Achieve Your Health Goals in 2008!

The idea of starting over is refreshed each New Year. Many people set personal goals and, many times, these goals are health-focused such as losing weight, stopping smoking, or finding a way to rid the body and mind of stress.

One of the most difficult parts of achieving these goals is developing the ability to break an old pattern and begin with a new ritual. This could mean incorporating new foods, exercise, job or lifestyle changes. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and diet therapy can help one achieve the goals set on the New Year. Acupuncture and herbal medicine encourages the body and the mind to break old patterns and encourages healthy new patterns that keep the body in balance. Having the support of a health care practitioner to guide you through this often tough transition can be priceless. We are here to help you achieve your goals in 2008. Call us for an appointment.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

posted by: Michael G. Pingicer, M.S., L.Ac.

212.894.0767

www.amazinghealing.com

Breastfeeding and Depression

From ScienceDaily (May 3, 2007) — Breastfeeding and the good fats in Omega-3 fatty acids help new moms fight depression, according to a new article published in the International Breastfeeding Journal by a University of New Hampshire researcher.


"Depression in new mothers is common in many cultures, affecting anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent of postpartum women. In some high-risk populations, the percentage can even be as high as 40 percent or 50 percent. Since depression has devastating effects on both mother and baby, it's vital that it be identified and treated promptly. Depressed mothers are also more likely to stop breastfeeding with negative health effects for each," Kathleen Kendall-Tackett said.


According to Kendall-Tackett, physical and psychological stressors increase inflammation, which is one of the top contributors to depression in new mothers. Most current treatments for depression, including the long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, are anti-inflammatory.


"Breastfeeding protects maternal mood by lowering stress. When stress levels are lower, the mother's inflammatory response system will not be activated, thereby lowering her risk of depression," she said.



"However positive these results, I must issue one caveat: they only apply when breastfeeding is going well. As noted earlier, when breastfeeding is not going well, particularly if there is pain, it becomes a trigger to depression rather than something that lessens the risk. Mothers' mental health is yet another reason to intervene quickly when breastfeeding difficulties arise."


That catch-- that benefits are truly reduced when breastfeeding is painful-- is a big one! For the first month after giving birth, my experience with breastfeeding for the first month after childbirth was excruciating. It felt like breastfeeding was causing me more tension and exhaustion, precursors to depression. But because I was seriously commited to continuing, and sought out support from family and a lactation consultant, the breastfeeding eventually became successful and is no longer causing any discomfort. I was glad to see this Science Daily report, since it's one more reason to encourage breastfeeding mothers that it's good for them as well as for their baby.



posted by Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac.

Stressed??

Are you living with a chronic illness? Suffering from Chronic Pain?
Feeling Anxious and Overwhelmed? Experiencing Sleep Disturbances?
Facing or Recovering from Surgery?

Try Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

8-Week Course at The JCC in Manhattan
334 Amsterdam Avenue at West 76th Street
Modeled on the Stress Reduction Program at UMass Medical School

Research has shown that participants in programs such as these report:
• Lasting decreases in symptoms. • Less intense pain. • Increased ability to cope
with pain that may not go away. • Feeling more relaxed. • Greater energy.
• Improved self-esteem. • Feeling less bothered by stressful situations.

Each MBSR course lasts 8 weeks, and consists of:
• Weekly classes of 2.5 hours each. • A daylong class on a Sunday • Guided
instructions in mindfulness meditation practices. • Gentle, mindful stretching and
Yoga • Group dialogue and inquiry to enhance every-day awareness. • Daily home
practice assignments. • CDs or tapes with guided instructions and a workbook.

WINTER 2008 CYCLE
Evening and Morning sections are offered.

