Stress and Aging, Telomeres and Qi Stagnation

Here is an interesting article on a scientific explanation of how stress may shorten lifespan and encourage diseases of aging. It focuses on telomeres, a name you probably remember vaguely from Biology classes and which determine lifespan in cells. The interesting connection is that stress hormones can interfere with the work of telomerase, causing problems in overall health.

Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco have discovered an enzyme that plays a key role in normal cell function, as well as in cell aging and most cancers. It's called telomerase, and it produces tiny units of DNA that seal off the ends of chromosomes, which contain the body's genes.

The DNA units are called telomeres, and among other things they work to protect the quality of the gene, and how often a cell divides which determines the lifespan of the cells. What's exciting about this discovery is the notion that telomeres can be lengthened to prolong cell life — and along the way treat age-related diseases like blindness, cardiovascular problems and neurodegenerative disorders.

I find this connection very interesting for its parallels in Chinese Medicine. The Chinese Diagnostic system says that stress blocks the free and easy flow of Qi (or energy) through the body. Where these blockages occur most densely, Blood can also be blocked -- often causing pain. Phelgm can accumulate -- causing adhesions or tumors. Over time, the body tissues are left unnourished and begin to fail in their functions. Heat can accumulate and begin to dry the tissues and burn away the body's Vital Essence (or Jing), leading to premature aging and the diseases of aging. This is a poetic description from doctors working thousands of years ago, and it sounds strange in our modern scientific culture, and, yet, to me it sounds much like a description of Telomeres shortening prematurely and millions of body cells failing in their function.

Looking at the situation from either perspective, the importance of stress control is clear. Whether you use exercise, acupuncture, meditation, herbs and supplements (including antioxidants and glutathione), or laughing with friends -- reducing stress can lead to a healthier and longer life.

Byron Russell

Yoga For Cancer Survivors

CNN Health recently put up a good article on the usefulness of gentle restorative Yoga for cancer survivors. Check out the full article here: Yoga for Cancer Patients

Here are the highlights:

1 Yoga can help cancer patients sleep better, feel more energized, cut back on sleep meds
2 Cancer patients often report having sleep problems after receiving chemo or radiation
3 31 percent who took yoga were sleeping soundly, compared to 16 percent of the control group

I think any form of gentle, contemplative exercise would help, including Tai Chi and Qi Gong Meditation. And, of course, I always recommend acupuncture!

Byron Russell

Easing Nausea Symptoms in Hospitals, Acupuncture More Effective

Here's a comment from a pediatrician from the NY Times Hospital Health Section on the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating nausea in children and adults. It is surprising that this safe effective treatment is not used more.

Re ''Answers Fall Short for Nausea After Surgery'' (Second Opinion, Oct. 3): As an academic integrative pediatrician often consulted to work with children suffering from postoperative nausea and vomiting, I read Denise Grady's piece this morning with great interest.

I was surprised, however, to see no mention of one of the more effective, evidence-based approaches to this troublesome and common complication. Acupuncture and acupressure, specifically applied to the P6 (Neiguan) point, has been demonstrated in both children and adults to be both a safe and effective treatment for postoperative nausea and vomiting, often with fewer side effects than conventional medication therapies.

Lawrence D. Rosen
Valhalla, N.Y.

The point Dr. Rosen mentions (P6 or Neiguan) is located on the wrist about 2 finger-widths above the wrist crease towards the elbow. Gentle self-massage can be helpful in easing nausea, and acupuncture much more helpful in longer-term control. In fact, studies have shown the effectiveness of strong needling at this point for controlling nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy treatment with cisplatin, as well as the prevention of chest pain.

There are a number of points on the hand (Large Intestine 4), lower leg (Stomach 36) and foot (Liver 3) that are considered more effective by acupuncturists for the treatment of nausea of many different types, including morning sickness.

Byron Russell, LAc

Dr. Andrew Weil on Acupuncture

Here is an excerpt from a brief article written by the very well-known Dr. Andrew Weil on the benefits of acupuncture for many different health conditions.

Acupuncture is not just about needles, but is a comprehensive traditional therapy focused on correcting imbalances of energy flow throughout the body. It can be employed effectively for a wide variety of conditions:

* Emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder
* Digestive complaints, including nausea, vomiting, and irritable bowel syndrome
* Pain syndromes due to an injury or associated with chronic degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
* Neurological problems like migraines or Parkinson's disease
* Respiratory conditions, including sinusitis and asthma
* Gynecologic disorders and infertility (it has demonstrated clinical success when used in conjunction with in-vitro fertilization)
* Fatigue or low energy
* Addictions
* Chronic lower back pain

It can also be used as a rehabilitation strategy for individuals who suffered a stroke, can help control chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and can help promote overall wellbeing.

Byron Russell, LAc

Acupuncture effective in reducing pain

From today's Wall Street Journal:

The compound adenosine is key to acupuncture's effectiveness, according to a study in Nature Neuroscience. Despite acupuncture's 4,000-year history, little is known about the biological pathways that enable carefully placed needles to relieve pain in many patients. Researchers mimicked acupuncture in mice by placing and gradually rotating a needle at a point just below the knee, for 30 minutes. Levels of adenosine, a neurotransmitter, rose 24-fold in the tissue fluid surrounding the needle. Mice injected with an inflammatory substance in their paws and given acupuncture displayed fewer pain symptoms than mice that didn't get acupuncture. But mice genetically engineered to lack a certain adenosine receptor didn't benefit from the acupuncture session at all—further evidence of adenosine's role. Blocking enzymes that break down adenosine made the acupuncture much more effective, tripling the level of adenosine near the needle and extending pain relief from about one hour to about three hours.

Caveat: As with any animal study, it's far from certain that these findings can be replicated in humans.

Byron Russell

Nausea Home Remedies

Nausea can have many causes , from morning sickness or food poisoning to motion sickness, over-eating or even hangover (not that any of my patients would ever have that problem). And, when you are feeling sick, over-the-counter medications or prescriptions can be too strong or have side-effects that make you feel worse (constipation, headache, muscle spasm). So, here are a couple tips for mild relief of the unpleasant symptoms of a sick stomach.

1. Ginger tea, or Ginger Beer. Fresh ginger can be great for calming the stomach and eliminating gas pains. Fresh ginger is less “hot” to your system than the dried variety, and is preferred for this use. Just take a couple of slices of ginger root and soak in hot (not quite boiling) water for 5 to 10 minutes, and then drink as a tea. In Chinese Medicine, Ginger Root (Sheng Jiang) is said to warm the Stomach and Spleen, clear the head and prevent sea sickness. Some people use small slices of ginger externally for motion sickness (taped below the ear, or to the wrist). Ginger Ale or (nonalcoholic) Ginger Beer is the remedy I grew up with, and it can work well, if you aren’t concerned about the high levels of sugar found in most commercial brands.

2. Mint and Ginger Tea. Ginger and Mint are a nice combination; Ginger is very warm and Mint is cooling. This balance can be very soothing to the body and help ease conflicting symptoms which are common with stomach upset – feeling overheated or sweaty one moment and chilled the next. In Chinese, Mint is known as Bo He (peppermint), and is used in many formulas for mild illnesses such as colds, headaches, and upset stomach. It is an important addition when headache is a feature of the illness.

3. Orange Peel. Interestingly enough, tea made from dried Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) is quite strong for treating bloating and a feeling of stagnation in the bowels. It gently increases smooth muscle contractions in the intestines. This is a great choice when over-eating (just after a big Thanksgiving meal, for instance) is the problem. Other citrus peels have a similar effect though they may not act as strongly.

4. Cardamom Seeds. Called Sha Ren in Chinese medicine, this spice is used to stop vomiting and diarrhea and is specifically mentioned for use in morning sickness. Crush one teaspoon of the seeds and soak in hot water for 2-4 minutes and then drink as a tea. It is the volatile oils that are useful, so don’t boil the herb or steep for too long a time.

There are many other herbs used for the treatment of digestive illness, but I picked these because they are remedies found in most kitchen cupboards. If you are interested in a more formal herbal approach to this problem, the traditional patent formula for treating stomach upset is called Pill Curing. The version I use in my clinic is Quiet Digestion from Health Concerns. It is based on the Pill Curing formula and Bao He Wan (a traditional formula for indigestion). This formula can produce amazing results in 10 to 15 minutes in many situations, especially nervous stomach, chronic stomach distress, hangover, over-eating, mild stomach virus. Many of my Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients find it extremely helpful in controlling and eliminating symptoms with regular use. This is a great formula to keep in your cupboard for emergencies.

Byron Russell

Glutathione

Here is an excerpt from an article by Mark Hyman, M.D., on the importance of Glutathione as an antioxidant, with some tips on how to maintain your Glutathione levels. I've found that a combination of Glutathione, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, and Lipoic Acid is the single most important supplement I take. It has a profound effect on energy level, fatigue, and stamina. Dr. Hyman's article is called: Glutathione: The Mother of All Antioxidants.

It's the most important molecule you need to stay healthy and prevent disease -- yet you've probably never heard of it. It's the secret to prevent aging, cancer, heart disease, dementia and more, and necessary to treat everything from autism to Alzheimer's disease. There are more than 89,000 medical articles about it -- but your doctor doesn't know how address the epidemic deficiency of this critical life-giving molecule ...

What is it? I'm talking about the mother of all antioxidants, the master detoxifier and maestro of the immune system: GLUTATHIONE (pronounced "gloota-thigh-own").

Dr. Hyman points out that a large percentage of the population lacks the genes required to produce and maintain Glutathione levels. I've had the genetic testing done, and I am one of those people, which is why this supplement has such a profound effect on my life. One-third of the population has a reduced ability to recycle Glutathione in the body.

Glutathione is important for detoxification, supporting the immune system, and preventing illnesses like cancer and chronic fatigue. For an athlete, it is critical in supporting training and stamina.

Research has shown that raised glutathione levels decrease muscle damage, reduce recovery time, increase strength and endurance and shift metabolism from fat production to muscle development.

The supplement I use is called Thiodox by AllergyResearchGroup. I recommend it for many of my patients, 1-2 tablets per day.

9 Tips to Optimize your Glutathione Levels

These 9 tips will help you improve your glutathione levels, improve your health, optimize your performance and live a long, healthy life.

Eat Foods that Support Glutathione Production

1. Consume sulfur-rich foods. The main ones in the diet are garlic, onions and the cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, collards, cabbage, cauliflower, watercress, etc.).

2. Try bioactive whey protein. This is great source of cysteine and the amino acid building blocks for glutathione synthesis. As you know, I am not a big fan of dairy. But this is an exception -- with a few warnings. The whey protein MUST be bioactive and made from non-denatured proteins ("denaturing" refers to the breakdown of the normal protein structure). Choose non-pasteurized and non-industrially produced milk that contains no pesticides, hormones, or antibiotics. Immunocal is a prescription bioactive non-denatured whey protein that is even listed in the Physician's Desk Reference.

Exercise for Your Way to More Glutathione

3. Exercise boosts your glutathione levels and thereby helps boost your immune system, improve detoxification and enhance your body's own antioxidant defenses. Start slow and build up to 30 minutes a day of vigorous aerobic exercise like walking or jogging, or play various sports. Strength training for 20 minutes 3 times a week is also helpful.

Take Glutathione Supporting Supplements

One would think it would be easy just to take glutathione as a pill, but the body digests protein -- so you wouldn't get the benefits if you did it this way. However, the production and recycling of glutathione in the body requires many different nutrients and you CAN take these. Here are the main supplements that need to be taken consistently to boost glutathione. Besides taking a multivitamin and fish oil, supporting my glutathione levels with these supplements is the most important thing I do every day for my personal health.

4. N-acetyl-cysteine. This has been used for years to help treat asthma and lung disease and to treat people with life-threatening liver failure from Tylenol overdose. In fact, I first learned about it in medical school while working in the emergency room. It is even given to prevent kidney damage from dyes used during x-ray studies.

5. Alpha lipoic acid. This is a close second to glutathione in importance in our cells and is involved in energy production, blood sugar control, brain health and detoxification. The body usually makes it, but given all the stresses we are under, we often become depleted.

6. Methylation nutrients (folate and vitamins B6 and B12). These are perhaps the most critical to keep the body producing glutathione. Methylation and the production and recycling of glutathione are the two most important biochemical functions in your body. Take folate (especially in the active form of 5 methyltetrahydrofolate), B6 (in active form of P5P) and B12 (in the active form of methylcobalamin).

7. Selenium. This important mineral helps the body recycle and produce more glutathione.

8. A family of antioxidants including vitamins C and E (in the form of mixed tocopherols), work together to recycle glutathione.

9. Milk thistle (silymarin) has long been used in liver disease and helps boost glutathione levels.

Food Inc-- the Movie

Here's a tip on a movie I can recommend to everyone: Food, Inc. It will definitely change the way you look at food and the American food industry. I'm certain that you will be shocked by the information they provide on the way the majority of our food supply is processed and handled.

Though I have always kept to a relatively healthy diet, this movie prompted me to really work harder at eating fresh organic foods, and making restaurant choices that support that desire. One point made in the movie is that every time you purchase food at a grocery store or restaurant, you are voting for the kind of food you want. And, that the food industry responds to the choices that we, as consumers, make. Choosing fresh, toxin-free food is definitely a good choice for health and for a healthier environment, and if you consider the cost of illness and poor health, it is worth the price.

The official site has a number of options on getting involved in issues like supporting healthier food for school lunch, supporting nutrition and food-source labeling, and increasing education on nutrition and health, pesticides, environmental impact, and food shortages. Please take a look.


Byron Russell

Train Your Brain

In Chinese Medicine, the brain and all logic and memory function arise from the Kidneys which create the marrow that fills the brain. It is a way of looking at mental functions as being closely related to the vigor of the constitution, the hormone system and the blood. As we age, these things tend to decline along with the Kidney essence.

Acupuncture uses herbs (Kidney tonics like He Shou Wu and Shu Di Huang) and treatment points (like Small Intestine 7 and Kidney 3) to fortify the Kidneys, along with recommending regular moderate exercise to keep the whole body, as well as the Kidneys and brain, healthy.

Along with exercising the body, it is important to exercise your brain to maintain skills – particularly memory and cognitive functions. Here is website tip for keeping your skills sharp: FitBrains.com.

Signing up is free and provides basic access to their games targeting five cognitive functions. They track your scores and progress. I’ve tried the free version of this website, and found it very simple – to start. It progresses quickly to more difficult exercises. The games are designed much like video games, with overly simplistic graphics, but they definitely challenge association and word skills. It also has options for things like “challenging a friend” and competing online. It is definitely worth trying for anyone who is concerned about losing mental functions with aging.


Byron Russell

Tips for Happiness in 2010

These are from Gretchen Rubin, writer of The Happiness Project. These tips don't address the more serious issues of depression, poor health, or severe life stress, but they are useful reminders for most of us as we make plans for the new year.

1. Do buy happiness.
Well, maybe money can't buy happiness, but spent wisely, it can buy things that contribute mightily to happiness. Some of the best things in life aren't free. To be happy, we need to feel loved, secure, good at what we do, and have a sense of control. Money doesn't automatically fill these requirements, of course, but it sure can help.

