Frequently Asked Questions
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on a 2000-year tradition of clinical observations and testing, and the recording of those observations. It is a complex medical system that offers explanations for both health and disease, providing a picture of the totality of a patient's symptoms, and facilitating an understanding of the patient's particular pattern of disharmony that encompasses the entire problem. Treatment tools include food therapy, lifestyle counseling, acupuncture, traditional herbal prescriptions, tui na, which is a form of medical massage, and moxibustion, a form of heat therapy. These tools are used to correct the disharmony, and restore balance to the system.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is one treatment modality within Traditional Chinese Medical practice. It involves the insertion of very fine-gauged needles into selected energy channels along the body surface, called meridians. Often heat or electrical stimulation is applied while the needles are in place. There are fourteen major meridians that run like rivers flowing through the body and over its entire surface. These channels irrigate and nourish the tissues and organs by circulating a subtle energy called Qi. Qi is the vital force that organizes and energizes each human body, mind, and spirit. It must flow unimpeded in order to sustain life. Acupuncture needles unblock obstructions to the flow of Qi, thereby correcting patterns of disharmony, which we in the West define as disease. These needles can also be manipulated to improve energy and encourage the body to maintain its own health.
What is Classical Homeopathy?
Classical Homeopathy takes the Traditional Chinese Medicine paradigm one step further, addressing the patient's world-view. If, as a practitioner, I listen carefully to how a patient perceives his/her life experience, I may be able to discern a deeper pattern of disharmony at the level of perception. This could be a thought, a feeling, even a recurring dream, all of which can disturb the Qi, and initiate a pathological syndrome. Using medicines derived from nature, Classical Homeopathy deals with this perceptual driving force that is behind all the patient's symptoms by mirroring it back to the patient, rather than changing it. This allows the patient to access alternate perceptions; thus providing a new way for the patient to respond to his/her experience.
What are the advantages of using these two modalities in concert with each other?
Traditional Chinese Medicine immediately addresses the stress caused by the pattern of disharmony, thereby relieving the patient's symptoms. Classical Homeopathy then goes further, addressing the driving forces that initially caused the pattern of disharmony to develop. The inner perceptual changes that the patient is now able to make promote healing at a deeper level.
Explain your belief in “whole family” treatment.
Healing is a process that involves change. If any one member of the family begins to change, it alters the dynamic of the whole, putting pressure on all the family members to change. If one is healthy, this pressure is interpreted as inspiration. If one is stuck, however, in a pattern of disharmony, pressure is interpreted as an additional stress . . . often followed by combustion. Whole family treatment illuminates the experience for all concerned, and allows true healing to occur.
What is your personal philosophy of healing?
Simply put, healing is a process that restores harmony and increases our capacity to fully engage life.
Welcome! By choosing acupuncture, you've taken a great step toward a more balanced, healthy lifestyle. The ancient practices of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medical herbs have helped millions of people regain and maintain their health.
Since this system of health care may be different than other care you've received, it's only natural to have questions. Read on to find out what to expect - and how to get the most out of your treatments.
ACUPUNCTURE AND YOUR HEALTH.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) takes a holistic, or whole-body approach to health. In order to assist you with your health goals, I will take into account your whole self, not just your current physical symptoms. We will explore together various factors like lifestyle, diet, emotional and mental well being, to see if any of those factors may be affecting the symptoms your body has produced.
Getting the chance to really discuss your health concerns - and having your physician really listen - may be new to you. Think of it as your opportunity to form a partnership for better health. The more you take part in your healing process, the more successful it will be.
YOUR FIRST VISIT - WHAT TO EXPECT
Initial visits generally last 90 minutes and include (optionally) a brief acupuncture treatment. Please go to our website and download the health history and HIPPA forms. Fill out the history form as completely as possible and bring both forms with you to this first appointment. Include a detailed list of all medications and over-the-counter supplements you are taking. During the initial visit, I will review your health history in detail and perform a physical exam, before I provide you with a Chinese medical diagnosis and your unique treatment plan.
During this first appointment, I will spend a lot of time getting to know you and your health concerns. I may ask a wide range of questions about your childhood illnesses, your current symptoms, eating, exercise, sleep habits, and emotional states - anything that may offer insight into the state of your health. I will also employ diagnostic tools that are unique to acupuncture and TCM such as tongue and pulse diagnosis.
YOUR TREATMENT PLAN
Once I have gathered enough information, I will give you a comprehensive diagnosis and a treatment plan that will explain:
• Your primary pattern of disharmony as well as underlying imbalances,
• Your time line of care,
• What types of treatment I recommend to initiate and later on maintain the healing process.
HOW ACUPUNCTURE AND HERBAL TREATMENTS WORK
To treat all Qi imbalances, fine sterile needles will be inserted at specific points along the meridian pathways that run just below the skin surface. I will concentrate on acupuncture points related to specific organs, based on your unique issues and symptoms.
I may include other related therapies in your treatment plan, such as cupping, massage, heat therapy or Qi Gong. Herbal remedies are another important aspect of acupuncture and TCM. Because herbal formulas are food based (rather than chemical concentrates), large doses are required to achieve the desired results. It is not uncommon to see a prescription for 6 pills to be taken 3 times a day. It is important to understand and follow the directions on your herbal prescription form in order to get the most benefit from these treatments.
ARE MY VISITS COVERED BY INSURANCE?
At this time most insurance companies do not cover acupuncture. However, some companies do cover alternative medical wellness consults. Check with your company. If you know you are covered, you pay us at the time of your visit. We give you paperwork that you are responsible for submitting to your insurance company for possible reimbursement according to the terms of your plan.
If you are not covered, you can ask if it is possible to alter your coverage accordingly.
PAYMENTS
Please call the clinic for fee details (941) 926 9082. We accept cash or checks at the time of your appointment. We do not accept credit cards.
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EACH ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT
For the best treatment results, please keep a few things such as the following in mind:
• Please arrive a few minutes early. Your heart rate needs time to settle down before your pulses are re-evaluated.
• Don't eat a large meal before your visit.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes.
• Be sure to ask questions that concern you about your treatment. Make a list, if you like. Dialogue helps us both!
• If your MD prescribed meds and/or over-the-counter supplements change at any time, put the new prescriptions into a shopping bag and bring them along to your next appointment. We will record the changes in your chart.
• Refrain from overexertion, drugs or alcohol for at least six hours after treatment.
• Follow your treatment plan between visits.
• Keep all of your appointments, as each visit builds upon the previous ones.
• To ensure a smooth flow of patients, we require a minimum 24 hours advance notice for appointment changes or cancellations. You will be charged a $35. fee for changes made with insufficient notice.
• Un-opened herbal prescriptions may be returned for a full refund within 14 days of sale. Opened bottles will not be refunded.
YOUR ROLE IN THE HEALING PROCESS
Your actions are a key component of your treatment plan. Focusing on your health and committing to a healthy lifestyle are the best steps you can take for your well being. Together, we can begin this healing journey, and help you achieve harmony and balance.
Even after your symptoms are resolved, acupuncture can assist you in maintaining your health and prevent possible future imbalances. Many of our patients come in for seasonal tune-ups and acute care as the need arises. Acupuncture and TCM can nurture your body, mind and spirit for a lifetime!
TCM TREATS COLDS AND INFLUENZA
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How do I recognize a cold or flu?
Colds and Flu are acute respiratory tract disorders that appear suddenly with any combination of the following mixture of symptoms: runny nose, watery eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, tightness in the chest, fever and chills and head or body aches. Symptoms last about a week, sometimes more, and can easily deteriorate into bronchitis or pneumonia if not identified quickly and treated correctly.
Many airborne viruses and bacteria enter the body via unprotected nasal passages, oral mucosa and skin. These pathogens would like nothing better than to set up housekeeping in human lungs and sinus cavities. The state of their victim's defensive system, their age, lifestyle, diet and environmental situation impacts the success of their attack.
Who is most affected?
Elderly people are susceptible because the strength of their immunity and organ systems has deteriorated over time. Children are especially vulnerable because their tender skin pores are more open to invasion, and their immune systems are undeveloped. Children under the age of six have weak digestive systems that too easily malfunction, allowing dampness or phlegm to build up in the stomach and chest areas. This condition worsens during a cold, producing lingering deep-seated coughs and respiratory difficulties. 'Homeland Security' for the respiratory system can be severely aggravated when the individual is exposed to a chilling wind, sudden weather changes, or frequent trips between indoor air conditioning and outdoor rainy environments.
How does Traditional Chinese Medicine treat Colds and Flu?
Traditional Chinese Medicine can effectively relieve the symptoms of both colds and flu. The first step is to recognize that each episode of cold or flu is produced by the invasion of a particular pathogen. Each individual's response to that pathogen will reflect their own unique susceptibility (defense weakness) at that time. As such, the over-the-counter formula that you successfully used to treat your last cold/flu won't necessarily successfully treat your next one. The nature of the invading pathogen and the individual's susceptibility together form distinct symptom patterns, which Chinese Medicine then treats with acupuncture and/or herbal formulas. Your acupuncture physician can teach you to recognize these patterns as soon as you experience your first symptoms. If you have Chinese formulas at hand, you can stop the invading pathogen in its tracks.
Many of my patients have accumulated a little store of these pattern specific formulas. They call me on the telephone and we identify the 'invader' pattern, their current defensive state, and which herbs will correct both. As a result, their illness is never allowed to manifest into a full-blown cold or flu. Instead, it can be reduced to minor discomfort lasting 12 hours or less. Once the individual is sufficiently recovered, I usually do acupuncture and prescribe herbs to rebuild their immune system. Many patients come in just prior to the flu season for this type of modulating treatment. In most cases, the patients report no subsequent incidences of colds or flu.
