Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Cold and Flu

With the colder months already here, colds and flu are becoming prevalent. While cold and flu are common ailments and affect people of all ages, they can severely affect those with weak immunity.

Who Is At High Risk of Catching a Cold and Flu?

People at higher risk of catching a cold and flu include children, pregnant women and elderly. Among them, the symptoms of cold and flu, i.e., fatigue, fever, body aches, watery eyes, runny nose, headaches, cough, sneezing, and sore throat, can be more severe and last longer. But even healthy people can suffer from severe cold and flu symptoms. Common ailments can also lead to serious infections like asthma, wheezing, sinusitis, bronchitis, ear infection, and pneumonia. Elderly are statistically at the most risk for pneumonia and severe complications.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 20% of the US population suffers from the flu yearly. Cold and flu also result in over 31 million doctor visits and several million hospitalizations.

Hence, it is essential to take measures against cold and flu as soon as one experiences the early signs.

How to Treat Cold and Flu Early?

Despite the potential severity of cold and flu, doctors only advise resting, hydrating and over the counter drugs for symptom relief. Symptomatic relief is great, but if your immune system is compromised or you are unable to rest this generally only extends the life of the cold or flu. It also prevents the body’s natural immune system from fighting against the viruses, further weakening it. A better way to treat colds and flu onset is to strengthen immunity through natural and traditional medicines, like Chinese medicine and acupuncture. By using herbal remedies and supplements that boost immunity and simultaneously relieve symptoms your system has a good chance of a full and speedy recovery.

Chinese Medicine for Cold and Flu

Chinese medicine for cold and flu is the most effective early on, as soon as symptoms are present. It is based on the basic principle of life-giving energy, i.e., Chi or Qi. This energy represents strong immunity and is strengthened through sleeping well, managing stress, exercising, and eating well.

Specific herbal recommendations will be made according to your specific set of symptoms and based on your history of illness and recovery. TCM also encourages consuming warm cooked foods, broths, stocks and specific fruits and vegetables to aid in your recovery.

Acupuncture for Cold and Flu

Acupuncture is another traditional medical treatment that helps the body fight various illnesses. During a treatment with acupuncture for cold and flu, any blockages in the body are opened to enhance the blood flow, energy flow and strengthen QI to help fight off the virus or flu. . Points to help with sleep and stress reduction are also used.

Acupuncture for colds and flu and herbal medicine for colds and flu assist the body’s natural defense system in fighting against foreign bodies. Both methods allow the body to overcome the early symptoms and develop improved immunity to avoid any occurrence of a new cold or flu in the future.

To benefit from Chinese medicine for colds and flu in the East Bay Area or Oakland, contact Jenny Crissman MS, L. Ac. She will provide acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine formulas to help fight and prevent colds and flu. A full intake and assessment of individuals overall health and medical history will be taken to allow for enhanced effectiveness. These treatments are also designed with a patients’ allergies and current medications in mind.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Feature: How Acupuncture Can Help

No matter where you live and who you are,  you may be affected by breast cancer. A loved one,  colleague, neighbor, family member, or friend might have been diagnosed with breast cancer at some point.

In the past few years, breast cancer awareness has saved countless lives due to early detection. Chinese medicine and acupuncture have been found to assist in managing the side effects of cancer treatment and prevention plans.

This breast cancer awareness month is vital to speak up, share stories, donate, and encourage women to get regular mammograms and genetic testing if necessary.

Prevalence of Breast Cancer

According to the  CDC,  breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among women after skin cancer in the US.  Every year,  around  264,000  women in the US get diagnosed with breast cancer.  The risk of breast cancer is higher among women over 50 years of age, but younger women also get affected.

Ways Acupuncture Help Cancer Patients

There are multiple ways acupuncture can help cancer patients, including:

Managing Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Every individual reacts differently to cancer treatments. Often this treatment damages the healthy cells in your body,  resulting in mild to severe side effects. Acupuncture can help manage these side effects to ensure you a better quality of life throughout your treatment time.

