Acupuncture Health Insights » About Acupuncture

Acupuncture for Pain Relief

Lynn Jaffee — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:54:27 +0000

As an acupuncturist, I regularly see people in pain; people with arthritis, blown out backs, sprained ankles, sciatica, headaches, and those recovering from surgery. If you’ve ever suffered from a painful condition, you know that your particular pain is unique. It can be dull and achy, sharp and stabbing, throbbing, burning, or it can feel electric. The pain may come and go or be ever-present. It may wake you at night or change with the weather.

What causes pain? There are actually a number . . . → Read More: Acupuncture for Pain Relief

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

Lynn Jaffee — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:48:01 +0000

I can spot people with a fear of needles from a mile away, especially at health fairs, talks, or community events. When they see that I’m an acupuncturist, their eyes meet mine for an instant, then their gaze slides to the floor and they keep on walking. The needle-shy, those people who only think of the needles when someone mentions acupuncture, are often the ones who have had painful shots, blood draws, or some other traumatic medical procedure involving needles.

It’s unfortunate; there are so many people with . . . → Read More: Does Acupuncture Hurt?

Eight Things Your Acupuncturist Should Be Telling You

Lynn Jaffee — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:34:17 +0000

I love people who ask a lot of questions! That person on the phone who has endless questions about acupuncture isn’t annoying me at all; they’re doing their homework before trying out a new practitioner and for most, a new system of healing.

If you’re trying acupuncture for the first time, you want to know if acupuncture can help your particular problem, and that’s a good place to start. There are, however, some other questions that you should also have answered, even if you . . . → Read More: Eight Things Your Acupuncturist Should Be Telling You

Nine Tips for Choosing the Right Acupuncturist

Lynn Jaffee — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:28:26 +0000

If you’ve never had acupuncture before, finding an acupuncturist can feel a little like playing the slots in Vegas—a real gamble. You have decided to try a different kind of medicine, one that feels, um…a little foreign, and you have no clue how to find the right person for you. You don’t know what to expect—will there be beaded curtains, tie dyed wallpaper, funny music, and people walking around in Earth Shoes, or will it look like any other health care clinic?

The simple . . . → Read More: Nine Tips for Choosing the Right Acupuncturist

From Skeptic to Believer: One Woman’s Story

Lynn Jaffee — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:19:18 +0000

I love guest bloggers! The following is a post from Joy Paley, a science and technology writer from Berkeley, CA. After foregoing chemistry research for writing 4 years ago, she’s focused on her passion of making science relevant to the everyday person. You can read her work in The Journal of the American Chemical Society and on An Apple a Day. She’s also not afraid to make herself a human guinea pig for the good of the masses, and she finally gave acupuncture a . . . → Read More: From Skeptic to Believer: One Woman’s Story

Chinese Medicine for the Common Cold

Lynn Jaffee — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:57:25 +0000

Ah choo! It’s not a Chinese phrase, but it may mean that you’re coming down with a cold. We’ve all had them. You’re miserable, but not sick enough to stay home from work. You think your runny nose is finally getting better, but then the whole thing sinks into your chest or you lose your voice. You’re achy, your throat hurts, and you can’t sleep. Life really bites when you have a cold.

So what does Chinese medicine have to offer in the way . . . → Read More: Chinese Medicine for the Common Cold

Can You Afford Not to Have Acupuncture?

Lynn Jaffee — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:45:39 +0000

There was a great article on acupuncture in the New York Times last week. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is on its way to becoming mainstream in this country. However, don’t count of your health insurance to foot the bill, which was the point of the article.

The reality is that some health insurance plans do cover acupuncture, but most do not. Another reality is that many acupuncture practitioners have chosen not to accept health insurance payments for their services. And for good reasons, too, . . . → Read More: Can You Afford Not to Have Acupuncture?

The Healing Process Begins with Listening

Lynn Jaffee — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:10:08 +0000

Several years ago, Tony, a businessman in his early 50’s came to me to be treated for stress and weight issues. In some ways, Tony was larger than life. He was a large man with a commanding presence and a strong voice. He shared with me that in his younger days, he put in his full measure of time on the party circuit. In his past, he struggled with alcohol abuse, but had quit drinking many years ago.

During his first appointment, Tony . . . → Read More: The Healing Process Begins with Listening

Should Chiropractors Perform Acupuncture?

Lynn Jaffee — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:00:36 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I got a call at home from a fundraiser asking for money for the school where I received my master’s degree in Oriental Medicine. I politely told the woman that I would not support the school and I told her why.

You see, the school I attended also trains chiropractors. This is not a problem. The school trains chiropractors to perform acupuncture. This is also not a problem. However, the school trains chiropractors to perform “acupuncture” in 105 hours over . . . → Read More: Should Chiropractors Perform Acupuncture?

Eight Amazing Lessons I've Learned from Being an Acupuncturist

Lynn Jaffee — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:52:39 +0000

I have the best job in the world. As an acupuncturist, I have a parade of lovely, interesting people who come through my clinic looking for help and healing. As an acupuncturist, I get to use the tools of an ancient healing tradition called Chinese medicine. These tools include acupuncture, Chinese herbs, body work, food therapy, and healthy lifestyle traditions.

One of the best parts of what I do is that I learn a little something from each and every patient who comes in . . . → Read More: Eight Amazing Lessons I've Learned from Being an Acupuncturist