The Quick And Easy Way To Get Your Voice Back

10/14/2012

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What do stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, allergies and screaming at a club all night have in common?  They can all cause you to wake up with a hoarse or no voice the next day!  Uh oh, no voice!  How am I going to work/ put on a presentation/ take care of my kids today?  Never fear!  I have the answer for you.
 
Located on the back and center of the neck, just inside the hairline is an acupuncture point known as DU 15 Yamen.  The English translation of this point is Mute's Gate.  This is your sweet spot.  When you visit me in the office with your hoarse and scratchy voice, what I'll do is put massage oil on the area and vigorously rub the point with a tool known as gwa-sha.  Gwa-sha is generally made from jade, which when rubbed against an area, facilitates the circulation of blood.  If you don't have time to visit me in the office and are stuck in a jam, have someone rub your DU 15 with the back of a spoon.  Don't forget the oil and don't be shy!  You want to really press and dig into the area just inside the hairline.  You may continue rubbing for 15-30 minutes, depending upon how fast you wish your voice to return.  I have found that 15 minutes generally will return the voice the next day, while 30 plus minutes can return your voice as fast as in a few hours.   

I've successfully used this technique on a patient with laryngitis for 2 months, to a patient who stressed the voice right out of herself, to another patient who lost her voice coming down off of a week of parties and no sleep.  Every time I'm in awe of it's effectiveness!  So next time you wake up sounding froggy, don't wait 2 weeks for your voice to come back, stop by the office and we'll have you chatting it up in no time!  
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What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Antidepressants.

10/14/2012

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Despite the fact that antidepressants are now the most commonly prescribed class of medication in the U.S., recent published medical research has demonstrated that prescription antidepressants work best for those who have severe depression but for mild to moderate depression, antidepressants do not seem to be any more effective than a "sugar pill” or placebo.  Depression is believed to be the result of chemical imbalances in the brain, especially low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.  What this evidence suggests is that there are many factors that contribute to depression, not just changes in brain neurotransmitters.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, depression may be caused by a number of various imbalances within the organ and bio-mechanical systems.  The root cause varies from person to person and must be established case to case.  There is no "one size fits all".  So it makes sense that a recent study in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry states that acupuncture may be quite effective for mild to moderate depression.  Other medical research has also demonstrated that simple approaches such as exercise, stress reduction, meditation and yoga can be beneficial in mild to moderate depression too.  And guess what?  None of the previous mentioned methods contain harmful side effects, something certainly not true of antidepressant drugs. 

So before accepting a prescription for an antidepressant, first try visiting an acupuncturist for treatments and lifestyle coaching.
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Get Rid of Pain FOR GOOD!

10/14/2012

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My current obsession is the fascinating Dr. John E. Sarno - easily the most brilliant doctor in America, and sadly the most overlooked.  Since the 1970s, Dr. Sarno has been curing thousands of chronic pain patients that the medical community has misdiagnosed and been unable to relieve.  Sarno does this not through the help of medications, exercises or surgery, but merely by educating his patients on what's really going on, Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS).  Despite the wide range of diagnoses his patients come into the office with (herniated discs, slipped disc, osteoarthritis, tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, pinched nerves, scoliosis, etc.), Dr. Sarno shows them why tension and unexpressed emotions are the actual cause of their chronic pain, and how awareness and understanding are the first steps to doing something about it.  Sounds a little out there?  Well don't knock it till you try it because his track record is astounding! 

The physiology of TMS begins in the brain.  Here repressed emotions like anxiety and anger set in motion a process in which the autonomic nervous system causes a reduction in blood flow to certain muscles, nerves, tendons and ligaments, resulting in pain.  Your pain is real!  It's just not the result of a structural abnormality.  The autonomic nervous system responds this way to deflect the person's attention away from very unpleasant, often painful emotions that the mind is trying to keep repressed.  It is as though the mind had decided that a physical pain is preferable to an emotional one.  Crazy right?  I suppose if I wasn't an acupuncturist I might think it's a little more wacky, but as an acupuncturist I see stress and emotions reek havoc on the human body.  I always say that if I treat all of my patients merely for stress alone, everyone will get better.  

