Gentle Tiger Acupuncture

Back on May 18, 2010, I blogged about the safety of acupuncture needles. It included an article debunking some old information that is no longer valid. What I’m including in this super blink of an eye blog is MORE information AND a little known secret about acupuncture needles  that will allow you to rest easy when you come to Gentle Tiger Acupuncture: (continue reading…)

I would like to give a little insight into a few of the comforts and features of the acupuncture experience at Gentle Tiger Acupuncture. I’ve thought about what we do for you and for those of you who are working to decide whether or not acupuncture is right for you, I’d like you to know that receiving acupuncture at Gentle Tiger Acupuncture is just the tip of the iceberg. So check out this list and enjoy… (continue reading…)

That’s right, count ‘em 3 new practitioners in suite 250. I intro’d you to Merv Rawson in the last newsletter (remember, “no charge for awesomeness”?). I’ll be sending out an invite for the intro to Donna Eden Energy Medicine, soon. The other new practitioner in the space will be Stephanie Gifford. She’s an occupational therapist. I’ll also be giving you more info in regard to her soon. And last but not least el tercero! (that’s spanish for “the third”) Martyn Luberti. Martyn is a long time resident of Madison and a body worker.

      Here’s the 411 (information) on their arrivals into the new space: (continue reading…)

 Wisconsin is a very progressive and technologically generative state. “Forward On” is a very appropriate state motto. From recombinant DNA experiments, to taking measurements at the South Pole, to creating new chemical compounds, to the controversial subject of stem cell research, Wisconsin leads the way in outside the box thinking. On a social level, Wisconsin is also progressive, the LGBT community has several outlets for their strong voice, the Hispanic community is served by local radio station La Movida and state and private programs encouraging economic growth and prosperity. There are 388 public libraries with 79 branches. The Rosemary Garfoot Library in Cross Plains for example is a LEEDS ”silver” rated green library. The extensive list of recyclable items magnetted to my fridge also speaks to Wisconsin’s progressive attitude toward taking care of all aspects of living and personal accountability. In the spirit of this progressive thinking/living I’m offering you 20 ways to go green/be green/stay green. (continue reading…)

Hello Gentle Tiger-ites! I was talking about my backyard planter boxes for the lovely and luscious zucchinis that we grow every year and I was asked how to prepare zucchini flowers. Wellllll, I didn’t have enough space in those little boxes Facebook provides, so I decided to plant the recipe RIGHT HERE! (If you’d like to follow Gentle Tiger Acupuncture on Facebook, we’d appreciate it and its fun – just click on the “Gentle Tiger Acupuncture LLC on Facebook” link located  to your right on this page (under the Ratepoint “Check Out our Reputation”  badge)’ The link will take you to Facebook -  log in and then click “become a fan” on the Gentle Tiger Facebook page – EASY.) (continue reading…)

Stay on the couch, bundle up with loved ones, two legged and four footed and turn on your favorite holiday movies -

1. A Christmas Story – “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”

2. The Grinch – Animated or Live (if you have little ones, stick with the animated, the live version with Jim Carrey is a LITTLE scary. Some critics panned the live version, but I don’t agree. I think it’s pretty good.

3. A Muppet Christmas Carol – Oh, it’s just classic Jim Henson with Kermie, Piggy, Fozzy, Rizzo, Gonzo, et. al. Michael Caine makes a great Scrooge – both before and after his inner transformation from cold hearted, iron hearted butthead to generous loving human being.

 I’m sure you have your own favorites, please share them with me. I understand that we can’t all stay home in inclement weather, so if you MUST go out, let’s get some things in check here. I’ve included a top 10 list of important items to have on hand or have ready in case of travel in inclement weather. (continue reading…)

check out our events page for more scoop on the chakra house this Saturday June 28th where we’ll be having a free drop-in healing party.

It’s the high point of allergy season according to the Wisconsin State Journal this past week and from what I am hearing from my allergy people, they’re feeling better than years past, so I am strongly recommending you feel free to give me a call and talk to me on the phone for 10-15 minutes and we’ll see if acupuncture is the right answer for you. mention this blog and I’ll give you 10% off your first visit for working to increase your wellness and alleviate your allergies…thank you – Miguel. p.s. Act now, this offer is good until July 31st.

I have been absolutely fascinated by coconut oil and its many uses for about 5 years, maybe a little longer. It’s a regular part of my diet. I mix it with butter in my frying pan in the morning for eggs on a sprouted wheat bagel. I also am fond of cod liver oil. Admittedly, cod liver oil is not the most wonderful experience in the taste department, but it’s amazing stuff and more recently companies have begun to add citrus essence (lemon or orange) to it. It dampens the cod taste. For those who just can’t stand it, cod liver oil comes in capsule form that you swallow straight without chewing or tasting.  I’d like to provide you with a brief overview of ailments that cod liver oil and and coconut oil can help turn around from the book Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Dr. Mary Enig. Before we get started one more note, the italicized words are mine. Okay, let’s go…

1. Chronic fatigue – The medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA)  in coconut oil provide energy and also fight pathogens in the digestive tract that contribute to fatigue.

