medical acupuncture

Cincinnati’s Leading Physician-Led Acupuncture Practice

 

The Alliance Institute medical doctors are the founding members of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture.  The Institute has the largest staff of doctor-led medical acupuncturists in Cincinnati, all trained by the Helms Medical Institute (through UCLA and Stanford University).  Some of the physicians have trained internationally (in Japan) and all do continuing acupuncture training with experts from many parts of the USA and Canada.

WHAT IS MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE?

Medical acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to naturally heal itself and improve its functioning. During an acupuncture treatment, very fine single-use, disposable needles are inserted into various points on the body. Sometimes heat or mild electrical stimulation is applied to the site of the needle insertion.

HOW DOES MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE WORK?

 

The classical Chinese explanation is that there are channels of energy running through the body and over its surface in regular patterns. These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction to the movement in these meridians dams up the energy on one side, while cutting off the supply downstream. The meridians can be influenced by acupuncture needles applied at certain points. The needles unblock the obstructions and reestablish the regular flow of energy.
 
The scientific explanation of acupuncture is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain or trigger the release of other chemicals or hormones which influence the body's own internal regulating system. The needles also reduce muscle spasm and cause a healing response at the site of insertion. New fMRI (functional MRI) scans show a redistribution of blood flow in the brain.
 
The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture stimulates the body's natural healing abilities, and promotes physical and emotional well-being.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE PRACTICED AT THE ALLIANCE INSTITUTE FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE?

 

Our acupuncturists are all medical doctors – i.e., they can assess you from a medical standpoint, as well as using traditional acupuncture diagnoses. Our medical acupuncturists are continually monitoring and sharing the effectiveness of various acupuncture approaches – so after 10 years, in their current location, and more than 10,000 treatments, they have vast expertise in this area. Various techniques pioneered at the Alliance Institute allow our doctors to quickly understand what protocols to use when seeing a new patient, thereby creating more effective results for the patient. Our medical acupuncturists have also pioneered the use of adding other modalities at the same time as medical acupuncture. One typical addition is Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM).

What does this mean for you?

•  More comprehensive care!
• Quicker & better results!

WHAT CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED BY MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE?

Medical acupuncture can influence three areas of health: promotion of health and well-being, prevention of illness, and treatment of various medical conditions. Our medical acupuncturists will do all three at each treatment.

 

While medical acupuncture is often associated with pain control, it actually has much broader applications. Medical acupuncture can be effective as the only treatment used or as the support to other modalities of medical treatment. The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture for the treatment of a wide range of medical problems.

Conditions commonly treated at our office:

CANCER

• Adjunctive treatment with traditional care
• Chemotherapy induced side effects (e.g. nausea, mucoritis peripheral neuropathy)
• Radiation induced side effects (e.g., dry mouth, colitis, cystitis, pain)

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (CFS)

 

FATIGUE

 

FEMALE ISSUES:

 

• Infertility
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Menstrual Problems
• Menopausal symptoms
• Libido
• Sexual health

GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS:

 

• Nausea
• Morning sickness
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• GERD (reflux symptoms)
• Vomiting
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's ulcerative colitis)

HIVES

 

INSOMNIA

 

MALE ISSUES:

 

• BPH (Benign Prostrate Hypertrophy)
• Prostadynia
• Libido
• Sexual Health

MENIERE'S DISEASE (VERTIGO)

NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS:

 

• Headaches
• Chronic daily headaches
• Tension headaches
• Migraines
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Bell's Palsy
• Neuralgia
• Post-herpatic neuralgia (Shingles)
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Sciatica
• Radiculopathy

PAIN

 

• Acute sports pain/injury
• Abdominal pain
• Arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid)
• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Sacro-ilitis (Ankylosing Spondylitis)
• Bulging disc/disc injury/disc herniation

MUSCULAR PROBLEMS

 

• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer's elbow
• Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)
• Rotator cuff impingement

RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS

 

• Allergies (seasonal environmental allergies)
• Sinusitis
• Sore throat
• Asthma
• Recurrent chest infections

URINARY PROBLEMS

 

• Interstitial cystitis
• Kidney Stones

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

 

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress Reduction
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)

SMOKING CESSATION

WELLNESS

...and Many More!

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT? DOES IT HURT?

 

Single-use, fine, hair-like needles will be placed in various therapeutic areas of your body.  Most people hardly feel them being inserted; some may experience a mild pinch.  Once the needles are in place, you will not be aware of them.  You will listen to calming music and rest (perhaps even fall asleep!); the needles are left in place anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes.  So, please ensure you allow yourself one to one and one-half hours to benefit from your treatment.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS OF MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE?

Usually not. Most times patients will feel deeply rested and replenished; sometimes even quite euphoric.  Occasionally a bruise will develop where a needle was inserted.  These are usually small, of no concern and heal quickly.

Our needles are disposable and single-use, thus risk of infection is minimized.  Puncture of an underlying organ is a very remote possibility.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?

The course of treatment will vary from one individual to the next. Our approach is completely individualized. Treatments are usually divided into a treatment or replenishing phase, and then a maintenance phase. In general, complex or long-standing conditions will require more intensive treatment. One treatment per week for several months may be necessary. For acute problems, fewer visits are usually required. Our medical acupuncturists look for treatment effectiveness. If treatments are not working, or they don’t believe they will work for you, then they don’t treat you.

ARE THERE ANY INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW AFTER RECEIVING A TREATMENT?

 

In order to maximize your treatment, we recommend that you avoid the the following for 6 t 24 hours:

• Heavy exercise or exertion
• Alcohol
• Heavy meals
• Sexual activity
• Food that is very hot, very cold or spicy.

If applicable, you should continue to take any prescription medicine as directed by your personal physician.