Queen Anne Natural Health

Maternity Leave for Clarissa Helton, L.Ac.

Between the dates of August 18 and December 1,

 

I will be taking a break from acupuncture to recover from delivery and to get to know my new little one.

 

Continuation of your care is important to me. I have arranged for another acupuncturist at Queen Anne Natural Health to take care of my patients while I am away. Kate Townsend, a skilled and experienced acupuncturist, will have access to your file and can continue the treatment that we have begun. With Kate you can seek treatment in a familiar office with access to the same techniques and herbal remedies. I have confidence that this arrangement will offer you the best possible interim care during my absence.

 

After August 18, please contact Kate Townsend to schedule appointments at Queen Anne Natural Health 206-282-5386 or email her at k.t.qanh@gmail.com

 

On December 1st I will be checking my own voicemail again and will begin scheduling at that time.

 

I look forward to seeing you in December!

 

Ten Ways to Good Health

Less Alcohol, More Tea

Less Meat, More Vegetables

Less Salt, More Vinegar

Less Sugar, More Fruit

Less Eating, More Chewing

Less Words, More Action

Less Greed, More Giving

Less Worry, More Sleep

Less Driving, More Walking

Less Anger, More Laughing

Video Showing an Acupuncture Session

I found this video today, and thought it would be nice to share. The video describes and depicts an entire session of acupuncture with some nice descriptions of how it works, and why certain techniques are used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXgVz4ZqAxo

Meet Kate Townsend, Licensed Acupuncturist

Kate Townsend, L.Ac., LMP, began her studies of Chinese medicine, movement awareness and the healing arts in the 1980’s while healing from a traumatic car accident. Over the course of the last twenty-five years she has had the opportunity to study and work with a number of extraordinary healers and practitioners both in China and the U.S.

In 1995, Kate moved to Seattle where she received a Master’s in Acupuncture from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NIAOM) in 1996, and completed her graduate studies in Chinese Herbal Medicine from NIAOM’s Chinese Herbal Certification Program in 1997. Kate also completed an internship at the Chengdu College of Traditional Medicine (Sichuan, China) during which she deepened her studies of Chinese medicine with a number of highly respected experts in her field. 

In addition to maintaining a general practice in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Kate specializes in women’s health, fertility concerns, attunement to seasonal energetics and Qigong (a Chinese energetic movement practice that promotes self-healing). She also skillfully combines the therapeutic aspects of massage and energetic bodywork with acupuncture to help address acute and chronic pain patterns.

Kate has direct experience with the transformational & innate healing power of nature and the body. She enjoys assisting her patients’ with their personal discovery and recovery of vibrant health and spiritual well-being by fostering energetic alignment and deep relaxation through acupuncture, herbs, bodywork & movement practices.

Kate will join QANH beginning on July 1, 2008. She will be available for calls and appointments Mondays to Thursdays, and by appointment on Fridays. Clarissa Helton, Licensed Acupuncturist will remain available on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Welcome Kate!!

Longtime QANH Acupuncturist Bids Us Farewell

Dear Friends and Patients,

It is with much excitement that I am announcing my planned departure from Queen Anne Natural Health for a much needed sabbatical.  After 9 years of practice here I am ready for a break and am pleased that I have found an excellent practitioner who will take over for me.  My time here has been full of many joys and blessings, seeing many of you throughout the years and with many life transitions.  It has been an honor to get to know you all very personally and share in your healing and growth.

 

I would not be comfortable leaving unless I had somebody who I felt I could trust, somebody who possesses both the heart and skills to take my place.  I would like to introduce you to Kate Townsend, Licensed Acupuncturist.  In the next post you will find more information about Kate. 

 

My last day taking appointments will be on June 30^th.  On July 1^st Kate will be in full operation, taking over my insurance contracts and ready to work!  She will have full access to charts so she will be able to continue treatments we have been working on.  Any herbs and supplements I have supplied in the past will still be available for refills, as appropriate. 

  

Wishing the best for each and every one of you, in health and happiness,

Karin Nelson

What is so great about Fish Oil?

The main reason that fish and fish oils are so important is because they contain two fatty acids that do not occur naturally in any foods other than fish.

These fatty acids are called EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Together with ALA (alpha linolenic acid), they are known as omega-3 fatty acids.

They are highest in oily fish such as mackerel, herring, sardine, tuna and salmon.

The average intake of EPA/DHA in the US diet is only 11-20% of the recommended amount.

These two fatty acids from fish oil have been shown in hundreds of studies to be beneficial in a wide spectrum of human health including:

Heart Health

including all types of cardiovascular disease by reducing triglycerides (fat levels) in the blood, reducing VLDL (bad) cholesterol and raising HDL (good) cholesterol, Reducing inflammatory markers, which are now known to be very important in the progression of cardiovascular diseases, and by regulating (smoothing out) the rhythmic beat of the heart.

Arthritis, inflammation and allergy

including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohns disease, seasonal and food allergies, and eczema.

