Inflammation

Inflammation (Latin, inflamatio, to set on fire) is the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants.[1] It is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue.

In the absence of inflammation, wounds and infections would never heal and progressive destruction of the tissue would compromise the survival of the organism. However, an inflammation that runs unchecked can also lead to a host of diseases, such as hay fever, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, liver cirrhosis are just to name few. It is for that reason that inflammation is normally closely regulated by the body.

Inflammation can be classified as either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation is the initial response of the body to harmful stimuli and is achieved by the increased movement of plasma and leukocytes from the blood into the injured tissues. A cascade of biochemical events propagates and matures the inflammatory response, involving the local vascular system, the immune system, and various cells within the injured tissue. Prolonged inflammation, known as chronic inflammation, leads to a progressive shift in the type of cells which are present at the site of inflammation and is characterized by simultaneous destruction and healing of the tissue from the inflammatory process.

Acupuncture is incredibly effective at reducing inflammation in the body at any age. Inflammation becomes more common as we age so Chronic Systemic Inflammation is an underlying cause of many seemingly unrelated, age-related diseases[2]. Systemic inflammation can inflict devastating degenerative effects throughout the body ranging from arteriosclerosis to osteo-arthritis (Ward 1995; McCarty 1999; Brod 2000). This fact is often overlooked by the medical establishment, yet persuasive scientific evidence exists that correcting a chronic inflammatory disorder will enable many of the infirmities of aging to be prevented or reversed.

Scientists have identified dietary supplements and prescription drugs that can reduce levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines . Fish oil is the best documented supplement to suppress tumor necrosis factor-alpha[3] (TNF-a), IL-6, IL-1(b), and IL-8 (Jeyarajah et al. 1999; James et al. 2000; Watanabe et al. 2000; Yano et al. 2000). A study on healthy humans and those with rheumatoid disease shows that fish oil suppresses these dangerous cytokines by up to 90% (James et al. 2000).

In Traditional Chinese Medicine the herbs that reduce inflammation fall under the category of herbs that “clear Heat”. “Heat” refers not only to fever but to any conditions that manifest with redness, swelling, or a sensation of heat. Other signs that may occur (not only locally) are: red tongue with yellow coating, thirst, rapid pulse, irritability and, depending in which organ is inflamed; the urine can be scanty and dark, or the patient may have constipation or diarrhea.

Different Chinese Herbs will target inflammation in different areas of the body like the joints in the case of arthritis or in the muscles and soft tissue with injuries or surgeries. Other herbs will target the digestion system or skin condition.

Acute inflammation in the respiratory track caused by virus or bacteria is a cold. When the inflammation is caused by allergens it is an allergy. Not everyone develops an allergy even when they are exposed to the same environment. The mucus cells become inflamed and their membranes become thin and red and secrete more mucus. Taking Chinese formula that contain “clearing heat” herbs restore the cell membrane to normal and the person will have less mucus discharge. The overreaction of the immune system subsides. Taking Chinese herbal formulas is treating not only the symptoms (runny nose) but the underlying cause (inflammation), restoring the normal body function.

Restoring the normal body function by enhancing blood circulation, boosting the immune system, helping to eliminate toxins from the body by urination and defecation or by sweating are some of the function that the body is doing on its own and stimulated by Chinese Herbs. In case of inflammation different herbs will go to different parts of the body and will address different stages of the disease. The formulas have a combination of herbs that will support digestion and combine some of those ideas at the same time. There are no side affect. The body has enormous ability to heal itself and taping into it own mechanism and enhancing them in time of disease can reverse and restore the normal function again.

From a modern biomedical perspective, these herbs have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antimicrobial functions.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can treat Chronic Systemic Inflammation in the body. No matter how the inflammation manifests (ulcers, arthritis, skin conditions, etc), Acupuncture and TCM restore normal function to help the body heal itself. Please feel free to contact me at the clinic if you have questions or wish to make an appointment.

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[1] Ferrero-Miliani L, Nielsen OH, Andersen PS, Girardin SE (February 2007). "Chronic inflammation: importance of NOD2 and NALP3 in interleukin-1beta generation". Clin. Exp. Immunol. 147 (2): 227–35. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2249.2006.03261.x. PMID 17223962.


[2] Cotran; Kumar, Collins (1998). Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. Philadelphia: W.B Saunders Company. ISBN 0-7216-7335-X.


[3] "The ability of fish oil to suppress tumor necrosis factor alpha production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in healthy men is associated with polymorphisms in genes that influence tumor necrosis factor alpha production." Grimble RF, Howell WM, O'Reilly G, Turner SJ, Markovic O, Hirrell S, East JM, Calder PC. American Journal Clinical Nutrition. 2002 Aug;76(2):454-9.PMID: 12145022

New Year's Resolve Fading? How Acupuncture can help you reach your goals (part 1 of 5)

With each new year, we once again reflect on what changes can improve our lives. By the end of January, many of us have already "slipped" or even given up our resolutions as "too difficult" or postponed them to "next year."

If your intention is to improve your health, acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you "stick" to those resolutions.

Over the next five Thursdays, I will give you an example of how acupuncture can help you keep your New Year's resolutions and achieve your goals.

Resolution 1: Reach Target Weight and Stay There

Losing weight is the #1 most common New Year's resolution. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help you reach your goal level of fitness and maintain it by promoting better digestion, smoothing emotions, reducing appetite, improving metabolism, and eliminating food cravings.

From an Oriental medicine perspective, the acupuncture points, foods, and herbs that assist with weight loss directly influence the Qi of the Spleen and Liver systems to treat the root imbalances that are causing the weight gain.

From a Western perspective, acupuncture and Oriental medicine have been shown to have an effect on the function of the nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system, food cravings, and metabolism. All of which can help to energize the body, maximize the absorption of nutrients, regulate elimination, control overeating, suppress the appetite, and reduce anxiety.

Each treatment is catered to the needs of the individual patient. Acupuncture points on the body are chosen for overall wellness to increase circulation of the blood and Qi (stimulating the metabolism) and calming the nervous system.

Acupuncture and TCM are powerful tools for healthy weight loss, by themselves or as a supportive treatment in conjunction with other weight management programs.

At Point-A Place Of Wellness, we offer herbal consultations as well as acupuncture treatment and have had great success with weight loss patients.

Miso Healthy (Soup Is Good Food)

According to the ancient Chinese medical text, the Huangdi Neujung (or Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), we should live in harmony with the natural cycles of our environment. The cold and darkness of winter urges us to slow down, reflect on our health, and conserve strength. My last blog post gave you some moves to maintain flexibility and this post advises what foods will best support you in winter.

Winter is Yin in nature; inactive, cold, and damp compared to other times of the year. Remain introspective, restful, and consolidate your Qi through the season to prepare for spring’s burst of new life and energy.

Winter is ruled by the Water element, which is associated with the kidneys, bladder and adrenal glands. The kidneys are the source of all energy (Qi) within the body. They store all of the body’s reserve Qi so it can be used to heal, prevent illness, in times of stress and change, and to age gracefully.

During winter months it is important to nurture and nourish our kidney Qi. Winter is when energy is most easily depleted. Our bodies instinctively express the fundamental principles of winter – rest, reflection, conservation and storage. The Nei Ching, another ancient Chinese classic, advises us to go to sleep early and rise late, after the sun's rays have warmed the atmosphere a bit. This preserves Yang Qi for the task of warming in the face of cold.

To keep nourished and help warm the body’s core, eat the following:

• warm hearty soups,
• whole grains,
• and roasted nuts.

Fortify the kidneys with:

• dried foods,
• small dark beans,
• seaweeds,
• and steamed winter greens.

Cook foods longer, at lower temperatures and with less water.

