Using the same heat-sensing technology developed for the U.S. military’s “Star Wars” program, a Raleigh-based clinic is able to detect breast abnormalities the size of the period at the end of this sentence.

Advanced Healthcare Solutions, a holistic healthcare office in Raleigh, offers Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) as an adjunct to traditional mammography. Abnormal cells produce heat, and DITI utilizes a heat-sensing camera to identify these cells well before they would be detected by a standard mammogram or by breast self-examination; up to ten years earlier in some cases.

Extensive clinical studies have proven that when thermography is used in combination with mammography and clinical examinations, 95% of early stage cancers will be detected. Marc Cutler, Director of AHS, states, “For years, women have been taught that mammography and self-examination are the best methods for detecting breast cancer. While DITI does not take the place of these tools, it does offer the tremendous advantage of early detection. By the time a woman can feel a lump, the cancer has usually been growing for many years. DITI detects abnormalities well before they can be felt, and that often means more treatment options and a greater chance for survival.”

Thermography, which is FDA-approved and is covered by many medical insurance plans, is as simple as having a picture taken. Unlike mammography, there is no painful breast compression. This makes DITI an ideal alternative for women with dense breast tissue or breast implants. DITI does not use any form of radiation and scans a larger area of the body, including the armpit region. Many breast cancers begin in this area but go undetected by mammography.

While breast thermography has undergone more than 50 years of extensive clinical research, significant improvements in the technology have taken place in recent years. Cutler is past-president of the North Carolina Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Association and has successfully completed the 2-year thermography certification course. He is excited about the latest advances in this detection tool. “Obviously, the ultimate goal is to find a cure for breast cancer, and all cancers. However, until that day comes, I am thrilled that we have such a reliable method of detecting abnormalities at the earliest stages possible.”
Advanced Healthcare Solutions is located at 8351 Standonshire Way Ste 101
Raleigh 919-846-2239. www.advancedhealthcaresolutions.org

Women, on average, live five to ten years longer than men. There is a reason for this – women take care of themselves. Men are less likely to seek any medical help; let alone pursue Holistic Healthcare as a viable option.

In the past decade, there has been a growing convergence between the most advanced research knowledge from physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology; and knowledge obtained from research in the field of Acupuncture. We are learning that the findings of modern international medical science and the traditional wisdom of Chinese medicine have remarkable parallels. Among the growing portion of the population seeking Holistic Healthcare, there has been an increase in male patients choosing alternative treatments for pain, sports injuries, stress, prostate issues, diminished sex drive and infertility – to name just a few.

Sports Injuries

We are seeing more men seek out long-term answers to their health problems from western medicine, yet no one can give them definitive answers. This is because they are seeking quick-fix solutions to problems that require time to heal. One example is the use of Cortisone shots for pain from sports injuries. We may see a short-term gain because the pain will go away (masked by the drug), however, the long-term prognosis for Cortisone use is not a good one.

Cortisone can cause tendons to weaken or even rupture. Moreover, by inhibiting the normal healing inflammatory reaction, Cortisone accelerates the degenerative process in the tendons, ligaments, and joints into which it is injected. It also gives the individual a false sense that the injury is healed when it is clearly not; and the combination of a cortisone shots and continual over-exertion is a deadly combination for cartilage. Acupuncture helps increase circulation to the targeted area, and will reduce the inflammation rather than just cover it up.

Male Fertility

The average sperm count of American males has declined more than 40% over the last few generations. In one study, Acupuncture was shown to increase both the quantity and quality of sperm. The three main reasons for male factor infertility are low sperm count, reduced motility (ability to move and swim in a straight line), and deformed morphology (shape and size of the sperm). In the field of Reproductive Acupuncture, infertility has historically been an issue that was 80% female factor and a 20% male factor. Now we have seen these numbers shift; the female factor is now 60% and the male factor is 40%. Is this due to an increase in the use of herbicides and pesticides, alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs and prescription medicines? We don’t know yet. What we do know is that there is no reason to continue the stress and disappointment of infertility. Acupuncture is being used in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. as a safe and natural option to support male factor fertility.

