Here's to Luck, Health and Prosperity in the Year Of The Rat

Xin Nian Kuai Le, Gong Xi Fa Choi and Happy Chinese New Year!

Not only does this Chinese New Year mark another yearly transition, but this year also marks the start of a whole new 12-year cycle.  January 25th marks the start of the year of the Metal Rat. There are 12 zodiac animals and 5 elements, and much like the 12 acupuncture channels and 5 elements in East Asian Medicine, each has its own strengths and weaknesses. 

The Metal Rat kicks off the whole cycle and signals a major shift from the previous 12 years. For most of us, this change is widely welcomed. Different zodiac signs are considered more favorable than others based on your sign, but the good news is the rat plays well with all of these signs. The rat symbolizes good luck, opportunity, and opulence. Hopefully, this year brings lots of that for you.  

For some more fun (please don’t take this too seriously), here’s a website talking about the year of the Rat. You can even lookup your sign and see how your year will play out.   

Good Luck In The New Year with this New Package!

We can’t guarantee good luck, but we are confident you’ll feel better and stay warmer.  The color red is always associated with luck and you see it everywhere during the two weeks Chinese New Year is celebrated, so we are giving you red in all spectrums.  

Enjoy the energizing benefits of a Red Light Session and an Infrared Sauna for only $60 (usually $90) but only if you book your appointments between 1/25/20 and 2/5/20 (which just happens to be the two weeks Chinese New Year is celebrated).  Both services increase circulation, help with cellular energy production and leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and warm all over. Go online or call 443-869-6584 to book and mention this package.  

You Got Sick - Now What?
Seems like everyone got sick over the holidays and it doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon. I wrote a book a while back about several home cures to help you feel better faster. If you want to arm yourself with several home remedies before it hits your household, pick it up here.

I've also written a companion Shopping List for some of the supplies like gua sha tools because people are asking where to get them. You can find it here.  

Memberships
Only $99 per month for 3 Treatments! 
• ANY Combo: Whole Body Cryo, Salt, Red Light or Oxygen Therapy
• No Contracts/No Commitments
• PLUS enjoy 20% off our Premium Therapies including Acupuncture, Massage, and Cupping

Part One: Shopping List for "You Got Sick - Now What?"

When I wrote You got Sick - Now What? back in 2011, I wasn’t aiming for a textbook style instruction manual filled with technical and foreign concepts.  I wanted a simple straightforward look at some simple at-home remedies that I often advise patients to try at the onset of illness.  While there are some good studies about the techniques I choose to include, it was more important to make a book with practical tools that have been passed down in families and used before seeking “proper” medical treatment.  

In most cases, if you have a cold or catch the flu and you aren’t a high-risk patient, other than some over-the-counter medicines and bed rest the conventional medical route doesn’t offer much in the way of recovery from colds and flu.  What I did not realize is that even though some of the techniques have been around for millennia, they were still not well known to many in the west. 

Fortunately, it seems that traditional therapies are starting to get their time in the spotlight and are being recognized as true Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM).  With that being said some of the tools the book employs are still a bit mysterious and while relatively inexpensive the selection on sites like Amazon may be overwhelming.  I hope that this “shopping list” will allow readers to have some confidence in what items they add to their shopping cart and help themselves recover quicker.  

It is probably better to pick up some of the items, including the book prior to getting sick because even with a prime membership delivering the next day, the ability to start treatment as soon as you feel sick will reduce the course of the disease.  

I can only list the products that are not groceries here but feel free to use Amazon Fresh for any of the soup recipes.

I’ve referenced Amazon several times now and yes, you can get these products elsewhere, but for ease of use, I’ve linked to all the products on that site.  Full disclosure, they are affiliate links so if you do buy something, I might be able to keep my bulldog eating that fancy kibble he’s grown to love.

Since Chapters 1-4 deal with breathing techniques, clothing, exercise and soup we can skip to the chapters that have items you may not have in your house.

Gua Sha

When I wrote the book, “facial gua sha” wasn’t a thing yet.  I contest that using a gua sha tool for a facial massage is fine, but it’s not what it traditionally is used for. I’m not attacking the technique, just stating that it is a modern trend promoted by many IG influencers and not rooted in traditional home care health practices.  

This technique works well with a jar lid or a Chinese style soup spoon. In fact, I tend to prefer the soup spoon as my thumb fits perfectly in the depression which gives it support.  These are great because they have a rounded edge as opposed to a flat edge like a western spoon. If you have either of these, scrape away. If you don’t and want to pick up a spoon that’s nicely decorated or plain ones in bulk (maybe you can give them out as gifts or have some kind of soup dinner party, I’m not judging) follow the links below. You can get away with the plastic ones, but the ceramic ones aren’t much more expensive and definitely feel better to both the person doing Gua Sha and the person getting it.  I’ve seen steel ones, but I’d avoid those because they have a flat lip.

Now when you want Gua Sha tools that are made specifically for Gua Sha, you have a variety of shapes and materials to choose from. Here’s a shortlist, but throw the term into an amazon search and you’re left with thousands of hits.  

Water Buffalo Horn

Part of Chinese medicine’s sad past is the use of animal products for clinical use.  Buffalo horn has been used forever for a variety of therapeutic tools and I do have some in my clinic.  However, they are for historical value and I do not use them on patients. The main reason is they are made of keratin, much like our hair and nails and are hard to clean.  If you wish to use them in your home, please understand that they may eventually break down and I’ll include one link to a kit. I’m not judging anyone here, I just think that there are plenty of stone versions that are more durable and will last a long time.  Here’s a set that I think is good.

Bian Stone

Bian stone is a very cool rock.  There is a legend that acupuncture was literally stumbled upon when a man with a stomach ache fell along a path.  A sharp stone hit an acupuncture point below his knee and relieved his pain. Most likely this didn’t happen. Bian stone is a dark dense material mainly composed of limestone.  It does emit a lot of infrared when heated and that may be part of the reason it is thought to have healing properties. Maybe down the road, I’ll do a post specifically on Bian, but not today.  

If you’re looking for a single Bian stone gua sha, check this one out: https://amzn.to/30Fwm8o

Here’s a 12 pack of simple white ceramic spoons.  They’ll get the job done and they’re affordable: https://amzn.to/2FZoipb

If you want a wide color pallet, here’s another dozen:  https://amzn.to/30rMt9i

Here’s a 4 pack of traditional looking spoons: https://amzn.to/2ttxLmb

One more, just because I like cherry blossoms: https://amzn.to/2QZVao2

For a full set of tools, including a nice carrying case, you might want this one: https://amzn.to/37dQrVs 

Jade

Jade is another stone that is supposed to have therapeutic properties.  When it is heated it too emits infrared energy. It is used in many wellness/beauty products in Asia.  The research on some of the claims is lacking, but it is durable, feels good against the body and I’ve noticed with a tool I’ve had over 20 years now, that it changes color over time.  I’m assuming this is due to changes in the mineral composition when it comes in contact with the oils we use for gua sha. Just like every other material, there are many choices on Amazon.  Even tools marketed as facial devices are fine to use for regular gua sha.

This one looks like the first one I ever owned which a friend gave me back in 1999.  I still have it! I love the fact that the “slot” at the end is perfect for running down the spine, so you can release the paraspinal muscles without hitting the spine itself. It’s not only for spinal issues, but the other edges and flat parts work great for the rest of the body.  https://amzn.to/2RDF2Yw

Here’s a set that gives you the three most popular shapes in jade.  For the average home user, you might only need one tool for a lifetime, but a cheap set can let you play and figure out which shape you like the best. https://amzn.to/2TGlrcU

Metal

Metal tools became pretty popular when Graston’s technique or Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization was “invented.”  This rebranding of a traditional therapy claims to be more medically-based, but upon inspection just costs more. That being said, even if the tools do cost more, they usually have a good heavy feeling, are easy to clean and are even less likely to break than the stone ones.  Usually, the official tools for Graston’s technique cost in the thousands of dollars, but here’s a set that is much more affordable. https://amzn.to/2uZq73d

Lubrication

Dry gua sha technique can be extremely painful.  Oil or lotions provide a healthy mix of glide with the right amount of scraping.  If you have a particular food oil, like sunflower, coconut or olive, you can use that.  For chest colds, I’ve seen it done with mentholated petroleum oil. I’d prefer to stay away from these and I’ve included a list of liniments that can be used alone or mixed with oil to help make the treatment more effective.  

Po Sum On 

Not only does this one sound like what you do with it, it works well and in addition to the menthol, it also has a pleasant cinnamon smell making it slightly warming and keeping you from smelling like an old man after the gym.  It’s mildly aromatic and can help open the sinuses while it is being used on the back. https://amzn.to/2TGe19F

White Flower or Kwan Loon Oil - I’m putting these two together as they are similar in their composition.  These both have a mint oil, either peppermint or wintergreen, are clear in color and have methyl silicate, which is similar to aspirin in its pain-relieving effect.  It won’t lower blood pressure so it is generally safe to use. White flower is here: https://amzn.to/38l9PA0

Kwan Loon: https://amzn.to/2THNTuQ

Stay tuned for Part Two where we’ll cover Cupping and Moxibustion.

How to Choose a Healthy Snack Bar by Caitlin Self, MS, CNS, LDN

Protein bars, granola bars, and snack bars got you confused? Check out this handy guide to learn how to pick a healthy bar!

I’ve long been preaching the importance of eating real, whole foods. Things you can grow in your garden are always going to be better than things you can find in stores. However, we know that life doesn’t always provide you with the time or opportunity to eat farm-fresh foods 100% of the time, and this is where grocery stores, specifically food products, fill in the gaps. 

Many of my clients love keeping bars around when they need a little help with balancing their blood sugar or if they don’t have access to a real meal. Unfortunately, we can’t trust marketing labels like “healthy” or “all natural” since they’re not regulated, and the organic label might indicate a reduced level of pesticide exposure, but it doesn’t mean it’s a balanced option - you’ve all seen organic gummy bears, right? 

But - don’t fret - follow this quick & simple guide to select healthy bars wherever you are! I’m not including a huge list here; this post is meant to teach you how to read these labels for yourself. That’s important because companies change their formulas all the time and each brand has a variety of products and flavors with different profiles and ingredients. 

Disclaimer: this list is made as a “rule of thumb” guide, which doesn’t account for therapeutic diets, underweight conditions, gut complications, and more. So don’t be surprised if your practitioner (me!) alters a few things to suit your individual case. 

1. Ingredients: The first thing to do is turn over the bar and look for the ingredients label. You’re looking for real food ingredients you recognize. The ingredients should be those you’d use in your own home, like nuts, seeds, and maybe some dried fruit. And it is important to TURN OVER the bar. Some of these sneaky marketers include an incomplete list of ingredients on the front (looking at you, RXBAR). 

You also want to look for a limited ingredients list; more ingredients means more processing. While 5 ingredients is ideal for a “real food” designation, that’s nearly impossible with bars, so I look for those with fewer than 10 ingredients. 

1. Real, recognizable ingredients

2. Fewer than 10 ingredients

1. Macronutrient Ratios: Next, look over at the nutrition label. You want to make sure that you’ve got a somewhat balanced ratio of carbohydrates to fat and protein. Ingredients are important, but caramel can be made with one ingredient, but that one ingredient is sugar, and that is clearly NOT a balanced option. 

After checking for balanced macronutrients, it’s time to take a quick peek at the sugar. Ideally, you want fewer than 8 grams of total sugar per serving (the daily recommended maximum of sugar is 25 grams). I do not recommend parsing out total sugar, added sugar, and fiber when it comes to bars. Sugar is still sugar; stick to the lower sugar options.

1. Protein + Fat > Carbohydrates 

2. Sugar below 8 grams

Below we are going to dissect a few popular bars to see which ones meet the balanced real food criteria. 

Apple Pie LaraBar
Ingredients:
Dates, Almonds, Unsweetened apples, Walnuts, Raisins, Cinnamon. (6)
Macronutrients:
25g C
4g P
9g F
Sugar:
18g 

Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt
Ingredients:
Almonds, Peanuts, Chicory root fiber, Honey, Palm kernel oil, Sugar, Glucose syrup, Rice flour, Unsweetened chocolate, Cocoa powder, Sea salt, Soy lecithin, Natural flavor, Cocoa butter. (14)
Macronutrients:
6g C
6g C
15g F
Sugar:
5g

Health Warrior Organic Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Bars
Ingredients:
Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Wildflower Honey, Organic Dutch Process Cocoa Powder, Organic Milled Quinoa, Cocoa Extra, Organic Vanilla Extract, Organic Coconut Oil, Sea Salt. (8)
Macronutrients:
11g C
8g P
13g F
Sugar:
6g

Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars
Ingredients:
Egg whites, Almonds, Cashews, Chocolate, Cocoa, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt
Macronutrients:
24g C
12g P
9g F
Sugar:
13g

So what do you think? This LaraBar flavor has a great ingredients list, but it is heavy on carbohydrates and sugar. The macros are good in Kind bars, but they have funky (super processed) ingredients like soy lecithin, palm kernel oil, and glucose syrup, and the 14 ingredients lets you know it’s a little more processed than it should be. If you’re in love with LaraBars, be sure to pair them with additional fat and protein (hard boiled egg, meat stick, etc.), and as for the Kind Bars, they don’t make the cut for “real food,” but they’re probably a better choice than most other options at, say, a gas station rest stop. Moderation!

As for the RX bar, it is somewhat more balanced, but it is still too high in carbs and sugar, plus it has “natural flavors,” which could be anything derived from plant or animal matter. Also, the fact that they list some ingredients on the front and say “No B.S.” but then they have natural flavors listed on the official label means they’re not being fully transparent - and I don’t support that kind of trickery! 

The winner here is Health Warrior Organic Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Bars. They have 8 ingredients, all of which are available to those of us not working in food science, and they have a great ratio of protein + fat : carbohydrates. Plus, the sugar content is under 8 grams. Win, win, win!

Now it’s your turn - what bars have you found that check all the boxes? Comment below or join the conversation on Facebook!

Q&A with our Nutritionist, Caitlin Self, MS, CNS, LDN

Caitlin is the licensed nutritionist here at Charm City Integrative Health, and we did a little Q&A
with her to help our CCIH family get to know our newest addition!

What is your nutrition philosophy?
Keep it simple! Start with the simplest foods that your grandparents would recognize and tweak
from there based on how you feel. Nutrition is super individualized, so oats might be great for
one person, and awful for someone else. We say everyone needs more veggies, but
recommending a high-vegetable diet to someone with SIBO or Crohn’s can make their condition
worse, and a daily kale salad can be damaging to someone with thyroid issues. Every piece of
nutrition is individualized. The basic tenets for most of us are pretty generic: drink water, eat real
food, limit sugar (in all forms), and limit toxic exposure.

