Acupuncture
Acupuncture has become a mainstream treatment modality in the U.S., and many times has the benefit of insurance coverage yet, some people do not realize that it is a diverse and effective treatment for many health issues. Acupuncture can be used as a preventative to illness and to improve the overall functioning of the body’s immune and organ systems. It is also extremely effective for illnesses, injuries, pain, allergies, anxiety and insomnia, along with issues related to pregnancy, stroke, addiction and more.
The actual process is based on more than 3,000 years of successful treatment experience in China. It involves insertion of very fine needles at specific points, which stimulates the movement of energy or qi (pronounced “chi”) within the body and allows natural healing to take place.
“Chinese medicine provides a deep, holistic understanding of an individual’s physical, emotional and energetic state, and provides clear direction for the process of healing,” states Jill Jaynes, Acupuncture Physician (AP) at Absolute Integrated Medicine (AIM) in Vero Beach. “Our focus is empowering you to live a healthy, happy life. This involves education regarding your health situation from both the Western biomedical and the classical Chinese perspective.”
No matter which AP is seen at AIM, all patients receive an initial consultation and can be assured that the treatment plan will be specifically tailored to his or her needs. All practitioners at AIM have a common goal to empower patients to become healthy and whole on all levels, utilizing acupuncture treatments, nutrition and diet, herbal and whole food supplements, homeopathy, NAET (Nambudripad's Allergy elimination Techniques) and unique diagnostic systems. Follow-up consultations also include evaluation and diagnostics in order to monitor progress and ensure appropriate treatment at each visit.
AIM also offers community acupuncture available for walk-ins. Community acupuncture is a nationwide movement to create access to acupuncture by removing the barrier of cost from healing. Many clinics offer treatment in a group setting and charge a minimal fee or offer a sliding scale format. Patients are surrounded by other people quietly receiving treatment at the same time. As with any intentional group endeavor, the shared state makes the individual treatments more powerful and creates a healing atmosphere.
“The current models for acupuncture offices are generally private practice or community acupuncture,” says Angela King, AP DOM, founder of Indian River Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine and The Point, “There are limitations inherent in both of those settings, cost being one for some and privacy being another for others. We merged these models to offer the best of both. The Point allows everyone to incorporate acupuncture into their health regimen, with full privacy, affordable fees, walk-in appointments, and expert treatments.”
Indian River Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine has many treatment options that don’t require needles. In addition to acupuncture, King practices Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET), a no-needle treatment that explores the emotional component to health. NET helps rid the mind and body of negative emotional patterns that cause people stress and limitation. Chelsey Dodd, AP, DOM has a Master’s degree in Integrative Nutrition and advanced training in functional lab analysis. This allows her to formulate customized nutritional and supplement protocols to address weight gain, food sensitivities, fatigue, hormones, cardiovascular and metabolic health.
Christine Nielson, MD, is a board certified Medical Doctor who has been practicing medical acupuncture at Indian River Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine for the past three years. “It is through medical acupuncture that I have been able to make the biggest impact on my patients’ symptoms and overall well-being,” says Dr. Neilson. Dr. Nielson employs neuroanatomic, scalp, and electroacupuncture to treat the most difficult cases of chronic pain, neuropathy, and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
John Dalack, AP, DOM practices holographic acupuncture for pain, meaning needles are inserted on the unaffected side of the body in a mirror image pattern. This method can work more quickly than traditional acupuncture and be more relaxing for the patient as the painful area is left alone.
Ni’s Chinese Medical Center has been treating people of all ages since 1991, when Bo-Shih Ni, LAc, DOM, founded his first location in Florida after working as an acupuncturist for 10 years in China. Now, with three locations in Florida and additional practitioners working beside him, Dr. Ni is living out his goal to bring the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to the United States.
TCM takes a totally different view of maintaining or restoring health and wellness. It starts with the belief that the human body is a dynamic system and that the mind, body and spirit are all interconnected. TCM treatment is designed to find balance in the functioning of the mind, body and spirit and the healthy flow of life through the whole person.
People commonly call Ni’s Chinese Medical Center to ask if the center provides treatment for a particular illness. According to Julie Kelbley, Business Manager, that is the one question she answers daily. “Do you treat XYZ?”
“We treat everything that goes on with the human body,” Kelbley states. “We don’t treat symptoms, we look for the root cause of those symptoms and treat that. If you say you have pain or internal disease or arthritis, we look for why you have that condition and seek to adjust that imbalance in your system.”
In cases where the body’s energy is deficient, herbal medicines are prescribed to strengthen the energy system or to treat specific issues. Ni’s Chinese Medical Center has a unique raw herbal pharmacy that includes hundreds of herbs.
Absolute Integrated Medicine, 1575 Indian River Blvd, Suite C-130 & 136, Vero Beach, AcupunctureVeroBeach.com, 772-770-6184.
Indian River Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine, 1345 36th Street, Vero Beach, IndianRiverAcupuncture.com, 772-564-8383.
Ni’s Chinese Medical Center, 1250 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Suite H, Melbourne, DrBoNi.com, 321-757-9731.
The Point, 1928 14th Ave, Downtown Vero, ThePointVero.com , 772-569-4220.
