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Acupuncture Together

Fall Health Tips: A Perspective from Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture

Oct 052020

With the change of seasons and the arrival of cooler and shorter days, the wisdom of Chinese medicine offers us some helpful suggestions for staying healthy during this time of year.

According to Chinese medicine, keeping the lungs strong and healthy is especially important during the fall. Taking walks outside and breathing exercises strengthen the lungs. Protecting yourself from becoming chilled, particularly by wearing a scarf around the neck, is a good illness prevention measure as wind and cold are said to be “the cause of 100 diseases.” Grief is the emotion associated with the lungs, so finding ways to deal with grief such as by allowing yourself to cry, talking with a trusted person about how you feel, getting an acupuncture treatment and/or doing some self-massage and breathing exercises (here’s a great video!) can help you process and move through grief in a healthy way.

Certain types of foods and drinks have beneficial health properties for us during the fall season. In particular, there are several that are warming in nature, aiding in blood circulation and boosting immune function. Warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger, garlic, onion and scallions are especially beneficial for people who tend to become chilled easily. Try a hot Chai tea, adding some cinnamon to oatmeal, or cooking a delicious soup or dish with garlic, onions and/or scallions.

Pears are beneficial particularly when steamed or lightly cooked to relieve cough and cold symptoms. They reduce coughing and excessive mucous/phlegm production while moistening and soothing the throat. They’re also generally good as a tonic for the lungs, so they’re a great choice to eat even when you’re not experiencing any upper respiratory symptoms.

Consuming more cooked vegetables and less raw foods such as salads strengthens the digestion and overall health during this time of year.

Enjoy the season and stay healthy!

Justine Myers, Lic. Ac.

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The State of Acupuncture Together: A Note from Justine

Acupuncture

Jul 122020

On a near daily basis while working I am asked by patients if our clinic is doing okay and if we will be able to continue offering our services for the long run. Let me say that I truly appreciate and understand these concerns and the caring nature of those who have asked. I feel the same way about some of my own favorite local small businesses. The pandemic has taken a terrible toll on some of our most beloved local treasures and it is tragic that some have had to shutter their doors for good.

I want to be clear in stating that I have no intentions of closing for good. I’m dedicated and devoted to this work, so I’m going to do my damned best to continue doing this job, even if it means things look different for awhile. I don’t know when the pandemic will end, but my goal is to continue working through it to the best of my ability, with all the difficult limitations I’m facing (namely: 50% reduced capacity for treatments per hour and my limited ability to work in the office because I am a parent of 2 young children with very limited childcare). This is a long-term career that I am passionate about, and there’s really nothing else I would rather do. I opened Acupuncture Together in 2008 and I really want to see it continue on for much longer than 12 years.

Despite being determined, this time has been extremely challenging. I would lie if I said I was just sitting home relaxing from the day we closed on 3/13 until 6/9 when we reopened. Having to suddenly close down the office but still being responsible for covering ongoing business expenses, knowing patients who depend on acupuncture were unable to receive it and not knowing when or how we could reopen was extremely difficult. The time and labor required to plan to reopen was enormous. I spent hours upon hours scouring the CDC website so that I could write a safety manual, I spent hours shopping to procure cleaning products and PPE, recliner covers, a plexiglass stand at the front desk and other necessary items and I spent hours in the office moving furniture around, cleaning and reorganizing and training staff so that we would be as ready as we could be upon reopening.

Now here we are on the other side of that closure. We’ve been open since June 9th, and while I am truly grateful to be back at work, we continue to experience challenges. For the past month we have only been providing about 25-30% of the number of treatments that we were providing before the pandemic, yet we do have the capacity to provide significantly more treatments than that amount, even with our social distancing measures in place. I recognize that for many people the idea of going to a community acupuncture clinic may not feel safe even with all the safety measures, and/or perhaps it is too great an expense for those who have lost work recently. I certainly understand that everything is different now and that people’s comfort levels vary. After all, staying home is the safest choice.

Unfortunately because we are not providing many treatments anymore, we no longer have desk staff. I have really enjoyed working with them and I am very sad that we can no longer work together. I know they were all extremely disappointed to not be able to continue working and I know many of you miss being greeted by them when you arrive in the office. In addition, one of our acupuncturists, Eric, has been offered and accepted a position at a physician’s office closer to his home, so he will be leaving our practice at the end of this week to transition to his new job. Eric has been with us since 2018 and I know many patients have had wonderful treatments with him, so this is certainly another loss.

