Axelrad Clinic Blog

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26264837814304664182011-09-12T19:13:59.948-05:00Axelrad Clinic BlogA blog about enhancing hormonal and reproductive wellness via Acupuncture, herbal therapy, foods and nutrition, and mind-body techniques.Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.comBlogger321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-14310900800951960782010-11-18T13:52:00.000-06:002010-11-18T13:53:05.262-06:00The Magic of Gratitude

It's that time of year -- Thanksgiving. It's the time when we start receiving all the emails and cards from businesses thanking us for our loyalty and patronage, to the point where we are desensitized. I'm going to tell a different story today, and after you read it you will see gratitude in a whole new way.First, I would like to thank you for being part of my list, for reading and responding to

Back in 2005, I wrote an article describing a simple principle I had discovered about the timing of meals. Actually, it's not quite right for me to take credit for "discovering" it. This simple principle is based on the Yin/Yang concept from Traditional Chinese Medicine. I called it, at the time, "The Sun-Cycle Diet", and it is way of eating that aligns the complexity, quantity, and time of our

Being an acupuncturist, I am often asked by others to explain how acupuncture works. When I was just beginning in practice, I would always start off by talking about the theory of Qi ("Chi"), the acupuncture "meridians" or channels, and how acupuncture's goal is to remove blockages from the body to allow the Qi, or Vital Energy, to flow smoothly.While this explanation is technically correct

The vast majority of the patients I see have some type of hormonal issue. Whether they are having difficulty getting pregnant, feeling fatigued, anxious, and/or depressed, or suffering from an autoimmune condition, there is something out of balance with the hormones that is feeding their disharmony.One of the most sure-fire ways to keep your body in a hormonal cacophony is unmanaged excess weight

Change isn't easy. The nature of life is to keep things in a pattern that is predictable, repeatable, and safe. All living things -- including humans, birds, dolphins, even plants, and any other organism -- naturally seek safety, comfort, and survival via the path of least resistance.We know that it doesn't always work out so well when we try to take the most comfortable road. Where there is

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-73332155911207183442010-07-01T07:55:00.000-05:002010-07-01T07:55:42.640-05:003 Ways to Avoid Added Hormones in Meat - Dr. Weil's Daily Tip

Shocking, but true... Many conventional meat producers routinely use reproductive hormones to affect growth and development of their livestock. Estrogen and testosterone consumed via meat products is one way to potentially affect fertility, especially in those who are hormone-sensitive or who are predisposed to hormone imbalance. Dr. Weil's site has just posted a nice article on some simple ways

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-60862566709118426312010-06-25T14:02:00.000-05:002010-06-25T14:02:38.647-05:00Longitudinal association of vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin B-12 with depressive symptoms among older adults over time -- Skarupski et al., 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29413 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

"Vitamins B6 and B12 are essential nutrients required in the synthesis of many neurotransmitters including serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and GABA, which are brain chemicals that help modulate mood, our emotional state and sleep."Longitudinal association of vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin B-12 with depressive symptoms among older adults over time -- Skarupski et al., 10.3945/

I see people all the time with "unexplained" infertility. They simply aren't getting pregnant, and nobody can tell them why. They've had all the medical tests, all the bloodwork and ultrasounds, and there is no "reason" they shouldn't be getting pregnant.I am of the mindset that while certainly there are things that can't be explained, there is always a REASON that something happens. So, while we

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-56442335513774890752010-06-16T13:15:00.000-05:002010-06-17T13:40:55.396-05:00When Life Becomes Medicine - A Healing Story

Ellen, 44 and a mother of three lovely children, came to me for help with energy, weight gain, and "low motivation". She had seen a doctor friend of mine, who discovered low testosterone and had put her on a low-dose testosterone replacement regimen. This seemed to be helping some, but she still felt out of sorts. So, he referred her to me for general wellness care.When I first met her, I was

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-37233076247430154322010-06-10T09:05:00.000-05:002010-06-10T09:05:33.048-05:00Another helpful Acupuncture research study

Here we have another instance of science again discovering another mechanism by which acupuncture heals. I would like to congratulate the researchers for doing this important work.I love studies like this because, at the very least, they show that the acupuncture effect is not placebo. After all, in this study, the experimental subjects are mice who have no idea they are "supposed" to feel

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-66512007416652612522010-05-21T10:26:00.003-05:002010-05-21T10:51:16.034-05:00Making SPACE for Change - A Fertility Story With a New Beginning

I have a patient -- let's call her "Lucy". Actually she WAS my patient, and now she is again. This is because about 6 months ago she started seeing me for fertility issues. A couple of months later she drifted off as she did not conceive and she and her husband finally decided to move forward with the adoption process.When we first started working together, I told her that I just KNEW she could

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-70560684559179311232010-05-20T18:24:00.002-05:002010-05-20T18:37:48.905-05:00The Physics of Horomonal Balance (or Lack Thereof)

In medicine, and in life, we have the concept of the "vicious cycle". A vicious cycle is a pattern that feeds on itself, continually increasing and increasing its momentum.A hurricane is, in a way, an example of a vicious cycle. Convection begins at a focal point. That convection then feeds more and more until we have a vast, spinning air mass. The hurricane, in essence, creates itself by an

Hormones are the language our body uses to communicate with itself. The brain sends out hormones to tell organs and tissues what to do. Some of those organs in turn create other hormones that in turn convey additional information to our cells. These hormones eventually make their way back to the brain, which secretes other hormones based on the information.And, the cycle goes on and on.Hormones

