ACUPUNCTURE SHOWN TO REDUCE HEADACHES, BACK PAIN

Great short article about the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of various types of chronic pain. 

*A quick note before your read: "fake" acupuncture or "sham" acupuncture as it is also commonly called, is still acupuncture! This is why there is usually some degree of benefit reported by those in these types of studies. In TCM, there are 15 primary meridians and numerous more minor and/or esoteric meridians in the body that practitioners use to select acupuncture points. Most studies only take into consideration the points on the 15 primary meridians and don't realize that the "sham" acupuncture points are very likely hitting these slightly less commonly utilized meridians, and therefore benefiting the patient. Moreover, there is an ancient adage that says "where there is pain, there is an acupuncture point." These points are called "Ashi" points, as in "Ah, yes that's the spot" in Chinese. =)

Enjoy the quick read!

ACUPUNCTURE SHOWN TO REDUCE HEADACHES, BACK PAIN

Suffering from headaches, back pain or both? A new study conducted by researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York shows acupuncture outperformed both placebo and conventional pain therapies. They published the study results in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The findings “provide the most robust evidence to date that acupuncture is a reasonable referral option,” the authors wrote in the article.

The research, funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, had researchers conduct a meta-analysis of data from 29 prior studies involving nearly 18,000 adults, according to an article in The Sunday Leader.

The original studies were done with patients reporting chronic pain from a variety of issues, including neck, shoulder and back pain, arthritis, and recurring headaches. Participants in each study were randomly assigned to treatment with acupuncture, standard treatments such as drugs and physical therapy, or fake acupuncture, which inserted needles at points other than the traditional meridians, the report stated.

Using a scale from zero to 100, the average participant’s pain measured 60 before anything was tested on them. Conventional methods brought the pain down to 43, fake acupuncture brought it down to 35, and the actual acupuncture dropped pain to 30, according to the research.

Link: http://www.elevatedexistence.com/blog/2012/10/11/acupuncture-shown-to-reduce-headaches-back-pain/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=acupuncture-shown-to-reduce-headaches-back-pain

Double Steamed Asian Pear & Almond Dessert Soup

My double steamed asian pear and almond dessert soup

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the arrival of autumn means special treats to keep you thriving through the dry and cool months. This dessert soup is not only delicious, lightly sweet and vegan, but it also serves a medicinal purpose! Here’s what’s in it:

• Asian pears (鸭梨) alleviate chronic cough, ease chest pain, and dry throat.
• White wood ear (雪耳) moisturizes the Lung, promotes fluids, and benefits the skin. 
• North and south almonds (北杏仁，南杏仁) stop cough and expel phlegm.
• Ginger (生姜) is warming and great for digestion.
• Rock sugar (冰糖) tonifies Qi and stops cough.
• Water (水) is good for everything!

Enjoy this soup hot or cold, it’s yummy both ways!

Below is the full recipe à la Chinese Soup Pot.com

Recipe: Double Steamed Asian Pear Almond Dessert Soup

5.0 from 2 reviews

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Recipe type: Dessert, Soup, Dessert Soup

Author:Sharon Lee

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 2 hours

Total time: 2 hours 10 mins

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 
• 2 Ya Li Asian pears
• 2 tsp south almonds
• 1 tsp north almonds
• 1 small snow fungus, soaked overnight
• 2 slices of ginger
• 1 rock sugar, slightly larger then the size of a golf ball but smaller than a tennis ball
• 4 cups of water

Instructions

1. Wash, core, and quarter each ya li Asian pear lengthwise. Cut each quarter slice in half again. Line pear slices on the bottom of a porcelain double steamer.
   
2. Cut the soaked snow fungus to small pieces. If the center is hard, dice it to small pieces so they can cook and soften during the cooking process. Spread them over the pears in the double steamer.
   
3. Wash, drain, and sprinkle the bitter and sweet almonds over the snow fungus in the double steamer. Add the ginger slices and rock sugar on top.
4. Add 4 cups of water into the double steamer and cover with the double steamer lid.
   
