A Guide to Seed Cycling for Hormonal Balance
A Guide to Seed Cycling for Hormonal Balance In our fast-paced world, achieving and maintaining hormonal balance can feel like a constant battle. From mood swings to irregular periods and even fertility challenges, hormonal imbalances can affect nearly every aspect of a woman’s life. But what if the solution to balancing your hormones could be as simple as incorporating certain seeds into your diet? Welcome to the world of seed cycling for hormonal balance, a natural and balanced approach that has been gaining popularity for its DIY ease and overall effectiveness. Seed cycling involves consuming specific seeds during different phases of your menstrual cycle to support the body’s natural hormonal rhythms. The concept is rooted in the idea that certain seeds contain nutrients that can help promote the production and detoxification of hormones, thus aiding in the overall balance. By understanding how to use seed cycling for hormones, you can take a proactive step toward improving your hormonal health naturally. So, how does seed cycling work? The menstrual cycle is typically divided into two main phases: the follicular phase (the first half) and the luteal phase (the second half). During the follicular phase, which begins on the first day of your period and lasts until ovulation, the body benefits from seeds like flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds. Flaxseeds are rich in lignans, which help bind excess estrogen, while pumpkin seeds provide zinc, which supports progesterone production. By consuming these seeds daily, you can help ensure a healthy balance of estrogen and progesterone, setting the stage for a smoother cycle. As you transition into the luteal phase, which begins after ovulation and continues until your next period, it’s time to switch to sesame and sunflower seeds. Sesame seeds are also high in lignans, which can help modulate estrogen levels, while sunflower seeds are packed with selenium, a powerful antioxidant that supports liver detoxification and hormone clearance. This phase of seed cycling for hormonal balance helps maintain the balance of progesterone and estrogen, reducing symptoms of PMS and promoting overall well-being. The benefits of seed cycling for women go beyond just regulating menstrual cycles. Many women have reported improved skin health, reduced acne, better mood stability, and even enhanced fertility. Because hormones inCluence so many aspects of our health, Cinding a natural way to support them can have widespread positive effects. Additionally, the seeds used in seed cycling are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, all of which contribute to overall health and vitality. For those new to the concept, starting with a seed cycling guide for hormonal health can be incredibly helpful. Begin by purchasing high-quality, organic flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. It’s best to use freshly ground seeds to ensure you’re getting the maximum nutritional benefits. You can easily incorporate these seeds into your diet by adding them to smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, or salads. The key is consistency— consume the recommended seeds daily according to the phase of your cycle. Seed cycling can be a wonderful way to support hormonal health at home in conjunction with Chinese medicine. The practitioners here at Tao to Wellness can help you fine-tune your seed cycling routine, offer acupuncture and herbal remedies tailored to your needs, and provide the support you need to gently bring the body back into balance.
Debunking the NYT Article; “Is Delaying Menopause the Key to Longevity”?
Debunking the NYT Article; “Is Delaying Menopause the Key to Longevity”? It’s an eye catching title and a semi interesting read that discusses how scientists are trying to figure out how to keep the ovaries working longer, and if they can, are we able to prevent the progression of age related diseases? In March, Jill Biden announced a new women’s initiative that is highlighting this question among scientists and researchers. “The ovaries are the only organ in humans that we just accept will fail one day,” said Renee Wegrzyn, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, a government agency tasked with steering Dr. Biden’s mission. “It’s actually kind of wild that we all just accept that.” Most think of the ovaries as just a “baby maker”, but as the article states the ovaries act as a control center and have a lot to do with influencing every organ in a woman’s body. It says that scientists don’t exactly understand how this happens but I believe it’s simply a part of the HPO Axis; the hypothalamic, pituitary, ovarian axis. This axis is a highway of constant communication between the ovaries and the brain and vice versa through a feedback loop. There are many ‘loops’ in the body, for example right now a very hot topic is the gut brain connection. On an elementary level, the article says when women’s eggs are depleted the ovaries seem to go quiet, which corresponds to of course an increased risk in age related diseases. The phrase ‘women’s eggs are depleted’, couldn’t be more inaccurate. Doctors say most of us are born with millions of eggs (40,000 – 3 million to be exact), even that is an inaccurate way of describing the beauty that unfolds in a woman’s ovaries. What women are actually born with are millions of opportunities! By way of folliculogenesis, these opportunities rise to the surface and become expressed! Folliculogenesis is a maturing ovarian follicle that will in most cases rear a good quality egg. At any given time, women have many, many follicles that are in varying stages; from primordial, primary, secondary, tertiary to antral follicles. Not all of these are follicles yet, most are flat cells waiting to grow up to be a follicle, for example it takes about 180 days for the primordial stage to reach it’s full potential as a follicle with a good quality egg. So, the idea proposed is that if a woman loses fewer eggs, she can hold on to her ovarian reserves and functionality for longer is slightly