Turning Point Acupuncture
Email Newsletter: Acupuncture in the News
Volume 5 Number 1

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Contents:
1. Paltrow finds love
2. FDA rules on Ephedra
3. Weight Loss Alternatives
4. About New Years Resolutions
5. Turning Point Schedule

1. PALTROW: Acupuncture helped me find love
Well, now that I have your attention, that really is the headline from an online article of the British commercial TV site, itv.com.
http://www.itv.com/news/765249.html
The highlight of the article for me is this (and I quote):
"Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed how an acupuncturist helped her find love by guiding her towards a 'new level' in her life. She added that it enabled her to choose Coldplay frontman Chris Martin as the man to settle down with - the couple married last month and are expecting their first baby."

This makes fun reading, but the article goes on to say that (quoting again) :

"It also gave her the strength to cope with the death of her father, Bruce, who died in October 2002, the same month she and Chris got together."

So there is a serious point to be made here. That is that acupuncture helps to bring us into a balance in our life by providing us with an energetic matrix to deal with whatever life throws our way, be it the capacity to recognize and embrace love, or the strength to mourn the loss of a precious person.

Also in the media -- turning from the sublime to the mundane…
2. FDA rules on Ephedra
There were multiple articles in the news about the FDA’s decision to ban the over-the-counter sale of the herb Ephedra. This comes after highly publicized episodes highlighting the dangers of taking Ephedra, particularly by athletes trying to lose weight. The Chinese have safely used this herb, which is referred to as ma huang, for thousands of years by combining it with other herbs to counteract its side effects and by prescribing its use for only short time periods. As a single herb it has never been used for weight loss in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is certainly not combined with caffeine and other stimulants!

The Turning Point newsletter has addressed this issue in the past (Volume 4 Number 2: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. April 2003). In that newsletter I introduced a link to an article by Andrew Gaeddert, the CEO of the herb company Health Concerns, one of our major suppliers. In the article he discusses the use and side effects of Ephedra. He also outlines what changes his company will make in reformulating their products without Ephedra to accommodate the public's safety concerns. You can read that article here:
http://nycacupuncture.com/ephedra.html

The FDA has made it clear that Chinese medical practitioners will be exempt from the prohibition on using Ephedra. At Turning Point we will still dispense Chinese herbal formulas that contain ephedra for asthma and sinus conditions, when it is indicated and for patients for whom we know it will be safe.

But what about people who are concerned about how to lose weight?

3. Weight Loss Alternatives
The NY Times in the Science section January 6, 2004 had an article titled Slim Pickings: Looking Beyond Ephedra. In it, the author interviews many western practitioners who agree that there is nothing available that addresses weight loss like ephedra does. And that is true.

But in Chinese medicine we are not interested in forcing the body into over-gear by the use of stimulants like caffeine and ephedrine (the active ingredient in Ephedra). This mechanism is self- defeating in that it only wears the body down internally, especially the adrenal function. In Chinese Medicine the adrenals are part of what we call the kidney organ system. The integrity of the kidney energy is fundamental to the vitality of the body.

The issue of weight control is one that we have also addressed in a previous newsletter (Volume 3 Number 5: The Weight Loss Issue. October 2002). The contents of that issue can be found on this webpage:

http://www.nycacupuncture.com/weight.html
To summarize that newsletter here:
The Turning Point Acupuncture approach to weight loss utilizes acupuncture and Chinese herbs to harmonize digestion, increase metabolic efficiency, and deal with water metabolism. For many people struggling with their weight, the main issue is to lessen cravings brought on by anxiety and manifested as compulsive eating. We have vast experience treating anxiety with acupuncture. Acupuncture has been widely used to treat addictions to heroin, cocaine and tobacco, as well as to food. Additionally, we use healthful supplements, like the medical food Ultrameal, to assist in a positive outcome.

4. About New years Resolutions
So it is the New Year 2004.

With the new moon on January 22nd, Chinese New Year will begin: The Year of the Monkey.
Many of us have resolutions to change our lives for the better.

Incorporating acupuncture and Chinese herbs into our schedule can help us meet these goals with balance and patience. For some that will be losing weight without ephedra. For some, like Gwyneth, it will be finding love, peace and happiness.
It could happen.
You never know.

5. Turning Point Schedule
Wednesday morning patients will be seen starting at 9 am.
Otherwise the schedule is identical to the one we had at the end of 2003.
For details see:
http://www.nycacupuncture.com/patientinfo.html

Lourdes Guzman will continue to offer Reiki treatments on Saturdays.
John Smith is back doing massage therapy on a limited basis, i.e., Sundays and some evenings. Call him directly to schedule an appointment: (212) 579-4754:

All of us wish you a happy and healthy New Year.

Yours in peace,
Naomi Rabinowitz, MD
9 January 2004
Turning Point Acupuncture
1841 Broadway, Suite 509
New York City, NY 10023
212 489-5038

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copyright 2003 Naomi Rabinowitz.  All Rights Reserved.   This newsletter may be reproduced or transmitted in its entirety only, including this copyright line.
 
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