Natural Solutions for Thyroid Health- A Santa Rosa Fertility Acupuncturist's Thoughts

Many women are surprised to find out that their symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, depression, chilliness, hair loss and weight gain may be due to an underactive thyroid. In fact, in my experience as a health care practitioner, such a condition can exist even when a blood lab has confirmed the person as "normal". In my opinion this is often because the doctor did not order a complete thyroid panel and/or because the level for healthy functioning is more narrow than the range deemed as "normal". This means that woman will have many symptoms and feel poorly long before she is diagnosed by a regular doctor and during this time her gland is actually slowly diminishing in function.
In the realm of fertility thyroid plays an important part in maintaining a normal menstrual cycle and in allowing a woman to hold a pregnancy. Often when a woman has had trouble conceiving I will have her take her basal body temperature, or chart her temperatures first thing every morning. If her temps are below 97 degrees Fahrenheit and she has other symptoms, I will suspect a thyroid issue and want to get that in balance. Sometimes I will send her to her regular doctor for testing or treatment, but often this isn't enough. Even if the woman takes synthetic hormones like Synthroid she is not actually nourishing the thyroid gland itself. In fact supplementing hormones like this is sometimes believed to make the gland lazy. For this reason, I will recommend high quality supplements like Thytrophin by Standard Process and Thyroid Complex by Mediherb that use whole foods without hormones to help the gland to regenerate if necessary and function more optimally.
If you suspect you or someone you love has a thyroid issue please visit http://www.santarosa-acupuncture.com for more info or call (707) 775-8311 to speak to Kat Delse Mardirous, L.Ac. to speak about how her services may help you.

Acupuncture and Herbs for Insomnia in Santa Rosa, CA

Do you suffer from insomnia? Maybe you've tried some herbs from your local health food store and they haven't worked. Don't give up. This may be because you didn't buy the supplement most suited to your specific type of insomnia. In my herbal pharmacy in Santa Rosa, CA I have herbs for people with trouble falling asleep combined with poor energy and digestion. I have some for those who fall asleep easily but wake frequently sometimes feeling sweaty. I have others for just an acute situation where the person can't sleep because they are overheated and highly stressed, and some for people who's problem is mostly due to stagnation in the digestive system not allowing the body to rest.  Not sure which pattern fits you? That's why it is great to have an herbalist who can determine your type of insomnia and pick the very best choice for you.

 Helping insomnia is best done by combining herbal medicine with acupuncture. Acupuncture allows you to experience a relaxed state in which the whole body system switches into rest and relax mode. Acupuncture is kind of like training the energy body to go out of fight or flight stressed mode and go into the rejuvenative healing state where good sleep is possible.

For more information about acupuncture and herbal medicine in Santa Rosa visit my website at http://www.santarosa-acupuncture.com or call (707) 775-8311

Chinese Herbs for Sale in Santa Rosa, CA

I'm pleased to announce my Herbal Pharmacy in Santa Rosa, CA is now highly stocked with Chinese Herbal Formulas for various conditions. These formulas have been used for thousands of years to successfully treat internal and external conditions and have been adapted and studied to fit the modern patient. They are safety tested with little to no side effects.

Some of the herbal formulas I have in stock now can treat cold/flu, allergies, asthma. There are herbs for skin conditions such as eczema, acne or hives. For gynecological conditions I have formulas for infertility, PMS, menopausal hot flashes or night sweating, menstrual cramps,  uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, Postpartum Recovery, miscarriage prevention and more. I have herbs to help with fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia and hypertension. I have herbs for all types of pain, spasm and tension, injury recovery and arthritis. For digestive disorders I have herbs for nausea, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and hemorrhoids. I have been treating all kinds of conditions in my private practice for about 6 years and had almost four years of internship before that. Feel free to call with any questions. Herbs can work well alone prescribed through Traditional Chinese Medicine consultation or in conjunction with acupuncture which I also practice. I have knowledge of how herbs can interact with medications and am happy to work with your doctor if you want to come off of medication or combine your regimen with herbal medicine.
Please call me with any questions: Kat Delse Mardirous, L.Ac. (707) 775-8311 of visit my website at  http://www.santarosa-acupuncture.com. I'm also happy to answer questions by email at katdelse@yahoo.com

How I Treated Shingles with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

One day I noticed a painful red rash breaking out around my left side. At first I thought it was Chicken Pox because I'd recently treated a patient with a bad case of that rash. Although I didn't think that Chicken Pox was usually contagious, that seemed the most logical connection. The more it went on though and the more I thought about it, I knew it had to be Shingles, or Herpes Zoster. How did I know? It was more painful that itchy, it seemed to emerge from the spine, the spine itself felt quite painful and burning, and it was only on one side of the body following a nerve root path. It was a textbook case. I knew from my school studies that acupuncture and Chinese herbs could be very helpful and enlisted the help of an acupuncturist friend who also lived in Santa Rosa, CA.

In the meantime I did some online research as I continue to be interested in diseases as metaphors for what we are struggling with on deep levels. Although famous new age thought author Louise Hay called Shingles "Waiting for the other shoe to drop," the words of a less famous blogger resonated even more. "Shingles", she said, is a "Crossroads before fear and trust." This really seemed to ring true in my life as I was in the process of deepening my spiritual path and letting go of some fearful patterns in my mind. I believe my conscious choice to take the path of more faith and letting go sped my recovery. It also allowed me to approach the acupuncture and herbal treatment I received with receptivity and confidence.

