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There is a wide range of Functional Medicine practitioners. For some it evolved from their Naturopathic Medicine training. Others, including MDs, DOs, NPs, DCs, and LAcs, have done anywhere from a weekend course to the very well known IFM (Institute Functional Medicine) certification program (six 3-day weekend classes plus written case studies). I went with […]
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What do Organic Acids Tests measure?
Over the course of a night, our urine collects over 1,000 unique organic acids that result from chemical reactions happening throughout our body. When we compare levels of these organic acids to those seen in healthy populations, we can identify unhealthy patterns of data manifesting from an unbalanced biochemical physiology. Organix Comprehensive Profile (Genova Diagnostics […]
What do labs used for Digestive Stool Analysis measure?
These tests cover a variety of factors that influence digestive and overall gastrointestinal health. The gut lining is one of the first things to go when exposed to chronic stress, as the body cannibalizes it as an easy source of amino acids. This lowers gut immunity and leads to the buildup of pathogenic bacteria in […]
What are adrenal stress labs?
Adrenal stress labs assess the amount of stress your body has endured over the decades by measuring your daily fluctuations in cortisol (the stress hormone) and DHEA levels to assess the overall health of your HPA Axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenals). If your HPA Axis is not balanced, it often throws off the rest of […]
What are Functional Medicine Labs used?
Of the hundreds of Functional Medicine labs available, we keep things simple by using a few key labs really well. You will likely only need to do 1 to 3 lab tests for your treatment program. This efficiency is one of the most appealing aspects of the Kalish Method, as it reduces the time and […]
How much time to complete a program in Functional Medicine?
The time to complete a program in Functional Medicine usually takes 6-12 months, depending of course on the individual patient’s condition, and their willingness and ability to stick with the program.
How much supplement intake in Functional Medicine?
We also seek to minimize the number of supplements that need to be taken at one time. While we aggressively go after pathogens and patterns of imbalance, we use a slower gentler approach to tonify and coax our body’s systems back into gear and healthy levels of function. Generally speaking with regards to supplement intake […]
How many Functional Medicine labs would I need to do?
Unlike other styles of Functional Medicine, we focus on minimizing the number of labs needed to identify health issues and establish a baseline for assessing improvement. Out of hundreds of available lab tests, patients usually end up doing 1-3 labs, depending on the complexity of their condition.
What types of labs used in Functional Medicine?
We usually use three types of Functional Medicine labs in our approach, depending on the complexity of the patient. These include labs that test adrenal stress hormones, GI (gastrointestinal) function, and organic acids (tests for liver detoxification pathways, brain and neurotransmitter health, inflammation, oxidative damage, methylation, and energy production).
How does a Functional Medicine treatment process work?
A program of treatment in Functional Medicine usually proceeds in the following manner: Initial Visit You’ll first fill out a detailed Intake Form that we’ll review together at the first visit, via telemedicine or telephone. We will also ask more specific questions about your health history to help connect the dots of your health puzzle. […]
What is the goal of Functional Medicine?
The goal of Functional Medicine is for you to improve your quality of life so that you can better fulfill your life’s mission and enjoy life. While most people feel better within the first few weeks, the larger healing journey can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the complexity of your […]
How does Functional Medicine treat disease?
Most importantly, Functional Medicine helps incorporate lifestyle changes into your life to restore health, balance, and vitality. These include dietary changes, exercise, proper sleep hygiene, meditation, and other lifestyle adjustments. Based on the patterns of data shown in lab results, nutritional supplements are also prescribed to support this change.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a systems-based approach to identifying and treating the root causes of disease, as opposed to the short-term symptom relief seen so often with conventional medicine. It uses specialized systems-oriented lab results that measure various aspects of important body functions. When woven together with the patient’s history and direct experience, it manifests a […]
Creating Balance
Because it is holistic in nature, Acupuncture & Eastern Medicine treat not only symptoms, but the root of problems, and compels your body’s natural healing capacity to better function and help you heal more quickly. It treats your whole mind and body with the goal of creating balance. In addition to reducing physical pain and […]
Acupuncture Today
Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine helps treat most illnesses and prevents many others as well. Over one quarter of the world’s population currently uses Acupuncture & Eastern Medicine for their primary healthcare. As it interacts with Western science and forms partnerships and shared understanding, it becomes a key feature of what is known today as ‘Integrative […]
History of Acupuncture & Eastern Medicine
Eastern Medicine evolved in Asia and has its roots in China, going back several thousand years. It is a system of medicine that views the body, it’s physiology, and it’s relationship to the environment with the goal of creating and maintaining balance. Eastern Medicine is used to understand and diagnose what is happening in the […]
Acupuncture Benefits
Acupuncture benefits all of the conditions listed below. Most of these come from a list by the World Health Organization of diseases and disorders. In my 25+ years of practice I have treated all of the conditions—and many more—successfully. If your condition is not listed or if you have questions, please use this form or contact me at (925) 297-4785. […]
About Acupuncture
“I help people heal and restore pain-free balance, vitality and health by helping them implement healthy habits and eliminate unnecessary medications, using 25+ years experience with acupuncture, Chinese medicinal herbs, and bodywork.” Acupuncture is a modality of Eastern Medicine, a time-tested medical system thousands of years old that diagnoses and treating common health problems. In […]
What is guasha?
