Articles

1. Stress and Infertility by Claudette Viau
2. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Fertility: an alternative with Traditional Chinese Medicine Viau, D.Ac. by Claudette Viau
3. Asthma In Canada by Debra Lowe
4. Year of the Dog (and Cat) Allergy - Allergy as a Trigger for Asthma by Debra Lowe
5. Get the Spring Energies Flowing - A Case of Lost Vision by Debra Lowe
6. Relief for Your Allergies by Debra Lowe
7. Don't let Ragweed and other Seasonal Allergies Ruin your Summer by Debra Lowe
8. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or Allergy? by Debra Lowe
9. Emotions and Your Health by Debra Lowe
10. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue by Debra Lowe
11. Hormonal Balance - PMS, PMDD, and Infertility by Debra Lowe
12. How can Chinese Medicine Help Your Digestion After the Holidays?
    by Claudette Viau
13. Chinese Medicine as a Solution for Arthritis Pain by Claudette Viau
14. Une approche globale face au stress by Claudette Viau
15. The Fire, the Pot, the Soup by Claudette Viau
16. Pregnancy: Realizing a Dream by Claudette Viau, D.Ac.

"Stress and Infertility"
by Claudette Viau

In this fast world, things that stress us are everywhere. For instance, at work, do you really like what you are doing?

In your relationships, how well do you communicate to solve the tensions that exist between you? In your family, are you burdened by your parents being sick as they get older? Within your lifestyle, are you creating internal stress by indulging in junk food, sweets, coffee or other stimulants?

For a woman, facing infertility problems can become the most important issue in her life. A failure to conceive will deeply affect her self-esteem, her social life, and her relationships with her family and friends who already have babies.

Fears of getting too old to conceive, guilt, and sadness from miscarriage or misconception are the most common complaints among women. In my work as an acupuncturist, treating infertility, I listen with compassion to each story as women express openly about their unfulfilled desires. I am always moved by their determination and their courage. Most of them are really committed to change their habits and reduce stress in order to balance their hormones to get pregnant.

The hormonal response to stress is to release adrenalin to escape from danger or fight, thus preventing the ability to utilize progesterone, one of the hormones of conception. In Chinese Medicine, stress is mostly associated with a Liver imbalance. This imbalance creates a stagnation combined with digestive disorders, muscular tensions or breast tenderness; it also affects a womans mood (depression and irritability), and eventually leads to blood stagnation. Then the cycles become irregular, the periods are painful with cramps and blood is dark with clots. Headaches are frequent and sleep is disrupted.

In order to improve fertility, the blood needs to move freely to the uterus. The Liver is responsible for the storage, the filtration, the distribution and the smooth flow of blood. The Liver regulates the metabolism of hormones and its imbalance produces endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome or cancer.

What can you do? One of my patients modified her habits. She changed her diet to warm and cooked food, prepared her decoction of herbs to build her blood and stamina. She also reduced her responsibilities at work, walked 30 minutes everyday, and added deep breathing exercises to her schedule. She managed to set up a place where she could meditate, or read or be quiet when she needs to rest. She created a cocoon for herself, a place to be recharged and nurtured. Since the beginning of her acupuncture treatments, her body temperature has increased; her cheeks are rosy now and shes more relaxedon her way to get ready to conceive.

Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques are the most effective in restoring health and fertility. A balanced life with alternate activities and periods of rest, and new habits to cope with stress, bring the harmony and peace of mind necessary to prepare yourself for this great adventure of conception.

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"Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Fertility: an alternative with Traditional Chinese Medicine Viau, D.Ac."
by Claudette Viau

It is devastating to be diagnosed with PCOS, and realize that you probably will not get pregnant naturally.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is an ovulation disorder, and it also can affect the skin, hair, body weight, reproductive system, hormones, insulin production, heart and blood vessels. In North America, about 10% of women of reproductive age are affected by PCOS.

The two most prevalent elements of PCOS include elevated androgenic hormones and a chronic lack of ovulation that leads to infertility.

Some other signs may be present:

• Irregular (more than 35 days) or absent periods often dating back to the onset of menstruation
• Excess facial/body hair, acne, oily skin and thinning of the hair on the head due to the excess of androgen
• Weight gain especially around the waist caused by improper insulin production or insulin resistance

In PCOS, multiple small cysts, which are actually tiny follicles, develop inside the ovaries. The ovaries do not make all of the hormones needed for any of the eggs to fully mature. The eggs remain in sacs filled with liquid, thus preventing them from being released to produce ovulation.
If an egg does get released, this often happens too late in a woman's cycle.

Cysts produce male hormones called androgens. Androgen enters the blood stream and alters the whole hormonal balance, increasing the ratio of estrogen (LH and testosterone) to progesterone (FSH).

What can Chinese Medicine do in these situations? The recommended acupuncture, diet, herbs, and exercises will bring back the body in balance after proper assessment, examination, and treatments.

Acupuncture helps to restore the hormonal balance that produces the changes in a woman's ovaries. Through the entire sympathetic nervous system, acupuncture normalizes the hormonal system tied to ovulation and reproduction.

According to Chinese Medicine, the main pattern underlying PCOS is dampness or phlegm. This is a condition I treat regularly in my practice with women who have symptoms like digestive problems, loose stools, menstrual blood that contains mucus, history of yeast infections and vaginal itching, aches in joints, obesity, or swollen and wet tongue. I also see patients having this dampness condition without any of these symptoms.

What makes this disorder so prevalent in our society? My opinion is that our diet that is rich in refined carbohydrates, sweets, cold and raw food and drinks, and overconsumption of fats and oils affect the functions of transporting and transforming. This result is fluids accumulating in the Spleen and these symptoms are referred to as pathological or evil dampness.

A good understanding about the diet will make a huge difference. Many of my patients report having lost weight, feeling warmer and experiencing less pain in their body after introducing the types of changes that I recommend in their diet.

Supplementing the body with herbs is another solution to resolve the phlegm, blood stasis or any other related pattern involved. Phlegm is a very deep and long-lasting condition that needs herbal support over a long period of time.

Physical activity also helps maintain a healthy weight, lowers the blood sugar, restores regular menstruation and ovulation and hence improves fertility.

It takes time to prepare an egg for fertilization. Three full cycles are recommended before starting to get pregnant. The holistic approach involves looking carefully at lifestyle habits in order to improve the conditions for conception to be achieved in a natural way.

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"Asthma In Canada"
by Debra Lowe

Asthma became a hot topic in Canada three days after the recent Federal Election when it appeared at first that Prime Minister-designate Stephen Harper had been rushed to an Ottawa hospital because of an asthma attack. The next morning Harper told reporters that he merely had a chest cold and that his visit to the hospital was precautionary. How many parents of the 12 per cent of Ontario children diagnosed with asthma or how many of the 7 per cent of Ontario adults diagnosed with asthma have experienced a rush to hospital emergency with viral or bacterial-induced asthma symptoms? One 1995 Canadian study concluded that 85 per cent of childhood asthma exacerbations may be triggered by viral infections.

In 2005 an Asthma Society of Canada report stated that 40 per cent of children diagnosed with asthma missed an average of seven days of school in the year prior to the report due to uncontrolled asthma symptoms.
While 26 per cent of parents with asthmatic children missed work because their children’s condition, totalling over one million lost work days per year for parents of children with asthma in Canada. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care website states “asthma is the leading cause of hospitalisation for children in Ontario and is a significant cause of school and work absenteeism. In 1996, there were 192 deaths directly attributable to asthma in Ontario.”

An article in the November 1999 Canadian Medical Association Journal article in a discussion of respiratory infections as provocative factors for episodes of asthma pointed to the common cold “human rhinoviruses(HRV) as important agents in all age groups.” This same article discusses pollens, moulds, and air pollution as triggers for asthma. and states “60% of adults and 80% of children with asthma have positive skin-prick tests for environmental allergens”. The article also discusses the less well-defined fumes, vapours and dust triggers of Occupational asthma. The David Suzuki Foundation website www,davidsuzuki.org Executive Summary paper talks about the connection between increasing air pollution and asthma.

The Western Medicine approach to controlling asthma symptoms is avoidance of the substances that triggers the asthma, and the use of inhalers when an asthma attack happens. As many parents and adults learn, this “asthma lifestyle” (there are even magazines dedicated to allergy and asthma sufferers) can be difficult to maintain. A better approach may be to eliminate a person’s sensitivity or allergy to the asthma triggers.
Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET) is a non-invasive, painless, natural treatment used in desensitization, reduction, or often permanent elimination of various food, chemical and environmental allergies. More information about the typical number of treatments needed to relieve common symptoms can be found on Dr. Nambudripad’s website www.naet.com.

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"Year of the Dog (and Cat) Allergy - Allergy as a Trigger for Asthma"
by Debra Lowe

Chinese New Year on January 29 marks the beginning of the Year of the Dog. Many children and adults have just received a dog, cat, bird, or some other pet as a gift for Christmas only to discover they are allergic, or worse yet, are now experiencing asthma attacks because of the new pet. They think the only solution is to give the pet away. Annually the local pet shelters are filled with these unwanted animals, and many ads are found in local newspapers and on bulletin boards as people urgently search for new homes for the pets.

Animal allergy is an immune reaction to an allergen found in the dead skin flakes, saliva, or urine of an animal. Any animal with fur or feathers can trigger an allergic reaction, and fur or feathers in clothing, furniture, or other household items item can trigger an allergic reaction in a sensitive person. Asthma is a chronic lung disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness, airways (bronchial tubes) that become hyperactive and constrict when exposed to a variety of stimuli. Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET) is a noninvasive, painless, natural treatment used in desensitization, reduction, or often permanent elimination of various food, chemical and environmental allergies. More information about the typical number of treatments needed to relieve common symptoms can be found on Dr. Nambudripad's website www.naet.com.

In treating allergy to animals, my clients have once again enjoyed their dog, cat, rabbit, horse, hamster, or ferret. Besides being able to keep one's beloved pet, or finally being able to own one, clients have been able to go friends' houses and not become ill. One of my clients writes. "One of my most stubborn allergies to date was an allergy to cats. Normally I couldn't spend more than 5 minutes near them before starting to wheeze, sneeze, and just basically felt miserable. The symptoms lasted far after leaving the house and honestly it was a huge inconvenience in my life. To add to that, a few of my close friends own a cat and I wasn't able to go visit them at all due to this powerful allergy. After two treatments with Debra, I can proudly state that I'm officially cleared of the Cat Allergy. Wow... what a blessing this has been! I can now spend tons of time at my friend's home and have NIL symptoms. What a relief this is and words cannot express how exciting and grateful I am to Debra and NAET for this miracle." (LL)

The mother of another client writes about pet allergy-induced asthma. "We discovered our son, Chris, had a cat allergy by chance, when one day at his piano teacher's house he touched her cat and seconds later his eyes were swollen shut, he was 8 at the time. His reactions increased in severity as he got older to the point of having breathing problems - asthma. Whenever we would go to someone's house with cats we would give him an antihistamine. If we over stayed the lasting effect of the antihistamine he would start wheezing - we would then have to leave and he would take ventolin. There was one reaction that was so severe that we had to take him to the Children's Hospital. We found out about NAET through a friend in June 2005. Debra treated him for his allergy, it only took one treatment. He is now 14 and cat allergy free! We now go to houses with cats and he holds them - as a matter of fact we were at a friend's house yesterday and he held two cats. He kissed them and rubbed his face into their fur - NO reactions! We even have a picture of him holding a cat. Of course, this has brought on one problem - now he wants a cat!!" (Lyne S)

Careful adherence to the protocol developments in NAET within the last three years is crucial to such success, so be sure that your NAET practitioner has taken classes recently and that they have at least Advanced-1 NAET training. Often people who suffer from pet allergies have other allergies such as milk, pollen, or mold. Treating any detected allergies to NAET's "Basic 15" - BBF, Egg, Calcium, Vitamin C, B-Complex, Sugar, Iron, Vitamin A, Minerals, Salt, Grains, Yeast, Acid, Base, and Hormones - and selected combinations with these basic substances is key. Also, a skilled NAET practitioner is able to treat emotional issues that may be part of the allergy and asthma syndrome. It is not uncommon to find emotional triggers associated with food and environmental triggers for asthma.

So, make this Year of the Dog a new beginning for you and your loved ones to no longer suffer from pet allergy and allergy-induced asthma.

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"Get the Spring Energies Flowing - A Case of Lost Vision"
by Debra Lowe

According to Chinese Medicine theory, the body's energy begins to change and turn 'outward' on February 3 each year when energetic Spring begins. Since we are in deep winter here in Canada at that time, it's hard to believe that Spring is beginning, but our bodies know anyway. People feel the pull of Spring and get their seed catalogs out to begin planning their annual gardens, for example. They also talk about how things "feel lighter" as the energies begin to turn outward again in the seasonal rhythm. But for many with ill-health, seasonal allergies, or hormonal imbalance, the coming of energetic Spring means blurred vision, depression, and mood swings due to stagnant Liver qi (energy) which builds up over the hard Winter and also because of our habit of indulging at the holidays in less than healthy foods. In Chinese Medicine timing is important and it advocates using the 'outward' seasonal energies of Spring and Summer to cleanse the body.

A dramatic case of liver congestion is illustrated by one of my clients who writes, "I was at a loss with having blurry eye vision caused by dry eyes from having laser eye surgery. It had been 9 months with this problem and I was getting very discouraged. I couldn't read any longer, couldn't do any hand work and even had to use a hand held magnifying glass along with reading glasses to do my computer work at the office.

