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A few weeks ago I had the honor of being a guest on Dr. Bob Hanna’s local radio show, Living Well. I had a delightful time despite feeling nervous about speaking live on the radio. Dr. Hanna is a wonderful person and offers a lot of services to our beloved community such as couples counseling and parent coaching. You can listen to the show online.

Throughout the hour-long interview Dr. Hanna asked me all sorts of questions about my work, my passion for treating pregnant women, and the integrative approach I take to healing. We discussed the roots of Sacred Valley Acupuncture and how I came up with the name for my practice. After I completed my studies I took a life-changing trip to the Andes Mountains in Peru where I felt my spirit and soul healed. Being among the native Pisac people, their deep reverence and respect for the natural world, and their steady and soulful pace of life; I knew I wanted to create a bridge between that experience and my practice here in Asheville. My intention in naming my practice Sacred Valley Acupuncture was to acknowledge that Asheville is also a sacred valley – full of beauty and healing just as it is in Peru. I want the healing to begin as you as you enter the space. I’ll never forget how it felt to be surrounded by the Andes Mountains. The feeling of spirit and something greater than me was so prevalent and undeniable and I hope my patients feel the same thing when they come for treatment.

Did you know? You don’t have to be sick to benefit from acupuncture!

Most people first come to acupuncture for treatment of a specific health condition, often after having no success with conventional medicine. This is a fortunate circumstance, because it opens them up a whole new healing modality that they can take advantage of for just about any health issue from now on. But you don’t have to have anything “wrong” with you in order for acupuncture treatments to be good for your well-being! Beyond restoring your body to its natural balance from an acute condition, regular acupuncture is also an excellent part of maintaining good health, because it functions as preventive care.

We all know that prevention is the “best medicine” in terms of our overall health. Exercise, healthy eating, stress management, etc. are key components to general health and longevity,and regular checkups with your primary care provider can help detect some problems at early stages. But alternative healing methods like acupuncture also help prevent dis-ease. Many people make regular visits to their chiropractor and/or their massage therapist to keep their spinal, muscular, and/or lymphatic health in optimal form. Regular acupuncture can be a very beneficial addition to your preventive care plan.

Acupuncturists often call these preventive visits “maintenance tune-ups.” Just as your car needs its tires rotated, its oil changed, and its air filters replaced periodically, your body “runs better” when you get regular energetic adjustments. The benefits of these treatments include improved energy, metabolism, and blood circulation, strengthened immunity to diseases, deeper sleep, relief from stress, regulated digestion and menstrual cycles, decreased general “aches and pains,” and better focus and performance in all activities. In short, people who visit their acupuncturist regularly just feel better all-around!

Furthermore, subtle imbalances may be spotted and corrected before the imbalance turns into a larger issue. Acupuncturists are often able to see these energetic processes long before any symptoms develop, reducing your chances of having to spend time and money on conventional medicine down the road. And if you’ve been experiencing any changes or minor issues in between visits, we can discuss them and tailor your treatment accordingly.

How often should you come in for a regular tune-up? The answer varies from person to person. Some benefit most from monthly treatments, while others might come in every three to six months. Seasonal changes are a great time to come in and help your body deal with adjusting to warmer or colder temperatures, changes in daylight patterns, and any allergens that may be coming into bloom. If you deal with chronic issues that tend to recur, such as headaches or back pain, you can get out ahead of flare-ups with maintenance tune-ups. If you feel like you’re “coming down with something,” are dealing with a stressful life change such as moving or starting a new job, or are just experiencing lower energy levels than usual, these are also good reasons to schedule an appointment.

Ancients healers believed that staying well, rather than “getting better,” was the primary function of Chinese medicine, and encouraged their patients to take the same approach. Waiting until one was sick to visit their acupuncturist was seen as waiting far too long. In modern times, this is what the preventive care philosophy is all about. So if you’re feeling healthy right now, schedule an appointment in order to keep feeling your best! The cumulative effects of regular acupuncture treatments can truly last a lifetime.

Why Acupuncture Is Not a One-Time Thing

Have you noticed that life just seems to move faster and faster? For all of the technological developments over the decades that were supposed to free up more of our time, we often feel busier and busier. Unfortunately, this can take a toll on our health. We may feel too pressed for time to get enough sleep or make nutritious meals. We may also be reluctant to devote more than an hour or two to resolving a health issue. After all, conventional medicine most often involves one visit to the doctor and a prescription medication to make our symptoms go away. But in reality, deep healing happens on the body’s own schedule, regardless of how busy we may perceive ourselves to be.

Acupuncture can help restore your body to its natural state of balance in ways that conventional medicine cannot. But it almost never happens all in one session. While a single treatment can provide healing relaxation, and you may even experience some improvement, the underlying causes of most conditions take longer to resolve. In fact, a typical course of treatment ranges from 6 to 15 visits… sometimes longer, depending on what you’re seeking help with and the length of time you have had the issue being treated.

It’s ideal to come in at least once a week for the first few sessions, to build momentum in the healing process. Once the treatment is clearly taking hold, the remaining visits may be spaced further apart, typically to once every two weeks to once a month. It’s important to follow through with the full course of treatment, just as if you were taking a round of antibiotics. In both cases, it can be tempting to stop once we’re feeling better, but in terms of what our bodies need, there’s more work to do.

Of course, you don’t have to have an acute condition to benefit from regular acupuncture. People dealing with recurring issues like allergies, chronic pain and migraines experience significant improvement from regular treatments. Women see relief of symptoms related to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. And regardless of whether you’re experiencing any issues at all, coming in for periodic “tune-ups” allows your body to reset for optimal functioning, including improved metabolism, digestion, and sleep. This preventive step helps you stay in balance and reduce your likelihood of developing health issues in the future.

For me, the best part about seeing you regularly is the relationship we build together, which facilitates your healing in the most efficient and effective way possible. As I get to know you, we can try different methods, adjusting treatments as we learn what works best for your body. Regular visits result in truly individualized care, in a supportive and peaceful environment.

Meditation teachers often say that the busier you are, the more time you need to spend meditating. The regular relaxation of your mind allows you to approach your daily tasks with less resistance and stress. Acupuncture treatment is also a meditative, relaxing experience that allows your body, mind and spirit come back into balance. No matter how busy you are, the time you spend here will be well worth it.