Weight Control, Ayurveda, TCM and Stress

By Steve Goodman

Ancient healing traditions such as Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine see our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being as being based on the proper balance of vital energies.

As one might imagine, both of these similar traditions, fluctuations in weight are believed to occur when the mind, emotions, diet, digestion, metabolism and appetite are out of balance. This imbalance can lead to undesirable weight gain or weight loss. As the theory goes, only when the vital energies - in TCM, Qi, or in Ayurveda, “doshas” - are properly balanced, will your weight naturally come into balance as well.

Western science has studied the benefits of medicinal herbs in general and specific to weight control. According to the renowned Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, “Clinical trials show benefit of various herbal formulations in treating acne, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, hepatitis, and obesity.”

Recently a study was conducted to specifically test the validity of Ayurvedic weight loss herbal supplements. The trial was conducted at the Interdisciplinary School of Ayurvedic Medicine, in India. The Western style, double-blind randomized study was designed to investigate the effects of four different ayurvedic herbal supplements purported to aid in weight loss.

Seventy obese patients, those who considered themselves to be 20% or more over ideal body weight, were placed into one of four groups. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were given the various herbal treatments over a three-month period – the 4th group a placebo over the same course of time.

When compared with the placebo group, significant weight loss was observed in the three groups receiving the herbal weight loss supplement. Body measurements such as skin fold thickness and waistlines were also significantly decreased in the herbal supplement groups. Decreases in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were also observed.

Stress Over Eating
Many leading scientists and nutritionists agree that the rampant, almost epidemic increase in obesity in America is largely related to stress overeating.  When we are stressed our bodies produce an overabundance of certain hormones – most notably Cortisol. “Cortisol and insulin boost our preference for comfort foods, high-fat, high sugar, or high salt foods,” says Elissa Epel, Ph.D., lead researcher with The University of San Francisco Obesity Assessment Study. Increased levels of Cortisol not only increase appetite, but also increase our desire for the “wrong foods.” Fat cells also release Cortisol. So stress over eating becomes a vicious cycle, with increased Cortisol levels causing us to overeat, and the subsequent increase in fat cells producing more Cortisol.

This is the kind of pattern of imbalance that the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda have been designed to break.  Ayurvedic practices such as yoga, transcendental meditation, and herbal supplementation have been shown time and time again to be very effective in reducing stress, as have been acupuncture, Qi-gong and Tai Ji. It follows therefore, that these kinds of Complementary and Alternative practices can be very effective in breaking the cycle of stress over-eating.

Herbal Interventions
One of the most powerful herbal supplements in the pharmacopoeia of Ayurveda is Ashwagandha, (Withania somnifera.) In the West it is sometimes called Winter Cherry. It has long been known for its ability to relieve both physical and psychological stress. Dr. Michael Tierra L.Ac. OMD, AHG founder of the American Herbalists Guild, has said, Withania somnifera has the ability to nurture the nervous system, counteract anxiety and stress, and to promote a calm state of mind. Ayurvedic physicians classify ashwagandha as a “rasayna”, or what Western herbalists refer to as an adaptogen, an herbal medicine with multiple, nonspecific actions that counteract the effects of stress and generally promote wellness.

Ashwagandha has been found by herbalists and Western clinical trials to exhibit many of the same properties of Ginseng, a staple of TCM. In fact the two herbs share so many of the same medicinal properties that Winter Cherry has been referred to as “Indian Ginseng.”

Ashwagandha and its “cousin” Asian Ginseng are not  “herbal weight loss” products per se, neither are they appetite suppressants, but as a proven stress reducers. When herbal supplements such as these are combined with other CAM principles designed to return balance – they can be very effective in helping you achieve your weight loss goals. 

Always keep in mind that the Ayurvedic and TCM philosophies to achieving your ideal weight are as much about getting to know your body and becoming in tune with its natural rhythms, as they are about the foods you eat and supplements you take.