Can I learn to recognize these patterns?
Chinese Medicine divides colds and flu into three major symptom patterns, all of which are initially conveyed by “wind” plus a particular pathogen such as “Cold”, or “Heat”, or “Damp”.
Each pattern has features unique to its type:
1) WIND COLD: (corresponds to viral infection)
More chilly than feverish with a strong aversion to cold,
No sweating,
Nasal congestion
Sneezing, runny nose with clear watery mucus, possibly coughing
Occipital headache or stiff neck, and body aches all over.
No thirst
Tongue coating is thin and white
2) WIND HEAT: (corresponds to bacterial infection)
Very sore throat, swollen tonsils, possibly coughing
More fever than chills, with sweating
Stuffed or runny nose with yellow or green sticky mucous
Frontal headache or slight body aches
Thirsty for cool drinks
Restlessness or irritability.
Tongue color may be more red at the tip.
Coating is thin, possibly yellow
3) PHLEGM DAMP: (Often occurs in summertime and will have additional features resembling “cold” or “heat”)
Fever that is unrelieved by sweating
Clammy perspiration
Sensation of heaviness in head and body (woolly-headed)
Sensation of chest oppression with prolonged coughing and/or
wheezing
Nausea and/or vomiting with no appetite
Thirst but only drinks a little
Diarrhea or sticky, loose, difficult stools
Tongue coating is thicker and slimy or sticky.
After identifying the thermal imbalance in the body (wind, wind-cold, wind-damp, wind-heat), your Chinese medical practitioner gently applies an equal and opposite message to restore balance and harmony. Acupuncture is one very effective means of sending these types of messages, strengthening key points where the wind pathogen originally entered the body. Herbal formulas are equally effective and can be conveniently stored for future use.
Warm, acrid herbs encourage sweating and drive out “wind-cold” pathogens through the pores.
Cool, acrid herbs expel “wind-heat”.
Aromatic herbs disperse dampness outward and harmonize digestion in “phlegm damp” disharmonies.
Recognizing the patterns when they first appear will become easy with practice. Your Chinese Medical Practitioner can help initially to identify the patterns as they occur, and can supply you with the basic herbal formulas that address each individual pattern quickly and effectively. The time to seek additional medical advice is when symptoms other than the ones listed above predominate, or when there has been no response to the herbal formula you first tried. Viral and bacterial pathogens are very opportunistic, and will sometimes simultaneously invade deeper layers of the body's defenses. In this case the more complex pattern needs to be treated by your practitioner or a medical doctor if Western medical intervention is deemed necessary.
Diet and Home Therapies:
Specially prepared foods can assist in the recovery from colds/flu. Try one of the following food therapies:
FOR WIND COLD:
Chopped scallions and fresh ginger steeped in boiled water will produce an excellent sweat to drive out a “wind cold” virus. Chicken soup warms the lungs and strengthens digestion. Avoid cold or iced drinks.
FOR WIND HEAT:
Apples and pears are cooling. Drink plenty of room temperature water to replace fluids lost through sweating. Honeysuckle flower and peppermint teas also cool the fever in a “wind heat” pattern. Avoid highly seasoned or greasy foods that tend to aggravate this syndrome.
FOR PHLEGM DAMP:
Eat light, easy to digest, relatively bland foods to disperse dampness. Clear broths harmonize digestion. Add barley and mung beans instead of rice or noodles. Add fresh string beans, mushrooms and asparagus in season for a delicious way to resolve any damp condition. Especially avoid phlegm producing foods such as bananas, cow's milk or cheese, peanut butter, peanuts and sugar.
With just a little advance preparation and some expert advise from your Chinese medical practitioner, you too can feel great and breathe easy through the flu season.
For an appointment to evaluate your symptom pattern and customize your treatment plan, please contact:
Melinda Leeson, DOM. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine), HMC (homeopathic physician)
7029 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A. Sarasota, FL 34231 Telephone: 926-9082
CHINESE MEDICINE MAKES MENOPAUSE EASY
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PERI-MENOPAUSE DEFINED:
Peri-menopause is considered to be the time, usually between the ages of 48 and 52, when our menstrual cycle falters and ultimately ceases. Other than pregnancy, it is the time in life during which we experience the greatest number of physiological changes. Most of these changes are significant enough for us to beg our physicians to do something to make them go away. In the past decade, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was a leading treatment approach.
Recently published medical studies, however, demonstrate significant health risks posed by keeping hormone levels artificially high. Many women are now searching for another more natural approach. What they may not know is that traditional Chinese medicine has been successfully treating peri-menopausal symptoms for thousands of years without resorting to HRT, and it has been commonly available in this country since the 1980s.
MENOPAUSE, AN OPPORTUNITY TO REBALANCE OUR RESOURCES:
According to Chinese medical theory, continuing to menstruate after our children have left the nest is an inefficient drain on our bodies, especially our kidneys. The kidneys perform many functions under the conceptual umbrella of being the root to life and longevity. Symbolically speaking, they store “Essence”, which is the genetic wisdom supplied by both parents at conception. Kidney Essence provides the basis for all kidney energy, or Qi, that circulates throughout the body. It determines our basic constitution, sexuality, strength and vitality. It controls the various stages of life and will decline as we age if not nourished and maintained by the foods we eat and the life styles we choose. The kidneys also provide the foundation for all “Yin” and “Yang” energies of the body. Kidney Yin is the fundamental substance for birth, growth and reproduction, while kidney Yang is the energetic source for all physiological processes. According to this paradigm, all three aspects of kidney function would become seriously depleted if they continued to produce substances to maintain breast tissue and uterine viability beyond the child bearing years. Therefore, the end of menstruation is actually nature's way of slowing down aging, as well as rebalancing our resources to meet new challenges.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EMERGENCE OF LOVING WISDOM:
During our peri-menopausal experience, an important change of focus accompanies our physiological symptoms. Instead of the vital force (or body wisdom) using kidney energy to send blood and nourishment to the womb, it redirects this flow upward to the heart in order to nourish our heart/spirit. This change in the natural direction of energy flow offers us opportunities we didn't have while bearing and raising our children. As our heart/spirit responds to this increase in nourishment, we discover more energy to reconnect with our mates, to lovingly discover our new grandchildren, and to give back to our communities in such a way as to enrich the experience of all those around us. In traditional cultures, this transitional period was viewed as the emergence of 'the wise woman'.
THE CHINESE MEDICAL TREATMENT APPROACH:
Chinese medicine has revered this transition for thousands of years, and has developed reliable and effective treatments to assist us during the process. Treatment focuses on rebalancing the flow of Yin and Yang energies, nourishing and sustaining organ function, and replenishing the kidney vitality that has been lost through aging. An abundance of modern research attests to the success that Chinese MDs and western trained Acupuncture Physicians have achieved using Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese herbal formulas to treat peri-menopausal symptoms.
Harmonize hormone activity:
In Chinese medicine, the key to treatment, in most instances, involves harmonizing a newly emerging hormonal state. This transition is not always smooth. Hormone levels fluctuate, often unpredictably, causing hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability, and loss of libido. Variations in the circulation of blood and Yin lead to many symptoms such as menstrual irregularity, uterine spotting or flooding before menstruation ceases entirely. Other common deficiency symptoms include dizziness, palpitations, sleeplessness, and vaginal dryness. If the physician focuses on replenishing kidney energy, the adrenal glands will take over production of progesterone on an appropriately smaller scale. If the physician restores Qi, Yin, and blood resources through acupuncture and herbal therapy, the ovaries will continue to produce estrogen at approximately 40% of their former capacity. Rapidly increasing numbers of fat cells, which act to cushion our bones, also assist by producing other estrogen-like resources. These new hormone reserves have the additional effect of increasing bone density and strength, thus preventing osteoporosis.
Hormone therapy in conjunction with acupuncture and Chinese herbs:
If a woman has already lost significant bone mass, her hormone reserves are obviously spent. In this case, she may initially need her MD to supervise 'bio-identical' hormone replacement while Chinese medical treatments restore all her systems to harmonious function. If a woman seeks out Chinese medicine soon enough, even natural hormone replacement will be the exception rather than the rule.
Dietary and lifestyle changes:
Chinese medical treatment includes dietary and lifestyle counseling - both of which fundamentally affect post-menopausal health. Concentrating food choices on fresh vegetables and fruits and slowly eliminating dairy and packaged foods will prevent toxicity induced weight gain. Moderate daily exercise, including weight bearing as well as stretching activities, is also recommended. Many women confirm that they experience a new vitality and strength, along with a sensation of inner peace as a result of Chinese medical therapy. As an acupuncture physician, and a post-menopausal woman myself, I would have to agree.
For an appointment to evaluate your symptom pattern and customize your treatment plan, please contact:
Melinda Leeson, DOM. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine), HMC (homeopathic physician)
7029 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A. Sarasota, FL 34231 Telephone: 926-9082
CHINESE MEDICINE RESOLVES RESPIRATORY ALLERGIES
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ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND CHRONIC SINUS CONGESTION:
Allergic rhinitis is a seasonal, often perennial disorder characterized by attacks of sneezing, nasal congestion and profuse nasal discharge. In some cases, patients experience itching around the eyes and red conjunctivae. As congestion in the sinus passages increases, patients may complain about thickened mucus (causing more difficulty breathing), impaired mental concentration, headaches, and asthmatic symptoms.
From a conventional point of view, these signs are caused by a hypersensitivity of the lining of the nasal cavity to various pollens, spores, dust mites, animal dander, and/or fumes. One could also say that the individual's 'homeland security' (immune system) has become hysterically hyper vigilant, and consequently overreacts to encroaching elements that are perceived as a huge threat. This repeated over reaction produces what we describe as allergic rhinitis.
CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT:
Common treatments for allergic rhinitis usually involve some form of desensitization to the offending allergen or administration of antihistamines to block the body's immune response. In essence, these treatments focus on redirecting or suppressing (dumbing down) the patient's immune response to a specific external influence. They do not revitalize or alter other related aspects of immunity that may be relevant to the patient's condition. Nor do they remove the obstacles that can delay or prevent body systems from restoring themselves to harmonious function.
THE CHINESE MEDICAL APPROACH:
Traditional Chinese Medicine treats allergic rhinitis by focusing on the internal factors that caused the body's immune response to become disordered, while also alleviating the symptoms caused by immune hyper-reactivity.
Wei Qi:
Chinese Medicine uses the concept of "Wei Qi" (homeland security) to understand the nature and functions of immunity. Wei Qi is the defensive aspect of the body's cognizant vital force (Qi). As it circulates under the skin and between the muscles, Wei Qi protects the body from being adversely affected by "wind", "cold", "heat", or other "elements" that are encountered in one's environment. Lung and kidney Qi assist Wei Qi in defending its boundaries against wind borne allergens. Lung Qi nourishes and protects the mucus linings of the nose, mouth and respiratory tract. Kidney Qi transports nourishment upward to the lungs, and transmits endocrine system information so that Wei Qi can mount an intelligent and measured defense response to whatever pathogens it encounters.
If Wei Qi is well nourished and strong, it will accurately recognize an undesirable visitor within its borders. It will then initiate a measured inflammatory response to trap the invader, while simultaneously alerting white blood cell commandos to destroy the histamine imprisoned allergen. Nasal discharges and sneezing help to eliminate mucus "battle debris," and homeostasis is restored.
Allergies complicated by deficiency:
If any of the organ systems supplying Wei Qi become deficient or obstructed in their duties, a minor allergic response can escalate into a huge battlefield disaster. Fatigued lymphocyte soldiers falter in their mission to destroy invaders, and the inflamed area becomes overly toxic. As mucus accumulates, sneezing becomes more forceful, and the patient may despair of ever breathing easily again. Keynote features in patterns of rhinitis complicated by deficiency include:
• Onset coincides with a change of weather
• Sneezing is transitory and recurrent
• Itching around nose and eyes increases
• Complexion is waxy and pale
• History of (or concurrent) asthma or eczema
• Deficient, weak pulse
Allergies worsened by stagnation:
Wei Qi also declines if the Qi and blood pathways become blocked for any reason. Blockage can occur when liver Qi succumbs to emotional stress. Unvented frustration or anger can literally strangle liver energy, restraining it from circulating vital Qi and blood to all the other body systems. Without the smooth and efficient flow of information and nutrients, the body's defense mechanisms malfunction, in this instance by over reacting. Keynote features in this pattern of rhinitis include:
• Easy irritability out of proportion to current events
• Red or white face becoming purple during episodes of anger
• Pulse has a string-taut quality
Allergies are strongly influenced by food choices:
A second form of stagnation/obstruction occurs as a result of poor dietary choices. Regular consumption of cold and phlegm-producing foods induces a state of dampness that slows digestion, hindering the absorption and distribution of nutrients to the rest of the body. Foods made from cow's milk, cold fruit juices, peanuts, and all foods or drinks containing sugar produce mucus in the digestive tract which then accumulates in the nose and lungs. This is most frequently observed in children with persistent runny noses, nasal itching, and/or chronic noisy respiration. Keynote features in this hypo-reactive pattern of rhinitis include:
• White face
• Droopy posture, fatigue, muzzy-headedness
• Poor appetite (picky eater)
• Thirsty but refuses drink
• Loose stools
The miraculous effects of acupuncture:
• Traditional Chinese Medicine uses acupuncture and time tested herbal formulas to treat allergic rhinitis. To relieve sinus misery, the acupuncture physician gently inserts very fine-gauged needles into selected energy channels along the body surface, called meridians. These channels, can be stimulated to subdue an ongoing allergic response and disperse accumulating mucus, or to reformat communication pathways in order to prevent future attacks. Often two or three acupuncture treatments during the month prior to an oncoming allergy season can normalize and strengthen the lungs, kidneys and Wei Qi to such a degree that the patient no longer responds to formerly troublesome allergens.
Herbal prescriptions offer relief:
Daily doses of herbal medicines can make a huge difference in alleviating the misery experienced during an attack, as well as strengthening lung and kidney support systems over the long term. If offending foods are also eliminated, freedom to enjoy being out in nature is virtually guaranteed.
For an appointment to evaluate your symptom pattern and customize your treatment plan, please contact:
Melinda Leeson, DOM. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine), HMC (homeopathic physician)
7029 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A. Sarasota, FL 34231 Telephone: 926-9082
PAINFUL PERIODS DEFINED:
The term “painful periods” describes abdominal or low back pain that occurs before, during or after menstruation. It can be dull or sharp, and is frequently associated with contractions to evacuate blood stored in the tissue that lines the uterus (endometrial) after ovulation. These pains may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or fainting in severe cases.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICAL TREATMENT PROTOCOL:
Traditional Chinese Medicine contends that liver “Qi” is the primary energy source responsible for menstruation. Ancient medical texts liken the liver to an army's general because it manages and directs the overall planning of all body functions requiring the smooth flow of Qi (energy) and blood throughout the body. The liver regulates blood volume, consistency, and rate of flow throughout a woman's menstrual cycle. Healthy menstruation requires the free and abundant flow of liver Qi and blood. If this flow falters for any reason, the exodus of blood from the uterus backs up, causing hyper contractions in the uterus and referred pain in the abdomen or lower back. Chinese Medicine calls this back-flow “stagnation” and identifies it as the primary cause for painful periods. A key sign that liver Qi has stagnated is the presence of clots in the menstrual blood.
The most common cause for painful menstruation is linked to the pathogenic influence of “cold” and/or “damp” weather, especially on young bodies during puberty. Scantily dressed young girls may play outdoor games or school sports in inclement weather, or lounge around in wet bathing suits after swimming. The cold or damp enters through the open skin pores, gaining too easy access to the energetic organs and channels that supply the uterus with Qi and blood. Frequent consumption of cold drinks, sodas and 'fast food' also cause the flow of Qi and blood to stagnate in the reproductive system.
Other more complex causes for painful periods usually begin later in life, and may be associated with organic problems such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or benign uterine tumors. Despite the complexity of these adult pathologies, the root of Chinese Medical diagnosis is still Qi and blood stagnation. Treatment involves the use of acupuncture and herbs to soothe and regulate liver function by moving Qi and improving the circulation of blood. Depending on the physician's assessment of the prevailing pattern of disharmony, treatment may also focus on expelling cold, resolving dampness, or clearing away other pernicious influences obstructing normal flow. Harmonizing and strengthening herbs are included in the treatment plan in order to increase overall energy and wellness.
Long term emotional strain is another cause for painful periods. Stressed emotions inhibit normal menstrual circulation. This can manifest as irritability, depression, mood swings, painful swollen breasts, and abdominal distention before or during menstruation. Many of us have insufficient coping mechanisms for dealing with the complexity and speed of our daily lives. Input from our emotional bodies is often ignored or suppressed so that we can simply get through the events of each day. Chinese Medicine believes that liver function is most susceptible to stagnation by emotions involving some form of resistance - especially anger. In simplest terms, the degree of emotional resistance experienced is equivalent to the degree of obstructed Qi and blood, and consequent pain. It may take a lifetime to acquire and perfect coping skills to ensure emotional and physiological harmony. In the meantime, Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, herbal prescriptions and healthy food choices have a long history of successfully restoring balance not only to the process of menstruation, but to our entire organism, thereby improving our ability to engage fully in life without monthly pain and misery.
For an appointment to evaluate your menstrual difficulties and customize a treatment plan for you, please contact:
Melinda Leeson, DOM. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine), HMC (homeopathic physician)
7029 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A. Sarasota, FL 34231 Telephone: 926-9082
CHINESE SOUP BROTH TREATMENT FOR OSTEOPOROSIS
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A safe and reliable strategy for preventing and correcting osteoporosis has recently become a critical health issue for all of us over the age of fifty. Research studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine have recently exposed a link between long-term use of Fosamax (a bisphosphonate drug used to treat osteoporosis) and unusual transverse fractures of the thigh bone, indicating that prolonged therapy with these drugs tends to weaken bone integrity rather than strengthening it. (1) Even as this clinical data comes to national attention, the public remains largely uninformed concerning two main issues about bone health. First, most cases of osteoporosis are preventable through proper nutrition and exercise especially when initiated during childhood and carried throughout an individual's lifetime. Secondly, there are safe and reliable alternative methods of increasing the vitality and strength of bone without inhibiting any type of vital bone cell activity, as has been the case with the use of bisphosphonate drugs. My clinical favorite of these alternatives, “Chinese Soup Broth to Make Healthy Bone” appears to restore and maintain bone vitality without side effect. This article will investigate the pertinent issues.
