Ilana Harms

Why you should care about your Doctor’s Continuing Education

Listen, graduate medical education is serious business. After completing medical school, passing boards, and finishing residency or other post-grad education requirements to start a medical career, it’s easy to succumb to the temptation to sit on one’s laurels and breathe a sigh of relief to “never have to take that class again.” Legally, medical providersContinue reading “Why you should care about your Doctor’s Continuing Education”

Is My Doctor Even Listening to Me?

Has this ever happened to you? You’re sitting at the doctors office and everyone is buzzing around you, barely making eye contact. The nicest person you interact with is the Medical Assistant who takes vitals and then tells you the doctor will be in shortly. The doctor eventually walks in, sits down at a keyboardContinue reading “Is My Doctor Even Listening to Me?”

Acupuncture for PCOS

Recently, I’ve had a number of discussions with folks who have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) who are trying to navigate how to manage their condition. PCOS can present with a variety of symptoms and each person has their own mix of symptom presentation. That said, the treatment options within the Western MedicineContinue reading “Acupuncture for PCOS”

Books I Devoured in 2022

In 2022 I managed to read 39 books which is a pretty impressive feat considering I was finishing my doctorate, studying for (and passing) my licensing exams, and starting a business. Whew! Here are some of my favorite books that I read in 2022. This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn aContinue reading “Books I Devoured in 2022”

What Can Licensed Acupuncturists Do (in California)?

The state of California has deemed Licensed Acupuncturists Primary Care Providers. This means that you can see a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) without a referral from an MD or other provider. This is great news because it means you can find the right Acupuncturist for you and you are not limited to your Doctor or HealthContinue reading “What Can Licensed Acupuncturists Do (in California)?”

Should I get Acupuncture if I’m not injured or sick?

The short answer is YES! I was chatting with a guest at my daughter’s birthday party when they casually asked “I’m pretty healthy and have no complaints, why would I get acupuncture?” and it kind of caught me off guard. Having spent the last handful of years living and breathing Acupuncture & Integrative East AsianContinue reading “Should I get Acupuncture if I’m not injured or sick?”

What to Expect during your visit – Part 2 the Follow-Up Visit

Once I’ve had an Initial Visit with a patient (see this post for more information about Initial Visits), then we move to Follow-Up visits on an agreed-upon cadence that the patient has autonomy and control over. What I love about Follow-Up visits is that they allow for deeper exploration and treatment for the chief concernContinue reading “What to Expect during your visit – Part 2 the Follow-Up Visit”

What to expect during your visit – Part 1 the Initial Visit

Every patient relationship starts with an Initial Visit. These appointments are approximately 75 minutes, which is longer than Follow-Up visits, and allow for full discussion of the patient’s primary concern as well as exploring their overall health and constitution. One of the things I love most about practicing Integrative East Asian Medicine is that IContinue reading “What to expect during your visit – Part 1 the Initial Visit”