What is acupuncture?

     Acupuncture is the science and art of stimulating the body's natural ability to heal.  It focuses on the whole person, not just the symptom or the disease.  Over thousands of years, acupuncture has evolved to effectively treat most modern ailments, including many where Western medicine may have limited solutions.

How does acupuncture work?

     In order for a muscle, joint or organ to function well, there must be adequate blood, nutrient and energy flow to that area.   Most if not all of the imbalances that occur in the body can be traced back to a lack of sufficient flow to the affected location.  To help the body recover from injury, overuse or misuse, acupuncture can increase flow to a specific region of the body in a targeted way.  Many descriptions of acupuncture talk about "energy" or "qi" and how it flows through the body.  This can be interpreted as simply an ancient Chinese way of describing the flow of blood and its nutritional components.

      Systemic conditions (for example sleep problems, mental/emotional/spiritual issues, or addictions) are addressed by regulating the flow through the entire body, as opposed to a specific body part.

      Through the use of needles, our flow is corrected.  This is felt as an alleviation of symptoms and an overall sense of health, happiness, and well-being.

What should I wear?

      Wear loose, comfortable clothing if possible.  Ideally, there should be easy access to your legs up past the knee, arms past the elbows, and abdomen.  Feel free to bring such clothes to change into before your treatment.

How soon can I expect results?

      While response to treatment varies, many people feel a change in their primary complaint by the third to fifth treatment.

Is it safe?

      Perfectly. The sterile needles are used once then disposed of. Also, since treatment is tailored to the individual, side-effects are virtually unheard of.

But I HATE needles!!

     The hair-thin needles that we use are much smaller than what we usually think of as “needles” (5 of them can fit inside the hole at the end of a dentist’s needle) and are not painful.  I also do treatments without needles for those who prefer.

What can it help?      Click here for a list.

Whom can it help?

     Anyone!  Students, teachers, yogis and yoginis, construction workers, servers, cashiers, programmers, and anyone who sits or stands all day.  Treatment is tailored to age and condition.  Young children and sensitive patients can request to be treated without needles.

How much does it cost?     Click here for rates.

What about privacy during DCAC treatments?

     If you are nervous about the group treatment setting, just visit the clinic and check it out.  Patients who had initially resisted the idea often forget they had any concerns about group treatment by their second and third sessions.