Hot Flash Relief through Acupuncture

A researcher in Norway, a country where acupuncture is widely used, designed a study to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture on post-menopausal women being treated with Tamoxifen following surgery for breast cancer. Tamoxifen is a drug that interferes with estrogen and causes menopausal-like symptoms such as hot flashes, joint pain, vaginal dryness and leg cramps. Participants who received Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture had a 50% reduction in hot flashes, both during the day and the night, and this effect continued after the acupuncture treatments were discontinued.

A total of 59 breast cancer patients received either TCM acupuncture or sham (random) acupuncture for a total of 10 weeks. Acupuncture was administered twice a week for 5 weeks and once a week for the following 5 weeks. The subjects monitored and recorded the number of hot flashes they had for 4 weeks prior to treatment, during the treatment and 12 weeks after the treatments ended. Other symptoms measured included sweating, sleep disturbance, depression, palpitations and joint pain.

The head investigator reports “During the treatment, hot flashes were reduced by 50%, both day and night, in the acupuncture group. Three months after the last treatment a further reduction was seen. No significant changes were seen in the sham group during the day. At night there was a slight reduction during the treatment period but, once treatment had ceased, the number of hot flashes increased again.”

As acupuncture increasingly becomes more and more popular, researchers are continually designing studies testing its efficacy. To experience the many benefits of acupuncture, including pain relief, stress management, insomnia and hot-flash reduction, call Aletris Center of Integrative Medicine in Scottsdale, AZ to set up an appointment.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

Focusing on Blood Pressure

The incidence of high blood pressure among American women is on the rise. The following excerpt is borrowed from an article on Medline Plus.

The persistent incidence of hypertension is "principally a failure of our health-care delivery system," said Dr. Dan Jones, president of the American Heart Association. "Certainly physicians have some fault, patients have some fault, and biology plays a role. But in our current health-care system, high blood pressure is treated as part of a visit with a primary-care physician that may take only five to 15 minutes. It may be one of five or six problems that the patient has and may be the least symptomatic of those problems, so it doesn't get the attention it should."

Aletris naturopaths spend 1.5 hours with each patient during an initial visit, and 30 minutes to 1 hour for follow-up visits. Although we do not accept insurance as a means of payment, we generally see far fewer patients in order to serve their individual medical needs. This includes follow-up on chief and secondary complaints as well as educating patients on the importance of the prevention of future disturbances in health including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Seeing fewer patients allows us to spend sufficient time with each patient while staying current with medical research. We understand the underlying causes of physiological imbalances and hold our patients accountable for engaging in their own health care.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

Hypertension and Cognitive Decline

A new study finds an association between high blood pressure and declining cognitive function in adults over the age of 60. Researchers found that adults between the ages of 60-69 with normal blood pressure (less than 120/80) had the best cognitive function, while people aged 75-79 with “pre-hypertension” (up to 140/90) and people 80 or older with moderate hypertension had the poorest cognitive function.

Those with stage 1 hypertension (top number between 140 and 149, bottom number between 90 and 99) were more likely to show cognitive decline, most notably found in individuals over 70. Investigators concluded that control of blood pressure was shown to reduce hypertension-associated cognitive decline.

The best way to treat high blood pressure is to eat a healthy diet consisting of an abundance of fresh vegetables and lean animal or vegetable proteins while abstaining from processed foods and simple carbohydrate-rich foods. Daily exercise (cardiovascular and weight bearing) also combats hypertension, as well as enhancing healthy moods and energy. Avoid sugary drinks and empty-calorie foods such as white rice and replace them with water, herbal teas and nutrient-rich foods. For more information on preventing or reducing high blood pressure and the negative effects from this condition, call the Aletris Center of Integrative Medicine to explore your path towards optimal health.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis, one of the most common recurring illnesses in the U.S., develops predominantly in those with allergies and asthma. The mucous membranes in the sinuses and nasal passages become inflamed, causing irritation, pain, swelling and redness in the area.

Conventional medicine treats chronic sinusitis with antibiotics and corticosteroids, along with decongestants and antihistamines. A recent study published in the Lancet concluded that out of 15 patients who received antibiotics for chronic sinusitis, only one benefited with this treatment.

The researchers concluded that antibiotic use is not justified even in patients with symptoms longer than 7-10 days. Decongestants and antihistamines do provide acute relief from symptoms, but have no long term preventative benefits. Corticosteroids sprays, such as Nasonex, inhibit the body’s immune response and are used for their anti-inflammatory effect to localized tissue. Corticosteroids can cause thinning of tissue and make people more susceptible to viral infections, upper respiratory infections, sinusitis, bronchitis and nasal irritation.

Naturopathic doctors treat chronic sinusitis with nasal irrigation techniques, immune boosting nutrients, homeopathy, herbal formulations and the elimination of underlying causes such as food allergies. The goal is a reduction in symptoms and elimination of future infections. ALETRIS naturopaths are well versed in treating chronic sinusitis by investigating the underlying cause of the illness.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

ESSENTIAL H20

Water is critical to our health, wellness and survival. Our blood is 83% water, which allows the blood to circulate throughout the body and guide essential vitamins and minerals into tissue cells. Adequate water intake is also necessary to eliminate waste from the body, nourish joints and ligaments and to brighten skin. Signs of dehydration can manifest as premenstrual cramping, morning sickness (in pregnant women), joint pain, fatigue, depression, acne, and allergies.

Green tea, black tea, and coffee all contain caffeine, a powerful diuretic. Alcohol is an even stronger diuretic. These substances leach water and minerals from the body, so that even when additional water is consumed during the day it is immediately eliminated to keep a proper electrolyte balance. Take note if you are running to the bathroom directly after drinking water. If so, diuretics are creating an electrolyte imbalance that is keeping you dehydrated, and you should eliminate these diuretics from your diet.

Our recommendation is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 150lbs, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water per day.

Here are some ideas to make drinking water more fun and enjoyable:

Add a sprig of fresh spearmint or peppermint

Add a squeeze of orange, lemon or lime

Add a slice of ginger

Add a slice of strawberry or a few blueberries and raspberries for a fruity taste

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.