No wonder they are confused! Sham acupuncture doesn't exist!

This NY Times article shows how hard it is to study an ancient healing modality with modern testing protocols. We all want to know why acupuncture works. Time to think "outside the box" when comes to doing these studies.

Bones......is thicker better? Me thinks not.......

I knew about this and yet I didn't know the extent of things. A quick article on the problems with osteoporosis medications.

Pain hurts more than we think!

What a list!! Ouch!!
Remember Acupuncture can help break the pain cycle. See list below.*

from Handbook for Mortals : Controlling Pain : The effects of pain

Pain is more than "just" hurting. Pain decreases your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well being in a variety of ways. It affects you physically, mentally, and emotionally. With pain, you may:

Be less able to function
Feel tired and lethargic
Lose your appetite or have nausea
Not be able to sleep, or have your sleep interrupted by pain
Experience less enjoyment and more anxiety
Become depressed, anxious, or unable to concentrate on anything except pain
Feel a loss of control
Have less interaction with friends
Be less able to enjoy sex or affection
Have a change in appearance
Feel that you are more of a burden on family or other caregivers
Suffer more

Adapted from "Management of Cancer Pain" by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research

*Claims of Acupuncture for Chronic Pain

Acupuncture has been claimed as an effective treatment for certain chronic pain. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Conference Statement stated in November 1997 that that there is "clear evidence for acupuncture's efficacy for treating postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, the nausea of pregnancy, and postoperative dental pain." The NIH panel concludes that acupuncture may be an effective adjunctive therapy for many pain conditions. Acupuncture has been claimed effective for various pain conditions including migraines, back pain, tennis elbow menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

#9 Loving lessons from a Caregiver

I learned that nature is a healer for a caregiver's body, emotions, psyche and spirit. Mountains, lakes, turtles, air, snow, flowers, soil, smells, sky, moon, sunsets, stars, sand, birds, deer and rivers all do the trick.
I spent months writing my memoir Living on the Verge of Insanity outside in my tent cabana with Charlie the African Grey on the arm of my chair. We saw foxes, ground hogs, deer and even a coyote pass quietly by. Sometimes I felt like I was in the movie Fantasia!

Healthy Glow

I was putting paper in my African Grey's cage, when I stumbled on this New York Times article from back in December on Acupuncture Face Lifts. More and more people have been asking me if I can help them or their friends look and feel younger. Classical acupuncture, which was the bedrock of my training, offers the hormonal help that most of us need to look younger, but more importantly feel younger too.
Here's an excerpt from the article that I would agree with.

That said, holding tension in one’s jaws or brows can make a face appear strained. I am a teeth grinder with a tight jaw. Mr. Seplow inserted needles into my jaw area to relax it. He also assessed my systemic issues. Red blotches above my cheeks, he said, were a sign of sluggish digestion, so he put needles into my feet and legs for this.

Many cosmetic acupuncturists pride themselves on their holistic service. “The way I look at it, your health is reflected in your skin,” said Anita Lee, a licensed acupuncturist who has a private practice that specializes in women’s health in Manhattan. Because acupuncture facials improve circulation and unblock stuck energy, Ms. Lee said, “they help people heal from the inside out.”