Friday, June 26, 2009

Article published in Better Life Magazine

I just had an article published in Better Life Magazine, which serves North and Central California. It is a summary of The Asian Diet. You can visit betterlifemagazine.com and download the whole 44-page issue, or click here to just view the cover and my article.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Acupuncture in comprehensive cancer care

Acupuncture should be part of comprehensive cancer care. It reduces all of the side-effects and promotes better therapeutic outcomes. Patients who have acupuncture in conjunction with traditional Western therapies have fewer side-effects, a better quality of life, and live longer.

The first thing that the National Institute of Health (NIH) conceded that acupuncture was actually effective in treating was: Chemotherapy induced nausea. This was back in 1997. They found it to be 97% effective. Nausea brings with it anorexia (loss of appetite), weight loss, and fatigue. Acupuncture helps all of these.

Probably the most dangerous side effects of chemo and radiation is Immunosuppression (impairment of the immune system. Cancer therapies target the rapidly-dividing cells. Cancer cells divide rapidlly, but so do our bone marrow (which make the blood cells). Sometimes the immune system can get so compromised that the patient will have to take a break from therapy. This lets the patient recover, but also the tumor. The best results are obtained when patients can adhere to the recommended schedule of treatment. Acupuncture has been shown to increase the T-Cella, B-Cells, lymphocytes, platelets, immunogloublins, CD4, and CD8 proteins (aid in identifying foreign tissue), and it increases the number and activity of phagocytes (cells that eat invading cells in our bodies).

Another common complaint with chemo is neuropathy, or a tingling or pain in the extremities (fingers and toes usually, but it can affect the leg up to the knee). The chem is toxic and will often pool at the ends of the limbs, damaging the nerves in those areas. Acupuncture help repair neurologic damage. It is often used in stroke rehab because of this ability.

Chemo als affects the brain. The phenomenon is called "chemo brain" and induces a mental fog. Patients have trouble concentrating and remembering things; and this can last for months or even years after the cessation of treatment. Acupuncture can prevent this disorder from setting in and it can treat it once it has.

Depending on the site, radiation has its own set of side-effects. Radiation in the lower thorax (for colon, bladder, testicular, ovarian or uterine cancers) can cause diarrhea or constipation. Acupunctrue treats both of these. Head and neck radiation can damage the salivary glands forever, causing xerostomia or dry mouth. Acupuncture has been shown to be over 90% effecive in treating xerostomia and the results have lasted up to a year. Radiation in the upper chest and neck can cause dyshpagia (difficulty swallowing, requiring tube feeding) and dypsnea (difficulty breathing). Studies have shown acupuncture reduces these as well.

Don't forget about the emotional toll. A diagnosis of cancer will certainly cause some anxiety and often inspired depression as well. The most common side-effect of acupuncture is a sense of calm and well-being. This can last for weeks. Plus it helps that the patient can feel active in their treatment. Much of the approach to cancer involves the doctor or the medicine acting on the passive patient. Adding acupuncture allows the patient to contribute to their recovery.

Chinese medicine is also very concerned with understanding where the cancer came from in the first place, and correcting that cause so it does not return. If patients do not change their diet, lifestlyes and attitudes, the cancer will often return (although it may be at a different location).

I had the unfortunate experiencing of watching my mother fall victim to breast cancer when I was nine years old. I remember how she suffered with the side effects of her treatment. I am grateful to now be in a position to help people combat this terrible disease without such suffering. If you know anyone fighting cancer (or who wants to prevent it) please let them know about acupuncture. Visit acfom.com for more information about my practice.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

upcoming radio interviews

My publicists have been doing a great job in getting the word out about my book, "The Asian Diet: Simple secrets for eating right, losing weight, and being well."

USA Radio Network (nationally syndicated) Dresser After Dark with Michael Ray Dresser. 6/23/09

KCTE-AM 1510 Kansas City, MO with Rob Kingsbury
Monday, June 29, 2009 2:15pm CST
SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: Website Address: www.1510.com

KAHI-AM 950 with Mary Jane Popp Sacramento, CA
Monday, June 29, 2009 12:30 pm CST
SIMULCAST ON INTERNET:Website Address: www.kahi.com

Issues with Walt Shaw Regionally Syndicated to 5 Stations in CA
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:00am CST
SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: Website Address: www.khtkam.com
Taped (airs week of 7/13)

