the POINT is…Educate your health practitioners about new NIH website

Why a federally funded  website for medical practitioners?$34 billion out-of-pocket dollars are spent by Americans on “complementary and alternative” health care treatments and products.  Surveys from NIH show that nearly 40 percent of American adults and 12 percent of American children use some form of complementary and alternative (CAM) care.  Many patients, according to other studies, noted by NIH show that many people never discuss these treatment options with their medical practitioners.

I know from my patients they do not feel some medical practitioners are interested in or informed about the options they are exploring.  Or the feel the medical practitioner will discourage them from doing anything outside the realm of what the physician office provides.

NIH Background: NIH is the National Institutes of Health.  It is our nation’s medical research agency.  It is one part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with 27 Institutes and Centers.  NIH is the federal agency that conducts and supports basic, clinical and translational medical research.  It investigates the causes, the treatment and cures for common as well as rare diseases.  You can find out more at www.hih.gov.

New Website for Health Practitioners: The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the NIH, unveiled a new website that can help your health practitioners HELP YOU! On April 26, 2011 they started this new online resource for providers to have a reliable, quick and easy access to evidence-based information on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). 

If your physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and CAM practitioners don’t know about a type of treatment, such as acupuncture, they can use this website to find out about it.  The new site gives providers the tools they need to learn about many CAM practices and products as well.  That way you and your physician can discuss the options including the benefits, safety and effectiveness of the many health treatment options we now have.

While some of the treatment options addressed seem to be outside of mainstream medicine, they are being embraced by the public who seek to take part in directing their health and in being as healthy as possible.  The new site includes information about:

• acupuncture
• dietary supplements
• herbs
• probiotic
• meditation
• chiropractic
• massage 

NCCAM developed this site because focus groups of health care providers said they need evidence-based information that is located in one site.  In our culture, at least at this time, our medicine and science depend upon studies that have certain protocols which determine success or not.  Over time, that may change, but for now, it is the way it is.  Physicians and other practitioners want assurance they are not giving advice or referring patients to unreliable or unsafe treatment or product options.

If your medical health care providers are unaware of this valuable resource, EDUCATE THEM.  It is your job to keep them/all of us health care providers up to snuff about how to serve your needs.

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope it is helpful and informative.  If you have specific health issues you’d like me to address, let me know.  301 352 2520 and colette@hypnostrategies.com

the POINT is… Acupuncture lowers YOUR Medical Costs

Health care is a focus and important issue in our country.  Please refer to the article by Bruce Kennedy published April 2, 2011: “As Medical Costs Rise, More Americans Turn to Acupuncture” It was published in Daily Finance (www.dailyfinance.com) an AOL money and financial informative news site.  Below are highlights from the article about the expanding, beneficial field of acupuncture in US health care:

• 2007 National Health Interview Survey, a poll of Americans showed approximately 3.1 million U.S. adults and 150,000 children received acupuncture in 2006.

 

• This is a 0.3% increase or about 1 million people increase from 5 years before.

 

• 2004 Kaiser Family Foundation survey showed only half of employer-sponsored health plans cover acupuncture and other complementary and alternative medicine treatments.

 

• Colorado lawmakers are working on a measure to make it easier for licensed acupuncturists to get insurance reimbursement.

 

• Representative Maurice Hinchey is introducing legislation to add acupuncture to the list of services covered by Medicare and Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Let your physicians know how acupuncture has been a benefit for you.  Let your government representatives know you’d like acupuncture included in state and national health plans including Medicare. 

We all are in charge of our own health.  Sometimes employee plans include it.  As the country moves toward more state/national coverages, speak up to be sure what serves you is available at reasonable fees. 

Thank you for reading my blog.  I hope it is helpful and interesting.  If you have specific health issues you’d like me to address let me know. Contact me at 301 352 2520 or colette@hypnostrategies.com

the POINT is…Maryland Health Care Reform and YOU

Where is Maryland regarding Health Care and the upcoming national reform?  This column helps to answer this question for you.  It can be confusing and tricky to understand and keep up with.  I hope this information is helpful. 

The information is from Maryland’s Implementation of the Affordable Care Act by Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D. , Secretary, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor, & Pensions.  It was presented March 17, 2011.

