Every year we are delighted to give back and support our community.  This year we decided to ”adopt”  Unity Care Group, a local community-based, non-profit youth development agency.  Unity Care Group was founded with the goal of developing education and social programs to enrich lives of at risk-youth in the foster care system.  Their mission is to provide quality youth programs for the purpose of creating healthier communities through life-long partnerships. Currently, Unity Care has numerous programs serving current and former foster youth that are in extreme need due to budget cuts and lack of social program funding.  As many youths in the program are seperated from their families, they are left with feelings of sadness and abandonment during the Holiday Season. Cypress Natural Medicine, along with Unity Care, aims to brighten their Holiday Season through a donation drive.  We are asking you to help us in bringing a little warmth and happiness to a foster youths’ life!

There are many ways to donate, and all donations are tax deductable.  Following is the “Wish List” to help make this season bright!

• Gift Cards to retailers such as Target, Macy’s, Best Buy, Footlocker, Century Theatres, Old Navy, Barnes & Noble (These will be given as gifts to the foster youth).
• Monetary donations in any amount.  You can make an online gift donation at www.unitycare.org or bring it by Cypress Natural Medicine.  We will be sure you get a tax deductable receipt.
• Holiday decorations and household items such as new furniture, bedding, towels and kitchen appliances.

Please bring your donations to Cypress Natural Medicine by December 21, 2009 and we will deliver to Unity Care Group for you!   We are looking forward to making this a wonderful Season for the youth’s in our area and thank you for your partnership, generosity and compassion!

All of us here at Cypress Natural Medicine wish you and yours a wonderful Holiday Season and a New Year filled with health and prosperity!

In Health,

Dr. Bryan, Dr. Destia, Dr. Jen, Dr. Cindy, Sarah, Arlene and Denise

As with any robust virus, it is survival of the fittest.  We are beginning to see our first signs of mutations occurring in the H1N1 virus.  Even though the H1N1 vaccine has shown quite dismal results (Effectiveness = 76% of 10 -- 17 year olds; 36% of 3 -- 9 year olds; 25% of babies aged 6 months -- 35 months) against the virus it was intended (the July 2009 California H1N1 strain), the newest strain will most likely lead to complete ineffectiveness of the vaccine.  Patients who have been diagnosed with this mutated strain are hence called “low reactors” to the current H1N1 vaccine.

What are we learning from this information?  The H1N1 vaccine is not the magic bullet?

The initial vaccine was far from being any magic bullet as seen above in the HIH report.  On top of that information, it also contains squalene, aluminum, and mercury, which have been correlated with everything from autoimmune conditions to autism to paralysis.

What other choices do we have?  Is there another magic bullet?

No, there is no magic bullet when it comes to building and maintaining a healthy immune system.  This is a perfect example of naturopathic principles at work.  Eat well, get enough sleep, manage stress levels, and add a little supplementation for good measure.  I am really a minimalist when it comes to supplementation, so I strongly recommend Juice Plus+ as the foundation for prevention of the flu and other infectious agents.  I have taken Juice Plus+ for 13 years now and have recommended it to my patients as a great foundational product for 6 years.  I view it as an insurance policy for the days in which I am not able to eat as I should.  It is really the only supplement I take consistently because the third party research is so persuasive.  Both the University of Florida and University of Arizona have done studies on Juice Plus+ in relation to immune function.  Both studies showed significant immune enhancement when supplementing with Juice Plus+.  These results equate to more resistance against common infections.

The following steps will typically be all you need to stay healthy, even in the midst of a pandemic.  Your immune system is your best asset!

1. Test your vitamin D levels during the fall and winter.
   This is probably the single most important and least expensive action you can take. I would STRONGLY urge you to have your vitamin D level monitored to confirm your levels are therapeutic at 50-70 ng/ml.  If you are coming down with flu-like symptoms and have not been on vitamin D, you can take doses of 50,000 units a day for three days to treat the acute infection. Please talk with us at Cypress Natural Medicine if you would like to have this tested.
2. Avoid sugar, high simple carbohydrate and processed foods
   Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately and the immune suppression lasts for 7 hours after the sugar intake.   A strong immune system is the biggest factor in protecting your body from viruses and other illness, even cancer.  If your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight the flu. So get plenty of good quality sleep
3. Use Effective Tools to Address Stress Levels.
   We all face some stress every day, but if stress becomes overwhelming then your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illness.
   a. Deep breathing exercises help to relieve stress: Spend 10 min twice a day deep breathing.  You should see your abdomen move when you breathe in this manner.  Focus on bringing the breath into your belly instead of filling your chest.
   b. Exercise at least 5 days a week for 30 min. When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads.
4. Take a high quality probiotic  or eat fermented foods. Eighty percent of your immune system is located in your digestive system, so enhancing your gut health with probiotics is a very effective method to ward off cold and flu viruses.
5. Eat 9-12 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Whole food nutrition is very immune balancing.  I take a supplement called Juice Plus to increase my nutrient density and support my immune system.  You can see the research on Juice Plus and the immune system at www.FruitVeggieHealth.com.   The doctors at Cypress Natural Medicine use Juice plus as our immune balancing first line of defense and you can even double dose at the first signs of the flu.
6. Herbs and Homeopathy can help with good immune balance.   Avoid taking herbs such as Echinacea and elderberry for long periods of time.  I recommend taking an herbal formula only one week monthly as prevention.  We have some great immune formulas at Cypress Natural Medicine.   Please talk with your practitioner to see which one they would recommend for you.

