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Learning Acupuncture Traditionally

2012-01-25T20:40:48Z

Edward Obaidey is one of my teachers in Japan. He has written a great new book called, A Long Road: An Acupuncture Travelogue (Volume 1), which is currently available on Amazon. Below please find a review that I have prepared for the Amazon site:

"As is the case for reviewer iching555, I am a lucky student in Edward Obaidey's Tokyo clinic, going back and forth whenever possible between there and my own place in the United States. "A Long Road" is a universal, practical, relatable guide for any practitioner of acupuncture anywhere, not just the ones of us with a preference for so-called Japanese-style techniques. Writing in an often witty and lighthearted style, Ed sensei gets to the heart of the matter here by challenging all of us to consider and DO what's really important to shape ourselves as practitioners and to treat the patient to the best of our improving ability. He covers higher level needling and moxibustion methods that are not usually taught in acupuncture schools. Also, he includes relevant clinical experiences that reveal the spirit of traditional ways of training as an acupuncturist with a modern yet timeless twist. What a talent to be able to make the readers of this text feel that we are standing right next to him in the clinic as he deftly treats the patient and clears up our confusion at the same time, while inspiring yet more questions. Taking the easy way is not an option with this skillful teacher, and he shows the possibilities for us if only we would commit to diligent study and practice. Rarely will we have access to a guidebook from a native English speaker who has this level of commitment and consequent depth of knowledge about East Asian medicine. This offering is a real treasure; a new classic. Read it over and over, and apply what you learn. Why? For improved clinical results and for the benefit of self and others. Seriously, it's amazing."

The pursuit of mastery in this medicine is a lifelong journey. Some of the patients ask me questions like, "Don't you know everything already by now?" "The next time you're in Japan, why don't you just tell your teachers to teach you everything all at once so you don't have to keep going over there?" These questions make me smile, but they also let me know that even among people who get acupuncture in this country, sometimes it's not so clear what goes into becoming a worthy practitioner. The 3,000-4,000 hours of acupuncture school and school clinic plus the required continuing education hours to keep an active license are good starts, but they are just not enough. Having a teacher who is willing to aid in the development of an acupuncturist is a rare honor, but it should be something that we all aspire to have and maybe even become. Acupuncture is a powerful medicine, and even the worst treatments by sleepwalking practitioners will sometimes yield some improvement. But to become good, and consistently so, requires refinement of the person doing the work as well as an unshakeable grounding in the basics and applications. Learning in traditional ways is not an easy way to do things, but it's worth it.

Posture for Receiving Acupuncture Treatment

2012-01-05T19:59:35Z

Ideally, patients should be in a relaxed and open body position to receive acupuncture. People don't always seem to know how they should situate themselves for the treatment session, so this post is meant to serve as a friendly instructional note or a reminder. Sometimes people go into positions subconsciously, not realizing that their treatments can be affected by it.

We often start the acupuncture session with the patient lying down on the table or bed on their backs, face up. For the ki to flow in a beneficial way to facilitate healing and well-being, it is best if the patient is on the bed with the legs uncrossed and feet out to the sides a little in a relaxed manner. The hands should be along the sides of the body with the hands either next to the hips or with the palms resting lightly on the sides of the abdomen. The head and neck should by in a neutral position and should be lightly supported by a small pillow. Positioning the body this way allows the acupuncturist to get the most information from your body to influence the best treatment at that time. Below please note some of the body positions I've seen that are not at all desirable for treatment:

Crossed legs

Legs closed tightly together at the ankles

Legs bent at the knees so that the soles of feet are flat on the table/bed

Arms folded across the chest or hugging the abdomen

Balled fists, especially wearing tight watchbands or bracelets

Hands up behind the head -- this one really makes me crazy as a practitioner. I need to take your pulse several times while you're face up. Just how am I supposed to do that if your arms are up there?

Sitting up with the back straight and the legs outstretched in front

All of these postures are diagnostic as well -- they tell me something about your comfort level, tight areas of your body, areas that you may feel need protection, etc. As an acupuncturist, I do realize that patients need to be as comfortable as possible during their treatment sessions. This is why I will sometimes go along with their body position and not say much at the beginning of the session if the patient seems very relaxed and comfortable. I have to flexible enough to get information that I need to do a good treatment by using a variety of palpatory methods at my disposal, even if the patient is effectively blocking the use of my major diagnostic skills. But really, if you tend to assume any of these postures, please stop doing them and train yourself to go into the ideal posture outlined at the beginning of this. Your treatments will be more effective, and your acupuncturist will thank you!

