tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675172059641275312024-03-12T18:15:39.128-07:00Inner Gate Acupuncture BlogInner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-63110219538218847882010-05-05T14:35:00.000-07:002010-05-05T14:36:32.208-07:00Portland Acupuncture Project - Urban NeedlesThe Portland Acupuncture Project, a 6 month long installation, explores the interface between art, regional planning, traditional Chinese medicine and the health of a city. This project is being sponsored by the OAAOM (Oregon Association of Acupuncture an Oriental Medicine) in concert with the Department of Planning and Stability, METRO, the Regional Arts and Culture Council, the Oregon Arts Commission and the Northwest Health Foundation. <br /><br />The artist, Adam Kuby, explains that he uses “…the body as a metaphor for the entire city…hop[ing] to identify those places in the landscape that are important to us as a community, drawing attention not only to the significance of each focal point but also to the interconnectedness of them to each other as well as to ourselves.” The 4 goals of the 35 foot tall needles are to:<br /><br />create visual links to the “The Portland Plan,” the city's 25 year strategic planning effort happening now<br />help people connect their own individual bodies and individual health to the health of their city<br />spotlight the acupuncture profession and generate local & national press coverage<br />offer acupuncture demonstrations and treatments at various sculpture sites during the installation<br /><br />City planners hope this instillation will stimulate public discourse about the Portland Plan, a guide for the city’s growth over the next 25 years. The Portland Plan ( HYPERLINK "http://www.portlandonline.com/portlandplan" www.portlandonline.com/portlandplan) examines the challenges we face around education, affordable housing, livability, and environmental sustainability and sets lofty goals to ensure that all these issues are addressed in future planning. The needles will be placed in areas that bring attention to the some of the city's most challenging problems, greatest assets, and enormous potential.<br /><br />The first 5 needles, made out of super strong, high-tensile steel that is still light enough to be lifted manually, will be placed along the Willamette and the Columbia Rivers. The initial instillations draw attention to these ancient waterways as the reason for Portland's existence, while also pointing to specific challenges and opportunities they are facing today. You can learn more about the artist, the project and the location of all the needle installations at http://acuportland.org/.Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-10730234239666762092010-03-05T11:52:00.000-08:002010-03-05T11:57:04.990-08:00C-Sections: Not Something To Take Lightly<meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel="File-List" href="file:///Users/erikisaacman/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Clipboard/msoclip1/01/clip_clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Courier New"; panose-1:0 2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 16 0 0 -2147483648 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Times;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:367531137; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-2035635482 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l1 {mso-list-id:795298809; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-1196516996 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713;} @list l1:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l2 {mso-list-id:1742361040; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-614425804 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713;} @list l2:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >A recent article in <i>Lancet</i></span><span style=";font-family:";" >, a leading medical journal out of England, cites a spike in cesarean sections (c-section) over the last decade.<span style=""> </span>The greatest rise was seen in China, where this surgery was performed in 46% of all deliveries. In Chinese culture, this spike is tied to an increase in wealth, a perception of modernity, and even a desire to have your child born on a “lucky” birthday.<span style=""> </span>However, this rise in c-sections can be seen across the entire globe and over every socioeconomic class.<span style=""> </span>Even in the United States the rate of c-sections has risen from 4.5% back in 1965 to 33% in 2007.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >There are many reasons why this rise is happening.<span style=""> </span>Research suggests that the natural contractions of the uterus are disrupted by the continual electronic monitoring of the baby as well as by the administration of epidurals early in the delivery. Women are rarely being advised of all their birthing options, perhaps because as medicine becomes more advanced a more casual attitude towards major surgeries is taking hold.<span style=""> </span>It is easier to “go in” and get the baby then invest the time and energy in having a doula or other trained professional present to assist in a natural birth. One is also left to wonder whether insurance compensation practices pressure doctors to deliver in an efficient manner, as a long, drawn out delivery is still reimbursed as just “a delivery”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >It is important to realize that c-sections pose a great deal of risk to both the mother and the child. Mothers will have uterine scarring after the c-section that increases the future chances of infertility, ectopic pregnancies and placenta previa, a condition where the placenta develops across the cervix, increasing the risk of miscarriage.<span style=""> </span>A higher rate of unexplainable fetal demise happens after week 34, late in the 3<sup>rd</sup> trimester, in women who have scarred uteruses.<span style=""> </span>And the one proposed benefit of a c-section, protecting the pelvic floor and reducing future incontinence, seems over emphasized.<span style=""> </span>Minimal differences exist 6 months postpartum and by age 50 no noticeable difference in the strength and function of the pelvic floor is detectable.<span style=""> </span>Furthermore, this concern can be offset by regularly practicing simple pelvic floor exercises.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >Babies, too, are put at risk when a c-section is performed.<span style=""> </span>A recent study has shown that the normal infant mortality rate in the United States, 0.62 deaths per 1000 vaginal births, <b>jumps 3 fold</b></span><span style=";font-family:";" > to 1.77 deaths per 1000 when a c-section is performed.<span style=""> </span>While this is still considerably low, it is cause for concern.<span style=""> </span>These deaths can be the result of something as simple as being cut during the procedure or as complicated as developing dyspnea, a breathing disorder, after they are born.<span style=""> </span>Dyspnea can develop in weaker children who are unable to clear out the amniotic fluid in their lungs that would normally be pushed out by the natural physical compression of the lungs during vaginal birth. Children delivered via c-section have high levels of pain medicines in their systems, leaving them sleepy and uninterested in breastfeeding. These children often lose interest in breast-feeding and again if already weakened, can fail to thrive.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >Cesarean sections are one example of the great strides modern medicine has made to save lives and avert emergencies.<span style=""> </span>However, this is a major surgery that does come with serious risks, and anyone planning a family should evaluate the pros and cons prior to their delivery date. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-35128216665375679882010-01-14T16:32:00.000-08:002010-01-14T16:33:03.868-08:00Largest Drop In Health Care Spending in 50 Years<span class="date"></span> <p>Spending on health care slowed in 2008, according to a government report released Tuesday. In fact, health spending grew more slowly than at any time in at least a half-century. </p><p>However, the annual health spending statistics published by the Department of Health and Human Services are a classic case of good news and bad news.</p><p>The good news: Health spending slowed down. Way down, said Anne Martin, one of the authors of the study published in the current issue of the policy journal <em>Health Affairs.</em></p><p>"National health spending growth slowed in 2008 to 4.4 percent, the slowest rate of growth in the National Health Expenditure Accounts."</p><p>In other words, the slowest growth since the government has kept records. </p><p>The bad news: Health care still totaled $2.3 trillion in 2008. That's more than $7,600 per man, woman and child. Plus it still grew faster than the rest of the economy. </p><p>There's still more bad news, says Rick Foster, the chief actuary at HHS. A major reason health spending slowed is that with the bad economy, many people simply couldn't afford medical care.</p><p>"In many cases they lost their employee-sponsored health benefits at the same time they lost their jobs. So that meant that the cost of care was much much higher because they had to pay it out of pocket. So some people presumably scaled back on their purchases."</p><p>Analysts say that given the depth of the recession, the problems with health spending probably didn't get any better in 2009.</p>Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-8913115422779234232009-12-07T12:38:00.001-08:002009-12-08T09:19:34.009-08:00Antacids inhibit Probiotic efficacyPatients are often prescribed probiotics to replenish their system with healthy bacteria in order to improved their digestion and prevent the overgrowth of yeast. Probiotics encapsulated in enteric coating have a better chance of passing undisturbed through the stomach and reaching the intestines. We have recently learned that when taken with prescription antacids, the effectiveness of the enteric coating is neutralized. These antacids change the environment of the stomach, increasing the breakdown of the protective coating. <p>We regularly prescribe probiotics for patients with gastro-intestinal disorders. It is our experience that when taken 30 minutes prior to an antacid, the above complications are eliminated.</p>Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-79831087465937028522009-12-07T12:37:00.001-08:002009-12-07T12:37:55.315-08:00High Marks for Inner Gate Acupuncture<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin></w> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Courier New"; panose-1:0 2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 16 0 0 -2147483648 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Times;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:542209127; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-520599832 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> <!--StartFragment--><span style="">Inner Gate Acupuncture would like to thank those of you who took the time to fill out the Kaiser CHP Practitioner Satisfactory Survey earlier this fall.<span> </span>Oliver and Erik were evaluated and you gave them very high marks, 98% and 96% respectively.<span> </span>Your feedback not only helped Kaiser realize how effective acupuncture is, but also how appreciative you are to be able to access acupuncture.<span> </span>It also helped Inner Gate Acupuncture learn how to better serve and treat our patient.<span> </span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Below are the remarkable scores that you gave us:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="">99% of those surveyed reported that our treatments helped</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="">88% of those surveyed reported that our treatments helped reduce prescription drug intake</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="">92 % of those surveyed reported that our treatments helped reduce the use of other medical care for the same problem</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Better than the above marks were the comments you chose to share with Kaiser.