High blood pressure is a common concern that deserves more than a single number on a blood pressure monitor. In Chinese medicine, we look at the patient as a whole and ask why the body is developing this pattern.

At our clinic, we use Medical Pulse Diagnosis® to evaluate the cardiovascular system. The pulse can reveal patterns involving the heart, blood flow, or weakness. This information helps determine whether the patient needs to be strengthened or whether excess heat and inflammation need to be reduced.

Chinese medicine views the heart as the emperor organ. Healthy circulation is essential because the body depends on highly oxygenated, highly nutritious blood moving through the vascular system. When circulation is restricted, Chinese medicine describes this as blood stasis. When the body is too hot, we may use herbs that clear heat and fire. When the heart or overall physiology is weak, we may use Chinese herbal tonics to strengthen the patient.

Treatment is individualized because each patient can present with a different pattern. A strong pulse may indicate excess heat, while a thin, weak pulse can point toward deficiency. A blocked pulse may indicate restricted blood supply. We do not use one formula for everyone. Instead, the goal is to understand the underlying pattern and create a custom herbal approach.

Lifestyle also matters. Our approach includes dietary recommendations as part of an individualized health plan. We look at factors that may contribute to excess heat, blood stasis, or weakness. The goal is to improve circulation and move the patient toward highly oxygenated, highly nutritious blood coursing through the body. A personalized plan can help.

Call our office today to schedule your consultation at (360) 394-4357.

Digestive problems can affect far more than the stomach. Bloating, discomfort, irregular digestion, and other symptoms can interfere with daily life and leave you wondering why your body is not functioning properly. In Chinese medicine, I look at the individual pattern rather than treating every digestive complaint the same way.

At my clinic, Medical Pulse Diagnosis® helps me understand what may be happening within the body. The pulse provides information that helps identify patterns of weakness, excess, inflammation, or other imbalances that may contribute to digestive problems.

Chinese herbal medicine is then customized according to the pattern identified through pulse diagnosis. Rather than using one formula for everyone, I select herbs based on what the individual patient needs. Some patients may need support for weakness, while others may need treatment focused on reducing inflammation or addressing excess conditions.

This individualized approach is important because two people can have similar digestive symptoms while having very different underlying patterns. The goal is to understand the patient as a whole and develop a treatment plan that addresses the specific condition.

Chinese medicine can also focus on circulation throughout the body. When blood flow is restricted, tissues may not receive the highly oxygenated, highly nutritious blood they need. Supporting healthy circulation is an important part of my overall approach to helping the body function properly.

Medical Pulse Diagnosis® allows me to evaluate the patient's condition before determining an appropriate treatment strategy. By identifying the underlying pattern, I can create a customized approach using Chinese herbal medicine and other Chinese medicine techniques.

If digestive problems are affecting your comfort, energy, or quality of life, an individualized Chinese medicine approach may be worth considering.

Call our office today to schedule your consultation at (360) 394-4357.

Menopause can bring uncomfortable changes, including hot flashes and feeling overheated. In Chinese medicine, we do not assume every woman experiences these symptoms for the same reason. Instead, we look at the individual pattern to determine whether the body has too much heat or needs to be strengthened.

At my clinic, Medical Pulse Diagnosis® helps identify these different patterns. If a woman feels hot all the time and her pulse is very strong, this can indicate an excess heat condition. In this situation, we use anti-inflammatory Chinese herbs to take heat out of the body.

Another woman may experience hot flashes because her body is weak. If the pulse is very thin and weak, we need to strengthen the blood and strengthen either the Yin or Yang. When the underlying weakness is addressed, hot flashes can be greatly reduced or may go away.

This is an important principle of Chinese herbal medicine. There is no single formula appropriate for every patient. One woman may need herbs that remove excess heat, while another may need herbs that strengthen her blood or support Yin or Yang. The treatment depends on the pattern identified through pulse diagnosis.

The goal is to understand what is happening within the individual patient before choosing a treatment. Medical Pulse Diagnosis® gives us a way to identify the pattern and create a customized herbal approach.

Menopause is a natural transition, but that does not mean you have to simply accept uncomfortable symptoms. If hot flashes or other changes are affecting your daily life, Chinese medicine may provide an individualized approach based on your specific condition.

Call our office today to schedule your consultation at (360) 394-4357.

TMJ pain can make everyday activities such as chewing, speaking, and opening your mouth uncomfortable. When patients come to my clinic with jaw or facial pain, I look beyond the painful area and consider how the body’s interconnected systems may be contributing to the problem.

My primary approach is Distal Needling Acupuncture®, or DNA Acupuncture®. Unlike local acupuncture, DNA® places needles at a distance from the area where the pain occurs. I have found that directly needling a painful area can sometimes aggravate the problem. Instead, we use the body’s interconnected pathways to influence the painful region from a distance.

Acupuncture works by increasing the signal strength of the proprioceptive neural pathway. This pathway communicates with the midbrain, which can release the body’s natural painkillers, called enkephalins. When the correct areas are treated, pain relief can sometimes happen very quickly.

Chinese medicine also recognizes that facial and jaw pain can be associated with the Yang Ming region. Acupressure uses similar concepts to distal acupuncture. For example, applying pressure between the thumb and forefinger at an area called Ling Ku can help relieve pain in the teeth, jaw, or head.

Every patient is different, so I do not use one treatment for everyone. The location and character of the pain help determine which areas should be treated. My goal is to reduce pain while working with the body’s neurological and vascular systems.

If TMJ pain is interfering with your daily activities, eating, or quality of life, an individualized acupuncture approach may be worth considering. DNA Acupuncture® offers a different way to address jaw pain without placing needles directly into the painful area.

Call our office today to schedule your consultation at (360) 394-4357.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years as a medical system focused on improving circulation, nervous system function, and overall physiological health. Rather than covering up symptoms, acupuncture aims to address the underlying causes of pain, inflammation, and dysfunction in the body.

Treatment involves the use of very fine, sterile needles placed at specific points on the body. These points create real, measurable responses, including increased blood flow, relaxation of tight muscles, and activation of the nervous system. This process helps the body release its own pain-relieving chemicals and supports normal movement and function.

People commonly seek acupuncture for pain, headaches, stress, nerve-related symptoms, and ongoing conditions that have not fully resolved with other approaches. Treatments are generally gentle and calming, and care is always tailored to the individual.