Blog - HeCares Integrative Medicine Center

Back in Action!

8/31/2022

Trending & Breaking

HeCares is proudly teaming up with Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health in the BackInAction Study, a research project funded by the NIH on the benefits of acupuncture for lower back pain. Dr. Frank He will be one of the primary investigators providing acupuncture treatments for study participants.

Please speak to the HeCares Team for more information about this project!

Seeing is believing...

6/1/2022

Subject: good news!

Hi Dr. He,

Great news!!! Your acupuncture treatments are working. The eye doctor is amazed and very interested. I just came from Harvey Fishman’s office. He could hardly believe it. Three months ago my pressures were 18 and 20. Today both eyes are 17. He still wants to monitor me closely which is fine with me. However, he no longer thinks I have the early stages of glaucoma and has switched his diagnosis to “watch in the future for”.

I couldn’t wait to share the good news with you. Thank you for all your help and support. Also, my hip is feeling much better. See you Tuesday.

Warmest regards,

Acupuncture can treat or help slow down the progression of...

Myopia
Cataracts
Conjunctivitis
Pingueculae
Macular degeneration
Retinal detachment
Diabetic Retinopathy
Dry eye syndrome

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise

4/11/2022

“I Can’t Afford to be Sick!” Who among us can say we’ve never uttered that phrase? We catch a cold or the flu, contract a stomach bug, break a toe—or worse! Our livelihoods depend on our being able to do the things we must, and yet all too often our bodies let us down. Catching a cold or slipping on ice are all part of being human beings going about our day-to-day lives. Unexpected illness and disease pay a heavy toll on us and not just physically, but also mentally, and to a great extent, financially. But there are smart and inexpensive things we can do starting right now to make us healthier and less prone to illness.

HeCares is an integrative medical center with expertise in sports medicine, pain management, pediatrics, and fertility health. Here, they offer insight into how you can adopt a more healthy lifestyle that doesn’t require a large financial obligation. In fact, incorporating a more healthy routine into your life can, in return, save you money by keeping you at your productive best.

LACE-UP

Walking costs literally nothing and is something you can do anywhere. Health experts are even telling us that we should be walking 10,000 steps every day! Since walking reduces our risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression, it’s not a bad goal to set for ourselves. The average American walks less than half that amount daily, so don’t be discouraged if you’re not able to hit that mark on day one of your new routine. Plan on making gradual increases until you get there. You don’t need an expensive fitness tracker to count your steps, there are several affordable ones that will monitor your heart rate, oxygen, and even sleep for under $50.

DIVE IN

Swimming is great for our cardiovascular system. It builds muscle, reduces stress, helps us sleep, burns more calories than jogging, and is the best exercise for a full-body workout. Most cities have a free or low-cost community facility with an indoor pool, as do most YMCAs. Besides swimming, water aerobics is a great form of exercise as it builds muscle while avoiding putting stress on joints.

THE OTHER KIND OF PEDDLE

Taking your foot off the gas peddle and pushing the bike paddle is an ever more popular means of getting about town. In fact, most cities and suburbs are including bicycle paths in their plans to accommodate the rising need for bikers’ safety. Besides doing you a world of good health-wise, you’re saving money on gas and parking. It’s also better for the environment so even more to feel good about.

SAY NO TO TO-GO

It’s much easier to grab a bag of burgers and fries at lunch than to make a healthy meal to bring with us to work and school, or to pick up a bucket of fried chicken for the family’s dinner on the way home. Fast food means we’re filling up on meat and carbs, leaving little appetite left over for the fruits and vegetables we need to properly fuel our bodies. This leads to increases in blood sugar, inflammation, and blood pressure while depressing our mood and disrupting our sleep. Preparing your own meals ahead of time and freezing them is a cost-effective, timesaving, and far healthier alternative.

SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS

Now that you’re all-in on ways to stay healthy and save money doing it, you might consider actually turning that newfound lifestyle into a business. Maybe you love your bike so much, you open a bicycle repair shop. Or you decide selling make-ahead meals for busy families is right up your alley. Research ways into how to make that happen like using a service to form an LLC to reduce your liability and get some tax advantages if you decide to bring your like-minded friends into the business with you.

GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED FUN

Hiking, throwing the ball around the yard, picnics with homemade sandwiches and snacks, and getting together to prepare a meal are inexpensive, fun ways you and your family can live healthier, happier, and more productive lives. As HeCares reminds us, “Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Karen Weeks, Freelance Writer
Contact: karen@elderwellness.net
Website: elderwellness.net

He Did It Again...

12/20/2021

Dr. Frank He participated in the Bay Area Seniors Games in San Mateo on December 12, 2021 and won a silver medal in the Men 55-60 age group.

How pH balance influences fertility

12/17/2021

For many couples who are waiting to say we have a surprise , guess what, having a baby is a
lifetime dream. Achieving this dream happens naturally most of the time, however
sometimes, there are situations where a little awareness of our bodies and diet can help.
The proverbial saying 'You are what you eat' is the notion that to be fit and healthy, you
need to eat good food. Same holds good for your fertility health, especially for maintaining
vaginal pH balance.
Here is an excerpt from a research paper which explains and demonstrates the relationship
with pH balance and fertility.
The optimal vaginal pH to maintain sperm viability and motility ranges from 7.0 to 8.5. In
fact, a reduction in sperm motility is seen at vaginal pH of less than 6.0. The alkaline pH of
semen protects sperm temporarily. However, reduction in semen volume and/or decreased
alkaline seminal vesicular secretion may negatively impact fertility since buffering capacity
of semen against vaginal acidity becomes inadequate.
The cervix generally functions as an effective barrier to sperm; an adequate production of
cervical mucus is essential to transport sperm from the vagina to the uterine cavity.

