Wellness Posts by PedramShojai

Stress, tension, overwork and headaches - why they won't go away

support@wellness.com — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:47:21 Z

Wellness.com - Stress, tension, overwork and headaches - why they won't go away by PedramShojai

Taking pain killers for headaches does not address the root cause of the problem. Headaches are complex and come from and overall strain on the system from several metabolic processes. Stress, tension, and overwork have become part of everyday life in the modern world. We've all come to accept that life is stressful and that there's nothing we can do about it.

Not true. Surrendering to a life of pill popping will lead to an array of other problems down the line which will be far more costly. But you say- "I've gotta get through today...my meeting, my class, the kid's reception..."

Fair enough. Life's daily crises need to be dealt with but taking pills is like living our lives back on our heels. A proper stress management routine is critical for people who suffer from chronic headaches.

Meditation, yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, biofeedback, hiking, jogging, swimming- you name it...there are dozens of tried and true techniques out there that help bring down the body's response to stress and help our systems become more adaptable.

You say you don't have TIME to do any of these? Question: how much time do you spend dealing with or worrying about headaches every week? Prevention and healthy lifestyle always pay off in the longterm.

I've created some free meditation tracks for stress and pain management which you can download right now and get started:

http://taoistpath.com/online-tools/

Get started today and feel the benefits for a lifetime!

Pedram Shojai, L.Ac.
www.vitalityhealthcare.com
www.taoistpath.com

Low back pain - The problem with posture

support@wellness.com — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:34:08 Z

Wellness.com - Low back pain - The problem with posture by PedramShojai

A good percentage of the low back pain cases we see in the clinic today are partially caused by poor posture in the work environment. Think about is this way-

For millions of years, we have evolved to run, jump, climb, crawl, and swim around looking for food and foraging daily. In the past 5000 years, we shifted from hunter-gatherers to farmers mostly. Here, we would till, sow, reap, and walk for hours a day.

Now, especially in the last 50 years, we have become more and more tied to the office desk which jams in our lumbar spines and distorts the proper bio-mechanics of the pelvis. You figure 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year...how long before things start going wrong?

Normally, the human body is pretty well suited to absorb shock but, in today's hectic world, we sit around working all day and then try to do some spin class or power yoga after work to burn off the calories. Better yet, we go months without exercise and then go out to play football with the guys. No stretching- no conditioning- just get out there and kill yourself. These weekend warriors are the people I usually see in the clinic. They've injured themselves because years of poor posture have set them up for it.

What do we do to fix it?

Acupuncture is amazing for low back pain relief but it is not enough to fix the problem. I always refer these cases to Pilates for core conditioning and give them a home stretching and strengthening program. We work on setting up proper posture at work and we look at their diets to take out inflammatory foods. The gist of the story here is: we have to be conscious of our daily behaviors because 20 years can blow by and suddenly you wonder why your back hurts from your dance class last night. Was it the class or the 20 years of crushing your spine in the office chair that did it?

Wellness is a way of life

support@wellness.com — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:26:33 Z

Wellness.com - Wellness is a way of life by PedramShojai

Over the years, I've seen thousands of patients in the clinic as an acupuncturist and herbalist. I see people from all walks of life and with all types of illnesses and injuries. One thing I've learned is that it is the people who get involved and want to get well that do the best.

The doctor can do everything he can in his power but, in the end, it is the lifestyle of the patient that ultimately determines the outcome. Let me give you an example.

A new patient was referred to me by her neurologist for her persistent headaches that were not responding to conventional treatment. Upon taking her history, it became abundantly clear that it was her actual life that was the real headache. She was in a difficult marriage, her kids kept getting into trouble at school, and, after some testing, we found that she was allergic to wheat. All she ate was bread and cheese and she hardly exercised. I'd have a headache too!

So what did we do? We immediately took her off of gluten (wheat) and adjusted her diet. I balanced her system with acupuncture and taught her Qi Gong (Chinese energy yoga) and some meditation techniques and then we started to work on her boundaries and relationships. Already feeling more vitality after taking away the offensive foods, she had more energy to deal with her husband's criticism of her. Gaining more energy and vitality through Qi Gong gave her more wherewithal to handle her stressful days. Meditation taught her to be less impulsive and to remain calm in the face of her anxious tendencies.

After three months, she was doing great with her husband and the kids were doing well in school. Headaches? Oh yeah, I used to get those didn't I?...

So how much did I do as a physician? Well, I put in some needles on occasion and adjusted her diet. I taught her what to do and, fortunately, SHE DID IT.

The Latin root of the word Doctor is "to teach". Lifestyle is in our hands and it is up to us to seek out specialists to help us if we don't know what to do, but, from that point on, it is up to us to do the work and get better.

Vitality glows from the inside out. The doctor is your friend and ally but, in the end, your lifestyle will determine the outcome. Enjoy your life and live it well!