WELCOME TO BLUE STAR ACUPUNCTURE
AND CHINESE MEDICINE
Catherine Aufdenkampe, M.Ac., L.Ac., is a graduate of the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NIAOM) and is certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She has been in private practice for the last six years, following clinical training at the Fremont Clinic at NIAOM, the Chronic Fatigue Clinic at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, and the Cedar Hills Detoxification Center of King County in Issaquah, WA.
| Catherine’s passion for continued learning has
since led her to study with several renowned scholars, medical doctors and
acupuncturists, including Dr. Tran Viet Dzung, M.D., Head of the Acupuncture
Department of the School of Medicine in Nice, France; The late Dr. Yitian Ni,
O.M.D.; Jeffrey Yuen, L.Ac., and Dr. Richard Tan, O.M.D.
Catherine is compassionate, respectful and has a genuine desire to help people. Her intuitive skills, her ability to establish rapport and trust with her patients, and her profound belief in the intention, quality and efficacy of acupuncture and Chinese medicine have been instrumental in facilitating powerful therapeutic breakthroughs in many of her patients. |
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MORE ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINE
SERVICES, CLINIC HOURS AND FEES
LEARN MORE ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE AND
CHINESE MEDICINE AND DISCOVER HOW
ACUPUNCTURE CAN HELP YOU
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HISTORY, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF ACUPUNCTURE
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HISTORY, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF ACUPUNCTURE
Chinese medical history spans more than two millennia, but taking into account developments before written history, the timeline being looked at by Chinese medical historians stretches back over 5,000 years. However, it was by the end of the Warring States Period (481-221 BC) that the fundamental tenets of Chinese medical theory and practice became firmly in place. The oldest Chinese medical text dating from that period, the Huan-ti-nei-ching, set forth the blueprint of Chinese medical theory and method and became the infrastructure from which all subsequent medical texts sprung from, thus laying the foundation for the system that has come down to us.
With a written medical history going back to 200 BC, Chinese medicine today represents the cumulative clinical experience of a long lineage of physicians and offers time-tested medical concepts that have only recently been confirmed by modern science. This sophisticated and coherent medical system is rooted in the philosophy, logic, and sensibilities of a civilization entirely foreign from our own. It has therefore developed its own unique perspective and understanding of health and disease, and of the journey back to homeostasis and balance. It is fundamentally a holistic medical modality, based on the simplest tenet that to heal is “to make whole” and that no part can be understood or treated except in its relationship to the whole.
From a scientific viewpoint, we find, in the Lingshu chapter of the Huan-ti-nei-ching, concepts that are quite modern and compatible with current medical scientific perspectives, such as the energy/matter continuum of modern physics; the concept of a “defensive” (Wei) energy that can defend us or kill us” that correlates to our rather recent understanding of immunology; the notion of cycles, fundamental in Chinese medicine, and only understood by Western medicine in the last 100 years or so – cycles such as the cardiac cycle, the Krebs cycle at the cellular level, the menstrual cycle, to name just a few;
Chinese Medicine, 3000 years ago, clearly recognized and understood all of the above as well as the role and influence of environmental, social, emotional and mental factors on the state of health. In short, it is timeless.
For thousand of years, this ancient medical practice has been used to promote, restore and maintain good health not only in China but also in other Asian countries like Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam. Acupuncture was first introduced in Europe by a former French Diplomat, George Soulie de Morant, with his monumental work, L’Acupuncture Chinoise (posthumously published in 1957), and has since become a medical specialty taught in medical schools in France, Italy and a few other countries. In the United States, the use of acupuncture as an integrative medical modality has increased steadily over the last 25 years. With its inexpensive, non-invasive, safe and effective methods, the practice of acupuncture continues to develop as dynamically today as it did throughout its long history.
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Acupuncture is a highly specialized practice that involves the placement of fine, solid, sterilized stainless steel needles into the body at specific points that have been empirically proven to be effective for the condition being treated. Acupuncture is one component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and the most important one.
In addition to this concept of Qi or Energy, the Chinese have recognized the existence of a subtle energy system in the body, in the form of a network of channels or pathways through which Energy is circulated. Along these channels, there are points that have been found to be energetically connected to a specific physiological system and internal organ. So when an acupuncture needle is inserted at specific points along these energetic pathways, it is the Energy of that particular channel that is affected. The aim in needling an acupuncture point is to “tap” this Energy in order to regulate and balance its flow along the channel, thus influencing the state of health.
