First Acupuncture Visit

Best Predictors of Personal Happiness

Based on the newest research I share with you; the best predictors of personal happiness.

Nestle in the right neighborhood. Different places for different people. Are you living where you would like to live? Yes? Great! No? Where would you like to live?
Start saving. Debt creates stress.
Focus on sleep hygiene. Sleep has a profound effect of mental and emotional health. 6 hours per night. Why 6 hours? See my blog post of insomnia and sleep hygiene to the right.
Reduce your TV time. The happiest people were found (via research) to watch less than one hour of TV per day.
Have daily social/friendly contact. Social support buffers stress!
Develop and nurture your spiritual side. By valuing nature, help others, introspection, any existential practice. Or religion.
Consider adopting a pet. Having a pet is a better predictor of longevity and health than being married.
In your home, create a place of enjoyment (sanctuary). Decorate and paint it to your liking. Use items which inspire you, ground you, whatever you may need in “your space”. This is a place for you to be you, to celebrate yourself and your life. Perhaps to reflect, create or relax and refresh. If you cannot create such a place in your home, find such a place outside of the home.
Give to others, unselfishly. If one engages in a random act of kindness, the giver, the receiver and any observers will experience an increase in serotonin which will last for 48 hours after.

Acupuncture for the Common Cold or Flu

It was the winter of 2005, I had final exams and a nice, heavy fog creeped into my mind and body. A cold or flu of some sort it was. I sat in a state of contemplative panic; “I cannot fail this exam, I cannot think, how am I going to study….”

It’s been 8 years since that grey, cold winter night in California. I am ever so grateful for that night. I was unable to study the material which was necessary, what I did study was the different protocols for common colds and flus. I was able to identify my symptom and which pattern they were associate within TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). I followed the acupuncture point prescription, I cannot recall if fell asleep or if I simply rested until my head fog cleared and my fever subsided. What I do remember is I felt better, good enough to study the material necessary for my final exams that winter quarter.

Ever since then, I treat myself with acupuncture, herbal medicine and Chinese nutiritional remedies. I joke that I was born with a lifetime prescription pad for anti-biotics since my mother delivered me, since 2005, I have not had a cold or flu which was not alleviated within a few hours or 5 days with TCM.

How to use acupuncture and herbal medicine for colds and flus:

(These are my practices, they may not mimic other acupuncturists’)

It is important you see me as soon as you start to experience symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, cough, phlegm, etc). The sooner acupunctue is adminstered the faster the results and the less acupuncture you will need.

I will give herbal medicine in a capsule or tablet form, and I will only give you 2 days worth. You will require a follow up in 2 days if you are not 100%, at which time, I may give you more herbs/acupuncture/moxa If you are taking pharmaceutical drugs or have certain health conditions, herbal medicine may not be an option for you, I will check for herb-drug interactions.

I may also give you a list of foods to eat and what not to eat, if you are given this information it is very important for you to follow.

I do not have an issue with anti-biotics, I think they are wonderful if you have a bacterial infection or if you are having a surgical procedure. But, for a viral condition, acupuncture/TCM works better. Even for a bacterial cold, I believe TCM is more effective. I personally do not like being unable to function/think, acupuncture allows me to recover quickly from the flu/common cold. I used to be out for 2 weeks, now the max is 4 days, depending on the strength of the virus and how compliant I am with my treatments. Sometimes, a sore throat will be alleviated 100% with one acupuncture visit, if the sore throat is treated within the first few hours of it’s sensory manifestation.

To gain results and recover quickly:

1-Come in as soon as symptoms arise.

2-Follow the food recommendations completely.

3-Take the herbs as directed, never, ever share your herbs with others.

4-Do not take any other herbs/supplements without checking with me. Side-effects are highly probable.

P.S. Acupuncture is great for bronchitis and I have an all natural cough syrup which will make you never need any other cough syrup.

P.S.S. When making an appointment with an acupuncturist, it is important to ask if the acupuncturist treats/specializes in treating colds/flus. There are many conditions I do not treat which my mother can and there are some things I do which she does not. It’s really about interest, we are interested in different things and have different strengths, we compliment each other well. I’m definitely very grateful for her. If it were not for her I would have never tried acupuncture.

