Need more defense against the effects of stress?: Heart health and optimism

A Harvard U review of the literature found the most optimistic people had half the risk of a first heart attack when compared to the least optimistic. A 50% reduction in risk!!!

I've been telling you ... knee pain? Acupuncture works! Research supports this.

Knee pain - pre and post surgery even - acupuncture works! All orthopedic surgeons and PTs should be referring to Chinese Medicine practitioners (in my opinion).

http://www.healthcmi.com/index.php/acupuncturist-news-online/518-acupunctureceuskneestudynih

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For an appointment, call 303-947-6224 or write DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com

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.

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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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.

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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!

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!!

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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

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.

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.

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!

http://www.healthcmi.com/index.php/acupuncturist-news-online/473-acupuncturestressgeorgetownstudy

Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture - Revitalize!

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

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).

http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/25131

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!

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/acupuncture-and-weight-loss

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.

http://www.healthcmi.com/index.php/acupuncturist-news-online/474-mristudyrevealsacupuncturemechanisms

I do insurance billing for acupuncture

Not all Chinese Medicine Practitioners/Acupuncturists accept insurance. However, I understand the importance of allowing you to pay for acupuncture or manual therapy (gua sha, cupping, etc.) through your insurer. Not only do I work with all insurance carriers that offer acupuncture benefits but I also work with auto insurers. My billing person processes all the paperwork and deals with the insurance companies so that I may concentrate on improving your health and overall well being (what I love to do!).

Dry needling is acupuncture. ALWAYS ask about your medical practitioner's training.

Dry needling is acupuncture. ALWAYS ask about your medical practitioner's training.

This is a cute little video where a PT and a practitioners of Chinese Medicine/Acupuncturist are discussing whether dry needling is indeed acupuncture and the very large discrepancy in training. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygtOBE_qkZ0

Dry needling is acupuncture. ALWAYS ask about your medical practitioner's training.

This is a cute little video where a PT and a practitioners of Chinese Medicine/Acupuncturist are discussing whether dry needling is indeed acupuncture and the very large discrepancy in training. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygtOBE_qkZ0

Happy year of the Yang Water Dragon!!!

The energy of the Yang Water Dragon year: it's likely to be a good one!

The Yang Water Dragon year is here! I am so excited about this year's energy that I started to feel it even before today.

Dragons are associated with power and good fortune. When we examine Chinese lore, we see that Dragon years can be dramatic. Why? In Chinese astrology, the Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize character traits such as passion, dominance, and raw ambition. They are unafraid of challenges or change and do everything on a grand scale.

What does a Yang Water Dragon year have in store for you? If you enjoy Chinese astrology, then this could be an exciting year, providing you read the landscape with attention. You would do well to complete unfinished business from 2011 as quickly as possible. When Dragon begins its procession through 2012, you want his route unimpeded and smooth, even though it may climb and twist.

The Dragon is a sign of good fortune and the Year of the Dragon is considered an auspicious time for new beginnings. Be watchful for opportunities that present in late January. Entrepreneurs and new ventures are particularly favored to experience success this year – business, marriages, projects, children born in 2012 or in previous Dragon years all benefit from the outstanding luck often associated with this zodiac sign. 2012 can also be an auspicious year to plan a celebration or throw a big party. Those compatible with the Dragon — Rat and Snake in particular — will also find 2012's circumstances inspiring them to greater personal happiness and professional success. But, the Dragon, perhaps because of its passion, may also bring a rougher style of communication - less diplomacy and more directness, so be prepared

The energy of the year will move grandly and quickly right away, and you want to be ready for it. The Dragon is associated with Spring, and the energetic high point of the year is the Dragon Moon, from May 20^th (New Moon) to June 18^th. Dragon energy favors the bold. The grand scale of Dragon energy encourages you to reach for the proverbial brass ring or to act on your dream. If you want to succeed at something major, according to Suzanne White, author of THE NEW ASTROLOGY, start early in the year and persist. Don’t give up; express yourself openly. She writes, "Any and all events will be dramatic and charged with a rare intensity. In short, 2012 will be a year of derring-do, hell-raising and exorbitant fun.

What of the Yang and Water aspect of 2012? Water has a calming effect on Dragon’s fearless temperament. Yang Water is like a flowing river rather than a still lake. Things move, ideas flow, creativity abounds, business booms, and love blossoms in this environment. It is likely to be an exciting year. Because this year is the Year of the Water Dragon, affairs maybe tempered because water helps calm the Dragon’s fire. That’s why Water Dragons tend to be less stubborn than your regular old Dragons. But just as the ceremonial dragon is put away after the festival, the dragon “effect” can be fleeting. A project or relationship or romance may be more transitory than long-term. This year can point to either spectacular successes or epic fails. Your luck can be good or bad, and your actions may enhance your fortune or derail it. While this is, of course, true in any circumstance, it’s the extreme nature of the outcome that is attributed to Dragon. Remember that Dragon is mythic and larger than life; so are Dragon-based experiences. Be mindful and try to understand your circumstances deeply and with insight. Consider risk carefully, for an extravagant gesture can leave you at risk when the moment passes.

Summer will present as a relatively quiet period in 2012, but one should not relax during this period since all activities of the unfolding year have acquired a certain momentum and intensity. Therefore vigilant management of your affairs is needed. Fall is a good time for wrapping up loose ends, reflecting, taking stock. At the end of the year, it is beneficial to engage in self-education and planning for the next year.

Let's learn about how to use herbs during the cold/flu season: Don't use most "immune boosting" formulas while you have a cold

Many so-called "immune boosting" formulas have an herb called Huang Qi (astragalus) in them. No. Do not take a formula containing Huang Qi during a cold; it may drive the bug deeper and extend the length of time it takes you to get well. This is one of the most frequent misunderstandings that I hear people talk about. They think that it is good to take an immune booster during a cold. Remember: it depends upon the ingredients! Wu Wei zi (schisandra) is another such ingredient; okay to take when you are not experiencing cold symptoms.

The good news is that there are herbs that will help fight a cold and you can get these from your licensed Chinese medicine practitioner or Acupuncturist. Ban lan gen (isatis root) has antibiotic properties, jin yin hua (lonicera - honeysuckle) has anti-inflammatory properties so it can help with some symptoms. Gan cao (licorice root) is another individual herb can help break a cold right at the beginning.

Here's a good place to clarify that Chinese herbs are prescriptions and should be prescribed by a knowledgeable practitioner. In my most humble professional opinion, they should not be sold over the counter. One of the most frequent stories I hear is that a person bought a Chinese medicine formula in a grocery store and then didn't understand why it didn't work. Well, if you take a formula that is designed to deal with the beginning energetics of a cold midway through your cold, you're right, it's not going to work! Or, if you have a runny nose kind of cold but you take a formula designed for a phlemy, sore throat kind of cold, it's not going to work and might even extend the length of your cold or flu. Please talk with a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner before purchasing Chinese herbal formulas. Taking herbal formulas, especially those containing herbs used in Chinese herbal prescriptions is one case where checking the training and credentials of your alternative medicine practitioner is important.

Remember, this information is based on my training, clinical experience, and licensure as a practitioner of TCM and is not something with which the FDA would necessarily agree or suggest.