Lung                            3 – 5 am

Large Intestine            5 – 7 am

Stomach                      7 – 9 am

Spleen                         9 – 11 am

Heart                          11 am – 1 pm

Small Intestine            1 – 3 pm

Bladder                        3 – 5 pm

Kidney                         5 – 7 pm

Pericardium                  7 – 9 pm

Triple burner                9 – 11pm

Gall Bladder               11 pm – 1 am

Liver                             1 – 3 am

As you can see from above the stomach energy is strongest in the morning, 7 – 9 am, so eating a big breakfast is the right way to start the day.  The Chinese say eat like a king in the morning, a prince at lunch and a pauper at night.  In the west we eat our biggest meal at night when our stomach is at its weakest energy level.  This can bring about organ cycle disharmony and show up as symptoms of indigestion or disturbed sleep.

People can use the Horary clock to help re balance the body from jet lag or sleep problems.  As a Chinese Health practitioner I use the clock to help diagnosis some imbalances.

Among the many reasons for this progress is the growing popularity of what is known as “integrative” oncology. Integrative oncology is a more comprehensive cancer treatment model that utilizes not only traditional therapies like surgery and chemotherapy, but also alternative therapies to enhance the effectiveness of traditional treatments. One of the more popular therapies used in conjunction with traditional treatments is acupuncture.

Acupuncture, originating in the Far East, has long been known for its relaxation and pain-relief benefits, but was not fully implemented or recommended within cancer treatment regimens until more recently.

How Does Acupuncture Benefit Cancer Patients?

One must understand the principles integrative oncology to appreciate how acupuncture’s benefit to those undergoing cancer treatment. Alternative therapies, like acupuncture, are not designed to fight the cancer as a sole method of treatment.

Rather, these therapies are used in conjunction with traditional treatments in an effort to lessen uncomfortable symptoms of traditional treatments like those brought on by chemotherapy and radiation. Symptoms of the cancer itself often pale in comparison to the extreme symptoms brought on by toxic chemotherapy regimens. The success and effectiveness of these traditional therapies often depend on the patient being able to endure these symptoms, making any treatment which can reduce these symptoms extremely valuable in the bigger picture.

Acupuncture has been proven effective in conjunction with traditional therapies because it has the ability to reduce symptoms onset by traditional therapies. Weight loss, fatigue, pain, nausea, and general illness are common in patients undergoing treatment for many different cancers are predominantly the unfortunate side effects of traditional cancer treatments. Acupuncture has, to varying degrees, been shown to alleviate each of these symptoms in patients undergoing treatment, thereby increasing the effectiveness of these treatments as patients are able to endure symptoms and maintain health throughout the high doses of chemotherapy and radiation necessary to reduce the cancer volume in the body.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos. Patients of malignant mesothelioma are often precluded from surgical resection as a curative therapy and therefore rely heavily upon chemotherapy and radiation to reduce tumor mass. Acupuncture has been shown to be an extremely valuable therapy for mesothelioma patients, reducing the symptoms of these traditional therapies which require extremely high-toxicity doses of both radiation and different mesothelioma chemotherapy agents to fight the aggressive cancer.

Acupuncture has been shown so effective in integrative oncology treatment regimens that both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) have formally recognized the value of complementary acupuncture in comprehensive cancer treatment programs.

While certainly acupuncture could benefit many cancer patients, it may not be appropriate for all those undergoing cancer treatment. Specifically, those with a history of endocarditis, thrombocytopenia, or neutropenia should avoid acupuncture. Patients who use an existing pacemaker or those with lymphedema should consult with their oncologist before commencing any acupuncture regimen or other complementary therapy.

Jack Bleeker
Director of Content Development/Outreach Coordination

Sources

The National Cancer Institute: A Pilot Study of Cancer-Related Fatigue

The National Institute of Health: Acupuncture Within Integrative Oncology Methodology

World Health Organization: Acupuncture Research in Cancer Treatment

Ready to Quit Smoking? Think About Acupuncture

A few years ago, I was walking with a friend around one of the city lakes that has made Minneapolis famous. My friend was from out of town and during our walk, he lit up a cigarette. We kept walking and talking, but very shortly after lighting up, my friend put out his cigarette because he was getting dirty looks from a number of people we were passing.

While I was sorry that my friend was uncomfortable, I was also glad in a way. I was glad that I live in a place where smoking is becoming unacceptable in many places. I was also glad because shortly after my friend went home, he quit smoking.

This was no easy task, because he had been smoking for over thirty years, but he did it, and is still smoke-free today.

As an acupuncturist, I have helped a number of people successfully quit smoking. I have found that those people who have been successful have a few things in common, which I believe have contributed to their success.

-Every person that I have helped quit smoking realized that tobacco was detrimental to their health was ready to quit.

-They realize that there is no magic bullet. While acupuncture helps with the frequency and intensity of cravings, they realize that quitting is up to them.

-They generally cut down from smoking a pack or even two a day, to a few necessary cigarettes each day. Necessary cigarettes are those that are smoked out of habit, such as smoking with your first cup of coffee, or on the drive home from work. Generally, before they quit, they are down to five or six cigarettes a day.

-They have a definite quit date. This gives them a psychological edge in preparing to quit.

-They have used acupuncture most frequently in the first week or two after they have quit smoking. After the first few weeks, they have used acupuncture infrequently, and only as needed.

-Each person I have worked with has commented that getting tobacco out of their life was actually easier than they thought it would be. Few gained weight, and most felt better than they thought possible.

If you are a smoker, quitting is the single most important thing you can do to improve your health. Acupuncture can help—do it today! Please call Cathy Di Maggio L. Ac. at 598 -9200

Acupuncture Effective in Treatment of
Post Traumatic Stress Dissorder (PTSD)

* Acupuncture Clinic at War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center
* Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Flying High With the Air Force
* Role of Acupuncture in Treating PTSD

Acupuncture Military PTSD >>

Arthritis treated with Acupuncture

Recently many of my patients have asked me about arthritis, so I have written a short page.

Arthritis is called Bi syndrome in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

There are several types in TCM; the main syndromes are Wind, Cold, Damp, & Heat. There is also skin bi, muscle bi, tendon bi, vessel bi & bone bi which are mostly local & functional ie. lifting, extension & flexion.

* Wind bi is characterized by wandering of the pain mostly in wrists, elbows, knees & ankles. Limited movement, fever & chills are common as your body fights the wind.

* Cold bi has severe pain & may you have cold joints. This pain is fixed & stabbing; alleviated by warmth with no redness.

* Damp bi has more soreness, numbness & heaviness of the joints. Aggravated with damp rainy days and is also fixed in location.

* Heat bi is hot and has a sudden onset. This bi can be in one or several joints with local redness, swelling is responsible for limited movement; the pain can be excruciating.

Fever and thirst also accompany the heat.

Bi is caused by blockage of qi & blood in the meridians & collaterals. Energy is not moving through the passageways correctly. If your body is weakened by sickness or old age; you are more susceptible to an attack from these pathogenic factors – wind, cold, damp or heat.

Bi syndromes can be worsen by where you live, weather and your general health. People in Seattle are more likely to have damp bi.

How do we treat this with Chinese Medicine? A combination of acupuncture, moxibustion & herbs is the usual treatment. This very effective; as seen in older Chinese people that are as spry as a 5 year old.

If you have any questions about arthritis pain or any other pain, please call me at (719) 598 – 9200.

- Cathy Di Maggio M.S. TCM

In Chinese medicine the lung, liver, and some spleen are involved, the organs in charge of energetics.

Spring will spring.  Then the lung takes in the irritant.  Then the liver, in charge of moving Qi and blood, is over reactive or sensitive to the pollen or dog dander or whatever it was.

The liver tells the body we are under attack!!!

Panic! The body decided the irritant Must Go! We start sneezing.

The spleen starts making Phlegm to coat the allergen, we get a runny nose, our eyes itch and burn because the eyes are the sense organ for the liver.

How do we stop this?

It’s best to start desensitizing and balancing the body before allergy season begins, but we don’t always think of it until we are in the middle of an attack.

My Treatment plan is:  Desensitize, Clear phlegm, Calm liver.

Acupuncture balances the body.  Cupping clears the lungs.

Herbs calm the lungs and smooth the liver.

Desensitize using JMT vials or bring in a sample of the allergen.

Here is the Chinese view on the Liver element:

Liver – Wood   Season – Spring     Sense organ – Eyes    Climate – Wind    Color – Green    Taste – Sour

Emotion – Anger     Sounds – Shouting

Allergies make us miserable!!!

So what can we do?

Chinese medicine has been dealing with this for at least a couple of thousand years.  Try it.

Pumpkin pie is a great example of this. Pumpkin and most winter squashes are very fibrous. This makes them harder to digest. Adding warming spices to heavier foods aids in breaking down their fiber.

Even our drinks often have warming herbs; cinnamon or ginger can be added to warm drinks.   Even Chile is added to hot chocolate for a winter twist.

So take advantage of the seasonal spices used so frequently this time of year. They’re excellent for your health!

I tell my patients not to drink iced drinks with their meals.  It is not good for your body to heat up all the cold food then have to ‘cook’ the food from there. It takes longer and is a lot of work for the body.  If you like cold drinks use them as a snack – 10 am 3 pm are good times.  Just remember this rule of thumb not within 1 hour before or 2 hour after a meal.

To help with any digestive problems I recommend smaller meals; making sure you chew all your raw food well & drink small amounts of warm liquid – hot tea or soup are good options.

Anger makes Qi rise and affects the Liver. More than any of the other emotions anger should be interpreted very broadly and include several other allied emotions such as resentment, repressed anger, irritability, frustration, rage, indignation, animosity or bitterness.

Joy slows Qi down and affects the Heart.  Joy can become a cause of disease when it is excessive, people who are always hyper for example.  Excessive excitement can lead to heart fire.

Worry (and pensiveness) knots the Qi and affects the spleen, worry can also affect the lungs. Excessive mental work or studying can weaken the spleen and causes tiredness, loss of appetite and loose stools.  Worrying depletes Spleen Qi causing much the same damage as excessive mental work.  It also knots the Lung Qi leading to anxiety, breathlessness and stiffness of the shoulders and neck.

Sadness dissolves Qi and affects the Lungs.  Sadness leads to deficiency of Lung Qi and may manifest in a variety of symptoms, such as breathlessness, tiredness, depression, or crying.  In women it often leads to blood deficiency and amenorrhea.

Fear makes Qi descend and affects the Kidneys.  Fear and chronic anxiety often cause deficiency of Kidney Yin causing night sweats, palpitations and dry mouth and throat. In children fear can cause nocturnal enuresis – bed wetting.

Shock scatters Qi and affects the Kidneys and Heart.  This depletes Heart Qi suddenly and can lead to palpitations, breathlessness, and insomnia.  Kidneys Qi tries to make up for the loss of Heart Qi causing symptoms of night sweats, a dry mouth, dizziness or tinnitus.

Spring – Wind causes symptoms to come up suddenly and change rapidly.

Summer – Heat causes sensations of heat, thirst and mental restlessness.

Late Summer – Dampness– invades the body gradually and cause turbid, sticky discharges.

Fall  - Dryness, generally dries out the body.

Winter – Cold contacts and causes pain and watery discharges.

The Chinese character for Qi indicates that it is something which is both material and immaterial at the same time. Qi is energy, but it is everything else too. Qi is the basis of the universe’s infinite manifestations of life, including minerals, vegetables and animals including man. All the various stages of Qi are ultimately one Qi, merely manifesting in different forms. Qi will change its form according to its locality and its function.

Chinese Medicine emphasizes the relationship between human being’s Qi, natural forces in the world, and the person’s environment. The energy of all those pieces is taken into account and the used to determine etiology, diagnosis and treatment of a problem. Qi moves and changes quickly from moment to moment.  Qi can be easily be replenished on a day to basis. Poor circulation can result in excessive condensation of Qi which means that Qi becomes pathologically dense, forming lumps, masses or tumors.

As I’ve said, Chinese Medicine is all about balance, and the balance of Qi, within a person and between a person and their environment, is a fundamental principle.

Earliest references to Yin & Yang date back to about 700 BC in the “Book of Changes”.  Most people know about the opposites of man – woman or dark – light.  Yin & Yang are two stages of a cyclical movement; one constantly changing into the other. No one aspect of anything is completely yin or yang as seen in the Yin &Yang sign. The first observation of the cyclical phases of Yin – Yang were probably day & night; day corresponds to Yang & night to Yin.  Here are a few common pairs:

Yang________ Yin

Light                  Darkness

Sun                    Moon

Activity                Rest

Heaven             Earth

East                   West

South                North

Left                    Right

Although Yin & Yang are opposite, they are interdependent.  They depend on each other, day is opposite of night; one can not exist without the other.  In the application of Yin – Yang to medicine the treatment modality is aimed at one of four strategies:

To tonify (strengthen) Yang

To tonify Yin

To eliminate excess Yang

To eliminate excess Yin

One can say that there is no Chinese Medicine without Yin – Yang.