2012 is upon us!

Where did 2011 go is a good question but one that is sort of moot at this point. What the New Year means to many of us is hope. Hope on a large scale that our world will be a better place in 2012. Or, on a personal basis, we may be hopeful that we can be more disciplined to actually do our yoga or mediation on a daily basis.

Hope is very powerful. The existence of hope can be comforting and uplifting. The absence of hope can be devastating. All too often people can literally suffer when they give up hope. We need to nurture this four letter word and all that it can mean.

The New Year brings the promise of many things, of new beginnings, of rebirth and awakening. We can choose to make 2012 a great year – Yes, we can choose. Growing up, one of my life lessons from my Mom was, “life is what you make it”. And it is true! We can find the good in every situation or we can choose to see the bad. But it is a choice. Our attitude determines the outcome. One of my favorite quotes speaks to attitude: “If you can't change your situation, change your attitude.” - Maya Angelou

HOPE

Hope is the thing with feathers 


That perches in the soul,


And sings the tune--without the words, 


And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard; 


And sore must be the storm 


That could abash the little bird 


That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land, 


And on the strangest sea; 


Yet, never, in extremity, 


It asked a crumb of me.

~ Emily Dickinson

I hope you choose to make the New Year the best it can be and that it brings all of us abundant blessings and HOPE!

Yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.

Age Spots: Inevitable Or Are They?

When some of us were kids we had the freckle thing going on. Many of us hated them, some didn’t care, but our moms used to try and make us feel better by telling us they were “angel kisses” or some other positive story. And now that we are older we have finally lost the freckles only to be besieged by “brown spots”, otherwise known as age spots, liver spots or as our estheticians like to call them “skin tone irregularities”.

So where do these spots come from? Well it is true that our beloved sun is the major reason we have these spots as they are an accumulation of melanin (the pigment that is made when we expose ourselves to the sun). The problem is that we were not wearing our anti-oxidants at the appropriate time to keep the sun’s rays from doing damage, and we now have these “unsightly” age spots. So now how do we get rid of them?

There are many ways to do this: from bleaching agents like hydroquinone (linked to cancer) and synthetic ingredients, to very natural alternatives such as those derived from plants and animals. In researching the natural ingredients there is a vast array of ingredients now designed to fade age spots: alpha-arbutin (derived from bearberry), a combination of licorice, milk thistle, and vitamin c, active plant stem cells (there are dozens in this category) and the list goes on and on. And these I’ve mentioned so far are just the “natural” ingredients. If we start to talk about the synthetic ones that Estee Lauder, Clinique or perhaps that some online marketing companies use, the ingredients available are overwhelming.

If we just consider the “natural” category, many of these ingredients now have great clinical studies showing that after about 28 days (one skin cycle), these spots are diminished in appearance, and with continued use may seem to disappear. Being a cruelty-free company, derma e® cannot use many of the ingredients currently available but we have put together a terrific blend of licorice, milk thistle, vitamin c and alpha-arbutin in a rich moisturizing base that in our consumer studies has worked extremely well to banish brown spots. derma e®’s Skin Lighten is one of the best natural “lightening” products on the market that helps reduce brown spots, even skin tone and give the skin a more youthful glow.

Don’t forget that after the face, our hands are the second place that give away our age, so use Skin Lighten as a hand crème to erase the signs of aging there as well. And next time, remind yourself to be sure to use your antioxidants to prevent further damage from the sun.

Yours in health,

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

Treat Yourself this Halloween

Many of you know that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love the spooky atmosphere and things that go bump in the night. My father was a huge fan of Halloween and our house was the ultimate in “trick or treats”.

Our front yard was converted into a cemetery with headstones and crosses. Black cats, scary pumpkins, and spider webs with large black spiders greeted you on the walkway to the house. My dad and a friend had recorded some bizarre noises in an echo chamber and he had this soundtrack coming from speakers set on the roof. And if you made it to the front porch there was a coffin sitting by the front door. When you rang the doorbell the coffin opened and a skeleton sat up and looked at you. Of course dim lighting completed the overall aura. If you were still standing there when the door opened, you were greeted with “Boo” by either a monster or a giant hairy gorilla. Many children had to be chased back up the walk to give them the treat that they so deservedly earned.

Today’s Halloween is much different from my perspective. I see many more Halloween parties as the way children celebrate, and much less of the “trick or treat” activity. Either way, Halloween night is usually a long one for parents as they walk children from door to door or escort them to a party. At the end of the night, your feet are telling you they have had enough! They are probably tired, hot and achy by then.

derma e®’s Intensive Therapy Foot Crème is a certain “treat” for your feet. Cooling Peppermint and soothing and pain-relieving herbs like Arnica, Tea Tree, Peach Seed extract and Pycnogenol® refresh and revitalize your feet.

This crème was formulated with several diabetic issues in mind: neuropathy, lack of circulation, overall achiness and tired, dry feet susceptible to infection. Yet we have received great testimonials from marathon runners that using the Intensive Foot Therapy Crème after the 26 miles has been the best thing that they have ever found to relieve the stress their feet have suffered.

derma e®’s Anti-Ache™ Herbal Pain Relief Crème is another formula that is the perfect companion to help relieve muscle aches and pains. Whether it is Halloween festivities or marathons (that are in abundance between now and December) causing tired, achy feet or muscles, these two soothing crèmes are the perfect “treat”.

Yours in health,

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

What’s in My Skincare Products?

There seems to be so much in the news about the harmful ingredients “hidden” in our cosmetics and skin care products, that you often wonder how you are really supposed to know what to use. We are advised to avoid parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates and any ingredient from a petroleum source. The list goes on and on. So much of this “news” is truly misinformed, and as we are the keepers of our own health, it is really important that we become educated about what is true and not true.

Since I'm involved with skin care it is frustrating for me to read that skin care companies are basically being blamed for all forms of chronic and deadly illnesses including cancer. And while there are ingredients that should be avoided such as mineral oil, lanolin, formaldehyde donors and FD+C colorants because they may clog pores or irritate skin, for the most part the ingredients found in skin care are relatively harmless given the exposure that we have in the air we breathe, foods we eat and of course beverages that we consume. It is far more important to be concerned about what you are putting into your mouth than what you are using on your skin and hair, since the percentage of the ingredients in topical products is extremely small.

Here is a case in point. Recently, it was my husband Ron's birthday and his favorite cake is angel food with ice cream inside and whipped cream frosting. Now I have never claimed to have any ability to cook, so I thought I would just get the cake mix and make it. Imagine my surprise when I got the mix home and was glancing at the ingredients to find Sodium Lauryl Sulfate as “a whipping aid”. I was appalled. We are now being admonished not to use this soap ingredient in our hair or skin care because it is a possible carcinogen, yet we are supposed to consume it? I immediately got out the cookbook to make it from scratch, but after seeing the time and work involved, decided that this time I would eat the soap!

So now let's take this scenario one step further. Next time when I can't use the mix and I'm not willing to take the time and effort to make it from scratch, I will probably buy a readymade cake. But what ingredients did the baker use? We usually assume ‘good’ ones but who really knows?

So my message to you is simply this: use your common sense in buying anything you put on or in your body.

Use skin care products that have healthy, natural antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and botanicals and avoid ingredients that may clog pores or irritate skin. Keep your immune system tuned and ready to fight with fresh food (stay away from processed foods containing lots of who knows what), great supplements, lots of water, and appropriate sleep and exercise. And with today's hectic pace, make sure you keep a healthy balance of stress and relaxation in your life. Stress really is a silent killer.

Yours in health,

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

Bye Bye Blemishes

For many of you, fall generally means that it’s time for the kids to go back to school. To make sure they are prepared, you may be getting their school supplies and fall wardrobe in order. During this time, they are also paying close attention to their skin, or blemishes rather, so you may find yourself searching for blemish-fighting products. To make sure they go back to school with the confidence they need to look and feel their best, I would like to share with you why the natural approach really is the best approach when helping your kids achieve clear, healthy skin. 

What you see as a pimple has actually taken days or weeks to create. Deep in the pore, for a variety of reasons, an accumulation of dead skin cells mix with sebum to form a plug and that creates a whitehead. If the plug is in contact with the air, it darkens and a blackhead results. The plug continues to grow until the duct bursts. In combination with bacteria that can cause infection, you then have a red inflamed papule or zit.

To start, choose skincare products for your kids that contain gentle yet effective herbs that have been scientifically proven effective on blemish-prone skin. Tea Tree, one of my favorite natural first-aid remedies, contains powerful antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help clear blemishes and prevent breakouts. Willow Bark, the natural source of salicylic acid, is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter blemish-fighting products. It can help remove dead skin, dirt and toxins, and unclog pores. Rosewood acts as both an antiseptic and an astringent and can help balance both dry and oily skin. Lavender, another one of my favorites, contains astringent and antibacterial properties to help fight breakouts. Lastly, Chamomile has strong anti-inflammatory properties making it ideal for helping reduce redness and calm skin. These herbs work very well together in skincare products to help clear and prevent breakouts.

As for their skincare routine, because blemishes can also be the result of too much bacteria, make sure they cleanse skin 2-3 times a day with a gentle anti-bacterial cleanser. Then, have them follow with a moisturizer that is formulated to balance yet hydrate the skin. Breakouts do not occur because of too much moisture from a facial moisturizer, they result from skin that is not balanced. A spot blemish treatment is also good for those that have specific breakout areas. Exfoliating at least once week will also be beneficial because it prevents build-up of older skin cells and stimulates new cell growth.

Since hormones and nutrition can also cause blemishes, helping your kids make healthy lifestyle choices will also make a difference. To help prevent hormonal fluctuations, any type of exercise such as joining a school sports team or participating in outdoor activities are good. If they are easily stressed, maybe take walks together, or practice stretching and breathing exercises. A good night’s sleep, about 7 to 8 hours is also ideal. Because food can trigger the occurrence of blemishes, help your kids eat a balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables and very few processed foods that can be high in sugar and salt. Drinking plenty of water is also very important. If possible, pack a water bottle in their lunch, or make sure they have one with them at all times so they are less likely to give in to sugar-laden drinks.

While blemishes can zap your kid’s confidence this time of year, hopefully this natural approach will help them look and feel good on the inside and out.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Linda Miles, DOM, LAc

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.

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