Physical Fitness Health and Acupuncture

Fit versus Healthy

There is a difference between being in top physical shape and holistically healthy. Some people may be in great athletic shape, but actually neglecting their body’s other internal health needs. 

There have been numerous cases where professional athletes in the peak of their careers have died of heart attacks and other natural complications. Could these deaths have been prevented by taking better care of their overall health? Possibly.

A physically fit body is typically a body that exudes health and vibrancy, however, this doesn’t mean that underlying illnesses such as cancer or cardiovascular disorders are not underneath the surface.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture, when there are meridian imbalances in the body, our organs are not functioning to their fullest capacity.

Although you may feel in great athletic shape, when our body is out of balance, our organs are not getting the sufficient energy and blood flow they need to function properly.

The best thing to do is listen to your body. If something feels off or you feel low energy, these could be signs of an imbalance in your body.

The foundation of healthy living is a powerful free-flowing meridian system free to help the body without interference; this can be done through acupuncture.

By using acupuncture points on different meridians on your body, you can be restored to balance and better overall health. 

Naturally Fix Your Digestive Health? ….

While we are overwhelmed with pharmacy medications to treat uncomfortable digestive symptoms, there are often more serious underlying mechanisms causing the continued distress. 

A stomach can consistently produce too much acid, or not make enough enzymes to break food down, or the motion of the digestive tract can become hyper or lazy-- and pain from unidentifiable sources can be difficult to alleviate. 

Acupuncture is a very safe and natural way to alleviate stomach pains. Be it cramps, indigestion, acid reflux, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea or many other mysterious actions stomachs will make – traditional Chinese medicine though Acupuncture is a complete form of internal medicine that is completely drug free and thus healthy and no side effects!! 

In clinical practice, digestive disorders respond very well to acupuncture and when combined with diet and lifestyle modifications, as directed by your Acupuncturist and Nutritionist, most people can experience a permanent, medication-free relief of their symptoms in a matter of weeks! And health and well-being and personal power are yours to take back…

TAC © 2016

Travel Bugs!

Make your holiday filled with happy memories

Winter and Summer holidays require these vital (EASY) tips to stay happy and healthy! 

Those warm destinations and the sun is out, the weather is hot and we all have the travelling bug. This season as you plan your holidays make sure it’s the only bug you get. 
Here are a few holiday tips to keep you prepared for sea, sun and hot holiday fun. 

Don’t Let Tummy Upset Ruin Your Day

Travelling abroad and eating out can mean you are exposed to pathogens in foods. Poor hygiene or simply being exposed to bugs that your gut isn’t used to can result in unwanted tummy upsets. This is especially common in hot countries as heat provides the perfect conditions for bacteria to breed. 

Ice in Drinks

Ice in drinks is easily forgotten. Often made from local tap water, the ice can often carry a number of foreign bugs. Make sure you always request no ice unless you are in a country where you know the water is very safe to drink. 

Fruits and Vegetables

Peel all fruit and vegetables to remove surface bacteria that may remain on the skin from being washed with local tap water. Be wary of that fruit juice at the breakfast buffet and in cocktails as well. Fresh squeezed and local could spell more bacteria in your gut. 

Natural Foods to Support the Gut

Garlic, cinnamon and oregano have traditionally been used to prevent food spoilage and to support gut health. Add these condiments to meals on a day to day basis. Garlic is most effective when crushed and fresh, but can smell quite strong! The smell can get into your skin if you eat lots of it. 
Cloves or parsley are great breath fresheners to take away the garlic aroma from the breath, and they cleanse the body as well. 

Don’t Forget to take Friendly Bacteria on Holiday

The friendly bacteria in your gut, called probiotics, are especially helpful during travel time. Start taking a probiotic supplement two weeks before your trip and make sure it is a well researched brand and safe. It’s even more effective to mix probiotics with plant oils which help support digestive health, like oregano. 

If you Get a Funny Tummy

Even following this advice you may sometimes get caught out. This may be due to food not agreeing with you, climate or water change, change in eating habits and routines, or contamination. Keep aloe vera and slippery elm in your emergency box. They are both very soothing to sunburns, and cleanse and soothe the digestive tract. 

When you get home your tummy will be weak and your body potentially tired after illness. Acupuncture to nourish the digestive system and restore energy will get you back on track and feeling great quickly and enjoyably. Coping with going back to work will be a breeze. 

And Acupuncture is a phenomenal cure for Jet Lag!... Happy Travels

TIPS for Perfect SKIN...NATURALLY

5 Oils and Alternative Treatments for Your Skin

Skin issues can happen at any age. Whether you have dry, oily or sensitive skin, it can get complicated.

