A recent study out of Yale examined how one particular infection can trigger autoimmunity.

“Bacteria found in the small intestines of mice and humans can travel to other organs and trigger an autoimmune response, read more here.”

Our standard testing protocol at San Francisco Integrative Medicine goes far beyond testing for just this bacteria identified in the study.  The medical scientific community has now identified multiple infections related to autoimmunity, as well as ratios of healthy bacteria that when disrupted to trigger our own immune systems to attack us.

In order to reverse and heal autoimmune disease the pathogenic infections need to be identified, cleared without disturbing normal flora, and a healthy biome supported.  

If you would like to take action on your autoimmune condition, schedule a phone consult to discuss your unique situation.

In Health,

Dr. Bezjak and Dr. Korian 

First off its a good reminder that the fact that we eat food and have abdominal organs could alone be the reason bloating occurs.  It's not normal to have a completely flat abdomen all day long while you're nourishing yourself properly with enough calories to sustain good health. 

A Few Daily Reasons Bloating Can Occur - If you notice that you get bloated after eating make sure you double down on these factors before jumping to any health conclusions.

• Eating too fast
• Eating too much
• Consuming a lot of sodium
• Sparkling and bubbly beverages
• Menstruation 
• Eating a high load of carbs

But if you've crossed all those off your list and are still bloated, here are some other health-related reasons for bloating you can dive deeper into:

• Lactose intolerance
• Constipation 
• Low stomach acid
• Gut bacteria imbalance
•  Food sensitivity

The only REAL way to know if any of those factors are true for you is to work with a practitioner for educated insight and testing. (Pssst - Dr. Bezjak specializes in this!)

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• Eliminate bloat triggers
• Dial in your good eating habits
• Determine what foods you're sensitive to
  
• Address underlying gut infections or microbiome imbalances
  

If you still need some help and guidance after implementing these tips, book a 15 min complimentary phone consult to see how functional medicine can address bloating and other digestive complaints 

There are two types of cholesterol: good cholesterol or HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and bad cholesterol or LDL (low-density lipoprotein).

HDL is usually termed the good kind of cholesterol because it moves from your arteries to your liver, which then expels it from your body. The counter of that is LDL, the bad kind of cholesterol, which goes to your arteries, where it may collect in the artery walls, creating a clog.

Hong qu (red yeast rice) is a rice that has been fermented with monascus purpureus yeast. The process changes the color of the rice from white to red, hence the name "red yeast rice." For centuries, hong qu has been used in China as both a food and herbal medicine. It has also been used as a coloring agent to prepare fish, fish sauce, fish paste, rice wine, and red soybean curd.

In the late 1970s, Professor Endo, from Japan, discovered monacolin-k from red yeast rice, and found it could reduce the blood cholesterol in humans. This discovery provided scientific support for the effectiveness of the traditional red yeast rice. Since the late 1990s, red yeast rice has been commonly used in the U.S. as a dietary supplement to promote healthy cholesterol levels.

​Red yeast rice extract may help to reduce total cholesterol levels, lower levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, increase levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and lower the levels of unhealthy fats called triglycerides. It appears to accomplish this by restricting the liver’s production of cholesterol itself. By lowering cholesterol concentrations, red yeast rice extract may help to prevent heart disease and other complications.

Individuals with moderately elevated cholesterol levels (200 to 239 mg/dL) may benefit from a dietary supplement such as red yeast rice extract. However, those with very high cholesterol levels (240 mg/dL or above) are at considerable risk for heart disease and should consult with their primary care provider before deciding to start any new supplements or medications 

The best way to achieve and maintain a healthy cholesterol level is to take red yeast rice extract as part of an overall regimen that includes exercise and a whole food diet (like DASH or Mediterranean) that is high in soluble fiber. 

There are different ways of wishing people “Happy New Year,” depending on what region of China you are in. We are from Southern China, where our traditional greeting is “Gong Xi Fa Cai!”, which means “congratulations and prosperity.” Other greetings are:

• Wan Shi Ru Yi: everything follows your will
• Ji Xiang Ru Yi: harmony and everything follows your will
• Sui Sui Ping An: harmony and safety year around

Cleaning
Part of celebrating the Chinese New Year involves cleaning. Traditionally, homes are cleaned before the New Year, but sweeping and dusting isn’t done until the third day after New Year out of fear that good fortune will be swept away. The floors can be swept, starting by brushing the dust and dirt towards the middle of the house or building. Once the debris is piled into the center, it’s moved to the corners where it remains until the fifth day, at which point it can be thrown out.

