Center for Complementary Medicine

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most poorly treated conditions in medicine today. Carpal tunnel is a common source of hand numbness and pain due primarily to repetitive hand movements required in typing and mousing. However, any overuse activity can lead to this condition. I have seen it prevalent in pregnant women and new mothers who are carrying extra water weight, or who have to transport their babies in a car seat.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow, funnel-like structure in the wrist. The median nerve travels from the forearm into the hand through this tunnel in the wrist. This nerve controls feeling in the palm side of the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. The tendons that allow you to bend your fingers and thumb also travel through this tunnel. In short, when the tendons become irritated from overuse, the tissue around these tendons, called synovium, swell and put pressure on the median nerve causing tingling, numbness, or pain. Some people are born with a smaller carpal tunnel making them more susceptible than others to develop this problem.

Treatment for carpal tunnel may involve:
*Bracing or splinting. A brace or splint worn at night keeps wrist in neutral position which prevents the nightly irritation of the median nerve when the wrists are curled during sleep.
*Medications. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
*Steroid injection. Cortico-steroid injection can provide short term relief.
*Physical therapy. P.T. will sometimes prescribe an exercise routine which often serves to aggravate the condition. These tendons require rest, not more use.
*Surgery. Commonly surgery which cuts the transverse ligament in the wrist to make more room for the median nerve is employed. Complications-bleeding, infection,nerve injury,scar tissue,additional surgery.
In my opinion carpal tunnel surgery is one of the most over-used, inappropriate methods to treat this condition.Certainly if this has been a very long standing condition where there is constant numbness and wasting of the thumb muscles is present, surgery is appropriate as a last measure. True healing can only occur by dealing with the increased tension in the flexor muscles and tendons of the forearm and wrist, which have caused this condition. Massage and acupuncture are the only two techniques which actually address and alleviate this built up tension. Together, they relax these overused tendons, reduce the swelling of the surrounding tissue, and restore the integrity of the underlying structures. When the soft tissue is relaxed, blood flow is restored and the symptoms subside.

There is a self massage technique that I teach so patients can work on themselves while at their desks, and only takes a few minutes. Furthermore, the proteolytic enzyme, serrapeptase has shown very encouraging results in reducing inflammation in the soft tissue. I recommend a product called Zymactive, which has twice the potency of anything on the market today.

Final thoughts…Carpal tunnel surgery is not something to jump into without exhausting more conservative therapies. Often, this surgery is not successful, and you are left with some undesirable complications, including a possible second surgery. Remember, any therapy chosen should address the real cause of this condition. Cutting a ligament in the wrist does nothing to alleviate the tension of soft tissue of the forearm and wrist. Eventually this can lead to this problem re-occuring, or another condition such as medial epicondylitis from developing.

Yours in health,
Rick J Bernard, L.Ac.

Serrapeptase is an enzyme that comes from the silkworm. When the silkworm is ready to emerge from it’s cocoon it produces an enzyme that dissolves that very hard shell so that this delicate little creature can enter into a new world. Histological studies reveal powerful anti-inflammatory effects of this naturally occuring enzyme. Serrapeptase digests non-living tissue, blood clots, cysts, and arterial plaque and inflammation in all forms. It has been used in Europe and Japan for more than 25 years for inflammation, post-surgical swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome, and ear, nose, and throat disorders, with good clinical research behind it.

I have used this enzyme extensively with patients with sinus infections and carpal tunnel with sometimes amazing results. It can also provide dramatic relief for some types of low back pain marked by a “burning” inflamed sensation.

Dr. Hans Nieper, a German doctor and scientist, discovered that only a small amount, if taken every day for 18 months, would complete the healing of clogged arteries and they would be almost entirely cleared of arterial plaque. A virtual roto-rooter of any dead tissue anywhere in the body. Dr. Nieper also reported that serrapeptase dissolves blood clots and causes varicose veins to shrink or diminish.

The most potent serrapeptase I have found is called Zymactive by Natural Factors. It is more than twice as potent as the leading brand, and I keep it stocked due to its wide ranging benefits. One pill 3x daily is the appropriate dosage for maximum benefit. If you know someone afflicted with one of these conditions, tell them about the “Miracle” gift the silkworm has provided for us.

Yours in health,

Rick J. Bernard

Now that Winter has officially arrived it is time to utilize the knowledge and wisdom of Chinese Medicine that has been honed and tested for over 4,000 years. The ancient Chinese believed that human beings should live in harmony with the natural cycles of their environment. The cold and darkness of Winter leads us to slow down. This is the time of the year to reflect on our health, replenish energy, and conserve our strength.

If you feel tired and drained your are not alone. “Lack of energy” is one of the top three complaints that doctors hear in their offices. According to Oriental Medicine, the cold months of Winter are the perfect time to recharge your battery and generate vital energy, what the Chinese refer to as “Qi”, in order to live, look, and feel your best.

