In This Issue (Get QiMail delivered to your inbox )
– Create Lasting Resolve to Reach Your Goals with Acupuncture
– Healthy Brain Habits
– Mental Clarity Boost
– The Will Power Connection
– -News, Events and Community!

Create Lasting Resolve to Reach Your Goals with Acupuncture
The start of the new year is a time of looking back at what we have achieved in the past year and looking forward to the future. This period of remembrance and resolution may be challenging but it is both productive and rewarding. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help achieve the change you seek as it assists in illness prevention, stress relief, minimizes aches and pains, improves energy and nurtures balance. This calm and clarity strengthens your resolve as you take the next step in achieving your goals.

Here are a few ways that Acupuncture can help you achieve your goals:

Lose Weight 
Losing weight is the 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–all of which can help energize the body, maximize absorption of nutrients, regulate elimination, control overeating, suppress the appetite and reduce anxiety.

Get in Shape
Renewed enthusiasm to exercise in order to enhance fitness levels, train for a competition, or lose weight can come at a painful price for those who try to do too much too quickly. Recent studies show that acupuncture effectively treats sports injuries such as strains, sprains, musculoskeletal pain, swollen muscles and shin splints. 

Eliminate Stress
Stress reduction is always on the top ten list for New Year’s resolutions and for a good reason; it is often the cause of illness and 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 range of tools that can be integrated into your life to keep stress in check.

Improved Quality of Life
If pain is keeping you from living life to the fullest, acupuncture can help as it has no side effects and can be helpful for all types of pain, regardless of the cause or where it is located. Increasingly, people are looking for more natural approaches to help relieve painful conditions instead of relying on medication. In addition to reducing pain, acupuncture also hastens the healing process by increasing circulation and attracting white blood cells to an injured area.

Call today to see how Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine can help you keep your resolutions and prepare for the year ahead!

Healthy Brain Habits
Keeping the goals we have set for ourselves in addition to outlining and completing the tasks needed to accomplish those goals can be overwhelming. Here are a few steps you can take to help optimize brain health and sharpen your memory:

Eat More Produce – Studies that focus on food and memory show that the more produce you eat, the better. One 25-year Harvard Medical School study of more than 13,000 women showed that the participants who ate relatively high amounts of vegetables over the years had less age-related decline in memory. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, and leafy green vegetables had the biggest effect on helping women retain their memory during the course of the study. In another study, the phytochemicals, anthocyanin (found in berries of all colors and cherries) and quercetin (found in onions, kale and apples), actually reversed some of the age-related memory deficits in laboratory animals.

Take Care of Your Heart – A healthy heart makes for a healthy brain. Because oxygen and nutrients are carried in the blood stream, anything that impedes blood flow will starve those all-important brain cells. Review your blood pressure and cholesterol level. Know your numbers and if they are elevated, take immediate measures to bring them down.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep -When we sleep, the brain has time to recharge. Studies show that 7-8 hours of sleep a night helps to strengthen memory. Practicing good sleep habits helps keep the brain and the rest of the body functioning at its best.

Exercise – Regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by about half. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and helps regulate blood sugar levels, both of which improve brain function and memory. Aim for 30 minutes a day.

Challenge Your Brain – Keep your mind active and challenged. Brain function decreases with age. Studies show that cognitive exercise can improve blood flow to the brain. Spend at least 15 minutes each day on a mental exercise such as a crossword puzzle, journaling or learning a new language in order to slow memory loss.

Mental Clarity Boost
Feeling a little foggy? Having trouble concentrating?

Massage acupuncture point Du 20 for some mental clarity.

Du 20 is located on top of the head, midway between the ears. It is used to clear the mind and improve focus.

Stimulate the point with your index finger 35-40 seconds for a quick “brain boost.”

The Will Power Connection
Is there a body/mind connection to will power? According to the principles of Acupuncture and 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.

In Oriental medicine, disease prevention begins with a protective layer around the exterior of the body called wei qi, or defensive energy. If you catch colds easily, have low energy and require a long time recuperating from an illness, your wei qi may be deficient.

Nourishing Qi can help greatly enhance the body’s ability to thrive in times of stress, aid in healing, prevent illness and increase vitality. According to Oriental medicine, recharging your battery and regeneration of vital energy, Qi, will help you live, look and feel your best!

News, Events and Community!
– John’s schedule changes every trimester based on his teaching schedule, he always has room for new and existing patients. You can schedule up to three months in advance and see the new hours using our online scheduling system: http://www.appointmentquest.com/provider/2120071333 or call (510) 814-6900

– In January 2012 we will be introducing “Shang Han Lun Mondays” a low cost straight TCM clinic on Monday afternoons. Details will be posted in our facebook events.

– We are open on Saturdays for drop-in appointments from 10-2.

– Please join our Facebook community http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alameda-Acupuncture-Dr-John-Nieters-LAc/126245057390177
– The office will be closed December 23-26 and December 30-31. Have a wonderful holiday. Remember Winter is the time to let Yin have it’s way and rest!

-Thanks to “L” in Alameda for this wonderful review on Yelp.com:
“John is one of the most tuned in healers I have met. Its what makes his treatments so effective, I have seen him for a variety of health issues over the years and have often referred people to him. While I see different acupuncturists for different reasons, John is the one I want to see when my health takes a dive or acquire one of my creative injuries. 
In 2004 western medicine had exhausted all treatment options for my polycystic ovarian syndrome, in fact my doctor was on board for a full hysterectomy, when I consulted John about it within a few months his acupuncture treatments and herbs got me on a regular cycle, within a year there was no sign of disease. Recently I had a flare up and I am currently uninsured so i can’t even get western medicine tests, while it took me a little longer than I would prefer to snap out of my denial I quickly got in to see John and he fixed me up and set up with some lovely herbs. 
Some things you just can’t waste time on and you need to see the best, I’m glad i did. ”

Upcoming Events
January:

What: TCM Gynecology & Obstetrics
Instructor: Dr. John Nieters, L.Ac. DAOM
When: Thursdays Jan 5, 2012 to April 12
Time: 1:45pm – 4:45pm
Where: Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences
Call: (510) 763-7787 and ask for “Nah”

Learn how to use acupuncture and herbal medicine to treat: sub-fertility, PMS, painful periods, endometriosis, fibroids and menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, dryness and insomnia. Learn how to work as a primary care practitioner with fertility patients, or coordinate care in a multi-disciplinary approach using Chinese Medicine along with IVF treatments and other western fertility methodologies.

What: Nutrition & Supplements
Instructor: Dr. John Nieters, L.Ac. DAOM
When: Jan 3, 2012 for 10 weeks
Time: 9am-12pm
Where: Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences
Call: (510) 763-7787 and ask for “Nah”

Learn how to integrate concepts of Western nutrition and supplements into your clinical practice. This is an in depth study of nutrition and health.
John Nieters, L.Ac. DAOM, clinical practice in Alameda, CA specializing in recalcitrant or “knotty” chronic disease conditions, women’s health and musculo-skeletal disorders. John is an advocate for education and integration in healthcare.

February:

What: UC Berkeley Integrative Medicine: Traditional Chinese Medicine
Time: 2/27/12 7-9pm
Where: , UC Berkeley, Chan Shun Auditorium, 2050 Valley Life Sciences Building
Cost: FREE
Dr. John Nieters, L.Ac. DAOM will present an overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine including philosophy, modalities and practical applications. The public is welcome to attend this event for FREE.

UC Berkeley Integrative Medicine: This class is a survey course on a di versity of healing sciences, and medical practices. It will encompass specific fields of healthcare and medicine from all over the world as well as fields expanding in the United States. We invite professionals from practices such as: allopathy (modern western medicine), osteopathy, naturopathy, homeopathy, midwifery, Native American Medicine, acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Taoist Medicine, ayurveda, ethnobotany, yoga, energy medicine, meditation, psychiatry, chiropractic, and many other fields to share their insight and knowledge in the healing arts of medicine across cultures.

The goal of this course is to promote awareness and expose students to the different types of complimentary and alternative therapies in the medical field. Our aim is for each student to walk away with a basic awareness of what each medical therapy and health practice is about and how to evaluate evidence scientifically. We hope that this knowledge will be sufficient to intrigue curiosity and encourage students to search for more information on their own.

In This Issue (Get QiMail delivered to your inbox )
– Treatment of Neurological Disorders with Acupuncture
– Acupuncture Treats Peripheral Neuropathy
– Relief for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
– Foods to Boost Brain Health
– Trigeminal Neuralgia
– -News, Events and Community!

Treatment of Neurological Disorders with Acupuncture
A neurological disorder refers to a problem with the nervous system, which is a complex, sophisticated system that regulates and coordinates the body’s activities. Nerve pain can arise from trauma, inflammation, stroke, disease, infection, nerve degeneration, exposure to toxic chemicals, and nutrient deficiencies. 

Nerve pain is usually a sharp shooting pain or a constant burning sensation. Typically occurring in the same location with each episode, it can often be traced along the nerve pathway. Sometimes weakness or impaired function in the affected area occurs and the skin may be either overly sensitive or numb.

Some common neurological disorders acupuncture treats include:

Peripheral Neuropathy – damage to the peripheral nervous system, which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to every other part of the body. Neuropathy caused by diabetes often affects the feet.

Trigeminal Neuralgia – facial pain, sometimes called Tic Douloureux, affects the trigeminal nerve which is responsible for impulses of touch, pain, pressure and temperature sent to the brain from the face, jaw, and gums.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – also known as median nerve entrapment, it occurs when swelling or irritation of the nerve or tendons in the carpal tunnel results in pressure on the median nerve.

Headaches – Headaches that can be treated with acupuncture include migraines, tension headaches, headaches occurring around the menstrual cycle, sinus headaches and stress-related headaches.

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine have been found effective as a conjunctive therapy for several neurological disorders and in treating pain and inflammation.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a neurological disorder or nerve pain please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment!

Acupuncture Treats Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to every other part of the body. In most cases, peripheral neuropathy is secondary to conditions such as diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, alcoholism, nutritional deficiencies, AIDS, or poisoning from heavy metals, chemotherapy, or various drugs.

Other causes include direct physical injury to a nerve (trauma), penetrated injuries, fractures or dislocated bones, pressure involving superficial nerves (ulna or radial) which can result from prolonged use of crutches or staying in same position, tumor, intraneural hemorrhage, exposure to cold, compression or entrapment (i.e. carpal tunnel syndrome), radiation or atherosclerosis. 

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may include:

- numbness or insensitivity to pain or temperature
- burning, tingling, or prickling sensation
- sharp or burning pain
- cramps
- extreme sensitivity to touch
- loss of balance and coordination,
- muscle weakness 
- muscle wasting
- paralysis

Oriental medicine teaches that peripheral neuropathy is due to dampness moving to the limbs, where it obstructs the flow of Qi (energy) and blood within them. The treatment is twofold, to treat the underlying factor that is causing this dampness to accumulate and to directly facilitate the circulation of Qi and blood in the affected area. By improving circulation, the nerve tissues of the affected area can be nourished to repair function and reduce pain.

Peripheral neuropathy is a symptom for many different patterns of disharmony within the body. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine aims to treat each individual uniquely depending on what caused the neuropathy and how it manifests.

Do you or someone you know suffer from peripheral neuropathy? Contact us today to find out what acupuncture and Oriental medicine can do for you!

Relief for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
One of the most common job-related injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is responsible for the highest number of days lost among all work-related injuries. With more than two million visits to physicians’ offices and approximately 465,000 carpal tunnel release operations each year, it is the most frequent surgery of the hand and wrist. 

Acupuncture is extremely effective at treating carpal tunnel syndrome, eliminating the need for surgery or the use of anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids and recent studies suggest that acupuncture may be more effective than corticosteroids when it comes to treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist made up of ligaments and bones. The median nerve and the tendons that connect the fingers to the muscles of the forearm pass through this tightly spaced tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as median nerve entrapment, occurs when swelling or irritation of the nerve or tendons in the carpal tunnel results in pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers, as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move.

Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb, index and middle fingers. The symptoms often first appear during the night. As symptoms worsen, people might feel pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. If not properly treated, carpal tunnel syndrome can cause irreversible nerve damage and permanent deterioration of muscle tissue.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Acupuncture
From an Oriental medicine perspective, carpal tunnel syndrome is seen as a disruption of the flow of Qi and blood within the area and is associated with cold, dampness or wind penetrating the muscles and sinews of the wrist. In addition to reducing swelling, inflammation, and pain in the wrist, acupuncture addresses any headaches, neck pain, shoulder stiffness and sleeping problems that often accompany this condition. Your treatment may also take into account underlying conditions that contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome including obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems, diabetes, and hormonal changes due to pregnancy and menopause.

If you or someone you know suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome, please call to find out more about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help you.

Foods to Boost Brain Health
Boost your brain’s overall heath and enhance its day to day functioning by including these foods in a healthy well-balanced diet.

Blueberries – Well known for their role in improving motor skills and overall learning capacity, blueberries are rich in antioxidants that are great for boosting your brain and helping to reverse the effects of aging on the brain. Most berries contain fisetin and flavenoid, which are great for improving your memory and allowing you to easily recall past events.

Fish – Omega-3 rich wild salmon, tuna, and herring help brain function by providing more oxygen, allowing it to retain new information while remembering old information. It also coats neurons with good fat, allowing them to move easier through the brain. Eating one serving of fish a week can decrease your chances of getting Alzheimer’s. 

Leafy Green Vegetables – Vegetables such as cabbage, kale, spinach, collards, turnip greens and others are rich in vitamins, folate, and iron, all of which are essential for memory recall and increasing cognitive activity.

Nuts/Seeds – Rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, folate, vitamin E, vitamin B6 and zinc all of which allow you to think more clearly. Choose seeds and nuts rich in thiamine and magnesium, which are great for memory, cognitive function, and brain nourishment.

Whole Grains – Rich in folate, thiamine, vitamin B6, and zinc, the nutrients found in whole grains increase blood flow to the brain, improving the quality and quantity of brain function and recall.

Trigeminal Neuralgia
One of the largest nerves in the head, the trigeminal nerve is responsible for impulses of touch, pain, pressure and temperature sent to the brain from the face, jaw, and gums. Characterized by a sudden, severe, electric shock-like or stabbing pain felt on one side of the jaw or cheek, these periodic attacks of pain generally last a few seconds and may be repeated one after the other. 

The exact cause of trigeminal neuralgia is not known; however, physical nerve damage and stress can trigger painful attacks. Damage may also be the result of a biochemical change in the nerve tissue itself or an abnormal blood vessel compressing the nerve as it exits from the brain. In almost all cases, an excessive burst of nervous activity from a damaged nerve causes the painful attacks.

Acupuncture is considered a safe, adjunctive therapeutic option in patients with trigeminal neuralgia especially before invasive intervention is done.

News, Events and Community!
– Please accept our sincere thanks and gratitude to all who have reviewed us on Yelp.com, Facebook, iTunes and more. We are so honored by your kind words and that you took time out of your busy lives to write them.

Thanks Jesse B. in Oakland, for your recent review on Yelp: “The clinic shines with professionalism, peace, and tranquility. Dr. Nieters takes his time to understands my conditions from a broad perspective, and thanks to his experience and skill, he is always able to offer positive effective help.
I would recommend this clinic highly to anyone looking for great care backed with lots of experience and a balanced perspective from both eastern and western medical thought.”

Thanks to “luckydog43234” for your recent review of The Balancing Point radio show on iTunes: “This is a learning experience every episode and I am an acupuncturist! John has no hidden agenda, in other words he is not doing this to promote himself or his practice. He uses his vast knowledge to educate and help people, which is what all true healers do.”

Thanks to Stephanie on our facebook page for her recommendation and for being the “motive force” behind John’s recept trip to Denver to teach at CSTCM: “John is bridging the gap between Eastern and Western medicine. He is a true teacher who is ultimately looking to create health. While his foundation is Chinese Medicine, he uses language and concepts a westerner can understand. If you are interested in creating health for yourself listen to his podcast called The Balancing Point. You will not be disappointed! Thank you John for everything that you do. ”

Thanks to Penny on our facebook page for her recommendation: “Great podcast about health!”

– John’s schedule changes every trimester based on his teaching schedule, he always has room for new and existing patients. You can schedule up to three months in advance and see the new hours using our online scheduling system: http://www.appointmentquest.com/provider/2120071333

– We are open on Saturdays for drop-in appointments from 10-2.

– Please join our Facebook community http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alameda-Acupuncture-Dr-John-Nieters-LAc/126245057390177 (Big thanks to Dr. Emily Franklin, Sunflower Wellness Center, Santa Fe, NM for letting us know that the link to the facebook page didn’t work last month, hopefully we resolved this issue.)
-Thanksgiving the office will be closed to celebrate from November 24th to 26th.