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.

acupuncture for joint pain

Growing older – we all do it. Some of us more begrudgingly than others. As time marches on, joints begin to ache, energy can fade and the face looking back at us in the mirror every morning can look…well…older.

As we age, everyone wants to stay healthy and with September being Healthy Aging Month, I thought I’d share with you a few of the acupuncture treatments that have been long-used and successfully proven to help keep us healthy longer.

Aches & Pains

As we get older, our joints and muscles get older, too. They remind us of this with sharp pains or dull aches. Numerous studies have shown that acupuncture treatments can help alleviate chronic pain like joint aches, arthritis and muscle strain. In fact, one of my specializations is in treating patients with chronic pain – there are so many people suffering from it and acupuncture has been shown to be so effective.

Energy

Recent studies of acupuncture have shown that it can be very effective in treating some of the side effects associated with cancer and traditional cancer treatments, including fatigue. Acupuncture treatments are widely used in these patients, as well as those suffering from depression, chronic fatigue or just a diminishing energy level to increase blood flow and boost energy.

Wrinkles & Appearance

Wrinkles, sagging skin, under eye circles – no one likes these hallmarks of getting older. But, as it increases blood circulation and helps to balance the body’s internal systems, many people have found that acupuncture can help reduce the look of lines, increase skin’s firmness and improve skin tone and texture.

So, go, enjoy the adventures, memories and wisdom that come with getting older…just feel better while doing it!

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help side effects of prostate cancer treatment

With more than 2 million survivors of prostate cancer in the U.S., it’s important to recognize that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month. It’s even more important when you realize that 1 out of every 6 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Thankfully, prostate cancer can be successfully treated for many patients with care ranging from “watchful waiting” to surgery and chemotherapy to hormone therapy. In addition to these approaches, many doctors are increasingly seeing the benefits of Oriental Medicine, including acupuncture, to help patients manage their overall health and treat some of the common side effects associated with their treatments.

For example, acupuncture has been shown to help alleviate cancer pain and the nausea associated with chemotherapy treatments. Also, a recent study published in International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics showed that acupuncture helped relieve the hot flashes that can be associated with prostate cancer surgery or hormone treatment.

In addition to acupuncture, the University of Maryland Medical Center outlines on its website select herbal medicine treatments that have shown promise for prostate cancer patients. These include:

Green tea – green tea extract has been shown to provide a slight benefit in certain types of prostate cancer

Milk Thistle – in a lab test, milk thistle was shown to stop prostate cancer cells from growing; these results have not yet been confirmed in human patients

Garlic – taking garlic extract has been shown to help fight cancer cells

Remember, a licensed practitioner of Oriental Medicine will help develop a custom and comprehensive treatment regimen for each patient, including acupuncture and herbal remedies.

Please also remember those battling prostate cancer this month…

celiac sprue disease

Did you know that today – September 13 – is National Celiac Disease Awareness Day?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the small intestine and blocks the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. This reaction is triggered in a person with Celiac disease each time they eat gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, it is estimated that 1 in 133 Americans – or 3 million people – suffer from Celiac disease. However, because of how difficult it can be to diagnose and a lack of understanding of the condition, up to 95% of Celiacs may be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions. Importantly, there is no cure for Celiac disease – instead, people suffering from the condition must adhere to a 100% gluten free diet.

Bloating, pain and digestive upset are regular symptoms for Celiacs, and conditions for which Oriental Medicine can offer palliative treatments. While these approaches have not been shown to cure Celiac disease, there are several herbal remedies that have shown promise in helping Celiacs find relief. These include: fennel, nutmeg, Echinacea, goldenseal, slippery elm, burdock, sheep sorrel, dandelion and saffron.

Finally, while also not a cure for Celiac disease, acupuncture has been long used to help patients with a wide variety of digestive disorders and can bring some relief by calming nausea, reducing bloating and maintaining better digestive function.

Hopefully, you are now more aware of what our gluten-intolerant friends and family members are battling – think of them today!

acupuncture helps older pets

Each year, it seems that more doctors are providing complementary and alternative medicine and are using it to help patients ease chronic pain, reduce the inflammation of arthritis or even lose weight.

Of course, in this case, the patients have four legs and cold noses – they are our pets and the practice of offering complementary and alternative medicine, especially acupuncture, to treat what ails them is growing by leaps and bounds.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which represents more than 78,000 vets in the U.S., has issued guidelines for Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine and while it is difficult to track how many vets are offering the services, it is easy to see how it’s growing by doing some quick online searches or even talking to neighbors at the dog park.

I often get asked about pet acupuncture and while, as a licensed acupuncturist here in Pennsylvania for my two-legged human peers, I can’t offer that treatment (this varies state-to-state, so be sure to do your local research), I do find it very interesting how effective people find acupuncture for pets and how an increasing number of veterinarians are certain that it can help with mobility, joint pain, arthritis and other common ailments seen as pets age.

Here are some articles and resources that I find most interesting and helpful:

First, here in Philadelphia, if I am asked for a recommendation for a vet practice that offers acupuncture, I’ve had great experiences with St. George Hunt Memorial Veterinary Hospital.

Dr. Karen Becker talks about how acupuncture treatments can make “a world of difference in the mobility” of your pet as he or she ages on the Huffington Post.

An early adopter, Jon Katz wrote about the wonders worked by acupuncture on his Border Collie, Orson, on Slate back in 2005.

In 2009, Michelle Slatalla chronicled how veterinary acupuncture was growing and how it helped bring the spring back to her Lab Otto’s step for the New York Times.

Along those same lines, U.S. News and World Report covered the trend of holistic veterinary medicine and how many vets “swear by it” in 2009.

Finally, while you might not go as far as to practice “doga” (yes, that’s yoga for dogs) with your pet, this piece in the New York Post tells you how you can.

So, the next time you see Rex or Fluffy limp a bit after some strenuous play (or even just getting up after a nap, if they are older), think of how much acupuncture has helped you…it may do the same for your furry friend.