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Detoxification

Acupuncture Cuts Heroin Cravings and Anxiety

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(adapted from Healthcare Medicine Institute, Aug 15 edition)

Research comparing 60 heroin-addicted patients—two groups of 30 patients each—cite electroacupuncture at Jiaji points as being more successful in achieving better clinical results in 30 patients than did Methadone and Doxepin in group B, also consisting of 30 patients. The article, titled “Acupuncture Cuts Heroin Cravings and Anxiety—New Research,” was authored by Mu, Jing-ping, Li Liu, Heng Liao, Huan-gan Wu, and Ping Xu (“Effect of electroacupuncture on anxiety and craving in heroin addicts during detoxification.” Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science)

Researchers concluded that, “Electroacupuncture at Jiaji points can effectively alleviate anxiety and craving intensity in heroin addicts during detoxification.” The other recent study measured the ability of electroacupuncture to regulate opioids within the body. Investigators note that, “Acupuncture does release endogenous opioids….” and that evidence is very strong regarding electroacupuncture, although there is also evidence demonstrating that manual acupuncture has this effect.

Laura Christensen’s response: Previously, we have thought that ear acupuncture, or auriculotherapy was the best treatment for addiction, but this provides a new tool for us to use in our work with folks in withdrawal from opiates, and probably also other drugs. We have found the Jia Ji points are very helpful for a number of conditions. They are located about 1/2 inch lateral to the spinous process of each vertebra. Even massage on these points is beneficial.

 

 

Acupuncture for Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal

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http://www.healthcmi.com/acupuncturist-news-online/705-acupuncturedrugalcoho-withdrawal

New research concludes that ear acupuncture helps reduce anxiety and other symptoms caused by drug and alcohol withdrawal. The new study  published in the Journal of Psychiatric And Mental Health Nursing notes that the patients experienced increased relaxation and well-being. Anxiety reduction and reduced drug and alcohol consumption were directly related to the use of the ear acupuncture therapy.

Ear AcupunctureEar Acupuncture

Ear acupuncture, also known as auricular acupuncture, is the placement of needles on the tissue of the outer ear. The acupuncture protocols used in the study followed those created by NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association). The study noted that no negative side-effects were reported and the study notes that the ear acupuncture had an overall positive physical impact on the patients. Given the success of acupuncture therapy for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction in this study, the investigators suggest continued research into the use of the NADA acupuncture techniques for addiction withdrawal.

Another recent study finds acupuncture effective for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms and anxiety associated with heroin addiction. In this controlled study, the use of two acupuncture points located on the arm, HT7 and P6, were investigated. The research concluded that both acupuncture points were successful in the treatment of heroin withdrawal symptoms.

The use of acupuncture point HT7 is widely used for the treatment of anxiety. Also known as Shenmen, Spirit’s Gate, HT7 is valued by licensed acupuncturists for its ability to induce sustained relaxation and benefiting sleep. Another recent study found HT7 had a “markedly reduced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking” in lab rats. The inhibition rate exceeded 85%. In yet another study of human subjects conducted at Yale University it was discovered that acupuncture is significantly effective in the treatment of cocaine addiction. The subjects were much less likely to return to cocaine use if they had received acupuncture treatments.

References:
Bergdahl, Lena, A. H. Berman, and Kristina Haglund. “Patients’ experience of auricular acupuncture during protracted withdrawal.” Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing (2013).

Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science. Volume 10, Number 3 (2012), 155-159. Therapeutic efficacy observation on acupuncture for post-withdrawal syndrome of heroin dependence. Yan Liang, Lei Zong, Yu Li, Bo Cheng, Jing Xu and Yue-lai Chen.

Psychopharmacology. Effects of acupuncture on stress-induced relapse to cocaine-seeking in rats. Seong Shoon Yoon, Eun Jin Yang, Bong Hyo Lee, Eun Young Jang, Hee Young Kim, Sun-Mi Choi, Scott C. Steffensen and Chae Ha Yang.??

Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(15):2305-2312. Randomized Controlled Trial of Auricular Acupuncture for Cocaine Dependence. S. Kelly Avants, PhD; Arthur Margolin, PhD; Theodore R. Holford, PhD; Thomas R. Kosten, MD. Yale University School of Medicine and Department of Psychiatry. New Haven, Connecticut.

Healing Through Whole Foods

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We just got back from a two day workshop with Paul Pitchford, author of Healing with Whole Foods. It was very interesting, if not daunting. His book is a huge one, full of information about Chinese medicine and using diet to heal diseases.

The big news was that parasites are a huge part of most people’s health problems. It seems that most of us are harboring an imbalance in our intestinal flora such as candida overgrowth, or some of us have picked up microbes at some point in our lives that have been sitting in us all this time and creating problems of various sorts such as allergies, skin problems, obesity, and so on. Some folks who have been in the far East get parasites there which can still be around, and some of us are getting exposed to inappropriate microorganisms by our household pets. That was especially hard for me to hear.

At the course we got new information about how to treat these situations with herbs and diet. And we are ready to help everyone that we think is ready for this.

The dietary changes are often fairly simple, to my way of thinking, but I am sure many of my clients would find them a bit daunting. Therefore, I’ll be posting ideas and recipes on this blog ongoingly. Most of what needs to be changed is increasing the variety and amount of fresh vegetables in the diet. And incorporating the use of SPROUTS. So we will be talking about sprouting. Additionally, the use of micro-algae such as chlorella, spirulina, and blue-green will be suggested. However, the choice of which alga to use depends a lot on the condition and constitution of the person.

Paul was pretty firm in his ideas, having treated people nutritionally for 30 years or so. He believes that a raw foods diet is great in the short run, but that it ends up making people very weak over time. It is also full of nuts and their butters, which are very fatty.

He also thinks that the vegan diet is not a good one for people unless they are meditators or very quiet and still a lot. He thinks that most people need some animal protein if they are going to be out in the modern world. But, of course, he recommends limited amounts and types of animal protein. You guessed it, free range, organic, grass fed is best. And properly combined small amounts. That means 2-3 oz combines with vegetables at a meal. Never combined with starch at a meal, due to the differences in digestive enzymes required for meat and starch.

Paul bases most of his recommendations on anthropological studies of primitive people, combined with the principles of Asian medicine. He says that the evidence is that for 60 million years man was hunter gatherer. That means mostly veges, berries, and meat. Also small amounts of grains later in history.

He also recommends the under-eating approach that has gotten some press in the past couple of years. That means eating less than you’d like. It has shown to lead to longer life and less disease in many cases.

And of course, no sugar or sweeteners of any kind for most of us. No refined foods at all. Nothing prepared or packaged, except frozen veges. So that means we have to COOK.

I’ll be posting suggestions about how to cook ahead for the week so we are not in trouble by not having things ready. I’ll also point out ways that we can use things like pressure cookers and slow cookers to make life easier.

There are many cookbooks out there that feature this type of cooking. Most of the healthy recipe books, even those from places like weight watchers, are focusing on exactly this type of recipe nowadays.

So, stay tuned and I’ll be letting you all know more about these ideas very soon.

 

More Later.

Detox and Purify!

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We are now offering our spring detox at Acupuncture of Iowa. This year we are using the Purification Program from the fine company, Standard Process of Elmira, Wisconsin. This company focuses on the benefits of real, whole food to empower the body to do what it does best, in every area of function.

I started my detox this weekend to prepare for offering it to clients, and decided to post my first few recipes for the food I am eating. These are all simple and really yummy. If you are not used to the taste of real food, they will introduce you gently.

East Indian Gentle Lentils–good stuff

1 c lentils, 2 c water or broth, 1/2 tsp whole cumin seeds, 3 cloves garlic, minced, 1 tsp oil (olive preferred), salt to taste

In a heavy small pot, heat the oil, add the cumin seeds and stir 30 seconds till aromatic, add the minced garlic and stir 30 seconds till aromatic. Add the lentils and water, bring to a boil, add salt, and lower the heat to very low. Place a lid on the pot and simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check a couple of times to stir and make sure it is not burning.

Savory Shredded Sprouts–Really Yummy!

1-2 lb brussels sprouts, bottoms trimmed and tops run through the slicing blade on a food processor (or sliced by hand) till in fine shreds, 1 T butter, 1 T olive oil, salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a heavy bottomed skillet or wok. Melt the butter into the oil and wait for it to stop foaming. Throw in the shredded sprouts and stir around every couple of minutes. Cook until all the shreds are softened and bright green or yellowish. I like to get them a little browned in areas. If you want, you can add more oil or butter so all the shreds are coated. You can also throw in toasted pecan bits if you are allowed them. This is a great recipe for Thanksgiving or any other nice dinner. Also great just to have around.

