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Foods that Prevent Allergies

By admin | Published April 3, 2017

I found this article today and thought it might help some of you. It’s always good to know some home care and preventive remedies.

 

Taking an antihistamine isn’t the only way to battle fall allergies. If seasonal sneezes — not to mention a runny nose, watery eyes and congestion — are making you miserable, there are some foods that might ease your pain.

Just know that none of these noshes replace traditional allergy treatments. “[They] have anti-allergic properties … [but] none of these can be used in place of medications in patients who have severe allergies,” Talal M. Nsouli, M.D., a clinical professor of pediatrics and allergy-immunology at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, told weather.com.

But certain foods can help, which can be key for your health.

Fatty Fish
DHA and EPA, two types of healthy omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish and other sources, have been known to ease allergy symptoms. “If we eat foods that contains these omega-3 fatty acids, the EPA and the DHA, [there’s] an anti-allergic property [and] decreasing of the allergic reaction … to a certain extent,” Dr. Nsouli said.

Eating your omega-3s — as opposed to taking a supplement — is the best way to go about it, as numerous studies have shown that the health benefits of vitamins, minerals and healthy fats are most effective — or even only effective — in food form.

Mackerel, salmon, sardines, trout, tuna, bluefish and herring are all great sources of omega-3s, Dr. Nsouli said. “However, one has to be careful because it has been shown that fish may contain mercury,” he said. For that reason, reach for fish that’s wild, not farmed, whenever possible, he suggested, in line with studies from the early 2000s that found higher levels of toxins in farmed U.S. fish than wild. (Although now, the scientific consensus is the health benefits of fish outweigh any potential risks.)

Plant sources of omega-3
Walnuts and Flaxseeds
Certain tree nuts, such as walnuts and flaxseeds, also contain omega-3 fatty acids; however, plants contain the ALA chain, which simply facilitates the production of EPA and DHA in your body. “One can eat one handful of walnuts, for example, this could be [equal to] about 3 to 3.5 ounces of salmon,” Dr. Nsouli said. (Although, in a perfect world, you’d eat both fish and tree nuts twice a week or so.)
Flaxseeds also contain selenium, a mineral that can help reduce an allergic response

An essential antioxidant
Broccoli, Cabbage and More
Quercetin, a flavonoid found in some foods, is believed to help reduce the inflammation associated with allergies. The thought is that it prevents immune cells from releasing histamines, or an allergic response.

Apples, onions, berries, cabbage, cauliflower and tea all contain quercetin

Fruits to reach for
Oranges, Peppers and Strawberries
Vitamin C is thought to help control allergy symptoms; like omega-3s, it’s best to get your C from foods, not supplements. Oranges, red peppers and strawberries are some of the fresh fruits best known for their vitamin C content. It’s also in broccoli and other foods that contain quercetin.

“Taking a vitamin tablets might not be as effective as having one or two oranges [or other vitamin C-containing foods] per day,”

“Having the vitamins in the foods that you eat is much more effective than saying, ‘OK, I’m going to take a multivitamin, end of story.’ It’s very important to focus on the foods that are fresh.”

Garlic
Recently, a study — the most rigorous to date — demonstrated that garlic extract can help decrease an allergic reaction and can help prevent allergy by blocking the production of the chemicals that cause allergic reactions, Dr. Nsouli said.
Any recommendation for how much garlic to eat for allergies is at this point an educated guess, but Dr. Nsouli said two to three times a week might be enough to help. Garlic supplements are also available, but as with other foods, the health benefits are best when the plant is eaten directly

Yogurt
Some research has found that the probiotics, or bacteria, contained in yogurt reduce allergic reactions to pollen, helping the symptoms of allergic reactions in children Dr. Hakimi said it’s because these probiotics help decrease the body’s immune response to allergens, reducing inflammation in the body. Digestive enzymes can also help, he said.
But some individuals have reported issues with allergies and dairy products. If you think dairy might be a problem, try an “elimination challenge” test. Go off all dairy products for two weeks to see how you feel, then add in two or three portions of dairy a day for two weeks, and compare how you feel. During this process, it’s also important to check in with an allergist to confirm what’s bothering you, and explore other treatment plans.

Another spice
Turmeric,
A native Indian spice found in curry and other dishes, is known to have a powerful anti-inflammatory response. You can spice your food with this brightly colored powder, or take supplements — it just depends on what works with your lifestyle.

An essential mineral
Magnesium
Foods rich in magnesium are believed to help control allergies. But it also opens up and relaxes the muscles, which can be beneficial as well.
High-magnesium foods include cashew nuts, wheat bran and kelp.

 

Thanks for reading. I hope it helps.

 

Emma McKenzie, L.Ac.

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Acupuncture for Weight Loss is Safe and Effective

By Emma McKenzie | Published April 2, 2016

Hi, here is another article that I found which follows my own line of work and  methods of treating problems with overweight. 

Acupuncture for weight loss is a very effective treatment. As most people go on a diet at some point in their life to lose weight, and ultimately fail to either lose or keep the weight off, I offer auricular acupuncture treatments an alternative method to lose weight that is both safe and produces results.

What Causes Obesity or Overweight?
1. Over Eating: Eating too much food is the number one contributor.
2. Lack of Physical Activity: Exercise, or at least some type of daily strenuous activity, is absolutely essential to ward off extra weight.
3. Unhealthy Foods: Most of us know what unhealthy foods are vs. healthy foods. The general rule is to east fresh foods and not prepackaged processed foods.
4. Lack of Sleep: Not getting sufficient sleep is a contributor.
5. Heredity: The genes you were born with and your family history are markers for whether you are predisposed to becoming overweight and possibly obese.
6. Medical Conditions: Some diseases can cause a person to become overweight. These include hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome.
7. Prescription Drugs: Some medicines such as Prednisone and antidepressants such as Elavil and Neurontin may cause weight gain.
8. Emotional Factors:  Depression, anger and stress can make people overeat.
9. Age: As people age, they tend to lose muscle, especially if they become less active. Muscle loss slows down our metabolism.
10. Pregnancy: While it is normal to gain weight during pregnancy, many women retain this even after the baby is born due to lack of activity and increased calorie intake.

Becoming overweight can be the consequence of various medical conditions. This includes hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis.
There are two well known medications prescribed by doctors. One is Meridia, which curbs the appetite. The other is Xenical, which reduces the absorption of fat & calories as well as Vitamin A, K and D.
Both medications have unwanted side-effects. Merida can cause hypertension and irregular heartbeat. Xenical can cause diarrhoea and osteoporosis.
Another option recommended by some doctors is surgical procedures. Weight loss surgery is called bariatric surgery and includes gastric bypass to gastric banding. These surgeries are very costly and can be risky.
Nowadays more and more people are considering acupuncture for weight loss as the results are very promising when performed by a well trained and certified traditional Chinese medicine doctor.
When it comes to treating obesity with Chinese medicine, I will first rule out any severe medical conditions that could potentially hurt my patient if they do not obtain immediate medical help (e.g. uncontrollable high blood pressure, heart diseases, diabetes, severe lung diseases, hypothyroidism, etc.). Then I will confirm that the patient is ready to start my program which means they will need to strictly follow the instructions for treatment, diet and exercise.

Auricular Acupuncture
Auricular acupuncture to lose weight is the key. I chose the points of hunger and mouth which are the most efficient points for deceasing the appetite. Some other points are spleen, stomach, liver, small intestine, endocrine system and Sheng Meng (known as “Spirit gate”). These points can inhibit stomach activity, slow the absorption of nutrition from food in the stomach and small intestine, improve energy and decrease stress, anxiety and depression.  I will use ear seeds (herbal seeds or magnet seeds) in place of needles for those who fear needles. Generally speaking, they have the same effect. Patients should press the ear needles to ease their craving for food when they feel hungry.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Weight Loss
Note: I will not use herbs to improve the bowel movement or loosen the bowel unless a patient suffers from constipation. And if I do use this type of herbs, this will only be used for a short term.
In my practice, I prefer to use liver cleansing herbs to curb feeling hungry (it always works for my patients) and improve sugar and fat metabolism. By strengthening spleen Qi, and regulating stomach Qi and intestine Qi, it will speed up the metabolism, remove water retention, eliminate the wastes from the body as well as enhance the energy. Weight loss starts from here and it is safe and efficient.

Diet 
You either must eat less food or you must eat foods that reduce your calorie intake. For example, if you consume 4000 calories per day, then you should either set a goal of reducing the amount of food you eat by half, or substitute healthy foods that will reduce your calorie intake by half.
There are many programs offering to assist people through diet. I will just give a few tips on diet that could be practical for you.
Healthy and Good Breakfast: You may eat as much healthy food as you like for breakfast (within reason). You can consume some carbohydrates at breakfast without gaining weight. This meal will supply your whole morning’s energy.
Moderate Meal for Lunch: This is necessary to maintain energy for the afternoon. This meal should contain the most nutrients and contain easily digestible food with very little carbs. If after having lunch you feel sleepy and tired, it indicates spleen Qi weakness. This can be corrected by Chinese medicine easily.
Minimum Dinner or No Dinner: This is a magic point to loss weight if we can discipline ourselves to do it. Most people find out it is difficult to follow this point. So I will propose a few alternative ways to minimise your dinner. If you typically get home from work very late, you should have some healthy snack around 6 pm. When you get home, you are allowed to have soup with some vegetable. You can have protein at dinner with vegetables, but no carbs. Follow this for 4 or 5 days a week and at weekend you are allowed to have a full dinner with some carbs. But the dinner has to be earlier than 6 pm.
No Junk Food or Sugar, and Little Salt: Keep your alcohol consumption low and if you must drink, drink red wine. One glass of red wine 3 times a week is acceptable if you do not have a fatty liver. If any liver problems, alcohol is strictly forbidden.

Exercise Will Help Burn More Calories
Aerobic exercise and weight lifting are the best forms of exercise for weight loss. These will reshape your body and make you look great. Exercise should be done on a continuous basis (i.e. at least 4 times per week). Outdoor hiking and biking are also great ways to drop weight.

By Feng Liang, L.Ac.

 

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Acupuncture Weight Loss

By Emma McKenzie | Published April 1, 2016
HELLO FRIENDS, DO YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT?

LET ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE YOU PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY THROUGH THE PROCESS OF LOSING WEIGHT!
HERE IS A GOOD ARTICLE FOR WHAT YOU MAY EXPECT. IF YOU ARE CONVINCED YOU NEED IT, CONTACT ME FOR AN APPOINTMENT.

Acupuncture is More Than “Being Stuck with a Bunch of Needles”
What comes to mind when you think about acupuncture. “Getting poked with lots of needles”? PAIN?

If so, then it may be a little confusing when I start talking about things like food, energy work, and exercise. When I say “acupuncture” I am referring to the whole treatment process that an acupuncturist (or more specifically, what I) would use if you came in to the clinic.

The word “acupuncture” so aptly encompasses everything to do with what we do as physicians of Chinese medicine, that no one says they are going to see their “Chinese medicine practitioner”. They say that they are going to see their “acupuncturist”.

This acupuncturist will use all the tools that she has in order to facilitate health and vitality within her patients. That means that some of my patients will go home wearing ear magnets and most will be put on a strict food plan. Not everyone gets stuck with needles.
And just what do I do? I utilize acupuncture and Chinese medicine to:
Trigger the body to self-heal
Improve digestion
Increase energy
Stop hunger
Stop cravings
Decrease Inflammation
Stop pain
Regulate hormones
Improve mood and help you to relax
So, even though not everyone “gets” needles, I call what I do “acupuncture” for weight loss….

