Amber Hincks Acupuncture Acupuncture in BEAVERTON, OR

Facial Rejuvenation + Cosmetic Acupuncture

by Dr. Amber Hincks LAc

Facial rejuvenation acupuncture has a long history in China.  Our 90-minute protocol involves acupuncture points on the body and face as well as gentle facial cupping and gua sha.   Acupuncture points are selected for their ability to enhance blood flow to the face, improve muscle tone, balance hormones and reduce inflammation, as well as to target any specific areas of concern.  Not only is this great for helping your skin have a healthy glow, it can also be fantastic for symptoms like jaw pain or sinus congestion.

*Facial cupping and gua sha feel divinely relaxing - and no purple marks like you may have seen with cupping on the body.  Just lustrous skin!

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. At the first visit, we will do a complete intake, so that we can assess and diagnose any underlying issues that should be addressed, whether through diet/lifestyle or treatment.  We will also discuss the areas that you would like to improve upon and take a photo.
2. Facial acupuncture is typically done as a series of 10 treatments with visits no more than one week apart.  After the sixth visit, we assess the progress and may modify the focus areas.
3. Arrive with clean skin (no make up!) OR wash your face using a washcloth in the bathroom cabinet.
4. Reception will show you to a room where you can lay down face-up and settle in for your treatment.  You can wear loose fitting clothes or dress down and drape with a towel.  Time to get started!

SELF CARE

The skin is our biggest organ.  It reflects our internal states and is very influenced by what we eat, our hormones and what we do to take care of ourselves.  Skin gets drier, thinner, and less elastic with age, but there are many ways to keep it nourished.  While we always want our patients to strive for balance, rather than perfection, here are our recommendations for self care:

• Nutrition.  Eat a diet that is rich in antioxidants - substances that prevent damage from free radicals.  Vitamins A, C, and E are examples.  Omega-3s and Vitamin D are great for inflammation too.
• Avoid sugar as much as possible.  It interferes with how smoothly collagen can deposit, not to mention all of its other inflammatory effects.
• Exercise. Get your heart pumping for at least 30 minutes 5 days per week.  It improves cardiovascular tone and circulation.
• Hydrate.  Drink 60 - 80 oz of water daily, or more if you are active.
  We are happy to talk to you about products, like serums, toners and derma-rollers. 
• Different skin types have different needs.  Keep your skin care routine simple and use products with simple ingredients lists that sound good enough to eat.

ADD-ONS AND PRODUCTS

HERBAL FACIAL COMPRESSES
Herbal compresses are a part of Thai Traditional Medicine.  The moist heat of the herbs helps moisten the skin, reduce inflammation, increase circulation and stimulate tissue healing.  

DERMA-ROLLER
Derma-rollers are a way to do micro-needling at home.  Tiny needles penetrate the superficial layer of the skin, increasing collagen production and blood flow.  This gives the surface of the skin a brighter appearance and is helpful for more surface skin issues

JADE-ROLLER
Jade rollers provide an easy way to self-administer a facial massage. Jade rollers have all the benefits of a body massage by increasing circulation, releasing tight muscles, stimulating the skin, and providing a soothing experience.

Why a Pill Bleed is Not a Period

by Dr. Amber Hincks LAc

File this under things they should have taught us in Sex Ed. It took me a long time to really understand that while on birth control pills, women do not get periods. They do not ovulate, they do not make progesterone, they do not have a cycle. Most birth control pills use synthetic hormones to prevent ovulation and generally cause a decrease in the amount of lining that is created. A withdrawal bleed happens only when the birth control is stopped during the placebo week. This bleed does not necessarily serve any function other than remind us of what having a period might feel like. When birth control pills were first developed, they almost left the placebo week out entirely, and indeed some women are now advised to take their active pills continuously.

Birth control pills can serve many functions for women from contraception to decreasing heavy flow and potentially pain. But these synthetic hormones do not have some of the many benefits of our natural hormones, so it should not be a decision to take lightly. For instance, our natural progesterone is better for supporting mood, preventing migraine headaches and generally for cardiovascular health. The more natural ovulatory cycles that we have over the course of our lifetime, the benefits of these hormones can extend into our menopausal years.

There are currently some great ways to learn more. Dr. Lara Briden, ND, author of the Hormone Repair Manual and Period Repair Manual, just released a podcast. The first episode: “Pill bleeds are not periods.” And filmmakers Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, creators of the Business of Being Born movie, just came out with a new film, the Business of Birth Control.

A few things to note, with some low dose hormonal IUDs, you can still ovulate and produce some of your natural hormones. There are other options for contraception too, like the non-hormonal IUD or Cycle Tracking apps and devices. Or perhaps your partner is open to a vasectomy (thank you Lover!). Either way, we hope that you enjoy getting to know the rhythms of your body and all it has to teach you. Our hormones are responsible for way more than just reproduction and they say that the menstrual cycle can be considered a vital sign just like your blood pressure or heart rate. That’s why we tend to ask so many questions about it! But the best cycle is still the one that works for you and your body.

Fertility Acupuncture - How Does It Work?

by Dr. Amber Hincks LAc

How does acupuncture enhance fertility?  I am asked this question frequently.  With declining fertility rates nationally, more and more people are seeking support on the path to conception, and infertility is one of the many things I treat regularly.  Acupuncture can help in a variety of ways.  While there are specific acupuncture points that “treat infertility,” like most conditions, each individual has their own set of health needs and we seek to provide treatment plans that are best suited to each specific case.  In the most general terms, acupuncture has two primary functions for fertility:

1. Acupuncture increases blood flow to reproductive organs

2. Acupuncture calms the nervous system - decreasing stress hormones and promoting balanced reproductive hormones

Let’s not stop there.  There are many more ways that Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help fertility.  What are the benefits of fertility acupuncture?

a. Blood Flow: Acupuncture strongly and effectively stimulates blood flow to the uterus and the ovaries. The uterus benefits because it has more nutrients delivered which can help thicken the lining and/or make it more amenable to implantation of an embryo. Poor uterine lining quality is often the culprit for ‘implantation-failure’. The eggs also benefit as a result of increased blood flow.  The uterine artery feeds both the uterus and the ovaries. Since the eggs reside in the ovaries, the eggs receive more FSH/LH from the brain; in addition, they receive more oxygen, nutrients, and electrolytes. The follicles, as a result of this increase in blood flow are also able to more effectively rid themselves of dead-cell-remnants known as ‘debris’.  A build up of ‘debris’ can lessen the quality of eggs. (1)

b. Stress: Acupuncture reduces stress and stress is associated with diminished success when trying-to-conceive. (2)

c. Sperm: Acupuncture improves sperm quality.  This improvement may be observed in a higher count, greater motility and improved morphology of the sperm. (3)

d. PCOS: Acupuncture, herbs, and the proper supplements can help PCOS patients to lose weight (when necessary), regulate the menses, ovulate more consistently, and improve fertility outcomes. (4)

e. Endometriosis: Inflammation related to endometriosis can make it difficult for implantation to occur. Acupuncture and herbal medicine can significantly reduce inflammatory states in general and in utero in particular, thereby making the uterus healthier, and more amenable to an implantation with an ongoing successful pregnancy.

f. Age: Advanced maternal age is a term conferred upon any women 35 years old and older. Premature ovarian failure is also a term given to women who show the signs of declining fertility even earlier.  This population typically has at least two issues. They present with diminished ovarian reserve and poor (or less good) egg quality. Egg quality can be improved through the proper application of acupuncture along with good nutrition and thereby significantly improve the chances of conception.  

g. Miscarriage: There are many reasons for miscarriage, many of which should be treated by a reproductive endocrinologist.  However, there are certain conditions that Western medicine does not have much ability to treat such as IUGR.  IUGR means intrauterine growth restriction. With IUGR, the blood flow to the placenta is insufficient, nutrient products are not delivered to the developing fetus and miscarriage can result. Acupuncture is capable of treating this type of issue.

