Allergy Alert: Breathe Easy, Naturally

By Dr. Maoshing Ni, L.Ac., D.O.M., Ph.D.

Itchy, watery eyes, running nose, an aching head, and sinus congestion. Sound familiar? You may be among the 37 million people in the United States who suffer from allergic rhinitis or sinusitis. Consider combating your springtime woes naturally with these time-tested self-healing techniques.

Allergens in the Air

When your sinuses, the air-filled hollow cavities around your nose and nasal passages, become inflamed, fluid can accumulate and interfere with normal drainage of mucus in the sinuses. This condition is known as acute sinusitis. The result? You may have trouble breathing through your nose and feel your eyes and facial tissue swell up.

Your symptoms may include a headache, fever, a nagging cough, post-nasal drip, thick green or yellow discharge, and a feeling of facial "fullness" that gets worse when you lean forward; during a severe sinus infection, some people even experience a toothache.

This uncomfortable condition has many possible causes, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, allergies, or a deviated septum. Synonymous with spring, allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever, is the inflammatory result of your immune system's overreaction to allergens in the air.

Pollen is one famous offender. Other allergens include dirt, pollution, animal hair, food particles cloth fibers, and mold. A healthy alternative to allergy medication is Allergy Tamer, which is a blend of effective Chinese herbs to naturally relieve allergy symptoms.

Surprising Secrets for Sinus Health

Here are some all-natural ways to gain freedom from sinus suffering.

• Clear your sinuses and your mind with a steamy stovetop spa. Add a few drops of wintergreen oil to a pot of boiling water and inhale the steam. Take care not to be burned by the vapor.
• Herbs and spices like ginger, scallion, basil, garlic, oregano, cayenne peppers, white pepper, horseradish and turmeric will have your sinus passageways unblocked in no time!
• The supplement bromelain - a papaya and pineapple-based enzyme - helps reduce histamine release, the body's natural allergic response.
• Clear your nasal passageway daily for healthy, happy sinuses. Add 1 tsp of sea salt, 1 drop of oregano oil, and 1 drop of wintergreen to a cup of warm water. Fill a small-spouted squeeze bottle with this warm solution. Squirt into one nostril at a time and blow out through the nose. Alternate nostrils.
• Press one clove of garlic, mix with 1 tsp of olive oil and soak a clean cotton ball with the oil mixture and place in nostrils after having washed the nostril with warm salt water. Leave in for 20 minutes and repeat three times a day until the symptoms clear up.
• These two simple self-massage practices that follow are incredibly effective for relieving sinus congestion. For both, sit at the tip of a sturdy chair with your back erect, spine stretched, and your head tilted slightly forward.

  1. Inhale and gently press your forehead just inside the temples with your palms. Exhale and release. Repeat three times.

  2. Cross your middle and index fingers by placing the tips of your middle fingers on top of the fingernails on your index fingers. Rub the sides of your nose 36 times in a circular motion, warming your fingers first if they're cold.

What You Eat Affects Your Sinus Health

Avoid the foods that produce mucous and dampness: dairy products, cold and raw foods, corn (including corn syrup), and simple sugars. Choose whole grains like quinoa, amaranth and brown rice instead of wheat, rye and barley, which are typically high allergy grains. Opt for papaya, cranberries, pear, pineapple, cherries, mango, and citrus fruits. Eat more green vegetables such as artichoke, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and spinach.

Both alcohol and smoking should be avoided during a sinus flare-up as they irritate the respiratory tract and worsen nasal inflammation. Also, sinus congestion is often worse with lack of quality rest so be sure to get plenty of sleep and keep your stress level low.

I hope that you find the ways to keep your sinuses clear and freely flowing. I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

My Heart Goes Out

To all those that have suffered, or are suffering from these recent natural disasters in Asia, my greatest sympathy to you. It's a hard process to live through, but as a world we can all recover from such tragedies.

