Time Magazine: Acupuncture works to relieve stress.

Mainstream media is jumping on board with all the latest research that has proven the effectiveness of Acupuncture. 

From Time Magazine: 

Reporting in the Journal of Endocrinology, researchers led by Ladan Eshkevari, assistant program director of the nurse anesthesia program at Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies, mimicked chronic stress in a rat model and documented how stimulating certain body points with acupuncture can alter stress hormones.

The body’s stress response is triggered by two main pathways, one of which involves the HPA axis, or hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, in which these areas of the brain are activated to release peptides and proteins such as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). They, in turn, launch the production of other hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine that rev up the anxiety meter. Once activated, the system causes the heart to beat faster and the senses to go on alert. It also diverts the body’s energy away from background operations such as digestion to prime and fuel the muscles into a state of readiness.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2013/03/15/needle-this-study-hints-at-how-acupuncture-works-to-relieve-stress/#ixzz2Rrq2KsZj

New Study: How Acupuncture Reduces Stress Levels

Good news, acupuncture fans: It really does help relieve stress. And now, a new study is giving a closer look at why.

The new study explores the biological mechanisms involved in acupuncture's stress-relieving abilities, something science has yet to fully understand.

The researchers discovered that stress hormones were lower in rats that had received electronic acupuncture. Results were published in the Journal of Endocrinology.

"Many practitioners of acupuncture have observed that this ancient practice can reduce stress in their patients, but there is a lack of biological proof of how or why this happens. We're starting to understand what's going on at the molecular level that helps explain acupuncture's benefit,” study researcher Dr. Ladan Eshkevari, an associate professor of nursing at Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies, said in a statement.

For the study, Eshkevari and colleagues designed a series of tests with electronic acupuncture to ensure that each rat received the exact same dose of pressure. Eshkevari targeted the spot below the knee, or the “Zusanli” point, with the needle. This area is the same in rats and humans and it is reported that stimulating it can alleviate stress and other conditions.

For the 10-day experiment, researchers split the rats into four groups. One group was a control group with no added stress and no acupuncture; one group was made to be stressed out for an hour each day but didn't receive acupuncture; one group was made to feel stressed for an hour each day but received "sham" acupuncture by their tails; and one group was made to feel stressed and received the genuine acupuncture treatment at the Zusanli area.

The body secretes an assortment of hormones into the bloodstream as a reaction to stress, which the researchers were then able to measure in the rats. They assessed blood hormone levels secreted by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenal gland -- together these are known as the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. They also measured a peptide involved in creatures' "fight or flight" responses, called NPY.

Researchers discovered that the "...electronic acupuncture blocks the chronic, stress-induced elevations of the HPA axis hormones and the sympathetic NPY pathway,” Eshkevari said in the statement.

Since stress has been linked with detrimental health effects including heart disease and even brain shrinkage it’s important to study any measures to combat its detrimental nature.

Using Qi gong to counteract negative stress, and boost immune function.

In a recent lecture in Phoenix, AZ at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) Fellowship, integrative medicine pioneer Isaac Eliaz, M.D., L.Ac. discussed how negative emotions hinder immune response and fuel cancer formation and metastasis. He followed by sharing research on mind-body therapies such as meditation, yoga and Qigong which work to counteract the negative effects of stress and boost health in numerous ways. Highlighting an array of published studies, Dr. Eliaz showed how chronic stress can be deadly to lymphocytes and DNA integrity, and conversely, how mind body therapies and emotional support can ramp up immunity and provide numerous health benefits.

"The contrasts are amazing," says Dr. Eliaz. "Chronic stress significantly reduces the immune response, while something as simple as family support or mindful meditation can boost it just as dramatically."

The negative effects of stress have been studied in a variety of cancers including breast, ovarian, and digestive tract. In one study cited by Dr. Eliaz, breast cancer risk doubled for women after a divorce, separation or the death of their spouse.

In addition to reducing our body's resistance to cancer, stress, depression and isolation also increase metastasis and tumor vascularization. While these facts may be daunting, there are solutions that can make a substantial difference.

In his presentation, Dr. Eliaz discussed a variety of mind-body techniques, including meditation, yoga and Qigong -- an ancient Chinese system of mindful exercises -- that can calm stress and restore the body's healthy balance. In particular, meditation reduces cortisol levels, pro-inflammatory cytokines, systolic blood pressure, anxiety, depression and stress. It also has been proven to increase multiple areas of cognitive function, including information processing, memory and decision making.

