In This Issue
Brain-Boosting Herbs and Spices
Stress Management
Lower Back Pain
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August 2010
Wang's Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic. Welcome to our July Issue!
Greetings!

Welcome to our August Newsletter. This month, we bring you some very interesting and informative articles on three enlightening topics:
1... the  many benefits of Herbs and Spices and explain how herbal formulas and certain teas can be beneficial in treating issues with mental clarity and brain function, and fight certain cancers.
2... how acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms of stress
3... how acupuncture can relieve lower back pain.

Please enjoy reading,
Dr. Jeffrey Wang, DOM (NM), and Dr. Mary Ren, DOM (NM)
Six Brain-Boosting Herbs and Spices
Did you know that your kitchen spice rack may contain antioxidants and other nutrients that can help improve brain function?

If your memory is getting dull with the passing years, research suggests that there's a safe and delicious way to spice it up -- common herbs and spices  not only add flavor to your food, but also help preserve brain health and boost cognition.

Many herbs and spices are excellent sources of antioxidants -- vitamins and molecules that can help protect brain cells from aging and damage caused by toxins. Some herbs even have anti-inflammatory effects, help lower cholesterol levels, or enhance insulin function --  all of which helps keep brain cells healthy and functioning optimally.

Herbs and spices are natural products made from the leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds of plants. Through the ages they have been used both for their ability to help preserve foods and improve their flavor, and for their medicinal qualities. Researchers have searched for clues to the precise physical effects of various seasonings, and found indications of certain herbs and spices are especially good sources of compounds that are beneficial to brain health. Listed below are six potentially beneficial herbs and spices that have been shown to promote brain cell function:

1. Garlic (contains certain compounds and powerful antioxidants which help trap cell-damaging free radicals and helps to promote lower blood pressure, lower risk of stroke and associated brain injury, protect neurons against cell death, increase learning and memory capacity, lower risk factors for Alzheimer's, inhibit inflammation, etc).
2. Rosemary (helps protect brain cells from oxidative stress and promotes the dilation of cerebral arteries Rosemary is also aroma-therapeutic and may lower blood glucose and increase serum insulin levels.
3. Sage (powerful source of antioxidants, fights inflammation associated with cognitive decline.
4. Clove (one of the best natural sources of antioxidants; abundant in phenol compounds which help fight toxins and slow harmful processes that result in the again of cells; may reduce risk for stroke associated with blood clots.
5. Turmeric (contains curcumin and has positive effects on the brain; potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent; may inhibit the deposition of toxic plaque and assist in the breakdown and removal of plaque; may also help in the removal of potentially toxic metals from the brain.
6. Cinnamon (promote the effects of insulin and reduce blood sugar levels; also shown to lower levels of bad cholesterol (LDL).

A word about Green Tea...
Green tea is rich in immune-boosting antioxidants, plant substances that help neutralized free radicals (harmful particles that can damage cells a nd DNA, cause inflammation, and lead to a variety of illnesses including cancer and heart disease. Green tea contains high levels of the polyphenol antioxidants known  as catechins.
The risk of lung cancer appears to be five times lower for those who drink just one cup of green tea a day, according to recent studies. Higher consumption of green teas have been shown to lower the risk of numerous other cancers, including breast, stomach, skin, oral, esophageal, prostate, uterine, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer.

Please contact us at 704.968.0351 for a comprehensive evaluation.
Stress ...  How to manage this potentially debilitating side-effect of the world we live in.
All of us experience stress.  These feelings are a healthy response to events in our lives that may feel beyond our control.  When we are healthy and the stress is short-lived, we are usually able to recover without too much wear and tear to our overall health.  However, when the stress is extreme, or if it lasts a long time, our emotional health and ultimately, our physical health begin to suffer.

Our bodies are hardwired to help us react to stressful events.  At the first sign of a threat, whether real or perceived, our sympathetic nervous system kicks in and facilitates what is called the "fight or flight" response.  Our heart rate increases, our pupils dilate, and our digestion temporarily shuts down, directing blood to our extremities, so that if need be, we can either fight what is threatening us, or turn and run if the threat is too formidable.

Unfortunately, the "fight or flight" response, which worked well in caveman days, does not serve us as well if the "threat" is a demanding boss, nasty co-worker or even a worrisome situation that is not being resolved.  More often than not, the stress in our lives is long-term, and as a result, we find ourselves in a constant state of "fight or flight", or stress.  Over time, the constant state of stress takes its toll.  Cortisol, the body's stress hormone elevates, blood pressure increases, and our immune function is suppressed.  Over time, these symptoms become worse and can develop into anxiety, depression, fatigue, digestive problems, and tension headaches.

Emotions from a Chinese Medical Perspective...

In Chinese medicine, stress, anxiety, depression or any strong emotion interrupts the smooth flow of energy throughout the body.  According to Chinese medical theory, energy flows through our body through a network of "roads", almost like a highway system.  Stress, anger, or any intense emotion acts like a traffic jam, blocking the free flow of energy in the body.  For example, many people who are very stressed out complain of upper back, shoulder and neck pain.  This is because stress is causing tension in those areas, blocking the free flow of energy, causing pain, tightness, and often leading to headaches.

In a highway system, when there is road construction or an accident, traffic may be also backed up on other secondary roads that feed into or out of the affected area.  This is true in the body, too.  Stress may affect many other parts of the body, most notably digestion, the ability to sleep, pain conditions, and blood pressure. Stress can also aggravate an already troublesome health condition.

Through acupuncture, theses energy blockages can be addressed. Acupuncture points serve as the on and off ramps to the energy highway, and can help energy flow smoothly, and alleviate not only the symptoms of stress and anxiety, but the stress and anxiety itself.

From a Western viewpoint, acupuncture works to alleviate stress by releasing natural pain-killing chemicals in the brain, called endorphins.  In addition, acupuncture improves circulation of blood throughout the body, which oxygenates the tissues and cycles out cortisol and other waste chemicals.  The calming nature of acupuncture also decreases heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relaxes the muscles.

Please contact us at 704.968.0351 for an evaluation.
 
Acupuncture and Lower Back Pain Management
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a health care provider. It has been estimated that up to 80% of the world's population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives, with the lower back as the most common location of pain.
 
Although most episodes of low back pain last less than two weeks, research has shown that recurrence rates for low back pain can reach as high as 50% in the first few months following an initial episode.

While there is no definitive way to resolve lower back pain, the use of acupuncture to treat this condition has increased dramatically in the past few decades, based in a large extent to placebo-controlled studies that have validated it as a reliable method of pain relief. The results of a recent study published in the Clinical Journal of Pain provide further proof that acupuncture is a safe and effective procedure for low-back pain, and that it can maintain positive outcomes for periods of six months or longer without producing the negative side-effects that often accompany more traditional pain remedies.

Please see our website for more information on pain management and our other Areas of Specialty.

If you are experiencing issues relating to back pain, or pain in general,  please contact Dr. Wang at 704.968.0351 for a consultation.