Background:  Maryland is Innovative     

• 1993:  The Maryland’s small group market reforms required the Maryland Health Care Commission to develop a comprehensive, standardized set of benefits with cost sharing.  It now provides coverage to nearly 400,000 individuals working for more than 47,000 small businesses.  (See htt;://jhcc.maryland.gov/smallgroup/smallemployer.html for additional information on Maryland’s small groupmarket.
• 2002: Maryland established a high-risk pool, the Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP).  It now covers approximately 20,000 residents who cannot obtain coverable through the individual market due to pre-existing medical conditions.  It also provides subsidies for low income residents. (See http://www.marylandhealthinsuranceplan.state.md.us/ for more information on the Maryland Health Insurance Plan.)
• All-payer hospital rate setting:  Maryland is the only state in the country that sets hospital rates so that all payers, public and private, pay the same fees at the same hospital. Due to this the cost of a Maryland hospital admission moved from 26 percent above the national average in 1976 to more than 3 percent below national average by 2009. (See http://www.hscrc.state.md.us/ for more information on the Health Services Cost Review Commission)
• 2006: Medicaid waiver program that provides primary care access and prescription drug benefits to low-income individuals.
• 2007:  Expanded Medicaid coverage to parents.  Allowed young dependent adults to age 25 to stay on parents’ insurance.  Closed the donut hole for seniors.  Increased timely dental care to children.  Maryland was one of six states in the nation to receive an A grade for oral health from the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Uninsured in Maryland

Approximately 13%, which equals more than 7000,000 of Maryland residents are uninsured.  The average premiums for family coverage offered in the private sector employers rose from $9,217 in 2003 to 13,833 in 2009 which is a 50% increase.  (See The Commonwealth Fund.State Trends in Premiums and Deductibles 2003-2009. Dec. 2 2010 http//www.commonwealthfund.org)

Implementation so far of Affordable Care Act

• Maryland received additional support to strengthen the review of insurance rates, provide additional support and implement public health programs to prevent illness.
• Young adults can stay on parents’ insurance until age 26
• Seniors can receive additional assistance in closing the donut hole
• Children can access health insurance without being declined for pre-existing conditions
• Insurers must abide by new medical loss ratio requirements, standardizing the amount of premium dollars that must be spent on health care
• Small employers can access new tax credits for coverage

Reform Efforts Underway in Maryland

• Governor O’Malley established the Health Care Reform Coordinating Council to oversee state implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The Council has held more than 30 public meetings.  It presented a report in January with 16 recommendations reflecting public input.
• The Council asked a non-partisan healthcare think tankat the University of Maryland in Baltimore County to provide an independent analysis of the reform’s impact on the state budget.
  • Health Care Reform will result in estimated net savings of $853 million over next 10 years

New Steps for Maryland’s Health Care

In February, 2011 Maryland was awarded an Innovator Grant of $6.2 million to develop several essential technical components for the Maryland Health Care Exchange.  Maryland will be working with Arizona, Indiana, California, West Virginia and Oregon regarding pilot programs and ITA solutions. 

Maryland State’s General Assembly is laying the foundation for the Maryland Exchange.  There will be a governance structure.  The exchange will be a public corporation governed by a board with three state officials and six nongovernmental members.  During the next year the Exchange will hire initial staff and analyze key strategic decisions for the Exchange. It will make recommendations on issues by early 2012.

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown concluded a talk about Maryland and Health Care Reform: “Maryland intends to seize the moment and use the tools provided by the Affordable Care Act to build a better future for our state.”

the POINT is… Maryland and Health Care Reform Update and YOU

Where is Maryland regarding Health Care and the upcoming national reform?  This column helps to answer this question for you.  It can be confusing and tricky to understand and keep up with.  I hope this information is helpful. 

The information is from Maryland’s Implementation of the Affordable Care Act by Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D. , Secretary, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor, & Pensions.  It was presented March 17, 2011.

Background:  Maryland is Innovative     

• 1993:  The Maryland’s small group market reforms required the Maryland Health Care Commission to develop a comprehensive, standardized set of benefits with cost sharing.  It now provides coverage to nearly 400,000 individuals working for more than 47,000 small businesses.  (See htt;://jhcc.maryland.gov/smallgroup/smallemployer.html for additional information on Maryland’s small groupmarket.
• 2002: Maryland established a high-risk pool, the Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP).  It now covers approximately 20,000 residents who cannot obtain coverable through the individual market due to pre-existing medical conditions.  It also provides subsidies for low income residents. (See http://www.marylandhealthinsuranceplan.state.md.us/ for more information on the Maryland Health Insurance Plan.)
• All-payer hospital rate setting:  Maryland is the only state in the country that sets hospital rates so that all payers, public and private, pay the same fees at the same hospital. Due to this the cost of a Maryland hospital admission moved from 26 percent above the national average in 1976 to more than 3 percent below national average by 2009. (See http://www.hscrc.state.md.us/ for more information on the Health Services Cost Review Commission)
• 2006: Medicaid waiver program that provides primary care access and prescription drug benefits to low-income individuals.
• 2007:  Expanded Medicaid coverage to parents.  Allowed young dependent adults to age 25 to stay on parents’ insurance.  Closed the donut hole for seniors.  Increased timely dental care to children.  Maryland was one of six states in the nation to receive an A grade for oral health from the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Uninsured in Maryland