Small, regular amounts of salty and bitter foods are needed in the winter to promote a sinking, centering quality which heightens the capacity for storage. Such foods also cool the exterior of the body and bring body heat deeper and lower (with a cooler surface, one notices the cold less). However, use salt with care. An excess salt will cause over consumption of water which creates too much coldness weakening the kidneys and adrenal function and the heart.

• Salty foods include miso, soy sauce, seaweeds, salt, millet and barley.
• Bitter foods include lettuce, watercress, celery, asparagus, alfalfa, rye, oats, quinoa and amaranth.

To summarize: Sleep early, rest well, stay warm, eat small and regular amounts of bitter and salty food and cook the food longer at low temperature.

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Here is a recipe of for Miso Soup with Scallions, which not only supports the kidney during winter; it is also an ancient Chinese herbal remedy for colds.

In 300 AD famous herbalist, Ge Hong, writes about Miso Soup with Scallions in a book called, Bei ji zhou hou fang or Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One’s Sleeve. The soup is indicated for the onset of a cold when a person is just beginning to feel a headache, stuffy nose and a slight fever.

So, the next time you feel a cold coming on, be sure to have your miso!

Miso Soup
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 3-4 Tablespoons red soy bean paste
  (a.k.a. miso, usually sold in the refrigerated section)
• 3-5 green onions stalks, chopped

Directions:

• Dissolve the miso in a little bit of boiling water
  (about 2 tsp.)
• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and add the miso & scallions.
• Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Remove from heat top with green onions and serve.

Variations:
You can add various other ingredients to make a more substantial soup, such as tofu, fresh mushrooms, cooked shrimp, snow pea sprouts, cooked rice noodles, or paper-thin slices of fresh ginger.

Upset Stomach and Turkey Comas

Are you planning a fun and festive Thanksgiving? Gathering friends and/or family for turkey (or tofurky) and the big game? Celebration is fun, but sometimes the turkey isn’t the only one that gets “stuffed.” Add jet lag (Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year) and maybe a drink or two and this is a good time to stock up on the Chinese remedy called “Curing Formula”.

Curing Formula is a traditional herbal remedy for indigestion. It works well for post-celebratory discomfort because, it has herbs for upset stomach, dehydration, fatigue, bloating, body aches and classic post-meal lethargy a.k.a “Turkey coma”.

The unpleasant physiological effects of eating too much or eating new/different foods (nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, bloating, thirst, difficulty concentrating, irritability, diarrhea) can last days but are reduced by taking Curing Formula both BEFORE AND AFTER the celebration.

Gentle but effective Curing Formula is used as a remedy for many acute digestive disorders (food poisoning, stomach flu, jet lag, food allergies, etc.) and works as an excellent hangover remedy, so it is a great addition to your medicine cabinet and travel kit.

Have a Safe, Healthy, and Happy Holiday season!

Some Book Recommendations

My patients sometimes ask for more information to study at home. Here are some books I recommend.

The Coconut Oil Miracle (4th ed.) by Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D.
“If you were to travel the world looking for a people who enjoy a degree of health far above that found in most nations, a..."


Dao of Chinese Medicine: Understanding an Ancient Healing Art by Donald Edward Kendall
"The history of Chinese medicine, from its early beginnings five thousand years ago to the present, reveals a truly fascinating story..."

Molecules Of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine by Candace B. Pert
"SCIENTISTS, by nature, are not creatures who commonly seek out or enjoy the public spotlight..."


Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life 2nd Ed Create Your Life, Your Relationships and Your World in Harmony with Your Values by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
“Most of us are hungry for skills to improve the quality of our relationships, to deepen our sense of personal empowerment or to simply communicate more effectively...”

The Tibetan Book Of Living And Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche
“In this major and comprehensive work, Buddhist meditation master and international speaker Sogyal Rinpoche brings together the ancient wisdom of Tibet with modern research on death and dying and the nature of the universe...”


