Acupuncture on the Today Show

Last week acupuncture was featured on the Today Show, as part of their Alternative Medicine series. This time, their own correspondent Natalie Morales was treated on the show by an acupuncturist to solve her problem with chronic neck pain. Check out the video, which shows an acupuncture treatment with a brief explanation.

posted by Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac.

More on Tuna: he said; she said.

Here is a follow-up blog to the NYT article about mercury levels in tuna. This is a defense of the article after the National Fisheries Institute's intial response to the article. The NFI was not happy with the article and cited many issues with it. The NYT hit back siting an Oceana study. So what are we supposed to do now? Of course, the fish lobby has some interest in keeping fish consumption up, but who are we supposed to believe? The people whose business is fish or a Times reporter? I say keep your consumption down right now until a mediator is (most likely to be) involved.

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

New Yorkers Should Avoid Tuna Sushi

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that mercury levels in tuna sushi found in many restaurants and grocery stores in New York City.

The report states that, "Recent laboratory tests found so much mercury in tuna sushi from 20 Manhattan stores and restaurants that at most of them, a regular diet of six pieces a week would exceed the levels considered acceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency."

Sushi from 5 of the 20 places had mercury levels so high that the Food and Drug Administration could take legal action to remove the fish from the market. The sushi was bought by The New York Times in October.

“No one should eat a meal of tuna with mercury levels like those found in the restaurant samples more than about once every three weeks," said Dr. Michael Gochfeld, professor of environmental and occupational medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, N.J." Read the entire article here.

Some of the mercury packed fish was served at Nobu Next Door, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Sushi Seki, Sushi, Whole Foods, Gourmet Garage and Fairway and more.

It seems best to completely avoid Bluefin tuna, which has the highest mercury content of all the tuna varieties and eat any type of tuna in significant moderation. Pregnant and nursing women should not eat it at all.

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, LAc.

Essential Oil Workshop in Union Square, NYC

Exploring Essential Oils:

An Introductory Workshop
presented by Karen Zuckerman, LMT

Learn about the wonders of Essential Oils, also known as "The Life Force of Plants" - their rich history, how they are created, their plethora of healing properties, how to choose and use them for yourself, your family, clients and home for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual support.
Smell a variety of therapeutic-grade Essential Oils and experience an energetically uplifting ritual using several Essential Oil blends.

Thursday, February 7th
7pm - 9:30pm
Location: 22 E 17th St., Suite #615 btwn Union Square West and 5th Ave
A fee of $20 is due in cash at the door.
Space is limited so sign up soon!

RSVP: 917.673.9935 me@karenzuckerman.com

www.karenzuckerman.com

New Studies Show Caffine Raises Miscarriage Rate

The New York Times reported on a new study that shows a clear association to caffeine intake and miscarriage during the first trimester.

"The new study, being published Monday in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, finds that pregnant women who consume 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day — the amount in 10 ounces of coffee or 25 ounces of tea — may double their risk of miscarriage."

There was not much difference in miscarriage rates amongst women who did not drink caffeine compared to women who drank only one cup of caffeine per day.

Remember, caffeine is not only in coffee and tea, it is also in many colas.

It seems that if pregnant women can avoid or at least reduce caffeine intake to one cup per day, they can reduce their risk of miscarriage in the first trimester.

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

Frequent Miscarriage? Call us to make an appointment for natural fertility treatment with diet & lifestyle change, acupuncture & Chinese herbs. 212-894-0767

Immunity & Chinese Medicine

Immunity Boosting with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Article By Michael G. Pingicer, M.S., L.Ac.

Oh, winter. Yes, it's that time of year again. Coworkers in the office are out of (or in) the office with a cold or the flu. It seems like everyone on the subway and on the street is sneezing, coughing, sniffling, and blowing their nose. You see it every year, or you might be one of those people I am talking about.

Do you tend to get sick multiple times during a season? Do seasonal bugs hit you hard and put you down for the count for weeks at a time? Do you have a hard time getting over a cold resulting in you having the sniffles all season?

These patterns can tax your quality of life to a great extent. You may miss a lot of work because you are at home in bed. The holiday cheer that you were dead set on spreading has been put on the back burner along with that lengthy shopping and baking list for family and friends.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a winter where you are not continually catching the latest strain of the common cold or flu? Maybe you would catch a cold only once during the winter like the others. Well, have no fear - Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is here. Read More...

New Michael Pollan book is out.

As of January 1st, the new Michael Pollan book, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, is out in stores. This book is considered a companion book to his very popular The Omnivore's Dilemma. I just finished the book and am recommending it to all friends, family, and patients alike.

The Omnivore's Dilemma raised many questions regarding our food chain and the choices that we make; In Defense of Food answers some of those questions and addresses how we might be able to incorporate real food back into our lifestyle. He questions if "nutritionism" and food science are good for health when opposed with more traditional, cultural diets. Being a professor of Traditional Chinese Medicine Dietetics, a lot of what Pollan is presenting fits with the TCM diet and lifestyle which is based in the the natural changes of the seasons. Other ideas include recommendations of not eating too much, keeping the food simple and making sure it is real food. Kale instead of Twinkies, please.

Pollan's meticulous research shines through, and he provides the reader with a sources list at the end in case you want to read some of the studies. This is a great read and provides some beginning guidelines to prepare for dietary changes.

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

You Call That Health Food?

Some foods which are marketed as healthy foods which are low fat or low calorie may not be as healthy as they claim.

Check out this article in Men's Health Magazine that exposes the truth about "health" foods you probably eat.

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

We <3 Brooklyn!

A new anthology, "Brooklyn Was Mine," just came out from Riverhead Books. It's a great (and good-looking) collection of essays by young Brooklyn writers about their favorite borough, and all the proceeds are going to Develop, Don't Destroy Brooklyn. So your purchase of a copy will help support sustainable development in New York City.

A reading to support the book will be given on January 15th. Here are the details:

WHEN: Tuesday, January 15th, 7:00 PM

WHERE: Bookcourt, 163 Court Street, Cobble Hill

WHO: Authors reading will include Emily Barton Hopkins, Alexandra Styron and Darcey Steinke

Make Your Dreams Come True

But how do we do make our dreams come true?

Start by planting the seeds of our dreams.

Author Joan Morias's book DREAM SEEDS Simple Steps to Help You Become More of Who You Are and Achieve Want You Want in Life is a clear and simple 32-page guidebook that details the seeding to the reaping.

Her book in on sale for only $6.95 for the entire month of January!

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

Starbucks & Caribou Coffee Reject rGBH Milk!

Two thumbs up to the two largest coffee retailers in the USA for making new policy against purchasing Monsato's rGBH tainted milk. Instead they will carry hormone free milk in the majority of it's stores.

Read the detailed report in QSRMagazine.com.


Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac., Author of Chinese Medicine & Healthy Weight Management.