Acupuncture & Massage Blog

Tai chi, a low impact martial art, has been associated with reduced stress, anxiety and depression, and enhanced mood, in both healthy people and those with chronic conditions. A review of the health effects of tai chi, published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, found that tai chi does appear to have positive [...]

For long-term weight maintenance, women who are middle-aged or older must exercise daily, incorporating at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity into their schedule, according to a new Journal of the American Medical Association study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Most overweight and obese persons who lose weight do not successfully maintain their weight [...]

Reduced calorie diets may make it more difficult to maintain or lose weight. Cutting calories in the diet can increase levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol can lead to additional abdominal fat. “For the first time in humans, we are finding out that cutting your calories increases cortisol,” says Janet Tomiyama, a researcher at [...]

Hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, is caused by airborne pollen and mold spores, and is experienced by over 35 million Americans. Symptoms often include runny nose, stuffiness, itchiness, watery, red eyes, and sneezing. These symptoms are caused by your immune system, which recognizes pollen and mold as allergens, and produces antibodies that release chemicals [...]

Obesity and physical inactivity are both associated with major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including high cholesterol, according to a recent study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Both overweight and physical inactivity are independently associated with cardiovascular risk even in healthy women, suggesting that both “fitness” and “fatness” matter for women’s health. Women with a [...]

Being happy may be good for your heart. Positive emotions, such as joy, happiness, excitement, enthusiasm, and contentment have an association with cardiovascular health, according to a new Columbia University Medical Center study. The first of its kind to show a relationship between positive emotions and coronary heart disease, the observational research examined a trial [...]

One in four Americans experiences chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). CFS is a disorder characterized by debilitating fatigue and a variety of associated physical, constitutional and neuropsychological symptoms. Symptoms include unexplained prolonged fatigue lasting six months or longer, muscle and joint pain, headaches, cognitive impairment, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, post-exertional fatigue, and unrefreshing sleep. About [...]

Regular exercise is associated with a slower progression or reduced risk of age-related health conditions as well as overall health improvements in older age, according to a new study appearing in JAMA’s Archives of Internal Medicine. Exercise has been associated with beneficial effects on diabetes, obesity, arthritis, falls and fractures, heart disease, cancer, and lung [...]

Seven health factors and lifestyle behaviors have been identified by the American Heart Association as contributing to cardiovascular health. In a recent survey of American adults, the association found that 39 percent said they believed they had optimal heart health. Over 50 percent said that they had been informed by a health practitioner that they [...]

Although the exact function of sleep is unknown, it is known that sleep is necessary for optimal cognitive performance, memory and learning and that sufficient sleep is necessary for metabolic, immune and cardiovascular functions. New research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital has produced findings indicating how short- and long-term sleep loss combine with the body’s [...]