Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The Chinese Medicine rocks! blog: why do I need more than one treatment?

Why do I need a number of acupuncture treatments when I only need to see my MD once?

Ahhhh .... the ever frequent question about why you need more than one acupuncture treatment in order for your chronic symptoms to go away ..... i.e., be miraculously cured. My pet peeve: when people get one acupuncture treatment after suffering through 10 years of back pain and then say it didn't work. Healing takes time. Even a small cut takes time to heal and sometimes healing takes effort (i.e., more than one treatment, change in lifestyle, etc.).

So here's the deal. You see your MD once and come home with Vicodin for your pain, birth control pills to control your PMS, diuretic for your high blood pressure, Protonix for your acid reflux or GERD, Imitrex for your migraines, etc. etc. You need a pill box. If you really think about it, theoretically you are seeing your MD every day - in fact sometimes more than once a day since you need to take your pain meds more than once a day. Further, some of these pharmaceuticals are only masking the cause of your pain or other symptoms while the promise of Chinese Medicine is to find the cause and treat it; treat the root.*

Take my own back pain as a case study. I've had years of back pain probably mostly sports induced (structural damage). I was at the point of seeing surgeons for opinions, being offered all manner of prescriptions, etc. etc. .... the story of many people who have back pain. But I KNOW that the body can change despite what some diagnostic tests show - I see it in my patients every day.

I wanted to change my situation. Bone on bone. You might rightfully ask, how can any treatment besides surgery and pain meds deal with that? Well, acupuncture, structural yoga therapy, and deep tissue massage seem to have me on the very right path! WHY DID I CHOOSE THIS PATH? - I want to be healthy and active not drugged with the condition that is causing the pain continuing to get worse. I am now faithful in receiving regular acupuncture treatments and taking Chinese herbal formulae. I see a dynamite structural yoga therapist and do the postures that she teaches me and receive MT. I am considering canceling my next MD/spine specialist appointment because the AM crookedness, stiffness, and pain are minimal now and I am back to being able to do my AM workouts which I couldn't do 4 months ago. Yay!!

Your body CAN change; it's a matter of whether you are willing to find the proper cache of treatments/practitioners and then DO the work! Do I get discouraged sometimes, wish I didn't ever have to do any work to be pain free or not stiff? I do. But when I look at the alternatives, I'm super happy that I have found therapies that work.

*Naturally there are some conditions that can't be "cured" by dealing with the cause when they are too far gone. But, quality of life, for example pain reduction, chemo induced nausea relief, etc. etc., can be much much better.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Photoacupuncture, Cold Laser, Low Level Laser Therapy = pain relief and more

I started my interest in Chinese Medicine via becoming a Colorpuncturist. Colorpuncture is the use of light rather than needles to treat a variety of conditions. Now I am going back to my roots and offer low level laser therapy or cold laser. Cold laser stimulates the regeneration of tissue (and is therefore used for cosmetic purposes), reduces inflammation (helps reduce pain and stiffness), relieves pain (by reducing inflammation and regenerating cells).

For cold laser treatment along with proper Chinese Medicine evaluation and diagnosis call 303-947-6224 or email DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com.

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Monday, March 26, 2012

"Women's" issues and Chinese Medicine: herbs better than bc pills in some cases

This study's title is about pelvic pain and Chinese Medicine but it lists other issues that are resolved by acupuncture and/or herbs and that may require more study so that these therapies are more accessible to women. There is NO reason to suffer through what we commonly call "women's issues".
Call 303-947-6224; email DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com, or go to www.AcupunctureWoman.com for a consult or appointment. I offer the service of health insurance billing.

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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Acupuncture: another study showing its effects on the brain - and therefore the body

I love these studies that show how acupuncture affects the brain. Yes, it's true. Why do you think it works so well to reduce the effects of stress?
If that's not a strong enough reason to receive acupuncture, how about these?
- it improves immune system function
- reduces inflammation (one of the ways it improves the immune system)
- rebuilds digestion so you make better quality qi (energy)
- can help you avoid surgery for chronic issues like back pain (true!!)
- got sciatica? Acupuncture works!
- and it can help reduce lines and wrinkles if you are interested in maintaining your youthful appearance.
Call 303-947-6224 or email me at DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com.
We bill health insurance.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Seasonal allergies? Chinese herbs can stop your sniffling and sneezing!

If you are suffering through seasonal allergies, give me a call. Not only does acupuncture successfully treat allergies but I have the bomb Chinese herbal formula for allergies. I kid you not, 100% (including myself) of people who have taken the formula say it basically "cures" their allergies. No more symptoms! And, you don't need to take it forever like you do some pharmaceutical drugs. No more allergy symptoms just put it away for next time.

It's the healthy way to treat your allergies.

Since it is a Chinese herbal prescription, I will need you to come in for a treatment so that I can get your medical background and do a proper pulse examination/diagnosis to be certain that the energetic properties in the herbal formula are right for you.
Call 303-947-6224 or email me at DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com

New services!!

New services at the Colorado Center of Traditional Medicine

- low level laser therapy: no needles, used for pain relief/healing, fertility issues, stiff back, and much more! Half hour treatments available (initial treatment is one hour).

- supplement discounts through Emerson Ecologics (you order online and the products are shipped to your door - no need for me to be the middle man)

- Mei Zen skin care products - Golden Radiance pearl cream, Immortelle toner, Mei Zen Revitalizing serum, Neroli eye cream, Juniper cypress oil (for stagnation i.e., fat, cellulite), Angelica fertility oil, and two fantastic masques (Shea rose and sea pearl). All products are natural and contain Chinese herbs.

- Colorpuncture treatments for emotional issues that can stem from prenatal and early childhood times. Those can be released or recognized to give you a better understanding your current patterns

- Axiatonal Alignments - these treatments, based upon Sacred Geometry, release emotional "stuckness" that is in our etheric bodies but that may be causing physical distress.

Email me (DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com) or call (303-947-6224) for more information or to set up an appointment!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The magic pill medicine

The magic pill medicine to which we have all become accustomed started w/ the emergence of infectious diseases. Then, because it seemed like such a miracle that we could be "cured" w/ a pill, everyone wanted a magic pill for everything. Hence the development of diet pills, pain pills, birth control pills, etc. etc.

Chinese Medicine's magic pill is prevention - MAINTAINING GOOD HEALTH. Can I make your symptoms go away? Almost certainly. But then, it is so important to maintain your good health state. Why only deal w/ symptoms all the time? Why wait until you are sick or in excruciating or constant pain (physical OR emotional) to pay attention to your body? Does that even sound as though it makes sense to you?

No, it doesn't. And, that type of healthcare is a huge strain on the body. It takes your body a lot more energy/qi to recover than it does to maintain. It's true; think about it.

Example case study: Patient in his 60s with kidney disease from childhood. Had done all he can w/ allopathic medicine, surgery recommended, taking prednisone 10 days a month etc. Basically there was nothing else he could and, frankly, taking that much prednisone each month didn't agree with him. He started to come for acupuncture and hasn't had to take prednisone for 5 years!!!! His commitment is to acupuncture every week and look how dramatically his life has changed. He is HEALTHY; he's NOT JUST TREATING SYMPTOM with any "magic pill" he can find.

Chinese Medicine Rocks!!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Your insurance pays for acupuncture if you work for the Fed and ....

.. you have BCBS Group #105 (and I think Group 106 as well). That's right - they cover between 22 and 26 visits per year! Think about it. You could resolve any symptoms that you are having AND do what Chinese Medicine has been doing for centuries - prevent illness! Maintain good health! I have to say that this is one of the best acupuncture coverage plans I have found.

So, check your plan - it may even be worth your upgrading since your premium increase may still not be as much as receiving acupuncture every other week would cost. That's natural, powerful health care every other week - feeling fantastic and warding off illness all year. Can't ask for more than that.

If your insurance is through another carrier I can check your coverage for you. Call 303-947-6224 or email DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com. You may subscribe to this blog at http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=777691

Monday, March 12, 2012

Medicinal Chinese Herbs Really Do Help Prevent Diabetes

Many traditional Chinese herbal medicines can be effective in the prevention of diabetes, a study conducted by researchers from the University of Western Sydney, Australia, and published in the journal Cochrane Library has confirmed.

Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 16 previously published studies conducted on a total of 1,391 adults who suffered from either impaired glucose tolerance or fasting glucose, both of which lead to the mildly elevated blood sugar levels known as pre-diabetes and raise the risk of full-blown diabetes. In most of the studies, participants were assigned to control their blood sugar with either a combination of traditional Chinese herbal remedies and lifestyle changes or with lifestyle changes alone. A total of 15 different herbal mixes were tested, including Jiangtang Bushen, Xiaoke huaya and Tang Kang yin.
The researchers found that participants who took Chinese herbs were twice as likely to achieve normal blood sugar levels as those who used lifestyle changes alone, and two-thirds less likely to develop diabetes over the course of a given study. The average length of the studies examined was nine months.

None of the studies found any serious side effects to traditional Chinese formulations.
Grant advised that anyone seeking to use traditional Chinese herbs take them under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. Traditionally, Chinese Medicine practitioners have prescribed herbs based on the health history of a given patient, she noted. Therefore, it is not possible to recommend a collection of herbs that can be expected work for all people with a given condition.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Gratitude rituals

What is (or are) your gratitude ritual(s)?
As I shopped in a local market, I saw a social situation that made me want to cry. In fact, I did tear up a little. But immediately I was overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude for all that is good in my life. And, just so you don't think that my life is super perfect without any issues, it isn't, but I was still overwhelmed w/ gratitude.
I wished I could have done something to show my gratitude right then. I pray and I express my gratitude to those who are helpful in my life and business but at that moment I felt like I needed "more" ...... it's hard to explain. I guess I almost felt like I wanted to be a walking billboard of gratitude.
Then it struck me. This is a perfect use for social media - ask friends and colleagues what you do to express your gratitude. I will love hearing your ideas.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Acupuncture reduces negative effect of stress on the body.

Have some stress in your life? Acupuncture reduces negative effect of stress on the body. I tell people this all the time but no Georgetown U says so!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture - Revitalize!

In San Fran teaching Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture. also teaching practitioners how to more effectively treat fertility issues.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy & acupuncture

I am working w/a patient on this right now .... he's had the neuropathy for 2 years since his chemotherapy. Improving!! That's because acupuncture affects the brain (i.e., CNS, central nervous system).

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Dr. Oz agrees that acupuncture works for weight loss

I've been telling people this for years but now that Dr. Oz says it, it must be true!
Notice though that he says that it is a commitment both in terms of time and behavior.
Call me, I help people lose weight and tone up! 303-947-6224

Physiological affects of acupuncture: It affects our brains ... why do you think it's so relaxing?

I tell my students all the time that acupuncture affects the brain. Here is an interesting read about MRI studies and acupuncture.