Despite these losses I am hopeful and positive about the future of Acupuncture Together. Andrew and I will continue offering you acupuncture (and if you haven’t seen Andrew yet, I’d urge you to make an appointment with him – he’s fantastic!). Although so many things are different now – limited hours and access, a smaller staff and all the necessary Covid-19 safety measures in place – I promise to persevere, and I also appreciate your understanding of all of the challenges we are going through.

This post was written by Justine Myers, Lic. Ac. & Clinic Owner and Director/Manager of Acupuncture Together

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Our Covid-19 Remake Tour

Acupuncture

Jun 022020

Just like all other businesses adapting in the time of Covid-19, we’ve made many changes at Acupuncture Together for the safety of our patients and staff. Here are photos of our clinic with our new safety measures in place.

Front desk check-in, payment and Covid-19 screening with temperature check

Office for new patient intakes and re-evaluation appointments

Our big treatment room capacity has been reduced in half, now with 5 recliners instead of 10 recliners in use. Seating is assigned to the numbered yellow recliners only. All recliners are more than 7′ apart head to head.

Recliners are sanitized after each use and a sanitized bin is provided for your personal belongings.

Capacity in the small treatment room has been reduced from 4 recliners to 2 recliners.

Small treatment room.

Each treatment room has a brand new Winix air purifier.

We converted our massage/storage room into a treatment room with a zero gravity chair, which is available on a first come, first serve basis upon request (it’s not assigned).

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Our Office is Temporarily Closed

Acupuncture

Mar 172020

Out of an abundance of caution and the recommendation for social distancing as a public health measure, our office closed on Friday, 3/13/20, until further notice. We will follow the guidance of public officials about when to re-open and notify you at that time.

As many of you know, we have always done our absolute best to make acupuncture as accessible as possible, always limiting office closures.

We do not take the decision to close lightly, and thank you in advance for your understanding and support.

To Be Notified of Our Reopening:

We’ll be emailing all patients to announce our plans to re-open using our Schedulicity online appointment scheduler system. If you already receive our periodic email newsletters then you’re all set. If you don’t receive these newsletters and would like them, please email info@acupuncturetogether.com and ask to be added to our email list.

If You Had a Week Unlimited Package…

If you were in the middle of a week unlimited package when we closed, we will pick up on where you left off when our office returns and honor the remaining visits at that time.

Please Donate Used or New Twin Flat Sheets To Our Office

If you have used or new twin flat sheets in good condition, in any color/style, we’d love to take them off your hands. We’ll be changing sheets more often between patients when we re-open and could use more sheets from you if you have them, which will help us cut down on expenses. Feel free to drop off your sheets anytime in the box located at the door of our office suite (our office building will continue to be open, so come in and come up), or bring them in at a future visit. THANK YOU, we appreciate it!

Last, But Not Least…

Take care of yourself and be well. We wish you good health and look forward to seeing you in the near future!

Sincerely,
Justine Myers, Lic. Ac. and the fantastic staff at Acupuncture Together

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Our Covid-19 Coronavirus Precautionary Measures

Acupuncture

Mar 032020

By Justine Myers, Lic. Ac.

The Covid-19 coronavirus is on the minds of many people these days. We’d like to share with you our precautionary measures to ensure the health and well-being of our patients and staff, as well as some links to helpful public health information.

There are common non-contagious/non-serious upper respiratory symptoms that some of our patients present with such as allergies, asthma or a lingering cough following a cold, and we will continue to treat these conditions as they do not pose a risk to others. It is also understood that being 3 feet away from those who are coughing or sneezing is considered to be safe, and our recliners are spaced appropriately.

Here are the measures we are taking at Acupuncture Together. We appreciate everyone’s participation and understanding:

–If you have a fever or flu-like symptoms, please stay home. The main symptoms of Covid-19 are fever, coughing and shortness of breath. Call your primary care physician if you’re in need of medical attention for these concerns.

-If you have an appointment scheduled and aren’t feeling well, you may call our office to cancel it on the same day and will not be charged.

-We’ll be regularly sanitizing surfaces that are frequently touched such as door knobs and call buttons. Sheets on chairs will be changed after patients who have upper respiratory symptoms. If you’d prefer to bring in your own sheet to place on a chair, you’re welcome to do so.

