The practitioners at Glow are continuously pursuing new procedures and techniques that allow us to deliver optimal health solutions for you and your family. Dr. Eric Nissen is proud to announce our newest addition, the BioMeridian system.

This revolutionary device provides Dr. Nissen with the ability to measure electrical “circuits” in the body that provide critical information about specific organs and systems. A simple 20-minute test will focus Dr. Nissen’s attention to the areas that need targeted support. Even more amazing is the ability to track your progress from visit to visit. Once testing is complete, data is compiled, reports are produced and recommendations are made. The patient receives a color-coded, easy to understand, take-home report reflecting their unique data patterns.

If you are looking for support solutions for long-term health concerns or simply want to get an edge on performance and energy, we may have your answers. Dr. Nissen will consider a variety of possible protocols, including dietary and lifestyle changes, supplementation and other natural means to bring abnormal electrical patterns into equilibrium.

Free 15-minute consults are available with Dr. Nissen so that you may check out this technology and find out if naturopathic medicine is right for you.

Additionally, Dr. Nissen is offering a “Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions” special. For a limited time, you will save 30% on your First Office Visit.

Don’t waste any time. Take care of yourself and your family by scheduling your initial visits TODAY!

How you can be better prepared to fight off this year’s bug.

Dr. Rachel Erickson, ND

Everyone knows that wintertime means playing the game of “who can run faster than the ‘bug’ trying to catch you” and lay you up in bed or worse, make work life miserable while you fight it off. Here are some strategies to prevent catching a cold and ways to shorten the duration.

Prevention is the best medicine. Exercise boosts your immune cell activity so stay active this winter. Wash your hands. Drink plenty of clean water all day long. Vegetables and fruits are full of all the antioxidants and vitamins and minerals your body needs to function optimally. This winter is the opportunity to add in an extra fruit or vegetable a day to one of your meals. If you make one veggie at dinner, try making two. If you don’t eat fruit at breakfast, add your favorite one in. Satsuma oranges and pomegranates are in season only in the winter and are great sources of Vitamin C and antioxidants. Make it fun!

The basics need emphasis when you’re feeling sick. We all know this, but let’s just say it again. When you’re feeling sick, it’s not time to go out to that holiday party and drink three glasses of hot buttered rum and two helpings of dessert. It’s time to lay low, sleep extra hours, stay hydrated and stay away from your vices. Sugar, alcohol and foods you may think you’re sensitive to are only going to suppress your immune function when you need it most. So what do you do when you feel that shift in your body that tells you you’re getting sick? A quick trick is to artificially raise your core body temperature for 20 minutes. You probably learned to suppress your fevers, but what I’m telling you is to actually create a little fever, either by sitting in a sauna or steam room, or by taking a hot bath. Add some Epsom salts in that case (sold at most drug stores) and soak in as hot of water as you can stand for 20 minutes. Don’t stop there! Bundle up warmly and stay hot. Your immune cells actually work faster in a slightly higher temperature while putting the virus or bacteria at a disadvantage!

For you special cases, the stressed moms and workers who struggle just to get breakfast let alone enough sleep, there’s hope even for you! The approach for your immune health is through your adrenal glands. They help you cope in times of high stress, and during this winter season they need specific attention. Through the wonderful remedy of herbal medicine, we have the right combination to meet your needs.

My favorite, herbal medicine, is also your biggest advocate this season. If you know you always get sick then try taking an immune boosting formulation specific to what you need now. We have some great combinations you can keep in your apothecary at home for just this purpose.

Come by for a visit and we’ll find a formula that works best for you.

Dr. Rachel wishes you happy holidays here at Glow!

Sham (fake) acupuncture vs. “real” acupuncture. Real acupuncture vs. sugar pills vs. real drugs. Practitioner and patient bias and it’s in healing. These were some of the fascinating topics covered in the keynote speach by Ted Kaptchuk on Friday night.

