chinese medicine helps seasonal allergies

Ahhh…daffodils, robins and budding trees. It’s spring! We must rejoice…right?

Well, most of us will happily greet this warming up and greening of our surroundings, however for the 35 million Americans that suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose and dry or itchy eyes, the welcome is far more reluctant.

And, this year, it’s even worse. Our very mild winter and early warm temperatures mean an earlier bloom for many flowers, plants and trees, which – you guessed it – can mean earlier and increased amounts of pollen and more seasonal allergies. In fact, CBS 2 in Chicago just did an interesting segment on what this year’s early spring means for allergy sufferers – you can see it here.

So, what’s a spring-lover to do? Well, acupuncture could be the answer.

Acupuncture has been shown to be a safe and effective way to combat the symptoms of seasonal allergies. In 2004, a study published by Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology showed that patients treated with acupuncture for six weeks and given a Chinese herbal medicine formula to take daily saw improvement in their allergy symptoms, higher energy levels and improved emotional well-being. The study was covered, along with tips about how acupuncture can be used to treat allergies in this Seattle Post-Intelligencer article.

In acupuncture, there are seven key pressure points that can help bring relief to seasonal allergy sufferers. By focusing on these points, an acupuncturist can help relieve and reduce symptoms like runny nose and sinus pain or headache. Six of these points are found on your face and the seventh is on your left foot. To get started, you can even stimulate these pressure points on your own – here’s a recent Huffington Post health blog post that tells you how.

Chinese herbal treatments can also help. I have worked with patients for years to not only treat the symptoms of their seasonal allergies – which in Traditional Chinese Medicine are sometimes referred to as the “branches” – but also to strengthen their overall systems throughout the year – or the “root”.

Herbs that can be used for seasonal allergies include butterbur, which is known in Chinese herbal medicine as ping hua feng dou cai and was featured in a recent paper in British Medical Journal. The study showed that butterbur, when taken four times daily, can be just as effective as antihistamine drugs in controlling hay fever symptoms, but without a drowsiness side effect. Other Chinese herbal medicinals used to treat seasonal allergies include Cocklebur Fruit, or cang er zi, and Angelica Root, also known as bai zhi.

Now, go enjoy this glorious weather!

chinese medicine can alleviate neck pain

The vast majority of patients that come to see me are coming in for one reason – chronic pain.

Chronic pain is an increasingly common ailment or condition and most often patients are suffering from lower back pain, general joint or arthritis pain or neck pain. It’s estimated that 26% of Americans suffer from chronic pain, compared to 7% that have diabetes, 6% with heart disease and less than 2% diagnosed with cancer. For those living with chronic pain, neck pain is the third most common cause, according to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Health Statistics.

There are many causes for neck pain. The Mayo Clinic has some great online resources and information about what can lead to neck pain, including muscle strains, worn joints, nerve compression, injuries and diseases.

Physicians and researchers have also been conducting studies to test the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic neck pain. The results have been compelling. A 2001 study showed that acupuncture was effective in relieving neck pain and improving range of motion. In a 2004 study, the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic neck pain was evaluated in 153 patients. Nearly 70% of those patients had a successful outcome from acupuncture, reporting an improvement in pain of at least 50%.

In addition to acupuncture, people have been using Traditional Chinese Medicine – or TCM – and herbal remedies to successfully treat chronic neck pain for thousands of years. One of these remedies, Notopterygium Root, is also known as qiang huo in Chinese pinyin. Qiang huo has long been used in Chinese herbal formulas because it specifically “homes” to the upper spine and neck, opening the area and allowing for release of constraint and greater freedom of movement.

Qiang huo is also considered a foundational herb in the Chinese medicine specialty of Wai Ke. Wai Ke’s focus on external medicine also employs the use of kudzu, which is also known as ge gen. Ge gen is another popular choice in Chinese herbal medicine formulas because is provides directionality in a formula to the upper spine and neck area. Ge gen is very effective for neck pain and has been proven effective in a Yale study for relieving cluster headaches. Both qiang huo and ge gen are known to reduce inflammation and also work as analgesics to reduce neck pain.

Herbal remedies that many people may be familiar with are menthol and camphor – if you’ve ever used Ben Gay or IcyHot, you’ve used these key ingredients. Well, they can also be used on their own as an herbal remedy and are rubbed into the skin to increase blood flow and produce a warm or cool feeling that soothes muscles and eases aches.

So, while having chronic neck pain can be…well, a pain in the neck, acupuncture can make a significant difference and traditional Chinese medicine offers a wide range of herbal treatments that can reduce inflammation and pain. A licensed acupuncturist or practitioner of TCM can help develop a plan that is customized for you and eases that ache.