Child Development

both before and after birth. DHA and another fatty acid (arachidonic acid) are essential for the correct development of the fetal brain and mental ability. Neural development and eye function may be adversely affected by inadequate supply. 11% of the weight of the brain is the fatty acid DHA. Supplementing DHA in breast fed or formula fed infants has been shown to increase cognitive function including vocabulary and comprehension in 18 month olds.

Mental alertness, cognitive function and mood

due to the fact that EPA and DHA are the building blocks of neural cells. Those suffering from depression have significantly lower levels of DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids. Populations with higher consumption of fish have lower rates of depression than those with lower consumption. Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly is more common in people with low blood levels of DHA.

 

 

So eat your wild caught fish!! Wild caught fish have a significantly lower levels of metals and other contaminants than farm raised fish. If wild fish is unavailable, or unappealing to you, take a fish oil supplement daily. Be sure you get your oil from a reputable source to ensure purity and high potency. High quality oils are tested for mercury, other heavy metals and PCBs.

 

Since Copper River Salmon is in season right now, I highly recommend splurging and treating yourself to a delicious meal. I made this recipe last night from www.westcoastcooking.com and found it to be outstanding!!

 

Grilled Copper River Salmon with Rhubarb and Ginger Chutney

Very often, West Coast chefs forgo the usual dictums of tradition. Instead of relying on the arsenal of sauces developed over hundreds of years in France and codified a century ago by August Escoffier, we make up our own sauces as the seasons and our own caprice dictate. This can be silly and unfortunate at times, but it can also be revelatory. In one of my fits of regional loyalty, I decided to forgo lemons on my menu because lemons did not grow within a hundred miles of where I lived. To get a tangy counterpoint to rich salmon, I reached instead for the rhubarb growing in my own backyard.  Rhubarb, which is in season at the same time as the coveted Copper River kings has a refreshing astringent quality that compliments this rich seafood beautifully. It has become something of a tradition, at least n kitchens upon which I have had some influence to serve rhubarb with Copper River Salmon. (Serves 4) For the Rhubarb and Ginger Chutney: 2 stalks rhubarb, chopped, (about 2 cups) 1/2 cup crystallized ginger, chopped 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup raspberry vinegar 1 teaspoon salt For the Salmon: 4 filets of Copper River Salmon, or other king salmon, skin removed 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons light olive oil or corn oil 1.) To make the chutney, stir the rhubarb, crystallized ginger, raspberry vinegar and salt in a non-reactive (stainless steel or enameled) saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring until sugar is dissolved and mixture is beginning to boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 6 to 8 minutes, or until rhubarb is very tender and beginning to disintegrate. Chutney may be served at once or kept, covered and refrigerated, for several days. 2.) To grill the salmon, wipe the grill with a cloth dipped in olive oil, or spray it with an oil mister. Position the grill 4 inches above a bed of the glowing coals and wipe it with an oily cloth.  Sprinkle the filets with salt and pepper and rub with oil.   3.) Place the filets, skinned-side up onto the rack and allow them to broil for 5 minutes.  If the oil ignites, cool the flames with a little water splashed from a cup or streamed from a squirt gun.  With a long spatula, turn the filets once and allow them to broil for 5 minutes more. Transfer to a warm platter or serving plates.

 

The Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D is often referred to as the “Sunshine Vitamin” due to the fact that it is manufactured in the skin with UV rays from the sun.  Here in the Pacific Northwest we see such a small amount of sunlight that most people are at least somewhat, if not extremely, deficient in vitamin D. Most milk is fortified with vitamin D, but many people do not drink milk, either due to a dairy sensitivity or possibly because their natural medicine practitioner told them they are too “damp” to tolerate much dairy. Vitamin D is easy to supplement, and is even manufactured in a simple one-a-day chewable.

What does a Vitamin D deficiency look like?

The most obvious sign of deficiency is Rickets, or a bowing of the legs. This level of deficiency is uncommon, but more common problems linked at least in part to vitamin D deficiency include:

Spinal curvature, osteomalacia or osteoporosis

Sciatic Pain

Muscle Spasms, tingling or weakness

Poor tooth structure or Periodontal Disease

Nearsightedness or cataracts

Hearing loss

Depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder

Chronic Pain

High Blood Pressure and Coronary Disease

Schizophrenia

Cancer

Autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis

What are the sources of Vitamin D?

15 minutes of sunshine a day without the use of sunscreen

Animal products such as liver, butter, egg yolks, and fortified milk

Fish liver oils or oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring

Veggies such as mushrooms and green leafies

Supplements

Chrysanthemum Tea for Longevity

Chrysanthemum flowers, or Ju Hua in pin-yin, have a long history of use in Chinese Herbal Medicine as a beverage. The flowers are collected, dried, covered with boiling water, and then strained. The liquid is drunk as a light warm tea; alone or sometimes with sugar added.

The Taoists favored this tea the one to

promote longevity,

although to achieve this benefit the tea must be consumed daily over a long period of time.

There is a poem written by the eighteenth-century painter Zheng Ban-Qiao which reads:

Tasting chrysanthemum tea of old – this flower of longevity!

