Senate bill 467 is a bill that will license Naturopathic Doctors in the state of North Carolina. As alternative physicians, the practitioners at The Holistic Wellness Center of Charlotte thoroughly support this bill because it will bring a greater variety of natural healthcare to the great state of North Carolina.

The bill will regulate any non-licensed physicians claiming to be a ND. The government will impose rigorous standards for NDs. Senate Bill 467 is only going to provide a broader range of skilled health practitioners to North Carolina!

Kristien gave his input on the bill and discussed some factors involving holisitc medical practitioners.

You can watch the full video here: http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/health/Licensing-Doctors-That-Practice-Alternative-Medicine-123971314.html

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a common yet debilitating condition that plagues many women. Often causing infertility, PCOS patients regularly come through our clinic’s doors seeking an effective and holistic approach to the condition.

PCOS symptoms include: changes in menstrual cycles (including absent periods, irregular, lighter or heavier flows), irregular hair growth, blood sugar issues, acne and hormonal imbalances.  PCOS sufferers may also experience changes in breast size, deepening of their voice, and thinning hair. Often women suffering with PCOS have, at some point, had higher androgen levels, as well as estrogen and progesterone imbalances.

Due to these hormonal shifts, women with PCOS will have difficulty ovulating. The eggs in the ovaries do not mature and can then form into cysts. Most women are diagnosed from age 20 – 40; however, at the Holistic Wellness Center of Charlotte, we do see more and more teenage cases of PCOS.

Baseline tests should always include testing for luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels,  as well as estrogen and androgen levels.  Additionally, we recommend that PCOS sufferers have their glucose levels (fasting and non-fasting) tested.  At our clinic, we have noticed that women with PCOS often have low Vitamin D levels, as well as dairy and gluten allergies.  Lastly, a medical doctor should perform a pelvic ultrasound, and if indicated, a laproscopy may be necessary to biopsy the ovaries.

At the Holistic Wellness Center, we naturally treat the underlying hormonal imbalance, desensitize the patient to inflammatory allergens, regulate the patient’s blood sugar handling, and develop an exercise regimen and stress reduction protocol that the patient can work into their everyday life.   Lastly, we address deficiencies in chromium or Vitamin D with whole food supplements.  Herbal and supplement protocol always is personalized for each patient.

If you have PCOS and live in Charlotte do not hesitate to call Kristien to discuss your case further: 704-308-2557

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. ~ Confucius

Reflection is the process in which an image or idea comes back to us, such as looking in a mirror, rethinking an event, or reviewing an idea. We have the opportunity to take a closer view and reconsider our original thinking.

The new year is a perfect opportunity to reflect and use that knowledge as a catalyst for change. 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 you find yourself in better balance. This calm and clarity strengthens your resolve as you start the new year with new goals.

Reflection has other connotations in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Outer appearances reflect inner health so a well trained practitioner of acupuncture and oriental medicine will observe very different aspects of your appearance than you typically study when you look in the mirror. In acupuncture and oriental medicine, bodily observation includes looking at the face, eyes, body type, demeanor, and tongue. Two thousand years ago, when acupuncture and Oriental medicine was in its infancy, there were no x-ray machines or the very sophisticated magnetic imaging of today. These healers and diagnosticians depended on their finely tuned observational skills in order to assess their patients. Some of those early ideas seem simplistic today but many elements of diagnosis persist because outer appearances do provide clues to a person’s health.

Stick Out Your Tongue
Oriental medicine has used tongue diagnosis for thousands of years. An experienced practitioner can look at your tongue and begin to understand your internal problems but you can also be aware of information that your tongue provides. Look for changes in the color of your tongue, teeth marks, shape, and coating. These changes may indicate that something is amiss. A healthy tongue is naturally the same pink-red color as your lips. Someone who is very stressed or irritable may have a tongue with a red tip and sides. Teeth marks may indicate a deficiency or insomnia. Note any changes in the shape of your tongue. If it’s too pale, puffy or red it may indicate an imbalance.

Healthy tongues have a thin white coating. If you see a thicker coating developing, you may be catching a cold or flu. If the coating appears yellowish the illness has a hotter nature and you can also expect a sore throat and yellow phlegm. If the coating is thick and white, this indicates a cold with chills and clear/white phlegm but without a sore throat. So if you see a thick coat developing take precautions, rest, sleep more, and keep warm.

Seasonal acupuncture treatments serve to nurture and nourish your kidney Qi which can greatly enhance the body’s ability to thrive in times of stress and aid in healing, preventing illness and increasing vitality. Call for your appointment today and let us help you prepare for the year ahead!

Difficulties Sleeping? Resolve to Put Insomnia to Rest!

Our society puts a premium on our waking hours and has the tendency to underestimate the importance of a full-night’s sleep. Often, good sleep hygiene is an afterthought for many people. Millions of people are besieged with insomnia and look for quick fixes instead of exploring the root causes of the problem.

Evening is a time to allow our minds and bodies to turn inward to our subconscious. Excessive lighting at night, evening shift work, evening computing, video games, television and late-night eating all serve to counteract the body’s natural rhythms. It’s no wonder people have trouble sleeping. Exposure to early morning light and dusk helps to regulate sleep hormones in the body. Rather than embrace nighttime we tend to let our minds wander from one element of stress to another keeping us up for hours or perhaps an entire evening. We are then forced to approach the new day without having benefited from the regenerative powers that night time brings.

In Oriental medicine sleep occurs when the yang energy of the day folds into Yin – nighttime. Yin energy of the body is cooling and restorative. It is the time of day when our bodies turn inward and regenerate. This is the time we dream and explore the caverns of our unconscious mind. Conversely, daytime is yang, which is expansive. We expend the energy we have built up from the process of sleeping. Together, this is the cycle of yin and yang.

To apply the concept of yin and yang to your everyday life try eating your last meal at least three hours before going to bed. If you are a hot excess type, you can cool your body down by avoiding hot and spicy food and drink. Avoid alcohol, coffee, chocolate any other stimulants, especially late in the day.

Help circulate your body’s energy by working out or by gentle exercising. Build your body’s nutritive aspect by eating marrow based soups and stews, dark pigmented vegetables and fruits. Avoid overworking or over rumination as well.

Meditation is an invaluable tool to help your brain unwind. Helping the body create a sense of calm meditation can reduce stress, increase feelings of well-being, and improve overall health. It is of specific use to help one increase alertness, relaxation and reflection even in “waking” states. Meditation is best practiced during the day to help ease your sleep patterns at night.
One contributor to insomnia, stress, weakens the function of the liver, which in turn affects the health of your nerves. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine have a calming effect on the nervous system clearing obstructions in the muscle and nerve channels, assisting the flow of oxygen-enriched energy and relaxing the system. Common noted benefits include deeper breathing, improved digestive abilities, better sleeping patterns, and a general sense of well being.

Energy Renewing Ear Massage

Ear Massage is an extremely relaxing and effective therapy aimed at reducing stress, promoting wellbeing and addressing various health issues. It can be enjoyed by all and promotes a deep sense of peace and tranquility. Ear massage triggers the release of the body’s natural painkillers, endorphins. Studies have demonstrated that ear stimulation increases levels of endorphins in both the blood and cerebrospinal fluid.

Ear acupuncture is used throughout the world to calm anxiety, manage pain, reduce substance cravings and assist in the detoxification of addictive substances.
Here is a great ear massage that you can do for yourself or your loved ones:
1. Rub in small circular motions with your thumbs inside the widest upper part inside the ears, holding them from outside with the index and middle fingers.
2. Use your index finger to massage inside the smaller crevices if your thumbs don’t fit and along the front of your ear where it attaches to the head.
3. Lastly, massage the earlobes by gently pulling them down and also making circles with your thumb and index finger.

Tips for a Restful Night

Practicing good sleep hygiene and keeping your body in sync with the rhythm of day and night can help your body cope with sleep deprivation give it an opportunity to get stronger and heal.
By implementing just a few of the suggestions you should notice a great improvement in your sleep and how you function in the daylight hours.
• Maintain a routine sleep schedule
• Make your bedroom a sanctuary. Keep it dark, cool, and quiet
• Establish a sense of safety with your surroundings
• Reduce nicotine, caffeine and alcohol use
• Avoid rigorous exercise 3-5 hours prior to bedtime
• Avoid heavy meals near bedtime
• Position clock away from the bed
• Limit television and computer use to early evening

Holistic Wellness Center Of Charlotte

First visit is free for the month of January worth $12o
10% of profits go to the local Charlotte charity – GirlsOnTheRun!

This newsletter was provided by acufinder.com

Ad-renal means on top of the renals (kidneys). The adrenal gland is an endocrine gland that is split up into two parts: the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. The adrenal medulla secretes nor-epinephrine and epinephrine. The cortex secretes cortisol, aldosterone, adrenosterone, and DHEA. The adrenal glands are known as the ‘fight or flight’ glands.  The adrenal glands release cortisol in a circadian cycle. The levels are high in the morning (normally around 7am) to wake us up and then are lower at night so we can fall asleep.

So if I avoid being chased by a tiger, then surely my adrenal glands are fine.

Unfortunately, the adrenal glands does not recognize good or bad stress. Even when you are sitting at home watching TV, the adrenal glands still releases hormones to help you focus. In our fast paced lives,the amount of stress we put ourselves under whacks the adrenals and can thus cause multiple conditions.

Immune health

White blood cells follow the cortisol cycle and flow in and out of the spleen and bone marrow for instructions or regulation. If the cortisol rhythm is thrown off so will this immune rhythm.

Thyroid function

Cellular levels of cortisol regulate thyroid hormone production. Hypothyroid symptoms such as low body temperature and fatigue are normally due to an adrenal maladaptation.

Joint and muscle function

Due to the adrenals job in releasing corticosteroids, weak adrenals are known to compromise the healing time for our joints and muscles. Most adrenal supplements 50 or so years ago were invented specifically for athletes for tissue and joint repair. This is where the link between the adrenals and fibromyalgia comes in.

Sleep quality

If the cortisol levels are reversed (which happens regularly) we see patients who cannot get up in the morning and cant go to sleep at night.

These are some medical symptoms associated with the adrenals:

• Fatigue
• Migraines
• Muscle pain
• Low body temperature
• Joint pain
• Hypoglycemia
• Osteoporosis
• Insomnia
• Poor memory
• Inability to handle stress
• Osteoporosis
• Low libido

In our next  blog post we will discuss how acupuncture, herbology, nutritional supplementation and Diet can help treat the adrenal glands.

If you are looking to try acupuncture or holistic medicine in charlotte please call 704-308-2557

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common behavioral conditions among children. In the United States alone, approximately 4.5 million children between the ages of 5-17 years old are diagnosed with ADHD each year. Research indicates that when treating ADHD, a multidisciplinary approach is most effective; combining behavioral therapy, exercise, dietary changes and medication. Now acupuncture can be added as one of the treatment methods that can successfully manage ADHD.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a condition of the brain that makes it difficult to concentrate or control impulsive behavior.

Children with ADHD generally struggle with paying attention or concentrating. They can’t seem to follow directions and are easily bored or frustrated with tasks. They also tend to move constantly and are impulsive, not stopping to think before they act. These behaviors are generally common in children. But they occur more often than usual and are more severe in a child with ADHD. The behaviors that are common with ADHD interfere with a child’s ability to function at school and at home.

Adults with ADHD may have difficulty with time management, organizational skills, goal setting, and employment. They may also have problems with relationships, self-esteem, and addictions.