Travels in Peru

2011-08-03T05:54:21Z

A great opportunity came my way in June 2011 to visit the country of Peru in South America. It was my first time there. After flying across the Pacific many times back and forth to Asia, the six hour flight to Lima and the one hour time difference between Atlanta and Peru seemed like nothing. This trip was a vacation from work, which was much needed and I think, well deserved. At the same time, the patients went with me in my thoughts. In many ways, it was a difficult but worthwhile journey. While I was there, I saw many interesting things that can help but inform my practice. For example, I noticed some of the effects of high-altitude living on the Peruvians, in terms of how many of them dressed and on how their skin fared in the climate. Makes me think about how our often muggy Atlanta weather has a contrasting, more hydrating effect. Of course these factors come in to play when deciding how to best treat someone with respiratory or skin conditions with consideration of the environment. Also, other, more vague ideas are constantly swirling around when I'm away -- How do other people really live? What am I learning? How can things improve? What are we really doing, here?

I believe that travel is necessary, regardless of how much of a hassle it can be at times. It opens us up. None of what I experienced for myself on that trip or any other trip could have been gained from reading a book or watching a movie. I received a treatment while there from a practitioner who sang while tapping me on the head and back with a brush made of leaves. I felt very relaxed and peaceful for a long while afterwards. Machu Picchu and the Northern Amazon were amazing to see and feel. I returned to work in Atlanta with renewed senses.

Little Patients

2011-08-02T20:05:43Z

With acupuncture, some patients start very young. This is actually a good thing considering that treament of the energetic channels in children can help them with immunity, digestive disturbances, and motor problems. As a rule, children are usually not treated using needles. We have other tools to use on them, owing to the fact that they move around so frequently and unexpectedly at times. A teishin is a tool that is often used in Japan for pediatric acupuncture treatments. These and other metal implements are sterilizable. (The pencil is shown in the figure to the right as a size reference).

Children usually don't cry when they are being treated; so far I've never had one to cry. It's best if they are disrobed down to their diapers so that we can have a look at their backs, bellies, arms and legs. I have treated children with digestive problems and poor sleep patterns, almost all with great results. They can start as early as about six weeks or so -- when the parents are ready to start taking them out of the home.

With permission from her parents, I will now discuss the journey of one of my youngest current patients, a precocious 14-month-old we'll call "G". I have been seeing this little one since she was about two months old. G's grandmother, who is a long term patient with me, brought G in as an infant. She had been slightly injured during her birth, and her right arm just wasn't working as well as her left arm. She tended to allow the right arm hang down a bit, and she wasn't moving her fingers on that hand as much as she moved the left hand's fingers. There was an obvious and troubling difference between the two limbs. Since G lives in another city with her parents, my time to see her was short, but we had to make the best of it. During that first treatment, I channeled my teachers in Japan to the best of my ability to use the teishin along the appropriate areas. At the end of the treatment which took less than 15 minutes, we all witnessed that G was moving her arms and fingers equally well on both sides of her body. Her mother and grandmother were very happy and touched by G's response to acupuncture. I was also a little surprised, having never worked with such a seemingly impossible situation before. We all learned something that day. She followed up in the acupuncture clinic a few days later with me, then returned to her home city with her parents.

G's grandmother kept me up to date on G's progress in her hometown. G did undergo some physical therapy in her home city to reinforce her progress and continue improving her mobility. Now that G has gotten a bit older, it's hard to tell that she ever had an issue moving her arms. When she's in town, her grandmother does bring her by to get treatments to help with her overall health. Our last visit was a few days ago. My how she's grown. Now, she tries to help me with the treatment, taking the teishin and giving it back to me, using the end of it on her little thigh, and reaching her arms to me to be picked up several times during her visit. What a rewarding process to see the changes that this little one has made in just over a year. I hope to treat her from time to time, and watch her grow up from my vantage point.

