Season’s Greetings from us at Alpine Acupuncture and Magus Family Medicine! The holidays are just around the corner and we are excited to be traveling (with three little ones!) to the Midwest to visit family. The office will be closed Dec 20- Jan 1, but will be open on Friday Jan 2, 2009 for anyone who has been waiting!! So get those appointments in soon, you’ll be feeling great for the long days ahead, and we’ll look forward to being a part of your resolutions for health in the New Year! With the addition of Dr. Katja Magus to our clinic, we will be shifting days around a bit beginning Jan 2009. Carleton will be available M, W, F and Katja will be in the office T and Th. Of course, either of us can help you with scheduling or supplements. If you need other arrangements or have questions, please call us anytime!
Our New Year’s resolution is to double our practice (and number of patients) by March 2009, so we can continue to serve you with a thriving, healthy practice. You can help us towards our goal by referring friends and family to us and by picking up literature and cards for anyone you think might be interested. One of our new packets is “Acupuncture in a Nutshell” and is a great little intro reference, it is available at the front desk! Thanks so much!
This issue of our newsletter focuses on the sleep and also the usefulness of acupuncture in the treatment of nausea.
Doctor’s Notes: Hello everyone, I am glad to say I passed boards and have received my license to practice medicine! It was a long (7 years!) journey but it was so worth it. We recently moved to Issaquah to be closer to our practice and to become a part of this wonderful community. I am slowly working on opening my doors to see you, and will be starting formal hours in the New Year. For now, I am available for 15-30 minute consults, free of charge, to discuss what naturopathic medicine can do for you and your family. Just call to schedule. The process for accepting insurance as payment is slow, so I will first be open for cash patients and later to take insurance. Both Carleton and I are committed to helping everyone have access to quality health care, so please speak to either of us about our sliding scale.
Best wishes for the holidays, Dr. Katja Magus
Sleep
If you or someone you know has insomnia, know that acupuncture combined with Chinese herbs is very effective at treating insomnia. The goal of acupuncture is to help your body adjust so that you will no longer need pharmaceutical or other sleep aids. Let me know if I can help you or someone you love get a good night’s sleep
Sleep is that elusive nighttime activity that so many people have trouble with. We live in a remarkable time in history; the night is as bright as the day. We are bombarded by constant stimulus all day: driving cars, watching TV, using IPODs and Blackberries! It seems we never have time when life is moving slowly. We move and think and do all day. Even when we relax our bodies we rarely rest and “do nothing”. What does all this have to do with sleep? In order to live a healthy, peaceful life we must balance activity with our inactivity. We must have down time during the day so that our body and mind can process events while we are awake and not have to process everything at night. If we find ourselves in ‘fight or flight’ all day, when we try to sleep it becomes difficult to settle into ‘rest and digest’. Our sleep is affected by this constant activity and when we try to regenerate at night, we toss and turn so in the morning we wake not very rested. If the body is not accustomed to shutting down or even slowing down it will find it hard to do so at the end of the day. Take some time every day. Go for a walk, write in a journal, doodle in a notebook. Allow yourself the time for creative expression and relaxed play so that your night can be a time for sleep.
Sleep Hygiene
Sleep is neither a 'dispensable' nor an option! Going without sleep is self-destructive. Potential consequences of sleep deprivation and poor sleep include the following:
• Shortened life spans and higher mortality rates.
• Increased risk of heart disease and stomach problems.
• Irritability, depression.
• In some cases, explosive outbursts and mood swings.
• Increased risk of high-speed highway crashes.
• Decreased work performance and memory lapses.
• Marital, social and employment problems.
• Food cravings, and obesity.
In order to sleep well, it is important to have good sleep hygiene. The principles of sleep hygiene are simple and taught by insomnia clinics, medical doctors, and alternative care practitioners alike. I have found it interesting that many of these principles are not new knowledge but old beliefs being rediscovered and proven by sleep doctors. Some of these principles are part of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. And many of us may recognize some from our childhood (mom was right!).
The Do’s:
-Ensure adequate time in bed, free from interruptions and demands. Most adults require 7.5-8.5 hours. Teenagers and children require even more sleep!
-Get up at the same time every day, regardless of what time you fell asleep the night before
-Maintain a consistent bedtime (in bed with lights out); regardless of what time you actually fall asleep
-Keep your bedroom as dark as possible, cover all sources of light (even the clock), and if you get up during the night do not turn on any bright lights. If you live in a well-lit area think about getting blackout curtains.
- Ensure adequate exposure to natural light during the day. Fifteen minutes to a half hour of light exposure helps maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle.
- The bed should be used for sleep and sex. Learn to associate your bed with relaxation and not with activities that will be likely to keep you alert for prolonged periods (like watching TV).
-If you do take a nap, do not take one in the late afternoon or evening. It is best to take a nap in the early afternoon, after lunch.
-Exercise can promote good sleep. Vigorous exercise should be done in the morning or late afternoon, at least 3-4 hours before bedtime. A relaxing exercise, like yoga, can be done before bed to help initiate a restful night's sleep.
The Don’ts:
-Avoid watching television and using the computer 2 hours before bed. The bright screens change the melatonin levels in the brain and confuse the sleep-wake cycle.
-Avoid large meals and excessive fluid intake that may provoke poor sleep, indigestion, heartburn or frequent awakenings to urinate. Any bedtime snacks should be small and consist of non-spicy foods.
-Don’t go to bed hungry. The best nighttime snacks are high in protein and simple, these help to stabilize the blood sugar at night.
-Don't ingest caffeine or nicotine for at least six hours prior to bedtime.
-Don't drink alcohol for at least four hours prior to bedtime.
-Do not allow yourself to lie in bed worrying about problems or challenges of the upcoming day. If necessary, set aside a 'worry time' some hours before bedtime and tell yourself that any difficulties you cannot resolve during that allotted time can be put off until the next day. Journaling or talking to a friend or counselor is a good way to spend this worry time.
-Do not read interesting materials in bed. You may read something light that helps you wind down. Reading something boring can actually help you fall asleep and get your mind off the day if you are having trouble.
Things to Think About
- Try to gradually decrease the surrounding light levels as you go through the hours before bedtime
-Warm baths (not showers) prior to bedtime truly can prove helpful. It is best if the warm baths (just above body temperature) should be an hour or so before bedtime.
-Set the thermostat down a few degrees and hour before you go to bed. The body naturally slows down and gets ready for sleep when the temperature is lower.
This information is largely is from the following sources:
- Columbus Community Health Regional Sleep Disorders Center
- Michael Thorpy, MD, is the director of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York and an associate professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
- Wikipedia
- Stanford University
One last note: If you have children then I would like to suggest the attached article from the New Yorker. Also an excellent book to own is Good Night, Sleep Tight: The Sleep Lady's Gentle Guide to Helping Your Child Go to Sleep, Stay Asleep and Wake Up Happy.
Nausea
Nausea is that queasy uncomfortable feeling in the stomach that can lead to vomiting and generally makes us miserable. If you are suffering from chronic nausea, acupuncture may be able to help you. There are many causes of chronic nausea including morning sickness, migraines, digestive issues, and chemotherapy. For acute nausea you should consult a physician.
Nausea is hard to live with and can make us very uncomfortable. It is our body’s way of telling us something is wrong or a change is happening. During pregnancy, morning sickness is natural and up to 70% of women suffer from nausea during this time. The good news is that acupuncture is very safe, and has a long tradition of helping with these symptoms.
How Acupuncture Can Help
When your stomach is in a knot it is time to come in and see an acupuncturist. Acupuncture is a gentle and safe approach to many chronic digestive symptoms. Your acupuncturist will take your individual constitution into account when determining the right course of treatment. They will select specific points based on traditional concepts and modern research to relieve the nausea. Additional points may be selected to address any anxiety, aid your appetite, decrease pain and help with any other complaints you may have.
Scientific Evidence
There have been studies conducted all over the world verifying the efficacy of acupuncture for nausea in pregnancy and during cancer treatment. In Manchester, England a study concluded that acupuncture showed a statistically significant improvement over placebo for post chemotherapeutic nausea1. In Singapore patients were given acupuncture after their first round of chemotherapy and 26 out of 27 patients had significant decrease in nausea and vomiting2. In Morristown, New Jersey a study of 187 women concluded that acupuncture is effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in symptomatic women in the first trimester of pregnancy3. In Adelaide, Australia, researchers conducted a single blind study with 593 women and concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy4.
1 Complement Ther Med. 2007 Mar;15(1):3-12. Epub 2006 Sep 27.
2 J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Dec;12(10):963-9.
3 Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Jul;102(1):129-35.
