Artificial Sweetners

Artificial Sweeteners

       When I suggest patients avoid sugar on a regular basis, the next topic I cover is artificial sweeteners. By avoiding sugar, let me add, that I would rather see people eat sugar than 'sugar free' foods, made with chemicals. Artificial Sweeteners are chemicals. Chemicals have an adverse reactions on any animal, including humans ; they have side effects. Artificial sweeteners cross the blood brain barrier and can cause neurological disorders.including Bell's Palsy. There are more complaints to the FDA about artificial sweeteners than any other product on the market. They aren't taken off the market because the corporations, that make them, have such a strong lobby. 
      One of the side effects of artificial sweeteners is sweet cravings, ironic when people using these products are attempting to avoid sweets. Another side effect is addiction to the chemicals used in the artificial sweeteners. Helping patients stop the use artificial sweeteners, I use the same protocol I use for patients with addictions to cigarettes, and drugs. Causing sweet cravings and addictions to the chemicals used assures increased sales.  
      Stevia, a natural sweetener made from a plant, is used in other countries, instead of chemicals, for sugar free foods, and used for diabetics. Until recently, the artificial sweetener corporations have lobbied to keep it off the market in the US, and out of food items. In the past, it has just been legal to sell Stevia in Health Food stores as a supplement. As soon as the law was over turned, corporations started to sell artificial sweeteners that incorporated Stevia. Their problem is that natural substances, like Stevia, can not be patented. Chemicals can! Using Stevia, for the buzz word, for promotional purposes, and adding their chemicals, they can  patent their addictive, toxic version.

       So, for the occasional sweet treat, go for sweeteners low on the Glycemic Index, or occasionally sugar itself. Completely avoid artificial sweeteners! 

                                                                        Health & Happiness,

                                                                             Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                                                                                 534 Washington St. Ashland, OR   97520

                                                                                 For Appointments Call:  541-646-0134

Sugar and the Immune System

Sugar and the Immune System

      Sugar, white,brown, raw, cane juice, molasses, corn syrup, corn sugar, fructose, impairs the immune system for 4-6 hours. Within that time many people are consuming more sugar, in the form of gum, mints, candy, or sugar in prepared foods. Beverages, non-dairy milks, salad dressings, sauces, snack foods, soups, frozen foods, and dinners also typically contain sugar. Even at Health Food stores it is a good idea to always read labels to choose products that are made without sugar. 
     Looking at live blood, under a microscope, after ingesting sugar, you can actually see the white blood cells jump in to digest the sugar. That means they are busy taking care of the sweets instead of doing their job and protecting your body from viruses, bacteria, allergens, and other exterior pathogens.   
    Except for those with an impaired immune system or cancer, occasionally eating sugar, as a 'Feast Day Food', is not a major detriment to health. The problem is how many products it is in. Most people have no idea how much sugar they are actually eating and what it is doing to their immune systems.
     So, especially during cold and flu, or allergy season, read labels, avoid sugar, and stay healthy.

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

TCM History

TCM a History 

      There is evidence that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is 5,000 years old. The first Acupuncture needles found were stone, and dated to this period. Over 2,500 years ago Huang Di, 'The Yellow Emperor', the first Emperor to consolidate all of China, decreed that all information be written down about medicine. The result was extensive texts, the Huang Di Nei Jing, or ' Yellow Emperor's Classics'. These texts are still used for the basics of TCM today.  Written in the old Chinese characters, the original and less stylized form of modern characters, scholars of these ancient texts must master the old style of written language, to study the original works. 

      After the Huang Di Nei Jing was compiled, the Yellow Emperor sent envoys to surrounding  countries to share the knowledge. Japanese and Korean style Acupuncture resulted, and Reki, the Japanese version of Qi Gong. It is interesting to note that Egyptian, Indian, Arabic, and Greek medicine got their start right around the same time the envoys were sent out, and these texts shared. Some of the medical techniques, of these cultures are very similar to TCM, suggesting TCM influence. 

      What was different from culture to culture was spiritual beliefs. While Egyptian, Indian, Arabic, and Greek medicine allowed for surgeries, the Chinese believed that marring the body, in such a way, would interfere with a person's afterlife, the worst fate there was, for an individual, as well as their ancestors and descendants. Ancestor worship, was prevalent in China, until the Communists gained power. The belief was that the ancestors could intercede with the gods, much like Saints, in the Catholic Church. Except ancestors could be petty and vindictive if not properly pacified. Surgeries, it was believed, could anger the ancestors, and leave descendants without necessary access to the gods.     

      Consequently, TCM focused on observation, and finding ways to balance the body without using invasive means. The result was elaborate methods, using many techniques, including pulse and tongue diagnosis, observation, Acupuncture, herbs, massage, cupping, moxa bustion, food, diet, to name a few, to restore health. That is over 5,000 years of medicine. Talk about time tested!

                                                                  Health & Happiness,

                                                                          Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                                                                               534 Washington St.  Ashland, OR 97520

                                                                                                  For Appointments Call:   541-646-0134

             

  

Dizziness

Dizziness

          One of the most common reasons for dizziness is phlegm. There is no treatment for phlegm in Western medicine but TCM has hundreds of formulas for very specific types of phlegm in very specific locations, as well as Acupuncture point prescriptions that specifically treat phlegm. 

        Phlegm can be caused by consuming too many 'damp' foods or drinks. Damp foods are oily or greasy foods, or foods that cause fat in the body. Fried foods, sweet foods, including fruit and fruit juices, oily foods like nuts are all damp. Dairy is the dampest food there is. Alcohol causes even more dampness than dairy. 

