You're sitting in the doctor's office and they've just said it. The "C" word. Cancer. How can a single word represent such a devastating and life-altering diagnosis?
I want you to know that your acupuncturist is there to help get you through this incredibly difficult time in your life. Cancer treatments are often radical and rarely without extreme side effects. It's not uncommon for someone with cancer to be unable to even get through these potentially life-saving treatments because they can be so harsh. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you get through your biomedical treatments by reducing such side effects as nausea, dry-mouth, decreased energy and so many more.
I've had people ask if it's safe to do acupuncture while someone is going through cancer treatments. The answer is yes. Acupuncture alone will not interfere with radiation or chemotherapy.
When it comes to Chinese herbal medicine, the answer is a little more gray. To be honest, there isn't enough research on Chinese herbal medicine, particularly in combination with chemo or radiation to make a statement. It is thought that some herbs may interfere with radiation treatments. The most important thing is to ask your oncologist what they feel comfortable with. Feel free to have them speak with your acupuncturist about Chinese herbs and the potential for interactions as well as relief from side effects.
If you or a loved one has just been diagnosed, give yourself the best shot at survival and recovery. Consider acupuncture and Chinese medicine to help get you through your cancer treatments.
Showing posts with label nausea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nausea. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Chinese Medicine cures for "Morning Sickness"
Alright, all you mommas-to-be out there, I'm going to give you some ideas for things to try at home to help with the dreaded Morning Sickness (or as I like to call it "celebrating your new pregnancy in the bathroom!").
Acupressure: You may have seen motion sickness bands
advertised. They're often a wrist sweat band with a little button on it to stimulate the acupuncture point Pericardium 6. This point is extremely good for easing nausea due to any cause! You don't need to find and buy these bands, though, you can simply massage the point! Pericardium 6 is located on the inside of your forearm 3 finger widths down from your wrist crease. Massage the area and you'll soon be feeling as good as new! If you need longer lasting relief, you can tape a bean to the point, and it will work just like the motion sickness bands!
Herbs: Ginger is quite the all-purpose herb to ease nausea. It's extremely useful for calming the
stomach! You can include it in your favorite recipes. It can be consumed in the form of ginger ale (my particular favorite!). The Chinese medicine way to do it is to take slices of the fresh raw ginger root and steep them in boiling water for about 5-10 minutes and drink this "tea." Please be careful with consuming too much ginger, as it can cause insomnia.
Chinese Medicine: There is a lot more that can be done for nausea, but requires an acupuncturist or herbalist in order to diagnose you and then treat you accordingly.
Nausea can be one of the more uncomfortable aspects of your pregnancy, but with a little help can be greatly reduced! Do you have any other favorite ideas for easing morning sickness? Comment and share your tips!
Acupressure: You may have seen motion sickness bands
advertised. They're often a wrist sweat band with a little button on it to stimulate the acupuncture point Pericardium 6. This point is extremely good for easing nausea due to any cause! You don't need to find and buy these bands, though, you can simply massage the point! Pericardium 6 is located on the inside of your forearm 3 finger widths down from your wrist crease. Massage the area and you'll soon be feeling as good as new! If you need longer lasting relief, you can tape a bean to the point, and it will work just like the motion sickness bands!Herbs: Ginger is quite the all-purpose herb to ease nausea. It's extremely useful for calming the
stomach! You can include it in your favorite recipes. It can be consumed in the form of ginger ale (my particular favorite!). The Chinese medicine way to do it is to take slices of the fresh raw ginger root and steep them in boiling water for about 5-10 minutes and drink this "tea." Please be careful with consuming too much ginger, as it can cause insomnia.Chinese Medicine: There is a lot more that can be done for nausea, but requires an acupuncturist or herbalist in order to diagnose you and then treat you accordingly.
Nausea can be one of the more uncomfortable aspects of your pregnancy, but with a little help can be greatly reduced! Do you have any other favorite ideas for easing morning sickness? Comment and share your tips!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Why you have to be careful with home herbal remedies
I was pregnant. I was nauseous. I wasn't so nauseous that it would have gone any farther (you know what I mean!), but I was nauseous enough that I was dying for some relief!
I had always heard that ginger was good for morning sickness (and why do they call it that? It's not just in the morning!). I heard this both before going to school to become an acupuncturist and herbalist and while in school. Ginger is the miracle herb for mothers-to-be!
So I went to the store and got myself some really good, natural-ginger ginger ale. That stuff was good! So tasty and it really did help the nausea!
What I didn't think about was the possible consequences of all of my ginger ale guzzling. All of a sudden I was having insomnia! I was physically exhausted, but was absolutely unable to sleep. What the heck?? At first I assumed that it was just another side effect of being pregnant. But later the dots were finally connecting (it actually took a couple weeks to figure out what was going on!).
In Chinese medicine, ginger is a "hot" herb. It has properties that will help warm the body. If you've ever thought about the flavor of ginger, you've probably realized that there is some spice to it that most would call warm, right? Unfortunately, for me at the time, pregnancy will also help warm the body! So what was happening was that I was getting super-heated. You know how it is in the summer when it's super hot and you have trouble sleeping? The same thing was happening to me internally, even though I didn't feel overly warm. As soon as I made the connection between ginger ale and my insomnia, I stopped drinking the ginger ale and was able to sleep again.
Not all herbs are right for all people all the time. Consider if a woman in peri-menopause with hot flashes was to take a "hot" herb - how much more miserable could that make her? It's important to consult with an herbalist prior to starting an herbal remedy. It may be a great choice, or it could lead to unforeseen and uncomfortable, if not dangerous, side-effects.
I had always heard that ginger was good for morning sickness (and why do they call it that? It's not just in the morning!). I heard this both before going to school to become an acupuncturist and herbalist and while in school. Ginger is the miracle herb for mothers-to-be!
So I went to the store and got myself some really good, natural-ginger ginger ale. That stuff was good! So tasty and it really did help the nausea!
What I didn't think about was the possible consequences of all of my ginger ale guzzling. All of a sudden I was having insomnia! I was physically exhausted, but was absolutely unable to sleep. What the heck?? At first I assumed that it was just another side effect of being pregnant. But later the dots were finally connecting (it actually took a couple weeks to figure out what was going on!).
In Chinese medicine, ginger is a "hot" herb. It has properties that will help warm the body. If you've ever thought about the flavor of ginger, you've probably realized that there is some spice to it that most would call warm, right? Unfortunately, for me at the time, pregnancy will also help warm the body! So what was happening was that I was getting super-heated. You know how it is in the summer when it's super hot and you have trouble sleeping? The same thing was happening to me internally, even though I didn't feel overly warm. As soon as I made the connection between ginger ale and my insomnia, I stopped drinking the ginger ale and was able to sleep again.
Not all herbs are right for all people all the time. Consider if a woman in peri-menopause with hot flashes was to take a "hot" herb - how much more miserable could that make her? It's important to consult with an herbalist prior to starting an herbal remedy. It may be a great choice, or it could lead to unforeseen and uncomfortable, if not dangerous, side-effects.
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