Sources
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs. Ayurveda
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69131.cfm
Tierra, Michael. Ashwagandha: Wonder Herb of India East West School of Planetary Herbology  http://www.planetherbs.com/specific-herbs/ashwagandha-wonder-herb-of-india.html 
Paranjpe P; Patki P; Patwardhan B Ayurvedic treatment of obesity: a randomised double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Ethnopharmacol Apr 1990, 29 (1) p1-11
Klein, R. Allostasis Theory and Adaptogenic Plant Remedies. Masters Thesis Paper, May 2004, Montana State University, Dept Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology
Brown RP, Gerbarg PL. Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression. Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, August 2005. 
Granath J, Ingvarsson S, von Thiele U, Lundberg U. Stress management: a randomized study of cognitive behavioral therapy and yoga. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. 2006. 
National Center for Complimentary y and Alternative Medicine.  Ayurvedic Medicine. Ayurvedic Medicine: Treatment.
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ayurveda/

Light Touch and Lymph Drainage Therapies Ease Pregnancy Problems

by Alex A. Kecskes

It's no secret that pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery subject most women to a gauntlet of physical and emotional challenges. Light touch Craniosacral Therapy (CST) can offer considerable relief in dealing with the discomforts and demands of pregnancy. Studies show that mothers who receive loving touch therapies during their pregnancies are better equipped to provide loving touch to their newborn infants.

So what exactly is Light Touch CST?  Quite simply, it's a gentle method for resolving physical and emotional issues. Therapists work with the body's connective tissue--tissue that connects and supports every part of the human anatomy--to access and correct any restrictions in this tissue. Therapists will apply a very light touch, which allows for deeper contact that penetrates the central nervous system. By doing so, CST techniques work with the body's ability to heal itself, to treat the root cause of a condition, rather than the symptom. A key benefit of light touch CST is that it is non-invasive with no side effects.

During pregnancy, the body undergoes changes that seem to throw it out of balance. Prenatal CST sessions can help rebalance one's energy and body. They can reduce the effects of daily stress and gently improve mobility in the mother’s pelvis, allowing her baby to more easily assume an ideal position for birth. CST sessions also provide some peace of mind, allowing many women to express any fears or concerns about their transition to motherhood.

The CranioSacral system is comprised of the brain and spinal cord and the three membranes that completely surround it. The system includes the CranioSacral fluid within the membranes and the facial connections to the bones of the cranium, cervical vertebrae and sacrum. There's also the dura mater, which is the tough outer membrane that connects to the cranium and sacrum and contains the entire fluid CranioSacral system.

A CST practitioner evaluates the body and uses a light touch to encourage expansion, mobility and healing. Working with the CranioSacral rhythm, the light massage releases restrictions in the body and pelvis to help the birthing experience. This eases tension and allows women to prepare for labor and birth. It also helps to ease and prevent ligament pain, and low back, hip or rib pain. During labor and birth, CST helps to balance and unwind the pelvis, uterus and sacrum, ensures the best fetal positioning.

There are also a number of postpartum benefits to CST. These include structural realignment of the spine and pelvis, and rehabilitation of the muscles overworked or weakened during pregnancy. CST may promote healing, particularly for mothers who required cesarean births. Postpartum CST also addresses the new body discomforts associated with the carrying and care of a newborn infant. In this regard, CST helps a new mother deal with her entire birth experience in a physically and emotionally healthy way. It can even relieve postpartum mood swings.

Your pregnancy and any treatments, therapies or massages should be guided by your medical doctor. Best results are often obtained when one uses a combination of massage and Western medicine.

Preterm infants are exposed to a number of stresses in pre-natal facilities including loud noises, bright lights, and the drawing of blood. Stresses like these can negatively impact an infant's immune system. Massage therapy can help.

Massage therapy has been used to reduce stress in premature infants and to improve cellular immunity. Usually isolated in incubators that protect them, preemies receive considerably less tactile contact than full-term babies in the critically important first days and weeks of life. One reason for this is that many nurses are hesitant to begin massage therapy for fear of over-stimulating the infant and dealing with other safety concerns. Yet recent research has shown that infant massage therapy offers significant benefits.

Research conducted by the Touch Research Institute revealed a number of benefits associated with infant massage. The studies suggest that massage can stimulate the immune system and thereby increase an infant's resistance to infection. Also, infant massage could result in enhanced growth in preterm infants, decreased autoimmune problems (where a baby's immune system literally attacks the body's own tissues), increased lung function, and decreased glucose levels in infants with diabetes.

Massage therapy was shown to contribute to a rise in natural killer cells in babies afflicted with HIV and cancer. These effects resulted when the massages served to decrease an infant's stress hormones. Premature infants who were gently massaged also produced higher levels of secreted immunoglobulin A, which protects against respiratory tract infections. Massage even stimulated the production of oxytocin (a hormone that acts as a natural pain reliever and provides a calming effect to the infant).

Other studies showed that preterm infants who received daily massages averaged 47% more weight gain than infants in a control group. These studies suggest that withholding touch therapy from preterm infants in intensive care may delay their recovery from colds and diarrhea.

It should be noted that massage is not a substitute for medical care and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Consult a medical doctor before undergoing any massage treatments on an infant.

For more information on massage therapy, please call (800) 729-0941, or visit www.PacificCollege.edu

Massage Can Strengthen Preterm Infant's Immune System

By Alex A. Kecskes

It is widely acknowledged that preterm infants are exposed to a number of stresses in pre-natal facilities, including loud noises, bright lights, suctioning and intubation procedures, and the drawing of blood. Stresses like these can negatively impact an infant's immune system.

Massage therapy can help. It has been used to reduce stress in premature infants and to improve cellular immunity. Usually isolated in incubators that protect them, preemies receive considerably less tactile contact than full-term babies in the critically important first days and weeks of life. One reason for this is that many nurses are hesitant to begin massage therapy for fear of over-stimulating the infant and dealing with other safety concerns. Yet recent research has shown that infant massage therapy offers significant benefits.

Research conducted by the Touch Research Institute and led by Tiffany Field, Ph.D., at the University of Miami revealed a number of benefits associated with infant massage. Her published studies suggest that massage can stimulate the immune system and thereby increase an infant's resistance to infection. Research also revealed that infant massage could result in enhanced growth in preterm infants, decreased autoimmune problems (where a baby's immune system literally attacks the body's own tissues), increased lung function in asthma, and decreased glucose levels in infants with diabetes.

Massage therapy was shown to contribute to a rise in natural killer cells in babies afflicted with HIV and cancer. These effects resulted when the massages served to decrease an infant's stress hormones. Premature infants who were gently massaged also produced higher levels of secreted immunoglobulin A, which protects against respiratory tract infections. Another benefit associated with infant massage was a reduction in cortisol (a hormone secreted when the human body is under stress). Massage even stimulated the production of oxytocin (a hormone that acts as a natural pain reliever and provides a calming effect to the infant).

Other studies showed that preterm infants who received daily massages averaged 47 percent more weight gain than infants in a control group. These studies further suggest that the withholding touch therapy from preterm infants in intensive care may delay their recovery from colds and diarrhea.

How does infant massage work to achieve these benefits? Gentle massage directly stimulates the body's musculoskeletal, nervous and circulatory systems, which in turn affects the biochemical and physiological processes regulated by those systems.

When administering a massage, choose a place that is warm, quiet and comfortable for the baby. Use a light, organic, cold-pressed vegetable oil, such as safflower or almond. Massage softly using long, slow and rhythmic strokes. Listen to and watch your baby's reactions and respond accordingly. The baby will communicate when he or she has had enough or when to continue.

It should be noted that massage is not a substitute for medical care and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Consult a medical doctor before undergoing any massage treatments on an infant.

Effect of Massage on Chronic Low Back Pain

By Alex A. Kecskes

Lower back pain is one of the most common conditions in the United States and a leading reason why people see a doctor. Four out of five adults will suffer from low back pain during their lives.

Unlike lower back pain, which is often caused by muscle strains, chronic lower back pain typically persists for more than three months. The pain may be progressive, or be characterized by flare-ups. The causes of chronic pain can be hard to pinpoint, but they can usually be linked to a degenerative disc disease or a lumbar herniated disc. While some doctors prescribe muscle relaxants, many patients prefer to avoid these drugs. People feel drowsy, dizzy, confused, lightheaded or less alert when using muscle relaxants. Other side effects include blurred vision, clumsiness or unsteadiness. Thus many patients are turning to massage therapy for relief. A survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association in 2001 found that an increasing number of adults were receiving massages from a therapist--over twice as many since 1997.

Many healthcare providers accept massage therapy as an effective treatment to relieve the symptoms of lower back pain. A majority of providers advise patients to combine massage therapy with medical treatment. Massage therapy can reduce lower back pain, depression and anxiety. It may also improve a patient's range of motion and elevate their serotonin and dopamine levels, allowing for enhanced sleep.

The American Massage Therapy Association points to research showing massage therapy improves blood circulation, relaxes muscles and increases endorphin levels. Endorphins are the feel-good chemicals the body produces to help us deal with pain.

A research study conducted by the Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Washington revealed that massage therapy could have prolonged benefits for sufferers of chronic back pain. In the study, 262 adults, aged 20 to 70, were given Swedish and deep-tissue massages, trigger-point therapy (applying pressure to tender muscle tissue), neuromuscular therapy and movement education. After 10 weeks, participants noted that the benefits of massage therapy continued well beyond the last treatment and persisted up to one year later.

