Patients are often surprised when we discuss the need for adequate sleep to maintain the immune system. We are all used to thinking about our diet, computer/screen habits, and supplements or herbs as having a lot to do with building a strong immune response, but – sleep? Yep! Sleep (and often the lack thereof) has a huge impact on the strength of the immune response our bodies can mount against outside invaders. Are you or Read more…
As the current pandemic continues to unfold worldwide, more and more people are becoming concerned with strengthening their immune systems. The web is awash with nifty supplements or special practices that promise immediate immune boosting powers. The truth is that your body—when given vibrant, healthy foods, adequate water and sleep and simultaneously protected from harmful chemicals and overwhelming foods—is capable of maintaining a strong immune response. There are really no magic pills or potions that Read more…
In recent days reports of the COVID-19 virus (commonly referred to as the coronavirus) spreading around the globe and into the U.S. has a lot of people worried about preventing and treating such an illness. The last pandemic–type virus seen in the U.S. was the H1N1 virus outbreak in 2009. A lot of the same precautions and treatments hold true for patients now that worked back then. These include behaviors like hand washing, avoiding large Read more…
The winter and spring months are notorious for waves of influenza cases around the country. While many cases are mild, the flu is easily spread and can, for some patients, be life threatening. It is worthwhile, therefore, to know a little bit about it; how it spreads, how you can prevent it, and what to do if you are infected. What is Influenza? Influenza is a group of viruses in humans (and other animals) that Read more…
This a question we get very often from folks who have not had treatment previously and it is indeed a very good one to ask! Here is a brief overview of various sensations that may occur during an acupuncture treatment, related to the points used. As the point is placed, one may experience a “pinch” of insertion. Many people experience no sensation during point insertion, given the unique method of insertion used in this particular Read more…
Just about everyone has experienced a sleepless night at one time or another. Usually it’s because of nervousness or excitement over an upcoming event, or emotional upset due to some recent stressor. For most of us it is an isolated incident and we return to our usual, restful sleep pattern pretty quickly. There are those however, who suffer from lack of or poor quality sleep more often; sometimes for extended periods of time. The National Read more…
Peripheral Neuropathy (Neuropathy) occurs when one or more nerves in the extremities (arms or legs) are damaged in some way. This can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the type of nerve and location of damage. What does peripheral neuropathy feel like? Basically there are three types of nerves running out through the body: Sensory – these nerves let us “feel” things, sensations, pain, touch, location Motor – these nerves let us “do” things Read more…
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that causes a genetically pre-disposed person’s small intestine to become damaged when ingesting gluten (a form of protein found in wheat and related grains). The Celiac Disease Foundation estimates that 1 in 100 people worldwide have this condition and that it is likely undiagnosed in 2.5 million Americans. In this condition the gluten from wheat, rye or barley cause the body to have an immune response that attacks the Read more…
According to the Center for Disease Control an estimated 30.3 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes. That’s 9.4% of the U.S. population. About 7.2 million of those cases are undiagnosed. As Acupuncturists we see these types of patients daily, sometimes for help with Diabetes and its symptoms and sometimes for other complaints that patients don’t even realize are connected to Diabetes! What is Diabetes? From a Western medical standpoint, Diabetes Mellitus is a condition that Read more…
Over the years, we have seen patients do either really well or not-so-great once mid-November hits……what follows are some holiday health tips that will give you the best chance of staying on track from the holidays, 2019 into 2020! The ideas below go beyond the obvious suggestion of frequently washing one’s hands for 20 seconds or more….. First and foremost, it’s easy to get unecessarily entangled in complex family dynamics which then can hamper one’s Read more…