Low T

Guys, not feeling up to your usual self? Is your sex drive low? Are you not getting as many erections as you'd like? Having trouble maintaining them? Are you finding your self more easily irritated or tired than you should be? Gaining weight or is it harder to keep weight off?
Well, your testosterone could be dropping.

Low T (testosterone) is defined as: Abnormally low levels of the male sex hormone testosterone in the blood. Testosterone is produced by the testes and to a lesser extent by the adrenal glands. Testosterone encourages the development of male sexual characteristics at puberty, stimulates the activity of the male secondary sex characteristics, drives the production of sperm, and is involved in regulation of muscle mass and sex drive. Testosterone levels are highly regulated by a complex glandular system. Abnormally low testosterone levels can occur due to a number of conditions affecting the glands that regulate and produce this hormone. Symptoms of low testosterone include decreased libido, impotence or erectile dysfunction, breast enlargement, and a lowered sperm count. Sounds miserable doesn't it?

What you need to know guys, is that there is a natural, holistic & safe way to increase your testosterone!

Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into the body, it can painlessly improve libido & increase quantity & quality of erections, increase testosterone & other hormones important for sexual health.

Acupuncture can also relieve pain, improve upon conditions such as BPH, Peyronies, pelvic floor dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, low libido & can minimize the negative side-effects from prostate cancer treatment as well as improve the health of the prostate whether you have cancer or not. Acupuncture improves circulation, muscle tone & nerve impulse regulation to the genitals.

The time to start feeling like You again is Now!

Acupuncture Does relieve pain.

Acupuncture has a major effect on pain. We can see this through what it does within Gate Control Theory: it activates non-nociceptive receptors that inhibit the transmission of nociceptive signals in the dorsal horn, "gating out" painful stimuli.

Jargon!! What that means is acupuncture STOPS pain in its tracks at the spinal level. The signal coming from pain never reaches the Central Nervous System. Ergo, your brain doesn't receive the pain signal from your body & that equals no pain.

There are also a whole other host of events that occur when that acupuncture needle enters the body that encourage healing. But this above is one explanation that proves how effective acupuncture treatment is in curing &/or managing acute & chronic pain.

You can live pain free safely!!!!!!!!

Herbs?

Are you curious why I would recommend herbs alone or in addition to acupuncture? It's a good question.

Herbs are a powerful & effective addition to acupuncture treatments. Herbs strengthen, build & support the body or clear it of problems like colds, flu, fever, acute pain, etc.

I may begin your treatment with herbs & add acupuncture later or visa versa. Herbs can enhance your acupuncture treatment naturally & safely. If you decide you don't ever want a needle placed in you, I have many other therapies I can offer you. Herbs being one of them. There's many paths to get you healthy, we'll take as many as we can together!!

Insomnia, drugs are Not the best option!!

I've been seeing commercials for this new insomnia drug Belsomra. I thought I'd share the terrifying side-effects....

sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
unusual or abnormal dreams
changes in behavior
discouragement
fear or nervousness
feeling sad or empty
irritability
lack of appetite
loss of interest or pleasure
loss of memory
problems with memory
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
**!!!!temporary inability to move or talk for up to several minutes while you are going to sleep or wake up!!!!**
temporary weakness in your legs
thoughts of killing oneself
tiredness
trouble concentrating
headache
body aches or pain
chills
cough
diarrhea
difficulty with breathing
dizziness
dry mouth
ear congestion
fever
loss of voice
nasal congestion
runny nose
sneezing
sore throat
unusual tiredness or weakness

Yeah!!!! Not cool!!! Getting quality sleep helps cure you of or keeps you from experiencing the above conditions. So why would you take a drug to cause all those problems!?

Take care of your insomnia safely with acupuncture & natural herbal supplementation, breathing exercises & meditation. One or a combination of these safe practices can help you get the best sleep of your life, every night!!!!

Tattoos & acupuncture DO mix!!!!

Anybody & everybody experiences pain at some point in their lives. Come & get rid of it the safe & drug free way!!

What can acupuncture treat?

