Luckily there are so many remedies we could use and most of the time work well. Most of them you can buy from your local health store and have them available as an emergency supply.

Here are a couple of my favorites supplements:

Quercetin: a very powerful phytonutrient found in plants and fruits.It prevents the release of dreadful histamine which is the chemical responsible for the allergy symptoms.You can get it from foods like citrus and broccoli but you will probably need a supplemental dose during an acute attack.

Vitamin C: essential vitamin for many chemical reactions inside our body, fights the inflammation and colds and viruses also present this time of the year.

Stinging nettles: despite the name don’t be scared …the leaf extract contains good nutrients that reduce histamine release and inflammation as well.Use it as a tea to prevent the flare-up or take the capsules during an acute attack

OMEGA-3 Fatty acids: another great anti-inflammatory supplement or even better get it by eating seafood, flaxseed or olive oil just to name a few.

Probiotics: allergies can be the result of an imbalance in the immune system that causes the body to react strongly to an allergen.There has been new research showing the beneficial effect of having a balanced gut bacteria environment.The best way to get them is by consuming fermented foods and drinks like Kombucha or Kefir or to take a high-quality probiotic capsule.

These supplements can be used individually or in combination to help alleviate your symptoms or even to prevent future reactions.

Feel better!

Micronutrients are vital for good health and radiant skin, but almost everyone survives on less than optimum levels and it actually shows on our skin.

What are micronutrients?

Macronutrients are the different types of food such as fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

However, our body is breaking these components down even further to produce the very building blocks of our food such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids. These are known as micronutrients.

Micronutrients are essential for glowing skin and vibrant health. Keep in mind the recommended daily allowance for micronutrients are simply the minimum levels to prevent serious diseases associated with deficiencies. To truly thrive rather than just survive, you will likely benefit from more than the minimum levels.

How are the micronutrients affecting your skin?

The appearance of your skin will be a good indicator as to whether your body is suffering an imbalance or a deficiency of micronutrients.

There are many ways in which an imbalance could manifest, such as dryness, wrinkles or even conditions such as psoriasis, eczema or acne. Of course, it is a good idea to exclude other causes, for example, an autoimmune disease.

There are several different underlying causes, but I find that micronutrient deficiencies are, at least in part, a primary root cause for many skin problems.

3 top micronutrients for the skin

It’s important to understand that although there are several micronutrients that are particularly good for the skin, they will only achieve the maximum benefit when used in combination with others. Micronutrients help each other to be absorbed by the body, so focusing on just one in isolation generally does not give you the best results.

So let’s talk about the antioxidants because of their multiple roles in our body. The body can be damaged by free radicals (certain types of oxygen molecules) but antioxidants can destroy them. This, in turn, will help cells to renew and regenerate, which is particularly helpful for premature aging and sun-exposed skin. Examples of these are Vitamins A, C, E as well as lycopene and beta-carotene. Where can you get them? Berries, dark Essential fatty acids chocolate, green leafy vegetables, herbs just to name a few. It is also important to diagnose a micronutrient deficiency with a blood test and replace it with the appropriate dose and a high-quality supplement.

Vitamin D3 is another healing skin micronutrient that can be particularly useful for combating psoriasis if the cause is a deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to eczema, acne, wrinkles, and it can make your skin sweat too much.

Essential fatty acids are also essential micronutrients for skin health. Why? Because most skin conditions have an underlying inflammatory cause and the anti-inflammatory effects of Omega 3s can help to counteract this. One can get the fatty acids from wild caught fish, flaxseed oil, nuts, or chia seeds. There are also supplements available but always remember to look for a high-quality product!

One more thing

If you have any bloating, nausea or any type of digestive problems you are at risk for micronutrients malabsorption. Consider supporting your digestion and absorption of micronutrients with digestive enzymes and probiotics.Talk to your functional medicine doctor about getting tested for absorption issues, nutritional deficiencies and also replacement therapy.

To your vibrant health and skin,

Dana Neacsu

Acupuncture Increases the Success Rate of IVF

For some women and couples in vitro fertilization (IVF) is the answer to their dream of having a child. Numerous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture improves IVF success rate. One large study found a 50% increase in success rate when acupuncture is done alongside IVF. IVF can take a significant emotional and financial toll so why not do everything possible to increase the chances of success?