5. Optional: Seal the top of the double steamer with a plastic food wrap (e.g. saran wrap). This is to prevent steaming water from splattering in later on.
6. Place a metal steam rack or a pair of chopsticks at the bottom of a large stainless steel pot. The pot must be big enough to fit the porcelain double steamer inside. Place the double steamer inside the stainless steel pot. Add enough water so that it comes up to about 50 – 60% of the height of the double steamer.
   
7. Place the stainless steel pot over high heat until the steaming water boils. Reduce the heat to Low and simmer for 2 hours. When done, remove the plastic food wrap and serve.
   

Competing in the 2nd Nadam Wushu Kung Fu Festival

These last few weeks I have been a little off the radar because I went to Inner Mongolia to compete in a Wushu competition. It was an amazing experience and tons of fun. Although it's not TCM related, I thought I'd share a little about my trip. =) Let me know what you think! 

Team USA on the podium 

This past month, I went to Ordos, Inner Mongolia with the United States Wushu Team to compete in the 2nd Nadam Wushu Kung Fu Festival. International competitions are a mixture of adventure, travel, and of course sport. Preparing for this level of competition takes months of planning with both mental and physical training.

Opening ceremonies in Ordos, Inner Mongolia

As a US team member, I've traveled and competed all over the United States as well as Argentina, Turkey, and now Inner Mongolia. One thing I've learned is that there are always unexpected things that take you away from your game plan and no preparation can anticipate what comes with getting off a plane in a foreign land where you can't speak the language and just being from America brings a lot of curious attention. Often, as a visiting athlete you are treated to hours of wonderful hospitality when all you really want to do is get some sleep and prepare for your events.  

My training regimen in the states is 3 times a week of wushu plus cross training... I eat for recovery and muscle building but often that goes out the window when local cuisine rules. Food in Mongolia was great, but as we ate nearly every meal in the hotel, my team members and I found ourselves craving some simple meat and veggies. Immersing in local culture is part of the joy of the trip, but I always have to keep the event in mind; there is serious competition and getting a good nights sleep and proper nutrition can mean the difference between a medal and leaving with that nagging feeling of "I could have done better". As hard as I tried to keep up, I lost 7 pounds on this trip due to the unavailability of my regular training diet and appetite changes that come with travel.

Our fist glimpse of the competition floor on practice day.

While Mongolia conjures images of yurt tents and sweeping mountain steppes, Ordos itself is a new city much like others springing up across China with apartment buildings and new skyscrapers looking to attract foreign investors. No expense was spared capturing the glory of traditional Mongolian culture at the opening ceremonies with hundreds of trick horseback riders, dancers, musicians, fireworks, and amazing LED light displays in a brand new Olympic-style stadium.

The martial arts portion of the event took three days and carried the serious tone of Chinese wushu competition. Being the national sport of China, many of the best athletes in the world were out in force. The morning after we arrived, the US team had official practice at the competition stadium. We were awestruck at how gorgeous and huge the brand new venue was (it was still getting its finishing touches during the competition) and also a little nervous at seeing the single competition floor propped up on a stage. All eyes were going to be on us come competition day! All that aside, I felt strong at practice and was excited to compete.

Posing with the Hong Kong Champion, Geng XiaoLin

Overall the competition experience was great, but of course it had its challenges. My spirits were very high practice day, however the night before competition I had terrible insomnia and inside the venue I was really feeling the industrial pollutants that are so common in new buildings built in China. There was a strong chemical smell and my lungs felt they were at half capacity. Despite training really hard for this competition and feeling well prepared, I was disappointed in my performance; in my best event I took 8th out of 23 competitors. I don’t concern myself with comparing my performance to others’, I simply want to represent myself (and my coach!) well and perform at my best. It was a challenge keeping my stamina up during my events. I think the combination of poor sleep, diet changes, and difficulty breathing were ultimately too much. It’s clear to me that all the tiny details we work on fine-tuning in training go out the window when I’m tired and it’s those little pieces of flavor and explosiveness that really set athletes apart in this sport. Of course that lesson learned is worth gold and will only help me to improve. =)

With Macau's nanquan champ, Chris.

On the other hand, my mental game felt the best it ever has at competition. I'm often very nervous before my events, I’ve even gotten sick in the past, and I’ll admit I can get a little “psyched out” by watching the pro’s warming up. This time was different. I was only concerned with myself and tried hard to remember to have some fun... this is something very special that many people don't have the opportunity to experience, so why waste it?

The best part of this competition was the energy. Although competitors were serious, they were also extremely open, friendly, and supportive. There were many countries represented (including countries like Lebanon where wushu is practically unknown), there were up-and-coming juniors competing with the new compulsory sets, and there was even some amazing old timers that took medals! It was great to see everyone cheering wholeheartedly for athletes of all countries... I’m pretty sure USA was the loudest!

With Liu Qing Hua, undeniably one of the best athletes of all time. 

After the competition the team tried our hardest to relax and enjoy the journey. We made good friends with the Macau and Lebanon teams and went out for some Mongolian hot pot, Karaoke, and to my dismay drank a good helping of horse milk wine. (That stuff is strong!) The day after competition we packed up our things and headed to Beijing for five days of eating, shopping, great times, and a touch of training.

Traveling and doing your best athletically is the real challenge. Staying primed and in the zone when so many new experiences are happening all around you is the key to international competition, but also in our daily fitness goals. Showing up with energy and drive even when things don't line up perfectly is a habit of physical success. With each trip I learn not only about the country I am visiting, but also how my home training and athletic goals stand up to the chaos of long distance travel in unfamiliar places.

Next stop, World Games in Malaysia!

Team USA: Tiffany Reyes, Stephanie Lim, Brenda Hatley,
Peter Dang, Alex Tran, Anthony Chen, Phillip Dang

P.S.

I’m really proud of my teammates, Stephanie, Tiffany, Phillip, Peter, Alex, Anthony, and Aurora. Team USA was represented well and with some major style. Despite all of us having day jobs and pressures of American life, we still somehow managed to make our way to Mongolia and come home with a total of four medals. This is quite a feat!

The Mythology of Science-Based Medicine

Below is a fascinating article with statistics about the effectiveness and potential harmfulness of western treatments. As a non-western practitioner, my medicine is commonly categorized an "alternative" or "folk" medicine, which gives the false impression that it is less effective/trustworthy/ proven/ thorough. However, as shown by the statistics below, western medicine is often less effective than it is presented to be. To me, the ratio of benefit to harm done by TCM treatments (not to mention cost!) is greatly favorable compared to many western treatments. But I digress... what do you think?

________________________________________________________________________________

By Deepak Chopra, Larry Dossey and Rustum Roy

The current healthcare debate has brought up basic questions about how medicine should work. On one hand we have the medical establishment with its enormous cadre of M.Ds, medical schools, big pharma, and incredibly expensive hospital care. On the other we have the semi-condoned field of alternative medicine that attracts millions of patients a year and embraces literally thousands of treatment modalities not taught in medical school.

One side, mainstream medicine, promotes the notion that it alone should be considered “real” medicine, but more and more this claim is being exposed as an officially sanctioned myth. When scientific minds turn to tackling the complex business of healing the sick, they simultaneously warn us that it’s dangerous and foolish to look at integrative medicine, complementary and alternative medicine, or God forbid, indigenous medicine for answers. Because these other modalities are enormously popular, mainstream medicine has made a few grudging concessions to the placebo effect, natural herbal remedies, and acupuncture over the years. But M.D.s are still taught that other approaches are risky and inferior to their own training; they insist, year after year, that all we need are science-based procedures and the huge spectrum of drugs upon which modern medicine depends.

If a pill or surgery won’t do the trick, most patients are sent home to await their fate. There is an implied faith here that if a new drug manufacturer has paid for the research for FDA approval, then it is scientifically proven to be effective. As it turns out, this belief is by no means fully justified.

The British Medical Journal The British Medical Journal recently undertook an general analysis of common medical treatments to determine which are supported by sufficient reliable evidence. They evaluated around 2,500 treatments, and the results were as follows:

• 13% were found to be beneficial
• 23% were likely to be beneficial
• 8% were as likely to be harmful as beneficial
• 6% were unlikely to be beneficial
• 4% were likely to be harmful or ineffective.

