Treatment Modalities

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used forms of medicine in the world. Originating in China more than 2,500 years ago, Acupuncture is currently one of the most thoroughly researched, practiced, and respected forms of complementary medicine available anywhere. With growing support and studies from organizations such as the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health, you can feel safe knowing that Acupuncture can be extremely effective in the prevention and treatment of disease.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), your overall health is determined by the quality of the Qi (energy) flowing through the natural pathways of your body (meridians). Blockage of this vital energy through physical trauma, injuries, emotional stresses, and many other factors leads to an imbalance of the flow of one's energy which in turn results in pain or disease. At Island Acupuncture we use a variety of techniques, including placing hair-thin sterile needles into specific points on the body, to stimulate and improve your Qi flow to aid in restoring your natural health.

For simplicities sake, imagine for a moment a river that flows naturally. All is healthy in, and along the river. Then imagine that same river blocked by a beaver dam. The environment beyond the dam is unhealthy and withered as proper nutrition and inadequate water are unable to access and nourish the area. The environment behind the dam is also unhealthy as the area here is overly wet with stagnant water that breeds unhealthy bacteria. This example can represent what is happening in our body’s meridians when the energy is blocked or stagnant. Now imagine that the beaver dam is opened by an outside means. Water is again able to flow naturally and thus health is eventually restored at all ends of the river. This too occurs when natural Qi flow is restored in the body by using Acupuncture needles to remove the blockages.

Our Acupuncturist here at Island Acupuncture incorporates techniques of both Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and Japanese Acupuncture in her session depending on the clients’ needs.

The many benefits of Acupuncture include:

• Pain reduction

• Stress and tension relief

• Increased energy levels and improved moods

• Stronger digestion

• Improved immune system function

• Improved skin condition/look of youthfulness

• Improved sleep patterns

• Relief from addictions

• Greater sense of overall health and well-being

*** Please remember that this is only a partial list! If your particular problem is not listed, no matter how serious or unusual, please call 508-228-6898 for more information. Acupuncture and East Asian Herbal Medicine can often help where conventional treatment has had limited success! Many of our clients come to us as a last resort having tried extensive other modalities!

A Biomat is an amethyst quartz "pad" that produces Far infrared rays and negative ions that naturally penetrate the body, reducing stress and fatigue. Negative ions (like those found in the environment in places such as forests, mountains and beaches) can be reproduced with the biomat to take you away to that luxurious, stress-free place while also promoting lasting health benefits enabling you to lead a longer, healthier and more active life. Combine this with our Red Light Therapy so you can not only feel your best, but look your best as well!

Chinese herbal medicine is a 2,000-year-old system using naturally occurring substances to enhance one's health and vitality. As opposed to Western medicine, the foundation of this approach is to support the body's natural self-healing mechanisms and abilities.

Since each patient has different needs, herbs are carefully selected and combined based on the individual to achieve optimal results for your unique situation. We prescribe only high-quality, professional-grade herbal medicines for both our adult and pediatric populations.

Cupping has been a part of Chinese Medicine for over 2,500 years, and is more recently recognized amongst Olympic Athletes of all nations. It relieves aches and pains, improves circulation, and also helps with respiratory and digestive issues. Specialized "cups" are placed at specific points on your body using the principles of suction at a level that is comfortable for the individual. Proper cupping draws fresh blood to that area of your body, which promotes improved muscular flexibility, and facilitates the cleansing and strengthening of your Qi (energy). The end result is a greater overall sense of mobility, decreased pain and improved health and well-being. Cupping can produce marks known as “sha” that can be visible for a few days to a week. Please notify your practitioner if you will be attending any special events where seeing these marks may not match your planned outfit and may warrant waiting to have this procedure.

Shonishin is a process of using specialized tools that promote health by accessing a child's energies on the surface of the skin. This technique avoids the need for use of needles which can be anxiety-producing for young children. Children are able to move about, ask questions, and be interactive in the sessions. Children enjoy and are often relaxed by the sessions and leave with smiles on their faces!

One of the most common questions that patients ask about Chinese Medicine is: "Why does my practitioner check my pulse and look at my tongue?" Pulse and tongue diagnosis are actually some of the most complex and important diagnostic techniques we use in Chinese Medicine. Through feeling and evaluating your pulse, and upon visual assessment of the tongue, we obtain an accurate diagnosis of your overall constitution, Qi (energy) flow, and internal organ health, among other things. This information is then synthesized with your chief complaints and past medical history into a highly effective and individualized treatment plan to suit your specific needs.

Electroacupuncture is a highly effective holistic treatment for musculoskeletal and sports injuries, pain, nausea, and chronic ailments. In practice, it is actually very similar to traditional Acupuncture. Using the exact same system of Chinese Medicine, we insert very thin and sterile needles into specific points along the meridians of your body. Needles are then attached to a device that delivers gentle electrical pulses between two points. This helps restore the healthy flow of Qi (energy) through your body, relaxes the muscles, and stimulates the release of endorphins to promote pain relief.

Although Gua Sha is an ancient healing technique used by Chinese Medicine practitioners for thousands of years, it is relatively unknown in the West. It is recognized throughout Asia as a highly effective treatment for chronic pain conditions, stress, fatigue, and a host of other ailments.

First, Gua Sha oil is applied to a specific meridian (energy pathway) on your body. Next, a smooth round-edged object (such as a spoon) is applied in short brisk strokes to that area. This may create reddened areas of skin (called "Sha") which is an expression of the body's ability to release "bad blood". Gua sha is detoxifying to the body and helps restore the healthy flow of Qi (energy) to the area. There is typically no pain involved, and the Sha will usually fade in 2 to 3 days. As we practice in an area with beautiful beaches and plenty of special events, please be sure to notify your practitioner if areas of "Sha" will not be the best accompaniment to your planned outfits :)

Did you watch the Olympics recently and wonder what that tape was all over the athletes' bodies? The answer is kinesiotaping which has been gaining popularity recently among all athletes from weekend warriors to professionals.

The tape itself is somewhat elastic which, when stretched and placed on the muscles appropriately, allows for a "lifting" of the skin which promotes increased circulation, cellular metabolism, and pain relief. Taping is being used by athletes of all types to speed the healing process after injury but also prevent injury by providing for improved tissue alignment, oxygenation, and range of motion.

Kinesiotaping isn't just for athletes, however. The principles of therapeutic taping can be used for anyone with a musculoskeletal injury so call today!

Magnet Therapy is utilized to promote the ongoing movement of Qi beyond your treatment session in the office. If prescribed, you will be educated on how to find the appropriate acupuncture points to place the magnets and how to use the magnets to either tonify (nourish) a point, or reduce (push Qi away from) a point to promote ongoing pain relief, management of swelling, and stress relief.

*Of special note:

1) NO...these are not your "refrigerator style" magnets. They have a much stronger gauss rating that is used therapeutically.

2) Magnets cannot be used for anyone with a pacemaker or cardiac condition

Quickly becoming a well-known form of skin "anti-aging", Microneedling (also known as collagen induction therapy, cutaneous induction therapy, percutaneous collagen induction, or Cosmetic or Facial Acupuncture), has been around for centuries and used by Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) practitioners routinely. Modernized high-end tools are used to superficially stimulate the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin which in turn increases production of collagen, elastin, fibroblasts and skin stem cells. The result of this generally is an improved skin quality with less fine wrinkles and a softening of deep wrinkles, firmer skin, scar reduction and an overall improved and more youthful appearance. Microneedling can also improve acne, hair loss and stretch marks or c-section scars as well. When used as part of an ongoing treatment plan with TEAM diagnoses for underlying issues and dis-ease, treatment can greatly improve one's overall health, and create long term benefits both internally and at a skin level making one look and feel more youthful and radiant.

*One should not exercise, wear makeup or be in the sun for the rest of the day following a microneedling session so please plan accordingly.

Moxibustion is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing and health. Moxibustion has been used for healing purposes throughout Asia for thousands of years. The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is to strengthen the blood, warm the body, stimulate the flow of Qi (energy), and enhance your overall vitality and health.

While "moxa" can be utilized in many forms, our office most often utilizes this herb in a tool called a Tigerwarmer. This tool decreases the possibility of potential burns and the heat effect can be regulated to the clients' comfort level.

Among other benefits, a landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that 75.4% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the bladder meridian.

Light therapies are gaining popularity amongst those seeking improved skin health and athletes alike. Low wavelength red light (unlike UV rays) is safe for our skin, can improve the skin's appearance, and also aids in reducing wrinkles, redness, acne and scars by calling on your cells' power and energy centers, known as mitochondria. When the skin is stimulated to produce more energy, it can faster and more efficiently heal and repair itself. Red light therapy (RLT) stimulates new cell growth, increases collagen and fibroblast production for firmer skin with more elasticity, increases blood circulation in the tissue for faster healing, and decreases inflammation in cells. RLT is often used to treat and reduce wrinkles and fine lines, age spots, acne, scars, psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, hair loss or alopecia and lets not forget sun damaged skin. Our RLT machine here at Island Acupuncture is broad spectrum and can be used with varied forms of light wavelengths to meet your needs, keep you safe, and promote your overall health and well being. Ask us about using RLT as an adjunct to your current or upcoming sessions!

While the 2020 pandemic had its fair share of challenges, it showed us that maintaining your health virtually doesn’t have to be one of them. While obviously, we are unable to perform traditional Acupuncture by phone, we are still able to offer telehealth sessions that focus on Acupressure options, herbal formula recommendations, ear pressball/seed placement, laser use to prescribed points, lifestyle/diet recommendations, and stretches/strengthening exercises to improve what is ailing you. Ear seed kits, pressballs, herbal remedies, CBD products, and value lasers are all available via UPS delivery or curbside pickup.