Post-natal Depression explain in Chinese Medicine

 About 60-70% of women suffer from Post-natal Depression. This mild depressed started typically between the third and fifth day after the delivery. See from Chinese Medicine perspectives, during the childbirth woman depleted of qi and loss of blood may induce a state of Blood deficient. Since the Heart houses the mind and governs Blood, Heart blood become deficient, the Mind has nor place to settle, it becomes depressed and anxious. Anger is often present and this may vented against the husband or even the baby. Insomnia is a major problem. It may take a whole year before the woman returns to normal, and a few women do not, going on to develop more serious symptoms. Acupuncture and herbal medicine is the most nature way to restore your body and mind and dealing with post-natal depression, don’t let depression get in between you and your family.

There are basic three patterns:

1. Heart blood deficient cause by giving birth

Symptom: tearfulness, insomnia, fatigue, anxious and feel unable to handle daily tasks, feeling of guilt, poor memory, and palpitations. 

Treatment principle: Nourish Blood, strengthen the Heart, lift mood.

2. Heart Yin deficient cause by woman who has predisposition to yin deficiency

Symptom: Insomnia, waking up frequently, mental restlessness, agitation, intense anxiety, feeling of guilt, exhaustion, scanty breat milk, feeling of heat in the evening, night sweating.

Treatment principle: Nourish Yin, Tonify the Heart, calm the mind

3. Heart Blood stasis cause by stagnant blood harassing the Mind.

Symptom: Neurotic, obsessive, phobias, or psychotic behavior, confused,       aggressive and offensive behavior, or display suicidal tendencies.

Treatment principle: move the blood, eliminate stasis, open the mind orificies. Subdue rebellious Qi.

Herbs that Open the Mind:

Shi Chang Pu, Hu Po, Yu Jin (Tuber curcumae), He Huan Pi, Yuan Zhi

Diet and Nutrition: it is important that Woman eat good for metal health and nursing mother.

·      Blood Tonic food: Apricot, Beet, Leafy Greens, Gig, Grape, Kidney Bean, liver, Spinach, Beef, Chicken

·      Qi Tonic food: Cherry, Date, fig, Oats, Sweet potato, Mushroom, Yam, Squash, Beef, Chicken, Eel

·      Move Blood food: Crab, brown sugar, chili, pepper, chive, hawthorn, Berry, onion, Mustard, peach, scallion vinegar.

·      Regular Qi food: Basil, carrot, clove, orange peel, garlic, turmeric.

Acupuncture during ovulation increasing fertility chance

Acupuncture before and after during the Ovulation date will increasing the chance to be pregnant. When I took woman's menstrual history often find woman confuse some calculation which is very important for getting pregnant or not. Here is some info you need to know when is the big day to prepare for.

Ovulation date and fertility
You can take the guess work out of trying to get pregnant. When you identify the days you will ovulate, you've found the days you're most likely to conceive! 85 percent of couples who simply stop using birth control,conceive within a year. You increase your chances of getting pregnant by knowing when you ovulate.

Ovulation Counts Backwards: Your most fertile days are based on an estimate of your ovulation date, which occurs 14 days before the first day of your next period.
Cycle length If you know your "cycle length" (the number of days starting from the first day of one period to the day before the first day of the next), you can predict when your next period will begin.
An unfertilized egg has a survival window of approximately 24 hours. Sperm can live longer and may already be present before an egg is released. Or sperm may arrive in the 24 hours after the egg has been released.This span of time accounts for the range in fertile days. During this period of times, have acupuncture and taking herbs preventing any obstruction for ovulating and increase your body energy to giving the maximum powder to prepare a good environment for the egg to be fertilized, is necessary for conceiving.

Preventing miscarriage and have a health baby : If you do conceive then make sure the egg is healthy and implant in the uterus well is very important. This is the last race that you need to pay attention before your due day.

Example:
If your Period start On Wednesday Oct 12,2011
Wednesday October 19, 2011 to Sunday October 23, 2011 are the days you are likely to be most fertile.

