Acupuncture Will Help You Stop Smoking

Today, there appears to be new hope for those who suffer from addictions to substances harmful to their health. Acupuncture is rapidly increasing in popularity as an effective aid in the control of many addictions—from serious ones involving alcohol and hard drugs to relatively less serious ones involving nicotine and overeating.

Excellent clinical evidence supports the use of acupuncture for addiction control. The first acupuncture detoxification clinic in the United States opened in 1974, at the Lincoln Memorial Hospital in the South Bronx section of New York City. At first, acupuncture was used as an adjunct to methadone treatment, but such good results were obtained with acupuncture that methadone was dropped from the program. According to Dr. Michael Smith, director, the success rate with acupuncture is substantially higher than that of more conventional programs. Unlike methadone, which is itself a highly addictive drug that is used primarily as a heroin substitute for heroin addicts, acupuncture is a natural procedure with no to very little side effects, and it can treat a wide range of addictions. It works equally well for cocaine and crack addicts, heroin addicts, alcoholics, users of psychedelics, and people addicted to barbiturates and amphetamines. Addicts report a marked reduction in craving for drugs, a relief from symptoms of withdrawal, and feelings of relaxation along with improved sleep. The success of this program has inspired the opening of public-funded acupuncture detoxification programs in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Chicago, Portland, Miami and other locations.

There is strong physiological evidence supporting the use of acupuncture in this area. Research has shown that acupuncture can raise the level of endorphins in the nervous system. Resembling opiates in structure and function, endorphins are the body's natural pain killers. Their level is also increased by endurance exercises, and they are responsible for the phenomenon called "runner's high", a feeling of euphoria experienced by long-distance runners who have crossed the five-mile line. It seems that the cravings and withdrawal symptoms experienced by people giving up smoking or drugs can be alleviated by raising the level of endorphins in the nervous system. Some researchers also believe that the desire to eat is also mediated by the endorphin level in the brain, which would explain why acupuncture helps dieters to control their appetites.

Chinese Medicine has its own explanation of how acupuncture works. Chinese medical theory is based on the concept of yin and yang, which are dynamic and complementary opposites observed in all the processes of nature. In a healthy individual, yin and yang are in relative balance. Addicts often suffer from a deficiency of yin. Chinese medical theory, which comprehends the body metaphorically, relates yin to substance, quiescence, and the element of water. Yang relates to function, activity, and the element of fire. Yin nourishes, and yang consumes. When yin, or the water element, is deficient, fire is not held in check and rages out of control. Since it is the product of a deficit, it is called empty fire because it has no substance to fuel it. On a psychological level, such an imbalance creates feelings of emptiness and desperation. Physiologically, it manifests as frenetic hyperactivity. The addict is driven to use and abuse, but the drug exacerbates the fire and further depletes the yin; hence, the feeling of power he or she gains is exaggerated and merely temporary, leading to even more desperation.

The treatment involves nourishing the yin by treating points on the outside of the ear. Short, thin, sterile needles are inserted various points. Patients sit or lie comfortably for about twenty to thirty minutes. The treatments often have a profoundly calming effect on the mind and body, creating feelings of peace and well-being.

People addicted to hard drugs are advised to receive daily treatment until they are clean. They then receive treatments a couple of times a week for a while to help them to remain so. Alcoholics also require daily treatments during the initial period of treatment. To insure long-term abstinence, both groups are encouraged to seek counseling and participate in a support group. Interestingly, alcoholics receiving acupuncture during the withdrawal period rarely experience seizures.

Smokers are in a different category because nicotine is a much milder drug. It does not produce the dramatic effects of hard drugs, though it is probably just as addicting in a more insidious way. Smokers do not always need daily treatments and can usually kick the habit in a shorter period of time. After a few treatments, the craving for nicotine is usually sharply reduced. After several more treatments spread over a two-week period, seven out of ten patients will have managed to quit. Others will have drastically cut down on the number of cigarettes smoked daily.

Acupuncture is very effective in controlling addictions, and the drug problem in this country is a serious one.

Acupuncture is effective for many other conditions as well. Acupuncture has a 3000-year old history and has only recently been found to be useful for addictions. The World Health Organization lists over 40 disorders that respond favorably to acupuncture. Among these are chronic pain, injuries, back and neck pain, chronic fatigue, headaches, depression (mild), stress disorders, hypertension, insomnia, digestive disorders, pre-menstrual syndrome and other women's problems, constipation, allergies and the common cold.

If you are thinking of Alternative care for yourself or if you’d like more information on what alternative care can do for you today:

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Michelle Leonard

:0)
©2008-2010
Finally healthcare that is “Soul good for you”
The kindness thank you is your referral. Please pass on the gift of health.

Contact Alternative Health Solutions of NJ. I will call you to make that appointment

Mercury: Health Topic

Mercury is found naturally in the environment in several forms, but there is little doubt that mercury has one of the most unique physical properties of all metals. In its elemental form, mercury is one of the most unusual metals of all metallic elements. It is a shiny, silver-white, liquid yet contained solid metal used in thermometers, dental amalgams, inoculations / vaccinations, and some electrical switches. It can be combined with other elements to form inorganic compounds, and due to its unique physical property of being neither a solid nor a liquid, mercury has the ability to escort any compound into the hair-like crevices of any substance.

Mercury is assertive, movable and bioaccumulative (retained in organisms). Most of the mercury found in the environment is inorganic so it can enter the air from several sources such as emissions of coal-fired power plants, the burning of municipal and medical wastes, and natural processes such as erosion of ores and volcanic activity.

Mercury can evaporate to form colorless, odorless vapors. Mercury can combine with organic material to form organic compounds such as methylmercury (MeHg) which is produced primarily by bacteria, and poses great concern for environmental (fish) exposure.

Exposure to high levels of mercury can create health dangers in the following ways:

* Elemental mercury vapor can result in nervous system damage including tremors and mood and personality swings.
* Exposure to relatively high levels of inorganic mercury salts can cause kidney damage.
* Adult exposure to relatively high levels of methylmercury through fish consumption can result in numbness or tingling in the extremities, sensory losses, hormonal imbalances, and loss of coordination.
* Exposure by the developing fetus through maternal intake of contaminated fish can result in neurological developmental abnormalities in cognitive and motor functions.

The nature and severity of health symptoms depend on the amount of exposure.

Methylmercury (an organic form of mercury) is spread through the food chain and is retained in the bodies of the animals exposed to it. It reaches its highest levels in large predatory fish, and in birds and mammals (humans) which consume the fish. Levels of methylmercury in fish are typically 100,000 times greater than the water in which they swim.

Mercury in the form of methylmercury is one of the greatest concerns to human beings (and domestic pets fed canned tuna), as the common route of exposure is ingestion. Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations prohibit the sale of commercial fish that are found to have high concentrations of methylmercury. Also, state and federal authorities issue public health advisories when needed to warn people about eating fish caught from local waters that are contaminated with mercury.

Mercury released from dental amalgam fillings can accumulate over time in the brain, pituitary gland, adrenals, and other parts of the body. Mercury from fillings in pregnant women has been shown to cause marked mercury accumulation in the brain, in the kidneys, and liver of human fetuses. Studies have shown that mercury can also be passed to infants through breast milk.

Some metals are necessary for body function as these are natural elements our bodies need. But most heavy metals are toxic when inorganic or at high levels, and can cause various disease syndromes, thyroid problems, learning disabilities, neurological problems, hormonal imbalances, and many other health issues. Mercury toxicity can damage the heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, adrenal glands, pituitary and thyroid glands.

Heavy metals can be found in food, the air, in buildings, clothes, machinery, drinking water, dental work, and cooking utensils. The following is a list of some of the more common sources of mercury:

* Adhesives
* Air conditioner filters
* Body powders
* Broken thermometer
* Cosmetics
* Dental fillings
* Diuretics
* Fabric softeners
* Felt floor waxes
* Polishes
* Fungicides
* Industrial wastes
* Inoculations
* Vaccinations
* Laxatives
* Mercurochrome
* Paints
* Photoengraving
* Psoriatic ointments
* Seafood
* Sewage disposal
* Skin lightening cream
* Tanning leather
* Tattooing
* Wood preservatives

Mercury poisoning often goes undetected for years because the symptoms presented within the body do not necessarily suggest mercury poisoning at first. Too many times, people justify health symptoms as due to stress when heavy metals are at the root of illness all along. Many factors determine risk from exposure including:

* The dose
* The duration
* The type of contact

The developing fetus and young children are a higher risk population for mercury poisoning because mercury in the mother may enter the unborn child and the breast-feeding infant. Young children are at risk because their nervous systems are still developing and have a lower body weight compared to adults.

Exposure and health risks can be determined by measuring the amounts of mercury in the blood, urine, breast milk, and hair.

Since heavy metals are not metabolized by the body but accumulated in the tissues, many essential nutrients from the daily diet are prevented from being absorbed properly by the tissues through digestion. So what came first - bad digestion due to toxic metals or toxic metal build-up due to bad digestion? It may be hard to know for sure, but like a lead shield blocks dangerous X-rays, heavy metals within the human body block electrical signals (nerves), oxygen flow, nutrient intake, and the excretion of wastes, preventing the normal circulation of nutrients and their by-products.

So, it appears that the heavy metals provoke bad digestion, chronic inflammation, an increase in acidity, and a breakdown in the immune system, which can lead to chronic disease such as arthritis, Fibromyalgia, MS, Autism , and cancer.

Common symptoms of heavy metal toxicity include:

* Depression
* Headaches
* Digestive problems
* High blood pressure
* Fatigue
* Irregular heart beat
* Muscle pain
* Brain fog
* Constipation
* Hormonal imbalances

When considering a heavy metal detox program, it's important to check out all sources of mercury first. A qualified dentist who specializes in proper amalgam removal should remove any leaking dental amalgam fillings. Drink plenty of purified water, use only natural deodorants and cosmetics, avoid antacids and cigarette smoking, and replace aluminum cookware with stainless steel.

Detox often if exposed to roofing materials, petroleum products, or if you live or work near any place that emits or handles dangerous toxic chemicals.

Some safe and effective methods of eliminating heavy metals are:

* Alpha Lipoic Acid serves as an antioxidant
* Apple pectin binds and eliminates heavy metals through the colon
* B3 Niacin eliminates toxins from the blood through the pores of the skin
* Cilantro binds to remove metals through the urine
* Chlorella and sea algae bind and remove toxins while replacing critical minerals and nutrients
* Digestive enzymes increase elimination of toxins through the bowels
* French Green Clay binds and eliminates metallic substances and microbes through the colon
* Milk Thistle stimulates detoxification within the liver and supports the liver while cleansing and detoxifying
* Vitamin C binds and eliminates toxins through the urine

If you are thinking of Alternative care for yourself or if you’d like more information on what alternative care can do for you today:

Contact http://www.alternativehealthsolutionsnj.com

Email us at alternativehealthsolutionsnj@gmail.com

Call us 732-664-9348

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Have a Wonderful day

Michelle Leonard

:0)
©2008-2010
Finally healthcare that is “Soul good for you”
The kindness thank you is your referral. Please pass on the gift of health.

Contact Alternative Health Solutions of NJ. I will call you to make that appointment

Prevent Snow-shoveling Injuries

Clearing away mounds of snow can be more than just a pain—it can also be dangerous. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) warns that snow shoveling can be hazardous to your back, shoulders and wrists if you don't take proper precautions. Improper use of tools, along with over-extension and overexertion of muscles, can increase your risk of muscular and skeletal injuries.

To minimize risks, the AAOS offers a number of helpful tips for safe snow clearing, including:

* Check with your doctor before shoveling. This activity places high stress on your heart. If you have a medical condition or don’t exercise regularly, consider hiring someone to remove the snow.

* Dress appropriately. Light, layered, water-repellent clothing provides both ventilation and insulation. It’s also important to have warm headgear, mittens or gloves, and thick, warm socks. Wear shoes or boots with slip-resistant soles.Keep the back of your neck covered.

* Warm up your muscles. Shoveling can be a vigorous activity. Before you begin, warm up your muscles for 10 minutes with light exercise.

* Look where you’re shoveling. Don’t let a hat or scarf block your vision, and watch out for ice patches and uneven surfaces.

* Use the right shovel. Your shovel should be comfortable for your height and strength. Don’t use one that’s too heavy or too long. Space your hands on the shovel handle for better leverage.

* Lift properly. It’s best to push the snow, but if you must lift, do it properly. Squat with your legs apart, knees bent and back straight, and lift with your legs, without bending at the waist. Don’t try to remove deep snow all at once, but a little at a time.

* Don’t throw snow. Scoop small amounts of snow into the shovel, and walk to where you want to dump it. Don’t throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side—this requires a twisting motion that stresses your back. Don’t extend your arms with a shovelful of snow, because this puts too much weight on your spine.

* Clear snow early and often. Begin when a light covering of snow is on the ground to avoid shoveling packed, heavy snow.

* Pace yourself. Snow shoveling is an aerobic activity, comparable to weightlifting. Take frequent breaks and drink fluids to prevent dehydration. If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath or other signs of a heart attack, call 911 or other emergency help immediately.

To recover from snow removal seek after care from a Chiropractor, Acupuncturist, or Massage therapist.

If you are thinking of Alternative care for yourself or if you’d like more information on what alternative care can do for you today:

Contact http://www.alternativehealthsolutionsnj.com

Email us at alternativehealthsolutionsnj@gmail.com

Call us 732-664-9348

Be a Fan of Alternative Health Solutions of NJ on Facebook

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Have a Wonderful day

Michelle Leonard

:0)
©2008-2010
Finally healthcare that is “Soul good for you”
The kindness thank you is your referral. Please pass on the gift of health.