I often get asked what Acupuncture can treat. I say everything then try to elaborate as that answer still gets questions.
Acupuncture is phenomenal at treating the following, to name just a few things...
Erectile Dysfunction
BPH
Menopausal Symptoms
Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Depression/Anxiety
Headaches/Migraines
Pain (back, neck, knee, elbow, etc.)
Insomnia
Allergies
IBS
Constipation
Diarrhea
GERD
Asthma
Weight Loss
Addiction/substance abuse (along with rehab)
Frequent urination
Incontinence
Diabetes
MS
Rheumatoid arthritis
Lupus
Hypothyroidism
Facial Palsy
Adrenal fatigue
Fibromyalgia

That enough for ya for now? You can always contact me to discuss weather whatever condition your experiencing is well treated with acupuncture.
Also, it's great for maintaining good physical, mental & emotional health well-being even if you don't have a "problem/issue".

** re-posted from my facebook

Breast Tests

I was recently reading an article about the differences between mammography & thermography testing for breast cancer detection. What I got out of the article & what I get out of most articles, is that a more well rounded approach is always the best. Both of these exam methods have their advantages & disadvantages (I won't go into them here) but used in conjunction, offer a more comprehensive look at breast health.

Mammography  is done by compressing the breast, taking an x-ray & reviewing what is in the breast tissue. Thermography looks at heat levels in the vasculature of the breast. Areas of heightened temperature indicates inflammation which could be an early sign of of cancer or other breast abnormalities.

To me, one of the most important things you can do before even heading to your yearly well woman check, is being sure to do your self checks. With the world now at our finger tips, you can find umpteen videos, graphics or other descriptions of how to perform a self breast exam online. You can ask any one of your physicians, including myself, how to do it. Then do it every month!!

Breast cancer is what we all worry about but there are other issues that can affect breasts that are also problematic & need medical attention. So gals & guys, pay attention!! Self exams Do save lives!!!!

Need Supplementation

Did you know that WHA consults in & offers Standard Process products & supplements for you & your pets?

Chinese herbs are my love but there's so many great Western herbs & food therapies out there too that can't be ignored!! If you need that boost because your over-the-counter stuff your taking isn't cutting it (who knows whats in that stuff anyway), let's chat higher quality herbs & supplements. We can also talk about cleansing/detoxifying to get you on top of your health!!

Ouch!!

Stay Healthy out there!! We have a hot couple of weeks ahead!! Especially, down here in Texas!!!!

ps. SPF 35 or higher!!!!

Please Note:

WHA will be closed from 7/24 to re-open on 7/30. 
Phone calls, emails & text messages will not be returned until 7/30. Thank you for your understanding & support!!

I look forward to seeing all my current & new patients on my table as we see through the end of summer together, staying healthy & feeling great!!

Current Men's Health Concerns

Do you know what they are? You may be surprised by or you may be suffering from the following:

Cardiovascular Disease
     Cardiovascular or heart disease has been come too common in today's society of fast food & sedentary life-styles. More & more we're seeing men & women with high blood pressure, clogged arteries, high stress, obesity & heart attacks. You can manage or rid yourself of these problems by following a healthy diet & exercise program, quitting smoking & managing stress naturally with exercise, meditation, acupuncture &/or massage, etc. Acupuncture is helpful in lower blood pressure because as needles enter the body it releases opioids into the body which will decrease heart activity & lower it's need for oxygen. This release of opioids also helps in managing the affect of stress on the heart & mind. 

Depression & Mental Health Issues
     Over 6 million American men have depression. That number may be larger as men tend to hide their depression which causes it to fester, further the issue. In comparison to women, men are 4 times more likely to commit suicide. This is very concerning. Did you know depression can manifest not just as sadness or feeling down but in anger, burnout, aggression or risk-taking behavior that can lead to substance or alcohol abuse or injury? As state above acupuncture releases opioids, your "feel good" chemicals. It also balances serotonin & dopamine, which are other contributing factors to depression when their out of whack. 

Prostate Health
     Up to 90% of men in their 70s & 80s are affected by enlarged prostates. If left untreated it can lead to such nasty issues as frequent urination, painful or difficult urination, UTI's, kidney &/or bladder stones or damage, incontinence, erectile dysfunction or cancer. Studies have show acupuncture to have a significantly beneficial effect on the above conditions. Reduces if not eliminating the symptoms above thus improving the comfort & quality of life. As I specialize in men's health, I often get asked if needles are placed in the penis or testicles during treatment. A valid question. The answer is No. Absolutely, not. These are highly delicate & vascular organs therefore, it would be dangerous & possibly damaging to place needles in them. 

