Acupuncture Stories: Regrowth

Acupuncture Stories

Regrowth

     It is fun to come to work and see miricles every day, giving people the tools they need to heal and standing back to watch their bodies do amazing things. One of the most astounding cases I have seen was the patient who accidentally chopped off the end of his finger, just above the last joint. Part of it had been reattached, though from below the nail up it was gone. But the part that was reattached turned black. The doctors informed him the the whole finger would have to be removed. 
       As an alternative we tried Acupuncture, every other day, and Chinese herbal formulas. The finger regained its color and the doctors decided that he could keep it. But, they informed him, he wouldn't have feeling in the tip for over a year. In a month he had feeling in the tip. Then the bone started growing so fast they had to do an operation to put a flap of skin over the tip. Well, that was unusual, his doctors said, but the nail wouldn't grow back. It did! 
      Now you would have to look close to see that the finger one the one hand was any different than the other. The body can do miraculous things, given the tools to heal.
       
                                                   Health & Happiness,
                                                             Nancy Burton, L.Ac.
                                                                   534 Washington St.  Ashland, OR  97520
                                                                                   For Appointments Call:  541-646-0134   



  
      
      

How the Gallbladder Effects Overall Health

      The Gallbladder is a misunderstood and undervalued organ in the body. Thought by Western medicine to be an extra part that can be disposed of without consequence.

The Gallbladder, an Essential Organ

      Somehow, in our society, we came up with the concept of extra parts, non-essential organs that the body could easily do without. But the more we learn, the more we discover that everything we have is there for a reason.

       The liver creates bile. Toxins the liver filters out of the blood 

Prevention of Colds and Flu

Prevention of Colds and Flu

     The best defense for Colds and Flu is a good offense. Jade Screen is an herbal formula for preventing colds and flu. It works by building up the immune system. Taken once a day, throughout cold and flu season, and increased to two or three times a day, when viruses are at their peak, or when living or working with someone with a cold or flu, it can help avoid illness. 
      There are many manufacturers of this ancient formula, but Plum Flower brand has the GMP rating, the Austrian equivalent of what the FDA professes to be. GMP is considered one of the highest international standards for herbs.

      At the first sign or symptom of illness stop the Jade Screen and take Gan Mao Ling, also, Plum Flower brand, to kill the virus. Continue taking six pills, for adults, every 3-4 hours until feeling well. 

     Both formulas are available at most major Health Food Stores.

                                        Health & Happiness,

                                             Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                                                   534 Washington St.  Ashland, OR  97520

                                                                For Appointments Call:   541-646-0134 

  

Insomnia and Water

      One of the many reasons for insomnia is not drinking enough water during the day. This can cause Yin Deficiency, or not enough moisture in the body. Like a car's radiator not getting enough water, it causes the body to overheat at night. This results in thirst, hot flashes, waking and feeling hot. 

      Heat rises; energy is supposed to be going down at night, not up to the head. If energy is going up at night, due to heat or for other reasons of imbalance in the body, it impairs sleep. 

      Other beverages, besides water don't count. Many people drink lots of beverages during the day and so aren't drinking the water they need. Again, like a radiator in a car, you have to put in the right kind of fluid. Alcohol can make the problem of YinDeficiency even worse, even just one glass of wine or beer per night. So drink plenty of water during the day, to help sleep well at night.  

                                                  Health & Happiness, 

                                                               Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                                                                     534 Washington St.  Ashland, OR  97520

                                                                                     For Appointments Call:   541-646-0134 

Beverages: Teeccino

Beverages :  Teeccino

Teeccino is a delicious, full bodied, caffeine free, non acidic beverage. Brewed like coffee, (though now also available in 'tea bags'), it can be made strong and mixed with alternative milks for a cafe au lait effect. For those who love coffee, but not the caffeine or digestive problems coffee can cause, Teeccino is a delightful option, with a number of flavors.

Though you can use any coffee maker, I use a french press, and just add boiling water, for a quick and easy cup. Vanilla Nut is my favorite flavor so far, mixed half and half with hot hazelnut, or vanilla hemp milk (the kind sweetened with brown rice syrup) or a combination of the two.

      
Sometimes I add spices to the Teeccino, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamon, occasionally adding organic coco powder to the mix. 

      
For mocha, mix Teeccino with chocolate hazelnut or chocolate hemp milk.  

      
Finding healthier versions of warming winter drinks, that people really enjoy, is an wonderful way to keep warm, and enjoy the colder months. 

                                         Health & Happiness,

                                                   Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                                                         534 Washington St.  Ashland, OR   97520

                                                         For Appointments Call:   541-646-0134

  

      

      

  

Soft Drinks

Soft Drinks

      
I was amazed, when attending holiday parties, how many people offered soft drinks, and even more amazed at how many people were drinking them. Aside from enormous amounts of sugar or high fructose corn syrup, or worse, artificial sweeteners, and other chemicals, most soft drinks contain phosphoric acid. This can throw off the calcium to phosphorus ratio in the blood making the body think there is not enough calcium in the body, so it 'borrows' calcium from the bones, to be distributed, by the blood, to the rest of the body. Think Robin Hood, swiping from a source that has more to take care of places in need. 
       