Approximately 13%, which equals more than 7000,000 of Maryland residents are uninsured.  The average premiums for family coverage offered in the private sector employers rose from $9,217 in 2003 to 13,833 in 2009 which is a 50% increase.  (See The Commonwealth Fund.State Trends in Premiums and Deductibles 2003-2009. Dec. 2 2010 http//www.commonwealthfund.org)

Implementation so far of Affordable Care Act

• Maryland received additional support to strengthen the review of insurance rates, provide additional support and implement public health programs to prevent illness.
• Young adults can stay on parents’ insurance until age 26
• Seniors can receive additional assistance in closing the donut hole
• Children can access health insurance without being declined for pre-existing conditions
• Insurers must abide by new medical loss ratio requirements, standardizing the amount of premium dollars that must be spent on health care
• Small employers can access new tax credits for coverage

Reform Efforts Underway in Maryland

• Governor O’Malley established the Health Care Reform Coordinating Council to oversee state implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The Council has held more than 30 public meetings.  It presented a report in January with 16 recommendations reflecting public input.
• The Council asked a non-partisan healthcare think tankat the University of Maryland in Baltimore County to provide an independent analysis of the reform’s impact on the state budget.
  • Health Care Reform will result in estimated net savings of $853 million over next 10 years

New Steps for Maryland’s Health Care

In February, 2011 Maryland was awarded an Innovator Grant of $6.2 million to develop several essential technical components for the Maryland Health Care Exchange.  Maryland will be working with Arizona, Indiana, California, West Virginia and Oregon regarding pilot programs and ITA solutions. 

Maryland State’s General Assembly is laying the foundation for the Maryland Exchange.  There will be a governance structure.  The exchange will be a public corporation governed by a board with three state officials and six nongovernmental members.  During the next year the Exchange will hire initial staff and analyze key strategic decisions for the Exchange. It will make recommendations on issues by early 2012.

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown concluded a talk about Maryland and Health Care Reform: “Maryland intends to seize the moment and use the tools provided by the Affordable Care Act to build a better future for our state.”

the POINT is… Headaches: Simple, Natural relief

In Chinese Medicine headaches are most often associated with the Liver and Gallbladder channels of energy. When they become constrained blood does not flow and it contributes to pain. For some people the pain results in a headache.

I address headaches now because the organs of the liver and gallbladder are also associated with the season Spring. While where I live the temperature is still chilly, we are in spring. So, issues that are associated with the spring organs begins.

Do your grip your jaws or grind your teeth? First check in with yourself about this if you have headaches or migraines. The pressure of gripping and grinding are tremendous and eventually constrict blood flow. Your body is doing its job when it transmits pain to you as a messenger: a cell call if you will. It is telling you that it is suffocating somewhere. Suffocation: not good.

So, practice having a space between your jaws during the day. For some of my patients it helps to imagine a cloud or pillow between their jaws. As you are more at ease during the day, the habit of space between your jaws hopefully will carry through during the night.

You might continually repeat to yourself: “I have space.” and feel that space between your upper and lower teeth.  Keep repeating “I have space.” even 100 times a day.  You want this to become your new habit.  You also may find that you have “space” in your life in many other ways too.

If you need support in letting go of stress that can contribute to your jaw clenching or grinding, acupuncture can be of great support.  Acupuncture can help the liver and gallbladder work at top efficiency.  Many people have the frequency, number and pain of headaches decline or disappear.  Remember it has helped millions of people over thousands of years.  You could be next. 

Thank you for reading my blog.  I hope it is helpful and interesting.  If you want me to address any specific health issues let me know.  You can reach me at 301 352 2520 or colette@acYOUpointCenters.com

the POINT is…Benign Prostate Enlargement? Answer: Prosnut Butter

If you are a man or know a man with benign prostate enlargement this is tremendous information.  There are natural ingredients you can eat like eating crackers with peanut butter that according to James A. Duke, PhD work at least as well as the medically recognized drugs for benign prostate enlargement.  You do not need a prescription.  You don’t have to worry about side effects such as decreased libido, ejaculatory problems and erection loss.  Plus the herbs are much less expensive than medications.  Another important bonus:  you do not have to wait the weeks or months that it takes for the medications to bring improvement.

