But he should have eaten fresh spinach instead of canned. It’s a great source of iron, which increases the health of your blood, especially red blood cells. Red blood cells in turn feed your muscles, among many other things, and in turn, gives you energy and strength.

The absorbed iron is transported as plasma ferritin and stored in liver, spleen, bone marrow and kidney. When red cells are broken down, the liberated iron is reutilized in the formation of new red cells. Iron is necessary for oxygen transport and cell growth by helping the blood transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissue cells where it is needed.

Are you getting enough iron?

Iron deficiency symptoms include: Pale skin & nail beds, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, sore tongue and mouth, light headed, brittle nails, decreased appetite (especially in children), headache, weakness. Other symptoms include heartburn, gas, vague abdominal pains, numbness and tingling in the extremities, heart palpitation, and sores at the corners of the mouth.

What causes the malabsorption of iron?

Deficiency Vitamin C, because Vitamin C aides in iron absorption. In men and postmenopausal women, anemia is usually due to blood loss associated with ulcers, the use of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS), or colon cancer.

Iron is mostly absorbed from duodenum (part of the intestines) and upper small intestine. So if you have any digestive issues or food sensitivities, you could be at risk for anemia.

Phytate, which is found in some whole grains and legumes, can limit iron absorption. Soy, which is a good vegetarian source of iron, contains phytate and certain proteins that interfere with iron absorption. Other foods that obstruct iron absorption include coffee, tea (including some herbal), cocoa, calcium, fiber and some spices.

Some iron loss occurs naturally. The total daily iron loss of an adult is about 1 mg and about 2 mg in menstruating women.

Daily Requirements of Iron

Children, men and women according to age have different nutritional needs. Please see chart below for guidelines.

Children
7 mos – 1 yr 11 mg 1 yr – 4 yrs 7 mg

4 yrs – 8 yrs 10 mg 9 yrs – 13 yrs 8 mg

Men
14 yrs – 18 yrs 11 mg 19 yrs + 8 mg

Women

14 yrs – 18 yrs 15 mg

19 yrs – 50 yrs 18 mg
51 + yrs 8 mg

Pregnant 27 mg

Lactating 14 yrs – 18 yrs 10 mg
19 + yrs 9 mg

Sources of Iron

Food                         Iron in mg         Food                       Iron in mg

Black beans              7.9                          Tofu                         4.6
Garbanzos                6.9                          Lima beans            4.5
Pintos                       6.1                           Lentils                    6.6
Navy                         5.1                            Split peas               3.4
Soybeans                 8.8                           Kidney Beans        5.2            Fresh peas              2.9                           Tempeh                  2.2

Vegetables (1 cup cooked)

Spinach                   6.4                              Kale                        1.8
Beet greens            2.8                             Acorn squash         1.7
Swiss chard           4.0                              Brussels sprouts   1.7
Tomato juice         2.2                              Potato w/skin        1.4
Butternut squash   2.1                              Beets                      1.0

Fruit

Prune juice (1 cup)  10.5                            Dates (10)              2.4
Dried peach              5 3.9                           Prunes                   1.8
Raisins, ½ cup         2.6                         Strawberries, 1 cup   1.5

Grains (¼ cup dry)
Rice bran                     10.8                    Wheat bran/germ      1.9
Quinoa                        4.6                      Cream of wheat           8.1
Millet                          3.9                        Oat or cornmeal         0.7

Seeds (approximately ¼ cup)

Pumpkin seeds           4.0                    Sunflower seeds          2.4

Hemp Seeds              13.6

Miscellaneous

Blackstrap molasses  3.2                  Brewer’s yeast, 1 tbs        1.4
Tahini 2 tbsp              2.7                       Cashews ¼ cup             2.0

So next time your at the farmers market, pick up some some kale and spinach and add them to your black bean chili or next soup. Or top your green salad with pumpkin seeds.  Not only will it taste great, but you’ll feel more energized.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

Cancer prevention.  Maybe I should have titled the subject line “Illness Prevention.”  But the big C always gets people’s attention.  Especially when 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men are getting cancer now.  So why not change a few things to reduce your risk?

