Imagine

Black Lives Matter.

That’s it. That’s the newsletter. My work is helping people heal, and Black lives matter in the context of all of us healing. Some of you have heard me say with my usual saltiness that you can do the work of achieving and maintaining a healthy body, or you can do the work of living in a sick body, but the work exists either way. We have all been trying to thrive within a deeply pathological system built on the dehumanization of Black/ indigenous people of color. Those of us who have the privilege of not seeing it every day got a glimpse when we saw the full video of a police officer with a smirk on his face murdering a Black man while his partner mocked concerned onlookers. It’s ugly and sick beyond words. We knew things like that were happening all the time and we didn’t do enough to stop them. The work of living in a society this sick is not working. This is an invitation to do our healing work differently. I have been a good listener, but more is needed, so I will work harder to meet everyone in my clinic community where they are, and support them from there. I am committing to do a better job of connecting people to all the resources they need, because what I offer isn’t always enough. Let’s have some long conversations. Let’s choose the work of full lives for everyone. Black lives matter, or nothing matters. Twitter @katiamcampbell Instagram @ricegrainmoxa Facebook K.M. Campbell Wellness

 

Now that masks and tests are more accessible, it feels right to offer acupuncture home visits. This option reduces exposure by keeping you in the safety of your home and employing masks throughout the session. Instead of talking during the appointment (and increasing the chance of exchanging respiratory droplets), we will talk via phone or video chat first. Online scheduling has been disabled for now – please reach out directly to make an appointment.

These visits are not without risk. There is a small possibility that we could be contagious without symptoms. However, there are enough people with chronic pain and anxiety problems that I’ve decided to take this step to help where I can. Sometimes there is no substitute for in-person medicine.

But in general, substitute we must, and as humans are wont to do, we are learning and adapting. We’re finding that telemedicine sessions can help provide a little extra containment when we need it most. I’m doing 30 minute sessions to answer nutrition questions, offer acupressure tips, and just set aside some friendly face time for anyone who might need that.

And, of course, Chinese herbal formulas are superstars. I’ve really fallen in love all over again with herbal medicine, and I’m so grateful to have this tool to help people. Anyone who’s worked with me knows I tend to favor subtractive medicine over additive. I won’t prescribe a formula if we can achieve a similar result through diet and lifestyle changes. But for those who need extra support, Chinese herbs are one of the most powerful ways we have to alleviate symptoms and help the body recover from a variety of internal and external imbalances.

As always, feel free to reach out with questions! Email and text work best, and I’d love for you to join the conversation on Twitter @embodymeaning and Instagram @ricegrainmoxa and K.M. Campbell Wellness on Facebook.

One last thing to mitigate the physical distancing: many of you know I’ve been on about the link between health and strong social connections for a very long time. It’s now more important than ever. I’ve started a simple email list for anyone who feels like they need to have more people to call for mutual aid and support. If you’re interested in joining that group, just send me an email! We are a community, and that means we are here for each other. Being here implies sharing resources within a space. The space might be more expansive than before, but we can grow to meet each other, even better than we did before.

Spring

Emerging

Mobilizing

   

 

This is just to connect and create a space where we can share notes on this collective journey. It’s an uncertain time, and rich with potential. It’s a transformative time. We can emerge from this stronger than we were before.

Let’s start small, though. Let’s start with what we know.

Here are some things I know for sure:

I miss all of you! I have taken some time to do my own grieving, and I know there will be more in the coming days. If you need support with your grieving process, please reach out. I can help. We are in a hard and scary time, and I know how to make hard things easier and scary things friendlier.

Rituals are also nourishing, and a deeply ingrained tool to help us move through anxiety. Making tea has been one of my favorite daily rituals lately. This article explains some of the science behind the practice. If you want to talk about developing rituals that will support you, I’m here for that.

And here are some actions I’m taking despite a lack of perfect clarity:

In line with the CDC’s recommendations, I’m wearing a fabric mask whenever I am in situations where people might be closer than six feet away. Here is an article with links to local mask makers.

I’ve been more active on social media than ever in my life. There are some interesting conversations there, and I’d love to include you! I’m on Twitter @embodymeaning and Instagram @ricegrainmoxa. And, occasionally, K.M. Campbell Wellness on Facebook.

I will also probably start sending more of these newsletters, too.

Let’s stay connected. We are a community committed to thriving, and exploring. Let’s keep moving forward together.

There is a lot of incomplete, inaccurate, and contradictory information circulating around the latest coronavirus outbreak. This email is to help you sort through the noise and get prepared.  The most important thing to know is that there is no need to panic. The best way to avoid last-minute stress is to gather good information and prepare ahead of time. We are still learning, and the situation is changing every day. Based on the expert judgment of scientists who have been tracking it, this will be a pandemic and there will be widespread, problematic exposure in the U.S. But we can slow the spread and minimize strain on community resources. Part of being a good neighbor is taking responsibility for our own wellbeing during this time. SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that spreads very effectively between humans via respiratory droplets and surfaces, sometimes before symptoms are recognized. We don’t know how often presymptomatic cases are transmitted. It is not airborne, like measles and smallpox. There are no antivirals or vaccines that reliably work against it yet. To reduce the risk of being infected and spreading infection: Use strict hand hygiene: refrain from shaking hands, touching public surfaces, and touching your face. Start practicing now. Work with friends to develop awareness, and make it a game. Wash hands frequently with soap and running water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid public gatherings and unnecessary travel, and work from home whenever possible. There is strong evidence that Chinese medicine (CM) formulas can help curb the spread of contagious respiratory diseases. In three studies from 2004, herbal formulas were 100% effective in preventing the spread of SARS. In 2009, four studies showed that H1N1 influenza infection was significantly lower among people who were treated with CM. These studies are relevant because the symptoms and characteristics of those viruses are similar to the new coronavirus that is spreading. If you do develop cold or flu like symptoms, call ahead before going to a clinic or hospital. Masks have not proven to be an effective protection for the general public. They are useful to keep the already-sick people from spreading the virus. Think of them as keeping the pathogen in, not keeping it out. Beyond these measures, it’s a good idea to steadily accumulate a supply of food, medicine, and hygiene needs that will last about 2 weeks. This article has a good approach.Based on the case studies available, I’ve stocked up on herbs that will help improve immunity and fight the pathogen if taken early enough, plus formulas to help with more serious respiratory conditions. I am happy to do herbal consult appointments for no charge other than the cost of herbs. I recommend stocking your medicine cabinet with these formulas, so you can prevent infection or respond at the very first sign of infection. This virus moves quickly. Early symptoms include sore throat, fever, runny nose, and cough. Some people also experience GI symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. COVID-19 is the disease that results from the virus. In most cases, it is a mild illness, but in 20% of cases, it causes severe viral pneumonia that is unresponsive to antibiotics and leads to long-term hospitalization. It has a mortality rate of 2-3%. The elderly are the most at-risk population for both hospitalization and death. If you have loved ones in a residential-care facility, start talking now about how the facility plans to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. The progression of the illness seems to begin with an incubation period of about 5 days, although there have been reports of people developing symptoms more than 14 days after being exposed and testing negative. Most people will develop mild to moderate cases, and recover within 2 weeks. Day 7 has been reported as the worst. For those who become critically ill, medical attention is sought for shortness of breath and pneumonia around Day 4.

Let’s work together to keep ourselves and each other safe. It’s normal to feel anxious about something with so many unknowns. Early preparation doesn’t hurt anything if this turns out to be nothing, and  it’s the best way to avoid panic if the more severe predictions turn out to be true. Start maximizing your health and immune response now by exercising, getting enough rest, eating well, and practicing self-care… Acupuncture can be an important part of that routine! As always, I’m committed to supporting the resiliency of our community however I can.

Photo courtesy of Morty Bachar,  Lakeside Pottery Studio www.lakesidepottery.com

I just received a broken dish from one of my favorite artists – and it’s exactly what I wanted! 

There is a tradition in Japan called kintsugi, or mending with gold, in which artisans lovingly restore broken ceramics by joining the pieces back together with gold-infused lacquer. It is the ultimate design solution: taking a challenging moment and transforming it into the moment when the magic really began. The result is something even more beautiful than the original – imbued with a sense of history and value that comes with repairing something you love instead of throwing it away. 

According to Leonard Cohen, “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” It’s a lovely reminder to honor the broken moments in your life. 

Kintsugi is the perfect way to visualize the work I do with people who have experienced trauma or toxic stress. I combine acupuncture with Somatic Experiencing, which is a system of neurobehavioral techniques that are designed to transform trauma and chronic stress into ongoing growth and freedom. The work restores resiliency to the nervous system so we can pick ourselves up and continue moving in the direction of our brightest aspirations. 

How resilient are you? If you’ve ever noticed that your anxiety and health problems seem to get worse with stress, or conversely, you seem to get sick whenever there’s a break in the action, that’s a sign that your unconscious mind is involved. It is a place of fragmentation – an opportunity to heal, as well as (an understandable!) temptation to stay small and inauthentic. 

SE is effective for a wide range of challenges, including:

• recent traumatic events, like car accidents and other high-impact injuries
• concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
• time in combat
• medical trauma
• sexual trauma
• physical assault and emotional abuse
• animal attacks
• social or intergenerational trauma, including poverty and feelings of otherness
• childhood neglect and abuse, or other difficult childhood experiences 
• feeling overwhelmed with current ongoing demands of life, work, and family
• feeling too sensitive to internal or environmental stimuli
• grief and loss in relationships 
• grief and loss related to chronic pain and ongoing medical conditions
• grief and loss related to health changes and aging 

All of these experiences, especially when combined or added to each other over time, can disrupt endocrine function, muscle tonicity, and multiple organ systems. 

Combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine, SE can help alleviate symptoms and restore health and vitality. People leave each session with renewed clarity and peace shining in their eyes. This is true beauty that everyone can see, and it’s Post Traumatic Growth at its best – transforming painful experiences into a life well-lived. 

Your life matters, and your decision to heal yourself matters. The cracks and pain you’ve experienced can become part of the authenticity and goodness you bring to the world. The world doesn’t need perfect people, but it desperately needs people who are genuine and clear about where they’ve been and where they’re going. 

The world needs people who are living into their fullness! This takes immense courage, and no one can do it alone. 

During a typical Somatic Experiencing and acupuncture session, we will explore some of the ways that you know what you know about yourself and the world. Instead of unconsciously continuing to create a reality you don’t want, your orientation will shift more toward what’s true and supportive for your wellbeing. 

We honor life’s transitions by becoming more conscious of our thoughts as they happen. Those thoughts, of course, become actions which become habits which become character. But you can’t think your way out of deeply imprinted patterns. We change thought processes from the bottom up, using information stored in the body. Better health and more ease in the world are the most common results. You become a more whole, embodied, resourced human being. 

This is deep, integral work, with roots in indigenous shamanic practices as much as the latest neurobiology and behavioral research. While there are many admirable approaches to trauma healing, Somatic Experiencing is among the most comprehensive systems. For some people and situations, it matters to work with someone who has significant training and certification. If this work interests you, be sure to keep listening to your inner voice – it will guide you to people who are best for you.

Chest pain. Fatigue. Dizziness. Headache. Back pain. Asthma and allergies. Insomnia. Abdominal pain. Numbness. Impotence. Constipation/IBS. Weight regulation problems.

Over 55% of people with these symptoms get no relief from conventional treatment.

Many people are told there’s nothing wrong, and there’s nothing that can be done.

But the common link in 84% of these complaints is autonomic nervous system dysregulation, which can disrupt endocrine function, muscle tonicity, and multiple organ systems.

I combine time-tested East Asian medical practices with state-of-the-art neuro-behavioral techniques to bring relief and healing for chronic pain and hard-to-treat conditions: fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune diseases, reproductive disorders in both men and women, anxiety, depression, insomnia, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, skin conditions, allergies, and more.

We’ll start here:

• Do you have the care and support you need to keep moving forward?
• Are you comfortable listening to your body and responding to what it needs?

If you answered no to either question, please schedule an appointment. My practice is focused on supporting highly sensitive people who have hard-to-treat conditions. It would be my honor to help.

 

Maybe you feel like a fighter, maybe you don’t… But life springs from the tension between opposites. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s the perfect laboratory for growth.

As long as you’re changing and growing and evolving, there’s opportunity for healing. That’s the connection between warriors and healers.

And evolution is the real fight: that inward cultivation of your best self, the person this world needs. Are you ready to fight for that truth? The flame is already lit. I can help you turn it into a fire that warms your whole world.

Or, maybe you have some other changes that need attention first. It’s all part of the path! Classical Chinese Medicine is rooted in working with change. Because the practice works with all the relationships within your body as a whole, I can treat a wide variety of conditions.

The table below lists some of the health concerns that acupuncture effectively treats, according to the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization.

Addiction Anxiety Arthritis Asthma Bronchitis Carpal tunnel syndrome Chronic fatigue Colitis Common cold Constipation Dental pain Depression Diarrhea Digestive trouble Dizziness Dysentery Emotional problems Eye problems Facial palsy

Fatigue Fertility Fibromyalgia Gingivitis Headache Hiccough Incontinence Indigestion Irritable bowel syndrome Low back pain Menopause Menstrual irregularities Migraine Morning sickness Nausea Osteoarthritis Pain PMS Pneumonia

Reproductive problems Rhinitis Sciatica Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Shoulder pain Sinusitis Sleep disturbances Smoking cessation Sore throat Stress Tennis elbow Tonsillitis Tooth pain Trigeminal neuralgia Urinary tract infections Vomiting Wrist pain

“Hiccough??” you ask, incredulously. Yes, hiccough. But try a glass of water first.

You know the language of your own body.

You rest deeply when it’s time to rest, and wake feeling refreshed and excited about the day ahead.

You enjoy and trust the people closest to you, and solve problems all day that keep you right in your zone: challenged but resourced, relaxed yet ready for anything.

Aging is easy for you – the older you get, the easier it is for people to see your true power and radiance. (And silliness. Because you’re having way too much fun for someone your age.)

You are strong, resilient. Tough, even.

You treat the weak areas with compassion and build them up. You appreciate your strengths and lean on them to achieve your goals.

Whatever your story, you’re ready to claim the life you love. You were born for this.

This is your path, and I’m here to support you on it.

If you’re ready to change your relationship with your body and your life, make an appointment today. Stop feeling like life is out of your control.

Follow your biology.