Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the 5,000 year old practice of stimulating specific points on the body,located near the surface of the skin, via insertion of very fine needles in order tofacilitate the body’s natural healing response. Modern scientific research showsthat acupuncture stimulates the nervous system which promotes the release of painreducing neurotransmitters and regulates levels of the hormones associated with overallhealth and well being.

Chinese Medicine views the body holistically and realizes that to restore health – thewhole of a person must be treated. We take the time to do a comprehensive analysisof past and present health concerns, the patient’s inherited strengths and weaknesses,as well as goals and desired outcomes before outlining a treatment plan that fits withthe patient’s needs. Through the use of acupuncture, herbal formulations, cupping,and Chinese massage called Tuina; homeostasis can be restored, pain reduced,symptomology eliminated and health and vibrancy returned to the patient.

Chinese Medicine implements the use of natural herbal combinations, taken in the formof tea or powder, to produce a desired medical effect. These Chinese herbal formulasare specifically designed by the practitioner for their particular patient – taking intoaccount the patient’s specific condition, the root cause of the condition, the patient’sgenetic constitution and other factors.

Acupuncture practitioners often use cupping; suction created in a glass cup and placedonto or run along the skin for pain or muscle spasms. The warm air from the cupsstimulates the skin while the suction coaxes blood to the obstructed area and increasescirculation to promote localized healing. Cupping can also be used for conditionssuch as respiratory disease, digestive and gynecological disorders, headaches anddizziness, lymphatic blockage, a common cold, insomnia and soft tissue injuries.

Tuina is an oriental bodywork therapy based upon traditional Chinese medical theory.Through the application of massage and muscle manipulation techniques Tuina seeksto establish an increase in the circulation of blood and lymph throughout the body’s ownsystem of channels and collaterals in order to facilitate healing. Tuina methods includethe use of hand techniques to massage the soft tissue, muscles and tendons of thebody and acupressure techniques to directly affect the specified condition. Tuina is usedin the treatment of joint injuries, nerve pain and muscle sprains, and for the treatment ofinternal diseases.

Mild electrical stimulation may also be used by a practitioner, which uses a very lowlevel electrical current to cause a single muscle or a group of muscles to contract. Byplacing electrodes onto the acupuncture needle the practitioner recruits the appropriatemuscle fibers causing them to contract, thus strengthening them and promoting bloodsupply to the affected muscle. The electrical current setting can be adjusted to allow forgentle or more forceful muscle contraction.

NUTRITIONAL COUNSELLING:

We believe that food is medicine and the foundation of good health begins everymorning with breakfast and continues on throughout the day with your every meal. Webelieve that what we eat today will affect how we feel tomorrow; what we eat for thenext 5 years will determine the quality of our health for the rest of our lives. Combiningknowledge from Traditional Chinese Nutrition as well as performance based WesternNutrition, we outline the best ways for our patients to combine foods to create a healthyand practical daily food menu to achieve or maintain their health goals. In addition,shopping lists and shopping trips, recipes and cooking efficiently tips are provided tomake these dietary changes as convenient and simple as possible to insure our patientslong term success.

We have created custom diets to help individuals experiencing the following conditions:

• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Inflammation
• Arthritis
• Infertility
• High Cholesterol
• IBS, Celiac and Crohn’s Disease
• Hormonal imbalances like Menopause and PMS
• Immune System Insufficiency

We have also created custom diets for individuals that desire the following:

• Weight loss
• Increased strength and performance
• Anti-aging

PAIN MANAGEMENT:

Well renowned for its pain reducing effects, acupuncture has long been sought out bythose with both acute injuries and chronic pain. The acupuncturists at Alki Wellnesshave spent a lifetime working in and around all levels of athletics and have a deepunderstanding of the movements that can cause pain and injury and the ways to healthem. We’ve worked with everyone from small children with acute sprains and strainsto chronic arthritis and fibromyalgia sufferers all the way up to professional athleteswho are coming to us fresh out of the water or right off of the playing field. Our goalis to eliminate pain and heal traumatic injuries in order to get you back out onto thefield or into your busy life in the fastest time possible. Our combination of orthopedicknowledge, pain reducing acupuncture and herbal formulas, as well as nutritionaland supplement support are geared to do just that. Unlike commonly prescribed painmanagement medications, Chinese medicine poses no risk of addiction.

SURGICAL RECOVERY:

ScienceDaily (Oct. 18, 2007) — Using acupuncture before and duringsurgery significantly reduces the level of pain and the amount of potentpainkillers needed by patients after the surgery is over, according to DukeUniversity Medical Center anesthesiologists who combined data from 15 smallrandomized acupuncture clinical trials.

Are you thinking of having surgery? If so, our acupuncturists can greatly reduce thepain and increase the healing time associated with most major surgeries. By increasingthe flow of oxygenated, white blood cell rich blood to the post surgical area, thecombination of acupuncture and herbal medicine has been proven highly effective indecreasing the time needed to recover by drastically reducing the development of scartissue, swelling, bruising and inflammation associated with surgery.

WOMEN’S HEALTH:

A hot topic these days with research coming out about the dangers of hormonereplacement, our approach to optimal women’s health is one that reflects our patient’smost desired wish – monthly ease, hormonal balance, increased fertility and the returnto their high quality of life – all without the possibility of future harmful side effects. Safe,highly effective, natural options do exist.

The consistent use of acupuncture and herbal medicine has been found beneficial ingreatly eliminating the following symptoms and more:

• weight gain
• hot flashes
• night sweats
• cramping
• constipation
• breast tenderness
• bloating
• water retention
• insomnia
• emotional symptoms

At Alki Wellness we implement a natural, holistic approach to balancing the female systems.  We rely on herbal formulas, acupuncture treatments, dietary and lifestyle counseling to successfully bring serenity, sense and control back to our female patients while educating them on their role in their own unique health during their menstrual cycle and/or menopausal transition.

 

WELLNESS COACHING:

 

Wellness Coaching is a powerful relationship between a client and coach, which explores the client’s greatest health concerns and goals, the obstacles to achieving those goals, and strategies to overcome the obstacles. Wellness coaching will empower you to make lasting changes that can significantly impact your health and well-being. Ideal for patients who are struggling with issues such as weight loss, infertility, high blood pressure, stress management, poor physical fitness and other health related issues that can be affected by lifestyle changes.

 

WEIGHT LOSS:

 

We here at Alki Wellness understand that weight loss is a complex issue.  We understand that it is not an overnight process nor is it a one-dimensional situation.  With this understanding in mind, we have combined forces to provide you with the highest level of physical conditioning, nutritional counseling, education, lifestyle counseling, weight-loss acupuncture, herbal therapies and supplementation. It is our firm belief that combining the best of western strength and conditioning practices with the best of eastern medicine is the healthiest, most highly effective strategy to not only help you reach your weight loss goals, but the first step in sustaining that weight loss.    For most people the roller coaster of dieting and then regaining weight is a common one when left to their own devices.  In the typical “dieting routine”, one without the necessary education and lifestyle changes the vast majority of people actually gain more weight than they had previously lost.  In both of our programs, educating the client is of the highest priority.
Click HERE for more information on our weight loss programs.

PHONE OR WEBCAM CONSULTATIONS: