Healing with Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years, in Eastern cultures, as a way to holistically and alternatively heal the body. In the last decade or two, Western society has become more educated about the benefits of acupuncture and have incorporated this form of healing into standard medicine.

I had the pleasure of talking to Yolanda Vasquez-Douge, a licensed acupuncturist (and my acupuncturist-smile!) last week to get an in-depth view of acupuncture:

Lydia: So Yolanda, tell me what exactly is acupuncture?
Yolanda: I would say that acupuncture is a way to provide balance in the body from either excess or deficiency. It's a preventative form of medicine; preventative in a sense that it can help you avoid surgery or help you avoid being placed on 10 different medications to relieve a condition. It's preventative in that it allows an acupuncturist to 'catch' anything that may lead to serious conditions, which Western medicine either treats by giving you medication, in order to control the symptoms.

Lydia: Would you say acupuncture embraces the idea of a mind/body connection to disease?
Yolanda: Yes. Western medicine doesn't really look at the root of the problem and acupuncture addresses what the root of the problem may be as well as ultimately treating the symptoms. Acupuncture's perspective is that all disease is rooted in the spirit. There is a mind/body connection to dis-ease and my training has taught me that this is something both the acupuncturist and patient must look into. Without that understanding, a patient will keep coming back for the same symptoms and getting to healthy will be more challenging.

Lydia: Do you find that people are more receptive to using acupuncture?
Yolanda: Absolutely. Because many people feel that when they see Western doctors, they're not finding real resolutions. A person may go to their doctor for gastritis and the doctor will write them a prescription and tell them to avoid these foods...and that's it! There's a lack of personal connection between the patient and practitioner. Or may be a person has gone to several doctors and still has no resolution so they try acupuncture as another option. I had a patient that had back pain, that was also shooting pain down his leg. So I just started to describe to him the energetics of that particular meridian. And how it's a place where energy gets 'stuck'. Just by saying that, it made his treatment completely different because he realized that he was holding something in. That's where you want patients to be; understanding in a simple way that the pain is stemming from something emotional. My practice is about being able to help them decipher what the root of the problem is and what emotions are connected to they physical symptom. My practice is a broader type of practice...a spiritual type of practice.

Lydia: Is there another patient success story you have?
Yolanda: Yeah...I have a patient now who starting coming to me for back pain. It took like 4 or 5 session where she finally got to a place where she stopped taking birth control pills. As we started working through her back pain, it evolved into us finding out that she may have issues with expressing herself. That brought her to her realizing that she grew up like that...not being expressive at all. She didn't want to be that way and it was affecting her relationships and manifesting physically. This revelation took her to a deeper place in that it made her become aware of the emotions attached to the physical manifestation. With that, I felt more comfortable with taking her much deeper in her healing.

Lydia: It's not surprising that you are able to do that with your patients because of your knowledge of acupuncture and because you make an honest effort to connect with your patients to allow them to truly acknowledge what the root issues may be that are causing pain.

Lydia: Explain ear acupuncture.
Yolanda: Ear acupuncture is a completely different system from body acupuncture. Body acupuncture you are moving things around...you are expelling something, clearing something, balancing something...you are working with the channels. The ear has 365 points; the ear is sending that signal straight to the brain. You can focus on these points to treat all kinds of conditions: stress, insomnia, addictions. With the ear, it's more specific...the affects of the treatment. Some practitioners do not combine ear and body acupuncture. I do both because with ear acupuncture it keeps my patients in tuned with the fact that they are being treated and it helps them to stay with that intention. It's like I'm still with them, providing the treatment by the use of the ear beads on these points.

Lydia: What would you tell someone who is apprehensive about acupuncture?
Yolanda: I would tell them to start with ear acupuncture...it's just as effective and non-invasive. This will also begin a relationship of trust between myself and the patient. Sometimes even in a massage I will show them one needle and how it's placed on the body to get them to open up that fear and tackle it. But it's about keeping it light and easy so that they will be open to it.

Lydia: Anything else you'd like to share about acupuncture?
Yolanda: That it's really preventative; it's not a band aid but it can help you get through something. It helps you treat on an emotional level as well as addressing physical symptoms. It's not just for pain. Acupuncture can help you get through the emotional stuff as well.