-Please use hand sanitizer when you check in at the front desk, or wash your hands in the bathroom if you prefer that to hand sanitizer, in order to help prevent the spread of germs. We have hand sanitizer placed on the reception area front desk and coffee table, and at every station in the treatment room. Feel free to help yourself at any of those locations. When washing your hands, please wash for at least 20 seconds.

-Cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than onto your hands. If you sneeze or cough on your hands or into tissues or a handkerchief, please use hand sanitizer afterwards.

-If you are coughing we will provide you with a face mask and ask you to wear it.

-Avoid touching your mouth, nose, eyes and face with unwashed/non-sanitized hands.

Here are some more guidelines and links to inform you about how to take care of yourself and recommended practices regarding Covid-19:

CDC Facts about Covid-19

FAQ by an Intensive Care and Infectious Disease Physician

American Society of Acupuncturists Covid-19 Fact Sheet

Business and Employer Guidelines

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Recent Acupuncture Research In the News

Acupuncture

Jan 282020

By Justine Myers, Lic. Ac.

3 recent studies of cancer patients showed acupuncture to be effective in various ways. The first study showed that acupuncture reduces cancer pain and painkiller use. A second study showed that acupuncture lessens chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, and a third study showed that acupuncture reduces radiation-induced dry mouth.

Although these studies were specific to cancer patients and side-effects of cancer treatments, we’d like to elaborate on these findings. Acupuncture is helpful for all types of pain, peripheral neuropathy and dry mouth. We have first-hand experience treating these conditions in our own patients, and it would be beneficial for you and others to know about this as well.

When it comes to pain, acupuncture is effective for all types: musculoskeletal pain, arthritic pain, headaches and migraines, menstrual pain, abdominal pain, fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome and more. Many of our patients try acupuncture with the goal of pain relief and many are able to reduce or eliminate the need for painkillers/over the counter pain relief medicine. Acupuncture is always worth a try for pain.

In terms of peripheral neuropathy (pain/tingling/numbness in hands/fingers and feet/toes), we have patients who have experienced a substantial reduction in severity of neuropathy related to chemotherapy and diabetes, as well as neuropathy without any specific underlying condition. Our patients are pleased when they have less discomfort and greater function (i.e. walking more easily, using their fingers/hands with fine motor skills more easily/comfortably). Although acupuncture is helpful for all types of neuropathy, we do want to point out that when there is an underlying condition such as diabetes, it is extremely important to effectively address that condition (i.e. working with a physician/dietician to ensure blood sugar levels are healthy/stable) in addition to the use of acupuncture for the neuropathy.

Finally, acupuncture is helpful for dry mouth and also for other symptoms of dryness such as dry eyes. Certain points are useful for stimulating the salivary glands and tear ducts, and for overall dryness in the body. We have seen this in patients with conditions such as blepharitis, Sjogren’s syndrome and dry mouth related to the use of medications.

We are pleased to see many cancer centers offering acupuncture for their patients to help manage their symptoms, and it is also fantastic that research is being done in these settings. Acupuncture is gaining in popularity due to its efficacy in a wide variety of health conditions.

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Finding Balance in the New Year and in the Long Run

Acupuncture

Jan 092020

by Justine Myers, Lic. Ac.

The new year is often a time of introspection and self-reflection. This process may bring up the desire to make changes or improvements in our lives. We think about habits we may want to change, aspects of our physical and/or mental health that we’d like to improve and goals for the new year and/or the future.

One thing that is great to remember is that even though the new year may be a motivating factor for change, we are all capable of making changes in our lives at any given moment. It doesn’t have to be the new year. It doesn’t have to be a Monday. It doesn’t have to be dictated by an event, deadline or date on the calendar. It’s great to realize that we ultimately have the ability to make conscious decisions about our actions at any time.

Speaking for myself, my biggest overarching goal for many years has been to achieve a sense of balance as well as I reasonably can, and this year is no different. For me this includes a balance of work, time with my family and friends, physical activity/exercise, rest and relaxation, getting to bed at a reasonable hour, outdoor time, the types and amounts of foods I eat, time spent reading/learning, time spent volunteering and giving of myself in various organizations, etc. to the best of my abilities. I have learned through experience not to over-commit myself and to set limits so that I don’t exhaust myself from overdoing it or stress myself out. I notice that I am sensitive to imbalances. As an acupuncturist, a small business owner and a mother of 2 young children I have a lot on my plate. Sometimes the to-do list is long or unexpected problems arise and I feel overwhelmed; it’s normal. We can’t control the unexpected problems that make our lives difficult. Fortunately when I do my best to do the things that help me achieve balance most days, I am better able to weather the challenging situations that come up from time to time.

