Daily Health and Medicine News

Alternative Medicine News: San Jose Alternative Medicine Specialist Eternal Health Wellness Center Offers Seminar for Staying Healthy

San Jose Alternative Medicine Specialist Eternal Health Wellness Center Offers Seminar for Staying Healthy

Eternal Health Wellness Center will offer a seminar for staying healthy on Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.

Dr. Quli Zhou, L.A.C., M.S. will be conducting a seminar at Eternal Health Wellness Center, a San Jose alternative medicine provider, on Dec. 19 at 6:00 p.m. presenting information about staying healthy through Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM).

Dr. Zhou, a licensed Acupuncturist, has 25 years of experience in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She will discuss the real causes of swine flu, and how to use practical methods such as eating certain foods, adjusting one’s lifestyle and pressing energizing points to keep one’s body in perfect balance and remain healthy.

Dr. Zhou will also teach about relieving stress and pain, increasing energy, balancing hormones, reducing weight, feeling better and staying healthy.

“If you read the stories on H1N1 influence written by the mainstream media, you might incorrectly think there’s only one anti-viral drug in the world. Actually, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used effectively to prevent and treat flu for thousands of years. Many herbs have the effect of being anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Or just simply use acupressure points to strengthen your own immune system to keep yourself from getting sick,” said Dr. Zhou.

“That’s astonishing to hear,” continues Dr. Zhou, “because the world is full of anti-viral medicine found in tens of thousands of different plants. Culinary herbs like thyme, sage and rosemary are anti-viral. Berries and sprouts are anti-viral. Garlic, ginger and onions are anti-viral. You can’t walk through a grocery store without walking past a hundred or more anti-viral medicines made by Mother Nature. Tamiflu is made from the star anise herb that’s been used for over 5,000 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine? TCM maintains that the flow of Qi energy determines the health of an individual. If there is abundant, smoothly flowing Qi, they are in good health and strong immunity. If they are ill, it is because of a blockage or interruption in the Qi flow. Some of the compounds have been used for centuries in TCM to fight the effects of colds and flu.”

“The seminar on Dec. 19 will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., and the cost is $15.00. Refreshments will be served. Empower your own healing! Bring a friend, and both you and your guest are free,” said Dr. Zhou.

Eternal Health Wellness Center offers free consultation and testing, a $125 value, plus the first 10 callers receive a full beam ray light treatment. They also offer free pulse diagnosis from 5 to 6pm.

Studying alternative medicine with taxpayer dollars

Thanks to a $374,000 taxpayer-funded grant, we now know that inhaling lemon and lavender scents doesn’t do a lot for our ability to heal a wound. With $666,000 in federal research money, scientists examined whether distant prayer could heal AIDS. It could not.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, also helped pay scientists to study whether squirting brewed coffee into someone’s intestines can help treat pancreatic cancer (a $406,000 grant) and whether massage makes people with advanced cancer feel better ($1.25 million). The coffee enemas did not help. The massage did.

NCCAM has also invested in studies of various forms of energy healing, including one based on the ideas of a self-described “healer, clairvoyant and medicine woman” who says her children inspired her to learn to read auras. The cost for that was $104,000.

A small, little-known branch of the National Institutes of Health, NCCAM was launched a dozen years ago to study alternative treatments used by the public but not accepted by mainstream medicine. Since its birth, the center has spent $1.4 billion, most of it on research.

A Chicago Tribune examination of hundreds of NCCAM grants, dozens of scientific papers, 12 years of NCCAM documents and advisory council meeting minutes found that the center had spent millions of taxpayer dollars on studies with questionable grounding in science. The cancer treatment involving coffee enemas was based on an idea from the early 1900s, and patients who chose to undergo the risky regimen lived an average of just four more months.

The spending comes as competition for public research money is fierce and expected to get fiercer, with funding for the NIH expected to plateau and even drop in coming years.

“Some of these treatments were just distinctly made up out of people’s imaginations,” said Dr. Wallace Sampson, clinical professor emeritus of medicine at Stanford University. “We don’t take public money and invest it in projects that are just made up out of people’s imaginations.”

“Lots of good science and good scientists are going unfunded,” said Dr. David Gorski, a breast cancer researcher at Wayne State University, who has been a vocal critic of NCCAM. “How can we justify wasting money on something like this when there are so many other things that are much more plausible and much more likely to result in real benefit?”

The director of the center and other advocates say it is worthwhile to use taxpayer dollars to study certain alternative treatments.

“They deserve scientific attention,” said NCCAM Director Dr. Josephine Briggs, who noted that the center’s $128-million annual allotment amounts to less than half a percent of the total NIH budget.

Briggs, a respected NIH researcher and physician who has headed NCCAM for nearly four years, said in an interview that she is dedicated to evidence-based medicine and that the center, under her leadership, is committed to rigorous scientific studies.

The center’s recently adopted strategic plan focuses on studies of supplements and other natural products along with the effect of “mind and body” therapies like yoga, massage and acupuncture on pain and other symptoms. In fiscal years 2008-11, NCCAM funded more than $140 million in grants involving mind-and-body therapies, including $33 million for pain research in fiscal 2011.

The new strategic plan “reflects real change or an evolution in our mission,” Briggs said. “We are not your grandmother’s NCCAM.”

Studies of energy healing or distant prayer probably would not get funded by NCCAM today, she said.

Yet many mind-and-body treatments that are being studied, like qigong and acupuncture, also involve the purported manipulation of a universal energy or life force, sometimes called qi — metaphysical concepts unproved by science and incompatible with the modern Western understanding of how the body works.

In an email, Briggs wrote that it wasn’t necessary to invoke qi or other ancient concepts to study therapies that may benefit people with chronic pain, a significant health problem.

NCCAM’s continuing interest in acupuncture comes even though many of its studies have found that acupuncture and similar therapies work no better than a placebo treatment at easing symptoms like pain and fatigue.

Responsible alternative medicine

Trine Tsouderos’ article on NCCAM is off base. Applying rigorous research to evaluate therapies that are widely used but not a part of mainstream medicine is not only a wise use of resources; it is also good science and essential for providing optimal clinical care.

Many people suffer from ailments, such as chronic pain, for which our conventional medicines do not provide significant help, and they seek relief from therapies such as acupuncture. Lab research and studies using the latest high tech imaging such as fMRI and pet-scans, funded by NCCAM and others, have resulted in a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of acupuncture, showing that it releases endorphins and other neurotransmitters that are the brain’s natural painkillers. NCCAM’s support of large clinical trials, such as one our team conducted and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, has shown acupuncture to be more effective than sham acupuncture and conventional care alone for relieving pain and improving function among sufferers of knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, their support of the Cochrane Collaboration (an international organization dedicated to evaluating all medical therapies) an independent nonprofit organization that conducts reviews of clinical trials) Complementary Medicine Field has meant that data has been pooled from research studies worldwide, indicating acupuncture, while not a panacea for all problems, is safe and effective for a number of pain-related conditions including headaches, osteoarthritis and chronic back pain.

Alternative Medicine News

Heart Disease: An Equal Opportunity Destroyer

Did you know Heart Disease kills 29,000 Americans every day? About one every 39 seconds!

“..Individuals with insulin resistance or diabetes in combination with one or more of risk factors ( poorly controlled blood sugars or out of normal range, high blood pressure, obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking and abnormal cholesterol ) are more likely to fall victim to heart disease or stroke..”

I know what you are thinking…” not me “…

My wake up call happened a few years ago when a functional medicine practitioner gave me the bad news.

I expressed my frustration to the doctor that I had a very difficult time losing weight. In 2008, I weigh 187 pounds and I wanted to lose at least 30 pounds. A weight that I thought I could maintain.

I had tried every pill popping supplement at GNC. I had tried the South beach diet, Atkins diet, blood type diet….every diet in the market, every diet book on weight loss….and, though I may have lost a few pounds initially, I would regain it back….quickly.

Today, most health professionals in a traditional medical practice do not address weight issues or obesity concerns. And very commonly pre-diabetes or weight control problems are not a commonly explored educational part of our training as general practitioners. Even then we are taught to follow the food pyramid nutrition protocol.
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Intuitively, I thought that I had a metabolic disorder that was causing me to have serious struggles losing weight. It was obvious that following the recommended food pyramid was not helping me reach my weight goals.

So, I went to see an Anti-aging Regenerative & functional medicine practitioner who ran a battery of preventative blood tests. These tests measure your hormonal imbalances, inflammatory markers and fasting insulin levels.

The results: my insulin fasting levels were high (>17) and my fasting blood sugars were> 90. A condition that placed me as a pre-diabetic or Insulin Resistance. My body fat: 48%. I had no other medical conditions. I was a young 34 years old, athletic, gym-goer….what was wrong?

I felt perfectly well. I never had to take any prescriptions for any chronic illness. In fact in our family because there is an overall concern for any of us developing diabetes my parents set a great example of living healthy. We all went to the gym six out of seven days, ate lean and green foods and even cut down on occasional wine drinking for fear that the excess calories could jeopardize our weight loss goals. We followed what we thought were common sense rules.

So it was without a doubt on that day when another doctor was telling me with a concerning tone that I was pre-diabetic I thought:” You can’t be serious “….” but I go the gym on a regular basis…I eat healthy…. ”

Doctor: “Do you have heart disease in your family?” (he asked)

Me: “Yes….We have Diabetes and heart conditions on both sides of my family “….” Both grandmothers, Grandfather, and now Aunt Kattia….”

Doctor: “You have high inflammatory markers as a result of your pre-diabetic state and your aerobic heart oxygen capabilities are suboptimal ”

And then it hit me like a tons of bricks….my years of being overweight had resulted in the gradual development of insulin resistance….and it was my inherent metabolic disorder of insulin resistance that had caused me to develop excess body fat and a virtual impossible journey to lose weight…”

It all made sense now. The reason it was challenging for me to lose weight was because I was Insulin Resistance. So that any starchy carbohydrates, processed foods or food allergens I consumed would cause a spike in my insulin. The daily spikes in insulin were the result of my pancreas working hard to normalize circulating blood sugars. Because my muscle and liver cells were inherently “resistant” to insulin (hence the name)…my body was in a state of glucose starvation.

So my pancreas worked harder and harder to produce more insulin in an effort for my muscle and liver cells to utilize the glucose it needed. This inherent resistance of major organ cells to utilize glucose would cause insulin to deposit the excess glucose in fat cells…And that perpetuated a vicious cycle….of high inflammation,damaged blood vessels, reduced aerobic heart capability, high insulin, starved cells, excess body fat, hunger cravings and….difficulty losing weight and heart disease”.

Did you know these particular tests are not commonly done at your local physician’s office? Instead, the common trend is to wait until your blood sugars are severally abnormal and for you to manifest symptoms of diabetes so that another set of tests are performed to confirm what is obvious….Diabetes.

