About 20 years ago I learned a breathing exercise called Sudarshan Kriya from the Art of Living program. There are many forms of breathing exercises available thorough different schools of yoga and Qi Gong. I can recommend the Art of Living program without hesitation. It only takes about 15 minutes a day to do the breathing and another 15 minutes for the meditation practice which is an optional addition.

A number of scientific studies have been conducted over the last 20 years which proves that meditation and Sudarshan Kriya benefit the physiology on many levels. In particular, these practices have proven to help in the treatment of hypertension and significantly reduce symptoms of headache, stress, anxiety and depression.

If you live in Portland, the Art of Living contact information is:

Janardhan at janardhan.lavakumar@gmail.com -  ph: 503-560-3521

Raghu at rchadive@gmail.com  -  ph: 503-816-7894)

Portland Web Site: http://us.artofliving.org/portland

If you live outside of Portland, go to:  http://us.artofliving.org

While I’m a great believer in acupuncture and shiatsu to treat specific conditions. I also try to encourage my clients to manage their own health through proper diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle. The Art of Living program is a program I can recommend for overall health maintenance and longevity.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have questions about acupuncture and shiatsu, or if you have a specific health concern, please contact me at:

Bart Walton, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Portland, Oregon
503/939-5805

As a Japanese acupuncture and shiatsu practitioner in Portland, people often ask if acupuncture and shiatsu will help with this or that particular problem. The answer is usually “yes…but”. The “but” is that while acupuncture and shiatsu are excellent treatments for a wide range of specific health issues, they are also extremely beneficial for overall health maintenance.

Medical studies in Japan have shown that acupuncture and shiatsu help to balance the autonomic nervous system because they specifically calm the sympathetic nerves.  During acupuncture and shiatsu, the entire autonomic system relaxes, allowing the peripheral blood vessels to expand and nourish the body on a deep cellular level. At the same time, toxins are released and flushed from the cells throughout the body. This effect alone allows the body to release stress and make hundreds of corrections on a chemical and cellular level.

In this country, people understand the benefits of having their car serviced on a routine basis, even if there are no particular problems. It’s called routine maintenance. But what most people don’t understand is that the body too needs routine maintenance in order to reduce stress, eliminate toxins and correct imbalances in the circulation of qi energy and blood. And these benefits are cumulative with regular treatment.

So, yes, acupuncture and shiatsu are very effective for specific disorders such as headache, anxiety, depression, acute or chronic pain, insomnia, stomach or intestinal problems, fatigue and fibromyalgia, just to name a few. But in my opinion, the most important benefit of acupuncture and shiatsu is the overall relaxation and balancing of the autonomic nervous system. This is why I recommend regular acupuncture and shiatsu as part of everyone’s routine health care program.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have questions about acupuncture and shiatsu, or if you have a specific health concern, please contact me at:

Bart Walton, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Portland, Oregon
503/939-5805

A migraine headache is defined is a severe, pulsating, one-sided headache, lasting from 4 to 72 hours and which is aggravated by routine physical activity. Migraines are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and/or sensitivity to light and sound. In addition, visual disturbances (auras) lasting from 4 to 60 minutes, may occur either before or during a migraine headache.

Migraines are sometimes called vascular headaches because they involve a restriction in blood flow to the brain. Stress, or some other trigger, causes muscle tension and spasm at the base of the skull, restricting the blood supply to the brain. In response, blood vessels in and around the brain dilate in order to compensate for the reduced oxygen. The pressure of these dilating arteries on cranial nerves causes the severe throbbing pain associated with migraine headaches.

One of the best alternative therapies for a migraine headache is Japanese acupuncture combined with the ancient practice or “cupping”. Cups are round vessels, 1″ to 3″ in diameter, which are applied to the body with vacuum suction. The vacuum is created either by means of heating the air inside the cup or by a mechanical pump. The local area of low pressure causes the blood to gather under the cup near the surface of the body, creating an immediate improvement in circulation. In particular, cupping helps to reset or regulate the tension in the arteries… helping to relax overly tense arteries and tighten those that are too lax. Cupping certain areas on the back can produce this regulating effect throughout the entire body.

In addition to acupuncture and cupping, dietary and lifestyle changes can often help to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches. In this regard, the following suggestions may be helpful.

1) Experiment avoiding foods that are known to trigger migraines for some people. The most common problem foods, in order of importance, are:

• tannins in tea, red wine and apple cider
• chocolate
• aged cheese
• other dairy products
• peanuts
• poultry, including eggs
• caffeine in coffee, tea and cola drinks
• sulfites in processed meats and seafood
• beef
• wheat
• food additives such as MSG, artificial sweeteners (especially those containing Aspartame) and food colorings
• heavily processed or packaged foods

To find out if any of these foods are a trigger for you, experiment by eliminating one at a time for a couple of weeks and observe any change in the frequency or severity of your headaches. In addition, a number of prescription medications can cause migraine headaches in some people. Read the information sheet which comes with your medication and if headaches are a possible side effect, consult with your doctor to see if an alternative medication can be prescribed.

2) Feverfew herbal capsules – 125 mg. per day and containing at least 0.2% parthenolide. Check the label to make sure it contains standardized 0.2% parthenolide. This herb works best as a preventative and may be taken every day in the above dose. If a migraine occurs, take 500 mg. in one dose and do not take any more Feverfew that day.

3) Magnesium (Citrate or Amino Acid Chelate) – begin with 200 to 250 mg per day and gradually increase your dose up to 400 mg. If your stools become loose, back down the dosage to a comfortable level.

4) Exercise moderately, but every day. Exercise helps to regulate blood chemistry as well as vascular tension. It’s best to alternate with different exercises which move the major muscle groups of the body. Bicycling, rowing and swimming are excellent “non-impact” exercises.

5) Drink plenty of water. Your body weight divided by 2.5 equates to the minimum number of ounces of pure water (including juice) you should drink every day. It’s best to drink water mostly between meals.

6) Take flaxseed + borage oil complex – 1 to 2 tablespoons per day.

7) Two or three times each week, drink celery juice alone or combined with carrot, cucumber, spinach and/or parsley. Or, two 8-ounce glasses of this juice per day can be taken as a preventative, instead of Feverfew capsules.

Precautionary Note
Persistent headaches can be a sign of a serious health problem. If you have frequent or persistent headaches, it is recommended that you consult with your health care professional.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have questions about acupuncture and shiatsu, or if you have a specific health concern, please contact me at:

Bart Walton, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Portland, Oregon
503/939-5805