Liz Richards, L.Ac. and Lori Reising, LMT of Blossom Clinic are interviewed on pages 18-20 of the May 2013 NW Kids Magazine

Click here to read “Fertility Help, the Natural Way”, an article by Jenny Duvander in NW Kids May 2013 issue (page 18 & 20).  She discusses the importance of acupuncture, nutrition, massage and relaxation for those trying to conceive.  If you have been diagnosed with infertility or will be getting your body ready for pregnancy, this is a great resource.

Great Fertility Health Support and Care. I’ve been seeing Liz Richards at Blossom Clinic since spring 2009. After a having some pregnancy losses at 37 years of age, I really wanted the assistance of Chinese Medicine to enhance my chances of a healthy, viable pregnancy. I tried a few other practitioners but they did not specialize in women’s health and fertility. Luckily I found Blossom Clinic. Within a few months of starting care with Liz I was pregnant and made it through the first trimester without any difficulty. My second trimester was easy and I needed only the support of a great massage by Lori Reising, LMT at Blossom Clinic. With the onset of the discomforts of the third trimester I came back to Liz and have been seeing her since. We are now past our due date and working on enticing our baby out with the help of Liz and Lori. I’m sure with their expertise we will end our fertility story with the beautiful, healthy homebirth that we desire. ESW

As cliche as it may sound, Dr. Elise and Blossom Clinic have changed my life. I’ve had a variety of hard to treat health issues and I had long given up hope that I could have vibrant health. PCOS and a constellation of related issues led to fertility problems and general poor health. After a year of treatment with Dr. Elise, I have energy again, my cycle is almost regulated (after two decades of unpredictability!) and I’m 80 pounds lighter. Dr. Elise took the time to really listen and create an individualized treatment plan. It shows that she truly cares about her patients’ wellbeing and she has always taken the time to explain the science behind her nutritional guidance and treatments. She knows her stuff when it comes to hormonal and gut issues and I cannot recommend her highly enough! I also saw Liz for acupuncture today for the first time. She has such a welcoming and calming style! The clinic offers a range of nutritional and herbal supplements, but I’ve never felt pressured to purchase them in-house though I’ve always been pleased with the quality and price. Really, can’t say enough about Blossom! -NB

Wonderfully caring and supportive. Liz has been great in working with both my husband and I as we went through fertility treatment. After 3 unsuccessful IUIs, we started our first IVF cycle, and began seeing Liz, just prior to the IVF. We were able to successfully conceive and are now awaiting the arrival of our twins this summer. Liz has been very helpful and has provided great insight into issues that have come up along the way. We feel very lucky to have come this far and have to give credit to Liz for her services. I continue to see Liz during my pregnancy and look forward to the comfort and knowledge provided at each session. ML

Wonderful infertility and pregnancy support in Portland, OR. I wanted to recommend both Liz and Lori with whom I had weekly appointments for about three months prior to going through my first round of IVF. I had been diagnosed with endometriosis and thus was having difficulty in becoming pregnant. I went through five cycles of IUI of which none took. I began seeing a new fertility specialist who recommended Blossom Clinic’s services, specifically acupuncture and massage. Both Liz and Lori came very highly recommended. I found both women to be extremely caring, warm and professional. I successfully conceived and delivered a healthy baby boy as a result of my first IVF cycle and I attribute that success to the talent of my reproductive specialist and the highly qualified staff at Blossom Clinic.

I also wanted to add that i am now expecting my second child, whom I was able to conceive naturally. I believe that Liz and Lori have exceptional talents and I truly believe that their treatment helped alleviate my infertility challenges I faced for so many years. Thank you both for your terrific clinic and services.

I had been trying for several months to get pregnant. After just 6 weeks of weekly accupuncture treatments with Liz it happened! During my pregnancy I have been seeing both Liz and Jennie monthly for pregnancy support and I feel great! They are thorough, supportive and professional. As a healthcare professional myself I appreciate their bedside manners and obvious thorough knowledge of women’s health and fertility. I would urge any woman who is considering pregnancy to have a consult with one of them.

A great experience. I was just starting the process of trying to have a baby in June and a friend recommended I try accupuncture. I contacted Liz and after an initial consulation I felt like working with Liz would be a good fit. And my instincts were right – Liz is a great resource, a wonderful sounding board and a great person to have in your corner. Months later, I’m now half way through my pregnancy and I still continue to see Liz for treatments. 

Great experience! I can’t say enough good things about Liz. I found her clinic through city search and immediately set up an appointment. The first visit was very detailed and she listened to all my concerns. Since that first visit, I’ve been seeing her for about four months and her sessions have helped me out tremendously. I saw her pre-pregnancy to help me get pregnant (and I attribute my getting pregnant to acupuncture as well as other medical factors) and I’m now seeing her to help me with nausea during my first trimester. Her sessions ward off nausea for three days, which has been a God send considering I’m throwing up morning and night. In addition to pregnancy related points, Liz has also helped me with digestion.

Her office is great, too. Molly sets up appointments easily and is quick to reschedule me when I have a conflict.

Perhaps most important is feeling taken care of and being listened to when I go for my appointment. Liz never pushes herbs and if she has recommendations, she suggests Whole Foods products. This is different from the naturopaths I’ve worked with, who always wanted me to buy products from them.

All in all, I’m so happy I found Liz and Blossom clinic. They’ve been a great source of support and comfort and I honestly think that Liz’s sessions have helped me so much physically and emotionally.

I started seeing Liz last fall after trying to conceive for quite some time. We were referred to her by Dr. Hesla at Oregon Reproductive Medicine. We were just starting IVF and Dr. Hesla felt that Liz could help assist in our success. I have to say I was a bit skeptical at first, being a Nurse I’m all about the medical field and never envisioned wanting to try acupuncture. After my first few treatments I had a different view on Chinese medicine. Liz was just what I needed; she has a warm welcoming personality. The office has a great atmosphere, the staff is friendly, I couldn’t ask for a better combination. She has followed me through our pregnancy from the beginning of IVF to implantation to just recently for labor prep. I have been completely satisfied with her services and would recommend her to any of my close friends. She is excellent.

To read more reviews, click here.

Today, April 11, 2013 we are having a special package online for acupuncture with Liz Richards, L.Ac.  If you are a regular client this is a great deal!  If you are a new client, these are applied to 60 minute follow-up appointments only (you will need to call/email to book your first appointment which is 90 minutes long).

Purchase must be made online by clicking here.   If you have any problems, send us an email and we are happy to help!

Warmly,

The Team at Blossom

Women across America making placenta encapsulation a part of their postpartum plans for recovery. Science and society are catching up, as further research is exploring the possible benefits of placenta and celebrities like January Jones and Holly Madison are sending out Tweets about their plans to encapsulate. This seemingly unorthodox practice is gaining momentum in the natural childbirth world and as word spreads, mainstream society is taking notice as well.

This morning I got an email from a woman who is terrified of postpartum depression. She wrote in her message that she is “willing to try anything not to experience what I did after my first baby.” This is a common theme of clients who contact me; they are boldly crossing over into the realm of what some might consider witch-doctory—at least before. These days in the Portland mama-world, placenta encapsulation is becoming more commonplace, rubbing shoulders with practices like Holistic Pelvic Care, lactation cookies, hypnobirthing and sitz baths.

In the Portland Metro Area, more and more mothers are deciding to make their placentas into pills as a way to improve their chances of having a smooth postpartum experience. The possible benefits from this practice range from a potential increase to lactation, prevention of the baby blues, helping the uterus return to its natural size, mood balancing, energy enhancement and greater ability to bond with baby. Mothers are sharing their experiences with other moms-to-be, midwives, doulas, naturopaths and Chinese medicine practitioners alike are spreading the word that placenta pills just might be what the doctor ordered–no pun intended.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, placenta is used as a medicinal herb, helping boost Qi, or vital life-essence, and is also tonifying and blood boosting. Placenta would also be given to postpartum women to increase lactation and alleviate symptoms of fatigue. Many naturopaths suggest placenta encapsulation to their pregnant clients, knowing that it is similar to liver, a highly nourishing food that aids the body in healing.  Other cultures have used placenta to aid in postpartum healing, such as in Vietnam, Iran, Germany, Italy, Hungary, by Indigenous people in North America and Africa, to name a few. Around the globe, placenta has been used to benefit a postpartum woman in both her physical and emotional healing.

Let the experts help you encapsulate your placenta!

There is plenty of anecdotal testimonies and cultural evidence to support placenta ingestion as a postpartum recovery aid, but until recently there was little scientific research to support the claims that placenta encapsulation could be of benefit to postpartum women.  A recent study conducted at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas analyzing the hormonal and nutritional content of fresh placenta versus encapsulated placenta (which has been steam-cooked, dehydrated and processed into a powder). The results of this study will be presented at the American Anthropological Association’s Annual Meeting in November 2013.  Researchers leading this study, medical anthropologist Daniel Benyshek and graduate assistant Sharon Young, published the article “Human Maternal Placentophagy: A Survey of Self-Reported Motivations and Experiences Associated with Placenta Consumption” in the journal Ecology of Food and Nutrition in February 2013.  The researchers analyzed the data collected from 189 mothers about their experiences ingesting placenta.  96% of the women expressed that they had a “positive” or “very positive” experience and 98% of women expressed interest to do it again in the future. Most of the women said they chose to ingest placenta to help with their moods and to increase lactation.

Another study of note was conducted in 1954 in Austria. Their research focused on using placenta as a lactagagon (lactation aid). The 210 women they studied were expected to have a low milk-supply and after ingesting placenta over a course of weeks, 86% had a marked increase in their supply. (Soykova-Pachnerova E, et. al.(1954). Gynaecologia 138(6):617-627.)

Many of my clients turn to placenta encapsulation because they are concerned about developing postpartum depression.  Most of them have a history of PMS and know that they get cranky when their hormones are out of balance.  They are hearing tales of women ingesting placenta and having easier postpartum recoveries, and they want this for themselves as well.  Who can blame them?  For some, postpartum recovery can be like a mine field–you never know is about to blow up in your face.  Could it be hemorrhoids? Could it be infant reflux? Night sweats? Anxiety? Involuntarily peeing when you sneeze? I’m not making the claim that placenta will prevent any of these common postpartum complaints, but what it has the potential to do is help a mother’s reaction to such events feel less severe.  Many of my clients report that they feel their moods are more balanced, their emotions more serene and they feel better equipped cheerfully weather the storm of postpartum recovery.

Placenta Encapsulation is the method most new parents are turning to to ingest placenta. It is the most user-friendly and also allows for the mama to take her placenta pills over a longer period of time. The placenta is dehydrated, ground to a powder and then put into capsules, making it look as harmless as a vitamin. Some folks learn how to do this process through the internet, or they hire someone to perform the process for them. Most practitioners will process the placenta in the client’s home and charge a range anywhere from $100-$250 dollars. The result is about 75-200 pills, dependent of course on the size of the placenta.

Women across America making placenta encapsulation a part of their postpartum plans for recovery. Science and society are catching up, as further research is exploring the possible benefits of placenta and celebrities like January Jones and Holly Madison are sending out Tweets about their plans to encapsulate.  This seemingly unorthodox practice is gaining momentum in the natural childbirth world and as word spreads, mainstream society is taking notice as well.

Amanda Englund of Placenta Power

Amanda Englund is a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist and postpartum doula with her business Placenta Power. She lives with her husband and son in Southeast Portland, co-owns Lion Heart Kombucha and loves helping families enjoy life with a new baby.

What old stories do you tell yourself? Are you letting your old stories hold you back?

I am ugly.

 

I have buck teeth.

 

I take bad pictures.

This is an old story I tell myself even as an adult.

I had a patient the other day that went through a health crisis in 2011.  She had a stressful, high demand job and found herself with symptoms that were eventually diagnosed as an invisible migraine.  She became dizzy, disoriented and started losing her peripheral vision.  She thought she was dying.  Two years later, even though she came into my office fit and 30 pounds lighter, she was still telling herself the story that she was sick.  I gently called her out on this.  She mentioned a week later that my comment was a revelation for her.

The day she told me this, I had a phone conversation with a very good friend.  I was telling her about something that I was about to do that was scary for me.  She said, “Liz, I think you are telling yourself an old story.”

HA! I was busted!

I am ugly.

I don’t look good when I smile.

I take bad pictures.

Maybe this is where positive affirmations come in handy:

I am beautiful.

My smile is endearing.

I can take a damn good picture.

What would happen if I told this to myself everyday?  If I turned this into a practice, would I eventually wipe out the old story? If I moved though my fears and followed my heart, could I silence these stories for good? Would I move towards my greatest potential?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – by Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

 

What old stories do you tell yourself? Are you afraid to sing in front of people?  Dance? Play an instrument?  Are you the fat one?  The ugly one? The wimpy one? The poor one? Please share.  I would love to hear from you.  We are all in this together.

Liz Richards, L.Ac.

For me, it was time to listen to that little voice in my head that was speaking the truth.  Here is one thing I know for sure:

When you do not listen to that little voice in your head, your body will scream at you in some way.

You might get a flare up of back pain, regular migraines, fatigue, hives or if you are like me it might manifest in sore throats and psoriasis.  Your body will let you know!  In some ways, you are lucky that your body does this because you can see what you are doing to yourself and hopefully wake up.  I share this blog post with you because I want you to know that you can absolutely set intention and make changes in your life.  When I ended 2012 with the intention to make change, I focused on diet (eliminating wheat and coffee), exercise (barre3 and yoga) and sleep.  I ended up making the best change of all in the end.  I started somewhere and ended up in an unexpected place with truth and peace in my heart.

In 2009, my sister went into labor prematurely with triplets at 23 weeks gestation due to a detached placenta (exactly four years ago today).  She had been to the emergency room for abdominal pain a couple of days earlier and was sent home with “gas pains”.  When she started bleeding and was admitted to the hospital, she was faced with the decision of how to terminate the pregnancy.  Something in her blood levels miraculously changed and she was given the option of delivering the babies via C-section.  Babies are not usually revived before 24 weeks but they made an exception for her babies born one day short of that marker.  My sister was on the operating room table for hours and almost died.  She had about 8 pints of blood transfused into her body.  When I heard the news on the phone that she was having the babies I cried, “It’s too early!! Mom, they are not going to make it!”

My grief was palpable and intense and I was stunned into emotional paralysis.  I called a neighbor to come over to help me find a flight home.   My husband didn’t know what to do with me.  I just cried.  That flight from Oregon to New York was so sad.

My sister delivered Amelia, Veronica and Benjamin at 23 weeks, 6 days and they weighed barely over a pound each.  I remember watching them through the NICU window blinds.  I had seen surgery before in my time as a hospital intern in college but never had I seen surgery on such a small being and on someone I loved dearly.  There were so many questions regarding brain bleeds, respiratory weakness, and heart problems and on and on.  Amelia passed 20 days later as my sisters and dad watched her tubes get unplugged.  I can’t imagine having witnessed that.

Benjamin and Veronica miraculously pulled through.  They were (and still are) little miracles.  They turn 4 this year!

Veronica at 11 weeks in the NICU

2009 was a hard year for me.  I had already had problems sleeping since having kids but on that trip back to NY my insomnia got worse.  I also developed walking pneumonia (in Chinese Medicine, grief resides in the lungs so this makes complete sense).  It was the same year that I was opening up my clinic after having been in practice for 7 years.  My boys were 4 and 2.  I lived 3000 miles away from my family in NY.  I had no choice but to plough through.

