Fertility

How Do You Tell Your Story?

How Do You Tell Your Story?

I had an important conversation with one of my acupuncture students the other day. He is a chiropractor, in practice a long time. We were discussing the emotional weight that one of his patients appeared to be carrying, and he shared

Your Menstrual Cycle & Creating Balance with Herbal Medicine

Your Menstrual Cycle & Creating Balance with Herbal Medicine

​In Root ​cause Chinese medicine, we approach balancing and regulating health and hormones by regulating and optimizing the entire menstrual cycle. We understand the menstrual cycle as four phases. This means on average, your 30 day cycle is split into 4 weeks, or four phases. By optimizing each phase, we optimize fertility, hormonal and overall health. 

Acupuncture For a Healthy Pregnancy

Acupuncture For a Healthy Pregnancy

You may already know that we at Vitalize treat a lot of fertility and women’s health.  This includes pregnant women with their myriad complaints.  Let’s face it, as much as we may look like glowing goddesses, a pregnant body can be very uncomfortable.  So here are some of the things acupuncture can treat in pregnancy, a time when other treatment options are limited.

Acupuncture Explained: DU 20, Crown Of The Head

Acupuncture Explained: DU 20, Crown Of The Head

Do you ever wonder why your acupuncturist chooses a certain point?  There is always a reason, and a unique set of points selected for you.  But DU 20, Bai Hui, is a point that almost every patient will have at one time or another.  So, here’s the scoop on DU 20. 

Top Five Nutrients That Help Women With The Symptoms of PMS

Top Five Nutrients That Help Women With The Symptoms of PMS

NUMBER ONE: Check-in on your B Vitamin needs. Why? Taking a good B Vitamin complex throughout the month will help reduce the symptoms of PMS.  Estrogens, including oral birth control pills or hormone replacement, deplete B vitamins. Depletion can take a toll on the body because we need B vitamins for multiple functions. Vitamin B6 specifically helps to boost the production of serotonin. When serotonin is low, women experience depression, poor memory and poor sleep (which we often see in PMS). In the liver, B Vitamins contribute to detoxification of environmental pollutants, medications and excess estrogens. Having a busy lifestyle, high exercise output, stress, and alcohol consumption all deplete our B’s. Even if a woman is not taking an estrogen hormone, she likely needs them! Make sure to ask your provider about doses.

Women's Health and Chiropractic Care

Women's Health and Chiropractic Care

We might not automatically consider booking an appointment with a chiropractor for the treatment of period cramps, infertility or other women's health conditions.  The fact is, most conditions affecting the uterus are due to a lack of blood flow causing stagnation of blood and sometimes pain.

Massage Downtown Portland

Massage Downtown Portland

We are excited to share that we have recently expanded our massage offerings.  We have two therapists at Vitalize and have appointments available on both Saturdays and Sundays.  Massage options include; deep tissue, therapeutic, cranial sacral, pin and stretch, lymphatic drainage, cupping, and scraping are all available.  

Common Fertility Supplements: A guide to the Natural Fertility Medicine Cabinet

Common Fertility Supplements: A guide to the Natural Fertility Medicine Cabinet

Fertility treatments are commonly centered around the use of acupuncture and Chinese Herbs.  Even so, nutrition and lifestyle counseling is also a core part of a holistic treatment plan.  Often times this includes the use of supplements.  I may suggest a supplement, people may come to me having been given supplements by another healthcare provider or they may simply be going off of a recommendation from a friend, book, or website.  It can be difficult to sort through the information about many of these supplements and very few have reliable research to back up their claims. 

The stress-infertility connection

The stress-infertility connection

Stress is undeniably a huge factor in health and wellbeing, but lets get more specific about why and what is happening in our body when we are stressed, specifically in regards to fertility.  And then, lets take that next step and do something about it.  

Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal Fatigue

Yesterday a patient asked me if I thought she might have adrenal fatigue.  Her friend had mentioned it when they were discussing their health and she wondered what type of symptoms are caused by adrenal fatigue.  

This is such a common question and, in our culture, a very common state of being.  Lets rewind and explore the historical aspect of adrenal fatigue; our lifestyle has evolved faster than our bodies.  We no longer have to spend our days hunting or gathering for our next meal, putting ourselves between tiger and snake in order to find food, this is the type of stress that our 'fight our flight' response was designed for.

Vitalize Community Events

Vitalize Community Events

In an effort to create a sense of community in what is often a very singular society, we have created a space, opened that space to creatives and thinkers alike, so that they can share their talents and gifts.  With a pole of our general patient base, we determined that weekends are most requested, we have set a calendar of monthly events open for any and all interested.  Our events center around health and healing, with a focus on the mind body connection.  We have purposefully chosen our events to hold space for a diverse area of topics.  These events are free and we hope that members of our community will bring their friends and loved ones to join in.

Amber Hincks is a Certified Fertility Acupuncturist

Amber Hincks is a Certified Fertility Acupuncturist

Many acupuncturists treat fertility, but sometimes you need a pro and you want to know that you are in good hands.  Amber has been working in women's health for over 10 years, primarily with fertility.  This spring, she completed her dream of certification through the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM).  This specialty board has certified over 300 members around the globe who have demonstrated competence and advanced knowledge in the field of both Western and Eastern Reproductive Medicine.