Archive for January, 2010
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Jan
29
Posted by volkmargaussmann
The opening ceremony of the XXI Vancouver Olympic Winter Games is February 12. For some of the athletes, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) helps them on their path to winning a medal.
Skiing is but one example of how TCM can help keep all winter athletes in medal-winning shape. Of course, along with all that schussing down the slopes comes the possibility of injuries. In fact, one of the most common injuries is a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
ACL injuries are caused by traumatic force applied to the knee with a twisting motion, causing forceful hyperextension. The skier typically hears an audible “pop” upon impact, followed by acute pain, instability of the knee with swelling, difficulty bearing weight, and the feeling that the knee will give out. In sports medicine, the initial treatment of an acute ACL sprain includes ice and anti-inflammatory medication. Traditional TCM treatment protocol for ACL repairs integrate acupuncture and cupping. The practitioner may also choose add massage, chiropractic or herbs. The treatment of ACL injuries by integrating Eastern Medicine increases the rate and integrity of recovery.
Examples of world-class athletes who are using acupuncture to get back (and stay) in shape are Canadian skier Veronika Bauer and U.S. Olympic skier Steven Nyman.
We at Chen’s Acupuncture in Seattle/Bellevue, WA are wishing all athletes from around the world successful Olympic games!
Source: Acupuncture Today, February 2010, Volume 11, Number 2
(Image courtesy of grifray Flickr under the creative commons license)
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Jan
27
Posted by volkmargaussmann
This post is for a friend.
After 8 months of unemployment, our good friend Robert Graak has found a new job. At Microsoft no less. At a time when for every job opening there is an average of six applicants, and many applicants have to compete with a low-wage competitor in India, this is a wonderful accomplishment.
Eight months of unemployment is actually pretty standard during this recession. This can often do damage to a person’s self-esteem and their sense of worth. Luckily, Robert seemed to be weathering it OK. We wish him good luck, good raises, and few server errors in his new endeavor.
Friend, we are very proud of you.
(Image courtesy of Grilled Cheese Flickr under the creative commons license)
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Jan
26
Posted by volkmargaussmann
At Chen’s Acupuncture in Seattle/Bellevue, WA, we are all about vibrant living and eating healthy. So please forgive us for this post:
Get a Dozen Classic Trophy Cupcakes for Just $15!
That’s right. At www.livingsocial.com you can get 55% off on one dozen cupcakes. Pay just $15 (normally $33!) and get a dozen gourmet cupcakes. Everyone from Martha Stewart to Seattle Magazine loves these delectable treats. Our fave flavors are Snickerdoodle (cinnamon and sugar swirled butter cake with cinnamon buttercream) and Hummingbird (a tweeterific banana pineapple coconut cake), but take your pick for your assortment of fun…and oh-so-worth-it calories!
Locations are:
2612 NE Village Lane
University Village Shop
Seattle, WA 98105
206-632-7020
700 110th Ave NE
The Bravern
Bellevue, WA 98004
206-632-7020
1815 N 45th St
Wallingford Center, #209
Seattle, WA 98103
206-632-7020
Tomorrow, a healthier post again. Have a great day!
(Image courtesy of Trophy Cupcakes, livingsocial.com)
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Jan
25
Posted by volkmargaussmann
If you drink green tea you can-
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Lower cholesterol
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Increase Thermogenesis (the body’s rate of burning calories)
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Enhance fat oxidation
Let nature help you burn fat
By drinking green tea regularly, you can increase your metabolism and thus lose weight naturally. Why? Green tea is packed with a natural substance called catechin polyphenols. These compaunds work with other chemicals to intensify levels of fat oxidation and thermogenesis, where heat is created in the body by burning fuels such as fat.
Lowers cholesterol and increases energy expenditure
Green tea also causes carbohydrates to be released slowly, preventing sharp increases in blood-insulin levels. This promotes the burning of fat.
The thermogenic effect was originally attributed to its caffeine content. However, green tea stimulates brown fat thermogenesis far greater than a comparable amount of pure caffeine. It appears that the catechin-polyphenols, in particular epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and caffeine that naturally occur in green tea work synergistically to stimulate thermogenesis and augment and prolong sympathetic stimulation of thermogenesis. It has been shown to increase 24-hour energy expenditure and fat oxidation (caffeine only increases metabolism during the time you take it).
Weight is gained as excess sugars and fats are stored in the body as fat cells. Green tea catechins can help prevent obesity by inhibiting the movement of glucose in fat cells. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been found to be especially effective. There is now good evidence that green tea catechins are related to reductions in body fat.
EGCG is a powerful antioxidant with positive qualities but a balanced diet and exercise, lots of it, are of paramount importance to any weight reduction program.
We at Chen’s Acupuncture in Seattle/Bellevue, WA will be happy to answer any questions you might have about the excellent weight loss benefits of green tea. Just stop by our office, email us at info@chensacupuncture.com or call Janette at 425 644 2056. Thank you.
(Image courtesy of Mothlike, Flickr under the creative commons license.)
(Source: http://www.japanesegreenteaonline.com/weightloss.htm)
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Jan
23
Posted by volkmargaussmann
After a week or mostly serious posts from Chen’s Acupuncture in Seattle/Bellevue, WA, tonight we’ll write about something more lighthearted: a group of adults asked a group of 4 to 8 year-olds what love is. The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth.”
Billy – age 4
“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.”
Rebecca – age 8
“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.”