Green Beans, East Indian Style–simple, healthy and good eating

1 lb green beans, washed, ends trimmed, and cut into 1 inch sections; 2 tsp olive oil; 1 tsp black mustard seeds; 4 cloves garlic, minced; pinch red pepper flakes; salt and pepper to taste

Blanch green beans for 3-4 minutes and throw into ice cold water to stop the cooking. Drain beans in a colander. Heat the oil in a skillet or wok. Toss in the mustard seeds and heat till they begin to pop. Throw in the garlic and stir and cook for 30 seconds till aromatic. Then put in the red pepper flakes and stir for a few seconds. Put all the beans into the hot oil and spices, salt them, and stir and cook the whole bunch for about 8 minutes over medium heat or till done to your liking.

I hope these three recipes will be helpful during your detox. I’ll be posting more as the next few days and weeks go by.

Announcing our New Acupuncturist, Laura McCoy

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I am thrilled  to announce the arrival of our new associate, Laura McCoy.

Laura is an Iowa City native, having lived in the Seattle area for the last 30 years. She did her undergraduate education in Exercise Physiology, became a Certified Athletic Trainer and worked with pro athletes for many years. In the early 200os she entered acupuncture school in the Seattle area and got her Master’s in Acupuncture. She then worked in one of the most successful acupuncture clinics in the country, where she honed her skills in diagnosis and mastered a powerful method of acupuncture, The Balance Method. After moving on from that clinic, she gained more experience in the complementary medicine field by working in a nutrition clinic. There she gained education about the precise evaluation of patients for their nutritional needs and mastered the use of whole-food-based supplements to support patients’ bodies in healing themselves. This method is based on research and fits with our clinic goal of helping our patients by using dietary therapies in accord with the principles of Oriental medicine.

Laura M has returned from Seattle to Iowa City to be closer to family, and we were very lucky to have her come along. She was aware of Laura C’s reputation and thus sought out our clinic. Laura M is a go-getter and has lots of great ideas about how to promote acupuncture in our area and thus help more people.

Laura M is excited to bring her wide-ranging skills to us. Her enthusiasm and knowledge are impressive. She is committed to enabling patients to heal themselves using whole foods and healthy body therapies. She and Laura C are working many hours at present to integrate her materials and methods into the clinic.

Laura McCoy will be joyfully providing the following services at Acupuncture of Iowa:

—Oriental Medicine assessments through history, tongue, and pulse diagnosis

—Acupuncture, using the Balance Method and Japanese Style in a blended manner

—Nutritional Consultation and Programs in harmony with the principles of Oriental medicine

—Individualized programs for rehabilitation of injuries

—Individualized exercise programs for wellness, strength, and healing

—Individualized treatment of acute and chronic problems with the tools of the athletic trainer

 

Spring Detox Time Again

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We are all feeling a bit toxic these days. From not exercising as much as usual, from eating the heavier, starchier winter foods, and from breathing that old indoor air for so many months. We feel the beginnings of spring and crave that great feeling of energy. This makes us think of the idea of cleaning up/out our bodies to prepare for warm weather. We might want to lose a little weight, get more energy, or get rid of that old brain fog from the winter. Lots of people come to the clinic asking what I recommend for a spring ‘cleanse’.

Most people don’t know this, but acupuncture treatment helps the body detoxify.

My teacher Miki Shima OMD, used to say that acupuncture is an inherently detoxifying process. By that he meant that it switches on the Liver to more efficiently clear toxins from the body.

For many years we have seen the occasional patient who feels tired or achy the day after the treatment. This is a sign that their body is going through a detoxification process, and the toxins are only halfway out of the system. Once the toxins are gone, they feel a lot better.

Nowadays, know how to avoid having this happen with our clients. And we have some really good strategies to do that.

Consider using acupuncture to help your spring detoxification regimen. Or adding it to a cleanse that you are already doing.

Springtime detox smoothies (or any time)

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The season of weddings is here. And some of us want to look just a bit better when we show up in our finery. But even if you are not going to any fancy do this spring, you probably want to do a little cleansing and tightening before you put on your summer clothes. And even if you don’t care about how you look, you probably care about your health (part of how you got to this blog) so here are a couple of my ideas about quick breakfast or snack smoothies that will assist in promoting health.

These are smoothies that I actually drink most every day. I have found that I really do feel better all day if I start with protein, but I don’t always want to take the time to cook an egg, or peel one. I always keep hard boiled farm eggs in the fridge. I also am not that good at getting in my fruits every day. Veges are not a problem, as we pile them high at dinner, but fruits require peeling and the process of eating and chewing. All of these take time. So when I choose to write in my blog over coffee, or spend a little time knitting in the morning before the hectic day begins, or even if I have to rush off in the car to buy raw milk early in the morning, these are my choice. Then when I find myself in a hotel where, you know what the breakfasts are like, or with in laws out to breakfast at IHOP, I discover that I love these things and really miss them when I don’t have them. At times I will travel with the powder mix in a baggie and attempt to mix it in water on the road. Not too easy. But I suppose I could get one of those little battery powered wiggly things to mix my smoothie. Or, come to think of it, I have a shaker cup high up in the cupboard. It came with the whey powder I bought at the grocery store last winter. OK, I have no excuse. But the blender is really the best, because it can chop up frozen or fresh fruit, as well as mix your other stuff. So here you are.

Basic Smoothie

Combine the following into your blender and buzz a minute or two till fruit is finely chopped:

  • Protein Powder, 1 scoop (30 grams or so)
  • Frozen Fruit such as strawberries, peaches, blueberries or mixed berries, 1 cup
  • 1 1/2 – 2 cups water
  • 1 T Flax Oil (kept in fridge)

Variations:

Use different types of protein powder, I like whey because it promotes lean muscle mass, is very easy to assimilate, and safe for people, even who are lactose intolerant. You can also use soy or other types if you like. Some people should avoid soy and others can be sensitive to it. Milk is not so good, but will do in a pinch.

Add a scoop or two of a detox product like Designs for Health PaleoCleanse, or Ultraclear, to enhance the detoxification properties. These products have a number of ingredients that support the liver in its detoxification biology, and other ingredients that help cleanse the bowel and support kidney function.

Add 1 T of green food powder. There are lots of brands. Green Magma is one of the old standbys, it is from Japan and is very good quality. These products often have dried and powdered greens of every kind such as algae, beets, kale, spinach, etc. Some also have ground dried fruits and veges. Some have flavoring such as stevia for sweetness and mint or berry. You might start with a small amount in the smoothie till you get used to the taste. You can increase the amount slowly. You can use products of this sort from almost any vendor. We sell a good one at our clinic.

Add 1-2 T flax seed meal or freshly ground flax seed. The lignans in the flax meal are really important for gut health, and to help the body remove estrogenic compounds. This is really important since we are flooded with estrogenic compounds from our environment and food these days and they can be related to the development of cancer. Research this on the web.

Fresh fruit in season. I like pineapple, mango, papaya, peaches, nectarines, and even plums. You have to work a little for these. I like to buy a bunch of peaches when they are really at their best, bring them home and freeze them myself. I don’t bother peeling but wash with a very dilute bleach solution in the sink, and rinse, then slice a bunch. I then prepare cookie sheets by placing a silpat on them (a silicone non-stick mat). I arrange the slices on the cookie sheets so they are not touching but pretty crowded. Freeze in the freezer for a half day or so, then package in small zip top baggies, or what I do is package them with my suction freezer machine and bags. You can date them if you like. And store in the freezer. They keep really well, and if they get a little frost on them, its ok because they are just going into the smoothie. You could do the same with strawberries, other berries, nectarines, or plums if you like.

Add healthful herbs. I like to put in a tablespoon of Turmeric. I get it by the pound from Frontier (ask me about this and I can get you some). Turmeric is a really good antiinflammatory herb. Everybody should take it. You could also put in cinnamon for blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, or whatever other herbs and spices you like. If you are brave you can put in the granular chinese herbs you get at my clinic.

About Yogurt in smoothies. I don’t like it because I think whey protein is more healthful and gives more protein per volume.If you choose to use it, use the unflavored kind. Avoid the sugar or artificial sweeteners in many. I make my own yogurt weekly but we use it in other ways. See an earlier blog post on how to make yogurt.

About Bananas in smoothies. I don’t like these because they have high glycemic index. That means they rush sugar into your blood stream which raises insulin levels in the blood, and can contribute to the development of insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. I also think bananas are too caloric for daily use. Perhaps a half banana once a week as a treat.

You can really be creative with smoothies. I recently purchased many bags of frozen blueberries when they were on sale and have been using them. Now frozen strawberries are on sale so I am stocking up. Of course, it requires an extra freezer to keep all this stuff, but I think it is worth having one to save some money and time.

