New England Journal of Medicine Article: Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain

The recent issue (July 29, 2010) of the New England Journal of Medicine contained an article supporting the use of acupuncture for chronic low back pain. Wow, the results they saw must have been overwhelming, for a journal like this to support acupuncture so much!

From the article:

...since extensive clinical trials have suggested that acupuncture may be more effective than usual care, it is not unreasonable to consider acupuncture before or together with conventional treatments, such as physical therapy, pain medication, and exercise. (Read the full article here.)

Chronic back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, elbow and knee pain, all these symptoms usually respond very well to acupuncture. At The Birch Center, we often treat people with these issues, including professional athletes, dancers and actors, with great results. Please visit The Birch Center website for a list of conditions for which The World Health Organization and National Institutes of Health have proven acupuncture to be useful.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss your condition further: (412) 381-0116, or email: BirchCenter@gmail.com.

Thanks so much!

David and Melissa Sokulski, L.Acs.

Licensed Acupuncturists
The Birch Center for Health
(412) 381-0116

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Kristin Hersh Reveals Acupuncture Helped Her Overcome Bipolar Disorder

As many of you know, acupuncture is amazing to treat mental/emotional disorders. Acupuncture works on many levels: body mind and spirit. Treating symptoms like depression, anxiety, worry, stress, etc, is really one of acupuncture's strongest points.

Please visit The Birch Center website for a list of conditions found by the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization that acupuncture has been proven to be effective - I think you'll be surprised by what you find!

And since acupuncture treats the whole person not the disease, by bringing the body, mind and spirit into balance, there is no limit to what acupuncture can treat.

Here is the article about Kristin Hersh:

Kristin Hersh Reveals Acupuncture Helped Her Overcome Bipolar Disorder

Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss your condition further: (412) 381-0116, or email: BirchCenter@gmail.com.

Thanks so much!

David and Melissa Sokulski, L.Acs.

Licensed Acupuncturists
The Birch Center for Health
(412) 381-0116

Please sign up for our monthly newsletter! We have raw recipes, information about Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and overall wellness information. Sign up today and receive your free gift: 10 Ways to Improve Your Health Right Now. We'd love to stay in touch. Thank you!

July Wild Edibles Walk: Beaver, PA

Our Next Wild Edibles Walk is Scheduled!

Saturday, July 31, 2010 11:00 am
Beaver, PA

Join Melissa Sokulski of The Birch Center for an easy walk around Beaver, PA, looking for wild edible and medicinal plants.

We will begin at Three Rivers Yoga studio in Beaver at 11 am. The walk/talk will last approximately an hour and we will return to the studio for conversation and refreshments.

Where: Three Rivers Yoga Beaver
428 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009
When: Saturday, July 31, 2010, 11:00 am
Fee: $5/person, children under 10 free
More information about Three Rivers Yoga Beaver: Contact Andrea at (412) 901-6478

More information about Wild Edible Plants at Food Under Foot.

To register call (412) 381-0116

Or Register Online:

July Wild Edibles Hike, Beaver PA

We hope to see you there!

David and Melissa Sokulski, L.Ac.

Licensed Acupuncturists
The Birch Center for Health
(412) 381-0116

Please sign up for our monthly newsletter! We have raw recipes, information about Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and overall wellness information. Sign up today and receive your free gift: 10 Ways to Improve Your Health Right Now. We'd love to stay in touch. Thank you!

Sun Safety

Enjoy the Sun (and Leave Harmful Sunscreens Behind)
by David Sokulski, L.Ac.
The sun has many health benefits, and most sunscreens contain chemicals that are extremely damaging to your health.

The benefits of sunlight are many, including:

• Supplies the body with vitamin D, which promotes the absorption of Calcium and transfers Calcium across cell membranes, thus strengthening the bones

• Lowers blood cholesterol

• Prevents infections from bacteria, mold, and viruses

• Increases white blood cell count and gamma globulin count, thus enhancing the immune system

• Strengthens the heart and cardiovascular system.