Decorating
Whether you intend on hosting an extravagant New Year’s Eve party with dozens of friends, or you plan on having a low-key evening with your family, you should decorate your home to reflect this ceremonial event. Some traditional decorative practices for the Chinese New Year include the use of red lanterns, couplets, door god designs, and images of the upcoming year’s Chinese astrology animal (hint: 2015 is Year of The Goat).

Fireworks
We can’t talk about ways to ring in the Chinese New Year without mentioning fireworks. This joyful practice is said to expunge the old year while welcoming the new one. Traditional belief is that all doors and windows should be left open on midnight New Year’s Eve so the old year can go out. Just remember to close them back once the celebration is over!

Wear Red
When you’re choosing an outfit to wear on New Year’s, look for something red. Red is symbolic of happiness and longevity, and wearing it is believed to bring a similar future to the individual. This is the reason why you see so many people dressed in red during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Don’t Use Knives
Lastly, avoid using knives on New Year’s Day. You may find it difficult to prepare food, but traditional Chinese superstition states that using knives “cuts” off a person’s good fortune. 

Join us first Friday of the month for community acupuncture!
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​Chapped lips, dry, flaky skin, and an itchy scalp. Does it sound like something your skin is going through?

Even in San Francisco where winters tend to me milder, lower temperatures suck moisture from your skin leaving it extremely dry and flaky. Micro-needling can be a powerful skin treatment and just the moisture boost your skin needs. 

Below I'll review more about what this procedure is, why it is beneficial for the skin, and what precautions one needs to take before and after

Also known as Collagen Induction Therapy, it is a minimally invasive procedure which rejuvenates your skin from within. The microscopic pin-pricks initiate the repair process in the skin. This is the body’s natural response to any disturbance in the structure of the skin. There is increased blood flow to the areas treated. The activity of a protein called Collagen increases manifold. Collagen is responsible for the elasticity of the skin. It is the part that holds it firmly and prevents the loosening of skin.

​My sessions focus on nourishing and reviving skin:

• The skin is washed and cleansed
  
• 25 min Celluma Light therapy session to further treat the skin and prep collagen regrowth.
• An anesthetic gel may be applied on top of your skin to provide a numbing effect. Although this treatment is not painful, some people tend to have a low pain threshold. Even if you are one of those people, you don’t have to worry one bit. After the gel is applied,  the treatment is very comfortable. 
• While the numbing cream is taking effect, a full acupuncture treatment is done to encourage facial rejuvenation and get your body into a relaxed state. 
• The numbing is removed and the area is cleansed and disinfected.
• Micro-needling: A pen-like instrument to make microscopic pin-pricks on your facial skin. These pricks are so small that they are not visible to the naked eye. The pen is slowly moved over all the target areas.
  
• After the procedure is over, a stem cell serum and calming cream and mask is applied

The whole process takes nearly 90 minutes.

Tone and Texture - After 2 treatments 

There's definitely a winter theme here and that's prioritizing your body's needs. With that, lets Focusing on the power of the parasympathetic system and the importance of “rest and digest” especially when it comes to fertility.

It’s a cycle that is so easy to get caught up in. Being  constantly on the go, with entire days spent in a busy “fight or flight” mode (sympathetic) without any time for our bodies to really slow down and recharge.  When we spend our day rushing and stressing, our body’s natural instinct is to shut down on unnecessary organ functions (like the reproductive organs) and only focus on getting you away from that stressor. 

​There are plenty of things that can assist in switching from fight or flight (sympathetic) to feed and breed (parasympathetic). Meditation, yoga, and mindfulness to name a few. One of the most effective ways to mitigate stress, however, is acupuncture.  What makes those "Acu Naps" so powerful is it quickly and efficiently gets your body into a parasympathetic state. 

Whether you are trying to conceive, get a better night’s sleep, or just lower your stress levels, SF Integrative Medicine is here to help you take your health in hand and find some inner calm.

Winter is the season for recharging our batteries. In Chinese Medicine, these batteries are the organs Kidneys and Bladder, storing energy for the Spring and Summer to come. During treatments we are often checking your pulse to feel your how your kidneys and bladder, gauging how the “battery levels” are doing. 