preposterous. The article mentions a clinical trial at Columbia University which is attempting to slow the rate at which women lose their eggs with the immunosuppressive drug called rapamycin. Researchers leading the study claim there are two patterns that are already emerging; one that women are appearing to have a normal decline of ovarian reserve, which is measured by ultrasounds and AMH. Ultrasounds cannot detect ovarian reserve only antral follicle counts, which are the follicles that are in the race for ovulation, they are expressed when they are about the ovulate, ultrasounds cannot detect anything else. Most gynecologists and reproductive endocrinologists, do not test AMH because of its unreliability. But in truth, nothing is reliable and there is no possible way to calculate ovarian reserve. It seems to me, that if we look at this through a Chinese medicine lens, the ovaries are the tree trunk, the follicles and eggs are the branches/leaves, so then what feeds the ovaries to be robust and plentiful? The soil! And that soil is lifestyle and genetics. We can’t alter our genes (yet!) but if we want better functionality and longer sustainability we must look to lifestyle and environmental factors, things like pollution, toxins, nutrition, or lack thereof, too much or too little exercise, alcohol, caffeine, smoking, (basically anything that creates free radicals in the body) not enough sleep and the biggest ones; emotional wellness and the management of stress. These are the things that overtime can exhaust ovarian function and cause aging and disease, whether you are approaching menopause or trying to get pregnant at 30 years old, it all looks the same. In the realm of enhancing lifespan and quality of life, we could also talk about telomeres. Telomeres are caps on the ends of our DNA, they are similar to the caps that are on the end of shoelaces. As the plastic ends shred, and the shoelace becomes frayed and damaged, so too the shortening of our telomeres can leave our cells and chromosomes vulnerable to damage. Telomere shortening means the cell’s lifespan is shortening. Recent research shows that telomere shortening plays an important role in human disease and mortality. So how do we support robust ovarian function and lengthen telomeres? Sleep, regular exercise, stress management, a diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, namely D, meditation, yoga and acupuncture. (You knew the last one was coming!) There have been endless acupuncture studies and trials over the last two decades, everything from pain management to pregnancy rates to digestive disorders to stroke recovery. Research also shows that acupuncture can actually lengthen your telomeres and, for the purposes of this article, acupuncture plays a major role in Stage 4 follicular recruitment. How does it do that? The magnificence of acupuncture is the fact that it is self regulating, so whatever the body needs, whether it’s a decrease in inflammation, moving emotional stagnation thereby relieving stress, harmonizing an organ system, bringing energy to an organ, clearing away meridian debris, acupuncture and the body work together. You don’t have to believe in it or do anything to facilitate it, it just happens, very much in the same way your heart beats or how minerals like sodium and potassium can enter and exit a cell effortlessly. It just happens. In conclusion, we all want to preserve what we have and no one wants to age. Post menopause brings some risk to diseases, but if it’s not ‘that’ disease then it will
How to Be in Harmony with Summer!
How to Be in Harmony with Summer! As of June 21st it is officially summer 2024 and the season of ABUNDANCE! Summer is the fullest expression of Yang, it’s hot, dry, daylight, it’s active and fiery. Yin is the opposite and is cool, fluid, nighttime, meditative. In these hot summer months, it can sometimes be a challenge to keep the two balanced. In Chinese medicine, each season has a set of paired organs that are associated with it, but for the season of summer, there are actually four! Heart The Heart governs the blood and is responsible for the Shen or Spirit. Pericardium The Pericardium is called the ‘heart wrapper’ and protects the heart from external influences like a temperature change or a pathogenic invasion. Small Intestine The Small Intestine receives food and fluids from the stomach and then separates it into pure and turbid, this also applies to emotions in the sense of making the distinctions between positive and negative thinking. San Jiao The San Jiao is a Chinese organ and is translated as the Triple Burner or Triple Heater. It’s closely associated with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th chakras or energy centers of the body. The San Jiao is a bit of a mysterious organ with it’s main job being a conductor for spreading energy throughout the body. All of these belong to the Fire element, the emotions are Joy or Agitation, the taste is bitter and color, of course, is red. How to Attune to the Season So, now that we are in summer, how do we attune or make friends with the season? Here’s some tips: To be in circadian harmony: Awaken very early in the morning preferably at sunrise. Hey, 5am clubbers! To find comfort: Drink hot liquids and take warm showers, which will open the pores and bring on sweating! Quite the opposite of what we usually think for summer- cold drinks, ice and what not actually blocks the heat from releasing. Not too cold: Try not to overdo raw, cold foods. Combining too much cold food (Ice, ice cream, raw fruits and vegetables) with summer heat can weaken the digestive organs since cold contracts. Practice moderation! To find balance: Depending on how hot it is in your area, you may want to consider adding a mineral supplement to your regimen in the hot summer months. Since we have a tendency to sweat more, we could be losing minerals which can weaken the system. Cooking Tips! The main rule of thumb is to cook things on high temp and for a very short period of time. It’s a great way to warm the food up a bit while also maintaining all of the nutrients. Some cooling fresh foods to incorporate into your diet are salads, sprouts like mung, soy, or alfalfa, fruit, cucumber, tofu, watermelon, lemon, and limes. Also mint, chamomile or chrysanthemum teas are great for the summer heat! One more note, don’t feel like you need to shy away from spice, because they are actually considered helpful in warm weather. Spices will help bring body heat to the surface, open the pores thus allowing the extra heat to be released! This will help you attune to the heat and will help you to feel less affected by it. This Year’s Summer Recipe Pick! We all love watermelon, it’s sweet and cooling and actually can be fabulous as a salad! Of course, if you’re watching your sugar intake, be sure to portion this out accordingly because it can be quite addictive! This is a take on a salad that I had once at Flora in downtown Oakland (RIP Flora) that left such an impression on me. I never forgot it and every time I serve it, people just go bananas for it. It’s a no recipe – recipe, so amounts are really how you like them. Watermelon Feta Salad INGREDIENTS Watermelon Kalamata Olives, chopped. Feta Cheese or if you’re dairy free, vegan feta works just as well Figs, chopped Pine Nuts or any small, soft nut you prefer, like crushed pistachios Mint, chopped, small amount to just give the salad some lift! A simple dressing of Champagne Vinegar and Olive Oil (Good quality) Approximately 3 tablespoon olive oil to 1 tablespoon of champagne vinegar. DIRECTIONS In a large bowl add watermelon, chopped olives, chopped figs, pine nuts and chopped mint. Mix well. In a smaller bowl, mix the olive oil and champagne vinegar. Pour it over your salad and then add the feta over the top. Delicious and refreshing with bursts of flavors! Enjoy the summer and we hope to see you soon!
Acupuncture and it’s Success with Migraines
Acupuncture and it’s Success with Migraines Migraines are headaches that cause, severe throbbing pain, or a pulsing sensation and they usually occur on one side of the head. They can also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light. Some people get a warning signal, which is known as an aura that occurs before the actual onset of the headache. The aura can cause visual disturbances, tingling on one side of the face or some people actually have difficulty speaking. Western medicine will agree that while medications can prevent some migraines, or at least make them less painful, the right medicine accompanied with self-help remedies, lifestyle changes, and other modalities like acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can give the body what it needs to not just mask the symptoms, but cure it completely. In Chinese medicine, we usually see two main scenarios or imbalances when it comes to migraine headaches. The first is hormonal imbalances, the second are patients with high stress. Hormonal Imbalance In Chinese medicine, issues can occur because of the Liver, Kidneys or the Spleen being out of balance and not being able to communicate properly with the brain. Figuring out the key organ system depends on other symptomatology and the nature of the migraine itself. The most common scenario is an imbalanced Liver. Stagnant Liver Qi can create tightness in the Liver organ and channel, over time in women this can look like menstrual cramps, PMS and headaches including migraines timed around the period. When there is too much stagnation and tightness present, the pressure travels upward resulting in a headache that usually follows the Gall Bladder channel; around the trapezius, the back of the neck and around the ear. High Stress When a migraine is caused by high stress, the scenario mentioned earlier is similar but can obviously happen in men or women. The same trajectory of pressure stems from tightness and stagnation, then maps around the Gall Bladder channel. Why the Gall Bladder channel? It’s because the Gall Bladder and the Liver are married, they are husband and wife, partners in crime, when there is a long-standing issue in the Liver, the Gall Bladder acts as an overflow to take the pressure off. This scenario commonly includes other symptoms such as upper back pain and/or tightness, insomnia, especially between the hours of 11pm-3am, overall irritability and possible digestive issues like constipation. How to Treat Migraines with Chinese Medicine Once we have deciphered the troubled organ, it is simply a matter of rerouting the energy. When energy and pressure are building and going upwards in the body, we attempt to change the direction and bring the energy down into the foundation. With acupuncture, although it might take a handle of sessions to retrain the body so it can sustain on it’s own, patients feel a difference right after the first treatment. A series of treatments might look like this; let’s say we see a new patient who is in a flare up and struggling daily with a migraine headache, we might see that person for three days in a row to start. As their body is able to hold the sessions, we taper off. The following week we might see them twice, then once a week after that, and then every two weeks and so on. We have a saying at Tao to Wellness, “when the pain comes back, you come back”. So essentially, the work is listening carefully to what the body needs. Chinese herbal medicine can also play a big part in assisting the patient to “hold and sustain the treatment” faster. By taking Chinese herbal medicine daily this will create subtle shifts and will remind the system to keep that balance, hereby staving off another headache or migraine. Maintenance for Migraines Once we’ve been able to re-balance the system and quell the crisis, the next step is to maintain. Overall, it’s much easier to prevent a migraine, then battling one once it’s in full force. And the longer we can prevent a migraine, the more attuned and balanced the body becomes naturally to where it doesn’t need ‘the reminder’ from acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine any longer. If you struggle with migraines, and wonder if we would be a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to us, we’d love to help in any way we can.
