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While on-air, Howard Stern's sidekick, Robin Quivers, revealed she was wearing beads taped behind her ears to lose weight. As someone with a self-proclaimed weight-loss battle, Quivers stated that she was just "investigating" how people lose weight and may one day write a book about it. Let's hope she doesn't include these beads as a way to get there.

After a bit of research, I discovered the "beads" are similar to those used in acupuncture. Ear acupuncture has been practiced for centuries. There are hundreds of points around the ear that are thought to control every organ and function in the body from the appendix, to the gall bladder, to blood pressure, to the stomach. Certain Chinese medicine believes key points in the ear can even curb appetite, thus promoting weight loss.

While traditional acupuncture is done with fine needles (I've had it done and, no, it doesn't hurt), a newer method called acupressure stimulates key pressure points to do the same thing. Instead of needles, acupressure uses pellet-like beads -- most likely what Quivers was referring to. For weight-loss seekers, beads are taped on the back of the ear, directly over appetite control points. Individuals are then supposed to experience a release of endorphins that increase metabolism and decrease hunger.

Lately, I could set a clock by my son's night wakings. I tease my husband that I will set my alarm for four in the morning and go stand over Owen's bed and surprise him, before he can invade our bed!

I started to thinking, though: why four o'clock in the morning? Deep in my memory, I recalled something about certain hours of the day being associated with different organ systems, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. So I looked it up.

Interesting, to say the least. It seems that the hours between three and five in the morning are when the lungs are most active. Well, wouldn't you know that Owen's allergies have been bothering him recently?

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I was watching the Olympics the other day and saw a piece where a reporter went and received acupuncture treatments. It was interesting to hear about this particular practitioner who was influential in acupuncture's acceptance into Western culture. After the piece, the reporter mentioned that Nastia Liukin, gold medalist in the women's all-around gymnastics competition, has weekly acupuncture treatments.

She's not alone. Acupuncture is widely used as a method to aid and speed healing from sports-related injuries. Though the thought of multiple metal needles being inserted into your body is daunting, to say the least, proponents of the traditional form of medicine sing its praises. In addition to aiding in healing, acupuncture is said to help athletes by boosting energy, improving circulation, and ensuring the body gets the most out of nutrients. In addition, acupuncture is said to help improve the quality of sleep and boost immunity.

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Acupuncture is used to treat many conditions -- from migraine headaches to arthritis to backaches. It's also sometimes recommended as an companion to in-vitro fertilization (IVF). It was thought to improve blood flow, subsequently improving the chance of embryo implantation. However, recent data from London suggests that acupuncture may not be helpful to IVF at all.

The researchers evaluated 13 separate trials involving nearly 2,500 women. Five of the trials evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture at the time of egg retrieval. Eight studies evaluated acupuncture at the time of embryo implantation. Some women who were getting acupuncture treatments did need less pain medication during egg retrieval, but none of the studies showed a difference in pregnancy rates among the women who received acupuncture, those who received a "sham" version of acupuncture, and those who didn't get acupuncture at all.

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Life is too short not to be fully "turned on." The Daily Turn On! energizes all aspects of "you." Every Monday The Daily Turn On! with That's Fit Life Fit expert Laura Lewis will provide you with ideas and tips to awaken your mind, your body and your life as you journey through each day of the week! Check in each Monday to get your tip for Turning On every day of your life.

There they were, staring me in the face...well, it was my face. I never had them before. Ever. Then, all of a sudden, as if overnight, I had these dark circles under my eyes. So, here I am thinking I must have aged over night! One would think with my health background that I might contemplate that it might actually be a health issue, but no! Here I was, with the "Vanity is thy name" behavior going on, attributing these new dark circles to getting older. Hmmm. Only when I visited Iva Peck, my acupuncturist in Dallas, who is also a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, did the light go "on" that it might be my kidneys! "Your kidneys are weak...are you tired all the time right now Laura?". "Why, yes I am" I replied. Iva gave me an acupuncture treatment, some herbs to help get my kidneys back up to speed and told me to try to rest, eat well and drink plenty of water. I guess I had been burning the candle at both ends trying to do too much, not paying attention to how much water I should be drinking and not eating enough in general. Yes, I am one of those people...when I work hard and am under stress, I just don't eat enough food. Hence, my nutrition was compromised and in turn, my body decided to give me a huge sign that all was not well on the inside!

