Title: Integrating Natural Medicine
1 Integrating Natural Medicine into Asthma and
Allergy Management Beth Kohn-Converse
L.Ac. M.T.O.M, Dipl.Ac., Dipl.CH.
Henry Ford Center for Integrative Medicine
40000 W 8 Mile Rd Northville,MI 48167
248-380-6201 bkohn1_at_hfhs.org
2- Complementary, Alternative, Integrative
- Complementary Medicine Systems used as an
adjunct to allopathic medicine - Alternative Medicine Systems of care used in
place of allopathic medical care - Integrative Medicine
- Blending conventional care using allopathic
care (Western Medicine) and alternative methods
(ie eastern medicine, etc). Or blending many
modalities of care.
3- What is Wholistic/Holistic Care?
- Treating the whole person mind, body and
- spirit together
- Undertanding that we need to address all aspects
of a person in treating illness - This creates an overall better quality of life!
4- EFFECTS OF STRESS ON THE BODY
- Pain (Headaches, back, neck, etc)
- Insomnia
- More frequent asthma issues
- Digestive Problems
- Emotional issues Depression, Anxiety
- Hypertension
- Changes in reproductive health
- Depresses immune system (herpes)
- Weight Gain
5- Managing Asthma and Allergies with natural
therapies -
6- TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
- BIOFEEDBACK
- CHIROPRACTIC CARE
- HOMEOPATHY
- NUTRITION THERAPY
- SUPPLEMENT THERAPY
- EXERCISE/BREATHING THERAPIES
7What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Acupuncture Therapy Chinese Herbal
Medicines Tai Chi and Qi Gong Massage and
Bodywork Dietary and Lifestyle Modifications
8THE EVOLUTION OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
- Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine- gt5000
year history - NIH Acupuncture Consensus Conference
- postoperative pain chemotherapy nausea and
vomiting - postoperative dental pain
- TCM benefits are documented in peer-review
western medical literature - NIH sponsored trials IBS, osteoarthritis,
cardiovascular disease, endometriosis, cancer,
and many others
9How Popular Is Acupuncture?
- An Estimated 8.2 million U.S. adults have used
acupuncture - Used by every class of population and from a
multitude of cultures - About.com Holistic Healing (2008). What is
Acupuncture?, About, Inc. A part of The New York
Times Company
10ENERGY BASED THEORY OF ACUPUNCTURE
- Bodys vital life force Energy/ Qi
- Energy travels along pathways meridians
anatomical location of acupuncture points - Energetic and substance imbalance creates
symptoms - Acupuncture point stimulation along meridians
balances energetics, herbal therapies substance - Balancing energy helps enhance bodys ability to
help in its own recovery/healing
11ROOT AND BRANCH THEORY OF TREATMENT
- Root- identify/understand what caused the symptom
- Branch the symptom itself
- Treatment handles resolution of symptom and helps
to balance root causes (energetic/substance) - Goal is to rebalance substance and energetics of
the whole body
12CONCEPTS OF YIN AND YANG
- Complimentary opposites/balance in nature and in
body - Yin Relates to moistening, cooling, nourishing
substances in body blood, mucous, synovial
fluids - Yang Relates to functions, and warming and
moving properties (body temperature,
peristalsis, digestion)
13HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
- A. Increased circulation of blood
systemically - B. Neurotransmitter release
- (endorphins and enkephalins)
- This creates the Acupuncture analgesic
response and relaxation response - Energetically body qi movement/flow is
restored balanced body (better health)
14Diagnosis in TCM
- Practitioner does detailed intake
- Pulse and tongue evaluations are done to
determine TCM diagnosis - Acupuncture treatment and herbal therapies are
then recommended - Dietary/lifestyle adjustments may also be
recommended
15ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES IN TCM
- Patterns of asthma relate to Kidney, Lung and
Spleen meridian energy deficiencies - These lead to difficulties with inhalation,
exhalation and phlegm - Allergies relate to deficient Qi/energy, thus
creating vulnerability to environmental factors
(pollen, dust, etc) - The relaxation response and immune support
benefits from acupuncture also aide in successful
treatment
16CUPPING THERAPY
- Cupping therapy is an adjunct modality used in
