Back and neck pain is one of the top reasons that people seek treatment from healthcare providers. This makes sense because according to numerous studies, nearly everyone (80% of the total population) will have a bout of back or neck pain at some time in their life bad enough to cause them to seek help. […]
As stated in my last article on insomnia, it is a major problem in the U.S., affecting over 60 million people. Here is some more recent information that has come to light. Chronic insomnia due to sleep disorders is more prevalent in working women ages 20 – 60 (27%) then men (20%) and is worse for those […]
Drug withdrawal can be one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through. Whether quitting cocaine, narcotics, cigarettes, alcohol, or foods, it can be a dark period filled with emotional and physical pain that makes it hard to see the light beaming from the end of the tunnel. Often people keep their addictions quiet to begin with and thus, go through the drug withdrawal process alone and unsupported. They may erroneously believe that the strength of their intention alone is the determinant of success.
Undoubtedly, in the initial stages of letting go of the addiction, will power is important. However, to ensure success one should also have the support of alternative healthcare professionals. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners have much to offer here. They can be a part of their client’s support team by providing acupuncture and Chinese herbs to ameliorate the physical symptoms of drug withdrawal, as well as offering suggestions and strategies to help avoid relapse. To round out the healthcare team, the client should consider having access to a good counselor and a support group of people who have struggled with the same addiction. Because those in support groups have had similar experiences, they can provide emotional, mental, and spiritual support in a way that friends and families may not be able to do.
Restless sleep, trouble falling and staying asleep, light sleep, erratic and short sleep cycles respond well to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Not being to get adequate sleep can drain energy and negatively effect our well-being. Usually, by the time a client comes in they often have tried OTC approaches such as antihistamines, sedatives, calmatives, etc to […]
Recently, during a conversation with a colleague, I was reminded that arthritis is one of the top chronic ailments that plague Americans.
Chinese medicine has a long history of successfully treating most types of arthritis. Through the use of herbs, acupuncture, massage, exercise, and nutritional counseling, the symptoms are relieved and the causes are eliminated.
With ALS gaining a great deal of national attention lately, I thought it might be interesting for people to hear how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views and treats it. First of all, what is ALS?
ALS is short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the motor nerves in the central nervous system that ultimately leads to the weakening and wasting of muscles.
One of the most profound principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine is that the process of searching for a holistic cure for illness often involves a deep, personal transformative journey. This is especially true in chronic disease. In order to affect a cure, often those suffering with chronic illnesses need to look deeply into all aspects […]
Now more than ever, Integrative Healthcare is becoming more viable as a potential remedy for what is ailing America’s healthcare system. Currently, we are facing a national crisis on just how we are going provide healthcare to Americans and keep it affordable and fair for everyone. Unfortunately, if we don’t change our underlying philosophies, I […]
Happy New Year! Although the passing of Solstice signals that we are beginning to move out of the dark days of winter, we still have a few months of cold before us. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Winter is the most yin of the seasons. A time when life has returned to its deepest inner […]
As flu season gets under way we are faced with a more potent strain of flu bug this year known as “swine flu” or the H1N1 virus. A lot of people are naturally concerned and are asking their healthcare providers if they should get vaccinated against the virus. What makes this virus more worrisome than […]