Optimal Health

ACUPUNCTURE FOR JET LAG, INSOMNIA, ANXIETY

Acupuncture treatments before and after jet travel work very well to keep the internal clock in balance.  Try to get a treatment as close to travel as possible, both before and after.  Also take homeopathic Rescue Remedy or Jet Lag, and Yin Tonic herbs.  When we travel, our Yin gets depleted.

Acupuncture for:

*Jet Lag

*Insomnia

*Anxiety / Nervousness

*Depression from traveling through time zones

*Immunity during and after travel

ACUPUNCTURE FOR KIDS

I used to feel that children should not be needled prior to age 12 or so.  But I have more recently been treating small children with great success, and they seem to like it, usually falling asleep on the table.  These kids first see their parents being needled and find it very interesting.  They often ask to be treated themselves.  The kids seem to really relax with the treatment.  More and more I’m treating mom and child together.  Common problems:

*ADD/ADHD

*Digestive problems:  constipation, gas

*Nervousness

*Immunity

*Headaches

*Backpain

*Bedwetting

MONTHLY ACUPUNCTURE TUNE-UP’S  FOR  IMMUNITY, HORMONES AND MENTAL CLARITY

When you make a personal committment to yourself to get a montly acupuncture treatment, even when you are doing well and feeling fine, you are making a committment to your long-term health goals, and will be very happy with what you find a year or two latter!   

*More energy

*Less Anxiety

*Better Immunity

*Better digestion

*Improved mental outlook

*Improved hormones, sex drive, menstrual cycle regularity

*Less aches and pains

Dr Randy Martin, OMD, LAc, PhD

Doctor of Chinese Medicine

Certified Classical Homeopath

Encino Office:  MAILING ADDRESS

Tuesday and Thursday

12:30 - 7:30 pm

17000 Ventura Blvd #220

Encino, CA 91316

Telephone: 818 905 6171

West Los Angeles/Santa Monica Office: 

Wednesday

12:30 pm -7:30 pm

1444 Carmelina Blvd #132

West Los Angeles, CA 90025

Telephone: 310 979 6495

Valencia Office:

Saturdays AND Mondays

12:30  - 6:00 pm

23332 Valencia Blvd

Valencia, CA 91355

Telephone:  661 312 9868

Email:  drrandymartin@gmail.com

On the Web:  www.drrandymartin.com

ACUPUNCTURE SUCCESS STORIES

Recent research, as well as my clinical experience since 1983, has proven to me that acupuncture can be extremely effective for the following woman’s health problems.  These include the acupuncture “face lift”, PMS, endometriosis, infertility, cysts, fibroids, breast augmentation and menopause.In addition, there are great clinical and scientific studies on acupuncture for low back pain, sciatica, fatigue and anxiety.   To summarize some of my experiences:PMS Eileen, a 27-year-old psychologist, came to my office with symptoms of severe PMS, which were threatening to interfere with her relationship with her fiancé.  After discussing her symptoms and taking a complete health history, it became evident that she had what is called “Type A PMS.”  Type A refers to PMS where there is an overabundance of estrogen with a lack of progesterone.  Her symptoms consisted of anxiety, irritability and mood swings.   This is the most common type of PMS.Eileen’s treatment lasted three months and she received acupuncture twice per month.  She also took a Chinese Herbal supplement to balance her female hormones and detoxify her liver.After the three months of treatments, she was 85% free from her original PMS symptoms and her relationship with her fiancé was flowing very smoothly.  Eileen periodically came in for “tune-up” treatments, about once every three months, and reports she was still doing really well.LOW BACK PAIN WITH SCIATICA George, a 48 year old male, came to my office complaining of acute lower back pain that had started about three weeks before when he lifted a box and “pulled something” in the back.  George wanted to try acupuncture only, without the use of Chinese herbs or homeopathic remedies.  He came in twice per week and after the first week, his pain had diminished by about 75%.Acupuncture was performed on his lower back, buttock area, legs and ankles.  The treatments lasted between 20-30 minutes each.  After three weeks, George’s pain was about 95% better, on a scale of 0 - 100% (with 100% being totally free of pain.).I told George to come back in for treatment on an as-needed basis.  I see him every six months or so for a tune up treatment.  Georges’ case is a bit unusual, due to the fact that normally I’ll treat low back pain and sciatica using herbs and homeopathic remedies in addition to the acupuncture.  But this case is a great example of lower back pain with sciatica that resolved very effectively with acupuncture only.PMS:  DEPRESSION, HEART PALPITATIONS, WITH ANXIETY Julia, a 28-year-old secretary came to me to work on her symptoms of anxiety, agoraphobia, depression, and racing heart or palpitations.  Her symptoms began after breaking up with her boyfriend after a five-year relationship.   She had also been to a psychiatrist who had placed her on an antidepressant prescription medication, and she was also in weekly psychotherapy.  Her primary problem was that she had trouble getting to sleep at night due to her overactive mental chatter.For the first three weeks I saw Julia twice a week for acupuncture and gave her the homeopathic remedy Coffea cruda* 30C to take at bedtime.  She immediately reported being able to get to sleep more quickly and the heart palpitations were lessoning as well.I kept Julia coming in once weekly for acupuncture for another ten weeks, at which time she reported her anxiety and other symptoms had been almost totally eliminated.  This ended her treatment and I told her to come back if and when, she wanted to try and get off the prescription medication.

