South East Asian Style

1 pack of asian dried mushrooms
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 cups of pre cooked long grain rice.
2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
1 small onion chopped
1/8 tsp five spice powder
1/8 tsp of sugar
1/2 cup of frozen peas thawed
1 cup of raw shelled peanuts.
1/2 Cucumber sliced and peeled
Sambal Olek sauce for the side optional

Soak the mushrooms in a bowl for about 10-15 minutes, remove any woody stems and keep the water for the end. slice mushrooms in to slivers.

Heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in a wok or frying pan on medium heat add the egg and cook into an omelet. When finished cooking roll up the omelet and cut into 1 inch strips.

Put raw shelled peanuts on a baking sheet and into the oven at 350 for about 20 minutes.

In the pan heat the remaining tablespoon of oil on medium and add the onion and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the rice. I like to cook the rice the night before and keep in the fridge. It creates a less sticky version. Next add the mushroom, soy sauce, five spice powder, sugar and peas. Cook for about 5 minutes and add a little mushroom water when it gets too dry.

Too serve scoop the rice into a small bowl and mold a dome and put on the plate. Put egg strips on top and put cucumbers on the side. Finish with roasted peanuts and Sambal Olek sauce or any other sambal you may like.

1 large bunch of fresh basil leaves washed
3-4 cloves of garlic medium
Handful of raw pine nuts
3/4 cup of parmesan cheese loose and clumpy
3 tbl spoons of extra virgin olive oil
3 tbl spoons of water

Put everything in the blender except the water and oil.    We have a Vitamix so I selected a very low spin setting, if you do not have a low setting blender you can use a large mezzaluna or even a good chefs knife.   ( if you use the hand chop method , chop it all up until very fine and then add the oil and water to create a good consistancy. )   If you go for the blender method do not over blend and add the 2 tbl spoons oil and water until the consistancy is clumpy.    Add the last tbl spoon of oil once you are finished blending.

Enjoy this one and be sure to let me know how it was.

Alysia Anderson Acupuncturist at An Sen Acupuncture and Massage in Portland Oregon
I do not add salt as the cheese has enough and good salt can always be added later.     I serve this with gluten free Quinoa  spiral pasta.   Any pasta is good with this dish.

4 cups of watermelon cubed and choose the seedless kind
1/3 cup of apple juice
2 tbl spoon fresh lime juice
1 tsp fresh mint chopped
1/3 tsp fresh ground ginger
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1 tbl spoon honey Optional

Put all the ingredients in your blender and blend till smooth.   Regridgerate for 1 hour and serve with a dollop of yogurt.

Enjoy this and please post any of your summer favorites to our facebook page

Alysia Anderson
Licensed Acupuncturist at An Sen Acupuncture and Massage Clinic in Portland OR.

Avoid the high priced spas and opt for an evening of chocolates, aphrodisiac tea, herbal infused essiental olis, chilled out tunes, and the best deep tissue and swedish massages in the city.   All for only $80 allow 75 minutes to enjoy.  

Couples massages only $160 per hour.   Can’t make it in this year?, why not get a gift certficate for massage, acupuncture or herbal treatment.

Need longer than an hour, we also have 90 min and 2 hour massages.   

Space is limited so reserve your romantic evening now. Time available from 2pm -7 pm.    Later times are going fast

Tips and Ideas this Valentines

This year we thought it might be nice to let you know what we think are fun and healthy things to do this Valentines Day Date Night.

Bouldering at the Circuit NE Sandy Hang out together, get engerized and who knows. Oh yeah its open till 11 pm.

Dinner at the Spahire Hotel on SE Hawthorne, Big portions, Yummy food with an Asian Flare and the history of this being one of portlands seedy joints make this a real winner for a romantic dinner. It gets crowded so plan ahead.

Drinks at the Sauce Box on SW Broadway, nice tunes and great cocktails, make this a good place to kick off an evening of intrigue.

Unromantics can try the Valentines Day Zombie Pub Crawl February 14, 2012 | 6:30pm until 11:30pm Meet @ Lone Fir Cemetery SE Stark & 26th

You can always let us know your favorite romantic spots by posting it on our facebook page. Happy Valentines Day Portland,

Chinese medicine was based on pathogens entering the body and making their way to different levels.  Every symptom you experience is information which helps us determine how deep or superficial the pathogen has gotten.  The “level” helps us determine our treatment strategy with Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy.  What I have seen this year that the medicine has been able to do is- reduce the intensity or course of the illness, kick out the illness (sometimes even after hardcore antibiotics have failed), prevent illness (when others around you are sick), and even strengthen the bodies “Qi” so the pathogen does not even have a chance to enter!  Children also respond VERY well and usually very quickly to treatment, so if your childs regular pediatrician cannot do much more than prescribe antibiotics and tylenol, my friends YOUVE GOT OPTIONS!  So at the first sign of getting sick or even in the depths of feeling like theres no return, I URGE you to call us.  We can combine acupuncture and herbal therapy or if your in a hurry just prescribe you a herbal formula for your individual needs.  For more information of past blogs on herbal medicine for colds and flus please click here:

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.

Click here to follow the event on Facebook

Event Information
Friday March 25th from 5-8pm @
An Sen Acupuncture and Massage Clinic in OMCC Building 1st Floor

Valentines Day 2012 massage specials click here

Chinese Medicine & The Heart

By Alysia Anderson, L.Ac, M.Ac.OM

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.

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.

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