Active Health

The Psychobiology of Pain

2012-01-24T08:50:00.000-08:00

At its worst, acute pain can be unimaginably intense and stressful, and chronic pain can wreck havoc on a person's quality of life. Because pain is such a universal problem Traditional Chinese medical practitioners devote a considerable amount of time treating it. Read more from original article..

Green Tea and Cancer

2011-08-17T04:08:00.000-07:00

The latest research have revealed that green tea contains a compoundthat shows great promise for the development of drugs to treat two types of tumoursand a deadly congenital disease. The discovery is the result of research led byPrincipal Investigator, Dr. Thomas Smith at The Donald Danforth Plant ScienceCenter and his colleagues at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Theirfindings are published in the recent article,"Green Tea PolyphenolsControl Dysregulated Glutamate Dehydrogenase In Transgenic Mice By HijackingThe ADP Activation Site” in The Journal of Biological Chemistry. Read original article here

Study - Acupuncture helps ease hot flashes

2011-06-01T02:20:00.001-07:00

Resent research studied 14 men who were suffering hot flashes a side effect of anti cancer treatments and studied the positive effects of acupuncture on these sometimes sever symptoms. Read original article here

Cosmetic Acupuncture

2011-05-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

The wisdom of Chinese medicine optimises the bodies resources to achieve that facial rejuvenation, used by stars and celebrities around the world, now facial rejuvenation acupuncture is more available to us all. Chinese medical acupuncture doesn’t just stop there, it works from the inside out, and not only treats the lines of your face, it treats internal disharmony that causes those fine lines.

The Picture in the Article. When you read the accompanying article, please be aware that the picture is not a realistic picture of anyone receiving facial rejuvenation acupuncture. No professionally trained acupuncturist would not use so many heavy needles. If they did the result would be a heavy weight on the face and even more lines and wrinkles. it is nothing like that. Read original article here

Acupuncture benefits Glaucoma

2011-04-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

Glaucoma which can cause blindness will benefit from acupuncture according to new research.

The study conducted by the department of Traditional Asian Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, demonstrated that acupuncture improves intraocular pressure (IOP) and retrobulbar circulation behind the globe of the eye. Acupuncture points that were studied were UB-02, Tai Yang (M-HN9), ST-02, ST-36, SP-06, K-03, Liv-03, GB-20, UB-18, and UB-23 with all acu-points were needled bilaterally. The study used colour doppler imaging to confirm the improvement in circulation behind the eye. The improvements in IOP and eye circulation suggest that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

Western medical treatments for Glaucoma, focuses on controlling intraocular pressure and retrobulbar hemodynamics. The study concluded that acupuncture is effective in controlling these factors. Using the colour doppler imaging, the researchers revealed that acupuncture lowers intraocular pressure and vessel resistance in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

Acupuncture needles were retained for 15 minutes on the anterior and posterior sides of the patients during each session. UB-02, Taiyang, ST-02, St-36, SP-06, K-03, and Liv-03 were applied to the patients when in the supine position and retained for 15 minutes. For the prone position, GB-20, UB-18, and UB-23 were retained for 15 minutes. No needle manipulation techniques were applied.

Shin Takayama, lead researcher commented that this is the first study using acupuncture to measure improvements of eye hemodynamics and that acupuncture was found to decrease vessel resistance in the eyes, specifically the ophthalmic artery (OA) and short posterior ciliary artery (SPCA). The OA and SPCA originate from the carotid artery. The study concludes that a combination of medications combined with acupuncture improves glaucoma patient outcomes over patients who only receive medications.

Online reference:
healthcmi.com
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

Silence is Consent

2011-04-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

I'm asking all my patients, students, colleagues, friends and family to visit this web address, watch the video and Please sign the PETITION, if you want to be able to choose a natural herbal remedy. The video says it all!

To www.SaveNaturalHealth.eu for an excellent explanatory video and sign their petition to the European Council.

James

Tuina Workshop

2011-03-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

James O’Sullivan’s workshop at the Irish Massage Therapists Association AGM was full to capacity with 60 massage therapists eager to learn more about Tuina, the Chinese medical acupressure, also known as needle-less acupuncture. James is a pragmatic speaker and quickly cuts to the essential core of the subject in a simple and easy to understand way. He arranged the workshop into an information session on where Tuina came from, how it developed and how it works. The group also quickly learned the location of particular Qi points, used to ease stress, relax the mind and body, calm thinking and eliminate tension. In the next session James demonstrated a 15 minute sequence of Tuina utilising these Qi points. He then had the entire group practicing this simple yet powerful routine that James developed for his own patients, who suffer less stress now as a result.

James demonstrates Tuina techniques at IMTA AGM

The short one hour workshop flew past and went over time with lots of questions from the enthusiastic group. Tuina is the medical physiotherapy of China developed over 3,000 years ago. It is an integral part of the healthcare system in hospitals throughout China today. It works with the energy system in the body known as the meridian system.

Like Acupuncture, Tuina works with the Qi energy of the patient to bring a balanced state of health. But unlike, acupuncture, needles are not used. The work is done entirely with the practitioner's hands to help increase the beneficial flow of Qi through the patient's meridian system.

The practitioner of Tuina learns to diagnose the patient, using a holistic approach techniques and methods. The practitioner will need to either stimulation or subdued a particular meridian in order to bring the patient to a state of balanced health.

Tuina Confidence

2011-03-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

There is a lot that can be said about the many modalities of massage, but my personal favourite is Tuina Chinese medical acupressure.

Tuina (pronounced twee nah) falls under the category of Qi Gong acupressure which is based in Traditional Chinese Medicine (including acupuncture, herbal therapy, dietary therapy and medical Qi Gong). Tuina literally means "Push Grasp". This method of massage was developed by Chinese healers over the course of several centuries. Often referred to as "sports massage" but it is so much more than that. In China, Tuina is practiced in the largest hospitals integrated with Western medicine to treat both external conditions from broken bones, frozen shoulders, tennis elbows to Internal conditions like Headaches, PMS, Dizziness, Insomnia.

I have used Tuina to help ease the pain of Migraine, Sciatica, as well as other chronic pain conditions. My patients report they have never had such powerful, moving massage before and prefer Tuina to Swedish or Deep Tissue massage. I personally prefer it because it allows me to affect a more penetrating release for my patients without the pain usually attributed to therapeutic massage.

Tuina can be used to treat ailments in children as well. The meridians in a child's body are not fully developed, so a much milder treatment than for an adult and Tuina is a very suitable substitute for acupuncture because of this. In my own clinic I have treated children as well as adults. While practicing in Guo Yi Tang Hospital, in Beijing, I had an 8 month old child patient who had a haemorrhage in the brain. Her doctors told the parents that they should let the child go as she may not survive the trauma and the prognosis was not good. As a last resort, the parents brought their child to the hospital and I was assigned to treat her. When I met the parents and child, I was disheartened by her condition. She had no spirit in her eyes, she was totally still and silent except for the activity of the respirator and other apparatuses attached to her. At that moment my confidence in Tuina was severely tested and I have to admit I said a few prayers as well. I remembered an acupressure protocol from my very first teacher in Taiwan "Hung Shui Chen" and I used it every day. By the end of one week the spirit had returned to the little girl's eyes.

