Ellen Goldsmith, MSOM, LAc, Dip. CH

Ellen Goldsmith, a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist, is the author of Nutritional Healing With Chinese Medicine: + 175 Recipes for Optimal Health. Ellen was co-founder of Pearl Natural Health, a naturopathic, acupuncture and Chinese medicine clinic in Portland, Ore. She is on the faculty of the National University of Natural Medicine's College of Classical Chinese Medicine and the Nutrition Program; and the faculty of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, teaching Chinese dietetics. She maintains a private practice in Chinese medicine, lectures widely and lives in Portland.

Previous Articles

Nourishing Ourselves and Our Patients in the Time of COVID-19 (Pt. 2)
July 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 07)
Nourishing Ourselves and Our Patients in the Time of COVID-19 (Pt. 1)
June 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 06)
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Diagnosis
That Nagging Qi Stagnation Between the Shoulder Blades (Pt. 2)
That Nagging Qi Stagnation Between the Shoulder Blades

After a thorough examination to rule out the cervical and thoracic spine, what you have left is sharp, localized qi stagnation of the soft tissues causing the “rhomboid pain.” If it’s not the C or T spine causing the problem, then what could be causing this tissue issue? It can be a bunch of different reasons such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, poor posture, muscle imbalances, trauma, deconditioning, overuse, etc.

Christopher Chapleau, DAc, LAc, Dipl. Ac., AIT, IMT, MSHP, CES, HMS
Herbal Medicine
TCM for GERD, Gluten Intolerance
TCM for GERD, Gluten Intolerance

The patterns expressed under the umbrella of a GERD diagnosis typically include various combinations of liver qi stagnation (potentially with depressive heat), spleen qi deficiency, rebellious stomach qi, stomach fire, food stagnation, and stomach yin deficiency. In long-term cases of GERD, it is not uncommon for three to four patterns to overlap at the same time.

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
Your Practice / Business
The Benefits of Building a Referral Culture in Acupuncture
The Benefits of Building a Referral Culture in Acupuncture

As licensed acupuncturists with the ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat using a variety of modalities, including herbal medicine, we are entrusted with a high level of clinical responsibility. Yet in an age of professional forums, online groups and social media communities, there is a growing trend of practitioners asking for case-specific treatment advice instead of referring the patient in question to a trusted colleague.

Shabnam Pourhassani, LAc, QME, DACM