Mind Matters: Psychological Medicine in Holistic Practice by J.R. Millenson
"A textbook of mind-body medicine written for students and practitioners of alternative medicine. It brings together in one coherent volume practical techniques in psychological medicine-what Plato called "healing with words"-for those wishing to work more deeply with the emotional and mental aspects of illness. ...balances a scientific approach towards health psychology with humanistic conceptions of medicine as an art. It presents a rigorous exposition of the theory and practice of health psychology from the standpoint of natural medicine, ..."

Eliminate Corn Syrup From Your Diet

In 1970, zero pounds of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) existed in the United States food chain. By 2008, about 68 pounds of HFCS were consumed per American per year. The cheapest ingredients in the American food chain (profit sector) are air, water, salt and HFCS. HFCS is cheaper due to a combination of corn subsidies and sugar tariffs. Corn, and usually highly processed corn, has become a staple ingredient of the American diet.

In 2006, America imported 80% less sugar than thirty years earlier. The government guarantees producers a fixed price for domestic sugar and sets strict quotas and tariffs for foreign sugar keeping sugar prices in the U.S. at least twice as high as the world average.

HFCS, which is made from cornstarch, is now used to sweeten: Soft drinks (including some sports drinks), fruit juices, baked goods, canned fruits, dairy products, cookies, gum, jams, and jellies.

So what makes corn syrup such an unhealthy fat-promoting product?

Fructose is Metabolized to Fat
Fructose converts to fat more than any other sugar. Research shows that fructose caused a general increase in both total serum cholesterol and in low density lipoproteins (LDL a.k.a "Bad cholesterol"), putting a person at risk for heart disease. Fructos raises serum triglycerides significantly.

Increases Diabetes and Obesity
Fructose is metabolized by the liver so it does not cause the pancreas to release insulin the way it normally does with glucose. Fructose reduces the affinity of insulin for it receptor, the principle characteristic of Type 2 Diabetes.

Contrary to popular belief, corn is a grain, not a vegetable, and is definitely not fit as a dietary staple and mainstay, primarily because of its high sugar content.

If you eat a diet that is high in sugar and grains, the sugar gets metabolized to fat (and is stored as fat). This releases surges in leptin, a hormone involved in appetite regulation. Over time, your body becomes resistant to leptin much the way it can become resistant to insulin.

When you become leptin-resistant, your body can no longer "hear" the messages telling it to stop eating, burn fat, or maintain sensitivity to sweet tastes in your taste buds. When you lose this ability, you remain hungry, crave sweets, and your body stores MORE fat.

Fructose has NO Enzymes, Vitamins, or Minerals
In fact, fructose leeches micronutrients from the body. Unbound fructose, found in large quantities in HFCS, can interfere with the heart's use of minerals. Fructose may alter the magnesium balance in the body, accelerating bone loss. Natural fructose in fresh fruit is not a problem because fresh fruit contain enzymes, vitamins, and minerals needed to assimilate/metabolize the fructose.

Why use Poison to Process Food?
Mercury is a known carcinogen, yet mercury cell chlor-alkali products are used to produce food ingredients such as citric acid, sodium benzoate, and HFCS. A recent study recommended

"...with 45% of the HFCS samples containing mercury... it would be prudent and perhaps essential for public health that additional research be conducted by the FDA or some other public health agency... In 2004, several member states of the European Union reported finding mercury concentrations in beverages, cereals and bakery ware, and sweeteners... FDA does not currently have a mercury surveillance program for food ingredients such as added sugars or preservatives manufactured with mercury grade chlor-alkali products."

Is Your Food Grown or Engineered?
Nearly all corn used to make HFCS is genetically modified (to speed growth, resist pests, increase yield, etc.), a process with its own health concerns and documented side-effects like increasing one's risk of developing a food allergy to corn.

What You Can Do
The simplest way to reduce you HFCS intake is to eliminate sodas, sweetened drinks and bottled fruit juices, as they can easily have 8 teaspoons per serving. Switch to tap water as your beverage of choice and you will be on your way to better health.

