천암한의원 Acupuncture Center ChunAm

12/20/2025

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🥬🦠 Eating kimchi every day may do more than help your gut — it could make your immune system smarter.

A new study found that people who ate kimchi daily for 12 weeks didn’t just improve digestion. Their immune systems became better regulated and more precise.

Instead of simply boosting immune activity, kimchi appeared to help immune cells:
• Recognize viruses more effectively
• Avoid overreacting in ways that cause inflammation or allergies
• Maintain a healthier balance between defense and calm

This matters because an immune system that’s too weak can’t protect you — and one that’s too aggressive can actually damage the body.

Researchers believe the effect comes from kimchi’s natural probiotics, antioxidants, and fermented compounds, which reshape gut bacteria. Since about 70% of the immune system is linked to the gut, those changes ripple throughout the body.

In the study, key immune cells (like T cells) became better regulated and less inflammatory — a sign of immune intelligence, not just immune stimulation.

It’s another reminder that fermented foods don’t just support digestion — they may help train the immune system to respond wisely, not wildly.

12/18/2025

12/17/2025

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The way you sleep has a powerful effect on your internal systems, influencing digestion, circulation, and even overall recovery. Sleeping on your left side is widely recommended for people who struggle with acid reflux. In this position, gravity helps keep stomach acid from flowing upward into the esophagus, reducing nighttime heartburn and improving comfort. The shape and orientation of the stomach make the left side especially effective for minimizing reflux symptoms.

On the other hand, sleeping on your right side can support cardiovascular function. This position may improve blood flow and ease pressure on the heart, allowing the circulatory system to work more efficiently during rest. For some individuals, it can contribute to steadier heart rhythms, better oxygenation, and deeper sleep. These small positional changes can meaningfully influence how the body heals and restores itself overnight.

Your sleep posture is more than just comfort, it’s biology in motion. The side you choose affects digestion, heart function, nervous system activity, and overall recovery. Aligning your sleeping position with your body’s needs can make nights more restorative and days more energized.

Simple shifts can lead to better health without changing anything else.

12/16/2025

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Acupressure Points ✋🔴

Gentle pressure on your hand may help your body relax:
👉 Finger points for SINUS relief
👉 Thumb side for CERVICAL neck tension
👉 Base of thumb and side of palm for ARM & SHOULDER PAIN
👉 Center palm point for EYE PAIN
👉 Additional finger points for HAIRFALL-related stress and sinus congestion
🧘‍♂️ Press each point with your thumb for 30–60 seconds while breathing slowly.
⚠️ Use as a relaxation tool only – it’s not a substitute for medical treatment.

12/10/2025

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Studies have identified a diminished sense of smell as a potential early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that individuals carrying the APOE e4 gene, a known risk factor for Alzheimer's, exhibited a 37% higher likelihood of experiencing olfactory dysfunction by age 65. This decline in smell detection was observed even before noticeable memory issues emerged.

Further investigations revealed that in early Alzheimer's stages, immune cells in the brain, known as microglia, may mistakenly attack neural connections between the olfactory bulb and the locus coeruleus, a brainstem region crucial for sensory processing. This damage disrupts the brain's ability to process smells, potentially leading to anosmia (loss of smell). These findings suggest that olfactory dysfunction could precede cognitive decline and serve as an early biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.

Experts emphasize that while a reduced sense of smell can be a normal part of aging, its occurrence in conjunction with other risk factors may warrant further evaluation. Simple at-home smell tests are being explored as non-invasive tools for early detection of cognitive impairment, offering a promising avenue for identifying individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease before clinical symptoms appear.

Research Paper 📄
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62500-8

12/09/2025

Thank you for all the love and blessings in 2025!!!

11/14/2025

Thyroid cancer is on the rise, particularly among young adults, and women are three times more likely to be affected than men. This cancer often grows slowly inside the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck and can develop without obvious symptoms, making it easy to overlook.

Early warning signs include a small lump or swelling in the neck, changes in voice, or trouble swallowing. These subtle changes are often dismissed as minor throat irritation, tension, or stress. While many thyroid nodules are harmless, cancerous ones can spread to nearby lymph nodes and other areas if left untreated.

The increase in thyroid cancer diagnoses is partly due to more medical imaging, which sometimes detects nodules incidentally. Despite this, many cases remain unnoticed until the disease progresses, highlighting the importance of regular neck self-exams and checkups. Early detection significantly improves treatment success and can prevent more serious complications. Staying alert to subtle changes in the neck is key for young women, who face the highest risk.

11/05/2025

Young and middle-aged athletes exposed to repeated head impacts may experience profound changes in their brains years before chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, can be diagnosed. New research shows that even without the classic protein clumps linked to CTE, the brains of these athletes reveal early signs of inflammation, neuron loss, and altered blood vessel cells. Microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, shift from their normal “homeostatic” state to an inflammatory state, with the proportion of these cells increasing the longer an athlete played contact sports. These inflammatory microglia express genes related to metabolism, oxygen stress, and immune signaling, hinting at ongoing cellular stress.

The study also uncovered damage to endothelial cells, which line blood vessels. These cells show signs of inflammation and activate genes involved in forming new vessels, suggesting the brain attempts repair but may compromise the blood-brain barrier over time. Most strikingly, a specific population of neurons in the upper cortex, critical for cognitive function, was reduced by more than half in athletes exposed to repeated head impacts. This loss was proportional to the years spent playing contact sports and could explain early cognitive and mood symptoms reported by athletes.


Research Paper 📄
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09534-6

11/01/2025

Breast cancer often hides in plain sight. Even after successful treatment, up to 30 percent of patients see their tumors return, contributing to hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. A promising new study from the University of Pennsylvania suggests we may have a way to stop this: by actively going after dormant tumor cells (DTCs) that linger quietly in the bone marrow and other parts of the body.

Instead of waiting and monitoring for recurrence, researchers tested drugs that target these sleeper cells directly. In a trial of 51 breast cancer survivors confirmed to have DTCs, hydroxychloroquine and everolimus—either individually or together—proved highly effective. When combined, the drugs eliminated 87 percent of DTCs, and all participants remained cancer-free for three years. Even using either drug alone kept survival rates above 90 percent. Mouse studies conducted beforehand showed similar results and helped reveal why these dormant cells respond differently from actively growing tumors.

These findings highlight that dormant tumor cells are biologically distinct from active cancer, meaning some drugs ineffective against growing tumors can selectively wipe out the sleepers. Not every survivor has DTCs, but for those who do, this approach could dramatically reduce relapse risk. Researchers now aim to expand trials, test different drug combinations, and refine dosing to maximize protection. For many survivors, targeting these hidden cells may finally ease the lingering fear of cancer returning.


Research Paper 📄
DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03877-3

10/14/2025

High blood sugar, also called hyperglycemia, often creeps in quietly, showing up with vague signs like being tired all the time or constantly thirsty. You might brush off the urge to drink more water or the fact that you’re running to the bathroom more often, but these subtle symptoms are early red flags. As your blood sugar stays high over time, your body starts to struggle. The kidneys pull water from your tissues to flush out extra sugar, leading to dehydration, dry mouth, and endless thirst. You may feel constantly hungry too, because even with all that sugar in your blood, your cells are starving for energy they can’t access.

Blurry vision and fatigue are also common as fluids shift around the body and cells fail to get the fuel they need. High sugar levels mess with your immune system too, making infections—especially yeast infections—more frequent. Your skin might become dry and itchy, and wounds could heal more slowly than usual. If nerve damage starts to set in, numbness, tingling, or even sharp pain in your hands or feet can develop. In some cases, blood sugar can go dangerously high, leading to serious conditions like ketoacidosis or coma.

If symptoms like extreme thirst, stomach pain, rapid breathing, or fruity-smelling breath occur, don’t wait—call for help. Even mood changes and weight loss can be linked to high sugar levels. The longer hyperglycemia goes untreated, the more damage it does—so it’s crucial to spot the signs early and take action.

10/07/2025

Instant coffee linked to nearly 7x higher risk of age-related vision loss in new study.

A recent study found that people who regularly drink instant coffee have nearly seven times the risk of developing dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of vision loss, and this risk seems connected to their genetic makeup. Unlike other types of coffee, only instant coffee showed this strong link, possibly because it’s more processed and interacts differently with certain genes involved in eye health.

While this doesn’t prove instant coffee causes AMD, it highlights an important association that could mean people with certain genes should be cautious about their instant coffee intake.

Research Paper 📄
PMID: 40521080

10/01/2025

Watermelon is more than just a refreshing summer fruit. It contains an amino acid called L citrulline, which supports blood flow and helps reduce muscle soreness after exercise.

When you push your body through a tough workout, your muscles need oxygen and nutrients to recover and rebuild. L citrulline in watermelon helps widen blood vessels, allowing for better circulation. This improved flow delivers essential fuel to tired muscles and may shorten the time it takes to recover. Some studies suggest that athletes who consume watermelon or watermelon juice before or after training experience less soreness and greater comfort the next day.

Beyond recovery, watermelon offers several other fitness friendly benefits. Since it is made up of over ninety percent water, it is a natural hydrator that helps replace fluids lost through sweat. The fruit also provides natural sugars that restore energy levels, along with potassium and magnesium that help regulate muscle contractions and prevent cramps. Vitamin B6 plays a role in energy production and supports overall muscle health.

Adding watermelon to your diet is simple. You can enjoy it as fresh slices, blend it into a smoothie, or drink it as juice after a workout. With its mix of hydration, nutrients, and natural compounds that aid recovery, watermelon is a sweet and practical way to support an active lifestyle.