World 08-21-19

NATURAL HEALTH CORNER | JOSHUA SINGER
Mental illness is becoming more
and more common amongst
us. In my practice, I find that
anxiety and depression are very prevalent
amongst our central Vermont community.
For some this is their chief complaint
that may be debilitating, while for others
anxiety and/or depression is in the background
that lurks throughout their daily life.
DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH
ANXIETY?
Anxiety is a natural response to a
stressful situation. When a person
experiences a highly stressful or
threatening situation, the mind
can be overwhelmed and struggle
to cope with the stress. Symptoms
vary in intensity, from an uncomfortable
feeling in the gut, an irregular
heartbeat, to negative thinking,
restlessness and aggression, being
overly fearful, and insomnia. There
is a range of anxiety disorders,
based on symptoms, such as:
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
A person’s personality, thinking
style, or specific genetic makeup
may cause them to be more susceptible
to anxiety. A chemical imbalance
in the brain also has been
proven to cause anxiety.
ANOTHER ANGLE ON MENTAL ILLNESS
In Chinese Medicine, mental illness is often viewed as a
“shen” disorder. For our purposes here, the “shen” may be
interpreted simply as where one is putting their attention.
We may become overly focused on our fears or worries to an
extreme degree where it affects how we behave and interact
with others. This may happen in an unconscious way. Sleep
may be disrupted, with our attention easily being awakened
rather than being settled during the nighttime. This is known
as an “unsettled or unanchored shen” in Chinese Medicine,
which can be helped by stimulating certain acupuncture
points or using specific herbal formulas.
It has been show that acupuncture is comparable to
cognitive-behavioral therapy, which psychologists commonly
use to treat anxiety. Another study published in the
Journal of Endocrinology in March 2013 discovered stress
hormones were lower in rats after receiving acupuncture
with mild electrical stimulation.
DEPRESSION CAN BE DEBILITATING
It is very natural to feel sad at times, especially after
experiencing loss, though these feelings typically pass or
can be managed with slight lifestyle adjustments. Clinical
depression, however, refers to a long-lasting and intense
emotional, physical and cognitive state that impairs our daily
experience. Symptoms may include:
• Lack of interest in normally enjoyable activities
• Negative thinking and worry about the future
• Irritability, agitation and exhaustion
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Hopelessness and lack of purpose
Similar to our understanding of the causes of anxiety, a
chemical imbalance in the brain
is known to cause depression.
Typically antidepressant medications
along with psychological
methods are used to help.
“THE FOUR GATES”
Depression is also considered
to be a “shen” disorder in
Chinese Medicine and treated
according. Additionally, mental
illness is thought of as poor
circulation through the body.
Circulation not only includes
blood and body fluids, but also
our thoughts and emotions.
There is a healthy experience of
a thought or feeling that moves
through our awareness in an
appropriate way. With both
depression and anxiety, Chinese
Medicine focuses on improving
that circulation for a healthy
expression of the mind and
heart, whether joyful or difficult.
A common acupuncture treatment used for this purpose is
known as “The Four Gates.” This is a poetic way to describe
stimulating four specific points on both hands between the
thumb and index finger and both feet between the big toe
and second toe.
There is usually great improvement in individuals with
anxiety and/or depression, whether using antidepressants,
psychological therapy, or acupuncture, allowing them to live
fulfilling lives. However, I wonder if this prevalence of mental
illness, not just in central Vermont, has much to do with
our lifestyles and the demands of our culture in the modern
day. Are illnesses we see among so many of us occurring not
just because of individual genetics and habits but more to do
with our culture’s tendencies?
Joshua Singer is a nationally board certified and licensed
acupuncturist in private practice in Montpelier. Josh has
relocated his practice to 301 River Street in Montpelier. This is
at River Street Wellness, a collaborative team of practitioners
under one roof supporting the health care of our community.
He continues to see patients in his practice and at National Life
Cancer Treatment Center at CVMC. Josh’s contact information
is singerjoshua9@gmail.com and 802-613-3904. Please feel free
to reach out to him with suggestions or comments at any time.
CVHHH Celebrates
Breastfeeding
Awareness Month
Nothing is more important in
the first few weeks of a baby’s life
than learning to feed. Supporting
newborns, and older children too,
to thrive and grow is the basic task
of parenting. Breastfeeding, while
natural and sometimes easy, can
be the most challenging piece of
the newborn period.
Luckily, there is support for
families with a new baby, however
they are feeding their newborn.
Katy Leffel, RN, CLC, is the Maternal-Child Health (MCH)
supervisor at Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice
(CVHHH). She, with her team of nurses, visit hundreds of
families in central Vermont, supporting them in the first
critical months at home.
“Often, when I meet with community partners to talk
about the range of breastfeeding and the obstetrical and
pediatric supports that CVHHH offers,” says Katy, “people
are surprised to learn that my team provides lactation support
for mothers and babies at home seven days a week,
including holidays.
According to Katy, the importance of early support in the
home, where mother and infant can rest, dramatically
improves success later in life. While Vermont has a great rate
of breastfeeding initiation, the rates drop dramatically in the
first few weeks after mom and baby leave the hospital. There
is still a lot of work to do to adequately support women who
want to breastfeed.
August is Breastfeeding Awareness month. Earlier this
month, members of CVHHH’s MCH team gathered on the
State House lawn in Montpelier for the Big Latch On! The
Big Latch On! is an international event, locally organized by
the Department of Health in Barre, which celebrates a cause
— breastfeeding — that is near and dear to CVHHH’s heart.
CVHHH’s MCH team supports women having their first
or third child because every breastfeeding experience — like
every child — is unique. “Of course, we recognize that many
women choose not to breastfeed, and many choose to combine
formula and breast milk,” says Katy. “My goal is to
ensure that central Vermont women who want to breastfeed
are armed with the tools and information — plus a few
expert tips and tricks — to have a successful experience.”
Each member of CVHHH’s MCH team is trained to provide
one-on-one lactation support at home for women and
their babies. Often, women experience the same handful of
challenges when they try to breastfeed. These include trouble
latching, soreness, exhaustion, and under and over supply
of breast milk.
CVHHH believes that every mother and family deserve to
have the best pregnancy, birth, and infant feeding experience
possible. While we recognize that breastfeeding is not possible
for every new mother, our lactation-trained nurses can
meet each mother where they are with one-on-one attention
and care.
About CVHHH
Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice (CVHHH) is a
full-service, not-for-profit Visiting Nurse Association committed
to providing high-quality, medically-necessary home
health and hospice care to all central Vermonters, regardless
of ability to pay. CVHHH also provides long-term care and
health promotion services. To learn more about CVHHH’s
services, visit www.cvhhh.org
STRESS MGMT. COACH
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
To be the best, it takes more than just the training and expertise to diagnose and treat patients.
It takes heart. Providing quality healthcare in a community setting is what it’s all about, and we
take pride in making our patients and their families feel at ease. We’re committed to providing
the care, the service and the respect you deserve.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Come in for
physical therapy,
use our gym
p
for free!p
P
Barre City Place t 479-4000
www.rehabgym.com
DENTIST DENTIST CHIROPRACTIC
Dr. Michael Adler, DDS
Full Service Filling, Extractions,
Root Canals, Crowns, etc.
Also offering Dental Hygiene
417 US Route 302 • Berlin, VT 05641
622-0801
Lynch Family
Chiropractic, LLC
Gentle, effective family
chiropractic since 1983
James M. Lynch, D.C.
Shane J. Lynch, D.C.
Saturday appointments
now available
VISIT US ON
223-3811
214 Elm St., Montpelier
APOTHECARY
Kinesiology, Reiki, Refl exology,
Chinese Cupping &
Energy Healing
Constitutional remedies, herbal
profi ling, herbal preparations,
formulation of medicinal plants
~Walk ins welcome~
Follow me on Facebook or email
me at Manywordsherbs@yahoo.
com
ROSALENE BUSSIERE
CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC HERBALIST
Cell # 802-793-9371
Located at the First In Fitness building in Berlin
Mon.-Fri. 9-4 manywordsherbs1.weebly.com
HEALTH CARE
FREE HEALTHCARE
FOR THE UNINSURED
• Primary health care
• Oral health services
• Mental health care
• Bodywork
Call 802-479-1229
to find out if you are eligible for services.
Patients seen by appointment only.
553 North Main Street, Barre, VT
www.phwcvt.org
August 21, 2019 The WORLD page 11