This is a great reminder to take all possible precautions during this cold and flu season.  The more we prevent the onset of disease, the better we will be able to treat it when it does arise.  Remember, prevention can occurr in many ways that we can do daily.
Neti pots and sinus rinse kits are available at the drug store and relatively inexpensive….under $15.

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know

“The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt)… H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.”

Jeremy Linquist L.Ac.

I recieved another email from one of my patients with some information about honey and the healing properties behind this sweet treat.  In reading the information I realized that the information presented was generally true but did not give any indication as to why.  It then became apparent to me that this blog, being a solid foundation for education, would be a great place to answer some of the questions that my patient had concerning the email.  I have included a portion of the email which I will address and give the Traditional Chinese Medical perspective on the subject. 

Excerpt from the Email: “Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot.
It will do what some call turning to sugar.
In reality honey is always honey. 
However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time
it will do what I rather call “crystallizing”.

When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was.  Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey.
Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada , in its issue dated 17 January,1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES: ARTHRITIS:  BLADDER INFECTIONS:  CHOLESTEROL:  COLDS: UPSET STOMACH: GAS:  IMMUNE SYSTEM: INDIGESTION:  INFLUENZA: LONGEVITY:  PIMPLES:
SKIN INFECTIONS:. WEIGHT LOSS:  CANCER: FATIGUE:  BAD BREATH:  HEARING LOSS: ”

Along with this information came a couple recommendations about how to use the honey in combination with cinnamon and water.

After analyzing the information I discovered the similarity to the TCM view of Honey and its healing properties.  In Chinese Medicine, Honey is a temperature neutral food with a sweet nourishing property.  Honey works to harmonize the liver system, neutralize toxins, and  relieve pain.  Cooked honey  or pasteurized honey is also good for moistening dryness in cases of dry, horse throat, and cough.  Both raw and heated honey are good for the stomach system treating stomach ulcers, canker sores and constipation.  Honey can also be used topically on light burns. 

On a lighter note, a spoonfull of honey can be used for hangovers, exhaustion, or overeating salty, rich foods. 

For those with arthritis that gets worse during damp cold days, raw honey is great to attack the dampness that has accumulated in the body. 

It should also be noted that raw honey is not recommended for infants.

Despite it’s many benefits, one must be aware that Honey is a sugar and overconsumption will lead to undesirable effects.  We must be aware of the balance in everything. 

In Conclusion,  Honey has many great properties.  The type of honey can be a factor to attain the desired effects and the amount of honey consumed should  not be overlooked.  It is still a sugar.  So enjoy the honey and keep it on hand because it can be used for many ailments.

Jeremy Linquist L.Ac.

Acupuncture Continuum Inc.

Considering my devotion and passion for the Cleveland Browns, this post was somewhat difficult for me to write.  It took great strength and courage to include the Pittsburgh Steelers in the same sentence as the word Superbowl but then I realized that it made perfect sense.  This article shows why.  The Steelers use the help of Acupuncture to gain a clear advantage above their opponents.  Now the article mentions over 300 needles being used in one treatment which I find difficult to believe but hey,  I never won a superbowl so I don’t know how many it takes at this point. 

Now,  if I could only talk to the Lerner family and show them what I could do to help the Browns Win again. 

Read this article to get the full scoop:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/01/25/walkup/2.html

Enjoy,

   Jeremy Linquist L.Ac.

P.S. I would like to dedicate this post to my amazing wife and father-in-law who are Steelers fans and more importantly who have gone easy on the trash talk.

Here is a great article about acupuncture and fertility that you might be of interest to you.

Click here or the link below:

Enjoy,

Jeremy Linquist L.Ac.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter09/articles/winter09pg18.html

Here is an eye opener. It’s time for everybody to have a couple canvas bags around and start using Klean Kanteen’s for their water consumption. Think Globally.

Thanks for the Link Mo Linquist!!!!!

Jeremy Linquist L.Ac.

I am a big proponent of taking care of your body and to do so we must also consider the environment in the process. I love NaturalNews.com because of the great information they present.  Here is a daily quote that I received from their email newsletter.  It’s a great way to gauge the health of your diet.

“NaturalNews Tip of the day (from Mike):

The amount of food packaging you throw in the trash in your own kitchen is a good indicator of the quantity of processed foods you’re buying. Generally speaking, the healthier your food purchases, the less packaging trash you’ll have to deal with. Truly healthful grocery items come with minimal packaging (fresh produce, for example), while highly-processed foods are presented in extremely wasteful packaging that often includes excess plastic. Buying processed foods, it turns out, is not only bad for our health; it’s bad for the environment, too.”

Remember,  your health is both internal and external.  Everything around us is a factor in how we feel, think, and heal.  In order to take care of your body you must also take care of your surroundings.

Jeremy Linquist L.Ac.

This article was sent to us by a fan of ours on Facebook.  Thanks for following and keep sharing the interesting information.   If you are interested in following us on Facebook, become a fan,  there is a link to the right————————————————————————->

——————–
Subject: ACUP. ARTICLE

HEY FOUND THIS ON MY E-MAIL THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT WITH YOU.   MORE POWER FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

AS I DO BELIEVE IN ACUPUNCTURE.
——————————————————————————–

3. Acupuncture May Relieve Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Acupuncture and exercise can relieve polycystic ovary syndrome, a common condition among women, according to a recent study at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Nearly 10 percent of women of reproductive age have polycystic ovary syndrome. The syndrome expresses itself as a large number of small immature cysts on the ovaries that cause a disturbance in the production of hormones and an increase in the secretion of the male sex hormone. This means that many women with the condition do not ovulate normally, and the syndrome may lead to infertility.

In addition, the women run an increased risk of becoming obese, developing Type 2 diabetes, or developing cardio-vascular disease.

“We do not know for certain what causes the condition, despite it being so common,” said Elisabet Stener Victorin, who led the research. “We have seen that women with the syndrome often have high activity in that part of the nervous system that we cannot consciously control, known as the ’sympathetic nervous system.’ We believe that this may be an important underlying factor in the syndrome.”

During the study, one group of women with the syndrome received acupuncture regularly for four months. They received a type of acupuncture known as “electro acupuncture,” in which the needles are stimulated with a weak low frequency electric current, similar to that developed during muscular work. Women in a second group were provided with heart rate monitors and instructed to exercise at least three times a week. A control group was informed about the importance of exercise and a healthy diet but was given no other specific instructions.

The study showed that activity in the sympathetic nervous system was lower in the women who received acupuncture and in those who took regular exercise than it was in the control group. The acupuncture treatment brought further benefits.

“Those who received acupuncture found that their menstruation became more normal,” Stener-Victorin said. “We could also see that their levels of testosterone became significantly lower, and this is an important observation, since elevated testosterone levels are closely connected with the increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system of women.”
——————–

Jeremy Linquist L.Ac.

Many of my patients have been asking for suggestions on Foods that can help thier condition.  In most cases they are suffering from Yin Deficiency.  This is a Chinese Diagnosis which is common in people as they age.  Yin Deficiency can be the cause of Insomnia, High blood pressure, dryness, Headaches, Hot flashes, an a variety of other symptoms.  Here are a few recommendations that I have given them:

TCM Dietary Recommendations:

Yin Deficiency

• Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Diet

• The human body is an organic whole and TCM medicine is a

guide to help patients restore harmony within their bodies. The

foundation of Chinese Medicine lies in the differentiation of

patterns to correctly treat the symptoms of dysfunction. One

disease can be categorized into different patterns which means

that a specific disease has multiple types of treatment depending

on the pattern.

•Heat due to Yin Deficiency: What does this mean?

As we age, our bodies have a tendency to lose Yin (the cooling (water) structure

and thick fluids of the body). With a loss of Yin comes a relative

excess of Yang (the warming (fire) function or movement of the body) and the

balance of the body is disrupted.

• Below you will find a collection of foods to incorporate into the diet

to increase the Yinof the body. These foods have a property of

being cool in nature and also very settling.

• A DIET is what we eat every day, Not what we do to loose

weight.

• Getting a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals is essential to

any diet. It is my recommendation that everybody take a whole

food vitamin supplement such as Standard Process Catalyn or

Juice Plus to guarantee the intake of proper nutrition. Aside from

proper intake, It is recommended that each person get adequate

WATER intake. This means that you should be drinking at a minimum of

 half your body weight in ounces each day and adding another 64 oz

for every soda you drink. Sugar and salt leech the body of nutrients and

water so be aware of the amount of water you take in. It is essential to drink

extra water when you are suffering from an internal Deficiency.