Empirical Point Acupuncture voted best in Philly

Here at Empirical Point Acupuncture, we are fortunate to get inquiries from patients, researchers, physicians and reporters on a fairly regular basis. We love that people want to know more about acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and we are proud to be a resource, engaging in conversation and providing our thoughts and educational information on health topics ranging from how to treat achy knees to healthy eating and from stress relief to how to finally quit smoking.

So, when Insight Magazine called and told us they were reviewing several local acupuncture practices, we were happy to give them a tour and offer a treatment session.

Great news – in the magazine’s most recent issue, Empirical Point Acupuncture was named “Philadelphia’s Best in Acupuncture” and we are honored. Here are a few excerpts from the article, which you can read here:

Feeling taken care of is an understatement after a visit at Empirical Point, as Sherman is gracious and calming—not only caring for my pain points in acupuncture, but for my well-being in general.

Her comprehensive approach to learning about new clients includes an in depth questionnaire which helps provide important details into how Sherman will heal each client. I thoroughly enjoyed our in-depth consultation, allowing me to express my points of discomfort. Sharon wanted to help loosen my stress knots and relieve knee pain I had been having, in just one session.

Ultimately, Empirical Point offers excellent results in just one hour-long session in peaceful surroundings. It doesn’t hurt that, after visiting Sharon’s Chestnut Hill location, I learned that Empirical Point is one of the cleanest, more comforting acupuncture locations in Philadelphia.

We want to thank Insight Magazine for this designation, but remain most dedicated to being the “best” in our patients’ eyes. So, we’ll celebrate this award for a bit, but will continue to focus our 2012 efforts on helping you achieve your long-term health goals.

Thanks – YOU are the best!

self-responsibility and health

Look around. You may have noticed that our lives are faster and more hectic than ever before. The pace of everyday life has accelerated and we want quick results. This is true in our professional lives (how many emails did you have to answer today?), our personal lives (instant status updates on Facebook, anyone?) and even when it comes to our health. While chronic conditions like pain, arthritis, inflammation and even obesity can take years for our body to develop and affect us, we often want to fix them instantly with a pill or even a surgery.

Chinese Medicine is built upon a wholly different approach and philosophy. Your health is a long-term investment, one that you make in yourself and are personally responsible for every day. It is achievable when you invest in it, open yourself up to it and make it a priority in your life. Healing your body and maintaining your health is a result of putting long-term effort into balancing your body, your mind and your energy. Exercise. Healthy eating, relaxation techniques to calm your nerves. It’s all about self-cultivation and pursuing activities that engender your spirit and pique your passions.

So, it all starts with the individual. Simply put, maintaining your health is a matter of self-responsibility.

I’ve recently read some great articles and blog posts that talk about this and how it ties in to some of today’s hot topics – the health care debate, the economics of health care treatments, Americans’ increasingly sedentary lifestyle. I think it’s very telling that more Americans change their car’s oil on a regular basis than go in for regular medical or dental check ups and that it’s become entirely normal for someone to spend 4 hours a night watching TV but to get less than 15 minutes of physical activity a day.

The good news is that if your health has not been optimal, YOU can make changes and empower yourself towards better health. Like many other things, health is achieved by working at it, one day and one small effort at a time. Also like many other things, being healthy (or unhealthy, for that matter) isn’t something that happens instantly – it takes time. For this reason, it’s very important to be patient and to be strongly committed to your goal.

Chinese Medicine approaches the cause of disease more broadly than traditional Western medicine, outlining five root causes:

• Emotional factors

• Dietary factors

• Environmental causes – exposure to excessive coldness, heat, wind, damp, dryness, and environmental toxicities

• Lack of movement, or exercise

• Our inherited genetics

In Chinese medicine, these five factors are seen as the cause of interruptions to the body’s normal physiology. The body will work to quell and block damaging habits and activities, but if it’s trying to do so on a daily basis, it often will compensate – this can result in symptoms like heartburn, chronic constipation or diarrhea. Your body is trying to tell you that it is stressed and working hard to compensate for another illness or problem. Today, many people will take an over-the-counter medication to counter these symptoms, but that is only a temporary fix. Chinese medicine asserts that you should “listen” to what your body is telling you and work to fix the root cause, not just the uncomfortable or undesirable symptom.

To do that, we look for stagnations or obstructions in the flow of humors or vital energy – these obstructions can create blockages and over time will manifest as disease. And it’s not just a physical phenomenon. Emotional issues like stress, if unresolved at the source, can also affect your body and its systems. If dealing with them is pushed to the bottom of your “to do” list, your body will work to compensate in some other way and these type of issues can take a negative toll on your health.

