Regular Meditation

Over the years, published research has demonstrated that the practice of regular meditation can increase brain density, boost connections between neurons, decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety, provide clarity of thought and increase positive mood endorphins. Other published studies have shown meditation can improve physical functioning, decrease chronic disease risks and enhance overall quality of life. These studies demonstrate that regular meditation effectively supports mental, emotional and physical health in numerous tangible ways. In building upon this strong body of evidence, researchers are continuing to deepen our understanding of the profound and inspirational benefits offered by regular meditation practice in everyday life.

UCLA Researchers Uncover Brain Benefits Of Meditation

Most recently, neuroscientists at UCLA have shown another fascinating neural effect of regular meditation: the ability to increase “cortical gyrification” of the brain. Cortical gyrification refers to the folding of the cerebral cortex, a function that allows the brain to process information faster. The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of neural tissue in the brain and serves an important role in controlling memory, consciousness, thought processing, decision making, attention and awareness. During cortical gyrification, the tissues of the cerebral cortex fold, creating indented fissures and creases called sulci and gyri, which increase neural processing and neurotransmitter communication. Increased gyrification enhances the brain’s capacity for computing information, maintaining focus and attention, creating and retrieving memory, processing logic, forming decisions, and performing other mental tasks.

The neuroscientists at UCLA compared meditators who possessed various levels of experience and frequency of practice to people who never meditated. Among the meditators, they found significant increases in cortical folding across a wide area of the brain responsible for numerous functions beyond rapid information processing and retrieval. Additional areas of the brain that are shown to be markedly affected by meditation involve emotional and mental health capacities, ability to control emotions, heightened awareness, introspection, and more. This finding supports some of the more noticeable results of regular meditation: increased compassion for self and others, enhanced self-awareness and introspection, and greater emotional stability.

Researchers also found significant increases in cortical gyrification among more experienced practitioners. In other words, the longer a person had been practicing regular meditation, the greater the beneficial changes in his brain.

Long-Term Health

As a holistic physician and meditation practitioner with more than 25 years of experience, I have always believed strongly in the mental and emotional benefits of regular mindful meditation practice. And the physical payoffs are equally impressive. We all know that reducing stress can dramatically improve health on a number of levels. Regular mindful meditation has been shown to protect against and reverse DNA (telomere) damage, boost immune function, reduce cardiovascular disease risks, decrease inflammation, improve outcomes in cancer, reduce side effects of conventional treatment, increase vital energy and expand physical capacity.

As regular meditation practice becomes better understood and more widely practiced, more and more doctors and health practitioners are recommending these ancient disciplines to their patients. If you’re a health provider, meditation can help you become a better healer and clinician, increasing your diagnostic and therapeutic skills significantly and allowing you to connect in more meaningful ways with your patients and community. And if you are looking for some extra healing energy to improve your own health, regular meditation can provide a powerful solution.

As evidenced by this UCLA study, meditation is most effective when practiced regularly. Even just 10 minutes a day can offer significant and noticeable benefits over a short period of time. 

Tips For Getting Started

While there are countless styles of meditation practice, one of the most profound is the ancient Tibetan practice of Shamatha meditation. Shamatha is Sanskrit for “calm abiding.” This form of meditation is intended to help people access a natural state of tranquility and clarity. The technique involves focusing the breath on a specific object and letting go of all other thoughts, as attention is consistently trained on the process of breathing.

Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit, and pick a small object such as a rock to place on the ground in front of you. Focus your eyes and your breathing on the rock. As thoughts inevitably arise, simply acknowledge and then release them, letting them slip away with each out-breath. When your mind wanders off, gently bring your attention back to your breathing and the rock, visualizing each inhalation and exhalation going to and from the rock.

Meditation And Healing Retreat

I frequently teach meditation techniques to health practitioners, patients and the general public, to help expand people’s understandings of these simple yet profound practices. With a strong focus on Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy and practice, these in-depth meditation workshop retreats are approved for 28.5 CEUs for acupuncturists in California and nationwide. For more information about these events, visit www.dreliaz.org/events.

Exponential Benefits

As you become more practiced at meditation, you will likely notice significant improvements in your energy, health and mental/emotional balance. You may find that as distractions and obscurities are peeled away during mindful meditation practice, the space between thoughts becomes greater and more profound. As we slowly turn down the constant chatter of our minds, we can begin to access deeper aspects of consciousness for growth and healing. This peeling process can make room for your true inner nature of love, compassion, peace and tranquility to arise and expand naturally, benefiting yourself and those around you exponentially.

To me, one of the most beautiful and profound aspects of meditation is that this process of growth and unfolding (as well as cortical folding) can continue throughout our lives. After all, we can never have too much love, compassion and clarity.

Medicinal Plants

Today, it’s easy to forget that some of the most beneficial medicinal plants can be found growing in our own backyards. Some are considered pesky weeds even though they are valuable herbs.

