A Los Angeles Acupuncturist's Point of View

Say "OM" instead of "Ah", An Integrative Approach To Cancer Treatment

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:32:28 GMT

My nephew Kyle passed this article along to me from today's New York Times. I thought I'd share it with you.

Ms. Donna Karan, along with her foundation Urban Zen is implementing yoga into cancer therapy at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City. Yoga helps cancer patients with anxiety, depression, and the side effects of traditional cancer therapies. Yoga may also shorten hospital stays therefore getting the patient back into his/her own, more comfortable surroundings. Many hospitals across the country now have integrated health services with some hospitals giving integrated health a department status. Urban Zen and Beth Israel plan to take this department to a whole new level with yoga instructors who move from room to room and meditation areas for patients, their families, and nurses. This is truly amazing.

Ms. Karan founded Urban Zen after her husband passed away of lung cancer in 2001.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:47:08 GMT

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In 1988, my 38-year-old mother was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer with metastasis to the axillary lymph nodes. She found a lump with self-exam. The tumor was the size of a pea and was against her rib in the upper lateral quadrant of her left breast. The scariest detail of her ordeal was that the tumor did not show on a mammogram. I tell you this not to frighten you but to encourage you to be diligent about examining your own breasts monthly. The presence of the lump was verified with an ultrasound and diagnosis was given after a biopsy.

If you do find a lump, please do not dismiss it as if it will go away. See your OB/GYN immediately. If the lump does not show on a mammogram, demand an ultrasound. You will be required to be your own health advocate so be prepared. Stand your ground. It's your body. It's your life.

Talk about this with your friends and family. Remember that early detection is the key to survival in all maladies.

And, in case you were wondering, my mother Sharon is well and healthy today. She turned 58 in June. She lives outside of Chicago and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is a promoter of veganism, is very physically fit, and simply glows with inner beauty.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

My Shoulder Sprain Experience

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:46:37 GMT

I am pleased to announce that I'm back on the yoga mat. Boy, did I miss it. In early July, I injured my shoulder doing a forearm balance. I came down from the pose and my right shoulder just didn't feel right. The place where the upper edge of my scapula joins my trapezius muscle was burning and I had the urge to draw my shoulder up to my ear for hours after the incident.

I thought I'd be back to yoga in a week. I was wrong. It was most definitely sprained and every muscle in the area became rigid and stiff. Wisdom and experience with patients with similar injuries told me to let it rest. I now know why patients look at me like I am crazy when I tell them they must give their sprains time to heal. It may be a slow and frustrating process. However, if the sprain is treated with care and caution, the patient may enjoy a full recovery. I always advise the patient to act with care so that this temporary injury does not turn into a permanent one.

I will admit that I am thankful for the experience so that I may be even more empathetic to patients. I have now had the experience and I have a protocol that works. This is what I did:

Acupuncture. Needles within the first 48 hours are imperative to reduce inflammation and to move qi and blood.
Espom Salt Baths. Hot baths with large amounts (4 pounds) of epsom salts are therapeutic for the sprain site.
Activator Method Chiropractic. Keeping your spine and ribs in alignment while healing is very important.
Limit Movement of the Limb. In this case, it was my right arm. I did not lift my arm above my shoulder for the first two weeks. After that, I began to slowly use the arm again.

With the above four instructions, I was able to heal the sprain about 90% in two weeks. I persevered with the therapies and at six weeks, I had full range of motion. At seven weeks, I returned to all of my previous activities as if nothing had ever happened.

I look forward to you questions and comments.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

New Season. New Instructions.

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:13:12 GMT

It is autumn, or fall as we say here in the States. Like every other season, fall has it's own unique set of directives with respect to Chinese medicine.

Fall's corresponding organ is the lungs. It is imperative that one takes particular care of the lungs throughout the season. Fall kicks off cold and flu season. Before I studied Chinese medicine, I always thought this was just a coincidence. Now I get it. The lungs manifest in the nose. Of all of the organ manifestations listed in Chinese medicine, this one makes the most sense since the nose is a portal to the lungs. It's corresponding color is white and the flavor is pungent.

