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Acupuncture
Guan Yin photo by BotheredByBees
There is so much great information out there about fertility and natural health care that I just had to share a few! Check out these sites and the amazing people who run them:
The Yin Ova Center has developed a site that tells you how to "type" your fertility. Go to the "Making Babies Program" website and and fill in the tests (there are options for both men and women). It's an interesting way to get a basic diagnosis, and they give you some great tips for your type. Natural Fertility Info.com is holding a Fertility Smoothie Challenge! Whip up delicious smoothie recipes for 10 days and enjoy the benefits of a healthy boost in the morning. Hethir will post a new recipe daily to keep it interesting- check out the site for daily recipes.
RESOLVE just went to Washington to advocate for coverage of fertility treatments as well as more research for infertility. RESOLVE is a resource that helps individuals or couples cope with infertility. They plan support groups for infertility, and individuals are encouraged to call and speak to someone about your experience with infertility. They are a great support system for questions about fertility, the health care system, and answer your questions.
Go to Twitter! There are so many wonderful people (including those listed) who are on Twitter and sending out information several times a day on fertility. I've noticed that women who are receiving fertility treatments are very supportive of one another on Twitter, and are also connected with practitioners.
The more information and facts you can learn about your fertility, the more empowered you will feel. Do your own research, ask all of the questions you like. You have a right to know the answers!
Photo by Yume Photo
Acupuncture is a great way to treat common running injuries. Many runners have suffered the wrath of sore muscles, the ever-common "runners knee" (also known as patellofemoral syndrome or chondromalacia), and hip or ankle injuries. These annoying and painful injuries put a screeching halt to training, and it's not what you want when the goal is a marathon in a month. Instead of taking handfuls of Ibuprofen, I recommend Traditional Chinese Medicine to help with the pain and speed up recovery.
By using specific needles in points surrounding the area of pain, acupuncture can help you get back on the road (or trail) sooner than you think. There are also needle techniques that can ease pain by using the "opposite" part of the body. For example, if you have pain in your right knee, a practitioner may use needles in your left elbow (It works, you'll just have to trust me. Or read this excerpt from altmd.com):
In Tung style acupuncture, distal points on the limbs are needled that can balance the Qi of the entire body. This technique is achieved though an imaging of the entire body onto the limbs, ear, and scalp. Acupuncture points on the chest and back were also used with bleeding techniques for specific conditions. Tung Style Acupuncture is growing in popularity and is considered highly-effective; however, finding a properly-trained practitioner can be difficult due to the limited transmission of knowledge from close teacher – student lines. Master Tung’s system of acupuncture is also referred to as Master Tong acupuncture or Tung’s Orthodox Acupuncture.
There are also inexpensive and wonderful plasters that Traditional Chinese medicine offers, such as Wu Yang and Yunnann Bai Yao. These plasters help move the blood that is creating stagnation in the area of the pain. Regular massages, such as Tuina treatments, can also help your injuries. Many local acupuncturists practice Tuina techniques (see previous post) for injuries, but be sure to call and ask specifically if the acupuncturist has been trained in Tuina. Local acupuncture schools, such as the OCOM clinic, offer a full treatment of Tuina massage. Moving the energy and blood sufficiently by a combination of acupuncture, herbal treatment and massage will have you back on the road (or trail) sooner that you think.
By balancing the energy in the body, acupuncture also helps runners sleep better to repair their bodies during rigorous training. It doesn't matter if you are training for the Ironman or trying your first 5k- acupuncture will help you recover from minor injuries as long as you are you are treated on a regular basis. Happy training, and be sure to stay hydrated in this hot Portland weather!
Susan Van Wie
1) What brought you to Portland?
Spirit brought me to Portland when I was 21 in 1976, I was having a lot of spiritual experiences and no one around me, in Florida, could tell me what I was experiencing. So when my sister and her husband decided to move to Oregon I went with them, just for the adventure of going somewhere so unknown to me. I didn't know Spirit was guiding me to the answer of what I was going through. My first employer out here taught me how to meditate and taught me all about the eastern philosophy of life, it was what I was looking for and I didn't even know it. From there my spiritual beliefs grew. Life happened and I became a computer technician but my spirit was always hungry for something more.
2) Why did you decide to become an Reiki healer?
Actually I didn't decide to become a Reiki master, it choose me. I went to a New Year's Eve Reiki circle a few years ago, even though I had never heard of Reiki, didn't even know how to pronounce it, but after my turn to receive Reiki from the group - I was hooked! I attended circles for a few months before deciding to do a level 1 attunement. Then after a few more months I wanted to increase my Reiki energy so was attuned to level 2. I thought I would wait a year or more to do the Master level but soon I found Spirit was telling me I was ready. I still did not intend to have my own practice, that happened a few months later. And from there everything has fallen into place.
