Acupuncture is an alternative healing practice that originated in China. It has been used for centuries to heal a variety of health conditions.

Acupuncture is performed by inserting needles into pressure points around the body. These pressure points are connected to other areas of the body and when they are stimulated they effect those other areas of the body in a positive way. Acupuncture also is based upon the belief of regulating and balancing the energy in the body.

The practice of acupuncture is even backed through scientific studies that have shown it to be effective for a range of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, nausea and headaches.

Acupuncture is best performed by a trained professional as adverse effects could result if done improperly. The risks of acupuncture include infection, bleeding, nerve injury and damage to internal organs if needle is inserted too deeply.

An acupuncture session usually begins with a diagnostic procedure. The diagnostic methods used include inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiring and palpation.

Inspection is focused on the face and facial features. The practioner will look at the tongue and the general health of the tongue to get an idea about the patient’s problems.

Auscultation and olfaction involve listening to sounds of the body and inspecting the body smell of the patient.

Inquiring and palpation is the diagnostic method most closely related to modern medical practices. It involves checking for symptoms like fever and pain. It also involves feeling the body for anything out of the ordinary.

Acupuncture is done using stainless steel needles. The needles are wrapped at one end to make a handle for the practioner. The size of the needle and the depth it is inserted really depends on the nature of the acupuncture and the needs of the patient.

Acupuncture has been used all over the world as a recognized treatment method. It is one of the alternative medicine practices that is most recognized and respected by traditional medicine.

Many people have found relief from acupuncture and have been able to avoid using medications or having invasive surgeries. Like many alternative medicines, though, acupuncture is not going to be able to cure everything. It should be used carefully and the advice of the acupuncture practioner should always be followed.

In many cases you can consult with your physician about acupuncture. Because it is so highly recognized by traditional medicine, your doctor may even be able to suggest a good practioner for you to use.
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Kimarie Hazelbaker, PhD, is an award-winning speaker, teacher, medical intuitive and hypnotherapist. Her goal is to help people discover and explore who they truly are, beyond their physical existence. Visit http://www.AncientSecretsRevealed.com for metaphysical and spiritual information for contemporary times.

The DIEP flap represents the new gold standard in breast reconstruction.The DIEP flap procedure was first described in the early 1990’s and uses a patient’s own abdominal tissue to reconstruct the breast after mastectomy without the sacrifice of any of the abdominal muscles.

This procedure is similar to the free TRAM flap but only requires the removal of skin and fat. However, unlike with the TRAM procedure NO MUSCLE is sacrificed. The blood vessels required to keep the tissue alive lay just beneath or within the abdominal muscle. Therefore, a small incision is made in the abdominal muscle in order to access the vessels.

After the skin, tissues and blood vessels (collectively known as the “flap”) have been dissected, the flap is transplanted and connected to the patient’s chest using microsurgery. The surgeons then shape the flap to create the new breast. Remember, even though an incision is made in the abdominal muscle NO abdominal muscle is removed or transferred to the breast. As a result, patients experience less pain postoperatively, enjoy a faster recovery, and maintain their abdominal strength long-term.

Many women who undergo this form of reconstruction enjoy the added benefit of a flatter abdomen, with results that mimic a “tummy tuck” procedure. The risk of abdominal bulging and hernia is also very small, much smaller than with the TRAM flap method of breast reconstruction.

Travel may be involved for some women seeking DIEP flap reconstruction as only a handful of plastic surgeons offer the procedure. Patients still need to be encouraged to research this option however due to the overwhelming benefits it provides over the alternative techniques. Some insurance companies may still cover the procedure for out-of-network physicians following the appropriate pre-authorization process.

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Minas T Chrysopoulo, MD
Plastic, Reconstructive & Microsurgical Associates (PRMA)
9635 Huebner Road
San Antonio, TX 78240

Tel: (210) 692-1181
Fax: (210) 692-7584

http://www.prma-enhance.com/index.cfm/PageID/1754
http://www.look-your-best.yourmd.com

What is it that takes your breath away? What is it that you can do that releases your passion? Where can you go an experience a state of wonder that nothing else can give you in your life? Where have you been that you dream about now? What is the one thing that you’ve done or feel that you want to do that you believe will touch the depth of your soul like nothing else has or can?

I read recently that, ‘Life should not be measured by the number of breathes that you take, but rather, by the number of moments that take your breath away’. I still see Tom Cruise zipping down the ocean side boulevard as he goes and gets Kelly McGinness in the classic love story of ‘Top Gun’. All the while I hear in my mind’s ear that amazing melody and words of ‘Take My Breath Away’.