4 Complement Ther Med. 2002 Jun;10(2):78-83.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, June 19, 2008
June Newsletter
It is June and I am not sure if the rain is ever going to stop. As I look at our rain I think of my family back in the Midwest where the rain is causing flooding of epic proportions. I hope that the rains back home stop before much more damage is caused. It seems that winter does not want to give up this year. The chill damp of the Northwest is taking a toll on all of us. It is time to have warm dry weather, to dry out and get the chill out of our bodies! With July just around the corner I look forward to the warmth of summer and the joy that brings. Let’s hope the warmth of last weekend comes back with the first day of summer this Saturday. Along with the first day of summer comes my wife Katja’s birthday and her graduation from medical school (7 years and three beautiful sons later!). When it rains it pours! As a celebration of Katja earning her doctoral degree in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University, she will begin a monthly column in the newsletter. That way everyone can get to know her before she joins me here in the fall. Look for Doctor’s Notes later in the letter.
This month I decided to dedicate my newsletter to an aspect of health that acupuncture excels at: women’s health. To list all the aspects of a women’s life that acupuncture can help with, would take up multiple newsletters. I would say PMS, menstrual cramps, menstrual irregularity, and infertility are the top four. As a woman goes through menopause, normal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats are easily treated as well. In this issue I will discuss women’s cycles as viewed by Chinese medicine and how best I can help you or those you love.
Women are yin in nature. Yin is water, night, calmness, compassion and stillness. Being related to water and night a women cycles with the moon and the ocean. These cycles are part of the natural rhythm of being a woman. You are closely linked to nature and the natural world in your cyclical patterns. When a woman’s body is stressed these patterns can change and then come the symptoms. This stress comes in many forms from external stressors like weather and work environment, to internal stressors like negative thoughts and illness. To end the suffering you must find a way to rebalance your cycle. Chinese medicine is a great way to rebalance the cyclical pattern and bring the body back into alignment. A combination of herbs and acupuncture taken over three cycles is the usual course of treatment. I will work with you to help your cycles flow smoothly and consistently. This may mean that you will need to take different herbs for different parts of your cycle. And I will often change the acupuncture treatment as well.
At home the best thing you can do for yourself is to respect your power as a woman. The power to change with the moon is awesome. At times you will be at your best and unstoppable and at other times you need to rest and recuperate. You have the ability to purge the buildup of some environmental toxins every month- what a great gift in the world we are living in! Make time to get plenty of rest when you need it most. When you are premenstrual, go to bed an hour early. Stay warm during this time. One of the major causes of cramps is invasion of cold, don’t wear a bare midriff in the winter and don’t go swimming in mountain streams during this time. When you are on top of your game at the middle of your cycle, get a little more done so you can rest and take more breaks as the end of your cycle comes. Respect and honor what your body is telling you and teaching you and you will find peace in the flow of nature.
DOCTOR’S NOTES: Hello to all of the wonderful patients, friends and family who read this newsletter! I’ve been reading along with Carleton these past few months, but I am happy to have an active voice now. I am eagerly anticipating sharing graduation excitement with our out- of -town family and finally having that N.D. after my name. It’s something I’ve been dreaming of and working towards since I was a little girl. This summer I’ll be busy studying for my medical boards, but I look forward to seeing you in the office and as patients in the fall. In Washington, Naturopathic Physicians are licensed as primary care doctors, able to perform annual exams, school physicals, well child care and prescribe most medicines as well as herbs and supplements (and so much more!). I plan on focusing my practice on women’s and children’s care as those are my passions, and I am also confident in treating and helping to heal any member of your family or group of friends. See you soon, Dr. Katja Magus.
A little prose to think on…
"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a
single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a
deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental
path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to
dominate our lives."
Henry David Thoreau
Not only do we need to walk many times in thought to make a path but in health as well. Any wellness program starts with thought and continues as you walk the path of taking care of yourself. Build those paths deep into your mind and you will live happy.
For the scientific minded please see the link below…
www.alpineacupuncture.com/Menopause.htm
www.alpineacupuncture.com/Infertility.htm
www.alpineacupuncture.com/Dysmenorrhea.htm
www.alpineacupuncture.com/Gynecological Disorders.pdf
I have attached the printable version of this newsletter please distribute it to your friends and family. Anyone who would benefit from this information.
A Word on Coffee…
Coffee, or really espresso, is that northwest phenomenon that has swept the world. And having just swept the world Traditional Chinese Medicine does not have a medicinal tradition for it. Many acupuncturists look at if from the negative lens of known side effects. ‘Excessive caffeine intake can lead to a fast heart rate, excessive urination, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, anxiety, depression, tremors, and difficulty sleeping.’ Excessive caffeine from coffee is defined as more than three cups a day of coffee. I will write an article in the future highlighting all the pros and cons of coffee. Today I would like to speak on it as an acupuncturist. We look at herbs from the perspective of taste and quality. Coffee is bitter, warm, and drying; it goes to the heart and kidneys. This means that it is good at helping us adapt to the northwest winter. Our cold wet winter soaks into our bodies and minds. It weighs us down causing dampness internally and leaving us feeling heavy. This is where the warm and dry of coffee comes in it warms us up and dries us off. It is also a diarrhetic (causes urination) another good way to fight dampness. Because of this effect you must drink an additional cup of water for every cup of coffee you drink. In the summer on the other hand you should drink tea it is cooler in nature and won’t dry you out like coffee. Our climate becomes warm and dry so drinking an herb with those natures could create problems. The bottom line one to two cups a day of coffee in the winter followed by green tea or nothing during the long warm days of summer and you should be OK.
This month I decided to dedicate my newsletter to an aspect of health that acupuncture excels at: women’s health. To list all the aspects of a women’s life that acupuncture can help with, would take up multiple newsletters. I would say PMS, menstrual cramps, menstrual irregularity, and infertility are the top four. As a woman goes through menopause, normal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats are easily treated as well. In this issue I will discuss women’s cycles as viewed by Chinese medicine and how best I can help you or those you love.
Women are yin in nature. Yin is water, night, calmness, compassion and stillness. Being related to water and night a women cycles with the moon and the ocean. These cycles are part of the natural rhythm of being a woman. You are closely linked to nature and the natural world in your cyclical patterns. When a woman’s body is stressed these patterns can change and then come the symptoms. This stress comes in many forms from external stressors like weather and work environment, to internal stressors like negative thoughts and illness. To end the suffering you must find a way to rebalance your cycle. Chinese medicine is a great way to rebalance the cyclical pattern and bring the body back into alignment. A combination of herbs and acupuncture taken over three cycles is the usual course of treatment. I will work with you to help your cycles flow smoothly and consistently. This may mean that you will need to take different herbs for different parts of your cycle. And I will often change the acupuncture treatment as well.
At home the best thing you can do for yourself is to respect your power as a woman. The power to change with the moon is awesome. At times you will be at your best and unstoppable and at other times you need to rest and recuperate. You have the ability to purge the buildup of some environmental toxins every month- what a great gift in the world we are living in! Make time to get plenty of rest when you need it most. When you are premenstrual, go to bed an hour early. Stay warm during this time. One of the major causes of cramps is invasion of cold, don’t wear a bare midriff in the winter and don’t go swimming in mountain streams during this time. When you are on top of your game at the middle of your cycle, get a little more done so you can rest and take more breaks as the end of your cycle comes. Respect and honor what your body is telling you and teaching you and you will find peace in the flow of nature.
DOCTOR’S NOTES: Hello to all of the wonderful patients, friends and family who read this newsletter! I’ve been reading along with Carleton these past few months, but I am happy to have an active voice now. I am eagerly anticipating sharing graduation excitement with our out- of -town family and finally having that N.D. after my name. It’s something I’ve been dreaming of and working towards since I was a little girl. This summer I’ll be busy studying for my medical boards, but I look forward to seeing you in the office and as patients in the fall. In Washington, Naturopathic Physicians are licensed as primary care doctors, able to perform annual exams, school physicals, well child care and prescribe most medicines as well as herbs and supplements (and so much more!). I plan on focusing my practice on women’s and children’s care as those are my passions, and I am also confident in treating and helping to heal any member of your family or group of friends. See you soon, Dr. Katja Magus.
A little prose to think on…
"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a
single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a
deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental
path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to
dominate our lives."
Henry David Thoreau
Not only do we need to walk many times in thought to make a path but in health as well. Any wellness program starts with thought and continues as you walk the path of taking care of yourself. Build those paths deep into your mind and you will live happy.
For the scientific minded please see the link below…
www.alpineacupuncture.com/Menopause.htm
www.alpineacupuncture.com/Infertility.htm
www.alpineacupuncture.com/Dysmenorrhea.htm
www.alpineacupuncture.com/Gynecological Disorders.pdf
I have attached the printable version of this newsletter please distribute it to your friends and family. Anyone who would benefit from this information.