A man of eighty years picks and sips, assiduous;

Teaching his frosty beard to turn raven black.

 

Chinese Herbalists consider the Ju Hua flower to be one that disperses wind and heat, calms the Liver and clears the eyes. It is used for treating the common cold and for any disorders related to Liver heat or Liver wind, such as blurry vision, spots before the eyes, dizziness, and headaches.

I find this beverage particularly useful for conditions in which there is a sudden onset of heat in the body, such as for hot flashes or excessive sweating. It is calming and cooling in the moment, and over time.

Chrysanthemum tea might be prescribed by your herbalist, but it is also a safe and tasty non-caffeinated drink for anyone to consume during the warm summer months.

The flowers can be bought in bulk and steeped in the traditional way, or a box of powdered chrysanthemum tea with sugar is sold in individual dosage packages.

 

 

 

When a Baby is Breech

Near the end of pregnancy, when the due date begins to loom, most babies will position themselves head down and facing the mother’s back. This is the ideal position for labor and delivery. When a baby is in this position the head descends and puts pressure on the mother’s cervix which helps initiate labor and leads to effective, productive contractions during labor. This position is also ideal for the descent of the baby through the birth canal and out into the world.

While turning head down is the norm, not all babies move into this position on their own. Giving birth to a breech baby who is butt down or feet down is possible, but it carries a higher risk to the baby and mother and most care providers are not willing to do it.

There are two choices in Western medicine when it comes to breech babies. One is to attempt a manual version from the outside. The midwife or OB will use their hands on the outside of the mother’s abdomen to try and turn the baby into the ideal position. This is done with the aid of an ultrasound machine while the heart rate of both baby and mother are monitored closely. It is not without risk and not all practitioners are willing to perform this technique. Some women find it to be painful and opt out of trying it. The second choice, when manual version is not an option, or is undesired, is to schedule a cesarean section.

Chinese medicine offers another option. 

There is a simple technique that can be quite successful if applied correctly and daily within a specific time period.

Moxibustion is applied to the point Zhiyin (BL-67) on both feet for 15 minutes every day.

A practitioner of Chinese Medicine can perform the technique once, showing the woman and a partner how it is done, and then the woman can have it done at home every day for up to 5 days. After 5 days, the pregnant woman should be checked to see if the baby has in fact turned. If not, another 5 days of moxa can be applied.

The ideal week of gestation for applying moxa is week 34, but anywhere between 30 and 38 can be done. If it is applied too early, the baby may turn back into the breech position, while attempting too late may not be successful if the baby doesn’t have enough amniotic fluid or room to make the move.

There have been several studies performed testing the efficacy of this technique. The success rates vary from 60% to 80% success, depending on the study. Most of these studies also conclude that the 34^th week of pregnancy is the ideal time to perform moxibustion for turning breech babies.

I have personally seen this technique succeed and feel that it is usually worth trying when cesarean section is the only other option. 

When our Children Suffer from Illness

Children bring us such joy. Watching them play, learn, and drink in life with such zeal is a benefit to our heart qi. It is so painful for us to see them sick. As a mother, I have found this to be true, and I have seen it in the parents of my pediatric patients.

Children Can Benefit from Chinese Medicine

When our children suffer, there is no reason we can't help them with acupuncture and herbs. Children's bodies change so fast, they respond quickly to treatment and require very little to step onto the road to recovery. With small children, needles are inserted and removed quickly. There is no need to retain needles for the usual 20-30 minutes, since the qi of children is so close to the surface and very accessible. In addition to this quick needling technique, medical massage, called Tui Na, and acupressure can be used, particularly when a child is afraid of the needles. I have found that parents tend to be more worried than their children about having needles inserted. Children are usually more curious than anything, but will pick up on the fear of their parents and then decide they do not want to be needled. When this happens, acupressure and massage techniques can still be very effective.

Herbal medicine is as safe for our children as it is for us. There are a few companies making Chinese Herbal formulas in liquid form specifically for children. These are easy to administer, either directly into the mouth with a quick squirt, or mixed in with drinks or soft foods such as yogurt or oatmeal. My own daughter takes hers directly into her mouth without complaint, but as the daughter of an herbalist, she has had many years to get used to the taste of chinese medicinals. With older children, the same herbal pills that we take ourselves can be given in smaller doses.*

Moxibustion is another technique that is very useful for children. Even newborns can benefit from a little moxa to warm the belly and aid in digestion.

What Pediatric Disorders Does Chinese Medicine Treat?

Children suffer from some of the same disorders that adults do. There are also some things to which children are more prone and below is a list of the most commonly seen things in the pediatric Chinese Medicine clinic.

Colds, Flus, Allergies

Ear Infections

Skin rashes, viral, eczema, or acne

Constipation, Diarrhea, Vomiting or Gas

Acid Reflux

Failure to Thrive, Low appetite

Insomnia, or Night Terrors

Irritability or Agitation, Anxiety

ADHD

Asthma

Headaches

Cough

Sinus Infections

Menstrual Irregularities

Depression

*Always seek the advice of a trained herbalist before administering herbs to children.