The FDA has published an analysis of the popular bone-building drugs suggesting caution about long term use because the drugs lead to weaker bones in some cases. This is not the first time I've heard this. I've had patients over the years who wonder why, after taking their calcium and prescription drug for 5 years their bones are still weak. So I wasn't surprised by the FDA's concern. Plus, many women don't know how to take calcium so that it gets used most efficiently by the body ..... or used at all! Look to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for bone health. In fact, I recently gave one of my patients who suffers from back pain some of my personal "back pain, inflammation, bone building" formula and she told me that she didn't need her estrogen patch for her hot flashes any more. True!! The herbs in the formula work on the cause of back pain - our weakened central, bone building qi. That's how TCM works - we treat the cause not the symptom.
And in fact, I was taking the same bone building herbs prior to my last visit to a back surgeon who didn't say "bone on bone" for my lumbars after I'd been told that by everyone who had looked at xrays or MRIs. So I'm happy - structural yoga therapy (w/ R Ziegler who rocks!) but I also DO the work, MT and rolfing with A Rach (great!), and regular acupuncture have worked. Yes, REGULAR acupuncture, not just when I'm in pain or crooked and stiff.
Call 303-947-6224 or email me at DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com if you need help moving through peri-menopause, help with fertility challenges, have any medical issues with digestion, sleep, depression, anxiety etc. or would like to talk about Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture.
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Work for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains? Your Cigna policy may well give you excellent coverage that includes acupuncture. I can check it out for you. read more..
Friday, 11 May 2012
Traditional Chinese Medicine-Bone Health-Acupuncture
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Traditional Chinese Medicine-Insurance Verification-Herbs For Weight Loss-Health Conditions
Obesity continues to rise in our country and, especially for women of peri and post menopausal age, it's scary. Too much weight increases our chances of a number of health conditions including having that first heart attack. In my practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I specialize in improving digestion (your first step toward losing weight believe it or not), in using acupuncture and herbs for weight loss which may include herbs that make the digestive system work better but also those (in liniment form) that help detox fat cells. As I am a woman in that "middle age spread" age group, I know the importance of removing the especially "bad" visceral fat that accumulates in some people's middles - again, the more dangerous fat for leading to conditions like heart disease and stroke.
INSURANCE: Your insurance may cover treatment; let's find out by having you fill out an insurance verification form. If your treatment here is not covered by insurance, well, then it's time to figure out how important your future health is, how important it is to you to feel young and vibrant. We can't put a price on good health. Call me at 303-947-6224 or email me at DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com. I can email you an insurance verification form to see what your health insurance will cover (or not). Our office works with all insurance carriers and know that there are United, Cigna, BCBS, and other companies who have SOME plans (not all) that do cover acupuncture and some are quite good especially if you work for certain companies.
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Hope you have a health-filled day! read more..
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Traditional Chinese Medicine-Personal Success-Pain Killers-Soccer-Bone
This is a sweet video about someone who was told that he would never walk again but who DID the work and now walks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448
In less of a way but still very dramatic for me, I've been told never to run again (and I still play soccer), that my back crookedness was basically incurable because of bone on bone lumbar spine - think about disc replacement or low back fusion. I couldn't turn right in the mornings because my back was so stiff and muscles so tight - and, naturally, I was in pain. I was starting to feel fairly depressed .. asking myself "is this it?". It's going to be too hard to hold my grandchildren, I'll never be able to pick them up, no more extreme mt biking, soccer, hiking w/ a backpack, etc. etc.?! I didn't like the prospect of back surgery - though have to admit, I was willing to do it if I could get function back and have less pain - I wanted to live my life! Didn't like the prospect of taking Vicodin - how would my body look in 20 years of being wracked by pain killers? (not to mention that they don't address the problem and since I practice Traditional Chinese Medicine I like to go to the cause. So, I got faithful about receiving acupuncture treatments and taking anti-inflammatory and bone building Chinese herbal prescriptions, I see a fantastic structural integration MT (and have been rolfed), and I started to see a structural yoga therapist and DO the work. Oh my gosh, you cannot believe the difference in my life! No pain meds, play soccer, back to mt biking without (much) fear, play w/ the grands all I want. My morning pain and stiffness (that "they" said is arthritis and just get used to it) is somedays non-existent. Now, is this utopia? No. I'm aging, having to accept certain things about the aging but what a difference I have in my life now and I will never give up; aging back or not!
DrMLucas@AcupunctureWoman.com, 303-947-6224. Acupuncture works!
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Monday, 7 May 2012
Chronic Sinus Infections-Bladder Infections-Acupuncture Clinic-Water Metabolism
Over the years, I have seen patients in my acupuncture clinic for conditions such as bladder infections, edema, chronic sinus infections, dehydration, problems with yeast, athlete’s foot, dry itchy skin, and obesity. What do all of these conditions have in common? In Chinese medicine, they all arise from your body’s inability to metabolize water effectively. Most of us don’t think much about water; you drink it in, you pee it out. Also, we’ve been repeatedly told to drink enough. Beyond that, what could water . . . ? Read More: Water Metabolism and the Triple Burner read more..
Zen Skin Care Line-Skin Care Regimen-Youthful Skin-Products
Our artisan, hand crafted Mei Zen skin care line is expanding soon! Currently our products include our Japonica toner for cleansing and invigorating your skin. Our Mei Zen Revitalizing serum and Golden Radiance pearl cream are both super good for you skin; I use the pearl for my day treatment (it makes my skin radiant) and the serum at night. Everyone should be putting pearl on their face; it's loaded with minerals that improve the tone of your skin. Our Neroli Peptide eye cream is an essential part of a skin care regimen along with the Sea Pearl Masque and Frankincense Bamboo scrub. Masques are fun!!! and they make your skin feel like a baby's butt after you take it off. For those of you who may try to lose a few pounds in 2012, we have our Juniper Cypress oil to rub on fatty areas. It is also useful to get your digestive qi and lymph moving - both very important parts of weight loss.All of our products contain active ingredients that make your skin better. They are not just for moisturizing; they are for regenerating a youthful skin! And don't forget .... ALWAYS treat your neck and upper chest area too, not just your face! Start the year of the Dragon right! Get your orders in now for our January 3rd shipping date by calling 303-349-2932 or emailing info@CosmeticAcupunctureSeminars.com to order. read more..
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital-Emotional Responses-A Positive Impact-Memory Impairment
Mantra-based meditation can have a positive impact on emotional responses to stress, fatigue and anxiety in adults with memory impairment and memory loss, researchers at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital have determined. Their findings are published in the recent issue of … Continue reading ? read more..
Centers For Disease Control And Prevention-Acupuncture-Depression
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its symptoms, such as snorting, gasping or stopping breathing while asleep, are associated with depression, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For individuals experiencing depression, acupuncture can stabilize … Continue reading ? read more..