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Public concern
over the quality of the Standard American Diet (SAD) has been growing at an astonishing
rate. Most people are aware of the seriousness of our American diet and the significant
health effects of eating processed, chemically colored, flavored, and preserved
foods. Two thirds of all deaths are directly affected by poor eating habits.
It is time to take control of our lives and not succumb to the TV advertisers
extolling the benefits of their "processed foods". What we put into
our bodies is about the only thing that we have complete control over in our
lives. Why not make 2005 the year that you take control over your health.
Chinese Medicine believes that one
should eat "whole foods" according to the seasons and has classified
foods based on their warming cooling, moistening and energetic values. Knowledge
of these food qualities is indispensable for using food as medicine. Whole foods
consists of whole grains such as brown rice, whole grain pasta, millet, oats
etc.,legumes, (beans) fruits, and vegetables. Our diet should be based primarily
on complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables with small
amounts (3-4 oz.) animal protein (fish and meats). Eating according to the seasons
means not eating peaches, plums and corn on the cob in the winter or winter fruit
in the spring and summer.
How we eat our food is also of utmost
importance according to Chinese Medicine. Eating on the run, while driving or
working or eating during an argument can have significant effects on our qi (energy)
and health. Eating should take place in a quiet environment and shared among
people, not in front of the TV watching the news. In addition to food, herbal
remedies and acupuncture, living a life without extreme stress, and adding moderate
exercise can greatly influence our health.
With more
and more women delaying motherhood due to the demands of careers the number of
women experiencing infertility is on the rise. Most of my patients seeking treatment
for infertility are between the ages of 33-46. Unfortunately, women were never
educated to the fact that by the age of 32 the reduction in the number of eggs
produced by ovaries could be as high as 50% and by 40 as high as 75% making it
very difficult to conceive. Women need to be educated that delaying childbirth
into their 30's and 40's could dramatically decrease their odds of regency.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a safe and much lower cost alternative
or complement to Western Medicine (IVF, IUI, GIFT etc.) for the treatment of
infertility. TCM has been treating women's health issues including infertility
for over 2,000 years. The basis of the treatments are to balance a woman's reproductive
system trough the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbs.
There are many reasons why a woman may have difficulty conceiving, age is just
one of them. Other reasons may include irregular menstruation, hormone imbalance,
cold uterus and blood deficiency to name a few.
Our center,
as does TCM, sees each patient as an integral Mind/Body organism and hence does
not treat just symptoms/diseases. Our goal is to stimulate the body's natural
healing potential by treating the root cause of the infertility thus increasing
one's fertility quotient.
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