Until, I see you, please; eat well, consume beautiful things, give thanks and be kind to one another, for the world is our garden to tend.

Painful Urination and Urgency treated with Acupuncture

Patient: Female, early 20′s, without a chronic history of urinary or gynecological disorders.

Reason for visit: Frequent painful urination. Patient had urinary urgency with lower abdominal bloating and pain. Patient unsuccessfully attempted to empty bladder in order to decrease the pain and urgency. Patients’ quality of life was negatively affected by this condition which started 7 months prior to her first and only acupuncture visit.

(January 2012) 7 months prior to her acupuncture visit the patient had a diagnosable UTI (urinary tract infection) patient took antibiotics.
(March 2012) 2 months after the initial diagnosable UTI, the patient returned to the doctor with complaints of urinary urgency, pain and lack of urination; patient did not have an UTI, was given antibiotics twice during the month of March.
(April 2012) Patient returned for a third visit since initial UTI, since symptoms had persisted. UTI was not diagnosed and antibiotics were prescribed and taken as prescribed.
(June 2012) Patient was referred to a specialist, who prescribed medication to decrease the sensation of urgency of urination. The patient reports the medication was not helpful.
(July 2012) Patient comes in for initial acupuncture visit. Patient reports daily pain due to condition, urgency and a lack of urinary output, patient is under severe emotional distress due to the condition, patients’ social and psychological life are disturbed by this condition. I administered acupuncture on the posterior aspect; the spine, along with specific point prescriptions on the lower and upper extremities. Patient was given a specific diet to follow for 2 days (Chinese Medical Nutrition) and a phone follow up was set up 2 days after the first acupuncture visit. Upon the phone follow-up, the patient reported a complete resolution to condition. The patient has not had a flare-up of the condition since. Was advised to call immediately if condition flared up.
If the patient had not had 100% resolution of condition at the time of follow-up, the patient would have been prescribed Chinese Herbal Medicine along with acupuncture 2-3 per week until symptoms were completely alleviated. In such a condition, a complete alleviation is possible since it is a fairly new condition, and patient is in good health otherwise. Some condition require Chinese herbal medicine along with acupuncture or moxibustion.

Cancer related: pain, post-surgery, pain medication & neuropathy

Pain relief from neuropathy, incisions, tumors or chronic issues. A small retrospective case review of acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in 18 patients showed benefit with reduced symptoms in 82%.

Neuropathy (tingling, numbness or burning in the hands and feet) Cancer treatment, or sometimes the disease itself, can cause peripheral neuropathy (PN) – damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to every other part of the body. It can be caused by:

certain chemotherapeutic agents, such as vincristine (Oncovin^®), bortezomib (Velcade^®), thalidomide (Thalomid^®), lenalidomide (Revlimid^®), cytarabine (Cytosar-U^®), interferon or methotrexate.
Radiation therapy, although it may take several years for symptoms to appear

Studies looking at pain control using acupuncture suggest that it may help reduce the pain associated with cancer as well as from surgery. It may help reduce the amount of pain medications needed, and consequently some of the side effects of those pain medicines. Acupuncture can improve circulation in the body leading to regeneration of damaged nerves (neuropathy) and improve healing of scar tissue.

For peripheral neuropathy in the feet, I thread one inch needles proximally at ba xie. For the hands, I do the same at ba feng. AND, I warn patients that they may feel worse before they get better. This is particularly important for any platinum based chemotherapy, for which I understand approximately 90-95% of patients develop peripheral neuropathy. When possible, I do this treatment PRIOR to neuropathy developing so as to try to head it off from becoming very bad and thus limiting chemotherapy. (John Hopkins Cancer Center)

Xerostomia (dry mouth) during cancer treatment

After repeated, cumulative doses of radiation used in high levels during cancer treatment, salivary glands are so injured they can shut down, becoming incapable of producing anything close to adequate and normal amounts of saliva. “The quality of life in patients with radiation-induced xerostomia is profoundly impaired,” Mark S. Chambers, M.S., D.M.D., a professor in the Department of Dental Oncology at M.D. Anderson, said in a statement to the media. “Symptoms can include altered taste acuity, dental decay, infections of the tissues of the mouth, and difficulty with speaking, eating and swallowing. Conventional treatments have been less than optimal, providing short-term response at best.”

Researchers from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center found that weekly acupuncture treatments twice a week relieved symptoms of a condition called xerostomia — severe and debilitating dry mouth resulting from radiation treatments for head and neck cancer.

Most worrisome is the fact a lack of saliva can rob cancer patients of the very thing they most need to fight their disease — good nutrition. patients with xerostomia may develop nutritional deficits that become irreversible. 80% of patients develop xerostomia only after a few weeks of radiation therapy. It becomes chronic in almost 70% of patients. Radiation clearly damages salivary tissue.

Acupuncture mechanism in xerostomia: Increase in blood flux. Increase in production of neuropeptides such as calcitonin gene-relate peptide (CGRP)

Stress Management, Low Platelet Count, Fatigue, Nausea and Vomiting due to cancer/chemo with Acupuncture & herbs

Acupuncture Assists in Stress Management

Cancer patients who use this treatment claim that they feel calmer, and that they feel happier. Additionally, many of them report less worry and anxiety. They report feeling more mentally alert and more emotionally stable. There are specific acupuncture points that will help the nervous system relax when there is a constant feeling of anxiety or adrenaline, thus treatments can help improve sleep as well
Stress/Anxiety reduction for parents, family members, friends and hospital staff can be addressed with acupuncture.

Improves Digestion, Decrease Fatigue

Radiation treatments may lead to pain and swelling in the mouth and thro making it difficult to swallow. Some patients lose their sense of taste as well. Acupuncture has been shown to decrease these side effects allowing the patient to be able to swallow, eat and drink normally. Acupuncture can also help restore appetite and regulate patterns of elimination.

Fatigue in a randomized controlled trial, 47 cancer patients with moderate to severe fatigue were randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group received six 20-minute sessions of acupuncture (n = 15); one group was instructed to use acupressure (n = 16); and the third group, the sham acupressure group (n = 16), was taught to apply pressure in three points unrelated to true acupressure. All three groups continued with the same techniques for 2 weeks. The study concluded that acupuncture was a more effective method than acupressure or sham acupressure.

Nausea and Vomiting due to Chemotherapy

Reduced nausea, vomiting and fatigue associated with chemotherapy
According to the National Cancer Institute, there is strong evidence that acupuncture can relieve nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.
In 1997, NIH held a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture to evaluate its safety and efficacy. The panel stated that “there is clear evidence that needle acupuncture treatment is effective for postoperative and chemotherapy N/V.”
The best timing for your acupuncture treatments depends on your symptoms. For nausea, it is best to have acupuncture before and possibly during chemotherapy. For other symptoms such as pain, fatigue, diarrhea or constipation, it may be best to plan your treatments before, during or after chemotherapy.

Thrombocytopenia

Low platelet count, prescribe an herbal formula in pill form and will often see a rise in platelets within a week. (John Hopkins Cancer Center)

Randomized controlled trial found that acupuncture treatment enhanced platelet count and prevented leukocyte decrease after radiation therapy or chemotherapy, in comparison with the control group.

Effects of Acupuncture on Cancer Pain

A nonrandomized, single-arm, observational clinical study evaluated the effect of auricular acupuncture in 20 cancer patients who were still experiencing pain after treatment with analgesics. While patients continued their analgesic medication, auricular acupuncture needles were embedded in ear acupuncture points, chosen according to clinical symptoms and electrodermal response, and were left in place until they fell out. In some cases, the needles remained in place for 35 days, while in others they fell out after 5 days. Pain intensity was measured by a nurse on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on day 0 and day 60, and the data were analyzed using a t test. The results showed that pain intensity decreased or remained stable after auricular acupuncture in all patients, with a significant average pain intensity decrease of 33 mm (P < .001). The same investigators later reported a larger (n = 90) randomized, blinded, controlled trial in which cancer pain intensity was significantly decreased (by 36%) in an auricular acupuncture treatment group, in comparison with control groups (acupuncture at placebo points or auricular seeds placed at placebo points) after 2 months of treatment (P < .001).
In a case series involving 183 cancer patients who were treated with acupuncture for cancer-related pain, 52% were significantly helped (P value not stated) Multiple treatments at intervals of 1 to 4 weeks were nearly always necessary for significant and long-term pain control.
In another case series, 29 patients with malignant tumors who developed pain received EA treatment. All experienced various degrees of pain relief, and 25 out of 29 were able to either reduce or eliminate their analgesic requirements following multiple EA treatments.
A third case series produced similar results. After auricular EA treatment, five patients with cancer pain reported improvements. (National Cancer Institute)

