(201) 556-8210The average American puts needles in the same category as stomach pumps and
root canals. In fact, about 20% avoid medical care yearly just in order to avoid
them. Kids are clearly the most terrorized at the prospect. “Mommy, am I going to
get a shot?” they quiver, like convicted felons on route to the electric chair!
For the 3 billion citizens of modern China however, needles are NBD. In fact,
acupuncture continues to be the primary medicine practiced in China, just as it
has been for 3000 years. In fact, it is one of the oldest forms of medicine still being
used today.
What It’s All About
Acupuncture is used both for wellness care as well as for the treatment of every
ailment. Acupuncture gained legitimacy in the United States with an article
written in 1971 by journalist James Reston, who despite his skepticism,
experienced the benefits of acupuncture for post-op pain after an emergency
appendectomy. It is estimated that 3.1 million Americans have tried acupuncture
since 2007 for everything from arthritis to menopausal hot flashes. The best kept
secret about acupuncture, however, is it’s powerful mood boosting benefits. This
why I have referred so many clients over the past 15 years and now offer it as a
service in my Paramus , NJ office.
How and Why it Works
From the Chinese standpoint, anxiety, depression, mood swings, insomnia, and
even just feeling “stressed out” don’t fall into some separate ‘mental’
category. They are simply treated as manifestations of imbalance in the body’s
Chi, or life force energy. This chi moves through passageways called meridians
which connect the organs of the body. Balancing the flow of energy between yang
(hollow organs like the stomach) and yin (solid organs like the lungs) is believed to
prevent and ameliorate virtually any disorder or discomfort. For optimal health,
chi has to flow steadily from inside of the body to the superficial body tissues of
the skin, muscles, tendons, bones and joints. Acupuncture is used to correct these
imbalances by placing needles at those meridians or acupoints associated with the
specific issue.
Where’s The Proof?
In clinical trials, acupuncture has been found to decrease anxiety, depression and
lower overall stress levels. In fact, in a recent study at Beijing University of
Chinese Medicine, it worked significantly faster than antidepressants for most
study participants; an astounding 96.7% improved significantly within two weeks.
Although the reasons for its effectiveness are still not fully understood by modern
research, it is believed to increase endorphin levels in the short term, as well as
dopamine and serotonin over the longer haul. People receiving acupuncture for
mood management report
- Decreased feelings of anxiety, and stress
- Decreased depression symptoms such as sadness and lack of interest
- Increased energy
- More mental alertness
- Improved memory
- Less insomnia and improved quality of sleep (by increasing melatonin)
- It can also alleviate withdrawal symptoms that can be experienced when
coming off antidepressants and antianxiety meds (and even decreases
opiate withdrawal symptoms for those getting substance abuse treatment).
Is This For You?
Acupuncture is one of my top go-to referrals for clients, as well being on my own
personal can’t-live-without list. It is virtually side effect free; not only does it
cause none of the drowsiness and brain fog of an anxiety reducer like Xanax, but it
boosts energy and mental clarity. It relieves depression but doesn’t carry the risk
of numbing you out emotionally, not to mention that there’s no risk of weight gain
or sexual side effects. Although I haven’t taken an official poll, it’s been my
experience that the vast majority of women would rather be depressed than gain
10 pounds on a drug like Prozac! Likewise most men would rather deal with
feeling like crap than lose their mojo. Plus, acupuncture can be combined with
any supplement or medication someone is already on.
Another great thing about acupuncture is you don’t have to believe in it for it to
work. Like James Reston, I was quite the skeptic myself, at first. But a four-day
migraine can inspire you to try just about anything! There I was on my back, with
something like incense smoking from the top of my head (at least that what my
friend reported. God knows I would have run away screaming if I had witnessed it
myself!). I was nearly incredulous to be trying something so out there. But when
the pain started to subside about 20 minutes in, it was like the heavens opened up
and angels sang. This was my very first experience with alternative medicine, one
that would change my life and that of every client who would reap the fruits of my
experience forever. Acupuncture in conjunction with short-term, solution focused psychotherapy will
produce relief from depression and anxiety more quickly and effectively than
meds without the side effects. Call us and start feeling better today!
Dr. Sam Von Reiche and Associates
201-556-8210
www.drsamvonreiche.com
110 East Ridgewood Avenue
Paramus, NJ 07652
Getting Started:
Acupuncture is one of the few techniques in this book that is not
self-administered, so skill and experience level of the practitioner is all-important.
I recommend seeing a licensed acupuncturist, or LAc. LAcs have completed over
2,700 hours of training on-site at a nationally recognized college of acupuncture. This is
masters level training, supervised by experienced and qualified acupuncturists. In
comparison, certified acupuncturists, who are generally chiropractors and physicians,
are only required to complete 300 hours, which can be completed in home study.
Licensed acupuncturists are required to have seen and treated at least 250 actual
patients before licensure, and to have passed the national NCCAOM exam, whereas a
certified acupuncturist is not required to do either. Last, LAcs are also licensed by
their state’s Board of Medical Practice, while certified acupuncturists are not.
While a majority of insurance plans nationwide still don’t cover acupuncture, the
tide is starting to turn. States like California and New Mexico, for example, offer
many plans that do cover it. If yours does, make sure the acupuncturist you
choose is in the network or will provide you a receipt to submit for
reimbursement. If you have a health savings plan, acupuncture qualifies for
reimbursement. Acupuncture also qualifies under most Flexible Spending Plans.
Be sure to ask your acupuncturist for a detailed receipt after your visit. Even if (like
me) your plan doesn’t cover acupuncture, it can still be fairly economical because
it usually starts to work in only a few visits.
To find a qualified Licensed Acupuncturist, visit the NCAAOM website (National
Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
http://www.nccaom.org.
In choosing any healthcare practitioner, make sure to read online reviews, as well.
These days, most web-savvy practitioners have at least a f