A Word on Coffee…
Coffee, or really espresso, is that northwest phenomenon that has swept the world. And having just swept the world Traditional Chinese Medicine does not have a medicinal tradition for it. Many acupuncturists look at if from the negative lens of known side effects. ‘Excessive caffeine intake can lead to a fast heart rate, excessive urination, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, anxiety, depression, tremors, and difficulty sleeping.’ Excessive caffeine from coffee is defined as more than three cups a day of coffee. I will write an article in the future highlighting all the pros and cons of coffee. Today I would like to speak on it as an acupuncturist. We look at herbs from the perspective of taste and quality. Coffee is bitter, warm, and drying; it goes to the heart and kidneys. This means that it is good at helping us adapt to the northwest winter. Our cold wet winter soaks into our bodies and minds. It weighs us down causing dampness internally and leaving us feeling heavy. This is where the warm and dry of coffee comes in it warms us up and dries us off. It is also a diarrhetic (causes urination) another good way to fight dampness. Because of this effect you must drink an additional cup of water for every cup of coffee you drink. In the summer on the other hand you should drink tea it is cooler in nature and won’t dry you out like coffee. Our climate becomes warm and dry so drinking an herb with those natures could create problems. The bottom line one to two cups a day of coffee in the winter followed by green tea or nothing during the long warm days of summer and you should be OK.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
May Newsletter
Stress, Anxiety, and Acupuncture
Stress, Anxiety, and Acupuncture
Even as the winter weather goes on and on, we should still celebrate spring! Spring is a time of growth and rejuvenation. My children are starting to outgrow their clothes as the energetics of spring propels them ever upward. The trees are blooming, new leaves are growing, and my lawn needs to be mowed weekly. The movement of plants pushing their way through the soil and up into the sun is the energy of the liver. Spring is governed by the liver- the force of growth and mover of qi. If the liver is stagnant then we feel stressed and worried. If the liver cannot move qi we get uncomfortable, anxious and angry (the emotion of the liver). You may experience a stuck feeling in your throat, heartburn, or an upset stomach. Maybe you are just jittery and don’t know how to express it, or get hot and flushed when pressed. If the liver becomes too stagnant then you can develop headaches, especially the kind that wrap around your head.
In our northwest culture we are supposed to be laid back all the time, not let anything bother us and that makes it hard to express when we are angry. Anger is natural when expressed properly. It is the motive force that drives us forward to change, to excel, to better ourselves. Top athletes channel their anger into exceptional human feats. When they let their anger get away from them, they are kicked out for fouls. We value anger, the movies we love are full of it! Yet there are very few places we can express it ourselves. The best way to get it out is through movement. Many people join the gym or enjoy outdoor activities. If your liver was being held back all winter by stagnation, your symptoms will manifest or become stronger. Now is the time to start a good positive physical routine. Movement is the name of the game- when you move your body the qi is allowed to flow and you will feel the stress melt away as the liver expresses the pent up energy. Go for a walk everyday. Plot one mile in your neighborhood and walk that mile everyday. If walking is too mellow for you, or too boring, go for a bike ride, join a pool and swim, yoga, pilates, tai chi, the list goes on and on. Just do something daily so that it becomes part of your everyday routine. If you don’t find a good routine, your stress may shorten your life.
Oh yes and that brings us to acupuncture, you all know the relaxing feeling of lying on the table and having your pain melt away. Well, I can tailor your treatment to enhance that feeling, by moving the liver qi. If you have trouble getting into a good movement routine because of pain then I can help with that too. I do not have a magical solution for stress, when it is everyday life that is stressing you, but I certainly can help bring your overall stress level to a manageable level.
As a final word on stress I want to point out the importance of massage in managing stress. (Did you know we have both a female and a male massage therapist at the Alpine Acupuncture location?) Most of us hold some of our stress in our muscles and it greatly helps to have the muscles worked out so that we can retrain our body to come out of the stress state. In a nutshell acupuncture and massage can move you into the parasympathetic (rest and digest) state so that you can be reminded what it feels like to relax.
Here are some great statistics on stress from the American Psychological Association.
• Two thirds of Americans say they are likely to seek help for stress. (APA Survey 2004)
• 45% of workers list job insecurity has a significant impact on work stress levels. (APA Survey 2004)
• 61% of workers list heavy workloads as a significant impact on work stress levels. (APA Survey 2004)
• Executives and managers tend to have the most stressful jobs, while self-employed workers are the least stressed. (APA Survey 2004)
• A majority of workers (52%) are more stressed because of work than home. (APA Survey 2004)
• 54% of workers are concerned about health problems caused by stress. (APA Survey 2004)
• One in four workers have taken a mental health day off from work to cope with stress. (APA Survey 2004)
• 62% of Americans say work has a significant impact on stress levels. (APA Survey 2004)
• 73% of Americans name money as the number one factor that affects their stress level. (APA Survey 2004)
• Fifty-four percent of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives. (APA Survey 2004)
http://apahelpcenter.org/articles/topic.php?id=6
A friend of mine sent me a great link that talks about the connection of our environment and stress. It also talks about a social system that propels us to shop in order to feel better. I strongly encourage you take 20 min and watch this short video and lessen your carbon footprint. http://www.storyofstuff.com/
Another link along the same lines from public radio. “We are what we buy — a glib adage to be sure, but it prompts an interesting question: Is our consumer society sustainable? American Public Media takes on that question in this special series. We follow consumerism from its origins to its dominance in the world's economy and, arguably, its culture. And we examine how, and if, it might be adapted to reduce its destructive consequences while keeping store shelves stocked.”
http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumed/
Poems and Inspirations:
These spiritual window-shoppers,
who idly ask, 'How much is that?' Oh, I'm just looking.
They handle a hundred items and put them down,
shadows with no capital.
What is spent is love and two eyes wet with weeping.
But these walk into a shop,
and their whole lives pass suddenly in that moment,
in that shop.
Where did you go? "Nowhere."
What did you have to eat? "Nothing much."
Even if you don't know what you want,
buy _something,_ to be part of the exchanging flow.
Start a huge, foolish project,
like Noah.
It makes absolutely no difference
what people think of you.
-Rumi
Concerns About Plastics In Baby Bottles, Canned Foods, And More
BPA (Bisphenol A) has recently been under scrutiny for causing reproductive problems later in life when ingested by children due to its strong estrogenic properties. Here is a Medscape article and a good Internet page with lots of sighted scientific evidence.
FDA Eyes Bisphenol A Concerns:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/573720?src=mp&spon=17&uac=106086SK
Leading Baby Bottle manufacturer says Bisphenol-A not a Danger
http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Plasticizers/BPA-Baby-Bottle2apr02.htm
For those of you who like research…
http://www.alpineacupuncture.com/Stress.htm
Acupuncture is great at relieving stress, as is massage. I am not a counselor and encourage you to seek out a counselor/spiritual leader if you are in need of someone to talk things through with or if in danger of harming yourself or others. This newsletter does not constitute medical or nutritional advice.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Acupuncture and Allergies
Carleton Magus
Alpine Acupuncture 425-391-7777
Happy Spring! Here come the pollens, tree saps, molds, flowers and allergies. Many people suffer from allergies and we all know the symptoms: itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and in some cases- asthma. As an acupuncturist these symptoms are easily explained with diagnoses such as wind-heat, wind cold, or dampness. That is the symptom picture. The underlying reason you have this symptom picture is often wei qi deficiency. But what does that mean and how can you combat it?
There are many theories as to why more and more people are developing allergies: environmental pollution, lack of omega-3 fatty acids in our diet, changes in food quality. We no longer live with nature, we have created an artificial world to live in so our bodies no longer adjust readily to the changes in the natural world and we react. In spring all the plants burst forth and our immune system, overwhelmed by the input, releases histamine.
Histamine causes reactions in our body that leads to the uncomfortable symptoms of allergies. But why? Allergies are a sign that something is off in our bodies. Our immune system is reacting in a way that it should not be reacting. Acupuncture can help balance your body so that it no longer over reacts to normal stimulus such as pollen, dust, and pet allergies. The protective aspect of the immune system is called wei qi in TCM. When a person gets a cold we say that wind has invaded- either wind cold or wind heat. Wei qi is our defense against the “wind”. Allergies are often seen as a wind heat invasion (with symptoms of itchy watery eyes). I would begin treating this wind invasion by asking, “what is going on in the body that allows the wind to invade?” “Why is the wei qi deficient?” I would then treat the root and the branch. The root is what is going on in the body and the branch is your allergy symptoms. Allergy treatment is done over a course of treatments beginning with acupuncture and graduating to Chinese herbs. I will see someone weekly for a couple weeks then give them one or two herbal supplements to aid the root and branch of allergy symptoms, treating both the wei qi and underlying pathology that is leading to wei qi deficiency. I may also ask you to eat healthier or avoid certain foods for a time.
