A Must Read: Cinnamon and Honey!

I recently came across this article in an old e-mail that was sent to me some time ago and thought that it was well worth sharing. This information should not be taken as an encouragement to stop any “traditional” medications that your doctor has prescribed for your condition(s), but rather as a help to enable you to make better informed choices regarding your health. In many situations, homeopathic remedies can be taken along with the meds that you are already on. However, there are situations where you should not! A website, Iguard.org, provides some background on the mixing of specific drugs and herbs, but, I cannot endorse them as being totally infallible. Again, always have a healthy dialog with your primary care doctor or specialist before engaging in any alternative homeopathic remedies and try to discern whether their opinion is based on scientific, and, or clinical experience and not just outright prejudice. The honey that is worth the effort is NOT the processed kind, but the raw, unpasteurized type.

Drug companies won't like this one getting around. Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:
It is found that a mix of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also note honey as very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without side effects which is also a plus. Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet, when it is taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm even diabetic patients. Researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, put it on toast instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol and could potentially save one from heart attack. Also, even if you have already had an attack studies show you could be kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of cinnamon honey strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and the veins.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients can benefit by taking one cup of hot water with two tablespoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. When taken daily even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week (out of the 200 people so treated) practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain -- and within a month, most all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis now started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder....who knew?

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water given to a cholesterol patient was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, when taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol-could be cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and, clear the sinuses, and it's delicious too!

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also is said to clear stomach ulcers from its root.

GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that when Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained) to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food is eaten relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural 'Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Use four teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of boiling water to make a tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans increase and even a 100 year old will start performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

RASPY OR SORE THROAT: When throat has a tickle or is raspy, take one tablespoon of honey and sip until gone. Repeat every three hours until throat is without symptoms.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. When done daily for two weeks, it removes all pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin Infections.

WEIGHT LOSS: Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast and on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. When taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder three times a day for one month.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, even when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, when taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M., the vitality of the body increases within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water first thing in the morning so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing.

Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

Disclaimer

This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider. Please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness using the information in this site should come under the direction of a trained medical practitioner. We accept no responsibility for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions or procedures in this site or related internet links. By using the information in this web site you are confirming that you understand this statement and that you accept all risk and responsibility.

All matters regarding your health should be supervised by your health care provider. All information provided in this site is for the purpose of education, not treatment.

Inflammation

During the past few years, I have read numerous articles regarding the relationship shared between chronic pain and inflammation, urine pH and food choices (not to mention exercise). Granted, while I have known some extremely dedicated dieters whose bodies were seemingly always suffering in some way or another, I truly believe that they sterilized their bodies so much that when confronted with having to consume some variety of fast food due to the time compression (that we all face on occasion) that their bodies could not handle it! I am not in favor of government regulation of Big Macs, super-sized fries or Big Gulps, but rather the educating of individuals and families to make wise choices, regarding moderation. Yes, there should be responsibility by the consumer as to what passes through their oral cavity, as well as their children’s.

So, here are some strategies to reduce inflammation:

1. You need to sleep
Lack of deep sleep may stimulate an increase in chronic inflammatory responses.

2. Don’t cook your foods at high temperatures
Foods cooked at high temperatures can produce a browning effect in which glycotoxins are formed from the reaction of sugars and oxidized fats with protein. Glycotoxins may contribute to low-grade chronic inflammation.

3. High glycemic foods may also contribute to the inflammatory process
Keep your circulating insulin levels down. Foods that spike blood sugar spur inflammation. In new research at Harvard, women who ate foods with the highest glycemic load had nearly twice as much inflammation. Such foods include white potatoes, white rice, white bread, sugar and highly processed cereals.

4. Increased insulin levels also increase the production of arachidonic acid (AA), a major player in the inflammation cycle
If you are producing too much insulin you are prone to inflammation. If you are overweight you are probably producing too much insulin, if you are storing your fat around your mid section you are a probably producing too much insulin.

5. Increase consumption of anti-inflammatory foods
Eat foods that help subdue inflammation, such as ginger, turmeric, curry powder, olive oil, grapes, garlic, celery, blueberries and tea. Avoid foods known to cause inflammatory responses such as: refined carbohydrates (white pasta, breads, bagels cookies, muffins, cake, crackers, (which are all low pH), other starches such as white rice, potatoes are fine, in… moderation and paying attention to your personal sensitivity as well as your weight control goals.

6. Get rid of your bad fats
Margarine, butter, lard, corn oil and soybean oil are all very unhealthy.

7. Obesity and inflammation
North Americans are the most overweight people on earth, which makes them the most inflamed. Overweight people usually have high inflammation. As pounds disappear, inflammation subsides. In obese women who lost an average of 39 pounds, inflammation levels dropped 32%, a University of Vermont research found.

8. Stress increases inflammation
When your body is in a state of inflammation your adrenal glands put out high levels of the hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is your body’s natural way of dealing with an inflammatory response acting as a natural anti-inflammatory. This works well in the short term but the problem is that cortisol has some very nasty side effects in the long term. Cortisol increases insulin resistance which makes you gain weight and cause more inflammation. It also decreases immune function and adversely affects your nervous system.

9. Drink in Moderation
Drinking alcohol (red wine) reduces inflammation, which may be one reason moderate drinkers have less heart disease. In a new study at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, non-drinkers showed one-third more inflammation than low to moderate drinkers. This is NOT an endorsement for irresponsibility or overindulgence however! Additionally, water hydration is very important as your pH goes down (inflammatory) when you are de-hydrated.

10. Arachidonic acid (AA) - Promotes inflammation
Fatty cuts of meat and egg yolks are known culprits. Great strides have been made in understanding the mechanisms involved in chronic inflammatory disorders such as arthritis. One contributor is the excess accumulation of arachidonic acid that cascades down into pro-inflammatory agents such as prostaglandin E2, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes. The prostaglandins cause pain and the leukotrienes cause swelling and the redness that is associated with inflammation. Drugs such as Celebrex inhibit the COX-2 enzyme that inhibits Arachidonic acid from breaking down into prostaglandin E2.

The problem is that Arachidonic acid can cascade down via other pathways to produce equally damaging leukotrienes and thromboxanes. In order to block the formation of prosta-glandin E2, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes, it is critical to reduce Arachidonic acid levels. Limiting foods that convert to Arachidonic acid can help reduce inflammation. Another dietary factor that can lead to high levels of Arachidonic acid is the over consumption of high-glycemic index carbohydrates that cause excess production of insulin. These quickly digestible foods include fruit juices (I always try to dilute by 50%) or rice cakes. Foods heavy in polyunsaturated fats or saturated fats can also increase prostaglandin E2. Use turmeric in your cooking, this yellow Indian spice inhibits an enzyme that is used in the production of Arachidonic acid.

11. Avoid Omega 6 oils
Omega 6 fats lead to inflammation these are: safflower oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil. These oils are especially bad if you have high levels of circulating insulin in your body. Night shade vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant may actually make inflammation worse, although I have had trouble finding a consistency in this observation. These vegetables are part of the nightshade family of plants and contain a chemical alkaloid which in some people can be an irritant.

Fish oil (EPA/DHA): The good news is that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil help to suppress the formation of undesirable prostaglandin E2. What you eat can significantly affect whether you have more of the beneficial prostaglandin’s (E1 and E3) as opposed to the pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2.

Because prostaglandin E2 is a culprit in inflammation, reducing the consumption of foods that are high in omega-6 fatty acids and increasing the consumption of omega-3 rich foods, such as salmon and other fish, can be beneficial. The docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) fraction of fish oil may be the most effective nonprescription supplement to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is a precursor of PGE1, a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

12. Take Vitamin C and E
These antioxidants suppress inflammation. In Belgian research, people with the lowest vitamin C levels had the worst inflammation and peripheral (leg) artery disease. And inflammation dropped 30% to 50% in normal and diabetic people given 1,200 IU of vitamin E daily in studies at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

13. Use Olive Oil
Newly pressed extra-virgin olive oil contains a chemical called oleocanthal.
Olive oil may act very similar to Ibuprofen in its ability to reduce inflammation. Ibuprofen is an inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase enzymes COX-1 and COX-2, which catalyse steps in the biochemical inflammation pathways derived from arachidonic acid to pro-inflammatory prostaglandins [PGE2].