So, just how do you care for your lungs during this season? Here's my short, but effective list:

Practice deep breathing exercises. In yoga, this is called pranayama. I recommend taking a class. Jeanne Heileman at Yogaworks is one of the best in Los Angeles.
Pungent, white foods supplement the lungs. Mushrooms and jicama are good choices.
Keep your chest open with restorative yoga poses.
And, last but not least, and easier said than done is to avoid sadness as sadness diminishes lung qi.

As always, I look forward to your questions and comments.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Two Bits Of Good News

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:33:07 GMT

First:

I am pleased to announce that we at Healing Hands Wellness Center have decided on a line of herbal supplements. We are now carrying Secara Herbs and I am thrilled with the products. All of their formulas are in pill form and easy to take.

Second:

I have adjusted my schedule to see acupuncture patients at our Larchmont location only. There is finally a space for me to see patients in the evenings at that location. I'm ecstatic about this. (Thanks Pam!) My new schedule is as follows:

Monday: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday/Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Call me if you have questions: (323) 461-7876.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Diet and Outlook Matter More Than You Realize. Kris Carr's Story

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:29:48 GMT

I am still a little high from my meeting with Kris Carr this past Wednesday. If you read my last entry, you'll remember that I introduced you to Kris Carr, a truly remarkable 36-year-old woman who has been living for five years with stage IV cancer of the liver and lungs. With only 300 cases of her type of cancer diagnosed in the U.S. every year, her doctors called her case inoperable and incurable. (If you haven't read Thursday's entry, please do so).

Ms. Carr chose a rather unorthodox approach to her healing, which was to overhaul her lifestyle and document her search for health. For four years, she videotaped her quest for health. The result is a documentary called Crazy Sexy Cancer. Rent it. She then wrote a book: "Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips" which caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey. Before she knew it, Oprah's health guru, Dr. Mehmet Oz was paying a visit to her home to see just what she was doing.

How does she do it? A vegan diet, positive outlook, a healthy spiritual life, exercise, and with giving herself permission to truly live.

Ms. Carr was recently featured in Scientific American Journal. You may read more on her inspiring story by clicking on this link. I love that her story is being featured in Scientific American. How prestigious is that?

Having sat next to Kris at dinner, I will tell you first-handedly that I've never seen someone glow quite like her. And I know hundreds of yogis and vegans. If you'd like to get in on the action and participate in your own transformation, I would recommend joining her forum: www.crazysexylife.com.

This is Kris holding up her first book, sitting between Debbie and Joanne.

Kris is about to do the talk show circuit again in September to promote the release of her new book: "Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor." Watch for her.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Cru Restaurant

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:26:12 GMT

Living on the westside, I never venture into Silver Lake, a trendy eastside neighborhood of Los Angeles. However, I was invited to a very special dinner yesterday honoring Ms. Kris Carr, author, speaker, documentary producer, actress, model, stage IV cancer survivor, and all-around cool chick. Kris was visiting from New York and meeting with networks for future projects. I have much to say about Ms. Carr in another blog.

Anyway, I made my first trip to Cru last night to meet up with Ms. Carr, her lovely husband Brian, three ladies who manage their cancer and/or recovery from cancer with holistic methods, and three ladies who contribute to the holistic health community in Los Angeles. I was one of the three ladies who contribute to the holistic health community. It was an absolute honor to have been invited. Really.

Cru is vegan, organic, and mostly raw. The chef, Rachel Carr (no relation to Kris) has created a culinary haven with beautiful, delectable dishes that would please even the biggest skeptic to the raw food movement. Her dishes are blends of Thai, Italian, Japanese, and Indian. I think when people hear "raw" they immediately think of radishes, celery, and carrots. Not at Cru. The spices, sauces, and colors of the food contribute to their beauty as well as their phenomenal flavors. Fortunately, everyone at my table ordered something different. Our table looked like artwork. My favorite dishes were the tangle seaweed salad, deep green (kale) salad, and the yellow Thai curry. And the desserts? Just look at the photo gallery.

