 A prospective study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at the relationship of dietary pesticide exposure to clinical pregnancy rates in IVF. It showed that greater intake of high pesticide residue fruits and vegetables were associated with a lower probabilities of clinical pregnancy and live birth per IVF cycle, as well as higher risk of early pregnancy loss. The author's estimated effect of consuming just 1 serving per day of lower pesticide residue fruits and vegetables (in lieu of 1 serving of high pesticide produce) was associated with a 79% higher odd of clinical pregnancy and 88% higher odds of live birth. Because patients undergoing infertility treatments eat more fruits and vegetables (intake has observed to be double that of the median US intake) it is important to focus on eating organic, and/or avoiding the "high pesticide residue" fruits and vegetables. According to the Environmental Working Group, the fruits and vegetables highest in pesticides (and best to buy organic) include:
**Pears and potatoes are additions to the 2017 list provided by the Environmental Working Group. Several pesticides are suspected carcinogens, in addition to being hormone disruptors. Glyphosate, or "Roundup" has been declared a "probable human carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It's use has increased 250 fold from 1974 and 2014. GMO crops (such as corn, corn syrup, soy, canola) that are engineered to tolerate more of the pesticide glyphosate will only increase consumers exposure to Roundup, which may lead to possible effects on fertility, pregnancy rates, miscarriage, as a well as cancer. A commentary article on the JAMA fertility study fittingly states that: "The observations made in this study send a warning that our current laissez-faire attitude toward the regulation of pesticides is failing us. We can no longer afford to assume that new pesticides are harmless until they are definitively proven to cause injury to human health." Its unfortunately up to us to keep informed about whats in our food and make the best choices about what we choose to eat. While I don't think it's necessary to eat completely organic, avoiding conventionally grown foods known to be high in pesticides appears to be a good idea for fertility, cancer prevention, and overall health. Sources: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty_dozen_list.php 
Dr. Cheryl provides acupuncture in West Seattle and enjoys treating a wide variety of health conditions. She has been in practice for over 9 years, and believes that acupuncture can be gentle and comfortable while still being very effective. She has extensive experience in treating pain, allergies, digestive issues, insomnia, fertility, women's health, and symptoms during pregnancy.
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 The pelvic floor consists of a group of muscles that hold the pelvic organs in place, including the uterus, bladder, bowels, cervix, and vagina, as well as help the openings to these organs to function. Pelvic floor issues can be common after childbirth and in menopause. Up to one third of women in the US have pelvic floor dysfunction (a lot of women)! Pelvic floor dysfunction can include pelvic organ prolapse, issues with incontinence or leaking of urine, or loss of bowel control. Symptoms may include:
Risk factors for pelvic floor issues can be older age, pregnancy and childbirth (possibly even if one has a c-section), prior hysterectomy, and radiation treatment. Chinese medicine has a long history of treating issues relating to women's health including all of the symptoms relating to pelvic floor dysfunction. Acupuncture can help treat urinary issues, pelvic pain, and issues arising in the postpartum period as well as during and after menopause. There are even Chinese herbs that can be used specifically for treating prolapse of the organs. We can help if you're dealing with any of these issues of pelvic floor dysfunction! Recently I met with Brenda Mater of Sound PT. She has a lot of experience working with women during pregnancy and postpartum to help with issues like pelvic floor dysfunction. Physical therapy can be a good complement to Chinese medicine in that it can help aid in strengthening the pelvic floor, as well as help to resolve muscular imbalances that may be contributing to the problem. If you're dealing with symptoms of PFD, don't hesitate to seek treatment with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and/or physical therapy. Sources: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pelvicfloor/conditioninfo/pages/symptoms.aspx Dr. Cheryl provides acupuncture in West Seattle and enjoys treating a wide variety of health conditions. She has been in practice for over 9 years, and believes that acupuncture can be gentle and comfortable while still being very effective. She has extensive experience in treating pain, fertility, women's health, and pregnancy.
 Would you like to end a long day at work with a relaxing acupuncture treatment? We now offer appointments as late as 7pm to accommodate more patients after work. Feel free to schedule online or call us at (206) 773-5731. I look forward to your feedback and ways in which I can make it easier for you to fit acupuncture into your busy schedule. Dr. Cheryl provides acupuncture in West Seattle and enjoys treating a wide variety of health conditions. She has been in practice for over 9 years, and believes that acupuncture can be gentle and comfortable while still being very effective. She has extensive experience in treating pain, fertility, women's health, and pregnancy.
 I am lucky to work in an office with other talented practitioners, such therapists, a naturopath, as well as a mind-bodyworker. I’m excited to let others know about therapist Jan McBride, LFMT, ABD, who practices here in West Seattle as well as on Vashon. She has been in the field of mental health for 39 years, and specializes in Depth Psychology. She is passionate about supporting patients through their unique therapeutic process, leading them to a place where they can have their own insights and “Aha!” moments. Her kind and gentle nature would be great for anyone looking for individual or couples therapy. Here is a link to her website, Jan McBride Therapy for more information! Dr. Cheryl provides acupuncture in West Seattle and enjoys treating a wide variety of health conditions. She has been in practice for over 9 years, and believes that acupuncture can be gentle and comfortable while still being very effective. She has extensive experience in treating pain, fertility, women's health, and pregnancy.
Low back pain? Try Acupuncture before prescription painkillers, says new clinical guideline5/22/2017  In the clinic, I've seen great results with acupuncture for acute and chronic low back pain. I've definitely heard, "I wish I had tried this years ago!" from patients who have received total relief from their pain with acupuncture, when no other interventions worked, and after years of suffering in pain. Given the opioid crisis gripping the country right now, efforts are being made to recommend effective treatments for pain that do not involve prescription pain medication. In April 2017, The American College of Physicians released a new clinical guideline for interventions to treat acute and chronic low back pain. Acupuncture is among the list of interventions to try first when dealing with chronic or acute low back pain. Specifically, for acute low back pain they say: "Given that most patients with acute or subacute low back pain improve over time regardless of treatment, clinicians and patients should select nonpharmacologic treatment with superficial heat (moderate-quality evidence), massage, acupuncture, or spinal manipulation (low-quality evidence)...(Grade: strong recommendation)." For chronic low back pain, their recommendation is: "For patients with chronic low back pain, clinicians and patients should initially select nonpharmacologic treatment with exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction (moderate-quality evidence), tai chi, yoga, motor control exercise, progressive relaxation, electromyography biofeedback, low-level laser therapy, operant therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or spinal manipulation (low-quality evidence). (Grade: strong recommendation). This seems like a step in the right direction to help promote safe, effective, and low-intervention therapies like acupuncture, massage, yoga and tai chi to treat acute and chronic pain. Dr. Cheryl provides acupuncture in West Seattle and enjoys treating a wide variety of health conditions. She has been in practice for over 9 years, and believes that acupuncture can be gentle and comfortable while still being very effective. She has extensive experience in treating pain, fertility, women's health, and pregnancy.
 I'm excited to announce that our acupuncture clinic is open in the West Seattle Junction! I'm my 6th year of practicing acupuncture in Seattle, and in my 9th year practicing Chinese Medicine. I'm excited to start serving the community in which I live. In my years practicing acupuncture, I have enjoyed treating all types of pain, digestive issues like IBS, infertility, women's health, and symptoms during menopause. During pregnancy, I love treating low back and hip pain, nausea, breech presentation, as well as headaches. I look forward to hearing from you, and blogging about a variety of health topics that are important to you.  Having previously worked with kids with autism as a behaviorist, I have a special interest in how acupuncture can help children with the disorder. Whether it is difficulty in responding to their name, hyperactivity, digestive problems, or scripted speech, each child has different issues that need addressing. In my time working in classrooms with children with special needs, I have seen how simple changes such as a fish oil supplement can dramatically improve a child with ADHD focus in class. On the other hand, I have seen the negative effects of a sugar-laden, processed diet on behavior on the ability of kids with autism ability to communicate.
There are relatively few randomized controlled studies on how acupuncture effects children with autism (which speaks more of lack of funding, than effectiveness). Recently (2010) there was a Chinese study through the University of Hong Kong that showed significant improvements in language comprehension after 12 sessions of electro-acupuncture. Per parental report, there were also increases in social initiation, receptive language, motor skills, coordination, and attention span following the course of treatment. Some other studies have focused on tongue acupuncture (which sounds difficult, painful, and too scary for a child with autism who may not understand why it is being done). One of the many strengths of Chinese medicine is that it can be tailored specifically to each child's body and current symptoms. For some, hyperactivity and moodiness may be the primary issues, or for others it may be lack of language, or anxiety over a changes in routine. Based on those symptoms, a specific group of acupuncture points or herbs are chosen. In addition to behavioral, speech, physical, and occupational therapies, I would encourage parents to look into Chinese Medicine as a part of your child's total wellness plan. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2011!
Make a commitment to better your health this year through acupuncture and Chinese Medicine:
- Cheryl House, L.Ac. 
Excessive crying for an infant is defined as crying more than 3 hours in a day. Once other causes have been ruled out (including fever, ear infection, etc), what is a parent to do?
Chinese Medicine is very effective in treating infant colic. Digestive difficulties are often the cause of excessive crying in Chinese medical theory. Babies digestive systems are inherently weak and not yet fully developed, leading to discomfort and difficulty sleeping. Adjustments to the diet, abdominal massage, acupuncture, and/or herbs treat the problem very effectively. Take a look at this study on acupuncture and colic, where babies were treated 2 times a week with one acupuncture point. Just this one point reduced the duration and intensity of crying of babies in this study. Pretty sweet! If you're looking to learn more about how Chinese Medicine can help with common childhood ailments, check out this book. Diet and massage techniques can go a long way, and if needed, call for an appointment.  Chinese Medicine has a long history (thousands of years) of treating and preventing contagious diseases. Over these years, they discovered lifestyle habits that prevent illnesses like colds and flus, including:
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AuthorCheryl House, L. Ac., DACM, FABORM Archives
November 2017
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