Ovarian Health and Chinese Medicne

3 Self-Care Tips to Maintain Ovarian Health

There are a number of complications that can happen to a woman’s ovaries over her lifetime. Ovarian cysts commonly occur and can go away without treatment, while more serious problems like ovarian
cancer require extensive treatment. The best way to treat these conditions is with preventative care.

Below are tips to fit into your daily routine for better ovary health.

1. Healthy Foods...Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition involving the imbalance of sex hormones, have a higher risk of ovarian cancer and obesity. Because of this, it is even more important that those with PCOS have a healthy diet. Foods to consider into your diet:

Lean Proteins: Limiting saturated fats can help decrease the body’s inflammation and lower the chance of ovarian cancer. Good sources of lean proteins include fish, chicken, lentils, beans and eggs.

Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are never a bad choice to include more of into your diet. They are packed with vitamins and antioxidants to help strengthen your body’s immune system and fight disease. Tomatoes and onions can especially help prevent ovarian cancer.

Nuts and Seeds: Healthy fats are important for ovary health. The unsaturated fats in nuts and seeds can provide omega-3 fats that can reduce inflammation and help decrease your cancer risk.


2. Exercise...Women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of  developing ovarian
cancer. Along with a healthy diet, it is important to have regular exercise to maintain health. Exercise is thought to help the body’s immune system, which in turn can help prevent obesity and ovarian
cancer. Starting off with moderate exercise that includes taking a walk most days or light jogging can even have an impact on lowering your risk.


3. Herbs...Chinese herbs blended into custom medicinal formulas are almost always used as part of a well-rounded course of treatment at Lake Premier Wellness.

Brassica vegetable extract: Brassica vegetable extract is a natural antioxidant that can help prevent disease such as cancer, diabetes and other chronicdiseases. Brassica (cruciferous) vegetables include
kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. These vegetables contain glucosinolates, which work as an anticarcinogen, helping to decrease the risk of cancer. You can find brassica vegetable extract in your local health food store.

Along with these lifestyle guidelines, consider acupuncture for preventative treatment as well as managing an existing problem to help get you back on the road to better health.

How can I help you or someone you know with your health, naturally?

Kathy E Thomas
Lake Premier Wellness Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
2430 South Bay Street, Eustis, FL 32736
352-323-0795
www.LakePremierWellness.com

7 Factors That Influence Weight...A Chinese Medicine Perspective

As a practitioner of Chinese medicine, I see a fair number of patients who are concerned about their weight. Some want to know if a few carefully placed needles will take care of their extra 15 pounds, others mention in passing how nice it would be if acupuncture could also help their crazy, out-of-control cravings for sweets.

As in most health-related issues, we want a magic bullet. The bad news is that there is rarely only one factor that is contributing to your migraines, anxiety, or extra weight; it’s a mash-up of many factors incubating over time.

The good news is that once you understand that there is no single reason you are tipping the scale to new heights, it becomes easier to take steps that, compounded over time, will yield results. Here then, are seven factors that affect your weight:

1. It’s All About Calories, Right?  

Well, not necessarily. It turns out that the stated caloric value on food labels is merely an estimate. How you cook a particular food, how much fiber it contains, how nutritionally dense it is, and what your body does to digest it has an impact on how much energy you’ll get from it. So while counting calories seems to be cut and dried, it’s anything but. Zero calories of diet soft drink are not better than 200 calories of nutrient-dense whole vegetable and fruit smoothie!

2. How Well You Break Food Down

How well you break down the food you eat and convert it into energy and nutrients has an impact on your weight.

If you’re not metabolizing food and fluids well, your body will get boggy and damp, creating pockets of moisture, which is the definition of fat tissue. You can tell if your digestion needs some help if you have digestive symptoms–gas, bloating, stomachaches, heartburn, nausea, constipation, or loose stools. In addition, strong cravings for sweets and carbs is also a digestive red flag.

