July 2006
In This Issue:
- Trade in miles for stress relief and healthcare !
Some common symptoms of low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) include a reduced metabolic rate, lowered temperature, weight gain, lack of concentration, and a slower heartrate. Symptoms of overly high thyroid rate (hyperthyroidism) include a too-fast metabolic rate, tremors, tendency for sweating, palpitation, fast heart rate, and weight loss. Remember, having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have a problem with your thyroid – they can be indicative of other imbalances also, which is why taking the test below is a good place to start. Dr. Barnes was the imminent researcher on the thyroid and his lifetime work showed that thyroid disease was much more common than previously thought, and that it was connected to heart disease, cholesterol levels, menstrual problems, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
BARNES THYROID TEST
This test was developed by Dr. Broda Barnes, M.D., and is a measurement of the underarm temperature to determine hypo- and hyperthyroid states. The test is conducted by the patient in the A.M. before leaving bed – with the temperature being taken for 10 minutes. The test is invalidated if the patient expends any energy prior to taking the test – getting up for any reason, sitting up, etc. It is important that the test be conducted for exactly 10 minutes, making the prior positioning of both the thermometer and a clock important. Use an oral thermometer or a digital one. When you use a digital one, place the probe under your arm for 5 minutes, then turn your machine on. When using a regular thermometer, shake it down the night before.
Pre-Menses Females, Menopausal Females, and Males
Any two days during the month
Females Having Menstrual Cycles
2nd and 3rd day of flow OR any 5 days in a row
Date: ______________ Temperature: ___________________
Date: ______________ Temperature: ___________________
Date: ______________ Temperature: ___________________
Date: ______________ Temperature: ___________________
Date: ______________ Temperature: ___________________
If your temperature, after 5 days, (and it needs to be 5 consecutive days) averages out to less than 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit, or more than 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit, then it’s very possible that your thyroid is not functioning properly. If this is the case, feel free to call our office to see what your options are for restoring function to your thyroid, and to whatever other endocrine glands might be involved. These can all be returned to normal function without drugs or artificial hormones.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms we treat, and we are very effective at causing a huge improvement in restoring people’s energy. Fatigue can affect several things – how productive you are during the day, your moods, interacting with your family, doing anything at all other than dragging yourself to work and your appointments. Consider that being this tired is not normal, and ultimately has a huge impact on your body’s immune system, it’s ability to heal itself, and will actually cause you to age faster!
People can have low energy for a variety of reasons – because they aren’t sleeping well at night, because their adrenals are exhausted from stress, they’re hormonally out of balance, or because they aren’t getting the nutrition they need for whatever reason. At Merritt Acupuncture, we’re uniquely trained in pinpointing what the source of your fatigue is, and utilizing a combination of Chinese herbs, nutrition and treatments to take your energy level up to where it should be. Of course, it’s normal to be somewhat tired if you had 4 hours of sleep the night before, but to consistently feel exhausted when you get out of bed, or you can’t function without coffee and/or sugar to make it through the day, you’re irritable with your kids and/or spouse or your coworkers, and it seems to take every ounce of energy to make it through the day – that’s a whole different problem. No, it’s not because you’re getting older, and it’s not normal just because everyone else is tired too. We make a difference in this EVERY DAY – It’s one of the most common things we see. Please give us a call to discuss what options are available to you.
In October 2003, I began treatment with acupuncturist Marlene Merritt of Merritt Acupuncture. I was suffering from asthma, problems with digestion and pain in my neck, shoulders, and lower back when the treatments began. These conditions were a part of my life and, though they kept me from enjoying many things, I didn’t know how bad I really felt until I began to feel good. I was taking numerous prescription and over-the-counter medications for digestive problems, asthma, high cholesterol, and bone thinning. The medications I was taking were not, in my opinion, alleviating my health problems. In some cases a medication would exacerbate a problem from which I was already suffering, or trigger another problem which required yet another medication. After only six months I take just the medication to control high cholesterol. As to my asthma, I now have more lung function without any medication at all than I had using the three different medication previously prescribed. Instead of multiple pharmaceuticals, I now rely on acupuncture, a regime of Chinese Herbs and supplements, and chiropractic care to promote and maintain my general health. Ms. Merritt is working with me to change my diet to include more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, chicken and fish, and to eliminate dairy products, red meat, refined sugars, and white flour. Also under her direction, a dramatic increase has been made in my water consumption and aerobic and weight exercises have become part of my daily routine. The regime and treatments designed and monitored by Ms. Merritt have improved my quality of life to a degree I didn’t think possible. I now have more energy and vitality and I am able to enjoy doing many more things than I could in the past. My family and friends have made extensive comments on my improved general health and outlook. Because of the dramatic improvements in my life, my husband recently began treatment with Ms. Merritt and my daughter, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, will soon begin acupuncture treatments. The only issue not resolved by acupuncture was the deep-seated pain in my neck, shoulders, and lower back. Since Ms. Merritt’s primary concern is for her patients’ total health, she recommended chiropractic care for my subluxated spine, which she diagnosed as the cause of my pain. The chiropractic care is working and I have Ms. Merritt to thank for her skillful recommendation. Working in concert with both acupuncture and chiropractic, I have attained a greater level of health in a shorter time period than I ever expected. I continue to improve and am committed to good health through the use of these two fine alternative medicine disciplines.
-Betty C. Moss
We have patients who find themselves globetrotting for their business and have an abundance of frequent flyer miles. Many of these people are not interested in traveling more for a vacation. In fact, many of these business travelers are happy to trade their miles for stress relief to decompress from work. On the other hand, we find ourselves traveling quite a bit every year. Usually to the East Coast for family, across the US, and to Asia for study and maybe a week of pure vacation as well. We are always happy to trade for miles - give us a call if you want to talk to us about it. We've done this trade many times before and know how to easily set it up.