With All Good Medicine
White-Eagle

Acupuncture Helps Relieve Pain During Pregnancy

Appears superior to standard treatment alone in treating mixed pelvic/back pain.

By Kathryn Feather

A study recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology sought to establish the effectiveness of needle acupuncture in treating the common and often disabling issue of pelvic and back pain during pregnancy.

According to the study authors, “Acupuncture, as an adjunct to standard treatment, was superior to standard treatment alone and physiotherapy in relieving mixed pelvic/back pain. Women with well-defined pelvic pain had greater relief of pain with a combination of acupuncture and standard treatment, compared to standard treatment alone or stabilizing exercises and standard treatment.”

Estimates of pelvic and back pain among pregnant women range from 24 percent to 90 percent who seek medical attention and complain of this “minor” problem. The large range is attributed to different definitions of the condition. According to the study authors, 25 percent of women with pelvic pain in pregnancy will seek medical help for their pain, 8 percent are severely disabled and 7 percent continue to have pain beyond the pregnancy. The majority of women with back pain in pregnancy report disturbed sleep from their pain. Disability often involves simple activities of daily living and can result in significant absenteeism from work. Back pain in pregnancy also increases the risk of postpartum back pain.”

More than a third of the U.S. population utilizes complementary and alternative therapies, even during pregnancy, with 60 percent of women with lower back pain in pregnancy reporting they would try one of these alternative options for the treatment of their pain. Currently, more than 2 million people use acupuncture annually in the U.S.

In this study, two small trials on mixed pelvic/back pain and one large high-quality trial on pelvic pain met the inclusion criteria. In the first small trial, conducted in 2000, auricular points plus body acupuncture points (if needed) was provided for four weeks. The control group received physiotherapy plus physical therapies (defined as pelvic belt, warmth, massage or soft-tissue mobilization) for six to eight weeks. The study found a statistically significant reduction of pain in both groups, however there was greater pain relief reported by the acupuncture group. A total of 46 people completed this study (28 in the acupuncture group and 18 in the control group).

In the second small trial conducted in 2004, a total of 72 people participated. The acupuncture group received Chinese acupuncture plus tender points, and the control group received no additional treatment. However, physiotherapy and analgesics were allowed in both groups. More women in the acupuncture group reported a decrease in pain (60 percent in the acupuncture group vs. 14 percent in the control group).

In the third and largest study, conducted in 2005, a total of 321 people were either placed in the acupuncture group, the control group or a stabilizing exercise group. The acupuncture group received mixed Western and Chinese acupuncture plus standard treatment for six weeks. The control group received standard treatment (defined as advice, education, exercises and pelvic belt) for six weeks. The third group received stabilizing exercises and standard treatment for six weeks.

Acupuncture proved to be the best option in each of these studies. The authors conclude that while more evidence-based studies should be done, “Overall, our review finds limited, though promising evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture in managing pelvic and back pain in pregnancy. In particular, there seems to be good evidence that acupuncture, in addition to standard treatment, is superior to standard treatment alone and stabilizing exercises for well-defined pregnancy-related pelvic pain.

“Given that acupuncture is a relatively safe procedure, these findings should encourage primary health care providers, obstetricians and midwives to consider referring women to trained acupuncturists for management of this common, painful and disabling condition.”

Tai Chi 'helps improve diabetes'

Tai Chi is defined as gentle exercise Tai Chi exercises can help people with type 2 diabetes control their condition, research suggests. Two separate studies found a 12-week programme of exercise was enough to boost the immune system, and to cut blood sugar levels. The traditional Chinese martial art combines deep breathing and gentle movement to boost relaxation levels. Both studies, by researchers in Taiwan and Australia, appear in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Around 1.8 million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes and another 750,000 are thought to be undiagnosed. The first study, by a team in Taiwan, compared 30 people with diabetes with 30 healthy people acting as controls. Over 12 weeks the participants learned 37 Tai Chi movements under the guidance of an expert, and took home a video to study the correct poses. They took part in three hour-long sessions a week. At the end of the programme, tests on the group with type 2 diabetes showed a drop in their blood sugar levels, and a boost in the level of cells and chemicals key to a healthy immune response. Strenuous physical activity is known to depress the immune system, but the latest study suggests that more moderate exercise may have the opposite effect. Other effects Previous research has suggested Tai Chi boosts cardiovascular and respiratory function, as well as improving flexibility and relieving stress. The researchers said that if Tai Chi improves the way the body breaks down sugar, it could have a beneficial impact on the immune system, which is sparked into excessive activity by the presence of high levels of sugar in the blood. Alternatively, the exercise may simply boost the immune system by raising fitness levels, and engendering a feeling of wellbeing. The second study by the University of Queensland, based on just 11 participants, produced similar results. In this study the participants - who all had raised blood sugar levels - attended sessions of Tai Chi, and another similar martial art, Qigong, for 60 to 90 minutes three times a week. As well as a drop in blood sugar levels, the participants lost weight, and recorded significant falls in blood pressure. Insulin resistance was also improved. Participants also said they slept better, had more energy, felt less pain and had fewer food cravings while on the programme. Cathy Moulton, of the charity Diabetes UK, said moderate exercise had been shown to have a beneficial impact on type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK recommends that people with diabetes do a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on at least five days of the week. Ms Moulton said: "Any activity that leaves you feeling warm and slightly breathless but still able to hold a conversation counts as moderate exercise - including vigorously cleaning the house, briskly walking the dog and of course Tai Chi. "In addition to the importance of moderate physical activity, the relaxation element of Tai Chi may help to reduce stress levels, preventing the release of adrenalin which can lead to insulin resistance and high blood glucose levels."

Can Pain Treatments Kill you? In one lady's case it sure did.

Funeral services for Kacey Fine Furniture president Leslie Fishbein, who died Wednesday, were held Friday at Temple Emanuel in Denver.

Fishbein, 55, was widely known for her television commercials touting her furniture stores and for her philanthropy.

The Denver retailer was hospitalized March 4 after complications arose from treatment for back pain at a doctor's office.

Fishbein reportedly suffered an unexpected reaction to pain-killing injection and went into cardiac arrest.

RESEARCH SHOWS ACUPUNCTURE CAN LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE AS MUCH AS 40 PERCENT

From the Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at UC Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. - The Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, dedicated to advancing patient care through education, evidence-based research and applied integrative medical therapies, today released findings that show acupuncture can help normalize blood pressure - lower pressure when it is elevated or raise pressure when it is too low - and complements treatments for cardiovascular patients. The Center found that acupuncture combined with low levels of electrical stimulation can lower elevations in blood pressure by as much as 40 percent.

In treating patients at their clinics, the Center also found once-weekly
30-minute acupuncture sessions will give substantial pressure reductions of 15-25 mmHg in three to four weeks. Acupuncture is a 3,000-year-old form of Chinese medicine that involves inserting needles at specific points on the body to help cure disease or relieve pain.

"At the Samueli Center, we are dedicated to promoting the integration of ancient healing practices with modern medical treatments to help develop optimum treatment solutions for patients," said Dr. John Longhurst, director of the Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine and study leader. "We believe these new findings on acupuncture and hypertension will help educate both Western and alternative medical practitioners while encouraging dialog on developing integrative treatment solutions."

An Alternative Solution

Though drug therapy and healthy lifestyle changes related to diet, exercise and weight loss are typically employed to treat high blood pressure, some patients are looking for alternative solutions. "In our real world of clinical practice, we're encountering patients who find it difficult to make these changes or who continue to have high pressure despite making real changes. They're looking for something else, and acupuncture is a potential solution that's relaxing and relatively painless," said Dr. Longhurst.

