If your mock-up is clear and your space is clear, the powers that be begin to engineer the situation(s) that will bring your desire into your life. Of course those manifestations will be the result of all the energy you put out – the fear, the confidence, the programmed ruts, the out-of-balance chakra’s, the joy, the anger – all of it. If you’re asking for money and you have a program that says you have to work hard for your money – look out, you’re about to manifest the situations that will allow you to work hard for your money.

Getting your space clear, harnessing your negative thoughts and clearing your chakras all make your mock-ups easier to complete. Remember the universe acts on orders, so being clear about what you want and maybe even how you want it can help you receive exactly what you’re asking for.

Here are two stories about mock-ups:

• I took meditation and energy healing classes with someone who was so crystal clear that when she asked for a green leather couch no one was surprised when an old friend from high school called her to say goodbye as he was moving and asked if she wanted any of the furniture he was getting rid of, say, a green leather couch?
• The second story comes from a book I read a long time ago – the author and the title have disappeared from my memory – but the story stuck.  A young boy wanted a car like the one his uncle had. He focused his thoughts on his uncle’s car. He asked for that car. He was clear in exactly what he wanted. Long story short, his uncle died and left him the car. He got what he wanted, but not the way he wanted it.

I want to be clear – I’m not suggesting that the boy’s desire for his uncle’s car was what killed his uncle. Who knows what killed his uncle? But the energetic pathway was cleared because his uncle died and the boy got his desire. Would anything have been different if the boy had focused on a car like his uncle’s car but that wasn’t his uncle’s car? I’m thinking that it couldn’t have hurt.

So, if you’re new to the practice of moving and healing energy, or just beginning to notice yourself as an energetic being, you might try clearing your space and practicing by putting out a very small mock-up. A clean, clear energetic bubble that holds your wish. Ask for something easy to achieve and something you wouldn’t necessarily have gotten without asking for it so you can see how your mock-up powers are working.

Perhaps you could ask for someone unexpected to take you out to dinner. Watch, you’re having coffee with a friend and they suddenly offer to take you to dinner. Or you get a coupon for a free dinner when you get the mail a few days after you asked.

Test your ability. You’ll be amazed. The clearer you are and the clearer the mock-up, the more likely you’ll get it. But remember to ask for it in the positive and you might want to tag on a line like: and no one gets hurt in the process.

Pick something easy but clear so when you get it you’ll know you manifested it. You’re manifesting all the time, so why not start working up to manifesting that leather couch? Myself, I’m going for brown.

Deb McLeod is an energy healer at Whole Health Centers.
Her company, Clear Life Energy, provides healing and training in managing life’s energy.

What is National Women’s Health Week?

National Women’s Health Week is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. It brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. The theme for 2012 is “It’s Your Time.” National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages women to take the following steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases:

• Visit a health care professional to receive regular checkups andpreventive screenings.
• Get active.
• Eat healthy.
• Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
• Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt or bicycle helmet.

Why celebrate National Women’s Health Week?

We all have a role to play in women’s health. Women often serve as caregivers for their families, putting the needs of their spouses, partners, children, and parents before their own. As a result, women’s health and well-being becomes secondary. As a community, we have a responsibility to support the important women we know and do everything we can to help them take steps for longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Women can easily take charge of their health, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, a landmark health care reform law enacted in 2010. This law gives Americans greater choice and better control over their own health care and includes changes that are especially meaningful to women and their families. For instance, new plans cover vital preventive services, including mammograms, colon cancer screenings, and well-woman visits with no out-of-pocket costs. It also ensures women can see an OB-GYN without a referral. To learn more about the law and your health insurance options, visit HealthCare.gov.

When is National Women’s Health Week?

The 13th annual National Women’s Health Week kicks off on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012 and is celebrated until May 19, 2012. National Women’s Checkup Day is Monday, May 14, 2012.

Oriental medicine has a long history when it comes to enhancing fertility for both men and women. In fact, evidence that acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to aid fertility can be found in early medical literature dating back to 3AD.

• Regulate menstrual cycle.
• Improve sperm count and motility.
• Reduce stress and anxiety associated with infertility.
• Normalize hormone and endocrine systems.
• Improve blood flow in the uterus.
• Decrease chance of miscarriage.
• Increase the chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Fertility treatments vary from person to person, but are usually scheduled for at least three consecutive cycles (twelve weeks). Treatments can include acupuncture, customized herbal therapy, stress reduction and dietary counseling. Treatments work alone but are an excellent addition to any Western intervention.

Please call an acupuncturist near you for more information of to schedule a consultation.  The best place to find a qualified and licensed acupuncture practitioner is on Acufinder.com.

Acupuncture Increases IVF Success by 65%

Women undergoing IVF were 65 percent more likely to become pregnant when they combined the procedure with acupuncture, a recent study has shown.

The remarkable success rate occurred across seven acupuncture trials involving 1,366 women in a systematic review and meta-analysis published in a February, 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal.

Acupuncture was delivered either just before or just after embryo transfer – a step in the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) whereby one or several embryos are placed into the uterus.

The research was carried out by scientists from the University of Maryland in the United States and the VU University of Amsterdam in Holland.

It is thought that acupuncture stimulates the neurotransmitters that trigger the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, which controls the menstrual cycle and a woman’s ovulation.

Acupuncture is also thought to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and boost the production of endogenous opioids, inducing the body to relax.

Acupuncture Improves Sperm Quality

A study published in the July 2005 issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility found that acupuncture helped infertile men by apparently helping improve sperm quality in their semen.

In the research project, 28 men received acupuncture in addition to traditional infertility treatments, while another 12 men received only the traditional treatments. All of the men were diagnosed with infertility of unknown origin.

