Mariah Carey Used Acupuncture To Help Get Pregnant

Posted by: Us Weekly

Pop diva Mariah Carey used the power of Chinese medicine to help her get pregnant.

According to her husband Nick Cannon, Carey turned to acupuncture to help her following a miscarriage not long after they were hitched.

Speaking with Us Weekly, Carey says that she took progesterone, which increases fertility and helps to maintain pregnancy in those women at high risk of miscarriage.

Carey also had daily acpuncuture sessions to help keep her nice and relaxed.

“I think it helped her quite a bit,” Cannon tells the magazine.

“We definitely cried. We still cry all the time,” Cannon tells Us. “It’s an emotional journey.”

Quit Smoking with Acupuncture

Every year, more than 3 million Americans try to quit smoking, but only half of them succeed. With the help of acupuncture you have a greater chance of success!

Most experts agree that quitting smoking is the single most important thing you can do for your health. More than 25 diseases are associated with tobacco use, including cancer of the lungs, bladder, mouth, larynx, pharynx. esophagus, pancreas, kidney, uterus, and cervix. Smoking also raises the chances of developing emphysema and increases the risk of having a stroke by 30 percent.

How Does Acupuncture Help Break the Cigarette Habit?

Acupuncture is successful with smoking cessation and has turned a growing number of cigarette smokers into permanent ex-smokers. Treatments take all of your symptoms into account and aim at balancing the energy within the body to optimize health.

The acupuncture treatments focus on jitters, cravings, irritability and restlessness; all symptoms that people commonly complain about when they quit. It also aids in relaxation and detoxification.

In one study conducted at the University of Oslo, Norway, acupuncture was found to significantly reduce the desire to smoke up to five years after the initial treatment. Subjects of the study also reported that cigarettes tasted worse than before treatment and that the treatments had effectively reduced their taste for tobacco.

The acupuncture needles used are hair-thin. They are superficially inserted into various points in the ears and body to assist with smoking cessation. In between treatments, small pellets are often taped to the acupuncture points on the ear. When a cigarette craving hits, gently pressing on the pellets stimulates the acupuncture points to calm the mind and eliminate the craving.

Acupuncture is not a magic cure in the treatment of any addiction, including smoking. however, acupuncture is effective in making it easier to quit and remain smoke-free for good.

Here are a Few Tips to Guide You Through Your Acupuncture Care:

• Exercise more. Getting moving is a great way to remind yourself why you shouldn't smoke. Exercise can reduce your stress and help you relax far better than cigarettes.

• Get plenty of fresh fruit and vegetable juices to neutralize and clear the blood of nicotinic acid and to fortify blood sugar.

• Carrots, Carrot juice, celery, leafy green salads and citrus fruits promote body alkalinity and decrease cravings.

• Avoid junk food, sugar and coffee. They can upset blood sugar levels and increase blood acidity which can aggravate smoking withdrawal symptoms.

• Lobelia Tea or Green Tea can be sipped daily during the detox period to keep tissues flooded with elements that discourage nicotine cravings. Lobelia is traditionally used to rid the body of a strong toxin such as a snake bite.

• Drink water. Research shows that dryness causes cravings. Sip water frequently throughout the day.

• Practice deep breathing exercises to increase body oxygen and keep calm.

• Schedule your acupuncture treatment!

How Many Treatments Will I Need and How Long Do They Take?

The length, number and frequency of treatments will vary. Typical treatments last for about 30 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times a week. Some symptoms are relieved after the first treatment, while more severe or chronic ailments often require multiple treatments.

A stop smoking program will often consist of 4-6 initial treatments scheduled in the first few weeks followed by monthly treatments for four to six months.

If you are ready to quit, call us at 516.794.0414 or visit our office for a consultation to see how acupuncture can empower you to take control and begin a healthy and smoke-free life!!

The Acupuncture Weight Loss Solution

Why is obesity a national epidemic?

The problem is that it is against our nature to limit calories. We instinctively eat more than we need to. This is a "gift" passed down from our hunter-gatherer ancestors from a time when there wasn't a drive-thru window on every corner. We also tend to eat in excess due to our modern lifestyles, chronic stress, and other psychological/emotional triggers.

People will go to drastic measures to lose weight. Fad diets ask you to eat an unnatural and unhealthy diet, such as a meal plan of cabbage soup or pineapples or rice or no-carbs. They may work in the short term because of the low caloric intake, but there is absolutely no way you can maintain it. Your body and mind will rebel and take revenge for putting it on such a restrictive regime, rather than providing whole foods with proper nutrients. Instinctively, your body will crave foods and gorge, filling up, preparing for the next starvation, packing on fat for stored energy.

Eating an unnatural and highly restrictive diet can cause yo-yo dieting and drastic ups and downs in body weight. Improper diet practices can also cause malnutrition, organ damage, slow metabolic rate and imbalances within the body.

Wouldn't it be great to decrease the amount of food that you take in, and increase the amount of energy you expend? It's entirely possible, thanks to acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Acupuncture and TCM address both the physiological and psychological aspects of weight loss. A comprehensive therapy for weight issues rooted in TCM promotes better digestion, soothes emotions, reduces appetite, improves metabolism, and eliminates food cravings.

Weight Loss According to Traditional Chinese Medicine

According to TCM, the root of excess weight is an imbalance within the body caused by malfunctioning of the spleen and liver organ systems.

In five-element theory, the spleen is responsible for the proper functioning of the digestive system, ensuring that the food we eat is transformed into qi - the vital substance of life. Disharmony of the spleen will have symptoms such as fatigue, slow metabolism, water retention, loose stool, and feeling of heaviness.

The liver's job is to keep the flow of your body's qi and blood (as well as your emotions) running smoothly. Our modern, fast-paced lifestyle and chronic stress can negatively impact the liver's ability to function properly, which, in turn, can cause the spleen and the whole digestive system to function poorly and decrease your metabolism. Liver disharmony can also cause some of the triggers that lead to cravings and compulsive eating.

Backed by Research

A growing body of research supports the use of acupuncture and Asian medicine in weight loss:
A 2003 study published in The Journal of Medical Acupuncture found that participants receiving acupuncture lost more than three times more weight than the control group.

In a study conducted by the University of Adelaide in Australia in 1998, 95 percent of the participants receiving electro-stimulation on acupuncture points reported appetite suppression. The results showed that the acupuncture group was more likely to experience a reduced appetite and to lose weight than the control group.

The Acupuncture Weight Loss Treatment

From a TCM perspective, the acupuncture points and foods that are chosen to assist with weight loss directly influence the qi of the spleen and liver meridians and treat the root imbalances that are causing the weight gain.

From a Western perspective, acupuncture and TCM have been shown to have an effect on the function of the nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system, food cravings, and metabolism. All of which can help to energize the body, maximize the absorption of nutrients, regulate elimination, control overeating, suppress the appetite, and reduce anxiety.

Acupuncture Points for Weight Loss

The beauty of acupuncture is that each treatment is catered to the needs of the individual patient. Acupuncture points on the body will be chosen for overall well being with the objective of increasing circulation of the blood and qi (stimulating the metabolism) and calming the nervous system.

In addition to treating the root of the imbalance within the body, different acupuncture points may be chosen for each treatment as different symptoms arise. For instance, if you are experiencing a desire to overeat related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) one week, then that can be addressed at that week's appointment.

Generally treatments are scheduled once or twice a week for 8 to 12 weeks or until the goal weight has been reached. The treatments include a combination of auricular (ear) and body acupuncture, ear tacks or seeds to leave on in-between treatments, abdominal massage, breathing exercises, and food/lifestyle recommendations

For more information on acupuncture and other services we offer, please visit our website.

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Chiropractic Care

Welcome to September, the time of year every parent has been waiting for.....back to school!!! In the days leading up to getting the kids off to school once again, have you experienced any of the following:

- Lower back pain
- Tension/stress in neck/shoulders
- Pain between shoulder blades
- Sciatica
- Headaches
- Numbness/tingling in extremities
- Sore muscles
- Joint pain
- Stiff neck
- TMJ pain/dysfunction
- Herniated/bulged discs
- Pinched nerves

If you have experienced any (or all) of the above, you may benefit from a chiropractic adjustment...

Benefits of Chiropractic

Chiropractic places an emphasis on nutritional and exercise programs, wellness and lifestyle modifications for promoting physical and mental health.

• Increased range of motion in spine
• Correction of vertebral misalignments
• Pain reduction
• Tension / stiffness reduction
• lncreased endorphin release
• Increased flexibility
• Increased mobility
• Reduction of nerve interference
• Improved posture

Frequently Asked Questions about Chiropractic

What conditions do chiropractors treat?

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

Is chiropractic treatment safe?

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects.

The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.

Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension.

It is important for patients to understand the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain -- prescription and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) -- as these treatments may carry risks significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation. According to a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology, approximately one-third of all hospitalizations and deaths related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be attributed to the use of aspirin or NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen.

How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?

Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor typically uses his/her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint function. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.

Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?

The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.

Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?

Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound - it's exactly the same as when you "crack" your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being released. There is no pain involved.

For more Frequently Asked Questions, visit our website.

Acupuncture and Stress

Stress is a word that is heard often in our society to describe many different parts of life. There is job stress, family stress, emotional stress, physical stress, but what exactly is "stress" and more importantly what does it do to your health and quality of life?

Stress is the body's reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response. Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or anxious. However, stress is not necessarily negative. There is a distinction between healthy and unhealthy stress.

Healthy stress includes appropriate physical exercise, good eating habits, positive thinking, adequate rest, and a natural response to emergency situations. These stressors keep us alert and motivated, and support our body's strength and vitality. Unhealthy stress, such as negative emotions and thinking, overexertion, poor eating habits, lack of sleep, and chemical and environmental pollutants and toxins, challenge our health and can trigger physical and mental problems, particularly if they are experienced over a prolonged period of time.

In ancient times, our stress response, also known as our "fight or flight" response, provided us with energy to preserve life during difficult situations, such as an attack or threat by a wild animal. Today, we don't have to look much further than our windows, or computer screens, to view various forms of stress--everything from prime-time news and road rage, to the 40-hour work week, terrorism, and cell phones. All of these combined can send even the most serene person into a stressful frenzy.

Unfortunately, modern day stress is considerably higher, more frequent and more consistent than what our predecessors experienced. Over time this excess stress can actually be detrimental to our health. Our body's natural response to stressful situations is to activate all available resources for survival, and to get us out of a scary situation fast. However, with the increase in physical, emotional and mental stressors, our stress response gets "locked in", resulting in the depletion of the body's resources. Even if the stressors are no longer present, the body continues to keep the stress response active. This results in the depletion of our nervous system, lymphatic organs (spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes), kidneys, and adrenal glands, and can pave the way for a wide variety of symptoms and signs. Medical studies have shown that with increased and consistent stress, our white blood cells, which defend our body against viruses, decrease. This decrease results in lower immune resistance, ultimately leading to physical disease and emotional instability.

Signs and Symptoms of an overactive response to stress:

- Anger
- Anxiety
- Asthma
- Depression
- Depressed Immune System
- Digestive Disorders
- Headaches
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Joint Pain
- Weight Problems

Acupuncturists have been helping people cope with stress for thousands of years. The ancient theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on how stress affects the organs are similar to those of Western medicine; however, TCM theory and treatment go far beyond treating just symptoms, TCM addresses the root cause(s) of the problem.

One way that stress affects the body is by causing a depletion or blockage of qi, especially that of the kidneys and adrenals. Qi (pronounced "chee") is the vital energy or power that supports the functions of the body. It flows through specific pathways, called meridians, and provides nourishment for the entire body. When qi becomes "blocked" or the supply is inadequate, the body and organ systems become "stressed out" and our health is then compromised. Acupuncture can support and restore the integrity of the various organs affected and depleted by the stress response, along with enhancing the quality and quantity of qi.

Acupuncture along with proper eating habits, exercise, stretching, meditation, as well as chiropractic adjustments, massage, and reflexology can support a balanced and healthy body, mind and spirit.

