Holistic Health Solutions
Creating Awareness and Offering Natural Solutions

Here is a fairly short video that is the condensation of many videos by Dr. Andrew Weil on Nutrition. It's a great general overview about the anti-inflammatory diet he recommends. Hope you enjoy!

And if you'd like to visit the website and watch the video there, you can click here.

Quinoa: The Ancient High Protein Food from the Incas

I started eating Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) 20+ years ago when I was studying at UC Davis and I still love it today. It's high in protein (12-18 %), and is a complete protein unlike wheat, rice or corn which are low in certain specific amino acids. It's a nice substitute for grains, even though it is technically not a grain but botanically closer to spinach or beets. It comes from the Incas, taken from wild plants and cultivated, it fed many native people south of the US border before the Europeans showed up.

Although it's free of gluten, you don't have to be on a gluten free diet to enjoy it. It has a I light and fluffy yet crunchy texture, and takes on the flavor of whatever you use to season it. I also like that it's rich source of minerals, especially Magnesium, which is low in most american diets.

Cooking and Buying Quinoa

Make sure that when you cook it that you wash it well. I use a fine sieve, as it's a small grain and will go right throuh a strainer. It has a naturally bitter coating which keeps birds away in the fields, but won't taste good to you if you don't wash it. If the quinoa you buy isn't bitter, it's been pre-processed. I'd rather wash it myself. You also might want to cook it with some broth or salted (sea salt) water, as it tastes better that way, and won't have the same flavor if you add sea salt later.

So try some organic quinoa, yes, shipped from far away, but this is an exception to my rule of buying local foods in season. You can buy it at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and even at Costco in a big bag. Here's a link to a recipe that looks pretty good to me, and can be adapted to whatever season you're in. Enjoy!

Yours in Health,

Kara

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara & The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Eating With The Seasons: What Are The Benefits?

It's only recently that we've even had the luxury of not eating seasonally available food. But is this luxury something we should indulge in daily?

Eating with the seasons is healthy for our bodies and the planet. Chinese Medicine recommends foods in season as medicine. For instance, eating pears in the Fall season can help with Lung dryness (dry nasal passages or a dry cough are examples of this pattern) that is typical of the Fall season.  Pears are harvested in the Fall season, naturally designed by nature to help our Lungs.

The foods we need are seasonal; it's always been this way. For instance, eating watermelon in winter doesn't make sense, as it's a cooling and detoxing food, something we probably don't need in the winter. It's a natural diuretic, and in the winter, it's better to have something that's more warming and building like root vegetables. Save the watermelon for the season it grows, when it's good to sweat and cool down, and enjoy this earthly goodness.

Eating foods in season isn't about denying yourself foods you like from far away places like Papayas, Pineapple or Bananas. And, I've been known to have a tomato in the dead of winter, but perhaps enjoying those along with foods in season and not going overboard is the answer.
 

What Are The Benefits Of Eating With The Seasons?

1. Better tasting, more nourishing food when picked ripe and locally  (see #4)
    
2. Reduces transportation costs & supports local farmers
    
3. Keeps us connected to the changing seasons and the health benefits (medicinal) of the foods grown at any given time
    
4. Better nutrient content and overall integrity of the product when ripe
    
5. Avoiding premium prices for scarce items
    
6. Etc.
    

Did you know that produce tastes better when it has more nutrient content? Does that explain why those large tasteless GMO strawberries have no flavor? Ripeness is a sign of nutrition content; that's what nature intended. Who would want to pick unripe fruit and eat it?

Resource For Eating With The Seasons

Here's a link to a great resource, called Eat The Seasons, a site that lists foods currently in season. I found this website today and am glad to share it with you. It's a great reference, so check it out.

My cooking textbook was my guide for foods in season when I was in the food and nutrition industry. Another way to know what foods are in season is to buy from your local farmers market. This is a great way to buy sustainably raised organic produce, dairy products, eggs, meat or whatever tickles your fancy and support your local farmer.

And on the subject of organic produce...I'm sorry, but I won't be buying my organic produce from China. I think it's great that China is farming organically, but why not let China and Japan be the primary market? That's just a distance of transportation that I can't stomach for produce I can buy locally.

May I Suggest?

