Question-Is Acupuncture Safe and Will it Really Help?

I recently found this quote by a prominent pain specialist:

“Acupuncture is one of the most time-tested treatments known to mankind. If the value of a treatment were based solely on how long it has been around, and how long people have thought that it was helpful, then acupuncture would probably be the most effective treatment known to humankind.”

Here's the full quote on HealthDiscovery.com, where Dr Scott Fishman answered a question about acupuncture for the treatment of back pain: 
  

Q: My doctor has recently suggested acupuncture. Is acupuncture safe and will it really help?

A:   "Acupuncture is one of the most time-tested treatments known to mankind. If the value of a treatment were based solely on how long it has been around, and how long people have thought that it was helpful, then acupuncture would probably be the most effective treatment known to humankind. Nonetheless, we still do not know why acupuncture works, how it works best, and for whom it is best used.

Many patients advocate acupuncture as a very effective treatment for many different symptoms. These symptoms include pain from a variety of causes, as well as many other conditions including nausea, smoking cessation, problems with addiction, inflammatory conditions, possibly even anxiety and depression, to name just a few.

There are many different forms of acupuncture. One form of acupuncture completed by one acupuncturist may be quite different than another, and any given practitioner may perform the acupuncture differently than another.

Typically, acupuncture is performed with a very thin needle that causes gentle sensations. It is usually not painful. Classically, acupuncture involves using a needle — although sometimes electricity is passed through the needle, and sometimes the burning of traditional Chinese herbs is employed as well. Burning these herbs is called "moxabustion."

The points that are used for the needle insertions often are at a distance from the actual area of symptoms. So, if someone has pain in their back, they may be getting needles in their feet, their ears or somewhere else distant from the actual site of the pain.

The special points that are chosen for needle insertion are along areas called "meridians." These meridians relate to what the Ancient Chinese felt were true "organ systems" and guide the placement of the acupuncture needles." However, these "organ systems" are not necessarily the same kind of systems that are defined as traditional organ systems by 21st century physicians. For instance, the traditional meridians for the spleen may have nothing to do with the actual organ that we know of today. An acupuncturist traditionally diagnoses a patient's problem by feeling three pulses on each wrist. In some cases, these diagnostic indications determine which ancient meridians are and are not diseased.

Taken all together, acupuncture is an ancient, time-tested form of therapy that seems to have exceptionally few side effects and appears to be safe for pain management. At present, however, it continues to be of unproven value for pain management in scientific circles. In my experience, many patients have found relief from pain through acupuncture. For those of my patients who have not found relief with standard medical therapies, I am always open-minded to any kind of treatment that will help, particularly those that have the fewest side effects. Thus, I embrace acupuncture. I look forward to revelations through science that better explain how it works and how it may be best applied to fight the war on pain."

What an eloquent description of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine! Dr Scott Fishman is the Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of California, Davis. You can read more about Dr. Fishman here.

Yes, We Need More Modern Clinical Trials for Acupuncture

Dr. Fishman is right, we do need more modern clinical research on Acupuncture and nobody can really explain how Acupuncture works. Generally speaking, the pharmaceutical industry funds most medical research and individual companies don’t usually fund research on medicine that can’t be patented, as it would a financial loss for them.  So, until more research is funded, you can read about the clinical trials for Acupuncture or Chinese Medicine that we do have, here, or you can try it for yourself.

My suggestion? Don’t wait for clinical trials or for someone to explain how Acupuncture works, because you might be waiting a long time! In the meantime, you could be finding pain relief.

 
Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Natural Solutions for Allergy Relief for Adults and Children

Are you or your child suffering from allergies to trees, pollen or grasses, even in the winter time? Unfortunatley, you are not alone. Certain warmer areas of the world, like the San Francisco Bay area and surrounding regions have a climate that supports year round growth of plants that can cause allergies. It seems like once one allergy producing tree stops blooming, some grass starts up. Yes, certain seasons are obviously worse, like spring, but I have many patients complain of allergy symptoms in the winter months.

The good thing is, I have some really great solutions to address everyone's needs, even if you live far away. Here are a few of the treatment possibilities, and my patients choose from a single solution or a combination. See which one sounds good to you:

Acupressure (In person or over the phone):

This option is best for moderate to very severe reactions to cats, other pets, grass, pollen, trees, and other flowering plants.

Benefits:

Once the immune response is regulated and returns to baseline, the treatment doesn't need repeating. This option is good for children, teenagers and adults. It's especially effective for children and each allergy is usually cleared in a 30 min session. Usually, adults require a 60 min session for type of allergy, but sometimes other allergies not address spontaneously improve.

Drawbacks:

If there are several allergy reactions, or if they are chronic, yet not severe, this option can require more sessions, but not always.

Supplementation:

I've been recommending a supplement for some of my patients with more general, and less severe allergies with great results. The supplement contains well known ingredients, like Quercitin, along with other lesser known ingredients. Oftentimes, patients taper off the tablets over time and they remain allergy free.

Benefits:

This supplement is taken once daily and costs $23.00 for a 3 month supply and is safe for children.

Drawbacks:

This supplement contains animal products, so it is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Acupuncture:

This is always an option for people that don't want to take supplements or who have more general, low grade allergy symptoms.

Benefits:

This is a good choice if you have chronic colds and flus, stress, digestive issues or other health issues that can be treated simultaneously. While this is a great support, and patients feel much better overall, this is not the best option when your allergies are specific and severe. For instance, if you are severely allergic to cats, or grass, and this is your only allergy, Acupressure would be a better option for you or your child.

Drawbacks:

         Sometimes it takes more treatments to find allergy relief than with Acupressure.

These are the best solutions I've found, and I offer them knowing they have helped many of my patients with solid results. You can read a few testimonials here.

So, if you're tired of the sneezing, coughing, and runny nose related to your allergies or if you don't want to take allergy medications or give them to your child, call me, I'd be happy to help you with allergy relief.

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara &
The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Acupuncuture Helped Anxiety, Depression, Sadness and Digestive Issues

Here's another testimonial from a patient who wrote about her experience with Acupuncture and how it helped her mentally and emotionally. I'm so glad she came in for treatment:

"After feeling tired and frustrated of relying on medications to relieve my enduring issues with tension, anxiety, sadness, depression and digestive issues, I finally made the decision to try acupuncture. I figured I had absolutely nothing to lose. All I knew was that I wasn't about to spend most of my life taking medications to treat these pervasive ailments.

After four sessions with Kara I immediately started to feel my symptoms diminish! It was during this time that I realized how equipped our bodies really are to deal with most emotional and bodily issues. I haven't felt this great in years! Thank you Kara for your genuine concern, kindness, hospitality, and generosity!"

-DR
Social Worker,
Berkeley, CA

Sometimes medications aren't enough to help someone feel better. Sometimes patients come to me because they have experienced reactions to medication and so meds are not an option for them. Acupuncture can help on many levels to help you feel better; physically, mentally and emotionally, because it treats the whole person, not just symptoms. Sometimes the results are dramatic and sometimes they take time. Either way, you can feel better with treatment in the majority of cases.

If you want to feel better and you live near San Jose, CA, I would be happy to help you with Acupuncture. If you need a referral in your area, check out the referral list for Acupuncturists here. Either way, don't just live with anxiety and depression, get treatment and find some relief!

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc

Acupuncture by Kara &
The Food Craving Solution

15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA

e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Acupuncture Helps Neck Pain of a Computer User

Here's a testimonial a recent patient wrote about her experience with Acupuncture and how it dramatically helped her recovery from pain. Surgery was mentioned and she called me right away to see what I could do to help her. I'm REALLY glad she came in for treatment:

'I am an IT professional and that means that I am at a computer at least 8 hours a day at work and at home another couple of hours. Ironically my previous employer (a health care company) did not provide proper ergonomic support.  

This past summer after working on a home improvement project with a friend - I was in a lot of pain in my neck and shoulder area.  I tried chiropractic and deep tissue massage and had some improvement in managing my pain.

However, by August - I was in so much pain that I went to urgent care and was prescribed pain medication and muscle relaxers. In October my doctor sent me to get x-rays, sent me to physical therapy and continued the pain meds and muscle relaxants.

In November, my doctor told me that there was some thinning in my spine and if I didn't receive some benefit from the physical therapy - she would send me to get an MRI and possibly surgery!

The mention of surgery freaked me out!  I sought help from Kara.

With just one treatment, I could feel my tight muscles unravel. It's as if my muscles were a tight ball of yarn and someone gently let the yarn roll away.

I've only had three treatments but I have had signifcant relief with acupuncture treatments with Kara.  Years ago I went to an acupuncturist in Walnut Creek - I had very little response with that practitioner.  The short time I've been working with Kara makes me wonder - what took me so long to seek help from Kara?

I would recommend Kara to anyone needing pain management or relief from other physical stresses.'

Vivien Neves
San Francisco, CA

If you're in pain, consider Acupuncture as an option for your pain relief. If you live near Los Gatos, CA, I would be happy to help you. If you need a referral in your area, check out the referral list for Acupuncturists here. Either way, don't just live with the pain, find relief!

