Environmental Medicine: Acupuncture and Naturopathic Medicine

The onslaught of potential toxins you are exposed to everyday may surprise you. Sure, there are your usual allergens and pathogens that can make your life challenging. Acquired symptoms may arise from these such as a runny nose, scratchy throat, slight cold or fever that your immune system will hopefully be able to handle. Yet, there are other toxins hidden in your water, air, or soil that may inadvertently infiltrate your system and slowly, over time, accumulate into symptoms you or conventional medicine can’t explain. These are often environmental toxins that manifest in many ways with the most prominent being pesticides, solvents and heavy metals. These toxins and many like it are hidden threats which can easily turn into anything from a chronic skin disorder to a variety of serious cancers.

Acupuncture and naturopathic medicine address environmental influence. These modalities work together as an environmental medicine protocol that just may be able to protect you from future health compromises such as obesity, learning disabilities, and cancer.

Your Environmental Exposure

Many environmental toxins that permeate your life are invisible. They are often ingested, breathed, or find a way into your system through transdermal (skin) delivery. Once in your system they will hopefully be controlled by your immune system and quickly neutralized.

However, as technology advances, toxins become more ubiquitous. They also become more dangerous with many able to embed in your system, waiting or damaging under the radar of your immune system, until a condition or disease arises.

According to Harvard MedicalSchool,

Air Pollution

“More than two decades of research has shown that air pollution can trigger heart attacks, strokes, and irregular heart rhythms, particularly in people who have or are at risk for heart disease. The most dangerous pollutants appear to be very tiny particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, which the Environmental Protection Agency reports as PM2.5. These particles come from car and truck exhaust, power plants and other industrial sources, wildfires, and wood-burning stoves.”

Lead

“The more common kinds of exposure are from dust in houses with lead paint, from water contaminated with lead (by passing through old pipes, which is what happened in Flint), or from toys, jewelry, tableware, or home remedies that may be contaminated with lead. These kinds of exposures don’t usually cause symptoms before they cause damage.”

BPA (as reported by Precision Nutrition),

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a compound used to manufacture polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins that are used in food and drink packaging, water and baby bottles, metal can linings, bottle tops, and water supply pipes (to name a few). Although BPA is being phased out, low-dose exposure may produce a wide variety of physiological problems, including:

• Obesity
• Infertility
• Aggressive behavior
• Early onset of puberty
• Hormone-dependent cancers such as prostate and breast cancer
• Lower testosterone levels and sperm production

These are just three examples of the risk of environmental toxins you may be up against. Many other diseases are believed to be linked to atmospheric influences such as Alzheimer’s disease, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and fertility compromise. Utilizing the preventative and healing properties of acupuncture and naturopathic medicine for environmental toxins may help minimize some of these and other possible symptoms.

Acupuncture Protection and Detox

Using acupuncture as an environmental toxin protector as well as a heavy metal detox may help you navigate current atmospheric challenges.

According to a report by Healthcare Medicine Institute,

“Scientists have discovered that acupuncture prevents toxins from damaging the lungs. In an incredible investigation, microphotographs reveal that bilateral electroacupuncture at acupoints ST36 [upper shin] and BL13 [upper back] successfully protect the lungs from endotoxic shock when exposed to injurious toxic exposure.”

When it comets detoxing, Tao of wellness sums up using acupuncture stating that,

“Acupuncture stimulates neurological, immunological, and endocrine responses beneficial to tissue cleansing and cell rejuvenation. It also stimulates the release of endorphins that reduce the pain and discomfort sometimes experienced when detoxifying and withdrawing from addictive substances such as alcohol, caffeine, drugs, nicotine and sugar.”

Talk to a licensed acupuncturist about incorporating an acupuncture protocol that may be able to be applied as environmental medicine.

Naturopathic Environmental Medicine

Incorporating various naturopathic remedies for a full spectrum environmental medicine application could be a powerful approach to better health. These are some of the modalities and benefits of some alternative choices that work synergistically with your natural system.

Environmental Atmosphere Assessment – Ground zero of possible exposure to environmental toxins is where you spend most of your time; namely, home and work. Investigating these surroundings with a professional naturopathic doctor trained in environmental medicine should give you your first clues as to what you may be up against. This includes detailing exposure to  in-home tap/shower water, air, and local food consumption. Several tests of blood, hair, skin, urine, and in some cases stool are excellent markers to begin with.

Nutritional Forcefield – Many foods (mostly plant-based) are loaded with toxin defenders. Healthline lists some of the best foods to eat for eliminating heavy metals from your system. It is best to consume organic choices whenever possible and to choose small fish instead of large to reduce mercury exposure.

• Cilantro
• Garlic
• Wild Blueberries
• Lemon Water
• Spirulina
• Chlorella
• Barley Grass Juice Powder
• Atlantic Dulse (seaweed)
• Curry
• Green Tea
• Tomatoes
• Probiotics

Like Cures

Homeopathy is about a four hundred year old practice that uses the “vibration” of plant animal and mineral sources for deep systemic healing. When it comes to environmental medicine, utilizing this practice under the guidance of a professional trained homeopath could be highly beneficial. Although homeopathy is slowly being accepted in some conventional medicine circles, studies and mainstream use are limited as well as misinformed.

Nux vomica derived from the seeds of the strychnine tree has been one homeopathic remedy for environmental toxin application. Published in the International Journal of Research, nux vomica was concluded as covering a long list of symptoms associated with exposure to environmental pollutants.

“Recent experimental research evidences suggest that it [nux vomica] exhibits various activities like analgesic [pain reduction] and anti-inflammatory properties, anticonvulsant activity, anti-tumor effects, anti-amnesic [memory compromise] activity, antidiarrhoeal [diarrhea] activity, immunomodulatory effect [immune system response], anti snake-venom activity, hepatoprotective [protects the liver] and anti-cholestatic [digestive blockage] activities.”

Working with a licensed acupuncturist and clinically trained naturopathic doctor may help you reduce minor to major symptoms that may be associated with your environmental exposure. At Integrative Med Solutions, we will design an acupuncture and naturopathic treatment program that works for you. In many cases, insurance covers portions of the acupuncture treatment. Allow us to support you to achieve optimal health.  To make an appointment or find out more about how acupuncture and naturopathic medicine can benefit you, please call our office at 914.337.2980 or Click Here to schedule an online appointment.

*Please Click Here to see a current list of Insurance Companies that commonly carry acupuncture benefits for its members. Please call 914.337.2980 or securely email info@intmedsolutions.com to verify your specific benefits. If you are emailing, please include your full name, date of birth and insurance identification card number.

*Dr. Lisanti attended the oldest naturopathic college in North America, NUNM (The National University of Natural Medicine) for six years in Portland, Oregon which culminated in his pursuit of a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Masters of Science degree in Chinese medicine. As well, he is trained in the fields of clinical hypnosis and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic programming.) An extensively trained master healer, this professional knows the difference between knowledge and wisdom and understands how they feed each other. As part of his medical schooling, Dr. Lisanti studied in Nepal and Amazonian Brazil where he did extensive research on botanical medicine and traditional healing methods. He worked closely with regional ethno-botanists and local shamans. Always interested in servicing community needs, Dr. Lisanti also completed two years of international healthcare relief for tsunami victims in India and domestic service for underprivileged rural communities in the Pacific Northwest.With an eclectic combination of naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, hypnosis, bodywork, movement, and lifestyle counseling, Dr. Lisanti taps into each person’s full potential for optimal health.

More information about Dr. Lisanti and Integrative Med Solutions can be found here. Best in health from Integrative Med Solutions.