How Digestion Works Digestive problems are a real concern for many people. They range from belching to severe acid reflux, mild abdominal pain to ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s, slow digestion with constipation to fast digestion with diarrhea. Like many concepts about our bodies, digestion seems so complex and helping problems seems mysterious due to the […]
Author Archive | Burton Moomaw
Focus on Chinese Medicine
When I describe to my patients the different ways that Chinese medicine conceives of them as human beings, they are usually surprised at the depth, complexity and common sense of the concepts. One patient commented recently, “You are the doctor I always wished I had because you listen and see me as a whole person.” […]
Focus on Western Medicine
Many of my patients express frustration about their experiences with the western medical system. Just last week a friend told me “so far I have dealt with 5 different people about this problem.” People feel that they are seen not as a person by their doctor and other practitioners in the system, but instead as […]
How Cold Food and Drink Affect Digestion
Properly functioning digestion is the center point of good health. It is the starting point of energy production that supports ongoing life, providing nutrition for our whole system. All other organs in our body are related to and supported by digestion and begin to function poorly when there are gut problems. Digestion is a warm […]
Ice and NSAIDs Disrupt the Healing of Injuries
First let me ask a question: Do you think that your body is capable of healing its sprained ankle? Or does it require medical intervention? Yes or no, what do you believe? If your answer is no, then what do you think is the function of medical intervention in the healing process? Should treatment support […]
How Your Body Works to Repel a Pathogen
We hear the words “immune system” so often but very few non-medical folks understand much about it. The explanations of modern science offer some theoretical ideas that we can grasp remotely. The various antibodies and blood cell types give us words to pin on our immune system but still no idea how it works. When […]
A Classical Chinese Medicine Perspective for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Transforming Self Quarantine to Self Care What an overwhelming time this appears to be for many people worldwide. The strength of the coronavirus and its rapid spread around the globe are unprecedented. The changes made necessary by this pandemic are enormous: How we socialize has been changed overnight; jobs are disappearing in small business and […]
Acid Reflux, GERD, Rebellious Stomach Chi – Acupuncture for Natural Relief
Acid reflux is a very common digestive problem. Also known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) it is recognized to affect 20% of the US population. Acupuncture is very effective in helping with acid reflux and I treat patients suffering with it frequently. My patients with acid reflux are usually very surprised by Chinese medical theory’s […]
Concussions and Acupuncture
Head injuries are all too common in our modern world. Whether from automobile accidents, falls at any age, athletic injuries from contact sports, or fist fights in a bar, they can have debilitating long-term effects. Acupuncture treatments are very effective for treating concussions naturally. In emergency medicine the head is described as an 8-pound bowling […]
Treating Anxiety Naturally with Acupuncture
Anxiety, that chaotic mix of emotions heading toward a feeling of panic, can be helped tremendously with acupuncture treatments. This medicine is very effective at calming the mind and creating a sense of peace. In fact, a feeling of deep relaxation is the most common feeling my patients report immediately after their treatments whether for […]