Guest Blogger "Holisticholly" Clarifies the Difference Between Cold & Flu Symptoms

The swine flu has hit! Or… so it seems. Parents lately have been booking panicked appointments with me, “Someone at my child’s school has the swine flu! Now my child is sneezing. Oh no! Does he have the swine flu!?” Oh no is right! Sneezing is NOT a symptom of the swine flu. To ease many minds, here is a list of symptoms of a cold and symptoms of a flu virus, including that of the H1N1 virus (aka swine flu).

The main thing I want to emphasis is that flus come on very suddenly. Flus have a rapid onset of 3-6 hours, and hit very hard with sudden symptoms of high fever, aches and pains, whereas a cold tends to develop over a few days. Do not be alarmed if you come down with any of these symptoms; there IS help and hope! At first signs of either a cold or a flu, there are many natural steps including homeopathy, herbs, rest, and nutritional support that can be taken to greatly shorten their duration, magnitude, and discomfort.

Fever

Cold: RARE

Flu: Typically, a fever of 100 degrees or higher for 3-4 days

Coughing

Cold: Hacking, productive cough with mucus

Flu: Non-productive, dry cough

Aches

Cold: Slight body aches may be present

Flu: Severe body aches and pains

Stuffy Nose

Cold: Common and usually resolves itself in about a week

Flu: Not commonly present

Chills

Cold: Uncommon

Flu: 60% of people with the flu experience chills

Fatigue/Exhaustion

Cold: Fairly mild

Flu: Moderate to severe

Headache

Cold: Fairly uncommon, unless it is a sinus headache from stuffy nose and congestion

Flu: Very common

Sore Throat

Cold: Common

Flu: Not common

The best prevention of these symptoms and colds and flus is, of course, precautionary. See my previous post about boosting you and your child’s immunity for swine flu and all flu prevention. The homeopathic protocol is tried and true and works effectively without ANY chemicals or foreign objects in it. It works by triggering the body’s own immune response and healing mechanism. This protocol has been used successfully in my practice and by Homeopaths for many many years.

Contributor: Holly Sidell, CNHP

310.579.2583

http://holisticholly.wordpress.com

"Return to your Rightful Place of Health and Happiness."

Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamins

Not all vitamins are created equal. Just as whole foods are healthier than processed, natural vitamins are more beneficial than synthetic because their nutritional components are better absorbed, utilized and retained by the body. This "bio-availability" makes natural vitamins a better deal despite being more expensive.

Natural vitamins are derived from food sources and contain a complex array of nutrients that are bonded to proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. They contain beneficial co-factors such as antioxidants and bioflavonoids, which are essential for better absorption and maximum utilization.

Synthetic vitamins are isolated chemicals that mirror their counterparts found in nature. Although synthesized vitamins will work if you are deficient in a particular nutrient, you will not be getting the same benefit due to the lack of bioflavonoids. Furthermore, many synthetics are derived using harsh solvents and may include coal tar derivatives, fillers and preservatives.

The most important rule when buying vitamins is to look for brands using plant or animal sources. For example, vitamins A and D are natural when derived from fish oils, vitamin B complex from yeast, and vitamin C from citrus, rose hips or acerola berries.

I advise my patients to take vitamins only to address a particular problem and not to just “cover your bases.” Save your money and eat a wide variety of fresh, minimally-processed foods instead. If you strive for 20 different whole food ingredients daily, you will be getting all the nutrition you need directly from food.

How Acupuncture Works for Pain

A new study funded by the Army and the National Institutes of Health helps explain how acupuncture eases chronic pain. Using brain imaging, the study showed that acupuncture increases the availability of receptors in the brain that process and weaken pain signals. Moreover, acupuncture treatments – in this case twice a week for four weeks – affect both the brain’s short- and long-term ability to reduce pain sensation.

