What is Acupuncture ?
Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and food therapy are just a few of the different branches of Tradition Chinese Medicine (TCM). This is a medicine that has been practiced for over 2,000 years. Its heritage and history stems from India and its Ayruvedic medicine tradition. Acupuncture consists of stimulating your body’s energies, or “Qi”, through the use of fine gauge needles along indicated meridians located throughout the body. These meridians serve as a tract that helps to nourish organs, tissue and cells. A symptom such as pain can appear when an obstruction to this flow of energy Qi occurs, almost like leaves that block up flowing water in your gutters. An obstruction can be a result from injury, improper diet, genetic tendencies, environmental factors, and emotions. The common goal of a TCM practitioner is to listen to and treat the root of a patient’s problem in conjunction with education on ways to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Bring your body back into balance.
Your body has a network of channels that circulates your Qi. Over time, stress, emotional change and daily living can cause your body to lose its integrity and strength.When out of balance the body may show signs of ill health and sickness. Acupuncture balances your body much like the alignment of your car tires. It can also be used preventatively like a 30, 60, 90K tune up. Acupuncture helps evaluate imbalances to begin the process of healing.
What can I expect from a first treatment?
Your first treatment is 75 minutes and includes a review of your medical history followed by an acupuncture treatment. Follow-up treatments are either 50 or 25 minutes depending on the nature of your results.
How often can you have Acupuncture?
For acute or recent condition the more times I can see a patient the better. It is best to act quickly as to not let the condition worsen. Other times it depends on the condition of the person 1 time/week or a monthly “tune up” is always recommended.
Safe and effective
Acupuncture is safe in correlation with other treatments such as western medicine, physical therapy, chiropractic, and massage. Caution is used on herbal medication for cancer patients, pregnant women and possible herbal-drug interactions.
Who can benefit from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
TCM is an effective form of complimentary health care for most patients. It has a low incidence of side effects or contraindications when used in conjunction with other medicines/treament plans, when practiced by a licensed practitioner. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture can treat more that 120 common diseases and conditions. A partial list of the conditions that acupuncture can treat:
Musculoskeletal Pain
• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Joint and muscle pain
• Sports injuries
• Sprains, strains
• TMJ
General Conditions
• Anxiety
• Depression / low energy
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Migraines
• Sleeplessness
Digestive Disturbances
• Constipation
• Gas / bloating
• GERD
• Indigestion
• Irritable bowel
Women’s Health
• Chronic infection
• Menopause, pre/post
• PMS
• Osteoporosis
Immune Health
• Allergies / hives
• Asthma / bronchitis
• Chronic fatigue
• Colds / flu
• Sinus
If you are considering whether acupuncture is suitable for yourself/treatment of a certain condition, please contact Andrea Plichta, L.Ac. for a free consultation at 619-672-3945.
Andrea Plichta is both a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), California Acupuncture Licensing Board (CALE), and the Colorado State Board of Acupuncture Examiners. She graduated from Southwest Acupuncture in Boulder, CO, maintains a current license as a massage therapy and HHP since 2000 and a Pilates instructor since 2003.
