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Type
of
Conditions
Treated Relief
of
pain
from
musculoskeletal
or
neurological
conditions; Assisting
healing and recovery
after illness, surgery, or trauma; Chronic or disabling migraine
headaches; Menstrual
and menopausal conditions; Long-term chronic conditions that are
becoming
progressively worse or intermittently severe; Endocrine
disorders,
such
as
diabetes
or
thyroid
problems,
where
the
primary condition is being monitored by a Western-trained physician; Cancer where there are
specific treatment
goals other than cure (e.g., decrease of pain; reduction of side
effects of
radiation and chemotherapy; lessening of edema; palliative treatment of
associated conditions.) I do not
treat
infertility, ALS, or senile dementia. My
Philosophy
of
Healing Sometimes
the wisest course
is to provide no treatment, rely upon natural processes, and wait for
bodily
systems to normalize. The
patients I
generally see, however, require specific treatments because they are in
pain or
their body is not able to resolve the problem condition without
assistance. Even
so, especially in circumstances
requiring aggressive treatment, I still hold the thought that the body
is the
true healer, not me.
My
training
was
at
the
American
College
of
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine
in San Francisco where I received a
master’s degree
in Chinese Medicine (1997). I
have
current board certifications in Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture, and
Chinese
Herbology by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and
Oriental
Medicine. I also
have certifications in
Chinese tui na bodywork (ACTCM),
Physical Rehabilitation Training (SPARTA), and biofeedback (HBC). I am licensed to practice
acupuncture and
Oriental medicine in Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. I also have BA, MS, and
PhD degrees in
subjects not directly related to Oriental medicine. Initial
and
Subsequent
Appointments The
initial
appointment
consists
of
discussing
the
complaint
that
brought
you
in, reviewing your prior medical history,
and
conducting a physical examination appropriate for the situation. I then explain my findings
and make recommendations
for treatment. I
also discuss forms of
treatment other than those recommended so that you can make a reasoned
decision
about how to proceed. Usually,
this
initial process takes between ten minutes and one half hour. A treatment usually
follows the initial
interview.
Acupuncture
is
the
insertion
of
very
thin
needles
under
the
skin
surface or into muscles. The
needles
are
sterile,
used
only once, then
discarded. The
number of needles used may range from one
to several, with four to six being average. There
may
be
various
sensations
felt
with
needle
insertion,
however that
sensation generally is not pain. Acupressure
is
the
application
of
pressure,
force,
or
stretching
at
a
specific point or points on the body or along
the
course of tissue or muscle. This
is not
the same as massage. Acupressure
has the
same diagnostics and therapeutic goals as acupuncture, and is generally
used in
conjunction with needle therapy. Electro-acupuncture is the application of a very
minute electrical current to needles; it is used for specific types of
nerve,
muscle, or pain conditions. Electro-therapy is the application of
electricity to the skin surface using electrodes or pads to achieve
muscle
relaxation and pain relief. There
is a very
slight sensation involved.
This
is
a
difficult
question
and
one
that
is
discussed
during
the initial interview. Therapeutic
success
depends
upon
treatment
goals,
how
long a condition
has been present and its severity, your underlying health, and response
to
treatment. My style
is to group
treatments close together, then to take a break and observe. Generally, this allows the
body to adjust to
improvements brought about by treatment and often results in a fewer
total
number of treatments being required. In
most cases, my recommendation is to evaluate progress after three
treatments.
Oriental
medicine
uses
herbs
combined
into
specific
formulae. This is a
very sophisticated and
powerful system of medicine completely separate from acupuncture,
although the
two are often used at the same time. In
some cases, herbs are the treatment of choice. Depending
upon
the
condition
being
treated,
I
may
recommend
that you
take herbs in the form of pills, tinctures, water-soluble powders, or
raw bulk
herbs that are boiled. Purity
and safety
of the plant materials is always considered, with organic products
being used
whenever possible.
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