In 2010 I had 7 incidences of strep throat and developed an odd form of psoriasis called Gutatte Psoriasis that is mysteriously related to strep.  My body was covered in dry, scaly patches.  For Halloween, I dressed as a banana with only my face showing to hide my embarrassment.  I promised myself that if I ever got rid of the patches I would show off my legs once again.  My June 2011 the skin issue was mostly resolved after months of herbs and a lot of happy Zumba (I always say that I danced through 2010). I started to feel like myself again.

Why do I mention all of this? In 2009 I started a bad habit of taking an Advil PM before bed or some form of the antihistamine diphenhydramine (Simply Sleep, Excedrin PM, Benadryl- they all have it).  Everything out there says that it is not habit-forming but I completely disagree!  Over the next 3.5 years I took some form of it almost every night, most of the time only a third of a tablet but I still continued to take it out of fear of insomnia.  That is the weird thing about insomnia:  The fear of it in itself creates it!  I noticed that if I took more than a half of a capsule I was very moody the next morning and I was thirsty all night (which did not improve my sleep).  But the fear of no sleep outweighed the nasty side effects.  I am sure the dryness it created made the psoriasis and the sore throat incidences worse.

Over the last 3 months in my effort to gain even greater health, I finally weaned myself completely off of the shit (excuse me but I am from NY and cursing is a natural extension of expression).  And I replaced the habit with a healthier ritual.  It took three weeks of prep.  It took three weeks of adding herbs in from my Naturopath, listening to meditations every night before bed, and doing things like removing my iphone from my bedside.  I have continued this for three months and now and when I get ready for bed, I feel safe.  I know that my new behaviors will help me get to sleep easily and I won’t be groggy in the morning.  My dreams are back in full force (Hey, Prince Harry it was nice to meet you the other night!).  I made a choice and I changed the residual nasty habit that I had been embarrassed about for over three years. Halleluiah! I have heard that it takes 21 days to break a habit.  I would say that I have to agree with that in this case.

Is there anything that you know you need to change?  Are there any habits or old stories that you are holding on to?  I hope my story inspires you to start somewhere and get the help you need to change.  Do you have any habits that you began at a time that was hard in your life?  Are you still in the same situation?  What behavior do you engage in that you feel bad about? Is there a habit that you can bump out and replace with a healthier ritual?

Benjamin and Veronica 2013

Liz richards, L.Ac.

It’s that time of year…. Spring Cleanse 2013!

Dr. Elise’s two-week program is simple and easy to follow.  It is not a fast, but an elimination diet, which includes 3 meals a day and is appropriate for omnivores and vegetarians alike.  Participants are fully supported by Dr. Elise with an introductory class* and individual appointments to personalize the experience.

The benefits of the cleanse are many.  There is no better way to shed those extra winter pounds, banish the afternoon energy slump or reduce your susceptibility to spring allergies.

Here ‘s what one person had to say about our fall cleanse:

I really enjoyed the experience as a whole. It was kind of fun to be mindful of what I was eating and to try to break some bad habits at the same time. -MSL

The Spring Cleanses Package includes:

• An introductory class* Saturday, March 30^th,
• Two in-office appointments to personalize the cleanse to your individual health needs.
• A mid-cleanse conference call on Monday, April 8^th at 7pm
• A Cleanse Protein Powder, Detox Formula and Herbal Detox Tea.

Price for Spring Cleanse Package is $198.00 (a $145 savings).

If you wish, you may add two discounted Acupuncture treatments for an additional $110 (a $60 savings). We can schedule those for you at any time.

Sign up for the Spring Cleanse Class* online here.  You can also purchase the package by clicking here!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dr. Elise’s cleanse safe to do while trying to get pregnant?

It’s not only safe, but a great way to prepare the body for healthy pregnancy.

How is this cleanse going to affect my energy level?

Except in the first 2-3 days while the body is eliminating the excesses of our usual diets, cleanse participants report a more balanced energy throughout the day and more energy in general. Unlike some fasts, this cleanse includes three meals a day which works to balance blood sugar.

*If you are not able to attend the introductory class, we can extend your initial office visit to 90 minutes to include explanation.