Slow Onset, Prolonged Effects

The Samueli Center's research also found that acupuncture has a slow onset and prolonged effect. If treatments were stopped, the pressure would stay down for another month or so, and then comes back up over a period of weeks.

How it Works

Elevated blood pressure is due to either increased vascular constriction and stiffness, or to the heart pumping excess volume into the blood vessels. Diuretics and other antihypertensives typically help with the latter; acupuncture appears to help with the former. Other recent studies from the Susan Samueli Center indicate that acupuncture relaxes vessels mainly through action in the central nervous system. For additional information on the Center's research findings or to schedule an interview with Dr. Longhurst, please contact the Center's public relations' agency listed below.

About SSCIM

Founded in 2000, The Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at UCI successfully promotes integrative medicine by conducting rigorous fundamental and clinical research on complementary healing practices;
educating medical students, health professionals and the public about these practices, and creating a model of clinical care that emphasizes healing the whole person. The Center is rapidly becoming recognized for providing new knowledge bridging complementary and conventional treatments - all for the singular purpose of achieving better health. For more information, contact the Center at (949) 824-5763 or visit www.sscim.uci.edu

Released Dec. 17, 2007

Health Benefits of A Happy Marriage

FROM BLOG: Psych Central News - Psychology, psychiatry and mental health news and research findings, updated every weekday.

The following blog post is from an independent writer and is not connected with Reuters News. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by Reuters.com.

The relationship between what happens in one’s life and the development of illness is well documented. Stressors that rank high for increasing the probability of illness include the death of a spouse and divorce. Conversely, a new research study finds that happily married adults have lower blood pressure than singles with supportive social networks, suggesting marriage may literally be a matter of the heart.

Brigham Young University professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad found that men and women in happy marriages scored four points lower on 24-hour blood pressure than single adults.

Having a network of supportive friends did not translate into improved blood pressure for singles or unhappily marrieds, which surprised Holt-Lunstad and her two student collaborators.

“There seem to be some unique health benefits from marriage,” said Holt-Lunstad, whose findings will be published March 20 in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. “It’s not just being married that benefits health - what’s really the most protective of health is having a happy marriage.”

The study also found, unsurprisingly, that unhappily married adults have higher blood pressure than both happily married and single adults.

Holt-Lunstad, a psychologist who studies relationships and health, arranged for 204 married and 99 single adults to wear portable blood pressure monitors, mostly concealed by their clothes, for 24 hours.

The monitors recorded blood pressure at random intervals throughout the day – even while participants slept. Each participant’s blood pressure level was recorded about 72 times.

“We wanted to capture participants’ blood pressure doing whatever they normally do in everyday life,” Holt-Lunstad said. “Getting one or two readings in a clinic is not really representative of the fluctuations that occur throughout the day.”

All participants completed a roster of friends in their social network and answered questions about the quality of those relationships. Married participants also completed questionnaires on the quality of the relationship with their spouses.

With the monitors recording blood pressure both day and night, the researchers could see that blood pressure for married adults – especially those happily married – dipped more during sleep than happens with singles.

“Research has shown that people whose blood pressure remains high throughout the night are at much greater risk of cardiovascular problems than people whose blood pressure dips,” Holt-Lunstad said.

Holt-Lunstad said that spouses can promote healthy habits, such as encouraging each other to see a doctor and to eat healthy. The marriage relationship is also a source of emotional support in good and bad times. Sharing good news, for example, generates positive emotions, which in turn boosts the body’s functioning.

The study was funded by the Anthony Marchionne Foundation, which supports research on the well-being of the never-married. Funding also came from BYU’s Family Studies Center.

A next step in the research for Holt-Lunstad is to study couples participating in marriage counseling to see if improvement in the marriage translates into improved health.

The study is titled “Is There Something Unique about Marriage? The Relative Impact of Marital Status, Relationship Quality, and Network Social Support on Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Mental Health.”

Source: Brigham Young University