One day during the treatment, the baby let out a little scream. I looked to the mother who had tears in her eyes. She hadn't heard her baby cry in weeks. From that point on, the baby continued to have a strong recovery and I believe is fully recovered today. Tuina proved itself that day and thankfully has proved itself many times since it. I can say with my hand on my heart, I have complete confidence in Tuina today as an effective treatment for many conditions.

Tuina Chinese medical acupressure is relatively new here in Europe. However, as it is more widely practiced, there will be more information and education available.
James O'Sullivan

Study Tuina

Thunder God Vine study

2011-03-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have for centuries used a medicinal plant called “Thunder God Vine”, or lei gong teng, as a treatment for a varieity of health problems including rheumatoid arthritis. There is now a “new” scientific study from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, recently published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, showing evidence that the herb has potential anti-tumour and other healing properties. Thunder god vine (lei gong teng) contains compounds that help control the "machinery" of genes on the cellular level.

Read original article here

Monkeys and Racing Minds

2011-02-27T13:24:00.000-08:00

Happiness is a smiling monkey

This week I went to the wildlife park on my own without children, grandchildren or significant other. I usually go to visit the monkeys first as I’m a “Monkey” in the Chinese astrology chart, according to my birth date. I sat in front of them and watch their antics. I don’t like to eat food or drink water in front of animals as it encourages them to beg, the monkeys especially! I watched the busyness of these seemingly fun loving creatures. They are just one bundle of activity. I watch the monkeys screech and seemingly fly around, swinging from branches, poles and the cage mesh. Some times my mind feels like that, a mess of undisciplined thoughts with no stop sign. If I sit there long enough I notice that eventually they sit down in a corner or on a branch. They may even find themselves a grooming partner. I could fall asleep at times like this.

I wander over to the giraffes and watch these graceful animals glide as they walk. One of them sat down and grazed on some hay. I had never seen a giraffe sit down before, they become so awkward getting into the seated position and her baby sat next to its mother. I sat down to observe this awkward beauty. My mind felt relaxed and I stayed ages just enjoying their relaxed mood.

Just hanging out!

As I left the tranquillity of the zoo, I looked at my watch and as if a switch was turned on, I began “my real life” again. “I better move as the traffic is about to start building up and if I make it to the ring road in 10 minutes I could save myself an hour in traffic. If all goes to plan I could be home for 6ish, prepare and eat something and finish off that lecture for next Friday by 8pm, I think there’s a good movie on at 9pm! Ah I’ll get a Chinese take away instead and that way I’ll be able to sit down and relax early, now where did I park my car”?

Sound familiar? Every living creature on this planet of ours is connected in some way. We are all connected to the different moods in our immediate environment. If we connect with happy, calm and tranquil people, places and things, we will find it easier to attain their qualities ourselves. This goes in some way towards our better health, movement, freedom and wellbeing.

WOW What a day

2011-02-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

Thank you everybody, visitors and practitioners. It was a brill day as my grandchildren would say.

Karen Egan treating with auricular acupuncture at the Galway Museum.

Eunice taking pulse

Elsa Lee demonstrating and explaining the Acu-Graph

James demostrating the effective self-massage for headache, stress and lifes tensions

Photos by Ronan Bluett

Apples is apples

2011-01-06T07:07:00.000-08:00

Food according to Chinese culture is firstly a medicine and then as something delicious you eat every day. Chinese family sit down to eat their favourite meal or soup with the knowledge of the medicinal qualities of that food. For example in China apples are good for you, but according to Chinese nutritional therapy, when you have a tummy bloating and ache in hot weather, then sweet apples are on the menu. If you suffer from stress with a little irritability, then you are encouraged to eat sour apples.

When the family meal is prepared in China, it is planned with the principal that balance needs to be achieved in order to gain maximum benefits from the meal. Each ingredient is chosen for its medicinal quality but also for its synergistic effect on the accompanying ingredients. This meal is cooked by a method that will nourish and maintain health, or help treat an illness.

According to the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, nutrition, diet, food has its own classification and qualities as well as properties, depending on their effect on the body. For example, Yin foods have a property that is cool or cold, a yang food are warm or hot, and food can also be neutral. Food can also be categorised according to the seasons and each season corresponds to a particular flavour and that food can have a certain relationship to a specific part of the body.

Western diet tends to break every food down into smaller and smaller parts, nutrients for example such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. An apple according to Western medical nutritional science has 13 vitamins, 12 minerals and 386 other phyto-nutrients.

Even though both traditions have a different understanding of the benefits of an apple, both agree that apples are good for you. When combined Western and Chinese knowledge can provide a substantial therapy and advise that is probably the dominant complementary medicine to prevent and treat disease.

Ginseng for clear thinking

2010-12-15T10:01:00.000-08:00

Ginseng is one of the most widely used herbs in the world. It is traditionally used to provide a broad assortment of physical and mental benefits, including cognitive development and protection against age-related decline and dementia.

New research says ginseng appears to have some beneficial effects on cognition, behaviour, and quality of life, although the lead researcher JinSong Geng, M.D., says at present he cannot go so far as to recommend taking the herb because he sees a lack of high-quality evidence. Read original article here

Tai Qi benefits Arthritis patients

2010-11-26T10:31:00.000-08:00

In the study it was found that Stiffness, fatigue, balance and well-being improved after two months.

Patients suffering from arthritis may gain physical and emotional relief from the ancient Chinese art of Tai Qi, according to a new study, the largest of its kind.

Patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia felt better and moved more easily after taking twice-weekly classes in Tai Chi, a system of meditative exercise, researchers found.

"It reduced pain, stiffness and fatigue, and improved their balance," said study lead author Leigh F. Callahan, an associate professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

Smaller studies have also linked Tai Qi to similar benefits for people with arthritis, but colleagues had questioned the applicability of the findings to a larger population. Read original article here

Ginseng's benefit for Immunity

2010-11-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

Research has demonstrated that the herb ginseng has immunological effects. Researchers have now shown that the herb, much used in traditional Chinese and other Asian medicine, has anti-inflammatory effects.

The Science Daily article, Ginseng: Nature’s Anti-Inflammatory discusses a recent study at the University of Hong Kong that explain how this natural element serves to promote good health. The anti-inflammatory agents in ginseng are of particular concern in the research.

Allan Lau led a team of researchers from the University of Hong Kong who identified seven ginseng constituents, ginsenosides, which showed immune-suppressive effects. He said, "The anti-inflammatory role of ginseng may be due to the combined effects of these ginsenosides, targeting different levels of immunological activity, and so contributing to the diverse actions of ginseng in humans".