Now, why didn't I think of kidneys and liver to begin with as the cause of my dark circles? After a few weeks of becoming very concious of drinking plenty of water, eating foods that stimulate my kidneys such as watermelon, my dark circles have been going away! Oh yes, sleeping has helped too!

Not all dark undereye circles are related to poor kidney function. Of course, after having this experience I have done quite a bit of research on the subject. Allergies, heredity, fatigue, rubbing your eyes, ill-fitting eyeglasses and sickness are all a few of the causes of those not so lovely dark half moons below your eyes! Here is an article if you would like more food for thought on this rather, ahem, "dark subject!". Oh, by the way, my dark undereye circles are going away! Word of advice...pay attention to those little signs which could mean bigger trouble. It was a great lesson for me to learn.

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Plenty of men and women have turned to needles to slow the signs of aging (think Botox), but a method known as an acupuncture face lift or cosmetic acupuncture is drawing in customers who don't want surgery or chemicals, but are still seeking a younger look.

Facial acupuncture follows the same principles of conventional acupuncture and practitioners attempt to reduce muscle tension and unblock trapped qi that may be causing facial wrinkles. Whether it works or not has not been scientifically proven, but thanks to a growing interest in alternative treatments and youthful growing skin, the expensive treatments are gaining in popularity.

If I were to try an anti-aging procedure (and that's a very big if), I'd go for acupuncture before Botox. What about you?

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I've heard people joke that they need to have their jaw wired shut or their lips permanently glued together to stop themselves from overeating -- but having your ear stapled? That's a new one.

Ear stapling is procedure based (loosely or not, I can't quite tell) on acupuncture. A stainless steel staple is attached to the earlobe (ow) and left in place. Supposedly, it cuts down on hunger and sugar cravings, allowing people to eat less and feel satisfied.

Sound too good to be true? It probably is. Ear stapling infection rates are high -- 20% -- and finding an certified person to perform the procedure can be tricky. Why not just listen to your body instead? Eat lots of fruits and veggies and lean proteins, and get out and move a little each day. Sounds a whole lot easier than putting staples in your ears. What do you think?

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Our 8-year-old lab has been limping on her back leg for a while, and this fall graduated to limping all day. The vet prescribed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, and we've been really pleased with her progress. But the pills are expensive and there's a risk of developing digestive issues, so it's not a perfect solution. We're searching for other options, including the glucosamine supplements that just arrived in the mail.

So when I came across this article about acupuncture for pets, I was intrigued. I know that in my small city, finding a practitioner would be next to impossible, but the research involving acupuncture and pain relief in humans is pretty exciting. I wonder if it really could help a dog as well?

If you do decide to head down the homeopathic path with your pet, make sure that the practitioner is certified. Performing acupuncture on an animal is considered practicing veterinary medicine, so only licensed vets are allowed to do so. Acupuncture comes with few risks, but be informed about them and any other treatment options that are available for your pet.

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I used to be a little leery of alternative medicine, mostly turned off by products that carried outrageous claims with an even more unbelievable price tag. But in the last several years, alternative medicine has been getting more serious attention, and while there are plenty of people out there willing to trade you your hard earned cash for their useless product, there's also a lot of solid science that says some alternative treatments really work. CNN recently highlighted five of them:

• acupuncture
• calcium, magnesium, and B6 to treat PMS
• using St. John's Wort for mild depression
• treating pain and anxiety with guided imagery
• glucosamine for joint pain

Health experts recommend making sure any product has labeling from the USP or NSF International, that practitioners are trained and licensed, and that you turn your back on crazy claims or promises of quick fixes.