A conversation with Dr. Kim Peirano about Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture
A conversation with Dr. Kim Peirano about Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture TTW: Hello Dr. Peirano, introduce yourself and tell us about your specialty Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture. KP: Yes, I’m Dr. Kim Peirano. I’m a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine and I see patients here at Tao to Wellness in Berkeley, California and one of my specialties is cosmetic facial acupuncture. I wanted to give you some information around the treatment so it can help you understand how it works, who it’s right for, who it’s not right for and what to expect during a treatment. So, cosmetic facial acupuncture is often referred to as an acupuncture facelift. And while this term isn’t completely false because we do see a lot of lifting and rejuvenating during this process. If you’re looking for the results of a surgical facelift or other medical cosmetic procedures like Botox, filler or laser resurfacing, these types of things, then cosmetic acupuncture is probably going to fall short for you. Now, on the other hand, if you’re looking for a treatment that is going to help you feel like yourself again, help you reconnect with that inner spark that drives you and show that out into the world, bring that glow back, get a little bit of lift in your face, a little bit of softening of those wrinkles you have and also learn how to feel less reactive to them and to the process of aging. Then facial acupuncture is the perfect treatment for you! TTW: Got it, who else might benefit from this treatment? KP: It’s also a really great treatment for those of you who are younger and looking to kind of stave off the aging process. Maybe you’re thinking about getting preventative Botox, so coming to facial acupuncture is a really great first step before doing that preventative Botox because we get really great results with younger skin because of your skin’s natural inherent reserves of collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans, and all those things that help your skin stay really plump. TTW: So, what can you expect during a facial acupuncture treatment? KP: We’re actually going to do a whole regular acupuncture treatment. So we’re going to do a full intake just like you were here for regular acupuncture and go over any and all other complaints you might have. Maybe pain in your body, digestive issues, issues with sleep, hormone imbalances, emotions, stress, everything, because all of those pieces affect the way we actually look in the world. So part of what I love about facial acupuncture is that it’s addressing this piece of underlying factors that are affecting the way our face looks. You can kind of think about like the face you make when you stub your toe on a table is a pretty wrinkly and stressed looking face. So when we get ourselves out of pain, we get digestion moving again, we’re sleeping better, this is all going to show up on your skin and out in the world. So, a big piece of this treatment is the holistic healing that we do. Now, once we go your medical history and state of current health, we’re going to talk about your intentions for treatments, I’m actually going to give you a mirror and have you point out the things that you want to address because what I see is not what you see and it’s all about what you see. You’re going to help guide me as to what you want to focus on for this treatment. And then we’re going to just go over the process of the treatment and get you on the table. TTW: So you’re doing a full body acupuncture treatment and addressing the face as well? KP: We do full body acupuncture for this treatment and then a directed facial acupuncture treatment, which includes some kind of lift and pinning where we do some needles in the scalp, we do some needles in the face to lift wherever we need, lifting and then some smaller needles into specific wrinkles. What’s happening is the act of the needle in the skin triggers fibroblasts in the connective tissue. Now, fibroblasts are responsible for healing wounds. So when we needle the skin, that’s technically a wound and fibroblasts are going to be triggered to help heal it. How do they heal it? With collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans. All of these things that make your skin naturally look plump, firm and softened. So, we’re triggering that process and we’re also relaxing muscles that are over engaged. So, when we’re squinting like this, we’re engaging these muscles and we’re reengaging muscles that are losing tension, they’re losing mass. And this is why we get sagging in the skin. So when skin starts to sag, we’re losing mass and tension in our muscles, with acupuncture we are helping re-gauge and balancing the area. So we can do both at the same time, which is really cool. I call these the four pillars of holistic skincare. So, we’re addressing the muscles of the face. We are addressing fibroblasts. We’re triggering that collagen production. We’re addressing the whole person. And the fourth thing is that we’re doing no harm, Some treatments – if we do them too much or too aggressively or on the wrong type of skin, they’re going to cause damage to the dermal papola layer of the skin. This is the layer that kind of connects and transmutes nutrients through the epidermis and the dermis. And when it gets damaged, it buckles and this is how we get wrinkles. So if you do too many chemical peels, this is a risk that you might have. With acupuncture, it’s an incredibly safe treatment. The damage from the needling is very, very minimal. And so it doesn’t produce that damage to the derma papola dermal pele layer and it hits all of four of these pillars of holistic skin care. TTW: What does a person notice specifically and what does a
Is it GMO, Organic or Conventional?
