You can also visit our Core De Vie spa page to see more on our new core de vie medical strength facial peels.

Acupuncture has three main roles in the care of patients with cancer: supportive care, symptom management, and preventative care. Acupuncture is used in many hospital settings and continues to grow in recognition for the many benefits it has to offer oncology care. The use of acupuncture in this field has the potential for much growth. While allopathic medicine is the main course of treatment, acupuncture has the unique ability to offer help without side effects or further complications.

Using acupuncture for supportive care and symptom management allows for reduced nausea and pain, and increased energy. It can help lesson common side effects like dry mouth, digestive concerns, depression and anxiety. Many people describe feeling an increased sense of overall wellness.

Acupuncture is effective for patients receiving chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgical interventions. For the chemotherapy and radiation patient, acupuncture can help alleviate the toxic side effects including vomiting, diarrhea, skin burns, anemia, hair loss and fatigue. For the surgical patient, acupuncture is beneficial pre-surgery to promote relaxation, prevent infection and other side effects. Post-surgery, acupuncture decreases swelling, and promotes mental alertness, intestinal mobility, urination and healing at the site of incision.

Though scientists have not yet been able to find the mechanism of how acupunture works, they have observed its effects on certain physiological processes. Acupuncture helps release neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine and modulates sensory pain centers in the brain producing an analgesic effect. Certain acupuncture points improve T-cell counts, while others can increase white blood cell (WBC) count.

The other main take-away from the seminar reflected the importance of diet and exercise in survival rates. A study published in the Journal of American Medical Association in 2005, found that the adjusted risk of death from breast cancer decreased by 50-60% for greater than nine hours per week of exercise versus less than three hours a week. While this
amount of exercise is a definite investment of your time, it is a striking statistic that warrants thoughtful consideration as to how we manage cancer care.

Through a study in 2008, the Mediterranean diet was found to offer benefits, including a 9% reduction in overall mortality, a 6% reduction in cancer mortality, and a 13% decreased incidence of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Other diets, such as the macrobiotic diet, have been reported by individuals to be effective in maintaining health after cancer if followed appropriately.

By, Nicole Maniez, Lic.Ac., MAOM

Nicole practices acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine at Core De Vie on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Check out this article in Prevention Magazine:

http://www.prevention.com/health/fitness/body-by-design/sit-down-to-wake-up/article/b0a070405f545210VgnVCM10000030281eac____

We also want this to become an interactive community forum where everyone can participate and post comments or thoughts on the articles and posted here. Along with our GYROTONIC®, Pilates, and Yoga fitness regimens, our acupuncture, holistic  spa services, our emerging  holistic health programs, and our lifestyle products are designed to enable lifestyle changes that become permanent changes without struggling with the traditional ideas associated with dieting.

This blog should be a forum where everyone in the community feels comfortable in participate in the process and providing their own insights on the topics covered here. We invite you to comment on this and make it a truly community base.

Warm Regards from Ellen and the Core De Vie family

The acupuncture style that is used to treat conditions in this practice is from the style of Kiiko Matsumoto. She has refined a style based on the teachings of Master Nagano of Japan. In this style we rely primarily on abdominal palpation to obtain our diagnosis. We also palpate acupuncture points on the feet, hands, neck and backside as well as pulse and symptoms to treat the client. This style is interactive as we are looking for your feedback as well as release in the body to relieve symptoms and pain. Our clients usually love it, as they see results immediately on the table and can ask questions.

Tui Na, (pronounced twee-na) is a form of Chinese therapeutic massage. There are as many schools/styles of Tui Na as acupuncture. The style practiced at Core De Vie is from the rolling school. “Rolling” creates an oscillating motion with our hand to invigorate the connective tissue and to engage the meridian system. Then we use the acupuncture points and meridians to eliminate pain, tension or discomfort. Tui Na can be used gently for feelings of relaxation/wellbeing or deeply for musculoskeletal pain and tension.

Acupuncture is successful in treating most if not all conditions in the body.  We practice medicine from a very different viewpoint than western medical doctors. We look for a root diagnosis (through palpation) which will alleviate all the symptoms rather than treating symptomatically.  We find this is more efficient and more economical!  We will also work with you to make dietary and lifestyle choices that will help your underlying root condition. This style of practicing medicine is noninvasive, (with the exception of needles that are the size of a couple of hairs), has no side effects (except relaxation), and is fun and educational.

We hope you enjoy this blog that you will think about using traditional medicine for yourself, your family, and your friends.

The staff at Core De Vie

Client #1

Benjamin is a 47-year-old male whose primary complaint is ringing in the ears. The onset was 10 years ago after a course of antibiotics. He experiences high pitch ringing throughout the day and night 24/7. He is very healthy aside from some difficulty getting to sleep and slight constipation (he says is better with the introduction of yogurt).  He drinks several glasses of wine a week. He eats a good amount of dairy, and primarily broccoli and brussel sprouts for vegetable intake.

His first visit was on 7.23.09. He was experiencing vertigo, nausea, pressure in the ears, night sweats, and a headache on the frontal and side of the head. This was in addition to the ringing in the ears. The ringing was eliminated with the treatment, but came back that night. After the second treatment on 7.24.09 the vertigo, nausea, and night sweats disappeared.

Treatment #3

9.1.09 Ringing in the ears was eliminated for 2 days. He has begun to cut down on wine and dairy.  The reason for this in TCM theory is to eliminate heat. Products such as wine, tobacco and marijuana (he is not a smoker, just fyi) all add heat to the body, which rises to the head, and can contribute to ringing in the ears. The palpatory diagnosis of his abdomen revealed oketsu, blood stagnation in the abdomen. Palpation of acupuncture points in the feet reveals an excess of the liver meridian and palpation in the area under the right rib indicates a slight disharmony of the liver organ.

In Chinese medicine all foods are thermal in nature and influence certain organs. Foods and teas that help the liver were recommended such as: dark greens veggies, onion, scallion, mushroom, dandelion root. Dairy inhibits the action of the spleen organ. To function properly the spleen and stomach like warm and dry. In Chinese medicine the spleen sends energy up to the lung. The spleen and stomach need warmth to produce this energy. Dairy dampens the fire and process of lifting. If it is not lifting, fluids and heat will accumulate (just like a compost pile).

Why is the spleen important? The liver controls the spleen in the theory of 5 elements. (Wood controls earth, think of tree roots holding the earth under it). If the liver is in excess and the spleen is deficient (through overuse of dairy, not eating regularly, worry, overwork), then it will “invade” the spleen. The liver becomes too powerful (excess), because its not being held in check by the spleen. This too, can affect ringing in the ears.

A teacher once reminded us that the body will continue, even through illness to harmonize itself in the theory of Chinese medicine. And people, even though they may not be conscious of it, are trying to balance their bodies through their habits. In our medicine, people don’t just crave things; they crave what will balance them out. With acupuncture, we help the body to balance itself so that the person can make different choices in their life, which will benefit long-term health.

Treatment #4

9.23.09 Ringing in the ears was eliminated for 3-4 days. He has eliminated wine from his diet, cut out the milk, still cutting down on the yogurt and is thinking about including greens in the diet. He is still having trouble getting to sleep.

Benjamin has seen an increase in symptom free days after his treatments. Our goal is to increase this window until the ringing in the ears is eliminated. In most cases, acupuncture serves as a catalyst. It helps to balance the body until the person can make changes to diet and lifestyle to remain symptom free, or decrease their symptoms to a manageable level.

Tui Na is very effective when combined with acupuncture because both treatments work to restore energy systems. Clients suffering from neck tension, frozen shoulder, lateral and medial epicondylitis, joint pain, and sciatica have reported being pain-free for the first time in months (or even years!) after treatment.In addition to soft tissue and join damage, Tui Na Massage is also effective for labor induction, gynecological issues, and general relaxation and stress reduction.

Core De Vie’s licensed Acupuncturist and Tui Na Massage Therapist, Kim Foster, studied with world-renowned Kiiko Matsumoto. She specializes in musculoskeletal disorders and women’s health issues.

Stress causes and contributes to disease in two ways. One is behavioral. People under stress are more likely to sleep and eat poorly, exercise less, and adopt destructive habits. The other is physical. Stress triggers the endocrine systems to release hormones that influence the regulation of immune and inflammatory processes. Disrupting these systems can result in depression, infection, autoimmune response, cancer, and coronary artery disease. In fact, studies have shown that high levels of stress more than double your risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke!

By incorporating simple relaxation practices like yoga, deep breathing, and meditation to your daily routine, you can dramatically improve your health. Click here to find information on simple relaxation techniques that can add years to your life.

Many techniques can be used to relieve stress, which in turn reduce inflammation and balance and strengthen your immune system. The following activities activate a flood of anti-inflammatory chemicals (cytokines) in the body. Just 15 minutes a day can dramatically improve your health.

• Yoga and meditation

• Deep breathing

• Finding your rhythm

• Massage and bodywork

• Reading a relaxing book

• Journaling

Yoga and meditation

Yoga and meditation have been shown to significantly lower stress levels. Not only does it strengthen the body and calm the mind, but yoga has also been shown to improve sleep and ease mental and muscular tension. Increased blood and oxygen circulation activates the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers blood pressure, improves metabolism, digestion, immune response, and thyroid function.

Deep Breathing

Deep breathing infuses the blood with extra oxygen and also stimulates the body to release tranquilizing endorphins. It is one of the simplest yet most effective stress management techniques. You can do it anywhere, anytime, and it becomes even more effective with practice. By learning how to breathe deeply and fully oxygenate your brain, body, and spirit you can profoundly transform your health.

Try this breathing technique for instant stress relief:

Inhale through your nose for four counts. Feel the air expand into your lungs and fill your belly. Hold your breath for eight counts, feeling the energy of the hold slow the pulse and reset the body’s internal rhythm. Exhale through the mouth for seven seconds, releasing all the air from the lungs. Repeat three times.  Do this exercise whenever you feel stressed. A full belly breath moves 8 to 10 times as much air as a chest breath!

Finding Your Rhythm

Establishing daily rhythms of sleeping, eating, exercising, working and resting can significantly reduce stress. Our biological rhythms—the ebb and flow of hormones and anti-aging chemicals—depend on synchronous and rhythmic living. Keeping a regular schedule allows your body to produce the balance of hormones that normalizes your weight and keeps you healthy.

Massage and Bodywork

Massage and other bodywork therapies like Swedish massage, Tui Na, and Yamuna body-rolling improve mental and physical stress levels in the body. They improve blood, oxygen, and lymph circulation, increase the availability of nutrients to your cells, promote the elimination of toxic waste and fluid buildup, and balance the nervous system. Studies have shown that bodywork therapies actually reduce the level of stress hormones (including cortisol and norepinephrine) in the body.