Winter is ruled by the Water element, which is associated with the Kidneys, Bladder, and Adrenal glands. The Kidneys are considered the source of all energy or Qi within the body. They store all of the reserve Qi so that it can be used in times of stress and change, or to heal, prevent illness, and age gracefully.

During the Winter months it is particularly important to nurture and nourish our Kidney Qi because this is the time that it can be most easily depleted. Our bodies are instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of Winter-rest, reflection, conservation, and storage.

The Nei Ching, and ancient Chinese classic, advises people to go to sleep early and rise late(good luck explaining this to your boss)after the sun’s rays have warmed the atmosphere a bit. This preserves your own Yang Qi for the task of warming the body when presented with a cold environment.
Winter Diet:

• Stop drinking ice drinks and coffee. Choose instead warm herbal teas. Coffee increases “dampness” in our bodies which leads to feelings of fatigue and sluggishness.
• Eat more root vegetables, such as potatos and yams. They are a great base for soups and stews. Whole grains an nuts help to warm the body’s core and to keep us nourished.
• Water-Drink plenty of it at room temperature; no ice please…
• Kidney shaped foods:Black beans and kidney beans are excellent examples of kidney shaped fods that benefit Kidney Qi.
• Blue & Black foods: The colors blue and black correspond to the Water element of the Kidneys and are thought to strengthen the Water element. Include blueberries, blackberries, mulberry and black beans in your diet.
• Seeds: Flax, pumpkin, sunflower and black sesame seeds relate to fertiliy and growth which is governed by Kidney Qi.
• Nuts: Walnuts and chestnuts have been found to be especially effective for increasing Kidney Qi.
• Vegetables: Dark, leafy green vegetables are th best choice for Kidney Qi. Other Kidney Qi boosting veges include asparagus, cucumber, and celery.

Seasonal acupuncture treatments in Winter are directed toward nurturing and nourishing Kidney Qi which can greatly enhance the body’s ability to thrive in times of stress. Points are chosen to keep the immune system strong and keep your energy in a balanced state.

If you do catch a cold the formula “Not So Well” by Get Well Natural is the best cold formula I’ve ever taken. If caught early many times it will completely knock out that cold. If it includes a sore throat try zinc lozenges. I actually like “cold eeze” which you can purchase at you local drug store. Zinc kills viruses in the throat and also stimulates the thymus gland which is the master immune gland of the body.

Staying happy, healthy, and energetic is possible in the winter.

Happy Winterizing, Rick J Bernard, L.Ac.

It can be safely stated that one of the true failures of Western Medicine is in it inability to effectively treat pain. Essentially, if the condition is not serious enough for surgical intervention (and most conditions aren’t) the two options are drugs or physical therapy.

In short, the strength of physical therapy is in rehabilitating atrophied muscles post-surgery. It is for the most part ineffective for providing pain relief other than providing postural advice and exercise that can be performed at home. But often strengthening exercises only exacerbate painful conditions, particularly for repetitive-use type injuries. To place additional stress on an already overworked tendon only serves to cause a flare up of the condition. I can’t tell you how many patients I’ve seen with tendinitis of the elbow or wrist who have had their condition worsen after a course of physical therapy.

The alternative option is to be placed on non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) which have horrific side effects, probably the worst in the western pharmacopoeia. If you value your kidneys and liver, I would avoid long term use of pain medicines. It has been estimated that approximately 25% of the people on kidney dialysis, end-stage kidney failure, are there because of the excess use of NSAID’s. So not only are these drugs not treating the cause of the pain and simply masking the symptoms, they are creating much more severe, life-threatening disease.

If there is a black mark on Western Medicine, it is in how it treats chronic pain. So what is the most powerful natural method of pain relief in the history of medicine? (more…)

I’d like to welcome you to my website and invite you to explore the various topics to answer any general questions you may have regarding acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. I founded the Center 12 years ago to serve the health needs of the Willow Glen community. Since that time we have expanded the Center to offer a variety of healing modalities that complement one another.

For more in depth knowledge of Chinese Medicine and what it can and cannot do, I would like to invite you to attend one of my in-office educational presentations open to the public every other Wednesday evening at 6:00PM. Our desire is to provide you with the necessary information to enable you to make an informed decision on how best to manage your health needs in a more natural, safe way. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Yours in health,

Rick J. Bernard, L.Ac.

Even though I’ve redesigned my website, I haven’t removed any content. For those of you have passed through before, you’ll find all of the old content (including “Frequently Asked Questions”) is still here.

Feel free to read through it, starting with “About Acupuncture” from the menu in the upper right column. And keep an eye down here for frequently updated news and important information about the Center for Complementary Medicine.