With the fast pace in  life, having irregular meal time and no time to exercise, many people suddenly realize they have gained a lot of weight. To make the matter worse, some people even suffer from binge eating as they use food as  stress remedy. Do you have trouble finding the time to exercise? JED can teach you how to lose weight just using acupuncture points.

Acupuncture points are also known as Pressure Points in the West. More and more people believe that massaging these points correctly can bring about certain health benefits. Particularly, they can help remove excess calories, promote body circulation, improve digestion and reduce appetite.
​
ABDOMINAL POINT
This point is 3 centimeters (1 inch) below the navel (“Ren 6”in the figure below). Massaging it can improve digestion, increase stamina, relieve constipation, and help with weight loss. Press the point and move up and down, twice a day and for 2 minutes each time.

RIB POINTS
The intersection points between the last ribs and the lines extending vertically from the nipples. Massaging here 5 minutes a day can relieve indigestion, ulcer, rib pain, and lack of appetite. 

EAR POINT
Massage here to control your appetite. Place your finger at the top of your jawline, move your lower jaw, and find the point with the greatest movement. Massage for 1 minute.

INFLECTION POINT 1
Massaging here can improve your digestive functions and nourish your blood. Find the points at 2 inches below your kneecaps, on the outside of your legs. When you flex your legs, you should be able to feel the muscle movement underneath your fingertips. Massage here for 2 minutes and you will be pleasantly surprised by the improvement of your body.

INFLECTION POINT 2
This point, at the inner bend of your elbow, corresponds to the functions of the large intestine. Stimulating here can help the body to remove excess calories and water. Remember to press down using your thumb to generate enough pressure.

Alternative therapies such as yoga, massage, acupuncture and tai chi are particularly popular among Asian people. However, their efficacy remains unclear in the eyes of classical Western medicine. So can these treatments really help?
 
In a recent study by the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health, the researchers analyzed 105 publications on alternative therapies over the past 50 years, and found that they were indeed beneficial in relieving pain (especially chronic pain).
 
In this study, the researchers focused on 7 alternative therapies: yoga, massage, acupuncture, tai chi, meditation/relaxation, chiropractic and osteopathy. Analysis of the 105 publications revealed that some of these therapies could reduce pain without any side effects.
 
The researchers summarized the results and gave the following recommendations:

• Back pain: could be reduced by yoga and acupuncture.
• Arthritis: could be reduced by acupuncture and tai chi.
• Shoulders discomfort: could be reduced by massage therapy.
• Headache and migraine: could be reduced by meditation/relaxation.

 
Although chiropractic and osteopathy were also helpful in treating back pain, there were too little studies on these techniques so the overall efficacy remained inconclusive.
 
The research leader, Richard L. Nahin, said that painkillers did not act on the causes of pain and often produced several side effects. The results of this study could provide patients suffering from chronic pain with more therapeutic optionswithout the side effects.
 
Dr. Neil Jolly, a pain specialist in Louisiana, believed that the alternative therapies should be incorporated as part of the standard medical treatment procedures, based on the results of this study. These alternative therapies could provide patients with more treatment options and reduce the reliance on painkillers.
 
The research team hoped that through this study, patients suffering from chronic pain could receive better medical care beyond just using pain medications.

With one of the latest research (September 1st, 2016) points out : 

• Acupuncture and yoga for back pain
• Acupuncture and tai chi for osteoarthritis of the knee
• Massage therapy for neck pain with adequate doses and for short-term benefit
• Relaxation techniques for severe headaches and migraine

Brief Report can be found in the following article "Nondrug Approaches Effective For Treatment Of Common Pain Conditions" (OR CLICK ME TO OPEN) by N.I.H.

What do you think about the research?  Is this what you have expected or does this surprise you?

Let us know if you have any comment, concern or questions about acupuncture in Vancouver!

FACEBOOK : JED CLINIC

#Vancouver #TCM #RMT #Acupuncture #Chronicle Pain # effective #Pain #treatment #research

Do you often experience swelling and bloating in the afternoons?

Does it get worse just before your period?

If you also like cold drinks and spicy food, then you may be suffering from “Spleen Deficiency”.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, cold drinks and spicy food can harm the spleen and stomach, causing metabolic imbalances and excessive water retention, hence resulting in swelling and bloating.
 
The excess water tends to accumulate near the lower abdominal areas, buttocks, thighs and calves. It can also affect the appetite and sense of taste, so people may eat more spicy and salty food. This will in turn increase water retention and exacerbate the swelling.
 

Eat Well, Exercise Regularly, and Drink Enough Water
With J.E.D.’s recommendation, you should avoid the cold, spicy and salty food items and eat more healthily. You should also cut down your sugar intake and exercise regularly to tone your muscle. Furthermore, drinking enough water is essential for improving the overall metabolism. As long as you drink before 9pm, you won’t need to worry about water retention overnight.
 
Natural Diuretics: Ginger Tea and Barley Water
Another effective way to solve the swelling problem is to sweat and urinate more. Ginger tea and barley water are two natural diuretics.
 
Ginger contains the natural ingredient gingerol. Drinking ginger tea or ginger soup can improve your blood circulation increase metabolism and burn more body fat. Those who are prone to constipation may eat fresh ginger slices instead.
 
Barley grains and red beans are natural diuretics as well. Barley grains can also remove excess heat and treat acne.

Home-made Barley Water
Wash and soak the barley grains in warm water to soften them. Then heat the water till it boils and keep it on low heat for 20 minutes.

• You can sweeten it with Chinese rock sugar.
• You may also cook with lotus seeds.
• You could add some yam to improve your appetite.

As Ms. H (aged 33) returns for a medical checkup with her happy baby, it is hard to picture her distressed and anxious self when we first met. At that time, she just had her second early miscarriage but her gynecologist was unable to identify the cause. We used the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) methods to help her recover from the miscarriage, prepare her body for the pregnancy, and monitor her through the first trimester. Now she is finally a happy mom!
 
Early miscarriage refers to the failure of pregnancy within the first 12 weeks (e.g. lack of growth or heartbeat in the embryo or early discharge of the embryo). It occurs in 10-15 out of every 100 pregnancies, likely due to chromosome abnormalities during the formation of sperms or eggs. It is part of the natural selection process.
 
On the other hand, two consecutive miscarriages are considered recurrent miscarriage. In this case, one should consult a gynecologist and have further check-ups, especially for those couples who marry late in life. While the cause remains unclear in 40-50% of the recurrent miscarriages, it is often believed to be associated with obesity, stress, smoking or alcoholism.
 
Recurrent miscarriage is well documented in the TCM literature. From the TCM point of view, the first 2 weeks immediately following the miscarriage require particular attention, as proper diets and medications are needed to help repairing the womb, replenishing the blood, and restoring the hormones in the ovaries.
 
J.E.D. recommends a resting period of at least 2 months before the next attempt in pregnancy. Medication and acupuncture can also help the ovulation and pregnancy process during the menstrual cycles. Furthermore, the couples are encouraged to adopt a healthier life style, such as having enough sleep, a balance diet, and sufficient exercise. This can both reduce body weight and relieve stress.
 
Finally, emotional health is also an important factor. Women with prior miscarriage experiences can be particularly anxious and distressed when they become pregnant again, so TCM suggests close monitoring and care through the first trimester. After that, they can get ready to become happy moms!

Feel free to leave us a message in our FACEBOOK PAGE,  if you have any questions, or wanting to know how TCM views certain topics!!

# Acupuncture Vancouver Prevents Recurrent Miscarriage TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine

​6 Tips To A Better Night’s Sleep:

1. Go to bed only when you really feel like sleeping 
If you go to bed without feeling sleepy, you may spend more than 30 minutes rolling in bed, bringing unnecessary stress and anxiety.

2. If you have the habit of taking supper, eat until you are about 80% full.
It is difficult to fall asleep with a full stomach (It is also difficult to sleep if you are very hungry).
 
3. Do not drink and smoke within 3 hours before bed.
Smoking can stimulate the cerebral cortex and cause loss of sleep, whereas consuming a small amount of wine will improve sleeping quality. On the other hand, it is not advisable to habitually drink wine before bed, as one may find it difficult to go to sleep without alcohol.
 
4. Do not exercise right before bed.
Exercising within 2 hours before your bed time may affect your sleep.
 
5. Refrain from caffeine at least 6 hours before sleep.
Avoid coffee, tea, and energy drinks.
 
6. Have a good sleeping environment
The living room should be quiet with soft lighting. Choose soft and comfortable bedding.
 
Treatment by TCM acupuncture:

• Shenmen (“Spirit Gate”) acupuncture point​​
• Baihui (“One Hundred Meetings”) acupuncture point

#Vancouver #TCM #Acupuncture #Acupressure #Insomnia #Sleep #Relaxation #Relief #Anxiety