Although there are many products on the market that promise to “cure” your skin ailments, natural alternatives have proven to be effective and one of the safest options for skin treatment.

Here are just a few of the different oils that are easy to add to your skin maintenance routine and can help with frustrations you may be facing.

Moringa Oil

Moringa oil has been around for thousands of years and was originally used by ancient Egyptians. This oil contains antioxidants and fatty acids that help prevent the skin from sun damage and ageing while being a natural moisturiser.

Argan Oil

Argan oil is used today as an effective anti-ageing treatment. Regular use of argan oil can help tighten the skin and increase oxygenation and nutrients in the cells.

Rosehip Oil

Because of its high content of Vitamin C and Omega fatty acids, rosehip oil is an excellent treatment for restoring the skin and helping heal scar tissue. This oil will help your skin feel replenished and brightened.

Hemp seed Oil

If you struggle with oily skin and blocked pores, believe or not, this dry oil can help. Hemp seed oil has a high content of Omega fatty acids that can reduce pore size and eliminate acne. This oil is also used to treat psoriasis and eczema because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil has many uses and benefits. Not only is it used for skin treatment, but can also be used to whiten your teeth. If you spend a lot of the time in the sun and have dry skin, coconut oil can be used to replenish and moisturise your skin. If you’re looking to whiten your teeth, doing a coconut oil rinse has been proven to remove bacteria and plaque.

There are other alternative options to improving your skin beyond what you apply on the surface. Here are some easy steps to add to your daily routine.

Avoid food allergies: Most people who have skin issues also have food allergies that can worsen their skin. Common foods to avoid include gluten, dairy and artificial additives. You can eliminate each food group one at a time to test if it improves your skin.

Replace meat and dairy: By replacing these inflammatory saturated fats with unsaturated fats, you will increase your intake of nutrients that can aid your skin. Unsaturated fats to add to your diet include avocado, olive oil, nuts and flaxseed.

Probiotics: Taking a daily probiotic supplement has been proven to reduce symptoms of dermatitis, a disorder causing itchy, red skin. Probiotics add healthy bacteria to your gut and improve your digestive tract system, which in turn improves the overall health and function of your body.

Remove sugar: Remove sugar and processed foods from your diet. Besides not having a rich nutritional value, processed foods can affect and worsen allergies and skin disorders.

Herbal tea: Herbal teas have been shown to reduce inflammation that comes with eczema. Teas to try include chamomile tea, nettle tea or drinking Aloe Vera.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture can stimulate the production of endorphins in the body, which then can improve function of the immune and endocrine systems. Improving these systems can greatly affect the skin and restore it to better health.

Like most common health issues, a healthy diet, exercise and reducing stress can be of great help. Environmental factors can have a large impact on skin and overall health of the body. By following a daily routine that includes eating natural foods, exercising regularly and eliminating excess stress, you can see your skin start to improve as well!

Source: http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/natural-remedies-for-common-skin-disorders/

http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-news/articles/971-acupuncture-for-eczema-a-skin-disorders.html

Sources: http://empoweredsustenance.com/top-skincare-oils/

Acupuncture and Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition characterised by ringing within the ear when there’s no actual source of sound present. There may be hope for people with tinnitus with healing methods like acupuncture, that has been proven to relieve symptoms.

It’s estimated that upwards of 10-15 percent of the U.S. population suffers from tinnitus. The good news is that most people tolerate it well, with the condition having only a slight affect on their normal daily life. However, about 1-2 percent of the population experience severe cases of tinnitus, affecting their mood, sleep patterns and even their general health.

Medical experts continue to debate over what exactly causes tinnitus. There’s some belief that ototoxic drugs can damage the inner ear, increasing the risk of tinnitus, while others believe it’s caused by a chemical imbalance within the brain. The general consensus is that long-term exposure to loud noise can lead to this condition.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Clinic of Tinnitus of the Department of Otorlarynology Head and Neck Surgery found acupuncture to offer relief of tinnitus symptoms. Researchers treated 76 patients with either acupuncture or the placebo called sham acupuncture. While both groups experienced an improvement in their symptoms, the group that received acupuncture had a greater improvement in their symptoms, attesting to the effectiveness of acupuncture.

“We conclude that there was significant reduction of the counting of the moments pre and post needling in both the groups, and in the group study the reduction is greater that in the group control,” wrote the study’s researchers.
 