Self Help or What You Can Do At Home:
The first and foremost allergy prevention is to make sure you are taking your fish oil (make sure it is a brand that eliminates heavy metals from the oil). Fish oil mediates inflammation and can calm down your allergic response. The next most important thing you can do for yourself is live a life of moderation. You should eat a variety of cooked foods in moderation, sleep enough but not too much and exercise regularly. But of course I say this every newsletter, as this advice is the core of good health. Also you should avoid alcohol as ‘Alcohol consumption can provide histamine, trigger its release, and prevent a histamine breakdown.’
If you are doing these things for your health and you are still having trouble with allergies come in and talk to me. We can work together on finding your constitutional solution.
I wanted to honor the recent visit of the Dali Lama with a verse.
“In explaining his greatest sources of inspiration, he often cites a favorite verse, found in the writings of the renowned eighth century Buddhist saint Shantideva:
For as long as space endures
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I too abide
To dispel the misery of the world.”
I have been sitting and pondering the meaning. Maybe you should too.
Quote from: http://www.tibet.com/DL/biography.html
I found the following information interesting when looking into histamine:
“Histamine is a hormone/chemical transmitter and important protein that is involved in local immune responses, regulates stomach acid production and acts as a mediator in allergic reactions.” This is the bad part we most often read about.
The purpose of Histamine
* Histamine is released as a neurotransmitter, necessary for our brain cells to “communicate” properly. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are used to relay, amplify and modulate electrical signals between a neuron and other cell.
* Histamine is necessary to modulate sleep
* During an orgasm, histamine is released, and has been connected to the sex flush among women. However, men with high histamine levels may suffer from premature ejaculations.
Alcohol consumption can provide histamine, trigger its release, and prevent a histamine breakdown.”
http://www.healthmad.com/Conditions-and-Diseases/Allergies-and-Histamine.38749
For those of you who like the scientific stuff…
Research on Allergies:
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized-controlled clinical trial
* B. Brinkhaus1,41Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen4Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany,
* J. Hummelsberger22International Society of Chinese Medicine (SMS), Munich,
* R. Kohnen33The IMEREM, Institute for Medical Research Management and Biometrics, Nuremberg,
* J. Seufert11Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen,
* C.-H. Hempen22International Society of Chinese Medicine (SMS), Munich,
* H. Leonhardy22International Society of Chinese Medicine (SMS), Munich,
* R. Nögel22International Society of Chinese Medicine (SMS), Munich,
* S. Joos11Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen,
* E. Hahn11Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen,
* D. Schuppan11Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen
*
1Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen; 2International Society of Chinese Medicine (SMS), Munich; 3The IMEREM, Institute for Medical Research Management and Biometrics, Nuremberg; 4Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany
Background: Patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) increasingly use complementary medicine. The aim of this study was to determine whether traditional Chinese therapy is efficacious in patients suffering from seasonal AR.
Methods: Fifty-two patients between the ages of 20 and 58 who had typical symptoms of seasonal AR were assigned randomly and in a blinded fashion to (i) an active treatment group which received a semi-standardized treatment of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, and (ii) a control group which received acupuncture applied to non-acupuncture points in addition to a non-specific Chinese herbal formula. All patients received acupuncture treatment once per week and the respective Chinese herbal formula as a decoction three times daily for a total of 6 weeks. Assessments were performed before, during, and 1 week after treatment. The change in severity of hay fever symptoms was the primary outcome measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS).
Results: Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the active treatment group showed a significant after-treatment improvement on the VAS (P = 0.006) and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (P = 0.015). Improvement on the Global Assessment of Change Scale was noted in 85% of active treatment group participants vs 40% in the control group (P = 0.048). No differences between the two groups could be detected with the Allergic Rhinitis Symptom Questionnaire. Both treatments were well-tolerated.
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that traditional Chinese therapy may be an efficacious and safe treatment option for patients with seasonal AR.
A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Childhood Persistent Allergic Rhinitis
Published online November 1, 2004
PEDIATRICS Vol. 114 No. 5 November 2004, pp. 1242-1247 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-0744)
Daniel K. Ng, FRCP*, Pok-yu Chow, FHKCPaed*, Shun-pei Ming, BChinMed{ddagger}, Siu-hung Hong, BNursing{ddagger}, Sunny Lau, BSc§, Debbie Tse, BSc§, Wilson K. Kwong, FHKCPaed*, Mui-fong Wong, BChinMed{ddagger}, Wilfred H. Wong, MMedSc||, Yu-ming Fu, MRCPCH*, Ka-li Kwok, FHKAM(Paed)*, Handong Li, BChinMed{ddagger} and Jackson C. Ho, FRCP*
* Department of Paediatrics
{ddagger} Chinese Medicine Clinical Research and Service Centre
§ Department of Physiotherapy, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong
|| Department of Paediatrics and Adolescents, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Objective. To compare active acupuncture with sham acupuncture for the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis among children.
Methods. Subjects with persistent allergic rhinitis were recruited from the pediatric outpatient clinic. They were randomized to receive either active acupuncture or sham acupuncture. Main outcome measures included daily rhinitis scores, symptom-free days, visual analog scale scores for immediate effects of acupuncture, daily relief medication scores, blood eosinophil counts, serum IgE levels, nasal eosinophil counts, patients' and parents' preferences for treatment modalities, and adverse effects.
Results. Eighty-five patients were recruited from the pediatric outpatient clinic at Kwong Wah Hospital, in Hong Kong. Thirteen patients withdrew before randomization; 35 patients (mean age: 11.7 ± 3.2 years) were randomized to receive active acupuncture for 8 weeks, and 37 patients (mean age: 11 ± 3.8 years) were randomized to receive sham acupuncture for 8 weeks. Acupuncture was performed twice per week for both groups. Both the assessing pediatricians and the patients were blinded. There were significantly lower daily rhinitis scores and more symptom-free days for the group receiving active acupuncture, during both the treatment and follow-up periods. The visual analog scale scores for immediate improvement after acupuncture were also significantly better for the active acupuncture group. There was no significant difference in the following outcome measures between the active and sham acupuncture groups: daily relief medication scores, blood eosinophil counts, serum IgE levels, and nasal eosinophil counts, except for the IgE levels before and 2 months after acupuncture in the sham acupuncture group. No severe adverse effects were encountered. Numbness, headache, and dizziness were found in both the active and sham acupuncture groups, with no difference in incidence, and the effects were self-limiting.
Conclusions. This study showed that active acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture in decreasing the symptom scores for persistent allergic rhinitis and increasing the symptom-free days. No serious adverse effect was identified. A large-scale study is required to confirm the safety of acupuncture for children.
Treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis by Chinese herbal medicine: a randomized placebo controlled trial.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Sep-Oct;9(5):80-7.Links
Xue CC, Thien FC, Zhang JJ, Da Costa C, Li CG.
RMIT Chinese Medicine Research Group, RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, Bundoora, Australia.
CONTEXT: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is widely used to treat seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), however, evidence of efficacy is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a Chinese herbal formulation for the treatment of SAR. DESIGN: Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial. SETTING: RMIT Chinese Medicine Clinic. PATIENTS: 55 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (active 28, placebo 27). INTERVENTIONS: CHM extract capsule (containing 18 herbs) or placebo, given daily for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary measure of efficacy were changes in severity of nasal and non-nasal symptoms using a Five Point Scale (FPS) measured by both patients and the practitioner. The secondary measure was the change in score for the domains measured in the Rhinoconjunctivitis and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) assessed by patients. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients completed the study (active 24, placebo 25). After eight weeks, the severity of nasal symptoms and non-nasal symptoms were significantly less in the active treatment group than in the control group, both for measurements made by patients and those by the practitioner. Comparison of active and placebo treatment groups RQLQ scores also indicated significant beneficial effects of treatment (end point Section 1: P < 0.05; Section 2: P < 0.01). Intention-to-treat analyses of categorical items showed moderate to marked improvement rates were 60.7% and 29.6% for active and placebo respectively. Eleven patients reported mild adverse events including 1 withdrawn from the trial. CONCLUSIONS: This CHM formulation appears to offer symptomatic relief and improvement of quality of life for some patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Alpine Acupuncture 425-391-7777
April Newsletter
Happy Spring! Here come the pollens, tree saps, molds, flowers and allergies. Many people suffer from allergies and we all know the symptoms: itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and in some cases- asthma. As an acupuncturist these symptoms are easily explained with diagnoses such as wind-heat, wind cold, or dampness. That is the symptom picture. The underlying reason you have this symptom picture is often wei qi deficiency. But what does that mean and how can you combat it?
There are many theories as to why more and more people are developing allergies: environmental pollution, lack of omega-3 fatty acids in our diet, changes in food quality. We no longer live with nature, we have created an artificial world to live in so our bodies no longer adjust readily to the changes in the natural world and we react. In spring all the plants burst forth and our immune system, overwhelmed by the input, releases histamine.
