Saturday, February 21, 2009

"Your Genes Are Not Your Fate"

A Tip of the Hat to Dr. Dean Ornish


This short 3 minute video is a brief talk by Dr. Dean Ornish, a man who proved scientifically that heart disease is REVERSIBLE through diet, exercise and lifestyle change. He is also the author of "The Spectrum: A Scientifically Proven Program to Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight and Gain Health" and "Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease" among other things. I hope you enjoy this short video about his perspective, key to which is stress reduction and avoiding/reducing chronic stress in particular. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are a great way to combat stress. By balancing the bodies energetic system, especially the Liver and Heart meridians which govern the mind and emotions, Acupuncture, reflexology and Chinese Herbs can decrease anxiety, increase calm and increase your capacity to "stay cool" during a crisis.

Website Redesigned with more Educational Information + Amazon Store of Patient Resources!
That's right! I felt it was time for my website to have a new pair of shoes and so voila! I gave it one. In addition to a new look I've added a Learning Center which will be populated with articles about health, Chinese diet and lifestyle advice, information about Chinese medicine treatment for specific disorders and more. For now it has some good links to some of my favorite resources for learning more about getting well and staying that way as well as a link to my new Amazon Store! I've been feeling recently like I recommend so many books and resources to patients that I'm constantly sending out emails with links to more information and I wanted to consolidate that information to one location that would be easy for patients and people wanting to learn more about Chinese medicine and health to go. I'll be increasing and updating the inventory there frequently, so check back often, AND I will be adding a music section with the tunes I play in my office as well - I get requests for those CD's a lot! Check in out using THIS link.

Green Tea - A cup a day to keep the doctor away

Green tea has been used as medicine in China for thousands of years and recently, the west has been catching on. Traditionally used in combination with Chinese Herbs for headache, mental fog, colds and flu's, it provides the body with powerful antioxidants that have been proven effective in increasing the strength of the immune system, inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots (thus decreasing stroke and heart attack risk) and decreasing LDL (bad cholesterol) levels just to name of few of its most exciting health benefits. If you want to add one simple thing to your routine to increase your health and longevity, adding green tea into your diet is a great way to go but people often wonder how much is too much? And what if you want decaf? Is it still effective? To answer the first question - officially, you can't have too much as long as the caffeine isn't effecting you in a negative way but personally, I recommend no more than 3 cups of caffeinated green tea per day. While green tea has much less caffeine than coffee, it is still caffeinated and caffeine can contribute to stress, anxiety, tension as well as miscarriage so I always advise decreasing caffeine in the diet as much as possible. Luckily, decaffeinated green tea IS as effective as caffeinated green tea but then the question becomes - where do we get good decaf? Bag teas typically contain the lowest grade tea leftovers and lack the delicate tantalizing flavors of whole leaf green tea, but I for one have not been able to find whole leaf decaf. Luckily there is a simple - and ancient - solution. Throw away the first steep and drink everything after. Most of the caffeine in green tea is lost during the first steep so if you throw this away you are left with delicious decaf which you can consume to your hearts delight with all the great health benefits and flavor you desire, and you're only limited by how many steeps you can get out of a single pot. Traditionally in Chinese tea ceremonies the tea from first steep is used to warm the cups but is discarded and not consumed. My favorite tea shop in town is the Tao of Tea which has stores in SE Belmont area, in the Pearl district and inside the Chinese Garden downtown. They are very friendly about helping you learn more if you have questions.

Hope to see you soon!
Well, I hope this message finds you well and that you enjoy the Ornish video with a nice cup of green tea in hand. Please do check out the revisions to my website if you get a chance and stay tuned for more educational content - its coming soon! Yours - Rebecca

February QiMail Newsletter - Fertility

Acupuncture and Reproductive Health

Current statistics state that one in five couples over the age of 30 have difficulty conceiving after one year of trying. Many of these couples are turning to acupuncture and Oriental medicine for a safe, effective and natural solution to have a healthy baby.

Oriental medicine has a long history when it comes to enhancing fertility for both men and women. In fact, evidence that acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to aid fertility can be found in early medical literature dating back to 3AD.