So, what do you do? How should we practice self-responsibility and take ownership of our health?

I am suggesting that we all work to create mindfulness toward better health. Take a moment to see – really see – the everyday factors that could be affecting your health. Factors like stress, anger, frustration or junk foods and a sedentary lifestyle. What is negative in your life and how might it be affecting your health? What can you do to change it?

You can change it.

In fact, even small changes like a 10 minute walk or an apple instead of chips can be hugely beneficial for your body. Also, an overall healthier outlook or attitude can have an impact. You can reach your health goals if you take tiny steps forward…and keep taking them.

All this being said, I do want to be clear that there are health conditions that can strike anyone and are devastating in their anonymity. What it does mean is that there is a whole spectrum of entirely preventable conditions that by staying in tune with your body, treating it with respect and care, YOU can combat. You are your own best champion for health and balance.

And, in the end, don’t you (and your body) deserve that?

Chinese medicine can help holiday weight gain

We all love a good pumpkin pie, sugar cookie or sip of egg nog, but our heart and our waistline are often what suffer this time of year. Too much of many good things cause Americans to gain an average of 3-5 pounds over the holidays (and prompt countless New Year’s resolutions and new gym memberships in January). But, there are ways you can help your body this season and not pack on any holiday baggage:

1. Don’t overdo it – I know, I know, this is obvious, but it’s also much harder than it sounds. Between the holiday parties and family gatherings there tends to be many more goodies, sweets and rich, fatty foods around than normal. So, if you are going to a party, try to eat a light, healthy dinner at home first (like a salad and soup or snack on some fruit or veggies) so that you’ll be less tempted to chow down once you get there. Here are some great eating tips and even healthy recipes to help.

2. Plan time for exercise – with holiday schedules often a blur, it’s difficult to carve out time to get to the gym or that spinning class. But, keeping your body moving is not only important for your muscles, it’s a great stress reliever for your mind and spirit, too. If you can’t make it to the gym, take a walk, get outside and finish up the last of that fall raking, or even do 15 minutes of extra vacuuming or dusting (those holiday guests will be impressed!). The little things add up and will help. Here are some holiday exercise tips and ideas on how to sneak in some cardio.

3. Plan time for rest – while this might sound like it contradicts #2, rest and relaxation are an important part of your body’s rhythm and overall health, too. If you are well-rested, you are far more likely to ward off colds and flu and will be more motivated to exercise than if you are tired or feeling “blah.” The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has some great tips for healthy sleep here.

4. Look eastward – that’s right, to Oriental Medicine. There are several herbs like green tea and shan za and foods like mung beans, yi yi ren (coix) and winter melon that can help your metabolism function smoothly and keep your digestive system at peak performance. Additionally, acupuncture has been shown to help with weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. A licensed practitioner can customize a program that fits your needs, diet and lifestyle.

5. Relax – remember that one of the biggest joys of the holiday season is spending time with family and friends. By letting yourself relax and simply enjoy this time of year, you will help yourself stay centered, calm and healthy.

Cheers!

how to enjoy the holidays with a few healthy tips

How to find peace and well-being during this festive (and hectic!) time of year

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…it’s also the season of heartburn, headaches and hangovers. So, as you enjoy the season, be sure to keep your health in mind. Here are 10 healthy holiday tips that can help keep you feeling your best.

# 1. Get your sleep – the best case scenario is to get a full eight hours of sleep a night. Sometimes, especially during a hectic holiday season, that’s just not possible. So, to ensure that the sleep you do get is as high quality as possible, try to refrain from watching TV right before turning in and don’t eat a heavy meal in the two hours leading up to going to bed.

#2. Drink your water – dehydration can cause fatigue and poor concentration, which can slow you down anytime, but definitely during the holidays. Doctors recommend that you drink eight glasses of water a day. It helps keep you hydrated, flush toxins from your vital organs and keeps your body’s systems running smoothly.

#3. Get some sunshine – while we’ve come a long way in sun block protection and reducing sunburn (and its harmful and even cancerous effects), humans now are exposed to less sunshine than any other time in history. Because vitamin D is such a critical vitamin and sunshine is the primary source, there are now unprecedented levels of vitamin D deficiency. So, be smart about your sun protection, but get outside and get some vitamin D.

#4. Eat Healthy – One of the best ways to feel (and be!) healthy is to eat healthy. Instead of trying to cut out a whole class of foods (eating no fats, for example), it’s best to eat a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. A good rule of thumb is also to eat a variety of foods with different rich colors (think dark green spinach, purple eggplant and orange carrots).

#5. Don’t overindulge when it comes to food – this tip builds on #4. For many families, the holidays mean food…a lot of food. Many doctors recommend that you eat until you feel 70-80% full, not “stuffed.” By not-overdoing it, you will be far more likely to avoid heartburn, indigestion and the five holiday pounds that often sneak in!

#6. Toast to the season, but don’t take too many sips – many doctors agree that there are health benefits associated with alcohol – especially red wine – in moderation. But, if the holidays have taught us anything, it’s that there can be too much of a good thing. So, if you are sipping red wine, egg nog or your favorite holiday cocktail, pace yourself.

#7. Don’t forget to move – everyone knows that getting your exercise can reduce your stress, keep your heart healthy and keep your weight in check. It’s also a great way to enjoy the holidays. Walk around your neighborhood. See the lights. Say hi to your neighbors. Maybe even give your dog some holiday exercise. Everyone will be happier.

#8. Acupuncture – I see a lot of harried patients around the holidays that find relief after acupuncture. If the season gets to be too much, a licensed acupuncture expert can help customize a treatment regimen that eases pain, decreases stress or even helps you sleep better.

#9. Relax, slow down and enjoy – Remember that one of the best ways to keep your body healthy is to keep it relaxed and de-stressed. Breathe. Take a moment for yourself. Clear you mind. This will undoubtedly help you enjoy the holidays a bit more.

# 10. Spend time with family and friends – the holidays are about a lot of things, but one of the most important is your family and friends. Make sure to spend time with them and enjoy the season!

With consumer spending confidence at a decade low, the stock market see-sawing wildly and the Occupy Wall Street movement occupying the national psyche, this year may be even more stressful than years past. So, let’s think about how acupuncture and Oriental Medicine might help lighten your load and make the holidays festive again…

There are growing numbers of people and organizations that are turning to Oriental Medicine and, specifically, acupuncture as a safe and effective stress reliever.

In 2010, the Wall Street Journal wrote a great article about how “U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army doctors are using acupuncture to treat musculoskeletal problems, pain and stress in stateside hospitals and combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.” The piece continued on to talk about how “delegations from Acupuncturists Without Borders are holding communal ear-needling sessions to reduce stress among earthquake victims in Haiti.”

Additionally, a 2003 study conducted at the Yale University School of Medicine and presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting that year showed that mothers that were given acupuncture when their children were going into surgery had less anxiety. Experts said that this was key because when parents are less anxious, there is less anxiety in children.

So, as you kick off this joyous time of year, remember to take a few moments to breathe. If relieving your stress is on your holiday list of To Dos, you may want to consider an acupuncture session with a licensed practitioner. It could be the best gift you receive this season.

Happy Holidays!

acupuncture for ovarian cancer

Many people don’t know that ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer in women and that about 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer that will be diagnosed this year. While doctors are working to develop promising new treatments for ovarian cancer, the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be more than 15,000 deaths in 2011 due to ovarian cancer.

Traditional treatments for ovarian cancer include surgery to remove ovarian tumors, chemotherapy and radiation. Increasingly, alternative and Chinese medicine approaches, including herbal treatments and acupuncture are being used to help relieve the pain, nausea and digestive side effects of cancer treatment.

The National Cancer Institute provides a great online resource and information portal for cancer patients. In fact, the NCI talks about acupuncture as a means to “control pain, including cancer pain, and to help control nausea and vomiting.” The NCI also outlines helpful information for patients about the “strong evidence from clinical trials that acupuncture relieves nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.”

Specifically, a study that evaluated patients’ use of acupuncture, vitamin B6 injections or both for nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer found that acupuncture and vitamin B6 together gave more relief from vomiting that acupuncture or vitamin B6 alone.

Today, there are clinical trials ongoing that continue to gauge the effectiveness of acupuncture for cancer patients. If you are interested in learning more about these trials, or perhaps enrolling, you can find more information here.

As cancer patients continue to turn to acupuncture for pain and nausea relief, some of the most prestigious medical centers and hospitals are taking note and integrating alternative medicine into their traditional oncology treatments. Mass General offers acupuncture as part of its oncology practice and MD Anderson not only offers acupuncture for ovarian cancer patients, but also has highlighted one woman’s very positive story of treatment and overcoming painful neuropathy.

