She was born in China, and when she came to the United States later in life, she worked in a factory for Hewlett Packard. It was here that she began treating her co-workers out of her house, and was eventually arrested. Circle Community Acupuncture writes about important this event in their blog:

“In 1974 Miriam Lee was arrested for practicing medicine without a license. Her patient’s filled the courthouse at her hearing, and demanded to have the right to receive acupuncture. Many of them had found relief from long-standing chronic complaints, and were angered that this was being taken away from them. Miriam Lee had offered them compassion and health, and now they came to her defense. Thanks to this public outcry, acupuncture was declared an “experimental procedure” and Miriam Lee was granted the right to see patients at San Francisco University. In 1976, acupuncture was legalized in California.”

We have gone from an “experimental procedure” to being recommended by doctors. It has certainly been a long road for the pioneering acupuncture practitioners.  Because of Miriam Lee’s refusal to stop treating those in need, acupuncture practitioners are now allowed to work with patients in the US. Those of us who have reaped the benefits of receiving acupuncture have her to thank. She will be a missed presence in the thousands of lives she has healed and changed.

acupuncture needles by howaye

An article in the New York Times titled “Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes” discusses the use of progesterone creams for symptoms stemming from menopause. Hot flashes, weight gain, memory loss, fatigue, and irritability are often associated when women begin menopause.For some, these symptoms are manageable, but others will need more care, and more women are turning to alternatives. The article states:

“Gynecologists estimate that a third of women seeking treatment for menopausal symptoms are on conventional prescription hormones. Another third are on prescription bio-identical therapy. (Bio-identical hormones are synthesized compounds that mimic the molecular structure of human hormones and are derived from plants). The remaining third either tough it out, are not bothered by symptoms or are searching for over-the-counter therapies, including natural supplements and topical creams. They may try, for example, a supplement of phytoestrogens derived from soy and red clover, a low-dose progesterone cream, or swear by black cohosh capsules.”

While these therapies do help with symptoms, Chinese medicine practitioners believe that in order to treat these symptoms, we need to treat the root cause of the body’s imbalance. Using diagnostic techniques (such as checking the pulse, looking at the tongue, and interviewing the patient), help us treat according to individual patient diagnosis. By using acupuncture points according to this diagnosis, we treat the reason the symptoms are occurring instead of masking them.

Acupuncture treatments for menopause related symptoms will involve weekly treatments for 4-6 weeks, and patients will often be prescribed herbal remedies (also according to diagnosis). There are often Western herbs that practitioners use in the herbal formulas, so it is important to tell your practitioner if you are using an estrogen patch, progesterone creams, or any other remedies prescripbed by an MD or self-prescribed.

Photo by ndosborn

I recently came across the photo of Gwyneth Paltrow that created quite a scandal a few years ago. Ms. Paltrow wore a dress that exposed her freshly cupped back when she walked down the red carpet, which shocked  members of the media who, at that time, were oblivious to the wonderful treatment that is cupping. As odd as many found it, the fascination with the octupus-suction-cup marks seemed to have sparked a fascination with Chinese medicine and alternative healing in Hollywood and beyond.

Since that time, Ms. Paltrow started a newsletter called GOOP and devoted an entire article to the healing modalities of  acupuncture, cupping, and Su Jeok therapy (also known as Korean hand acupuncture therapy). It’s great to see how many people are recognizing this amazing healing technique and sharing it in all ways possible.

Gwyneth writes:

One day, when being treated by an acupuncturist, a Spanish friend who was visiting me in London walked into the room and remarked that I looked like a bull who’d had a run in with the picadores (the dudes on horseback who stick the bull with many little knives to rile him up before the actual fight). I assured her that although I was stuck with needles, I was faring far better than the bull would in the analogous scenario. In fact, those many little needles have helped me through many an ailment. Eastern medicine has a different approach than Western medicine – it’s more holistic. The root of the problem is addressed, as opposed to a symptom being attended to with prescription medication, only to return. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful as hell for a round of antibiotics or surgery when necessary, but I have been helped tremendously by all of the practices below that help the body heal itself. When implemented by a professional with experience, the benefits can work wonders.

You can read the rest of the GOOP article here!

Liz Richards, LAc, opened the doors to beautiful Blossom Clinic in June.

Where did you come up with the name “Blossom”?
The name blossom came to me one night as I was explaining my vision for a clinic to my husband.  It just felt right. I love the idea of something growing and blossoming from the deep ground up.  Every one of us has the potential to be whatever we dream of being.  It is my job to facilitate that growth help people move through change as gracefully as possible. I work hard to set up a good foundation for treatment and then solidify a plan for the future.  It is hard work to break that ground but once that crack is formed, anything is possible.

Blossom also has a special connotation to me personally as a women’s heath practitioner.  Being a woman is all about transformation and growth.  I primarily see patients who are pregnant or trying to conceive. It is an honor to see my female fertility patients get pregnant, bloom into pregnancy, and then grow as a parent.

What types of treatments are offered at Blossom clinic?
Right now Blossom Clinic is providing Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, Massage, Amma Therapy (Asian Bodywork), and Nutrition consultations.  It is my goal as owner of Blossom to provide the best care within the context of womens health, reproductive health,  and family healthcare.  Whether you are interested in a relaxing massage of an invigorating one, Blossom can provide that.  Interested in doing a cleanse or learning more about foods that are good for you? We would love to chat with you.
The practitioners at Blossom are some of the best in their fields so when you come here, you know that you will be well taken care of.  Each practitioner at Blossom owns their own business and has their own area of specialty.  Blossom is their umbrella, and we are here to help them with the business ends of things so that they can focus on their patients 100%. We offer free phone or in-house consultations and refer patients regularly if we believe we do not have an acupuncturist, practitioner, or massage therapist who is the right fit for you.

Can you tell us about Blossom Blog?
I love Blossom Blog, partially because  I created it all by myself and it is a creative outlet for me.  It is not perfect but I figure if I can reach just one person a day and help them, then I have done my job.  One of my favorite blogs is one in which I interview a mom who had her twins vaginally.  I have had such great feedback about how this helped people realize that they can establish their birth preferences without going straight towards scheduling a C-section. I personally had a c-section and a vaginal birth, and I know that when it comes to labor and delivery, things do not always go as planned.

My goal is not to tell people what is right and wrong, but to empower people and provide food for thought. I love answering the Frequenly Asked Questions about acupuncture and fertility, and I hope to catch people before they are far on the road of trying to conceive.  I think acupuncture in conjunction Assisted Reproductive Technology and on the day of IVF embryo transfer is also very important.

You can find Liz at Blossom Clinic:

Monday- Friday 9-5
Saturday 9-2
3531 NE 15th Avenue, Suite A
Portland, Oregon 97212
503.287.0886
www.blossomclinic.net
www.blossomclinic.wordpress.com

Pregnant Belly by kellyandapril

There are many reasons a woman maybe feeling stressed during her pregnancy. It’s a time of change and growth within your body and withing your community. With these changes (not to mention hormones) may come added stress and anxiety about the health of the baby, relationships with family members, and the birth of the child. Using acupuncture is a drug-free method to help with your ever-changing emotions and other conditions that you may encounter during pregnancy (see previous post).

This article from Pregnancy Today is a great resource for mothers-to-be who may be nervous about trying acupuncture for symptom relief. Read the sections about a successful induction, a case where acupuncture stopped postpartum bleeding using a single acupoint, and how acupuncture can help with postpartum care.

Acupuncture can help you to enjoy a happy and healthy pregnancy, so be sure to find someone who is right for you, and who you are comfortable with. For a list of questions to ask when looking for a practitioner, read Acupuncture Health blogs post- ‘Choosing the Right Acupuncturist.‘

The Chinese Medicine Times recently reviewed a study of acupuncture for symptoms of heartburn in pregnant women with positive results. The outcome of of treating 36 women – half with the standard treatment (medication and dietary advice), and half with acupuncture.  Those receiving acupuncture were treated once or twice a week with drastically reduced symptoms.

The reason heartburn occurs in pregnancy is due to the hormone changes, mainly pregesterone, a hormone produces by the placenta. Progesterone relaxes the smooth muscle of the uterus, but is also relaxes the sphinter that keeps stomach acid out of your esophagus. The growing baby also pushes stomach acid back up where it wasn’t before. Even women who have never experienced heartburn may feel uncomfortable during pregnancy.

Besides treating heartburn, there is a long list of conditions acupuncture can treat during pregnancy (fatigue, morning sickness, and constipation to name a few). I recommend reading the article by Naomi Rabinowitz, Dipl.Ac., at acufinder.com. to read her views on how to treat these symptoms. It’s also important to find a pracitioner who is comfortable treating pregnant women, check out tcmdirectory.com or acufinder.com.

“Tui” means pushing, and “Na” means grasping. Tuina is a form of massage used by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners that is closer to a deep-tissue massage than Shiatsu. It is used in order to help relax the tendons and muscles, while opening the channels that flow through the body. Tuina is helpful with increasing blood circulation to alleviate pain, relieving muscle spasms, and gently breaking up adhesions in the muscles and scar tissue.

Photo by oregonianphoto

Seeing that I am an Oregon native, I was surprised to hear of a Chinese medicine apothecary in Eastern Oregon that I didn’t know about (I’m usually up on these things…). The herbal clinic, which has been restored and is now a museum called Kam Wah Chung, where Ing “Doc” Hay had his herbal clinic. Ing Hay left John Day in the early 1900’s, but left behind his various Chinese medicine tinctures, herbs, and tools he used to distribute the herbal remedies.

Watch the video of how this clinic came to be in John Day at the Oregon Public Broadcasting website – I am amazed at how well this herbalist worked the ancient medicine, and how the people of John Day appreciated him and his medicine. You can also read about it here.

Photo by Fernando Gregory

Smoking is an addictive habit for 43.4 million adults in the United States. That’s a lot of people, and even more that are affected by the habit just by spending time with smokers. Even with the constant ads to stop smoking, warnings on cigarette packs, and several state laws that ban smoking, the numbers aren’t decreasing fast enough. The most difficult idea to comprehend is how much smoking affects not only the body of the smoker, but those they love. There are over 440, o00 deaths per per year that are related to smoking, not including the affects of secondhand smoke (check the CDC report for more information).

There is a protocol used when treating addiction that was developed several years ago, and has been proven to help with additions. This five-point auricular protocol is the Heart/Lung, Kidney, Sympathetic, Liver, and Shen Men (spirit) points. Together they rid the body of toxins, calm the mind, and help clear out the lungs, and help stop cravings. Often ear seeds are used at the points the needles were placed in to continue the effects.

A patient will be given handouts with ideas on how to quit the physical habit of smoking, and information on how to find a smoking cessation support group.  Our clinic also has herbal formulas such as EasePlus, which helps with digestion and elimination, a large part of removing toxins from the body. Getting rid of the pollution in the body gives you more time and energy to develop healthier habits and an improved lifestyle.

Watch the video below for a smoking cessation treatment.

A very interesting and informative discussion about the bill that will allow Naturopathic doctors (ND) to prescribe synthetic drugs is on OPB’s “Think Out Loud” program. It aired today (June 16, 2009) from 9-10 AM. The title of this program is “Natural Medicine?” and there are two ND’s (Dr. Igor Schwartzman and Dr. Mitch Stargrove)who give their opinion on this bill and how it will affect their practice.

Check out the article here , and be sure to listen to the show!