Orientation Sessions: (required for anyone interested in taking the class)
Wednesday, January 30, 7pm-9:30 pm OR Thursday, January 31, 10am-12:30pm

Evening Session:
8 Wednesdays, 7-9:30pm
February 6th – March 26th

Morning Session:
8 Thursdays, 10am-12:30pm
February 7th – March 27th

Daylong Session: Sunday, March 16th, 10am-5pm

Program Fees:
$300 for members of either The JCC of Manhattan or
New York Insight Meditation Center
$350 for non-members.
To register, call the JCC at 646.505.5708 or register online
http://www.jccmanhattan.org/category.aspx?catid=1977#16860

Gift-Giving Made Easy!

Ahhh, December...
It's that time of year again, and the holiday season puts many of us under pressure to find the perfect gifts for our loved ones... and quick! It's the usual struggle to find a gift that the person will actually find useful and appreciate, and spend the right amount of money, and of course there's a deadline! To make matters worse, going out shopping among crowds of other shoppers can be distressing. Fear not: what follows is a short list of gift ideas that are thoughtful and easy. You won't even have to go anywhere to get them!

1. Make your own gift certificates. They can be worth a lot, and without costing you a lot. Suggestions include the gift of dog-walking, home-cooked meals, baby-sitting, house-cleaning, or other things from which your loved one might appreciate a break.

2. Give the gift of quality time together- in the future. Spending time together is memorable and rewarding, whether it's for the whole family or a smaller crowd. For example, a weekend at a Bed&Breakfast, tickets for movies, invitations to dinners out, spa-trips, ski/snowboard getaways, or plans for other future times spent together.

3. For the person that has it all, or is trying to de-clutter their lives, or never seems to like or appreciate things they've been given before, give a donation to charity in their name. You can even choose a charity related to their interests. Charity Navigator is a very helpful website to browse and find the perfect organization. It's a great way to help someone whose needs are bigger than our own.

4. Order gift cards from businesses. Even though they are less personal than something hand-picked, it's easy, and the person will be able to pick something they really want. Almost every store or business (even fast food and gas stations!) offers them. Aiyana Acupuncture even offers the gift of health, by pre-paying for someone's acupuncture treatment!

5. Give a subscription. Aside from the many magazine choices out there, for someone who loves books, Audible.com offers a big selection of downloadable books (which can go to ipod or mp3 disc) and Netflix and Blockbuster have DVD subscriptions available.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Posted by Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac.

Mammograms Misdiagnose Up To 21% of Women

This is excerpted from a Reuters report dated December 11th, 2007.

By Julie Steenhuysen
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Women with lumps in their breasts rely on their radiologists to accurately read their mammograms, but the accuracy of those readings varies widely, U.S. researchers on Tuesday.

Earlier studies found variation in the quality of screening mammograms. But the new research found inconsistencies even when a lump was present, leaving some women open to false positive results or even missed diagnoses, said Diana Miglioretti, a researcher at the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, whose study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Miglioretti and her team evaluated 123 radiologists who looked at 36,000 diagnostic mammograms from 1996 through 2003 at 72 U.S. facilities, including six from Group Health, a nonprofit health maintenance organization in Washington.

They found that sensitivity -- the ability to accurately detect cancer -- ranged from 27 percent to 100 percent. False positives ranged from 0 to 16 percent.

"On average, 21 percent of breast cancers were missed and 4.3 percent of women underwent a biopsy even though they didn't have breast cancer," Miglioretti said in a telephone interview.

Read the whole article here.
___________________________________________________
Requesting and ultrasound to go along with your mammogram may reduce your chance of misdiagnosis.

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

Study: the fllu spreads easiest at lower humidity and temparatures.

In a recent Mount Sinai School of Medicine study where the flu's relation to the environment was analyzed for ease of transmission, it was found that the flu virus prefers less humidity and colder temperatures. This could explain why there is a "flu season," and why winter is the time for it to infect people.

In Chinese medicine, the flu is an external evil that invades an individual. External evils are usually categorized according to dryness and temperature, also. It appears that the flu might initially be a wind-cold-dryness version of external evil that can change once it invades an individual.