The days be most Fertile                                             If your conceived due date is
October 19, 2011 to October 23, 2011                            July 15, 2012.
November 11, 2011 to November 15, 2011                     August 7, 2012
December 4, 2011 to December 8, 2011                         August 30, 2012
December 27, 2011 to December 31, 2011                     September 22, 2012

Acupuncture and Herbs Helping Ovulation pain

You may have noticed having a pain on one side of your abdomen right around the time you ovulate.  This pain is called ovulation pain.  If you are alert to changes in your body, you may also notice other signs of ovulation taking place, such as an increase in cervical mucous, bloating, or tender breasts.
Some women describe ovulation pain as a pinching feeling and others describe it as feeling similar to menstrual cramps.  The pain is generally on one side of the lower abdomen, right around your hip bone. When the egg is released during ovulation it ruptures through a tiny follicle.  This rupturing can cause pain and sometimes even mild spotting or bleeding.

You may notice some mild cramping as the fallopian tube contracts and moves the egg through the fallopian tube.  You may notice a pinching pain first –probably from the follicle bursting – and then dull cramping.
For woman who has narrowing or partial blockage of fallopian tube may experience more severe pain. The pain may easy off once the ovulation is finished. To clear the obstruction and aid the egg travel smoothly will help to stop the pain.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine is a great way to help you to reduce that monthly pain.  Move qi and blood, remove the damp obstruction in the tube will help fertility and ovulation pain.
Herbs that help ovulation Pain: Yan Hu Suo, Dang Gui, ChuanXiong, Chi Shao, Mo Yao, rou Gui. Pu Huang.

How Chinese medicine can preventing cancer and treating cancer treatment side effect.

How Acupuncture can help Cancer patient and help them to manage the radiation and chemo-side effects?
Ans: Tonify the vital Qi, clear toxin heat, break the tumor cell ( move the blood), general fluid, boost up immunity to fight cancer cell.
Cancer-treatment side effects Acupoints are stimulated to increase energy flow along various channels through out the body to a particular tissue, organ, or organ system. Treatment is usually customized to treat each patient's particular symptoms. Acupuncture use for the treatment of symptoms and side effects of a variety of cancers has recently been investigated in an number of studies and reviews.

1. Acupuncture for Head and Neck Cancer:Surgical dissection of lymph nodes in the neck is common for the head and neck cancer treatment. When this occurs, nerves known as spinal accessory nerves must also be removed along with the affected lymph node, which can lead to shoulder function problems.The study found that individuals in the group receiving acupuncture experienced significant reductions in pain and dysfunction when compared with individuals receiving standard care. .
2. Acupuncture and Leukemia: For some leukemia patients, cancer chemotherapy drugs can damage the peripheral nervous system (a condition known as peripheral neuropathy),causing pain, numbness, tingling, swelling, and muscle weakness in variousparts of the body, especially in the hands and feet. Acupuncture has been found to decrease these difficultne uropathy symptoms, allowing the maximum amount of chemotherapy to be used,thereby increasing the patient's chance for a successful outcome. Acupuncture sessions one to two days before chemotherapy infusion and continued weekly throughout the chemotherapy regimen produces the best results.
3. Acupuncture and Breast Cancer-Liver/Stomach channel: breast cancers have receptors for the hormone estrogen therapy with anti-estrogen medications, can induce early menopause, leading to symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, and excessive sweating. Acupuncture reduces some of these common side effects and produces fewer adverse effectsthan anti-depressants((Effexor) such as nausea, dry mouth, dizzy and anxiety.
4. Acupuncture and Lung cancer: Number one death in men, second death rate in woman us Smoker,small-cell carcinomas, grow rapidly, the only type response to chemotherapy Others cancer metastasizes to the lungs such as breast, kidney, stomach, prostrate,bones, cervix, and ovaries. Coughing(w, w/o blood. Chest pain, fatigue, profuse sticky sputum, SOB.

5. Overian ( OBGYN etc), Bladder cancer
· Urination problem (blood, cystic) , constipation
6. Stomach cancer
· Pain after eating, reduce appetite, anemia fatigue, no strength, ascites ( abdominal swelling)
Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy damage the liver function. Toxin, heat and dryness damage the liver qi.Stagnation of the liver qi lead to Spleen and Stomach deficiency and further generate internal damp-heat which cause symptom of diarrhea, constipation,fatigue, abdominal distension.