Reproductive Health
     Guys, this can affect you at any stage in life. The most commonly seen problems are infertility, impotence, hernias, prostatitis & testicular pain or torsion. Have you heard of andropause? That is male menopause. It is real. It does happen. It's the time in your life where your hormones do decrease. That can have a profound affect on your health. Possibly causing some of the above symptoms. Acupuncture helps to prevent, reduce &/or eliminate these symptoms safely & effectively.

Lung Cancer
     Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in men. Acupuncture is extremely effective in treating smoking & other substance abuse. It can reduce cravings, anxiety/jitters, irritability & other reported symptoms of quitting smoking or other substances. It will relax the mind & help to detoxify your whole body. The most common type of acupuncture used is auricular (ear) acupuncture or what is called acu-detox. Research shows that acupuncture for the above issues works astoundingly well!! If you already unfortunately have a diagnosis of cancer, there's still a lot acupuncture can provide in the palative care realm. It can reduce nausea, anxiety/depression, increase appetite, increase energy & boost immunity 

There ARE options out there guys!! Take control of your health the safe & effective way!! Acupuncture not only helps to treat the above concerns but also to help prevent them. You can & should feel your best!!

Summer's here!!!!

Summer has finally come!! Tips to stay safe while enjoying the heat are:

- Drink lots of water!!
- If you've been sweating all day, drink water & something else too with electrolytes, like gatorade
- Eat cooling foods such as watermelon, cucumbers, citrus fruits, mint, asparagus, radishes, bananas, kiwi, lemon, crab, oysters, apples, mango, pears, strawberries, beets, broccoli cauliflower, celery, eggplant, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes & white fish. 
- Keep out of mid-day sun, if you have to be in it keep your head covered
- Wear sunblock

Have an amazing, safe, healthy summer everyone!!!!

Whole Health Acupuncture...

NOT offering Cactus Therapy but safe, effective acupuncture for all of your healthcare concerns!!

A Friendly Reminder

Please be reminded, my office hours, the hours that I'm available by phone, text & email are:

M - 9am - 5pm
T - 9am - 7pm
W - 9am - 5pm
Th - 9am - 7pm
Fr - 9am - 4pm

If you have to cancel or reschedule an appointment after hours, please know that I may not get the message until the next day begins. Also, please be aware current & new patients, that a 24 hour cancellation policy is signed as a commitment to respect each others precious time. 

Thank you for your understanding & support!!!!

Good Mood Foods

Does all this rain have you down Austin? It's hard on me. 
Acupuncture boosts mood, balances emotions & gives you energy which can help you to feel great during these rainy days.
You can also try adding these foods to your diet to boost your mood:
Sunflower seeds
Bananas
Dark chocolate
Venison
Cheese
Any & all greens
Pomegranates
Berries
Avocados
Eggs
Walnuts
Water
Green Tea

The problems with drugs...

Are you or is anyone you know experiencing any of these following symptoms or conditions?

Confusion, dementia, falls, psychosis, insomnia, joint deterioration, heart attack, stroke, colitis, indigestion, headaches, uncontrolled bleeding, dizziness, fainting, vertigo, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, muscle weakness, sarcopenia, skin conditions, breathing difficulties, kidney failure, wheezing, coughing, chronic pain, vision problems or even sudden death?

What's scary about the above conditions is that your prescription drugs could be causing them. Medications your physician pretty freely gives out. These conditions are ALL possible side-effects of commonly prescribed drugs.

What infuriates me about these side-effects that aren't just side-effects but are actual conditions, is in the Western world of medicine, they'll be treated with other drugs that have More side-effects, multiplying your problems by 10 Fold!! For a lot of conditions the only treatment within the Western medical module is drugs. 

What's the solution? Get off your offending medications. Slow, careful, observant withdrawal under the care of your physicians, is a safe & effective way to start stepping to the most healthy you!! Drugs & surgery should always be last resort treatments. Know that most prescription drugs do not work for most people most of the time. 

It is possible to take care of your health naturally & safely which means feeling your best. Maybe feeling better than you've ever thought you could feel!! A life full of holistic approaches to your well-being, acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation, diet & exercise will make you feel amazing!!!!

Additional Location

As of next Mon 4/27 WHA will be officing part-time at Oak

Hill Healing Arts. I'll be there Mon afternoons & Thurs

afternoons. If this a more convenient place for you to come 

get treatment, let me know!!