In Chinese Medicine, the kidneys store vital life energy. They also influence reproduction, brain, bone health fluid secretions and the emotions like anxiety, fear and courage. When the kidneys are overworked we see symptoms such as anxiety, infertility, adrenal or chronic fatigue, low back pain, weak knees, urination issues and others.
Some examples of balanced Kidneys and Bladder is when you:

• Have will-power
• Can manage your stress levels
• Are fertile and have a healthy, balanced sex life
• Get quality, regular sleep
• Have healthy brain function
• Have a strong and stable back and knees

The main causes of Kidneys and Bladder imbalances are stress and overactivity. Other things that tax them are drugs, too much alcohol, poor food quality or eating habits, overwork, too much physical activity, and lack of sleep and relaxation.

With the colder weather and darker nights, winter is the best time to slow down and refrain from too much activity, sleep more, eat more and get to know yourself better to replenish and nourish that vital energy.

In traditional Chinese medicine, autumn is characterized by several things:

• Connected to the metal element
  
• The color white
  
• The lungs and the large intestine
  
• Emotion of grief 

Autumn is the time when leaves fall to the ground, begin to decompose to create a fertile ground and the potential for growth for the spring.

Similarly, the human body naturally wants to pare down, introvert, and begin a season of focused energy. At times there is a shift on the fall equinox when the energy that previously flowed outward in the summer turns inward in preparation for the winter ahead. Even if you aren’t heading back to the office yet, most people experience feeling that change is in the air. We begin to organize our homes, offices, and calendars, and look to the months ahead with a “new year” sense of goals for what's to come.

Traditional Chinese medicine is a therapy for the entire body, mind, and spirit.  Just as psychotherapy helps the mind release tension, acupuncture helps the body release emotions of grief, sadness, and memories as well.

In our practice we use acupuncture, herbs, and dietary therapy to help improve digestion and support the process of letting go. We utilize acupuncture points that have a descending action and improve the circulation of Qi and blood. Similarly, we address the lungs which are so frequently damaged by the dry, crisp air that characterizes autumn and winter.

The Large Intestine

• Magnesium Glycinate or Citrate
• Flax seeds
• Omega 3 fatty oils
• Probiotics
• Warm water and lemon
• Dried fruits
• Oatmeal
• Chia seeds

The Lungs 

• Pears
• Water Chestnuts
• Cauliflower (looks like a tree)
• Lotus root (looks like alveoli)
• Almonds
• Yuca

​With all the gorgeous weather we’ve been experiencing, I hope you're taking a long lunch break and heading outside to enjoy it. 

There’s no magic pill for any ailment, mental or physical (although Xiao Yao San, Zinc, and Mushrooms are pretty close!), so the best you can do during this time (especially during the Fall) is support your body when the seasons are changing and colds and flus begin to pop up. 

The number one way to this is to simply walk for 45 minutes each day. It doesn’t have to be vigorous, and can be broken up into chunks such as 20 mins of strolling on your lunch break and 25 mins after dinner. (The added bonus here is that your digestion will be supported and your blood sugar will stabilize more effectively).

According to David Nieman, Ph.D., “A daily walk helps shake up and spread out your Natural Killer cells – which is the first line of defense for your immune system – making them more vigilant.” He adds, “Don’t push yourself. Exhaustive exercise can actually impair the immune system, so pace yourself to where you can comfortably talk while you walk.”

Exercise significantly increases lymphatic return. Your lymphatic system is responsible for immunity and maintaining fluid balance in the body. It consists of lymphatic vessels & capillaries, and is similar to your circulatory system – except there is no pump to move your lymph fluid the way the heart pumps the blood. You must do it manually through muscular contraction.
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Your lymph carries your body’s natural defenses (such as B cells, T cells, and Natural Killer cells) throughout your system so that they can get to work and clean house. Natural Killer (NK) cells attack and destroy bacteria, transplanted tissue, host cells infected with viruses and cancer cells. Prevention is key! A healthy lymphatic system  is important for overall health whether you have a cold or not.

Walking isn't just good for your immune system - it can also help speed recovery and reduce pain, especially chronic pain.  For starters, building up surrounding muscles through walking helps stabilize  hurting joints and also increases lubrication of the cartilage. "Cartilage doesn't have a blood supply but does have living cells," says Dr. Virginia Byers Kraus, a professor at Duke University's Molecular Physiology Institute. "So the way it gets nutrition is by dynamic motion — putting weight off and on as you walk and move. The fluid inside the joint flows into and out of the cartilage like a sponge, so all the nutrients in the joint fluid get into the cartilage" and help slow any degradation there.

One day while skimming through the LA Times I came across an article that really spoke to me and even today reminds me to get a walk in every day, any way I can