Diet before the surgery
To clam down the fatigu and fear, need to strength the kidney: Hawthorn fruit,momordica fruit ( Luo Han Guo), walnuts, mulberry, water melon, honey. Lotusseed ( lain Zi)


Diet after the surgery
After the surgery, patient lost lots blood which cause qi & blood deficiency. Diet need focus on nutrition supply, and calories. Rich in proteins and vitamins and restore the stomach and spleen function.

My notes from Lecture in Chino Hills Aug 13, 2011

Chinese medicine prevent Influenza (flu)

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms:
Fever or feeling feverish/chills, Cough, Sore throat, Runny or stuffy nose, Muscle or body aches, Headaches, Fatigue (very tired). Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.

Experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby.

Acupuncture weekly to strengths your immunity can prevent getting the flu and speedy recovering from flu.  Chines herbs in anti-toxic heat have anti-virus function which is save than flu shot for some people. Bai Len Gen, Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao, are very good herbs to use for prevention or beginning of the flu.

How Acupuncture Can Help Woman’s Wellness and Aging

Happy Clover Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine

Jody Hsu Steele L.Ac, Dipl. O.M., MAOM

909-527-0374

1. How can Acupuncture help our health? What is the concept behind it?

Ans: 14 meridian= Freeway, Highway

         Acu Points= Exit/ Entrance to freeway

            Qi / Blood stagnation= Accident on Freeway cause traffic Jam

            Needle/acupuncturist-=AAA/Police

            Promo Qi flow and Blood circulation=move the traffic

2. What theory does Tradition Oriental Medicine base on?

Ans: 1) Yin- Yang ( differentiation of syndromes by eight principles)

                     2) Five Elements

Metal	Wood	Water	Fire	Earth
Lung	Liver	Kidney	Heart	Spleen

3. Etiology ( cause of the diseases)

Six exterior pathogenic factors vs. interior emotion/ organ)

4. What method TCM use to treat their patient?

Base on the diagnosis from Tongue & Pulse

• Acupuncture=needle (body, head, ear, hand)
• Herbal Medicine (roots, leaves, flower, seeds, grass, fruit, mineral, animal parts)
•  Cupping, Gua Sha massage,
• electro-acupuncture
• moxibustion

5. Woman usually is a caregiver. It is time to take yourself before you can take care others. What is happening when woman facing aging? What problems do woman facing?

Menopause Syndromes= hormone change, estrogen decline
Hot Flash Night Sweating	Irritable Angry	Insomnia Palpitation	Headache Vision/hearing	Weight Gain	Depression Anxiety

Aging
Skin	Muscle		Bone		Brain		Organ		Hair/Nail
Itching	Tightness		OA/all joints		Short term		Slow down		Graying
Wrinkles	Pain		Bone loss/Teeth/hip joint		Parkinson Metal Clarity		Not fully function well		Lost hair Nail harden, Dry, dull
Risk factors of heart disease…………..Stroke,  Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Smoke		Hypertension		High LDL/HDL		Over Weight		Menopause

Woman in a lot of time may not have the typical heart disease symptoms such as chest pain, numbness & tingling of the arm and hand, short of breath. Instead, She may feel stomach discomfort, extreme fatigue for no reason.

Breast Cancer- Why Cancer Cell got activate.

Diabetes-  Four big ( hunger, thirst, excess urination, sweating/fever)

6.    Supplyment

Omega-3	Vit D	CO-Q10	Asprine	B12
Anti-inflammation	Breat cancer colon cancer Immunity	Circulation	Thinning Blood, preventing clots	Immunity Energy

7.    Exercises

Qi Gone / Tai Qi	Yoga	Meditation	Weight lifting	Cardio
Move Qi & Blood	Muscle strengthens	Clam your Mind/relax	Strength your bone	Train you heart

What organ control your vital and blood?

Heart	Lung	Liver	Spleen	Kidney
Qi & Blood	Qi & water	Qi & Blood	Qi & water	Qi & Marrow, water

8. Herb+ Food= Life style

9. Water: Bottle vs. Tap water

10.  What Fruit is good for you?

11. What meat is good for you?

     

Free/ Workshop-Acupuncture help menopause, aging, gynecology problem

Woman’s nature is taking care of others; they devote themselves to family members, friends and even their co-workers. But they never stop and take a deep breath, relax and take care of themselves. Women find themselves having less and less energy and they gain weight and start to have hot flashes. They are not happy. They ask, “What is wrong with me?” You aren’t ...sick but just nothing feels right anymore. Why? We are not just talking about looking better and feeling better but changing the dynamic of your health condition. This class will introduce the basic concept of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine and how it can help you. Our usual subjects of Pain Management and Coronary Artery Disease, topics like menopause symptoms, Woman’s health and any OBGYN problem will be the feature of this lecture. Open discussion and questions are welcome.

Please, Bring your daughters, Mom here. Bring any questions or issues so we can discuss it, if you would like to share it. Participants are not limited to only above 50+

Date: Saturday July 16th
Time: 2-4 PM
Address:

Government Center Community Room  14000 City Center Drive Chino Hills, CA 91709 Subject: woman gynecology relate problems, aging, menopause symptom, and heart disease. Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, Parkinson, any Pain. Register w/ Chino Hills recreation  909-364-2700 Walk in welcome

Acupuncture helps to reduce menopause symptoms

Menopause usually occurs between  the ages of 48 and 55 and the median age in industrialized countries is about 51. The number of menopause woman in society is increasing has a lot to do with the increased number of the hysterectomies preformed.

The primary basis for the progressive decline of reproductive power in woman is in the ovary itself. Emotional stress is an extremely important cause of menopausal problem, building up for year after year before the onset of the menopause. Menopause is not a disease, it is the normal physiological transition in a woman’s life from a reproductive to a non- reproductive age. 

Woman may experience symptoms like headache, tiredness, lethargy, irritability, anxiety, nervousness, depression, insomnia, inability to concentrate,  hot flushes, vaginal dryness and sweating.  The most common symptoms is hot flushes, and 85% of woman suffer from it.

In TCM perspective,  menopause symptoms due to a decline of kidney essence in its yin and yang aspect. Beside that kidney deficiency may combine with some excess pattern such as dampness, stagnation of qi or blood, empty heat or liver yang rising. 

Acupuncture points of tonify kidney yin and yang, clear heat, expel dampness, move the qi & blood is well use to reduce the symptoms.

Herbal formula such Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, Gen Nian An are popular herbal formula to use for the complain of hot flush and sweating. 

How Acupuncture Can Help Woman’s Wellness and Gynecology Problems

                Woman’s nature is taking care of others; they devote themselves to family members, friends and even their co-workers.  But they never stop and take a deep breath, relax and take care of themselves. Women find themselves having less and less energy and they gain weight and start to have hot flashes. They are not happy. They ask, “What is wrong with me?”  You aren’t sick but just nothing feels right anymore. Why? We are not just talking about looking better and feeling better but changing the dynamic of your health condition. This class will introduce the basic concept of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine and how it can help you. Our usual subjects of Pain Management and Coronary Artery Disease, topics like menopause symptoms, Woman’s health and any OBGYN problem will be the feature of this lecture. Open discussion and questions are welcome.

Please, Bring your girl friends, Wife, and daughters here. Bring any questions or issues so we can discuss it, if you would like to share it. Participants are not limited to only above 50+, or female, anybody is welcome.

Call Chino Hills Recreation (909) 364-2700 to  register

Walk in always welcome.

Parkinson’s Disease in Chinese Medicine

Parkinson’s disease comes under the symptom of Tremors. In TCM diagnosis is related to Liver- wind. Liver-wind arises from an empty or a full condition. The most common cause of the empty type is Liver-Blood, Liver-Yin, Kidney-Yin deficient.  Liver blood deficient will fail to nourish and moisten the sinew; the empty space in the vessels I taken up the wind and this cause “ shaking of the sinews” (tremors). Liver-Fire cause internal wind is more common to see in elderly patient with hypertension problem or emotions stress. Phlegm-fire is another full pattern, cause by the improper diet. Phlegm obstructs the channels and prevents fluids and blood form nourishing them.

A general body points to extinguish wind will be used. Addition pointed will be on arm hand or leg. Scalp acupuncture of motor area and chorea area can also use on opposite of the trembling limb.

Addition body points and herbal medicine will be used following by the identification of the pattern. 

How to treat Atopic Dermatitis ( Eczema) in Chinese Medicine

Atopic Dermatitis is a chronic, superficial inflammation of the skin that is characterized by itching. They are commonly affected in side of the elbows and the back of the knee. Innate insufficiency cause spleen and stomach dysfunction of transport and transform function cause Damp-heat. When a person exposes to wind, damp and heat excess condition then these all accumulate in the skin thus leading to dermatitis.

In Chinese Medicine, we can categorize into three major stage bases on the pattern of three stage:

1. Fetal heat (infants develop in utero)
2. Damp-heat (older children)
3. Blood dryness (mainly in adults)

Herbs that clear toxic heat, expel damp and tonify the blood will be used Herbs that clear toxic heat, expel dampness and tonify the blood will be used Internally and externally. 

www.happycloveracupuncture.webs.com 

 

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There's no evidence that bio-identical hormones are safer than standard hormone therapy for menopause.- Form Mayo Clinic Medical info. Acupuncture improve the frequency of the hot flash and night sweating with in the first to 5th time. with herbal formula, woman can have better control during menopoause. Chinese medicne not just clear heat, control sweating but go to the roots of problem and tonify and balance what is decrease. So, you don't have to depend on medicine for 10 years during this difficulte time. Bioindentical claim it is a natural hormones but see what Mayo clinic said. Three of my patients complained about their experience with this hormones gave them bloating, constipation and has NO improvement with their menopause symptom. So, Why you pay for nothing?

Please read link about bio-identical:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bioidentical-hormones/AN01133 

Toothache-self help with acupressure and herbs

Toothache can be one of the worse ache, and if you can not get to the dentist asap. Here is what you can do to help. Acupressure to LI4合谷 point. Ear points of Stomach, Sympathetic, Endocrine, and analgesic points (toothache)can really make a difference. This is also my personal experience. Huang Lian and Jin Yin Hua will help clear the infection and swelling.

Back yard "DANDELION" is a great source to help clear infection and reduce swelling. clean the dandelion leaves and boil in water for 20 minutes. Allow to cool. Use as a gargle to rinse inside the mouth.

Acute Mastitis-Breast Lumps

Acute Mastitis-TCM called Breast Abscess

Breast-feeding is a difficult task for new mother. Some has milk, some don't. It is often a stressful task at first but bring a bond between the mother and a baby. Milk duct sometime is obstructed due to postnatal depression, sometime due to stagnation of heat in the stomach.

Breast abscess is an acute purulent disorder of the breast mostly found in lactation period after delivery. Obstruction of the milk duct lead to retention milk in the breast and lump grow in the breast. Local redness, swelling, pain of the breast, difficult lactation may cause fever and chills.

In TCM study, Liver and Stomach channels run through breasts and nipple. When metal depression affecting the qi of the liver will cause stagnation. Over taking fatty food cause stagnation in the stomach then create toxic fire. Accumulate phlegm fire cause the lumps in the breast.

Treatment principle: regulate the liver qi, remove stagnation and stress, clear toxic heat and infection.

Case study:

Patient is breast-feeding for four months since delivery. Her left breast has form a big lump toward armpit. The lump area of the skin is red, feeling hot and inflamed. She looked very upset and stress. She expressed difficulty to handle a four years old child plus a four months old baby. She is constant tired, her eye filled up with tear when she talked to me. Few months ago, patient had mastitis. She took anti-biotic then caused her thrush (yeast infection on the nipple). She had to stop breast-feeding and very painful. She hope there are some herbs can help her. 

First treatment: I prescribed some herbs to help clear toxic heat (infection), promo lactation, and break up the lumps. Seven days later, patient’s condition is greatly improved. Skin redness was complete gone. The size of the lump was greatly reduced and no more pain. There is no trouble lactation. 

Second treatment: Beside the original prescription, I added some herbs to help the fatigue, release the stress and clam the mind. 

Patient’s breast lump is gone and seems much more relax and clam. Mostly she is able to enjoy breast -feeding her newborn baby. Acupuncture SI 1 was needle at this time.

Integration of Chinese Medicine for Management of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the m ost common malignant tumor in women who do not smoke. Throughout the world, about 1.2 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 0.5 million women die of it every year.

How Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Can help to manage Breast Cancer

The general Chinese medical view of woman's breast cancer is cause by the accumulation of melancholic anger, depression, obstruction of the spleen function, reversal of the liver vitality, deficiency of the blood and vitality, Coagulation of blood turn into a hard mass.  Chinese medical treatment during the initial stage is aimed at detoxify, relieving melancholy, softening the hardness, supplementing the blood, and dissipating the stagnate blood.

Breast Cancer roots the basic problem of Liver and Stomach in TCM theory because both of the meridians run cross the breast and nipple. Remove Qi stagnation and dispersing heat from stomach is the basic starting point. Deficiency of vital Qi and immune function weaken cause the qi and blood stagnate further cause phlegm congeal(tumor).

Integration of Chinese Medicine in treatment strategies for the management of Breast Cancer

Chinese medicine in the overall treatment strategy for brease cancer can obtain very good results by improving the therapeutuc effect, raising the quality of life and prolonging the survival period. TCM treatment for supporting Vital QI and dispelling pathogenic factors should be applied throughout the course of treatment with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

1.     Surgery and postoperative period-After the surgery, body’s qi and blood

is deplete. Deficiency of the qi and blood may slow the wound healing. Tx principle -Augment qi and nurish the blood

2.     Radiotherapy side-effects-painful skin, ulceration, swelling and fibrosis dry mouth, irritability dute to heat. Tx principle-Nourish yin and generate body fluids, clear heat and relieve toxicity

3.     Chemotherapy side-effects-gastrointestinal reactions characterized by nausea and vomiting and irregular bowel movement, poor appetite, bone marrow suppression, altered liver function, cardio toxicity, loose hair

The various treatment methods adopted depend essentially on the stage reached by the cancer. Supporting the vital qi and expelling pathogenic factors by material medica should be taken throughout the course of treatment. Alternatively, combine with endocrine therapy

1. Carcinoma in situ: supporting the vital qi and expelling pathogenic factors is the treatment principle.
2. Stage I: mastectomy, lymph nodes dissection. Chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. Supporting the vital qi and expelling pathogenic factors is the treatment principle.
3. Stage II & III: radical mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy
4. Stage IIIb: radiotherapy or chemotherapy ( systemic or arterial intervention)
5. Stage IV: systemic chemotherapy with adjuvant endocrine treatment is suitable

Diet Therapy- eat foods for augmenting Qi, supplementing the blood and regulating the spleen and stomach such as Yam, spinach. Chinese dates( da Zao), Longan. Food for nurish the yin during radiotherapy and moisten dryness

Qigong Therapy-practice strengthening the body

Happy Clover Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine

Jody Hsu Steele L.Ac, Dipl. O.M. MSAOM

www.happycloveracupuncture.webs.com

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a chronic medical condition most commonly caused athermanous plaques obstructing the coronary arteries. It is the number one cause of death in United States.

Risk factors include family history, age, and male gender and other medical condition such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Among all the risk factors, lipid metabolism is the one directly implicated in the pathology of CAD. The higher the LDL cholesterol level, the higher the risk of CAD; the higher the HDL Cholesterol, the lower the risk. 

Symptoms of a Heart Attack may be different between man and woman, Patients may complain of vague chest pain, pressure-like discomfort or burning and numb sensation or chest pain with difficulty breathing. Sudden onset of strangling anxiety or pain that radiates down the ulnar side of the left arm are typical. Woman often discovered had heart attack with different symptoms such as extremely fatigue, nauseas, Vomiting pain like stomach ache because is not a typical symptom; therefore, it often been ignored. 35% of woman who had heart attack die in the first year. Woman who has heart attack when to emergency usually not be treated fast like man because the symptom is not severe. Woman who had heart attack should be put on aspirin like man. If you are having a heart attack, put aspirin in your mouth and chew for faster reaction.

Change your life style, diet, and stress management can make a big difference on your health. It is a time to assess your health:

1. Do you use tobacco?

2. Do you get enough exercise?

3. How is your weight? What is your BMI? What is your body & organ fat?

4. Is your diet health?

5. How is your mood?

Quick smoking: Smoking is a major cause of atherosclerosis — a buildup of fatty substances in the arteries. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have more than twice the risk of heart attack than nonsmokers. Smokers increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke and tendency for blood clotting.

Exercise: Even a modest walking program can improve your heart health, reduce stress and give your extra energy. More than 60% if American adult aren’t active on a regular basis. Set up a basic activity plan will improve your health.

Over Weight: More than two- thirds of Americans are overweight. Overweight increases your risk of diabetes and heart disease. 

Nutrition and diet: Eating the right foods can prevent disease. More grains and fiber in vege and fruit. Replacing butter, lard and other solid fat. Use more olive, canola oil.

Supplements & herb benefit preventing CAD:  1. Flaxseed/ Omag-3 2. Garlic 3. Green Tea 4. Hawthorn 5. Coenzyme Q10

Acupuncture proved to be effective therapy for below reason:

1. Acupuncture help smoking cessation by reduce irritability of quitting. Strong the will power of quitting and clear the lung.

2. Acupuncture move qi (vital energy) and promo blood circulation reduce fat accumulation and break up the plaques (clotting in the vessel).

3. Acupuncture reduce stress by relax the body and the mind, promo a better metabolism.

4. Acupuncture help reduce appetites and weight control to reduce cholesterol and preventing become diabetes.

5. Acupuncture help control stress, diet relate to blood pressure.

Chinese Herbal formula for Cholestrol

1. Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang

2. Lian Po Yin

3. Xiao Yao San

4. Qi Ju Di Huang wan

5. Gua lou xie Bai ban Xia Tang

6. Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang

Chinese Herbal formula for Hypertension

1. Long Dan Xie gan Tang

2. Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin

3. Zui Gui Wan

4. Er Xian Tang

5. Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang

Herbal Tea:

1. Shan Zha (Hawthorn) tea is great for reduce Cholesterols, and fat accumulated.

2. Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum flower) tea is great for reduce blood pressure.

3. Mei Gui Hua (Rose bud) tea is great for stress release.

4. Xi Yang Shen ( American Jing Shen) tea is great for strength vital energy.

An infertility success story with acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment.

An infertility success story with acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment. After 8 weeks of 11 visits of acupuncture treatments and 56 days of herbal decoction. Patient is pregnant.

When diagnosing infertility, the most important thing is clearly differentiated if the pattern is deficient or excess. Treatment principle will be decided to tonify and nourish the body's Qi or to eliminate pathogenic factors.  Woman’s physiology is rooted in Blood. Uterus store blood, Blood is not only the source of the periods but also of fertility, conception, pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, treating infertility the first thing is treating Woman’s Menses.

To establishing and maintaining a good regular menstrual cycle is needed for fertility.  From the Western point of view, there are four phases within the menstrual cycle. Acupuncture and herbal treatments will adapt to these four phased.

1. During the Menstrual cycle(Blood moving)- sharp fall in estrogen and progesterone. Treatment method is move the blood and stop heavy bleeding.
2. Post- Menstrual cycle(Follicular phase)- Blood and yin fluid is empty, Treatment method is nourishing the body yin and blood.
3. Mid-cycle(ovulatory phase)- Promote Ovulation, Nurish the essence, essence so egg can get fertilized and implant.
4. Pre- Menstrual cycle(Luteal Phase)-if pregnancy treatment will focus on Tonify the essence and rise the yang/qi to preventing miscarriage. If not treatment will focus on move the Liver qi and ready for the menstrual cycle to start again.

1. Female pathology in Western medicine- Hormone Deficient type

Besides regulating the menses, balancing hormone level is important. FSH levels above 10 indicate the ovarian function has declined, making pregnancy more difficult to achieve, and often results miscarriage. In addition, Low estrogen and progesterone level, thin endometrium, no ovulation, small uterus, poor quality of eggs or follicles. All these factors affect the implantation of the embryo.

TCM medicine diagnosis- In order for fertilization to occur the yin, yang Qi Blood of the kidneys all need to be perfectly balanced. When one or more of these elements is out of balancing, infertility may occur.

2. Female pathology in Western medicine- Cystitis, fibroid

Uterine fibroid ovarian cystitis, adhesions, endometriosis, and fallopian tubes block is corresponded to TCM medicine diagnosis are qi stagnation, blood stsis or phlegm damp obstruction.

3. Female pathology in Western medicine- infection

Cervical, vaginal, pelvic, fallopian tube infection are point to TCM medicine diagnosis of Damp heat or Toxins or Blood Stasis

Case study:

Infertility Success Case using Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Case study:

Female, mid-30’s has tried to get pregnant for one year. She had 5 unsuccessful IUI before and one miscarriage. She was on Clomid* for one year before seeking acupuncture help. Based on my diagnosis, her Kidney yang and spleen qi was deficient causing damp accumulation. Treatment principle was followed this directions at the same time, I followed the four phases of the Menses cycle to modify my acupuncture prescription and Herbal formula to regulate, nourish and tonify the body.

Patient was treated by acupuncture 1-2 times a week. Patient was also on different herbal formulas modified according to the four menses phases every day for 8 weeks. Before she went on the last IUI, I also applied Moxa to raise kidney yang (body temperature) and prepare for fertilization. One week later, patient is pregnant.

*Clomid is a synthetic drug that is similar to estrogen.

Patient continues to come for acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture is only applied on her head, face and ear to raise the qi and calm the mind. Since patient had one miscarriage before, she is on herbal formula specific for preventing miscarriage.

 

Amenorrhea

Menstruation does not come until 18 years old or stop coming for over three months is called amenorrhea. The cause of amenorrhea can be in deficient or excess types.

1. Blood depletion- (deficient types)

Clinic symptoms: Delayed menses cycle, decrease of menses and stop menses. Sallow face, lassitude, vertigo and dizziness, poor appetite, loose stools, dry skin. It is possible with hot sensation in the palms soles, afternoon fever and night sweating. 

Analysis :Improper intake of food or malnutrition can be the resolve of blood deficient. People who have been going through extreme diet program (dramatic weight loss) can cause amenorrhea. We often see young girl stop menses because of weight loss.  We also see woman who try to loss weight end up lost menses because lack of nourishment to their body.  

2. Blood stagnation- (excess types)

Clinic symptoms: absence of menses for months, lower abdominal distending pain aggravated by pressure, hard mass in lower ab. Distension and fullness feeling in the chest and hypochondriac area.

Analysis: It is due to emotional stress. In TCM study, called Liver qi stagnation.  Retardation of the qi and blood in the uterus obstruct the passage of menses.

Case Study:

            45 years old female, come for amenorrhea for 6 months. After the history taking, patient has breast pain,        distend and bloating lower abdominal discomfort. Patient always try lost weight, therefore diet all the time. Patient’s husband believes she has no stress. But It seems not true under my observation.  Treatment principle was focus to unblock the qi stagnation, nourishing the liver and invigorated the blood.

Acupuncture points: LV3, LV8, Sp10, Ren 4 6, ST 29, KI 13, SP6, LU7, SP9, ST36

Herbs: Shu Di, Dang Gui, Chi Shao, Xiang Fu, Chai Hi, Yi Mu Cao, Du Zong, Chuan Niu Xi, Yu Jin, Fu Ling, Mu Dan Pi, Ban Xia, Gui Ji Zi, Xi Yang Shen

At third weeks of treatments, patient start spotting, and small amount menses linker into the beginning of the forth week then stop. Treatment principle is modified at the fifth week to tonify the qi, blood and essence ready for the next cycle.