Acupuncture was associated with fewer structural defects in the sperm of men who received it, although it had no effect on other abnormalities, such as sperm immaturity or premature death.

Previous studies have shown a link between acupuncture and improved sperm production and motility.

Foods for Fertility

“Your body is like a garden… As in all gardens, the seed we hope to plant in our bodies grows best when we cultivate the ground and plant and nurture the seed in harmony with the laws of nature. You wouldn’t put a tender plant in clay soil without first tilling and amending the earth – at least not if you wanted to give that plant its best start. You wouldn’t plant in the dead of winter, or in the dry season without water, or in a sunless place. Likewise, if we tend our bodies, minds, and spirits with an awareness of the laws of nature, we improve our chances of welcoming the gifts of Quan Yin, the fertility goddess.” Angela Wu, L.Ac., author ofFertility Wisdom.

Black Beans

According to Oriental medicine, the energy of the Kidney system is important for reproduction and fertility enhancement often starts with the Kidneys. A good example of a food that nourishes the Kidneys and promotes fertility is black beans.

Health Benefits of Black Beans

From an Eastern perspective, black beans are warming in nature. They are thought to tonify the Kidney Qi and nourish Yin and Blood.

From a Western perspective, black beans are an excellent source of protein, folate, iron and fiber and are rich in antioxidants.

Loaded with Antioxidants

Worlds Healthiest Foods reported on research published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry indicating that black beans are as rich in antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins as grapes and cranberries, fruits long considered antioxidant superstars.

When researchers analyzed different types of beans, they found that, the darker the bean’s seed coat, the higher its level of antioxidant activity. Gram for gram, black beans were found to have the most antioxidant activity, followed in descending order by red, brown, yellow, and white beans.

Overall, the level of antioxidants found in black beans in this study is approximately 10 times that found in an equivalent amount of oranges, and comparable to that found in an equivalent amount of grapes or cranberries.

Sources:
British Medical Journal, February 2008
Fertility and Sterility, July 2005
Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, November 2003

https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+and+Reproductive+Health

You have conversations and relationships with people who are both producing energy with their thoughts and carrying energy from the people and places they’ve been. Keeping your energetic space clear of unwanted energy can shift your experience of life so you can know and attract what you want.

Clearing your energy, harnessing your thoughts and attracting energy from the desires of your authentic self can change your life. But there’s more to the story.

Energetic Patterns

If you’ve seen “The Secret,” you know about the idea that you attract what you want in life by thinking the thoughts that will bring it to you. What you think is what you create in your world. But if you’ve seen “What the Bleep Do We Know” you will also know it’s not that simple.

The thoughts you’ve thought all your life have created patterns in your brain. So no matter that you really, really, really want more abundance in your life, if you have always had problems receiving, you might have created an energetic pathway that takes you directly to “I don’t deserve it,” or “If I accept it, I’ll have to pay it back.”

Energy Programs

Energetic programs are patterns of energy that play out when they’re stimulated by the situations that relate to their program. For instance, if you were brought up in a family that believed the adage “we work hard for what we get” then you likely have a program inside that responds to your wish to be abundant by helping you create situations where you need to work hard in order to get it.

Patterns and programs bring you back to where you’re comfortable, even though it might not be where you want to be.

Abundance

Abundance isn’t just about money or things, it’s fullness in love, fullness in life, it’s success and a lot of other related experiences that add up to joy in living.

Without doing some work, if we don’t have abundance it’s because, energetically, we’re more likely to experience more of the same rather than something new.

Change can happen. Meditation and thought discipline can begin the process. Energetic healings can help too, as they clear out unwanted energy so your responses are true to you and not clouded by energy you may have picked up from others as you move throughout your life.

But the patterns and programs will be there until they can be discarded or changed. An energy healer skilled in deprogramming can identify and remove old patterns and programs you carry in your brain and your body. Then your meditation and thought discipline can take over to create new programs and new patterns. The more abundance you experience in your life, the easier it will be to create it.

Deb McLeod is an energy healer at Whole Health Centers.
Her company, Clear Life Energy, provides healing and training in managing life’s energy.

Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) is a Japanese name consisting of 2 words Rei and Ki meaning spiritually guided life energy (commonly known as Universal Life Energy), an energy which animates us all and is found all around us.
Reiki is a form of spiritual healing using “universal life energy” channelled through the practitioner to the recipient.
Reiki helps to harmonize body, mind and spirit for yourself or anyone you want to help.

Reiki treatment
You relax, fully clothed, on a couch or seated while the healer holds his hands on or above you. A treatment can last an hour or longer depending on the treatment required. In the western world many practitioners use the standard hand positions and commonly a full treatment is given covering all the important organs of the body.
There is no pressure on the body making it ideal for treating all ages and conditions, sometimes hands are even held away from the body. The energy flows wherever it is required (spiritually guided) and can normally be felt as a warm sensation or tingling in the body. Receiving Reiki is a very relaxing and soothing experience!

Reiki is an effective healing method
Reiki can be used for many ailments like reducing stress, relieving pain, headaches, stomach upsets, back problems, asthma – respiratory problems, PMT, menstrual problems, sinus, anxiety and many more. You can find treatment suggestions for specific problems under the button “How to use Reiki”. (Please observe that Reiki should never be used instead of medical treatment, it should be used as a compliment and a way to become and remain healthy.)

There is no belief system attached to Reiki so anyone can receive a Reiki treatment or a Reiki attunement. As in any healing the first step towards a healthier life is a desire to be healed.

