Great Article about Acupuncture

The Wall Street Journal had a great article about acupuncture this week. Read it here. As a Chinese Medicine practitioner, I appreciate the discussion of the more scientific/Western medicine view of why acupuncture works. As science progresses, there is the ability to monitor the brain activity of people receiving treatment, which helps scientists see how and why acupuncture is so effective in treating a variety of conditions.

History of IVF in the NY Times

The New York Times has a great article today about the development of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Read it here. Many of my patients who are trying to conceive (TTC) may find it interesting to learn about this history of this relatively recent advance in reproductive medicine (around since the 1980s), which boasts around a 30% success rate.

Many of my patients get regular Chinese Medicine treatments to promote fertility and regulate hormones. This is helpful in making these assisted reproductive therapies (ART) potentially even more effective.

Great Resource for Moms and Moms-to-Be

A great online resource for moms and moms-to-be is Mothering.com. This website if full of great information, ideas and resources, including an "Ask the Expert" section, and a "Mothering Media" section including movies, slideshows, interviews, how-to's and more.

There is a great article in the March/April issue about Mayan womb massage, a technique to aid in conception, ease menstrual cramps and for your general reproductive health. Check out the article here.

Make your own tea!

Here is a recipe for a naturally sweet and nutritious herbal tea blend. Rooibos is caffeine-free, high in antioxidants, and has a relaxing effect. Rosebuds relieve stagnation, support the digestion, ease PMS, and lift the spirits. Add in some vanilla and this combination is soothing, calming, and opens up your heart.

At most health food stores, you'll be able to find loose herbs:

1 cup organic loose red rooibos

1/2 cup organic red rose buds (gently crush them to separate the petals)

1 organic vanilla bean (split lengthwise with a knife)

Combine these herbs in a glass jar. Shake this up and let the jar sit for at least two weeks to allow the herbs to blend. The vanilla bean will infuse its' scent into the other herbs. I just leave the vanilla bean in the jar to allow it to continue infusing, but I don't directly use it for my brew.

Use a Tablespoon per cup of hot water. I use a stainless steel tea ball, strainer or ceramic tea pot to infuse this tea. Sip slowly, smile, and enjoy!

Miso Harissa Delicata Squash Recipe

Yum! Squash season is not over yet! Give this recipe a try:

1/2 pound / 8 oz small fingerling potatoes, washed and dried

3/4 pound / 12 oz delicata squash

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

scant 1/4 cup white miso

scant 1 tablespoon harissa paste

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 1/2 oz kale, de-stemmed and finely chopped

4 radishes, very thinly sliced

1 1/2 oz Marcona almonds, toasted pepitas, or other toasted nuts

Preheat the oven to 400F degrees. If the potatoes aren't tiny, slice them into pieces no larger than your thumb. Cut the delicata squash in half length-wise, and use a spoon to clear out all the seeds. Cut into 1/2-inch wide half-moons. You can leave the peel on these squash.

In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, miso, harissa. Place the potatoes and squash in a large bowl with 1/3 cup of the miso-harissa oil. Use your hands to toss well, then turn everything out onto a baking sheet. Bake until everything is baked through and browned, about 25-30 minutes. Toss once or twice along the way after things start to brown a bit. Keep an eye on things though, you can go from browned to burned in a flash.

In the meantime, whisk the lemon juice into the remaining miso-harissa oil. Taste, it should be intensely flavorful, but if yours is too spicy or salty, you can dilute it with a bit more olive oil or lemon juice. Stir the kale into the leftover dressing and set aside.

Place the warm roasted vegetables in a bowl and toss with the kale mixture, radishes, and almonds.

Serves 2 to 4

Check out more healthy, seasonal recipes at 101cookbooks.com

Acupuncture Improves Memory and Learning Capacity

Acupuncture can significantly improve learning and memory capacity that has been impaired by hyperglycemia and cerebral ischemia, according to a new study.

A study published in the journal, Neuroscience Letters, reported on whether electroacupuncture (acupuncture needles stimulated with a mild electrical current) could improve learning and memory in rats whose memory and cognitive functions were impaired by the decreased circulatory effects of diabetes resulting in cerebral ischemia.

In the study, the effects of the acupuncture treatments were measured with a passive avoidance test, an active avoidance test, the Morris water maze and electrophysiology. With all tests, significant improvements were seen in restoring memory and learning capacity.

The researchers remarked that previous investigations have demonstrated that electroacupuncture can improve primary and secondary symptoms such as peripheral neuropathy and diabetic encephalopathy in diabetic rats. They believe that the positive results of this study warrant further investigation.

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Source: Neuroscience Letters Volume 443, Issue 3, 10 October 2008, Pages 193-198 doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2003.10.071

Source: Qi Mail

Healthy Brain Habits

Here are some steps you can take to help optimize brain health and sharpen your memory:

Eat More Produce: Studies that focus on food and memory show that the more produce you eat, the better. One 25-year Harvard Medical School study of more than 13,000 women showed that the participants who ate relatively high amounts of vegetables over the years had less age-related decline in memory. Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage) and leafy green vegetables had the biggest effect on helping women retain their memory during the course of the study. In another study, the phytochemicals, anthocyanin (found in berries of all colors and cherries) and quercetin (found in onions, kale and apples), actually reversed some of the age-related memory deficits in laboratory animals.

Heart Health: A healthy heart makes for a healthy brain. Because oxygen and nutrients are carried in the blood stream, anything that impedes blood flow will starve those all-important brain cells. Review your blood pressure and cholesterol level. Know your numbers and if they are elevated, take immediate measures to bring them down.

Sleep: When we sleep, the brain has time to recharge. Studies show that 7-8 hours of sleep a night helps to strengthen memory. Acupuncture is effective at treating sleep problems, so please let us know if you are having trouble sleeping.

Exercise: Regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by about half. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and helps regulate blood sugar levels; both of which improve brain function and memory. Aim for 30 minutes a day.

Challenge Your Brain: Keep your mind active and challenged. Brain function decreases with age. Studies show that cognitive exercise can improve blood flow to the brain. Spend at least 15 minutes each day on a mental exercise such as a crossword puzzle, journaling or learning a new language to slow memory loss.

Source: Qi Mail