Blog: Three Pillars of Health

What is Functional Medicine?

 in Functional Medicine  tagged autoimmune / Functional Medicine / Natural Medicine by

    Functional Medicine identifies and addresses the root causes of disease to promote long-term wellness, rather than simply alleviating symptoms. We use a systems based approach to integrate and restore the natural, healthy function of all your body’s systems. Evaluation and diagnosis are based on lab evaluations (blood chemistry, urinalysis, hormone and endocrine systems, the gut biome, etc.), a full health history, and systems review. Treatment plans are individualized to each unique individual and may include: a nutritional plan/modification, modern supplements, traditional natural medicines, lifestyle recommendations, acupuncture, and cranio-sacral therapy. Principle #1: Symptoms are Signals Like the red warning […]

Electroacupuncture Attenuates Inflammation after Ischemic Stroke by Inhibiting NF-κB-Mediated Activation of Microglia⁠

 in Acupuncture Research  tagged acupouncture research / Acupunture / electroacupuncture / estim / stroke recovery by

3pacu “Electroacupuncture (EA) may reduce inflammatory injury by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway activation after ischemic stroke… upregulating neuronal CYLD expression by EA may prevent NF-κB nuclear translocation and decrease neuronal CX3CL1 expression, inducing subsequent inhibition of microglial activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines in peri-ischemic areas.”⁠ ⁠ MOAs evaluated in the study:⁠ – “…EA caused a substantial drop in CYLD protein at 6 h reperfusion”⁠ – “EA inhibited the p38 MAPK signaling pathway in the hippocampus of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury”⁠ – “EA increased the number of neuronal CYLD-positive cells in the ischemic cortical border region at 24 […]

Let food be thy medicine…

 in nutrition / Public Health / weight loss  tagged diet / exercise / fitness / nutrition by

    Food is the best medicine! ⁠ ⁠ Most of us don’t need some highly specialized nutritional plan. Most of us don’t want or need to have a huge workout routine with multiple daily workouts or expensive gym memberships. Most of us should not have to take prescriptions to treat symptoms of conditions that result from a lack of basic nutrition or a sedentary lifestyle.⁠ I HATE the gym. For most of my patients, when I recommend they get active, I don’t really care if they walk, hike, run, lift weights, bowl, play a sport, or whatever. They could […]

Multiple Sclerosis

 in Autoimmune & Inflammatory Disease / Functional Medicine / Immune System by

  #MS is an autoimmune condition effecting the myelin sheath. The immune system attacks the myelin sheath, an important sheath surrounding nerves/neurons that both protects the nerve and functions in nervous system communication. – triggers/causes may include: immune system imbalances/inflammation, environmental factors and infections, trauma, and there is some evidence of a genetic component. Two Stages of MS: 1) inflammation allows immune components to penetrate the blood brain barrier through a complex series of actions 2) degeneration of the myelin occurs as the immune system attacks the myelin sheath Types of MS: 1) Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS). – most common – characterized […]

Mental and Emotional Wellness…

 in Chronic Pain / mental health  tagged Acupunture / mental health by

    “Mental health is often missing from public health debates even though it’s critical to wellbeing.”⁠ – Diane Abbott⁠ ⁠ It is impossible to separate mental health from wellness, and we failed to do this all too often – from the stigma, fear surrounding mental illness, or even the difficulties and challenges surrounding successful treatment…⁠ ⁠ The Three Pillars of health are body, mind, and spirit. These are inextricably intertwined. They all impact each other, and we all to often ignore the mind and spirit in favor of the body. The irony is that our mind and spirit are […]

Weight loss: what is your “ideal” for health and wellbeing?

 in Functional Medicine / nutrition / weight loss  tagged Acupunture / fitness / nutrition / weight loss by

    BMI is a useless number for the most part. In fact, the scale is often not the best way to measure your health.⁠ ⁠ I get people coming in for help with weight loss, and I certainly would never judge anyone for that. However, I try to gently remind people that while we might see a good number on the scale, it does not mean we’re healthy. There are many different reasons we might not be at our “ideal” weight. Some have to do with lifestyle, some may be metabolic dysfunction, other health concerns, endocrine imbalances, or even […]

Kawasaki Disease and COVID-19…

 in Autoimmune & Inflammatory Disease / Medicine / Public Health  tagged autoimmune / coronavirus / COVID-19 by

    “Kawasaki disease is a rare form of vasculitis. Children, usually under the age of 5, have a high fever and red eyes, lips, mouth, a rash and swollen lymph nodes. The disease also affects the heart and the wall of blood vessels. Kawasaki is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. Immediate treatment is necessary to avoid permanent damage to the heart and to the coronary arteries and a full recovery may be expected.” (source: https://www.aarda.org/diseaseinfo/kawasaki-disease/)⁠ ⁠ We are now seeing a similar syndrome in children after being infected with COVID-19, and this is likely one […]

Mycotoxins (Mold Toxins)…

 in Mold / Toxic Exposure / toxicity by

    Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by mold. When some of us are exposed to mold it can colonize in our bodies: the nose, gut, in our cells, and more. Sometimes symptoms may not appear for years or decades after exposure. Sometimes symptoms appear to be another condition entirely. Mold toxicity may be one of the most insidious conditions I have ever seen in clinical practice… Mold exposure/toxicity is quickly becoming one of the most significant health problems we face. It effects multiple systems, is complex and can be difficult to treat, can force you from your home and […]

Empathy

 in mental health  tagged empathy / mental health by

    “Empathy is really the opposite of spiritual meanness. It’s the capacity to understand that every war is both won and lost. And that someone else’s pain is as meaningful as your own.”⁠ ⁠ – Barbara Kingsolver⁠ ⁠ Here’s the thing… we all struggle with something. Often more than one thing, and that’s okay. Whether there is a war inside us or we’re in conflict with another person or group, there is pain and loss. Usually for both “sides.”⁠ ⁠ What I’ve found is that having empathy is like getting a gift from someone and being gracious in receiving […]

Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Patients Infected with 2019-New Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): A Review and Perspective⁠

 in Acupuncture Research / TCM Research / Traditional Chinese Medicine  tagged Chinese Medicine / coronavirus / COVID-19 / Natural Medicine / TCM Research by

    “TCM has accumulated thousand-of-year’s experiences in the treatment of pandemic and endemic diseases. Providing complementary and alternative treatments are still urgently needed for the management of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, experiences in TCM is certainly worth learning. Fighting against current epidemics also provide an opportunity to test the true value of TCM in treating emerging contagious diseases.”⁠