From the exuberant growth of spring to the chilling winds of winter, the seasons have a profound effect on our health and the way we live our lives. Nutrition in Chinese medicine considers multiple factors such as a person's body type, age, energy, and seasonal influences. In this way, a proper diet is used in Oriental medicine as both a healing and disease prevention system. By noting seasonal changes and influences and changing a diet accordingly, people can maximize their health during all times of the year.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, winter is the season in which yin gathers and hides qi (one's life force) in deeper layers. In physical terms, this means that the body is particularly susceptible to cold disorders, which can manifest as the flu, a sore throat, or breathing illness (like bronchitis).

Traditional Chinese Medicine has developed a variety of herbs, prescriptions, and therapies to treat practically any health problem, and that includes breathing ailments. These remedies are often a departure from conventional Western drugs and modalities. Their goal is typically to address the underlying causes of a particular health issue. One can't stress strongly enough that being able to breathe naturally is critically important in restoring the body's natural harmony. Traditional Chinese Medicine has achieved some noteworthy results in healing many breathing disorders that often fail to respond to Western medicine.

Pacific College, San Diego has redesigned its community clinic shift to reflect the original community-style acupuncture model. The high cost of health care has affected many Americans and Pacific College attempts to address this problem by serving patients who many not have the time or the finances to afford a more "private," in-depth treatment. Pacific College's San Diego campus will be offering its new community clinic every Friday from 1:30 pm to 4:15 pm and each treatment will be fifteen dollars.

In addition to being less expensive and time consuming, these community clinic visits are less comprehensive. Each visit will focus solely on one symptom of the patient. The goal of these treatments is to relieve symptoms of one major condition at a time. Acupuncture can alleviate problems including allergies, asthma, anxiety, carpal tunnel, headaches, insomnia, neck/shoulder tension, sinusitis, smoking addictions, and can help with appetite control. Each of these ailments can be address in Pacific College's new community clinic program.

According to the 1982 Surgeon General's Report, cigarette smoking is the single cause of cancer deaths in the United States. That report is still accurate today. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 46.2 million American adults are current smokers - that is 22.8% of all adults; nearly 1 in 4 people. Even though lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, since smoking is a voluntary act, the mortality rate is preventable.

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine wants to help defeat this high mortality rate and to celebrate the strength of those that have managed to quit smoking completely. With the aid of Oriental medicine, Pacific College offers help to those trying to quit and encourages giving up cigarettes for good.

Traditional Chinese Medicine understands that the approach to healthy skin in the winter, or any time of the year for that mater - starts from the inside out. Skin care has become a multi-billion dollar industry in the West, yet most of these products contain drugs or harsh chemicals that often do little to improve the root cause of a skin condition, and in some circumstances may actually exacerbate the problem.

North American Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day is an annual event that observes the positive impact Oriental medicine has had on hundreds of lives.  Pacific College of Oriental Medicine will celebrate North American Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day at all three of its campuses, San Diego, New York, and Chicago on October 24, 2008.

‘Asian body therapy' is a term that applies to several methods of healing. Body therapy can include acupuncture, acupressure, qi gong, tui na, and Thai massage. Each of these methods originated in different areas of Asia (from China and Japan to Thailand),  and each utilizes the idea that the spirit, mind and body are intricately connected. Traditional Chinese medicine theory involves the five elements of Earth, Wind, Water, Metal, and Wood and believes that these elements play a role in a person's health. Along with the five natural elements, there are the 12 primary meridians and eight extraordinary meridians that are thought to be channels of energy constantly running through a person's body.

Each practice of Asian body therapy works with these channels and elements to maintain and enhance well being. Acupuncture involves placing tiny needles at specific points along the meridians that correspond with a person's ailments or emotions. Acupressure does the same thing, but replaces the use of needles with the practitioner's hands. Pressure is placed along the meridian lines by being applied to a person's knees, hands, elbows, and even fingers. Tui na and Thai massage are two different forms of massage that can provide instant pain relief and relaxation. Tui na in particular, uses specific points of pressure and kneading to alleviate joint pains and tense muscles.

Sports teams, athletic organizations, and sports medicine clinics are on the lookout for acupuncturists and Oriental massage practitioners.  Many have discovered that keeping the body in balance through massage and acupuncture allows for more efficient and effective training, which is the surest way to improve performance.

A wide range of athletes including swimmers, runners, and tri-athletes are benefiting from the physical and mental stimulation and inner calmness created by acupuncture treatments. Many insist that acupuncture helps them cross ‘the pain barrier,' allowing them to generate the endorphin hormones that lead to euphoric feelings and less pain. This endorphin high, occurring usually after an hour of extreme effort, results after acupuncture.

There are no limits to the forms that healing can take. Using Western and Eastern medicine in conjunction can often lead to the best health results, but there is one aspect all types of medicine have in common.  That common factor is touch. The healing power of touch is not to be underestimated as a powerful source of healing, although it is often overlooked.

Touch itself is an ancient form of healing that permeates various religions and societies, and that is gaining attention today in the form of massage, reiki, and acupuncture. It is universally acknowledged that touch can simultaneously ease pain, lessen anxiety, promote healing and hope, and help one to take the obstacles in life in stride.

The Summer 2008 Olympics are held in Beijing, China, in the country where acupuncture originated thousands of years ago. Perhaps it is no surprise then that this ancient practice is gaining further interest and media attention now that China is the host of a world-class athletic event. The Olympic Village in Beijing is offering free acupuncture to athletes and officials of the games - making it the first Olympic Village in history to do so. With the presence of the Olympics in China, acupuncture is finally gaining the recognition it deserves as a remedy for sports ailments.

Especially when combined with Western therapy, there is little that acupuncture cannot do to help improve sports injuries. Acupuncture can quickly lessen inflammation, as well as to release pressure and improve blood circulation. Long used for the relief of chronic pain, acupuncture not only provides instant relief from painful injuries, but can also accelerate the healing process by reducing swelling, boosting the immune system, and providing energy and serenity to the patient. Acupuncture has been found to be especially effective in treating tendon and ligament sprains, which are common injuries for athletes.