3) Tell us about your practice.
It seemed so often when I would be giving Reiki to someone, either at a circle or as a volunteer, I would get lots of comments on how wonderful they felt after wards. So when I was looking for a new way to make a living - Spirit told me to start my own practice. I have a 2 story home and was only using the upstairs so I turned the downstairs into my "Reiki Room". I decorated it to make the client as comfortable as possible, using waterfalls and plants, crystals and music I created what I think of as an "Oasis" in SE Portland. I try to make people comfortable when they come to me for Reiki and continue to add new techniques whenever I experience something that I enjoy. I really try to make my practice all about the client.
4) Where does your passion for healing people come from?
My passion comes from a lifetime of helping others. Some of us in this world are helpers and I am happiest when I am in service to others. I do volunteer work at an Oncology clinic in Beaverton through Northwest Reiki Association, and it is the most gratifying thing I have ever done. Knowing I am giving other people a little peace in a difficult situation is truly enough payment for me.
5) Any advice for clients?
My advice to not only clients but to everyone is; follow your heart, Spirit will guide you to those that can help you heal. I believe we are here to help each other and everyone is different - we will all feel comfortable with some healers and not others, that's OK, when a healer is right for you, you will know it. Light, Love and Reiki to all, Susan Michelle Van Wie
You can find Susan online at:
www.susansreikiforlife.com
or you can call for more information about reiki and her quarterly reiki circles at: (503) 760-0364
Miriam Lee, a prominent figure in the legalization of acupuncture in the US, died at the end of June 2009 in Palo Alto, California. Lee is a well-known name in the United States for allowing the legalization of acupuncture in California, and later the rest of the states (most of them, at least). She was born in China, and when she came to the United States later in life, she worked in a factory for Hewlett Packard. It was here that she began treating her co-workers out of her house, and was eventually arrested. Circle Community Acupuncture writes about important this event in their blog:
"In 1974 Miriam Lee was arrested for practicing medicine without a license. Her patient’s filled the courthouse at her hearing, and demanded to have the right to receive acupuncture. Many of them had found relief from long-standing chronic complaints, and were angered that this was being taken away from them. Miriam Lee had offered them compassion and health, and now they came to her defense. Thanks to this public outcry, acupuncture was declared an “experimental procedure” and Miriam Lee was granted the right to see patients at San Francisco University. In 1976, acupuncture was legalized in California."
We have gone from an "experimental procedure" to being recommended by doctors. It has certainly been a long road for the pioneering acupuncture practitioners. Because of Miriam Lee's refusal to stop treating those in need, acupuncture practitioners are now allowed to work with patients in the US. Those of us who have reaped the benefits of receiving acupuncture have her to thank. She will be a missed presence in the thousands of lives she has healed and changed.
acupuncture needles by howaye
An article in the New York Times titled "Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes" discusses the use of progesterone creams for symptoms stemming from menopause. Hot flashes, weight gain, memory loss, fatigue, and irritability are often associated when women begin menopause.For some, these symptoms are manageable, but others will need more care, and more women are turning to alternatives. The article states:
"Gynecologists estimate that a third of women seeking treatment for menopausal symptoms are on conventional prescription hormones. Another third are on prescription bio-identical therapy. (Bio-identical hormones are synthesized compounds that mimic the molecular structure of human hormones and are derived from plants). The remaining third either tough it out, are not bothered by symptoms or are searching for over-the-counter therapies, including natural supplements and topical creams. They may try, for example, a supplement of phytoestrogens derived from soy and red clover, a low-dose progesterone cream, or swear by black cohosh capsules."
While these therapies do help with symptoms, Chinese medicine practitioners believe that in order to treat these symptoms, we need to treat the root cause of the body's imbalance. Using diagnostic techniques (such as checking the pulse, looking at the tongue, and interviewing the patient), help us treat according to individual patient diagnosis. By using acupuncture points according to this diagnosis, we treat the reason the symptoms are occurring instead of masking them.
Acupuncture treatments for menopause related symptoms will involve weekly treatments for 4-6 weeks, and patients will often be prescribed herbal remedies (also according to diagnosis). There are often Western herbs that practitioners use in the herbal formulas, and it is important to tell your practitioner if you are using an estrogen patch, progesterone creams, or any other remedies prescribed by an MD or self-prescribed.