1 Eat more vegetables
Vegetables aren’t just delicious and filled with vitamins and nutrients; they also contain a lot of fiber, antioxidants, and beta-carotene.  All of these help reduce your risk. Eating vegetables makes your body more alkaline, which is also good for preventing any illness.
For more on why eating a more plant based diet is better for you and the environment, please read another great resource at GoVeg.

2 Go organic
Organic food not only tastes better, it doesn’t have all those pesticides, antibiotics, steroids and growth hormones that can make you very sick.  A lot of people say to me organic costs more.  One trick is to go to your local farmer’s market right before closing.  The vendors are practically giving their products away.  Plus, eating organic is much cheaper than getting sick, missing work, and having medical expenses.

3 Sweat more
Sweating releases toxins through the skin.  Fewer toxins in your body, the lower your risk of getting sick. Go for a hike, take a power yoga class, or sit in a sauna on a regular basis.

4 Do a liver cleanse on a regular basis
If you’ve been getting my newsletters for a while, you know I’m a fan of doing a SAFE cleanse at least once a year.  Along with sweating, a liver cleanse will flush out the bad stuff that’s stuck in your liver.

5 Taking care of your mental health
Stress can weaken your immune system.  Thus, making you more susceptible to getting sick.  So whether it’s meditating, therapy, a spiritual practice, exercise, or all of the above, please take care of you!

6 Avoid sugar, including sugar substitutes, and dairy
Sugar feeds cancer.  Eat some fruit instead. And dairy is mucous forming, since it’s mucous too.  Try milk alternatives, such as hemp, almond, or rice.  You can get really creative and make your own.

7 Deep breathing
Cancer cells won’t thrive in a highly oxygenated body.  So take out that yoga mat and breathe.

8  Don’t store or cook your food in plastic.
Highly heated plastics release dioxin (carcinogens) into your food and ultimately into the cells of the body.  In fact, avoid using plastic altogether.

See?  That wasn’t so hard, was it?  Knowing that you’ve taken the first steps to being disease free can be so liberating.

Live natural.  Live well.
Heather


The combination of Chinese Medicine – acupuncture, Chinese herbs and nutrition – along with Western nutrition creates a synergy that helps manage weight in a healthy, individual manner. Chinese medicine speeds the metabolism, reduces cravings, helps reduce stress as well as support healthy food choices.

A typical treatment plan consists of an initial consultation followed by acupuncture. All patients receive a specifically tailored food plan that will indicate foods that should be eaten in moderation as well as a list of foods to be avoided. Herbal supplements and organic vitamins are used to adjust metabolism, cholesterol, energy, food cravings and even to manage diabetes. Weekly acupuncture treatments are recommended during the first month to accelerate results, then a maintenance program of every four to six weeks.

As everyone responds differently to treatment, each step along the way, up to and including a maintenance program once the desired weight goal has been achieved, is done on an individual basis.

This unique blend of Eastern and Western medicine is the optimal way to safely lose weight.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

Stressed from planning your wedding? Trying to lose weight for your big day? Want to make your skin look more vibrant? I can help you accomplish all of the above.

Chinese medicine will help in several ways, namely: weight loss, increasing energy, calming stress and anxiety, boosting your immune system so you don’t get sick, and facial rejuvenation. I recommend that the initial consultation take place approximately three to six months (depending on individual goals) prior to your wedding. We will then establish a personalized treatment plan to set us on the road to accomplish what we need to accomplish before your big day.

On your actual wedding day, I offer acupuncture, massage, and aromatherapy to both you and your bridal party (should you so desire). This is the perfect way to get ready, de-stress, take a breath, relax and enjoy. And for the women sharing this special day with you, these treatments make a wonderful gift. The best part is, I come to you!

Live natural.  Live well.

Heather

Do you seem to have a lot of sore throats or get sick often? Are you prone to losing your voice? Have you had to stay home from work or miss social engagements due to a lost voice?