CHRONIC FATIGUEMy experience treating CFIDS, or chronic fatigue syndrome and Fibromyalgia is that 80% of my patients feel substantially better within four weeks after beginning treatment.  Jill, a fifty-year-old single mother of two teenagers was under a significant amount of stress when she came in.  She had been trying to treat her self using vitamins and herbs for her severe muscle and joint pains and progressive fatigue for a period of about four years with mixed success.A friend who had seen me for the same problem told her about acupuncture, so she decided to try it.  She came in weekly and I did acupuncture and had her get blood work.  Her blood tests revealed a severe deficiency in protein, sodium, calcium and magnesium.  So along with the acupuncture she increased her protein intake, decreased her carbohydrates in the diet, and began to take the mineral supplements I suggested, which were easier to assimilate than the ones she had previously been taking.Jill improved very quickly and after only six weeks, she reported an 80% increase in energy, and the only time her muscles and joints hurt was when she exerted herself too much in the garden, or didn’t get her full eight hours of sleep.   She continues to come in once a month for her acupuncture “tune-up”.ACUPUNCTURE FOR ANXIETY Marcia, a 42-year-old movie producer, came to me wanting to get off the antianxiety prescription medications he had become addicted to over a period of three years.  This is one of the more difficult treatments using acupuncture alone, so we placed her on a detoxification diet and herbal regimen, without changing her prescription medications.  Checking her blood tests showed her liver enzymes were significantly elevated, so I targeted the liver and created a detoxification regimen for her.After ten weeks of detoxification, the liver enzymes came down on the blood test and with her doctor’s supervision we began to lessen her prescription medications.  After three more months, although she was not off the prescriptions entirely, she managed to reduce them significantly.  She continued acupuncture once every three weeks while taking her herbs, and reported that she had not felt that clearheaded in years!BREAST AUGMENTATION Breast augmentation, or natural breast enlargement, is possible by stimulating the body’s own, naturally existing hormones.  This is done through the use of acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy and specific nutritional supplements aimed at increasing and balancing the body’s own, naturally occurring hormone levels.The effects are always more substantial in younger woman.  Most of my experience has been with women in their late twenties and early thirties.Linda, age 27, came to me for breast augmentation after deciding she didn’t want to suffer the possible side effects of implants.  I saw Linda twice weekly for the initial four weeks and performed acupuncture, and then she came weekly until she received the results she was wanting.Her weekly acupuncture lasted another fifteen weeks and then monthly for another four months.  Needles were placed along the meridians, which travel through the breasts, including the liver and stomach meridians.  Points were also done on the Spleen and Chong Mo meridians, on the stomach, and insides of the wrists and legs, all governing hormones.Linda was also taking a constitutional homeopathic remedy, which in her case was Sepia.  She also took a Chinese herbal supplement called Venus.  She was delighted with her results.   Before and after breast measurements gave her what she was wanting.  In addition, because the treatment was holistic and aimed at balancing the body’s hormones, her overall level of health, and the feel and look of her skin and her energy were better than ever!The average cost for breast implants is from $4,000 to $10,000.   For the acupuncture, the average cost is $2,000 to $2,500.COSMETIC FACE LIFT Acupuncture face-lifts are very effective.  The purpose of the treatment is to strengthen the overall vitality, or chi in the body, thereby creating firmer skin with less wrinkles.  Wrinkles will lesson as specific Chinese herbs are used, diet is changed and needles are placed on the wrinkles themselves.The needles are placed on the face, hands, legs, and stomach, strengthening the meridians, which run through the facial area.  This type of treatment works best if done twice weekly for a minimum of ten weeks.  Then we take a break of about one month, and perform another cycle of treatments of ten weeks at twice per week.Results will vary, depending on the overall level of health and vitality of the patient.  If the digestion is good, and the diet is healthy, good results will be achieved by the end of treatment.  This treatment can also be complemented by home, self-stimulation of the meridians through acupressure and with an electrical acupuncture device held in the hand.The average cost of a traditional face-lift is from $4,000 to $10,000.   The acupuncture facelift from $2,000 to $3,000, and in addition to the facelift, the patient ends up with a much greater level of health.

Dr Randy Martin, OMD, LAc, PhD

Doctor of Chinese Medicine

Certified Classical Homeopath

Encino Office:  MAILING ADDRESS

Tuesday and Thursday

12:30 - 7:30 pm

17000 Ventura Blvd #220

Encino, CA 91316

Telephone: 818 905 6171

West Los Angeles/Santa Monica Office:   

Wednesday

12:30 pm -7:30 pm

1444 Carmelina Blvd #132

West Los Angeles, CA 90025

Telephone: 310 979 6495

Valencia Office:

Saturdays AND Mondays

12:30  - 6:00 pm

23332 Valencia Blvd

Valencia, CA 91355

Telephone:  661 312 9868

Email:  drrandymartin@gmail.com

On the Web:  www.drrandymartin.com

NEW BOOK ON HOMEOPATHY FOR EMOTIONAL HEALTH

This is a new book with articles from some of the world’s most well-respected homeopaths outlining exactly how homeopathy is used to treat emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, OCD, ADD, ADHD, tics, autism, grief, saddness, hyperactivity, worry, and other emotional issues.

Some of the authors are friends of mine and others have been my teachers over the last 25 years.

There is also research and case studies proving how effective homeopathy is for emotional problems.

My experience is that homeopathic medicine works very well for everything from mild anxiety and depression to teenager oppositional behavior and emotional loss.  The first time you have experienced it’s effectiveness, you’ll be a convert forever!

Here is a link to the book - I suggest taking a look at the Table of Contents to get a good idea of exactly what is in this book.

Link to Book on Homeopathy for Emotional Health 

Effective and Natural Herbal Cures for Insomnia, Depression, Anxiety, Hot Flashes, Morning Sickness, PMS, Low Sex Drive, and Menstrual Cramps

Effective and Natural Herbal Cures for Insomnia, Depression, Anxiety, Hot Flashes, Morning Sickness, PMS, Low Sex Drive, and Menstrual Cramps

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) affects an estimated 2 percent of the population. Conventional therapies are limited in the success of treating this complex and unexplained condition. Current treatment is largely comprised of prescribing different medications for the varying symptoms in a trial and error approach. Research shows that as many as 90 percent of people with fibromyalgia have turned to complimentary and alternative medicine to manage their symptoms. Acupuncture, in particular, has become a popular treatment choice and has shown to be an effective treatment for FMS.

What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome?

Fibromyalgia is a medically unexplained syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain, a heightened and painful response to pressure, insomnia, fatigue, and depression. While not all affected persons experience all associated symptoms, the following symptoms commonly occur together:

• chronic pain
• debilitating fatigue
• difficulty sleeping
• anxiety and depression
• joint stiffness
• chronic headaches and jaw pain
• difficulty swallowing
• dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes
• hypersensitivity to odors, bright lights, and loud noises
• inability to concentrate (called “fibro fog”)
• incontinence
• irritable bowel syndrome
• numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet
• painful menstrual cramps
• poor circulation in hands and feet (called Raynaud’s phenomenon)
• restless legs syndrome

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed when there is a history of widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months and pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18 designated tender points on the body. This condition does not result in any physical damage to the body or its tissues and there are no laboratory tests which can confirm this diagnosis.

Symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event. Women are more prone to develop the disorder than are men, and the risk of fibromyalgia increases with age.

From an Eastern Perspective

The Oriental medicine theory of pain is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: “Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong” which means “free flow: no pain, no free flow: pain.”

Pain is seen as a disruption of the flow of Qi within the body. The disruption of Qi that results in fibromyalgia is usually associated with disharmonies of the Liver, Spleen, Kidney and Heart Systems.

The Acupuncture Treatment

Oriental Medicine does not recognize fibromyalgia as one particular disease pattern. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual depending on their constitution, emotional state, intensity and location of their pain, digestive health, sleeping patterns and an array of other signs and symptoms. Therefore, if 10 people are treated with Oriental medicine for fibromyalgia, each of these 10 people will receive a unique, customized treatment with different acupuncture points, different herbs and different lifestyle and dietary recommendations.

Because the symptoms of fibromyalgia are highly variable form one person to another, a wide array of traditional and alternative treatments has been shown to be the most effective way of treating this difficult syndrome. A treatment program may include a combination of psychological or behavioral therapies, medications, exercise, acupuncture, herbal medicine and bodywork.

If you have fibromyalgia, acupuncture and Oriental medicine may be what you’ve been looking for to ease your symptoms and reclaim your health and vitality. Please Email or call for a consultation today.

Hot Link To Consultation information - Dr. Martin’s Website 

Study on Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia

A recent study from the Mayo Clinic found acupuncture helpful in treating the fatigue and anxiety commonly experienced by fibromyalgia patients. In the trial, patients who received acupuncture to counter their fibromyalgia symptoms reported improvement in fatigue and anxiety, among other symptoms. Acupuncture was well tolerated, with minimal side effects.

In the double-blind study, Mayo Clinic doctors gave 25 fibromyalgia patients acupuncture, and 25 “sham” acupuncture treatments. Patients received six treatments during the two- to three-week study. Those who received acupuncture treatments reported less fatigue and anxiety one month following after treatment than did the “sham” group.

“The results of the study convince me there is something more than the placebo effect to acupuncture,” says David Martin, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the acupuncture article and a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist. “It affirms a lot of clinical impressions that this complementary medical technique is helpful for patients.”

Dr. Martin says the study demonstrates that acupuncture is helpful, and also proves physicians can conduct a rigorous, controlled acupuncture study. Future research could help physicians understand which medical conditions respond best to acupuncture, how to apply it to best relieve symptoms, and how long patients can expect to their symptoms to decrease after each treatment.

Dr. Martin performed the study at Mayo Clinic Rochester with co-authors Ines Berger, M.D.; Christopher Sletten, Ph.D.; and Brent Williams. The study used only two acupuncturists and examined only patients who reported more severe symptoms, offering better experimental control. Still, the Mayo Clinic doctors urged more study to see how acupuncture can best be used in treating fibromyalgia patients.

Source: Mayo Clinic (2006, June 13). Acupuncture Relieves Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia, Mayo Clinic Study Finds.

from AcuFinder.com

We all suffer from occasional insomnia. The causes are many, but for the most part, most of us are under quite a bit of stress, and whether it’s the mind that won’t shut off, or the restlessness of the body, the effect is the same: Sleepless nights, and a subsequent day of feeling foggy and “out of it”. My thanks to Amy Rothenberg, ND for the inspiration for this brief article on homeopathy for insomnia.

For most of my patients, there are generally two types of insomnia. The first type is when you can’t fall asleep, and the second type is when you wake up in the middle of the night. My recommendation is to try taking the homeopathic remedy upon falling asleep. But if you awake in the middle of the night, you may need to take another dose at that time. Also, please don’t drink a lot of liquids before bed if you tend to wake up to go to the bathroom. Get your liquids in throughout the day instead.

Our first remedy is Arsenicum album. This one is useful for people who have a lot of anxiety, agitation and restlessness. This one works great during a cold or flu when you also can’t get to sleep. Patients who need this remedy are generally tidy, chilly and feel most restless just after midnight. More of the controlling personality types.

Our next remedy is quite a bit different from Arsenicum album. It’s called Calcarea carbonica and is useful when a person feels overwhelmed with life and just can’t calm down and turn off after work. The person’s type is usually sweaty, with wet palms of hands, might be a bit overweight, tends to be shy, and is often constipated. This is the responsible type who is supporting a family and doing more than their fair share. Dependable types.

One of the more common homeopathic remedies for sleepless nights is actually one called Coffea cruda. This remedy works great when you can’t turn off the mind and feel agitated, as if you have just drank a lot of caffeine before bedtime. This person will be the nervous type and easily excited. They may have no trouble getting to sleep, but might wake up around 3 am and have trouble getting back to sleep.

Gelsemium is a great remedy for people who keep thinking about some event coming up, like a performance or exam, or big date of some type. Usually thought of as a flu and cold remedy, this one also works great when the eyes are drooping and tired, and you just cannot get fully to sleep. Especially good when you have chills up and down the spine and feel like you lack the courage to continue.

Ingatia amara is the first remedy to think of when sleeplessness is due to grief or loss. I can’t tell you how often I’ve given this remedy successfully to people who are experiencing grief, like the loss of a spouse or pet. It works amazingly well, when the reason for laying awake is from grief or sadness. There may be sighing, sobbing or a lot of yawning. The mood is changeable and they may be lots of tears.

There are many other homeopathic remedies for insomnia, but this should give you a good start. For occasional insomnia, just take a few pills of 12C potency before bed or when you wake in the middle of the night. If you have insomnia all the time, it’s best to consult with me, so we can pick a remedy that better matches, and also run a test of your various blood, hormones and neurotransmitters levels. This way we can more scientifically choose the right products for you.

There are some wonderful Chinese herbal products for insomnia as well, and I just want to touch a few of them now:

Schizzandra ZZZ
Grandma’s Sleep Formula
CH34

The best way to deal with insomnia is to take the saliva test to determine exactly which neurotransmitters in the brain are either overstimulated or lacking. This way we can choose the right products and homeopathics more quickly.

Best of luck on your path to wellness.

Why Homeopathy Does NOT Work —  by Dr. Randy Martin

Off Topic:

If you are stressed, or feeling sick, or in pain right now, remember that we are in the middle of a very powerful full moon cycle and moon wobble.   Many people are experiencing all kinds of physical ailments and emotional stress.  You are not alone!

On Topic:

HERE ARE THE TOP 10 REASONS HOMEOPATHY DOES NOT WORK!!!

1.  You were given the wrong homeopathy remedy - Many “homeopaths” have only taken a few weekend courses, and don’t really know how to select the right remedy.

2.  You were given the right remedy in the wrong potency - There are many strengths, or potencies, of homeopathic remedies.  They range from 3C, 6C, 12C, and 30C on up to 200C, 1M, 10M, and 50M and beyond.  You may have taken a remedy that was right for you, but the potency was wrong.  In this case it wouldn’t work.

3.  You stopped taking the remedy too soon - Just like in a chess game; you must have the patience to complete the game.  Many people stop the remedy too soon when they don’t see improvement.

