Please Welcome Dina Gayle!

Dina Gayle is Red Clover Clinic’s new office manager. She began working full time on January 6.

Dina’s role will be to facilitate the office side of things, including scheduling appointments and taking payments, so that I can focus on you, my clients, and clinical work. Picking up supplements and herbs between appointments will be easier to arrange with Dina on board—one of many perks she will bring.

Many of you have already met Dina over the past several weeks as she was getting introduced to the clinic in small doses. She is a warm and wonderful addition to Red Clover Clinic. I know you will enjoy working with Dina. I know I do!

Hello, my name is Dina Gayle. My husband Harley and I met on a cruise ship 27 years ago. He’s from Montego Bay, Jamaica, and we’ve been married for 19 years. Harley is a bartender extraordinaire and is busy creating designs for a tee-shirt business that he’s in the process of launching. We have three beautiful—on the inside and out—daughters. Jamaica, 19, is a freshman at American University in Washington, DC. She will have an internship with Senator Al Franken this semester. Makayla, 17, is a senior at St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. She loves to sing and act. Sophia, 15, is a sophomore at Irondale High School and loves to play soccer.  Before I got married, I was a massage therapist for a couple of years. I also worked as a nanny in Connecticut, Oregon, and Minnesota. I look forward to working with Anita and learning more about what she does, as well as to meeting all of you. 

Are your teeth hiding something from you?

I recently returned from Nova Scotia where I attended a Level III course on German Auricular Medicine. It was a wonderful experience that included refining current techniques and learning a few new ones.

One technique we concentrated on was the assessment and treatment of hidden dental foci. I have discussed the treatment of focus activity in a few newsletters, including the September/October 2014 issue.

What’s a focus?

Let’s review… A focus is a stubborn and hidden blockage to healing that interferes with the body’s ability to self-regulate and heal. It is typically caused by past stress or trauma or hidden inflammation. An otherwise healthy person may be unaware of focus activity in the body until another stress occurs that triggers a cascade of symptoms.The stress could be an accident, intense emotional stress, or otherwise innocuous illness,

One way to think about it: “A focal disturbance that goes unnoticed is like a smoldering fire which threatens to flare up with the next gust of wind.” (Beate Strittmatter, in her book Identifying and Treating Blockages to Healing.)

When someone does not respond to acupuncture, homeopathy, or chiropractic treatment–or they only get a few hours of relief–their main complaint is most likely not the primary problem. Their primary problem is most likely caused by a focus.

Another way to think about it is that a healthy person who has no hidden foci will typically recover from an injury or illness after a short period of rest and healing. Someone with a chronic focus, on the other hand, will most likely experience worsening symptoms or develop a chronic condition.

What on earth could your teeth be hiding?

Most of us have experienced dental work, be it a filling, crown, tooth extraction, or root canal. The trouble is, the trauma from dental work, unsuitable filling materials, deep tooth decay, or impacted wisdom teeth can leave behind debris and inflammation that is often painless and goes unnoticed. The body will attempt to protect itself from this debris and localized inflammation by walling it off from the rest of the body. This process gradually drains the body’s energy and leads to focus activity.

Why is dental health particularly important?

If there is inflammation in a tooth, our body as a whole is going to be weakened by it. Furthermore, the meridian system is connected to each tooth, creating correlations with other parts of the body. A diseased tooth can cause a stubborn problem in a distant part of the body. If the tooth problem isn’t remedied, the related part of the body will fail to heal as well.

In the early 20th century, Dr. Weston Price became curious about chronic health problems associated with root-canaled teeth. He continued his studies and wrote two books on the link between dental pathology and chronic illness. This article addresses health concerns associated with root canals and some of Dr. Price’s findings.

Assessment and treatment of hidden dental foci with German auricular medicine

In the German auricular medical system, we often use laser light encoded with specific electrical frequencies to gather particular kinds of information from the body. Think of tuning into a different radio station to hear a different program.

Beate Strittmatter, mentioned above, discovered that by using a particular frequency, she could single out focus activity in the dental area. Since the only way to find this information is with the use of a frequency, it is called the “hidden system.” Addressing hidden dental foci becomes very important in the case of chronic problems that are not healing with regular focus therapy.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to address all focus activity, be it dental or otherwise. Even a healthy person who is free of symptoms can preventively benefit from addressing focus activity. Removing the stress caused by a focus through use of German auricular medicine can restore your energy reserve so you can respond to new stressors and challenges down the line.

Do you have any chronic health problems that don’t seem to respond to typical therapies?

Roadblocks to healing

Is something preventing you from healing?

Earlier in my practice when someone came to me with a particular complaint, I tried to figure out how to directly treat the symptoms and condition, then balance the energy in the body. 

Sounds good, right?

Sometimes the results were good. But, sometimes they weren’t—the symptoms lessened temporarily, but then came right back. This was not only frustrating for my clients, but for me as well. I knew that there was something missing in my approach, and I had to figure out what it was.

Scrolling forward, I have learned that what needs to occur is to identify, clear, and treat roadblocks to healing. More often than not, the thing or things that are blocking you from healing are masked and difficult to identify. Fortunately, I have found two modalities, German auricular acupuncture and Nutrition Response Testing, that make it possible for me to identify, monitor, and treat these roadblocks. Using these two techniques has significantly improved my results so that many more of my clients can heal and improve their health. 

What can cause a healing roadblock?

Focus activity

A “focus” is a stubborn and hidden blockage to healing, caused by either a body/brain memory of a particular stress or trauma, or from a physical or emotional wound that is concealed within the body. The body becomes consumed with healing these blockages and can’t attend to healing other day-to-day issues. 

The person who has such a blockage will experience chronic conditions, possibly without having experienced obvious injury or illness. Perceivable, diagnosable conditions can be ameliorated by lessening the stress load on the body by treating focus activity. Focus activity can be identified and treated with German auricular acupuncture, using needles and/or low-level laser therapy. 

Obstructions and confusion in the nervous system

Our nervous systems can get disrupted from time to time by various stressors in our bodies and environments. When this happens, the body just won’t heal. It’s stuck. Using Nutrition Response Testing (see article in March-April 2014 newsletter), I can find out if your nervous system is stressed or confused, figure out what is causing it, and help you to fix it. These obstructions and confusions are most often caused by one or more of the items listed below under body stressors.

Body stressors

Throughout our lives, our bodies are exposed to many stressors, such as toxic substances and foods that are less than nutritious. The most common body stressors include food sensitivities, immune challenges, chemicals, heavy metals, scars (which also fall under the focus activity category), as well as things like watches, jewelry, cell phones, etc. These exposures can stress and assault an organ, a joint, or any part of our body over time. 

When someone comes to the clinic with a particular complaint, it is important to identify whether or not their complaint is being caused or exacerbated by a particular body stressor. If it is, they won’t heal completely without avoiding exposure, detoxing, or treating that stressor. 

Using Nutrition Response Testing, the exact source of body stress can be identified and treated. Treatment methods include avoiding certain foods, nutritional counseling, nutritional supplementation, herbal therapy, and low-level laser therapy.

As you can see, if you’re not getting better, it’s important to dig a little deeper.  You might be surprised by what’s causing a roadblock in your healing.

A late summer plant walk

I found these two beautiful kidney remedies growing near each other on the same day in late August in Silverwood Park.

Joe Pye Weed – Eupatorium purpureum

This is a plant that grows where water and land meet. It often has calcifications stuck around its roots, which explains its other name: gravel root. These two signatures point towards its primary use in herbalism to balance water and solids. This makes it an excellent kidney remedy. It can help to flush out excess fluids, as well as to pull out calcifications from the kidneys and joints, i.e. kidney stones and arthritis. This powerful plant can free up and lubricate frozen joints as well as help to heal broken bones.

Goldenrod – Solidago canadensis

Goldenrod has strong diuretic properties brought about by stimulating the kidneys. Thus, it is useful to treat swelling in the body. As well as being draining in nature, it is also cooling, making it a useful urinary tract infection remedy. Much as it clears fluid and inflammation from the lower part of the body, it can also clear mucous and inflammation from the sinuses. It can be a useful addition to an allergy protocol.

Eat your veggies!

It’s summer! The growing season is at its peak. Farmers markets and grocery stores are chock full of locally grown vegetables in all colors, shapes, and sizes.

We focus so often on what we can’t or shouldn’t eat, so in this article, I want to focus on what we should eat—and eat in large quantities—vegetables! They are so good for us.

Apart from canned and frozen versions, vegetables are typically purchased whole. This is a good thing. More and more, people are aware that eating foods as close as possible to their natural state is best for their health. The nutrition found in a carrot, as opposed to the nutrients found in a standard vitamin pill, could not be more different. 

The whole carrot includes a whole food complex. This means that it includes both the specific vitamins represented by the pharmaceutical counterparts in the vitamin pill AND phytonutrients and other constituents that work together to give you more nutrition that is more easily assimilated.

Variety is the key

Variety is the key…don’t just eat salad, or just raw carrots, or just tomato sauce. Variety is not only the spice of life, it also gives us nutritional balance and the best chance to experience vibrant health and vitality. 

Which brings me to another important point. Fruits are not vegetables! You can’t replace your veggies with sweet-tasting fruits. 

You need to eat from the following categories of vegetables to get a broad array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants: 

• Dark leafy greens: kale, collards, chard, spinach, arugula, endive, escarole, mustard greens, lettuce

• Sulfur-rich vegetables: cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, radishes, turnips, onions, garlic, mushrooms, asparagus

• Colorful veggies: beets, sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, pumpkin, peppers, radicchio, red cabbage

• Seaweed: any seaweed harvested from clean waters will do if consumed a couple of times per week. 

Eating a variety of organic vegetables daily will help to reduce your risk of many chronic diseases, including cancer. Vegetables are a healthy source of fiber, which promotes good digestion and helps to stabilize blood sugar. 

The dense nutrition found in vegetables will help to detox your body of harmful heavy metals, chemicals, and toxins, which will result in decreased inflammation throughout the body, clearer skin, clearer thinking, and increased energy and vitality.

Make time for veggies

You might be thinking that this all sounds great, but who has the time? You need to make the time. Your health is important! All it takes is a little bit of planning, creativity, and experimentation to find out what you like, and how you can prepare your food efficiently. 

When you eat out, look for salads and sides of vegetables to boost your vegetable intake. When you are at home, think about how your meals can be built around vegetables rather than protein or grains. The protein and grains should be the garnish, rather than the other way around. 

You can also look for creative ways to sneak in more veggies by making things like cauliflower rice and zucchini noodles with a few fun kitchen tools. I have found that snacking on carrot sticks has made me happily reduce my intake of dark chocolate…who would have thought?

Many things don’t even take more time, if you have the ingredients on hand. 

• add spinach to your scrambled eggs or black bean quesadillas

• make a salad rather than a sandwich

• sauté vegetables instead of cooking rice or boiling pasta. If you miss your starch, eat squash and sweet potatoes. 

Once you start eating more vegetables, you will find you have more energy. Furthermore, you will begin to crave these wonderful jewels that Mother Nature produces for us. 

What are your favorite veggies?

Parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme

Herbs are another gift of the plant kingdom. Typically, culinary herbs are high in volatile oils that act as carminatives to settle the digestion. They add a lot of flavor to a meal, as well as help to digest it comfortably. Apart from cooking, these herbs made “famous” by Simon and Garfunkel are also useful additions to a herbal pharmacy.

Parsley

Parsley is probably the most commonly used culinary herb. Aside from being a common garnish, it is used to flavor just about anything. Medicinally, it acts not only on the digestive tract, but also on the kidneys. It is a diuretic that helps to clear congestion from the kidneys, making it useful to manage gout, swelling, kidney stones, and other conditions.

Sage

Sage is commonly used to flavor meats and stuffings. I think it is also delicious with squash and potatoes. It’s super tasty when whole leaves are toasted lightly in olive oil, making a nice garnish for many dishes. Sage tea is a useful remedy for sore throats and fevers. It is also mildly astringent, making it a good treatment for bleeding gums and night sweats. Sage (specifically, the desert-grown variety) is always a part of my herbal repertoire when treating hot flashes.

Rosemary

Like sage, rosemary is a strongly flavored herb that is a good compliment for heavier foods like roasted meat and vegetables. It is also delicious in breads. Rosemary calms the digestion, improves circulation and relieves nervous depression. It is very useful in skin and hair treatments, and can relieve headaches.

Thyme

In my mind, thyme is a little more versatile than rosemary and sage, but can also be used in the same ways. Slightly lighter in flavor than rosemary and sage, thyme works well with lighter soups and vegetables. Apart from the digestion, thyme has a strong effect on the lungs. It can treat colds, coughs, phlegm, and shortness of breath.

Poor posture = loss of function = pain

Do you have nagging pain in your low back? Do you carry chronic tension in your shoulders? If you have chronic discomfort in an area with no known injury, you may wonder why that is. The best answer is postural stress. Can you relate to the photo at left?

There are several very common postural stress patterns that I see in my clinic: posterior neck pain and stiffness, shoulder pain with restricted range of motion, a painful knot near the shoulder blade, low back ache, and hip tightness. People typically describe these areas as tight and restricted, with nagging pain. These patterns are quite frustrating, because they are stubborn and resistant to treatment.

How to think about postural stress—the back has a front

When we have pain in our shoulders, we typically massage our shoulders. When we have pain in our backs, we massage, twist and stretch out our backs.  Though this offers relief as we're doing it, it often doesn't fix the problem. 

We would do better to remember that our back has a front. How we hold our body has a big impact on how we feel.

The common pain patterns that I see are a result of tight flexor muscles (generally, those on the front of the body) and/or stretched, weak extensor muscles (those on the back of the body). 

Looking at the figure above, we can see that the front of the body is collapsed and contracted, while the back is arched and stretched, like a hinge closing on itself. We need to figure out how to pry open the hinge, stack the body the way it was meant to be, and focus on healthy, functional movement.

Shoulder or scapular pain

If someone has shoulder or scapular pain, I not only work on the area where it hurts with acupuncture and massage, I also work to loosen and stretch the front of the upper body, specifically the pectoralis muscles (pectoralis major illustration) on the chest and the subscapularis (subscapularis illustration) in the armpit. If you don't loosen these muscles, the pain in the shoulder and around the scapula will come right back. 

With this pain pattern, it is common to see rounded shoulders and shoulder blades that seem to be sliding down the back. In this case, relaxing the chest isn't enough; the back muscles must be strengthened as well.

The door stretch shown above is a helpful exercise you can do yourself. Hold each stretch until you feel the muscle fibers releasing. It is also important to do the stretch with your hand positioned at different heights to open the chest more completely.  

Neck pain

Once the upper torso is loosened and more functional, the neck will typically feel and move better.  If there is still residual pain, then the muscles of the neck need to be addressed. 

The best place to start is by massaging and pinching tender points along the scalene (scalene illustration) and sternocleidomastoid (SCM)(SCM Illustration) muscles on the sides and front of the neck, as seen in the first illustration. These muscles should also be stretched, as seen in the second illustration. 

It is also important to stretch and loosen your sub-occipital muscles (at the base of your skull) by tucking your chin and gently pressing it posteriorly, and massaging them with your thumb or pressing them into a tennis ball.

Low back pain

If someone has low back pain, it is very important to be sure the iliopsoas muscle (iliopsoas illustration) isn't contracted. It often becomes shortened with extended sitting. If it is contracted, all the back stretches in the world aren't going to solve the problem. I recommend lunges with an arched back (below, left) to stretch the iliopsoas, before stretching the back itself.   

Prying open the hinge of the hip

For hip pain and tightness, I always recommend using a tennis ball to roll out the hip flexors, with a focus on the tensor fasciae latae (TFL) muscle (TFL illustration). Look for the most tender spot that may refer pain down the leg or into the buttocks, then allow yourself to sink onto the tennis ball. A foam roller can also be used to roll out the tight areas on the hips and legs. Don't forget to also roll out the gluteus muscles to improve hip function. 

Once the muscles have been softened, you can stretch out your low back with a forward bend (above, right). This has the added benefit of stretching out your hamstrings, in case they are tight and pulling down on your pelvis. The pelvis forms the foundation for your structure, and when it is functioning properly, your whole body will stack and move as it is meant to move.

Helpful homework

These are a few simple exercises you can do to support your body and correct postural negligence in between acupuncture and bodywork treatments. Over time, your body will become more functional and your pain and discomfort will decrease. 

For the best, most  efficient results to reestablish proper posture and function, I refer my clients to Michelle Mariska for Healing Motion Therapy, based on the Egoscue Method. This method has helped me and many of my clients tremendously. Read the following article to learn more about this powerful method.

Healing Motion Therapy

by Michelle Mariska

Healing Motion Therapy (HMT) takes your whole body alignment into consideration when treating your symptoms. The therapy’s basic principle is that everything in the body is connected. The body needs to be evaluated and treated as a whole, rather than just focusing treatment on areas of the body that are experiencing pain.

During an initial appointment, I will obtain an understanding of the pain you are experiencing and evaluate your body’s posture and alignment to understand the source of the pain. I then walk you through an evaluation, including use of photos that are helpful in understanding postural and alignment issues.

Based on my analysis, I’ll next guide you through a short series of exercises, designed specifically for you. The exercises are simple, gentle, and easy to replicate. Clients are expected to complete the exercises at home, then come back for another session in two to three weeks.

Most clients see and feel positive results at the first session. Typically, four to eight sessions are necessary for clients to maximize the postural changes. At each subsequent visit, your static posture and gait are re-evaluated and a new set of exercises is provided.

I often see overused and tight muscles in the mid-back from too much sitting. We sit at work, we sit in the car, and then we sit at home. For example, a client comes in with knee pain. Upon evaluation, I explain that tightness and decreased motion in their mid-back contributes to a lack of motion in their pelvis. The pelvis has muscles connected to the knee, and is thus causing the knee pain. The client is often amazed how their knee pain is relieved after doing the individually designed exercises that are focused on their upper body, not on the area that is painful.

HMT differs from physical therapy because it treats the cause, not the symptom. The therapy also works great as an adjunct to other modalities, including acupuncture and massage. HMT enables another practitioner to reach a new level of healing, since we are releasing the superficial layer of muscle compensation.

Symptoms treated-muscle and nerve pain of the back, knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, foot, neck, elbow and hand. If it’s connected to your body, I’d like to think I can help you.

Michelle Mariska has a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology. She has over 17 years experience helping clients relieve their symptoms and live a pain-free life. HMT is based on the teachings of Pete Egoscue and The Egoscue Method in San Diego, CA, where Michelle worked for four years.

Healing Motion Therapy is located at 2718 E 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55417

(612) 799-6946 or michelle@healingmotiontherapy.com

Is a scar scrambling your nervous system?

If Humpty Dumpty had been put back together again, he would have had scars. Scars are the byproduct of the body repairing a wound. That’s a good thing, right? Yes, but once the body has healed, scar tissue may present some problems. Scar tissue on the skin’s surface can scramble nerve signals, causing a wide variety of symptoms, including pain and organ dysfunction. 

Most of us have visible scars somewhere on the surface of our skin, testaments to past surgeries, stitches, cuts and scrapes, or mole removal. (Scars can occur beneath the skin too, but that’s a subject for another article.) I first learned about the importance of treating scars when I began studying German auricular acupuncture. This article will focus on the repercussions of visible scars and what can be done to alleviate their symptoms. 

An introduction to the skin and its dense network of nerves is useful to understand how scars on the skin can cause distress. The network of the skin’s nerves communicate on the surface level, but also coordinates communication with the organs and various structures of the body that lie beneath it. The brain and nerve plexuses throughout the body coordinate all this communication via nerve impulses, which are basically exchanges of energy. When the skin is cut, the nerve communication is broken. As the wound heals, the communication can begin again, but may be impeded by the scar tissue, which isn’t quite as good as new. 

Scars have the potential to interrupt and absorb the energy of nerve impulses, rather than allowing them to flow freely. The stored energy in the cells of scar tissue was actually measured by German neurophysiologist Albert Fleckenstein to be equal to that of a 1.5 volt battery! Not all scars become “active,” in this way, but many do. Interestingly, they may not become active until many years after the initial injury or surgery. This activity seems to be spurred by periods of stress on the body, including illness, poor nutrition, emotional stress, pregnancy, etc. If a scar becomes active, it will eventually begin to randomly discharge energy out of sequence with the normal functioning of the body, causing the nervous system to become scrambled, either a little or a lot. 

When these random energy discharges happen, any organ system can be affected. For example, it is not uncommon for a woman who has given birth to have a scar (C-section, episiotomy or tearing) that causes interference in the normal functioning of the body, most notably in the thyroid gland. Scars can be the cause of or contribute to unexplained pain, digestive upset, anxiety, hormone imbalance, headaches and migraines, as well as any stubborn condition that won’t improve.

When scanning the ears using German auricular acupuncture, it is possible to pick up the energetic interference from scars. In this system, the practitioner can treat the scars both on the ears and the scar itself. The most effective way to treat the scar itself is with low-level laser treatment. By monitoring the pulse while running the laser light across the scar, I can feel which areas are active, and when the energy has been cleared. Scars typically require a few treatments to become deactivated, but results vary depending on the scar. Some clear after one treatment, and some require many treatments.

A muscle testing technique I have recently begun using, Nutrition Response Testing (NRT), is also useful in testing for scar interference, among its numerous other attributes. (Read more below.) By using this method, it is very easy to see if there is a scar causing nervous system interference or organ stress, and which scar it is. It also offers easy monitoring of progress in the treatment of each scar. Treatment using Nutrition Response Testing  is the same as described above, with the addition of massaging the scar with wheat germ oil between laser treatments to enhance the effect. 

I’m thrilled to be able to combine both German auricular acupuncture and Nutrition Response Testing to find and clear active scars in order to unscramble my clients’ nervous systems, allowing their bodies to function properly and heal themselves. If you’re feeling a bit like Humpty Dumpty who has been glued back together, I invite you to come in for an assessment, and see if a scar is affecting your health and well-being.

Nutrition Response Testing

I recently began to use Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) at Red Clover Clinic, a very effective way to assess and treat the outcome of the undernourishment and highly stressful lives that are so much a part of modern society. 

Most of us are exposed to many toxic chemicals, heavy metals, GMO and processed foods, plastics, and other factors that interfere with the proper functioning of our bodies. And, despite the fact that we are “over-nourished” with junk food and foods lacking dense nutrition, we are malnourished when it comes to the basic nutritional building blocks we need to nourish and repair our bodies. Not a pretty picture!

The NRT assessment begins with a couple of neurological muscle tests to see if the nervous system is blocking healing in any way. The practitioner then assesses each of the major organs using a muscle testing technique, looking for signs of stress. Once this information is collected, the priority organ is determined, so that the rest of the assessment and the treatment will be highly precise. 

Next, we must determine if there is anything causing stress to the organ. The stress could be caused by food sensitivities, immune challenges, chemical or heavy metal toxicity, or scars (see above). If there is a stressor, it must first be addressed, followed by the addition of any specific organ support. Treatment of the stressors and the organ support consists of specifically chosen whole-food supplements, primarily from Standard Process. 

It’s really amazing what can happen when the body is given the precise nutrition it has been lacking. When it is well-nourished, the body can heal itself! Feel free to contact me if you’re curious about what Nutrition Response Testing can do for you, or ask me about it at your next visit.

Great article on German auricular acupuncture

If you have had an appointment at Red Clover Clinic in the past couple of years, you have probably heard me talk about or experienced a session of German auricular acupuncture. 

This technique has really transformed my practice by helping me treat many conditions with greater effect than before, or at the very least, offering a complementary effect to more traditional acupuncture treatment. I am currently one of three practitioners in the U.S. listed on the Canadian Institute of Auricular Medicine website as Level II-certified.

Many people struggle to wrap their brains around how it works. For this reason, I want to share an article with you written by my teacher, Muriel Agnes: German Auricular Acupuncture: Effective for Your Patients. Despite the fact that her intended audience is practitioners, she explains the history of the medicine and how it works in plain and simple language. I encourage you to read it!

Why and how to do an elimination diet

The article on gluten intolerance in the last issue of Red Clover Clinic Newsletter got a great response—thank you! The most common comment was “Now I understand why gluten has become such an important health issue.” The demonstrated interest in gluten intolerance means the obvious topic to discuss next is the elimination diet. 

Elimination diets are a useful tool for two reasons: they can not only unravel food sensitivities, but they also give your body a break by reducing its toxic load. Other than a stool test that screens for antigens, an elimination diet is the only way to figure out which foods are creating issues for an individual. 

People suffering from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, skin rashes, arthritis, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome or other chronic digestive issues, chronic migraines, and sinus issues should consider doing an elimination diet to see if they have any food sensitivities that are triggering their symptoms. 

Even if you choose to not permanently avoid a food you may be sensitive to, eliminating it completely for a few weeks periodically will help to get your symptoms back under control and make you feel better. It is also a good reminder of how well you can feel if you avoid their triggers most of the time.

There are four main steps to an elimination diet: 

1. Planning what to eat and what to avoid.

2. Avoiding the suspected foods for at least 2 weeks.

3. Challenging your body by adding back the suspected foods one at a time, allowing at least 3 days in between each addition.

4. Creating a new, long-term diet plan based on the results of your testing.

Planning what to eat

A thorough elimination diet will be very structured, eliminating all of the typical foods associated with food sensitivities: wheat, gluten, soy, corn, dairy, eggs, beef, chicken, pork, nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant), peanuts, sulfites, citrus, shellfish, sugar, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, vinegar, yeast and artificial food additives. Whew!

The foods that can be eaten include: rice, quinoa, millet, non-nightshade vegetables, non-citrus fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, fresh fish, and wild meats. 

If you are mostly curious about how your body reacts to gluten and dairy, you can do a modified elimination diet that focuses primarily on eliminating all gluten and dairy products. In this modified version, it is still best to eliminate alcohol, caffeine, sugar, yeast and vinegar, in order to avoid yeast overgrowth in the system. Yeast overgrowth, also known as candida, can be an added burden to the immune system and can cause many of the same symptoms listed above. While you’re making the effort, it’s important to give your body a break from all of the potential irritants, and allow it to heal.

Avoiding suspected foods

Once you have your diet planned out, it’s time to avoid all the foods listed above for a minimum of two weeks. You may experience a worsening of your symptoms in the first few days, as your body starts to flush out the toxins associated with your food sensitivity. The symptoms should start to improve after the first week if they are due to a food that you have cut out of your diet. During this period, you may find it helpful to keep a journal, and track the foods you eat and the symptoms you experience.

Adding back suspected foods

After two to three weeks, you are ready to start challenging your body by adding foods back in. If you haven’t already started a food journal, this is when to begin. Be sure to log what you are eating, what your symptoms are, and when they occur. 

Begin by selecting a food that you want to test out first. The test period for each food is 3 days. On the first day, eat a small amount of the food in the morning. If you don’t notice any symptoms, eat a larger portion with lunch and again with dinner. 

For the next 2 days, avoid this food again and see if you notice any symptoms. If the food doesn’t cause symptoms anytime during the 3-day period, it’s unlikely to be a problem food. If this is the case, it’s important to wait to add it back into your diet until you have tested all the other foods on your test list. Now proceed to the next food on your list, and introduce it following the same method.

Creating a long-term diet plan

When every food on your list has been tested, you can start to create a long-term diet based on what you have learned. First and foremost, avoid the foods that caused a reaction. Other than that, it is best to center your diet around organic, whole foods. The primary focus should be on lots of fresh vegetables of all colors, complemented by nuts, seeds, whole grains, and protein from organic/free-range/wild-caught sources. 

The information gleaned from doing an elimination diet can make a profound change in your health. The successful implementation of an elimination diet requires a lot of planning and commitment. If you are ready to commit to the process and need some help, Red Clover Clinic is here for you. 

Herbs of the North Shore

At the beginning of August, I spent a few days on the North Shore at a personal retreat center called A Room of One’s Own, in Lutsen, MN. It was a wonderful break in the action before the big move! I especially enjoy hiking on the trails near Lake Superior, and taking in all the incredible plant life. Here are a few beautiful specimens that I found.

Usnea – Usnea filipendula

Usnea is a lichen that grows on dead tree branches and trunks. It is also known as “old man’s beard,” and here you can see why. Usnea is known for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects. I typically use it in small doses for staph infections. It is best to use usnea, either topically or internally, in small doses for a short time.

Club Moss – Lycopodium clavatum

This isn’t an herb that I have used, despite the fact that I admire it every time I visit the North Shore. It grows on the forest floor. It is traditionally used to treat bladder and kidney disorders, acting as a diuretic. The spores have historically been used topically on various skin conditions, including eczema and bed sores. According to Maria Treben, an esteemed Austrian herbalist, it also can be used to treat leg cramps.

Horsetail – Equisetum arvense

This prehistoric plant likes to grow in damp soil. It functions as a diuretic, represented by its hollow stem in the doctrine of signatures. It is also useful in promoting healthy skin and nails. Similar to club moss, it is a vascular plant that reproduces by spores rather than seeds.

Solomon’s seal – Polygonatum multiflorum

Solomon’s seal grows in woodlands throughout our area. I use a tincture of the root constantly for musculoskeletal complaints and injuries. In Chinese medicine it is also used for lung infections and dry coughs. Matthew Wood describes its effect on connective tissue as tightening that which is loose, and loosening that which is tight. This is one of the top ten most-used herbs in my apothecary!

Purple Loostrife – Lythrum salicaria

This plant is considered to be invasive throughout our area and eastward. Herbalist Jim McDonald  has become quite a fan of this plant for drippy and irritated sinuses. It not only dries up the drip, but it also soothes the inflamed tissues. Similarly, it can be used in an irritated digestive tract with diarrhea. It’s always nice to find good uses for über-plentiful species.

Understanding gluten sensitivity

Eating gluten-free is all the rage. Have you jumped on the bandwagon, or are you a skeptic? In this article I will explain why gluten sensitivity is becoming a bigger and bigger issue for many people, and why to consider avoiding it.

What is gluten?

First, let’s define what gluten is. Gluten is found in wheat (including spelt and kamut, more ancient forms of wheat), rye, barley, and oats. Gluten is made up of two proteins, gliadin and glutinen, both which cause adverse reactions in many people. Gluten is what makes dough doughy. Imagine smooth and pliable pizza dough being tossed in the air. This wouldn’t be possible without gluten.

Why is gluten suddenly a big problem?

Bread has been eaten for thousands of years, so why has it emerged of late as a problem for some? The wheat that was consumed 12,000 years ago is known as einkorn . It is still available and is the only non-hybridized wheat on the market. Einkorn contains much less gluten than modern-day wheat.

Over the centuries wheat has been hybridized to increase the gluten content to improve the texture of baked goods. In the past 50 years alone, the gluten in wheat has quadrupled. Furthermore, einkorn only has 14 chromosomes, compared to the 42 chromosomes that modern wheat has. The added chromosomes are genetically coded for a type of gluten that is actually more irritating to our bodies. As you can see, we are getting a much larger dose of gluten than we used to, and it has different and more irritating qualities.

Celiac disease vs. gluten intolerance

Celiac disease is a gluten allergy. Gluten causes an immune reaction in the body of those with celiac disease that causes the villi (finger-like projections that increase nutrient absorption) lining the intestinal walls to be flattened and damaged over time. People with gluten intolerance may have similar symptoms as people with celiac disease but they don’t end up with damage to the villi. Celiac disease is no longer a rare condition, but it is certainly less prevalent than gluten intolerance, which is becoming quite common.

The genes for both celiac disease and gluten intolerance have been identified. It is estimated that 81 percent of the population has some of these genes. The genes may not be turned on in each individual, but it is an indication of why gluten issues are prevalent. A study comparing blood samples from over 9,000 Air Force recruits from the early 1950s to a similar sample of people today showed a four-fold increase in prevalence of celiac disease.

Gluten reactions cause a wide variety of symptoms. The symptoms don’t always appear immediately following the consumption of gluten. Over prolonged and repeated exposure to gluten, people may suffer from digestive upset, neurological problems, mental/emotional symptoms, and autoimmune issues.

Gluten proteins can leak through damaged intestinal walls and cause an inflammatory response in any susceptible tissue. This inflammation can play a role in conditions ranging from arthritis and allergies to insulin resistance and obesity.

Anyone experiencing chronic joint pain, allergies, skin problems, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, ADD/ADHD, depression, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis and many more inflammatory conditions should consider leaving gluten behind.

Testing for gluten intolerance

There is much confusion regarding appropriate testing for both celiac disease and gluten intolerance. The blood tests that doctors often perform for gluten intolerance have a high false negative rate. If there is no damage to the intestinal villi, the test will come back negative.

This could be problematic for two reasons. It is only diagnosing celiac disease once the damage has been done to the body. If there is no damage, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a gluten sensitivity. Similarly, the standard biopsy test for celiac disease waits until there is evident damage to the villi, which doesn’t help celiacs prevent this damage before it occurs.

Currently, the only accurate test is a stool sample that tests for immune antibodies. The company EnteroLab offers tests to the general public looking for food intolerance screening. According to EnteroLab, at least 50 percent of the population tests positive to gluten sensitivity, and half of those who are sensitive are symptomatic.

Another, less expensive, method of testing is to eliminate gluten from your diet for four to six weeks, then add it back and see what happens. This is less scientific, but highly experiential. When people experience how differently they can feel without gluten, they are more motivated to avoid it.

What to eat?

Eating gluten-free can be challenging, but with a little education and effort, it is very doable. The first place to start is to avoid processed foods or select them very carefully. Gluten is often hidden in these packaged foods, and not obvious in the list of ingredients. This article contains a good list of pointers of what to look for on a food label. 

There are also many gluten-free products on the market that can make eating easier. One thing to keep in mind is that grains in general can be difficult to digest in large quantities, and just because they're gluten-free doesn't mean you should consume them with reckless abandon. 

If you have a hankering for a sandwich and you haven't had one in weeks, gluten-free bread to the rescue! The gluten-free grains are rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat and amaranth. Corn is also gluten-free, but be careful, because too much corn can cause an inflammatory response.

Focus on healthy fish, meats, fruits, and vegetables. Dairy and eggs are also gluten-free. Avoid, bread, pasta (unless rice- or corn-based) and other traditional baked goods. If you have a craving for a sweet treat, I have included a couple of recipes below. Don't forget about dark chocolate--it is a great low-sugar/gluten-free option!

Many restaurants now have gluten-free menus and a more educated staff, making dining out a lot less scary for those who are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease.

After the initial grieving period, going gluten-free, or mostly gluten-free, can be a rewarding, health-promoting experience. It's not a bad idea for everyone to moderate their gluten consumption, and avoiding gluten is one more piece to the puzzle of multiple health challenges. Imagine a life with less inflammation and pain, better moods, more energy, clearer thinking, and easy digestion.

Treating yourself gluten-free

Sweet Potato Pecan Muffins

• 1 15 oz. can pureed sweet potato

• 1 cup almond butter, roasted, no salt

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

• 1/4 tsp ginger

• 1/4 tsp cloves

• 36 pecan halves, for decoration

Place paper liners in a standard muffin tin to ensure easy removal. Preheat oven to 350 F. Whisk all ingredients together. Spoon or pour batter into muffin tin. Decorate top with 3 pecan halves. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until lightly browned, and a toothpick comes out clean. Store in an airtight plastic bag or container in the refrigerator. Makes 12 standard muffins.

Note: I prefer the natural sweetness of the sweet potato. However, if you prefer a sweeter muffin, you can add 1 or 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup or a packet or two of stevia powder.

Chocolate Coconut Macaroons

• 1 cup (heaping) unsweetened shredded coconut

• 1/4 cup virgin coconut oil

• 5 tbsp cocoa powder

• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup

• 1/2 tsp vanilla

• 1 pkt. stevia powder (optional)

Pulse the coconut in a food processor several times to break into even smaller pieces. Add the remaining ingredients and run until completely mixed, scraping down the sides if necessary. Scoop the mixture with a small cookie scoop or use a teaspoon to scoop small portions and roll into little balls. Work quickly, as the mixture melts with the warmth of your hands. Refrigerate until set, and the store in a covered container in the refrigerator

Healthy blood, healthy body

From the perspective of both Chinese and western medicine, the health of our blood is essential to our overall health. What can we do to support the health of our blood? 

I’ve devoted this entire newsletter to discussing how to support blood health and function, including introducing you to a new tool Red Clover Clinic has begun to use, which I fondly call “the blood laser.” Read on… 

What does blood do?

Blood is one of the foundations of life. Chinese medicine considers it one of the Vital Substances. It nourishes the body, moistens the tissues, and support the Shen. Shen can be translated as spirit or mind. It is responsible for consciousness, mental function, mental health, and vitality. It also plays a big role in sleep. 

Chinese medicine theory also states that blood holds the Qi (energy) and Qi moves the blood. Most importantly, if Qi and blood are moving, disease can’t take hold. In fact, many of the diseases associated with aging are associated with the blood not flowing properly, also known as blood stasis.

In western medicine, the primary functions of blood are: 

• Transporting oxygen, nutrients, and wastes to and from the cells and various components of the immune system to where they are needed.

• Regulating temperature through circulation.

• Circulating hormones to all parts of the body

• Clotting and closing of wounds.

Laser irradiation of the blood

As we saw in the May-June 2013 issue of the  Red Clover Clinic Newsletter, low-level laser therapy has developed over the past few decades to speed the healing of wounds, lessen the inflammation in arthritic joints, increase circulation around trigger points in order to release them, stimulate acupuncture points, and more. 

Another lesser-known benefit of laser light to the body is the impact it has on the blood. Red Clover Clinic is now using the recently developed R-J Laser LightNeedle 300 (the “blood laser”), which delivers red and blue-violet laser light to the blood non-invasively. 

Generally speaking, laser irradiation  of the blood brings the body back into a state of homeostasis; that is, it has a normalizing effect on the whole system. It triggers various immune responses to rid the body of inflammation, which translates to less pain. It improves blood circulation throughout the body, and specifically in the central nervous system (the brain). It improves communication between muscle and nerve cells for improved function. It normalizes tissue metabolism and promotes the mitochondria to produce more ATP, which translates into more energy.

Since the Russians began doing research on intravenous laser irradiation of the blood in 1981, many additional studies have shown its positive effects on cardiovascular health, hypertension, neuropathy, muscular sclerosis, diabetes, autoimmune disease, allergies, acute infections, fatigue, fibromyalgia, systemic inflammation, liver disease and kidney disease.

A small study  done on young, male body builders perfectly shows, I think, the general boost the blood laser can give the body. The study concluded that laser blood irradiation measurably increased both strength and endurance, an effect that appeared immediately after the treatment and lasted for 16 weeks.

What is a treatment like?

The blood laser has six fiberoptic cables that are clustered into a small mouthpiece. The mouthpiece, covered with a disposable  plastic covering, is placed under the tongue. The client rests for up to 20 minutes while the device emits laser light to the veins under the tongue. 

The recommended dosage for general support is 20 minutes once per week, for a series of four to ten weeks, or longer for a chronic condition. For a more severe problem, say diabetic ulcers, the treatment can be given twice per week, until the ulcers have begun to heal. On the other hand, if someone is trying to get over a lingering cold or cough, one treatment might just do the trick.

Stories from my practice

I have used the blood laser on clients (and myself) for about two months at the time of writing and have already seen and experienced big changes. Here are a few anecdotes from my practice:

1. Personally, I have much more energy with a greater ability to focus, and improved sleep.

2. One client experienced a significant decrease in springtime allergy symptoms after her first treatment. 

3. Someone else suffers from very sensitive skin with significant itching following a severe systemic candida infection many years ago. Following each treatment (three so far) she notices a big reduction in symptoms that last almost through the week. 

4. A fibromyalgia client has been having better weeks with more energy and less overall pain since commencing blood laser treatments.

5. Another client who had recently finished radiation treatment three to four weeks earlier wasn’t getting her energy back. After one blood laser treatment she felt close to normal for almost a week. After two more treatments, her energy was totally restored.

6. Across the board, the most common comment is “Wow, I had so much energy this week!”

For those of you who asked for more scientific information…here it is!

According to M. H. Weber in his paper “The Intravenous Laser Blood Irradiation – Introduction of a New Therapy ,” laser blood irradiation causes the following changes to occur:

1. Immune system effects: improved immunologic activity of the blood, i.e. stimulation of the immune response, both specific and non-specific; increase of the immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA; stimulation of interferons, interleukins and TNF-alfa; stimulation of the proliferation of lymphocytes; activation of phagocytic activity of the macrophages; proliferation of lymphocytes and B- and T-cells; and lowering c-reactive protein.

2. Circulatory system effects: improvement of regeneration of erythrocytes and of microcirculation; reduction of aggregation of thrombocytes; activation of fibrinolysis; and stimulation of the NO-production in monocytes with vasodilation and improvement of endothelial dysfunction.

3. Impact on muscle and nerve cells: normalization of the cell membrane potential, which helps muscle and nerve cells to transmit signals between each other for increased function.

4. Impact on overall energy and whole system : mitochondria are stimulated to produce more ATP, which translates to more energy; and normalized tissue metabolism.

 Herbs that influence the blood

Nettles to build the blood

The nettle plant is highly nutritious and makes a wonderful green vegetable in the spring. Once you wash it and cook it, the sting will disappear. It is known to nourish the blood, and treat  anemia-type conditions, including low blood pressure, pale face, fainting and fatigue. It is also helpful in cases where blood deficiency and excessive bleeding go hand-in-hand.

Yarrow to move the blood

Yarrow is one of my favorite plants. I love its herbaceous scent, hearty flowers, strong stems and delicate feathery leaves. I’ve been monitoring a few specimens on my morning walks, and they are now starting to bloom. One of yarrow’s many strengths is to move and cool the blood and thereby stop bleeding. I use it fresh, dried, or in ointment on fresh cuts and bruises with amazing results. Tea and tincture are taken internally for bleeding due to blood stasis in the digestive and respiratory tracts and the female reproductive system. Blood stasis is when coagulated blood obstructs the vessels, causing fresh blood to be forced out around it. To treat this type of bleeding, we need to move blood. 

Shepherd’s Purse to stop bleeding

Shepherd’s Purse is primarily used to stop excessive bleeding. It is warming and stimulating, and is best for blood that is “dark and oozing,” according to herbalist Matthew Wood . It is especially useful for women suffering from excessive menstrual bleeding and hemorrhaging, fibroids, and postpartum bleeding. Shepherd’s Purse is also useful for bleeding in the digestive and urinary tracts and for wounds that continue to ooze. From a biomedical perspective, Shepherd’s Purse stops bleeding due to its vasoconstrictive and coagulating properties.

Burdock to “clean” the blood

Blood can get overloaded with toxins if our body’s detoxification processes are broken down or overwhelmed. This can manifest in all types of skin conditions from acne to eczema to psoriasis. In Chinese medicine, we call this toxic heat in the blood. According to herbalist Peter Holmes , burdock root regulates the system by “restoring, altering and eliminating.” In other words, it gently brings the body into harmony by detoxifying the blood and tissues. Burdock also regulates the immune system, which, as we now know, is tied with the blood. This is why I give it to almost all of my clients suffering from seasonal allergies…with great effect, I might add.

Clearing blockages to healing

I recently returned from another German auricular acupuncture training in Ottawa, Ontario. (Maman, the giant spider pictured to the left, created by sculptor Louise Bourgeois,  is one of many signature images of Ottawa.) 

The training was called “Clearing Blockages to Healing,” a simple name with profound meaning. I knew the new information would allow my auricular acupuncture assessments and treatments to work on an even deeper level than before, but I was, once again, truly blown away by the healing potential of this modality. 

As discussed in a previous newsletter, one of the primary features that distinguishes German auricular acupuncture from other types of auricular acupuncture is focus therapy. A “focus” is a stubborn and hidden blockage to healing, due to a body/brain memory of a particular stress or trauma or from a physical/emotional wound that is concealed within the body. The body becomes consumed with healing these blockages and it can’t attend to healing other day-to-day issues. The person who has such a blockage will experience chronic conditions possibly without experiencing obvious injury or illness. Even perceivable, diagnosable conditions can be ameliorated by focus therapy, by lessening the stress load on the body.

The new protocol I use to find, prioritize, and treat focus activity takes great concentration on my part and is somewhat time-consuming. Ultimately, it is truly worth the extra time and energy. Already some of my clients have noticed a difference!Red Clover Clinic adds low-level laser therapy—no-needles, no pain

Let there be “laser” light!

Red Clover Clinic adds low-level laser therapy—no-needles, no pain

Another big announcement for my auricular practice is the addition of the RJ LaserPen.  With the LaserPen, I can give an auricular treatment with absolutely no pain or discomfort, and I can add healing bio-frequencies (electrical frequencies that resonate with particular tissues in the body), particular to the issues that I am treating. 

This is great news for anyone who is needle-phobic, children, and anyone who finds the heftier German needles to be a little uncomfortable! The LaserPen offers an auricular treatment that is at least as effective as a needle treatment. I’m sure this will come as a great relief to many of you! And, in addition to the LaserPen, I also have two other wonderful laser tools described below.

I  think we’re all a bit starved of light in this slow-to-emerge spring. We know that spring will come eventually, but in the meantime, we can turn our attention to getting light energy from sources other than the sun, namely, laser light.

If you want to know more about laser light and how it is used therapeutically, read on!

What is a laser?

LASER stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” Basically, a laser amplifies light at a specific wavelength, in a very narrow bandwidth, with high coherence. (The peaks and valleys of the wavelengths are consistent and even.) Don’t worry, you don’t have to understand the physics of laser light to understand how it affects you physiologically! 

There are two types of medical lasers: lasers for surgery and lasers for biostimulation/biomodulation (the stimulation and modulation of the metabolic functions of the human organism).  The latter is known as low-level, or cold laser, and it is the type of laser used therapeutically by many healthcare practitioners. 

Low-level lasers are becoming more common to treat wounds, injuries, pain, and skin issues, as well as being used to stimulate acupuncture points. There is also the possibility to exert a more systemic effect with laser treatment, thereby treating cardiovascular issues, immune issues, allergies, fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, diabetes, chronic liver and kidney diseases, among others. 

How do lasers work therapeutically?

The photons of light trigger the photoreceptors on the cells to transform light energy into cellular energy. The result is increased oxygen and ATP production. This increase in cellular energy stimulates systemic biochemical responses, including increased circulation and microcirculation, increased action potential of nerve cells, increased collagen synthesis (wound healing), balanced immune function, and mediation of pain signals. As you can see, laser light provides general stimulation of the entire organism.

A secondary effect of laser therapy is the transfer of bio-frequency information into the cells. Research has been done to determine which frequencies resonate with particular tissues. For example, treating nerve damage with laser light that has the frequency that resonates with healthy nerve tissue added to it, allows the nerve cells to synchronize with the healthy frequency for optimal results.

In order to achieve a good therapeutic effect with low-level laser therapy, it is important to use a laser that has enough power, but not too much. If there is too little power and subsequently too low a dose of laser light, there won’t be much of a therapeutic effect. Likewise, if the power and dosage are too high and fall beyond the therapeutic window, cellular response and function can be inhibited. 

This is why it is important to have high quality, well-researched equipment, that is built with the appropriate power and is programmed with settings designed to help the practitioner determine the proper dosages. With the right equipment, low-level laser therapy is completely safe, without negative side effects and highly effective.

The RJ LaserPen, designed and manufactured in Germany

The effect of the treatment also has a lot to do with the type (power, brand, accessory) of laser being used, the dosage of laser light given, and the tissue being targeted. 

The  RJ-Laser  equipment I am now using in my practice was designed and manufactured in Germany. RJ-Laser has been designing medical laser equipment for more than 30 years. They offer high-quality, well-researched products, with a wide assortment of laser tools for many different applications. 

At this time I have three different pieces of laser equipment, in addition to the base unit. The laser pen  featured above, can be used for auricular acupuncture as well as to treat body acupuncture points and small joints. I also have a cluster probe to treat larger muscles and joints, as well as a variety of skin pathologies. The most interesting attachment is the blood laser. This attachment targets the blood, offering a more systemic laser treatment. The blood laser will be featured in the upcoming issue of the newsletter with a more thorough explanation of how it works.

Taming the hot flash dragon

A common reason women visit Red Clover Clinic is to find relief from hot flashes associated with perimenopause and menopause. These seemingly random flushes of heat, often accompanied by sweat, can be very disruptive to daily life and, especially, to sleep.

Despite the fact that scientists haven’t figured out exactly why hot flashes occur, it is clear that they are associated with shifting hormones, more specifically the drop in estrogen levels that occurs around menopause. The two treatment protocols that I find most effective when treating hot flashes are German auricular acupuncture and herbal medicine approaches. 

What causes hot flashes and how can they be treated naturally?

Understanding the basic physiology behind hot flashes is important when deciding how to treat this uncomfortable and frustrating condition.

In addition to shifting hormones, the hypothalamus region of the brain is also likely involved. The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that links the nervous system with the endocrine (hormonal) system. This linkage is often referred to as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. When one part of this relay system changes, the whole system is affected. Interestingly, the hypothalamus plays a major role in temperature regulation of the body. It is responsible for many other things, including regulating sleep cycles and food and water intake.

No two women’s treatments are exactly alike, but typically they are variations on acupuncture and herbal medicine. Sometimes I use both approaches.

I prefer to treat women weekly until the hot flash symptoms have become very controlled. Then we have to find an appropriate maintenance schedule based on the individual’s needs. The treatment schedule is quite variable from woman to woman.

German auricular acupuncture

The primary reason that I prefer to treat hormone-related conditions with German auricular acupuncture is because there are specific points that relate to each individual hormone. There are also points that work to balance hormones from both the Western and the Chinese medicine paradigms. It is very precise work with excellent outcomes. 

I devoted the newsletters in the second half of 2012 to describing German auricular acupuncture and how it works. Please look to these three newsletters for more in-depth information about this powerful medicine:  July/August, September/October,  November/December. 

When treating hot flashes with auricular acupuncture, I tend to treat three major types of points: the estrogen point, hypothalamus point, and kidney-related points . I only treat points that are signified as “active,” indicated by low electrical conductance. I also select other points to treat according to other symptoms or complaints. 

• If the estrogen levels are very low and in need of support, the estrogen point is commonly active. The power of this point has become clear to me, because after a few treatments, treating this point occasionally backfires. An intense fluctuation caused by auricular acupuncture can cause a temporary increase in hot flash symptoms. My interpretation of this is that the brain has become almost over-sensitized to estrogen and its fluctuations.

• Since the hypothalamus is a system regulator rather than a specific hormone, treating the hypothalamus point is almost always helpful. It up-regulates and down-regulates as needed. It also has an impact on sleep, which is often disturbed by hot flashes, so it is kind of a two-for-one point.

• The kidney-related points enter into this protocol from a Chinese medicine perspective. As we age, it is normal for our kidney energy to become weaker and more deficient. And, most symptoms of menopause are associated with kidney deficiency. Therefore, supporting the kidneys is vital to successful treatment.  In German auricular acupuncture there are several points associated with the kidneys. The meridians are mapped on the ear, as they are on the body in other forms of acupuncture. I find three points on the kidney meridian to be effective in treating hot flashes, and they correlate with the body points: Kidney 1, Kidney 3, and Kidney 7. 

Herbal medicine  

There are many herbal approaches to treating hot flashes. What I have found to be most effective is creating a formula that isn’t limited to, but includes at least one or two of the following herbs: 

• White Sage (Salvia apiana)

• Vitex, a.k.a. Chaste Berry (Agnus castus)

• Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

• Motherwort (Leonurus cardica) and 

• Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata).

White Sage is almost always included, as it is astringent and helpful for general deficiency and sweating. Vitex and Black Cohosh are both powerful female hormone regulators. Motherwort is especially effective if the hot flashes that are accompanied by palpitations and anxiety. And Passionflower is calming and promotes sleep.

It has become common to think of Black Cohosh as the menopause herb; however many women say that it doesn’t work. In my opinion, it is important to select and combine herbs according to each individual person, not just the disease. Each person walks away with a combination of herbs in particular proportions unique to them. 

Furthermore, I find herbs to be most effective in their whole form. Oftentimes, when women have tried an herb like Black Cohosh, they have purchased a standardized extract, which is a pharmaceutical version of the herb. The specific constituent that is thought to be the active ingredient is separated and concentrated, as if it were a drug. Standardized extracts are more likely to cause side effects, and may not be assimilated by your body as well as a whole herb extract like a tincture or decoction.

If hot flashes are keeping you awake or affecting your quality of life, German auricular acupuncture, herbs, or a combination, may help. 

Testimonial

“I’ve been struggling for many years with anxiety/depression and recently was suffering from symptoms of hormonal imbalance. My nights were often riddled with panic attacks and I had an overwhelming sense of irrational fear. I started having irregular periods, sometimes not getting them at all… and the periodic hot flashes started. 

I began to see Anita at Red Clover Clinic for acupuncture and herbal medicine, and was amazed at how quickly I responded to the treatments and herbs. My nights became wonderfully quiet, as my mind was still and free of panic. My hormones have become balanced and I don’t get those pesky hot flashes. Now I continue to see Anita a few times a month, on a health maintenance basis. I am so happy to have her as my practitioner. She is caring, knowledgeable, and dedicated to her practice. Her clinic is inviting, comfortable, and cozy. I would highly recommend Red Clover Clinic!” – S.J.

Fend off the flu! 13 tips for 2013

The flu seems to be quite virulent this year. According to the latest statistics, this is considered to be the worst outbreak in a decade, with many flu-associated deaths. What can you do to protect yourself? Whether you are a proponent of the flu shot or not, the following tips will help to keep your immune system strong in 2013.

First…the everyday basics:

1. Wash your hands frequently.

2. Get 8-9 hours of sleep per night.

3. Get frequent, moderate exercise.

4. Drink a minimum of 64 ounces of clear water per day.

5. Limit sugar intake.

6. Limit alcohol intake

7. Avoid processed foods and focus on eating nutrient-dense foods (organic vegetables, nuts and seeds, organic hormone-free meats and eggs, fermented vegetables, etc.)

Second…the important additions:

8. Be sure you’re well nourished. To accomplish this, consider taking  Catalyn from Standard Process. It supports general nutrition by way of a whole food supplement.

