Essence & Qi

A blog by Pacific College

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Acupuncture practice offers sliding pay scale »

Photo by Matt Born, Star News Online “Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine is not always a quick fix. As it is healing the root of the ailment and not just the symptom, it can take a few sessions,” Linquist said. “I found myself spending far too much time dealing with paperwork in order to be paid by the insurance companies, and was often unable to treat my self-paying clients as effectively as I wanted to due to financial issues.

“I knew there had to be a better way of ensuring that acupuncture was accessible to everyone,” he said.

Six YinOva team members appeared on Dr. Oz earlier this year to discuss auricular acupuncture (acupuncture of the ear). Taken in the green room after the show, this Expert Extra video features those same practitioners - all of whom are PCOM graduates - explaining acupuncture and its benefits in more detail. Enjoy!

Don’t Let Headaches Interfere With Your Life…Chinese Medicine Can Help!

Did you know that more people today complain about headaches than any other type of ailment? There are approximately 45 million Americans suffering from chronic headaches each year, or about one in every six people, according to IHateHeadaches.org, and some of your choice painkillers may actually be triggering MORE headaches (these are known as “rebound headaches,” but we’ll get to those later). image

This month, June, is National Headache Awareness Month, and with headaches mild to severe running rampant across the country, it seems appropriate to look into the different types of headaches that are plaguing people and explore some Chinese medicine treatments that can help.

First key to recognize: not all headaches are the same. Therefore, one treatment method may not be right for treating all types of headaches. There are five main types of headaches classified in Western medicine: Tension headaches, Cluster headaches, Sinus headaches, Rebound headaches, and Migraine headaches.

In Oriental medicine (OM), these classifications don’t exist as much, but instead each individual is diagnosed by what “channel” or “organ” pathology is being affected and thereby causing the headache, according to Dr. Greg Sperber, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine director of clinical services. In OM, a headache has two parts: the root and the branch. The root is whatever is causing the headache, and the branch is the pain itself. Oriental medicine works to treat both the root and the branch, so the result is more long-term, instead of just temporarily relieving the pain.

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10 Common Herbs For Cooking and Healing

You’ll probably recognize most of these spices…they’re pretty common to have in the spice cabinet, but make sure you keep them stocked up.  The healing qualities will transform your spice cabinet into a medicine cabinet as well!

  1. Cayenne - Very powerful herb, known for stimulating the cardiovascular system, can increase blood flow, speed digestion, and also be applied externally to wounds to stop bleeding.
  2. Cinnamon - A great antioxidant, and also helps with digestion and circulation.
  3. Ginger - This one can aid in digestion and also soothe a sore throat and relieve congestion…makes a great tea!
  4. Pepper - Like Cayenne, it boosts energy and circulation, and warms the body.
  5. Cloves - They help soothe mouth pain and kill bacteria.  In tea, they help reduce fevers and can also be applied to burns and skin irritations.
  6. Oregano - A proven immune booster, it can also settle the stomach, fight infection, and be taken in a tea at night to settle the mind for a good night’s sleep.
  7. Basil - It’s known as a sleep aid and can reduce tension and anxiety.
  8. Bay leaves - Another good one for improving digestion.
  9. Sage - It can remedy a cough, aid digestion, act as an antibiotic, and it’s even known to ward off evil spirits…
  10. Garlic - Excellent source of antibiotics and immune booster.

These are just 10, but other good ones include: peppermint, rosemary, thyme, fennel, and turmeric.

My First-Time Acupuncture Experience

Everyone has a different story about why they tried acupuncture for the first time…some of you probably have your own story and some of you may have not tried acupuncture yet, but are curious about what it’s all about.  I thought I’d share my first-time experience with you and get some of your stories too!

A few years back I experienced a painful dance injury.  I tore my meniscus in my left knee.  I tried sports therapy, which helped a bit, but my knee was prone to re-injury and about every 6 - 12 months I would re-injure it and be reliant on crutches for a few weeks.  I was very frustrated and doctors told me that the only option was arthroscopic surgery.

I was very hesitant about surgery, for obvious reasons, and I had heard from other dancers about a Japanese acupuncturist who had treated dancers, famous athletes, and others…I was intrigued.  What did I have to lose?  So I made an appointment.  The first treatment, he used needles and electro-acupuncture…basically hooked the needles up to a machine that sent an electric current through the needles into my knee, to more actively stimulate the points.  As you can see in the picture below of my leg, it looks intense!  But wow were the results amazing!  Before acupuncture, I had not been able to straighten my leg because of swelling, but after one or two treatments, the swelling was completely gone.

The long term effects are what were really incredible.  Instead of re-injuring my knee every few months like I had been…years went by without any issues.  Today, my knee is strong and I would recommend acupuncture to anyone suffering an injury, because there are no side effects, unlike surgery.  Have a story you’d like to share?  Comment below!

It’s The Friday Wrap-Up!

OM in the news this week!  Check it out!

  • Acupuncture to Help Smokers Quit Smoking - from Reuters.  Recent international studies show that acupuncture can be useful as a non-drug treatment for smoking addictions.
  • The Tongue Deciphered - from Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen on OregonLive.com.  The tongue is the only openly visible muscle in the human body. In TCM, doctors  are able to gather data about a person’s health just by looking at his/her tongue!
  • Nine Natural Ways to Love Your Skin - from the Huffington Post.  Several Chinese herbs can be key to treating inflammation and underlying infection in your skin.
  • Acupuncture For Your Pet - from PawNation.com.  Find out how acupuncture can help your pet with arthritis pain, recovery after surgery, and more.  Check it out!

Natural, Relaxing, and Pretty Gift Ideas for Mom

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, so if you haven’t decided on a gift yet (or you forgot it was Mother’s Day…oops) check out these gift ideas every mom will love!

  1. Book her a massage appointment - If you think massages are too expensive, check out the clinic at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine .  Massage styles include: Thai, Tui Na, Shiatsu, and more, and she can choose!  1-hour massages are under $50, so t hey won’t break your check book.
  2. Aromatherapy Candle Set - Not your average candle…each scent offers a different healing quality.  Check out a 3-candle set from Eco Express for $19.99, including: Lavender, Vanilla & Rose, and Orange & Lemongrass.
  3. Natural Jewelry - Check out the L eakey Collection for some beautiful and affordable pieces.  Based in the Rift Valley Kenya, they use natural elements such as fallen wood, grass and porcelain, while protecting the environment and providing economic opportunity to the local communities.