Yi-Po Anthony Wu, MD, M.P.H.
Medical Director and founder of PCMC

• Western medical training at National Taiwan University, Worcester City Hospital, University of Massachusetts Medical Center
• Masters degree in Public Health, University of Hawaii
• Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine
• Acupuncture training in Taiwan and at New York University
• Director of Pacific Pain Clinic 1988-93
• Director of Pacific Complementary Medicine Center since 1999
  

          Yi-Po Anthony Wu, MD

Syndrome X

by Yi-po Anthony Wu, M.D., M.P.H.

Metabolic Syndrome

Diabetes Mellitus, low HDL, high triglycerides and obesity are significant metabolic disorders that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. High blood pressure and stress are also risk factors. This host of health problems is collectively known as Syndrome X. As Syndrome X is also linked to the body’s ineffective use of insulin, it is also called metabolic syndrome.

Three Strikes

If you have at least three of the following, you have Syndrome X and you have tripled your heart disease risk:

• Triglyceride levels greater than 150
• High blood pressure of over 130/85
• Fasting blood sugar level higher than 110
• HDL or “good” cholesterol levels lower than 40 for men or lower than 50 for women
• A waist measurement of more than 35 inches for women or more than 40 inches for men

Syndrome X is chronic and serious. It is associated with long-term complications and early mortality. Despite major advances in monitoring blood sugar, blood pressure, triglyceride and cholesterol levels, metabolic syndrome remains a big challenge for health care.

To Win the Game

Metabolic disorders are caused by behavioral patterns, diet, hormone imbalance and a toxic environment.

For patients with advanced-stage metabolic disorders, medications are absolutely necessary for controlling the abnormalities and preventing further complications. A comprehensive holistic approach is highly recommended. Herbal formulas, acupuncture and moxibustion offer symptomatic improvement.

Only with fundamental lifestyle changes can we modify or reverse the metabolic processes leading to disorders. I would recommend the following:

• Obtain knowledge and accurate information
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Monitor risk factors
• Eat right Exercise & relax

We all know that it is not easy to effect lifestyle changes, but you don’t have to do it alone. We are here to help. I have initiated a Metabolic Program at Pacific Complementary Medicine Center to help my patients. We’ll have resource materials available for you, will help you monitor your weight, blood sugar and other lab results, provide counseling for nutrition and diet, and offer fun exercise classes for those who hate to exercise. We’d like to be part of your winning team to beat Syndrome X.

Treatment of Diabetes ~ A Traditional Approach

by Michael Nian-Peng Shi, L.Ac

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long and colorful history in the discussion and treatment of diabetes. In fact, the disease name in TCM, “wasting of the triple burners”, is not surprisingly very similar to the modern meaning of the term diabetes. Earliest discussions of this condition date back to over one thousand years. Since that time, treatment for diabetes, has followed the main ideas imposed in those theoretical discussions, namely, harmonizing the center of digestive function, nourishing the kidney and lung.

To give more of a flavor so that the common reader may get a sense for this approach, we need to understand that the terms like kidney, lung, etc. in TCM have their unique definition based on a holistic idea of the human body and its accompanying physiological systems.

Methods used in clinical treatment of diabetes or “wasting of the triple burners”, is divided in three categories. The first involves dietary changes. In recent years, modern studies have proven what was already known in old China one thousand years ago. The diabetic must consume a moderate diet consisting of vegetables and lean protein, with minimal indulgence in sweets, fatty and oily foods and carbohydrates. These forbidden foods are considered too “rich”.

The second and third approaches are clinical. First we focus on physical modalities for treatment. These are acupuncture, moxibustion and hands on physical approaches. Focus is on regulating the acupuncture channels of the kidney, lungs and stomach/spleen.

The other major modality is herbal therapy. Herbs are an important part of the TCM treatment for diabetes because TCM sees diabetes as a condition of wasting or deficient in yin/fluids. It is only through replenishing of these yin substances that the body can recover. That is done mainly through herbs. Herbal formulas may vary from patient to patient based on the specific physiological tendencies of the individual. Again, the herbal formulas tend toward nourishing the lung and kidney and harmonizing the digestion.

This brief overview and discussion of TCM treatment for diabetes is intended to give the reader an introduction to new and powerful treatment option available for diabetics.

DIABETES AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Dorel Rotar, L.Ac.

The therapeutic use of exercise for diabetes mellitus was prescribed as early as 600 BC by the Indian physician Sushruta, and was widely recommended by physicians of the 18th century. Elliott Joslin identified exercise along with dietary management and insulin administration as one of the three components of good therapy in the 1920’s. Today exercise is recognized as one of the established principles of diabetes treatment.

• Exercise can lower the blood sugar and improve the body’s ability to use glucose. With regular exercise, the amount of insulin needed decreases.
• Exercise can also help reverse the resistance to insulin that occurs as a result of being overweight. There is an increase in the number of insulin receptors improving the body’s ability to utilize insulin.
• Exercise improves risk factors for heart disease and decreases the risk of heart problems, which is a major health concern for people with diabetes. This includes the reduction of bad cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), which forms plaque that obstructs blood vessels. Exercise promotes the good cholesterol or high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), which is protective against heart disease. Blood pressure is also lowered through exercise and exercise has been shown to improve mild to moderate high blood pressure.
• Exercise, when combined with a meal plan, has the ability to control Type 2 diabetes without the need for other medications.
• Regular physical exercise and activity provides an effective way for people with diabetes to manage their blood sugars.

