Side Effects of Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an extremely minimally invasive treatment with little side effects.

However, The Times of India reports there are five relatively common “side effects” of the treatment that you may want to be prepared for. Though it’s important to note that none are severe, they don’t happen to all, and they are all signs the treatment is working.

Fatigue

Your acupuncture session can be relaxing and comforting, so don’t be surprised if you feel a bit sleepy after your session.

Soreness

Most often this happens at the most sensitive areas of the body like your hands, feet, certain areas of the abdomen or the ears, and it’s totally normal. It can last for a few days, and heat may help soothe the slight soreness you may feel.

Bruising

Slight bruising at the site of acuneedle insertion is fairly common and is not a cause for alarm. “This happens due to the collection of blood at the site where the needle punctures the skin,” says The Times of India.

Lightheadedness

This isn’t common, but some people may feel a bit dizzy after treatment. Often this is because treatment requires laying still, and patients may simply get up too quickly instead of relaxing and taking it slow. It’s also important to eat something light and healthy before treatment to prevent low blood sugar, etc.

Feeling Emotional

Acupuncture can sometimes cause a release of emotions, which is a great thing! Sometimes you may feel teary eyed as pent up energy is released and you’re cleansed of anything you may have been holding on to or repressing.

The 4 Proven Benefits of Acupuncture

Acupuncture works. We know it, we believe it, and we practice it every day.

But it’s always great when others recognize the proven benefits of the practice, which is exactly what Real Simple did this week.

Explaining the history of our beloved treatment, Real Simple outlined four proven benefits acupuncture can have on your health and wellness, and they are also among the most common ailments we treat.

Anxiety and Stress

Feeling stressed out or anxious? Acupuncture can help.

The article quotes Shari Auth, a holistic health practitioner in New York as saying, “Acupuncture lowers cortisol levels, ‘your stress hormone,’ and increases your serotonin and dopamine levels, your ‘happy hormones,’ to treat stress, anxiety and depression.”

It also works to balance your nervous system resulting in an overall sense of calm and wellbeing.

Chronic Pain

Pain is more often than not caused by inflammation, which acupuncture can help treat. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory (think Ibuprofen, but not a medication) and can help with swelling and pain, too.

Even the NIH (The National Center for Integrative and Complementary Health) says that acu, “appears to be a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider.”

Women’s Health

Whether it’s irregular cycles, painful periods or fertility issues, acupuncture can help restore blood flow by balancing qi while also reducing inflammation and pain. It can also help to balance hormones and restore a more cyclical cycle to the female body.

Mental Clarity

When you’re stressed, tired or distracted, it can seem impossible to focus. Luckily, acupuncture can help with that as well. Auth says, “Acupuncture is a natural nootropic—it enhances cognition to give you greater focus.”

A recent analysis even showed that acupuncture can even more effectively treat Alzheimers than more traditional, Western approaches.

Dry Mouth or Eyes? It Could Be Sjögren's Syndrome, And Acupuncture Can Help

If you’re a woman in your forties or fifties and, for the first time, you start battling chronic dry mouth or dry eyes, you might have Sjögren’s Syndrome.

And while Sjögren’s is much more prevalent in women around that middle age, it can affect folks of any gender and age group. Anywhere from half a million to 3 million people in the United States are affected by Sjögren’s, and it’s much more serious than simply having a dry mouth and dry eyes (though those symptoms aren’t fun in their own right).

Sjögren’s is an autoimmune disorder, and is often accompanied by other immure system issues like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The disorder is a result of our body’s immune system mistakenly attacking your own cells. The first targets are usually the glands that create our tears and our saliva, thus the first signs being dryness. However, it can also do damage to other parts of the body like the kidneys, joints, thyroid and lungs, and can cause illnesses to those areas.

Many people treat Sjögren’s with autoimmunity medication, but given that the root cause of the disorder lies within our own body’s ability to heal itself, acupuncture is the perfect treatment. And now researchers in Shanghai have conducted a study proving that acupuncture and herbs treat Sjogren’s and reverse the symptoms much more efficiently and effectively than narcotics.