A beneficial implication of this research – published in August 2009 by the University of Michigan Chronic Pain & Fatigue Research Center – is that patients treated with acupuncture might be more responsive to pain medications like codeine and Vicodin.

Other studies have shown that acupuncture triggers a variety of physiological responses, such as:

✔ Stimulating the immune system and increasing white blood cells, which defend the body against infection
✔ Decreasing cholesterol and triglycerides
✔ Regulating blood sugar metabolism, which helps the body use energy more efficiently
✔ Increasing blood circulation and producing beneficial changes in blood pressure
✔ Increasing stomach peristaltic activity and regulating digestive fluids, thereby improving digestion
✔ Regulating and stimulating serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is directly related to sleep, appetite, and mood

Acupuncture Best for Headaches

According to a Duke University Medical Center review of over 30 research studies comparing acupuncture versus medication for chronic headaches, acupuncture is significantly more effective. The studies included nearly 4,000 patients with migraines, tension headaches and other forms of chronic headaches. A bonus finding: “Acupuncture patients also reported better physical well-being compared to the medication group." www.dukehealth.org

Dietary Therapy: Coconut Oil for Cholesterol

Coconut oil is now being recognized as a therapy for poor cholesterol levels, obesity and hypothyroidism. Even though it contains saturated fat, research shows that coconut oil’s chemical structure is different from animal-derived fats. Because of this, it can increase fat metabolism and improve the ratio between good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol. This may explain why another traditional diet, that of Polynesia, leads to relatively low rates of heart disease.

Start using coconut oil when you sauté, stir-fry or bake. It has a completely neutral flavor and is a good alternative to butter, margarine and shortening for medium heat cooking. To reap its health benefits you should strive for a tablespoon per day. It is available in health food stores.

Pearl Extract for Good Skin

This month’s spotlight on Chinese herbs focuses on freshwater pearl, or zhen zhu (Margarita). Pearl has been used for centuries to create a smooth, radiant complexion. Not only is it a valuable source of minerals — including calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, strontium, copper, and selenium — it contains dozens of amino acids and antioxidants that are necessary for maintaining health. Studies show that hydrolyzed pearl extract is easily absorbed, generates new skin cells and tissue, and controls acne. Other benefits include improving eyesight and reducing anxiety and insomnia.

I prescribe pearl extract created by Far East Summit, an Oregon-based producer of state-of-the-art herbal formulas. Far East only imports Chinese raw herbs from companies that adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) as mandated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to verify quality control, safety and effectiveness. "Luminous Pearl Extract Skin Formula" is available by prescription only from a licensed acupuncturist.

News: Now on the Board of the California State Oriental Medical Association

In May 2009 I was invited to join the Board of Directors of the California State Oriental Medical Association (CSOMA), the oldest and largest professional organization of licensed acupuncturists in California. Members are dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the art, science, and practice of Asian medicine, thereby enhancing the health and well-being of the general public.

I will serve as Chair of the Publications Committee, working to strengthen communication between CSOMA and people interested in research, clinical therapies, current events, historical perspectives and advocacy for the profession.

Oolong Tea for Eczema

Eczema (or atopic dermatitis) is a particularly uncomfortable condition, with itchy, inflamed red patches on the skin that often don't respond well to Western drugs and ointments and can get worse in cold, dry climates. Oolong tea, which is made from partially fermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, has been shown to markedly decrease skin inflammation and itching. Japanese researchers speculate that the tea has anti-allergy properties such as polyphenols and tannins that calm an overactive immune response.

Steep 10g/.35oz of oolong tea in a liter (~34oz.) of boiling water for 5 minutes, then drink one-third after each meal. You should notice improvements within 1-2 weeks.

For those unable to drink a liter of oolong daily, try probiotics such as 1x10⁹Lactobacillus fermentum, which has been shown to be helpful for eczema in young children and babies. Take liquid or capsules twice daily for a minimum of 8 weeks.

