Andrea Hingst

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINE?

Acupuncture is one of eight branches of Chinese Medicine and perhaps the most well-known. Each branch is a complete system of medicine rooted in over 3000 years of history and practice that has been adapted to address the health challenges of our modern world. Other common treatment modalities in Chinese Medicine include cupping, gua sha, moxabustion, herbal and dietary therapy.

In Chinese Medicine physiology, disease contains two parts similar to the roots and branches of a tree. The symptoms are like branches, and if you only treat them, the same roots will soon grow the same symptoms again. Most pharmaceuticals and surgical interventions work by masking uncomfortable symptoms but fail to treat the original imbalance of the disease. To effectively heal, one must address the root cause of the illness so the tree may grow healthy branches and the symptoms resolve for good.

Chinese medicine’s power lies in approaching each individual as just that—an individual. Two people may both experience a similar disease or symptoms but have very different underlying root causes. Likewise, two others may have very different diseases but have the same root cause. Each must be treated appropriately. Licensed Acupuncturist and Master Herbalist Andrea Hingst R.Ac, Dipl.O.M. combines 10+ years of experience in Chinese and Integrative Medicine to identify your unique foundational imbalance and help you get better from the roots up.

HEAL FOR REAL.

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?

Highly oxygenated blood to every cell in the body creates homeostasis leaving you feeling healthy and happy. Blockages in blood flow can occur for many reasons including stress, overwhelming emotions, trauma, physical injuries, environmental chemicals, poor diet and lifestyle, medications, surgeries, and genetic factors. Layers of blockages are what cause symptoms and disease.

Acupuncture uses tiny sterile single use needles inserted into specific acupuncture point in the body located along nerve pathways. The metal needle acts as an electrical conductor to regulate the flow of nerve signals from the brain to the body which in turn begins to regulate the circulatory system, restoring blood flow to the once blocked area. When adequate blood flow returns, all other systems of the body are triggered to regulate and heal the dysfunction.

Many people have a fear of needles or ask if acupuncture hurts. The reality is most acupuncture needles are the diameter of a few human hairs. 20-60 acupuncture needles can fit into the opening of a syringe that is typically used for IV or injection. Some individual feel sensation when the needle is inserted similar to a mild prick or muscle twitch, but many points are not felt at all. Needles are retained for around 30 and often cause the body to shift into a deep state of relaxation.

Each acupuncture treatment focuses both on treating acute symptoms as well as the underlying cause that allowed the symptoms to manifest in the first place. This leaves you feeling great while preventing the same issue from returning again.

WHAT DOES CHINESE MEDICINE TREAT?

• Pain – neck, back, shoulder and knee pain, herniated disc, toothache, TMJ, migraines, tendonitis, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, arthritis, postoperative pain
• Digestion – irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, colitis, gastritis, candidiasis, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, nausea and vomiting, bad breath, hemorrhoids
• Hormones – PMS, menopausal syndrome, prostate issues, PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, Low libido, Impotence, Sweating issues
• Auto-Immune – Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, Sjögrens, Hidradenitis Suppurativa
• Chronic Infection/Illness – Lyme disease and co-infections, Epstein Barr, Herpes Simplex Virus, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia
• Cancer Support – side effects of chemo/radiation, immune support
• Respiratory – chronic sinusitis, asthma, wheezing, COPD, common cold and flu
• Circulatory – high or low blood pressure, angina, palpitation, tachycardia, A-fib, Raynaud’s
• Urinary – urinary tract infection, frequent urination and incontinence, interstitial cystitis, prostate issues, kidney stones
• Obstetrics – infertility, frequent miscarriage, morning sickness, induction of labor, breech fetus
• Psychological and Emotional – depression, anxiety, stress, panic, insomnia, PTSD
• Neurological – Bell’s palsy, stroke, paralysis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, movement disorders, trigeminal neuralgia, memory loss, multiple sclerosis
• Sensory – hearing loss, tinnitus, visual disturbances, vertigo
• Pediatrics – ADHD, allergies, speech disorders, sensory processing issues, autism, developmental and tic disorders
• Skin – acne, eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo
• Weight Loss – when coupled with diet and exercise
• Addiction – nicotine, alcohol, opioids, recreational drugs, medications, food
• Metabolic – diabetes, cholesterol imbalance
• Cosmetic – wrinkles, sagging, cellulite, skin discoloration