Fibromyalgia can be difficult to treat due to the fact that several organ systems are affected. Treatment plans for fibromyalgia vary greatly based on different medical disciplines. In Western medical communities, pharmaceuticals are used to manage pain associated with fibromyalgia. Common medications include analgesics or pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as Ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin and naproxen sodium (Aleve), as well as with muscle relaxants. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs might be prescribed to manage depression and improve sleep. Anti-spasmodic medications are also used to relieve abdominal pain. Unfortunately, the benefits of medications are often limited by their side effects.

Diet modifications can also help manage symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Because inflammation is the underlying cause of pain associated with fibromyalgia, some individuals respond well to anti-inflammatory diets. Anti-inflammation diets are high in whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes, cold water fish, high quality fats, nuts, seeds, and fresh herbs and spices.  Others are responsive to detoxification diets which focus on the elimination of all processed foods, caffeine, alcohol, refined sugars, meat and common food allergens such as wheat, gluten, dairy, eggs, shellfish and soy. In addition, supplementation with probiotics keeps the digestive tract healthy and may also reduce inflammation by restoring a healthy balance of gut bacteria. Individuals with fibromyalgia often have low blood levels of serotonin, so supplementation with 5-HTP, which increases the synthesis of serotonin, may be useful in these cases. SAMe or S-adenosyl-L-methionine may decrease pain and morning stiffness.

Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) has also been studied extensively for its effectiveness in treating fibromyalgia. Because CCM provides a holistic and systemic approach to health and healing, some individuals experience greater symptom relief when CCM therapies are used in addition to Western approaches. For example, results from a recent study published in the Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine indicated that the addition of acupuncture to conventional treatments was beneficial for pain and quality of life in fibromyalgia patients. In CCM, there are 4 pattern assessments associated with fibromyalgia: liver Qi stagnation, qi and blood stagnation, qi and blood deficiency and kidney deficiency. Acupuncture and Chinese medical herbs can provide fibromyalgia symptom relief by balancing ying and yang and by adjusting the flow of qi and blood. A Chinese medical practitioner might also apply heat to specific points on the body, and use cupping, moxibustion and massage to help reduce pain. Scientific research indicates that Tui Na, Chinese massage, and movement therapies like Qigong and Yoga can reduce pain and improve symptoms in fibromyalgia patients.

Dr. Lisanti at Integrative Med Solutions in Westchester, New York uses acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and naturopathic medical modalities including nutrition to meet the health care needs of his patients with fibromyalgia. If you are affected by fibromyalgia, please contact with Dr. Lisanti at Integrative Med Solutions to schedule an appointment.

Pre-Pregnancy Plan

Pregnancy can either come as a surprise or be something that was planned for.  As with almost anything else, being planned and prepared for is the most desirable option. If you are in the position to plan and prepare before getting pregnant it is best that you seek a naturopathic doctors’ counsel. They will set up a pre-pregnancy program that will prepare your body for what’s to come. The use of nutrients and herbs, catered to each patients needs, as a part of a detoxification regime will help improve gastrointestinal health. Getting started before conception will also help to solidify a routine that will be followed throughout the pregnancy.

Pregnancy Plan

Massage therapy

Massage therapy can be used during pregnancy for the same reason it is used outside of pregnancy (to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and facilitate blood flow to internal organs). However, it can also be used to alleviate cramps, lower back and hip pain, and chronic tension caused by pregnancy. Massage therapy can also help to ease discomfort resulting from fluid retention.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be used during the pregnancy as well as before and during labor.

During pregnancy acupuncture is effective in easing general discomfort, and aiding in many ways. Here is a short list of some of the ways in which acupuncture can positively contribute to the pregnancy:

-          Can be used to induce labor for late pregnancies

-          Enhance the health of the mother

-          Prevent complications during pregnancy

• Relieve morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum
• Alleviate heartburn
• Alleviate hydroids
• Alleviate stress

-          Influence the development of the baby

-          Turn breech babies

During labor, acupuncture is used to ease labor pains.  By using a non-drug substitute such as acupuncture you eliminate the possible side effects that can go along with local or general anesthetic.

Lifestyle

Living a healthy lifestyle is always advised but there are many benefits to the mother and baby when taking such things as regular exercise and a healthy eating into consideration. If following the plan of a naturopathic doctor an expecting mother will be advised to exercise regularly and eat more or less of certain foods.  A naturopath will address eating organic foods, avoiding pesticides, preservatives, and chemically processed food as well as taking the proper supplements and vitamins. The following is a short list of ingredients, supplements, and nutrients along with their benefits.

-          Nutriceuticals: It is suggested that you speak to your naturopathic doctor about what nutriceuticals you should be taking. These physician grade supplements are extremely beneficial to the health and development of the baby.

-          Magnesium: As with many natural vitamins and minerals magnesium can be taken as a supplement or from eating food such as green vegetables, fish, dairy products such as milk, whole wheat bread containing bran and germ, as well as drinking plenty of water. Magnesium can reduce the risk of osteoporosis, promote proper blood pressure, and increase pain tolerance for delivery.

-          Calcium: The most obvious source of calcium is dairy products. Beyond that you can get calcium from things such as soft bones of fish, tofu, sesame seeds, nuts, white bread, dried fruit, and green leafy vegetables. Bottled water, breakfast cereals and orange juice are also fortified with extra calcium. Proper intake of calcium can reduce the risk of certain birth defects, abnormalities, miscarriages, as well as kidney stones, hypertension, and depression for the mother. It also promotes healthy development of the skeletal system for the child.

