Acupuncture is the insertion of ultra-thin needles into the skin and muscle at specific points on the body.
Through the stimulation of these points, acupuncture can treat a variety of physical and emotional conditions by restoring normal function and balance to the various body systems.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture treatments are based on Chinese medicine theory, diagnosis, and practice. It is a system of medicine that has been developed and practiced for over 4,000 years!
This system of medicine takes into account your health history, current symptoms, and the underlying connection of the full constellation of your experience. Then it uses a variety of tools to stimulate your body’s natural healing abilities.
In an acupuncture treatment, we place the needles in acupoints, which are specific locations on the body that help trigger your body’s natural healing mechanisms. Our team also uses needling approaches that target specific locations within a muscle, known as trigger point needling or “dry needling”, to release areas of tension and pain.
Acupuncture can help you feel better now and in the future.
We know what it’s like to feel frustrated by what may seem like a totally random assortment of symptoms. The beauty of Chinese medicine is that we look at your whole self - body, mind, and spirit - to find the connections.
After an in-depth discussion with you about your health concerns, our goal is to find the golden thread running through your constellation of symptoms, what we acupuncturists call a “pattern diagnosis.”
Acupuncture can treat the symptoms you currently experience, and address the root causes to promote wellbeing and prevent symptoms.
This approach allows us to address multiple concerns at the same time, for example:
insomnia and digestive problems
back pain and migraines
anxiety and menstrual cramps
this list could go on and on!
In addition to acupuncture, our practitioners may draw on other Chinese medicine modalities like fire cupping or herbal medicine, or other therapeutic techniques in their skillset, to tailor the treatment specifically to your treatment goals.
Because your body - and your experience of living in it - is ever-changing and dynamic, the treatments can change and adapt right along with you. We are here to support you every step of the way.
“I had been suffering from some severe congestion for almost a year which was causing me to lose a lot of hearing. After tons of checkups, meds, and scans, the ENT gave up and released me from care. I honestly felt like I was losing my mind until a friend recommended acupuncture. Within one acu session, I could hear! It was surreal, like I was finally myself again.”
How acupuncture can help you:
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is incredibly versatile and has been shown to treat a wide range of health concerns.
Relieve body aches and pain: reduce tension and discomfort, joint swelling and inflammation, while promoting healing from injuries and surgeries
Lessen anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia: calm the nervous system, help regulate and release emotions, promote a calm mind and spirit, improve quality of sleep
Improve headache symptoms: reduce the severity, frequency, and intensity of tension headaches and migraines
Enhance digestion: promote regular bowel movements, reduce abdominal pain and discomfort, reduce nausea, indigestion, bloating, and gas
Reduce cold symptoms, manage asthma and allergies: reduce sinus and chest congestion, lessen coughing and wheezing, support healthy lung function, support the immune system
Treat skin conditions: reduce severity, frequency, and intensity of skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and eczema
Support reproductive and sexual health: promote regular menstrual cycles, address OBGYN conditions, reduce PMS and menstrual cramping, reduce menopausal symptoms, regulate libido, support sexual function
Pregnancy and postpartum support: support hormones, fertility, and IVF, promote a healthy pregnancy, help prepare for labor, support recovery postpartum, promote lactation
Support gender-affirming practices and procedures: manage side effects from hormone therapies, promote healing and comfort after gender-affirming surgical procedures, reduce physical discomfort from binding, tucking, or other gender-affirming practices
Manage complex and chronic health conditions: support the physical and emotional experience of living with ongoing health concerns
Support maintenance care and prevention: enhance general wellness, improve energy levels, help prevent the aggravation of old symptoms and the development of new symptoms
Ready to use acupuncture to help you feel better?
What to expect in an acupuncture appointment
Because we get this question a lot, we put together a whole post for you, but the short answer is, appointments always start with a check in with your practitioner. If you’re a new patient, we’ll discuss your health history, your goals, and get to know each other a bit. If you’re a return patient, we’ll check in about how has it been since the last session, any new symptoms you want addressed, etc.
Then based on this information and your treatment plan, your practitioner will utilize the tools they think will be most beneficial for your time together, which typically includes a little rest time on the table.
Read this blog post to find out what happens in a private acupuncture appointment.
Want a treatment but aren’t comfortable with needles?
No needles, no problem. We have experience treating patients with an effective combination of needle-free approaches. Acupressure, tuning forks, magnets, press beads, energy medicine, laser therapy, stone medicine, bodywork - within an acupuncture session we can work together to find the right combination of needle-free modalities that works for you. Our clinic also offers a variety of other session types - like energy medicine, craniosacral therapy, massage therapy, and Tao of Trauma sessions - that may be a great option for you!
