• About Dr. Savant

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Being smart about how and when to use antibiotics can ensure that they remain effective as treatment options. Antibiotics will kill bacteria but do nothing against viruses and most of the illnesses that people experience like colds, the flu, bronchitis, runny noses, and sore throats not caused by strep, are caused by viruses. Most viruses are self-limited. In other words, they’ll go away on their own after about 7-10 days with plenty of rest and fluids. If the illness lasts longer than 2-3 weeks then a bacterial infection becomes more likely and antibiotics should be considered. Again, the best way to prevent the spread of a virus is by washing your hands and not touching your face. If you do end up taking antibiotics then you’ll want to be sure to finish the whole course, even if you feel better after just a few days. You’ll start to feel better before the bacteria is completely gone so it’s important to finish the whole course and wipe them all out. If not, then some bacteria will remain and eventually adapt to become resistant to that antibiotic. Bacteria are living things and they will adapt to survive, too. So you may not need antibiotics for as many illnesses as you think but if you do, make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions and finish them all.

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• About Dr. Savant

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The flu shots are back in medical offices and clinics and every year I get asked the same question, “Do I need to get a flu shot?” That depends. It’s a good idea if you fall into a high risk group or live or care for someone in a high risk group. Those at high risk for getting the flu would be infants and children, the elderly, healthcare workers, those with compromised immune systems such as people who have HIV, pregnant women, and those with chronic diseases like diabetes. For the rest of you the flu shot is optional but may still be helpful. Just remember that the shot is not a guarantee that you won’t get the flu and that prevention is best: wash your hands, don’t touch your face, cough into your elbow. You know the drill.

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• About Elizabeth McDowell

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Cupping is a therapy used in Chinese Medicine that has become quite popular in demand. Chinese Medicine is the main medicine that introduced cupping into the world, however cupping therapy has been used for centuries in many other parts of the world such as South America, Europe and Russia. The “cups’ used in cupping are usually made of glass with a very smooth mouth, and there are many sizes I use depending on what area of the body I am working on. How it works is I take a cotton ball infused with alcohol with clamp scissors and light a swab of cotton on fire. I then swirl the fire inside the cup and quickly press the cup onto the patient’s skin. The cup is not hot. What happens is the fire sucks out oxygen from inside the cup creating a pressure gradient. Once the cup is pressed against the skin it pulls the skin and underlying tissue into the cup like a vacuum. How strong the vacuum is can be controlled by the practitioner. Cupping is a treatment method used mainly to relieve pain. When an injury occurs deep in the muscle, sometimes bleeding occurs, causing a deep bruise. There also may be inflammation in the area involving the congregation of sticky proteins. The combination of these elements results in stagnation of circulation to the area, resulting in pain. The vacuum formed by cupping draws up the old non-circulating stagnant blood and sticky fluids from the area, bringing them up to the surface an away from the injury so that healthy free circulation may be restored in the affected area. There are many techniques you can use with the cups such as the gliding technique where you slide the cup along muscle to relieve tension. Stronger forms of cupping can help break up scar tissue and muscle adhesions in cases like frozen shoulder. Cupping techniques can also be used to circulate congested lymphatic fluids. And sometimes cupping is used in respiratory illness help remove phlegm from the lungs. There are many therapeutic uses for cupping. For more information about how you might benefit from cupping consult your acupuncturist.

Helpful Links:

• Acupunture.com
• Cupping Therapy

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• About Elizabeth McDowell

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During the months between fall and spring, otherwise known as the cold and flu season, people are going to be exposed to nasty virus’ and bacteria affecting the respiratory system. If you are hesitant about jumping straight into antibiotics and want to try something natural, Chinese Medicine is an effective alternative. When you catch a cold or flu, caused by a foreign invader, this can lead to symptoms like body aches, nasal congestion, sore throat and fever. In Chinese Medicine, these symptoms are a result of the pathogenic invader disrupting the circulation of energy in the muscles, nasal passage ways, tonsils, lungs, etc. Depending on your specific symptoms, an acupuncture prescription can be made to treat your condition choosing acupuncture points that fit that diagnosis. Essentially acupuncture can remove the energetic blockages caused by the invader, bringing relief from the symptoms. There are points which can open the sinuses and relieve congestion, and others to treat fever, sore throat, body aches and cough. Sometimes acupuncture is not enough and herbal medicine is required. There are many herbs in our pharmacoepia that are very effective in treating all varieties of the common cold and flu. I get a lot of patients who come to me because they have a virus which cannot be treated with antibiotics and they need relief. In my practice I stress the use of a proprietary blend of loose raw herbs mixed together in a formula to drink as a tea. I find this works best, especially since the presentation of the flu or common cold can vary from person to person. Whether your flu this season is viral or bacterial and you want to try something that is good for your body and natural, find a Chinese Medicine provider in your area and give it a try.