h. Subchorionic hematoma:  A subchorionic bleed (also known as a subchorionic hematoma) is the accumulation of blood between the uterine lining and the chorion (the outer fetal membrane, next to the uterus) or under the placenta itself. It can cause light to heavy spotting or bleeding, but it may not.  This can sometimes end in miscarriage. This condition is more common in IVF pregnancies because the embryo is sometimes scratched to encourage it to implant.  The Western medical approach is bedrest.  Acupuncture and herbs can more aggressively treat this pathology.

i. Unexplained Infertility: Infertility due to “no known cause”.  In traditional Chinese medicine, everything is diagnosable.  The skilled practitioner will always find underlying imbalances, and by restoring health to all systems, enhanced fertility follows.  For instance, a Chinese Medicine diagnosis of Blood Deficiency could significantly impact fertility, and by increasing the quantity and nutritive qualities of blood, a pregnancy is more likely to occur.

j. Integrative Care: Acupuncture and herbs are perfectly suited for an integrative approach to fertility care. The reproductive endocrinologist will stimulate the development of follicles, retrieve eggs, inseminate them with sperm and transfer the embryo. This technique has produced more than four million live births. But there are millions more transfers that were unsuccessful. In many cases, this is due to conditions that could be improved upon by Chinese Medicine.  In short, these are: great eggs, great sperm and great lining.  Acupuncture and herbs can confer these benefits to the patient undergoing IUI or IVF, or, just trying to conceive naturally.  One day this will hopefully be the standard of care.

k. Cost Savings: Acupuncture and herbs can save you money.  If acupuncture can improve the necessary components required for pregnancy (sperm, egg, lining), you will get pregnant sooner. The sooner you succeed, the less costly the whole affair.  Not to mention, the capacity to lessen the burden of stress along the way.

I am looking forward to adding citations to this post, as recent decades have provided a lot of promising research!

1. Stener-Victorin E, Waldenström U, Andersson SA, Wikland M. Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture. Hum Reprod. 1996 Jun;11(6):1314-7. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a019378. PMID: 8671446. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8671446/
2. Balk J, Catov J, Horn B, Gecsi K, Wakim A. The relationship between perceived stress, acupuncture, and pregnancy rates among IVF patients: a pilot study. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2010 Aug;16(3):154-157. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2009.11.004. Epub 2009 Dec 24. PMID: 20621276; PMCID: PMC2904299. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20621276/
3. Siterman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Zabludovsky N, Bartoov B. Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility related to low sperm quality. Arch Androl. 1997 Sep-Oct;39(2):155-61. doi: 10.3109/01485019708987914. PMID: 9272232. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9272232/
4. Lim CE, Wong WS. Current evidence of acupuncture on polycystic ovarian syndrome. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2010 Jun;26(6):473-8. doi: 10.3109/09513591003686304. PMID: 20230329. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20230329/

How Do You Tell Your Story?

by Dr. Amber Hincks LAc

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 more of her story with me, what she had been through.  I love hearing people’s stories. Patients sometimes worry that they are “complaining too much,” but really this is why we are here, to witness and unburden.  But I am also listening for how they tell their story.  Is it one of struggle but ultimately triumph?  Is there resignation or is there hope?  Is their pain or sickness something they are dealing with or has it become their identity?  This is important.

The patients who have the hardest time healing, from my experience, are those that are very imbedded in their unwellness. And who can blame them, many people have suffered greatly and are still struggling.  In my student’s words, some can become biophobic, afraid of life.  They don’t trust in life’s goodness, in others, or in their own bodies.  And yet there is the cancer patient who plans all the hikes they will do when they are feeling better, or the woman who has a hard time conceiving but makes amazing art or helps others birth.  They still suffer, they ache to be well or to have a child, but their spirit flourishes and guides them on.  This is not for me to take on, this is their story. 

Where I do see some role for Chinese Medicine is in showing them hope, glimpses of being pain-free, symptoms improving.  And also, we observe where their illness or struggle fits into the bigger story of their life, their pattern, as we refer to it.  The tendencies the body has shown, the vulnerabilities at times of transition, the evolution of their health journey.  In this, there is a sense of being on a path and uncovering where this challenge fits in, and what it has to teach us.  As an example, a patient might present with headaches, and we come to learn that they are very stressed and feel stuck in a job that they find unfulfilling.  In Chinese Medicine, this situation stagnates the Liver Qi, causing muscle stiffness and headaches, possibly chest tightness or abdominal pain.  Along with acupuncture and herbs, the solution might be a new job, or it might be to support the Liver by doing something creative, because the Liver is associated with vision and creativity.  As the wood element, it wants to grow and move.  Exercise is also great for this common pattern.  