3. Antibiotics

Antibiotic use may also be a factor impacting your digestion. In the news recently, scientists have found that a great deal of antibiotic use, or the use of these medications at a very young age, may negatively alter the good bacteria in your gut, affecting not only your digestion, but your overall health. They have even suggested that obesity and diabetes may be a result of antibiotic use.

4. Stress and Strong Emotions

When you are upset or stressed out, the balance of your stress hormones also becomes upset.

Cortisol, adrenaline, and insulin, ramp up (or down) in a way that enables you to sustain the fight-or-flight response. One body system that is ramped down when you’re stressed is your digestion, because you don’t need it for either fight or flight–at least not in the moment.

The bottom line is that chronic stress or emotional upheavals only serve to alter your digestive process in a way that causes you to gain weight, and thanks to elevated cortisol, it accumulates around your middle.

5. Exercise

You’ve always heard that exercise is a good way to lose weight because it burns calories. While this is true, in Chinese medicine exercise, or movement, is good for another reason. Good health is all about having adequate reserves of the vital substances, such as qi and blood.

But the second part of the equation is that those substances need to flow smoothly for optimal vitality. Excess weight is considered to be a kind of blockage or stagnation–stuff that’s just sitting there and not moving. So, through exercise the adage “movement creates movement” comes into play. By moving your body you are creating flow and helping to move some of that accumulation of damp tissue sitting on your hips.

6. Age Matters

As you get older you will notice that it becomes more difficult to drop a couple of pounds than it was 10 years ago. Your metabolism is slowing a bit and it becomes a little more difficult to build calorie-burning muscle mass given the same amount of effort you put in 10 years ago. And ladies, throw in menopause, a hormonal game-changer, that only makes weight control a little tougher.

7. You’re Unique

While we’d like to have a silver bullet or a one-size-fits-all diet plan, the reality is that we’re all unique. In Chinese medicine, it would be impossible to come up with a plan that would suit everybody, simply because what you need for nutritional health and balance is entirely different from what your boss, kid, partner, neighbor, or anybody else needs for their optimal health. Each of us needs something different based on a variety of factors.

How can I help YOU overcome these obstacles to the best of your ability? Call me now for a no-cost consultation.

Kathy E Thomas

Lake Premier Wellness Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

2430 South Bay Street, Eustis, FL 32726

352-323-0795

Making Headway on Migraine Headaches

Acupuncture for Migraine Headaches

Migraine and Headache Sufferers:
Acupuncture Can Help

The pain that headache and migraine sufferers endure can impact every aspect of their lives. Acupuncture can offer powerful relief without the side effects that prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine have been used to relieve Headaches and Migraines, as well as their underlying causes, for thousands of years and is a widely accepted form of treatment for headaches in our society. 

Diagnosis with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine does not recognize migraines and recurring headaches as one particular syndrome. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual using a variety of of techniques such as acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and tui-na massage,  to restore imbalances found in the body. Therefore, your diagnosis and treatment will depend on a number of variables: Is the headache behind your eyes and temples, or is it located more on the top or front of your head? When do your headaches occur (i.e. night, morning, after eating)? Do you find that a cold compress or a dark room can alleviate some of the pain? Do you describe the pain as dull and throbbing, or sharp and piercing, etc...

How Acupuncture Works

These questions will help create a clear picture from which I can create a treatment plan specifically for you. According to Chinese medical theory, illness arises when the delicate biochemical processes that run the body become unbalanced. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points located near or on the surface of the skin which have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effect.

The Acupuncture Treatment

During the acupuncture treatment, tiny needles will be placed along your legs, arms, head, and even your feet! The needles are so thin that several acupuncture needles can fit into the core of a hypodermic needle. Occasionally, there is a brief moment of discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin, but once the needles are in place, most people relax and even fall asleep for the duration of the treatment.

The length, number and frequency of treatments will vary. Typical treatments last from 15 to 30 minutes of "needle time", with the patient being treated one or two times a week. Some symptoms are relieved after the first treatment, while more severe or chronic ailments often require multiple treatments.

