Central Path Acupuncture and Wellness Blog

Why do you do what you do and how can you stop yourself from doing things you don’t want to do and start doing things you want to do?

Okay so I’ll answer the good part of this question towards the end – first some ramblings.

Recently I was introduced to a system of psychiatry called IFS or Integrated Family Systems.  The bridge between IFS and acupuncture is actually very similar.   IFS practitioners try and first get you into a relaxed state.  This is just like acupuncture.  During the first part of the treatment, which is generally the longest we focus on tapping into the body’s deepest resources, awaking the core of it’s energy and deeply calm the nervous system so that you can recharge your battery. Have you had acupuncture before?  Some patients report that it’s like being in a trance!  Many say it’s more relaxing than a massage. Others comment things like, “What did you put those needles in?”  We call it the acu-buzz or acustoned.  It’s like having a few glasses of wine one patient told me the other day. Anyways……….I digress.

In the IFS after they have you relaxed they introduce new ideas for you to think about.  For instance if you it’s very hot out and you are craving ice cream there are sometimes two little voices in your head.  One says, “Yes!  I need ice cream.”  The other is the one that says, “I want ice cream, but I’ve been on this health kick and I know the ice cream will make me feel guilty, bloated and after my sugar high very tired.”  So who do you listen to?  This is just like acupuncture, there is a yin and a yang. Two thoughts, two sides of the coin ect.

IFS teaches that have to separate your SELF (as in the entire part of you that is you) into small little parts.  You have to talk to and identify the part that wants ice cream from the part that doesn’t.  When you begin to take a look deeper into this little self (yogis call this ahimsa) you may realize that although the ice cream is delicious you know you’re better off without it right now.  OR it may be the case that you only eat ice cream very infrequently and it’s no big deal.  Either way you have to look deep into the nature of the reality of the problem that you’re facing.  This is also the reason why we use needles!  In our society today it’s hard to find the time to relax deeply or even take a breath. Whether you receive treatments weekly or month to month acupuncture creates a specified time of your schedule and forces you to be still and calm.  Yes forces!  No you can’t run around with needles in you.

So back to our original question.  How can you stop doing the things that you don’t want to do and start doing the things that you want to?  First you must relax.  You need some consistent time each day or at least weekly to properly organize your thoughts and calm your nervous system.  Next you need to identify whether your desires are realistic.  For instance I can’t lose 20 pounds in a week. Next develop a plan that is both challenging but VERY capable.  You must build on success rather than small failures again and again.  It also helps during this time to look more deeply into the true nature or your desire in the first place.  Why do you want a new car?  Why do you feel like you need a vacation?  Are you avoiding anything?  Are your expectations realistic?  These questions can go on and on.  In order to perceive clearly you must be in a clear state of mind.  This is where acupuncture can help.  So come in and be relaxed and ponder life for awhile.  It’s actually very fun.

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Newton Acupuncture, Waltham Acupuncture

Did you know that a women giving birth in a hospital could have up to 16 different connections to machines?  When did childbirth become so – well mechanized?  As an acupuncturist I’ve thought a lot about this and I’ve read a lot about homebirth.

I can understand how some women prefer to give birth in a hospital because there is always the small chance that something can go awry during labor and certainly the hospital is the best place to be in those types of emergency situations.  However, the more I look deeply into this issue I have to wonder where the decision comes from to birth in a hospital.  For many women it’s not a choice rather it is simply following the norm.  In my experience what it comes down to is fear.  Fear that something will or could go wrong and in that case the best place to be is the hospital.  This is true.  But realistically risks exist everywhere in life and the fact is the risk of something going wrong in a low risk pregnancy is about the same as a child having a skiing accident during there first year of skiing – about 0.5% chance of a serious complication.  I would like to present some facts from the book PUSHED: the Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care.  This book was published in 2005 so although most of the statistics are five years old they are still very interesting.  According to a recent discussion I had with an OB in New Hampshire many of these statistics are still very accurate.

