It’s the strangest thing I’ve ever bought but I have to tell you, I think it does what it promises to do ….
The concept is based on the ancient bed of nails and the idea is that the mat presses thousands of spikes (6000) into your skin to stimulate your nerve endings and muscles… so the end result is that your muscles relax and your body releases those feel good endorphins.
I thought the dealer price was a bit high and sure enough, I found knock off brands on ebay for cheaper. The mat came last week and I’ve laid on it every day at least 2-3x. What I’m purporting is purely anecdotal and highly unscientific but I believe that it does really work.
Apparently these were being sold in Sweden in 2009 and they sold 300,000 of them – they are becoming wildly popular in that area.
Disclaimer: If you actually try this mat, you need to know that the first two minutes are pure agony. Not fun, not relaxing, not even sane. It feels like 6000 sharp points poking you simultaneously, which is exactly what it is. You will hate me for even telling you about these mats and you will feel like you’ve wasted time and money. However, if you can breath deep through those first two minutes, you actually start feeling comfortable, breathing deeply, and getting very relaxed. I seriously have fallen asleep on this mat which surprises no one more than me.
You can google for more info or start here with your quest on all things shakti.
For what it’s worth, I don’t do yoga but I do see an acupuncturist and have for years. This hurts more than acupuncture (initially) but seems to have great results once you get beyond the first couple of minutes.
You’ll have to let me know if you do your own Shakti Experiment!
courtesy of flickr user gnomesmam, creative commons
From a workshop celebrating the 10th anniversary of the NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Bethesda, Md.:
Believe it or not, the National Institutes of Health has had a National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine for 10 years. To celebrate, they hosted a workshop with several speakers who addressed some big topics in complementary and alternative medicine.
What stuck out for me (pun intended) was Dr. Bruce R. Rosen of Harvard Medical School, who spoke about “Acupuncture, Pain, and Placebo.” Dr. Rosen cited some studies that showed a significant impact of acupuncture vs. no acupuncture for relieving chronic pain and pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, to name a few examples.
In one study (I didn’t get the citation) sham acupunture was as effective as the real thing, and both were significantly more effective than no acupuncture.
I’m not suggesting that real acupunture doesn’t have benefits. But this particular study reminded me of a similar study a few years ago in which sham knee surgery was as effective as the real thing. Looks like more evidence for the power of the placebo effect, or in this case, maybe just a more “hands-on” approach to pain management.
Answered by Liz Richards and Rylen Feeney of Blossom Clinic
Q: I have been feeling really nauseous the last few days – not throwing up but hungry and nauseous at the same time, no food seems appetizing and nothing seems to satisfy me. My mom is sending me one of those sea sickness bands that sends little electric pulses. Do you know if they are any good? Any other tips? I’m having trouble just getting myself going. Did I mention I’m exhausted too?
A: Congratulations on your pregnancy! Everything you are expressing is normal. It is very important for you to eat every 1 1/2- 2 hours to prevent the nausea from getting worse. I know it seems counter-intuitive, but it is important to eat small, high protein meals even if your appetite is low. This includes the bedtime hours as well; It really helps to get in the habit of grabbing a small protein snack if you wake up in the night. Often this alone will prevent morning sickness. In general, it is also very important to stay well hydrated.
Some examples of high protein snacks:
almonds and dried apricots
almond butter and rice cakes
apple with almond butter
avocado and sprout or cucumber on toast
boiled eggs
chicken soup
egg drop soup
hummus and crackers
nuts
protein bars
trail mix
When looking for high protein snacks, it is important not only to look for foods high in grams of protein, but also foods that are relatively low in sugar. Often people think that yogurt is a high protein food but in fact, most yogurt has about 6 grams of protein per serving and 83-97% of the carbohydrates coming from sugar. Recently, we were able to find only one brand of yogurt that belied this statistic and had 16 grams of protein to offset the sugar content!
To reduce nausea, you can also split your prenatal vitamin in a half and take 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night, or take it at night before bed. The iron and the zinc in the vitamins tend to cause nausea. You can also supplement with B-6 but you should talk to your midwife or complementary health care provider about that first. You might be able to find B6 lollipops and lozenges for morning sickness, which delivers small doses over the day.
Other useful home remedies include increasing or including “sour” foods into your daily diet. Because the flavor sour is astringent – it helps alleviate nausea. Many women crave sour foods during the first trimester, perhaps for this very reason.