-          Folic acid: Although folic acid can be ingested by eating such foods as whole wheat products, lentils, okra, asparagus, and orange juice the best way to ensure you are getting enough folic acid is to take supplements. Folic acid aids in cellular development and regeneration. It is important to always have enough folic acid but the first week of pregnancy is the most important time. It promotes proper development of the brain and spinal cord. Low levels of folic acid can lead to increased chances of miscarriage and Neural Tube Disorder (NTD). In the study “A Giant Step in Understanding the Link Between Folic Acid and Neural Tube Defect Prevention”, by Steve Austin, he found that “any folic acid supplementation that includes 1000 mcg B12/day will remove any theoretical concerns about masking pernicious anemia”.

-          Omega 3: Foods that have been deemed to be the richest foods in Omega 3 in order of the most condensed are: Flaxseed, walnuts, salmon, soy beans, halibut, shrimp, tofu, snappers, scallops, and winter squash. Omega three aids in the development of the baby’s eyes and brain as well as their overall proper growth and development. Taking the proper amounts of Omega 3 can prevent preterm delivery, reduce chances of the child having allergies, and decreases the mothers chance of post partum depression as well as easing the birthing process.

Food Intake

What you eat and how you eat it is important on so many levels. Much of this is covered in the other sections of this post. However, one aspect you might not consider is how what you eat affects your chances of experiencing acid reflux during pregnancy. Even if you are not prone to acid reflux it is very common for pregnant women to have it during the 3 months of their second trimester.

In order to avoid getting it here are some tips you can follow:

-          Eat regularly, small meals every few hours

-          Chew your food well

-          Carry around a snack in your bag at all times so that on the first onset you can eat something

-          Don’t eat late at night or right before you go to bed

-          Try to avoid overly acidic food

The following can be used to alleviate discomfort safely:

-          From Natureschild.com Slippery Elm (1 teaspoon) mixed into a paste with some honey neutralizes stomach acid, soothes the stomach and eases gas.

-          Chewing fennel seeds after a meal aids digestion and decreasing acid production.

Carrots: Many people don’t realize this, but while pregnant you might as well just change the “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” to “a carrot a day”. Carrots and carrot juice have multiple benefits to both the child and mother. Drinking carrot juice/eating carrots can accommodate the high levels of calcium needed during pregnancy as well as help to lower the chance of infection after birth. According to Naturalhealthcure.org “the chances of developing puerperal sepsis is minimized by the regular intake of carrot juice during pregnancy”. After birth carrot intake helps to keep breast milk enriched promoting proper nutrients for the baby. 

Exercise

Exercise is a key ingredient to staying healthy and fit during pregnancy. Some exercises are more recommended than others. Activities such as walking, yoga, and meditation can not only help keep you fit but aid with sleeping issues as well as high levels of stress.

During Labor / Birth Plan

There are multiple things that can be done to prepare and aid in a smooth labor. These suggestions will be covered in a later post. However, here are two tips that will help during labor.

Raspberry tea leaf mixed with some ginger helps the uterus to “make the most” of each contraction and Arnica 30c can help to keep the mother calm and focused during child birth.

If you would like more information or would like to meet with a Doctor to discuss your pregnancy and options please contact Dr. Lisanti’s Office to make an appointment.

Up to 27 million Americans experience imbalanced thyroid function, which comes in two forms: hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. In this week’s blog on blending the best of East and West to treat thyroid disease, we’ll first look at the signs and symptoms of the different types of thyroid disease. Then, we’ll check out a model of treatment for thyroid disease you can expect from the caregivers at IMS.

Symptoms of Low Thyroid Function or Hypothyroidism

• Fatigue and weakness
• Cold intolerance
• Dry and coarse skin
• Hair loss
• Cold hands and feet
• Weight gain
• Insomnia
• Constipation
• Depression
• Poor memory
• Forgetfulness
• Dementia
• Nervousness and tremors
• Immune system problems
• Heavy menstrual periods

Symptoms of Overactive Thyroid or Hyperthyroidism

• Fatigue and weakness
• Heat intolerance
• Dry and coarse skin
• Clammy skin
• Hair loss
• Warm hands and feet
• Weight loss
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Poor memory
• Forgetfulness
• Nervousness and tremors
• Immune system problems
• Light menstrual periods
• Frequent defecation

Integrative Treatment of Thyroid Disease
Inspection, smelling and listening, inquiry, and palpitation are the four examinations used to gather information and to determine a diagnosis in Classical Chinese Medicine. Today’s CCM doctor may want to x-rays or lab results from blood work in addition to more traditional inspection techniques such as examining the tongue. There are 28 different types of palpations or qualities of the pulse. This aspect of the four examinations include palpating the body to understand the type of pain you may be feeling. This will help your caregiver to understand whether the pain is sharp, aching, stabbing, and so on. Zheng jia ji jiu or conglomerations of energy (Qi,) concretions, swellings and gatherings are pin pointed as a part of the palpation examination. A palpation diagnosis is sophisticated and useful in treatment, because it brings about understanding on how qi or vital energy is flowing through the body.

A pattern diagnosis is then developed through careful consideration of the information gathered. This is a statement about the combination of your particular symptoms and your general health patterns. Several patients may present with the same illness, but our goal is to treat each individual. This means that each patient may receive a unique treatment plan that is inline with their needs, according to his or her pattern diagnosis.

What might a patient with hyperthyroidism expect when they come to IMS? Treatment truly depends on the manifestation of hyperthyroidism as it is experienced. For example, a person with constant hunger, ringing in the ears, gas/belching, acid reflux, and a rosy complexion would not receive the same treatment as someone presenting with hyperthyroidism and a different combination of symptoms.

Complex and customized medicinal formulas maybe recommended in pill form. These gel capsules can be loaded with concentrated extracts with 15-25 ingredients chosen to supplement your particular needs. Dietary instructions are also common. Certain foods might be encouraged, while others should be limited or taken out of the diet all together. Certain types of exercise or meditation might be encouraged. If Hashimoto’s disease is found to be at the root of a thyroid problem, selenium, natural iodine pills, or coconut oil might be included in our modality.

The World Health Organization lists over 40 diseases that acupuncture treats effectively and thyroid is on the list. There are several studies, one conducted at the Shanghai Medical University, showing that acupuncture is especially well suited to those with hypothyroidism, because it is closely related to deficiency in Kidney energy. A typical acupuncture treatment for thyroid will last 45 minutes. It is recommended that treatments be given once a week in the beginning. Typical treatment points are on the neck, feet, and hands where sterile acupuncture needles are inserted. Acupuncture needles are thinner than needles used to draw blood or for giving injections and do not cause pain when they are inserted. Patients generally find acupuncture treatments relaxing during and after the session, and acupuncture supporting the thyroid produces no side effects.

Sources:
www.thyrod-info.com “The Yin and Yang of the Thyroid: A Look at Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture for Thyroid with Dr. Patrick Purdue” by Mary Shomon
www.endocrineweb.com “Hyperthyroidism: Overactivity of the Thyroid Gland” by James Norman, MD
Contemporary Medical Acupuncture: A Systems Approach by Guan-Yuan Jin, Jia-Jia X. Jin, Louis L. Jin
Natural Choices for Women’s Health: How the Secrets of Natural and Chinese Medicine Can Create a Lifetime of Wellness by Dr. Laurie Steelsmith

According to the American Diabetes Associations, a total of 23.6 million children and adults, that’s 7.8% of the population, have diabetes.  All forms of diabetes have been treatable since insulin became medically available in 1921, but there is no cure for the common types outside of a pancreas transplant.  Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas that enables cells to absorb glucose in order to turn it into energy.  Diabetes is caused when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not properly respond to insulin.

Symptoms

Type 1

• Frequent urination
• Unusual thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Extreme fatigue and Irritability

Type 2*

• Any of the type 1 symptoms
• Frequent infections
• Blurred vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
• Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections

*Often people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms.

Complications

Complications due to diabetes include acute health problems such as hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma if the disease is not controlled.  Long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, retinal damage, blindness, nerve damage, microvascular damage, which can cause erectile dysfunction and poor wound healing.  Poor healing of wounds, particularly in the feet, can lead to gangrene infection and possibly amputation.  Diabetes may also produce oral complications, digestive disorders, and complications in pregnancy.  Adequate treatment of diabetes and maintaining a healthy body weight and smoke free lifestyle improve the risk profile of most chronic complications.

Wasting and Thirsting Disorder

Discussion of diabetes under its traditional name, Wasting and Thirsting, appears in the earliest texts of Classical Chinese Medicine, including the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic (Neijing).  Thirst, hunger, and excessive urination are the three main symptoms connected to diabetes in the writings.  These symptoms are related to the Lung, Spleen, and Kidneys, respectively.  The wasting/thirsting imbalance is believed to be related to eating fatty or sweet foods in excess, to emotional disturbances and to a constitution that is yin deficient.

According to CCM, the transformative functions of the Spleen and Stomach are impaired by irregular eating habits that include over-consumption of fatty, greasy, pungent, and sweet food.  Hot drinks and alcoholic drinks have the same effect.  These substances accumulate and produce heat in the body.  All of these factors dehydrate leading to thirst and hunger.  This process is explained in Simple Questions:

“…fat causes interior heat while sweetness causes fullness in the middle burner. The qi therefore rises and overflows and the condition changes into that of thirsting and wasting.”

Long-term internal heat produces a cyclical imbalance.  Internal heat injures yin and consumes body fluids.  When fluids are consumed they are not available to nourish the Lung and Kidneys.  Yin deficiency leads to dry heat, dry heat to yin deficiency.

“The five inner yin organs are soft and weak and prone to symptoms of wasting heat.  When there is something soft and weak, there must be something hard and strong.  Frequent anger is hard and strong and the soft and weak are thereby easily injured.”

– The Spiritual Axis (Ling Shu)

TREATMENT ACCORDING TO THE THREE BURNERS: Lung, Spleen, and Kidneys

When working to understand the diabetic patient at Integrative Med Solutions, we pursue an analysis of symptoms to find which of the three burners is most affected by heat.  This way, treatment can be provided according to the area where yin is most deficient.  Relief is directed to the source of the problem.

Upper Burner………Lung

Middle Burner…………Spleen

Low Burners…….….Kidneys

The following are examples of manifestations and acupuncture treatment points aligned with the various symptoms of the three burners.