Cru is a gorgeous but small restaurant so I would recommend that you call ahead for a reservation if you have a big party. Allow a little extra time to park your car. And once you get inside, be sure to sneak a peak around you at all of the beautiful, glowing complexions of the vegan patrons.

I will definitely venture over to Silver Lake again to visit Cru. Hopefully soon.

Below is a photo of most of our group. Kris Carr is at the head of the table in a black dress. I'm the girl to Kris' left who got a little too much sun. We are all looking at, and listening to Mikey, a 26-year-old leukemia survivor, tell her story.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Smile

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:21:54 GMT

Just like the day I was inspired to put Heath Thompson's birth announcement on my blog, I'm equally moved to share with you the following video. I realize it has nothing to do with holistic health, Chinese medicine, or yoga, but it will make you smile. Enjoy!

This video just makes me happy and somehow gives me hope. The man in the video is Matt Harding and he has documented his travels well.

Tomorrow is the first day of August already. Can you believe it? I hope you have a lovely, happy, smile-filled, peaceful, and healthy month.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara Zummallen

p.s. Happy Birthday Kate! Being your Aunt for 18 delightful years has been a rewarding experience. You make me smile too.

Healing Hands Wellness Center

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:10:59 GMT

If you've ever wanted to see what I look like in action, here is a short video to watch.

Every day that I have the opportunity to practice acupuncture in this wonderful clinic alongside the best massage therapists in Los Angeles, I am most grateful.

Thanks Pam and Steve. I appreciate you more than I could ever express.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Lincoln Industries Has The Right Idea

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:19:05 GMT

I was so inspired by this article I read on cnn.com that I felt compelled to share it with you. Lincoln Industries in Lincoln, Nebraska has an on site wellness program designed to keep their employees healthy. It turns out that they are getting a good return on their investment too. Fewer insurance claims, fewer sick days, way fewer worker's compensation claims, and high morale are just a few of the benefits enjoyed by the employees. You may read the article by clicking here.

My hope is that more companies will get on board with these types of programs. I always tell my patients to pay for their health on the front end. What is happening at Lincoln Industries is just an example of what that can look like on a broader scale.

Bravo!

Thanks for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Summertime Yoga

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:29:50 GMT

It is one month into summer and my yoga students are so pleased with the course I've decided to teach for the season. If you've been following this blog, you will have learned that Chinese medicine instructs to treat your body differently according to season. During summer, we pay particular attention to heart health.

For the past month, my students and I have been working on getting our shoulders back, strengthening our upper backs and letting our hearts be open. I am delighted with our progress. One pose that you can do at home to help achieve an open heart and beautiful posture is dhanurasana. The woman in the demonstration is also practicing lion's roar which is completely optional.

To all of my yogis and yoginis who venture into yoga at 6:30 a.m. every Wednesday, you each bring something special and wonderful to class each time you're there. It really is a privilege to instruct you.

And for the complements I received this morning.....thank you, the pleasure is all mine.

Namaste.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Peace of Drive

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:19:47 GMT

I saw this billboard whilst driving on Pico Boulevard today and thought it was cute....

Well done State Farm ad agency people. Whoever you are.

Thanks for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Recovering From Injury

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:02:27 GMT

Now that we're almost four weeks into summer, I hope you have gotten on board with heart health. I know I have. I'm eating a few red organic foods every day, doing chest-opening poses in yoga, and most definitely getting some cardiovascular exercise four days per week.

Overall, I feel amazing. Well, except for the mild shoulder strain I obtained in yoga last Friday. I will admit it, I pushed it. But my forearm balance was beautiful. I never wanted to come down from that pose. It's always a little embarrassing for the yogini acupuncturist to be out of commission due to an injury. I am glad it happened though and I'll tell you why. Empathy. Next time one of you comes in to the office holding your shoulder with your opposite hand, I will empathize. Then I will act quickly and accordingly. A few days of acupuncture treatments, Traumeel ointment, light stretching, and cardiovascular exercise has me on track to a very speedy recovery. I'm sure that with quick action you can experience the same result. Please do not wait until your injury is a few weeks (or even months) old to seek treatment.

