A Quantum View on How Acupuncture Works

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 according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (the medical system that includes acupuncture), it is hardly satisfactory to most Westerners, including myself. Even though I am a practicing acupuncturist, I still have a Western mind that is conditioned to love scientific, biological data.

After many years doing thousands of treatments, I have observed time and again acupuncture's remarkable efficacy. And, through these observations I have come to know acupuncture's mechanisms very intimately. I have seen pain disappear in the blink of an eye, and long-term chronic ailments like migraines, arthritis, and hormonal imbalance correct themselves in a matter of days or weeks. I have seen women previously unable to conceive go on to deliver beautiful, healthy babies.

Initially, these results left me dumbfounded. Even with all my training and indoctrination into the system of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, my Western brain could not comprehend how placing a few painless needles into a few points on the legs, arms, and torso could affect such a drastic change in the health of my patients.

Over the past 7 years since graduating from acupuncture school, I have taken countless courses and read many, many books on neuroendocrinology (the study of the connection between the brain, nervous system, and hormones), psychoneuroimmunology (the study of how emotions and thoughts affect the nervous system and immune function), and quantum physics. In hindsight, this was all in an attempt to better explain to myself what the heck was happening in my patients' bodies to produce these seemingly miraculous results.

Eventually I found a way to explain it to myself and my patients. And this understanding has become the foundation of how I practice every aspect of my art, including acupuncture, therapeutic nutrition, lifestyle coaching, and herbal medicine.

The explanation starts with the fact that your body is an incredibly subtle instrument of perception. In fact, its entire job is to interact with the external world while protecting itself from internal harm and healing itself when harm does occur. Your body does this every minute of every day, and will continue to do so as long as you live.

And, put simply, acupuncture amplifies this natural ability of your body to protect and heal itself, by stimulating that subtle mechanism to act when it may be having trouble getting started.

When the skin is punctured -- even with no sensation (as most of my patients experience little to no sensation with the needles) -- your nervous, immune, and circulatory systems perceive this and communicate the event to the rest of the body. The message travels literally at the speed of light, enters the brain, and from there a cascade of healing chemicals and signals are released in response. These signals are designed to enlist other parts of your body -- including glands, immune cells, bone marrow -- in a coordinated healing effort.

In short, acupuncture stimulates your body to start making and using its own medicine.

Because your body is a unified entity, all things are connected together. When that rush of medicine is released, it travels not only to the site of the acupuncture, it infuses your entire body with positive signals that unlock your healing response.

Additionally, the brain receives different signals different depending on where the needles are placed. This is because the brain knows which nerves are being stimulated, and it responds to each set of signals in a unique way, much like a radio makes different sounds based on the frequency to which it is tuned.

The end result is that with consistent, repeated acupuncture signals, your body reawakens its healing potential on multiple levels, and expresses that potential by repairing damaged tissue, calming overactive nerves, and replenishing depleted cells.

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.

The Secret to Long-Term Weight Management

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. It's not always about obesity, either. Even 20 - 30 lbs. of extra weight can create enough hormonal "static" to generate all kinds of unpleasant symptoms and circumstances, such as those listed above.

So, in just about every case where one of my patients is significantly overweight, I take it upon myself to educate them about how that weight is part of the other problem(s) they want my help with.

In conventional medicine, obesity is now acknowledged as a major contributing factor in most chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, diabetes, and others. In Chinese Medicine, for centuries the sages followed the fundamental principle that a body that accumulates "dampness" (a physiological concept that includes what we now know as excess fat) cannot function properly because the dampness "clogs" the free flow of Qi and Blood (vital energy and nutrients) throughout the body.

When Qi and Blood cannot flow where they need to go when they need to get there, the result is like damming a river -- everything downstream that depends on the flow of water will suffer. Hence, obstructed Qi and Blood flow causes the organs, cells, and tissues that depend on it to have difficulty. And, as a result, we don't feel so good. If prolonged, the lack of Qi and Blood can cause serious diseases like those mentioned above.

So, keeping this obstructive dampness to a minimum should always be an important maintenance task for health and wellness.

To keep this dampness to a minimum, you must employ a long-term strategy. And, this is where most people have difficulty because it requires a fundamental change to how you eat.

And, THAT is the secret, my friends. It's that simple.

Losing the weight is one thing. There are many, many ways to go about that. Sometimes you have to be patient with your body because it is "wound up" into a vicious cycle hormonally, so it may take a while to even START losing the weight. (That's a topic for another day). But, once you have achieved a new physiological balance and lost the weight, you MUST literally change your entire way of eating.

In my next seminar, The Tao of Healthy Weight Loss, on August 1st, 2010 at NiaMoves, I will go into detail about the specifics of how to make that change and then keep it going. It is literally learning a new way of life, a healthy way of life, a way of life that increases and sustains your Life Force, instead of decreasing and depleting it. We will talk about the role that hormones, food choices, exercise, and stress play in weight issues.

And, I will teach you how to devise your OWN way out of your struggles with achieving and maintaining your healthy weight.

Early bird registration ends this Saturday, July 24th, so take advantage of that. Past attendees have always given me great feedback on this seminar. I want you to take advantage of this opportunity as well. I really hope to see you there!


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.

The Courage to Change

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 order, there is chaos, and chaos always comes in to shake things up and challenge us. Whether it is a major storm, a layoff, an accident, or any other unforeseen drastic event, chaos brings with it stress and struggle, as well as opportunity for growth.

In fact, life is constantly beckoning us to change -- sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. It is impossible to stand still and those of us who fight the currents of change by trying to stay the same are fighting the Universal life force itself. That's when life is always a struggle, a challenge, and things never seem to go "our way".

One of the things I love most about what I do is that I get to meet amazing people who want to change. They come to me to help them facilitate that change in their lives. Whether it is losing weight, reducing anxiety, getting pregnant, or navigating menopausal changes, all of my patients are seeking to CREATE change.

And, this takes a lot of courage.

It is easy to just stay where we are. In fact, the majority of people will suffer through a life of mediocrity and poor health as long as it is safe and predictable. This is by no means a character flaw or something to criticize. It is simply an urge born of the desire to avoid pain. The thought of change can be very scary and I don't blame anyone for wanting to avoid upheaval, chaos, and heartbreak.

But watching hundreds of people courageously step up to the proverbial plate and intentionally create change, I can tell you that the fear of change is entirely unwarranted. Positive, self-motivated change is always liberating, uplifting, and invigorating. It presents opportunities for growth that are unmatched anywhere in life.

The hard part for most of us is simply deciding to do it in the face of that one thing we all fear: The UNKNOWN.

I can tell you with absolute certainty, however, that when you choose to change out of a desire for self-improvement and increased life energy, you WILL succeed if you have the courage and will to start and follow through. The exact result may be unknown from where you stand today, but one thing is certain: You will be in a better place in due time. You will be changed for the better.

The longer I practice, the more I realize that all I do is help other facilitate change. My chosen methods of acupuncture, therapeutic nutrition, herbs, and coaching are powerful tools that create the conditions for change to occur. They open the door to physiological states where the body, mind, and spirit can shift into a new "normal", a new "routine", a new "easy and familiar" that brings the opportunity for increased health, happiness, and life energy.

But, in every case, it's the patient who courageously steps through that open door into a new way of being. It is an honor and privilege for me to be a part of that, no matter how large or small my role may be.

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.

3 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 to avoid these hormones when eating/purchasing meat.

3 Ways to Avoid Added Hormones in Meat - Dr. Weil's Daily Tip

My general recommendations to fertility patients is to follow a mostly-plant-based diet, with meat comprising at most 20% of any given day's intake. Even if you are not trying to conceive, a plant-based diet can do wonders to help harmonize hormonal function.

The life-giving energies in plants are second to none, being a natural blending of Sunlight (Yang), Earth, and water (Yin). Meats, on the other hand, are secondary sources of energy and, while nutritionally useful, they fall into the category of what I call "hormone-triggering foods".

If you have a health condition, it is a good idea to consult with your health practitioner before making any major changed. Be certain that your diet will support and not exacerbate your imbalance.

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.

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

"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.

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.

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.