Flu Virus Image via Wikipedia

You never have to wonder when the “cold and flu season” is around the corner.  Big Pharma will be sure that you are reminded of its impending arrival no matter where you turn.

When the dreaded season of doom drapes its black curtain over us, whatever you do, don’t come within sneezing distance of anybody, don’t even think about shaking anyone’s hand or otherwise engaging in bodily contact, and NEVER, EVER touch a doorknob, shopping cart, or any other object that might have possibly come into contact with any human at any point during its existence.

The reality is that germs don’t make you sick.  Rather, your body’s inability to fend off germs and foreign invaders is what results in you succumbing to illness.

Think about it… How is it possible that a family of 5 people living under the same roof can have completely different reactions during flu season?

Assuming that everyone is exposed to the same germs and viruses, if the sickness were attributed completely to the virus, everyone would get sick and exhibit the same reaction and symptoms.

What happens in reality is that one or two family members get ill while the others don’t.  Clearly the issue is not the germs, but the body’s response to them.

Chances are the last time you got sick you were running yourself ragged; missing sleep, eating improperly, slacking on your nutrition, all stressed out from work, skipping your acupuncture sessions, and neglecting your workouts.  This is a vicious pattern that many of us fall into and it’s one that weakens the body and allows germs to take hold.

Your best defense against the flu, colds, or any other germ-borne illness is not to drug yourself, but to bolster your internal defenses.  You stand your best chance of being at your healthiest when you have an optimally functioning nervous system and immune response.

So come in for an acupuncture tune-up, keep your lifestyle habits in good order, and maintain a positive attitude. Do so, and those pesky little germs don’t stand a chance!

By Robin Green
(408) 852-9659 x 0

January is the time when most of us start to ponder what we want to accomplish in the new year.  What are you going to do in 2012?  Do you have a health, fitness or other personal goal?  Will you be running a marathon? Getting back in shape or going to eat better this year?  Set yourself up for success and write down a specific goal and this could be the year you will achieve it.

It is estimated that only 3% of the population has a set of concrete, written goals.  If the full impact of goal setting were realized, and more importantly the results it produces, we would undoubtedly see more people engaging in it.

In a follow-up study of one prominent university’s graduating class, the 3% of graduates with written goals outperformed the other 97% combined!  That is a staggering statistic.

If you are new to goal setting, here are some tips to get you going.  This is by no means a comprehensive course on goals, but should at least serve as a good starting point.

Goals are most effective when they are written down, and although goal setting usually begins as simple lists like to-do lists, a journal dedicated specifically to your goals is a great asset.  Not only does it keep the goals in front of you, but it serves as a record of your accomplishments.  Drawing on past success is extremely motivating, especially as your goals get larger and more audacious.

In addition to a journal, it is also a good idea to utilize index cards and post-it notes that can be placed anywhere you are sure to see them throughout the day.  Some suggestions are the bathroom mirror, the refrigerator, your dashboard, your computer, etc.  The idea is to keep your goals in the forefront of your mind and prevent them from getting swept away by the monotony of the day.

When writing goals you must be as specific as possible.  The more clear and crisp the image, the more likely you are to achieve it.  If you wanted to lose weight, for example, simply stating, “I would like to lose some weight” is too vague a statement to have any meaningful impact.  Instead, a goal would sound something more like, “I will lose 25 pounds and reach my goal weight of 119 pounds by August 31.”  You can see that this goal is measurable in both weight and in time.  Come August 31, you have either met your goal or you haven’t.

Review your goals at least 3 times a day, preferably first thing in the morning, the last thing before bed, and then somewhere mid-day.  Don’t worry too much initially about how you will accomplish your goal.  When you get proficient at setting goals and continually reviewing them, your mind will come up with the “hows”.

Start with small goals that are relatively easy to accomplish and build momentum to bigger and bolder goals.  If you don’t hit a goal by its deadline, don’t worry.  Just rework the goal, set a new date, and recommit to getting it done.