A quirky, intelligent, often hilarious, researcher and practitioner he shared his latest studies and outcomes.  A few gems included one in which either real or fake acupuncture was better that the guidelines of care for back pain. In another, sham acupuncture was pitted against real acupuncture and then MRI’s were performed on the patients. The result showed that the real acupuncture, activated the sensory areas of the place while the fake activated the emotions center. So while both are effective the mechanism of action is different. For a interview with Ted on PBS, check out this link.

http://www.pbs.org/saf/1307/features/kaptchuk.htm

Dr. Rachel Erickson, Naturopathic Physician, graduated from Bastyr University. She is licensed as a primary care physician in the state of Washington and specializes in women’s health and cranio sacral therapy. Dr. Rachel completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington with a BS in Botany, and she has a passion for herbal medicine.

Naturopathic Medicine is more than alternative, it’s fully encompassing. It’s not supplemental, it’s front-line. When you are feelings sick, come see me, not just to get better, but to understand what brought you there from the start. When you need personalized healthcare to meet the specific nuances of your body, you come to me. When you need your annual physical, come visit the same person who knows your whole body and can sense where your tune-ups are needed. When you need to navigate the larger hospital systems for specialist consultations, I lead the way so you can get the most clarity and the best treatments you need. When you’re feeling in a fog, uncertain of how to take the next pivotal step in reaching your health goals, come talk to me.

Facilitating and educating my patients about the health and physiology of their own bodies as well as the medical world we steer through is the foundation of my medicine. I am here to help you learn how to make healthy choices in order to take better care of your body all on your own. I am a guide, a teacher, a facilitator and a counselor to each person who walks into my office, helping you make the changes you know you need to make. I focus on diet and lifestyle counseling, nutritional and herbal supplementation, hydrotherapy, homeopathic and physical therapies to start your body changing back to a more balanced state.

“I am passionate about working with women, families and kids, especially teenagers. Teens deal with not understanding how their bodies work but are not always willing to talk to their parents about what’s going on. I can assist that conversation. Women’s health is my specialty, treating common conditions such as cramps and PMS or abnormal PAPs and cervical dysplasia with less invasive techniques. Above all else, I see myself as a family doctor, here to guide and inspire people to live a healthier and more heartful life.”

January Specials!

- Free half hour consultations for new patients.

- Cranio sacral therapy: buy one get one free!

- New patient first visits: $100

schedule today!

Many people who are energetic and outgoing in the long sunny days of spring and summer find themselves to be melancholic, depressed, and perhaps even fatigued in the long dark nights of winter. This is termed “Seasonal Affective Disorder” (SAD). Although this common disorder can be quite debilitating, there are good options to help.

Exercise: Over 100 studies have shown that people who exercise are effected by SAD and other forms of depression much less than people who don’t exercise. Although exercising outside may be difficult in the winter time, especially if you are limited to the early morning or evening hours, most people have health clubs close by or can set up an exercise room in their own homes.

Diet: Maintaining adequate blood sugar throughout the day is one important key to help with depression. Eat small frequent meals low in processed foods and simple carbohydrates (“sugary” foods) and high in fruits, vegetables, grains, and other sources of protein. Protein is also necessary to help provide amino acids, precursors to neurotransmitters in the brain. Adequate protein intake is 0.8 to 1.2 grams of protein per kg. of body weight. The formula is: (Your weight in pounds) x (0.8 to 1.2)  2.2. Sedentary individuals should use 0.8, average activity use 1.0, very athletic use 1.2.

Light therapy: Full spectrum lighting has been shown to be an excellent treatment for SAD and other forms of clinical depression. The antidepressant effect of light therapy is probably due to restoring proper melatonin synthesis and secretion by the pineal gland leading to re-establishment of the proper circadian rhythm. Light boxes use very intense full spectrum lighting, the equivalent of 25 100-watt bulbs. It is recommended that a person look into the light for 15 – 30 minutes each morning while sitting 2 to 3 feet away. Regular full spectrum light bulbs are also available. Use these to replace regular light bulbs around your home and office for a more bright and realistic light.

