and AcuNut.com. All rights reserved.</span> </span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8392501523478925545.post-41061201489044479462009-10-27T16:18:00.000-07:002009-11-05T18:28:55.583-08:00No Worries about Swine flu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.acunut.com/images/hea169.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.acunut.com/images/hea169.gif" vr="true" width="134" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">AcuNut's HealthWatch: San Diego Health News You Can Use</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome readers to the maiden voyage of the Healing Art Center's Health Watch. I hope it will help serve as a resource to empower you to make more informed health choices.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">In light of the <em>Flu Crises of 2009</em>, I wanted to address the concerns for some of my readers about the flu and ways to protect yourself and dispel some myths.<br />
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<strong>What Does the Vaccine do anyway?</strong> <br />
I am not sure when the push for everyone to get a flu shot became so strong - I don't seem to remember it being so dramatic before 2000. Remember that the flu is a virus - it mutates, and it is difficult to predict in advance which strain is going to be the most active. The affects of airline travel around the world only make it more complicated. The CDC makes recommendations annually as to which strains are the most likely to be active based on the epidemiologic evidence, but it's a guess - an educated one, but a guess never-the-less. <br />
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Therefore, it is possible that to get a flu shot for a strain of flu that is not even active, so it may not give you any added protection or immunity. <br />
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That being said, a bad case of the flu can prove fatal to seniors, those who are immuno-compromised, or with a weak respiratory system. So for these cases, family doctors strongly advises a flu vaccine. Even if the strains are not a perfect match, it can help lessen the severity of the flu once it is contracted. </span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What about Swine Flu?<br />
</span></strong><span style="font-family: arial;">OK, first, you cannot get this from pigs. Second, the CDC has stopped keeping track of individual cases and numbers since it is not representative of the outbreak; many people who have the flu are not tested. The H1N1 is part of a class of viruses otherwise known as Strain A influenza, and typically this is a bad case of the flu - enough to keep you down for a week or more and coughing for a few weeks afterwards. Most doctors and hospitals don’t test if there is a positive Strain A s it is enough to know the class of virus. Precautions recommended such as staying home if you don’t feel well, frequent washing of hands, etc. are part of standard good hygiene and should have been practiced all along. Have some compassion on your co-workers and stay home if you are sick. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Many are not aware that there are over 36,000 deaths a year atttributed to the flu, and most of these folks dies of a secondary infection rather than the flu itself such as pneumonia or bronchitis. This has been the case for H1N1 as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><em>No shot! Now what?</em></strong></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Rather than being alarmed by the turn of events, the shortage of a viable vaccine is a great opportunity for us to mature in terms of our approach to health care. Our over-reliance on medication and vaccines has given us a false sense of security when it comes to colds and flu (and most other diseases as well don't you think?). We have cultivated a 'Harry Potter' approach to self-care - we want there to be one shot and magically you have the immunity to ward off anything, even in the absence of good self-care and common sense.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">While sadly not true, in light of recent events perhaps we will begin to turn our attention back to those activities which, when performed with some regularity, strengthen the immune system naturally, to prevent getting sick in the first place - not just with colds and flu, but with the myriad of chronic illnesses that currently plague our country - diabetes, cancer, heart disease, auto-immune disorders. There's the catch - by turning your attention to flu-prevention, you might add years to your life and life to your years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>The best defense...</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Is a good offense. We have heard this saying forever, and it is true in preventive medicine as well. In our next installment, I will address a few things which will help you preserve and protect your body's protective energy, called wei qi (pronounce way-chee), to keep you healthy and fit this winter and beyond. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Most Important:</strong> <span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;">Don't believe all the hype</span>. Fear is also being used as a marketing tool here. Use common sense and you will be fine. To learn more about how acupuncture and oriental medicine can build your immune system naturally, check out my website </span><a href="http://www.acunut.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">http://www.acunut.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. Yours in good health!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">© <span style="font-size: x-small;">Copyright 2003 - 2009 Jennifer Moffitt, Healing Arts Center Press, and AcuNut.com. All rights reserved.</span> </span>Jen Moffitt, DTCM, L.Ac.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16561543042209834199noreply@blogger.com0