But back to the story telling.  In this, we might hope to see a change in how patients perceive and tell their story.  As a birth doula, I am part of a facebook group for women who tried to birth naturally and instead had a cesarean.  For many women, this feels like a disappointment, maybe even a failure, that they carry with them.  There can be a lot to process when a birth experience is traumatic.  Someone in the group asked, “what if you told your story as if you were bragging?” I thought about this, not just with birth, but with so many things.  What if we looked back on our struggles, or even our current hardships and thought, wow, can you believe what I have been through? It’s impressive, right?  Especially if you can recognize in it something you have learned about yourself, perhaps even something you have overcome. Because the struggles don’t go away, but we can become more resilient.  We can recognize our patterns and gently untangle them and put them aside.  And then tell the story of our healing.

The Impact of Money in Research & How to Find Quality Acupuncture Research

by Dr. Amber Hincks LAc

Medical research is a significant part of the healthcare industry.  Well-designed and conclusive research is essential to the development of new therapies and treatments.  The creators of these treatments have financial incentive for favorable outcomes.  While industry standards have developed to protect consumers and patients and provide physicians with accurate information, money will always impact the way this information is gathered and delivered.  Being aware of this impact through the disclosure of funding can help to mitigate this influence, while still trusting the science and methodology that determines research significance.

Biomedicine tends to view acupuncture as experimental.  But there are in fact many research studies proving its validity as a treatment for many conditions from knee pain to nausea.  When acupuncture is compared to a no-treatment control group or standard-care control group, it performs very well with a vast array of conditions.  Trials that compare acupuncture with a placebo, referred to as sham acupuncture, often where needles are inserted in the wrong points or not as deep, are less conclusive.  This is likely because acupuncture is still being performed, many would say, just with less precision.  Most of this research has taken place within the National Institute of Health, an agency of the United States government.  And even more comes out of China.

The NIH funds a lot of research and their review boards help to ensure quality protocols.  Additional research is funded through educational institutions.  And then a large amount of research is funded by pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies.  Obviously these companies have a vested interest in the success of their studies.  Research has shown that these for-profits publish far more positive studies than not-for-profit institutions.  More publishers are starting to require disclosure of funding to allow physicians to account for these influences.  

There is not a lot of money in acupuncture research.  There is no one who serves to gain other than the populations acupuncture benefits.  Where acupuncture is more successful than standard care, say for something like low back pain, there is the potential to reduce financial burden to patients and insurance companies and the consideration of the cost to productivity and quality of life that chronic pain or other suffering creates in society.  Acupuncture is also difficult to research in the form of the double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials.  It is better studied as part of whole-systems research, which accounts for the fact that treatments are non-standardized, they vary according to individual presentations, and they involve elements not limited to the insertions of needles.  

If you are interested in reading more about acupuncture research, a quick pubmed search will allow you to review abstracts, if not full-text, research studies by the thousands. The NIH has a division called the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, which has a lot of information on acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine research. Or bring your questions to us! Research informs our practice and we love to learn.

Lung Health and Smoke in Portland

by Dr. Amber Hincks LAc

The air is thick with smoke.  You can feel it in your throat within minutes outside.  In discussion with herbal students this morning, a welcome distraction,  we came up with few ideas for remedies for the irritation we are experiencing.