Nutritional supplements:
Numerous studies have shown St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) to be effective in helping to relieve symptoms associated with SAD and other forms of depression, including apathy, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia, sleep disturbances, and anxiety.
5-HTP a precursor to serotonin and has been shown to be effectively converted to serotonin in the body and help relieve depression and insomnia. Studies have shown significant clinical response in two to four weeks at a dosage of 50 to 300 mg 3 times a day.
NOTE: do not combine St. John’s Wort or 5-HTP with any antidepressant medications without the consent of your naturopathic doctor or other physician knowledgeable in herbs, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals.
L-tyrosine has also been shown to be effective in relieving depression, both on its own and in combination with other therapies. In a study, about 1 out of 5 people who initially responded well to 5-HTP had a relapse of depression after a month. These people responded particularly well to the addition of L-tyrosine.
B-vitamins, particularly B-6, B-12, and folic acid also have an excellent track record in helping to relieve depression. Vitamin D has also been linked to an “overall greater sense of well being.” You should have your Vitamin D levels tested by your doctor to help monitor therapy.
Homeopathy can also be effective in helping to relieve the symptoms of depression, also. Homeopathics can be taken individually, usually prescribed by a homeopathic doctor, or in combination products.
A deficiency of essential fatty acids (EFA’s) has been shown in recent studies to be a contributor to depression. A diet high in saturated fats and low in essential fatty acids results in decreased fluidity of cell membranes, which directly influences neurotransmitter synthesis, signal transmission, uptake of serotonin and other neurotransmitters, and neurotransmitter binding. Most studies used fish oil as the source of the EFA’s. A person must regularly consume fish oils for two to three months to allow the EFA’s to be effectively incorporated into cell membranes.

The treatment of SAD is usually multifactorial. A combination of exercise, proper diet, light therapy, and nutritional supplements can greatly enhance your energy, outlook, and overall happiness in the face of the long dark nights of winter.

Continues Dec 6 …

Though we will build on our first class, anyone is welcome to drop-in. Tell your friends!

Come explore the experiential anatomy of Body-Mind Centering® with Doug MacKenzie and put your body in motion with Lara McIntosh of Wassa Dance®. In this two-hour class we will explore Body Systems (organs, glands, bones; muscles, nerves and fluids) as we play with patterns of our earliest developmental movement. While finding coordination, ease, and choice in the way we move, we recognize and learn. Shake out old habits! Move in the heart of rhythm.

Have you ever wondered if acupuncture works to renue aging skin? Have you been curious how it compares to botox inresults and price point? King 5 has a great little clip that answers those questions and others. When you’ve decided you’re ready to try it, remember that Karen is a pro at our Laurelhurst location. Here’s the link!  http://www.king5.com/video/healthlink-index.html?nvid=301448&shu=1

One of the many things that I love about the Symposium isthe opportunity to see all of the faces behind the companies who products we sell everyday. This also gives me the chance to see the latest and greatest new “stuff” and get recommendations from other practitioners as well. Last years great find Local Herbs I have already blogged about. Check out a fav from 2008.

The first is Yin Care, which is an herbal wash. There is a long tradition in Chinese Medicine of decocting raw herbs. Aka: boiling them in water for several hours. This process is messy, stinky, and leaves a lots of room for human error. We prescribe herbs now in pill, liquid, and powder far more so, than the original “raw herb that must be boiled form.” The problem with this is that many times these formulas were boiled to be used topically for skin issues, gynecological problems, mouthwashes etc. We haven’t had a comparative Chinese herbal product that was user friendly until now!

Yin care is pre-decocted and highly concentrated. They tout themselves as  China’s most widely used topical/intravaginal wash for gynecological as well as general bacterial, fungal and viral skin complaints. That means it can be used for eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections, as well as yeast infections, vaginosis etc. Look for this one as one of our newest products. http://www.yincare.com/originalUsing.htm

On the flight done here, I started reading “The Audacity of Hope” by Barak Obama. One section was particularly interesting which was discussing the return of politics from being about “business” to a “mission.” Coming here helps me reconnect with my mission. It help refuel the creative and intellectual juice. On day one we learned that 30 year veteran of the field Bob Flaws is retiring. Bob runs Blue Poppy Press and has been influential in providing good quality herbs as well as literature to the Chinese Medical community.