What is your least favorite nutrition myth?
Fat makes you fat. I hate this myth! Fat is super important for brain health - and so many of my
clients, especially women, are dealing with moodiness, anxiety, and depression. Sure, the root
cause can be lots of things, but oftentimes we can correct some of this with appropriate levels of
healthy fats, like avocado, cold-pressed olive oil, and grass-fed animal fat.

What’s the biggest nutrition mistake you see?
Too much, too soon. It’s easy to get caught up in all the things that we can “do better” that we
forget to focus on the one or two things we can do right now. Starting small is super important
for long-term behavioral change. Most of my clients get started with this great can-do attitude,
reporting they’re 100% committed to change, and then they try to implement half a dozen
interventions all at once, which is a true recipe for failure. When you’re re-learning a skill or
habit, you don’t start off with a decathlon of 10 events, you start with a 5K and you build from
there.

What brought you into nutrition?
A lot of triggers and exposures throughout my life led me here - in high school, I noticed how
much faster I ran in cross country when I didn’t have chocolate chip granola bars for lunch, and I
learned how sugar can slow the recovery from injuries during a sports nutrition talk in high
school. Since then I’ve had my share of health issues, and when I started digging into solutions,
nutrition was always a major component. I started a food blog in 2013, and then eventually
decided to dive head first into nutrition with the Master’s program at MUIH. And I haven’t
stopped since!

What does Integrative Health mean to you?
It means treating the whole human with a variety of modalities - not just a single approach. We
are so individual, made up of both our genetics and our experiences, and integrative health
acknowledges this by providing a number of different approaches for the same conditions.

For example, some of us can reduce joint inflammation by healing the gut (nutrition), adjusting
energy meridians (acupuncture), or correcting skeletal imbalances (nervous system
manipulation). It’s the same diagnosis, but with several different root causes and treatment
options. And here at CCIH, we have supporting treatments like cryotherapy to treat systemic or
idiopathic inflammation. It’s a great multifaceted approach. The same is true for other chronic
conditions, such as endometriosis, SIBO, or chronic fatigue; nutrition is an important spoke on
the wellness wheel, but we should take advantage of all the approaches available to us to
improve the health and wellbeing of our clients.

What gets you up in the morning?
Client work! A lot of practitioners get bored with paperwork or bogged down with client
communications, but I love it! When I see emails from my clients, I get so excited that they’re
being proactive and taking their health seriously, and I don’t mind providing extra support. That,
and warm weather - it’s a lot harder for me to get out of bed when I know it’s cold outside!

Men Of CCIH Calendar 2020 - Available SOON!

April Fools! We don't really have a CCIH Men's Calendar 2020 coming out, but we love to make our clients smile.  Endorphins are an important part of staying healthy.  Hey - if we get enough requests to make a Calendar - we'll consider it.

We do send out a monthly Newsletter filled with super helpful health tips, upcoming events (for example we'll be at the American Diabetes Association TOURdeCURE at Goucher College on June 6th - please sign up to join us or donate HERE), we offer special monthly discounts and deals, plus a bunch of other cool stuff. Sign up. We won't bug you a lot and we will never ever ever ever share your info with anyone else. Click HERE to sign up.

Join CCIH for the Tour De Cure: American Diabetes Association - Ride ~ Run ~ Walk

1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year.  Lifestyle and everything we do at Charm City Integrative Health can reverse Type 2 diabetes and that’s why we are raising money for the ADA. 

Join us as we support the ADA on Sunday, June 2nd by raising awareness and $ for an amazing cause.  Please come walk, run, ride or make a virtual donation!

Sign up here - http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TourAdmin?pg=entry&fr_id=12765 

Tour de Cure: Maryland
06/02/2019

5K Walk/Run, 13M, 29M and 63M Ride
Registration fee: $20 for cyclists, free for walkers and runners
Fundraising Minimum: $200 for adult cyclists, $100 for adult walkers/runners, $50 for children 12 and under

Goucher College
1021 Dulaney Valley Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21204
DIRECTIONS

The Pizza Test By Dr. Tom Ingegno, DACM, MSOM, L.Ac.

Inflammation is one of the underlying causes and complications of most illnesses from which a person can be suffering.  Possibly the most common cause of chronic inflammation is your diet. Coincidentally, it's also the most difficult to change. I often joke it would be easier to get someone to convert their religion than to change their diets.

Fortunately, I have two “aces in the hole” for you! First - there is a ton of dietary information available today.  Most restaurants have at least a couple of menus options that will fit almost any diet restriction. There are also some amazing sources on the internet as well as books that can help you fill your belly with quality foods.  Whatever diet you follow (Whole30, Bulletproof, Paleo, The Plan or AIP), they all aim to improve your health by removing inflammatory foods from your diet.

My second ace is our nutritionist, Caitlin Self, who is available for consultations, and regardless of your preferred eating style can help you make better choices.  She is currently available for consultation in our Baltimore office and has a special deal for members as well.

Honestly, I am a huge fan of Food Sensitivity Tests and Elimination Diets that are available to help people pin down their individual inflammatory foods.  There are some drawbacks to both. Food Sensitivity Tests can be costly out of pocket, and many insurance companies won’t cover them, because sensitivity is not an allergy, even though both can negatively impact your life and overall health.  Elimination Diets are in essence free but it often takes a long time to slowly eliminate foods and then reintroduce them to see how they affect you. In addition, dining out and some prepared foods may not totally list their ingredients which may mess up all your hard work.  

Now to the meat and potatoes of the article, or more appropriately, the Pizza.  One quick way to help figure out if you are sensitive to three common inflammatory compounds will only take a week of commitment and at the end, you get to dig into a slice of your favorite pizza.  (Please be warned, after this, pizza may no longer be your favorite!)

I like to start this test over the weekend so have time to meal plan.  I also suggest doing it on a week that doesn’t include any birthdays, holidays or special events where you will be tempted to slip up.  Spend time deciding on your menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinners for a total of 7 days. Make sure every meal you pick does NOT contain dairy, gluten or any nightshades.

Nightshades: Tomatoes (all varieties), Potatoes (white and red potatoes but not sweet potatoes), Eggplant, Peppers (Bell peppers, chili peppers, and any red spices), Paprika, and Goji berries

Everyone knows someone who is Lactose Intolerant, but did you know that a second protein called casein is even more inflammatory and is the compound that makes Elmer’s glue so sticky.  When ingested in most people, it creates mucus in the sinuses and can make joints stiff and painful.  Check out what WebMD has to say here.

Gluten is a protein that is present in anything containing wheat, rye or barley and is the reason bread, cereals, and other baked goods are so chewy.  This may be the most inflammatory compound in American diets. Here’s a great article from Chris Kresser that talks about some of the symptoms of gluten intolerance you may not have known.

A third, but a lesser-known inflammatory family of foods, called nightshades. As an Italian-American, this one pains me the most, as it contains fruits and veggies including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and other foods generally considered healthy for most. Greenmedinfo.com talks about removing these from your diet for 3 months to see changes, for right now try one week.

*Bonus points if you can remove soy and corn from your diet for a week as well.  We can address issues with those more in the future.

Make a shopping list.  Choose simple recipes that do not contain the previously mentioned ingredients.  Even better - choose fresh organic foods. There’s no limit to the amount of food you consume during this week but eat sensibly.  Shop and meal prep ahead of time because this will help you be more successful and get thrown off track if the week throws you an unexpected curveball. However, don’t forget to leave the 7th day’s dinner menu open for your favorite pizza.  

This week you are going to track several variables to help you gauge your sensitivity.  You may notice changes in these factors at different times so writing them down and comparing day to day will help you reflect.

• Weight: Weigh yourself every morning and evening.  This isn’t to lose weight, but you may notice a significant drop in weight when you are not consuming foods that cause inflammation.

• Pain: If you have body aches, old injuries, or have experienced massive trauma, give yourself a 1-10 Pain Rating every morning and evening.  

• Congestion:  Maybe you never have a stuffy nose or sinus issues, but more often than not you may be walking around with congestion you thought was normal. Give yourself a 1-10 rating.

• Energy: Give yourself a 1-10 rating on this as well.  Be advised that 2-3 days into this process you may notice a drop in energy, or generally feel a bit crappy (that’s the medical term) because of the bacteria die off in your gut.  Don’t worry. The ones that are dying are hijacking your system and telling your brain to eat more foods that cause inflammation. The good ones will enjoy more room to reproduce. I’ll save that for another post.  Your energy should pick back up towards the end of the week

• Sleep:  This goes hand and hand with the energy.  Many people are already tracking sleep thanks to devices like the Fitbit, but don’t feel like you need to buy a tracker for this self-experiment.  In this case, see how you feel when you wake up. Give yourself a 1-10 for your overall quality of sleep.

Now that you’ve made it to the seventh evening, go ahead and indulge in your favorite slice or two. Track how you feel immediately after eating as well as over the next few days.  

Use the variables above to compare how you felt to how you feel, after eating pizza.  Did you suddenly add weight? Do you have an increase in pain? How’s your energy?

None of this is set out to demonize pizza, just to give you an insight into how to help your body function better.  If you noticed no difference, congratulations, you have an iron stomach and were blessed with great intestinal flora and good genes.  But, I am willing to guess, you saw some improvement in at least one of the above criteria. Now you can go back and eliminate, dairy, gluten, and nightshades one at a time to see where your sensitivities exist.  

Every service at Charm City Integrative Health addresses inflammation. This post, as well as a few others, will soon be compiled into a short guide titled, “5 Steps to Knock Down Inflammation”. Seriously, you don’t want to miss this super helpful, free guide! Sign up for our newsletter here and you’ll be one of the first people to get your hands on it.

Dr. Tom in "Your Tango" Magazine - It's More Than Just Weight!→

Credit: Your Tango Magazine

Does Acupuncture Help With Weight Loss?

There's a lot that can be going on when you gain weight, and acupuncture can actually help with many of those things.