For your body:

• Licorice Root - the main ingredient in Throat Coat tea, is not only soothing to a sore throat, it is detoxifying.
• Poached pears - not only in season, pears nourish the Yin fluids of the lung, damaged by the dryness.  Sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon or ginger.  Drink the liquid too!
• Steam some herbs on the stove.  Fill your house with the fragrance of rosemary, sage, eucalyptus, mint or a splash of the same essential oils, if you can get your hands on some.  A humidifier may also feel supportive if your lungs and throat are feeling dry and hot. The moisture in the air will also help.
• Take out your neti pot if you have one and rinse those sinuses after you head outside.
• We’ve got herbs and Lung Clear Throat Drops here too if you need them!
• Avoid make-up and other strong skin care products while your skin is being exposed to smoke.
• Avoid inflammatory foods (alcohol, refined sugars, processed grain) and instead eat bland foods that are easy to digest over the next few days and if you already have digestive sensitivity, for at least a week or even two. Patients are already reporting nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath related to prolonged time outdoors, though sensitive individuals have reported symptoms with short exposures times as well.

A few things to consider at home and beyond:

Additionally, avoid other environmental toxins in order to support your body in its efforts to regulate. This means no perfume, air freshener, artificially scented candles, harsh incense, chemical cleaning products, etc.

Keep your doors and windows closed as much as is possible.

Use toys, bones, etc. to exercise your pets inside if possible.

If you take a drive in your care use A/C if you have it and recycled air.

Chinese Medicine in Oregon - Doc Hay & Kam Wah Chung

by Dr. Amber Hincks LAc

Chinese medicine was relatively unknown to the American public until the 1970s when a New York Times article described the remarkable treatment James Reston had while traveling in China with Henry Kissinger.  But in reality, Chinese Medicine was being practiced throughout the United States for over 100 years at that point.  In the mid-1800s Chinese people migrated to the US by the thousands, leaving the declining Qing dynasty behind, taking jobs on the railroad in the west.  With them, they brought Chinese medicine, both acupuncture and herbalism.  

In the Pacific Northwest, several significant Chinatowns developed, in Portland and Seattle as well as in Walla Walla, WA and John Day, OR.  The white population feared losing their jobs with the gradual influx of Chinese laborers, resulting in strained relations.  These racial tensions led to discriminatory legislation, particularly regarding the prohibition of Chinese descendants from owning property, which was codified in the Oregon Constitution.  While this would eventually cause many of these once booming Chinatown’s to decline, as there was little option but to return to China, some Chinese still found significant success.  John Day, Oregon was home to “Doc Hay,” a Chinese Herbalist and his business partner, Lung On, proprietor of a general store.  

In John Day, you can still visit Doc Hay’s apothecary, though it is now a museum, the Kam Wah Chung Heritage Site.  It is one of the best-preserved collections of Chinese Herbs from that time period.  Letters indicate that not only was Doc Hay treating members of the community, but he was also receiving requests for herbal treatment from out of state.  His medical expertise was instrumental in the treatment of railroad workers suffering from Spanish flu and it is said that without him the railroad would not have been completed.  Claims that he was unlicensed were continuously disputed because he was held in such high esteem.  In cataloguing his possessions, it was discovered that he had $23,000 in uncashed checks under his bed.  

Doc Hay passed away in 1952, but it would still be another 30 years until Oregon had its first school for the study of Chinese Medicine.  By then, the discriminatory legislation had been overturned, but not without the huge loss to the Chinese populations of some PNW communities.  For instance, the local Chinese population in Walla Walla may have been as high as 1,250 at one time but numbered only 50 or 60 in 1973.  Gentrification and a legacy of discrimination has largely shifted Portland’s Chinatown East to 82nd Ave, where it was once the second largest Chinatown in the Northwest.  

Although acupuncture is becoming more popular and accepted in our Western framework, it is and will always be rooted in Ancient Chinese theoretical and medical concepts.  Our herbs, grown under specific conditions in particular climates and regions, still come from China.  Acupuncture practiced apart from this history and worldview (as is sometimes advocated in Western medical fields), is not only less-effective, but also culturally insensitive.  Instead, at Vitalize, we seek to honor, learn and adapt our practices with gratitude and respect for the roots of this medicine.

Additional Information Found Below:

Chinese Americans in the Columbia River Basin - Historical Overview

A Brief History of the Chinese in Oregon, 1850-1950

Crossing East: The Legacy of Ing 'Doc' Hay

Explore the history of Kam Wah Chung & Co.