Asheville Accupuncture Asheville chinese herbalist
Licensed Acupunturist Lorraine H. Harris L.Ac, Dipl. O.M.

Licensed Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbalist
Asheville's Comprehensive Acupuncture Care & Specialist in Fertility, Women's Health and Rejuvenation


Acupuncture

Japanese Acupuncture Doesn't Hurt

Japanese acupuncturists produce needle stimulation, focusing on a specific acupuncture point or "active point."  These points are a living phenomenon with changing natures and locations, so they are not a prescription of points found in referencing a textbook. The acupuncturist must have the sensitivity and palpation ability to detect the "active points." Acupuncturists of the Japanese school put a great deal of weight upon finding these precise locations, which explains their ability to produce effective results without using deep needles or strong stimulation.

Japanese acupuncture treatments have been known to assist helping a range of complaints, including aggravated stress (fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression), localized pain (headache, knee pain, back pain), gastric problems (nausea, acid reflux, gastritis), trauma (sprains, strains, bruises) and even infertility. Traditional Japanese acupuncture is particularly suited to those who are uncomfortable with strong needle stimulus or are fatigued or otherwise weakened.  It is well-suited for pediatric treatments and can be done without the use of needles.

Lorraine Harris is trained in Traditional Japanese acupuncture. She employs the subtle diagnostic techniques and gentle needling styles of this branch of Oriental Medicine.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient technique that originated from China over 3000 years ago and is the fastest growing method of health care in America today. Acupuncture works to restore and balance the body's vital energy (qi or chi) through the use of needles at specific points. In a healthy person the energy flows smoothly. However, if the energy is out of balance or blocked, illness or disease results.

Acupuncture is a relatively painless, natural technique. It consists of the gentle insertion and stimulation of sterile, disposable, small, hair-width needles placed at precise strategic points on the body.  While many acupuncture patients are initially wary about their first treatment, they soon discover that the experience is quite pleasurable and pain-free. Acupuncture has been proven to stimulate and release opiate-like hormones and induce a state of relaxation, balance and healing.

What does Acupuncture Treat?

Already known as an alternative remedy for alleviating backaches and migraines, acupuncture, has found a niche in treating the side effects of cancer treatments, diabetes, eating disorders, infertility, morning sickness associated with pregnancy, skin disorders, emotional disorders like depression and even smoking and alcohol addictions. Relief can further be found for respiratory, circulatory, digestive and gynecological problems.

According to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, acupuncture may be considered as a complementary therapy for these conditions:

  • Acute and chronic pain control
  • Posttraumatic and postoperative ileus
    Muscle spasms, tremors, tics, contractures
  • Paresthesias
  • Anxiety, fright, panic
  • Drug detoxification  
  • Neuralgias (trigeminal, herpes zoster, postherpetic pain, other)
  • Seventh nerve palsy
  • Sequelae of stroke syndrome (aphasia, hemiplegia)
  • Certain functional gastrointestinal disorders (nausea and vomiting, esophageal spasm, hyperacidity, irritable bowel)
  • Headache, vertigo (Meniere disease), acupuncturetinnitus
  • Phantom pain
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Cervical and lumbar spine syndromes
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Arthritis/arthrosis
  • Bursitis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Sprains and contusions
  • In fractures, assisting in pain control, edema, and enhancing healing process
  • Temporo-mandibular joint derangement, bruxism
  • Dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain
  • Anorexia
  • Atypical chest pain (negative workup)
  • Idiopathic palpitations, sinus tachycardia
  • Allergic sinusitis
  • Persistent hiccups
  • Selected dermatoses (urticaria, pruritus, eczema, psoriasis)
  • Constipation, diarrhea
  • Urinary incontinence, retention (neurogenic, spastic, adverse drug effect)
  • Abdominal distention/flatulence
  • Severe hyperthermia
  • Cough with contraindications for narcotics

What to Expect From Your Acupuncture Treatment

Ms. Harris will begin by taking a complete health history. She will then do a comprehensive intake and exam, which will consist of asking numerous questions about your general health and primary complaint. Her physical exam includes a detailed examination and analysis of the pulse and tongue, as well as abdominal palpation and facial diagnosis. When Ms. Harris has arrived at a working diagnosis, the needles will be inserted. Ten to 20 needles may be inserted, although most times fewer are used, depending on the condition.  

Once all the needles are placed.  Ms. Harris will discuss with you her findings and explain how the treatment will work.  You may be left then to relax in the treatment room for 15-20 minutes.  After the acupuncture treatment is over, Chinese herbal medicines may be prescribed if needed and recommendations for dietary and lifestyle changes may be made.

Patients report a variety of reactions immediately after treatments including symptom relief, deep relaxation, a "shift taking place," and internal stirring.  Ms. Harris strives to make the acupuncture experience as comfortable and effective as possible.

How Many Treatments will I Need?

Most health problems take more than one treatment to resolve, especially if the condition is chronic. Some conditions are treated with one session while others may take 4-5 treatments before significant changes are observed.  Your diet, lifestyle, attitude and determination will affect the number of treatments needed. For this reason, Ms. Harris encourages all her patients to actively participate in their healing process.

Who’s Qualified to Give Acupuncture Treatments

Anyone who is certified or licensed for acupuncture can give acupuncture treatments.  However, the qualifications between certified acupuncturists and licensed acupuncturists vary greatly.  In summary, licensed acupuncturists will have thousands of hours of graduate level training, clinical experience, have passed a licensing exam and are required to do regular continuing education.  Certified practitioners may have only 300 hours of home study with little or no clinical experience and not have taken any exams to prove competency in acupuncture.

For more detailed information about licensing in acupuncture, please visit:

Qualification Comparisons between Licensed and Certified Acupuncturists

NCCAOM


Acupuncture Resources

Articles on Acupuncture

Acupuncture Diminishes Acute Postop Pain Researchers in anesthesiology at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, reviewed 15 research studies pertaining to the effectiveness of acupuncture and related techniques to relieve postoperative pain when used in conjunction with pain medication. The data analysis of some 1,166 patients revealed a significant decrease in pain among the patients receiving acupuncture.

Benefits of Japanese Acupuncture

Moving Past Pain

Keeping Peace of Mind

Cosmetic acupuncture can pinpoint the key to softer, more youthful skin

Acupuncture gets to point of pain relief

Beauty for Life

The cure had the word `puncture' in it, but beauty through the eye of a needle or two is worth it

Say 'ah' to acupuncture from CNN Health.

Oprah Tries Acupuncture


Links to Information on Acupuncture

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine

National Institutes of Health facts page about acupuncture.

National Institutes of Health Concensus Development Program. Provides an assessment of the use and effectiveness of acupuncture for a variety of conditions.

 

Call for an appointment
828.215.8185

Office & Contact info >>

What is an acupuncture appointment like? >>


 

 


Your path to radiant health...


Lorraine Harris's Asheville acupuncture clinic is conveniently located in South Asheville.  Ms. Harris is a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist and Nationally Board Certified Practitioner of Chinese Medicine. She is the only fertility specialist in Western North Carolina (WNC) offering The Fertile Soul Method™ and Mei Zen™ facial rejuvenation program.

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Oriental Medicine | Acupuncture | Chinese Herbal Medicine
Conditions Treated by Chinese Medicine
| Fertility
Cosmetic Acupuncture & Facial Rejuvenation
| Pain Management
Women's Health | Healthy Eating
About Lorraine H. Harris



Call for an appointment
828.215.8185

Office & Contact info >>

What is an acupuncture appointment like? >>



Dr. Andrew Weil wasn't sure exactly how he hurt his knee; all he knew was that it was painful...Weil turned to the ancient Chinese medicine practice of acupuncture. "It worked -- my knee felt much better," says Weil.