Here is the author summary which explains the reasoning and the study very clearly:

In temperate regions influenza epidemics recur with marked seasonality: in the northern hemisphere the influenza season spans November to March, while in the southern hemisphere epidemics last from May until September. Although seasonality is one of the most familiar features of influenza, it is also one of the least understood. Indoor crowding during cold weather, seasonal fluctuations in host immune responses, and environmental factors, including relative humidity, temperature, and UV radiation have all been suggested to account for this phenomenon, but none of these hypotheses has been tested directly. Using the guinea pig model, we have evaluated the effects of temperature and relative humidity on influenza virus spread. By housing infected and naïve guinea pigs together in an environmental chamber, we carried out transmission experiments under conditions of controlled temperature and humidity. We found that low relative humidities of 20%–35% were most favorable, while transmission was completely blocked at a high relative humidity of 80%. Furthermore, when guinea pigs were kept at 5 °C, transmission occurred with greater frequency than at 20 °C, while at 30 °C, no transmission was detected. Our data implicate low relative humidities produced by indoor heating and cold temperatures as features of winter that favor influenza virus spread.

Read the entire study here

It looks like you can help yourself battle the flu by keeping warm, taking hot shower, and using a humidifer at night in your bedroom. Acupuncture and herbs can also help you stave off the flu or help you get over it quickly.

posted by: Michael G. Pingicer, M.S., L.Ac.

Aiyana Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs

41 Union Square West, Suite 511

New York, NY 10003

http://www.amazinghealing.com/

212.894.0767

Why Pregnant Women Don't Tip Over

This article was published by the New York Times

By JOHN SCHWARTZ
Published: December 12, 2007

Pregnant women do not tip over, and researchers say an evolutionary curve has a lot to do with the reason why.

Anthropologists studying the human spine have found that women’s lower vertebrae evolved in ways that reduce back pressure during pregnancy, when the mass of the abdomen grows by nearly one-third and the center of mass shifts forward considerably. That increases pressure on the spinal column, strains the muscles and generally reduces stability.

Even without the benefit of advanced study in biomechanics, women tend to deal with the shift — and avoid tumbling over like a bowling pin — by leaning back. But the solution to one problem creates another, since it puts even more pressure on the spine and muscles.

And that, report researchers from Harvard University and the University of Texas in the current issue of the journal Nature, is where evolution enters the story.
Read the Entire Article Here...

Posted by Juliette "weeble wobble pregnant lady" Aiyana, L.Ac.

Hib Vaccine Recalled

This is from a report from WEBMD.com

December 12, 2007

Child Vaccine Recall:

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck & Co. is recalling about a million doses of the Hib vaccine, which is given to young children to prevent pneumonia and meningitis.

Be sure to read the details of the recall, find out at what age a child receives this vaccine, and read whatparents should discuss with their family doctor or pediatrician .

More on the Hib Vaccine and Other Childhood Vaccinations


Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

Baby Safety

As a new mother, I am trying to sort through the various baby-related advice thrown my way, and find a reasonable balance between obsessing over the latest danger out there and making good choices to keep my baby safe. Babycenter.com has been a valuable resource for me throughout my pregnancy and early motherhood with information appropriate for each step of the way including interesting articles, information, and tips. I recently got an email from babycenter about safety and checked it out. Even though my daughter has extremely limited contact with toys (she hasn't mastered control of her hands!) there were other items on the list that seemed relevant, and it was easy to check out an item without reading through each problem in detail. Check it out if you have a baby or know someone who does!

The Latest Child Safety Recalls

posted by Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac.

Aiyana Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs

FINALLY! Revised USDA Food Program for Women & Kids

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN06646550

USDA revises food program for women and children
By Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - A popular program that provides food assistance to low-income women and their children received its first overhaul in more than 30 years Thursday with the addition of fruits, vegetables and whole grains to the list of grocery items covered by the U.S. government.

