Baby Eli’s belly and my diet

Eli is just over 12 weeks now and things are looking up. He had quite the fussy belly there for awhile. He was waking from a dead sleep and crying out. The gas was truly impressive. I’d be in the other room, Eli would fart and Joel would ask if it was me…It was Eli EVERY time ( I swear.) Who knew such a little guy could make so much noise. Then there was the three consecutive meals of lasagna I ate which caused an all out red rash all over his little tush. NOW every time he pooped he’d scream. Boy did I feel bad.

So I did  some research online to find out what foods to avoid while breastfeeding. Now I’ve done almost every cleanse in the book, except for that maple syrup, cayenne pepper one. But I have done gluten free, no nightshades, no- sugar, alcohol, corn, citrus, soy, grains,eggs, salt, spices. The list goes on and on. This one was new to me though.

So-I’ve eliminated eggs, soy, beans (gas producing), cinnamon, spicy foods, anise, onions, garlic, wheat, nuts, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, citrus, apples (sorbitol), bananas, chocolate, coffee, caffeine, dairy. I think I got everything… Oh yeah tomatoes. I eat lots of pork chops, fish, sweet potatoes, rice and quinoa. Pretty good really but I do miss yogurt and broccoli, AND cucumbers.

We also started giving him Gripe water, a homeopathic blend for colic, a Chamomile blend, baby acidophilus, and of course baby acupuncture. I do a special non needle technique for babies. It’s a Japanese style which is very gentle but effective. The whole process takes 10 min. and leaves him feeling really relaxed.

All and all I’d say it was pretty effective. Labor intensive yes but worth it. His little butt is snow-white and healthy looking and his cheeks are getting chubbier everyday. Lots of smiles and less thunder farts. I’ve started adding a few things back in that I know don’t bother him. Nuts seems ok, wheat (strangely enough.) Some spices like cinnamon seem ok too. Sunchokes ( which give ANYONE gas) are not a good idea. Good news though!!! hoppy beer actually improves things dramatically. Oh darn.

Glow 2010- the evolution continues

 This New Year will again find Glow looking different. No longer will you have visit two separate floors to see us. We will again be a big happy family under one roof. Our continued Madison Valley landlord problems combined with Dr. Heather going part time have prompted the change and we are excited..

While we loved the openness of the first floor and the proximity of the pilates we were never satisfied with the lack of cohesiveness and the resulting lag in customer service. We know that we’ll be able to serve you better with the change.

Besides just the change in suites, we are also continuing to add more back office help. We now have staff Monday through Friday. Lyndsey, Rebecca and Tina are a great team. Mary Ann heads up our billing department and she’s great as well.

Call to action

Many of you may remember when I volunteered, giving acupuncture for post traumatic stress, after hurricane Katrina. That experience was incredibly powerful for me. I have never  felt so connected, so part of the human family. This kind of disaster knows no boundaries. It crosses lines of wealth, race and status. I saw homes flattened.  There were men whose eyes were dull and who owned nothing more than the clothes on their backs. They had lost everything. Those homes left standing had the pungent stench of toxic mold.

Acupuncture served as a reset button for the central nervous system.  People who hadn’t slept thru the night since the storm were sleeping. The nightmares were less and the flashbacks less frequent. They were profoundly grateful for the help they received.

 In the wake of the devastation that Haiti has experienced Acupuncturists Without Borders is again offering their services to those in need.  The following is an excerpt from their update sent out this past week. I encourage you to donate to this worthy grassroots cause. http://www.acuwithoutborders.org/index.html Seattle can help Haiti!

AWB Executive Director, Diana Fried, and AWB Haiti

Operations Manager, Julia Raneri arrived in Port-au-

Prince, Haiti Wednesday morning, February 3. We

wanted to send you a brief report as soon as possible

from the field.

Diana says:

“We were able to land here after all and didn’t need to do

the grueling drive from the Dominican Republic. There

are lines and crowds of people waiting for food

distribution and buildings flattened everywhere. Everyone

has heart breaking stories to tell. We have already given

several treatments. Roger Brierre, friend of Jean and

Eric, our generous and lovely Haitian hosts, is driving us

around in his truck. Now and then the ground under the

truck moves, and Roger says his heart jumps because

he fears it is another earthquake.

Here is an excerpt from the New York Times on January

28:

“Meanwhile, government health officials on Thursday

reported that the psychological impact of the disaster is

becoming more apparent in the symptoms being seen at

general clinics run by Doctors Without Borders.

One, in the rural town of Leogane near the epicenter of

the Jan. 12 earthquake, reported that about half of the

people receiving treatment were suffering from mental

trauma….

The International Medical Corps, which is overseeing

operations at the general hospital in Port-Au-Prince, also

brought in a mental health specialist to help begin dealing

with emerging concerns of post-traumatic stress

disorder and other problems.”

Roger Brierre, Diana and Julia’s current guide, sends a message:

“We want to say to all American people and the government of the United States that have been helping Haitians that we really appreciate their help. However the earthquake was so devastating to our people. Please do your best to keep helping the people of Haiti.”Trauma recovery will definitely be needed as the rubble clears, and survivors have water, emergency medical care, food, and shelter.

Chinese Medicine and Headaches

Hi there,

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. I’ve entered Mommyhood and thus have a few stolen moments to write while little Eli sleeps. Be on the lookout for fertility, nursing, postpartum and baby related info to come as these are one of my specialties, as well as my reality now.

Derek and I have collaborated on this post. He’s getting is Doctorate in Chinese Medicine with a focus on Oncology and pain management at Bastyr. The program focuses on research and he’s got some great studies to share.

Headaches are one of the things we see most commonly and treat most effectively as acupuncturists.  This particular randomized trail compares true acupuncture with a control for chronic headache. The controls include  sham acupuncture, medication therapy, and other nonpharmacological treatments. Types of headaches included migraine, tension type headache or both. The conclusion is that needling acupuncture is superior to sham acupuncture and medication therapy in improving headache intensity, frequency, and response rate.

Read full headache study here

‘Tis the Season for Colds and Flus.

How you can be better prepared to fight off this year’s bug.

Dr. Rachel Erickson, ND

Everyone knows that wintertime means playing the game of “who can run faster than the ‘bug’ trying to catch you” and lay you up in bed or worse, make work life miserable while you fight it off. Here are some strategies to prevent catching a cold and ways to shorten the duration.

Prevention is the best medicine. Exercise boosts your immune cell activity so stay active this winter. Wash your hands. Drink plenty of clean water all day long. Vegetables and fruits are full of all the antioxidants and vitamins and minerals your body needs to function optimally. This winter is the opportunity to add in an extra fruit or vegetable a day to one of your meals. If you make one veggie at dinner, try making two. If you don’t eat fruit at breakfast, add your favorite one in. Satsuma oranges and pomegranates are in season only in the winter and are great sources of Vitamin C and antioxidants. Make it fun!

The basics need emphasis when you’re feeling sick. We all know this, but let’s just say it again. When you’re feeling sick, it’s not time to go out to that holiday party and drink three glasses of hot buttered rum and two helpings of dessert. It’s time to lay low, sleep extra hours, stay hydrated and stay away from your vices. Sugar, alcohol and foods you may think you’re sensitive to are only going to suppress your immune function when you need it most. So what do you do when you feel that shift in your body that tells you you’re getting sick? A quick trick is to artificially raise your core body temperature for 20 minutes. You probably learned to suppress your fevers, but what I’m telling you is to actually create a little fever, either by sitting in a sauna or steam room, or by taking a hot bath. Add some Epsom salts in that case (sold at most drug stores) and soak in as hot of water as you can stand for 20 minutes. Don’t stop there! Bundle up warmly and stay hot. Your immune cells actually work faster in a slightly higher temperature while putting the virus or bacteria at a disadvantage!

For you special cases, the stressed moms and workers who struggle just to get breakfast let alone enough sleep, there’s hope even for you! The approach for your immune health is through your adrenal glands. They help you cope in times of high stress, and during this winter season they need specific attention. Through the wonderful remedy of herbal medicine, we have the right combination to meet your needs.

My favorite, herbal medicine, is also your biggest advocate this season. If you know you always get sick then try taking an immune boosting formulation specific to what you need now. We have some great combinations you can keep in your apothecary at home for just this purpose.

Come by for a visit and we’ll find a formula that works best for you.

Dr. Rachel wishes you happy holidays here at Glow!

Placibo effect and acupuncture

Sham (fake) acupuncture vs. “real” acupuncture. Real acupuncture vs. sugar pills vs. real drugs. Practitioner and patient bias and it’s in healing. These were some of the fascinating topics covered in the keynote speach by Ted Kaptchuk on Friday night.

A quirky, intelligent, often hilarious, researcher and practitioner he shared his latest studies and outcomes.  A few gems included one in which either real or fake acupuncture was better that the guidelines of care for back pain. In another, sham acupuncture was pitted against real acupuncture and then MRI’s were performed on the patients. The result showed that the real acupuncture, activated the sensory areas of the place while the fake activated the emotions center. So while both are effective the mechanism of action is different. For a interview with Ted on PBS, check out this link.

http://www.pbs.org/saf/1307/features/kaptchuk.htm

Glow Natural Health would like to welcome Dr. Rachel Erickson

 

 

Dr. Rachel Erickson, Naturopathic Physician, graduated from Bastyr University. She is licensed as a primary care physician in the state of Washington and specializes in women’s health and cranio sacral therapy. Dr. Rachel completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington with a BS in Botany, and she has a passion for herbal medicine.

 

Naturopathic Medicine is more than alternative, it’s fully encompassing. It’s not supplemental, it’s front-line. When you are feelings sick, come see me, not just to get better, but to understand what brought you there from the start. When you need personalized healthcare to meet the specific nuances of your body, you come to me. When you need your annual physical, come visit the same person who knows your whole body and can sense where your tune-ups are needed. When you need to navigate the larger hospital systems for specialist consultations, I lead the way so you can get the most clarity and the best treatments you need. When you’re feeling in a fog, uncertain of how to take the next pivotal step in reaching your health goals, come talk to me.

 

Facilitating and educating my patients about the health and physiology of their own bodies as well as the medical world we steer through is the foundation of my medicine. I am here to help you learn how to make healthy choices in order to take better care of your body all on your own. I am a guide, a teacher, a facilitator and a counselor to each person who walks into my office, helping you make the changes you know you need to make. I focus on diet and lifestyle counseling, nutritional and herbal supplementation, hydrotherapy, homeopathic and physical therapies to start your body changing back to a more balanced state.

 

“I am passionate about working with women, families and kids, especially teenagers. Teens deal with not understanding how their bodies work but are not always willing to talk to their parents about what’s going on. I can assist that conversation. Women’s health is my specialty, treating common conditions such as cramps and PMS or abnormal PAPs and cervical dysplasia with less invasive techniques. Above all else, I see myself as a family doctor, here to guide and inspire people to live a healthier and more heartful life.”

 

January Specials!

- Free half hour consultations for new patients.

- Cranio sacral therapy: buy one get one free!

- New patient first visits: $100

schedule today!

 

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

Many people who are energetic and outgoing in the long sunny days of spring and summer find themselves to be melancholic, depressed, and perhaps even fatigued in the long dark nights of winter. This is termed “Seasonal Affective Disorder” (SAD). Although this common disorder can be quite debilitating, there are good options to help.

Exercise: Over 100 studies have shown that people who exercise are effected by SAD and other forms of depression much less than people who don’t exercise. Although exercising outside may be difficult in the winter time, especially if you are limited to the early morning or evening hours, most people have health clubs close by or can set up an exercise room in their own homes.

