Are you having pain? Have you thought about use acupuncture to relief your pain?

Here's an evidence-based research -"Acupuncture’s Role in Solving the Opioid Epidemic":

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/pdf_out/AcupunctureToday.com-1516060053.pdf

Please share your thoughts about this article.

The 'Blue Zones' diet

The 'Blue Zones' diet: Foods that help people live to 100

Jake Whitman

TODAY

Jun. 2, 2017 at 5:16 PM

There are five places on earth which have the highest percentage of people who live to a healthy and happy 100 years. They're called the "Blue Zones" by National Geographic author Dan Buettner, who has explored their secrets to a thriving longevity in his book, "The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People."

Buettner has discovered what he believes is the answering to reaching such an old age and being healthy right up to the end: diet. So he has set out to capture the recipes of the world's longest living people.

"Individuals get lucky, but populations don’t," Buettner told NBC's Maria Shriver in the TODAY series, "Eating to 100." "There’s too many people to chalk it up to collective luck, or even genes," said Buettner.

No matter where people live, these foods make up all longevity diets: beans, greens, grains, and nuts.

"They know how to make them taste good and they know how to optimize them for their health," Buettner said.

In our series, "Eating to 100," Buettner and NBC's Maria Shriver visit three of the Blue Zones:

Ikaria, Greece

On the remote Greek island of Ikaria, people outlive the average American by more than a decade. On Ikaria, 97 percent of the people are over age 70 and Buettner found only three cases of dementia. By comparison, there's a 50 percent change of dementia for Americans who reach 85.

A common side dish is wild dandelion, boiled like spinach. These greens have 10 times more antioxidants than red wine, according to Buettner. Chickpeas, also a favorite on Ikaria, are the cornerstone of every longevity diet in the world, he said.

Costa Rica

(In Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, about 1 in 250 people live to 100, compared to 1 in 4,000 who make it to 100 in America.)

The Nicoya Pennisula is famous for beautiful sandy beaches, exotic wildlife and people who seem to defy the limits of age. In Nicoya, about 1 in 250 people live to 100, compared to 1 in 4,000 who make it to 100 in America. Their diet of rice, beans and tortillas would be viewed as unhealthy in America. But it's way better than you think.

"If the average American could add a cup of beans a day, it would extend their life by four years," said Buettner.

Loma Linda, California

An hour west of Los Angeles is Loma Linda, California, where nearly half of the city belongs to the Seventh -Day Adventist Church. It's home to one of the highest concentrations of Seventh-Day Adventists in the United States. Most of the church members don't eat meat or fish and they never touch alcohol or cigarettes. And they live about seven to 10 years longer than the rest of Americans, according to the Adventist Health Study.

In Loma Linda, eating healthfully is part of the religion. Their diet is inspired by the Bible, the diet of the Garden of Eden. Their meals rely on beans, nuts, slow-cooked oatmeal, whole wheat bread and real soy milk. They also drink six to eight glasses of water a day, as prescribed by the church's founder, Ellen G. White, who established the faith over 150 years ago. Also, the citizens of Loma Linda are always on the move, taking afternoon walks and adhering to a strict lifestyle.

It's never too late to start living like the people of the "Blue Zones," Buettner believes.

"You can be 90 years old and go plant based and you'll add to your life," he told TODAY. "It's not as hard as some might believe — once you've tasted it."

Are Massages or Trigger Point Therapy a Part of Your Routine?

Written By Lauren Glendenning

There's a reason massage therapists are on the sidelines at NFL games — it's because the benefits of sports massage are undeniable.

Professional athletes across all kinds of sports often rely on regular massages to reduce muscle tension or promote recovery, but consistent massage therapy has benefits for the everyday athlete, too.

"Most athletes know it's helpful and effective for their training to get consistent massage," said Karen Taylor, owner of Simply Massage in Glenwood Springs.

Cycling along western Colorado's endless roads, trails and mountain passes can become addictive, and regular cyclists in these hills know the importance of perseverance through a long season.

Soft tissue manipulation that occurs during massage encourages blood flow through the muscles, said Michael Bica, a massage therapist at Simply Massage in Glenwood Springs. The muscles need that oxygenation after they've been exerted to help promote healing and speed up the recovery process, he said.

