Treatments Provided

ACUPUNCTURE

The goal of oriental medicine is to balance the energy of the body thus promoting the ability of the body to heal itself.

According to traditional oriental medical theory, the body has 12 main channels through which energy, called Qi, flows.  Excess, deficient, orobstructed Qi causes pain or disease.

The acupuncturist balances and moves the Qi by inserting needles at specific points along the channels. Other therapeutic techniques include warming points with the herb Moxa (Artemesia vulgaris), electro-stimulation of points, acupressure, and cupping. Advice on diet, herbs, exercise, stress reduction, and lifestyle may also be given.

The acupuncturist selects points and therapies on the basis of a diagnosis which is made primarily by examining the radial pulses of both wrists, looking at the tongue, and considering the medical history.  The acupuncturist sees these signs and symptoms as fitting into distinct patterns that reflect the internal energy relationships as understood by traditional oriental medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Does it hurt?

A:  This is the question everyone asks first. When the needle is inserted there is a slight prick, however, the needle is so thin that it is not perceived by most people as painful. The surface of the skin has the greatest number of nerve endings, so that once the needle passes through this layer, it may be manipulated without the initial sensation.  At this stage there may be feelings of warmth, tightness, tingling, or a mild dull ache associated with the flow of Qi.

Q:  How deep are the needles inserted?

A:  Needles are inserted to varying depths depending on the area of the body in which the acupuncture point is located.  Needles on the back may be inserted to ½ inch, while needles on the buttock may be inserted to a depth of 2 inches or more. Depth also depends on the patient’s body type and weight and their sensitivity to the needle sensation.

Q:  How many treatments are necessary?

A:  A person with a very painful sprained back may be completely pain free after 1-3 treatments, while someone else with the same condition may need a longer series of treatments.

For conditions that have lasted longer than 6 months, a series of 6-10 treatments is not uncommon. If there are still symptoms but progress is encouraging, a further series of treatments may be recommended.  However, if there is little improvement, another type of therapy is suggested. Remember that acupuncture helps your body heal itself – a process that is not always speedy.

Q:  Does acupuncture actually cure medical conditions or just mask them?

A:  Acupuncture promotes self-healing.  Where damage is still repairable, there are often lasting curative results, maintained with occasional follow-up treatments if necessary. When disease has progressed beyond the limits of normal regenerative ability, then acupuncture can help control pain and discomfort, though in this case it may not be a curative therapy.

Q:  Will my health insurance cover the costs?

A:  Most insurance policies cover acupuncture.  We will contact your carrier before treatment to learn what your policy covers and what your copays are.  Unmet deductables and copays are due at the time of treatment. 

Q:  Does medical research validate acupuncture’s effectiveness?

A:  A study published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine", a publication of the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in  September, 2007 found that acupuncture was almost twice as effective as standard medical treatment (combined medication, physical therapy, and exercise) for treating chronic low back pain. The October issue of the same journal published "practice guidelines for all clinicians caring for patients with low (lumbar) back pain" sponsored by the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society, both medical institutions.  They recommended that physicians refer patients for acupuncture treatment for chronic low back pain.

Q:  What conditions can acupuncture treat?

A:  The following is a list of conditions that I have been trained to treat with acupuncture:

Neuromusculoskelital

1)     Trigeminal Neuralgia (face pain)
2)     Arthritis
3)     Headache
4)     Migraine
5)     Bell’s Palsy (facial paralysis)
6)     Paralysis Following Stroke
7)     Peripheral Neuropathologies(numbness/tingling/pain in hands or feet)
8)     Meniere’s Disease (dizziness, hearing loss,& ringing in the ears)
9)     Intercostal Neuralgia (rib pain)
10) Cervicobrachial Syndrome (neck and arm pain)
11) Frozen Shoulder
12) Tennis Elbow
13) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
14) Back Pain
15) Sciatica
16) Leg and Foot Pain
17) Plantar Fascitis
18) Epilepsy
19) Vertigo (dizziness)
20) Bursitis
21) Neck Pain
22) Arthritic Joint Pain (shoulder, hip, elbow,wrist knee ankle, hand, foot)
23) Multiple Sclerosis
24) Fibromyalgia
25) TMJ (jaw/face) pain

Gastrointestinal

1)     Hiccough
2)     Gastritis (stomach pain and indigestion)
3)     Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
4)     Nausea/Vomiting
5)     Abdominal Pain
6)     Diarrhea/Dysentery
7)     Constipation
8)     Hypochondriac Pain (pain below the ribs)
9)     Jaundice
10) Edema (bloated abdomen)
11) Diabetes
12) Hemorrhoids
13) Anorexia Nervosa
14)  Bulimia

Urogenital

1)     Painful Urinary Dysfunction
2)     Urinary Incontinence
3)     Urinary Retention
4)     Impotence
5)     Hernia
6)     Edema
7)     Prostate Problems

Cardiovascular

1)     Chest Pain
2)     Heart Palpitation
3)     Hypertension (high blood pressure)
4)     Hypotension (low blood pressure)

Respiratory

1)     Sore Throat
2)     Cold/Flu
3)     Cough
4)     Asthma
5)     Sinusitis
6)     Bronchitis
7)     Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
8)     Allergy

Obstetric/Gynecology

1)     Irregular Menstruation
2)     Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
3)     Amenorrhea (skipping periods)
4)     Metrorhagia (bleeding between periods)
5)     Menopause Syndrome (hot flash, night sweat,insomnia, irritability)
6)     Leukorrhea (vaginal discharge)
7)     Morning Sickness
8)     Childbirth (prolonged or delayed labor)
9)     Postpartum Abdominal Pain (pain afterchildbirth)
10) Lack of Lactation (insufficient milk)
11) Yeast Infection
12) Infertility
13) Mastitis (breast pain and inflammation)
14) Fibroid Masses
15) Premenstrual Syndrome

Pediatric (acupressure)

1)     Colic
2)     Earache
3)     Fever
4)     Childhood Infectious Diseases (mumps, measles,chickenpox)
5)     Vomiting
6)     Diarrhea/Constipation
7)     Cough
8)     Colds
9)     Asthma
10) Bedwetting
11) Tonsillitis

Psychiatric

1)     Depression
2)     Panic Attack
3)     Bipolar Disorder
4)     Anxiety
5)     Insomnia
6)     Phobias

Other

1)     Weight Loss
2)     Stop Smoking
3)     Addiction Withdrawal
4)     Fatigue

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CHIROPRACTIC 

Chiropractic is based upon the recognition of the importance of the alignment of the bones of the body, particularly the vertebral bones of the spine, in effecting health, disease and pain. 

When the bones of the body, especially the spine, are in proper alignment, the body can hold itself upright against gravity and move with a minimum of effort and stress.  If the bones are not aligned properly, abnormal gravitational and motion forces are imposed on the entire system.  This produces excessive stress on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, connective tissues,and nerves, resulting in inflammation, pain, and premature degeneration. Even internal organ dysfunction can develop when the nerves passing between the spinal bones on their way to and from the brain are influenced by vertebral misalignments.

Chiropractorsare trained to use various methods to detect and correct spinal and extremity misalignments.  Treatment most often involves some form of spinal manipulation or adjustment. The chiropractor may also perform massage or body-work, recommend therapeutic exercises, or give nutritional and lifestyle advice.

Frequently AskedQuestions

Q: Does it hurt?

A: Generally not.  Someone in acute pain from a recent injury may feel discomfort moving into and out of the position required to make the adjustment, but the adjustment itself is usually not painful. 

Q: Is my back or neck going to be cracked?

A: The most well known form of chiropractic adjustment often result in a popping sound similar to that when you pop your knuckles. There are other methods of aligning the spine that are non-force approaches and do not involve "popping". Some patients do better with the non-force approaches and others do better with the more forceful adjustments. I am trained in both and use what works best for a given patient and condition. 

Q: How many treatments are necessary?

A: The number of treatments required is based upon how severe an injury is and how long it has been present.  A mild, recent injury may require as few as 2-3 treatments to resolve, whereas a severe injury that has been present for a few months or longer may require 10-20 treatments or more. 

Q: Does Chiropractic actually cure the problem or just provide temporary relief?

A: Chiropractic promotes self-healing.  Where damage is still repairable, there are often lasting curative results, maintained with occasional follow-up treatments if necessary. When disease has progressed beyond the limits of normal regenerative ability, then chiropractic can help control pain and discomfort, though in this case it may not be a curative therapy.

Q:  Will my insurancecover the cost?

A:  Most health and auto insurance covers chiropractic care. We recommend that you contact your insurance provider to learn what your policy covers.  This office does not bill insurance so the patient pays for services at the time of treatment. We provide you an insurance form to send to your company and they will reimburse you directly.

Q:  Does medical research validate the effectiveness of Chiropractic treatment?

           A: The October, 2007 "Annals of Internal Medicine", a publication of the Journal of the American Medical Association", published practice guidelines for "all clinicians caring for patients with low (lumbar) back pain…".  These guidelines were based upon a review of all available medical research.  Spinal manipulation was the only treatment recommended for acute low back pain that did not improve with self-care.  Spinal manipulation was also amongst various treatments (including acupuncture,massage, yoga, and meditation) recommended for chronic low back pain.

Q: What conditions can chiropractic treat?

A: Following is a list of conditions commonly treated by chiropractors:

Neuromusculoskelital

           1)  Headache
2)   Migraine
3)   Neck pain
4)   Cervicobrachialsyndrome (arm pain from the neck)
5)   Back pain
6)   IntercostalNeuralgia (rib pain)
7)   PeripheralNeuropathies (numbness/tingling/pain in hands or feet)
8)   Vertigo (dizzyness)
9)   Low back pain
10)  Sciatica (leg pain)
11)  Joint pain (shoulder,elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, foot)
12)  Arthritis
13)  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
14)  Fibromyalgia
15)  Frozen shoulder
16)  TMJ (jaw/face) pain  

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NUTRITION

Proper nutrition is essential for health.  Malnutrition is the number one cause of death in the world and that is as true in the developed countries like ours as it is in undeveloped countries.

A medical nutritional expert was quoted in the November, 2007 Reader’s Digest as saying that while it is best to get all your vitamins and minerals from your diet, only 3% of Americans eat that well.  That means that 97% of us need to either significantly improve our diet or take food supplements, or both, to provide proper nutrition.  In the December, 2005  "Journal of the American Medical Association", an article reported the findings of a 30 year study of over 120,000 people.  It showed that those who take multivitamins live longer and have fewer diseases than those who don’t.

The body is made of millions of cells.  These cells live for a relatively short time and then die and are replaced by new cells.  Some cells live longer than others.  Blood cells only live for 3 months.  Nerve cells live the longest; they live for about 7 years.  You have a whole new blood supply every 3 months and a whole new body every 7 years. Our food provides us with the raw materials needed to rebuild these cells and the energy to power them.  If one is deficient in nutrients, as 97% of Americans are, one cannot rebuild healthy cells and one’s health suffers.  Any bodily system can be harmed by poor nutrition.  Improving one’s nutritional status through diet and/or food supplementation, improves health and resolves many health problems. I assess all of my patients’ nutritional status at some point in their treatment and make the appropriate recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  What diet do you recommend?

A:  Everyone is as unique on the inside as they are on the outside, maybe more so. Consequently, each of us has unique nutritional needs.  There is no one-fits-all diet that will be optimal for everyone.  I utilize a system of assessment, involving a detailed health history, patient examination, and optional blood work assessment that allows me to accurately determine your unique nutritional needs and give you dietary advice accordingly.  This allows you to get the most benefit from one or two dietary changes without have to radically change your diet.

Q:  What vitamins and minerals should everyone take?

A:  Each individual body functions just as differently as each unique personality functions differently.  Add to this the facts that each of us has a different diet and different health conditions and it becomes clear that each has their own unique pattern of nutritional deficiencies. There is no one-fits-all food supplement regimen.  I utilize a system of assessment, involving a detailed health history, patient examination, and optional blood work assessment that allows me to accurately determine your unique nutritional needs and make supplement recommendations accordingly.  This allows you to avoid taking supplements you don’t actually need.         

 Q:  Do I have to take a whole handful of supplements every day?

A:   I assess my patients unique nutritional needs and determine what they actually need.  Consequently, most patients only require 1-3 supplements at any given time.  This is much more efficient and economical than the shotgun approach of taking a whole handful of supplements just to make sure you have some of everything.  In fact, the November 2007 Reader’s Digest published an article reviewing new medical research showing that this shotgun approach can actually be harmful to one’s health. 

Q:  What brand of supplements do you recommend?