Reiki – a powerful and gentle healer

• Promotes natural self-healing
• Balances the energies in the body
• Balances the organs and glands
• Strengthens the immune system
• Treats symptoms and causes of illness
• Relieves pain
• Clears toxins
• Adapts to the natural needs of the receiver
• Enhances personal awareness
• Relaxes and reduces stress
• Promotes creativity
• Releases blocked and suppressed feelings
• Aids meditation and positive thinking
• Heals holistically

Article found on http://www.reiki.nu/reiki/reiki.html

For weeks, Nathan Suver had a serious pain in the neck. It was a recurring problem, related to a back injury, and nothing made it go away. Until, that is, his doctor jabbed him with pins. “He did it as part of a routine visit,” recalls Suver, a 35-year-old software developer from Southington, Connecticut. “He has acupuncture training. He just said, ‘This will help with the pain,’ and stuck 10 little needles in me. He first put one in my neck, and then one in my wrist. It felt like lightning shooting through my body from my neck to my wrist. But it was actually only slightly uncomfortable.”

The treatment was worth that slight discomfort, because Suver’s pain went away. A week later, he bragged about the success on Facebook. “What’s even more amazing is that while I was convinced it wouldn’t work, it did anyway,” he wrote. “So much for the placebo effect.”

Acupuncture, from an Eastern perspective, is all about energy and its flow through your body. If that flow is blocked, the thinking goes, pain or illness results. By gently tapping as many as 20 thin needles into your body at strategic points, acupuncturists try to reestablish the flow. That’s a compelling but not necessarily convincing explanation. So Western medicine is working to understand the mechanisms of acupuncture. “There are many details we still don’t understand, but essentially, acupuncture seems to stimulate specific muscles and nerves, activating changes that reduce pain and symptoms and promote healing,” says Kwokming James Cheng, M.D., whose June review in Acupuncture in Medicine aimed to identify the precise neurological significance of common “acupoints”—areas targeted in acupuncture.

How acupuncture works may be unclear, but the benefits stick out. Research shows that this ancient therapy can be an effective treatment for a wide variety of ailments, from back pain and sciatica to headaches, nausea, and asthma. We consulted experts and recent studies to find out which conditions seem to benefit most from acupuncture. If you’re struggling with one of the following ailments, you might consider going under the needle.

Read more: http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/acupuncture_benefits/#ixzz1sKx7SXBQ

What Are Seasonal Allergies?

Commonly called hay fever or allergic rhinitis, a seasonal allergy is an allergic reaction to a trigger that is typically only present for part of the year, such as spring or fall. Pollens that are spread by the wind are usually the main cause of seasonal allergies. People who are allergic to pollens are also often sensitive to dust mites, animal dander, and molds.

Spring is traditionally the main season when allergies blossom because of new growth on trees and weeds. Fall, which ushers in a whole different set of blooming plants, as well as leaf mold, is a close second. Airborne mold spores can be found almost year round, along with other common allergens such as dust, dust mites, and animal dander.

About 26 million Americans endure chronic seasonal allergies, while the number of people with milder symptoms may be as high as 40 million, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Seasonal allergies are caused by the body’s hypersensitivity to substances in the environment. Symptoms primarily involve the membrane lining the nose, causing allergic rhinitis, or the membrane lining the eyelids and covering the whites of the eyes, causing allergic conjunctivitis.

While there are many Western medications to treat the symptoms of seasonal allergies, these treatments can cause unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness and immune system suppression as well as an over-reliance on medications. These side effects have motivated many people to search for alternative approaches like acupuncture and Oriental medicine to manage their allergies.

How Acupuncture Treatments Provide Relief from Allergies

According to Oriental Medicine, allergic rhinitis is related to Wind and a deficiency of the Protective Wei Qi. Wei Qi is the Qi, or energy, that flows at the surface of the body as a protective sheath and is responsible for resistance to colds and other respiratory infections. People with a deficiency of Wei Qi catch colds easily and are more susceptible to allergens.

When treating with acupuncture, underlying imbalances within the body are addressed and a treatment plan is developed to relieve the acute symptoms of allergic rhinitis while also treating the root problems that are contributing to the body’s reaction to allergens. Treatments often include dietary modification, the use of specifically chosen herbal formulas, and acupuncture.

Seasonal acupuncture treatments just four times a year also serve to tonify the inner organ systems and can correct minor annoyances before they become serious problems. If you experience seasonal allergies, now is the time to schedule an appointment.

https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Relieve+Your+Seasonal+Allergies+with+Acupuncture

In acupuncture and massage, palms, fingers and thumbs are used to stimulate those special nerves in our body which then in turn trigger the pain and pleasure points in your brain. This then leads the body to either secrete endorphins (pain killers) and trigger certain actions which helps the body to fight health problems naturally. The human body’s healing process is actually induced by massage and acupuncture therapy.

In the past, many people did not believe in the healing process of massage and acupuncture due to ignorance or fear of suffering pain during the process. Nowadays, many doctors recommend this type of treatment to relieve headaches and other unknown body aches.

Acupuncture and massage can be an alternative to medicine
There are many health problems which cannot be resolved by medicine alone. Also, determining the cause of some health problems can be very difficult. In some cases, acupuncture and massages have proved to be beneficial. Fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, and nerve damage are some examples. Using a combination of massage therapy and medicine can provide better results for some patients.

Massages have been shown to relieve headaches. A headache is usually a result of stress and muscle tension. However the actual cause of a headache is debatable. If you rarely suffer from headaches, any over the counter drug will relieve your pain. But if you have regular persistent headaches with increasing intensity, then you really need to see a doctor and follow a prescribed course of medication.

It is seen that tension related headache is due to an imbalance in the secretion of serotonin, endorphins, and other chemicals that serve as neurotransmitters (chemicals that the nerves use to send messages to one another). Acupuncture and massage release endorphins which stops the nerve cells from sending pain signals to the brain.

Summary
Nowadays, massage and acupuncture have been accepted by health professionals and the majority of people. Acupuncture and massage therapy have been shown to eliminate or reduce pain and in some cases, it can assist in resolving unknown causes of pain. Getting regular massages can help to promote better health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3209985

http://wholehealthcenters.com/reference/recipes/recipes-from-chef-del-sroufe

Visit our contest on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/WholeHealthCenterLoneTree/app_79458893817

Whole Health Centers holds contest for free massage

March 21, 2012

Whole Health Centers will host their first Live Well, Eat Well, Be Well This Spring Contest beginning today and ending on April 14, 2012.

The contest will allow entrants to submit images of what defines health and wellness in their lives. Participants can enter by going to Whole Health Center’s Facebook page. All participants must first “like” the page before entering.

Pictures can be of anything that encourages a healthy lifestyle – hiking a trail, riding a bike, buying foods at the farmers market, cooking a balanced meal or sharing time with loved ones. There is no limit to the amount of times a participant can enter.

All submissions may be voted on by friends, family members and “fans” of Whole Health Center’s Facebook page. The staff at Whole Health Centers will review all the entries at the end of the contest and agree on a winner.

Every entrant will receive a coupon for 25% off a massage, chiropractic or acupuncture session. The coupon must be redeemed on or before May 1, 2012. One Grand Prize Winner will be rewarded with a free massage at the Lone Tree location.

Whole Health Center is a multi-modality health care center dedicated to helping individuals achieve good health and stay well. Whole Health Center offers Acupuncture, Chiropractic Care, nutritional counseling, herbal therapy, supplements, educational seminars, and up-to-date healthcare information.  To learn more about the offerings at Whole Health Centers, please visit WholeHealthCenters.com, or contact Paul Murray and the Whole Health Center Team: 303-470-1995

Entry link for contest https://www.facebook.com/WholeHealthCenterLoneTree?sk=app_79458893817

Whole Health Center at Lone Tree

9075 Forsstrom Dr.

Lone Tree, CO 80124

303-470-1995

reception@wholehealthcenters.com

Television’s #1 daytime host, Dr. Phil, for the first time ever, featured not one but two chiropractors on an upcoming Dr. Phil Show on Thursday March 14, 2012.

And Dr. Phil didn’t just host a show with a chiropractor, he openly endorsed chiropractic for lifetime wellness care, not back pain which wasn’t even mentioned. 
Dr. Phil shared that chiropractic has helped him and his wife mentally, physically and spiritually.

Dr. Fabrizio Mancini was Dr. Phil’s guest and was asked to explain the principles of chiropractic. He spoke about chiropractic being a natural, holistic way to keep overall wellbeing. Dr. Patrick DeFazio was in the audience and spoke for a few minutes about what a chiropractor does.

Dr. Fab was Dr. Phil’s chiropractor in Texas for 4 years prior to taking over the position of President at Parker University. When Dr. Phil moved to Beverly Hills, Dr. Fab recommended he continue his chiropractic care with Parker University graduate Dr. Patrick DeFazio who Dr. Phil has now been going to twice a week for 10 years.

One of Dr. Greg’s patients at Whole Health Center gives her experience with chiropractic:

“I sought chiropractic care because I had continuous pain in my neck and lower back which was causing numbness in both arms, especially the right, and severe headaches.The numbness in my arms has been relieved and only happens rarely when my neck is really out of alignment.  My headaches are also very rare…  Back pain is all but gone and I am able to keep up with the demands of home and family more readily.

“I have experienced the added benefit of having to use my reading glasses less instead of more often.  I have also notice an amazing, dramatic reduction in my allergic reaction to cats.  Not only can I see more clearly and breathe better but I have not succumbed to the nasty colds or flues that have been going around since I have started my chiropractic care!  Also, I noticed a dramatic decrease in hot flashes!”

- Anne Peterson, 49, Littleton, CO

Acupuncture relieves allergies without side effects

March 11, 2012

Whole Health Centers announces the highly beneficial use of acupuncture to relieve allergies for clients. Acupuncture, an ancient art of Chinese medicine, works by redirecting ones flow of energy and integrating healthy lifestyle and dietary choices to see results. The local Colorado health center has proactively taken the role of exposing the truths behind conventional antihistamines, decongestants or corticosteroids and provides a natural remedy for allergies in the practice of acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a safe and effective way to manage allergies. One-third of the population suffers from allergies caused by stress, poor diet, pollutants or environmental toxins. The majority of allergy sufferers turn to conventional methods such as antihistamines, decongestants or corticosteroids. These remedies have side effects including sleepiness, increased appetite, increased blood pressure and depression.

Unlike conventional allergy remedies, acupuncture may be used to correctly diagnose and treat what imbalances are causing allergies and will also include Chinese Medicine dietary and lifestyle advice. Acupuncture, is based in the concept of balancing energy and creating health. Acupuncture has no side effects and can lead to increased energy, less chronic pain, relief from asthma, less stress, relief from PMS, arthritis, and headaches.

Most acupuncture sessions last about 20 to 30 minutes. Depending on an individual evaluation, a licensed practitioner may recommend one to two sessions per week. The initial goal is to control the acute stage of your allergies. Following this, the Chinese medicine physician seeks to correct the underlying agent. This phase can vary drastically and typically includes the use of acupuncture, food and lifestyle tips and often includes herbal prescriptions.

Whole Health Center is a multi-modality health care center dedicated to helping you and your family achieve good health and stay well. Whole Health Center offers Acupuncture, Chiropractic Care, nutritional counseling, herbal therapy, supplements, educational seminars, and up-to-date healthcare information.  To learn more about the use of Acupuncture and Whole Health Center at Lone Tree, Colorado, please visit WholeHealthCenters.com, or contact Paul Murray and the Whole Health Center Team: 303-470-1995 or reception@wholehealthcenters.com

With a combination of soft tissue manipulation and cranial-sacral therapy, I’m happy to report that this sweet lady has only had 3 minor headaches since mid-January. The headaches were relieved with Tylenol or no medication at all.

-Cory Walcott, Massage Therapist at Whole Health Center

http://wholehealthcenters.com/about-us/massage-therapists/lone-tree/cory-walcott-lmt

$25% off a ninety minute massage and a free initial chiropractic session.

As it turns out, Marie’s headaches stemmed from problems in her neck. Headaches, even migraines, often begin with chronic misalignments of the spine, specifically the upper cervical vertebra.

After evaluating the joints of Marie’s spine, we quickly diagnosed her with “cervicogenic” headaches. The vertebra in her neck were not moving properly. After her first chiropractic adjustment, Marie reported a 50% reduction in pain. Within 5 treatments, Marie was nearly 100% pain-free, headache-free, and off all her pain medications. Talk about a happy camper!

-Greg Justice, Doctor of Chiropractic at WHOLE HEALTH CENTER

http://wholehealthcenters.com/about-us/chiropractors/lone-tree/dr-greg-justice

$25% off a ninety minute massage and a free initial chiropractic session.

An allergy is an exaggerated immune response or reaction to substances that are generally not harmful. Many allergy sufferers take the route of trying to get relief with prescription or over-the-counter medications. According to Denise Ellinger, L.Ac. (Licensed Acupuncturist) many of these allergy symptoms can be avoided. She believes that your health is your most precious commodity. Balance in all aspects of your life is key to guarding and maintaining the treasure of you. In addition, the typical regimen of looking to that ‘magic pill’ is not the answer. Often, ancient Chinese medicine can bring relief with no side effects and often long-lasting results. The premise of Chinese Medicine is to get to the root of the cause. The most commonly used seasonal allergy medications may include antihistamines, decongestants, and for more severe reactions, corticosteroids. These medications come with side effects and often they only manage the symptoms. Some of the more common side effects of allergy medications are:

Sleepiness

Several of the antihistamines have the side effect of sleepiness. This makes it a potential danger if you have to drive or operate machinery and certainly does not help your performance at work. While that is a ‘good thing’ if you need help getting to sleep at night, look at the next two side effects to see if you want those results.

Do not use decongestant nasal sprays for more than 3-5 days. Use beyond 3-5 days causes swelling in the nasal passages and aggravates allergic symptoms. Oral decongestants may increase blood pressure, cause or aggravate existing heart rhythm abnormalities, and/or cause wakefulness and difficulty falling asleep.

Increased appetite

Another potential side effect of taking antihistamines is an increased appetite. Only when you are striving to gain weight is this a positive outcome. Before you know it, you’ve consumed an extra 100 calories or more. Then you create that spare tire around your middle or perhaps it lands right there in front as belly fat.

Depression

Some asthma medications can exacerbate depression or suicidal thoughts and mental status should be evaluated on a continual basis.

Acupuncture is very safe in the hands of a trained, qualified, licensed practitioner. But, correct diagnosis of what imbalances are causing your allergies will also include Chinese Medicine dietary advice, lifestyle advice, and possibly herbal formulae to bring you back into balance. Actually, some very pleasant side effects that also can occur might be increased energy, less chronic pain, relief from asthma, less stress, relief from PMS, arthritis, or headaches. Perhaps you need a quick fix for jet lag, tennis elbow, an aching back, or flu or cold symptoms. Chinese Medicine is based in the concept of balancing energy. Balanced energy creates health. Similar to mitochondria receiving information to transmit instructions and to create energy for cell health, maintenance of the body’s energy flow and balance promotes healthy communication within the body. If your health is a garden, it must be maintained on several levels (physical, mental, and spiritual) as well as tended to daily. It is the quintessential Anti-Aging medicine!

After evaluation of your chief complaint, signs, and symptoms, we find acupuncture points along the appropriate meridians (channels of energy flow) related to involved organ systems. Fine, sterile, needles are then inserted. The flow of energy is redirected to correct any imbalance. After twenty to thirty minutes the needles are removed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6199869

What is Rhinitis?

Rhinitis is a common seasonal or recurrent complaint with signs and symptoms that include nasal congestion, watery nasal discharge, sneezing and discomfort of the conjunctiva, pharynx, & ala nasi. The causal agent is hypersensitivity of the nasal mucosa to pollen, dust mites, fungal spores, animal dander, saliva, fumes and certain foods.

What is Hay fever?

Seasonal rhinitis is usually referred to as hay fever. It is a heightened reaction to grasses and pollens that have a restricted seasonal dispersion. It can be symptomless during the off times of the year. The primary characteristics include sneezing, profuse watery nasal discharge and sensitive itchy eyes.

Perennial rhinitis happens throughout year. It is a heightened response to animal dander, dust, fungal spores, cold air, and certain fumes. Signs and symptoms can be intermittent or recurring. Generally signs and symptoms are less pronounced, and will include a low-grade itch, discomfort or congestion of the nose and eyes, with episodic aggravations.

How does Chinese medicine see Rhinitis?

Chinese medicine considers rhinitis as an insufficiency of Wei qi. Wei qi is the body’s defence system operating beneath the dermis. The foundation of it is in kidney yang and is sent by the lungs up to the surface. The surface includes the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. In cases where this is poor it cannot fight a pathogenic onslaught resulting in increased reactions to inhaled particles.

Each individual’s rhinitis is unique. Even though they may seem alike, the weakness dwelling in a person’s organs could alter the symptomology, length and presentation. Sufferers could have more congestion than nasal discharge, or their rhinitis could have had a late onset, ie when they became adults.

How will a Chinese medicine physician handle my hay fever?

A Chinese medicine physician will deal with rhinitis stage by stage. First, they will seek to control the acute stage. Following this they will look at the underlying causal agent, and aim to correct this. This phase of therapy could vary greatly in duration and may comprise of acupuncture and herbal prescriptions along with food and lifestyle tips. While many patients will respond inside of two or tree months, others could possibly take over 12. It is worth considering this when thinking of seeking Chinese medical therapy. Supposing your hay fever is seasonal then undergoing treatment ahead of the anticipated time of year may well diminish the hardship of the conditions when the time of year begins. If you act ahead of time you could potentially not have any problems at all!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6765639

There are lots of food tips out there to control food cravings – my all time favorite was one that was supposed to address the craving for crunchy, salty snacks. This was during my Potato Chip phase. I read somewhere that that particular desire was driven by the need for crunch. So all I had to do was to replace those salty, crunchy, chippy things with something that satisfied the crunch – like celery or carrots.

Really?

I was skeptical but I tried it. I’ve always been one to initially concede authority to someone who’s done more work on a particular issue than I have. But right away I could see a flaw in the theory: without a doubt carrots were absolutely out. When the mouth wants salt, giving it sweet – like unknowingly biting into a handful of warm buttery Kettle Korn – causes a momentary break between the autobiographical memory chip in your brain and the perception of reality you’ve been used to up to that point in your life. It’s like seeing turquoise rain.

So that left celery. I thought I would be smart about it and adapt the solution by appeasing the other part of the craving. So I sprinkled it with salt. I’m not saying it wasn’t a nice enough snack. But all in all the experiment was a failure. The watery, salty crunch of celery does not begin to approximate the salty, crunch of oily potato chips. It didn’t stop the desire for chips and I never developed the craving for celery.

So here’s a tip for real people. This addresses the possible psychological drive to a particular snack. What do we want? Think about it. From the time we’re pre-teens on the playground starting to notice the opposite sex, or the fact that our older brother gets to stay out till midnight or that the two comfy chairs in the living room are reserved for mom and dad, isn’t there always an allure to what we cannot have? Whether it’s a fact of life or a rule we’ve imposed on ourselves.

So, Tip #1 for real people says: Take the mystique out of the snack. Give in sometimes. If you’re compulsive, plan it into your day – that way you can shelve the craving till you get home at 4:00. You can plan how much you’ll have and perform whatever ritual will honor the fulfillment of a human need. Sit in the chair that’s reserved for you, lower the lights, focus on the food and enjoy something you enjoy. If you can have it occasionally, it might dispel some of the desire.

I’ve had my share. There was a time beginning when I was a teenager when the Potato Chip Girl inside ran my world more often than I like to admit. When I was in my twenties I surmised that heaven was a room filled with Lay’s potato chips and me in the corner munching my way, guilt free, fat free and never full, towards the door.

Recently I had a small bag of plain Lay’s – my long-ago favorites – to which I can honestly say “Meh.” Is it possible I’ve gotten enough calcium or chloride in my system that I don’t crave them anymore? Or did my taste buds age moving on to more refined and flavorful needs?

When I was very young I craved sour. Dill pickles and their juice. I was young during the time when dad’s came home from work, loosened their ties and mixed a martini. More times than not, my father would find the tall, thin jar of olives that was full only yesterday now empty but for the two I would save him. That’s what he used in his daily martini. I would drink the juice and leave the olives and no one knew how those two called to me from their spot on the door of the refrigerator.

When I was twelve a girl moved in across the street who shared the same strange taste for sour. Having a quarter between us didn’t mean we’d cash in on candy but we’d buy two enormous dill pickles and sit on the short concrete wall between the plaza and the park and munch and suck and chew the dilly afternoon away. She and I used to drink vinegar. We imagined that’s what whiskey tasted like and we’d throw a shot down, slam the glass on the table and wince like the toughest guy on TV.

That need for sour lasted about thirty years and was followed by five years or so where I was repulsed by the thought of sour. The last jar of pickles I bought before the craving left me stayed in the back of my fridge for years where it didn’t spoil but just radiated its intrinsic green-ness. The pickles didn’t make my mouth water and I couldn’t reach for the jar without something inside turning green a little bit on its own. In a cleaning frenzy I finally threw them away.

Now I occasionally eat pickles or use dill relish. I have found that green olives from the olive bar at the health food store add a nice touch to a salad. But my mouth doesn’t salivate at the thought of sour, I don’t find myself digging a forefinger into that tall, thin jar or raiding the apple cider vinegar. What’s up with that? What do people have food cravings? Where do they go? Can you control them? Or do they control you?

What do you crave? Stay tuned while I try to answer some of these questions in the next few blogs about Food for Real People – Food Cravings.

Acupuncture is an effective means of controlling weight and appetite. Acupuncture releases endorphins which may help to balance out cravings. When endorphins are released the stress hormone cortisol can be neutralized. Cortisol is the hormone that can adversely affect metabolism.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a whole body approach to health. The body produces and uses energy that flows in river-like meridians around the body. When that vital energy, called Qi (pronounced chee) is not balanced or if there are persistent blockages that stop the flow of Qi the body responds by developing symptoms of disease. Weight gain can be one of them. There are many root causes for weight gain: the metabolism might be impaired, glucose resistance might be a factor, early signs of disease might also be a factor. An acupuncturist or Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor will consider all factors that might have led to weight gain including lifestyle, emotional and mental well-being as well as diet.

The whole self contains the solution so having a doctor to treat the whole self is the answer. Acupuncture is a partnership in health. Some ways to support yourself in your weight loss journey are making sure you’re getting both aerobic exercise to burn fat and weight training to build muscle that will burn fat. Look at the foods you eat. Not only calories make the difference. Is the food unprocessed and organic? Do you eat whole grains and vegetables?