Subjects who were administered acupuncture not only reported that they felt better, but the data backed it up. Blood samples showed that in the patients who received acupuncture and herbs, the proper levels of immunoglobulin and other important factors were met.

Without the need for narcotics, the serve dry mouth and eyes and further complications brought about by Sjögren’s syndrome can be reversed. If you know anyone who suffers from Sjögren’s or any other autoimmune disorders, let them know that acupuncture is here to help.

Knee Arthritis Helped by Acupuncture

Any form of arthritis is painful, but knee arthritis can be especially problematic — causing great pain and limited mobility.

Aside from physical therapy and traditional mediations and pharmaceuticals, acupuncture can help. And now there’s research to prove it.

According to HealthCMi, a leading acupuncture news site, researchers at Dongzhimen Hospital and Puxiang Hospital in Beijing treated joint dysfunction and pain due to knee osteoarthritis successfully with abdominal acupuncture in their study that spanned multiple centers.

The report details how a total of 65 osteoarthritis patients were recruited and randomly assigned to standard body acupuncture, or abdominal acupuncture.

“Six male and 24 female patients were treated in the body acupuncture group. Two patients in this group were 40–49 years old, 8 were 50–59 years old, 15 were 60–69 years old, and 5 were 70–75 years old.”

In the abdominal acupuncture group, eight male and 27 female patients were treated. Four patients in this group were 40–49 years old, 14 were 50–59 years old, 12 were 60-69 years old, and 6 were 70–75 years old.

The outcomes of the study were measured with a self-rated score for pain intensity and a questionnaire that included questions about knee pain, swelling and function.

After four weeks of treatment, both groups showed significant improvement but the improvements were, “significantly greater in the abdominal acupuncture group.”

Therefore, the study concluded, “acupuncture is an effective tool in knee osteoarthritis treatment, with abdominal acupuncture offering greater pain reduction than standard body acupuncture.”

The Power of CBD (BTW - We Offer CBD Massage!)

The CBD Industry is booming and for very, very good reason.

Here at NJ Acupuncture Center, we are firm believers in the powers of CBD, and thats why we offer it (complementary!) in our therapies.

Short for cannabidiol, CBD is a popular natural remedy used for many ailments — ranging from stress, pain, sleep problems, and more.

Better known as CBD, it is one of the 100+ compounds that can be found in the marijuana plant Cannibis, yet it’s absent of THC which is the ”drug” or mind-altering component. It’s extracted and then mixed with a carrier oil to be applied to the skin, or ingested.

Plus, since it doesn’t contain THC, it’s completely safe, and legal.

CBD has many positives, and the two that we are most excited about here at NJ Acupuncture Center are its pain relieving properties, as well as its impact on anxiety and depression.

Pain

Medicinal marijuana is commonly used in places it is approved, but what about CBD? Recently, it’s been discovered that it is quite effective, too.

Studies have shown that those with chronic pain may find relief in using CBD, because it impacts endocannabinoid receptor activity within the body. In fact, Healthline reports, “Several human studies have found that a combination of CBD and THC is effective in treating pain related to multiple sclerosis and arthritis.”

Anxiety and Depression

Afflictions that affect so many, those who suffer from anxiety and/or depression can benefit, too.

Luckily, the use of CBD oil has shown to be effective in helping to alleviate symptoms naturally. According to Healthline, “In one study, 24 people with social anxiety disorder received either 600 mg of CBD or a placebo before a public speaking test. The group that received the CBD had significantly less anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance, compared to the placebo group.”

It has also shown to have positive antidepressant-like effects in several animal studies, and it’s believed CBD can help to increase serotonin.

Be sure to ask us about CBD and how we can incorporate it into both your treatments and your daily wellness routines.

Diabetic Nerve Pain + Acupuncture

A Diabetes diagnosis can be devastating.

Often it is life changing, difficult to manage, and requires constant monitoring. The side effects and symptoms are quote unpleasant, too. Primarily, nerve pain.

Also known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy,

According to HealthCMI, at the Gansu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (endocrinology department) researchers conducted a controlled clinical trial comparing drug therapy with acupuncture and herbs.

The patients who received acupuncture in conjunction with herbal medicine experienced a total effective rate of 96.67%, while patients who received Chinese herbal medicine alone (aka monotherapy( had a 73.33% total effective rate.

