Acupuncture for IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disease suffered by an estimated 25-45 million people in the United States. Symptoms include chronic abdominal pain, bloating, excess gas and irregular bowel movements. Symptoms can be brought on by a number of triggers including anxiety, insomnia and stress. Although there is no known cure to IBS, there are numerous alternative treatments to prescription medication that can help relieve symptoms.

Herbal Therapies

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses herbal remedies to treat a number of ailments and diseases including IBS.

Peppermint has been studied and used to help treat IBS discomfort. Because it is a natural antispasmodic, peppermint can help decrease muscle spasms in the gastrointestinal tract. Common ways to use peppermint include peppermint tea or peppermint oil, both can be found at your local health store and most grocery stores.

Ginger can also be used to help IBS symptoms. Ginger works as an anti-inflammatory and is thought to strengthen the gastric lining and decrease nausea. You can buy ginger tea as well as make your own by boiling water with ginger root.

Fennel can immensely help bloating and gas due to IBS. Fennel is considered a carminative, meaning it has properties that prevent the formation of excess gas in the gastrointestinal tract. Fennel can also help heartburn, indigestion and common stomach pain. You can find fennel seeds in your local health food store and can be used to make tea.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is commonly used to treat chronic abdominal pain, bloating and other IBS symptoms. There has been at least one study done that specifically looked at acupuncture as a treatment for IBS. Acupuncture has been shown to relieve pain and stress, which are common triggers for IBS. This is done by regulating blood flow and Qi (pronounced “chee”) through acupuncture points.

Probiotics

Probiotics are a healthy bacteria that normally live in your gut. It has been thought that those with IBS do not have enough probiotics in their intestinal tract. You can easily add probiotics to your diet by eating foods such as yogurt and sourdough bread. Kombucha and kefir are drinks that also include probiotics. Probiotic supplements can be found at your local health store.

Meditation and Exercise

Meditation and exercise are excellent stress relievers and in turn can relieve IBS symptoms that are commonly caused by stress and anxiety.

Not only does exercise release endorphins that help fight stress, but regular physical activity can help regulate your gastrointestinal system.

Research done at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on meditation and IBS found that women who practiced mediation had around a 38 percent reduction in symptoms, according to U.S. News.

Meditation focuses on deep breathing and staying in the moment to relax the mind and body.

Alternative medicine including TCM and acupuncture can largely decrease your IBS symptoms and help you live a more pain-free life!

Sources:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/digestive-disorders/articles/2011/05/09/mindful-meditation-might-ease-irritable-bowel-syndrome

http://www.helpforibs.com/footer/acupunct.asp#studies

http://www.aboutibs.org/site/treatment/complementary-or-alternative-treatments/

Avoid Side Effects of Acne Drugs by Fighting Naturally!

Image by David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Acne is the most common skin condition in the U.S., affecting 17 million people. For most, the condition clears up by the age of thirty. Acne is caused by blockage of the pores leading from the sebaceous glands, which secret an oily substance called sebum. When these glands become blocked, they can become infected, leading to comedones and, in more extreme cases, nodules or cysts. When the acne heals it can often leave the skin scarred which can be a reason enough to pursue all sorts of remedies.

Antibiotics and topical creams are usually the first defense dermatologists recommend in fighting acne. They work by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria, thereby inhibiting growth of the bacteria in the sebaceous glands that lead to acne. However, they also reduce the normal bacterial flora in your intestines that you need for digestion. Common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Antibiotics in general are fairly safe for healthy people but they aren't as effective in the treatment of acne compared to medications like accutane, benzoyl peroxide cream, azelaic acid, salicylic acid, retinoids, sulfur, tazarotene, tretinoin, or adapalene gels.

However, if you look at the chart below, you might want to consider natural treatments than taking the risks of the side effects from the acne drugs.