While Western medicine relies heavily on prescription drugs, most practitioners of Eastern medicine disciplines, as well as traditional naturopathic doctors and herbalists, consider many herbs and botanicals to be safer — and sometimes more effective — alternatives. As an integrative medical doctor and natural product formulator, I base much of my clinical practice and my formulations on the use of all-natural nutrients, herbs and botanicals which promote health via numerous mechanisms of action. Using medicinal herbs and botanicals in their whole, natural form allows you to benefit from the synergistic effects of complex chemical components such as antioxidants and phytonutrients, as they occur in nature. Surround your home and fill your gardens with healing herbs and plants, and support your health from multiple angles.

Here are some commonly grown herbs and botanicals which offer powerful health benefits.

Thyme

Thyme contains potent therapeutic essential oils and compounds and is considered one of nature’s most powerful antibiotic, antifungal and antimicrobial plants. Thyme is most commonly taken as a tea, and has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes throughout the centuries. As a decongestant, it is useful in the treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis, whooping cough and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. It is a powerful agent for boosting immunity and treating various types of infections. Thyme tea can also help relieve headaches and menstrual pain, and helps alleviate digestive issues.

Garlic

Garlic contains a number of active components, including allicin, alliinase and sulfur compounds, which contribute to its potent antibiotic, antiviral and fungicidal properties. These components make garlic highly potent in protecting against infection, lowering high blood pressure, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and boosting the immune system. Garlic can effectively protect blood cells and blood vessels from inflammatory and oxidative stress, and can naturally decrease the risk of atherosclerosis and heart attacks. Garlic’s diverse cardiovascular benefits derive from its sulfur compounds and its high levels of vitamin C and vitamin B6. Vitamin C is a vital antioxidant that protects against damage to blood vessel walls and reduces levels of oxidizing free radicals in the bloodstream. Vitamin B6 lowers levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that can damage blood vessel walls. Garlic is also a sulfur agent helpful for the removal of toxins and heavy metals from the body.

Mint

In addition to carrying a distinct, pleasing fragrance, mint is a cooling herb that can settle the digestive tract or decrease the severity and length of stomach aches and digestive discomfort. The herb can be added to teas, salads or eaten raw to relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, hinder the growth of harmful bacteria in the stomach and reduce inflammation of the digestive tract. Mint is highly useful for clearing congestion of the nose, throat and lungs, helping to provide relief of respiratory distress in people with asthma, colds or allergies.

Cilantro

Cilantro is a popular Mediterranean herb whose leaves and seeds (known as coriander) contain powerful compounds known to efficiently remove heavy metals and other toxic agents from the body. The compounds in this herb bind to heavy metals, loosen them from the tissues, blood and organs, and then assist in transporting these toxins out of the body through the body’s organs of elimination. Cilantro is naturally rich in antioxidants and dietary fiber, helping to reduce LDL or “bad cholesterol,” while increasing HDL or “good cholesterol.” The plant’s leaves and stems contain an abundance of polyphenolic flavonoids like quercetin, which have been shown to modulate proteins linked to cell survival and healthy cellular growth/behavior.

Broccoli

Broccoli is one of the cruciferous vegetables, a group of plants including cabbage, collards, cauliflower and kale, that offer powerful health benefits. Broccoli is high in vitamin C, and is a natural source of critical compounds that support health like DIM and indole-3-carbinol. These and other phytonutrients in broccoli help boost immunity, increase DNA repair, protect cardiovascular health, fight against cancer growth and proliferation, and support overall health and wellness. Your mother was right to urge you to “Eat your broccoli!”

Ginger

Ginger has long been used to relieve gastrointestinal issues like nausea, indigestion and infection. Studies show that compounds called gingerols, naturally present in the ginger plant, have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Fighting inflammation is perhaps the most critical quality of ginger’s natural healing properties, since chronic inflammation is the precursor to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Ginger is a warming herb that promotes circulation, heat and sweating, helping to clear your body’s systems of toxic buildup and fight infections. Ginger is hearty and can grow outside of its native tropical climate. But if you live in a colder area, simply keep it in a pot and bring it indoors during winter to avoid freezing.

Easy To Grow

There are numerous common herbs, botanicals, fruits and vegetables that can be easily grown from seeds or starters, and provide a multitude of health benefits, especially when eaten fresh. Turning to your garden for safe and natural plant-based remedies is a simple, eco-friendly and affordable way to maintain health and vitality, while building immunity and preventing many common illnesses. Spring is the perfect time of year to cultivate a healing garden, and nurture your blossoming health. For more practical information on all-natural remedies, visit http://www.dreliaz.org/.

Physical Vitality

Most of us don’t think of meditation as being important in maintaining physical vitality. We know that healthy diet, proper supplementation, regular exercise and a positive social support system are important for our health on all levels — physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual. However, despite these healthy habits, many of us still struggle with managing our stress levels. Science is proving over and over that chronic stress can be deadly, contributing to our most serious health conditions.

This direct mind-body connection is something that Eastern philosophies have taught for millennia, and recent research has supplied us with a revealing new technical perspective. Clinical studies demonstrate that chronic stress may have a profound effect on our DNA by shortening our DNA telomeres. Telomere deterioration puts us at higher risk of developing cancer and other harmful conditions. The good news: There’s an ancient and well-known mind-body practice which is now proving successful in physically repairing this telomere DNA damage, while restoring peace of mind at the same time. What is this practice? Simple meditation.