As a result of my extensive fellowship training in the field of Anti-aging Regenerative & Functional Medicine, I have ended my struggle with weight loss. My insulin resistance is under control using medical foods and low glycemic meals. My body fat is now 30.8 %. I perform regular detoxification programs. I have no more hunger cravings or sugar addictions. I know now that my lifestyle habits of eating lean and green foods and exercising are now working for me, not against me, and that I can now focus on other ambitions and projects knowing that my health is optimum.

Reduce your health risks now. Learn more about personalized physician supervised preventative programs and the science behind functional medicine.

Americans catch an estimated 1 billion colds each year

And by this time of year, as weary cold sufferers line up at local pharmacies, it may not sound surprising that Americans spend at least $4.2 billion annually on over-the-counter cough and cold medications — and even more on alternative therapies.

Yet here’s the dirty little secret about the common cold:

Nothing cures it. Nothing makes it go away faster.

And there’s little evidence that popular treatments really do much to relieve symptoms.

“In a nutshell, there’s nothing that works,” says Aaron Glatt, a doctor and spokesman for the Infectious Disease Society of America. “There’s a tremendous industry out there, and some people really swear by them. But there really aren’t great studies to show any benefit.”

Research has found that some therapies — from echinacea to humidifiers, vitamin C, zinc, vapor rubs and Neti pots — have little to no measurable benefit, say pediatricians Rachel Vreeman and Aaron Carroll, authors of Don’t Swallow Your Gum! Myths, Half-Truths and Outright Lies About Your Body and Health.

For other folksy favorites — such as chicken soup, garlic, honey or hot tea — there’s just not enough data to tell, Vreeman and Carroll says. That’s partly because big drug companies don’t tend to spent much money to research products, such as honey and tea, that people can buy anywhere.

“When it comes to over-the-counter therapies, they’re pretty cheap, so people will buy them anyway,” Carroll says. “But if they don’t work, you shouldn’t be surprised.. .. But it’s all about symptom relief. So if tea makes you feel better, go ahead. If a warm blanket and a pillow makes you feel better, do it.”

In some cases, however, even over-the counter drugs can have serious side effects. The Food and Drug Administration has warned not to use zinc nasal products — touted to prevent and treat colds — because of concerns that it can make people lose their sense of smell.

In children, cough and cold remedies are not only ineffective, but can be harmful, Vreeman and Carroll says. That’s why manufacturers no longer sell these drugs for kids under 4.

Since colds go away on their own after about a week, improving a little each day after symptoms peak, it’s easy for people to believe that their medicines — rather than time — should get the credit, says James Taylor, a pediatrics professor at the University of Washington. And cold sufferers are so desperate for help, studies show, that even placebos can make people feel better about one-third of the time.

USA TODAY asked experts to summarize the evidence for some of the most commonly used remedies.

•Decongestants

In the lab, these over-the-counter drugs look like a winner.

Decongestants shrink dilated blood vessels in the nose, which should provide relief for that stuffed-up feeling, says Elizabeth Funderbunk, a spokeswoman for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.
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In the real world, however, their effects are modest at best.

A single dose of a nasal decongestant reduces adults’ symptoms by 6% according to a 2007 Cochrane Systematic Review. Additional doses reduced symptoms by 4%.

To reduce the risk of side effects, it’s best to take the lowest dose possible — such as found in nasal sprays, says Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group.Even then, people shouldn’t use nasal sprays for more than a few days, because overuse can actually increase congestion. Wolfe also advises avoiding products that treat multiple symptoms, because they typically provide way more medication than people really need.

•Vitamin C

Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling popularized the idea of taking vitamin C to prevent colds.

But a review of studies with a total of 11,000 people found that taking 200 milligrams or more of vitamin C a day didn’t reduce the chance of getting a cold, and it reduced the duration of a cold only by a matter of hours. The only people who got any protection against colds were those whose bodies were under extreme stress, such as soldiers in sub-arctic conditions, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the National Institutes of Health.

•Echinacea

Scientists have been intrigued by echinacea because of laboratory studies suggesting that some constituents of this herbal folk remedy decrease inflammation, while others appear to boost the immune system.

But improving immunity in a human being is far more complicated than in a petri dish, says Wendy Weber, a program officer at NCCAM. She notes that there are three species of echinacea that are used medicinally, and concentrations can vary from bottle to bottle.

Three studies found by NCCAM concluded that echinacea was no better than a placebo for treating or preventing a cold. While doctors continue to research echinacea, Weber says there isn’t yet enough research to prescribe it. And although echninacea is the most commonly used herbal supplement in children, studies also show it can slightly increase kids’ risk of rash.

•Zinc

While a 2007 research review found that zinc nasal gel helped improve cold symptoms, the Food and Drug Administration now warns people to avoid them, because of concerns that the products can make people lose their sense of smell.

In a 2007 review of the research, only one of four high-quality studies found that a zinc product — a nasal gel — helped to improve cold symptoms. But before you stock up, consider this: The Food and Drug Administration in 2009 warned consumers not to use any intranasal zinc products because of concerns that it can make people lose their sense of smell. While zinc lozenges may not cause any lasting damage, they taste so awful that they can cause nausea, say Carroll and Vreeman. Also, the 2007 review found that they didn’t work.

•Honey

Generations have turned to hot tea with honey to soothe a sore throat.

One study, in which children over age 2 were given up to 2 teaspoons of honey before bedtime, found that honey did help reduce coughing. But Weber notes that researchers need to confirm these findings with additional studies. She says honey should never be given to children under age 1 because of the risk of botulism. And while many people like honey cough drops, Weber notes that they can a choking hazard to babies and toddlers.

•Eucalyptus oil and vapor rubs

In a recent study in Pediatrics, children with cough and cold symptoms improved the most when their parents rubbed their chests with Vicks VapoRub, a strongly scented gel made with camphor, menthol and eucalyptus oil, compared with those given a placebo.

But it’s hard to know if Vicks really deserves the credit, says Daniel Frattarelli, a doctor and spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Because VapoRub smells so strong, parents could tell if they were using the real thing or a placebo, even though researchers did their best to “blind” parents to which treatment they were using. Still, there were no serious side effects, so Frattarelli says the study, funded by manufacturer Procter and Gamble, suggests that VapoRub seems safe.

•Nasal saline (such as Neti pots), humidifiers, hot steam

Even many doctors tell patients to treat congestion with devices such as Neti pots, which flush out the nose with warm, salty water; with humidifiers or by taking steamy showers.

While these treatments seem safe and helpful, there’s also no data that they work, Glatt says.

When using a humidifier, Santa suggests using cool mist, rather than hot steam, which can scald small children.

“I’m not aware of any studies showing a humidifier can help (children) to sleep” when congested, Glatt says. “But I’m never going to argue with a parent who tells me that it does.”

Starting the year on the right foot

For centuries, Chinese have looked to feng shui to help keep their lives balanced. Feng shui aims to improve and harness the flow of positive Chi (energy) and harness it favorably. Feng shui has also been assimilated into Filipino culture as a venue for healthy living.

As we usher in the year of the Golden (Metal) Rabbit today. Feng shui experts give their forecasts for the coming year. Read below, find and discern the path you wish to take to make this New Year a lucky one.

For people born in the year of the Ox, Dragon, Tiger, and Snake it will be a good one. They will enjoy good fortune as opportunities come their way. They should keep their mind focused and if they do, they are most likely to reach their goals.

Individuals born under the year of the Tiger, Rabbit, Snake and Horse are advised to take precaution with regard to health concerns as stress as sickness may hinder their progress this year. Charms and crystals promote and improve physical, mental and spiritual health. Brass Wu Lou with eight immortals and the jade bracelet are said to counteract bad health.

Medical practitioners firmly believe that practicing any form of alternative medicine should be accompanied by expert advice. And there is nothing wrong with applying feng shui principles to enhance wellness.

Healthway Medical believes that it is important to put a high premium on one’s.

“Healthway has been consistently campaigning toward an active and healthy lifestyle, “says Carmie De Leon, vice president for sales and marketing.

The clinic offers HealthCheQ Gold, an executive checkup in partnership with Nurture Spa. Its packages include complete laboratory and imaging studies, a comprehensive physical evaluation, and special examinations combined with an anti-stress activity in a spa. It is a medical checkup that people look forward to.

The packages offer personalized convenience, quality hygienic medical procedures, online appointment or scheduling, results within 72 hours, quality hard-copy report for future reference, pampering experience from Healthway’s sister company (Clarity Aesthetic Medical and Dental Center), chauffeured service from Healthway Clinic to Nurture Spa Village in Tagaytay, and a choice of overnight wellness experience.

It also offers medical cards that can now be even personalized; Healthway card, Alagang Healthway, Junior Privilege and Platinum card. They all contain a medical package that fits the budget. “And as an advocate of this campaign, we encourage everyone to have their health check and to eat and live healthy. Let’s all start the year right by being healthy and welcome the Chinese New Year with a smile,” De Leon said.

Acupuncture

Arizona acupuncture school offered free stress treatment

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine offered some mental relief from the Tucson shootings. It hosted free walk-in trauma and stress recovery treatments Monday.

Volunteers performed 45-minute community style acupuncture treatments by inserting five one time use needles in each person’s outer ear.

“Often the nervous systems gets stuck in a state of fight or flight and its difficult for them to sleep or think. The acupuncture treatment is like pressing the reset button for the nervous system that allows them to calm down and de-stress,” said Melanie Rubin from Acupuncturists Without Borders.

People who are treated typically feel a tiny pinch when the needles go in. That quickly gives way to a feeling of deep relaxation.

New Acupuncture and Asian Medicine Clinic Opens in Studio City

Bokchi Acupuncture Clinic is proud to announce the opening of its office in Studio City, California, serving the entire San Fernando Valley and beyond. The clinic specializes in Bokchi medicine and acupuncture and treats an array of common ailments such as respiratory problems, musculoskeletal disorders, allergies, headaches, depression and anxiety.

Bokchi Acupuncture Clinic’s therapies focus on balancing energy and eliminating the body’s toxic elements. Acupuncture uses thin sterilized needles to improve energy flow, reducing pain and restoring vitality, health and function to organs, joints and tissues. “Bokchi Medicine” utilizes the art of abdominal palpation by the hand of a trained professional. Areas of pain and sensitivity are identified. These areas are toxic elements accumulated in the body. A clinician then blends Asian herbs into teas, pills and powders to formulate a detox program suited for each patient’s medical needs.

The clinic offers other treatments as well. Trigger point therapy, developed by Dr. Janet Travell, identifies and resolves painful trigger points which are found in skeletal muscle fibers. SI Technique, developed by Sung-Im Park, uses two probes which have bipolar magnetic energy to correct body energy flow. Clinicians can also monitor their patients’ progress using the Hematology Analyzer, which measures the ratio between granulocyte and lymphocyte activity.

All three of the clinic’s members are licensed acupuncturists with experience in Asian medicine. Their methods are based on the Korean modality, as taught by the Korean Bokchi Medicine Association.

“We are proud that we are the first clinic in the USA to introduce this Korean modality,” said co-founder Edward Jwa.

Bokchi Acupuncture Clinic’s website outlines its many services, and features a section where patients can ask questions and leave comments.

Aromatherapy News

Aromatherapy helps decrease stress for overwhelmed students

College life can be a very exciting time ; however, the stresses of exams, homework and studying can take a toll on students, but with the help of aromatherapy, there is relief.

Aromatherapy, a type of therapy, deals with essential oils from plants that improve psychological and physical well-being. The use of essential oils dates back to Ancient Egyptian times.

The name aromatherapy went unused until 1928 when Dr. René-Maurice Gattefossé, a cosmetic firm owner, coined the term. After burning his hand, he doused it with lavender oil and realized it healed very quickly. This le d him to experiment with essential oils and other curative properties these oils possessed.

Carol Schiller, who has been teaching aromatherapy since 1986, leads an aromatherapy class at Paradise Valley Community College.

“The course covers a wide range of information from the historical use of aromatic plants beginning in ancient times to methods of use, safety and handling ; how to effectively use the oils ; the difference between synthetic and natural ; common practices of adulteration; and more,” says Schiller.

The Mayo Clinic says the negative effects of stress can lead to depression, high blood pressure, weight gain and even a weakening of the immune system.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the benefits from aromatherapy range from relaxation, deepened breathing, decreased stress and an overall positive impact on a person’s life.

Essential oils can be used several ways, ranging from steam inhalation in massages and baths to the most common use, absorbing through the skin or nose. Juniper and Sage, an aromatherapy business run by Herbalist Diane Abernathy, says that oils bergamot, cardamon, cinnamon and frankincense are typically used in relation to stress reduction and relieving mental tension.

Schiller says, “Many students experience a reduced level of stress, deeper breathing, better focus, as well as other benefits, upon coming in contact with the essential oils, and they begin to realize that these aromatic oils aren’t just used for their scent, but for their positive effects to improve well-being….”

When it comes to using these essential oils, it is imperative that the person is trained in how to use them properly and safely, Schiller says.

“The knowledge about the safety and handling guidelines is covered in the class,” says Schilling, and students can learn a great amount of important information in this experimental course.

From Thai steamboat buffets to aromatherapy

WHO among us can resist a great bargain? No matter what it is, going for a steal is something every Malaysian is guilty of.

So imagine a luxurious spa treatment at an 80% discount, or tucking in at a fine dining Japanese restaurant for only half the price. These deals can be yours with three easy-to-follow steps, and you do not even have to collect cut-outs, participate in competitions, or fight a crowd to get it.

If you can imagine it, theSun DailyDeals can provide it, and better yet, every daily deal is now available for purchase for 24 hours.

From Thai-style steamboat buffets to aromatherapy treatments, the DailyDeals are designed to give you unbeatable discounts that are not available anywhere else – nothing less than a 50% discount is not a tagline, it is a promise.

And the promise is simple: Everyday, a deal is offered at dailydeal.sun2surf.com. It could be anything from food to shopping vouchers, but the guarantee is that it will be at least 50% off the original price. All you have to do is register with your credit card or PayPal account, follow the instructions for purchase, and a voucher will be emailed to you. Just print it out and it can be used any time within 30 days (or more, depending on the terms and conditions).

You can also receive updates on the deals on the Facebook fan page at facebook.com/theSun DailyDeal.

Some previous deals already snapped up are discounts on food at five-star hotels, fine-dining restaurants and even an Aryan buffet.

While those deals pleased the palates of many a food lover, the spa and beauty treatments are guaranteed to pamper – aromatherapy, pedicures, manicures and massages were some of what was offered at more than half-off. If you think that it all sounds too good to be true, all we can say is: Be prepared to be pleasantly surprised.

Fit Calabasas: Aromatherapy Meets Yoga

Every Saturday at 9 a.m., Inner Power Yoga studio fuses both art forms in one fitness class called Aroma-Yoga Flow. The class is designed to heat up the body through yoga exercise, which allows body pores to open and the healing effects of the oils to take over.

Starting in the reverent Namaste pose, “yogis,” or yoga students, extend their bodies into traditional yoga stretches and as they breathe, instructor and creator of the class, Robin Barnette, comes around and places different oils on the yoga mat. While in the downward dog pose, Barnette brings around an oil called Breathe, known to boost the immune system.

And as yogis are in different positions, more oils are introduced like the scent of lavender, to work as an antibacterial against insomnia and headaches.

Perhaps more soothing than the mixture of the oils and stretches is the supportive environment.

“Do what is best for you” is the type of encouragement students hear during the class, and are constantly reminded that performance in the class is individually measured.

But there is one thing that is not tolerated—not smiling. “It’s very important in my class that you smile a lot,” says Barnette.

The healing and rejuvenating connection this class inspires is something Barnette found out firsthand decades ago. When she was diagnosed with Graves disease and told she would never have children, her yoga instructor told her to continue practicing yoga and let her body speak for itself. Now, Barnette’s 17-year-old-son attends classes as well.

“Everything is so pleasing,” said one of the yogis.

And she couldn’t be more correct. For $17 a class, Aroma-Yoga is a relaxing way to start each weekend.

Alternative Medicine News

Alternative Medicine Pioneer Dr. Steven Sinatra Speaks on “Earthing; The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?”