Bone Vitality
Bone is composed of protein and collagen (connective tissue). When calcium from the blood stream is deposited onto this structure, it forms a porous yet rigid framework that supports and protects the body's internal organs. This formation also provides attachments for muscles and ligaments that make controlled movement and weight bearing activities possible. All bones consist of living and dead cells that are embedded in this mineralized “living matrix” called osseous tissue.
Three types of cells - osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts - form, maintain, repair and breakdown bone matrix in a lifelong process described as “bone remodeling”. The activities of these cells must always be in relative balance to each other. Their dynamic equilibrium determines bone strength and vitality from conception through old age.
Osteoblasts are the most immature bone cells. They cover all available bony surface. As they migrate into the bone matrix, they bring calcium from the bloodstream with them, thereby laying down new bone. Soon, they mature into osteocytes, responsible for regulating how bone responds to stress or mechanical load. The more strain that is placed on a bone, the more calcium is deposited into that area. Repeated activity increases the amount of calcium deposited in the bone, making it thicker and stronger.
Osteoclasts, remove “old bone” during normal remodeling cycles, releasing calcium back into systemic blood circulation. Their activity has a secondary effect of regulating calcium balance between what is contained in bone and what is circulating in the bloodstream and available for other uses.
Damage Control
If an individual doesn't exercise on a regular basis, osteoblasts and osteoclasts are not called up for duty. As a result, bone matrix becomes too porous, kind of like Swiss cheese, insufficient to support the weight of normal body activity.
If an individual exercises too strenuously, or falls, the force can generate “micro-fractures” in the bone. In a healthy individual, a micro-fracture is quickly repaired by a vigorous crew of osteoblasts and osteocytes. In an older or unhealthy person, the lack of osteocyte activity leads to deeper cracks and fissures, degrading bone integrity and making is susceptible to fracture.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis (literally “porous bones”) describes a pathological state where the bone remodeling process has stopped, thereby disrupting essential micro architecture and leading to an excess of bone “resorption” relative to bone formation. In some, but not all women, this state leads to an increased risk of fractures, and poor healing. Osteoporosis is most common in women after menopause, but may develop in men and pre-menopausal women in the presence of particular hormonal disorders, and other chronic diseases. The highest risk of bone fracture occurs in women over the age of 75.
Western Medical Treatments for Osteoporosis
From a western point of view, the therapeutic goal has been to strengthen the bone so that it won't fracture. One early approach was to prescribe female hormone replacement. Estrogen stimulates the deposition of calcium into bone, thereby increasing bone density, but with considerable adverse side effects - mostly in the form of cancers and heart disease.
A second approach was initiated in the mid 1990's. A special class of drugs called bisphosphonates was developed to inhibit osteoclast activity. Rather than being “resorbed” into the bloodstream, old bone is allowed to build up over more old bone, thereby increasing overall density with the intention of reducing the potential for fractures. Bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis currently include Fosamax (Alendronate), Actonel (risedronate), Didronel (Etidronate), Aredia (Pamidronate), Boniva (Ibandronate), Reclast (Zoledronic acid), Skelid (Tiludronate) and Zometa (Zoledronic acid).
On average, these drugs appear to increase bone mass density by 3 to 5% over three years time. Some side effects have been reported such as osteonecrosis of the jaw, musculoskeletal pain, stomach irritation, thyroid and adrenal cancers, and fertility impairment.
Even more recent evidence suggests that after four or more years of use, the trend reverses itself and structural integrity diminishes. A significant number of unusual transverse fractures of the thighbone have occurred in patients during minimal activity. If we recall our theory of bone vitality, bone is constantly being remade. This latest research contends that “patients taking bisphosphonates do not remodel their bone”. Without sufficient osteoblast and osteocyte remodeling, “micro-damage accumulates in the bone, making it more susceptible to fracture. What we need is to rejuvenate the skeleton” (1)
While drug treatment for osteoporosis can save many lives in the short term. I suggest careful evaluation of risks versus benefits by both practitioners and patients. If the disease is observed early, it can be reversed by more holistic therapies that take into account the need for homeostasis in bone cell activity, regular exercise and a fresh food diet.
Osteopenia
A disturbing trend in the past few years has been the apparent change in medical terminology between osteoporosis and osteopenia (literally “thin bone”). Concurrent with the development of convenient technology to measure bone density, too many women have been prescribed bisphosphonate medications (albeit in lower doses) with the false understanding that they have a “disease” that requires medication. It is important to note that osteopenia is not a pathology. Osteopenic bones are thin, but are perfectly capable of repairing micro-fractures as they occur. Nor does osteopenia require medical treatment. It was a diagnostic term “coined” by medical experts at the World Health Organization osteoporosis meeting in Rome in 1992 to differentiate between a slight thinning of the bones that occurs naturally as people age and a pathological loss of bone mass. Osteopenia typically does not result in bone breaks and it can be reversed with weight bearing exercise, nutritional therapies and a fresh food diet.
Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) Approach:
Traditional Chinese medical theory approaches a disease state from a multi-faceted point of view, taking into consideration the relative balance between all aspects of the organism and its environment. If we use the metaphor of a tree to describe a particular medical condition, the Chinese physician will commence his investigation by inspecting the leaves, stems and branches as well as the tree's trunk and root system. He will also assess the local earthly environment and the sources of air and water before arriving at a diagnosis of what has become out of balance. Even if a set of symptoms describes a disharmony in the trunk and branches, such as “osteoporosis”, the physician will devise a treatment plan that replenishes resources for the tree's use and rebalances all the systems that are responsible for sustaining the tree's vitality.
According to the Chinese ancients, the health and vitality of bone matrix is dependent on the amount and quality of Kidney Jing (literally “essence resource”). Jing is the metaphoric “water” source for growth and remodeling activities during the life of the tree. In simple human terms, along with many other activities, Jing tells the osteoblasts to get to work making new bone and supplies the osteoclasts with energy to break down old bone.
During her lifetime, a woman can deplete her Kidney Jing, especially during pregnancy and delivery, overworking, stress or excess sexual activity. As a result, she will lose bone density. Fragile bones, however, are not the only symptom she will suffer. Other signs of Jing loss include premature graying of hair, balding, loose teeth, poor hearing, low back and knee pain.
In TCM theory, the liver system stores blood and controls the vigor of sinews and tendons. If her liver resources are depleted, she may also experience dizziness, dryness, blurred vision, tinnitus, thirst, night sweating and arthritic tendons and joints.
These same women (or men) may also complain of muscle aches and weakness, poor digestion and fatigue. In TCM theory, spleen/pancreatic Qi (literally “energy”) is responsible for transforming and transporting food resources to all parts of the body, including the bones. It also recycles blood and maintains the health of vessels and muscles.
Chinese Herbs treat Osteoporosis
Given this larger picture of possible signs and symptoms, Chinese medicine aims to re-supply each of the organ systems that are responsible for healthy bone - the liver, spleen, pancreas and especially kidney Jing. Chinese herbal formulas have been used with great success for over two thousand years to achieve this end. Herbal specialists know precisely which roots, plants, fruits and natural substances replenish these resources. When these substances are simmered in water, they release their therapeutic nutrients into the water, turning the resulting broth into a medicine of great value.
Soup Broth: An Essential Form of Food Therapy For Osteoporosis
Most Chinese hospitals deliver herbal prescriptions to their patients in thermos bottles of warmed broth. Patients using soup broth therapy recover their health more quickly and are able to maintain a higher level of vitality for a longer period of time. Tablets and capsules, although useful, are more slowly absorbed into the body and take longer to achieve their intended effect.
“Chinese Soup Broth to Make Healthy Bone and Prevent Osteoporosis®”
This broth recipe has been handed down from one Chinese doctor to another for centuries. In many of my osteoporosis patients, it has entirely replaced the need for bisphosphonate medications. Pork neck bones and carefully selected herbs are slowly simmered for many hours before being strained into multiple containers that can be stored in the freezer until needed. One recipe makes a sixteen day supply (8 pints). Dosage is 4 ounces of warmed broth taken twice daily, usually for a year or more. The pork neck bones (2 lbs. per recipe) can be obtained from a local butcher. My Publix butcher orders them by the case, keeping them in the freezer until I come in to pick them up. The raw herbal materials are available at my clinic pre-assembled, and can be mailed anywhere in the country.
Although the exact formula is proprietary, ingredients in the basic broth include Chinese wolfberry, longan fruit, red jujube date, codonopsis root, astragalus root, angelica sinensis root, American ginseng root, glehnia root, fresh ginger root and deer antler gelatin.
For my patients who also suffer from arthritis or hip/joint disease, I recommend adding chicken bones to the recipe along with a couple of extra herbs such as Dipsacus root and Drynaria rhizome. According to Chinese herbology, these additional herbs nourish the kidney and liver systems responsible for mending sinews and bones, strengthening tendons and ligaments and relieving pain in arthritic joints.
Over the last five years, the only difficulties encountered with this type of therapy have been in terms of convenience and effort required on the part of the patient. Making a new batch of soup broth every sixteen days can be time consuming, although I simmer mine in a crock-pot overnight and find it easy to complete the next morning. In my experience, every patient who has continued with the therapy for more than nine months has increased his/her bone density by 15 - 30%. All patients have also committed themselves to 30 minutes a day of exercise, a fresh food diet and some vitamin/mineral supplementation.
Helpful Tips for Lifestyle and Nutrition
The following is a summary of recommendations to maintain good structural health. For a more complete discussion of the issue, I recommend reading an excellent book, Better Bones, Better Body by Susan Brown, PhD.
