February 3rd Begins The Year of The Rabbit

2011 is the year of Rabbit, a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves. There are some lovely traditions associated with the celebration of the Chinese New Year.  Many families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away any bad luck and make way for good incoming luck. Commonly, people buy presents and decorate them with red paper cuts (a Chinese art form) and poetry with

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Every season I send out a newsletter with information you can use about health and Traditional Chinese Medicine. My winter newsletter will be coming out this week. Click Here to submit your email to my mailing list. Thanks and I hope you enjoy it.

Addiction, Acupuncture, and the Army

Prescription drug abuse is a rampant problem in the civilian world, so it should come as no surprise that misuse of medication plagues a military that has been both physically and mentally drained over the past decade. Pain happens and narcotics can be used appropriately and effectively to treat and manage discomfort. Addictions frequently have a root in liberal prescribing practices, inability to deliver non-pharmaceutical pain management modalities, and underlying or untreated mental health disorders. However, we do live in an era where putting the blame solely on the prescriber or claiming ignorance of the abuse potential of the drug are becoming anachronistic excuses. Increasingly, VA and military facilities across the country are using CAM therapies like acupuncture, yoga, and meditation for treatment of PTSD, addiction, and pain. While this solider incorporated some modest acupuncture in his therapy, the fact he has shared his struggles and openly advocates for holistic approach to pain will help both the profession and the heros.

3-star opens up about battle with addiction

Army Lt. Gen. David Fridovich says that, for years, he has regularly consumed narcotics and painkillers to deal with chronic pain — and now he’s sharing his story

By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Wednesday Jan 26, 2011 21:38:59 EST

TAMPA, Fla. — Standing before a packed hall of 700 military doctors and medics here, the deputy commander of the nation’s elite special operations forces warned about an epidemic of chronic pain sweeping through the U.S. military after a decade of continuous war.

Be careful about handing out narcotic pain relievers, Lt. Gen. David Fridovich told the audience last month. “What we don’t want is that next generation of veterans coming out with some bad habits.”

What Fridovich didn’t say was that he was talking as much about himself as anyone.

Fridovich agreed in recent weeks to talk openly about his reliance on drugs as part of what he says is a personal commitment to push the Army into better addressing pain management and drug addiction.

“I was fighting the pain. And I was fighting the injury. And I was fighting the narcotics,” he says. “We have an obligation to the soldiers to look them in the eye and say, ‘I know what you’re going through. You don’t want to be like this for the rest of your life. You don’t have to be.’ ”

Pentagon statistics show the number of pain-relief prescriptions given to troops, including narcotics, growing 86 percent from 2001-09, when 3.7 million doses were handed out. That dipped last year to 3.5 million prescriptions, the data reveal, but is still more than any year prior to 2009.

He says Army medicine must be better prepared to treat pain with aggressive monitoring of medication, drug education, acupuncture, nutrition and proper exercise.

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Post-Partum Care With Chinese Medicine

*Another helpful post from the Portland Acupuncture Blog written by Amy Chitwood Burslem L.A.c.
Bringing a new life into the world is an amazing process, but the time spent in labor and delivery takes a toll on the mother’s body. After giving birth, a woman’s body is depleted, and needs to be nourished by her environment (calm, quiet and warmth) and the foods she eats. She needs to take care of

I Love Rome!

 

"Men in general are quick to believe that which they wish to be true." ~ Julius Caesar

Sufferers Of Chronic Fatigue Find Relief With Chinese Medicine

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is far more than being tired. It is a frustrating, complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that may worsen with physical or mental activity. Plus it does not improve with rest. People with CFS can get so run down that it interferes with their lives and ability to function. Some people with CFS are severely disabled and even bedridden. The talented writer,

Interesting Historical Facts About Acupuncture

I found this post on Acufinder.com  and learned something new about the development of acupuncture. I think you will too. ~ By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM
Ever wonder where acupuncture needles came from, how they evolved, and how they’re used today? 
Here are some highlights from the history of these ancient healing devices, which are still widely and effectively used today:
*The earliest

Martin Luther King - Thank you

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther King

The Balancing Act

I normally do not promote promotion of medical acupuncture since, contrary to the contention of this article, most physicians who practice medical acupuncture are not experts in both fields, but rather specialists in one and dabbles in the other. I will forgo my usual rant about weekend courses, dry needling practices, and cookbook style acupuncture and instead be mollified that the EU and USA appear to be on the same 1/4 page of acceptance when it comes to insurance coverage for evidenced-based CAM therapies.


Getting the Balance Right (excerpt)
By Lizzy Beckwith for CypresNews Jan. 16, 2011


Even diehard medical traditionalists accept that acupuncture is excellent for pain relief. Back pain, knee pain, tennis elbow as well as pain caused by many other health issues, including cancer, can be greatly relieved. It is also beneficial when traditional drugs have ceased to be effective or dosages need to be reduced due to side-effects. Acupuncture’s approach to pain relief is more holistic, using the body’s own abilities to find balance, heal, or release pain relieving chemicals. Mainstream medical specialists often recommend" acupuncture to patients to help with their recovery.


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Advice for Camille Grammer from Chinese Medicine

Are you a fan of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?  If so, are you ‘team Kyle’ or ‘team Camille’?  Either way, Chinese Medicine has a lot to offer these high profile ladies? For me, an acupuncturist with the same birthday as Kyle Richards, I have to be on ‘team Kyle’ but have some good TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) advice for Camille and anyone else suffering from a public humiliation.

The New Year Is A Good Time To Reflect

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” ~ Confucius

Reflection is the idea that an image or idea comes back to us, such as looking in a mirror, rethinking an event, or reviewing an idea.  We have the opportunity to take a close view and to reconsider our original

Acupuncturists Tips For 2011

The New Year is upon us. Did you make any resolutions? Are you sticking to them or have they already started to fall away? These articles from acupuncturists can help you out.

~The #1 resolution on most people's list?  To loose weight. On the blog Thrive Acupuncture, Becca has some good advice on healthy eating the Chinese Medicine way.

~Want to get pregnant this year? Amy provides good

Be An Angel

"The reason angels can fly is because they take themselves lightly."~ G.K. Chesterton

Anxious ? Acupuncture Can Provide Relief

Do you have anxiety? Acupuncture can help, it takes the connection between the body and mind into consideration. Chinese medicine is practiced with the belief that imbalances in the body can cause anger, fear, sadness, joy and worry, these emotions can cause harm to the body over time. Acupuncture has the potential to affect serotonin a chemical in the brain, that affects a person's emotional

Setting Goals for 2011 and Beyond

Setting SMART Life Goals

Setting goals is the key to staying on track and providing a clear direction to your life. Start with an overall self-concept that you want to achieve. It can be as simple and straightforward as “I am kind” or “I am content,” and as complex as “I am a holistic success” or “I am an accomplished innovator.”

In order to become the person you want to be, it is important that goals be SMART goals. They should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Set short-term goals for as little as 1-3 months, medium term goals for 6 months to a year, and long-term goals for 5 years or more. You can also include a lifetime accomplishment list. Start with short term first and experiment. Set your goals in the following categories:

Health

Family

Social

Career

Education

Financial

Spiritual

Make sure to dedicate plenty of time and though into this task. Goals should be neither fickle nor fixed. Goals are dynamic. As you change, your goals will change.

Put your list in a place where you can look at them often, ideally every day.  If you feel you are getting off track, set small and precise weekly or even daily goals to give yourself a sense of accomplishment. You can also involve your loved ones and have a set of both personal and family goals. Check out this 30-day challenge to get you started on the right foot.

Enjoy the process and may all your goals be achieved!