Drug-only therapy patients had a 53.33% total effective rate for the alleviation of their neuropathy.

Obviously, acupuncture and herbs worked most effectively.

Diabetics can experience neuropathy over time. The Mayo Clinic explains, “High blood sugar (glucose) can injure nerves throughout your body. Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in your legs and feet.”

Those with the condition can have experiences ranging from pain and numbness in their legs and feet to problems with their digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart.

For some it may be mild, but for others it can be debilitating.

Acupuncture and Angina

When reliable, controlled studies are published that reveal or confirm the efficacy acupuncture on various ailments, we can’t help but get excited.

Recently, according to MedPage Today, a study in Shanghia revealed something we’ve yet to cover —”true” acupuncture can help with chest pain. (AKA angina.)

When properly applied, acupuncture reduced the frequency of chest pains that those with chronic, yet stable angina experienced within a controlled trial setting.

It explained, “those assigned to 4 weeks of acupuncture on the acu-points on the disease-affected meridian (DAM) had roughly eight fewer angina attacks per 4-week interval during the subsequent 16 weeks, from a pretreatment baseline of 13.5 attacks per 4 weeks, according to Fanrong Liang, MD, of the Acupuncture and Tuina School at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China, and colleagues.

This reduction was “significantly better” than the three control groups.

The experiment revealed:

• Acupuncture on the non-affected meridian (NAM): patients had about four fewer attacks per 4 weeks

• Sham “fake” acupuncture: about three fewer attacks

• No acupuncture: about two fewer attacks

Suzanne Arnold, MD, of Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City (not involved in the trial) said, "I think that this appears to be a well-done study, with appropriate levels of sham procedures. You clearly observe that there is some placebo effect -- with both the sham and NAM procedures, which have similar outcomes -- but the effect of DAM appears to be real.”

We believe it is real, too.

Acupucnture can help relieve symptoms such as anxiety and depression which is correlated with chest pain, as well. MedPage also quotes Arnold as saying, “It isn't completely crazy to think that some treatment, that is not directly associated with increased myocardial blood flow, might be associated with less angina.”

All About Ear Seed Acupuncture

Ear seed acupuncture is having a moment, lately. And with tons of ear seeds available online, it’s easy for people to think they can master this technique at home. But before you do, it’s important to understand exactly what it is and how to do it.

What is it?

Ear seed acupuncture seeds are different from traditional acupuncture needles called acuneedles. These seeds are used as a complementary approach and are rooted in the same belief system as traditional acupuncture.

Essentially, they are small metal seeds with adhesive backing that are applied along the ear, and work with the pressure points found in your ears. This method of treatment is also called auriculotherapy which translates to ear therapy (acupressure or acupuncture that focuses on ears.)

They can be used to help with a variety of ailments including ones not directly related to the ear. These include pain, mood disorders like anxiety and stress, headaches and migraines, addiction, weight struggles and even infertility.

Can you do it at home?

It’s our opinion that it is always better r to go to a trained and licensed professional and to have it performed by a clinician in a relaxing setting for a full and safe experience.

At NJ Acupuncture Center we believe that relaxation is important and the right center can provide calming music, a comfortable place to lay and clear your mind while having this performed for you – and that can make all the difference.

However, it is possible and relatively safe for someone to buy and attempt this at home (because it’s noninvasive) as long as they are familiar with the process and thoroughly clean their ears. The ear seeds are even available on Amazon, though you should of course do your research on which to buy.

Avoid These Mistakes

if you try this at home, you very well might put them in the wrong locations or think they actually go in their ears. (They do not, they are to be placed along the outside of your ear and NEVER in your ear canal.) 

Improper placement can result in discomfort, redness, swelling, and of course ineffective treatment. Also, if you don’t massage the points correctly or often enough, you probably won’t experience the results you are looking for.

It’s also really important not to try this on yourself if you are pregnant. Certain points along the ear are known to induce labor.

It’s important to know that ear seed treatment is not the same as acupuncture, and acupuncture should definitely never be tried at home.

Can Acupuncture Help with Type 2 Diabetes? (Yes!)