Diet: Maintaining adequate blood sugar throughout the day is one important key to help with depression. Eat small frequent meals low in processed foods and simple carbohydrates (“sugary” foods) and high in fruits, vegetables, grains, and other sources of protein. Protein is also necessary to help provide amino acids, precursors to neurotransmitters in the brain. Adequate protein intake is 0.8 to 1.2 grams of protein per kg. of body weight. The formula is: (Your weight in pounds) x (0.8 to 1.2)  2.2. Sedentary individuals should use 0.8, average activity use 1.0, very athletic use 1.2.

Light therapy: Full spectrum lighting has been shown to be an excellent treatment for SAD and other forms of clinical depression. The antidepressant effect of light therapy is probably due to restoring proper melatonin synthesis and secretion by the pineal gland leading to re-establishment of the proper circadian rhythm. Light boxes use very intense full spectrum lighting, the equivalent of 25 100-watt bulbs. It is recommended that a person look into the light for 15 – 30 minutes each morning while sitting 2 to 3 feet away. Regular full spectrum light bulbs are also available. Use these to replace regular light bulbs around your home and office for a more bright and realistic light.

Nutritional supplements:
Numerous studies have shown St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) to be effective in helping to relieve symptoms associated with SAD and other forms of depression, including apathy, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia, sleep disturbances, and anxiety.
5-HTP a precursor to serotonin and has been shown to be effectively converted to serotonin in the body and help relieve depression and insomnia. Studies have shown significant clinical response in two to four weeks at a dosage of 50 to 300 mg 3 times a day.
NOTE: do not combine St. John’s Wort or 5-HTP with any antidepressant medications without the consent of your naturopathic doctor or other physician knowledgeable in herbs, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals.
L-tyrosine has also been shown to be effective in relieving depression, both on its own and in combination with other therapies. In a study, about 1 out of 5 people who initially responded well to 5-HTP had a relapse of depression after a month. These people responded particularly well to the addition of L-tyrosine.
B-vitamins, particularly B-6, B-12, and folic acid also have an excellent track record in helping to relieve depression. Vitamin D has also been linked to an “overall greater sense of well being.” You should have your Vitamin D levels tested by your doctor to help monitor therapy.
Homeopathy can also be effective in helping to relieve the symptoms of depression, also. Homeopathics can be taken individually, usually prescribed by a homeopathic doctor, or in combination products.
A deficiency of essential fatty acids (EFA’s) has been shown in recent studies to be a contributor to depression. A diet high in saturated fats and low in essential fatty acids results in decreased fluidity of cell membranes, which directly influences neurotransmitter synthesis, signal transmission, uptake of serotonin and other neurotransmitters, and neurotransmitter binding. Most studies used fish oil as the source of the EFA’s. A person must regularly consume fish oils for two to three months to allow the EFA’s to be effectively incorporated into cell membranes.

The treatment of SAD is usually multifactorial. A combination of exercise, proper diet, light therapy, and nutritional supplements can greatly enhance your energy, outlook, and overall happiness in the face of the long dark nights of winter.

Class: Dancing the Body Systems

Continues Dec 6 …

Though we will build on our first class, anyone is welcome to drop-in. Tell your friends!

Come explore the experiential anatomy of Body-Mind Centering® with Doug MacKenzie and put your body in motion with Lara McIntosh of Wassa Dance®. In this two-hour class we will explore Body Systems (organs, glands, bones; muscles, nerves and fluids) as we play with patterns of our earliest developmental movement. While finding coordination, ease, and choice in the way we move, we recognize and learn. Shake out old habits! Move in the heart of rhythm.

video clip:facial rejuvination acupuncture

Have you ever wondered if acupuncture works to renue aging skin? Have you been curious how it compares to botox inresults and price point? King 5 has a great little clip that answers those questions and others. When you’ve decided you’re ready to try it, remember that Karen is a pro at our Laurelhurst location. Here’s the link!  http://www.king5.com/video/healthlink-index.html?nvid=301448&shu=1