• Foods to Nourish Yin and Blood:

• Vegetables: Barley, Tofu, String Beans, Black Beans, Mung

Beans, Kidney Beans, water chestnut, seaweeds, spirulina, black

sesame seeds, sardine, crab, clam , eggs, asparagus root.

Celery, Carrots, Cucumber, Kale, Lettuce, Shiitake

Mushroom, Eggplant, Tomato, Spinach, Sweet Potato and

Yams.

• Fruits: Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Banana, Orange, Pears,

Persimmon, Pineapple, Raspberry, Watermelon (and other

melons in general), blackberry, mulberry, blueberry

• When eating animal products, it is important to use free range,

organically fed. this preserves the essence of the food you will be

consuming. Eating unhealthy animals translates to unhealthy

nourishment.

• Avoid (the best you can) foods that contain Gluten. These are

most breads, wheat and flour containing items. Gluten has the

property of consolidation and obstructing the free flow. (think of

flower with a little water added to it. It makes a paste in our body

like it does when we make dough)

• When cooking vegetables, leave unpeeled to retain the nutrient

rich elements. Cook for short periods of time, do not boil

(nutrients leech out into water),

• Select fresh, local, seasonal , organic fruits and vegetables. They

are more nutritious and the pesticides in non organic foods cause

heat in the body.

·         As we know, Calcium is an essential part of the diet. Most people take

A calcium supplement. What is unknown is that the Calcium, to be

effective, must have a Vitamin D3, and Magnesium with it. It is

important to take Magnesium, especially with Insomnia issues.

Magnesium is responsible for helping the muscles relax: This is in

pure opposition to Calcium which promote muscle contraction.

Magnesium deficiency may be related to cardio vascular disease,

heart attack and high blood pressure.

5 element nutrition is a foundation of Chinese Medicine. Now the M.D’s are catching on. Time to take a better look at what Oriental Medicine has to offer. Western scientific method of medicine is starting to find what we have been practicing …for 4000 years in the Oriental Medicine paradigm.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2009/08/14/gupta.eat.rainbow.cnn

Jeremy Linquist L.Ac.

In today’s medical system, there is a double standard with the way certain types of treatment are allowed.  It is no secret that the AMA has an aversion to acupuncture and most “Alternative” forms of medicine, despite the enormous amount of clinical data from Asia where this form of medicine has been practiced for thousands of years.  Despite this claim that these procedures such as Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbology  do not have the science to prove their safety or efficacy,  the Western Medical world has thrown a double standard in the playing field for their own Doctors to utilize.  What most Americans do not know is that any drug can be prescribed for any condition regardless of what it was initially approved for by the FDA.  This means that there is no science to back up why the Doctor is giving you the drug other than clinical experience.  Ironically,  this is the same clinical experience that Acupuncture has used for thousands of years.  Moreover,  surgery, which is a large money maker and also a very dangerous procedure is not regulated by the FDA and most insurance companies will pay for untested surgery. 

This excerpt from the CAMLaw Blog by Michael H. Cohen, Esq.sums it up pretty well.  if you like it you can check out the rest of it Here.

“The approval rules for devices are looser than those for drugs, and while there is little data measuring unapproved uses of medical devices, there are hints that off-label use there is even greater. The F.D.A. does not regulate surgery at all.

Some treatments — like opening a closed artery — appeal so strongly to common sense that it becomes irresistible to go ahead and use them without waiting for scientific proof that they are effective. That is especially true if patients are desperate and have few or no other options.

As the treatments start to catch on, people assume they must work, and it becomes difficult or impossible to study them in the most definitive way — by comparing treated patients with an untreated control group. If most people think a therapy works, who wants to be the control? Doctors may balk at controlled studies, too, calling it unethical to withhold the treatment from patients in the control group.”

This circularity — it seems to work, therefore it must work — is eerily parallel to the argument used against CAM therapies such as homeopathy: ‘it can’t work, therefore it doesn’t.’

The report throws a huge caveat at the notion that medically accepted therapies are safe and effective.”

This Double-Standard is dangerous and has a negative impact on your health care.  It’s important to send the message to your insurance company, senator, and government representatives that you want a fair system that takes the patient into consideration.  Not one that is run by corporate America that is worried about it’s bottom line financially.