According to the latest report from the CDC, more than 100 million U.S. adults are now living with diabetes or pre-diabetes,

As of 2015, 30.3 million Americans (which is 9.4 percent of the population) have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Many are reliant on medication and other therapies to continue living healthy lives. But can acupuncture help?

In short, yes!

The latest report from HealthCMI reveals that acupuncture therapy can help with weight loss and to reduce blood sugar levels in adults who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This is wonderful news!

In China, researches from the Sanming County Hospital of Integrated Medicine led a clinical trial of obese patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

In short, it was determined that acupuncture treatment, “in addition to routine care is more effective in promoting healthy weight loss and improved blood chemistry than routine care monotherapy.” (Meaning, routine care alone.)

124 obese patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were assigned to receive either acupuncture plus routine care or routine care on it’s own..

Overall, the results of this study indicates that, “acupuncture not only increases weight loss in obese diabetes patients, but also stabilizes blood glucose and insulin levels.”

These new findings further support the notion that acupuncture is an effective, noninvasive treatment for diabetes when used in conjunction with other therapies as directed by your healthcare provider.

Will Medicare Pay for Acupuncture?

As with any medical treatment or self-care endeavor, the issue of cost arises.

Do you have insurance, or are a self-pay patient?

Is your plan in-network, or out?

Do you have a copay?

It’s enough to stress out the best of us. But perhaps, Medicare can change that.

The Washington Post reports that the Department of Health and Human and Services has said that, “in response to the U.S. opioid crisis, HHS is focused on preventing opioid use disorder and providing more evidence-based non-pharmacologic treatment options for chronic pain.”

Acupuncture has long been known for its pain relieving effects, and it’s efficacy at treating chronic pain.

HHS said it hopes “to determine if acupuncture for [chronic low-back pain] is reasonable and necessary under the Medicare program.” They are researching, and a proposal is due this by July 15, with a final decision being made by Oct. 13.

If all goes well, acupuncture for chronic low back pain may end up being a covered benefit, as currently, Medicare covers, “injections, braces, implanted neurostimulators and chiropractic care as well as drugs for chronic low-back pain,” under certain conditions .

Why Acupuncture Will Become Even More Popular For Spinal Issues

It’s likely that you or someone you know, at some point, has or will deal with back or neck pain. Nearly 80% of us will seek medical care because of these types of issues, which all start with one of the most important areas of our body—the spine.

The problem is, the treatment for these types of pain has traditionally been relatively narrow. There’s almost certainly a link between the prevalence of neck and back pain and the growing opioid crisis across the United States. More people are being prescribed addictive, harmful drugs to treat pain, which only creates a negative cycle.

But as Acupuncture Today reports, there’s a good chance that more people will soon be seeking acupuncture to help with spine-related issues rather than turning to medications. That’s partially because as we learn more about the spine itself, the evidence is growing that natural, conservative care can not only be the best form of relief, but is better positioned to help prevent pain from getting worse in the first place.

“Advanced diagnostic imaging will continue to expose new features of pathology associated with neck and back pain,” Acupuncture Today writes. “Greater emphasis will be places on biomechanics assessment, conservative pain management, and biological solutions which promote favorable tissue regeneration, remodeling, and repair.”

Acupuncture, through, harnessing the body’s energy, promotes self-healing. Without the need for any invasive, external chemicals like those found in most medications, acupuncture allows for natural pain management and relief. When it comes to back and neck issues, the root problem is in the spine, where energy is being blocked. Acupuncture opens up the pathways that allow the energy to regulate and flow freely.

As more and more research shows that spinal issues can be better prevented and treated through holistic, biological solutions, acupuncture will continue to grow as the best way to treat back and neck pain.

Struggling with Summer Sleep? We can help.

Summer time and the living’s easy — right?

Well, not exactly.

Many of us find summer to be even busier than before, albeit with fun social events, warm temperatures and hopefully a few trips to the beach.

If you’re feeling summer burnout and are finding it hard to get restful slumber at night, let us help because if your sleep pattern isn’t consistent, it can impact nearly every aspect of your life. So, it’s important to get your sleep back on track, stat.

