Everyone deserves to live in peak health, but we often settle for less. We neglect our aching backs and headaches, thinking this is just how it is as you get older. But it doesn't have to be that way. We offer various services as our goal is for people to achieve and maintain peak health.
What Is Acupuncture?
Originating in ancient China, Acupuncture is the world's oldest continuously practiced medical system. It relieves pain, illness, and disease and aims to create and maintain health. The goal of acupuncture is to correct the underlying cause of disease by helping your body heal.
Chi, or life energy, is the power source that keeps your body moving and functioning. The Chi travels in 12 pathways called meridians, which are located throughout the body. Along these meridians are the acupuncture points used to access the Chi (energy). The theory is that if Chi is interrupted or misdirected, this will lead to disease or discomfort in the body. Even everyday stresses like deadlines and disappointments can disrupt the harmonious movement of Chi.
The energetic balance is restricted primarily by inserting very fine needles at specific points along the various pathways. The needles are used to summon the energy to areas where it is deficient and to disperse it from where it is too strong. In addition, a warming herb called "moxa" may be used at certain points to revitalize the energy where it has become cold or exhausted.
A Medical Resource
Acupuncture is widely known to relieve pain. It has been shown scientifically that acupuncture releases the body's natural painkillers (endorphins). It is also helpful for many other conditions in which pain is not primary, including various chronic conditions.
Acupuncture affects an individual's physical and mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. An energy imbalance left unattended can worsen and diminish the body's ability to repair and maintain itself and physical illness follows. Acupuncture has been shown to slow down the progress of an illness by returning energy and blood flow to parts of your body and stimulating your immune system to help you fight off disease.
In addition, acupuncture is very useful in helping stress-related disorders and the effects of mental or emotional conflict. It is not uncommon to hear comments like "I'm feeling better in myself, " referring to increased energy and vitality and greater enjoyment of life.
With Western Medicine
Chinese medicine and western medicine are very different but complement each other nicely. Acupuncture works best for conditions that are generally unresponsive to regular medical treatments. Western medicine generally uses drugs or surgery to correct problems. Acupuncture can work in conjunction with your physician. It may make your medication more effective, enabling you to take less and have fewer side effects. It can speed your healing, relieve pain and help you recuperate faster from an illness and/or surgery.
Insurance
A growing number of insurance companies will reimburse for acupuncture treatments. Consult your insurer for the terms of coverage on your policy. If you are not covered by insurance, you can still consider your payments as medical expenses that you may be able to write off on your taxes. If you have a flex plan through your workplace, that account often covers the cost of treatment.
Payments are collected at the time of service. We accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and Insurance.
Training
In Maryland, a licensed acupuncturist must have at least 2-1/2 years of specialized training in acupuncture (after first completing a Bachelor of Science degree from a university). The State Board of Medical Examiners must license all acupuncturists in Maryland.
Conditions
Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat various medical problems effectively. Here is a list of a few health concerns that acupuncture has been effective in treating:
- Addiction-Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma/Allergies
- Back Pain
- Bronchitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Chronic Fatigue
- Constipation/Diarrhea
- Common Cold
- Depression/Panic Attacks
- Dizziness
- Emotional Problems
- Fatigue
- Fertility
- Fibromyalgia
- Headache
- Incontinence
- Indigestion
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Low Back Pain
- Low Energy Levels
- Menopause
- Menstrual Irregularities
- Migraine
- Nausea
- Osteoarthritis
- Pain (Recent or Chronic)
- PMS
- Pneumonia
- Reproductive Problems
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Shoulder Pain
- Sciatica
- Sinusitis
- Sleep Disturbances
- Sports Injuries
- Stress
- TMJ
- Tennis Elbow
- Urinary Tract Infection
Acupuncture is often effective therapy for other chronic and painful, debilitating disorders without a clear explanation or origin.