Recently, Dr. Tom Ingegno was asked to voice his opinion in YourTango Magazine:

“Weight gain can come from a variety of issues. Looking into the realm of functional medicine, weight gain may be due hormone imbalance, bad gut health, or stress inducing high cortisol levels. Acupuncture can’t magically help people lose weight, but can help resolve some of these underlying issues. Studies have shown that acupuncture combined with diet and exercise can help patients lose about an additional pound a week,” advises Dr. Tom Ingegno, DACM, who owns an integrative medical center in Baltimore, MD.”

To read the entire article, please visit https://www.yourtango.com/2019321972/does-acupuncture-help-with-weight-loss.

Charm City Integrative Health: October Events

Please join us!!!

Date: Wednesday, October 10th
Time: 5:30-6:30 
Price: Free
Location: Chesacanna - 10534 York Rd #101, Cockeysville, MD 21030  

Tom will be presenting ways to increase your naturally occurring endocannabinoids (bliss molecules), increase your wellbeing, improve your mood, and relieve pain.  

Date: Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20th
Time: 8 am-Noon
Location: McKeldin Square, E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21230

Our team will be providing cupping therapy at the Baltimore Running Festival in UnderArmour's VIP booth.  VIPs can stop by for both pre and post race tune-ups.

Date: Sunday, October 21st
Time: 11 am-1 pm
Location: Lululemon - 107, 820 Aliceanna St #1b, Baltimore, MD 21202

We will be at Lululemon providing local cryotherapy, integrative health information and discounts on our other services.  

Charm City Integrative Health: A Path to Healing

We recently got a lovely letter from one of our patients that had received acupuncture for chronic pain back in 2010/2011. Wonderful to hear about her journey to healing and living pain free. (Seriously, this just made our day!)

~ ~ ~

Hello! I’ve been meaning to write this email for some time, because I think it’s important for people who live with chronic pain to know that acupuncture can really help. 

Several years ago, probably around 2010/2011, I came to a community acupuncture session that Tom was giving. I asked him if acupuncture could help with a coccyx injury. As a person in my mid-late 20s, I’d experienced chronic pain in that region for about 6 years that led to cortisol injections, physical therapy (which made it worse), and even a consultation with a spinal surgeon. I never had a fall or any trauma to that area so it wasn’t a surprise that traditional western treatments weren’t working. Tom said it could help, but he made no promises. 

After what was probably a few weeks of treatment, I stopped thinking about the pain, and I remember that I wasn’t wincing every time I shifted my body when I was sitting in a chair. It was taking the edge off and that was all I ever hoped for. That and no more cortisol injections. After a couple months I stopped treatment, thinking this was as good as it was gonna get. 

But one day, maybe a month or two after I stopped treatment, I realized there was no more pain. I didn’t understand why or how, but it was gone! I knew it had to be the acupuncture. Nothing else had changed. I’ve been pain-free ever since. And I’ve always meant to let Tom know that but never took the time. 

Fast forward to 2016 when I started seeing a healer, and I’m actually about to begin seeing my first reiki clients! It’s amazing how the whole process helped me to understand why acupuncture worked, circumstances that led to the issue in the first place, and so much more. 

I just wanted to say how grateful I am for the treatments I received. I also want to make sure Tom knows that he was successful in healing someone with severe chronic pain at that location. Please let people with pain know there is help for them and they don’t have to go the traditional western medicine route which is invasive, expensive, and for me, was very painful. Thank you so much for what you do every day.

With love,
P

You're Invited to Charm City Integrative Health's Second Annual OPEN HOUSE

July marked Charm City Integrative Health's second year in Canton and we have SO much to celebrate! We have added new staff and several amazing new services. We would love to introduce them to you.

Please stop by on Sunday, September 9th from 1 pm to 5 pm, enjoy some light refreshments, meet our staff, learn about our services and score some great deals on cryotherapy.

During this special event, take advantage of:
• $20 Cryotherapy Sessions
• 10 packs of Cryotherapy for $299 (SAVE $100. Must be purchased on 9/9.)
• Get your insurance verified for acupuncture benefits.
• Enter Raffles for free services from us as well as our partners in health and fitness.
• Pick up a grab bag with coupons from us and our partners.
• Learn about Medical Cannabis Certification.
• Book a FREE consultation with our founder, Tom Ingegno, DACM, to talk about how we can help you reach your health goals. 

Mark your calendars! Bring friends! We can't wait to see you all there!

You Got Sick - Now What? (Free Chapter!)

Please click HERE to read the free chapter!

"You Got Sick - Now What? Seven Secrets From Oriental Medicine to Eliminate the Cold and Flu"
Available on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Sick-Now-Secrets-Oriental-Medicine-Eliminate/dp/1462023347

7 Healthy Tips For Coping with Financial Stress

If you feel stressed you're just living your life, you’re not alone

Americans lead stressful lives.  Jobs, relationships, health, family obligations, community responsibilities—they all take their toll.

