Seeking Solutions With Suzanne

Acupuncture may be combined with conventional Western medicine, but it is important that your doctor and acupuncturist (if they are two different people) are aware of what the other is doing.
A positive attitude toward wellness may help a treatment’s effectiveness, just as a negative attitude may hinder the effects of acupuncture or any other treatment.
Contact Suzanne by clicking above, and let us know your thoughts on acupuncture. Have you tried it? Would you consider it?
Check out our website pages for other forms of alternative medicine, including herbal remedies, spa treatments and reflexology.

Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture

at 11:55AM, 1:55PM, and 3:55PM

For the needle-wary, acupuncture may be perceived as a painful and prickly. But scores of experts believe that in the past 2,000 years, more people have been successfully treated with acupuncture than with all other health care practices combined.

To learn more and experience acupuncture firsthand, Suzanne meets with Dr. Judith Peterson, a physiatrist who incorporates acupuncture into her physical medicine and rehabilitation practice.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin, solid needles into specific body points to stimulate the body’s own self-healing mechanisms. Occasionally, mild electrical stimulation or heat is applied to the needles.

How Does It Work?

According to ancient acupuncture texts, invisible channels of energy, or meridians, run in patterns through the body and over its surface. If these channels are blocked, the person is no longer in a state of balance, and becomes susceptible to illness and disease.

Through the insertion of acupuncture needles into specific points along the body, acupuncture can restore energy flow within the meridians to re-establish harmony and eliminate disease.

What Is The Difference Between Medical Acupuncture And Ordinary Acupuncture?

Individuals who have no Western medical training can practice ordinary acupuncture (also referred to as traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM). In contrast, a licensed physician specializing in medical acupuncture can make a professional judgment as to whether a patient would be best treated by acupuncture, Western methods or a combination of the two.

What Can Acupuncture Do?

Acupuncture is a system known to influence three areas of health care:

Promotion of health and well-being,
Prevention of illness,
Treatment of various medical conditions.

The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture to treat a wide range of medical problems, including:

Digestive disorders: gastritis and hyperactivity, spastic colon, constipation and diarrhea.
Respiratory disorders: sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, asthma and recurrent chest infections.
Neurological and muscular disorders: headaches, facial tics, neck pain, rib neuritis, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, various forms of tendonitis, low back pain, sciatica and osteoarthritis.
Urinary, menstrual and reproductive problems.

Do I Have To Believe In Acupuncture For It To Work?

No. Acupuncture is used successfully on cats, dogs, horses and other animals. These animal patients do not understand or believe in the process that helps them get better.