Acupuncture is a technique in which specific acupuncture points on the body are stimulated by inserting a thin needle through the skin. It is one of the practices used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for treatment of various symptoms and diseases ranging from nausea to insomnia and dates back over 3000 years.  There have been extensive studies conducted on acupuncture, especially for back and neck pain, osteoarthritis/knee pain, and headache. However, researchers are only beginning to understand the effects of acupuncture for various other health conditions.  Acupuncture is considered a  safe therapy when performed by an experienced, well-trained practitioner using sterile single use needles.  Ask me about your specific condition and see if acupuncture is right for you!

Though today we know this list to be more extensive, in 1979 the World Health Organization (WHO) published the following list of common conditions proven to respond to Acupuncture:

Mental-Emotional:
Anxiety
Depression
Stress
Insomnia

Upper Respiratory Tract:
Acute sinusitis
Acute rhinitis
Common Cold
Acute Tonsillitis

Respiratory System:
Acute bronchitis
Bronchial asthma (most effective in children and in patients without complicating diseases)

Disorders of the eye:
Acute conjunctivitis
Central retinitis
Myopia (in children)
Cataract (without complications)

Disorders of the mouth:
Toothache

 Post Extraction Pain
Gingivitis
Acute and Chronic Pharyngitis

Gastro-intestinal disorders:
Spasms of the esophagus
Hiccough
Acute and chronic gastritis
Gastric hyperacidity
Chronic duodenal ulcer (pain relief)
Acute duodenal ulcer (without complications)
Acute and chronic colitis
Acute bacillary dysentery

Constipation
Diarrhea

Neurological and Musculo-skeletal Disorders:
Headache and migraine
Trigeminal neuralgia 

TMJ
Facial palsy (early stage, i.e. within six months)
Pareses following a stroke
Peripheral neuropathies
Sequelae of poliomyelitis (early sage i.e. within six months)
Meniere’s disease
Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)
Intercostal neuralgia
Cervicobrachial syndrome

Frozen shoulder

 Tennis elbow
Sciatica
Low-back pain
Osteoarthritis

Today’s science shows Acupuncture can also be used effectively in:

Complementary Oncology Care
Allergies
Blood pressure problems
Infertility
Sexual dysfunction (low libido, erectile dysfunction)
Breech position in pregnancy
Induction of labor
Rheumatoid arthritis

Autoimmune Diseases

Shingles

IBS

PTSD

Addictions

AND MORE...

Herbal Medicine can treat a wide range of symptoms and diseases using natural plant, animal, and mineral sources.  Chinese Herbal Medicine is one of the great herbal systems of the world, with an unbroken tradition going back to the 3rd century BC. Yet throughout its history it has continually developed in response to changing clinical conditions. I recommend and use only high quality, ethically sourced herbal products. 

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese Medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing. 

Tuina and Shiatsu are bodywork (Chinese Medical Massage) techniques used to facilitate movement of stagnations and promote healing. 

Cupping is a technique that uses small glass cups as suction devices that are placed on the skin to disperse and break up stagnation and congestion.

 “Where there’s stagnation, there will be pain. Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain.”