A Place for Healing

Volunteers offer nontraditional therapies to help women undergoing cancer treatment

 

Carina Wagner is a licensed acupuncturist that volunteers her services at Integrative Health and Healing Services.
September 4, 2008.

The Press Democrat / Jeff Kan Lee

‘‘You’ve got cancer,” are the three words that launch an incredible journey for many Sonoma County women.

It’s the diagnosis that can stop hearts, open the floodgates of tears or deliver the recipient to the doorstep of Integrative Health and Healing Services, which on Saturdays offers nontraditional therapies for women going through cancer treatment.

Funded by Sutter Medical Foundation’s North Bay Women’s Health Center, donations from Barb’s Race, the women-only section of the annual Vineman Triathlon, and individual donations, service volunteers offer free or low-cost specialized care in a nurturing environment. For licensed acupuncturist Carina Wagner of Sebastopol, donating her time one Saturday per month was just what the doctor ordered.

“A fellow practitioner that I respect called me when Sutter started the breast-care clinic. I was looking for something to do in the community, so it felt like a natural thing to do,” Wagner said.

With 25 years as an acupuncturist on her resume, Wagner had long enjoyed working with patients on women’s issues, ranging from fertility to cancer.

“I see a lot of stress. I like working with people on an emotional level. I like to give my energy and to educate others. That is a big part of my work,” she said.

Currently 12 to 15 women per week partake of alternative therapies that can lessen the physical and emotional stress that comes with cancer and cancer treatment.

“Some people think that you have to choose conventional treatment or alternative treatments ... Or they think nonconventional methods don’t work. Not true,” said program director Pam Koppel. She feels that conventional treatments and nontraditional therapies are a great combination. “Complementary therapies from highly skilled practitioners can have a significant impact on how conventional treatments are tolerated,” she said.

Operating out of the Integrative Medical Clinic of Santa Rosa near the Santa Rosa Airport each Saturday, volunteers offer massage, guided imagery, acupressure, movement such as Feldenkrais work and other stress-reduction techniques.

“What I love about these patients is that they are ready to work. They are facing their lives completely different than they did before they were diagnosed with cancer. They are ready to fight,” Wagner said. She said her patients are also her teachers.

“These women give me perspective and inspiration. Volunteering has become my church. And I’ve learned to appreciate small, ordinary blessings. Grace comes in such ordinary moments,” Wagner said.

The program, which is in its fifth year, hopes to decrease pain, depression, fatigue and anxiety while increasing hopefulness, relaxation and an overall sense of well-being. Participants enter an environment of mutual support, even enjoying healthy snacks of organic fruits and vegetables.

The Saturday sessions require lots of community support. Volunteers with special skills are sought, as are others willing to maintain records, do administrative work or help identify organic farmers willing to donate fresh produce.

Two other volunteer needs include tracking client usage to produce outcome studies and working on the annual spring BidPink online auction, especially encouraging donations.

All the volunteer work ultimately helps cancer patients navigate the rough waters of regaining their health.

“A patient told me the other day that she couldn’t be sure if her decreased side effects could be attributed to the treatments she got ... but she said the nurturing and guidance really helped her spirit. She said when she was here, she felt loved and supported,” Koppel said.

Clinic volunteers are asked to commit one Saturday per month at 175 Concourse Blvd. (off Airport Boulevard). Administrative volunteers are also needed during the week. Women interested in participating in the program or volunteering can call Pam Koppel at 576-4760.

Summer Celebration fundraiser set for July 17

By Michelle Hindmon  June 30, 2011 11:51 am


The Jewish Community Free Clinic will host its Summer Celebration fundraiser on July 17 in Sebastopol.

The clinic has existed for 10 years but four years ago moved to its current location at 490 City Center Dr., No. 207 in Rohnert Park.

The clinic offers free services for people within the community who do not have health insurance.

The clinic is not meant to provide long-term health care,  but a social worker is present at all times to help find out patients’ needs and to help the patients with referrals.

The health clinic is more about networking and helping patients get connected to other clinics that are long term.
Also, a bilingual staffer and an interpreter are always onsite.

Students from the Sonoma State University Family Nurse Practitioner Program volunteer at the clinic and earn school credit.
The nurses, physicians and an acupuncturist all volunteer their time and services.

The clinic constantly is in need of social workers, family therapists and medical providers, such as family nurse practitioners, doctors, and physicians’ assistants.

Most of those who donate their time start out by volunteering so that they can help a neighbor or friend get care.  The clinic does work and school physicals on Tuesdays.

The clinic also gives free immunizations for children and free vaccinations for all patients and has a free food dispensary.
This also is the only community clinic that offers free acupuncture. The acupuncture portion of the clinic was added six years ago.

The Jewish Community Free Clinic wanted to build an alliance with different educational programs. They developed a connection to the Berkeley Acupuncture Integrative Medical College.

The students come from Berkeley to volunteer their time as part of an externship program.

Carina Wagner, a professor from the college, oversees their work at the clinic.

To get involved with the acupuncture portion of the clinic, one must be referred by the medical clinic.

The acupuncture “creates a balance in the body by creating free flowing energy in the meridians,” says Carina Wagner. An axiom in Chinese medicine is “when there is pain there is no free flow, when there is free flow of Qi, there is no pain.”

Acupuncture is used to open blocked energy throughout the body. The acupuncture clinic also supplies herbal supplements to support the work of acupuncture.

In the acupuncture portion of the clinic, students get the opportunity to learn their craft, while patients get quality care for free. Wagner says, “the unique benefit to not having medical insurance is that you can get help from the Jewish Community Free Clinic.”

 The acupuncture portion of the clinic is a great learning experience for the students and the patients.

“When I talk to people about not having medical insurance or seeking alternative methods, I get excited to be able to refer them to the Jewish Community Free Clinic,” says Wagner.

Spring, The Liver, and Breast Health

By Carina Wagner, L.Ac.

Welcome everyone, spring is here, my favorite season. Everything in nature is bursting forth with new growth and displaying all sorts of beautiful colors.   Spring is a time that always reminds me of new beginnings.   As we are observing this happening in nature, it is also occurring in our bodies.   Do you notice that you crave lighter foods, and all those yummy fresh salads this time of year?  It is our bodies attempting to replenish our natural life force (Qi) reserves, and what better way than to eat foods that are alive and are full of natural enzymes and beautiful colors that are high in antioxidants.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each season is associated with an organ/meridian complex.  The Liver is the organ that is most influential during the Spring.   Imbalances that may be brewing in the Liver system will have the most potential to be healed and come into a healthy balance during this time.    In order to understand the organ/meridian complexes in TCM, it’s useful to think of them as functional zones of concentrated activity within a larger energetic grid of the body.  When I speak of the Liver,  I am not only talking about the Liver’s function of filtering and cleaning the blood of toxins, but also a broader energetic definition which includes many attributes such as color, smell, emotion, etc.  One of the Liver’s main energetic functions is to maintain the smooth and healthy flow of Qi throughout our body.   Sometimes I think of the Liver as a juggler that thrives on the stress and excitement of having lots of balls flying through the air at the same time.  All is well until the balls start dropping and then the flow is disrupted.    When this happens, the Liver’s energy may become stagnant and the all important function of providing a smooth flow of Qi throughout the body begins to shut down.

So, what does all this have to do with our breast?    When the Liver is stressed and then becomes stagnant, the imbalanced energy shows up in many ways.   One common place to see this is somewhere along the pathway of the Liver meridian itself.  The Qi  flows  up the medial side of the legs, through our genitals, and lower abdomen, chest and flanks, nipples, throat and culminates at the top of our head.  Premenstrual complaints of swollen, sore breasts or exquisitely tender nipples are classic symptoms of stagnation of the Liver flow.  Irritability and crabbiness is a common symptom when the Liver stagnates and affects us emotionally.   Bloating and craving sweets in the premenstrual phase of our cycle is stagnant Liver Qi attacking our digestion organs. Finally, migraine type headaches are a symptom of the Liver becoming stagnant, overheating and rising upward and getting lodged in the head.

How can we keep our Liver’s happy and our body healthy?     Since the Liver is so involved with regulating healthy Qi flow throughout the body, it is very important to take steps to keep our Qi flowing evenly.    Developing healthy boundaries between work and play, spending lots of time outdoors in nature, participating in regular exercise, practicing some form of meditation, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, or dance are all terrific ways to ensure healthy energy flows in our body. 

As for potential stuck energy in the chest /breast region, there are a few things that I like to share.  Lying on a firm foam roll placed length ways down the spine is a great way to open up the diaphragm and chest and release tight muscles in the mid back.    It also greatly enhances deep breathing and is very relaxing.

If you notice tightness or heaviness in the chest or neck area, tune into any unspoken feelings that might be hanging out there.  If possible, speak your feelings  or just acknowledge them to yourself and then let them go. 

Diet plays a very important role in keeping our Liver’s healthy and happy. Eating foods in their most unrefined state, using healthy oils such as olive, or flax, and eating in a relaxed manner all aids digestion and in turn helps our liver do its job better. In TCM, green is the color associated with the Liver so eating green leafy veggies are an excellent way to cleanse our Liver.  Renee and Jen, owners of the Thermography Center turned me on to a delicious smoothie recipe that promotes gentle Liver detoxification and taste great.  They call it Pina Mojito Smoothie.  Call the Themography Center for the recipe.

Another delicious and healing support for the Liver is a product called Dandyblend.  It is a powder blend of roasted barley, chicory, and dandelion root extract that is mixed in hot or cold water and served with milk.  I’ve been drinking this for years and have introduced many people to its great taste.  Feel free to call me to try it. (707) 823-3456 #2

Acupuncture can be a great modality for promoting Liver health. By stimulating the acupuncture points, Qi is called forth from deep in the meridians and blockages are gently released.   I often joke with clients that we should have “acupuncture rest stops” after work so we can return to our families refreshed and relaxed!!    

Chinese herbal therapy also has a long history of being used to treat Liver issues.  There is a very famous and popular Chinese herbal formula used for PMS called Xiao Yao Wan which translates to “Free and Easy Wanderer”.  Its works great and should be in every woman’s medicine cabinet.

Blessings on a green, bountiful and healthy spring season.
For more information visit my website.