There are many reasons for experiencing loss of voice, hoarseness, and sore throats. The symptoms can be caused by overuse or damage to the vocal cords, infections (sometimes low grade and undetected) or postnasal drip from either allergies or colds, which irritates the throat. Singers and vocal performers are especially susceptible to this problem given their lifestyle and the over-use of their vocal cords.

Prevention is key and can often be achieved with traditional Chinese medicine. If the problem already exists, acupuncture and other ancient protocols can quicken the healing process, sometimes within a matter of minutes.

Acupuncture works wonders — it clears out infection and stimulates circulation to the area, thus speeding the healing process. Herbs are often prescribed to soothe the throat, repair damage, expel infection, and reduce the congestion that leads to postnasal drip.
In addition, Dr. Lounsbury is never without her special Chinese berries from which she makes a warm tea that completely gets rid of hoarseness and soreness within minutes.

If you or someone in your family suffers from sore throats, hoarseness, or loss of voice, it’s time to consider Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her  therapeutic approach will lessen occurrence and speed recovery time should there be one.

Patient Testimonial:

“My voice is my living. Dr. Lounsbury’s treatments save it anytime I’m feeling a cold coming on or I’ve been screaming too long into a microphone. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
- James B., Singer

Wouldn’t it be great to have a way to make your stressful work feel stress free? Wouldn’t it be great to feel relaxed and invigorated each and every day? Sounds impossible, right? Wrong!

Acupuncture, massage, herbs, proper diet, and exercise are all important in minimizing the effects of the pressure caused by life’s daily stresses. Headaches, sleepless nights, losing your temper, feeling tired, and tense muscles will all become a thing of the past.

The best part is that this is all done safely and naturally without any negative side effects. You’ll feel more energized, joyful and calm – all at the same time. Bring passion back in to your life. It’s time to feel the way you did when you were younger and had less responsibility.

Patient Testimonial:

“Before working with Heather, I used to be one of those guys who got pissed off at everyone and everything. People were actually afraid of me on tour. I can’t tell you how many fights I’d get into. The stress and exhaustion wore me out. I’m still not the nicest guy, but I take everything , or almost everything, in stride now.”
- Jack G., Singer

The medical definition of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is as follows: ‘The compression of the median nerve as it passes through the wrist to enter the palm of the hand, causing pain and numbness in the index and middle fingers and weakness of the thumb.’ This definition is generic as pain and weakness in the hand and fingers can certainly be attributed to other conditions.

Because of the medical definition many people are improperly diagnosed, even though their symptoms might fit the criteria above. No matter what the cause, if you are experiencing tingling, muscle tightness, numbness, stiffness, sharp pain, and loss of muscle strength either in the arms and hands or legs and feet. A pinched nerve may occur anywhere along the spine or body.

Many musicians are especially prone to carpal tunnel syndrome or similar symptoms, due to the constant overuse of certain muscles and joints, causing inflammation and irritation. Performers and athletes as well as the general aging population, also have repetitive motion injury, old sprains that flare up, herniated or bulging discs, or misaligned vertebrae. In certain cases it may be necessary to consult an M.D. to find the root of nerve compression.

Acupuncture reduces pain, stimulates nerve conduction, increases blood circulation, moves vertebrae and discs back into place, and relaxes muscle tightness and spasm. Electrical acupuncture, moxibustion, massage are also a part of treatment protocol for treating the symptoms listed above. All of these reduce or eliminate compression on specific nerves. Daily intake of herbs can also reduce pain, relax muscles, and increase blood circulation to the area of discomfort.

Whatever the cause of this pain or discomfort, I can help. My therapeutic efforts work to prevent injury or if after the fact, speed recovery time. Let us help you put an end to daily doses of Advil, or in more severe cases, avoid surgery. For those in the performing arts, working with me will help increase your performance capabilities as well as help prevent the cancellation of shows.

Patient testimonial:

“My sciatica flared up right in the middle of recording and I could barely move. I was desperate. Thanks to Doc Heather, recording went on uninterrupted, actually saving us money.”

