It’s a traditional method of healing that originated in Asia, but has been used worldwide for much longer than what we call “medicine.” Those ancient healers were pretty incredible, forming theories and protocols 5,000 years ago that line up with our “Western” understanding of the body today – without the benefit of all our modern tech. (Did you know MRI’s today can actually prove a lot of this stuff?) Anyway, these classical doctors realized that our bodies and everything going on inside them were based on energy. By harnessing the power of energy (read: nervous system), they could trigger the body to use its own healing mechanisms. They activated points using bamboo & stone…but we are pretty sure it wasn’t as pain-free as today’s methods.
Beautiful. It’s a very unique approach selecting from a massive pharmacopoeia of naturally occurring plant, animal, and mineral substances. Instead of using single herbs to address single symptoms (read: you’re taking the stuff forever), we seek to correct the underlying patterns by using blends of several whole plants. This often means long-term resolution of a whole set of symptoms that may not even seem related by “Western” medical terms. Also, by using the whole plants and blending them together, we retain not only the main function of the herbs, but also the important compounds that moderate any negative properties or side effects. This makes them far less likely to produce any unwanted symptoms. While you do have to be very careful with the quality of herbs you select in this world, we guarantee that we use only pharmaceutical grade herbs that are certified for purity at all stages of the process, and utilize organic and plant-based compounds whenever possible.
Grandmas, babies, moms-to-be, doctors, and even those nervous ex-football player tattooed Marines – all over the world. For some reason, we were a little slow to catch on to this magical stuff, but word is spreading like fire. In short, it can benefit everyone and is safe for nearly anyone. With the wide array of things it treats, you’ll likely find six or seven things you want to work on (today, please).
Everything. Well, just about. Most people come for pain (back, hip, knee, shoulder, little toe and everything in between). When that’s gone, they want to work on weight loss (yes, it does that too), only to find out their insomnia, constipation, and bad wrist have also cleared up. Their co-worker starts coming for stress relief, conquers a flu bug, and goes from dreary to dazzling…you get the idea. We might even become your primary care. For a longer list, look to the left side and click on What we treat.
We need another word. They’re not needles in any sense that’s familiar to you. We’re not injecting anything, so they’re tiny & solid. Think hair-fine and pain-LESS – less than a bee sting, less than a flea bite, less than everything you know to compare it to. If you’re one of those people that fainted when you saw the word, take heart. You’re always my best patients. If you need convincing, we will give you a sample before you ever start. No one has ever run screaming from my office. Oh, and the needles are sterile and used only once, of course.
We really understand this question, but the answer is nothing. Once you feel the deliciously lucid state you’ll be in, it’s hard to believe we are telling the truth about this. For more on why, read on.
So 3,000 years and millions of patients tell a pretty convincing story. Chances are you know someone who swears by it too. This stuff actually works. But, if your brain needs hardcore science to bend itself around, this is what they figure, based on before & after acupuncture blood chemistry studies. Acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system, which releases chemicals to the spinal cord, brain, and muscles:
As you might guess, it’s different for Grandma than for your 6-year-old son. So, the answer is, “it depends.” How well you take care of yourself before and after your treatments plays a role, as does the number and complexity of the conditions you’d like to address. Your treatment plan is always a partnership between you & me (so ultimately you make that decision), but my goal is not just to alleviate the symptoms temporarily, but to make sure the whole pattern is gone and doesn’t come back. While you might start feeling results right away, we usually recommend a series of treatments with decreasing frequency to put those pesky things to rest.
Acupuncture is just part of a comprehensive medical system. We are also licensed to prescribe Chinese Medicinals, Tui na Massage, Cupping, Chinese Nutrition, and Certified in Aromatherapy, Homeopathy to give you the most efficient path to live a healthy life.
That’s easy. There really isn’t one. Because Acupuncture has been tested and refined over thousands of years and uses our body’s own genius to heal itself, there is really no risk. Of course, eight years (crammed into 3/4) of super-intense, mind-boggling studies are important, and there are plenty of Board Licenses and qualifications to back it up. You would not trust just anyone to do this, right?
Great question, and it’s confusing stuff. A “Medically Certified” or “Certified” Acupuncturist is a Medical Doctor, Chiropractor, or even Dentist who studies a super-mini course of acupuncture, often as little as a 4-day seminar at a non-accredited acupuncture program. They are taught how to insert needles, but never learn the foundation of the medicine, which distinguishes “Acupuncture” from sticking needles into muscles. As such, they are certified to treat only pain conditions as an adjunct to their primary mode of care.
A “Licensed Acupuncturist” is a Practitioner whose sole focus is on Chinese medicine, and who completes (in my case) a 4-year Masters program and clinical intern/externships of more than 35oo accredited hours. Our focus is on understanding the diagnosis and deeper imbalances in the body (that is the beauty of Chinese medicine), which allows us to effectively treat a huge multitude of conditions with Acupuncture, herbs and nutrition. Oh, and there are State/National Board exams to attain licensure, but not for certification.
Hmmm. That depends on your Doctor. If you have the fabulous kind of Doctor who will stop at nothing to help you feel better and is always learning, the answer is most likely, “yes.” we have treated lots in the medical field and more who swear by it. No one medicine conquers all, and the sooner we accept that, the more we can benefit from one another. If your Doctor is more “traditional-minded,” they might not know too much yet about alternatives. “Regular” medical school didn’t talk about this stuff ten years ago (hooray for progress!) May you be the first to open their eyes.
Insurance is a tough call. More companies are realizing the cost and health benefits to both themselves and you, and are providing this as part of your benefits. In this case, We will give you the paper work needed for your reimbursement. Unfortunately, there are many who would rather send you off for surgery or keep you on meds for the rest of your life. When you do the math, We are sure you’ll find the long-term cost to be much less for you, whether you have insurance or not.
Truth is, We can talk until the cows come home about Acupuncture (and often do) but there’s no better evidence than witnessing it for yourself. There’s nothing to lose, it can not make you worse, and you might just accidentally get better…better than you have felt in years. If you would like to talk about it, we will be happy to meet you.