There are studies showing a correlation between soft drink consumption and bone density depletion. Calcium is also necessary to relax muscles, and for emotional relaxation, during the day and when trying to sleep. A very occasional soft drink isn't going to kill anyone, but regular consumption can lead to any number of health problems. 
      
Alternative to soft drinks, that most people really enjoy, include soft drinks made with carbonated water and fruit juice sweetened, sparkling water, and sparkling (fruit juice sweetened) fruit juice. I use a soda maker to make my own sparkling water, which also eliminates the waste of bottles, and the resources used for distribution. 
    
So read labels and avoid soft drinks, made with phosphoric acid, for strong bones and teeth. 

                                                               Health & Happiness,
                                                                       Nancy Burton, L.Ac.
                                                                              534 Washington St.   Ashland, OR   97520
                                                                              For Appointments Call:    541-646-0134


      

Inflammation and Sugar

Inflammation & Sugar

      Sugar consumption can have a huge impact on aches, pains and inflammation in the body.  White sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, molasses, agave, high frutose corn syrup, frutose, corn sugar, cane juice, raw sugar, turbinado, are all difficupt to digest. (Agave, the same plant used to make tequila, was an excellent sweetener until it got popular. Now they use a different, more abundant part of the plant but it has to be much more highly processed.) Looking at live blood after consumption of sweets show the white blood cells digesting the sugar, just like any foreign entity, or pathogen, that has made its way into the blood stream. When white blood cells are called in to rush to a sight and handle any pathogen, including sugar, it activates a histamine reaction, or inflammation. This is a protective reaction which slows down the pathogens so they are not as widely distributed throughout the body, before the white blood cells can rush to the sight to do their job.  

      Initially, this histamine reaction to the sugar can happen the day after consuming sweets but the body remembers ingesting foods that hurt it. After an initial reaction the results can become instantaneous, since molecules from food go directly into the blood stream from the veins under the tongue, the closest veins to the surface in the body. With reactions that can happen any time from immediately to the next day, it is often difficult to determine just what is causing the reaction. More so because sugar has become so intrenched in so many people's daily routine, with sweets for breakfast, or sweetened coffee, or drinks through out the day, processed or fast foods, gum and mints, candy, and desserts. Even Health Food items, like alternative milks, granola and organic spaghetti sauce, often contain cane juice, raw sugar or cane sugar in some form. Read the list of ingredients of what ever you buy. Even small amounts, but accumulated throughout the day can cause problems.                              

      So if aches and pains are a problem, get off the sugar, on a daily basis, with exceptions for the occasional treat,  and see how you feel.

                                                                 Health & Happiness,
                                                                           Nancy Burton, L.Ac.
                                                                                 534 Washington St. Ashland, OR 97520
                                                                                                    For Appointments Call:   541-646-0134

                                                                  

After the Holidays: Getting Back on Track

Post Holiday

Getting Back on Track

      
Along with Holidays comes the tendency to over indulge, in sugar, dairy, and rich foods. Comfort foods bring long ago holidays to mind, and loved no longer with us who made or shared holiday fare. Holidays are an excuse to indulge, and not feel guilty about it. Occasional 'Feast Day Foods' are a good thing, important for gatherings and celebrations. But with Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years so close together, and the ongoing parties in between, moderation can easily become excess. Excess can tax the body, mind and spirit. Though I was never one for New Years resolutions I like the idea of a new year, new beginnings, and the perfect opportunity to get back on track.
      
Getting back on track, food wise, means eliminating sugar, minimizing starches, and making sure that each meal has a good source of clean protein, and assorted vegetables. Getting back on track means more energy, mental acuity, and better moods.  
       
This morning I started off the day with organic chicken sausage and a vegetable smoothie. For lunch I brought turkey and a salad. Tonight red meat for dinner! I am a blood type O, so red meat makes me feel great, mentally and physically, and helps remove extra holiday pounds. Red meat and assorted steamed vegetables, will help me kick off the New Year, on a good note. I plan to cook a roast, so I have rare roast beef though out the week. My husband, being a type A, doesn't digest red meat well, so I cook extra turkey, chicken or fish that he can eat when I am enjoying my red meat.         
      
With the Holidays behind it is also a good time to get exercise back on track. By coming up with a good daily exercise, and weight bearing, arobic and stretching routine, that can be done every morning, any additional trips to the gym or other exercise is a plus, with the basics out of the way. 
      
Pumping blood through the muscles , ligaments and tendons, by stretching and moving, keeps people from getting stiff, keeps people toned, so their bones don't get out of alignment and cause pain, and helps people retain good balance, preventing falls. 
       
So, with the coming of the New Year, embrace the opportunity to get back on track, with food, and exercise, and make the resolution to feel great.   

                                                        Health & Happiness,
                                                               Nancy Burton, L.Ac.
                                                                     534 Washington St.  Ashland, OR  97520
                                                                                     For Appointments Call:    541-646-0134