NORTHWOODS ACUPUNCTURE

AND MASSAGE CENTER

JULY HOLIDAY HOURS:
July 4th (Friday): Closed
July 5th (Saturday): 10am-3pm.
Due to how busy our center is, appointments are limited and many people are placed on a waiting list. To avoid this, it is recommended to schedule 2 weeks ahead of time for any of our sessions.

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Information on Aspartame

Many patients coming in have been concerned about the chemicals in their food and drinks, especially aspartame which is an artificial sweetener found in "diet sodas" and other sweetened foods. I have found an excellent source to pass on to my patients.

Dr. H.J. Roberts (MD) is considered the leading expert on aspartame poisoning. He has linked many cases of lupus and multiple schlerosis to the high consumption of diet soda drinkers and has noticed that when patients have quit drinking these sodas that their symptoms become asymptomatic. He also described other symptoms and diseases that have been linked to the overconsumption of aspartame.

His books include:
1. "Aspartame disease: An ignored Epidemic"
2. "Sweet'ner Dearest- A book about Nutrasweet"
3. "Is Aspartame Safe?"

These books are readily available at amazon.com or call your local bookstore.

In Health and Wellness~
Dr. DeAnna Koput

H.J.Roberts, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.C.C.P., is a Board-certified internist in West Palm Beach, and an internationally respected medical consultant and researcher. He is on the Staff of Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital, Director of the Palm Beach Institute for Medical Research (since l964), and a member of prestigious medical and scientific organizations--including The Endocrine Society and the American Academy of Neurology. His publications include ten acclaimed texts and more than 220 original articles and letters; many deal with researches in challenging neurological disorders. Twenty years into his long career he voluntarily re-certified with American Board of Internal Medicine: his high marks helped to insure he remained as current as his peers. Dr. Roberts is listed in WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA, WHO'S WHO IN MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE, WHO'S WHO IN THE WORLD, WHO'S WHO IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, and THE BEST DOCTORS IN THE U.S. Unbeknown to him, the editors of a national medical publication selected Dr. Roberts as "The Best Doctor in the U.S." He has been knighted by the Order of St. George for his professional and humanitarian efforts.

RESEARCH CENTER

Massage for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Massage therapy eases the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and increases grip strength, according to a recent study.

Physicians evaluated participants’ carpal tunnel symptoms, such as tingling, numbness, pain and strength, at the beginning and end of the four-week study. The Tinel sign, which tests to see if light tapping of the affected area elicits pain or tingling, was also used at the start and finish of the study. Physicians used the Phalen Test at the beginning and end of the study as well. The Phalen Test involves flexing of the wrists to see if numbness or tingling occurs.

A nerve conduction test was also performed at the start and finish of the study. This involved stimulation of the median sensory nerves through electrodes placed on each subject’s index finger and wrist. Peak sensory latencies were recorded to test for nerve compression at the carpal tunnel. Median peak latency was the primary outcome measure.

Assessments were also made before and after the massage sessions on the first and last days of the study, including the Perceived Grip Strength Scale; VITAS, a pain assessment using a visual analogue scale; the state anxiety inventory; and the Profile of Mood States.

Results of the study showed that the subjects in the massage group had significantly less pain and reduced carpal tunnel symptoms, as well as shorter median peak latencies and increased grip strength.

“Functional activity also improved as noted in reduced pain and increased grip strength in the massage therapy group, both immediately after the first and last massage therapy sessions and by the end of the study,” state the study’s authors. “Finally, the massage therapy group reported lower anxiety and depressed mood levels both immediately after the first and last sessions and by the end of the study.”

- Source: Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. Authors: Tiffany Field, Ph.D.; Miguel Diego; Christy Cullen; Kristin Hartshorn; Alan Gruskin; Maria Hernandez-Reif, Ph.D.; and William Sunshine. Originally published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2004, Vol. 8, pp. 9-14.