Studies on Acupuncture and Headaches

Since the early seventies, studies around the globe have suggested that acupuncture is an effective treatment for migraines and headaches. Recent studies show extremely positive results: In a case study, published in the June 2003 Issue of Medical Acupuncture, doctors found that acupuncture resulted in the resolution or reduction in the frequency and severity of cluster headaches, and a decrease or discontinuation of medications. It was concluded that Acupuncture can be used to provide sustained relief from cluster headaches and to stimulate adrenal cortisol to aid in discontinuing corticosteroids.

A clinical observation, published in a 2002 edition of the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, of 50 patient presenting with various types of headaches were treated with scalp acupuncture. The results of this study showed that 98% of patients treated with scalp acupuncture experienced no headaches or only occasional, mild headaches in the six months following care.

In a study published in the November 1999 issue of Cephalalgia, scientists evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of migraines and recurrent headaches by systematically reviewing 22 randomized controlled trials. A total of 1,042 patients were examined. It was found that headache and migraine sufferers experienced significantly more relief from acupuncture than patients who were administered "sham" acupuncture.

Can I help you or someone you care about to eliminate or greatly reduce migraine headache intensity and frequency? CALL ME!

Kathy E Thomas

Lake Premier Wellness Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

2430 South Bay Street, Eustis, FL 32726

352-323-0795

Fibromyalgia...How Can Acupuncture Help?

Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 2 percent of the population. It is diagnosed when there is a history of widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum of three months, and pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18 tender points on the body. In addition to musculoskeletal pain, patients with fibromyalgia can suffer fatigue, sleep disturbance, memory loss, mood swings and digestive problems.

What is Fibromyalgia?

From the perspective of western medicine, fibromyalgia is a medically unexplained syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain, a heightened and painful response to pressure, insomnia, fatigue and depression. 

While not all affected people experience all symptoms, the following symptoms commonly occur together -- chronic pain, debilitating fatigue, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, depression, joint stiffness, chronic headaches, dryness, hypersensitivity, inability to concentrate (called "fibro fog"), incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome, numbness, tingling or poor circulation in the hands and feet, painful menstrual cramps or restless legs syndrome

On its own fibromyalgia does not result in any physical damage to the body, and there are no laboratory tests that can confirm this diagnosis. Symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event. Women are more prone to develop the disorder than are men, and the risk of fibromyalgia increases with age. 

Research shows that up to 90 percent of people with fibromyalgia have turned to complementary or alternative medicine to manage their symptoms. Acupuncture, in particular, has become a popular treatment choice and has been shown to be an effective treatment.

An Oriental Medicine Perspective

Oriental medicine does not recognize fibromyalgia as one particular disease pattern. Instead, it aims to treat the symptoms unique to each individual depending on their constitution, emotional state, the intensity and location of their pain, digestive health, sleeping patterns and an array of other signs and symptoms. 

Since symptoms of fibromyalgia vary greatly from one person to another, a wide array of traditional and alternative treatments have been shown to be the most effective way of treating this difficult syndrome. 

Therefore, if 10 people are treated with Oriental medicine for fibromyalgia, each of these 10 people will receive a unique, customized treatment with different acupuncture points, different herbs and different lifestyle and dietary recommendations.

A treatment program may include a combination of psychological or behavioral therapies, medications, exercise, acupuncture, herbal medicine and bodywork.

Since pain is a hallmark symptom of fibromyalgia, an Oriental medicine approach will incorporate treatment for pain, though this may differ from western "pain management" therapies. The Oriental medicine theory of pain is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: "Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong" which means "free flow: no pain, no free flow: pain."

Pain is seen as a disruption of the flow of Qi within the body. The disruption of Qi that results in fibromyalgia is usually associated with disharmonies of the Liver, Spleen, Kidney and Heart systems.

If you have fibromyalgia, acupuncture and Oriental medicine may be what you've been looking for to ease your symptoms and reclaim your health and vitality. Please call for a consultation today.

5 Tools for Fibromyalgia Symptom Relief

Although fibromyalgia is a disorder that can be disabling for many due to chronic widespread pain and fatigue there are some things you can do to alleviate the symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.

