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About Chinese Medicine

Originating in China more than 2,500 years ago, Chinese medicine is a sophisticated and refined approach to healing. Through the understanding of ancient medical texts, clinical observation and modern empirical research, Chinese medicine has become one of the most widely practiced forms of medicine in the world.

It views the human being as a small universe in which the physical, emotional and spiritual being are interconnected by Qi (pronounced "chee"). Qi can be thought of as a network of energy that connects all parts of the body along meridians. The presence or absence of harmony between the systems of the body leads to the root cause of disease . Hence, the flow or stagnation of Qi can determine an individual's health.

Chinese medicine employs various therapies for restoring harmony between the individual and the outside environment. Acupuncture is merely one form of treatment. Basically, it assists the flow of Qi to stagnant areas of the body through the use of hair-thin needles placed in specific points along meridians.

Herbal therapies are the other major constituent of Chinese medicine. These formulas are individualized for each patient based on their current condition and constitution. The herbs can be taken in the form of a tablets, capsules or tea.

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture is the insertion of very thin, filiform needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain or treat disease. In the US, acupuncture is the most well-known modality of traditional Chinese medicine. Here it is most often used to treat pain. Acupuncture also promotes healing reactions in the body by decreasing inflammatory markers and increasing red blood cell and natural killer cell production. It is a complete medical system. It enhances recuperative power and immunity by supporting physical and emotional health, and improving overall function and well-being. It is a safe and effective way to treat a wide variety of medical problems and is extremely complementary to Western medicine.

Chinese medicine often sees patterns in a way which is very different from Western medicine, where illness is typically seen as only relating to a particular system or area of the body. Chinese medicine looks for the relationships between the patient's signs and symptoms and treats the body in a holistic fashion.

Does it hurt?

Some patients don't feel anything, others are more sensitive. Many equate the sensation of needle insertion to a small mosquito bite. There are normal sensations that come with acupuncture: heaviness, tingling, and floating feelings to name a few. Always let your acupuncturist know if something is uncomfortable.

It should be very comfortable once the needles are in place. If it is not, simply let us know so we can modify the positioning of the needles.

What acupuncture can treat...

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years. It is used widely throughout the world and is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of a wide variety of medical problems.

These are some of the health concerns that acupuncture can effectively treat: addiction, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, common cold, constipation, dental pain, depression, diarrhea, digestive trouble, dizziness, emotional problems, eye problems, facial palsy, fatigue, fertility, fibromyalgia, headache, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, low back pain, menopause, menstrual irregularities, migraine, morning sickness, nausea, pain, PMS, reproductive problems, sciatica, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), sinusitis, sleep disturbances, smoking cessation, sore throat, stress, tennis elbow, tonsillitis, tooth pain, trigeminal neuralgia, urinary tract infections, & vomiting.

Is acupuncture safe?

Acupuncture is incredibly safe. Dr. Colleen spent over 1400 hours in a supervised residency with over 4000+ total hours of training while in school learning and modeling proper needling techniques and safety. She is also certified on Clean Needle Technique, passing a hands-on practical exam demonstrating proper technique. The needles are all sterile and are not reused. They are extremely fine and have a minimal risk to the patient when used by properly trained practitioners.

What insurances do you accept?

While we currently do not accept insurance, we are happy to provide a superbill at the patient's request for self-submission to their insurance company. Some insurances will reimburse or apply to the deductible as appropriate. In our experiences, the primary conditions covered are pain and nausea. Please understand we will not be able to provide the ICD codes for a superbill to you until we have had a consultation and know what we are treating. Patients are welcome to use their HSA cards for payment if their program allows for acupuncture.

Is acupuncture safe for children?

Yes - very safe. In fact, children often respond even faster than adults. They also do not typically need as long of a treatment. We have special needles for the little ones (we often use them for sensitive adults as well - just ask).

Treating children is often easier than an adult since we can get ahead of things like asthma or allergies before they become severely ingrained patterns in the child's body. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to remain with their child throughout the treatment.