So, my suggestion is for you to seek out some local organic seasonal produce and find a recipe for making yourself a delicious meal. Better yet, share it with someone you love or at least like a lot. I'm lucky, I'm in Northern California and the heirloom tomatoes (among many other foods) are still coming to market, YUM! Later today, I'll be making a soup with a bunch of root vegetables, squash and pumpkins thrown in and I can't wait.

Yours in Health,

Kara

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara & The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

The Many Benefits of Internal Cleansing & Detoxification

I've been putting a lot of my patients on whole food cleansing programs lately and they LOVE it. I love it too as they're reporting so many benefits. Plus, they're feeling empowered as they're the one's making the changes.

Cleansing or Detoxification is something our bodies do naturally, but with stress, poor diet, pollution of food, air and water, our detoxification pathways can get overtaxed. Our liver, kidney, lungs and skin are the primary organs responsible for detox. When they're overloaded with work the end result is a miriad of health symptoms, ranging from allergies, headaches, poor mood, weight gain, fatigue, skin problems, etc. You get the picture?

Even if we're eating organic foods and a healthy diet, there's still our previous health history that can be addressed, including past processed foods, pesticides or medications. But, that's more detail than I want to talk about right now. In this post, I want to share a testimonial from a recent whole food cleanse patient:

"I highly recommend doing the standard process liver cleanse from Kara Sorensen. It was truly a life changing experience! During and after the cleanse, my clarity increased, my energy levels increased, my skin was glowing (I actually looked younger), my sleep improved and digestion improved, my PMS subsided, my moods were more balanced, and my joints felt more limber. My friends said to me, "Wow you look great! What are you doing differently?" Then, I told them about the cleanse and they were excited and interested in it."
                      
 Jaynie Farnsworth
 Acupressure and Jin Shin Jyutsu Practitioner
 Professional Swimmer
 Teacher, MA

Everyone's experience with the program is different, but common feedback is:

1. This is really easy, and I feel really good!
2. My allergies are gone
3. My energy is better and I'm sleeping more deeply
4. I'm feeling more mentally clear and sharp
5. My menstrual issues are fading
6. Clearer skin
7. I have a better relationship with food, etc.
8. I'm more inclined to take better care of myself
9. I'm losing weight with ease and I feel satisfied

Cleansing isn't for everyone. I won't put someone on a cleanse until they are ready. If someone has severe food cravings, I will work with them with Acupressure to resolve their cravings before their cleanse so they don't experience withdrawal symptoms like they would have if they hadn't.

After the first few days of cleansing which are the most challenging, patients feel better and better, but it does take a 21-day commitment. Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if you're a candidate for a cleanse.

So Ask Yourself. Am I Ready for a Cleanse?

1. Am I ready to take charge of my eating habits and my health?
2. Am I willing to give up certain foods while I go through this process in order to achieve better health, physically, mentally and emotionally?
3. Am I ready to make a 21-day commitment if it means positively changing my relationship with food forever?

If you're curious about cleansing, do your research, see which one is right for you, and if you'd like to know more about the cleanse program I offer, please contact me.

Yours in Health,

Kara

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara & The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

The Many Health Benefits of Raw Sauerkraut

I've been buying Sauerkraut at the Campbell Farmer's Market for many months now, and I love it! I was out of town and tried a fancy store bought brand, and, well, not so good.

This Sauerkraut is the best I've ever had. Sharing a product based on quality is good enough reason for me, but this kraut also has many health benefits, I couldn't keep it a secret. So, I asked the friendly people at Farmhouse Culture to send me info on their Kraut and it's amazing health benefits. Here's what the creator, Kate shared:

Health Benefits: Real Kraut Likes You!

Digestive:

Eating sauerkraut is a great way to protect the balance of bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. Sauerkraut is one of the few foods that contain the bacterium Lactobacilli plantarum, a very dominant strain of healthful bacteria which helps to inhibit pathogenic organisms including E.coli, salmonella and unhealthy overgrowth of candida. With ph levels that hover around 3.6-3.7, sauerkraut is also super alkalinizing.

Immune:

One of the not so secret benefits of sauerkraut is the boost it gives to immune systems. Packed with vitamins and minerals, sauerkraut has been used as a lay immune booster for centuries.

Weight:

In her book, Fast Track Detox Diet, Anne Louise Gittlemen recommends a little sauerkraut every morning to stimulate digestion. Nutritionists now know that an important key to weight loss is a healthy digestive track and a happy liver. German women have known for years that sauerkraut is a super diet food.

Heart:

Sauerkraut contains flavonoids, a phytochemical that the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee reports can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Cancer:

A study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that the process of fermenting cabbage produces isothiocyanates, which have been shown to prevent cancer growth–especially in the breast, colon, lung, and liver

Dr. Oz recommended!:

The nationally recognized heart surgeon and health evangelist recently promoted the probiotic benefits of kraut on his television show and recommended eating it regularly to stay, ahemmm, regular.

More About Farmhouse Culture

Farmhouse Culture is sauerkraut like you’ve never had it before. Raw. Fresh. Tangy. Real. Using all organic ingredients from California’s Central Coast, Farmhouse Culture offers contemporary krauts rooted in tradition. Perk up a sandwich or snack, add a jolt to your condiment collections, or show a hotdog a very, very good time; no matter what’s cooking, our seasonal sauerkrauts make a delicious, versatile addition to any table.

Kathryn Lukas, a former chef and restaurant owner in Germany started Farmhouse Culture in March 2008 with a simple mission: fresh krauts with a focus on local flavors. She debuted her Smoked Jalapeno kraut at Slow Food Nation in September 2008. It was such a hit, she decided to go for it and soon after found the perfect kitchen and fermentorium in the beautiful and historic Old Sash Mill near downtown Santa Cruz.  We’re a team of nine now and can be found in 40 Northern California stores and 9 farmers markets a week. 

In addition to making innovative krauts we are also dedicated to the well being of the planet and strive to practice responsible and sustainable food manufacturing.

·  Re-using is by far the most sustainable way to manage resources and with that in mind, we created our re-usable crock. We estimate that we can re-use the package 7-10 times.

·  All of our vegetable waste is picked up every week by Old Creek Ranch and used to supplement their livestock’s feed.

·  No plastic in our packaging- the shrink band found on the top of the crock is made of compostable PLA (cornstarch) material.

·  Local, local, local. Keeping the ingredients for our krauts close to home helps reduce our carbon footprint.

Community: Keeping it local also helps connect us with a "slow economy" in community with our neighbors. This is food with a face, made by people you can talk to. Got a question about any of our ingredients? We know who's growing every head of cabbage we use.

So, give it a try and see what you think, and let me know how you like it. Enjoy!

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara & The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Chiropractic Care for Babies

Check out this video about Chiropractic care for Babies. Chiropractic care can be helpful right after birth and ongoing as children grow and develop. It has many benefits, including recovering from birth trauma, helping little immune systems, and many other benefits.

So check it out for your child and see if it's a fit for your family.

You can contact Dr Kate Fox in Los Gatos right here. And, as always, let me know your thoughts.

Yours in Health,

Kara

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara & The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Nourish Your Body & Transform Your Life!

Cleansing can be a great way to jumpstart a Weight Loss Program. It is also a wonderful tool to help when you're feeling tired, stressed out or run down. By giving our bodies a chance to repair and cleanse, we're doing it a great service.

Done safely, with adequate protein and other 'real food' nutrients, cleansing is a great way to address a number of health issues all at once. Here are just a few:

• Weight Loss Challenges
• Insomnia
• Digestive Issues
• Fatigue
• Mood Swings
• Stress

Cleansing is a great way to lose weight, but that doesn't have to be your goal.  Weight loss in my program is due to helping the body heal itself, not about dieting or deprivation. It's about cleanisng and nourishing, so your body sheds excess weight safely and naturally.

Unique Program with Individualized Support

I'm offering a unique program, where we address your specific concerns before, during and after the cleanse, so you get the most out of your program. You'll have the option to have Acupressure or Acupuncture before, during and after the cleanse to support you.

For example, if you have food cravings, you can do an Acupressure Session to address your cravings so your program goes more easily and without struggle. You'll be less likely to feel deprived after Acupressure if that is a concern for you.

If you'd like Acupuncture to keep your eliminating organs working at their best, we can do that as well.

For Pricing, You Have Several Options:

21 Day Cleanse Food and Supplements, with two 15 min check-ins and email support=$275.00

*Add 2 Acupuncture visits=$425.00

*Add 2 Acupressure visits=$515.00

*Add 2 Acupuncture & 2 Acupressure visits=$665.00

If you have insurance, we can bill your insurance to cover your visits.

If you need additional suppport with supplements or food, recommendations will be made to support your unique needs. If you'd like to get lab work done, we can do that before or after your cleanse, and my lab pricing is very reasonable.

Whatever your needs and concerns, I can support you. If you're ready to feel better, give me a call, I'm here to help. If you're curious if this is right for you, ask me questions and we'll see if it's a good fit or not.

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara & The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

What is Cupping and How Can it Help Me? 

Cupping has been used in many healing traditions across the world, and by families over many generations. What was once a bamboo cup is now plastic, glass but can still be bamboo. Gwenyth Paltrow made a splash by showing off her cup marks at an event years ago. Do you remember that?

Cupping can be used for general muscle tension and to relax, but that isn't all it can do. Cupping, done correctly, can help chronic pain and dramatically reduce the number of treatments needed to be pain free.

What Is Cupping?

Cups are placed on the area of pain or tension. The air in the cup is then removed either with a flame or suction. If a flame is used, it's then placed on the targeted body area. If a vacuum pump is used, it's place on the body and then the suction pump is used to remove the air and create a vacuum.

What happens next? The toxins and cellular waste trapped in the muscle tissue is brought to the surface of the skin, where the body can more easily remove it from the body. When there is tension, pain or trauma, it is difficult to promote healing as the cellular waste products can't exit the affected area. With cupping, that cellular waste is not only removed from the area, but new blood flow is brought to the area to assist healing.

The end result? If there is blockage and cellular waste, there is a coloring of the skin. If there is no tension, there will be no discoloration. The more tension and cellular waste, the more color is seen. Sometimes, cupping marks are dark purple. I'm always glad when this happens, as I know my patient will be feeling better soon!

Sometimes you have to see it for yourself. You can move a cup (when olive oil is put on the skin first) from one side of the spine to the other. On one side, there is hard suction, and when moved to the other side, there is almost no suction. There is no tension on the side with no suction. If two cups are left on each side for 10 min, you would see a coloring from light red to dark purple color form on the side with tension and no coloration on the other side.

How Can it Help Me?

Cupping can help speed your recovery from an acute or chronic condition resistant to other treatment modalities. What may take 5+ treatments to heal can be done in 1-2. This is the case with jaw pain, migraines, neck pain, back pain, hip pain and many other areas of pain and dis-ease.

If you can handle a little color, you can experience freedom from pain. How does that sound? If you'd like to add cupping to your healing regimen, give me a call; I'd be happy to help.

Yours in Health,

Kara

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

How Can Acupuncture Help Me?

Acupuncture can help you in many ways, mentally, emotionally and physically. It can help specific health concerns, and it can help you feel better overall. It helps your body balance naturally, that’s why it can help so many different health concerns. It harnesses the natural healing ability of your body and directs the healing with needles. Here are just a few things that can be helped with Acupuncture:

1. Relieve Stress

Acupuncture can help us shed stress quickly. It helps shift our bodies and minds into a healing state where balance can be restored. While many patients experience immediate relief, with ongoing treatment, they report feeling better able to deal with ongoing stress in their lives. Things that used to stress them out, are handled with greater ease. They often report being calm in the face of circumstance that would have caused them distress.

2. Relieve Anxiety

Acupuncture is so good for anxiety. This is one of the treatments I personally love to offer, as patients are often amazed at how good they feel after treatment. By balancing the body, anxiety fades away. Oftentimes, one to two treatments can greatly relieve symptoms and help one feel more grounded and calm. If ongoing treatment is needed, the anxiety levels fade even further over time.

3. Relieve Pain

Many people know about Acupuncture for the treatment of pain. It helps by interrupting the patterns causing pain, and helping blood circulation in the area to reduce inflammation and speed healing. Sometimes pain fades with one treatment and it doesn’t return, but oftentimes, ongoing treatment is needed to be pain free. By continuing treatment until pain levels are zero, patients can recover from patterns of acute or chronic pain.

4. Relieve Digestive Concerns

Digestive troubles respond well to Acupuncture treatments. Heartburn, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and many other digestive concerns can be helped with treatment. Helping patients reduce and eliminate the need for medications is rewarding. Digestion is the foundation for our health, and improving our ability to digest and absorb nutrients can improve our health and prevent many other health issues.

Acupuncture can treat many other health concerns. It treats the whole body naturally, so when one area of concern is addressed, oftentimes, other areas will improve. If you’re looking for help with your health, you might find great relief with Acupuncture. If you live in the San Jose, CA area, I can help you. If you live out of the San Francisco Bay area, contact me, and I can refer you to a practitioner in your area.
 

Yours in Health,


Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Trauma and Anxiety Relieved with Self-Applied Acupressure over the Phone

Here is a testimonial from a patient that worked with me over the phone. We did a session for her anxiety, and afterwards, she reported that the anxiety was just gone. Here's how the session was for her:

"I went to Kara for some anxiety issues.  After some very in-depth analysis, she guided me through a process of self-applied acupressure and focus.  Her gentle and non-judgemental guidance really helped me to visualize letting go of some of my anxiety and the trauma that caused it. 

I feel as if I've begun to address the traumatic event through my session with Kara, and am beginning to have a different perspective about it.  The thoughts, feelings and emotions related to it have totally faded.  I feel so much more relaxed and am better able to be in the present, as opposed to constantly reliving these events that contributed to my anxiety.

Kara is gifted and skillful at what she does.  And the fact that this was accomplished all over the phone / computer, is wonderful!!  I love that I could do this from my home and it was a very lovely and comfortable experience.  I can't wait until my next session!!

Thanks Kara, you rock!"

Is Your Anxiety Relatd to Old Trauma?

Oftentimes symptoms of anxiety, pain or allergies can actually be related to old traumatic events that the body has not been able to process and let go. In general, when patients come to me with a long standing problem and other treatments haven't worked, I ask them about their history of trauma. Sometimes there is trauma still locked in the nervous system that is totally forgotten on a mental level, but it's still creating symptoms. Sometimes the patient knows exactly what the trauma is but still can't discharge it. The great thing about Acupressure is that you don't have to know if there's a trauma associated with it, you just focus on the current symptoms and the body remembers and lets go of that past event related to your current symptoms. I've seen it so many times now, that I just trust it now.

So, if you've tried a number of modalities for your chronic symptoms of anxiety, pain, allergies or other health issues, you may just benefit from Acupressure. Questions? Contact me, I'm happy to discuss your concerns.

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Decoding an Ancient Therapy: Acupuncture

Melinda Beck of the The Wall Street Journal tells about her experience with Acupuncture to treat her pain. You can watch her treatment in the video. You can also read the article, Decoding an Ancient Therapy,  High-Tech Tools Show How Acupuncture Works in Treating Arthritis, Back Pain, Other Ills right here.

It's wonderful to see that research is being conducted to figure out how Acupuncture works. One thing that concerns me though, is that much of the research is focused on how the twisting of needles in a circular motion in the muscle tissue affects the brain. Many Acupuncturists including myself, get great results with Acupuncture, and I don't twist needles.  So researchers are only looking at one aspect of how it might work. Nonetheless, research is good and I'm grateful for the attention that this ancient art is receiving. So, check out the article and the video...

Springtime Allergy Relief...Literally, a Phone Call Away!

Yeah, Spring is officially here! Longer days, blossoms everywhere, beautiful. But with Spring, unfortunately comes Allergies (for a lot of people). But it doesn't have to be this way! You can be free of your allergies to trees, grasses, pollens, etc. How would it feel to be free of your allergies this season?

There are holistic solutions for your allergies that could allow you or your child to be free of the need for medications, shots or other treatments. The treatments I offer are gentle, highly effective, non-invasive and can be done over the phone. They are so simple, my youngest patient (four years old) did a treatment while sitting on her Mom's lap over videophone! They are so powerful, that lasting change can be made in one treatment.

Why is Holistic Allergy Relief Important?

Allergies cause needless suffering and take a toll on your health and your finances, especially if you're taking medications. As you may know, sometimes medications:

1. Aren't always enough to control symptoms
2. Can cause many unwanted side effects
3. Don't solve the underlying problem
4. Don't bring true and lasting relief
   
5. Are expensive financially
6. Can take a toll on your body

Plus, allergies can limit your activities and your life. If you suffer, you don't need me to tell you this. If your child suffers, I'm sure you don't need convincing about the impact.

As I was walking at the Farmer's Market in Campbell, and I saw a man wearing a surgical mask. I assumed he was trying to protect himself from allergens and this makes me want to help! Many of my patients know I have allergy solutions, but there are so many other people that suffer that could be free of them.

