Eastern Medical Center offers a number of complimentary acupuncture brochures both in the office and right here in this post, which can be downloaded and printed:

‘Your First Visit’ Acupuncture Brochure

Download: (Acupuncture brochure – Your First Visit)

It’s easy for us in California’s Bay Area to forget that acupuncture is still a mystery (or even a scary unknown) to some. But once a person understands what to expect from their first visit, things are quickly demystified and comfortable. From there, newbies often get quite excited about the benefits and possibilities of acupuncture.

Here’s an excerpt from the “Your First Visit” Acupuncture Brochure:

Initial visits generally last from 30 to 90 minutes. Your acupuncturist will take a detailed health history and a physical exam and will provide you with your unique treatment plan.

During the first exam, your acupuncturist will spend time getting to know you and your health concerns. You may be asked a wide range of questions about your symptoms, eating, exercise, sleep habits and emotional states — anything that may offer insight into your health. Once your acupuncturist has gathered enough information, you’ll receive a comprehensive diagnosis and a treatment plan that will explain:

• Your underlying imbalances
• Your timeline of care
• What types of treatment you will receive

‘Acupuncture Questions & Answers’ Brochure

(Click here to download)

What is acupuncture? What will my acupuncturist do? What is cupping? Will my insurance cover this? This “Questions & Answers” acupuncture brochure will put your mind at ease — quickly answering the most common acupuncture questions on people’s minds.

Here’s an excerpt from “Acupuncture Questions & Answers”:

How safe is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is extremely safe. It is an all-natural, drug-free therapy, yielding no side effects except for feelings of relaxation and well-being. There is little danger of infection from acupuncture needles because they are sterile, used once, and then discarded.

‘Acupuncture & Sports’ Brochure

(Click here to download)

More and more recreational to professional athletes are utilizing the benefits of acupuncture to heal faster and perform better. If there’s an athlete in your life, he or she should take five minutes to read this “Acupuncture & Sports” brochure. It could change their life — or at least get them back to the sport they love far faster.

Here’s an excerpt from “Acupuncture & Sports”:

In today’s hectic lifestyle, we often don’t allow adequate time to heal. We use painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications to dull the aches and pains and reduce inflammation. It’s a quick and easy approach, but only a temporary fix … Acupuncture can provide a competitive edge, leading to improved performance. It is also a viable therapy in the treatment of acute sprains, strains and pains. This ancient and effective form of health care can reduce swelling, improve range of motion, strengthen your body, speed recovery time and address any underlying problems that could contribute to a future injury. Acupuncture can help create a healthier, strong, faster and more agile You.

“Six years ago I was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. Menieres is known as an inner ear disorder that causes a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear, tinnitus/ringing in the ear, fluctuating hearing loss, and episodes of vertigo/spinning. Unfortunately, the origin of Meniere’s disease is presently unfounded and for that reason, I was faced with many variables and ‘what ifs’ in the scope of coping with this disorder or the hopes of ever getting better and being ‘attack’ free.

“I tried multiple options to lessen my symptoms in the hopes of creating a higher quality of life for myself and indirectly for my family, as they were greatly affected by my immobility during the lengthy attacks and the aftermath of the attacks, which would leave me exhausted for days at a time.

“I turned to Eastern Medical Center for help, and I am incredibly happy to say I have experienced great progress in my health and stand symptom free of a debilitating disorder.”

“Under the care of Westernized thinking, I was instructed to take an over-the-counter anti-nausea medication called Meclizine in addition to an antihistamine. The reason given was that this route worked for some of the patients some of the time. Being the good patient that I was, I did as I was told despite my apprehensions. I probably took these OTC medications for three and a half years, religiously, sometimes two to three times in one day depending on how I felt. I didn’t feel good about popping these OTC medications like candy every day for the rest of my life, as I was instructed to do. The clincher was when I was informed that there was no real way of knowing as to whether the OTC medications were actually working but to continue using anyway.

