Acupuncture is not to be categorized as “New Age” complementary alternative medicine. Evidence of acupuncture dates back as far as 6,000 years ago in China. Bones and stones were used (don’t worry, things have changed a lot since then). The first book is written that unequivocally described an organized system of diagnosis and treatment which is recognized as acupuncture is The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, dating from about 100 BCE.
Single-use sterile needles are used. Scared of needles? Don’t be! These needles are very tiny and your practitioner is skilled with insertions. A hypodermic needle (what doctors use for shots) is on average 30x bigger than an acupuncture needle. At PBAM we like to refer to them more as “magic pins” as the results can be quite magical!
There are 5 basic principles of acupuncture:
- There are 14 major meridians that run along the course of the body.
- Qi (chee) circulates thru these meridians, fueling cellular metabolism and removing blockages in the body
- Qi is the vital force and its balanced, unimpeded flow is critical to good health
- Any misdirection, blockage, or other derangement of the amount, flow, or balance of Qi may result in pain, dysfunction, and ill health
- With acupuncture needles, or other means, the acupuncturist stimulates certain points (acupoints) along the course of the meridian. Such stimulation helps to restore the normal balance of and flow of Qi so organs and bodily systems can work together in harmony. This sets the stage for the body to repair itself and maintain its own health.
These 5 principles applied to sporty injury get phenomenal results! It is not uncommon for a patient to come in with a pain at an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale, leave the office at a 4 or lower.
Acupuncture also helps to speed recovery, short duration of healing time, and improve performance. If you are a professional athlete, semi-pro, weekend warrior, or just enjoying being active, acupuncture can help you achieve your personal best!
Samantha is by far the most amazing acupuncturist I’ve ever been to! She has solved every injury I’ve had, including completely getting rid of old ones. Being a professional aerialist is tough on the body, but Samantha keeps me going strong and functioning optimally. She is also a high level athlete herself, and her embodied knowledge is such a plus. Her treatment process is extremely unique, and her knowledge spans wide to where she can tailor fit the ideal treatment from different angles. She’s the perfect combination of efficient and methodical, where she will get a lot done in the session but also takes time to check in and take time where necessary. I always look forward to our sessions. She’s also an absolute gem of a human being! I couldn’t recommend her enough!!
Samantha has been my go-to therapist to help recover and prepare for all of my races. She’s the kind of therapist that understands an athlete’s need to push themselves, and most important, she can tell where the line is when that athlete should pull back. What I like most about Samantha’s treatments is that she takes the time to understand long-term goals and can readily identify the hurdles. She supports my ambitions with a deliberate and holistic approach: acupuncture with mindfulness about how nutrition and stress (physical and mental) can play a part in achieving my personal best. I highly recommend!-