By: Tracy L. Hackett, DAOM

Food sensitivities are an increasingly prevalent problem over the last twenty years as food producers take more license adding chemical additives and non-nutritive ingredients into processed foods. Singling out processed foods is relevant because our bodies have evolved to recognize certain molecules as nutrients and to absorb that ‘bio-information’ through our intestinal lining then to excrete those that are not as waste. However, if the gut lining becomes too permeable, undigested food particles, microbes, wastes, and toxins can enter the blood stream. Since these particles are haven’t been digested properly, even though something may be a nutrient source, the immune system is triggered to fight against the ‘intruder’. If this occurs over time, voila, you develop food allergies with the accompanying symptoms. The symptoms can intensify and become more complex.

How does Leaky Gut Syndrome get started in your GI tract and what are the symptoms?

The lining of your gut is a dynamic, tight mesh-like structure made of proteins has a bacteria and yeast (“flora”) lining it that adapts to the contents it’s exposed to. The normal positive flora in your intestines adapt to the types of foods you consume. If your gut microbiome or a molecule integral to the lining, zonulin, is compromised by inflammation or food additive chemicals and over processed food ingredients, a disruption of normal cell function can occur in the ability of intestinal wall to maintain tight permeability. If the disruption becomes severe or the inflammation persistent enough dysfunction and disease like colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis or worse can be the result.

If the toxic additives or improperly digested food particles pass through the lining, your immune system is further triggered leading to body and joint pain, fatigue, headaches, skin problems, sleep and mood disruption. As toxins accumulate in the tissues and joints, aggravating inflammation further to the sensitive internal tissues of the gut, the body is bombarded with ingested “information” that can trigger the immune system. Stress can also wear down the body’s defenses and normal filtration processes of waste and non-nutritive molecules. All of this combined can lead to what is called a “leaky gut”. You may infer from the previous description that your gut is leaking the wrong kinds of molecules or larger food particles into the blood stream that are not broken down to the right degree so trigger the immune system. Fissures and inflamed areas can open to allow larger particles to pass through.

Symptoms of food sensitivities show up quickly after irritants are ingested, but can gradually worsen and intensify with repeated exposure over time. Typical symptoms that can start as intermittent then become constant include:

• sneezing and runny nose
• stomach pain after eating certain foods
• gastritis, reflux, diarrhea, cramping, gas, abdominal pain
• sudden onset of patches of very itchy skin and/or hives
• sudden onset acne
• recurrent mouth sores
• genital/anal itching or irritation
• headache or migraine
• unusual or intense food cravings
• fatigue, malaise, foggy headedness
• strong body and waste odors

Other symptoms may occur as well that are not listed here. This list of symptoms may also indicate presence of or beginnings of illnesses other than food sensitivities. Oftentimes food sensitivities are precursors to severe food allergies, which can be life-threatening.

So what to do if you find yourself in a situation where you haven’t really developed a serious allergy but feel anxious over some of the nagging symptoms that things may not be going so well with your digestion?

1. Clean up your diet. Cut out the usual suspects* for a couple of weeks and see how your symptoms change. Journal any symptoms that crop up after eating to track any possible patterns of food sensitivities.
2. Drink a large glass of water in the morning that has raw apple cider vinegar or lemon juice in it. This will help clear your stomach and gently encourage your liver’s to detoxification process.
3. Get appropriate testing done. There are some great tests available to assess allergies, nutrient absorption, GI dysfunction, and gut flora composition. Set up an appointment with a qualified healthcare provider, like myself, to help you get the right tests. But more importantly understand what the tests results mean and get a practical treatment plan to help your heal. This type of healthcare and many tests are not covered by insurance, so make sure you know about costs so you can budget accordingly.
4. If going through extra testing doesn’t appeal to you, clinical assessment may be enough to yield the answers you need. An Acupuncture Physician or Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, can help you with the time-tested acupuncture and herbal medicine or supplementation solutions to encourage healing and better digestive regulation.
5. East-West Functional Medicine is available at my clinic, where I can help you with a complete holistic method. I create treatment plans that combine the best of contemporary holistic medicine and only the supplements and/or herbal formulas you absolutely need. The protocol is tailored specifically to you and your particular digestive concerns.

If you have any questions about this topic or how holistic medicine may help you, contact me directly by phone or email.

*Start with the 6 Whites: refined flour/gluten, refined sugar, sodium, dairy, alcohol, and low quality fats.

There has been a lot of press recently on this ancient method of pain relief from China. Why would Olympic athletes trust this method to help them maintain top-notch performance while competing for the highest achievement honors in the world?

Because it works to alleviate muscle soreness, spasm, and tension. By creating a superficial ‘bruise’ with the suction, the body’s natural healing response is triggered to repair the ‘damaged’ area.

Cupping Therapy is the method of using glass, plastic, bamboo, or suction cups to create localized pressure by a vacuum. Chinese medicine practitioners have been using this healing modality for thousands of years. In ancient times they utilized this technique by using heat inside glass or bamboo cups. Acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine practitioners/doctors of today also use plastic “suction” cupping sets, which also uses a suction to create vacuum type of feel. The “vacuum” made inside the cups causes the blood to form in the area and help the healing in that area. (This “vacuum” technique is utilized by all cupping instruments mentioned above)

Cupping therapy has been found in ancient records dating back 3500 years and it is still used today by many Acupuncturists & Chinese Medicine practitioners/doctors. New advancement in technology and materials have been integrated with cupping therapies and its uses now range for many different treatments and applications.
In Acupuncture & Chinese medicine we utilize several methods of usage with “cupping”, depending upon the patients needs. Only Acupuncturist Physicians and Doctors of Chinese medicine have enough knowledge, clinical experience, & expertise to differentiate the appropriate diagnostic and treatment method for each individual patient.
Acupuncture & Chinese medicine practitioners/doctors use cupping for several different purposes. Here are a few:

1. The body contains Meridians. These meridians are energetic pathways in the body which the energy of life called Qi (“chi”) flows through. It flows through every body part, tissue. and organs. Like acupuncture, cupping follows the lines of the meridians. There are many meridian pathways within the body which these suction cups can be placed. Using these meridian (energetic) pathways, cupping can help to align and relax qi, as well as target more specific maladies. By targeting the meridian (energetic) pathways, cupping strives to ‘open’ these channels – the paths through which life energy flows freely throughout the body, through all tissues and organs, thus providing a smoother and more free-flowing qi (life force). Cupping is one of the best deep-tissue therapies available. It is thought to affect tissues up to four inches deep from the external skin. Toxins can be released, blockages can be cleared, and veins and arteries can be refreshed within these four inches of affected materials. Even hands, wrists, legs, and ankles can be ‘cupped,’ thus applying the healing to specific organs that correlate with these points.
This treatment is also valuable for the lungs, and can clear congestion from a common cold or help to control a person’s asthma. In fact, respiratory conditions are one of the most common maladies that cupping is used to relieve. Three thousand years ago, in the earliest Chinese documentation of cupping, it was recommended for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.  Cupping is also used for facial rejuvenation.

2. Lympathic toxins released – the healing aspect of cupping therapy is through the release of toxins in your body. The suction from the cups can penetrate deep into your tissues causing the tissues to release harmful toxins. The cupping draws fresh blood and lymph into the tissue to accelerate the healing response. It triggers the lymphatic system, clears the blood vessels, and stretches and activates the skin.
3. Myo-fascial, trigger point, musculotendon, Musculoskeletal cupping, is used when there is injury, either chronic or traumatic, the fascia is also affected, not just the muscles, ligaments and tendons. If the network of fascial planes is disrupted due to scar tissue adhesions (sometimes referred to as knots), restrictions in function and mobility will result. Decreasing mechanical connective tissue changes following inflammation or trauma,
Decrease trigger Points (presence of hypersensitive, tender tissue within themuscle belly)
Decrease myofascial dysfunction, scar adhesions, scar tissue
Decrease myofascial syndromes; i.e. faulty patterning due to hypertonic muscles.

***** NOTE: As there are several cautions and contraindications with any treatments modalities and a necessity of a thorough and correct diagnosis of each individual patient is required.

No other practitioner who utilizes this treatment modality has the expertise needed to maintain long term success in health and well being. Only highly trained and knowledgeable practitioners such as an Acupuncturist & Chinese Medicine Practitioners/Doctors should be performing such treatments.