Thousands of years before Western medicine even got its start, Chinese acupuncturists were relieving pain and treating illness by inserting needles into specific points of the body. Increasingly, Americans suffering from chronic pain, migraines, asthma, depression, arthritis, and numerous other medical conditions are turning to acupuncture for the same reason the ancient Chinese did — it works.
Acupuncture is an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which focuses on achieving and maintaining health through promoting a balance of energy or qi within the body. When stress, trauma, emotional issues, hereditary conditions or other factors block the flow of qi, pain or disease results. By using acupuncture at certain points, qi can be unblocked, restoring balance and stimulating the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
A host of studies conducted in the past two decades have repeatedly validated the safety and efficacy of acupuncture. The World Health Organization currently recognizes at least 40 conditions for which acupuncture may be helpful.
Benefits of Acupuncture
Acupuncture may be used to treat a wide range of neurological, respiratory, musculoskeletal, digestive and emotional conditions, in conjunction with Western medical treatments. For example, acupuncture may help with the following conditions.
- Acute and chronic pain. May help decrease lower back pain, post-surgical pain, or pain caused from chronic conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, headaches and migraines.
- Stress. Acupuncture also has been used to treat depression, anxiety and insomnia. May help to reduce tension, boosts energy levels, and promotes feelings of relaxation
- Hay fever symptoms. Treatments before the allergy season may help you remain symptom-free, or control symptoms during the season.
- Asthma attacks. May help dilate airways, improves circulation to tissue, and relaxes muscles, minimizing attacks and their acuteness.
- Addiction. Helps to treat addiction to nicotine, alcohol and other drugs by reducing cravings, relieving withdrawal symptoms, and decreasing tension.
- Immune system. May help strengthen the immune system by raising levels of certain hormones, increasing white blood cell count, and improving overall antibody levels.
- Infertility. Significantly increases the chance of becoming pregnant in women who undergo in vitro fertilization, according to an analysis of seven research trials reported in the online version of the British Medical Journal.
What can I expect?
To determine the most effective treatment approach, your practitioner will begin by asking detailed questions about your health conditions and lifestyle. The number and length of treatments will depend on your specific needs. You may find the treatments energizing or relaxing, but they will not be painful. Some people even feel a tingling or warmth when the thin-as-hair needles are inserted.
Acupuncture practitioners may also sometimes warm the tips of the needles with heat produced by burning Chinese herbs, or stimulate them with a mild, painless electric charge to enhance the effect of the treatment.
Treatments last approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
Practitioner at Spa Harmony
Acupuncturist Lisa Wang, LAc, is licensed by the Pennsylvania Medical Board and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. A 1986 graduate of the Chinese Medical School of Beijing United University, she worked as an assistant professor there and practiced Chinese medicine at Beijing Chinese Medical Hospital before moving to the United States in 1997.
Cost
Initial Session...........................................$90
Follow Up..................................................$60
Herbal Consultation initial session.......$40
Herbal Consultation follow up...............$25
Call 724.250.5238 to schedule
