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Acupuncture

Can You Use Acupuncture for Weight Loss?

weight-loss-03102014Everyone is looking for the secret to weight loss, without falling victim to the latest gimmicks. With so many different opinions about how to lose weight, it can be difficult to tell what will really work.

Fortunately there is a technique for weight loss that has been tested for centuries:  acupuncture.

This technique is safe, sound and reliable. And, even more exciting, using acupuncture for weight loss helps you lose weight in several different ways. continue reading »

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.

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

6 Facts to Know When Using Acupuncture to Quit Smoking

No_SmokingSmoking is a strong, complicated addiction.  Quitting smoking is no small task and you will need lots of support to be successful.  You need the best tools to help with the physical and emotional symptoms, and acupuncture is a great resource to help you succeed.

Here are the 6 things you should know about using acupuncture to quit smoking.  continue reading »

Laser Acupuncture

At East Side Acupuncture we try to incorporate modern knowledge with ancient wisdom. One way that we are doing that is through the addition of laser acupuncture to the services we offer.

Laser acupuncture
Lasers we use at East Side Acupuncture

What is laser acupuncture?

Laser acupuncture is a needle-less technique that uses low level lasers (aka “cold lasers”) to stimulate the acupuncture points. They are called low level lasers because they have a relatively low output, and are sometimes called cold lasers because the output is not strong enough to create any heat.

Laser acupuncture is a great option for anyone who is afraid of needles and unwilling to try traditional acupuncture and for children. If you have been trying to get a friend or family member to try acupuncture but they have been resistant encourage them to try laser acupuncture.

Another great advantage is as an alternative to needling in sensitive areas such as the foot for treating plantar fasciitis, neuropathy, or foot pain.

Laser acupuncture will be available to patients at both our Syracuse office and our Oneida office. Rates are the same as traditional acupuncture.

Honest Answers to Your Top Acupuncture Questions

meridian-man-headA few weeks ago, I asked for your most pressing acupuncture questions.  I’ve compiled the most common questions and I noticed one distinct trend—there are a lot of questions about the needles.  Some of you must be nervous about getting needled!

If these acupuncture answers don’t put your fears to rest, call me for more information.  Acupuncture brings good health, relaxation and vitality.  I don’t want fear to stop you from getting treatment. continue reading »

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