How?

Through a series of Facial Rejuvenation treatments.

What are Facial Rejuvenation treatments, how are they different than regular acupuncture treatments?

Facial Rejuvenation sessions focus on the face and the patient’s specific goals. However, in Oriental Medicine, the doctor can not treat just one aspect of the body. It is impossible. All body parts-arms-liver-small intestine and face are of the same system. Therefore to treat the face, we must treat the whole person. To reach the patient’s cosmetic goals, we must address the constitution. So, Facial Rejuvenation treatments are similar to regular acupuncture treatments in that they focus on the constitution and how  disease (or in this case cosmetic issues) is manifesting in that person. They are different in that the focus is on facial appearance. To this end they are more time consuming than regular acupuncture treatments. Facial Rejuvenation treatments include facial moxabustion if necessary, a pearl powder mask, both body and facial acupuncture points and a topical treatment derived from high quality herbs specific to the patient’s skin issue.

Facial Rejuvenation treatments can:

• Tone slack muscles and relax facial tension
• Improve blood and lymph circulation, to nourish and clear away toxins from the face
• Decrease inflammation from acne lesions and cysts
• Lighten deep lines and decrease surface wrinkles

Systemic conditions that are easily helped by Facial Rejuvenation Treatments are:

• Sinus congestion
• Frequent colds and flues
• Depression & anxiety
• Poor memory
• & more!

In the office, we use physician grade serums and topical products. We use one of the most expensive needle brands on the market to ensure a quality treatment, with minimal discomfort. We will also put together for you a treatment plan consisting of topical products. The line we most commonly use is Suki. Suki products are synthetic-free, face and planet friendly with echo-friendly packaging and natural organic ingredients.

How many treatments will I need?

That depends on your goals. If you want a wonderful, relaxing face treatment, come in for one. If you want an “acupuncture face-lift” then the ideal schedule is two appointments per week for 5-6 weeks. Ask about our package discounts! If you are looking to improve a systemic condition such as hormonal cystic acne or psoriasis, the time table and treatment schedule varies. It could be two weeks, it could be six months. In cases such as these, really is no way to predict a time frame before your first treatment.

So make your first appointment and experience a facial rejuvenation treatment. You may just find yourself amazed by the whole-body treatment you receive while working on cosmetic facial issues. Not to mention how good you can look without sandblasting, paralyzing nerves or injecting collagen.

In general, women can achieve healthier breasts (less pain and lower cancer rates) by limiting several environmental pollutants:

• PAHS (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
  Present in:cigarette smoke, air pollution, auto exhaust, diesel fuel, smoked and grilled foods.
• PBCs ((Polycholorinated biphenyls)
  Banned in the US in 1979, we are still exposed to this through accumulation in rivers and industrial areas, fish and HUMAN BREAST MILK!
• BPA (Bishenol A)
  Present in plastic and epoxy resins, plastic wrap, plastic bags, storage containers, canned foods.
• Dioxin
  Produced through chemical processes involving chlorine such as pulp and paper manufacturing, dioxin has now contaminated many food sources such as milk, fish and meat.

So, what can you do? Not eat, breath or sleep (mattresses commonly contain pollutants as well)?

This is a sound, but not practical solution. You can avoid canned foods, know where your food is coming from, adjust some habits and be proactive. For example, use glass containers to store food, avoid canned foods, always bring a reusable bag to the grocery store. When at the grocery store be mindful of where your food came from. Is it organic? Was it imported from Mexico or other places where there are fewer laws and regulations regarding the use of chemicals in agriculture? Is it local, or did it come here from from across the country on a diesel truck? Get involved, support environmental groups.

Keep your liver healthy!. Your liver is responsible for breaking down and excreting toxins. There are specific breast support formulas available to support breast health, endocrine balance (which these chemicals disrupt) and provide antioxidants.

GET HELP!

Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine has a long history of successfully treating breast pain! From cyclical breast pain to cancer related breast issues, you can feel better!

When working with menstrual cycle induced breast pain or cysts I combine dietary therapy with acupuncture (no, the needles do not go in the breasts) and herbal prescriptions. Often, when women get up off the treatment table, their pain is alleviated. Liver support is essential for these individuals, along with herbs that promotes circulation through the breasts and discourage the formation of fibrous tissue. Many women with this problem also find their menstrual cycles also improve. Common side effects of treatment are: a reduction or eradication of PMS, regular menstrual cycles, more energy, better sleep and an increase in well being and quality of life.

Here are just a couple of studies showing the benefits of acupuncture on breast health and cancer recovery:

Acupuncture in breast diseases. How, when and why?

Acupuncture improves health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) and sleep in women with breast cancer and hot flushes.

Afraid of needles?

How many times have you tried to refer a friend for Oriental medicine treatment and they cut you off with, “Oh no, I’m terrified of needles!” You try to explain to them that acupuncture needles are like hairs but it doesn’t matter. Maybe they have had a bad experience with shots as a kid. Maybe they had a negative experience with acupuncture as we are not all created alike!

If they are concerned about their breast health, suggest lymphatic massage! They can receive this treatment from Sarah, then receive a nutritional/herbal/lifestyle consultation with me!

Lymphatic massage for breast health

“Lymphatic massage is a gentle and therapeutic form of soft tissue mobilization that enhances lymph formation and promotes drainage within the superficial and deep systems of the vascular network.  My use of lymphatic massage is to specifically enhance the immune system, treat post-surgical edema and medically uncomplicated lymphedema, general detoxification, and to work gently with cancer patients at risk for lyphedema.  Especially for clients with a history of breast cancer or lymph node removal, lymphatic massage is an excellent way to promote lymph decongestion and support detoxification of the tissues.”–Sarah

If you or someone you know is experiencing breast health issues or wants to do all they can to prevent problems, make an appointment so we can talk about specific strategies and breast support formulas.Online Appointment Booking

My first clinical class was with Sharon. It was my first day, and she scared the hell out of me. This tiny 5’3″ woman who was twice my age and 1/2 my weight was terrifying. Her directness, no “B.S.” attitude and inability to tolerate anything less than perfection from her students was legendary. Over the years, I attended the first gynecology-only class she offered at Five Branches, took one-on-one clinic supervision hours with her and chose her as my acupuncturist. Years later, in my Doctoral Program, she taught a wonderful fertility module that deeply influenced the way I treat infertility.

I can still hear Sharon’s favorite sayings, “Tong ze bu tong, bu tong, ze tong” which roughly translates to “Pain there is no flow, no pain, there is flow.” and “Spleen 6, three birds, one needle! Spleen 6 (Sanyinjiao) is called “three yin crossing” in Chinese. This acupuncture point is used to treat many health conditions but is ESPECIALLY useful in gynecology as the three yin meridians that innervate the reproductive organs cross here.

Dr. Feng, in the clinic. "Feng" means wind in Chinese. I can not conceive of a better name for Sharon. She moved like the wind, treating four people on her one-hour lunch break.

I am greatly indebted to Dr. Sharon Feng. It is with sadness and great appreciation that I write of her. And now, over a year after her passing, her patients continue to come through my door seeking treatment. They present with a wide variety of issues: painful/irregular periods, infertility, menopause, past due date/breech, cyclic acne and PMS….but they all have a deep reverence for Sharon in common.

Sharon was a Medical Doctor in China and a strict Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner.  I wrap TCM, Classical Chinese medicine, Japanese acupuncture and other holistic approaches into my treatment of gynecological disorders, so my practice differs from Sharon’s style. However, Dr. Sharon Feng was my first OB/GYN teacher. She shaped my perspective on treating Women’s Health and I will forever be grateful to her.

Where: SC Bible Church, 440 Frederick Street, Room WC-10

When: Monday, July 18th from 6:30-8:30

See you there!

Endless Possibilities Acupuncture, the practice of Dr. Rozenn, had a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 23rd to announce the remodel of her clinic. She used this opportunity to host a raffle fundraiser for Dining For Women. Prizes such as: Facial Rejuvenation, Massage, Allergy and Stress Herb Baskets among others, raised $334.00 in this unprecedented local fundraiser for Dining For Women, an international non-profit organization dedicated to empowering impoverished women.

The Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Association and Vice Mayor, Don Lane, from the City Council came together to “Cut the Ribbon” and officially announce the remodel. Members of the community, students, patients, Dining For Women members and various health care practitioners gathered to celebrate and participate in the raffle. Prizes were donated by Endless Possibilities Acupuncture, The Bike Dojo, Kitti Homme Photography and Allana Williams.

“Dining for Women is a giving circle. Through our members’ combined dinner donations, we fund international programs for women living in extreme poverty. By educating our members about the circumstances of women in some of the poorest countries in the world, our members become agents of change.” For more information, visit www.diningforwomen.org.

I wanted to post this review from YELP! Thanks for noticing all the little details, Marlene!

When you first enter the office, you are struck by the interior design which is excellent. Details beyond belief. If the treatment is as good as the details in the office, I will be well cared for. And my son was.
Office staff was efficient and helpful. The dr took his time with explaining procedures thoroughly.
I highly recommend this clinic.~Marlene M.

Dr. Rozenn is a healer.  Her approach to treatment is mindful of the individual’s unique experience–it appears to me that Dr. Rozenn practices on the principle that nobody’s suffering is shaped quite the same way as another person’s suffering.  To support her patients in the discovery of who they are in relationship to the bodies they inhabit, she uses her innate sensitivity to energy as well as her detailed knowledge of Chinese Medicine to bring back the unity between the two.   Dr. Rozenn is intellectual, intuitive, compassionate, professional…and I daresay ethereal.  Her techniques are precise.  Her evaluations and diagnostics are deliberate and thoughtful.  She truly wants to know the person behind the physical person she is treating.  Dr. Rozenn has been working with me for three and a half months now.  She developed a treatment plan for me based not only on the physical effects of overcoming a drug addiction, but also on my life experiences, emotional states, current events in my life, and maybe most importantly, based on the energetic crisis I suffered due to trauma and subsequent weakness that created openings for negativity to enter and attach to my internal world.  I have no doubt that her work is authentic and effective.  I truly thought in the months after getting clean that I would never feel normal again…let alone full of the joy, clarity, and vitality I’ve reclaimed in light of the healing process.–E.B. Santa Cruz

The first time I saw this clearly was when I was a Masters student. I had a patient with wrist pain that I could not budge! I tried everything, every herbal and acupuncture treatment I could think of and still, the pain remained unchanged. At that point I referred him to one of my teachers. I was fortunate enough to be able to observe the office visit and acupuncture treatment. She asked him a very important question which had never occurred to me to ask,“What was happening in your life when the wrist pain started?” As it turns out, the wrist pain first began right after his sister passed away. The location of the pain was on the heart meridian. This energetic pathway runs from the heart, down to the shoulder, elbow, wrist and ends at the pinky finger. No wonder my treatments were not working! I had never treated the underlying cause for his pain…heartbreak.

I saw a similar situation recently in my practice. I fit in a patient in my break because his “back went out” last night. He was in acute pain with severe muscle spasms. Now I always ask patients what was happening in their lives when the pain first started. As it turned out, just before his back began to hurt he had a spat with his girlfriend. He described her as a very unstable person. She wanted him to support her through an emotionally taxing experience and he didn’t have the energy. The load was just too great to carry. So, I treated him with points that relieve low back pain AND points that “calm the spirit”. Calm spirit points are used in Chinese medicine for different manifestations of stress. Some point treat grief while others are used for depression, anxiety, melancholy etc.

Find the association between physical and emotional pain hard to fathom? Even if you have never had musculoskeletal pain as a result of an emotional upset, I bet you have had stomach pain, loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhea after a disagreement or during times of acute stress. Perhaps you have gotten a headache or even a migraine at the end of a stressful day.

I have found that in cases of physical pain, even if there was not a precipitating event, simply having pain for a prolonged period can cause depression, fatigue and listlessness which also needs to be addressed in addition to treating the physical problem. The strength of Chinese medicine is that the whole person is taken into account when treating any disease process. The wise practitioner does not try to separate the emotional component of pain from the physical reality (i.e. the muscle spasm, tendon strain or chronic joint inflammation) Thus, emotional, physical and spiritual pain can be treated simultaneously, setting the stage for a deeper level of healing and more complete recovery.

This is an excellent example of the type of inquiries I get weekly. The following excerpt of our communication is posted with her permission and request to remain anonymous. Her email is in italics and my response is bolded.

Hello, I am searching for a practitioner with knowledge, patience, and a history of success in treating women with PCOS.

I am hoping you would answer a few questions for me to help me decide if I should come to your office for treatment…A little bit about me:I am 34 next month. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 6 months ago after having trouble trying to conceive. I started acupuncture treatment in July to help regulate my cycles (before by diagnosis of PCOS). I went for weekly appointments from July through Mid October. Although at times it seemed to help, my cycles were still not regulated. I think I might not have given acupuncture a fair chance. For one, I did not know enough about my condition to explain my needs to the practitioner. Now that I have been charting my CM and BBT, I can bring these charts to a practitioner for a better understanding of my needs. Although the acupuncturists I saw at Five Branches were very knowledgeable, the environment seemed much too rushed. I am afraid I did not get the focused attention I was looking for.

Can you answer these few questions for me?How many women have you treated with PCOS?What were your results treating PCOS?How do you believe diet effects PCOS?Have you treated women who were taking Clomid? Did any become pregnant after treatment?Have you used women’s charts to aid in treatment?Have you read the Infertility Cure by Dr. Randine Lewis Ph.D? (this book was what convinced me to try acupuncture again, now that I am more aware of my cycle through FAM charting).

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions,Sincerely looking forward to reading your response.

My Response:

First of all, I’d like to say I appreciate the time you are putting out in terms of these thoughtful questions in an effort to find the best practitioner for you. I will try to answer them to the best of my ability. I have treated several with a PCOS diagnosis, and many more who I believe had PCOS but went undiagnosed.

What were your results treating PCOS? This is a difficult condition, NOT impossible to treat, but it takes diligence on the part of the patient. To answer this question, two patient histories come to mind:

1. I treated one patient several years ago for three months with acupuncture, herbs and dietary suggestions. In this time her cycles regulated, she lost weight and reached her health goal which was to have regular periods.

2. I treated one patient about 3 years ago who came at the urging of her girlfriend. She had a lot of psychological challenges around weight and her eating habits and would not entertain the idea of dietary/lifestyle changes. She also did not want to take herbs. I saw her twice a month for 2 months and then we both decided that this was not the ideal path for her at the time.

How do you believe diet effects PCOS? This is a very interesting and complicated question. In short, I think it is pivotal. I have done a lot of work with insulin resistance and believe it plays a huge role in this disease.

Have you treated women who were taking Clomid? Many.

Have you used women’s charts to aid in treatment? Yes, they are a less expensive way to follow hormonal shifts than salivary hormone panels, though sometimes these are helpful too.

Have you read the Infertility Cure by Dr. Randine Lewis Ph.D? (this book was what convinced me to try acupuncture again, now that I am more aware of my cycle through FAM charting). Funny that you ask me that. I think this is a great laywoman’s guide to fertility. You may also enjoy Fertile Soul Cycle Companion Journal by the same author. I just ordered two copies of this book for the library at the Fertility Physicians of Northern California.

So, I’d like to give you a little background on me, my practice and how I work with Women’s Health. I attained my doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) with a dual specialization in Women’s Health and Pain Management. I am continuing on to do research with the Fertility Physicians of Northern California for my PhD in Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine. I am also the only certified specialist in Oriental Reproductive Medicine in Santa Cruz county. The majority of my patients are women and it brings me great joy to help them shift their health and achieve their goals. During your initial visit we will go over your medical history in detail, go over the herbs/drugs/supplements you may be taking and your typical diet. I’ll do an assessment using Chinese and Japanese methods of diagnosis and and acupuncture treatment. The session will conclude with a treatment plan detailing appropriate modalities for treatment such as acupuncture, specific herbal formulas, dietary suggestions and other self care measures.

Hope I answered your questions and gave you the information you are looking for. Take care and good luck to you!

