TCM helping with Oregon weather

Photo by leojmelsrub

A lot can be said about Oregon's weather. It sure seems to be the topic of a lot of conversations in the clinic, especially with the sun and pouring rain combination these past few days!

One thing I've noticed in the clinic is that  lot of people are having similar experiences with weather changes- I know it seems like a strange topic, but I have noticed several patterns in the clinic (and within my community) that I'd like to share:

-People with arthritis are better with the extreme heat, and worse in that next day of dampness. The quick weather changes can be hard on the joints- it's important to come in for treatment at least once a week when this is occurring. - Allergies (sinus congestion, itchy eyes, wheezing) can also be affected by the extreme rain followed by blazing sun ten minutes later. The heat and steam seem to create dampness and a lot of phlegm in the body. It's interesting to see the different reactions in different body constitutions, because others report feeling better with the "steam room" effect! -Headaches with the rain: the drop in barometric pressure seems to really affect patients who are more on the deficient side that the excess. It's as if their energy can't quite handle the sudden change.

There are also a lot of great formulas to help with the symptoms. Personally, I chose to seek treatment from a practitioner who gave me a fantastic herbal granual formula from the OCOM dispensary. It was created with a diagnosis of all of my symptoms, and has truly worked wonders in dealing with these past few weeks of wacky weather :)

National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA)

From the NADA site

NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) is:

"a nonprofit association that conducts training and provides public education about the use

of acupuncture as an adjunct treatment for addictions and mental disorders."

This protocol is always used in the detoxification process as well as helping with addictions. There has been a lot of research with the 5-acupoint protocol for helping with detox from any addiction in conjuction with other therapies. While just one therapy isn't always as useful, the combination is the best.

Photo: ear acupuncture by amona

The five point protocol is the Heart/Lung, Shen Men, Liver, Kidney, and Sympathetic. There are several publications sold on the NADA website that discuss the use of these points and why in more detail. At OCOM, we are required to take an auricular class, and one term in a detoxification clinics, such as Old Town Clinic, Hooper, or Quest. All have differnt and amazing programs for addiction and recovery needs.

NADA also has a blog! Check here to read the news. There is a yearly conference, usually in April, which is recommended if you would like to become certified.

Photo: auricular by arajane

Interview with Anita Tadavarthy, MAcOM of Metis Clinics

Anita Tadavarthy, MAcOM, of Metis Clinics

1. What brought you to Portland? My Nike job brought me to Portland. Previously, I had a career in finance & accounting.

2. Why did you decide to become an LAc? I wanted to be able to help people. 3. Tell me about your practice I really enjoy it! I feel that I get to do what I love for a living. I started my Metis Clinics in late April 2007 in Tigard, Oregon, and I already know that I have helped quite a number of people. 4. Where does your passion for the medicine come from? My passion for medicine comes from my desire to help others. 4. Any advice for patients? Take care of any medical issues or concerns early! 5. What is your favorite Portland restaurant and why? La Sarenita, on Alberta. It's affordable, tasty Mexican food

You can contact Anita at:

Metis Clinics Fir Loop Plaza, Suite 205 7110 SW Fir Loop Portland, OR 97223

Phone: 503.819.2904 Fax: 503.746.7432

Email: anita@metisclinics.com

PanAfrican Acupuncture Project

I recently found out that my classmate Malaika Lumen is working with a great organization called the Pan African Acupuncture Project (PAAP). The Project is similar to the Barefoot Doctor program in China, and a large portion of the focus is on HIV/AIDS care.

"The PanAfrican Acupuncture Project (PAAP) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2003 to empower the people of Uganda with acupuncture techniques. Since 2003 they have conducted several training programs, expanded into Kenya and are currently expanding into Malawi."

On July 31st Academy Theater on Stark street (7818 SE Stark St) has will donate 10% of all concession sales from open until close to PAAP Malawi. So come down, check out a great movie at a classic 1940's building, and be sure to grab something from concessions to help out a great organization!

For more information, you can contact the PAAP:

The PanAfrican Acupuncture Project 113 Summit Avenue Brookline, MA 02446 USA info@panafricanacupuncture.org Tel/fax: 617-277-7444

Facial Acupuncture

REUTERS/Mike Cassese

A classmate of mine just informed me about a recent online article about facial acupuncture. Check it out here!

Cosmetic acupuncture can be very helpful in treating wrinkles, sagging skin and fine lines. Small, thin needles (even smaller than the usual needles used for body acupuncture) are inserted shallowly into the skin to increase blood flow and energy of the skin. There are no side effects, the needles are smaller than those used with Botox, and it's very effective. Acupuncture.com also has a newsletter that discusses cosmetic acupunture.

If you are interested in learning more about cosmetic acupuncture, the Mei Zen System is one I have heard a lot of good press about. A lot of spas in Portland are also interested in acupuncture, and the cosmetic industry may be opening up a whole new world for L.Ac's.

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.

Chinese Medicine in Cooking

With summer finally coming to Portland, and all of the amazing Farmer's markets springing up everywhere (my neighborhood just got another one!), it's time to stop eating so much of the warm and cozy "comfort food", and starting digging in to the fresh and wonderful produce the northwest has to offer.