The scientists treated human immune cells with different extracts of ginseng. They found that of the nine ginsenosides they identified, seven could selectively inhibit expression of the inflammatory gene CXCL-10. Lau concludes, "Further studies will be needed to examine the potential beneficial effects of ginsenosides in the management of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases in humans".

Uniquely, the researchers were able to holistically test the ginseng extract's immune effects by using sophisticated purification technologies to identify individual constituents and define their bioactivity using genomics and bioactivity assays. After that, they reconstituted them back into a whole extract with definable individual ginsenosides for re-confirmation of effects. This potentially opens up a vigorous methodology to study medicinal herbs with state-of-the-art technologies.

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Thank you to The Science Daily for this article.

Irish Acupuncturists

2010-11-02T03:21:00.000-07:00

The IMB (Irish Medicines Board) has issued an advisory notice to Acupuncturists and other medical practitioners regarding “Single-Use--Single-Patient-Use-Medical-Devices”. This advisory notice is intended to provide clarification on the definition of the terms “single use” and “single patient use”, in line with the updated medical devices directive.

A single use device (SUD) is a medical device that is intended to be used on an individual patient during a single procedure and then discarded. Medical devices that are for single use must be clearly labelled.br/>

Read original article here

Green Tea Protects DNA (Jing)

2010-10-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

When you reach for your morning brew, you should consider green tea because new research shows it can help keep your cells healthy and young. Healthy subjects were asked to drink green tea every day for a month, in combined methodology / human supplementation trial and an in vitro study. They experienced a 20% reduction in DNA damage, according finding's published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Research was conducted on 18 healthy subjects who were randomly assigned to drink two cups of green tea daily for four weeks. When their body fluids were analyzed, there was a 20% reduction in DNA damage, even though oxidative stress biomarkers remained the same. It appears that green tea’s compounds acted against free radicals.

This research adds to the ever-growing body of science that shows the potential benefits of green tea: reducing the risk of certain cancers, increasing weight loss, and protecting against Alzheimer’s disease.

Source:
Hanal KC et al. British Journal of Nutrition. 2010 Sep 1:1-8. [Epub ahead of print]

That crazy little thing called life

2010-10-16T04:20:00.000-07:00

ALL OF us want to be happy. And very often we hold the naive belief that if we just live our lives a certain way, if we press the right button on a Monday morning, we will sail through the rest of the week on a crest of wellbeing and success.

The truth is, life doesn’t work this way. Life has a curious way of breaking our hearts. It is full of violent eruptions of things that seem to come at us from nowhere. An old wound is suddenly reopened; an illness throws everything out of whack; a colleague betrays us; we lose someone we love – moments when suddenly the path we have been on disappears from beneath our feet.
by Tony Bates of Headstrong

Read original article here

Just a teahouse away from Health

2010-10-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

Emperor Shen Nong in 2737 BCE, allegedly took the first sip of tea after a few leaves landed in his small cauldron of boiling water. Intrigued by the aroma, the curious emperor bravely sampled the brew. Thus a new beverage was born, one surpassed only by water as the most popular beverage in the world.
Nearly 6,000 years later Camellia sinensis came to me as a boy. Snugly packed in little bags inside the Lipton box, I pegged tea as the choice of my aunts. What surfaced decades later was the old world of tea. There were the black teas, but even more enticing were the oolongs and greens.

The curing of the leaves differentiates the three teas. Black tea undergoes hours of oxidation accelerated by heat and humidity. Oolong is partially fermented and much of this tea comes from Taiwan. Green tea is steamed and/or oxidized only very shortly or not at all. Though all the teas have profound health benefits, green is the most beneficial.

Latitude, longitude, and elevation of where the plant was grown are key to a fine tea, as is the harvest time and stage of growth. The numbers of varieties surpasses that of wine. Also, unlike wine, tea - especially green - has a short life span and must be consumed quickly or it loses color, aroma and flavor.

It is no secret that one reason for tea’s popularity is its ability to conquer fatigue. As a stimulant, the caffeine in tea improves concentration and alertness, accelerating nerve impulses to the brain. Of course caffeine tolerance varies greatly among individuals. Particularly concerning is research indicating a possible interference of fetal development with caffeine consumption. As such, limiting caffeine in pregnancy is paramount.

Caffeine content for tea per 5 oz. is 25-110 mg for black, 12-55 mg for oolong, and 8-36 mg for green. Higher temperatures of the water yields more caffeine, as does ground tea, which is in tea bags. Whole leaves contain less, are fresher and have superior flavor. Drip coffee is estimated at 60-180 mg, decaf coffee at 2-13mg, while a 12-oz. cola has 46 mg.

Quality oolong or green tea can be infused several times with flavor peaking sometime beyond the first infusion. In fact the first infusion is said to be the Prince’s Brew while the second is considered the King’s Brew. In China I drank tea lasting up to 10 infusions.

When first brewing green or oolong, a sense of experimentation is important. Handling the tea with care is the first crucial step. This includes using bottled or filtered water - but not distilled. My tea is steeped in a 16-oz. Chinese Yixing clay teapot. For this I use 2-4 teaspoons of tea depending on type and quality. Water temperature is also important. Gauging the temperature by the bubble size is a skill that further develops a tea connoisseur.

Turbulent boiling water is only for the teas known as pu-erh. Bubbles the size of pearls (195-200°F) are suitable for blacks and oolongs while greens should receive water boiled only to the size of small fish eyes (160-170°F). An inexpensive thermometer can be used to insert into the kettle. You will soon base the temperature on your kettle’s sound.

Most greens should steep for just 30-60 seconds then poured into a holding flask to be served as needed. Oolongs are often steeped for 2-5 minutes, then strained into a flask. If the tea is bitter, it steeped too long; no flavor, too short. Subsequent infusions will need to steep longer. You can reduce some of the caffeine by doing a very quick steeping. Just pour the hot water over the leaves and strain immediately. Your ability to play with these factors will reward you with the perfect cup.

Patience clearly has its benefits with tea preparation.

Simple Treatment for Alzheimer’s

2010-09-17T03:07:00.000-07:00

Recent study reveals that B vitamins can reduce the rate of brain decline in people with mild memory problems, potentially delaying the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

The research challenges existing thinking in Alzheimer’s research and suggests that vitamin supplements may provide a cheap treatment that has eluded the research efforts of pharmaceutical companies. The Oxford University study looked at MRI brain scans of 168 people over 70 years old with mild cognitive impairment, before and after a two year course of high dose B vitamins.

The results were very positive as people taking the vitamins lost 30 per cent less brain tissue than those who took a placebo. In the highest risk group, they lost 50 per cent less.

Human brains normally shrink by 0.5 per cent every year in old age, but higher rates of shrinking are linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The three different B vitamins act by reducing levels of a protein called homocysteine in the brain.

