Posts Tagged ‘medicine’

How many days of work have you called in sick? How many days have you just not felt that great? Do you know a coworker who is always sick? Stress taxes the body. Bad food, late nights, no sleep, overexertion, & different time zones regularly or even every day would wear out anyone.

A lot of people have weakened immune systems due to stress, poor diets, travel, overuse of antibiotics, lack of sleep, and overwork. This makes them prone to colds and the flu. Having a lower immunity can also make you prone to being really sick for longer periods, especially when compared to someone who is relatively healthy. That’s why travelers tend to get really sick. It’s rare that they just get a case of the sniffles.

Improving someone’s immune system so they don’t get sick is ideal. Taking care of yourself on a daily basis, along with acupuncture, taking Chinese herbs, massage, Reiki, supplements, and aromatherapy, along with dietary changes, have a great impact on one’s health.

Some of the signs that you’re overstressed

*Poor sleep, Anxiety, Brain fog,  Acne
* PMS, Low libido, Weight gain
* High blood pressure/cholesterol, Excessive evening hunger
* Hair loss, Exhaustion, Impaired immunity
* Slow healing, Salt/sugar cravings, Caffeine addiction

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 use of Chinese medicine gets rid of an infection without the side effects of antibiotics. Treating an infection naturally doesn’t suppress the contagion, so that it doesn’t just come right back.

Tips

These simple, easy to follow tips can help you and your loved ones stay healthy & recover quickly from colds and the flu.

1) Take at least 500 mg of vitamin C a day. Great sources include dark leafy greens, broccoli, bell pepper, lemon, and persimmon. C also aids in iron absorption.

2) Supplement with acidopopholus/probiotics to encourage healthy bacteria to grow in your digestive tract. Thus, boosting your immune system and improving your mood.
3) Eat garlic. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and tastes great.

4) Drink two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar daily to help with allergies, nausea, asthma, fat, migraines, cholesterol, blood pressure, fungus, flu, and acne.

5) Eat turmeric in soups, curries, and smoothies. It’s a natural antibiotic, reduces cough, detoxifies, reduces inflammation, improves skin, and aids in digestion.
6) Take a vitamin B complex for reducing stress and improving energy.
7) Ginger is a natural antiviral, reduces inflammation and pain, kills parasites, eliminates mucus, and aids. Digestion.

8) Eat your antioxidants to prevent illness of any kind.

Prunes      Kale       Raisins     Spinach
Berries     Brussels sprouts    Broccoli
Beets        Plums    Onion       Corn

9) Eat plant based Omega 3s for brain function and regulating hormones. Sources include walnuts, hemp, flax, kale, seaweed, chia seeds, and acai berries.

10) Essential oils for stress- Lavender, Neroli, Chamomile, Cypress, Frankincense, Basil, Jasmine, Valerian, Chamomile, Lemon, Rose

11) Drink water. Drink half your weight in ounces daily. More, if you are flying.

12.) Avoid dairy and sugar. They cause inflammation, fatigue, and weakened immunity.

13) Avoid caffeine because it exaggerates body’s response to stress.

14) Put Epsom salts in your bath for detoxification and muscle tension.

Following these easy to follow tips will lead to a much happier and healthier you. Stay calm, vibrant, and full of energy with out breaking the bank.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

I don’t have to convince you that a healthy sex drive is a good thing. More and more studies are proving what the ancients have known for thousands of years: sex is good for your health. But in today’s hectic world, being “in the mood,” doesn’t always make the top of your to-do list. The result? A low libido.

Ancient Chinese medical texts describe in detail how important a healthy sex life is for general health and well-being. There are even descriptions of how often is healthy according to your age. There are many ways to improve sex drive and function, but the safest and most effective way is do it naturally through Traditional Chinese Medicine and Nutrition, along with essential oils.

You might be asking, “Why choose Chinese medicine over Western medicine?” For starters, acupuncture, herbs, proper nutrition, and essential oils have no side effects when used properly. Another added bonus is that certain herbs increase fertility and help with other health concerns while giving you that extra oomph.

Along with stress, poor lifestyle habits, and physical conditions (arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, prostatitis, obesity, smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol), a history of sexual trauma can lower your libido. Even seemingly mild occurrences can have an effect on your sex drive. Healing any issues around this type of trauma is key to sexual health. Chinese medicine along with therapy is the perfect combination to deal with such issues.

Scar tissue caused by surgery in the pelvic region can cause lack or insufficient flow of Qi and blood to the area and may cause impotence, low libido & infertility.

There are many Chinese herbs whose functions include: regulation of energy metabolism, promotion of sexual functions, removal of plaque and cholesterol, lowering of blood pressure, reduction of scar tissue, and regulation of the adrenal cortex.

How do essential oils work? Sense of smell, which is connected to olfactory nerves, works mostly on a subconscious level. Olfactory nerves are directly connected to the most primitive part of the brain, the limbic system. The limbic system deals with sex drive, hunger, and thirst. Certain smells mimic sexual olfactory signals. Thus, ‘turning you on.’

Play with them. You and your partner can put them on each other. If pregnant or trying to get pregnant or you have any hormonal imbalances, please consult a qualified professional as to safety of certain oils.

Oils to Use

* Increasing libido- jasmine, rose, sandalwood, myrrh, and frankincense, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, peppermint, sage and clary sage.

* Prostatitis- Thuja and thyme

* Sexual trauma- frankincense

* Anger/stress distracting you- lavender, ylang ylang, & bergamot

* Depression- rosemary & ylang ylang

* Love sick- chamomile

* Lavender is very calming and can relieve the feeling of pressure/anxiety with sexual performance. It reduces high blood pressure that can cause sexual dysfunction. Lavender also reduces scar tissue.

