Beat the Summertime Heat with These Five Steps

The warmth of summer can feel great, especially after a long Chicago winter.  However, some people feel worse in the summer heat and humidity because it can worsen certain health conditions.

One central aspect of Chinese medical diagnosis is the differentiation between illnesses caused by cold in the body, and those caused by heat and damp. Many people feel much, much better in the summer; everything from joint pain to depression to menstrual cramps eases in the warm weather. People with internal heat and dampness often struggle with the hot, humid season. Common conditions that may be affected by heat and damp include hot flashes, skin rashes, irritability, and excess sweating. People with a warmer constitution may also notice an increase in other symptoms such as headaches, digestive issues, insomnia, body pain, or fatigue.

 To cool down your system and restore balance, try these 5 things:

 1) Adjust your Diet for Summertime
 Check out the list of cooling foods below, and incorporate them into your diet (watermelon is actually listed in ancient texts as a medicinal substance for a condition called “summer heat,” which is similar to sunstroke or heat exhaustion).  Alcohol is considered liquid damp-heat in Chinese Medicine.  Even though an ice cold beer may be cold in temperature, the chemical properties of the alcohol and hops in beer engenders dampness and heat in the body.
Cooling foods for summer include:

• Apricot 
• Watermelon 
• Cantaloupe 
• Lemon
•  Peach 
• Orange
• Pineapple 
• Asparagus 
• Sprouts 
• Bok choy 
• Broccoli 
• Chinese cabbage 
• Corn
•  Cucumber
•  Mushroom
•  Snow peas
•  Spinach
•  Summer squash 
• Watercress 
• Seaweed 
• Shrimp and Seafood
• Cilantro 
• Mint 
• Dill 
• Salads
• Aromatic spiced ethnic foods like Indian cuisine (India has heat and humidity year round)

 2. Drink plenty of fluids especially water. If exercising in the heat, use an electrolyte replacement beverage in addition to water

 3. An ice pack behind the knees can do wonders to cool the whole body; one of the main acupuncture points for clearing heat is located there

 4. Limit skin exposure to sun with sunscreen, hats and shading the body

 5. Get up earlier, stay up later, slow down and rest at midday (the most intense sunshine of the day) if possible.

 
 Chinese medical texts suggest this as a way of living in harmony with the season. If you’re still having trouble, there are great herbal formulas and acupuncture points to release heat and restore a more neutral body temperature. Summer can be the best time to treat heat-related conditions, both for immediate relief and lasting effect.

Acupuncture and IV Therapy for Chronic Adrenal Fatigue

Chronic fatigue is a buzz phrase in the popular media and the health community. Chronic fatigue afflicts teens as well as adults regardless of socioeconomic status or gender. Chronic or adrenal fatigue starts from persistent exposure to a high amount of stress. The disruption of our stress-management system causes the immune system to be compromised leading to nutritional depletion (especially the B Vitamins) and a hormonal imbalance in the body. Over time, this causes a system-wide breakdown of the stress-management systems in the body.   This breakdown is associated with symptoms like severe fatigue, depression, anxiety, weight gain, and poor digestion.

Chronic Fatigue and Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)  

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), the Kidneys represent the source qi (pre-heaven and post heaven essence) or the Yin/Essence energy bank of our body. Kidney source qi is responsible for helping us age gracefully. It nourishes the endocrine system and keeps such vital systems like the brain, spine, and sex organs vibrant. People who are blessed with good genes and robust constitutions may be able to maintain a fast-paced, high-stress lifestyle for longer than most. However for most of us, exposing ourselves to chronic stress depletes the Yin part of our energy profile. When our Yin gets depleted, we are forced to dip into our reserves and borrow from our bank of energy reserves to keep ourselves afloat and literally "run on fumes". The quicker we use up our Kidney reserves, the faster our physical and emotional health will break down leading to chronic fatigue.

Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Formulas and IV Supplements Are Effective Treatments for Chronic Fatigue 

After years of running your body into the ground, lifestyle changes aren’t enough to regain balance and your health. Combined together, acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulas and IV nutritional supplements, are effective treatments for rebalancing the body and addressing the symptoms of chronic fatigue.