The acupuncturist I saw diagnosed me as having "damp heat in the gallbladder channel" and had me take high doses of herbal tablets called Long Dan Xie Gan Tang. The herbs were cooling and drying and had me feeling better in about a day. I also took some blood moving herbs to help with all my spinal pain. Surprisingly moxa over the sores was very soothing. Although the disease has heat to it, moxa is still helpful because the sores are fluid filled and damp is dried by moxa. Moxa can often be done at home and not just y the Chinese Medicine doctor. My husband, in fact, was very helpful with this part of my treatment.

If you or someone you know is suffering from Shingles near Sonoma County, Ca call Kat at (707) 775-8311 or visit http://www.santarosa-acupuncture.com for more information about treatment.

What Works for Me

As an acupuncturist who also had her fair share of illnesses and recovery I am going to blog about some of my discoveries that might be of value to others. The truth is that as much as I've learned by helping others through infertility, pain, insomnia, depression and other illnesses, I've probably learned even more through my own body.


 My own body has been an empirical study in various herbal formulas, nutritional supplements as well as various forms of body work and healing therapies. I like being able to tell my patients not just that something will help, but that I know what it tastes like and how it feels in the body and what the after effects may be like. Here are a few of my problems that I've learned much about through my own body: Colds and strengthening immunity, Shingles, Insomnia, Heart Problems, Menstrual Irregularities and improving fertility, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, cleansing and detoxing. Here are just a few of the different types of treatment modalities I've experienced and learned from: Reiki, Bowen Method, Feldenkrais, homeopathy, hatha yoga, physical therapy, EFT, massage, Kairos therapy, hypnotherapy, spiritual midwifery, art therapy, Barbara Brennan Healing and Chinese Face Reading/Nine Star Ki. Wow what a list. I'm sure there are more! If any of these particularly appeals I'd love to hear what you want me to write about. With so much to chronicle it is hard to know begin.


Here is my contact info: Kat Delse Mardirous, L.Ac.: (707) 775-8311 katdelse@yahoo.com
To learn more about my practice visit: http://www.santarosa-acupuncture.com

3 Top Supplements I Love for Babies!

As an herbal supplement health care provider in Santa Rosa, CA and a first time mom I've been on the lookout for natural supplements to make my baby happier and the motherhood journey just a little bit easier. Here are my top three finds in random order.

1. Wellements Organic Gripe Water for Colic.  While my baby never technically qualified for colic I was sure that sometimes his tummy was bothering him or he could use just a little extra calmness to soothe his fussy cries. My son absolutely loved this stuff as a young baby. He seemed to lap it up and ask for more. So much so that I tried it myself expecting it was going to be sweet. On the contrary it tasted like unsweetened Chamomile Tea. I noticed he was calmer and less fussy after taking it. We probably used 3 bottles of this stuff in the first year and a half of his life and have recommended it to numerous other parents.

2. Baby's Jarro-Dophilus  You've probably heard about using pro-biotics to help adults to restore the healthy gut flora? Well this is a powder that babies can use for the same purpose. This is great for treating and preventing thrush, especially if you are nursing and had to take anti-biotics or if baby had to take anti-biotics. The nice thing about it is you can mix it in water or put it directly on to the nipple of a bottle or breast for easy consumption. My son also seems to like this one and at two years old sometimes requests it. I was glad to get its immune stimulating properties once cold and flu season was upon us.

3. Grow and Thrive by Kan Herbals This one you do have to get through an acupuncturist or other type of herbal practitioner. This is a pediatric formula for children with failure to thrive or just poor digestion or susceptibility to food or environmental sensitivity/allergies.  I got into this formula when my then one year old was diagnosed with allergies and found as a byproduct it really helped him to catch up on his growth. I noticed improved digestion and bowel regularity, diminished cough and nasal congestion and a growth spurt that took him from below the charts to 25th percentile. I was quite pleased and I felt like true to its name it helped my son not just grow but also thrive. I've heard other parents praise this blend of Chinese herbs as well.

When looking for supplements for my baby I look at ingredients and quality of manufacturing. Generally, products made in the USA are safer sources than those made in China even when looking for Chinese Herbal products.

--Kat Delse Mardirous, L.Ac. is an acupuncturist and herbalist in Santa Rosa, CA as well as first time mother to a boisterous two year old. To contact Kat or for more information about obtaining supplements such as Kan's Grow and Thrive visit http://www.santarosa-acupuncture.com

Free Mini Consultations Sunday May 24th, 2009 at the Sebastopol Wellness Fair

Want to enjoy the sunshine this Sunday in Sebastopol? Why not attend the Sebastopol Wellness Fair located at Whole Foods Plaza? I and many other excellent health providers will be showcasing our talents and wellness related services. You can find me in front of Whole Foods in Sebastopol, CA from 10-2pm Sunday May 24th providing free tongue and pulse diagnosis. This is a great way to get to know me as a practitioner, to ask any questions you may have about acupuncture and to find out about how acupuncture, herbs, Reiki and TCM Spiritual Psychology can help you. Find out a little bit about what your tongue and pulse says about your health condition. Find out how Chinese Medicine views you as a complete being with inter-related mind, body and spirit. Bring a friend.Call Kat at (707) 775-8311 for more information or visit me at http://www.santarosa-acupuncture.com