Who would have guessed!? A couple of weeks ago, with the fall chills upon us, I wanted warming comfort foods. Just getting back from my acupuncture shift at the clinic, my family was hungry and I didn’t have much in the kitchen to cook for dinner—- except brown bananas and flour… Hmmm, what could I cook as a main dish to go with the banana bread? I first thought of sweeter soups, but decided to google the question “What soups go good with banana bread?” Black bean soup popped up! “Really?!” I thought.. Well let me tell you, when all was said and done in 20 minutes or less, the combination of black beans and bananas was like chocolate and heaven! Click here to see the recipe . I added 1 can of red kidney beans to my soup because I thought it needed a little more thickening, and I always do add the walnuts to my banana bread. Enjoy!
Free Group Acupuncture Event for Red Cross in Portland, Friday March 25th from 5-8pm at An Sen Acupuncture and Massage Clinic in the Olympic Mills Commerce Center.
Come experience group Acupuncture, and for those of you who have ever wondered about acupuncture, this event is a great way to balance your qi (energy) all while supporting a worthy cause
Especially during the aftermaths of traumatic events, Group Acupuncture is a wonderful way to connect with others while helping maintain your own internal equilibrium.
Open to the public by optional donation, all proceeds go to the Red Cross-Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief programs. If you cannot attend but would like to make a donation you can send a check to: Red Cross, PO Box 4125, Portland OR 97208-4125 or deliver them in person to 3131 N Vancouver Ave in Portland.
We can’t help but think about the Heart on Valentines Day. In Chinese Medicine the heart is one of the 12 organs “or officials” that can be tapped into by stimulating acupuncture points. These acupuncture points can help the imbalanced heart in duress. They in essence can “jumpstart” the journey with your heart’s wellness. The heart is one of the “Fire” Organs in Chinese Medicine and is given the name “Supreme Controller” or “Emperor”. It’s energy is of great importance, and it’s spirit commands order over the rest of the body and officials, thus the spirit our lives. The heart is the seat of our feelings. On an emotional, spiritual level- the heart brings joy, warmth, connection, passion and our deepest loves. It is what connects us on the deepest levels to our own being and to our relationships with others. On a physical level, the heart circulates blood and warmth to the rest of the body and all of the organs. The physical aspects of our heart can affect the emotional aspects of our self and vice versa. When our spirit is low, and we are unhappy, joy is harder to access, maybe we can’t sleep, our chests feel tight, our blood pressure is either high or low, we experience palpitations, and generally look unwell.
In order to make connections and give love to others our heart and other “Fire” officials must be in balance. In order to give love, we must also receive. What is the state of your heart this Valentines Day? How is the relationship with yourself and with your partner or friends? If the answer to the relationship question is “not so good”, it may be time to connect with your own heart first. Have YOU connected with your heart recently? Done something that brings YOU joy? Sat quietly and felt your heartbeat? Is it rhythmic? Or is it stressed and erratic? When we are in balance, the connection in our relationships will come easy, joy and love will flow inward and outward, the heartbeat will feel smooth. WIshing you a “Peaceful Heart” this Valentines Day.
*My insights to the Heart comes from my clinical practice and the writings of Professor JR Worsley.
Valentines Day Portland Style Get a Massage Here
We’ve got a wonderful selection of massages for the Portland bound Love Birds this Valentines Day.
Bring love and joy into the heart of that special someone or treat yourself! Enjoy a simple and beautiful Valentines Day at An Sen Clinic! We will incorporate into each treatment: a candlelit room with custom blend love potion aromatherapy oils, followed by our love potion tea and chocolates.
Swedish or Deep Tissue Massage
1hr: $70
1.5 hr $95
1.5 hr couples: $190 Acupuncture and Massage Combination:
1hr 15min: $87.50
*Gift Certificates Available
Our Portland Acupuncture Facebook Page
Just Launched our Facebook Page, where we share the latest wellness tips, advances in Acupunture and clinic events. Become a Fan by Valentines Day and we will show the love by giving all our fans a Gift of our Fire Element Aromatherapy Bath Salts, Stop by our Clinic in SE Portland to pick up your gift.
