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The stomach is a simple organ from both the Western and Eastern medical perspectives. Even though it has a simple task, if it isn’t able to accomplish this task, huge problems can and will result.

Western medicine classifies the stomach as a muscular organ, located towards the left of the upper abdomen. The stomach’s job is to break down food by secreting acids and creating a muscular pulse that ensures the food is broken down evenly. Imagine using a food processor to break down big pieces of carrot into tiny little chopped pieces; this is what the stomach does but with the use of acid and digestive enzymes verses the food process blades.

Chinese medicine classifies the stomach as the Governor of intake and decomposition. To put in simple terms, the stomach is in charge of your appetite, breaking down food and moving it into the small intestine, effortlessly. When your stomach is working properly, you really do not think about your stomach much.

Stomach function can break down over time due to many factors such as poor eating, stress, lack of exercise and physical trauma (car accidents, falls, and surgeries), etc. When the stomach is weak there can be fullness and distention in the stomach duct and abdomen, sluggish or inactive appetite, rapid hungering, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, belching, heart burn and acne around the mouth.

Food is an amazing ‘medicine’ that is continually at our fingertips. A few powerful foods to help heal the stomach are cabbage and kale, which in fact, are great for reducing inflammation and treating both stomach and duodenal ulcers. Celery and cucumber are both cooling in nature and bring lots of moisture into the body to combat inflammation. Shitake mushrooms are used to prevent and heal the stomach of cancer and ginger is an antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea piece of gold! Increase your intake of these vegetables if you tend to have stomach problems.

Again, if your stomach function is weak on a consistent basis, you can eat all the health food you want and exercise your booty off but it won’t re-boot your Stomach’s function. The best way to re-boot your Stomach or any organ is to have Acupuncture by a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac). Acupuncture is the use of tiny little ‘needles’ that are placed into a specific location on your body. Once the needle is inserted into the skin, it wakes up the nerve which sends a message to your brain to heal a specific part of your body. It is a simple, non-invasive form of healing that actually fixes your body.

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Your Stomach is More Important Than You Think! was last modified: February 23rd, 2015 by Shana Grams

Many people go throughout their entire lives not understanding or realizing how big of a deal their organs are. The first medical-acupuncture textbook, written 4,600 years ago, details how the organs control different parts of the body. If your organs are strong, your body will be strong. If your organs are weak, your body will be weak and susceptible to disease and illness.
The intent of my monthly blog is to highlight a different organ and educate you on the function of each. After reading the articles, you will have a better understanding in determining if your organs are strong or weak and learn ways to make changes for the better. This month, let’s begin with the spleen and pancreas.
The spleen and pancreas are two separate organs but were considered the same organ by ancient Chinese doctors and are simply referred to as the Spleen.
Western medicine classifies the spleen as an immune organ that stores white blood cells and platelets (clots blood), kills bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis and filters blood before sending it to the liver to be filtered again. The pancreas releases ‘juices’ into the stomach to help break down food and to turn it into energy and releases hormones to keep your blood sugar level. If your blood sugar is too high, tissues, nerves and organs are damaged. When blood sugar is too low it can cause dementia, comas or death.
Chinese medicine classifies the Spleen as being in charge of movement and transformation of grain and water and because of this, the Spleen is the source of blood creation. Really what this means is that the Spleen is in charge of breaking food down into nutrients that our cells, tissues and organs need to be strong. These nutrients find their way to your cells, tissues and organs via the blood. If you are eating proper foods and your spleen is able to break down your foods properly, you will create nutrient dense blood and strong cells, tissues and organs.
A weak spleen will lead to little or no appetite with a bland, sweet or slimy taste in the mouth. Bleeding can occur in the form of petechiae (small dots of bleeding under the skin), purpura (big flat patches of bleeding under the skin), inability to clot and flooding or spotting of menses. Accumulation of fluids can occur that creates impaired movement of limbs, edema and phlegm.
One of the easiest ways to tell if the Spleen is healthy or sick is to look at your tongue. If you have a swollen tongue, your Spleen is weak. If your tongue is swollen AND pale, you are deficient in nutrients.
If your Spleen function is weak, you can eat all of the health food you want and exercise your booty off but it won’t re-boot your Spleen’s function. The best way to re-boot your Spleen or any organ is to have Acupuncture by a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac). Acupuncture is the use of tiny little ‘needles’ that are placed into a specific location on your body. Once the needle is inserted into the skin, it wakes up the nerve which sends a message to your brain to heal a specific part of your body. It is a simple, non-invasive form of healing that actually fixes your body.
The number of acupuncture treatments needed to reverse the organ damage depends on how long it was left untreated. The longer the damage or pain was allowed to go on, the more treatments required. Similar to car repair – if the ‘check engine’ light has been on for months, the damage may have continued to the point where the repair will cost you much more than if you had it checked out immediately when the light first appeared.
Paying attention to pain and seeking immediate intervention/consultation is a better option than waiting it out to see if it gets better. In the long run, your body will thank you be being a “finely tuned engine”. It’s all about your health!

Please share this article with family or friends who would benefit from this information.

Until next month!

Shana Grams L.Ac

What you can’t see can affect your health was last modified: January 14th, 2015 by Shana Grams

Cramping, bloating, cravings, mood swings and depression have been widely accepted as ‘normal’ monthly symptoms for women that can actually be easily eliminated or diminished with Acupuncture.

PMS is your body’s alarm system signaling to you that your body is going hay wire.  When your body’s energy isn’t able to nourish every cell, gland and organ they become weak and well, if your cells, glands and organs are weak do you think they will function to their full capacity?  NO WAY!   

A study from the Archive of Gynecology and Obstetrics found a 77.8% success rate for treating PMS symptoms with Acupuncture!!

Conclusion: PMS is not a ‘normal’ body function and if left ‘as is’ can become a deeper rooted issue.  Stop suffering and get needled, Acupuncture style!!!

Acupuncture and PMS was last modified: May 15th, 2013 by Shana Grams