Acupuncture Services

Acupuncture and East Asian medicine have been in use for over 2,000 years. One of the foundations of OM is the belief that each person, each living thing, has "Qi" (pronounced 'chee') - a life energy. Qi flows through the body in energy streams known as meridians, which are related to hundreds of points on the skin. These points are known as acupoints. Pain or illness can result when blockages occur in the meridians and the flow of Qi is inhibited.

Acupuncture is the strategic placement of ultra-thin (think a hair's width) needles in the acupoints that correspond to the patient's condition. The goal of an acupuncture appointment is to renew the healthy flow of Qi and to restore the body to balance.

What to expect

During your first acupuncture appointment, the practitioner will thoroughly question you about your heath history and current state of health. The practitioner will then do a comprehensive intake, determining your condition and the primary goal of the appointment.

• Physical exam will be taken, including tongue, pulse and channel palpation.
• You will rest back in a leisurely position. Needles and other techniques will be gently applied. Many people may begin to fall asleep during this process.
• Relax as you rest for 10-20 minutes.
• Your acupuncturist will return to remove needles and if appropriate, repeat techniques on the other side of the body.
• After another 10-20 minutes, your acupuncturist will return and remove needles. He or She will finish with any other applicable techniques and go over your treatment with you.

After each treatment, you should feel relaxed and revitalized!

What Can Acupuncture Treat?

The following are illnesses found on the World Health Organization list of conditions that can be treated with acupuncture. These are, however, just some of the treatable disorders:

• essential hypertension
• headache and migraine
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• paresis following stroke
• Meniere's disease
• disc problems
• muscle pain, swelling, localized traumatic injuries, sprains, strains, tendonitis, and contractures
• arthritis
• fribromyalgia
• work and sports-related injuries
• acute sinusitis
• common cold
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and colitis
• constipation or diarrhea
• depression
• pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
• menopause syndrome
• obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)