Archive for the ‘Chinese Herbs’ Category

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How to Beat the Summer Heat – the Chinese Herbal Medicine Way

Thursday, July 7th, 2011
ju hua is used as an herb in Chinese medicine

ju hua is chrysanthemum flowers

Now that summer is officially here, we’re getting to enjoy more sun and warmer days. Generally, the summer heat is a welcome change from the chill of fall and winter (remember how much snow we had?), but if the warmth is excessive, it can be uncomfortable and even a health hazard.

It’s important to stay hydrated and cool when the mercury rises, but there are also Chinese herbal remedies that can help you beat the heat – in fact, you may have them in your refrigerator and your garden!

First, ju hua – commonly known here in the U.S. as chrysanthemum – is a pom-pom like flower that can also be used as a tea or herbal treatment for a wide range of ailments. Ju hua is made into a tea by steeping the flowers in hot water for about 10 minutes. This tea has been shown to be effective in helping the body clear heat and cool itself down naturally. It also is used to treat everything from fever to high blood pressure.

Ju hua’s beneficial effects have been long-known and celebrated. Ever since the earliest Daoist herbal medicine texts, the long-term consumption of ju hua was revered as a preventative against aging and a regimen that would bring you closer to immortality. Modern usage and proven effects are more modest, but ju hua still remains a very popular medicinal in Chinese herbal medicine, particularly in the specialty of ophthalmology in dealing with dry and irritated eyes.

Another favorite summer treat that is also an effective Chinese herbal medicine treatment is the watermelon! Known in Chinese herbal medicine as xi gua, watermelon also helps the body naturally cool itself down. Chinese herbal medicine practitioners will use everything from the hard green rind to the sweet pink melon to the black seeds to make remedies for patients. In addition to its cooling properties, xi gua is used to treat urinary tract infections and high blood pressure.

So, have fun this summer, but stay cool…and, if you need help clearing your body’s heat, think about the natural way to do it with ju hua and xi gua.

 

Enjoy!

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Warmer Weather Means Outdoor Activities…It Also Means Strained Muscles, Stiff Necks and Sore Backs — How Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Tackles the Pain

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
studies show that acupuncture and chinese medicine can be helpful for outdoor overuse injuries.

acupuncture for sports injuries

Ahhh…glorious weather. Jogs in the park. Strolls through the neighborhood. Gardening in the yard. Summer means outdoor activities. It also means the strained muscles, stiff necks and sore backs that accompany all that moving around. While many people will take two painkillers and call their doctor in the morning if pain persists, studies show that acupuncture can be just as, if not more, effective at easing the pain.

The University of Maryland Medical Center cites a recent study that found that acupuncture is an alternative treatment that helped improve feelings of soreness. Additionally, herbs like Turmeric, White Willow and Horse Chestnut have been shown to help lessen the pain of common strains and sprains.

Another study showed that electroacupuncture had an analgesic effect in rats with ankle sprains. Livestrong.com offers up some advice for easing the pain of pulled muscles in the legs, including acupuncture treatments.

The important thing is to understand the cause of the strain and the pain and to protect yourself by stretching and not straining your muscles. By working closely with patients, a Chinese Medicine expert can help customize herbal treatments and acupuncture regimens to ensure that they are strong and well-conditioned, lessening the chances of strains and sprains.

So, go, conquer the outdoors and enjoy the glorious weather…just stretch first!

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Headaches & Migraines — How Chinese Medicine Can Help

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

Chinese medicine can relieve headaches

acupuncture and Chinese medicine relieve migraines

Summer is almost here and the bright sunshine and longer days are a welcome treat. For some people, though, that bright light can trigger headaches or, worse, a migraine.

For those people that suffer regular headaches or chronic migraines, the pain and discomfort can be debilitating. But, acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment that can offer relief. In fact, there is a wealth of information available that outlines the effect acupuncture can have on reducing headaches and migraines. One study in the British Medical Journal followed a group of 400 patients suffering from headaches – half of the patients received acupuncture treatments. A year later, researchers found that the patients that received acupuncture treatments experienced 22 fewer days with headaches, used 15% less medication, made 25% fewer visits to their doctor and took 15% fewer days off sick from work than the patients that did NOT receive acupuncture.

Migraines can be particularly painful and can render a patient unable to participate in daily activities or go to school or work. Acupuncture treatments and herbal medicine regimens that are customized to each patient’s needs can make a huge difference. Working with individual patients to determine their headache profile, migraine triggers, optimal diet and the most effective treatment approach is one way Chinese Medicine experts can help minimize the strain and pain this condition can have. Here’s an interesting online resource from the University of Maryland Medical Center with more useful information about foods, triggers and treatments.

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Summer is Almost Here…Time to Break out Those Strappy Sandals (and to Take Care of Foot and Heel Pain with Acupuncture)

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
Plantar fascitis pain and acupuncture

acupuncture helps foot pain

One of the painful ailments that many of my patients deal with this time of year is foot and heel problems. It seems that as the weather warms up and people are more active, wearing less sturdy footwear (like flip-flops, strappy high heels or summery sandals) or even opting to go barefoot once spring arrives, foot and heel pain follows. In an effort to focus my practice – and this blog – on the health questions and conditions that are most pressing for my patients, I’ve taken a closer look.

Millions of Americans complain of painful foot and heel problems. Plantar fascitis, a strain of the ligament that connects your heel bone to your toes, is the most common foot problem and affects 2 million Americans and an estimated 10% of people over their lifetime. Heel spurs are also common and it’s estimated that one out of every 10 Americans has them. If you are one of the lucky people that have not experienced this type of pain, it might be difficult to imagine just how debilitating it can be for every step to be painful or even to hurt while standing still.

For those people that are battling common foot ailments, Chinese Medicine and acupuncture have been shown to be effective in treating the pain, aches and lack of mobility. In fact, a study of 18 patients with painful plantar fascitis in the UK showed that acupuncture was effective in reducing their pain. Some of these patients had suffered from foot pain for more than 2 years and saw a significant and dramatic improvement in only 4-6 weeks.

At my practice, it’s always important to listen, to observe and to work collaboratively with each patient – to “walk a mile in his or her shoes” so to speak! – to really understand the cause of their pain or discomfort and to customize a treatment regimen including acupuncture and/or Chinese herbs that will best get to the root cause. If you are loving that spring and warmer weather is here, but already feeling the achy effects that summer activities and footwear are having on your feet, think about talking about it with your doctor or a licensed practitioner of Oriental Medicine. Your feet will thank you!

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Acupuncture & Your Immune System

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

acupuncture can help strengthen the immune system

As you may know, acupuncture has been in use for more than 2,000 years – and over a decade here at Empirical Point in Philadelphia – and is more and more being used for the treatment of common conditions and ailments like stress, pain and immune system disorders. When the immune system is overstimulated, your body reacts (as in a seasonal allergy reaction) and can be calmed by acupuncture. At the other end of the immunity continuum, you have a weakened immune system. Several important recent studies show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients looking to address this weakened state and strengthen their immune systems.

When it comes to cancer and the immune system, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has cited numerous preclinical studies that suggest that acupuncture can reduce vomiting caused by chemotherapy and may help the immune system be stronger during chemotherapy. The NCI has also highlighted animal studies that support the use of electroacupuncture to relieve cancer pain and that additional preclinical research has examined how acupuncture works for cancer treatment, including the role of acupuncture in stimulating immune functions. The NCI also talks about human studies and the effect of acupuncture on cancer patients, saying that it has “shown that it changes immune system response” and “boosts immune system activity.”

BreastCancer.org also provides patients with information about managing their cancer and states that “researchers propose that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to release natural painkillers and immune system cells. They then travel to weakened areas of the body and relieve symptoms.” In addition to this immune system response, BreastCancer.org outlines that recent studies show that acupuncture may help fight fatigue, control hot flashes, help decrease nausea, reduce vomiting and lessen pain.