Ideally, I like to start treating women at least three months prior to starting IVF in order to regulate their hormones and address any underlying issues that are contributing to infertility. It is not uncommon for women to become pregnant naturally during this time. If IVF is being done solely due to male fertility factors then one month of acupuncture prior to IVF would be ideal.

During the stimulation phase of IVF, I like to see women twice a week. Acupuncture works by increasing the blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, reducing stress and anxiety (which can impact fertility) and addressing any side effects of the medications. Following stimulation, one acupuncture treatment prior to egg retrieval and one between retrieval and transfer is the standard of care.

Acupuncture before and after transfer of the embryo is essential. Acupuncture can take place 24-48 hours before and after transfer. Pre and post transfer acupuncture works to relax the uterus and calm any uterine spasms from the transfer process as well as reduce anxiety and calm stress. An acupuncture treatment one week following transfer supports implantation. In cases of sub-fertility, it is ideal to continue with acupuncture once a week for the first trimester to protect the pregnancy.

Many women undergo IUI prior to IVF and acupuncture works in a similar fashion to improve the chances of success. I generally see women once a week throughout the IUI process.

Know someone considering IVF? Please share this information with them!

www.dogwoodhealingarts.com

By encouraging your system toward balance, Reiki practice can help you in any situation.

Balance means different things at different times. If you are tired, you’ll feel refreshed. If you are anxious, you’ll feel serene. If you are distressed, you’ll feel comforted.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you’ll discover a renewed clarity and purpose. And these subjective changes come with physical changes associated with deep relaxation, such as a slower heart rate and easier breathing.

The first session usually brings improvement, and the benefits grow with repeated sessions.When you receive Reiki healing, you’ll lie fully clothed on a treatment table while the Reiki practitioner places hands lightly on or just above your head and torso.

Do you have a health — or wellness— problem you’re trying to solve?

It could be anything from staying as healthy and happy as you are now to the most debilitating disease. Maybe you suffer from chronic pain or anxiety or fatigue.

Reiki practice can help in a wide range of situations because it doesn’t treat the symptom or condition directly; rather, Reiki practice helps restore balance so you feel better and your system can shift gears from coping to profound self-healing.

Patients typically report improvement during their first Reiki treatment, although more sessions may be needed to stabilize and strengthen that benefit.

Reiki can help them to cope better with a wide range of health conditions, including:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Chronic pain
• Infertility
• Neurodegenerative disorders
• ADD/ADHD

• HIV/AIDS
• Crohn’s Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Emotional illness
• Fatigue syndromes

How does Reiki achieve that? It creates relaxation and helps with pain management. For other people, it reduces anxiety and depression or helps with sleep and even supports digestion. Other ways:

• Enhanced well-being
• Stronger self-esteem
• Accelerated surgical recovery or as a preparation before surgery
• Reduced side effects from radiation, chemotherapy, and Rx meds
• Greater self-awareness

We can start optimizing your health and well-being now.

Here are few helpful tips:

• Use a HEPA air filter or a whole house air filtration system
• Avoid other possible food allergens such as dairy, sugar or soy
• Keep windows closed during allergy season and close the fresh air vent in your car to prevent pollen, dust, and smog from entering in.
• Learn how to use a nasal rinse pot with saline solution after work or outdoor activities. This is recommended by conventional medicine as well so ask your doctor if you are a good candidate. This method works better if you use it as soon as you start feeling bad. A word of caution: use distilled water not tap water!
• Dietary changes: try an anti-inflammatory diet, rich in fruits and vegetables and rich in OMG-3 or fatty acids to decrease the histamine release. Lots of curcumin and raw local honey daily in small amounts can help too.
• Consider using a high-quality essential oil like lavender, peppermint or lemon. Inhaling diffused oils can help unclog the sinuses and offer relief to scratchy throats.
• Acupuncture or acupressure (no needles!) can also help most of the time.

