Menopause and Big Pharma...a Must Read!

This was in NY Times online today. I found it to be a great overall article on Big Pharma's role in HRT and your health...or lack of it. So here is another article from them.

Go Play Tetris!

I came across an interesting article in the NY Times online I wanted to share. It showed a positive change in peoples reactions having viewed traumatic events after playing Tetris. They became less reactive. I am interested in finding out if this is the same part of the brain that is affected in EMDR, helping to neutralize the event.
http://www.nytimes.com/projects/magazine/ideas/2009/#t-2.html

"Fire in the Gut, Fire in The Brain"

I went to a fabulous seminar over the weekend on Neurotransmitters and Brain Chemistry. It left me with many new ideas to ponder and apply in my practice...and of course with my brain feeling a little fried. But that is usually a sign of a great seminar for me, coming out feeling invigorated, overwhelmed and excited all at once. One of the key points he mentioned was for all of us to give ourselves one day off a week to do absolutely nothing. With 2 children, I find this difficult, because even on a supposed "day off", I am trying to fit in the laundry, the groceries, all the extras. So, for all of our health...there must start to be a personal day we choose to take where nothing is scheduled. Now on that day if we decide to go grocery shopping...fine. But it can't be the plan. We'll see how I do with this. Picking the day will be tough!

But, beyond that relatively simple concept, there were so many medical concepts thrown at us this weekend and how important brain health is to our overall state of being. Many practitoners look right at the adrenals, or the gut and ignore the brain all together....and that can't bring about permanent change over time. You always have to look at the brain. "Fire in the gut, Fire in the brain". .

Also acknowledged was the Brain Model of Alternative Medicine...although I like the term 'Complementary' Medicine much better. This includes, Massage, Acupuncture and Manipulation. All of these have been found to enhance Brain stimulation which in turn, enhances Endocrine and Immune modulation. Some studies were even cited with electro-acupuncture with regards to its cerebral response on a functional MRI. This was in 2007 using point LI4. The distribution of signally deactivated area evoked by LI4 was similar to the distribution of the anatomical orientation of pain in brain, and closely related to the limbic system. Showing correlation of acupuncture's analgesic effect.

Then in 2005 there was a study confirming that electroacupuncture treatment increases NK cell activity, and in 2007 a study was done on rats to explore the mecahnism of electroacupunture in improving ischemic stroke.

It's nice to have these recent studies and their positive outcomes because people always ask me for the science behind the 'voodoo' medicine. And I know there have been more in the field of oncology....these are just with neurology and acupuncture.

So....easiest thing to do is try and take a day off somewhere. Stop drinking diet soda, and yes...gluten free is a good thing. But I even find that difficult. However, you will know if Gluten free works for you because once you go Gluten free and your brain fog disappears..that is the clue. Remember 'Fire in the Gut, Fire in the Brain'.

And no....it is not 'easy'. It is a science and once you find the right pathway it is amazing and can be miraculous...but as always one should go to someone who goes to seminars, gets continuing education in these things and actually has a practice to apply these concepts. I loved that the speaker even addressed that principle at this seminar. Did you know in the state of Colorado the Naturopathic Doctors are not licensed and thus not regulated. Please check that your ND went to an accredited school...not an online school where he/she got a degree in a year for a small amount of money. Here is a link to help you find a reputable Colorado ND http://www.coloradond.org/ . The ND profession is a respectable profession and it has been watered down horribly by those who got their degrees by bogus schools and have no real education. Another example of this in my opinion is the fact that chiropractors and Medical doctors can take a 180 hour course and take the national exam and be licensed acupuncturists. Do you want to go to someone who passed an exam by reading cliff notes? Licensed acupuncturists who go to accredited schools attend for over 4 years, graduating with a Masters Degree. It's your body and your money...take good care of it.

Tis the Season....to spread the germs

Flu and cold season is here. There is a lot of fear with the new 'Swine Flu', or H1N1 virus, so I included this link to hopefully help answer any immediate questions about it. I have already seen it in my clinic and was shocked to find out that my client got it from a classmate who came to school sick for a week before finally getting diagnosed because she didn't want to ruin her perfect attendance at school. Remembering to wash hands and cough into your sleeve are still the best precautions we can take. And parents, if your child is sick, or if you are sick...please stay home and rest. Perfect attendance is not that important!


People often ask me to come up with a list of at home staples they can keep on hand for this season. To keep it simple, here are some things you could have and take.

Vitamin D at 2,000i.u's per day is great in the fall...and actually all year round. There are so many things Vit. D does and we need more of it as we get less sun. But it can help prevent the flu. 2,000 i.u's is an adult dose. Plus it is very inexpensive!! We like that!

Good old fashioned Vit. C. is a good immune booster. Ester C is less harsh on the stomach lining. They even have some good tasting wafers out there. Taking more as you feel a cold coming on can help, and if you take a multivitamin I am sure there is some in there already, so adding on to that when you feel that tickle in the throat or a runny nose is a good idea.

If you are a client in my clinic you know I love probiotics. So if you are a heathcare worker or a teacher, tis the season to up the dosage to even 16 billion live cells. 8 billion is the one I have by Pharmax in my clinic called HLC hi potency. This is a broad spectrum one. I think it is one of the best. No, you cannot get enough from eating yogurt. Sorry Jamie Lee Curtis.

If you get a cough, I adore Nectadyn cough syrup. This is not for kids under 2 because the base is a honey base. It is also not available at stores just sold to clinicians. So you can get it from your practitioner.. if they like it as much as I do. But this stuff works well, tastes great and is homeopathic. Works on all kinds of coughs...dry, wet, etc...which is great, since often the type of cough can change within a cold.