The IV therapy "Myers' Cocktail" contains B6, B12, and magnesium and other nutrients that are depleted in chronic fatigue. The Myers' Cocktail works along with acupuncture to help "dig the body of the chronic fatigue hole" and gives and immediate and prolonged boost to the acupuncture treatments.

 Chronic Fatigue Prevention

Now that you feel better, how can you prevent chronic fatigue from happening again? The solutions for preventing and treating chronic fatigue are simple. However, integrating them into your life can be challenging.

•  First and foremost, reduce and learn to manage stress. High, prolonged stress levels are a major contributor to the epidemic of chronic fatigue. 
•  Adequate sleep is another key ingredient for preventing chronic fatigue. Sleep at the right time is also crucial. Sleeping from 4am to Noon is not as restorative as sleeping from 10pm to 6am. Early to bed and early to rise is truly an adage to live by. 
• Drinking plenty of water and consume a nutrition rich diet 
• Balance work and play

If you feel yourself cruising down the road to burnout, consult with an acupuncturist. Changing your lifestyle and systematic balancing of your body through regular acupuncture treatments will improve the way you look, think, feel and lead to a vibrant life free of chronic fatigue.

The Search for Holistic Allergy Treatments-A Review of NAET "Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique"

NAET stands for Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique.

According to NAET.com, NAET is “a non-invasive, drug free, natural solution to eliminate allergies of all types and intensities using a blend of selective energy balancing, testing and treatment procedures from acupuncture/acupressure, allopathy, chiropractic, nutritional, and kinesiological disciplines of medicine."

 I first was introduced to NAET by a fellow acupuncturist during my acupuncture treatment. This was the first time I heard about an energetically based allergy treatment that my practitioner reported to be both a simple and effective way to reduce and eliminate allergies. I became extremely interested in learning more about NAET.  I then began my training as an NAET practitioner. Eleven years later, I am happy to report that NAET works and has eased the suffering of young and old patients alike. As with every treatment method, the results vary depending upon how sick the patient is and what the patient is willing and able to do to follow practitioner suggestions and play an active role in changing their health. With that goal in mind, this blog post will be dedicated to informing potential NAET patient about NAET and what to realistically expect from treatments.

 Before beginning NAET, I strongly suggest that every patient get an IgE profile done with their MD's lab prior to NAET treatments so they can compare this baseline with the next IgE profile to be done 6 months to a year after the initial NAET treatment. Patients often believe that they can be allergic to one item, say cat dander, and nothing else because they do not seem to get sick with certain dietary or environmental exposures. According to Dr. Nambudripad and in my experience with NAET, most people are allergic to many dietary or environmental items but are asymptomatic or do not recognize physical symptoms associated with exposure to these items. As a person ages, the immune system wears down and these sensitivities will manifest into many different kinds of allergic symptoms. Unfortunately, many people have suppressed immune systems at younger ages and are prone to having more allergic reactions earlier in life.

 For most people, NAET testing and treatments seem hard to understand and visualize. Additionally, the concepts of "energy field or aura" and how it can relate to allergies are equally hard to rationalize. Simply, put an allergy is a defensive reaction of our immune system to something our nervous system (through our energetic field or aura) detects is harmful to us. As a result, we naturally seem to avoid certain foods, for example, or get sick upon exposure to certain dietary or environmental items.

According to NAET, there are 15 Basic substances that are the root cause of many allergic based illnesses, these include
• BBF (Brain Body Formula)
• Egg Mix
• Calcium Mix
• Vitamin C Mix
• B-Complex
• Sugar Mix
• Iron Mix
• Vitamin A Mix
• Minerals
• Salt Mix
 • Grain Mix
 •Yeast Mix
 •Acid (Stomach Acid)
 • Base (Digestive Enzymes)
 • Hormones

 Of the 15 Basic items, the first six have been found to be at the root cause of allergic symptoms or sensitivities. NAET treatment begins by testing for sensitivity to these items by the use of applied kinesiology in combination with exposure to each category of items. The energetic profile of the items are electronically trapped in a solution of purified water and alcohol contained within a glass vial. This is similar to homeopathic remedies that contain the energy signature of substances.

