Blog entries

"Acne and Diet" by Alex Garcia-Osuna

Gail Vogt — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:29:21 +0100

Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. It affects between seventeen and forty-five million people. It is a condition that affects the skin over areas of the body with large oil glands, causing clogged pores and lesions. (2) These lesions can take the form of whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and cysts. Whiteheads are caused by bulging follicle heads, while blackheads are plugs composed of oil and dead skin cells that are open to the surface. Pimples are infected, inf...

Holistic Tips for Better Sleep

Gail Vogt — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:19:14 +0100

The quality of your sleep can affect your quality of life, from your concentration at work to your mood. Insomnia can lead to muscle aches, exhaustion, irritability, and even fibromyalgia and other health concerns. Whether you sleep for many hours and it’s fitful, or you have difficulty falling asleep, there are natural ways to help. May is Better Sleep Month. In honor of the quieter way you spend half your time, here are some ideas to ensure you wake up refreshed each morning.

Train ...

Your Health and Your Posture…How to Improve Both

Gail Vogt — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:32:29 +0100

Recent studies have indicated that the amount of time you spend in a chair may be a matter of life and death. In 2010, The American Journal of Epidemiology published a study indicating that women who sit for more than six hours per day are 37 percent more likely to die over a 13-year period than people who sat less than three hours a day. The study included 53,440 men and 69,776 women who were followed between 1993 and 2006.

This particular study links long-term sitting with obesity a...

Holistic Nursing Tips for Coping with Stress in the Workplace

Gail Vogt — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:11:27 +0100

Many of us experience some degree of stress in the workplace, but ironically, nurses (who help treat patients suffering from stress related illnesses) are experiencing stress at a much higher rate than most other groups, according to a study conducted by the American Nurses Association. In the study, 70.5% of nurses cited the effects of stress and overwork among their top three health and safety concerns.

We think you can relate to some of the reasons why, even if you’re not a nurse. ...

Fertility Acupuncture…and No, it’s Not Just For Women

Gail Vogt — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:36:16 +0100

Ok, so most of the patients ARE women, but at Fertility Specialists Medical Group (FSMG) in San Diego, both men and women are experiencing the benefits of fertility acupuncture, according to Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM) Alumnus Maring Allen LAc.

Allen works at Zen Fertility Clinic and with FSMG treating men and women fertility patients, some who are integrating acupuncture treatments with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and others who are trying to conceive naturally.

...

April Health Tips

Gail Vogt — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:12:17 +0100

A PCOM Alumnus’ Calling: The Himalaya Project

Gail Vogt — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:03:57 +0100

By Lori Howell, L.Ac., DAOM Fellow

When Mark Sobralske graduated from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Chicago and went to Kathmandu to volunteer in an integrative medical clinic, he anticipated gaining acupuncture and herbal medicine experience, deepening his Buddhist meditation practice, and certainly finding a little adventure....

The Rough Road of Alcoholism and How Chinese Medicine Can Help…

Gail Vogt — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:01:50 +0100

To shed light on the subject of alcohol and the addicting grip it has had on so many, we would like to elucidate some Chinese medicine methods that have worked to renew hope and aid in relinquishing this substance’s hold on lives.

Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States- 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

That statistic ...

Get Your Name Out There! More Patients, More Healing

Gail Vogt — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:03:20 +0100

If you’re an acupuncturist, you’ve come a long way. You’ve completed all your schooling, taken your boards, and received your license. You’re ready for your own practice!

You may not want to hear this, but there’s still more to accomplish. Ever heard the phrase “if you build it, they will come”? Sadly, it isn’t that simple. How can they come to your practice if they haven’t heard of you yet?

It’s wonderful to get word-of-mouth recommendations, and this may be one of your main...

Stress Busters that Won't Bite Back: No Side Effects, No Worries

Gail Vogt — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:59:22 +0100

Stress is universal. What’s not as common is the use of natural methods to prevent or relieve feeling stressed. We all deal with degrees of stress, and the range of intensity can be vast--from simply a bad mood to a serious problem. Feeling constantly overwhelmed or un-centered can lead to depression and have a serious effect on your health. In fact, the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease, can be directly linked to high stress levels.

Food is one of the simples...

What Season Change Means for Your Body...and How Acupuncture Can Help!

Gail Vogt — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:32:41 +0100

Holistic Nursing: More Opportunities to Heal

Gail Vogt — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:18:05 +0100

Florence Nightingale was born nearly two hundred years ago, and her nursing insights are still in use today. In addition to her contribution of “environmental nursing”, in which she drove significant hygienic reform in hospitals, Nightingale was ahead of her time in her connection of the mind and body. One of the founders of what’s known today as a holistic approach to medicine, Nightingale recognized the importance of caring for the whole person. She was one of the first in Western medicine ...

What Season Change Means for Your Body...and How Acupuncture Can Help!

Gail Vogt — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:18:03 +0100

Spring is officially here! And that means change right? Longer days, warmer weather, flowers blooming…just to name a few, but what about us? With all these changes going on around us, our bodies are naturally bound to react, and to prevent flu-like symptoms or other negative effects this spring, acup...

March Health Tips

Gail Vogt — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:14:31 +0100

Moxibustion and Other TCM Alternatives for Hormone Replacement Therapy

Gail Vogt — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:04:12 +0100

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on the theory that there are channels throughout the body. Flowing through these channels, known as "meridians" is a person's vital energy, known as "qi". When you think of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is probably what first comes to mind. For those that are unfamiliar with this ancient practice, acupuncture is the application of small, disposable (and ultra-thin) needles into the skin at strategic points, known as "acupoints", along th...

Massage as Medicine

Gail Vogt — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:22:34 +0100

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article exploring the benefits of massage. Holistic healthcare has garnered increasing recognition in the mainstream medical field. As a result, people are now evaluating how massage is so much more than a mini-vacation for your mind and body. The litany of health benefits, many of which are long-term, is drawing more and more patients to the massage table. Massage can be tailored to the individual and provide almost-instant relief for many...

An Ayurveda Diet for Stress Relief & Weight Loss

Gail Vogt — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:20:55 +0100

February Health Tips

Gail Vogt — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:20:14 +0100

2012 OM Essay Contest Winner: Transplanting Oriental Medicine to the Mayan Altiplano

Gail Vogt — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:13:22 +0100

January Health Tips

Gail Vogt — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:10:00 +0100