Acupuncture is a manual therapy that involves the insertion of thin, sterile needles into the body to achieve different therapeutic results. Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of a wide variety of medical disorders including, but not limited to:

• Circulatory & Heart Disorders: Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Anemia, Neutropenia, Peripheral Neuropathy, Palpitations

• Digestive Disorders: Nausea, Vomiting, Bloating and abdominal distention, Constipation, Diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis, Hemorrhoids

• Men’s Health: Renal Calculi, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Gout, Groin Pain & Hernia, and more

• Mental & Emotional Health: Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, PTSD, Stress management, OCD, Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia

• Neurological Disorders: Bell’s Palsy, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral palsy, Phantom pains, Residual limb pain, RLS and complex regional pain syndrome, numbness and limited movement

• Pain Relief: Injury recovery, Back pain, Neck pain, Headaches and Migraines, Facial pain, TMJ, Muscular tension, Sprains and strains, Chronic pain, Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sciatica, Inflammatory conditions, Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia Plantar Fasciitis, Trigeminal Neuralgia

• Respiratory Disorders: Asthma, Bronchitis, Covid-19 recovery, Common colds and flu, Sore throat, Upper respiratory tract infection, Allergies

• Skin Disorders: Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema, Skin Rashes, Hair Loss, Scleroderma, Conjunctivitis, Urticaria (Hives), etc.

• Women’s Health: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Dysmenorrhea and painful periods, Amenorrhea, Urinary tract infections, Infertility, Morning sickness, PCOS., Menopause, Ovarian Cysts, Yeast Infections, Postpartum Depression

• Other: Diabetes type 2, Thyroid disorders, Metabolic Syndrome, Insomnia, Chemotherapy side effects, Post Exercise Recovery

Acupuncture needles are inserted into specific points along energetic meridians that run throughout the body, and each of these meridians communicates with one another to promote homeostasis and eliminate the disease. In other words, acupuncture heals the body by stimulating specific points on these meridians that can impact biochemical and physiological conditions in the body as well as stimulate sensory receptors. These sensory receptors then signal nerves to transmit impulses to the hypothalamic-pituitary system in the brain where neurotransmitters and endorphins are released, easing pain, promoting healing, and improving immune function. Through this mechanism, acupuncture has the ability to address specific health concerns and help you achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

Please come in with clothes with easy access to places such as your arms and upper legs, preferably low or no caffeine intake prior, and something in your stomach. Each acupuncture appointment begins with a detailed health history intake questionnaire and physical examination. Next, the examination of the tongue, pulses, and vital signs are conducted. Acupuncture needles are inserted and retained for about 28-45 minutes, while the patient relaxes and takes an “acu nap.”

Needles are then removed, and future treatment plans and patient goals are discussed. A clear treatment plan will be outlined for future sessions and progress moving forward. Lifestyle recommendations and suggestions will also be presented at this time.

How often each person should go relies on many different factors, like, how long the issue has been going on, what the patient’s lifestyle is like, and how fast their body reacts to acupuncture.

The treatments will start out in close frequency to get a solid foundation of acupuncture first. You cannot get acupuncture treatments too close together, however, you can go too long between treatments and fall back to where you were when you started.

The goal is to be able to have no symptoms of your condition in between treatments until you’re able to come in for the “maintenance phase.” This means you’re coming in once a month for preventative care and no longer suffering from your original complaint. 

• Ask your acupuncturist about any questions you may have.

• Rest and hydrate.

• Eat a healthy meal.

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine.

• Follow lifestyle recommendations presented by your practitioner.

• Be gentle with yourself.

Inside your appointment we will discuss Chinese Herbs and Nutrition. There are thousands of herbs used in Traditional Chinese medicine, of which about 300 are commonly used. You will generally receive a mixture of several different herbs in a formula that has been tailored to your condition.  Grouping herbs together in a formula is usually better than prescribing individual herbs by themselves because there are synergistic benefits associated with grouping certain herbs together, which increases the therapeutic effect of the herbal formula.  Additionally, herbs are grouped together in formulas in order to buffer the harshness that a single herb may have, thus greatly reducing the chance of unpleasant side effects.  The herbal formulas we prescribe are highly effective and very rarely produce any significant side effects.  However, it is important to tell us about all the medications and supplements you are currently taking so that we can avoid any unwanted interactions with your herbal formula.