Some “sour” foods include:
Papaya with lemon juice
1/2 a grapefruit
Cranberry
Lemon
Berries
Olives
Trout
Sauerkraut
Pickles
Aduki Bean
Kefir
Umeboshi Plum
The last two food items on the list are of special value, as they have further benefits in addition to being sour. Kefir is a cultured dairy product that contains healthy probiotic cultures, protein and is easier to digest than milk or yogurt. Umeboshi plum is a pickled plum related to the apricot that is a specific Japanese remedy for nausea and digestive complaints. Umeboshi plum can be be purchased whole or as a paste and added to foods in place of salt for flavor or soaked and nibbled on. You only need a little bit as they are high in sodium. Umeboshi is traditionally eaten with rice and in the Japanese equivalent to having an apple a day!
Acupuncture and Amma therapy can help too. A point frequently used by a licensed acupuncturist is Pc6 on the inside of the forearm close to the wrist. This is the same point that the sea-bands stimulate. I have had mixed reports about the bracelets and have never heard of one with electric current. To learn the location of some other points, please visit Debra Betts’ website by clicking here.
There are multiple Chinese herbal formulas that could help reduce nausea as well. These formulas need to be prescribed by a licensed practitioner. For an easy home remedy you can make Ginger tea with honey. To make ginger tea, boil a small handful of fresh ginger in water for 10 minutes. You can add more water if it is too strong. You can also buy crystallized ginger chews or Ginger peoples – ginger chews in the natural candy section of your grocery store or in the bulk section.
For exhaustion, you can supplement with Floradix iron and herbs (this iron doesn’t make one nauseous, I know this from personal experience). Also, napping is a MUST. I remember being shocked by the fatigue during pregnancy; there is nothing like it. Even though the fetus is tiny, your body is working really hard. Your blood volume needs to increase significantly already and this is exhausting. Other good sources of iron and B-6 are unsulfered blackstrap molasses in a grain beverage such as Inka or Pero. Rooibas tea is also mineral rich and can offer a warm drink alternative.
If you have more questions, please feel free to email Liz and Rylen at theblossomclinic@gmail.com
Similar to human usage, acupuncture is gaining popularity in treating dogs.
According to Wikipedia, Veterinary acupuncture is the practice of performing acupuncture on animals.
Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:
Acupuncture may be defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to cause a desired healing effect. This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China, in a very limited form, to treat certain ailments. The Chinese also use acupuncture as preventive medicine against such problems as founder and colic in horses.
The major emergence of Veterinary Acupuncture onto the medical scene did not actually take place until the early 1970’s. Oddly enough, this did not occur in China, but in the United States. Veterinary Acupuncture was introduced into the United States in 1971, by members of the National Acupuncture Associations research team: Dr. Gene Bruno and Dr. John Ottaviano. In the process of treating thousands of small animals and several hundred horses, Bruno and Ottaviano trained Veterinarians who later founded the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS).[1]
Veterinary Acupuncture is used all over the world, either by itself or in conjunction with Western medicine, to treat a wide variety of maladies in every species of domestic and exotic animals. Modern veterinary acupuncturists use solid needles, hypodermic needles, bleeding needles, electricity, heat, massage and low power lasers to stimulate acupuncture points. Acupuncture is not a cure-all, but can work very well when it is indicated.
Acupuncture is indicated mainly for functional problems such as those that involve paralysis, noninfectious inflammation (such as allergies), and pain. For small animals, the following are some of the general conditions that are treated with acupuncture:
• Musculoskeletal problems, such as arthritis or vertebral disc pathology, and hip dysplasia • Skin problems, such as lick granuloma • Respiratory problems, such as feline asthma • Gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea • Selected reproductive problems
For large animals, acupuncture is again commonly used for functional problems. Some of the general conditions where it might be applied are the following:
• Musculoskeletal problems, such as sore backs or downer cow syndrome • Nervous system problems, such as facial nerve paralysis • Skin problems, such as allergic dermatitis • Respiratory problems, such as heaves (emphesema) and “Bleeders” • Gastrointestinal problems, such as nonsurgical colic • Selected reproductive disorders
In addition, regular acupuncture treatment can treat minor sports injuries as they occur and help to keep muscles and tendons resistant to injury. World-class professional and amateur athletes often use acupuncture as a routine part of their training. Acupuncture is used on many animals involved athletic endeavors, such as racing, jumping, or showing.
Needles punctured my ears for the first time in my life this week.
Acupuncture was being offered for one free session to veterans on Veterans’ Day, and I appeared at the WON Institute in Glenside, PA, to take advantage of the procedure. The practitioner, Ed Cunningham, was kind, offering me some cheese and crackers as we made small talk and I got ready for the event.
