Laurieanne Nabinger is a liecensed acupuncturist and RN, has a Masters degreee in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine, 2001), and has studied extensively in China. She specializes in gynecological, digestive, and dermatological problems. She also has a wealth of experience treating a wide range of other health issues as well as acute and chronic pain.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a precise method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing to improve your body's Qi, or energy. This is accomplished by inserting thin needles and applying heat or electrical stimulation into specific sites, called pathways or meridians, on your body. There are hundreds of acu-points on the body, from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. Acupuncture is used for children and adults at any stage of development. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can effectively prevent, treat, and cure illnesses, injuries, and conditions in a time-proven, painless manner.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
Your healing time may depend on your specific condition and its symptoms. In general, the longer your symptoms exist, the longer it takes to heal. We will determine how many treatments you will need based on the severity of your problem. You may need only one treatment, but five to ten treatments are commonly prescribed to resolve many chronic problems. As for frequency, once per week is usually recommended, but biweekly or bimonthly may also be adequate. Chinese herbs or other suggestions may increase the rate at which you heal.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
There are two primary ways to explain acupuncture. One is the traditional Chinese explanation, and the other is the modern scientific explanation.
In the classic Chinese explanation, channels of energy, called meridians, flow like rivers through the body to irrigate and nourish. Any obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers acts as a hindrance to the others. The meridians can be influenced by needling the acupuncture points to clear obstructions and promote the regular flow energy through the channels.
The modern scientific explanation of acupuncture states that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release natural chemicals in the muscles, spinal chord, and brain. These chemicals can either change the experience of pain, or they can positively influence your body's natural healing abilities to promote both physical and emotional well-being.
