Eastern medicine
Americans largely became aware of acupuncture in the 1970’s when President Nixon sent diplomatic teams to China. Hundred of news exposes followed on what was then seen as a Chinese curiosity. Four decades later, western culture has largely accepted acupuncture. It’s not uncommon to hear an uncle who received acupuncture following a knee replacement or a mother who is using it to relieve pain from arthritis. Allina Health in Minneapolis and the Mayor Clinic in Rochester even have alternative sections in their facilities.
“When I first started most people came because of pain,” Halverson said. “Everyone has experienced pain, headache, back, joint pain, and that’s probably the highest percentage of clients I still see, but I also now see people who are treating autoimmune issues like rheumatoid arthritis, food allergies, and the common cold.”
Even though widely used, many are still unaware what acupuncture is all about.
“Acupuncture is a safe, effective, and natural healing technique and has been used by a quarter of the world’s population for 4,000 years,” she said.
In Chinese medicine the body is considered to have 12 meridians or pathways of energy that impact health.
“Pain is caused by a blockage of this chi, or energy, and what the acupuncture does is it stimulates the production of endorphins which are natural painkillers,” she said and added, “Acupuncture in Chinese medicine is about prevention and maintaining wellness. Taking care of your body before it gets sick and treating people before they have an illness.”
Over the years, Halverson’s practice has broadened.
“Now, I do see people come in with arthritis and gastrointestinal concerns, like irritable bowl, stomach pain. I recently treated a woman with gallstones. She was on a blood thinner and couldn’t undergo more surgery at the time she called and asked, ‘Can you do anything for that?’ and we started using a Chinese herbal formula and regiment of acupuncture. She goes to Arizona for the winter and when she left she was pain free.”
Halverson issues patented Chinese formulas and offers advice on diet and exercise.
“The first thing the ancient Chinese would change when you came to see them was your diet,” she said. “Then, when you came back to see them, they would use acupuncture and herbs. That’s how much emphasis they placed on the diet. My experience has been when people do the acupuncture and lifestyle changes, like diet and exercise, their response rate is much quicker.
One client with a sinus infection had come to her after using two to three rounds of antibiotics. Halverson treated her with acupuncture, Chinese herbal formula, and diet changes and the infection cleared up.
Another client who was told she needed surgery because of torn ligaments and tendon was treated at Healing Point for over three months.
“When she went back for another MRI, the surgeon was quite amazed at the healing that had taken place and now she is back to doing everything she had done on her ankle in the first place,” Halverson said.
Process
During the initial consult, clients discuss their health, including pain, and then Halverson asks about diet, sleep patterns, and takes a pulse but in a way different than in western medicine.
“In Chinese medicine we are not counting the rate and rhythm like western medicine,” she said. “I feel for three different pulses at three different levels in each wrist. Those relate to the meridians or pathways of energy.”
Halverson obtains a “pattern diagnosis” and develops a treatment plan that dictates where to place the needles.
“There are over 300 point locations for the needle placement along the 12 pathways of energy,” she said, “and they do different things. Some will move the chi. Some will drain damp. Some will clear heat. That’s how we describe what the needles are doing. That’s very different from western medicine in terms of how we make a diagnosis and what we plan to do for the treatment.
“A pain pattern occurs because the energy has become stagnated and we need to move that energy in order to alleviate the pain. We will do that by placing needles often times where you don’t expect. For example if someone has a knee pain, I may use his or her elbow to treat the knee pain and some needles may go in the knee as well,” she said.
Needles are thin as hair. The initial prick feels like a light mosquito bite to some and others don’t feel a thing, and any sensation dissipates. While receiving treatment, some feel a sense of calm and well-being, some a circuitry of energy, and others a warmth.
“I have people snoring, they are so relaxed,” she said.
People also use acupuncture to maintain a sense of well-being without a specific issue.
And because one needle may address several health issues, clients may come in for one reason and experience several other benefits.
“They will say, ‘I have never slept so well’ or ‘I have so much more energy,’ and it is those people who will come back for a monthly type of treatment for health and well being,” she said.
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