Welcome to the Neighborhood Acupuncture Place!

Here you will find answers to your questions about acupuncture as well as simple natural remedies.

Thanks for stopping by.



Powered by Love a Local Business.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Why Not Use Antibacterial Soaps? Via the Allergy Queen Blog

Fall Allergy season is now upon us. I recently found this blog with great info for allergy sufferers. Deborah Mumm explains why not to use antibacterial soaps. For more info visit here. 


MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2011

Why NOT to use Antibacterial Soaps?




As a community we tend to overuse antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers. What is wrong with them?

The antimicrobial chemical triclosan in antibacterial soaps is believed to disrupt thyroid function and hormone levels in people; when it mixes into waste water, it can cause sex changes in aquatic life. And health experts believe that overuse of this and other antibacterial chemicals is promoting the growth of bacteria that are resistant to antibacterial treatment.

Better alternative: Good old-fashioned soap and warm water will kill just as many germs, studies have shown. If you must use a hand sanitizer, pick one that’s alcohol-based and doesn’t list triclosan or other chemicals on its label.

Deborah Mumm
Healthy Environments Inc

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Acupuncture, Herbs, and The Flu

The kids are back and school and fall is starting to creep in with delightful sleeping weather. It also means for many that sinus infections are back as well as cold and flu attacks.

What can you do? 

* Recent studies show that acupuncture points have higher levels of white blood cells. Acupuncture by default boosts the immune system and has virtually no negative side effects.

Many patients comment on the lemon, cinnamon, evergreeny smell of the office. The scent comes from the essential oil blend called Thieves made by Young Living. Thieves got its name from a band of apothecaries during the Black Plague. They couldn't make a living selling their wares in the cities so they began stealing what valuables they could find from the dead bodies. The Kind of France finally caught up with them and offered not to kill them if they shared their secret in not getting sick. The apothecaries would take the herbs of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus and rosemary and wear on their bodies and over a scarf covering their faces.

Studies conducted at Weber State University during 1997 demonstrated Thieves killing power against airborne microorganisms. One analysis showed a 90% reduction in the number of gram positive micrococcus luteus organisms after diffusing the oil for 12 minutes, after 20 minutes of diffusing the killing jumped to 99.3%. Another study against the gram negative pseudomonas aeruginosa showed a kill rate of 99.96% after just 12 minutes of diffusion.

So make sure to breathe deeply while resting during your treatment as the Thieves oils are diffusing in the air! Thieves is available for purchase at NAP also.

Check this article on how chinese herbal formulas have shown to be as promising on swine flu as tamiflu. The article cautions on how finding these formulas can be difficult in the U.S. Your neighborhood acupuncturist has them. :)

Sarah Zender LAc

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com 


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Acupuncture Can Help Lower High Blood Pressure

ABC news shared an interesting article written by John McKenzie on how acupuncture may offer a new tool to lower blood pressure. Click this link or read below for the full article. 


Study Looks at Acupuncture as Treatment for High Blood Pressure


          
By his own account, Dr. Randal Zusman, Director of blood-pressure medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital, is a pill pusher.
"I am very aggressive in the treatment of high blood pressure using drugs, using pills," he says.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Middle-aged Americans face a staggering 90 percent chance of developing the condition, according to a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
But the drugs used to treat it must be taken daily, usually for a lifetime. And they may have side effects, such as fatigue, depression and dizziness.
So Zusman is looking for alternatives for relieving hypertension. He thinks he may have found one in the ancient Chinese technique of acupuncture.
"There is an extensive literature from Asian and Russian communities that acupuncture does indeed lower blood pressure," he says.
American researchers have already shown that special acupuncture needles, when gently inserted into specific points on the skin, can stimulate nerves that reach up into the brain and to cells in the brain that control blood pressure.
"There's evidence from our laboratory and many other laboratories to suggest that the cells quiet down after acupuncture," says Dr. John Longhurst professor of medicine at the University of California, Irvine.
When those cells "quiet down," or become less active, blood vessels relax.
Clinical Trials Continue
Now, in the most rigorous study of its kind, patients with high blood pressure — 140 (systolic) over 90 (diastolic) or higher — are being given a series of 12 acupuncture treatments.
The study is not yet complete, but Zusman is already enthusiastic.
"A substantial number of our patients have responded with significant reductions in blood pressure," he says.
Patients like Rip Reeves are also impressed: "In my late 30s, I was probably 145/95; with medication, I got it down to 130/80. And since I've been on acupuncture and not taking medication, I've been averaging 125/75."
Perhaps most amazing, acupuncture's benefit can be long lasting. Some patients who received the acupuncture treatment nine months ago still have normal blood pressure.
"The implication," says Zusman, "is that 12 acupuncture treatments over a six-week period will produce a cure."
In this case, the doctors defined "cure" as maintaining normal blood pressure for one year without medication. And that, for some patients, may now be within their reach.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are curious about how acupuncture might be able to help you, remember NAP offers very affordable treatment. You pay what works for your budget $15-40 per treatment everyday no questions asked. 
Sarah Zender LAc


Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com 


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Community Gardens: Another Great Crystal Lake Resource

If you've been following this blog for awhile or are familiar with Chinese Medicine then you know that as far as your diet goes eating foods that are grown locally and in season are the best for you. The reason this is true is that these foods have adapted to the same environment you have and they are the freshest.

As babies every time a mother kisses her child, her body picks up on what the baby has been exposed to and makes the proper defense antibodies and such the baby needs for a strong immune system. Eating locally grown foods is very similar.

In the summer months the energy of our environment is lighter and warmer and so we should be eating lighter and cooler foods to balance this. Fresh salads, fruits, and fish are main stays of the summer diet. In the fall as we transition to a cooler period of time it becomes important to eat richer, warmer foods to prepare for the winter ahead. The environment at this time is in transition and so it becomes important to eat more root vegetables to stay grounded and warm. Soups, stews, cooked veggies and fruits become most important for the fall and winter months. As we transition again into spring time it becomes important to cleanse the body of all of the richness of winter. Eating bitter foods and leafy greens helps accomplish this more efficiently while again starting to eat lighter again. For more information on this and an easy read check out One Trip Around the Sun. by Rory Lipsky, LAc.

If you've always wanted to try out your green thumb but don't have the space or proper lighting where you live there is now a solution. The Crystal Lake Park District offers 15 acres of garden space at Hill Park Farm to local residents to rent each growing season. Not only can you enjoy the freshest produce but you'll know just how fresh because you'll have been the one tending the garden all season long. The space is communal and is a great opportunity to learn from more experienced farmers. If you take a drive by the gardens now you will see lots of activity, although I have heard that it hasn't been as great of a season this year due to the heat and unpredictable rain. Hill Park Farm is off of Barlina between McHenry Ave and Golf Course you can see the corn and sun flowers just past the Barlina Barn.

Sarah Zender LAc

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com 

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Get the Funk Out

Today several patients have mentioned just feeling "off" or in a funk. I think it has a lot to do with the weather, all the storms and all the clean up. I came across this blog on the Community Acupuncture Network and thought it was very fitting for all the "funkiness" being felt lately. This is a patient's story from Tucson Community Acupuncture. Enjoy!



Keith & Larry,

You had both asked me to share my experience on your blog.  I used Keith's God Antenna post as my starting point, but I ended up writing a lot as I started to put things on paper.  I am not sure if it is too long for a blog, or if you want to take excerpts, or you'd like me to elaborate in one area.

