nutrition

Reproductive and Integrative Medicines – the perfect match!

April 8, 2018 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

Over the last 20 years, we have become more aware of the many challenges couples face in getting pregnant. Individuals are marrying later in age and couples are waiting longer to have children.

In addition, environmental toxins and our own diet can directly impact our health and trying to conceive. From a Western medical viewpoint, advanced age and ovulatory dysfunction, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), thyroid issues and male fertility can all play a part in having difficulty conceiving.

During these times, many couples turn to integrative medicine as an alternative or in complement with western medicine. There are many ways to take care of our bodies and support a successful pregnancy. Here’s a brief overview. [Read more…]

Ask the practitioner

February 21, 2018 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

What’s Your Favorite Wintertime Activity?

There’s still time to take advantage of the winter season before the cold, snow and ice is gone for good. Not a fan? Take heart: Spring begins on March 20!

Winter is a time for me to “hunker down” and enjoy the beauty of freshly fallen snow and sit by a fireplace. I find that calming yet lifting for my psyche. I also try to nourish my soul by visiting family and friends in warm climates. I come back to Michigan once again appreciative of the quiet beauty of winter.

Karen Siegel Propis, Acupuncturist

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of winter. However, I realize the importance of each season and the benefit of each in terms of my body and the rhythm of the life force (qi) energy. I stay warm with warming soups and stews, bundle up, get extra light from my full-spectrum lighting lamp and get adequate sleep! This said, I did buy a new pair of snowshoes last season that I have truly enjoyed using!

Julie Silver, Acupuncturist

My favorite wintertime activity generally involves hot chocolate. It starts with a short outdoor activity such as sledding or ice skating or hiking — just enough to get my blood pumping and to enjoy being outdoors in the beauty of winter. Then I like to come inside, light a fire, and drink some hot chocolate with coconut milk, turmeric and cinnamon to keep it as healthy as possible.

Monica Mae Leibson, Acupuncturist

I love to walk outdoors on sunny, relatively warm winter days. With the right amount of warm clothing, I love the smell of winter and the reminder that nature is still alive even though it feels so frozen and dormant. It also helps to keep my “cabin fever” at bay!

Julie Shindler-Cohen, Acupuncturist

Don’t throw away those bones!

September 24, 2015 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

Much has been written about Bone Broth lately. In major cities such as New York and Chicago, bone broth restaurants have surfaced. In some neighborhoods, bones at local butchers are hard to come by – becoming a “hot commodity” as residents travel near and far to get the “best bones” for their broth.

Bone Broth is incredibly nutritious and touts many health benefits!

First off, bone broth is made with – well, BONES! A wide range of animal bones can be used to make bone broth – including, chicken, beef, pork, lamb and fish. Unlike meat broths, which take 2-4 hours, bone broths are simmered over low heat for a long period of times. Purchasing bones from grass-fed animals is desirable. Many times, the bones are roasted before making the soup. [Read more…]

Spring Liver Support

March 12, 2015 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the theory of “Qi Energy”. Qi energy is what guides all functions in our body – breath, movement, reproduction, digestion are all functions of qi. In TCM, every organ has Qi energy and each organ’s qi oversees different functions of the body. Every organ has a season in which the functions of that organ are “in the spotlight”. The organ (and qi) associated with the spring is the Liver.

Spring is a good time for rejuvenation and change. It is a also good time to think about supporting the Liver. In TCM, the Liver Qi regulates the flow of qi throughout the whole body. There are over 20 kinds of qi that the Liver QI keeps flowing smoothly. Stress in our life tends to effect the Liver qi. When this happens, the Liver qi does not flow smoothly, and it gets stagnant. Headaches, PMS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Depression, Irritability are all thought to be associated with Liver Qi stagnation. There are many ways we can support the Liver and assist it in its job. [Read more…]

Functional Nutrition

August 15, 2013 By Julie Shindler-Cohen Leave a Comment

I recently attending the Center for Mind/Body Medicine’s conference entitled “Food As Medicine”. The conference was inspiring, to say the least. It made me think about diet in general and how it affects our health. According to the many speakers, diet can be the difference between living a long, healthy life or not. One speaker asserts that by eating a healthy diet can affect the expression of genetics, specifically in the case of cancer! No matter the presenter’s background, all agree that our diet and food choices are ultimately our best medicine or worst poison. If you want to talk about preventative medicine, diet cannot be ignored. After 4 days of lectures, the amount of information can be overwhelming but I have come up with a few dietary basics that are good “food for thought” as we prepare our next meal. [Read more…]

Natures First Aid Kit

April 30, 2013 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

Natures First Aid Kit

Our health food and grocery stores shelves are lined with many different supplements and medicines – trying to determine what to take can be overwhelming. There are many choices that extend beyond the supplement aisle! There is much to learn about the food universe – even plants, herbs and spices have medicinal benefits!

Tea Tree Oil is an essential oil. Essential oils are the oil of a plant from which it is extracted from. The usually carry a specific scent or “essence” of the plant. When used topically, tea tree oil is thought to have anti viral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits. To this end, tea tree oil can be very helpful in treating fungal infections (athlete’s foot), acne, dandruff (when added to shampoo), and yeast infections. I experienced the benefits of Tea Tree Oil personally during a recent beach trip. My legs were bitten over 100 times by sand flees and I found recently found the topical application of tea tree oil to be very effective in reducing itching and swelling. Tea Tree Oil is also good for inflammation and as an assistant in recovering from injury. fruitsveggies

Turmeric , a spice (often used in curry) has widespread use in preventative medicine. According to the American Cancer Society, “Some proponents believe turmeric may prevent and slow the growth of a number of types of cancer, particularly tumors of the esophagus, mouth, intestines, stomach, breast, and skin.” Turmeric’s active ingredient is curcumin and both are thought to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. In addition, the American Cancer Society’s web site states that “ Early research has suggested that curcumin may help lower “bad” cholesterol, reduce inflammation, help ulcerative colitis, and reduce arthritis symptoms, although more reliable human studies are still needed”. Turmeric can be used liberally in one’s daily diet and can also be taken as a supplement at a dose of 500 mg 1-4 times a day. [Read more…]

The “Business” of our water

June 10, 2011 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

As consumers, learning about our drinking water can be overwhelming. The business of water has perplexed many consumers who are wanting only what is best for themselves and their families. Most of us don’t have any idea of how water makes its way to our faucet and to bottles.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an underground network of pipes delivers water served by a water system that are either from the ground or surfaces (rivers or lakes) Drinking water meets very stringent health standards. Water suppliers use a variety of treatment processes to remove contaminants which include coagulation (removing dirt and other particles), filtration (removing all particles) and disinfection (killing dangerous microbial contaminants). [Read more…]