Acupuncture can help you achieve increased levels of melatonin — the hormone responsible for sleep — and it also works to reduce insomnia and anxiety.

Acupuncture has also been proven to help manage a fairly common culprit for less-than-worthy Zzz’s: sleep apnea. It’s thought that acupuncture can help strengthen the tongue, which can prevent it from dropping back during the night which blocks the airway, resulting in apnea.

There are environmental factors to consider too, when it comes to improving sleep. Here’s what else you can try:

• Ensure your room is kept between 68-70 degrees

• Avoid blue light emitting electronics at least one hour before bedtime

• No caffeine after 3pm

• Try black out curtains or a sleep mask if you’re sensitive to light

• Consider trying CBD oil or essential oils to help relax

Acupuncture + Herbs More Effective Than Leading SSRI

Anxiety and depression are, unfortunately, more common today than ever before.

Our busy lifestyles, stressful jobs, hectic personal schedules and the stressors of every day life can lead many feeling a sense of sadness, worry, or inability to focus leading them to head to a physician. In many situations, SSRIs are prescribed.

SSRI's (also known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) work by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a class of neurotransmitters that carry signals between brain cells, so this form of medication blocks the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain, thus making more available.

Yet perhaps unsurprisingly, the most recent study out of China via HealthCMi reveals that when used in conjunction with herbs, acupuncture is more effective than paroxetine, also known as Paxil.

In the study led by Ganzhou City Third People’s Hospital in Jiangxi, 80 patients who had a clinical diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder were assigned to either receive the prescription paroxetine, or acupuncture and herbs.

The study used the HAM-A (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale), the SAS (Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale), and the treatment total effective rate to analyze the results.

While both groups experienced overall improvement, they rates of improvement were significantly higher in the group that experienced acupuncture and herbs, which produced a total effective rate of 97.5% versus the paroxetine group which had 80%.

Good Morning America Writer Tries Facial Acupuncture (and Loves it!)

Joining the ranks of mega-celebrities who are turning to acuneedles to maintain their youthful glow, GMA writer Jacqueline Laurean Yates shared her experience this week.

Surprise — she’s a fan.

Yates said, “After noticing celebrities like Ashley Graham, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian posting photos of themselves with acupuncture needles coming out of their faces, I was really intrigued to learn what it was all about.”

So she did.

After a phone consultation with her acupuncturist where she explained her overall concerns consisted of moderate stress, lack of energy, oiliness, some dullness and noticeable inflammation, she was told acupuncture could help.

Nervous and excited, she arrived at the acupuncture center in New York City and felt “instant calm.”

As far as the results?

“Once the needles were removed, I took a look in the mirror and couldn't believe how much healthier my skin looked,” she said, saying there was an instant glow and lift near her cheeks.

In fact, “My husband even wondered if I had secretly done botox. Nope, just acupuncture to the face!”

So if you’re looking to ditch invasive, chemically based Botox or other procedures, it’s time you give acupuncture a try to help reach your skin and anti-aging goals. And we are here to help.

As Yates would tell you, “ it's truly an investment worth the shot(s).”

Psoriasis and Acupuncture

Just last week, Medical News Today released an exciting and confirming article that reaffirmed the belied that acupuncture can help those suffering from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

While we always believed in the power of acupuncture to treat both of these related conditions, examining the literature was quite uplifting.

The multitude of ways in which acupuncture possess powerful healing abilities are seemingly endless, and while science sometimes has a way of making it hard to provide tangible proof, the cited studies are certainly reassuring . while there are still more larger scale, supervised studies to be performed.

Because of how acupuncture can help with inflammation and immunity, it is believed it can help with the skin-based symptoms of psoriasis which can often lead to itchy, peeling, painful and scaly patches of skin.

As if that isn’t enough to deal with, some people with skin-based psoriasis symptoms may also have PsA, or psoriatic arthritis, which leads to joint pain, swelling, stiffness and immobility.

Traditionally, over the counter and prescription medications are often prescribed by physicians as the first line of defense, in addition to steroid injections or pills, and the avoidance of things that worsen inflammation like alcohol, smoking, and certain foods high in acidity.