Treatment for ADHD

Treatment for ADHD is multifaceted. It consists of ADHD medications, behavioral therapy and lifestyle and dietary modifications. ADHD is best managed when families, educational and health professionals work together to meet the unique needs of the child or adult who has ADHD to help them learn to focus their attention, develop their personal strengths, minimize disruptive behavior, and become productive and successful. Acupuncture is an excellent addition to any treatment plan as it is used to help the body restore balance, treating the root of the disorder, while also diminishing the symptoms of ADHD.

What acupuncture can help with:

• Improve focus and attention

• Manage moods

• Reduce fidgeting

• Lower hyperactivity

• Augment mood management techniques

• Enhance concentration

If you would like to learn more about acupuncture in the treatment for ADHD or one of the childhood ailments listed below, please call for a consultation.

Treating Children with Acupuncture

Children respond extremely well to acupuncture treatments for many conditions. When treating children, their comfort is of the utmost importance. Treatments tend to be shorter and acupuncture points are usually stimulated gently with very thin needles or with other techniques that do not involve needles.

Needle-free acupuncture treatments may include stroking, rubbing, tapping, and pressing the acupuncture points with tools such as brushes, rollers and blunt probes.

Common childhood conditions treated with Oriental Medicine:

• Failure to thrive syndrome

• Weak constitution

• Colic, excessive night crying, temper tantrums

• Indigestion, GERD, constipation, and diarrhea

• Night terrors

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• Allergies, asthma

• Cough and colds

• Eczema and hives

• Ear infections

• Bedwetting

Ginger: Tool in Global Fight Against Childhood Killer?

Could one of the most widely used herbs in cooking around the world be just the right medicine for one of the deadliest conditions children face around the world?

That’s the promise pointed at by a study published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

In this study, researchers in Taiwan looked at the role of a ginger extract in blocking the toxin that causes 210 million cases of diarrhea worldwide. The toxin is produced by enterotoxigenic E. coli, which accounts for 380,000 worldwide deaths annually. The study found that zingerone, a compound in ginger, was the likely compound responsible for blocking the toxin.

Further study is needed to confirm these findings and determine appropriate dosage, especially for infants. But this natural wonder offers a very inexpensive alternative to drug therapy and great hope to thousands of children in poor countries around the world.

Source: American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2007

Information Provided by Acufinder.com

Take the cogs out of a watch? How good is a watch then?

Take beta carotene out of a carrot, how good is the beta carotene now?

This is what pharmaceuticals and 98% of all supplement manufacturers do. They take out the nutrient/vitamin that is thought of as the most powerful and then increase the grams of the “isolated fragment,” to create ‘high potency’ vitamins.  At first you would think, “That’s a pretty clever idea!” But the car without the engine, or even the engine without the frame and tires, will not get you far! We are the sum of our parts. Nature has perfectly made fruits, vegetables, and herbs which do not need to be manipulated.

Did you know there are over 200 nutrients, phyto-chemicals, vitamins and minerals inside a carrot? When we take beta carotene out of this natural envelope the body sees it as a foreign element. We are now finding that beta carotene is much stronger when left in its natural envelope with the other 200 nutrients a carrot contains. These other nutrients serve to balance each other out and reduce any possible side affects. It is the whole carrot and all of its synergistic cofactors which make beta carotene famous! Think of beta carotene as a famous movie star that can’t really act. It was beta’s agents and great marketing that made her powerful and rich!

Ephedra is a drug that is now banned by the FDA and can only be used by Chinese herbalists. Why? We use the whole ephedra leaf or stem. Not just the isolated chemical that stimulates rapid biochemical changes within the body – that is the substance that is banned. When ephedra was taken out of its natural envelope and its potency increased in the laboratory -  side affects occurred.

We all know who wins in a fight between enriched flour versus whole flour. Taking the surface layer off the flour is once again another great example of humans trying to better something that is already perfect. These are the same things that your supplement companies do to create ‘mega dosage’ vitamins.