Also homeopathicwise, I find MHP's Viral Immune and Bacterial Immune work well preventatively and in the midst of an attack. Also not available in stores but licensed practitioners who carry MHP will have these during cold/flu season defintitely! Plus they are a local company...love that. They also carry an amazing elderberry lozenge that is is a great immune booster and tastes good too. Releases into the system right away.

Beyond that, there are many nasal sprays that I carry that are great but I will tell you of one product you can get at Walgreens that I think it wonderful. Neil-Med Sinus Rinse. I rarely endorse things, but this product I do. It is very simply Sodium chloride and Sodium bicarbonate packets you put in distilled lukewarm water in a patented (I'm sure) designed plastic bottle. It's more simple than a Neti pot and works well to open stubborn nasal passages. I have found it to work for people who did not have success with other things. They even have a pediatric kit...but getting a child younger than 6 years old to do this...well...sometimes a metered dose nasal spray is a lot easier.

Treatmentwise, of course, nothing beats cupping for getting that crud out of the lungs if you do get sick. Or to practice preventative medicine, acupuncture is wonderful for helping to boost the immune system this time of year.

Now that's the kind of healthcare no one can argue about.

FDA issues ZICAM WARNING

The FDA issued a warning today about Zicam products causing a loss of smell due to the ingredient zinc being sprayed or swabbed in the nasal cavity overtime. Below is the link to the FDA's warning.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105483442

Swine Flu: 5 Things to Know...as of 4/27/2009

I found this link to be the most helpful right now as we all just learn about the possibilities of what this swine flu means to all of us. Please note, a 'National emergency' has to be ordered so that agencies can release funding and start to be prepared. It does make people get alarmed but I believe there is cause for concern due to the fact this is a new strain, but not panic. Hope this link is helpful.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090427/hl_time/08599189402900

Dining Out For Life

Thursday, April 30th you have more reason to eat out at some great restaurants around town when 25% of your food bill goes directly to Project Angelheart. Project Angelheart helps deliver nutritious meals, free of charge year round to nearly 1,700 men, women and children coping with life-threatening illness. Eat at some great places and know you are helping others by doing so...sounds pretty easy and delicious!

For the complete list, please visit www.projectangelheart.org or call 303-830-0202.

9 News Health Fair

The 9 News Health Fair is coming up and this is a way for many to get low cost screenings and testings done. I urge any of you to take advantage of this great opportunity to get bloodwork done, cholesterol levels checked, thyroid levels checked...even ask if they will do those CRP's (C-Reactive Protein's!!). And by all means if you get the bloodwork back and it makes no sense and want to go over it all, bring it in with you at your next appointment. I'd be happy to help you make sense of all those #'s.

Here is the link to the 9 News website with all the information. Be good to yourself, be healthy!

http://www.9healthfair.org/

Happy Spring

Although the weather in Colorado is very unpredictable in April and May, allergies are not. They keep coming. I have started seeing people since mid february with itchy throats and runny noses, and with the more milder weather this year it seems that they are starting to experience some symptoms sooner than expected.

Don't wait til you feel awful, make your appointment at the first sign of that allergen sneaking up again. For my daughter, I know it is allergy time when I hear those consecutive sneezes coming from her bedroom in the early morning.

With this Spring and into Summer, the clinic has some changes in hours. More flexibility in evenings up to 5 days a week, and full days will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To make an appointment or if you have any questions regarding the clinic and my practice, please call

303-921-6263.

Yours in Health,

Michelle

RIP:TAKI...your kindness and miso live on

Whenever I have a client just getting a cold or on the brink of the flu I tell them to head to Taki's on the corner of Colfax and Logan for some of his famous Miso soup. Taki's miso soup is THE best and is so inexpensive. I was first introduced to Taki's by my husband who lived in capitol hill when we first started dating.. oh so many years ago. From the outside, I questioned his choice in dining but I was a starving student at the time and Taki's was...and is...cheap....(and good!). I remember I was coming down with a cold and right away this kind man came out from the back and handed me some edamame for free as well as some lemon tea with a piece of fresh cut ginger in it. I think the worn tissue and red eyes were a dead giveaway that I was not feeling too great. Then came the soup I had heard so much about. This giant bowl of great brothed miso soup with fresh cut vegetables and tofu. From then on, I was hooked. And I have been sending people there as often as I can, for the cuisine, and for a glimpse of kindness from this great little man...Mr. Taki.
I was disheartened to hear he had passed away last month of natural causes. Here is the denver post's tribute to Taki...it is very touching. I can just hope his restaurant stays open and that his kindness spreads. We need more of that now in times like these than ever before.

Do Not Defund the NCCAM!

There is a poll on alternative medicine that has been snuck on to
President Obama's new citizen/feedback initiative, Citizen's Briefing Book.

There is one proposal that's already received lots of votes, a proposal to defund NCCAM. NCCAM stands for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. NCCAM is a government body, part of the National Institutes of Health to research complementary and alternative medicine

You can find information about NCCAM on this link to their website


NCCAM has encouraged good evidence based research to determine which CAM practices are efficacious and which are not. This is valuable!!


The support for eliminating NCCAM in the Citizen's Briefing Book discussion is heavy and volatile. It is being pushed by those who think all alternative medicine is a scam.

I urge you all to take a moment and go to this site and help vote the proposition down:

http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004y2f


The positions that receive the most votes will catch the attention of Obama's cabinet members. Please take a moment, this is so important!!