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc

Acupuncture by Kara &
The Food Craving Solution

15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA

e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

 Greetings and Happy New Year!

I wish you all the best for your Health and Happiness in the New Year! I'm feeling like 2010 is going to be a great year, how about you?

I have a new location in Los Gatos, CA. I'm excited about serving more patients in the South Bay and beyond for Acupuncture, Food Cravings, Allergy and Trauma Relief. I'll be offering New Patient specials in the month of January, including this one for Acupuncture:

$75.00 off an Initial Visit for Acupuncture (normally $125.00), you only pay $50.00 for the Initial Exam. Book your appt online before 1/15/10 to enjoy this special price.

I also just bought a beautiful new La-Z-Boy chair yesterday, that will be soooo comfortable for my Acupressure patients. I'm also going to use it for patients receiving Acupuncture too as it's VERY comfortable and relaxing for receiving needles. This will also allow me to offer sessions for couples in the same treatment room at a reduced rate. I'm excited about all of this and I can't wait to get started.

So make an appt in the New Year and get your year started off on a healthy note and save money. Put your Health and Happiness first and relax in my new La-Z-Boy chair.

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc

Acupuncture by Kara &
The Food Craving Solution

15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA

e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Acupuncture Helped Emotional Trauma and Relieved Low Back Pain

Here's a testimonial a recent patient wrote about her experience with Acupuncture and how it helped her recover from a traumatic loss and low back pain from a bulging disk:

'I went to see Kara after experiencing a traumatizing loss that left me experiencing overwhelming feelings of guilt, fear, shame and grief.  I was also experiencing low back pain from a bulging disk, which I believe was related to the stress caused by the emotional trauma.  When I first met her, I immediately felt comfortable talking to Kara about my painful emotions.  She truly cares about helping people and provides a safe environment where I feel nurtured, and where healing is facilitated.  She’s highly skilled and sensitive to my experience when she is administering acupuncture.  She is careful and thoughtful, and is truly delighted in seeing the progress and improvement of her patients.  Since seeing Kara on a weekly basis, I have seen a dramatic improvement in my emotional state, and reduced pain.  I trust and highly recommend Kara.'

Anne
San Francisco, CA

If you're in pain, either physically or emotionaly consider Acupuncture as an option to help your recovery. Even if you're seeing other health professionals, it can help your healing process in many ways. If you live near Los Gatos, CA, I would be happy to help you. If you need a referral in your area, check out the referral list for Acupuncturists here. 

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc

Acupuncture by Kara &
The Food Craving Solution

15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA

e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Acupuncture Helps Severe Jaw Pain and Other Health Concerns

Here's a testimonial a patient who wrote about her experience with Acupuncture and how it has helped her not just relieve severe TMJ, but many other health concerns:

"Kara does acupuncture. Kara does nutrition. Kara does TAT. Kara saves the world. Well, almost.

I started going to Kara in the fall of 08 for TMJ issues. This was not a normal clicking jaw irritation TMJ-this was painful, jaw splitting, ear piercing, gruesome, go-ahead-and-kill-me-now pain that woke me up in the mornings. I cannot stress to you how much the pain incapacitated me. After 3 weeks of treatment 2 days a week I was virtually pain-free. Wow. Now that's amazing.

I've continued to see Kara, because I realized other things about my health were improving as well. Problems that I have had for my entire adult life and had decided to just put up with. Kara is caring, honest and down to earth. She will tell you what she can help you with and what she thinks you need to see a western physician for.

One example: My digestive system has always been a little iffy. Just not happy. Kara treated me with a few very inexpensive herbs, a few dietary suggestions and weekly acupuncture. I feel better than I have in 10 years.

I have been a Pepsi addict since I first drank the stuff.  I would drink 5+ Pepsi's a day. Well, I know it's not good for my weight or my cholesterol. Kara introduced me to TAT. I truly didn't believe in it. However- I have had several TAT sessions and although I still drink Pepsi, I only drink one a day. Also, I have greatly decreased my sugar intake, started cooking, exercising and enjoying life again. Hmmm, could it be the TAT?

Really, no one wants to admit they have any mental issues on yelp, but I'll go ahead and admit that I've had my share of difficulties. Acupuncture and TAT have helped me tremendously with that as well. Honestly, my life has done a 180 since I started seeing Kara.  There aren't words to express the difference going to Kara has made on my life. I just want you to know that there's hope. For pain, for diet, for mental health. It's worth every penny.

