I’d like to share another interesting article in relation to my previous entry on traditional post-partum care in Laos.  The Hmong of Laos are very spiritual people, and as evidenced by their post-partum practices, their beliefs can often be extreme and potentially harming to the physical body according to scientific discovery.  This is all good and well, until a medical doctor tries to help a Hmong woman manage her diabetes wherein she will not comply with treatment.  Her beliefs are holding her back from receiving the medical care she needs, but by diminishing the importance of her beliefs her soul has no strength. 

A progressive hospital in California that serves a large community of Hmong people has added a new service to their repertoire of medical care: Shamans.  “A doctor for disease, and a Shaman for Your Soul,” the article states, which is not a bad idea no matter the culture.  To make things even more exciting, the medical staff have been training the Shamans on basic levels of pathology diagnose and treatment, to enhance understanding in the community.  The Shamans don’t take money and aren’t employed to be there on any other volition than their own vocational requirements.  The idea is that the influence of the Shaman will bridge the gap between treatment and beliefs, an idea that I think is simply marvelous.  The best part is that neither party have to compromise and true healing can begin.  Check it out at:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/us/20shaman.html?_r=1

A wonderful book that I would like to recommend is:  The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Anne Fadiman, which follows a true story about a young girls battle with epilepsy and the trauma caused by the misunderstanding of deep-seeded cultural beliefs of the child and her family.  Not only is it phenomenally written, but it demonstrates the successes and failures of both spiritual dogma and scientific medicine.

A New York Times Opinion article from a few days ago touched on the idea that women have been experiencing a greater level of unhappiness throughout the past thirty years, and is in continued decline.  The article suggests that the feminist movement of the 1970’s is partially to blame, resulting in further responsibilities for women to take on (if they so choose, that is).  It’s not that the sheer level of multi-tasking has increased, but the strong biological stress sensitivity that women have also increases as the result of more choices in life.  As the article states, “If [women] once judged themselves on looks, kids, hubbies, gardens and dinner parties, now they judge themselves on looks, kids, hubbies, gardens, dinner parties - and grad school, work, office deadlines and meshing a two-career marriage.”  Although women are, in general, happier because of the limitless choices in their lives; that same freedom is causing a lower level of satisfaction and happiness - the irony of life.

Stress is a huge contributor to unpleasant things happening in life, including back-pain, migraines, missed periods, or several other internal diseases.  If this is the case, which it very often is, then Western medical treatments will not cure  the problem because they are not addressing the cause: stress.  Instead, the pain-killer used to relieve your migraine, for example, is covering the symptom so you can continue the stressful lifestyle and habits that are actually causing the pain in the first place.  Helping, huh?  Usually it just results in another visit to the doctor and another prescription medicine at a future date.   

Stress is not only a reaction to ones environment, but also can become learned behaviour over time.  Oftentimes, women are so taxed but unaware of it because of the years of compensating they’ve been able to develop.  This does not equate to strength, because the ball does drop eventually.  A lucky one will get chronic migraines from years of stress-compensation, an unlucky one may find out something far more serious at her next gyn exam.  The time to begin working on reducing your stress is now, step-by-step, in digestible bites. 

If you are experiencing stress-related uncomfortable symptoms, there are many things you can do to help relieve them - improving not only your quality of life now but also preventing potentially severe stress-induced disorder later in life.  Changing your schedule around to allow some more time for yourself, is always a good start if possible.  Exercise, plenty of sleep, healthy nutrition and meditation are all good ways to give back to your body and melt away stress.  Sometimes the responsibility of alleviating one’s own stress is, ironically, more stressful.  If that’s the case, then there is massage therapy, yoga classes, personal trainers, acupuncturists, homeopathists and herbalists to help gently nudge your body in the right direction. 