Chance Meetings: Triplets

2011-08-02T19:04:19Z

Because I see lots of fertility patients, I often follow up with parents-to-be (mostly mothers, but sometimes the fathers, too) throughout their pregnancies and beyond. So far, at least three of the couples I've seen have had triplets. I think of them from time to time with gratitude that I was able to participate in some way in these healthy pregnancies, although they are often beset with some difficulties since it's harder - compared to singleton pregnancies - for the mother's body and for the babies to have to share resources among themselves for ten months.

Before work on Saturday mornings, I can often be found at the Morningside Farmers' Market, my favorite one in town because of its emphasis on organically grown vegetables and fruits. Imagine my surprise on recent Saturday, when after admiring a striking set of triplets from afar, I lifted my eyes to see their mom and recognized her right away as one of my patients who'd had triplets. I thought, "that's my patient, and that means those are my kids!" "My" only in the sense that I was working with their parents using acupuncture around the time they were conceived. What an exciting moment, as it just so happened that this particular mom was one of the parents who promised to send me a birth announcement but never did, and that was five years ago. This was my first time meeting the children, although I was aware of their existence. The kids are beautiful and I'd already felt an affinity to them when I saw them in the parking lot. So, I went into my memory banks to recall the mom's name, which I did, and approached her to find out if she remembered me. She did, and we had a very pleasant conversation during which she introduced me to her two sons and her daughter, who had just recently had their fifth birthday. Those kids are here, and their family is complete. What a full-circle moment that was. It reminded me once again how lucky I am to do the work that I do.

Keeping Us Well

2011-05-15T19:52:47Z

One thing that struck me during my visits to Japan was the way that everyday people went to the acupuncturist when there was nothing "wrong"; meaning when there was no health problem to speak of. There seemed to be two types of people who got their acupuncture or herbal formulas faithfully -- those who either wanted to preserve and enhance the healthy vitality that they already had, or those who had been diagnosed with a serious condition for which Western medicine offered only management but no cure. People would make their appointments in advance and show up for them like clockwork. It was pretty gratifying to observe that people had enough belief in non-invasive methods to keep themselves going as comfortably and energetically as they possibly could. We were actually told in acupuncture school that in ancient times, the focus of health care was on the doctor's ability to keep the patients well, and much less on the ability to offer a fix once things went wrong.

Naturally, I would like to see Americans take on a similar approach to preventative medical care. So many of us use urgent care and the emergency room to tackle issues once they can no longer be ignored, when in some cases what we're being seen for would never get that serious if we would only do the things in daily life to allow ourselves to have stronger immunity and better overall health. Thankfully these emergency structures are in place for when we need them, but just think of the money we would save as a society if our people were healthier and didn't feel we had to use crisis-centered medical services as much as we do now.

Unfortunately, it seems as though our health as a society is getting worse in many ways. We are so busy and stressed. We rely on processed foods and we don't cook from scratch like we used to. Our envionments are full of pollution. We're becoming obese as a group, including our children. The best ways to defend against the insults to our bodies and minds, though we can't expect to be 100% diligent, is to become conscious of what we can alter and do something about those things. For example, we can set aside some time to meditate and exercise -- best in the mornimg if possible -- as well as preparing a home-cooked meal at least one day a week. We can make healthier choices when dining out and read labels at the grocery store. We can participate in social activities that sustain us, especially with other people whose company we enjoy. And we can get regular bodywork such as acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic and regular check-ups with our physicians. Not so many things to do, right?

If you or someone you know can benefit from the preventative approach to fortify and maintain your existing health, please contact the office for further details about how regular acupuncture can help.

The Weather and Your Body

2011-04-19T19:53:43Z

“When it’s going to rain, my joints get achy.”

“Don’t stay out in the sun too long . . . you’ll be exhausted afterwards.”

“If I ride in a convertible with the top down, I’ll get a headache”.

Just how does the weather affect us? This is a relevant question right now, especially considering the extremes we’ve experienced in our national weather patterns as of late. Here in Atlanta, we had an ice event in January that took many of us by surprise with its duration – four long days of staying off of the roads, as suggested by the Georgia Department of Transportation. Springtime has been just as turbulent, with the string of tornadoes and baseball-sized hail that pummeled some local areas recently. According to reports, the upcoming summer promises to be a scorcher as well. So how do our bodies deal with all of this?

