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In November you may have noticed a few more men with facial hair growing, it’s not because they are preparing for the cold of winter (though some do stay until winter ends). If you noticed more facial hair on men during the month of November, it’s not just because they are preparing for winter. Many men grow a beard and/or mustache for what’s now recognized as “No-Shave November”, an annual charity event that takes place each November, to raise awareness for prostate cancer.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits at the base of the bladder surrounding the urethra. During ejaculation, the prostate secretes a fluid that invigorates the sperm and prevents infection in the urethra. Over time hormones weaken and the prostate enlarges. Swelling of the prostate can put pressure on the bladder and urethra affecting the flow of urine, leading to some of the common symptoms associated with prostate issues.
Warning signs of prostate issues:
An enlarged prostate (also known as BPH: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) is a common issue for men, especially over the age of 50) and not directly associated with prostate cancer, though there can be similar etiologies, at least from a Chinese Medicine perspective.
Typically, in TCM, the main patterns that are found in men with prostate enlargement are kidney deficiency’, and ‘qi and blood stasis in the lower burner’ which can lead to ‘damp-heat’. Kidney deficiency is related to aging and the decline of sexual function and sex hormones. The kidney deficiency can contribute to the decreased circulation of blood and energy in the lower abdominal/reproductive area, known as the ‘lower burner’. This stagnation can allow pathogens or toxins to accumulate, setting up an area of inflammation or ‘damp-heat’.
Similarly, in prostate cancer, this combination of deficiency and stagnation can lead to congestion of harmful energy in the prostate, which, unchecked, can progress into an even more concentrated condition of excess known as toxic phlegm. Tumors, in general, according to TCM are related to this buildup of toxic phlegm in the body.
While treatment in Western Medicine differentiates mainly based on the prostate issue being benign or cancerous, Chinese Medicine treatment also differentiates based on the pattern of imbalance. Some people presenting with a prostate issue may have more of a deficiency: with symptoms such as fatigue and dull achy low back pain, while others present more of the qi and blood stagnation, with irritable moods and more stabbing pain. Others may show signs of dampness, heat, or even toxicity, with a thick yellow or even green coat in the back of their tongue. A skilled Chinese Medicine practitioner can recognize overlapping patterns and navigate a correct course of treatment. Of course, for patients actively treating cancer with Western approaches such as chemotherapy and radiation, acupuncture can play a supportive role and help mitigate the side effects of conventional treatment. In a large retrospective study in Taiwan, prostate cancer patients who used complementary TCM treatments had significantly decreased mortality.
Prevention of prostate issues in Chinese Medicine is all about preserving kidney qi and promoting qi and blood circulation while avoiding environmental toxins through healthy living. Getting adequate rest and regular exercise in balance is essential. Managing stress cannot be over-emphasized as emotional frustrations are one of the main internal causes of stagnation. Avoid processed, pesticide-loaded foods while including some prostate-supportive foods like seeds (especially pumpkin seeds), mushrooms, and berries. Various herbal formulas are used, depending on the presentation. Some herbs that may be included are Reishi mushroom (Ling Zhi), known for its general health and immune promoting qualities, and Phellodendri Cortex (Huang Bai), an herb used to ‘clear damp-heat from the lower burner’.
If you’re concerned about your health and well-being, call us today and schedule an appointment!
The season of Thanksgiving is upon us. Gratitude is such a powerful healer and the gateway into love. Ultimately Love is the most powerful healing agent in any situation and gratitude is the first step to embodying it.
Gratitude and Love help to balance and heal the fire element within us, as do connection and social engagement. Making this season the perfect time for some heart healing – and let’s take a look at how we can maximize this holiday to balance all of our elements.
Fire: Associated organs, Heart, Small Intestine. Gratitude lists, connections, and time spent with family and friends.
Earth: Associated organs, Stomach, Spleen. Eat mindfully, eat according to the season with lots of orange autumnal seasonal, nourishing foods. Eating in good company at leisure, exactly the way our digestion works best will help to keep your Earth element in balance throughout the thanksgiving festivities.
The Earth element really is the epicenter of our entire system. A balanced Earth gives you a clear mind. A clear mind will give you the ability to manifest what you want in your life – but meditating BEFORE breakfast or the movement in your digestive system will create more movement in your mind. And don’t forget – sweet is the flavor of this element – but try not to overindulge!
Water; Associated organs, Kidneys, Bladder. Did you know that your Kidneys store your life essence and your bladder channel represents your nervous system? Most of us are running around in a perceived deficit of time all day every day, this keeps our nervous system on high alert or as we say in Chinese Medicine, keeps us in Yang mode all day long. When do you take a break? I mean a real break, a Yin nourishing break. We are designed to take Yin nourishing time during the day, every day and very few of us are actually doing it. Your whole being deserves to be given some well-earned rest, capitalize on it this holiday and take some time out for doing absolutely nothing.
Metal: Associated organs, Lung, Large Intestine. Get out into that magical crisp autumn air for an after-dinner walk – this will not only get your digestion moving but you can also fill your lungs with air and inspiration. Whether you go alone and reconnect to your precious self, or together with loved ones, this one ticks a lot of boxes. There are also sponsored 5k walks like the ‘Turkey Trot for Hunger that you can take part in, you can walk you don’t need to run – or you could run and earn that thanksgiving dinner!
Wood: Associated organs, Liver, Gallbladder. I couldn’t leave a holiday article finished without mentioning how to bounce back from little (or not so little) indulgences! Your Liver may be the only one not getting a break this holiday so make sure to show it some love by eating/drinking plenty of greens. Add some lemon to your water and allow yourself some space and time to process any emotions that are brought to the surface during this time which can be highly charged for many. Wood also controls the Earth Element so keeping your Liver happy will help to digest all of that extra rich food!
So, if you’re looking for a little more balance this time of year, give us a call. You’ll be thankful you did!
In recent years there has been an increase of research being done for the effectiveness of acupuncture for various health conditions. We would like to start highlighting some of the research that has been done. Each month we will blog about research updates. The research done on acupuncture will help you feel more comfortable about acupuncture and Chinese medicine as well as see evidence of Chinese medicine’s effectiveness. We hope that these research updates will be of value for you.
This month’s research update is about how acupuncture has been shown to be effective for bladder control. Healthcare Medicine Institute published a study that showed that acupuncture was effective for urinary incontinence. There are millions of people around the world that suffer from urinary incontinence. There could be several reasons for urinary incontinence such as age, trauma, and neurological conditions.
The research study had two groups, one that did acupuncture alone and another that added electrostimulation with the acupuncture. Both groups had significantly shown effectiveness to help control the bladder. The acupuncture alone group had a 54 percent efficacy and the acupuncture plus electrostimulation had a 86 percent efficacy.
Either way the study showed that acupuncture is effective for chronic urinary incontinence. There still needs to be more research done to make stronger conclusions.
The bladder in Chinese medicine stores and excretes urine. In fact in the Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic, it says “The urinary bladder serves as the officer of an administrative division who takes charge of storing and excreting water (urine).” The bladder channel runs along the entire body from the head to the foot along the entire back and back of the legs. When there are urinary problems we will strengthen both the kidney and the bladder. The kidney has a strong relationship to the bladder. As we strengthen both kidney and bladder it will help with urinary incontinence.
Acupuncture is effective for urinary incontinence and will help balance your body. If you suffer or anyone has problems with their bladder, have them contact us at Master Lu’s Health Center in Salt Lake City to see how we can help