Fertility treatments were first recorded by Zhang Zhong Jing, a famous physician from the Han Dynasty, in his discussion of diseases in women in the Jin Gui Yao Lue or Essentials of the Golden Cabinet.

How Acupuncture Can Enhance Fertility

According to the principles of Oriental medicine, a person's health is determined by the quality of Qi, the vital life energy, and blood circulating through the body. When Qi and blood are circulating properly, the body is properly nourished and functioning optimally which, in turn, enhances fertility.

Researchers have confirmed its benefit in the following areas:

1. Regulate menstrual cycle.
2. Improve sperm count and motility.
3. Reduce stress and anxiety associated with infertility.
4. Normalize hormone and endocrine systems.
5. Improve blood flow in the uterus.
6. Decrease chance of miscarriage.
7. Increase the chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Fertility treatments vary from person to person, but are usually scheduled for at least three consecutive cycles (twelve weeks). Treatments can include acupuncture, customized herbal therapy, stress reduction and dietary counseling. Treatments work alone but are an excellent addition to any Western intervention.

Please call for more information of to schedule a consultation.


Acupuncture Increases IVF Success by 65%
Women undergoing IVF were 65 percent more likely to become pregnant when they combined the procedure with acupuncture, a recent study has shown.

The remarkable success rate occurred across seven acupuncture trials involving 1,366 women in a systematic review and meta-analysis published in a February, 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal.

Acupuncture was delivered either just before or just after embryo transfer – a step in the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) whereby one or several embryos are placed into the uterus.

The research was carried out by scientists from the University of Maryland in the United States and the VU University of Amsterdam in Holland.

It is thought that acupuncture stimulates the neurotransmitters that trigger the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, which controls the menstrual cycle and a woman's ovulation.

Acupuncture is also thought to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and boost the production of endogenous opioids, inducing the body to relax.

Source: British Medical Journal, February 2008



Acupuncture Improves Sperm Quality
A study published in the July 2005 issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility found that acupuncture helped infertile men by apparently helping improve sperm quality in their semen.

In the research project, 28 men received acupuncture in addition to traditional infertility treatments, while another 12 men received only the traditional treatments. All of the men were diagnosed with infertility of unknown origin.

Acupuncture was associated with fewer structural defects in the sperm of men who received it, although it had no effect on other abnormalities, such as sperm immaturity or premature death.

Previous studies have shown a link between acupuncture and improved sperm production and motility.

Source: Fertility and Sterility, July 2005

Monday, January 26, 2009

Happy Chinese New Year - Celebrate the Year of the Ox

Year of the Ox - Prosperity and Peace
January 26th, 2009 marks the Chinese Year of the Earth Ox. According to the 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs, the Ox is a hard working animal who achieves great things through perseverance, patience and hard work. This means the lunar year of 4707 (2009 by our standard calendar) is destined to bring us peace and hard won prosperity - the kind you know that you've earned through hard work and stubborn determination. This is the year of the classic American Dream, the year that its possible to reach any goal you're willing to work hard enough to achieve. So stop procrastinating, put your nose to the grindstone and put aside your fears because the Ox is here to help you stay the course to achieve what you desire. And so am I!!

Special offer thru February - my gift for the Year of the Ox, and great for Valentine's Day!
To celebrate the Year of the Ox and help you achieve those dreams for 2009 I am running a special offer from now until February 28th.
  • 3 one-hour Acupuncture Treatments for $165 (a $195 value)
  • 3 one-hour Foot Reflexology Treatments for $195 (a $225 value)
You can stop by the office to purchase one of these 3 treatment packages anytime, call to purchase over the phone or purchase on-line via my website. These treatments can be scheduled anytime and are a great way to make a commitment to your health in the new year or pamper someone you love with a special gift.

Find me on Facebook
Yes! I've joined the business revolution and created a page for my business on Facebook. If you have a facebook page, please fan me and if you have a moment, I would GREATLY appreciate a facebook review!

So here's wishing you the best in the Year of the Ox - a year filled with peace, prosperity and success. I hope to see you soon! - Rebecca Hurwood, LAc

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

January Newsletter - New Year's Rejuvenation

Qi Mail™
The Acupuncture Newsletter
January 2009
Rebecca Hurwood LAc, MAcOM - Be Well, Stay Well
All Ways Well, LLC
1525 SW Park Ave, Suite 103
Portland, OR 97201
503-445-8888 ext. 1

New Year's Rejuvenation

It is the beginning of a new year and, once again, a time to reflect on what changes we can make to improve our lives.

If you are intent on improving your health this year, acupuncture may be the very thing you need to "stick" to those resolutions. Here's how:

Resolution: Stay Sharp


Your New Year's resolution may be to learn a new language or take a class at the local college. How ever you choose to exercise your brain, acupuncture can help. Numerous studies suggest that acupuncture can help improve memory, mental clarity, concentration and cognitive function.

One recently published study showed how acupuncture can be used to help patients with vascular dementia. Cerebral functional imaging before and after acupuncture treatments showed a significant increase in the cerebral glucose metabolism of the brain which is associated with improved cognitive function. Other studies have looked at how acupuncture affects the performance of student taking an exam, Alzheimer's disease and memory impairment induced by diabetes and cerebral ischemia. All results, thus far, have been positive.

Resolution: Relieve Pain Naturally

Increasingly, people are looking for more natural approaches to help relieve painful conditions instead of relying on medications. Acupuncture has no side effects and can be helpful for all types of pain, regardless of what is causing the pain or where the pain is located. Some studies have shown the pain relief it provides can last for months.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain before and after acupuncture treatment for pain shows dramatic decreases in brain activity -- up to 70%. This decrease in brain activity in certain areas of the brain is thought to be the reason for the reduction of pain caused by the acupuncture treatments.

In addition to reducing pain, acupuncture also hastens the healing process by increasing circulation and attracting white blood cells to an injured area.

Resolution: Eliminate Stress

Stress reduction is always on the top ten list for New Year's resolutions and for a good reason. Stress is often the cause of illness and the deterioration of health. Numerous studies have demonstrated the substantial benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of stress, anxiety and lowering blood pressure

In addition to acupuncture, Oriental medicine offers a whole gamut of tools and techniques that can be integrated into your life to keep stress in check. These tools include Tui Na, Qi Gong exercises, herbal medicine, dietary therapy, meditations and acupressure that you can administer at home.

Needless to say, if the stress in your life is throwing you off balance, consider coming in for a treatment to regain peace of mind and stay healthy.

Resolution: Reach Target Weight and Stay There

Losing weight is the #1 most common New Year's Resolution. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine can help you reach your goal weight and maintain it by promoting better digestion, smoothing emotions, reducing appetite, improving metabolism, and eliminating food cravings.

From an Oriental medicine perspective, the acupuncture points, foods and herbs that are chosen to assist with weight loss directly influence the Qi of the Spleen and Liver systems to treat the root imbalances that are causing the weight gain.

From a Western perspective, acupuncture and Oriental medicine have been shown to have an effect on the function of the nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system, food cravings, and metabolism. All of which can help to energize the body, maximize the absorption of nutrients, regulate elimination, control overeating, suppress the appetite, and reduce anxiety.

The beauty of acupuncture is that each treatment is catered to the needs of the individual patient. Acupuncture points on the body will be chosen for overall well being with the objective of increasing circulation of the blood and Qi (stimulating the metabolism) and calming the nervous system.

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine are powerful tools for healthy weight loss, by themselves or as a supportive treatment in conjunction with other weight management programs.

Resolution: Quit Smoking

Acupuncture has turned a growing number of cigarette cravers into permanent ex-smokers. In fact, researchers say that acupuncture is a promising treatment for all types of addiction from cigarettes to heroin.

In one study, a team from Yale University successfully used auricular (ear) acupuncture to treat cocaine addiction. Results showed that 54.8% of participants tested free of cocaine during the last week of treatment, compared to 23.5% and 9.1% in the two control groups. Those who completed acupuncture treatment also had longer periods of sustained abstinence compared to participants in the control groups.

The acupuncture treatments for smoking cessation focus on jitters, cravings, irritability, and restlessness; symptoms that people commonly complain about when they quit. It also aids in relaxation and detoxification.

Call now to see how Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help you with your New Year's Resolutions!

 

The Will Power Connection

Is there a body/mind connection to will power? According to the principles of Oriental medicine, there is. Will power or "Zhi" is said to reside in the Kidneys and the state of the Kidney Qi directly correlates to the fortitude of our will power.

"The Kidneys determine our will power," writes Giovanni Maciocia, the author of The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. "If the Kidneys are strong, the will power will be strong, the mind will be focused on goals that it sets itself and it will pursue them in a single-minded way. Conversely, if the Kidneys are weak, will power will be lacking and the mind will be easily discouraged and swayed from its aims."

 

Give the Gift of Wellness

If you're looking for the perfect gift this holiday season, please consider a gift certificate from All Ways Well. Instant gift certificates can now be purchased online for any service or any dollar amount. Visit www.allwayswell.com for more information or call (503)445-8888 ext. 1.
 

In This Issue

  • New Year's Rejuvenation
  • The Will Power Connection
  • The Anti-Flu Diet
  • Jade Windscreen Tea

The Anti-Flu Diet

Looking for ways to reduce your chance of getting flu this season?

A study, published by The American Physiological Society found that mice were significantly less likely to contract flu when given quercetin, a powerful anti-oxidant found in a variety of fruits and vegetables.

According to the study's authors, the research also indicated that high consumption of quercetin resulted in catching fewer colds.

So, what are the best quercetin rich foods that you can load up on? Quercetin is found in red onions, grapes, blueberries, tea, broccoli and red wine. Red onions are one of the best quercetin rich foods as they have approximately four times the quercetin of most other produce. Eat them raw or cooked.

Source: American Journal of Physiology

Jade Windscreen Tea

Jade windscreen tea is a tonic made up of three herbs that are used to enhance the immune system. This herbal combination is thought to improve resistance to colds and flu, strengthen the lungs, and help to balance the body during periods of stress.

Ingredients
To make Jade Windscreen Tea, you will need equal parts (2–3 oz. each) of the herbs listed below.

1.) Huang Qi (Astragalus root)
2.) Bai Zhu (Atractylodes)
3.) Fang Feng (Ledebouriella Root)

Directions
Boil and Simmer. Place one part herbs and four parts water in a large stockpot. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Turn the heat down to a low simmer and cover. Do not lift the lid to look at the herbs too often, as this will diminish the "flavor" and allow the volatile oils to evaporate out of the tea very easily. Cook the herbs for 30 to 45 minutes.

Strain the Tea and Drink. Using a slotted spoon, remove the herbs from the pot and allow the soup to cool. Pour the tea into a mug or thermos and sip it throughout the day. Two cups a day, taken with a slice of fresh ginger, is recommended through the cold and flu season.

The tea has a slightly bitter taste. Water down the tea or add a natural sweetener such as honey if you find the taste disagreeable.

As with all herbal medicine, please consult with your practitioner to determine if this is the best formula for you.

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Friday, January 2, 2009

Happy New Year from All Ways Well

Happy New Year!

2009 is here! Now accepting Kaiser, Health Net and Providence Insurance!
Well, it seems we've survived the snow storm and now that 2009 is here it is time to start anew. In the spirit of the new year I am proud to share that I am now a preferred Acupuncture provider with Kaiser Permanente and with the American Specialty Health (ASH) Network which provides complementary and alternative medicine coverage to Providence Health Plan patients and Health-Net of Oregon patients. If you have insurance coverage through either of these providers, please bring your insurance card with you to your next treatment so I can verify your benefits and bill accordingly for future treatments. If you know someone on either of these plans who is looking for an LAc, please consider referring them my way!

Insurance reminder - deductibles must be met for '09
I have high hopes that 2009 is going to be a fabulous year full of positive change, exciting growth and happiness yet it does mean that our insurance deductibles have reset with the calendar year. Therefore, if acupuncture treatment is subject to a deductible under your insurance plan you will be responsible for paying out of pocket until that deductible is met before insurance will pay for your treatments. If you are unsure what your deductible is, or if acupuncture is subject to a deductible under your plan, please don't hesitate to call or email me and I will be happy to help you find answers. The sooner you meet your deductible the sooner your insurance will cover ongoing treatment, so don't hesitate to book an appointment!

New Year Resolutions - need help?
While acupuncture is the biggest part of my practice, I am a holistic Chinese Medicine practitioner at heart; this means I strive to combine acupuncture with Chinese dietary therapies, nutritional recommendations, Chinese herbs, Chinese bodywork therapies (such as foot reflexology) and meditation techniques when appropriate. This makes Chinese medicine an excellent adjunct to helping you meet your New Year Resolutions! Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help you with techniques for reducing stress, with treatments to optimize metabolism and reduce cravings for weight loss, with reducing the withdrawl symptoms of quitting smoking and so much more. If you're looking for a way to keep on track with those resolutions and ensure that 2009 is the best and most accomplished year yet, consider a course of holistic and personalized acupuncture treatments to help you succeed. Free consultations are always available and you can book consultations and appointments online anytime.

Back in the Office January 3rd - See You Soon!
I will be back in the office Saturday, January 3rd from my holiday break to resume my normal Tues-Sat schedule. I hope you all had wonderful holidays and fantastic New Year celebrations. Please remember that if you have any questions or concerns about health related issues, I'm only a phone call or email away and I'll always be happy to help you in any way I can. Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you soon! - Rebecca Hurwood, LAc

Here is a list of insurance plans currently accepted:
In-Network Provider with...
  • Regence BlueCross BlueShield
  • Premera Blue Cross
  • Lifewise
  • ODS Health
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • ASH Network
  • Providence Health Plan
  • Health-Net
  • PacificSource
  • City of Portland (ODS)
  • Reliant
Out-of-Network Provider with...
  • Cigna
  • Great West
  • All other providers with out of network coverage
Note that Medicare DOES NOT COVER ACUPUNCTURE under any circumstances. If Medicare is your primary insurance carrier, you must have a separate secondary insurance plan that covers acupuncture specifically.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year


Well, here are some images of the steps up to the office yesterday - only mildly treacherous, right? As well as some icicles off the courtyard. For those of you who braved it - thank you for coming in! And for those of you who didn't - thank you for being safe! Safety is key, you know.

Just a note to remind you that I will be out of the office from now until January 3rd, 2009. You can still book appointments by going online to my website at www.allwayswell.com anytime.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year, looking forward to helping you be well and stay well in every way in 2009!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

December Newsletter - Stress Less & Stay Well this Winter

Qi Mail™
The Acupuncture Newsletter
December 2008
Rebecca Hurwood LAc, MAcOM - Be Well, Stay Well
All Ways Well, LLC
1525 SW Park Ave, Suite 103
Portland, OR 97201
503-445-8888 ext. 1

REST, RESTORE, REVITALIZE

In nature, winter is the season where all living things slow down, conserve their energy and prepare for the outburst of new life and energy in the spring. Our bodies are instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of winter – rest, restoration and revitalization.

The Nei Ching, one of the earliest surviving medical books on acupuncture, advises:
"During the winter months one should refrain from overusing energy. Retire early and get up with the sunrise, which is later in winter. Desires and mental activity should be kept quiet and subdued, as if keeping a happy secret."

Eating warm hearty soups, dressing warmly, and refraining from cold and raw foods is also recommended.

Element: Water
Nature: Yin
Organs: Kidney, Urinary Bladder, Adrenal Glands, Ears and Hair
Emotion: Fear and Depression
Flavor: Salty


Seasonal acupuncture treatments in winter serve to nurture and nourish kidney Qi (the organ associated with winter) which can greatly enhance the body's ability to thrive in times of stress and aid in healing, preventing illness, and increase vitality.

Call now for more information or to schedule your seasonal tune-up

 

De-stress this Winter with Acupuncture

While optimal health and well-being in the winter season calls for rest, energy conservation and the revitalization of body and spirit, your holiday activities may have a different agenda. This year can be filled with a mad scramble of visitors, family get-togethers and frantic shopping trips. Compound the usual seasonal pressures with the constant barrage of bad economic news and you may find this to be one of the most stressful times of the year.

Stress, frustration and unresolved anger can cause a disruption in the flow of qi or energy through the body. These energetic imbalances can throw off the immune system or cause symptoms of pain, sleep disturbances, mood changes, abnormal digestion, headaches, and menstrual irregularities, and, over time, more serious illnesses can develop. Acupuncture treatments can correct these imbalances and directly effect the way you manage stress.

