For most women, menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, when the production of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) begins to decline. These hormonal changes can cause any number of the following to occur: irregular periods, hot flashes, mood changes, forgetfulness, cardiovascular disease.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Kidney is the organ responsible for growth, maturation and aging. Therefore, the fundamental changes that occur during menopause can be attributed to Kidney deficiency, and Kidney deficiency is the universal diagnosis among all women with menopause. TCM offers a gentle yet effective way to address menopause and related conditions.

Most importantly, herbs are gentle on the body and safer than current allopathic options. While western medicine claims that more time is necessary to determine how menopause can best be treated, Chinese herbal medicine (that has already been time-tested for over 3,000 years) prevails to ensure optimal quality of life in those who are reaching their golden years.

Menopausal women are encouraged to consume a diet with a high content of raw foods, fruits and vegetables to stabilize blood sugar. The Asian diet may contain qualities that modulate estrogen responses, and strong evidence indicates that how the body handles estrogen is far more important than how much estrogen it handles.

Researchers have extensively investigated three aspects of an Asian diet advantage: soy, vegetables, and green tea. Each is associated with a dramatically lower risk of breast cancer. Soy contains isoflavones that neutralize "strong" estrogens, converting them to estrogen metabolites that protect against breast cancers. Some key foods of the western diet may actually promote hot flashes and aggravate mood swings and should be avoided such as: dairy products, red meats, alcohol, sugar, spicy foods, caffeine.

It is worth noting that stress, tension and anxiety (all prevalent qualities of the Western lifestyle) should also be avoided by menopausal women as much as possible.

Overall, menopause is not a disease. It is a normal process of life that can be disturbing and discomforting. Even so, a woman can choose to restore and build her health. Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a natural way to do this through the use of acupuncture, acupressure, herbal remedies and diet.

Dr. Gao is a Colorado and California licensed Acupuncturist and is also nationally certified to practice Acupuncture. She is an instructor at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine as well as a member of Divine Physics' Integrative Health Care Team.

Allergy

Allergy or skin disorders such as rash, itching, dermatitis, and eczema commonly occur as a result of oral ingestion or direct physical contact with an incompatible substance. As a result, allergic and hypersensitive reactions occur either in localized areas or throughout the entire body.  In western medicine, these skin disorders are treated with drugs that symptomatically relieve itching and irritation.  Commonly used drugs include antihistamines and corticosteroids.  In most cases these drugs are used topically for a short period of time, and therefore have limited side effects.  It is important to remember the best way to avoid allergic skin reactions is to avoid the allergens whenever possible.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture regard skin disorders such as rash and eczema as characterized by wind-heat.  Certain herbs that treat wind heat have been shown to have marked antihistamine effect, and are excellent to alleviate skin itching and discomfort.  Furthermore, many herbs also have anti-inflammatory effect to reduce swelling and inflammation.

Detoxification

Detoxification is the process of addressing the natural toxins in the body.  The liver, digestive tract, kidneys, bladder, lymphatic system, lungs, and skin are the major systems/organs that are involved in the neutralization and elimination of toxins.

Because we are exposed to high levels of foreign substances and over consume chemically-treated, synthetically-produced food, extra purification is needed. The TCM believe that whole foods, some herb foods, pure food and water give the body the resources it needs so that it can purify and rebuild itself naturally.  The liver and colon are the two organs needed to place an emphasis, because they play a major role in supporting the digestive system.

Toxins in Our Environment

As a society, we face increasing amounts of challenges in our environment.  We encounter substances every day from the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink, including:

1.    Medications
2.    Pesticides
3.    Heavy metals
4.    Fumes
5.    Synthetic materials
6.    Cigarette smoke
7.    Caffeine
8.    Preservatives

In addition to these environmental challenges, our bodies produce waste by-products (such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and free radicals) as a result of normal metabolism that needs to be eliminated.  If these toxins are not neutralized and eliminated, the result is suboptimal health, also excessive accumulation of body fat, which is an abnormal increase in the proportion of fat cells, mainly in the viscera and subcutaneous tissues of the body.  Being overweight and obese are underlying risk factors for the causes of death, including:

1.    Hypertension
2.    Adult-onset diabetes
3.    Heart disease
4.    Cancer
5.    Stroke
6.    Chronic fatigue

Do You Have Toxins in Your Body?

