You can significantly reduce your risk for heart disease by managing high blood pressure, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing stress and improving your sleep -- issues which can all be attended to with acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
And here is some more great news. Some of the most fabulous foods are also good for heart health.
Green tea contains several powerful antioxidants that reduce bad cholesterol and boost good cholesterol, improving an individuals overall cholesterol profile. Drinking green tea also seems to enhance cardiovascular health by improving the consistency of platelets in the blood and may even lower blood pressure.
Garlic - just one clove a day--or 300 mg, three times daily--reduces the risk of a heart attack at least three ways: It discourages red blood cells from sticking together and blocking your arteries, it reduces arterial damage, and it discourages cholesterol from lining the arteries and making them so narrow that blockages are likely.
Fruit - Oranges contain folic acid that helps lower your levels of homocysteine, a heart attack risk factor. Grapes are loaded with flavonoids and resveratrol, both potent antioxidants that may discourage red blood cells from clumping together and forming an artery-blocking clot. Pomegranate juice is contains potassium and polyphenols, which promote heart health and have been shown to help lower cholesterol.
Vegetables - Cruciferous vegetables such as kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage, containing antioxidants and other heart-saving phytochemicals, should be a part of your daily diet.
Nuts - Studies have found that those who eat more than 5 ounces of nuts a week are one-third less likely to have either heart disease or a heart attack. Nuts are also loaded with calories, so enjoy in moderation.
Red Wine - Scientific studies overwhelmingly show that a daily glass of wine can reduce your risk of a heart attack. Both plant compounds called saponins and antioxidants in the "fruit of the vine" work to protect arteries. Researchers have found that red is much more effective than white for improving heart health.
Fish - Fatty fish such as salmon and anchovies are foods loaded with the omega-3 fatty acids that will help your heart maintain a steady rhythm. Having even one fish serving a week could reduce your risk of death from a heart attack by 52 percent.
Flaxseed - If you’re not a fan of fish, flaxseed is one of the most potent sources of heart health-promoting omega-3 fats. Studies indicate that adding flaxseed to your diet can reduce the development of heart disease by 46 percent while helping keep red blood cells from clumping together and forming clots that can block arteries. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flaxseed a day on your cereal or salad.
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Acupuncture is as effective and longer-lasting in managing the common debilitating side effects of hot flashes, night sweats, and excessive sweating (vasomotor symptoms) associated with breast cancer treatment and has no treatment side effects compared to conventional drug therapy, according to a first-of-its-kind study presented September 24, 2008, at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s 50th Annual Meeting in Boston.
Findings also show there were additional benefits to acupuncture treatment for breast cancer patients, such as an increased sense of well being, more energy, and in some cases, a higher sex drive, that were not experienced in those patients who underwent drug treatment for their hot flashes.
For more information on radiation therapy for breast cancer, visit www.rtanswers.org. If you are currently suffering from side effects related to breast cancer treatment, please call us at 651-227-6865, to discuss how acupuncture and herbs can ease your discomfort and improve your overall health.
Acupuncture Relieves Menstrual Pain: A recent German study published in the February, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology confirms that acupuncture can relieve a woman of her menstrual pain. Acupuncture is also extremely effective at treating irregular periods and PMS.
Acupuncture Increases Chances of Success with Invitro Fertilization: Women undergoing IVF were 65 percent more likely to become pregnant when they combined the procedure with acupunture, according to a study published in the February, 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal. Acupuncture stimulates the production of hormones which control the menstrual cycle and ovulation, stimulates blood flow to the uterus and helps the body to relax. The researchers in the study concluded that acupuncture is a cost-effective, safe and efficient way of boosting the success rate of fertility treatments.
In order to increase your chances of getting pregnant, you need to create an inviting environment for an embryo to implant and develop.
A Healthy Menstrual Cycle
Awareness of your body always gives you power. Whether you are using Western medicine and manipulating your cycle with drugs or not using artificial means, it is essential to know what a healthy menstrual cycle looks like. An ideal cycle is regular; it lasts 28 days (25-35 days is a good range); it contains little PMS; most blood is bright red; and has no blood clots. But, there are also others things to look for.
The time period before ovulation is your follicular phase. This is the phase in which follicles grow and one follicle becomes dominant. At ovulation time, the dominant follicle releases an egg. The follicular phase is considered the yin part of the cycle in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
All women have cervical discharge throughout the month. The discharge is healthiest when it is clear to white, not any other color. The discharge that indicates fertility is called S-type and is that which begins approximately 6 days before ovulation with the rise of estrogen. This discharge will be clear, stretchy and have the consistency of raw egg white. A substantive discharge means increased fertility because it facilitates pathways for sperm to enter the uterus. This discharge is considered yin in nature. If you are lacking this type of cervical discharge, you might be yin deficient. (Later, in the Diet and Lifestyle Tips, note the tips that enhance yin). Drugs that dry up or interfere with cervical fluid are antihistamines, atropine, N-SAIDS, and antidepressants.