Sunlight aids in preventing:

• Seasonal Affective Disorder

• Osteoporosis

• Depression and Anxiety

• Type 2 Diabetes

• Cancers of the bladder, breast, cervix, ovaries, colon, prostate and stomach.

However, you don't want to get too much sun, and avoid getting burned. Be careful to do this naturally, though, and avoid using commercial sunscreens, which are loaded with harmful chemicals that are not approved by the FDA (but don't have to be, since they are applied to the skin.)

One such chemical is called oxybenzone, which has been linked in studies to allergies, hormone disruption, cell damage, and low birth weight in girls whose moms were exposed during pregnancy. Oxybenzone is actually a penetration enhancer, which means it aids in helping get itself and other chemicals into your body through your skin.

The Environmental Working Group has put out their 2010 Sunscreen Guide. They list sunscreens for use by adults, children and even babies which contain oxybenzone. Among the worst on the list are sunscreens specifically made for babies, so please check this list out.

(This article has full details about oxybenzone and where to go for a list of safe sunscreens.)

Sunscreens, even organic sunscreens, may also contain titanium oxide, which can cause heavy metal poisoning and cell damage, especially in young children.

Things you can do to stay protected from sunburns but enjoy the sun's amazing rays and health benefits are:

• Do not eat deep fried foods and fast foods. Unhealthy fats in our system enhance likelihood of sunburn.

• Eat healthy oils, like coconut oil and omega three oils such as flax oil.

• Avoid being out in the sun during the hottest times of the day.

• If out and you feel you are getting too much sun, cover up with a long sleeved shirt and a hat.

• Use a pure oil on the skin, such as coconut oil or jojoba oil. This keeps the skin from drying out and jojoba has a natural SPF of 15.

Be smart in the sun, but please enjoy this gift of summer (and all seasons), and learn to avoid putting toxic chemicals on your skin. It's better for you, your children, those around you, and the environment.

Here, again, is list of helpful references and links:

• Environmental Working Group


• Article: Is Your Child's Sunscreen Causing More Harm Than Good?


• Article: The Health Benefits of Sunlight


• iherb.com: where you can purchase healthy oils, and enjoy $5 off your first order by using coupon code MEL526 at checkout.

**********

Enjoy!

David and Melissa Sokulski, L.Acs.

Licensed Acupuncturists
The Birch Center for Health
(412) 381-0116

Please sign up for our monthly newsletter! We have raw recipes, information about Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and overall wellness information. Sign up today and receive your free gift: 10 Ways to Improve Your Health Right Now. We'd love to stay in touch. Thank you!

Nature Lecture at Mushroom Club

Hope everyone is enjoying the summer weather!

There is an event coming up Tuesday night that we thought some of you may be interested in: the monthly meeting of the Western PA Mushroom Club is featuring long-time naturalist Esther Allen (I've never heard her...but I've heard of her. She's in her 90's and has a wealth of knowledge about nature!) will be speaking. The details are below and for more information visit the Mushroom Club's website.

Monthly Meeting: June 15th
Title: What Fungi Do and How They Do It

Speaker(s): Esther Allen, Long-time Area Naturalist

Summary: Esther Allen has developed this new program which, rather than focus on identification or edibility, presents the essential role that fungi fill in the natural cycle of life. This is a timely topic which looks at how mushrooms function in our ecological systems. As always, she will share wonderful photographs and her phenomena wealth of knowledge of nature. A real treat.

Hope to see you there!

Melissa Sokulski, L.Ac.

Licensed Acupuncturist
The Birch Center for Health
(412) 381-0116

Please sign up for our monthly newsletter! We have raw recipes, information about Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and overall wellness information. Sign up today and receive your free gift: 10 Ways to Improve Your Health Right Now. We'd love to stay in touch. Thank you!