Histamine causes reactions in our body that leads to the uncomfortable symptoms of allergies. But why? Allergies are a sign that something is off in our bodies. Our immune system is reacting in a way that it should not be reacting. Acupuncture can help balance your body so that it no longer over reacts to normal stimulus such as pollen, dust, and pet allergies. The protective aspect of the immune system is called wei qi in TCM. When a person gets a cold we say that wind has invaded- either wind cold or wind heat. Wei qi is our defense against the “wind”. Allergies are often seen as a wind heat invasion (with symptoms of itchy watery eyes). I would begin treating this wind invasion by asking, “what is going on in the body that allows the wind to invade?” “Why is the wei qi deficient?” I would then treat the root and the branch. The root is what is going on in the body and the branch is your allergy symptoms. Allergy treatment is done over a course of treatments beginning with acupuncture and graduating to Chinese herbs. I will see someone weekly for a couple weeks then give them one or two herbal supplements to aid the root and branch of allergy symptoms, treating both the wei qi and underlying pathology that is leading to wei qi deficiency. I may also ask you to eat healthier or avoid certain foods for a time.
Self Help or What You Can Do At Home:
The first and foremost allergy prevention is to make sure you are taking your fish oil (make sure it is a brand that eliminates heavy metals from the oil). Fish oil mediates inflammation and can calm down your allergic response. The next most important thing you can do for yourself is live a life of moderation. You should eat a variety of cooked foods in moderation, sleep enough but not too much and exercise regularly. But of course I say this every newsletter, as this advice is the core of good health. Also you should avoid alcohol as ‘Alcohol consumption can provide histamine, trigger its release, and prevent a histamine breakdown.’
If you are doing these things for your health and you are still having trouble with allergies come in and talk to me. We can work together on finding your constitutional solution.
I wanted to honor the recent visit of the Dali Lama with a verse.
“In explaining his greatest sources of inspiration, he often cites a favorite verse, found in the writings of the renowned eighth century Buddhist saint Shantideva:
For as long as space endures
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I too abide
To dispel the misery of the world.”
I have been sitting and pondering the meaning. Maybe you should too.
Quote from: http://www.tibet.com/DL/biography.html
I found the following information interesting when looking into histamine:
“Histamine is a hormone/chemical transmitter and important protein that is involved in local immune responses, regulates stomach acid production and acts as a mediator in allergic reactions.” This is the bad part we most often read about.
The purpose of Histamine
* Histamine is released as a neurotransmitter, necessary for our brain cells to “communicate” properly. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are used to relay, amplify and modulate electrical signals between a neuron and other cell.
* Histamine is necessary to modulate sleep
* During an orgasm, histamine is released, and has been connected to the sex flush among women. However, men with high histamine levels may suffer from premature ejaculations.
Alcohol consumption can provide histamine, trigger its release, and prevent a histamine breakdown.”
http://www.healthmad.com/Conditions-and-Diseases/Allergies-and-Histamine.38749
For those of you who like the scientific stuff…
Research on Allergies:
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized-controlled clinical trial
* B. Brinkhaus1,41Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen4Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany,
* J. Hummelsberger22International Society of Chinese Medicine (SMS), Munich,
* R. Kohnen33The IMEREM, Institute for Medical Research Management and Biometrics, Nuremberg,
* J. Seufert11Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen,
* C.-H. Hempen22International Society of Chinese Medicine (SMS), Munich,
* H. Leonhardy22International Society of Chinese Medicine (SMS), Munich,
* R. Nögel22International Society of Chinese Medicine (SMS), Munich,
* S. Joos11Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen,
* E. Hahn11Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen,
* D. Schuppan11Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen
*
1Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen; 2International Society of Chinese Medicine (SMS), Munich; 3The IMEREM, Institute for Medical Research Management and Biometrics, Nuremberg; 4Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany
Background: Patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) increasingly use complementary medicine. The aim of this study was to determine whether traditional Chinese therapy is efficacious in patients suffering from seasonal AR.
Methods: Fifty-two patients between the ages of 20 and 58 who had typical symptoms of seasonal AR were assigned randomly and in a blinded fashion to (i) an active treatment group which received a semi-standardized treatment of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, and (ii) a control group which received acupuncture applied to non-acupuncture points in addition to a non-specific Chinese herbal formula. All patients received acupuncture treatment once per week and the respective Chinese herbal formula as a decoction three times daily for a total of 6 weeks. Assessments were performed before, during, and 1 week after treatment. The change in severity of hay fever symptoms was the primary outcome measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS).
Results: Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the active treatment group showed a significant after-treatment improvement on the VAS (P = 0.006) and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (P = 0.015). Improvement on the Global Assessment of Change Scale was noted in 85% of active treatment group participants vs 40% in the control group (P = 0.048). No differences between the two groups could be detected with the Allergic Rhinitis Symptom Questionnaire. Both treatments were well-tolerated.
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that traditional Chinese therapy may be an efficacious and safe treatment option for patients with seasonal AR.
A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Childhood Persistent Allergic Rhinitis
Published online November 1, 2004
PEDIATRICS Vol. 114 No. 5 November 2004, pp. 1242-1247 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-0744)
Daniel K. Ng, FRCP*, Pok-yu Chow, FHKCPaed*, Shun-pei Ming, BChinMed{ddagger}, Siu-hung Hong, BNursing{ddagger}, Sunny Lau, BSc§, Debbie Tse, BSc§, Wilson K. Kwong, FHKCPaed*, Mui-fong Wong, BChinMed{ddagger}, Wilfred H. Wong, MMedSc||, Yu-ming Fu, MRCPCH*, Ka-li Kwok, FHKAM(Paed)*, Handong Li, BChinMed{ddagger} and Jackson C. Ho, FRCP*
* Department of Paediatrics
{ddagger} Chinese Medicine Clinical Research and Service Centre
§ Department of Physiotherapy, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong
|| Department of Paediatrics and Adolescents, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Objective. To compare active acupuncture with sham acupuncture for the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis among children.
Methods. Subjects with persistent allergic rhinitis were recruited from the pediatric outpatient clinic. They were randomized to receive either active acupuncture or sham acupuncture. Main outcome measures included daily rhinitis scores, symptom-free days, visual analog scale scores for immediate effects of acupuncture, daily relief medication scores, blood eosinophil counts, serum IgE levels, nasal eosinophil counts, patients' and parents' preferences for treatment modalities, and adverse effects.
Results. Eighty-five patients were recruited from the pediatric outpatient clinic at Kwong Wah Hospital, in Hong Kong. Thirteen patients withdrew before randomization; 35 patients (mean age: 11.7 ± 3.2 years) were randomized to receive active acupuncture for 8 weeks, and 37 patients (mean age: 11 ± 3.8 years) were randomized to receive sham acupuncture for 8 weeks. Acupuncture was performed twice per week for both groups. Both the assessing pediatricians and the patients were blinded. There were significantly lower daily rhinitis scores and more symptom-free days for the group receiving active acupuncture, during both the treatment and follow-up periods. The visual analog scale scores for immediate improvement after acupuncture were also significantly better for the active acupuncture group. There was no significant difference in the following outcome measures between the active and sham acupuncture groups: daily relief medication scores, blood eosinophil counts, serum IgE levels, and nasal eosinophil counts, except for the IgE levels before and 2 months after acupuncture in the sham acupuncture group. No severe adverse effects were encountered. Numbness, headache, and dizziness were found in both the active and sham acupuncture groups, with no difference in incidence, and the effects were self-limiting.
Conclusions. This study showed that active acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture in decreasing the symptom scores for persistent allergic rhinitis and increasing the symptom-free days. No serious adverse effect was identified. A large-scale study is required to confirm the safety of acupuncture for children.
Treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis by Chinese herbal medicine: a randomized placebo controlled trial.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Sep-Oct;9(5):80-7.Links
Xue CC, Thien FC, Zhang JJ, Da Costa C, Li CG.
RMIT Chinese Medicine Research Group, RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, Bundoora, Australia.