Upper Burner Manifestation

• Excessive thirst
• Dry throat/mouth
• Night sweats
• Emaciation
• Flushed cheeks
• Wiry, rapid pulse
• Red tongue with thin, dry, yellow coating or no coating
• Hoarse voice

Upper Burner Acupuncture Treatment to Strengthen and Tonify the Lung

• Feishu BL-13
  • Clears heat
  • Tonifies Lung yin
• Chize LU-5
  • Clears heat
  • Alleviates cough
  • Regulates the water passages
• Gaohuangshu BL-43
  • Nourishes blood and yin
  • Tonifies Lung, Spleen, Stomach, and Kidneys
  • Cools hear
  • Treats night sweating
• Yuji LU-10
  • Clears Lung heat
  • Beneits the throat
• Lianquan REN-23
  • Stimulates the production of body fluids
  • Chicken-claw method used
• Zusanli ST-36
  • Assists Feish BL-13 in strengthening the Lung
• Taixi KID-3
  • Tonifies the Kidneys
  • Nourishes yin
  • Supports the Lung

Middle Burner Manifestation

• Excessive hunger
• Halitosis
• Dry lips
• Painful swelling/bleeding gums
• Preference for cold drinks
• Constipation
• Rapid, full pulse
• Red tongue with thick yellow coating and red ulcerous tip

Middle Burner Acupuncture Treatment to Clear Stomach Dryness and Heat

• Zusanli ST-36 
  • Clears stomach dryness
  • Benefits stomach Yin
  • Classically indicated for “heat in the middle warmer with propensity to hunger”
• Neiting ST-44 
  • Clears stomach heat
• Sanyinjiao SP-6 
  • Benefits the stomach
  • Tonifies yin and body fluids
• Neiguan P-6 
  • Regulates the middle burner
  • Clears heat
• Zhongwan REN-12 
  • Harmonizes the middle burner
  • Tonifies the stomach
• Pishu BL-20 and Weishu BL-21 
  • Benefit the Spleen and Stomach
  • Classically indicated for remaining thin despite large food intake
• Weiguanxiashu (M-BW-12) 
  • Clears heat
  • Generates fluis
• Taixi KID-3
  • Tonifies the Kidneys
  • Nourished yin
  • Supports the yin of the whole body

Lower Burner Manifestation

• Excessive urination
• Lower lumbar pain
• Weak legs
• Constipation
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Malar flush
• Memory problems
• Afternoon fever
• Thin, rapid pulse
• Red tongue with scanty coating 

Lower Burner Acupuncture Treatment for Lower Wasting to Strengthen Exhausted Kidneys

• Guanyuan REN-4 
  • Benefits essence
  • Tonifies and nourishes the Kidneys
  • Benefits the Bladder
• Qihai REN-6 
  • Tonifies the Kidney
• Taixi KID-3 
  • Tonifies Kidneys
  • Nourished yin
• Rangu KID-2 
  • Clears deficiency heat
  • Regulates the Kidneys
• Sanyinjiao SP-6 
  • Benefits the Kidneys
  • Nourishes yin
• Shenshu BL-23 
  • Tonifies the Kidney qi
  • Nourished yin and essence
  • Treats excessive urination
• Jingmen GB-25
  • Combines with its back-shu point Shunshu BU-23
  • Tonifies Kidneys
  • Benefits the water passages
  • Controls Urination

Tumeric Tip!

In a study using diabetic rats, the active principal of turmeric, curcumin, significantly reduced blood sugar, Hb, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels.  Supplementation with turmeric or curcumin also reduces the oxidative stress encountered by diabetics.  On top of these benefits turmeric also significantly lowers SDH, which catalyzes the changes of sorbitol to fructose.

Sources:
“Chinese Medicine Diabetes Report” Los Angeles Chinese Learning Center
“Efficacy of turmeric on blood sugar and polyol pathway in diabetic albino rats,. Arun N, Nalini N.
The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus With Chinese Medicine: A Textbook & Clinical Manual By Bob Flaws, Lynn M. Kuchinski, Robert Casañas
American Diabetes Association. www.diabetes.org

Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults.  That’s about 9.5% of the U.S. population ages 18+.   Diagnoses included in these National Institute of Mental Health statistics include major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder.   Major depression is one of the top causes of disability in developed countries and is projected to become the second leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020.

Symptoms

Symptoms of depression vary.  Normal to mild depression is often healthy, because it provides you with the impetus to make changes to improve a situation that may seem unbearable.  These “blues” are a reaction to stressors like loss or change.  Feelings of doom, despair, and hopelessness paired with crying for no apparent reason, loss of appetite, loss of interest in formerly pleasurable activities, fatigue, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating are signs of a deeper depressive mood disorder.  Thoughts of suicide may also occur.  Bipolar disorder is marked by periods of mania, or intense excitement and energy that can cause a loss of sleep for days, alternating with debilitating depressive periods.  Psychotic depression is severe with symptoms including hallucinations and delusions.  People who have depression with psychotic features may hear voices or think that lyrics/persons speaking on the radio are directing messages specifically to them.

Common Treatments

Antidepressant pharmaceuticals are currently the automatic treatment plan in most of these cases, due to the cost-cutting prerogatives of many doctor’s offices and health insurance companies.  Only 30% of people on antidepressants report that they work, which is less well than placebo tests.  Effects of the most commonly prescribed and least damaging antidepressant SSRIs (e.g. Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft) include:  sexual difficulties, weight gain, sleepiness, interaction with other drugs, and hypotension.

Another popular treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT, which emphasizes patient education and training through a rewards system.  CBT appeals, because it takes place in a limited time frame.  However, this approach ignores the patient’s underlying causes of depression, and has an 80% relapse rate in the long term.

In recent years, the concept of the mind-body connection has become more accepted and the focus of research has shifted in that direction.  For centuries Classical Chinese Medicine has considered emotional health’s link to the physical body and vice-versa established empirical knowledge.  Looking, listening, smelling, asking, and palpitating are the techniques CCM practitioners apply to all illnesses whether they present somatically or emotionally.  Treatment aims to heal both sides of the human condition as well.

