The health of your family members offers clues about how you’ll age and what diseases you have a higher than normal risk of developing.  I come from a large family, and arthritis is a dark cloud affecting both my parents and many of my siblings.  So far, I’ve managed to dodge the arthritis bullet, but I realize that it may be an issue as I get older. Arthritis is chronic inflammation of the joints that affects an estimated 70 million Americans. Its symptoms include pain, swelling, limited range of motion, redness, and warmth around the joints.  There are many different kinds of arthritis, but...

Baby, it’s hot outside, and some of my patients are starting to show the strain.  Hot flashes are worse, people are hot and thirsty, and tempers are flaring. Much of Chinese medicine is based on the idea that we humans are part of the natural world, and as such, we’re greatly affected by our environment. Seasonal changes and extreme weather can by physically stressful and wreak havoc with our health. Therefore, when it’s dry outside we get dry conditions, such as a scratchy sore throat, dehydration, and dry skin.  When it’s cold and damp, achy joints and phlegm conditions flare.  Windy...

My ears ring when I get tired, and this week, I’m tired.  A little bit like a canary in the coal mine, when I’ve overdone it, my ears start ringing, signaling me to slow down, take it easy , and take better care of myself. Ringing in your ears, called tinnitus, affects about 50 million Americans.  While some, like me, have mild or occasional ringing, others experience noise loud enough to interfere with their everyday activities, including sleep. Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom, and it can be temporary or permanent.  Ringing in your ears is basically a phantom noise—you’re hearing...

Can acupuncture and Chinese medicine treat migraine headaches?  This is one of the most frequent questions I am asked.  The person asking either is a sufferer or is asking because someone they know suffers, and either way they are all too familiar with the agony associated with migraines. I have treated my fair share of patients who suffer from bad headaches.  However, the pain of a migraine plus accompanying symptoms equals its own special kind of hell. While stress headaches are triggered by…um, stress, migraines can be set off by a variety of triggers, including certain foods, missing a meal,...

Ah choo!  It’s not a Chinese phrase, but it may mean that you’re coming down with a cold.  We’ve all had them.  You’re miserable, but not sick enough to stay home from work.  You think your runny nose is finally getting better, but then the whole thing sinks into your chest or you lose your voice.  You’re achy, your throat hurts, and you can’t sleep.  Life really bites when you have a cold. So what does Chinese medicine have to offer in the way of cold relief?  Well, it really is true that there is no cure for the common cold.  But the Chinese do have some tools up their sleeve in...