WDJA-AM 1420 West Palm Beach, FL with Byron Eggers
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:15 pm CST
SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: Website Address: www.powertalk1420.com

Health Radio Network with Barbra Alexander. Nationally Syndicated to 34 Stations
July 7, 2009 11:30am CST
SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: Website Address: www.healthradionetwork.com

WNAV-AM 1430 Baltimore, MD with Bill Lusby
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 7:35 am CST
SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: Website Address: www.wnav.com

WOCA-AM 1370 Larry Whitler & Robin MacBlane, Gainesville - Ocala, FL
Thursday, July 9, 2009

Monday, June 22, 2009

Nationally syndicated radio show appearance tomorrow night on the USA Radio Network.
Dresser after dark is the show. I don't know when he will be airing. According to his tweet, tonight is his first night being syndicated on the USA radio network; so I am going to be one of his first guests on this huge network. Check your listings for the USA radio network affiliates. The interview is at 9pm central time, but I don't know when each station will air the interview.

I had to buy a corded phone for all these radio interviews. I thought my cordless would be OK, but one of the hosts complained about my home phone quality, so I will be tethered to the wall for this interview. Oh well, at least I do not have to fly all around the country to do these interviews. I am so happy and excited to be getting the word out about the asian diet.

post-father's day

Today I am downtown at the Tiffani Kim Institute, seeing patients. I read some great studies about how acupuncture reduces side-effects of chemo and radiation, so I have copied those and am sending them out to all the oncologists with whom I have worked in the past. Acupuncture should be a prt of everybody's comprehensive cancer care. It reduces all the side-effects; from the annoying (nausea, dry mouth, neuropathy) to the life-threatening (impaired immune system). Patients who have acupuncture in addition to convention chemo and/or radiation have a better quality of life, fewer and less-severe side-effects, and live longer.


Today, as I was yesterday and am everyday, I am basking in the glory of being a father. My wife made me a husband, and my daughter made me a father. I am an acupuncturist, student, teacher, author, and more; but father and husband are my most important and rewarding roles.
We work a lot with couples battling infertility. My wife is the top fertility acupuncturist in the midwest. We always wanted all of our patients to be able to conceive, but now it means so much more. We want everyone to feel this joy and love that we do. If you know of couples trying to conceive, have them seek out Jeanie for acupuncture, and buy her book, Fully Fertile.
Looking back, this post is not very cohesive. I'll try harder next time.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Four more radio interviews, 40+ markets

My new PR company is doing great. They have already set up four radio interview, all in big markets and high-wattage stations. They will all be simulcast on the internet, but I'm not sure when all of them will air.

Issues with Stan Ward Regionally Syndicated to 5 Stations in CA

Tuesday, June 30, 2009
SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: Website Address: www.khtkam.com
Taped (airs week of 7/13)

KCTE-AM 1510 Kansas City, MO with Rob Kingsbury
Monday, June 29, 2009
SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: Website Address: www.1510.com
2:15 PM CT
LENGTH OF INTERVIEW: 30 minutes - Live (approx)

Health Radio Network with Barbra Alexander. Nationally Syndicated to 34 Stations
July 7, 2009
SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: Website Address: www.healthradionetwork.com
LENGTH OF INTERVIEW: 60 minutes - Taped (airs week of 7/20)


WNAV-AM 1430 Baltimore, MD with Bill Lusby

Wednesday, July 8, 2009
SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: Website Address: www.wnav.com
TIME OF INTERVIEW: 7:35 AM CT/8:35 AM ET
LENGTH OF INTERVIEW: 10 minutes - Live (approx)


So some are syndicated, giving these four interviews reach into over 40 markets. This is a lot of fun talking to the country about how to be healthy. I hope everybody buys my book, but even more so, I hope that everyone can get the information in it. I don't care if everyone gets it from the library; I want to empower people to be healthy and prevent disease. As the contract is, I don't really stand to make any money even if the book sells a million copies. I didn't write it for money or accolade, I wrote it because people need to know this stuff.

To learn more, go to theasiandiet.com

Thursday, June 18, 2009

fm radio interview

Today I had my first FM radio interview. It's very different doing a morning zoo show than a talk-radio show. All my other interviews have been 30 minutes and were on talk-radio. The pace was slow, relaxed, and inquisitive. On this Morning Zoo-type show, the pace was fast, the cracks were wise, and the tone was humorous. It was only 10 minutes but I felt like I said more in this interview than in any other.

I am planing a trip to China now to investigate and apply for a Ph.D program in Oriental Medicine. My wife is going to do it as well. I just received the review texts that we need to study for the entrance exam. They are from China, but the translation is not to bad. We will be in China for 6 days in August. We are going to Guangzhou, which is in the South of China, latitudinally equal to Mexico City but much more humid. The climate is going to be rough; air conditioning is not yet the norm.

I attended my first board meeting of the Illinois Acupuncture Board. There are only four acupuncturists on this advisory board to the state, and I am honored to be one of them. The meeting was very official and well-run. I think I will learn a lot from this experience. If history is any precedent, I may be on this board for 10 years or more.

Today is supposed to me a Maddy-Daddy day, but I have to go in to the office to administer a few acupuncture treatments. Lisa, our associate, had to leave town, so I am covering for her. What was going to be one patient has ballooned to four, but I will still have most of the day to play with my daughter. Nanna is going to help by taking Maddie to the park while I treat.

It's a beautiful day, so we're going out for a walk. I hope everyone has a good day.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

why vegetarianism is not best

why vegetarianism is not best.

"Vegetarianism is best suited for monks, living in the shelter of a temple, spending their days in seated meditation" -Dr. Miriam Lee (paraphrased)


Those of us with a more active lifestyle need a little bit of a more active food source.
Giving up meat will usually show short-term improvement (since we are all oversdosed on it), but almost always leads to a long-term deficiency.

Most Americans have far to much red meat and that is not good. It is clearly associated with myriad diseases. Vegetarians almost have it right, but they go a little too far. The Chinese recommend that we have 2 ounces, twice a week, of specifically mammal meat.

One of the theories is that we, as mammals, are at a higher level of organization than plants, fish or fowl. In order to maintain ourselves functioning optimally at that higher level, we should get a little bit of that raw material in our weekly diet. A little bit of fish and chicken are good too, but we do need a little bit of mammal in our weekly diet.

One of the things we get from mammal meat (and it does not sound appealing at all) is blood. Blood nourishes the tissues, but it also cools and calms. Long-term veggies tend to become pale, emaciated, less-resistant to disease, they are more prone to insomnia, anxiety; it can disrupt menstruation. My wife specializes in treating fertility and it is well-known in the Eastern medicine community that vegetarian women have a harder time conceiving. There is not enough blood to nourish the embryo.

Most people will notice an improvement in their health when they give up meat, but years later when their health deteriorates, they never associate it with the change in diet. DIETARY CHANGES TAKE A LONG TIME TO PLAY OUT.

As far as the humanitarian aspect goes, I believe that god loves carrots too. Every living thing has life force that makes it want to protect itself and procreate. That carrot would rather stay in the ground and live to a ripe old age rather than being plucked from its home and diced into my salad. So it is not possible to do no harm and live. Everything has to eat something. So doing no harm is not possible; that is not the goal. What is important is to be thankful, mindful, and not wasteful of the lives that had go be given so that ours may continue (animal and plant).

When the Christians came to Tibet, they tried to convince the natives to eat fish (the food of Jesus) rather than yaks. They figured "why sacrifice 100 souls to feed the village when we could just sacrifice one?" I don't mean to imply that we should only eat big animals, but it's an interesting point of view.

Chicken is not better than beef, a variety is best. White meat is not better than dark, a variety is best. Egg whites are not better than yolks. Eat a little bit of everything, mostly vegetables, mostly cooked, and you'll be good.

Monday, June 8, 2009

exciting radio opportunity

I just found out that my NYC radio interview tomorrow is a syndicated show and may broadcast in New York, Boston, Chicago, Pittsburg, Gary, Rockford, Cable radio nationwide, Sarasota and Tampa FL, Washington DC, Cityvibe in London and Singapore, Las Vegas, Springfield MO, Greenwich CT, Columbus and Cleveland OH, Wisconsin Mississippi, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Virgina, Arkansas, and more. The Frankie Boyer Show.

The dangers of dairy in the diet -- WCLO

Here is the podcast of my radio interview with Stan Milam of WCLO in Janesville Wisconsin.

The dangers of dairy in the diet -- WCLO

Shared via AddThis

first radio interview done

I just got off the phone with Stan Milam, a radio host from WCLO in Janesville Wisconsin. He interviewed me for 18 minutes on the air about "The Asian Diet". It was fun and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to spread the word about how adopting some of the principles of the diet can prevent disease and promote wellness. I will soon post a link to the podcast.

Today is Monday and I am at the Tiffani Kim Institute, performing acupuncture. I work half-days on Mondays. This afternoon my wife and I will take our daughter to the pediatrician. We are considering going to China this summer and want to discuss the health risks to a 6-month old. We don't want her to need too many vaccinations while she's still so young. The powers that be state that vaccines are effecive and safe, but I'm not so convinced. I worked in mental health for many years, and am very afraid of autism.

The CDC says they are safe and effective. The way they define "safe for vaccines is different that how they define "safe" for drugs. Drugs have to be compared to placebo, or no drug. Vaccines are compared to existing vaccines. So if we have an approved vaccine that is causing adverse effects in 16 out of 1000 people, and then the new one causes advers effects in 18 out of 1000, that difference is not statisically significant and then 18/1000 becomes the bar. As far as effective goes, there are a lot of people who still get the diseases for which they have been vaccinated. Now, I don't want to get all anti-vaccine here. It is a choice for the parents. Vaccines have saved lives. But I don't like the administration of multiple diseases at the same time, and I don't like vaccines being administered before they could be necessary. At birth, they want to give every child a hepatitis vaccine. My little girl would only be exposed to the Hep if my wife had it (which she does not), or through sexual contact or IV drug use. My newborn was not going to be engaging in these behaviours, so I think we can wait a few years for that. A generation before us, most people got the measles and did not die. It's not like the plague where no one can survive it.

There are some things that can kill babies, like menenigitis. So we are vaccinating for that. Not that you all need to know what we are choosing for our daughters medical care. This is a tangent- back on track. . .

I may be going to china to study some more this summer. Check out the newest reviews of my book on amazon. or go to theasiandiet.com and read more about the asian diet.

Friday, June 5, 2009

First Radio Interview coming up,.

So, there is more excitement to report. My publicist just called to tell me that I have been booked on a talk radio show on WCLO in Janesville, Wisconsin. This Monday, June 8th at 10 A.M. I don't know if they will have a podcast of it available after the show, (in case you are part of that small percentage of the world who do not live in Janesville).

My book is very down on dairy. So I imagine that is what they will want to talk about (being in the heart of dairy country). If I can get the US dairy council to try to discredit me, then I will know that my book has become successful. They can discredit me all they want, but you can't argue with 3000 years of tried-and-true culture. The Asians have far less dairy, and they have far less diet-related disease, and far less cancer.

Dairy turns to phlegm in an adult body. Phlegm can manifest in many different ways; one of which is as an abnormal growth such as a cyst, fibroid, or tumor. The Chinese understand these abnormal growths to be basically phlegmballs. They noticed more in the populations that had more dairy. So the lesson was learned that dairy is not best for adults. We can have it in moderation, but there has been a real concerted campaign to convince us that Milk is a healthy food; and it is not.

Dairy is appropriate for infants, or individuals who are emaciated. It is designed by nature to grow tissue (including fat). Most Americans are not looking to put on more mass, but are rather trying to lose or at least maintain their weight. It is best to eat a lot of vegetables, mostly cooked, simple grains, and a little of everything else.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Today I am down at the Tiffani Kim Institute, where I see patients once a week. I have a new patient out front filling out her paperwork and I will soon start her consult. But I have a few minutes to blog.

I just received the agenda for my first Board meeting of the Illinois Acupuncture Board. There are only four acupuncturist from the state on this Board and I am now one of them. We will be reviewing applications for licensure, policy and rules, and weighing in on any disciplinary issues. Hopefully no one has been performing acupuncture irresponsibly in the state, but sonmetimes there can be charlotans who come into the state and need to be "cease and desist"ed. I am also hopeful that this will put me in betteer contact with the powers that be in Springfield, and help me better understand the objections to furthering our scope of practice to include herbs. I studied herbs for three years and passed a national board exam, but my Illinois license does not empower me t4o use that knowledge to help my patients. Perhaps we need to add herbs to the acupuncture license, or we may need to create a seperate license for herbalists. I know a lot of my colleagues are hoping that I and the other board members can do this, but right now I am here to learn.

In other news, my baby is crawling all over the house now and we really need to get the place baby-proofed. Does anyone know a good firm for this in Chicago?