<span> </span>Erik “has relieved nerve pain that many MD’s couldn’t”.<span> </span>He was described as “compassionate, caring, well-informed” and “awesome”.<span> </span>One patient enjoyed seeing Erik because “he really makes me feel comfortable to discuss anything…which is the most valued thing as a patient”.<span> </span>Oliver was described as “awesome !”, “very attentive, very helpful”, “extremely nice and caring and easy to talk to” and as someone who is a great teacher.<span> </span>However, the award winning description is that Oliver “is the bomb diggity of acupuncture.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Good job guys. Keep up the good work.</span></p>Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-1230887023351795742009-12-07T12:36:00.002-08:002009-12-07T12:37:18.487-08:00The Merchants of Hongcun<img class="ccm-image-block" alt="Hongcun" src="http://innergateacupuncture.com/files/8812/5525/7420/5873855599.jpg" border="0" height="416" width="318" /><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin></w> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Courier New"; panose-1:0 2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 16 0 0 -2147483648 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Times;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:934633731; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-91462988 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> <!--StartFragment--></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Anhui, a landlocked, mountainous province, is today one of the poorest areas in China.<span> </span>But this was not always the case.<span> </span>Because there was such limited land on which to grow rice and raise livestock, the people of Anhui turned to commerce for their livelihood.<span> </span>Harvesting bamboo, silk and tea locally, they used a complex system of river ways to bring their products to market in Hangzhou, some 200 miles away.<span> </span>They also made a lot of money in trading salt (very much like stock traders buying and selling pork bellies in today’s market) and in running pawnshops.<span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">As they gained wealth they invested it in their homes. Traditionally, merchants were very low in the social hierarchy, below government officials, the literati and even farmers.<span> </span>Therefore, they built the outside of their homes with simple brick and plaster, so as not to upset the established social order by suggesting that they had more wealth or power than government official, even if they truly did.<span> </span>The outside also lacks windows (though there are numerous sky lights) and the walls are built taller than the roofs, to prevent robberies while away on business. However, once inside it is evident that the homes were anything but simple.<span> </span>Rooms are built with the finest teak wood.<span> </span>Every room is decorated with ornate carvings depicting the wishes of the owner—100 boys in the bedroom, the character for “longevity” in the in-laws quarters, famous quotes by great scholars in the study.<span> </span>Lavish courtyards are spread throughout the compound offering areas of leisure for the families.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The city of Hongcun, depicted in these pictures and used as the site of the opening scene of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, is 900 years old. It was moved to this location after a fire destroyed the previous city.<span> </span>Shortly after the move 2 more fires plagued the city.<span> </span>The city people decided to set up a system of canals that run through the city, so that fires can be easily extinguished.<span> </span>The houses are built in close proximity and the fact that they a made out of brick on the outside also helps prevent a fire spreading from one house to another.<span> </span>This small town is a reflection of the great wealth and prosperity that inhabited the valleys of Anhui in previous times.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p> </p><img class="ccm-image-block" alt="" src="http://innergateacupuncture.com/files/2712/5525/7581/5873872935.jpg" border="0" height="532" width="410" /><img class="ccm-image-block" alt="" src="http://innergateacupuncture.com/files/9612/5525/8352/5873926070.jpg" border="0" height="249" width="374" />Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-81260249292487367122009-12-07T12:36:00.001-08:002009-12-07T12:36:33.044-08:00Efficiency in Chinese Hospitals<p><span style="">I came down with a cold a few days ago and it quickly dropped into my chest.<span> </span>Each time I coughed I was rocked with intense pain in my left lung, like someone was cutting me with a knife.<span> </span>I was left stooped over in pain, catching my breathe for a minute, dreading the next cough.<span> </span>Having just spent a week helping a student recover from pneumonia, I wanted to rule out any possibility that she had passed it on to me.<span> </span>I was hyper-paranoid because I was about to visit my 4-year-old daughter and my 4-month-old nephew and I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t going to put their health at risk. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">To rule out pneumonia you need to get a chest x-ray.<span> </span>The speed at which the whole process unfolded was astounding.<span> </span>I walked into the emergency room and walked right over to a doctor.<span> </span>Within 2 minutes I had an order for a chest x-ray.<span> </span>After paying $12 (for the doctor’s time and the x-ray) I went directly to the radiology department where I was the 10<sup>th</sup> person in line, and yet, 10 minutes later my name was called.<span> </span>The nurse closed the lead doors behind us, showed me where to stand, hit a few buttons, and sent me on my way.<span> </span>The longest part of the process was waiting for my results, a whole 15 minutes, about the time it took me to write this document.