"I was so very upset and was at my wits end. It was suggested at work by colleagues, to visit you and see if you could help. After speaking with you about my eyes and finding out that I had been on anti-depressants for 7 years, you thought that my eyes may not be healing properly because my liver may be clouded or "sick" from the medication.

"After doing some tests on me you found I had an allergy to Serotonin and Dopamine, and this may have been the reason I had to take anti-depressants in the first place, as I wasn't producing them on my own.

"You treated this allergy then suggested I see Claudette Viau, your colleague, for a full acupuncture treatment followed by a "Liver de-tox". The acupuncture treatment concentrated on the eyes and liver.

"After three days, my sight began to clear and I just couldn't believe it. I had to go see my Optometrist to show him the difference. He said the eyes went to being 20/20 from being where he couldn't even get a glasses prescription because the eyes were so blurry and inconsistent in the sight. He was truly amazed by the change and asked for your business cards, which speaks volumes. This proved to be what was wrong with the healing of my eyes.

"However things deteriorated again after about 3 weeks and I decided I HAD to get off the anti-depressants. First, I went to have a correction done on my one eye since it had deteriorated to where it was before surgery, and then I began working with my family doctor for 5 months to get off the medication. Now that my body is clear of the medication, I have been able to see 20/20 once again, which is amazing since I had blurry vision for close to two years.

"This is like a new beginning for me with my vision and I have only you Debra and Claudette as well to thank. I would never have known there was a correlation between the eyes and the liver if I hadn't met you both and have you both treat me."

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"Relief for Your Allergies"
by Debra Lowe

Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET) is a noninvasive, drug-free, natural solution to eliminating allergies and sensitivities to foods, chemicals, pollens, and other environmental substances. Allergy may play a hidden role in some diseases too. In more than 20 years of clinical use with thousands of patients, Dr. Devi Nambudripad, inventor of NAET, reports that NAET alone has entirely relieved allergy symptoms or produced satisfactory improvements in 80% to 90% of her patients. More information about the typical number of treatments needed to relieve common symptoms can be found on Dr. Nambudripad's website www.naet.com

What are some of the symptoms of allergy and conditions that have been helped by NAET treatments? Acne, bad breath, ear infections, ADD/ADHD, blood pressure problems, eating disorders, autism, bronchitis, eczema, addictions, candida, environmental allergies, chronic fatigue, falling hair, colitis, Fibromyalgia, constipation, chronic cough, frequent colds, motion sickness, depression, frequent infections, food sensitivities, diarrhea, hay fever, flatulence, dry eyes, headaches, backache, hormone imbalances, overeating, shingles, hyperactivity, OCD, sinusitis, hypoglycemia, parasitic infections, stiff neck, indigestion, phobias, night sweats, insomnia, poor appetite, vertigo, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, memory loss, brain fog, knee pain, asthma, PMS, psoriasis, menopausal symptoms, migraines, moodiness, sciatica, and mercury toxicity.

As an example of the complexity of symptoms that allergy can cause, my client writes, "NAET treatments have made a huge difference in how I feel, and in what I can eat. I suffered from the oral allergy syndrome, and was unable to eat raw fruits, some nuts, soy and sulphites. I am now able to enjoy all of the things I have been treated for, and just the other day ate a delicious plum and a pear. I am no longer afraid of having an allergic reaction when I eat out in restaurants. This peace of mind is priceless!

As I went through my treatments, I noticed many other benefits, beyond what I had initially gone to NAET for. My persistently itchy scalp no longer wakes me up at night. I haven't had a panic attack in over a year, fear and anxiety are no longer dominating my life, and I am a much calmer, more energetic person. Much happier, too!"

Careful adherence to the protocol developments in NAET within the last three years is crucial to such success, so be sure that your NAET practitioner has taken classes recently and that they have at least Advanced-1 NAET training. Treating any detected allergies to NAET's "Basic 15" - BBF, Egg, Calcium, Vitamin C, B-Complex, Sugar, Iron, Vitamin A, Minerals, Salt, Grains, Yeast, Acid, Base, and Hormones - and selected combinations with these basic substances is key. Also, a skilled NAET practitioner is able to treat emotional issues that may be part of the allergy syndrome. Unresolved emotions may lead to chronic diseases, according to Chinese Medicine, and, according to NAET theory, may cause a return of allergy symptoms. NAET treatments do not require special diets beyond the avoidance period (usually 25 hours or less) or herbal supplements. A few weeks of supplementation with a common vitamin, for example Vitamin C, may be needed for something more complex such a detoxification of mercury with NAET.

