Seasonal Affective Disorder and Acupuncture

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Tomorrow is the first day of Autumn. Changes are afoot. Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that people experience at the same time every year. Most often, symptoms start in September or October and are relieved in April or May, however some people experience SAD at different times of year.

The symptoms include:
• • Irritability
• • Headaches
• • Extreme fatigue, lethargy and sleepiness
• • Increased appetite
• • Carbohydrate cravings
• • Lack of concentration
• • Decreased libido

No one knows exactly what causes SAD but most of the theories involve light. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, is triggered by light. Some people believe that decreased serotonin is the culprit. Others blame melatonin, a hormone that affects sleep and mood, because it is affected by darkness. In either case, light plays a role.

Western Medicine Treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder 
Western medicine treats SAD with medications, psychotherapy and light therapy. There are 2 types of light therapy. For bright light treatment, you sit in front of a light box for 30-45 minutes every day. For dawn simulation treatment, a dim light comes on while you sleep and gradually gets lighter. Many people find light therapy very effective, and a recent Canadian study confirms this. Scientists found that light therapy was just as effective as Prozac for alleviating SAD, with fewer side effects and faster results.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatments for SAD 
TCM takes a holistic view of the body and seasonal cycles, and understands the energy behind them. All life is made of qi, or life force. One of the principles of qi is that everything is made of yin and yang. Yin is the feminine side, nourishing, cold and dark. Yang is the masculine side, active, warm and light.

Autumn marks the beginning of the yin cycle of the year. Daylight decreases, temperatures drop and nature takes a rest. Just as animals slow down and hibernate, our bodies slow down. It is a time for reflection and quiet activity.

If your constitution is particularly yin, from gender, genetics, environment or lifestyle, the yin cycle may hit you hard. Contemplation and rest may become isolation and depression. Your winter cycle becomes seasonal affective disorder. The holidays put an additional stress on your system. At a time when your body wants to slow down, holiday activities speed up. Parties, shopping, travel and holiday celebrations create tension between what your body needs and what you're doing. This stress depletes your body even more, contributing to exhaustion and cravings for carbohydrates to replenish your depleted energy.

To stay balanced in the winter and ward off SAD, conserve your energy. Practice quiet, yin activities like restorative yoga, Tai Chi, qigong, walking or journaling. Eat warm, slow-cooked stews and soups. Add yang spices like garlic, ginger, black pepper, cloves and basil to your foods. Limit cold drinks and raw vegetables. Rebuild your energy to prepare for spring.

Most importantly, make an appointment with me for a seasonal acupuncture treatment. By balancing your qi, your seasonal affective disorder symptoms can be relieved.  Winter doesn't have to be a time of sadness, exhaustion and binge eating. Call me to discuss your treatment options today, 951-698-7977 Mike Worley, L.Ac.

Acupuncture For More Than Just Pain

We all know the common ways to avoid becoming ill. Exercise, healthy and balanced meals, vitamins and lots of water, right? Did you know another way to boost your immune systems is through acupuncture.

In the west, acupuncture is commonly thought of for use with pain management, as it is quite effective at reducing/eliminating pain from the body. This is only one issue that acupuncture can treat; there are many more ailments it can resolve naturally and holistically. The whole basis behind acupuncture, which is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is to support harmony and balance within the body. Acupuncture views the body as a whole, and hence is a form of holistic medicine. A licensed acupuncturist has the training and ability to effectively treat a variety of illnesses by providing a diagnosis, implementing a treatment plan and making use of a variety of treatment methods.

You do not have to be sick or in pain to try acupuncture. One of the best reasons to get acupuncture is to keep your body healthy and operating properly. It is far better to spend a little money, time and energy on staying healthy than to have to spend a lot more recovering from an illness. Acupuncture is proactive and is focused on promoting the body’s ability to protect and heal itself.

For thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used to treat sick people without the reliance of modern medicine and prescription medication. Millions of people have benefited from this natural medicine and so can you. Contact Murrieta Acupuncture at 951-698-7977 and let the wellness begin!

Can acupuncture help elderly patients?