I sat in a regular metal chair (It may have had some padding, I recall). The room was in a building where students earn masters’ degrees in various forms of meditation, as well as acupuncture. (acupuncture@woninstitute.edu) I cleaned my ears with a small alcoholic rub that was provided. Standing behind me, I could not see Practioner Cunningham hold the needles, but I felt the first “pin prick” on my left ear. I believe three more needles followed, each slightly higher than the previous.
After completing the other ear, a procedure that took all of two minutes, a needle was stuck in the top of my head, where I was told the “chi” rested. I think it was used to help energy flow better.
I felt just the opposite take place!
I felt sedated. Almost numb.
Not so much with my body, but with my anxieties. I had none, and I felt their loss with a happy sweet sorrow. Sorrow, hell. I experienced a wonderful feeling of freedom. Freedom from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and all other agitators!
Sedated. He could have taken my tonsils out and I would not have cared. I could feel no harm and I was as peaceful as I have ever felt through meditation.
And I did not have to wait long minutes to reach this state of awareness. It came within 60 seconds of the last needle. Instructed to close my eyes like in meditation, I relaxed with nary a thought for some 25 minutes. I did not experience the same “lightness” as in a meditation. The relaxation was more palpable, more “heavy,” so to speak. I was free of all worries about the past and/or the future, and completely immersed in the moment being at one with my breathing and the contact my body had, feet to the floor, arms on my lap, and buttocks on the chair. Like in meditation, I felt a “oneness” with the physical properties I touched. A “oneness” with the comfortable temperature inside the room and the slight taste of salsa my taste buds had still noticed from the snack I consumed minutes earlier.
Nothing this good could go on forever, and I slowly opened my eyes. The practitioner was seated on one of the chairs. He had moved around while my eyes were closed, but the sounds he made adjusting a table or dropping a package somewhere did not bother me or my relaxation. It was simply part of an environment that was engaged with me, engaged with my ease and comfort.
One of the doctors who had opened this clinic some six years earlier had come into the room. We had chatted before in the waiting room. He was native of South Korea and served in the medical corps in his homeland. As a captain, he outranked me, and I saluted him, wishing him a pleasant “Veterans Day” before leaving.
The procedure invigorated me and energized me, while at the same time I felt calm and peaceful the rest of the afternoon and night, and even now, several days later, I still can remember the “wellness,” I felt come over me with acupuncture. I hope to return to the institute for a possible follow-up procedure. You see, I have this bad back and if more needles could help me, I will gladly offer it up as a pin cushion.
Acupuncture aside, Chinese people (especially the elderly) will swear by Chinese medicine. Whether this is balm, oil – yes, oil – or the type that you eat, there is a remedy for anything that ails you. You attract mosquitoes? There is an oil for that (even though it smells). Your joints are aching? There is a balm for that (even though it smells). You’re just sick in some way? There are herbal concoctions for that (yes, it smells). The irony is that Chinese herbal shops don’t smell that badly; they actually smell quite pleasant.
A Chinese person will usually bypass all Western medicine, citing the horrible side effects it incurs, such as tiredness and nausea. Drinking herbal concoctions that reek of last month’s garbage collection is much preferable, because this only lasts as long as you are drinking the thick, ink-black liquid. And if you’re Chinese, you would know that the best way to take this is: extremely quickly. While holding your breath. This is unfortunately quite difficult as it is imperative that you take the medicine while it is scalding hot. What results is a painfully slow sip-by-sip ingestion, which allows the taste to swirl around in your mouth, swelling in the taste buds until you wonder why you didn’t just take the harmless, tasteless, pill that Doctor Martin prescribed you and take a long nap instead of listening to your (well-meaning) mother.
*After a few days, the smell will have been aired out and gone, and magically, so will your illness. Yeah, it works. Don’t ask me why.
OK, you’ve done everything possible – taken your Vitamin C (and Vitamin D, as some experts claim), eaten a well-balanced diet, gotten your rest, exercised regularly, and _____________ (you fill in the blank); however, somewhere, somehow, your immune system had a moment – just a MOMENT – of weakness, and before you knew it, you were sniffly, sneezy, achy, and just plain sick! So, now what? Are you doomed to the full, standard duration of the cold or flu?
Not necessarily! In my office, I have successfully treated many patients with colds and flu symptoms. In fact, if the patient visits the office as soon as symptoms appear (chills and fever, sore throat, body aches, headaches, and even vomiting), acupuncture has relieved all pain and has even stopped nausea and vomiting. I’ve even been able to relieve a sore throat in 15-30 minutes!