This left the largest category, 46%, as unknown in their effectiveness. In other words, when you take your sick child to the hospital or clinic, there is only a 36% chance that he will receive a treatment that has been scientifically demonstrated to be either beneficial or likely to be beneficial. This is remarkably similar to the results Dr. Brian Berman found in his analysis of completed Cochrane reviews of conventional medical practices. There, 38% of treatments were positive and 62% were negative or showed “no evidence of effect.”

For those who have been paying attention, this is not news. Back in the late 70′s the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment determined that a mere 10 to 20% of the practices and treatment used by physicians are scientifically validated. It’s sobering to compare this number to the chances that a patient will receive benefit due to the placebo effect, which is between 30% and 50%, according to various studies.

We all marvel at the technological advances in materials and techniques that allow doctors to perform quadruple bypass surgeries and angioplasties without marveling that recent studies indicate that coronary bypass surgery will extend life expectancy, in only about 3% of cases. For angioplasty that figure sinks to 0 percent. Those numbers might be close to what you could expect from a witch doctor, one difference being that witch doctors don’t submit bills in the tens of thousands of dollars.

It would be one thing if any of these unproven conventional medical treatments were cheap , but they are not. Angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) alone cost $100 billion annually. As quoted by President Obama in his drive to bring down medical costs, $700 billion is spent annually on unnecessary tests and procedures in America. As part of this excess, it is estimated that 2.5 million unnecessary surgeries are performed each year.

Then there is the myth that this vast expenditure results in excellent health care, usually touted as the best in the world (most recently by Rush Limbaugh as he emerged from a hospital in Hawaii after suffering chest pain). But this myth has been completely undermined. In 2000 Dr. Barbara Starfield, writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association , estimated that between 230,000 and 284,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. due to iatrogenic causes, or physician error, making this number three in the leading causes of death for all Americans.

In 2005 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that out of the 2.4 billion prescriptions written by doctors annually, 118 million were for antidepressants. It is the number one prescribed medication, whose use has doubled in the last ten years. You would think, therefore, that a remarkable endorsement is being offered for the efficacy of antidepressants. The theory of behind standard antidepression medication is that the disease is caused by low levels of key brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, and thus by manipulating those imbalanced neurotransmitters, a patient’s depression will be reversed or at least alleviated.

This turns out to be another myth. Prof. Eva Redei of Northwestern University, a leading depression researcher, has discovered that depressed individuals have no depletion of the genes that produce these key neurotransmitters compared to people who are not depressed. This would help explain why an estimated 50% of patients don’t respond to antidepressants, and why Dr. Irving Kirsch’s meta-analysis of antidepressants in England showed no significant difference in effectiveness between them and placebos.
You have a right to be shocked by these findings and by the overall picture of a system that benefits far fewer patients than it claims. The sad fact is that a disturbing percentage of the medicine we subject ourselves to isn’t based on hard science, and another percentage is risky or outright harmful. Obviously, every patient deserves medical care that is evidence-based, not just based on an illusory reputation that is promoted in contrast to alternative medicine.

We are not suggesting that Americans adopt any and all alternative practices simply because they are alternative. These, too, must demonstrate their effectiveness through objective testing. But alternative modalities should not be dismissed out of hand in favor of expensive and unnecessary procedures that have been shown to benefit no one absolutely except corporate stockholders.

For more information go to deepakchopra.com 
Follow Deepak on Twitter

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/intentchopra/2010/01/the-mythology-of-science-based.html#ixzz20oq69OF2

Healthy Aging: Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

Aging doesn't have to mean feeling sick and tired all the time. It's a natural process and, when Qi and Blood are balanced and Jing (essence) is plentiful, you can feel great as you age!

What's key in aging smoothly is healthy/balanced eating, drinking lots of water (hot is best!), good sleep every night, movement, and dealing with your stresses and emotions head on. Easy right? ;)

So many like to say, "I'm too old for that". But are you really? Or are you making an excuse or scared to try something new? Want to take a Zumba class? Take it! Want to learn to speak Chinese? Start learning!