We say in Chinese Medicine,

Where the mind goes, the Qi goes.

If we can use our mind and direct our breath to various parts of the body, we can bring our qi there as well.  I think about this every time I needle.  I needle with intention.

I  like to encourage my patients to visualize what is going on inside their bodies as well. Here are some links to help you visualize both ovulation and embryo implantation.

"Where the Mind Goes, the Qi Goes." Where can you bring your mind?

Ovulation:  Here is a great video from Mayo Clinic demonstrating ovulation.

Embryo Implantation: After IVF embryo transfer or around the time of implantation 6-12 days post ovulation, I like to visualize what an embryo looks like when it is embedding itself into the uterine wall.  What amazes me most about this process is the synergy between the embryo and the blood vessels of the uterus, how they seemingly communicate with each other.

This is a great video, called Life’s Greatest Miracle, from pbs.org showing development from the embryonic stage forward.

If you have any other videos or pictures to share, please let me know!

Liz Richards, L.Ac.

The next HypnoBirthing® series will begin in June, 2013 at Blossom Clinic in Portland, Oregon. Contact us and we will coordinate a start date based on participants' schedules.

HypnoBirthing® is a rewarding, relaxing, stress-free method of birthing that is based on the belief that all babies should come into the world in an atmosphere of gentility, calm and joy.  When a mother is properly prepared for birthing physically, mentally, and spiritually, she can experience that sort of joy, birthing her baby is an easier, more comfortable and often, even pain-free manner.  Through a well-thought-out program of deep relaxation, self-hypnosis, and education, HypnoBirthing® returns to a woman the art of birthing in a way that allows her to summon her natural birthing instincts and to birth her baby in safety and with ease. In HypnoBirthing® the birth companion is an integral part of the birthing process, enhancing the entire bonding experience.

This class is taught by Lori Reising, CHT, LMT.

Sign up for the HypnoBirthing® classes online!

Reviews from Yelp:

“My husband and I met Lori when we decided to take her HypnoBirthing class during my first pregnancy.  My husband had very low expectations, coming from our second hospital birthing class, into our first hypnobirthing class.  After the first class, he was so relaxed and positive about the pregnancy and birthing process, it was amazing the transformation.  Lori was a phenomenal guide through the process and made the anticipation of birth so enjoyable. 

I would also highly recommend Lori for massage therapy.  I have had back problems related to a car accident and Lori helped me greatly during my pregnancy with massage and relief of my lower back. She also did cranial sacral work on my baby after she was born via C Section.  The care and energy that Lori has fills the room and makes you feel so comfortable.

I highly recommend Lori for your massage needs and hypnobirthing classes.  She made our birth experience wonderful.”

_______________

“I attribute my healthy, natural birthing experience to Lori’s HypnoBirthing instruction. I had so much confidence when I went into labor because of her classes. Throughout the entire birthing process I was able to recall and apply specific visualizations exercises.  During contractions, I was able to go within myself and recall the affirmations on the HypnoBirthing CDs she provided.  I know that being able to enter the HypnoBirthing state allowed for a gentle experience for both myself and my baby.

I recently moved to Portland from Chicago, and I know that my birthing experience would have been 100% different had I given birth when I was there.  I would never have known the natural high that came from foregoing an epidural and giving birth with minimal medical intervention.  The benefits of this type of birthing continued as I had a ton of energy in the days/weeks immediately after giving birth. Out of all of my “new mom friends”, I am the only one who relishes her birthing experience and would not change one single thing about it!”

Click Here to Enter by 2/13/13

Click HERE to enter!

Here’s what you could win!

Grand Prize - Gift certificates for a 90 minute  Massage, 90 minute Acupuncture session,a 90 minute Naturopathic Medicine visit and dinner for two at Abby’s Table! Plus a $20 iTunes gift card and a lavender eye pillow. Valued at $525.

First Prize - 60 Minute Massage and a lavender eye pillow.

Second Prize - 30 Minute Cranio-Sacral session.