Holistic Pain Management

Are you living with pain? Let us help you change that! Acupuncture, herbal medicine and bodywork excel at relaxing tight muscles, relieving pain, decreasing inflammation, increasing range of motion, improving nerve health, and shifting harmful holding patterns. Choose from our holistic therapies to help you obtain pain relief naturally and make lasting improvements in your health. Schedule your visit with us today!

Acupuncture for Pain Relief

Acupuncture impacts numerous systems that help reduce your pain. It has been shown to affect the electrical and nervous systems of the body, release endorphins (your innate pain-killing chemicals), reduce substance P (responsible for the sensation of pain), and enhance neurotransmitters. Acupuncture thrives at reducing inflammation and unbinding tight areas. It is an excellent choice for nerve and spine health as well. Acupuncture opens the channels, increases circulation and enables your body’s innate healing abilities. Types of pain we often see and treat successfully: headaches, muscle aches, low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), arthritis, foot pain, autoimmune-related pain, digestive system discomfort, menstrual cramps, sinusitis.

Herbal Medicine for Healing Pain

Herbal Medicine mirrors the treatment strategies we take with acupuncture after evaluating your pain, considering your health history and developing a treatment strategy. Herbal formulas are based on the individual’s pattern of imbalance. We select herbs that guide to the area of the body where your pain is located, unblock the channels, decrease inflammation or warm areas impacted by cold (as applicable), increase circulation, relax the sinews, and strengthen your body’s systems and healing ability.

Holistic Bodywork to Alleviate Pain

Bodywork excels at inviting deep relaxation, easing tight fascia and muscles, improving alignment, increasing circulation, and helping you find comfort within your own body. Tui na massage, cupping and gua sha are ancient therapies that achieve impressive results.

Neurostructural Integration Technique for Pain Relief

Neurostructural Integration Technique (NST) is a dynamic system of muscle and connective tissue therapy that initiates a process of natural auto regulation to occur in the spinal column and consequently throughout the whole body. The resultant effect of this is comprehensive reorganization of the musculature of the body characterized by a lasting relief from pain and dysfunction, an increase in energy, and an unmistakable sense of wellbeing. By deescalating the sympathetic nervous system, NST activates the parasympathetic nervous system: rest, digest, relax. The benefits of NST are not limited to the presenting physical condition but extend to the emotional, cognitive and spiritual levels of healing. Examples of pain conditions that benefit from NST: spinal conditions, cranial and TMJ conditions, headaches including migraines, neck conditions including whiplash, back conditions including pelvic, lumbar and thoracic, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand conditions, leg, knee, ankle and foot conditions, arthritis and joint conditions, and sports injuries.

Cupping Therapy for Pain

Cupping is unique in its application of counterpressure to relax tight muscles. We use heat to create suction with glass cups, lifting and releasing the underlying fascia. Cupping acts as a form of deep massage and unblocks stubborn stagnation, thereby increasing circulation, alleviating pain, improving lymph flow, opening the channels, and helping you feel like you have a new body! It is also an excellent aid for removing phlegm from the lungs. Note: Most people find cupping enjoyable, but if it is ever uncomfortably tight for you, please let your practitioner know so she can lessen the pressure.

Gua Sha for Pain

Gua Sha is a manual technique that releases tight fascia and underlying muscles. It opens channels, unblocks stagnation and increases circulation to alleviate pain. While our practitioners often use a soup spoon to employ this simple yet effective technique, gua sha was historically performed with stones, bones, tusks, shells or other natural tools that fit the contours of the body.

Heat Therapy for Pain Relief

Moxibustion and Infrared Heat Lamps warm areas that have constricted due to cold, enhance circulation to nerves, and relax areas of pain. For moxa application, we use the dried form of the herb mugwort to open the channels, invigorate the area, boost qi (energy, metabolic systems) and ease pain.

Acupuncture for Pain: Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does acupuncture relieve pain?

Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body, often located along pathways known as meridians. Modern research shows that needling these points helps:

• Increase blood flow and circulation to injured or inflamed areas

• Reduce inflammation and swelling

• Relax tight muscles and release trigger points

• Stimulate the nervous system to release endorphins and serotonin, the body’s natural painkillers

• Balance the communication between the brain and body to support long-term healing

Rather than simply masking pain, acupuncture helps address the underlying imbalance that is contributing to your discomfort.

