Its National Psoriasis Awareness Month, hooray!  And I've definitely found that people don't often realize that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can be an effective treatment for this condition.  Did you know?

The video above doesn't get into the details of diagnosis and treatment, but it is a nice little into to what the beginnings of an acupuncture treatment for this condition might look like, and a good reminder about that hallmark of Chinese Medicine - syndrome differentiation.  Namely, that everyone presents with their own unique set of signs and symptoms associated with any given condition and that each individual will therefore be treated individually and uniquely.  There may be some general guidelines or points that are commonly recommended for any given illness, but since different people with the same illness will have different tongue and pulse pictures and other associated symptoms, their energetic diagnosis and treatment will therefore be unique.

But enough about that - Psoriasis is our topic of the day!

In Chinese Medicine all skin conditions have a connection to the Lung meridian, so they often go hand in hand with things like asthma, allergies and acne and thanks to the magic of energetic medicine, these things can therefore be treated concurrently.  The Lungs also receive their energy from the Spleen (read "digestion") so digestive issues are also commonly seen in combination with psoriasis and other skin conditions.  This means that diet and lifestyle are important factors to look at as part of an overall treatment plan.

Blood heat is also a common underlying energetic cause or factor, and when you add in the Spleen/digestive connection, hot and spicy foods are often found to be aggravating.  Avoidance of these foods is recommended during a flare up in particular.

Also associated with psoriasis can be joint pain in the case of psoriatic arthritis and I have to say that this is a place where acupuncture really shines as a treatment.  Electro acupuncture in particular has been well researched for the treatment of joint pain, especially knee pain, and when you combine the western scientifically verified endorphin and anti-inflammatory release associated with electro acupuncture, with the energetic benefits of meridian balancing associated with all acupuncture, the effect can be pretty amazing over time.

A course of treatment is recommended - as a natural method of health care acupuncture and Chinese Medicine work with the body's natural rhythms  so it can take time to create change - but an average course of treatment in my clinic is 6 treatments over a 6 week period.  Generally noticeable results begin to be seen after 2 treatments, if not immediately, but creating lasting change takes time.  The longer you have suffered from a condition, the longer it can take to treat as well, so if you have suffered for many years you can expect several months of treatment before it is recommended to reassess success and re-evaluate your treatment plan.  If your condition is chronic you may also want to plan regular acupuncture tune ups into your wellness plan every 4 to 6 weeks once your symptoms are under control to keep flare ups at bay.

I also always recommend topical castor oil to all of my patients with psoriasis and eczema.  With the soothing emollients and the natural anti-inflammatory effect inherent to this compound, it is an excellent topical treatment for these kinds of skin conditions.  Its a little sticky, so I generally recommend using it at night and letting it soak in while you sleep.  After a couple weeks of daily use, the effect can be drastic from this alone.

If you're interested in learning more please don't hesitate to contact me or book an appointment or consultation online any time.  Chinese Medicine has over 3,000 years of experience behind it in treating a variety of conditions, including many things you might not think of when you hear the word "acupuncture" so if you aren't sure what may or may not be helped by this natural, gentle and effective medicine, please don't hesitate to drop me a line and ask!

Until next time,
~Rebecca

Chinese Medicine has a long history treating women's health and fertility, as you may be aware.  I happened to stumble on this "oldie but goodie" from the Ricki Lake show - a brief spot with Dr. Mao.  Dr. Mao is one of my favorite Chinese Medicine authors because his books are very simple and make Chinese Medicine lifestyle, philosophies and tips accessible to the wider population.

There's quite a bit of research on Chinese Medicine and fertility, especially Acupuncture in conjunction with IVF for improving success rates.  Ultimately, whether you are coming in for fertility, pain, women's health, menstrual irregularity, fatigue or anything else a strong emphasis will be placed on health basics from a Chinese Medicine perspective - balancing your Qi to remove whatever imbalance is causing your symptoms and then stabilizing your Qi to strengthen your constitution long term.  The result of this is decreased symptoms, decreased stress and inflammation and increased wellness overall towards a healthier happier you.

Sounds good, right?  Right!  Go Team Chinese Medicine!

I am very excited to announce that my husband, Brian Kitzerow, DPT, is now working at Goodell PT in SW Portland and is accepting new patients!  We are very excited that he is working in an outpatient setting and that we can share referrals now.  I was so excited that I had to blog about it, and I can't wait to see what our collaborations bring for our patients.

With a strong background in biochemistry, a long history of physical activity including soccer, track & field and martial arts, he has the education and experience to excel in his work and I can tell you that he does.  He has a special interest in chronic and neuropathic pain and is enjoying working with ESD patients in particular - a specialty at Goodell.  ESD stands for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, an inherited connective tissue disorder, so if you know anyone with chronic pain, EDS, neuropathic pain or someone who has been in a car accident lately, please think of sending them his way with Rebecca's double thumbs up.

I also have to share that I believe the combination of Acupuncture and Physical Therapy can be pretty amazing.  It can be difficult to commit to so much regular treatment, I understand that (from experience), but if you can commit to the time required to combine therapies, your results will be accelerated and longer lasting.

Acupuncture can straighten out your energetic system, decrease stress and pain, and re-habituate your body to a state of balance.  Physical Therapy will balance the body physically, improve strength and flexibility, and give you the tools you need to heal and continue your preferred activity level without incurring new injury.  Its a winning combination because the two approaches are just the right amount of different and complementary.

I feel like a personal testament to this powerful combination because while you may not think it to look at me, I've had a lot of injury in my life.  I've had tendonitis, bursitis, meniscus frays and tears, ACL tear and knee surgery, piriformis syndrome, dislocations, subluxations, back spasms and a motor vehicle accident.  I'm one of those people that dreads filling out new medical forms because there is never enough room for all my injuries on there and because the doctor usually gawks at my list.  

This long list, however, means I am very well acquainted with pain and pain treatments experientially and professionally, and I have no problem sharing that my best results have come from combining Acupuncture and Physical Therapy. That is why I am so excited to be able to refer patients to my husband in this setting because I know he is top notch and an excellent physical diagnostician.  That is also why I often recommend Physical Therapy - its effective, covered by insurance, and gives YOU tools that you can take home with you and apply to the way you use your body for years to come.

So with this note, please welcome my husband to the world of outpatient clinics, and if you have a physical therapy need or know someone who does think about sending them his way!

Until next time,
~Rebecca