Acupuncture

 

 

As a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, I specialize in a variety of traditional techniques. Acupuncture is the fundamental therapy upon which all of my treatments are built, but my toolbox also includes Chinese herbal medicine, 5-element nutrition, ba guan (cupping), tui na (Chinese medical massage), zhi ya (acupressure), chi nei tsang (internal organ massage), gua sha (massage with jade and horn tools), and topical herbal formulas for pain. If your condition would benefit from any of the above techniques, they are included at no extra charge. Please click here for more information about my integrative treatments.

 

My mission is to put the care back in healthcare. The main way I do this is by working with only one person at a time. This ensures all of my energy is focused on you. It also provides privacy for disrobing so we can access all of the acupuncture points and do traditional therapies like cupping. Furthermore, I find that private sessions make space for deep rest and relaxation, something I believe is absolutely essential for healing. Please click here to learn more about my mission.

 

In my practice, over 85% of my patients see a significant improvement, typically without side effects. The key to the success of this system is a holistic approach that looks at your symptoms as well as your overall health to create targeted, individualized treatments that work on multiple levels at the same time. This gives symptomatic relief while at the same time addressing deeper underlying imbalances so symptoms are less likely to reoccur. Whether you are seeking something more natural, have exhausted mainstream medical options, or are interested in something that complements other types of therapies, acupuncture and Chinese medicine may be just what you are looking for. Please click here to learn more about the holistic approach to healing.

 

Chinese medicine is a complete medical system that has existed for thousands of years, developing theories for how to treat every common human condition along the way. Like a family physician, I consider myself to be a general practitioner so I work on all sorts of things including pain, emotional imbalances, digestive disorders, exhaustion, auto-immune disorders, nervous system conditions, microbial infections, skin conditions, reproductive conditions, and respiratory conditions. Another important part of my practice is wellness, focusing on the unique ability of Chinese medicine to promote health and prevent illness. Please click here for more information about what I treat.

 

In general, acupuncture activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the complement to the sympathetic fight-or-flight nervous system that is triggered by stress and anxiety. In the parasympathetic state, we become deeply relaxed, heart rate and respiration slow way down, the mind quiets, and the body focuses on healing and replenishing energy reserves. The specific actions of acupuncture include localized effects on pain and the regulation and normalization of internal organ function. Acupuncture points have dozens and dozens of other specialized actions as well so they can be used to treat a wide variety of diverse conditions. Please click here for more information about how acupuncture works.

 

Preparing for an acupuncture appointment is simple. My main recommendations are to wear loose clothing, make sure you are neither hungry nor thirsty, and generally plan to take it easy on the day of your treatment. The appointment itself is about an hour long and begins with a case history, aiming to understand your chief complaint within the framework of your overall health. The acupuncture treatment takes place on a standard massage table in a private room. I usually put in about fifteen needles and they stay in for approximately 30 minutes. Please click here for more information about a typical session.

 

Acupuncture needles are quite unlike the medical syringes that most of us are familiar with. They are as short and flexible as whiskers, more like a small wire, and are never used to inject or withdraw anything. The acupuncture needles I use are made of surgical-grade stainless steel, come prepackaged in sterile packets, and are used only once and then disposed of in a medical sharps container. In general, they don't feel like much, though sometimes they cause a tiny split-second pinch, like a mosquito bite, or a quick reflexive twitch. Please click here for more information about the needles.

 

Unlike acupuncturists, physicians, physical therapists, and chiropractors are not required to complete any supervised clinical training in order to practice acupuncture. Furthermore, physicians are not required to have any additional class hours, physical therapists only need 54, and chiropractors only need 200. Acupuncturists, on the other hand, must attain a master's degree with a minimum of 1,800 class hours, 650 of which must be clinical, pass four national board exams, and complete forty continuing education credits every two years. As a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, I have fulfilled all of the above requirements and more, with a total of 3,090 hours of training.  Please click here to learn more about the difference between licensure and certification.