No matter what kind of exercise you do, you should warm up before you start and cool down when you're done. To warm up, spend 5 to 10 minutes doing a low-intensity exercise such as walking. Then gently stretch for another 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat these steps after exercising to cool down. When you start an exercise program, go slowly. Then gradually increase the intensity and length of your sessions as you become more fit. Talk to your doctor for specific advice.

Diabetes and Yoga

Yoga helps improve the blood circulation, enhances the pancreatic activity, stimulates insulin secretion and promotes digestion, all of which greatly aid in bringing diabetes under control. All inverted postures help the simulation of the pancreas. Those with high blood pressure should avoid such inverted postures.

While Yoga cannot “cure” diabetes, it can complement the lifestyle changes necessary to keep diabetic symptoms in check, and help you to gain better control of your health and well being. By releasing muscle tension and teaching you how to relax at will, Yoga relaxation training helps reduce the harmful effects of physical and mental stress.

Daily practice of meditation shows you a quiet, restful, stable part of yourself that supports everything you do, and teaches you how to draw on these inner resources for the strength and health that can be your choice.

Diabetes and Tai-Chi

Many people with diabetes are unaware of the benefits of Tai Chi. Part of our human condition is the familiar fight or flight syndrome. To enable us to fight or run, our liver pumps glycogen into our system. Consequently, our blood sugar level becomes elevated. For people who have diabetes, this is not a good outcome since they do not have the insulin producing mechanisms to reduce this additional increase in blood sugar level. The calmness and inner peace produced by the practice of Tai-Chi decreases the medication that is required to effectively control one’s diabetes.

Take Action

If you are diabetic and/or overweight, work with your doctor to monitor your blood sugar, weight, good and bad cholesterol, triglyceride and blood pressure regularly. Adopt a diet plan and participate in an exercise program, preferably Yoga, Tai Chi or Breathing/Liu Tong exercise offered at Pacific Complementary Medicine Center.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)

Yoshiko Kage, L.Ac

PRE-MENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS) is common among younger women in the US. Most women are familiar with menstrual cramps. They may feel pain during a period in the lower abdomen, which may extend to the lower back or thighs. Some women also suffer nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or general aching. Emotional changes include depression, sadness, irritability, anxiety, tension, mood swings, lethargy, food cravings, difficulty in concentrating, and forgetfulness. Breast soreness also happens with the period. Many women have headaches associated with the menstrual cycle.

TREATMENT EAST & WEST Western medical doctors usually recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin for easing cramps and breast discomfort. Birth control pills, which is usually a combination of an estrogen and a progestin, may also be prescribed to relieve symptoms. Antidepressants such as Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, and Effexor and/or anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax may be among the remedies offered.

Have you thought about an alternative care for PMS and painful period for yourself or your young daughters who have just started menstruating? In terms of TCM theory, a painful period is mainly due to unsmooth movement of qi and blood in the Chong meridian (conceptual meridian), the Ren meridian and Liver meridian. We can help you have an easy, smooth period.

If you are thinking PMS and painful periods are unavoidable for women, that’s wrong. Come & try acupuncture, moxibustion (heat therapy by mugwort) and Chinese herb medicine.

Cramps and Breast Soreness: Acupuncture mainly treats the Liver & Gall Bladder meridian to smooth the Liver Qi and stop the pain from cramps. Spleen 6 is a powerful point where Liver, Spleen, Kidney meridians all meet. Moxibustion on this point helps the cramps.

In traditional Chinese medicine, breast soreness can be delineated into two types, one due to Liver Qi stagnation and the other due to Liver and Kidney Deficiency. When Liver Qi is not flowing smoothly, breast soreness occurs before a period, sometimes with itching and even with tightness in the chest. One may feel emotionally unstable, experiencing anger and depression, and sighing frequently. In order to treat this type, we move the Liver Qi and stop the pain with acupuncture and herbs. To make the Liver Qi flow, the formula Xiao Yao San is typically used. If the Liver Qi turns to fire and flares up, Jia Wei Xiao Yao San would be given for one who gets angered easily, has a bitter taste in the mouth, headache, and/or constipation. Acupuncture treatment is the same as that for cramps.

With Liver and Kidney Deficiency, breast distention or soreness happens during or after the period. It is not as painful as the Liver Qi stagnation condition and responds well to heat and pressure. Moxibustion and acupressure can be applied at appropriate points. A formula to nourish Kidney and Liver yin such as Yi Guan Jian would be given. Acupuncture treats Kidney & Liver meridians to nourish Kidney & liver yin. Ren 3 & Ren 4 are good points, where all 3 yin meridians, the Ren and Chong meridians meet. Moxibustion is applied on those.

Headaches: There are three major causes of headache: Blood Deficiency, Liver Fire, and Blood Stagnation. For each headache type, we provide a different treatment.

The most common premenstrual headache is caused by Liver Fire. The Liver Qi stagnates, and causes headache before or during a period. This manifests as a bad headache, sometimes on top of the head, and may also include dizziness, anger, a bitter taste in the mouth, and a dry mouth. The principle is to nourish Yin and clear heat with a formula such as Ji Ju Di Huang Wan. Acupuncture treatment is similar to the one for breast soreness.

Premenstrual headache caused by Blood Stagnation is also common. This type of headache is the worst. It usually persists throughout the entire period. The period has a dark, purple color and may have a lot of clots. A formula such as Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang would be given to regulate the Qi, move the blood, and open the channels. On top of the acupuncture treatment which is the same as for cramps, SP10 is usually used to expel the blood stagnation.

You may not understand all the technical terms used for acupuncture and herbs in this article, but do understand that you no longer have to live with PMS and painful periods because TCM practitioners at Pacific Complementary Medicine Center can help bring you symptomatic relief as well as balancing your system.