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Spring 2004
Do You Suffer From Heartburn?By Qineng Tan
Heartburn is a burning sensation which radiates from the mid to upper chest, caused by acidic stomach contents which irritate the unprotected lining of the esophagus. In healthy people, the lower end of the esophagus (lower esophageal sphincter) normally stays closed, preventing acidic fluid in the stomach from backing up into the esophagus every time the stomach contracts. In fact, the lower esophageal sphincter is not a distinct muscular valve but rather an area of relatively high pressure. The high pressure keeps the esophagus closed off from the stomach and helps prevent stomach acid and food from traveling back up the esophagus. When the esophagus fails to function properly, the stomach acid backs up and heartburn occurs. Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine; the liver, gallbladder, spleen and pancreas work together to help the stomach’s digestion. Once these organs function improperly, excessive stomach acid travels up to the esophagus and causes heartburn. What conditions contribute to heartburn?Anything that decreases the lower esophageal pressure or irritates the esophagus might contribute to heartburn.
Related symptoms & complications:Other symptoms of heartburn may include sore throat, voice change, nausea, anxiety, burning pain when swallowing, a bitter or sour taste in your mouth, coughing and respiratory conditions such as, asthma, pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. If heartburn reoccurs frequently, it may cause complications in the esophagus, such as ulceration and Barrett’s esophagus, a pre-cancer lining of the esophagus. The inflammation of the esophagus may cause pain and bleeding during swallowing. Ways to treat Heartburn:Traditional Chinese Medicine has been treating heartburn effectively for thousands of years. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help not only reduce the symptoms of heartburn, but more important to help recover from the cause of G.E.R.D. by adjusting the esophageal pressure, lowering gastric acid, balancing the functions of the digestive organs. Additionally, we advise you to incorporate the following steps in the treatment plan.
Finding Your Omega-3sBy Heather Schiffke For the past few years you have heard how wonderful salmon is for your health, so the recent research finding disturbing levels of environmental toxins present in farmed salmon may have left you wondering what on earth there is left to eat! The good news is that there are plenty of nutrient rich choices other than farmed salmon. Hopefully this new research will help to boost environmental awareness and the understanding that in order to keep ourselves healthy, we must do the same for our planet.
To help reduce your exposure to the toxins present in some fish, it is recommended that you consume a wide variety of seafood. Although salmon tops the list as far as quantity of omega-3s, there are many other fish that contain these essential fatty acids. Aim for between H to 1 gram of omega -3 fats per day, or two to three servings of fish and seafood a week. Some individuals may benefit from taking a fish oil supplement. If you do take a supplement, make sure that you choose a brand that is free of contaminants. The manufacturer should be able to provide you with information about the processing of their product. Remember to avoid large predator fish such as swordfish, shark and marlin. Not only do these large fish concentrate more toxins than other species, their numbers are dwindling due to over fishing. Many natural foods stores are only carrying seafood that is harvested in a sustainable manner. Support these practices and don’t be shy to ask your fishmonger or waiter about the origin of your seafood. The following chart will give you a point of reference for the amount of omega-3s present in seafood and help you to identify the best choices to increase your overall intake of these beneficial fats.
*Farmed salmon contains more omega 3’s than wild because the fish consume feed that is concentrated with other fish oils. Plant foods also contain an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid. The body can most likely concert these fats into EPA and DHA, although the efficiency of the conversion remains unknown. The richest plant sources of alpha-linolenic acid are flax seeds, walnuts, as well as canola and soybean oils. Smaller amounts of alpha-linolenic acid are present in pumpkin seeds and green vegetables such as kale, chard, collard greens and broccoli. This table illustrates the amount of alpha-linolenic acid found in various plant foods.
Chinese Medicine has long recognized the importance of diet for maintaining good health as well as in the treatment of disease. Whatever your personal goals are, the practitioners at Tao of Wellness will be happy to work with you in designing an individual dietary plan that fits your specific needs. Increasing your dietary intake of omega-3 fats is another way that you can be proactive in your health and wellness care. Menopause: Where Are We Going With Hormone Replacement Therapy?By Dr. Daoshing Ni For some women, menopausal symptoms can be very difficult to manage even with modification of life style. The desire to replace this hormonal deficiency with some exogenous hormones remains strong. The use of these exogenous hormones such as estrogen began as early as the 1950’s and have increased steadily ever since. In the late 1970’s, the risk of developing endometrial cancer was discovered, resulting in additions of progesterone. Since 1980, the use of a combination of estrogen and progesterone has dominated most of the hormonal replacement regimen. Most studies in the 1970’s have shown benefits of using estrogen alone. With the change to combined use, interpretations of the evidence became murky at best and confusing since whatever the effects of estrogen or progesterone have on menopause will differ. As time elapsed, increasing risks of using combined therapy began to gradually surface until 2002. The evidence of increased risks of breast cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, and venous thromboembolism from a randomized trial called The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was reported in the July 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. There were several arms to this trial. The trial of combined therapy of using both estrogen and progesterone, specifically Prempro (Wyeth Ayerst) containing conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), 0.625 mg, and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), 2.5 mg was stopped early. There were 16,608 women with an average duration of 5.2 years of usage in which 50% of the population was randomized to placebo. The unopposed estrogen only arm was recommended to continue and will be reassessed in 2005.