<span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">When the process was all said and done, I spent 45 minutes and $12 dollars ruling out pneumonia.<span> </span>I am fortunate to have a <strong>GOOD </strong></span><span style="">insurance plan, and yet I would have paid hundreds of dollars and spent numerous hours going through the same process in the U.S.<span> </span>While we all understand how troubled our medical system is, what most people don’t understand is just how cost effective and efficient other countries medical systems are.<span> </span>While China numerous challenges as it moves towards a 1<sup>st</sup> world country, her is one area where they are far more advanced than the U.S. </span></p>Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-78204598218949218952009-12-07T12:34:00.000-08:002009-12-07T12:35:27.301-08:00High Brow Culture in China<img class="ccm-image-block" alt="" src="http://innergateacupuncture.com/files/6612/5409/9667/5769361592.jpg" border="0" height="238" width="400" /><p><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>While you come in a rush, when you leave please flush</strong></span></p><p>There has been a big push in the last decade in China to get people to make simple adjustments in their day to day life that will greatly improve public health. Don't spit in public. Don't litter. Wash your hands. The fun thing about these campaigns is that the Chinese like to play on homonyms. The image above, stuck to the wall in the back of a bathroom stall, reads:</p> <p>"Lai Ye Chongchong, Qu Qing Chongchong"</p> <p>In this case, the focus is on the word "chong", which here means "to be in a rush" and "to flush the toilet". (This campaign is brought to you by "Comfortable Rectum, healing hemorroids with a patch you stick on your belly button.") </p> <p>In chinese, the number of sounds are far more limited than in English. In order to have a rich and articulate language, they relay on 4 tones so that the sound "chong" for instance, can be pronounce with 1 of 4 tones. However, even within the same sounds with the same tone, there are numerous meanings which can only be clarified by reading the character. It all makes for a very challenging language for an American to study, but a fun and subtle language with numerous levels that the Chinese enjoy.</p>Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-54962814876492665152009-12-07T12:33:00.000-08:002009-12-07T12:34:04.860-08:00Cat Guts Used To Treat Obesity<img src="http://innergateacupuncture.com/files/3212/5409/9573/5769348313.jpg" alt="IMG_5602.JPG" height="450" width="300" /> <p style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin></w> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Courier New"; panose-1:0 2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 16 0 0 -2147483648 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Times;} h1 {mso-style-next:Normal; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; page-break-after:avoid; mso-outline-level:1; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Times; mso-font-kerning:0pt;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:170218874; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-58314520 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l1 {mso-list-id:2112434696; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:753714632 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713;} @list l1:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> <!--StartFragment--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">As China’s unparalleled and sustained economic growth enters its 4<sup>th</sup> decade a burgeoning middle class is gaining modern apartments, flat screen televisions, SUVs, and potbellies. That’s right, China is get fat, though they still have a long way to go to reach the size of their American Idols. With the widening waist lines comes a staggering spike in fatty livers, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. While China is a communist country, it does have self-proclaimed “special characteristics”, meaning capitalism. Where there is a disease, there is a dollar to be made on a treatment. And when it comes to obesity there are numerous treatments being promoted, most interesting, and shocking, of which is the “Cat Guts Treatment”.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">In a nut shell, people are having “cat guts” inserted at acupuncture points so that they can lose weight. What?!?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The Chinese name for this treatment, Yang Chang Xian, literally translates as “Lamb Intestine Sutures”. So which one is it? Lamb intestines or cat guts? Neither. In actuality, it is a very thin suture that has been soaked in Chinese herbs (no one knows which ones because the company closely guards its trade secrets) and polarized with powerful magnets. The suture is placed in to a hollow point, 18 gauge needle (the size and type that is used to draw blood) and then the needle is jammed (literally) into an acupuncture point and/or “fat area” of the body that the patient wants reduced. The practitioner wiggles the needle around, trying to stimulate the acupuncture point, and then press a button at the top of the needle that release the suture into the skin. A band-aid is placed over the insertion point to prevent any bleeding. While this sounds terribly uncomfortable, the patients swear that 90% of the time it does not hurt, and their calm demeanor on the table suggests the same.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The “Cat Guts” are placed in about 10-15 points in the body, concentrating mostly in the abdomen, love handles, hips and upper thigh. The patient is then sent home for 2 weeks, at which point they come back for another treatment. Patients report losing 4-6 lbs of weight over a two week period. The weight loss results from continuous stimulation at acupuncture points that promote GI function, from a decrease in appetite and from extra metabolic energy being used by the body to absorb the suture.