What Is Acupuncture

Welcome to ProPoints Acupuncture. I practice a unique combination of gentle acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine which has helped many people find answers to otherwise intractable health challenges. I am also a reiki master. Reiki simply enhances the affects of acupuncture allowing it to reach a deeper level.

So How Does Acupuncture Work Anyway?

Of all complementary therapies, acupuncture enjoys the most credibility in the medical community because of a substantial body of data showing that acupuncture has measurable and reproducible physiologic effects. How acupuncture gets to the root is still up for debate, but there are several theories. One of the most popular is that it releases endorphins, serotonin, and cortisol and affects the central nervous system. Functional MRI/PET scan studies in humans show clear analgesic effects.

Why Should You Try Acupuncture?

The fact is it’s not so alternative anymore. It’s becoming integrated in some of the country’s most prestigious and advanced medical institutions. Next to Western medicine, Chinese medicine is the second most largely utilized medicine in the world. It has become one of the main complementary treatments of the 21st century.

What is acupuncture good for?

If you’ve made it this far, I’m assuming that you probably are aware that acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in east Asian countries and has a multitude of proven benefits. Some of these include the following:

•   Allergies: environmental, animal, food, skin
•   Respiratory disorders: asthma, bronchitis sinusitis, rhinitis
•   Chronic conditions: Osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, ALS, fibromyalgia, HIV
•   Circulatory Disorders: Hypertension, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis
•   Digestive Disorders: Crohn’s disease, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome
     (spastic colon), ulcers, colitis
•   Gynecological Disorders: irregular periods, menopausal symptoms, PMS, endometriosis,
     infertility
•   Musculoskeletal Disorders: carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, TMJ,
     sciatica, low back pain, osteoarthritis
•   Psycho-emotional & Neurological Disorders: anxiety, depression, facial tics, headaches,
     migraines, bell’s palsy trigeminal neuralgia, post-stroke paralysis, dizziness, vertigo
•   Urogenital Disorders: Cystitis, prostatitis, prostatic hypertrophy, stress incontinence,
     neurogenic bladder

How is going to an acupuncturist different than going to my MD?

Acupuncturists are like the family doctors of yesteryear in terms of the quality of care you receive. Acupuncturists are more concerned with the path to disease rather than simply the outward manifestation of symptoms. They often allow more time to get a full picture of the patient. What kind of diet do you have? What kinds of people are contributing to your current health situation? What is your lifestyle like in general? In addition to asking questions, the acupuncturist will take your pulse at several points along the wrist and look at your tongue to observe its shape, color, and coating. He or she might observe the color and texture of your skin, your posture, and other physical characteristics that offer clues to your health. In California, they are licensed primary care practitioners and thus, there’s no need to get a referral from your doctor.

How many treatments do I need?

This depends on the duration and complexity of your illness, whether it's a chronic or recent condition, and your general health. Maybe just a few treatments for an acute ailment such as a cold, nausea or wrist pain would suffice. However, a chronic condition requires more. For instance, anywhere between 10 to 15 treatments to see some resolution from chronic low back pain. For super chronic conditions, such as Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue, one might need to be treated more frequently as well as take herbs.

Why should you try Acupuncture?

The fact is it’s not so alternative anymore. It’s becoming integrated in some of the country’s most prestigious and advanced medical institutions. Next to Western medicine, Chinese medicine is the second most largely utilized medicine in the world. It has become one of the main complementary treatments of the 21st century.

More research and more funding has led to the creation of complementary health centers in some of the main hospital/research institutions in the country: Stanford, John’s Hopkins, Memorial Sloan Kettering and Columbia Presbyterian and UCLA. Dr Mehmet Oz, the well-known NYC cardiothoracic surgeon, is planning an integrative health center in Florida.

What to expect from a course of treatment?

Like your MD, an acupuncturist cannot tell you exactly how long it will take for the healing to occur—especially with conditions that have become chronic. Often, it’s said the length of time for you to feel fundamentally better takes about as half as long as it did for the condition to become chronic. Of course, often people defy the rule of thumb and begin to feel better anywhere from 5-10 treatments.

How often do I need to come in?

That depends on how much time, energy and money you’re willing to invest in your healing. There are a couple of options.

Option A: The less popular but most effective treatment. This option can speed the healing process. Patients come in 2-3 times a week for several weeks and then taper off to once a week thereafter. This approach is modeled after the Chinese acupuncture treatment model that treats daily until the patient feels improved.

Option B: The more popular but slower treatment model adopted in the USA is a once a week treatment for several months.

Is this a lifetime thing?

No, you need not be coming in for a lifetime, but many people come in for maintenance doses of acupuncture every other week or once a month.

What about herbal therapy?

The core of Chinese Medicine is essentially herbal. Many people choose this option because herbs are excellent at getting to the core of the chronic problems especially.

And I highly believe in using them in conjunction to the acupuncture.

To Make An Appointment:   Please call 805-453-2622

Wednesday:  8AM-2PM
Thursdays:  9AM-2PM
Fridays:  12PM-6PM
Saturdays:  By Appointment