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2. What kinds of pain can acupuncture help with?

Acupuncture has been shown to help with a wide range of acute and chronic pain conditions, including but not limited to:

• Back and neck pain

• Headaches and migraines

• Joint pain and arthritis

• Sciatica and nerve pain

• Shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain (including carpal tunnel)

• Sports injuries and muscle strains

• Fibromyalgia and widespread chronic pain

• Post-surgical recovery and scar pain

Many patients also turn to acupuncture when conventional approaches (like pain medication or physical therapy) haven’t provided enough relief.

3. How many acupuncture treatments will I need?

This depends on the nature of your pain.

• Acute pain (like a recent injury or muscle strain) often improves within 1-3 treatments.

• Chronic pain (such as arthritis, long-term back pain, or migraines) may require more consistent care over several weeks or months. We recommend trying at least 3 weekly sessions to see if you begin to experience improvement. Your feedback helps us decide on future treatments, and we use a variety of meridian systems and forms of bodywork, so we have many possibilities, depending on how you respond to your first sessions.

Your acupuncturist will create a personalized treatment plan based on your health history, the severity of your condition, and your wellness goals. Most patients notice some relief within the first few sessions, with improvements building over time.

👉 Ready to start? Schedule your first visit.

4. Is acupuncture safe for pain treatment?

Yes. When performed by a licensed acupuncturist, acupuncture is considered very safe. At our clinic, we use sterile, single-use needles and follow all safety guidelines. Side effects are rare and generally very mild—such as slight soreness, a small bruise, or temporary fatigue after a session.

Because acupuncture is drug-free, it also avoids the risks of long-term medication use, such as dependency, digestive upset, or organ stress.

👉 Start your healing journey with your first treatment.

5. Will acupuncture hurt?

This is one of the most common questions! Acupuncture needles are extremely thin—about the diameter of a human hair—so the insertion feels nothing like a typical medical injection. Patients may feel:

• A quick, tiny pinch as the needle is inserted

• A dull ache, tingling, or warm sensation around the point (called “qi sensation”)

• Deep relaxation once the needles are in place

Many patients even fall asleep during their sessions because the treatment is so calming.

👉 Check out our general FAQs for more common questions.

6. How soon will I feel results?

This varies from person to person:

• Some notice immediate relief after their first treatment.

• Others feel gradual improvements over several sessions.

Chronic pain often requires consistency—just as physical therapy or exercise works best with repetition. Even when pain takes time to resolve, many patients notice fewer symptoms, better sleep, reduced stress, and an overall sense of well-being early in their treatment process.

👉 Meet our licensed practitioners here.

7. Can acupuncture be combined with other treatments?

Absolutely. Acupuncture works well as part of an integrative care plan. Many patients combine it with:

• Physical therapy

• Chiropractic care

• Massage therapy

• Conventional medical care

• Lifestyle changes such as exercise and nutrition

In fact, acupuncture may help enhance recovery, speed healing, and reduce reliance on pain medications.

8. Is acupuncture for pain covered by insurance?

Many insurance plans now cover acupuncture for pain management. While we do not accept insurance, we are happy to provide a superbill with detailed codes you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement if they cover acupuncture.

9. What should I expect at my first acupuncture visit?

During your initial appointment, your acupuncturist will:

1. Take a detailed health history and ask about your pain symptoms.

2. Perform a traditional Chinese medicine assessment (which may include pulse and tongue diagnosis).

3. Create a customized treatment plan for your specific condition.

4. Your first acupuncture treatment.

5. Depending on your needs and time available, your practitioner may include bodywork, such as cupping, gua sha or neurostructural integration technique.

6. Your treatment may include essential oils to relax your nervous system and/or herbal liniments to ease pain.

Most patients spend about 20–30 minutes resting with the needles in place, often feeling deeply relaxed during and after the session.

👉 Learn what to expect on your first visit.

10. Why choose acupuncture instead of relying only on medication?

Pain medications can be helpful, but they usually work by masking pain signals rather than addressing the underlying cause. They can also come with side effects or the risk of dependency if used long-term.

Acupuncture provides a safe, natural, and holistic approach to pain relief. By improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and calming the nervous system, acupuncture not only relieves pain but also supports your body’s healing process. Many patients use it to reduce or even eliminate the need for ongoing medication.

👉 Take the first step toward lasting relief—book your acupuncture appointment today.