About Dr. katania

Dr. Katania Taylor is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and has been practicing for 18 years. She specializes in pain, gastro-intestinal health, women’s health, auto-immune and inflammatory diseases and emotional issues. In the past 7 years, Dr. Katania has incorporated Functional Medicine into her practice. This means that in addition to acupuncture, she addresses root cause treatment of a patient’s ailments using a combination of functional labs, objective diagnostics, and Oriental Medicine to arrive at a comprehensive treatment plan that includes diet, targeted supplements, herbs, movement and acupuncture to help the patient heal themselves.

Dr. Katania graduated in 2003 from Bastyr University. She has been practicing in Nevada as an Oriental Medical Doctor since 2009. She has studied under specialists in pain management, physical medicine, and Functional Medicine. She is trained and certified in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, and has received ongoing training in Functional Medicine, western herbs, targeted supplement and nutrition.

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What does Acupuncture do?

The following is a list of mechanisms that have been identified so far and I borrowed this from one of my virtual mentors, Kris Kresser L.Ac, directly from his website because I LOVE the way he describes Acupuncture in a modern, Western, easy-to-understand way (thank you Chris!):

Acupuncture promotes blood flow. This is significant because everything the body needs to heal is in the blood, including oxygen, nutrients we absorb from food, immune substances, hormones, analgesics (painkillers) and anti-inflammatories. Restoring proper blood flow is vital to promoting and maintaining health. For example if blood flow is diminished by as little as 3% in the breast area cancer may develop. Blood flow decreases as we age and can be impacted by trauma, injuries and certain diseases. Acupuncture has been shown to increase blood flow and vasodilation in several regions of the body.
Acupuncture stimulates the body’s built-in healing mechanisms.Acupuncture creates “micro traumas” that stimulate the body’s ability to spontaneously heal injuries to the tissue through nervous, immune and endocrine system activation. As the body heals the micro traumas induced by acupuncture, it also heals any surrounding tissue damage left over from old injuries.
Acupuncture releases natural painkillers. Inserting a needle sends a signal through the nervous system to the brain, where chemicals such as endorphins, norepinephrine and enkephalin are released. Some of these substances are 10-200 times more potent than morphine!
Acupuncture reduces both the intensity and perception of chronic pain. It does this through a process called “descending control normalization”, which involves the serotonergic nervous system. ² I will explain this process in further detail in the next post.
Acupuncture relaxes shortened muscles. This in turn releases pressure on joint structures and nerves, and promotes blood flow.
Acupuncture reduces stress. This is perhaps the most important systemic effect of acupuncture. Recent research suggests that acupuncture stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone and signaling substance that regulates the parasympathetic nervous system. You’ve probably heard of the “fight-or-flight” response that is governed by the sympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system has been called the “rest-and-digest” or “calm-and-connect” system, and in many ways is the opposite of the sympathetic system. Recent research has implicated impaired parasympathetic function in a wide range of autoimmune diseases, including arthritis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

What is Cupping?

Cupping therapy come from Ancient Chinese Medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. People get it for many purposes, including to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage. Read this article on the benefits of cupping.

I use cupping regularly in clinic for unresponsive muscle tension, chronic muscle tension and other pain syndromes. I use it frequently in people who work out frequently and rigorously and are sore. Body-builders, martial artists, and anyone engaged in high-intensity sports can greatly benefit from cupping. So can many others, however, you may not AUTOMATICALLY be a candidate for cupping. Fibromyalgia, Auto-immune diseases and weaker or frail bodies and constitutions may react badly to cupping.

Who can do cupping?

Cupping is currently practiced by many manual therapists, including massage therapists, chiropractors and PTs. Fire Cupping, the use of a flame to vacuum suction the cups to the body should only be used by Acupuncturists or someone with many hours of practice. It can be very dangerous. Please ask your practitioner how much training they have had if they are NOT and OMD in Nevada. Massage Therapists in NV are not allowed to do fire cupping.

Dry Needling- what is it and who practices it?

Dry Needling (DN) is term used frequently by Physical Therapists for the practice of inserting acupuncture needles into their patients. DN IS acupuncture. Another word for the technique of DN is trigger point therapy or trigger point needling and Acupuncturists incorporate this technique daily. Although acupuncture STYLES vary and some L.Ac.s and OMD may use LESS of this style of treatment, it is a part of Acupuncture education and treatment protocols. Physical Therapists who practice DN are regulated by their state boards and states differ on standards and level of regulation. Nevada currently allows a very limited version of DN by PT’s.

I look forward to seeing you in my Clinic and working with you to achieve your health goals!

Dr. Katania

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Testimonials

One of the most frustrating parts about Endometriosis is that doctors are often very dismissive of symptoms and they often do not believe the symptoms could even be part of the disease. Dr. Taylor has been so amazing in helping me sort through my symptoms and struggles with Endo. She is compassionate and really listens to the types of issues I have and she helps me work out how they may be aligned with my cycle and what we can do to address them. The acupuncture is amazing for pain relief and GI relief, and it brings me a great deal of anxiety relief also. The supplements she prescribes for me have been a huge game changer to help me manage this disease and she constantly monitors to see if anything needs to be added or changed. She’s also been a great resource for natural remedies and she’s always there to answer any questions you might have. Incorporating acupuncture and supplements in your routine is a must for Endo, and Dr. Taylor has such a wealth of knowledge and so much compassion for this and other female issues.

Alex- Grateful Endo Sufferer

Dr. Taylor had been very beneficial to my lifelong circulatory issue. She told me that she wanted to get to the bottom of the of the problem with the pain, heat and general discomfort of my feet. She did her research, explained that I had a gene mutation and planned a treatment that has been successful at nearly a complete elimination of my painful problem. Thank you Dr. Taylor!

Brent A.

I have been a patient of Katania at One Sky Natural Health for the last year, and she has been amazing! I was having gastrointestinal issues, reflux, heartburn, and indigestion. With a variety of natural medicines, she was able to completely alleviate all of my root causes. She doesn’t just treat the symptoms she treats the root cause. The combination of acupuncture and natural medicine I am feeling better than ever. She was also able to help with some muscle tightness with cupping and acupuncture. I would recommend Dr. Katania highly especially if you have been to a traditional doctor and are not getting any results. She will work hard for the solution for you to achieve your health goals.

Ken K.

Katana has such a gift for identifying an issue and helping you find the perfect solution.

Marcia | Satisfied Patient

After suffering with IBS for years and seeing lots of different docs, I went to Katania on the recommendation of a friend with little hope that she could help, but I was proved very wrong. The results have been amazing. While I still suffer some bouts, in general, I feel like I’m leading a normal life and feel free to go out and enjoy things. I credit the success to the entire package of services she offers – the acupuncture, the nutrition guidance, and the supplements she prescribed. The bottom line – Amazing!

Andrea | Leading a normal life now!

I have been going to Katania Taylor for acupuncture treatment and herbs now for over 8 years. I have had various reasons for my visits and each time she listens to me and works to find a solution. If she doesn’t know the answer she will research and get back to me quickly. I will never forget her compassion when I had a major illness a couple of years ago. Although I had to stop my acupuncture treatments for about a year; she continually checked in with me to see how I was doing. Her companion touched me and showed how much she thought about me as a person. She truly cares about her patients and will do extra to accommodate and help whatever is ailing you.

Sharon | Long-time, grateful patient

Doctor Taylor has been treating me with acupuncture for over a year. I have arthritis and some muscle cramps and the treatments are amazing. I feel more mobile and I have fewer cramps. For me going to see Dr. Taylor is better than a spa day.

Jennifer | Acupuncture is better than a spa day!

I think, like many, I was initially skeptical about acupuncture and anything that wasn’t traditional, familiar Western Medicine. But six years ago, the chronic body pain that I constantly suffered had reached a breaking point. Unwilling to try heavy medications, I was taking five to six ibuprofens at a time, several times a day. I remember sitting in my car, crying because the pain was so unbearable. A friend had suggested acupuncture and at the time, I had laughed at the idea that tiny needles could even touch what was ravaging my body every day – but I had reached the point of opening my mind, and body, to anything.

By my third acupuncture session with Katania, I was no longer relying on ibuprofen to get me through the day. This was the first time in my adult life that I was not in daily, chronic pain! It was amazing! This began a journey that has transformed my life and the way I approach food and healing.

During our sessions, Katania always begins with open questions about how my body is feeling—and then, she listens carefully, following up with deeper questions, getting to the root of what is really happening in my body. Although she began by working on my chronic body pain, Katania quickly discerned that the cause for the pain was originating from my poor gut health and my decidedly SAD diet. She began to work on healing my gut, and subsequently, my body. Katania’s vast knowledge about deep nutrition and how to achieve it in my body has changed the way my family approaches food and health. Cleansing and refining my diet has transformed and energized my life, freeing me from pain and medication.

With Katania’s guidance, I have rid my body of chronic pain, breakouts, constant bloating, allergies, hyperhidrosis, lack of energy, and idiopathic hypersomnia. It has been a liberating experience – I have a healthy life I would not otherwise have had. I cannot thank Katania enough for her knowledge.

Kelly | Long-time Patient

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Katania Taylor is not a Medical Doctor and does not give medical advice. She, nor anyone else who contributes to this website, does not give any advice without the expectation that you will first consult with your doctor.

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