Additionally, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports acupuncture research by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School, that has shown “physiological effects – changes in the brain’s pain centers – with acupuncture…gene expression and molecular changes in the nervous and immune systems.”

There is a growing wealth of research and data pointing to the real and significant impact of acupuncture on the immune system. Here at my practice, I see patients from all over the Philadelphia region who are also seeing these benefits. This increase in measurable effect along with the growing use of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine could translate into broader acceptance of this centuries-old practice in the future.

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Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine: Treating Your Overstimulated Immune System & Seasonal Environmental Allergies

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
seasonal allergies

spring pollen can cause allergies

As the seasons change here in Philadelphia, we get to experience the beautiful buds of spring or the gorgeous foliage of the fall…but, many of us also get to experience seasonal allergies. It’s estimated that more than 35 million Americans suffer from sneezing, wheezing, runny nose and itchy, watery and red eyes each year as pollen from trees, flowers, grass and plants circulates in the seasonal breezes. The impact is especially significant here in the Philadelphia area where we experience seasonal temperature swings and the oh-so-familiar yellow pollen dustings.

As you may know, acupuncture has long been used to bolster and regulate the immune system, including this reaction to seasonal environmental allergies. In fact, in a research study of 26 hay fever patients published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine, acupuncture was able to reduce allergy symptoms in all 26 patients without damaging side effects. Another study of about 70 patients showed that symptoms could be totally eliminated in more than half of the patients, with just two acupuncture treatments.

In an interview with the website WebMD, Dr. James Dillard, clinical advisor to Columbia University’s Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and assistant clinical professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, says “Acupuncture can be particularly useful if you are suffering from multiple allergies, since it works to quiet the areas of the immune system that are overstimulated by exposure to multiple irritating factors.”

I see many patients from all over the Philadelphia region suffering from seasonal allergies here at Empirical Point. Using a customized regimen of acupuncture and Chinese herbs, we are able to work together – these patients and I – to tailor a treatment that can have an important health impact and bring much-needed relief. For example, the use of Chinese herbs as an internal medicinal intervention, when prescribed correctly, is a great way to start to move the chronic congestion or relieve a runny nose. Most of the herbs used for this condition are generally antibacterial and anti-inflammatory to help shrink the swelling in the nasal passages and to eliminate mucus and phlegm. Depending on the severity of the congestion I have also successfully used herbal nasal drops to help drive out more stubborn presentations. You may not know this, but while acupuncture is used to address the local symptoms, I also use it to work to correct the underlying imbalance that causes a patient’s immune system to trigger an inappropriate over-reaction to our outdoor environment

So, as spring approaches, please do take a few moments to savor the warmer breezes and to stop and smell the flowers…but, if seasonal allergies make you sneezy and wheezy this time of year, you may want to plan on a consultation or treatment soon!

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Alternative Medicine – Not So Alternative Anymore…

Thursday, February 17th, 2011
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are health alternatives

Alternative medicine, acupuncture and Chinese medicine are gaining popularity

While it may be seen as a new or “alternative” medicine in the United States, Chinese Medicine is actually one of the oldest complete medical systems practiced today. In fact, acupuncture – a part of Chinese Medicine – has been in use for over 2,000 years and is one of the most commonly used medical procedures worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80% of people rely on alternative medicine for their primary care in many Asian and African nations and that in many developed nations, 70-80% of people have used alternative medicine.

And, the use of alternative medicine is growing here in the U.S., becoming more of a complement to traditional Western medical treatments, and making it not so “alternative” anymore…

In fact, studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), USA Today, ABC News and Stanford University all point to increasing numbers of Americans using acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. The most recent CDC study found that nearly 3.3 million U.S. adults and children had used acupuncture in the previous year. Additionally, a 2005 USA Today/ABC News/Stanford University Medical Center poll found that 5% of American adults have turned to acupuncture for pain relief.

Even the U.S. military is bringing alternative medicine into the mainstream of its medical services and treatments – the U.S. Army recently announced a program utilizing acupuncture to treat post traumatic stress disorder in soldiers and a recent Army pain management report recommended alternative medicine treatments like acupuncture, mediation and yoga.

In another illustration of how acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are taking hold and being evaluated as not-so-alternative medical treatments, the NIH’s National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine is currently recruiting for nearly 100 clinical trials evaluating alternative medicine as a safe and effective treatment for ailments and diseases ranging from back pain to autoimmune disorders.

The good news is, to meet this growing demand, there are more practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine than ever before. A study published in the Annals of Family Medicine journal in 2005 cites that there are now more than 50 acupuncture schools accredited in the U.S. and that 42 states have statutes that allow the practice of acupuncture by nonphysicians.

So, it may be that in another few years, “alternative” medicine has a new not-so-alternative name…

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Empirical Point Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Practice Launches “Healthy New Year 2011”

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
Chinese New Year - Year of the Rabbit

Staying healthy with acupuncture and Chinese medicine

Empirical Point, LLC, a leading Philadelphia Chinese Medicine and acupuncture practice, today announced the launch of its “Healthy New Year 2011” campaign, designed to give patients more hands-on information and real-world tips about how to live healthier in the new year. This new program is kicking off today, the first day of the Chinese New Year, with a series of online information and news. More information can be found at www.philadelphia-acupuncture.com.

“The new year usually brings with resolutions and promises to improve our health. It also brings a renewed commitment to living well and living healthy,” stated Sharon Sherman, M.S.O.M., D.OM., L.OM and founder of Empirical Point. “Empirical Point was founded to deliver on that commitment – to provide patients with a Chinese medicine and acupuncture practice dedicated to improving their health. I don’t just treat patients. I work with them to get to the root of their ailments and to then map out an interactive and holistic plan to improve their overall well being. This Healthy New Year 2011 program is just one more way for us to provide the latest news and tips to our patients on how to be well.”

The first topic tackled by the Healthy New Year 2011 program is “Alternative Medicine – Not So Alternative Anymore” which will look at the growing use and success of alternative medicine in the U.S. While Chinese Medicine and acupuncture have been used for thousands of years, they are just now really taking hold in many Western cultures as effective medical treatments. Through the Empirical Point website, blog and social media and events at our offices, the practice will explore and offer up information about the growth of alternative medicine – and how it may be helpful for patients who may have not yet considered it for common conditions like stress or chronic pain.

The Healthy New Year 2011 campaign will go on to address the following topics later this year:

• Pain – How to Address and Relieve it with Chinese Medicine

• Building a Strong Immune System…and a Stronger You

• Stressed?  How to Relieve Anxiety and Be at your Best

About Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture

Chinese Medicine is one of the oldest complete medical systems practiced today – encompassing acupuncture, Chinese herbs, nutrition and other modalities – and is recognized as an effective, empirical science. Acupuncture has been in use for over 2,000 years, and is one of the most commonly used medical procedures worldwide. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture are regularly used to safely and effectively treat a wide range of health challenges, especially the treatment of acute and chronic pain management. Today, the use of and demand for acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is increasing in the United States. Recent reports conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), USA Today, ABC News and Stanford University all point to increasing numbers of Americans using acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The most recent CDC study found that nearly 3.3 million U.S. adults and children had used acupuncture in the previous year.

About Empirical Point, LLC

Empirical Point’s overarching mission is to empower patients and to optimize their health and well being. Using her extensive Chinese Medicine and acupuncture training and expertise, founder Sharon Sherman has been treating patients and growing the practice steadily since 2001. Ms. Sherman has the highest level of licensure possible – an achievement rivaled by only 8% of her peers in Pennsylvania – and has logged more education and continuing education hours than the vast majority of other practitioners. Ms. Sherman is also licensed in New Mexico, which has one of the most arduous licensure processes in the U.S. Empirical Point welcomes patients at its Center City and Chestnut Hill offices in Philadelphia. For more information, please visit www.philadelphia-acupuncture.com.

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Cold Weather and Joint Pain: Chronic Pain Sufferers Turn to Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Relief

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

acupuncture and chinese medicine for joint painAs the weather turns colder, many people feel not only the chill in the air, but can also suffer from increased joint and arthritis pain.  For many years, this correlation was often noted by patients and pain sufferers – think of anyone you know with a bad back or bad knees and how they can often “feel” wet, damp or cold weather coming – but not backed by formal studies.

Then, in 2003, a Japanese study published in the International Journal of Biometeorology found that there was a direct connection between low pressure, low temperatures and joint pain in rats. It was the first documented animal behavioral study of weather effects on joint pain.  More recently, in 2008, Johns Hopkins conducted studies on whether climate really does affect arthritis pain.  In one of the studies, 151 people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or fibromyalgia (a rheumatic disorder that causes joint pain) as well as 32 people without arthritis were evaluated for one year.  All of the study participants lived in a warm climate and kept a journal for one year recording their pain.  Researchers matched these journals up with weather conditions and found that patients in all three experienced more pain on days when the temperature was low, while people in the control group were unaffected by any of the weather conditions.

So, that aching feeling in your joints and your back this time of year is not only in your head.  But, how can we use Chinese Medicine, acupuncture and herbs to help effectively treat it and the underlying cause for your pain?
In my practice in Philadelphia, I see many patients with chronic pain, joint pain and arthritis.  It’s actually a specialization of mine and I’ve spent hundreds of hours training with acupuncture and Chinese Medicine experts to learn how to most effectively treat patients and relieve this pain over the long-term.

In Chinese medicine, this type of musculoskeletal and/or joint pain is referred to as bi syndrome. “Bi,” in Oriental Medical terminology means obstruction – the symptomatic nature of the obstruction may exhibit qualities that cause you to feel achy or experience stabbing, fixed, or hot pain. Some people respond positively to movement or exercise while other patients feel better with rest. Most musculoskeletal and joint disorders are grouped into one of the several subcategories of bi syndrome. Accurate diagnosis of the type of bi a patient is experiencing ensures sound selection of an acupuncture and herbal protocol to relieve and “break” the obstruction of qi and blood in the affected area.

So, don’t dread this colder season, but instead enjoy the crisp weather, move freely and without pain and feel better doing it.

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Empirical Point Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine – Our First Few Months in Chestnut Hill

Sunday, December 26th, 2010
Empirical Point Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Empirical Point Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine wishing you a happy 2011

It’s almost 2011 and you know what they say, “time flies when you are having fun!”

That has never been more true for the Empirical Point acupuncture practice than this year – our recent move to the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia has been extremely fun and productive and we are looking forward to ringing in the New Year with new neighbors, new offices and all of our patients, old and new.

I have continued to see patients at our Center City offices in Philadelphia and the new offices in Chestnut Hill have been a big success.  We’ve been welcomed by the local business association, other local businesses, our patients and new patrons that have all raved about our convenient and accessible location, easy parking and the new office’s calming and peaceful décor.  On top of all of this, our new building is fully accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act – or ADA – and is LEED certified pending, which is a prestigious and hard-to-secure distinction given to only the most eco-consciously and “green” constructed buildings in the country.

Also, Empirical Point successfully secured a business grant this year that enables us to turn our office filing system into an eco-friendly “paperless” system.  This allows us not only to continue to be environmentally conscious in the way we conduct business, but frees up more of my time to focus on offering patients comprehensive Chinese Medicine including, acupuncture and Chinese herbology.

All in all, it’s been a great 2010 and we are looking forward to sharing much health and happiness with you in 2011.  Please check back with our website and the blog often for new information and articles.

Happy & Healthy New Year!

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