How To Choose An Acupuncturist
By Steven Sonmore L. Ac. | June 20, 2009
Did you know that not all acupuncturists are not the same? Yes, it’s true. Selecting the right acupuncturist to treat your health problems is an important decision that can either make your acupuncture a success or turn it into a disaster. The sad fact is that there are people who go out and take a few weekend courses on acupuncture, buy some needles and themselves “acupuncturists.” This is like someone buying a stethoscope and calling himself a doctor! In the state of Minnesota it is sadly legal for chiropractors to take only 100 hours of training in acupuncture. (They are not allowed to used the term “acupuncturist”) Would you get brain surgery from someone who had just a weekend of training?
Many people ask, “How do I select an acupuncturist?” “Aren’t they all the same?” The fact is that each acupuncturist is unique and, like in any other profession, there are acupuncturists who are great, some who are good, some mediocre and some who should never be allowed to work!
First, your might want to call a L.Ac. (“licensed As an acupuncturist”) who is a full-time acupuncturist and has had years of experience. Why? The answer is simple: You can relax and rest assured that your acupuncturist had the superior training and experience (instead of a recent graduate) to do what it takes. You want to make sure your acupuncture is done right. That it solves your health problem instead of creating another one.
Then there is the issue of patients going to so-called ‘medical acupuncturists’ instead of selecting treatment by fully licensed acupuncture practitioners. The 4 year L.Ac (Licensed Acupuncturist) qualification requires over 3,000 hours of intense study and research. The ‘medical’ acupuncturists are ‘certified’ after only 220 hours of study, some of which is home study without the benefit of the tutoring of experienced acupuncturists. Indeed, in some US states, medical acupuncturists require as little as 100 hours of training before practicing acupuncture.
Zhu Dan Xi, a spokesperson for MedicalAcupunctureFacts.com said the value of the L.Ac qualification should not be underestimated, and patients should be aware of the potential dangers of receiving treatment from an unlicensed practitioner.
“We hear horror stories on a daily basis from patients undergoing treatment from medical acupuncturists, which just further underpins our belief that 100-200 hours of training simply isn’t enough. In the same way you wouldn’t trust a so-called doctor with 100 hours training, we believe you shouldn’t trust so-called medical acupuncturists either. These practices create a negative perception of acupuncture, and destroy the confidence of patients in what is truly a remarkable healing practice.”
“As a result of the lack of training of ‘medical’ acupuncturists, we’ve seen a rise in recent years in the levels of bad feeling towards acupuncture, with frequent claims of painful and uncomfortable treatments which have little healing effect. As any L.Ac licensed practitioner will testify, this couldn’t be further from the truth with well-executed acupuncture treatments, which can have a dramatic impact on health and wellbeing.”
Make sure your acupuncturist has experience treating your specific problem. You wouldn’t go to a fertility expert to treat your chronic pain. Go to www.orientalmedcare.com to review the many health problems we treat at our Minneapolis clinic.
Topics: Acupuncture, Back Pain, Headaches, TCM | No Comments »
Can Pain Medications Hurt Your Kidneys?
By Steven Sonmore L. Ac. | June 17, 2009
People with kidney disease who regularly take aspirin or acetaminophen may increase their risk of developing kidney failure. According to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (December 20, 2001; 345:1801-1808), the use of aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol, Anacin-3, Aspirin Free Anacin, DayQuil, Tapanol, Tempra, Valorin to mention a few) may increase the risk of kidney failure in those with existing kidney disease.
Kidney patients who took these drugs frequently (at least twice a week for 2 months) were two to three times more likely to have the beginning stages of chronic kidney failure than those who do not regularly use pain medication, according to researchers. Individuals who took either aspirin or acetaminophen regularly were 250% more likely to be diagnosed with chronic renal failure, compared with individuals who did not use these painkillers. The researchers found that the risk increased with the amount of either drug taken over a lifetime. This study and others have found that the risk of kidney failure linked to pain medication is minimal in those without pre-existing kidney disease.
Many people are wanting to be pain free without the side effects of drugs. If you are looking for effective, natural pain relief, try acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Visit www.orientalmedcare.com . Or call our Minneapolis clinic at 612-866-4000 for your first appointment for optimal health.