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"Don't let Ragweed and other Seasonal Allergies Ruin your Summer"
by Debra Lowe

Some of the sounds of summer are children's delighted shrieks and splashing water, the hum of roller blades on the bike path, the acceleration of a motorboat engine, and the slam of a cottage screen door. For many these summer sounds are muted or not heard at all, as they sit in the confinement of their air conditioned home, often listening instead to the hum of an expensive air filter. For these people going outside in late July until the first freeze of the fall can mean anything from itchy eyes, painfully clogged sinuses, uncontrollable postnasal drip, or both, to asthma attacks, inflamed joints, muscle pain, and disabling fatigue.

I joke with my clients that until 5 years ago, I was a "Distant Early Warning" system for ragweed pollen. Though I suffered year-round from allergies and allergy-related symptoms, summers were by far the worst season for me. My gardening and other summer activities would come to an abrupt end as soon as the ragweed started pollinating.

The daily asthma attacks took their toll on my energy as the fatigue progressively deepened and the muscle pain immobilized me. Antihistamines, allergy shots, pain killers, and muscle relaxants didn't do much to relieve the symptoms, and I became too brain fogged to function. Each year I watched the weather channel for signs of the first freeze that would kill off the ragweed. After living most of my adult life this way, I wanted something different.

Five years ago, after trying various other alternative medicine treatments to regain my health, I read about Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET), reputed to have an 80% effectiveness. After a few NAET treatments, my asthma attacks stopped. A short time later, I also stopped taking allergy shots. Although I was enjoying a renewed level of health, the following summer I apprehensively awaited the beginning of ragweed season. But by late July I was so busy, it wasn't until I heard a friend's sneezing and complaints of a "head cold" that I was reminded to check the pollen report. Sure enough, the ragweed was moderately high. My summers have been allergy-free since the NAET treatments six years ago.

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"Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
 or Allergy?"
by Debra Lowe

Many people who are thought to have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) may in fact be suffering from simple, undiagnosed allergies. Formal diagnosis of AD/HD must be done by a trained professional.

Symptoms:
The American Psychiatric Association's 1994 diagnostic manual lists the most obvious signs of AD/HD as:

• Inattentiveness
• Inability to finish projects
• Impulsiveness
• Hyperactivity

Additional Symptoms in Children
A child with AD/HD can have any one of these symptoms or in combination. Other behaviors observed might be:

• Temper tantrums,
• Frustration,
• Anger,
• Bossiness,
• Difficulty in following rules, and
• Disorganization,

among other identified behaviors.

Untreated allergies may increase AD/HD behaviors since allergy symptoms can mimic AD/HD behaviors.

If your child exhibits the following symptoms:

• Addiction to certain foods,
• Food cravings,
• Allergy to chemicals,
• Allergy to certain foods and environmental factors,
• Anxiety,
• Frequent or chronic infections,
• Depression,
• Diarrhea or other digestive disorders,
• Dyslexia,
• Eczema or other skin disorders,
• Poor memory,
• Hypoglycemia,
• Headaches, or
• Sinusitis

you may wish to consult a practitioner trained in Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET) for evaluation for allergy and treatment of any allergies found.

NAET is a noninvasive, drug-free, natural solution to eliminating allergies and allergy-related disorders.

In the consultation for a child with AD/HD-like symptoms, I take a complete health history of the child, which includes the hereditary characteristics of the child's family, since some diseases may lead to a tendency for allergy and allergy-related conditions in subsequent generations.

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"Emotions and Your Health"
by Debra Lowe

Chinese Medicine has acknowledged for many centuries the role that emotion plays in a person's physical health. Modern researchers are discovering the body's biochemical basis for this connection.

Esther Sternberg, M.D., writes in her book "The Balance Within" about her scientific proof of the connection between cytokines, produced during illness or inflammation in the body, which can produce sadness, or even depression. Dr. Sternberg's one-time colleague Dr. Candace Pert also explores the mind-body connection in her book "Molecules of Emotion."

Sometimes when a person is treated for a food, environmental, or chemical allergy with Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET), an emotion will surface during the treatment.

NAET theory is that an allergy is stored as a blockage in the Meridians, or energy pathways, of the body. These energy pathways, described in the system of Meridians, are used in acupuncture to treat many illnesses.

NAET treatments can remove Cellular Level Imbalances (CLI) created when an allergen-emotion association is formed in the body. When a person encounters the physical allergen, it can trigger a memory of a past incident or emotional trauma, for example, about people, love, career, health, a disaster, an accident, abuse, or fear. An "allergy"/CLI to another person is also not unusual, e.g., to a mother, father, sibling, children, spouse, classmate, or co-worker.