 The TESTING procedure is simple and approximate: The patient will lay with their back down on the practitioner’s exam table. The patient holds their opposite arm straight up, 90 degrees out from their body. The patient is told to resist as much as possible as the practitioner tries to push the patient's arm down to their side. The patient should be able to resist the pressure exerted by the practitioner. Next, the patient would be asked to hold a small glass vial containing the energetic solution of one of the test items. If the patient's arm muscles weaken in response to the same pressure applied by the practitioner, the patient's energy field/nervous system detects there is something the body is sensitive or possibly allergic to. The level of resistance indicates how sensitive the patient is to the substance in the glass vial.

 TREATMENT After determining the patient's sensitivity to the 15 basics, the patient is asked to turn over, front side down and hold a treatment vial. Pressure is applied along the spine in select locations to "re-set" the nervous system in the presence of the offending substance. The patient turns over, back side down to be tested for resistance. If the patient's resistance is strong the patient receives acupuncture or acupressure to balance the system. The patient holds the vial for 15-20 minutes, is retested and is sent home with further instructions on avoidance period and when to return to office to retest for "clearing" of substance. If "clear" of the treatment substance, the next sensitive substance on the list is treated.

 IMPORTANT CAVEATS TO ENSURE SATISFACTION WITH NAET

•  Avoidance is key to "clearing". Once "cleared" and feeling good, avoid the tendency to over indulge on the "cleared" item. It takes 6 months to a year for the immune system to re-balance and the digestive system to heal. 
  

•  Digestive enzymes, pro-biotics, Myer's cocktails and Vitamin B-12 injections all help heal a sick digestive system and help NAET treatments last longer. 
  

• The "clearing" of the first six substances of the Basic 15 are critical to ensure success of the method. Priority substances that are not on the Basic 15 (like dairy, animal dander, pollen, mold) should be "cleared" after the first six are cleared.

•  You will need annual or case-based tune-ups-there are often combinations of substances that cause a re-emergence of symptoms

•  Follow-up with another IgE profile 6-months to a year after the initial NAET treatment to compare your new immune profile with baseline

• NAET requires time, patience and treatments are often only partially covered by many insurance company plans

•  The benefits of NAET and relief that patients experience as a result of the treatments are often worth the time and investment.  If you were very sick before you were treated with NAET, it will take just as much time to heal as it did to get you sick. If you were used to living "life on the edge", changing your lifestyle has to be a part of the treatment for health to return. 

NAET is not a magic bullet for regaining health in every person and for every situation. As far as I know, no treatment or practitioner can honestly claim to offer an effective, enduring "cure" to end sickness, pain and disease. However, NAET has helped countless patients regain health and with it the hope of living a symptom and pain-free life.

Acupuncture WORKS for YOU and Athletes TOO!

NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck does it. So does hockey superstar Jaromir Jagr. Olympic high-jumper Amy Acuff likes it so much that she learned how to practice it herself. New York City Ballet dancers swear by it. 


Acupuncture is a go-to therapy for many of the world’s leading athletes—but you don’t have to be a pro to experience the benefits of acupuncture.Whether you’re a die-hard marathoner, devoted yogi, gym rat or weekend warrior, acupuncture can enhance your performance by fortifying your overall health.  


Recent clinical studies show that acupuncture provides true pain relief for a range of conditions, including chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. Additionally, the World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as a safe and effective treatment for injuries, orthopedic conditions, and acute and chronic pain.So, acupuncture works for pain, which is great news for athletes whose bodies suffer a lot of wear and tear.


Acupuncture for athletes is actually most beneficial while they’re training, before an injury surfaces. This is because acupuncture can naturally boosts athletes’ energy levels, aid in post-workout recovery, and improve overall performance levels. Athletes who incorporate acupuncture as part of their regular training regimens notice better results and fewer injuries, and they seem to enjoy themselves more. 