CONTEXT: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is widely used to treat seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), however, evidence of efficacy is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a Chinese herbal formulation for the treatment of SAR. DESIGN: Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial. SETTING: RMIT Chinese Medicine Clinic. PATIENTS: 55 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (active 28, placebo 27). INTERVENTIONS: CHM extract capsule (containing 18 herbs) or placebo, given daily for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary measure of efficacy were changes in severity of nasal and non-nasal symptoms using a Five Point Scale (FPS) measured by both patients and the practitioner. The secondary measure was the change in score for the domains measured in the Rhinoconjunctivitis and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) assessed by patients. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients completed the study (active 24, placebo 25). After eight weeks, the severity of nasal symptoms and non-nasal symptoms were significantly less in the active treatment group than in the control group, both for measurements made by patients and those by the practitioner. Comparison of active and placebo treatment groups RQLQ scores also indicated significant beneficial effects of treatment (end point Section 1: P < 0.05; Section 2: P < 0.01). Intention-to-treat analyses of categorical items showed moderate to marked improvement rates were 60.7% and 29.6% for active and placebo respectively. Eleven patients reported mild adverse events including 1 withdrawn from the trial. CONCLUSIONS: This CHM formulation appears to offer symptomatic relief and improvement of quality of life for some patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
February
Carleton Magus
Alpine Acupuncture
425-391-7777
Happy Valentines Day, everyone! I hope that midwinter is finding you well. As you may know, Alpine Acupuncture grows best with your support! The best referrals come from you. I appreciate it when you to tell your friends and family about the great benefit you have found from acupuncture. We have an exciting upcoming event to share with those you love: mark your calendar for Saturday February 23rd, 10- 2:30, for the 4th Annual Health Fair at Pickering Barn. It’s a great opportunity for your friends and family to learn about acupuncture and receive a complementary tongue and pulse diagnosis at the Alpine Acupuncture table and also discover all sorts of info on other health care resources. See you there!
This month’s newsletter is dedicated to your digestion. Your digestion is the cornerstone of your health; your gut is the first line of defense for your immune system. Energy comes from food, so proper digestion is key in order to feel vital! When your digestion is not working properly you can become sensitive to food, leading to gas, bloating, fatigue after meals, and trouble focusing. I will discuss a healthy and balanced diet along with some typical digestive disorders that acupuncture can help.
To quote my wife, “the only diet is The Diet”. We’ve all heard about fad diets and programs, but when it comes down to it, the only thing that really works (for weight loss, food sensitivities and tummy troubles) is to change how you eat over the long term. The first and foremost thing you can do for your digestion and your health is to eat a healthy well balanced diet. If you take care of yourself on a daily basis, you will gain health and vitality. The trend in our society is to grab at the latest trend diet and do that for a while. Then when we get bored or frustrated and go off that diet and eat whatever again, sometimes binging and gaining even more weight. This is called yo-yo dieting and wreaks havoc on our body, both in regards to weight and digestion.
So what is a healthy well balanced diet? There are many resources available to us, including healthy eating food tours at local health food stores, wonderful cookbooks and online sources of support groups and recipes (let me know if you need more info!) What I am going to discuss is the TCM philosophy of eating. Eat in moderation and at a regular time of day. Use oils, fats, sweeteners, and spices sparingly. And eat warm, nutritious and easy to digest foods, especially during winter months. The first and foremost thing you can do is to eat in moderation. In order to eat in moderation you need to listen to you body and stop eating when you are full. In order to do this you shouldn’t eat on the run and don’t eat in front of the television (even snacks). You digest more than your food, you also digest you surroundings. Eat in a calm environment, savoring what you eat and when you start feeling full, stop eating. Your mother was wrong-you don’t need to clean your plate!
Just as important as eating in moderation is the timing of when you eat. You need to eat before you are starving, and around the same time everyday, with the bigger meals earlier in the day. Your body works well with rhythm. If you eat at regular intervals then your digestion will be ready for the food you put into it. If you eat your bigger meals earlier in the day your digestive tract will be able to rest while you sleep at night. There are two benefits to this. The first is that you will be fresh and ready the next day to digest your food and the second is that you will sleep better. Eating your bigger meals earlier in the day gives your body the energy it needs when it needs it and you will more efficiently burn calories. If you eat a big meal before you go to bed your body stores the calories, and your digestion does not get the much needed break while you sleep.
The digestive tract works better with warm food. You should eat your vegetables steamed or lightly and quickly fried. By warming your vegetables your digestion does not need to work as hard to break them down. Lean meats, fish and poultry should be eaten daily in moderation and if you are cooking them yourself you should include a little dried ginger to aid your digestion. It is also a good idea with greens and raw vegetables to have some sort of vinegar with them, this aids digestion and helps utilize some of the vitamins. Cold raw food should be eaten in moderation, as these are harder to digest. A good exception to this rule is traditional foods. Many traditional raw foods are prepared in a way that makes them easier to digest. A good example of this is sushi. Included in the rice is vinegar, which is good for the digestion, along with the pickled ginger. And of course, miso soup is also commonly served alongside to warm up the digestion!
Eat from a variety of vegetables, grains, meats and fruits. Variety is the spice of life. Try something new every day! Our world is flooded with wheat, cheese, high fat/sugar and processed food. The easiest way to improve your health is to eat variety every day. A simple rule of thumb is to eat more whole grains. Eat more variety of grains and to make sure you are eating your vegetables. Sugar is not your enemy and neither is fat. Your body needs sugars and fats, but it does not need refined sugars and saturated fats. Avoid fried foods. Avoid junk foods. Enjoy butter. Enjoy simple desserts. Enjoy beef. Just enjoy these foods once or twice a week. This way you won’t feel deprived and yet you won’t overindulge. Again moderation and awareness are the keys to living in health. It is important to eat organic so your body does not have to process the excess chemicals and it is important to eat meats that are not heavily processed so you do not get the extra sodium and nitrates. The American Dietetic Association recommends you eat two servings of fish a week. I strongly encourage you look through the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch website so that you can make an educated decision about what fish you eat!
I also recommend that you carry around Seafood Watch’s wallet guide to safe fish that you can download from Monterey Bay Aquarium at the link above.
If you have digestive issues then you should know that digestive health is a goal of acupuncture. If your digestion is healthy then your body and mind stay healthy. Digestive complaints that acupuncture can help with are heartburn, IBS and Crohn’s to name just a few. If I was to rank the top three areas of a patient’s health that acupuncture can help I would put digestion as my number two after pain. Acupuncture can help all sorts of digestive disorders. I have included below three studies highlighting the benefits of acupuncture for people with Heartburn, IBS and Crohn’s. I can also help you with your diarrhea, constipation, acute GI upset, and nausea.
Research:
Calcium and Vitamin D:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569488
Clinical trial: acupuncture vs. doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose in refractory heartburn.
Original article
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 26(10):1333-1344, November 2007.
DICKMAN, R. *,+; SCHIFF, E. ++,[S]; HOLLAND, A. ++,[P]; WRIGHT, C. [P]; SARELA, S. R. *; HAN, B. *; FASS, R. *
Summery of the abstract: The current standard of care in proton pump inhibitor failure is to double the proton pump inhibitor dose, despite limited therapeutic gain. The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of adding acupuncture vs. doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients who failed symptomatically on proton pump inhibitors once daily. Thirty patients with classic heartburn symptoms who continued to be symptomatic on standard-dose proton pump inhibitors were enrolled into the study. Patients were randomized to either adding acupuncture to their proton pump inhibitor or doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose over a period of 4 weeks. The acupuncture + proton pump inhibitor group demonstrated a significant decrease in the mean daytime heartburn, night-time heartburn and acid regurgitation scores at the end of treatment when compared with baseline, while the double-dose proton pump inhibitor group did not demonstrate a significant change in their clinical endpoints. Adding acupuncture is more effective than doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose in controlling gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms in patients who failed standard-dose proton pump inhibitors.
Copyright (C) 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Chinese Herbal Medicine
Alan Bensoussan, MSc; Nick J. Talley, MD; Michael Hing, MBBS, FRACP; Robert Menzies, PhD; Anna Guo, PhD; Meng Ngu, PhD
JAMA. 1998;280:1585-1589.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder for which there is no reliable medical treatment. The Objective of the study is to determine whether Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is of any benefit in the treatment of IBS. This is a Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted during 1996 through 1997. A total of 116 patients were recruited through 2 teaching hospitals and 5 private practices of gastroenterologists, and received CHM in 3 Chinese herbal clinics. Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the active treatment groups had significant improvement in bowel symptom, and global improvement scores as rated by patients and by gastroenterologists. Patients reported that treatment significantly reduced the degree of interference with life caused by IBS symptoms. Chinese herbal formulations individually tailored to the patient proved no more effective than standard CHM treatment. On follow-up 14 weeks after completion of treatment, only the individualized CHM treatment group maintained improvement. Chinese herbal formulations appear to offer improvement in symptoms for some patients with IBS.
Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Active Crohn's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Study
Stefanie Joosa, Benno Brinkhausa, Christa Maluchea, Nathalie Maupaia, Ralf Kohnenb, Nils Kraehmera, Eckhart G. Hahna, Detlef Schuppana
a. Department of Medicine I (Gastroenterology), Research Group for Alternative Medicine, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, and
b. Institute for Medical Research Management and Biometrics, Nuremberg, Germany
Digestion 2004;69:131-139 (DOI: 10.1159/000078151)
Background: Acupuncture has traditionally been used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in China and is increasingly being applied in Western countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of active Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial was carried out to analyze the change in the CD activity index (CDAI) after treatment as a main outcome measure, and the changes in quality of life and general well-being, serum markers of inflammation (alpha1-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein) as secondary outcome measures. 51 patients with mild to moderately active CD were treated in a single center for complementary medicine by three trained acupuncturists and randomly assigned to receive either traditional acupuncture (TCM group, n = 27) or control treatment at non-acupuncture points (control group, n = 24). Patients were treated in 10 sessions over a period of 4 weeks and followed up for 12 weeks. Results: In the TCM group the CDAI decreased from 250 ± 51 to 163 ± 56 points as compared with a mean decrease from 220 ± 42 to 181 ± 46 points in the control group (TCM vs. control group: p = 0.003). In both groups these changes were associated with improvements in general well-being and quality of life. With regard to general well-being, traditional acupuncture was superior to control treatment (p = 0.045). alpha1-acid glycoprotein concentration fell significantly only in the TCM group (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Apart from a marked placebo effect, traditional acupuncture offers an additional therapeutic benefit in patients with mild to moderately active CD.
Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel
Carleton Magus
Alpine Acupuncture
425-391-7777
AlpineAcupuncture.com
Alpine Acupuncture
425-391-7777
February Newsletter
Happy Valentines Day, everyone! I hope that midwinter is finding you well. As you may know, Alpine Acupuncture grows best with your support! The best referrals come from you. I appreciate it when you to tell your friends and family about the great benefit you have found from acupuncture. We have an exciting upcoming event to share with those you love: mark your calendar for Saturday February 23rd, 10- 2:30, for the 4th Annual Health Fair at Pickering Barn. It’s a great opportunity for your friends and family to learn about acupuncture and receive a complementary tongue and pulse diagnosis at the Alpine Acupuncture table and also discover all sorts of info on other health care resources. See you there!
This month’s newsletter is dedicated to your digestion. Your digestion is the cornerstone of your health; your gut is the first line of defense for your immune system. Energy comes from food, so proper digestion is key in order to feel vital! When your digestion is not working properly you can become sensitive to food, leading to gas, bloating, fatigue after meals, and trouble focusing. I will discuss a healthy and balanced diet along with some typical digestive disorders that acupuncture can help.
To quote my wife, “the only diet is The Diet”. We’ve all heard about fad diets and programs, but when it comes down to it, the only thing that really works (for weight loss, food sensitivities and tummy troubles) is to change how you eat over the long term. The first and foremost thing you can do for your digestion and your health is to eat a healthy well balanced diet. If you take care of yourself on a daily basis, you will gain health and vitality. The trend in our society is to grab at the latest trend diet and do that for a while. Then when we get bored or frustrated and go off that diet and eat whatever again, sometimes binging and gaining even more weight. This is called yo-yo dieting and wreaks havoc on our body, both in regards to weight and digestion.
So what is a healthy well balanced diet? There are many resources available to us, including healthy eating food tours at local health food stores, wonderful cookbooks and online sources of support groups and recipes (let me know if you need more info!) What I am going to discuss is the TCM philosophy of eating. Eat in moderation and at a regular time of day. Use oils, fats, sweeteners, and spices sparingly. And eat warm, nutritious and easy to digest foods, especially during winter months. The first and foremost thing you can do is to eat in moderation. In order to eat in moderation you need to listen to you body and stop eating when you are full. In order to do this you shouldn’t eat on the run and don’t eat in front of the television (even snacks). You digest more than your food, you also digest you surroundings. Eat in a calm environment, savoring what you eat and when you start feeling full, stop eating. Your mother was wrong-you don’t need to clean your plate!
Just as important as eating in moderation is the timing of when you eat. You need to eat before you are starving, and around the same time everyday, with the bigger meals earlier in the day. Your body works well with rhythm. If you eat at regular intervals then your digestion will be ready for the food you put into it. If you eat your bigger meals earlier in the day your digestive tract will be able to rest while you sleep at night. There are two benefits to this. The first is that you will be fresh and ready the next day to digest your food and the second is that you will sleep better. Eating your bigger meals earlier in the day gives your body the energy it needs when it needs it and you will more efficiently burn calories. If you eat a big meal before you go to bed your body stores the calories, and your digestion does not get the much needed break while you sleep.
The digestive tract works better with warm food. You should eat your vegetables steamed or lightly and quickly fried. By warming your vegetables your digestion does not need to work as hard to break them down. Lean meats, fish and poultry should be eaten daily in moderation and if you are cooking them yourself you should include a little dried ginger to aid your digestion. It is also a good idea with greens and raw vegetables to have some sort of vinegar with them, this aids digestion and helps utilize some of the vitamins. Cold raw food should be eaten in moderation, as these are harder to digest. A good exception to this rule is traditional foods. Many traditional raw foods are prepared in a way that makes them easier to digest. A good example of this is sushi. Included in the rice is vinegar, which is good for the digestion, along with the pickled ginger. And of course, miso soup is also commonly served alongside to warm up the digestion!
Eat from a variety of vegetables, grains, meats and fruits. Variety is the spice of life. Try something new every day! Our world is flooded with wheat, cheese, high fat/sugar and processed food. The easiest way to improve your health is to eat variety every day. A simple rule of thumb is to eat more whole grains. Eat more variety of grains and to make sure you are eating your vegetables. Sugar is not your enemy and neither is fat. Your body needs sugars and fats, but it does not need refined sugars and saturated fats. Avoid fried foods. Avoid junk foods. Enjoy butter. Enjoy simple desserts. Enjoy beef. Just enjoy these foods once or twice a week. This way you won’t feel deprived and yet you won’t overindulge. Again moderation and awareness are the keys to living in health. It is important to eat organic so your body does not have to process the excess chemicals and it is important to eat meats that are not heavily processed so you do not get the extra sodium and nitrates. The American Dietetic Association recommends you eat two servings of fish a week. I strongly encourage you look through the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch website so that you can make an educated decision about what fish you eat!
I also recommend that you carry around Seafood Watch’s wallet guide to safe fish that you can download from Monterey Bay Aquarium at the link above.
If you have digestive issues then you should know that digestive health is a goal of acupuncture. If your digestion is healthy then your body and mind stay healthy. Digestive complaints that acupuncture can help with are heartburn, IBS and Crohn’s to name just a few. If I was to rank the top three areas of a patient’s health that acupuncture can help I would put digestion as my number two after pain. Acupuncture can help all sorts of digestive disorders. I have included below three studies highlighting the benefits of acupuncture for people with Heartburn, IBS and Crohn’s. I can also help you with your diarrhea, constipation, acute GI upset, and nausea.
Research:
Calcium and Vitamin D:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569488
Clinical trial: acupuncture vs. doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose in refractory heartburn.
Original article
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 26(10):1333-1344, November 2007.
DICKMAN, R. *,+; SCHIFF, E. ++,[S]; HOLLAND, A. ++,[P]; WRIGHT, C. [P]; SARELA, S. R. *; HAN, B. *; FASS, R. *
Summery of the abstract: The current standard of care in proton pump inhibitor failure is to double the proton pump inhibitor dose, despite limited therapeutic gain. The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of adding acupuncture vs. doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients who failed symptomatically on proton pump inhibitors once daily. Thirty patients with classic heartburn symptoms who continued to be symptomatic on standard-dose proton pump inhibitors were enrolled into the study. Patients were randomized to either adding acupuncture to their proton pump inhibitor or doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose over a period of 4 weeks. The acupuncture + proton pump inhibitor group demonstrated a significant decrease in the mean daytime heartburn, night-time heartburn and acid regurgitation scores at the end of treatment when compared with baseline, while the double-dose proton pump inhibitor group did not demonstrate a significant change in their clinical endpoints. Adding acupuncture is more effective than doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose in controlling gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms in patients who failed standard-dose proton pump inhibitors.
Copyright (C) 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Chinese Herbal Medicine
Alan Bensoussan, MSc; Nick J. Talley, MD; Michael Hing, MBBS, FRACP; Robert Menzies, PhD; Anna Guo, PhD; Meng Ngu, PhD
JAMA. 1998;280:1585-1589.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder for which there is no reliable medical treatment. The Objective of the study is to determine whether Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is of any benefit in the treatment of IBS. This is a Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted during 1996 through 1997. A total of 116 patients were recruited through 2 teaching hospitals and 5 private practices of gastroenterologists, and received CHM in 3 Chinese herbal clinics. Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the active treatment groups had significant improvement in bowel symptom, and global improvement scores as rated by patients and by gastroenterologists. Patients reported that treatment significantly reduced the degree of interference with life caused by IBS symptoms. Chinese herbal formulations individually tailored to the patient proved no more effective than standard CHM treatment. On follow-up 14 weeks after completion of treatment, only the individualized CHM treatment group maintained improvement. Chinese herbal formulations appear to offer improvement in symptoms for some patients with IBS.
Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Active Crohn's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Study
Stefanie Joosa, Benno Brinkhausa, Christa Maluchea, Nathalie Maupaia, Ralf Kohnenb, Nils Kraehmera, Eckhart G. Hahna, Detlef Schuppana
a. Department of Medicine I (Gastroenterology), Research Group for Alternative Medicine, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, and
b. Institute for Medical Research Management and Biometrics, Nuremberg, Germany
Digestion 2004;69:131-139 (DOI: 10.1159/000078151)
Background: Acupuncture has traditionally been used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in China and is increasingly being applied in Western countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of active Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial was carried out to analyze the change in the CD activity index (CDAI) after treatment as a main outcome measure, and the changes in quality of life and general well-being, serum markers of inflammation (alpha1-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein) as secondary outcome measures. 51 patients with mild to moderately active CD were treated in a single center for complementary medicine by three trained acupuncturists and randomly assigned to receive either traditional acupuncture (TCM group, n = 27) or control treatment at non-acupuncture points (control group, n = 24). Patients were treated in 10 sessions over a period of 4 weeks and followed up for 12 weeks. Results: In the TCM group the CDAI decreased from 250 ± 51 to 163 ± 56 points as compared with a mean decrease from 220 ± 42 to 181 ± 46 points in the control group (TCM vs. control group: p = 0.003). In both groups these changes were associated with improvements in general well-being and quality of life. With regard to general well-being, traditional acupuncture was superior to control treatment (p = 0.045). alpha1-acid glycoprotein concentration fell significantly only in the TCM group (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Apart from a marked placebo effect, traditional acupuncture offers an additional therapeutic benefit in patients with mild to moderately active CD.
Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel
Carleton Magus
Alpine Acupuncture
425-391-7777
AlpineAcupuncture.com
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Acupuncture and SAD (seasonal affective disorder)
January Newsletter
Hello and Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season finds you well and in good spirits. On December 2, my wife Katja and I welcomed our third boy, Avery Kaelin. We had a wonderful home birth with our midwives during the snowstorm and floods! At one month, he is chubby and nursing well and has a very calm spirit.
Announcements for this newsletter include my New Year’s special: for the month of January, refer a friend for an appointment and receive a complementary treatment for yourself, good for Acupuncture or Massage.
Starting the week of January 21, 2008, clinic hours will change to allow me to see patients before and after normal work hours. If the new hours make it hard for you to keep your appointment times, let me know! If the new hours are helping you to get in more frequently, let me know that too! Tuesday 8a-3:30p, Wednesday 9a-7p, Thursday 8a-7p, Friday 8a-7p.
Also for the month of January, receive 10% off the already-below retail prices of Nordic Naturals products available at the clinic (when you mention this newsletter). Nordic Naturals features the highest quality cod liver oil, a very important supplement during the winter months (read below!).
SAD (seasonal affective disorder)
Winter is here and now is the time when we want to sleep. Our body’s natural cycles move with the sun. Melatonin is regulated by light and we are moving into the darkest time of the year. Fatigue is a natural and normal part of the winter months yet we work on a nine to five schedule throughout the year. The natural yearly rhythm is not factored into the modern lifestyle. We wake up before the sun in the winter, the we drag ourselves to work and down a cup or two of coffee to get through the morning. Many people at our latitude feel some effects from the darkness, a little sleepier, somewhat more anxious (or is that the coffee?) Living in the northwest we don’t get much sun in the winter and the summer sun is not as bright here. Our bodies are bereft of much needed UV radiation to synthesize vitamin D-a vitamin needed for immune function and emotional stability. So, how are we supposed to stay healthy and alert during the dark dreary days of winter? Allow acupuncture and simple supplements to brighten your day! Acupuncture is very good at balancing hormones, regulating emotions and aiding in depression. What is Seasonal Affective Disorder and how do we know if it’s just winter blues or a serious disorder?
Symptoms of winter-onset Seasonal Affective Disorder include:
* Depression
* Hopelessness
* Anxiety
* Loss of energy
* Social withdrawal
* Oversleeping
* Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
* Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
* Weight gain
* Difficulty concentrating and processing information
Signs in Children include:
*Fatigue
*Irritability
*Academic problems
Most people in the Northwest will recognize in themselves some symptoms of this disorder. If you do, you need to determine how much it is affecting your life and consult you health care provider. The symptoms usually commence in the fall and early winter with symptoms peaking between December and February and becoming better in the spring and summer. To help fight the winter blues it is best to continue your exercise routine through out the whole year. Also you may consider a light box or dawn simulating alarm clock. There is good evidence to support the effectiveness of dawn-simulating alarm clocks. These come on with dim light and gradually increase in brightness over a period of 30 to 90 minutes leading up to the person’s normal wakening time. More research has been conducted on light boxes. If trying a light box, use it for 30 minutes in the morning after waking and at a brightness of 10,000 lux. Get a model that has a 30-day guarantee and if it isn’t working for you after three weeks send it back.
The light box and alarm clock will help with your circadian rhythm and gently telling your body it is time to wake up. The added benefit of the light box is that it will help with vitamin D synthesis. I am an advocate of vitamin D supplementation in the winter, it helps with immune function and mood symptoms. There are several ways to take D but you must be careful of what type of D you take and how much as it is a fat soluble vitamin and can build up in the body. The most bioavailable form is 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) or D3. The natural way to get D3 is a high quality Cod Liver oil. If you prefer a specific vitamin D supplement, there is a good quality supplement on the market. For specific dosing and brands please come and see me. You may want to consult your physician for a base level of vitamin D (blood test) if you are suffering from serious effects of SAD or repeated winter illness. The two abstracts below illustrate how vitamin D is useful for SAD and immune health.
Vitamin D Protects Against Colds & Flu
It has long been observed that incidence of colds and influenza rises in the fall and winter months and wanes in the spring and summer. This is the opposite of serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which increase in the summer and decrease dramatically as the amount of daylight diminishes. Research has shown adequate blood levels of vitamin D stimulate the genetic expression of antimicrobial peptides in human monocytes. These peptides demonstrate a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Vitamin D also has other immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory activity.
An article published in the journal Epidemiology and Infection reports on a three-year study of 208 African-American postmenopausal women (who are at great risk of vitamin D deficiency) who were supplemented with vitamin D or placebo. For the first two years the active group received 800 IU daily, which was increased to 2,000 IU daily in the last year of the study. In the three years of the study 34 patients reported cold and flu symptoms, eight in the supplemented group and 26 in the placebo group (p<0.002). This showed that participants who got a placebo had a 300-percent greater risk of having a cold or flu, and that vitamin D supplementation provided a highly significant protective effect.
Aloia JF. Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect 2007;135:1095-1096.’
Dr. Thomas Donahue
Randomized comparison of the effects of the vitamin D3 adequate intake versus 100 mcg (4000 IU) per day on biochemical responses and the wellbeing of patients
Reinhold Vieth, Samantha Kimball, Amanda Hu and Paul G Walfish
Background
For adults, vitamin D intake of 100 mcg (4000 IU)/day is physiologic and safe. The adequate intake (AI) for older adults is 15 mcg (600 IU)/day, but there has been no report focusing on use of this dose.
Methods
We compared effects of these doses on biochemical responses and sense of wellbeing in a blinded, randomized trial. In Study 1, 64 outpatients (recruited if summer 2001 25(OH)D <61 nmol/L) were given 15 or 100 mcg/day vitamin D in December 2001. Biochemical responses were followed at subsequent visits that were part of clinical care; 37 patients completed a wellbeing questionnaire in December 2001 and February 2002. Subjects for Study 2 were recruited if their 25(OH)D was <51 nmol/L in summer 2001. 66 outpatients were given vitamin D; 51 completed a wellbeing questionnaire in both December 2002 and February 2003.
Results
In Study 1, basal summer 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] averaged 48 ± 9 (SD) nmol/L. Supplementation for more than 6 months produced mean 25(OH)D levels of 79 ± 30 nmol/L for the 15 mcg/day group, and 112 ± 41 nmol/L for the 100 mcg/day group. Both doses lowered plasma parathyroid hormone with no effect on plasma calcium. Between December and February, wellbeing score improved more for the 100-mcg/day group than for the lower-dosed group (1-tail Mann-Whitney p = 0.036). In Study 2, 25(OH)D averaged 39 ± 9 nmol/L, and winter wellbeing scores improved with both doses of vitamin D (two-tail p < 0.001).
Conclusion
The highest AI for vitamin D brought summertime 25(OH)D to >40 nmol/L, lowered PTH, and its use was associated with improved wellbeing. The 100 mcg/day dose produced greater responses. Since it was ethically necessary to provide a meaningful dose of vitamin D to these insufficient patients, we cannot rule out a placebo wellbeing response, particularly for those on the lower dose. This work confirms the safety and efficacy of both 15 and 100 mcg/day vitamin D3 in patients who needed additional vitamin D.
Nutrition Journal 2004, 3:8
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