As ovarian cancer treatment success rates continue to rise and new, promising treatments enter development, doctors and patients are taking heart. They are also taking an alternative approach to surviving treatment and living with the disease – one that continues to show that acupuncture can have a dramatically positive impact on a patients’ we

tips for better health

With All Hallows’ Eve right around the corner, it’s a good time to look at frightening things…you know, ghouls, goblins, ghosts…and your health and wellness routines.

There really is nothing more important than your health, so here are some tips to keep you feeling BOO-tiful and SPOOK-tacular:

1. You are what you eat – so put down that KitKat!

Sure, Halloween candy may satisfy our sweet tooth cravings, but for long-term health and fitness, it’s best to make smart choices about the food you eat every day. A balanced diet consisting of lots of vegetables, fruit, whole grain and lean protein can provide the nourishment and energy you need to feel your best. Here are some great resources and tips from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that can help.

2. We all need to move around and walk more – so DO go Trick-or-Treating!

We all know it’s true – if you don’t move it, you lose it. This is definitely the case in today’s society when sedentary lifestyles are more prevalent than ever. (Are you sitting down at a desk or on a sofa while reading this?!?) It’s estimated that the average American now spends 15-16 hours each day NOT being active and that sedentary individuals can actually be increasing their chances of dying by 50% when compared to active people. So, get up and get moving – even if it’s walking around your neighborhood for free candy.

3. No pain, no gain – NOT really!

While physical exercise and exertion can be a good thing for your health (see the info above about sedentary lifestyles), chronic pain is not. I see several patients each week for whom chronic pain is, well, a pain. It affects every aspect of their lives, their health and their overall well-being. Today, Oriental Medicine, including acupuncture, is playing an increasingly important role in helping to treat and prevent chronic pain. So, for everything from lower back pain to arthritis, talk to a licensed acupuncture or Oriental Medicine specialist – he or she may be able to help.

4. Sleep is a must – we’re not vampires!

I know that Twilight is all the rage these days, but believe me, no sleep is not good for us mortals. Skimping on even an hour or two of sleep can have a dramatic negative impact on your energy, stress levels, attention span and, importantly, your immune system. So, to stay healthy and energized, be sure to get a full eight hours a night. Here are some guidelines that might help.

5. Balance is essential – so have high standards, but go easy on yourself too!

As a final tip, I encourage you to be your own best health advocate. To do this, it’s good to have high standards and be tough on yourself – are you eating right, getting enough sleep and taking care of yourself as you should? Remember, though, that it’s also good to give yourself some balance, down time and serenity – this can come from meditation, yoga or just slowing down and taking a few minutes for yourself. In today’s modern, hectic world we are set up for imbalance and that can wreak havoc on your body and your health. Symptoms of fatigue, pain or illness can be the first signs that you are off-balance. Take a moment and remember that your health is one of the most important things…but feel free to have one KitKat every once in a while.

Happy Halloween!

acupuncture and Chinese medicine in conjunction for breast cancer treatment

As you all probably know, October is breast cancer awareness month. What you may not know is that according to the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) latest statistics, Pennsylvania women have a slightly higher chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer than the U.S. average and more than 1,100 Philadelphia women are diagnosed with the disease each year. More sobering is the fact that the NCI data shows that Philadelphia county has our state’s highest age-adjusted death rate for breast cancer at approximately 29-34 women per 100,000 residents. The good news is that these rates have actually been improving for Philadelphia, so there’s hope for further progress.

Breast cancer is a serious and significant disease and I’ve worked with many brave women to battle against it. Recently, I’ve seen more and more women and their families working with their doctors to take an integrated approach to battling their cancer. Today, doctors and hospitals across our region and the U.S. are, more than ever, working to treat each patient using a personalized approach and one that blends western or “traditional” medicine with eastern or “alternative” treatments. Using this east-meets-west strategy, I’ve had the privilege of helping several patients successfully battle their disease and help treat some of the most uncomfortable aspects of cancer – pain, nausea, fatigue and depression.

If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, you know that I like to cite recent studies and researchers to illustrate some new treatment trends. I think the best “expert” in this regard is a brave patient that has lived through this battle. One of my patients recently summed up what Oriental Medicine has helped her achieve like this:

I first met Sharon as a result of my search for additional therapies as I started my fight against breast cancer. She helped me with the side effects first from chemotherapy. I did not take any of my anti-nausea medications or any other pharmaceuticals to help with side effects. I then moved onto surgery and radiation. I did not experience the fatigue to the extent that most talk about with radiation and the results from treating the surgical scar tissue have been truly amazing and I am so happy.

There is no better reward than knowing my acupuncture and Oriental Medicine services have had an impact on a patient’s life. Here’s to our continued, collective success in melding old and new and traditional and alternative to triumph over breast cancer.