What We Offer

Acupuncture is the insertion of single-use, filiform, sterile needles into the skin. It is the most recognized form of Chinese Medicine in the west and is commonly used in conjunction with other healing therapies such as cupping, Gua Sha, Tui Na and herbal formulations. The acupuncture points used during a treatment have particular functions to heal a patient’s condition(s) and restore the patient to a homeostatic or balanced state.

The micro-trauma created by the needles induces a physiological and biochemical response in the body to vasodilate the blood vessels, allowing red blood cells to nourish the area with fresh oxygen and nutrients. A natural immune response of white blood cells floods the body and releases hormones such as endorphins and adenosine to mitigate pain. Research has found that acupuncture helps regulate serotonin, a vital chemical and neurotransmitter that equalizes one’s mood.

During treatment, you may feel a distention, pulling, soreness, achiness, or itching at site of needle insertion. This is normal and known as in Chinese Medicine as the arrival of Qi – pronounced “chee.” It is a great indicator that the treatment is having an effect. You may feel slightly drowsy or quite energized post-treatment, so it is best to rest and recover for maximum benefit.

Please expect the initial consultation to last about 90 minutes. We’ll review your full medical history, diagnose your pulse and tongue, deliver a personalized treatment for condition presentations, and review best options for continuing care.

This treatment is typically for those with sports-related injuries that require an additional modality for healing and recovery, but you don’t need to be an athlete to receive this method of acupuncture. Examples of injury include muscle spasms, muscle tightness, sprains, strains, breaks, repetitive injuries, surgery recovery and chronic injuries.

Price includes one supplemental therapy of cupping, Gua Sha, EAM™, Pointer XL, etc. Add-on supplemental therapies (e.g. cupping + EAM™) cost an additional $15 per session.

Electro-Acupuncture Medicine, EAM™, is an incredibly measured system that uses electric stimulation on the needles to encourage the natural release of particular hormones or pain suppressors and stimulate neurotransmitter function. Conditions must be treated with a specific amplitude and frequency in order to achieve the desired result. EAM™ can be used for internal diseases, psycho-emotional disorders, and musculoskeletal dysfunction. It is cutting-edge medicine in the field of TCM.

Most graduate students, like myself, became familiar with electro-acupuncture within the curriculum as a supplemental technique. While we learned the basics, we did not become proficient in the exploration of why certain amplitudes and frequencies must be used for various disorders. EAM™ training far surpasses superficial education and dives deep as to why only certain frequencies and amplitudes will present desirable outcomes. It is an exceptionally calculated method and can be used for internal diseases, psycho-emotional disorders, and musculoskeletal dysfunction.

Electro-acupuncture has been used since the 1970’s but not until recently has in-depth research been conducted to measure the true efficacy of EAM™. Recent studies have found EAM™ to be extremely beneficial for swiftly relieving pain, and it’s on the forefront of becoming a huge factor in decreasing opioid abuse. Neurosurgeon and immunologist Dr. Kevin Tracey has an excellent presentation on how bioelectric medicine is changing the future of medicine to treat a multitude of ailments. You can view his talk below.

I am thrilled to be offering EAM™ at Heights Acupuncture & Wellness Clinic, and have trained directly under Dr. Jeremy Steiner, DAOM, of whom is at the forefront of this medicine. I am currently the only licensed acupuncturist in the 610-loop to be offering EAM™.

Neuro-Acupuncture is a modern technique that combines Chinese scalp acupuncture with Western neuroanatomy and neurophysiology knowledge to target function areas mapped in the brain. This technique has been proved to be very effective in the recovery of stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease among other neurological disorders. It has been successfully employed for pain management, especially pain such as phantom pain, complex regional pain, and residual limb pain.

Cupping is a supplemental therapy, often used in conjunction with acupuncture, for a variety of maladies. The cups suction superficial layers of muscle in order to relax rigid tissue, encourage fresh blood flow to the area, disperse stagnation, and stimulate the lymphatic system for rapid detoxification of cellular waste. By bringing stagnant blood and fluids to the surface of the skin, healthy circulation is restored, pain reduced, and chronic injuries heal due to fresh oxygen and nutrients now flooding the tissue.

Cupping may be applied stationary or sliding, depending on your constitution and condition, to aid in expedition of the healing process. It is best to see a licensed professional with advanced training for this therapy as an inexperienced practitioner may produce burns, blisters or scarring.

Circular marks, similar in appearance to a hickey, may remain for several days after a session. This is normal and is a great indicator that deep stagnation was present. The level of stagnation will be indicated by the depth of color. Chronic injuries will likely require multiple sessions. Each subsequent session should produce lighter markings, indicating that the deep stagnation is dispersing, circulation is improving, and fresh blood and oxygen are able to nourish the area.

After a cupping session it is best not to shower 60 minutes post-treatment. Avoid drastic temperature fluctuations, and make sure to hydrate in order to expedite the detoxification process.

Cupping may be used for, but is not limited to:

• Chronic pain
• Bronchial disorders such as allergies and asthma
• Onset of cold or flu
• Stress related tension
• Migraines
• Infertility and gynecological disorders
• Cosmetic treatment for cellulite or facial rejuvenation

Cupping is not appropriate for those with:

• skin inflammation, ulcers, and lesions
• edema
• varicose veins
• convulsions
• hemophilia or spontaneous bleeding

Those under the age of 6 and over 70 years should take precaution with cupping as the skin can be more sensitive to this healing therapy. Pregnant women should avoid cupping on the abdomen and lower back throughout their pregnancy.

Gua Sha (pronounced “gwa sha”), also known as “coining” or “scraping”, is a healing treatment using a Chinese spoon, coin covered in silk, or custom tool that is rubbed on lubricated skin to produce a petechia or discoloration. This technique forces blood cells to pass the capillary walls by using gentle pressure without damaging the vasculature or adjacent tissues. Gua Sha improves circulation, expedites healing, stimulates metabolic processing, and stimulates your immune response.

The discoloration associated with a Gua Sha treatment can range from bright red to a darker red to purple or black in color. Bright red is more common for those with acute injuries due to the injury being somewhat superficial and has not seeped deep within the tissue. A darker color is indicative of a deep seated and chronic issue within the body. Those with poor circulation may find that the sha, or discoloration, will take several days to dissipate.

Gua Sha is valuable in the treatment of pain and the prevention of acute or chronic disorders. It treats a variety of ailments, including tension and tightness, injury, onset of cold or flu, heart and lung dysfunction, digestive disorders, lassitude, reproductive and urinary dysfunction, cosmetic care and more!

After a Gua Sha treatment, we advise you to hydrate and be gentle with yourself. Avoid strenuous exercise and drastic temperature fluctuations. The treated area should be kept covered with clothing or a scarf.

Gua Sha is not appropriate for anyone who:

• is pregnant
• is of weak constitution
• has skin inflammation, ulcers, lesions
• is a Hemophiliac
• has infectious diseases
• has late stage diabetes
• has a malignant tumor(s)
• has a bone fracture

Heights Acupuncture & Wellness Clinic carries a wide variety of Chinese medicinal herbs in the form of capsules, tinctures, teas, topicals, and foot soaks. We’ll advise the appropriate formula based on your constitution and condition presentations, while also accounting for any medications you may be taking. It is vital to seek professional advice for herbal formulas as some have contraindications for certain disorders.

Each product is made of the highest quality ingredients and only sold to licensed medical professionals. It is not advisable to purchase products online, as you can’t guarantee that they are authentic and contain trustworthy ingredients. I carry Evergreen herbs, which follow the standards of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), established by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO).