I was going through dietary suggestions with a new patient of mine this week and it reminded me that I wanted to post a recipe for gluten-free buttermilk pancakes from Fine Cooking magazine.
I make this for my family once in a while, and they're so tasty and satisfying! They're the perfect weekend breakfast for those of you trying to avoid wheat and trying to adhere to the Spleen Qi diet.
Here's an article attempting to discuss Western reasoning of how acupuncture works in the body. The author brings up the need to unify the different Western theories of how acupuncture works. A researcher quoted in the articles states that acupuncture and Chinese medicine is a "retrospective science, going on for 3,000 years. We know it works, we just don't know why. It's very hard to translate into Western language." (my emphasis)
I would suggest that while it is important to discover why acupuncture and other techniques used in Eastern medicine modalities work in a Western sense, it is equally, if not more important, to maintain knowledge of its history and context. Without this, the system of treatment loses its meaning, value and effectiveness. Without the knowledge of where acupuncture comes from and how it is traditionally used, the danger can be that it will be used in an isolated manner, instead of as a treatment affecting the whole body/individual. The fact that there are many ways that acupuncture has been found to affect the body attests to this idea already. Western thought and language may not have a concept of a whole body effect such as this, so a new vocabulary may need to be developed.
A personal idea of mine is that Western science still does not have a technique or the computing power yet available to assess or measure what the ancient Chinese were able to observe and incorporate into an entire system because of their wholistic/taoist(Yin/Yang) worldview. I do think that given more time and technological advances, the Chinese medicine approach to health maintenance and treatment will be explainable in a Western reductionist manner. A new vocabulary and mindshift will need to develop; as with Einstein's theory of relativity, the world's perception of reality will change when this occurs. We as a society are realizing more and more how interconnected all life is (as the indigenous peoples warned our forebears), we must simply (or "complicatedly") apply this to how the body's physiology works.
Here's the link to the original article:
A Healthy Poke: Demystifying the Science Behind Acupuncture
http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/a-healthy-poke-demystifying-the-science-behind-acupuncture/245816/
I recently was doing some research on this topic and thought I would post a useful link for everyone's reference.
Hello, we've been working hard at updating our website and are still in process. That said, we've recently added a testimonials page to the website for prospective patients' information, and will be updating it continuously. If you're considering starting treatment at NHFC, please contact us as we have past patients we can refer you to (thanks to those past clients!!!). We're happy to help you find out if the treatments at NHFC are a good fit for you.
Beginning August 2, road crews will be re-paving Lyndale and changing some sewer lines.
Please drive carefully and allow yourself more time to get to your appointments!
Thanks!
This week is National Infertility Awareness Week - view this link to the Resolve website to see what you can do to help support yourself and others experiencing this issue.
A story produced by NPR discusses the multiple benefits of a single embryo transfer when considering an IVF cycle. From a health perspective, twins can increase the chance of preterm labor and lower birth weight complications for newborns and cause possible complications for their mothers. This situation can lead to traumatic surgeries and other health interventions for newborns, as well as a much-increased expense for insurance companies. Considering the benefits in safety to newborns and their mothers, the cost savings for insurance companies, and the emotional trauma families can experience going through these multiple birth situations, both IVF clinics and insurance providers are attempting to increase awareness about the benefits of single embryo transfers and devising new models for insurance companies to fund these procedures.
Also, keeping in mind that uterine health is extremely important for carrying a pregnancy to term, especially in IVF treatments. Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be a useful tool in promoting implantation and maintaining pregnancy in IVF cycles and natural pregnancy. Consider using the services we offer at the NHFC to help you conceive using IVF treatments, or naturally.
Listen to the original NPR story below:
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a great way to get the organic veggies that can provide wonderful antioxidants and nutrients we all need to obtain, and maintain, good health. Whether you're trying to conceive or simply trying to eat healthier, give flavorful CSA vegetables and other offerings a try this summer! Very often your fresh produce, meat, and/or fruits can be delivered right to your door, or at least close to your home. (It's been a great way for me and my family to get out and meet our neighbors!) The Seward Co-op Grocery and Deli is hosting a CSA fair on April 16th, 2011 where you can meet the operators and find out what options are available. Also check out the 2011 CSA directory provided by the Land Stewardship Project. Happy cooking!
Here's a video Seward Coop put together for the CSA fair:
A meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology by Joseph R Wax et. al. has been used up to this point as the basis for an American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee Opinion on the safety of home and hospital births. The Wax article weighted hospitals births as safer than home births. This opinion has been the basis for informing patients on the safety of having a home birth versus hospital birth. A review of the Wax et. al. study, entitled "Planned Home vs Hospital Birth: A Meta-Analysis Gone Wrong" brings into question many aspects of the study's data analysis and other errors which can lead to a mis-interpretation of the results. Please keep this in mind when deciding which type of birth might be right for you.
In the Twin Cities, there are many safe options for any type of birthing experience you prefer, from hospital births with an OB/Gyn, hospital births with a midwife pratice (HCMC and Fairview Riverside are two great practices, but there are definitely others), to home birthing (check out the resources available at Minnesota Families for Midwifery, specifically Rachel McGraw at Riversong Midwifery in West St. Paul, and others). The Childbirth Collective is also a great resource for helping families with pregnancy and birthing.
In addition, the Natural Health and Fertility Center may assist in helping your pregnancy go smoothly. We can help with issues related to pregnancy, like morning sickness, low back pain, turning a breech baby, assisting with labor, and labor induction. Often, starting acupuncture treatments at about week 34/35 can help the whole process of labor go more smoothly by preparing a woman's body for the process. Our treatments may also help mothers (and papa!) recover from the delivery process and help support breast feeding.
Please feel free to call us with any questions you might have about what the Natural Health and Fertility Center can do for you during pregnancy and birth recovery.
Here is a video discussing the positive effects acupuncture may have with sufferers of hot flashes during menopause. Our experiences treating this issue at NHFC have shown similar results - it's definitely possible for acupuncture (and herbs) to reduce, or eliminate, the irritating signs and symptoms of menopause.
