Have you ever noticed how many ProActive commercials are on TV or in magazines? Since skin care is part of my purveyance as a Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture specialist, I can’t help but tally it subconsciously and let me tell you - its a lot. The surprising thing to me is how the marketing has shifted in recent years from a teen focus to women in their late 30’s, mid 40’s and early 50’s. Its shifted to the “perimenopause” crowd who are dealing with the combined injustice of aging skin that is wrinkling combined with breakouts, often around a (never ending and increasingly irregular) menstrual cycle. Its unfair, right? So unfair. Yet very common as we age. Acne mid cycle (around ovulation) and right before the menstrual cycle - especially cystic acne around the mouth and chin - are tell tale signs that your hormones are running amok and need some reigning in if you want lasting relief from this unsightly problem. A product like ProActive will work in the short term and will help minimize breakouts, but it will not change the hormone imbalance that is the root of the problem. Chinese Medicine, however, has an excellent track record with hormonal balancing, including hormonal acne resolution. Furthermore, when you combine the theory and practice of Chinese Medicine with the efficacy of Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture - wherein hormonal imbalances specifically in the face are part of standard treatment - you can truly say that Acupuncture and Hormones seem like a match made in 天堂 (Tiantang) or heaven if you want the English translation. Facial Acupuncture Treats Acne with Lasting ResultsIn Chinese Medicine, acne is considered a heat condition. Heat flares up along the Stomach and Conception Vessel meridians in particular and can combine with dampness along the way creating various break out conditions from redness (acne rosacea) to white heads, black heads and cystic presentations. When you are young and growing, the body is said to be in a “Full Yang” state of constant change. Teenagers experiencing puberty are subject to flare ups of excess yang energy that can manifest as acne. As you age and your Yin declines in particular, you experience Deficient Yin with Yang Rising - essentially, you lose some of your Yin element and the Yin therefore cannot adequately anchor the Yang leading to Yang rising and flaring upward to the head which can cause dryness, combination skin, wrinkling, headaches, hot flashes, night sweats and - again - acne. Chinese Medicine - Acupuncture, Herbs and lifestyle advice - can rebalance the underlying disorder by clearing the local heat as well as tonifying the weak Yin at the root of the problem to stop the cycle allowing the skin to heal. Facial Acupuncture takes a typical Chinese Medicine treatment to the next level by not only treating the body and the underlying condition, but also applying specific facial needling techniques to areas of concern - including common break out areas AND lines and wrinkles at the same time. It is a maximally effective hormone balancing treatment and anti-aging treatment combined. A full 90 minute Facial Acupuncture Session also includes Facial Gua Sha, a focused resculpting massage using a jade or natural horn gua sha (massage) tool which can further disperse excessive Yang Qi (energy) in common break out areas. Learning to do simple Gua Sha on problem areas yourself at home can further increase the success of treatment and give you something simple and effective you can do to decrease breakouts long term on your own. What Happens in a Facial Acupuncture Session? How Long Does It Take to Work?A full facial acupuncture series is 12 treatments over a 9 week period - the first 6 treatments are done 2x/week and the next 6 are done once a week thereafter. Each treatment consists of body acupuncture to treat the general constitution and any underlying conditions present (this part can sometimes be billed to insurance), as well as focused facial acupuncture for your individual acne and anti-aging skin concerns. A facial steam with essential oils is used to soften the skin before facial needles are applied and after the facial needles come out. After the facial needles are removed, 20-30 minutes of Gua Sha resculpting massage are performed and local organic skin oils are applied to the face to heal and preserve the effects of treatment. Mild redness is common immediately after a session and usually fades in 20-30 minutes, just like you’d experience after a classic facial with extractions. Home care is prescribed in some cases, and your skin care regime is reviewed as well to ensure that you are doing everything you can at home to successfully reach your skin care goals. Most people can see a change in their skin after just one treatment, and see big change between treatments 6 to 8. Continued regular treatment for 4-6 weeks thereafter for a full 12 treatment series is recommended to ensure lasting change. The effects from a full course of treatment can often last for 2-5 years depending on your age and your maintenance regime. It is the nature of Chinese Medicine to treat holistically, and Facial Acupuncture is no exception. Facial Acupuncture cannot be performed without treating underlying health concerns, because the energetic channels in the face connect to organ systems and channels that traverse the entire body. As a natural treatment, it takes some time but the results can be visible and lasting for years to come. Facial Acupuncture treats acne as well as redness, extremes of dryness or oiliness, lines and wrinkles, sagging and eye puffiness. It can help locally with sinus congestion too! I cannot say it is miraculous, but I can say with confidence that it is lasting and effective. Questions? Contact Rebecca via email anytime, or book a free 15 minute consultation anytime! You can also post in the comments section and I’ll do my best to address your concerns. Until next time, ~Rebecca When most people think of foot reflexology, they think “relaxing foot massage.” This is absolutely true, but foot reflexology goes quite a bit beyond relaxation and can actually affect change throughout the entire body. In particular, I find in practice that Foot Reflexoloy is especially effective for:
While Acupuncture is my primary treatment method of choice, over the years I have had a number of patients who wanted help with their symptoms but were uncomfortable with needles and therefore came for reflexology treatment alone. The disorders listed above are the ones I have found the most success with when using foot reflexology as a solo method of treatment. My experience has shown me that foot reflexology can heal some of these issues, though when using foot reflexology alone a series of treatments is required for success. I generally recommend for reflexology only treatment, that you should begin with weekly sessions for 6 weeks. To treat PMS with foot reflexology alone can require 8-12 weeks since women only cycle once per month - we have to work regularly through several menstrual cycles to ensure that we are really affecting change through the entire hormonal cascade. As a Licensed Acupuncturist I incorporate foot reflexology into all of my face-up Acupuncture sessions. It is so effective, I feel like it doubles the efficacy of my acupuncture treatments for the disorders listed above, as it can quickly add a powerful 2nd layer of healing to each Acupuncture session. Benefits of Foot Reflexology - Tried and TestedFoot Reflexology is deeply relaxing and has many benefits. A typical session varies from practitioner and practitioner, but at All Ways Well each session includes quiet relaxation on a massage table, a steam towel wrap to relax and warm the feet, focused foot reflexology on all surfaces of the feet - bottom, heel, top, sides, even the toes - as each of these areas have different reflex zones to treat, as well as a lower leg massage both to relax the muscles and fascia which are essential to foot function, and to stimulate the energetic channels that affect the feet.
The benefits of foot reflexology include:
Furthermore, research has shown specific benefits when foot reflexology is used to treat PMS. When treated once a week for 8 weeks, the women who participated in the Oleson and Flocco study in 1993 and received actual reflexology instead of placebo demonstrated significantly greater decrease in PMS symptoms, both somatic (physical) and psychological, and in some cases the results lasted for two months thereafter. According to Chinese foot reflexology theory, which is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, foot reflexology works on several levels. It increases Blood Circulation, it stimulates Nerve and Humoral (lymph, endocrine) Regulation, it energetically balances Qi through the channels of the feet, and it is a microcosm of the body meaning that different applications of pressure in different organ and tissue zones can affect varying degrees of change in those body organs and tissues. A trained foot reflexology practitioner will be able to use specific depths and durations of pressure in different reflex zones to affect specific change in the body. In my ideal world, all of my patients would receive a combination of Acupuncture and Foot Reflexology or focused bodywork to heal most effectively. For those who are not comfortable with Acupuncture (yet?…) Foot Reflexology is an incredibly effective method for healing the body using physical and energetic techniques rooted in the same ancient history as Traditional Chinese Medicine. Questions? Contact Rebecca via email anytime, or book a free 15 minute consultation anytime! You can also post in the comments section and I’ll do my best to address your concerns. Until next time, ~Rebecca #foot reflexology #benefits of foot reflexology #what foot reflexology can heal 17. Treatise on the Importance of the Pulse and the Subtle Skill of its Examination This quote from the Huang Di Nei Jing, or Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic, dates back to the Warring States Period, between 475-221 BCE, almost 3,000 years ago. The speaker is Qi Bo, the Huang Di’s Imperial Physician, and this text is the oldest central cannon of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The gist of this quote? Subtle skill and attentive examination will give you a complete picture of the patient’s overall health. Using the information gathered, you can prescribe a course of treatment to correct imbalances big or small, to restore and maintain health. To be concise, this is a 3,000 year old treatise on Chinese Medicine for Treatment and Prevention. With this teaching from Qi Bo at the heart of Chinese Medicine theory and practice, TCM and has a long history of preventative medicine and proactive treatment for all concerns big and small. Indeed, 3,000 years ago you only paid your Chinese Medicine doctor when you were healthy - not when you were sick! In this way, Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture could be said to represent the oldest HMO in the world! As well as the original Health Coaching Plan. Hmm… Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture diagnosis and treatment are based on a subtle combination of factors that combine to give an overall health picture, not only of the symptoms and effects of your current complaint, but of underlying factors. This is known as the Ben and Biao or the Root and Branch of illness. Sometimes the Ben and Biao can be treated together, sometimes the Biao or Branch needs to be resolved first, and then the Ben or Root of illness can be corrected. In either case, the goal and focus of Acupuncture treatment within Chinese Medicine is not only to make you feel better, but to proactively treat the underlying cause of illness to help you become well and stay that way. Shifting from Reactive Treatment to Proactive TreatmentSlowly but surely there is a shift coming over our culture, from reactive treatment to proactive treatment. In a sense, this is a shift away from the standard course of Western medicine over the past couple centuries where there is a pill for every ill, and towards a more Chinese approach of learning to be more in tune with your body, pursuing regular maintenance care, putting good general health first, and heading off illness at the pass as much as possible. If you think about it, isn’t this what we do to take care of our cars and our homes? Regular oil changes and tune ups, repairing exterior cracks and keeping the roof hale, and we know that if we don’t do these things the car will fail or the roof of our house will leak eventually. Yet we don’t apply this same principle to our bodies and we still expect them to perform. We’ve been trained to the reactive model of healthcare so long that it is a big mental shift to think about investing in regular maintenance care for our bodies. Furthermore, the hubbub and general demands of life and work don’t seem to offer opportunity for self care, or we may feel ashamed like self care is a treat rather than a necessity. Yet it is - self care is a necessity for health, longevity and wellbeing. We can’t ask our bodies to constantly perform without proactively taking care of them. Physiologically, the heart pumps blood to itself before pumping blood to any other organ or tissue, because if the heart isn’t nourished the rest of the system will fail. Your health is the same and you must prioritize it if you want to keep working, living and laughing with your loved ones. Why Should I Care About Preventative Medicine?
What Should I Do To Take Care of Myself?The basics of good health are becoming common knowledge more and more. They include:
Enter 3,000 years of Traditional Chinese Medicine to the rescue! The original HMO and the original Health Coach have lifetimes of information at your disposal. By identifying the Root and Branch of your individual illness or health picture, Chinese Medicine uses Acupuncture to rebalance, de-stress and heal. It can support short term and long term success with proven strategies including individualized nutritional, herbal and dietary recommendations and lifestyle advice. With regular monthly acupuncture treatment once you’ve achieved the level of health and wellness you desire, you will constantly have a partner in your care who can keep you on track physically and energetically to help you stay well. When you do become ill - because it happens to all of us - you will have a guide to help you get better faster, and your body will be better able to heal because the groundwork has been laid for optimal health. In short, Chinese Medicine including Acupuncture is a proven system of preventative medicine and proactive medical treatment. It is safe, natural, effective, gentle and will not only help you heal and stay well, but it will help to empower you as you learn to identify subtle shifts in your physical and energetic health and wellbeing over time leading to a happier healthier you. Are you looking to get well? Get out of pain? Reduce stress and engage in preventative medicine? Acupuncture might be just what you are looking for. Free consultations with Rebecca are always available, can be booked online. #preventativemedicine, #proactivetreatment, #proactivemedicaltreatment Car accidents, whether minor or severe, put significant force and tension through the body. Something as simple as looking straight versus looking right or left when you are hit can be the difference between minor whiplash and severe pain leading to months of migraine headaches. No matter the force or position, its a smart move to get acupuncture treatment immediately to resolve any pain or tension quickly and efficiently, and to lay the groundwork for a successful long term recovery. Furthermore, you actually have a right to acupuncture for auto accident treatment without a referral regardless of your regular health insurance coverage. Your Personal Injury Protection or PIP coverage through your auto insurance will cover up to $15,000 in medical treatment in Oregon, $10,000 in Washington. Acupuncture, Massage and Physical Therapy are all included. If you live outside Oregon or Washington, check with your state transportation department or with your specific insurer to verify benefits. Show Up, Get Treatment, Get Better;At All Ways Well, Rebecca excels in billing insurance for car accident treatment. You know how some people like to say or imply that they “wrote the book” on things sometimes? Well… I actually did. I have been successfully billing insurance and instructing other Acupuncturists in billing insurance since 2006, and in 2010 I actually wrote a book about it! Auto accident acupuncture insurance coverage is a little different from standard health insurance coverage, and I am well familiar with the process including:
Early Treatment = Early Recovery; A Cautionary TaleI had a patient this week who was experiencing back and neck pain that had been creeping up with increased activity and age. The locations of the pain were pinpoint specific areas that had been injured in a minor car accident 20 years before. She’d been in her early 20’s at the time, the injuries were minor and seemed take care of themselves without treatment, but now the pain is back and it surprised her. As she’s aging and trying to maintain her health with exercise, these areas are making themselves known. This is a common story - a minor accident years before, aging sets in, old injuries start to ache. Osteoarthritis, afterall, is degeneration in areas that have experienced more wear and tear over time. Even minor car accidents can predispose certain spots to inflammation and pain when not treated early and aggressively. Acupuncture is an ideal tool to employ in successful and lasting auto accident recovery. It is gentle, effective, works on both energetic and physical levels including directly affecting muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and joints and is proven to increase endorphin release reducing pain, and cause the body to release natural anti-inflammatories. Have questions? Want to know more about auto accident treatment? Click here to read a testimonial from a recent car accident patient, or HERE to book an appointment or consultation now. Its never too early or too late to pursue treatment head off the short and long term affects of auto accident injuries. Until next time, ~Rebecca My earliest and fondest memories of Chinese Medicine are of tea - the thick brown to black stuff my mom used to cook weekly and drink daily to treat her debilitating joint pain and weakness. It made her functional, I honestly believe it saved her life and I couldn’t be more thankful. As a child I delighted in watching her Acupuncturist create this tea to treat illness just for her. I’d watch as leaves, twigs and bug carcasses (mom hated that part, so naturally I loved it…) were carefully weighed, measured and packaged into doses, and our whole house always smelled of that unusual bitter herbal tang. Chinese herbs are like a language all their own and can be used to treat many illnesses - from something simple like a cold to something complex like diabetes, thyroid issues or inflammatory bowel disease. The Chinese pharmacopeia includes ingredients from Magnolia and Mint to Earthworm, Leech and Myrrh. A surprising number of simple herbs found at the grocery store are part of the Chinese Materia Medica, however, and in my humble opinion, the best teas for health are simple remedies that go a long way towards treating common ailments. Here are my 4 favorite herbal home remedies, therefore, to treat Allergies, Common Cold, Digestive Complaints and to enhance overall health. Rebecca's Top Healthy TeasMy favorite teas are healthy, easy and delicious. You can find all of them at the grocery store or, in some cases, online through my Amazon store if needed.
If you’re interested in creating an effective medicinal-tea cabinet, start with these and you can’t go wrong. If you have questions post them in the comments below and I’ll do my best to help you! Until next time, ~Rebecca |
AuthorsRebecca M H Kitzerow is a Licensed Acupuncturist practicing in La Center, Washington. With over a decade of experience she has won 10 Nattie consumer choice awards from Natural Awakenings Magazine since 2014. Archives
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