Japanese style acupuncture
Have you ever been curious whether acupuncture could be helpful for your health condition but aren’t sure if it could be right for you? Dr. Zhiling Trowbridge practices Japanese Style Acupuncture and provides a palpation based acupuncture approach.
Acupuncture is based on the theory of meridians or 12 major channels of the body that run from head to toe and from chest to arms on both the front and back of the body. Acupuncture typically taps into these major channels to activate the Qi, a bioenergetic aspect of the body that permeates the blood, muscles, joints, skin, etc of the body. If Qi runs smoothly and evenly and is in balance with the other meridians of the body then it provides a greater opportunity for the body to heal.
Acupuncture typically is helpful for chronic pain conditions like chronic lower back pain, osteoarthritis, shoulder pain, migraine headaches, carpal tunnel. It can also be helpful for other non-joint issues such as gastrointestinal disorder, issues associated with autoimmune disorders, tinnitus, post-stroke symptoms, dry mouth post radiation, insomnia, to name a few.
Does it hurt? Japanese style acupuncture is especially known for its fine needling style, using a much smaller gauge needle than is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This provides for a more painless experience. The palpation style also gives you instant feedback about how the acupuncture practitioner is working with your meridians. Typically, I will place pressure on designated areas of the abdomen to elicit a response and use an acupuncture point distal to that abdominal area to remove the sensation found in the abdomen. This is immediate feedback for you to be aware of how the meridian/channel is being re-balanced/opened.
How often do I have to get it done? For acute conditions, treatment may just involve a handful of appointments. As an estimate, for more chronic conditions, consider for every month you had the condition you will need one acupuncture treatment for it. Acupuncture can be fascinating in the sense that it provides immediate response to some aspects of a health condition while others may take time and is more gradual in change. I like to think of acupuncture as peeling away the layers of an onion. The main health issue may be at the center of the onion but in order to get there you need to work on the other superficial layers at the same time in order to get to the crux of the problem — thus taking patience with how acupuncture works. Frequency is also important. It is usually recommended to receive treatments at least once weekly at the onset of treatment. This allows building of the qi and reserves of the body to direct healing. Chronic conditions may require 5-12 treatments followed by maintenance treatments, this is again unique to the individual.
Immediate responses post acupuncture, many people find getting acupuncture treatments amazingly relaxing! Immediate responses can include: peacefulness, sense of well-being, decrease in pain sensation, greater mobility, significant improvement in sleep, improved appetite, decrease sense of anxiety/depression/stress.
Book your acupuncture appointment today. For a limited time for new patients, a 20% off coupon is available for your initial evaluation appointment.