Don’t just take my word for it: Scientists at the Beijing College of Acupuncture & Orthopedics reported the favorable results of a trial with fifty-seven patients, all of whom were suffering from a cold, influenza, acute tonsillitis, or acute bronchitis. All participants were treated with acupuncture at specific related points on the body:
Dazhui (Du 14) which releases heat from the body
Fengchi (GB20)which releases toxic wind, benefits the head and eyes, clears the sense organs, and activates the channel to alleviate pain,
Feishu (UB13)which tonifies the Lung Qi, nourishes the Lung yin, descends the Lung Qi, clears heat from the Lungs, and releases the exterior of the body from toxins causing aches and pains, and
Quchi (LI11)which also clears heat, cools the blood, eliminates wind, drains damp, eliminates itching, regulates the flow of Qi and Blood, and activates the channel and alleviates pain.
The results: 80% of the patients reported the treatment as “effective” or “markedly effective”!
So, think twice before you reach for the medicine chest to temporarily alleviate your symptoms (often for a far shorter duration than the recommended dosages). Try acupuncture as soon as symptoms set in, and you can minimize the severity and length of the cold or flu… don’t be sick for weeks! Acupuncture can help you get well!
Add in the source of the study at the bottom in small text…
Couples trying to conceive are urged to think about their lifestyle choices
Couples trying to conceive through IVF could be significantly harming their chances if they share the equivalent of a bottle of wine a week, experts warn.
If both partners drink six units a week – equivalent to half a bottle of wine each – their chance of a live birth is cut by a quarter, a study suggests.
Doctors said couples may want to “play it safe” and not drink at all to maximise their chances of IVF success.
The findings are based on a US study of more than 2,500 couples.
The study was presented at a fertility conference in Atlanta.
In the study, men and women who each had six UK-equivalent units a week – the equivalent of two strong pints of beer or two large glasses of wine – or more “significantly reduced their likelihood of pregnancy”.
It may be that if you are trying for a baby with IVF and want to maximise your chances of success, you may want to ‘play safe’ and not drink at all
Tony Rutherford of the British Fertility Society
For women, it cut their chances of getting pregnant by 18%, while men reduced their chances of a live birth by 14%.
Overall, half of the women and a third of the men drank less than one alcoholic drink a week, while 4% of women and 5% of men drank at least once a day.
Women who had between one and nine units of white wine a week were 24% less likely to have a live birth and had a 23% greater chance of failed implantation of the IVF embryo.
Men who drank a beer daily contributed to a 30% lower chance of a live birth and a 38% greater chance of failed implantation.
Abstinence
Dr Brooke Rossi, who led the study at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, told doctors at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine conference: “In general, women are told they should stop drinking when they are trying to achieve pregnancy.”
Tony Rutherford, of the British Fertility Society, said: “This is further evidence to suggest that alcohol does have an impact and that those women who try for a baby should think about their lifestyle choices.
“Eggs and sperm take at least three months to develop so women have got to stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption or, if you are overweight, correct that weight that far ahead if you want to maximise your chances of conception.”
He said the couples in the study had fertility problems, so there might be other reasons why alcohol affects their chances of a live birth.
But he said: “It may be that if you are trying for a baby with IVF and want to maximise your chances of success, you may want to ‘play safe’ and not drink at all.”
Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said the advice to abstain applied to both partners in a couple if they were having difficulty conceiving.
Hearing loss can be sudden or gradual and can be caused by infection, trauma, changes in atmospheric pressure, earwax buildup or impaction.
Two types of hearing loss: Conductive hearing loss: passage of sound waves in impeded in the external or middle ear. This can be due to:
a. Earwax buildup
b. Middle ear infection
c. Inflammation
d. Excessive rigidity of the tiny bones in the middle ear that convey information to the inner ear
Sensorineural Hearing loss: damage to the structures of the middle ear
a. damage to the 8th cranial nerve or the acoustic nerve
b. can be present from birth or can be caused by certain drugs, illnesses, exposure to loud noises, smoking or trauma
Causes:
Infection or inflammation after a respiratory tract infection
Trauma (often from cotton swabs)
Microorganisms from swimming or bathing
Hearing loss with ear pain may be associated with:
1. Eardrum damage
2. strain or perforation
3. an infected cyst in the eardrum or middle ear
4. Mastoiditis
Tinnitus is the continuous buzzing or ringing in the ears with no obvious cause. It may occur by itself or as a symptom of another issue/
Otitis media or middle ear infection is the most common cause for hearing loss for children. Otitis media is usually a temporary issue but chronic ear infections can cause permanent damage.
