Tag: Ehlers Danlos syndromes

  • Congee For Zebras (Like Chicken Soup for the Ehlers-Danlos Warrior Soul, but Better)

    Congee For Zebras (Like Chicken Soup for the Ehlers-Danlos Warrior Soul, but Better)

    Chicken soup for the soul?  Eh.  What about Chinese congee, or rice porridge, for zebras?  To me, that sounds just right.   In this blog post, consequently, I want share some thoughts about comfort food along with some encouragement for the zebra spirit. We all need encouragement, don’t you think?

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  • Living With the Seasons According to Chinese Medicine: The EDS Version (Are You Ready For Winter?)

    Living With the Seasons According to Chinese Medicine: The EDS Version (Are You Ready For Winter?)

                Every season is nested into a context and has its own associations.  What do you think about when you ponder winter season?  Holidays, colder weather, the space in between fall and spring…? In my practice, about 80% of my EDS, MCAS, and/or POTS patients see winter through the lens of icy hands and feet…

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  • Astragalus for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and MCAS (Or… What is Huang Qi?)

    Astragalus for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and MCAS (Or… What is Huang Qi?)

                Astragalus… you may have heard of it. If you have EDS and/or MCAS and are familiar with the supplement options popular within the community, you probably have tried it too.  Astragalus grows in China, Mongolia, and North Korea and is a beloved herb in Asian tradition.  Its Chinese name is huángqi (alternate spelling: huáng…

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  • Self-Care For Folks With Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Yes, You Do Deserve It)

    Self-Care For Folks With Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Yes, You Do Deserve It)

                Self-care when you live with a complex disorder like EDS (especially if you have the usual add-ons like MCAS or POTS) is crucial…but what, for a person with chronic illness or pain, does this term actually mean?  And how can a person create a meaningful program if they already dedicate considerable energy to making…

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  • Red Light Therapy and Vibration Plates: Are They Good or Bad for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and/or MCAS?

    Red Light Therapy and Vibration Plates: Are They Good or Bad for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and/or MCAS?

                Have you ever considered trying red light therapy (RLT) or were you wondering about whether or not a vibration plate might be beneficial?  These are two popular tools used for mood support, skincare, wound healing, and pain reduction (RLT) and for lymphatic drainage, bone density support, and muscle stimulation (the plate).  You can go…

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  • “Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Tui Na, and You” Revisited (Some Thoughts on the OG Blog Post)

    “Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Tui Na, and You” Revisited (Some Thoughts on the OG Blog Post)

                It seems unbelievable when I look at it, but the first blog post I wrote about tui na and EDS went live in September of 2017.  At the time, I was already a certified practitioner. I had started treating patients in a shared office space and was in the process of completing my second…

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  • How Chinese Medicine Treats hEDS (Where to Begin)

    How Chinese Medicine Treats hEDS (Where to Begin)

                Acupuncture and other modalities of Chinese medicine can be an excellent resource for people with complex disorders, EDS and the common comorbidities included.  But do you know how to get the most out of your treatment when you’re complicated?  What happens when you are experiencing pain AND mast cells flares AND gastroparesis AND insomnia…

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  • Diagnosing EDS? (The Why & How of Complex Conditions)

    Diagnosing EDS? (The Why & How of Complex Conditions)

    ***** Diagnosis.             It should–at least in theory–be useful for treatment planning. Having an identified condition should also mean that the prognosis is reasonably clear, at least in theory.             Not so fast.             Anyone with EDS or MCAS or POTS (or MALS … or … or…) knows that diagnosis is rarely linear and you…

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  • Lipedema: What It Is, What You Can Do About It

    Lipedema: What It Is, What You Can Do About It

                Do you have lumps and bumps or symmetrical pockets of fat on your legs?  What about your arms, hips, abdomen, or buttocks?  If so, you might have lipedema, a chronic condition that has no cure and that can, instead, progress and even lead to lymphedema, a similar (but not the same) disorder.  Though there…

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  • Intuitive Eating vs. Mindful Eating–Which Is Better For You? (Some Tips For Folks With EDS, MCAS, &/or POTS)

    Intuitive Eating vs. Mindful Eating–Which Is Better For You? (Some Tips For Folks With EDS, MCAS, &/or POTS)

    Have you ever thought about the difference between mindful eating and intuitive eating?  They are not the same thing, but both can be helpful approaches to nutrition when a person lives with EDS, MCAS, and/or POTS. Especially when a person is limited in what they can eat, an intentional view can soften the hard edges…

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