Nothing makes me happier than following up with a patient who became pregnant under my care. For example, yesterday Isaw a patient who I haven’t seen since her first trimester. Now she is in her 36th week. She wrote of her experience during her first trimester:

I am research scientist, and I have always been a little skeptical about acupuncture and other non-western medical practices.  After my experience with Dr. Rozenn, however, I enthusiastically recommend her for the treatment of fertility issues. My husband and I were trying to conceive for the second time and after a year, we saw an M.D. specialist in infertility.  He explained that Western medicine had no easy answer for my particular issue (my cycles were  short and he suspected I was ovulating before my eggs were mature), and recommended that I try meditation or yoga as a first strategy.  He also mentioned that there was a program available that combined standard infertility treatment with acupuncture.  After talking to a friend of mine (who recommended Dr. Rozenn), I decided to try acupuncture alone for three months and then reassess my options. Dr. Rozenn was willing to work with me either with or without parallel treatment from my M.D. and was positive but realistic about my chances of conceiving.  I appreciated that she did not discount the role of Western medicine in infertility treatment, but I opted for a non-parallel approach.  I decided to follow all of her recommendations to the letter so that I would have no doubts at the end of three months that I had given the process my all.  I changed my diet, took herbal and other supplements, saw Dr. Rozenn on a weekly basis and opted for abdominal massages from Brianna Brownfield (Dr. Rozenn’s assistant, whom I also enthusiastically recommend).  I noticed changes in my cycle within one month of starting my treatments, and within two cycles my standard headache (a hallmark for 12 years), did not accompany my period.  During my third cycle since start of treatment, I ovulated on day 14 for the first time in 7 years, and I am now thrilled to say that I am 11 weeks pregnant.  I am entirely convinced that it was the treatment program that I pursued with Dr. Rozenn that enabled my husband and I to conceive this baby. If you are in a similar situation, I encourage you to consider Dr. Rozenn and acupuncture as a treatment option.  I am so grateful that I was able to conceive without risking multiple births or spending enormous sums on IVF.  This experience has convinced me to consider acupuncture among the practices I typically pursue to maintain my general health. Thank you, Dr. Rozenn and Brianna!

Now, in her 36th week, she is beginning a cycle of 4 “Pre-Birth” acupuncture treatments. This is a specific protocol routinely practiced in Germany. The practice was incorporated by midwives in Germany because of research showing that these four treatments can:

• Promote an easier delivery
• Reduce the duration of labor
• Reduce the pain of labor

When my fertility patients get pregnant, it is so exciting! But that is only part of the journey. Depending on their circumstances they may come in during their first trimester for morning sickness or to help hold the pregnancy. Later on, they may receive treatment for back or stomach pain. Then, at the end of the third trimester they begin the Pre-Birth acupuncture series. Occasionally patients will seek to promote the onset of labor or strengthen/regulate contractions.

I have had several patients bring their children in for treatment for colds, colic, pre/post immunization care, etc. It is such a joy to be a family doctor.

I feel so fortunate to be the only acupuncturist from the Santa Cruz area who has done a preceptorship at RMFC, the fertility clinic with the largest database of acupuncture + IVF patients in the world. During this training I observed artificial reproductive medicine techniques (ART) such as IVF, IUI, and ICSI (a fertilization technique used to combine sperm and egg during IVF). It was an amazing view into the world of Western reproductive medicine. While I have been using Oriental medicine for several years to enhance fertility naturally and in combination with ART, like the great majority of acupuncturists, I have never actually SEEN these procedures.

Being a researcher as well as a clinician, my second objective during my week-long stay was to write a prospective research study on acupuncture and IVF. In retrospective  study of over 800 patients the Cridennda/Magarelli Acupuncture Protocol (CMAP) has been shown to:

• Increase the number of pregnancy rates AND  healthy babies
• Decrease the number of miscarriages
• Decrease the number of birth complications
• Normalize key stress/reproductive hormones
• This protocol helped all patients, but especially “poor responders” who are women over 38 whose partners have poor sperm quality

Now we want to know if the changes in stress hormones in the blood of these patients reflect changes in stress hormones in the follicular fluid (the fluid in which the egg grows in the ovary). This could lead us to a better understanding of how the CMAP improves IVF success rates.

I started providing the CMAP to my patients undergoing IVF because of the research behind this protocol. It has made such a difference in so many of my patient’s lives. In my clinical experience, combining the CMAP with IVF improves outcomes dramatically. This motivated me to add to the significant bank of data behind this protocol, so I went to Colorado to write a study.

Our study was submitted to the Internal Review Board and we are now waiting for their decision, cross your fingers!