The next step is reducing how much processed food you eat. Incorporate more whole (fresh) foods in your diet and if you must eat packaged foods, read the label. Ingredients are listed from highest concentration to lowest and if HFCS is one of the first three ingredients, you can probably find a better option just down the aisle.

Even though corn and corn-based product seem to be used in everything, Los Angeles has many farmer's markets and well stocked grocery stores to help you plan healthy meals and have nutritious snacks.

Do Your Kids Have Healthy Appetites?

As a parent of two young kids who are still growing, I expose them to different foods and healthy choices so they develop good eating habits. Being surrounded by so many artificial colors and additives can make this a challenge.

BusinessWeek writer Cathy Arnst recently posted a story, called "How Mac 'n' Chees Is Like a Cigarette" about hypereating, as explained in The End of Overeating, by Dr. David Kessler, a renowned scientist and former FDA director who set out to figure out the reasons behind the obesity crisis besetting the nation. Arnst writes:

"Two thirds of adults are considered overweight or obese, as is one out of every three children under age 18. Those numbers have been rising steadily since the 1980s, when the average weight took a dramatic spike upwards for all races, age groups and genders. For example, in 1960 women aged 20 to 29 weighed an average of 128 pounds. By 2000 the average weight had jumped to 157.

"Our national weight gain is not, as many people assume, because we are far less active; studies have found little difference in energy expended now than in the 1950s. It is because we are eating far, far more calories than ever before, in the form of soda, junk food, sweets, fat and salt laden meals, and huge portions. We have become addicted to food, and that addiction starts in very early childhood.

"Kessler lays out how sugar, fat and salt stimulates the reward centers of the brain in much the same way as cigarettes, alcohol and illicit drugs. By eating food that is extremely palatable, we keep wanting more, whether or not we are hungry. Since highly palatable junk food is socially acceptable, and often cheaper than the healthy stuff, we keep going back for more. The food industry knows this better than anyone. Kessler quotes an industry consultant who says that food manufacturers try to hit the “three points of the compass”:

Sugar, fat and salt make a food compelling, said the consultant. They make it indulgent. They make it high in hedonic value, which gives us pleasure. “Do you design food specifically to be highly hedonic,” I asked. “Oh, absolutely,” he replied without a moment’s hesitation. “We try to bring as much of that into the equation as possible.

"... Kessler, who is a pediatrician, says reward-driven eating begins in early childhood, and seems to be starting younger and younger... [and] attributes this breakdown in part to the larger and larger portions served children."

Eating habits are learned and as parents we are our children's first teachers. While buying processed or fast food may seem convenient, the effects can last their lifetime.

There is good news about eating in Los Angeles.

We have many Farmer's Markets, Organic grocers, and health-conscious restaurants to choose from. Websites like Yelp.com show reviews for Health Food stores and organic restaurants in your neighborhood from your neighbors. Your efforts as a parent benefits your child's health and future.

Spring Forward

Spring is a new beginning. According to the ancient Chinese medical text, the Huangdi Neijing or Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, yang (daytime) activities, reflect the ascending and active nature of spring.

It is the time of year to rise early with the sun, take brisk walks, and generally enjoy the outdoors. The sun warms the earth, seeds sprout, and flowers bloom. Incorporate breathing exercises, stretching, or light cardio into your daily routine. There is a sense of renewal and new life all around. Not only will you find it easier to lose those extra winter pounds, exercise can elevate your mood and will increase your energy.

Spring is the ideal time for cleansing and rejuvenation for overall health and well-being. As spring is represented by the wood element which is associated with the liver and gallbladder, these two organs are usually the primary targets for “spring cleaning” or “detox” health regimens.

A “Spring Menu” is the lightest of the year and contains foods which emphasize the yang (ascending and expansive) qualities of spring.

Green is the color of the liver and springtime. Eating young plants – fresh, leafy greens, sprouts and immature cereal grasses – can improve the liver’s overall functions (filter, nourish, and store blood) and aid in the movement of Qi. Many heavy (i.e. meat) or salty foods (soy sauce, miso) have a “sinking” quality (you feel the need to rest after eating) and will clog the liver.

The quality of sweet and pungent flavored foods is expansive and rising. Pungent cooking herbs – Basil, Fennel, Marjoram, Rosemary, Caraway, Dill, and Bay Leaf are great choices to add to food. Most complex carbohydrates (such as Grains, Legumes and Seeds) have a primarily sweet flavor which increases after sprouting. Young beets, carrots and other sweet starchy vegetables, fresh from the garden, provide a refreshing sweet flavor.

Food preparation becomes simpler in the spring. Raw and sprouted foods can be emphasized in your diet. They stimulate movement and cleanse and cool (detoxify) the body. Raw food also brings about renewal. If cooking food, cook only for a short time and at high temperatures- sauté, don’t fry. When cooking with water, light steaming or minimal simmering is ideal.

To keep your liver (and the rest of your body) healthy, eat green, incorporate exercises into your daily routine, and go hiking. Outside air helps Liver Qi flow.

What's your gut feeling?

The holidays are a time to celebrate with family and friends. Having good food and connecting with people can give us energy, a sense of purpose, and fill us with happiness.

“Eating, feeding, being fed, and all of the concomitant sensations of sound, touch, smell, warmth and closeness quickly merge with the internal urges of appetite, the enjoyment of satiety, and the innately pleasurable process of ingestion, digestion, assimilation, and elimination.”[1]

One down side of that celebration is overeating. Instead of coming back uplifted, you can feel bloated, heartburn, sluggish, become constipated or have diarrhea, and/or gain extra weight. TCM defines this condition as “Qi Stagnation and Food Accumulation.” The lingering symptoms produced are hunger and uneasiness after eating, distention and aching of the abdomen, belching and flatulence, heartburn, irregular bowel movement and a loss of the ability to discriminate between unreasonable cravings and true hunger.

The main herb in the formula to reduce the food accumulation is Chinese Hawthorn Fruit which has enzymatic effects on protein (especially meat), fat and carbohydrates. Poria, Pinellia and Tangerine peel counter the Dampness and Phlegm that are generated by excessive amounts of food in the stomach and small intestine. Radish seeds and Rhubarb encourage the normal peristalsis and relieve constipation or diarrhea. Restoring normal digestive function makes you feel better and is the key to preventing illness.

The benefits of balancing your body with Acupuncture are great. The gut in TCM is under the governance of the stomach and spleen. The source of indigestion lies in the disruption of the Spleen Network: it is responsible for the processing of food and nutrients and distributes these constituents, upward and downward through the abdominal region, and outwardly to the four limbs. When these essential activities are impeded by over consumption of food, enzyme secretion and vigorous rhythmic peristalsis becomes disrupted leading to inefficient transformation and absorption causing gas and accumulated undigested food.

Qi Stagnation and Food Accumulation are very simple to correct and prevent, even at holiday parties. Some strategies you can use during the holidays to reduce digestion maladies (bad breath, irregular bowel movement, food allergies, food poisoning, hangover) and the results of other holiday overindulgences include:

• Have One Meal. Sit down to eat: one plate, small portion (no seconds).

• Don’t Graze. Survey what is offered and create your own menu. It’s o.k. to pass on some items. You don’t have to try everything.

• Take some time to enjoy your beverage. It is healthier to avoid sugary drinks (including some alcohols) but what ever you drink—sip, do not gulp. Alcohol dehydrates, have water in addition to other drinks.

• Get back to your regular schedule as quickly as possible. After a big party, avoid meat, reduce dairy and sugar intake. Eat light, easy to digest foods, small portions, and take an herbal supplement to restore your body.

Other illnesses occur when the body cannot absorb nutrients or eliminate waste properly. Please call Point - A Place of Wellness to schedule an acupuncture treatment and herbal consultation to restore your digestion system to prime function.
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[1]“Chinese Medicine Works Clinical Handbook” H. Beinfield, L.Ac; E. Korngold, L.Ac., O.M.D., Revised Edition 2007