Drug	Use	Common, Benign Side Effects	Serious Side Effects	Life- Threatening Side Effects	Reasons Not to Take
Tetracycline	Acne	Nausea, Vomiting	Diarrhea, tooth damage, skin sensitivity	Liver or Kidney toxicity (rare) Hypersensitivity, Sun sensitivity	Allergy, kidney or liver disease, pregnancy, lactation
Doxycycline	Acne	Nausea, Vomiting	Diarrhea, tooth damage, skin sensitivity	Liver or Kidney toxicity (rare) Hypersensitivity, Sun sensitivity	Allergy, kidney or liver disease, pregnancy, lactation
Demeclocycline	Acne	Nausea, Vomiting	Diarrhea, tooth damage, skin sensitivity, sunburn	Liver or Kidney toxicity (rare) Hypersensitivity, Sun sensitivity	Allergy, kidney or liver disease, pregnancy, lactation
Minocycline	Acne	Nausea, Vomiting	Diarrhea, tooth damage, skin sensitivity, dizziness, vertigo	Liver or Kidney toxicity (rare) Hypersensitivity, Sun sensitivity	Allergy, kidney or liver disease, pregnancy, lactation
Benzoyl peroxide	Acne	Dry skin, skin irritation	Sun sensitivity, rash, blistering	None	None
Azelaic acid	Acne	Itching, burning, stinging, tingling	Rash	None	None
Sulfur	Acne	Skin irritation, itching	Sun sensitivity, bruising	Allergic reaction, jaundice	Kidney disease, allergies to sulfa
Zinc oxide	Acne	Dry skin, skin irritation	Sun sensitivity	None	None
Salicylic acid	Acne	Skin irritation	Dizziness	Confusion, drowsiness, vomiting	None
Tretinoin (Retin-A)	Acne	Dry skin, skin irritation	Sun sensitivity	Allergic reaction	Allergy to medication
Adapalene	Acne	Dry skin, skin irritation	Sun sensitivity	Allergic reaction	Allergy to medication
Tazarotene	Acne	Dry skin, skin irritation	Sun sensitivity	Allergic reaction	Allergy to medication
Isotretinoin (Accutane)	Acne	Headache, dry skin, dry eyes, skin peeling	Elevated lipids, osteoporosis	Depression, psychosis, aggression, suicide, irritable bowel disease, birth defects, bone and joint pain, brain swelling, liver damage	Current depression, pregnancy
Dapsone (Avlosulfun)	Acne	Stomach upset, sore throat, fever	Sun sensitivity, rash, pale skin	Mental changes, bleeding, vomiting	Pregnancy, lactation, anemia, liver disease
Spironolactone (Aldactone)	Acne	Headache, diarrhea	Hair growth, deepening of the voice, breast enlargement, impotence	Confusion, blurred vision, dizziness, vomiting	Pregnancy, lactation, liver or kidney disease, taking anti-hypertensives

The Bottom Line

Prevention is the first-line treatment for acne.

Drink less milk and stay away from high-sugar and processed foods. 

Exercise regularly and reduce stress. 

And of course there are alternative treatments. 

Get Acupuncture and drink herbal tea from an Acupuncturist who knows what he is doing.

At Raah Natural Care, along with Acupuncture and Herbal tea to restore your balance, we use 100% natural herb mask, formulated and blended just for your skin condition, followed by facial using USDA certified organic products to correct disfigurement and scarring caused by acne. 

Give us a call @ 323-422-4964 to make an appointment for detailed consultation on how to successfully treat acne naturally!

Acupuncture for Fertility-Infertility

About 10 percent of couples struggle with infertility and an inability to conceive, according to the Centers for Disease Control. For those struggling to have children, fertility treatment can become tiring and expensive very quickly. There are numerous alternative treatments including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that have been thought to improve fertility.

Acupuncture

By increasing blood flow and Qi (pronounced “chee”) to the reproductive organs, acupuncture can help increase fertility. Stress has been noted to cause infertility in women due to an increase in the hormone cortisol. A change in hormones can cause the body to be put out of balance, affecting fertility. Acupuncture can help by decreasing stress with acupuncture points and returning the body to balance.

Acupuncture infertility treatment has almost no side effects, compared to Western medications and hormone treatments that can cause lasting side effects.  

Chinese Herbs

Women who received Chinese herbal treatments once a week for about three months were found to be twice as likely to become pregnant as women who didn’t receive the treatment, according to a study in the journal

Complementary Therapies in Medicine.