The Agriculture Department said the new list reflects the changing nutritional needs of participants in the Women, Infants and Children food program and will help combat obesity. Created in 1972, the WIC program supplements the diet of 8.5 million low-income pregnant women, new mothers and young children annually.
The revised list of foods that can be purchased with WIC vouchers is the result of a review that was first announced in August 2006. It does not change the value of benefits, about $39 a month, to qualified low-income pregnant women, and children up to the age of 5 who are at nutritional risk.

USDA heard from "WIC agencies, from stakeholders and, of course, the participants themselves to revise (WIC) so it does reflect the latest nutrition, science and dietary recommendations for Americans," said Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner. "We believe this rule will do just that."

The revised program provides women and children with less saturated fat and cholesterol and allows more fiber, fruits and vegetables.
Recipients will be allowed to substitute items -- such as replacing whole wheat bread with soft corn tortillas, or canned, frozen and dried fruits and vegetables in place of their fresh counterparts -- in order to reflect cultural differences and make it easier for people to participate.

The revised WIC program also provides incentives for women to continue breast-feeding by providing less formula to partially breast-fed infants, and giving fruit and vegetable vouchers of $10 to fully breast-feeding women, compared with $8 for all other women.

Read the entire article here: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN06646550

Posted By Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
Author of Chinese Medicine & Healthy Weight Management An Evidence-Based Integrated Approch.

Oh, garçon? Is this USDA Organic Wine or Vinegar?

USDA organic has become synonymous with the best and tastiest food that one can buy, but is that truly the case? What happens when the USDA laws get in the way of an old profession and limit the tools of the trade like oenology (wine making)? This article in Salon this week suggests that the USDA may need to create even more organic subcategories in order to allow for old methods of how things are made into foodstuffs. At the heart of the debate is sulfites, which occur naturally in wine as it ferments, and are added to wine to extend shelf life, aging, and flavor. "But since 1990," according to the Salon article, "when Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act, no organic food is produced or handled with any synthetic chemicals, and that includes wine. For hundreds of years, sulfites have been a winemaker's ally. Sulfur dioxide keeps wine barrels from harboring acetic bacteria that can sour their liquid contents. No one has yet found a nonsynthetic replacement for sulfites." The biggest debate is that people can have sulfite sensitivities, but even those people would not be able to drink most organic wine as the reactions are usually sudden and severe. For the the average Joe and Jane, sulfites have been proven to be safe in small amounts, which is how they should be used in wine. "People are overly concerned. There are more sulfites in dried prunes than there are in wine," says Dr. Ulrike Ziegner, founder of the Riviera Allergy Medical Center in Redondo Beach, Calif. "If you're a severe asthmatic, you should stay away from sulfites, but the rest of the world, I think, will be fine. Most people, if they have a little rash after they drink wine, or have a stuffy nose, are probably reacting to the alcohol in wine that dilates the blood vessels in their skin and nose." The article suggests that one should look to boutique (less commercial, smaller) winemakers to buy their wine. Boutique wineries typically have smaller batches of wine and greater control over product meaning the proper and usually less addition of sulfites when compared to commercial wineries. Also, look for wineries that advertise biodynamic farming as it blows organic farming out the water in my opinion. Sulfites have been used in winemaking for ages for reasons that affect the product, and they should be continued to be used in the correct proportions in order to make a decent product. Read the mission statements of the vineyard/winery on the web to see if they are biodynamic or to see if your wine is "made with organic grapes" which is made with 70% organic grapes. And remember to always drink in moderation. Chin Chin!
Michael G. Pingicer, M.S., L.Ac.

Aiyana Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs

41 Union Square West, Suite 511New York, NY 10003

http://www.amazinghealing.com/

(212) 894-0767

Are Essential Oils Safe During Pregnancy?