Classical Chinese Medicine’s Take on Depression

According to CCM, the following seven emotions capture the range of human experience.  They are normal reactions to the variety and “spice of life.”  However, when any of the emotions come on suddenly/intensely or are too long lasting there are pathological consequences.  Qi is immediately disturbed.  Disease caused by the emotions arises from the interior of the body and symptoms come on more quickly than disease that enters the body from the exterior.    The seven emotions pathogenic features directly impair organ qi and affect the functions of organ qi.  Continued emotional instability has deteriorating effects.

CMM’S SEVEN EMOTIONS & THE ORGANS THEY AFFECT

Joy……………………………Heart

Anger……………………….Liver, Stomach, Spleen

Worry……………………….Lungs, Large Intestine

Pensiveness……………..Spleen

Sadness………………….…Lungs

Fear…………………….……Kidneys

Fright…………………………Kidneys

Depression can be either a primary or a secondary wellness issue.  Primary depression has emotional disturbance as its root cause, while secondary depression usually develops due to preexisting physical disease (ex. chronic pain) or as an effect of medications.  Proper treatment of depression depends on determining the underlying source of disturbance.  Common syndrome patterns include those related to qi deficiency; qi stagnation, blood deficiency, phlegm, and deficiency of both yin and yang.

Herbal Treatments

Herbal supplements can lift depression in conjunction with other therapies, including pharmaceutical agents, while ensuring safety for the patient.  A multi-pronged approach including herbal therapies, counseling, exercise, and others patient-specific modalities are what we seek to provide at Integrative Med Solutions.  Most individuals seeking this sort of regimen are highly motivated to follow through, and limit their dependence on antidepressant drugs.  Read through information about the following formulas to get an idea of how a CCM consultation at IMS might be helpful to you or a love one.

A Popular Polygala Formula for Quieting the Heart—yuan zhi for quieting the heart; he haun and vervian to soothe emotions; gout eng, zhi zi (gardenia), damiana, white peony, dang gui, ban xia, fu ling, and chen xiang resolve dampness, phlegm, and liver qi staganation.

Physical indications that this type of herbal treatment should be applied are insomnia, palpitations, restlessness, slow pulse, and a pale tongue with white or gray coating.

Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang for the Liver—dragon bone and oystershell help calm the liver; chai hu to invigorate the liver; ginseng, ginger, pinellia, huang qin, cinnamon, rhubarb, and mu xiang balance the effects of the liver calming and liver invigorating herbs

Anger, frustration, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, rapid pulse, and redness around the edges of the tongue are signs that this herbal treatment is applicable to the depression.

Ding Xin Wan Calming Formula—biota for irritability, insomnia, and forgetfulness; enzymes to quench free radicals during stress; magnesium and taurine to calm; fu shen to quiet the spirit; bai shao; tang kuei; polygala; suan zao ren; mai men dong; dang shen; hu po

This calming formula works when there is a heart yin deficiency.  These types of depression are often anxiety-based.   Symptoms include insomnia, fast pulse, and a dry tongue.

Shen Gem for Heart Blood Deficiency—ginseng and astragalus which are among the strongest Chinese herbs for improving the spleen; longan and suan zao ren have calming effects; fu ling, white atractylodes, tang-kuei, salvia, amber, polygala, yuan zhi, ginger, licorice and cardamon treat dampness, stagnation of vital energy, blood stagnation and blood deficiency.

Symptoms indicating heart blood deficiency include pale complexion, difficulty falling asleep, withdrawal, forgetfulness, palpitations, weak pulse and a pale tongue.

Botanical medicine treatments should be given for at least three months, because the emotional imbalances they seek to uproot are long-standing patterns.  It is important to consult with your naturopathic doctor about the timing and frequency of taking botanical supplements for depression, to avoid interactions with pharmaceuticals you may be taking.  It is usually recommended that herbal medicine be taken two housr apart from other prescribed drugs.  If you or someone you know is interested in the long-term and lasting benefits of treating depression at the root of being—vital energy or qi—please contact Int Med Solutions so that you may do so safely and optimally within the outlines of your treatment plan.

Pregnancy & Postnatal Fitness – Regular attention to fitness before, during, and after pregnancy allows for a healthier and happier mother and child. In fact, those looking to conceive are often guided to pair exercise with ovulation for more reproductive love making. The benefits of practicing yoga during pregnancy are great, whether you currently practice yoga or if you are interested in the benefits of yoga during pregnancy. The tools yoga provides for pregnant women include exercises, breathing techniques, mudras, meditation, and deep relaxation that promote health and facilitate a smooth birth. Click on healthandyoga.com’s pregnancy page for more information on these, and check with your local yoga studio to see if they currently offer classes for expectant mothers. It’s a great way to share in the experience with other mindful mothers-to-be.

Perinatal Nutrition is one of the most important areas to focus on to keep you and your baby in optimal health. They say pregnant women are eating for two, and women do require between 200-500 extra calories a day when with child. However, these calories should be well spent, because they’re needed to produce extra blood, build a placenta and a baby, and to enlarge the uterus. All of these efforts require ample protein intake. Of course, eating all the right things get complicated within the context of a busy life, nausea, and encountering food smells that make you sick.

At IMS, we can work closely with you to develop a nutritional plan and supplements that fit your needs. Perhaps you might benefit from taking certain herbs, like fennel which can ease gas during pregnancy, support breast milk production, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Red raspberry is rich in nutrients like Vitamins C, E, A, and B, calcium, phosphorous, manganese, potassium, and iron, and strengthens the uterus so that contractions are more effective during birth making the process a bit easier and faster.

Consider buying hemp bedding as an alternative to mainstream cotton. Why? It takes two-thirds of a pound of pesticides to generate the cotton for a single pair of jeans! By going with hemp bedding, you’ll avoid exposing your baby’s sensitive system to trace pesticides. Newborns sleep 16-18 hours a day. While much of this time may be spent in the arms of a loved one, there will be a considerable amount of crib time in the first year of your baby’s life. Hemp fabrics are processed to be soft on the skin, and they last longer than cotton or polyester products!

The Diaper Dilemma: Disposable vs. Cloth – Disposable diapers are a priceless innovation for the modern mom. That’s why parents are willing to pay around $1000 a year per child on supplying the constant demands of their baby’s bottom. There are many situations where a disposable diaper is preferable. However, it’s worth considering a mixed approach for health as well as financial reasons. Disposable diapers, especially those labeled at “superabsorbent,” limit breathability and expose your child’s reproductive organs to chemicals 24 hours a day for the first two years of life. The sodium polyacrylate gel beads that soak up 100 times their own weight in liquid in “superabsorbent” diapers is the same chemical linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome in women’s tampons. Other less absorbent diapers are made of materials processed with dioxin, various forms of which are linked to cancer, liver damage, birth defects, and skin diseases.

So, what are the virtues of cloth diapers? First and foremost, COMFORT. Babies are more comfortable in cloth diapers, because they are healthier in them. The materials used in cloth diapers allow for breathability, which cools and prevents diaper rash. The absorbency of disposable diapers doesn’t allow caretakers to monitor success of BREASTFEEDING as easily as fabric alternatives. Sometimes it is hard to tell if a baby is wet in the superabsorbent diapers, and mom may switch to bottle feeding on bad evidence. For more information on cloth diapers visit www.diaperdecisions.com . And remember today’s cloth diapers aren’t the safety-pinned, difficult to manage diapers we remember from our past. They come fitted in various sizes with snaps or Velcro to keep them in place.

Please – Feel free to add to this discussion by posting information on your experiences with herbs, exercises, baby gear, etc. by clicking the “Post a Comment” link below, or make an appointment with Dr. Lisanti to discuss your concerns and interests regarding a present or future pregnancy.

Candida or yeast is a natural dweller in the system. Vaginal yeast infections can be triggered by various environmental circumstances that are especially risky during warm months. This is why it’s so important to know how and why the troublesome condition presents itself and what steps can be taken to resolve the imbalance naturally.

How to Identify a Yeast Infection
Symptoms of yeast infection include redness, itching and burning around the vagina, odorless white vaginal discharge that may look like watery cottage cheese, pain during sexual intercourse, and/or burning with urination.

Yeast infections can mimic urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted diseases, which is why it is so important to get an accurate diagnosis from a medical professional before pursuing a course of treatment independently. It’s especially important to consult your doctor if you are experiencing your first instance of symptoms of yeast infection or if you are pregnant or diabetic.

Why Do Yeast Infections Occur?

Pregnancy, menopause, hormonal birth control and steroids can shift estrogen levels in such a way that your body is unable to manage candida proliferation. In pregnancy, yeast infection can lead to premature delivery, and low birth weight.

Antibiotics are often at the root of a sudden outbreak of yeast infection. For example, a woman may take antibiotics for the treatment of acne or a urinary tract infection and the antibiotic kills off the friendly lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria that helps keep candida in check.

Warm, moist conditions allow for the proliferation of yeast. Strive for a dry environment, especially in summer when sweaty exercise clothing, wet bathing suits, panty hose, and tight jeans are all especially risky.

Uncontrolled diabetes – Sugar is food for candida, so it’s important, whether you are affected by diabetes or not to maintain a stable blood sugar level.

Immunosuppression – As with all illness, a strong immune system is a major player in keeping imbalance at bay. Chronic lack of sleep, insufficient vitamin A in the diet, and more can suppress your immune system’s ability to keep candida in check.

How to Treat Yeast Infection
Teaming up with a ND has its benefits, especially when it comes to treating yeast infection. The personal approach taken by holistic practitioners and at Integrative Med Solutions, allows you to pinpoint the source of the problem and treat that source directly. Women experiencing their first infection are often unaware of how the condition came on and end up suffering chronically, because of superficial diagnosis.

In one case, a young woman, I’ll call her Sherry, enjoyed a summer holiday swimming, laying in the sun, and jogging. The following week, Sherry experienced her first symptoms of a yeast infection. Through discussion we were able to pinpoint the conditions that triggered the problem: an extended period of warm moist conditions in the area affected. A switch to fresh 100% cotton garments between activities was recommended, and Sherry was given a course of acidophilus capsules to re-establish normal intestinal and vaginal bacteria balance. Without due conversation into Sherry’s lifestyle, her yeast infection could have turned into a long battle. Instead, we were able to discuss her habits and support her lifestyle while wiping out her presenting complaint. In essence, Sherry increased her knowledge of her own body and took her health into her own hands to avoid future infections.

Every yeast infection crops up within a unique set of circumstances, and we at Integrative Med Solutions appreciate that your need is to be recognized as a guide. This is why we develop personalized modalities for those who come to us. With a proper diet, herbs, and a good topical treatment, most women can expect to be on top of the battle in a month’s time.

Preventative Measures

• The acidophilus bacteria used in the treatment of Sherry’s infection are also found in yogurt. Live-culture yogurt like Stonyfield Organic Yogurt or yogurt by Culturelle is an excellent way to introduce a preventative measure into your diet.
• Going on a low sugar diet promotes immune health across the board and denies candida the fuel it needs to multiply. This includes cutting out excess consumption of carbohydrates.
• Consuming a healthy variety of food delivers the vitamins and minerals your immune system needs to stay strong.
• Staying dry is a smart way to avoid triggering an infection. Keep Sherry’s experience in mind this summer while you are working out and enjoying water parks, beach trips, etc.

