Acupuncture Integrates
Science with Nature
The theory and practice of acupuncture are based on a medical paradigm that was developed thousands of years ago in China. Over countless years, in countless countries, countless medical professionals have successfully employed acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to improve the health and wellbeing of countless people just like you.
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The clinical efficacy of acupuncture is evident in the fact that it remains a widely used and highly respected form of healthcare across the globe. It continues to be a highly sought-after treatment modality because it's effects are self-evident: acupuncture works. For a variety of people, for a variety of conditions, and in a variety of settings. Acupuncture and natural medicine are increasingly gaining acceptance in the Western medical community as well, with many hospitals, cancer centers, and integrative medical clinics incorporating acupuncture into their practices. Clearly, the widespread use of this form of medicine indicates that it has value for clinicians who seek to improve patient outcomes, and for patients like you who wish to improve their lives by removing obstacles to vibrant wellbeing.
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The cultural and medical acceptance of acupuncture as a valid treatment tool is due in part to the wide body of scientific evidence and clinical research trials that demonstrate how and why acupuncture works.
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Acupuncture FAQs
Does acupuncture hurt?
No. The needles we use are about the width of a human hair, and approximately 20 of them could fit inside a hypodermic needle. They are made of a single filament of flexible, sterilized stainless steel. Several of my patients are self-professed "needle phobic" but they actually love their acupuncture treatments. Most people feel absolutely no discomfort with acupuncture needles. Those that do feel anything, typically feel just a tiny pinch at the first moment of needle placement, a minor feeling which immediately subsides. It is normal to feel a pleasant heaviness or tingling sensation at the point during your treatment, and this is a considered a beneficial and therapeutic feeling. Don't let uncertainty about needles stop you from trying acupuncture--if you happen to dislike the sensation during your first treatment, I will stop using the needles and switch to relaxing massage, cupping, or other non-needle techniques. I will never let you be uncomfortable in any way during your treatment.
How many treatments does it take?
The effects of acupuncture are cumulative. Each treatment builds upon the results of the last session, so ideal results are achieved if we start with a weekly session to re-train the body and break the patterns that gave rise to the condition. Similar to any other therapy, repeated treatment will get the best results. When you take a prescription medication, you must take it every day for weeks or months in order to notice change. Luckily, acupuncture typically works more quickly and the results can be noticeable immediately. Your results will depend on the condition we are working with. Pain conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, muscle tension, and arthritis will typically be significantly improved immediately after the first session. Oftentimes the improvement will last for a few days after the first treatment, and the second treatment will build upon that progress allowing for 5-6 days of relief. By the end of the third or 4th week of treatment, the pain is often under control and we can transition to "maintenance mode" where you come as often as you desire (many folks choose to receive treatment every couple weeks or once per month) to maintain results and prevent further issues. Some issues seem to improve quite quickly, especially headaches, insomnia, and anxiety. Some conditions require regular treatments for a longer period, such as systemic issues of autoimmune disorders, skin conditions, or chronic digestive issues. Every person is unique and will respond differently, but the general guidelines above are based on my 10 years of clinical experience.
What does an acupuncture treatment include?
Intake: We'll begin with a thorough overview of your health history and I will ask you questions about your body systems from head to toe. I will use this information to discover patterns and connections between your symptoms and current condition.
Diagnosis: I use your intake information along with my clinical assessment of your pulse and tongue to create a Chinese medical diagnosis. The pulse on both wrists tells me about the function of your internal organs and which systems have deficiencies, stagnation, or excess energy based on the quality of the pulse at 6 different positions on the wrist. Tongue diagnosis evaluates the color, shape, and coating of the tongue to determine if there are internal pathogens or deficiencies affecting different organs.
Treatment: You will disrobe to your level of comfort and rest on a warmed massage table under comfortable covers. I will place various acupuncture points, typically around 10 points. Depending on your condition I may add additional therapies such as e-stim (microcurrent stimulation at select points) or moxibustion to warm points for treating joint pain or nourishing the body's energy stores. You will then rest comfortably for 15-20 minutes, enjoying relaxing music and perhaps a nap. When I return to the room, I will remove your points and likely finish your treatment with a therapy such as cupping or relaxing massage with warm stones and warm towels. You will feel rested, rejuvenated, and deeply relaxed.