 

I believe that there is a place for every type of medicine and that each has its strengths and weaknesses. Still, there are some important fundamental philosophical differences among the various schools of medicine. When it comes to what I practice, Eastern medicine, and the predominant medical system of our culture, Western medicine, I find that they differ in four key ways: theory, diagnosis, treatment, and the way in which they are practiced. These observations come out of my experience as both a patient of Western medicine and a practitioner of Eastern medicine. Please click here to learn more about the differences between eastern and western medicine.

In Chinese medicine, you are both a unique individual and a representative of one of five main archetypes. All of us have a predominant archetype that determines our basic body type and temperament, as well as our physical and emotional strengths and weaknesses. When it comes to health, knowing your archetype is beneficial because it can help you understand your inner nature and customize things like diet and lifestyle in a way that will prevent imbalance and disease. Please click here for more information about the five archetypes. 

 

Some of the most basic concepts in Chinese medicine include chi, yin and yang, and the five elements. Chi is the primary force in the universe that flows through everything, including us. In Chinese medicine, one of the most important things is to ensure that your chi is flowing smoothly. Yin and yang are ancient Daoist philosophical concepts that describe the universe and everything in it as being divisible into two principal categories that balance and complement each other. Within us, they are reflected in things like the balance of cold and heat, dryness and moisture, activity and rest, and in the interdependent relationship between our physical body and our emotional self. As for the five elements, these are represented by the five internal organ systems of Chinese medicine. Please click here for more information about the theory behind acupuncture.

 

Chinese medicine recognizes multiple causes of disease. Some arise before we are born, including hereditary genetic conditions, and conditions that may develop while we are in utero if our mother experiences a major shock, illness, or trauma. Others have more tangible sources, like injury, poor diet, or environmental toxin exposure. Then there are those that arise from emotional imbalances, especially when they are long-standing. Please click here for more information about the causes of disease.

 

The main goal of diagnosis in Chinese medicine is to identify what we call patterns, or clusters of symptoms. This is done by framing your chief complaint within the context of your overall health, looking at the different ways in which each internal organ system may be affected. This not only points to any deeper imbalances that may be the common root of multiple symptoms, it also indicates what version you have of what pattern, helping us craft a more targeted and individualized treatment plan. The main tools of diagnosis that we use in Chinese medicine include the case history interview, observation, palpation, and tongue and pulse diagnosis. Please click here for more information about making a diagnosis.

 

The main goals of Chinese medicine are energy flow (as seen in the theory of chi), balance (yin and yang), and the optimal functioning and coordination of all internal organ systems (the 5 elements). In practice, this means keeping the channels open so the chi can flow freely, eliminating accumulations, replenishing deficiencies, and ensuring that all of the internal organ systems are functioning optimally, supporting each other and working together in a coordinated and harmonious way. Please click here for more information about the treatment principles.

 

Besides the nature of your chief complaint and how long you have had it, many other factors can influence how you will respond to your treatment including age, overall health, genetics, and compliance with taking herbs and making dietary and lifestyle changes. In general, however, the sooner you seek treatment, the milder your condition, the better your overall health, and the more compliant you are with the treatment plan, the quicker you will see improvement. Just as most conditions usually advance in phases or steps, most people improve in phases or steps as well, with the most recent symptoms usually resolving first. Please click here for more information about patterns of healing.

 

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have many unexpected benefits. For example, since it requires you to do nothing, it is an excellent way to get some rest, pause for a moment, and empty your mind. For those of us who care for others, either in our work or in our family life, it is a lovely way to balance this out by receiving care ourselves. As a holistic medicine, with goals like replenishing depletion and restoring function, it can help us learn to trust the transformational nature of the healing process. Please click here for more information about the benefits of acupuncture.

 

I strive to follow the example of Sun Simiao, an ancient Chinese physician who lived from 581 to 682 AD. His code of ethics is found in the thirty-volume encyclopedia he authored entitled "Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold." This was the first comprehensive record of the practice of Chinese medicine ever written and is still studied in modern times. Sun Simiao was so highly regarded that two different emperors offered him a position as the imperial physician. He declined these posts, however, to devote his life as a physician who served the common people. Sun Simiao is remembered as the "King of Medicine" and is honored in his hometown with a school of Chinese medicine that bears his name and yearly celebrations that commemorate his life. Please click here for more information about Sun Simiao.