• In 2005 (albeit somewhat dated now) 30.2% of American women gave birth by C-sections
• Of those that gave birth vaginally 1/3 had a episiotomy – the surgical procedure to widen the vaginal opening.
• Half of all C-sections are scheduled prior to the due date.
• 99% of women in the US give birth in a hospital YET in 2005 we still ranked towards the bottom in industrialized countries in maternal and infant mortality.
• According to the CIA.gov website in 2010 out of almost 300 nations we rank 44^th in infant mortality.  Countries like Cuba, and Slovenia have lower rates than the US.  Granted the US is superior at saving premature babies.  However, women are 70% more likely to die during birth in the US than in Europe (pg.72).
• To quote again from Pushed, “In the countries with the best maternal and infant outcome – the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark – women and babies benefit from lifelong universal healthcare…the vast majority of laboring women get individual support from a midwife, are free to move about and birth in whatever position feels best, and are rarely induced, anesthetized, or cut.  These countries have between 14 – 18% C-section rate.  Are women in the US not able to give birth like these European countries?  For some reason I don’t think so.
• A women is four times more likely to die if they have a C-section than she is during vaginal birth.

All of this came up because I recently spoke with an obstetrician in New Hampshire who said that most of the doctors in her hospital do not know how to attend to a female giving birth without an epidural.  According to her, low-risk women giving birth in hospital have far higher rates of intervention and surgery, yet the same number of neonatal deaths.  Why is this case and where is the best place to have a birth?  It of course comes down to the mother, father and provider to decide.  They must weigh their options and identify their priorities and where they will feel most comfortable.  Hopefully you will find this material at least thought provoking and I welcome any feedback and additional information.

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Some people feel tired as the fall season creeps in and wonder whether winter will put them in bed like a large brown bear nestled for the duration of l’hiver until spring.

Do you have depressive symptoms that worsen during fall and winter?  Do you have fatigue, low energy, disturbed sleep, and for some overeating and or irregular weight gain associated with the seasons?  Do all of these symptoms develop in the fall/winter and spontaneously remit during the following spring/summer.

Have you ever heard or wondered whether you might suffer from seasonal affect disorder otherwise known as SAD?

If yes there is good news that you might benefit from some simple treatments for SAD and regain some of that long lost summer energy.

So how do I know if I have SAD?  And what exactly classifies this disorder?

The magic 3 SAD requirements:

1.       You’ve experienced depression and other symptoms for at least two consecutive years, during the same season every year.

2.       The periods of depression have been followed by periods without depression.

3.      There are no other explanations for the changes in your mood or behavior.

Some of the non-pharmacological treatments of seasonal affective disorder (READ – SAFE) include acupuncture, Chinese Herbal medicine, bright light therapy, and melatonin dosing.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is very effective at helping reduce SAD and increasing your energy.  One of the most common treatments in my office is treating the adrenal gland and about 80 percent of patients who walk through the door benefit from this type of treatment.  Acupuncture also helps to clear stress, decrease cortisol (adrenaline) levels, and alleviate depression.

Acupuncture is effective because we use the body’s own resources to help diagnose the disharmony within the body.  As my teacher says, “the body never lies.”  A trained and skilled acupuncturist is able to read the body and provide the appropriate treatment.  If you like the idea of having a natural treatment every day Chinese Herbal Medicine and homeopathy also offer some unique natural and safe treatments for SAD.

Hormones, the body, and Melatonin

When the fall season comes your body produces more of the hormone melatonin.  You may have heard about this melatonin supplement, but what’s important to know is that you can’t just take it as a sleep aide – it must be taken at the proper time and in the proper dose.  When taken correctly the increased melatonin surges associated with increased darkness will cease.

How to Take Melatonin?

First of all yes melatonin is safe, but don’t abuse it.  If you have any concerns contact your physician for a medical recommendation.  For instance daytime melatonin can cause depression if taken long enough.  I should say that in my experience melatonin is best used in the short term, especially if you are trying to quickly adjust to jet lag.

However if you want to try it for a treatment of SAD try and find the smallest high quality dose around.  Secondly if it takes you about an hour to fall asleep take the melatonin 1-2 hours before you go to bed.

For more information on melatonin and sleep disorders check out this website – the information that I’ve read there on melatonin seems right on from what I have read in medical trials and literature.

http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/circadian-rhythm-disorders/circadian-rhythm-sleep-disorders/10-how-to-use-melatonin-correctly.htm

Bright Light Therapy

Bright light therapy is another option.  Just sit in front of a high quality cool white fluorescent light source, (regular, not full spectrum) which emits 10,000 lux at a specified distance.  This is best done every day in the morning, for 20-30 minutes with eyes open and while reading or doing some work on the computer.

Another idea is to use a dawn simulator. This device (as the name adequately points out) simulates dawn.  It’s like a progressively brighter alarm clock that you can use to help set your own internal clock and allows your body to know when it should get up.  This is particularly helpful if you have a hard time getting out of bed in the dark!  Dawn stimulators do not have as much research backing them as melatonin dosing, but for some really do the trick.

Some of the newer research suggests using a narrow bandwith (464nm) and blue light. Again if you have any questions regarding

The REST?

Two other items that are important are a daily exercise routine and Vitamin D3.  Ask your doctor to test your levels for Vitamin D to see if there is a deficiency.

Resources:

[Golden RN et. al. The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence. Am J Psychiatry 2005;162(4): 656-662

Anderson JL et. al. Lux vs. wavelength in light treatment of seasonal affective disorder. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2009;120(3): 203-12]

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Have you ever heard of bicipital tendonitis?  It’s itis or inflammation of the biceps tendon.  Painful and annoying.  Recently I treated a case of this with great success and wanted to share this experience of using acupuncture to treat this problem as well as a few of the exercises and complimentary modalities that helped him get back on track.

First and foremost we used acupuncture to help free up his neck, shoulders, and most importantly the attachment point of the bicep muscle on the humerus.  The formula we often use in acupuncture is “increased circulation = decrease decreased inflammation – and it’s a good one.

So in addition to acupuncture, which helped tremendously we used these additional exercises and products to help decrease his pain:

1)    Biofreeze – a simple topical analgesic (pain killer)

2)    Minimal weight with these exercises or no weight at all:

a.    internal and external rotation of the shoulder (elbow fixed at the side) moving the wrist in a 180 degree movement

b.    basic shoulder rolls

c.    unweighted shoulder flexion – Stand with your injured arm hanging down at your side. Keeping your elbow straight, bring your arm forward and up toward the ceiling. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Do 3 sets of 10. As this exercise becomes easier, add a lightweight.

d.    Bicepital Stretch: Stand facing a wall but about 6-8 inches away.  Raising your bad arm to the side your arm out to your side and place the thumb side of your hand against the wall (palm down). Keep your elbow straight. Rotate your body in the opposite direction of the raised arm until you feel a stretch in your biceps. Hold 15 seconds, repeat 3 times.

With a total of 5 treatments the pain had deceased about 80% and he was able to go on with his daily life.  I think with maybe 2 more treatments and continuing to do the exercises he will have no problems whatsoever.

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Do you ever feel fatigued?  Tired?  What about bloated after eating?

Do you have a poor appetite or dizziness?  Pale face, weak voice/reluctance to speak, sweating with little/no exertion?  All of these could be signs and symptoms of what Chinese medical practitioners call qi deficiency.  There are many types of qi deficiency such as Lung qi deficiency, Spleen qi deficiency and even kidney qi deficiency.  Each of these patterns comes with their own set of signs and symptoms and some are shared between each other.

Here are some foods that are thought to help with qi deficiency according to Helping Ourselves by Daverick Leggett:

almond, beef, carrot, cherry, chicken, chickpea, coconut, date, eel, egg, fig, ginseng, goose, grape, ham, herring, lentil, licorice (real), longan, mackerel, milk, millet, molasses, oats, octopus, pheasant, potato, quinoa, rabbit, rice, royal jelly, sage, sardine, sweet potato, shiitake mushroom, squash, sturgeon, tempeh, tofu, trout, venison, yam.

These are foods release energy steadily into our system over a long periods of time, kind of like the concept of lower glycemic index foods in western nutrition.  Foods which tonify qi are also foods that have not been tampered with or processed as little as possible.  For example use dry beans like chickpeas as opposed to canned beans that often have added preservatives or sodium.

So if you are feeling tired or have any questions about qi deficiency try some of these foods or come and get some needles!

