Acupuncture for Pain Management

Part of the mystique of acupuncture is its use of multiple hair-thin needles, leading some to suggest that the distinctive technique might have a placebo effect. But a 2012 study concluded that the pain relief brought by acupuncture is real, a product of the treatment itself. “Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option,” the study’s authors reported in JAMA Internal Medicine (part of the Journal of the American Medical Association network). “Significant differences between true and sham acupuncture indicate that acupuncture is more than a placebo.”

Dr. Fred Lisanti, who offers acupuncture treatment at Integrative Med Solutions in Eastchester, NY, and Greenwich, CT, says acupuncture has been shown to significantly help people struggling with anything from back pain or headaches to post-surgery pain to the side effects of cancer treatment—all without narcotics. “Pain is a personal struggle that some people are challenged with daily, often choosing a medical remedy, regardless of side effects, just to attain some form of relief,” he says. “There is, however, another choice that is a safe, meditative, natural approach which may not only alleviate one’s personal pain, but could increase their overall health. It is the 2,000-plus-year practice of acupuncture for pain management and overall wellness.”

Acupuncture involves gently inserting slender needles into specific points throughout the body, with the intent of moving stuck energy believed to be the cause of various types of pain. Once the needles are inserted, the patient is asked to lie quietly and breathe deeply for 30 to 45 minutes. “Although it is mostly painless, acupuncture can sometimes be slightly uncomfortable until the body embraces its energy-moving effects,” Lisanti says. “Twice per week for six weeks is often an acceptable time frame for successful results.”

For more info, call Integrative Med Solutions at 914.337.2980 or visit IntMedSolutions.com.

 

Acupuncture Relieves Sinusitis without Side Effects

Sinusitis is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States, probably because there are so many causes. Bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi and any number of environmental factors can trigger sinusitis, which the Mayo Clinic describes as “a condition in which (the sinuses) become inflamed and swollen for at least eight weeks, despite treatment attempts.”

While in the West, over-the-counter medicines have been the go-to treatment for symptoms like congestion, sinus pain, sinus headaches and postnasal drip, those products come with a host of unwelcome side effects. As a result, acupuncture is gaining ground as a natural and effective alternative, says Mina Park (Pyun), a licensed acupuncturist with Eastern Wellness Acupuncture. “Acupuncture can help,” she says. “With just one visit, you can find instant relief and feel your sinuses open up.”

According to traditional Chinese Medicine, most sinusitis sufferers within the tri-state area would be diagnosed with damp/phlegm accumulation in the lungs or a lung deficiency, Park says. “Acupuncture can help resolve the dampness or phlegm buildup and nourish the lungs,” she says. “One tip I give my patients is rubbing white flower oil on the side of the nose, at the Bi tong point. This can help open up the nasal passages. Another tip is rubbing the oil around the temples, the Tai Yang points, to help relieve sinus headaches.”

Eastern Wellness Acupuncture is located at 83 Montgomery Ave., Scarsdale, NY. Contact the office at 914.472.6688 or [email protected].

 

Acupuncture with Chinese Herbals

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are two independent systems, but in modern times they are often combined for the best results, says Anat Raz, who takes this synergistic approach at her Mount Kisco, NY, practice. “Everyone wants to get better faster, and time is crucial,” Raz says. “Taking herbal medicine two to three times a day in the comfort of one’s home helps promote and speed the healing.”

Like acupuncture, herbal medicine is used to treat specific pathological conditions, she says. “Each individual herb has different properties—hot, cold, sweet, bitter, sour, etc.—and enters into different channels. Chinese herbal preparations are usually composed of six to fourteen herbs that work together. For example, a formula for a chronic dry cough will contain herbs that stop the cough as well as strengthen and moisten the lungs. On the other hand, a formula for back pain will contain herbs that have several other properties. Some relieve pain, others are anti-inflammatory, and some promote circulation.

Raz uses different formulations of herbs, such as custom-made powders, capsules and patent formulas, which are usually ancient prescriptions. Recently she has added several new tinctures, which are her homemade brew. “The uniqueness of those tinctures is that they are very easy to take and are well tolerated by adults as well as children,” she says.

Anat Raz Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine is located at 25 East Main St., Mount Kisco, NY. For more info, visit AnatRazAcupuncture.com or call 914.244.0569.

 

Do Homework before Choosing an Acupuncturist

With the growing recognition of the benefits of acupuncture—which is now covered by many health insurance plans—a wider variety of health professionals have begun offering this ancient healing technique. However, not everyone who provides acupuncture treatments has similar education and training, and the patient experience can be vastly different from one provider to the next, says Pamela Todd Battle, LAc, of Flowing Rivers Acupuncture in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY.

Battle suggests that anyone considering acupuncture treatment should first check the provider’s credentials and then request a free consultation to ask about the provider’s background and experience and learn what acupuncture treatment at that practice involves.

She says a licensed acupuncturist has graduated from an accredited school with a degree in Chinese Medicine—a comprehensive, whole-body health system of which acupuncture is just one component. In addition, licensing requires at least 1,500 to 2,000 hours of acupuncture training, while certification often requires 300 or fewer hours.

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine—one of the largest schools, with campuses in NYC, Chicago and San Diego—currently requires 2,505 hours, or about three and a half years full-time, year-round, for a master of acupuncture degree, she says. For a master of Traditional Oriental Medicine, the school requires 3,307.5 hours, or a little more than four years.

