Acupuncture & Nutrition in Maynard MA

Welcome to Assabet Valley Natural Health - Acupuncture & Nutrition in Maynard MA

Acupuncture is just a small part of the medical practice developed in China two thousand years ago. Chinese medicine is a comprehensive system that also consists of self-cultivation (Chi Kung and martial arts including TaiChi), herbal medicine, nutritional therapies, massage (TuiNa or Shiatsu in Japan) and meditation. There are more styles of acupuncture than there are languages in the world. I mostly practice the “Kiiko” style acupuncture developed by my teacher Kiiko Matsumoto, though I do use other styles for some conditions

For treatments I use micro-thin, disposable, sterilized needlesinserted into specific points on the skin. While there is a some controversy over precisely what these points represent, there is no question that working with them can create powerful healing. In Chinese medicine, the points lie along pathways called “meridians.” Modern research is currently attempting to uncover the physiology of these meridians, and one theory suggests that they lie along the fascial planes of the body. The fascia is a three dimensional matrix of tissue that covers our entire body, and recent research has shown that it contains intricate inter-cellular signaling.

Over 80% of all major acupuncture points lie within fascial boundaries between muscles and bones, and certain meridian systems directly correspond with fascial planes. Because the vast majority of my needle insertions are shallow, going no deeper than the superficial fascia. It is the belief of many that the meridians set down some 2000 years ago do correspond to the fascia system.

Acupuncture adjusts and stimulates your healing energy to improve the health of your inner (organ function) or outer (musculoskeletal) body. Acupuncture performed correctly helps bring the body back into homeostasis, or balance. Acupuncture is adaptogenic, meaning that it helps the body adapt to different stresses and to generally normalize its functions. For the majority of people, the treatment is so relaxing that at some point they’ll fall asleep.

As part of your treatment I frequently use an herb known as artemesia vulgaris (Mugwort) or moxabustion. This helps to stimulate certain points or to warm an area. I’ll also use electro acupuncture for certain pain conditions as well as cupping for back pain. Since I love using my hands as a tool for healing, I often practice an Asian bodywork technique known as TuiNa for back, neck or extremity pain. For anyone who is anxious or sensitive about acupuncture needles, I offer massage, magnets and moxabustion as alternatives, all of which are also very beneficial and effective when used on acupuncture points.