Usually administered by a therapist, massage therapy uses fingers and hands to manipulate the soft tissues of the body such as muscles, skin and tendons. When administered by a trained professional, massage therapy is generally safe and has no adverse side effects. Patients with unhealed fractures, deep vein thrombosis, skin infections or open wounds should avoid this type of therapy. The same holds true for sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis in the area to be massaged, or severe osteoporosis.

When suffering from chronic lower back pain, first consult a primary care physician before attempting massage therapy. If the doctor advises that massage may help, find a licensed massage therapist who is nationally certified through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (www.ncbtmb.org) or the American Massage Therapy Association (www.amtamassage.org). Note: Medicare and most private insurance do not cover massage.

 

Jin Shin Treatment Can Help Stroke Victims

By Alex A. Kecskes

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. This debilitating disease affects more than 700,000 individuals each year (or approximately one person every 45 seconds). It is also a leading cause of serious, long-term disability, confining thousands to wheelchairs and dependency for help in their daily lives. 

Complementary and alternative medicines are frequently used to help stroke victims lead normal or semi-normal lives.  A pilot study involving Jin Shin treatment revealed that it could improve motor function after patients suffered a stroke. The study involved seven post-stroke individuals with chronic mobility problems. Each participant had reported at least 19 months of problems, and each was randomly assigned to receive eight weeks of Jin Shin treatments. The result: participants noted a significant increase in moderate physical activity levels following their Jin Shin treatments. Researchers concluded that Jin Shin treatments had a positive effect on motor function in individuals who had suffered a stroke.

Jin Shin is the ancient art of bringing body, mind and spirit into unison. Practitioners use gentle, non-invasive touch methods to restore balance to the body's energy systems and thereby promote the health and well-being of a patient. In practice, the Jin Shin practitioner applies a series of hand placement techniques using 52 energy centers or “Safety Energy Locks” (26 on each side of the body) to restore harmony to body, mind and spirit. By holding specific acupressure points and areas of the body, this unique form of acupressure is able to channel the healing energy more deeply, to balance the underlying causes of physical and emotional disharmonies. Research studies reveal that when Jin Shin is combined with conventional medical treatment, it can help reduce symptoms of pain, nausea and vomiting after surgery, and improve recovery from cardiac procedures.

A typical Jin Shin session lasts about one hour. Patients rest comfortably, fully clothed on a cushioned treatment table. The session begins by taking a patient's pulse to determine if there are any blocked energy pathways. Jin Shin treatments do not involve massaging, manipulating, pressuring or rubbing the body. The practitioner simply makes light contact with fingertips on various body points in specific combinations. The points are held for several minutes until a pulsation is felt. Certain patterns, or flows, are chosen and followed to note any disharmonies. These irregularities are sometimes determined by listening to the pulses. As with many such non-invasive treatments, results are not always immediate. Several sessions are usually required for chronic conditions, however, patients usually feel better after just one or two sessions.

Jin Shin is not a substitute for medical care and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult a medical doctor before undergoing any Jin Shin treatments.


Study Source: P1. Functional improvement after stroke: a role for complementary medicine Theresa D. Hernández, Kristina McFadden, Alicia Segal, Bonnie Ivankovich, Christina Gavito, Shelah Huerta

By Susan Krieger, L.Ac., MS, Dipl.-NCCAOM in Ac., and ABT, AOBTA®-CI, Kushi MEA

Traditional Asian, Chinese and macrobiotic medicine practitioners often stress that to achieve and maintain good health, one needs to tend to one's physical, emotional, and spiritual well being as well as care for others. Treatments of various forms such as shiatsu/acupressure, acupuncture, energy healing, etc. can help greatly, and at times are deemed necessary.

By Nigel Dawes, M.A., L.Ac.

"This little piggy goes to market, this little piggy stays at home...."

By Mary Elizabeth Wakefield, L. Ac., Dipl. Ac., M. S., M. M. 

In the 1960's, my friend, and noted author, Madeleine L' Engle penned an award-winning novel for young adults entitled A Wrinkle in Time, which, in its wonderful invention, appealed to the inner child of a wide-ranging adult audience. In the course of the story, the young girl, Meg Cleary, "tesseracts" through space and time. In so doing, she transcends our quotidian 3-dimensional reality, and experiences a realm in which every instant of time co-exists in a perpetual present.

by Bill Helm 

Tui na Chinese bodywork is usually thought of as treatment for musculoskeletal problems such as low back, neck, and shoulder pain. Its effectiveness for many internal disorders such as asthma, dysmennorhea, premenstrual syndrome, and diabetes is less commonly known.