Symptoms of Mold Exposure

by acupuncturenw on February 21, 2012

We live in a beautiful part of the world, the Pacific Northwest. We endure plenty of rain here, and we’re okay with it because it is what makes this part of the country so green and lush. However, these dark wet months also serve as the perfect environment for another kind of growth: mold. Exposure to mold can cause many types of health problems, and although most people present with mild symptoms, some of our patients have suffered major health issues as a result. Some common symptoms of short term mold exposure can include:

- Sneezing
- Itching Skin
- Redness and skin irritation
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Headache

More advanced symptoms of mold exposure can result for people who are in a contaminated area off and on for an extended period of time. Symptoms are reported to have become more severe and longer lasting directly in proportion to the length of exposure time. Some symptoms can include:

- Constant headaches
- Nose bleeds
- Feelings of constant fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Skin rashes
- Sudden asthma attacks or breathing disorders
- Ear infections and pain
- Chronic sinus infections
- Chronic bronchitis
- Pain in the joints and muscles

We treat many patients who suffer from allergies, and because we live in the Northwest, mold is an allergen that we often need to address. Eliminating the source of mold from your living environment is the most important thing to reducing symptoms. Acupuncture will also help alleviate symptoms and strengthen your immune system. To read about other possible symptoms of mold exposure, click here. For common questions about mold, check out the Center for Disease Control’s fact sheet on mold.

 

 

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Treat Your Kids to Pediatric Acupuncture

by acupuncturenw on January 24, 2012

People are very familiar with using acupuncture as adults, but many people don’t realize how beneficial acupuncture can be for their kids. Acupuncture can treat a multitude of conditions for children (more on conditions treated here), and kids can start getting treatment as young as a couple weeks old. Because children are considered to be very yang (active, dynamic, energetic), they respond very quickly to treatment methods, and often recover faster than adults.

Needles can be a part of the treatment….but they don’t have to be. Most often, kids enjoy the idea of using tiny needles to help heal their body. They get excited about learning how acupuncture works and how to take control of their own health. We also have many other tools we use in practice that effectively treat pediatric conditions. Acupressure is great for kids, and pressing on specific acupuncture points is a technique we often teach parents to use at home. Pediatric massage or qigong can be used as well, and helps treat children who are especially sensitive to stimulus and their environments. In some cases, we use a line of pediatric herbal formulas, and they add enormous benefit to the treatment plan.

No two treatments look the same when treating children. It is always about meeting the child where they’re at that day, and we all know that when it comes to kids, you don’t always know what you’re going to get.  We can treat kids on the treatment table, in a chair, on the floor, or in their parent’s lap. Books or toys provide great distractions, and we often make a game out how we are treating that day.

For children, just like adults, you can use acupuncture and Western medicine together, in fact they are very complimentary. We often use acupuncture in combination with other conventional treatments, each method reinforcing the other. For example, we will treat a child for an ear infection or upper respiratory tract infection in conjunction with the child taking antibiotics. Kids see faster healing times, and parents see happier children.

If you have questions about how acupuncture can help your kids, call us anytime. We understand how important health care is for your little ones!

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Cleanse for the New Year

December 28, 2011

It’s almost a new year, and after a season of holiday eating and drinking, there is no better time to start thinking about getting back to feeling healthy and energized. We all know about the dozens of types of cleanses out there, and it seems like everyday we are hearing about a new trend in [...]

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Balance: Yin and Yang

November 16, 2011

We are always talking to our patients about balance. Balance within our work/home lives, balance in our diets, and balance with our health. It is key to living a happy and healthy life and is a belief that is deeply rooted in Chinese Medicine theory and the practice of acupuncture. Everyone is familiar with the [...]

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Stop Smoking Now

October 25, 2011

Do you or someone you love need to quit smoking? We have a specific protocol and plan for you! We have helped many patients kick the habit at Acupuncture Northwest. Most people have tried other treatments without success, but are able to be successful with acupuncture. It is really amazing to help someone get something [...]

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Happy Healthy Pregnancy

August 23, 2011

Pregnancy is a time of incredible physical and emotional change, a time when it’s even more important to support your health and well-being. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you handle the unique challenges of pregnancy, allowing you and your baby to experience optimal health. We have a lot of experience, both professional and personal, to help guide you through [...]

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Stop Pain with Acupuncture

August 12, 2011

Acupuncture is amazing. In our culture, it is best known for relieving pain. We treat patients every day for all kinds of pain. Though pain relief is just a small part of what acupuncture can do, it is very effective; and not at just reducing pain, but eliminating it altogether. Even patients with chronic pain [...]

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Fertility and Acupuncture

July 12, 2011

At Acupuncture Northwest we see a lot of fertility patients.  Is it because research shows that the use of acupuncture and herbal therapy is effective in treating fertility conditions? Is it because more people than ever before are having a hard time conceiving? Or because people are starting their families later in life? Whatever the [...]

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Relieve Migraine Headaches with Acupuncture

July 12, 2011

We treat a great number of patients with migraine headaches. These headaches are debilitating and often keep people from being able to perform daily activities or even function at all. While we must be grateful for western allopathic medicine in diagnosing and treating many life-threatening conditions, we are often left with limited options for alleviating more chronic and less diagnosable (from [...]

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Relieve Seasonal Allergies

June 2, 2011

  Spring is here, and with the blooming of trees and flowers comes the presence of pollen and seasonal allergies. For allergy sufferers, spring can be a miserable time, and many people are turning to acupuncture for relief. Not only can acupuncture immediately relieve allergy symptoms, it can also help build up your immune system [...]

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