2. Low energy – the MCFAs in coconut oil give quick energy, prevent low blood sugar and support the thyroid gland; plus, cod liver oil provides nutrients vital for vitamin and mineral absorption.

3. Anxiety – the combination of fatty acids and nutrients in coconut oil and cod liver oil help prevent low blood sugar and helps the body make the adrenal hormones it needs to deal with stress. Trans fats…inhibit the production of these hormones, so removing these from the diet is another big step toward relieving anxiety.

4. Depression – the nutrients in cod liver oil have a proven record of helping relieve depression, and the saturated fats in coconut oil work synergistically with cod liver oil.

5. Mood swings – Plentiful fats in our diet help stabilize blood sugar swings that make your mood go up and down.

6. Thyroid imbalance – Coconut oil alone improves thyroid function, but when used in conjunction with cod liver oil, which supplies vitamin A (needed in high levels by the thyroid gland), the thyroid has the fats it needs to function properly.

7. Hypoglycemia – Plenty of healthy fats at each meal help prevent drops in blood sugar.

8. Insulin resistance – Trans fats interfere with insulin receptors in the cells. Replacing trans fats with coconut oil and other healthy fats is the number one step in preventing and reversing the insulin resistance so characteristic of Type II diabetes.

9. Food cravings – You experience cravings when your body is not getting enough of the nutrients it needs from food. Coconut oil is immensely satisfying (SEE! I told you – LOL!) while cod liver oil supplies vitamins A and D needed to assimilate minerals and other vitamins.

10. Gallbladder ailments – Coconut oil is the ideal fat for anyone suffering from gallbladder ailments because many of the fatty acids in coconut oil do not require bile for digestion.

11. Bacterial infections – The antimicrobial MCFA in coconut oil combined with vitamin A in cod liver oil provide the ideal combination for fighting bacterial infections.

12. Fungal issues, like candida – Coconut oil has strong antifungal properties, both in the gut and when applied topically (on the skin). Eliminating refined carbohydrates while eating whole grains only when they are properly prepared (my educated guess is that “properly prepared” refers to sprouted bread) can also help candida problems.

13. Digestive problems, including irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease – The combination of MCFA in coconut oil and Vitamin A in cod liver oil enhances the immune system.

14. Sagging, wrinkled skin – Plentiful saturated fats in the diet are absolutely essential for avoiding wrinkles. Excess polyunsaturated oils make the cell walls “floppy”, thereby contributing to wrinkles. Furthermore, these oils are invariably rancid and contain free radicals (reactive atoms or molecule fragments) that damage cells and contribute to aging.

    There are more reasons why coconut oil and cod liver oil are absolutely essential to most diets. Read the book, it also contains diets that you can use to look and feel better inside and out without sacrificing rich/full taste or satiety. The book does include one caution…There are no side effects from adding coconut products to your diet unless you are allergic to coconut. Now here comes the differentiation – Even if you are, you can still probably take coconut OIL (my caps) because the allergic components of coconut are protein compounds found in the meat of the coconut, not in the oil. So in conclusion, please consult with me about any questions you have regarding this information. I am sure that some of this information, if not all of it flies in the face of conventional nutritional guidelines. As far as I am concerned that’s okay, because conventional nutritional guidelines are not keeping this country healthy. One more note: Whereas you can eat just about as much coconut oil you want daily, keep your cod liver oil intake to 1-2 tsp (daily). You can overdose on it.

     I found the following information about cod liver oil overdose on www.revolutionhealth.com  then type in “cod liver oil overdose” in their search bar at the top of the page. The results that you need is a title, “Cod Liver Oil (multivitamin)”. click on it and then scroll down to where it reads “dosage” under that header is the subtitle/link, “What happens if I overdose on Cod Liver Oil?” Click on it for your information. I tried to put the link that went straight to this, but it didn’t work.

 But seriously, if you keep it to 1-2 tsp daily, you’re nowhere near overdose. Have faith.

THIS BLOG DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the GentleTigerAcupuncture.com If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.

Greetings and salutations! My name is Miguel and I’d like to take a moment to welcome you to the website for Gentle Tiger Acupuncture. The reason for this website is to better serve you. I will be bringing forth many topics, often related to acupuncture and oriental medicine, but don’t be surprised if the topics aren’t directly about Oriental Medicine (OM). I have a deep commitment to what works with OM to improve and maintain health. These topics may include but are not limited to nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, etc. I look forward to and am excited about bringing you up to date about pertinent/practical information that you can use on a daily basis. thank you for your time and we’ll talk soon – Miguel