If you do experience flu symptoms, do not panic, call us at Cypress Natural Medicine and we can give you specific treatments to lessen and support your body through the illness.

My daughter and I have had excellent results with NAET. We were both eliminating about 30 food while she was nursing and before out treatment to avoid constant rashes, hives and behavior problems. We did many, many treatments with Jen and we can now eat everything!
V.B., Mountain View

Both of my sons have been receiving NAET treatments for allergies and I have noticed a substantial change in their general health and behavior. I have observed that they are more focused and illness linked to allergies is virtually gone! I highly recommend this non-invasive treatment to anyone suffering from allergies or behavioral issues.
S.R.C., Mountain View

I was suffering from severe migraines which would last 24 hours about 3 times a week. I could not move my head without intense pain and nausea. I had to quit working and was afraid to socialize or travel fearing an attack, so basically my life was consumed by the migraines and I was a total wreck. I tried numerous medications and went to numerous doctors, but did not find help and eventually gave up on western medicine. I started receiving craniosacral therapy on a regular basis. I am really happy I stuck with it because after about 4-5 months, the migraines started to taper off and then disappeared altogether! Thank you!!
A.R., San Francisco

My 1 year old son suffered from extreme gastrointestinal discomfort that left western medical doctors stumped. Subsequently, my son had many behavioral issues and difficulty sleeping. I was referred to Jen and we began a series of NAET treatments that definitely helped relieve the severity of some of his symptoms, but did not eliminate the problem completely. We then saw Dr. Bryan for homeopathy and Dr. Destia for craniosacral therapy. After just a few appointments, I saw a tremendous shift and now have a happy and healthy boy!
D.D., San Jose

I used to spend 2 days a month in agony with migraine headaches. I took medication that did not always work and had adverse side effects. Cypress Natural Medicine helped me and I am migraine free, have more energy and am feeling in balance. Thank you!
K.D., Redwood City

My son has suffered severe digestive problems for the past 5 years. After having 3 invasive diagnostic procedures that left him with adverse reactions and a recommendation of lifetime medication and life-altering surgery, we sought a natural approach. After coming to Dr. Bryan, we began to see signs of steady improvement where his symptoms began disappearing altogether. Now my son is off to summer camp and living the life of a normal boy after being so ill he missed 3 months of school. Dr. Bryan has restored my son’s quality of life and I am eternally grateful for that.
R.P., Mountain View

Happy New Year to all of our patients, friends, and families! The New Year represents a time of significant change and transition. To us at Cypress, it is a time for creativity, renewal, and transformation. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to reassess previous health habits and to adopt the changes needed that encourage optimal health and wellbeing. We at Cypress want to give a very special thanks to all of our patients for trusting us with your health and making us your #1 choice for natural healthcare over the past year!

It has been a very exciting year for us at Cypress with the addition of Arlene Hazlekorn (our fabulous office manager!) and Sarah Fink, L.Ac. (our wonderful new acupuncturist!) They are both a tremendous addition to our growing team and I am sure that you will meet them soon if you have not met them already.

2/1/08 – 4/1/08: Sarah Fink, LAc is offering a 30% discount on all initial acupuncture visits (Reg. $165). Sarah specializes in pain management, women’s health, fertility, and chronic illness by utilizing acupuncture and traditional chinese medicine. If you would like to know more about the services that Sarah offers please feel free to call the clinic at 650-323-7345 or email her directly at sarah@cnmhealth.com.

Referral Discount: Every patient that refers a friend, family member, or community member to our clinic for an initial office visit will receive a one-time $15 credit toward their next visit. There is no limit to the number of people you can refer and receive this special. We have had patients virtually pay for their own healthcare by referring their loved ones to us!

