SOMA Natural Health News

November, 2004

In this Issue:

Governor Schwarzennegger Appoints Dr. Hangee-Bauer to Bureau

We are proud to announce that on October 4, Gov. Schwarzenegger appointed Carl Hangee-Bauer as a member of the Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine Advisory Council. The Bureau consists of 9 members: 3 naturopathic doctors, 3 medical doctors, and 3 public members, and is charged with administering the Naturopathic Doctors Act and developing various standards for the licensure and regulation of naturopathic medicine that the Bureau will enforce. He is appointed for a four-year term.

As many of you already know, Governor Davis signed the Naturopathic Doctors Act into law in September 2003. At this time the bureaucracy is still gearing up and we expect to see the first NDs licensed in California soon, hopefully by the end of 2004. Dr. Hangee-Bauer has played a central role in the legislative effort that led to the the licensing of NDs in California as a founder, past president and legislative team member of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association.

Cold and Flu Prevention--10 Useful Tips

by Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, LAc

Here we go again! With the approach of winter, cold and flu season is fast upon us. Here are a few tips to reduce your chances of catching a cold or flu this season:

1. Wash your hands. Cold and flu viruses are often transmitted by touching infected surfaces and then your nose, face or eyes. Washing your hands often greatly decreases the risk of viral spread.

2. Take your antioxidants. Vitamin C, beta-carotenes, and zinc are particularly useful in protecting and enhancing your immune systems.

3. Get adequate rest. Potent immune activators are released, and many important immune functions are increased during deep sleep.

4. Drink adequate water. Dehydration of the respiratory tract has been shown to produce a much more hospitable environment to viruses than a moist environment. Water also improves white blood cell function.

5. Go easy on the sweets. Sugar greatly reduces the ability of the white blood cells to kill bacteria and viruses.

6. Manage your stress. It is well documented that people under significant stress are more likely to get sick than those who effectively manage their stress.

7. Avoid drafts and getting chilled. Exposure to cold winds can reduce your resistance to colds and flus.

8. Take Oscillococcinum. This homeopathic remedy is made from the flu virus and can be taken once a month during flu season to prevent the flu and at the first signs of symptoms to reduce the severity of the flu. It is a useful alternative for those who want to avoid taking a flu shot.

9. Consider Jade Screen. This chinese herbal remedy is used to strengthen the immune system and to prevent and treat allergies and colds. If you are particularly susceptible to colds, this could be the herb formula for you.

10. Get a "tune-up." An acupuncture treatment or two early in the cold and flu season can enhance your immunity and resistance. We can also help you individualize a prevention plan to meet your particular needs.

There's a New Face at SOMA - Meet Dr. Amy Day

If you're in the clinic in November, you'll likely get to meet Amy Day, ND. Amy is the new naturopathic doctor that will soon be working with us. She will be in the clinic for two weeks in November helping out while Michele is on medical leave. You'll hear more about her in the next issue when we officially announce her joining the practice.

Introducing Starfish Health Partners

by Michele Hangee-Bauer, Office Manager

We are very excited to announce that Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, LAc has become a charter member of Starfish Health Partners, a collaborative medicine referral network. Providers from both conventional and alternative medicine are joining together for the improved health of their patients. Almost 50% of Americans are integrating healthcare on their own by seeking out more than one modality to guide their care and wellness. Now you can be part of an integrative network of providers who really believe in the benefits of collaborative medicine and who actually talk to each other. Starfish holds regular provider forums so providers can learn aspects of care from each other.

You can be a part of Starfish Health Partners' new vision of healthcare by joining as a consumer. Membership is free. We encourage all of our patients to join. Members are entitled to access to the provider profiles and the latest information on healthcare. Click here for more information on Starfish or to see Dr. Hangee-Bauer's web profile.

DR. HANGEE-BAUER TO SPEAK AT FORUM

Uniting Starfish providers with the public for the first time, there will be two panel discussions on "Menopause: Time to Reconsider". Carl will be one of the panelists at the San Francisco location. See the attached file for more details.

• Sunday, Nov. 7, Corte Madera Bay Club, 3 - 5 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 8, CPMC San Francisco, 7 - 9 p.m.

We think you'll agree that this is an idea whose time has come.

Further Update on Drinking Water and Bottles

I continue to receive emails from people who have been reading the recent newsletter articles regarding potential health risks of Nalgene bottles. For those of you looking for alternatives to Nalgene, I thought I'd share this one with you.

GW writes, "I'd like to recommend SIGG drinking water bottles, as well as Zefal bottles. Both brands are metal water bottles with a special coating that prevents the metal from affecting the taste of the water. I've used them for years as my primary short-term drinking-water dispersal containers. I drink probably about half of my daily drinking water from these containers, and they work quite well. Furthermore, they will fit into the water-bottle cage on a bicycle, so you can take them with you on your bike commute, then bring them into the office and top them off at the water cooler (or water filter)."

Regarding pure water, there's still time to take advantage of Multi-Pure's promotion, Filtermania. You pre-purchase 10 filter replacements and get a Multi-Pure fiter of your choice for free, saving up to $380. This is an excellent product at an unbelievable price. The offer is good through December only. Call Michele for more information.

"Did You Know". . . Fertility, Headaches, Allergies Improved with Acupuncture

by Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, LAc

A number of recent studies verifying the effectiveness of acupuncture and its growing acceptance in the West have crossed my desk in the past few weeks. Let me share a few highlights with you:

Fertility: Scientists attending the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Philadelphia reported that recent clinical trials have found that women receiving acupuncture while undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) had higher rates of pregnancy and lower rates of miscarriage. In this study of 114 women receiving IVF, 36 % on conventional treatment only became pregnant compared with 51% who also received acupuncture. Just 8% of the acupuncture patients suffered a miscarriage compared with 20% in the non-acupuncture group. Incorporating acupuncture was also shown to reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy and increase live birth rates by 23%. Study authors concluded that "These data uniquely support a definitive role of acupuncture in IVF patients."

Headaches: The British Medical Journal reports the use of acupuncture is consistently effective in the treatment of headaches. In a study of 401 patients, researchers found that those receiving acupuncture consistently reported less headaches, took 15% less medication, made 25% fewer visits to primary health practitioners, and took 15% fewer sick days. The researchers called for expansion of acupuncture in the National Health Service due to its "persisting, clinically relevant benefits for patients."

Allergies: In the September issue of the journal Allergy, German researchers report that hay fever sufferers who received weekly acupuncture treatments and took 3 doses per day of a chinese herbal formula showed fewer symptoms and were less likely to say their allergy was infringing on their daily activities than people who received a placebo treatment. 10-20% of the population is affected by allergies and this number is increasing in industrialized countries. In this study of 52 people over a 6-week period, 85% of people in the treatment group showed symptom improvement, reporting better symptom control, improved sleep and improvement in their general health. Researchers noted that this study focused on people who already had symptoms and that acupuncture and herbs may be more effective when used before hay fever kicks in.

We welcome your feedback. Please send any comments to editor@SOMAacupuncture.com.

SOMA Acupuncture & Natural Health Clinic Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, LAc 1615 20th St • San Francisco CA 94107 • 415-643-6600 Website: www.SOMAacupuncture.com Naturopathic Medicine • Acupuncture • Herbal Medicine • Supplements Nutrition • Women's Health • Weight Loss • Breast Thermography Smoking Cessation • Work-Related Injuries