Postpartum depression is an issue usually associated with new mothers, but a new study has found that a significant number of men also suffer a form of this condition. Researchers found that about one in 10 new fathers experience postpartum depression, and that three months after the birth of their child, 25 percent of men met the criteria for depression.From: http://ping.fm/QsePV

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-49996031576229798942010-05-18T09:19:00.002-05:002010-05-18T09:22:02.987-05:00This Sunday's Live Seminar: The Tao of Hormones

This month's seminar: The Tao of Hormones. Sunday, May 23rd, 3-5 PM at Niamoves in the Houston Heights.For more information and online registration, visit our event page.Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Women's Healthcare, is a recognized expert in women's health, natural treatment of hormone imbalance, and fertility enhancement using Traditional

A study that presents compelling evidence that diets high in Omega fatty acids (like those contained in fish oil) reduces endometriosis risk. Something like this always intrigues me because I view most, if not all, chronic diseases as inflammation gone awry. We know that the main effect of fish oils, and the beneficial fatty acids they supply, is to balance the body's innate inflammatory response

I'll be speaking tomorrow at 10:30AM to a small women's group at The Fort Bend Church. I'm really looking forward to it! http://www.thebend.org/

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-51094919706328318312010-05-07T08:05:00.002-05:002010-05-07T08:07:29.142-05:00Maybe You're Not "Running Out of Eggs" After All!

A recent research study is casting doubt on the whole "running out of eggs" theory that many doctors use to explain why a woman is having trouble ovulating: http://ping.fm/kDSlX

I am amazed at what the human body is capable of communicating about itself. So much of what I do is about helping reflect back to my patients what their bodies are imploring them to do. Stomach pain may be a request for less or more of a certain food group. Frequent headaches can be the body saying that more space needs to be created in the schedule for downtime. Irregular cycles may be the body

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-56590568302137772802010-04-13T16:35:00.005-05:002010-04-13T17:06:04.736-05:00Has Your Doctor Ever Asked You What YOU Think?

I'm not the most opinionated guy anymore. Time and experience have both taught me that there is an inverse relationship between the number of opinions I hold and my level of contentment with life. So, generally speaking, most of what I do in my clinic is listen, and do my best to help people overcome the challenges they perceive as real in their lives. The less I focus on what I think is right

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-17779813916600480152010-04-09T10:13:00.001-05:002010-04-09T10:13:59.320-05:00With Infertility May Come Sexual Dysfunction on MedicineNet.com

Infertile women face an increased risk for sexual dysfunction, a new study reports.From: http://ping.fm/b6zJt

With Infertility May Come Sexual Dysfunction on MedicineNet.com http://ping.fm/MXopC

A New Way to Zap Away Uterine Fibroids: MedlinePlus http://ping.fm/Ys9YX

Omega-3 May Reduce Endometriosis Risk: MedlinePlus http://ping.fm/OEeAZ

It's an absolutely picture-perfect day here in Houston -- a "Chamber of Commerce" kind of day where there's not a cloud in the sky, the humidity is low, and the temperature is below 80 degrees. There's even a slight breeze blowing, which keeps things feeling light and cool.On days like this, it's hard for me to feel tired or sluggish. There's something about the crisp, clean air and full-throttle

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-29379901246129016542010-03-04T11:40:00.000-06:002010-03-04T11:40:06.109-06:00Acupuncture May Help Pregnant Women With Depression, Says University of Texas at Austin Pharmacy Researcher | The University of Texas at Austin

Acupuncture May Help Pregnant Women With Depression, Says University of Texas at Austin Pharmacy Researcher The University of Texas at AustinChris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health,is a recognized expert in women's health and fertilityenhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional

There is a natural intelligence that directs your body in every internal and external interaction. For instance, how does your body "know" when to make more (or less) of a certain hormone or fat or protein? How does it know where to move nutrients to places where they are needed?This is still one of the great mysteries that conventional medicine has yet to understand. Conventional medicine has

People often want to know how what I do is different from conventional medicine. The difference really is fundamental, but that doesn't mean that what I do is incompatible with conventional medical treatment. In fact, my fertility patients who use conventional treatments routinely exceed conventional expectations in terms of response to medications and pregnancy rates.The foundation of my

If you are an IVF patient who recently had a cycle that did not result in pregnancy, you were most likely told by your R.E. to wait two to three months, and try again. Common sense would dictate that it is wise to give your body a rest after the IVF cycle, because in essence your body has just finished working in "overdrive" mode, pushed harder than it has ever been pushed by the powerful

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-63550774876270447642008-07-01T15:11:00.004-05:002008-07-01T15:38:56.402-05:00Are You Sure That Stress Doesn't Cause Infertility?

Today I was reading an article on RESOLVE's website. RESOLVE is a national organization for infertility help. I have worked with them before, and their group of volunteers, most of whom have had their own struggles with infertility, is second to none. I even did a conference call for them that I found incredibly rewarding and enlightening.The article I was reading is by Alice Domar, Ph.D., a

A patient once came to me for help after two failed IVF cycles. During our initial visit, she told me about a consultation she recently had with a local Reproductive Endocrinologist from whom she was seeking a second opinion. One of the things this R.E. told her was that the previous cycles most likely failed due to egg quality issues. This was in complete opposition to what the previous R.E. had

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2626483781430466418.post-7196963310085304032008-06-26T17:02:00.002-05:002008-06-30T00:03:51.016-05:00Food, Stress, and Healing - Important Considerations for Fertility Enhancement and IVF Preparation

I see a large number of patients who are undergoing In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and want to incorporate natural methods into their overall process. Some of these patients have tried to conceive for years with no success. Others have genetic or anatomical problems that make it difficult, if not impossible, to conceive on their own. In every case I have found

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048027448470580108noreply@blogger.com0