What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a safe, effective and painless method of restoring the body’s natural healing process that originated in China over 2,000 years ago.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of sterile, single-use, disposable needles into specific points on the body, chosen for their particular effect. In Western terms, the insertion of needles stimulates the nervous system, which in turn causes increased circulation, decreased inflammation, pain relief and immune system stimulation. The Eastern explanation for how acupuncture works relates to the Chinese Medical Theory that energy (called qi) flows through the body and can become blocked or out of balance, causing a variety of physical symptoms. Acupuncture can help correct the flow of qi and put your body back into balance.

WHAT DOES ACUPUNCTURE TREAT?

Many symptoms can emerge when the energy in your body is out of balance. Headaches, joint and muscle pain, menstrual and fertility issues, digestive problems, allergies and more can be treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture decreases inflammation and accelerates the body’s ability to heal itself. It also helps to release energy that may be stuck or enhance low levels of energy.

WHO PERFORMS ACUPUNCTURE?

It is very important to receive acupuncture from a Licensed Acupuncturist. This ensures that your practitioner has received the highest level of training possible and is an expert in their field. They have gone through a rigorous four-year graduate program in Traditional Chinese Medicine at an accredited school, done over 2,000 hours of supervised clinical training, passed a uniform national board examination, and was successfully licensed to perform acupuncture by the Board of Registration in Medicine.

You will find others such as some Physical Therapists, Chiropractors and Massage Therapists performing acupuncture under the term “DRY NEEDLING”. We must highly caution you against this practice. Their training is extremely limited – needing only to take a one-weekend course and never obtaining a license to insert needles – compared to 2,000+ hours of training and a licensing exam required by Licensed Acupuncturists. What they are doing is inserting acupuncture needles into your body without the license required by the State of Massachusetts to do so. Proponents of “dry needling” will tell you that it is not acupuncture that they are doing simply because they are going for a specific biomedical result in muscle tissue, and are not following Traditional Chinese Medicine principles as Licensed Acupuncturists do. On the contrary, Licensed Acupuncturists are not only trained in ancient Chinese Medicine principles. A significant portion of our study is in western pathophysiology and on the biomedical affects of our practice. There are countless biomedical acupuncture studies that have been performed and Licensed Acupuncturists are trained even more comprehensively to get specific affects from their needling of soft tissue. In summary – what “dry needling” practitioners are doing is the illegal practice of acupuncture – inserting acupuncture needles into your body, with neither the medical license required or the comprehensive study deemed necessary to do so by the Board of Registration in Medicine. If you’re interested in receiving a muscular release treatment with acupuncture needles, please go to a Licensed Acupuncturist!

WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN I COME FOR ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT?

Your first acupuncture appointment will be scheduled for 90 minutes and will include a thorough health history evaluation and your first treatment. After your first visit, it’s often advised that you receive follow-up treatments with some regular frequency (usually once to twice per week for a few weeks). The results from acupuncture are cumulative, and it’s necessary to keep the treatments close together at first so that you improve your health condition healing condition as quickly and effectively as possible. After this initial phase of care, patients usually taper off their treatments into a maintenance phase that works for them. For some this is every other week, for some it’s once per month. Acupuncture is extremely gentle and treatments are a time of deep rest and relaxation.

Have a question for us?
Call today!
508.853.7500


Meet our Licensed Acupuncturist, Jennifer Caron, Lic. Ac., MAc.

Licensed Acupuncturist, Jennifer Caron, Lic. Ac., MAc.

Jennifer is a Licensed Acupuncturist, and the founder of Body Therapeutics. She is a graduate of the New England School of Acupuncture – the oldest and one of the most renowned acupuncture schools in the US. She is trained in both Chinese and Japanese styles of acupuncture… Learn More about Jennifer

MRBollar_Headshot

Licensed Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbalist, Michele Recore-Bollar, Lic. Ac., MSTOM

Michele is licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine to practice Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Michele graduated from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York with a Masters of Science Degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM)… Learn More about Michele

AliBuzzeo

Licensed Acupuncturist, Alexandra (Ali) Buzzeo, Lic. Ac., MAc.

Alexandra (Ali) Buzzeo is a Licensed Acupuncturist, and received her Master of Acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture. She is nationally board certified in acupuncture through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)…. Learn More about Ali

KarinaBelenoCarney-Headshot

Licensed Acupuncturist, Karina Beleno Carney, Lic. Ac., FABORM

Karina Carney is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner in Massachusetts. She graduated with a Masters Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM) from the AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, and also studied abroad at the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Teaching Hospital in Chengdu, SiChuan, China. Learn More about Karina

What Our Clients Are Saying: