Bell’s palsy, or idiopathic facial palsy, is a nerve disorder that affects muscles on one side of the face causing temporary facial paralysis. It is called idiopathic because it arises suddenly and the exact cause is unknown. It is the result of damage to certain facial nerves. Each facial nerve controls specific muscles on one… Read more »
Historically, science has relied on an antiquated theory of how genes are physically expressed.1 We presumed that DNA, the blueprint of life, translated information one way-from the double helix strands to the physical body at the cellular level. For decades, this theory instilled the belief that our genetic traits were set in stone. Many feared… Read more »
The benefits of massage therapy have long been recognized by people with Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonisms (any condition that causes a combination of the movement abnormalities seen in Parkinson’s disease). Because the diseases typically cause muscle stiffness and rigidity, bodywork’s ability to alleviate joint and muscle stiffness makes it a logical choice for management and… Read more »
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S. for the past 80 years. The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to a heart attack. This year, close to 900,000 Americans will suffer a heart attack,… Read more »
After the holidays, many clients come in complaining of constipation, bloating and fatigue and/or feeling sluggish, with headaches and pain. The holidays can do that to us – especially with changes in diet, exercise and water consumption. Every 7 years we have a molecular cell change, every 180 days a blood change and every 7… Read more »
We have tides in our life. Just as the waves in the ocean rise and fall based on gravitational forces exerted by the moon, sun and other factors, the health we experience throughout our lives follows the same archetypical pattern of advance and retreat. When we are younger, the tide is behind us, carrying us… Read more »
Toxins are present in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. They can also be found in the shampoos, toothpaste, perfume, body lotions and creams we use every day. Our entire body, including our DNA, is under endless, daily assault by toxins from a variety of sources around us.… Read more »
January is cervical cancer awareness month, and the National Cervical Cancer Coalition encourages women to make a New Year’s resolution to have a Pap test. Over 11,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year, and 4,000 will die from the disease. This is tragic, because cervical cancer need not… Read more »
It is important to remember that practitioners were successfully treating health conditions long before western medicine was developed. Fortunately, the medical community is now starting to recognize the value of many time-tested therapies including nutrition, body manipulation and acupuncture. Many of our forebears may have suffered from prostate issues and incontinence; Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)… Read more »
We have all experienced a headache at one time in our lives, but do we understand what causes it? The most severe type of headache can be a migraine or cluster headache which, as those who suffer know, can be very painful and disruptive. There are many factors that can contribute to headaches, but most… Read more »
A much needed shift is taking place in health care. Our health care delivery system is moving from an unsustainable fee-for-service model to a value- and outcome-based system of care. In the near future doctors will no longer be reimbursed for failed procedures and poor patient outcomes, but rather, they will be rewarded for getting… Read more »
Every moment of our lives, there is frailty in our health as we walk a fine line between a solid foundation of wellness and strength, and the fragility of impermanence and uncertainty. We can see the beauty of life in both of these extremes. This message unveils a profound truth learned about the life of… Read more »
The lymphatic system’s main function is to transport fluid throughout your body, and to detoxify and dispose of metabolic waste. This system is made up of lymph nodes, lymph vessels and lymph fluid, and includes the thymus, spleen, adenoids and tonsils. Lymph is the protein rich extracellular body fluid that accumulates when the lymphatic system… Read more »
This holiday season why not give yourself a precious gift and forgive those who have hurt you? When you forgive someone, you pardon the mistake or offense. Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is an act of the will – a decision to let go of negative emotions like anger, resentment and thoughts of revenge.… Read more »
When people choose to try acupuncture, most do not realize that there are various styles practiced originating from different countries and differing schools of thought. In the US most acupuncturists are trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which originated in China more than 5,000 years ago. In antiquity, needles were not used; in fact, what… Read more »
“He’s a pain in the neck!” “She left me with a broken heart!” “I just can’t get a leg up these days.” “I can’t stand him!” “If I hear one more deprecating comment from that jerk my head will burst!” “This job is eating me alive!” “He’s a monkey on my back!” “She’s a thorn… Read more »
You have finally finished your cancer treatments. After being inundated with doctors and doctor visits for however many months, all of a sudden, you are set free. Yea! ….now what? You’re in the middle of “season” with social events and holidays. How do you create balance while recovering from cancer therapy? Start with these three… Read more »
The use of cupping therapy by athletes has grown over the last decade as evidenced by the marks on Olympian Michael Phelps’s shoulders and back. Cupping has been used historically, not only in China and Asia, but also in Greece, Russia, Italy and South America. The technique has been in use for literally thousands of… Read more »
As a registered nurse, I have been with Eisenhower Medical Center and the Betty Ford Center for 29 years. I became an acupuncturist 15 years ago and have had impressive results treating patients with auricular (ear) acupuncture for chemical dependency, alcohol withdrawal, anxiety and pain. The ear is innervated (has nerve supply) from three major… Read more »
Methylation and the MTHFR gene have been making news as emerging topics in a branch of medicine called nutrigenomics, or the study of how the food and nutrients we consume influence our gene expression and play a vital role in our health. Methylation is a key biochemical process that is essential for the proper function… Read more »