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How To Choose An Acupuncturist

Choosing an acupuncturist can be a difficult decision. Many people do not know enough about it to understand what they should look for. In the Syracuse area there are several acupuncturists, but who should you choose and why?  The best way to make your choice is to find out as much as you can about your acupuncturist and his/her treatment philosophy.  If someone you know and trust recommended that acupuncturist it is always a good start. If you did not get a word of mouth referral the next best thing is to call a few acupuncturists. You will spend a fair amount of time with your acupuncturist, if they do not communicate well over the phone then they probably won’t communicate well in person either.

Education, in my opinion, is an important part of the acupuncture treatment.  A good acupuncturist does more than just stick needles in you and then sends you home. They will talk to you about your health issues and educate you about it so that you can make good choices everyday to help promote your overall wellness. Many people assume that the only good acupuncturists are Chinese. Their training is not necessarily superior and if you can not communicate with them well how successful will they be at helping your achieve your goals?

Value is also an important part of the decision making process.  Notice I did not say cost, since value and cost are two different issues. This can sometimes be hard to compare unless you go to see more than one acupuncturist. If you have been to an acupuncturist and did not feel like you got value from it then I recommend calling a few others and comparing how they differ. If you have insurance coverage it is also a good idea to verify that an acupuncturist will take your insurance before scheduling your first appointment.

Personality can be a big factor in choosing your acupuncturist. As I mentioned above you will spend a fair amount of time with your acupuncturist so it is important that it is someone you can trust and get along with.

Unfortunately people sometimes have bad experiences with acupuncturists. I’ve heard several disappointing stories from patients who had been to other acupuncturists in the area. It is important that acupuncture is judged on its own merits and not judged because of a bad practitioner. If you had a bad experience at a dentist would you give up on dentistry and oral hygiene completely or find a different dentist? If you are one of the unlucky few people who had a bad experience elsewhere and want to still give acupuncture a try please call me and we can discuss your concerns.

I hope you have found the information on this page and the rest of my site informative. If you think you are ready to take the next step please give me a call at (315) 569-6579 so we can discuss your health goals and answer any other questions you may have.

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The Definitive Guide to Chronic Fatigue and Alternative Treatments

sleepy-owlChronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a mysterious condition. There is no known cause. While the symptoms can be debilitating, there is no test to diagnosis it. Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with CFS. And most sufferers are between 25 and 45 years old, although there are cases in childhood and middle age.

Some people with CFS live active lives while 25% of the cases are disabled. Sometimes the disease is persistent and other times there is a pattern of relapse and remission. No one knows how many cases there are of CFS because The CFIDS Association of America estimates that fewer than 20 percent of CFS patients in the United States have been properly diagnosed.

CFS has several names. It is called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS).  No matter what it is called, the most effective way to manage chronic fatigue is with alternative treatments. continue reading »

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What Five Star Restaurants Teach You about Healthy Snacks for Kids

ants-on-a-log4A fine meal at a good restaurant has many details. It uses fresh ingredients and interesting recipes. There is a variety of foods and the presentation is pleasing.

When food is prepared thoughtfully and beautifully, even the most basic meal becomes an experience. You can’t wait to try it. Once you start eating, you want to savor it.

But getting your kids to eat healthy snacks can feel like the opposite. Your child may balk at anything he thinks is healthy. She may be picky or prefer sweet or fatty foods.

You probably wouldn’t say that your child loves the snacks so much they can’t wait to eat them. And savoring them? Not likely.

But sometimes, the solution is easier than it seems.

Think about your snacks like a fine chef. Find ways to prepare your food beautifully. Make common foods seem unusual. Add interesting flavors or combinations.

Sometimes just changing the food a little bit can make your child dig in.

continue reading »

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How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy with Acupuncture

smilingWhen you think of taking care of your teeth, do you think of acupuncture?

You probably don’t and that’s not unusual. Most people believe that brushing, flossing and a trip to the dentist for a cleaning twice a year is a good dental routine. And for most, it is.

But for some people, that routine doesn’t keep their teeth in good shape. Despite good dental hygiene, they continue to have dental issues.

