Acupuncture training: What does L.Ac. mean?

Have you ever wondered what "L.Ac." means? Or wondered what training this person doing acupuncture has had? Here are your answers. L.Ac., those of us who are trained in the medical system called Chinese Medicine of which acupuncture is just one of the therapies are required to have 3 to 4 years of academic education in an approved Traditional Chinese Medicine school. Naturally, physicians can do acupuncture and generally they take a 300 hour course if they want to add acupuncture to their medical practice. Chiropractors can get "certified" to do acupuncture after a 100 hour course. Physical therapists do something called "dry needling" or trigger point therapy - don't get confused, this is NOT acupuncture and should not be called such. There are weekend courses in dry needling for PTs who want to add it to their cache of therapies. Where does that leave you, the consumer? Ask questions! Ask where your practitioner went to school and/or how much training he or she has in acupuncture. Ask what his/her theory of treatment is, how good a needler is the practitioner, etc. As I said, practitioners like me are what I called "fully trained" in Chinese Medicine AND nationally certified by the NCCAOM. We practice acupuncture, manual therapies like guasha, we can prescribe Chinese herbal medicines, auricular acupuncture, and more. Some of us also have additional training. My doctorate degree is in Research Psychology and my experience with allopathic (Western or modern) medicine was in doing research with heart patients. After a number of years of professing and research assignments I decided to learn Chinese Medicine. Being a research scientist is helpful in my Chinese Medicine practice because I can determine whether studies about acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are well done. There are many gifted practitioners available. Do your research and find the one who is right for you!

Your First Fertility Choice - Chinese Medicine as in vitro fertility treatments are tied to risk of ovarian cancer

Reported today in the Denver Post from the journal Human Reproduction: women whose ovaries are stimulated to produce extra eggs for in vitro fertilization have an increased risk of ovarian cancer later in life. The long-term risk for ovarian tumors is twice as high among women who undergo stimulation for in vitro fertilization compared with women who don't undergo such treatments to boost fertility. Lead researcher Professor Flora van Leeuwen said "If we find out that women who receive large doses of ovarian-stimulating drugs are at a greater risk for ovarian cancer, then these women would need to be in formed about these risks when continuing IVF treatment." Further research will be conducted to see if there is a connection between the risk of cancer and the number of IVF treatment cycles.

From a Chinese Medicine standpoint this is fascinating in that I have been telling my fertility patients for years that these medical procedures do two things: they create havoc in your hormonal system AND and they create qi and blood stagnation. What are tumors in Chinese Medicine? Qi and blood stagnation. And now this research shows that is true.

This is another example of how our bodies reject fooling around with our hormonal systems. Another example is the connection between Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in peri-menopausal women and the risk of cancer. And, in this case also, hot flashes and other symptoms or conditions that women deal with during this time of life can be successfully and safely treated using Chinese Medicine.

A third example of hormonal control is birth control pills. These have always been associated with a greater risk of blood clots and, in my humble opinion, are one of the reasons for this rash of fertility issues. If one begins to take hormones at 14 years old and takes them for 15 years, I wonder how it is thinkable that the body would then immediately go into a "normal" state to get pregnant.

There are natural, healthy ways to get the bodies of women AND men ready to conceive and support a successful pregnancy. Yes, MEN. The successful conception rate in my practice went up 30 to 40% when I insisted that the male partner also be treated. It's true .... getting pregnant is not all about the female.

Plantar fasciitis and acupuncture: start early in your symptom presentation!!

Scientists in Greece at the University of Athens tested two groups of athletes with plantar fasciitis. Both groups received conventional treatments, but only one group received acupuncture. Those who got needled experienced significantly more relief after just a matter of weeks. The researchers concluded that "acupuncture should be considered as a major therapeutic instrument for the decrease of heel pain, combined with traditional medical approaches."

The earlier you begin acupuncture, the better. This is always true - the younger the better and the earlier into your symptom the better. I can't stress how waiting until the last minute makes your treatment last longer and need to be more frequent. When people say that they "don't have to see their MD every day" I respond by saying "that's true. But you are taking medication every day or more than once a day! That is the equivalent of seeing your MD for treatment daily." Acupuncture heals rather than put on a bandaid to hide symptoms.

Ingredients: now triclosan in toothpaste may affect the thyroid

I just read an interesting report about a chemical called triclosan that is in some toothpastes - the ones that say "anti-gingivitis". Turns out that, in animal studies, the triclosan negatively impacts the thyroid that controls some hormones, weight, mood, and energy. Another thing to watch out for - it's clearly on the label in the Drugs Facts box.

Obviously the other big thing to watch for is hormones, especially estrogens, in meats and dairy. Studies recommend that if you can only afford to eat partial organic, eat organic meat and dairy products to reduce hormone load. One of my theories about the crazy amount of fertility challenges that we see today is that the people - men and women - have been eating too much estrogen. Who knew back when they were children that foods contain hormones? Or that shampoos and other cosmetic items contained parabens that can turn estrogenic inside the body even though you are putting them on the body (the skin is a living organ that takes in chemicals).

