In This Issue:
**Relieving Fibromyalgia Pain with Chinese Medicine
**10/9/10 on Maternity but Treatments Continue!
**Thanks for Tuning In! Book On-line Anytime!---------------------
Relieving Fibromyalgia Pain with Chinese Medicine
Fibromyalgia Syndrome affects approximately 2% of the population. Conventional therapies have limited success and generally consistent of a combination pain and sleep medications based on presenting symptoms in the patient. Acupuncture in particular has become a popular treatment and shown to be effectivefor Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome is still not completely understood. It affects more women than men and sometimes is precipitated by a specific physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there is no triggering event. There is no measurable physical or tissue damage to the body, and fibromyalgia is diagnosed when there is a combination of presenting symptoms including but not limited to:
- chronic pain
- debilitating fatigue
- difficulty sleeping
- anxiety and depression
- joint stiffness
- inability to concentrate
- irritable bowel syndrome
In Chinese medicine, pain is seen to be a problem of restricted flow - Qi and Blood that are not able to flow freely and keep you feeling fit, mobile and healthy. In Fibromyalgia specifically, pain is usually associated with a combination of Liver, Spleen, Kidney and Heart Qi flow disharmonies.
Acupuncture treatment therefore consists of individualized treatment plans based on the underlying energetic disharmonies discovered and the specific symptoms of each patient. Dietary and lifestyle advice are generally an important part of treatment as well.
In my experience treating Fibromyalgia patients, I have found that combining exercise with Acupuncture in particular is often key to success. Gentle water aerobics, swimming and Taiji seem to be particularly effective.
Rebecca on Maternity Leave starting 10/9/10 but Treatments will Continue with Noreen Drake
Yes, that time is finally upon me and this will be my last newsletter before I take off for Maternity Leave in one short week! Rest assured that monthly newsletters will STILL be winging their way to your inbox in my absence, however, AND that my trusted colleague Noreen Drake, LAc will be on hand to continue your treatments while I am away.
The details of my maternity leave and an FAQ are listed below, but here is a quick recap of a few summary points just in case:
- Rebecca will be gone 10/9/10-late January/early February 2011
- Rebecca's online schedule for 2011 will be open for booking starting November 2010!
- Noreen Drake, LAc will continue treatment for Rebecca's patients - a new signed consent form will be necessary but you will NOT have to fill out new intake forms!
- Noreen is on the online schedule and can be reached by phone on the same office line you currently use.
- see list at right for additional questions
Thanks for tuning in!
As usual thanks again for tuning in! If you are interested in more information about treating pain with the help of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, please don't hesitate to call, email or book online. Free 15 minute consultations in person or over the phone are always available with both Noreen and myself which you can book via email, phone at (503)445-8888 or on-line if you have more specific questions.
Yours in health and wellness,
~Rebecca
MATERNITY LEAVE
Rebecca will be on a little journey from October 10th-January 2011 as she and her husband welcome a bouncing baby boy at the end of October. Rebecca strongly encourages you to come in for treatment while she is away, however, so here are some details to keep you in tip top shape until she returns:
How do I get Acupuncture while Rebecca is away?
Rebecca's office mate, Noreen Drake, LAc, will be in the office Tues-Thurs seeing Rebecca's patients while she is gone. Rebecca and Noreen went through their acupuncture program together and Noreen comes highly recommended by Rebecca.
Noreen also offers free consultations anytime.
How do I book with Noreen?
You can book with Noreen on-line as you do with Rebecca through the same on-line scheduling system or you can call Noreen at (503)445-8888 x5.
What does Noreen charge?
Noreen's rates for Acupuncture are the same as Rebecca's.
Does Noreen bill insurance?
No. Noreen does not bill insurance at this time, HOWEVER, Noreen is able to provide you with a coded superbill and she can help you submit that to you insurance for your reimbursement.
How do I get massage and foot reflexology while Rebecca is away?
We have two wonderful massage therapists at Suite 103 who both do massage and foot reflexology. Visit the Suite 103 Website to learn more aboutSummer and Ashley and their services. You can book on-linewith them through the sameon-line scheduling site you currently use or call them at (503)445-8888.
How do I get herbs & supplements while Rebecca is away?
Some herbs will still be in stock in the office for pick up any time. Rebecca recommends you call the office and speak to Noreen at (503)445-8888 x5 to make sure the herbs and supplements you want are in stock prior to stopping by, however. You can also emailNoreen to check before you come in.
You can also order your herbs directly on-line using Rebecca's Virtual Dispensary service. To utilize this service you will need the following:
PIN# all888
Office Zip Code: 97201
Create an account with the dispensary service, log in and shop away! You can also visit Rebecca's website and go to the Virtual Dispensary service page for an FAQ and more details.
Some herbs and supplements - in particular Bioticssupplements and cold and flu formulas - are also available online via Rebecca's Amazon Store.
Can I get a hold of Rebecca while she is away?
Yes! Rebecca will be checkingemail and voicemail so feel free to contact her, but she may not be checking regularly. Please do not expect a swift reply.
When does Rebecca's 2011 schedule become available online?
It should be available for booking online starting November 2010, so check back often!
In This Issue:
**Fall in Chinese Medicine
**Relieving Pain with Chinese Medicine
**Thanks for Tuning In! Book On-lineAnytime!---------------------
Fall in Chinese Medicine
"In ancient times, those people who understood the Dao (the way of self cultivation) patterned themselves upon the Yin and the Yang (the two principles in nature) and they lived in harmony..." --The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic
Living in harmony with nature is a central tenant of Chinese Medicine. Understanding that each season represents a different aspect of Yin and Yang and has different elements associated with it, as well as some of the ways they affect our bodies, allows us to live in closer harmony with the seasons and cultivate both energetic and physical health.
Fall is a transitional season from the full Yang of Summer into the full Yin of Winter - a changing season to change seasons, if you will. It is governed by the Metal element associated with the Lungs and Large Intestine which means that taking care of these organs is especially important during this time. Metal is a very orderly element and Fall, therefore, is also a time to tame the wild fire of the Summer and start making sense of it all. A time to harvest what has been grown and store it, a time to organize, to set boundaries and to plan, and as part of this process to let go of what isn't needed anymore.
The Lungs in particular are considered a "tender organ" in Chinese Medicine - one that is your first line of defense and one that is especially susceptible to Wind and to Cold. To support the Lungs, don't be shy about bundling up with a scarf as the first Fall chill hits the air and consider including more warming spicy and pungent foods in your diet such as garlic, ginger, onions and mustard.
For the Large Intestine, be sure you are getting plenty of vegetables and fiber - especially seasonal vegetables such as squash. The Large Intestine sorts the last of the useful from the not-useful along the course of digestion and lets go of what isn't needed. Good sources of fiber, like whole veggies and grains along with plenty of water, aid in this process and can protect your health through the changing season.
Acupuncture is a great way to harmonize the body with seasons as well, and if you haven't been in for a tune up for a while, a change in seasons is always a good time to come in just to keep everything moving ahead.
Relieving Pain with Chinese Medicine
If there is ONE thing Acupuncture is most known for in the U.S., pain treatment would be it. Pages and pages of studies can be found through Google, Yahoo, PubMed, news article websites and more. Acupuncture is most known for successfully treating back pain, knee pain, neck pain, headache, menstrual pain and TMJ/TMD or jaw pain, but virtually any pain you experience can be positively affected by Acupuncture treatment.
How Acupuncture works to do this exactly is still not completely understood by Western science although studies have shown some specific effects such as Acupuncture changing"A Delta" and "C" pain fibers specifically, that Acupuncture affects the way the brain interprets pain, and that Acupuncture causes the body to release pain relieving endorphinsin large quantities but none of these necessarily explain across the board why Acupuncture works nor how it can provide lasting relief.
In Chinese Medicine theory the answer is quite clear, however. Pain - whatever the cause - results in Qi and Blood stagnation energetically at the site of the pain. Through Acupuncture, herbs and Chinese bodywork therapies we can relieve the local stagnation and treat the underlying energetic cause that resulted in the stagnation. This generally requires a course of treatment and while in China a standard course of treatment is 10 treatments in 10 days and then you reassess, here in the U.S. we find this both impossible for most busy working people and not strictly necessary for success. A course of 4-10 treatments 1-2x/week depending on the severity and intensity of the pain is generally recommended.
If you have questions about pain treatment with Chinese Medicine or you want to come in please don't hesitate to contact me anytime!
Thanks for tuning in!
As usual thanks again for tuning in! Again if you are interested in more information about treating pain with the help of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, please don't hesitate to call,email or book online. I also offer free 15 minute consultations in person or over the phone that you can book via email, phone at (503)445-8888 ext. 1 or on-line if you have more specific questions and want time to talk. I hope you will take advantage of my early 3 treatment special as well. Here's hoping to see you soon!
Yours in health and wellness,
~Rebecca
MATERNITY LEAVE
Rebecca will be on a little journey from October 10th-January 2011 as she and her husband welcome a bouncing baby boy at the end of October. Rebecca strongly encourages you to come in for treatment while she is away, however, so here are some details to keep you in tip top shape until she returns:
How do I get Acupuncture while Rebecca is away?
Rebecca's office mate, Noreen Drake, LAc, will be in the office Tues-Thurs seeing Rebecca's patients while she is gone. Rebecca and Noreen went through their acupuncture program together and Noreen comes highly recommended by Rebecca.
Noreen also offers free consultations anytime.
How do I book with Noreen?
You can book with Noreen on-line as you do with Rebecca through the same on-line scheduling system or you can call Noreen at (503)445-8888 x5.
What does Noreen charge?
Noreen's rates for Acupuncture are the same as Rebecca's.
Does Noreen bill insurance?
No. Noreen does not bill insurance at this time, HOWEVER, Noreen is able to provide you with a coded superbill and she can help you submit that to you insurance for your reimbursement.
How do I get massage and foot reflexology while Rebecca is away?
We have two wonderful massage therapists at Suite 103 who both do massage and foot reflexology. Visit the Suite 103 Website to learn more aboutSummer and Ashley and their services. You can book on-linewith them through the sameon-line scheduling site you currently use or call them at (503)445-8888.
How do I get herbs & supplements while Rebecca is away?
Some herbs will still be in stock in the office for pick up any time. Rebecca recommends you call the office and speak to Noreen at (503)445-8888 x5 to make sure the herbs and supplements you want are in stock prior to stopping by, however. You can also emailNoreen to check before you come in.
You can also order your herbs directly on-line using Rebecca's Virtual Dispensary service. To utilize this service you will need the following:
PIN# all888
Office Zip Code: 97201
Create an account with the dispensary service, log in and shop away! You can also visit Rebecca's website and go to theVirtual Dispensary service page for an FAQ and more details.
Some herbs and supplements - in particular Bioticssupplements and cold and flu formulas - are also available online via Rebecca's Amazon Store.
Can I get a hold of Rebecca while she is away?
Yes! Rebecca will be checkingemail and voicemail so feel free to contact her, but she may not be checking regularly. Please do not expect a swift reply.
