Your Health this Summer
In
Oriental medicine, summer is symbolic of maximum activity or
greatest yang, which means that it is a time of heat,
outgoingness, and moving outward in nature and in our lives.
This is the season to nourish and pacify our spirits while
maximizing our potential as we find joy in the hot summer
days and warm summer nights.
Summer is ruled by the fire element. The fire element
corresponds to the heart and small intestine, the southerly
direction, the climatic condition of heat, the color red,
the emotion of happiness or joy, the sound of laughter, the
taste of bitterness and the odor of burning. Fire controls
the blood vessels and is reflected in the face and
complexion.
Signs that the fire element is in balance include a strong
and healthy heart, a calm mind and the ability to sleep
soundly. When the fire element is imbalanced, we may either
lack joy (depression) or have an excess of joy (mania).
Indicators of an imbalance in the fire element also include
agitation, nervousness, heartburn, and insomnia.
This is a great time to schedule your acupuncture summer
tune up! Call for more information.
Mango and Peach Salsa
An easy
and healthy peach and mango salsa recipe. The delicate
flavors of mangos and peaches combine with onions and garlic
in this sweet-and-savory salsa recipe. Try it with chips for
a light snack on a hot summer night, or add to a vegetable
burrito for an unusual twist.
INGREDIENTS:
2 mangos, peeled and chopped
2 fresh peaches, peeled and chopped
1 sweet onion, diced
1 medium tomato, diced (optional)
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
dash salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. If you have a food
processor, you can process all the ingredients in chunks,
rather than dicing and chopping.
Chill for at least one hour, to allow flavors to combine,
and stir well before serving.
Serve chilled and enjoy!
Benefits of Acupuncture in Cancer Care
On Sunday
June 6th, cancer survivors celebrated the 23rd annual
National Cancer Survivors Day, sponsored by the National
Cancer Survivors Day Foundation. The event, which includes
hundreds of gatherings across the US, is a time to celebrate
life. Here are some ways that acupuncture can help while
being treated for and recovering from cancer.
Cancer treatments are aggressive and cause numerous unwanted
side effects as well as a lowered immune system. Acupuncture
is an excellent adjunctive therapy in cancer treatments
because of its ability to relieve pain, reduce side effects,
accelerate recovery and improve quality of life.
What Acupuncture is used for during Cancer Treatment
Acupuncture provides a total approach to health care for
people with cancer. It can be used to address many of the
concerns that come up during and after chemotherapy,
radiation, biological therapy and surgery.
According to the National Cancer Institute, acupuncture may
cause physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary
gland, and parts of the brain. These responses can cause the
body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that
control a number of body functions. It is proposed that, by
these actions, acupuncture affects blood pressure and body
temperature, boosts immune system activity, and causes the
body's natural painkillers, such as endorphins, to be
released.
Areas that acupuncture has shown the most promise
include:
·
Nausea and Vomiting
·
Dry Mouth, Night Sweats and Hot Flashes
·
Stress, Anxiety and Fatigue
·
Pain Management
·
Increasing White Blood Cell Count
To learn more about how acupuncture can safely and
effectively be incorporated into care for people with
cancer, please call for a consultation today.
Source: National Cancer Institute.
www.cancer.org
Chemo-Induced Nausea Study
Effect of
Acupuncture on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
According to the National Cancer Institute, of all the
investigated effects of acupuncture on cancer-related or
chemotherapy-related symptoms and disorders, the positive
effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced nausea and
vomiting is the most convincing.
Numerous studies have consistently shown acupuncture to be
effective in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea
and vomiting as well as as postoperative and morning
sickness nausea and vomiting.
A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial investigated
the effect of electro-acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced
nausea and vomiting in 104 patients with breast cancer who
were undergoing a highly emetogenic (causes vomiting)
chemotherapy regimen. The patients were randomly assigned to
receive low-frequency electro-acupuncture at classic
acupuncture points for nausea and vomiting once daily for 5
days, minimal needling at control points with mock
electro-acupuncture on the same schedule, or no adjunct
needling. All patients received concurrent antiemetic drugs
(prochlorperazine, lorazepam, and diphenhydramine) and
high-dose chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and
carmustine).
The main outcome measures were the total number of emesis
(vomiting) episodes and the proportion of emesis-free days
occurring during the 5-day study period. The data revealed
significantly fewer emesis episodes in the
electro-acupuncture treatment group compared with those in
the minimal needling and drug-only control groups.
Source: Shen J, Wenger N, Glaspy J, et al.:
Electroacupuncture for control of myeloablative
chemotherapy-induced emesis: A randomized controlled trial.
JAMA 284 (21): 2755-61, 2000.
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In This Issue
·
Your
Health this Summer
·
Mango and
Peach Salsa
·
Benefits
of Acupuncture in Cancer Care
·
Chemo-Induced Nausea Study
·
Cancer
Prevention in Every Aisle
Cancer Prevention in Every Aisle
Nearly
everything in the produce aisle can help you prevent cancer,
but there are items throughout the supermarket that can
protect your health and the health of your family.
Produce Aisle Picks
Cantaloupe - a great source of carotenoids, plant
chemicals that act as antioxidants shown to reduce the risk
of lung cancer.
Kale and cabbage - cruciferous vegetables are widely
considered to be one of the healthiest food choices you can
make. Included in this family of vegetables are broccoli,
cauliflower, radishes, brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage and
bok choy. Cruciferous vegetables are high in vitamins,
fiber, and potent anti-cancer phytochemicals.
According to the American Institute for Cancer, there is
solid evidence that links cruciferous vegetables and
protection against cancer. Studies have shown that this
vegetable group has the ability to stop the growth of cancer
cells for tumors in the breast, uterine lining, lung, colon,
liver, and cervix. And studies that track the diets of
people over time have found that diets high in cruciferous
vegetables are linked to lower rates of prostate cancer.
It is recommended that we eat 3-5 servings of cruciferous
vegetables per week. It's best to eat these veggies raw or
only lightly steamed so they retain their cancer fighting
phytochemicals.
Freezer Aisle Pick
Edamame (soybeans) - These cancer-fighting beans
contain phytoestrogens, that may help prevent
estrogen-driven cancers by binding to estrogen receptors.
They are also good for the men of the household since
evidence suggests the isoflavones found in soy products may
help fight prostate cancer.
Cereal Aisle Pick
Whole Grain Oats - Oats have the highest proportion of
soluble fiber of any grain. Fiber is rich in antioxidants,
helps fight colon cancer and phenolic compounds in whole
grains my help reduce the risk of certain GI cancers. Pick
cereals high in folate, fiber and/or flaxseed.
Beverage Aisle Picks
Orange juice - this favorite breakfast beverage is a
powerful source of folate which has been linked to lowered
risk for GI and pancreatic cancer.
Green tea - green tea is lower in caffeine than
coffee and can help prevent prostate cancer and possibly
bladder cancer.
Pomegranate juice - this juice is extremely
antioxidant-rich and helps prevent colon and prostate
cancer.
Soy milk - also made from soy beans, soy milk works
the same way as edamame to fight cancer.
Household Aisle Picks
Sunscreen – summer is starting, so lather on the SPF
each and every time you go out in the sun to block exposure
to ultraviolet rays.
Mop or damp cloth - it's important to get rid of dust
without spreading it around your home. Recent evidence has
shown that dust can contain carcinogens that are known to
cause cancer. |