      The other reason for a build up of dampness, that can result in phlegm in the body is not being able to break down fats. If the gallbladder isn't working as it should, or other aspect of digestion not working well, fats aren't being broken down as they should and can cause a wide range of problems, including dizziness. 

      Dizziness can result from what the Chinese refer to as 'Phlegm Clouding the Orifices". In other words, phlegm clogging up the head and brain.       

TCM History II

TCM History II

      Over the centuries various masters added to the wealth of techniques and knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The masters reflected the events of their day. At times of epidemics or plague the most highly honored honored masters of the time were the ones that developed the Herbal Formulas, Acupuncture and other techniques to resolve and prevent illness. 

    Reproduction was of major concern in Chinese culture, since not having a male heir to continue the line meant a discontinuation of the ancestor worship. None of the ancestors, including the childless couple, would be given what they needed on a regular basis, from their descendants in this realm, to live a comfortable after life.   

   Chinese families lived in a walled compound, with extended family. The first son became the Patriarch, to rule all family affairs, and his first wife, the Matriarch, who ran the extended home, daughters, daugher-in-laws, and servants, if they had any. Change of  the heads of households could cause great turmoil. And as the heads of the households also head the purse strings, longevity and prevention of illness was something to invest in, through diet, herbal formulas, exercise, and any other advice from their family doctor/ Acupuncturist. 

     These are just a few examples of how various masters ended up specializing in certain things. Medicine, and medical techniques, were often handed down from father to son, and apprenticeship. TCM continued in this way until the monarchy was over thrown, after the last Empress ruled China (one of just two woman that ruled in their own names). The child she named as heir was deposed.  

  

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Dehydration and Cold Water

Dehydration and Cold Water

     As fall and winter set in so does a natural inclination to consume warmer drinks. Unfortunately, in the U.S. we have been conditioned to drink cold or ice water. Consequently, many people don't even realize how much they cut down on the amount of water they drink each day, as temperatures fall. 

    "Warm or hot water?" my patients ask as we discuss their water consumption during cooler months. "WOW, hadn't thought of that, but why not?" Hot tea, coffee, hot chocolate, satisfy the body's desire for warmth, but don't address our need for pure water. Our bodies are mostly water. Like a car's radiator, we need to replenish the correct fluids, or things just won't run properly. 

     Cold or ice water should be used only when it is very hot, for cooling the body. It takes a lot of energy to keep warm. Eating cold foods or drinking cold beverages, when it is cold outside, robs people of energy, and warmth. Cooling the body, with cold foods and drinks and then venturing out in the cold sets people up for catching a chill, or Wind Cold, as an Acupuncturist would say, meaning the kind of virus that comes with chills, body aches, and headache at the base of the skull and top of the neck. 

      So as temperatures fall, drink plenty of water, room temperature, warm or hot.

                                                      Health & Happiness,

                                                            Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                                                                  534 Washington St. Ashland, OR   97520 

                                                                  For Appointments Call: 541-646-0134

      

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Shou Wu Pian

Shou Wu Pian

       Shou Wu Pian is an herbal formula widely used in China as an anti-aging tonic. It strengthens the energetic function of the kidneys. In terms of symptoms that means dealing with weak back and knees, frequent, urgent, and night urination, or incontinence, ringing in the ears, and prematurely gray hair, the type quickly advanced by illness, malnutrition, or excessive stress. 
      Fear is the emotion related to the kidneys, something that typically strong in children, with weak kidney function, and in elderly, as the kidney energy declines. The kidneys, in TCM, have to do with maturing, as the energy increases until puberty, and with the decline, what we think of as signs of aging. But we all know people who are old, at an early age, and those comparatively young in their 80's and 90's. This is an indication of their kidney energy. Babies who's kidney function has yet to strengthen have freguent, urgent, or night urination, and older people, with declining kidney energy have the same problems. 
       Shou Wu, or He Shou Wu, means "black haired Mr. Wu". Pian just means pill. It is one of the few Chinese herbal formulas that is just made up of a single herb.  It was named after the peasant that left his village during a time of famine. Floods or droughts would drive peasants from their villages in search of food. After scouring the country side, going to the cities to beg, or falling in with bandit tribes, those that survived would return to their villages and start again. Enough grain for seed would saved to start their crops again. Even bandits wouldn't touch the seed grain, knowing that its consumption would bring famine and death to all. 

      When Mr. Wu left his village, his hair was white, no doubt due to starvation. When he came back to the village his hair was black. "What did you eat? " his neighbors ask.  "All I could find to eat was this one root. " was his reply. That root was He Shou Wu. 

       People often ask how the Chinese came up with all the weird herbs they did. Herbs, by the way, include animal, vegetable and mineral, though the majority of the formulas are vegetable. Starvation is a strong motivator to try new and unusual things. This is one of many herbs that were undoubtedly discovered with such motivation.

      Shou Wu Pian is available at many Health Food Stores, in the Plum Flower Brand, a good  quality brand. Plum Flower Chinese herbal formulas have the GMP rating, the highest international rating for herbs.
      Shou Wu Pian should be avoided by people with colds or flu, diarrhea, loose stools or on going digestive problems, all of which should be addressed by a Licensed Acupuncturist. But for other people with problems with urination, weak lower back and knees, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus) it is a good formula to try. If results are not apparent in a weeks time then the underlying pattern is not merely one of weak kidney energy and a Licensed Acupuncturist should be consulted.

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