What Are Telomeres?

Our genes are located on twisted, double-stranded molecules of DNA called chromosomes. At the ends of the chromosomes are stretches of DNA called telomeres. These are essentially caps that protect our genetic data, allow for cells to divide properly and reflect how we age. Similar to the plastic covers on the ends of shoelaces, telomeres protect chromosomes from fraying due to aging, poor health and environmental influences. Telomeres are shortened every time the cells divide; and when they become too short, the cells are not able to divide properly. While researchers are already aware that telomeres shorten and deteriorate with aging, new studies demonstrate that chronic stress also contributes to their reduction. Further research shows that as telomeres shrink, cancer risk grows.

Telomeres And Cancer

There is a scientifically established correlation between shortened telomeres and the incidence of many types of cancers, including pancreatic, bone, prostate, bladder, lung, kidney, head and neck tumors. Shortened telomeres and reduced telomerase activity have also been identified as important contributing factors in prostate carcinogenesis, ovarian cancer, genomic instability and breast cancer pathogenesis.

Without telomeres, chromosome ends can fuse together and cause the health of the cell to deteriorate, making the cell malfunction, become cancerous or die. Research is showing more and more evidence that loss of telomere function, either by altering telomere-binding proteins or by loss of telomeric sequences, is associated with the deterioration of cellular health leading to increased aging and disease.

Meditation Protects Telomeres

The inevitable wear and tear of your telomeres cannot be halted altogether, but it can certainly be delayed and even reversed through the activation of a key enzyme called telomerase. Telomerase protects the ends of telomeres from weakening and fraying. So how do you reap the benefits of this super-charged enzyme? Studies show that psychological changes associated with regular meditation improve your ability to cope with stress and contribute to increased telomerase activity.

“We have found that meditation promotes positive psychological changes, and that meditators showing the greatest improvement on various psychological measures had the highest levels of telomerase,” says Clifford Saron, associate research scientist at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain.

Regular, mindful meditation promotes relaxation, stress relief and improved circulation. This allows for advanced telomerase activity, naturally promoting cellular health and longevity.

Simple Practice For Beginners

If you’re not sure how to begin meditating, studies show that even just 10 minutes a day can provide significant mental, emotional and physical health benefits. Here’s a simple technique to get you started: Simply sit quietly and focus your attention, as well as your breathing, on a particular object such as a small stone. As thoughts and emotions arise, simply acknowledge and release them, bringing your attention back to your breath. As your practice unfolds, you may find that there is more and more space between your internal monologues, allowing for a sense of openness and freedom from everyday stresses and distractions. This is where the meditation and healing process truly begins. Initially, you should notice tangible benefits like better mental focus, improved emotional balance and increased energy.

Meditation And Healing Retreat

My own two-year meditation sabbatical has been profound for me; and, as this process winds down, it is my deepest desire to share what I have learned with anyone seeking deep healing and rejuvenation. In this spirit, I invite you to join me April 26 to 29 for a meditation and healing retreat at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, Calif. (For more information, go here.) During this retreat, I will be guiding participants through the practical aspects of meditation and healing, based on my extensive experience in the field combined with insights and techniques I’ve gained from years of dedicated meditation practice. My previous retreat, held in September, was a great success among participants. I am honored to have the chance to share this important aspect of healing again in 2012.

Meditation Can Benefit Anyone

No matter your age, health or belief system, simple regular meditation practice can benefit you on all levels. More and more doctors and health practitioners are recommending this ancient, time-tested practice; and meditation now holds a well-deserved, positive reputation in the medical field. It is a simple yet powerful and safe modality for supporting health, preventing illness and increasing overall quality of life.

Painful Realities

Western medicine identifies scar tissue from new or old injuries, excess fibrin in the tissues, stress, lack of magnesium and other damage as the cause of muscle spasm. On the other hand, Eastern medical systems recognize a deficiency of qi (energy) as a cause for these types of problems, leading to the stagnation of blood and fluids and a painful blockage.

How do you get rid of that pain? For us, the common methods of pain relief include analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, which reduce symptomatic pain and swelling. But these treatments have a downside: They offer relief only during the time the medication is active in the body. They do nothing to correct the structural issues in the body causing the trigger points, spasms and pain.

You can also alternate the application of ice and heat to treat muscle pain. These are safe methods for symptomatic relief, but are difficult to apply for a prolonged period. And you need to keep using these techniques if you don’t treat the root cause of the pain.

Acupuncture, chiropractic, massage and physical therapy can also be used to treat muscle pain caused by structural issues. These are all reliable and play a role in re-establishing normalcy in the body. But there is another method, less well known yet powerful, that I’d like to share. It is called gua sha or “scraping” therapy.

A Form Of Bodywork

Gua sha can be thought of as a form of bodywork. It is similar to massage, but is carried out with a blunt instrument. Also, it is only applied to one area at a time and in only one direction.