Treatment Measures
An immune support supplement is an excellent way to boost your body’s ability to restore health. Vitamin A, Echinacea, and goldenseal may be used independently or in combination, depending on your needs for 4-6 weeks.

Soy or red clover extract help to promote vaginal estrogen balance.

Women experiencing yeast infection should not have intercourse, as the infection can be passed between partners.

Garlic is one of the best things to take for yeast infection, because it is an antifungal and immune-boosting herb. To get the most out of garlic’s healing components, capsules with 4,000 milligrams of allicin-alliin (the antifungal agent in garlic) should be used.

Oregon grape root extract, tea tree oil extract, and lavender extract are proper treatments when the candida problem is found to be rooted in the intestines. An alternative practitioner is able to prescribe a supplement that contains all of these extracts.

Consulting IMS: When you know the reason for your infection, treatment becomes straightforward and edifying. Contact Dr. Fred Lisanti to learn how you can begin to feel relief and suffer no longer!

Later it was discovered that trace amounts of selenium in animal and human diets are essential. Selenium gained recognition in recent years because of its addition to the list of nutritional antioxidants. Antioxidants offer protection against some of our toughest diseases as well on the affects of aging. Selenium is a component of several enzymes that reduce the presence of harmful antioxidants in the body.

How Does Selenium Act to Fight Oxidation and Other Illness?
In 1973, it was discovered that selenium aids conditions that are marked by both selenium and vitamin E deficiency. Both molecules have an antioxidant function. As a part of the enzyme gluthathione peroxidase (SeGPx) selenium prevents free radical formation and breaks down peroxide into water. Research from the 1980s and 1990s shows that selenium deficiency may empower certain viruses. For example, damage was reduced when a virus causing heart lesions was treated with selenium supplementation in mice.

Selenium and Cancer
Some studies indicate that deaths from lung, colorectal, and prostate cancers are lower among people with higher blood levels or intake of selenium. Incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer is much higher in areas of the United States where there is low selenium content in the soil. The effects of selenium supplements on seven types of skin cancers were studied from 1983 through the early 1990s. Daily selenium supplements did not affect the recurrence of skin cancer, but selenium supplementation was found to reduce the occurrence of and death from total cancers.

Selenium affects cancer risk in two ways. Its antioxidant properties help protect the body from free radical damage. Also, selenium supplementation prevents and slows tumor growth, because it enhances immune cell activity and suppresses the development of blood vessels to tumor sights.

Dietary Sources of Selenium
- Wheat germ (11 mcg)
- Whole wheat bread (66 mcg)
- Oats (56 mcg)
- Turnips (27 mcg)
- Brazil nuts (103 mcg)
- Bran (63 mcg)
- Brown rice (39 mcg)
- Garlic (25 mcg)

Diseases Linked to Selenium Deficiency
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Keshan disease (a heart disease common in regions with low Se soil in China)

Beneficial Effects
- Antioxidant activity (SeGPx)
- Thyroid hormone Production
- Antagonistic to heavy metals

• Lead
• Mercury
• Cadmium
• Aluminum

Principal Uses
In combination with vitamin E, selenium prevents free radical damage to cell membranes, proteins, and DNA.
- Anti-cancer
- Enhanced immune function
- Fighting cardiovascular and circulatory disease
- Inflammatory conditions

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Eczema
• Psoriasis

- Cataracts
- Pregnancy/SIDS

Is Selenium a Supplement for You?
Selenium is absorbed by many vegetables through the soil and is present in various meats, depending on the region where vegetables are grown and animals graze. Because of the safety issues, it is advisable that anyone seeking to maintain a balanced level of selenium in their system consult with a professional before introducing dietary changes or taking supplements that alter selenium levels in the system.

If you are interested in seeking the benefits of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention, protection against the toxicity of cisplatin chemotherapy, rheumatoid arthritis, or other conditions, please contact our office. The professionals at Integrative Med Solutions are able to work with you on a personal basis to construct a dosage appropriate for your system. Selenomethionine and high selenium yeast are preferred forms for treatment and are available through a modality to suit your needs at IMS.

——
“selenium” http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/selenium.aspx from The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2008.
“Selenium: Antioxidant and Cancer Quencher” http://www.chiro.org/nutrition/FULL/Selenium_Antioxidant.shtml by Stephanie Briggs, Ph.D. in Nutrition Science News, March 1999.
“Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Selenium” http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/selenium.asp

SOME BENEFITS
Wheatgrass juice can dissolve scars formed in the lungs due to breathing acid gasses. The effect of carbon monoxide is minimized, because the chlorophyll within increases hemoglobin production.

Wheatgrass juice reduces high blood pressure & enhances the capillaries.

Wheatgrass juice is great for constipation and keeping the bowels open. It’s high in magnesium!

A small amount of wheatgrass juice helps prevents tooth decay.

Farmers in the Midwest who have sterile cows and bulls put them on wheatgrass to restore fertility. Why? The high magnesium content in chlorophyll builds enzymes that restore the sex hormones.

Wheatgrass Juice is one of the best sources of living chlorophyll available.

Chlorophyll is the first product of light and, therefore, contains more light energy than any other element.

GROWING BY KNOWING!
Bringing wheatgrass into your diet gives you the additional benefits of growing by knowing. You can experience the health benefits of wheatgrass, while cultivating it in the comfort of your home. Bringing life from the seed is a rewarding learning experience, and a great spring project to share in with friends or family. Kids love to take part in a kitchen “wheatgrass garden,” especially when then are able to reap tasty juices of their effort.