“A must see, teary eyed, deep and happy eye opener.”
By Alysia Anderson L.Ac, M.Ac.OM Acupuncturist with An Sen Acupuncture and Massage Portland Oregon
Last night I had the opportunity to see the documentary 9000 Needles at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR. My friend and colleague Betsy Platt invited me along. The room was filled with many fellow acupuncturists. The vibe I felt was “ ahhh, Finally…some media to show the power of our medicine!
Acupuncturist Betsy Platt and Alysia Anderson at the Screening for 9000 Needles
The movie was about a man, bodybuilder in particular, who suffered a stroke and went numb and limp on his entire right side. This documentary takes us through his journey with western medicine and physical therapy, and the American insurance companies failure to provide long term support for his condition-leaving his wife and family to find alternatives both for monetary reasons and hope that his condition might improve.
He was able to lift his right leg (something he had never been able to do before) and what I noticed in particular, was the tremendous clarity in his vision!
The film documented the amazing results and milestones achieved using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in combination with Western Physical Therapy and sincere care from the heart by staff, family and friends. This- we call good “Qi”, or energy. The documentary only left me wondering….., what more improvements may he have had if he received Acupuncture stroke protocols DIRECTLY following his stroke, and FOLLOW UP acupuncture treatments upon leaving China. ?!”…I also felt an emotional heart, for when I was a teenager, my grandmother suffered from a stroke, and I always think about her and what I would have been able to do for her had I already been an acupuncturist at the time.
Oregon Law provides 15k of benefits including Acupuncture and Massage Therapy to anyone (Driver, Passenger, Pedestrian, Bicyclist,) injured in an automobile accident. It does not matter if it is your fault as Oregon is a no fault state. Washington also provides similar benefits to their residents.
Personal Injury Protection PIP will cover all acupuncture and massage treatments at no cost to you under your or their automobile insurance. An Sen can handle all billing and paperwork making it easy and painless to get treatment.
Acupuncture and massage treatment can help:
Promote faster healing time
Reduce pain
Increase mobility and reduce stress
If you have been injured in an accident in Oregon or Washington and would be interested in receiving Acupuncture or Massage care please call us at 503 236 6633
As the end of November nears we begin to transition from autumn into winter. Some of the oldest Chinese medical texts suggested thousands of years ago that humans should live in harmony with the natural cycle of the seasons. After the warmer seasons that are full of activity, now is the time to honor slowing and quieting down, to reflect inwardly, and to rest and conserve energy so that we may be replenished and recharged instead of burned out when the spring returns. Just as the leaves fall off the trees and the roots store the essential nutrients needed for re-growth in the spring, we can shed unwanted layers, getting rid of that which does not serve us anymore, while grounding into and cultivating the positive and healthy aspects of our being.
The complex system and framework of diagnosis and treatment within Chinese medicine emerged from a holistic understanding of the universe through observation of patterns and movements in nature that create balance and flow. These are also present within human beings who are inseparable from nature. When there is balance, there is health and a sense of thriving; when there is imbalance, there is discomfort and sometimes illness and disease. Prevention of imbalance is a core principle of Chinese medicine. The goal of treatment is to maintain or bring back balance in order to restore the healthy functioning of the entire system.
The two most essential theories within Chinese medicine as well as Chinese culture and philosophy are yin-yang theory and five-element theory. Both theories are ways of explaining and reflecting upon all natural phenomena in the universe. Yin-yang theory holds that present within everything in nature are two opposing but interconnected aspects that are relative to one another. The original meaning of yin is the side of the mountain turned away from the sun, or the shady side; while yang (pronounced yon) is the side of the mountain facing the sun, or the sunny side. Yin represents darkness, nighttime, cold, winter, passivity, interior, downwards, storage and stillness while respectively yang represents brightness, daytime, heat, summer, activity, exterior, upwards, action and movement. Five-element theory explains the relationships between wood, fire, earth, metal and water—all thought to be the basic constituents of the universe. It holds that all phenomena in nature can be categorized into these elements.
As fall transitions into winter and the days grow shorter and colder, yang moves into yin. Winter is the most yin time of the year. According to Chinese medicine, the metal element corresponds to autumn, harvesting, the Lung and Large Intestine organs, the nose, skin and body hair, grief as well as awe and inspiration; while the water element corresponds to winter, storing, the Kidney and Bladder organs, the ears, bones and head hair, fear as well as courage and ambition. The Lungs help distribute Wei Qi, the defensive energy, to the surface of the body to ward off colds and flus, while the Kidneys store our source Qi, our most dense core strength and will-power. The Kidneys help anchor down the pure air we breathe in through the Lungs to be used as vital energy to support all the systems of the body.
During this time of introspection and consolidation, it is important we recharge our batteries and cultivate personal practices of a healthy diet, exercise, and getting enough sleep and relaxation. Try setting attainable changes that will make you feel better to increase energy, focus and suppleness while decreasing pain, fatigue and stress. Regular acupuncture, massage and herbal medicine can help boost immunity as well as fight off something already present. Particularly at the initial onset of a cold or flu- acupuncture and antiviral/antibacterial herbs can quell a sore throat, stop or at least reduce other symptoms, and definitely prevent them from going deeper. And when recovering from illness, Chinese medicine can help nourish the body and mind back to optimal health.
Things we can do for self care on our own on a daily basis are:
-Eating whole foods that are in season. Always think of adding as much natural color to the diet as possible with a variety of foods from vegetables and edible herbs, fruits, whole grains, nuts, naturally raised meats and wild caught fish. Try to eat regularly, slowly and mindfully.
-Exercising regularly. The British Journal of Sports Medicine published a study reporting that people who exercise regularly catch fewer colds and when they do the duration and severity is less. On the mental/emotional level, moving the body moves stuck thought patterns and emotional responses.
- Taking Vitamin D is another way to prevent colds and flus, even more so than vaccines or antiviral medication as reported in a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vitamin D is naturally absorbed into our bodies from sun exposure, so with less of that here in Portland we often need to supplement.
-Drinking plenty of room temperature water. As a general guideline, try to drink ½ your body weight in ounces of water per day.
-Sleeping 7-8 hours a night, trying to get to bed by 11pm.
-Breathe intentionally. Taking just 2-3 deep breaths anytime and anywhere will automatically bring you into the present moment and calm the mind (2-3 minutes is even better!) Inhaling down into the belly, then the rib cage and upper chest, and exhaling slowly and fully until the belly draws inward.
-Hydrotherapy can be used in many ways for pain and inflammation. One simple way to invigorate overall blood flow and circulation that also helps prevent illness is to end your shower with 30-60 seconds of cool-cold water. Then dry off and warm up immediately.
-Bring laughter, creativity and play into your daily life as well, in whatever form that takes for you!
As a concerned parent and a health care provider, I wanted to know the facts about vaccinations and the illnesses and diseases that our children and we as adults are vaccinated against. Currently, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) vaccination schedule recommends 23 shots before the age of 2, sometimes receiving up to 9 shots in one well-baby checkup.
Vaccinations seem to be such a touchy subject among health care providers as well as parents. There are extremes for and against the vaccine debate. Then there are some who feel their situation leaves them somewhere in the middle.
As a provider I receive questions such as: If I were to give my child any vaccinations, what would the most important ones be? What are the risks associated with vaccinations and what are the risks if you choose not to vaccinate? Does vaccination guarantee immunity? Then there are the questions about the vaccine, the ingredients?….how do they work?….what are the risks of actually catching the disease with or without the vaccinations….?..what are the risks of serious adverse reactions to them?…
To help answer these questions I recently obtained continuing education (right here in our backyards of Portland, OR!) in Vaccine Consulting from a Immunologist/Ph.D from Yale and a local Naturopathic Doctor who have been studying and researching vaccinations over a number of years.
