More Predictions for Wellness Trends in 2015

Last week we mentioned 5 of the top 10 wellness trends we predict for the New Year. Here are 3 more of our trend predictions! 

1. Plant-based Paleo Diet

Dr. Mark Hyman, MD, a well-known author who we credit for popularizing Functional Medicine and bringing it into the consciousness of the mainstream, recommends a plant-based paleo diet for optimal health. Recently, he blogged about what he calls the “pegan” diet (a vegan paleo diet). We’d be surprised if that name catches on, but more people are beginning to realize that a paleo diet does not have to be high in meat. Dr. Hyman eschews all meat, fish, dairy, and eggs because he is a vegan. But for individuals who are not vegan, but only consume animal products that were obtained in a humane way -- such as grass-fed beef, pasture-raised eggs, and wild caught salmon -- these nutrient-dense foods can be a part of a healthy diet. When the paleo (grain-free, real food) diet first became popular several years ago, many believed it was a meat-based diet. In 2015, we’ll begin to see a growing number of individuals on a paleo diet who eat real foods diet consisting of mostly plants, healthy fats, and only 4 - 6 oz. of meat per day. 

 

2.            Tracking heart rate variability

Several weeks ago, we blogged about one mechanism in which acupuncture has been shown to work. Acupuncture in Del Mar, CA increases heart rate variability, the difference in the length of time between heartbeats. It is well-recognized among scientists, meditation experts, and elite athletes that a healthy heart should not beat in a steady rhythm like a ticking clock. When the mind or the body is overly stressed by racing thoughts, overtraining, illness, lack of rest, poor diet, or other factors, the variability in the length of time between heartbeats decreases. Meditation, good health, adequate rest, good nutrition, and the optimal amount of exercise each day results in an increases in heart rate variability. By tracking your heart rate variability either on a daily basis or continually all day, you can become aware of whether your health regimen is hurting or hindering you. If you’re training for a triathlon, for example, if your heart rate variability decreases for two days in a row, this is a sign that you need to take a day off from training. Heart rate variability trackers vary in price from $35 up to $200, which is easily affordable to most people.

3.            Chinese herbs

Chinese herbs have been safely used for centuries, as described in ancient Chinese Medicine textbooks. In Japan, Taiwan, and China, hospitals have herbal dispenseries where patients can get raw or powdered Chinese herbs that are combined in a highly sophisticated way referred to as polypharmacy. Herbs are combined in a way that personalizes the prescription to the individual patient and reduces the chances of any side effects occurring. What we do at Acuheart is make sure that any of our acupuncture patients in La Jolla, CA and surrounding areas inform us of any medications that they are taking. Some herbs can interact with prescription drugs. If you are taking blood thinners, any Chinese herbs that professional herbalists recognize as “blood movers” are contraindicated and therefore not prescribed for you. Many other medications such as Synthroid are usually not a problem, though we generally recommend leaving a 3-hour window of time between when you take your prescription drugs and when you take your Chinese herbs. You should follow this same rule for eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice. A component of grapefruit slows down the ability of your liver to metabolize caffeine, alcohol, herbs, and medications; therefore it can cause a toxicity reaction.

 

 

Which style of acupuncture is right for you?

This article is a brief overview of the different styles of acupuncture. 

If you have ever gotten acupuncture from more than one healthcare practitioner before, you might have noticed that your experience with each one was quite different. While most Americans are well aware that there are numerous styles of martial arts -- not just Tae kwon do -- most laypeople and healthcare personnel are still not aware that there are multiple styles of acupuncture being practiced in the United States. Accreditation of Oriental Medical colleges and universities, as well as licensure laws and standardized testing, ensures some uniformity in the practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine in the United States. However, the regulations are not so strict as to prevent licensed acupuncturists from choosing a specialty or particular style of healing modalities. This is a wonderful thing because it allows individual patients to choose a practitioner who practices a variety of different styles or a particular style that is preferred by the patient. If a patient doesn’t like the style of one acupuncturist, she can choose another acupuncturist in Del Mar, CA who uses a different style.

Some people categorize the different styles of acupuncture by the country from which they originated, such as China, Japan, Korea, France, or the United Kingdom. This may not be the best way to categorize the different types of acupuncture available because there are still multiple styles originating in different regions of each country, based on prominent regional doctor-scholars or teachers. The simplest way of categorizing each style of acupuncture is to place each style into one of three categories: Classical, Non-Classical, and Adjunctive.

Classical acupuncture in Del Mar, CA is the style taught in Oriental Medical schools in the United States, as well as medical schools in China. This style of acupuncture is concerned not just with the external symptoms a patient presents with (headache, fatigue, back pain,

digestive discomfort, etc.), but also with the root cause of those symptoms (underlying deficiencies, qi stagnation, lifestyle factors, etc.). A Classical acupuncturist will pay attention to a patient’s pulse, tongue, and body signs such as any feeling of hot or cold, loose or hard stool, skin discolorations, color of urine, social factors, and many other things that other practitioners may think are irrelevant.

Within the category of Classical acupuncture is: “family style” acupuncture, TCM acupuncture, barefoot doctor acupuncture, Japanese acupuncture, Korean acupuncture, French-Vietnamese acupuncture, five element acupuncture, and the many newer styles of acupuncture such as cosmetic acupuncture and fertility acupuncture as used in coordination with Western fertility modalities such as IVF. Family style acupuncture includes those lesser known styles which have been passed down through a family lineage and closely regarded as secret. Dr. Tan’s Balance Method and Master Tung’s Magic Points are examples of family style acupuncture. TCM acupuncture is the “official” style of medical schools in China, and is primarily what is used for the standardized exams for licensure in the United States. Japanese acupuncture in Encinitas includes several different styles, although one commonality they all share is a tendency to use lighter needle stimulation, abdominal or hara diagnosis, and a heavy reliance on moxibustion (burning mugwort or other herbs on the acupuncture points).

Non-Classical acupuncturists treat the symptoms of disease only, and may not pay much attention to a patient’s tongue, pulse, body temperature, coloration, or reported digestive condition. Non-Classical acupuncture includes microsystem-based acupuncture such as hand, foot, or ear acupuncture. Some examples of Non-Classical acupuncture include ear acupuncture for drug withdrawal or quitting smoking, foot acupuncture for glaucoma and other eye diseases, and hand acupuncture for body pain. These systems can be very effective, but the symptoms may return because the underlying condition is not addressed.

Adjunctive acupuncture includes medical acupuncture, chiropractic acupuncture, or acupuncture orthopedic acupuncture done by physical therapists or other non-licensed acupuncturists. Adjunctive acupuncture may include deep needling of trigger points for acute pain and muscle injuries. This style can be very effective for athletic injuries, whiplash, or work-related injuries.