This time of year, in Chinese Medicine, marks the late summer. This is a time of transitioning from summer into fall and fall into winter (for you TCM junkies, it is the yin coming into yang). It is described as a time for harmony, centeredness, and for preparing the body. It can be a useful time for a short, gentle fast and for eating foods that are golden or yellowish in color, slightly sweet, and foods that are round. This time of year and these types of food are represented by the Earth Element in Chinese Medicine. We are at a very unique time for optimizing our digestion (governed by the Earth Element) because “the Earth Element heavily influences the 7 ½ days before and the 7 ½ days after each of the two equinoxes (and solstices).” (Healing With Whole Foods, Pitchford, 340) The Autumn Equinox was on September 23, making this prime time for your digestion, we should be preparing for winter, just like all of nature.

This time of year can also bring up physical and emotional shifts within your body. We left a time of activity, joy and happiness (summer, the fire element), we are currently in a time of centeredness and transition (late summer, the earth element), moving into a time of gathering, preparing, and grief (autumn, the metal element). This is not to be thought of negatively, but rather, just a natural cycle. You see, we are not designed to go 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, maybe that’s why this time of year is marked by anxiety and depression, people are fighting this natural shift instead of embracing it. Embrace it, friends! Nurture your body and support its natural cycles; it’s not too late to start enjoying the season!

A couple more days remain in the optimal time, but you have plenty of time to still reap the benefits of this time of preparation. Foods that are beneficial this time of year are: “millet, corn, carrots, cabbage, garbanzo beans, soybeans, squash, potatoes, sweet rice, rice, amaranth, peas, chestnuts, filberts, apricots, and cantaloupe.” (Healing With Whole Foods, Pitchford, 340) *Please do not indulge in foods to which you have allergies.*

Live well and prosper!

Learn about Traditional Chinese Medicine, find links and other resources for your health, business, local connections, and Veteran welfare.  Our new site is completely interactive!  Simply click on any topic you’d like to know more about.  Our incredibly talented web designer brought life to our site and ease to your perusing style.  You can contact us, follow us on Facebook, find our blog, see current treatment specials, and schedule appointments online!  Yes, even same day appointments! 

You might notice we have a new Massage Therapist!  We welcome Nicole to our healing family.  She is an amazing Massage Therapist, and is caring and compassionate.  Rocky Mountain Roots is dedicated to being a one-stop wellness center.  We will be adding more practitioners and offering more services in the near future! 

Take special note of our Veteran Health Clinic beginning June 3, 2010.  We will be expanding and adding more days as we grow this vital service.  If you are a Veteran or have a friend or family member who is, please forward our information onto them!  Scheduling for a treatment can be done via phone or email.  We are also looking for Licensed Acupuncturists and anyone who would like to give of their time for a great cause to volunteer.  Please contact Sheila directly if would like more information about volunteering.

I just want to set the record straight…Herbal medicine does not mean “marijuana dispensary.” 

When my partner and I chose to use the words “Herbal Medicine” in our business name, we had no idea the ramifications of doing so.  Apparently, “herbal medicine” is code for “marijuana dispensary” now in Denver.  Really, people?  No matter what else is with the “herbal medicine,”  even?  Ah, the entertaining things we have to consider now that we are business owners in a whole new Denver.  I just want to set the record straight; not only for us but for all who practice any kind of non-marijuana herbal medicine.  Herbal medicine does not mean “marijuana dispensary.”  Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself when determining where to buy your marijuana.

1.  If the business is not listed in the back 10 pages of the Westword, you can be 99% sure they do not sell medicinal marijuana.

2.  Is there a big green cross or marijuana leaf on the front of the business you are attempting to purchase medicinal marijuana from?  If the answer is no, again, you can be 99% sure they do not sell medicinal marijuana.

Now, for those of you who do not have licenses or do not partake, you might not find the humor in this week’s post.    I am going to attempt to shed a different light on the marijuana debate.  Here is a little food for thought, to open our eyes to the political side of the medical community.  Not the politics of medicinal marijuana, but the politics of natural medicine and its role thus far in our modern medical care. 

Eons ago, one would get care from a medical doctor and they used diet, natural cures and herbal medicine to treat people (they also used to barter with chickens-hahaha).  Until now, the modern medical community has had no interest in herbal medicine; yet a medical doctor is the only one who can prescribe medicinal marijuana without a special license.  For centuries, the medical community, for the most part, has had such disdain for herbal medicine and natural remedies.  The FDA won’t even approve herbal medicine claims or backed research, and the AMA is trying to limit our scope of practice.  In case you’re wondering, Traditional Chinese Medicine uses the marijuana seed, Huo Ma Ren, for constipation issues and digestive upset.  I can prescribe the seed, but not the plant.  I have to pay the state for a ”caregivers license,”  then I can prescribe.  I am not saying I want to prescribe marijuana, however, let’s not lose sight of the double standard… Marijuana is a HERB, a PLANT, NATURAL MEDICINE.  Why would a doctor with no herbal training be allowed to prescribe it?  My guess is the same reason all these people started opening dispensaries.  I mean let’s face it, if prescribing it is legal, why shouldn’t the AMA get their cut?  What’s next, pharmaceutical companies jumping on the bandwagon?  I wish people were more aware of the world around them.  The public is not as dumb as our politicians and world leading corporations think we are.  We see what you do and who you are.   This isn’t the only double-standard when it comes to practicing modern and natural medicine, but that’s a different post. 

Don’t fault the kid who just wants to be sure he isn’t going to jail for smoking a joint, fault the doctor who wants his money and a system that supports his greed. 

Let’s take a brief look at the “abuse” going on in Colorado of the medical marijuana laws.  Is it really the patient or the dispensary abusing the law?  How does a person get a license to use marijuana?  Would the dispensaries be making all that money if people couldn’t get licensed?  Again, let’s not take our eyes off the prize here, the fault lies with those doctors abusing their privileges as health care providers.   Who cares that the average age of people getting licenses has dropped almost 20 years since the law passed.  Is it the patients fault?  No.  It’s that doctor who prescribes medicinal marijuana to a 22-year-old with “chronic pain.”  Has a 22-year-old really even been alive long enough to have “chronic pain?”  (again, my sick sense of humor)  Don’t fault the kid who just wants to be sure he isn’t going to jail for smoking a joint, fault the doctor who wants his money and a system that supports his greed. 

Now, I know that this is just a small piece of the debate, but next time you take a harsh stance on Amendment 20, consider what else is really driving this law besides those who want to partake.  The bottom line is, marijuana is BIG business now, so big in fact,  that we will probably continue to entertain these fine folks coming in to look at our “Chinese strains” for sometime to come.  Who knows, maybe someone will want to try acupuncture for their ailment one day!

Spring has arrived in the Rocky Mountains!  The Western slope is buzzing and on the Eastern slope, well, it’s sunshine and budding trees all along the foothills!   We will cross our fingers that it doesn’t snow again below 6,000 feet!  Colorado has such a great season change, nature is alive and for those who practice TCM, we see the signs of Spring in our patients as well.  

People are coming out of Winter hibernation, becoming more active, shedding the toxins of being cooped-up all Winter.  According to TCM and following natural laws, now is a great time, if not the best time, to rejuvenate, renew and refresh your body and mind.  Everything in nature is anew and buzzing with life, why should we be apart or different from our surroundings?  

 

now is a great time, if not the best time, to rejuvenate, renew and refresh your body and mind

In TCM, Spring is represented by the color green, the wood element, and the organs related to Spring are the Liver and Gallbladder.  The Liver is the main detoxifier for the body and the Gallbladder aids in digestion.  Detoxifying and superior digestion are essential to health and vitality.  These organs and the processes they control can be optimized during this time of year.  You can see the correlation between the seasons and the body; nature can teach us a lot about ourselves.  

In addition to your health, these ideas can be applied to your life as well.  Renew your mind and your outlook.  See the beauty in nature; see the beauty in yourself.  “Digest” things mentally in a new way, see the postive and good in all situations and people.  How can you “detoxify” your life?  What do you need to get rid of?  Things, feelings, people?  Do what makes you feel good and is of your authentic self.  Start something new, explore yourself and your world-get active!

See the beauty in nature; see the beauty in yourself

Take advantage of this time of year!  Detoxify your body and improve your digestion!  Get allergy relief, stop smoking, lose weight, increase engery, improve digestion, de-stress, get healthier!   Contact us today to get started rejuvenating, renewing and refreshing your body and mind.

The open house was a huge success!  There was a lot of local, neighborhood support; THANK YOU all for taking the time to come!  We raffled off several individual treatments, a 6 treatment package and a 12 treatment package!   Christine, Susie, Ashley, Jeff, Amanda, Josie, Starr, Meg, and David- CONGRATULATIONS!  We know that everyone didn’t win, but there is still a great opportunity for you to take advantage of our Grand Opening treatment specials.  Most specials are running through the end of March!  Email or call for more information.    

Along with a great group of people  and raffle drawing winners to mingle and talk with, there was also local support from many artists in the area.  Contributing artists of incredible paintings and prints were: Brandon Roth, Liz Kaplan, Johnny Mayer, and Chase Martines.  Missy James adorned our office with “colorful” photographs of Colorado, and Benjamin Burke and Jackie Barr showcased some amazing jewelry.  Without their unique talents, our world would be lifeless and boring.  Thank you all for sharing these talents with us, your art made our day even more amazing!     

This thank you is for a number of things and to a number of people, a behind the scenes look at our open house.  Sheila’s parents, besides their unconditional love and support, brought tables and tools to help us prepare not only for the opening, but tools for the construction and work done in our office as a whole.  Sheila’s Mom made great food and a really cool cake for the opening.  Other people responsible for the delicious food were:  Michael Griffin, Susan Parker, Kate Powell, and Chad’s Mom.  Thanks to Sarah Sanders and friend Lane Hawkins for help with keeping the party going with their ideas and hard work. 

Thank you all, again, your support is an essential part of our success! 

For those of you that are still reading after my example above, here is where it gets hairy in the 21^st century.  This, TCM, doesn’t make sense in our Western minds.  Qi, meridians, nature and the body, acupuncture points stimulated by tiny needles, voodoo you say!  There is no solid evidence of meridians or of the acupuncture points even really existing (by the way, that does depend on who you ask), but I am speaking to the skeptic.  This is where the Western mind just can’t let go, but what I am about to say might ease the grip.  Despite the meridians and points being used having no physical evidence, they have proven necessary to treatment.  The truth of the matter is that there is now scientific evidence, thanks to modern invention, that acupuncture creates measurable biological effects in the body.  It stimulates the release of endorphins, indigenous opioids and neurotransmitters, all natural and present in the body; all natural mechanisms of surviving and striving in life.   The body is amazing and so intelligent; it is unconsciously, knowing what to do to feel better.  Acupuncture simply assists your body’s natural healing instincts.  If you’d like to read more about this research in particular, follow this link to a great article:  http://www.medicinenet.com/acupuncture/page3.htm.  Or go to the National Institutes of Health website. 

This is where the Western mind just can’t let go, but what I am about to say might ease the grip.

In addition to, but along the same lines of the research done showing biological changes in the body, acupuncture is proven by the World Health Organization (WHO) to also be a bidirectional medicine.  This means that acupuncture will create the effect that is needed in the body.  One example is raising blood pressure in a hypotensive patient and lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients.  Some acupuncture points treat both, thus labeling the effects bidirectional.   Again, scientific research shows, this is done through the chemical (biological) changes taking place inside the body. 

Is it so farfetched to think we are just an extension of our natural surroundings? 

It really makes me wonder, the ancient Chinese knew nothing of these bodily processes and ways of internal communication, yet the medicine was and still is effective.   We are a part of nature, natural beings, surviving in our environments in these amazing bodies.  We have built-in defenses and an incredible feedback system to maintain our vital bodily functions.  Is it so farfetched to think we are just an extension of our natural surroundings?  Perhaps this is why TCM is still effective today; in these days of growing Merck Manuals and Pathology books, one thing remains relatively the same:  the human body and its processes.

Please join us in donating to help a local woman win her battle with ovarian cancer.  Sherri Rossi-Farris was diagnosed on 11/4/2009.  On February 21, 2010, 3:00 PM at Herman’s Hideaway, 1578 S. Broadway, there will be a benefit to help her and her family cope with the financial strains associated with cancer treatment.  

The music line up is as follows (in no particular order):  Hazel Miller, Erica Brown, Ellie Mae’s Round Up, Buckwild, EBWA, Vagiant, Judgement Roughneck, Wanker, Buckner Funken Jazz, and more!  You can find out more about the line up by visiting the venue website: www.hermanshideaway.com

Donations for this day of rockin’ fun will be taken at the door.  There will be raffle prizes and a silent auction full of great services and things to bid on!  Rocky Mountain Roots along with other local business owners have donated to this auction.  If you are unable to make the benefit at Herman’s Hideaway, you can still donate at any Bank of the West location.  The account is under Sherri Rossi-Farris. 

Please help us ‘Give Hope Wings’ and support Sherri and her family.  You can find out more about Sherri or how you can help by following Sherri’s blog at www.lovinsherrirossi.blogspot.com.

How can this be?  It’s a bacterial infection, a viral infection; it isn’t my “Qi” out of whack!  Well, in a way it is.  Because of a deficiency of Qi, whether chronic or temporary, our bodies are more vulnerable to infection.   Without Qi our bodies have no energy to heal themselves; colds and flus linger, coughs persist.  Our bodies are amazing machines capable of so much.  We have built in defense systems, physical barriers and chemical defenders of health!  Acupuncture aids the body in keeping strong defenses, dispelling pathogens and healing. 

 This is not an ancient Chinese secret; it’s only a secret here in our culture.  While you do have to let viral infections (flus) run their course and you can get antibiotics for bacterial infections, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are very effective and have less side effects.  Antibiotics, especially overuse, can lead to a tolerance and resistance of the body’s defenses; it can kill good bacteria essential to good intestinal and internal health.  Acupuncture and herbs are safe, effective and support the body’s defenses.   The World Health Organization (WHO) states “as a result of scientific research, Acupuncture protects the body against infection.”  Acupuncture encourages endorphin release in the brain, and this can raise T-cell counts and antibodies, therefore increasing our natural defenses.    

Acupuncture and herbs are safe, effective and support the body’s defenses.

 Herbal therapy is an important part of treating colds and flus.  They have antibacterial and antiviral properties to support the body.  It is best to take them when you first get sick to help shorten the duration of the infection, however, they can be taken throughout the course of the infection as well and can be started any time while sick. 

Just like my two patients this past week, you were probably unaware that Acupuncture is effective for treating your cold or flu.  Other conditions related to colds and flus that the WHO states Acupuncture is an effective treatment for are:  Allergic rhinitis (stuffy nose due to allergies), sore throat (especially due tonsillitis), long term asthma maintenance, whooping cough, nausea and vomiting. 

 What do you know about acupuncture?  Have you used acupuncture to get relief?  What else does acupuncture treat?

It is important to me that my patients are familiar with the terms I am using even if they do not fully understand them.  I am going to attempt to explain some very basic and foundational concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Having many ways of observing the body puts me, as an Acupuncturist and TCM Practitioner, at an advantage because I have several ways to diagnose and treat my patients.       

The first thing to consider is that TCM does not look at anatomy the same way as Western Medicine.  There are ideas in TCM that are nowhere in Western Medicine, such as Meridians.  Meridians are channels of energy that flow throughout the body and are connected to the organs and energy reserves.  These meridians innervate organs and muscles, link each other together, hold stores of energy, and are the vessels in which our life force flows.  If there is a blockage, deficiency, or excess of flow in these meridians, health problems will ensue without proper treatment.  

It is important to me that my patients are familiar with the terms I am using even if they do not fully understand them.  

Essential, and a part of every human are:  Qi (energy/life force), Blood, Yin, Yang, and Jing.  Qi is our energy, it warms us, is essential for movement, holds our organs in place, transforms substances in the body, and protects as a vital part of our immunity.  Blood nourishes our bodies and tissues.  Yin represents body fluids of all kinds (yes, even blood) and is related to anatomy.  Yang is the warmth and is related to the physiological functions in the body.  Jing is what your Mama (and Dad) gave you!  It is your constitutional make up and is directly related to the state of your parents, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, at the time of your conception.  It is responsible mainly for growth and reproduction. 

At the root of Chinese Medicine is what is known as Yin and Yang.  You might be familiar with the Yin/Yang symbol.  

Simply put, this symbol represents balance, which is the main concept behind Yin and Yang.   Yin and Yang can be summed up as opposing forces that create each other, keep each other in balance, are dependent on each other, and cannot be separated (separation of yin and yang is death).   These forces are alive in our universe:  Yin represents cold, winter, deep, dark, etc. and Yang represents heat, summer, superficial, light, etc.   The internal balance (homeostasis) that your body constantly strives to keep for optimal health and function is representative of these two forces.    

The next concept I’d like to introduce you to is directly related to pathologies (things that make you sick) according to TCM.  Any imbalance in the body will create an environment of weakened immunity.  It is important to keep in mind that the Ancient Chinese had no fancy diagnostic tools or machines to make a diagnosis, they only had observation.  Being a good observer is KEY to being a good diagnostic practitioner.  So, in light of being keen observers, they noticed what happens in nature can occur in the body.  Examples of this are:  Heat, Cold, Summer Heat, Fire, Wind, Dampness, and Dryness.  These can occur in almost any combination.   An example of this is the common cold.  This is seen as an invasion of Wind and Cold or Heat because the symptoms of the common cold are similar to that of wind:  it starts suddenly, can change direction and move around, and varies in intensity.  The cold and the heat come in with accompanying symptoms, i.e., fever vs. no fever, with or without chills, etc.   