In order to ingest and benefit from your homegrown wheatgrass, you must buy organic seeds! Organic wheatgrass seeds are readily available online. Here’s just what you’ll need to create a 11″ x 21″ patch:”

• One greenhouse tray, without drainage.
• About 1.5 cups of wheat seed (wheatberries) organically grown either spring wheat and winter wheat are fine.
• Unbleached paper towels to fit the tray.
• Polyethylene sheet large enough to cover tray. (Keeps moisture in during the early sprouting.)
• Optional: Spray bottle for moistening seeds.

Day 1

• Wash the seeds in clean water, drain, and refill container to soak the seeds for 8 to 12 hours.
• Line the tray a couple of layers of unbleached paper towels. Saturate the liner with water and drain off excess.
• Spread one layer of soaked seeds as evenly as you can over the wet liner.
• Loosely cover with the poly sheet, to keep in moisture.

Day 2 and 3

• Lift plastic sprinkle seeds to keep moist. (They should be moist but not standing in water.)

Day 4

Wheat should be starting to grip the towel or baby blanket.

• If firmly attached, you may be able to lift the matting and pour 1/2 cup water into the tray.

Day 5

• Add about 1/2 cup water daily.
• Adjust to your conditions. Add more water if it seems too dry, less if too wet. You can allow the leaves to lift the loose polyethylene cover, in dry conditions. Remove if conditions are moist or mould is noted.

Day 6 to 9

• Continue adding water every day.
• You may need to increase the water quantity a bit as the wheatgrass gets taller.

Day 10 +

• Cut the wheatgrass as needed, with a scissors or sharp knife.
• Cut close to the roots, but above any traces of mold that might be evident at the root level. Rinse and juice with a wheatgrass juicer, or grind in a blender with water and strain.
• If you choose to continue watering the wheatgrass, it will continue to grow for 5 or 10 more days as you use it.

TIPS

• OK temperatures: between 60F – 75F. Ideal temperature is 67F.
• Avoid direct sunlight, bright indirect light is OK. Fluorescent light is OK as well.
• Dry air is preferable to humid, if mold is a problem.
• Using a fan to move air is useful if mold is a problem.
• Wheatgrass can be cut as short as 3.5″ tall and may grow to may get 7 or 8 inches tall.

RESOURCES
I’m including some useful wheatgrass linkage below. A Google search provides volumes of recipes that incorporate wheatgrass. Explore and discover a combination that’s just to your taste.

As always, feel free to contact the IMS office for more information on freshly grown wheatgrass or to learn about available wheatgrass supplements or post your own wheatgrass stories by leaving a comment below!

What is Personal Coaching?
Personal coaching is a relationship between a client and coach that is based on the client’s expressed interests, goals, and objectives. Inquiry, reflection, and discussion with a personal coach allows for a partnership in healing that strengthens the identification of goals to be achieved and the development of strategies to be implemented toward reaching a desired experience. Together coach and client evolve a plan to suit the individual client’s needs according to his or her environment. The coach provides an unbiased, professional insight and teaches skills to empower the client.

How is Personal Coaching Applied?

Coaching can help you reach your goals by providing support, encouragement, and avenues to overcome obstacles. Like working with a play director, the relationship between personal coach and client is synergistic. The creativity of two minds working together in a noncritical, supportive way is incredibly effective for reaching optimal being.

At IMS, clients may enter into treatment seeking coaching to overcome anxiety, phobias, or to increase the overall quality of their health. Others come in without prior knowledge of personal coaching and find that it is an excellent modality in combination with others such as acupuncture, nutritional supplements, etc. Coaching can help you…

• Improve relationships
• Gain new perspectives
• Effectively organize your environment
• Resolve negative patterns
• Improve your health
• Teach you to break through feelings that hinder you from taking action on your goals
• Help you get a clear vision of how you want your life to be
• Have a deeper connection with your spirituality
• Remind you of your strengths and gifts

…in the context of a powerful support system!

Your sessions will be customized to meet your needs. This means each session is unique and shaped to meet your needs at the time of interaction. The title of Gauguin’s most famous painting, “Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?” comes to mind when I think of the ways clients arrive at the big picture in personal coaching. A session aims to arrive at appropriate actions or steps that will move you toward a balance. Whether presenting complaints are psychological or physical in nature, the emotional intelligence and spiritual growth afforded by personal coaching heals while supplying you with tools for future prevention.

Psychoneuroimmunology: An Integrative Approach
Terminologies like psychoneuoimmunology are cropping up in medical texts to account for the multidimensional nature of sickness and health. The AMA (American Medical Association) now recognizes that up to 85% of disease is related to stress. Life is a continual journey through experience, and stress is a part of adapting to any change. Many people cope well with stress and remain healthy when confronting difficulties. What can be done when experiencing what’s called an “immune-suppression/dysfunction prone” pattern? Dr. Margo de Kooker’s lists these buffers against immune system depression and disease progression in her article “Psychoneuroimmunology: An Overview”:

1. Awareness of your mind-body feedback
2. Learning how to view life with a sense of commitment
3. Managing control and challenge
4. Developing strengths to fall back on in the wake of loss
5. Capacity to confide traumas and feelings to yourself and others

As a field, psychoneuroimmunology reflects the growing consciousness of a need for eclectic therapies. In an integrative approach with personal coaching healthcare “becomes [in Dr. de Kooker's words] an adventure into awareness and a constant revelation of the complexities of the human condition.”

To learn more about how personal coaching may enrich your life and boost your health, please contact our office.