Australian researchers, conducting a study with nearly 3,500 women in several countries compared the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine to other therapies, and a placebo in relieving menstrual cramps. Menstrual pain effects half of all women, and an even larger percentage of teenage girls. The lead author Xiaoshu Zhu from the Centre for Continue Reading
A Mountain Biker’s Secret Tip for Avoiding Poison Oak
Spring is here and the flowers are going crazy in San Diego. Unfortunately, so is another fixture of our local canyons and parks, poison oak. I have been an avid mountain biker for years, and have never allowed poison oak to dissuade me from riding a favorite trail. Usually, I never pick it up unless I get lazy and forget to apply my secret Continue Reading
Treating Stress with Acupuncture
How many of us are not affected by the daily toll of stress? Most of us living in San Diego are aware of the stress that comes from trying to make it in one of America's most expensive cities. It is said that stress plays a roll in a majority of complaints that bring people to the doctor's office, from migraine and tension headaches to ulcerative Continue Reading
Temperature charting can help with treating infertility
It might be a bit of a chore, but I find temperature charting to be an invaluable tool in the treatment of female fertility related problems. Tracking your basal body temperature allows us a glimpse into the unique cycle of your body. It gives me, the acupuncturist, objective information that we can compare to your pulse, tongue and case history Continue Reading
Study links cellphone use and poor sperm quality
Men with sperm quality issues may do well to cut down on cell phone usage. In a study published by Fertility and Sterility, research suggests a tie between cell phone usage and poor semen quality. I fear this study may not get enough attention. Using 361 male subjects, the study found that the more hours the men spent talking on cell phones, the Continue Reading
New study supports acupunture and IVF
A new study is helping to show the effectiveness of acupuncture's to help women undergoing IVF get pregnant. The analysis was lead by Eric Manheimer, a researcher at University of Maryland School of Medicine, and funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The study combines the results of seven smaller studies from Continue Reading
Fertility Tips From an Acupuncturist
Anybody who is having trouble conceiving, or is worried they are having fertility problems, would do well to follow very some good ancient and modern advice. Consider Chinese Dietary Therapy: If your daily meals resemble the "typical American diet," chances are that the foods you are eating run counter to what Eastern medicine would consider the Continue Reading
Lower Back Pain? Simple Steps to Optimal Back Care
Did you know that 80% of Americans will be affected by back pain at some point in their lives? Even more shocking, is that 50% of all patients who suffer from an episode of low back pain will have a recurrent episode within one year. The main causes of back pain are strain to the back muscles and direct spinal injury. Luckily, early intervention Continue Reading