The good news is that a low libido is treatable without having to worry about the side effects or safety of most medications on the market. Whether or not you choose Chinese medicine to increase your sex drive, it is important to remember that achieving balance in your life is key to your health.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

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

Acupuncture is a safe, comfortable and effective way to treat many of the problems that may occur during pregnancy. Chinese medicine is especially helpful with health issues where Western medicine or pharmaceuticals are contraindicated.

Acupuncture assists in fertility issues (in both men and women), as well as
with pre-existing medical issues that the mother may have prior to pregnancy.

For pregnancy related conditions, acupuncture helps alleviate the following: morning sickness, heartburn, constipation, difficulty sleeping, hemorrhoids, back pain, sciatica, edema, carpal tunnel, breech position, inducing labor and reducing labor pain.

Post-partum, acupuncture/acupressure helps alleviate fatigue, depression,
vaginal discharge, mastitis, post-operative healing and recovery, and insufficient (or excessive) lactation.

Feeling stressed out lately? The holidays got you down? You might want to think about adding some vitamins and improving your diet. Some of you reading this might be thinking “I can just take a pill for my problems.” I hear a lot of my patients think that taking medication long term is completely safe.

Well guess again.

Side effects of anti depressants may include: abnormal dreams, impaired vision, anxiety, chest pain, chills, confusion, diarrhea, diminished sex drive, dizziness, dry mouth, gas, headache, hives, impotence, insomnia, itching, loss of appetite, nausea, nervousness, rash, seizures, fatigue, sore throat, sweating, vomiting, & muscle weakness

Simple ways to help cope

Chromium (broccoli, grapes, oranges, grains) Lessens depression, particularly in people who are also craving sugar. Chromium is a blood sugar stabilizer for all you sugar addicts out there. Take 300 mcg of chromium per day.

Folic acid (brown, red & wild rice, beans, oranges, dark greens) and B12 (sea vegetables, Brewer’s yeast, miso, fortified foods, salmon, eggs, milk) People with B deficiencies are more likely to have severe depression. Take 800 mcg of folic acid and 1 mg of B12 per day.

Magnesium (wheat and oat bran, brown rice, nuts, molasses) Supports brain function and helpful for mood disorders, including PMS and bipolar disorder. Take 300 mg of magnesium per day.

Omega-3 fatty acids (walnuts, flaxseed oil, hemp seeds, borage oil, primrose oil, oily fish,) Build healthy brain cell membranes and help facilitate neuron-to-neuron communication. Take a supplement that includes a total of 650 mg EPA and DHA daily.

Zinc (beans, nuts, oatmeal) Helps metabolize omega-3 fatty acids in the brain. Low zinc levels are often found in those suffering from postpartum depression. Take 25 mg zinc per day.

So, if you’re having a hard time, please use the above information to at least get started. I hope this information helps lift your spirits!

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

Hello and welcome to LiveNaturalLiveWell.com!  Come here every week to find all the latest info on health related topics as well as tips for how you can heal your body and the environment.  I am thrilled to be starting this blog. So to kick things off I thought I would tell you a little bit about myself and how I got started.  People are always asking me, “Heather, how did you get interested in Chinese medicine?”  It started when I was a teenager and I had two major health incidents.

The first was when I was 14 and I had a severe case of mono that flared up off and on for almost a year.  I missed over 2 months of school and had to give up swimming because I was so weak.  I was constantly seeing my doctor and he didn’t have any advice on how to heal from this very common illness.  He literally said, “There’s nothing you can do.”  After this illness took its course, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was any information out there besides what my doctor was telling me.

The second health event happened when I was just turning 15, and like many young people in America, I was a junk food junky.  But after learning about the conditions of the meat industry and animal treatment, I decided to become a vegetarian.  Like the good student I was, I went to my doctor to get any nutritional expertise I could find.  He had no idea what to do with me, besides saying “Make sure you get enough protein.”  I remember feeling so confused.  If doctors are supposed to help people, why doesn’t he have any specific guidance about my nutrition and wellbeing?  It seemed that if I wasn’t sick or injured, there wasn’t anything he could do for me.

Well, it turns out that I was sick. I was anemic for almost two years, and that was when I realized I would need to go beyond my doctors to find appropriate nutritional support.  This led me to start studying nutrition, herbs, and supplements on my own.  I loved reading anything health related, especially holistic medicine.  I found out better ways to eat vegetarian and that mono is treatable.  More profoundly I learned that there is never one answer to a solution, no quick fixes, and no magic pills.  As I studied nutrition more I was fascinated to learn that there are so many different ways in which our bodies can get out of balance and that this affects our wellbeing.  Over the years, I kept learning purely out of curiosity.  I had no idea that one day I would be doing this for a living!

I found out later that M.D.s have very little nutritional training, just a few hours in fact.  Also, many (but not all!) doctors will just say nothing can be done or nothing is wrong because tests results are normal.  I see this almost daily in my private practice.  Patients come in desperate, because their doctors didn’t have the tools to help them get better.

After college, I moved to Los Angeles.  That was when I realized I could do what I love for a career.  At this point, friends were regularly asking me for advice, and I didn’t always have the answers.  I don’t always have the answers now, but with my training and continued studies, I have the tools to do what I really want to do: help and empower others to be healthy and live a fuller life.

I would like to encourage those of you reading this to do research and see if the illness you’re dealing with can be treated naturally to eradicate it.  Then ask questions.  I’m so excited to create a dialogue with people all over the world.  I have a long list of ideas to get started, but I would love to get to know all of you reading this.  What are you curious about?  What do you find confusing?  What are you interested in?  I truly look forward to hearing from you.     Til then,

Get Natural.  Get well.
Heather