Effect of Acupuncture on Immune Function-Cancer Related Studies

The studies were ex vivo laboratory investigations using blood samples or tissues; the remaining study was an animal behavioral study testing the effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy -induced nausea and vomiting. [4] The ex vivo studies suggested that acupuncture is useful in anticancer therapy either by actively stimulating immune activity or by preventing chemotherapy suppression of immune activity.
At least seven human studies have evaluated the effect of acupuncture on immune system function inpatients with cancer. These studies were all cnducted in China. Five were reported in English, and two were reported in Chinese with English abstracts.
Four randomized controlled trials, a norandomized clinical study, and two case series found that acupuncture enhanced or regulated immune function.
The first randomized controlled trial found that acupuncture treatment enhanced platelet count and prevented leukocyte decrease after radiation therapy or chemotherapy, in comparison with the control group.
A study involved a group of 40 postoperative cancer patients, 20 of whom received daily acupuncture treatment and 20 of whom served as a control group. After 3 days, leukocyte phagocytosis was enhanced in the treated group, compared with the baseline measurement (P < .01); no such enhancement was observed in the control group.

Another study observed the effect of acupuncture on interleukin-2 (IL-2) and natural killer (NK) cell activity in the peripheral blood of patients with malignant tumors. The patients were divided into an acupuncture treatment group (n = 25), which received 30 minutes of acupuncture daily for 10 days, and a nonacupuncture control group (n = 20). The data showed that IL-2 level and NK cellactivity were significantly increased in the acupuncture group, compared with the control group (P < .01)
Another study observed the effect of acupuncture on T-lymphocyte subsets (CD₃+, CD₄+, and CD₈+), soluble IL-2 receptor (SIL-2R), and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) in the peripheral blood of patients with malignant tumors. The data showed that acupuncture treatment increased the proportion of the CD₃+ and CD₄+ T-lymphocyte subsets, the CD₄+/CD₈+ ratio (P < .01), and the level of beta-EP. It decreased the level of SIL-2R (P < .01). The investigators suggested that the anticancer effect of acupuncture may be mediated via the mechanism of immunomodulation.

In a clinical case series, 28 cancer patients who were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) while undergoing chemotherapy experienced no declines in T cells (CD₃+, CD₄+, CD₈+) or in NK cell activity, both of which are usually suppressed by chemotherapy.[7] Similar findings were reported in a study comparing EA to the control in patients receiving chemotherapy for breast, colorectal cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
In another clinical case series, 48 patients with leukopenia —including two cancer patients—who were treated with manual acupuncture experienced improvements in leukocyte count, intracutaneous phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) levels after 14 daily acupuncture treatments, compared with their pretreatment levels.

2013 Daily Goals

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Last year, I decided for daily resolutions/goals to aid my other resolutions. These were my dailies:

I set daily intentions in the morning
I wrote at least three “things” I was grateful for during the day.

This year I’m keeping those two and adding:

How did/do I feel today? (I’m adding this because I don’t think about feelings on a daily basis).
What is the bigger picture______________________. (Sometimes, we get stuck in a problem, can’t solve it, ruminate, procrastinate, etc. What’s the bigger picture?)
If I had the courage I would____________________. (I love this one)
Daily 30 minute meditation. I started the meditation mid-December. I procrastinated 4 days in a row, I felt the loss of not keeping up with the practice. Now, my body is used to it and 30 minutes before it’s that time; I feel the need to. I do an active mediation, it’s not a relaxing meditation, there is no way I could fall asleep during this practice. I’m highly alert after and extra energized. I will be adding a yin-type of meditation for the night, starting tonight! Wish me luck, please.