About flax oil and flax seed. You must keep these refrigerated. They will go rancid quickly. You must also keep them in light-obscuring packages. Flax oil is a really good anti-inflammatory and I think we all should take it daily. One Tablespoon of the oil, or 2 T of ground seed produces the same amount of oil. Do not purchase flax seed from the bulk bins as it has been exposed to oxygen and light, and therefore, by being oxidized, will CONTRIBUTE to health problems rather then prevent them. MOST importantly, grind your flax seed at the time of use. Use an electric coffee grinder that is dedicated to this task. I have one that is just for flax seed and herbs and spices. Another one is for coffee.

Smoothies are great to take with you in the car. You can blend it up and place in a jar with a tight fitting lid for later. Can be used as a snack, or even lunch. You will need to keep it fairly cool and it will be OK for the day. If it gets hot the lid may get tight and you could have some fermentation. As I said earlier, when I travel I sometimes carry the powder part of the smoothie to mix up on the road. I can eat the fruit out of hand later.

The smoothie is a great thing for one of your meals in your 5-6 small meals per day regimen.

You may see powdered smoothie mixes at weight watchers and other places. Really, these are a waste of money and filled with artificial ingredients. Make your own. Get used to the taste of real food.

I think that is about everything I have to say about smoothies.

Enjoy!

Spring Detox Time

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Now that we are getting into the last of winter, many people are feeling cabin fever. Part of this feeling of being a little fat, a little sluggish, and a little down may be due to the accumulation of toxins from the long winter of holiday foods, perhaps increased alcohol intake, breathing less outdoor air, and exercising less often.

It is traditional in many cultures to detoxify through fasting and other means at this time. The fasting associated with Lent is one example.

People ask me all the time about what I suggest for a ‘cleanse’. I have many approaches that I can recommend, but this year I have begun using a system that I believe is very thorough and deep. It is a month long program of using a group of three supplements to upregulate liver and kidney detoxification processes, along with a series of meal-replacement type shakes that enhance that process by optimizing nutrition for detox, as well as doing the colon cleansing that is such an important part of cleansing.

This system comes from Designs For Health. (www.designsforhealth.com) The educational program  is often done in a group setting, but can also be done individually.

I have just finished the month-long process and I am really feeling clearer, more energetic, and have lost some weight. I have found I am craving sugar and processed foods less, and can sense the effects of food on my system much more clearly.  I intend to do the process once or twice a year from here on.

Call the clinic and I can discuss the program with you. It can be customized for the individual.

More next time about food-based detoxification ideas.

Thinking About Detoxification

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As spring approaches, people naturally think about detoxification. I offer several approaches in my office and make recommendations depending on the person’s preferences and what I think will serve them best. In general, we want to increase the body’s detoxification activity by several approaches: 1) improve the function of the liver in it’s biochemical pathways of breaking down materials, 2) improve the kidney to remove waste from the body, 3) cleanse the bowel of long-held fecal material, 4) stimulate the lymphatic system to carry wastes away from all the tissues.

While we are doing that with a specific program of supplements, we want to support the process by having you eat an extremely carefully chosen group of foods that help by 1) lowering your insulin response to carbs, 2) avoiding adding any artificial materials such as food additives and drugs found in meat, 3) reducing your dependence on caffeine and alcohol. Hopefully the foods consumed during the period will start you off into a new way of thinking about your food.

“Food is the first medicine.” This is part of a famous quote and I see it in my practice every day. We can do all the acupuncture, herbs, and supplements possible, but the effect of those things can never be stronger than the food we eat. Food is the basis of all our biochemical building blocks. Without proper building blocks our body cannot renew damaged tissue, clear out wastes, and give us the energy to do what we want. People with poor diets have worse outcomes with acupuncture than those with better diets.

You are what you eat. Last year while speaking with a colleague we discussed this topic. I said “people who eat nothing but garbage have pretty unsatisfying responses to acupuncture.” He responded, “and garbage is not very motivated to improve itself.” Sad but true.

I was encouraged today when I heard that the President and Mrs. Obama signed a memorandum and promised to fund a program to improve nutrition in the schools by increasing the funding for vegetables and fruits in the school meals. They also highlighted the topic of schools growing gardens where children learn about growing food, provide food for the meal programs, and even sell produce to local groceries to raise more money for the school meal programs. Fantastic!

So, my challenge for today: eat only one serving of gluten-containing food and eat 6 servings of fruit or vegetable. One serving of bread is one slice, one serving of fruit or vegetable is 1 cup raw or 1/2 cooked. YOU CAN DO IT!