For me, receiving an acupuncture treatment is an excellent way to feel more relaxed and more energized; essentially, more balanced. I use acupuncture in times when I need it (for example when I’m feeling stressed or anxious, experiencing insomnia, feeling exhausted and/or something hurts) and also as prevention/maintenance at times when I don’t necessarily feel like I need it at that moment, because I know it will help me continue to feel energetic and relaxed and to have good quality sleep. I use acupuncture as a tool in my toolbox of ways to maintain balance.

This year in addition to continuing to strive for balance my goals are to spend a little more time reading and learning, and less time on social media. In 2019 I didn’t start the year with any particular resolution or goal, but early in the year I decided I wanted to challenge myself by reading a variety of books about topics that I wanted to learn more about. That challenge was very rewarding to me and now I seem to have an unquenchable thirst to read many, many more books! Years ago (maybe 2010?) I set a goal to have more fun, and I had one of the best years of my life! Setting attainable goals is a great vessel for lasting change. Taking small actions leads to positive change in time, and it is interesting to see where our goals take us.

Whether you’re staying the course you’ve been on, are still thinking of ways you might like to change, or you’ve just enthusiastically embarked on attaining a goal this year, I hope you will find the journey fulfilling and experience a sense of balance.

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How Acupuncture Shines

Acupuncture

Nov 132019

By Justine Myers, Lic. Ac.

The use of acupuncture for health conditions beyond muscle and joint pain (i.e. knee pain, neck pain, lower back pain, etc.) isn’t widely known by many people, yet acupuncture is exceptionally effective for so much more. I do not at all wish to discount the fact that pain is miserable and that acupuncture is typically an excellent treatment for most types of the aforementioned conditions, but for the purposes of this article I would like to discuss broader applications of acupuncture. As I have progressed in my career as a community acupuncturist, I’m happy to say that I’ve witnessed many examples of the power of acupuncture in people’s lives. I want to share this information with you, because you ought to know that acupuncture is a viable treatment option for many health conditions.

For this article I am relying on my own clinical observations. I have been in practice since 2007 and I estimate that I’ve given roughly 43,000 treatments in this time. The vast majority (I would estimate 80% or more) of patients I have treated with the following conditions have reported substantial improvement with acupuncture (substantial improvement meaning greatly reduced severity and/or greatly reduced frequency of episodes for chronic conditions, and complete recovery for acute conditions). These conditions are ones I feel very confident about treating with good success following a suggested course of treatments, which I will get into later:

Allergic Rhinitis & Sinusitis
Anxiety
Asthma
Bell’s Palsy
Fibromyalgia
Frozen shoulder
Headaches
Hives (Urticaria)
Hot flashes and night sweats
Insomnia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Migraines
Neuropathy
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Restless Legs Syndrome
Sciatica
Stress
TMJ Dysfunction

There are many other conditions which I would estimate have closer to a 50% success rate with acupuncture treatments (meaning about 50% of people experience significant results from acupuncture, and 50% experience a little improvement or no change), so in my opinion it’s definitely worth giving acupuncture a try. Many of these conditions have fairly complex underlying causes, which contributes to the fact that there’s less consistency in achieving good results. Some of these conditions have higher success rates with Chinese herbal medicine in addition to acupuncture rather than acupuncture alone (i.e. gastrointestinal problems and menstrual irregularities). These conditions with approximately 50% success rates include, but are not limited to:

Breech Baby (turn a baby in breech position to be head down)
Constipation
COPD
Depression
Elevated liver enzymes
Gastritis
GERD/Acid Reflux/Heartburn
Herpes
Hypertension (particularly borderline hypertension)
Infertility
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn’s Disease)
Interstitial Cystitis
Irregular and/or painful menstruation
Nausea
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Smoking cessation
Vertigo

Finally, there are many neurological conditions, chronic illnesses and subclinical diseases in which acupuncture can be used as an effective support for reduction of severity and management, such as, but not limited to:

Autoimmune/Rheumatic diseases
Cancer support
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Heart Arrhythmias
Immune Support (i.e. for prevention of common colds, urinary tract infections, etc.)
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson’s Disease

Before I go on to discuss treatment frequency, I want to point out that acupuncture can be used for all of the above health conditions and more, but it is imperative that there also be physician involvement particularly for more serious or potentially life threatening health conditions (i.e. heart disease, COPD, cancer, etc.). For example, if you want to use acupuncture as a way to manage borderline hypertension, it is important to be regularly checking your blood pressure and checking in with your primary care physician (many doctors encourage their patients to try acupuncture and other diet/lifestyle changes for the management of borderline hypertension before going on medications).

As mentioned previously, an important part of achieving good results with acupuncture for any health condition relies on the adherence to an appropriate course of treatments. Typically when a patient first comes to our office to address a health condition we assess the severity of the condition and how long it has been present, and then recommend a course of treatments. Acupuncture isn’t a quick fix, but more of a process; however, for most people the acupuncture experience is very relaxing and enjoyable, and people often notice additional benefits as a result of acupuncture such as improved sleep, improved mood and an overall sense of well-being, even when that wasn’t an original goal of treatment.

Oftentimes we will suggest 1, 2 or 3 treatments per week (depending on the severity of the condition) for a total of 6 to 9 treatments at that rate, then continue with less frequent treatments once there are good results lasting from treatment to treatment. Some conditions will resolve in that time (perhaps with a total of 10-15 treatments altogether, or less treatments for a condition that hasn’t been problematic for very long before trying acupuncture). Chronic conditions/illnesses typically require some level of maintenance for sustained relief. Once our patients have completed an initial suggested course of treatments (i.e. 6-9 treatments) we encourage them to experiment with the frequency of treatments to find a routine that feels right for them. Many of our patients who have chronic pain or other chronic health conditions will come in once every 1-2 weeks, and/or more often if they have a flare-up and less often when they’re feeling well. We can always offer a recommendation for frequency of treatments to anyone who asks, but we also like to offer our patients a sense of autonomy so that they can feel free to do what works for them, listen to their bodies and get in for treatments when they feel they’re in need.

In conclusion, it’s helpful to remember that acupuncture is useful for a wide variety of health conditions, is safe and without side-effects, so when (non life-threatening) health conditions crop up, it’s often worth a try.

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Acupuncture for Sciatica

Acupuncture

Oct 172019

By Justine Myers, Lic. Ac.

Sciatica was the first health condition for which I sought treatment with acupuncture. I suffered sciatica related to piriformis syndrome, which manifested as glute and hamstring pain and stiffness. It would alternate sides from time to time, and I still experience bouts of it occasionally. I was in my early 20’s and a competitive runner, and running, particularly in colder weather, would set it off. Conventional treatments including heating pads, therapeutic ultrasound and stretching provided only a little relief, but acupuncture helped me significantly.

As an intern in acupuncture school, I treated several patients for sciatica. In my last semester interning I started utilizing distal point treatments, which involves placing acupuncture needles at points away from the area of pain. One of my patients had been suffering from sciatic pain in his lower back and along his iliotibial (IT) band and had great results from the treatments I gave him. I could hardly believe it myself, but the proof was right there in front of me. He was effusively thankful for the relief he received from those treatments, and eventually “graduated” from being treated before I was finished with my internship because his pain had resolved completely.

Many patients come to our clinic seeking treatment of sciatica. There are several causes and manifestations of sciatica; here’s a helpful guide by WebMD to learn more (note: slide 21 mentions acupuncture as a treatment option for sciatica).

Acupuncture is typically an effective way to treat sciatica without drugs or side-effects. The number of treatments needed for sciatica to resolve depends on how long the sciatica has been occurring and how severe the pain is. Your acupuncturist can suggest a course of treatments once you’ve discussed your health condition(s) together. A typical course of treatments for sciatica would be 6 to 12 treatments, 1-3 times per week depending on the severity (1 for mild, 2 for moderate, 3 for severe; as the pain reduces, so does the frequency). More frequent treatments are recommended for getting relief more quickly, but when it’s hard to find the time for frequent treatments, once a week often suffices for slower but steady progress.

If you ever find yourself suffering from sciatica, remember that it is definitely worth giving acupuncture a try!

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Increasing Access to Another Safe and Effective Treatment for Addiction in Massachusetts

Acupuncture

Sep 112019

By Justine Myers, Lic. Ac.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD), more commonly referred to as addiction, is a major problem here in Massachusetts. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 10% of Massachusetts residents over age 12 suffer from substance use disorder (SUD). Common treatments for SUD includes detoxification, behavioral therapy and medications, followed by recovery support services to prevent relapse.

Massachusetts needs to do as much as possible to help treat and save individuals suffering with substance use disorders. One effective, simple and inexpensive adjunctive therapy that is not yet being widely utilized within our state is the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association’s (NADA) 5 needle point ear acupuncture protocol (5NP). Proven effects of the NADA 5NP include relaxation, decreased withdrawal symptoms, decreased symptoms of emotional distress (i.e. stress, anxiety, depression, and aggression), reduced cravings, relief of insomnia, mindfulness and prevention of relapse. The NADA 5NP can be used alongside all the other traditional treatments to enhance the success rates of treatment and long-term recovery.

The NADA 5NP involves the insertion of 5 acupuncture needles at specific acupuncture points of the earlobes (10 needles per person). Supplies for this procedure cost less than 30 cents per person. If professionals who are already working in addiction programs are allowed to practice the NADA 5NP as part of their job, then the costs to add this procedure to existing care are very minimal. Thousands of addiction programs, drug courts, prisons, healthcare and trauma units throughout the United States have been using ear acupuncture for many years. This protocol has been used in cooperation with the American Red Cross for trauma relief after 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.

Why doesn’t Massachusetts already widely utilize the NADA 5NP? The widespread use of the NADA 5NP in Massachusetts will require the passage of an acupuncture detox specialist (ADS) law. Currently, only licensed acupuncturists are able to utilize this protocol, and there aren’t enough licensed acupuncturists available to provide ear acupuncture in every public health facility where access to this treatment is needed. In addition, it is not logistically possible for most licensed acupuncturists to leave their own acupuncture clinics in order to work at another facility for only a few hours a week.

27 states in our country have auricular acupuncture laws already. Maine just passed an ADS law in June of 2019, leaving Massachusetts behind as the only New England state without an ADS law. Because an ADS law has such great potential to benefit the people of Massachusetts, I and many other licensed acupuncturists are supporting Massachusetts house bill H1880 and senate bill S1336, each titled “An Act Relative to Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists.” Representative Carole Fiola and Senator Michael Rodrigues are each sponsoring these bills that are assigned to the Joint Committee for Public Health.

These bills would allow for specific licensed healthcare professionals (i.e. nurses, drug counselors, social workers, psychologists, and certain physicians) who aren’t licensed acupuncturists to practice the NADA 5NP following specific training requirements. Once trained, these professionals would be allowed to perform the protocol within their current scope of practice, bringing the NADA 5NP to more people in the commonwealth.

Passing the ADS law would be an effective, efficient, inexpensive and safe way to provide one more tool in the toolbox for those in SUD treatment and recovery. If you’re personally affected by SUD or have experienced the benefits of acupuncture yourself, please help turn these bills into a law. Contact your state senator and representative, and ask them to support bills S1336 and H1880, “An Act Relative to Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists.” Together we can work to make SUD treatment and recovery a success for more people in Massachusetts.

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Acupuncture for Plantar Fasciitis, Plantar Fasciosis and Bunions

Acupuncture

Jul 292019

Patients frequently come to us with diagnoses of plantar fasciitis and, less commonly, plantar fasciosis, while many other patients come in simply complaining of pain in their heels and/or arches of their feet without any medical diagnosis or with pain related to bunions. In all of these cases acupuncture is often helpful at relieving pain and improving function (i.e. the ability to walk and stand more comfortably), but we realize there are often underlying causes that are likely causing these conditions that could be addressed to prevent further pain and foot damage.

We recently came across this informative video about plantar fasciosis, plantar fasciitis and bunions. If you suffer from heel or foot pain and/or have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, plantar fasciosis or bunions, we recommend this video for some tips that you may find helpful.

Note: we have no connection with the company, Correct Toes, that produced this video, but we think the approach is worthy of consideration so we have decided to share it with you in hopes that you may find it to be helpful.

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How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture

Jun 182019

People are often curious to know how acupuncture works. Many scientific studies have been done to understand the mechanisms behind acupuncture. Here we’d like to share with you links to several articles that explain the way acupuncture works in detail:

What Is Acupuncture? (and how acupuncture is said to work) from Live Science

Chinese Medicine Demystified (Part V): A Closer Look at How Acupuncture Relieves Pain by Chris Kresser

Acupuncture: Why It Works from Mercola

Does Acupuncture Work By Re-Mapping the Brain? from AEON

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Acupuncture for Migraines and Headaches

Acupuncture

May 302019

June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. In honor of this occasion and in order to help more people who suffer from migraines and headaches, we’d like to share some information with you about how acupuncture can help these conditions.