David Smith, one of the authors said “It is our hope that this simple and safe treatment will delay the development of Alzheimer’s disease in many people who suffer from mild memory problems”. “This is the first [study] that has shown a glimmer of hope or success,” he added.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, which co-funded the study, said: “The strong findings must inspire an expanded trial to follow people expected to develop Alzheimer’s, and we hope for further success.”

Helga Refsum, co-author of the study, describing the reaction of some of the Alzheimer’s research community to this novel approach, said: “It’s too simple and they don’t like it.”

Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia

2010-08-27T02:13:00.000-07:00

New research published in the New England Journal of Medicine is offering hope to sufferers of fibromyalgia with their findings that practicing the ancient art of Tai Chi could be an effective treatment.

Fibromyalgia is a very common presentation in clinic. It is a condition that causes pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons. It also affects the sleep patterns of the sufferer. It can be a source or fatigue, and depression with the usual treatment painkillers, antidepressants and muscle relaxants often have little effect.

Tai Chi provides physical exercise which improves the condition. Sufferers of fibromyalgia have a hard time with the rigorous exercise of gyms, whereas Tai Chi exercise provides a gentle form of exercise coupled with a type of meditation. Tai Chi not only improves physical fitness, but also helps the practitioner with increased confidence and psychological well-being.

Read original article here

Now!

2010-08-26T02:33:00.000-07:00

Forget the past, Forget mistakes. Forget failures. Don't forget to forgive yourself as well as others, Forget everything except what you're going to do now and do it well, preferably with a smile.

Some wise, but anonymous person once said “With one foot in the past and one leg in the future, you can only p*** on the present".

Bottled Tea - Good or Bad

2010-08-24T03:01:00.000-07:00

A recent study presented at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society revealed that bottled tea contains very low levels of antioxidants and polyphenols compared to brewed tea. The research found that in order to get the same benefits found in a single cup of brewed tea the consumer, in some cases would have to drink 20 bottles of bottled tea.

Consumers understand the concept of the health benefits from drinking tea or consuming other tea products. However, there is a huge gap between the perception that tea consumption is healthy and the actual amount of the healthful nutrients - polyphenols - found in bottled tea beverages. Our analysis of tea beverages found that the polyphenol content is extremely low says Shiming Li, Ph.D, who reported the findings of Professor Chi-Tang Ho

Tea has without question tremendous health improving qualities, however the bottled tea was found to be poor in these qualities. In addition bottled tea contains sugar and other substances that the drinker may be trying to avoid.

Li and team measured polyphenol levels in six brands of tea bought from supermarkets. Half of them contained "virtually no antioxidants" while the rest had small quantities of polyphenols which would most likely carry little health benefit, especially when the high sugar content was taken into consideration.

Polyphenols are a type of antioxidant that protect cells against some health conditions, as well as being an anti-aging substance. They can block the actions of some enzymes that help the development of cancer. All brewed tea contains polyphenols. Put simply, polyphenols are an excellent protection against diabetes, cancer and anti-inflammatory conditions.

Polyphenols are bitter and astringent, but to target as many consumers as they can, manufacturers want to keep the bitterness and astringency at a minimum. The simplest way is to add less tea, which makes the tea polyphenol content low, but tastes smoother and sweeter.

Manners

2010-06-29T05:05:00.000-07:00

A person of wisdom and spirituality has very beautiful manners that have grown from genuine respect and love for the whole of humanity. Manners in this sense have nothing to do with culture or education: it is simply a question of humility.
When we are at the receiving end of such manners, we feel that some deeper part of us has been honoured.
In fact, none of us deserves anything less.

Cosmetic Acupuncture Workshop

2010-06-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

What a day. Just finished a really brilliant day at Nangor Road. The sun shone bright and hot in the Dublin sky, the training room was sweltering and although we were hot, not one of us yearned to sunbath by the canal nearby. Such was the enthusiasm and positive energy in the room we almost forgot about the afternoon tea break. Eunice is a really great lecturer, no not lecturer, a really great teacher. A practical demonstrator of Chinese medicine that makes you think you were at the writing of the Huang Di Nei Jing, she makes you feel comfortable with this ancient art, and she strictly points out where you need to improve, no-one escapes her "recommendations on needle technique". A bundle of seemingly unbridled energy, she puts her heart and soul into the workshop and it showed the complete notes we received but more so in the hand-on practical acupuncture demonstrations. Skills were learnt today that according to our teacher must be practiced tomorrow and all the day's after that as well until perfection is achieved. I wish I could write more but I have to practice my needle technique...

Acupuncture Halts Signs of Aging

2010-06-17T04:51:00.000-07:00

Anne McElvoy of the Evening Standard asks "Might I not be lovelier if I forsook aromatherapy and massage treats for a few weeks of beauty boot camp?" Braver friends preached Botox and fillers. I flirted with the idea of a nice shot of something poisonous to erase the forbidding frown lines but couldn't go through with it.

So Anne, tries cosmetic acupuncture for herself and is pleasantly surprised by the results. Acupuncture rejuvenates new tissues and regenerates stronger and firmer fibres of collagen and elastin to improve the structure of the face and visibly reduce the signs of ageing (from Evening Standard).

Read original article here

When green tea is not healthy

2010-06-12T09:57:00.001-07:00

Mums to be should be aware that drinking green tea during pregnancy is not recommended. It has been found in a study that drinking green tea can affect your ability to utilise folic acid for foetal development. While green tea is renowned for its health benefits and its lower caffeine levels, some mums to be, trying to reduce caffeine intake during pregnancy, may think that it is a good substitute for black tea or coffee.

Folic acid is a very important ingredient in the development of baby and for this reason, the researchers recommend mums to be to reduce it or stop drinking green tea entirely. Green tea is not the only herbal tea that can be harmful to mums to be, raspberry leaf tea which can induce labour, anise, camomile and lemongrass. If in doubt don’t drink any until you get professional advice.

The Influence Of Gossip

2010-06-11T10:58:00.000-07:00

I cannot afford to overlook the influence that other people have on me. There are cases where people quarrel, fight and even commit murder because they are influenced by gossip, influenced by the words of others. To what extent do I check that I am not being influenced by gossip? Negativity in the mind is like poison. Negative thoughts are the seeds of negative actions. It might seem like a simple everyday occurrence - my friends tell me in the strictest confidence that such and such a person is like this and does so-and-so. I listen and accept without question because of the friendship.

My attitude and actions now become influenced by my friends words, and I find myself acting and reacting in accordance with the information fed to me. Gossip and guessing bring sorrow, heaviness and distrust. Poison can come in many disguises, but poison is poison whether from an enemy or a friend.

Courage

2010-06-09T04:12:00.001-07:00

Courage is taking a step forward into a difficult situation without a
solution in mind, yet feeling strong with the knowledge that help is
at hand when needed. Family, friends and faith - beautiful!

Open Heart

2010-06-01T03:12:00.000-07:00

The heart is like a flower - unless it is open it cannot release its fragrance into the world. The fragrance of the heart is made up of the qualities and virtues of our spirit. Most of us have learned how to keep our heart closed in a world that would trample all over us if we let it. Being open hearted today seems to require tremendous courage. It is a courage which comes only when we realise that no one can hurt us, no matter what they say or do. They may hurt our body, but if we have realised we are spirit, nothing outside can touch us, if we so decide. Little by little, practice opening your heart to those you think have hurt you. Realise it wasn't them that hurt you, it was yourself. And it taught you not to trust and you closed your heart. A closed heart is in need of opening. And when you do, you will have begun to heal yourself.

relax7.com

Drinking tea 'cuts ovarian cancer risk'

2010-05-31T04:25:00.000-07:00

Drinking tea can decrease the risk of ovarian cancer, according to a new study.

"Our results indicate that drinking more than four cups a day of black, green or herbal tea may reduce ovarian cancer risk by almost 30 percent," said lead researcher Dr Christina Nagle from Queensland Institute of Medical Research.

Nagle said that despite previous animal studies suggesting that tea can inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer cells, the results of human studies have been inconsistent.

"However, our findings support the idea that the antioxidants in tea may be beneficial against cancer in humans," Nagle said the study surveyed approximately 2,700 Australian women (half with ovarian cancer, and half without). Each woman was questioned about her diet and lifestyle, including tea-drinking habits.

"Green tea is thought to be the healthiest kind of tea. Although the results of our study did not show a stronger effect for green tea, combining all of the evidence worldwide suggests that drinking one or more cups green tea per day may reduce your risk of developing ovarian cancer by 40 percent. However this needs to be confirmed through further research," Nagle said.

The study is published in Cancer Causes Control. (ANI)

The Garbage Truck Rule

2010-05-25T02:29:00.000-07:00

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!’

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck.’ He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.

As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you.

Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.

Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

"I love this type of philosophy and my thanks to Michael of How to Forward for providing this online." James

Secret of natural beauty revealed

2010-05-21T05:44:00.000-07:00

Forget cosmetic surgery. The ancient treatment of acupuncture is gaining new popularity as a beauty secret in Japan about 1,500 years after it first came there from China.

As aesthetic sessions increasingly go organic or employ traditional remedies, women at the "Beauty World Japan" exhibition this week lined up to try acupuncture, long known for its health advantages. Read original Reuters article here

Green Tea benefits patients with Type 2 Diabetes

2010-05-14T03:25:00.000-07:00

Study on green tea's effects on intestinal enzymes. The researchers from University of Toyama in Japan concluded it could protect against or improve type 2 diabetes.
The study set out to determine if green tea would inhibit the carbohydrate-degrading capacity of alpha-glucosidase and glycogen phosphorylase, naturally occurring enzymes in the intestinal tract.

The team looked at cell cultures and found that green tea's gallated catechins (catechin 3-gallate, gallocatechin 3-gallate, epicatechin 3-gallate and epigallocatechin 3-gallate) effectively inhibited the enzymes. Thus, they concluded, "Dietary supplementation with these galated catechins or the green tea extract containing them... would contribute to the protection or improvement of type 2 diabetes," according to an abstract of the findings. Read original article here

Wisdom, What is it ?

2010-05-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

Like pornography and art, wisdom can be difficult to clearly define, but usually when we encounter it, we recognise it. Thinking people pretty much agree it involves an integration of knowledge, experience, and deep understanding that incorporates tolerance for the uncertainties of life as well as its ups and downs. There's an awareness of how things play out over time, and it confers a sense of balance. People wth developed wisedom generally share an optimism that life's problems can be solved and experience a certain amount of calm in facing difficult decisions. Intelligence; if we could only figure out exactly what it is, may be necessary for wisdom, but it definitely isn't enough; an ability to see the big picture, a sense of proportion, and considerable introspection also contribute to the development of wisdom.

Can tea help high blood pressure?

2010-05-07T04:08:00.000-07:00

Few foods have a reputation for soothing stress quite like a hot cup of tea.
Green tea, in particular, has been linked to reduced stress and anxiety, and it contains compounds that are said to relax blood vessels. But when scientists have looked at whether it lowers blood pressure, even by a little, the evidence is fairly weak. Some small studies have found that a few cups a day can shave some points from blood pressure levels, but others have found that it provides no help at all, and may even be counterproductive.

Still, the news is not all bad for tea drinkers.

In a recent randomized study financed in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, scientists at Tufts University in Massachusetts recruited 65 men and women with modestly high blood pressure who were not taking medication. Some were randomly assigned to drink a cup of hibiscus tea three times a day, while others received a tea-flavored placebo.

After six weeks, the tea group saw a respectable drop in systolic pressure — the top number in the reading — compared with the placebo group, suggesting that the tea made a small impact.

Of course, replication is the cornerstone of good science, and one study is nothing to base conclusions on. Experts say more study is needed.
Green tea doesn’t seem to have much effect on blood pressure; hibiscus tea may have potential.

Thank you to: Anahad O’Connor, The New York Times

Acupuncture for Animals

2010-05-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

Some might think that acupuncture is exclusively for the treatment of us humans, but it is also a very effective treatment for animals. This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China, in a limited form, to treat certain ailments. The Chinese also use acupuncture as preventive medicine against such problems as founder and colic in horses.

I found this article and thought you may be interested. Read original article here

Green Tea good for your eyes

2010-04-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

A recent study has revealed that drinking green tea helps in prevention of various eye linked problems. We know that green tea possesses catechins which are substances, rich in antioxidants which tend to infiltrate into the eye tissues and help deal with eye problems including glaucoma. Read original article here

The Life and Times of the Counterfeit Erection

2010-04-20T02:40:00.000-07:00

It was recently reported by the Hong Kong Customs Office that eighty percent of the counterfeit drugs seized are used to treat impotence. Despite all the serious diseases that require treatment, from hyperthyroidism to heart disease, the main concern of most people is penis performance.

The heart arteries could be blocked, and the diabetes count could be four hundred percent; lungs could be like toasted marshmallows from years of cigarette smoke, and the brain riddled with mad cow disease, but if the penis works, then all is well with the world.

Read original article here

The risk of Parkinson’s disease may be increased by deficiency of vitamin B6.

2010-04-13T03:14:00.000-07:00

The new study from Japan, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, does not prove that low vitamin B6 levels are the cause of Parkinson’s disease, but indicates that additional study should focus on whether increased levels of vitamin B6 may reduce the risk of developing the disease.

On the other hand, blood levels of vitamin B12, folate, and riboflavin were not linked to the incidence of Parkinson’s disease. Read original article here

Green Tea and Weight Loss

2010-04-12T03:17:00.000-07:00

Whereas several studies report that green tea improves weight loss, which largely has been attributed to its caffeine content. A new pilot study, reports that green tea’s main antioxidant catechin, may also have thermogenic potential.

The new report in the April issue of European Journal of Clinical Nutrition states that consumption of catechin at low doses taken after meals may contribute to increased fat oxidation similarly to caffeine (as much as 35 percent). The same effects of catechin were not demonstrated while fasting.

Read original article here

Green Tea Treat

2010-04-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

Heres a really great treat that is so easy to make and healthy too!

Ingredients which serves one

1 tablespoon Matcha (or 1 tablespoon Sencha, powdered in a mill)
1 cup hot water
Sugar or honey to taste
2 tablespoon fresh cream, whipped

How to make:

Heat a cup of water to 176°F (80°C).
Add hot tap water to cup to warm. Discard water.
Mix the Matcha and 2 tablespoons hot water and stir briskly with a tea whisk or small egg whisk until the paste becomes smooth.
Pour in the rest of hot water, stir and add sugar.

Sencha one of Japan's most popular tea
The flavours that distinguish Sencha are a delicate sweetness and a mild astringency. Sencha refers to the first picking of the tea bush, which takes place from late February in warm climates to the end of May in cooler areas. The tea leaves of later pickings, which have more astringency, constitute the tea known as Bancha. The glossy leaves of the tea bush are nearly uniform in size and impart a refreshing fragrance. Sencha is high in vitamin C and is especially popular with women as a teatime drink. A new variety of Sencha (mizudashi-sencha) specially prepared for steeping in cold water is now available on the market and enjoys brisk sales in summer. Powdered Sencha (funmatsucha) is another product on the market, although it is easily made by grinding Sencha leaves in a coffee mill or a food processor. It is excellent for adding to drinks and cooked dishes.

Matcha
Matcha is the powdered tea used in Japan's formal tea ceremony. Top grade Matcha is a bright shade of green. When the new shoots on the tea bush have two or three leaves, they are shaded from sunlight with straw, reed or cloth screens for two or three weeks. A tea to go with desserts and Japanese confections such as Green Tea Treat

Acupuncture helps Cancer Patients

2010-04-09T06:12:00.000-07:00

In 2010, 250,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, but there is some good news: the disease's death rate is steadily declining. That's largely due to modern treatments, but they often come with intense side effects.

Quintell Williams is getting ready for what may just be the most relaxing part of her day. Believe it or not, it's being poked with a dozen or so acupuncture needles.

Quintell is a two time breast cancer survivor. She's gone through a mastectomy, reconstruction, chemotherapy and radiation. But what's really hurting her now is a side effect of her breast cancer medicine.

Read original article here

Acupuncture for the Elephant

2010-04-09T06:09:00.000-07:00

The Singapore zoo is using an old Asian remedy to treat sick animals: acupuncture.

The latest patient is Tun, a 15-year-old Asian elephant whose right leg was crushed by a male elephant nine years ago. Zookeepers worried that Tun, who weighs 5,291 pounds, might not be able to settle her weight on her lame leg as she grew heavier.

Veterinarian and acupuncturist Oh Soon Hock, who has poked and prodded giraffes, cheetahs and Komodo dragons in the name of medicine, started treating Tun a month and a half ago.

Read original article here

Acupuncture choosen as treatment for Infertility

2010-04-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

Dr James Smith of the University of California, San Francisco, USA, who led a recent study on the effectiveness of alternatives to mainstream medicine in fertility cases, suggested to his peer group, that couples struggling to achieve pregnancy are more likely to seek out any treatment that offers hope

During the study, 29 per cent of the couples reported using some form of complementary and alternative medicine: 22 per cent underwent acupuncture, 17 per cent used herbal therapy, five per cent had body work such as chiropractic or massage, and one per cent tried meditation.

Read original article here

Cosmetic Acupuncture in new Paris spa

2010-04-08T04:30:00.000-07:00

Paris has a brand new Spa offering 100 percent natural face lifting procedure with the use of golden needles and acupuncture. MajClub Wellness Centre of The Villa & Hotel Majestic
The MajClub Wellness Centre features a number of treatments developed by Céline Claret Coquet, creator of Clé des Champs, an organic line of products inspired by traditional Chinese medicine. You can find out more about her products here, but to get a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, visit the MajClub Wellness Centre and ask for the three-step program.

Read original article here

Green Tea and Health Teeth

2010-04-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

Drinking a cup of green tea improves dental health and reduces the risk of loosing teeth, according to a new study from Japan.

Drinking more cups appears to confer additional protection, with five or more cups a day associated with a 23 per cent reduction in risk, according to findings from the Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study published in Preventive Medicine.

Being an observational study, the findings do not prove causality, but the link
does appear to be biologically plausible, state the authors, led by Yasushi Koyama from Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. Previous studies have reported that green tea catechins may inhibit the action of oral bacteria linked to development of periodontal disease, they said.

Read original article here Nutra Ingredients

Acupuncture Puts Nervous Dental Patients at Ease

2010-03-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

Acupuncture Therpy before dental work calms anxious patients. Acupuncture needles stuck into two strategic spots on the head may reduce anxiety levels of highly nervous dental patients, new research indicates.
The needles induce relaxation and reduce fear that all but paralysed some people facing dental treatments, say researchers from England and Denmark.
In a study published in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine, acupuncture treatment was performed in 16 women and four men from eight dental practices. Each of the patients had been rated as moderately or extremely anxious based on a questionnaire scale called the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).

Read original article here

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Succulent Papaya and new Cancer research

2010-03-30T04:58:00.000-07:00

Yummy papaya is considered one of the most nutritious and healthy fruits and is often ignored. Well maybe that will soon change as this, one of my favourite fruits Papaya has undergone research as to its cancer fighting properties and the effects have been very dramatic, where papaya leaf tea have been effective against a number of tumours.

The University of Florida concluded that papaya leaf components have considerable cancer fighting effects. The research was conducted by researcher Nam Deng in Japan where folk medical practitioners use this succulent fruit for treating many conditions.

The report is published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, documented papaya's anticancer effect against tumours of the cervix, breast, liver, lung and pancreas.

Read original article here

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An Ancient Therapy decoded

2010-03-23T05:27:00.000-07:00

Scientists are finding corresponding links between the ancient concepts of traditional Chinese medicine and modern anatomy. Of the 365 acupuncture points found on 14 meridians that circulate around the body, many correspond to nerve bundles or muscle trigger points. Several meridians circulate along the major arteries and nerves. "If people have a heart attack, the pain will radiate up across the chest and down the left arm. That's where the heart meridian goes," says Peter Dorsher, a specialist in pain management and rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. "Gallbladder pain will radiate to the right upper shoulder, just where the gallbladder meridian goes."

Read original article at The Wall Street Journal

Comfort Dogs come to emotional rescue

2010-03-19T05:10:00.000-07:00

Dogs perform lifesaving jobs every day. They sniff out bombs, locate lost children and even find people buried by avalanches.

