Can Poor Sleep Lead to Alzheimer's and Dementia? CNN.com

Excerpt... One in three Americans doesn't get enough sleep, and 45% of the world's population doesn't either.   The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls that a "public health problem," because disrupted sleep is associated with a higher risk of conditions including diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease.  What about Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia?  Read More

To Turn Opioid Addiction Around, This Clinic Tries Exercise, Meditation And Acupuncture

To Turn Opioid Addiction Around, This Clinic Tries Exercise, Meditation And Acupuncture

Excerpt  "Kaiser tracked more than 80 patients over a year. It found the group’s ER visits decreased 25 percent. Inpatient admissions and total opioid doses dropped 40 percent.

Bye says the team helps patients taper off opioids and explore the benefits of alternatives like exercise, meditation, acupuncture and mindfulness. “And we found that we've had really good results getting those patients unstuck from the mud, getting them moving and living the life they want to live,”

Family medicine Dr. Heidi Clune says sometimes a  pain prescription can escalate to addiction.  “Our goal with  is to take that patient off that opioid Island and build that bridge, and get them back to functioning with society,” Clune says. " Read more

Natural Treatments For Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression

Natural Treatments For Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression

Excerpt "Seasonal Affective Disorder is an example of how a change in seasons can affect our emotional and physical well-being. Between 4 and 6 percent of the U.S. population suffer from SAD. It is more commonly observed in those who live at high latitudes . Seasonal changes are  more extreme in these regions, supporting the idea that SAD is caused by changes in sunlight availability.  While SAD can occur during summer with symptoms such as weight loss, trouble sleeping and decreased appetite, its winter symptoms tend to be more severe. Winter-time sufferers  can experience fatigue, increased need for sleep, decreased energy levels, weight gain, increase in appetite, difficulty concentrating and increased desire to be alone."  Read More

Acupuncture For Depression, AcuTakehealth.com

Acupuncture For Depression

Excerpt  'Since the warmth of summer has been fading into  shorter days, I have had a  influx in patients seeking relief from depression. This isn’t uncommon—each year I see it with the season change. In acupuncture, there are five major organ systems, each of which is connected to an emotion and season. During that season, the corresponding organ is  most vulnerable and the emotion tends to show up more.  Fall is Lung season and the emotion associated is grief.  From an acupuncture perspective, it makes perfect sense that there is a heightened melancholy this time of year."    read more