Silver Streak Acupuncture

11/11/2022

I’ve been dormant here for quite some time, but am gearing up for another transformative year of patient treatments (and increased social media presence)! I recently had the opportunity to participate in a photo shoot highlighting day-to-day clinic life, and can’t stop smiling. Silver Streak Acupuncture is about to celebrate its 3rd birthday, so be on the lookout for special offers in the weeks to come. 🎉

10/30/2022

Long time no post!

My son and I spotted this poor guy at Burton Park yesterday. 😬😂 I’m sure many of us can relate, after a long weekend of pre-Halloween festivities. If you find yourself feeling a little broken and inflamed (or trying to avoid one of the many respiratory bugs circulating in the community), now’s a great time to come in for some TLC. There are still a few last minute openings this week!

Book your appointment via the link:
https://silverstreakacu.janeapp.com/ #

07/27/2020

As many of you may already know, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine are required to complete a grueling 4-year comprehensive curriculum prior to applying for licensure in the state of California. I was awarded my Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine and passed my State and National licensing exams in 2015. What you may not know is -- as of Thursday, July 23rd, 2020 -- I completed my Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine!

For quite some time behind the scenes, I've been devoting hours (and many sleepless nights!) to writing research papers, engaging in exhaustive literature and journal reviews, interning with local allopathic medical practitioners, delivering expert presentations to my peers, and even trying my hand at formal debate! This has been an incredible, challenging, empowering experience that's reignited my passion for integrative medicine, which was the focus of my doctoral program. Traditional Chinese Medicine is officially taking a seat at the table of comprehensive medical care in the Western World, and it's the responsibility of doctors, such as yours truly, to help bridge the gap and facilitate care for patients who choose to seek relief for their ailments from practitioners of both allopathic and traditional medicine. I wear my new title of "Doctor" with both humility and pride, and I pledge to continue to provide my patients with the highest level of care and support.

As we prepare to move into the Late Summer season, which, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is associated with the Spleen and the Earth element, it is time to nourish and ground our centers (i.e. our guts!), so they may be strong and hearty for the upcoming Autumn season. Vital immunity is born of the gut, and it is the gut that is the "Mother" of the Lung (the organ system that is the most challenged as the weather starts to cool). The best defense for keeping the Lungs strong and protected in the Autumn is to prepare now, before the challenges present themselves. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are effective tools to build and maintain immunity, and I'm happy to work with you to optimize your body for the season to come.

I'd like to thank you all again for your support over the last 7 months, as I made my dream of Silver Streak Acupuncture come alive. It is my patients who inspired me to stretch my academic muscles and reach for the doctorate stars. I'd also like to extend gratitude to those of you who've continued to seek care while this community navigates one of the most challenging seasons for humanity in recent history. I'm honored to continue to serve you both on-site and virtually for all your medical needs.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Megan Berry Swadell, DACM, L.Ac.

05/26/2020

Supporting a patient today both before and after the transfer of one of her sweet embryos! Tree of Life good juju represent! 🌳🙌 Did you know evidence-based practice shows patients who receive acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer have a significantly increased chance of successful implantation?

05/09/2020

The last time I donned scrubs was some time back in 2004, and I swore I'd never wear them again! But times they are a-changin', and it turns out scrubs aren't all frump and unflattering color palettes anymore! My work garb is one of many changes I've made around the clinic over the last 8 weeks, to ensure our interactions are as safe and comfortable as possible.

When you arrive for treatment, you'll find TWO knock-out hand sanitizers at the reception desk, which you're welcome to use. They're also available for purchase, for those of you who may have trouble finding skin-friendly sanitizers in stores. Our first sanitizer comes to us from Florida's Saint Apothecary, who produces our beloved Evil Bone Water! Mark Brinson has combined 80% Everclear 190, aloe, witch hazel, camphor, and menthol, for an all-natural, uber potent product. Our second sanitizer (that's also moisturizing!) is lovingly shipped from Colorado’s Cultivate My Health - Bio HerboloQi, maker of crowd favorites Dewy Fruit Sensory Lubricant and Rapid Pain Relief Balm. Phiona is a stickler for using only the safest, most sustainable ingredients, and has combined 75% alcohol, 3% anti-viral/bacterial essential oils (Eucalyptus, Lemon, Spearmint), coconut oil, aloe, and Vitamin E.

You'll also notice new stoic, white pillars in the reception area as well as each individual treatment room. These powerful HEPA filters, equipped with UVC sanitizer lights, scrub the air to provide an extra layer of protection. The filters run 24/7 while I'm in the clinic, and I turn them up to "warp speed" upon patient check-out, so the most recently used treatment room receives a minimum of 30 minutes of super-charged air purification via HEPA filtration and UVC light.

The last 4 weeks I've been seeing patients since my initial re-opening have been smooth, joyful, and fulfilling. Friends, family, and patients alike have asked me if I'm scared to be back in the clinic, and my answer is NO! Some of you may not know this, but before I began practicing Chinese Medicine I worked for almost a decade in high-level bio-research laboratories, which required me to be on top of my asepsis game. The knowledge and techniques I acquired during that time were invaluable and have armed me with the confidence that my clinic is a safe space for both my patients and me. Proper aseptic technique and herbal/supplement support have kept my immune system in tip-top shape. I'm so happy to be back in action, helping patients achieve their best state of health in this time of transition. If we haven't connected in a while, and you're ready to venture out, I'd love to see you!

Yours in Health,

Megan Berry Swadell, L.Ac., Dipl.O.M.

03/28/2020

Hello! How've you been?

Everyone hanging in there?

As we prepare to enter into our third week of shelter in place, I wanted to send a quick note to let you all know I miss you dearly and am looking forward to the day I can welcome you back to the clinic for in-person care. I've so enjoyed hearing from those who've reached out for assistance over the past couple of weeks, and I've been happy to facilitate delivery and pick-up of herbs and supplements while also meeting with some of you via video chat.

I'm taking this opportunity to send a message to my patient base to inform you all about my telemedicine service that's now formally up and running. If you head over to my calendar, you'll now see an option for booking a 30-minute telemedicine appointment, which is seamlessly and securely facilitated via my electronic health records system. When it's time for your appointment, you simply click the link in your appointment reminder email, and we'll be connected! No need to install a separate app, but you will want to make sure you have access to either a personal desktop computer or Android device (iPhone is not yet fully supported).

Even though most of us are sticking close to home these days, life goes on and our bodies – the intricate machines they are -- are operating as usual and still need assistance with common ailments. At a time when many people are avoiding doctors’ appointments to address complaints that don’t require urgent care, Traditional Chinese Medicine has so much to offer!

I have the ability to prescribe herbal formulas to help relieve a range of complaints, including (but not limited to) allergies, PMS, indigestion, anxiety, and cold/flu symptoms. My pharmacy also contains a number of effective topicals for pain, and I carry a range of useful supplements such as fish oil, magnesium, mineral complexes, vitamin D, etc. We can also discuss dietary strategies to help support your health, qi gong breathing exercises to calm anxiety and boost immunity, and DIY acupressure points that can be used in a pinch.

All this to say: I’m here for you. We’re still a team. Our playing field has just been altered for the time being.

Yours in health,

Megan Berry Swadell, LAc, DiplOM

03/16/2020

My Dear Patients (Settle in! This is a long one!),

When I opened the doors to Silver Streak Acupuncture 3 short months ago, I never could have envisioned how powerfully and quickly this space would come alive, grow, and offer a much-needed healing oasis to so many in my community. I love this clinic (my second home!) and my courageous, funny, intelligent, kind-hearted patients. I couldn't imagine doing anything different with this life than helping you all feel comfortable and whole in your bodies and minds.

As we're all glued to the news and continue to consume updates on the COVID-19 pandemic, life is rapidly changing around us. Schools are closing, some of you are working from home for the foreseeable future, and others are worried about the state of the small businesses you've worked so hard to create and nourish. Many are concerned about their own health and the health of their vulnerable relatives and friends.

I have grappled with the decision of whether or not to keep my doors open as we work together as a community to "flatten the curve." My heart is telling me to stay open to continue to serve you all in this time of need, but my (scientific!) head is telling me the right thing to do is hunker down with the collective and model the behavior that will help give our hospitals a fighting chance in the days to come.

Starting March 23rd, I'll be closing the doors to acupuncture treatments for a period of 2 weeks, and then reassessing the situation as it continues to unfold. While I remain open this week, I've limited the number of patients I'm seeing, have removed all linens from my treatment tables, am using hospital-grade germicidal wipes to disinfect surfaces between patients, and am not accepting patients who feel ill or have had a possible exposure. In an act of optimism, I encourage you to visit my online calendar and book an appointment for the month of April. I'll be keeping you all informed if it looks like I need to make the decision to keep the clinic closed past April 6th.

IN THE MEANTIME, I hope you're all aware of how beautifully effective Chinese herbs are for boosting immunity at this crucial time, while helping decrease your chances of falling ill. My family and I are currently dosing ourselves with herbs, daily. I will be adding the option for telemedicine herbal consults to my online calendar in short order, which will be conducted through HIPAA compliant video via my EHR system. Herbal prescriptions and supplements can be shipped to your house, and I will be hanging out at the clinic to take care of administrative tasks and water my bevy of plant life, for those of you who'd prefer to pick up on-site. I'll also be offering telemedicine sessions where we can discuss dietary and lifestyle strategies to stay healthy, go over useful acupressure points, or engage in a little talk therapy (as I'm sure many of you will be missing our regular meetings and connection!).

If you've made it this far, thank you! I value your trust in me as a practitioner and your continued support of my small business. Be smart, show each other kindness, limit your movement outside of the home, and know we will get through this together in health.

02/01/2020

Here we are, in the final hours of January, 2020 and WOW. Could there *be* more going on in the world???

If you’ve been following the news, you may have heard that a person in Santa Clara County was just diagnosed with the novel Coronavirus. While I’m a proponent of calm, logical action, I also believe it’s in our best interest to take this seriously be prepared!

My colleagues at Botanical Biohacking Podcast by Andrew Miles DOM & Xuelan Qiu PhD (who are top-line herbalists in contact with the docs who are presently treating this virus in China) released an informative podcast on the Coronavirus. https://youtu.be/IeAnx1u3LkY

It will likely sound like Greek to those not versed in Chinese herbal medicine theory, but the takeaway message is this is a DAMP plague, meaning one should not treat it with classic “antiviral” herbs, which are cold and bitter and can actually drive the illness deeper into the body. Unfortunately there’s not a one-size-fits-all formula that’s effective at tackling this, but one should focus on damp-draining herbs. I encourage you to make an appointment at Silver Streak if you’d like to discuss herbal strategies for staying well in the midst of these concerning times!

Lifestyle-wise, keeping your gut healthy has never been more important. Limit damp-causing dietary intake of sugar, alcohol, fried foods, and raw/cold food. Focus on cooked foods (primarily plant-based, stews, rice porridge, etc) and warming spices such as ginger, green onion, and peppers. Make sure you’re doing some kind of weekly activity that really makes you SWEAT.

Epidemics are not new to Chinese society and that their populations have remained steady throughout the dynasties is a testament to the potential of plant ba...

12/07/2019

I’m so excited to announce the grand opening of Silver Streak Acupuncture in just 10 short days! Book now and come celebrate by saying goodbye to the stress of the holiday season!