How does acupuncture help relieve pain?

To understand how acupuncture helps relieve pain, one must understand what acupuncture is. It has been used by people of Asian descent for centuries. Over the last few decades it has gained popularity in our country because of the relief that it brings without side effects. It is an alternative form of treatment invented by the Chinese. It is based on the concept that the energy or life force of a person flows through their body in channels which are referred to as meridians.

Qi 

This energy that flows through the body is referred to as “Qi”. This is pronounced “Chee”. When the Qi or life force is not flowing normally through the meridians of the body, the force gets disrupted giving rise to various problems. Practitioners of this complementary form of medicine believe that with acupuncture the nerves of the body can be stimulated causing a reversal and bringing the Qi back to normal.

What methods are used in acupuncture? 

Practitioners of acupuncture use fine needles that are inserted at various pressure points throughout the body. These points will differ from person to person as the point where the needle is inserted depends on the nature of the complaint, and the body type of the person among other factors. The patient will only feel a pin prick as the needle is inserted because the width of the needle is extremely thin. The practitioner also has to be very experienced to make sure that the needles are inserted efficiently and effectively.

What kind of illnesses does acupuncture cure? 

Acupuncture is used in a variety of illnesses and is gaining popularity and followers at a rapid speed. This is because acupuncture provides pain relief, and a cure for other illnesses and maladies without any side effects. Let’s take a look at some of the afflictions that acupuncture can provide relief for.

Backache 

Acupuncture has been so effective in providing relief for people who suffer from chronic back pain that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends acupuncture as a treatment option. This is based on research and scientific evidence. It also provides relief for other kinds of joint pains. The kind of treatment that you are given will depend on which part of your body needs pain relief.

Migraines

People who have suffered debilitating migraines have found a lot of relief after starting acupuncture treatment. Studies have shown that the insertion of the needles in certain parts of the head stimulates the nerves and helps rid a person of migraines.

Chronic obesity 

There has been quite a large percentage of success for chronically obese people who have lost a lot of weight after starting acupuncture. It is also used in obesity related diseases like diabetes, heart problems, hypertension and cholesterol and those who have used it have shown dramatic improvement.

Cancer 

There have been cases where people with cancer have gone into remission after acupuncture. It is very useful for people who are terminally ill with cancer to help relieve the pain that they are undergoing.

Depression

Many folks with mental disorders have found relief after undergoing an acupuncture treatment. Obviously, mental disorders originate in the brain. By using needles to stimulate the nerves in the brain, practitioners are able to help people deal with all kinds of mental illnesses.

There are those who scoff at acupuncture and call it quack medicine. But there are enough cases and enough proof to show that acupuncture is a safe and reliable treatment for many illnesses. It is important though, to find an acupuncturist who is well known, recommended and experienced.

Reference: 

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/acupuncture-provides-true-pain-relief-in-study/?_r=0

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Acupuncture/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Why are immunizations important?

Immunizations start in the womb itself. Shots are given during pregnancy and this protects the mother and child till the baby comes to term, and through labor. As soon as the baby arrives, the next round of immunizations starts. The hospital gives you a list of immunizations that your baby should be given. The pediatrician will keep you updated on the other vaccines that your child should take and when they should be given. In fact, there are government agencies that check to see if children have been given their shots correctly. If they have not been administered, health inspectors or social workers may even make house calls to remind you that you have to inoculate your child. Because of this strict policy of immunization, many diseases that used to be fatal or cause irreparable damage are almost fully eradicated in our country now.

What are the diseases that you should have vaccinated your child against?

·         MMR

·         Polio

·         DTaP

·         Hib vaccine

·         HBV

·         Pneumococcal vaccine

·         Varicella

MMR 

The acronym MMR stands for mumps, measles, and rubella which is German measles. This immunizes a child against these infections. Follow up shots need to be given at the appropriate age.

Polio 

Polio has been eradicated in most countries thanks to the polio vaccine. The polio vaccine comes in the form of drops. Babies and young children are susceptible to polio. The first polio drops are given during the first month for the baby. The follow up polio drops are equally important and must be given at the right time, as prescribed by your doctor.

DTaP 

Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis are diseases that still strike children in our country, albeit occasionally. For the most part, pediatricians and parents make sure that children receive these immunizations at the right time.

HiB vaccine 

This is a relatively new vaccine and is such a boon as it protects children against a deadly childhood illness, spinal meningitis. The vaccine whose full form is Haemophilus influenzae type b protects children against this disease.

HBV 

This vaccine has also been around only for a while. It protects children against hepatitis B which is a serious type of jaundice that can affect the liver.

Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV7) 

This new vaccine helps protect children against pneumonia, infection in the blood, and meningitis. The introduction of this vaccine has decreased child mortality rates in the country.

Varicella 

For the longest time, chicken pox was just one of those diseases that parents and doctors alike accepted that a child went through. But now, there is a vaccine to protect your child against chicken pox.

Immunizations for adults 

There is a growing number of immunizations that health care advisories ask adults to take. In fact, children are stronger than adults when it comes to fighting diseases. When one of these childhood illnesses manifest in an adult, it manifests in a stronger mutation and it can lead to complications and could be fatal. Some adult immunizations are vaccinations for mumps, measles, rubella, chicken pox and hepatitis.

Check with your doctor regularly 

The problem about virus and bacteria is that they mutate. Research on these diseases has to be ongoing because as soon as a vaccination against them is found, the virus starts mutating and becomes immune to the vaccine. A different vaccine has to be developed to combat the mutated vaccine. Scientists, doctors and social workers work hard to keep people updated on the latest immunizations.

Be a responsible parent and adult and get your child and the rest of your family immunized against diseases!

Reference: 

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/

http://umm.edu/programs/childrens/health/about/immunizations

http://www2.aap.org/immunization/families/whyimmunize.html

Congratulations to our 2013 American Indian Hero Vernon Medicine Cloud Assiniboine/Turtle Mountain Chippewa

Vernon Lee Medicine Cloud currently works for the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley where he is the Grants and Contracts Analyst.  He is currently the President of the American Indian Alliance of Silicon Valley and is also a Director for the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Management Corporation.  Vernon was recently added to the San Jose Police Chief's Community Advisory Board as the liaison for the American Indian community.  Vernon's credits who he is and who he has become to his mother, the great Karen Lynn Medicine Cloud, his grandmother, Lavina Loves Him, his grandfather, Orville Loves Him and the almighty Creator.

For more info please visit: http://www.kqed.org/community/heritage/americanindian/heroes/index.jsp

Watch this video to learn more about him and the amazing work he's done for our community.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYqIit4yAfk

Ohlone Indians join rally to save Santa Clara nature preserve

SANTA CLARA -- The effort to preserve the city of Santa Clara's last remaining open space intensified Sunday as a group of Ohlone Indians bearing drums, snapping clapper sticks and chanting prayer songs rallied in support of the campaign.

The gathering came as the city is eying part of Ulistac Natural Preserve off Lick Mill Boulevard as a possible place to relocate a soccer complex. The current soccer site would be converted into a parking lot for the new 49ers stadium.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_24351320/ohlone-indians-join-rally-save-santa-clara-nature
If the link isn't clickable please copy and past to the address bar of a new blank tab.

Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monitory gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for research and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. section 107.

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html

Outreach programs

Outreach programs are targeted at communities to build up community bonding, wellness and identity. Outreach programs usually encompass a wide range of different programs geared towards the need of a certain community. Some of the common areas that outreach programs work at improving are:

•  Health services
• Nutrition services
• Educative services

These are the most important areas in which communities need help. Apart from that, depending on the community, other programs may be offered. For example, if the outreach program is geared towards the Spanish communities, the program may include services to help the children of the community understand their culture. If it is a farming community, the outreach program may include tips on self sufficient farming and helping the farmers work out how best to get returns for their products. Outreach programs are diverse and only restricted by what the community needs.

A look at how outreach programs help 

Outreach programs are geared to empower communities into making lifestyle changes that will help make their lives better. Let us take a look at some of their services.

Health services 

The health services of these community programs educate communities on hygiene, pregnancy, contraception, diseases etc. They ensure that families in the community are observing basic hygiene, and that teenagers are educated on the harms of substance abuse and on sex. They check if children are being given their immunizations and are taken for regular medical checkups, and that older people are looked after. They have free health screenings for blood sugar, diabetes, pre-diabetes, Body Mass Index, and blood pressure at clinic events, and home visits. They may also provide health education to the community regarding chronic disease prevention and wellness promotion.

Nutrition Services 

Communities are educated on what a balanced diet is and helped to plan a healthy diet with the resources they have. They are also taught how important a fitness program is to ensure a healthy life. When checking them medically, if any deficiencies or anomalies are detected, then individuals are counseled on what kind of food they need to eat to supplement or overcome the deficiency or reduce their risk for other ailments. Outreach programs usually have a registered dietician / certified diabetes educator who provides nutrition education and cooking classes. Individual nutrition services are available as well as monthly nutrition classes.

Education services 

The educative programs do not just address education for children. They have adult education classes too. Volunteers make sure that children of various communities are attending school and receiving education. If not, many outreach programs actually have educators and facilitators going to communities, to take classes for children.

Aim of community outreach programs 

Community programs do not just restrict themselves to building awareness of the community, towards education and health. They also try to help a feeling of oneness to develop in the community. They have family days, parent’s days, children’s day, senior’s days etc. They also celebrate national holidays and holidays that are of relevance to that community. They make it interesting by having art programs or other activities which help the children understand their heritage better.

These programs aim to better the life of communities by making them aware of many resources that they can get, which will help them make their life better. They also help bring the members of a community together, get to know one another, understand each other and help themselves and their neighborhood. This kind of bonding brings a self of pride to the community and very often the lifestyles of the members of the community improve by leaps and bounds.

Outreach programs are usually run by volunteers who want to better the lives of their community!

Reference: 

http://www.indianhealthcenter.org/cwo.html

http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/community-outreach-programs

INDIAN HEALTH CENTER OF SANTA CLARA VALLEY

    Medical • Dental • WIC/Nutrition • Counseling  Community Wellness & Outreach

     Phone (408) 445-3400 |  Fax (408) 448-1041

   www.indianhealthcenter.org

Mailing Address: 1333 Meridian Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125-5212

Contact Information:                                           For Immediate Release

Vernon Medicine Cloud

Phone: (408) 445-3400, ext. 208                                  September 21, 2013

Email: vmcloud@ihcscv.org

INDIAN HEALTH CENTER’S 7TH ANNUAL COMEDY JAM

Laughter is Good Medicine

The Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley will be holding their 7th Annual Comedy Jam

fundraiser on Saturday, October 19, 2013, at the Campbell Community Center’s Heritage Theate in Campbell, CA. Tickets for the Comedy Show are $20 and all seats are general admission. Doors will open at 6:30 pm and the show will start at 7.

There will also be a Reception from 5 – 6:30 pm; for ticket information please contact Liz Hunt at (408) 666-2105 or Lhunt@ihcscv.org.

The comedy line up for this event will include comedians Jason Love, Jeff Applebaum, and Dean Haglund. The Master of Ceremonies is Bob Sarlatte, the Field Annoucer for the San Francisco 49ers football team.

Arrive early to review the Silent Auction item; there will also be a Live Auction during the show.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Indian Health Center’s Native American Youth

Empowerment Program. This program provides American Indian youth with cultural, educational and traditional activities that help them reconnect with their heritage. According to a recent survey, Native American youth had the highest rates of alcohol use (32.8%), and 24.5% of Native high school students had made a suicide plan. Reconnecting Native youth with their Indian cultural heritage helps them build self-esteem and prevents high-risk behavior like gang involvement and substance abuse.

For tickets, auction items, sponsorship or donation information, please:

 1.Contact Mr. Medicine Cloud at (408) 445-3400 ext.208 or    
    vmcloud@ihcscv.org; 
2. Email us at tickets@ihcscv.org; or

3.Visit www.ihccomedyjam.com or the Center’s website at www.IndianHealthCenter.org

BACKGROUND: The Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley is a 501(c)3, nonprofit, community health clinic located in San Jose, California. IHC serves people from all walks of life regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability, and takes pride in  erving our diverse patients and clients. IHC’s services include Medical, Dental, Nutrition/WIC, Counseling and Wellness. IHC hosts a Comedy Jam because it supports health with laughter and celebration, which is a core belief of the American Indian/Alaska Native community.

Coping with post partum depression

Having a baby is a small miracle in the cycle of life. There are poems and beautiful quotes on how a baby fulfils you and makes your life better. But some people go into a deep depression after having a baby. This is called postpartum depression. It can occur in the first few months after having a baby. New mother feel a sense of hopelessness and despair and most often have difficulty in motivating themselves to care for the baby or even carry out normal activities.

Different kinds of depressions that affect a new mother Baby blues 

Sometimes, a mother, just after having a baby, can feel a bit sad. These are called ‘baby blues’. The new mother may feel teary eyed and despondent. They may have trouble sleeping and feel overwhelmed. This is usually because of the sudden feeling of being responsible for another being. The changes that have to be made because of a new baby are difficult to adjust to. And however many books you have read or classes you have attended, it never prepares you for the reality.

But once you get the hang of it, and set a routine, the blues usually disappear and you start enjoying your baby. ‘Baby blues’ are not postpartum depression. They are never as severe and disappear fairly quickly.

Postpartum depression 

This is a much more severe form of depression that could last for months. Postpartum depression is usually brought by changes in the body and erratic imbalance of hormone levels that affect a woman soon after birth. There are quite a few reasons why new mothers have postpartum depression.

1. When there is little or no support from family members and friends.
2.  If your baby is colicky and difficult to manage
3.  If you are prone to depression already
4. If you are not able to balance work and a new baby
5. If you have a stressful lifestyle
6. If you are genetically prone to bipolar disorder

In rare cases, a woman may have a severe form of depression called postpartum psychosis. She may act strangely, see or hear things that aren't there, and be a danger to herself and her baby. This is an emergency, because it can quickly get worse and put her or her baby in danger.

The symptoms for postpartum depression are: 

• A feeling of hopelessness
• Anxiety levels are high
•  Severe mood swings
• Fits of crying for no apparent reason
• Sudden temper tantrums
•  Loss of appetite
• Insomnia
•  Difficulty in concentration
•  Weight gain
• Feeling of unhappiness
• A feeling of being misunderstood
•  Lethargy

If you feel at least three or more of these symptoms and it lasts for more than two or three weeks, you probably are going through postpartum depression. Some of the serious consequences of post partum depression are:

• A feeling of hatred towards the baby
• A feeling of inadequacy
• Hatred towards the spouse and other family members
•  Feeling of apathy towards the baby
•  Neglect of the baby
•  Neglect of self
•  Seeing and hearing things that didn’t happen
• Thoughts of suicide
• Thoughts of harming the baby

How to help someone who is going through posts partum depression? 

It is very important to identify and take action if you feel that you are going through postpartum depression. Most new mothers are unaware that they are going though this ailment, so it is up to the people around them to make sure that the new mother gets the right kind of help as soon as possible. It may take time for a mother to overcome postpartum depression, but she can be helped and in time learn to love and enjoy her child.

Reference

http://www.babycenter.com/0_postpartum-depression-and-anxiety_227.bc

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/postpartum-depression/DS00546