Acupuncture
How it Works
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese form of medicine that involves the insertion of tiny, virtually painless needles into points on the body.
The points are located on specific energetic pathways or meridians on the body that relate to different organ systems, as well as points used for their musculoskeletal location and function.
Scientific research has shown acupuncture to be effective for various conditions, including both acute and chronic pain.
In our practice, we regularly treat many pain conditions and injuries, from back and neck pain, wrist pain and teen sports injuries to migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and TMJ.
A holistic approach to
pain management
In addition to acupuncture, we may suggest additional treatments to help relieve your pain and heal your injuries.
Cupping
Therapeutic cupping, also known simply as “cupping therapy,” is an ancient healing practice that involves placing special cups on the skin to create suction. This suction promotes circulation, relieves muscle tension, and stimulates healing.
Gua Sha
Gua sha scrapes the skin with a smooth tool to promote circulation, soothe muscle tightness, and remove toxins.
Tui Na
Tui na utilizes hands-on bodywork techniques like rolling, pressing, and stretching to address musculoskeletal issues.
FAQs
How does it work?
Acupuncture works through generating signals from the peripheral nervous system into the central nervous system in order to elicit a targeted and restorative reaction from the central nervous system. This central nervous system function can reduce pain and inflammation, normalize body processes, deeply calm the body, and promote healing. This peripheral nervous system signal is generated through inserting a hair thin sterile acupuncture needle into a specific acupuncture point.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture is virtually painless. A small sensation similar to a pinch may be felt upon insertion & disappears quickly. A sensation of warmth, tingling, heaviness, or numbness can be felt after the insertion. This is the sensation of Qi and is normal and a beneficial part of treatment. Most patients generally feel relaxed both during and after the treatment.
How long is a course of treatment?
This depends on the nature of the condition. Generally patients come 1 to 2 times a week until the symptoms and root of the problem are treated. Acute conditions take far less time to heal than do chronic ones. Seeking treatment early greatly reduces the length of healing time.
"Megan rules. I had chronic shoulder pain from a decades-old injury, and hadn’t tried acupuncture until Megan. Four sessions did the trick. I can’t recommend her highly enough. She’s a talented and knowledgeable acupuncturist, and just a genuine, warm person.”
— SCOTT T.