Techniques such as trigger point therapy help massage therapists target chronic pain or muscular dysfunction, while sports massage focuses on recovery, performance and well-being. Pain and injury massages focus on major muscle groups to relieve chronic and acute pain, according to Simply Massage.

For anyone cycling regularly, there are certain times that massage might be more beneficial than others. Bicycling.com recommends massages three to five days before a physically demanding ride, and a light rubdown is in order within 48 hours after a strenuous effort. When muscles aren't as sore a few days later, a deeper massage is recommended to break up adhesions, according to Bicycling.com.

Bica said working with athletes regularly is especially efficient because the therapist could more easily detect abnormalities in the patient. He said some athletes get massages as often as once a week, while others might come every two weeks or once a month.

"I believe consistent massage would benefit anyone," Bica said. "It just keeps everything in check."

The benefits of consistent massage for all levels of athletes

• Reduces muscle tension
• Promotes relaxation
• Increases range of motion
• Improves soft tissue function
• Supports recovery
• Decreases muscle stiffness and fatigue
• Decreases delayed onset muscle soreness
• Reduces swelling

Source: American Massage Therapy Association

Acupuncture can reduce the frequency of migraines!

This past week, CNN highlighted the results of a clinical study verifying that acupuncture can reduce the frequency of migraines and prevent future attacks.

 

From CNN:

 

"A study published Monday in The Journal of the American Medical Association said acupuncture may be helpful in reducing the frequency of migraines and preventing attacks.

 

Researchers in China found that properly administered acupuncture therapy may reduce the frequency of the most common types of migraines. The research, which builds on a body of knowledge from smaller studies, looked at how true acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture in reducing migraine attacks and symptoms in those who have been battling the condition for at least a year.

 

All treatments were administered by trained and licensed acupuncturists who trained for at least five years and had four or more years of clinical experience. Recipients of 'true acupuncture' were treated in four acupoints chosen by clinical experts. The four points used for the 'sham' group were chosen to avoid migraine relief.

 

Twenty weeks after receiving treatment at five times a week, patients in the true acupuncture group saw a reduction in the average number of migraines from 4.8 per month to 3 per month, with no adverse events reported requiring 'special medical intervention.'"

Acupuncture for Babies

Acupuncture for Babies

Click on the Link to read the article published by TIME, on

The Soothing Benefit of Acupuncture for Babies

Weight Loss Lull?

Weight Loss Lull?

As a supporter of western medicine I started out skeptical of acupuncture. As if sticking needles in my body would help me lose weight (thank you lobster rolls), get rid of my acne (thank you bad luck), have no shoulder pain (thank you giant handbag) and make my boobs bigger (thank you genetics).

Putting my skepticism aside, I decided to try acupuncture because I was tired of working out violently without any change in my body, wasting money on ineffective facials, and taking ibuprofen excessively and probably damaging my liver in the process. Before you quickly scroll away because you have a phobia of needles, let me tell you that brushing your hair the morning after a Saturday night out hurts more than this. Way more. In fact, you don’t feel a thing.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture involves stimulating strategic points on the body by penetrating the upper layer of the skin with the tip of a hair-thin needle. Stop freaking out. The first time I got acupuncture, I asked my doctor, “When are you going to start?” only to find out I already had 5 needles in my back. This may sound archaic and torturous, but it alleviates pain and helps treat an extremely wide amount of health conditions. Acupuncture can clear acne, help you lose weight, reduce water retention, promote fertility, manage pain, reduce stress levels, increase your mood, help you get better sleep and naturally enhance your breasts; all determined by the points the needles are inserted on your body. Don’t roll your eyes. I know- you’re thinking “There is no way this earthy-crunchy-granola BS could make my boobs bigger, it would obviously be the most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedure in the city.” Oh, you’re not? Well that’s what I’m thinking. If this works, why isn’t it as generic as going to yoga? More important, how does this work?

By stimulating points on and surrounding the breast, your body recognizes there is a foreign object and sends blood to that area, thinking that it’s repairing skin cells. Since nothing is actually wrong, this increased blood flow increases hormone production and cell growth, resulting in larger breasts. Dope, right? Don’t go into this Kendall and expect to be Kim, but after about 4 sessions you can expect to go up one full cup size. In the instance of losing weight, needles inserted into the ear can suppress appetite by lowering blood levels of the hormone responsible for regulating hunger, leptin. Again, don’t go into this Kim and expect to be Kendall, but I lost 3 pounds after just two sessions. Have I convinced you yet?