• Consume a sufficient amount of calcium from diet. Milk and foods made from milk are not the only sources of calcium. Other good choices are calcium-rich, lowfat foods from the other food groups. Some fruits and vegetables that are high in calcium include kale, collard greens, bok choy, broccoli, and oranges. Other calcium-rich foods that are low in saturated fat include calcium-treated tofu and cooked dried beans.
• Supplement approx. 800-1000 mg. Calcium citrate daily in a comprehensive vitamin/ mineral formula designed for men or women over the age of 50. (Calcium supplementation is most effective if it is combined with 800-1000 IU of Vitamin D-3 and other minerals such as magnesium (500 mg), potassium (100 mg) and boron (3 mg).
• There is some clinical evidence that supplementing Vit K-2 and strontium ranelate is helpful in bone remodeling (2)
• Remember that the phosphoric acid and carbonic acid in carbonated sodas compel bone matrix to release calcium back into the blood to buffer the acidic load from these types of beverages, thereby making bone less dense!
• Women need to consume foods rich is plant estrogen such as soybeans and Mexican yams (dioscoria) or herbal preparations for menopausal complaints. These herbal formulas such as Liu Wei di Huang Wan, Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, Ge Jie Da Bu Wan, or Du Huo Ji Sheng Pian all treat the major deficiencies that predispose a woman to osteoporosis. Each formula emphasizes a particular imbalance within the deficiency. Your acupuncture physician can prescribe these for you after diagnosing your particular imbalance.
• Exercise 30 minutes daily by walking or mild aerobic exercises. Tai Chi or Yoga also strengthens bones and joints without increased risk of injury. Weight bearing exercises at least three times a weeks are especially effective in improving bone strength. When muscle pulls on bone, it encourages osteoblasts to lay down more calcium in that area, thereby creating denser, stronger bones. These activities also improve heart health, muscle strength, coordination and balance. Check with your health care provider before you start a new exercise program to make sure it is suited to you.
• Spend ten minutes daily in outdoor sunshine to increase absorption of natural Vit. D. This amount of exposure has not been shown to advance either type of skin cancer.
• Consume 4-8 oz. Chinese Soup Broth to Make Healthy Bone and Prevent Osteoporosis® every day!
For an appointment to evaluate your symptom pattern and customize a treatment plan specifically for you, please contact:
Melinda Leeson, DOM. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine), HMC (homeopathic physician)
7029 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A. Sarasota, FL 34231 Telephone: (941) 926-9082
© Copyright 2010 Melinda Leeson, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, for personal use only in a not-for-profit format. Copying any portions of this article for publication, either print or electronic, is not permitted without prior written permission from Melinda Leeson, P.A.
Special Note:
Statements made in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. They are the results of my personal clinical research and experience. Please consult your healthcare professional before trying the broth mentioned herein or any other nutritional supplement.
Footnotes:
(1) As recently as March 2008, medical research studies revealed a link between long term use (5 or more years) of Fosamax and unusual lateral fractures of the thigh bone during low-energy activities. Dr. Rossenwasser, an orthopedic surgeon at New York-Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus) studied patients taking Fosamax for a number of years. In his paper presented to the 2010 Conference of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons he stated “in the early treatment period, patients using bisphosphonates experienced improvements in all parameters, including decreased buckling ration and increased cross-sectional area … However, after four years of use, these trends reversed, revealing an association between prolonged therapy and declining cortical bone structural integrity.”
Another presenter, Dr. Joseph Lane (Chief of metabolic bone disease at the hospital for Special Surgery), “normally your bone is constantly being remade … These patients don't remake their bone. The development of new collagen is slowed and altered in some way. As certain women acquire micro-damage, it accumulates in the bone, making it more susceptible to fracture. What we need is to rejuvenate the skeleton.” (For sources, see below)
(2) Strontium ranelate for preventing and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 4. Art. No.: O'Donnell S, Cranney A, Wells GA, Adachi J, Reginster JY. CD005326. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005326.pub3.)
Vit K-2 menaquinone-7 (45 mg). J Orthop Sci. 2000;5(6):546-51. PMID: 11180916. Abstract; Iwamoto J, Takeda T, Ichimura S.
Sources:
Bisphosphonates and Fractures of the Subtrochanteric or Diaphyseal Femur
Black DM, Kelly MP, Genant HK, Palermo L, Eastell R, Bucci-Rechtweg C, Cauley J, Leung PC, Boonen S, Santora A, de Papp A, Bauer DC
Published by N Engl J Med; at www.nejm.org on March 24, 2010 (10.1056/NEJMoa1001086).
Evolving Data about Subtrochanteric Fractures and Bisphosphonates
Shane E. Published in N Engl J Med; at www.nejm.org on March 24, 2010 (10.1056/NEJMe1003064).
Atypical Fractures of the Femoral Diaphysis in Postmenopausal Women Taking Alendronate
Lenart BA, Lorich DG, Lane JM
Published in N Engl J Med 358:1304, March 20, 2008
Quantity vs. Quality: Long-Term Use of Bone-Building Osteoporosis ...
Rossenwasser et al. Presented to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2010 Conference. http://www6.aaos.org/news/pemr/releases/release.cfm?releasenum=877
Bisphosphonate use associated with low-energy femoral fractures
Annie Hayashi. AAOS Now (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) January 2010 Issue
http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/jan10/clinical3.asp
How A Bone Disease Grew To Fit The Prescription, NPR All Things Considered, Michele Norris December 21, 2009 NPR®
Better Bones, Better Body: Beyond Estrogen and Calcium: a Comprehensive Self-Help Program for Preventing, Halting and Overcoming Osteoporosis, 2nd Edition 2000 by Susan Brown PhD. Keats Publishing, Los Angeles. See her website at www.betterbones.com
INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHY
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WHAT IS CLASSICAL HOMEOPATHY?
Classical homeopathy is the fastest growing form of complimentary medicine in the world today. It is a complete system designed to restore physical, emotional and mental health in the shortest, surest, least harmful way. Its guiding principles were defined and clinically tested more than 200 years ago by German physician - Samuel Hahnemann.
WHY CHOOSE HOMEOPATHY?
Homeopathy provides a safe, effective, natural, non-toxic treatment for many acute and chronic illnesses. Homeopathic medicines consist of natural substances that are gentle yet extremely effective, often achieving rapid results without side effects or suppression of symptoms. Prescriptions for these medicines are individualized. For instance, ten different people suffering from allergies are each likely to need a different homeopathic medicine. The medicines are inexpensive, and they address not only an individual's physical complaints, but also work on a mental and emotional level, treating the 'whole' person, including their core issues (the often invisible inner forces that drive symptoms to appear).
INDIVIDUALITY AND THE LAW OF SIMILARS
Each person is an individual and reacts to the events and challenges of life in a unique way. The medicine that can restore balance and harmony to one person will not necessarily promote a similar deep healing response in another. Homeopathic medicines are prescribed according to the 'Law of Similars', a concept dating back over five thousand years to medical texts from China and India. Hippocrates referred to the same idea in 400 BC: That which makes sick, shall heal. This means that the same substance that can cause a particular set of symptoms in a healthy person can cure the same or similar symptoms in a person who is ill.
HOMEOPATHY TREATS THE PERSON, NOT THE DISEASE
All of a person's symptoms, taken together, form a network of clues that reveal a unique pattern of disharmony that can be treated with a single homeopathic medicine. The root of this disharmony is frequently found at the level of perception, and can be accessed via thoughts, sensations, feelings, or even recurring dreams. How an individual perceives his life exerts a strong influence on the strategies he adopts just to survive each day. If these coping mechanisms become out of sync with his internal reality and /or external environment, 'disease' symptoms begin to appear.
STIMULATE VERSUS ELIMINATE
Conventional medicine focuses on controlling the symptoms of a disease. Homeopathy views symptoms as distinct signs that the body creates in an attempt to heal itself of more deeply rooted imbalances, both physical and perceptual. A homeopathic medicine acts as a catalyst that will enhance the body's efforts, thus stimulating a renewed inner state of balance and well-being. When this rebalancing of inner forces occurs, the patient's symptoms automatically improve at every level.
YOUR VITAL FORCE DOES THE WORK
Homeopaths use the term 'vital force' to describe the dynamic intelligence that fuels and directs the healthy functioning of each person at all levels of their life experience. This image has historical significance in many systems of medicine, and is called by many names - Qi, Prana, Mana - depending on the particular culture or tradition. A correctly chosen homeopathic medicine stimulates a person's vital force in such a way that it begins the healing of its own systems - mental, emotional, and physical.
COMMONLY TREATED CONDITIONS
Homeopathic medicines provide rapid relief for ACUTE symptoms patterns such as colds / influenza, hay fever, bladder infections, earaches, headaches, stomach upset, bruises / cuts, sprains and strains, as well as sudden onset emotional states such as rage, grief, sadness, fear and / or panic attacks.
Homeopathic medicines also stimulate healing by addressing the underlying causes for such CHRONIC ailments as asthma, allergies, digestive disorders, insomnia, menstrual problems, menopause, as well as nervous system imbalances such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder (ADD), behavioral problems and hyperactivity (ADHD).
If you are interested in more information about what happens in a homeopathic appointment, please read my article entitled “Your first homeopathic appointment - what to expect”. For an appointment to find a homeopathic remedy to treat your health challenges, please contact:
Melinda Leeson, DOM. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine), HMC (homeopathic physician)
7029 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A. Sarasota, FL 34231 Telephone: 926-9082
YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT - WHAT TO EXPECT
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WELCOME TO OUR CLINIC
Welcome! By choosing homeopathy, you've taken a great step toward a more balanced, healthy lifestyle. Classical homeopathy has helped millions of people regain and maintain their health. Since this system of health care may be different than other care you've received, it's only natural to have questions. Read on to find out what to expect - and how to get the most out of your appointments.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON THE FIRST VISIT?
Well before your first scheduled appointment, please go to our website and download the health history and HIPPA forms. Fill out the history form as completely as possible and bring both forms with you. If we are doing your appointment via video Skype or Ichat, please make sure we have your forms in hand before the appointment. Include a detailed list of all medications and over-the-counter supplements you are taking as well as any pertinent lab test results.
The first visit takes about two hours to complete and consists of two sections. During the interview portion, be prepared to really discuss your health concerns. Tell me about any and all complaints you experience in life, whether they be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. The interview process is very relaxed, comfortable, and safe, in a non-judgmental atmosphere. Be prepared to answer occasional questions because your symptoms make you different from everyone else. Any additional information you can provide is always helpful. For example: "Under what circumstances do you experience this symptom? When did it start? What does it feel like? What makes it better or worse?" Think about your general health, habits and any past shocks or injuries you may have experienced that might have been aggravating factors.
I may ask you about your sleep, food cravings, sensitivities, energy level and personal nature. I often ask about feelings, sensations and dreams. All these details give me a good picture of you as a person so I can match a remedy to your unique characteristics. Think of it as your opportunity to form a partnership for better health. The more you take part in your healing process, the more successful it will be.
At the end of this segment, I will do a short physical examination (unless we are visiting via Skype). This part allows me to gently assess each region of your body for any abnormalities, and provides base line data for future therapeutic use.
For children, part of the interview will include the child who is often invited to engage in an activity such as drawing or construction while sharing what they feel comfortable sharing with me. The other portion consists of a discussion with the parents alone.
Skype or Ichat interviews are possible for patients living at a distance from Sarasota. Make sure you have a working web cam and audio system for your computer. Establish an account with Skype or Ichat. I am registered with both. Email me (naturesownap@verizon.net) with your account name on whichever system you choose. Include your telephone number where I can reach you if the system fails. I will then email you our clinic account name. Make sure you have your Skype or Ichat program turned on and ready for the scheduled appointment time. I will initiate the connection. If, for some reason, no connection occurs, please call our direct line at (941) 926 9082.
Sometimes, I am able to prescribe a homeopathic remedy at the end of this appointment. Other times I take my notes home and work with them for a few evenings. Finding one remedy out of the 5,000 available can be a daunting task, but sophisticated computer programs and modern techniques make the job much easier. After I am clear about which prescription may be of the most benefit to you, I'll phone you and make arrangements for picking up or ordering your remedy.
WHAT ABOUT SUBSEQUENT VISITS?
I like to monitor your progress at three to seven week intervals depending on your situation. These follow up appointments usually take one hour. As you improve, these visits are spaced further apart.
WHAT KINDS OF HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES DO YOU PRESCRIBE?
Each prescription consists of a single substance made from a plant, mineral, salt, metal, or bit of animal tissue. Examples from daily practice are Pulsatilla (windflower), Calcarea carbonica (calcium carbonate from oyster shells), Sulphur (the element), and Sepia (ink of the cuttlefish). Remedies are all prepared by FDA-approved pharmacies by serial dilutions of the original natural substance, with forceful shaking between each dilution.
SHOULD I CONTINUE TO SEE MY MEDICAL DOCTOR FOR MY CONDITION?
Yes. Your MD is uniquely skilled in monitoring the medical aspects of your progress as well as any exacerbations or setbacks that may occur during your treatment. I recommend you continue your prescribed medications until such a time as your MD. feels you no longer need them.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A WRONG REMEDY IS GIVEN?
Generally nothing at all. Remedies are non-toxic. The prescribed remedy must resonate with the person, otherwise nothing happens. Sometimes symptoms are subtly changed without much overall progress. This signifies a remedy is close but not exact. I will be able to assess this better within the context of regular follow up appointments. Then we can make whatever changes are necessary to find you a more exact prescription.
ARE MY VISITS COVERED BY INSURANCE?
At this time most insurance companies do not cover homeopathy. However, some companies do cover alternative medical wellness consults. Check with your company. If you are not covered, you can ask if it is possible to alter your coverage accordingly.
PAYMENTS AND PATIENT SCHEDULING:
Please call our clinic (941) 926 9082 for fee and appointment details. To ensure a smooth flow of patients, we require a minimum 24 hours advance notice for appointment changes or cancellations. You will be charged 1/2 the apt. fee for changes made with insufficient notice.
Credit cards are not currently accepted. Payment is by cash or check at the time of your appointment.
HELP YOUR BODY HEAL ITSELF WITH CLASSICAL HOMEOPATHY
INTEGRATED MEDICAL APPROACH TO CHILDHOOD LEARNING AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS
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Children who are having difficulty at home or at school really suffer. Their academic disabilities put them behind the school's learning schedule, so they are under constant pressure to perform and catch up to their peers. Their awareness of their difficulty hampers relationships, indirectly lowering self-esteem, resulting in even more frustration and sense of isolation from others.
WHAT DOES CHINESE MEDICINE HAVE TO OFFER THESE CHILDREN?
Chinese medicine evaluates childhood learning and behavioral difficulties as particular patterns of disharmony that arise as a result of “excess” (too much of some influence) or “deficiency” (too little energy). These basic conditions are additionally individualized according to environmental conditions such as heat, cold, dampness or phlegm, or combinations thereof.
These elements strongly affect children because their bodies are undeveloped and therefore susceptible to malfunction. Poor digestion slows the absorption and distribution of nutrients to the rest of the body, which means less Qi and blood circulating. According to Chinese Medicine, Qi is the motive energy or vital force that organizes and energizes all physiological, mental, and emotional functions in the human body. Blood transports nutrients and wastes through the various body systems, moistening and revitalizing all the tissues as it circulates. Deficient Qi and blood (i.e. too little fuel, or damaged fuel circulation) is the basis of pediatric learning disorders such as autism and attention deficit (ADD), as well as hyperactivity patterns. If the digestion isn't working properly, the lungs, heart and brain receive insufficient energy to function as they should. Thus, the child is unable to concentrate, absorb or retain new information. When Qi is deficient, nourishment to the heart is also withheld, and the child becomes restless and fidgety. When either “cold” or “heat” is present, the malfunction is compounded, and the child's difficulty interacting with his/her environment escalates exponentially.
In an overheated state, the child's interstitial fluids are exhausted and unable to lubricate and cool his/her body and brain. The heat rises, scorching the heart Qi, and the child becomes restless and irritable. Western Medicine identifies this pattern as hyperactivity. These children will have a red face, volatile tempers, and cannot sit still. Their sleep is restless, and they tend to wake early. They are thirsty and frequently constipated. Due to their inability to relax or play calmly, they have difficulty making friends.
Causes for heat retained in the body are varied. The most common sources are what Chinese Medicine calls “lingering pathogenic factors.” A pathogen can linger after a high fever due to a viral or bacterial invasion. A bad reaction to vaccinations can also leave pathogenic heat in the body for long periods of time. Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and H influenza B (HIB) vaccinations are the most commonly documented sources for this type of retained heat. Spicy or greasy, fried foods, too much fruit juice, or foods containing food colorings and preservatives are often implicated, as well as heat transferred from the mother during pregnancy.
Heat can also derive from depleted kidney energy. This can be the result of
genetic/constitutional weakness or an over-stimulating environment where the child has insufficient resources to keep up with the level of activity. These children are generally thin and high-strung. Their restlessness and emotional tension is much worse when they become tired or overexcited. They may complain of additional deficiency/heat symptoms such as insomnia, ringing in the ears, palpitations, possible nighttime bedwetting, or low back and knee pain.
“Cold” states are usually the result of difficulty digesting cold-natured foods. Such items as cow's milk, iced drinks, ice cream, and excess raw foods slow down the metabolism and distribution of nutrients. Basic body and brain functions become sluggish and deficient. Some foods, especially those manufactured with sugar, have a dampening effect on digestion. The child complains of a heavy sensation (woolly headed), poor attention span, memory difficulties, and severe lack of energy. Appetite and thirst decline, and bowel movements become loose.
If an overheated child's digestion becomes “damp,” especially as a result of a diet rich in dairy, refined sugar, peanuts or peanut butter, or wheat, the combination of heat plus damp will produce a pattern of disharmony that Chinese Medicine identifies as “phlegm” or “phlegm-heat.” These children demonstrate aggravated heat signs, such as frequent anger/frustration and restlessness with more destructive behaviors, plus signs of phlegm, such as mental cloudiness, poor concentration, possible nausea , nasal or respiratory congestion, and an oppressive sensation in the chest. Often, they suffer from food allergies.
In a minority of cases, childhood learning and behavior disorders are the result of neurological dysfunction. Sometimes western medication is necessary and helpful as the child's brain and nervous system learn to reroute or repair circuitry, which is still under development. The process of nourishment and repair, however, must have a properly functioning energy source, as well as uninterrupted circulation. It is in these functions that Traditional Chinese Medicine offers the best hope for these children. Herbal formulas suited to each child's particular pattern of disharmony as well as careful and sustained dietary choices can ensure the fastest and easiest repair of damaged neurological circuitry. Long term use of drugs such as Ritalin, Adderal, or Methylphenidate tend to weaken digestive as well as kidney Qi, thus depleting essential resources for adaptation and growth.