Acupuncture is an essential part of restoring this balance. Get a booster Acupuncture
treatment and start your alkaline diet , during ovulation for best results.
Thus TCM identifies an important indicator for a human body’s health: the human blood pH
value, which, under normal conditions, ranges from 7.34539 to 7.45461. Outside this range
(acid: Yin condition; alkaline: Yang condition), disease appears. Almost always, when there
is virtual disease, the condition of human blood pH value is a Yin condition; when there is
real disease, the condition of human blood pH value is a Yang condition.
There are many wonderful alkaline foods taken regularly, which have the potential to
increase the chances of conception.

Please book an appointment for a consultation. Call us at 408-720-1766.

by Sandhya Sathyanarayana L.Ac.

Acupuncture & Chinese herbs for vision loss

11/9/2021

Couple of weeks back, Dr. He and I saw an interesting case. This patient presents as a left eye having a blood clot in the retinal vein, causing a “small mountain” to grow on the retina.
She came in to see us and mentioned that her vision was very blurry and could not even read the biggest letter on the Snellen eye chart and said that it was so blurry as if she had a curtain in front of her eye.
Her eye doctor told her that this requires an intervention which sounded very scary to her and wanted to see if there were any other options as she thought that she would lose her eyesight forever. She got a shot in her eye to see if the clot can dissolve.
But, then to my surprise on the first treatment, a few acupuncture points and Chinese herbs which the practitioner prescribed resulted in clearing the clot and improving her vision. Next week, she came back and said she could see everything clearly and she was even trying to read the intricate details of text that was on the wall. Her vision was back to 20/30, she felt very happy and said that it was a miracle and was very happy to find this place.
After two or three more treatments, she even forgot that she had this condition and we moved on to skillfully treat another condition that she had. Just wanted to mention that she is the mother of our former intern.
We have a great team here at HeCares, so please check us out @hecares.net . Happy to listen and help.
#hecares #acupuncture #herbs
Sandhya Sathyanarayana L.Ac.

How Acupuncture helps with fertility by reducing stress?

10/20/2021

Stress is essential for human survival. When we are hunter gatherers, stress helped our ancestors avoid dangers, by increasing energy levels to take action quickly. Stress should be a temporary phenomenon , however due to modern lifestyle, this has become almost permanent in everyone’s life. For couples who are trying for some time to be parents, stress is pretty high. Same stress which is built into our body for survival now induces anxiety, which is not conducive to fertility. Apart from a host of other things which might be causing infertility issues, stress is generally a primary factor.

How stress impacts fertility ?
Quoting this paper for impact of stress on hormones “In stress there is suppression of circulating gonadotropins and gonadal steroid hormones leading to disruption of the normal menstrual cycle. Prolonged exposure to stress can lead to complete impairment of reproductive function. In very simple terms, stress inhibits the production of hormones required for fertility and healthy pregnancy.

How does Acupuncture help in reducing stress symptoms ?
Acupuncture and Chinese traditional medicine is a holistic science. Acupuncture treatment effects modulate various neurophysiologic mechanisms during resistance periods of stress. Acupuncture decreases the stress response by regulating hormone production, increasing blood circulation to the ovaries and uterus. This reduction of stress improves all bodily functions including the reproductive system. This aids both with normal pregnancy and IVF pregnancy.

How can I get relief from stress?
Along with Acupuncture, eating clean, fresh, healthy food and having an exercise routine is essential for reproductive health. At our clinic, we have treated many individuals who are coping up with stress, while
trying to conceive. We have observed, lifestyle changes along with Acupuncture have resulted in improvements in mood and reduction in stress. Our mission is to help people to live their life to the fullest and be a catalyst to happy parenthood. Our treatment is individualized, we take time to listen and understand individual needs and circumstances. We aspire to be partners in your journey, we can answer your questions and help you get scheduled for your first appointment!

Please book an appointment for a consultation. Call us at 408-720-1766.
Sandhya Sathyanarayana L.Ac.

tags: stress, fertility, acupuncture, lifestyle, health, pregnancy, fertility, stress, hormones

What a wonderful world...

9/28/2021

Life is not measured by the breaths we take but by the moments that take our breaths away. Living a life in such a way, one will not have much time to worry about so many things such as virus, pandemic, etc. So go out and enjoy the nature. That might be the best way to release our stress and enhance our immune system.

Seeing is believing: Acupuncture for Pressure Sores

6/7/2021

Acupuncture improves blood circulation and accelerates pressure sores heal. Here is a case of delayed healing: a 102 year old male patient. pressure sores occurred six months ago. Conventional topical treatments failed. Family brought him in to try acupuncture. Here are photos taken on May 31 and June 5.

Practice what you preach...

5/1/2021

Practicing acupuncture for 35 years, I must say Acupuncture Works! Not only can I make a living by doing it, but keep my family healthy with a few needles. My eight year old son has not had to taste a bit of conventional medicine such as fever relievers, antibiotics, etc. He doesn't necessarily like needles, however, when it comes to treating a cold or allergy or even ear infections, he would gladly take a few needles. Nothing fancy or complicated! Just a few fine needles! It works every time we try acupuncture.