"Study after study shows that reducing stress, and its associated negative effects, boosts the immune system and enhances brain function," says Dr. Eliaz.

Read more here: 

http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=13390&Section=DISEASE

For More information about Qi Gong classes in the Tampa Bay Area contact Classical Medicine 

Hold side effects of stress at bay naturally by eating superfoods.

Superfoods can literally change the way your body reacts to stresses. 

From Jen Haugen, Austin Daily Herald

April 15--Being directed to eat when you are stressed sounds like a not-so-good idea.

However, if you are eating the right foods during the day, you can change the way your body reacts to stress. Any food with a potent source of antioxidants has stress- and inflammation-fighting qualities. But do you have a stockpile of these foods in your kitchen?

Here are a few of my favorites.

Super Fruit

-- Wild Blueberries: One of the top sources of antioxidants in the fruit world and one of the only naturally blue foods, these little fruits are packed with nutrients to help your body defend against inflammation. Find frozen wild blueberries in the freezer section and add them to yogurt, oatmeal, muffins, salads and side dishes.

Super Vegetable

-- Broccoli: A good source of antioxidants, fiber, electrolytes and phytonutrients. Try it fresh with your favorite hummus, or steam or roast it until crisp-tender. Available year-round in the produce section.

Super Grain

-- Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah): A grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It serves high-quality protein and plenty of fiber. The rice-like granules contain ample magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin E, riboflavin and more iron than true grains. Boil some broth, add quinoa, and in 12 minutes you will have a side dish suitable to partner with any vegetable.

Super Dairy

-- Non-Fat Greek Yogurt: Provides double the protein of most regular yogurts. Also an excellent source of calcium and loaded with friendly bacteria (the probiotics which promote good digestion and boost immunity). Packed in easy-to-go portioned containers for a quick and nutritious burst of afternoon energy.

Super Legume

-- Edamame (green soybeans): Typically low in fat, containing no cholesterol, and high in folate, potassium, iron and magnesium. Edamame is an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber. The only complete protein found in the plant world, edamame can be a healthy substitute for meat, which has more cholesterol and saturated fat. Use them like green peas -- add them to your favorite salad, side dish or stew.

Super Protein

-- Salmon: You can't beat the omega-3 content found in salmon. Omega-3s are protective nutrients against inflammation. Consuming at least one 3-ounce portion of fatty fish like salmon has been found to reduce the risk for sudden cardiac arrest by 70 percent. Try salmon on a berry salad with a light vinaigrette, or wrap it up in a heart-healthy, whole grain wrap with a load of veggies.

Super Spice

-- Basil: A common herb used primarily in pasta sauces or pizza, but did you know that basil contains essential oils that function as potent anti-inflammatory agents, which could play a role in reducing inflammatory diseases? Maximize the antioxidant benefits by adding larger amounts of fresh basil to your recipes. Grow some on your windowsill today!

Tampa Bay Times: Can Meditation Really Ease Pain? Yes: Brain Image Scans Now Prove It.

New Brain Scan evidence has gone to prove the benefits of Meditation as a way to naturally ease pain.

From the Tampa Bay Times: 

Science has just begun to quantify the benefits of an ancient art that practitioners have touted for thousands of years.

Researchers think meditation affects the autonomic nervous system, which regulates functions such as heartbeat, breathing and digestion. Neuroscientists have begun to home in on how meditation affects the brain's reaction to pain, and why many meditators say that what was once unbearable is now tolerable or even barely noticeable.

Meditation also is widely used to alleviate stress and the many health implications that come with it, from insomnia to heart disease. It's not the answer for everyone, but its fans say it can be astonishingly effective, without the side effects of pills or alcohol. At the least, meditation might be a way to decrease dependence on drugs, some say.

"A majority of the population is taking some kind of substance to lower their level of stress or pain," said Gluchowski's TM teacher, Jim Vuille, who hasn't missed a day of meditation in 40 years. "It's an epidemic in our society — whether people use illegal or legal substances — to try and feel better, to try and dull the negative discomfort.''

