It's Wintertime....Avoid the Blues

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Avoid those wintertime doldrums and blues.  Take up an indoor hobby, get together once a week with some friends to have a fun workout session or just for a coffee and chat.  Don't forget to make an appointment to see your favorite acupuncturist for an immune-boosting and mood-boosting treatment today!

Vitamin B12 and Acupuncture for Stress, Anxiety and Depression

There's just so much stress and aggravation living and working in NYC these days; the holiday season doesn't help the situation.  Many patients are coming in for de-stress sessions.  Acupuncture calms the mind and body; helps relieve insomnia and helps with depression and anxiety disorders. Vitamin B12 keeps your nerve cells and red blood cells healthy.  It aids in converting carbs into glucose in the body.  This leads to energy production which decreases fatigue in the body.  Healthy nerves mean reduced depression, stress and anxiety.  As I write this blog, there is a patient on my table who was physically abused by OWS protestors trying to get to my office today.  Quite upset by the experience - once the needles were in place, the patient became calm and is now asleep. 

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Do something good for yourself today - make an appointment for a de-stress acupuncture session.  You'll feel great!

Acupuncture for the Acupuncturist

Yesterday, I went to see a colleague for my own acupuncture session.  Yes, even I am affected by the change of weather; every injury I've ever sustained has come back to haunt me this past week.  After my session, I felt so relaxed and free of any aches and pains; I was happy to go back to my office, have a nice cup of tea, lots of water and look forward to a good book at the end of my day.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  the weather is changing and the wind is picking up.  Don't wait until you're achey-breaky; schedule an appointment today for an Autumn Tune Up.  You'll feel wonderful, and your immune system will get a boost, so you'll be able to fight off any typical Autumn colds.
k@kmondesire.com  917-701-7582

Your Hips Grow As You Age

Here it is.....The Journal of Orthopaedic Research (5.3.2011) just published a finding that the pelvis widens by 1 inch from the ages of 20 to 80.  The width of the 4th lumbar vertebra increases with age as well.  This occurred in both men and women.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  It's inevitable...the dreaded spread!!!! So, do something today to help keep your waist and hips as slim as possible, so when that 1 inch naturally comes on, it won't be as devastating!  Try P90X today; it's made a difference in my life, so why not make a difference in yours?
here's the site: https://extranet.securefreedom.com/MillionDollarBody/csShopping/ShoppingCart_Detail.asp?PriceID=93429&Cat=Fitness%20ProgramBest%20Sellers&AddToCart=
 

Acupuncture Treatment For Traumatic Sports Injuries To Knees

Traumatic sports injuries to the knee may be significant precursor events to early onset of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. A MRI is an integral tool to identify structural injuries to articular cartilage and cartilage degeneration.  Acupuncture therapy has long been used to treat traumatic sports injuries for both the professional and amateur athlete.  Elimination of pain, increase in range of motion, and reparation to minor tears of articular cartilage and other connective tissues are common treatments in my clinic.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  got bad knees?  Want to participate in your favorite sport without pain?  Want to perform better?  Call or email the office today and make an appointment.   Join the hundreds who have regained their quality of life and their favorite sport by having acupuncture therapy.
917-701-7582
k@kmondesire.com

Side Effects of Tamoxifen Reduced with Acupuncture Treatment

Per the Society of Acupuncture Research:
Side Effects of Tamoxifen and Acupuncture

In a single arm, observational study, fifty participants with early breast cancer received eight traditional acupuncture treatments from one acupuncturist to manage side effects from Tamoxifen...Participants reported hot flashes and night sweats were significantly reduced.[Source: De Valois BA, Young TE, Robinson N, McCourt C, Maher EJ. Using traditional acupuncture for breast cancer-related hot flashes and night sweats. J Altern Complement Med. 2010. 16(10):1047-57. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20954961

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you are experiencing side effects of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and particularly tamoxifen, contact my office today.  You will experience relief from the symptoms and side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.  Together, we will form a partnership to optimize your journey to wellness.

For Breast Cancer Patients Magnesium Oxide May Ease Hot Flashes

The Mayo Clinic just released this information:

Data released from a pilot phase II trial from Virginia Commonwealth University Health System suggests that magnesium supplements in daily routine taken by women suffering from breast cancer may provide resistance to menopausal hot flashes. Researchers conducting the study reported that women with breast cancer who took 400 mg of magnesium oxide every day for 4 weeks reported a 41.4% reduction in the frequency of hot flashes.  By the help of magnesium supplements up to 50% of hot flashes can be controlled. It was observed that the side effects were negligible and the cost of the tablet (magnesium oxide) is very low, i.e. per tablet cost is $0.02. The results from this study are being used to plan a full a placebo-controlled trial.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Acupuncture is very effective in reducing the symptoms of menopause, particularly hot flashes.  If you are suffering from hot flashes or any other symptoms of menopause, schedule an appointment with your acupucnturist to alleviate your discomfort.

