Wellness
9 Ways to Rid Your Home of Endocrine Disruptors
Can a shower curtain be bad for your health?
It can if it contains phthalates.
Phthalates are just some of over 800 chemicals that are labeled as endocrine disruptors. These chemicals are toxic for a number of reasons. They may mimic estrogen, androgen or thyroid hormones and cause your body to respond to them inappropriately. Or they may block, stimulate or inhibit these hormones. By interfering in your hormone system, there is growing evidence that these chemicals are responsible for a wide range of health problems.
Endocrine disruptors are found in many products. Sandwich bags, air fresheners, dryer sheets, perfumes, sunscreens, cleaning products, laundry detergents, flame retardants, pesticides, cosmetics, shampoo, conditioners and vinyl shower curtains can all be suspect.
One widely known endocrine disruptor is bisphenol-A or BPA. This chemical is found in plastics and is the reason many people choose glass water bottles over plastic.
In February 2013, the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) released a new report: State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 2012. According to this study, endocrine disruptors are linked to high rates of endocrine-related cancers, such as breast, ovarian, prostate, testicular and thyroid cancers; low semen quality; genital malfunctions such as non-descended testes; adverse pregnancy outcomes; obesity; and Type 2 diabetes.
But the effects don’t stop with humans. The report also finds reproductive defects, infertility and antler malformations in some Alaskan deer populations and population decline in some species of otters and sea lions.
Clearly, it’s a good idea to minimize your exposure to these chemicals.
More than Needles: 6 TCM Therapies You May Never Have Heard of
Most people know that one way to feel better is with acupuncture needles. You go to your acupuncturist feeling bad. I put in a few needles. You leave feeling lighter, energized, more pain-free.
Using acupuncture needles to heal is part of a broader medical system called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). By observing body systems and the links between symptoms, TCM developed a medical philosophy about the flow of Qi, or life force. When Qi is balanced, you feel healthy. When it is disrupted, blocked or unbalanced, poor health is the result.
In acupuncture, needles are placed at specific points along the meridians to balance the Qi.
But did you know that needles are just one way to balance Qi?
TCM is a flexible system. The principles can be applied in many ways and to many different therapies to achieve the same results.
In the following 2 part series, we will look at the many ways you can balance Qi. This first part of the series describes the TCM therapies that require the help of a practitioner.
Stretches for Repetitive Strain Injuries
Simple effective stretches to relieve pain and discomfort in your shoulder, forearm, and fingers are featured on the Musician’s Health website with pictures for easy reference. Just click this link to see them: http://www.musicianshealth.com/stretches.htm
The stretches (and the photo here at left) are from the book “Repetitive Strain Injuries: Alternative Treatments and Prevention” by Dr. Tim Jameson, DC. These stretches are not just for musicians. They are great for computer users and anyone who performs repetitive tasks as part of your job or hobby, even cooking. If you continue to engage in the tasks that caused the injury, then adding acupuncture to your care routine can bring significant relief and improvement to your shoulders, arms, hands, wrists, and fingers. Contact us if you would like to see how acupuncture can help your body feel more comfortable when performing repetitive tasks.
6 Ways to Relieve Allergies Without Drugs, Shots or Needles
Summer finally arrives.
The sun comes out. The flowers bloom.
Most people grab their sunscreen and head outside. But what do you do?
You close the windows, grab your antihistamines and hide in the house.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could enjoy being outdoors?
Allergies are widespread. According to WebMD, 20% of the population suffers from allergies or asthma, and 55% of the population tests positive for one or more allergens. Allergies are the 5th leading chronic disease in the US and cost the US health care system $7.9 billion annually.
If you can’t live with your runny nose, congestion or watery eyes, but you don’t want to take antihistamines or get allergy shots, what can you do to relieve your symptoms?
Why Free Acupuncture on May Day?