Measuring the stress in your life might give you and your acupuncturist a clue to your weight gain too. Breathing, meditation, yoga and stress relieving exercises might help you lose weight more easily and stop the habit of overeating or responding to food cravings.

At Whole Health we take a whole body approach. We have acupuncturists, massage therapists, meditation classes, exercise and cooking classes.

• What are you willing to learn or change in order to have a life where your diabetes is a fact but not the determining factor?
• If following a customized program offered you the ability to stop the damage being done to your cells and allow you to live in what is defined by western medicine as “diabetes-free,” would you do it?

The answers to these questions seem obvious, but perhaps only to those who don’t actually have diabetes. Changing your lifestyle can be a challenge if your focus isn’t on recapturing the best quality of life you can while you still have it.

Recently I interviewed one of our patents, Gary, who has been successful in getting his blood glucose levels under 100 and his HbA1c down to below 6. After participating in our Whole Health diabetes program, he is about to go off medication. He feels better. He’s committed to his health.

But Gary told me stories of other patients he knows who are not as committed as he is. Someone he knows who is severely affected by her type 2 diabetes controls her sugar intake by eating sugar and following it with insulin. A woman I had breakfast with not long ago told me her doctor said her blood glucose was high but she isn’t diabetic. She was eating a cinnamon sugar scone. When I asked her what the level was she said it was well over 100. “It was 160, I think,” she said. She is not on medication and hasn’t been formally diagnosed.

Other diabetics Gary told me about are not educated on what exactly sugar is doing to their cells. They are not focused on the fact that as long as their blood glucose levels and their HbA1cn levels are high, they are doing irreparable damage that will deteriorate their health and severely limit their life expectancy while creating a host of other diseases and illnesses they will likely die from.

Type 2 diabetes – avoidable and preventable. But is it reversible? The damage to the cells can never be reversed. However, in a case like Gary’s where he was on medication and his levels were high enough that he was beginning to show the side effects of having diabetes, and now he’s not, can we say he reversed his diabetes? Or is it perhaps more accurate to say, he’s made his diabetes irrelevant?

He won’t ever be able to eat three donuts for breakfast and cookies after a fast-food lunch and pie for dessert every night. But Gary’s ok with that. Every time he sees his grandchildren, he’s reminded just how ok it is.

This is a sales pitch. What we want to sell is the quality of the rest of your life. And the number of years you have to live it. If you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, just what are you willing to do to change the prognosis?

If you don’t want to be beat by this insidious disease call Whole Health Centers and see what we can do to improve your world.

Every seven seconds.

This meeting is a sign of hope for the millions of people who suffer from diabetes. Yet it’s a sign of despair too. Peliminary reports indicate that heavy lobbying by tobacco, alcohol, food and drug companies may slow or skew the adoption of action.

Let’s face it diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are big money. Managing chronic conditions are growth markets for drug companies. Tobacco, food and alcohol have a stake in keeping their global market growing, too. A marriage between drugs and consumables virtually guarantees their businesses will boom in years to come while people in developing countries and people right here in our own country continue to die.

Praise belongs to the UN for tackling the issue. This is only the second UN meeting on health in history. The first one was in 2001 on Aids. Talks are starting. The problem will be acknowledged as a problem. Solutions will be proposed.  Solutions that revolve around increasing healthcare, tracking statistics to compile better data, monitoring outcomes, strengthening communication etc are all necessary and welcome changes.

Education and research for alternative methods to control and reverse diabetes are paramount. Realistic guidelines need to be adopted. At Whole Health we see patients whose doctors have told them that a blood glucose reading of 140 is what they should shoot for. Some say 180. In reality anything above a 100 still leaves the patient at risk for complications due to diabetes.

We are having success with patients lowering their glucose levels to a safe number (under 100). Studies are surfacing that show products that have beneficial effects in lowering blood glucose and cholesterol. PHatea is one of them.

With a world focus on noncommunicable disease, those of us in the US who have been involved in this issue need to advise: We can’t just do what we’ve been doing and expect that anything will change. Adopting the action items listed in the meeting brochure is a start, but the epidemic requires more than that. Stop the big money from controlling the disease. Look for alternatives. Educate everyone. Fund studies for alternative sources and above all, acknowledge that it is possible to reverse the condition.

Acupuncture is based on the idea that life-force energy, called Qi (pronounced chee) is created and flows through the body, protecting from illness and pain. Qi flows along meridians somewhat like rivers throughout the body, connecting organs and different areas of the body into systems. The quality, quantity and balance of Qi or life-force energy is what determines how healthy a person is.

If you think of Qi as flowing through a river, sometimes it gets disrupted. It can get backed up or restricted by other forces that injure the body. Some potential culprits to blocking Qi are

• Physical and emotional trauma
• Stress
• Lack of exercise
• Poor diet
• Accidents
• Excessive activity

If the body is otherwise healthy these upsets are dealt with naturally and the body heals itself. However, if the upset is prolonged or excessive or the body has been weakened by surgery, injury or emotional stress, the body doesn’t heal itself. Disease sets in as the energy bogs in certain places or flows to a trickle in others.

A skilled acupuncturist can determine where the blocks and imbalances of Qi are in the body’s systems. Acupuncture is a safe and painless treatment to help Qi circulate stronger and more freely throughout the body. Most people experience a sense of well-being and lots more energy after an acupuncture treatment due to the now free-flowing energy in their body.

Acupuncture can eliminate pain, restore the balance of energy flow and increase the body’s ability to heal itself.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture as safe and effective treatment for healing many, many conditions.