Cold Season Immune Boost

Astragalus, or huang qi, is to Chinese medicine what echinacea is to the North American materia medica. It is the Chinese herbal practitioner's number-one herb to boost Qi (pronounced "chee" and translated as "energy flow" or "breath"), in people who are frequently sidelined by colds and the flu. In Chinese medicine, when someone gets sick we say that their "protective Qi" is deficient, and astragalus acts to stabilize this protective Qi running along the surface of the body.

How do you know if you have a weak immune system? Exhaustion, food allergies and depression can all leave the body vulnerable to infection, leading to persistent colds or flu, frequent skin infections, and/or chronic fatigue — all key symptoms.

Astragalus also helps a number of other problems, including spontaneous sweating, low appetite, and recovery from long-term illness, and can improve immune function in people with cancer and HIV.

Note: One should not use astragalus during an acute illness — only as a preventative. For this reason it's best to take it under the care of a licensed acupuncturist, who can make a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Natural Medicine Conference in Cuba

In mid-November I traveled to Cuba to attend a natural medicine conference in the small city of Santa Clara, about three hours southeast of Havana. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to travel in a country I love (I had been there once before in 2000), and to meet doctors and health care specialists who have integrated a wide range of so-called medicina bioenergética into their Western medical system, including acupuncture, homeopathy, flower remedies, osteopathy, iridology, hypnosis, heat therapy, bee venom, and magnets. (The U.S. Department of the Treasury grants a small number of licenses to full-time professionals traveling to Cuba for meetings and conferences.)

"NATUROSALUD 2008: The 7th International Congress of Bioenergetic, Traditional & Natural Medicine" was held at a small convention center in the countryside. There were a hundred participants from Latin America, South America and Spain, and no running water! (We managed somehow.) I was the only person from the U.S.

I had been particularly interested in traveling to Cuba because it is the only Western country that mandates that complementary therapies be a part of every medical school curriculum. Unfortunately, Cuba's "green medicine" was born more from the economic collapse of the early 1990s, when Cuba lost the support of the Soviet Union and access to imported medicine almost overnight, than from any holistic trend. Acupuncture training was first established in military hospitals and the use of herbal medicine increased in rural areas.

Now, all Cubans now have access to acupuncture, homeopathy, physical therapy, and herbal medicine when they need it, and there's a strong chance that these therapies will survive even as Cuba's economy and access to pharmaceuticals improve in the coming years. All of us in the health professions should learn from this system so that we provide our citizens with a more affordable, preventative and natural approach to quality healthcare, especially in hard times. Ojalá!

(NOTE: I wrote a longer article on my experiences at the conference for the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of the California Journal of Oriental Medicine.)

Traditional Food Pyramids

While the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently made strides in overhauling its Food Pyramid, government nutritional advice is still greatly watered down due to the effects of food industry lobbying, advertising, and co-opting of experts (see Marion Nestle's Food Politics). In fact, the USDA still fails to acknowledge that some foods simply aren’t healthy (e.g. those with saturated fat) and should be avoided.

The good news is that Oldways, a food issues think-tank, has developed alternative Food Pyramids based on four, centuries-old dietary traditions: Asian, Mediterranean, Latin American, and vegetarian.

These pyramids reflect the current state of global nutrition research and the understanding of what constitutes optimal nutrition. They also highlight how traditional diets are a collective cultural heritage that continue to add pleasure and well-being to modern life. Download them at www.oldwayspt.org

Acupuncture for Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome is often the result of a repetitive stress injury and can make many simple, around-the-house tasks impossible. It develops when the median nerve, running through the carpal tunnel of the wrist, becomes compressed and inflamed. The main symptom used in diagnosis is significant numbness or “pins and needles” in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. This leads to difficulty in opening jars and doors, using a knife, gardening, and playing a musical instrument or sports.