9. Be sure your vitamin D levels are in the optimal range. You can request a blood test next time you visit your doctor. It’s a safe bet to take 4000-5000 IUs per day, especially during the fall, winter and spring. I like to take Biotics Bio-D-Mulsion in sesame oil, and have it available for purchase.

10. Take a good quality probiotic. Freshness is important. Buy from a store with good turnover. I prefer brands sold in natural foods stores/coops over those sold in big box stores. Standard Process makes a great product called  Prosynbiotic. 

11. Take Elderberry tincture or syrup both as a preventative and a treatment for the flu (see below). This is great for kids, because it tastes great!

12. Protect yourself from airborne bacteria and viruses by inhaling antimicrobial essential oils regularly (tea tree, eucalyptus, niaouli, nerolina, to name a few). My recommendation is to either diffuse Niaouli Melablend or use a Breathe inhaler (see below), both from Plant Extracts, International. 

13. And, last but not least, GET REGULAR ACUPUNCTURE! Studies  have shown that acupuncture promotes the production of T cells in the body, which help to ward off harmful bacteria and viruses. (Neuroscience Letters, 2010) 

Many studies have proven the effectiveness of Elderberry to prevent and treat the flu. One is listed in this article . Elderberry grows throughout our area, and is found in many city parks. Next summer consider collecting some and making a delicious syrup out of it! If you need Elderberry’s healing properties now, I have the tincture available.

Breathe inhalers are handy little things to carry in your pocket. Any time you’re exposed to sickness, unscrew the top and inhale deeply to fight off bacteria or viruses that are on the attack. You can also inhale through your mouth to be sure your whole respiratory track is protected. Red Clover Clinic stocks inhalers from Plant Extracts International.

Standard Process whole food supplements

I have personally enjoyed the benefits of Standard Process whole foods supplements and introduced them into my practice in October. I’d like to share with you what I learned about these useful supplements during an educational weekend touring their impressive facility in Palmyra, WI. 

The company

Standard Process is the first and oldest whole food supplement company in the United States, started by Royal Lee in 1929. Their products have been sold through health professionals since that time. They grow as many of their raw materials as possible on their 1,000 acres of organically certified land. This nutrient-rich soil is tested, along with incoming raw materials and the final product, at every stage of production in an in-house quality-control lab.

Whole food supplements

The best way to nourish your body is by eating a diet rich in whole foods. Unfortunately, most of us fall short when it comes to getting the variety and quality of food we need, not to mention the fact that many vegetables are being grown in soils that have been stripped of many necessary nutrients by conventional farming methods. If you are taking any prescription and/or non-prescription drugs, you may be losing nutrients as well. This is where supplementation comes in, but not all supplements are created equal.

Most supplements on the market are made up of synthetic vitamins and minerals. A synthetic vitamin is an isolated chemical that has been identified as the active constituent of a vitamin complex molecule. This is the pharmaceutical version of nutrition. Studies have shown that the body better absorbs nutrients when taking them by a vitamin in its whole food form, rather than in isolation.

By combining concentrated whole foods, Standard Process is able to create supplements that go above and beyond the synthetic variety. Whole food nutrition includes the following important components: (1) synergistic nutrients, (2) glandular support, and (3) phytonutrients. 

1. As mentioned above, single vitamins taken out of a whole food may not be as effective in promoting health as eating the food itself. Each food has its nutrients and synergistic cofactors that provide you with the most effective, well-balanced nutritional supplement. 

2. Animal glandular tissues provide nutrients to stimulate the corresponding tissues in humans, enhancing natural cell and tissue repair. This particularly appeals to my Chinese medicine background, since it is common practice to recommend eating the part of an animal that is weak in your own body. In the modern Western world, we have practically stopped eating organ meats, and have thereby lost a lot of nutrition and healing potential.

3. Phytonutrients are nutrients found in plants that are necessary to maintain health. They have many purposes, including supporting the immune system, supporting cellular communication, acting as antioxidants, etc.

Standard Process makes over 175 supplement products to both support general health and to treat particular disorders and deficiencies. In most cases, it is recommended that the supplements be taken with each meal since your body absorbs supplements best when all its digestive functions are active. 

Red Clover Clinic has many Standard Process products in stock. If you are interested in learning more about general nutrition or treating a particular complaint, please feel free to contact me!

German auricular acupuncture: a case study and patient report

I continue to be impressed with the results of German auricular acupuncture on clients of Red Clover Clinic. I’d like to share a case study and first-person patient account of this powerful treatment.

If you recall, the last issue of Red Clover Clinic Newsletter described the concept of focus points in German auricular acupuncture. A quick review: our ears have points that harbor a body/brain memory of a particular stress or trauma we have experienced. ” Focus” activity can be a chronic burden on the system, preventing it from returning to its previous level of homeostasis. Treating focus points can help to clear the stressful body memory and potentially heal chronic afflictions that don’t seem to respond to other treatments. A few needles can clear past trauma and promote healing, as you shall see.

A case study

A 55-year-old woman who had been coming to me for acupuncture and bodywork was interested in experiencing a German auricular acupuncture session. She had a history of several injuries and two surgeries: an appendectomy and bunion surgery. Her main complaints were pain and tightness around her tailbone (pain level of 4 on a scale of 10) and tightness along her lower thoracic spine on the right side (pain level 2 on a scale of 10). These were chronic conditions for which she had undergone years of physical training and various treatments to correct. 

The injury that stood out as the most significant was a horseback riding injury at age 17. The saddle slid off the horse’s back, and she was dragged by her left leg.  She blacked out and remembers waking up with pain in her left hip and the right side of her back.

First, I did a preliminary scan of the ear, using a 3-Volt Hammer (a device with two points with opposite polarity), to determine which points on the ear needed to be tested for activity. The testing itself is done with a piece of equipment called the Pointoselct Digital DT. This tool measures the electrical conductance of each point. The lower the conductance, the more active the point. The most active points are the points selected for treatment. Five points were selected and needled–one that corresponds to the tailbone on both sides, a point that correlated with the thoracic region, and two functional points that help mediate pain.

While resting with the needles, the client had the sensation of having the wind knocked out of her two separate times. She had to concentrate on breathing through the episodes. After getting up off the table, she felt that her whole tailbone region had released. She felt no pain, and noticed that her leg stayed properly aligned when she walked. 

Twenty-four hours following the treatment, the client reported that her right lower back had loosened up a lot, which made any discomfort in her thoracic region and upper back almost disappear. She also mentioned that she had a slight fever the night of the treatment and into the next morning.

I find this case to be interesting, because not only was there a clear improvement in the symptoms, there was also a body experience that was relived and then released. This experience sped up the client’s progress in her physical training. She continues to get occasional auricular treatments when something feels stuck.

A patient report

“I have been a patient of Anita’s for a few years, to get rid of a chronic cough and deal with some premenopausal symptoms. Herbs, both western and Chinese, as well as regular acupuncture, were used with good effect over that period of time.

“As menopause approached and hot flashes increased, Anita mentioned that German auricular acupuncture was particularly effective for hormonal conditions. I was game to try, even though the needles used are slightly larger than for Chinese acupuncture and thus can be momentarily more uncomfortable.

“I always experience a feeling of relaxation during an acupuncture treatment, but the sensation was much more pronounced during my first German auricular session. I became aware of how much nervous tension I carry in my body. The calm, level feeling continued for a full day. I was hoping it would go on forever! Though it did not, alas, the overall effect of multiple treatments over time is noticeable.

“And what about the hot flashes? After two treatments, spaced a week apart, they virtually disappeared for a month. I thought that was that, but they did return, though fewer and less intense. A treatment every month or so has kept them under control.”

Herbal teas for cold and flu season

It’s that time of year, cold and flu season. If you are unlucky enough to succumb, the best antidote for a miserable cold with body aches, chills, and fever is to sweat. Drinking a warm herbal tea with diaphoretic (sweat promoting) properties and wrapping up in heavy blankets will help you to sweat out the illness and recover more quickly. Here are two tasty and effective options.

Yarrow, elderflower, and peppermint tea

• 1/2 tsp. dried yarrow flowers

• 1/2 tsp. dried elderflowers

• 1/2 tsp. dried peppermint leaves

• 12 oz. boiling water

A small teapot is convenient, because it has two necessary items: a lid and an infuser. A large mug can be used as well, but you will need either a disposable tea bag or a tea ball, as well as a small plate to use as a lid. The lid is important, because it traps all the volatile oils and prevents them from evaporating into the air. These oils are the active ingredients that promote sweat and circulation, so don’t lose them! 

Place the dried herbs into the infuser, pour the boiling water into the pot, and cover. Steep for 20 minutes. Pour the tea into a mug and enjoy. Then wrap yourself up in bed and sweat out your cold. This can be repeated 2-3 times per day until you feel better.

Ginger and honey tea

• 4 quarter-size slices of fresh ginger

• honey, to taste

Follow the directions for the previous tea, placing the fresh ginger in the infuser. Stir in the honey after removing the infuser. The addition of honey to this tea is particularly soothing to a sore throat. 

If you’re in need of a good source of high-quality, organic, dried herbs, I suggest Mountain Rose Herbs.

What is unique about German auricular acupuncture?

In the last issue of the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter you learned about German auricular acupuncture and why the ear provides us with such a powerful landscape from which to treat the whole body. Here’s a quick review: 

• The brain projects a representative map of the entire body onto the ear. 

• Any injuries and illnesses are part of this projection. 

• Treating these areas has a healing effect on the related parts of the body. 

Now I would like to focus on the different types of points that can be found on the ear, as well as what makes the German system of auricular acupuncture unique among its other auricular counterparts (Chinese and French).

Types of points on the ear

There are three types of points we look for and use on the ear: 

1. Reflex points, also known as anatomical points, are the most basic, shared in all the systems of auriculotherapy. Each part of the body (knee, forehead, liver eye, etc.) has a corresponding point on the ear. If you put a needle in the liver point, you have a direct effect on the liver. 

2. Functional points exert a certain influence on the body systemically. There are functional points that calm the nervous system, lessen inflammation, alleviate pain, regulate hormone levels, and more.

3. Focus points are reflex or functional points that harbor a body/brain memory of a particular stress or trauma on one’s body. Injuries, illnesses, surgeries and emotional trauma can all cause focus activity in a point.

What makes German auricular medicine unique?

It is recognition and treatment of focus activity (#3, above) that makes  German auricular medicine unique among its other auricular counterparts. This is very important, because a failure to heal may be due to focus activity that is still plaguing the body. Once the focus activity is cleared, the body can heal. In other words, people suffering from longstanding afflictions that don’t seem to respond to other treatments may have the opportunity to heal if old focus activity is cleared.

The rain barrel theory

Focus activity tends to be a chronic burden on the system, preventing it from returning to its previous level of homeostasis. A great illustration of how focus activity overloads the body is the rain barrel theory. 

The body collects the impact of stress, injuries, and trauma as if it were a rain barrel. As the rainwater level reaches the top, there is a danger of it spilling over. Sometimes it takes just one or two drops too many to cause the barrel to overflow. Each individual has the capacity to handle only so many stressors before their rain barrel overflows and a cascade of symptoms appear.