Thereofore, I am offering $35.00 off ($115.00 total) an allergy relief sesssion until 4/15/10 (sessions normally $150.00).

Here's a Testimonial from Spring 2009:

"I have had allergies my entire life. I was allergic to trees and grass. It was a big struggle for me when the allergy season hit. I tried everything from shots, pills etc...Nothing worked. I hired Kara over the phone (Acupressure) to see what she could do. After one session, my allergies are gone! It is amazing. I wish I knew about Kara years ago. Thank you Kara! You are the best!"
 
Scott S. Armstrong 
Author, Speaker and Success Coach

Once the allergy is addressed, treatments don't usually need to be repeated for the same allergen. So, if you do a session this Spring, you'll not only enjoy this season, but next Spring, you can welcome the fresh air wholeheartedly!

If you or someone you love suffers from allergies, please call me, I can help you. You can also book an appointment online.

Please note: This solution is most helpful when symptoms are severe and you're aware of your allergen(s). If you're allergic to many allergens and your immune system is weak, you may also benefit from Acupuncture. For more information, click here.

Question-Is Acupuncture Safe and Will it Really Help?

I recently found this quote by a prominent pain specialist:

“Acupuncture is one of the most time-tested treatments known to mankind. If the value of a treatment were based solely on how long it has been around, and how long people have thought that it was helpful, then acupuncture would probably be the most effective treatment known to humankind.”

Here's the full quote on HealthDiscovery.com, where Dr Scott Fishman answered a question about acupuncture for the treatment of back pain: 
  

Q: My doctor has recently suggested acupuncture. Is acupuncture safe and will it really help?

A:   "Acupuncture is one of the most time-tested treatments known to mankind. If the value of a treatment were based solely on how long it has been around, and how long people have thought that it was helpful, then acupuncture would probably be the most effective treatment known to humankind. Nonetheless, we still do not know why acupuncture works, how it works best, and for whom it is best used.

Many patients advocate acupuncture as a very effective treatment for many different symptoms. These symptoms include pain from a variety of causes, as well as many other conditions including nausea, smoking cessation, problems with addiction, inflammatory conditions, possibly even anxiety and depression, to name just a few.

There are many different forms of acupuncture. One form of acupuncture completed by one acupuncturist may be quite different than another, and any given practitioner may perform the acupuncture differently than another.

Typically, acupuncture is performed with a very thin needle that causes gentle sensations. It is usually not painful. Classically, acupuncture involves using a needle — although sometimes electricity is passed through the needle, and sometimes the burning of traditional Chinese herbs is employed as well. Burning these herbs is called "moxabustion."

The points that are used for the needle insertions often are at a distance from the actual area of symptoms. So, if someone has pain in their back, they may be getting needles in their feet, their ears or somewhere else distant from the actual site of the pain.

The special points that are chosen for needle insertion are along areas called "meridians." These meridians relate to what the Ancient Chinese felt were true "organ systems" and guide the placement of the acupuncture needles." However, these "organ systems" are not necessarily the same kind of systems that are defined as traditional organ systems by 21st century physicians. For instance, the traditional meridians for the spleen may have nothing to do with the actual organ that we know of today. An acupuncturist traditionally diagnoses a patient's problem by feeling three pulses on each wrist. In some cases, these diagnostic indications determine which ancient meridians are and are not diseased.

Taken all together, acupuncture is an ancient, time-tested form of therapy that seems to have exceptionally few side effects and appears to be safe for pain management. At present, however, it continues to be of unproven value for pain management in scientific circles. In my experience, many patients have found relief from pain through acupuncture. For those of my patients who have not found relief with standard medical therapies, I am always open-minded to any kind of treatment that will help, particularly those that have the fewest side effects. Thus, I embrace acupuncture. I look forward to revelations through science that better explain how it works and how it may be best applied to fight the war on pain."

What an eloquent description of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine! Dr Scott Fishman is the Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of California, Davis. You can read more about Dr. Fishman here.

Yes, We Need More Modern Clinical Trials for Acupuncture

Dr. Fishman is right, we do need more modern clinical research on Acupuncture and nobody can really explain how Acupuncture works. Generally speaking, the pharmaceutical industry funds most medical research and individual companies don’t usually fund research on medicine that can’t be patented, as it would a financial loss for them.  So, until more research is funded, you can read about the clinical trials for Acupuncture or Chinese Medicine that we do have, here, or you can try it for yourself.