Medical News Today shared the following breakdown of literature reviews and studies that . are supportive of acupunctures benefits in treating these symptoms.

• A 2015 systematic review found "some evidence of benefit" in treating psoriasis. However, its authors explain that they based their conclusions on a small number of studies, and that there were some conflicting results.

• A 2017 overview of the literature on acupuncture for psoriasis was more optimistic. The authors claim that acupuncture treatment for psoriasis is "simple, convenient, and effective," with minimal side effects and little risk of toxicity.

• A 2017 review of 13 randomized trials states that acupuncture-related treatments "could be considered" as an alternative therapy for the short-term treatment of psoriasis, and that more well designed studies would be helpful.

Measuring acupunctures success is not easy, as each persons treatment and progress is highly individual and personal. However, these studies all seem to be reaffirming and in the right direction.

Acupuncture is an affordable, minimally invasive way to treat your symptoms, so you have quite literally nothing to lose by giving it a try, and quite a bit to gain.

Acupuncture Doesn't Just Help Cancer Patients, But Caregivers Too

Learning that a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer can be one of the most difficult things for someone to experience. It not only changes the life for the person who is fighting the battle themselves, but it can radically alter the life of those closes to them.

Depending on each situation, close family or friends may have to take a lot of time out of their schedule to help care for their loved one. Often times, caregivers can put forth such an effort in taking care of their loved one that their own self-care gets ignored. This can lea to a snowball effect, causing emotional stress as well as pain and discomfort.

The benefits of acupuncture for cancer patients reach far and wide. But it can also do wonders for those who are taking care of cancer patients, whether professionally or for somebody close to them. Tamera Anderson-Hanna, herself a cancer survivor, wrote on CureToday.com about her experiences as a caregiver for family who were also diagnosed with cancer, and how acupuncture became a crucial part of her self-care regimen.

Most of her discomfort was emotional, as she explains, “I was definitely experiencing stress with the news of family members being diagnosed with cancer after the new year and have found acupuncture has helped me to experience improved sleep and feeling less stressed as a caregiver.”

But as we know, emotional stress also takes its toll on the physical body. Tamera’s acupuncturist also treated her neck, which is where she was carrying most of her stress. Acupuncture helped Tamera “sleep better at night, assists in experiencing less pain or tension in my body and allows me to redirect my energy to a more positive focus and perspective, thus having more good energy.”

If you or anyone you know is experiencing emotional or physical distress from taking care of someone else, acupuncture isn’t just there for those who have been diagnosed with an illness. Caregivers must ensure they’re taken care of as well.

Arizona Acupuncture Board Tackles Opioid Crisis

We’ve previously talked about how acupuncture can help on the fight against opioid addiction by providing holistic pain relief and helping the symptoms many addicts face, too.

But now, Arizona is doing something about it.

According to TheSentinel.com the State of Arizona Acupuncture Board of Examiners has approving chemical dependency programs for a form of acupuncture that involves the outer ear, also known as auricular acupuncture.

This type of acupuncture is known in traditional Chinese medicine to help break the chains of addiction.

A supporter, Dr. Mario Fontes who is the clinic director of Natural Medicine & Detox in Phoenix says, “I don’t think (auricular acupuncture is) the complete answer, but I think it can really help change the tide.”

In Arizona alone, opioids are responsible for more than 3,000 deaths in only the past two years, with over 21,000 overdoses happening concurrently. (This according to dataf rom the Arizona Department of Health Services.)

Auricular acupuncture, also called “acu-detox:” works by using needles in one of 5 points located along the outer ear and is believed to help reduce pain, stress, and PTSD along with opiate withdrawals.

To help make this available to more who are struggling, the Arizona Acupuncture Board is trying to make it easier for auricular acupuncturists to gain certification.

The director of the board is quoted as saying, ““We are hoping that by providing chemical dependency programs, auricular acupuncture will become more accessible to more people and more parts of the state, especially in rural areas.”

With the program approved last year, certified auricular acupuncturists can now apply to work in approved chemical dependency programs as long as they are supervised by a licensed acupuncturist.

*If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid dependency, it’s important to seek treatment right away.