Is it GMO, Organic or Conventional? Even though consumers are against having GMOs in their food, supermarkets still seem to carry them and some of those ways are quite sneaky. Here’s some things to know: Any food that says USDA Organic or Non-GMO Project Verified seal can still contain less than 0.9% GMOs. I’m not sure if that is good news or bad news. It means there’s still GMOs present, just not over 1%. You decide how far down the rabbit hole you’d like to go. Most people know that Corn and Soy are the major GMO crops in the US. Corn is heavily modified with the exception of popcorn, check your labels on everything, granola, cereals, baking goods, tortillas, tortilla chips, soy milks, infant formula, veggie burgers, etc. If a label says it contains just Corn or just Soy and not Organic Corn or Organic Soy, then it’s safe to assume its GMO. In the US, virtually all canola oil is from genetically modified crops. For dairy products always buy 100% organic to avoid GMOs. Avoid Beet Sugar, which is found in cereals, soups, yogurt, breads, it is 99% GMO, instead find products with evaporated cane sugar or organic sugar. Get used to reading your bar codes: If there are only four numbers in the PLU, this means that the produce was grown conventionally or “traditionally” with the use of pesticides. The last four letters of the PLU code are simply what kind of vegetable or fruit. An example is that all bananas are labeled with the code of 4011. If there are five numbers in the PLU code, and the number starts with “8″, this tells you that the item is a genetically modified fruit or vegetable. Genetically modified fruits and vegetables trump being organic. So, it is impossible to eat organic produce that is grown from genetically modified seeds. A genetically engineered (GE or GMO) banana would be: 84011 If there are five numbers in the PLU code, and the number starts with “9″, this tells you that the produce was grown organically and is not genetically modified. An organic banana would be: 94011 So in a nutshell: 4-digit number means: food was conventionally grown with pesticides it number that begins with a 8: produce is genetically modified 5-digit number that begins with a 9: produce is organic Hopefully these tips help you navigate around the supermarket a little better, if you’re interested in doing a total overhaul on your eating, consider doing our Eliminate and Detox Program.
The Importance of Rest During the Yin Time of Year
The Importance of Rest During the Yin Time of Year As we head into the holiday season, it can become easy to get caught up in everything we need to do and become overwhelmed or stressed. But as the days become shorter and the northern hemisphere experiences more stillness, it’s important to take time to slow down and rest. By now most folks have heard the term “flight or fight” which corresponds to the sympathetic nervous system’s response to stress. In this state we feel more alert and ready to take on the world. Experiencing moments of stress are normal and can even be healthy, but problems arise when we stay in this state over long periods of time leading to, among other things, anxiety, tension- especially in our neck and shoulders, and a rapid heartbeat that continues even when we’re not in a stressful situation. When we are constantly in this high gear it can also begin to impact our sleep and digestion- leading to trouble sleeping and digestion irregularities like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and even nausea. It’s important we balance this high gear with its healing counterpart- the parasympathetic system. This “rest and digest” state is when we feel most relaxed and our body is able to use its resources to properly digest what we’re taking in and recover from life’s stresses. When we’re able to settle into this state we’re also able to sleep well- falling easily and staying asleep through the night. During deep sleep is also when our body does all of its repair work. In Taoist cosmology, which Chinese medicine has its roots in, we use the concept of Yin and Yang to describe both the world around us and our physiology, as a reflection of this world. The theory of Yin and Yang simplifies as the binary relationships we can observe. We ascribe Yin to stillness and Yang to activity; Yin is cool and moist while Yang is warm and dry. Nighttime and Winter are both Yin, while Daytime and Summer are Yang. Throughout the day or year there are varying amounts of Yin and Yang in our environment. During the peak of Summer Yang is at its strongest and Yin is weak, while in the Winter the opposite is true with Yin growing in strength and Yang becoming weak. In this same way, we can say that the autonomic nervous system also carries this Yin and Yang aspects, with Yin being the parasympathetic nervous system and Yang being the sympathetic nervous system. Another principle of Chinese medicine is that when we follow the flow of this Yin and Yang around us, we can cultivate good health. Most of us do this inherently to some degree, the best example being that we sleep at night and we’re awake during the day. The same rhythm can be applied throughout the seasons, and as the days become shorter we see the energy of the world around us retreat internally. Many plants go dormant and animals become less active and sleep more. Even our domestic furry friends, cats and dogs, nap more in the Wintertime. And it’s completely normal and healthy that we may find ourselves sleeping and resting more than the rest of the year. With most folks averaging eight hours of sleep per night, it’s not uncommon for folks to vary that throughout the year- maybe you feel good on seven hours of sleep in the Summer but in the Winter there’s nights that you sleep nine hours. Naps can be the same. Maybe a 10-20 min cat nap in the height of Summer refreshes you, while you find yourself leaning into a 30-50 min nap in the Winter. There’s no one size fits all when it comes to sleep and rest, but often the amount of sleep we need varies throughout the year and this is healthy and normal. During