A:  In my practice I use 2-3 brands of supplements that are designed for and sold exclusively by doctors.  There is a broad range of quality of supplements and these companies have stood the test of time as consistently having the highest quality of supplements.  This includes factors like having the best form of the vitamin/mineral, purity, accurate dosage, and digestability.  These companies also design multiple supplements for various conditions that allow you to take one supplement instead of 5-6.  They are available only through doctors because there must be an accurate diagnosis of your condition and an accurate assessment of your unique nutritional needs for them to be effective.  It is more economical to determine and take just those supplements that you need.  

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MEDITATION INSTRUCTION

Meditation is the art and science of relaxation.  It has two components, deep physical rest and profound mental/emotional relaxation.  This deep rest and relaxation is the perfect corrective for two of the major causes of disease in our modern society; stress and fatigue. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Is anything really happening when one meditates?

A:  Meditation is one of the most researched natural therapies.  Over 500 studies have been conducted at 200 independent universities, in 33 countries, with their results published in over 100 leading scientific journals.  

      Scientific research has shown that during meditation, one gains a level of physical rest over twice as deep as in deepest sleep, as measured by oxygen consumption.  Relaxation levels, measured by cortisol (the stress hormone) levels, muscle tension, and other studies, are also more profound than found in sleep.  This deeper rest and relaxation allows the body to throw off the unhealthy effects of stress and fatigue even more effectively than does sleep.

Q:  Is there any proof that meditation is good for you?

A:  Large health insurance studies have shown that those who meditate twice daily, in all ages combined, show a 50% reduction in in-patient and out-patient health care utilization (doctor visits) when compared to non-meditators.  Meditators hospitalization is 87% lower for heart disease, and 55% lower for cancer.  Meditators over 50 years old have 70% fewer health complaints than non-meditators in their same age group.  Other research found that meditators over 50 have a biological age, an indicator of health, 12 years younger than their chronological age.  This means that the average 50 year old meditator has the same level of health as the average 38 year old non-meditator.  Further studies have shown that even those who begin meditation at age 80 live longer and are healthier and happier than non-meditators of the same age.  Psychological studies reveal that meditators enjoy decreased depression, anxiety, anger and stress.  They also enjoy increased happiness, improved memory, improved IQ scores, and better academic performance.  Believe me, if there were a drug that could do all this, everyone would be taking it!

Q:  Is meditation difficult to learn and practice?

A:  The meditation I teach is simple, natural, and easy-to-learn.  It is also quite pleasant to practice. 

Q:  Is this some kind of religion?

A:   The meditation I teach has no religious or philosophical affiliation or content.

Q:  If meditation is so great, why isn’t everyone doing it?

A:   I don’t know.  It’s one of life’s mysteries. 

I introduce all of my patients to meditation at some point in their treatment.  I offer guided meditation CDs (see my "Store" page) and more in-depth courses for those who are interested.  

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YOGA INSTRUCTION  

Many of my patients with chronic neck, back and other musculoskeletal pain conditions have found that they can significantly reduce and even eliminate the need for treatment when they do 10-15 minutes of yoga stretching daily. 

Joints are made to be moved.  Studies have shown that rats with one leg taped to their body so it can’t move for 3-6 months have these joints exhibit severe arthritic damage.  Not moving a joint through its full range of motion regularly is a form of injury to the joint.  Our modern lifestyle with its sedentary nature and routine work activities, overwork a few joints and under-work many others.  Daily yoga moves all the joints through their full range of motion thereby preventing arthritis.

Muscles are made to be stretched.  If they aren’t stretched, they become tense and painful.  Daily yoga practice stretches all the major muscle groups and relieves their tension.

Those who practice yoga daily report feeling more relaxed, more flexible, more energetic, and have less pain.

I have found yoga to be a more beneficial therapeutic exercise than those aimed at muscle strengthening. 

I provide one-on-one yoga instruction to my patients.  The aggressive yoga taught in health clubs is often not appropriate for those with injuries or chronic pain and can aggravate their condition.  For those in pain,  15 minutes of gentle yoga stretching done daily is more effective than an hour of aggressive yoga done 1-2 times a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Is there any evidence that yoga really helps with chronic pain?

A:  In the October, 2007 "Annals of Internal Medicine", a publication of the "Journal of the American Medical Association", the results of a conference on treatment of chronic low (lumbar) back pain were presented.  All the relevant research on various therapies were scrutinized.  Yoga was one of the few therapies found to be effective enough  to be published in their practice guidelines to all clinicians treating low back pain.  The other therapies recommended were acupuncture, spinal manipulation (chiropractic), massage, and progressive relaxation (meditation).

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