Acupuncture
Stimulate the body's remarkable self-healing abilities
What is Acupuncture?
Modern research has shown that acupuncture is a safe, effective, chemical-free way to promote the body’s remarkable self-healing abilities. An acupuncture treatment involves inserting and manipulating flexible, hair-thin needles at specific points on the body. Most patients find the sensations produced by acupuncture treatment to be deeply mentally and physically relaxing.
Having evolved over thousands of years, acupuncture is one of the oldest continually practiced medical modalities in the world. Acupuncture is used to prevent and treat disease, relieve pain, balance mood, enhance athletic performance, increase fertility, and improve overall health and wellness.
What is Acupuncture?
Modern research has shown that acupuncture is a safe, effective, chemical-free way to promote the body’s remarkable self-healing abilities. An acupuncture treatment involves inserting and manipulating flexible, hair-thin needles at specific points on the body. Most patients find the sensations produced by acupuncture treatment to be deeply mentally and physically relaxing.
Having evolved over thousands of years, acupuncture is one of the oldest continually practiced medical modalities in the world. Acupuncture is used to prevent and treat disease, relieve pain, balance mood, enhance athletic performance, increase fertility, and improve overall health and wellness.
The Benefits of Acupuncture
Acupuncture works by activating the body's own healing powers, so it can be beneficial for many health conditions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented many symptoms, diseases, and conditions shown in controlled clinical trials to be effectively treated with acupuncture. Below are some common conditions acupuncture is clinically proven to help:
- Mental health
- Reduce stress & anxiety
- Insomnia
- Reproductive issues
- Digestion issues
- Nausea & vomiting
- Headaches & migraines
- Arthritis
- TMJ
- Relief from chronic pain e.g., back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis)
The Benefits of Acupuncture
Acupuncture works by activating the body's own healing powers, so it can be beneficial for many health conditions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented many symptoms, diseases, and conditions shown in controlled clinical trials to be effectively treated with acupuncture. Below are some common conditions acupuncture is clinically proven to help:
- Mental health
- Reduce stress & anxiety
- Insomnia
- Reproductive issues
- Digestion issues
- Nausea & vomiting
- Headaches & migraines
- Arthritis
- TMJ
- Relief from chronic pain e.g., back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis)
Meet Your Expert
Bret
I bring over 17 years of experience, including time spent studying and practicing in China. While I treat a multitude of conditions, I specialize in Acupuncture, Sports Medicine, and Natural Pain Management.
I have worked with Olympic athletes such as Dee Dee Trotter, Lolo Jones, and Tyson Gay as well as many other World Class athletes, Professional athletes from various teams (Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, NY Jets), collegiate athletes (Vanderbilt, UTC, LSU, Central Florida) and local athletes in the Chattanooga and surrounding areas.
FAQ
Acupuncture & Sports Medicine
Over the last 30 years, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States, with millions of people turning to acupuncture for a wide variety of illnesses and injuries. Among professional and amateur athletes, the use of acupuncture has grown steadily, to the point that it is almost trendy for professional athletes to have a “staff acupuncturist.”
There are three main areas in which acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help pros and weekend warriors alike: treatment of sports injuries, prevention of sports injuries and athletic performance enhancement.
The Science Behind Acupuncture
Theories on How it Works
While traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture through the concepts of qi and meridians, modern science is uncovering various physiological mechanisms that may account for its effects. These include the release of natural painkillers, modulation of neurotransmitters, increased blood flow, immune response stimulation, and changes in the central nervous system’s processing of pain.
Gate Control Theory of Pain
This theory suggests that acupuncture might inhibit pain signals by stimulating larger nerve fibers, which block the smaller nerve fibers that carry pain signals.
Connective Tissue & Fascia
Needling may create mechanical signals propagating through the fascia, influencing cellular processes and promoting healing in distant body parts.
Concept of Qi (Chi)
Qi is often described as the vital life force or energy that flows through all living things. It is a fundamental concept in TCM, where it is believed to animate the body and protect it from illness.
Qi, Meridians & Acupoints
Meridians, also known as channels, are pathways through which qi flows throughout the body. Acupuncture points are specific locations on the meridians where qi is accessible and can be influenced.
The Science Behind Acupuncture
Theories on How it Works
While traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture through the concepts of qi and meridians, modern science is uncovering various physiological mechanisms that may account for its effects. These include the release of natural painkillers, modulation of neurotransmitters, increased blood flow, immune response stimulation, and changes in the central nervous system’s processing of pain.