Hearing loss in babies can be detected by:
A failure to startle or blink at loud noises
Failure to babble, coo, squeel, monotonal babbling
Ability to sleep through loud noises consistently
Toddlers: failure to speak clearly by age two
Showing no interest in being read to
Habitual yelling & shrieking when playing or communicating
Suggestions for helping ear issues:
Coenzyme Q10: 30 mg. daily. Powerful antioxidant that boosts immunity and increases circulation to the ears.
Manganese: 10 mg. daily
Essential fatty acids to reduce earwax buildup
Vit E: 600 IU daily, antioxodant, increase circulation
Vit D: 400 IU daily
Zinc lozenges 50mg daily: quickens immune response
Herbs:
Echinacea helps poor equilibrium and reduces congestion as well as helping the body to fight infection.
Eucalyptus, hyssop, mullein and thyme have decongestant properties, which may alleviate ringing in the ears.
Gingko biloba helps reduce dizziness and increase blood flow to the head.
Mullein oil can be used as ear drops to help soothe infection.
Eat fresh pineapple to reduce inflammation. Include garlic, kelp and sea vegetables to your diet.
For ear wax buildup:
Use 1 part vinegar and one part warm water, place a dropper full in the ear and let it settle then drain. You can also use hydrogen peroxide. Repeat in the other ear and do 2-3x a day. If the wax is hard apply warm garlic oil to the ears instead for a few days. Make sure to flush out the ear with warm water.
For ear infection use a few drops of warm garlic oil to the ear.
Any hearing loss that does not resolve on its own in two weeks should be evaluated by an ENT.
I’m really enjoying the courses I’m taking, and I realize I’m actually doing the readings out of pure interest, and not obligation. I’m hoping my midterms will be much smoother; it’s not that stressful either, though I’m doing six and six courses this school year.
It still amazes me how people know each other. I feel like last year I didn’t get to know enough people from across cultures, class, ages. This year I’m definitely getting more of that, as discussions really facilitate discussion and helps us get to know each other. The friendships I’m making this year are definitely more meaningful so far.
Another note on my most recent interview with CCP (commerce community program). Went pretty smooth: I find that interviews all have similar questions, with the exception of one extra unique question. In this case it was “if you could do one thing before the end of the day what would it be?” Caught me off guard but I realize my passion in education as I surprised myself by saying that I’d like to visit Africa to see the education programs implemented there to help them.
Today I got a call from the co-chair who recommended me to go for an interview for a similar position on another committee: “Building Success”, which was focused on helping graduates from downtown east side and teaching them about time management, business skills, confidence, and friendship. I didn’t know about this position, but it definitely sounds way more suitable than just internal coordinator for the Student Engagement Team (to get Sauder students more involved).
My wrists were feeling fine for a bit, even at work, but recently with more typing (notes, econ quizzes, etc), it’s starting to bother me again. Should go to acupuncturist again.
Some things coming up:
Oct 2
- Lunch with Max/Paul
- Interview with CCP for Building Success positions
- Perspectives Icebreaker
- TA (Taiwanese Association) Icebreaker
- Dumpling making with Jerry’s family!
- PAY DAY (thank god)
Oct 4
- YWib (Young Women in Business) mentorship program interview
Oct 8
- TA Icebreaker
Oct 11
1 year anniversary!
To do:
1. Econ CH 6,7,8; Quiz 5,6
2. ENGL 221 readings”The Eolian Harp” Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Hymn to Intellectual Beauty” Percy Bysshe Shelley
3. HIST 329 readings “Baptizing Novices: …” Podruchny
4. PSYCH 309 readings: Grea, Heath, and Goodale papers
5. Apply for change of midterm dates (Oct 20, three midterms)
As you sit listening to the symphony, taking in the beautiful architecture and the rich, melodic sound surrounding you, there is something else that you are neglecting to notice. Your body. It is screaming at you, and you aren’t listening.
When it finally does get your attention, you’re alarmed. Your legs are aching and you feel really run down. By intermission, your back has joined in the cacophony of pain you’re experiencing. What is going on? Then you stop to think. I guess I have been a little stressed lately. And I haven’t been sleeping very well or exercising much. I’ve also been grabbing food on the go, usually in the form of a burger or a burrito.
This kind of behavior adds up. Not sleeping, living a stressful life, not eating a proper diet and-it goes without saying- not having enough time to exercise can all be harmful to your health. But you don’t need me to tell you that. Your body already has.
Each problem informs the other. You’re tired because you aren’t sleeping well, so you eat more to keep up your energy. Your body aches, so you don’t feel like exercising. But if you tackle one of the problems you’re experience, oftentimes that starts the healthy ball rolling and the other issues get solved too. Don’t want to take any heavy pharmaceuticals to ease joint or back pain? Eschew the muscle-relaxers and NSAIDs in favor of a natural treatment like acupuncture. In a recent study, 40 patients with primary osteoarthritis of the knee were given daily acupuncture treatments for 10 days. At the end of the treatment period the patients experienced reduced pain and stiffness and increased mobility, all without any use of drugs. Committing to reducing chronic pain can help you achieve better quality sleep and will help you feel more relaxed as you deal with everyday demands.
Another good way to take care of your body is to make sure you get all the proper nutrients. It’s hard when you’re busy to eat a balanced meal, right? Wrong. By the time you’ve waited in the long lunch line at the nearest fast food joint, you could’ve raided the salad bar at your local grocery store. And if you’re sleeping well, you can spare five extra minutes in the morning to make a quick turkey sandwich, grab an apple and cut up some fresh yellow and red bell peppers. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever have a burger or an ice cream soda. But save the treats for a Friday afternoon, when you’ve put in a hard week. The reward will seem even sweeter.
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Want to read more about achieving a better night’s sleep? Click here. Check out our great supplements that help you relax and sleep better, naturally, Relora® and Dual-Release Melatonin. And for more natural pain relief, try Nexrelief™ or Nexrutine® Extra.
Reference: http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/38530 “Clinical and endocrinological changes after electro-acupuncture treatment in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee,” Ahsin S, Saleem S, et al, Pain, 2009; Sept 17; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Physiology, Army Medical College Rawalpindi, Pakistan; Department of Natural Sciences, School of Health and Social Science, Middlesex University, UK).
I’m sure you’ve noticed, but a new season is upon us, whether we’re ready or not! I love this warm weather – the great part is that it cools off to the mid-40s, so you can sleep all snuggly under the blankets until 8:30 a.m. (yes, that’s what time I set my alarm to.
That and 3 a.m., so I can take two Tylenol so I don’t wake up with a headache. But, I am so pleased! I am off of the hard drugs, and virtually pain free!!!!!!!!!
And, my hand is making incredible strides these days – it gives me actual hope! Oh, and I ran back and forth in my hallway, (just to see if I could), and my knee didn’t give out as much as usual!!!!! There is hope for me yet.
Next? FLIP FLOPS, my arch nemesis.
My hair is coming in okay – probably fast to some, but I still have to do my hair everyday to cover it up, and the scars they sent me home with are healing nicely (almost gone).
In addition to all of this, I can drive again! (I was supposed to voluntarily take a month off after the surgery – cause it’s on your brain, and thinking and reaction time could be affected. “What if you got in an accident?” Dr. Chen said. “Okay, I will follow the rules.”
But the rules have time limits, luckily!
I have 8-10 appts. each week, and am trying to stack them on two days and/or nights, so I can start subbing again. I’ve applied to a few jobs, one that I’m really excited about, so I’m waiting to hear back. I think I’m ready! (we’ll see)
I have been getting tired, surprisingly, since about Saturday. My specialists said that it could be from the stress creating adrenaline the last 4 weeks, or the after effects of the anesthesia finally wearing off. Who knows, but this tired stuff isn’t all it’s cracked up to be – especially when you have places to go!
I can finally push the elevator buttons with my left fingers, and can button my jeans the first time, every time! (the pulling one side over to the button and the pushing the button through has been a challenge. We are just fine tuning, really.
Some of my therapies have stalled out because they are waiting for further “you’re not fragile, you can lift a two pound dumbbell” instructions from Dr. Chen, but I can’t see him until I get an MRI, and they are delaying calling me back to schedule…it’s okay, because I HATE MRIs. Loathe. Abhor. I wish I could eat hospital food for a week over getting anymore…
The naturopath wants to put me on a detox soon if I’m not too fragile, so I can get a clean start from after the surgery, and I am getting acupuncture twice a week to help with circulation, stress, range of motion, and headaches. I go in for a check-up with Dr. Wojciechowski (the eye specialist), next week, to see how I’m progressing, and to set a plan up for the future.
Overall, I am happy, and so thankful everything went as well as it did. And, I am thankful that I will not have to take public transportation in the rain this fall! Sorry polar bears, I must drive!!!
Read Katherine Wolf’s blog (link to the right). She inspires me to keep going. Did I tell you her acronym for all of this?
W.I.N. – Whatever Is Necessary. Yep, sounds like me – I am going to borrow it from her.
*Book is coming along, in between appts. I just found an email I sent to my college roommate detailing an incident I already wrote about! I am thrilled to have found an original source, written the same day, not 8 years later. I am s o excited for it!
Yesterday I had my third acupuncture session…and I am not happy…
If you remember I started spotting after my first session, and that spotting got heavier over the next few days until I ended up with a full bleed. I was very confused, as I thought I was due to ovulate that month and here I was with what looked like a period, two weeks after my last period. I started to panic a bit and thought for a mad few hours that I was having another miscarriage – it seemed like I was. I ended up taking a pregnancy test, fearful that I was and fearful that I wasn’t at the same time. Of course it was negative, but it took a huge toll on me emotionally. I bled for most of that week after my first session.
When I went back the next week, the practitioner said not to worry, although it was an extreme reaction, it was part of the process of regulating my cycle. Now, I thought my cycle was pretty regular to begin with, but since starting acupuncture, my CM has dried up and I am not ovulating. I need to trust in the process and hold onto the bigger picture. It is hard though. I worked for nearly a year to get myself to a point where my periods were regular and I was ovulating, so it is hard to let go of the control and find myself in this position again. It is hard to trust the process sometimes….
I can no longer see the Acupuncturist I started this journey with since she is in Seattle and I live in Florida. I saw a new one yesterday and something interesting happened after my treatment. She is an Acupuncturist that does energy work, body talk and Matrix Energetics.
During the treatment she told me there’s sadness stuck in my heart. I just started my period that morning and I was really sad all day but I was trying to stay positive. I stood up after the treatment and she did some Matrix Energetics on me. When She moved my uterus area around I started crying and I couldn’t stop. I tried so hard to control it but it was coming out. It was as if she cleansed the sorrow out of me.
The Alternative Medicine Cabinet: Arnica for Pain Relief
By Anahad O’Connor
Tony Cenicola/The New York Times What alternative remedies belong in your home medicine cabinet?
More than a third of American adults use some form of complementary or alternative medicine, according to a recent government report. Natural remedies have an obvious appeal, but how do you know which ones to choose and whether the claims are backed by science? Today, New York Times “Really?” columnist Anahad O’Connor begins a weekly series exploring the claims and the science behind alternative remedies that you may want to consider for your family medicine cabinet.
The Remedy: Arnica
The Claim: It relieves pain.
The Science: Arnica Montana, a plant native to mountainous areas of Europe and North America, has been used for centuries to treat a variety of pain. Athletes rub it on muscles to soothe soreness and strains, and arthritis sufferers rub it on joints to reduce pain and swelling. It’s believed that the plant contains derivatives of thymol, which seems to have anti-inflammatory effects.
Either way, scientists have found good evidence that it works. One randomized study published in 2007 looked at 204 people with osteoarthritis in their hands and found that an arnica gel preparation worked just as well as daily ibuprofen, and with minimal side effects. Another study of 79 people with arthritis of the knee found that when patients used arnica gel twice daily for three to six weeks, they experienced significant reductions in pain and stiffness and had improved function. Only one person experienced an allergic reaction.
The Risks: Arnica gels or creams can cause allergic reactions in some people, but it is generally safe when used topically. However, it should never be rubbed on broken or damaged skin, and it should only be ingested when in a heavily diluted, homeopathic form.
Here are the basics of what we know about how acupuncture works, both Eastern and Western theories. The basic principle of Chinese medicine is that disease is caused by interrupted, or stagnant, energy flow. The fundamental energy of the Qi flows through 14 main meridians, or pathways, along the body, each of which connects with the energy of a major organ (i.e., kidney, liver, etc.) or body function. Acupuncturists strive to balance and harmonize the flow of energy, or Qi, throughout the body. We insert needles along specific points of the body, along the energy pathways, to affect change in the way your energy is flowing.
Once the energy flow changes, the rest of your body adjusts to adapt to the change. You know the importance of flexibility and adapting to change externally. The same principles should be applied internally to keep your body functioning efficiently. As the Qi flows freely, so does life and good health.
There has been some scientific research applied to traditional Chinese medicine to find out what it affects and how it works. What researchers have found is evidence that acupuncture stimulates the release of brain chemicals, such as endorphins, that function to relieve pain. Research has also shown that acupuncture strengthens the immune system, improves circulation, decreases muscle tightness, and increases joint flexibility. In addition, acupuncture has a vasodilating effect. Both the eastern and western approaches to medicine maintain that proper circulation is vital to health. Studies have shown that acupuncture stimulation improves blood flow to the skin, muscle, brain and various other internal organs.
Researchers at the University College London and Southampton University did a series of positron emission tomography (PET) scans to see what happens in the brains of people who receive acupuncture. What they found was that several areas of the brain were activated during acupuncture treatment, including an area of the brain associated with the production of natural opiates (substances that act in a non-specific way to relieve pain), the area involved with the sensation of touch, and the insular, which is thought to be involved in pain modulation.
So, how does acupuncture work? It works well, very well, to help you achieve your optimal level of health. There are all kinds of studies out there that say one thing or another about how acupuncture works, the placebo effect, etc. I think experience is the best teacher. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years, because it works. I have experienced greater health as have my patients and my instructors and their patients and their instructors and their patients — you get the point.
Now, we all know the simple truth: regardless of the proposed mechanism of action, acupuncture still does not appear to work. Any randomized, double blind studies that have been conducted on the matter have consistently shown it to be no better than placebo. Of course, the acupuncture enthusiasts response to these results has been quite ingenious: “The fake acupuncture works just as well as the real thing.” They both work!!! Talk about mixed signals!
Today, I ran across this article which tries to dispel these mixed signals and clarify the matter for us. From the get go my expectations were pretty low. Any article that claims to clarify how acupuncture works is bound to get ridiculous, and TheHorse.com does not disappoint in that regard. Why is this article appearing on a equine website? Why they are talking about animal acupuncture obviously! Let’s get started with the ridiculing…I mean analyzing.
Although acupuncture is frequently used in human and animal health, it needs to be described in terms that most people accept and understand, said Narda G. Robinson, DO, DVM, MS, who recently authored a report on the topic.
Qi (Energy) flows through your body down the meridians (think of it as a road grid, like the square grid in Manhattan). Sometimes the energy flow is affected and it goes out of balance. You stick needles in specific acupoints to restore the balance and you feel better. What can be simpler to understand than that? What is so confusing about it?
Traditional Chinese medicine explains that the invasion of environmental agents, such as cold, wind, dampness, and heat cause pain, and an upset in Yin and Yang disrupts organ function. Acupuncture is supposed to correct this, but to today’s modern mind that sounds like superstition.
That’s because it IS superstition.
“We shouldn’t be selling mysticism as medicine,” Robinson said.
Yes! Finally a sensible person. This is what I have been saying all along! No need for mysticism, just science based medicine.
“Acupuncture is real medicine, based on anatomy and physiology,” she explained. “Getting the best results comes from seeing what’s right in front of us–muscle tension, imbalances in the nervous system, and the health impact of stress, malnutrition, and under- or over-exercise. Belief systems imported from China only muddy the message.”
Ah shoot, got me! For a moment there I thought they were gonna be sensible. Alas, no such luck! No, acupuncture is not real medicine based on either anatomy or physiology. And just what is an “imbalance in the nervous system”? Oh yeah, I know. It’s the modern version of the old mysticism of energy imbalance. I thought we weren’t selling mysticism anymore. What is this the Intelligent Design of the acupuncturists? Yeah, who needs to muddy the new mystic message with the old mystic message?
In medical terms, “Acupuncture appears to work because it dampens pain transmission in the nervous system, which means it turns down the ‘volume’ of painful impulses entering the spinal cord and brain, and changes our emotional state and reaction to painful stimuli,” she said. “Sophisticated brain imaging techniques have told us which parts of the brain are responding to acupuncture and when, providing a ‘real time’ window into brain function during and after acupuncture.”
I know, I know! It’s the parts of the brain that respond when someone is stuck with a needle, or a toothpick for that matter! And just how exactly does acupuncture dampen pain transmission and turn down the pain volume? Of course no one knows, they just claim it does.
Owners who want to use acupuncture to treat their horses should choose a veterinarian who approaches acupuncture scientifically, she said.
This is easy, there shouldn’t be any, since acupuncture is not a scientific modality!
Robinson recommended that owners find out the facts about any modality before using it on their horse.
Great, and that research should show the owners that acupuncture has never been shown to work. But then of course we can’t expect anyone to be aware of the criteria for good evidence and properly designed studies, so most likely they will be convinced by the anecdotes.
Oh acupuncturists, acupuncturists, when will you stop with the BS?
Dr. Jiling Hu, a women’s health specialist with extensive education in both Eastern and Western medicine, has more than 20 years of clinical experience on acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine specializing in: Anxiety, Depression, Menopause and Infertility.
Jiling Hu, LAc. OMD
2001 S. Barrington Ave. Suite111
Los Angeles, CA90025
310-914-9020
And that’s not me in the photo.
Answered by Liz Richards and Rylen Feeney of Blossom Clinic