Learn and Practice Stress Reduction Techniques
Chronic stress can lead to fatigue, depression, a weakened immune system, and a host of serious physical and psychological ailments. When under stress your muscles contract and tense affecting nerves, blood vessels, organs, skin and bones. Chronically tense muscles can result in a variety of musculoskeletal conditions and disorders including muscle spasms and pain.

While it isn't always possible to remove the external forces causing stress the ability to effectively deal with stress is a choice. Take time for yourself and cultivate the energy you need to handle your stress more effectively.

Eat a Well Balanced Diet
Managing your diet may seem time-consuming but the benefits it offers make it worthwhile. Many fibromyalgia sufferers find relief through a properly managed diet. A list of basic nutrients to combat nerve sensitivities, improve cognition, boost the immune system, and reduce swelling is included in this newsletter.

Exercise
While even basic movements may be painful, exercise helps restore strength and endurance. Tai Chi, Qi Gong or Yoga are great for easy stretches, careful strengthening, deep breathing, along with relaxation techniques.

Gentle stretching will clear tension that builds when muscles tighten, and will improve overall circulation. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Meditate
The practice of meditation is a proven stress reducer that helps the body create a sense of calm and a continuing sense of well being. While 15 minutes daily is recommended, even 5 or 10 minutes can have a powerful effect on your day.

Restorative Sleep
Get at least eight hours of restorative sleep. Maintain a routine sleep schedule and make your bedroom a sanctuary from every day stress. Practicing good sleep hygiene will give your body an opportunity to get stronger and heal.

Can I help you with your fibromyalgia? Call me today for your no-cost consultation.

Kathy E Thomas

Lake Premier Wellness Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

2430 South Bay Street, Eustis, FL 32726

352-323-0795

"Going Green" on the Inside...Lessening Your Body's Toxic Load

Going Green From the Inside!

Wind generators, solar power, geothermal heat, natural cleaning products, organic clothing... There are seemingly endless means by which to shrink your carbon footprint and lessen your impact on the environment.But while our planet manages to receive heavy doses of TLC, there continues to be a
large dumping ground for dangerous toxins, chemicals, and man-made impurities...

Our bodies are under the influence of more and more artificial products, and their cumulative effect over the past few decades is beginning to show. Despite significant advances in the healthcare delivery system, obesity rates are skyrocketing, autoimmune diseases are on the rise, and there are more medicinal and surgical procedures being administered than ever before. Antibiotics continue to be abused, and prescription medications of all sorts are showing up in water supplies across the nation. While emergency medical care is absolutely essential, continually dispensing medicine for conditions better treated naturally or more conservatively is risky, and can be ultimately dangerous.

One of the greatest things about acupuncture is that it facilitates healing while preserving the delicate balance of the human body and mind. It’s the ultimate green healthcare! If a body is already ailing, what sense does it make to subject it to an onslaught of dangerous chemicals? It is far more productive to nurture the body by bringing it back into balance naturally and allowing it to rid itself of disease. But aside from the health advantages of limiting your consumption of drugs, it is simply more efficient to tap into the renewable resources within the body than it is to try to power it from the outside. The body is healed and powered by the natural medicine, proper diet and exercise.

As we continue to uncover the long-term effects of medicine and other chemical products, the responsibility falls on us as consumers to be sure that we are making the best decisions for us and for our planet, and it is imperative that our choices regarding healthcare be included in the mix. Will we continue to make choices that poison our body and the world around us, or will we trust in cleaner, healthier alternatives that support the body’s natural balance?

How can I help you lessen your body's chemical burden? Please call for a no-cost consultation today!

Kathy E Thomas
Lake Premier Wellness Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
2430 South Bay Street, Eustis, FL 32726
352-323-0795

The Buzz on Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Acupuncture and Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition characterized by ringing within the ear when there's no actual source of sound present. The strength of the associated ringing can vary from a subtle ring to a loud, headache-inducing noise that's difficult to shake. There may be hope for people with tinnitus with healing methods like acupuncture, that has been proven to relieve symptoms.

