In This Issue
Special Discounts
Acupuncture, herbs and food therapy for PCOS (polycistic ovary syndrome)
New technology shows how acupuncture affects pain perception
Acupuncture and herbs for menopausal syndrome
Celery Super Food lowers blood pressure and fights cancer!
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April 2011

Wang's Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic. Welcome to our April Issue!

Greetings!

Welcome to our April Newsletter. We would like to take this opportunity as the new Spring season begins, to thank you for allowing us to contribute to your health and well-being.

We are privileged to offer our expertise to you personally!

Please enjoy this issue!

Sincerely, Dr. Jeffrey Wang and Dr. Mary Ren
Acupuncture, herbs and food therapy for PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

 

What is PCOS?
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (abbreviated PCOS or PCO), also known clinically as Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is an endocrine disorder that affects approximately one in ten women.  PCOS affects all races and nationalities and is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age.

The principal features of PCOS are weight problems, lack of regular ovulation and/or menstruation, and excessive amounts or effects androgenic hormones. While the causes are unknown, insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes are all strongly correlated with PCOS. One of the main clinical signs of PCOS is the observation of numerous follicles in the periphery ovaries, often referred to as having the appearance of a "string of pearls". Interestingly polycystic women ovulate much more frequently when they are underweight which might be an evolutionary trick to keep the population going in times of famine.

Symptoms of PCOS:

�    Oligomenorrhea (irregular menstruation), amenorrhea (no menstruation)

�    Infertility

�    Hirsutism (excessive body hair)

�    Dyspareunia-pain during intercourse

�    Acne

�    Dark patches of skin

�    Insulin resistence

�    Prolonged PMS


Traditional Chinese Medicine and PCOS:
Chinese medicine considers PCOS to be a fluid disorder that results in accumulation of dampness and phlegm. In this case, the ovaries become bogged down with fluid and are unable to "hear" the message from the pituitary (FSH) telling one follicle to grow larger than the rest so the ovary is filled with numerous immature follicles. This is a stuck situation where ovulation is impeded.

Acupuncture, herbal therapy, dietary therapy and lifestyle modifications all play an enormous role in helping women with PCOS to ovulate. We have treated numerous anovulatory women and have seen their cycles return within a few weeks to a few months. I usually recommend at least three months of weekly treatments and herbs to regulate a menstrual cycle.

Chinese medicine addresses PCOS by helping reduce dampness and phlegm accumulation by tonifying the Spleen and the Kidneys. Traditional medicine views the Spleen as the organ in charge of distributing the energy one takes in from food. Often people with Spleen Qi weakness gain weight easily, feel sluggish, bruise easily, feel gassy or bloated after eating and may have either loose stool or be constipated.

People manifesting Kidney Yang deficiency signs may feel all of the above symptoms with the additional of cold feelings-like cold feet or hands, decreased libido, excessive urination and excessive sweating.

Treatments help fire up the digestive powers and metabolic rate by using traditional points to help the body generate energy. Additionally, classical formulas address the dampness by helping boost metabolism and shed excess water weight.

It is important to note that lifestyle choices play a key role in treatment  Choosing foods with a low glycemic index is important.
Some foods to avoid: white foods, wheat, yeast, sugar, coffee.

Some foods to add: artichokes, dark green leafy vegetables, barley and lean protein.

Please contact us at 704.968.0351 for a comprehensive evaluation.  If you are a first-time patient, please take advantage of our $20 coupon at the bottom of this newsletter. 

Acupuncture affects brain's perception of pain and is observed through MRI 


Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), scientists have captured pictures of the brain while patients experienced a pain stimulus with and without acupuncture to determine acupuncture's effect on how the brain processes pain. Results of the study, which the scientists say suggest the effectiveness of acupuncture, were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

"Until now, the role of acupuncture in the perception and processing of pain has been controversial," said lead researcher Nina Theysohn, M.D., from the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology at University Hospital in Essen, Gera.  "Functional MRI gives us the opportunity to directly observe areas of the brain that are activated during pain perception and see the variances that occur with acupuncture".

fMRI measures the tiny metabolic changes that take place in an active part of the brain, while a patient performs a task or is exposed to a specific external stimulus.

In the study, conducted in close collaboration with the Department of Complementary and Integrative Medicine at University of Duisburg-Essen, 18 healthy volunteers underwent fMRI while an electrical pain stimulus was attached to the left ankle. Acupuncture needles were then placed at three places on the right side, including between the toes, below the knee, and near the thumb. With the needles in place, fMRI was repeated while electrical currents were again directed at the left ankle. The scientists then compared the images and data obtained from the fMRI sessions with no acupuncture to those of the fMRI sessions with acupuncture.

"Activation of brain areas involved in pain perception was significantly reduced or modulated under acupuncture," Dr. Theysohn said.

Specifically, fMRI revealed significant activation in the contralateral supplementary motor area, somatosensory cortex, precuneus bilateral insula and ipsilateral somatomotor cortex during electrical pain stimulation without acupuncture. During acupuncture, activation in most of these pain-processing areas of the brain was significantly reduced.

"Acupuncture is supposed to act through at least two mechanismsnonspecific expectancy-based effects and specific modulation of the incoming pain signal," Dr. Theysohn said. "Our findings support that both these nonspecific and specific mechanisms exist, suggesting that acupuncture can help relieve pain".

Because acupuncture rarely has unwanted side effects and is safer than many medications, it offers new treatment options for people who have pain-control issues.

 

If you are experiencing grief or a high degree of emotional stress  please contact us at 704.968.0351 and let us help.

 

 

Acupuncture and Herbs for Menopausal Syndrome


Menopause is defined as the point at which menstruation ceases, and it is usually confirmed when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months in the absence of any other obvious biological or physiological cause. Natural menopause occurs as part of the aging process and the estimates of the mean age at menopause range from 48 to 52 years. However a woman may notice the changes of menopause far before it comes. The World Health Organization defines perimenopause at the 2-8 years preceding menopause and 1 year after final menses. During perimenopause, lots of women experience various symptoms, which include menstrual irregularities, vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes), sleep disturbances, and psychological/behavioral changes (depression).

Estrogen therapy used to be the most commonly used treatment in the U.S. for menopausal symptoms. However, for some women, such as those with estrogen-sensitive breast cancers, estrogen therapy is contraindicated. Other women, concerned about the unresolved question of the relationship between estrogen therapy and breast cancer, or annoyed by the inconvenience of artificially maintained menses or other adverse effects of the estrogen therapy, choose not to take estrogen.  There is little else that Western medicine currently has to offer these women. Many of them experiment on their own with vitamins and herbal remedies that they hear of by word-of-mouth.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have a long history of use in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Chinese medicine provides a unique theory in understanding female's hormone regulation. According to Chinese theory, human body consists of two opposite energy forces, Yin and Yang energy. A healthy person usually has a balanced Yin-Yang energy force. If your Yin-Yang energy is not balanced, your self-healing system is down and you may get sick. Yin-Yang energy forces also regulate female menstruation cycle. It is the Yin energy in dominant during the two weeks before ovulation, while Yang energy gradually become dominant in the two weeks after ovulation. Since Yin energy is the basic energy force for women's body, it is not unusual to see Yin energy deficiency during the week before period comes. According to Chinese medicine, menopause is a natural process of Kidney energy deficiency, especially the Kidney Yin energy. Therefore, it is even more difficult for menopause women to balance Yin-Yang energy during their menstruation cycle. Yin energy deficiency results in excess Yang energy, which produces Heat (toxic material) in the body. The pathogenic Heat inside the body block energy movement in organ systems and cause a variety of symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, irritation, pain and depression.

Chinese approach to menopausal symptoms is to balance Yin and Yang and help your body pass through this natural process peacefully. Acupuncture improves energy movement and stimulates self-healing system of the body, while Chinese herbs provide specific Yin or Yang energy to your body and lead the body to a healthy balance. Both therapies use natural method to balance your hormone level and reduce menopausal symptoms.

With Chinese herbal therapy, specific herbal formulas are used during different period of time within your menstruation cycle to balance your hormone specifically. With Chinese Yin-Yang theory we are able to balance women's body with herbal formula for a variety of hormone-related illnesses such as menopausal syndrome, PMS and infertility. A number of classical Chinese formulas such as Xiao Yao Wan have also been widely used for menopause and PMS around the world. A specific formula for each individual patient, usually prescribed by a Chinese doctor, would be even better to balance your energy and reach harmony in your body and mind.

 

Stalk options..  Celery.. a SUPER FOOD!


The health benefits of celery have been known for centuries. In ancient times, it was also considered a medicinal herb used to treat a variety of sicknesses. In the early middle ages celery juice was used for curing ailments such as gallstones, constipation, menstrual problems and for health disorders of the liver and gall bladder.
 
Celery juice is highly nutritious and very hydrating. Because it is incredibly alkalizing, it equalizes the body's PH, which is essential for good health. All parts of celery are packed with minerals, vitamins and nutrients. Celery leaves are high in vitamin A, whilst the stems are an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C and dense in potassium, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and essential amino acids.

This super food also contains important concentrations of plant hormones and healing essential oils that give celery its characteristic smell. These oils help to regulate the nervous system, and are very calming.


Other Health Benefits of Celery Juice
  • Vitamin C Source - Celery is rich in vitamin C, a very important antioxidant and immune system booster.
  • Detox Diet Super Food - Celery is highly recommended in most detox diet plans as a cleanser to add to your juicing recipes. It has excellent cleansing properties that help to aid digestion, regulate body fluid by acting as a diuretic and curbing sweet cravings.
  • Cancer Prevention - Studies found that celery contains a at least eight compounds that help prevent cancer cells from spreading.  
  • Lowers Cholesterol- Laboratory studies also indicate that butyl phthalide, a chemical in celery, may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. Celery also helps to increase bile acid secretion which helps to remove cholesterol from the body.
  • Improves Digestion - Celery is a natural laxative that helps to relieve constipation. Special nutrients in the fiber are released during juicing that aid bowel movements.
  • Diuretic - The potassium and sodium in celery juice are powerful body fluid regulators that stimulate urine production to help rid the body of excess fluid.
  • Anti Inflammatory - The polyacetylene in celery is an amazing relief for all inflammation including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis.  
  • Lower blood pressure- Chinese medicine has long recognised Celery's potential for reducing high blood pressure . Studies show that drinking celery juice every day for 1 week can significantly help lower blood pressure. A compound called phtalides helps relax the muscles around the arteries, dilating the vessels and allowing blood to flow smoothly. Pthalides also reduce stress hormones, one of whose effects is to cause blood vessels to constrict.
  • Insomnia - Celery juice is said to have a calming effect on the nervous system, making it beneficial for insomniacs. Its high magnesium levels help people to relax into a soothing and restful sleep.
  • Weight loss- Drinking celery juice frequently throughout the day is a popular natural appetite suppresant. Snacking on celery during the day will help fill you up without adding extra calories.
  • Elimination and Prevention of Stones - Celery juice is great for cleansing toxins from the body and a good natural remedy for dissolving and passing of urinary and gall stones. Drinking it regularly will help to keep them from forming again
  • Increased Sexual Drive - Celery juice is beneficial for weak sex drive without the effects of an uncontrollable urge that some pharmaceutical drugs have.