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Women are seeking this treatment in droves and by any standard BMI (Body Mass Index) are far from obese. The most common reasons voiced for getting this treatment are:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Young women who are trying to find jobs and feel that if they are thin it will be easier</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">People who are not interested in working out but still want to lose weight</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">People who are not interested in changing their diets but still want to lose weight</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">T</span>his treatment can cost anywhere from 200-1000 yuan (28-140 USD) per treatment, depending on whether the procedure is done in a subsidized, government run hospital or in a private clinic. This is 5-25 times more expensive than a standard acupuncture treatment, which runs about 40 yuan, but unlike the acupuncture, which is administered daily for a course of 10 treatments, this procedure is only done twice a month. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Cat guts anyone?</p>Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-1693063674463914092009-12-07T12:32:00.000-08:002009-12-07T12:33:14.655-08:00H1N1 in China<p class="MsoNormal">The moment you get on a plane to China the search for H1N1, the swine flu, is on. You are peppered with questions before landing, you walk through a metal detector that has been jerry rigged to measure your temperature, and health officials coral you into a room marked “quarantine” if you look tired.<span> </span>This happened to one of our students who was tired because she had been traveling for over 24 hours.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The hysteria amped up when I brought a student to the hospital with nausea and a fever<span> </span>a day later<span> </span>After testing her blood and taking her temperature they told us that she had to stay in the hospital that night until a throat swab could be done and an H1N1 test came back negative.<span> </span>I protested because I had 12 other students back at the hotel waiting for me and I could not leave this one in the hospital without a translator. However, we had set a chain of events into motion that was now being monitored by provincial officials.<span> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Over the next 24 hours the student was quarantined, or “jailed” as she put it, in one of the most sparsely furnished rooms.<span> </span>She slept on a bed with many-day old sheets in a room that was painted white but had the stains of years of dirt and disease on the walls. The windows were barred, keeping her in but not keeping the mosquitoes out.<span> </span>The walls of every room were covered with charts screaming “H1N1”, reminding you to wash your hands, showings images of Caucasian women coughing clouds of disease, and telling doctors and patients alike the chain of care and command as the disease progresses.<span> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal">24 hours later, 3 IV drips later, 15 phone calls later and 4 doctor changes later, the H1N1 diagnosis came back negative and we were allowed to go home.<span> </span></p> <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-48217002668827905872009-12-07T12:31:00.000-08:002009-12-07T12:32:19.566-08:00Erik goes to China - 2009<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Erik is returning to China for 5 week, taking alumni and recent graduates from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine to Nanjing, China where the students willl spend 4 weeks training in a local hospitals. This is his third year leading the trip. While it is a burden to Inner Gate to have him gone, each year he brings back new and exciting treatment protocols which enhances the care our patients receive. This year Erik will study with a famous fertility doctor and two pain specialists. He will also spend 5 days in Wenzhou, China celebrating the marriages of both his brother-in-law and his cousin</span></span> <p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While Erik is away his patients will continue to receive care from Oliver and Casey. Inner Gate Acupuncture is also excited to introduce Lindsay Matthews, L.Ac, who will be spending 3 days a week treating patient. Lindsay is an OCOM alumni and a past student of Erik’s in China. She enjoys working with athletes and sports related injuries, as well as educating patients in preventative care techniques. She is also developing a practice in the field of Integrative Oncology, offering acupuncture and herbal medicine to those going through Western cancer therapies.</span></span></p> <p><img src="http://innergateacupuncture.com/files/4712/5252/4498/IMG_9489.jpg" alt="IMG_9489.jpg" height="216" width="172" /></p> <p>Lindsay Matthews, L.Ac</p>Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167517205964127531.post-83790082923660685012009-12-07T12:30:00.000-08:002009-12-07T12:31:07.528-08:00Birth of Ollie's new daughter - Opal Mae<h1>Birth of Ollie's new daughter - Opal Mae</h1> <p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://innergateacupuncture.com/files/2812/5251/4009/5635185045.jpg" alt="Sophia_Opal.jpg" height="230" width="162" /></p> <p style="text-align: left;">Oliver and his wife Anne are excited to announce the birth of their second baby, Opal Mae Leonetti, on August 15th, 2009.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Vital Stats:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">6lbs, 11 oz</p> <p style="text-align: left;">20.5 inches long</p> <p style="text-align: left;"> </p> <p style="text-align: left;">Oliver has just returned from a 2 week paternity leave and reports that "Opal is growing, pooping, and generally happy." While Opal is spending most of her time with mom, Oliver is enjoying extended time with his oldest daughter, Sophia, who is very excited to be a big sister.</p>Inner Gate Acupuncturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505886573143959512noreply@blogger.com0