Ancient Medicine Made Modern
San Francisco Summer is here! (brrrr...)

Greetings, greetings!
In Covid news, the official count for California is that 1 in 4 people have had Covid. On the ground, it feels like many more than that.
My trip to Barcelona for the Neuromodulation Conference was fantastic. But I'm glad I traveled when I did! Airlines are scrambling and travel is tricky. Good luck to all of you who might dare to go somewhere.




Horizon From Land's End Trail
Live to 100 and Beyond
Consider measures for prevention as a gift to your future self
In Chinese Medicine, longevity was seen as a valid goal of medical treatment. Now aging been designated an actual medical condition by western medicine and science. This allows funding to be directed to the "problem". Advocates say that not all aspects of aging are inevitable. There is intense interest in optimizing what is called "healthspan," or living healthily into advanced years, compressing years of disability as much as possible.

David Sinclair explores in his excellent book "Life span: Why we age and why we don't have to" centenarians (people who live to 100 and beyond) and how many of them have mutation in a certain gene. The mutation allows for longer life in spite of careless living. This research studies the health of the offspring of these lucky individuals.
Click on the photo above to access an ebook with highlights from the Longevity Chapter of my book. There are zero guarantees in life but to get an edge, make a few small changes. Remember the mile you walk or jog, is infinitely better than the 5 miles you never get to. Each mile is a vote for the person you would like to become!
Don't get too comfortable.
  • exercise
  • sauna baths
  • sleep slightly cold
  • consider cold plunge or showers
  • take NMN
  • take Astra Essence
  • take L Serine
Guard Against Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases
I am convinced by this research into the safety of L-serine as a supplement to ward off Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative conditions.
What else can we do?

We know exercise can help

And if you can't exercise try
incorporating saunas into your routine.
Saunas for Neuroprotection
Even a few times a week can help ward off dementia and other neurological diseases.
There is a fair amount of research, from Finland! Where else?!
A recent study states "Elevated HSP may have central therapeutic effects, preventing or reducing the toxicity of protein aggregation, and/or peripherally by enhancing neuromuscular function. Broader physiological responses to heat therapy have also been identified and include improvements in muscle function, cerebral blood flow, and markers of metabolic health."
Celebrity Acupuncture: Meghan Markle
She's a fan of acupuncture since it cured her migraines and now her depression.

It can help you too!!
More on Neuroinflammation and Aging: Don't forget Vagal Activity
Improving autonomic balance by increasing your rest-and-digest vagal activity is also important in protecting against neurodegeneration.
This article looks at the importance of a certain receptor that is activated by direct vagal nerve stimulation. But these same receptors are activated by acupuncture. So get some acupuncture! It's relaxing and good for so many of the body's systems. Acupuncture leads to deep resilience, better mood, and less inflammation overall.
International Neuromodulation Society: Barcelona 2022
My poster project looked at the relative contributions of sympathetic HRV activity (flight/fight) and parasympathetic HRV activity (rest and digest) with ear stimulation (Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation TAVNS). I use data from 5 patients successfully treated with acupuncture, two with migraines, 2 with allergies, and one with intention tremor.
I couldn't prove my hypothesis with the data I collected. That means the TAVNS did not improve the vagal tone more than acupuncture alone.
But negative studies are still of value, but not very exciting. (At this point, someone has to suggest we remember all the negative experiments that Edison did in inventing the light bulb, sigh.) Since then, I've seen some studies that suggest the real benefit from TAVNS is the following day.


Patient Appointments
I am still scheduling loosely so there is plenty of time between appointments. Hope to see everyone! Call me or email me or Make an Appointment!
Kristen Sparrow MD
2000 Van Ness Ave. Ste 310
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-775-0117