I wanted to share a few great books that I've recently discovered (although the secrets of eating within these books have been used and loved by generations before us!).

Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford is a classic, and has so much information about eating for your health, using healthier cooking methods when preparing foods, and some fun and amazing recipes.

Chinese Natural Cures by Henry C. Lu is a book my husband found for me, and although it's a pretty massive book, it's full of a lot (and I mean a LOT) of information about foods that you didn't even know existed! It's fun to sit down and read about a few of your favorites, then put it down before you get to overwhelmed by all of the information!

Another book I recently discovered on my aunt's bookshelf is The Natural Gourmet by Annemarie Colbin. The reason I dig this one is that there is a section in the front that gives you the elements (of the 5 elements- find site) of several foods. The author feels that if you able to combine the elements of each food into your day, possibly at each meal, it maintains balance. It can also help you avoid certain foods that may not be so good for your constitution. Read more about this interesting food therapy theory here.

These are just a few that I like- please feel free to comment and add other books you like to this post!

Interview with a Practitioner: Kendra Ward, LAc

Kendra Ward, LAc of Whole Family Wellness 1. What brought you to Portland?

I moved to Portland with my husband so that he could attend the National College of Natural Medicine. In the process of him completing his naturopathic degree (and me creating a practice) we both fell in love with Portland. At this point, we are very settled in and are really enjoying living in such a beautiful city. 2. Why did you decide to become an LAc?

Becoming an acupuncturist was a great match for me from the very beginning. I have always had a strong interest in healing in other cultures and I have always wanted to work hands on with people. I had been exposed to acupuncture from a young age for my own health issues and those experiences intrigued and inspired me to learn more about the Taoist principles that are behind acupuncture. 3. Tell me about your practice

My practice is located in SW Portland on the backside of Multnomah Village. My practice used to be named Unbroken Flow Acupuncture, LLC but in the last year it was changed to Whole Family Wellness Center, LLC when I joined practices with my husband. My practice is focused on women’s health, such as fertility troubles, pregnancy related conditions, menstrual irregularities, etc. I use a unique combination of acupuncture, powdered herbal formulas that I create myself, flower essences, and therapeutic essential oils. I really enjoy working with women at any stage or transition in their lives.

4. Where does your passion for the medicine come from?

My passion arises from the mysteries of the human body, the observations of qi and how it moves, from my own gratitude of the trust of my patients for sharing their health stories with me. It is the connections and deep relationships that are formed that keep me interested and inspired. 5. Any advice for patients?

To take responsibility for your own healing. Health practitioners are here to guide and support but the true progress is made in how you live your life on a daily basis. What habits you form, what kind of stability you can create for yourself. Because I work in the realm of hormones so often I see how a lack of regularity and stability in life habits gets reflected in large hormone fluctuations. We have great power if we can just work on the basics on a daily basis; clean water, and air, adequate sleep, having space for meditation and reflection, circulation of qi and blood through exercise, balanced, fresh food, and having a balance between giving (yang) and receiving (yin) with our precious time.

6.What is your favorite Portland restaurant and why?

I really enjoy eating at Kalga Café in SE Portland. All of their dishes are fresh, organic and vegetarian and they have a lot of classic dishes to choose from. I usually judge a restaurant by how the food makes me feel about an hour after eating and I always feel great after eating there.

You can contact Kendra at:

Whole Family Wellness Center 2920 SW Dolph Ct., Suite 2 Portland, OR 97219

503.244.0500

www.wholefamilywellnesscenter.com

SPARC recap (part 2)

Still Life Acupuncture by Rodrigo Suarez

(My apologies for the late post!)

The SPARC symposium this year was all about "Highlighting Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research from Bench to Bedside." The meaning of this is that research begins at the "bench" or where it's planned, and the results end up at the "bedside," where the patients are treated with the results that were discovered. The focus of this conference was to share with those interested how much great research is being done right here in Portland.

Although there was so much great information at the conference (some of which I missed), here are the very basic points I'd like to share with you.

-The term "translational research," which is translates what is being researched into how we would actually practice in our clinics, leads to the improvement of patient care, and inspires the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the treatment of chronic disease.

-The ultimate goal of improving public health is the driving force behind many of these trials.

- Acupuncture is not a "one size fits all" kind of treatment. We cannot follow the same structure as western medical when creating randomized controlled trials using acupuncture as a method. A placebo (fake) pill and placebo acupuncture (needling the wrong acupoint or a non-acupoint) are not the same thing. A large part of giving acupuncture to patients is the attention and intention the practitioner has been trained with. It's pretty difficult to fake it

Vinjar Fonnebo, MD, PhD, gave a very good presentation regarding the need to find 'common ground' of CAM practitioners and research results due to the kind of research that is being performed (such as real acupuncture vs sham acupuncture) he likened the battlefield. Check his brief statement on the Helfgott Blog for a better idea of what he discussed.

It was inspiring to see so many people excited about research, as I feel that it's something the CAM field needs to continue building on for the sake of the future of our practice. If you have specific questions about the SPARC conference, feel free to contact me here. If I can't find the answer you are looking for, I'm sure I can find someone who can!