It's all about balance and maintaining a good level of health, fitness, and mental agility throughout your lifetime, not just revving up for special occasions and then going back to the couch for the rest of the year.

According to TCM, there is a natural decline in Kidney Qi as we age (the source of our vital essence), but this does not necessarily lead to disease and injuries. Seeing your TCM practitioner and seeking preventative care regularly can greatly increase your quality of life. Heck, you're gonna be here for a long while, so why not feel great and enjoy every moment?


Here's to getting old!
Brenda Hatley, L.Ac, Dipl.OM
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-jingduan-yang/traditional-chinese-medicine_b_1654753.html?utm_hp_ref=tw 

Although the risk of disease and disability clearly increase with advancing age, poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Throughout the middle and later years, people gradually develop signs and symptoms of aging, like graying and thinning of the hair, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, infertility, diminished sexual function, menopause, forgetfulness, urinary and bowel incontinence, pain and weakness in the lower back, hip, and knees, reduced bone density, and increased risk of fractures.

Western medicine attributes some of these symptoms to deficiencies in sexual hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, which is why hormone replacement has become a focus of "anti-aging" medicine. However, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a different perspective that is energy-based. From a TCM standpoint, aging is a process of losing kidney qi and essence. We refer here not simply to the organs in our lower backs but to an energy subsystem called the kidney meridian. 

Kidney qi and essence, according to the Yellow Emperor's Classics, dating back to about 200 B.C., is responsible for brain development and function, including hearing, bone matrix, and function of bone marrows, sexual function, and capacity to conceive, and regulation of the urinary tract and the bowels. This meridian reflects the mental functions of willpower and motivation and emotions derived from fear. 

The primary interventions of TCM to balance meridians include acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and qigong. A brief discussion of a couple cases from our patients is provided to illustrate the TCM approach. 

Amy, 40, reported feeling like she was 90. She had stopped menstruating 10 years ago and lost sexual drive nine years ago, which is about when she began to suffer from urinary incontinence and osteoporosis. In addition, she had severe seasonal depression and insomnia. She was assessed by classic Chinese medicine techniques and was diagnosed with severe kidney qi deficiency. After three weekly acupuncture sessions and a course of Chinese herbal supplements, her symptoms improved significantly. 

Cathy, 65, complained of difficulty concentrating and memorizing. She attributed these symptoms to side effects from the four depression medications she was taking. She was evaluated to have kidney qi and essence deficiency and liver stagnation. Twice a week, she received acupuncture and took Chinese herbal remedies. In addition to improvement in cognitive function, she reported less lower back and knee pain, more sexual satisfaction, reduced urinary incontinence, and better mood. With her physician's guidance, she also was able to decrease her psychotropic medications. 

To age healthfully, people need to protect their kidney qi and essence as early as possible. Things that will help include getting regular and enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, regular physical activity, having a healthy sex life, and living with less fear. 

Foods that are thought to replenish kidney energy: grains, dark green leafy vegetables (cooked), black soybeans, black sesame seeds, black mushrooms, walnuts, chestnuts, fish, shrimp, seaweed, lamb, and duck. Herbs thought to support kidney energy are ginseng, Rehmannia root, and lychee nut. 

Many relaxation techniques and energy exercises can positively affect meridian balance. We particularly recommend mindfulness-based meditation, Tai Chi, and qigong. Chinese medicine-based cultivation systems like Falun Dafa go beyond anti-aging and aim for spiritual enlightenment and eternal life. 

Aging is a natural process of life, and healthy aging is achievable, particularly through integrating the best of Eastern and Western medicine. Therefore, it is advisable that you consult with a well-trained TCM doctor to discuss an individual plan that uses ancient Chinese wisdom. However, you should do so in addition to the care you already get from your doctors of conventional medicine.

Dr. Yang is a board-certified psychiatrist and is a fourth-generation doctor of Chinese medicine. His website is taoinstitute.com. 

For more by Dr. Jingduan Yang, click here.
For more on natural health, click here.