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:
**Rebecca is all better! Thanks for your support
**Treating Fibromyalgia Naturally - great recommendations from Bob Flaws
**Appointments available! Get them while they're hot!
---------------------
Rebecca is all better! Thanks for your support.
Phew! Now that I've had my cold I'm planning another 4.5 to 5 year hiatus from illness. I've lined up my herbal formulas, I'm taking my vitamins and I am good to go. Thank you so much to all of you who sent me well wishes via email, it was very much appreciated, and thank you to everyone who was kind enough to understand my predicament and reschedule. Now that I am mended I am more determined than ever to help us all avoid feeling this way by incorporating preventative care and wellness maintenance into our routines.
If you don't have a routine or feel like your routine could use a check in, please don't hesitate to call, email me or come in for a tune up appointment to make sure you have all the preventatives you need in place this winter. With the first reported Swine Flu cases in Oregon coming across my inbox, keeping a good antiviral remedy on hand should be a given this season and if you don't have one you like, I am happy to suggest something. Two of my favorites are actually Ban Lan Gen, or Isatis Root, single herb tincture and Yin Qiao Wan which is a combination of cold fighting herbs. Both are available in my office or online if you just want to order something to be delivered to your door via my Virtual Dispensary system.
Treating Fibromyalgia Naturally - great recommendations from Bob Flaws
Bob Flaws is an amazing Acupuncturist with an interested background spanning education both here in the US and in China. He's authored a number of books and articles and has his own Chinese herbal company called Blue Poppy where he formulates both high concentration classical herbal remedies and some good modifications of his own. Recently I came across a great article of his about treating Fibromyalgia naturally and I thought his recommendations were realistic and to the point so I thought I would share. If you don't know what Fibromyalgia is don't worry - while the term is becoming more common many people are not familiar with this syndrome and the exact cause of Fibromyalgia is still unknown. Typically categorized by a combination of sleep issues and all over body pain that is especially intense at a series of specific points, as well as fatigue, Fibromyalgia is recognized as a chronic condition and can be very debilitating. Diagnosis is difficult and Western treatment generally involves various combinations of painkillers and sleep medication. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine along with lifestyle change and an experiential understanding of your personal limits can combine to create excellent treatment outcomes, however. This article by Bob Flaws outlines some of the recommended lifestyle changes you can make both to treat and prevent Fibromyalgia. Here are some of the recommendations I liked best:
1. Eliminate processed foods from the diet, especially refined sugar and white flour. These foods provide little nutrition and can damage the Spleen and Stomach energetically, which are the organs that govern not only digestion but also musculature from a Chinese perspective.
2. Find some type of exercise that you really enjoy and just do it!
3. Take a walk every day - this is a great way to break up routine and decrease stress in your day.
4. If you know you have too much stress in your life, then find a solution. This may not be something you can do on your own and seeking help through counseling or therapy might be a necessity for you to succeed and if it is, you should do it. Stress is an intense aggravating factor in Fibromyalgia and getting stress under control can be a key to feeling better and maintaining health.
5. Try to decrease or eliminate sodas from your diet. Sodas are acidic and loaded with sugar and chemicals that can damage the Spleen and Kidneys energetically.
These are just a few of the suggestions in Bob's article and for the full 11 point list, please click HERE to be directed to the Acufinder website to read more. If you know someone with Fibromyalgia or you have Fibromyalgia yourself, consider coming in for a course of Acupuncture treatment as a safe and effective alternative to Western medication.
Appointments available! Get them while they're hot!
I know my schedule has been very full of late, but there are appointments available and if you want to get in now is a great time to call, email, or go online to book. I've opened up this Saturday 10/10 to accommodate patients when I was ill, but few people have taken me up on the offer so I still have some appointments available. I've also had a couple of recurring appointments canceled through the end of the year so I actually have appointments available Saturday, next week and the week after that. If you've been wanting to get in but feeling like my schedule is too full, now is your chance! Please go online and schedule today or contact me and I will help you get on the books. These appointments will go fast too, however, so please book soon if you are interested.
Thanks for tuning in!
Thanks again for your support while I was ill, everyone, and thank you for listening today. Remember you can always book on-line via my website, email me direct or call at (503)445-8888 ext. 1 for appointments, consultations or if you just want to contact me with a question. Hope everyone is holding up through the transitions in the weather and I hope I get to see you soon!
~Rebecca