Karl – age 5
“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”
Terri – age 4
“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.”
Chrissy – age 6
“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.”
Danny – age 7
“Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss”
Emily – age 8
“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,”
Nikka – age 6
“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen,”
Bobby – age 7
“There are two kinds of love. Our love. God’s love. But God makes both kinds of them.”
Jenny – age 8
“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.”
Noelle – age 7
“During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore,”
Cindy – age 8
“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”
Tommy – age 6
“My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.”
Clare – age 6
“Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken.”
Elaine -age 5
“Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.”
Chris – age 7
“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.”
Mary Ann – age 4
“I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.”
Lauren – age 4
Have a great weekend!
(Image courtesy of Beppie K, Flickr)
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Jan
22
Posted by volkmargaussmann
This just in from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER) ©1998-2010:
Rebound headaches (medication-overuse headaches) are caused by frequent use of headache medication. Pain relievers offer relief for occasional headaches, but if you take them more than a couple of days a week, you may trigger rebound headaches.
Risk factors for developing rebound headaches include:
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Frequent use of headache medications. Your risk increases if you use combination analgesics, ergotamine or triptans 10 or more days a month or simple analgesics more than 15 days a month — especially if this regular use continues for three or more months.
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History of chronic headaches. Anyone who has a history of migraines, tension-type headaches or other chronic headaches is at risk of developing rebound headaches from the overuse of pain relievers.
Daily doses of caffeine — from your morning coffee, your afternoon soda, or any pain reliever or other product containing this mild stimulant — may fuel rebound headaches as well. Read product labels to make sure you’re not wiring your system with more caffeine than you realize.
To stop rebound headaches, reduce or stop taking the pain medication.
Of course, we at Chen’s Acupuncture in Seattle/Bellevue, WA are also recommending acupuncture and Chinese herbs as a great way to get rid of headaches. Just stop by our office, email us at info@chensacupuncture.com or call Peishan, Janette or David at 425 644 2056. Thanks!
(Image courtesy of Lucas Janin, Flickr)
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Jan
21
Posted by volkmargaussmann
You might recall that we at Chen’s Acupuncture in Seattle/Bellevue, WA put a patient of ours on a four-week plan with the goal of achieving positive health results by Valentine’s Day. So how has she been doing since?
The treatment protocol included acupuncture twice a week and a supplement called SAS, to nutritionally assist the performance of the adrenal glands and help reduce the negative effects of stress. We also wanted her to start with moderate exercise and make sure that she’d get a good night’s rest whenever possible.
What are the results so far? Abigail lost a few pounds. (Please note that this is not her real name.) But more importantly, her energy level has much improved. That mid-afternoon slump? Much better now. She sleeps better. Also, her husband noticed that she’s in a better mood. All of that is certainly helping her make better Valentine’s Day decisions.
More in a future post … have a great day!
(Image courtesy of Pochacco20, Flickr)
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Jan
20
Posted by volkmargaussmann
It’s not every day that you beat Mr. Bill Gates himself to the punch, but we did it. A while ago, Peishan Chen and Chen’s Acupuncture in Seattle/Bellevue, WA started using the Twitter website to communicate with other healthcare providers and patients. Bill Gates only joined yesterday!
Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder, joined the ranks of those on the microblogging site, where posts are limited to 140 characters, on Tuesday with this tweet: “‘Hello World.’ Hard at work on my foundation letter — publishing on 1/25.”
While there are many celebrities on Twitter, there are also many celebrity impostors. Gates’ Twitter account — @BillGates — is noted as being “verified.” That means he’s the real deal, according to Twitter, and according to a foundation spokesperson.
Among the first to welcome Gates to Twitter was actor Ashton Kutcher. “Thanks to you and all the other people who have welcomed me,” Gates tweeted to Kutcher. “I’ve got a lot to learn about Twitter but look forward to sharing more.”
In Day One on Twitter, as word spread about Gates being on the site, his number of followers quickly went to more than 60,000, then to more than 142,000.
Gates also has rejoined Facebook, the social networking site. He quit Facebook about six months ago, after being inundated with thousands of “friend” requests from people he did not know.
(Hey, we’re on Facebook, too! You’ll find us there by searching for “Chen’s Acupuncture“)
(Image courtesy of MSNBC.com)
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Jan
19
Posted by volkmargaussmann
For our patients:
“No-Appointment-Saturday.” Come anytime. Walk-ins welcome.
Have a great day!
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Jan
18
Posted by volkmargaussmann
Overview:
Whiplash is a neck injury that can occur during rear-end automobile collisions, when your head suddenly moves backward and then forward — similar to the motion of someone cracking a whip. These extreme motions push your neck muscles and ligaments beyond their normal range of motion.
Whiplash injuries can be mild or severe. Most people recover from whiplash in just a few weeks, but some people with whiplash injuries develop chronic conditions that can be extremely painful and disabling.
Symptoms:
Most whiplash symptoms develop within 24 hours of the injury and may include:
- Headaches, most commonly at the base of the skull
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
Some people also experience:
- Memory problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Ringing in the ears
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
At Chen’s Acupuncture in Seattle/Bellevue, WA we treat quite a few patients with whiplash. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have about the astonishing benefits that can be achieved with acupuncture and herbs. Just stop by our office, email us at info@chensacupuncture.com or call Peishan, Janette or David at 425 644 2056. Thank you.
(Image courtesy of NYCTCM, Flickr, under the creative commons license)
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