Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a Chinese medicine practice that has been used for thousands of years to restore the body’s flow of “qi,” or life energy. This ancient practice has the ability to stimulate the body’s natural healing process and is used to relieve pain, promote relaxation, balance hormones, and improve many other health issues.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine, tiny needles into specific points on the body to restore balance and energy. This treatment is relatively pain-free. However, patients may experience slight tingling sensations at each needle insertion site.

Benefits of Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be used to improve the following:

Chronic Pain

Acupuncture helps improve and relieve chronic pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and knees, along with joints affected by arthritis. Needles used in acupuncture can stimulate sensory nerves under the skin and in muscles to spur the body’s production of endorphins — hormones that naturally reduce pain. Acupuncture is becoming increasingly used as a safer, healthier alternative to conventional pain treatments like opioids that carry serious risks.

Headaches and Migraines

Acupuncture helps reduce the severity and frequency of headaches and migraines by triggering the body’s release of pain-relieving endorphins. Studies show that 6-week acupuncture treatments are just as effective at relieving headaches and migraines as 6-month beta-blocker treatments.

Cognitive Decline

Acupuncture helps improve blood flow to the brain to ward off dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Those who receive acupuncture can also benefit from improved memory, reasoning, concentration, and mental clarity.

Insomnia

Acupuncture helps stimulate the body’s production of melatonin — a hormone that helps regulate the body’s internal clock or circadian rhythm. Acupuncture also helps relieve anxiety, which can help you relax and fall asleep more easily. Studies show that acupuncture treats underlying health problems contributing to insomnia such as obstructive sleep apnea and blood flow problems in the spleen, liver, and kidneys.

Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Acupuncture helps repair imbalances in cortisol, adrenaline, serotonin, and GABA — all of which are hormones and neurotransmitters that contribute to stress and mental health disorders. Acupuncture also helps improve sleep disorders, fatigue, infections, and other underlying causes of mental illnesses.

Fertility and Pregnancy

Acupuncture can improve fertility by reducing stress, balancing the endocrine system, and increasing blood flow to reproductive organs. During pregnancy, acupuncture can relieve morning sickness, back and pelvic pain, and headaches. Pregnant women who receive acupuncture can also benefit from fewer sleep problems, improved hormonal balance, and reduced labor pain.

Other health conditions that can be improved using acupuncture include:

• Allergies
• Digestive problems
• Muscle spasms
• Diabetes
• Respiratory disorders
• Skin problems
• Blood pressure
• Sprain
• Stroke
• Obesity
• Gynecological problems

Acupuncture Services at Shoar Chiropractic

Acupuncture at Quest Weight Loss / Shoar Chiropractic is performed by Meriam Chaheen, a licensed acupuncturist, and herbalist in the State of California. Meriam studied Traditional Oriental medicine at Emperor’s College in Santa Monica, CA, where she graduated with the highest honors in 2005. She is bilingual in English and Farsi and has been practicing acupuncture professionally since 2006. She specializes in the use of acupuncture for managing pain and reducing emotional stress.

As a licensed acupuncturist, Meriam is trained in the safe use of Chinese herbs in conjunction with commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals and selects only the highest quality of natural products for her patients. She views acupuncture as a safe, natural, and drug-free therapy, and may combine treatment with herbs, meditation, cupping, Tui Na massage, and light exercises.

Schedule an appointment with Meriam today to convert your “dis-ease” into ease. Chaheen is devoted to offering the best quality care and is looking forward to seeing you soon.