POSTED BY D. S.

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Acupuncture Alleviates Lower Back Pain & Inflammation

By Emma McKenzie | Published February 18, 2016

Acupuncture relieves lower back pain and restores range of motion. Independent research teams find acupuncture effective for treating lumbar disc herniations, lower back muscle spasms and sprains, and chronic pain of the lower back.

Research published in the Clinical Journal of Chinese Medicine by Yan et al. and by a separate team from the Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine independently confirm that acupuncture relieves lumbar sprains.  In addition, the Journal of Cervicodynia And Lumbodynia has published research from the Wulumuqi Central Hospital of Lanzhou by Xu et al. finding acupuncture effective for the alleviation of lower back muscle spasms. Research published in China Health Standard Management by Huang et al. finds acupuncture plus moxibustion effective for the treatment of lumbar disc herniations. Let’s take a look at how these teams achieved successful positive patient outcomes. 

Researchers from the People’s Hospital of Han Nan District in Wuhan (Huang et al.) document a 90% total effective rate for the treatment of lumbar disc herniations with acupuncture plus moxibustion treatments. Acupuncture as a standalone therapy without moxibustion had an 85% total effective rate. The total effective rate includes a significant reduction or elimination of lower back, waist, and leg pain. In addition, significant lumbar motor functional improvements and improved results with the straight leg test were calculated as part of the total effective rate. The researchers document that acupuncture plus moxibustion improves range of motion and reduces pain, inflammation, and edema.

Researchers from the Chengdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Liu et al.) conclude that acupuncture is effective for the alleviation of lower back pain. The researchers document an 87.1% total effective rate including improvements in neurological testing, range of motion, and reductions in pain frequency and intensity.
Acupuncture was applied once per day for five days followed by a two day break. The process was repeated three times for a total of four courses of care comprising a grand total of twenty acupuncture treatments. The researchers note that the 87.1% total effective rate included pain reduction, increased mobility, and the ability of patients to resume normal life and work activities.

Researchers from the Wulumuqi Central Hospital of Lanzhou (Xu et al.) conclude that acupuncture plus movement therapy alleviates muscle spasms of the lower back. Improvements include pain reduction, range of motion increases, and the ability to resume activities of daily living unencumbered by disability due to lumbar muscle spasms. Patients receiving acupuncture plus movement therapy had a 91.39% total effective rate. Patients receiving only acupuncture had a 70.70% total effective rate. As result, the researchers formally recommend acupuncture plus the addition of movement therapy for the purposes of achieving optimal clinical results…

The research of Sun et al. at the Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine finds electroacupuncture effective for the alleviation of lumbar muscle strain. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles used to determine the acupuncture point selection were to invigorate the circulation of both qi and blood. The results demonstrated a 93.3% total effective rate….The treatments yielded a 23.3% complete recovery rate. These patients had no recurrence of lower back pain and associated physical exhaustion within two years of acupuncture treatment sessions. An additional 70% of patients had significant improvements including reductions in lower back pain intensity levels, less frequency of subacute flare-ups, and overall reductions in physical exhaustion due to pain. Non-responders with intractable pain accounted for 6.7% of patients.
Electroacupuncture was applied….. Needle retention time was twenty minutes. Acupuncture was applied once per day, six days per week for a total of thirty days.
The 93.3% total effective rate demonstrates that local electroacupuncture is effective for the relief of lumbar muscle strain.

The aforementioned researchers have consistent findings demonstrating that acupuncture is effective for the relief of lower back pain in several different clinical scenarios. The findings demonstrate that the integration of acupuncture into conventional pain management protocols for the treatment of lower back pain is warranted.