Speaking of the skin, if you want to look great for the holidays and New Year, try Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture. It is absolutely the most healthy and safe option for cosmetic work. And, it improves your general health!

Individualized treatment & fertility: that's Chinese Medicine

Another conception success! And this after the patient had been to a "fertility retreat" where she, and everyone else, was told to become gluten and dairy free plus a number of other things that needed to be done each and every day. She was a "mess" by the time I saw her. She had lost 11 lbs (I told her to gain it back) and the dairy & gluten thing. Really? This was a practitioner of Chinese Medicine giving "blanket advice" to the entire group? REPEAT AFTER ME: One of the real beauties of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the treatment of the individual. Everyone does not get the same treatment - or shouldn't if your practitioner is in tune with YOUR energy patterns. I don't like to have to say "buyer beware" but you are when you choose a physician or a massage therapist, right? Most people don't go to just anyone out of the phone book. Don't be afraid to ask the practitioner about his or her theory about Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, herbal prescriptions, and the other TCM therapies. This medicine's promise is to treat YOU, not give out blanket prescription medicine. So with this patient, I told her to get back on dairy, to quit some of her daily activities that were creating more stress (so much so that she hired a nanny so she could do all of these recommended activities), and to take herbs. Success is in the treatment of the individual not a group setting where everyone takes the same advice or prescription.

Libido not what it used to be? Chinese Medicine works!

Is your libido not what it used to be? That could be due to hormonal issues, stress, or even your last sports injury. Chinese Medicine successfully addresses hormonal issues in a safe way (take a look at the potential side effects of HRT vs. those of Chinese Medicine). Acupuncture reduces the negative impact of stress on your body thereby allowing your libido to thrive. And if you are active, some sports injuries or activities can block the flow of qi and blood to the pelvic area thereby reducing your libido ..... that's a matter of reopening your Dai Mai to get everything flowing again! Men: Chinese Medicine is a much safer option than the pharmaceutical drugs out there. For example, you don't have to worry about "temporary loss of vision" as a side effect. For a consult or treatment, call 303.947.6224 or email me at DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com. All medical treatment is strictly confidential even with the treatment of couples (for fertility for example) and family members.

www.AcupunctureWoman.com

Digestion is how you make your qi/energy and ginger is so good for us!

Here's an interesting article about how ginger reduces inflammation. That is good news for us since many of the issues of aging center around inflammation (pain, acid reflux, more pain, skin rashes, etc.).

I recommend making yourself ginger tea w/ just a very thin slice of ginger (use a tool like a potato peeler) in hot/warm water. It is so wonderful to help manage digestion.

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-ginger-colon-inflammation-20111012,0,7836755.story

Acupuncture and plantar fasciitis

NCBI report: Acupuncture should be considered as a major therapeutic instrument to treat plantar fasciitis - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21868796. Suffering from heel pain? Schedule an appointment at 303-947-6224 or DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com. We bill insurance!!

Acupuncture and plantar fasciitis

NCBI report: Acupuncture should be considered as a major therapeutic instrument to treat plantar fasciitis - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21868796. Suffering from heel pain? Schedule an appointment at 303-947-6224 or DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com. We bill insurance!!

Acupuncture and chemotherapy

Acupuncture is a lovely and powerful adjunct treatment to receive during therapies used to treat cancer. http://www.nbc-2.com/story/15696599/health-matters-using-acupuncture-for-side-effects-of-chemotherapy

Acupuncture for stroke: don't give up!

This is a nice read about how acupuncture can help minimize the negative impact of stroke. It also mentions that people shouldn't have to leave the country to get treatment (as demonstrated in the movie 9000 needles).

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32474

New Study: 'MRI Acupuncture Research Shows Mind-Body Connection'

Quoting from Health CMI this week:

"New research concludes that 'acupuncture may function as a somatosensory-guided mind-body therapy.' The research compared MRI readings of real acupuncture with sham acupuncture (needle stimulation at non-acupuncture point locations) at acupuncture point P-6 (Neiguan, Inner Pass). The MRI imaging showed that true acupuncture yielded greater activity over sham acupuncture in the dorsomedial prefontal cortex of the brain. Real acupuncture produced significantly 'greater activity in both cognitive/evaluative (posterior dmPFC) and emotional/interoceptive (anterior dmPFC) cortical regions' and the MRI results showed that true acupuncture 'increased cognitive load.'1"

I think this is demonstrative of the effectiveness of acupuncture.

Link to the Health CMI posting

Asthma inflammation and Vit E: Prevention even with signs of aging

This is a very interesting study about how Vitamin E in its alpha-tocopherol form reduced lung inflammation in mice. What good news for asthmatics! One of my good friends, Dr. Kedar Prasad - an expert on vitamins and cancer treatment - has been touting the wonderfulness of the alpha-tocopherol form of Vitamin E for years. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal prescriptions may also reduce inflammation in the proper practitioner hands but maybe the addition of the alpha-tocopherol is a good thing. I'm certainly going to try it. Inflammation is one of the causes of many of the conditions of aging - including aging itself actually. Prevention, prevention, prevention. In fact, in the world of Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture I even like to say "prevent the waddle" .... the skin on the neck that starts to sag ... the best way (and sometimes the only way) to deal w/ that is through preventing it. Acupuncture works!!

http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/041109.htm

Acupuncture, worry, & high blood pressure.

My November column in Acupuncture Today.

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32478

Tim Tebow, acupuncture, and welts. ... Welts?!

Acupuncture is in the news! "Acupuncture," Tebow said of the alternative treatment he received Friday afternoon on the recommendation of veteran safety Brian Dawkins .... "It actually makes you feel good." He was certain to clarify that it makes him feel good because the first line in the article said that he had "hockey puck-sized red welts" dotting his back. "Welts"? The article creates the impression that the acupuncture produced the welts. In my experience, you have to hope that it didn't create the welts. Maybe Tebow received cupping which can leave red circular marks (when done "vigorously") but still, not welts. I wish they had shown a photo of it so I could clarify what they meant but a good acupuncture needler/practitioner would not produce welts. Ask any of my patients! Maybe "welts" was too strong a word to describe the results but fear not: acupuncture does not leave welts. If Tebow would like a gentler, kinder yet super effective acupuncture I wish he'd drop by my office.

Acupuncture helps sports injuries or surgical injuries heal faster. Your practitioner may also use Chinese herbal prescriptions or gua sha - one of my personal favorite therapies - to help get you back to 100% quickly.

303-947-6224/AcupunctureWoman.com

Teaching Mei Zen in Vegas: Out of office on Monday

Acupuncture: just one therapy in the system of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture is but one of the therapies available in the system of medicine that is called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Practitioners also offer Chinese herbal prescriptions, gua sha &/or tuina (both manual therapies), cupping, nutritional advice according to the theory of TCM and energetics of food, QiGong (I give all of my patients a QiGong CD in which I guide you through moving the qi through your body and storing it in your lower dantian/belly), take-home acupuncture tacks or bio-ceramic balls, and I am excited to announce that I will be adding cold laser as an energetic/electrical therapy for pain and cosmetic work soon! In CO, our title "licensed acupuncturist" does not reflect our full scope of the medical practice. It is a limiting title for those of us who practice a system of medicine rather than one therapy.

Fertility and acupuncture or "I need to start a baby face page on my website"

Another great story about fertility treatment acupuncture success when the couple had had other more invasive procedures without success and had more or less given up hope.

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=189832

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Taking care of the life and body we are given

Sometimes I think I've had a little more than my share of sudden deaths of loved ones (my mom and beloved mentor for two). Yesterday news of another. Each time it makes me think about my life in terms of relationships mostly ..... do my children and grandchildren know how much I love them? Is everything in order in my personal relationships? And - this is very important - am I taking care of my health to the best of my ability? In other words, I am thrown back into a state of reality about taking life for granted. Taking everything for granted actually. It's tough to think about death and dying sometimes so I take these sudden deaths as messengers of a sort. They make me take pause and wonder about changes that I may need to make in my life, relationships, work, experiencing joy, etc. But one thing always stands out: the state of my health and the health of my loved ones. This body is the temple of my soul, of who I am in this world. If the car analogy works better for some - that is, you don't your car run without oil, right? You fix the dents and cracks in the windshield. Then why don't we do the same for our temple? Don't have time ..... costs too much .... it's only a temporary pain or symptom ... it'll go away ..... we have a million reasons why not to pay attention to our health. Well, today is another day where I will ponder that state of my life as I move through the emotions of another sudden death of someone. My family and I will go over the details, wonder why, complain about the state of health care in what I call "the valley" where my hometown is, etc. etc. I'm going to go now and do something good for my body/health. I hope you can take the time to do the same thing today.

Acupuncture in hospitals

I wish that the Denver medical community wasn't so conservative. This is what should be happening everywhere:

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/oct/03/jupiter-medical-center-brings-acupuncture-to-the-o/. People deserve options. AND, acupuncture, Chinese herbal prescriptions, etc. accelerate healing. If an orthopedic surgeon had an acupuncturist on his or her staff, his/her patients would be the poster people for healing quickly after an orthopedic surgery. I did it three times myself: ACL reconstruction (running earlier than predicted), foot surgery (out of the boot early); broken wrist (out of the cast 2 weeks early) - all because, in my opinion, I did acupuncture near the injury/surgical site, used liniment that moves qi and blood, and took Chinese herbal prescriptions. And oh, no need for pharmaceutical pain killers.

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Acupuncture works! It's the "why" that is still difficult to put in W med terms

We know that acupuncture works - it's the explanation in modern medicine terms that is still somewhat "mysterious". I can explain how Chinese Medicine works according to its theory but some people still want it to be explained according to their comfort zone. We're working on it!

http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/a-healthy-poke-demystifying-the-science-behind-acupuncture/245816/

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