Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses tiny needles to activate the body's ability to heal itself. The very nature of inserting even one needle changes the way your nervous system communicates with itself and the rest of your body's systems. Acupuncture harnesses the natural healing abilities in all of these systems to bring about balance and health.
Acupuncture has been an effective healing modality around the world for centuries, but has only recently been gaining popularity in the US in the last 75 years. If you haven't had acupuncture before, you probably know someone who has.
Acupuncture has been an effective healing modality around the world for centuries, but has only recently been gaining popularity in the US in the last 75 years. If you haven't had acupuncture before, you probably know someone who has.
When we combine one point with several others, we are harnessing the synergistic effect of the points to communicate to all of your body's systems and prompting them, reminding them, and helping them do what they do naturally:
- be healthy - work properly - heal and grow!
All of this without adverse side-effects too!
- be healthy - work properly - heal and grow!
All of this without adverse side-effects too!
I love working with Miranda. She really listens to what's going on with me and I've never had another acupuncturist so willing to communicate with me the way I need. She really makes me feel safe and I love going to see her. -EF
Acupuncture FAQ's
How does acupuncture work?
Just the very nature of carefully and painlessly inserting the acupuncture needle creates a shift in the body's nervous system. Of course it does - there's a foreign object now connected to your body causing your body to communicate differently on many levels, the least of which is the nervous system. Every point has a specific function and when we combine them together we harness the synchronistic effect of those points to communicate with the body on all levels - energetically, emotionally, physically, and systemically. This is why acupuncture can create shifts in the body, not only on a physical level where it can eliminate pain as well as bring back nerve function where it's been lost, like in Bell's palsy, but it also helps those with anxiety and depression feel better and think better.
What will the first session be like?
For the first session I recommend coming 10 minutes ahead of time to fill out the paperwork and get settled.
I will take you to my treatment room and discuss your health and what you want to work on. You will then lie on the table, face up and fully clothed, and I will begin with a BodyTalk session where we ask the body what's it needs. I will tell you what comes up and what we will be working on for the session. I will then ask the body what acupuncture points it wants to have. I will place the points, making sure you are completely comfortable, and then step out of the room for a few minutes, usually not longer than 15 minutes. We will then remove those points, turn you over to place the points on the back of your body. I will then leave the room again, usually not longer than 15 minutes. I will then come back in the room, remove the points and we will discuss a health plan for your care, the next steps to take, and answer any of your questions.
I will take you to my treatment room and discuss your health and what you want to work on. You will then lie on the table, face up and fully clothed, and I will begin with a BodyTalk session where we ask the body what's it needs. I will tell you what comes up and what we will be working on for the session. I will then ask the body what acupuncture points it wants to have. I will place the points, making sure you are completely comfortable, and then step out of the room for a few minutes, usually not longer than 15 minutes. We will then remove those points, turn you over to place the points on the back of your body. I will then leave the room again, usually not longer than 15 minutes. I will then come back in the room, remove the points and we will discuss a health plan for your care, the next steps to take, and answer any of your questions.
What if I'm afraid of needles?
I love working with people who are hesitant to try acupuncture because of this reason! Needles can be scary and based on past experiences, very painful! I get it and I understand! I had to work through a needle phobia myself - while I was in acupuncture school too!
The needles are far more scary in our heads than they actually are in real life. For some people they want to know all the details and in this case we will talk about why you're afraid of needles, what they actually look like and feel like, how and where they will be used and what you might feel when they are placed. For others, they don't want to a know anything, see or touch them ahead of time. It's all ok and perfect!
Once the needles are placed, 99% of people say, "Oh! That wasn't so bad!" or "Wow! I didn't even feel it!" Then they take a deep breath and relax on the table.
I've worked with plenty of people who now frequently use and love acupuncture who were once like you! (And a few of them are still scared and they come anyway because they know it works!)
The needles are far more scary in our heads than they actually are in real life. For some people they want to know all the details and in this case we will talk about why you're afraid of needles, what they actually look like and feel like, how and where they will be used and what you might feel when they are placed. For others, they don't want to a know anything, see or touch them ahead of time. It's all ok and perfect!
Once the needles are placed, 99% of people say, "Oh! That wasn't so bad!" or "Wow! I didn't even feel it!" Then they take a deep breath and relax on the table.
I've worked with plenty of people who now frequently use and love acupuncture who were once like you! (And a few of them are still scared and they come anyway because they know it works!)
How many sessions will I need?
This answer varies from person to person. The quick answer is that we ask your body what it needs and go from there. Because illness is usually progressive and we often have a lifetime of patterns to address, acupuncture and BodyTalk are not a 'one and done' treatment. I recommend committing to a 4-6 session series so we can address the foundation changes that are often needed to get you feeling better. Its very common for the first few treatments to be close together and then space out after you start noticing shifts and changes.
Because BodyTalk works with the Body's innate wisdom and is based on what's "priority' for the body, we have to respect the body's wisdom when it comes to what's needed next. Your body is smart and knows what it needs, it just requires that we listen to it.
Because BodyTalk works with the Body's innate wisdom and is based on what's "priority' for the body, we have to respect the body's wisdom when it comes to what's needed next. Your body is smart and knows what it needs, it just requires that we listen to it.
Can acupuncture really help me get pregnant?
Acupuncture is all about making you as healthy as you can be, and when you're healthy, your fertility increases too!
How does acupuncture relieve pain?
Studies have shown that getting acupuncture increases the body's production of endorphins and dopamine, as well as lowering blood pressure and taking you out of flight or fight mode. These reactions increase your body's ability to initiate and perform it's own healing processes, which contributes to you experiencing less pain and more wellness.
How long do the effects of acupuncture last?
The short answer: it depends. It depends on how long you have your health condition and how severe it is for you. Some people do experience a significant improvement in symptoms over night, but for most people it takes a little bit more time. Ideally we see improvement for a few days after the session, and as we continue our sessions your effects will last longer and longer allowing us to spread out our sessions and eventually you are only coming in for maintenance care.
can acupuncture help my morning sickness?
Acupuncture works great for relieving morning sickness, and in fact there are specific points to address that specifically. We will also look at how else we can keep you and baby healthy throughout your pregnancy.
How does acupuncture help my back pain?
Acupuncture works to address why you are having back pain in the first place. Some people have back pain because the surrounding muscles are weak. Some people have back pain because the bones have become inflexible. Some people have back pain because of overwork. In these situations we work to make the muscles stronger, the bones more flexible, and release the tension from overwork.
How will i feel after a session?
Most people report feeling very relaxed after a session and the most immediate effect you might experience is sleeping better that night than you have in a long while. The beginning Acupuncture and BodyTalk sessions are resetting your body's system and a good nights sleep is your body's way of processing and integrating the new information from the treatment.
Avoid strenuous activity after your sessions so you can maximize and extend the healing benefits.
Avoid strenuous activity after your sessions so you can maximize and extend the healing benefits.
I saw Miranda because my arthritis was causing me a lot of pain. I've seen a few doctors and have been on a lot of medications, but after 2 sessions with Miranda my arthritis went down significantly and it only bothers me once in while now. I continue to see her to help manage my weight. -BW