House Acupuncture & Herbs

Starting in October, I am excited to be starting a position at Acupuncture Northwest & Associates.   Check out the website for future blog articles on Chinese Medicine, reproductive health, and other useful information.

For those of you in Walnut Creek looking to continue your  acupuncture and herbal treatment, please contact Laura or Jenna at Earth and Air Wellness for an appointment.  They will take good care of you!

Also, starting around February 2012, my good friend and colleague Barbara Martello will be practicing in the Lafayette area.  Be sure to contact her if you are looking for the gentle techniques of Japanese acupuncture.  Feel free to contact me at (925) 953-3055 if you have any questions in the future, and if you are in the Seattle area, stop by to say hello :)

Cheryl

I’d like extend a big welcome to our guest blogger, Kate Flaherty – she is involved in outreach work to educate patients and families about complementary care and alternative medicine options during traditional cancer treatment.  Visit her blog, What Kate Ate, to learn more.

Quality nutrition is crucial for those in cancer treatment because the treatment itself can have an adverse effect on appetite. Getting the necessary vitamins and minerals can be tough but not impossible. Taking in the right foods is absolutely vital for those undergoing treatment for cancers like mesothelioma.

The side effects of traditional treatment will affect the way that a patient is able to eat. Waves of nausea can be frequent and difficult to handle. This is why it is imperative to eat the right foods when you are able to. Of course there may be good days when you want to treat yourself to something outside your nutritional regimen, but building upon a solid nutritional foundation can improve overall health and lead to an improved prognosis. As with anything, portions in moderation can be observed. Just remember that what you put into your body is going to be used to help repair the damage that is being done by the treatment and cancer itself.

Different foods can cause different reactions. Let your physician know if you start to suffer from stomach cramps, diarrhea and general upset stomach. Many physicians will recommend low fiber foods. Although this is generally recommended for all patients, it especially helps for those experiencing diarrhea. Though a cancer treatment team will recommend specific diet suggestions, some generally good options during treatment are:
 
· Eggs
· Lean proteins
· Tofu
· Shellfish and fish
· Peanut butter (creamy)

Try to avoid processed foods. Although convenient they will not do any good for the body. Fruits and vegetables with pesticides can do a lot of harm, so try to stick to organically grown produce. 

It is important to remember that a person having treatment for cancer has different nutrition needs than those who are not. A patient’s main goal should be to keep their strength up. Although treatment is designed to kill off the cancer cells it also hurts some of the good cells.

The best time to begin eating healthier is before you begin treatment. This will give your body time to strengthen itself. It is no secret that caner treatment takes its toll on the body. By being proactive you are giving yours the best possible care before treatment begins.

For further information, an excellent resource for nutrition before, during and after cancer treatment is the National Cancer Institute.

--Thank you for all the good information!  In addition to a healthy diet, many people find acupuncture and herbs very helpful in dealing with side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, swelling, and pain.  Similar to the way a healthy diet gives your body the raw materials to heal and stay supported during treatment, herbs can also be integral to support your body through the process of cancer treatment.  What has been your experiences with trying to eat well while undergoing cancer treatments?  What has been your experiences with Chinese Medicine in treating nausea and other side effects?

Please check out our latest promotion - great for those with pain conditions, as well as those people who want a total body tune-up!
 

Having previously worked with kids with autism as a behaviorist, I have a special interest in how acupuncture can help children with the disorder.  Whether it is difficulty in responding to their name, hyperactivity, digestive problems, or scripted speech, each child has different issues that need addressing.  In my time working in classrooms with children with special needs, I have seen how simple changes such as a fish oil supplement help an ADHD child focus.  On the same hand, I have seen the negative effects of a sugar-laden, processed diet on behavior and the ability to communicate. 

There are relatively few randomized controlled studies on how acupuncture effects children with autism (which speaks more of lack of funding, than effectiveness).  Recently (2010) there was a Chinese study through the University of Hong Kong that showed significant improvements in language comprehension after 12 sessions of electro-acupuncture.  Per parental report, there were also increases in social initiation, receptive language, motor skills, coordination, and attention span following the course of treatment.  Some other studies have focused on tongue acupuncture (which sounds difficult, painful, and too scary for a child with autism who may not understand why it is being done).

One of the many strengths of Chinese medicine is that it can be tailored specifically to each child's body and current symptoms.  For some, hyperactivity and moodiness may be the primary issues, or for others it may be lack of language, or anxiety over a changes in routine.  Based on those symptoms, a specific group of acupuncture points or herbs are chosen.  I addition to behavioral, speech, physical, and occupational therapies, I would encourage parents to look into Chinese Medicine as a part of your child's total wellness plan.  

Come join us this Wednesday Jan 19th from 4-8pm!  We will be at the office to meet you and your friends/family.  We will have some light snacks, a raffle for acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage visits, as well as complementary 10-min chair massages.   Come by to relax after work!  Hope to see you there.   


2121 Ygnacio Valley Road, Suite E-201
Walnut Creek, CA 94595

Any questions?  Please call at (925) 953-3055 or (925) 945-1441.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2011!

Make a commitment to better your health this year through acupuncture and Chinese Medicine:

• Quit smoking with the help of acupuncture
• Gain more energy through acupuncture and Chinese herbs
  
• Help relieve your stress and have a healthy mindset
• work on that health issue that has been nagging you for years
  

Hope to hear from you soon!

- Cheryl House, L.Ac.

Excessive crying for an infant is defined as crying more than 3 hours in a day.  Once other causes have been ruled out (including fever, ear infection, etc), what is a parent to do? 

Chinese Medicine is very effective in treating infant colic.  Digestive difficulties are often the cause of excessive crying in Chinese medical theory.  Babies digestive systems are inherently weak and not yet fully developed, leading to discomfort and difficulty sleeping.  Adjustments to the diet, abdominal massage, acupuncture, and/or herbs treat the problem very effectively.  Take a look at this study on acupuncture and colic, where babies were treated 2 times a week with one acupuncture point.   Just this one point reduced the duration and intensity of crying of babies in this study.  Pretty sweet!

If you're looking to learn more about how Chinese Medicine can help with common childhood ailments, check out this book.  Diet and massage techniques can go a long way, and if needed, call for an appointment

Chinese Medicine has a long history (thousands of years) of treating and preventing contagious diseases.  Over these years, they discovered lifestyle habits that prevent illnesses like colds and flus, including:

• When sleeping, make sure that there is no wind blowing directly on your body (from a window or fan)
• Cover the neck area with a scarf in cold, windy weather
• At the onset of chills, have some miso soup or ginger tea.  This helps to "sweat" out the virus and prevent it from going deeper into your body/lungs
• At the beginning of a sore throat/fever (with no chills), try drinking peppermint tea
  
• Make sure you get adequate sleep and maintain a healthy diet 
• get acupuncture, especially when experiencing early symptoms, to prevent it from taking hold
  
• If you get frequent colds, get acupuncture to boost your immune system
  
• Get a prescription for an herbal formula to help boost your immunity and prevent frequent illness (*required disclaimer:  The FDA has not approved any herbs or vitamins for the prevention or treatment of disease)
• and the obvious one:  wash/sanitize your hands often.  
  

Many people are currently on cholesterol-lowering medications, such as Lipitor, Vytorin, Zetia, and Crestor.   There are many side effects to these medications including muscle pain, elevated liver enzymes, and digestive complaints.  Often, high cholesterol can be treated effectively through diet modification and lifestyle adjustments. 

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that sugar intake is associated with raised lipid levels, (specifically for women in this study).  Sugars increases the amount of inflammation in the body, and according to Chinese Medical theory, increase the amount of "dampness" (or cholesterol) in the body.  Examples of other foods that promote dampness include dairy products and fried foods.   

Many supplements are available that may have cholesterol-lowering properties.  Because supplements are not approved by the FDA for treating or preventing high cholesterol, I can't specifically tout their cholesterol-lowering virtues here.  There are Chinese herbs that can help reduce dampness in the body (see this study).  It is best to consult a health care professional or herbalist before taking any supplements, and also to consult your doctor before discontinuing any medication.

With a combination of Chinese Medicine and lifestyle adjustments, people with high cholesterol levels can see great results.