• How to enhancee fertility through normalizing the menstrual cycle
• How to teach patients the Fertility Awareness Method and incorporate that information into their treatment plan
• How to treat obstacles to fertility/pregnancy such as Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Unexplained Infertility, Recurrent Miscarriage, Fibroid/Cysts, Male Infertility Patterns and more
  
• Fertility promoting acupuncture treatments, herbal formulas, nutritional supplements and dietary guidelines backed by empirical and experimental data
• The latest Integrative Medicine Fertility Research
• How to help patients make ART more successful, including: hormone therapy, IVF, IUI and surgery recovery

The class will satisfy California state and The American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine continuing education requirements.

As part of the class, Dr. Rozenn will have the opportunity to treat patients on Sunday, May 20th and Monday, May 21st, from 2-6pm FOR FREE! Volunteers will have a class of licensed acupuncturists learning from their  and as compensation, will receive treatment for free. This is a $175.00-$95.00 value.

If you are interested in being a part of the class, please contact my office by phone or email us dr.rozennscheduling@cedarstreetclinic.com with your Western diagnosis (if you have one) and days/times you are available. The class will take place at Five Branches University’s San Jose campus, located at the end of Santana Row. Hope to meet you there!

1.   Don’t realize how many of their friends, family and co-workers struggle with the same problems

2.   Feel alone, helpless and embarrassed

3.   Don’t know that Oriental medicine can be incredibly effective!

Digestive disorders range from hemorrhoids to “heart burn” to loss of appetite, and everything in between. One common Western diagnosis given to people with chronic diarrhea, constipation or abdominal pain is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This complex disorder that afflicts up to 20% of the world’s population!  You may have heard IBS be referred to as an “incurable disease” by your physician.  Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine can offer a safe, effective, natural, and drug-free way to address IBS and other digestive disorders by getting to the root of the problem.  My goal is to assess the entire constitution of the patient – considering physiological, psychological, and lifestyle aspects. Digestive symptoms may be triggered by stress, diet, emotional factors, hormone levels, and medications so it is important to conduct a through medical history and physical exam to discover the origin of these symptoms.

• A study from the Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine concluded that acupuncture was effective in the treatment of chronic gastritis, resulting in a 95% effective rate!
• An Australian study published in 1998 in the Journal of the American Medical Association lends strong scientific support to treating IBS with Chinese herbs.

You don’t have to keep suffering! Click on Schedule Appointment in the upper right hand corner of the site!

“I can’t begin to explain how wonderful I feel after completing the Liver Detox Program with Dr. Maureen Rozenn.  I’ve been on a long journey trying to become a healthier person and really felt I’d come a long way – but I actually didn’t realize how crappy I was still feeling until I started to feel so much better!! The program is so simple and Dr. Rozenn tailors it to each patient’s specific needs. The actual plan requires a 3 week commitment and includes a weekly acupuncture with Dr. Rozenn…I’ve never experienced something like this before and, for me, it has resulted in some significant lifestyle changes. To be honest, I finished my 3 weeks but have now modified it so that I can continue following it for a few more.  I highly, highly, recommend Dr. Rozenn and Endless Possibilities Acupuncture.” 

In Chinese medicine theory, Spring is associated with the Liver. Its time for Spring Cleaning! Don’t just your bedroom or linen closets where you pack junk away. Give your body a cleanse too. Notice I said CLEANSE, not FAST! Don’t worry. You can help your liver without depriving yourself of food. In fact, you NEED to eat so the liver has the energy to conjugate toxins, packaging them so you can safely excrete them.

During the Liver Detoxification Program, you can eat as much as you want. 

In the beginning of my career, I treated countless people with advanced Hepatitis B and C in San Francisco’s Mission district. This difficult and challenging work taught me a great deal about the nuances of the Liver organ system. Enhancing Liver function and detoxification was imperative for these patients. I’ve built on this foundational experience for the last ten years, developing a program that not only can improve the Liver’s detoxification capacity, but can also educate patients about how their Liver works, enabling them to carry these principals into their everyday life, and benefit from this experience long after the three week cleanse is over.

“So what exactly IS the Liver Detoxification Program?” and “How do I sign up?” are usually the next two questions. 

The Liver Detoxification Program combines Oriental, Western and Naturopathy diagnosis and treatments. For more information on the details of the program click here. 

Don’t need any more information? Ready to book your 1st visit? click here.  You should allow 1.5 hours for the first visit. It is substantially longer and thus more expensive than your next three acupuncture visits.

Get ready to experience a whole new level of health! Schedule schedule your Liver Detoxification visit today!

It is important to educate the public on this condition because it is so prevalent world wide. It is generally acknowledged that an estimated 10% of all women during their reproductive years are affected by endometriosis. This is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found elsewhere in the body, which can lead to extreme pain and reproductive complications.

The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book on fertility enhancement:

The most common signs and symptoms of endometriosis include:

• Painful periods
• Intense cramping may start 1-2 days prior to menstruation and can be so severe that it causes vomiting, diarrhea and fainting.
• Pain at the end of or just AFTER menses
• Irregular cycles
• Annovulatory cycles
• Premenstrual spotting
• Painful intercourse

Risk factors:

• History of sexual abuse
• High levels of stress
• High serum levels of prolactin, cortisol and/or the presence of autoantibodies
• Prior use of intra-uterine devices (IUDs)
• Close female relative with endometriosis
• Infertility
• Basal Body Temperature graph abnormalities
• The temperature does not drop significantly at the beginning of the period, or it may drop but then rises during the menstrual bleeding.
• At ovulation time the temperature takes several days to rise, or it rises but then falls again in a few days

What does Oriental Medicine have to offer for Endometriosis?

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. The pain often correlates to the menstrual cycle, but a woman with endometriosis may also experience pain that doesn’t correlate to her cycle – this is what makes this disease/condition so unpredictable and frustrating. For many women, the pain of endometriosis is so severe and debilitating that it impacts their lives in significant ways.

Endometriosis can also cause scar tissue and adhesions to develop that can distort a woman’s internal anatomy. It is estimated that 30-40% of women with endometriosis may not be able to have children.

The most common symptoms of endometriosis include fatigue, infertility, painful sexual intercourse, intense pain before and during the menstrual cycle, painful urination and bowel movements during menstrual cycle, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, allergies, chemical sensitivities and frequent yeast infections.

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.

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!