Pain and Acupuncture

5 Apr 2016 Pain, Your Overall Health

How does acupuncture effect pain?

Acupuncture works in a variety of ways to ease pain.  It releases endorphins which are our bodies’ natural painkilling chemicals.  Acupuncture also acts on serotonin levels and it has been shown that opioid peptides are released during acupuncture as well. Acupuncture also reduces inflammation and increases blood flow and circulation providing drug-free pain relief.

Does acupuncture help with chronic or acute pain?

Our medicine treats a wide variety of both acute and chronic issues. In acute cases, we can often help the pain subside completely, whereas in cases of chronic pain, acupuncture can be a very helpful tool to manage pain safely on a long-term basis with little to no side effects.

What are some examples of conditions treated with acupuncture?

Injury/trauma
Headache
Menstrual cramps
Lupus
Sciatica
Chronic Pain Syndrome
Arthritis
Carpal Tunnel
Cancer related pain
Post-surgery recovery

What kinds of modalities are used by acupuncturists to treat pain?

Massage–We use a variety of massage techniques to relieve tension, promote blood flow, and to open the channels.
Cupping–Suction cups are placed over affected areas to draw out stagnation and promote blood flow.
Electric stimulation–Small electrical current is delivered to selected acupuncture needles to promote blood circulation, decrease inflammation and alleviate pain.

Pain facts

Pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined.
1 in every 4 Americans have suffered from pain lasting longer than 24 hours and millions more suffer from acute pain.
Pain is the most common reason Americans access the health care system.
It is a leading cause of disability and is a major contributor to health care costs.
Pain is a significant public health problem that costs 560-635 billion dollars annually.
Adults with lower back pain are 4 times as likely to experience serious psychological distress when compared to those with no lower back pain.

Iris Martin LAc.

Learn how Acupuncture can help with Immunity

18 Feb 2016 Your Overall Health

Prevention, Acute Stage, & Recovery

It is important to note that Chinese Medicine is extremely effective as a preventative measure.  Regular acupuncture can help to balance the body thus decreasing frequency of illness.  Our recommendations listed below are useful for prevention, and can also help to kick a sickness out once it begins, shortening down time.  Once immunity is compromised, it is important to rebuild it. Simply adding certain foods and herbs into your regular diet can help you remain healthy and happy all year long.

What Chinese herbs help boost immunity?

Listed below are two examples of herbal formulas that may be prescribed by a Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist.  The formula chosen will reflect the patient’s presentation of symptoms.

  1. Dong Chong Xia Cao (Cordyceps)
    This formula boosts immunity by increasing number of white blood cells which act as our body’s first line of defense once pathogens enter the body.  Cordyceps aid our body in fighting various infections.
  2. Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Windscreen Powder)
    It is a classic formula that boosts immunity when patients present symptoms such as chills and fever and spontaneous sweating. It’s a great formula for patients that are prone to catching colds and great for prevention and for rebuilding immunity after illness.

Individual herbs can be added to water for tea or to bone broth (see below) for an extra boost.

What foods can I eat to strengthen immunity during the cold and flu season?

• Foods rich in Vitamin A—Liver, beef, eggs, butter, and cheese.
Vitamin A strengthens immune response and mucus membranes.

• Foods rich in Vitamin C—Broccoli, citrus fruit, greens, and strawberries.
Vitamin C fights inflammatory diseases and infections

• Garlic and onions—These foods have a natural antibiotic effect.
• Drink plenty of fluids and eat soup to prevent dehydration and flush the body.

Immunity Tea Recipe
1 Tsp of Goji berries
5 Da Zao (jujubes)
3 slices of ginger (peeled & bruised)

Bone broth
Bone broth has numerous health benefits, one of which is improving immunity.  It is jam-packed with nutrients which heal the body from the inside out.  On top of boosting immunity, it also benefits connective tissue, bones, and digestive system to name but a few.  Bone broth is an excellent tool for recovery from sickness, injury, and surgery as well.

Bone broth can be bought or made from scratch.  If you want to make your own, try this recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/beef-bone-broth-51260700

Pre-made refrigerated: http://www.kitchenwitchbroth.com

Both of the bone broth companies mentioned above are owned and operated by Licensed Acupuncturists as this superfood is widely known for its healing qualities.