In “Stress in America”, an annual survey by the American Psychology Association, 1 in 5 respondents reported an extreme stress level of 8, 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale.  In that same group, 69% of respondents reported physical or non-physical symptoms of stress, including irritability or anger, fatigue, feeling overwhelmed or changes in their sleep.

The top source of stress according to 69% of the respondents is money.

Coping with money worries is difficult for many people.  You may feel lost or out of control.  You may argue with your spouse.  And ironically, you may go on a shopping spree to try to relieve your stress.

7 Healthy Tips for Coping with Financial Stress

1) Take breaks from the computer.  Computer work is hard on your neck and shoulders and for many people, financial work is the most stressful computer work of all.  All this stress can lead to a sore neck, shoulders, and back. Get up every 45 minutes to walk around and stretch.  Take deep breaths.  Keep your body relaxed so your emotions stay level.

2) Take charge of your finances.  Track your earnings and spending every day for a month.  Be ruthless and write down every penny. When you have a clear picture of your income and expenses make a reasonable spending plan which keeps them balanced.  Don’t budget for what you hope you’ll make or wish you’ll spend.  Be realistic.  Having a budget will give you control and reduce your financial stress.

 3) Plan your splurges.  It’s difficult to stick with a financial plan if you feel like it is overly restrictive and deprives you of what you love.  Create a  budget for reasonable treats.  Plan to spend money on the things that give you the most pleasure.

 4) Balance making more with spending less.  Sometimes taking extra shifts at work is smart and sometimes spending less is the best plan.  Make conscious choices about which strategy gives you the most pleasure and the least financial stress.

 5) Plan your shopping trips to avoid impulse buys.  Shopping can be stressful when you’re worried about money.  Shop when you are fed, hydrated and relaxed. Shopping sales seem like a smart idea but if you buy because you’re afraid you will never see such great prices again, they cost you money.  When you shop sales buy only what you planned.  Don’t fall prey to “Sale Fever.”

 6) Find support.  Sharing your financial triumphs and frustrations with a friend can be a big help in dealing with your financial stress.  A friendly ear gives you feedback when you’re tempted to blow your budget and accountability when you get lax.

 7) Stay Calm.  If you feel panic because you can’t pay your bills, remember to breathe.  Think about what your next step should be, resist negative thoughts or making your circumstances huge.  Remember similar times when you managed your problems successfully.

When you worry about money it is especially important to take care of your health.  Remember to do your healthy routines.  Exercise, eat well and get enough sleep.

Take steps to manage your financial stress.  Call me if you need help relieving your stress symptoms. 443-869-6584

Don’t forget to get some acupuncture!
 

VIDEO: 3 Tips for Finding a GREAT Licensed Acupuncturist

It can be tough to find the right option in alternative medicine these days. With so many choices, the search can seem difficult but it's easy if you know the right questions to ask.

Today's local holistic expert is here to give you some great tips to help you find the right professional who will quickly treat your issues. 

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I'm often asked, "Tom, how do I find the right acupuncturist?" The problem is that finding the right choice in acupuncture can feel overwhelming. Acupuncture can often seem foreign and present concepts that we in the West haven't been exposed to before, but the good news is if you have some basic questions at your disposal - making the right choice can be much easier.

If you've heard good things about acupuncture and think it might be a treatment that would fit you, where do you start? Finding someone who is nearby with hours and availability that works for your schedule can be a challenge. I'd like to give you a few tips to help you find a great licensed acupuncturist. 

Tip #1
Do they have a great reputation? 

Social media has made it easy to find out all about your practitioner. Look them up online. Do they have a good amount of positive reviews? You want to make sure that others have had a good experience. It will give you some good information in order to make your decision

Tip #2
Do they offer free consultations? 

Consultations are a great way to meet the acupuncturist, see their location and make sure they are the right fit to help you get the results you're looking for. This is a great opportunity for you to ask the acupuncturist questions about your health issues as well as questions about their experience and training

Tip #3
Do they offer other therapies in their office? 

Acupuncture is amazing, but there are many other techniques that the acupuncturist may be able to provide you to help you get better faster. Not only can a good acupuncturist provide techniques like cupping, Gua Sha, Cupping, dietary advice and herbal medicine, but they may be able to offer modern therapies and supplements as well.

Our expertise is in recovery and peak performance and we focus on helping potential patients reach their health goals with custom treatment plans that can include acupuncture, whole body cryotherapy, massage and more. For a free consultation, they can schedule on our website here or they can call us at 443-869-6584. We're happy to help. We want patients to reach their optimal health levels

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Wow. That's pretty incredible, isn't it? Now you have some great tips to find just the right professional that will help you along. Are you ready to learn more? You can reach today's expert by calling the number on your screen. See you next time

Interview with Tom Ingegno, L.Ac., owner of Charm City Integrative Health

I had a chance to sit down with Tom Ingengo, L.Ac., owner of Charm City Integrative Health, to discuss with him why he decided to open his wellness practice.

Q: When you think about your "perfect" patient, who is it that you are really trying to reach?