Oleocanthal, like ibuprofen, caused dose-dependent inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 activities with reduced pro-inflammatory prostaglandin-biosynthesis [PGE2]. Long-term consumption of extra-virgin olive oil that contains oleocanthal may protect against some diseases by virtue of its COX-inhibiting activity, including a reduction in the risk of developing some cancer, increased cardiovascular health, reduction of platelet aggregation in the blood, and reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Oleocanthal in extra-virgin olive oil may be responsible for the various health benefits Mediterranean diet. However, do not cook with high heat, as this can change the oil from a healthy one to one that is not!

14. Changes in barometric Pressure

How often have you heard (mostly people who have reached the onset of maturity) say that “it feels like it’s going to rain!”? There is actually some scientific reasoning behind their usual and predictable discomfort. The internal pressure within your body has to be in balance (homeostasis) with the pressure around you. (I have read that even fish won’t bite when the barometer changes because of the effect on their jaws.) When the barometer drops during an impending weather change, the pressure in your body, including your joints and tissues inflames; those with fibromyalgia seem to be very sensitive to this occurrence. These individuals need to be exceptionally diet conscious during this time!

So, to simplify this epistle, look at your body in the mirror, be sensitive to what foods may make you more symptomatic and be aware of what the worse violations to your body are. pH can be a bit confusing, but remember that bread, ham and cheese are all inflammatory; spinach, peppers and other veggies (and most fruit) are not. So, by combining them, you can approach a more pH neutral balanced meal as opposed to one that is more acidic or inflammatory.

Bon appetite!

Disclaimer

This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider. Please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness using the information in this site should come under the direction of a trained medical practitioner. We accept no responsibility for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions or procedures in this site or related internet links. By using the information in this web site you are confirming that you understand this statement and that you accept all risk and responsibility.

All matters regarding your health should be supervised by your health care provider. All information provided in this site is for the purpose of education, not treatment.

Acupuncture Treatment

In contemporary applications of healthcare in North America, it is becoming increasingly common to hear patients complain that their insurance carrier is challenging them on what treatment/care is effective for a particular situation, according to the insurer, and ultimately, coverage is being denied. (It does appear that the insurance industry is moving toward a catastrophic coverage model, where less significant, in their opinion, illnesses will be the insured/patient’s responsibility…we all need to be better at keeping healthy rather than just letting ourselves deteriorate repeatedly. Case in point, yours truly has always been super health conscious…except for stretching. After three bouts of lower back sprains, I finally decided to take the time to add a yoga based program to my routine. We cannot expect that insurance will be there for all our needs).

 

 Of course, it is obvious that insurance companies are in the business to minimize their costs, escalate productivity and maximize profit. As a result, it is not uncommon or unlikely that our patients will, at some point, be denied coverage, only because the insurance carrier has deemed chiropractic, laser therapy, muscle release etc. to be ineffective or an unapproved treatment. Thus, it has been increasingly important to provide care that can resolve an issue with great expertise, as quickly and affordably as possible, which finally brings us to the title of this article.

Since 2007, after becoming certified in acupuncture, I have had the opportunity to see this treatment be a tremendous complimentary procedure to chiropractic, as well as to the other ancillary procedures that we utilize (please see previous articles). The best part is…the NEEDLE-LESS version, using laser as well as electric stimulation to the desired points has proven to be extremely effective! Acupuncture, so it appears, is a “system” rather than a “treatment” that can be carried out via a number of diverse applications, including pressure by a finger or even a car key; of course, having a background in anatomy as well as the points associated with the areas of concern is significantly helpful!

  

The World Health Organization (WHO), whose authority concerning health-related matters internationally cannot be challenged, has compiled a list of symptoms, syndromes, disease processes, pathologies, traumas and conditions that have definitely been proven as effectively treated by acupuncture. The WHO has also compiled a list of diseases, symptoms and conditions for which acupuncture has shown definite therapeutic effects, but more proof is needed to establish it as a mainstream form of treatment.

What are the main indications for clinical application of acupuncture?

1.     Acute and chronic musculoskeletal problems with pain and movement dysfunction.

2.     Acute and chronic pain of visceral origin.

3.     Reversible functional disturbances of the viscera (sensory, motor, glandular) such as some of the symptoms associated with gastrointestinal problems.