Playa Del Rey, CA (PRWEB) November 18, 2010

A pioneer in the field of alternative medicine, Dr. Stephen Sinatra is speaking on the topic of – “EARTHING: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?” on the free webcast series Wellness Revolution 2 at budurl.com/wellnessnews on November 22 at 4 PM Pacific Time.

Dr. Sinatra, is a board certified cardiologist who describes himself as an “integrative cardiologist”. That is, he prefers to treat heart disease by using the best of both conventional and alternative medicine.

His use of the recent discovery of “earth energy” he claims has profound implications for wellness. The practice of using the earth’s energy is called “earthing” and entails “grounding” a person to the earth much as an electrical current is grounded. Dr. Sinatra will explain the theory and practical applications of earthing in a one-hour interview on the Wellness Revolution 2 webcast series at budurl.com/wellnessnews.

Dr. Sinatra is also featured in this year’s bestselling book on effective alternative medicine treatments for cancer by actress Suzanne Somers entitled “Knockout”.

Dr. Sinatra has used his wide experience as a cardiologist, nutrition specialist, certified bioenergetic psychotherapist, and an anti-aging specialist, to create much of the information we now have about alternative medicine. Dr. Sinatra explains some of his “integrative” philosophy,

“Good health information is based on all of the facts, not just the ones that support your agenda.”

Alternative medicine claims to be reviewed

An academic review of international research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is to take place over the coming months, focusing on three specific therapies identified by a Department of Health working group report — acupuncture, herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. The additional fields of osteo-pathy and chiropractic will also be examined in the review. A critical review of literature on the therapeutic effectiveness, safety and contemporary public policy on the regulation of these complementary therapies since 2000 will also be carried out.

The new study is expected to identify all academically accredited and validated programmes carried out on these therapies by higher education institutions in Ireland, the UK and other countries like Australia and New Zealand — countries that have national frameworks on complementary therapies, which are compatible with the Bologna qualifications framework, a European framework of qualifications in the higher education area.

The review must identify all accredited programmes of higher education since 2005 and, where validation of such therapies has ceased since then, an analysis of the reasons for such a step and whether these were driven by academic, market, political, reputational or scientific concerns.
An open tender for research groups interested in carrying out this study is currently taking place.

Alternative medicine: why it can do more harm than good

Flying from India to attend the Battle of Ideas festival last month, I spoke on the panel of a lively debate entitled “Alternative medicine: the pros and cons”, where I outlined the reasons why I oppose alternative and complementary medicine.

In outlining my opposition, first let us look at the deficiencies of modern medicine. It cannot cure all illnesses. It can often take a long time to make the correct diagnosis. Sometimes it can fail to make any diagnosis at all, for example, chronic pain syndrome. Some of its treatments, especially for cancer, are very unpleasant. Many, if not the majority, of modern practitioners of medicine stress the science
of diagnosis and treatment, perhaps to the detriment of the “art of healing”. These are the gaps that alternative medicine claims to fill.

Unfortunately, these claims have not withstood scientific scrutiny. The scientific foundations for many of the claims such as, for example, that the dilution of a medicine increases potency (in the case of homeopathy), points for acupuncture, the four humors (in Ayurvedic medicine), do not have any basis in anatomy or physiology and are merely hangovers from a time when science had not reached its present state of advancement.

To the argument that ‘alternative medicine works, so why oppose it?’, I say there are many dangers, such as the exploitation of the credulous patient and the failure to treat a potentially curable condition which is life-threatening unless properly treated. There is a long history of societies being exploited by priest-doctors. We should guard against individuals who lay claim to special powers.

There are specific problems in India, although many of these are perhaps common to countries where there are a lot of poor people. Eighty percent of spending on medical treatment in India is private, out-of-pocket spending. Indeed it is the number one cause of rural indebtedness. And due to poor medical services, India has a very high rate of maternal and infant mortality. Against this backdrop of limited availability of medical care and government reluctance to spend public money on healthcare (currently less than 5%of GDP), it suits the government to suggest that “traditional healers” are an alternative source of medical care. Making a virtue out of such “traditional healers” due to the fact that there are not enough trained doctors (in India only only 7 in every 10,000 people are trained doctors) and nurses (7.85 per 10,000) is a cynical exercise of the worst kind.

Defenders of alternative medicine do a terrible disservice to the poor of the country by providing intellectual justification for the government’s failure to provide quality medical care. Denying the privilege of modern medicine to a large section of our citizens by trying to convince them that traditional medicine is as effective when all evidence shows that it is not, is nothing short of criminal injustice.

A section of those who are better off can afford to dabble in alternative medicine, secure in the knowledge that they can run to the nearby modern medical centre whenever they wish. For such “faddists”, alternative medicine is just one option. However, the poor of India have no such options and by forcing them to use the ineffective snake-oil of alternative medicine, the government is squandering tax-payers money and demonstrating that they are too callous to provide quality care.

Acupuncture Today

Ear acupuncture to be discussed

ELKHART — Elkhart General Hospital will present the free public seminar “Introduction to Ear Acupuncture” at 11 a.m. Saturday in the hospital’s west wing.

Dr. Aroop Banerji, a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, will explain how ear acupuncture works, the conditions it can treat and non-needle methods available.

The finer points of acupuncture

With exams around the corner and the temperature outside dropping every day, students are feeling the effects of stress and sickness.

Most of us a looking for any opportunity to nap and popping as much Advil as we can justify, but there might be a more traditional way to fend off seasonal bugs.

Over 3,000 years ago, ancient Chinese medicine developed acupuncture to help relieve pain and stress by strategically placing long, thin needles  in a certain pattern on the body—according to recent research, they may have been on to something.

