Acupuncture is an holistic approach to health based on the concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of the world’s oldest complete medical systems. Written documentation of Chinese medical theories and practices date back 3,500 years and are still in use today.

Qi (Pronounced “chee”), or Life Energy, flows throughout the body. Qi helps to energize the body and protect it from illness, pain, and disease. A person’s health is influenced by the quality, quantity, and balance of Qi as it circulates through specific pathways called meridians. These meridians are like rivers in the body which need to keep flowing smoothly to maintain optimum health. If Qi becomes blocked or “stagnant” or weakened, then signs and symptoms of disease will occur.

Acupuncture works by inserting extremely fine, hair-thin, single-use, sterile needles at specific acupuncture points on the body. The needles help to unblock ‘stagnation‘ in an area, as well as to supplement a weak area. When the Qi is flowing smoothly again, signs and symptoms you may be experiencing are reduced or disappear. When the needles are inserted, you may experience a sensation of tingling, slight pressure, a feeling of heaviness or warmth. Needles are retained for 20-40 minutes while the patient lies quietly. Treatments are typically quite relaxing, and many patients fall asleep. The number and frequency of treatments vary for each individual simply because we are all unique individuals.

Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of a wide variety of medical problems. Here is a list of some of the health concerns that acupuncture has been effective in treating. Click here for chart.

Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture

Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture is a safe, painless and effective treatment for uplifting and renewing the face as well as the whole body.  An Acupuncture face-lift can entirely erase fine lines, reduce deeper lines and firm up bags around the neck and eyes.  Cosmetic Acupuncture is based on specific ancient protocols developed by Dr. Martha Lucas, PhD. L.Ac.

This protocol was recently featured in the June 2010 issue of “O” magazine.  Other prominent news media such as the NY Times and USA Today (links are on her website) have also featured articles on Dr. Lucas’ protocol.  If you want a safe natural alternative method for looking younger, improving skin tone and overall health Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture might be right for you.

This protocol consists of a minimum of 10 treatments over the course of 5 weeks.  Smoking, excessive alcohol use, sunbathing, or other harmful toxins will require more treatments to see beneficial effects.

We offer an initial free consultation. Call for yours today!

Electro-dermal Screening (EDS)/BioEnergetics

EDS is used to conduct a comprehensive body stress assessment and to determine appropriate ways to achieve healthy energetic balance. Once the stress assessment has been performed, we recommend homeopathic remedies, Chinese herbs or nutritional supplements to help bring the body to a better state of health and wellness.

A revolution in health care was begun in the late 1940’s by a German medical doctor, Reinhold Voll. While studying the Chinese meridian system, he reasoned that if acupuncture theory was correct and energy did flow along meridians or channels throughout the body, there should be a way to measure it when it came to the skin’s surface at various points along the way. He constructed a device using an ohmmeter and a blunt brass probe which, by introducing a very minute electrical current to an acupuncture point, measured the skin’s ability to conduct this energy, similar to a lie detector.

In his research, Dr. Voll discovered that energy passing through acupuncture points on the hands and feet fell within a certain range if the associated organ or tissue was healthy. A reading outside this range indicated a disturbance in the functioning of the organ or tissue structure. He originally believed these imbalances could also be treated electrically. However, he ultimately discovered that homeopathic medicine was more effective.

Today, EDS is coupled with a computer database which can evaluate the body for dysfunctional organ structures, related stresses and possible remedies from over 10,000 entries. The body can be evaluated for stress from various toxic substances such as chemicals, heavy metals, parasites, bacteria, viruses, and allergens as well as stress associated with deficiencies from various beneficial substances such as amino acids, hormones, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, herbals and flower remedies.

Chinese Herbs

Chinese herbs are a variety of natural substances found within the plant, animal, and mineral kingdoms. They are skillfully prepared and combined into formulas for the treatment of illnesses based on a Chinese diagnosis. Herbs can be thought of as very nutritious foods that heal.

Chinese herbal formulas have been developed to treat specific conditions, and each formula is chosen after completing a full evaluation of the patient and a diagnosis is established. Counteractions and contraindications with existing medications are considered. Chinese herbs are not like medications that “cover up” your symptoms. Like acupuncture, they actually change the physiology of your body. Herbs are used together in a common treatment strategy to heal each patient.

Herbs have been used for thousands of years to help people improve, maintain or regain their health. As long as the herbs are used correctly, they are safe and very helpful. The herbs we use in our clinic are of the highest quality. As a minimum, all companies comply with International GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards. They are free from sulfur and other harmful preservatives. Herbs are usually offered in pre-prepared tablet or capsule form. However, in some cases, custom formulas designed specifically for the patient may be offered in ‘tea” form.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a whole medical system that developed in Germany in the mid 1700’s and has been practiced in the United States since the early 19th century. Homeopathy seeks to stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself and restore balance by giving very small doses of highly diluted substances that in larger doses would produce similar illness or symptoms (an approach called “like cures like”).

Most homeopathic remedies are derived from natural substances that come from plants, minerals or animals. A remedy is prepared by diluting the substance in a series of steps that make it increasingly more powerful. Homeopathic remedies, which are FDA approved, come in tablets, liquid vials, oral drops, and injection solutions. Remedies are taken orally, topically, through inhalation, and injection. They work synergistically to stimulate the body’s inherent capacity to heal itself.

Homotoxicology

For those with health challenges, homotoxicology theory maintains that health cannot be achieved without ridding the body of toxins. Disease results from a series of reactions initiated by the self-healing mechanism in the body to either eliminate the toxin or control the negative effects it is having on the body. Therefore, disease is either the physical body’s way of waging a defense in order to purge toxins, or an attempt by the body to compensate if elimination is not possible.

Toxins constantly challenge cells, tissues, organs, hormones, the immune system, and other protective bodily mechanisms. When the body is unable to expel or clear these toxins and they begin to accumulate, Homotoxicology views this as the cause of disease in the body and uses homeopathic remedies to help the body begin to detox.

If a patient has received a Western Medical diagnoses from a medical doctor, that diagnoses will be used to determine which homeopathic remedies should be used to begin the detox process. If there isn't a Western Medical diagnoses, then we will use our extensive knowledge and training in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and homeopathy to determine the remedies.

The Bach Flower Remedies, sometimes called Flower Essences, were developed by Dr. Edward Bach, M.D. starting in the 1930's. Dr. Bach began to believe over the years of working with patients in his office and at the hospital, that emotional issues were a major part of all disease. He left a busy medical practice in London to begin reseraching what today is known as the 38 Bach Flower Remedies. The Flower Essences help us to deal constructively with the negative emotions and behavior patterns that get in the way of our health and happiness. These emotions can include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, fear , inability to make decisions, lack of self-confidence and insomnia to name a few. Dr. Bach found that when the emotional issues were resolved, symptoms of physical disease were reduced as well.

Kristie has been a Bach Flower Registered Practitioner (BFRP) since 2009 and offers Bach Flower Remedy consultations at her office or via telephone. She has seen amazingly positive effects for people suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome (for veterans as well as victims of violence and/or abuse), insomnia, depression as well as many other emotional issues.

The Bach Flower Remedies also work very well with animals. Kristie has successfully prescribed remedies for cats, dogs and horses as well as people. Help yourself and your furry family to feel better.