"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/ajcn.2010.29413 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Explaining the "Unexplained"
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 may not be able to explain why certain things, good and bad, happen in our lives, later we often are able to understand the reasons they did happen.
Most of the "unexplained" cases I see can be easily explained when we simply dig deeper than numbers on a blood test or results on an ultrasound. What foods is the patient eating? How much intimacy is there in the relationship? Are they at a healthy weight? Do they know how to track their ovulation? Are their periods painful and difficult? Do they exercise at all, or do they exercise too much?
The above questions are just a starting point, and they are ones that are often left out of the equation at the doctor's office. So, when a doctor, or anyone, tells you your fertility problems are "unexplained", stop for a moment and ask yourself honestly, "Is there anything I'm doing or not doing that could explain why I'm not getting pregnant?" If you are not sure (and even if you are), you NEED to see a professional such as myself who can help you take an inventory and find subtle issues that could be getting in your way.
Often, the simple things can make all the difference... And, the answers are often so simple they elude us.
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
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 may not be able to explain why certain things, good and bad, happen in our lives, later we often are able to understand the reasons they did happen.
Most of the "unexplained" cases I see can be easily explained when we simply dig deeper than numbers on a blood test or results on an ultrasound. What foods is the patient eating? How much intimacy is there in the relationship? Are they at a healthy weight? Do they know how to track their ovulation? Are their periods painful and difficult? Do they exercise at all, or do they exercise too much?
The above questions are just a starting point, and they are ones that are often left out of the equation at the doctor's office. So, when a doctor, or anyone, tells you your fertility problems are "unexplained", stop for a moment and ask yourself honestly, "Is there anything I'm doing or not doing that could explain why I'm not getting pregnant?" If you are not sure (and even if you are), you NEED to see a professional such as myself who can help you take an inventory and find subtle issues that could be getting in your way.
Often, the simple things can make all the difference... And, the answers are often so simple they elude us.
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
When 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 immediately struck with how sweet and sincere she was. She didn't mince words about some of the difficulties she experienced in her personal life, and she had a pretty good handle on how these might be affecting her adversely. She also had a sense that she was just not able to pull herself out of the lingering fatigue and lack of motivation she had been recently experiencing. It was bigger than just "picking herself up by the bootstraps" and making the most out of things. This was something physiological.
So, she embarked on her journey to improve her quality of life. This is one of the things I love about what I do. I don't see a lot of truly "sick" people (although when I do it is always an amazing experience helping them). I mostly see people who are not feeling well, who know something is "out of sorts", and who often have tried conventional medicine with limited or no success. To me, it is an absolute honor and privilege to be a catalyst for these people to get back on track with their lives. When they start to feel better, and are able to enjoy life again, this is something that to me is just priceless.
So, back to Ellen's story. After our intake, where I listened to all her symptoms, and her description of the flow of her life, it became apparent to me that Ellen suffered from something that drugs could not cure. This didn't mean she was hopeless. Far from it. In fact, all Ellen had to do was start collecting her energy back inward towards herself.
Ellen has three young children. The youngest was a surprise, and is about 5 years younger than the next older sibling. Just like any other conscientious mother, Ellen puts a lot of time and effort into raising her children. On top of that, she is also very active in non-profit work and frequently attends social gatherings. She admitted early on in our work together that she was the kind of person that was always there for others.
The problem was that Ellen, after so many years of sending her energy out towards other people's causes and needs, had forgotten to give something back to herself.
Life is energy. It's that simple. So, when we think of it this way, it makes a lot of things easier to understand. Every minute that Ellen was focusing on someone else, her energy was moving out and away from her. In some cases, that energy gets reflected back and we actually have a net gain of energy. This is what happens when we feel the thrill of watching our child succeed at something we have put a lot of effort into helping them with. Or, when we give something to somebody as a gift and see their happiness and joy, and this makes us feel good.
