Stick Out Your Tongue And Say...Huh?!

Practitioners of Chinese Medicine look at the tongue as a reflection of the internal condition of the body... When looking at your tongue, factors such as  the color of the tongue body, its size and shape, the color and thickness of its coating, locations of abnormalities and moistness or dryness of the tongue body and coating are noted. These signs reveal not only overall states of health, but correlate to specific organ functions and disharmonies, especially in the digestive system. Not all tongue irregularities are indications of dis-ease, however. Food and drugs may change the coating or color of the body of the tongue. For example, coffee yellows the coating and Pepto-Bismol turns the tongue black. The tongue body is a fleshy mass and has color, texture and shape, all which are important on their own. (To evaluate the tongue accurately, always do the examination in natural light.) A pale tongue body indicates deficient blood, energy, warmth or excess cold. (anemia, fatigue, depression, impotence, incontinence, palpitations) A overly red tongue body indicates excess heat. (constipation, skin issues, angry, high blood pressure) A purple tongue indicates that energy and/or blood are not circulating properly (stagnant). Pale purple means the stagnation is related to cold. (cold limbs, varicose veins, pain, endometriosis) Reddish purple is related to stagnation of heat. (headaches, chest pains) When the tongue is black or grey, it indicates extreme stagnation; if black and dry, that indicates extreme heat stagnation; black and wet is an indication of extreme cold stagnation. Bright red indicates deficient body fluids (can be hormones, enzymes, blood components, etc.) or excess heat. Dark red indicates severe excess heat. (hot flashes, tinnitus, insomnia, irritability, excess sweating) Cracks in a red tongue indicate deficient body fluids or heat consuming the fluids. But if the tongue is pale and cracked, deficient energy or blood is present. Enlargement of the buds on the tongue mean heat or stagnant blood. (stress, PMS, worry) The tongue’s coating is the "furry" surface layer. When the digestive system is in balance, there is an even coating of fur, with a slightly thicker area in the center of the tongue. Thicker coating indicates excess. Thinner coating is related to deficiency. Coating  that is wet indicates excess fluids and/or a deficient metabolism (warmth). Dry coating is a sign of excess warmth or deficient fluids. A greasy coating is a sign of phlegm or dampness in the body. If the coating  looks peeled off or missing, it reveals deficient digestive/body fluids. White, moist coating indicates cold. Yellow coating means heat. However, white coating, resembling cottage cheese, points to heat in the stomach. (heat begins to dry out fluids, leading to congealing) Grey/black fur with a red body is associated with extreme heat; grey/black fur with a pale body is a sign of extreme cold. This is just a basic overview of what a Chinese Medicine Practitioner looks for when asking you to stick out your tongue! Care to know more about your own health and how your tongue reflects this...call me! Kathy E Thomas Lake Premier Wellness Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine 2430 South Bay Street, Eustis, FL 32726 352-323-0795

It's Not Too Early to Start Planning Your Post-Holidays Detoxing!

7 Steps to Detox After the Holidays

Get rid of leftovers

The holidays bring delicious homemade food, and along with that come the leftovers. Holiday leftovers can be just as good as when you cook the meal the first time and become a tempting go-to snack. Time to let go. Toss the leftovers, they most likely aren’t the healthiest dishes and it’s time to start fresh.  

Stay hydrated

Most Americans do not drink enough water, and there is no better time to start than now! Fill up your glass before you feel thirsty, for by then you are already dehydrated. Some find it easier to carry a water bottle throughout the day to remind yourself to keep hydrated. Staying hydrated can flush out toxins and detox your body, as well as keeping you feeling good.

Hit the gym

Sweating is another great way to flush out toxins. Exercise has many health benefits long term and short term. Find just 30 minutes a day to get some form of exercise, whether it’s going on a run, yoga or simply going for a walk. Getting your body moving is important for your metabolism as well as overall health.

Ditch the sugar

The holidays are a notorious time for sugar intake to start ramping up. When they are over, it’s time to remove added sugar to your diet. Limit how often you eat dessert and when you do, eat in moderation. Replace sugary foods with natural sweet foods like fruit. Fruit can fix your sweet tooth and also give you a boost of vitamins.

Drink green tea

Green tea is packed with antioxidants and nutrients to help your body get back on track. It is one of the healthiest beverages you could choose, it can act as a replacement for coffee, lower your risk of cancer and protect your brain as you age.

ACUPUNCTURE!

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine believe in addressing the body as a whole when illness arises or the body is run down. Because of this, acupuncture treatment works by returning the body back to balance and restoring its natural energy. Certain acupuncture points can detoxify important organs like the kidneys, colon, lungs, liver and skin.  

Relax

Don’t forget to relax and give yourself some downtime. The holidays are hectic and stressful, which can lead to bad habits and bad eating. Give yourself some time now that they are over to relax. Find activities you enjoy and make sure you make time for them every week. Detoxing is not just for improving your body physically, but mentally as well.

http://www.modernreflexology.com/acupressure-points-for-body-detoxification/

Achoo!! Acupuncture for cold and flu

ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT FOR FLU AND COMMON COLD

Flu and Common Cold 

Did you know that Traditional Chinese Medicine has had treatments for the common cold & the flu for thousands of years? Acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy are second to none in their effectiveness at treating the common cold and the flu. Chinese Medicine makes a major impact in altering the extreme symptoms that accompany both the flu and the common cold.

The common cold is the most prevalent medical condition in North America, followed by low back pain. 

Treat your Flu and Common Cold – ASAP

Prompt treatment brings the most effective results when treating any form of cold or flu, and at any stage of the infection. Whether it be chills and fever, headache, sore throat, cough, sinus congestion or settled in the lungs. Of course, the longer one waits to treat an infectious disease, the longer it takes to clear the pathogen. When treating cold or flu symptoms, the results are always more dramatic if the treatment begins at the earliest possible stage of the illness.

Chinese antiviral and antibacterial herbs are used in much the same way as antibiotics prescribed by your regular doctor are. Chinese herbal therapy is used very effectively to combat the infection and inflammation produced by the bug. There are also different herbal formulas for the different type of bug and symptoms you have, which would be treated with two very different sets of herbs and acupuncture techniques.

Using Acupuncture to Treat the Flu and Common Cold

Acupuncture , gua sha, and moxibustion can provide immediate relief from cold symptoms and help the body expel the pathogen much faster. Needles are typically inserted into points along the meridians which have demonstrated the ability to activate immune function and also points that suppress pain and relieve colds and flu. Patients frequently experience quick relief when the point is needled.

Common Cold and Flu – Turn Around Time

Typically, just a couple of acupuncture treatments and a week’s course of herbal medicine are all that are required for colds. If the symptoms are recognized and treated early, it is possible to fight off a cold in a day or two with acupuncture treatment and herbs.

Acupuncture Relieves Common Cold and Flu?

Acupuncture accelerates the healing process by boosting the body’s natural defenses (immune system). It also alleviates symptoms, but requires herbal and dietary support to achieve fast & lasting results. Herbal formulas destroy both viruses and bacteria, alleviate symptoms, and push the pathogen out of the body while strengthening our immune system.

Flu Shot – Chinese Medicine Flu Prevention

Beginning a regimen of immune-enhancing herbs now can prevent illness down the road. As in many areas of our life, the best defense is a strong offense.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are effective for prevention and treatment of colds and flu because they adjust this energetic balance, strengthening your immune system. People that receive regular acupuncture treatments get sick less often. If you have a cold or flu, acupuncture and Chinese medicine will help you recover more quickly.

We hear about so many people catching the flu – but in reality it is only a portion of those exposed to a virus that get sick. Why? According to Chinese medicine’s teachings, our bodies get sick when we are in a weakened state. It is only when our immune systems are weakened and our bodies are out of balance that we are vulnerable to sickness. So why not increase your resistance to getting ill naturally?

Acupuncture Immune System Boost

Your immune system is boosted when you get regular acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture strengthens the protective energy that safeguards us against colds and flu. Talk to me about a preventive protocol that I offer to help keep you well this fall and winter.

Common Cold Symptoms (early stage)

•    Hyper-sensitive to cold or drafts
•    Chills, Shivers
•    Sneeze, Cough
•    Nose Running with clear or white-watery mucus
•    No fever or slight fever
•    Body aches, Stiff neck
•    Not sweating, Not thirsty

This virus invaded the body quickly and its defensive response is to increase the body temperature in order to literally kill off the bugs.