Being a good observer is KEY to being a good diagnostic practitioner.

In addition to this, there is the Zang-Fu concept, the organs.  Each organ is either Zang or Fu and paired with another (1 Zang and 1 Fu).  Respectively paired in the order listed, the Zang organs are the Yin organs:  Lung, Spleen, Heart, Kidney, Pericardium, and Liver.  The Fu organs are the Yang organs:  Large Intestine, Stomach, Small Intestine, Urinary Bladder, San Jiao, and Gallbladder.  Each pair is assigned to a Wu-Xing (element).  The elements and their relation to each other describe how things are created and controlled in nature.  When applied to the body, it also explains how the organs interact and how vital substances and energies are created or controlled.  This gives insight into the pathology and progression of the disharmony. 

The elements are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.  In TCM, the organs are seen from an energetic and a physiological point of view. This is why TCM can be an effective and preventative form of healthcare.  It allows for seeing imbalances in the organs and organ systems before (ideally) there are any major problems or illnesses.  It can prevent or slow the progression of the illness.  The Zang-Fu form of diagnosis is something that some practitioners will say is not taught in all schools, and while it may or may not be, it is a basic concept of TCM and your practitioner should know it.   

There are other diagnostic concepts I could talk about; these are the most commonly used and heard in treatment or diagnosis.    As you can see, this is not a simple, cut and dry medicine; this is just an overview of these concepts.   It is complex and thorough, and for this reason I underwent advanced training in Diagnosis and Differentiation.  It is a vital part of giving effective treatments to my patients.  You can read about me on the “About Tab”, scroll down and click on “About Sheila.”

Available to you is a natural, age-old, proven method of healthcare: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM encompasses three (3) major components: Acupuncture, Tui Na Massage, and Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM). The current state of our healthcare system affects each of us differently. No matter how you are affected or what your views of our ever-changing health care system are, you have options.

I am here to ease your worried or skeptical mind and encourage you to try this amazing medicine.

In a nutshell, Acupuncture is the insertion of very small needles (hair thin) into specific areas of the body to achieve a therapeutic effect. Tui Na Massage is a type of therapeutic massage that can be used to treat everything from common colds to chronic pain. Chinese Herbal Medicine is the use of herbs that traditionally grow in China, are used in everyday life there, and developed into an effective and individualized form of medicine.

The theories and diagnostic system used in TCM are complex and thorough. This diagnostic system was created to see the body as a whole, not as an individual body system or set of symptoms. This is to identify patterns of disharmony and any underlying imbalances that may be contributing to the symptoms being experienced by the patient. This is what is known as treating the cause or “root” of the disease. It is a regular practice of mine to discuss with my patients their diagnosis and what that means to them in terms of lifestyle, course of treatment, and future maintenance.

This diagnostic system was created to see the body as a whole, not as an individual body system or set of symptoms.

Acupuncture is rarely a “quick fix” especially in cases of chronic disease and pain. Patients may experience relief of symptoms after one or two treatments; however, those results are rarely long lasting. Acupuncture works cumulatively, therefore each treatment will compound on the last to correct the imbalances in the body. As the patterns in the body begin to change, the patient will experience more lasting results of treatment. Even then, maintenance may be necessary every few weeks or months. This medicine is no different than any other; the best results take a course of therapy and commitment from the patient for lasting relief.

Acupuncture does differ from pharmaceutical based medicine in that treatment has little to no side-effects, making it safe and non-toxic to the body. The side-effects experienced most commonly include: skin bruising and slight bleeding. Pneumothorax (punctured lung) can occur, though it is an extremely rare complication. I am well trained to know the areas of caution, needle depth and insertion angles to avoid such instances. I use factory sterilized, one-time-use, disposable needles and the chance of infection is minute.

This medicine is no different than any other; the best results take a course of therapy and commitment from the patient for lasting relief

Besides increasing the odds of symptom eradication in a safe and natural way, acupuncture is a great stress reliever and can have profound effects on even the healthiest of people. One does not need to be experiencing symptoms or have a medical diagnosis (in most cases) to receive acupuncture.