Acupuncture is an ancient therapeutic modality that works by restoring energetic balance to the organ systems of the body. It comprises one component of Traditional Chinese Medicine, an umbrella term used to describe the healing techniques of needling, tui na massage, gua sha, cupping, moxibustion, and Chinese herbal medicinals.

Through the use of fine, sterilized needles, an acupuncturist will needle specific points falling along meridians or energetic channels throughout the body that correspond to different organs requiring the restoration of harmonious balance. Through the insertion and manipulation of these needles, stagnant energy that may have been blocked now becomes released and free to flow in the proper direction through the channels.

The use of Chinese medicinals in the treatment of disease dates back to the days of antiquity, over 2,000 years ago. Raw herbs, granules, and patented teapills are some of the most common forms of Chinese medicinals used today. Each herbal prescription is uniquely formulated to address a client’s ailment.

Acupuncture can treat a multitude of problems, some of which include:
Addictions (i.e. Smoking, Food, Drugs), Acute or Chronic Pain, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma/Allergies, Bowel Disorders, Bronchitis/Sinusitis, Childhood Illnesses, Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia, Depression, Facial Rejeuvenation, Gynecological Disorders/Infertility, Headaches, Hay Fever, Health Maintenance, High Blood Pressure, Skin Problems, Stress, Stroke/Palsy, Urinary Disorders, Vision Problems, & Weightloss.

Everyone has a completely unique experience during an acupuncture treatment. Sensations of warmth, tingling, heaviness, aching, pulsing, pulling, moving, and vibrating around specific points or throughout the body comprise some of the most commonly described subjective feelings in any given session.

Yes, the needles are sterilized and pre-packaged before use. After an individual treatment, needles are immediately discarded in labeled biohazard containers. At InTouch Acupuncture, the needles are never reused.

Each case requires a variable number of sessions before change is witnessed. In acute situations like common cold or tension headache, one or two treatments may completely resolve the problem. For more chronic conditions such as depression or asthma, a longer treatment protocol may be warranted.

Tui Na: A classical form of Chinese therapeutic massage, tui na may be implemented by the practitioner on an as-needed basis. This hands-on treatment is particularly affective in dredging the meridians and releasing blocked energy from the muscle layers of the body.

Electro-stimulation: Initially developed in China during the 1930s, electro-acupuncture became highly popularized in the late 1960s and early 1970s due to its particular effectiveness in presurgical anesthesia. In addition to the treatment of pain, e-stim can provide relief from palsy, paralysis, muscle atrophy, prolapse and more.

Gua Sha: This ancient practice consists of vigorously scraping a porcelain spoon across the muscles of the neck and back to relieve muscle tension, stiffness, and pain. Upon completion, redness may appear on the surface of the skin, indicating “sha” or the severity of the stagnant energy that was once lodged in the muscular depths.

Cupping: Negative pressure forms a vacuum-sealed barrier between the cup and the skin. This suction causes blood vessel dilation which warms and promotes the free flow of qi and blood in the meridians and diminishes swellings and pains. Stationary or sliding glass, bamboo, or plastic cup therapy can provide notable relief from shoulder, back, stomach, and leg tension, vomiting, menstrual cramps, cough, asthma, and acute sprains.

Moxibustion: Artemisia Vulgaris, a species of chrysanthemum known for its healing properties, may be heated and either directly or indirectly applied to the surface of the skin to treat painful joints, abdominal pain, diarrhea, PMS cramping, hernia, impotence, common cold, and asthma.