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.