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Check out this talented successful colleague in New York and all her amazing resources this Website is a reflection of her best selling book "Making Babies" By: Jill Blakewell LAc I highly recommend her book to my patients and this wonderful questionaire.

http://www.makingbabiesprogram.com/questionnaire/

Acupuncture
Over five thousand years ago, the Chinese discovered the complex relationship between stimulating a point on the skin to influence a particular organ or organ pathway. Acupuncture uses thin sterile disposable needles that are inserted into acupuncture points to cause an effect in the body. In Acupuncture, the practitioner treats not just the symptoms but the whole person – body, mind and spirit. There is typically little to no pain associated with the acupuncture needles; it feels more like a pin prick. In fact, most of our patients become so relaxed from the treatment that they often fall asleep during their session, and leave feeling calm and rested.

The Discovery of Acupuncture:
The Chinese discovered the circulatory system more than 2000 years before William Harvey did in the West in 1628. The ancient Chinese had a very advanced scientific understanding of the body and how it worked, but they defined it in terms and symbols not known to those in the Western world. The acupuncture theory of the ancient Chinese takes into account their deep understanding of the lymphatic, circulatory, vascular, and nervous systems. They were able to influence all of these systems through their selection of acupuncture points on the 14 major pathways.

How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture has three main theories describing how and why it works, and with the current advancements in science in the fields of biophysics, biochemistry, and physiology, we are now able to understand the complex mechanisms of acupuncture.

Neural Theory: Insertion of needles stimulates the nervous system releasing chemicals to either alleviate pain or affect the body’s internal regulating systems. It stimulates nerve fibers to carry electrical impulses back to the brain increasing beta endorphin concentrations.

Electrical Theory: Research has shown that there is a higher electrical magnetic field around the acupuncture points than in the surrounding skin.

Current Theory: Research has found that needle insertion activates pain fibers in the skin. These pain fibers trigger a cascade of chemical messengers, while sending signals to the spinal cord which relays information to the brain stem. Acupuncture can be seen as a bridge that is able to affect and integrate different systems of the body, such as the nervous, endocrine, circulatory, muscular and digestive. Because of these broad effects, acupuncture can create profound changes in the body.

Benefits of Acupuncture Treatment for Reproduction

• Improvement in the function of the ovaries to produce higher quality eggs
• Regulation of the hormones to produce a larger number of follicles
• Increase in the blood flow to the uterus and increase in the thickness of the uterine lining
• Relaxation and de-stress
• Prevention of uterine contractions post IVF embryo transfer
• Reduction of the side-effects of IVF medications
• Strengthened immune system / Increased energy
• Improvement in sperm count, motility, morphology
• Reduction of sperm DNA fragmentation
• Increase in chance of conceiving
• Decrease in chance of miscarriage

Effects of Acupuncture

• Reduction of pain via inhibition of nociceptive fibers
• Activation of blood coagulation and immune complement systems
• Enhancement of blood circulation
• Restoration of visceral homeostasis
• Normalization of vascular tone
• Reduction of muscle contractions and spasms
• Promotion of tissue repair (immune response)
• Normalization of endocrine function (Hypothalamus, Pituitary, LH, FSH, Adrenal, Ovary, Thyroid)
• Normalization of neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline)
• Normalization of sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight)

Top 10 Tips for Children's Immune System 
By: Becky Castano LAc 

No one claims to have all the answers when it comes to our children's health. I certainly don't yet I have been asked by a number of parent's what tips and tricks can we utilize to keep our children Healthy and boost immune function? What have you done the past 6 Years to keep your own children healthy and strong throughout the Holiday Season's? So here are some of my helpful tips and tricks I have been doing for my Son's the past Six Years. 

1. Breast milk is essential for foundational Immune boosting nutrients and before age 1. I had my son's checked and treated by Pediatric Chiropractor and Pediatric Acupuncturist in California both right after birth and through out there child hood thus far. 
Here is a wonderful link: look up a practitioner in your area "Holistic Pediatric Association" http://hpakids.org/resources.php "Pediatric Chiropractor's can assess cranial, spine misalignment which can effect development and immune function. Also Pediatric Acupuncturist's can support the bodies thymus gland, immune function, digestive health and more. Functional Medicine, Biofeedback, Aromatherapy, 

2. Supplement with food based Prenatal  Vitamins+ DHA supplements while pregnant and breastfeeding. Eat a diet rich in healthy fat's such as (examples) Organic Eggs, Avocado's, Walnut's, Almonds, Salmon and Tuna Fish.

3. Wash your hands often and children's hands every where, every time. Before you eat or your children eat wash hands. I know that sounds like duh but you cant imagine how often kid's get sick when they eat food with dirty hand's. 

4. Everyday before your toddler is off to preschool or School put DoTerra "On Guard" essential oil on his feet under his socks. This is to ward off virus, bacteria and boost immunity. I also use DoTerra "Breathe" essential oil on chest and spine before leaving the house. (mydoterra.com/beckycastano)

5. Every morning eat a Banana, tall glass of water, Protein Source such as an Organic Egg, or Fresh Squeezed Fruit or Veggie Juice. 

6. Also another common Morning ritual is making Veggie based fruit Smoothie's; although the controversies I like Spinach, Kale, Protein Powder, Strawberries or Blueberries, banana breakfast smoothie. What Protein Powder we alternate from various brands and flavor's but my basic staple Protein Powder is Standard Process "Whey Pro. Probiotic Supplements and or Superfood's would be ideal 

7. Food based Multivitamin: We use the Standard Process: "Catalyn Chewables" 
(Gluten Free, Food Based, Not Vegan)

8. Food based Immune Support: Standard Process: "Congaplex Chewable's"

9. Brain development support: Standard Process: "Tuna Omega Oil" (DHA) support's healthy Neurological development 

10. Increase quantities of whole unprocessed foods, Reduce quantity of dairy, sugar, gluten and processed preservatives, pesticides, GMO's, chemicals and dyes. Zero candy. This of course is a work in progress my household is not completley cleaned out yet. We try to make good choices but of course it could always be more consistent and in need of improvemnet. "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food".

Disclaimer: This is only Recommendation's by Becky Castano LAc not Prescription's

Standard Process Supplements can be picked up at The Wellness Centre in Katy, Texas
Also Standard Process can be picked up from Becky Castano LAc Direct 832-812-2802

DoTerra Essential Oil Products can be purchased Via Becky Castano LAc Direct or through this Website : http://mydoterra.com/beckycastano
DoTerra Catalog PDF: http://www.joomag.com/magazine/product-catalog-us-version/0627515001387574735?short
Holistic Pediatric Alliance: http://hpakids.org/resources.php
Standard Process: http://www.standardprocess.com/Standard-Process-Document-Library/Brochures/childrensnutritionL1350.pdf