East Asian medicine considers our bodies as a continuous part of the environment. Thus, if there are weather patterns going on outside, we can expect that our bodies notice and respond, even if we are not conscious of it. As the quotes above indicate, we are often conscious of the effects the weather has on us. Often times, disease patterns in the body are discussed using weather-related terms. For instance, a swollen knee or bloated abdomen could be described as a damp condition. Headaches and dizziness are sometimes considered to result from, or be made worse by, wind conditions that the body has taken on. Dryness can affect the body too, leading to a wrinkled or shriveled feeling and appearance in the skin. There are many more ways that weather conditions can manifest in the body as well.

Having acupuncture around the time that seasons change is a great thing to do for your health. Licensed acupuncturists are trained to consider the effects that weather will have on our treatment in most cases. Very recently, I noticed that most everyone seemed to be coming in with a stuffy nose, but that it wasn’t from catching a cold. It turns out that something was blooming in the air, and whatever it was, it seemed to be affecting even some of my long-term patients who never have allergy problems in the spring. Having acupuncture during such times can help our bodies to deal with such insults from the environment without having to just trudge through and wait for the patterns to lift. It can also help relieve the upper body muscle tension that tends to appear in some of our bodies when our least favorite season comes around each year. We should consider acupuncture as well as other natural approaches to help ourselves adjust to our environment in the most comfortable way possible.

Preventing Falls in Seniors

2009-08-24T03:30:25Z

Unfortunately, falls are one of the leading causes of death and disability in older people. Something as random and quick as a fall can change the entire life of the person who fell and their caretakers. My grandmother-in-law, with whom I was very close, lost her independence following a fall; she couldn’t live alone anymore and had to go to a nursing home. This was the beginning of the end for her — within seven months, she had passed. I still miss her a lot.

One of the best ways I found to develop and maintain the stability to prevent falls in the elderly is by starting to do strengthening exercises while you are younger. Tai Chi is excellent for this. It may seem that the people aren’t doing much when they do tai chi, but this kind of exercise develops strength in the legs. It can help with confidence (a big part of it, actually) and stability. Start early with this — it does become too late. A 90 year-old-patient I see, a man, tried to start tai chi at 86, and by then, he couldn’t hold himself up properly. I felt bad for him but if only he’d started earlier, he could have really seen some benefit. For more information, see the CDC report called, “Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview”http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/falls/adultfalls.html and go to Youtube and check out the following video for an example of a woman doing tai chi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBvF6r6DOvc

How I Got into This, Part 1

2009-05-19T19:23:10Z

Often, during the course of the interview with a new patient, the tables turn such that the patient starts asking me a few questions about how I became interested in acupuncture. It's a fair question and one that I am happy to answer. I usually try to keep my reply short in the context of the appointment setting, but here, I can elaborate a little. Sorry if it's a bit indelicate at times, but here it goes.

When I was younger, I had problems with my menstrual cycles. Looking back, many of the problems I experienced were probably largely related to my emotional states at the time, but nevertheless, the problems were real and debilitating. I had painful menstrual cramps for two weeks of every month throughout my teen years and twenties. Once the bleeding "hit", as I referred to it, like a natural catastrophe, I was down for the count with unrelenting nausea, vomiting, spasmodic cramps, fever and chills, and sometimes diarrhea. I couldn't drink or eat anything, couldn't take pain medication (because I'd throw it up), couldn't go to school or work, couldn't even sit up in bed, sleep, or do anything to take my mind off of the excruciating pain. It was horrible, and I didn't understand why it was happening or what to do about it. My whole life revolved around my period. Nothing could be planned for the expected dates of the monthly scourge's next Days 1-2. After trying everything I knew in terms of changing my diet and taking advantage of what Western Medicine had to offer, I tried acupuncture. My acupuncturist, Dr. Yajuang Wang of Seattle, opened a new world for me. I noticed differences in my cycle immediately once I started getting treatments from her and taking the herbs that she prescribed. For once in my post-pubescent life, the cramps and the vomiting seemed to let up somewhat. The bleeding started and stopped on a dime instead of trailing on and off with days of spotting at the beginning and end of it. When I was not as much better as she thought I should be after a number of treatments, Dr. Wang referred me back to my Western physician for additional testing. Soon afterwards, I was scheduled for laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. Stage 2 endometriosis was discovered and removed (for the most part; some of the endometriosis was left behind because it was deemed too close to vital structures in the pelvic cavity for safe removal), resulting in what turned out to be one or two months of relief. The pain and vomiting returned, but my condition was not as debilitating every month as it had been before the surgery. I was really disappointed, but I kept seeking natural cures for my health problems. I soon accrued a bookshelf full of all manner of natural health-related texts. I continued with acupuncture, and eventually I got better. Now, I don't vomit, and the cramps are not too bad most of the time. Still, I take painful and disruptive periods as a sign that something needs to change. It really is not supposed to be like this. I'll write more about how I decided to become a licensed acupuncturist in Part 2.

