The immune system is managed by the nervous system.  The immune system can be impaired by what’s called Allostatic Load.  Allostatis is our body’s ability to maintain balance when under stress.  Thus, Allostatic Load is our bodies immune response to stress. When our body ‘fights’ off’ an illness, it creates an acute stress situation.  Acute stress actually helps the immune system handle a pathogen by causing immune cells to move out of the bloodstream and into tissues where they are needed. Acute stress actually strengthens our immune system.  It is chronic stress that impairs our immune system.  Chronic stress comes from overwork, lack of sleep/exercise, poor diet, etc.  Acupuncture actually causes acute stress by creating tiny sterile wounds all along the body’s surface.  As mentioned, acute stress helps the immune system handle a pathogen by causing immune cells to move out of the bloodstream and into tissues where they are needed.  Acupuncture also “resets” the Allostatic Load.  After acupuncture, the body is relieved from acute & chronic stress and regains its ability to recognize and respond to pathogens.

Tips to prevent the common cold:

• Take a multivitamin daily
• During the winter months, take an extra supplement of Vitamin C and Zinc before bedtime.
• Drink one 8 oz. glass of water every hour
• Exercise regularly; sweating is an important part of strengthening the immune system.  You can also take hot showers to induce sweating.
• Acupuncture, chiropractic, lymphatic drainage, and craniosacral therapies are just some of many therapies that strengthen the immune system.

Tips to release the common cold quickly:

• Take the day off.  It is better to do this early on instead of having to take more days off later because the cold has moved into the respiratory system.
• Take 1000 mg of Vitamin C on the hour & add a Zinc supplement.
• Take a hot shower, drink hot mint tea with lemon, get into bed and prepare to sweat.  Sweating can “release the pathogen”.
• Be sure NOT to eat anything with vinegar in it.  This closes the pores and “traps the thief in the house.”
• Eat chicken noodle soup.  This hydrates the body as well as expels mucus.  Add nori seaweed which detoxifies and benefits the lymph system.
• Eat foods high in beta carotene; carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, garlic, & tomatoes.  These foods boost the immune system and keep your mucus membranes and upper respiratory system healthy.
• Avoid dairy.  This promotes the production of mucus and stops lymphatic drainage.
• Add lemon to your water.  This fruit has antiseptic, antimicrobial, and mucus resolving properties.
• Gargle with Celtic Sea Salt (as well as adding it to your diet).  Sea salt kills bacteria and also balances the minerals in the body.
• Take a bath with essential oils added.  A few drops of Peppermint, Lemon, and/or Pine oil can help relieve sinus congestion.

Nonetheless, sometimes we simply cannot avoid getting sick.  Many times getting sick forces us to get the rest our minds and bodies have been craving.  If you do get sick, rather than spending the whole day in front of the television, take some time for meditation.  While you are resting you can simply repeat in your mind “I am on my way to getting well.  My body knows exactly how to heal.  I release anything that no longer serves me.”

Many blessings this Holiday Season!  May you and your family be healthy, happy, & prosperous!

Monica Mae Klemmer, Dipl. Ac.

Pranayama is loosely translated as prana or breath control. The ancient yogis developed many breathing techniques to maximize the benefits of prana. Pranayama is used in yoga as a separate practice to help clear and cleanse the body and mind. It is also used in preparation for meditation to help maximize the benefits of the practice, and focus the mind.

Shanti Shanbom, Holistic Massage Therapist and meditation practitioner,  will offer a guided meditation class at Acupuncture Healthcare Associates. Using different styles of pranayama techniques, each class will consist of two twenty minute sittings with discussion on the benefits of pranayama and meditation.

Class dates:  September 10^th, 17^th 24^th, October 1^st

Time:  7:30 p.m.

Where: Acupuncture Healthcare Associates of Michigan, Inc.

Cost:  $40.00 for 4 classes

This class is great for stress reduction, increasing relaxation and balance and tapping in to your own life force energy.

I have  been teaching yoga and meditation for ten years and find it a honour to share my teachings with all of you . Since I have been at the office I have loved working with all the patients helpings you to relax through massage  and now  look forward to helping you to teach yourself  to relax deeper with meditation. I am offering a four weeks meditation course through September on Monday nights at 7:30 . This course if free to all Acupunture in Michigan patients and massage clients. Space is limited so please sign up and if you can not make the classes call and cancel your spot as there will be a waiting list and I will offer this course again real soon . Namaste’   The light in me greets and honours the light in you    Peace Om Shanti’

We live in a world that is extremely fast-paced. Most of our daily actions and activity support us in moving even faster. Television, computers, cell phones, text messaging, emails and instant messages overload us with information; keeping us connected to the world 24 hours a day/7 days a week.  Much of the information is challenging  – news of war, earthquakes, crime and scandals become difficult to hear.  We hate it, we fear it – yet we are drawn to and often forced to listen.  Most of us seek peace and harmony. We often feel this is lacking in our lives. We strive to be happy yet few of us attain this.  Individual distress and tensions combine to create stress in society. Meditation can provide the respite one needs.

Meditation techniques have been used by many different cultures throughout the world for thousands of years.  According to Aryeh Kaplan in her book Jewish Meditation, meditative practices were widespread among the Jews throughout Jewish history. Many references to meditation are found in many Jewish texts in every period from the biblical to the pre-modern era. Jewish spiritual leaders teach meditations based in Jewish mysticism, called Kabbalah.  Kabbalah teaches that meditation is a direct way to experience God.

Today, many people use meditation as a form of mind-body medicine. It is becoming an increasingly popular way to embrace the silent in between our thoughts.  Meditation can have a great impact on ones sense of calm and can have a significant impact on health and wellness.  The National Institutes of Health and its National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines sponsor ongoing studies to find out more about meditation’s effects, how it works, and for what diseases and conditions it may be most helpful.  According to the NIH, practicing meditation has been shown to induce some changes in the body’s “fight or flight” response , which is controlled by the autonomic nervous system.  People use meditation for anxiety, depression, pain, stress, insomnia, to manage the side effects of cancer treatment as well as physical and emotional symptoms associated with many chronic illnesses.

Meditation refers to a group of techniques designed to assist a person to focus his/her attention and eventually slow the stream of thoughts that normally occupy the mind. Ongoing practice can change how a person relates to his/her thoughts and emotions. The benefits of meditation are reached when it is done in a quiet location with as few distractions as possible.  Ideally, meditation is done in the sitting position.  While it is important to be comfortable, it is also important to sit in a way that promotes awareness and focus. Focusing ones attention is also important.  Most meditations suggest focusing on an object (such as the flame of a candle), the breath, or even a mantra (a specific word or set of words).  When interruptions or wandering thoughts occur, the attention is gently brought back to the breath, object or mantra.

As an acupuncturist and practitioner of holistic medicine, I find meditation to be a very valuable tool for myself and my clients.  I find it assists me in maintaining  balance and perspective in my everyday life.

Julie Silver, MSW, Dipl. Ac. is a NCCAOM Board Certified Acupuncturist and owner of Acupuncture Healthcare Associates of Michigan, Inc., a full service holistic health clinic in West Bloomfield featuring acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine and naturopathic medicine.

There are many holistic modalities that can assist a women in naturally working with symptoms that may be uncomfortable.  Phytoestrogens  are natural hormones that are found in more than 300 plants.  Lingans, such as flax seed, have a significant impact in providing menopause symptom relief and menopause help, as well, according to ongoing studies. Weaker than human estrogens, phytoestrogens are beneficial in more ways as they attach themselves to the body’s estrogen receptors. If a woman’s estrogen level is low, phytoestrogens increase the body’s level; if it is high, phytoestrogens replace the stronger human estrogen which may have harmful effects.

Supplements such as Fish Oils (essential fatty acids), black cohosh, Chastberry (vitex), evening primrose oil and Co Q 10 have all been proven to be helpful to manage menopausal symptoms.

Both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicines offer a whole body approach to supporting women in their midlife years.  Traditional Chinese Medicine views the body and health as a balance between two states – yin and yang.  When yin and yang are not in balance, we can see hot symptoms (such as hot flashes and night sweats) or cold symptoms (such as lowered sexual drive, frequent urination).  TCM uses acupuncture, herbs and diet to alleviate symptoms and bring our body to its natural state of balance.

Much like TCM, Ayurvedic Medicine looks at the body from a viewpoint of balance. There are three dosha’s – that keep our body functions balanced and healthy.  Each dosha is present throughout our body and governs activities of our body, mind and emotions.  Each dosha  – and each aspect of the dosha – can be seen to apply across the board to all our organs, tissues and cells – giving us a view of the body as a whole – rather than disconnected parts.  Again, working with symptoms, Ayurvedic uses herbs, diet and other lifestyle changes to bring our body back to wholeness.

Finally, ongoing exercise, using such modalities as cardiovascular exercise, yoga, tai chi, swimming, biking, weight bearing exercise can be very helpful in managing symptoms and improving the well being of our body, mind and spirit. Whatever path you take,  be sure to honor the natural progression our body takes and appreciate the wholeness of our being.

Some of the highlights:

Dr. Robert Ivker of the Ivker Center for Respiratory Healing spoke of the “body as a self healing organism”,  He talked of the risk factors and causes of chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.  He recommended natural antifungals such as Allicin and Candex for fungal sinusitis treatment and had a myriad of suggestions for treating allergic rhinitis including grape seed extract, Quercetin, Vitamin C and papaya enzymes.  He spoke of the importance of diet  (reducing dairy) and clean, moist air for  healing mucous membranes.

Sahr Swidan, PharmD, Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, spoke on integrative treatments for headaches,  She talked of studies that have been done utilizing vitamins and supplements as part of her treatment protocol.  These included Riboflavin, Magnesium Glycinate, Feverfew, Co-enzyme Q10, peppermint oil, Willow Bark and Chasteberry.

Dr. John Stracks, MD from the University of Michigan Department of Family and Integrative Medicine, talked about Integrative Treatments for depression.  He talked about studies using 5-HTP, Sam-e, Cognitive behavioral therapy and full spectrum lighting in conjunction with SSRI medications.

Dr. Andrew Heyman, MD and adjunct assistant professor at University of Michigan, spoke about Medical Acupuncture  and the  common conditions treated by acupuncture.  This included Acute and chronic pain control, anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, women’s health, headaches, vertigo and respiratory relief.  He talked about amazing benefits he sees in using acupuncture to help individuals move forward in their healing.

We also heard from Dr. Pamela Smith, noted author and director of the Center for Healthy Living and Longevity, Ann Arbor,  who spoke of the importance of saliva testing and urine testing to accurately understand hormonal imbalances in women.  She talked about the importance of balanced estrogen, progesterone, adrenaline, testosterone, DHEA and cortisol.

Drs. Amy Locke and Caroline King talked about Vitamin D Deficiency as a modern day epidemic.  They sighted the many disorders thought to be related to Vitamin D deficiency including Osteoporosis, Cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.  Their take home message is that  there is a high prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency, it is easy to screen, there are a wide range of diseases which can be modified and supplementation is inexpensive and carries a low risk.

In addition to the above, we also heard speakers discuss Integrative Oncology, drug-nutrient interaction, cardio-metabolic risk syndrome, creating an herbal first aid kit and bringing energy healing within our grasp.

Integrative Medicine in Primary Care is gaining in importance and awareness. Patients are asking more questions about supplements and nutrition. Physicians are taking time to educate themselves and learn more about Integrative Medicine. This is a very exciting time for medicine in our state and in our country.

There are five major styles of tai chi, each named after the family that originated it.  There are also a variety of offspring styles as well. Each style shares in their underlying theory and principles,  but may offer different approaches to training. It is important to take into consideration, age, health, as well as personal goals when choosing a style.  For example, the Sun style is less strenuous than the Chen style and the Yang style promotes peace and tranquility.

The benefits of tai chi focuses on three areas:

• ^· Health – tai chi focuses on concentration to relieve the effects of stress on the body and mind.  According to mayoclinic.com, tai chi has been show to reduce anxiety and depression, improve balance and coordination, improve sleep quality, lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular fitness.
• ^· Meditation – tai chi facilitates focus and calmness and is seen as necessary for maintaining optimum heath and balance in the body.
• Martial Art – many of the original movements of tai chi were developed as a martial art form, emphasizing strength, balance, flexibility, and speed. Through time it has developed into a soft, slow, and gentle form of exercise which can be practiced by people of all ages.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is sponsoring studies to find out more about tai chi’s effects, how it works, and diseases and conditions for which it may be most helpful.  According to NCCAM, practitioners believe tai chi has many benefits, such as massaging the internal organs, aiding the exchange of gases in the lungs, helping the digestive system work better, increasing calmness and awareness and improving balance.

There are many great benefits to this eastern system of practice. Tai chi classes are offered at health clubs, senior centers as well as self standing studio’s in which people of all ages and health levels can participate.

There are many ways to take care of our bodies and support a successful pregnancy.  During these times, many couples turn to holistic medicine as an alternative or in complement with western medicine.

Nutrition and Supplements

The essential fatty acids in flax seed has been known to lengthen the follicular phase and delay early ovulation, increase the frequency of ovulation in women who do not ovulate regularly.  L-Arganine, an amino acid,  taken in high doses, has been shown to improve fertilization rates in women who had previously failed cycles.  Bee Pollen and its close friend Royal Jelly are both rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals and have also shown to increase fertility.  Antioxidants such as OPC’s (which are bioflavanoids)  stimulate our body’s own natural antioxidant defense and clean free radicals from the blood stream.

Diet

A well balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits is recommended for individuals who are trying to conceive.  Paying specific attention to eating meats and dairy that is free of hormones (which may alter our own body’s hormone levels) is very important. Eliminating refined sweets as well as processed or bleached foods is also very important . Words like refined, processed and bleached tell us right away that something has been altered or removed from the foods they described.  According to a Newsweek article (12/10/2007) whole grains, vegetables and whole fruits—all of which are good sources of slowly digested carbohydrates—can improve ovulation and your chances of getting pregnant. Rapidly digested carbohydrates that continually boost blood sugar and insulin levels can effect the delicate balance of hormones that effect ovulation and fertility. Finally, Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes eating right for the seasons to support our digestive health.  For example, during the winter months, eating many cold foods will tax our digestion and cause the processing of foods to slow down. Spicy foods eaten in the summer can create excess heat and cause the stomach to dry out and overheat. According to TCM, balance is the key to good digestive health.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has many benefits for women trying to conceive including increasing blood flow to and relaxing the uterus, improving egg quality and quantity,  and increasing the thickness of the uterine lining.  A study done in Germany found that acupuncture can increase the chances of pregnancy for women undergoing and IVF cycle.    When we are under stress from dealing with fertility,  our nervous system activates the “fight or flight” response and can cause a myriad of health issues.   Acupuncture is very effective in  calming and  balancing the sympathetic nervous system.

Exercise

A combination of  aerobic exercise, strength training and stretching can work together to control weight, guard against high blood sugar and keep your muscles limber and strong. Exercise is also an important source of stress relief, something that everyone who is working on fertility can benefit from. Working with a professional to develop a balanced exercise program can have long lasting health benefits.

Although the challenges faced in dealing with fertility can be challenging, it is also an opportunity to take better care of ourselves, make positive choices and be proactive in our own health care choices.

According to Dr. Bruce Pomeranz,  University of Toronto, “acupuncture stimulates peripheral nerves that send messages to the brain to release endorphins (morphine-like compounds); these endorphins block pain pathways in the brain.”  Along with the release of endorphins, another substance called cortisol is simultaneously released. Cortisol is the body’s own natural anti-inflammatory drug. Controlling pain and reducing inflammation helps to promote healing; this seems to explain why acupuncture works so well for joint and structural disorders.

Inflammation is the means by which the body responds to invasion and injury. Acupuncture can have a very positive effect on patients suffering from the inflammatory conditions.   Acupuncture works subtly to promote our bodies own ability to heal and reduce inflammation. Oftentimes, patients notice a significant decrease in pain and discomfort within 3-4 treatments.

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine offers a whole body approach to treating pain. Much like a tree, TCM look at both the branches of the tree (the symptoms) and the root (underlying conditions that effect healing).  Each person’s symptoms are different and unique.  By addressing the symptoms of the pain itself as well as underlying conditions, TCM promotes whole body healing. As an example, if someone has low back pain, TCM also  reviews the various body systems in order to fully understand what may impede maximum healing. If someone has poor digestive health, is not sleeping and no energy, the likelihood of the pain getting better is reduced. By educating patients, TCM looks to bring the whole body to a state of natural and healthy balance.

TCM also takes into consideration the elements of wind, cold, damp and heat.  How do they effect the body?  Is the pain worse in cold weather, hot weather, damp weather?  Does the pain move? (a sign of wind).  Does heat make the pain better? Ice?  Each treatment plan is customized based upon the specifics uncovered during the evaluation.

Commonly asked acupuncture questions:

q. Does acupuncture hurt?

a. The short answer is no. At insertion, the patient may feel some heaviness, tingling, a slight pinch or sensation.  After the needles are inserted, the patient often feels very relaxed and even falls asleep.

q. Are the needles sterile?

a. Yes, all the needles are disposable and are used only one time. After use, they are discarded in a biohazard container.

q.  How deep do the needles go?

a.  Needle insertion is very shallow. Insertion varies according to the nature

of the problem, the location on the body, and the patient’s size, age and

constitution.

Acupuncture can assist  with reducing pain and inflammation in association with:

• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Acute and Chronic neck and back pain including disc bulges, disc herniations, whiplash trauma, muscle strains and ligament sprains.
• Joint pain
• Sports Injuries from golf, tennis, racquetball and other sports.
• Repetitive use injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tight hip flexor muscles.

Julie Silver, MSW, Dipl. Ac. is a NCCAOM Board Certified Acupuncturist and owner of Acupuncture Healthcare Associates of Michigan, Inc., a full service holistic health clinic in West Bloomfield featuring acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine and naturopathic medicine.

Most of us eat foods because they are pleasurable and we enjoy their smell, taste and textures.  Eating is a very personal experience as it is both a source of nutrition as well as a tool for social gathering. Most of us are also well aware of the nutritional value of food. Eating whole grains (vs. enriched white flours), fresh (vs. canned) vegetables and healthy fats (vs. trans fats) are cornerstones of many diets. It is also valuable to look at our bodies, the importance of the temperatures and flavors of foods, and the best season to eat them in.  By observing the harvesting patterns of fruits and vegetables we can see that nature often dictates these patterns for us. Summertime is a time that we naturally eat lighter.  Cooling vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber and sprouts are plentiful.  On the hottest days we are inclined to create a cool atmosphere with food and drink.  Heavy foods on hot days cause us to be sluggish and tired.

Fall is the season of harvest.  It is a time for us to gather, store up and get ready for the stillness of winter. In the fall we switch from eating the raw and light foods of summer to more cooked and warm foods such as salads and steamed vegetables.  In the Jewish religion, we eat fall foods during the holiday season.  These include tzimmes (made with carrots and sweet potatoes), chicken soup and potato latkes.    Winter is the end of all the seasons.  Cold and darkness cause us to seek inner warmth.  It is time for rest, meditation and to store physical energy. It can be beneficial to add a little body weight during this time.  Avoid raw foods during the winter as they tend to be difficult to digest and cool the body.  Soups and stews, root vegetables and beans are beneficial foods to eat during the winter months.

In addition to the seasons, Chinese medicine looks at the temperature of foods and their capacity to generate hot or cold in the body.  Eating warm foods will make us warm and eating cold foods will make us cold. It is important to understand our own body temperature because the foods we eat act upon the body in different ways.  For example, a person with arthritis pain that is worse on cold days should consider consuming more foods with warm qualities. A person prone to sinus conditions or pain that is worse in damp weather should avoid mucous producing foods such as cheese and milk.  A person that is hot with symptoms such as skin eruptions in hot weather or hot joint pain should avoid an excess of spicy, hot foods.

There are some general principles you can follow:  If you have a cold physical constitution, eat more foods with hot or warm energy and few foods with cold energy. These include brown rice, ginger and cinnamon, pistachio and pumpkin.   If you are hot in nature, consider eating more cooling foods such as spinach, barley, tomatoes and soy sauce.  If you are dry in nature, consider eating more lubricating foods such as soy, kiwis or pears. If you are damp in nature, avoid dairy products; eat neutral foods such as corn and lentils; and phlegm resolving foods such as kelp and seaweed.

As a rule of thumb, Chinese medicine suggests that most people should eat a diet comprised of cooked (vs. raw) foods.  Cooking makes foods more easily digestible and encourages the body to absorb nutrients.

Full Spectrum Lighting
When we suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or winter depression we are missing the exposure to natural light that we enjoy with the longer days of summer time. The closest thing to natural daylight is full spectrum lighting. According to the web site fullspectrumsolutions.com, “simulated full spectrum light is color-corrected light that operates in the range of 400 to 800 nanometers which will simulate the optical brilliance of outdoor light at noontime”. Sunlight is considered full spectrum lighting. Oftentimes, full spectrum lighting is available through “light boxes” that emulate natural sunlight. The most effective time to use full spectrum lighting is in the morning, when we first wake and we can get the natural daylight rhythm of our body started.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D is manufactured in our bodies when we are exposed to natural sunlight. During the winter months, most of us are not exposed to adequate amounts of sunlight. You can get vitamin D through some foods like fatty fish and fortified milk however; it is very difficult to get adequate amounts of Vitamin D from our diet. A simple blood test can determine if you are deficient . The current RDI of Vitamin D is 400 international units a day but many experts say that is too low. The new suggestion is closer to 2,000 IUs a day.

Essential Fatty acids
Omega-3 and 6 fatty acid supplements have been shown to relieve depression symptoms in some studies. Sources of omega-3s include fatty, cold-water fish, such as salmon, mackerel and herring. Flaxseed, flax oil and walnuts also contain omega-3 fatty acids, and small amounts are found in soybean and canola oils. Oftentimes it is hard to get adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids through diet. According to Dr. Jen Green, Naturopathic Physician, the balance between omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids (2:1 ration) is important. Sources of Omega 6 include evening primrose oil, borage, safflower, sesame, peanut, corn and soya oil and should be used moderately. You can purchase Essential Fatty Acid supplements at most local health food stores, groceries and pharmacy’s.

It is important to pay attention to any subtle changes in your outlook, energy level and sleep patterns during the winter month’s as they can be indicators of SAD. When caught early, the simple solutions above can be very helpful in navigating the challenging winter’s in the Midwest.