How can acupuncture stop ringing within the ears?  When your body’s natural energies are not flowing correctly, it can lead to a number of diseases and illnesses, including tinnitus. Licensed acupuncturists are trained in correcting these blockages by targeting various acupuncture points within the body’s meridians. When these blockages are fixed, your body can return to its natural balance.
 

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16951850

​Healing Sounds that Fix Your Body!

Say “Hi” to Your Insides

They deserve a thank you....

Based upon Taoist meditation practices, the Inner Smile Meditation can have profound effects on your body and mind. This simple meditation suggests that you “smile” to all of your internal organs and glands. It is a way of saying “thank you” to your body for working 24 hours­­­, 7 days a week!

Focusing your attention and smiling in this way can calm the autonomic nervous system, revitalise the internal organs, and increase the flow of blood and Qi.

Below is the Inner Smile Meditation for the main Meridian Organ Systems. For more information, please refer to Mantak Chia’s book, Taoist Ways to Transform Stress into Vitality.

Choose a quiet spot and keep warm throughout the meditation. Sit comfortably at the edge of a chair, feet flat on the ground with your back straight. Breathe deeply and relax. Clasp your hands together, left hand on bottom and right hand on top, palms touching, and rest them in your lap.

Close your eyes and feel a connection between the soles of your feet and the ground.

Focus on the midpoint between your eyebrows. Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth. Put a smile on your face and journey down to the wonderfully amazing body that keeps you alive, alert and active.

Heart - See your heart as a vibrant red colour. Focus the energy of “joy” into your heart. Feel it pulse with love. Breathe in and exhale with the sound of HAW.

Lungs - Radiate the feeling in your heart to your lungs. Picture your lungs as pure white. Focus on letting go of sadness and grief. Exhale with the sound of SSSSSS.

Liver - Keep the feeling spilling over into your liver, which is just under your ribs on the right side. Picture it as a vibrant grass-green. When exhaling, let go of anger and frustration with the sound of SHHHH.

Spleen - Continue to the left, under the ribs. Shine a vibrant yellow color into this organ. When you exhale, let go of overthinking and worry, and use the sound of WHOO.

Kidney - Focus your attention on your lower back, just below and under your ribs. Imagine a deep blue-purple light. Breathe in courage and exhale fear. When you exhale, use the sound of WOOO.

Once you have traveled through your body, begin to focus your attention on your navel. Smile down to your navel, and focus your attention there.

Mentally move the energy in a spiral at the navel 36 times. Women start the spiral counterclockwise, men start it clockwise. Next, reverse the spiral direction and bring the energy back into the navel, circling 24 times. You can use a finger to guide the spiral motion.

It is ok if you don’t know the exact locations of your organs. Just bringing awareness to your organs is benefit enough. Your body will love you just the same.

Perform each exercise 9 times, twice a day. These exercises can affect your body and mind, so it is advisable to consult with your healthcare provider.

July Topic: Ears and Jaws

Acupuncture For Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) is a common condition that is characterized by pain and jaw dysfunction. TMJ is used to describe a wide range of conditions associated with jaw pain and restricted jaw movement. While TMJ isn't life-threatening, it can negatively impact a person's quality of life, causing bouts of insomnia, stress, pain and disability.

It's estimated that up to 30 percent of the world's adult population suffers from TMJ, most of whom are between the ages of 20 and 40. Many people living with this condition simply mask the pain with prescription painkillers or other medications. In doing so, however, they create other problems, such as increased stress on the liver and stomach. Acupuncture offers an alternative treatment that instead of masking the pain, works to reduce symptoms at the source.

While there's no guarantee that it will cure your condition, several studies suggest that it acupuncture does in fact help relieve the pain and other symptoms associated with TMJ. One recent study involving 70 dental patients in the U.K. found that acupuncture relieved their pain by as much as 75 percent. Another study found acupuncture to offer long-term patient satisfaction when used to treat TMJ (acupuncture treatment was given 18-20 years prior to the follow-up).

The 2,000-year-old practice of acupuncture involves the placement of thin needles directly under the skin in specific locations known as acupuncture points. Acupuncturists believe that when we are healthy, our body is in balance and our natural energies are flowing properly. There are times when the body’s natural flow will be blocked, disrupted, or stagnant, leaving the person susceptible to disease and illness. Acupuncture works by releasing these blockages through acupuncture points to return your body to its natural flow.

Acupuncture is also known to stimulate the body's self-healing process, which could in turn relieve the muscle tension attributed to TMJ. People with TMJ often clench or grind their jaws without realizing it. Acupuncture treatment can help relax the muscles from their clenched position.

Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health!

Sources:
http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Acupuncture-for-TMJ, http://www.dentistry.unc.edu/patient/acupuncture/documents/brochure.pdf

July Topic: Ears & Jaws

5 Tips to Help With TMJ

Commonly known as TMJ, temporomandibular joint pain affects over 10 million Americans and can involve difficulty chewing, jaw muscle stiffness and painful popping or clicking, according to the Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Although for some people the pain of TMJ goes away on its own, others develop long-term problems and need treatment to help their pain.

Here are five tips you can practice at home to help your TMJ symptoms.

1. Jaw Exercises

• Try opening your mouth as wide as you can without feeling pain, move your jaw to the right and hold for 10 seconds, do the same to the left and repeat five times.
• Massage the muscles around your jaw hinge in a downward motion.

2. Relaxation

• Practice deep breathing. The best way to do this is to lie on your back, place your left hand on your stomach and right hand on your chest. Count to five to inhale, hold your inhale for two seconds, and exhale for five seconds.
• Stretch your spine. Interlock your hands behind your head and bend forward with straight legs so that your head is reaching for the floor. Stay in this position for at least ten seconds accompanied with awareness to breathing. This practice can deeply stretch and relax your spinal chord and reduce TMJ pain.

3. Vitamins and Minerals

Deficiencies in calcium and magnesium are found to be common in people suffering from TMJ. The International Dental Association conducted a study on 50 TMJ sufferers who added calcium and magnesium supplements to their routine and found pain relief in 70 percent of the participants.

• Magnesium rich food: Cashews, avocados, almonds soybeans, sesame butter, spinach, squash, unflower seeds, rice, flaxseed.
• Calcium rich food: milk, banana, almond, spinach, coconut, yogurt.

4. Herbal Remedies

• Rhus Toxicodendron: This herb can help relieve jaw stiffness.
• Kava Root: If your TMJ is due to stress or anxiety, Kava can be used to calm your nervous system and in turn, reduce TMJ symptoms caused by anxiety like a stiff jaw.
• Magnesia Phosphorica: This homeopathic remedy can ease muscle stiffness and has an antispasmodic effect.

5. Acupuncture

Acupuncture has proven to be effective in treating TMJ in a number of ways. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, TMJ often represents an imbalance in the liver and gallbladder meridians which traverse the areas usually associated with TMJ pain. Acupuncture points focused on these areas can stimulate the healing process, and return the meridians and the body back to balance, improving your TMJ symptoms.

Sources:

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/temporomandibular-joint-dysfunction

http://home-cure.net/home-remedies-exercises-natural-cures-tmj-treatment/

http://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/kava-cure

July Newsletter: ALL ABOUT EARS

5 Steps to Improve Your Hearing

Many of us have already experienced or will experience some amount of hearing loss. This can be due to ageing or noise-induced factors. Exposure to loud sound over time can permanently damage the ears and result in hearing loss.

If you find yourself struggling with hearing and feeling the need to turn up the TV or your music louder, you may be experiencing hearing loss. Here are five steps to improve your hearing and prevent further damage.

1. Wear protection

If you know you will be around loud noise and won’t be able to avoid it, like at a large event or while using power tools, wear ear plugs. You can find ear plugs at most grocery stores and they can severely protect your ears from damaging loud noise.

2.  Limits

To keep volumes at a moderate level on devices or stereos, consider adding a volume limit. Most devices have a feature where you can set a maximum volume. This way, you won’t be able to turn your volume up to the actual 

3. Give yourself a break

Research has shown that being in a quieter setting can train your ears to better focus on the quiet sounds and increase overall hearing. Try to take even just ten minutes a day and go somewhere secluded where there is not a lot of external noise and disruption.

4. Foods

These foods have been shown to improve hearing and prevent hearing loss.

Salmon and other fish: The omega 3 fats and Vitamin D found in Salmon and other like foods have been shown to strengthen the blood vessels in the ear’s sensory system, which then can improve hearing. Research has shown that adults who eat fish twice a week reduced their risk of age-related hearing loss by 42 percent.

Spinach, asparagus, beans, broccoli: These foods are high in antioxidants and folic acid. Antioxidants can help lower the risk of hearing loss by reducing free radicals in your body that can damage the nerve tissue in the ears.

Dark chocolate, oysters, cashews: Foods high in zinc like dark chocolate, oysters and nuts can improve your body’s resistance to age-related hearing loss.

