New York Acupuncturist

People often say to me, “I tried acupuncture once, but it didn’t really help me.” Well that’s like saying “I tried therapy once, and it didn’t really help me.” Finding a therapist or a hairdresser is more about the match, the interpersonal communication, and their skill. Just because you had a terrible haircut once, doesn’t mean that getting your haircut is not for you. The same is true with acupuncture.

In acupuncture there is a wide variety in the ways people are taught, learn, and practice. There are many different styles of acupuncture. The style of acupuncture that is most commonly taught and practiced in the U.S. is called TCM. This “Traditional Chinese Medicine” is actually a watered down version of acupuncture coming out of post-communist China.

When Mao took over, in addition to kicking out the experts of every field, so he could make new experts that he could control, he wished to modernize Chinese Medicine. In this new modernization, the focus of Chinese Medicine was put on Chinese Herbs. Chinese Herbs, like Western Pharmacology is lucrative, because you are selling a product to consumers, and isn’t that what communist China is really all about? “Made In China.”

With the new focus of Chinese Medicine on Herbology, Acupuncture was forced into a lesser more supportive role in the treatment.

This modernized Chinese Medicine, TCM, is what was exported to the U.S. when China finally opened its borders in the 1970’s. This is what most Acupuncturists in the U.S. learn and practice. In fact, it is what our national board exam is based on, so you have to learn it.

But there are more dynamic styles of acupuncture out there, that stand on their own two feet, as a powerful treatment modality. At the Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City, you learn three distinct styles of Acupuncture: A Japanese Style, a modern American Trigger Point Style, and the Chinese Style. You are also fortunate enough to work closely with the founders of these styles, Kiiko Matsumoto and Mark Seem.

As an Acupuncturist who mixes three styles in my practice, I am able to approach any situation from three different directions. Acupuncture can be a lot like problem solving, figuring out what works best. In my experience I draw on the strengths of three different styles of Acupuncture when treating my patients. I believe this is the strength of a well-rounded acupuncturist.

www.rootbranchacupuncture.com

One of the biggest problems that all New Yorkers face every day is stress. Stress complicates every situation, and exacerbates any pain or chronic condition you may have, like that tension in your neck and shoulders.
While it would be great to get acupuncture, a massage, meditate, go to yoga or the gym everyday, that doesn’t always fit into our busy schedules. But we do all commute everyday, whether we like it or not. So instead of tuning out with your ipod or nodding off, take that time to get in touch with yourself and let go of some of that built up stress.
Close your eyes, take a deep breath and release it slowly. Now repeat. With every exhale, concentrate on letting out your belly, you know, the one you keep sucked in all day preventing you from breathing deeply and fully. Now drop your shoulders, relax your jaw, and try to let go of that furrow between your eyebrows.
Its not as easy as it sounds. You may succeed in relaxing, but then two minutes later you may find that you are all tight again. That’s why practice is so important, even with something as simple as relaxing. The subway ride is a perfect reminder to release a little bit of that built up stress every day. Your fellow riders will appreciate your calm energy.
Look for other reminders at work too. Maybe every time the phone rings, instead of jumping to alert, make that ring a mental cue to take one deep breath before answering the phone. This newfound calm may even relax the person on the other line.

www.rootbranchacupuncture.com