 Studies have found acupuncture relieves multiple cancer treatment symptoms, including:

• Peripheral  neuropathy  –  Muscle weakness, numbness, and pain in feet or hands from chemotherapy

• Pain – Joint, muscle, or postoperative pain due to hormone therapy

• Vomiting and nausea – From radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy

• Hot flashes – Caused by hormone therapy             

• Fatigue – Due to radiation therapy and chemotherapy

• Dry mouth – From radiation therapy

Managing Chronic Pain after Cancer Treatment

Many cancer survivors deal with chronic pain for some or many days after their treatments. Studies have found that two types of acupuncture treatments can help relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain among  cancer survivors:

• Electroacupuncture: The needles are placed on the painful area through which a mild electric current is given for around 30 minutes.

• Auricular acupuncture: Small needles are placed in the patient’s ears for a few days to help with the pain.

Acupuncture has been found to benefit patients during and after cancer treatment to help with side effects and pain. Most patients find relief when the acupuncture treatment plan is established based on their needs.

Finally

Getting diagnosed with breast cancer can be devastating for the patient and their loved ones. Early detection is the key to ensuring you get the appropriate treatment. Chinese medicine and acupuncture are effective in managing the side effects of cancer treatment and increasing immune function.

 Jenny Crissman has been practicing adjunct cancer since 2003 in Oakland and East Bay areas.  She conducts a  thorough evaluation to recommend a personalized plan to manage the side effects and boost your ongoing preventative treatment. Book your appointment today to discuss your unique concerns and develop a plan.

Acupuncture for Stress and Anxiety

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been around for many centuries. The main goal of TMC is to restore the balance in the body, thereby healing it. Many different therapies fall under TCM including herbal remedies, acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion.

Acupuncture, in particular, is a TCM therapy that has been practiced for over 2,500 years. It consists of inserting very fine needles into the skin at various depths and on different points of the body in order to promote blood circulation to the area, increase the release of pain relief hormones, and encourage healing.

The main philosophy behind acupuncture therapy is to restore balance to the body and allow the life-giving force in the body – the 'qi' – to flow freely. When the qi can flow freely through the body, it creates healing and prevents mental and physical illnesses.

Acupuncture has been used to treat various kinds of illnesses such as chronic pain, hypertension, muscle pains, etc. However, it can also be used to treat emotional imbalances such as depression, stress and anxiety.  Let’s take a more detailed look at the use of acupuncture to help treat all stress/ anxiety.

How Acupuncture Therapy Can Treat Stress and Anxiety

Many adults suffer from symptoms of anxiety such as excessive worrying,  negative thoughts, circular thinking and the feeling of being overwhelmed. While these symptoms can be treated through psychotherapy and medication, many people prefer to use acupuncture therapy to help with the symptoms and underlying causes and imbalances, making it a very popular alternative treatment.

There have actually been several scientific studies conducted that have found that acupuncture has been an effective treatment for generalized anxiety and in treating anxiety and stress. One such study found that patients that do not respond to psychotherapy and medications responded very well to acupuncture.

But how does acupuncture actually treat anxiety and stress? After a TCM diagnosis is determined based on every individual's particular imbalance.  FIne acupuncture needles are  inserted at different points in the body  to help calm the body’s central  nervous system.   It helps to balance the parasympathetic ( fight or flight)  and sympathetic ( rest and digest) nervous systems.   When it comes to treating anxiety, there are several individual  diagnoses and a few universal acupuncture point prescriptions.  These points include the DU 20, REN 17, Yin Tang, HT-7, GB-21, LV-3, and SP-6. These points help to regulate imbalances in QI related to the heart and mind. If you visit an acupuncturist that is well-versed in using the therapy to treat anxiety, they will know exactly which acupuncture  points are best to treat your specific diagnosis for anxiety and stress.

If you are someone that is looking to try acupuncture therapy to treat anxiety and stress, you should consider Jenny Crissman for the treatment. Based in Oakland, California, Jenny provides integrative healing care, which includes services such as acupuncture, cupping, nutrition, functional medicine testing, and more. Book an appointment today and get started on your journey of healing.

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs for treating Insomnia

Since sleeping drugs have their own side effects, most patients are looking for non-drug alternatives to treating insomnia and increasingly prevalent sleep disorders. Chinese medicine and acupuncture have long been providing a natural way to treat sleep issues and are proven to have more lasting effects than their alternatives.

Signs You Can Benefit from Traditional Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture:

Chinese healing and acupuncture address the underlying cause of insomnia and sleep disorders. Some of the common symptoms are:

• An inability to fall asleep

• Waking up multiple times during the night

• Waking up at odd hours and unable to quickly fall back to sleep

• Feeling anxious, worried, or having racing thoughts before going to bed or when waking

• Weeks or Months of sleep deprivation lead to depression, anxiety, and irritability

How Can Chinese Medicine Successfully Treat Insomnia?

One of the most acknowledged and proven traditional Chinese healing practices is acupuncture. It is over 3000 years old and is used to treat various conditions such as sleep disturbances, digestive issues, infertility, skin irritations, autoimmune disorders, adjunct cancer care, sports injuries, etc.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

One of the most commonly used methods of healing in Oakland includes acupuncture.  The inserting of a fine, sterile needle on acupoints across the body. Others include herbs,  cupping, infrared heat therapy, electric stimulation, and nutrition recommendations and supplements to activate our bodies innate ability to heal.

Jenny Crissman (MS L.Ac.) – Integrative Healing in the Oakland Area

If you’re looking for traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture healing in the Oakland area, Jenny Crissman is the one. Jenny combines her understanding of ancient Chinese medicine diagnostics with nutrition guidance with the advantages of modern functional medicine to generate a personalized plan for well-being.

With an MS in Acupuncture and Herbs, Jenny has also maintained a current license in the state of California since 2003. Her clinical history comprises 18 years of acupuncture clinical treatment and more than 35 years of education and guidance on developing our relationship with food and health.

Jenny Crissman believes in using a holistic approach to achieving harmony and balance between the body and mind. In the first visit, you will be assessed thoroughly for existing complaints, and a detailed record of your medical history will be noted. It is crucial to define your diagnosis, and it will help with acupuncture point selection meant to correct your specific pattern imbalance.

Jenny considers quality sleep to be a pillar of health and has successfully treated insomnia and sleep disorders.  She may use several modalities aside from acupuncture to help you get back to the rest you desire and need!

Jenny Crissman offers several other services, including herbs and nutrition consultations, and functional medicine testing.

Traditional Chinese Medicine treats so much more.  Pain, digestive issues, hormonal imbalance, adjunct cancer care…

To contact Jenny Crissman by visiting her website or calling 510-595-0700 to book your appointment. You can also visit her site, which is located at 6536 Telegraph Avenue, Suite A201, Oakland, CA, 94609. The site timings are different for all five working days.

ARE YOU TIRED OF BEING TIRED??

FATIGUE is one of the most frequent complaints I hear in my office.

This includes mental, emotional, physical and immune fatigue.

Buzz words - insomnia, wired, mental fog, frustration, depression, inertia, malaise,quick to anger, tired, frequent colds, slow recovery…

The causes vary but there is help!

Causes we  need to consider:

• Sleep Quality

• Stress/Anxiety/ Parasympathetic to Sympathetic nervous system deregulation.

• Adrenal and Hormonal imbalance

• Post Viral Recovery, (including but not limited to COVID19)

• Inability to physically recover from injury

• Emotional Disturbances

• Anemia

• Nutrition

• Exercise

• Hydration

This Is a partial but inclusive list of causative factors.  Many causes morph into one another and systemically overlap.

Do not settle for Fatigue as your new norm.

We need to be stealth fatigue detectives to suss out what is the primary cause, secondary factors and how to correct and avoid this cycle of imbalance.

The last few years have challenged me to hone my skills around figuring out what and how to treat.

WHAT CAN HELP?

TONICS:

Increase vigor and energy of the whole body

Increase and release our adaptation energy to increase our actual energy even more

ADAPTOGENS:

Ensure we have the energy to help us adapt to the physiological effects of stress

Enhance physical and mental performance

“Pleiotropic” ( having more than one effect simultaneously) to  enhance our neuroendocrine and immune systems function

ADRENAL TONICS:

Improve the tone, histology and function of the adrenal glands

NERVINES:

Relax and Energize simultaneously

ANXIOLYTICS:

Alleviate anxiety

IMMUNE TONICS:

Support immune system resilience

WHO ARE  THE HELPERS?

ADAPTOGENS:

Korean Ginseng         

Eleuthero                    

Ashwagandha             

Rhodiola                     

Schisandra  

Better known as “GEARS”!