It's estimated that upwards of 10-15 percent of the entire U.S. population suffers from tinnitus. The good news is that most people tolerate it well, with the condition having only a slight affect on their normal daily life. However, about 1-2 percent of the population experience severe cases of tinnitus, affecting their mood, sleep patterns and even their general health.

Medical experts continue to debate over what exactly causes tinnitus. There's some belief that ototoxic drugs can damage the inner ear, increasing the risk of tinnitus, while others believe its caused by a chemical imbalance within the brain. The general consensus is that long-term exposure to loud noise can lead to this condition, which is why workers are often required to wear earmuffs or noise-canceling headphones when operating heavy machinery.

People who work in the following industries have a higher risk of developing tinnitus:

• Construction
• Air travel
• Road work/repair crews
• Musicians

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Clinic of Tinnitus of the Department of Otorlarynology Head and Neck Surgery found acupuncture to offer relief of tinnitus symptoms. Researchers treated 76 patients with either acupuncture or the placebo called sham acupuncture. While both groups experienced an improvement in their symptoms, the group that received acupuncture had a greater improvement in their symptoms, attesting to the effectiveness of acupuncture.

“We conclude that there was significant reduction of the counting of the moments pre- and post-needling in both the groups, and in the group study the reduction is greater that in the group control,” wrote the study's researchers.

How can acupuncture stop ringing within the ears? When your body's natural energies are not flowing correctly, it can lead to a number of diseases and illnesses, including tinnitus. Licensed acupuncturists are trained in correcting these blockages by targeting various acupuncture points within the body's meridians. When these blockages are fixed, your body can return to its natural balance.

Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health!

Kathy E Thomas

Lake Premier Wellness Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

2430 South Bay Street, Eustis, FL 32726

352-323-0795

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16951850

June is Men's Health Month!

Men’s Health & Acupuncture

Caring for your health and well-being is important for all the stages of your life. While it can sometimes be difficult to talk with your doctor or practitioner about issues such as prostate conditions, erectile dysfunction or infertility, it is important to be open and honest. After all, these concerns can have a major impact on your overall health as well as your sex life, your relationships and your emotional health.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offer powerful tools to help you feel your best. They have been used for thousands of years to treat men‘s health concerns and they can be safely used along with Western therapies.

Prostatitis

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits beneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder). It produces semen, the milky-colored fluid that transports sperm during ejaculation. Prostatitis is the inflammation of the prostate that can cause urinary symptoms and pelvic pain. The most common type is chronic (or ongoing) non-bacterial prostatitis. It’s causes are unknown, making it difficult to treat. Symptoms may include a frequent and urgent need to urinate, pain or a burning sensation when urinating (dysuria) or pain in the pelvic area, lower back and genital area. While more research is needed, some studies have shown that acupuncture and herbal therapies are very effective in relieving the pain and urinary symptoms caused by chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

The prostate naturally grows larger as men age. Often, this does not cause any discomfort. If the prostate compresses the urethra, it can cause a range of urinary symptoms. This condition, known as BPH, is the most common prostate concern, affecting about 50% of men over 60. Symptoms can include slowness or dribbling of the urinary stream, hesitancy or difficulty starting to urinate, frequent urination and the need to get up at night to urinate. Typical treatments for BPH can include selfcare techniques, medications, or even surgery. Acupuncture can help with rebalancing and providing overall support to the health of the urinary system.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer affects about one in six men in the United States. When caught early, it can respond very well to treatment, so it is recommended that all men over the age of 50 get yearly prostate cancer screenings. Symptoms can include urinary problems, pain in the lower back or hips and blood in the urine or semen. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with prostate cancer, acupuncture and TCM can be helpful in relieving the side effects of treatment and boosting overall health.

Other Men’s Health Conditions We Can Address:

• Male depression

• Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

• Male Menopause (Andropause)

• Insomnia

• Anxiety and Stress

• Sexual Dysfunction