Fertility Kitchen

New Scientist just published an article saying "The children of lesbian parents outscore their peers on academic and social tests, according to results from the longest-running study of same-sex families." (The National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study, which started in 1986)

This is not the first study to come up with similar findings.

In some parts of the U.S., it's still illegal for lesbian and gay couples to adopt children. Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?

We're celebrating Pride Month at Acupuncture Kitchen.

Join us for Pride Movie Night this Saturday, June 12th. Join us for a free Lesbian, Kung-Fu Vampire Flic in the comfy lobby of Acupuncture Kitchen at 7pm!

Thankfully, breathing is involuntary, or we'd all keel over and die, but conscious deep breathing can be a simple and profound tool for everyday use. In 4 breaths you can ease your work tensions, feel more energized, and even boost your immunity.

1. Inhale into your lower belly, filling it up, letting it expand
2. Exhale and draw your lower belly back toward your spine
3. Inhale, imagining your breath going up the back of your spine to the base of your neck
4. Exhale, letting your breath wash down your arms into your palms

Then, begin the inhale again from your lower belly, and repeat until nothing can shake your calm.

L-argenine, L-carnetine, CO Q10, and zinc are all great "sperm booster shots" to add into your supplement mix.

Although the sun's rays are inarguably damaging to our skin, in a twist of fate, they are also crucial for our body's whole health.

The good news? There apparently is such a thing as a "natural sunscreen."

Astaxanthin is a naturally-found carotenoid that acts as one of our most powerful "internal sunscreens." It's a food supplement sourced mainly from microalgae. Like most antioxidants, it's an anti-cancer agent because it protects cells from free radical damage.

Astaxanthin was originally used by fish farmers to color the flesh of their salmon a deeper, more palatable red. Along the way, its health benefits were discovered. It's now available as a supplement in natural food stores.

However, just popping a few of these pills won't make you automatically immune to the damaging effects of sunlight. It's thought to take some time to build up a good amount of antioxidant activity in your cells. It's always a good idea to get instructions from a qualified health care provider (alternative or otherwise) when trying new things.

By the way, other powerful antioxidants with this ability include Acai, Pomegranates and Blueberries.

Evening primrose oil is known in natural medicine circles to facilitate labor induction because it contains prostoglandins which help to ripen the cervix. Once you have reached your full term, try the following for stimulating labor:

Take 2-500mg capsules 2 times per day and insert one capsule at night as a vaginal suppository starting 3 weeks prior to your due date.

It’s best to try natural remedies such as this under the supervision of your doctor, acupuncturist, or midwife.

A chuckle a day keeps the doctor away, or so believe those who espouse Gelototherapy: prescribing humor for health.

Here's a link to a great article from the Canadian Medical Association Journal as found on the National Center for Biotechnology Information's web site.

Honey is not only antibacterial, but also a humectant, which means it draws moisture to a wound to help repair the flesh.

Applying honey over the outer incisions after a caesarean section can be more effective and less painful than chemical dressings!

Here's a hot toddy idea from Fertility Kitchen to help keep you warm, cozy and healthy through the holiday frenzy:

Mulling spices can be added to cider (or even wine) and heated to a slow simmer in a saucepot on the stovetop. They lend a spicy, festive flavor to your hot beverages and double as medicinal herbs that fortify your body against the chill of winter.

Here are some ideas for spices to mix and match for your own personalized medicinal mull:

Whole Clove Buds (ding xiang)

Cloves are harvested in the Far East and used globally as a warming spice to add a slightly peppery flavor to food. In Chinese medicine, cloves impart a warming, stimulating effect on the digestive system (and are, incidentally, a natural parasite-expeller). Cloves affect the kidney, spleen and stomach meridians, and are wonderful for warming stomach qi and fortifying the kidney yang.

Whole Cinnamon Stick (cinnamomum verum)

Also native to the Far East, cinnamon has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries as an antidote to fevers and menstrual issues. Many cultures prescribe cinnamon for indigestion, and it's often recommended by modern herbalists for vomiting and nausea. Chinese herbalists will prescribe it for maladies brought on by cold (asthma and backache, in addition to digestive issues) because of its intense warming effects.

Orange Peel (chen pi)

Because most of the vitamins and nutrients in the orange are concentrated in the peel, dried orange peel is a valuable herbal medicine. Among its many benefits (one of them being it's deliciousness), orange peel is an anti-inflammatory as well as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent.

At Acupuncture Kitchen, we often prescribe Chinese herbs to our patients on a more specific, individual basis. But don't be afraid to experiment with natural remedies at home in between your session!

It doesn't necessarily take a brilliant mind to figure out how and why to take care of ourselves a little bit better during the winter and fall. But it is always helpful to be simply reminded to do so.

In this dormant phase of our seasonal cycle, it's important to get more rest and to emphasize quieter activities such as yoga (especially the yin or restorative styles), easy walks, getting bodywork, taking baths and reading.

Another great way to take care of yourself is by eating nutrient-rich foods such as homemade soups and stews with seasonal root vegetables. A dollop of miso or Bragg's Liquid Aminos can add some healthy flavor and salt.

Three or more cups of coffee a day during pregnancy has been associated with increased miscarriage rates. Surprisingly, drinking decaffeinated coffee has been shown to have an even higher association with miscarriage.

Reference:

"In evaluating 5,144 pregnant women prospectively, the odds ratio for spontaneous abortion and caffeine consumption during pregnancy was 1.3 for 300 mg of caffeine. For women who did not report any alcohol or tobacco consumption before or during pregnancy, the adjusted odds ratio at 300 mg was 1.5. Decaffeinated coffee consumption was more strongly associated with the risk of spontaneous abortion. The adjusted odds ratio for 3 cups of decaffeinated coffee per day was 2.0, and for nonsmoking, non-drinking women, the adjusted odds ratio was 2.5."

"A Prospective Study of Caffeine Consumption and Spontaneous Abortion," Fenster L, Hubbard A, Windham G, et al, Am J Epidemiol, 1996;143:S25 (Ab#99).