LiveScience.com published an article in May that reported on a study in which 25 per cent of patients with osteoarthritis symptoms no longer needed knee surgery after trying acupuncture. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends acupuncture to treat over 40 different conditions, such as asthma, nausea and even chemotherapy, the article said.

Wendy Zhang, an acupuncturist and owner of her own acupuncture clinic in Toronto, said according to the traditional concept, an energy called Qi flows throughout the body.

A healthy body has a balance of Qi, which flows through “meridians” or “channels” in the body, along with the rest of the body’s fluids, like blood.

When there’s an imbalance of Qi, the body becomes sick or at least more susceptible to illness.

“From the Western medicine [perspective], the Qi concept doesn’t exist,” she said, adding that Western medicine refers to the nervous system to talk about this energy flow.

“Because Chinese medicine is from thousands of years ago, people used different language to describe the body,” she said. Regardless of the terminology, Zhang said pain is caused by a blockage of this energy flow.

“The [acupuncture] needle can open up the energy channels … make the energy flow better and restore the balance.”

Pauline Vaughan is the owner of Limestone Community Acupuncture in Kingston and a certified acupuncturist and practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine.

“The ancient Chinese probably discovered it by accident, that by inserting needles into different parts of the body they can have an impact on people’s health,” she said, adding that they eventually mapped out a pattern of over 360 pressure points.

“They found that these points line up in straight lines,” she said. “The Chinese surmised that they must be working with the energy in the body.

“The purpose of acupuncture is to balance the movement of energy … so that it flows smoothly in the appropriate direction and the appropriate quantity.”

Vaughan said when there is a deficiency in one meridian, there must be an excess in another, and acupuncture helps to provide balance.

According to the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute, the acupuncture needles are able to stimulate certain points along the meridian paths, or points that connect paths, to restore Qi flow.

The 360 pressure points on the body are not as difficult to find as one might think, she said.

“It is fairly exact. You learn over time how to feel for the acupuncture points … they feel like slight depressions in the skin,” Vaughan said. “Often they’re tender when you press on them.”

There are certain common acupuncture points on the body that people can massage themselves for three to five minutes, according to yinyanghouse.com, to help with certain types of aches and pains.

One of these points, located on the “Gall Bladder” meridian, can be found by pressing down on the spot where your shoulder and neck meet. This pressure point can help with headaches, dizziness and neck and shoulder pain.

She said finding the right spot can depend on patient feedback because it’s common to feel a slight burning sensation if the needles are placed incorrectly.

“Acupuncture points are not particularly dangerous,” she said, so no severe consequences should come from not getting the right spot at first.

The three main reasons people seek out treatments are for pain, anxiety and stress, she said.

“We treat all kinds of chronic pain all over the body. We also treat allergies and other chronic diseases,” she said, adding that she frequently treats ailments including sinus infections, the common cold, the flu, bronchitis and menstrual problems, but that’s not all.

“Sometimes people will get an injury, and theoretically it’s healed,” she said, but years after it can still bother them. She said acupuncture treatments can often treat this chronic pain.

“Most of my patients tell me that they’ve tried everything else and it hasn’t worked,” Vaughan said, and they’re often surprised at the quick results.

Although it has been effective for a lot of people, she said many also avoid trying it.

One reason for people’s wary attitude towards acupuncture is the concept of needles piercing through the body, she said.

“I have had a number of patients with needle phobias,” she said, and she even had a man come to her a few weeks ago who had a needle phobia.

She said that he usually faints whenever he has to get a needle at the doctor’s office.

“He had a pretty frozen shoulder,” she said. “Not only did he not faint, his pain was totally gone when he left and he felt great,” she said, adding that getting an acupuncture treatment is also in a very different environment than a doctor’s office.

“The needles are about as fine as a hair,” she said. “When you get a needle from the doctor you can feel it. [But with acupuncture] the needle goes past pain receptors so fast that you don’t feel it,” she said.

What that means is that instead of pain, you just feel endorphins, she said. Deb Thompson, a psychologist and owner of her own private practice in Kingston, said needle phobias affect at least 10 per cent of the population in North America.

“There’s an evolutionary preparedness for what used to be insect stings… some ancient fear of being pierced by a sharp needle-like thing, which back in the day would have been dangerous,” Thompson said, adding that acupuncture needles may not cause as much anxiety.

“Acupuncture, with the tiny, hair-like needles … it’s entirely different,” she said.

“In people’s actual lives, the most common cause is an actual negative experience [with needles] … especially in childhood and adolescence.”

Phobias in general can be a predisposition in families as well, she said, in the sense that they are a form of anxiety that children may learn from a parent or sibling.

So why are so many of us anxious at the thought of needles?

One reason is often just the pain, she said. But for others, just the thought of something piercing the skin can cause a plethora of physiological responses.

“I think that if somebody anticipates something being difficult, their nervous system goes into a fight or flight [response],” Thompson said, which can include a racing heart, shallow breathing, fainting, nausea and muscle tension.

“The fear is initially a mental phenomenon,” she said, but as the physiological responses continue to follow, this fear may become reinforced.

“You get a loop between the thought and the feeling,” she said.

Because avoiding needles throughout life is fairly easy, Thompson said she doesn’t see a lot of patients seeking treatment.

“They don’t want to do the treatment … treatment involves exposure,” she said.

Although it may be difficult at first, she said people can definitely get over their needle phobias.

