Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Simple Act of Volunteering

I personally find volunteering to be one of the most rewarding and satisfying activities that I can engage in.


As many of you know, every Tuesday I volunteer my time providing acupuncture treatments and Traditional Chinese herbal consultations at MEND (Meet Every Need with Dignity). MEND is a full service organization that provides food, clothing, showers, and all types of dental and medical services, ranging from family practice and counseling, all the way to massage therapy and of course acupuncture.


Sometime in May a stroke victim was referred to me. Everardo was 6-months post-stroke, which is not ideal, as the closer to the stroke that treatment can be provided, the more beneficial Chinese Medicine is. He arrived in a wheelchair in essentially a vegetative state. His eyes were fixed, his body slightly slouched, and he made no indication that he even knew that his wife and I were in the room. It was his right side that was affected and he had a slight right eye and mouth droop with drooling, in addition to the right-sided limb paralysis. To get the best results from acupuncture, ideally you need a minimum of several treatments a week to begin with, but as my clinic is only once a week, I instructed his wife Mirabel to continue a simple part of his treatment at home.


The results have been amazing! After a couple weeks Everardo had rejoined the living. He was alert, greeted me and had begun to move his right leg. His mouth and eye droop were gone and facially you would never know that he had had a stroke.

Everardo continues to improve, although slowly. His wife is an excellent caregiver and has made sure that in addition to what I can offer, she has gotten him physical therapy, and has him swim as much as possible. Today, Everardo visibly brightens when he sees me, complains about all the needles (his way of teasing me) and basically tries his best to converse, although his speech is still garbled. His right leg gets stronger everyday and we are hopeful he will be walking by Christmas. His right arm remains the major challenge, as well as getting his speech to “normalize”.


It is still such a great feeling to see a person who was basically unresponsive be able to interact with his family and children again. If you haven’t yet tried volunteering, I strongly encourage you to give it a try. The gifts you get back are amazing!


Yours in health,

Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Firmer Skin with DMAE

I’ve heard the question all my professional life, “How can I firm and tighten my loose, sagging skin”? While plastic surgery might be the first thing that you think of, the amount of money you would spend, the long recovery time or the unnatural-looking result may seem rather unappealing. However, with so many different skincare products promising a “facelift in a jar”, it can also be hard to tell which products really can make a difference. That is why I want to share with you one exciting ingredient that has received a lot of attention lately, and one you should look for when searching for skincare products: the ingredient is DMAE.


DMAE is naturally found in fish, such as salmon, and it may also exist in the human brain in very small amounts. It is a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is responsible for the cell communication required for many cognitive functions.


Not only has DMAE become popular in the media (you may have seen DMAE recently on Dr. Oz for its ability to help “stop the signs of aging”, and increase radiance and tone), research has shown that this ingredient can offer benefits to skin. DMAE can improve skin tone and increase tensile strength of the skin, suggesting that the topical application of DMAE firms skin and reduces facial sag. Another study using DMAE reported similar improvement in skin firmness and added that DMAE reduced the appearance of lines and wrinkles. DMAE has also demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which help slow the aging process.


derma e® has taken this exceptional ingredient and created a full complement of skincare products; a crème, serum, toner and cleanser. We have blended DMAE with antioxidants Alpha Lipoic Acid and C-Ester, and beneficial antioxidants, vitamins and botanicals to help visibly firm, tighten and tone skin for a vibrant, younger-looking complexion.


If you do decide to try skincare products with this ingredient, as with all new skincare products, I recommend that you do a patch test for sensitivity before starting regular use of any product. You should apply a small amount of product beneath the ear or below the jaw line, and wait at least 24 hours. If you have a reaction, discontinue use, as this product is not for you.


For noticeable results, choose natural DMAE products for visibly firmer, younger-looking skin.


Yours in Health,

Dr. Linda Miles, DOM, LAc