Tips
• Try to layer your clothing making sure hands, feet, and neck are covered.
• Take measures to boost immunity before traveling by plane or other public transportation.
• Drink room temperature or warm water with half a lemon squeezed in every morning to start your day with a dose of vitamin C and cleanse the body.
• When running the heat in your home and elsewhere, use saline spray to moisten the nasal passages and avoid dryness.

7 Tips to Keep Your Immune System High

18 Feb 2016 Your Overall Health , , ,

Exercise
Exercise increases circulation throughout the body. This means the white blood cells which are the integral part of the immune system, are able to scan the body more quickly and more frequently. This will allow them to find a pathogen early and rid of it before you get a chance to notice any symptoms.

Vitamin D
During the winter months when your exposure to the sun is reduced, it is important to supplement with Vitamin D. Our bodies need 1,000 IUs of Vitamin D per day. This vitamin not only plays a key role in your bone health but also controls an exorbitant amount of genes associated with cancers, autoimmune disease, and infections.

Keep sugar intake low
A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down but it will also give your body another disadvantage. Sugar impairs your immune system by suppressing the white blood cells’ ability to consume pathogens. As little as 3.5 ounces can depress your immune system by 50%. This effect of sugar on the immune system can last up to 5 hours.

Stress
Chronic stress has a negative impact on all aspects of the immune system. Finding the time to do something for you will actually make you better equipped to help others later and perform better at work. One of the best remedies for stress is laughter. Laughter not only decreases stress hormones but it boosts immune function. Seek comedy in all its forms.

Sleep
Sleep deprivation wreaks havoc on your immune system by reducing the number of killer cells which fight germs. Studies have also shown that lack of sleep promotes early aging. Fortunately, following some of the tips mentioned above will improve your sleep as well. If you are consistently having difficulty getting enough rest, seek help. Acupuncture would be one way to address your sleep needs.

Vitamin C
Nature’s wisdom put in season some of the fruits highest in Vitamin C, a highly effective antioxidant, right when we might need it most. Californians will see citrus trees full of their fruit as well as persimmons. Pomegranates are also in season now which are also known to be full of antioxidants. Eating fruits and veggies high in Vitamin C and antioxidants will help protect white blood cells from oxidative damage.

Zinc
Being deficient in zinc makes you more susceptible to infectious agents. However, too much zinc is not healthy either. Luckily you can test to see if you have an adequate amount of zinc easily and inexpensively.

During flu season, you can protect yourself from infection by taking the homeopathic preparation muco coccinum. One tablet should be taken every two weeks. This is a safe, natural, and gentle way to activate your body’s defense mechanisms.

Vegan Coconut Pancakes

30 Dec 2015 Recipes & Home Remedies

Healthy Christmas morning Breakfasts

Makes 10-12 pancakes

Ingredients:

1 cup Whole Wheat
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp baking soda

¾ cup light coconut milk
½ cup warm water
1 ½ Tbsp honey
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
½ cup shredded coconut or toasted coconut

In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
In a small bowl, mix the wet ingredients together.
Stir wet ingredients into the dry ingredients along with toasted coconut to form thin batter.
Heat skillet with 1 ½ tsp vegetable oil (or use a griddle).
For each pancake, pour ¼ cup batter and spread with back of spoon into 4” diameter pancakes.
Cook until bubbles form 2 to 3 minutes.
Flip, cook 1 to 2 minutes, and transfer to oven to keep warm.

Based on Prevention magazine recipes in the July 2013 magazine.

Tendonitis: the injury that happens behind a computer

30 Dec 2015 Pain, Your Overall Health ,

What is Tendonitis?

It is the inflammation of the soft tissue specifically the muscle that connects to the bone.

What are the most common types of tendonitis?

Tennis Elbow
Golfer’s Elbow
Achilles Tendinitis
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Swimmer’s Shoulder
Patella Tendinitis
Tendinitis of the Wrist

Why does Tendonitis occur?

It occurs when extra strain is placed on a joint, bone and muscle either slowly and respectively over time or all at once in a more traumatic injury way. It usually occurs in people over age 40 due to the decrease of the tendon’s ability to tolerate stress.

What are the common causes of tendonitis?

