Help with Morning Sickness from the team at ben&biao.

50 -90% of women suffer from nausea during their pregnancy, with the nausea and vomiting usually starting within the 6-7th week, and generally subsiding by week 12-14.

Can beans help with morning sickness?

Apparently so!

A study by Taylor et al  has shown that molybdenum appears to help with morning sickness. It helps for the absorption of all the extra hormones within the GI Tract that are making you feel a little green.

This essential trace element activates enzymes that help break down harmful sulfites and prevent toxins from building up in the body.

Preparing and Cooking Beans

For more information or bookings click here

A recent meta-analysis looking at 14 trials involving 1030 women again showed that acupuncture and Chinese herbs can alleviate the symptoms that come with perimenopause and menopause.
The study in 2020 reaffirmed that while periods may cease, it doesn’t have to be a time of pain, discomfort, hot sweats, mood swings and insomnia.

What is interesting to note here is the almost constant use of Da Huang in each formula. Da Huang is a Chinese herb that causes the bowel to move more regularly. Why is this important?

When you go to the toilet you take toxins, excess hormones and other contributors of inflammation out of the body. If you are not getting enough fibre and/or don’t move regularly enough then this just builds up and makes the overall symptoms a lot worse. So getting sufficient fibre is very important and often we’ll either add Da Huang to the chinese herbal formula we individually tailor for the patient or get patients on extra fibre intake to make up for the lack of it in the western diet.

So, if you want to know more or want to address your symptoms please contact us or make an appointment to see one of our practitioners.

Also, if you want to read my own personal experience of the peri-menopause please see

https://benbiao.com.au/2020/10/29/what-the-menopause-was-to-me/

Acupoint stimulation and Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Com The Clin Prac.2020 Nov 41, 10122

When I started my Chinese medicine training in 2000, I had already been working for 14 years in finance. I was 30, well travelled and I worked and played hard. While none of my female work colleagues were ‘ready’ to have kids most of my school friends had either started or literally finished their baby making. My aunt had her 4th child at 47 and my mother at 52 was still having her periods. I was quite oblivious to how long my fertility would last or how it would end.

During my Chinese medicine training the term ‘geriatric mother at 30’ gave me pause for thought and I started to think about having a family. I finished my studies in 2003 and with a special focus in women’s health I started work on others and on myself. Luckily my own two children came when I was 34 and 36 years old and around this time I went to work at Zita West fertility clinic in London. I worked with women of all ages but especially those in their late 30s and 40s and learnt that the fertile years did not come to a sudden end but would start to decline for most between mid 30s and early 40s. As periods themselves don’t usually give an indication of fertility we didn’t know for sure what stage women were at until we ran blood tests that checked things like FSH, oestrogen and AMH levels which gave a much better ‘background’ picture.

So at this stage I still didn’t think much about menopause. Why would I? My mother had apparently floated through hers so my gene pool seemed to say ‘its a long way off and when it comes you’ll be symptom free’ Besides, I knew so much about hormones, lifestyle and diet…I was going to be FINE!

Famous last words….

The world sped on with technology, international moves, growing kids and a 4 year degree course but I felt fine arbeit a little ‘stressed’ sometimes.
Then at 46 years old suddenly my periods moved to every 3 weeks. ‘This is exhausting’ I thought but put it down to the stress of moving through multiple time zones over the course of a year and just finishing the degree (and looking after kids).

This went on for about 4 months, by which time I was iron deficient, irritable and starting to have some emotional moments.  I did what any good chinese herbalist would do – I took some herbs to rebuild the iron and help handle the stress. By the time Christmas came everything went back to normal.  I figured my body had sorted itself out and decided that 47 years old would be a great age to start a business and a clinic with a colleague.

Starting a business is pretty stressful, and a story for another time, but I resolved to prepare myself by going for a week detox in Byron Bay.   It was just the thing right? A week of juices and 3 colonics left me feeling very rejuvenated for about 4 weeks and then things started going … well ….not so good…

Chinese Medicine is a wholistic medicine and specifically states specifically states that people of my constitution should not eat cold foods and should not do colonics.  In doing both, I had, in Chinese medicine terms put my body through the freezer. My body responded by falling over the hormone cliff.

At this point I’d like to give my analogy for your hormones. You can skip this bit if you already know about how the hormone (endocrine) system works or if you don’t care! but I thought I’d put it in for the sake of education…

Your hormones are a family.  Imagine them all living in the same house and all leaving at predetermined times each day to do their jobs. Some on night shift (melatonin), some on early morning shift (cortisol) and some waiting for the lover at the door (oxytocin ) or changes in the menstrual month ( progesterone and oestrogen). Some are in charge of metabolism (thyroid) and some are designated for digestion (insulin). They all report into their mum – the pituitary gland.

The pituitary gland is one very busy organ because not only does she have to run the family but also she has to report into the hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus lives next door to the pituitary in the brain and gets feedback from the body 24 hours a day on what is going from the nervous system.

What food is coming in, what the environment is like, what air we are breathing, how much sleep the body is getting etc.  As this comes in the hypothalamus starts to make decisions for the pituitary.  Too much work, well let’s wind up the cortisol. Too much sugar – increase the insulin.

The impact of these instructions is that the pituitary is no longer sending out instructions to a body in harmony but to an imbalanced body and the rest of the hormones start to take the brunt of this.  If this is a short-term issue, the body can adapt. The problem is when it becomes a long-term lifestyle.

Now if the pituitary is sending out imbalanced instructions for months and years it will start to make an effect. For some women the most they might feel is some pre menstrual tension. For others it can progress to painful periods, endometriosis, thyroid disorders, polycystic ovaries and even auto immune issues. This is because within the female hormone family oestrogen is the big sister. She is the dominant force in the fertile woman.  Handed out at puberty in the form of oestrodial, she keeps us looking luscious, helps keep the energy up, our minds sharp and our bones and joints supple. But she has a retiring date.

Now her retiring age may be genetically determined at 54 but all this extra work over the years has made her decide to throw in the towel a little early. Some days she’s ok and can manage to stay on top of the load and other days she’s sitting on the couch watching netflix and telling everyone else to bugger off.

So back to my story..

So at 47 I’d been given some warning shots by oestrogen the previous year that not all was going to plan.  Changes to the menstrual cycle are a definite sign that you are entering the ‘peri-menopausal zone’.  I had been burning the candles at both ends and then I decided to really throw my digestion and metabolism into a spin by heading off on a detox and send my cortisol levels rocketing by starting a new business.

So, Oestrogen gave me the finger and walked out the door.

What happened next?

Almost overnight my sleep stopped. I had always had amazing sleep but suddenly 3am became the new wake up time.
Of course I became totally fatigued and what do you do when you have no energy…you eat…so I also put on weight.
I also experienced some very very hot moments especially at night!  One July  (middle of winter here) I was so hot that I jumped into the ice cold pool at about 2am.
I cried a lot – both rationally and irrationally.
I couldn’t remember where I put my keys, the car, my glasses (oh yes.. now I needed glasses! …) and spent time going round the house asking ‘has anyone seen….’
My knees and neck started to ache and spasm at night to the point I had to stop exercising which really didn’t help the weight thing…

I think that was it..I honestly can’t remember…like childbirth…you forget as soon as you can.
You could say it was a train wreck or trauma or a bit of both. How did I not see what was happening?  I was trained in this field for Gods sake.  Denial is definitely in there somewhere. I believed that all my pilates, zumba, clean living and good genes would see me through like my mother. But my mother didn’t have 2 coffees every day after the yoga, she never drank alcohol and she certainly wasn’t living the fast paced lives of today. Her children were adults and firmly out of home and not requiring being ferried to every sporting event. Neither (and this is a big one) was there internet or social media . So no need to be on the computer by 8am or looking at what your friends are doing across the city/globe via snapchat or twitter or shopping at 10pm via the phone.

The world may have changed rapidly but our bodies have not and nor can they. We are part of this planet and were made to live with the rhythms of seasons and cycles of life. If we don’t pay this some respect we pay the price.

So what did I do?

I made a lot of adjustments to my life to stop all the symptoms. I had to stop the wine and the coffee for a period and have to leave the phone and the computer FAR FAR away at night to resist the temptation.  I spend time every day in mindfulness and have learnt to say NO. I do less and I care less. I’ve had to adapt my diet which limits inflammation and suits my body. I’ve also had to take herbs and supplements to help with the sleep and the joints. The flushes sorted themselves out pretty quickly and the brain fog cleared.

I’m now at 50 and it’s two years since my last period. I have to be honest – I am LOVING where I am at. The freedom of no periods is quite liberating. The mood changes have all gone and I feel almost zen like most days (Is this why men are so calm??) I’m taking all the necessary steps to make sure I’m fit and gorgeous at 60, 70 and beyond.  It’s not that I’m going down without a fight. Quite the opposite, I’m grabbing this wise woman and stomping through to the next stage. I’m certainly ready for it.

If you would like help with your transition through the peri menopause and menopause then get in touch with either Heidi or Sally

If you’d like to know more about how chinese medicine and acupuncture can help menopause see here

Epigenetics and Preconception Nutrition

You may already know that good nutrition is really important during the preconception period for creating healthy eggs and sperm. You may also know that good nutrition is important for the health of your growing baby. But did you know that the food you eat prior to and during pregnancy influences the genetic expression of not only your baby, but your baby’s baby? Preconception nutrition has a multigenerational impact! Studies show that the nutritional status of the mother impacts herself, her baby and her child’s reproductive cells (therefore her baby’s baby) (1).

We know this via recent studies in epigenetics. Epigenetics refers to a series of complex processes that change genetic expression without changing the genes themselves. While we may be genetically predisposed to something, the expression of that gene can be influenced by nutrition (or specific nutrients), lifestyle and environment. The impact of nutrition on epigenetic response seems to be most influential during the first 1000 days of life – or from conception to 2 years old.

Both Mum and Dads health and nutritional status needs to be considered.

It is generally understood that optimum maternal health is essential in order to support healthy conception and pregnancy. What is sometimes overlooked, is the health of the father. But paternal health is of equal importance.

Studies have demonstrated that the nutritional conditions of paternal grandfathers influenced the metabolic health and longevity of their grandchildren (2). We have also seen that children of obese fathers are more likely to become obese (3, 4) – and this may be due to the fact that the sperm of obese men is epigenetically different to that of lean mean (4).

Excellent nutritional status is key in supporting paternal health to create optimal epigenetic expression in their baby. We know that optimum levels of zinc, vitamin C, selenium, folate and coQ10 are essential. Of course, maternal nutritional status is also essential in establishing optimal genetic expression for her baby; with B vitamins, iron, iodine, vitamin D, and choline being of particular importance.

While it is important to obtain all of the essential vitamins and minerals from a wholefoods diet of bountiful fruits and vegetables, proteins, wholegrains, nuts and seeds and healthy fats, nutritional demand is higher during the preconception period and supplementation may be required. Testing nutritional status during the preconception period is essential so that we can tailor a nutrition and supplement plan specific to you.

If you are planning a baby and would like some support nutritionally to ensure the healthiest outcomes for not only yourself but also your future baby (and your baby’s baby) please reach out and make an appointment with Chantelle 

References 

1. Perera, F. & Herbstman, J. (2011). Prenatal environmental exposures, epigenetics and disease. Reproductive Toxicology, 31(3), 363-373.
2. Vågero, D., Pinger, P.R., Aronsson, V. & van den Berg, G. J. (2018). Paternal grandfathers access to food predicts all-cause and cancer mortality in grandsons. Nature Communications, 9(5124).
3. McPherson, N.O., Fullston, T., Aitkin, R. J. & Lane, M. (2014). Paternal obesity, interventions and mechanistic pathways to impaired health in offspring. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 64(3-4), 231-238.
4. Donkin, I., Versteyhe, S., Ingerslev, L. R., Qian, K., Mechta, M., NOrdkap, L., et al. (2016). Obesity and bariatric surgery drive epigenetic variation of spermatozoa in humans. Cell Metabolism, 23(2), 369-378.

This is the second part in our acne series blogs. Part 1: ‘Hormones and Acne’ can be read ‘here’

In our first blog we wrote about the role of hormones in acne. Another major contributor to acne is inflammation. Inflammation is part of our body’s defence system.

It is our body’s protective response to something that is harmful.

Our immune system responds to harmful agents by sending messaging agents and specialist cells that attempt to rid the body of the problem.

Inflammation is fine when it is a short-term response but if the body is under constant attack from substances it sees as “harmful”, inflammation becomes chronic. It can occur throughout the body especially in the gut. In acne sufferers it also shows in the face in the form of the spots, pustules, redness and cysts which acne sufferers have.

So what are some of the substances that can cause a chronic inflammatory response?

Currently there are many.

The body generally doesn’t like; UV radiation, smoke, chemicals and irritants such as those in household cleaning and beauty products, air pollution, simple sugars, heavy metals, plastics especially those that have made it into the food chain, meat that has been pumped with hormones and chemically-enhanced fertilisers to name but a few.

Inflammation can also occur from stress, sleep deprivation, worry and anxiety as these negatively impact the body’s ability to regulate the immune and inflammation process.

So how does inflammation impact the skin?

Inflammation usually means that there is a lack of anti-oxidents. Anti-oxidents are crucial to skin health. Without adequate antioxidant protection the sebum gets damaged. In acne patients the sebum has more squalene which is a form of fatty acid.

As inflammation increases both locally and systemically the squalene turns into squalene peroxide. Squalene peroxide is a highly comedogenic and inflammatory substance, and it is the oxidation of squalene into squalene peroxide which is probably the trigger that starts the acne formation process.

As inflammation is a major part of the acne issue dealing with it is one of the pillars of getting back to good skin.

At ben&biao we combine our knowledge of Chinese medicine with proven Western methods. As the Chinese medicine paradigm is more holistic we will run through your family history, your diet, your lifestyle, your stress factors, your sleep patterns, your bowel movements and work out what exactly is causing the problem. We then make an individualised plan including an acne formula tailored to suit you.

Our Chinese medicine formulas aim to clear inflammation and deal with other internal factors that are out of balance. The plan provided is to help deal with the external factors that may be causing the inflammation.

Our Chinese herbs are taken in powder form. Either dissolved in teas or they can be made into capsules if you prefer.

Acne will take at least a couple of months to properly clear but changes can be seen as quickly as two-three weeks with the correct formulations.

If you or your child has acne then come see what we at ben&biao can do for you.

Initial consultations are:

$145 for an hour consultation. 

Book NOW or call 0403 273 008 to find out how we can help you.

This month we have been inundated with shoulder and neck problems. So we thought it would be a good time to do a blog and video (yes we’ve gone live!) on this.

According to population surveys shoulder pain effects 18-26% of adults at any point in time. That’s approximately 1 in 5 people reading this!

What causes Shoulder and Neck Pain?

Shoulder and neck problems are generally caused by one of the following or a combination of them:

• Computer work
• Posture
• Looking and working on phones
• Stress
• Sport
• Car accident or other traumas or old injuries

It used to be that trauma and old injuries were the most common reason for pain to the shoulder and neck however, while they are still relevant, today work and lifestyle environments are far more common causes.

The average adult head weighs 8 kilos.  It is connected to the rest of the body by just 7 vertebrae. To maintain it’s upright position there is lots of scaffolding! Muscles to the back, Muscles to the front, Muscles to the side. It is these muscles that give the head is flexibility to turn side to side and, look up and down.

Is technology the cause?

Ideally we should use all the head and neck muscles about the same so that no one muscle overrides any of the others. However, every time you look down at the phone or ipad it is the muscles at the side and back of your neck and those attached to your back and pecs that take the strain.  The ones that are at the front start to get weaker.

Over time this dominance becomes a problem to the body. The muscles at the back and side having been stretched start to lose their elasticity. They put pressure on other muscles that they are attached to or are close by. The muscles involved may actually start to scar and will of course start to ache and give that throbbing pain.

In computer work the body is also looking down but there is additional strain through the repetition of the fingers and forearms. These muscles are overworked and cause stagnation and tightness in the upper arms and shoulders.

Stress

Why is it that stress causes back ache?

Stress from work or life presents physically as tension in the body. As we feel we are under attack the body starts to tighten the muscles ready for fight and flight. If you have long term stress it is quite common for this tension to manifest around the back, neck and shoulders.

Posture

Sitting down for long periods of time causes bad posture. The abdominals weaken which are crucial to a stable mid and upper back.  It’s like a building, the foundations aren’t strong so the upper floors strain and buckle.

Referred Pain

There is also the referred pain. Often people are carrying pain elsewhere in the arms such as the biceps and forearms. Have a feel…is anything feeling a bit sore or tight? As the upper muscles tighten it is not uncommon for the nerves to become sensitised and give a referred pain further down the line.

WHAT TO DO AND WHEN?

There is the painful stage and the managing stage.

During the painful stage the most crucial aspect is to relax the muscles and turn down the pain receptors.

A great way to do this is through acupuncture.

At ben&biao we use a specific type of acupuncture technique called motor point (not trigger point) activation to specifically target a muscle group and using an electrical device we stimulate each overworked muscle group. In shoulders and neck problems these are muscles such as

• Trapezius
• Levator scapulae
• Scalenes
• Deltoids

This is more effective than massage because the very fine needles can access the deeper muscle groups that are affected and when we stimulate the muscles with acupuncture there are several benefits to this technique of relaxing the muscles:

• The technique is quick – no need to pound away at the sore/tight area.
• We restore the elasticity to the muscle, you will feel it soften and relax
• This takes the strain off the affected joints/bones and eases related pain
• Strength returns to the muscle when it can fire correctly
• It helps to restore the brain-muscle connection and reminds the brain that weak or overstretched muscles are still available to be fired when moving the body – eg firing glutes when running or taking the stairs, not just hamstrings or quads.

Once the muscles that are a problem are determined and activated the treatment itself only takes about 30-45 minutes. Most people feel some immediately relief.  Follow ups will depend on the individual and each presentation but generally 2-3 treatments will get you back on track.

During the management stage you need to do some homework to maintain the newly released muscles and to minimize a recurrence of your problems

Management :

• Manage your posture: Yes, everyone is on computers ! it’s unavoidable ! BUT are you taking ‘time out’ to move away from your screen? Is your desk set up optimal to promote good posture?
• Stretching. This is so important. You can do everything else here but if you don’t stretch your muscles will lose the elasticity and tighten.
• Keep the core strong. Those abdominals are the foundation for all the others. Invest in exercise such as pilates or work with a specialist that can identify your weak muscle groups and help you adopt correcting exercises.
• Book yourself in for acupuncture once every 6 weeks to keep on top of muscle tension if you feel everything else might slide.

Prevention is better than cure

If you have shoulder and neck issues book call to find out how we can help or Book an appointment with Sally or Bree now for a treatment.