One such case study was a 68-year-old woman who suffered breathing problems and sinus blockage and was found to be severely allergic to her nasal drops. The trauma which caused the CLI was the accidental drowning of her grandchild while she was babysitting the child. The Grandmother never recovered from the shock, and the guilt from the incident caused her to develop breathing difficulties and blocked sinuses that no drug could open. After NAET treatment for the allergy to the nasal drops and associated CLI, the woman can breath normally.

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"Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue"
by Debra Lowe

In his new book that explores the link between emotions and disease, "When the Body Says No," Dr. Gabor Maté, M.D., says patients seeking help with something that doesn't fit neatly in to Western Medicine's symptom categories may be "accused of drug-seeking behavior, of being neurotic, manipulative, of "just looking for attention."

IBS patients, as well as people with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, often find themselves in this situation." One informative website about Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia www.immunesupport.com presents a no-nonsense picture of these two often misunderstood syndromes. It talks about the possibility that multiple nutritional deficiencies, food intolerances, environment allergies, and extreme physical and mental stress may be factors in triggering Chronic Fatigue.

In past articles, I have explained how allergies can be the underlying cause of these conditions. Although they are diagnosed differently and each have a distinct set of symptoms, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue do share some symptoms.

Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET) is a noninvasive, drug-free, natural solution to eliminating allergies and allergy-related disorders such Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue.

Fibromyalgia symptoms that are often helped by NAET include:

• Short-term memory or concentration problems,
• Anxiety and depression,
• Joint, chest wall, and general pain,
• Numbness and tingling sensations,
• Headache and migraine,
• Sleep disturbance,
• Fatigue,
• Bowel disorders,
• Hypotension,
• Interstitial cystitis, and
• Sensitivity to cold.

Chronic Fatigue symptoms that are often help by NAET include:

• Short-term memory or concentration problems,
• Sore throat and recurrent infections (viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic),
• Multi-joint pain,
• Muscle pain,
• General achiness and fatigue,
• Headache and migraine,
• Non-refreshing sleep and poor sleep,
• Exhaustion after minimal exertion and post-exertional malaise that lasts more than 24 hours,
• Bowel disorders,
• Food, chemical and environmental allergies, and sensitivities,
• and orthostatic hypotension.

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"Hormonal Balance - PMS, PMDD, and Infertility"
by Debra Lowe

Leading American Endocrinologist Dr. Geoffrey Redmond, M.D., published "The Good News about Women's Hormones" in 1995. His book provides detailed information about how hormonal imbalance in women is the cause of the following:

• Abnormal periods,
• Mood swings,
• Adult acne,
• Excess facial and body hair,
• Hair loss,
• Fatigue,
• Fluid retention,
• Weight gain, and
• Menopausal difficulties such as hot flashes.

He offers the Western view of treating these conditions primarily with medications.

Another recent trend in the treatment of women with hormonal imbalance is to prescribe antidepressants for an extreme form of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) which has been termed Premenstrual Dysphoric Disease (PMDD).

Definition of Infertility
Chinese Medicine defines Infertility as a failure to become pregnant after 3 years with normal sexual activity and without the use of contraception.

In his book "Building a Jade Screen," Canadian practitioner of Chinese Medicine, Dr. Hong Zhen Zhu cites five causes in Chinese Medicine terms of Infertility:

• Kidney deficiency,
• Liver qi stagnation,
• Obstruction with Phlegm and Damp,
• Deficiency of Blood, and
• Blood stagnation.

Western techniques for treating Infertility have about a 20% success rate. While not all Infertility is caused by hormonal imbalance, one approach that incorporates traditional Chinese Medicine and treats primarily for hormonal imbalance has an 80% success rate.

Modern Foods Provide Challenges
The first step in the treatment of PMS, PMDD, and Infertility is is to look at the body's ability to be nourished by food. Modern foods provide many challenges to women. For example, pesticides can mimic hormones and produce estrogen overload which has been linked in some controversial studies to breast cancer.

Somewhere along the way our bodies may also have become confused and developed allergies to the very foods and supplements we take to nourish ourselves. As the body begins to reject the allergic items, the result may be a deficiency in the nutrients that are necessary for our bodies to produce hormones.

Food, environmental, and chemical allergies also produce stress on the body's adrenal glands which are involved in hormone production.

If you suffer from one of these conditions, you may want to consider an approach that includes eliminating allergies and allergy-related emotional imbalances, acupuncture, dietary changes, and healing the body of the underlying cause of the PMS, PMDD, or Infertility.

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How can Chinese Medicine Help Your Digestion After the Holidays?
by Claudette Viau

The powerful Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a broad framework that is used to look at the root causes of health problems including physical and emotional issues as well. TCM diagnosis is based upon a thorough consultation and examination (palpation, tongue and pulse), and then a treatment plan is proposed.