It is common knowledge that eating organic whole foods is our best dietary option. So its now time to use this same notion when we chose our supplements and herbs.  Whole supplements may have small grams on their labels but with all of the other nutrients, phyto-chemicals, trace minerals and synergistic co-factors there is no need to increase the grams. These other nutrients increase the bioavailability of the desired substance thus giving the cells a chance to heal. High grams are just that – heavy. Isolated substances change the biochemistry too rapidly, do not heal tissue, and are not anywhere near as bio-available as whole foods or herbs.

Please don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with the human desire to improve and invent new things. But the old saying ‘don’t change something if it is not broken,’ needs to be applied here. The environment, our bodies, herbs and foods are finely tuned.  Choosing whole food supplements is the way to go.

Anger and the Big, Bad Liver
This is one we all have seen before: the college frat boy stumbling out of the bar after a few too many drinks. Someone says to the boy: ‘you look nice tonight.’ The boy completely misunderstands the compliment and rages into a massive fit, thinking the person said he looks like Vanilla Ice tonight! This is a great example on how a certain emotion can stem from an organ imbalance. Opposite to this, anger can also cause a liver imbalance. So emotions can be caused by an organ imbalance or can cause the imbalance themselves; either way, this often leads to self-perpetuating cycles. Other emotions associated with the liver are irritability, depression, and  mood swings. When a bout of anger occurs, the circulation and Qi will rise to the head, resulting in red eyes, headaches, and sometimes dizziness. When someone has repressed anger, the circulation and detox pathways in the liver become ‘stuck’ and this can cause depression or menstrual disorders.

The Kidney Is Scared!
Fear is related to the kidneys. When you were young, do you remember being terrified at that monster under the bed? In children, this can manifest as bed-wetting, which most psychologists have regarded as signs of anxiety. Just to clarify… there were never any monsters under my bed!

The Grad School Student’s Pensive And Worried Spleen
I’m currently over-thinking as I write this blog post. As a result my spleen is not too happy. The spleen controls the level of our intellect and thus when we overthink or worry excessively, the spleen will be impacted. Because the spleen’s major role is instigating the breakdown of food and its nutrients, when the spleen is injured, symptoms such as fatigue, loose stools, poor appetite, and bloating after eating will occur.

I’m Shocked You’re Such a Killjoy!
Sorry to say, but even joy in excess can cause endogenous problems. The disorders from this emotion are normally caused by the imbalance that comes from too much stimulation or excitement, or even sudden good news that can cause a shock to the system. Have you ever heard of the person having a heart attack upon realizing they has won the lottery? Upon moments of shock, the fight or flight response is regulated by the adrenal glands. The excessive release of adrenaline will stimulate the heart to palpate faster. Over a period of time, it is obvious that both shock and excessive joy can cause further medical issues.
A graduation or marriage is obviously a happy occasion, but also a source of stress. Someone who is always ‘on the go’ living a life of excess can eventually develop heart imbalances such as anxiety, insomnia, and palpitations.  So try not to get married every week and graduate every other week!

Grief And The Lung
The famous Deepak Chopra discuses how asbestos and grief affect the body in similar ways on the quantum level. The feeling is of a dense and heavy sensation in the heart ribs and lungs. Many patients feel grief as physical sensations. Aside from the feeling of heaviness in the chest, patients notice painful rib-cages, frequent sighing, or a lump in the throat. In Chinese medicine, grief is the underlying cause for most chronic lung problems and it is quite common for symptoms to appear within the first year after losing a loved one.

Kristien Boyle L.Ac.,MSOM.,Dipl.O.M.,Dipl.C.H.,Dipl.Ac. runs The Holistic Wellness Center of Charlotte. Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Herbology services are available.

What is Gluten intolerance?

Gluten intolerance is widespread in our society; it is a term that includes different degrees of gluten or Gliaden sensitivity. Celiac disease is the most severe type of gluten intolerance.  A genetic autoimmune disorder, Celic disease is very destructive to the wall of the intestinal tract. Celiac disease requires lifelong avoidance of all gluten-containing foods.

