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A new study from Turkey assessed the analgesic effects of diclofenac (Voltaren), acetaminophen (Paracetamol), and acupuncture for the relief of renal colic caused by urinary stones. 120 renal colic patients were divided randomly into 3 groups. Patients in group I (n = 40) were treated with IV acetaminophen, those in group II (n = 41) with acupuncture, and those in group III (n=40) with a 75-mg intramuscular injection diclofenac sodium. Acupuncture was applied on acupoints B

Soups are in season (until May) and are a personal hobby. Most of them are actually also healthy :) This new soup is made of Black Lentils, a particularly nutritious and Yin-nourishing legume that do not require soaking or long cooking, a bit of sweet-ish and draining Azuki beans, and with the addition of white winter roots as parsley, celery and Jerusalem artichoke (great for lowering sugar levels and high blood pressure ). To this I added purple sweet potatoes (can be fou

Autumn and winter are seasons when we often catch colds (or flu or Covid19). In addition, those who suffer from seasonal allergies accumulate a hefty amount of phlegm that may result in a productive cough, sputum or just a runny nose, especially in the mornings. For many of my patients I recommend a salad that is more "warming" and "invigorating", but they usually have no idea what I mean. Here's an example (and more explanations below). An easy to make salad that is very whi

And so again, I return to millet, my favorite grain and hopefully for my patients as well. Why? According to Chinese medicine it is a both cooling and drying, and in the 21st century diet, this can only be healthy (to most patients). For diabetics , for overweight people, for high cholesterol - all are manifestations of heat and damp-phlegm. And again I will repeat this - millet has no taste on its own – it will take whatever you give him. If you make a pot left unseasoned,

According to Chinese medicine, each season of the year belongs to one of the 5 elements, to a specific color, to a unique flavor, to a bodily organ or system. We too (as part of nature) are affected by the seasons, even if the air-conditioning has made us forget we’re in the heat of the summer. According to the 5 element theory, the summer season is the most Yang period in the year and belongs to the Fire element which symbolizes extreme, dynamism, red and fiery. Summer is a

A new study from Australia shows that managing female fertility with Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) improves pregnancy rates almost 2-fold within a 3-6 month period compared with Western Medical (WM) fertility drug therapy. All fertility indicators were also positively influenced indicating positive physiological effect leading to viable pregnancy. The study, which was a meta analysis, searched 40 RCTs involving 4247 women with infertility due to PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome (PC

Chestnuts, who are you? Chestnuts ripen at the end of autumn, when we begin to see them appearing in the markets or grilled on street corners. Despite the “nutty” look, chestnuts are very different, as they are low in calories (about 245 grams per 100 grams of grilled chestnuts), low in protein, high in carbohydrates and have no cholesterol. In addition, they are rich in vitamin C (26mg or 35% of the recommended daily intake for adult women), as well as in the vitamin B gro

You did like the Chestnut HealthBlog. For Chanukah, here is a recipe for sweet and savory Latkes/Levivot

It’s oh so cold outside and I feel like having a nourishing, warm, healthy and easy to prepare soup. The only thing you need to keep in mind is to soak the chickpeas for at least 3 hours before cooking them. The rest is really really easy… Ingredients: 1 cup chickpeas, soaked in water for at least 3 hours and then filtered 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced 1 Leek, cut 1 Parsley root, peeled and cut 1 Turmeric root, peeled and grated (it’s the season!) 2-3 garlic cloves, cra

Diabetes, as well as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity are major risk factors for heart attacks and CVA. In the modern world, sugar consumption is far too high for our body to cope with, it is unable to produce enough insulin to break down sugar or our body simply develops insulin resistance. It is estimated that close to 500 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes (1) and in Israel there are 435,000 people with diabetes and additional 200,000 who are u

Acupuncture has been practiced for 1000s of years, yet people rightfully want to know: How safe is it? What are the potential common and less common side effects ? Is it safe in people who take anti-coagulants? Is it safe during pregnancy? Is it safe to treat children? ...and in perspective: How does it compare to standard medical care (3rd leading cause of death, USA) How does it compare to medications side effects & safety (4th cause of death, USA) In the follow

Autumn is here and the heavy soups and stews are beginning to sprout. Next to the warming and nurturing dishes, I need a refreshing salad that "Moves the Qi". This salad is made of mostly pungent veggies and herbs, including: Kohlrabi Fennel Red Onion Cilantro Broccoli and Mustard Sprouts Dressing was made of olive oil, crushed garlic, freshly squeezed lemon, mustard, salt & pepper. How much of each? However you like it! Therapeutic Action: Supports lung functioning, promo

Many of my patients skip breakfast, because "they don't have time". Breakfast, according to Chinese Medicine, is the most important meal of the day, providing the nutrients our digestive system needs to generate Qi - the battery that let's us do what we have/want to do through the day. You don't need to buy granola in the supermarket, filled with sugar and sugarcane syrup. Watch the video to see how to make home made granola YOUR WAY in just 20 minutes. Like Almonds? Cashew?

Nearly 17% of the world population suffers from Chronic Functional Constipation, ie less than 2 ports spontaneous (non-drug, herbal, tools-induced) per week. A new study published in the highly prestigious Annals Internal Medicine (5th in importance in the world!) proved once again the effectiveness of acupuncture in chronic constipation. The study, which was a randomized, controlled trial, was conducted in 15 hospitals around China, and included 1075 patients with chronic f

Cupping is traditional procedure that exists in many cultures and is also routinely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, despite the fact that many people think of it as a rather primitive technique. A new study from Taiwan investigated the effectiveness of cupping therapy (CT) on relieving Chronic Neck & Shoulder Pain among community residents. The study was single-blinded and included 60 patients with self-perceived pain randomly allocated to either receiving cupping in S

A new multi-center study from China assessed the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 72 patients were randomized to receive either real or sham acupuncture three times a week for 8 weeks. Both groups received acupuncture treatment for 30 mins, at acupuncture points LU1, LU9, LI18, ST36, GB12, BL13, BL20, and BL23, while the placebo group received acupuncture needles without an "edge" that simulate feeling of acupunct

The American College of Physicians (ACP) have just published NEW guidelines for the treatment of non-radiating Lower Back Pain - Chronic or Acute - in the prestigious Annals of Internal Medicine. These include Acupuncture as one of the first line recommendations. You can find the publication for Free download link below. Link #chronicpain #acutepain #lowerbackpain #acp

Millet is a wonderful healthy grain, but suffers from bad reputation of being mainly "bird food". It does have an "earthy" flavor, as most grains do and adds to the variety of of grain options in a meal together with rice, buckwheat, quinoa etc. And, it's easy to cook. In terms of Chinese medicine, millet supports the "earth" and Digestive system and helps in resolving dampness, especially lower parts of the body. Nutritionally, it is gluten free , contains dietary fiber, h

Summer has not moved on (yet)...and other than AC, we need to eat light, cooling foods. Mung beans are super-food in Eastern medicine, being cool & sweet in nature, they are used to clear heat and relieve summer-heat, remove toxicity and promote urination. From modern medicine point of view, they’re good for lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, calming the nerves, diabetes and weight loss. In addition, they are a rich source of protein, fiber, folate, manganese, Vitamin K an

Easy to prepare soup that is both hearty and nourishing, but at the same time not too heavy due to the pungent spices (ginger, garlic, curry) which are great to treat naturally high sugar levels, "bad" cholesterol & hypertension . Perfect for the Winter & Pre-Thanksgiving Weekend. Serves 4-6 Total Prep time: 45 minutes What to buy? 1 tsps olive oil 1 large butternut squash peeled, deseeded and diced 1 Leek, white part chopped 1 Parsley root, peeled, diced 1 Celery root, p