Qi is often described as the vital life force or energy that flows through all living things. It is a fundamental concept in TCM, where it is believed to animate the body and protect it from illness.
Meridians, also known as channels, are pathways through which qi flows throughout the body. Acupuncture points are specific locations on the meridians where qi is accessible and can be influenced.
This theory suggests that acupuncture might inhibit pain signals by stimulating larger nerve fibers, which block the smaller nerve fibers that carry pain signals.
Needling may create mechanical signals propagating through the fascia, influencing cellular processes and promoting healing in distant body parts.
Testimonials
Shared Experiences
Bret has worked with everyone, from Olympic athletes to lawyers, helping them achieve their wellness goals. While their reasons for acupuncture may vary greatly, the desire to feel their best is shared.
"As a 50 year old martial arts instructor I feel the impact of being hit and thrown a few too many times... and when I am in pain Brett's talents are an amazing resource.
"When I first met Bret, I was at a level of pain and discomfort that even some of the top Track and Field therapist in the country could not help correct or relieve. After working with Bret, I immediately had instant results and relief of pain in areas that had been burdening me for months.
"Bret hit the magic spot and almost immediately I had noticeable changes with my injury I continue to see Bret "as needed" however I am relieved of the chronic pain and it only comes back when I get into "overuse mode".
Most Popular Questions
Not usually. Most of the time, the main needle-insertion points are on the lower legs, ears or arms,so wearing loose-fitting clothing is fine. Similar to medical doctors, sometimes an acupuncturist will ask you to disrobe and put on a gown if he needs to work on your back, upper legs or torso.
The stainless steel needles, normally about as thin as a human hair, are pre-sterilized and disposable. Unlike the hollow needles used for giving injections, acupuncture needles are solid. The acupuncturist will insert them to a depth of anywhere from a quarter of an inch to 3 inches, depending on the amount of subcutaneous fat that the needles need to penetrate.
It’s good to eat a little bit before a session because low blood sugar could increase sensitivity to the treatment and cause you to feel faint. Don’t, however, eat a heavy meal.
Prior to your session you can exercise as strenuously as you want. However, most acupuncturists advise only mild exercise within
several hours after treatment. Eating too much or vigorous exertion can disrupt the corrective flow of energy that follows an acupuncture session.
Risks are minimal when acupuncture is performed by a qualified practitioner. Possible side effects include soreness, minor bleeding, or bruising at the needle sites. Rare complications include infections or injury to internal organs if needles are improperly inserted.
Some people experience a slight sharp sensation depending on how sensitive they are and where the needles are inserted. Once the needle is in place, it’s normal to initially feel a tingling sensation, numbness, mild pressure or warmth. If these sensations became too strong or are uncomfortable, alert your acupuncturist and she will adjust the needles.
The first treatment starts with a thorough medical history followed by a physical exam that notes skin tone,tongue condition and the qualities of your wrist pulse. According to TCM theory, these observations provide an indication of what’s going on in your body. After making a diagnosis, the practitioner will ask you to lie down and insert needles into key points. You’ll be allowed to rest with the needles in place, typically for up to 40 minutes.
Acupuncture is mostly known in the West as a pain relief technique, but is also proven to be useful in numerous other indications. In 1979, the World Health Organization cited 104 conditions that acupuncture can treat — either alone or in conjunction with contemporary conventional medicine. In 1998 the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
issued a Consensus Statement on Acupuncture and cited conditions that acupuncture is effective for. Acupuncture also plays a huge role in preventive care, particularly as a form of stress management.
TCM teaches that the quality of energy or life force in the body — what acupuncturists call qi (pronounced “chee”) — determines our health. This qi circulates along energy pathways called meridians, many of which are linked to specific organs. Disease results when the qi becomes blocked and can’t circulate freely. In order to rebalance the energy flow and restore health, acupuncturists insert needles into key points on the body. (They work with approximately 360 acupoints.)
That depends on the severity of the condition. For some people, the effect of acupuncture can be quite dramatic — they may feel the benefits after one session. For others, the response may be more gradual. In general, you should notice at least small changes in your condition within four to six treatments. If you are not seeing benefits, keep in mind that there is variability in the quality of acupuncturists. So before deciding whether acupuncture works for you, you could also consider trying a different practitioner.
