tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1250480 %ISSUE_DATE%T09:25:32-07:00 Product application and research. TypePad tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32541 2012-03-01T12:00:32-07:00 2012-03-01T12:00:07-07:00

Spring is the time to revitalize and get moving, but also a time to improve our immune systems so that we can avoid wind-caused health conditions that often proliferate during this season. One way to start is to begin each day with a congee to tonify digestion and thereby help improve our immune function.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc Spring is the time to revitalize and get moving, but also a time to improve our immune systems so that we can avoid wind-caused health conditions that often proliferate during this season. One way to start is to begin each day with a congee to tonify digestion and thereby help improve our immune function. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32519 2012-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2012-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

Americans spend billions of dollars each year on cosmetic products and procedures. Most of these provide only superficial results and in many cases cause harsh or irritating effects to the skin.

By Darren Starwynn, OMD, LAc Americans spend billions of dollars each year on cosmetic products and procedures. Most of these provide only superficial results and in many cases cause harsh or irritating effects to the skin. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32512 2012-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2012-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

I wonder if bombarding women over 32 years old with regimens, dietary restrictions, and "advice" improves their chance of conceiving and experiencing a healthy live birth of a child. Or does all of the regimenting, calculating, and diligence increase their Liver qi stagnation and emotional angst? In my fertility practice, I hear quite a litany of advice in terms of what women are being told to do, or not do, to help them get pregnant.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc I wonder if bombarding women over 32 years old with regimens, dietary restrictions, and "advice" improves their chance of conceiving and experiencing a healthy live birth of a child. Or does all of the regimenting, calculating, and diligence increase their Liver qi stagnation and emotional angst? In my fertility practice, I hear quite a litany of advice in terms of what women are being told to do, or not do, to help them get pregnant. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32459 2011-09-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-09-01T12:00:07-07:00

I think that we've all heard stories about Chinese physicians who were paid as long as their patients were healthy, but the patients refused to continue payment if they fell ill. In other words, it was basically the job of physicians to keep people healthy. What a concept!

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc I think that we've all heard stories about Chinese physicians who were paid as long as their patients were healthy, but the patients refused to continue payment if they fell ill. In other words, it was basically the job of physicians to keep people healthy. What a concept! tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32421 2011-07-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-07-01T12:00:07-07:00

The kidneys are said to be the root of life due to their relationship to prenatal essence and their control of birth, growth, development, reproduction as well as water and fluid metabolism.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc The kidneys are said to be the root of life due to their relationship to prenatal essence and their control of birth, growth, development, reproduction as well as water and fluid metabolism. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32398 2011-05-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-05-01T12:00:07-07:00

As life gets more complicated and faster paced, many people can benefit from some form of stress management. Enter acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc As life gets more complicated and faster paced, many people can benefit from some form of stress management. Enter acupuncture and Oriental medicine. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32368 2011-03-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-03-01T12:00:07-07:00

With healthy, noninvasive cosmetic techniques on the rise, Chinese medicine has an opportunity to shine. Chinese medicine offers a variety of treatments and therapies that will not only have great cosmetic results, but will improve the general health of the patient without using needles. The caveat: use of all techniques or therapies is based on the practitioner’s skill to make a correct diagnosis and differentiation.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc With healthy, noninvasive cosmetic techniques on the rise, Chinese medicine has an opportunity to shine. Chinese medicine offers a variety of treatments and therapies that will not only have great cosmetic results, but will improve the general health of the patient without using needles. The caveat: use of all techniques or therapies is based on the practitioner’s skill to make a correct diagnosis and differentiation. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32348 2011-02-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-02-01T12:00:07-07:00

Newton's law of inertia tells us that an object in motion stays in motion and that an object at rest tends to stay at rest. This very accurately describes the mind. In our 24/7 world, we are constantly processing. So many things vying for our attention. So many choices to be made. So many appointments to keep. So many tools to use. It stands to reason then that even when we aren't being bombarded with information, our mind is still spinning at a dizzying pace. But if we embrace the other aspect of this truth, we can find a way to rest the mind and maybe even carry that stillness with us throughout our day. This is where meditation comes in.

By Kara Leskie Newton's law of inertia tells us that an object in motion stays in motion and that an object at rest tends to stay at rest. This very accurately describes the mind. In our 24/7 world, we are constantly processing. So many things vying for our attention. So many choices to be made. So many appointments to keep. So many tools to use. It stands to reason then that even when we aren't being bombarded with information, our mind is still spinning at a dizzying pace. But if we embrace the other aspect of this truth, we can find a way to rest the mind and maybe even carry that stillness with us throughout our day. This is where meditation comes in. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32334 2011-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

Friedrich Nietzsche said, "At bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is, ever be put together a second time."

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc Friedrich Nietzsche said, "At bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is, ever be put together a second time." tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32303 2010-11-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-11-01T12:00:07-07:00

In a way, the word "anti-aging" seems inappropriate. The process through which we are living is aging, not anti-aging. We are getting older; we are finite. However, anti-aging medicine is quite a large movement. One reason for the growth in the anti-aging business is that life span has increased. In the Middle Ages, the average life span was 40 years. Now it's 75 years at birth and if you live past the first year, it's more like 85 years.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc In a way, the word "anti-aging" seems inappropriate. The process through which we are living is aging, not anti-aging. We are getting older; we are finite. However, anti-aging medicine is quite a large movement. One reason for the growth in the anti-aging business is that life span has increased. In the Middle Ages, the average life span was 40 years. Now it's 75 years at birth and if you live past the first year, it's more like 85 years. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32270 2010-09-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-09-01T12:00:07-07:00

What would the pulse of aging look like? I use the term "look like" rather than "feel like" because I look at the pulses as the flow of qi through the organ systems rather than as a single or multiple of textures. Naturally I am still "feeling" it but it looks and feels different than trying to determine a quality or texture. The qualities or textures only have meaning within the context of the qi flow through the system. When reading the pulses, you are observing the activity of the qi and the perfect, normal, balanced pulse feels like a sine wave. Aging is one of the forces on our bodies that can make it harder to maintain this healthy, balanced, coordinated wave.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc What would the pulse of aging look like? I use the term "look like" rather than "feel like" because I look at the pulses as the flow of qi through the organ systems rather than as a single or multiple of textures. Naturally I am still "feeling" it but it looks and feels different than trying to determine a quality or texture. The qualities or textures only have meaning within the context of the qi flow through the system. When reading the pulses, you are observing the activity of the qi and the perfect, normal, balanced pulse feels like a sine wave. Aging is one of the forces on our bodies that can make it harder to maintain this healthy, balanced, coordinated wave. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32232 2010-07-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-07-01T12:00:07-07:00

From a Chinese medicine standpoint, the most important step toward looking younger by using some sort of facial or cosmetic acupuncture technique is balancing the overall (internal) energy in your patient's body before you do a cosmetic or facial treatment. Really, one of the best things about getting your patients hooked on cosmetic acupuncture is that you are treating their general health every time you give them a treatment. In this article, we will talk about how you can see what is happening on the inside by looking at the color(s) of the skin. When doing cosmetic acupuncture, you are looking at the patient's face very carefully; maybe more carefully than you generally do, thereby allowing you to detect even subtle changes in color in certain areas or along one of the meridians.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc From a Chinese medicine standpoint, the most important step toward looking younger by using some sort of facial or cosmetic acupuncture technique is balancing the overall (internal) energy in your patient's body before you do a cosmetic or facial treatment. Really, one of the best things about getting your patients hooked on cosmetic acupuncture is that you are treating their general health every time you give them a treatment. In this article, we will talk about how you can see what is happening on the inside by looking at the color(s) of the skin. When doing cosmetic acupuncture, you are looking at the patient's face very carefully; maybe more carefully than you generally do, thereby allowing you to detect even subtle changes in color in certain areas or along one of the meridians. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32195 2010-05-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-05-01T12:00:07-07:00

Are your patients looking into anti-aging therapies, basically picking their poison? Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, Sculptra, Prevelle, ArteFill, Radiesse and Dysport. When you read about all of these treatments, it might scare you a little bit. The idea that some people are willing to have pretty much anything injected into their face in the name of beauty or youth is unbelievable to some of us.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc Are your patients looking into anti-aging therapies, basically picking their poison? Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, Sculptra, Prevelle, ArteFill, Radiesse and Dysport. When you read about all of these treatments, it might scare you a little bit. The idea that some people are willing to have pretty much anything injected into their face in the name of beauty or youth is unbelievable to some of us. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32159 2010-03-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-03-01T12:00:07-07:00

I have been interested in the topic of beauty for many years. Before I began my career in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, I studied issues in social and health psychology in my role as a research psychologist. One of my research areas was the study of attractiveness. According to the research, perceived attractiveness leads to positive outcomes. That is, the more attractive you are perceived to be, the more likely you are to get the job, find a mate and be considered more intelligent, kind and honest.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc I have been interested in the topic of beauty for many years. Before I began my career in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, I studied issues in social and health psychology in my role as a research psychologist. One of my research areas was the study of attractiveness. According to the research, perceived attractiveness leads to positive outcomes. That is, the more attractive you are perceived to be, the more likely you are to get the job, find a mate and be considered more intelligent, kind and honest. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32125 2010-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

Last year, Asuman Algin, MD, attended one of my seminars in Chicago. Afterwards, she asked if I would come to Turkey to teach Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture. We all know that there is a tremendous interest these days in any product or procedure that is touted as being anti-aging, and that trend is not limited to the United States. Despite the state of the economy, people everywhere continue to spend billions of dollars a year on therapies and procedures that promise to make them look younger, thinner or more beautiful. You can have a procedure to modify almost anything about your body with which you are dissatisfied. And it's not only lines and wrinkles that concern people. They are having chin implants, fat transplantation, arm lifts, and cosmetic ear, foot and (believe it or not) leg-lengthening surgeries. Even if this was not morally repugnant, there can be serious medical consequences to consider.

By Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc Last year, Asuman Algin, MD, attended one of my seminars in Chicago. Afterwards, she asked if I would come to Turkey to teach Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture. We all know that there is a tremendous interest these days in any product or procedure that is touted as being anti-aging, and that trend is not limited to the United States. Despite the state of the economy, people everywhere continue to spend billions of dollars a year on therapies and procedures that promise to make them look younger, thinner or more beautiful. You can have a procedure to modify almost anything about your body with which you are dissatisfied. And it's not only lines and wrinkles that concern people. They are having chin implants, fat transplantation, arm lifts, and cosmetic ear, foot and (believe it or not) leg-lengthening surgeries. Even if this was not morally repugnant, there can be serious medical consequences to consider. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32054 2009-10-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-10-01T12:00:07-07:00

According to CDC data, physical inactivity among people with a disability continues to be a serious concern. Physical inactivity not only tends to increase the risk for functional limitations and secondary health conditions, it also tends to make individuals with physical disabilities more reliant on multiple medications that often increase the chance of having adverse drug reactions and possible secondary health problems. The factors that contribute to physical inactivity among people with physical disabilities include: lack of a suitable fitness program; limited transportation; inaccessible facilities and equipment; lack of affordability and lack of motivation.

By Zibin Guo, PhD According to CDC data, physical inactivity among people with a disability continues to be a serious concern. Physical inactivity not only tends to increase the risk for functional limitations and secondary health conditions, it also tends to make individuals with physical disabilities more reliant on multiple medications that often increase the chance of having adverse drug reactions and possible secondary health problems. The factors that contribute to physical inactivity among people with physical disabilities include: lack of a suitable fitness program; limited transportation; inaccessible facilities and equipment; lack of affordability and lack of motivation. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32052 2009-09-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-09-01T12:00:07-07:00

In part 2 of this series, we introduced an ancient Taoist meditative practice, called the "Water Wheel." We can view this technique as the beginning of a transformational journey whereby the acupuncturist/practitioner refines their qi and cultivates effortless clarity of intention, in turn becoming an acupuncturist/alchemist. This dynamic of inner evolution can facilitate a similar alchemical transformation within our patients.

By Mary Elizabeth Wakefield, LAc, Dipl. Ac., MS, MM In part 2 of this series, we introduced an ancient Taoist meditative practice, called the "Water Wheel." We can view this technique as the beginning of a transformational journey whereby the acupuncturist/practitioner refines their qi and cultivates effortless clarity of intention, in turn becoming an acupuncturist/alchemist. This dynamic of inner evolution can facilitate a similar alchemical transformation within our patients. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-31998 2009-07-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-07-01T12:00:07-07:00

In part 1 of this series of articles, we proposed the idea that the re-vitalization of the facial terrain through facial acupuncture treatments provides the practitioner with unmistakable outward evidence of changes occurring within our patients. The unique topography of the face makes this possible. As we have previously remarked, the face thereby provides a "window" into the alchemical process, allowing us to witness the transformation as it takes place within the bodies of our patients

By Mary Elizabeth Wakefield, LAc, Dipl. Ac., MS, MM and MichelAngelo , MFA, CTM In part 1 of this series of articles, we proposed the idea that the re-vitalization of the facial terrain through facial acupuncture treatments provides the practitioner with unmistakable outward evidence of changes occurring within our patients. The unique topography of the face makes this possible. As we have previously remarked, the face thereby provides a "window" into the alchemical process, allowing us to witness the transformation as it takes place within the bodies of our patients