Chinese herbal therapy uses more than 150 herbs found in groups of about 15 herbs in each treatment. The treatments are made of formulas that include natural ingredients such as bark, root, leaf, flower and plant extracts. These treatments are most commonly given in pill or tea form.

Clinical studies in China have shown that 70 percent of those struggling with fertility who were  treated with Chinese herbs have become pregnant.

Ask an acupuncturist or naturopathic doctor on how you can receive Chinese herbal treatment.

Yoga

Yoga is another way to increase fertility by reducing stress and increasing blood flow, which can help gynecological function.

Breathing practices that are done in yoga can help to relax the mind and lower cortisol levels, bringing hormones back to a normal balance.

Some poses can increase circulation to the reproductive organs including Seated Angle Pose. This pose consists of sitting with your legs stretched out to stretch the hamstrings, bringing more blood flow to the pelvic area.

If you have experience or supervision, yoga inversions such as headstands or shoulder stands can be extremely helpful fertility boosters as they balance the hormones.

Simple lifestyle changes can also help boost your fertility including eating a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol, smoking and environmental toxins, and getting sufficient sleep.

Alternative treatments for fertility can be a less expensive, non-invasive option for improving fertility!

Sources:

http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-news/articles/1192-how-does-acupuncture-for-fertility-work-increase-chance-of-conception-without-side-effects.html

http://www.conceiveeasy.com/get-pregnant/chinese-herbs-for-infertility/

http://www.babble.com/pregnancy/brenda-strong-fertility-yoga-tips/

http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/alternative-therapies-for-fertility

http://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/infertility/treatments/can-alternative-therapies-help-you-get-pregnant/

Acupuncture For Allergies and Asthma

Do you suffer from allergies or asthma? It's a little-known fact that these two conditions are directly linked to each other. Asthma, which affects roughly one in 12 people according to the CDC, is characterized by spasms of the small airways and inflammation. Furthermore, about 90% of children under the age of 16 with asthma have allergies, while 70% of people between the ages of 16 and 30 have allergies, and 50% of adults over the age of 40 have allergies.

Unfortunately, most people who suffer from allergies and asthma simply mask their symptoms with drugs rather than seeking a treatment for the root cause. Both of these conditions involve an overreactions by the body's immune system to what it believes is a foreign invader. When you are exposed to an allergen (e.g. ragweed, pet dander, etc.), your immune system produces and abundance of inflammatory hormones, which subsequently cause the symptoms of allergies and asthma to manifest.

There are several alternative treatment options available for allergies and asthma, however, one of which is making dietary and lifestyle changes. We live in age in which far too many people choose to pick up convenient fast food as opposed to preparing and cooking fresh meals. There's nothing wrong with an occasional fast food burger, but basing the bulk of your diet around processed foods such as this will take a toll on your body. The lack of nutrients and increased intake of preservatives can disturb the immune system, causing greater sensitivity to allergens. A better choice is to consume a diet rich in lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

Of course, herbal medicine is a time-tested alternative treatment for allergies and asthma. Some of the most popular herbs used to treat these conditions include stinging nettle, ginkgo biloba, green tea, and reishi, all of which contain heavy concentrations of antioxidants. These antioxidants are believed to fight harmful chemicals in the body known as free radicals, which if left unchecked, may irritate existing conditions like allergies and asthma.

Acupuncture is also known to improve the symptoms for allergy and asthma sufferers. This Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involves stimulating the body's life force (Qi) by placing small, thin needles directly under the skin. When a person's Qi grows stagnant or experiences other problems, he or she is more susceptible to disease and illness. Therefore, correcting this problem through acupuncture will naturally deter allergies, asthma and other common problems.

Give me a call today @ 323-422-4964 to learn how you can get back on track to better health!

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Get the most out of your First Acupuncture Session!

Are you Interested in maximizing the benefit from your acupuncture sessions at Raah Natural Care? Check out these tips below.

1) Fill out intake forms. Completely.

Although some of the questions may seem unrelated to your condition, every little detail provide me a clue to figuring out your core issue. It allows me to create your customized treatment plan based on your unique constitution, health history, and current symptoms.