And for others, just going to the dentist is stressful and difficult. It’s hard to get good dental care when you dread your trip to the dentist.

Fortunately, acupuncture can support dental health and make your trip to the dentist easier. continue reading »

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Sticking to your New Year’s Resolution: The Trick is Not What You Think

new-years-resolution-1_lIt’s New Year’s again.  It’s time to make a resolution.

And you know the drill. You set goals.  You work on them for a couple of weeks.  You begin to flag.

Many times you give up by February.

Your New Year’s resolution becomes a distant memory until the next New Year’s when you feel slightly guilty and begin the whole process again.

If each year you make a resolution and each year you break it, something has to change.  The only way this year can be different is if you do something different.

The trick is not changing your resolution.  The trick to achieving your resolution is to use an entirely new plan to reach it. continue reading »

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Healthy New Year!

This time of year a lot of people are hoping to lose the “holiday pounds”.  You know what I mean, those extra pounds and inches that started to show up like uninvited guests to your holiday party.  Losing weight is not difficult, but figuring out how to do it safely and effectively is. Proper diet and nutrition are the backbone of proper weight loss but you can give yourself a leg up with acupuncture. East Side Acupuncture now offers a special weight loss package that combines acupuncture, herbal medicine, and patient education to help you lose weight. Call today to get more information.

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How to Unhook Your Logical Brain and Gain New Insights on Last Year

You’ve probably heard of right-brained vs. left-brained activities.

Right-brained activities are creative, intuitive and subjective.  Left-brained activities are linear, analytical and logical.

It has been a popular myth that people prefer right-brained or left-brained activities because they have a dominant side of the brain.  It turns out that while certain activities are wired on one side of the brain (for example language tends to be on the left), people use each side of the brain equally.

So if the brain is wired for both activities, why is creative thinking so hard? continue reading »

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Interesting Ways to Help Your Kids Exercise in Winter

snow-drawingIt’s cold and dark outside.

You come home with the kids and all you want to do is snuggle on the couch.

Snuggling in winter may be fun (and I’m not going to say you shouldn’t snuggle) but your kids need something more.  In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), kids need at least 1 hour of physical activity—every day.  And depending on your children’s school program and sports activities, they may not even get close.

There are many benefits.  Exercise helps kids feel less stressed, have higher self-esteem, focus at school, sleep better and maintain a healthy weight.  You’ve probably noticed that parenting children who get enough exercise is also easier than parenting those who don’t.

Winter is a time for yin activities.  It’s healthy to be introspective and quiet.  However, children need physical activity—even in the winter.

But on a cold, dark day, how do you get your kids to exercise? continue reading »

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The Holiday Survival Toolkit: How to Not Drink at Parties (And Still Have Fun)

cocktailThe holiday season is upon us and we all know what that means—parties.

Parties at work, parties at church, parties at school, fundraiser parties, caroling parties, Secret Santa parties…

It’s the season of so many parties that we long for a weekend night with nothing scheduled.

All the parties can lead to excess, but the biggest party of the season, New Year’s Eve, can be the topper.  Many people drink so much that it can take days to feel healthy again. And even if you don’t drink to drunkenness, your extra alcohol intake in the month of December can take its toll.

I think it’s great to celebrate and enjoy the company of your loved ones, but I don’t want to see you sick.  Find out how to not drink (or at least drink less) this party season. continue reading »

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The Best (and Worst) Thanksgiving Foods

thanksgiving-spreadThanksgiving is a great meal.  Friends and family come together to give thanks and celebrate the harvest season–

…and to overeat.

All of us know the feeling of eating too much, too heavy, too rich.  When we should be enjoying our time with loved ones, we are uncomfortable.  We exasperate our health conditions and catch a cold.  We put on weight and feel lethargic.

I’m not going to tell you to make dramatic changes to your Thanksgiving meal.  Usually that doesn’t work—and besides, it’s no fun.

Instead I suggest you just make small choices.  Pick one food instead of the other.  Make little positive choices and they’ll add up to a healthier, more enjoyable meal. continue reading »

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