Carolyn McMakin decided to pursue her life-long dream at age forty when she started pre-med and enrolled in Western States Chiropractic College. After beginning her practice, she taught a course at Portland State University on the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia and myofascial pain and began seeing a much more complex pain patient population.
In 1996, she began treating these patients using frequencies resurrected from a list created in the 1920s. After teaching the frequencies and treatment protocols to determine if they were reproducible, she presented her results at the American Back Society national meeting and published the first fifty cases of neck pain in August 1998.
In 1999, she discovered one specific frequency treatment protocol that would eliminate the full body pain of fibromyalgia associated with spine trauma in sixty minutes. Because these results were reproducible, she has continued to present cases and teach seminars since 1999, and physicians and practitioners all over the world are using them to help their patients.
Her textbook “Frequency Specific Microcurrent in Pain Management” published by Elsevier was released in 2010. Her second book, “The Resonance Effect” also published by Elsevier was released in 2017.
In addition to treating patients and publishing articles, she has taught courses on Frequency Specific Microcurrent therapy around the world and now maintains a part-time practice in Troutdale, Oregon.
EDUCATION
1993 – Doctor of Chiropractic, Magna cum Laude – Western States Chiropractic College – Portland, Oregon
1987 –1988 – Portland State University – 70 units upper division pre-med science
1983 – Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, Magna cum Laude – National University – San Diego, California
1968 – Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – University of Santa Clara – Santa Clara, California
RELATED EDUCATION
2005 – Institute for Functional Medicine Neuroprotection Module, (24 hours)
2002, 2011 – Applying Function Medicine in Clinical Practice, (42 hours)
1999 – American Academy of Disability Examining Physicians Training Course (27 hours)
1993 – NIMMO Certificate, (40 Hours) Brian Whitfield, DC
1992 Activator Seminars, Arlen Fuhr, DC
1992 Cranio-Sacral Therapy I, Upledger Institute
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
1996 Private practice, Fibromyalgia & Myofascial Pain Clinic of Portland
2005 – 2007 Clinical Director; Integrated Pain Solutiions, Portland, Oregon
2000 – 2002 Postgraduate Faculty, National University of Health Sciences, Chicago, Illinois
1999 – 2004 Certified Independent Chiropractic Examiner, American Board of Independent Medical Examiners
1999 – 2000 Clinical Associate, Advanced Pain Management Group Portland
1997 – 2002 Adjunct Clinical Professor, National College of Naturopathic Medicine
1994 – 2005 Private Practice, Chiropractic Physician, Chiropractic Family Care
1993 – 1994 Teaching Assistant; Western States Chiropractic College
1983 – 1994 Part time private practice – clinical hypnosis, counseling
1971 – 1986 Pharmaceutical Sales: Riker/3M, Ayerst Laboratories, McNeil Consumer Products
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2014
Presenter: Oregon Chiropractic Association Annual Convention: Evidence based practice. Over the counter drugs
2013
Presenter: Oregon Chiropractic Association Annual Convention: Over the counter drugs.
2012
Presenter: Logan Chiropractic College Post- graduate Education Homecoming What is it when it is not better in 12 weeks?
Published: Visceral and Somatic Disorders: Tissue Softening with Frequency Specific Microcurrent, McMakin C, Oschman J, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2012, Vol 18 Number 00, pp 1-8
2011
Author: Frequency Specific Microcurrent in Pain Management, Textbook for practitioners, Elsevier Science Press, Edinborough
Presenter: National Intrepid Center of Excellence, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD Outcomes in PTSD and TBI using Frequency Specific Microcurrent; Background and case report data.
Contributing Author: Schleip et al, Fascia in Manual Therapy; Chapter 7.16 Elsevier, UK
2010
Published: The efficacy of frequency specific microcurrent therapy on delayed onset muscle soreness, Curtis D, Fallows S, Morris M, McMakin C, Journal of Bodywork and Movement
Therapies; 2010; 14 (3): 272-9
Presenter: Effective treatment of DOMS;
European College of Sports and Exercise Physicians, London
Published: Non-pharmacologic treatment of shingles, McMakin C, Practical Pain Management,
2010, Vol 10; 4; 24-29
Published: Non-pharmacologic treatment of neuropathic pain using Frequency Specific
Microcurrent, McMakin, C, The Pain Practitioner, Fall, 2010, pp 68-73
2009
Speaker: American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, San Jose, California
Reducing liver enzymes with Frequency Specific Microcurrent
Speaker: American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, Orlando Florida
Non-pharmacologic Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
Contributing author: Microcurrent and Qi in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and
Fibromyalgia – Energy Medicine East and West – A Natural History of Qi, Mayor and Micozzi, Elsevier Science Press, Edinborough
2008
Speaker: 15th International Symposium Institute for Functional Medicine, Carlsbad, CA
Non-pharmacologic Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
Contributing author: “Microcurrent therapy in the treatment of Fibromyalgia”
Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A practitioners Guide to Treatment, 3nd Edition, Leon Chaitow, Elsevier Science Press
Speaker: Oregon Pain Society, Portland Oregon
Non-pharmacologic Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
Speaker: Grand rounds, Pain and Palliative Care Dept, National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, Non pharmacologic treatment of neuropathic and other pain syndromes
Lecturer: FSM National Certification Course for Neuromuscular Therapists
National Training Center, Dublin, Ireland
2007
Contributing author: Naturopathic Physical medicineTheory and practice for Manual
Therapists and Naturopaths, Edited by Leon Chaitow, ND DO, Elsevier, 2007
Speaker: International Congress on Natural Medicine, Gold Coast, Australia
Frequency Specific Microcurrent applications for central nervous system dysfunction in mood and cognitive disorders
Poster presentation: Abstract: “Retrospective Study of Frequency Specific Microcurrent
Therapy for Low Back Facet Joint Pain” International Myopain Society, Washington, DC, August 2007
2006
Poster Presentation: Abstract: “Cytokine Changes with frequency specific microcurrent treatment of fibromyalgia associated with cervical spine trauma.” North American Research Conference on Complementary & Integrative Medicine, Edmonton, Canada; May 2006
Consulting Physician: Philadelphia Eagles, various NFL players and teams, MLB teams
2005
Published: “Cytokine changes with microcurrent therapy of fibromyalgia associated with cervical trauma.” Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, July 2005
Speaker: International Congress on Natural Medicine, Brisbane Australia “Frequency Specific Microcurrent in Neurological and Neuro Inflammatory Disorders”
Speaker: National Neuromuscular Therapy Training Center, Dublin, Ireland
“Frequency Specific Microcurrent in the treatment of neuromuscular conditions”
Speaker: Upledger Institute National Meeting; Beyond the Dura. Jupiter Beach Florida
“Energetic Nature of Biological Tissue”
Speaker: Focus on Pain, Jefferson Medical School, Philadelphia,PA
“Cytokine changes with microcurrent treatment of fibromyalgia associated with cervical trauma”
Contract Physician: Philadelphia Eagles, NFL players and teams, MLB teams
President: Frequency Specific Seminars, CE provider US, Ireland, Australia
Contributing author: Textbook of Functional Medicine, Health effects of environmental radiation”
2004
Poster presentation: Abstract: “Cytokine Changes with microcurrent treatment of fibromyalgia associated with cervical spine trauma.” OHSU / NIH Fibromyalgia Conference, Washington, DC
Published: Abstract: Anti-inflammatory effects of interferential frequency-specific applied microcurrent. Reilly WG, Reeve VE, McMakin CR Proceedings of the Australian Health and Medical Research Congress
Published: “Microcurrent Therapy: A novel treatment method for chronic low back myofascial pain.” Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2004, 8, 143-153
Speaker: Upledger/Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies Symposium
“Comprehensive Treatment of Lumbar Spine Pain”
Speaker: SWIS, “Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment of Shoulder Injuries”
Speaker: American College for the Advancement of Medicine, national meeting
“Modulation of Inflammatory Cytokines with Frequency Specific Therapy”
2003
Speaker: International Congress on Natural Medicine, Melbourne, Australia Anti-inflammatory effects of Frequency Specific Microcurrent in a mouse model
Published: “The Use of Microcurrent and Autocatalytic Silver Plated Nylon Dressings in Human Burn Patients: A Feasibility Study”, Huckfeldt, Mikkelson, Larson, Hammond, Flick, McMakin
Appointed International Advisory Board: Journal of Bodywork and Movement
Therapies Contributing author, “Microcurrent therapy in the treatment of Fibromyalgia”
Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A practitioners Guide to Treatment, 2nd Edition, Lleon Chaitow, Elsevier Science
Press
2002
Speaker: National Association Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists, National
Convention: Differential diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain and myofascial pain
Continuing Education Vendor, State of Oregon for DC’s, ND’s, MD’s, PT’s
Frequency Specific Microcurrent, Fibromyalgia; an Alternative View
Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Pain, Over the Counter Drugs in Clinical Practice
2001
Speaker: Capitol University of Integrative Medicine, Georgetown Medical School, MD – Microcurrent Therapies for Myofascial Pain and Fibromyalgia
Speaker: Texas Chiropractic Association Continuing Education Seminar – 16 Hours continuing education – Fibromyalgia, Chronic pain differential diagnosis, Shoulder Diagnosis
Speaker: Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain and Trauma Conference, Bristol, England
Speaker: Eighth International Symposium on Functional Medicine, Vancouver, BC – Endocrinologic Implications of Microcurrent Therapies in Fibromyalgia
Speaker: International Congress on Natural Medicine, Sydney, Australia – Advances in Pain Management, New Treatments for Fibromyalgia
Expert witness on Fibromyalgia, Federal Court, Montana
Continuing Education Vendor, State of Oregon for DC’s, ND’s, MD’s, PT’s
Frequency Specific Microcurrent, Fibromyalgia; an Alternative View;
Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Pain, Over the Counter Drugs in Clinical Practice
2000
Speaker: The Seventh International Symposium on Functional Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ “Energy Medicine in Clinical Practice.”
Speaker: Grand Rounds, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Maryland – “Microcurrent treatment of spinal cord mediated pain and neuropathic pain.”
Speaker: Anglo European Chiropractic College, British Chiropractic Association – Joint Spring Conference, “Cervical Trauma and Chronic Pain.”
Speaker: National Chiropractic College, Chicago, Illinois, Annual continuing education – “Fibromyalgia, an Alternative View”
Speaker: Comprehensive Management of Shoulder Complaints – Referred Pain in the Shoulder; An interdisciplinary seminar with Paul Puziss, MD, Kelly Barnes, PT, Charles Novak, DC
Oregon continuing education vendor for DC’s and ND’s
1999
Speaker; Seattle Fibromyalgia International Team – National Meeting – “Fibromyalgia – an Alternative View”
Clinician of the Month, Functional Medicine Update: Jeff Bland, Ph.D., HealthComm
Certified Independent Chiropractic Examiner, American Board of Independent Medical Examiners
Speaker Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Annual Continuing Education
“Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Pain”
1998
Published: “Microcurrent Treatment of Myofascial Pain in the Head, Neck and Face”, Topics in Clinical Chiropractic, Vol5, Number1, March 1998
1997
American Back Society, Faculty 1997 Annual Scientific Meeting
“Microcurrent Treatment of Resistant Myofascial Pain in the Lumbar and Cervical Spine.”
Founder: Frequency Specific Microcurrent©
Continuing Education Vendor, State of Oregon for DC’s and ND’s
Frequency Specific Microcurrent, Myofascial Pain; The Pain from Someplace Else, Fibromyalgia; An
Alternative View, Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Pain, Over the Counter Drugs in Chiropractic Practice
1995
Executive Board, Secretary/treasurer; Chiropractic Association of Oregon Executive Board, Independent Alumni of WSCC
1994
Executive Board, Secretary/Treasurer; Chiropractic Association of Oregon
Executive Board Secretary; WSCC Alumni Association
Speaker, American Association Naturopathic Physicians National Convention;
“Language and Healing; Informal Hypnosis in Clinical Practice.”
1993
Published; “Interdisciplinary Symposium Creates Forum for DC’s, MD’s, ND’s.” ACA Journal of Chiropractic, October 1993
Presenter, American Chiropractic Assoc., State Relations Round Table, Washington, DC
1989 – 1993
Western States Chiropractic College Activities: Guest Lecturer: Patient Practice Management; Pharmacology, Gynecological examination student instructor, WSCC, OHSU Medical School
1989 – 1994
Founded and produced annual Interdisciplinary Health Care Symposium
A full day work shop for students and licensed physicians, approved for continuing education credit, with speakers from OHSU medical school, National College of Naturopathic Medicine, and Western States Chiropractic College funded and supported by all three institutions. Organized and publicized the event and moderated the proceedings.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
American Academy of Pain Management,
International Myopain Society
Institute for Functional Medicine,
Advisory Board Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Oregon Chiropractic Association