What Can TCM treat? Insect Bites

Photo by da100fotos

Now that the sun has been out for at least a few weeks, flowers and fruits are at their full potential for natures cycle and our own enjoyment. Part of this flowering and producing process involves insects that many of us love to hate (hate is a bit strong- more like "dislike" or even "fear"). Bees and spiders do so much for our gardens and flowers, but their potential bites or stings, though often accidental, can be painful or even life-threatening.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a lot of treatment plans for insect bites, and since I'm currently taking a dermatology class from Dr. Hong Jin, DAOM, I thought I'd share a few formulas from the class and a few that I have used myself.

Jin Huang Wan, or Golden Yellow Powder is a powder that you can mix with honey or water to make a externally- applied paste. It draws out the toxins and helps stop itching. It's also inexpensive and works better than baking soda for be stings. I can't seem to find any sites online, but the OCOM clinic carries it, as well as other herbal stores. Keep in mind that it may stain skin a nice deep yellow temporarily...

Another favorite of mine is Dan Shen Hou Xue Yin or Quell the Surface Teapills. I took these after my last bee sting, which was pretty nasty, and the swelling reduced within 6 hours of the second dose. This can also be used in cases of poison oak or ivy rashes, or even eczema flare-ups. In the text for the class, a formula is Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin, or 5-Ingredient to Eliminate Toxin formula.

Remember to check with your practitioner if you have any questions about what herbs are in these formulas. Also, if you have a severe allergic reaction to insect bites or stings, go the emrgency room immediately!

Enjoy the sun!

More on Community Acupuncture

One of the first posts on this blog featured a favorite clinic of mine- Working Class Acupuncture. Since it's been over a year (!), I thought I'd update you on this fantastic way to experience the healing effects of acupuncture.

Still going strong, Working Class Acupuncture is changing the health care system by offering affordable (sliding scale) and thorough treatments for all. Check out the previous post for more information on community acupuncture, and be sure to read Lisa Rohleder's blog to see what the newest happenings are at Working Class.

Pamela O'Malley Change recently published an article in Utne magazine about her experience with community acupuncture and how it inspired her. Read it here!

Also, check out this video produced by Moses, one of the acupuncturists at Working Class Acupuncture.

Acupuncture offered at an affordable price makes it available to everyone. We can't sit around and wait for it to change in the US healthcare to happen- we have to change it ourselves. The people in the community acupuncture setting have started a revolution in the healthcare system, which is exactly what needs to happen.

SPARC conference recap (part 1)

Photo by: dan_photoman I'm sure this was the view from OHSU!

The 2008 SPARC conference was a great success this year! Even though the day was bright and beautiful here in Portland, the symposium was very captivating, and the presentations went off without a hitch. There were about ten OCOM students there, and everyone seemed to enjoy it, especially Dr. Vinjar Fonnebo, the keynote speaker.

Although I had to leave before the presentations were finished, I'll share tomorrow what was presented and the fantastic research that is coming out of Portland.

Stay tuned!