Acupuncture in a Hot flash April 2009

FHN Complementary Medicine Monthly Newsletter April 2009
www.mrdrpilot.blogspot.com


Acupuncture and menopausal hot flashes following surgical removal of ovaries.

One of the major side effects of an oophorectomy is hot flashes.
Many women have chosen to do HRT to deal with those side effects. Here is a new study (Evidence Based Complementary Medicine, Feb 2, 2009) showing acupuncture and auricular acupressure may be as effective in dealing with those symptoms.

In this study 46 women had been bilaterally ovariectomized and were experiencing hot flashes. They were divided into two groups. One received standard HRT therapy and one group received acupuncture and auricular acupressure. During the treatment period and at a 4 week post treatment follow up there were no differences in the two groups. Interestingly the FSH level decreased in both groups and E2 level increased in both groups.

So for those of you who are unable or unwilling to do HRT acupuncture and acupressure may offer an alternative.


Sincerely


Drs. Glenn and Julie Smith
Complementary Medicine

Green Tea weightloss March 2009

FHN Complementary Medicine Monthly Newsletter March 2009
www.mrdrpilot.blogspot.com


Green Tea Catechin Consumption Enhances Exercise-Induced Abdominal Fat Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults

As the weight loss industry got rid of ephedra (yeah!) as a weight loss supplement they have been touting many alternatives. Here is an article on green tea.

This study evaluated the influence of a green tea catechin beverage on body composition and fat distribution in overweight and obese adults during exercise-induced weight loss. Participants were assigned to receive a beverage containing 625 mg of catechins with 39 mg caffeine or a control beverage (39 mg caffeine, no catechins) for 12 wk. Participants were asked to maintain constant energy intake and engage in 180 min/wk moderate intensity exercise, including 3 supervised sessions per week. Body composition, abdominal fat areas, and clinical laboratory tests were measured at baseline and wk 12.
Percentage changes in fat mass did not differ between the catechin and control groups. However, percentage changes in total abdominal fat area, subcutaneous abdominal fat area, and fasting serum triglycerides were greater in the catechin group. These findings suggest that green tea catechin consumption enhances exercise-induced changes in abdominal fat and serum TG.

So with all the other health benefits of green tea add the exercise and you have a wonderful additive to weight loss.

Sincerely


Drs. Glenn and Julie Smith
Complementary Medicine

Kidney Vitality February 2009

FHN Complementary Medicine Monthly Newsletter February 2009

www.mrdrpilot.blogspot.com

The Vital Energy Kidney

This is the 5^th (and last, don’t jump for joy!!) of the series of articles on Chinese physiology. This month we will talk about the Kidney.

The kidney’s have a similar function in both eastern and western medicine, that is filtering water and waste. In Chinese thought qi flows like water and the kidneys are where the vital energy (qi) stems from. This keeps us going from the day we are born until the day we die. It affects all aspects of life from sleeping, to sexual function and reproduction to stamina and mental clarity. In Chinese medicine often we must support the kidney’s before any other treatment will work.

So how do you strengthen the kidney’s? First is to keep the kidney’s hydrated with fresh, clean water. The emotion of the kidney is fear ( when you are afraid you urinate more!). So doing things to create hope, like reading uplifting materials, praying etc. Movement will unparallize you, the fear, and the kidney, so do some gentle movement, like tai chi, chi gong, or yoga.

Herbs like salvia root and cordyceps will help tonify the kidney. Foods that tonify include peaches, nectarines, black beans, olive oil, and Chinese cabbage. (These are just a few)

As we get moving into spring spend some time and get your vital energy flowing.

Sincerely

Drs. Glenn and Julie Smith

Complementary Medicine

Moving on ....the Liver Jan 2009

FHN Complementary Medicine Monthly Newsletter January 2009

www.mrdrpilot.blogspot.com

Moving on with life…the Liver

The liver in both eastern and western medicine is an extremely important organ, (in Chinese thought it is a system not just the organ). It is the chemical factory and warehouse of the body and it is involved in detoxification. In TCM one of the livers’ primary functions is to move Qi (energy) throughout the body and mind. As such, moving forward with life and goals is important to healthy liver function. Inability to do this may point to a stagnation of liver Qi. One way to deal with this is to start with physical detox and work your way up to mental detox and movement.

If you are like the rest of us you probably over did the food and drink over the holiday season. Many of you probably have resolutions (goals) to lose some of those holiday pounds and exercise more, etc. To make those happen we may need to kick start the liver. Going on a detox diet, taking some liver specific herbs (ie. milk thistle, bupluerum, etc.), and doing some light movement (ie qi gong or yoga) are good ways to start.

You will find that the rest of the weight loss and goals etc. will go easier and quicker if you give a little TLC to the liver.

Sincerely,

Drs. Glenn and Julie Smith

Complementary Medicine