2. Don't get organized.
When I faced tackling the intimidating piles of clutter in my apartment and office, my first impulse was to run to a supply store to buy lots of organizing gizmos. Then I realized -- no! My first task was to get rid of things that I didn't need or didn't work. The most important tool in my clutter-clearing arsenal turned out to be trash-bags. (Here are 27 bonus tips for keeping your house in order.)

In many cases, after sorting through a pile, I found myself left with nothing to organize. Conquering clutter is a happiness booster because for most people, outer order contributes to inner calm.

3. Do let the sun go down on my anger.
In the past, I'd always conscientiously aired every complaint before bedtime. Studies show, however, that the notion of "anger catharsis" is nonsense. Venting anger related to minor, fleeting annoyances just amplifies bad feelings; not expressing anger often allows them to dissipate.

4. Don't insist on "the best."
There are two types of decision makers: satisficers seek to satisfy certain criteria; maximizers seek to make the best possible decision. Once satisficers find a tent or a watch that meets their requirements, they buy it; maximizers want to find the best tent or the best watch. Maximizers tend to be less happy than satisficers, because they agonize over their choices. I often remind myself of one of my favorite Secrets of Adulthood (cribbed from Voltaire): Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

5. Do embrace the fun of failure.
Positive psychologists tell us that challenge and novelty are key elements of happiness. Studies show that people who do new things -- learn a game, travel to unfamiliar places -- are happier than people who stick to the familiar. When I tested this proposition, I figured it wouldn't be true for unadventurous, routine-loving me, but to test it, I launched a blog. True, the novelty and challenge of my blog initially often brought me frustration and anxiety, as I had to face failing at multiple tasks until I figured them out, but mastering those tasks made me extremely happy.

6. Don't practice "random acts of kindness."
We've all been urged to practice random acts of kindness -- pay the toll for the next car in line, feed a parking meter, buy a stranger a cup of coffee. And studies do show that if you commit a random act of kindness, you'll feel happier. However, the person who is the beneficiary of your random act probably won't feel happier.

Research indicates that many people reacted to receiving a random act of kindness with -- suspicion! It's not the kindness of the act that's the problem; it's the randomness. We're on guard when we don't understand a person's actions. Of course, it's always nice to be nice, but if you want to boost other people's happiness as well as your own, practice non-random kindness. Help a co-worker who has a tight deadline. Let someone with a few items cut in front of you in the check-out line. If you look, you can probably find enough opportunity for non-random kindnesses to keep you busy.

7. Do "fake it till you feel it."
Although we assume that we act because of the way we feel, we often feel because of the way we act. An almost uncannily effective way to change my emotions, I discovered, was to act the way I wanted to feel. If I feel resentful, I act thoughtful. If I feel lethargic, I act energetic. If I smile, I feel happier. One experiment showed that people who used Botox may feel less angry, because they aren't able to make angry, frowning faces! Although it may seem insincere at first, controlling your actions is an effective way to change your feelings.

Byron Russell

Free Skin Cancer Screening from the AAD

Skin Cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US. Fortunately, most skin cancers can be treated -- even melanoma early detection.

Here is a nice link from the American Academy of Dermatology. They schedule free skin cancer screenings in locations across the US -- usually in the month of May, which is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention month. The website warns that you should sign up early since the number of slots is limited, and they provide the option of signing up for an email notification when a screening is scheduled within 50 miles of your zip code.

They also have information on how to do a self-screening (with a mirror) and what to look for. Here are the Warning Signs, from the Skin Cancer Foundation:

The Warning Signs

* A skin growth that increases in size and appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black, or multicolored
* A mole, birthmark, beauty mark, or any brown spot that:
o changes color
o increases in size or thickness
o changes in texture
o is irregular in outline
o is bigger than 6mm or 1/4”, the size of a pencil eraser
o appears after age 21
* A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode, or bleed
* An open sore that does not heal within three weeks

It is great to be checked regularly. Early detection is important, but prevention is even better. So, don't forget to put on your sunscreen, and to get lots of Vitamin D from fish oil, supplements, and fortified milk.