Let’s say you experience tightness or a chronic trigger point in your shoulders. When you receive gua sha, you sit, shoulders exposed to the practitioner. The practitioner’s fingers press along the line of your shoulder. If the fingers show white marks on your skin after being removed, this is considered to be a sign of blockage. The blood and fluids are not moving freely in the shoulder, and this is the cause of the pain. When the sha or white compression marks take a long time to disappear, the problem has been there for a long period of time or the trouble spot lies deep within the muscle.

After initially testing the spot, the therapists lubricates the area and uses the blunt end of an instrument (like an old coin, rounded metal bottle cap, a piece of jade or hard plastic) to scrape over the troubled area. The movement is always deep, slow and steady and in the same direction away from the spine. (In other cases, like mid-back pain, the movement is parallel to the spine, but not toward or on it). The instrument is held at about a 30-degree angle, and the motion is repeated again and again until discoloration of the skin occurs.

During this process, patients often become worried. But there’s no need for alarm. What is happening is that the repetitive motion of the instrument brings the toxic, stagnant blood and fluids to the surface of the skin where the lymphatic system can clear it. At the same time, as the old, stagnant blood is removed from the muscle, fresh blood carrying fresh oxygen and nutrients is brought into the area to aid in healing. While the skin surface looks as if it is bruised, if the technique is performed properly, there should be no pain when the area is touched. This is a case where something looks worse than it feels. Interestingly, if there is no problem in that area, no dark discoloration comes to the surface and the skin retains its normal color.

Logical Treatment

While the 1,000-year-old method of gua sha may sound peculiar, it is actually based on the same logic used today in physical therapy and sports medicine. It is a form of deep-tissue massage or myofascial release. It augments soft-tissue mobilization. The process of applying the device gently yet firmly over the spasm area acts to mildly re-injure the area to promote proper healing.

In many cases, trigger points and muscle spasms are caused by injuries that may be decades old. These injuries often shorten muscles, tendons or ligaments after healing takes place improperly. Too much connective tissue can be formed which restricts movement and blood flow. Gua sha scraping breaks through this and allows for proper re-healing of the area, thereby correcting once and for all the origin of the pain and tightness.

While scraping can be performed on most muscles of the body, it should be avoided directly over bony areas, and never on a location where there is a new injury, painful bruising, sunburn or rash, or a break in the skin. Moles and pimples must be covered by the practitioner’s fingers so they are not scraped and made painful.

The Very Idea

The very idea of scraping away pain, or causing a new micro-injury to heal an old chronic injury, and of allowing a practitioner to bring dark purple bruising to the surface of your skin may seem a little unreasonable and odd; but I’d like you to put aside your judgment of this ancient healing method and read more about it online. There are many sites and pages and images available via a simple Internet search. If you can, call an acupuncturist or other bodywork therapist and ask if they are proficient in the method. If so, give it a try. A few days of skin discoloration beats decades of pain meds and physical therapy.

Acupuncture Benefits

For thousands of years, the Chinese have been using a unique method of health maintenance called acupuncture. Today, acupuncture is a household word and part of America’s out-of-pocket healthcare toolbox. But this ancient needle-and-channel therapy remains an outlier when it comes to acceptance in the mainstream medical establishment. However, a pair of studies coming out of Duke University that shed positive light on the benefits of acupuncture over drugs for pain relief represents an important step toward giving acupuncture more Western credibility.

In one report, researchers at Duke performed a meta-analysis of 31 clinical studies involving some 4,000 patients on the effects of acupuncture for headache relief compared to treatment with medication. Their findings: “Acupuncture is more effective than medication in reducing the severity and frequency of chronic headaches.”

When comparing the data, the researchers found that 62 percent of those given acupuncture for headaches reported pain relief. Only 45 percent of those taking medication for their head pain reported relief. Two important points to take note of: The studies were conducted on people suffering various types of headaches (tension, migraine, etc.) and proper acupuncture point prescription was essential.  

Disturbing Drugs

As a former chronic headache sufferer myself, the thing I find most disturbing and unreliable about conventional treatment is the fact that each time you seek pain relief for a varying kind of headache, you are prescribed almost the identical medication.

Consider the fact that most over-the-counter headache medications are basically the same formula even though you may be taking them for pain with different causes. So even though the symptoms and mechanisms leading to migraines differ from those causing sinus, tension, cluster, and other types of headaches, Western doctors don’t differentiate in their treatments. This is true despite the fact that treating them all in the same way is neither useful nor effective.

Accurate Acupuncture

Acupuncture stimulates different points in the body that fall along energy lines called meridians. Depending on the location of the headache (top of head, side of head) and the type of symptoms associated with the pain (throbbing, burning, sweating), the practitioner alters the points being stimulated by the acupuncture needles. Consequently, the acupuncture is used differently for different headache types and locations. It is, therefore, more specific. However, the theory on which the therapy is based remains unchanged: Where there is blockage of energy in the body, there is pain. Release the blockage; diminish the pain. And while several studies seem to show that sham acupuncture (using non-specific points) offers some relief, the Duke study found that the greatest relief of pain is gained from using correct needle technique administered to the correct acu-points.

