Acupuncture

Traditional East Asian Medicine is a holistic system of medicine that takes into account each person as an individual, with a unique constitution, life circumstances, and environmental influences. 

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine originated in China thousands of years ago, but have developed and evolved into a number of distinct traditions in different parts of Asia (including Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam). Some of the modalities utilized within East Asian medicine today include acupuncture (with or without electrical stimulation), acupressure (stimulation of acupuncture points without needles), moxibustion (therapeutic burning of mugwort to stimulate acupuncture points), tuina (Chinese medical massage), shiatsu (Japanese meridian based bodywork), cupping, gua sha (a “scraping” technique used to affect fascial layers), herbal medicine, qi gong exercises, and dietary and lifestyle advice. 

While acupuncture is the most widely used and accepted modality in the United States, licensed practitioners are trained in the whole scope of East Asian Medicine and will incorporate relevant treatment modalities, as needed, in order to provide care that is tailored to your body and condition(s). 

While acupuncture is best known in the United States as useful in treating pain, it can be effective in treating a wide variety of conditions and health concerns as well as supporting and maintaining health and wellness. Acupuncture treatments can help to free up both structural and energetic restrictions and blockages in the body in order to support the body in healing and functioning at a more optimal state. Treatments can also help to regulate the nervous system and modulate immune system activity. 

Some of the conditions that can benefit from acupuncture and/or herbal treatment include:

  • GI conditions (IBS/IBD, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, GERD, etc.)

  • Insomnia (trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, nightmares, etc.)

  • Reproductive health concerns (dysmenorrhea, PMS, infertility, menopausal symptoms, labor preparation, etc.)

  • Respiratory issues (asthma, allergic rhinitis, frequent sinus congestion or infections)

  • Chemotherapy side-effects (nausea, lack of appetite, pain) 

  • Headaches and migraines 

  • Psychoemotional (anxiety, depression, irritability, etc.)

  • Pain, muscle tension, musculoskeletal injury recovery, etc. 

  • Urogenital conditions (frequent UTIs, prostatitis, nocturia, etc.) 

This list is not exhaustive, so please feel free to reach out to our acupuncturist with questions about whether or not acupuncture could be helpful for you. 

Acupuncture treatments, when done by a competent, licensed acupuncture practitioner following established safety protocols, is a low-risk treatment option. Acupuncture treatments often provide additional benefits beyond the specific condition or concern being treated. For example, many patients who come in primarily to treat pain will report improved relaxation or sleep following their acupuncture treatments. 

Providers offering acupuncture: