acupuncture

RESTORING BALANCE WITHIN YOUR BODY

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing modalities dating back to China more than 3000 years ago before spreading to Korea and Japan in the sixth century AD, and then Europe and North America between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries AD.

Traditional Eastern Medicine is based upon the concept that the human body is comprised of complex, energetic pathways that connect organs and tissues and supply the body with vital life force (“qi”), blood, and body fluids (“essence”). The movement of qi throughout the body is integral to all bodily functions and overall health. When qi, blood or body fluids become imbalanced or stagnant, we will see a weakening of the organs and a decrease in the body’s natural resistance, which in time can manifest in poor health.

Through the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body, we can restore balance and harmony within the body's energy systems, helping to address various physical and emotional disturbances.

While Western Medicine typically waits until lab results indicate severe issues before diagnosing and treating, Traditional Eastern Medicine aims to enhance your well-being proactively with the goal of preventing such developments.

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Above: Jenny adorned with crystal ear seeds

Initial Visit

Your first acupuncture visit begins with a discussion around the chief concern that brought you in, followed by a comprehensive review of your health history. Dr. Swords will ask a series of detailed questions followed by an assessment of your tongue and pulse as well as palpation of your abdomen. These diagnostic techniques provide quantitative data crucial for identifying areas of disharmony and their underlying causes. We then develop a treatment plan that includes a unique set of acupuncture points for that day and may incorporate other modalities such as moxa, cupping, gua sha, and manual therapy if suitable for your pattern. Herbs may also be prescribed if deemed necessary along with supplement, nutritional, and lifestyle suggestions. As with all aspects of Eastern medicine, your entire system is taken into consideration so that we can address the root cause.

We treat the person as a whole, not just the symptom, so an extensive evaluation is necessary for this first visit. 

Initial visits are 90 minutes that dedicate half of the time to the intake, while still allowing sufficient time for the treatment. Follow-up visits can be scheduled for 60 or 90 minutes, depending on the preference of the patient. Some people prefer longer treatments to ensure sufficient time for additional modalities, such as cupping or gua sha, and to enjoy more time to themself in a heightened state of relaxation.

Every treatment incorporates the use of an Infrared Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) mat that emits electromagnetic waves that mimic natural frequencies found in nature, stimulating and encouraging your body’s natural recovery process. Layered inside the mat are twenty pounds of healing crystals (amethyst & tourmaline) which are paired with infrared’s deeply penetrating heat to produce negative ions (think: antioxidants in the air) when heated. PEMF grounds you in earth’s magnetic field for a full-body reset, while infrared’s deeply penetrating heat maximizes its impact.

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Above: adhesive mugwort moxa

What can acupuncture treat?

  • bacterial overgrowth, IBS / IBD, Crohn’s, colitis, gastritis, constipation, diarrhea, GERD, acid reflux, gas / bloating, leaky gut

  • brain fog, vertigo, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, stress, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, anorexia, PTSD, Parkinson’s, ALS, chronic Lyme disease, addiction / substance dependency

  • endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, irregular menstruation, infertility, IUI & IVF support, pregnancy support, breech presentation, labor prep, menopausal symptoms, incontinence

  • infertility / low sperm count, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, incontinence

  • ADD/ADHD, autism, behavioral disorders, depression & anxiety, digestive complaints, allergies, asthma, eczema, chronic ear infections, recurrent respiratory infections

  • diabetes, Hashimoto’s, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Grave’s disease

  • migraine / headache, musculoskeletal pain, sports injury, trauma, breaks, sprains, tendonitis, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, TMJ, gout, earache, sore throat

  • acne, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea, pruritus, scarring, ringworm, burns

  • Bell's palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, facial nerve damage, lost sense of smell or taste, facial spasm

  • fatigue, pain, dry mouth, peripheral neuropathy, nausea / vomiting

  • high blood pressure, tachycardia, hypotension, Raynaud’s

  • allergies, cold & flu, fever, sore throat, covid & long haul covid