TONICS: * all of the GEARS plus

Astragalus

Reishi

Shatavari

ADRENALS:

Licorice

Rheumania

NERVINES:

Schizandra

Skullcap

St John's Wort

Bacopa

Gotu Kola

ANXIOLYTICS:

Kava

Passion Flower

Valerian

Jujube

Bacopa

IMMUNE TONICS:

Astragalus

Echinacea

The Beauty of most of the “helpers” is they enhance one another. 

They also have numerous other benefits:   reduce inflammation, blood pressure, cholesterol, regulate blood glucose and some are antiviral and hepatoprotective!

Once we define the primary cause of fatigue then we can then formulate a plan.    

I research and source the most efficacious and safe  combination of products I can find.  Some of my favorites include:

MediHerb Rhodiola & GInseng: https://www.standardprocess.com/products/Rhodiola-Ginseng-Complex

MediHerb Rhodiola & Schisandra:  https://www.standardprocess.com/products/Rhodiola-Schisandra

MediHerb Eleuthero: https://www.standardprocess.com/products/eleuthero

Designs for Health :  Adrenatone

Pure Encapsulations:  Cortisol Calm

Pure Encapsulations Ashwaganda:  https://www.pureencapsulationspro.com/ashwagandha.html

MediHerb Astragalus Complex:  https://www.standardprocess.com/products/astragalus-complex

Designs for Health: Immunitone  Plus

I would be very happy to help diagnose your needs and help transform your fatigue into  healthy energy!

Set up an appointment and mention this post and receive 10% off any herbs purchased at the time of treatment.  OR alternatively you can purchase some of them from my online pharmacy.  Go to my website and hit the SHOP button!   All herbs or supplements purchased through the site are sold at 10% off.

Stay well and strive for more wellness, use your tools !!

Integrative Healing

www.jenny.crissman.com

510-595-0700

CHILL OUT or create INFLAMMATION- tools to help you manage!

Jenny Crissman MS L. Ac.

Your nervous system and how you deal with stress determine your innate inflammatory response!

Our nervous system has it's own methodology and understanding how it works might help you better understand how to create new coping mechanisms to bring emotional and physical balance to your health and prevent the harmful effects of inflammation.

A BASIC OUTLINE OF YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM:

Your nervous systems is composed of all the nerve cells in your body and it is this system that communicates with the outside world. Almost every mechanism inside your body, voluntary and involuntary is controlled through this intricate system.

It has two main parts: the central nervous system (CNS) is the command center for the brains and spinal cord nerves and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), is all of the other nerves in the body. The PNS is divided into the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the somatic nervous system (SNS).

The ANS regulates the involuntary actions such as digesting, heart rate, breathing, sexual arousal and urination. The SNS governs voluntary movement and your reflexes.

Now here is where it gets interesting!

The ANS has two complementary functions:

The sympathetic nervous system which activates the “fight or flight” response and the parasympathetic nervous system which activates the “rest and recovery” response.

Sustained stress in any form, including environmental pollution, food sensitivities, consistent emotional turbulence like anger, depression, anxiety, to name a few, all activate your sympathetic nervous system, “fight or flight”!

Your body's protective response to any prolonged stimuli, as mentioned above, is INFLAMMATION!

And since we cannot control many of the circumstance we are collectively experiencing, we need to find some simple interventions to counter this “fight or flight” inflammatory response.

3 SIMPLE INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE:

MEDITATION:

A recent study reveals that practitioners of meditation experience the changes in gene expression that are the exact opposite of what occurs during the”fight or flight” stress response.

“Meditation Produces Opposite Effect of Fight or Flight” by Traci Pederson

https://psychcentral.com/news/2013/05/04/meditation-produces-opposite-effect-of-fight-or-flight/54449.html#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20reveals%20that,flight%20or%20fight%E2%80%9D%20stress%20response.

However, sometimes adopting a meditation routine is not so easy for many reasons: time, place to practice and guidance on how to meditate. I recently read an article entitled, “Total Meditation: How to Meditate for Healing” by Deepak Chopra

https://chopra.com/articles/total-meditation-how-to-meditate-for-healing

This article resonated with me in many ways- It is a new approach. “Instead of taking 10-20 minutes out of a busy day to meditate, which many people don’t manage to do regularly, you can reach the meditative state rapidly anytime you want.”

I think you will find it very helpful, you can practice the reset in as little as 10 breaths!

HERBS TO NOURISH YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM:

Adaptogens:

• Ashwagandha- supports the body to resist stressors of all kinds, chemical, emotional, and physical

• Eleuthero Root- improves mental clarity and emotional stamina and supports healthy immunity

• Rhodiola- supports healthy immune function and physical stamina

• Schisandra Berries- aids in concentration, coordination and calms the heart and mind.

Nervines:

• Lavender- has various curative properties ranging from relaxation, treating skin and infectious conditions and soothing digestive upset.

• Skullcap- gently nourishes the nervous system and relieves ruminating thoughts, nervousness and tension

• Chamomile- helps with relief form mild mental stressors

These herbs can be used in various forms: raw infusions added to a smoothie, essentials oils added to a bath, tablets or encapsulated. Some of my favorite sources are:

Medi Herb Rhodiaola and Schisandra- https://www.standardprocess.com/MediHerb-Document-Library/Product-Detail-Sheets/rhodiolaschisandraM1394.pdf

Pure Encapsulations Cortisol Calm- https://www.pureencapsulations.com/media/pdf_upload/CortisolCalm.pdf

Medi Herb Ashwaghanda Complex- https://www.standardprocess.com/MediHerb-Document-Library/Product-Detail-Sheets/INTH22226-ASHWAGANDHA-COMPLEX-PDS_WEB-FINAL.pdf

Organic India Tulsi Tea-https://shop.organicindiausa.com/products/tulsi-original

ACUPUNCTURE:

Produces a feeling of deep relaxation, boosts immune function and helps to regulate sympathetic and parasympathetic response.

The Journal Evidences Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine ( eCAM) published a very convincing article: “ Acupuncture Effect and Central Autonomic Regulation”

Qian-Qian Li, Guang-Xia Shi, Qian Xu, Jing Wang, Cun-Zhi Liu, Lin-Peng Wang, "Acupuncture Effect and Central Autonomic Regulation", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013, Article ID 267959, 6 pages, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/267959

If there was ever a time for some balance...it is NOW!

I encourage all of you to find your way to some sort of ongoing self care.

**I also want to include a very necessary lung protective protocol to help boost immunity!

Designs for Health N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine: https://www.designsforhealth.com/binaries/content/assets/designs-for-health/library/patient-education/nac-pl-patiented.pdf

Pure Encapsulations Quercetin: https://www.pureencapsulations.com/media/pdf_upload/Quercetin.pdf

Pure Encapsulations liquid Zinc: https://www.pureencapsulations.com/media/pdf_upload/Zinc.pdf

* safe for children

All are available thru my online pharmacy -go to SHOP NOW!

I am here to help with acupuncture treatment, herbs and functional testing.

Telemedicine or in person.

Stay well and hope to hear from you soon!

TAKING CARE WITH FEAR AND ANXIETY

Jenny Crissman MS L. Ac

August 16, 2020

I hope your summer has been full of creative social distancing, ripe and yummy stone fruit, lot's of out door physical activity along with a few home and self help projects you never even dreamt of before now!

I have been back in my office treating many of you for the last 2 months. I feel confident in all of the safety measures we have in place and have added HEPA filters ( high efficiency air filtering system) to each treatment room in addition to fresh air from windows open and fans on.

I am learning from you, what your concerns and needs are. I want to be of service to help you in anyway I can to maneuver the uncertainties of moving forward with COVID19.

The emotional roller coaster is a rough ride for many and FEAR AND ANXIETY are the two buzz words that I am hearing most about these days.

Fear relates to a known a threat and anxiety often follows from an unknown, or poorly defined threat.

Our lives are full of both of these “threats” at the moment.

The symptoms that occur as a result of Fear or Anxiety often overlap. They are sometimes immediately debilitating but more often we find they exaggerate our Hypothalamic Pituitary, Adrenal Axis ( HPA) aka stress response! If this exaggerated response is maintained for long periods of time it becomes the norm for your body and will negatively effect many biological functions such as:

• Immune Response/ Decline

• Sleep Patterns /Disrupted,

• Blood Sugar levels/Weight Gain

• Lack of Focus

• Chronic Inflammation /Physical Pain

• Digestive Distress

• Hormonal Changes

At this point in time we may not be able to mitigate the external factors causing stress but we can influence our response to it.