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No one seems to understand why, but a recent study found that acupuncture -- even when it's done incorrectly -- works better than conventional medicine for treating chronic back pain. Researchers theorize that having a competing stimuli confuses pain signals to the brain and relieves pain, or that having a positive outlook about the benefits of acupuncture may have created a placebo effect. Whatever the reason, actual acupuncture improved back pain in nearly half the group and the "sham" version of acupuncture did nearly as well. Conventional treatment only helped about 27% of patients. Interesting. Anyone out there who's schooled in acupuncture willing to share their ideas on why this works?

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I have respect for alternative medicine, but many people close to me have dismissed it as 'hogwash' and 'snake oil'. But a faith in alternative medicine has been known to save lives, at least according to the survivors who believe in it. Take this article, for example. It documents the lives of four women who credit alternative medicine with saving their lives. One had ovarian cancer, one needed metal rod to support her spine, one suffered from chronic pain and one kept her cystic fibrosis at bay.

What do you think about alternative medicine? Can it save your life? I think the key here is your attitude -- if you're convinced alternative medicine won't do anything for you, it won't. But faith is a powerful thing and if you believe in the path you've chosen, I think the body is capable of so-called miracles.

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Acupuncture is one of those traditional eastern practices that has gained recognition and popularity over here too. But does it work? Will it benefit you? Acupuncturists use thin needles to manipulate energy in one's body, and it can help relieve pain and many other problems. Though many experts in North America think it works, they can't really explain why, aside from suggesting that the needles might trigger endorphins which help with pain management.

I had acupuncture about a year ago and though I didn't notice any major changes in my body, I did feel better. One of the keys to acupuncture is that you have to have an open mind. If you're convinced it can't work, your body will believe it and it won't work for you. So if you're considering it, I would say it's work a try ... and don't worry, it's doesn't hurt beyond the occasional pinch. For more information, check out this article from eDiets.

Have you had it? Will you?

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If you're wanting to look younger and are considering some of the more invasive and drastic procedures like injections or cosmetic surgery, have you thought about acupuncture instead? Although acupuncture has existed for thousands of years, it's only really been in use here in the U.S. for face lifts for about 20 years or so. And the technique may not be what you expect -- an acupuncture face lift isn't what I pictured at first, which was needles sticking all over a person's face. It's much more complicated and often the needles are put other places on the body based on where the acupuncturist determines the problems (the wrinkles) are originating from.

Have you tried it? Would you try it? Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, and Cher apparently have. What do you think?

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I just read in Men's Health magazine that if you pinch your nostrils for 10 seconds, you'll curb your cravings. Since your stomach signals hunger and your brain signals 'cravings' ... this ancient Chinese acupressure point will help you pass on the doughnuts. In all of my years teaching fitness I've never heard such a thing, but you never know. Right? At least this strategy doesn't cost anything.

I personally imagine that the act of pinching, not picking, my nose for 10 seconds on purpose would simply distract me from anything else in the world I may have been focusing on, including food. So maybe the practice will work, because it seems so silly. My only non-Chinese or ancient advice is to do it with a tissue.

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Although pleurisy is most commonly caused by viral infections, other underlying diseases can cause it such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, and other diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, liver and kidney disease, heart failure and pulmonary embolism. Other causes include chest injuries and drug reactions.

Pleurisy, also called pleuritis, is an inflammation of the pleura, which is the moist, double layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the rib cage. The condition can make breathing extremely painful, and sometimes it is associated with another condition called pleural effusion where excess fluid fills the area between the membrane's layers.

The pain of pleurisy is usually treated with analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and indomethacin. Pleurisy from a bacterial infection can be successfully treated with antibiotics, while no treatment is given for viral infections that must run their course. Alternative treatments can be used to help heal pleurisy. Acupuncture and botanical medicines are alternative approaches for relieving pain and breathing problems. An herbal remedy commonly recommended is Asclepias tuberosa otherwise known as pleurisy root. It got that name by early American settlers who learned of this medicinal plant from Native Americans. Pleurisy root helps to ease pain, inflammation, and breathing difficulties brought on by pleurisy.

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