Acu & the Brain - Any Real Benefit?

🧠 Sharper Minds with a Point: Inside China's New Acupuncture Clinic for Enhanced Brain Function

The newly opened Acupuncture IQ Boost Clinic at Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine claims that specific head acupuncture techniques can enhance mental capabilities by stimulating the brain.

Here's what you need to know:

• What It Offers: The clinic provides 30-minute sessions of head acupuncture, focusing on points believed to enhance memory, alertness, and overall brain function.

• Technique and Frequency: Treatments involve targeting specific points like the Baihui and Fengchi to increase oxygen supply and activate brain cells. Patients typically need sessions once or twice a week.

• Who's Trying It: The clinic is popular among students and office workers, drawing 40-50 visitors daily, mostly in the evenings.

• Benefits Beyond IQ: In addition to potential cognitive enhancements, the acupuncture is said to aid with anxiety, depression, and sleep issues.

• Expert Insight: While not a cure-all, experts acknowledge the role of head acupuncture in supporting brain function. It is part of a broader approach to treating and managing brain-related conditions such as stroke and Alzheimer's.

While some skeptics dismiss the notion of a simple needle prick boosting IQ, medical professionals and users advocate for its benefits in improving cognitive health and alleviating other mental health symptoms.

As always, it's advised to consult with qualified professionals to understand the potential and limitations of this intriguing application of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

💭 Acu Quote of the Week

Read additional commentary from Dr. Varon in the full KCBY11 article »»

☀️ 5 Free or Cheap Health Practices to Start TODAY

by @drtyna (Dr. Tyna Moore, Licensed Naturopathic Physician, Chiropractor, and Host of The Dr Tyna Show Podcast)

To most people, today is just a random Saturday in June. To you, my newsletter subscriber, though — and let this really sink in — today is the first day of the rest of your life.

What does this mean?

• It means the buck stops here.

• It means you have no excuses not to finish 2024 out strong.

• It means that despite what you may have going on in life, you can do any of the 5 things in this post by Dr. Tyna to make tomorrow (and the next day, and the next…) better than yesterday.

Not on Instagram to click through and read the carousel slides? Here are the highlights:

1. Build muscle

2. Sweat regularly

3. Eat 1 pound of beef daily

4. Get sunlight daily (or red light)

5. Move your body daily (suggested: an outdoor walk)

🔎 Body Roundness Index: A New Predictor of Mortality Trends in U.S. Adults

In a recent study examining U.S. adults, researchers have shed light on the Body Roundness Index (BRI) and its link to all-cause mortality, revealing some crucial insights¹ :

• The study, analyzing data from 32,995 participants from 1999 to 2018, found that the average BRI has risen significantly, particularly among women, older adults, and Mexican Americans.

• A unique U-shaped association was noted between BRI levels and mortality risks, where individuals at the lowest and highest ends of the BRI scale faced higher mortality risks compared to those in the moderate range.

These findings highlight the potential of BRI as a novel and effective non-invasive screening tool for estimating mortality risks.

This could revolutionize public health strategies by offering a new metric for assessing health risks associated with body shape, particularly as obesity continues to be a major health challenge.

The increasing trend in BRI underscores the need for targeted health interventions to address this rising concern. This research opens the door for further studies to validate the use of BRI in routine health assessments and its role in enhancing personalized healthcare strategies.

🔥💧 Sneak Peek…

I’ve been trying to dial in my nutrition over the past few months, and along my journey I’ve found a really powerful TCM-aligned nutrition course (not my own, of course, since I have no qualifications for such a thing).

I’m eager to share it with you, but I don’t have liberty to do so yet. So stay tuned for upcoming editions of this newsletter over the next few weeks or so — I’ll give you ALL the details as soon as I can. 🙏🏽

👂 Ear Seeds May Help Support the Body in Incredible Ways

Check out the research behind this ear acupressure tool here »»

As a subscriber to this newsletter, I’m giving you 50% off your first ear seeds kit order with code PRESSURE (apply it at checkout)!

Source:

¹Zhang, X., Ma, N., Lin, Q., Chen, K., Zheng, F., Wu, J., Dong, X., & Niu, W. (2024). Body Roundness Index and All-Cause Mortality Among US Adults. JAMA network open, 7(6), e2415051. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.15051