Studies on Acupuncture and Stress

Numerous studies have demonstrated the substantial benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of stress.

A 2008 study published in Anesthesia & Analgesia found that acupuncture point alleviated preoperative anxiety in children while a 2003 study conducted at Yale University showed that ear acupuncture significantly lowered the stress level of the mothers of children that were scheduled for surgery.

A German study published in Circulation found that acupuncture significantly lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The extent of the blood pressure reductions by acupuncture treatments was comparable to those seen with antihypertensive medication or aggressive lifestyle changes, including radical salt restrictions.

Another study from the University of New Mexico measured the affects of acupuncture on 73 men and women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The researchers found the acupuncture treatments to be as helpful as the standard treatment of cognitive behavioral therapy.

Needless to say, if the stress in your life is throwing you off balance, consider acupuncture therapy to regain peace of mind, regulate your immune system and stay healthy.

 

Miso Soup with Scallions

Did you know that Miso Soup with Scallions is actually an ancient herbal remedy for colds?

In 300 AD famous herbalist, Ge Hong, writes about Miso Soup with Scallions in a book called, Bei ji zhou hou fang or Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One's Sleeve.

The soup is indicated for the onset of a cold when a person is just beginning to feel a headache, stuffy nose and a slight fever. So, the next time you feel a cold coming on, be sure to have your miso!

Miso Soup (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

* 6 cups water
* 3-4 Tablespoons Aka Miso or red soy bean paste (usually sold in the refrigerated section)
* 3-5 green onions stalks, chopped

Directions:

* Dissolve the miso in a little bit of boiling water (about 2 tsp.)
* Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and add the miso & scallions.
* Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
* Remove from heat top with green onions and serve.

Variations:
you can add various other ingredients to make a more substantial soup, such as tofu, seaweed, fresh mushrooms, cooked shrimp, snow pea sprouts, cooked rice noodles, or paper-thin slices of fresh ginger.

 

Give the Gift of Wellness

If you're looking for the perfect gift this holiday season, please consider a gift certificate from All Ways Well. Instant gift certificates can now be purchased online for any service or any dollar amount. Visit www.allwayswell.com for more information or call (503)445-8888 ext. 1.
 

In This Issue

  • REST, RESTORE, REVITALIZE
  • De-stress this Winter with Acupuncture
  • Miso Soup with Scallions
  • Stress Busting Foods

Stress Busting Foods

The foods that you eat play a crucial role in your overall well-being as well as your ability to handle stress.

Over 1400 chemical changes occur as stress hormones, such as cortisone, sap important nutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin C and magnesium from the body.

Here are three foods that can replenish your supply of these nutrients and enhance your ability to manage stress:

Cauliflower – Cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, and kale are chock full of stress-relieving B vitamins. Cauliflower is also one of the very best sources of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid.

Pantothenic acid helps turn carbohydrates and fats into usable energy and improves your ability to respond to stress by supporting your adrenal glands. Fatigue, listlessness, numbness and tingling or burning pain in the feet are all indications that you may need more vitamin B5 in your diet.

Salmon – Salmon is a healthy and delicious way to get your dose of B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin B12 supports production of red blood cells, allows nerve cells to develop properly and is essential to the synthesis of the "happy" brain chemical serotonin.

Among the many benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, a 2003 study published in Diabetes & Metabolism found that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduced the stress response and kept the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine in check.

Blackberries – Blackberries are jam packed with Vitamin C, calcium and magnesium. Vitamin C has shown to be a powerful stress reducer that can lower blood pressure and return cortisol levels to normal faster when taken during periods of stress.

Magnesium and calcium act together to help regulate the body's nerves and muscle tone. When there is too little magnesium in your diet, nerve cells can become over activated and can trigger muscle tension, muscle soreness, muscle spasms, muscle cramps, and muscle fatigue.

Blackberries have more than double the amounts of vitamin C, calcium and magnesium than their popular cousin, the blueberry.

Qi Mail™ is an opt-in acupuncture newsletter available by subscription only. We neither use nor endorse the use of spam.  You are welcome to forward Qi Mail™ to friends and colleagues at any time. You can cancel your subscription at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of this email.

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