Acupuncture for Headaches

2008-08-07T19:06:37Z

Most people have experienced headaches at one time or another, although occasionally I meet the patient who, upon routine questioning, says, “I have never had a headache in my life”. According to Harvard Medical School’s ‘Everyday Health: Understanding Headaches’ website, headaches can result when sensory nerves in the head are activated as local muscles, blood vessels and nerves temporarily stop functioning correctly (1). This is not in contrast to the way we think of headaches when we consider their causes and the solutions that acupuncture holds for stopping or curing them. From an East Asian medical perspective, headaches (along with dizziness, high blood pressure, and certain other health conditions, by the way) can occur when there is too much ki (energy) in the head and thus an imbalance in ki circulation in the rest of the body, where the ki can be put to productive use. Thus, one of the first goals in the treatment of headaches using acupuncture is to determine where the ki is overly concentrated and use the methods of acupuncture and moxibustion to redistribute it. Certainly though, there are times when it is in order to seek the care of a qualified physician as the first course of action when experiencing certain symptoms, namely:

▪ a sudden, severe headache with or without neck stiffness

▪ a persistent headache in someone who was headache-free

▪ a headache with eye or ear pain

▪ a headache with fever

▪ a headache following a blow to the head

▪ a headache that interferes with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

▪ a persistent headache in a child, especially if occurring at night or upon waking in the morning

▪ confusion or loss of consciousness (2).

Additionally, Ikeda Masakazu sensei suggests seeking Western care if the entire head hurts, if it is the first time the person has ever had a headache with a severe quality, if there is vomiting with the headache, or for intractable headaches for which pain relievers offer no help whatsoever (3). He finds acupuncture extremely useful for the type of headaches that occur at the temples and for the type of headaches that happen a couple of times per month; particularly those that occur in relation to the menstrual cycle in women of childbearing age (4). Headaches can be treated effectively using acupuncture, both to stop a headache from coming on to full-fledged degree and also to help prevent future headaches by influencing the free flow of ki. For patients who come into the office with an existing headache, it is important to judge the value of the treatment by asking one simple question – “Is the pain gone, or at least substantially decreased, by the end of the session?” For me as a practitioner, the patient’s headache pain should be gone. I want to make sure that each patient who comes in with a headache leaves without one.

(1-2). “Everyday Health: Understanding Headaches.” http://www.everydayhealth.com/pain-management/headache/understanding/index.aspx

(3-4). Ikeda, Masakazu. ‘Acupuncture for Acute Conditions’. Lecture. Carrot Tower. Sangenjaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. July 6, 2008.

Kerri Winston, Ph.D., L.Ac., has a strong record of successfully treating headaches many other issues using acupuncture. If you would like to make an appointment with her or speak with her specifically about your case, please call Acupuncture Works at 404-949-0550 or write her at kerri@acuworks.net.

Confidences

2008-03-28T19:13:50Z

As a health care practitioner who spends lots of time with patients one-on-one behind closed doors, I hear a lot of confessional statements from them about situations in their lives. A patient the other day said, “Acupuncture makes a person talk! It’s been a long time since I opened up or even thought about the topics I’m discussing with you.” Sometimes, I feel that I have heard it all, from admissions about affairs that they are considering having to what they really do for a living (high-priced call girl, etc.) to health conditions they have that they haven't mentioned to their spouses yet. When placed in this role, it is my job both to listen without judgment and, in some cases, to make the suggestion the patient see a trained, licensed counselor or therapist for additional assistance. But most importantly, I have to assess how what they've just disclosed to me is affecting their health that day. Often, there's something; some link that can be drawn between what we have discussed in hushed tones and the condition of their body. Our emotions show up all over our bodies and it serves us to know what to observe. I am honored to be able to act as a sounding board for them in that way. Sometimes people just want to be heard. Especially when they've sought acupuncture for some kind of a pain condition, these patients usually get better fast..

Experiences in Japan

2008-02-09T18:14:44Z

I have recently returned to Atlanta from visits to Japan for most of December 2007 and for about 12 days in July 2008. Both trips were wonderful. I went to learn from my teachers, and came back infinitely richer in many ways than before I left. My Japanese language skills seem to be both improving and getting rusty at the same time. I always know when I plan to return to Japan that I will be so glad I made the journey, and I am never disappointed.

Some of you who have been in for treatment or who know me personally have heard some of my stories about my adventures in Tokyo and Imabari, a small town on Shikoku Island where my senior teacher lives and practices. Life is so modern there in many ways but so different from living in the United States. In Tokyo particularly, people live very close together, in public and private. Here in Atlanta, and in the United States in general, people spread out and take up lots of personal space around our bodies and around our possessions. It can be startling to ride crowded trains, walk along packed sidewalks, and, when indoors, be very closely surrounded by four walls at all times. However, these conditions can be adapted to easily and then I start to wonder why I feel the need for so much space at home anyway. In Japan's countryside areas, people take up more room but still, the life is physically compact by American standards. There is order everywhere, though. Passengers boarding trains wait patiently until every departing passenger steps off. On the escalators, standers stand to the left and walkers walk up on the right. I get riled up myself to see some oblivious Westerner standing on the escalators, blocking the way for others to get by! At traffic lights, pedestrians wait for the light to change before crossing. Of course there are exceptions, but the order I observed astounded me. It was as if everyone knew the rules for being in crowds and followed those rules to the letter. All the space we're used to in the States must allow some of us to disregard such courtesies in order to get where we're going or get our bearings; we're just thinking about our own little paths, not about how orderly transportation could run for everybody if we just paid more attention to our surroundings and to efficiency. Societies become reflected by glimpses such as these.

East Asian Medicine for Sprains and Strains

2007-08-28T19:15:45Z

A few definitions are in order before discussing an East Asian medical approach to sprains and strains. First of all, what are they, and what are the differences between them? A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, the connective tissue between bones at joints (1). A strain is a stretched or torn tendon (tendons connect muscles to bones), or a stretched or torn muscle (2). Most of the time, these kinds of injuries are characterized by sudden activities that disrupt protective body mechanics; in a reactive attempt to correct the loss of balance or application of force, the person with either of the above types of injuries has usually had an accident that resulted in a stretch or tear of the relevant structure. The most affected areas are the ankles, knees, and wrists (3). In acupuncture practice, I see ankle sprains far more often than any other type of sprain or strain. Depending of the severity of symptoms, it is recommended that the injured party see a physician as soon as possible to rule out or confirm the possibility of broken bones, fractures, or other serious conditions. During all aspects of recovery, acupuncture and moxibustion can be helpful to reduce swelling and the need for medication. These techniques can also help to speed the healing process.

Commonly, people want to know what they can do at home to help themselves get back to the activity level they were used to before the injury occurred. A question that is often asked is, “Should we be using ice or heat?” on the injured area. According to Drs. Roizen and Oz, of the You: series of (Western) medical reference books, it is best to ice for 48 hours following an injury to reduce swelling and pain, although the use of ice after 48 hours is for the generation of heat after the ice is taken away (4). They further suggest the use of heat to warm the muscle for increased range of motion as healing commences (5). In seeming contrast, Masakazu Ikeda sensei reports the use of heat during the phases of recovery to discharge heat from the area, employing cooling only if the area of injury is very hot (6). When we think about it, the goals of these two apparently opposite approaches is to clear excessive, pathogenic heat and to replace that heat with a healing form and amount of heat. They are really both saying the same thing. So, the advice to those who insist on continuing to use ice long after the initial phase of injury, is that they please do so in strict moderation with the intention of generating heat to actually heal the sprain or strain. To prevent these kinds of injuries from taking place in the future, there are many exercises that can be done to strengthen the ligaments, tendons, bones, and muscles. If a person is prone to such problems, it is of paramount importance to incorporate strengthening exercises on a regular basis.

(1-3). “Health Topics – Questions and Answers about Sprains and Strains.” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/strain_sprain/strain_sprain.htm(4-5). Roizen, Michael, and Oz, Mehmet. You: The Owner’s Manual.