Some simple suggestions:

• Avoid eating Processed Refined Foods

• Avoid dieting - just eat plenty of whole foods ( from the rainbow of vegetables and fruits) to supply your body with the macro and micro nutrients that will best support your HPA axis and your whole body health

• Eat Nutrient Dense Carbohydrates ( Sweet Potato, Quinoa, Berries) with good fiber. A moderate Carbohydrate diet is sometimes better to support to your HPA function

• Add more fiber and healthful fats to help regulate your Blood sugar. Avoid carbohydrate centric meals and snacks ( pasta, rice, pizza, bread)

• Dark Chocolate, at least 70% cacao. It contains phytochemicals with beneficial effects on cortisol response. HU Dark Chocolate ( no soy lecithin) ! https://hukitchen.com/collections/chocolate?sort=created-desc&compactView=true

• EAT MINDFULLY- sit down, avoid screen time, acknowledge your mealtime and how it will nourish all of your daily activities

Supplements/ foods you can add:

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids - lower evening cortisol, help gut dysbiosis, lower inflammation.* Wild caught seafood 3 x per week

Designs for Health HI PO Omega Avail: https://shop.designsforhealth.com/sca/checkout.ssp?is=login&login=T&origin=home&origin_hash=omegavail-hi-po

• Magnesium - normalizes HPA axis function, enhances calming GABA retransmission. *Dark leafy greens, Almonds, Cashews, Avocado

Pure Encapsulations Magnesium glycinate or citrate: https://www.pureencapsulations.com/magnesium-glycinate.html

• L-theanine - an amino acid that supports a balanced stress response * Green tea is an amazing source ( decaf if your sensitive)

Pure Encapsulations Cortisol Calm: https://www.pureencapsulations.com/cortisol-calm.html

This is the time to help fortify your body’s innate abilities and all of the above are simple doable suggestions. Our best defense is a good offense and sometimes we have to up our game with the basics.

I have provided links to my favorite sources and have supplements available in the office or through my online Pharmacy Wellevate, (find it here on my site), SHOP NOW

You will receive a 10 % discount on all orders placed through the pharmacy !

I hope this serves as a good reminder that I am here still here to help even if you are not ready to come in for treatment. Reach out and I can share more tools and tips: Herbal medicine, Food as “medicine” , Functional medicine testing ( DUTCH Adrenal and Hormonal Panels https://dutchtest.com/, GIMAP https://www.diagnosticsolutionslab.com/tests/gi-map) with recommendations and lifestyle suggestions...

Stay safe and be well as we maintain our diligence to contain the spread of COVID 19:

Wear a Mask

Keep your Distance

Wash your Hands

Come in for some personal acupuncture care when you are ready

Revised office hours and COVID19 safety measures found here on my website!

Hope to see or hear from you soon!

PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE for a viral outbreak!

Community Care Connection!

Share Facts not Fear!
Many people are worried about the COVID-19 viral outbreak. According to the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/ the risk of getting the virus is LOW right now.

BE Proactive: Multiple Things you can do to keep yourself and others healthy:

1) The number one thing you can do to boost your immune function is use supplements, herbs and acupuncture. I have a protocol of immune boosters in the office I am recommending. I am happy to have you pick some up or schedule a treatment or both!

2) Stay home if you have a fever, but email or call for an herbal consult and I will prepare a protocol someone can pick up for you ($25).

3) Wash your hands often.

4) Avoid touching your eyes, mouth or face with unwashed hands.

5) Carry hand sanitizer for use on public transportation, shopping and the gym.

6) Manage Stressors to your immune system including: not getting enough sleep, Inflammatory dietary choices , take a break if your stress levels are already elevated!

7) Diet: Avoid dehydrating foods ann beverages like alcohol, caffeine and carbonated beverages, gluten, dairy and overly spicy or salty foods.

I want to assure all of you that here in the office we are being extra cautious:
We change sheets regularly
We are wiping down all surfaces and door handles with germicidal wipes multiple times throughout the day
All of us are washing our hands and asking that all of you do the same!

Thank you and stay well!

CBD The Wonder Herb! Information you want to know!

Jenny Crissman MS L. Ac

September 26, 2019

CBD (Cannabidiol) seems to have suddenly popped into the foreground of herbal medicine!

Almost overnight it is being touted to have endless health benefits: pain relief, insomnia, digestive wellness, mood regulation, anxiety/ depression, PTSD...the list is endless and so are the products to choose from.

As a Chinese Medicine Practitioner I was introduced Hemp/ Cannabis as part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal pharmacy. Some of the oldest recorded uses of the Cannabis plant come from TCM- Perhaps the true “Grandfather” of Cannabis

This blog is intended to help create some clarity around the questions I most often hear in my clinic-

Where does CBD come from?

CBD can be manufactured from Hemp as well as Marijuana.

Hemp is the part of the Cannabis plant containing <0.3% TCH

Marijuana is the part of Cannabis plant containing >0.3% THC

Is CBD Psychoactive if is manufactured from Marijuana or Hemp?

CBD does not have psychoactive properties but maybe paired with THC which is the psychoactive chemical in Cannabis. 

Pure CBD produced from either Hemp or Cannabis should contain <0.3% TCH. At this level CBD does not produce any psychoactive response. 

So it is important to source your CBD. Look for a COA certification ( certificate of analysis)https://citizentruth.org/what-is-a-cbd-certificate-of-analysis-coa-and-how-to-read-it/

How does CBD work?

CBD creates an enzymatic process the acts on our own endocannabanoid system (ECS). It creates a process which increases our innate reserve ofendocannabanoids which are endogenous lipid based retrograde neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors.

We have two receptors in our ECS:

CB1- helps to regulate our Central Nervous System. The CNS controls most functions of the body an mind. It consists of two parts: the brain and the spinal cord.

CB2- helps to regulate our Peripheral Nervous System. The main function of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the limbs and organs,essentially serving as relay between the brain and the spinal cord and the rest of the body.

Since CBD connects to both our CNS and PNS we can see how it directly effects mood and pain directly. It up regulates our bodies innate systems.

Is CBD Legal?

As members of the same family, hemp and marijuana share many visual similarities, but at a chemical level, the two plants have vastly different amounts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in Cannabis.

While hemp is characterized by producing a nearly non-existent amount of THC (less than 0.3%), marijuana can produce an abundance of THC (up to 30%). THC is a schedule I drug and considered illegal by the Federal Government in the United States and many other countries. It is however considered legal in many states. 

Further clarification on CBD legality-

If the CBD is derived from hempand adheres to the following regulations it is federally excluded as a Schedule I substance. CBD is legalif :

• -The hemp must contain less than 0.3% THC

  -The hemp must adhere to the shared state-federal regulations

  -The hemp must be grown by a properly licensed grower.

What is the best way to use CBD?

There are so many ways to deliver the benefits of CBD.

I think topical is best for acute and chronic pain.

Ingesting is great for stress, sleep, PTSD, ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety...

A decocted tincture in alcohol or carrier oil under the tongue is great delivery system.

How do CBD and THC translate relative to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)/ Herbs?

First is believed since we have Cannabinoid Receptors in our bodies then we are built to interact with cannabis medicine.

CBD has very cooling properties and is a Yin Tonic according to TCM. Therefore it is highly effective at decreasing inflammation and reducing pain. It helps to reduce swelling and painful obstructions.

It is especially effective for chronic/ long term pain syndromes.

Yin Tonics also help to calm the spirit for mood regulation,encourage deep and restful sleep and soothe shen/spirit disturbances caused by past traumas.

THC of all varieties is generally considered Yang in nature and lead to more metal stimulation and be psychoactive in nature. In classic texts this is descries as “seeing spirits or ghosts”. It does have some of the same sedating properties of CBD, depending on the strain but in comparison to CBD it is still considered more stimulating and creating heat. 

If you would like to learn more about CBD here are few good websites to consult:

Project CBD: https://www.projectcbd.org

Medical Marijuana Doctors : https://www.marijuanadoctors.com

Leafy: https://www.leafly.com

Dr. Axe- Benefits of CBD- https://draxe.com/nutrition/hemp/cbd-oil-benefits/

One of my Favorite distributors on line-

PURE Ratios: https://www.pureratioscbd.com

• the 96 hour patch is highly recommended for pain!

Looking forward to your questions and feedback on your next visit!