When it comes to vaccinating, the CDC and American Pediatric Association do not take into account the state or health of your child’s immune system or daily lifestyle factors that may increase or decrease the chance of your child catching certain diseases. A “Scientifically Holistic Approach to Childhood Vaccinations” called “Vaccine Consult” is emerging which takes into consideration YOUR individual child and the FACTS about vaccinations backed by current research- so that YOU as a parent can feel comfortable in your decisions. What does a Vaccine Consult entail exactly? How does this fit into my Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine/pediatric practice here at An Sen?
First and foremost, I think we as parents make the best decisions for our children by educating ourselves to the best of our ability. During a Vaccine Consult, I will ask a lot of questions about your child, their siblings, their lifestyle, diet/nutrition and living conditions, as well as, your lifestyle, diet and nutrition, and living conditions as parents. I will perform a Chinese Medical pediatric new patient or existing patient exam to determine your child’s “individual constitution” to better serve in assessing risk factors in contracting certain diseases’. What I will not do, is tell you what to do regarding vaccinating, but I will give you the facts about all these questions, so as a parent you can make educated decisions that you feel are most appropriate for your child. I will suggest treatment strategies via herbs, supplements, acupuncture and/or pediatric tuina to help boost your child’s constitution and immune system, or reduce negative side effects of the vaccinations you may choose for your children. If you are interested in a Vaccine Consult, please do not hesitate to contact Alysia Anderson L.Ac, M.Ac.OM or the clinic with any further questions.
Tried and tested, this recipe was found in Sunset Magazine Jan 2010 issue. Sure to warm you up during the winters cold, this dish is amazing! I added some slight variations to the recipe and substitutes to make it a a little healthier. Cooking/prep time is about 35 minutes, but I suggest prepping all of your veges/meat ahead of time to ensure nothing gets overcooked. This dish is perfect with a nice zinfandel! Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Chinese five-spice powder infuses this colorful stew with a warm, anise-y note.
Chinese Style beef, sweet potato, and bok choy stew.
The recipe says it serves 4 but we found that it serves 2 comfortably. I suggest picking up some japanese style buckwheat noodles and cooking them on the side a la dente. Add them to the stew upon serving. If you are a vegetarian or going light on the meat this week a healthy alternative might be to replace the rib eye with an exotic mushroom like- chanterelle/shiitake or with a wheat gluten- like seitan (unseasoned).
Heres what you need:
4 large garlic cloves, 1 piece fresh ginger (1 inch square), cut into chunks, 1-1 1/4 lbs beef rib-eye steaks (about 1 to 1 1/2 steaks), 1/2 tsp. high mineral sea salt, 1 tbsp. vege oil, 2 tsp chinese 5 spice powder(star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper), 3 cups reduced sodium beef or vege broth, 2 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce, 1 deep orange sweet potato (12 oz, often labelled “yam”), 12 oz baby bok choy (about 4 heads), 2 green onions
1. Whirl garlic and ginger in a food processor until minced. Trim fat from steak and cut across the grain into 1/4 inch slices, discarding pockets of fat. Sprinkle meat with half of garlic and all the salt.
2. Heat oil in a 5-6 qt pan over high heat. Brown half the beef lightly, stirring occasionally, 3-6 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer meat to a plate. Repeat with remaining beef.
3. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining garlic to pan and cook until softened, about 30 seconds. Stir in five-spice powder, then broth and soy sauce. Peel sweet potato, halve lengthwise, and cut in 1/3 in thick slices. Add to broth. Cover and bring to boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, trim ends from bok choy, rinse, separate leaves, and cut in wide diagonal slices. Stir bok choy into stew and simmer just until wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in beef and cook until hot, 1-2 minutes. Cut onions in 3 in-slivers.
5. Ladle stew into bowels and garnish with onions.
In Chinese Medicine and the 5 Elements, Fire signifies summer and Earth signifies late summer. As we planted our seeds in the Spring (Wood season), the sun gradually became hotter and hotter as the summer approached and reached its peak. With this sunlight, came important nutrients that fed the mineral rich soil and our fruits ripened. We too are nourished with the summer sun, which gives us energy, calm and nutrients(such as vitamin D-which has been shown to alleviate and/or prevent many chronic diseases). During the summer months, daylight is longer, we tend to do more, stay up later, ie burn more energy. This yang (heat) energy is what also feeds our garden. As the end of summer comes upon us, our fruits and vegetables are at their peak of flavor and substance. We consume them at their ripest, or can them for later use in the fall and winter when their essence is needed to keep us warm and nourished. Earth quality is like the baby comfortable and cozy, in mothers arms, suckling the perfect temperature and nutrient rich milk. The fruit of our labor has come to harvest. Enjoy late summers bounty!
From JR Worsley’s book: The Five Elements and Officials- Stomach 40 Acupuncture Point: Abundant Splendour: ”The very image which Abundant Splendour conjures up is the end of harvest time when all the gifts of Nature have been gathered and stored for the coming year, and we have before us all the riches of the harvest from which to choose and on which to feed….”
In this article of An Sen Medicine Cabinet we will focus on Swine Flu and Chinese Medicine. It may be helpful to refer to my previous blog for additional discussion on herbal formulas to help fight off cold and flu.
Recent scares of swine flu, aka H1N1, have everyone freaked out indeed. Did you know that Chinese Medicine created formulas, some of them as old as 5,000 years, for these types of epidemic flu pattern symptoms?
According to the CDC, the symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.
Although symptoms of any flu or “swine flu” for that matter can vary significantly, base formulas have been developed upon which a practitioner of this art can tailor the herbs to fit the needs of the individual presentation. Lets take a look at Xiao Chai Hu Tang which may be crucial in alleviating the symptoms, as well as, boosting the immune system so the body has a better chance of fighting off the virus.
Known as a formula to treat “Lesser Yang Disorders”-a very specific stage of flu pathology, noted as being halfway interior in the body and halfway exterior. Not quite at the initial stage when you might for instance just feel a scratchy throat with a little post- nasal drip. In that case, Yin Qiao San may be more appropriate in large does to fight off or push out the evil virus before it gets the chance to enter the body any deeper. Lesser Yang stage, or shaoyang symptoms are characterized as alternating fever and chills, dry throat, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, (often common when fever is present) dizziness, sensation and fullness in the chest and hypochondria (often experienced as difficulty in taking deep breaths), heartburn, nausea and vomiting, reduced appetite and wiry pulse, and possibly a thin white tongue coating. For cough, sore throat, runny and stuffy nose and body aches one might combine this formula, or some of the herbs contained within Gan Mao Ling wan.
Many herbs, and Chinese Herbal Formula constituents have anti-viral actions which are scientifically known. There are so many active constituents in 1 herb alone, however, it is unlikely we will ever be able to identify each and every one of them. Unlike the current pharmaceuticals like tamiflu or zanamivir, which are manufactured for one, or very specific pharmacological actions in particular, herbs are holistic in there nature- as nature intended. Although specific pharmaceuticals may be stronger in a one action than a decocted herb, their actions are limited and we are setting ourselves up for viral resistant strains of swine flu, and flu virus’ in general. Not unlike what we have accomplished with MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the overuse of antibiotics. We too, are apart of nature, and perhaps our bodies don’t need such overpowering substances, but rather a broad spectrum of herbal antivirals, which provide their strength in combination-something that may deter viral resistance.
**This article serves to educate the reader. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or disease. Please speak to a qualified health care provider before self diagnosing or medicating.