Recommendations: I often prescribe a Chinese herbal medicine formula, vitamin supplements, or food therapy suggestions to complement your treatment and help you reach your goals more quickly. Targeted exercises, stretches, or lifestyle suggestions may be included.
Followup: I encourage you to communicate with me about what you feel after your treatment. Oftentimes people report sleeping better, feeling calmer, and experiencing relief of their symptoms for hours, days, or weeks following treatment. I typically schedule a followup visit for the following week to evaluate your response and continue treatment, building momentum and facilitating faster healing.
How does acupuncture work?
This question can be answered from two perspectives. Chinese medicine theory (developed thousands of years ago) has an elegant explanation, and modern science has another complementary answer. Both are correct, but some people resonate with one perspective more than the other.
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Modern Research and Clinical Evidence: A Scientific Understanding
Multiple published research studies have indicated that acupuncture successfully treats pain, nausea, headache, osteoarthritis, and depression. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data shows that stimulation of acupuncture points on the body causes activation of specific areas of the brain, indicating that acupuncture affects the central nervous system to regulate pain signals to and from the body. It has also been demonstrated to release the body's endogenous opioid-like chemicals, the body's natural painkillers and endorphins that create a pleasant feeling of wellbeing. Other imaging studies of the body show that acupuncture increases peripheral blood circulation, with blood perfusion of tissues stimulating healing of damaged muscle, nerve, and connective tissue. This natural regeneration of cells and tissues not only relieves symptoms but literally rebuilds the cellular structure of nerves and musculature.
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Acupuncture treatment is further shown to reduce inflammation in the body. "Inflammation" has gained a sort of buzzword status with almost any disease being linked to its seemingly mysterious influence. Despite this cultural obsession with a relatively vague term, inflammatory processes are very real and very damaging to the organs and tissues. Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury or invasion of foreign viruses or bacteria, and it involves mobilization of white blood cells by the hormones bradykinin and histimine. These substances rush to the site of injury or to the lymph nodes, creating swelling, redness, and tenderness. In acute injury, inflammation is actually a helpful process that allows macrophages (white blood cells that "digest" proteins) to destroy the damaged cells or invading pathogen, ideally restoring the body to a state of homeostasis. The problem comes when the inflammatory process continues for too long and becomes chronic, attacking normal cells and wreaking havoc on the surrounding muscles and tissues. Acupuncture helps by signaling the brain to regulate the production of inflammatory cytokines, and signaling the body that the overactive immune response can cease. This has been demonstrated with clinical research that measures the inflammatory compounds in the blood before and after acupuncture treatment--with consistent results showing decreased inflammation following treatment. These findings indicate that chronic inflammatory processes such as leaky gut, systemic arthritis, and autoimmune conditions can be improved with acupuncture.
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The scientific understanding of the healing process involved in acupuncture shows us that it is a valid medical intervention. Many people are additionally interested in knowing the original theoretical framework that created this healing modality before such things as MRI and blood tests existed. Read below for an overview of the origins of the Chinese medicine paradigm that forms the basis for acupuncture treatment and theory.
Chinese Medicine Theory: The Body as a Microcosm of Nature
The foundation of Chinese medicine is an understanding of the natural world and how it relates to the function of the human body. Ancient medical practitioners explained the physiology of the body in terms that related to nature, drawing parallels between the five elements (Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, Fire) and the functions of the organ systems of the body. In this system, each organ is related to an element and has an association with a season, color, emotion, body part, and role within the hierarchy of physiological function. For example, the Liver organ is associated with the Wood element, the spring season, the color green, the emotion of anger, the body part of the eyes, and has the role of spreading Qi energy smoothly throughout the body. The ancient clinicians who investigated these complex relationships also had unique explanations for disease processes. They described disease in terms of ecology, with the body being affected by internal or external pathogenic factors such as Heat, Cold, Dampness, and Dryness. From this perspective a viral infection could be understood as a Heat pathogen invading the Stomach channel, and menstrual problems could be related to pathogenic Cold stasis in the abdomen. These diagnostic patterns are unfamiliar to most of us in our Western medical culture, but deeper contemplation reveals that they are an elegant way to understand the body as a microcosm of the greater natural world.
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At the core of the Chinese medical paradigm is the concept that a state of health is characterized by proper amount, quality, and directional flow of the Qi and Blood, as well as proper balance of the yin (cooling, moistening) and yang (warming, activating) properties in the body.
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In this theoretical framework, acupuncture works by restoring the physiological functions of the body. The acupuncturist chooses specific acupoints based on their Chinese medical diagnosis for the specific patient's unique clinical presentation. To treat stagnant Qi manifesting with headache and irritability, we would select a point such as Liver-3 which has the function of "regulate the Liver Qi". Or for digestive complaints we could select acupoint Stomach-44 to "clear Stomach Heat". Depending on the diagnosis, we can select points that restore the proper flow of energy, nourish any deficiencies, and help the body manage any pathogenic factors that may be present.
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The 400+ acupuncture points on the human body lie along energetic pathways (also known as channels or meridians). Each pathway is named for the organ it flows through (Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, Gallbladder, Liver). The pathways are mapped out on the body, and you can see that this "roadmap" provides a comprehensive understanding of the connections between different parts of the body. Very frequently, I may place a point on the lower back and the patient may describe a tingling feeling on the foot or 5th toe, exactly along the "Bladder" pathway on which the point lies. This phenomenon is the meridian pathways in action, and demonstrates that the acupoints on a meridian truly do connect the entire body in a predictable and precise manner. In this way, we can treat a headache by placing a point on the hand or foot--because the pathway connects to the head or eyes.
What acupuncture treats
The World Health Organization has listed the following conditions which acupuncture has been proven effective in randomized controlled research studies.
Musculoskeletal: neck pain, shoulder pain, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, back pain, knee pain, sciatica, foot pain, sports injuries, low back pain, dental pain, post-operative healing
Respiratory: asthma, cough, sore throat, common cold, hay fever, allergies
Gastro-Intestinal: constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, nausea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), stomach pain, gallstones, poor digestion
Cardiovascular: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, shortness of breath, chest pain
Genito-Urinary: incontinence, urinary tract infection, prostatitis, kidney stones
Dermatological: eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, acne, dermatitis, fungus
Neurological: headache, insomnia, stroke recovery, neuralgia (nerve pain), Bell's palsy, hyperthyroidism, epilepsy, herpes zoster
Pediatrics: hyperactivity, digestive disorders, breathing disorders, measles, mumps
Gynecological: infertility (male/female), menstrual pain, PMS, malposition of fetus (breech baby), menopause, amenorrhea, ovarian cysts, labor induction, pregnancy, lactation issues
Other: rheumatoid arthritis, weight loss, chronic fatigue, facial rejuvenation, addiction, earache, longevity, mental health, stress
*Acupuncture can be used for conditions that don't appear on this list; this list indicates that there have been research trials showing efficacy of acupuncture. If a condition is not listed here, it just means that there haven't yet been enough studies to officially endorse the treatment.
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My specialties
While all licensed acupuncturists are well-trained to treat a wide variety of conditions, many of us tend to develop specialties based on our clinical experience, continuing education, and individual interests. Throughout the years I have developed an affinity for treating the following conditions. Treating these issues brings me joy, and I can rely on my tried-and-true treatment methods to create relief for patients in a predictable pattern based on the many cases I have treated.
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Pain Relief
Acupuncture for back pain is effective and often creates immediate relief. Acupuncture for neck pain is similarly reliable. These areas are often affected by a combination of disc degeneration, pinched nerves, and accompanying muscular tension. Other joints such as the hips, knees, hands, and ankles are commonly treated to reduce discomfort and prevent further degeneration of the cartilage and joint fluids. I often treat folks who are considering hip or knee replacement because of deteriorating cartilage. Even in these "bone-on-bone" cases, pain relief can be significant and surgery can be delayed. The best thing we can do for your joints is to reduce your pain and allow for more mobility so you can continue moving and exercising. Movement and flexibility are paramount to maintaining joint health and keeping you out of the operating room.
Acupuncture treats pain in a few different ways:
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modulates the nervous system's pain signals sent from your brain to your body
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releases natural painkilling endorphins
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regulates inflammation at the site of pain (by reducing chronic over-active inflammatory response or by bringing white blood cells to the site of an injury)
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increasing blood circulation to the target area
These therapeutic actions are beneficial whether your pain is chronic or due to an acute injury. The best time to treat recent injuries is NOW. As you might imagine, a problem that has existed for 10 years may take longer to resolve than an issue that began last week. Still, our results with chronic long-term pain are impressive especially when compared to the limitations of standard treatment (pain medications, surgery, physical therapy). Consider that acupuncture has no side effects and is exponentially less expensive than undergoing MRI imaging, surgery, and recovery time away from work.
Stress Management
Acupuncture for anxiety is incredibly helpful and can change your daily life. If you struggle with overwhelming thoughts or a generalized feeling of "something isn't right", you are not alone. This is one of the most common complaints I hear from my patients. Oftentimes the anxiety is related to a specific factor in life such as work, responsibilities, or relationships. Just as often, the person cannot pinpoint anything that is wrong in life other than an unexplained feeling of dread or agitation. This is a signal that the nervous system is dysregulated, with the "Fight or Flight" cortisol stress hormones chronically activated and the parasympathetic "Rest and Digest" system underactive. Acupuncture excels at regulating the central nervous system to reactivate the calming and healing parasympathetic system. Receiving regular treatment allows the body to re-learn how to react to stressors in your environment, increasing your ability to respond appropriately and calmly to the daily pressures of your life.
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An important aspect of my stress management protocol is to improve the duration and quality of sleep. Many people with chronic stress and anxiety also suffer from insomnia or restless sleep. Acupuncture helps regulate the circadian rhythm to allow for restful sleep, which nourishes the nervous system and additionally improves healing of other complaints such as pain and inflammatory conditions. This is because the body's cellular repair system is most active during deep sleep.
Muscle Tension
Almost all of us experience tension due to lifestyle, postural effects, and overuse. Over time, the muscles enter a state of chronic contraction where small portions (knots) or entire muscle groups are banded with contracted muscle fibers. There can be painful muscle spasm or palpable knots that cause near-constant discomfort. The most common areas affected are the upper back between the shoulder blades, and the trapezius muscle which connects the neck to the shoulders. This is one of my favorite areas to treat because the results are so impactful for people. I use a combination of trigger point acupuncture, microcurrent stimulation, massage, and cupping therapy to soothe sore muscles and release painful knots. The treatment feels wonderful and the results allow people like you to continue their work, life, and hobbies without constant discomfort.
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Another common culprit is piriformis tightness. The piriformis is a deep gluteal muscle which often gets inflamed by prolonged sitting. Piriformis syndrome contributes to low back pain, hip pain, and sciatica (pinching of the sciatic nerve which can cause radiating pain down the leg). This issue is easy and fun for me to treat effectively with acupuncture, microcurrent, and deep tissue massage.
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I also enjoy treating low back/sacrum pain, tendonitis in the elbow and wrist, and neck pain. Any type of muscle tension responds well to the combination of acupuncture, cupping, and massage.
Women's Health
One of my greatest joys is hearing happy news from a patient who successfully conceived with the help of acupuncture and herbal medicine. Acupuncture for infertility is so valuable because many women who struggle to become pregnant feel unsupported by traditional fertility options. IVF and IUI cycles typically involve invasive hormone injections and very high financial costs making it inaccessible. For women who are already undergoing IVF or IUI cycles, acupuncture is excellent to calm the body and prepare the uterus in order to increase the chances of successful implantation.
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