About Acupuncture

Acupuncture originated in China almost four thousand years ago. The oldest continuously practiced health care, it is used by one-third of the world's population for primary treatment. Acupuncture is endorsed by the World Health Organization as an effective means of medical therapy.

Acupuncture is based on the flow of energy through the body in topical pathways, called meridians or channels, that were mapped out on the body thousands of years ago. There is no Western anatomical equivalent for these energetic pathways, yet recent medical studies suggest they do exist. Energy flows through these meridians which are located just below the surface of the skin. When this energy is moving well and freely, we enjoy good health. If the energy becomes low, obstructed or cannot move well, then we begin to exhibit symptoms, such as headaches, pain in joints and muscles, and even inappropriate emotions. Acupuncture treats the symptom by addressing the deeper, underlying causes. By helping move the body's energy, it allows both physical and emotional balance to be regained and natural healing to occur.

Starting Acupuncture treatment

The initial session will be from sixty to ninety minutes and will include an in-depth interview, reviews of health history and personal history to mutually determine if one may be helped by acupuncture. Needles may or may not be used during the first session. When the acupuncturist does needle, she or he will place needles in carefully preselected points on certain meridians. These disposable needles are the highest quality sterilized stainless steel, and about the width of a human hair. When the needles are placed, a person may have a sensation ranging from no feeling at all, a tingling, a dull ache, or a slight stinging sensation. Sensations that are felt when the needle is placed generally last a few seconds. The number of needles used vary, depending on one's needs. A typical treatment consists of four to eight needle placements. The needles are left in for ten to twenty minutes, then removed and disposed of. Follow up treatments are one hour and include a review of the results of the previous treatment. One is able to resume normal activities immediately after a session.

When starting treatment, it is best to receive acupuncture once weekly. Within four to six sessions one will know if acupuncture will help. Sessions will be spaced farther apart as one progressively responds to treatment. Very often, people who become "symptom free" continue to receive maintenance treatments every three to four months.

The benefits of acupuncture

In a recent national survey of acupuncture patients:

• 91.5% reported "disappearance" or "improvement" of symptoms after treatment
• 70.1% said they avoided recommended surgery
• 78.9% said they used fewer prescription drugs
• 58.5% said they were seeing their psychotherapist less

Acupuncture may be helpful in dealing with stress, insomnia, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, high blood pressure, migraine, fibromyalgia, TMJ, gynecological problems, back pain, joint problems, tendonitis, and other physical issues. Because acupuncture is a holistic therapy, it may also be used to address problems such as depression and other emotional problems. Acupuncture is widely used to ease withdrawal from substance abuse.

Acupuncture and Conventional Medical Care

Acupuncture blends well with conventional medical care. Acupuncture practitioners cooperate fully with other health care practitioners and recommend that you consult your physician or primary health care provider before starting any complementary health care modality. Physicians are aware of the use of acupuncture for pain management and many recommend its use for their patients.

A Testimonial

"As a heart, cancer, hypertension and chronic pain patient, I've been treated by conventional medicine for years, with varying results. In 1999, at the urging of family and friends, I resolved to try the "alternative" treatment of Acupuncture. I went to Carolee Parker, and immediately experienced considerably more relief than from many years of medical treatment.

"The benefits of Carolee's treatments were threefold:

• "Her explanation of the common sense approach of diagnosis and application of holistic healing set my mind at rest, enabling a 'whole body' healing process to start.
• "The treatments were quickly effective, bringing relief I'd not felt for years despite taking a plethora of drugs [and suffering their side effect]].
• "I can see the greater benefit to health using a combination of both acupuncture and conventional medical therapy. "

— Dyane Alessi, Valley Forge, PA

Carolee Parker received her BA in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a Master's degree in Acupuncture from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute, Columbia, MD. She is a Diplomate in Acupuncture, certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), and is a registered acupuncturist in Pennsylvania.