How do I go about getting acupuncture?

First step, research. Find a doctor who not only is great at what they do, but also explains to you what each needle represents. Trust me, there is nothing worse than laying down completely still for an hour with randomly placed needles in your body and leaving without an explanation of what their purpose was. Be direct, explain what’s wrong and what you want to take away from the session. I expressed concern about fat on my stomach, so my doctor inserted six needles to the targeted area and connected electrical stimulation to the base of each needle. This, along with a heat lamp located above my stomach was strategic in breaking down fat and ultimately led to my flat tummy (I’m not bragging, I just want everyone who has access to acupuncture to reap the same benefits). Since starting acupuncture my blemishes have reduced dramatically, I never have to deal with puffiness from retaining water, and my neck pain is almost completely gone. There are no adverse side effects, only potential benefits - making this a no-risk, non-invasive cosmetic procedure that’s free. Yes, most health insurance plans cover 100% of the bill. You have nothing to lose. Go and thank me later.

Beauty Benefits of Acupuncture

Surprising Beauty Benefits of Acupuncture

Photographed by Kim Andreolli, Vogue, September 1997

Acupuncture has been popular since ancient times for a reason: It makes people feel better. What’s more, in recent years, patients undergoing the procedure to treat health concerns have often noticed that their looks have benefited, too—leading to a rise in “acupuncture facials” that combine whole-body rebalancing with targeted needle stimulation (and, sometimes, spa-like add-ons) for glowing skin. Less well known, however, is the fact that the technique can also be used to address specific, pesky cosmetic issues—and as it turns out, those are one of the first things a practitioner might look at when diagnosing you.

“In traditional Chinese medicine, we look at the face as a reflection of what’s going on inside,” explains New York City acupuncturist Shellie Goldstein, M.S., L.Ac. “We look at your internal well-being to decipher what’s going on. From the inside, we will make that change, and it will be reflected on the outside.” In other words, the lasting solution to your breakouts or sagging skin might not be a cream or device, but rather a healthier, more balanced body.

Here, Goldstein explains five specific ways that acupuncture can provide a beauty boost from the inside out.

De-Puff
A swollen face is likely a sign of larger issues, according to Goldstein—issues that acupuncture is designed to address. “If you have digestive problems, allergies, or poor lymphatic drainage, what you may see in the face is puffiness,” Goldstein explains. “Not only will we correct it, we will adjust it from the inside.” This is accomplished by inserting fine sterile needles at certain points on the body identified in traditional Chinese medicine. Each resulting “micro-trauma,” as Goldstein calls it, causes a healing response both locally and throughout the body; different points correspond to different bodily systems.

Clear Up Acne
Acupuncture’s rebalancing effect has a way of calming breakouts, whether chronic or caused by monthly hormonal fluctuations. “We look at acne as a reflection of internal heat, and the digestive system,” Goldstein explains. “We can adjust premenstrual breakouts through acupuncture as well by treating the heat that arises” in the body during certain times of the month.

Calm Rosacea
“Similar to acne, it’s about adjusting that internal balance within,” Goldstein says. “Rosacea in Chinese medicine is often about digestion—by clearing up the internal digestive issues, it really helps to minimize redness and irritation in the skin tissue.”

Brighten Dull Skin
Acupuncture can boost a lackluster complexion both directly—by triggering local healing processes in the face—and indirectly, by recalibrating bodily systems. “Simply by putting a needle in the skin, you’re stimulating skin circulation, lymphatic drainage, and collagen production,” Goldstein says. But also, “dullness can often be a lack of energy flowing through the body properly. We work to raise your energy and balance what’s going on.”

Tighten and Tone
Whether your concern is the gravitational pull on your legs or slack facial skin, according to Goldstein, a few needle pricks can help to firm things up. Acupuncture is “absolutely amazing for muscle tone and deeper tissue tone in the body,” she says. “It will help to relax the deeper tissue muscles that are too tight, and tighten the ones that are [loose]. It’s really good for lifting and sculpting the cheeks and jawline, and even for lifting eyebrows.”

OCTOBER 10, 2016 7:20 PMby EVIANA HARTMAN