Most of the patients I’ve seen over the last three decades did not have full-blown Celiac disease. More commonly, they were suffering from what i call “the gluten sensitivity syndrome” and typically had symptoms that included abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and bowel disturbances such as constipation, diarrhea and cramping, etc.

How does it affect our important parts?

Within the intestinal wall are several enzymes called ‘brush border enzymes,’ which are critical for normal gluten breakdown. It has been theorized that if sufficient quantities of these enzymes were supplemented gluten sensitivity could be minimized or even prevented.

One of the key enzymes required for the breakdown of peptides in Gluten has been identified as ‘dipeptidyl peptidase IV.’ The lack of this enzyme activity in the small intestine prevents digestion of the peptide fragments, which if left undigested, elicit immune responses that inflame the lining of the small intestine.

So how can I get my hands on dipeptidyl peptidase IV? Can I get this on the black market?

In our practice, we have successfully a product called Enteromend; it increases the activity of the ‘brush border enzymes’ and addresses cross reactivity by including a full spectrum of enzymes that digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.  It also digests milk proteins and boosts pancreatic activity.

Enteromend’s enzymes were selected for their broad PH stability, strong anti-inflammatory capacity, and ability to treat symptoms of food intolerance/allergies, including E.G. cramping, bloating, nausea, intestinal gas, diarrhea and constipation. My clinical experience is that this product works best if taken shortly before eating. However, if an individual already has symptoms, it tends to work within 30 minutes of ingestion. Finally, we have found that a good adjunctive supplement that can be used with Enteromend in more severe cases is “stomach tabs.”

I hope you find this information helpful for you or a friend. Have a nice day!

Dr. Cushing has just opened a practice with Kristien in Charlotte, North Carolina where they practice chiropractic, nutritional therapy, acupuncture, and herbology.

Fall is approaching, and with the colder weather, many of us find ourselves a little sniffly.  I often get questions from friends and family on what natural remedies can be used to help them with a cold. Here are a few easy tips on what to put in your medicine cabinet.

In Chinese medicine, we apply energetics to our diagnosis. Simply put, any virus or bacteria will survive better in a specific energetic terrain – similar to polar bears in the arctic and camels in the desert. Although energetically there are many terrains and combinations of terrains, we are just going to focus on two to keep it simple.

Just as some women like Richard Gere others prefer Brad Pitt, viruses and bacteria generally fall for hot or cold terrains in the body. The key is to find a supplement that balances out the terrain that the virus or bacteria is thriving in. Certain supplements have either hot, neutral, or cold energetic properties.

Cold conditions

If you have chills, body aches, scratchy throat, no sweating, and clear nasal discharge – this is a pathogen that survives in a cold terrain. Here are a few things you can do: within the first day of getting symptoms you need to sweat it out. Put on a hoodie, wooly hat, gloves, and cover yourself in a massive duvet. When you sweat, it will push the virus or bacteria out of the pores. If you have access to a infar-red sauna this would be even better then the ‘bundle up’ approach, plus you won’t look as silly. Obviously, you should shower before going into public. After 2 days of being sick, the pathogen will have entered deeper into the body and thus this sweating method will not work. In this scenario, go see a medical practitioner.

Here are a few foods which will also heat up the body and kill the virus or bacteria: fresh garlic, Jamaican blue ring and scallions/chives.

Here are a few supplements that can also help: High potency echinacea, which will work for both cold and hot conditions because of it’s  neutral energetic temperature and will also stimulate the immune system. Also try the active ingredient in garlic, allicidin.

Hot terrains/Pathogens

When you have sweating, body aches, feel hot, yellow nasal discharge and a sore throat this is a hot condition/terrain. Again, within the first day of illness, it is a good idea to try the sweating method.

Supplements to help kill viruses and bacteria in hot terrains in your body include high potency vitamin c, colloidal silver, and high potency echinacea.

If there is a combination of symptoms contact your local acupuncturist or herbalist so they can determine the best approach.

From the herbalist and acupuncturist here at The Holistic Wellness Center of Charlotte, good luck in the upcoming holiday season!