TCM - Originally used to help reduce phlegm in the
lungs related to colds/asthma - Also can be used as a myofascial release
technique
17LOOKING AT THE TONGUE
- SIZE AND SHAPE
- COLOR OF TONGUE BODY
- COATING
- TOPOGRAPHY
- ALL GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE
ORGAN SYSTEMS- CONSIDER MEDS, TREATMENTS,SCRAPING
TONGUE
18Migraine Digestive Disorder Patient
Pre Tx
3 mo Post Tx
19Emotions and Energetics
- Use acupuncture therapy to help balance
energetics to affect emotions - Each meridian system relates to specific emotions
- Acupuncture is a simple therapy which yields
powerful results - Effective for helping with depression and anxiety
20Meridians and Emotions
- Liver Meridian Anger/Frustration
- Heart Meridian Joy/sadness, Anxiety
- Spleen Meridian Worry, Obsessive thoughts
- Lung Meridian Grief
- Kidney Meridian Fear
21Chinese Herbal Therapies
- Can be used safely in conjunction with
prescription medications - Are often a good option for people who are unable
to tolerate meds - Help to harmonize and balance the system to
prevent allergic reactions and asthma attacks - Typically combinations of herbs, not single herb
therapy
22Considerations for Herbal Therapy
- Patients current medications
- Understanding of health history including
information about type of cancer - ie estrogen receptive cancers, use of
estrogenic like herbals - Consider patients compliance- best preparation
- Consider upcoming procedures (surgeries)
23Comparing Meds to Herbs
- Both work based on their biochemical properties
- Natural doesnt always mean safe for everyone
- Important to monitor patients progress if using
them long term and with other medications - Important to use therapeutic dose with herbs and
NOT take extra
24BIOFEEDBACK
- A learned method to monitor and gain control
over autonomic reflex-regulated body functions
using data obtained from a monitoring apparatus - In one study, biofeedback appeared to lessen
bronchoconstriction by inducing relaxation of the
facial muscles, ..associated with a decrease in
air flow resistance as evidenced by an increase
in Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) in both
asthmatic and healthy children
25Types of Biofeedback
- There are many types-these have been associated
with successful results in treating asthma - RSA-BF- Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia
- EMG-BF Neck/Trapezius- Electromyographic
Biofeedback and Incentive Spirometry Biofeedback
26RESPIRATORY SINUS ARRHYTHMIA
- Monitoring patterns of heart rate variation
related to the respiratory cycle. Electrodes
translate heart rate into auditory and visual
form. Patients learn to control heart rate-thus
improving asthmatic symptoms
27Neck/Trapezius Electromyographic and Incentive
Spirometry
- Patients learn abdominal breathing to help relax
thoracic muscles assisted by EMG-BF training of
the scalene and trapezius muscles. Incentive
spirometer training of thoracic muscles during
slow, even breathing.
28Other Types of Biofeedback
- Electromyogram Uses electrodes to measure
muscle tension and can promote relaxation in
tense muscles - Temperature biofeedback Monitors skin
temperature and patients learn to redirect blood
flow to other muscles and organs - Galvanic skin response Measures electrical
conductance in skin related to emotional arousal
and sweat gland activity
29CHIROPRACTIC CARE
- Uses spinal manipulation to restore normal
function to the spine and nervous system - Chiropractic theory suggests that spinal
misalignments cause many health problems because
vertebrae pinch important nerves and restrict
their effectiveness - This could effect the vasoconstriction patterns
related to the lungs
30HOMEOPATHY
31Roots of Homeopathy
- Samuel Hahnemann, MD. was the founder-called the
Father of Experimental Pharmacology. - Discovered the concept of the Law of Cure- known
as Similia Similibus Curentur or Like Cures
Like. - This means that a remedy that produces symptoms
in a healthy person will cure the same symptoms
in a person who is diseased.
32Primary Secondary Actions of a Remedy
- The primary action results from the first
encounter between the external agent and the
vital force - The second action is the result of the vital
forces reaction to the symptoms of that primary
encounter. - Led to understanding the curative powers of
poisonous substances.