There are many ways to meditate. Here is a look at some of the most popular methods — TM, mindfulness meditation and Integrative Restoration — and what practitioners and science have to say about their effectiveness for pain relief:

Read the original article below... 

http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/article1218990.ece

Is there an "Acupuncture Molecule" ? Test show acupuncture affects your body on a molecular level:

 Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have found that acupuncture reduces the levels of a protein-like substance in rats linked to chronic stress.

 If replicated in humans, acupuncture could offer a therapy for stress, which is often difficult to treat. 

“It has long been thought that acupuncture can reduce stress, but this is the first study to show molecular proof of this benefit,” said the study’s lead author, Ladan Eshevari, Ph.D., an assistant professor.
Eshkevari, a certified acupuncturist, conducted the study because many of the patients she treats with acupuncture reported a “better overall sense of well-being — and they often remarked that they felt less stress.”
 While the World Health Organization states that acupuncture is useful as adjunct therapy in more than 50 disorders, including chronic stress, Eshevari said that no one has biological proof that it does so.
She designed a study to test the effect of acupuncture on blood levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY), a peptide that is secreted by the sympathetic nervous system in humans. This system is involved in the “flight or fight” response to stress.
 Rats are often used to research the biological determinants of stress because they mount a stress response when exposed to winter-like cold temperatures for an hour a day.

 Eshevari allowed the rats to become familiar with her, and encouraged them to rest by crawling into a small sock that exposed their legs. She conditioned them to become comfortable with the kind of stimulation used in electroacupuncture — an acupuncture needle that delivers a painless, small electrical charge.
This form of acupuncture is a little more intense than manual acupuncture and is often used for pain management, she said, adding “I used electroacupuncture because I could make sure that every rat was getting the same treatment dose.”

 She then selected a single acupuncture spot to test: Zuslanli (ST 35 on the stomach meridian), which is said to help relieve a variety of conditions, including stress. That acupuncture point for rats — and humans — is on the leg below the knee.

 The study, published online in December in Experimental Biology and Medicine, utilized four groups of rats for a 14-day experiment: A control group that was not stressed and received no acupuncture; a group that was stressed for an hour a day and did not receive acupuncture; a group that was stressed and received “sham” acupuncture near the tail; and the experimental group that were stressed and received acupuncture to the Zuslanli spot on the leg.

 She found NPY levels in the experimental group came down almost to the level of the control group, while the rats that were stressed and not treated with Zuslanli acupuncture had high levels of the protein.
In a second experiment, she stopped acupuncture in the experimental group but continued to stress the rats for an additional four days, and found NPY levels remained low. “We were surprised to find what looks to be a protective effect against stress,” she said.

 Source: Georgetown University Medical Center

http://psychcentral.com/news/ 2011/12/22/rat-study-shows- acupuncture-lowers-stress-molecule/32782.html

Vitamin C : discovered to be a necessity for the nervous system.

 Do we need more convincing that vitamin C is a really important component for health? If so, here's a bit more support for that argument.

 An article published online on June 29, 2011 in the Journal of Neuroscience reveals that the eye’s nerve cells need vitamin C, which suggests the vitamin may be required by other areas of the nervous system.  Henrique von Gersdorff, PhD of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and his associates studied goldfish retinal cells, which are similar to those found in humans. 

 They found that the cells’ GABA-type receptors, which assist in the modulation of communication between nerve cells, cease to function properly in the absence of vitamin C.  Because these cells are a type of brain cell, the researchers believe that GABA receptors in other parts of the brain may also need vitamin C, and that the vitamin’s antioxidant property helps preserve the cells and receptors from breakdown due to oxidative stress.  "We found that cells in the retina need to be 'bathed' in relatively high doses of vitamin C, inside and out, to function properly," commented Dr von Gersdorff, who is a senior scientist at OHSU's Vollum Institute "Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, this suggests there's likely an important role for vitamin C throughout our brains, to a degree we had not realized before . . .

 Perhaps the brain is the last place you want to lose vitamin C." The findings may have implications for other diseases caused by dysfunction of nerve cells in the retina and brain due to GABA receptor malfunction.   "For example, maybe a vitamin C-rich diet could be neuroprotective for the retina — for people who are especially prone to glaucoma," Dr von Gersdorff stated. "This is speculative and there is much to learn. But this research provides some important insights and will lead to the generation of new hypotheses and potential treatment strategies."

http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2011_07.htm#Nerves-need-vitamin-C