Acupuncture is Highly Effective in the Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Seasonal allergic rhinitis occurs at the same time each year when certain trees, foliage and flowers are in bloom. This is the most common and prevalent type of allergy I see in my clinic. Symptoms typically include itchy burning eyes, greenish yellow nasal discharge, stuffy and/or runny nose, headaches, shortness of breath, itchy and dry skin, insomnia and general irritability. Sounds familiar? Did you know that approximately 10 to 20 percent of the general populace suffers from allergic rhinitis? The estimated health care cost is between $4.5 and $7.7 billion per year in the United States.1 This does not take into account days missed from the workplace or school.  In China, this type of pathology is considered to be ‘wind heat’ and has been successful treated with the combination of acupuncture and herbal formulas for centuries.
In 2004, Allergy published the results of a double blind clinical trial testing the efficacy of acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas. The test concluded that this combination of treatment modalities was very effective for the relief of the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
The subjects of this clinical trial experienced relief in their eyes and nose, performed more physical activity, and enjoyed a much improved psychological condition.  Ideally, it is wise to begin addressing seasonal rhinitis one or two months before a person is historically affected. Early treatment results in little or no symptoms throughout the season. There are many different herbal formulas (pill form) that I incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan. Treatments vary from week to week because the person’s condition improves after every acupuncture session. In general, for the person suffering from chronic rhinitis for years will visit my office twice weekly for the first several weeks, then once weekly as their condition improves. As the immune system is tonified, the patient’s overall health condition improves and is then put onto a maintenance plan of once visit every 3 to 4 weeks.

References
1. Management of Allergic Rhinitis in the Working-Age Population. Summary, Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 67. AHRQ Publication No. 03-E013, February 2003. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/rhinworksum.htm.
2. Brinkhaus R, Hummelsberger J, Kohnen R, et al. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized-controlled clinical trial. Allergy 2004;59:953-960.
3. Deadman P. The treatment of allergic rhinitis by acupuncture. J Chin Med 1991;36:25-27.
4. Maciocia G. The Practice of Chinese Medicine. The Treatment of Diseases with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs. London: Churchill Livingstone, 1994.

Acupuncture is Effective for Breast Cancer Hot Flashes

The Journal of Complementary Medicine 2010 Oct:16(10):1047-57 has reported that "traditional acupuncture (TA) offers an effective, non-pharmaceutical method of managing the hot flushes and night sweats...associated with taking tamoxifen for breast cancer". 
Acupuncture is also highly effective in the treatment of dry mouth (xerostoma), fatigue, nausea and general malaise associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Courtesy:  Journal of Chinese Medicine, No 95, Feb 2011

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Major medical institutions, such as Memorial Sloan Kettering and NY Presbyterian don't offer acupuncture to their cancer patients for kicks...it really does work!  For more information, please contact me at k@kmondesire.com.  If you know someone who is going through this life struggle, pass this blog on to them, so they may obtain a referral for a practitioner in their area.

Understanding Hormones Part 4

Yesterday, we left off with a converted hormone.  NOW what happens?  Here's the 'big magilla'.  It is at this point that the hormone binds itself to its proper receptor (like a key that fits precisely into a lock).  Voila!  We have transmission!  We get the infamous 'proteonic response' (better known in my book as 'bingo, bingo!').  Happy hormonal connections lead to proper homeostasis.  But... if the 'key' doesn't fit with ultimate precision, then the transmission contains lots of static.  When this happens, there is less of the hormone 'locked' into its receptor and more hormone loosely circulating throughout the body.  Therefore, low frequency and transmission leads to low hormonal response (eg:  slow thyroid, low testosterone level). 
The downward cycle then occurs, the hypothalamus doesn't get stimulated because it thinks it already sent out the transmission to create the proteonic response.  Next, the pituitary gets suppressed, and the chain of events continues on.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  stay tuned for tomorrow's blog.  I'll be touching on what external factors can cause low hormonal responses and give you some good tips for happy hormones!!

Understanding Hormones Part 2

I was bombarded with the same question yesterday....WHAT'S a hormone?
A hormone is a naturally occurring chemical substance that your body produces.  Hormones are in charge of the body's regulation department, and is the control center for the activities and functions of certain cells or organs.

The thyroid gland in particular,  is responsible for the secretion of many hormones.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Hormones are crucial for homoestasis (to be alive!).   Hormones are responsible for growth and reproductive functions, metabolism and digestive processes and what type of mood you're in.  Tomorrow, we'll delve into the pathways of how hormones act (now that you know what a hormone is) and later on in the week, talk about some of the more known hormones and what they do!
Trivia:  did you know that acupuncture alone can help regulate hormones????

It's Not Too Late To Register For My Lecture!

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Click on this link http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128512167180707 and register NOW for my lecture on Traditional Chinese Medicine and Your Everyday Well Being. 
It's this Saturday, so ACT NOW!