Byron Russell

Bittersweet Holidays

I see a lot of patients during the holiday season who are struggling with stress and depression. This is a particularly busy time for most people and can be difficult. But, the holidays can be a restorative and healthy time – if we let go of the stress, take time to take care of ourselves, and don’t expect too much from the season, or get dragged down by the past. Remember to schedule things like acupuncture, massage, mediation, and QUIET time with family and friends, doing things that you truly enjoy.

Here is an excerpt from Body + Soul magazine by writer Celina Ottaway, in which she describes her path to savoring the holidays after a lifetime of holiday stress and family explosions – making candied citrus peels.

Though I’m not much of a sweet tooth, I was drawn to this pot and the warm, fragrant mess inside. It was everything I felt about the holidays. Unlike the cheerful sweetness of pie or cookies, this was a pile of bitterness and discards boiling for hours and hours in sugar. It made me laugh – about my early years of family drama, my parents’ subsequent divorce, and the empty years that followed. My childhood meals with the crazy guests, and in later years, the crackle of phone lines carrying sad, broken voices. I didn’t have to pretend that none of it had happened. I didn’t have to forget the pain to appreciate that some of it was rib-rocking funny.

And, as it turns out, I didn’t need to choose between perfection and despair. I could start with something less ideal, something messier, more complicated, bitter even, and find my way to somewhere good. Something full of enough flavor to pull me from whatever haze I might be lost in, so could I taste, really taste, all the complicated sweetness that was mine to savor.

This is how I start the holiday season now. Late at night, after the children have gone to sleep, I bury my head in my husband’s back as he stirs the boiling peels on the stove. I savor the soft simmer of thickening syrup and the bitter tang of citrus. It’s the time when I can sink in, breathe, and let go. And in the peace of my kitchen, away from the songs and the symbols, where the only sounds are a slow gurgle and a scraping spoon, there is a moment as the last bubbles burst when the bitter and the sweet become one.

Byron Russell

Autism, Acupuncture, and the Denver Model

Autism is not just a challenge for the autistic child, but also for the entire family. In my practice I focus on treating the family -- the parents and siblings, particularly the primary caregiver -- because family support is so vital for good quality of life and social progress for the autistic child.

Here is some good news from: The Denver Model: An Integrated Approach to Intervention for Young Children with Autism. A recent study shows that an autistic child can make significant progress towards a normal life with strong social intervention from an early age. Here are a couple of their core principles:

Families should be at the helm of their children’s treatment.
Children with autism are capable of becoming intentional, effective, symbolic communicators and most children with autism can have useful, communicative speech when provided with appropriate interventions of sufficient intensity during the preschool years.
Successful intervention for young children with autism requires that most of their waking hours are spent in socially oriented activities. Providing more than 20 hours per week of structured intervention is necessary for optimum progress.

"When done in this fashion, many children are able to learn and make remarkable progress," said Geraldine Dawson, lead author of the study, published online Nov. 30 in Pediatrics, and chief science officer of Autism Speaks. "Some of the kids at the end of the study were going into regular preschool and had developed language and friendships with their peers." USNews

Keeping the family unit strong and in good mental and physical health becomes key to this type of social intervention training. Stress reduction and health-supportive techniques like acupuncture and meditation can be very helpful.

As for the treatment of autism with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), in my practice, I have found the combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine with psychotherapy to be profoundly helpful. TCM does not distinguish between the mind and the body, but believes the clearing energetic disorders in the body can help relieve psychological problems. And, many of my patients have found it so. I suspect that adding acupuncture treatments to the Denver Model protocol would show increased benefits.

Of course, the prospect of getting any child to sit still for half an hour with acupuncture needles is unpromising. Adding ADHD or autism to the mix makes it much more difficult. However, pediatric acupuncture offers alternatives to the traditional form used for adults and older children. Quick insertion and removal of the needles is nearly as effective as retaining the needles for 20 minutes to an hour. Another option is scalp acupuncture. In this technique needles are inserted along the scalp -- a technique particularly effective for autism treatment -- and can be left in while the child plays normally with occasional stimulation.

Autism does not exist as a concept in TCM, but behavioral and social disorders do, and they usually relate to a strong imbalance in Yin and Yang, and deficiencies of constitutional Qi. The goal of the acupuncture treatment thus is to balance Yin and Yang, to normalize qi and blood flow in the brain, and to support the essential constitution. Of course, every child is different and an experienced TCM practitioner devises a treatment protocol specific to each child treated.

Byron Russell

Get Ready for 2010 -- End of Year Accounting

Beside the beginning of the holiday season, this is also the time for choosing insurance plans for 2010 and for final filings for Flex Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts and Insurance.

A couple of things to remember:

If you have an open enrollment period at your company, please check to see if your plan for next year affects coverage for Alternative Medicine options (like acupuncture), and sign up for the coverage that best suits you. Plans tend to change on a yearly basis; so, it is important to check the details.

Many of my patients use a Flex Spending Account (or HSA) to cover their medical charges. Acupuncture, Herbs and Supplements can all be charged against these accounts. Please let me know as early as possible if you will need a Superbill for your FSA filing. For those with excess funds in an account, this is a good time to stock up on herbs and supplements (like multi-vitamins, Calcium and Fish Oil) for the coming year.

If you haven't yet filed for insurance reimbursement for your treatments, this is a good time to do it. Don't worry, you usually have at least a year from the date of treatment to get the papers in.

Herbs for Acetaminophen Overdose

Did you know that Acetaminophen toxicity is the most common cause for Liver Transplant in this country?

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever present in many over-the-counter cold and flu medicines. It is broken down, or metabolized, in the body into byproducts - one of which can be very toxic to the liver. At normal, therapeutic levels, this byproduct is easily deactivated when it binds to a naturally occurring, protective molecule called glutathione. But the body's glutathione stores are finite, and are quickly depleted when the recommended doses of acetaminophen are exceeded.

Unfortunately, the prevalence of acetaminophen makes it easy to accidentally exceed the recommended levels, which can occur by dosing more frequently than indicated or by combining two or more acetaminophen-containing products. However, severe liver damage can occur at even two to three times the recommended dose (the maximum adult dose is 4 grams per day; toxic daily levels range from 7 to 10 grams). Medical News Today

A study from Stanford University School of Medicine shows results for an herbal derivative S-methylmethionine in preventing this liver damage. S-methylmethionine is found in many herbs and flowering plants.

The best known of the herbs for protecting the liver is Milk Thistle. Many studies have shown it as an antidote for chemical poisoning and even that from Amanita phalloides Death Cap mushrooms. It is also very effective in reducing the side-effects of alcohol indulgence. This is a supplement I include in my daily herb regimen at a low dose. It is good preventative medicine.


Byron Russell

Acupuncture at UCSF Mt. Zion Hospital

I had a great experience a few days ago -- doing an acupuncture treatment for a patient in the UCSF Women's Health Center at Mt. Zion Hospital. My office is across the street from the UCSF Mt. Zion center; so, I believe I am the closest acupuncturist to their very busy Women's Reproductive Health Center. It is a big office with some of the best fertility experts in the Bay Area, including Dr. Marcelle I. Cedars. She is the Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and many of my patients have gone to her for help with fertility problems and IUI and IVF procedures, and all speak very highly of her.