A Chinese Herbal Formula can regulate and strengthen the flow of “Qi” and “blood” throughout the child's maturing body, ensuring adequate supplies of nourishment and oxygenated blood for maximum lung, heart and brain function. Some diet changes can assist this process and remove obstacles to long-term progress.
WHAT DOES CLASSICAL HOMEOPATHY HAVE TO OFFER THESE CHILDREN?
Classical Homeopathy uses a single diluted natural substance to restore communication with all parts of the child's DNA structure including mental and emotional self-talk. A homeopathic physician takes as many hours of time as needed to more deeply understand each child as a unique individual. The child's world-view, feelings, dreams and strategies for coping in his/her environment all become important diagnostic indicators determining the one remedy each child needs in order to grow and flourish.
Take Billy, for example. He is a tall, good looking boy with a pale face that flushes red when he becomes overexcited. When he is overtired, he becomes “hyper”, running around like the “energizer bunny” out of control. He has frequent nosebleeds and a tremendous thirst for cold drinks. It is difficult for him to fall asleep at night, and he often wakes with nightmares. Sometimes he complains of achy knees. Most often he complains that he can't remember instructions or homework assignments.
From the point of view of Chinese medicine, these symptoms point to a heart and kidney deficiency, which may be corrected with an herbal formula such as Heavenly Emperor's Tea.
Billy has other qualities which uniquely describe his nature. He is very open and likable, making friends easily. He becomes anxious if left alone. He has a long list of fears that plague his dreams - ghosts, robbers, earthquakes, monsters that will destroy him in the dark of the night. He admits that his worse fear is that something bad will happen to his mother or father. When asked to name his favorite food, he enthusiastically replies: “chocolate and fish fingers!” He was given the homeopathic remedy - Phosphorus - in addition to his Chinese herbal formula. Over the next three months, Billy improved in every aspect. Now he comes home from school singing “Good grades, fearless nights at last!”
If your child is having difficulty, I recommend making an appointment for a complete psychological as well as a special education evaluation. These specialists can identify the exact nature of your child's learning problems as well as arrive at an understanding of his/her most self-affirming coping mechanisms. Behavioral modification, herbal and dietary support, and the correct homeopathic remedy can safely help your child succeed in every facet of life.
If you would like to make an appointment for a homeopathic evaluation, please call the clinic at (941) 926 9082
Melinda Leeson, DOM. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine), HMC (homeopathic physician)
7029 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A. Sarasota, FL 34231 Telephone: 926-9082
WHY CHOOSE HOMEOPATHY?
Homeopathy provides a safe, effective, natural, non-toxic treatment for many acute and chronic illnesses. Homeopathic medicines consist of natural substances that are gentle yet extremely effective, often achieving rapid results without side effects or suppression of symptoms.
Prescriptions for these medicines are individualized. For instance, ten different pets suffering from allergies are each likely to need a different homeopathic medicine. The medicines are inexpensive. They address not only an individual's physical complaints but also work on a mental and emotional level, treating the “whole pet”, including any mental or emotional core issues (the often invisible inner forces that drive symptoms to appear.)
INDIVIDUALITY AND LAW OF SIMILARS
Each pet is an individual and reacts to the events and challenges of life in a unique way. The medicine that can restore balance and harmony to one pet will not necessarily promote a similar deep healing response in another.
Homeopathic medicines are prescribed according to the 'Law of Similars', a concept dating back over five thousand years to medical texts from China and India. Hippocrates referred to the same idea in 400 B.C. 'That which makes sick, shall heal.' This means that the same substance that can cause a particular set of symptoms in a healthy pet can cure the same or similar symptoms in a pet that is ill.
HOMEOPATHY TREATS THE PET, NOT THE DISEASE
All of your pet's symptoms, taken together form a network of clues that reveal a unique pattern of disharmony that can be treated with a single homeopathic medicine. The root of this disharmony is frequently found at the level of perception, and can he accessed by observing mental/emotional demeanor as well as behavior when alone or when interacting with others. How a pet perceives his life exerts a strong influence on the strategies he adopts in order to survive each day. If these coping mechanisms become out of sync with his internal reality and/or his external environment, “disease” symptoms begin to appear.
STIMULATE VERSUS ELIMINATE
Conventional medicine focuses on controlling the symptoms of a disease. Homeopathy views symptoms as distinct signs that the body creates in an attempt to heal itself of more deeply rooted imbalances, both physical and perceptual. A homeopathic medicine acts as a catalyst that will enhance the body's efforts, thus stimulating a renewed inner state of balance and well being. When this rebalancing of inner forces occurs, the pet's symptoms automatically improve at every level.
YOUR PET'S VITAL FORCE DOES THE WORK
Homeopaths use the term 'vital force' to describe the dynamic intelligence that fuels and directs the healthy functioning of each pet at all levels of their life experience. This image has historical significance in many systems of medicine, and is called by many names - Qi, Prana, Mana - depending on the particular culture or tradition. A correctly chosen homeopathic medicine stimulates the pet's vital force in such a way that it begins the healing of its own systems - mental, emotional, as well as physical.
COMMONLY TREATED CONDITIONS:
Homeopathic medicines provide rapid relief for ACUTE symptoms such as:
• Food Poisoning
• Injuries / Bruises
• Vaccination reactions
• Fear / Fright / Shock
• Bites & Stings
• Heat Stroke
Homeopathic medicines also stimulate healing by addressing the underlying causes
for CHRONIC ailments such as:
• Anxiety / Apprehension
• Aggression / Anger
• Hyperactivity / Restlessness / Obsessive Behaviors
• Obesity / Emaciation
• Constipation / Diarrhea
• Arthritis / Hip dysplasia
• Recurrent Bladder Infections
• Allergies
• Skin & Coat Ailments
If you would like a homeopathic visit for your pet, please telephone me at the clinic (941) 926 9082. A House call appointment usually requires two hours, giving me the opportunity to take a careful history and directly observe how your pet experiences life on his/her home turf.
Melinda Leeson, DOM. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine), HMC (homeopathic physician)
7029 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A. Sarasota, FL 34231 Telephone: 926-9082
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NUTRITIONAL CLEANSING CORRECTS AND PREVENTS AGING AND ILLNESS BY CONQUERING INTERNAL INFLAMMATION
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The information I'm going to share with you today is based on a strictly scientific yet holistic medical model. My excitement after having successfully reduced my own internal inflammation, however, propels me to discuss this topic using a more personal approach. I think you will see why as you continue reading.
What many people do not understand is that internal inflammation leads to premature aging, diabetes, obesity, arthritis and many more conditions of illness.
What does Chronic Internal Inflammation Feel Like?
Ask yourself if you are suffering from any of the following symptoms:
• lethargy
• inability to focus
• sluggishness
• chronic pain and stiffness
• loss of organ function
• accumulated fat around the waist
• dry, irritated skin
• acne
• an inability to lose excess weight
• an out-of-control hunger for junk food
You may be experiencing these symptoms because of an internal inflammatory condition created by your current or previous diet and lifestyle. Did you know that this invisible inflammation is the driving force behind most age-related diseases? You can't always see it because it exists at a molecular level. Doctors usually use laboratory tests to confirm it, then assign a diagnosis to the results, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's, or arthritis. They give you a “diet” to follow and send you home with little understanding of how your body cells created this experience or how they might be healed.
My own journey
From my 20s to my mid 40s, I was a junk-food junkie as well as a smoker. I exercised vigorously, so I was able to maintain my weight within the normal parameters for my height. But I noticed that I was always tired and needed to take sick days from work during my menses, which were pretty painful. I also continued to suffer horrendous back pain after a fall that occurred in my late 20s. A chiropractor tried to help me, and suggested that some of my pain would subside if I quit cigarettes, soft drinks and pizza, just for starters! Everything improved except my back pain.
In the following decades I honed my diet so it consisted solely of fresh vegetables, whole grains, fruits, organic grass-fed meat, and lots of water. I took vitamins, essential fatty acids, and minerals, and I had more energy. But my back continued to hurt and I couldn't exercise as vigorously as before. Consequently, my muscles stiffened, especially in the morning on rising. Even my joints started to swell. I couldn't figure it out. I was eating a really healthy diet, exercising a little bit every day, but I had gained about thirty pounds in the interim, and I couldn't seem to lose it. I went to visit a trusted MD, and he suggested that I was experiencing internal inflammation and toxicity. So I did some studying. What you read next is the result of that research.
The first thing I wanted to determine was how did my body cells become so inflamed?
I learned that chemicals and toxins are the primary cause of cellular inflammation, weight gain, and disease. The body becomes so contaminated with toxic residue that our internal self-healing mechanisms become overwhelmed and consequently suppressed. Every day, our bodies absorb thousands of toxins from the air we breathe, the water we drink, genetically modified foods, pesticides, grain fed meat and dairy, preserved flour products, MSG (monosodium glutamate), micro-waved foods, refined sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, alcohol, electromagnetic radiation, heavy metals, industrial chemicals, prescription drugs, stress, and more. They accumulate over time inside the body and cause the liver and kidneys to overwork, kind of like an engine burning polluted fuel. The body struggles to perform under stressful conditions, overheats in the process (resulting in inflammation) and risks failing entirely. In order to avoid engine failure, immune cells in the digestive tract signal the production of inflammatory chemicals and fat cells to isolate and sequester the toxins so they can't do any more damage to the engine. The ratio of chemicals and toxins is directly related to the ratio of inflammation and fat manufactured by the body.