We are dynamic human beings, and no matter the amount of abuse our bodies can endure for a certain amount of time, the wounds leftover won’t heal if the pressure is never lifted.  Sometimes all the body needs is a good dose of rest, but being hopped up on caffeine all the time, pushing deadlines, and worrying about getting the kids from school and dinner on the table covers up the true fatigue your body is under.  Likewise that it is unrealistic of us as a gender and society to expect that our bodies can put up with whatever we dish out without compromise, to live as monks with a perfect balance of sleep, meals, prayer and alone-time is not going to happen either (or even be healthy for us).  But we can try in our own small ways to bring more peace into our lives.  I urge you to try.  Your health, your body….and perhaps even your happiness, will be so thankful.

NY Times Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/opinion/20dowd.html?_r=2&em

 Today marks an important transition from summer into fall, warm yang into cool yin, fruitful harvest into preparation for quietude.  Day and night equal each other in length today, as sunlight will gradually yield more of its hours to the night in the coming winter months.  Seasonal foods move out of the sun and back into the earth, producing hearty root vegetables like yams, potatoes, squash, beets, cabbage, and brussel-sprouts.  Before the modern conveniences of having such foods like strawberries available year-round, this was a day for harvesting the last of summer’s produce and preserving it into pickles, jams and sauces to be enjoyed through the barren winter.  Just as plants dissolve and the leaves begin to shed from the trees, we too can prepare to let go of that which no longer serves us.  The fall is an amazing opportunity for parting with the unnecessary, to lighten the load and make space for the dormant winter months to generate stillness.   

In Five-Element Chinese Medicine principles, the fall corresponds to the Metal element - which is characteristic for using divine inspiration to cleanse the spirit  and purge the system.  Interestingly enough, the metal element corresponds to the Lung (inhaling pure air) and the large intestine (moving out waste), a quite literal expression of the energetic idea. 

The fall equinox marks the first step in the transition.  Even within the hustle of a metropolis like New York City, the approach of fall cannot be ignored.  I encourage you to enter it with thankful reflection and willingness to absorb the natural bounty this transitional season can bring.  In honor of the fall equinox, I prepared home-made banana-fig muffins last night to meld the tropical bananas of summer with hearty fall figs.  If you’d like to try the same, here is my recipe. 

BANANA-FIG MUFFINS

3-4 ripe bananas, peeled

1/2 Cup Virgin Coconut Oil (or other vegetable oil)

2 Eggs

1 Tsp Vanilla

1 Cup Brown Sugar (loosely measured, not firmly packed)

12 Figs

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Baking Powder

Dash of Salt

2 Cups Flour

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.  Using a hand mixer, blend together the bananas and oil, add the sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Incorporate the eggs one by one.  Slice 6 figs into halves and place in the batter, sprinkle the mixture with salt, baking powder and soda.  Blend until figs are fully incorporated into the mixture and powders are dissolved.  Using a large spoon, slowly incorporate the flour.  Lightly grease 12 muffin molds and fill 2/3 full with batter.  With remaining 6 figs, slice them into quarters, nestling 2 quarter-pieces on the top of each muffin for garnish.  Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a knife inserted into muffin comes out clean.  Enjoy!

In response to an article I read this morning about the cultural post-partum traditions in rural Laos leading to post-partum and neonatal nutritional deficiencies, I’d like to say a few things on the subject.  For a closer look at the article, check: http://tinyurl.com/nsorwp

It is not that spiritual beliefs should be abandoned in order to receive proper nutrition, because if the soul is not nourished, or fear arises out of non-compliance of the spiritual practice, the body has a hard time complying and damage can ensue.  However, post-partum nutrition is extremely important for the revitalization of the mother and the growth of her child.  Chinese medicine itself has roots in deep cultural traditions, but also recognizes the importance of modern nutritional needs in maternal and infant health during the post-partum period.  Just as nutritional advice may not be the answer to all discomforts, acupuncture and herbal medicine can be of huge benefit as a natural alternative during this special time.  At the Berkley Center for Women’s Health, we embody these principles fully.

