Cooking oils, even high quality ones, once opened, will begin to go rancid with exposure to air and light over time.
This is especially so with olive oil, which should always be purchased packaged in tinted glass or opaque bottles.
Genetic Testing During Pregnancy
Many people know that they would never choose to terminate a pregnancy under any conditions and they opt simply to forgo the typical generic testing offered during the first trimester of pregnancy.
While this is always a right that patients can exercise, there are some aspects to consider which still maintain personal decisions yet afford valuable information.
If you are not inclined toward genetic testing prior or during pregnancy, please consider the following: Prior knowledge of the possibility of having a special needs child can help you prepare for that possible occurrence. A dear friend of mine is deeply religious. During their first pregnancy, she and her husband opted not to have any genetic testing for their son. Their child was born with the most severe grade of spina bifida. Their family adapted and their son is thriving, however, the stress they experienced amid the shock of learning of his disease, paired with the immense requirements for his healthcare immediately after birth, were enormous.
I have seen great anguish, shock, and heartache after births in which simple carrier testing would have afforded the prospective parents an easier transition. Special needs children usually require modified home settings and training in their physical care. For example, it can be invaluable to meet and speak with parents of special needs children and to learn how to develop skills as well as a support system for yourself and your family. With this preparation, you can then welcome your new baby into a community and family with open arms and a good foundation of knowledge.
My book further discusses types of testing, what to check and how to create a healthcare team to support you and your family. Stay tuned for more information on the advances in genetic testing and I wish you health and wellness!
This simple trick will help your asthma and allergies
We have had some sweltering, higher than usual temperature days here in the Bay Area.
Did you know that high temperatures, along with spending a majority of time indoors, contributes to less than optimal indoor air quality inside your home?
One easy solution is to use your exhaust vent/hood fan every time you are cooking at the stove – not just if you burn something.
Why?
Cooking methods (listed here from worst to least), such as frying, grilling, baking, boiling, and steaming, all contribute the tiny little chemical reactions in the air. The “particulate matter” (PM) produced contributes to allergies and asthma, even in a very clean home. Turning on your vent or fan pulls some of this PM out of your living space. If your unit has a filter, be sure to change that regularly too!
Turn on the hood fan and turn up the clean air you will get to breathe!
Acupuncture Helps Recovery after Surgery
Have you ever heard that phrase: “Bacon makes everything better?”
Recently it occurred to me that few people know that acupuncture makes recovery from surgeries better. It makes recovery from all surgeries better.
Having been an ICU and surgical scrub nurse, as well as an acupuncturist, I’ve taken care of a lot people following a lot of complicated surgical procedures including:
- New pipes on the heart (coronary artery bypass grafting),
- New valves for the heart (aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement),
- Patching blood vessel leaks and bulges (aneurysm repair),
- Knee/hip/shoulder replacements,
- Cosmetic procedures such as facelifts and various physical additions and subtractions, shall we say.
In all these instances, acupuncture improves after surgery healing. From a purely physical perspective, we know that acupuncture:
- Improves circulation: Better circulation means more nutrients for the body to use to mend.
- Reduces swelling: Less swelling allows for better blood flow to recovering tissues.
- Releases naturally occurring, chill-you-out substances, like endorphins: Endorphin release contributes to a sense of well being and positive outlook.
- Reduces the stress hormone, cortisol: Fewer stress hormones keep you in a more relaxed space.
- Is recognized for reducing stress and anxiety.
When there is better blood flow, there is less pain, which means you can wean from narcotic pain medications sooner too. Pain control is a must following big surgeries. However, tolerance of pain medications varies widely and, in some patients, it causes severe vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, or agitation. No one needs that after surgery. You also may not realize that acupuncture in the post-operative period is typically NOT applied directly to any surgical incision. Instead, acu-points, which “distal” are above or below surgical sites, are chosen.
There is a huge amount of stress when facing a surgery, even when you know you need it and even when you know it is a successful medical method, routinely done all over the world every day. Acupuncture helps your body heal and helps your mind manage stress and anxiety. So remember: if you like bacon, it may make your breakfast, lunch or dinner better. However, acupuncture makes recovering from all surgeries better.
The 2015 flu shot is less effective: here’s what you can do
Unfortunately the flu strains showing up around the country do not match the strains included in this year’s vaccine. Whether you usually get a flu shot, never get flu shots, have rock star immunities or are routinely miserably sick during this season, there is a great deal you can do to keep your and your family as healthy as possible. Remember our bodies have exquisite, robust immune systems and there are some easy things to do to enhance them.
6 Quick & easy ways to boost your immune system:
1. Wash your hands ie: after contact with grocery carts, gas station pump handles, money etc.
2. Choose hot beverages & cooked foods vs. iced beverages & raw salads.
3. Cook with scallions, onions, garlic. They are well known immune booster foods.
4. Keep basic, first line, Chinese herbal remedies on hand for the first onset of cold symptoms (See formulas below)
5. Wear extra clothing covering the neck & head especially, in windy weather.
6. Seek acupuncture because it is proven to strengthen the immune system. During cold and flu season, many patients see me once per month for a relaxing “Immune Boost” acupuncture session. Now through the end of February, with your first Immune Boost treatment, I am offering FREE homeopathic oral drops to additionally support your health. These can be used at the same time as medications or flu shots, and are safe for children too.
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First line Chinese herbal formulas to keep in your medicine cabinet
- Cinnamon Twig Decoction, aka Gui Zhi Tang, is perfect to take at the initial onset of cold where you have fever without sweating, chills, H/A and stiff neck. *Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder, aka Yin Qiao San is perfect to take at the initial onset of a cold where you have fever, thirst and sore throat. **Please note the above formulas are for first onset of cold symptoms. If your symptoms are a mixture of the above noted ones, getting more severe and flu-like, or are lasting longer than a day or two, it is best to be examined by an acupuncturist to make appropriate recommendations
When should you seek antiviral medication like Tamiflu?
The Centers for Disease Control website states: CDC recommends that people at high risk check with their doctor or other health care professional promptly if they get flu symptoms. Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started in the first 48 hours after symptoms appear. Flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p1204-flu-season.html
Another resource
The Centers for Disease Control publish a weekly Influenza Surveillance Report called FluView http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/?s_cid=cs_074#S4
(No, I am not making this up.) If you frequently travel, this is a valuable review tool before your expeditions to other parts of the country, overseas etc.. The site is densely packed and informative about topics such as National and Regional flu trends, what is happening in your state, Europe, what the World Health Organization has to say etc.
FYI: for Week 50, covering dates December 7 through 13, 2014, California registered low flu activity and no deaths associated with flu.
I wish you a happy and healthy 2015!
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