Have parties and abundant food during Holidays disturbed your digestion?
Bloating, processing food slowly, poor elimination, nausea, headache, and irritability are common signs of liver stagnation. Why not consider treatment that can eliminate these symptoms and rebalance the free flow of your energy?

A few treatments and a simple cure can be a preventative against the discomfort of gallbladder disease and gallbladder surgery.

With the energy of the spring starting in February according to Chinese Calendar, this is the best time to restore your vitality with a liver and gallbladder cleanse. If you want to make a difference in your quality of life, try something tailored specially for you, and feel how my 20 years of experience can make a real difference.

Claudette Viau, B.Sc., D.Ac. She has practiced effectively in Quebec for 20 years before moving to Ottawa. Claudette is fully licensed in Quebec (OAQ) and registered in Ontario (OAATCM). Claudette has a holistic and personalized approach, which means she is interested in connecting the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of a person. Over the years, she has worked with:

• acupuncture,
• counselling,
• energy medicine exercises,
• nutrition,
• herbs, and
• various pain management techniques.

Her real passion is listening to patients and evaluating how she can help, like a detective who tries to find clues and propose solutions to address the imbalances. She enjoys working as a partner with other practitioners to serve the needs of a patient.

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Chinese Medicine as a Solution
for Arthritis Pain
by Claudette Viau, B.Sc.,D.Ac.

In the wake of Vioxx being pulled from the market, 3 million Canadians, who were taking the drug for the relief of arthritis pain, are looking for alternatives.

Recently, the findings of the largest study of acupuncture to date have been published in the December 21, 2004 issue of the "Annals of Internal Medicine". Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine were found to be extremely effective in treating the pain and inflammation associated with all types of arthritis (osteoarthritis and rhumatoid arthritis, among others).

Researchers found that the 2,000-year-old Chinese treatment can supplement a regular pain drug, Tylenol, to help relieve pain and improve function in patients with arthritis of the knee by almost 40 per cent.

For Traditional Chinese Medicine, arthritis is seen as a blockage or obstruction of energy and blood (BI) caused by a "pathogen", for example, wind, cold, damp or damp-heat. The acupuncture points and herbs that are used to treat these conditions vary accordingly. The specific symptoms that are unique to each person can result in feelings of stiffness, tension, discomfort, numbness and paraesthesia.

Through a thorough questionnaire, the Chinese Medicine practitioner can also treat the underlying conditions that led the body to be affected by these pathogens. Acupuncture, herbs, diet, and exercise recommendations are part of a full course of treatment for arthritis.

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Une approche globale face au stress
Claudette Viau, acupunctrice

Il y a quelques milliers d`années, les Chinois auraient-ils pu concevoir tous les pièges à stress que la société moderne a créés? À cette époque, dans l`empire de l`Est, les guerres, les famines et les épidémies causaient des tensions considérables dans les populations même si la notion de stress n`était pas encore connue. De nos jours, plusieurs problèmes de santé sont reliés au stress : insomnie, troubles digestifs, anxiété, migraines, tensions musculaires, pour ne nommer que ceux-là.
Comment un acupuncteur peut-il intervenir pour aider une personne à se sortir du cercle vicieux de la performance à outrance et du rythme incessant qui conduisent progressivement à des déséquilibres importants? La médecine chinoise a une approche globale de la situation et ne se contente pas seulement de supprimer les symptômes avec une pilule magique ou quelques aiguilles. La première chose à faire est d`écouter le patient, de saisir à quel type de personnalité il correspond par son attitude, ses caractéristiques physiques, ses symptômes et de l`amener peu à peu à prendre conscience des causes qui ont amené les troubles : constitution faible, surmenage physique ou intellectuel, habitudes alimentaires néfastes, attitudes mentales négatives, problèmes émotionnels non résolus, manque d`exercice, excès sexuels, style de vie qui ne respecte pas l`harmonie
naturelle du corps. Le déséquilibre peut être ponctuel et de courte durée comme il peut s`étendre sur plusieurs années et causer alors des désordres plus importants. Le traitement va s`établir selon les besoins de chacun pour permettre de combler les vides ou contrer une plénitude avec des recommandations ajustées pour chaque cas. Les résultats seront nettement meilleurs si la personne qui consulte réévalue consciemment sa situation et met en place de nouvelles habitudes de vie qui tiendront compte de ses besoins fondamentaux de nourriture saine, de travail et de repos alternés, d`intériorité et de contacts ressourçants.

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The Fire, the Pot, the Soup
by Claudette Viau, Acupuncturist

According to Chinese medicine, there are four basic foundations of achieving and maintaining good health:

1. Diet,
2. Exercise,
3. Adequate rest and relaxation, and
4. Good mental attitude.

Without appropriate changes in diet and lifestyle, herbs and acupuncture do not achieve their full and lasting effect.

Food Temperature makes a difference
Cooking is predigestion on the outside of the body to make food more easily digestible on the inside. Cold and raw foods require that much more energy to transform them into warm soup within the pot of the stomach. If one eats cooked food (light cooking) at room temperature at least or warm at best, less spleen energy is spent in the process of digestion. The net profit of digestion is greater. This is why soups and stews are so nourishing.

Spices aid digestion
A moderate use of spices (pepper, cardamon, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, mace, and cloves ) aids digestion by strengthening the middle burner fire. Everything that we ingest must be turned into a soup before it can be digested and assimilated.

Dampness in the foods we eat
Because the human body needs a certain amount of dampness to stay alive, most foods are somewhat damp. Dampness in food is yin and helps to nourish substance which is mostly wet. But excessively damp food tend to interfere with digestion. Bloating, gas, loose stools with particles of food undigested, tiredness and a sensation of being cold are symptoms of spleen imbalance.

Excessive sweetness in foods
weakens the spleen
All grains, most vegetables, and most meats are sweet; of course we need them to replenish energy and blood. But excessive sweetness ( like concentrated sweets) weakens the spleen; because the spleen is weak, craving for sugar increases since that is the flavor which strengthens it when consumed in moderate amounts. This creates a pathological loop in many people.

There a number of especially dampening foods:

• Sweet and sour foods as citrus fruits and juices and tomatoes,
• Concentrated sweets as sugar, molasses, and honey,
• Wheat,
• Dairy products,
• Meats,
• Nuts,
• Eggs,
• Oils, and
• Fats.

Examples:

• Ice cream (too cold, too sweet), and
• Pizza (wheat, cheese, tomato sauce, pepperoni).

This over-nutrition results in the formation of pathogenic dampness and phlegm.

To sum up the traditional wisdom of Chinese dietary theory:

1. Eat mostly vegetables (rich in fiber) and grains and small amounts of everything else
    
2. Cook lightly, using not too sweet, not too greasy or oily, and not too damp food
    
3. Eat with moderation and chew carefully
    
4. Drink hot beverage after the meal helps to melt food into a hot soup
    
5. Avoid cold drink and ice cream after the meal
    
6. Do regular, moderate exercise to improve digestion

   Claudette Viau, acupuncturist

Réf :Bob Flaws, Arisal of the Clear, Blue Poppy Press, 1991

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Pregnancy : Realizing a Dream
Claudette Viau, D.Ac.

Many years ago, a woman consulted with me for migraines. At that time, she was in the process of having in vitro fertilization. She was desperately looking to get pregnant.

I treated her migraines and her infertility condition as well with acupuncture. Much later, I met her one day in the waiting room of a pediatric clinic. She proudly showed me her healthy little girl. When she saw me she exclaimed: « With your acupuncture treatments, I was able to give birth to my daughter. I am so grateful. »

A woman in her thirties asked me for a treatment to improve her fertility. Her husband's work was taking him away for long periods and the time for them to conceive was very limited. She became pregnant after a short series of visits and gave birth to a strong baby girl.

Another patient came to me to stop smoking. She received a few treatments to get rid of the nicotine. She became pregnant soon after. She had been married for 10 years and was unsuccessful at conceiving during that time. Working at detoxifying her body helped her to remove her liver stagnation and made her feel relaxed so that she could conceive.

During my twenty years of practice in acupuncture, I have treated many women for infertility. Some women consulted for other reasons and became pregnant naturally when their imbalances have been regulated.

The whole body health approach that I use is the key to unlock the natural healing potential of the body. From there conception occurs easily.

Traditional Chinese Medicine treats root causes rather than just symptoms. A thorough questionnaire and examination help me to find out the imbalances. The treatments are adapted to each person individually. Acupuncture, proper diet, herbal therapies, and exercises are prescribed to enhance the flow of energy through the body's organs. The Chinese medicine techniques strengthen and balance the endocrine system. These techniques work with Western-based reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization and hormone therapy and will support them.

You can trust a system proven over many centuries in China. Modern women can learn to apply this age-old wisdom to improve their natural health and ability to conceive.

Claudette Viau, B.Sc., D.Ac. is an acupuncturist with over twenty years of practice. She is specialized in women's health issues ( regulation of menstrual cycle, infertility, pregnancy, menopause). Claudette is fully licensed in Quebec (OAQ) and registered in Ontario (OAATCM). Claudette can be reached at 613-523-5285.

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