Why acupuncture?
I’ve had acupuncture a few times. Enough to know it works. But it wasn’t until I went to Community Acupuncture that I really got how effective it was. I walked out of there on cloud 9. I walked in with mega stress and I walked out feeling wonderful.
Community acupuncture is a nationwide movement to create access to acupuncture by removing the barrier of cost from healing. They are part of an international cooperative called People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture (POCA). POCA clinics offer treatment in a group setting and charge on a sliding scale format.
The other day I ran into Dr Frank Ervolino who runs our local program in Stuart. I told him about my experience and I ask him to write something for us.
Here is it:
“Everyone knows someone who has had acupuncture. It is practiced world-wide and has been around for 2000 years. It has helped a lot of people with pain, emotional stress, gynecological problems, gastro-intestinal problems and a variety of other chronic health problems.
So how does acupuncture work?
There are two ways to explain this, the Western medicine way and the 2000 year old Ancient Chinese medicine way. According to Western research on acupuncture the current opinion is that Acupuncture causes a controlled and reproducible release of neuropeptides (neurotransmitters) from the nerve endings in the body in the area where is is applied. This results in increasing the blood supply which is healing and anti-inflammatory in nature.
Acupuncture can modulate blood supply to injured areas and it can change neurotransmitter balances in the brain for the patients benefit. The list of other beneficial effects that acupuncture has on the body is impressive as well. Acupuncture causes a release of substance P which reduces pain in the body. It stimulates the analgesic properties of beta-endorphin balances the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties of the immune system such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10.
According to Chinese medicine
According to Chinese medicine, all functions of the body depend on the flow of energy through the body. The Ancient Chinese called this energy Qi (chee). Qi flows in channels in the body called meridians. The Ancient Chinese believed that pain in the body, illness and emotional problems can stem from from imbalances of Qi or a disruption of the flow of Qi in the meridians of the body. Acupuncture can redistribute Qi or improve the flow of Qi in the meridians or channels in the body.
Acupuncture continues it’s long heritage of being a safe way to treat chronic disease conditions.”
Treasure Coast Community Acupuncture has treated thousands of patients at rates they can afford.
We are so lucky to have them in our community!
Treasure Coast Community Acupuncture is the original community acupuncture clinic in Stuart and it serves the Martin/Saint Lucie county areas. The cost per visit is on a sliding scale of $20-40/visit. For more information call 772-249-2242 or got to stuartcommunity.com.