If you, too, are experiencing any type of upper body injury, please continue to move your lower body with walking or biking. It does not have to be strenuous exercise. Light exercise is definitely beneficial. The endorphins will do you good by helping to alleviate pain. You'll also strengthen your heart and lighten your mood.

I look forward to your questions and comments.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

p.s. I am going back to yoga Friday after one week off. I'm certainly ready. I'll let you know how it goes.

Herbs That Clear Summerheat: Lu Dou and Xi Gua

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:09:53 GMT

Per your email requests, I'll elaborate on two of my other favorite herbs for the summer season: lu dou (mung bean), and xi gua (watermelon). My approach to herbology has always been simple. No elaborate formulas, no messy preparations, and no unpleasant side effects. One should be able to buy herbs and foods for superior health with an accumulation of education little by little. Again, I promise to empower you with the knowledge to care for yourself season after season, year after year.

So here it goes.....

Lu Dou, which has the common name of mung bean, is a fantastic herb for preventing overheating during the summer season. This herb is both sweet and cool. Dosage is 15 - 30 grams per day. My recommendation is to prepare mung bean as either a tea or a breakfast porridge. Enjoy with some agave nectar for sweetener.

Xi gua, or watermelon, really needs no instruction. Does it? I've been eating watermelon every summer for as long as I can remember. Believe it or not, watermelon is listed as a Chinese herb as a sweet and cold medicinal to stave off summerheat. And since it is red, and we eat red foods in summer for heart health, you now have two reasons for enjoying it during the season.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Open Your Heart

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:56:36 GMT

I always tell my yoga students that I teach yoga like an acupuncturist. Since in summer we pay particular attention to heart qi, I have a specific list of poses that I will include in each class throughout the season. These poses focus on opening our chests, keeping the collar bones broad, and strengthening the upper backs.

I have included this link to show you one of the many yoga poses for opening the chest. It is simple to do and is appropriate for yoga practitioners of all levels. (Feel free to bend your elbows if you have any tension in your low back.)

Practice this pose daily for a beautiful posture, an open heart, and a confident-looking you. Also, don't be surprised if this pose makes you feel more joyful.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Summertime And The Livin's Easy

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:27:05 GMT

Summer is upon us. Gasp. That's right folks, June 21 is the official first day of summer. My thoughts are oscillating between "I love summer" and "where did spring go?"

Like fall, winter, and spring, summer has its own set of rules according to *Chinese medical traditions.

The heart is the corresponding organ for summer. The heart controls the blood vessels and serves as a pump to move blood throughout all systems of the body. The heart's corresponding emotion is joy, it's element fire, and it's color red. It is not uncommon to feel more joyful during this season. That's great. Share it. Even with strangers. The element fire is hottest of all of the elements and it gives one the desire to move. Go with it. Get your heart rate up and burn some calories. As for the color of the season being red, consume some cool, red foods.

The heart manifests in the complexion. Getting enough exercise and eating plenty of fruits (particularly red-colored) and vegetables can give a person a nice, rosy glow.

I address patients differently according to seasons according to what is recommended with respect to Chinese medicine. For summer, this is my short list of advice:

Get some cardiovascular exercise. Remember that the heart is a muscle and can become flabby due to lack of exercise. It is imperative to exercise your heart to move blood and qi and also keep your blood vessels toned.
Do yoga exercises that focus on drawing your shoulders back and opening up your chest. If you ever wanted to start practicing anusara yoga, this is the season to do it.
Eat red foods. Apples, raspberries, strawberries, watermelon, goji berries (gou qi zi) and red grapes are nice.
Drink herbal teas that cool internal heat. Peppermint is my favorite.
Stay hydrated. The general rule of thumb is to drink one ounce of water per two pounds of body weight. It is okay to step it up during summer. Sip water throughout the day and please don't wait until you're thirsty to do so.
Last but certainly not least, get some acupuncture treatments. Move blood and qi with acupuncture. It's so simple but powerful.