Start today.  As you begin checking off goals in the coming weeks your life will begin to take on new depth and greater meaning.

Sometime last week around 3 a.m. I woke up to the sound of a seal barking.  It to a few minutes for me to

Croupy Cough

realize that it was my son coughing.  My next thought was, “Oh boy, here we go again with the croup.”  My husband and I are no strangers to croup since my oldest son typically gets it once or twice a year.   The first time he had croup he was about 18 months old and I was just finishing my advanced classes in acupuncture pediatrics.  I had studied croup and heard the audio recordings of it, but it still didn’t register in my sleep deprived and slightly panicked brain that night.   I was scared because my son was having difficulty breathing and he was making these high pitched wheezing sounds called stridor!  Before I completely panicked and took him to the ER, I called our pediatrician who, god bless her, called us back in the middle of the night.  The second she heard him in the background she knew what was going on and recommended some natural remedies for croup.

To learn more about what croup is and hear some audio recordings Click Here.  The good news about croup is the majority of the time parents can treat it at home and it rarely requires medical intervention.

Here is what we do during an attack:

1. Sit with him in the bathroom with a steamy hot shower running  (usually for 10 – 15 minutes)
2. Aconitum Napellis homeopathic remedy (any potency) to help sudden onset of cough with the anxiety associated with difficulty breathing & cough – give 3 to 4 pellets every 5 t0 10 minutes until the child calms down.
   

   natural remedy for croup

3. Spongia tosta  homeopathic remedy (any potency) for croupy cough – give 3 -4 pellets a couple times
4. Keep him quiet and calm with lots of soothing words and slowing breathing
5. Drink a few sips of warm water
6. Acupressure on the points below (or in my case I’ll do a little acupuncture right then)

Here is what we do the next day:

1. Keep him well hydrated
2. Continue Spongia tosta remedy 4 pellets 3x/day (every time we’ve done this, the croup episode lasts only one night)
3. Herbal Remedies for treating any other cold or upper respiratory symptoms
4. Avoid dairy since it creates mucus
5. Sip warm teas

Here are some acupressure points you can press to help with croup during and after:

1. Percardium 6 to open up the chest and help with cough, anxiety and nausea
2. Lung 9 – for cough
3. Massage the child’s upper back between the shoulder blade and spine on both sides, vigorously until skin gets a little pink.  This stimulates acupoints to support the lungs and boost immunity.

If  your child is having a severe case of croup  with extreme difficulty breathing or the symptoms aren’t resolving after trying natural remedies they may require medical intervention.   Conventional treatments typically include nebulizer with albuterol or other broncho-dilators to help open the airways and ease breathing quickly.

It can be a little scary if you’ve never experienced croup before!  If you’re not sure if it’s croup, call your pediatrician and they’ll help you determine whether it is or not.  Try the natural remedies above and I think you’ll be happy with results and in the process you’ll become a pro at dealing with seals barking in the night.

To learn more about what croup is and hear some audio recordings Click Here.  The good news about croup is the majority of the time parents can treat it at home and it rarely requires medical intervention.

Here is what we do during an attack:

1. Sit with him in the bathroom with a steamy hot shower running  (usually for 10 – 15 minutes)
2. Aconitum Napellis homeopathic remedy (any potency) to help sudden onset of cough with the anxiety associated with difficulty breathing & cough – give 3 to 4 pellets every 5 t0 10 minutes until the child calms down.
   

   natural remedy for croup

3. Spongia tosta  homeopathic remedy (any potency) for croupy cough – give 3 -4 pellets a couple times
4. Keep him quiet and calm with lots of soothing words and slowing breathing
5. Drink a few sips of warm water
6. Acupressure on the points below (or in my case I’ll do a little acupuncture right then)

Here is what we do the next day:

1. Keep him well hydrated
2. Continue Spongia tosta remedy 4 pellets 3x/day (every time we’ve done this, the croup episode lasts only one night)
3. Herbal Remedies for treating any other cold or upper respiratory symptoms
4. Avoid dairy since it creates mucus
5. Sip warm teas

Here are some acupressure points you can press to help with croup during and after:

1. Percardium 6 to open up the chest and help with cough, anxiety and nausea
2. Lung 9 – for cough
3. Massage the child’s upper back between the shoulder blade and spine on both sides, vigorously until skin gets a little pink.  This stimulates acupoints to support the lungs and boost immunity.

If  your child is having a severe case of croup  with extreme difficulty breathing or the symptoms aren’t resolving after trying natural remedies they may require medical intervention.   Conventional treatments typically include nebulizer with albuterol or other broncho-dilators to help open the airways and ease breathing quickly.

It can be a little scary if you’ve never experienced croup before!  If you’re not sure if it’s croup, call your pediatrician and they’ll help you determine whether it is or not.  Try the natural remedies above and I think you’ll be happy with results and in the process you’ll become a pro at dealing with seals barking in the night.

My son's cranky face

I’m sure there have been times when you’ve asked yourself, “why is my kid so cranky?”  Then if your not completely exhausted from dealing with your cranky kid, you go down the checklist of possibilities:

1. Is he hungry?
2. Did he get a good night sleep? Does he need a nap?
3. Did he have anything sugary to eat?
4. Has he had too much screen time?

No. No. No. No.   What could it be?  Oh, no!  He might getting sick!  Crankiness, whining, and irritability are the first signs that your child could be getting sick.   Take action right away to see if you can prevent a brewing illness from becoming full blown.

Here are a seven steps to help prevent illness:

1. Make sure your child gets enough sleep. Have them go to bed just a little bit early.
2. Avoid sugar, dairy and wheat as much as possible.
3. Eat whole foods, chicken stock, warming soups and teas.
4. Start herbs and supplements. Support their immune system with supplements like vitamin C, vitamin D, astragalus, maitake and other mushrooms, etc.  There are a lot of possibilities so just use what you have on hand.
5. Keep your child warm.  Don’t let them play outside in the cold or wind without a jacket or at least an extra layer of clothing.  If you’re not sure if they’re warm enough put your hand inside their shirt and check to see if their shoulder and upper back are warm.
6. Slow Down their Schedule.  This is the time to do less.  Cancel meetings or appointments that aren’t essential so you and your child can get a break and some extra rest.
7. Massage their upper back between the shoulder blades and spine until their skin turns a little pink.  Vigorous massage in this area helps stimulate the acupoints associated with the immune system.  This is great to do after a bath.

We can’t always prevent a cold, but by intervening in the early stages you can help you child through it without complications.  To build a healthy immune system your child needs to get sick and get well.

If your child is sick frequently or needs extra support during the cold and flu season, contact a licensed acupuncturist who can give you specific advice for your child’s health concern.

Child having Acupuncture

thousands of years.   It is a safe, natural and effective treatment that works with the body and has very few adverse effects.  As a pediatric acupuncturist I can assure you acupuncture is completely safe for kids and now there is current research to support this assertion!  The first systematic review study of pediatric acupuncture safety was published in the December 2011 issue of the journal Pediatrics. It confirms that acupuncture is safe for kids when performed by a qualified practitioner.

I believe acupuncture for kids is even safer than the study findings due to the rigorous clinical training, safety standards and certifications that modern American acupuncturists go through before becoming licensed.  After reviewing the study I found that these standards were not reflected in the systematic review because much of the data for the review came out of international studies. The serious adverse events reported were mostly caused by unqualified practitioners in other countries and were due to gross incompetence.

Here are six reasons why I think acupuncture by qualified practitioners is safer for kids than the recent study findings:

Hair-fine Pediatric Acupuncture Needle

1. Only single-use sterile disposable needles are used, thus infections from needles are extremely rare!
2. The needles are hair-fine, virtually painless, and are inserted superficially into the skin so there is zero risk of puncturing a lung or other vital organ.
3. Acupuncture needles are not always used for treatment.  There are several different non-needle painless ways to stimulate the acupoints that have similar therapeutic effects as acupuncture.   Non-needle methods do not penetrate the skin so there is zero chance of any adverse reaction.
4. In babies and toddlers non-needle methods are generally used to stimulate acupoints.  Thus, fear and crying are extremely rare.
5. In kids under age 8, acupuncture needles are not retained in the body.  The needles are swiftly tapped in and immediately taken out.  Children only need to sit still for a few seconds at a time during the treatment.
6. In kids over age 8, they can generally sit still for 10 – 20 minutes with the needles in, but unlike adults the needles are smaller and inserted superficially minimizing any serious risk to the child.

In my experience the most common adverse reaction is a mild and brief discomfort (about 1 second) during insertion of the needle.  Rarely, mild adverse reactions such as temporary bruising or swelling at the needle site occur but these are uncommon due to the special techniques used in pediatrics.  In the eleven years I’ve been involved in acupuncture never has a single pediatric or adult patient caught an infection from needle insertion, nor have I seen or any serious adverse reactions.  They do happen, but are extremely rare and very unlikely if the practitioner you choose is licensed and has special training in pediatrics.

Image via Wikipedia

Every fall I field many questions about the flu shot and I’m most commonly asked “should I get one?” Vaccinations are a very controversial topic and people feel strongly both for and against vaccinations.   Rather than make a decision from fear or pressure, I think it’s important to ask the right questions, look at all the data, evaluate your medical and health history and then make an informed decision that YOU are comfortable with.

Why Get the Flu Vaccine?  

I had the flu about three years ago and let’s face it — it stinks and nobody wants to get it.  You feel like you’ve been hit by a truck, you’re likely going to miss work for at least a week and it may take several weeks to recover.  The flu hits young children and the elderly the hardest and can cause complications like pneumonia, hospitalization and, occasionally, death.  Historically, flu outbreaks have caused millions upon millions of deaths.  Because it is not something to take lightly the government tries to protect the public from potentially harmful influenza infection.

Is the Flu Vaccine Effective?

That depends on who you ask.  If you look at the CDC’s webpage on the flu vaccine effectiveness everything sounds straight forward. According to the CDC the flu vaccine is between 30 – 70% effective at preventing the flu depending on the population you’re evaluating.  How well the flu vaccine performs depends how well the three strains chosen each year match the flu strains that people are infected with.  The vaccine is not effective against upper respiratory viral infections so it will not protect you from the common cold or other flu-like viruses.

The problem is there is very little research that demonstrates the effectiveness of the flu vaccine.  According to Tom Jefferson, author of Influenza Vaccination: Policy versus Evidence published in the British Medical Journal, most of the studies are very small, not well constructed, depend too much on cohorts and non-randomised studies that introduce bias making the results unreliable.  He goes on to say, “In children under 2 years inactivated vaccines had the same field of efficacy as placebo, and in healthy people under 65 vaccination did not affect hospital stay, time off work, or death from influenza and its complications.”  With the current studies that we have on the flu vaccine and the fact that strains change from year to year, the simple answer is no one really knows if it is or is not effective—there is not enough data yet.

Is the Flu Vaccine Safe?

For the same reasons we don’t know if the flu vaccine is effective, we can’t say whether or not it is safe.  This is especially true in babies, small children and pregnant women.  There is not enough evidence to provide an answer either way.  If you read the package inserts for the fluarix flu vaccine it says, “safety and effectiveness has not been established in pregnant mothers.”  The package insert goes on to say that there has been a small study on pregnant rats which did not cause harm to the rat or her rat baby, however, there are no human studies that demonstrate safety or effectiveness.

Individual dose flu vaccines usually do not contain thimerisol (mercury), but most multi-dose flu vaccines do.  Thimerisol is still highly controversial as to whether it is linked to mitochodrial disease and additional complications.  In addition, most of the flu vaccines contain α-tocopheryl hydrogen succinate, polysorbate 80 and residual amounts of hydrocortisone, gentamicin sulfate, ovalbumin (egg), formaldehyde, and sodium deoxycholate.

The 2011-2012 flu vaccine contains three influenza strains including H1N1 or swine flu.  The swine flu vaccine is associated with an increased risk for Guillain-Barré Syndrome.  According to the Mayo Clinic Website “Guillain-Barre (ghee-YA-buh-RAY) syndrome is a disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your extremities are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body. In its most severe form, Guillain-Barre syndrome is a medical emergency requiring hospitalization.”(1)

Is the Flu Vaccine right for me?

Only you can answer that question, but promise me you will make an informed decision that’s best for you!  I’ve included a list of links on the flu shot so you can look at the available data yourself.

I believe the best way to support a healthy immune system is to stick with the basics of staying healthy: adequate sleep, eating healthy, exercising, minimizing stress, washing hands and of course taking herbs (but you knew I was going to stay that).

Links for More Information on the Flu Vaccine:

CDC: Effectiveness of Flu Vaccine

CDC: 2011-12 Vaccine Selection

CDC: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Recommends Universal Annual Immunization

British Medical Journal: Influenza Vaccination: Policy versus Evidence 

Studies Fail to Demonstrate Safety or Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine in Children and Adults

The Flu Vaccine and You: what parents need to know about the new recommendations

Flu Vaccine: Stay Out of My Womb!

What’s in the Flu Vaccine: Online Flu Vaccine Package Inserts

References:

(1) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/guillain-barre-syndrome/DS00413

Water
It helps to hydrate our skin to keep is smooth and supple. Drink enough water so that your urine is clear.

Foods Rich in Vitamin A
Carrots, garnet yams, barley or wheat grasses and deep green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamin A which is essential for healthy skin and eyes.

Foods Rich in Antioxidants
Organic blueberries, raspberries, blackberries & strawberries are rich in antioxidants which protect skin from sun damage and the effects of aging.

Fish & Fish Oil
Arctic cod, tuna, wild salmon are rich in essential fatty acids which help skin cell membranes stay healthy and allows skin cells to maintain proper hydration. In addition if you have problem skin I also recommend adding a high quality fish oil such Nordic Naturals because it of its strong anti-inflammatory effect.

Nuts & Seeds
Almond, walnuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are rich in essential fatty acids. Brazil nuts are also a good source of selenium which is found beneficial for the skin and preventing skin cancer.

Green Tea
Green tea is rich in antioxidants which help neutralize UV damage from the sun. It has a high amount of polyphenolic flavinoids which have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body. Preliminary research shows that green tea may also prevent skin cancer.

Probiotics/fermented foods
Probiotics are essential to help maintain a healthy intestinal track allowing you to properly absorb the nutrients in your foods to grow beautiful skin. According to dermatologist Dr. Cynthia Bailey, “They make important vitamins (B vitamins, biotin, vitamin K to name a few), they produce germ killing substances that keep you from getting infections, and they’re your ‘hazmat’ team removing food born toxins like mercury.”

Here is my basic morning strategy.  Avoid sugary foods like Nutella, juice, all cereals, white and processed foods since they have a high glycemic index.  Your child will be hungry about an hour after breakfast if they eat processed, sugary foods.  I can’t stand the Nutella and cereal commercials promoting their foods like they’re healthy breakfast choices – yeah right!  If you have any of these foods in the house, TOSS THEM IN THE TRASH!  If your kids don’t eat lunch at school, you’re going to have to get up early and cook them breakfast.  There is just no way around this, but you can save time by cooking up large batches of pancakes on the weekend or doing the prep work the night before.  You’ll also need to give your kids plenty of time to eat these large and healthy breakfasts.

Here are some breakfast ideas:

1. Serve Lunch for Breakfast!  Why not?  I’ve served ham & cheese breakfast sandwiches, egg sandwiches, Bacon sandwiches, egg & cheese burritos.

2. Classic Breakfast: Eggs, Bacon  or Sausage & Fruit.  Apple Chicken sausage is great morning treat!  TIP: Look for brands without nitrates that use organic meats.

3. Multi-Grain Pancakes, Organic Canadian Bacon & Fruit – add things like oats, cottage cheese, lots of eggs to make the pancakes filling.  Reduce syrup intake by mixing butter with the the syrup or blending blueberries, butter and maple syrup in the blender. TIP: soak oats overnight before cooking with them to make them easier to digest.   I have a great GFCF multi-grain pancake recipe that I’m going to see if I can get permission to share on this blog.

4. Homemade breads or crepes with nut or seed butter.  When you make zucchini or banana bread homemade reduce the sugar content and add foods like almond meal, quinoa flakes, etc. to boost protein content.  Then slather on the nut or seed butter.  My kids love sunflower seed butter as it has a similar taste to peanut butter but a contains more omega-3 fats.

5. Serve breakfast with a glass of whole/raw organic milk or coconut milk for those with diary allergies.  TIP: Coconut milk is my favorite diary alternative because it has lots of medium chain fatty acids with are beneficial to the immune system and the brain!

6. Smoothies.  This is a summer time  or on-the-go favorite.   My basic smoothie recipe always has 1 cup of coconut milk, 1 cup frozen fruit, and 20 grams no-sugar protein powder and 1/4 cup spinach (which you can’t taste).  Then I mix and match seasonal fruit, a little banana (not too much), nut butter or if I’m living dangerously a little natural unsweetened cocoa powder. YUM!

Breakfast can be challenging, but it really is the MOST important meal of the day to help our kids boost their brain power and get a great start at school.  For more ideas on what to fix as well as information on what to avoid read Morning Nourishment, Bountiful Benefits & Creative Ideas by Jen Allbritton.

Me & My Son

The subject of skin conditions is one that hits close to home for me. My oldest son, now age 7, started to develop eczema when he was about 3 months old. By 9 months the eczema had spread from the back of his arms to most of his body, except his trunk and scalp. I tried all the conventional medical treatments which included hydrocortisone creams, other prescription eczema creams, baths with a small amount of bleach (can you believe the dermatologist recommended that) and nothing worked. I was reluctant to continue such harsh ineffective treatment, so I took it upon myself to become on expert in Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) Treatments for treating eczema and other skin conditions.

How Can Acupuncture Help Skin Conditions?
Many inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, hives and psoriasis are due in part to an overactive immune system response. The exact mechanisms that causes this type of skin conditions is still unknown, but many people with skin conditions may have additional immune related issues such as asthma or allergies (1). Treatments with acupuncture are effective because they help regulate the overactive immune response and reduce inflammation (2). Acupuncture can also address some of the other underlying factors for inflammatory skin conditions such as stress, hormone imbalances, food sensitivities and poor diet.

Lung/Large Intestine-Skin-Immune Connection
In TCM the lung-large intestine network governs the skin and functions roughly like the western equivalent of the immune system. This relationship between the skin and the lung network is not surprising when you consider that the skin is our first line of defense against environmental pathogens and is the largest organ in the human body! The large intestine contains gut-associated lymphoid tissue, which also has a large role in our immune defense system(3). From the TCM perspective, when the lung-large intestine network is out of balance, skin problems, allergies and/or asthma may result.

Treatment of Skin Problems
A standard course of acupuncture therapy plus herbal therapy are the first step to treating skin problems. Supplements such as fish oil, high quality probiotics, and bioflavanoids (like green tea and quercetin) are often beneficial for skin problems. Dietary changes and elimination diets are also effective if an underlying digestive issue is suspected. Gluten and dairy intolerance are often seen in inflammatory conditions so eliminating these foods is often beneficial in resolving the condition.

If you are someone you know suffers from a skin condition and they would like to see if acupuncture can help, please contact Robin at (408) 852-9659 for a complimentary consultation.