I will never forget climbing the steps to the rooms of the great masters at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia on my first trip there. As we opened the huge doors to walk into the presence of 400 plus year old canvases that were once in the studios of Rembrandt, Da Vinci, Raphael and many other geniuses, I came face to face with the most amazing story told on canvas that I had ever seen.

Six feet wide and nine feet tall, I experience one amazing moment of awe as I stood in from of ‘The Return of the Prodigal.’ Since attending Sunday school as a child, I always thought that the story was about a young man who squandered his inheritance living a life of wantonness and the darkest vice. Not until that day did realize that there was a different perspective in the eyes of Rembrandt. He saw the story as being about everyone other than the ‘prodigal’.

If you have see it, in person or in picture, you will quickly realize that Rembrandt was far more interested in the attitudes of the father, the father’s key business associates and especially, the older brother. The ‘prodigal’ is only an obscured figure in the lower left hand corner of this great masterpiece. His back is all you see. His face is buried in his father’s robe.

Two business associates stand to right side of the painting. Confused and seemingly intruding on a very private moment between the father and his wayward son. The older brother peers from behind a large column with a look of surprise and jealous ridden disdain. The ‘awe’ that captured my heart was what the artist intended. I noticed the brush strokes that were put their by the hand of the master. I later heard that a man once spent 3 months in front of this painting writing a book about it. I completely understood why.

Many nights for the past twenty plus years, when I couldn’t find sleep, I would visualize a small lagoon off of the southern tip of the island of Tobago. On the back side of this lagoon stood a small island that was then owned by the Rockefeller family. It was called, ‘Bird of Paradise Island’. Local legend has it that this was the purported island that the story of Robinson Crusoe had unfolded. All I knew was that it gave me a sense of awe and made sleep sweet on many nights.

Recently, I was sent a link in an email that showed the debut of Paul Potts. It was during the Simon Cowell show, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. This very humble, unassuming, shy man walked on to the stage and in a broken voice, announced that he wanted to sing opera. Each of the judges looked at each other as if to say, ‘there’s no way THIS guy is going to sing opera’. What happened in the next few moments awed even the usually cynical, Simon Cowell. When Paul opened his mouth, a divine gift was unleashed upon the world that will be written in the scrolls of musical history. Needless to say, I’ve watched the YouTube video over dozen times. Not once have I watched it that tears didn’t come to this 6′3″ Texan’s eyes. If you haven’t seen it, you must. (Go to www.YouTube.com and search on ‘Paul Potts’).

In the fast pace that we all live, we must stop and allow moments of awe to extract the breath from our lungs. To stop and look into a newborn babies eyes, stirs within me hope and wonderment. To realize that generation after generation, for hundreds of years, people lived, couples met, conceived child after child in order that one day we could behold the scientifically and statistically miracle of this one baby being born. I think of that one fact when I think about the honor and respect that we should freely give to others on this planet.

Medical professionals have told me that the very real chance that a baby, or you and me, were ever conceived, is millions to one. If any other seed from the male had fertilized the egg of the female, you and I wouldn’t be here. That baby wouldn’t have been born. Your life is a miracle! You are a miracle! When life seems to have been unfair. When things don’t go near what you had planned. Begin to consider your ‘awe’. Look around you. It will take you all of 3 seconds to find something within your present environment that will be one of those moments that takes your breath away.

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Michael Murphy is the author of the breakthrough book, ‘Powerful Attitudes’. He is also the author of the only completely personalized self-empowerment books for adults, on the planet. Michael’s “PowerFirmations” books have been hailed by best selling authors and success experts as ‘the most powerful, personally life-changing book you’ll ever own’. More than a book, PowerFirmations is a success tool and personal development companion. It is like having your own success coach with you 24/7, 365 days a year. Imagine your name, first and last, embedded in over 100 pages of ‘powerful affirmations’. This ‘tool’ for success will instantly immerse you into the success process as it builds unstoppable self-confidence, self-esteem and amazing personal power. To be, do and have all that you’ve ever dreamed of, this book is unparalleled. Michael also publishes a faith-based book called, ‘FaithFirmations’. With over 200 pages of ancient promises and spiritual truths, you name is embedded in several times per page. Michael is a native of Texas which he still proudly calls ‘home’. He is highly active in speaking and consulting for network marketing, direct marketing and Fortune 500 companies. Michael’s ‘Powerful Attitudes’ is available at http://www.amazon.com and http://www.lulu.com.