In an official report, Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials, the WHO lists the following symptoms, diseases and conditions that have been shown through controlled trials to be treated effectively by acupuncture:

Low back pain

Neck pain

Sciatica

Tennis elbow

Knee pain

Periarthritis of the shoulder

Sprains

Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)

Headache

Dental pain

Temporomandibular (TMJ) dysfunction

Rheumatoid arthritis

Induction of labor

Morning sickness

Nausea and vomiting

Postoperative pain

Essential hypertension

Adverse reactions to radiation or chemotherapy

Allergic rhinitis, including hay fever

Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)

Primary dysmenorrhea

Acute epigastralgia

Peptic ulcer

Acute and chronic gastritis

So, how does it work?

1.     Decreases the stimulation of nerve signals that lead to pain.

2.     Reduces the expression of inflammatory chemicals that stimulate nerve endings.

3.     There is evidence that acupuncture physically interrupts nerve signals from nociceptors (specialized nerve fibers) that lead to signaling to the spinal cord.

4.      There is an analgesic effect because of a release of naturally occurring opiate-based chemicals in the body. The release of dynorphine, a natural opioid, may accelerate tolerance to chronic inflammatory pain. There is also a release of serotonin which blocks pain pathways and interrupts signals before reaching the brain.

5.     Stress activates nociceptors, (which lead to pain signals in the brain), and stimulates the Sympathetic Nervous System (flight-fright response); acupuncture appears to inhibit these pain receptors.

6.     Using Electro-acupuncture has shown to reduce inflammation causing pain by “pumping” the surrounding tissue with contractions of the muscle.

7.     It also has a “modulating” effect on the nervous system; modulation  involves the body’s ability to regulate itself, i.e. exposure to a cold environment produces reflex vasoconstriction (tightening) of skin vessels and contraction of a muscle produces a reflex relaxation of its antagonist (if you bend your elbow, your bicep muscle contracts while your tricep relaxes). Simply, if the nervous system is hyperactive, stimulating selected points along the body, (neuro-reactive sites), slows things down; the reverse scenario is evident as well.

So, what does all this have to do with the price of cannoli in Italy? We have added this treatment procedure for pain control and movement disorders, knowing full well that comments like, “Since my shoulder is moving better, I can breathe easier”, or, “Since my back is better, my elimination is better”. These are comments that I have heard for 30 plus years with chiropractic care alone; chiropractic and acupuncture are a wonderful compliment to each other as they address the whole body, from acute care, to maintaining optimum health!  

So, with the increasing personal responsibility to keep ourselves healthy rather than depending on insurance being there as a limitless benefit, we invite you to call us to partner with you to improve the function of your body so that it can adapt more easily to the demands required, as well as guiding you with the knowledge to strengthen and improve your flexibility.

Is golf giving you a headache?

Golf is a popular sport played by enthusiasts of all ages here in the Atlanta region. Golf has some “usual suspects” when it comes to injury. Low back pain, golfers elbow, and rotator cuff injuries of the shoulder, to name a few. Range of motion of the trunk and upper extremities is the key to a successful golf swing. Flexibility exercises not only have the potential to prevent injury, but also to improve golf performance. Unfortunately, as you get older, your flexibility is likely to decrease, predisposing you to injury. Golf is a game, unfortunately, of repetitive twisting and rotating of the trunk. Excessive rotation puts a shear stress on the spine, shoulder and hip areas which may increase risk of injury: but who can argue that the feel of a “nailed” 300 yard drive gives one a HUGE adrenaline rush? 

Injury prevention for the low back includes proper swing mechanics, such as rotating both the shoulder and hip equally in the backswing, and keeping the spine vertical (no hyperextension) on follow through.

Exercising the muscles of the core, which are the powerhouse and foundation of the golf swing, will assist in the long shots and increase crispness and control in the short game. So what’s all this about headaches? Was that just a catchy title? No! Neck pain and cervicogenic (originating from the neck area) headaches can be chronic and common in some golfers. If doing as you’re told (keeping your head down instead of admiring your Bubba Watson shot), you can jam your upper cervical joints and sprain the sub-occipital muscles just below the skull, especially if your follow through is tense. So it’s time to add neck stretching to your pre-game AND post-game routine, and ensure that you have a relaxed follow through on your swing. Call us if your symptoms persist, as what may have originally began as a muscular issue, may now have progressed to a joint or nerve involvement. So stretch, warm up, relax, and have fun!

Call our office at (770) 922-1212.