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Are you the type of person wishing that you could just make it to the gym – for once?  Or maybe stop eating a pint of ice cream.  Or perhaps you have some financial goals in mind and you keep spending, spending, spending.  Here are some insights that might help you take a different look at why you can’t break your bad habits.

In Light on Life BKS Iyengar writes, “If consciousness is like a lake, there are primary waves or fluctuations of consciousness on the surface of the lake (these are like momentary day to day emotions and feels and thoughts) …and the there are secondary fluctuations.”

Secondary fluctuations are those that rise up from the bottom of the lake he states.  The bottom of the lake is covered in sand and so, if in life you experience a sufficient number of disappointments, the ripple on the surface creates a wave that goes down to the bottom, and imperceptibly that ripple creates a little bank you will in the sand so there is a mound of disappointment.

For me this image is so clear.  If you’re not already in the belief that your thoughts create your reality I suggest that you take an in-depth look at your thoughts.  It’s said that any negative emotion will change after 2 minutes if you stop, breathe and observe your thoughts.  Our reactions are preconditioned and therefore unfree.  It takes daily practice to change your reactions, your thoughts, and free yourself from inner turmoil that persists in habitual thoughts.

Here’s where acupuncture can be helpful simply because it’s relaxing.  Picture yourself in the most relaxing moment you’ve felt in the last month.  Was it on the beach on vacation?  Flying down the ski slopes riding gravity, wind and molecules being absorbed by the body, or perhaps on a simple quiet walk or even a finely prepared meal.  Acupuncture can help replicate that feeling of relaxation and therefore replicate those thoughts.  It’s smoothing out the sand at the bottom of your lake.
But it doesn’t have to be acupuncture – it can be any tool.  Simply try and find something that you enjoy.  For most people it’s something really simple.  Try and practice this every day.  Even 5 minutes of sitting quietly by yourself each day makes a huge difference in your subconscious mind.

One of the Dali Lama’s secrets for a happy life was to spend some time alone each day.  Perhaps it’s doing some yoga, practicing Tai Chi or cooking.  Find a ritual.  Try and create this object as something consistent.  Perform this ritual EVERY day.  It’s best to do this at the same time and in the same place.  This creates learned behavior.  – just as a dog knows it’s time for dinner.

So changing your habits can be done.  And part of that process is to change your mind.  Just remember to breathe.

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Acupuncture and Depression: What You Never Knew About Depression and Your Body

Do you suffer from depression?  This is a common issues that I treat in my of acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine office right outside of Boston in Waltham, MA.  Acupuncture can be very clinically effective in treating depression although due to the long standing nature of many cases often times can take a longer time to treat than many other dis-eases such as neck and shoulder pain or fatigue.

What I would like to discuss today is some of the various structural problems that Chinese and Japanese medical doctors have found impact depression.  If you suffer from one of these structural problems and have difficulty with depression chances are even better (now that you are armed with this information) that you can be helped with acupuncture.

Here is a basic list of the structural disorders:

• Deviation of the nasal septum
• Tailbone injury
• Weak Immune System
• “Toxins” in the body
• Adrenal Exhaustion
• Hypo-function of the thyroid gland
• Cervical and / or Thoracic Spine Compression
• Scars and / or other meridian disturbances

The first three items on this list: deviation of the nasal septum, tailbone injuries, and a weak immune system all relate to the lungs in Chinese Medical theory.  And the lungs are the primary organ responsible for movement of qi in the body.  Without proper movement of qi or vital energy if you like the body will become stuck or stagnated resulting in depression.  I would say that 70% of the cases of depression that I see in my office just outside of Boston in Waltham, MA can be drastically improved if the patient begins to exercise.

What do “Toxins” mean and why is this on the list?  We talk about external toxins that can impact the body and do not necessarily show up on a blood test.  This could include exposure to mold, hazardous waste, high voltage power or other radio waves, cooking with a microwave too frequently or even talking on the cell phone all the time.  We label these types of activities as toxins because when we perform the “detox” treatment or remove some of the exposure to these types of toxins the depression improves.

Next is a hypo-functional thyroid gland.  This can lead to decreased energy and increased depression.  In the Kiiko Matsumoto style acupuncture we treat the thyroid through the kidney meridian which intimately links together thyroid and adrenal glands.