But, there are many, many ways to spend our energy where we really don't get much -- or anything -- back in return. Social gatherings can be draining, especially when we are doing them more out of "obligation". Even doing charity work, while honorable, can start to drain our energy as we can overextend ourselves even into this arena if we are not careful.
So, my main focus with Ellen was two-fold:
1) Get her to see and acknowledge how her life was draining her energy, and
2) Support her foundational energy as it was recovering from years of high outflow and low return
This all didn't happen overnight. It took some time for me to even get Ellen to buy into the fact that her life needed to change if she wanted to feel better. And, I'm not sure she ever "explicitly" agreed with me. But, something amazing happened after about 8 weeks which let me know that she was well on the road to solving her issue.
She came in for her weekly visit, sat down, and told me that she had decided to quit her job to start her own business.
If that doesn't indicate increased motivation and energy, I don't know what does.
She had always wanted to start this business because it involves something she has a passion for. But quitting her job was scary to her because she was afraid of how her employer (and friend) would react to her resignation.
Now, however, she saw clearly that this was the direction she needed to go, and she was ready to move.
After I heard this, I told her, "Well, looks like we're done." And, I was serious. On the part with increased energy and motivation, we are certainly finished. Now, we just have to maintain it, and make sure to nurture it along as it continues to grow.
She is still coming to work on losing some weight (which, as many of us know, takes a bit of motivation as well). And, every time I see her I think about how far she's come in such a short amount of time.
The moral of this story is that the life change itself is the medicine. She is moving out on her own, doing something creative that involves her passion. This is a way of giving back to herself that I'm not sure she's ever experienced. On top of that, through our work together she now has a handle on the fact that she can't spread herself too thin, that she HAS to keep checking in with herself to make sure what she is giving back to herself is in balance with what she is giving out to others.
She will falter again, we all do. But, now when she starts to get out of balance she will have the tools and knowledge to do something about it, to receive that "life medicine" that only SHE can give to herself.
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
When I first met her, I was immediately struck with how sweet and sincere she was. She didn't mince words about some of the difficulties she experienced in her personal life, and she had a pretty good handle on how these might be affecting her adversely. She also had a sense that she was just not able to pull herself out of the lingering fatigue and lack of motivation she had been recently experiencing. It was bigger than just "picking herself up by the bootstraps" and making the most out of things. This was something physiological.
So, she embarked on her journey to improve her quality of life. This is one of the things I love about what I do. I don't see a lot of truly "sick" people (although when I do it is always an amazing experience helping them). I mostly see people who are not feeling well, who know something is "out of sorts", and who often have tried conventional medicine with limited or no success. To me, it is an absolute honor and privilege to be a catalyst for these people to get back on track with their lives. When they start to feel better, and are able to enjoy life again, this is something that to me is just priceless.
So, back to Ellen's story. After our intake, where I listened to all her symptoms, and her description of the flow of her life, it became apparent to me that Ellen suffered from something that drugs could not cure. This didn't mean she was hopeless. Far from it. In fact, all Ellen had to do was start collecting her energy back inward towards herself.
Ellen has three young children. The youngest was a surprise, and is about 5 years younger than the next older sibling. Just like any other conscientious mother, Ellen puts a lot of time and effort into raising her children. On top of that, she is also very active in non-profit work and frequently attends social gatherings. She admitted early on in our work together that she was the kind of person that was always there for others.
The problem was that Ellen, after so many years of sending her energy out towards other people's causes and needs, had forgotten to give something back to herself.
Life is energy. It's that simple. So, when we think of it this way, it makes a lot of things easier to understand. Every minute that Ellen was focusing on someone else, her energy was moving out and away from her. In some cases, that energy gets reflected back and we actually have a net gain of energy. This is what happens when we feel the thrill of watching our child succeed at something we have put a lot of effort into helping them with. Or, when we give something to somebody as a gift and see their happiness and joy, and this makes us feel good.
But, there are many, many ways to spend our energy where we really don't get much -- or anything -- back in return. Social gatherings can be draining, especially when we are doing them more out of "obligation". Even doing charity work, while honorable, can start to drain our energy as we can overextend ourselves even into this arena if we are not careful.
So, my main focus with Ellen was two-fold:
1) Get her to see and acknowledge how her life was draining her energy, and
2) Support her foundational energy as it was recovering from years of high outflow and low return
This all didn't happen overnight. It took some time for me to even get Ellen to buy into the fact that her life needed to change if she wanted to feel better. And, I'm not sure she ever "explicitly" agreed with me. But, something amazing happened after about 8 weeks which let me know that she was well on the road to solving her issue.
She came in for her weekly visit, sat down, and told me that she had decided to quit her job to start her own business.
If that doesn't indicate increased motivation and energy, I don't know what does.
She had always wanted to start this business because it involves something she has a passion for. But quitting her job was scary to her because she was afraid of how her employer (and friend) would react to her resignation.
Now, however, she saw clearly that this was the direction she needed to go, and she was ready to move.
After I heard this, I told her, "Well, looks like we're done." And, I was serious. On the part with increased energy and motivation, we are certainly finished. Now, we just have to maintain it, and make sure to nurture it along as it continues to grow.
She is still coming to work on losing some weight (which, as many of us know, takes a bit of motivation as well). And, every time I see her I think about how far she's come in such a short amount of time.
The moral of this story is that the life change itself is the medicine. She is moving out on her own, doing something creative that involves her passion. This is a way of giving back to herself that I'm not sure she's ever experienced. On top of that, through our work together she now has a handle on the fact that she can't spread herself too thin, that she HAS to keep checking in with herself to make sure what she is giving back to herself is in balance with what she is giving out to others.
She will falter again, we all do. But, now when she starts to get out of balance she will have the tools and knowledge to do something about it, to receive that "life medicine" that only SHE can give to herself.
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Another 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 better. I'm sure they have some level of intelligence, but they aren't believing anything in particular about the effects the acupuncture might have.
We also have other studies that independently demonstrate that acupuncture can:
- decrease stress hormone activity
- increase beta-endorphin (pleasure hormone) levels
- adjust blood flow patterns in tissues both local to and remote from the needle insertion site
- modulate brain activity based on where the needles are placed, even to the point of causing increased salivation when a needle is placed in the hand
Yet, the detractors continue their attacks, which just boggles my mind. At the very least, we can all acknowledge that the human body is an exquisitely intricate self-healing entity, and that the pathways for inducing change in it are likely infinite. And, at most, we can even seriously entertain the idea that the body is an intelligent entity that is capable of responding to needle insertion at various locations in an intelligent way, and in a different way depending on the insertion pattern.
The latter is what I have come not just to believe, but to KNOW based on experience of doing several thousand acupuncture treatments and watching the response unfold over days, weeks, and even years of repeated treatments. It is nothing short of amazing and a testament to the amazing transformative power encapsulated inside these wonderful bodies we inhabit.
The article:
Adenosine Is Key to Acupuncture's Effectiveness - WSJ.com
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
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 better. I'm sure they have some level of intelligence, but they aren't believing anything in particular about the effects the acupuncture might have.
We also have other studies that independently demonstrate that acupuncture can:
- decrease stress hormone activity
- increase beta-endorphin (pleasure hormone) levels
- adjust blood flow patterns in tissues both local to and remote from the needle insertion site
- modulate brain activity based on where the needles are placed, even to the point of causing increased salivation when a needle is placed in the hand
Yet, the detractors continue their attacks, which just boggles my mind. At the very least, we can all acknowledge that the human body is an exquisitely intricate self-healing entity, and that the pathways for inducing change in it are likely infinite. And, at most, we can even seriously entertain the idea that the body is an intelligent entity that is capable of responding to needle insertion at various locations in an intelligent way, and in a different way depending on the insertion pattern.