Now another type of specially trained working dog has emerged in recent years. Comfort dogs come to the emotional rescue of people who are suffering in the aftermath of disasters or battling the difficulties of daily life.

Their job is deceptively simple: to get people to open up and talk about what happened.

Amy Rideout, president of HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response, a national organization with more than 100 certified dog-handler teams, said engaging in a discussion about an experience is healing and helps a person to overcome a traumatic event.

Read original article here

Happy St. Paddy’s Day

2010-03-17T03:49:00.000-07:00

May the wind always be at your back.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;
May you always have a piece of shamrock to dress your coat

May the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Sixth taste important link in Weight Loss

2010-03-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

Find yourself regularly drooling over junk food,yum yum yum.the list is quite endless and so is the drool factor!

But as we all daydream about eating the delicious fatty dishes that make our palate go into overdrive, do we ever give a thought as to WHY? Why is that we love our junk food so much! A group of scientists from the Deakin University, Sydney conducted a research on why we as humans are so fond of fatty foods and found out that apart from the normal five tastes that our tongue can detect - sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami – a unique protein rich taste which is found in soya sauce and chicken stalk, our tongues can also detect the taste of fat!

Deakin researchers Dr Russell Keast and PhD student Jessica Stewart, working with colleagues at the University of Adelaide, CSIRO, and Massey University (New Zealand), have found that humans can detect a sixth taste -- fat.

Read original article here

The humble Rhubarb’s health benefits

2010-03-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

Our mothers always told us that eating rhubarb was good for us, now its official according to recent research. Eating rhubarb baked in a crumble is not only tasty it may also be the best way to take advantage of its health benefits, and could lead to the development of new cancer treatments. Read original article here

Vitamin D the trigger for immune response

2010-03-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that Vitamin D is crucial to activating our immune defence and that without sufficient intake of the vitamin, the killer cells of the immune system - T cells - will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body.

For T cells to detect and kill foreign pathogens such as clumps of bacteria or viruses, the cells must first be 'triggered' into action and 'transform' from inactive and harmless immune cells into killer cells that are primed to seek out and destroy all traces of a foreign pathogen. Read original article here

Vitamin D may be obtained in the recommended amount with a well-balanced diet, including some enriched or fortified foods. Vitamin D is found in the following foods: Dairy products, (Cheese, Butter, Cream, Fortified milk), Fish, Oysters, Fortified cereals.

Vitamin D is also known as the "sunshine vitamin" because the body manufactures the vitamin after being exposed to sunshine. Ten to 15 minutes of sunshine 3 times weekly is enough to produce the body's requirement of vitamin D.

TCM Treatment for Hiccups

2010-03-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners will know of the point UB-02 ZanZhu located in a depression at the medial end of the eyebrow. It has many functions from local eye problems, frontal headache, dizziness, nosebleed, rhinitis, sneezing, blurred vision, night blindness, infantile epilepsy, even haemorrhoid pain. Recently at a lecture by imminent Dr. Ma Liangxiao of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, she informed the Active Health Foundation class that this important point also has an emergency use in stopping hiccup in victims of stroke or CVA (cerebrovascular accident). She told the story of her earlier internship in Western medicine treating a (Wind) stroke victim who also suffered sever intractable hiccups and was about to be prescribe muscle relaxants to calm the diaphragm. She told the professor of a TCM treatment and asked if she could use it on the patient. Her professor agreed and Dr. Ma acupunctured UB-02 with strong sensation, the hiccupping stopped and TCM had a new supporter (in her professor).

Most hiccups are benign and temporary events caused by an unintentional spasm of the diaphragm, the muscle that divides the lungs from the abdomen. The spasm is followed by quick closing of the vocal cords, which produces a “hic” (distinctive sound). Intractable (over a long period) hiccups can be potentially dangerous to victims of stroke.

Dr. Ma’s principle of treatment was to nourish the Lung and Stomach, calm the diaphragm and Mind. Her preferred point selection UB-02 ZanZhu, UB-17 GeShu, SI-17 TianRong.

Prescribing expensive muscle relaxant to the sufferer of intractable hiccups when the cause of the condition is unknown, perhaps should be delayed when there is a simple and
cost effective treatment in acupuncture available.

It's a tough life!

2010-03-05T02:54:00.000-08:00

Some days its hard to get out of bed and get going. Why do our levels of enthusiasm seem to fall so easily? Why can't we get ourselves motivated? As with most answers in our world, it simply means we have forgotten to flow with the energy of the universe, which is radiating outwards and if we act in opposite then we encounter disharmony and stagnation. We try to break one of the spiritual laws. We are taught that winning and achieving is about getting and keeping, when the truth is that it is about giving. Winners are go givers not go-getters, and their definition of winning is not getting one over on the other guy, but overcoming their inertia and giving something of themselves to someone or something other than themselves. This reverses the flow of energy from outside in, to inside out, and as we all know, the deepest satisfaction in life comes from giving. Let's start by helping someone today, let’s make one contribution in our community. It doesn't have to be a tough life!

Food Tips to Combat Pain

2010-03-02T08:56:00.000-08:00

The link between certain types of pain and the food we eat is getting stronger everyday. I recall a number of patients informing me that certain foods make the pain worse however they only became aware after the consultation questioning. Very few people today see the holistic connections between the various aspects of their busy lives and the way they feel. Certain foods do stress the body and stress regardless of origin causes tissue to inflame. I like this article because its simple and based on evidence that confirms my own theory. Read article here

Telling patients to avoid this or that always brings memories of the Tommy Cooper joke when he went to the doctor complaining about his arm hurting when he abducted it laterally and his doctor’s advice was “well then don’t do that”. I know it's not always that simple, but I like the joke and Tommy's way of telling it!

Be Happy and have a Healthy Heart

2010-03-01T04:11:00.000-08:00

I was once told that happiness is a decision we make and we all have the potential to help others to be happy too. Now with new research it is confirmed that by helping others to be happy, their heart also benefits. Isn't heart disease the number one killer in the western world today? Just think if you can make one person smile today, it may help their heart as well as give them a little spiritual lift...... Read the research article by Karina Davidson, Ph.D from Columbia University Medical Center. Read article here

Food Education not Legislation

2010-02-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

Food education is a very valuable way to encourage people to eat healthy and avoid foods that are contributing nothing to their health. We need more local courses and workshops on nutrition, diet and the benefits of individual foods. As a practitioner I would like to offer my patients advice to attend this or that local nutritional course or workshop than the endless healthy eating sheets they take away from my clinic. Sometimes I cringe at the amount of recycling bins my advice sheets fill. I remember at one of my Wellbeing workshops, asking the group the general question “Why do we need to eat”, and it was amazing the reasons I heard back. One guy thought for a moment and replied he eat food because his mother always told him, “to eat up and that it was good for him”. In a lot of peoples minds eating is just a habit and with that attitude, junk food will always win the healthy eating stakes. Why? Because it’s convenient, it’s cheap and it tastes good. Is this the answer to the above question? I hope not. Many people know about the term “essential nutrients” but not why they are essential. Here’s to encouraging more healthy eating courses. An article in the Guardian by Jay Rayner makes so much sense. Read it here…

Health food or is it!