But credentials alone are no guarantee of having a great acupuncture treatment, Battle says.

“There are high-volume and low-volume practices,” she says. “If you want a more personalized, special experience, you need to ask how many treatment rooms they’re running at the same time. The ideal experience is no more than two, or three max.”

Some health-related practices offering acupuncture as an adjunct might treat six or seven patients at once, using only a few needles per patient, she says.

“They don’t have the Chinese Medicine perspective,” she says. “It’s going to be more of a local and not a highly personalized kind of thing. In other words, it may be 10 or 15 minutes with just one or two needles in a local area for local pain, whereas an acupuncturist is going to treat your whole system.”

Battle says one exception to that rule is community acupuncture, through which treatment is provided in a group setting on a pay-as-you-can basis, which can be a beneficial option for people who otherwise couldn’t afford acupuncture.

A licensed acupuncturist can help prospective patients find out if treatment is covered by their insurance, she adds.

 

Acupuncture Resources

in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess NY

 

 

Anat Raz, MS, LAc

Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine

25 East Main St., Mount Kisco, NY

914.244.0569; anatrazacupuncture.com

Acupuncture strengthens & awakens the body’s natural resources to heal. When experienced, you’ll understand how it survived thousands of years against all odds.  Anat, an experienced herbalist, has a large herbal pharmacy in her office.

 

 

EASTERN WELLNESS ACUPUNCTURE

Mina Pyun L.Ac, M.S.

83 Montgomery Ave., Scarsdale, NY 10583

914.472.6688; [email protected]

Our focus is Sa-Am Acupuncture, which is a non-invasive technique that uses needles to help the body get back to its balanced healthy state. This technique treats pain, addiction, gynecological, gastrointestinal, psychological disorders and more.

 

 

FLOWING RIVERS ACUPUNCTURE

Pam Todd Battle, L.Ac.,Dipl. OM

603 Warburton Ave. #3

Hastings on Hudson,  NY 10706

914.572.1559; FlowingRivers.net

Acupuncture’s effects have been compared to rebooting a computer, optimizing the body’s systems, thereby advancing overall well-being. Acupuncture can help with Pain, Stress, PMS, Infertility, Menopause, Insomnia, Addictions, GI or Respiratory Conditions. Most insurance plans including Acupuncture benefits are accepted.

 

 

INTEGRATIVE MED SOLUTIONS

Dr. Fred Lisanti, ND,LAC.,RH, CHT

281 White Plains Rd., Eastchester, NY

914.337.2980;  IntMedSolutions.com

Therapeutic solutions for acute and chronic health conditions. Acupuncture is an intelligent medicine, gentle enough for pregnant women, and powerful enough to treat serious conditions like chronic  pain, stress, anxiety and depression. It can restore harmony and balance to mind, body and spirit.

 

 

Margaret Steele, L.Ac, Dipl, NCCAOM

25 North Division St. Peekskill, NY

[email protected]

914.772.4589; SteeleNeedlesAcupuncture.com

Offering Classical Chinese Acupuncture and Aromatherapy. Activate your body’s own healing potential with highly targeted treatments. Specializing in fertility and women’s health, acute and chronic pain, and acute and chronic health issues, including auto-immune disorders.  

 

 

Scarsdale Acupuncture

Andrea Cohen, L.Ac.

Amy Hausman, L.Ac.

531 Central Park Ave., Ste. 304, Scarsdale, NY

914.472.2600; ScarsdaleAcupuncture.com

We are a team of Licensed Acupuncturists and Board Certified Practitioners of Chinese Herbal Medicine specializing in Women’s Health, Infertility, Pain Management, and Family Medicine. We value an integrative approach toward healing and combine the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with an understanding of modern Western medicine.

 

 

SearchLight Medical

Laurie R. Mallis, MD, LAc                 

2424 Route 52, Hopewell Junction, NY

845.592.4310; SearchLightMedical.com

Frustrated with not feeling or looking your best?  Get on the path to better health. Utilizing Medical Acupuncture, ONDAMED Biofeedback Therapy and Reflexology achieve a better state of health and well being. Only minutes from Taconic and I-84.

 

 

Carol Tyson, L.Ac, CLT, Dipl. NCCAOM

325 Manville Road,

Pleasantville, NY 10570

914.659.7975

Elements of Well-being is a calm environment in which to address the conditions disrupting your life or causing dis-ease with acupuncture, shiatsu and other modalities.  Bring your body into balance. 

 

 

Westchester Acupuncture, PLLC

Marie Amato, L.Ac

111 N. Central Ave, Suite 270

Hartsdale, NY 10530

917.273.8912; Westchesteracupuncture.us

Acupuncture helps to prevent illness by improving the overall function of the body.  Westchester Acupuncture is a holistic health center offering acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine. Including adjunctive therapies, such as cupping, gua sha, tui na, herbal treatment and dietary/lifestyle counseling. Treating clients from birth to advanced ages.

 

 

W. Poayi Wu, MD, DABMA

Integrative Neurology, Sleep & Acupuncture

280 Dobbs Ferry Rd. #206, White Plains, NY

914.334.1199; NeuroSleepAcupuncture.com

Dr. Wu is a board-certified neurologist, sleep specialist and medical acupuncturist who uses a multi-disciplinary approach to promote wellness. He combines expertise in conventional allopathic medicine and TCM to treat conditions like headache, pain, anxiety, insomnia and more.

 

 

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