Kara Sorensen. My hero. Really."

Mary P.,
Pittsburg, CA

If you're in pain, or otherwise not feeling 100%, consider Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine as an option for your relief. If you have cravings for Pepsi or other food cravings, check out my website for solutions that can even be done over the phone. If you live near Los Gatos, CA, I would be happy to help you with Acupuncture. If you need a referral in your area, check out the referral list for Acupuncturists here. Either way, don't just live with the pain, find relief!

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc

Acupuncture by Kara &
The Food Craving Solution

15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA

e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 800.514.1406

Life Long Allergy to Cats is Gone in One Session

Here's a testimonial from a patient that had a severe allergic reactions to cats for as long as he could remember. If he was in the same room as a cat, or where a cat had been, he ended up running out of the room sneezing, coughing, gasping for air and rubbing his eyes.

Here's his description of how things changed for him after his single Acupressure session regarding his allergy to cats:

'Cats: That piece of work was amazing. After the work I spent a weekend in a house with a cat and at first there was a little reaction but by the end of the weekend I didn't even know there was a cat in the house. I have always had a severe allergy to cats and I am now free to be around them. I still don't like cats but that is another issue.
'

Dana
Pleasanton, CA

If you're suffering from allergies to cats, dogs, or other pets, give me a call. Acupressure can be done over the phone, and is very effective in relieving allergies. If you're tired of taking medications or are suffering with symptoms, please call me at 800.514.1406, I can help.

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara &
The Food Craving Solution

5 Bon Air Road, Suite 109

Larkspur, CA

415.819.8172

800.514.1406

I'm a Licensed Acupuncturist in the state of California with a BS in Dietetics an MS in Nutrition Science and an MS in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition to my Acupuncture practice, I work over the phone to help my patients be free of their food cravings and issues with food. I'm passionate about helping you Make Peace with Food and enjoy eating without guilt or weight gain.
 

Testimonial: Allergies to Trees and Grasses Gone with One Session

Here's a testimonial from a patient I treated over the phone for allergies using Acupressure and Focused Concentration. He held his own Acupressure points around his face and back of his head. I guided him through a process. In an hour his allergies were gone, but before he believed it, he had to test it. The pine needles on his deck used to cause sneezing, but after his session, he could be around them without symptoms or problems. Here's what he sent to me after his session:

'I have had allergies my entire life. I was allergic to trees and grass. It was a big struggle for me when the allergy season hit. I tried everything from shots, pills etc...Nothing worked. I hired Kara over the phone (Acupressure) to see what she could do. After one session, my allergies are gone! It is amazing. I wish I knew about Kara years ago. Thank you Kara! You are the best!'

Scott S. Armstrong
Author, Speaker and Success Coach
http://www.bouldercoachingacademy.com

If you're looking for relief from allergies and have tried medications or other methods without success, please call me, Acupressure can help.

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc

Acupuncture by Kara &
The Food Craving Solution

5 Bon Air Road, Suite 109
Larkspur, CA
415.819.8172
800.514.1406

I'm a Licensed Acupuncturist in the state of California with a BS in Dietetics an MS in Nutrition Science and an MS in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I work over the phone or in person to help my patients be free of their allergies, trauma, food cravings and issues with food.

Patient Testimonial: Relief from Neck Pain with Acupuncture

This patient was first treated for neck pain with great success, and then continued her treatment for other health issues like allergies, food cravings and hormonal balance issues. I'm grateful for her testimonial and here it is:

'I first went to Kara Sorensen for acupuncture, but she also prescribed Chinese herbs, provided supplements, and helped with my food cravings/allergies. After one brief acupuncture treatment for neck pain that had been going on for a number of weeks, I was pain-free and have been ever since.

Kara is warm and genuine, knowledgeable, and professional. She goes out of her way to help her patients, is happy to answer questions and provide assistance between appointments, and has continued to help me even after my acupuncture treatments ended. The treatment rooms are comfortable and private, and they patiently and successfully helped with my insurance issues. I can't say enough good things about them. Kara helped me physically and emotionally through a painful period--I was lucky to have found her.'

Michele
San Francisco, CA

If you're struggling with neck pain or other health issues, and you're looking for natural solutions, please contact me. If you're not in the San Francisco Bay Area, I'm happy to refer you to someone near you.

Yours in Health,

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
Acupuncture by Kara
5 Bon Air Road, Suite 109
Larkspur, CA
415.819.8172

800.514.1406

I'm a Licensed Acupuncturist in the state of California with a BS in Dietetics an MS in Nutrition Science and an MS in Traditional Chinese Medicine.