Setting Daily intentions- this is how I went about it, please share any insights, ideas, criticism you may have.

Set an intention for the day, make it positive: Examples: I will say thank you more often today, I will smile more. I will walk more today. I will pay attention to my breath every hour by setting an alarm to remind me. I will work mindfully today. Praise others. Say you’re welcome instead of no problem or uh-hu when someone says thank you.
An intention for a feeling; I want to feel peace today, even for a moment. I want to breath through a stressful situation, instead of getting all wrapped up in it. I want to make someone laugh today & laugh with them.
A goal; I will finish doing_________ & reward myself with the feeling of getting it done! I will not do ____________and reward myself with feeling good about sticking to my goal. It’s a daily intention or goal, you can do almost anything for a day or an hour or a few minutes. Set short term goals! Make it challenging, fun, get people to join you. If they don’t, go on alone! Enjoy. You’ll meet people along the way, if there is such a need.
A dietary intention; instead of a cookie, I will eat an apple, a mango, some raspberries. I will drink a glass of water before drinking coffee/more coffee.
Set an alarm on your electronic device to remind yourself every morning. In 2012; the first thing on my phone would be a reminder ” Daily Intention”, it would stop my train of thoughts momentarily….what is my intention for today. I also hand wrote; Daily Intention on my paper calendar. It reminded me.

Daily Gratitude list- Make this fun, interactive, or private. I have clients who do this at the dinner table, allow for the individuals to participate or not participate, practice everyday, eventually, others will join if they are resistant initially. Make it fun! No pressure! No judgment! If you have a friend or significant other, text or email the list to them, if you don’t share it in person or on the phone. Write, say or type at least three different things you are grateful for each day (look up the research if you need convincing). If you don’t have anyone to send them to and you don’t want to keep a journal for yourself, you can email them to me! I’d be more than happy to read them

This year: I have promised myself, my family, my friends, and my doctors that I will be working less and having more fun and rest this year. I hope to cook more, play more with color though painting, to balance words/thoughts with visuals/abstractions. And, in general, more exploration without expectations and judgments. Think about every situation as an opportunity for growth.

Last year: At the beginning of 2012, I promised myself, and shared it with everyone involved in my daily life; I need to figure out a way out of stressful environments and relationships. I like to flow. We are either flowing, growing, changing, or on autopilot doing what everyone else is doing, what everyone else expects us to do. Left with the same un-fullfilled desires year after year. My biggest lesson this year was, many people want to stay in the mind-set that they’re in and they will find a group of like minded people to support them in their ways. Either join them or walk away from them because beating them is not an option. Everyone has their path, don’t get stuck on someone else’s path, if it slows you down. We’re social creatures, but joining a negative, unhealthy, gossiping, group of people in denial of the truth, doesn’t sound like a viable option for progress.

Procrastination: I hear myself think; “I’ll meditate later, I have to do _________first.” As you know, later does not come……Now I think, “Now is here. Later wont come. you’ll feel so much better for accomplishing this than doing anything and everything else which will be waiting for you, nagging at you. Now, I have to meditate, I will feel incredible after.” (Side Note: I’ve been flirting with meditation for a few years, it was very difficult at first, almost psychologically painful. My stamina has increased and now I have moments/seconds of enjoyment.)

It’s your health, my health, our health. Your progress is for the world to enjoy, for your children, family, friends, for yourself. You are increasing your mental/emotional/hormonal strength through these practices. Allow yourself time to grow. Make yourself do it, like, you make your children do their homework. Allow yourself to fail. Allow yourself to laugh and enjoy. Forgive yourself. It’s okay, get up and do it again. Focus! Chill. Do it more. Do it again. Change is painful at first, growing pains…..After some accomplishment, it becomes enjoyable. Trust me. Go on. (make an appointment if you need a hand).

Happy New Year, Happy New Day. May you be at peace with what is.

365 Points Blog

Acupuncture and Health Education in Newport Beach, California