1/29/08: Dr. Destia Skinner, ND, CST
What: Supporting your immune system through the cold season
Where: Cypress Natural Medicine, Palo Alto
When: Tuesday 2/12/08 @ 7:30-8:30pm (Free)
RSVP: drdestia@cnmhealth.com

• How does the immune system work?
• What are the keys to increasing immunity.
• Practicing prevention, what does that mean?
• The power packed foods for optimal immunity (take home a list of healthy grocery items)
• How to reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and other chronic diseases and how to maintain a healthy weight
• Learn about a simple, healthy solution for the entire family – fruits and veggies in a capsule “Juice Plus+”

2/12/08: Dr. Destia Skinner, ND, CST
What: Balancing Hormones: What you can do to keep your body in Harmony
Where: Cypress Natural Medicine, Palo Alto
When: Tuesday 2/12/08 @ 7-8:30pm (Free)
RSVP: drdestia@cnmhealth.com

Learn from an expert in natural health what you can do to keep your hormones balanced and at optimal levels. This lecture will include topics such as menstrual irregularity, PMS, menopause, andropause, low libido, and BHRT (bio-identical hormone replacement therapy). Don’t hesitate to bring your questions along with you!

2/1/08 – 4/1/08: Sarah Fink, LAc is offering a 30% discount on all initial acupuncture visits (Reg. $165). Sarah specializes in pain management, women’s health, fertility, and chronic illness by utilizing acupuncture and traditional chinese medicine. If you would like to know more about the services that Sarah offers please feel free to call the clinic at 650-323-7345 or email her directly at sarah@cnmhealth.com.

Referral Discount: Every patient that refers a friend, family member, or community member to our clinic for an initial office visit will receive a one-time $15 credit toward their next visit. There is no limit to the number of people you can refer and receive this special. We have had patients virtually pay for their own healthcare by referring their loved ones to us!

1/29/08: Dr. Destia Skinner, ND, CST
What: Supporting your immune system through the cold season
Where: Cypress Natural Medicine, Palo Alto
When: Tuesday 2/12/08 @ 7:30-8:30pm (Free)
RSVP: drdestia@cnmhealth.com

• How does the immune system work?
• What are the keys to increasing immunity.
• Practicing prevention, what does that mean?
• The power packed foods for optimal immunity (take home a list of healthy grocery items)
• How to reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and other chronic diseases and how to maintain a healthy weight
• Learn about a simple, healthy solution for the entire family – fruits and veggies in a capsule “Juice Plus+”

2/12/08: Dr. Destia Skinner, ND, CST
What: Balancing Hormones: What you can do to keep your body in Harmony
Where: Cypress Natural Medicine, Palo Alto
When: Tuesday 2/12/08 @ 7-8:30pm (Free)
RSVP: drdestia@cnmhealth.com

Learn from an expert in natural health what you can do to keep your hormones balanced and at optimal levels. This lecture will include topics such as menstrual irregularity, PMS, menopause, andropause, low libido, and BHRT (bio-identical hormone replacement therapy). Don’t hesitate to bring your questions along with you!

To the Cypress Natural Medicine Community,
Hi! My name is Sarah Fink and I’m the newest edition to the healthcare team at Cypress Natural Medicine. I’m a Licensed Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Herbalist. I’m also a Certified NAET practitioner. I received my four-year graduate degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. I’ve apprenticed and worked in a wonderful variety of clinics all over the Bay Area, as well as a few in China. I specialize in Women’s Health, Fertility, and Pain Management, although I do treat many other conditions.

Above all, I am committed to providing the same high quality of attentive care you have grown accustomed to at Cypress Natural Medicine. I am thrilled to join this talented team of practitioners, and look forward to working with you toward better health. If you have any additional questions about what I do, or how it may apply to you, please feel free to email me personally sarah@cnmhealth.com.

Be well,
Sarah Fink, L.Ac

The latest research reporting no benefit for breast cancer reoccurrence seems flawed. They did not report what type or sources of vegetables and fruit the subjects ate. Here at Cypress Natural Medicine we understand that all plants are not created equal. Veggies with higher lignin’s and higher cancer fighting elements like the sulfonamides found in broccoli can produce greater anti-cancer benefits.

The second flaw we noted was that levels of organic fruits and vegetables consumed was not listed. Pesticides are well documented to be breast cancer promoters and just by increasing the amounts of pesticides in the women could help to promote cancer as the veggies were fighting the cancer. Pesticide free, vine ripened, canned verses fresh are all important factors to the quality of the food we are consuming. These are all important elements when trying to fight cancer with fruit and veggies.