The Essentials About Essential Oils During Pregnancy

Women love to use essential oils on the skin, in baths and body oils for perfume, beauty, health and relaxation.If you are pregnant, congratulations! Now is the time to take very special care of your body.

Below are lists of oils to help you relax, avoid stretch marks as well as oils you should strictly avoid during pregnancy. Never apply essential oils directly on your skin. For more information on essential oils read the book Ayurveda & Aromatherapy by Light Miller, N.D. and Brian Miller, D.C.

For Relaxation
In a bath use a few drops of a single oil or combination oils with each other from the following: Chamomile, lavender, rosewood, geranium, clary sage.
Stretch Mark Prevention
Choose a base oil like food grade almond, grape seed, safflower or sesame. If you are sensative to scents use the base oils listed or food grade coconut oil, daily, with out mixing in essential oils. Add 5-6 drops of a relaxing essential oil or rose, sage or tangerine oil. Massage the oil mixture all over your body once daily. Do not apply to your face. I use these oil blends everyday, and my skin stays remarkably smooth, supple and young looking. In other words, this daily routine is a great way to care for skin even when you are not pregnant. In addition, you can add several drops of a mixture into baths to add moisture to skin. Try making several different ready made blends to match different moods, one flowery, one earthy, etc.
Essential Oils to Avoid During Pregnancy
Most of the following herb oils and herbs have been known to cause uterine contractions which may lead to miscarriage. Also avoid taking these herbs as teas during pregnancy. Never use these oils to induce a miscarriage because they may lead to serious hemorrhaging. This list is not exhaustive so always talk to your healthcare practitioner before using any oils not mentioned in this article.
AVOID: Angelica, anise, basil, camphor, champa, citronella, hyssop, jasmine, juniper, lemon balm, lovage, marjoram, melissa, musk, mustard, myrrh, pennyroyal, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, Spanish Thyme, tarragon, thyme, wintergreen, raspberry.

Posted by:Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

Acupuncture Helps Post-Operative Pain

New research which analyzed the results of 15 clinical trials has concluded that acupuncture is valuable for pain control in surgery patients. The types of surgery the patients were undergoing varied between abdominal procedures, orthopedic procedures, and gynecological procedures.

The trials were conducted on patients who received acupuncture before and during their surgeries, and the results were much reduced post-operative pain and less need for pain-killing medication. Since pain medication such as morphine and other opioids have many side effects, nausea and vomiting from the use of these drugs was also reduced in patients. In terms of pain-drug side effects, the acupuncture patients experienced 1.5 times lower rates of nausea, 1.6 times fewer reports of dizziness and 3.5 times fewer cases of urinary retention compared to the other patients, the study found.

Although this study showed lots of benefits for receiving acupuncture treatment before and during surgery, acupuncture can also be extremely useful even for patients who have already had surgery. Many times surgery leaves patients with decreased range of motion and continual aches and pains in addition to scar tissue. Acupuncture treatments are able to help the body accelerate its healing process, improve pain levels and even reduce scar tissue both immediately following the surgery or any time thereafter.

Read the full article here.

Posted by Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac.

Aiyana Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs

Celebrate the Holidays in Union Square!

(This info is from the Union Square Partnership Newsletter)

There’s no better place to kick off your holiday season than Union Square! Whether you're shopping at the Holiday Market or in the hundreds of stores located throughout the district, or you're taking a break to eat in any one of our fine restaurants, Union Square has something for everyone. During the holiday season, USP and the League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers are bringing shoppers four fantastic performances by the casts of some of Off-Broadway's hottest shows, every Friday at 4:00 PM at 15th Street and Union Square West.

While in the area, visit USP's Information Booth located at the center of the Holiday Market in front of the Washington statue for discount coupons to Off-Broadway Shows, neighborhood restaurants and shops, and more! The Holiday Market, operated by Urban Space Management, is open Monday – Friday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturdays 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Sundays 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Christmas Eve 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.