Guasha, also known as scraping or dermal friction, involves the use of an instrument with a rounded edge such as a Chinese soup spoon that is scraped along your skin after your skin has been coated with oil. This technique is a form of deep tissue bodywork therapy and the results can be dramatic. Like […]
What is cupping?
Cupping (or myofascial decompression) uses glass suction cups that stick to your body because of a vacuum inside of the cup. The cup sucks in and resets your body’s tissue (skin, fascia, muscles, nerves, veins, and arteries), breaks up adhesions, and the relief is often immediate. This treatment became very popular at the last Olympics […]
What is moxa?
Moxa is another technique for stimulating your acupuncture points that uses heat. A dried herb called artemesia (mugwort) in the form of a cigar or cone is placed close to an acupuncture point and burned. You’ll feel a pleasant warm sensation as the heat slowly penetrates the skin and activates the acupuncture point.
What is acupressure?
Acupressure is a method for stimulating your acupuncture points with pressure from fingers. We often use it as a gentle way to prepare your body for acupuncture, and it can be helpful with diagnosis and acupuncture point selection.
What is Eastern Medicine?
Eastern Medicine has roots in China that go back 2000-3000 years. It is based on the philosophy of Daoism (aka Taoism), which views health, life and the universe through the interaction of Yin and Yang energies (hot/cold, expanding/contracting, active/still, diffuse/dense). In this paradigm, health is defined by the appropriate balance of these phenomena within and […]
Are Chinese herbs safe?
This question ”Are Chinese herbs safe?” is legitimate, given that there are thousands of animal, vegetable, and mineral products used within Chinese herbal medicine. The short answer is “Yes!”. Chinese herbs are extremely safe in comparison to Western medicine, where pharmaceutical drugs are the third leading cause of death. Some traditional substances are no longer […]
What is a Chinese herbal formula?
As part of your Acupuncture & Eastern medical treatment, I may prescribe a Chinese herbal formula for you to take, usually as tablets or capsules. Chinese herbal medicine is a highly refined system of natural medicine that uses plant, animal, and mineral products to harmonize organ systems and gently adjust your body’s physiology back into […]
How long are acupuncture needles retained?
Acupuncture needle retention lasts for about 30 minutes. This gives your body’s qi or energy enough time to finish one complete circuit of the body. This does however depend on your body type – it could take more or less time. The treatment tables are heated; there is soothing music in the background – it’s […]
How many acupuncture needles are used in a treatment?
We usually use anywhere from 5-15 acupuncture needles in the initial treatment session, with an average of 9 needles. Your body’s sensitivity to acupuncture and health condition determine how many acupuncture needles would be needed. As my understanding of your body and health condition increases, the number of needles used may change.
Is acupuncture safe?
Yes, in the hands of a licensed and skilled practitioner acupuncture is very safe. Occasionally (1 out of 20 times or so) there may be a drop of blood when I take a needle out. If this happens, I immediately wipe with a sterile cotton ball. Acupuncture needles are so thin you won’t be able to see where […]
What is a typical initial acupuncture visit like?
The initial acupuncture visit usually takes you about 1.5 hours. After you complete the initial paperwork (please do this in advance, or arrive 15 minutes early), I will take you into a private treatment room where we will discuss your symptoms and health history in detail. As Acupuncture & Eastern Medicine is holistic in nature, […]
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is one the primary treatment methods of Eastern Medicine. It uses the gentle, shallow insertion of very thin stainless steel needles into specific spots on your body called acupuncture points to stimulate and reinforce various healing processes in the body. If you feel anything, it’s usually no more than a light pricking sensation upon […]