At Whole Health Centers we practice Traditional Chinese Medicine and Five Element Acupuncture.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Fibromyalgia affects two percent of the population. Of those, ninety percent seek alternative health treatments to relieve the symptoms of the syndrome. Because the syndrome has a long list of symptoms and because treatment is so individual, western doctors can only prescribe medication by trial and error. Medicine designed to manage the pain, the possible IBS, the difficulty sleeping, the headaches and jaw pain that may characterize each individual’s experience. Those ninety percent seeking alternative health treatments are likely turning from the handful of drugs they need to take to manage the syndrome.

Fibromyalgia Treatment

Oftentimes medications are prescribed to dull the pain. This is a short-term solution and does nothing to correct the problem. Pain is the indication that there is a problem in the body. Unless you address the problem, the pain is not going to go away.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine pain of any sort is the result of the disruption of the flow of Qi (pronounced  chee) in the body. The body has systems that produce and use energy and meridians where the energy flows from one part of the system to another. All systems need to be in balance for production and use and blocks need to be removed so energy flows smooth.

Fibromyalgia is a disharmony of the liver, spleen, kidney and heart systems. With a syndrome so unique, treatment should be unique. Acupuncture is a whole body treatment. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that given a balanced mind, body and spirit, the body can heal itself. When the disruption of Qi is not addressed over a long period of time or if you are in a weakened state, Qi is restricted and pain develops to signal something wrong.

Traditionally acupuncture has been widely used in the management of pain. Acupuncture can alter the brain chemistry changing the release of neurotransmitters that stimulate or inhibit nerve impulses thereby changing information about external stimuli and sensations. In effect when patients in pain have an acupuncture treatment, their tolerance is increased.

A 2006 Mayo Clinic study showed that fibromyalgia patients can relieve anxiety and fatigue for up to 7 months with an acupuncture treatment. A 2007 Mayo clinic study confirmed the earlier results.

At Whole Health Center we treat patients with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, IBS and insomnia. If you have fibromyalgia or know someone that does, urge them to seek alternative health treatments to restore the balance in their health and their lives.

There are more than 80 autoimmune conditions currently identified. When our immune system isn’t working properly the potential to develop a chronic condition exists.

The immune system protects the body against invaders like bacteria and viruses. When we are bombarded by a foreign substance, the immune system is activated and attacks that substance, keeping your body healthy. When an autoimmune condition is present, it means your body can no longer tell the difference between your own cells, tissues, organs and hormones and the foreign substances that have invaded. Now you begin to attack yourself. That attack causes inflammation which leads to autoimmune conditions.

Autoimmune diseases are difficult to diagnose, in part because their symptoms and progression are different for everyone. Autoimmune responses may target one organ or one system in one person and another in someone else. Symptoms can come and go as autoimmune conditions go into remission then flare up, sometimes after years. Or the symptoms can be persistent. There may be symptomatic progression as the disease gets worse; sometimes the disease can become disabling.

That is why management is never a one-size fits all. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help with autoimmune management by working with your symptoms, your body and your immune reactions to help you manage your health.

It is believed that there is a genetic component to autoimmune diseases. Since women are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases, hormones may have a larger role in health than we know right now. Medications can help relieve symptoms but may also have side effects and cause more harm than good.

Because acupuncture and TCM are a holistic health care practice they can take a whole body approach to healing and health. Based on the idea of Qi (pronounced chee), a vital energy that is produced and flows through the body to all organs and systems, treatments focused on Qi can keep you healthy and contain your symptoms. Focused on balanced energy flowing freely through your body, TCM and acupuncture will improve your overall health and lessen the symptoms of your autoimmune responses. Acupuncture and TCM can increase your energy levels, reduce inflammation and relieve the side effects of medication.

Learning what works for you is part of any disease management. That may mean trying new diets or different kinds of exercise. It may mean medication and frequent testing. Adding acupuncture and TCM into your health-care system can make everything work together, lessen your stress an allow you to live the life you want to live, even with an autoimmune condition.

Acupuncture is a whole body, natural approach to health. When one of the systems in your body isn’t working, acupuncture can balance the energy your body produces and uses. Blocks and problems producing energy are what cause the symptoms that are diagnosed as disease.

Type 2 diabetes affects the way your body gets, stores and uses energy. When food is digested it is converted into glucose (sugar) which enters the bloodstream. Your pancreas produces a hormone called insulin. Insulin moves glucose into your muscles, fat cells and liver cells.

When you have type 2 diabetes one of those systems doesn’t work properly. Either your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t respond to the glucose properly so you end up with high levels of sugar in your blood.

When you have too much sugar in your blood you can develop complications of diabetes like blindness, heart conditions, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage and the need for amputations. Type 2 diabetes has an impact on all the systems of your body and it only makes sense to take a whole body approach.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can work in conjunction with Western medicine to improve your pancreatic function, protect your kidneys and heart and lessen the symptoms of an imbalanced body. Diet and exercise can change the amount and the way your body handles sugar.

Traditional Chinese Medicine aids in the production and the flow of Qi (pronounced chee). Qi is vital energy that protects the body from illness and provides the “fire” we use to live. Qi flows through meridians in the body and provides energy and nourishment to all organs and glands. When there is a block or an imbalance, symptoms occur.

In TCM, type 2 diabetes is known as the wasting and thirsting disease. It is caused by an imbalance of Qi and Yin. The body produces heat which both drains and consumes body fluids. Symptoms that are related to heat appear – thirst, itchy dry skin, dry mouth, swollen gums.

Having needles stuck in your body can restore balance, relieve symptoms, improve pancreatic function and control glucose levels. An acupuncturist can also determine and relieve other blockages and symptoms. Coupled with diet and exercise, many people at Whole Health not only lowered their blood glucose levels and, of course, felt better, but some have gotten off medication and gotten their levels low enough that they are no longer considered diabetic.

In western medicine that is not supposed to happen.