In his afternoon lecture he shared his Hallelujah Symptoms. These are signs that only mean one thing when seen clinically. A couple notables include night blindness and blurred vision which always indicate blood deficiency. While this class was interesting, I would have found it more useful a few years earlier in practice. As a side note we learned that Eric Brand will be taking over Bob’s business. We made sure to say hi to him at his booth after class. He’s speaking today, and I’d love to hear what he has to say. It is at the same time as Lonny Jarret though, we’ll see.

Ted Kaptchuck, author of the first book I ever read about Chinese Medicine spoke yesterday. What a character. His lecture about Cinnamon Twig Soup and couldn’t have been more different than Bob. All and all a great experience so far. There’s so much diversity in this profession!

While the title of this post might seem disgusting to some, it’s an exciting breakthrough in perception of our immune systems. This Friday I will be attending the Pacific Symposium for the second year. It is one of the largest acupuncture and Oriental Medicine conferences in the country. World class, veteran practitioners and speakers attend and share information.

One of the highlights from last year was a lecture by Jean Giblette, the founder of Local Herbs. (localherbs.org) She talked about ecological production techniques that are now being used to farm Chinese herbs in the States. What does this mean? In her words, it means the following:

• The ecosystem affects the medicinal properties of plants, a basic principle understood by ancient peoples of Asia and North America.
• A more bio-diverse system, with higher levels of organization, supports a more complex expression of the plant’s capacities.
• Biodiversity can be enhanced by the farmer;  small scale cropping systems are better suited to this goal.
• No (or very few) amendments are added.  Fertility is maintained and enhanced through specific practices that recycle nutrients.
• Wild-simulated medicinal plant cultivation involves a close approximation of natural conditions with minimal interference by the farmer.
• Wild-harvesting on private rather than public lands is preferred.
• Cooperative and local values support farmers, maintain the land, and build economies.
• Sustainability, in localities all over the world, includes preservation of farmers’ knowledge.

In my words, she also talked in detail about the importance of bacteria for the health of a plant. Rather than using pesticides and herbicides to reduce the incidences of disease, adding in beneficial organisms to strengthen the plants immune system. We use to think of the five kingdoms plant, animal, monera, fungi and protista as fingers on the same hand. All are about the same size. We now know that a better model is that of a tree, where plants and animals are one small root and the vast majority of the rest of the tree is bacteria! We are literally swimming in them.

Beyond being exciting for the future of Chinese herb production in this country, I was excited about the parallels than I saw for human immune function. There is a concept in Chinese medicine of the Wei Qi. The Wei Qi is the bodies defensive qi (energy), which protects you from outside “evils” like colds and flu. We are starting to understand the importance of good bacteria such as acidophilusand bifidophilus on our gut and immune function. We add these into our diet as supplements as well as eating more fermented unpasteurized foods, and drinking Kombucha. (yum)

We also understand the role that ”germs” plan on our skin as far as getting us sick.  We wash our hands with hot water and use antibacterial soap to kill the bad guys. Wait….isn’t that what the farmers are advocating against, adding in chemicals to kill the bad stuff? Won’t antibacterial soap kill good bacteria too? Interesting questions. Here’s an excerpt from an article “Is antibacterial soap any better than regular soap?” that offers some answers.

• The antibacterial components of soaps (usually triclosan or, less commonly, triclocarbon) need to be left on a surface for about two minutes in order to work. Most people are not this patient, and end up washing off the soap before the antibacterial ingredients can do their job.
• Some scientists theorize that bacteria may develop a resistance to bactericidal agents over time.
• Some bacteria actually benefit us. The normal population of bacteria on our bodies not only eats our sweat, but also helps defend us against truly harmful, invasive bacteria.
• Many common diseases are viral in nature, anyway, and are therefore not prevented by antibacterial products. http://www.howstuffworks.com/question692.htm

So by killing all the bacteria on you skin (or just partially wounding them) you could potentially weaken you immune system. I think I’ll stick to regular soap and hot water.