4.  You didn’t communicate to your homeopath the changes that occurred when you took your remedy - Unlike Western doctors, most of the information a homeopath uses to prescribe your remedy, actually comes from you.   If you don’t communicate accurately all the little nuances of changes that are occurring while you take your remedy, the homeopath won’t have the data he needs to prescribe accurately.

5.  You swallowed your remedy - Remember that for a homeopathic remedy to work, you must place it under your tongue and suck on it.  If you touch the pills or swallow them, they won’t work.

6.  You didn’t wait 20 minutes before and after your took the homeopathic remedy, without putting anything else in your mouth - Remember, that you must have nothing in your mouth for at least 20 minutes, for your remedy to work effectively.

7.  You were given a “combination” homeopathic remedy - some “homeopaths” use combination remedies with 3, 6, 8 or more homeopathic remedies in one pill.  This isn’t really homeopathy, and more often than not, won’t work.  If the homeopath is not trained in homeopathy, he or she might use combination remedies out of convenience.  But don’t judge its effectiveness based on a combination remedy.  Although it might bring some relief, it might not.

8.  You drink a lot of coffee, ate a lot of mints, or got dental work - Anything that affects your nervous system may lesson the effects of your homeopathic remedy.   Be sure to tell your homeopath so he can assess what is going on.

9.  You keep your homeopathic remedies next to your TV set, or near some other strong electric device or electro-magnetic field - Remember that homeopathic remedies are made from very small amounts or either plant, animal or mineral substances, and can easily be ruined if subjected to long-standing energy fields.

10.  You didn’t tell your homeopath everything going on with you - Remember that without all the information, a homeopath cannot be expected to select the right remedy.   This includes ALL your physical ailments, even if you only want one of them to be cured.   And also tell him about your emotions and psychological stresses.  Remember, everything is interconnected in homeopathy.

So, you might say, why would anyone ever want to try homeopathy in the first place, given the fact that it doesn’t work so much of the time?  Or, you might ask, why are you expecting me to believe in ghosts, or in magic?  Why would I want to trust my well being to homeopathy, when it isn’t accepted by the mainstream in this country? 

These are good questions.  I would direct you to the testimonial page of my website.  Many people have spoken their truth about homeopathy and it’s effectiveness in their life:   http://drrandymartin.com/testimonials.html

Or do a google search for homeopathy and scientific studies.  In one search I just did, I saw many good books and studies, which showed how and why homeopathy works.   But beware of the quack busters, who really know nothing about homeopathy.

Best of luck in your quest for optimal health!!!!

How to Withdraw More Easily from Prescription Medications, Smoking or Drugs, and Even Succeed at Your Weight Loss or Quit-Smoking Program.

It’s important to NEVER stop taking any prescription medications without the advice and support of your Medical Doctor.  The reasons are explained below:

Many times, patients come to me with the primary desire to stop taking their prescription medications or recreational drugs.  Other times, patients see themselves getting healthier and more balanced after receiving holistic treatments, and they ask me if they can get off one of their prescription medications.  Still other people, may have inadvertently become accustomed to taking a medication for the side effects of a surgery or an accident or trauma in their lives, and then they want to get off the medication after their life becomes more stable.The medication could be an anti-depressant, hypertension medication, anti-histamine, pain medications, hyper-acidity medications, diet pill, prescription hormones, marijuana, alcohol, or any number of other prescription medications or self-medications, such as sugar, carbohydrate addiction, caffeine addiction or hard drugs.

I would like to quickly outline below the most common mistakes I see my patients making when they try to get themselves off their medications, independent of their doctor’s advice:

1.  They do not first discuss their plan with their Medical Doctor.  It’s really, really important to not only discuss your plan with your Medical Doctor first, but to also get his or her approval for your plan.  This is because your Medical Doctor is in the best position to help you develop a rational plan for how to withdrawal off your medications.   Your Doctor knows your medical history, and also the pharmaceutical effects of the medication you are taking.  He or she is in the best position to help you develop a strategy for exactly how to stop the medication, and in exactly what increments it will be best to do it.

2.  Going too fast.  Many people start feeling really good after they start acupuncture or homeopathy and then they just stop their other medications, or stop them too fast.  This usually leads to having to go back onto their medications.  However, the best way is to actually go a lot slower then you might want to.  Thus you can head off any negative effects and catch yourself before you start feeling bad or your symptoms come back.   If you think you might want to stop over a period of three months, then extend it to six months.  The longer you take to do this, the more success you will probably have in the end.

3.  Not taking the right natural supplements as you taper off your prescription medications.  The body acclimates or even becomes addicted to some prescription medications.  When on a medication, your metabolism or hormones or neurotransmitters may have completely changed.   So if you are going to stop taking that medication, or significantly reduce it, it’s important to feed your body and mind with the nutrients needed to begin to work correctly without the medication.   Without taking natural supplements to replace your body’s dependance on the medications, it is much, much harder to go off any prescription medications.  Obviously, it can be done, but it’s a lot more challenging.

Here is a list of some of some of the more common natural supplements I sometimes recommend my patients take during this most difficult time.

*Homeopathic Kali phos - to support the nerves
*Homeopathic Mag phos - for relaxation, stress and for spasms
*Homeopathic Bio-Plasma - for overall support to keep the system strong during the transition
*Rescue Remedy - for the anxiety and panic that might occur.  Good to keep on hand*Homeopathic Tobaccum - for tobacco withdrawal
*Homeopathic Arnica - if you feel “beat up” and achy all over
*Homeopathic Aconite - for panic in the middle of the night or extreme fear anytime
*Amino Acids:  Theanine, Tryptophan, 5HTP, Taurine, Arginine, GABA, or a good mix of amino acids to support the system during withdrawl.   These amino acids will help to relax the nervous system, and reduce anxiety and alleviate other symtpoms of withdrawl.
*High Potency B-Vitamins - overall support
*Multi-Mineral Formula including large amounts of Magnesium and Calcium - relaxation and to keep the nerves and muscles from creating pain or spasms
*Plenty of fluids.  This should include electrolytes like Emergen-C, and detox tea such as Dandelion and Licorice (to balance the blood sugar).  Detox and blood sugar stability is critical!
*Extra Chromium to balance the blood sugar
*Herbal Pain Relievers for Pain and Herbal Sleep Medications to help with sleep. - I have many in my office and there are many others on the market.  Find what works for you and have it in your medicine cabinet for those times you need it.
*Rejuvamen HGH for energy
*Ponay Tea for energy, weight loss, and to assure assimilation of your proteins and fats
*Protein Powder made with Rice Protein for Detox and blood sugar.  (May also be used as weight loss aid to replace one or two meals per day.)
*Carry Protein Bars with you throughout the day to stop a sudden drop in blood sugar before it occurs. Exercise and breath are also key ingredients.  Exercise, even just daily walking, really will help. And if you cannot get out and exercise daily, try and remember to do breathing exercises, or Tai Chi, or some other centering exercise with breathing.

One really relaxing exercise is called “Cupping” or “Palming”.   Here is a web link for how to do it: 

http://community.livejournal.com/holistic_vision/tag/yoga

By relaxing your eyes, your brain will also stop repeating the same thoughts over and over again.  The eyes are a window to how the mind works.For women, it’s important to regulate the hormones.  If you are menstruating, then regulating and balancing your periods is critical to success.  There are many herbal formulas, and acupuncture, to aid in doing this.  If you are in menopause, it’s critical to balance your hormones, as any additional stress might throw your hormones off and cause another layer of symptoms. In my experience, the people who have the greatest success in withdrawing off prescription medications, stopping an addictive behavior or substance, or stopping recreational drugs have one quality in common:  They don’t give up!Time and time again, I see people stopping treatments or stopping their natural supplements, only to return 6 months later, back on their medications, or addicted again to a drug or harmful behavior.  They say “it didn’t work.”  But actually it did work, but they didn’t stick to the natural program long enough to see the results really take root.  The people who are really successful have follow-through. In general, it’s a good idea to really think through your choice before getting off any prescription medication and to discuss it with your Medical Doctor before making any decisions.  The worst thing you can do is to just go off it on your own without any support.    Your Medical Doctor should be the lead doctor in this decision, and remember to do it very, very slowly, if you really want to succeed.Lastly, anyone who has received acupuncture knows the relaxing effects.  So if you are not phobic of needles, and it’s convenient to get into an acupuncturist’s office, then regular treatments will really help at this transition time.  Even daily treatments for the first week are a good idea, or at least weekly or every other week.  Health insurance usually covers a percentage of the acupuncture treatments as well. Best of Luck on your healing journey. 

(Note from Dr. Randy Martin:  This research article shows the undeniable effectiveness of acupuncture for treatment of Migraine Headaches.)

Acupuncture Effective for Migraine Relief
By Editorial Staff
As any chronic sufferer will tell you, migraine headaches can be debilitating, affecting concentration and the ability to perform daily tasks. In fact, the odds are high that a patient will come to see you with a complaint of migraines.The latest epidemiologic data estimates 28 million Americans (approximately one in 10) suffer from migraines. Furthermore, almost half of those migraine cases are undiagnosed.

Fortunately, as research suggests, Chinese medicine may help stop migraines in their tracks. In the March 2008 issue of the journal Headache, Italian researchers published the results of a study that involved 160 migraine patients. Researchers divided study participants into different groups, each of which received one of the following treatment protocols: real acupuncture plus migraine medication, two different methods of mock acupuncture with migraine medication, and medication alone. Patients were evaluated three and six months after starting treatment. Migraines were classified according to the following TCM symptoms:    •    exogenous wind-cold attack;
    •    exogenous wind-heat attack;
    •    exogenous wind-dampness attack;
    •    excess of liver yang;
    •    obstruction of the middle jiao due to damp phlegm;
    •    deficiency of kidney essence; or
    •    stagnation of qi and blood.For patients receiving true acupuncture, each syndrome was treated with a specific acupoint selection according to TCM. Twice a week, patients submitted to two courses of 10 acupuncture applications each, with a one-week rest period between the treatment courses. The sessions lasted 30 minutes.In patients receiving ritualized mock acupuncture, the protocol was the same as in the actual acupuncture group, but the needles were not inserted. A small cylinder of foam was applied to the skin by a double-adhesive plaster on each acupoint. Needles with blunted tips were then inserted into the cylinder, touching but not penetrating the skin. This allowed the patient to feel a superficial, light pricking-like sensation, thus simulating needle insertion. A slight pressure was applied on the needle to simulate the arrival of qi. This procedure was used in order to check possible placebo effects related to the use of the TCM approach.In patients who received standard mock acupuncture, only the Western approach was used for diagnosis and the following standard acupoint selection was used: tou wei (ST 8), xuan lu (GB 5), feng chi (GB 20), da zhui (GV 14), lie que (LU 7). The same method of needle insertion as for ritualized mock acupuncture was used.All patients were allowed to take rizatriptan to treat migraine attacks, The rizatriptan wafer was administered at a dose of 10 mg, and a second dose was allowed after two hours if the pain persisted.

The researchers found that of all the groups studied, only the group that received real acupuncture showed a significant improvement both in terms of migraine disability and reduced medication use, both at the three- and six-month follow-up. Mock acupuncture showed a slight placebo effect, but only at the three-month follow-up.

Dr. Martin’s Comments: 

My experience is that of every problem I have treated over a 25+ year history, migraine headaches are truly one of the easiest and most effective problems I’ve treated.   In most women, they are commonly associated with hormone imbalances.  In both men and women, they are commonly associated with stress.

I’ll also have them write down what they eat, so we ca see if there is any blood sugar problem or other nutritional deficiency going on.  Often changing the eating and exercise patterns will also help to make a big difference.