Traditional Acupuncturists treat the whole “man” rather than one symptom. Instead of masking the pain caused by the problem Acupuncture activates the body’s natural healing potential. An accredited Acupuncturist will assess all lifestyle and environmental factors before commencing treatment. Holistic Healthcare is a viable option, and Acupuncture works as the means to this alternative. Men, take action for the betterment of your health – and close the gap in the average life span.

Marc Cutler is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Licensed Acupuncturist. He can be reached at Advanced Healthcare Solutions, 8351 Standonshire Way Suite 101 in Raleigh. 919-846-2239. www.advancedhealthcaresolutions.org.

Holistic pediatric care is quickly becoming an accepted method of treating children for a variety of ailments, including ear infections, teething pain, ADD and allergies. As a holistic healthcare provider, I am very excited about this trend because I simply do not see the need to overload children with chemicals and synthetic drugs. But even a couple years ago, I didn’t have a single child in my care because most parents believed their pediatrician was their best alternative. As a parent, I can completely relate to that line of thinking and in fact, I recently found myself falling into that category of conventional wisdom.

When my son was 18 months old, he suffered from typical teething problems, including fever and pain. No one wants to see children in distress and, like most parents, my first instinct was to immediately take him to his pediatrician. But when I stepped back for a moment I thought, “Wait a minute, I’m trained to treat children. This is the perfect opportunity for me to practice what I preach.” I looked at my son, examined his tongue to gather diagnostic information and assessed his overall demeanor. Based on my findings, I chose to treat him with a combination of acupressure, homeopathics and herbs. Within a day or two he was back to his normal happy self and we never had to set foot in his pediatrician’s office. The moral of the story is that children, including my own son, heal much faster than adults and they respond extremely well to natural remedies.

When a young patient comes to me, the first thing we do is provide a complimentary consultation with both parent and child. This typically takes 30 minutes but the time is gauged based on what the child’s attention span will bear. Spending this time with the patient is critical because it allows me to assess the whole person and determine if his or her condition is something we can treat. Checking the child’s tongue, just as I did with my own son, provides me with a wealth of valuable information. And, talking with the parent or caretaker about the child’s behavior, diet and lifestyle helps me to understand how external forces may be impacting the child’s health. Based on my findings and diagnosis during the initial consultation, the first treatment appointment is scheduled and together we create a path to wellness for the child. This may include herbs and homeopathics, therapeutic massage, acupuncture or a specific combination of these treatments. When it will provide the most benefit, I also work in tandem with a child’s pediatrician to deliver a combination of Western and holistic/Chinese practices that resolves specific health and behavioral needs.

People often ask what kinds of health conditions holistic pediatric care can help resolve. Several of my adult patients are bringing their children to me for routine wellness check-ups, allergy treatments and, like my son, relief from teething pain. I also see many cases of ear infections, 90% of which do not need to be treated with antibiotics. Holistic care is also making incredible strides in treating children who have been diagnosed with ADD. Unfortunately, the knee-jerk reaction has traditionally been to put these children on powerful sedative-laden drugs. Every child with ADD presents differently so there is no cookie cutter remedy. But, we have seen remarkable success using cool, low level lasers on specific acupoints which helps the body regain balance, while natural remedies can be used to help the brain “reset” itself. We also look at the child’s diet to help rid the system of excess chlorine, fluoride, food dyes and sugar. With these cases, the most important thing we do is look at the child as a whole person rather than as a “problem child” who is acting out.

Regardless of the child’s condition or the treatment necessary to resolve the condition, I firmly believe that healing can only take place when the mind is calm. My office and all treatment rooms provide a soothing environment that is specifically designed to put children at ease. In fact, many of my young patients, and I see children as young as three weeks of age, actually look forward to receiving their treatments. For those who are fearful of needles, laser acupuncture provides the same results as traditional acupuncture but through the use of low-level, radiation-free lasers that are cool to the touch. With all treatments, sessions are brief but the benefits are long-lasting and free of negative side effects.

Today, a much larger percentage of my overall client base is made up of children. For the most part, their parents are receiving holistic care of some sort themselves, so they understand first-hand the benefits it can have. But, I also have parents coming in who are at wits end and tell me they’ve tried everything else and are turning to natural medicine as their final alternative. My hope is that more parents and caretakers will look to holistic practices first rather than as a last resort because I can say from personal experience that holistic pediatric care is the safe, effective way to ensure children’s health and happiness…naturally.