- Jeff R., Keyboardist

Chinese medicine offers relief from the symptoms and side effects related to cancer and cancer treatments. Acupuncture causes physical responses in nerves cells, the pituitary gland, and various parts of the brain, which in turn affects blood pressure and body temperature. In addition, Acupuncture boosts the immune system, relieves stress and anxiety, and causes the body’s natural painkillers to be released.

It is the side effects related to chemotherapy and radiation that often cause extreme distress for the cancer patient. Some of the side effects that Chinese medicine helps alleviate, include, but are not limited to: nausea/vomiting, fatigue, weakened immunity, stress, anxiety, pain, bruising, post operative swelling, hair loss, anemia, skin issues, hot flashes, digestive disorders, loss of appetite, and detoxification/elevated liver enzymes.

Chinese medicine also reduces many cancer-related symptoms. Acupuncture treatments add to a patient’s sense of wellbeing and decrease the malaise associated with any chronic disease, especially cancer.

Human studies at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the effect of acupuncture on the immune system of cancer patients showed that it improved immune system response. It was proven that acupuncture reduced the amount of pain in some cancer patients. In one study, most of the patients treated with acupuncture were able to stop taking drugs for pain relief or to take smaller doses. Several types of clinical trials using different acupuncture methods showed acupuncture reduced nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and surgery.

Nutritional and herbal support aids in boosting immune response in cancer patients, along with minimizing the immune and white blood cell suppression that occurs with most chemotherapeutic agents. Kenneth Conklin, M.D., Ph.D., an anesthesiologist at UCLA working with the Oncology Department, reports gratifying results utilizing nutrition and supplements combined with acupuncture.

Fighting cancer might be one of the most challenging things a person has to deal with. Why not let Chinese medicine support you on the road to a full recovery?

A weakened immune system not only makes the body prone to colds and flues, but also extends the amount of time symptoms remain, especially when compared to someone who is relatively healthy. That’s why some people tend to get really sick when they do get sick. It’s rare that they just get a case of the sniffles.

Life’s stresses tax the body. Combine that with bad food, late nights, lack of sleep, and overexertion and even the strongest would be worn out. Traditional Chinese medicine helps to keep you healthy or recover quickly if illness hits.

Improving someone’s immune system so they don’t get sick is ideal. Daily acupuncture, taking Chinese herbs, massage, Reiki, supplements, and aromatherapy, along with dietary changes, have a great impact on one’s health. This practice is also used for those with HIV/AIDS.

Once a person is sick, the sooner treatment is administered, the quicker the recovery. Similar treatment protocols are administered with someone who is sick or just starting to come down with something. The types of herbs and points used do change, but daily acupuncture treatments and herbs are essential. Unlike antibiotics, Chinese medicine doesn’t just suppress the contagion, it actually expels it so that the illness doesn’t come right back. In addition, there are no side effects with Chinese medicine like there are with the use of antibiotics.

In the long run, my therapeutic approach will improve your immune system and in turn, prevent you from getting sick. But if you, I’ll have you feeling well in short order!

Patient testimonial:

I can’t remember the last time I got sick, maybe 5 years ago. I used to be bedridden with the flu up to four times a year. I know it’s from the combination of treatments from Dr. Lounsbury. She does acupuncture, herbs, massage and Reiki to help me stay on top. I can now consider myself totally healthy.
- Joan M., Dancer

Acupressure/acupuncture, herbs, and comprehensive nutrition are a safe, comfortable, and effective way to treat problems associated with autism. It is especially helpful in conjunction with Western therapies. Each person responds differently to treatment, but there is a decrease in symptoms and more fulfilling way of life as a result.

What Chinese medicine treats:

• Hyperactivity Increasing attention span
• Increasing immunity
• Improving verbal and non verbal communication
• Reducing temper & aggression
• Improving motor skills
• Regulating sensitivity to pain
• Detoxification Insomnia
• Decreasing side effects of medication