Lydia: Lastly, tell us what conditions acupuncture can treat?
Yolanda: Main thing I use acupuncture for are stress (huge complaint), anxiety, pain (lower back pain, stomach pain), irritability, women issues such as PMS, infertility, abnormal menstrual cycles. headaches, weight loss. But there's so much more it can treat.

**Yolanda holds both a Master’s degree in Acupuncture, and a Bachelor’s in Professional Studies, from the Swedish Institute School of Acupuncture and Oriental Studies in New York, where she was trained by the world renowned, 88th generation Taoist priest, Dr. Jeffrey Yuen.**

Her website is: http://www.nycclassicalacupuncture.com

Get Heart Healthy!

February is Heart Healthy month. And it is never too early to incorporate good habits to support a healthy lifestyle for your heart.

When we hear about people who have heart attacks, we always tend to think 'that person must have been old'. But the fact of the matter is, heart disease can affect anyone at any age. My cousin passed away at the age of 32 from a massive heart attack (blocked arteries) and a few years prior to that he experienced his first heart attack. My family was absolutely stunned when he had his first heart attack but looking back, we should not have been all that surprised being that his father, my uncle, died from a massive coronary. This, of course, devastated my family but has made me so much more conscious of my overall health. So, heart disease, heart conditions, etc., can affect anyone, young or old.

Heart disease is a general term for any kind of heart problems such as pulmonary heart disease, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, etc. Here are the facts:

* Heart disease is the #1 killer in both men and women in the U.S.
* Heart disease accounts for 40% of all deaths in the U.s., more than all forms of cancer combined.
* The most common cause of heart disease is coronary artery disease which is
a blocked or narrowed coronary artery that supplies the heart with blood.
* Negative emotions or depression are risk factors for heart attack and stroke. Conversely, happier people are less likely to develop heart disease.
* Hypertension, or when the pressure in the arteries is higher than normal,
increases the risk of coronary artery disease.
* Two-thirds of deaths of heart attacks in women occur in those who have had
no history of chest pain.
* Physicians call morning time “the witching hour” for heart attacks because the
mornings are when most people suffer a hear attack. In the morning, stress hormones, such as cortisol peak. Additionally, blood is thicker and harder to
pump because a person is partially dehydrated

Yes, these facts are quite grim but the bright side is that heart disease can be prevented or even reversed in most cases! This is where the focus needs to be! What can you do to keep your heart healthy? Here are some tips:

* Eat plenty of fiber and good fats. Research suggests that inflammation of the arteries may be as big a risk factor for heart disease as clogging with cholesterol deposits. And a high-fiber diet featuring plenty of beneficial fats proved better at controlling that damaging inflammation than the standard low-fat diet, according to a recent two-year clinical trial. (Participants also found it tastier and more filling.) Good sources of fiber include fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and vegetables. Best of all: the soluble fiber from barley, beans, and oats. As for fat, choose high-omega-3 but low-mercury fish such as salmon, sardines, and trout, and vegetable oils such as canola, olive, safflower, and soybean. Stay away from trans fats, which move cholesterol numbers in the wrong direction. The Nutrition Facts label on packaged food now includes the trans-fat count.

* Lay off cholesterol and salt. Anyone diagnosed with an elevated level of LDL (bad) cholesterol should consume less than 200 milligrams of cholesterol a day. That's the amount in one egg yolk, 8 ounces of skinless chicken breast, or 10 ounces of lean sirloin. As for salt, if you have high blood pressure or are at risk of developing it, cutting back on salt could reduce your risk of a heart attack by 25 percent or more. Your goal should be less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day, which is about a teaspoon of salt.

* Lose the gut. Even if you are not significantly overweight, carrying extra fat around your middle is bad, bad, bad. It raises blood pressure, adversely affects blood lipids, causes insulin resistance, and produces substances that inflame the arteries. The critical point is a waist measurement of 40 inches or more for men, or 35 inches for women, regardless of height. Sadly, no amount of crunches can spot reduce belly fat. The only way to get rid of it is to lose weight overall, preferably through a combination of diet and exercise.

