Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient therapy that has evolved over several millennia to meet the needs of contemporary life using the latest standards of technology and safety.
It involves gently inserting super-thin pre-sterilized needles (about â…• of a millimeter wide) into specific points on the body. These points are connected to ‘channels’, which are pathways that transmit bio-electrical energy, known as "qi" (pronounced "chee"), throughout the entire body. The goal of acupuncture is to remove blockages in the flow of qi (and blood) to restore function and health to the body. In short, it helps the body to heal itself so it can function as nature intended.

What is it? What does it do?
Acupuncture focuses on the quality and circulation of Qi and blood. Qi is often translated as energy but the ancient Chinese character depicts a pot of boiling rice with steam rising up, moving the pot lid up and down. That steam, or vapor, is the Qi. It’s meant to describe the subtle invisible moving force that comes from what nourishes us. We now know it is bioelectrical energy that moves through all our tissues, especially through the fascia. Fascia is the tissue that surrounds every blood vessel, nerve, muscle and organ. It’s everywhere! That’s why treating a point on your foot can alleviate your migraine or a point just below your knee can relieve your indigestion.

What to expect...
During an acupuncture treatment, which lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, the number and locations of the needles depend on the condition being treated. Once the needles are in place they may be immediately removed or left in for a short time. Sometimes they are gently stimulated with low-level electricity or heat. Most people report feeling little or no pain from the needles. Like I tell my patients, “you should feel it a little, then NOT feel it.” After the needles have been in place for a certain amount of time, usually 10 to 30 minutes, they are removed.
My specialty...
Acupuncture is used to treat a vast range of conditions. I specialize in orthopedics – that is, musculoskeletal conditions and sports injuries. There has been a great deal of high-quality research on the effectiveness of acupuncture in the last 20 years. And the number of people reporting significant benefits from acupuncture treatments has grown tremendously. It is considered a safe and effective form of treatment performed by a licensed and properly trained acupuncturist. It is not uncommon for me to receive referrals from a number of physicians, chiropractors and physical therapists.