Acupuncture - MYTH or FACT

Does acupuncture work; myth or fact?

I would have to say that it works. I recently strained my back and of course am still battling the dreaded leg cramps (sorry Leg Cramps PM). After just two sessions with the acupuncturist combined with replacing my desk chair with a kneeling chair my lower back pain is reduced by 80%. The leg cramps are better as well, but I will post another blog on that topic.

Let’s look at the practice of acupuncture. It has been in practice for thousands of years - since approximately 200 BCE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture). Surely this gives credence to the practice otherwise it would have long ago died.

Now for my personal experience – 3 visits thus far.

He begins each session with a deep massage to the shoulders and upper back, followed by the arms and then opening blocked energy channels. He also uses a warming lamp (over the most problematic area) during the acupuncture portion of treatment. He then ends each session by vigorously patting my lower back and legs with a firm foam whacker (for lack of a better descriptive word) to promote circulation. Very soothing instrumental music softly plays during the entire session lulling one into a state of relaxation.

 Session #1

I learned during this session that you don’t move after the needles have been placed. I attempted to shift my wrist on the supporting pillow and instantly felt pain. Needless to say, I stopped moving and decided that the slight misalignment wasn’t worth an adjustment.

Session #2

About 10 minutes into the final phase of treating my legs (for cramps), my right calf locked up in a severe cramp and I couldn’t move due the needles (remembering the pain caused by moving my arm in the first session). Well picture this – I’m lying on the table, my calf muscle locked as hard as a rock and I can’t move. I started yelling out, “help, I need help”, the doctor and assistant came running in and immediately starting removing the needles from my body as fast as they could. They both proceeded to massage the calf muscle in hopes of release the cramp. Well…….that caused even more pain so I yelled out in pain. They stopped massaging the muscle and helped me off the table. I was able to release the cramp as soon as I put weight on my foot. After this episode I was certain I would have a terrible night of leg cramps, but….I didn’t!! I was quite surprised to say the least and very happy.

Session #3

Dr. Wu left a service bell next to my hand during this session so if the cramping occurred again I could ring the bell vs. yelling and scaring his patientsJ.  The front-side treatment went very well as usual and was quite relaxing. Now for the back-side (which I was nervous about after the severe cramp during session #2): he placed 23 needles in my lower back and legs and the warming lamp over my right calf. I was okay for about 12 minutes of the 20 minute session and then started stressing worrying that my calf would lock again. I’m sure I somewhat derailed the effectiveness of the treatment by stressing, but I couldn’t stop myself from worrying. I made it through the remaining 8 minutes without a cramp – YEAH!!

Stay tuned for more updates on this treatment and I say: WHY NOT TRY IT?, it might work and certainly won't cause any damage.

BTW- when my daughter was expecting her 3rd child, the OB threated with inducing labor so we sought out an acupunturist to stimulate labor - well, it worked. About 15 hours after treatment she went into labor and delivered after only 4 hours!!

Conventional Medicine

Over the weekend I experienced pain in my flank (back) and side which had me thinking I might have a kidney stone or infection, so I went to the doctor to make sure my kidneys were ok. It turned out to be a minor gallbladder attack due to too much dairy. Even though this was the diagnosis the doctor wanted to give me 2 prescriptions for an anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxer in the event the pain continued. I declined.

As I was driving into work this morning I was thinking about my visit to this conventional medicine doctor on Tuesday. I remember at least two decades back that the first course of treatment by most conventional doctors was to try simple natural remedies first. Like removing the source of the problem, changing ones habits, etc. They weren't so quick to grab the script pad. I can't help but wonder if due to our wanting instant relief and "cures" if we have been partly responsible for conditioning doctors to the more recent wave of pushing pharmaceutical drugs.

Leg Cramps?

I have suffered from nightly leg cramps for years.

My electrolytes, potasium and calcium are at the correct levels. I have tried just about everything in search of relief and some sleep.To name a few - I have tried; daily detox (liver and kidney), muscle recovery tea, bananas daily, magnesium supplement...... all with no results. I even have been so far (in past years before my eyes being opened to natural healing) as to try muscle relaxers with no relief.

I think I have finally found the answer (thanks Lyndal). Leg Cramps PM by Hylands. This is a homeopathic all natural treatment. First I drink a cup of tea after dinner - 1 bag of Traditional Medicinal Lemon  EveryDay Detox Tea and 1 bag of Yogi Muscle Recovery Tea and then I take 3 tabs under the tongue followed by a few sips of water just before retiring for the night. You can buy all of these products at the grocery store.

I have slept for 3 nights in a row using this regimen. I am really in shock to have found relief after more than 10 years of suffering.

The Importance of Milk and the cow breed

Well I learned last night the importance of the breed of cow our milk comes from. I watched the movie Forks over Knives and as a result starting doing more research on milk.

1. Pastuerized milk is useless.
2. Organic is no good if it's from a grain fed cow - must be grass fed and pasture grazing.
3. Raw is the best.
4. Milk needs to be from a class of cow referred to as "A2".

We use raw milk and thank goodness (whew!!) it's from A2 cows, however we've been buying our raw cheese at Whole Foods and come to find out it's from Holstein cows - type A1.

About 80% of cows in this country are A1 - YIKES! A1 cows pass high levels of beta-casein into their milk which is not good for us and largely contribute to disease.

Read the full article here:  http://tinyurl.com/yfxfha4 written by Mercola.

I think I will be on this journey of learning to be healthy for the remainder of my life. Just when I think I have it down-pat on being healthy I learn even more that I need to do.

Gallbladder Flush

Get ready for a new adventure with my getting healthier! I and my daughter (adult) are going to do a gallbladder flush in response to her most recent gallbladder attack. If you have ever had an attack (I have) you know how painful they are.

We are going to follow the steps/process found at the website in the link below:

http://www.sensiblehealth.com/Journey-03.xhtml

I'll report back to let you know what it's REALLY like to experience this.

Karen

What's in your Skincare products - Yikes!

Please click on the link below to read about common ingredients in skincare products that are harmful. The article lists alternative ingredients to achieve the same positive results that the harmful ingredients deliver but without the toxins.

http://tinyurl.com/3boosyx

It's a great article!!

Karen

Food Matters

'FOOD MATTERS' IS GOING TO BE RELEASED ONLINE FOR FREE FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!  This special event will be running for one week only from October 2nd until midnight October 8th, 2011. You MUST REGISTER for the free viewing - details below.

This is an awesome documentary on nutrition. It's very educational and a BIG eye opener!  Please take advantage of this opportunity to watch it for free, it will change your relationship with food and expand your horizons on nutrition.

Find out more about this special event here:

www.FoodMatters.tv/ScreeningEvent

We've had such a high demand from people asking how they can best share the film with everyone they know, and what better way then to make it available for free, right!

To get involved you will need to REGISTER on the following page so that we can send you the link when the film goes live.

You will also get immediate access to watch Part 1 of the film when you sign up today.

www.FoodMatters.tv/ScreeningEvent

Finally you can now view and share the film with as many people as you like for free!
Plus there will also be a really cool deal on the DVD and Detox Guide eBook during this week in case you have yet to pick up a copy. Feel free to forward this email, copy and paste this link to Facebook or Twitter and help to get the word out.

Together let's make the world a healthier place.

www.FoodMatters.tv/ScreeningEvent

In good health,

James & Laurentine
Producer / Directors 'Food Matters'
www.foodmatters.tv
enquiries@foodmatters.tv

Detox continues :-)

Well, I am now at the end of 5 weeks of detoxing and I can say that if you decide to detox be prepared for  potty trips (#1) during the night. 10 more days to go with this round of detox and since I've not suffered any ill effects I am going to go for another 45 days. I figure I've got 50 years worth of metal build-up to detox.  I don't see how one round of 45 days of detoxing will undo 50 years of damage!!

In case you don't recall what I am using it is:

 Heavy Metal Detox by Nature's Sunshine  http://www.naturessunshine.com/us/products/product/stocknumber507-heavy-metal-detox-90-caps.aspx

I will be posting additional blogs this weekend on a variety of subjects. Sorry I am so far behind!!

Karen

Frankenfood and Body Fat

There are everday condiments in your kitchen that mess with natures balance of hormones in your body causing you to develop fat. Thanks to Josh Bezoni - here's the list.

It’s important for you to know right now that some food additives are making you fat in three different ways:

1. Two of these obesity additives interfere with a hormone called leptin that tells the brain we are full while eating.
2. Other obesity additives add fat by changing how our bodies use the calories we eat. They do this by increasing a fat-storing hormone called insulin. When this happens, calories are converted to fat instead of being stored as “muscle energy.” This leads to fat deposits in all of our trouble areas—like under the chin, the backs of the arms, the belly, and the lower body.
3. Still other obesity additives actually make us addicted to them and cause us to eat uncontrollably. They do this by altering brain chemicals called neurotransmitters—just like a highly addictive drug does.

Therefore, here are the top 7 additives that I recommend removing from your diet as much as you can:

1. Stripped Carbohydrates (listed as sugar, flour, enriched white flour, white flour, enriched bleached flour, enriched wheat flour, wheat flour, semolina flour, white rice, maltodextrin, glucose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), fructose, sucrose, dextrose, and levulose)
2. Artificial Sweeteners (listed as NutraSweet (aspartame), Sunette (acesulfame K), and Sweet ‘N Low (saccharin)
3. Added Caffeine in soft drinks and energy drinks (a few cups of green tea or coffee each day are fine)
4. Trans Fats (also listed as partially hydrogenated oils)
5. MSG (also labeled as monosodium glutamate)
6. Excess Alcohol (if you must, one to two drinks per week)
7. Excess Salt/Sodium in chips, crackers, canned food items, pickles, various cheeses, pretzels, condiments, and salted nuts.

Back to School - Lunches

Five easy tips for packing a healthy school lunch that your kids will actually eat!

What our kids eat is critically important -- especially in the middle of the school day, when good nourishment is key to learning. But it's a tall order to prepare a meal that's healthy, tastes great hours after you make it, appeals to your children and isn't bad for the environment. Especially for busy parents on a weekday morning!

Read the full article as put out by Environmental Working Group - tiny.cc/exsvl.

Detox and more

Well I am into day 3 of my detox with no ill effects - yahoo!! I have added another supplement to my regimen which is yummy to say the least and so affordable. My new supplement is Via 5 Alive - check it out at via5alive.com. You can get this at your grocery store or order online. Just 1 oz and you have met your 5 servings of fruits and vegetables and are working on getting your body back to a proper Ph level - WOW - love it!!

Detox

Get ready for an adventure in following me with my next step into becoming healthier! I bought Heavy Metal Detox by Nature's Sunshine so I can detox my body of metals, poisons, and toxins and return it to a healthy immune system.

I visited the Natural Wellness Cedar Park store (they just opened this week) and the owner/natropath was working (lucky for me :-))and this particular detox method was his recommendation. His name is Paul Tsui - he is sooooo knowledgeable!!

I am going to attend his class next week on Tuesday at 6:30pm - "Going Beyond Organic" and I'm so excited. Their website is http://nwcedarpark.com/ - check it out. This is my new favorite store!

Stay tuned....

Foods high in anti-inflammatory properties

Many foods have anti-inflammatory properties. Here are 11 of the best...

1. Salmon. Coldwater fish, including salmon, contain anti-inflammatory fats called omega-3s.Wild salmon has more of these super-healthy fats than does farmed salmon. Shopping tip: All salmon from Alaska is wild, whereas Atlantic salmon is usually farmed. Herring, sardines, and tuna also contain omega-3s.

2. Grass-fed beef and other animal foods. As opposed to traditional, grain-fed livestock, meat that comes from animals fed grass also contains anti-inflammatory omega-3s, but in lower concentrations than coldwater fish. Free-range livestock that graze in pastures build up higher levels of omega-3s. Meat from grain-fed animals has virtually no omega-3s and plenty of saturated fat. Cooking tip: Unless it's ground, grass-fed beef may be tougher, so slow cook it.

3. Olive oil. Olive oil is a great source of oleic acid - another anti-inflammatory oil. Researchers wrote in the October 2007 Journal of the American College of Nutrition that those who consume more oleic acid have better insulin function and lower blood sugar. Shopping tip: Opt for extra-virgin olive oil, which is the least processed, and use it instead of other cooking oils. Other "cold-pressed" or "expeller-pressed" oils can be good sources, too.

4. Salads. Dark-green lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, and other salad veggies are rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants, nutrients that dampen inflammation. Suggestion: Opt for olive oil-and-vinegar salad dressing (vinegar helps moderate blood sugar), and skip the croutons.

5. Cruciferous vegetables. These veggies, which include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale, are also loaded with antioxidants. But they provide one other ingredient -- sulfur – that the body needs to make its own high-powered antioxidants.

6. Cherries. A study in the April 2006 Journal of Nutrition showed that eating cherries daily can significantly reduce inflammation. Cherries are also packed with antioxidants and relatively low on the glycemic index.

Tip: Frozen cherries are available all year long and make a tasty dessert with a little yogurt or cheese.

7. Blueberries. These delectable fruits are chock-full of natural compounds that reduce inflammation. Blueberries may also protect the brain from many of the effects of aging. Frozen are usually less expensive than fresh -- and just as good for you.

8. Turmeric. This spice contains a powerful, natural anti-inflammatory compound, according to a report in the August 2007 Biochemical Pharmacology. Turmeric has long been part of curry spice blends, used in southern Asian cuisines. To use: Buy powdered curry spice (which contains turmeric and other spices) and use it as a seasoning when pan-frying chicken breasts in olive oil.

9. Ginger. This relative of turmeric is also known for its anti-inflammatory benefits, and some research suggests that it might also help control blood sugar.

Suggestion: Brew your own ginger tea. Use a peeler to remove the skin off a piece of ginger, then add several thin slices to a cup of hot water and let steep for a few minutes.

10. Garlic. The research isn't consistent, but garlic may have some anti-inflammatory and glucose-regulating benefits and it may also help your body fight infections. At the very least, it won't hurt and makes for a tasty addition to food.

11. Green tea. Like fruits and vegetables, green tea contains natural anti-inflammatory compounds. It may even reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Suggestion: Drink a cup a day -- or brew it like sun tea, refrigerate, and serve.

Prescription for Natural Supplements - Really?

Read this article in full via this link. This is where we might be headed.
http://www.anh-usa.org/ndi-draft-guidance-is-a-big-fat-gift-to-big-pharma/



Excerpt:Want to let the drug industry take your favorite supplements off the market, patent them, and sell them back to you—by doctor’s prescription only—for 10 or 100 (or even more) times what you’re paying now? A follow-up to our recent Action Alert.


As Big Pharma becomes more desperate to boost flagging profits, the industry will likely use this tactic to find new sources of revenue—and shame on the FDA for so blatantly aiding and abetting it!

Carbon Footprint

Please read the article by EWG in regards to Carbon Footprinting and what you can do to help reduce this. Review the information found in the first link so that you will better understand the second link.

http://breakingnews.ewg.org/meateatersguide/interactive-graphic/
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/meateatersguide/eat-smart/

Eating ORGANIC and from LOCAL suppliers is so important in helping to reduce the carbon footprint we are making. When selecting items at the grocery store pick ones that come from local farmers or farmers very near by to reduce fuel and pollution in transporting these items. Some of the top reasons for eating organic and local are listed below.

1. Reduce fuel comsumption and pollution by buying from local suppliers.
2. Reduce toxins/pesticides found in meat as a result of conventional farming methods (which you eat when you ingest this non-organic meat).
3. Reduce toxins/pesticides found in our water supply due to soil run-off as a result of conventional farming methods (read your water quality report http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/whats-in-yourwater).
4. Reduce confined feedlots thereby reducing greenhouse gases (nitrous dioxide and methane).
   

Greenhouse gases are those that can absorb and emit infrared radiation. ^[1] In order, the most abundant greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are:

·         water vapor

·         carbon dioxide

·         methane

·         nitrous oxide

·         ozone

You will be much healthier and so will the earth by going green/organic. I could rant about this endlessly, but will leave it to you to read the sections of the report that you find most interesting and applicable.

Into Green Body and Earth

Well, this is my first time blogging and I am so excited! I have a group of people who I share information with on a regular basis, but decided to reach out globally.

I am all about being kind to my body and the earth. Meaning.....eat organic as a first step. This immediately reduces the toxins you are putting into your body and the earth. When you buy and support organic farming you support a "green" earth. Just think about all the toxins used in conventional farming that pollute the earth and the body. Would you spray pesticides on your food before preparing a meal? Would you dump toxins into your water before drinking a glass? Take control of what you eat and put into your body and don't turn your head the other way and close your eyes and ears thinking that it doesn't exist or if you don't think about it's not a reality. It won't go away and it will slowly break down your body and the earth til neither one exist.

Anything I post here I will have either tried myself or researched for validity. I belong to lots of associations that I get great information from in regards to this topic. I encourage you to join the Environmental Working Group (super duper organization) http://www.ewg.org/ and the Alliance for Natural Health (lots of great information)  http://www.anh-usa.org/main-menu/take-action/.

Stay tuned for postings in regards to products that I try and the results (good or bad) and to articles that I read in regards to being healthy and staying healthy.