Gardening
Raking
Working on a computer for greater than 4 hours a day
Cleaning
Tennis
Golf
Throwing or pitching
Scrubbing
Incorrect Posture
Joint misalignment or abnormal joint length
Doing to much too soon on a tendon that isn’t used to a particular type of movement. (Weekend Warrior)
Occasionally due to infections
Inflammatory diseases like gout, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis

What are the symptoms of tendonitis?

Pain and loss of motion are the most common symptoms. Pain usually starts localized on the spot where the muscle attaches to the tendon and can radiate to other areas. The pain can either build up slowly or come on suddenly and severely.

How is tendonitis treated?

Rest the injured area
Ice the injured area
Seek chiropractic care – usually treated by adjusting the joint then performing the Graston Technique and cross fractionating the tendon.
Anti-inflammatory botanical medicine or over-the-counter anti-inflammatories (these can be topical or oral).
Corticosteroids injections are sometimes necessary.
In very rare cases surgery is necessary.

Chrysanthemum Tea

23 Feb 2015 Recipes & Home Remedies

The Chrysanthemum is an extremely potent flower plant, cultivated by the Chinese for over 3,000 years and readily prescribed by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners This trusted herb can heal a multitude of health complaints.

According to Chinese Herbal Medicine-Materia Medica, the indication for chrysanthemum is as follows:

  • Disperses wind, clears heat, which is effective when treating headaches and fever.
  • Clears the liver channel and the eyes – wind-heat in the liver channel which manifests with red, painful, dry eyes or excessive tearing, or yin deficiency of the kidneys and liver with floaters, blurry vision, or dizziness.

Chrysanthemum tea has Vitamin C which helps ease heaviness in the head during a cold and provides relief in sinusitis discomfort. This herbal tea also has antiviral properties and helps relieve congestion in the head which may be caused by a viral infection. The heaviness in the head could also be a bacterial pathogenic reaction.

It is also a natural coolant and helps in lowering the temperature of the body when suffering from fever or heat stroke. This herbal tea is also helpful in treating pimples and acne. It can also treat discomfort of high temperature such as headache, slight toothache and throbbing nerves in the gums.

You can buy organic chrysanthemum from an herbal shop or Whole Foods and add them into boiling water and let the mix steep for 3-5 mins. It is a easy remedy to keep at home and serves many benefits to our health!

Ankle Sprains

18 Feb 2015 Pain, Your Overall Health

How do ankle sprains usually happen?

It occurs with a twisting motion, most commonly with your toes pointed down and in. Some ways this can happen are as follows:
-Stepping on an uneven surface
-Landing on the outside of the heel
-Running with too much cross-over

What are signs of a sprain?

-Swelling, commonly on the outside of the ankle.
-Pain and difficulty putting weight on that foot.
If the pain is too great to bear weight at all, this is a sign of a fracture.

Which structures are most commonly affected?

In order of occurrence:
-Anterior talofibular ligament (aka ATFL)
-Calcaneofibular ligament
-Posterior talofibular ligament

How serious is it?

It depends on the grade of the sprain; which can be determined by the stability of the joint and how much pain is felt with walking. The grading system is as follows:
Grade 1: Slight tearing of the ligament with mild swelling and stiffness. There is mild pain with walking.
Grade 2: The tearing of the ligament is more severe but incomplete. There is less stability and moderate swelling and discoloration. Walking is painful.
Grade 3: A complete tear of the ligament with severe swelling and bruising. The ankle is unstable and cannot support walking. The pain is intense, especially when the ankle gives way under the persons full weight bearing on the ankle. This injury requires medical attention and surgery.

What are the possible complications?

Fracture of the talus
Fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal
Dislocation of the peroneal tendons
Bifurcate ligament sprains
Achilles tendon injury
Ankle injuries are extremely common but fractures are found in only 15% of cases.

What is the quickest road to recovery?

Until the swelling has gone down:
Avoid full weight bearing. If it is a Grade 2 sprain, use crutches only for the first 1-3 days. Toe touching with crutch use will improve recovery time.
Ice three to five times a day for 20 minutes with an hour in between.
Rest, elevate, and compress the ankle.
See a chiropractor as soon as possible so that they may ensure that the bones in the foot are appropriately positioned to decrease undue stress on the ligaments and to speed the recovery.
Have the ankle braced with either a splint, a boot, or tape.