33Treating Allergies with Homeopathy
- The focus isnt on using the opposite approach
(ie allergies are related to histamine so take
an ANTI-histamine) - Focus is use of remedies that create similar
symptoms (ie Allium cepa red onion) to produce
the same symptoms that would be related to common
cold/allergies.
34NUTRITION THERAPIES
- Diet therapies or nutritional advice is most
common alternative therapy - Thought to be mediated through both IgE
(conventional) and IgG (alternative) - Epidemiologic data demonstrates association
between dietary deficiencies (Omega 3, vitamin C,
magnesium, selenium, Vitamin E) and asthma - Populations with higher intake of polyunsaturated
fatty acids (omega 6 fatty acids) have a higher
prevalence of asthma, eczema and allergic
rhinitis - Thought that eliminating certain allergenic
type foods and decreasing exposure to things such
as dairy products (believed to associated with
increased mucus production) will help with
chronic asthma symptoms and their severity.
-
35Studies say
- Few studies to support dietary claims-mixed
results - One positive long term study of vegan diet
(Lindahl 1985) - 1 year prospective study, 25 subjects
- Diet excluded meat, fish, eggs, dairy, coffee,
tea, chocolate, sugar and salt - Decreased cost and use of medications
- 92 improvement in biochemical and clinical
markers
36Elimination Diet
- Elimination diet- pick a food that the patient
appears to be sensitive to, such as nuts or eggs,
and then eliminate it from the diet for 2 weeks - At the end of the 2 weeks, gently reintroduce the
food into the diet - If there is significant change, such as bloating
or headaches, the patient may indeed be sensitive
to that particular food
37More Nutrition Information
- Eliminate allergens (dairy, preservatives (MSG),
sulfites, additives - Increase fresh fruits and vegetables
- Increase fish in the diet (to increase omega 3
fatty acids) - Use healthier oils (ie olive)
-
38Allergy Testing/Food Sensitivity Testing
- Classic back scratch test Can identify
allergens, not always accurate - Food sensitivity testing Measures bodys
cellular response to various foods, additives,
colorings and chemicals. The individuals
cellular reactivity after exposure of the blood
to the various test agents, versus the persons
own baseline control, tells the healthcare
provider which substances may be causing a
sensitivity-related response in the body.
39SUPPLEMENT THERAPY
- Strong epidemiologic evidence demonstrates
association between poor dietary intake and
asthma - Omega 3 fatty acids
- Anti-oxidants and cofactors (Vitamin A, C,E,
Zinc, selenium and copper) - Vitamins and Minerals (Magnesium, B6 and B12)
- Specific supplementation of nutrients has yielded
mixed results at best - Nonetheless, very common integrative medicine
strategy -
40Exercise and Breathing Techniques
- Numerous studies have shown improvement in asthma
is patients who exercise regularly - Yoga Helps to decrease medication use and lowers
anxiety (Vedanthan 1996). - Reduces airway hyper responsiveness and improved
some aspects of quality of life (Menocha 2002) - Qi gong- deep diaphragmatic breathing in TCM can
help to relax musculature-creating more systemic
relaxation
41Center for Integrative Medicine, Novi
42Center for Integrative Medicine40000 W 8 Mile,
Novi
- Services Offered
- Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
- Chiropractic Care
- Massage
- St John Neuromuscular Therapy
43References
- The Role of Biofeedback in Asthma, Georges
Ramalanjaona, MD., DSc, MBA, FACEP Alternative
Medicine Alert, July 2003 - Dr. Luc. Com website
- Integrative Medicine Management of Asthma
lecture, Andrew Heyman, MD, MHSA. Adjunct
Assistant Professor, Department of Family
Medicine, University of Michigan - ALCAT Worldwide Testing brochure-Cell Science
Systems, 852 South Military Trail, Deerfield
Beach, FL 33442 (Fell P. Brostoff, J, et.cal
(1988), ALCAT, A New Test for Food Induced
Problems in Medicine?. Presented at the Annual
Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngic
Allergy on Oct 1, 1988.