* Exercise, exercise, exercise!! Get your heart pumping! Name a cardiac risk factor, and regular aerobic and strength exercise can improve it—including arterial inflammation. Updated recommendations from the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine call for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, five days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous activity, such as jogging, three days a week. Strength training, in addition to improving overall fitness, improves fat-burning capacity by increasing muscle mass. Do a strength workout twice a week, on non-consecutive days to give your muscles time to recover. Include a couple of sets of exercises involving the major muscles in the arms, legs, and torso, and use weights or bands resistant enough that you can complete only 8 to 12 repetitions. If you're over 45, already have some kind of cardiovascular problem, or haven't exercised regularly for years, see a doctor before lacing up your workout shoes.

* Calm down. Negative emotions, such as stress or panic attacks, trigger the release of hormones that can threaten your heart; studies show that people who experience those troubles have more heart attacks and strokes than calmer, more cheerful types. Curbing negative emotions is almost as good for your heart as proper diet and exercising. For stress, try yoga, tai chi, meditation (sign up for my meditation workshop!), and measured breathing. Regular aerobic exercise helps ease depression. If you can't shake negative emotions and they are interfering with your functioning, seek professional counseling.

These tips can be easily implemented in your life...if being healthy is your priority. I know for myself I am learning to take better care of my heart, especially since I am currently dealing with hypertension and take medication for it. (I say currently because I am on a mission to heal my body and normalize my blood pressure!)

Share these facts and tips with your loved ones as well. Hopefully, the next time you or anyone you know pulls up to that McDonald's drive thru for a super-sized meal will think about your heart-smile. Yes...I went there because I have to. Way too many people, young people too are dying from heart attacks or heart related conditions. And it is about time to take responsiblity...make better choices people!

Be Well!

Note: the heart facts information is from randomhistory.com/heart-disease-facts and the heart healthy tips are from consumerreports.org/health.

New Year, New Goals, New Mindset

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope the start of this year has been good for you so far. For me, it has been life changing. I've always been the type of person to not only reflect on what's past but to actively MOVE FORWARD to what's new to come. And sometimes, you have to PUSH one thing aside to clear the way for new opportunities, experiences and even people to come into your life. I am a strong believer in that The Creator has it all planned for us...we just have to follow His direction (and "He" can be Jehovah, Allah, The Creator or just a higher being). This I must say is very difficult to do.

This is about creating a goal-inspired action plan...what is your goal-inspired action plan for 2011? Is it find a new job? Is it getting your finances together? Losing weight to feel lighter and more energized? Or maybe it's finding a new love? Whatever it may be, have you created an action plan? If not, then I will say you will most likely fail before you even begin if you do not take the time to think about how you will accomplish your goals/objectives.

First, put aside some time to actively work on your goals. Get comfortably seated, turn off the tv, radio, computer, etc., take a deep breath in and exhale. I suggest doing this because it's important to get centered and connect to your inner being, your true Self so that you can become aware of how you will accomplish your goals. You should have a notebook, writing pad or journal to write down your goals. This is important folks so take your time with it. And to ease into it, make your list of goals about 5 or 10 items.

Next you should really think about each item you're are writing down because this will allow you to become aware of the importance of each item. Focus for a moment on what each goal means to you and what it would mean to you and your life once you've accomplished it. Will it dramatically change or improve your life? Or maybe it will put you on the path to you becoming a better person? Whatever it is, really meditate on each goal.

Once you've got your list of goals, give a copy of it to someone close to you...your spouse, significant other, mother, father, siblings, best friend or mentor...someone you know will gently hold you accountable for attaining your goals. It's important to hold yourself accountable because as you know, we all have made resolutions year after year after year and every year, it's the same resolutions being recycled again and again. When you give your list to someone else, it helps you to be truly responsible for taking actions to achieve your goals. Just make sure the person you give a copy of your list to understands the importance of your list and that you need their assistance in keeping your word to yourself.

Now take each item and create a sub-list of actions you will take to achieve your goal. Be honest and truthful with this part because you want to make sure that each action item is something you can and will definitely do. Lastly give yourself a timeframe on when you will accomplish your goals. Because you know if you just say "oh in 2011 I will lose 15 pounds..." and you don't put more of a time constraint on that goal, it will be December 31, 2011 and you will still have those 15 pounds PLUS 5 extra pounds to lose! (smile)

The time is now my good people. You deserve the best life has to offer...but you've got to work for it. If you put as much energy into achieving what your heart desires as you do when deciding on that outfit to wear to that party or on which Blackberry you should get next, you will succeed!

Be well!