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June 2011 [Volume 10, Issue 6]
To Your Health is brought to you by:
In this issue of To Your Health:
Finding The Best Way To Practice
By Denise Cicuto, LAc
When you start out in acupuncture, there are many questions to answer about how and where you are going to practice. Will you rent an acupuncture office by yourself or will you share one with other people? Will you rent from someone or to other people? Will you have a home office? If you share an office, will you share it only with other acupuncturists or other health care professionals in an integrative medicine setting? or will you take your acupuncture practice to the sea and do acupuncture on a cruise ship?
With all of these questions, how does a new acupuncturist know where to start? First, take a few deep breaths. There are probably as many different ways to run an acupuncture practice as there are acupuncturists practicing. The good thing is there are some practice models that soon-to-be acupuncture school graduates and new acupuncturists can emulate. Let's take a look at a few of them.
Herb of the Month – Lotus Leaf (he ye)
What is lotus leaf? What is it used for?
Lotus node comes from the lotus, a perennial aquatic plant related to the water lily. It grows throughout the tropical regions of Asia and the Middle East, with light green leaves and vibrant white flowers.
The leaves can grow extremely large at times, reaching more than 18 inches in diameter. They are typically collected in the summer and autumn, cleaned, then dried in the sun and cut into small pieces.
Based on the concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, lotus leaf is slightly bitter, and mild, and is attributed to the Liver and Spleen meridians. The main functions of lotus leaf are to stop bleeding and invigorate the blood. As with most other parts of the lotus, lotus leaf is employed to treat a variety of conditions, ranging from hematemesis (vomiting with blood) and hematuria (blood in the urine) to metorrhagia and diarrhea. An active ingredient in lotus leaf, nuciferine, also helps to reduce muscle spasms. In addition, lotus leaf is sometimes used to treat dizziness and fevers.
How much lotus leaf should I take?
The typical dosage of lotus leaf is between 6 and 12 grams, boiled in water and drunk as a decoction. Large doses can be taken depending on the condition being treated.
What forms of lotus leaf are available?
Dried, sliced lotus leaf can be found at many herbal shops and Asian markets. Lotus leaf is also available in pill, powder and capsule form.
What can happen if I take too much lotus leaf? Are there any interactions I should be aware of? What precautions should I take?
Lotus leaf is considered extremely safe; the American Herbal Products Association has given it a class 1 rating, meaning that it can be safely consumed when used appropriately.
As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions associated with lotus leaf. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking lotus leaf or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.
Question about TMJ and Acupuncture: I have TMJ disorder, I feel pain while chewing and opening my mouth. Would you kindly suggest what I could do to find relief?
Answer: Yes, acupuncture can help to reduce TMJ pain, sometimes completely. Treatment is more involved than the Hoku point. Usually I will use points in the area of the jaw, with additional stimulation, for example, e-stim or moxabustion. You need to see a professional for proper and effective treatment. You would not attempt to fill a cavity yourself; you would see a dentist, right? - Dr. Michael Apelian, LAc, OMD
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