For example, I regularly treat a male triathlete who adheres to a rigorous training schedule. Like many people, he turned to acupuncture as a last resort, to speed the recovery of a stubborn chronic injury. Once the injury disappeared after a series of twice-weekly acupuncture treatments, he continued coming to see me because of the “side effects” he started noticing—reduced anxiety before competitions, greater mobility and faster recovery time.

5 Ways Acupuncture Boosts Athleticism

Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with other forms of sports medicine, including physical therapy, massage, stretching and chiropractic. These modalities work together to help athletes achieve optimal results.


Here are five compelling reasons why acupuncture should always be included in any athlete’s healthcare mix:

• Acupuncture eases stress and anxiety- Acupuncture’s balancing effect is beneficial for the mind, helping to lower stress and anxiety. Becoming more focused and relaxed will improve your athletic performance across the board.

• Acupuncture improves sleep-Acupuncture is a safe way to banish sleeping issues such as insomnia and waking throughout the night. Regular acupuncture treatments can help you start each day rested and ready to hit the weights, punching bag or that hot yoga class you’ve been meaning to try.

• Acupuncture strengthens the immune system-Studies have shown that acupuncture enhances immune-cell function in the body. Specifically, it helps the brain increase the body’s level of T-cells, the cells that destroy bacteria and harmful viruses in the body, even days after a session. By safeguarding against sickness, you’ll miss fewer workouts and perform better.

• Acupuncture speeds recovery time-In addition to accelerating the healing process, acupuncture helps your body bounce back from intensive exercise. For instance, a 2008 study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine discovered that participants who received acupuncture for muscle soreness 24 and 48 hours after they exercised to exhaustion reported significantly less pain than those who did not receive the treatment.

• Acupuncture increases awareness-Many people find that acupuncture helps them tune into their bodies, minds and emotions at deeper, subtler levels. Being mindful of yourself and your surroundings is a winning tool that is beneficial on and off the playing field.

Acupuncture is a powerful preventive and pro-performance modality that will benefit all aspects of any athlete’s health and wellbeing. 

Signs That You Need Acupuncture This Spring

Seasons—particularly the transitional periods, when we move from one season to the next—factor significantly into how we feel.  In Chinese Medical theory, each season is energetically linked to an organ system in the body.  The spring’s organ system is the Liver and to a lesser extent, the Gall Bladder.

During the seasonal transition the energetic Liver is vulnerable and the functions that the Liver controls has a tendency to be stressed. Eventually, spring can become a time when the Liver and its associated functions thrive. However, during this transitional period, certain symptoms commonly show up. Acupuncture improves these symptoms by restoring balance to the Liver system.

 Here are six signs that your Liver may need some acupuncture:

1)  You feel extra tense
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, energetic Liver is the system that’s responsible for smooth flow throughout the body. When the Liver is not functioning optimally, things like emotional stress, rigid posture, shallow breathing, and jaw clenching may become more noticeable and can create pain and frustration.

2) You have headaches and other aches and pains.
When things aren’t flowing smoothly, we start to experience what acupuncturists think of as stagnation-type symptoms. These include pain, and specifically pain that feels like pressure, tightness or restriction. Tension headaches and menstrual cramps are commonly worse this time of year.

3)  Your muscles are really stiff the Liver and its associated system, Gallbladder, nourish the body’s connective tissue, tendons and ligaments. You may notice increased stiffness, tension or tightness in your muscles and joints in the coming weeks.

4)   You feel irritable and frustrated.
Are you feeling more annoyed than charmed by the springtime sound of chirping birds?  In Chinese Medical theory all organ systems in acupuncture have an associated emotion. Liver’s emotion is anger. There’s an emotional stuck-ness that can take hold in spring.  The emotional symptoms associated with Liver imbalances mimic the physical stagnation that happens.  You may notice yourself feeling frustrated, perhaps more easily angered.

5)   Your digestion feels off
 Healthy digestion is heavily dependent on consistent and smooth movement throughout the whole body. When the Liver fails to maintain smooth flow, digestive disturbances can easily occur. When emotional stress is higher than usual, digestive function naturally declines.

6)  Your eyes are bothering you just as all organ systems have an associated emotion, they also have an associated sense. Clear vision is ruled by the Liver system, so any issues related to eye health are usually attributed, at least in part, to a Liver imbalance. This can include poor vision as well as eye pain and fatigue, and dry eyes.

This simple exercise can help. The Springtime Acupressure Point If you only remember one acupuncture point all spring, it should be Liver 3.

Located on the foot, between the first and second toes (see picture), Liver 3 is the source point on the Liver channel. Source points behave sort of like central stations on subway lines. They are hubs where internal and external energies gather and transform. They are single, high-concentration points that grant access to the larger system.

Any time of year, Liver 3 is a go-to point for stagnation throughout the body. Because of the spring–Liver connection, the point is doubly useful for addressing springtime stagnation-type symptoms. Applying acupressure to Liver 3 will help get things moving like no other point. Poke around the point area until you discover a tender spot. Liver 3, if pressed firmly enough, is sensitive on most people. Once you have the point, apply firm pressure. This should feel a little achy. The more the better on this point, so feel free to do this acupressure exercise anytime your bare feet are available. Liver 3 can be pressed on one or both sides.

 If in the coming weeks you experience some tell-tale signs of a Liver imbalance, don’t get down on yourself—they’re completely normal during the seasonal transition. A little acupuncture will help realign your system so that you can enjoy the wonders of spring.

Your Valentine’s Day Gift is Literally in Your Hands

Do you really want to impress your Valentine this year? Looking for a meaningful way to express your love without breaking the bank? Then forget the flowers, chocolates and diamonds. It’s time to celebrate Valentine’s Day acupuncture style.

Who doesn’t love a good massage? In this Valentines edition of Essence Healing Getting to the Point Wellness Blog, I am going to teach you how to incorporate acupressure into a massage, creating an experience that’s tailored specifically for your Valentine. This will not only induce pure physical bliss but also leave your Valentine feeling overwhelmed by how smart and thoughtful you are. There are four acupressure points that should be incorporated into everyone’s Valentine’s Day massage. They are Gallbladder 20, Bladder 15, Bladder 32, and Kidney 1.  The scalp (wherever tender) and feet in general are always a welcome acupressure add-ons.

GB 20 is called Gates of Consciousness and Wind Pond. It help harmonize your immune system. It is good for sinus issues, neck pain, dizziness, sore eyes, head cold, stuffy head and irritability. It is one of the acupoints which are used to relieve depression. GB 20 relieves pain by releasing the body’s natural pain relievers known as endorphins. By opening the healing energy through these acupressure points you can relieve stiffness, especially stiff necks, arthritic pains, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. There are many acupressure points for these problems, but GB 20 is one of the most potent points for obtaining relief.

GB 20 is located just under the base of the skull in two small muscular grooves at the back of the neck.  For self-healing guidance on how to relieve shoulder and neck tension, aches and pains, headaches, and open these Gates of Consciousness points, practice pressing these points two times daily as shown in  picture.

 Bladder 15 is located about an inch-and-a-half outside the spine, at the level of the fifth thoracic vertebra.

That’s about midway between the top and bottom edges of the scapula, the triangular bone in the picture at right. Massage the tender spot in the area. Using firm pressure with your thumbs, press Bladder 15 on both sides of the spine at the same time. Bladder 15 is what’s known as the Back Shu point of the Heart.  Shu in Chinese means “to transport,” as in transport qi (or blood, or fluids, or whatever’s needed) to the organ associated with that point. So essentially, Bladder 15 helps to nourish the Heart organ. The Heart in acupuncture has many functions—some of which are similar to the ones we know from Western medicine and some less so—and it does play a role in a person’s ability to give and receive love, and to be present in relationships. It is, so to speak, the key to your Valentine’s heart.

Bladder 32 is a good point for stimulating sexual energy. Bladder 32 and any other tender points in this region should be pressed on both sides at the same time. Rather than using firm pressure right away, ease into these points, as they can be very tender on some people. Women especially might experience tenderness around Bladder 32, as it’s a common treatment point for anything related to menstruation. Men and women who have sciatica or low back pain also might find this region sensitive.

 Kidney 1 is located on the bottom of the foot, just behind the pad, between the second and third metatarsal bones. Using firm pressure with your thumbs, press Kidney 1 on both feet at the same time. This point is used to ground a person, to energetically pull down the constant buzzing that happens in many of our heads. Touching this point will help your Valentine quiet the internal chatter and become more fully present in his/her body. The above four points scalp and feet should included in all Valentine’s Day acupressure massages. They alone can make for a great Valentine’s treat.  

LET"S BEGIN --Ask your Valentine to lay on his/her stomach. All acupressure points can be reached from this position. Begin the massage with Kidney 1. Because of its grounding qualities, Kidney 1 will help bring your Valentine into a relaxed state for the rest of the massage. While you are pressing Kidney 1 on both feet, ask your partner to take some deep breaths and imagine that he/she is filling his/her whole body with air, all the way down to the bottom of the feet where you are applying pressure. After Kidney 1, move on the feet in general gently pulling the toes. This will help loosen that part of the body so that he/she can get greater enjoyment from the rest of the massage. As you did with Kidney 1, ask your partner to take a few slow, deep breaths while you press these opening or circulating points. Next, move to Bladder 15 and Bladder 32. These points can be performed once or several times while you’re massaging other areas on the back. Each time you press the Bladder points, ask your Valentine to breath slowly and deeply directly into the area that you are pressing.  For GB 20, press toward the base of your skull with your thumbs. Use the weight of your head against your thumbs for a steady pressure. Hold for about 5 minutes. Press gently around the scalp

and top of head. Gently pull the hair and ear lobes. Repeat as you see fit.

If your Valentine isn’t experiencing any specific aches and pains, Four Gates, Liver 3 and Large Intestine 4, is a great addition to your acupressure massage. It will circulate energy and help ease any stagnation, physical or emotional, that may have gone unmentioned.  This is one of the most frequently used point combinations in all of acupuncture.

There are several theories on why Four Gates is so powerful but the prevailing idea is that the combination opens up circulation throughout the entire body, with Liver 3 handling the lower half while Large Intestine 4 addresses the upper body.

An acupressure massage, especially one given as a Valentine’s Day gift, can be very personal. You know your Valentine best, so the massage should primarily be based on your intuition and your partner’s comfort level and preferences.

The key to a successful Valentine’s Day is literally in your hands. Good luck!

Brainy Reception: Visual Evidence that Acupuncture Stops Pain at the Source

Acupuncture has been used for over three centuries in East-Asian medicine to treat chronic and acute pain.

Yet acupuncture has not been widely accepted as an adjunct therapy with ordinary care for pain treatment in the United States. Part of the reason for the under utilization of acupuncture for pain management may originate from the belief that acupuncture is a placebo treatment for pain.

Recently, researchers at the University of Michigan Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center provided evidence that acupuncture affects the brain's long-term ability to regulate pain. The researchers used brain imaging as a tool to show that acupuncture can activate receptors in the brain that process and dampen pain signals. Specifically, showed acupuncture increased the binding availability of mu-opioid receptors (MOR) in regions of the brain (cingulate, insula, caudate, thalamus and amygdala) that process and dampen pain signals.

Opioid painkillers, such as morphine, codeine and other medications, are thought to work by binding to these opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. These findings suggest that acupuncture is not a placebo treatment for pain and may lead to enhanced pain relief if combined with opioid medications since the activated receptors seem to have more binding availability with acupuncture treatment. Regular acupuncture treatment combined with ordinary care for pain management offers enhanced pain relief for both chronic and acute pain management.

Happy New Year!!!