In Chinese Medicine, childbirth is viewed as a huge expenditure of a woman’s vital energy and substance (referred to in our medicine as Qi & Blood).  Proper rest, warmth and nutrition are all important in restoring a woman’s health after the event of childbirth.  Depending on the relative loss to the relative deficiency, some women recuperate their energy much quicker than others and feel very few post-partum uncomfortable effects.  For others, post-partum depression, fatigue, feeling weak, insufficient breast-milk production, muscle pain/tendinitis or digestive concerns may arise.  These are not only uncomfortable to deal with, but are also signs that the body may need a little boost.  Like anything ailing the body, the sooner it can be addressed through proper treatment, the sooner it will enable a woman to feel better in her own body, and have the energy to be present for the new being in her life.

Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be of great benefit, offering a natural way to boost a woman’s Qi and Blood that is safe for mom and baby during this delicate time.  Depending on individual constitutional make-up, different women will require different protocols.  In addition to helping restore the energy in a woman’s body, Chinese medicine can help address common infant concerns through treating the mother - an added plus!  Sometimes, direct treatment for the infant is preferred in alleviating colic, sleep disturbance or digestive upset through pediatric acupressure techniques (another service offerred at our center).  

As a new mom who may not feel her best, it can be a scary and perhaps lonely time.  Oftentimes, discouraging emotions and feelings of inadequacy can arise.  Women may feel guilty, blameful of self, or shame.  If you have experienced this, or know someone who may be, I hope this message conveys the fact that you are not alone nor have you done something wrong.  Such emotions in no way reflect a woman’s ability to be a parent.  Your body has simply undergone huge and relatively rapid changes with pregnancy, and these feelings are simply signs that your body may need a little help adjusting to its new environment.  There are many ways to help your body do this - prescription medications, talk therapy, exercise, nutritional supplementation and (of course) acupuncture and herbal medicine.  The best medicine is prevention, so if you are pregnant now, I encourage you to make a relationship with an acupuncturist now in the event that you may benefit from treatment during the post-partum time, the call for support will be easy and familiar.

August has been a busy month - both in and outside the clinic!  But, I’m back, with more information to share…

My journey into alternative health began when I enrolled myself in the Universidad Catolica Del Peru, in Lima at the age of 19.  My initial goal was to learn Spanish, which I did by taking medical anthropology classes to fully immerse myself.  What I learned impacted my life far more than bi-lingual language skills, but laid the foundation for the next 10 years of my life (…and counting).  The medical anthropology courses I completed opened me to the world of Andean and Amazonian Shamanism and how such traditional medicines continued to persist among the emerging modern medical care in the remote Peruvian jungle and mountainous landscapes.   It is quite one thing to build a health care facility in a place of need, and another to get the local people to actually come there.  

Spirituality plays a significant role in traditional Shamanistic practices, something not addressed or “treated” in a western clinical setting.  Ghosts or spirits are suddenly replaced as the cause for disease by  germs and viruses.  Treatment by ritual and community is replaced by small pills and injections.  This can be very confusing, and often leads to  mis-managed care or unproductive results.  It is very delicate work, and medical anthropologists continue to work in all parts of the world to bridge spiritual belief and scientific practice to promote patient care.   This is why I was particularly excited to see the recent article in the New York Times about medical anthropologists working to uphold some local traditions in rural clinics to reduce infant/maternal morbidity during childbirth.  Check it out at:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/health/08glob.html

Chinese medicine comes from a long lineage of spiritual practices, and scientific practice through trial & error.  It was the perfect medium for me to help others on the mind, body, and spiritual level. I take into consideration the many influences at work when disease or discomfort arises, and try to work with that.  Modern societies often have the opposite needs in health care: to bridge the gap from the polarity of science by incorporating more spirituality and wellness.  This is simply another reason why Western Science paired with Traditional Medicines is truly an invaluable tool for helping people heal.  There is no super medicine, no super doctor (as my teacher once told me), just a journey we must work together on.  One foot in front of the other, together.