Photo by ndosborn
I recently came across the photo of Gwyneth Paltrow that created quite a scandal a few years ago. Ms. Paltrow wore a dress that exposed her freshly cupped back when she walked down the red carpet, which shocked members of the media who, at that time, were oblivious to the wonderful treatment that is cupping. As odd as many found it, the fascination with the octupus-suction-cup marks seemed to have sparked a fascination with Chinese medicine and alternative healing in Hollywood and beyond.
Since that time, Ms. Paltrow started a newsletter called GOOP and devoted an entire article to the healing modalities of acupuncture, cupping, and Su Jeok therapy (also known as Korean hand acupuncture therapy). It's great to see how many people are recognizing this amazing healing technique and sharing it in all ways possible.
Gwyneth writes:
One day, when being treated by an acupuncturist, a Spanish friend who was visiting me in London walked into the room and remarked that I looked like a bull who’d had a run in with the picadores (the dudes on horseback who stick the bull with many little knives to rile him up before the actual fight). I assured her that although I was stuck with needles, I was faring far better than the bull would in the analogous scenario. In fact, those many little needles have helped me through many an ailment. Eastern medicine has a different approach than Western medicine – it’s more holistic. The root of the problem is addressed, as opposed to a symptom being attended to with prescription medication, only to return. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful as hell for a round of antibiotics or surgery when necessary, but I have been helped tremendously by all of the practices below that help the body heal itself. When implemented by a professional with experience, the benefits can work wonders.
You can read the rest of the GOOP article here!
Liz Richards, LAc, opened the doors to beautiful Blossom Clinic in June.
Where did you come up with the name “Blossom"? The name blossom came to me one night as I was explaining my vision for a clinic to my husband. It just felt right. I love the idea of something growing and blossoming from the deep ground up. Every one of us has the potential to be whatever we dream of being. It is my job to facilitate that growth help people move through change as gracefully as possible. I work hard to set up a good foundation for treatment and then solidify a plan for the future. It is hard work to break that ground but once that crack is formed, anything is possible.
Blossom also has a special connotation to me personally as a women’s heath practitioner. Being a woman is all about transformation and growth. I primarily see patients who are pregnant or trying to conceive. It is an honor to see my female fertility patients get pregnant, bloom into pregnancy, and then grow as a parent.
What types of treatments are offered at Blossom clinic? Right now Blossom Clinic is providing Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, Massage, Amma Therapy (Asian Bodywork), and Nutrition consultations. It is my goal as owner of Blossom to provide the best care within the context of womens health, reproductive health, and family healthcare. Whether you are interested in a relaxing massage of an invigorating one, Blossom can provide that. Interested in doing a cleanse or learning more about foods that are good for you? We would love to chat with you. The practitioners at Blossom are some of the best in their fields so when you come here, you know that you will be well taken care of. Each practitioner at Blossom owns their own business and has their own area of specialty. Blossom is their umbrella, and we are here to help them with the business ends of things so that they can focus on their patients 100%. We offer free phone or in-house consultations and refer patients regularly if we believe we do not have an acupuncturist, practitioner, or massage therapist who is the right fit for you.
Can you tell us about Blossom Blog? I love Blossom Blog, partially because I created it all by myself and it is a creative outlet for me. It is not perfect but I figure if I can reach just one person a day and help them, then I have done my job. One of my favorite blogs is one in which I interview a mom who had her twins vaginally. I have had such great feedback about how this helped people realize that they can establish their birth preferences without going straight towards scheduling a C-section. I personally had a c-section and a vaginal birth, and I know that when it comes to labor and delivery, things do not always go as planned.
My goal is not to tell people what is right and wrong, but to empower people and provide food for thought. I love answering the Frequenly Asked Questions about acupuncture and fertility, and I hope to catch people before they are far on the road of trying to conceive. I think acupuncture in conjunction Assisted Reproductive Technology and on the day of IVF embryo transfer is also very important.
You can find Liz at Blossom Clinic:
Monday- Friday 9-5 Saturday 9-2 3531 NE 15th Avenue, Suite A Portland, Oregon 97212 503.287.0886 www.blossomclinic.net www.blossomclinic.wordpress.com
Pregnant Belly by kellyandapril
There are many reasons a woman maybe feeling stressed during her pregnancy. It's a time of change and growth within your body and withing your community. With these changes (not to mention hormones) may come added stress and anxiety about the health of the baby, relationships with family members, and the birth of the child. Using acupuncture is a drug-free method to help with your ever-changing emotions and other conditions that you may encounter during pregnancy (see previous post).
This article from Pregnancy Today is a great resource for mothers-to-be who may be nervous about trying acupuncture for symptom relief. Read the sections about a successful induction, a case where acupuncture stopped postpartum bleeding using a single acupoint, and how acupuncture can help with postpartum care.