Adrenal gland exhaustion can results from stress, overwork, not getting enough sleep or an improper diet.  For more information on adrenal exhaustion go here.

Finally one of the most important structural aspects of the body is that the patient have an active, supple, and healthy spine – particularly in the thoracic and cervical regions.  The qi of the lungs (which we know controls the qi and influences depression) can become collapsed due to poor posture.  If this region of the body is aligned and properly treated then you’ll feel the depression slinking back into whatever dark corner it came from.

In summary hopefully you learned that there are many non-traditional aspects that acupuncturists and Chinese herbal Medicine practitioners can look for in depression.  It’s often very helpful to have a different view point and sometimes can be a contributing factor to helping patients overcome plateaus in their progression back to a thriving lifestyle.

Lastly thank you to David Euler and Kiiko Matsumoto for their dedication and clinical expertise on which most of this information was drawn from.

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Neck and shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints from patients I see every day at Central Path Acupuncture and Wellness in Waltham, MA – just outside of Boston.

Even if a patient is really healthy and they are just coming in for a quick tune-up treatment (which I highly recommend!) they always say – yeah my neck and shoulders have been really tight or I’m having some pain in my shoulders. I would say at least 95% of my patients I can find a spot around the upper back or shoulders where they will say, “OW!” that hurts. Actually my favorite is “aaaaaaaah.” In which case they are speaking the first letter of the German alphabet – Ah.

Neck and shoulder pain can be caused by numerous problems – here is a short list compliments of David Euler – my teacher and mentor from Harvard Medical school:

• Cervical Artery Insufficieny
• Post whiplash
• Liver / gall bladder disturbances (which can be a build up of toxins in the body
• Displacement of cervical or thoracic vertebrae
• Malalignment of the hip, or lumbar vertebrae
• Muscular imbalances in the shoulders or lower back and hip
• Stagnation of blood
• TMJ syndrome
• Stress or sympathetic nervous system imbalances
• High or lower blood pressure
• Nasopharyngitis
• Sugar addiction and intake
• trapezius tension from poor posture
• Eye problems or eye strain

Wow. Great list of things to choose from – chances are you can pick out two or three of these if not more. And if you don’t think you can I challenge you to come in so I can find your “Aaaahhhh spot.” (don’t worry I’m kind and a gentle needler.)

So what are the 5 Essential Steps to reducing your neck and shoulder pain?

5. Reduce sugar intake – sugar causes inflammation and we eat lots of it. And by sugar I mean the bad type – not natural sugars from organic and local fruits and vegetables, but rather processed sugar and any form of high fructose corn syrup or even the natural sugars you see these days like organic sugar crystals ect – bad bad bad!

4. Take up a mind body practice like Tai Chi or yoga with an instructor that can help emphasize and correct your postural problems. We are not the leaning tower of Pisa! Fix your posture and muscles, ligaments, joints, and connective tissue will align themselves naturally. Be warned though this process can take a few years to correct – but the results will pay off indefinitely. We offer a weekly class at Central Path Acupuncture and we also give “homework” to our patients that may include Tai Chi or Qi Gong exercises.

3. Breathe and sweat a little bit every day. This is an ancient secret for longevity used by Taoist monks for centuries. If you sweat you’re purifying the body and allowing the lungs to breathe. In Chinese medicine the lungs are an integral part of the upper body and if you sweat you generally are raising your heart rate – increased heart rate means increased respiratory rate – and this means that the muscles that aide and assist in respiration are rejuvenated. Did you know there are up to 15 muscles that aide in respiration! Breathe and sweat!

2. Stretch and move your neck. Simple secret yet people rarely do it. When patients come into my office I give them a 5 minutes movement and exercise stretching routine specifically to reduce neck and shoulder pain and tension. When performed regularly this is all you need.

1. Get Acupuncture! Okay I’m biased but seriously! Acupuncture can help realign bones, relax muscles and take your bodies stress and melt it. Yes simple melt it. At Central Path Acupuncture our rooms are always as warm as you want them – even if that’s 80 degrees on a cold winter day.

Hope this helps and as always may you find your path to whole body health and well being.

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