Today, people are living longer than ever. Many older people deal with issues related to arthritis, aches, pains, trouble with balance and walking. I am often asked if acupuncture can help with these types of conditions. The fact is that it can! People from all ages can benefit from acupuncture. No matter the age, the body's natural ability to heal itself is present. Due to various illnesses and environmental conditions, the immune system can be compromised, but this is also another way acupuncture can help.  By boosting the body's natural defense mechanisms, we can improve the quality of life for all types of people from all walks of life.

The process of healing by acupuncture can be a bit slower than what you might be used to from seeing a typical western doctor.  An acupuncturist will not be giving you some pain killers and promising to feel better by tomorrow. Following a treatment, you may notice some immediate improvement which can last from hours to a day or so. With each subsequent treatment, this improvement will continue to last longer and longer. Depending on how chronic or how long you have had a condition, will have direct impact on how quickly you can find relief from your issues. Younger people rebound very quickly, while people have been quite ill or older will take a little more time for their conditions to improve and resolve. All ages can benefit from acupuncture.  See me, Mike Worley, LAc. in Murrieta inside Chiropractic Plus.

What is Qi? Video from Murrieta Acupuncture

The west does not have an exact equivalent to the concept of Qi, which is a fundamental aspect of acupuncture.

• Qi is energy in the very broadest sense possible.
• Qi is universal.
• Qi embraces all manifestations of energy, from the most material aspects of energy (such as the earth beneath your feet, your computer, and flesh and blood) to the most immaterial aspects (light, movement, heat, nerve impulses, thought, and emotion).

Life, it is said in the Chinese medical classics, is a gathering of Qi. A healthy (and happy) human being is a dynamic but harmonious mixture of all the aspects of Qi that make up who we are.

Qi is in a state of continuous flux, transforming endlessly from one aspect of Qi into another. It is neither created nor is it ever destroyed; it simply changes in its manifestation.

In order to talk about the relationships between the various aspects and manifestations of Qi within a given context, Chinese philosophy employs the concept of yin and yang.

For more info: http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/traditional-chinese-medicine/what-qi-and-other-concepts

Acupuncture and the Treatment of Insomnia

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for insomnia and those who have trouble staying asleep at night.  Acupuncture along with individualized herbal formulas have been shown to help those that suffer from poor sleep.

Acupuncture for Digestive Disorders

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are proven effective for treating symptoms related to IBS, Crohn's disease or other digestive problems.  Some patients see results after the first visit.  Each patient is treated individually, as there is no "one size fits all" treatment when it comes to treating with acupuncture and herbs.  Formulas are often custom tailored to the patient's needs.  Acupuncture points will also vary patient to patient and some times treatment to treatment.

Appointments are available. Contact my office for more information, (951) 698-7977

Women's Health and Acupuncture

Aside from pain, another thing that responds very well to acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine is women's health.  This includes relief from symptoms of menopause, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), amenorrhea (lack of a period), PMS and other hormonal conditions.  Many patients respond quickly to treatment and see improvement within the first couple of months.  So get your life in balance and come in for some acupuncture.

How can acupuncture help with infertility?

There are many different causes for male and female infertility. Acupuncture has proven to be very effective at improving the chances for conception when used in conjunction with Chinese herbs and a proper diet.  IVF success has also shown statistically to improve dramatically when acupuncture is also incorporated. Contact my office for more information and a free consultation. (951) 698-7977

Can headaches be treated successfully with acupuncture?

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas can be quite effective at eliminating headaches and migraine pain. Reoccurring headaches can also be greatly reduced from regular acupuncture treatments.  Visit MurrietaAcupuncture.com for more information or call today for an appointment 951-698-7977.

What does it mean to be a Licensed Acupuncturist?

There are many people now offering to place needles as part of their treatment plan, but only a Licensed Acupuncturist can perform acupuncture. What does it mean to be one and what does it take to get that license?  I discuss those things in this video.

You can verify and locate a Licensed Acupuncturist near you for California here.  For other states, you can check here.

What can I expect at my first acupuncture treatment?

If you have ever wondered what you will experience during your first acupuncture visit, I explain it in this video.  Mike Worley, L.Ac. is part of Chiropractic Plus, providing acupuncture and herbal therapy to patients throughout Murrieta and Temecula Valley.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact my office at (951) 698-7977.

Wellness One Stop Shop at Chiropractic Plus

What Is a Licensed Acupuncturist?

There are many reasons why you should only seek acupuncture from licensed acupuncturists.  You wouldn't go to an amateur tattoo artist for a tattoo. You also wouldn't go to a veterinarian if you've got the flu, even if they are well trained in animal biology.  If you are seeking acupuncture, it is important you find one that is a Licensed Acupuncturist or L.Ac.  When you find one, be sure to ask where they received their training, which acupuncture school did they attended, and what is their California acupuncture license number.  With the answers to these specific questions you will be able to discover if they are truly a Licensed Acupuncturist or another physician that merely took a weekend course in how to insert needles.

A licensed acupuncturist uses specific information obtained during an initial consultation and exam that allows them to create a treatment plan for you, the patient. Aside from asking a list of detailed of questions, they will also ask to look at your tongue and check your pulse. These diagnostic checks provide more information on what type of treatment might be required and help us to understand what is going on inside the body. Traditional acupuncture done within the scope of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic type of patient care.

Other professions may claim to be licensed to perform acupuncture, but you should know that the amount of time and depth of training pales to that of an acupuncturist who has graduated from a school of Chinese medicine with at least a master's degree.

Currently, chiropractors are only required to have 300 hours of training to perform acupuncture, and many have much less. Physical therapists have been performing “dry needling” which is the insertion of acupuncture needles into certain areas of the body. Do not be fooled: dry needling is merely acupuncture being given by unlicensed acupuncturists. Many times physical therapists have as few as 10 hours of training, in comparison to the 1,850 hours it takes to become a licensed acupuncturist. It is worth noting that many other acupuncturists, such as myself, have as many as 3,200 hours or more of training that includes herbal studies and clinic internships. All of those hours also do not account for the time I spent on an internship in Taiwan at a hospital which integrates both western medicine with traditional Chinese medicine.

Even beyond the field of acupuncture, this should be a concern of patients and customers. Know your provider and find out what there background is, even before your first visit.

The TCM Diet Tips

In traditional Chinese health care practices, food has always been used to prevent disease, strengthen the body and prolong life. The Chinese advocate simple, uncomplicated and light diets. Think of the poor man’s diet – not a lot of sweet, salted, processed, greasy, or rich tasting foods. It means eating “simple” foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds with small bits of meat (think Chinese food). This also means small amounts of dairy foods, without pesticides, chemicals, or hormones, and with the full fat – just like your grandmother used to eat. The full fat dairy is more balanced and therefore more nutritious than its low and no-fat counterparts, because it is in the whole, untouched form, the way nature intended it to be. It’s ok to eat dairy, but most people shouldn’t eat very much of it – once a day is a safe bet.

Chinese dietary therapy suggests that those struggling with unwanted weight should try to avoid foods which tend to be damp and phlegm-producing, like dairy. Other foods that can create unwanted phlegm (which in Chinese medicine, also turns into fat) are: bananas, excess citrus fruits, peanut butter, sugars, sweet foods, and soy foods. It is important to eat and drink foods that are mostly warm, cooked, and easy to digest, that are lightly flavored with herbs and spices, which will further aid in promoting digestion (again, not too spicy!) This means smoothies, salads, and cold drinks only in the summer and always in moderation! Cold and raw things in the stomach, will lead to a “dampening” of the digestive system and a chilling of the metabolism. This digestive “fire” or energy in Chinese medicine can, over time, be put out when too many cold things are put in it. This also chills your body and slows down your circulation. Scientifically speaking, cold inhibits enzymatic activity and your foods won’t get assimilated and properly used. And lastly, purchase organic foods as much as possible – especially your meats and dairy items.  Grass fed beef and free range chicken is best. Also almond milk is preferable over soy milk. Just eat healthy!