Check it out, let me know what you think (use as needed):
My experience with acupuncture has been one of total amazement.  I went to Tucson Community Acupuncture because I knew I needed a shift in my life.   I remember  the first day I went and told the Acupuncturist, “I’m just really in a funk”.  He looked into my eyes and said, “I can help with that”. 
That alone took a huge weight off my shoulders.  It seems that every Spring as the wind kicks up in the Sonoran Desert, and the allergens increase, I get a little (or a lot) off balance.  I have seen medical doctors to help with my symptoms, but frankly medical doctors are not trained to deal with a “funk”.  It’s like going to the grocery store and asking the produce manager his/her opinion on the best cut of meat.  I do not blame medical doctors for not having the answers.  I truly view my health as my responsibility, medical doctors are one item I have in my keep-myself-healthy tool box; thank goodness I found that community acupuncture is another tool in the tool box.
On April 20, 2009 I realized my work, relationships, and my perspective on life were getting increasingly more negative.  I knew I was not depressed; I was just grumpy. I made a commitment to myself to get out of the funk.  I set goals around proper nutrition and meal planning, exercise, sleep, yoga, and doing things that brought me joy.  And that same day, I made my first appointment at Tucson Community Acupuncture.  At that time I did not know that acupuncture would become the cornerstone of my process of moving out of the funk.
My first acupuncture session was 2 days later.  When I entered the acupuncture center for the first time, my wound up negative energy immediately dispersed.  The overwhelming sense I had was of being loved and taken care of.  Looking back, that feels strange to say because I had never met any of the people there before, but at the time, it felt like exactly what I needed.  I remember discussing my symptoms with the Acupuncturist and him recommending I come 2 times per week.  I asked if it was OK if I came more frequently (because I just wanted to be in that calm space).
I noticed immediate change.  The morning after my first session I had a more positive outlook on life.  At first, the affects lasted about a day, but with more treatments, the affects lasted longer each time.  Over time, my attitude became more lighthearted.  I noticed myself laughing more, and having more motivation in my other goal areas.  I was able to do more moderate/vigorous exercise, for which previously I did not have the energy.  I became more open to taking risks such as singing karaoke in a crowd (something I vowed never to do), which led to more fun and connection with other people.  With each session, my life continued to shift in a positive direction.
As I made progress on my initial “funk”, I started to ask the acupuncturists to work on other areas that I had dealt with physical pain for years (such as neck, back, and hip).  As pain in these areas started to clear, I realized how much stress, pain, and inflammation I had been holding for so long.  It made me wonder how many other people are carrying around pain everyday and not really ever recognizing it, unaware that a pain free life is within reach.
As I stated in the beginning, I am totally amazed by acupuncture, but it isn’t for any of the reasons outlined above.  While acupuncture has shifted my attitude, perspective, and pain level, these were expected outcomes of my treatment.  These were the reasons I went to acupuncture.  I am amazed by acupuncture because of all the positive changes that have happened that I didn’t intend.
Since starting acupuncture, my relationships with my fiancĂ©, co-workers, and family have improved.  My fiancĂ© and I have stopped bickering and reconnected to the things we love about each other.  We have more open, loving communication, and we are more joyful when we are together.  I really believe that just by sharing my acupuncture experience, my co-workers are changing.  They have never experienced acupuncture personally, but I notice them being more open to new opportunities, different perspectives, and being generally more content and engaged at work.  They have even reported positive changes in their personal lives with people I have never met.  My family seems to be shifting as well.  Even though my parents, siblings, and I live all over the US, I believe that by sharing my experience of acupuncture with them, they are becoming more open to the “flow” of life rather than resisting what is inevitable.
While I sometimes like to think I am the center of everyone’s life, I know I am not.  It seems, though, that somehow my experience with acupuncture is extending out to those people in my immediate circle and their immediate circles, and beyond.  I have witnessed lives being improved over the course of the 5 weeks l have been receiving acupuncture treatments.   
I likely cannot scientifically prove that it was the acupuncture that changed my life and the lives of others.  But beyond scientific proof, there is knowing.  I have a sense of knowing that acupuncture has caused this shift in me, my friends, and family.  And so is acupuncture.  I may not be able to explain how, or when, or why it’s working, but for all practical reasons, I just need to know that it is, and that’s good enough for me.


Sarah Zender LAc

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
815.893.9825
www.clnap.com