EXCLUSIVE: Mariah Carey: Acupuncture Helped Me Get Pregnant Again

After suffering a miscarriage following her April 2008 wedding to Nick Cannon, Mariah Carey cried herself to sleep many nights.

But in an exclusive interview in the new Us Weekly (on newsstands now), the singer says she and Cannon never gave up.

Though she dismisses reports that she did IVF, Carey tellsUs Weekly she began taking progesterone, a hormone that is often prescribed to boost fertility and support or help maintain pregnancy in women susceptible to miscarriage.

Cannon also tells Us Weekly his wife relied on “once-a-day” acupuncture, “all over her body. I think it helped her quite a bit, because it was a good destressor.”

Seeing Carey’s face when they learned she was pregnant “was priceless,” Cannon recalls. “We definitely cried. We still cry all the time. It’s an emotional journey.”

With their baby due in spring, Carey says it still “amazes” her she’s going to have Cannon’s child. “He’s a great person, and we have more in common than not,” she tells Us Weekly.

“ Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos—the trees, the clouds, everything.”
—Thich Nhat Hanh

Ancient Current® utilizes the tools of Chinese medicine—Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Tui Na massage, and lifestyle & nutritional counseling—to help infants, children and adults lead healthier and happier lives. These traditional modes of healing have endured thousands of years of testing and are employed by Ancient Current® to facilitate lasting changes in your life.

Although Ancient Current® has an emphasis on female reproductive health including fertility support, pregnancy, labor preparation and induction and post-partum recovery, we also treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, digestive complaints, pain, trauma, etc.

Ancient Current® is located exclusively in Manhattan at 80 East 11th street, suite 411. Please email Laurel@ancientcurrent.com for more information or call 917.862.7589.

Ovarian cysts are small fluid-filled sacs that develop in a woman’s ovaries. Most cysts are harmless, but some may cause problems such as rupturing, bleeding, or pain; and surgery may be required to remove the cyst(s).

In Traditional Chinese Medicine cysts are considered an accumulation of phlegm and/or blood stagnation.  This is predominantly a Yin Pathology where fluid is accumulates due to an overabundance of water and phlegm. In treating cysts, the main treatment goal is to tonify the kidneys, transform dampness and phlegm and move blood stasis.

To encourage the break up of cysts Yang energy is required. Yang is the warming and moving aspect of life.  To boost Yang energy and decrease the sinking, heaviness of Yin energy, acupuncture, herbs and dietary therapy are employed.

Acupuncture Therapy:
Certain points along the meridians tonify Yang. There are many ways to do this. Many treatments are aimed at nourishing the Kidneys especially when the person is susceptible to cold, has back problems, weight gain, phlegm and fatigue. Others treatments are geared towards raising the Spleen Qi especially if the person has digestive issues, insomnia, bruises easily and feels fatigue.  Additionally, it is important to move blood in order to disperse stagnation.  I often utilize a heat lamp and castor oil packs on the abdomen to facilitate movement.

Herbal Therapy:
Traditional Chinese Herbal formulas are a synergystic interplay of 5-20 herbs. Some warming herbs include Cinnamon bark, and spices such as Tumeric, Cardamom, Cayenne pepper and Saffron. Some herbs that help eliminate phlegm and dampness include barley and orange peel.

Dietary Therapy:
Dietary therapy is an intrinsic element to Traditional Chinese Medicine. If you are trying to reduce the growth of cysts it is imperative to reduce or eliminate phlegm producing foods such as:

* cheese
* ice cream
* soy
* wheat
* sugar

There are many different types of cysts. The following list is from the Mayo Clinic.

• Follicular cyst: This type of simple cyst can form when ovulation does not occur or when a mature follicle involutes (collapses on itself). A follicular cyst  usually forms at the time of ovulation and can grow to about 2.3 inches in diameter. The rupture of this type of cyst can create sharp severe pain on the side of the ovary on which the cyst appears. This sharp pain occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, during ovulation.

• Corpus luteum cyst: This type of functional ovarian cyst occurs after an egg has been released from a follicle. After this happens, the follicle becomes what is known as a corpus luteum. If a pregnancy doesn’t occur, the corpus luteum usually breaks down and disappears. It may, however, fill with fluid or blood and persist on the ovary. Usually, this cyst is found on only one side and produces no symptoms.

• Hemorrhagic cyst: This type of functional cyst occurs when bleeding occurs within a cyst.

• Dermoid cyst: This is a type of benign tumor sometimes referred to as mature cystic teratoma. It is an abnormal cyst that usually affects younger women and may grow to 6 inches in diameter. A dermoid cyst can contain other types of growths of body tissues such as fat and occasionally bone, hair, and cartilage.

• Endometriomas or endometrioid cysts: Part of the condition known as endometriosis, this type of cyst is formed when endometrial tissue (the lining tissue of the uterus) is present on the ovaries. It affects women during the reproductive years and may cause chronic pelvic pain associated with menstruation.

• Polycystic-appearing ovary: Polycystic-appearing ovary is diagnosed based on its enlarged size – usually twice that of normal – with small cysts present around the outside of the ovary.

Although Traditional medicine is highly effective you need to allow time for the treatments to work. Even if you see an immediate improvement in energy, sleep, mood etc it often takes at east three months of regular treatments to change existing patterns of disharmony.

If you have ever suffered from morning sickness then you know that you would try just about anything to quell that wretched feeling. Everyone seems to suffer a little differently; some people feel nauseated all the time, others just in the morning, other just at night…some people vomit all day long for 5 months and others are lucky enough to feel completely normal.

Causes & Treatment

The cause of morning sickness it not entirely understood. Some scientists argue that feel rising hormone levels alter the functioning of the hypothalamus and trigger the gag reflex, others feel it is a biological warning sign for the body to avoid any foods that could be potentially harmful to the growing fetus.

I have an entire regimen for treating women with morning sickness. I employ acupuncture, ear press needles and sometimes I even leave in ear tacks on specific points. I always recommend Vitamin water (it saved me) and continual nibbling on whatever you can get down. It’s extremely tough to eat when your nauseted but keeping blood sugar levels constant is key in feeling well.

Just recently a friend and excellent homeopath, Rebekah Azzarelli of Brooklyn Homeopathy recommended Umeboshi Plums for morning sickness. I had heard of umeboshi plums in macrobiotic cooking and also remembered that mume or Wu Mei is a Chinese food used for digestive issues and diarrhea. Interesting!

“Umeboshi (Japanese: 梅干; literally “dried ume”) are pickled ume fruits common in Japan. Ume (Prunus mume) is a species of fruit-bearing tree in the genus Prunus, which is often called a plum but is actually more closely related to the apricot. Umeboshi are a popular kind of tsukemono (pickles) and are extremely sour and salty. They are usually served as side dishes for rice or stuffed inside of rice balls (sometimes without removing their seeds inside) for breakfast and lunch. They are occasionally served boiled or seasoned for dinner.

This Japanese style traditional pickle is considered good for digestion, prevention of nausea, and for systemic toxicity, including hangovers. Green ume extract is even used as a tonic in Japan. The citric acid is claimed to act as an antibacterial, help to increase saliva production and assist in the digestion of rice. Additionally, umeboshi is claimed to combat fatigue (historically given as part of a samurai’s field ration) and protect against aging.

How Umeboshi Plums are prepared:

The plums are pickled, left outside to be exposed to the elements of the sun and evening dew, packed in barrels with crude sea salt and shiso leaves, and then pressed by a weight. The combination of these elements, pressed over a period of at least six months, creates the natural bacteria, enzymes, organic acids and powerful alkaline qualities of the Umeboshi Plum. In fact, Umeboshi Plum has been called “The King of Alkaline Foods.”

Benefits:

Alkalinity is an important factor for health. We want our blood to be just slightly alkaline (about 7.35). If the blood is too acidic, then harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, fats and mucous thrive and grow, contributing to degenerative blood and disease. Our blood can become too acidic from consuming an excessive amount of sugar, refined flour products, alcohol, toxins and animal foods.

This condition worsens with an inadequate intake of oxygen, often caused by sedentary lifestyles.
Umeboshi is rich in organic acids, especially citric acid and phosphoric acid. Organic acids help ensure a rapid breakdown of an excess of acids (such as lactic acid and pyruvic acid) in the body. Such an effect helps to balance, or often eliminate, the symptoms of excessively acidic conditions, including a hang-over, fatigue, morning sickness, car/sea sickness, some headaches, stomach troubles and anemia. In fact, an Umeboshi Plum that has been aged 6 to 7 years has been known to stop diarrhea.

Acupuncture has been proven effective by the NIH for the treatment of nausea. To schedule an appointment with Laurel Carroll e-mail Laurel@ancientcurrent.com.

Info above taken from Macrobiotic.com and Wikipedia

How acupuncture can help facilitate weight loss:

I find acupuncture and herbs incredibly effective for helping people process food more efficiently and deal with underlying issues that contribute to weight gain such as stress, anxiety, depression or sleep deprivation. Needling points does not make weight fall off rather one needs to change their behavioral patterns, increase their exercise and watch what they eat. That being said, acupuncture and herbs are an excellent way to deal with cravings and addiction and the aforementioned stressors.

When I am treating people for weight loss I take a good look into their diet, exercise patterns and ways in which people reduce their stress. Traditional Chinese Medicine has many dietary rules that often surprise people….like salads and frozen yogurt are actually not optimal for weight loss. We consider the stomach the 100% soup-therefore introducing cold and raw foods actually slows down the digestive process making people feel more sluggish and tired. Acupuncture and herbs actually help “fire up” the digestive processes to transform food quickly into energy.

Acupuncture and herbs also helps regulate the endocrine system bringing the body into balance. Stressed people often have increased cortisol levels which lower circulating progesterone and raise adipose fat.

For more information on how acupuncture and herbs can help you lose weight e-mail me at Laurel@ancientcurrent.com.

The following article is form the Examiner.

“Remember J.Lo’s nude New Year’s Eve body suit? Always sexy, always sultry Jennifer Lopez is 15-pounds lighter after undergoing acupuncture therapy for weight loss.

According to the Acupuncture America website, acupuncture for weight loss is successful because the practice “balances the electrical forces and allows the body and all its organs to function properly”. In a recent article from OK! magazine, Lopez reportedly dropped 15 pounds utilizing acupuncture along with Chienese herbs and weight-loss treatments.

“She’s been gushing about how obsessed she is with acupuncture and herbs,” a source revealed to the mag. “Dong Gua Pi [winter melon seed, like cucumber] is Jennifer’s favorite, but she’s been using [many different herbs],” the source adds.

Acupuncture for weight loss is said to not only curb the appetite, it also assists as a sleep aid. Busy with a family and a booming career, the 41-year-old mother of twins is said to getting nine-hours of sleep each night.

Licensed acupuncturist and herbalist Joey Komada, who does not treat J.Lo, says acupuncture is useful when the individual is willing to make lifestyle changes to accommodate the program.

“We know that acupuncture needles inserted into specific points on the body and in the ear release endorphins which have a calming and relaxing effect that makes it easier to deal with stress, frustration and anxiety that can trigger overeating and bingeing on fattening foods,” says Komada via her site. “Also endorphins affect the digestive and hormonal systems so acupuncture can help rebalance the organ systems that are running too fast- or in this case too slow—i.e., the metabolism and the will power.”

Cosmetic Acupuncture

In addition to using acupuncture for weight loss, J.Lo may also be turning to acupuncture for cosmetic benefits. This particular form of acupuncture includes an application to the face to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Often referred to as acupuncture face-lift or facial rejuvenation, this variation of acupuncture has become famous among Hollywood faces for powerful, anit-aging benefits.

Some beauties tied to the practice include actress Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock. Both over 40-years-old, Bullock reportedly undergoes three sessions per week with her acupuncturist and Aniston was recommend the practice after friend Sheryl Crow used acupuncture to help battle breast cancer.

Still taken from YouTube Video. Click here for acupressure videos.

Acupuncture is a safe way to get labor started when a women is past her due date. I never induce anyone who is not postdate, although I do use acupuncture as a routine pre-labor treatment which is incredibly effective for getting moms into labor “on-time”.

Chances are is you are 40 weeks pregnant then you are stressed out; the phone never stops ringing, strangers comment that you must be having twins, its too hot or too cold, your not sleeping, nothing fits and you just keep wondering when this little critter will arrive? Actually, I love treating women during this miraculous and life altering time.

As a practitioner I employ all of the points that are contraindicated in pregnancy as well as points that address specific issues that may be affecting mom such as anxiety, stress, insomnia, pain, reflux, too much amniotic fluid etc. These points help stimulate the uterus while helping efface the cervix and dropping the baby into optimal fetal position. Additionally, treatments help calm the moms mind and body which, in my opinion is one of the biggest roadblocks for getting labor going.

Laurel specializes in using Chinese medicine to treat female reproductive issues, a subject I currently teaches at graduate level. For an appointment e-mail: Laurel@ancientcurrent.com or call  917-862-7589.

Check out my acupressure videos on YouTube.

Are you one of the countless women who started shedding hair by the truck-load at 4 months postpartum? It can be so ridiculously scary and even funny. I remember when my little sprigs started growing back around my hairline and I felt like I was four years-old again.

From a Chinese medicine point of view hair is considered “the odds and ends of blood”. Hair loss then is due to blood deficiency, a by-product of donating the best of your nutrients to your child while you are pregnant for ten months. Nursing too is a major drain to your system- a positive drain in my opinion-but one that needs to be treated with proper food.

Chinese medicine also has a notion of “jing” or essence, which is essentially a battery reserve that you are given at birth. The strength of this battery comes from the health of your parents at your conception. If you are run down or not eating the proper foods you start to pull energy from these so called batteries and start using up our jing. Pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation are considered to draw upon one’s essence so it is essential to replace what has been lost through adequate nutrition.

The following list of foods are recommended by Paul Pitchford for replenishing blood and essence:

• Red meat-best absorbed with adequate vitamin C-ex. meatballs and tomato sauce
• Beef Marrow, ox tail
• Seaweeds: Hijiki, kelp, wakame
• Spirulina, Green Magma, Wheat grass-literally the “blood” of plants
• Root vegetables-sweet potato, turnip, parsnip
• Fish Oils
• Chicken soup
• Black sesame seeds
• Berries: raspberries, blackberries, blueberries
• Pomegranate
• Molasses
• Drink lots of H2O!!

Laurel Axen Carroll can be reached at Laurel@ancientcurrent.com or 917-862-7589. Offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Celine Dion pregnant with twins

By Alan Duke, CNN
May 30, 2010 8:41 p.m. EDT
Singer Celine Dion, 42, and husband-manager Rene Angelil, 68, already have a 9-year-old son, Rene-Charles.

Once I heard Celine Dion was pregnant I knew assisted reproductive technology was involved. Did you know that according to the American Society of Reproductive medicine: ASRM: a womans chances of getting pregnant in any given cycle are 20% for women under 30 but just 5% for women over 40. Same is true for a man over the age of 40 even if his partner is under 35.

The following article if from CNN.

(CNN) — Singer Celine Dion is 14 weeks pregnant with twins after years of trying to expand her family, her representative said Sunday.

Dion, 42, and her husband-manager Rene Angelil, 68, will find out next month the gender of their twins, representative Kim Jakwerth said.

The pregnancy was the result of her sixth in-vitro fertilization attempt, Jakwerth said. Dion turned to acupuncture therapy to improve her chances of getting pregnant, she said.

Angelil is the father, she said.

The couple already has a 9-year-old son, Rene-Charles.

The five-time Grammy winner has sold 200 million albums around the world, according to her website. A new Harris Poll released in May named Dion, a Canadian, as America’s favorite singer.

Dion, who completed a world tour last year, will return to Las Vegas, Nevada, next March to begin a three-year residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

"Come out of the circle of time and into the circle of Love" ~Rumi

Tlthough summer is not officially here yet the heat has surely arrived! My two year-old daughter has been non stop naked for about a month now. I have the hardest time keeping clothes on her and since we live at the beach I have just given up. She is completely uncensored with her emotions she manifests pure joy, abounding excitement, crude frustration and raw misery.

Thinking about this I decided to write this newsletter about the HEART, the Emperor or the coordinator of the entire body. When the Heart is balanced one manifests Propriety, Sage-like qualities, Intimacy, Insightfulness and Mastery. Out of balance one may feel chaotic, vulnerable, apathetic, delusional, guarded, greedy and controlling.

On a physical level heart imbalances manifest as insomnia, agitation, palpitations and worry. Read on to learn about some beneficial foods or treatment protocols to help nourish Heart Blood and move Qi in your heart meridian.

Foods to Nourish the Heart
Summer is season celebrate the YANG aspects of your life such as expansion, growth, movement, creativity, and outward movement. In keeping with the season, the YANG aspects of your personality should be nurtured with foods that compliment the nature of expansion.

Add Spices
Spices used in moderation allow the body to perspire to cool down naturally. Some suggestions are:

• Red and green hot pepper
• Cayenne
• Ginger
• Horseradish

Replace Minerals that have been lost through sweating:
Emergen C is a great mineral replacement.

Create bright, beautifuly colored meals with a diversity of color.
Red foods directly affect the heart and blood such as:
Cherries, Pomegranate, Mulberries, Beets, Red Pepper, Watermelon

Saute and steam instead of baking and frying.
Use light cooking oils such as Walnut Oil

Add Cooling foods to your diet such as:
Apple, Lemon, Lime, Watermelon

Avoid Cold and Frozen Foods
Cold and frozen foods are difficult to process by the stomach. This often leads to bloating, sluggish digestion and belching.

Shaoyin Heart Channel of Hand (手少阴心经)

There are five main organs in traditional Chinese medicine they are the Heart, Liver, Spleen, Kidney and Lung. Every organ has its specific role in maintaining balance, when one falls out of harmony so do the rest. I see a lot of people in my office with some issues affecting the heart organ and meridian. This usually manifests as insomnia, agitation, difficulty falling asleep, palpitations and suspicious thinking.

One important aspect in treating the heart is to nourish heart blood. Many points along the heart, spleen, stomach and liver meridian help nourish the blood to anchor the mind or shen to help people feel more grounded.

Typical course of treatments are about one month of weekly treatment for every year that you have been experiencing the symptoms.