2010-02-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

If they call it “health food” does it really have to be healthy? This article highlights that we should be ever vigilant when we walk down the health food aisle to purchase our food, especially when we are looking to enhance our health. Another example of Read the Label and make sure you know what's in the basket. Read article here

What’s so special about Brown Rice?

2010-02-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

Today pasta and wholemeal bread are very popular for its nutritious value and quick preparation, however too much wheat based foods can stagnate the digestive system and even cause “food intolerances” in some people. A really great substitute for pasta and wheat foods is another of the grains and cereal family ‘RICE’. Eating this nutritious food is the least likely to provoke an adverse reaction or trigger the gas, bloating and pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

When you want to stick to healthy carbohydrates, organic brown rice is your best choice and it is full of essential fatty acids, rather than the artery clogging saturated fats found in starchy carbs and fatty foods. Un-milled brown rice is rich in B vitamin thiamine. This essential nutrient is leached out during the milling process to achieve white rice.

Because of the dense body of brown rice, we can't but chew and eat it slowly. This gives the body time to digest and oversee the intake of nutrients. It seems to have a beneficial effect on the entire intestinal tract, soothing and cleansing it. According to many folk medicines, plain boiled brown rice is a remedy for diarrhoea. To prevent valuable minerals and vitamins leaches out during washing, brown rice should be washed in running water but not soaked before cooking. Add it to nut roasts, vegetable soups, risotto. Rice pudding baked with apricots, dates and walnuts is a superb combination of carbohydrate as well as many other nutrients.

Acupuncture good for treating Depression in Pregnant women

2010-02-24T14:07:00.000-08:00

Stanford University study concludes from a new study that acupuncture provides relief for pregnant women who suffer from depression during pregnancy.

150 pregnant women suffering from depression. They were 12 to 30 weeks pregnant, and randomly assigned 52 to receive acupuncture specifically designed for depressive symptoms, 49 to regular acupuncture and 49 to Swedish massage.

Each woman received 12 sessions of 25 minutes each; those given acupuncture did not know which type they were getting. (In the depression-specific treatment, needles are inserted at body points that are said to correspond to symptoms like anxiety, withdrawal and apathy.)

After eight weeks, almost two-thirds of the women who had depression-specific acupuncture experienced a reduction in at least 50 percent of their symptoms, compared with just under half of the women treated with either massage or regular acupuncture.

There was no significant difference in the rates of complete remission — about a third in each group. The findings appear in the March issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The lead author, Rachel Manber, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford, said the results suggested that some symptoms of depression during pregnancy might be related to physical discomfort that is alleviated by acupuncture.

Still, the results were striking, she said, adding, “It’s quite remarkable, especially since the prevalence of depression is highest in the third trimester of pregnancy, so it goes against the course of how you would expect depression to go.”

Trigger Point Therapy

2010-02-23T03:24:00.000-08:00

I just came across this article and feel it is worth a look, if you want to learn more about one development route of TCM.
Article here.......

The Influence Of Gossip

2010-02-23T01:10:00.001-08:00

I cannot afford to overlook the influence that other people have on me. To what extent do I check that I am not being influenced by gossip? Negativity in the mind is like poison. Negative thoughts are the seeds of negative actions. Gossip and guessing bring sorrow, heaviness and distrust. Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil. Think no evil.

Relational aggression is on the increase and it has a significant influence in suicide rates among young people, not to mention damage to a persons dignity and reputation. Please consider that the bringer of "Bad News" rarely makes a positive contribution to anyones life. Neither should they be shunned as they usually need help with their own psychological imbalances.

Food shopping the old Fashioned Way

2010-02-22T03:16:00.001-08:00

I’d like to promote this, because of the opportunity for farmers, the opportunity for consumer’s choice of quality food, and the development of sustainable locally grown (organic) food. It will also bring about more social interactivity outside the busy faceless supermarket. As a kid I remember my mother, (much to my impatience and annoyance) chatting to every neighbour she met, getting the local news, today lost in a supermarket full of strangers who now see her slow movements as an nuisance to their much more important and busy shopping lives.

See video.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8507341.stm

Dolphins may Cure Diabetes

2010-02-21T08:15:00.000-08:00

My cynical nature has come out again and as I pull my jaw from the ground, I finally realise that scientists, the supposedly intelligent ones, the people who will develop drugs to keep us all healthy are a little lost of common sense. Read the follow article and draw your own conclusions. Personally I believe every other animal on the planet has the cure for diabetes, if only we observe them. Dolphins have the cure, they exercise regularly, they eat reasonably healthy, and lead low stress lives. Could humans do the same or is that too simplistic!

read on......

The Scientists from the US National Marine Mammal Foundation presented their findings.

“The overnight changes in their blood chemistry match the changes in diabetic humans,”

This means that insulin – the hormone that reduces the glucose level in the blood – has no effect on dolphins when they fast.

The dolphin diet is rich in protein and doesn’t typically include a lot of glucose-laden carbs.
Dolphins have the ability to “turn on” diabetic-like tendencies, thus sustaining higher blood glucose levels during overnight fasting.

The Scientists team took blood samples from trained dolphins that “snack” continuously during the day and fast overnight.

Dr Stephanie Venn-Watson, a veterinary epidemiologist and director of Clinical Research at the National Marine Mammal Foundation in San Diego said, “It is our hope that this discovery can lead to novel ways to prevent, treat and maybe even cure diabetes in humans.”

Venn-Watson and her colleagues take measurement of insulin levels in six dolphins two hours after the animals ate

Dr Stephanie Venn-Watson said “Maybe this is a vestige of something dormant that could be awakened and used as a therapy or cure.” She believes that this research on dolphin’s DNA to work out how they do it could result in therapies in humans to switch on the ability again.

“Dolphins in the ocean go in to feast or famine situations”, she said. “They will eat a bunch of fish at once and then they may go a while and fast and not eat. “During that fasting state they need a mechanism to keep sugar pumping around their blood. “Dolphins can switch off diabetes but people cannot.”

Dr Venn-Watson believes that the ability dates back to when dolphins reverted from land animals to sea animals 55 million years ago and had to adapt to a protein-only fish diet.

“Diabetes now accounts for five per cent of human deaths globally,” said Dr Stephanie Venn-Watson

The research, presented in annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Research suggests that dolphins may be the best model for studying diabetes and offer insights into treating the disease.

Experts predict that approximate four million Britons could be diabetic by 2025. More than 2.5 million people in Britain suffer from Diabetes, which can be serious complications including blindness.