CTS is challenging to treat with Western medicine. You can either control symptoms using preventatives such as ergonomics and rest, or correct it through release surgery, an expensive option that may not work. An injection of cortisone, a steroid, can help temporarily, but is never used more than three times as tendons and ligaments of the wrist can burst.

Acupuncture is a wonderful treatment for carpal tunnel, increasing blood circulation, speeding healing of inflamed tissues, and blocking pain signals. Pain relief often happens after the first visit, but a course of multiple treatments is recommended. Acupuncture is a lower-cost option to surgery, cortisone injections and prescription pain medication, and can help you become pain-free.

Top 12 Chinese Herbs Familiar to Westerners

The use of herbs, whether animal, vegetable or mineral, is an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and generally produces zero side effects. Most often, we combine herbs in a formula of 4-15 ingredients customized to the individual. You might be familiar with many of the following herbs used in TCM. I’ve listed their common uses and pinyin names.

1. Cinnamon (gui zhi and rou gui): common cold with chills; arthritis; type 2 diabetes. Daily use has been shown to lower blood sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol levels just as well as the class of drugs known as statins. (Best to use medicinal extracts, not the powder from the spice rack.)

2. Hawthorn (shan zha): high blood pressure; coronary artery disease; high cholesterol

3. Fresh ginger (sheng jiang): nausea; upset stomach; morning sickness; motion sickness; common cold with chills; cough

4. Mint (bo he): common cold with fever and sore throat; headache; rashes

5. Licorice (gan cao): diarrhea; cough; asthma; ulcers; leg spasms; high cholesterol. (Taken long-term, licorice can cause high blood pressure and/or water retention, so only use under the care of a licensed acupuncturist.)

6. Watermelon (xi gua): summertime colds, when it's hot and humid out

7. Hemp seed (huo ma ren): constipation

8. Jujube (da zao): fatigue; low appetite

9. Barley malt sugar, or maltose (yi tang): low appetite; dry cough

10. Gelatin (e jiao): dizziness; palpitations; chronic bleeding; dry cough

11. Garlic (da suan): diarrhea; flu prevention

12. Ginseng (ren shen): Like caffeine, the famous ginseng, sold in tiny bottled “shots” even at the local convenience store, is a stimulant that increases energy. It has been widely studied and shown to be beneficial to people with diabetes, peptic ulcers, stress, anxiety, fatigue and wheezing. The herb should only be taken in consultation with a TCM practitioner, however, as it can also act as a sedative, increase blood pressure, and cause headache, insomnia and/or palpitations in people for whom it is not indicated (in other words, who don’t have a problem where ginseng would be useful).

Better Than Morphine!

Corydalis, or yan hu suo, is to the Chinese what aspirin is to Westerners. This potent painkiller is widely used for all types of pain, especially headaches and menstrual cramps. It is particularly beneficial for people who cannot take aspirin or other pain medications due to ulcers or stomach upset. Studies show that it works especially well when combined with acupuncture.

Powdered corydalis is one of the strongest analgesic herbs out there and its effectiveness has been compared with morphine and codeine (it is approximately 1% the strength of opium). Because of this it also can be used to reduce anxiety and stress and promote sound sleep. Unlike morphine, yan hu suo has no side effects, a slower development of tolerance, and is non-addictive. Still, pregnant and nursing women should avoid it.

Excellent corydalis formulas are available by prescription from a licensed acupuncturist.

Acupuncture Saves You $$$

One way to measure if acupuncture really helps people reduce or get rid of their pain is by looking at whether they’ve decreased their purchase and use of prescription or over-the-counter pain medications. Last year, a research team in Spain looked at the cost/benefit of acupuncture compared to standard medical treatment for various types of pain in 5,690 people.

The researchers found that after acupuncture treatment, the average patient saved $9.70 per week on analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. For patients who suffered from headache, the savings soared to $35.70 per week. The money saved on medication can definitely offset the price of monthly or biweekly acupuncture treatments, depending on whom you see.