Then, I determined my goals in reducing cellular Inflammation
I began by making a list of each individual goal I wanted to achieve, figuring that the strategies for accomplishing the goals would reveal themselves after more careful study. I decided I wanted to “spring clean” my whole body by:
• Reactivating my self-healing mechanism
• Reducing inflammation on my body cells' surface, opening cell pores (doors)
• Cleaning out the accumulated toxins from inside the cells
• Gently transporting debris out of the body via bowels and urination
• Restoring the structural integrity of the newly clean cells
• Feeding my cells with anti-inflammatory substances to prevent further free-radical damage (from oxidation) and promote normal cellular activity
Cleansing was the 'missing key'
Imagine what would happen if you never dusted or vacuumed your house, never cleaned the stove or refrigerator; never scrubbed the toilets, shower or sinks; never replaced the filters for the A/C or heating systems. Imagine the consequences if you or a handyman never removed rusted hinges on the cupboards or doors; never replaced worn out plumbing fixtures. Your house would fall apart!!!
If, like me, you think of your body as your “house” - if you think of each cell in your body as a 'mini house' - you can see that cleaning and maintenance has to be done on a regular basis in order to avoid the destruction produced by accumulating dirt, grime, rust and rot.
Cleansing the body's insides by 'fasting' has been practiced by most cultures since time began. But previous societies didn't face the degree of toxicity in their food and environment that we face today. Starving the body is not the answer. 'Nutritional Cleansing' is a more recent concept. This form of cleansing establishes a long-term regime of healthy food choices alternating with weekly or monthly juice fasts that are designed to gently and safely eliminate wastes and toxins from the cells, organs and the bloodstream.
It's worth doing a lot of research when you choose a cleansing program, especially if you want to follow it for years to come. My previous goals became the following criteria for a nutritional cleansing system. I determined that in order for the program to be successful for the follower:
• It has to be easy and cost effective
• It has to follow the natural rhythms of the whole body (no starvation or deprivation)
• It has to normalize metabolism (without ephedra, hoodia, or caffeine-like stimulants)
• It has to use carefully-researched natural substances that flush harmful impurities from the
body without harsh stimulant laxatives
• It has to infuse the body with fresh, plant-based foods and herbs that clean oxidized tissue,
reduce inflammation, and provide concentrated nutrition throughout the day
• It has to contain ingredients that prevent future inflammation
• It has to taste good
More about my journey
I had tried using glyco-nutrients such as those contained in aloe vera, without significant results. I had tried different individual juice products such as Acai and Mangosteen, known for their antioxidant powers. I felt a little better, but my cells continued to produce painful inflammation. It was as if none of the nutrition I was ingesting was getting into my cells, and none of the toxins were leaving! Then I thought of my housecleaning metaphor. The locks (receptor sites) on the doors to my mini houses (cells) were so rusted and swollen that none of the sugars (e.g.in the aloe vera juice) could key the doors to open. None of the good things I was eating or drinking were getting into my inflamed cells!
Isagenix® to the Rescue
So how then, could anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients get into my house to clean it up, make repairs, and restore normal function? John Anderson, the nutritional formulator at Isagenix® provided an answer. He incorporated ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs into his cleansing 'super juice'. It appears that the systemic enzymatic actions in the herbs dissolve the 'rusty hinges' of cellular oxidation, reduce inflammation at the receptor sites, and thereby permit cell pores to open and receive nutrients. In his 'Cleanse for Life' juice formula, John incorporated a carefully-chosen array of precious botanicals and trace minerals into a foundation of ionic aloe vera and alfalfa (1). I tried it. Within a very short time, my mini houses were evacuating impurities, releasing emptied fat cells, and making all sorts of wonderful proteins for my body to use for energy.
30-day Nutritional Cleansing Program
After all this study and experimentation, I decided to fully invest myself in the Isagenix® “30-day Nutritional Cleansing Program”. It was so easy. For six days, two of my daily meals consisted of delicious shakes made from undenatured whey protein (2). The third meal was up to me to devise from low-calorie fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, and small portions of meat or fish. Day seven was my 'cleanse day', a chance for my body to unload and evacuate toxins and revitalize normal cellular function. It consisted of four servings of 'Cleanse for Life' juice formula spaced through out the day. Balanced healthy snacks were provided and carefully timed in between juice servings so that I never experienced hunger or fatigue. In the following three weeks, this cycle was repeated, 6 days of shakes followed by one day of cleansing, etc.
The effects I noticed (and I would say that my results are typical) were reduced cravings for sugar and junk food, better focus and concentration, much better energy and stamina, improved sleep patterns, softer skin and a healthier immune system. My blooming health and vitality made me realize I needed to continue to cleanse beyond the 30 days, so I repeated the Isagenix® 30-day program 3 times. During that time, I lost an average of 2 lbs a week.
Several patients in my clinic tried the program after they noticed the changes I had achieved. Their results were similar. All of us combined daily exercise and sensible food choices into our programs. The most uplifting aspect for me was the fifty percent reduction in pain and stiffness I experienced within the first month of the program! That kind of sustained relief encourages me to continue using the principles of nutritional cleansing not only for myself, but also as a foundation for my acupuncture and homeopathic practice. I cleanse once a month in order to maintain the results I realized in the first 3 months, and I feel more flexible, healthier and stronger than I've felt in years. As a matter of fact, I was so impressed with our fantastic results that I chose to become a distributor for the Isagenix® cleansing programs. This allows me to continue purchasing the products at wholesale prices and assist others on their journey towards whole body wellness.
Rest assured that I'm extremely careful about recommending products. Most of my patients try a single bottle of 'Cleanse for Life' before committing to a longer-term program. As a matter of fact, some patients have done remarkably well drinking 2-4 ounces of juice mixed with 8 ounces of water every morning. Along with healthy food habits and regular exercise, that's all they've had to do to feel more energized and symptom-free. Isagenix® offers three basic program options on their website (www.isagenix.com): The daily cleanse I just described, a 9-day cleanse and a 30-day cleanse all of which can be repeated as many times as desired. I've been following an amended cleansing program now for more than a year with a fabulous improvement in all aspects of my well-being.
For more information about how to succeed with the Isagenix® 30-day Cleansing Program, please see the following article entitled Your 30-Day Nutritional Cleansing Guide. For an appointment to evaluate your symptom pattern and customize your cleansing program, please contact:
Melinda Leeson, DOM. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine), HMC (homeopathic physician)
7029 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A. Sarasota, FL 34231 Telephone: 926-9082
Footnotes:
1. Ingredients in 'Cleanse for Life' include the following: Aloe vera leaf gel, ionic Alfalfa, Pau d'Arco inner bark, Suma root, Eleutherococcus senticosis root extract, Burdock root, Ashwagandha 4;1 extract, Yellowdock root 4:1 extract, Fennel seed, Peppermint leaf, deglycyrrhizinated Licorice root extract, choline bitartrate, inositol, betaine HCI, l-methionine, niacinamide, pyridoxine HCL, cyanocobalamin, Bilberry extract, Raspberry extract, Blueberry extract, tartaric acid, natural fruit flavoring ( pineapple, mango, passion fruit, orange), xanthan gum, potassium sorbate, citric acid.
2. 'Isalean® Shakes' are delicious 240 calorie, nutritionally complete meal replacements that make following the 9 or 30-day cleansing program easy and completely satisfying. Non-denatured organic whey from New Zealand forms the protein base for the Isalean® shakes. The natural structure of native (unaltered) whey protein is fragile and requires great care to preserve its integrity and biological function. Other whey manufacturers use ultra high heat pasteurization methods that severely denature the native proteins and diminish the availability of the amino acid L-Cysteine in their whey products. L-Cysteine is the amino acid responsible for telling the body to make Glutathione. Glutathione acts as the master antioxidant, preventing inflammation and protecting the body against disease and aging. We have to consume an adequate amount of L-Cysteine in its natural forms in order for our bodies to produce enough Glutathione. The unaltered native whey in Isalean® Shakes contains lots of bio-available L-Cysteine in both of its forms (cystein and cystine).
These shakes also contain added enzymes that the body needs to break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats for maximum absorption. A full compliment of vitamins, minerals, plant source trace minerals and other nutrients are provided by the ionic Alfalfa juice in the formula. These ingredients support normal metabolism, assist in enzyme processes, and sustain blood and cellular health. Relying on 'pure healthy food' shakes instead of 2 free-choice meals each day makes your choices simpler, equally delicious, and gives your body a chance to focus on letting go of impurities and inflammation. The shakes are clinically proven to support weight-loss results and weight management.
Special Note:
Statements made in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. They are the results of my personal clinical research and experience. Product recommendations are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Remember, always consult with your doctor before undertaking a new diet or engaging in a new exercise program. Be safe.
Resources:
• The Perricone Weight Loss Diet: A Simple Three-part Plan to Lose the Fat, the Wrinkles and the Years, by Nicholas Perricone M.D. ©2005 Random House Publishing) He also publishes great information about body fat and inflammation on his blog: www.perriconemd.com
• The Inflammation Cure by William Joel Meggs M.D., PhD. 2003 NTC Publishing Group.
• Nutritional Antioxidants and the Modulation of Inflammation: Theory and Practice. RF Grimble,
1994 Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, UK www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7922442
• Isagenix information at www.isagenix.com. Click on “What is Nutritional Cleansing?”
© Copyright 2010 Melinda Leeson, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, for personal use only in a not-for-profit format. Copying any portions of this article for publication, either print or electronic, is not permitted without prior written permission from Melinda Leeson, P.A.
If you would like to sign up for a cleansing program, click on my personal weblink here
30-Day Cleansing Guide (downloadable pdf)
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