In order to effectively recover from these types of scenarios, you must either make your rain barrel bigger, or drain it. It is possible to make your rain barrel bigger by reducing stress, improving diet, getting better sleep, exercising, meditating, and taking more vacations.  To drain your rain barrel, German auricular medicine is a good choice, because it offers methods to both identify and clear focus activity. 

How full is your rain barrel?

Blue Vervain - identification and uses

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) has many medicinal uses. I primarily use it to calm and ease all types of tension in the body. Tension can result in many conditions including spasms, tremors, pain, hypertension, headaches, dizziness, emotional tension, ADHD, menstrual and menopausal complaints, and more.

Blue Vervain is an attractive plant that produces spikes of small purple flowers. It is a North American native that grows abundantly throughout the Great Plains region and beyond. It is a close relative of its European cousin, Verbena officinalis.

It is important to distinguish Blue Vervain from another North American cousin, Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta) when collecting for medicinal purposes. Even though these two plants have a lot in common, their medicinal effects are slightly different.  The most noticeable distinguishing characteristic is that Hoary Vervain has fuzzy leaves, and Blue Vervain doesn’t. Hoary Vervain’s flowers are also slightly bigger than Blue Vervain’s.

Blue Vervain – Verbena hastata

Hoary Vervain – Verbena stricta

German auricular acupuncture: its history and how it works

Over the past few months, I have been learning and practicing German auricular acupuncture, and have been very impressed by the results. The first question everyone asks is: “German acupuncture??” And the second question is: “Why the ear?” Read on for the answer to these questions. I hope to pique your interest in this interesting and effective medicine in a two-part article that will continue in the next issue.

History of auricular acupuncture

The two words “German” and “acupuncture” don’t seem like they should go together. But in fact, they do. Body acupuncture, the acupuncture that first comes to mind, is definitely of Chinese origin. Auricular acupuncture began in China as well, but its in-depth development occurred in Europe, beginning in the 1950s. As the story goes, the French neurologist Dr. Paul Nogier noticed a scar on the ears of several of his patients. The patients reported that the scars were the result of an effective treatment for sciatica, performed by a lay practitioner. Nogier was intrigued, and proceeded to do further research, ultimately discovering that the entire body is mapped on the ear in the configuration of an upside down fetus.

In 1956, Nogier’s findings were published in an international acupuncture journal. The Chinese adopted this ground-breaking, foundational information, and built upon it using the traditional Chinese medicine system. As Nogier continued to research auriculotherapy, he worked together with Dr. Frank Bahr of Germany and Dr. Rene Bourdiol of France. Through these connections, European auriculotherapy continued to develop in France and Germany.

The French, German, and Chinese systems share a lot in common, but there are distinctive features within each system. Next month I will explain what makes the German system unique and powerful.

Why the ear?

As Nogier discovered, the ear contains a representative map of the entire body, including the musculoskeletal system, the organs, and the central nervous system. This map is projected onto the ear by the brain. The brain is a relay of sorts, by way of which we recognize and experience illnesses and pain syndromes in our body. Those experiences are then projected by the brain onto the ear. By treating the ear, a signal is recognized by the brain, and sent to the part of the body in need of help. In other words, the ears give the practitioner a two-way avenue for direct communication with the brain in a way that impacts healing anywhere in the body.

The practitioner inspects the ear for changes in structure, color, tenderness, and electrical conductance that signifies pain, illness or any other physiological change. The “active” points that relate to the pathology are then treated with a needle or electrical stimulation. This treatment will interrupt the brain’s “sick” communication signal, and allow the body to restore its natural balance, thereby correcting the pain and/or illness.

As discussed in the May-June 2012 Newsletter , chronic pain is often perpetuated by a habituated pain cycle, long after the tissues are healed. When this communication signal is interrupted, the body can heal itself and return to a state of balance. Auricular acupuncture is an effective and efficient way to interrupt the pain cycle, thereby decreasing one’s level of pain.

Testimonials

After several car accidents, I was struggling with lower back pain due to a herniated disc and pain in my right hip and sacrum. I consulted with several chiropractors and received many treatments over the course of four months’ time. During this time I saw slight improvement, but it was rather minimal. I became depressed and hopeless, unable to exercise, sit down for longer than 15 minutes, bend or lift. The only way I could experience comfort was by reclining. Eventually I had to go out on disability, unable to perform the functions of my job.

Willing to try anything, I consulted with Anita Teigen from the Red Clover Clinic. She has helped me in the past with various ailments, and I thought she may have some insight about my current situation. She suggested trying out German auricular acupuncture. I had never heard of this, but she thought it would be particularly helpful because not only could it treat the problem quickly, but she had noticed it tended to clear issues for the long-term, not requiring multiple follow-up visits. I figured I would give it a try. After the first visit, I noticed my pain was reduced slightly. However, it was the second visit that really convinced me.  After the second visit, my level of pain went from a 6 to a 2. I can now sit for hours at a time, bend more easily and even exercise. My range of motion is greatly improved and I am no longer in constant pain. I did not believe this would be possible after four months of chiropractic treatment that led nowhere, but the auricular acupuncture really did the trick for me.  I am still battling some back issues, but they are nowhere near what they used to be. My life has dramatically improved and I owe that to Anita!  -M.S.

I was really excited about my recent EAR TREATMENT. The pain and stiffness in my neck and low back is very persistent and has been a recurrent challenge for years. I typically handle this problem with acupuncture, chiropractic, and yoga as well as massage. These treatments always feel good, but these areas are still tied up in knots. However, I immediately felt a difference in the pain and stiffness. The area of complaint is now isolated to just the left side. I have way more mobility in my neck and back. It is such a change. I am really looking forward to seeing how follow up treatments will improve not only this area, but others! Woo Hoo! Thanks Anita.  – M.L.

A summer herb walk

Red Clover

The herb red clover is, of course, the namesake of Red Clover Clinic. I am often asked the question: “Why red clover?” 

I have had a fondness for red clover since I was a child. I’m pretty sure that along with dandelions, red clover was one of my first live herb interactions. I remember running through the pasture on my grandparents’ farm, picking red clovers and plucking out the individual petals to suck the sweet nectar out of them. I have always thought that red clovers have a joyful, playful energy, so what better name for my clinic? 

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a lymphatic herb and is used to treat abnormal swelling.  It is also cool and moistening to dry and irritable tissues.

Motherwort

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is a member of the mint family and is one of the most commonly used herbs in my clinic.  It is soothing to highly stressed people, suffering from anxiety, palpitations, and insomnia. It is a heart tonic, and it calms the sympathetic nervous system. Though quite bitter, people really enjoy motherworts soothing effects.

Sweet Leaf

Sweet leaf (Monarda fistulosa) is a wonderful herb that is native to North America. It is known by many names, including wild bergamot, bee balm, and wild oregano. Like motherwort, it is also a member of the mint family.

Sweet leaf is pungent and stimulating, much like its cousin oregano. It is especially useful when the digestion isn’t working properly, be it constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, gallbladder congestion, etc. It is also effective in cases of urinary tract infections, both acute and chronic, as well as fevers.

Interrupting the pain cycle

When it comes to pain, it’s all in our heads. 

 Actually, pain is experienced by way of our brains, via a cycle described in detail below. Pain can be acute, resolved quickly, or chronic, variously defined as lasting longer than 3 to 6 months. Acupuncture is particularly helpful in interrupting the pain cycle, especially for chronic pain. Herbs and bodywork are useful as well, depending on the condition.

 The pain cycle

Pain receptors, called nociceptors, are found in any area of the body that can feel pain. These sensory receptors respond to any dangerous stimulus, to warn us of potential injury or illness. A perfect example is if you stick your finger into a flame. The nociceptors in the skin of your finger are activated when the stimulus reaches a certain threshold and transmit a warning signal to the brain. The brain then sends a pain signal, causing you to pull your finger back out of the flame. 

 Communication between your finger and your brain is complicated by chemical mediators, which increase the sensitivity of the nociceptors, and hormones, which increase the sensation of pain and cause inflammation. To use the finger/flame example, the more inflammation there is in the body, the more painful that flame will feel. In other words, your state of health, including your stress levels, may contribute to prolonged or exaggerated pain.

 In cases of chronic pain, nociceptors become sensitized and overreact to a normal stimulus. This is the case when the original source of the pain is completely healed, but the person still experiences great pain or when the experience of pain exceeds the extent of the injury. In essence, the brain gets stuck in a rut and continues to send pain signals unnecessarily.

 In Chinese medicine, it is believed that pain is caused by the stagnation of Qi and blood. To treat the pain, we must move Qi and blood and break up stagnation. If the condition is particularly chronic, it is likely complicated by inherent deficiency in the body. Manual therapies like acupuncture and bodywork physically break up stagnation in the body, and allow it to heal. Herbs that move Qi and blood help to support this healing process. In the cases complicated by deficiency, herbs are particularly useful, to tonify and nourish the system and speed up the healing.

Treatment

Treating chronic pain can be challenging. I like to use a combination of treatments, depending on the situation. First, I would encourage you to clean up your diet, avoiding inflammatory foods (sugar, fast and processed foods, vegetable oils, refined grains, additives, excess dairy, commercially produced meats, and alcohol) and increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and wild-caught fish.

Acupuncture is particularly effective in treating chronic pain. One of its mechanisms is to interrupt the habituated pain signal to and from the brain. By distracting the brain with the insertion of an acupuncture needle or two, the brain can reset itself, allowing the body to return to a state of homeostasis. This treatment may need to be repeated several times, to retrain the brain permanently.

In cases of chronic degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis in joints, acupuncture is useful to manage the pain and slow down the degenerative process. It decreases sensitivity, moderates inflammation, and calms the nervous system. Treatment intervals vary greatly in these cases, depending on the person and the severity of their condition.

Bodywork is particularly useful for chronic pain conditions involving tight muscles and fascia. Bodywork helps to increase circulation and flush out contracted tissues. If pain is caused by active trigger points, bodywork is very effective. The March/April 2012 Red Clover Clinic newsletter discussed treating myofascial pain (pain in the muscles and connective tissues). 

Finally, herbal medicines help heal pain in particular structures in the body, such as the joints, the spine, the nerves, and spastic muscles. Other herbs work to increase circulation and decrease inflammation. 

If you have concerns with chronic pain, contact me at Red Clover Clinic.

Spring allergies: a personal case history

I thought you might enjoy a spring allergy story–mine. Herbs came to the rescue, though I had to try a few to get full relief. These may or may not work for you; everyone’s case is different and ought to be assessed.

A few weeks ago, my throat started to feel sore, and I felt congested. It didn’t really feel like a cold, and I’m not accustomed to allergy symptoms. The symptoms just hung around for a few days and I was getting more and more irritated by them. Then, they got worse. 