this time of shorter days, it’s helpful to shift into this “rest and digest”, parasympathetic mode for periods of time during the daytime as well. While most of us still have a lot to get done, we can take breaks throughout the day instead of pushing through like we may do during the Summer months. We can sit with a cup of tea between errands and chores. We can kick up our feet and read a book we find pleasurable. We can stare out the window and checkout birds soaring overhead or the trees doing their thing. Anything that helps slow us down to help us relax. It’s not uncommon when our stress has been high for a long period of time we find that even when we stop moving we’re still filled with anxiety, stress, tension, a busy mind, rapid breathing, etc. We may need to make a concerted effort to switch gears. Before getting into some tips on how to relax, it’s good to take a look at a few basics to create a steady baseline: Make sure you’re eating well. While it’s OK to indulge sometimes, it’s best to always make sure you’re getting your basic dietary needs met. By eating enough protein, healthy fats, and fiber throughout your day you stabilize your blood sugar which helps stabilize your mood. Designate your sleep hours and stick with them. Most of us have set work hours that we are dedicated to, the same approach can be used with our sleep. While there are things that impact our sleep that can be out of our control, like a sick kid or our pets stirring at night, we should limit anything else that takes away from our sleep that we have control over. Oftentimes it feels like our nighttime self and morning self have different priorities (especially if we’re night owls), but we should always consider the toll that staying up late takes on our wellbeing the next day. If we’re doing everything we can to relax, “rest and digest”, but we still find we need help, it’s time to incorporate healing
Using Acupuncture to Treat Migraines
Using Acupuncture to Treat Migraines What is the Main Reason for Migraines? Research studies show that acupuncture is wildly successful in the treatment of migraines. A recent systematic review of 22 clinical studies with 4985 participants showed that acupuncture reduced migraines by 50% in 69% of the individuals and that effect lasted more than 6 months. That is incredibly encouraging since Western medicine unfortunately has very few tools to treat the common migraine. In Western medicine thinking, migraines are triggered from a number of factors, stress being one of them. The triggers tend to be more difficult to manage for people with irregular serotonin levels. The trigger causes a wave of electrical activity through the brain, the serotonin level surges as well in a similar wave fashion, the result is a decrease in serotonin that causes blood vessels to be irritated resulting pain. From a Chinese medicine lens, the patient feels stress in the body, the energy of the body gets disrupted and creates an imbalance in the flow, that energy then run through the meridians in a reckless way causing pressure which obviously results in pain. The organ systems involved with migraines is usually the Liver and Gall Bladder, there are other scenarios but this is the most common. The Liver is the organ that deals with metabolizing stress so to speak, when there is overwhelm, the Liver gets sort of backed up and it’s overflow the Gall Bladder takes over. The Gall Bladder meridian is where most migraines take place, on one side of the head, around the temple and ear. What is the Best Natural Treatment for Migraines? Avoiding Certain Foods Migraines have so many triggers, alcohol being a big one, in addition to that things like nitrates in food, cheese (because of tyramine), processed foods, cold foods and MSG. Did you know that citric acid can also be an issue because of when it is processed the remaining protein results in processed free glutamic acid, which is MSG. So read your labels, it almost seems like citric acid is in everything these days. Grab Some Feverfew Although we don’t specialize in American herbalism here at Tao to Wellness, there are a few key American herbs like Feverfew that we recommend. Feverfew looks a little like a daisy and is a folk remedy for treatment migraines. The Magic of Magnesium Magnesium is exactly that, magic! It’s a necessary factor in around 300 different systems in the body and so many of us are deficient. We love magnesium for deeper sleep, leg cramps, constipation and of course migraines, menstrual migraines really responds to magnesium and it can also help with menstrual cramps as well. Meditation is the Way Meditation is a remedy for just about any illness, discomfort or disease. Relaxing the mind, enhancing the amygdala, relaxing the muscles from head to toe. Meditation is no longer for soul seekers or Buddhists it’s really for everyone. Acupuncture in the Treatment of Migraines Our favorite way to treat migraines when they are full force or better yet, our favorite way to prevent them is with acupuncture and here’s why. Western medicine treatments offered are only a temporary band aid to mask the pain, OTC NSAIDs initially and when that doesn’t work prescription pills, beta blockers and sometimes antidepressants. The world of Chinese medicine has much more to offer, acupuncture being the number one modality but number two being Chinese herbal medicine. Another thing to remember is that we are not only treating the problem, we are treating the entire body, rebalancing it and preventing future migraines. This is really key, because when a patients stops taking the Western medications listed above, the symptoms will return, nothing has necessarily been healed. With Chinese medicine, we are healing the body. A great metaphor is when a tree has a sick or diseased branch you can prune it back, but you also need to treat the roots of that tree so that the tree will grow beautifully. We think of the body like that, the migraine representing the branch and the roots representing the whole body. One needs to treat both the root and branch.