Once the swelling has decreased:
Wean off the crutches with gradual weight bearing.
Ice after activity

To avoid chronicity:
Before returning to activity, be sure that you are able to balance on one leg and hop on one leg without pain
Continue to ice after activity
Stretch prior to activities such as running and jogging

If chronicity does occur, do the above but also:
Tape for support before sport activities
Consider getting an orthotic fitting
Seek physical therapy

References:
Souza, Thomas. Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor: Protocols and Algorithms. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 4th edition (October 3, 2008).

Vietnamese Style Spring Rolls

18 Feb 2015 Recipes & Home Remedies

Ingredients:

2 ozs. rice vermicelli
8 rice wrappers (8.5 inch diameter)
2 small fish fillets cooked
1 1/3 Tbsp chopped fresh Thai basil
3 Tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves
3 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
2 leaves lettuce, chopped
1 Avocado – in thin slices

Sauce

*Traditional or use Plain Soy sauce

4 tsp fish sauce
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp garlic chili sauce
1. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Boil rice vermicelli 3 to 5 minutes until al dente and then drain.
2. Fill a large bowl of warm water. Dip one rice wrapper into the hot water till all the paper is wet. Lay wrapper flat. In a row across the center, lay a small amount of the vermicelli, basil, fish, mint, cilantro, avocado and lettuce.
3. Roll the wrap tightly around the ingredients beginning with one side and roll the other end. Repeat with all the remaining ingredients.
4. Mix the sauce ingredients all together and mix or pour soy sauce into a small bowl.

Recovery Herbal Chicken Soup

1 Feb 2015 Recipes & Home Remedies

This is classically what mothers cook for their daughters who just gave birth. The soup is very nourishing. It tonifies both blood and qi. It helps the body to recover faster after big events such as giving birth, athletic events or recovering from an illness. You can take it long term and eat it everyday. For postpartum, it is traditionally given for 40 days so new moms have the energy to produce breast milk and recover from childbirth.

Postpartum depression in Chinese Medicine in considered to be a function of blood loss. The ingredients in this soup work together harmoniously to give you more energy.

You find all the ingredients at an Asian supermarket. We have ready made packages also at our clinic that can be shipped directly to you.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/2 lb dried ginger
  • 1 gallon of rice wine
  • 2 gallons of water
  • 1-2 black chickens
  • 5 lbs. chicken bones or chicken feet (wrapped in cheesecloth)
  • 1 cup  dried red dates
  • 1/2 cup dried goji berries
  • 3/4 cup dried longan
  • 2 oz. dried snow fungus
  • 3 oz. black wood ear mushrooms

This recipe is adapted from Mama Tong Soup. If you live in the Bay Area, you can get ready made soup delivered to you via the Good Eggs community. Their website has beautiful pictures of ingredients and recipes:

http://mamatongsoup.com/recipes/#/herbal-chicken-soup/

-Yoevita

Turmeric

1 Feb 2015 Recipes & Home Remedies , ,

TurmericIn India, turmeric has been used traditionally for thousands of years. It is popular in culinary use throughout Asia for centuries and many of you may already know that this plant is one of the key ingredient of curries. But did you know turmeric has long been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory in both Chinese and Indian herbal medicine treatments?

Turmeric is slightly bitter with a warm and peppery flavor that has a rich orange color and is shaped like ginger. One of the key components in turmeric is curcumin which has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and acts as a strong antioxidant. Studies have shown insight into the mechanisms behind curcumin’s protective effects against Alzheimer’s disease.

According to Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Materia Medica and Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, in laboratory animal studies, turmeric has been shown to:

  • reduce blood lipids
  • improve blood circulation to the heart
  • lower blood pressure
  • reduce platelet aggregation
  • increase bile formation and secretion
  • reduce inflammation
  • alleviate pain
  • stimulate uterine contraction

Turmeric is especially effective when treating pain syndrome, including pain in the chest and hypochondriac region, amenorrhea with abdominal pain and injury pain. When patients have chest congestion due to stress or PMS for women before menses, herbal formula contains turmeric is used to relieve symptoms.

Here is quick way on how to prepare your own turmeric tea:

  • Boiling water
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tb of organic honey

JANUARYturmeric photo copyTumericmix them together and drink once a day and make sure your source of turmeric is organic.

Enjoy!JANUARYturmeric photo copy

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