Ovulation is the release of the egg. The egg lives for 6-12 hours after it is released. The sperm lives for up to 5 days. The prime time to start engaging in intercourse would be 4-5 days prior to ovulation, 48 hours being the optimal time. The phase after ovulation is the luteal phase. This phase is more yang in nature. (Check yang dietary suggestions and lifestyle tips).
Once you begin to bleed, Traditional Chinese Medicine says that you are most deficient and are more vulnerable. To avoid depletion while you are bleeding, keep your feet warm, don’t walk around the house barefoot, and don’t swim in cold water. While you are bleeding and right after, it is important to nourish your blood (check Diet and Lifestyle Tips for foods that nourish your blood).
Knowing your cycle allows you to encourage each phase to perform optimally.
Diet Suggestions
In general for men and women, eat organic foods when possible and avoid meats that have been treated with hormones or fish that contains mercury. Women need to eat food with essential fatty acids, e.g., soy products and wild caught salmon. Essential fatty acids are also found in non-hydrogenated cold pressed oils like flaxseed, winter vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, and all dark green vegetables. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. A Yale University School of Medicine study found that the risk of infertility was 55% higher for women drinking 1cup of coffee per day, 100% higher for women drinking 2 - 3 cups, and 176% higher for those drinking more than 3 cups of coffee per day.
Chinese medicine takes an energetic view of our bodies and our organs, meaning that bodily energy needs to move freely and stagnation causes problems. The energy of the kidney system is very important for reproduction.
For men and women, foods that nourish their kidney essence include: chicken or duck and eggs from both; seeds and nuts; oysters; seaweed and algae.
For women, certain foods help nourish your bodies during the different phases of your cycle.
Foods that nourish Yin include: fruits such as raspberries, pineapples and grapes; vegetables such as asparagus and beans; adequate proteins, especially tofu and fish; and organ meats such as kidneys, brains and hearts. Avoid spicy, pungent foods.
Foods that nourish Yang include warming foods: ginger; ginger tea; beans; grains; and vegetables such as mustard greens, winter squash, cabbage and kale. Avoid ice cold drinks, ice cream and foods that are very cold. In general, it is a good idea to avoid ice water and ice cream during pregnancy attempts.
Foods that nourish blood include: fruits such as blackberries, raspberries and grapes; organic meats and poultry; soup stock made from the bones of the meat and poultry; and vegetables such as turnips, spinach and dark, leafy greens.
Lifestyle Tips
For both men and women, try to get good amounts of sleep and limit stress. Of course, difficulties with fertility send stress skyrocketing but that makes it even more important to find ways to relieve stress. Meditation, yoga, relaxing with friends and any other calming activities that work for you are encouraged.
For men, skip saunas, hot tubs and tight clothes, all of which heat up sperm.
For women, enjoy the foods noted above, exercise as a stress reliever and to maintain health but don’t overdo it. Excessive exercise depletes Yin. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have a long history of benefiting fertility in many ways.
Benefits of acupuncture include:
1. improved uterine lining
2. increased blood flow to the uterus
3. regulation of hormones
4. reduction of stress associated with fertility problems
Recently a study demonstrated that sperm quality and motility was improved after the men received acupuncture treatments. The men treated experienced increased sperm motility levels, increased the number and percentage of healthy sperm, and significant improvements in sperm structure and quality as compared to a control group. An important German study that received notable attention in the American press showed that acupuncture significantly increased the effectiveness of IVF success. Impressively, pregnancies were documented in 34 out of 80 patients (42.5%) in the acupuncture group as compared to 21 out of 80 patients (26.3%) in the control group.
Bibliography: Dulgosz, L. and Brachs, M. Epidemiologic Reviews, Vol. 14 pg. 83, 1992.Pei, J., Strehler, E., Noss, U. et al. Fertility and Sterility, July, Vol. 84 (1), pgs. 141-7, 2005.Paulus, W., Zhang, et al. Fertility and Sterility April, Vol. 77 (4), 2002.
Facial Rejuvenation Treatments Now Available: This is a series of treatments than can restore the youthful look of healthy skin, diminish fine lines, and improve skin tone. This is a natural and gentle process that includes a warm herbal mask, facial massage and fine needles. The technique can improve muscle tone of the face and neck while addressing underlying imbalances that may have contributed to the aging process. The procedure helps your Qi to circulate throughout the body, providing nourishment, support, and energy to every cell, tissue, muscle and organ. As with most acupuncture treatments, this one will have the beneficial "side effect" of leaving you feeling more energetic, calm and healthy. Call Susan at 651-227-6865 to find out more and to schedule your appointments.
Take the Relaxation Home With You: Next time you’re in, sample our teas, read, relax and take home some of the things that make Crocus Hill such as soothing experience -- music, tea, eyepillows, ginger candy!
Tea: We carry a variety of Octavia teas. These are very high quality teas from a company that uses natural and organic ingredients and is socially and environmentally responsible. You can choose the tea that suits you best: green tea, white tea, red tea or caffeine-free herbal tea.
(c) 2005-2010 Crocus Hill Oriental Medicine