Acupuncture can provide a safe, effective and drug-free alternative for the treatment of stress.

Things you can do to help combat stress:

1). Practice Yoga - When you practice yoga, you can create an awareness of your body and mind connection, freeing your mind of stressful thoughts.

2). Start a Hobby - Hobbies require a mindful presence and can break a hectic, stressful pace.

3). Do One Thing at a Time - Many of us believe that multitasking allows us to get more done, faster. If you focus on one task at a time, you can get more done with fewer mistakes.

4). Meditate - Meditation teaches us to stay focused on our breath and posture. When you are in a meditative state, you are present and in touch with your innate wisdom.

Infertility and Acupuncture

In the United States, approximately 9 million people are currently having difficulty trying to conceive. There is a one in eight chance that either you or someone you know is affected by fertility problems.

Lately, more and more woman are contacting the office inquiring about natural alternatives during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive and suffering from any of the following, why not try acupuncture to alleviate symptoms naturally without the harmful side effects of medications...

• Female/Male Infertility
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Morning Sickness
• Nausea
• Lower Back Pain
• Postpartum Depression
• Fatigue
• Sciatica
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• PMS
• Irregular Periods
• Painful Menstruation

GETTING PREGNANT: Infertility and Acupuncture

Pregnancy is a time of extraordinary physical and emotional change. It is also a time when it is more important than ever to support and care for your well-being. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help you meet the unique challenges of pregnancy, ensuring optimal health for you and your baby in a safe and natural way, without the use of harmful medications.

What to Expect...

Acupuncture has been used in China for thousands of years to regulate the female reproductive system. Acupuncture and TCM is based on the concept that Qi (pronounced "chee") is the vital energy (the "life force") that flows through the body in channels called meridians. Practitioners of acupuncture work to balance the Qi in the body's meridian and organ systems by manipulating corresponding points on the body. Regular acupuncture during pregnancy sets the foundation for a healthy mother and baby. In addition, women who receive acupuncture during pregnancy often have a shorter and easier birth experience than women who do not receive acupuncture. Several European studies concluded that women who received acupuncture once a week during the last month of pregnancy had significantly shorter labor than women who did not receive any acupuncture.

For a healthy pregnancy, treatment is often recommended once a month, with weekly treatments in the last month. However, your practitioner will tailor your treatment entirely to your needs and choose points based on your unique systems and concerns.

Relief of Common Concerns...

Regular balancing treatments throughout your pregnancy can enhance your health as well as your baby's health, potentially preventing complications and positively influencing the development of your baby. Many mothers-to-be find themselves facing anxiety, fatigue, back pain, heartburn, nausea, and other symptoms as a result of the many new demands being placed on their bodies. Acupuncture has been found to relieve many of these symptoms.

Morning sickness responds particularly well to acupuncture, and your practitioner can even show you specific points that you can massage at home to help restore your appetite. Recent studies have also show promising results in using acupuncture for depression during and after pregnancy.

Breech Babies and Other Issues...

Acupuncture can also help with more serious issues during pregnancy. Specific acupuncture points and techniques are very useful for turning "breech babies" (those positioned feet first). One study concluded that fetal malpresentation is a relatively simple, efficacious and inexpensive method for breech birth presentation. Treatment involves moxibustion, or applying heat from the burning of the herb mugwort to a point just outside the nail of the little toe. The treatment causes no adverse side effects.

If your due date just passed, acupuncture can also be used to induce labor through gentler means than traditional Western labor inducing treatments and medications. Acupuncture and acupressure can even be used to help control pain, calm the mind and reduce stress during delivery.

After Baby Has Arrived...

It is important to recover properly after childbirth. Acupuncture can help you heal and regain your strength and vitality, balance your energy, boost your body's defenses, and help address concerns such as pain, fatigue, and postpartum depression. Acupuncture provides a holistic, gentle way to nurture and care for yourself and your baby's heath throughout your pregnancy and beyond without the risk of harmful side effects that may occur from medications.

If you are pregnant or considering having a baby, contact Lighthouse Wellness Center today!

Click here to view video from WebMD on Infertility and Acupuncture.