The surprise for me was that the Center now keeps a room reserved for use by acupuncturists. Though they don't have their own acupuncturists on staff, they keep space free for patients who want to bring an acupuncturist with them for treatment immediately preceding their IUI and IVF procedures. I got a call from a patient whom I had not seen in a few years who now lives out of the area, but was coming in to San Francisco for her fertility procedures. She asked me to meet her there for a treatment. It was too far away for her current acupuncturist to travel, but very convenient for me to accompany her.









The staff at the center is very friendly and accommodating. My patient was in great spirits and very excited about the procedure. It was interesting to note that her excitement translated into a very wiry (read: STRESSED) pulse. Stress -- even the excited kind -- is not helpful in achieving good fertility results. A forty-five minute electro-acupuncture treatment calmed her pulse and put her in a sleepy, mellow mood for the procedure.

The research on the benefit of acupuncture at the time of fertility procedures is very strong and I'm glad to see fertility centers like UCSF's making space for this in their program. Pacific Fertility does the same thing, and I will be doing an on-site treatment for another of my patients there next month.

Byron Russell

Athletes and Acupuncture

Here is a post from my Sports and Acupuncture blog -- What can TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) -- that is mainly Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs -- do for an athlete? If you are an athlete, what can it do for you? I like this question because it brings up the topic of sports injuries, but also the bigger topic of living a healthier life, rather than just treating illness.

So, acupuncture and sports medicine: let's start with a couple of prominent examples. Health care is (and should be) private -- so, I never discuss my patients without specific permission. Fortunately, a number of famous athletes have discussed using TCM in the press.


A great example is Kerri Walsh (Olympic Gold Medalist in Volleyball). She used acupuncture to resolve pain and speed healing after Rotator Cuff Surgery. This is something I see a lot in my practice -- and it isn't just for athletes. Once of the benefits of acupuncture and herbs is that it helps to reduce swelling, inflammation and pain, and speeds healing. I also think it works well for reducing the formation of scar tissue. For a high performance athlete, this is particularly important in reducing time out from training, and in regaining the full use of the injured part of the body.


Another is Yao Ming (Houston Rockets Basketball All-Star), who suffered a stress fracture in his left foot and had surgery to install a screw to stabilize the bone, again with acupuncture and Chinese herbs as part of his aggressive rehabilitation program -- to speed his recovery. This is a type of injury I've seen a number of times in my practice -- recently with a couple of triathletes and skiers. It can be a tough surgery to recover from, but I've seen great results - a good surgeon is the first step, then acupuncture and herbs to reduce the swelling, pain, and scar tissue. I also use Electric Acupuncture (Microcurrent Electric Stim) and infrasound treatments. This type of surgery and rehabilitation also helps people with severe bunions and foot pain.

So, one answer I will suggest is that TCM helps with post-surgery rehabilitation, with the goal of reducing swelling, pain, inflammation and restoring full function as quickly as possible. Next is a discussion with more specifics of what the treatment entails.

Byron Russell

Osteoporosis and Vitamin D, Calcium, Diet

Osteoporosis is a thinning and weakening of the bones that can result in bone fractures and disabling breaks. It is a health problem for 44 million Americans (more than half of those over 50).

Here is a link to an interesting summary on the current research on osteoporosis by Dr. Sciabbarrassi. What You Don't Know About Osteoporosis. A quick summary:

Calcium -- either dietary or supplement sources - by itself does not offer any clear or consistent benefit in preventing osteoporosis or reducing fracture risk in anyone.

He also notes that increased dairy intake doesn't help! And that Vitamin D deficiency is a world-wide epidemic. However, the combination of Vitamin D and Calicium is recommended -- at least 1000 IU Vitamin D and 1200 mg Calcium in an easily absorbed form.

I recommend the liquid Calcium/Magnesium combination to my patients. Along with weight-bearing exercise and a multi-vitamin that includes Vitamin D, minerals and herbs. There are several Chinese Medicine formulas to strengthen bones and prevent premature aging. These are primarily herbs that support the Kidneys and hormone system. Drynaria and Epimedium are two of the most important herbs for this problem.