What to expect: The first acupuncture treatment begins with a careful diagnostic evaluation of your complaint or concerns taking into account present and past symptoms, medical history, inherited constitution (family history), environmental and lifestyle considerations, as well as mental and emotional factors. It is followed by a clinical examination of the tongue and pulse, and palpation of acupuncture points and their related channels. The intent of this evaluation is to elucidate the origins, causative factors, nature, and prognosis of your condition. The information gathered is then organized and differentiated according to a very specific diagnostic model called the Eight Principles based on the yin-yang theory and the five-element model and differentiation of pattern disharmonies. Only after careful consideration of the whole body-mind-spirit continuum is the treatment protocol selected.
Is Acupuncture painful? Most people find acupuncture treatment very relaxing and it is not uncommon for the patients to fall asleep on the treatment table after the needles are inserted. You may, actually, look forward to the experience. The acupuncture needles used in this clinic are very fine, only the thickness of a human hair. Insertion when performed skillfully causes a minimum of discomfort if any at all. At the most the patient may feel a slight sensation upon entry and/or a sense of pressure, warmth or “electrical surge” when the Energy is “tapped”. It bears no resemblance whatsoever to the feeling of receiving an injection which causes pain by the nature of the large diameter of the needle used, its hollowness and the medication being pushed into the tissue by pressure.
Is Acupuncture safe? Yes. Under the care of a competent acupuncturist, your safety is assured. Acupuncture treatment is virtually without side effects and the risk of needle contamination non-existent. Only pre-sterilized needles are used and disposed of after a single use. Be assured that acupuncturists licensed in the State of Washington have received extensive training in all areas of safety protocol. Additionally, before licensing, the laws of the State of Washington require thorough educational training not only in acupuncture and Chinese medicine but also in Western medical science, and require an extensive clinical internship.
In Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, we use a different diagnostic framework which does not necessarily correspond to the Western vocabulary of labeled conditions or diseases. Here the emphasis is on the treatment of the person, not the “disease”. Although Chinese Medicine differs from Western Medicine in medical theory, diagnostic and therapeutic principles, both are medical sciences of great complexity stemming from centuries of clinical experience, research and achievements and both have merits and shortcomings. There are conditions that will be more rapidly treated by Western medicine, while others will respond better with acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy. Both acupuncture and Chinese herbs are helpful adjunct therapies to Western medical treatment as in cancer treatment, sequelae of bone fracture or surgery, to name a few.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the suitability and effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of many commonly encountered health problems. Using Western medical terms, the following is an indication of the wide range of disorders and illnesses that can be treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbs:
Disorders of bone, muscles and joints – such as sports injury, sprain and strain, back, neck, shoulder and joint pain, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, bone fracture (promote healing and recovery), arthritis and osteoporosis.
Disorders of the head (ears, eyes, mouth, nose and throat), such as headaches, migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, vertigo, tinnitus, gum problems, and sinusitis.
Circulatory problems, such as anemia, high or low blood pressure, varicose veins, stroke, and arteriosclerosis.
Respiratory disorders, such as bronchitis, chronic cough, allergies and asthma.
Endocrine disorders, such as hormonal imbalance and thyroid problems.
Disorders of the immune system, such as decreased immunity, fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and fibromyalgia.
Gastrointestinal disorders – such as constipation, chronic diarrhea, colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), ulcer, gastritis, food allergies, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia.
Liver and gallbladder disorders, such as hepatitis, cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder) and gallstones,
Gynecological problems, such as menstrual disorders (amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia), infertility, PMS, and menopausal discomfort.
Urogenital disorders, such as incontinence, kidney problems, urinary tract infection (UTI), cystitis, and sexual dysfunction.
Mental/Emotional disorders, such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, and addictions (alcohol, nicotine, drugs).
“Therapies that help us contact the regenerative powers that lie within us, that help us take care of ourselves and prevent disease, and that give us greater control over our lives have a major role to play in the future of health care and in the healing of our society.”
John Robbins, Reclaiming our Health
BE WELL AND ENJOY VIBRANT HEALTH
FEES: Acupuncture Treatment: $65.00
First Office Visit: $85.00
Facial Rejuvenation: $125.00
First Office Visit: $150.00
Note: The initial in-depth health evaluation and treatment will take about 2 hours
INSURANCE: Blue Star Acupuncture does not accept insurance plans but
provides a detailed receipt that can be submitted to your
insurance company for reimbursement according to the
terms of your policy.
CONTACT: Catherine Aufdenkampe, M.A., L.Ac.
Blue Star Acupuncture at m’illumino
206-527-8232
(Being revised)