The MediClear Cleanse is user friendly. In this cleanse, you eliminate foods that are commonly allergenic or inflammatory for 15 days. Continue reading
Summer MediClear Cleanse
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Tag Archives: portland oregon
Spring Cleanse Package Offered by Blossom Clinic
Ready for a gentle approach to change? We are offering a rejuvenating Spring Cleanse package Continue reading
Types of Massage at Blossom Clinic in Portland, OR
Blossom Clinic offers multiple types of massage therapy. Here is a description of each form offered.
This is a specialized form of Asian bodywork therapy that combines a deep circular rhythmic pressure and acu-point stimulation. The treatment is based on Chinese medical principles for accessing and treating imbalances in the energy system. Amma Therapy, like acupuncture, focuses on the balance and movement of Qi (energy) within the body by utilizing the sensitivity and strength of the hands rather than needles. Amma Therapy can be used on infants to elders for the treatment of many conditions; including autoimmune disorders, women’s disorders, digestive complaints, headaches and more.
Arvigo Technique Maya Abdominal Massage (ATMAM)
This massage is centered on the ancient Mayan techniques, which reposition organs that have dropped and restricted the flow of blood, lymph, nerves & chi energy. Arvigo Techniques seek to restore the body to its natural balance. Maya massage is used to help the body heal from a number of conditions such as painful periods, irregular cycles, endometriosis, miscarriages and a displaced/tilted uterus.
Craniosacral Therapy
A subtle therapy that may facilitate change throughout the areas where the body’s cerebrospinal fluid is limited, confined or immobilized. This approach enables the body to heal itself through the fluid movement of cranial bones and surrounding fascia and aids relaxation of the central nervous system.
Deep Tissue
Deep Tissue massage uses strong pressure to reach below the superficial connective tissue layers to treat chronic pain and/or untreated past injuries. The therapist uses slow deep strokes and cross fiber friction to break up old adhesions and held structural dsyfunction patterns. The use of controlled pressure increases nutrients, oxygen and blood flow into the problem areas. Deep tissue massage may be helpful for reducing pain, increasing range of motion, breaking up scar tissue or adhesions. It is good for people who have chronic joint or tendon injuries, or chronic muscle strain.
Infant Massage Workshops
Infant massage helps to increase the baby’s immune system, enhances nutrients being absorbed and relieves the discomforts from teething, gas, colic and constipation. Learning infant massage is a great way to build the bond between parent and baby. By spending more one on one time with your baby during massage you will be able to recognize your baby’s cues more quickly and effectively.
This is a body-mind-spirit approach for the evaluation and treatment of the bodily structure. Treatment of the fascial system or connective tissue helps to assist in the release of emotional cellular memory from past traumas; correct postural imbalance; release scar tissue and assist the body in letting go of chronic painful holding patterns. The release of fascia also improves the fluidity of the body and its ability to conduct bio-electricity.
Pregnancy massage may help to stabilize hormone levels, reduce edema, increase energy levels, relieve muscle strain, promote relaxation of both mother and baby and allow for greater flexibility during labor.
Swedish Massage
Light to medium pressure massage consisting of five basic strokes. These techniques encourage heat production, muscle lengthening and relaxation, stimulation of blood flow, stress reduction, increased immune response and other related benefits.
Wholistic Nutrition Class for Community Members & Professionals
Clients of Blossom Clinic receive a 25% discount to this class!
Pregnant at 44!
Here is an interview with a former patient who was able to conceive against the odds at age 44.
How old were you and what was your FSH when you tried to get pregnant with your second child? What did the doctors say about this?
–I started trying to conceive my second child when I was 42. I didn’t seek medical intervention until I was 44. By this time, my FSH was 10. It fell to 6 when I took the fertility drug Clomid. The doctors I consulted were willing to work with me, but they were careful not to raise my expectations. (I think I surprised them when I called to schedule a prenatal appointment!)
What turned you on to Chinese Medicine?
–After two and a half months with no success on Clomid, I started wondering about other ways to boost my fertility. I didn’t have any experience with acupuncture, but I was intrigued by what I learned from the Blossom website. And when I called to schedule an initial consultation with Liz, she recommended two books: Fertility Wisdom by Angela C. Wu and the The Infertility Cure by Randine A. Lewis. Both of these books include truly inspirational examples of women my age (and older) who relied on Chinese Medicine to achieve successful, healthy pregnancies.
What kind of advice would you give someone who is told that they have a small chance of conceiving on their own?
–Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Western medicine tends to focus on statistics. Here is an example of one statistic I encountered when I was thinking about a second child: “A forty year old woman has a less than 10% chance of having a successful pregnancy using her own eggs.” My doctors also warned me about my elevated risk of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities. By contrast, Liz never gave me the sense that my efforts to conceive and carry a healthy baby were futile. She counseled me to make some changes in my diet, try herbal supplements, and come in for regular acupuncture sessions. Less than two months after my first appointment with Liz, I was pregnant. I am now solidly into my second trimester and expecting a healthy baby boy in January.
Acupuncture on the Day of Embryo Transfer
I have been attending embryo transfers as an acupuncturist since 2002 and I think it is an honor to be there on such an important day. The protocol that I use is based on a study published in Fertility and Sterility in 2002 and again in 2006 and 2007, which reported that acupuncture given on the day of the IVF embryo transfer increased the rate of pregnancy by 50%. The protocol for the day of embryo transfer actually consists of two treatments, one before the embryo transfer and one after the embryo transfer.
On the day of embryo transfer, I will meet my patient about 45 minutes before their scheduled embryo transfer time. The fertility clinics I work with here in Portland, Oregon, are very familiar with the protocol and welcome acupuncturists on the day of the embryo transfer. Sometimes when I attend a transfer, I will see one to two other acupuncturists there. It is no secret that having extra support there on that day makes a difference in your mind and body. The day of the embryo transfer during your IVF cycle is so important. It is the culmination of so much and people are usually experiencing a mix of excitement and anxiety. Sometimes women will experience a little bit of fear that day if they have had a negative experience with a prior IVF cycle. I do my best to be present with them and provide the best care on that day.
For new IVF patients that I take on, I make a commitment to being there with them on the day of their embryo transfer. If there is a reasons that I cannot be there, which happens rarely these days, I will find an excellent replacement from Blossom Clinic or from another acupuncture clinic that specializes in fertility in Portland. Most of the time I have an established relationship with the person whose embryo transfer I am attending. My patients will have had between 7 and 12 appointments with me before that day. Occasionally I will meet someone for the first time that day, if they are from out of town doing a donor cycle or another acupuncturist in town needs coverage because they cannot be there with their patient for some reason.
If you had an acupuncturist there at your embryo transfer, I would love to hear about your experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me, 503.287.0886.
All of my best,