This is not a study to say that fruit and veggies don’t prevent cancer in first place. This is about reoccurrence of breast cancer not cancer prevention. The fabulous flavinoids in our fruit and vegetables are widely shown to prevent cancer by protecting our cells and increasing our immune system but the quality is just as important as the quantity.

In this study design the subjects were counting all sources of plant life including canned, microwaves, non organic sources. This is a flaw in the information. This may not be due to the fruits and vegetable not doing the job but instead the many factors that increase quality in our foods. . There is such a wealth of research on the fabulous effects of our plant based diets that plants should remain the major basis for every day eating.

The lesson of this study is the importance that not all fruits and veggies are created equal. Here are some guidelines for getting the most out of your fruit and veggie eating:

1. Choose organic whenever possible. Pesticides are associated with cancer. No reason to cancel out the effects of your healthy eating.

2. Shop at your local farmers market. Local vine ripened plants are higher nutrition because they are fresher.

3. Eat a majority of fresh, lightly steamed or sautéed veggies

4. Eat the rainbow of colors. Choose vibrant colors and at least 5 colors to explore each day. The health protective factors are in the color and flavor molecules of our plants.

5. Eat a wide variety of fresh fruits and veggies. There are over 300,000 different types of edible plants. Start exploring new colors and flavors.

For more research on the importance of fruit and vegetables in your diet and to find out about a simple way to get your servings visit www.fruitveggiehealth.com.

SOURCES: Touillaud, M. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, March 21, 2007; vol 99: pp 475-496. News release, Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The latest research reporting no benefit for breast cancer reoccurrence seems flawed. They did not report what type or sources of vegetables and fruit the subjects ate. Here at Cypress Natural Medicine we understand that all plants are not created equal. Veggies with higher lignin’s and higher cancer fighting elements like the sulfonamides found in broccoli can produce greater anti-cancer benefits.

The second flaw we noted was that levels of organic fruits and vegetables consumed was not listed. Pesticides are well documented to be breast cancer promoters and just by increasing the amounts of pesticides in the women could help to promote cancer as the veggies were fighting the cancer. Pesticide free, vine ripened, canned verses fresh are all important factors to the quality of the food we are consuming. These are all important elements when trying to fight cancer with fruit and veggies.

This is not a study to say that fruit and veggies don’t prevent cancer in first place. This is about reoccurrence of breast cancer not cancer prevention. The fabulous flavinoids in our fruit and vegetables are widely shown to prevent cancer by protecting our cells and increasing our immune system but the quality is just as important as the quantity.

In this study design the subjects were counting all sources of plant life including canned, microwaves, non organic sources. This is a flaw in the information. This may not be due to the fruits and vegetable not doing the job but instead the many factors that increase quality in our foods. . There is such a wealth of research on the fabulous effects of our plant based diets that plants should remain the major basis for every day eating.

The lesson of this study is the importance that not all fruits and veggies are created equal. Here are some guidelines for getting the most out of your fruit and veggie eating:

1. Choose organic whenever possible. Pesticides are associated with cancer. No reason to cancel out the effects of your healthy eating.

2. Shop at your local farmers market. Local vine ripened plants are higher nutrition because they are fresher.

3. Eat a majority of fresh, lightly steamed or sautéed veggies

4. Eat the rainbow of colors. Choose vibrant colors and at least 5 colors to explore each day. The health protective factors are in the color and flavor molecules of our plants.

5. Eat a wide variety of fresh fruits and veggies. There are over 300,000 different types of edible plants. Start exploring new colors and flavors.

For more research on the importance of fruit and vegetables in your diet and to find out about a simple way to get your servings visit www.fruitveggiehealth.com.

SOURCES: Touillaud, M. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, March 21, 2007; vol 99: pp 475-496. News release, Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Medicine is increasingly becoming aware that many chronic diseases are linked with inflammation. It is becoming increasingly clear that a host of illnesses – including heart disease, many cancers and Alzheimer’s disease – are influenced in large part by chronic inflammation. This is a process in which the immune system becomes off balance, and persists unnecessarily in its efforts to repair the body and repel pathogens. The prolonged process results in damage to healthy tissue as well. Stress, lack of exercise, genetic predisposition and other lifestyle factors can all promote inflammation, but poor diet is perhaps the main contributor, and the ideal place to begin addressing inflammation

Anti-inflammatory Diet General Recommendations:
• Aim for variety.
• Include as much fresh food as possible.
• Minimize your consumption of processed foods and fast food.
• Eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables.
• Minimize animal protein to 10% of daily calories. This is about one small serving a day from animal sources. This includes all meats, eggs and dairy.

Caloric Intake
• Most adults need to consume between 2,000 and 3,000 calories a day.
• The distribution of calories you take in should be as follows: 40 to 50 percent from carbohydrates, 30 percent from fat, and 20 to 30 percent from protein with only 10 percent from animal sources.
• Try to include carbohydrates, fat, and protein at each meal.

Carbohydrates
• On a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, adult women should consume between 160 to 200 grams of carbohydrates a day.
• Adult men should consume between 240 to 300 grams of carbohydrates a day.
• The majority of this should be in the form of less-refined, less-processed foods with a low glycemic load.
• Reduce your consumption of foods made with wheat flour and sugar, especially bread and most packaged snack foods (including chips and pretzels).
• Eat more whole grains (not whole wheat flour products), beans, winter squashes, and sweet potatoes. Quinoa is a great whole grain to try if you haven’t yet.
• Cook pasta al dente and eat it in moderation.
• Avoid products made with high fructose corn syrup. This is linked with insulin problems and type 2 Diabetes.

Fat
• On a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, 600 calories can come from fat – that is, about 67 grams. This should be in a ratio of 1:2:1 of saturated to monounsaturated to polyunsaturated fat.
• Reduce your intake of saturated fat by eating less butter, cream, cheese and other full-fat dairy products; unskinned chicken and fatty meats; and products made with coconut and palm kernel oils.
• Use small amounts of extra-virgin olive oil as your main cooking oil. If you want a neutral tasting oil, use expeller-pressed, organic canola oil. High-oleic versions of sunflower and safflower oil are acceptable also, preferably non-GMO (genetically modified).
• Avoid regular safflower and sunflower oils, corn oil, cottonseed oil, and mixed vegetable oils.
• Strictly avoid margarine, vegetable shortening, and all products listing them as ingredients. Strictly avoid all products made with partially hydrogenated oils of any kind.
• Include in your diet avocados and nuts, especially walnuts, cashews, almonds, and nut butters made from these nuts.
• For omega-3 fatty acids, eat salmon (preferably fresh or frozen wild or canned sockeye), sardines packed in water or olive oil, herring, and black cod (sablefish, butterfish); omega-3 fortified eggs; hemp seeds and flaxseeds (preferably freshly ground); or take a fish oil supplement (see below).

Protein
• On a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet your daily intake of protein should be between 80 and 120 grams. Eat less protein if you have liver or kidney problems, allergies, or autoimmune disease.
• Decrease your consumption of animal protein
• Eat more vegetable protein, especially from beans in general and soybeans in particular. Become familiar with the range of soy foods available and find ones you like.

Fiber
• Try to eat 40 grams of fiber a day. You can achieve this by increasing your consumption of fruit, especially berries, vegetables (especially beans), and whole grains.
• Ready-made cereals can be good fiber sources, but read labels to make sure they give you at least 4 and preferably 5 grams of bran per one-ounce serving.

Phytonutrients
• To get maximum natural protection against age-related diseases (including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease) as well as against environmental toxicity, eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and mushrooms.
• Choose fruits and vegetables from all parts of the color spectrum, especially berries, tomatoes, orange and yellow fruits, and dark leafy greens.
• Choose organic produce whenever possible. Learn which conventionally grown crops are most likely to carry pesticide residuesand avoid them.
• Eat cruciferous (cabbage-family) vegetables regularly.
• Include soy foods in your diet.
• Drink tea instead of coffee, especially good quality white, green or oolong tea.
• If you drink alcohol, use red wine preferentially.
• Enjoy plain dark chocolate in moderation (with a minimum cocoa content of 70 percent).
• Vitamins and Minerals

The best way to obtain all of your daily vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients is by eating a diet high in fresh foods with an abundance of fruits and vegetables.
• Talk to your doctor about adding Juice Plus to your diet. Fruits and vegetables will increase your antioxidants and decrease the inflammation in your body. For more information on Juice Plus visit www.fruitveggiehealth.com.

Other Dietary Supplements
• If you are not eating oily fish at least twice a week, take supplemental fish oil, in capsule or liquid form, 1-2 grams a day. Look for molecularly distilled products certified to be free of heavy metals and other contaminants.
• If you are not regularly eating ginger and turmeric, consider taking these in supplemental form.
• Add CoQ10 to your daily regimen: 60-100 milligrams of a softgel form taken with your largest meal.

Water
• Water intake should be one third to one half of your body weight in ounces. (tea, very diluted fruit juice, sparkling water with lemon). For example is you weigh 120 lbs then your water intake should be 40-60 ounces of fresh pure water.
Use bottled water or get a home water purifier if your tap water tastes of chlorine or other contaminants, or if you live in major city areas.