Community acupuncture clinics in Seattle and across the continent offer free treatment this Wednesday. Linda and Manu will both be giving free acupuncture 1-5pm (appointments here). It’s Purple Dragon’s anniversary but there is a greater reason why our services are free on May Day. Our colleague Lisa Baird of Guelph Community Acupuncture in Ontario, Canada sums it up well in her article below:
Why free acupuncture on May Day?
by Lisa Baird, RAc Apr 22 2013
Free treatments on May 1st are a community acupuncture tradition. If you’re new to community acupuncture, or unfamiliar with the history of May Day, also known as International Worker’s Day, you might well be wondering Why?
International Worker’s Day marks the anniversary of the Haymarket affair in Chicago. During a public assembly during a general strike for the eight-hour workday in 1886, an unidentified person threw a bomb at the police. The police responded by shooting at the workers, killing dozens of them. May 1st, the anniversary of that event, has become an annual celebration of the international labour movement.
…So why free acupuncture on that day? Yes, giving free treatments is a tried-and-true marketing strategy. But we give free pokes on May Day for other reasons having nothing to do with revenue.
Working as a community acupuncturist in a busy clinic means treating a lot of people, most of whom would not have been able to afford acupuncture without the sliding scale. It means treating many, many people who experience pain and illness as a direct result of their jobs; work site injuries, chemical damage, toxic levels of stress, deep fatigue from shift work, repetitive strain injuries which never get a chance to fully heal. Of course, people of all incomes and backgrounds have work-related illnesses. We welcome wealthier people too! But as community acupuncturists, we are most often treating people who have less access to care for their bodies. It is impossible to ignore that people working for less money are often required to work the hardest, for the longest hours, under the most challenging conditions. It is impossible to ignore how deeply unjust this is.
So, offering free acupuncture on May Day is a political choice for us, a chance to extend a direct welcome and invitation to workers: “Come in and receive care today, for free.”
…It’s also really fun. We always look forward to May Day! Please join us.
7 Healthy Tips for Coping with Financial Stress
If you feel stressed just living your life, you’re not alone.
Americans lead stressful lives. Jobs, relationships, health, family obligations, community responsibilities—they all take their toll.
In “Stress in America 2012,” an annual survey by the American Psychology Association, 1 in 5 respondents reported an extreme stress level of 8, 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale. In that same group 69% of respondents reported physical or non-physical symptoms of stress, including irritability or anger, fatigue, feeling overwhelmed or changes in their sleep.
The top source of stress according to 69% of the respondents is–money. continue reading
How Traditional Chinese Diabetic Treatments Bring New Hope for an Old Disease
Diabetes is a worldwide concern. Millions of people suffer or die from it and its complications. The rate at which it is increasing in the population is staggering.
According to the World Health Organization about 347 million people worldwide have diabetes. Deaths from diabetes will rise 50% in the next 10 years and by 2030 diabetes is expected to be the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. continue reading
50 Ways to Leave Your Acupuncturist
I’m a lucky acupuncturist.
I work with wonderful people every day and I get to hear your stories, celebrate when you get well and watch your families grow up.
I always try to think of ways to improve your health but suddenly it occurred to me—there is one way I haven’t yet helped you.
I haven’t given you a definitive guide to staying healthy.
This pains me. Not only have I neglected giving you the secret to good health but also if I give it to you, you’ll leave me. You won’t need me anymore.
The more I thought about this, the more nervous I became. You see, there’s not one way to stay well, not two or three.
In fact, there must be 50 ways to leave your acupuncturist. (Read more…)
How to End the Terrible Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatments
Having breast cancer is hard. Your body wages a war against cancer cells and your emotions may slide into fear, grief, anxiety and depression.
And unfortunately, the side effects from breast cancer treatments can make it even worse.
Until now, many people thought they had to suffer through all the discomfort. But new research shows that acupuncture is very effective at relieving the side effects of breast cancer treatments.
Continue reading…
How to End Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Start Loving Winter
Many people feel down as winter approaches. It’s dark. It’s cold. The holidays can be stressful.
But for some people every winter is unbearable. They’re tired and depressed. They don’t want to get out of bed. They snap at their families and binge on junk food.
These people have seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Our moods and energy levels fluctuate with the seasons. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) understands these cycles but modern life does not. These days, you are expected to be active, productive and creative at all times of the year. There is no accommodation for a slow, quiet winter. According to TCM, this conflict causes stress, which can result in SAD.