5. Acupuncture

A study conducted by the College of Oriental Medicine in South Korea measured the effects of acupuncture on patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and found that half of the patients showed improvement in hearing after acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture points can stimulate the strength in the auditory cortex to the brain, thus increasing the brain’s ability to react to auditory stimuli.

Learn how to be aware of the symptoms of hearing loss including difficulty understanding what people say, having to raise the volume higher and muffled sounds. If you think you are suffering from hearing loss, try these tips and contact an acupuncturist today.

Sources:
https://audicus.com/you-hear-what-you-eat-5-foods-that-can-prevent-hearing-loss-and-hearing-aids/

http://www.everythingzoomer.com/12-tips-for-better-hearing/#.VT_XA2RVhHw

http://www.howtogetbigforearms.com/health/how-to-improve-your-hearing-top-10-ways

http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/530-acupunctureceushearinglosskorea

http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/720-mrihearing

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/basics/symptoms/con-20027684

June Newsletter - All About Headaches

Headaches - How Acupuncture Helps

If you suffer from headaches, you are not alone. Over 50 million of us experience some form of a severe headache at some point in our lives. Whether you experience minor head pain or severe migraines, headaches can take valuable time out of your day and your life, and leave you searching for relief.

Many seek relief by reaching for drugs and other medications. This may work temporarily and can help you get out of pain fast. 

Unfortunately, common headache medications do not address the root cause(s), and when used over long periods of time can cause unwanted side effects.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offer a safe and effective approach to relieving headache pain without causing harmful side effects. These healing modalities provide a comprehensive diagnostic protocol that can help your acupuncturist understand and address the root cause(s) of your headaches.
Causes of Headaches: There are many factors in TCM theory that may play a key role in the root cause(s) of a headache. These include body constitution, emotional health, excessive work, social activities and exercise, improper diet, physical trauma and hormones. Headaches can also be diagnosed according to specific symptoms, times of occurrence, location, type of pain, and triggers.

A natural path to relief: Acupuncture and TCM take a holistic, or whole-body approach to health. Your practitioner will take a detailed health history, and perform a physical exam to determine how and why your body’s vital energy, or Qi (pronounced chee), is out of balance and identify what type of headache you are experiencing. To determine the most effective care, he/she will focus on illuminating the root cause(s) of the problem.

It is important to remember that acupuncture is not a quick fix. Changes may occur quickly or over a longer period of time, depending upon your overall constitution and health. Whether it is one visit to address an acute problem, or several visits to address a chronic problem, it is suggested to closely follow care recommendations of your acupuncturist to maximise your healing potential.

Below are a few ways that you can make simple lifestyle changes that may help alleviate or even prevent headaches:

Track your triggers -
Try to keep track of when your headaches start. Migraine sufferers may find it especially helpful to keep a diary of symptoms. Certain types of foods and hormonal changes can be possible causes.

Stress relief -
Stress can contribute to many types of health concerns, including headaches. Talk to your practitioner about healthy ways to handle stress.

Exercise -
Physical activity is an important part of any healthy lifestyle and is a great antidote for stress.

Healthy habits -
Do your best to eat healthy, organic foods, stay hydrated and get enough sleep every night.

Acupuncture care -
is extremely effective in reducing the frequency and severity of many types of painful conditions, including headaches and migraines, naturally. By working with your acupuncturist and adopting some simple lifestyle changes, you will be on your way toward a healthier, happier, pain-free life.

---

Skin Brushing

There are many daily practices we can incorporate into our lives to help us improve our health. Helping our bodies to detoxify is an important part of any wellness regime. Caring for our skin is one way we can stimulate the body’s natural mechanisms to detoxify.

1.  Starting from the feet, brush the soles as well as the upper side using a long-handled natural brush. Using long, sweeping strokes, brush up the legs, covering all of the skin’s surface area, concentrating on the thighs and buttocks.

2.  Put one arm up in the air, allowing gravity to help drain the lymph to the armpit, and sweep down the arm with gentle strokes, drawing towards the armpit.

3.  Brush the torso by brushing towards the heart, and when doing the lower abdomen, brush up the right-hand side, just on the inside of the hip bone, across the transverse colon beneath the ribs and down the left-hand side, then gently across the pelvic area to complete the circle. Repeat.

4.  When working near the breast area, brush over the top of the breast, always aiming for the armpit – and remember, be gentle over sensitive areas.

Skin brushing should be performed once a day, preferably first thing in the morning or before a bath or shower and on a dry and naked body.

After brushing your body, rinse off in the shower while alternating temperatures from hot and cold. Alternating temperatures will bring more blood to the outer layers of the skin and stimulate blood circulation, further invigorating the skin.