Meet Ani

Owner and lead acupuncturist, Ani Baran, L.ac was born in Yerevan Armenia, and moved to New Jersey at the age of three.

Growing up in Fort Lee, she then attended Fordham University for pre-med studies, and then Columbia University for research — but she knew deep down she wanted to help people more naturally.

As the opioid epidemic and crisis began to peak, her calling weighed heavily on her heart and so she began researching natural pain relief options instead.

Thus, she took her passion for biology and healing and trained to become an L.ac — a licensed acupuncturist. With these credentials, she gained over 2000 hours of training, passed all necessary exams, studied Chinese medicine theory, and spent over three years honing her clinical skills.

After marrying her husband Mike and moving to Bayonne who was born and raised in town, she opened both NJ Acupuncture Center locations and has never looked back.

Truly loving her job, she says the best part of her job is how, “I get to help others become pain free, assist in their pregnancy goals, manage their stress, all different treatments but the end result is a side effect free therapy for their concerns.”

Most rewarding to Ani, is helping couples achieve their fertility goals through supportive acupuncture. “I love being able to be part of their journey through a very special time.”

While many may seem apprehensive to try acupuncture for the first time, Ani says, “Once you give it a try you'll never want to stop! It's an amazing feeling, your body being recharged and reenergized, you'll always want to feel that way!

Ready To Get Some Sun? Acupuncture Is Here If You Get a Little Too Much

Bust out the umbrellas, bathing suits, flip flops and pool toys—summer is just around the corner! A week from now Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of everybody’s favorite season. But one of the things that can hold you back from enjoying your summer to the fullest is a result of one of the things that makes summer so great.

Getting some sun is great. Getting too much of it is…well, not so great. In fact, it can be downright terrible.

You know the deal. Burning, scratchy, itchy and peeling skin that can take days to heal, all the while any movement or clothing touching the skin causes you to wince. There are some topical remedies that can help, but many of them are chemical based and can even dry out your skin even further.

When you’re sunburned, your body needs to be able to release heat and inflammation. Acupuncture is the best and most natural way to do both of those things.

We can hear you: the last thing I want to do after being badly sunburnt is to have needles inserted into my body!

The good news is that there are many acupuncture points that we can target to treat sunburn, and many are located in areas where sunburn is incredibly rare or not nearly as painful. Specifically to treat sunburn, acupuncturists can utilize the point UB 40, which is located on the back of knee and helps circulate cool blood. Additionally, GB 20 points on the base of the skull also help reduce body heat.

So if you plan on heading to the beach or pool this summer, you should always take the proper sunburn prevention precautions. But sometimes the best laid plans go awry. If you don’t want one fun day to ruin the next few, know that acupuncture can help you recover quickly and safely.

Acupuncture Proven To Beat Drugs For Gout Treatment

One minute you’re fast asleep, and the next you wake up feeling like a part of your body was just lit on fire.

No, you don’t need to douse yourself with a bucket of water, but you may feel like you want to anyway.

What you could be dealing with is gout: a form of arthritis that cause sudden, severe bouts of pain, swelling and redness in particular joints. Often, the big toe is affected, making it very hard to move around since an area affected by gout is often hot, swollen and tender. Gout pain comes and goes, which can make life for those who suffer from it unpredictable.

Gout pain is caused by high uric acid levels in the blood, which causes urate crystals to form in the joints. It’s most often treated with various painkilling medicines like NSAIDs and steroids prescribed by doctors.

One of the NSAIDs that is often prescribed by doctors to treat Gout is indomethacin. Recently, researchers at Dongguan Tangxia Guanhua Hospital in China tested indomethacin treatment for Gout against acupuncture. The study was conclusive: those who were administered acupuncture rather than given the medication reported reduced pain, swelling, and redness, and also noted increased mobility and improved function of the affected joints.

It’s no surprise here that acupuncture is an effective treatment for Gout. Pain is a result of the qi in our body being blocked and out of sorts, and acupuncture promotes self-healing of the body by regulating the qi an helping to open up the pathways that are being blocked during bouts of pain and discomfort.

If you or anyone you know suffers from Gout, be sure to come by and begin the lasting, holistic treatment that only acupuncture can offer!