The Annual Tao to Wellness Spring Cleanse and Detox Starts Soon!
The Annual Tao to Wellness Spring Cleanse and Detox Starts Soon! Welcome back friends! As the ground begins to thaw and we witness new life springing into action, our bodies note that its time relinquish the stagnancy of winter and finally step into the sun, fresh and anew. Come join us for our annual Spring cleanse and detox program May 27th – June 9th. If you’ve never done a detox before, this is the one to do because we support you every step of the way with 24/7 email support, 3 Group Zoom calls (one before, during and on our last day) and a What’s App community thread. If you’ve detoxed with us before, you might recall we used Facebook as our main platform in the past, last year’s second cycle had so much fun on Zoom and What’s App, we decided to switch everything over! Both are a great addition to an already great program! Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming cleanse and detox: What is it: The Tao to Wellness Spring Cleanse and Detox program is a blended approach combining healthy eating and supplementation for detoxification. The base is an elimination diet, in other words getting rid of all the food (aka garbage) that may or may not be an allergen causing inflammation and imbalance in your body, once we get the environment ‘quiet’, the body can do the work it needs to release toxins and reset to it’s natural, optimal state. Keep in mind, we eat plenty! We are merely staying clear of certain foods and people find that they discover new foods and recipes that they didn’t know they liked! Supplementation is necessary to support you, we’ve found that by keeping your blood sugar and brain chemistry stable during the process, the elimination diet becomes much easier. And when the body is more balanced, expelling toxins can be plentiful, without supplementation it is very difficult for the body to “let go” when nutrients are lacking at the cellular level. So the supplements provide the nutritional compounds that support the body’s ability to neutralize and expel toxins easily. Why: For a wealth of reasons, but simply we get toxins from almost everything: the foods we eat, the things we drink, the environment we live in, medications, our beauty products, plastic food containers, everything, there’s even emotional toxicity! Over time as the toxins build up, the liver becomes stressed and “full” causing symptoms such as, but not limited to, allergies, headaches, nausea, irritability, foggy thinking, muscle pain, skin issues, digestion issues, sleepless nights and fatigue. For women, toxic build up can contribute to many gynecological issues, including infertility. In addition, when toxins and free radicals weigh the body down over time, damage happens on a cellular level which means it becomes a gateway to disease and aging overall. When: May 27th – June 9th, 2022 Note: In Chinese medicine, Spring is a time of a renewal and growth. Spring is also the season of the Liver and Gallbladder which makes it an optimal time to do a cleanse. Where: Anywhere in the US! Our last cycle had people from New York, New Jersey, California and Arizona. Picking up supplements is easy and happen at Tao to Wellness in Berkeley. If you are not local, we are happy to ship everything to you, but please note there will be an additional $25 shipping charge. A Nutritional Shake: an excellent source of very high-quality vitamins and minerals providing key cofactors necessary in the detoxification process. Liver Support: an adjunct to help the Liver gently open and purge successfully. Herbs such as Milk Thistle and Dandelion Root are commonly used to protect and cleanse the liver. Antioxidant Support: a heavy hitter in the process of detoxification. Vitamin B12 Intrinsic Factor: all the Bs are helpful, but especially this specific B12 which is integral in detoxification. *This cleanse is not recommended for pregnant mothers, breastfeeding mothers, children under the age of 21 and people that are frail or weak due to a sickness or surgery. If you’re not sure if this is you, we are happy to guide you. Please get in touch! Email emily@berkeley-acupuncture.com for guidance. Pricing: We have two options! 1. The Master 2 Week Cleanse! Only local to Berkeley, CA All supplementation, two acupuncture treatments during the first week and second week, 24/7 email support, access to our What’s App community group and three 1 hour Zoom calls are $350.00. To get the best results, this is our recommendation! It is important to add acupuncture to this plan because: Assists with the release of purging of deeper toxic build up. Balances the emotions; especially irritability during the beginning potential withdrawal stages. Harmonizes the digestion, especially useful with these major food changes. Regulates brain chemistry, especially with those harder to avoid foods like coffee, alcohol and sugar. 2. The Basic 2 Week Cleanse Maybe you’re not close enough to receive acupuncture or maybe your insurance is already covering your acupuncture treatments… then this is the choice for you! All supplementation, 24/7 email support, access to our What’s App community group and three 1 hour Zoom calls is $200.00. If you are not local to Berkeley, we do recommend seeing an acupuncturist near you and letting them know you are on a Spring Cleanse and Detox. They’ll know what to do! Or please let us know where you are, we may have a referral! Also, feel free to invite others! Everything is more fun in community and this is no exception. People thrive better in a supportive environment, so invite your partner, your family and/or friends. Feeling inspired? Are you in? YES! Email Christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com to confirm ASAP! The last day to confirm with us is Monday May 9th so we have ample time for shipping and pick up! Still not sure and have questions? Reach out!