“Sadly, after the three-year mark of being symptom free, I found myself dealing with an attack that lasted 12 hours. The attack set me back both physically and emotionally. I became slightly depressed, anxious, and felt helpless. I felt fatigued all the time and this was frustrating as I have always considered myself to be an active person. Upon returning to my Western doctor in search of help, I was told to continue taking the OTC medications despite the recent episode. I was also offered a prescription for Valium to ‘take the edge off’ during any future attacks. This didn’t make any sense to me, as I didn’t want to take a drug that could potentially be addicting, as well as the impossible feat of being able to keep the prescribed medication in my stomach while vomiting profusely. My other options in the Western frame of mind was to possibly undergo a procedure that would inject a high potency antibiotic into the inner ear causing the probability of permanent hearing loss to increase dramatically and with no guarantee that it would relieve the symptoms. Unbelievably, that was the least intrusive procedure, the alternative procedure was explained literally as ‘a step away from brain surgery.’ Need I say more!

“It was after that visit when all my dismal options were layed out for me I realized I needed to seek out alternative choices in dealing with my disorder, as the Western way of approaching symptoms no longer made much sense to me. I turned to Eastern Medical Center for help, and I am incredibly happy to say I have experienced great progress in my health and stand symptom free of a debilitating disorder. I began seeing Dr Shen shortly after the occurrence of my last attack, back in January 2010. In the months I have been undergoing acupuncture and taking herbal medications — both purely natural treatments — I have gone from the state of having fullness in the ear, moderate ringing in the ear, and the feeling of exhaustion to a gradual transgression into a symptom free person who has her energy level back to its normal state. The extremely promising aspect for me is that as a person who has been living with Meniere’s, my symptoms in the past have always followed a natural progression into a full-blown attack. Since seeking out the help of the Eastern Medical Center, the typical progression of  my disorder has become non-existent and I am truly forever grateful.”  —Amanda C.

Click here for many more testimonials and Eastern Medical Center success stories!

She didn’t know what else to do. So after someone told her about acupuncture,  she came to Eastern Medical Center. After I talked to her at length and checked her tongue and her pulses, I realized that had a lot of fluid in her body. I gave her herbs to reduce the fluid and did acupuncture, which increased her body’s healing ability to move out dampness.

After the first sessions, she noticed a few small changes. But after coming back twice a week for two months, she experienced a sharp decrease in pain; her ears weren’t filling up as much, either. Now she has no symptoms and just comes in once a month for maintenance.

(You can read a testimonial from the patient here.)

It’s possible to get relief from Meniere’s disease with acupuncture. Unlike western medicine, acupuncture isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, I used a totally different method with another Meniere’s disease patient that was centered on her heart channel. Each person requires a different treatment and reacts differently to treatment. That’s why I spend a lot of time getting to know my patients, talking to them and figuring out what’s going on and where they are at.

If you suffer from Meniere’s disease, or another illness where you aren’t getting relief from your physician, come to Eastern Medical Center. I’ll take the time to understand your specific case — and help you get on the path to wellness.

There can also be great beauty during times like these, when we see what (and who) really matters … when we see past the superficial to the true being inside … when people come together to overcome adversity.

These stories—and there are so many of heroic patients overcoming illness—are so heartwarming. But what breaks my heart as a physician is knowing some of their suffering is avoidable through utilizing Eastern medicine.

Acupuncture is a powerful resource for both treating disease and alleviating cancer-related nausea, pain, numbness and even anxiety. Most of my patients find me after already going through cancer and chemo, and they come to keep their body healthy so that cancer does not return and other ailments can’t take hold. Acupuncture helps cancer patients feel stronger in body, mind and spirit … and helps create hope and give the support many need.

I am proud to be a part of The Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation as well as the Tri-Valley Community Foundation and to have volunteered my services to Relay for Life, being of service when and where I can.

There are many fine organizations raising awareness about illness-causing agents and Eastern treatment options. Most recently, I have been corresponding with David Palombo, the National Awareness Coordinator for the Mesothelioma Center (asbestos.com). He writes:

“Acupuncture has been linked to alleviating the nausea associated with chemotherapy and the pain incurred from the constant surgeries that cancer patients undergo. The Mesothelioma Center offers the most comprehensive and current information on asbestos exposure and a complete list of malignant mesothelioma symptoms.”

Their site also points out that when it comes to the treatment of asbestos-related cancers, acupuncture treatments not only relieve pain but make breathing much easier.

We will continue to use this blog to shine a light on patient resources, so feel free to post a comment if you know of something we should spotlight. And if you or someone you love is in pain and suffering from cancer-related treatment, I encourage you to set up a consultation to discuss how Eastern medicine may be able to provide some additional support, healing and relief. It would be an honor to help.