 Early Stage Symptoms:

•    Hyper-sensitive to drafts
•    Fever (Check your forehead)
•    Sore throat, Swollen tonsils
•    Sneezing, Cough
•    Slight body aches
•    Running nose with yellow or green mucus
•    Sweating, Thirsty

Common Cold Remedy at this advanced stage

•    Rest and hydrate.
•    Cover Your head and neck.
•    You need Acupuncture and herbs not antibiotics

What if I have already had a cold for a week?

You need Acupuncture and Chinese herbs to prevent it from going into your lungs.

What if I havent shaken last month’s cold?

You need Acupuncture and Chinese herbs for lingering pathogens or pathogens caught half inside and half outside to prevent it from going into your lungs.

As a form of preventative medicine, get regular acupuncture treatments during the flu season, or the changing of the seasons. Prevention is the key. If you catch colds easily, know that studies have shown that acupuncture increases white blood cell count resulting in a boost to your Immune System. Finally, if you feel just the slightest indication of a cold invasion such as slight body aches or a scratchy throat, or if everyone around you is coming down with something, or if you have been on an airplane, get Acupuncture and Chinese herbs immediately.

Want to know more about how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can see you through "cold and flu season"? CALL ME at 352-323-0795!

Kathy E Thomas

Lake Premier Wellness Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

2430 South Bay Street, Eustis, FL 32726

Chinese Herbs You Might Already Have In Your Kitchen!

The Benefits of Cinnamon

Many people are getting more and more interested in Chinese Herbs. What they may not be aware of is that they may already be using them. There is often a misconception that Chinese Herbs are all strange things that you would find in a Harry Potter book, but this is not always the case. Sure some Chinese Herbs are more exotic and unfamiliar, but many can be found in your spice rack at home; cinnamon being a great example.

When used properly, herbs like cinnamon can help heal what ails you in a gentle and side-effect free way. In classical Chinese Medical writings, it was noted that most pain originates with cold. In fact, the Chinese character for pain literally breaks down to mean "not flowing syndrome". The lack of flow (circulation) then leads to stagnation. Imagine how cold slows water down to the point that it freezes, and liken that to stagnant circulation. In theory, this is why cinnamon, which is considered
both a warming and moving herb, can be effective at relieving many types of pain.

In Chinese Medicine, cinnamon is used in two different forms. GUI ZHI is cinnamon twig and ROU GUI is the warmer cinnamon bark. The best cinnamon in the world is considered to be the Vietnamese variety, which is believed to have stronger medicinal properties and better flavor.

Gui Zhi is acrid to disperse early stages of cold invasion and warm to unblock channels. This makes it beneficial to add to food preventively after activities like swimming in cold water or hiking in cold air. It is often used to treat headaches, fevers, abnormal sweating, edema (swelling), pain that is worse in cold damp weather, pain induced by trauma, and menstrual pain.

Rou Gui is also considered acrid, but is hot rather than warm, and is used to treat more severe conditions induced by cold leading to congealing/stagnation and pain. It is also used when non-healing sores and ulcers are present. Rou Gui is the Imperial Chinese Herb for restoring "fire", making it a powerful herb for conditions that feel better with heat and worse with cold.


Western medical studies suggest that it may also lower blood sugar in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, decrease inflammation, fight bacteria, yeast, and fungus, lower cholesterol, and have antioxidant effects.

According to the US National Library of Medicine, cinnamon is used to help treat muscle spasms, vomiting, diarrhea, infections, the common cold, loss of appetite, and ED. The journal also noted that cinnamon may help stop the destructive process of multiple sclerosis. Researchers at Tel Aviv University are studying the effects of cinnamon on Alzheimer's Disease prevention, with promising results on the way.

So if you are looking for something gentle and effective, without side effects, that could improve your health, reduce your pain, and even help fight off infection during cold and flu "season", cinnamon may be a great addition to your current health care regimen.

Keep in mind that according to Chinese Medical theory, it is always best to combine herbs into a synergistic formula; and for best results and safety, it is best to make sure that you come in to have the best formula selected for you and your specific needs.

Can I help incorporate healing herbs into your life? CALL ME at 352-323-0795.

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

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