As always, I am available for your questions and comments.

Happy summer and thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

*Chinese medicine is addressed as Asian medicine as of late. In all of my years of training, I was taught to call it Chinese medicine. Therefore, I will continue to address it as such until I'm told I may not.

Rate The Importance

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:30:08 GMT

I have been chosen by The California Acupuncture Board to participate as a "Subject Matter Expert" for the development of future California Acupuncture Licensing Examinations. As a young acupuncture student, I was terrified of these people. Now I'm one of them.

Some days as an acupuncturist, when I look at the thousands-of-years old traditions of Chinese medicine, I feel like a neophyte. On other days, when I look at my growing practice and the list of successes and referrals, I feel like an old pro.

Today I feel like an old pro.

Part of my participation as a subject matter expert was filling out a questionnaire about what parts of my education I use the most in clinical practice, what I could have learned more of, and what do I not use at all in practice. It was a "rate the importance 0 - 5" sort of questionnaire. You know the type. 412 questions. 412! I really put my most sincere thought into this and it took two hours. One question stood out among all of them. It looked like this:

187. Knowledge of the impact of stress reduction in maintenance of health.

0 - Does not apply to my job; not required for job performance

1 - Of minor importance

2 - Fairly important

3 - Moderately important

4 - Very important

5 - Critically important

Obviously, I chose 5. I really wanted to give it a 10, and accompany my answer with an essay but that wasn't an option. I would go so far as to say that stress reduction is imperative and nonnegotiable in the maintenance of health. I have conversations about stress reduction with each and every one of my patients. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) gives an extensive report on the negative effects of stress on one's health. Please read it.

Life is full of potentially-stressful situations of which we can not control. I tell my patients to not focus on things that are out of our hands, but rather control the controllables. Yes, gas prices are high, but we can strategize our driving and quit making so many unnecessary trips. Choose organic foods at the local farmer's market that have been lovingly grown and harvested rather than heading to the regular grocery store. Exercise to get the endorphins flowing. Get some bodywork. Try acupuncture, massage or chiropractic.

Breathe deeper. Smile more. Pray often.

Thanks for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Natural Cures That Work

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:58:28 GMT

I am so pleased with the media attention acupuncture is receiving lately. I thought this was worth passing along.

Thanks MSNBC.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Jathara Parivartanasana-Revolved Abdominal Pose

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:16:54 GMT

I cannot believe that we're coming down to our last few weeks of spring. Because we cleanse and replenish the liver during spring, I recommend twisting the abdomen to wring out the liver as well as the other abdominal organs. My favorite yoga pose for this is jathara parivartanasana.

While jathara parivartanasana is the superior yoga pose for wringing out the internal organs, it also provides a nice stretch in the hips and strengthens the abdomen and low back. Hold the pose for two to three minutes on each side. Repeat as often as you like.

Thanks for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

Patients Prefer Acupuncture to Injection Therapy

Tamara@LAacupuncture.net (Tamara) — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:08:42 GMT

It is becoming harder and harder to dismiss acupuncture as a viable method of treatment for neck pain. Could it be that patients actually prefer it? I would have never believed it when I was a student eleven years ago, but it seems that patients are starting to prefer acupuncture to injection therapy for all types of neck pain.

When a patient steps into my office, I first look at body language. These cues never lie. I cannot tell you how often a person will reach over his/her shoulder and massage his/her own neck or shoulders while talking. Even without neck pain as a chief complaint, one may feel stress there. It makes sense to me that a person could feel a dull, stagnant pain in the neck as several acupuncture meridians become closer to each other in that area just before entering the head. I've included a picture so that you may see. This photo was taken by me, an amateur photographer, of an acupuncture wall chart.

The acupuncture needles provide a release of stagnant qi within the meridian and assist with proper blood flow. Most patients feel relief almost immediately. Some become so comfortable that they fall asleep on the table. I've even had some patients forget where they are. Now, THAT is some deep relaxation.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen