In This Issue

• Your Health this Summer
• Mango and Peach Salsa
• Benefits of Acupuncture in Cancer Care
• Chemo-Induced Nausea Study
• Cancer Prevention in Every Aisle

Your Health this Summer

In Oriental medicine, summer is symbolic of maximum activity or greatest yang, which means that it is a time of heat, outgoingness, and
moving outward in nature and in our lives. This is the season to nourish and pacify our spirits while maximizing our potential as we
find joy in the hot summer days and warm summer nights.

Summer is ruled by the fire element. The fire element corresponds to the heart and small intestine, the southerly direction, the climatic condition of heat, the color red, the emotion of happiness or joy, the sound of laughter, the taste of bitterness and the odor of burning. Fire controls the blood vessels and is reflected in the face and complexion.

Signs that the fire element is in balance include a strong and healthy heart, a calm mind and the ability to sleep soundly. When the fire element is imbalanced, we may either lack joy (depression) or have an excess of joy (mania). Indicators of an imbalance in the fire element also include agitation, nervousness, heartburn, and insomnia.

This is a great time to schedule your acupuncture summer tune up! Call for more information.

Mango and Peach Salsa

An easy and healthy peach and mango salsa recipe. The delicate flavors of mangos and peaches combine with onions and garlic in this sweet-and-savory salsa recipe. Try it with chips for a light snack on a hot summer night, or add to a vegetable burrito for an unusual twist.

INGREDIENTS:

2 mangos, peeled and chopped
2 fresh peaches, peeled and chopped
1 sweet onion, diced
1 medium tomato, diced (optional)
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
dash salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. If you have a food processor, you can process all the ingredients in chunks, rather than dicing and chopping.

Chill for at least one hour, to allow flavors to combine, and stir well before serving. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Benefits of Acupuncture in Cancer Care

On Sunday June 6th, cancer survivors celebrated the 23rd annual National Cancer Survivors Day, sponsored by the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation. The event, which includes hundreds of gatherings across the US, is a time to celebrate life. Here are some ways that acupuncture can help while being treated for and recovering from cancer.

Cancer treatments are aggressive and cause numerous unwanted side effects as well as a lowered immune system. Acupuncture is an excellent adjunctive therapy in cancer treatments because of its ability to relieve pain, reduce side effects, accelerate recovery and improve quality of life.

What Acupuncture is used for during Cancer Treatment

Acupuncture provides a total approach to health care for people with cancer. It can be used to address many of the concerns that come up during and after chemotherapy, radiation, biological therapy and surgery.

According to the National Cancer Institute, acupuncture may cause physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain. These responses can cause the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions. It is proposed that, by these actions, acupuncture affects blood pressure and body temperature, boosts immune system activity, and causes the body’s natural painkillers, such as endorphins, to be
released.

Areas that acupuncture has shown the most promise include:

To learn more about how acupuncture can safely and effectively be incorporated into care for people with cancer, please call for a
consultation today.
Source: National Cancer Institute. www.cancer.org

Chemo-Induced Nausea Study

Effect of Acupuncture on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

According to the National Cancer Institute, of all the investigated effects of acupuncture on cancer-related or chemotherapy-related symptoms and disorders, the positive effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is the most convincing.

Numerous studies have consistently shown acupuncture to be effective in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting as well as as
postoperative and morning sickness nausea and vomiting.

A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial investigated the effect of electro-acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in 104 patients with breast cancer who were undergoing a highly emetogenic (causes vomiting) chemotherapy regimen. The patients were randomly assigned to receive low-frequency electro-acupuncture at classic acupuncture points for nausea and vomiting once daily for 5 days, minimal needling at control points with mock electro-acupuncture on the same schedule, or no adjunct needling. All patients received concurrent antiemetic drugs (prochlorperazine, lorazepam, and diphenhydramine) and high-dose chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and carmustine).

The main outcome measures were the total number of emesis (vomiting) episodes and the proportion of emesis-free days occurring during the 5-day study period. The data revealed significantly fewer emesis episodes in the electro-acupuncture treatment group compared with those in the minimal needling and drug-only control groups.

Source: Shen J, Wenger N, Glaspy J, et al.:
Electroacupuncture for control of myeloablative chemotherapy-induced emesis: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 284 (21): 2755-61, 2000.

Mind-Body Techniques :: Qigong :: Tai Chi :: Acupuncture :: and more…

$45 COMMUNITY DAYS

The May $45 COMMUNITY DAYS at my acupuncture clinic were a success and I have decided to continue them through June and July. On COMMUNITY DAYS two recliners are set up and I may see two people at the same time. You have a chance to receive a stress-busting acupuncture treatment for just $45.00. That’s $30.00 off the regular fee!

As most of you know, you are treated, fully clothed, on a comfortable reclining chair, in an room with, in this case, one other patient. COMMUNITY DAYS is the acupuncture equivalent of a chair massage.

If you have not made a 2010 visit to me yet, please know that I have a larger office which is what makes COMMUNITY DAYS possible.

Please call or email me to schedule your session. Bring a family member or invite a friend!

OPEN HOUSE at The ROY and PATRICIA Disney Family Cancer Center

Saturday, June 26 • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
181 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank
To RSVP, please call: 1-888-HEALING (1-888-432-5464)

Meet our panel of experts and Discover the Benefits of Integrative Medicine:
Acupuncture, Acupressure, Massage Therapy, Yoga, Tai-Chi
Learn about our Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program
See the newest technology • Demonstrations • Refreshments
Visit our ‘Ask the Doctor’ areas • Meet our Nurse Navigators
Cancer Survivors Honored • Nutraceuticals Explained
Learn about all components of treatment and follow-up
Free gift for cancer survivors • Free Parking

See the Center at triumphovercancer.org

The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center

Presently the Center is available to the community at large, cancer is
NOT a prerequisite!

I am at the Center on Mondays and Wednesdays. To schedule an acupuncture treatment or to sign up for a Tai Chi/Qigong class, call
818-748-4701.

Life hard? Tai Chi EASY!

Tai Chi EASY blends Qigong AND Tai Chi for Self Healing of Body – Mind – Spirit. You exercise each of the 3 levels of your being: body, mind and spirit. The combined principles of qigong and tai chi affect your internal alchemy and enable the creating your own personal medicine. Class time is approximately 45-60 minutes. Appropriate for beginners. You are welcome to start at anytime. Why not try a class?
See Mark’s class and workshop schedule at mindbodyspirit4health.com/calendar.

Tai chi is often described as “meditation in motion,” but it might as well be called
“medication in motion.”
This mind-body practice can help treat or prevent many age-related health problems, …it may be the perfect activity for the rest of your life.
Harvard Women’s Health Watch (May, 2009)

Cancer Prevention in Every Aisle

Nearly everything in the produce aisle can help you prevent cancer, but there are items throughout the supermarket that can protect your health and the health of your family.

Produce Aisle Picks

Cantaloupe – a great source of carotenoids, plant chemicals that act as antioxidants shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer.

Kale and cabbage – cruciferous vegetables are widely considered to be one of the healthiest food choices you can make. Included in this family of vegetables are
broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage and bok choy. Cruciferous vegetables are high in vitamins, fiber, and potent anti-cancer phytochemicals.

According to the American Institute for Cancer, there is solid evidence that links cruciferous vegetables and protection against cancer. Studies have shown that this vegetable group has the ability to stop the growth of cancer cells for tumors in the breast, uterine lining, lung, colon, liver, and cervix. And studies that track the diets of people over time have found that diets high in cruciferous vegetables are linked to lower rates of prostate cancer.

It is recommended that we eat 3-5 servings of cruciferous vegetables per week. It’s best to eat these veggies raw or only lightly steamed so they retain their cancer fighting phytochemicals.

Freezer Aisle Pick

Edamame (soybeans) – These cancer-fighting beans contain phytoestrogens, that may help prevent estrogen-driven cancers by binding to estrogen receptors. They are also good for the men of the household since evidence suggests the isoflavones found in soy products may help fight prostate cancer.

Cereal Aisle Pick

Whole Grain Oats – Oats have the highest proportion of soluble fiber of any grain. Fiber is rich in antioxidants, helps fight colon cancer and phenolic compounds in whole grains my help reduce the risk of certain GI cancers. Pick cereals high in folate, fiber and/or flaxseed.

Beverage Aisle Picks

Orange juice – this favorite breakfast beverage is a powerful source of folate which has been linked to lowered risk for GI and pancreatic cancer.

Green tea – green tea is lower in caffeine than coffee and can help prevent prostate cancer and possibly bladder cancer.

Pomegranate juice – this juice is extremely antioxidant-rich and helps prevent colon and prostate cancer.

Soy milk – also made from soy beans, soy milk works the same way as edamame to fight cancer.

Household Aisle Picks

Sunscreen – summer is starting, so lather on the SPF each and every time you go out in the sun to block exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Mop or damp cloth – it’s important to get rid of dust without spreading it around your home. Recent evidence has shown that dust can contain carcinogens that are known to cause cancer.

I value all referrals or introductions to your friends, family and business associates. Please know that anyone you refer to me will be
treated with the same high regard. Thank you so much for your trust and confidence.

Until next month …Healthy regards!
Mark Melchiorre, L.Ac.

In This Issue of Qi Mail™

• Acupuncture for Arthritis
• Studies on Acupuncture for Arthritis
• Anti-inflammatory Diet

Acupuncture for Arthritis

May is National Arthritis Month and there’s no better time to take action. If you suffer with arthritis, acupuncture can help.

Arthritis is one of the most pervasive diseases in the United States and is the leading cause of disability. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every three Americans (an estimated seventy million people) is affected.

For most people, arthritis pain and inflammation cannot be avoided as the body ages. In fact, most people over the age of fifty show some signs of arthritis as joints degenerate over time. Fortunately, arthritis can often be managed with acupuncture.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is not just one disease; it is a complex disorder that comprises more than one hundred distinct symptoms and can affect people at any stage of life. Two of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While these two forms of arthritis have very different causes, risk factors and effects on the body, they share a common symptom—persistent joint pain.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the United States. OA begins with the breakdown of joint cartilage, resulting in pain and stiffness. Commonly affected joints include the fingers, knees, hips, and spine. Other joints affected less frequently include the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and ankles. When OA is found in a less frequently affected joint, there is usually a history of injury or unusual stress to that joint. Repetitive injury and physical trauma may contribute to the development of OA. If you have a strenuous job that requires repetitive bending, kneeling, or squatting, for example, you may be at high risk for OA of the knee.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. Inflammation of the joint lining, called the synovium, causes pain, stiffness, swelling, warmth, and redness. The affected joint may also lose its shape, resulting in loss of normal movement.Eastern View of Arthritis
In Oriental medicine, arthritis is called “Bi Syndrome.” Bi Syndrome manifests as pain, soreness, or numbness of muscles, tendons and joints. Arthritis is treated according to which type of Bi Syndrome it falls into:

1. Moving (Wind) Bi Syndrome: Pain in the joints is widespread and moves from one area of the body to another. This is often accompanied by fever and chills.
2. Stationary (Damp) Bi Syndrome: The pain is localized and does not move. The body and limbs feel heavy and there is numbness and swelling.
3. Painful (Cold) Bi Syndrome: Severe pain in one part, or over one half of the body which becomes worse with cold and diminishes with warmth.
4. Heat Bi Syndrome: The flesh is hot, the area of pain is red and swollen, and the pain increases upon contact.

The type of Bi Syndrome the arthritis falls into will determine which acupuncture points and other treatment options will be utilized. The purpose of acupuncture is to trigger your body’s innate ability to self heal. Treatments take all of your symptoms into account and are aimed at balancing the energy within the body, increasing the flow of qi and blood to the affected area, bringing down swelling and inflammation, relieving pain, and helping to prevent re-occurrence of the arthritis.

If you have arthritis and would like to learn more about how acupuncture can help, call now for a consultation.

Studies on Acupuncture for Arthritis

Studies show that acupuncture can stimulate the production of hormones that reduce pain and inflammation.

In a German study, 3,500 people with osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee received 15 sessions of acupuncture combined with their usual medical care. The results showed that the patients that had acupuncture had less pain and stiffness, improved function and better quality of life than their counterparts who had routine care alone. The improvements occurred immediately after completing a three-month course of acupuncture and lasted for at least another three months, indicating osteoarthritis is among conditions treated with acupuncture.

Another study, published in the journal Pain, looked at the effects of acupuncture among 40 adults with osteoarthritis of the knee. Among the patients in the study, those who had a daily acupuncture session for 10 consecutive days reported greater improvement in their pain compared with patients who received a “sham” version of the therapy.

Resources:

Pain Online, December 15, 2009.

Arthritis & Rheumatism, November 2006; vol 54: pp 3485-349

Anti-inflammatory Diet

Mind-Body Techniques :: Qigong :: Tai Chi :: Acupuncture :: and more…

May Specials From Mark

Tuesday May 11, 18, and 25 are $45 COMMUNITY DAYS at my acupuncture clinic. On COMMUNITY DAYS two recliners are set up and I may see two people at the same time. You have a chance to receive a stress-busting acupuncture treatment for just $45.00. That’s $30.00 off the regular fee!

As most of you know, you are treated, fully clothed, on a comfortable reclining chair, in an room with, in this case, one other patient. COMMUNITY DAYS is the acupuncture equivalent of a chair massage.

If you have not made a 2010 visit to me yet, please know that I have a larger office which is what makes COMMUNITY DAYS possible.

Please call or email me to schedule your session. Bring a family member or invite a friend!

May is National Meditation Month and on Thursday May 27th I’m presenting a workshop on Breath as the key to meditation. The workshop will be from 7pm to 9pm. Seating is limited. Suitable for beginners. Reserve your spot at mindbodyspirit4health.com/shop

Try this NOW

Breath deeply and silently in through your nostrils filling from the abdomen up to the top of the chest. Feel yourself expand. Pause with the breath held for a few heartbeats. Relax the abdomen. Then SLOWLY exhale allowing all the air to leave your lungs. When you feel all the air is out, repeat the process. Do this 4 to 6 times.

My clinical experience shows that this simple breath exercise will immediately move you into a more relaxed and alert state.

I am pleased to tell you that I have started teaching Tai Chi/Qigong and providing acupuncture at the newly opened Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center in Burbank. With a commitment to evidence-based, quality care for the whole patient – body, mind and spirit, The Center provides state-of-the-art health care in an integrated medical facility. The unique combination of cutting-edge equipment combined with Western and Eastern medicines makes their approach to cancer care so much more comprehensive than found almost anywhere.

Presently the Center is available to the community at large, cancer is NOT a prerequisite!

I am at the Center on Mondays and Wednesdays. To schedule an acupuncture treatment or to sign up for a Tai Chi/Qigong class, call 818-748-4701.

The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center

181 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank

See the Center at triumphovercancer.org

Qi Mail™ is an opt-in acupuncture newsletter available by subscription only. We neither use nor endorse the use of spam.  You are welcome to forward Qi Mail™ to friends and colleagues at any time. You can cancel your subscription at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of this email.

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May Specials

$45 COMMUNITY DAYS
Tuesday May 11, 18, and 25 are $45 COMMUNITY DAYS at my acupuncture clinic. On COMMUNITY DAYS two recliners are set up and I may see two people at the same time. You have a chance to receive a stress-busting acupuncture treatment for just $45.00. That’s $30.00 off the regular fee!

Please call or email me to schedule your session. Bring a family member or invite a friend!

BREATH- The key to meditation
May is National Meditation Month and on Thursday May 27th I’m presenting a workshop on Breath as the key to meditation. The workshop will be from 7pm to 9pm. Seating is limited. Suitable for beginners. Reserve your spot at mindbodyspirit4health.com/shop

The ROY and PATRICIA Disney Family Cancer Center
I am pleased to tell you that I have started teaching Tai Chi/Qigong and providing acupuncture at the newly opened Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center in Burbank. With a commitment to evidence-based, quality care for the whole patient – body, mind and spirit, The Center provides state-of-the-art health care in an integrated medical facility. The unique combination of cutting-edge equipment combined with Western and Eastern medicines makes their approach to cancer care so much more comprehensive than found almost anywhere.

Presently the Center is available to the community at large, cancer is NOT a prerequisite!

I am at the Center on Mondays and Wednesdays. To schedule an acupuncture treatment or to sign up for a Tai Chi/Qigong class, call 818-748-4701.

The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center
181 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank

See the Center at triumphovercancer.org

The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.”
— Henry David Thoreau

Try this NOW
Breath deeply and silently in through your nostrils filling from the abdomen up to the top of the chest. Feel yourself expand. Pause with the breath held for a few heartbeats. Relax the abdomen. Then SLOWLY exhale allowing all the air to leave your lungs. When you feel all the air is out, repeat the process. Do this 4 to 6 times.

My clinical experience shows that this simple breath exercise will immediately move you into a more relaxed and alert state.

Healthy regards,

I value all referrals or introductions to your friends, family and business associates. Please know that anyone you refer to me will be treated with the same high regard. Thank you so much for your trust and confidence.

In This Issue

Acupuncture for Facial Rejuvenation

Acupuncture has been used to treat skin complaints and reduce signs of aging for centuries. In fact, facial rejuvenation acupuncture, also known as cosmetic acupuncture, has a recorded history going as far back as China’s Sung Dynasty (960AD – 1270AD), when the Empress and the Emperor’s concubines used it to engender beauty and good health.

Facial rejuvenation acupuncture can improve muscle tone, increase collagen production, tighten pores and boost circulation and moisture in the skin. Moreover, when acupuncture is used to create overall balance within the body, the physical, mental and emotional patterns that contribute to aging are addressed, helping you look and feel younger.

The theory behind facial acupuncture is that hair-thin needles inserted along wrinkles and frown lines stimulate energy and relax the muscles. This leads to a tightening of the facial muscles, which decreases sagging of the facial skin, and an increase in the production of collagen, filling in fine lines and wrinkles.

Benefits of Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture

• Increases the production of collagen and elastin
• Improves muscle tone (preventing further aging and wrinkles)
• Improves local lymph and blood circulation
• Softens or erases fine lines and wrinkles
• Reduces the depth of deeper lines
• Decreases bags (puffiness) under the eyes
• Reduces or eliminates acne and rosacea
• Provides a consistently smoother and brighter face

To look and feel years younger, facial rejuvenation acupuncture offers less risk, expense and recovery time than medical alternatives. While this procedure cannot reshape facial features, it is a more subtle rejuvenation that can take years off one’s face safely and naturally while improving overall health.

Treatments are personalized for each patient. If you would like to learn more about facial rejuvenation acupuncture, please call for a consultation today!

The
5-Minute Acupressure Face Lift

Here is a 5-Minute
Acupressure Face Lift to smooth
wrinkles and firm up the face.

To draining the lymph system and smooth the skin

• Begin at the center of the forehead using the thumbs, and
stroke across the eyebrows. Repeat 3 times.
• With the pads of the thumb, move from the outside edge of
the eyebrows to the hollow in front of the ear (Fig 1).
• Using 3 inner fingers of both hands to massage the back of
the neck from middle towards outside for 30 seconds with circular
motion.

To lift and tone the face, chin and neck

• Stroke upward in lines from the eyebrows into the hairline.
Repeat 3 to 5 times (Fig 2).
• Press on DU20 (the point on the very top of the head) to
bring energy upward. Repeat 3 to 5 times.
• Using the pads of the thumbs, stroke in a circular motion
from the eyebrow to temple to jawline and to the points below the eye.
Repeat 9 to 12 times (See Fig 3).
• For neck wrinkles: Stroke upward from the collar bone to the
jawline. Repeat 3–5 times (See Fig 4).

Recipe
for Nourishing Beauty – Sweet Rice Congee

Sweet black rice, when
cooked with longan berries
(euphoria longana) and Chinese dates, becomes a congee that nourishes
blood and Qi.

In the Oriental medicine system of food cures, these three foods work
together to enhance beauty and longevity.

• The sweet rice promotes the flow of liver Qi, which helps
keep angry feelings at bay and leads to calmness.
• The Chinese dates (different from the Mediterranean variety)
nourish blood and spleen, promoting restful sleep and mental clarity.
• Longan fruit, a blood enhancer, was used by the ancients to
add luster to the skin. From a Western perspective, we know that
longans contain large amounts of Vitamin C and phenolic compounds,
which may help to detoxify and protect the liver.

Sweet Rice Congee

(Taken from Ancient Healing for Modern Women, by Dr. Xiolan Zhao,
C.M.D.)

Ingredients:

6 cups water
1 cup black sweet rice (wash before using)
½ cup dried longan fruit
10 Chinese dates
2 tablespoons raw sugar
½ inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

Instructions:

In a large heavy saucepan, add 6 cups of water, black sweet rice,
longan fruit, dates, and raw sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
Reduce heat and simmer for two hours, stirring occasionally. Garnish
with ginger. Makes four servings.

Note: All ingredients are available at most Asian grocery stores.

Author: Elizabeth G. Lynch

Qi Mail™ is an opt-in acupuncture newsletter available by subscription only. We neither use nor endorse the use of
spam. You are welcome to forward Qi Mail™ to friends and colleagues at any time. You can cancel your subscription at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of the email.

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