The result of combined estrogen and progesterone trial showed that
breast cancer risk increased by 24%, while the risk of stroke increased
by 31%. In the August 2003 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, WHI published the final coronary heart disease results for the combined
therapy arm showing a 24% overall increase in the risk of coronary heart
disease (CHD) and an 81% increased risk of CHD in the first year after
starting the Estrogen plus progesterone combined therapy. On the
positive sides of the studies, overall bone fractures were decreased by
24% ,while hip fractures were reduced by 33%. The endometrial cancer
rate was also reduced by 19%.
The risk is simply too great for using combined therapy without any symptomatic reasons. Even with severe symptoms of menopause, many women have chosen to tolerate the symptoms and avoid hormones all together. But the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, disturbed sleep, moodiness, fatigue, loss of mental clarity, vaginal dryness, decreased libido and many others can be debilitating and difficult to ignore. Many women have come to Tao of Wellness seeking an alternative assistance with their conditions. When we see you for the first time in dealing with your perimenopausal symptoms, it is frequently not simply addressing symptoms of menopause. Many of the perimenopausal women have menstrual irregularities, uterine fibroids or other issues that can respond poorly to any direct hormonal interventions. Our approach to your condition comes from the conception of total wellness where we take into considerations four main aspects of your body and spirit – genetic tendencies, current health status, life style issues, and finally the important symptoms. Our goals are not merely helping you in dealing with these symptoms but also to encourage wellness and to slow down the aging process. Our advice frequently will include life style modification, dietary guidance, and Chinese Medicine therapies. All advice are tailored to your specific needs and conditions. Most of the time, no two patients will receive the exact acupuncture and herbal therapies. The key to a smooth menopausal transition is to become more aware of your body, especially with subtle changes and take care of them before the symptoms turn severe. Many women begin their journey toward menopause long before they reach 50. Some women can experience some of the symptoms of perimenopause as early as their forties. These symptoms can be warm flashes, menstrual irregularity, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, decreased libido, increasing fatigue, increasingly disturbed sleep, increased body hair, increased premenstrual tension such as moodiness, breast tenderness, and constipation. By addressing these symptoms early on, you can balance your body’s endocrine system and prevent major health issues associated with menopause. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you should consult one of our wellness practitioners.
If you answer yes to any one of the above questions, you may have the onset of perimenopausal symptoms. When the symptoms are discovered and treated earlier, they are much easier to manage. There are also many things you can do to improve these symptoms by examining areas of exercise activities, dietary intake, sleep patterns, and regular stress levels. Normally one should incorporate a variety of cross training exercises such as passive strengthening, aerobic exercises and meditative exercises. These would include walking, hiking, gentle weight lifting, yoga, Tai Ji Chuan, Qi Gong, jogging, and many other activities. The key is to alternate them and not to just do one form of exercise. Dietary intake should be regular and rich in fiber, greens, and fruits. Moderation is the key to a good balanced diet. The intake of alcohol, sweets, and caffeine should be limited and moderate. A good sleep is paramount to high functioning in the day as well as reduced perimenopausal symptoms. Try to wind down your clock after sundown by engaging in relaxing and soothing activities. Going to sleep before 10 and getting up at 6 is an ideal pattern for most people. Lastly, monitor your stress level, you will find that during the perimenopausal time, your stress tolerance is lower and you may tend to be stressed out with things you normally would be fine with. Again, by having a better lifestyle and becoming more aware of your body, you can naturally adjust yourself to the stress level better. Writing journals and putting your emotions and thoughts on paper is also a very good way to put away stress. Synthetic hormones are no longer the gold standard for menopausal treatment and there are many alternatives that can be as effective without all the risks associated with HRT. Traditional Chinese Medicine provides a viable safe approach to perimenopause and menopausal symptoms. At Tao of Wellness, we are honored to be able to help you and educate you on menopausal issues and work with you on having a smooth menopausal transition. Announcements
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Heartburn is a major symptom of a medical condition
called Gastroesophygeal Reflex disorder (GERD). More than 54 million
adults in America are suffering from this frequent condition, just like
you. (Based on the survey from the National Heartburn Alliance in 2003).
The reason that salmon was being
promoted as a health food in the first place is that it is a rich source
of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are also called essential fatty acids (EFAs)
or good fats. More specifically, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic
acid) are the long chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish. Studies have
found that these compounds appear to protect against the modern world’s
most deadly diseases - heart disease, stroke and cancer. Omega-3 fats
assist in reducing inflammation and can be beneficial for inflammatory
conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Omega-3 fats may also play a role in reducing depression and other
mental health disorders.