Acupuncture can help you to enjoy a happy and healthy pregnancy, so be sure to find someone who is right for you, and who you are comfortable with. For a list of questions to ask when looking for a practitioner, read Acupuncture Health blogs post- 'Choosing the Right Acupuncturist.'
Pregnancy Photo by J. Star
The Chinese Medicine Times recently reviewed a study of acupuncture for symptoms of heartburn in pregnant women with positive results. The outcome of of treating 36 women - half with the standard treatment (medication and dietary advice), and half with acupuncture. Those receiving acupuncture were treated once or twice a week with drastically reduced symptoms.
The reason heartburn occurs in pregnancy is due to the hormone changes, mainly pregesterone, a hormone produces by the placenta. Progesterone relaxes the smooth muscle of the uterus, but is also relaxes the sphinter that keeps stomach acid out of your esophagus. The growing baby also pushes stomach acid back up where it wasn't before. Even women who have never experienced heartburn may feel uncomfortable during pregnancy.
Besides treating heartburn, there is a long list of conditions acupuncture can treat during pregnancy (fatigue, morning sickness, and constipation to name a few). I recommend reading the article by Naomi Rabinowitz, Dipl.Ac., at acufinder.com. to read her views on how to treat these symptoms. It's also important to find a pracitioner who is comfortable treating pregnant women, check out tcmdirectory.com or acufinder.com.
Tuina is a massage form from China that is part of our training as acupuncture practitioners. It is a deep tissue massage that uses several different techniques (rolling, scrubbing, and grasping to name a few). The techniques are the same, but practitioners can use stronger or a gentler movements according the patient preference. Tuina is used for sports injuries, repetitive motion pain, back and shoulder pain, knee and elbow pain, and even hernias. “Tui” means pushing, and “Na” means grasping. Tuina is a form of massage used by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners that is closer to a deep-tissue massage than Shiatsu. It is used in order to help relax the tendons and muscles, while opening the channels that flow through the body. Tuina is helpful with increasing blood circulation to alleviate pain, relieving muscle spasms, and gently breaking up adhesions in the muscles and scar tissue.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK8uQOgXmeI[/youtube]
Photo by oregonianphoto
Seeing that I am an Oregon native, I was surprised to hear of a Chinese medicine apothecary in Eastern Oregon that I didn't know about (I'm usually up on these things...). The herbal clinic, which has been restored and is now a museum called Kam Wah Chung, where Ing "Doc" Hay had his herbal clinic. Ing Hay left John Day in the early 1900's, but left behind his various Chinese medicine tinctures, herbs, and tools he used to distribute the herbal remedies.
Watch the video of how this clinic came to be in John Day at the Oregon Public Broadcasting website - I am amazed at how well this herbalist worked the ancient medicine, and how the people of John Day appreciated him and his medicine. You can also read about it here.
Photo by Fernando Gregory
Smoking is an addictive habit for 43.4 million adults in the United States. That's a lot of people, and even more that are affected by the habit just by spending time with smokers. Even with the constant ads to stop smoking, warnings on cigarette packs, and several state laws that ban smoking, the numbers aren't decreasing fast enough. The most difficult idea to comprehend is how much smoking affects not only the body of the smoker, but those they love. There are over 440, o00 deaths per per year that are related to smoking, not including the affects of secondhand smoke (check the CDC report for more information).
There is a protocol used when treating addiction that was developed several years ago, and has been proven to help with additions. This five-point auricular protocol is the Heart/Lung, Kidney, Sympathetic, Liver, and Shen Men (spirit) points. Together they rid the body of toxins, calm the mind, and help clear out the lungs, and help stop cravings. Often ear seeds are used at the points the needles were placed in to continue the effects.
A patient will be given handouts with ideas on how to quit the physical habit of smoking, and information on how to find a smoking cessation support group. Our clinic also has herbal formulas such as EasePlus, which helps with digestion and elimination, a large part of removing toxins from the body. Getting rid of the pollution in the body gives you more time and energy to develop healthier habits and an improved lifestyle.
Watch the video below for a smoking cessation treatment.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuEOCGqZEqQ[/youtube] [/youtube] [/youtube]
Photo by educationdynamics
A very interesting and informative discussion about the bill that will allow Naturopathic doctors (ND) to prescribe synthetic drugs is on OPB's "Think Out Loud" program. It aired today (June 16, 2009) from 9-10 AM. The title of this program is "Natural Medicine?" and there are two ND's (Dr. Igor Schwartzman and Dr. Mitch Stargrove)who give their opinion on this bill and how it will affect their practice.
Check out the article here , and be sure to listen to the show!
Photo by Thunderchild tm
Endometriosis is a condition that affects millions of women. It is is the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, which causes pain during the menstrual cycle. This occurs becuase the endometrial tissue is supposed to shed every month, and if it isn't in the uterus, the tissue essentially "stagnates," and causes pain. Endometriosis is usually diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 40, but can begin as a young as the teenage years. Forty percent of women are symptom-free and don't even realize they have it. The other sixty percent are well aware of the symptoms, which include mild to severe pain in the lower abdomen during the menstrual cycle, heavy bleeding, and even infertility.
Western medicine does not have a cure for endometriosis, but offers prescription drugs and laparoscopic surgery as an option to stop the pain. While it may stop the pain, this method doesn't address the inflammation that is occurs throughout the body with each cycle.
Acupuncture points and Chinese herbal medicine help soothe the pain, reduce inflammation, and help reduce the heavy monthly bleeding. The diagnosis of endometriosis is Blood Stagnation (which is exactly what is sounds like), but there is often either excess Heat or Cold in the body. The practitioner will use acupoints to treat all of these symptoms.
Herbal formulas will be prescribed at specific times in the woman's menstrual cycle. One formula can be taken just after the menstrual cycle begins, and another after ovulation (or mid-cycle).
Randine Lewis's book, The Infertility Cure, is one of the best resources I have found for information about acupuncture, Western and Chinese herbs, and endometriosis. Read her book for more extenstive information on endometriosis.
Asthma: www.medical-explorer.com/asthma.php
Asthma is a condition that affects over 162 million adults and 6.7 million children in the United States. This is a serious disease which needs treatment, and something I have personally been dealing with for the past 10 years. By seeking regular acupuncture and herbal medicine to control the asthma symptoms, I was able to dramatically reduce the amount of Western medication I was taking.
I recommend the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine for asthma, and have had success in treating patients as well as being treated myself. NOTE: A severe attack will need immediate treatment from a Western medical doctor or possibly a visit to the emergency room. If the symptoms are severe (wheezing, blue lips and fingers, possible dizziness)
Chinese herbal medicine is becoming more widely used in American than ever before. Even the skeptics are reaching for the cold remedy Yin Qiao San and drinking ginger tea before digging out the decongestants.
Most Chinese herbal formulas are now available in pill forms as well as the powdered forms. While it's best to use a powdered formula (the amount of each herb can be specially formulated for the individual), the pill form of the herb is also effective. What matters most is which form the patient will actually take!
According to the website To Your Heath, the top five most prescribed formulas for basic health issues are:
Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction)-Induces sweating to fight off a cold
Ping Wei San (Clear Stomach Formula)- To move
Photo by Persiflage
Acupuncture is a great for skin conditions, and it's also a very healing way to help with pain from scar tissue formation. Post surgical scars can be painful for months or even years after surgery, and these scars tend to disrupt the natural flow of blood and energy in the body. Scarring from operations, even the tiny incisions from a laproscopic surgery can cause pain in the body, and need to be treated to heal properly.
Examples of scars that can cause pain are lower abdominal scars (from a C-section birth, appendectomy, or hernia), shoulder, hip, and knee surgery (including joint replacement), and even plastic surgery scars.
It's best to treat a scar that is at least one month old to prevent infection. The
A new and amazing hub of information about how to live well, check out the new and amazing WellWire. WellWire was started by two naturopathic physicians, Dr. Igor Schwartzman and Dr. Nishant Rao. They have created an space for practitioners and patients alike to share information, ask questions, read about nutritious foods, and watch informative videos by experienced practitioners. They post new recipes by professional chefs, and new videos by practitioners weekly.
Check them out!
Peonies by Donnali
The beautiful peony blossoms are in abundance in Portland at last. I recently learned from a peony cultivator that you can cut peony trees down to the root, and they will easily grow back to full bloom within the a year. The roots run deep into the ground, and are very strong and sustaining. It's no wonder they are often used in Chinese herbal formulas!
In Chinese herbal medicine, the root of both the red (chi shao yao) and white (bai shao yao) peony are used. Peony root is an herb that is often used in women's formulas. Bai shao yao is often used in formulas to stop pain, and it nourishes the Yin in the body. Chi shao yao is also used to stop pain and it cools the blood and clears excess heat.
The sour and bitter quality of these herbs allow practitioners to use them in formulas to help with stagnation-related syndromes, such as trauma or stress. The quality of these herbs can help relieve pain symptoms such as cramping during menstrual cycles, and swelling or inflammation of tissues.
For more detailed information on these herbs, check out Subhuti Dharmananda's website at ITM online.