Healthy by Nature Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Ancient healing wisdom for modern health and wellness

Detox ionic foot baths - study shows a waste of money

Occasionally, someone asks me what I think about "detox ionic foot baths", which some alternative practitioners offer as a way of cleansing the body, usually around $75 per session. Until now, none of the information I found helped me come to my own conclusion, so I had not formed an opinion.

This thorough, well-conceived study done by researchers from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Pharmacy has me convinced that ionic foot baths are not something I will be encouraging my patients to try.
The Epoch Times - Study Debunks Ionic Footbath Claims

Quit Smoking with Acupuncture

A growing number of people are finding success in quitting smoking through acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

What is included in these treatments in our office?

• relaxing whole-body acupuncture
• ear acupuncture 'to go' - which keeps the treatment working between office visits
• herbal formulas that help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, and interfere with nicotine reception in the brain
• lifestyle-changing counseling
• considerate, non-judgmental support and development of a treatment plan that is individually tailored to you
• treatment cost is the same as any other issue we treat - no expensive or pre-paid package deals
• insurance billing, if coverage is available 

What we ask of you, though, to make the program successful, is to be absolutely, 100% sure that you are ready to quit smoking. Not because your doctor told you to, your spouse wants you to, or you think you 'should', but because you are ready to live a healthier life and are tired of the detrimental side effects of smoking.

To your health!

The Therapeutic Benefits of a Relaxing Bath

Click on the link below to read an informative article for which I was one of the consultants. The article is on the value of therapeutic baths, including some suggestions on what type of salts and essential oils to add to treat different ailments.

Bath Benefits by Amanda Marrazzo, McHenry County Magazine, Feb 2012

Galaxy Health Network PPO Plan

Galaxy Health Network

As of January 11, 2012 I have contracted to be an in-network provider with Galaxy Health Network PPO Plan. I look forward to being part of this organization of over 400,000 health care providers serving over 3.5 million lives. 

TCM and fertility

A new study by an Australian research team shows evidence that Traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and herbal formulas, is twice as effective in treating fertility issues as Western medicine methods of drug therapy and IVF. To read more, click here: Traditional Chinese Medicine More than Doubles Fertility Rates… Western Meds, Not So Much or to read the actual study results, click here: Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in the management of female infertility: A systematic review.

In our offices, we treat all types of fertility issues. Some are simple and quickly rectified, some are more complex and take a bit longer. Since up to 30% of a couple's fertility problems may stem from male health issues, we recommend treatments for both the mother-to-be and the father-to-be.

Treatments for fertility enhancement include weekly acupuncture sessions and herbal formulas. Each treatment is individualized to the patient, with customized treatments adapted to each of the four phases of the menstrual cycle. A woman's advancing age is not frowned upon in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as it is in Western medicine.

Unlike Western medicine fertility treatments, TCM acupuncture treatments are often covered by health insurance, due to the fact that TCM actually treats the underlying root health issue that is preventing conception.

To find out more, or to schedule an appointment, please click on the contact form.

Probiotics - why we need them

 So, how is your friendly flora doing?

You know, your friendly flora, the good bacteria that live in your large intestine and keep you healthy. Have you heard people mention this, and really have no clue what they're talking about? Are you creeped out when you hear that you should have a colon full of bacteria? Well, don't be. These guys keep your immune system strong. They keep your digestion in top condition, give your skin a healthy glow, keep illness and allergies at bay, actually create nutrients and vitamins, not to mention what they do for increasing your level of energy. You should have about 100 trillion of these guys working for you, from up to 500 different species!

Truth is, we need bacteria in our colons, and we have to replenish them from the damage that happens just by living our lives. More importantly, taking a course of antibiotics completely wipes them out. The antibiotics commonly prescribed are broad-spectrum, which means they don't differentiate between good and bad bacteria. They simply kill bacteria. Period. So, after taking antibiotics for an illness, you can get sick from having taken the antibiotics. Who knew? Without your friendly bacteria, your immune system gets depleted, leaving you without those vigilant soldiers that combat the yeast that loves to live in our bodies. Ladies, many of you know the horrors of an out-of-control yeast population, right? Yeast overpopulation can manifest as congestion in the sinuses, vaginal infections, thrush infection of the mouth, frequent colds or flus, skin rashes, low energy, foggy thinking, cravings for sweets, bad breath that just won't go away, etc.

Anyone who has taken antibiotics and wasn't advised to take a probiotic afterward has some catching up to do. It makes a huge difference in your state of health. One round of antibiotics can throw off your intestinal health for years to come. Your intestinal flora needs to be replaced, and not by yogurt from the grocery store. You would have to eat more yogurt than you could tolerate, and even then it might only contain one strain of live bacteria. Maybe one, and not very much of it.

Treatment for this type of issue should be with a probiotic supplement. In our office, we prescribe Flora 20-14 or 200-14 from Innate Response. What that means is each capsule contains 20 billion live cells of 14 different strains of bacteria or, for someone who just finished a round of antibiotics – 200 billion cells of the same 14 strains. This one can bring you back to normal in a week.

Even if you haven't recently had a round of antibiotics, you should still consider adding a probiotic to your daily regimen. Your intestines may still not have replenished from antibiotics taken years ago. Also, just living our stressful lives depletes the population of good flora. You would be amazed at how a daily probiotic can make you seem untouchable in the midst of cold and flu season, staying healthy when people are getting sick all around you.

Look for a probiotic made from whole foods. If just starting on a probiotic regimen, it's best to work with a holistic health practitioner familiar with their use to guide you. Unfortunately, if you start to replenish your beneficial flora too fast you can have uncomfortable effects from the die-off of the bad guys, so it's best to work with a professional who is familiar with this issue.

Eye and vision health

Tips on giving your eyes a healthy boost

People are becoming more and more conscious about taking care of their health, realizing that good health creates a solid foundation for all the other aspects of life. Regular exercise is certainly one of the things people begin to be conscious of when they decide to live a healthier lifestyle. It's easy to find exercise dvds, exercise equipment, tips for doing this or not doing that. Many people use exercise at the end of a long day to de-stress and relax from a strenuous workday. But some of the most used and strained muscles are not even given a second thought - those that we use constantly to see.

Take a moment to stop and think about how much you use your eyes all day, every day. They sure work hard. How many hours do we sit at a desk, not using many body muscles, while several eye muscles quietly work away. The only time we actually think about them is when our eyes finally get fatigued, red, hot, teary, or strained enough to even lead to a headache.

Following are some tips to give your eyes the needed break they so richly deserve:

ProtectYourVision.org is a cool free site you can use that reminds you to stop and rest your eyes. You have the option of choosing how often you take a break and how long the breaks will be. When it's time for a break, the computer screen will darken, and a chime will sound. There are several ways you can use this break: get up from the computer and walk around, looking at nothing in particular, while massaging the area where the neck and skull meet (the vision center); look out the window into the distance, allowing your eyes to just 'see', not 'look', just like a camera does; sit back and close your eyes, maybe covering them with an eye pillow; or join the program's robot, EVO, in a few minutes of eye relaxation exercises ("eyes gymnastics").

Another option is TotemDog.com where similar exercises are available for printing, as well as some really good, basic eye health tips.

As far as foods, herbs and supplements are concerned, be sure to consume the following:
plenty of antioxidants
a variable, healthful diet that is low in sugar and simple carbohydrates (too much can lead to diabetes and poor eye health, as well as poor overall health)
a good whole-food vitamin/mineral supplement for overall health, or one that specifically targets eye health
nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin, which are found in foods like dark green leafy vegetables, guava, peas, broccoli, squash, carrots, yellow potatoes, corn, oranges, and egg yolks
eye health herbs that include nettles, dandelion, calendula, eyebright, chrysanthemum, ginkgo, and bilberry. These can best be taken as a dedicated synergistic formula extract (Herbal extract for eye health), for maximum potency.
So, don't forget to take care of your eyes as you go through the day. Must go now, EVO beckons.