Christopher Trahan, O.M.D., L.Ac.

Nutrition: Foundation for Overall Health

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is the foundation of your health. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are the five elements: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. These philosophies emphasize balance, which is just as essential in Western medicine as Eastern.

Just as you are a specific mixture of all five elements, your diet needs to contain a mixture of foods to balance and nourish you. Different bodies and lifestyles will require different amounts of certain food groups, but the diet as a whole must contain a broad variety of healthy foods. Both Western and Asian nutritional philosophies recommend similar concepts, including:

• Avoiding wheat, gluten, and dairy products
• Avoiding excess fructose, as is found in honey and fruits
• Avoiding products high in refined sugar
• Avoiding soda (regular or diet)
• Restricting caffeine consumption, with a preference for herbal or green teas
• Eating only high quality proteins, oils, and fats

Instead of ascribing to the high dosage supplementation of vitamins and minerals that is recommended by orthomolecular philosophy, it may be better to focus your nutritional efforts on the consumption of nutrient-rich foods and herbs to balance and nourish you. Although herbs are not a key source for vitamins, the majority of herbs used in Chinese medicine include a wide range of nutritional substances.

The holistic and integrative practice of Christopher Trahan, O.M.D., L.Ac.  focuses on educating and advising each patient on his or her dietary choices. If you would like to learn more about practicing good nutrition, schedule a consultation with Dr. Trahan today by calling (888) 368-8532. He can assist you in determining a solid focus for your nutritional health.

Watch: Answers To Your Most Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

Acupuncture therapy is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients through the insertion of tiny, thin needles into specific areas of the body. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective as a treatment for many different conditions, from pain to nausea symptoms. In this video, the host confronts the common misconception that acupuncture therapy is painful. Unlike the hypodermic needles used for other medical applications, acupuncture utilizes much thinner needles that are not hollow. Most people do not feel these needles at all and find the therapy very relaxing.

Christopher Trahan, O.M.D., L.Ac. has over thirty years of clinical practice and is committed to providing each of his patients with the highest quality of integrative care. You can learn more about the services he offers by calling (888) 368-8532.

What to Expect When Menopause Arrives and What You Can Do to Relieve the Symptoms

Menopause is defined as the time when a woman no longer has monthly menstrual periods for one whole year. Normally experienced after the age of 40, this stage is a natural part of every woman’s life. No two women experience menopause the same way—one woman may suffer from many symptoms, while another may not experience any at all. In the months or years that lead to menopause (perimenopause), many women experience the following symptoms:

•          Irregular periods
•          Hot flashes
•          Difficulty sleeping or sleep disturbances
•          Mood swings
•          Loss of breast fullness
•          Thinning hair
•          Vaginal dryness
•          Decreased fertility

After a woman reaches full menopause, the ovaries cease releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen. Bladder control problems, headaches, joint pains, and irritability are common symptoms that can affect women in conjunction with the others during this stage.

If you are suffering from menopause symptoms, there are things that you can do to help find relief. Eating healthy foods will give you energy and keep you physically and emotionally balanced. Limiting your consumption of alcohol and caffeine can help you to sleep without disturbances. If you are overweight, consider working to shed those excess pounds—losing weight may help with hot flashes. Regular exercise may help you to manage your weight, sleep soundly, and improve your mood. Stress reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, or acupuncture will also help you cope with your symptoms.

Christopher Trahan, O.M.D., L.Ac. offers acupuncture as a possible treatment for the symptoms associated with menopause. If you would like to find out if acupuncture therapy is an option for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Trahan by calling (888) 368-8532.

Exploring the Principles of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient method of healing that has existed in some form almost as long as civilization itself. Using small needles applied along energy pathways within the body, acupuncture allows the body to heal and defend against disease by stimulating the hormonal, circulatory, and immune systems. Here are some of the guiding principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine upon which the practice of acupuncture is based:

• Qi:
  It is believed that a constant flowing energy is moving through all living things from plants to animals to humans. This energy called qi—pronounced “chi”—promotes interconnectivity among all life, and it is present within the blood stream to preserve health and well-being.
   
• Shen: 
  In western terms, shen may be thought of as one’s consciousness or soul. It is responsible for mankind’s mental abilities, and it is represented through an individual’s personality and thoughts.
   
• Jing: 
  All living beings are thought to have a specific quantity of jing from birth. As one ages, jing is slowly used to help the body grow and develop. If one leads a life of apathy or negativity, jing is consumed faster.
    
• Five elements: 
  The five elements represent all the matter that surrounds people in the universe. They are earth, fire, metal, water, and wood. Each element is meant to show the phases through which all things pass in a lifetime. They should remain in balance to create a healthy living environment and promote well-being.

If you are interested in seeing how acupuncture can help you find relief from illness, chronic or acute pain, or gastrointestinal discomfort, schedule a consultation with Dr. Christopher Trahan at the Olympus Center. Our practice offers completely personalized care using modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine and homeopathy. Contact us on our website or call (888) 368-8532 for more information about our services.

Disclaimer:
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. You should contact your doctor to obtain advice with respect to any particular medical issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a doctor-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the medical office or any individual doctor or physician.

Have You Tried Holistic Methods of Healing?

Christopher Trahan holds a Doctorate in Oriental Medicine, is a licensed Acupuncturist, and is nationally board certified in Chinese Herbal Medicine. He is a classically trained Homeopathic physician registered with the National Center for Homeopathy. He integrates Chinese and Western herbs, Homeopathy, and nutrition with his practice of Acupuncture in the Flatiron district of Manhattan.

He has over thirty years of clinical practice and trained in China and Sri Lanka, as well as in the United States (California, New Mexico, and New York). Dr. Trahan has served on the faculty of the International Institute of Chinese Medicine (Santa Fe, NM) and the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (NYC). 

Please visit the Olympus Center website to learn more about the many ailments Dr. Trahan can treat, as well as to read his publications. To book an appointment, please call Dr. Trahan at (888) 368-8532.