The latter is what I have come not just to believe, but to KNOW based on experience of doing several thousand acupuncture treatments and watching the response unfold over days, weeks, and even years of repeated treatments. It is nothing short of amazing and a testament to the amazing transformative power encapsulated inside these wonderful bodies we inhabit.
The article:
Adenosine Is Key to Acupuncture's Effectiveness - WSJ.com
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Making 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 get pregnant, despite all the doom and gloom she had received from her fertility doctor at the time. I have a lot of fertility doctor friends, and they know that I am not talking about them. :-)
She was so wound up, anxious, and upset about her seeming inability to get pregnant. I knew this was a main issue. She was also overweight. So, as I often do, instead of making the focus about fertility, I told her we just had to help her lose weight, and she would be fine, hoping this would at least get her to focus on something else for a while.
That didn't work though, which is fine. Life, and Vital Energy, have their own way of moving, and each individual needs the freedom to choose how they move with it. So, she never was able to really extricate her mind from the darkness of her fertility struggle.
Her husband also came to see me. Actually, he had a more significant issue with his fertility than she did. I knew this. I worked with him aggressively with nutrition, herbs, acupuncture, etc. All parameters of his fertility improved significantly, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome. By January of this year, as I mentioned above, they decided to move on and start the adoption process.
They did the home visit, met some potential foster kids, and even prepared the rooms. I can only imagine how excited they were starting to feel. "Finally, we are going to have our family." That heart-opening, receiving energy is so beautiful and deep.
And, Lucy's back at my clinic -- because she's pregnant. She's floored about it, but I'm not.
What happened is easy to explain. First off, they conceived about 120 days since her husband completed his treatment program with me. That's about the timeframe it takes for a complete turnover of sperm.
Second, they started MAKING SPACE in their lives for a child. This is something that I sometimes have to work with people on -- a LOT.
Third, they stopped trying so hard. Sometimes trying hard actually blocks the result. We've all heard "stop trying so hard", but that's not so easy to do. Yet, when we relax and allow natural flow to whatever we do, things work a lot more easily. So, they simply had fun, had sex, and voila!
I see a lot of women that are working 50 hours a week, pushing themselves very hard to ascend the corporate ladder. Lucy did not fall into this category, but the end result was similar. With Lucy, the constriction and lack of space was being caused by her anxiety and obsessive worry. Whether it is psychological or lack of time doesn't matter. Your body simply KNOWS when there's no room for a baby.
I love these kinds of stories. In a world where we attempt to force everything into a little logical box, with chemicals, hormones, and cells, it is good to be reminded that the true spirit of life is more than the sum total of all of that. Chemicals and hormones can describe a little piece of the puzzle. But, there is so much that lives beyond the world of numbers, logic, and analysis.
So, if there's something you want that you're not getting, stop and ask yourself: Am I making space for it?
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
When we first started working together, I told her that I just KNEW she could get pregnant, despite all the doom and gloom she had received from her fertility doctor at the time. I have a lot of fertility doctor friends, and they know that I am not talking about them. :-)
She was so wound up, anxious, and upset about her seeming inability to get pregnant. I knew this was a main issue. She was also overweight. So, as I often do, instead of making the focus about fertility, I told her we just had to help her lose weight, and she would be fine, hoping this would at least get her to focus on something else for a while.
That didn't work though, which is fine. Life, and Vital Energy, have their own way of moving, and each individual needs the freedom to choose how they move with it. So, she never was able to really extricate her mind from the darkness of her fertility struggle.
Her husband also came to see me. Actually, he had a more significant issue with his fertility than she did. I knew this. I worked with him aggressively with nutrition, herbs, acupuncture, etc. All parameters of his fertility improved significantly, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome. By January of this year, as I mentioned above, they decided to move on and start the adoption process.
They did the home visit, met some potential foster kids, and even prepared the rooms. I can only imagine how excited they were starting to feel. "Finally, we are going to have our family." That heart-opening, receiving energy is so beautiful and deep.
And, Lucy's back at my clinic -- because she's pregnant. She's floored about it, but I'm not.
What happened is easy to explain. First off, they conceived about 120 days since her husband completed his treatment program with me. That's about the timeframe it takes for a complete turnover of sperm.
Second, they started MAKING SPACE in their lives for a child. This is something that I sometimes have to work with people on -- a LOT.
Third, they stopped trying so hard. Sometimes trying hard actually blocks the result. We've all heard "stop trying so hard", but that's not so easy to do. Yet, when we relax and allow natural flow to whatever we do, things work a lot more easily. So, they simply had fun, had sex, and voila!
I see a lot of women that are working 50 hours a week, pushing themselves very hard to ascend the corporate ladder. Lucy did not fall into this category, but the end result was similar. With Lucy, the constriction and lack of space was being caused by her anxiety and obsessive worry. Whether it is psychological or lack of time doesn't matter. Your body simply KNOWS when there's no room for a baby.
I love these kinds of stories. In a world where we attempt to force everything into a little logical box, with chemicals, hormones, and cells, it is good to be reminded that the true spirit of life is more than the sum total of all of that. Chemicals and hormones can describe a little piece of the puzzle. But, there is so much that lives beyond the world of numbers, logic, and analysis.
So, if there's something you want that you're not getting, stop and ask yourself: Am I making space for it?
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The 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 ever-increasing, self-perpetuating spin.
But, a hurricane CAN be broken. It depends on sea water temperature because warmth/heat = movement/activity. So, heat is the one core factor that can break the vicious cycle of a hurricane - without it, the cycle no longer feeds itself.
Hormones operate under the same law of physics, actually. And, hormones are just as capable of winding up and up and up until a storm ensues. Those storms always have a factor that, if adjusted, can begin the wind-down process. There's no one factor that applies in every case, though. That's the difficult thing when trying to solve these storms.
What we forget sometimes is that a hurricane at one time starts as a small mass of warm air that starts spinning. That's it. That's all it takes before, several days later, we end up with the big mass of wet, windy, destructive atmosphere we call "hurricane".
Hormonal "storms" -- unrelenting and worsening fatigue, insomnia, appetite issues, depression, anxiety, menstrual issues, you name it -- start in similar fashion. Something as seemingly infitesimal as one meal with too much sugar, or one night with a little too much to drink, or one episode of uncontrolled rage, can launch a cascade of events that, if not reharmonized and managed correctly, end up becoming a vicious cycle that feels worse, and worse, and worse.
Until one day you end up feeling very sick.
So, the question is, are you winding up into a vicious cycle that is taking you in a destructive direction? If so, here are three simple tips to help your body start to unwind itself fast:
1. Drink 3 - 4 liters of water daily.
2. Stop all sugar and alcohol consumption for 2 - 4 weeks.
3. Get 8 hours of sleep (minimum) every night of the week.
If you don't feel better after these three steps, seek help from a qualified practitioner. Often they are able to pinpoint the "breaking factor" that will break the cycle and start you heading in the other direction -- a healthy cycle that feeds itself and leads to more vitality, health, and happiness.
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
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 ever-increasing, self-perpetuating spin.
But, a hurricane CAN be broken. It depends on sea water temperature because warmth/heat = movement/activity. So, heat is the one core factor that can break the vicious cycle of a hurricane - without it, the cycle no longer feeds itself.
Hormones operate under the same law of physics, actually. And, hormones are just as capable of winding up and up and up until a storm ensues. Those storms always have a factor that, if adjusted, can begin the wind-down process. There's no one factor that applies in every case, though. That's the difficult thing when trying to solve these storms.
What we forget sometimes is that a hurricane at one time starts as a small mass of warm air that starts spinning. That's it. That's all it takes before, several days later, we end up with the big mass of wet, windy, destructive atmosphere we call "hurricane".
Hormonal "storms" -- unrelenting and worsening fatigue, insomnia, appetite issues, depression, anxiety, menstrual issues, you name it -- start in similar fashion. Something as seemingly infitesimal as one meal with too much sugar, or one night with a little too much to drink, or one episode of uncontrolled rage, can launch a cascade of events that, if not reharmonized and managed correctly, end up becoming a vicious cycle that feels worse, and worse, and worse.
Until one day you end up feeling very sick.
So, the question is, are you winding up into a vicious cycle that is taking you in a destructive direction? If so, here are three simple tips to help your body start to unwind itself fast:
1. Drink 3 - 4 liters of water daily.
2. Stop all sugar and alcohol consumption for 2 - 4 weeks.
3. Get 8 hours of sleep (minimum) every night of the week.
If you don't feel better after these three steps, seek help from a qualified practitioner. Often they are able to pinpoint the "breaking factor" that will break the cycle and start you heading in the other direction -- a healthy cycle that feeds itself and leads to more vitality, health, and happiness.
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
Is Your Body Arguing With Itself?
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 have the power to increase and decrease function in the body. They also have the ability to compete with, augment, and cancel each other out. Just like a conversation between a group of coworkers in a meeting.
How we eat, feel, think, and act has a great deal of influence on our internal hormonal conversation. If what we are eating, doing, and thinking is creating stress and conflict, our hormones reflect this as they do their best to sort out the competing signals and compensate for the stress of unstable chemicals. As coworkers, our cells and organs begin fighting and screaming at each other as they try to cope. The end result is poor response to stress, disease, inflammation, and other "business" the body must constantly take care of.
If we are consciously creating less stress by eating well, acting and thinking positively, and exercising regularly, our internal hormonal conversation is more harmonious. The "meeting of the minds" between our organs and cells goes smoothly, and the result is a body that is efficient and effective at handling the challenges of life.
My Next Seminar Is All About Hormones...
In my upcoming seminar, The Tao of Hormones, just one of many things I will teach you about is how to optimize your diet around hormonal wellness, and how to optimize your ability to create and respond to your own hormones using natural, non-invasive, low-risk techniques.
This, and the other information you receive, is based on the principles I use with my patients every day -- principles that combine the best of biomedical knowledge with ancient Chinese Medical holistic wisdom.
Today and at the seminar, you have the opportunity to sign up for a free, 30-minute consultation at my clinic. At that consultation, we will discuss your hormonal concerns, and how a series of acupuncture treatments and personalized coaching might be your best way to get you back into balance.
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
And, the cycle goes on and on.
Hormones have the power to increase and decrease function in the body. They also have the ability to compete with, augment, and cancel each other out. Just like a conversation between a group of coworkers in a meeting.
How we eat, feel, think, and act has a great deal of influence on our internal hormonal conversation. If what we are eating, doing, and thinking is creating stress and conflict, our hormones reflect this as they do their best to sort out the competing signals and compensate for the stress of unstable chemicals. As coworkers, our cells and organs begin fighting and screaming at each other as they try to cope. The end result is poor response to stress, disease, inflammation, and other "business" the body must constantly take care of.
If we are consciously creating less stress by eating well, acting and thinking positively, and exercising regularly, our internal hormonal conversation is more harmonious. The "meeting of the minds" between our organs and cells goes smoothly, and the result is a body that is efficient and effective at handling the challenges of life.
My Next Seminar Is All About Hormones...
In my upcoming seminar, The Tao of Hormones, just one of many things I will teach you about is how to optimize your diet around hormonal wellness, and how to optimize your ability to create and respond to your own hormones using natural, non-invasive, low-risk techniques.
This, and the other information you receive, is based on the principles I use with my patients every day -- principles that combine the best of biomedical knowledge with ancient Chinese Medical holistic wisdom.
Today and at the seminar, you have the opportunity to sign up for a free, 30-minute consultation at my clinic. At that consultation, we will discuss your hormonal concerns, and how a series of acupuncture treatments and personalized coaching might be your best way to get you back into balance.
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 Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.
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