The cure for TMS can be as simple as hearing a lecture, watching a video or reading a book on the subject.  Knowledge is the cure.  Once awareness is brought to the fact that the pain is a distraction from the repressed emotions, your body can't be fooled any more, and the pain disappears.  Tension Myositis Syndrome, or TMS, affects millions of people and they don't even know it.  I'm sure it's affecting some of you reading this right now!  Dr. Sarno is approaching ninety and it seems few other doctors are poised to continue his groundbreaking work.  I for one, will not let this die.  I could write a whole newsletter on TMS!  You will surely be hearing more about it from me.  In the meantime watch this 20/20 video on TMS, read Dr. Sarno's book "Healing Back Pain" and/or come into the office to discuss this and your own personal pain case more in depth with me. 
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Smile!

04/27/2012

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One of the most interesting aspects of Chinese Medicine, is the ability to effect the emotional being. Each organ is associated with a healthy emotion, along with a pathological one. The lungs are containers of our grief and sadness. A healthy set of lungs will allow us to let go of things easier. Taking deep breaths is always helpful when one is upset and crying. Our stomach can be full of worry, over-thinking and anxiety.  Anyone ever have a stomach ache before an important event? I think so! Relaxation and trust will make your stomach feel better. Our kidneys are full of courage and confidence. This is why when one is scared or fearful, they may accidentally pee their pants. But not you of course, that other guy! The liver can be destructive as it houses anger and depression. One wants to work hard at keeping their liver healthy and full of compassion and kindness. And finally our heart is the ruler of them all. Good heart health will bring a sense of calm and peace to the whole being. The opposite brings nervousness, excitement and mania. Hence a racing heart rate when one is all worked up. Next time you're feeling less than happy, think about how it may be affecting your body. Our emotions are not all in our heads, they dominate the state of our physical being. For where the mind goes, the body will always follow.
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Have A Heart

02/23/2012

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Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States.  Having a past heart condition myself, this issue is near and dear to my ... well ... heart!  One way you can dramatically reduce your risk of disease is through preventative steps towards a healthier you with the aid of acupuncture.  Five areas of extreme importance in regards to heart health include managing high blood pressure, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing stress and improving sleep.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack and the number one risk factor for congestive heart failure.  Acupuncture has a very specific effect in lowering high blood pressure by reducing ischemia, the lack of oxygen to the heart caused when blood vessels are blocked.

Smoking is extremely detrimental to the heart.  It just flat out causes coronary heart disease through the act of atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty substances in the arteries.  About 20% of all deaths from heart disease in the United States are directly related to cigarette smoking.  But how does one quit?  With the help of acupuncture!  Acupuncture is extremely effective at reducing cravings and alleviating withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety and difficulty concentrating.  Don't wait, quit today.

Being overweight is a double whammy on your health.  It places you at risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes.  These dangers are the very factors that heighten your risk of cardiovascular disease.  Scary stuff.  Acupuncture isn't your magic weight loss pill,  but it is an excellent tool to help one lose weight.  It works by energizing the body, maximizing the absorption of nutrients, regulating your bowels, controlling overeating, suppressing the appetite, and reducing anxiety which can cause emotional eating.


Chronic stress wreaks havoc on your body by exposing you to detrimental elevated levels of adrenaline and cortisol, a risk factor for heart disease.  It also makes other risk factors worse.  For example, if you are under stress, your blood pressure goes up, you may overeat, you may exercise less, and you may be more likely to smoke.  Bad, bad and more bad!  Acupuncture has been a proven fighter against stress time and time again.  Not only will it ease one's emotions, but it will also ease physical stress and keep future stress at a minimum.

Lack of sleep has been associated with worsening of blood pressure and cholesterol, all risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Your heart will be healthier if you get between 7 and 8 hours of sleep each night.  But what if you have insomnia, can't fall asleep or wake up early in the morning hours feeling unrested?  Acupuncture helps.  As a natural sleep aid that rebalances the body, acupuncture eliminates sleeping disorders of all types, which allows you to get the full 8 hours of restorative sleep your body needs.
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