7413 Old Bee Caves Rd
Austin, TX 78735

The Prostate

The prostate is a small, walnut sized gland that sits under the bladder in men. It surrounds the urethra from which we urinate through & produces semen, the white milky substance that sperm is carried in. Inflammation can occur & is common, in this gland. It's referred to as prostatitis. When the prostate is inflamed a guy can experience urinary problems (frequent or urgent need to urinate, burning while urinating, etc.) & pelvic or low back pain. These are some of the more commonly experienced symptoms. Acupuncture can successfully relieve the symptoms of prostatitis & help maintain overall health of your prostate. Prostatitis is an uncomfortable condition you don't need to suffer any longer!!

No More Back Pain!!

Having back pain?

I can treat you with a 1-2 punch of acupuncture & cupping to knock that pain out!!

This may be your issue...

What do you know about serotonin? Did you know 80% of people are deficient in it?

This is a problem because serotonin, considered a "master neurotransmitter", is extremely important to controlling & maintaining your feelings of happiness & other such emotions that keep us from feeling depressed or anxious. It also plays a roll in regulating digestion, pain tolerance, carb cravings & sleep cycles. 

Can you see where if your deficient in this neurotransmitter that you may be feeling crummy or ill? Acupuncture boosts as well as regulates serotonin levels. If your not feeling your best, serotonin may be the culprit. If you think this is what's happening to you, low serotonin, call me, there's a solution to getting you better!!

What I Can Treat...

I'll tell you that acupuncture works to treat everything. But it's hard to grasp what everything is? Below I've listed a few things acupuncture can treat. If you have questions your always welcome to contact me!!

Chronic Pain          Menstrual Issues          Erectile Dysfunction
Lower Back            Arthritis                         Kidney, Liver or Bladder
  Pain & Sciatic       Low T, BPH                       Issues
PMS                        Carpal Tunnel                Neuropathy
Headaches &          Diabetes                         Asthma
Migraines               MS                                  Allergies
TMJ                        Tennis/Golfer's            Sinusitis
Fibromyalgia            Elbow                          Rheumatoid Arthritis
Anxiety & Stress   Tremors                        Depression
   Mgmt                   Lupus                            Chronic Fatigue
IBS                          Insomnia                       Cardiovascular Issues
Addictions              Menopause                   Ulcers
ADHD                     Thyroid Conditions      Shingles
Urinary Problems Hypertension               Facial Palsy
Adrenal Fatigue    Fertility Issues             Hormone Imbalances
Peyronie's              Leaky Gut Syndrome
Disease

You don't have to manage your illness, you CAN improve it!! Contact me today to feel your best even though your "suffering" from one of the above conditions or from something that didn't make it onto this list.

Get Your Diabetes Under Control!!

Today let's talk about the two best ways to improve your diabetic symptoms or rid yourself of the disease (type2)!!

Diabetes type 2 can be caused by poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, a women's diet when she's pregnant, impaired glucose (sugar) tolerance, family history, high blood pressure and the leading cause is obesity (excess weight). We know this though it's not always wanted to be admitted.

What are the 2 best management tools? Diet & Exercise!! Don't the both win out no matter what issue we're talking about? It's because there's power there. & you have control over them!! Both do a better job than drugs in improving fitness, insulin sensitivity, blood fats, cardiovascular risk factor & in glycemic control.

When shifting your diet you should eliminate refined sugars, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup (we've known this a long time now too), soda, white rice & breads, overly processed foods (boxed or canned), refined salt & artificial sweeteners. You WANT to include fresh fruits & veggies, legumes, nuts & seeds, fiber, whole grains and lean proteins.

Exercise will quickly lowers blood sugar, improves insulin resistance, decreases artery wall thickening, reduces adipose (fat) tissue and increases muscle. You need some form of it every day for at least 30 minutes. But you can start with 5!!!! Simply walking can start you on your way!!

If your confused about how to make healthier changes, let's talk. I do what I can to make the transition to healthy easier for you!!

Take a Deep Breath

Who actually takes the time to breathe deeply?

It's something you should do more often. A couple of times a day!! Did you know deep breathing lowers your blood pressure? As well as many other health benefits? Now, I've talked BP before. Remember, it isn't predictive of a heart attack or stroke.

If you have high BP, your circulatory system is no doubt stressed. It can cause issues from health care coverage to dizziness which can lead to falls which can lead to broken bones, it can cause impotence & kidney damage to name a few. Don't just go right to those dangerous medications!!

Take a deep breath...
Start with performing this exercise once a day (especially before going to the doctor).
- breathe in through your nose deep into your belly (your belly pushes out when done correctly) for a count of 2
- then breathe out through your mouth for a count of 5
- repeat this 15-20 times while telling  yourself to relax
You can do this as many times a day as you would like. 

As you get comfortable & good with this above exercise, move up. Breathing in for a count of 5 & out for 10. One of my other favorites is to breathe deeply for 7 counts, hold your breath for 2 counts, breathe out of your mouth for 7 then hold again for 2. 

There's many variations of beneficial breathing exercises out there. You may be surprised at what you see your BP do as well as your general stress level.

Food Intolerances vs Allergies

I'm sure you've been hearing lately about food sensitivities, intolerance & food allergies. What's the difference?

A food allergy will have a physical symptom occur that's caused by your immune system's reaction to a particular food, chemical in the food or the foods coloring. Symptom's usually appear right away or within an hour of consuming the food.

A food sensitivity is a delayed or hidden allergy if you will. It's also an immune reaction to food, chemicals in food or coloring but symptoms can show up anywhere from a day to 3 days after ingestion. The symptoms could be internal & you won't know your bodies reacting negatively.

Food intolerances have to do with your gut. Which is 80% of your immune system. Food may be tolerable until it is over-consumed or the gut function is compromised by infections, antibiotics, high cortisone levels, flora imbalances or changes in hormones.

The main causes of these issues are genetics (can't change those), overexposure, poor digestion (in all it's forms), suppressed immunity, toxicity, ingestion of genetically modified foods & gut flora imbalances.

These food issues can alter you mood, cause weight gain, brain fog, inflammation, digestive issues & more. It's can be hard to tell which foods, if any, are causing you to have symptoms. But there are different approaches you can take. If your concerned about food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances, call me. I'll get you the care you need to feel your best!!

Specializing in Men's Health...

Men's Health, specifically treatment of ED is one of WHA's specialties. Make an appointment today & leave those pills to the cats!!

Neurotransmitters

Have you heard of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine & epinephrine? Do you know what these chemicals are?

Their neurotransmitters. They are natural chemicals that regulate many physical & emotional processes. Mental performance, emotional states, energy & pain response are a few of the functions neurotransmitters regulate. & guess what? They can fall out of balance.

Symptoms that this may have happened can include:
- mood problems (depression/anxiety), fatigue, sleep disorders, poor mental focus, low energy & stamina, addiction/dependency, low libido, sexual dysfunction, low pain tolerance & insulin resistance to name a few.

How do you fix this? ACUPUNCTURE!! Acupuncture resets the part of your brain that controls the feedback loops that regulate neurotransmitters. Help is NOT out of reach. To talk more about what we can do to get you feel great, please call, text or email me.

Allergy Control Recommendations

Are you still suffering from cedar, molds or dust? Do you have other allergies that affect you all year round? Aside from coming in for regular acupuncture treatment & taking your herbs consistently, there are more things you can do at home in between treatments to help alleviate your symptoms:

- rinse your nose with a neti pot
- omega 3's in your diet can reduce sinus inflammation
- when allergy season is at it's peak, keep your windows closed
- wear a dust mask when doing house or yard work
- don't hand clothes out to dry, they'll collect dust & pollen's
- use allergy protectors on your mattress & pillows
- wipe your hair & your pets hair with a towel when coming in from outside
- change your household air filters regularly
- & (this is the hardest for me, I don't do it) don't let your pets sleep in your bed or bedroom frown emotico

Need a Valentine's Day Gift?

Pick up a gift certificate for you someone special & give the gift of health & relaxation!! 
Cheesy, but believe me, your love will LOVE it!!!!

Are you wiped out?

No energy after the holidays? Will it be even worse not that we're headed into some cold rainy days again?


Come in for some acupuncture & moxa to warm you up & energize you again!!

Peppermint

Did you know that peppermint & other essential oils help deliver more oxygen to your brain?
What does that mean for you? It means that inhaling it, using it topically or internally will help you focus, & relax musculature & vaculature (eliminating headaches) literally calming your nerves while keeping you alert.

www.mydoterra.com/wholehealthacupuncture