Friday, April 25, 2014

A Close Up Look At Acupuncture for Pain

"A growing number of Americans would prefer to stop popping pills and avoid going under the knife to treat a bum knee, achy lower back or sore hip. Instead, they’re turning to the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture to help ease chronic joint pain."

"Research studies consistently show that acupuncture can be an effective form of pain management, with some studies finding it even more effective than pain-relieving drugs or surgery. But exactly how it works remains somewhat of a mystery, Danesh admits.

In theory, acupuncture stimulates the body’s meridian points. By easing pressure on these energy-carrying channels, ancient Chinese physicians believed the needles corrected the body’s imbalances by allowing energy or “chi” to flow more freely. Although traditional Western medicine remains skeptical about the idea of chi, Danesh said that many of the meridian points happen to coincide with trigger points, spots on the body where pain radiates away from the center when pressed."

To read the full article please click here

Posted by Sharon Wyse L.Ac.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Acupressure for Babies/Children for a Good Night’s Sleep

"Promoting better baby sleep from the perspective of Chinese medicine is very different from the standard American approach.Modern pediatric sleep advice is an incredibly contentious subject as any trip to the bookstore will demonstrate. There are books on the many different behavioral modification methods, from the cry-it-out approaches to the attachment-parenting styles. And if you go to any online parenting discussion board, there will be heated discussions among parents who defend their choice of sleep method for babies. Regardless of parenting style and culture, Chinese medicine techniques can help improve sleep because they alter the energetics of sleep and focus on physiology rather than behavior. While a reliable sleep routine will be enough for most babies to establish a healthy sleep pattern, others may need additional support. This is when Chinese medicine and its attention to individual energetics can come to the rescue."

To read the full article please click here.

Posted by Sharon Wyse L.Ac.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Probiotics May Ease Stomach Upset in Babies

"A new clinical trial suggests that a daily dose of a probiotic may ease digestive upset in babies.

Italian researchers randomly assigned 468 infants less than a week old to receive either a daily oral dose of Lactobacillus reuteri or an identical tasting placebo. Parents recorded the daily frequency of bowel movements and spitting up as well as the amount of time babies cried inconsolably. Investigators followed the families with weekly phone calls or personal meetings. The study appears online in JAMA Pediatrics.

After one month, the babies who got the probiotic showed a significant decrease in crying time and an increase in frequency of bowel movements compared with those who got the placebo. By three months, their frequency of spitting up was reduced as well.

The babies taking the probiotic had fewer emergency department visits and needed less medication for stomach problems. Their parents lost fewer days of work, and there were no adverse side effects. The results were adjusted to account for the effects of breast or bottle feeding, vaginal or cesarean delivery, and other factors."

To read the full article, please click here

Posted by Sharon Wyse L.Ac

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Happy Feaster!

For my family, every holiday that comes seems like a great excuse to eat, eat, eat! (last year we actually dubbed the term Happy Feaster because of all the food we had!) While spending time with family and friends over a delicious meal is one of my favorite things to do, sometimes we can go overboard with all the meats, starches and desserts; which is why this year I am also bringing an herbal formula called Bao He Wan
Bao He Wan is a Chinese herbal formula that promotes digestion, removes stagnated food and regulates the stomach. The herbal formula is used for the retention of food, bloating, or distension and fullness in the abdomen. I really like this formula as it can even be used as a preventative to take before overindulging. To read more about Bao He Wan, please click here
For more information, or if you would like to purchase Bao He Wan from our clinic, please call 917.603.8081 or email at SharonWyseLAc@gmail.com

Posted by Sharon A. Wyse L.Ac.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

How Long Can You Wait to Have a Baby?

This was taken from the recent June 2013 article in The Atlantic and sheds so much light on an issue that effects so many of us that I needed to share...

"Deep anxiety about the ability to have children later in life plagues many women. But the decline in fertility over the course of a woman’s 30s has been oversold. Here’s what the statistics really tell us—and what they don’t."

To read this whole article (and if you are a woman over the age of 30 trying to conceive you should!)
Please click here

Posted by Sharon Wyse L.Ac.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Acupuncture Beats Drugs for Low Back Pain Herniations

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapeutic techniques are effective treatments for lower back pain due to lumbar disc herniations. A new randomized, controlled clinical trial demonstrates that acupuncture and TCM therapy reduces back pain and restores motor functionality for patients with herniated lumbar discs. A sample size of 408 patients receiving a traditional combination of TCM therapies were examined in comparison to a control group receiving health education, pain medications and physical therapy. The acupuncture-TCM group showed significantly greater improvement than that of the control group. - See more at: http://www.healthcmi.com/acupuncturist-news-online/781-herniationub25#sthash.VMBs2ltD.dpuf

For the full article please click here

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Mosquito tips for a restful sleep

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito in the room” -Dalai Lama XIV

Totally love that quote, but did not like waking up at 4:30am the other night with me and my husband both trying to find the mosquito (or mozzy as my husband calls them) that was taunting us in our bedroom. One sure way to ensure that the nasty biters stay out is to mix 4 parts water to 1 part tea tree oil, mix in a spray bottle and spray around he upper walls and doors of your room; apparently they dont like the smell.

Needless to say we slept great the next night ;)

Here is a bog I wrote ages ago but it stills ring true...

Natural Mosquito Repellents

I was out at my mother and father's house on Sunday and noticed that my mom had lemon thyme plants growing in the backyard right in front of the back door that leads into the house. My mother explained that the lemon thyme works as a natural mosquito repellent and that every time she goes to sit in the backyard she takes a few leaves, bruises them by crushing them in her hand, and then places the essence from the leaves around her ankles, knees, elbows and shoulders. There are other natural plants that act as mosquito repellents such as Lavender, Rose Geranium, Lemon Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, and Citronella, which can be found in most health food stores. If you don't have a back garden or any place to grow these plants then I would advise buying natural sprays, lotions or candles from your local health food store.

Other tips to avoid getting bit by mosquitos are:

Avoid dark clothing (dark clothes and foliage are initial attractants)
Avoid floral or fruity fragrances (perfumes, hair products, and scented sunscreens, also watch for floral fragrance from fabric softeners)
Avoid staying near standing water (even small amounts of water, for example: moist plants or mud puddles, will draw mosquitoes. Standing water also allows mosquitoes to reproduce.)
Avoid excessive perspiration (you release more lactic acid when you have been exercising or after eating certain foods for example: salty foods and high-potassium foods)