Germ Theory: 101

By admin | Published May 4, 2020

Why do some people always catch a cold, and others don’t?
Viruses, germs, and bacteria are everywhere. They are in the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink, but not all of them are bad or harmful.

Think of the immune system as your body’s security detail. The cells, tissues, and organs that comprise it help repel foreign invaders like harmful bacteria, parasites and other microbes that can cause infections. Disorders of the immune system range from everyday annoyances like mild seasonal allergies to serious illnesses like leukemia. Stress, lack of sleep and other common conditions can contribute to a weakened immune system, which can make you vulnerable to infections. continue reading »

Posted in Acupuncture, Immune System, Traditional Chinese Medicine | Tagged germs, immune system, tcm | Comments Off

Set to REOPEN on May 15, 2020

By Cass McLean | Published May 1, 2020

Hello, my lovely Pin Cushions!!!

I want to thank you all for your patience. I took some much-needed time to contemplate my reopening plan. There were a lot of factors to consider, but I believe I came up with what is best for me and, hopefully, what is best for you.

I plan to reopen Palouse Acupuncture on May 15, 2020, barring any surprises!

I will be taking the following extra precautions at the clinic to ensure both your safety and mine:

First, I will be calling everyone the day (or two) before their appointment to prescreen.

Screening questions before your appointment include the following:
• Have you had a fever in the last 24 hours of 100°F or above?
• Do you now, or have you recently had, any respiratory or flu symptoms, sore throat, or shortness of breath?
• Have you been in contact with anyone in the last 14 days who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or has coronavirus-type symptoms?
• If yes on any, you may reschedule without penalty.
• I have revised my Cancellation Policy: There is no penalty if you wake up with cold or flu symptoms and need to cancel the day of, but please notify me as soon as possible.

Second, I will request that you come to your appointment wearing a face mask. It can be cloth or an N95 mask, but it must cover both your nose and mouth and be worn through the duration of your appointment. I also purchased a no-contact thermometer and am looking forward to checking each of your temps upon arrival!

Third, I will be wearing a face mask as well as scrubs and I will be limiting “table talk” during your treatment to just the Q & A that provide enough information to make a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. This will ensure we have enough time for you to receive a full treatment, dress, and pay, and for me to disinfect the space before the next Pin Cushion arrives.

Last, I will not be administering cupping or guasha during the month of May in order to limit physical contact.

I genuinely CANNOT WAIT to get back to work! However, I am taking this matter very seriously and I expect you to do the same. If there is even a hint of an upsurge of local cases of COVID-19, I will be of the first businesses to close shop and will call you to cancel your upcoming appointment. I am not interested in putting you or your loved ones (or myself and mine!) in harm’s way.

Looking forward to treating you soon.

Best,

Dr. Cass

208-882-8534

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged acupuncture, allergies, anxiety, balance, chinese medicine, coronavirus, covid-19, may 15, pain, reopen, stress, tcm | Comments Off

Acupuncture: The Original Biohack for Migraines

By admin | Published April 20, 2020

Having recurring migraines is similar to parenting a temperamental toddler. When they go from being annoying to actively disruptive and mildly infuriating, there is often little one can do but grit your teeth and persevere. The helpful suggestions for managing this occurrence involved a mixture of expert opinion, anecdotal hearsay, individual tinkering and a big dose of patience. So where does acupuncture fit into this picture? continue reading »

Posted in Acupuncture, Acupuncture Studies, Migraines, Stress, Traditional Chinese Medicine | Tagged acupuncture, anxiety, headaches, migraines, research, stress | Comments Off

Successful Herbs to Move Liver Qi

By admin | Published April 6, 2020

We often say in Traditional Chinese Medicine that the liver is the system most easily susceptible to stress. Stress knots the Qi (energy) and makes its flow stagnate – this happens most quickly in the liver energy system. The liver, in TCM, is in charge of the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body. This means that if Qi flow is impaired (ie, by stress), the liver system will suffer. Likewise, if the liver energy system is weak or stagnant (from lifestyle choices, diet, trauma, emotional stress, illness or genetic factors), Qi flow throughout the body may be impaired. continue reading »

Posted in Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine | Tagged anger, irregular menstrual cycles, irritability, migraines, pms, tension headaches, trouble sleeping | Comments Off

COVID-19: IMMUNITY AND OUR COMMUNITY

By admin | Published March 17, 2020

Dear porcu-patients,

As you already know, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is very real and it is everyone’s responsibility to help keep our community safe from the rapid spread of Coronavirus. To help slow the spread of this virus, it is now more important than ever to take an abundance of caution to help protect you, your family, our community and our healthcare system.

Because there are many unknowns about Coronavirus and things can change rapidly, I believe using common sense is the best measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. continue reading »

Posted in Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine | Tagged coronavirus, covid-19 | Comments Off

Palouse Acupuncture, LLC

Dr. Cass Hedrick, DACM