My Suggestion?

Don’t wait for clinical trials or for someone to explain how Acupuncture works, because you might be waiting a long time! In the meantime, you could be finding pain relief.

If you'd like to read about people that have received relief from pain using acupuncuture, click here.

 
Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Natural Solutions for Allergy Relief for Adults and Children

Are you or your child suffering from allergies to trees, pollen or grasses, even in the winter time? Unfortunatley, you are not alone. Certain warmer areas of the world, like the San Francisco Bay area and surrounding regions have a climate that supports year round growth of plants that can cause allergies. It seems like once one allergy producing tree stops blooming, some grass starts up. Yes, certain seasons are obviously worse, like spring, but I have many patients complain of allergy symptoms in the winter months.

The good thing is, I have some really great solutions to address everyone's needs, even if you live far away. Here are a few of the treatment possibilities, and my patients choose from a single solution or a combination. See which one sounds good to you:

Acupressure (In person or over the phone):

This option is best for moderate to very severe reactions to cats, other pets, grass, pollen, trees, and other flowering plants.

Benefits:

Once the immune response is regulated and returns to baseline, the treatment doesn't need repeating. This option is good for children, teenagers and adults. It's especially effective for children and each allergy is usually cleared in a 30 min session. Usually, adults require a 60 min session for type of allergy, but sometimes other allergies not address spontaneously improve.

Drawbacks:

If there are several allergy reactions, or if they are chronic, yet not severe, this option can require more sessions, but not always.

Supplementation:

I've been recommending a supplement for some of my patients with more general, and less severe allergies with great results. The supplement contains well known ingredients, like Quercitin, along with other lesser known ingredients. Oftentimes, patients taper off the tablets over time and they remain allergy free.

Benefits:

This supplement is taken once daily and costs $23.00 for a 3 month supply and is safe for children.

Drawbacks:

This supplement contains animal products, so it is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Acupuncture:

This is always an option for people that don't want to take supplements or who have more general, low grade allergy symptoms.

Benefits:

This is a good choice if you have chronic colds and flus, stress, digestive issues or other health issues that can be treated simultaneously. While this is a great support, and patients feel much better overall, this is not the best option when your allergies are specific and severe. For instance, if you are severely allergic to cats, or grass, and this is your only allergy, Acupressure would be a better option for you or your child.

Drawbacks:

         Sometimes it takes more treatments to find allergy relief than with Acupressure.

These are the best solutions I've found, and I offer them knowing they have helped many of my patients with solid results. You can read a few testimonials here.

So, if you're tired of the sneezing, coughing, and runny nose related to your allergies or if you don't want to take allergy medications or give them to your child, call me, I'd be happy to help you with allergy relief.

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara &
The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Acupuncuture Helped Anxiety, Depression, Sadness and Digestive Issues

Here's another testimonial from a patient who wrote about her experience with Acupuncture and how it helped her mentally and emotionally. I'm so glad she came in for treatment:

"After feeling tired and frustrated of relying on medications to relieve my enduring issues with tension, anxiety, sadness, depression and digestive issues, I finally made the decision to try acupuncture. I figured I had absolutely nothing to lose. All I knew was that I wasn't about to spend most of my life taking medications to treat these pervasive ailments.

After four sessions with Kara I immediately started to feel my symptoms diminish! It was during this time that I realized how equipped our bodies really are to deal with most emotional and bodily issues. I haven't felt this great in years! Thank you Kara for your genuine concern, kindness, hospitality, and generosity!"

-DR
Social Worker,
Berkeley, CA

Sometimes medications aren't enough to help someone feel better. Sometimes patients come to me because they have experienced reactions to medication and so meds are not an option for them. Acupuncture can help on many levels to help you feel better; physically, mentally and emotionally, because it treats the whole person, not just symptoms. Sometimes the results are dramatic and sometimes they take time. Either way, you can feel better with treatment in the majority of cases.

If you want to feel better and you live near San Jose, CA, I would be happy to help you with Acupuncture. If you need a referral in your area, check out the referral list for Acupuncturists here. Either way, don't just live with anxiety and depression, get treatment and find some relief!

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc

Acupuncture by Kara &
The Food Craving Solution

15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA

e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406