We treat people with migraines and headaches frequently, often with good success. Many of our patients come to us for the treatment of migraines and headaches at the recommendation of their neurologists or primary care physicians. The American Migraine Foundation recommends that people who suffer from migraines try acupuncture. A meta-analysis of twenty‐two clinical trials including 4985 participants in total showed acupuncture to be effective in reducing the frequency of episodic migraines. Another study showed acupuncture to be helpful for frequent episodic or chronic tension-type headaches.

In our experience we find that acupuncture often reduces the frequency and severity of migraines and headaches. Of course we cannot guarantee it will work for every single patient who comes into our office, just like a specific medication can’t be guaranteed to help every patient who has a particular health condition. Overall, however, we feel confident in acupuncture for these conditions as we’ve had a lot of success helping our patients who suffer from headaches and migraines.

This post was written by Justine Myers, Lic. Ac.

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The Cooperative Acupuncture Clinics Popping Up in Middle America

Acupuncture

May 022019

This excellent article highlighting the impact of POCA (People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture) community acupuncture clinics throughout the country was recently published. Community acupuncture patients are “taking part in one of the quietest revolutions growing across the country: cooperative community acupuncture.”

If you want to help support more accessibility to POCA clinics like Acupuncture Together to become available throughout the USA and Canada, please join POCA at https://www.pocacoop.com/membership/join-patientcom/. There are great member benefits for POCA patient members, including a May special for POCA members at Acupuncture Together, and your membership will help make acupuncture more accessible for more people.

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Acupuncture for Jaw Pain and TMJ Disorders

Acupuncture

Apr 292019

We frequently treat people for jaw pain/tension and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder related pain, typically with good results. Here’s a study showing the efficacy of acupuncture for TMJ disorders. Although this condition occurs in people all the time, there tends to be an increase in cases we see at this time of year, likely due to the seasonal shift to spring. Chinese medical theory recognizes the way seasons affect our health, and an interesting tendency at this time of year is for muscles and tendons in the head, neck and upper body to tense up. Symptoms of pain and tension in the jaw commonly occur along with headaches, neck and/or trapezius (tops of shoulders) pain and tension. The great news is acupuncture is helpful for all of these symptoms, so if you or someone you know is suffering with these discomforts, we suggest giving it a try.

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Acupuncture for Hot Flashes

Acupuncture

Feb 212019

A recent study published in the BMJ Open found acupuncture to be an effective treatment for menopausal-related hot flashes, day-and-night sweats, general sweating and menopausal-specific sleeping problems.

Numerous studies on acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes and night sweats have shown varying results. What we see at our practice is that acupuncture is absolutely worth trying for these conditions. The majority of our patients do report reduction of frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats. For more stubborn cases we may offer a classic herbal formula for hot flashes and night sweats called Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan which often brings relief. Although this product claims to help with night sweats, with anything you are not familar with, it is in your best interest to do some research. At least this way, you know what you will be getting yourself into. With this being said, there may be a simple solution to what you are going through. So, to be on the safe side, it might benefit you to look into a site like Nucific, to find out more information regarding how to stop night sweats naturally. Remember, you don’t always need to take tablets, especially as there are always ways to solve problems in the most natural ways possible.

Acupuncture is also beneficial for hot flashes and night sweats associated with the treatment of breast cancer. Here’s an article discussing research on this condition. For those who are taking medications to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer we provide acupuncture only – no herbal medicine.

Written by Justine Myers, Lic. Ac.

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Acupuncture for Heart Health and Cancer Support

Acupuncture

Jan 252019

February is American Heart Month and February 4th is World Cancer Day. In honor of these occasions we’d like to share with you some information about acupuncture for heart health and cancer support. We regularly treat people for these conditions with acupuncture.

HEART HEALTH:

Acupuncture is a useful treatment for hypertension (high blood pressure), and acupuncture is also effective in some cases of arrhythmia as well as for the prevention of recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electric cardioversion.

CANCER SUPPORT:

Acupuncture is helpful for the reduction of symptoms that many cancer patients experience such as postoperative pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression, insomnia, chemotherapy and/or radiation-induced dry mouth, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and hot flashes and night sweats in breast cancer patients. Acupuncture is increasingly becoming more common in cancer units of various hospitals. The Value of Acupuncture in Cancer Care is a scientific journal article featuring in-depth discussions on this topic.

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Acupuncture For Insomnia

Acupuncture

Jan 032019

By Justine Myers, Lic. Ac

We treat people for insomnia frequently and it is usually helpful for sleep quality and duration. Some might find that supplements could help their insomnia and look out for phenibut HCL capsules for sale or pay a visit to their doctor for help. Improved sleep is also often a common unintended “side effect”/benefit of acupuncture, even when the points used aren’t specific to assist with sleep (for example, someone may come in seeking treatment for knee pain and find that they sleep better after receiving acupuncture).

Here’s one very interesting and informative research study showing the efficacy of acupuncture for sleep. This study was done on rats, which eliminates the possibility of a placebo effect.

A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials showed acupuncture to be a promising treatment for insomnia. “Based on the results of meta-analyses, the majority showed that compared with no treatment, sham acupuncture, or medications, acupuncture was significantly better on improving parameters in sleep quality and duration, and the combination of acupuncture and other interventions appears more effective than those interventions alone, though it was possible that the beneficial effect from acupuncture is overvalued because of the small sample size, flawed methodology of the included trials and the short follow-up duration.”

Although there is more research to be done, we are confident in recommending acupuncture for the treatment of insomnia based on our own experience providing thousands of treatments over the past 10+ years and results from studies like the ones above. Acupuncture is low-risk, non habit-forming and a pleasurable, relaxing experience for most people.

The next time you are suffering from a bout of insomnia or jet lag, we recommend trying acupuncture to get your sleep back on track. For chronic insomnia, regular acupuncture treatments are typically helpful for improving sleep quality and duration. If you’d like to try acupuncture for sleep we can recommend a treatment plan (number of treatments and treatment frequency) based on your particular sleep patterns. Hopefully you’ll find yourself sleeping better and feeling better overall as a result.

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Community Healing

Acupuncture

Nov 012018

In the wake of traumatic events of any nature, whether they’ve occurred nationally, locally or personally to you and/or to your loved ones, our bodies and minds need time to process difficult feelings.

It’s not often that we have an opportunity to sit quietly among others and process our feelings without having to say much of anything.

We provide you with a space to grieve, to mourn, to let go of anger, to ease fear and anxiety, to uplift your spirit when you’re feeling depressed, to relax and to work through the complexities of your emotions.

Chinese medicine theory acknowledges various states of emotional imbalance, and certain points can be used to address emotions such as grief and sadness, anger, irritability, anxiety, fear and worry on a physical and emotional level. Sitting quietly during an acupuncture treatment in a room among others who are also healing, no matter what their health condition or situation is, can be a powerful and peaceful way to experience relief and respite from difficult emotions.

We’re here for you when you’re in need. We offer community healing.

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Community Supported Acupuncture

Acupuncture

Oct 182018

Acupuncture Together is a community acupuncture clinic. We offer affordable and accessible group acupuncture treatments to benefit our community. We also rely on your support to help us continue to provide the most affordable acupuncture that we can, with convenient hours and helpful staff.

Here’s where you come in. Think of this message as being similar to one of those funding drives on public television and public radio – except we aren’t asking for money, we’re just asking for your support.

Please tell your friends, family and co-workers about Acupuncture Together
Please tell your doctor and other health care providers about Acupuncture Together!
Please write a review on Google or Yelp!
Please don’t keep Acupuncture Together a secret!

Has your health improved as a result of acupuncture? Are you able to handle the stresses of life better when you receive acupuncture? Has your pain been reduced as a result of acupuncture? Are you able to live a more active life as a result of acupuncture? Have you slept better as a result of acupuncture? Do you enjoy coming to Acupuncture Together and relaxing in a recliner? Have you had a great experience with our staff? Were you skeptical at first? What else would you want to share with someone who might not know what to expect about community acupuncture, or acupuncture in general? Sharing your story may change someone’s life for the better. You also help us to keep our chairs full, which helps us to continue offering our services to the community.

We always have room for new patients. Plenty of people get better and stop coming for acupuncture, and some people move away. New people move to the neighborhood and are looking for acupuncture. People are struggling with health ailments and may not know that acupuncture can help them. Many people don’t realize that there is a place where acupuncture is affordable.

Please join in the community effort to let others know about the benefits of acupuncture and that Acupuncture Together offers affordable and effective care. Thanks for your support!

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