 Supplements

Consider starting Magnesium at bedtime and a good brand of Omega 3 fish oil. Most of the time, these supplements are extremely safe but always check with your doctor first, especially if you have any kidney disorder or take a blood thinner!  Magnesium helps with the anxiety/irritability part and also prevents the headaches associated with menopause.  Fish oil is a great anti-inflammatory agent and I even heard from my patients it helps them think faster and clearer.

 Botanicals

One of the best-known remedies is Black cohosh and it can be  pretty efficient, especially combined with other plants like St. John’s Wort. Even used as a tea in the evening, it has an additional effect on stress reduction. Both botanicals are not a good choice if you have liver disease and St. John’s Wort can interfere with quite a few medications! So, again, checking with your doctor is a must.

In addition to that, I would suggest:

– an adaptogen such as Ashwagandha to support your adrenals;

– Maca powder, especially if taken in the morning.  It can increase your energy, libido and hormone levels.

– Sage tea, 3-4 cups a day, is especially good for hot flashes.

Make sure you get your supplements from a reputable health store for both safety and efficiency purposes.

Finally, if you decide to use hormonal replacement for menopause try to take the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible. Consider bioidentical hormone therapy if possible since their structure is like ours.  I also like trans dermal (patch) form in terms of safety.

And keep in mind that 50% of women experience recurrent symptoms after discontinuing the hormonal treatment!  So, try using all the above methods prior to, during, instead of, or after hormonal replacement, as they could be extremely helpful.

Consider the potential risks and benefits of each available treatment!

But menopause hormonal testing is not needed most of the time, unless we are trying to rule out an adrenal fatigue or a thyroid problem for example. The same is true for adjusting the dose.  Your doctor should rely more on how you feel and how your symptoms are changing rather than testing.

I will group my thoughts on what can help you feel better during menopause in two short posts – this is a lot of information, and we don’t need to be additionally overwhelmed right now!  Let’s start with the basics:

Most of the time, I would suggest to make sure there is no major nutrient deficiency or imbalance by using something like Spectracell or Genova blood testing. Such imbalance is known to possibly play a role in slowing down your hormone production.  The same is true for adjusting the dose.  Your doctor should rely more on how you feel and how your symptoms are changing rather than testing.

Exercise and stress reduction techniques are extremely important in this phase of your life.  And they work!  Based on numerous studies, the effects don’t take long to show up and help you feel better. Start with something easy like the 4-7-8 relaxing breath: inhale while counting to 4, hold your breath while counting to 7, and exhale all the way to 8.  It’s easy and really works for everything including bad traffic!

 Diet: I always start with discussing the anti-inflammatory diet, eliminating sugar, processed foods are among the most important first steps. Certain foods like flax seed and organic non-GMO soy can help as well, due to their phytoestrogen content.

The conclusion? Women who should not or do not want to take hormones may turn to herbal and nutritional therapies for managing their menopausal symptoms and risk factors.

These natural therapies are increasingly popular and have a growing body of scientific evidence to support their efficacy.

Supplements, botanicals and essential oils will be covered in my next post.

Feel better!

Dry needling is a technique that treats the neuromusculoskeletal systems and is based on pain patterns, muscular dysfunction, and other orthopedic signs and symptoms. Acupuncture is a technique for balancing Flow of Energy or Life Force known as Chi, believed to flow through meridians or pathways in the body. Dry Needling does not follow this Acupuncture philosophy but rather, is based on modern science, neurophysiology, and anatomy. The only real similarity is that both techniques use a thin, monofilament needle.

In Dry Needling, the needle penetrates the skin to stimulate reactive myofacial trigger points and muscular and connective tissue for the management of pain and movement impairments. It also works to desensitize super sensitive structures, restore motion and function and induce a healing response to the tissue. It does this through a cascade of events that occur once the tissue is penetrated, which leads to vasodilation, increased blood flow, and increased blood vessel formation, all of which promote tissue repair. Dry Needling is very effective in treating tight muscles, contractures, and muscular trigger points. The practice of Dry Needling has been around for decades, and stands as one of the most effective treatments in the world of rehabilitation.

Dry Needling can be performed by a licensed physical therapist who is certified in the technique. Call Stability today to make an appointment for Dry Needling if you think it may benefit you!

Jenna Cooper

Stability Pilates and Physical Therapy

www.stabilityatlanta.com

404-303-9153