There are a couple of sections on the intake form that I would consider critical. Make sure to list any prescription medications, vitamins and/or herbal medications, significant medical history (such as low blood sugar, hepatitis, or seizures), and allergies – including to foods. Not knowing you are allergic to cats during the treatment probably won’t ruin your day. Not knowing you are allergic to shellfish when I prescribe certain Chinese herbs will.

2) Eat a light snack or a meal at least two hours before your appointment.

To get the most out of Acupuncture session, your body need some energy to work with. If your session is in the morning, please don't skip breakfast. Ideally, you don’t want to be too hungry or too full.

3) Skip brushing/scraping your tongue before your appointment.

Observing your tongue is simple and easy yet very important diagnostic method. It can be used to determine the condition of the Organs, whether your pattern is Excess or Deficient, Hot or Cold, and to evaluate the level of body fluids. Please avoid drinking coffee or any foods with color that can change your tongue color before your session.

4) Silence your cell phone.

This is your time to rest, relax and heal. You wouldn't want the Radiation from your cellphone to disrupt the flow of Qi while getting Acupuncture.

5) Follow-up with your practitioner.

Successful Acupuncture session relies on good teamwork. Giving feedback on your last session and reporting any changes or new symptoms is very important so that the treatment can be adjusted accordingly.

6) Schedule and keep regular appointments.

This is especially important if you are dealing with a chronic condition. You may feel some benefit after the first treatment but don’t stop there or your problem will likely return. Acupuncture has a cumulative effect. Several appointments scheduled at regular intervals can help you achieve more progress than sporadic appointments scheduled only when symptoms are at their worst.

7 ) Take herbal tea EXACTLY as prescribed.

There are many types of herbal products out in the market but I believe taking the herbal decoction works the best if you follow the instruction as prescribed. It's like custom made suits fit way better than off-the-rack suits. Custom herbal teas made only for you requires a lot of knowledge and experience and takes a lot of time formulating, cooking and packing but they do work the best. Acupuncture can help you fix and build stronger structure but not with the nutrition.

8) Practice the lifestyle recommendations.

Take charge of your health and well-being. I may recommend adjustments to your diet, exercise and many other suggestions but these tips require a level of commitment and involvement. Like I said earlier, we need to work as a team. It is all of the little things we do day in and day out to honor our health and well-being that allow us to lead the life we choose.

Relieve Your Arthritis With Acupuncture

Arthritis is a painful and oftentimes debilitating condition that's characterized by inflammation within one or more joints. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 2 people will develop osteoarthritis of the knee by the age of 85. It's important to note, however, that there are several different types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis being just one. Other common types include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, septic arthritis, Still's disease, and ankylosing spondylitis.

While most people living with moderate-to-severe arthritis resort to prescription medication to mask their symptoms, a safer and more effective form of treatment may come in the form of a 2,000-plus-year-old Chinese practice called acupuncture. Numerous studies have found acupuncture to offer relief of many different types of arthritis. And best of all, it doesn't come with the adverse side effects associated with arthritis medication.

Acupuncture and Arthritis: How It Works

Acupuncture is based on the belief that our bodies have an essential life/energy force (referred to as Qi). This force flows through the body, traveling along 20 channels (referred to as meridians). Normally, Qi flows unrestricted, keeping the individual healthy while warding off disease and illness. However, there are times when the Qi will become stagnant, blocked or dislodged from its normal position, leaving the individual susceptible to illness.

By placing thin needles directly under the skin, a licensed acupuncturists can stimulate the flow of Qi, correcting blockages and other abnormalities. Furthermore, acupuncture aids in regulating the nervous system, which in turn produces the natural pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins.

Studies Reaffirm Acupuncture For Arthritis

A group of German researchers conducted a study on 304,674 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee. Researchers split the patients into two groups, one of which received traditional routine care, while the other received 15 sessions of acupuncture. Researchers concluded that patients who had received acupuncture experienced better knee function, less pain, and an overall better quality of life than their counterparts.

Another study – this one originating out of China – found that both acupuncture and electroacupuncture were effective at reduce pain, inflammation and tenderness in parts of the body by arthritis. Granted, this was a small study with just 36 patients, but it's just one more study attesting to the healing power of acupuncture.

Give me a call today @ 323-422-4964 to learn how you can get back on track to better health!