|
3/14/2020 0 Comments Keeping Your Immune System Strong"Our food should be our medicine and our medicine should be our food."
- Hippocrates What we eat can have a great influence on our immune system. Based on research studies, these foods have a strong immune-boosting effect:
- Simulates production of gamma interferon, boosts activity of natural killer (NK) cells - Revs up production of antibodies
- Stimulate macrophages (important in fighting cancer cells and microbes)
spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, broccoli sprouts, carrots, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, onions..
- You can eat raw garlic or a cold-pressed garlic extract - When you feel sore throat coming on, eat some garlic or onion to scare off the cold or flu.
- Oysters (raw and smoked), crabmeat, pot roast, calf's liver, turkey (dark meat), pumpkin and squash seeds - You can take also zinc supplements Foods that can weaken immune system:
- Vegetable polyunsaturated fats (omega-6 fatty acids) such as in corn, sunflwer and safflower seed oils can inhibit formation of lymphocytes
0 Comments
3/14/2020 0 Comments Covid-19 Symptoms and PrecautionsCorona virus symptoms:
1) Fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, fatigue – see CDC website for more details. https://www.cdc.gov Simple precautions that you can take to keep yourself and others safe include: 1) Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 70% isopropyl alcohol if soap and water aren't available. 2) Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, or just in general when you are outside your home. 3) Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 4) Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can and wash your hands. 4) If you are sick, stay home. 5) Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. At this time Great Road Acupuncture and Herbs will be operating with normal business hours.
In order to continue spread wellness and health we ask you that: 1) If you feel sick, have fever, a cough, please contact us to reschedule your appointment. 2) If you had a direct contact with someone who has been in a high infected zone, please contact us to reschedule your appointment. 3) During your regular appointments, you are welcome to ask any questions regarding self-care and how to keep your immune system strong. 4) You can schedule Herbal Consultation appointment. Chinese herbal formulas have been used for centuries to fight off malaria and other febrile infectious diseases and are currently used with success as a supportive measure in China to fight COVID-19.
2. Reduce pain Whether you suffer from joint pain, headaches, menstrual cramps or a generalized body pain such as in fibromyalgia, acupuncture has a great track record in reducing pain by improving blood flow, reducing inflammation and by regulating nervous and hormonal system. 3. Reduce anxiety, depression and improve sleep Life is stressful and stress can impact our physical and mental health. It's been well supported by research that acupuncture can modulate our nervous and hormonal system and reduce anxiety and depression and improve sleep. 4. It works! Both World Health Organization (WHO) and National Institute of Health (NIS) recognize acupuncture to be effective treatment of over 50 western medical diseases. 5. It is relaxing and enjoyable! What other medical treatment will make you leave smiling and relaxed? Fibromyalgia is a common chronic syndrome affecting women more than men. It is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. Other symptoms may include cognitive difficulties known as 'fibro fog' (difficulty in paying attention or concentrating on mental tasks), headaches, paresthesia (tingling, numbness, chilling or burning skin sensations).
Fibromyalgia is believed to be a neurobiological disorder that is referred to as central sensitivity syndrome. It means that pain sensations felt in fibromyalgia are likely due to hypersensitivity of the central nervous system and the way it processes pain. Can acupuncture help? A consensus statement from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or may be an acceptable alternative treatment in comprehensive management program for fibromyalgia. Recently, even BlueCross BlueShield, a major health insurance company, dropped opioids for the management of chronic pain, and is adding acupuncture as an alternative. This shows that acupuncture is well recognized within Western medical institutions as a valuable option in treating chronic pain. From the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, the diagnosis will be made based on the symptoms that the patient presents. If, for instance, one patient may suffer from chronic pain with the tingling and burning sensations in the skin, they will get different diagnosis and treatment, than the patient who suffers from chronic pain and cognitive difficulties. The TCM practitioner will also treat the root of the problem as well as the symptoms. In addition to acupuncture, the treatment may include herbs, moxibuction, cupping, and lifestyle modifications such as changes in diet and exercise. The treatment usually lasts 6-12 weeks, depending on the severity of the condition and on the individual's response to the treatment. A randomized controlled trial with fibromyalgia patients published in Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine showed that acupuncture was beneficial for pain and quality of life 3 months after the end of the treatment with some improvements lasting one year after the treatments. This study evaluated acupuncture treatments alone. It did not include other forms of TCM treatments that may be included in your acupuncturist's clinic (mentioned above: herbs, exercise, dietary changes..), that may contribute to even more lasting improvements. References Targino, R., Imamura, M., Kaziyama, H., Souza, L., Hsing, W., Furlan, A., . . . Neto, R. A. (2008). A randomized controlled trial of acupuncture added to usual treatment for fibromyalgia. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 40(7), 582-588. doi:10.2340/16501977-0216 1/18/2019 1 Comment Fighting Cold or a Flu?It seems we are deep into the season for all kinds of cold viruses. We hear people sneeze and cough all around us. Either you had a cold or someone you know had it.
Can acupuncture and herbs help? And the answer is … yes! As a matter of fact, a great body of knowledge of Oriental medicine is dedicated to fighting infectious and febrile diseases. There are acupuncture points on your body that, when stimulated by needles or warmed by moxa, can effectively relieve nasal and sinus congestion, sore throat, headaches, cough and strengthen your immune system. There are also very many herbal formulas that treat respiratory diseases in various stages, from common cold with nasal congestion, to pneumonia. But, there are also things in your kitchen cabinets that can be very helpful. Here is a simple remedy: Ingredients 1/2 inch of fresh ginger, cut into small pieces 1 piece of cinnamon bark or 1/2 tsp of cinnamon powder 1 quarter of a small lemon 1 tsp of honey 10 oz of water Bring water to a boil and add all of the ingredients. Steep at lower temperature for 20 minutes. When done, let is stay for 5-10 minutes, then strain the liquid. Drink slowly. Chicken soup is also very effective, especially if you add garlic, onions, turmeric and black pepper. Seasonal colds and flu may be also prevented by taking herbal formulas and having acupuncture treatments in early Fall, before the start of the flu season. |
Archives
July 2021
Acupuncture |
RSS Feed
Site powered by Weebly. Managed by pair Domains