July 2007 [Volume 6, Issue 7]

To Your Health is brought to you by:

This issue features a number of articles you will want to share with your family, friends and co-workers. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to them via e-mail. If you have received this e-mail newsletter from someone else, you may subscribe free of charge and begin receiving your own copy by going to: www.acupuncturetoday.com/newsletter/TYH/subscribe.php.

In this issue of To Your Health:

• Oprah Gives Another Boost to Oriental Medicine
• Herb of the Month – Fermented Soybeans (dan dou chi)
• Ask an Acupuncturist

Oprah Gives Another Boost to Oriental Medicine

Following the very successful Feb. 13 show in which talk show host Oprah Winfrey and an audience member received acupuncture treatments, Oprah again touted the benefits of Oriental medicine on her May 21 show. On her health segment, "Ask Dr. Oz," featuring Mehmet Oz, MD, vice chair of surgery and professor of cardiac surgery at Columbia University, and founder and director of the complementary medicine program at New York Presbyterian Columbia, Oprah received an acupressure treatment.

During the course of the segment, Oz started choosing a point between Oprah's thumb and index finger and applied pressure for a few moments. According to Oz, this point is effective for headaches because it releases endorphins. He also applied pressure to a point three finger-lengths above Oprah's wrist, between the tendons, to relieve motion sickness. Then he shows Oprah a stress-relieving pressure point where the muscles in the shoulder become the neck. Finally, he applied pressure to three separate points on her foot.

Oprah's response? "Feels good to me." You couldn't ask for a better testimonial! To see a slideshow presentation of the segment, please visit: www.oprah.com/health/oz/oz_20070521_350_105.jhtml. For more information on the many benefits of acupuncture, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com.

Herb of the Month – Fermented Soybeans (dan dou chi)

Soybeans have a long use as a condiment and a type of medicine in Chinese culture. According to some sources, the cultivation of soybeans dates back more than 3,000 years. For centuries, soybeans have been used as a source of protein and a healthy alternative to meat and fish. The soybeans must be fermented to be useful as an herbal medicine.

In traditional Chinese medicine, fermented soybeans have pungent, sweet and slightly bitter properties, and are affiliated with the Lung and Stomach meridians. The main functions of fermented soybean are to release exterior hot and exterior cold caused by yin deficiency. They are often used to treat conditions such as restlessness and irritability, and help improve sleep patterns. Many practitioners use fermented soybeans to reduce fever and relieve stuffiness and congestion in the chest. Fermented soybeans are often used with other herbs such as cape jasmine and honeysuckle in larger formulas.

The typical dosage of fermented soybean is between 10 and 15 grams, boiled in water as part of a decoction or tea. Some practitioners also offer soybean pastes and powders. Whole fermented soybeans are widely available at Asian markets, specialty stores and some supermarkets. Some vendors also sell fermented soybean pastes and powders.

Because fermented soybean is believed to inhibit lactation, it should not be taken by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Excessive intake of fermented soybeans may cause some minor side-effects such as stomach pain, loose stools and diarrhea. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking fermented soybeans or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.

Ask an Acupuncturist

Question: Almost on a daily basis, I've been experiencing varying degrees of pain in my abdomen near the bellybutton. It's as a result of a spastic colon or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I've tried so many forms of treatment, from medication to stress relaxation techniques to diet, all with some success but not complete reversal. My days are fully consumed with managing the pain and discomfort. Now, will acupuncture offer some relief? Are there known results from treating IBS with acupuncture?

Answer: Acupuncture does treat this symptom. In general, you can obtain relief during a painful attack, and regular treatment will reduce the severity and frequency of attacks. An initial course of treatment is 10 to 15 sessions. These are general guidelines only. You would want to have an examination to evaluate your individual situation.

* * *

Have a question about acupuncture and Oriental medicine? Visit acupuncturetoday.com's "Ask an Acupuncturist" forum at www.acupuncturetoday.com/ask.

Unsubscribe
Thank you for subscribing to To Your Health. If you have received this newsletter in error or wish to unsubscribe, you may remove your name from our e-mail subscription list at www.acupuncturetoday.com/newsletter/TYH/unsubscribe.php.

Update your e-mail address
To update the e-mail address your newsletter is sent to, click here.

If you have any questions regarding your subscription, please complete this form at www.acupuncturetoday.com/newsletterhelp/TYH.