A:  All of our services are aimed at treating the whole person and resetting the system.  While this is beneficial to everyone, we really hit it out of the park with two groups of people in particular. 

The first group is athletes - everyone from professionals to weekend warriors.  Knocking down inflammation can not only make them train harder but also recover much faster.  Physically active people notice pretty quickly that we are helping to shave time off their pace, increase muscle strength, and decrease recovery time.

The next group of people we can really help is those with chronic illness and injury.  Everything from old injuries to autoimmune issues, to chronic infections, cause inflammatory responses in the body.  Getting more oxygen to tissue, moving blood and lymph more efficiently and relieving pain helps the body normalize function and can make a huge difference in peoples lives. 

Q: Specifically what information do you want to share with them?

A: Healthcare must be an ongoing multifaceted approach that is put together from various sources.  No magic pill exists and there is no one right way to heal for everyone.  We suggest using our therapies as part of an overall care plan which can increase and decrease as you need it.  This coupled with a good clean diet and moderate exercise can really pay off in dividends as we age.  We have a solid team of healthcare professionals that are focused not only on your illnesses, but your wellness-care can help you go far.

Treatment Options For Allergies and Asthma

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Do you suffer from allergies or asthma? It’s a little-known fact that these two conditions are directly linked to each other. Asthma, which affects roughly one in 12 people according to the CDC, is characterized by spasms of the small airways and inflammation. Furthermore, about 90% of children under the age of 16 with asthma have allergies, while 70% of people between the ages of 16 and 30 have allergies, and 50% of adults over the age of 40 have allergies.

Unfortunately, most people who suffer from allergies and asthma simply mask their symptoms with drugs rather than seeking a treatment for the root cause. Both of these conditions involve an overreaction by the body’s immune system to what it believes is a foreign invader. When you are exposed to an allergen (e.g. ragweed, pet dander, etc.), your immune system produces and abundance of inflammatory hormones, which subsequently cause the symptoms of allergies and asthma to manifest.

There are several alternative treatment options available for allergies and asthma, however, one of which is making dietary and lifestyle changes. We live in an age in which far too many people choose to pick up convenient fast food as opposed to preparing and cooking fresh meals. There’s nothing wrong with an occasional fast food burger, but basing the bulk of your diet around processed foods such as this will take a toll on your body. The lack of nutrients and increased intake of preservatives can disturb the immune system, causing greater sensitivity to allergens. A better choice is to consume a diet rich in lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

Of course, herbal medicine is a time-tested alternative treatment for allergies and asthma. Some of the most popular herbs used to treat these conditions include stinging nettle, Ginkgo biloba, green tea, and reishi, all of which contain heavy concentrations of antioxidants. These antioxidants are believed to fight harmful chemicals in the body known as free radicals, which if left unchecked, may irritate existing conditions like allergies and asthma.

Acupuncture is also known to improve the symptoms for allergy and asthma sufferers. This Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involves stimulating the body’s life force (Qi) by placing small, thin needles directly under the skin. When a person’s Qi grows stagnant or experiences other problems, he or she is more susceptible to disease and illness. Therefore, correcting this problem through acupuncture will naturally deter allergies, asthma and other common problems.

Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health. 

Relieve Your Arthritis with Acupuncture

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Arthritis is a painful and oftentimes debilitating condition that’s characterized by inflammation within one or more joints. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 2 people will develop osteoarthritis of the knee by the age of 85. It’s important to note, however, that there are several different types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis being just one. Other common types include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, septic arthritis, Still’s disease, and ankylosing spondylitis.

While most people living with moderate-to-severe arthritis resort to prescription medication to mask their symptoms, a safer and more effective form of treatment may come in the form of a 2,000-plus-year-old Chinese practice called acupuncture. Numerous studies have found acupuncture to offer relief of many different types of arthritis. And best of all, it doesn’t come with the adverse side effects associated with arthritis medication.

Acupuncture and Arthritis: How It Works

Acupuncture is based on the belief that our bodies have an essential life/energy force (referred to as Qi). This force flows through the body, traveling along 20 channels (referred to as meridians). Normally, Qi flows unrestricted, keeping the individual healthy while warding off disease and illness. However, there are times when the Qi will become stagnant, blocked or dislodged from its normal position, leaving the individual susceptible to illness.

By placing thin needles directly under the skin, a licensed acupuncturists can stimulate the flow of Qi, correcting blockages and other abnormalities. Furthermore, acupuncture aids in regulating the nervous system, which in turn produces the natural pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins.

Studies Reaffirm Acupuncture For Arthritis

A group of German researchers conducted a study on 304,674 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee. Researchers split the patients into two groups, one of which received traditional routine care, while the other received 15 sessions of acupuncture. Researchers concluded that patients who had received acupuncture experienced better knee function, less pain, and an overall better quality of life than their counterparts.

Another study – this one originating out of China – found that both acupuncture and electroacupuncture were effective at reduce pain, inflammation and tenderness in parts of the body by arthritis. Granted, this was a small study with just 36 patients, but it’s just one more study attesting to the healing power of acupuncture.

Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health!