This Month My Needles are Pink

Have you seen the pink ribbon? It’s back! Breast cancer awareness month.
Are you aware of what acupuncture and Asian herbal medicine can do to help you fight against breast cancer? Do you know how we can be a part of your care if you have a diagnosis of breast cancer?
With acupuncture and Asian herbal medicine, we can offer a lot to help offset the side-effects of the various treatments – chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. We are primarily helping to support the various systems of the body so as to help you maintain a better quality of life. Acupuncture and Asian herbal medicine also help to improve the various immune factors involved in fighting off the disease.
The usual side/after effects of the conventional therapies are fatigue, neuropathy, nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, various pains, headaches, insomnia, hormonal imbalances leading to the usual hot flashes and spontaneous or night sweats, moodiness and irritability, anxiety and depression. The list goes on.
In my personal experience treating these various conditions, the relief is between 50 to 100% immediately, and with ongoing care, resolution may occur.
Preventing breast cancer and all other types for that matter, is something that is best approached through our lifestyle choices. Although good choices can reduce the risk, it doesn’t give you immunization.
Here at Eastern Ways, we approach health from both a preventative and acute care perspective. With a few needles, the right kind of herbs, dietary advice and nutrition plans, we can guide you to a healthier and happier being.

No Meltinnnggg! Don’t Dehydrate!!!

One of my patients is an ER nurse at one of the local hospitals. I asked her what’s the most common thing they see in the ER all year and she told me heat stroke and dehydration.
With our current heat index, here in AZ, being the hottest August on record, we really need to be aware of what may lead to dehydration, know the appropriate measures to avoid the problem, and how to properly rehydrate.
The biggest problem we have here with our AZ weather is the dryness PLUS the heat. The dryness factor relates more to the dehydration than the heat when looked at separately, but of course together a terrible duo is created. Dryness removes moisture from our environment, both internally and externally. Heat speeds up the process. The hotter it gets, the faster it goes.
Definitely stay hydrated with 8 to 10 glasses of good old H2O, but also keep in mind ELECTROLYTES – especially if you are out in the heat. Water alone, especially in excess amounts could lead to water intoxication, which could throw off electrolyte balance leading to central nervous system problems. There are cases of death on record of people drowning themselves by drinking too much water. You may be drinking water while in the sun, but your losing both water and those precious sparky minerals – calcium, magnesium, and potassium through your pores in the form of sweat.
The first set of signs and symptoms to be aware of are thirst, loss of appetite, dry skin, chapped lips, skin flushing, dark colored urine, dry mouth, fatigue or weakness, chills, head rushes. This occurs when the body has lost about 2% of it’s total fluids.
A second category of signs and symptoms occurs if we get to 5% total fluid loss: increased heart rate, increased respiration, decreased sweating, decreased urination, increased body temperature, extreme fatigue, muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, tingling of the limbs.
When we reach 10% total fluid loss, we will be at critical mass. Sever dehydration is kickin’ in. Emergency attention will be necessary. These signs and symptoms are muscle spasms, vomiting, racing pulse, shriveled skin, dim vision, painful urination, confusion, difficulty breathing, seizures, chest and abdominal pain, unconsciousness.
By paying attention and properly rehydrating we can avoid these serious situations.
The different sports-ade drinks and/or Pedialyte can be very good and helpful, but the best natural source of electrolyte replenishment is coconut water. The water of this healthy nut is so perfect for us humans that it could be intravenously piped into our blood stream because it so closely matches our blood plasma. It has a high concentration of potassium and contains calcium and magnesium. In this form, our bodies suck up all these mineral nutrients like a sponge and help keep our kidney’s healthy and our bodies in balanced hydration.
I recommend one daily to every other day here in AZ. With sever heat, two a day may be necessary when exposed to the elements via work or exercise/recreation.
Stay healthy.Stay COOL!
Respectfully,
Steven Schermerhorn, L.Ac.

The Epitome of Acupuncture

Last week, a patient I hadn’t seen in five months, came in with a frontal headache/migraine that had been going on for two weeks. He had been to his doctor, who sent him to the cardiologist. Since he has a history of heart disease, it’s a valid concern. Nothing was found, but he got a prescription for the headache and was referred to his neurologist. The medication didn’t help and the neurologist couldn’t find any reason for the problem either, but also prescribed something which also hadn’t worked to alleviate the headache.

Finally he came to me. I asked where he felt the pain, and immediately had my understanding of the problem and  put a few corresponding needles in. After about 5 needles I asked him how much relief he was experiencing. He responded with an almost reluctant or dismayed, “It’s better.”

I had to ask again,because I the inflection of his response and the words he spoke didn’t mix. ” How close to 100% relief are we?’

Again, still dismayed and seeming bewildered, “It’s gone.”

I put a few more needles in to support the relief and let him rest for the customary 30 to 40 minutes. When I came back, I asked how the headache was doing.

This time he responded with a more certain, “It feels good. It’s all gone. That’s amazing.”

When he left, he said he’d call me if the headache returns. I haven’t heard from him yet.

I wanted to reiterate this story to highlight the epitome of acupuncture. We get to the point! Pun intended.  We hone in on where the specific problem is by understanding what channel-systems are involved, and can instantly recognize both where the problem is, and a treatment plan. During the treatment phase, we aim to relieve the pain or problem 50% to 100% – before we even walk out of the room. After that, you rest and continue to reap the benefits and influence of the treatment.

Every individual responds differently and the case above is a best-case-scenario. The typical realm of improvement is 50 to 100% relief per treatment. Continued treatments for people who get less than complete relief has a momentum that continually and gradually builds until complete relief occurs.

If your tired of the run around and want a more instant experience, seek out acupuncture in your area. If your local to us ( Surprise, Arizona) give us a call: 623-584-6200.

I look forward to helping you.

Steven Schermerhorn, L.Ac.

Organic Market This Weekend

Hi Everybody!

We hope this holiday season is enjoyable for you.

In working to be your resource for Acupuncture in Surprise, AZ, and the West Valley, tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, from 9am to 2pm, we will be out at Momma’s Organic Market. It’s located at the Park West Shopping Center, west of the 101, at 99th and Northern Ave. Here’s a map to see the location better.

If you get a chance, come out and see what there is to offer.

See ya at the market.

Eastern Ways

Renewing the Blog

Hi everybody, it’s me, Steve,  here at Eastern Ways Acupuncture & Health Center. We are re-dedicating ourselves to the quest of bringing you quality health information. Our specailty is your health; your individual concerns; your whole being. Our primary means of treatment are acupuncture (and the various ways of stimulating the acupoint sites) Asian herbal medicine, with adjunct therapies in nutrition, meditation, qigong (Chinese yoga), and taiji.

We want to provide you with the means to make educated decisons and empower you to be an addvocate for your own health.

Although we are providing treatment and therapies from the old, traditional, Eastern Ways point of view, it’s reinforced by current, mordern, scientific research, understanding, and confirmations.

In this blog we hope to share with you that kind of information so that you can really know and understand how these alternatives can truely help you, your family, and your friends.

I love my work, and I’m so glad to be able to share it with you. Through this blog, I hope to enhance and encourage a better quality of health and a greater amount of happiness in your life.

I hope you look forward to this blog. For now, I’ll be sending out monthly posts that I hope to turn into weekly posts. I’ll also send out special posts in conjunction with pertinant special events.

 

Deflate your weight with acupuncture

I have patients losing 8, 9, 12, 15, 22, 25, 31, and 34 pounds. Some have hit 15 pounds in 2 weeks, others have hit 20 pounds in a month and they are still going. If all you have to loose is weight, don’t wait any longer. Call today for a FREE consultation and Pulse Diagnosis (a traditional medical test) and see why you may be having trouble with your weight. Let’s get started today.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Blog for Eastern Ways Acupuncture and Health Center, located in Surprise, Arizona.  Visit us online at www.Eastern-Ways.com and keep our blog handy as I will be writing interesting articles and providing valuable information on a routine basis. 

Have a wonderful day!