Chinese Herbal Medicine
Acupuncture in Oregon: Kam Wah Chung
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 [...]
What Can Acupuncture Treat? Endometriosis
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 [...]
What can Acupuncture Treat? Asthma
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)
Top 5 Chinese Herbal Formulas
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
Acupuncture and Scar Tissue Therapy
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
Peonies in Herbal Chinese Medicine
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 [...]
Acupuncture and Allergies
Pollen from Scots Pine: by goforchris
Allergy season has been here in Portland for well over a month now, and I have been seeing a lot of people with seasonal allergy symptoms. There is no doubt we are in the great Northwest when everyone is sneezing and rubbing their eyes in unison (click here for the [...]
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Breastfeeding
According to Bob Flaws in “A Handbook if TCM Pediatrics,” breast milk is the single best food for infants. Children who are breast fed have better immune systems and gastrointestinal health than those who aren’t. Breastfeeding induces the release of oxytocin, a hormone that causes uterine contractions and helps the mother’s body recover from giving [...]
Traditional Chinese Medicine: Childbirth and and Postpartum Care
Kinsey & Zander
Bringing a new life into the world is an amazing process, but the time spent in labor and delivery takes a toll on the mother’s
body. After giving birth, a woman’s body is depleted, and needs to be nourished by her environment (calm, quiet and warmth) and the foods she eats. She needs to [...]
Acupuncture During Pregnancy
Photo by Paul: Anya says hello to Seth
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a wonderful tool to use during pregnancy. It’s drug-free, and relaxing for both the baby and the mother. It can be used throughout the entire pregnancy, and even after delivery. Although there are a few acupuncture points that are contraindicated in pregnancy, there are [...]