New York: Harper Collins Resource, 2005. P. 112. (6). Ikeda Masakazu. The Practice of Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, trans. Edward Obaidey. Seattle: Eastland Press, 2005. pp.116-117.

East Asian Medicine for the Person Who Takes a Variety of Different Medications

2007-08-21T19:17:42Z

In today’s American society, an alarming percentage of people are taking pills. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, as of their latest survey in 2002, almost half of the population had a record of prescription drug use within the past month (1). Sometimes, especially in the senior population, people can end up taking several different medications, some of which are supposed to treat the same conditions. The main problem that can result is that with most any pharmaceutical drug, there is a risk of side effects.

In contrast to the magic bullet approach to managing health maladies, East Asian medicine supports the body’s own natural healing mechanisms. Within this system, the body is observed as it is, with the practitioner taking into consideration what some experienced practitioners say about trends that show up for the overmedicated patient, such as a gray tongue coating from the use of antibiotics and an unusually strong pulse for those taking steroids. True diagnostic signs may be masked by the use of drugs, but the practitioner has the challenge to see through the mask and tailor the treatment to the individual who shows up at that particular time. Overmedication can yield a constellation of symptoms, some of which will be unique to the individual’s drug list. Adverse drug reactions are more of a possibility as the number of prescriptions increase. When I see new patients, I ask them to bring their list of prescribed drugs so that I can have an idea as to what each drug is supposed to address in general. I then translate the function of their medication into the language of East Asian medicine. For instance, if my patient is taking a diuretic, I realize that there could be a problem with the body’s process of water transformation, and I can do a palpatory exam to narrow my treatment principle down from there (i.e., does the pulse suggest an issue with the Kidney system, the Spleen system, the Urinary Bladder, or the Triple Burner? Is the problem in multiple systems or meridians?) Eventually, some patients are able to reduce or eliminate some or all of their drugs with the assistance of their physician. I do not get involved in that aspect and would not advise any patient to change their dose or just stop taking any medicine without the approval of their physician. Sometimes there are herbal substitutes for certain conditions, but sometimes, there are not. There is an interesting article on Subhuti Dharmananda’s ITM Online website about how certain classes of drugs interact with certain dietary factors (2). Herbs work differently than pharmaceutical drugs, but they can provide an alternative in some cases; again, please check with a licensed herbologist and your physician. It can be helpful for all involved when there’s a dialogue among the parties – patient, physician, and herbologist.

(1).Health,

United States, 2006. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm, p.350.(2). Dharmananda, Subhuti. “The Interactions of Herbs and Drugs.” http://www.itmonline.org/arts/herbdrug.htm

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Attitudes About Food

2007-08-14T19:18:39Z

“But that’s the way I have eaten my whole life. I am not going to change it now.”

“Man, if everything’s bad for you, at least I am going to enjoy what I’m eating. You have to die from something.”

“Well, you can keep your rabbit food. I need meat.”

Do any of the above statements sound familiar? They do to me. I hear these kinds of comments from patients and acquaintances all of the time concerning their dietary choices. Sometimes, just knowing exactly what to eat and in what quantities is not that easy. The epidemic of overweight and obesity in America stands testament to the fact that people here have lost their connection to the basic ideas of nutrition that were part of the cultural inheritance of pre-modern times. People seem to be eating unconsciously and accepting the negative effects of those choices as inevitable. A new study coming out in JAMA tomorrow (August 15, 2007) discusses the strong link between Western diets – those filled with red and processed meats, refined grains, fats, and sugars – and colon cancer (1). What we are consuming as a society is making us sick and killing us, and it’s time we did something about it.

I do ask about patients’ diets during the initial appointment and from time to time in subsequent sessions, but I generally do not give nutritional advice unless asked specifically. If I am asked, I try to avoid making lists for them of what they should not eat. Rather, I suggest rough guidelines such as staying away from processed foods and unhealthy meats, and increasing their intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and flesh foods like high-quality fish or poultry. I believe that people should have a certain amount of pleasure and joy associated with the foods they choose, and strict rules can sometimes build resentment and render enjoyment impossible. In general, each patient can develop a mindset that utilizes prudence and moderation in the vast majority of their dietary choices.

(1). Meyerhardt, J.A. Journal of the American Medical Association, Aug. 15, 2007; vol 298: pp 754-764.