Supplementing the Thyroid for Optimal Function
Supplementing the Thyroid for Optimal Function Written by Emily Edmonds, L.Ac There’s a hummingbird in the garden in front of the office. She has in the space of a week created a nest and laid two eggs. I’ve never seen such tiny eggs! She watches carefully for intruders that would disturb her babies, and flies away every time the door opens. But she comes back, determined to make it work and take care of her responsibility as a new mom. I admire her tenacity, and am filled with so much gratitude to be able to witness this miracle of nature. Now, I was puzzled as to how could I possibly segway this into an article about thyroid nutrition. Maybe she was trying to tell me that humming and chanting are said to activate the throat chakra, at the center of which is the human thyroid gland. Until this hummingbird came into the garden, I knew already that the humming sound came from the rapid flapping of their wings. What I did not know is that they could also sing. And it’s beautiful to listen to! But I was already writing this article, and this hummingbird and her nest came into presence. The hummingbird doesn’t need medications, supplements or surgeries to tell it what to do. There is an intelligence there, an evolutionary process that tells the hummingbird it’s time to make a nest. To lay an egg. To keep the egg warm until it hatches. The hummingbird has no awareness of this. Like our glands and our endocrine system, it has an intelligence that tells it what to do without our conscious awareness or effort. We talked previously about thyroid hormones and their importance in human metabolic function. (Previous Article) Today, we are going to discuss nutrients for the thyroid to be at its optimal function. The thyroid gland utilizes several key nutrients that are needed for healthy thyroid function. These nutrients are selenium, zinc, iodine, iron, calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, and Essential Fatty Acids. These nutrients are needed not just for good thyroid function, but for proper absorption, conversion and assimilation of thyroid hormone and also to protect the thyroid gland from damage. Selenium Selenium is a very key nutrient for healthy thyroid function. Selenium plays a role in conversion of thyroid hormone from its inactive form to its active form. Selenium also contributes to glutathione formation, which protects the thyroid from damage and inflammation. Selenium also has been shown to reduce thyroid peroxidase antibodies, which contribute to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. One of the best sources of selenium is Brazil nuts. But in most cases, I recommend supplementing with selenium b/c the amount of selenium in Brazil nuts can be inconsistent. Zinc Zinc is also needed for thyroid hormone conversion from T4 to T3, as it is a component of the enzyme deiodinase. Zinc is also needed for healthy hair, skin and nails. If you have a thyroid condition and you have alopecia (hair loss), hair breakage, or thin, brittle nails, you may need an increase in zinc intake. Good sources of zinc include shellfish, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, lentils, flaxseeds and pine nuts. I typically recommend taking a zinc and selenium supplement. I really like this product because it contains the recommended doses of both zinc and selenium as well as other minerals and nutrients. Iodine Iodine is needed for the thyroid to produce thyroid hormone, as thyroid hormone has iodine as part of its molecular structure. The inactive form of thyroid hormone, T4, thyroxine has four iodine molecules and the active form, T3, has three. But the thyroid needs a specific amount of iodine for proper function. Unfortunately, it is possible to get too much of it and many of us are getting far more than we actually need. Iodine is in many of our foods, products and cosmetics in prolific amounts. So while it is important to be aware that iodine is important for thyroid function, too much of it or too little of it is going to cause problems with thyroid function. If you have an autoimmune condition such as Hashimoto’s or Grave’s disease, I would recommend avoiding iodine. Excessive amounts of iodine contribute to free radical formation in the thyroid and trigger an immune response in the thyroid that will cause more inflammation and worsen the progress of the disease. We will talk more about iodine and how it actually compromises thyroid function when we get too much of it in a future article. Sources of iodine include iodized salts, sea vegetables, Himalayan salt, egg yolks, seaweed, seafood and dairy products. Iron Iron is used as a catalyst in the formation of thyroid hormone T4, and it also plays a role in converting T4 to T3 through the enzyme deiodinase. Iron also plays a role in making heme proteins such as thyroid peroxidase, which is needed to bond iodine to thyroglobulin proteins to make thyroid hormone. If your iron levels are low, you may not be producing enough thyroid hormone and may not be able to convert thyroid hormone to its active form. Symptoms of low iron levels include pallor, shortness of breath, dry hair or skin, swollen tongue, brittle nails, palpitations, dizziness, and restless leg syndrome. I do not recommend supplementing with iron without consulting a practitioner first. Most practitioners are going to order a CBC panel and a ferritin test to measure of how much iron is being stored. Iron can accumulate in the body to toxic levels if supplemented inappropriately, so if you have normal iron and ferritin levels it is not safe to supplement with iron. For getting adequate stores of iron, I recommend focusing on dietary sources. If you do have to supplement with iron, ensure your supplement also contains Vitamin C or take it with a food rich in Vitamin C (oranges, kiwis, berries) so that you will be able to absorb the iron. Good sources of iron include red