Let’s have some jumping for joy for these please!

Here is information you may want to know about with BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy).  If not, just skip down to the recipe.

The ingredients are licorice, pumpkin and saw palmetto.  I’ll share a bit about each one.

Licorice:  It contains a compound that prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.  The quantity in the Prosnut Butter is small.  In very large quantities of licorice people have developed headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, loss of potassium and high blood pressure.  If you perceive any issues with the amount of licorice in Prosnut Butter then cut down on the amount.

Pumpkin:  The fatty oil in the pumpkin seeds is a powerful diuretic (increases fluid).  They also have a chemical, cucurbitacins that seem to prevent testosterone being transformed into dihydrotesterone.  They also contain a lot of zinc which can treat BPH.  Zinc has been shown to reduce the size of the prostate.  The seeds also contain amino acids that relieve BPH symptoms.  Other seeds high in the amino acid glutamic are almonds, butternuts, peanuts.  Peanuts and sesame seeds are high in the amino acid glycine.

Saw Palmetto:  Studies in Europe (they are ahead of us in some areas) that plant-based medicines are effective in treating BPH.  The Europeans receive relief, why not us?  Saw Palmetto increases the flow of urine, reduces residual urine as well as the frequency of urination.  Those are all a problem with enlarged prostate. 

Prosnut Butter is for people who like peanut butter and crackers as a snack.  You use the Prosnut Butter the same way.  Fun eh? 

Making Prosnut Butter Spread

• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds blended in a blender or food processor
• 1 saw palmetto capsule.  Open it and pour the contents into the pumpkin seed blend
• A few drops of licorice extract into the blend
• Blend them all together.  To make it more spreadable if needed add a few drops of Brazil nut oil (or olive oil).  All of the ingredients are available in health food stores like Mom’s Organic Market and Whole Foods. 

Eat at least 2 tablespoons of the Prosnut Butter on crackers or bread daily.  You can even bring back memories of being a kid by adding jelly.  You want the butter to stay fresh, so don’t mix up too much at a time.  The recipe above will last a few days.

Thank you for reading my blog.  I hope it is interesting and beneficial.  If you’d like me to address a specific health issue let me know.  You can contact me at 301 352 2520 or colette@acYOUpointCenters.com.  Thanks to James A. Duke, PhD, author of The Green Pharmacy.

the POINT is… Hair: fade gray, eliminate dandruf, increase shine

I’m addressing hair in this post because we are still (barely) in the season of winter.  Hair health, or lack of health, is associated with winter and the kidneys in Chinese Medicine.  If your hair is dull, weak, prematurely gray, splits, is thinning, it is a message from your body that there is a depletion, or tiredness of your kidneys.

In Chinese Medicine and acupuncture this is a big deal.  Our life force, from a Chinese Medicine perspective, is stored in the kidneys.  So the quality and aliveness of your hair is like a warning light and arm at a railroad crossing.  Stop and look at how you are taking care of yourself.  Listen to the messages from your body.  Take appropriate, safe action for your health and well-being.

Are you always tired, overdoing, overworking, burning the candle at both ends?  You could be endangering your longevity and life.  Your body is communicating to you.  Listen and take action.  Get more rest, draw your boundaries.  Stop giving all of your energy to others and projects.

The properties of the herbs and vinegar below are absorbed by your body into your cells.  They become a part of who you are.  The rosemary, sage and apple cider vinegar give a boost to your kidneys and other organs.  You are strengthening yourself from the inside out.

Great Head of Hair Rinse Boost

This is a natural, powerful rinse to put on your hair and rub in after you wash it.  Barely rinse it off so some remain in your hair. 

• 2 cups of fresh sage
• 1 cup fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar

Use a 6-quart pot.  Cover the sage and rosemary with water and bring to a boil.  Then reduce the heat to barely a simmer.  Keep this covered and simmering for 6 hours.  (a great time to have some tea and read a book).  Be sure the water does not boil off.  Remove from the heat and let it steep overnight. 

Strain the herbs out and add enough water so that you have 5 cups of this strong herb brew.  Add the vinegar and put in a bottle. 

Now you have no need to buy expensive dandruff shampoos, shine making products that have who-knows-what chemical ingredients in them.  Plus it can help your gray to fade.  What a deal!

Thank you for reading my blog.  I hope it is helpful and interesting.  If you have specific health issues you’d like me to address, let me know.  I thank Martha White author of Traditional Home Remedies.