"One of the barriers to treatment with acupuncture,” says Dr. Tong Joo Gan, the study lead, “is getting people to understand that while needles are used, it is not a painful experience. It is a method for releasing your body’s own natural painkillers." Gan is correct. In fact, the needles used in acupuncture are so thin that they can be tied into a knot with two fingers. Those who fear the pain associated with the hypodermic needles used in medical shots are reassured to know that 20 acupuncture needles can fit into the opening of the standard medical needle. Acupuncture needles are so thin, in fact, that you can insert one of these needles into an inflated balloon and the balloon does not pop.

More Than One Session

Acupuncture is not a one-off treatment for headaches, though. Since the theory of its use is based on removing imbalances in the body to allow free flow of energy, fluids and nerve signals, it often takes several visits to feel the results. Ten treatments in a row are often considered “one course of treatment,” with more than one course being necessary for chronic conditions.

In another analysis of 15 studies, Duke University Medical Center anesthesiologists found that when acupuncture is administered both before and during surgery, there is a significant reduction in the pain experienced by patients and less post-surgical opioids (potent pain killers) needed to control pain.

Presenting his findings at the annual scientific conference of the American Society for Anesthesiology in San Francisco, Gan stated, “While the amount of opioids needed for patients who received acupuncture was much lower than those who did not have acupuncture, the most important outcome for the patient is the reduction of the side effects associated with opioids… These side effects can negatively impact a patient’s recovery from surgery and lengthen the time spent in the hospital.”

The meta-analysis showed that the risk of developing the side effects of opioids after surgery was significantly lower in those patients who were administered acupuncture before and during surgery, compared with the control group. Specifically, acupuncture patients experienced “1.5 times lower rates of nausea; 1.3 times fewer incidences of severe itching; 1.6 times fewer reports of dizziness and 3.5 times fewer cases of urinary retention.”

This is good news for the acupuncture community, and especially for those who seek more holistic and less toxic methods for pain relief. Acupuncture has been perfected over the past 5,000 years in China, the most populated country in the world. Allopathic medicine, in comparison, is still in its infancy. Yet, in the United States, where modern drugs rule the roost, acupuncture is still seen as hokey, and acupuncturists are not accepted as “doctors” by the American Medical Association (AMA).

Well, we live in a new age now, and studies like these done by reputable universities based on clinical data do much to show the mainstream establishment that ancient remedies and health practices are as valid today as ever. In the case of pain control, these types of holistic therapies are more powerful and less toxic than the usual drugs.

References:
** Video Link**
http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/video/duke_study_acupuncture_offers_headache_relief

http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/10153/

They Don’t Ask, They Can’t Tell

Very few general medical practitioners ever ask about the health of their patients’ teeth. Hardly any oncologists ask whether their cancer patients have root canals or mercury amalgam fillings. As a result, most medical doctors steer clear of making recommendations about dental health. When you visit the doctor and are asked to stick out your tongue for a health exam, it is only to look at your throat.

In Western medicine, we have severed the perception of connections between dental health and overall physical well-being. As a result, we have lost a critical vantage point for evaluating the potential root causes of many life-threatening conditions such as cancer, heart disease, immune disorders and more. The good news is this lifesaving integrative perspective is proving its value through the cutting edge field of holistic, or biological, dentistry.

Regular Dentistry vs. Holistic (Biological) Dentistry

Most conventional dentists are only dimly aware of connections between gum disease, chronic dental infection and overall health. Dentists rarely refer you back to your doctor for further testing or give more than the fairly superficial, though important, advice about brushing, flossing and diet. On the other hand, holistic dentistry takes an in-depth look at dental and overall health, guided by leading research in the field. In particular, holistic dentistry looks hard at the relationship between conventional root canals, periodontal disease, mercury amalgam fillings and other all-too-common dental issues and the progression of any number of chronic diseases throughout the body.

In traditional medical systems, such as Chinese and Tibetan medicine, the examination of the mouth and tongue represents a primary diagnostic tool for gathering information about imbalances in the rest of the body. Today, more and more skilled holistic practitioners and dentists are working together within the field of integrative medicine to collaborate on optimal treatment programs for patients. The holistic dentistry movement is gaining a widening appreciation of the holistic perspectives implicit in traditional healing systems and is being driven by the growing body of published research linking dental health issues and chronic illness. Repeatedly, patients with serious, life-threatening illnesses have experienced dramatic health improvements after skilled holistic dentists have coordinated their evaluations and treatments with integrative health practitioners.

Dental Health Linked To Cancer

Of special importance is the link between cancer and dental health. This is an area on the cutting edge of cancer investigation, and scientists have not yet agreed whether there is a direct cause. From a clinical standpoint, however, I, along with many of my colleagues, have seen time and again that there is a strong correlation between chronic infection associated with root canals and the presence of cancer.

Even more interesting, from an integrative medical perspective, each tooth has associated acu-meridian tooth-organ relationships. (In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body is home to lines of force — acu-meridians also known as acupuncture meridians — that connect various organs.) Different acupuncture meridians run through the teeth, and specific organs and tissues are associated with each tooth. A chart developed by Dr. Ralph Wilson which you can see here outlines the relationship between each tooth and its associated organs, glands and body areas.

Infected Root Canals Often Don’t Show Symptoms

The most concerning finding in holistic dentistry is that extensive infection can be present in a root canal as well as the bone of the jaw which holds the tooth, in the absence of any direct symptoms. All too often, we rely on our subjective experience of symptoms (like pain) to warn us of problems. In this case, these warnings come usually after significant damage is done, so it is crucial to get proper dental evaluation and testing with regard to root canals and periodontal disease.

At Amitabha Medical Clinic, we refer our patients with root canals for what is called a cone beam scan, which is essentially a CT (or computed tomography) scan of the mouth. A cone beam scan produces 3D digitalized imagery on the computer screen, revealing details which a classic full mouth X-ray does not detect. These scans can tell practitioners whether there is chronic infection in the root of a tooth which needs to be addressed using careful and thorough methods. I encourage my cancer patients to limit the number of CT scans they have because of issues with cumulative radiation; but if you have root canals, the cone beam scan may be the only way to evaluate them. I think it’s worth doing, and the radiation exposure is much lower than a traditional CT. The truth is, the dental profession is largely ignoring the long-term effects of the root canal procedure. For this reason, I encourage you to seek out holistic dentists who have the knowledge and the tools to help you deal with root canals and other common dental issues in a careful and competent way.

Patient Stories

The importance of addressing these types of health issues with an integrative approach are evident in these examples:

• A patient with Stage III colon cancer was found to have infection (with no symptoms) in the root canal associated with the colon. Upon further examination of old dental X-rays, it was found that the tooth had been cracked for many years prior to the root canal. Therefore, it most likely had been chronically infected for a long time prior to the root canal placement and before the colon cancer diagnosis.
• A patient with metastatic breast cancer (with no symptoms) and with several old root canals who was not responding well to her chemotherapy treatments was found to have occult infection in the tooth associated with the breast on the same side as the cancer. The bone above the tooth was almost completely destroyed; the tooth was barely connected. The infected teeth were removed and the area was sterilized with ozone, a specialized form of oxygen therapy. After clearing up the infection, the patient had a better response to the same chemotherapy regimen.
• A patient with endometrial (uterine) cancer who was not responding to treatment and whose surgical scar would not heal because of infection was found to have an extensive infection in the tooth associated with the uterus. She had no oral symptoms. When the tooth was removed, her surgical wound healed quickly, and she began to have a positive response to her chemotherapy regimen.

The Future of Integrative Cancer Therapy

As a health practitioner who specializes in integrative cancer care, I can cite numerous similar clinical examples highlighting the correlations I have seen between dental health and cancer, and the positive effects of clearing up chronic infections in the mouth. Even though we don’t yet understand all of the underlying mechanisms, we have enough evidence to recognize the seriousness and the importance of attention to this area of health. As more and more published research points to the connections between root canals, mercury amalgams, periodontal disease and chronic illnesses, I encourage all of my readers and patients to become familiar with this important area of integrative health. Stay tuned.

The liver is plenty powerful in its role of ruling the kingdom of Bodyland. It removes toxins from the blood, plays a role in protein and hormone synthesis, stores glycogen, and yields bile along with other chemicals that help break down fats and aid in digestion. The liver helps decompose red blood cells, stores blood and regulates how much blood circulates. In other words, the Liver King supervises your inner kingdom, ensures its byways are well-kept and keeps the supply lines of water and food operational.

But there’s a problem in centering so many bodily purposes in one organ. When the liver becomes toxic, running in a depressed state or otherwise succumbing to a state of dysfunction, many things become unbalanced. With a domino effect, when the liver slips below par, the body begins experiencing the signs and symptoms of ill health. A poor-functioning liver impacts a frightening number of other organs.

Multiple Difficulties

A list of symptoms reflecting a dysfunctional liver includes gastritis, nervous stomach, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastric ulcer, dyspepsia, hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, colitis, premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea, mastitis, fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian cysts, genital pain, tension headache, migraine headache, TMJ dysfunction, chronic hepatitis, chronic cholecystitis, hepatomegaly, costochondritis, post herpetic neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, hypertension and poor peripheral circulation.

I find it interesting that Western scientific medicine conceives the liver totally in terms of its direct functions. Yet, in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the liver is viewed also in terms of indirect effects linked to its dysfunction. In other words, when the liver becomes too hot from excessive alcohol, drug or coffee consumption, it begins to “overact on the spleen and stomach and depress the functions of the heart and kidneys.”

In TCM, the liver is recognized as being responsible for storing and regulating blood, for maintaining the free flow of qi (energy) in the body, for controlling the tendons and manifesting signs of its problems in the nails and in the eyes.  

Storing And Regulating Blood

The primary function of the liver is to store up to 55 percent of your total blood volume when the body is at rest. It also regulates how much blood circulates when the body is physically active. In times of emergency, the liver can provide up to 2,000 ml of blood to the heart, giving you greater strength, stamina and mental clarity.

Maintaining The Free Flow Of Qi

The liver is responsible for maintaining the easygoing, free-flowing and harmonious functional activities of the body’s organs. At peak capacity, the liver effectively manages the constant movement of energy in the body. When the liver becomes depressed (slow-acting, sluggish), it suffers qi (energetic) stagnation, which can lead to tiredness, fatigue, cloudy thinking, depression and anger.

Emotional shifts and attitudes such as psychological depression, moodiness, loneliness and anger are the root causes of the syndrome known in TCM as “liver qi stagnation.” When the liver qi (energy) stagnates, it can cause complications in the spleen and stomach or in the heart and kidneys, leading to vomiting, nausea, heart palpitations, insomnia, restlessness, dream-disturbed sleep, cloudy thinking, poor digestion, hypochondriac pain, irritable bowel syndrome, dysmenorrhea and PMS issues as well as soft and brittle nails, blurry vision, red eyes, headache, bilirubinemia (buildup of blood-breakdown byproducts) and erectile dysfunction.

The Liver Controls The Tendons And Manifests In Nails

The liver nourishes the tendons as an aspect of its blood-controlling function. Since the tendons attach muscles to bones, this part of its role reflects its control of the normal physiological activities of the body. So when the liver lacks blood and/or is low in energy (qi), those activities deteriorate. The tendons receive insufficient nourishment to stay flexible, and they grow stiff, inflamed and painful.

It is important to note that TCM defines three types of blood: heart blood, liver blood and spleen blood. Each has its own function in the creation, promotion, distribution, cleansing and storage of blood. The state of liver blood is reflected in the health of the nails. When there is ample healthy liver blood, both tendons and nails stay strong. But when there is restriction (stagnation) or deficiency of liver blood, then the nails become soft, thin and brittle.

The Liver Opens Into The Eyes

According to TCM theory, each yin (nurturing) organ has a body part to which it opens. In this system, the liver opens into the eyes. Therefore, the nourishment of liver blood is responsible for the proper functioning of the eyes. Indeed, the liver meridian (an energetic line through the body) travels upward through the eye system. Consequently, liver deficiency can lead to blurry vision. Liver heat rising upward can lead to red and dry eyes. Liver dampness can lead to bilirubinemia. 

There is much more to the “Chinese liver” than Western medicine recognizes. However, when considering not only its physiological function, but also its meridian route and energetic function, one can begin to understand the vast importance of this organ to overall health and well-being.

From both a scientific, reductive Western perspective and a traditional Eastern viewpoint, the causes of liver dysfunctions are the same. Poor diet along with the excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs (legal and illegal) stress the liver and impair its ability to function properly. Knowing this, it becomes obvious that indulging in poor lifestyle habits that negatively affect the liver leads to a host of problems that are preventable.

You can usually restore the health of the liver by sticking to a liver-friendly routine: Reduce stress, eat nutrient-dense foods and curtail drug and alcohol consumption. A liver-detox program is also a good way to jump-start the liver’s rejuvenation process.

Your body needs a healthy liver to function properly. Pamper your liver and your unimpaired liver will offer you unparalleled well-being.

In Chinese medicine we identify three basic reasons for insomnia: too much heat in the mind (heart), heart blood deficiency and disharmony between heart and kidneys.

Nearly every patient who comes to see me for treatment invariably suffers either anxiety or insomnia, or both. In fact, this situation is so common that many people don’t consider it a problem that can be helped. Rather, they see it as a part of life that they must “deal with” or try to ignore.

Generally speaking, insomnia is going to bed and not being able to fall asleep or falling asleep but not being able to remain asleep. And this happens either because the body is suddenly no longer tired or the mind is so active (racing with thoughts) that it can’t shut down.

In Chinese medicine we refer to these circumstances as yang (active) not giving way to yin (passive) at night, which is the domain of yin. At bedtime, yang reigns supreme in an insomniac. But on waking, yin has not had time to nourish yang, so the person feels tired and sleepy.

And where there is insomnia, there is anxiety. One engenders the other, and they generally coexist as a pair.

In Chinese medicine we also identify three basic reasons for insomnia: too much heat in the mind (heart), heart blood deficiency and disharmony between heart and kidneys. Let’s look at each of these individually.

Heat Disturbs The Mind (Heart)

The TCM perspective recognizes that the issues of the mind are caused and cured by treating the heart, that the heart is directly related to the mind or psychological issues. Also, it holds that the spirit resides in the heart.

The spirit becomes uncomfortable when heat gathers in the chest. And heat gathers in the chest from turbulent emotions and poor diet. For example, stress and loss cause a stagnation of qi (energy) in the liver and chest, respectively. And this stagnation causes energy and blood to become hot, because the free flow, which is cooling, stalls. Overconsumption of alcohol and coffee causes the liver and blood to heat, which also causes heat to form in the chest. As a result, heat in the chest causes restlessness and anxiety, which causes the insomnia that keeps you from staying asleep for long periods.

This type of insomnia is caused by a racing mind, which wakes you and causes further anxiety, which, in turn, leads to further insomnia. And the cycle goes round and round.