I woke up one morning and my throat was sore and itchy, I had post-nasal drip, and I sounded very congested. When I got to work, the first herb I though of was burdock, my favorite herb to treat allergies. I took 6 drops of tincture under my tongue and waited a few minutes. It felt like my symptoms were calming down a bit. So, I took another 6 drops. My sinuses cleared out a lot, but I still sounded congested. I decided I was on the right track, and continued taking the burdock tincture throughout the day, every hour or so. 

By the next morning I felt a lot better. While driving to work, however, my eyes started running like a faucet. My nose joined in. I knew I better act fast. I went back to my herb kit and tried a couple of different things… nothing worked. Then I thought of nettles, which is very astringent/drying and commonly used to treat allergy symptoms. I took 6 drops and felt an improvement within a couple of minutes. I took another dose, and my eyes cleared completely. Throughout the day I continued to take both burdock and nettles, whenever I started to feel symptoms. During the 3 following days, I took approximately 3 doses per day. And now I’m down to 1 to 2 doses per day. 

Whatever the allergen was, it is either barely affecting me, or it got washed away in the rain. Either way, I’m thankful for my green friends. Today, on my walk, I took photos of these powerful plants to share with you.

Burdock

Nettles

Pain in the muscles and connective tissues

At some point we have all experienced pain in the muscles and their surrounding connective tissues, known as myofascial pain. Some people experience this kind of pain, whether widespread or localized, at all times.

Regardless of level of severity, it is important to address myofasical pain and whatever is causing it, whether to prevent the pain from becoming more chronic or to prevent structural changes that may occur due to chronically tightened and shortened muscles. In most cases, these conditions respond well to a combination of acupuncture and bodywork. Let’s look at the various conditions and how Red Clover Clinic addresses them.

Fibromyalgia

Chronic, widespread myofascial pain is often diagnosed as fibromyalgia, a term that has gradually seeped into everyday usage over the past 20 years and become a well-recognized condition. It is estimated that 2 to 4 percent of the population suffers from fibromyalgia. In addition to chronic myofascial pain, symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood disorders, and fatigue. The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it is definitely triggered and exacerbated by emotional and physical stress.

With fibromyalgia, the body has become hypersensitive to stimulus, which is registered by the brain as pain. Acupuncture can often interrupt this pain circuit, thereby reducing the client’s level of pain. Acupuncture is also a great way to reduce overall stress, by switching the nervous system from “fight-or-flight” (sympathetic) status to one of rest, relaxation, and digestion (parasympathetic) mode.

Bodywork is also useful in treating fibromyalgia, but it is crucially important to work within the limits of the client’s pain tolerance. Interestingly, pain tolerance increases when the body is in a parasympathetic state. Deep tissue work is therefore typically not recommended; gentle myofascial release is preferred.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome and localized pain

With myofascial pain syndrome the pain is less widespread than it typically is in fibromyalgia. It is typical for a person with this condition to feel some level of localized pain at all times, as well as decreased range of motion and sleep and mood disturbances.

Myofascial pain syndrome pain tends to be referred pain caused by trigger points. As we learned in the January/February 2012 Newsletter a trigger point is a specific, tender point in the myofascial tissue that, when stimulated, elicits referred pain, that is, pain that occurs at a distance from the specific tender point.

We know that trigger point locations and pain patterns are consistent from person to person and that they become activated by lack of blood flow in the local area. This lack of blood flow could be caused by either metabolic reasons (nutrient deficiencies, for example) or physical stress (posture issues, repetitive use injuries).

For myofascial pain syndrome and localized myofascial pain, the primary focus is to treat active trigger points, and release the fascia where it is restricting proper function and causing pain. Acupuncture can be used as described above, with the addition of needling the active trigger points directly. This will often help to restore circulation in the local area and reset the muscle.

Bodywork is a very important part of treating this kind of pain. A combination of neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, and positional release therapy work wonders to release the chronically tightened tissue, reduce pain, and restore proper function to the muscles. See the previous issue for definitions of these techniques.

Red Clover Clinic offers “Mix and Match” sessions which allow enough time to treat chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia and myofacial pain syndrome, that require a combination of acupuncture and bodywork.

A testimonial

Anita provides a unique combination of therapeutic techniques that have been instrumental in decreasing both my direct as well as related symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome. Through careful interviewing at the start of each session, she is able to determine where the needs of the day reside within the whole treatment plan, which she has carefully developed over several weeks, beginning with an in-depth 90 minute intake interview/consultation.

Given the fact that myofascial pain is often exacerbated by stress and can be accompanied by migraines and sleep difficulties, Anita frequently varies treatments to address these concerns. Various modalities that have been very beneficial for me have been primarily a combination of acupuncture and massage, but also some cupping, electrical stimulation, and oriental medicine (herbs).

My greatest reasons for trust in Anita as a healer comes not only from her extensive and solid experience and competence, but from her warm and caring demeanor that leads the patient to feel that they are always welcome and never a burden. This is truly the measure of a great practitioner. –A.S.

Herbs influence our emotions

When analyzing pharmaceutical medications, we generally discuss their therapeutic actions, chemical properties, and possible side effects. Many people approach medicinal herbs in the same manner. I think this is shortsighted, however, because plants interact with and nourish us on many levels–nutritional, medicinal, cultural, emotional, and psycho-spiritual.

I recently discovered a charming 20-year-old book called Herbal Therapy for Women, by Elisabeth Brooke (Thorsons, 1992). Brooke discusses the emotional as well as the physical uses of each plant. Some of her ideas were very familiar to me and some were new. 

Here are a few highlights of Brooke’s emotional uses of a three local plants, accompanied by photos that I took last summer.  

Linden Blossom

“A remedy for those who need more love in their lives, who find it hard to receive love, to express love. Such people may have been damaged as children, suffered cruelty at the hands of others; perhaps they have had traumatic experiences in relationships or been abused. They hid their vulnerability behind a mask of coldness and indifference, but they are highly sensitive. [Linden blossom] is for those who are givers, but find it hard to receive; for those who seem cut off from warmth, who are distant, who are difficult to reach. It softens, warms and helps build trust and a willingness to open up to others.”

St. John’s Wort

“St. John’s Wort is used for [those] who have lost their direction in life, who need to contact their inner selves, who want to reorientate. It is especially useful for strong, capable people, who for various reasons have lost sight of themselves and need help to find their road again.” 

Yarrow

“Yarrow is [a] warrior herb. For the fighters, who are defenders of the weak, the needy, the helpless, who want to fight institutions, patriarchal structures, injustice wherever it occurs. It is also for those fighting internal battles against addictions, mental illness, depression and fear. Yarrow strengthens and solidifies, and gives courage and energy to continue struggling.”

Coming to terms with your diet

Would you like to have more energy and better overall health? At the cusp of the new year, many of us come to terms with old habits that no longer serve us and set new goals for our well-being. Consider making one of those resolutions reducing or eliminating those sweet things that do some not-so-sweet things to your body: sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners.

When discussing diet with my clients, I often hear phrases like “I only have one per day” or, “I only have one per week.” This concerns me, because evidence suggests that consuming even small quantities of low-quality foods and drinks, such as sweetened beverages, is enough to have a significant deleterious impact on one’s health.

I recently came across a study from the Harvard School of Public Health that found that drinking one to two sweetened drinks (fruit drinks, iced tea, energy and vitamin water drinks) per day increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 26 percent.

Diet drinks not a panacea

If you’re thinking, “I’m okay because I drink diet soda,” think again. There was a 25-year-long epidemiological study done at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio that showed the more diet sodas a person drinks, the greater the chance that he or she will become overweight or obese: “On average, for each diet soft drink our participants drank per day, they were 65 percent more likely to become overweight during the next seven to eight years, and 41 percent more likely to become obese.”

This discussion isn’t only about weight gain; it’s really about overall health. People suffering from fatigue, chronic headaches, muscle aches, skin issues, depression, and dizziness should seriously consider examining what they are consuming and, more importantly, abandoning their daily doses of sugar, high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners.

Avoid dropping below the baseline

There are people who seem to be able to tolerate potentially harmful habits, and then there are those who can’t seem to tolerate the tiniest little digression. Some of this comes down to constitution, but here’s another way to think about it.

Imagine that you begin with a certain amount of energy to go about your life, which includes the ability to tolerate stressors of all kinds. As you live your life, stressors (high-pressure job, little sleep, poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.) deduct from that baseline amount of energy. If you aren’t doing things to replenish your energy, such as getting sufficient rest and exercise and eating nutritious foods, your gauge will likely drop below “empty.” 

That’s when negative symptoms start to pop up, especially as you get older. When you are young, you may tolerate and recover faster from the effects of more caffeine, more sugar, more alcohol, less sleep, more stress. As you age, this threshold drops off, and you require more recovery time and healthier habits.

Please consider starting the year off right by treating yourself to healthier food choices. Following an adjustment period, you will begin to feel better, have more energy, and be glad to turn away from those sweet nothings. If you have questions, I’m happy to talk to you at your next appointment.

Know your bodywork techniques

Red Clover Clinic uses a variety of techniques to treat pain conditions such as pain in the low and upper back, neck, shoulders, and joints; chronic headaches; TMJ dysfunction; and carpal tunnel syndrome. 

I typically achieve the best results by applying a combination of acupuncture and one or more healing techniques. These “Mix and Match” sessions are effective for complex musculoskeletal conditions and complicated cases.

Below is a glossary of bodywork techniques that will be useful now, and in preparation for the next newsletter’s focus on myofascial pain–pain that occurs in the muscle and its surrounding connective tissue. 

Neuromuscular therapy takes the interplay and pathology of nerve and muscle tissues into consideration. A variety of techniques are used, including gliding pressure through the tissues, highly specific applied pressure to trigger points*, and stretching, to address bio-mechanical issues: trigger points*, nerve entrapments and compression, postural issues, and hypertonic (chronically tightened) muscles.

Trigger point therapy addresses active trigger points* by applying sustained pressure, often combined with some stretching of the tissue, until it releases. Self-treatment can be done between sessions using thumb pressure, lying and pressing against tennis balls, or using a Theracane.

*Trigger points are specific, tender points that, when stimulated, elicit “referred” pain, i.e. pain that occurs at a distance from the specific point. Interestingly, these points have been mapped according to what muscle they occur in and are consistent from person to person.]

Myofascial release focuses primarily on the fascial (connective tissue) system. Sustained pressure is used to engage and stretch the elastic tissues until the the contracted area softens and releases.

Positional release therapy is a more passive and indirect method than the previously mentioned therapies. The client’s body is moved into a position that gives slack to tightened tissues, inducing a release of fascial tension. This release decreases muscle tension and restores joint mobility, thus decreasing pain and increasing functional mobility and flexibility. In essence, the muscle resets itself, and is no longer stuck in its contracted state.

Craniosacral therapy is a subtle, but deep-acting, technique that uses the cranial bones, as well as the sacrum (triangular bone at the base of the spine), as handles to unwind and release adhesions in the meningeal (protective) membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This method restores proper movement of the cranial bones and can be helpful to treat, among other things, back and neck pain, chronic headaches, TMJ syndrome, and stress.