If you have an acute condition such as a soft tissue injury, headache/migraine, minor food poisoning, sunburn, insect bites, etc. Acupuncture and Herbs can absolutely help, and help very quickly.

If the condition you want help with is Chronic; such as arthritis, allergies/asthma, auto-immune conditions, chronic pain, mental health issues and the like; Oriental Medicine can definitely help you. It will take more time. However it typically lasts and has little to no side effects. I would certainly give it a try before I tried more invasive methods.

If you want a system that helps you maintain health without pharmaceuticals, and with active participation from you, Oriental Medicine is a great choice.

In Oriental medicine our diagnostic methods include: TCM Pulse and Tongue diagnosis, Facial and Body characteristics, CSOE (Color, Sound, Odor, Emotion), Meridian and Point palpation, Patterns of Disharmony identification, Zang Fu Organ pattern recognition, Abdominal diagnosis and more. These methods are intricate and often help us see a potential issue before it actually develops and becomes chronic. Empowering patients to make lifestyle changes before a problem even arises.

Integrating western medicine imaging as well as labs, can be beneficial by helping us see that what we are doing is working, if we have that option. However it is not required in many cases. And if it is not available we can still treat patients very effectively.

Oriental Medicine Treats each individual patient via a custom approach that may include; Acupuncture, Bodywork, Qi-Gong and Tai-Chi, Cupping, GuaSha, Herbal Medicine (including tinctures, decoctions, capsules/tablets/teapills, topicals and injectables), Nutritional Therapy, and Lifestyle changes.

What I love about Oriental Medicine, is that it looks at the whole person. Body, Mind/Emotions, and Spirit. Yes you are having a physical symptom or a mental/emotional symptom. But Why? What is the root cause?

By finding the root and treating it, we can often eliminate the symptom and it never returns. This is not a quick fix. But it is a lasting one. And yes. Many Acupuncturists treat symptoms. We call this treating the branch. This method may last. Or it may not. It may provide temporary relief but the root still remains and it will regrow. The approach I typically take is to treat both, simultaneously. Because I want you to feel better now. And I want it to last!

At Awakening Wellness; we practice a blend Classical 5-Element style, with other styles and therapies to create the best plan for every unique person. We listen to your goals and help you achieve them. As you embark on your wellness journey the treatment plan is completely adaptable as you progress.

How do you know if your acupuncturist is qualified?

There are many practitioners, in other medical fields, who may practice “acupuncture”, or “dry needling”.  They do NOT practice or understand Oriental Medicine. And it is not their Primary Field of Study or Specialty. They are not NCCAOM Diplomates. And they didn’t go through the rigorous education and examination that an Acupuncture Physician has gone through, in order to practice this Ancient Healing Art.

An Acupuncture Physician holds at bare minimum a Master’s Degree; and frequently a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

In Florida; Acupuncture Physicians are considered Primary Care Providers. They are required to take Bio-Medicine and Integrative medicine (equivalent to a Nurse Practitioner or Physicians Assistant), and Injection Therapies (among others) as part of their Programs; in addition to their Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine programs. Then they must take and Pass 4 National Board exams before licensure.

Always ask your practitioner if they are NCCAOM certified. In Florida, they should have DOM after their name. In other states they may have DAC after their name. This simply means they did not have to take the herbs portion of the NCCAOM exams. They are still just as qualified as a practitioner.

If you have had an ineffective experience, or worse a negative experience, with Acupuncture, consider whether or not the practitioner was educated and licensed through the above methods. You may want to give Oriental Medicine another try, with a qualified clinician.