I have found the combined use of the herbal formulas Xiao Yao Wan and An Mien Pian to be quite effective in treating insomnia that arises when heat disturbs the mind.

Heart Blood Deficiency

A heart blood deficiency insomnia is food-related. Because blood forms from food, the quality of the blood slips when your diet is poor or insufficient. A spleen qi deficiency can also cause this condition, since splenic energy is formed by food and then nourishes the blood. And when the blood is malnourished, it cannot supply adequate nutrients to the heart and mind.

This type of insomnia keeps you from falling asleep. People who suffer heart blood deficiency also tend to experience fatigue (from lack of nutrition) and poor digestion (also from poor diet).

I have found that the formulas Gui Pi Wan and Suan Zao Ren Tang work well for this type of anxiety/insomnia.

Heart And Kidneys In Disharmony

TCM views the body’s organs in terms of five elements: water, wood, fire, earth and metal. Each organ is dominated by a particular element. When the body functions in balance, these elements sustain a healthy equilibrium.

The kidneys reflect the water element, and the heart reflects the fire element. Thus, when we say there is disharmony between the heart and kidneys, we are saying there is an imbalance between fire (yang) and water (yin). This also leads to yang not giving way to yin. To return the organs and elements to balance, you need to strengthen the kidneys and sedate the heart: Water needs to overcome fire.

This type of insomnia/anxiety causes vivid dreaming, nightmares, heart palpitations and worry. For this, I have found the best solution is to combine the formulas Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Emperor’s Teapills) with An Shen Bu Xin Dan.

In light of the fact that there are several types of insomnia and that anxiety is a close partner, do you know which type you are? Once you are able to define your type of insomnia with anxiety, you can better get a handle on how best to deal with it by changing your diet or taking Chinese patent herbal medicines. The best way to do this, of course, is to make an appointment with a qualified TCM or acupuncture practitioner in your area.

Until then, I wish you sweet dreams.

Human sound is an essential part of our existence. Indeed, the spoken word is nothing but an intricate combination of sounds strung together to form spoken words.

If you think about everything you do, you will find that sounds are involved. Lift a heavy box and you grunt. Eat a delicious food and you say, “Mmmmm.” Bang your finger and you scream, “Ow!” If you are sad, you sigh or moan. When happy, you laugh. And the list of activities and sounds goes on and on.

Sounds of all types have been central to our ceremonies, too. What is a wedding without music, a birthday without singing or a religious event without chanting or singing?

Sounds Are Linked To Healing

For centuries, human sound has been directly linked to the healing process. In fact, it is a natural part of life from birth. Women scream and grunt during labor to help centralize energy and apply force when pushing. A baby cries when it is born to open its lungs. Children cry to help soothe their feelings, and parents say “hush” or “shhh” to babies to quiet them.

I would like to introduce you to an ancient Taoist Qigong practice of human sound healing called Liu Ze Jue Qigong, or the Six Healing Sounds energetic breathwork.

The Six Healing Sounds are monosyllabic utterances that, when repeated and sustained, help:

• Unify the mind and body
• Remove symptoms
• Return the body to homeostasis
• Quiet the mind
• Enliven energy

The practice is a form of mindfulness meditation, as you focus your observation on the sound being uttered and the sensation felt in the organ it is meant to influence.

Miraculous Resonance

The sounds themselves miraculously resonate only with the organs they are meant to affect. Thus, there is an undeniable link between the sound and the illnesses brought on by organ dysfunction.

If an organ is in excess, is deficient or possesses stagnant energy, blood or fluids, the healing sound will rebalance the organ and, over time, remove the dysfunction.

All internally contracted diseases are brought on by imbalances in the organs or in the energy, blood and body fluids derived from those organs. Because of that, the healing sounds can, if done for prolonged periods over time, return the body to balanced homeostasis.

Why does the practice of Liu Ze Jue Qigong encompass only six sounds when there are 12 major organs? In traditional Chinese medicine, organs are grouped as being either yin or yang, and each yin organ has a yang counterpart, and vice versa. So while there are only six sounds, they affect all 12 individual organs or the six yin-and-yang organ pairs.

To begin the sounds/meditations, sit or stand or lie down as you like. It is important to wear loose-fitting clothing and be in a quiet room with dimmed lights. If you can be undisturbed for 30 minutes, you will have plenty of time to relax and get into the exercise.

Here are the sounds and the organs with which they resonate:

• Xu (shooo): Calms the liver and gallbladder.
• Ho (hooo): Opens the heart and small intestines.
• Fu (fooo): Cools the spleen and stomach.
• Xi (sheee): Awakens the lungs and large intestines.
• Chu (chooo): Releases the kidneys and bladder.
• Hey (haaa): Energizes the pericardium and body trunk.

Think of the syllables as song sounds, as opposed to word sounds.

For best results, especially for the novice, place your hands over the organs you are sounding to and then sing or hum the sounds so you can feel the resonance in the organ.

When you feel ill, tired or stressed, anxious or depressed, the practice of the healing sounds can bring new energy and balance to the organ systems affecting the mood and help you become vibrant and healthful again.