Think for a moment of all the foods and drinks you have consumed over your lifetime. The amount could literally add up to tens of thousands of pounds. Answering the following questions may give you some insight as to your current toxic load.

1.    Do you or have you eaten processed foods?
2.    Do you eat non-organic fruits and vegetables?
3.    Do you eat meat and poultry that is not free-range?
4.    Do you consume genetically-altered food?
5.    Do you or have you ever used artificial sweeteners?
6.    Do you drink soda?
7.    Do the foods you eat have preservatives, additives, dyes, or sweeteners added?
8.    Do you eat fast foods and or eat out regularly?
9.    Do you charbroil or grill foods?
10.    Is coffee a regular part of your diet?
11.    Do you drink alcohol?
12.    Do you drink tap water?

If the majority of your answers are yes, then it is likely that your diet contributes significantly to your toxic load.  In addition to your diet, you are also exposed to other irritants such as cigarette smoke, pollution, hair dyes, dry cleaning fluids, cosmetics, exhaust fumes, soaps, perfumes, cleaners and drugs.  This everyday exposure to these substances may have you feeling less than your best, experiencing:

1.    Weight gain
2.    Fatigue or difficulty sleeping
3.    Poor digestion
4.    Food cravings
5.    Reduced mental clarity
6.    Low libido

What to Expect during Detoxification

Every person is in a different place in his or her level of personal fitness and each person has different goals.  Purification programs can have a significant, positive effect on the biochemistry of the body while allowing harmful toxins and by-products of daily metabolism to be eliminated.  As you progress through your purification program, you may experience some changes and some benefits:

1.    Increased energy
2.    Better digestion
3.    Less bloating
4.    Clearer skin
5.    Shinier hair
6.    Disappearance of lessening of past conditions (PMS, digestive problems, etc.)

Copyright ©  Divine Physics Health Institute 2008

Many people suffer from allergies without realizing either the causes of their discomfort or the healthful ways they might experience relief while also alleviating symptoms. Some common symptoms include: burning, itching, and tearing eyes; stuffy nose accompanied by nasal mucous, sneezing, coughing, wheezing; dry mouth and throat; abdominal pain and bloating, as well as vomiting and diarrhea. No wonder the sense of dread for those who feel prone to allergies.

Many people don't understand that allergies can come as a direct result of the toxic overload we experience as a society. Some common toxins that can upset us through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink include: pesticides, heavy metals, fumes, synthetic materials, cigarette smoke, caffeine and food preservatives.

When the body suffers overload of toxic substances, consequences can be varied. Some questions you might ask yourself to see if you are in a process of toxic overload and the subsequent allergies are: Do you often eat processed foods? Do you often drink soda? Do you use artificial sweetener? Do the foods you eat have preservatives, additives, dyes, or sweetener added? Do you drink unfiltered tap water? Do you gain weight? Do you often feel fatigue? Do you have poor digestion? Do you have poor sleep? Do you have low libido?

The general way of dealing with allergies is to mask symptoms with temporary relief. But the alternative approach of detoxification offers a powerful process for becoming symptom free. Through a process of detoxification, the body can be restored to a condition of unburdened potential.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an effective way to detoxify. TCM believes that human beings have a natural flow of energy through the body and that pain, disease, and allergic reactions can be caused by an imbalance or blockage of vital energy. This energy is called Qi (chi). The goal of TCM is to help restore the balance, or harmony, to the optimal flow of Qi and thus return the body to a healthy state.

The Chinese system of natural medicine includes the use of Acupuncture, Herbal Remedies, Food Therapy, and Acupressure. As you take treatments, you may experience the following benefits to your well-being: increased energy; better quality of sleep; improved digestion; clear skin; shiny hair; less allergic symptoms; and more smiles!

Contact Divine Physics for a complimentary consultation. Go Beyond Just Treating Your Symptoms.