Helpful Links:

• Acupuncture added to UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Acupunture.com

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Many of my patients have been worried about getting the H1N1 (Swine) flu and whether they’ll be able to get the vaccine.

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It is true that the vaccine is not widely available yet. I’ve heard reasons, including that the vaccine is made in chicken eggs and it appears that fewer vaccines are being made per chicken egg than the regular seasonal flu vaccine yields. Also after potency tests, fewer vaccines are available per egg.

So how do you prevent yourself from getting sick? Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, cough into your elbow and stay away from others who are coughing.

We tell people to stay home if they think they have the flu. However, for certain symptoms you should seek medical attention right away. They include:

• Chest pain or shortness of breath
• Your lips turn blue or purple
• Dehydration (you are dizzy or unable to urinate)

Not getting the flu in the first place remains the best course of action. So remember, wash your hands and DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE. • About Dr. Savant

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Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend the influenza (flu) vaccination for all women who are or will be pregnant during the flu season. If you fall into this category, this year, the recommendation is to receive both the seasonal and 2009 H1N1 vaccines.

It has also been shown that babies born to mothers who had a flu shot in pregnancy get sick with flu less often. So when you get the flu shot as an expecting mother, you are not only protecting yourself and your pregnancy, but also your newborn up to 6 months of age.

Both the seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu shots can be received by pregnant women at any time during pregnancy. The important thing to remember is to choose the injection form of the vaccine (TIV or trivalent inactivated vaccine) and avoid the nasal spray form of the vaccine (LAIV or live attenuated influenza vaccine).

There are some concerns about the flu vaccines containing thimerasol, a mercury preservative. The truth is that the exposure to mercury from these vaccines is minimal and there is no evidence that it is harmful. So when the option of obtaining the thimerasol-free version is not available, it should not prevent you from getting vaccinated.

Both the seasonal flu vaccine and 2009 H1N1 vaccine are not recommended for people with severe egg allergy. So if that is something you have, make sure to talk to your doctor about other ways to stay healthy during the flu season.

Besides getting the flu shots, don’t forget the importance of behavioral prevention, for example: hand washing with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub, covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, and remaining home from work or school while infected with the flu. • About Dr. Chan

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3. Flu Update

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It’s important to try your best to avoid getting sick in the first place by washing your hands, not touching your face, drinking fluids, getting enough sleep, etc. Getting a regular annual flu shot is a good idea, especially for those people in higher risk groups (the very young, the very old, healthcare workers, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases), but the H1N1 virus is different enough from influenza A and B that a person will not be adequately protected against it with the annual flu vaccine.

A vaccine is being developed currently that is specific for the H1N1 virus and it should be ready by October. Those people who are recommended to get it are:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children 6 months of age and younger
• Healthcare workers
• People ages 6 months to 24 years old, and
• People ages 25 to 64 years old who have chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems

In San Francisco there are plans to give up to 140,000 free H1N1 vaccines through city health clinics.

Finally, remember the best thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands and don’t touch your face. • About Dr. Savant

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I’m around sick people all the time in the hospital and the office and am able to keep from getting sick by washing my hands regularly and not touching my face.

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Wash your hands with soap and warm water for as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song.  You can also use an antibacterial hand gel.  Maintaining a normal speaking distance from someone, about 3 feet, should be enough space to avoid getting sick from respiratory droplets, unless someone is coughing.  For those who are coughing, you should do so into the inside of your elbow and away from other people.  However, the major way that germs are transmitted is by the hands.  Someone who’s sick coughs into his hands and then grabs a door handle to open it.  The next person who opens that door then rubs her eyes or nose and she’ll start having symptoms in a day or two.  Germs can live for hours or even weeks on some surfaces.

Other things that you can do to avoid the flu and viruses in general are:

• Drink plenty of fluids, at least eight 8oz glasses, or two liters of water per day.  You know you’re getting enough fluids if your urine is pale.
• Eat a well balanced diet that is heavy on fresh fruits and vegetables of a variety of colors.  This will help you to get the phytochemicals and antioxidants necessary to help maintain a healthy immune system.
• Get enough rest, at least 8 hours of sleep per night.  Our bodies get a chance to repair themselves when we sleep.
• Other supplements that may be of some benefit include Vitamin C, Asian ginseng, Probiotics, Echinacea, and Black Elderberry.

Most people will be mildly affected by the flu with fevers, muscle aches and poor appetite for about a seven-day period.  However, in those with compromised immune systems (the elderly, infants, and people with diseases such as AIDS and cancer) the flu can be fatal and they should seek immediate medical attention.  It’s important to note that the regular flu kills many more people annually than the H1N1 flu has so far.

But still, the best thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands and don’t touch your face. • About Dr. Savant

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