Topics: Acupuncture | No Comments »
Asian Acupressure Facelift Class, June 17th
By Steven Sonmore L. Ac. | June 13, 2009
Would you like to look younger by only spending minutes a day using a simple acupressure facial massage? All you need are your fingertips and it costs you nothing to perform daily.
Join us to learn a wealth of information about how acupressure points stimulate energy, blood circulation and improve internal organ functioning.
Here’s a brief sample of the tools you’ll get:
• Special points that rejuvenate the face and body.
• How to relieve stress, sinus pressure, headaches, jaw tension and tired eyes.
• Powerful breathing techniques that intensify the effects of Acupressure.
• Flush out toxins and improve facial tone.
• Discover a natural, professional treatment that will magnify the anti-aging effects by 300%.
Attend this class to acquire the power of looking younger naturally without surgery.
Dates & Times: Wed, June 17, 2009
7-9 pm.
Price $19
Location: Diamondhead Education Center
200 W. Burnsville Parkway, lower level
Burnsville, MN 55337
To register call: 952-707-4110
Or visit http://www.orientalmedcare.com/acupressure_facelift_class.html
Steven Sonmore, L.Ac., OBT has 20 years professional experience in the healing arts, and is a licensed acupuncturist, an Oriental bodywork therapist, and herbalist. He was recently interviewed by the New York Times and Mpls/St. Paul Magazine about his Facial Rejuvenation program.
Topics: Acupuncture, TCM | No Comments »
National Headache Awareness Week June 7-13
By Steven Sonmore L. Ac. | June 7, 2009
You’ve probably had headaches of some sort. Maybe you popped a Tylenol or Aspirin and forget about it. But some headaches need professional evaluation.
June 7-13 marks National Headache Awareness Week. Headaches obviously are complex, with a wide range of causes from sinus problems, to eyestrain, stress, lack of sleep or even drinking too much caffeine.
The goals of National Headache Awareness Week are:
• to attract recognition that headache pain is a real and legitimate condition,
• to encourage sufferers to see a licensed health professional for proper diagnosis and treatment
• to let headache sufferers know that there are treatments for their condition that works.
Taking a pain reliever for a headache, while effective in relieving the symptoms of the headache, just suppresses the symptoms and doesn’t address the root cause one bit. The imbalance will continue to manifest as a headache or other physical symptoms.
Imagine finally being rid of your migraines; without the drugs, without days in bed, without trips to the ER and without worry of when the next one might strike. Imagine finally being free from your migraines and enjoying life the way it’s meant to be.
Headaches are not normal. This is a sign that something is wrong. Your body was designed to be pain free. Even an occasional headache is a sign of something not functioning right.
At our Minneapolis clinic we help people enjoy life without the excruciating pain of headaches naturally. If you have not been to our clinic before, stop by during the week of June 8-12th and we will give you a free packet of information on how to prevent headaches. Or set up an appointment to be pain free. Just call 612-866-4000. You’ll be glad you did.
About the author: For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and a certified instructor by Health Preservation Association. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Visit www.orientalmedcare.com.
Topics: Acupuncture, Headaches, TCM | No Comments »
Free Chinese Pulse Diagnosis June 6 Minneapolis, MN
By Steven Sonmore L. Ac. | May 21, 2009
Here’s your chance to receive a free Chinese pulse diagnosis. Stop by Richfiield Lutheran Church on the corner of Nicollet Avenue S. and 60th Street, Saturday, June 6, 2009 from 10am to 3pm in Minneapolis, MN.
The most respected method of diagnosis in Chinese Medicine is “Pulse Diagnosis.” This method is a lost art with very few practitioners competent in its immense subtlety. Steven Sonmore, L.Ac. is personally trained in this lost art. Used correctly, the pulse can reveal anatomical problems such as soft tissue damage, allergies, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, ovarian cysts, bone spurs, gall stones, sinus infections, gastric ulcers and a host of other physical aliments. At the Complete Oriental Medical Care, LLC this method of pulse diagnosis is used daily in our treatment protocol.
P.S. We will also be giving a free Qigong demostration. Don’t miss this one!
For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and Oriental bodywork therapist. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. Visit http://www.orientalmedcare.com
Topics: Acupuncture, TCM | No Comments »