http://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+and+Oriental+Medicine+for+Healthy+Living,+Aging+and+Longevity 04/26/2024 12:52:57 am Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine for Healthy Living, Aging and Longevity By: Lori Kelsey, RN-BSN DOM Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM) Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can enhance your health and longevity by reducing or eliminating the risk for many conditions that shorten the lifespan or impair quality of life. Age-related health conditions of concern are obesity, hypertension, alcohol & smoking addictions, atherosclerosis, diabetes & metabolic syndrome, arthritis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and others related to dementia and memory loss. Certain flavors of foods and seasoning (e.g., salty, sour, bitter or pungent) are recommended to counteract cravings for sweets. A practitioner may also treat acupuncture points on the stomach meridian and ear to enhance your sense of satiety. An acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioner may also recommend medicinal foods to manage pre-hypertension or mild hypertension before medication or herbs are required to treat a more severe problem. For example, hijiki and kombu are rich sources of the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium that are important in the management of hypertension. Pre-soak, soften, then rinse these mild-tasting, dense-textured seaweeds to reduce their sodium content prior to use in condiments, salads, or soups. It may take a few months to regulate hypertension with acupuncture and Oriental medicine. For those with a serious problem, the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) certifies an auricular (ear) acupuncture protocol to assist with nicotine, drug and alcohol abstinence. The NADA protocol uses five ear acupuncture points that are calming, regulating, and detoxifying. This protocol is available on a walk-in or as-needed basis at many drug and alcohol addiction programs. Acupuncture practitioners, including those who are NADA-certified, can address the symptoms and challenges associated with detoxification such as insomnia, anxiety, and mental fog. You may also choose Chinese medicinal foods and herbal teas to help maintain a healthy lipid profile. For example, Chinese hawthorne berry (shan zha) is a food used to lower LDL and triglyceride levels by improving the digestion of fatty foods. Dan shen (radix salviae miltiorrhizae) and san qi (panax pseudoginseng/ notoginseng) are two Chinese herbs that have been shown through research to significantly reduce atherosclerotic plaque. Your practitioner can also provide a plan consisting of acupuncture, medicinal foods, and Chinese herbs that regulate good and bad cholesterol, lower blood glucose levels, and increase insulin production. Bitter melon (fructus balsampear) is an example of a medicinal food used to regulate blood sugar. While prevention is the best medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine is also useful for managing many complications of uncontrolled diabetes, such as skin, vascular, gastrointestinal, urinary, and gynecological problems, and mood disturbances. Acupuncture for Neurodegenerative Disorders Learn More about Acupuncture for Aging and Longevity! About the Author: Lori Kelsey, RN-BSN DOM Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM), graduated from Southwest Acupuncture College and has worked in Western healthcare for over 20 years. She owns SpiritSpring Acupuncture & Herbs, and specializes in Integrative Medicine for primary care & prevention. Printed from Acufinder.com http://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+and+Oriental+Medicine+for+Healthy+Living,+Aging+and+Longevity 04/26/2024 12:52:57 am |