References:
Huang JH. (2015). Observations on the Efficacy of Warm Acupuncture in Treating 60 Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation. China Health Standard Management. 6(3).
Wu ZD & Wu ZH. (2008). Chirurgery 7th Edition. Beijing: People’s Health Publisher. 849.
Liu XH, Fan XH, Zhong L, Dong YW, Wang YZ & Gao F. (2014). Therapeutic Observation of Pestle Acupuncture for Lumbago Due to Cold and Damp. Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 34(9).
Xu L. (2015). Clinical study of the acupuncture combined with movement therapy in the treatment of acute lumbar muscle spasm. The Journal of Cervicodynia And Lumbodynia. 36(1).
Zhu HZ. (2002). Needle scalpel medicinal principles. Beijing: People’s Health Publisher. 104-105, 202-204.
Yan DR. (2014). Treating lumbar sprain by acupuncture. Clinical Journal of Chinese Medicine. 6(16).’
Sun YZ, Zeng TT & Shang LL. (2014). 30 Cases of Chronic Lumbar Muscle Strain Treated with Penetration Needling at Yang Meridians of Back. Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 30(6).
An H. (2010). Research progress on TCM in treating lumbar muscle injury. Journal of Zhoukou Normal University. 27(5): 138-140.

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How Acupuncture Works

By Emma McKenzie | Published January 16, 2016

How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture is an ancient healing art and is one of the primary modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine. People in the western world have long recognized that acupuncture has been successfully practiced in Asia for thousands of years. The theory of acupuncture is based on the idea that the human body contains energetic pathways called channels or meridians through which life force circulates. The Chinese call this life force “Qi” (pronounced chi). The meridians run along the same pathways as the circulatory and organ systems, evenly distributing Qi flow through the body to maintain normal, healthy functions. However, if the energy flow becomes congested or diminished in any region of the body, a state of imbalance will occur, creating an environment for ailments to manifest.

Acupuncture uses hair-thin needles that are inserted into specific points of the body. These needles are stimulated to facilitate Qi flow and unblock congested channels, thus reconnect the meridians. As a result of the needling stimulation, endorphins and other body chemicals are released, promoting the normal healing process and a deep sense of relaxation. This process will bring the body back to a state of homeostasis and health.

In recent years, PET scans have been used to visibly see the effects of acupuncture during treatment. When a person is hooked up to a PET scan, areas of the body that are healthy appear as bright yellow, orange or red in color; in contrast, areas of the body where stagnation, ailments, and blockages are present appear to be void of color or dark blue. Upon receiving an acupuncture treatment, we are immediately able to see, on screen, the hue shift from no color or blue, to a bright yellow, orange, or red; thus indicating that the free flow of Qi is once again becoming balanced.

Today, acupuncture is a widely accepted alternative to conventional health care, and many people use it for pain relief. However, the benefits of acupuncture extend far beyond pain management.

Individualization

The beauty of Traditional Chinese Medicine is that acupuncture and herbal medicine therapies are catered to the individual.  The treatment of a disease will vary with each person, place, time, pathogenesis, and type of disease, and the treatment will be tailored accordingly.  We call this “treating the same disease with different methods.”  For example, the common cold can be treated a variety of ways using different acupuncture points and herbal formulas.  Each person’s unique physical constitution, mental state, daily activity, dietary intake, etc., varies, thus the diagnosis and treatment plan will reflect this individualization.  The treatment can also change depending on the seasons.  This is mainly due to the fact that weather plays an important role in how disease manifests.  Migraine headaches are yet another example of an illness that can be caused by several factors, thus the treatment will utilize different channels, points, acupuncture techniques, and herbal formulas.

Conversely, a principle for treatment in which the same therapy is applied to treat different diseases with the same pathogenesis, is called “treating different diseases with the same therapy”.  For instance, rectum prolapse, diarrhoea, and uterine prolapse, can all be treated by the therapy of nourishing the middle warmer and enhancing the vital energy.  We emphasise more on the individual’s root of pathogenesis regardless of the Western name of the disease or the symptoms.

Lastly, practitioners have their own unique quality of care and energetic sensibility to a patient’s presenting illness.  You may find that if you see several acupuncturists for the same illness, each one will approach your treatment differently, and you will also experience varying results.  It is important to find an acupuncturist who is able to understand you, as well as well trained and experienced.  If you have a difficult desease, your acupuncturist should do research on your condition and learn form other acupuncturists’ experience and reports.  Once you find the right doctor, trust and communication are key to creating an optimal healing environment.

Treating the whole body (holistic point of view)

In Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) the practitioner looks at the entire body instead of at its parts, and to a larger extent, also views the body in accordance with the natural world.  For example, a chronic low back muscle strain that causes pain is not only due to weakness of the local muscles, but can be attributed to congested energy flow in the kidney channel, large intestine channel, or even urinary bladder channel.

Also, one must look at the emotional state of the person to evaluate the roll of too much tension and stress in the muscles, the type of activity the person has, and other factors which may be influencing the flow of energy in that area.  If the meridian energy flows properly, an increase in blood flow will have a positive impact on the low back region. When Qi and blood circulation are optimal, there is less chance of injury or strain to the muscles and tendons.

Therefore, analytical thinking is required in understanding and treating each disease: that is, regarding the viscera and other organs and tissues, activity, and emotional state as an integrative whole. At AcuBalance Center, all this information is being considered for your treatments, and when appropriate, you will be receiving recommendations from your practitioner that will help you to recuperate your health faster.

Minimal side effects

Acupuncture treatment is very gentle with almost no side effects and helps to balance the Qi, blood, and body fluids.   The effect of the treatment depends on the current stage of illness, the acupuncture technique, and the combination of points chosen.  Occasionally, you may feel soreness or tenderness in the area treated, or you may have a bruise from a small vessel being punctured unintentionally.  Sometimes you may have strange sensations due to the Qi being moved around the meridians.  However, this is the body’s natural healing process taking effect, and the sensations will reside soon.

 Long lasting results

The  acupuncture treatment stimulates the body’s self-healing mechanism to speed up recovery. Therefore, the results can take longer than Western medication, as the effects are an increment to the body’s own natural processes. Once the acupuncture takes effect, the results are typically long-term and in some cases, without relapse, because the body’s homeostasis mechanism is restored.  Some studies show that after 12 regular consecutive treatments, the results remain more stable.  This is why you should finish the recommended treatment course, even when you may feel better or when the pain has gone away.

Preventive therapy

Acupuncture treatment is health care instead of disease care. The first book of Traditional Chinese Medicine called The Yellow Emperor Internal Classic states:

“…the best doctor helps you prevent disease not only treat the disease…”

Most people believe that if you do not have any disease, then you are healthy. This is not true. Everyone, at one time or an other, has experienced a feeling of being more vulnerable to invading pathogens and has a hard time fighting off illness, but at other times, feels fine.
Even though you may be feeling healthy now, a majority of people have some form of weakness (imbalance) in a certain area due to their genetic constitution.

Acupuncture can help you repair this weaknesses to prevent any illness or imbalance in the future. Regularly checking your energy flow is the best way to prevent sickness and keep you physically and mentally balanced.

Expectations of Acupuncture

• It supports your self-healing system. You can expect to feel better after your treatments.  – If after a reasonable amount of treatments you do not feel any improvement, talk to your acupuncturist.  a) It may be that acupuncture is not for you, b) that you have reached a plateau in your therapy and need to change direction, or c) that you need a different acupuncturist or treatment modality.
• Do not look for miracles.  Healing takes time depending on your own level of energy and your condition.
• All situations are unique.  You may have had a similar symptom in the past and received relief after one or two treatments, but this may not be the case the second time around because your condition and energy level may be different.

Source: Traditional Chinese Medicine Healing Center (some modifications have been done to clarify or expand some of the concepts).

 

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