“What they’re going to need is a more gradual exposure, or what’s called a systematic desensitization,” she said, adding that this can include practicing with a capped syringe and allowing it to touch you or looking at pictures of needles.

Teachers Accused of Performing Acupuncture on Students

SEVEN HILLS, Ohio — Two local teachers are on paid administrative leave after they are accused of using acupuncture needles on some of their students.

On Oct. 26, seventh grade social studies teachers Douglas Ziemanski and Gail Tatoczenko were teaching Chinese culture to students at Hillside Middle School in Seven Hills. The school is in the Parma school district. According to the superintendent, Dr. Jeff Graham, part of the lesson dealt with acupuncture.

“I think they got caught up with the activity. Originally the teacher did it to himself and generated some enthusiasm with the students, and because of that, children became involved, children volunteered for it and needles were placed in the students’ hands, elbows and neck,” said Dr. Graham.

Dr. Graham said a total of seven students were stuck with a sterile needle. He said Ziemanski was involved all day and Tatoczenko participated during only one class period. The superintendent said he learned of the activity after an angry parent called the school to complain.

“The teacher who was participating all day long read a book on acupuncture and thought he knew the concepts enough to know it was safe,” said Graham.

“I don’t agree with it, but I’m sure they’ll review it and determine the actions for it and they’ll be fair,” said a parent, Nilda Nester.

Dawn Baker, whose son was one of the students who participated, still supports Ziemanski. “Mr. Z is a teacher that he makes the class great. My son looks forward to social studies and I don’t think too many kids do and he does because of the teacher…he might have went outside of the box, maybe he didn’t do the right thing, but I don’t know anybody that is that upset about it,” she said.

“It’s not a real dangerous thing, but nobody should just be sticking needles in another person,” said Linda Corlett, a licensed acupuncturist in Parma.

Corlett said people who do acupuncture in Ohio must be licensed.

“We are regulated. Patients have to sign a consent agreement, there are HIPPA agreements, it’s just like going to your medical doctor,” she said.

Dr. Graham said he has not yet determined what the teachers’ punishment will be. It could range from a reprimand to termination. He expects to make a decision by early next week.

Aromatherapy News

Relaxing Ritual of the Week: Aromatherapy Bath Meditation

When it comes to managing stress, it helps to have a variety of techniques to try. Some stress relief practices can help you to calm your physiology and reverse your stress response when it’s been triggered; others help you to manage and minimize the amount of stressors you have in your life. Some strategies take the form of ongoing habits that promote overall calmness and wellness. Trying something new each week can ensure that you’ll be able to hit stress from several different angles to effectively manage it more easily.

This week, I’d like to encourage you to try a strategy called Aromatherapy Bath Meditation. This one works really well as a nightly habit. It provides a way to unwind and relax, to get clean, and to practice meditation while you do it. (One of the many benefits of meditation is that it can help you feel less stressed overall, so this habit can help you with stressors you haven’t even experienced yet!) And if you use lavender as your scent, it can even help you sleep! This week, I challenge you to try this technique at least three times, and see how you like it.

Try The Aromatherapy Bath Meditation

You can also try last week’s relaxing ritual, the Chocolate Meditation. What are your favorite ways to relieve stress? Share in the comments (below), post on the About Stress Management Facebook Page, and pass it on with the ‘share’ button if you want to spread the stress relief.

Vermont Soap ~ Aromatherapy Air Care Fresheners

MIDDLEBURY, Vt.—Vermont Soap introduced an eco-conscious, all-natural line of Aromatherapy Air Fresheners. Scented with natural essential oils, these environmentally-conscious air fresheners offer health-conscious consumers an all-natural alternative to freshen the air. They can be sprayed directly in the air, on skin, fine linens and other fabrics and all water-safe surfaces. They can also be used to freshen personal spaces at home, school, work, in cars, dog beds or anywhere. These air fresheners contain pure essential oil aromas that won’t irritate the skin or nose. Aromatherapy Air Fresheners are free of artificial colors and fragrances, chemical preservatives, animal byproducts and are not tested on animals.

Aromatherapy Air Fresheners are offered in three scents to induce different moods: Country Lavender, Lemongrass Zen and Peppermint Magic. Lavender has a relaxing aroma, while lemongrass is uplifting and peppermint is clarifying and stimulating. Each freshener comes in an 8-oz. or 16-oz. re-usable spray bottle.

Massage Envy Launches Choices Program to Further Customize Massage Therapy

AromaTherapy and Deep Heat Relief Muscle Therapy Enhance Therapeutic Massage

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ — Massage Envy, the nation’s largest massage therapy provider and the largest spa chain in America, began offering the new Choices program at its 633 locations this week. Choices provides four AromaTherapy options designed to relieve a variety of therapeutic needs including anxiety, headaches, emotional imbalance and insomnia. Deep Heat Relief Muscle Therapy is ideal for anyone who suffers from chronic pain or limited movement.

AromaTherapy options include:
Aches and Pains – specifically designed to promote circulation, this warming blend of clove, sweet birch, rosemary, and cypress helps aid tissue recovery after physical exertion.
Anxiety Release – known for their calming properties, lavender, chamomile, and vetiver are combined with uplifting aromas of citrus and clary sage.
Lavender Garden – English true lavender is used to both reduce pain and inflammation and act as a mild antidepressant and calming agent. Next, lavandin helps support the respiratory system, aids in natural detoxification, and promotes restful sleep.
Mint & Rosemary – this combination of mint oils and rosemary enlivens the mind and body. Peppermint is high in natural menthol, which aids in pain relief and cools the body while increasing circulation.