Oriental Medicine & Acupuncture

If the boulders are moved, even a river will change it's flow~ Deng Ming Dao

Edgar Lim

What is it?

Acupuncture is the insertion of fine, one-time use, sterile needles into the body at specific points for treatment of health problems. Chinese medical theory describes Qi (pronounced ‘chee’), or energy, which flows through meridian pathways in the body. For over two thousand years, the Chinese have stimulated points along these pathways to restore proper energy flow and encourage healing. Exciting new research continues to uncover the physiologic effects of acupuncture such as its ability to reduce pain by stimulating endorphin production (natural pain killers), to regulate hormones via the neuroendocrine system, to boost immune cell production, and induce relaxation by reducing sympathetic nerve activity.

Acupuncture is one modality of Oriental medicine, a holistic and energetic system of health care. Other modalities often used by acupuncturists in a treatment include moxibustion (heat therapy), Chinese herbalism, or Qigong (energy medicine).

Acupuncture needles are individually packaged, sterilized needles for one time use. Needles are usually inserted from ¼ to 1 inch in depth.

Our acupuncturists may also use other techniques including electrical stimulation or laser acupuncture. Laser acupuncture can be used to augment a needle treatment or in some cases can be used instead of needles. This type of laser, also called low level laser, is a non-surgical laser and is safe and painless. This works by gently stimulating the acupuncture points and increasing the energy of the cells to promote tissue healing and to reduce inflammation and pain.

Who Benefits?

Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of conditions including chronic pain, chronic disease and preventative medicine.   If you have questions about a condition not listed, please call for information.  Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of:

For an appointment call 847.657.3540

Note:  A physician referral is not required for any Integrative Medicine treatments, including a physician consultation.
Nicole Hohmann, MS, Dipl.OM, L.Ac, FABORM
Edgar Lim, MS, BS, Dipl Ac, L.Ac, ACI, NMT, NSCA-PT
Patricia Piant, MSTOM, Dipl.OM, L.Ac
Molly Cofman, MSTOM, Dipl.OM, L.Ac
David Vavrinchik, M.S., L.Ac.

Low-level laser light is compressed light of a wavelength from the cold, red part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. It is different from natural light in that it is one precise color; it is coherent (it travels in a straight line), monochromatic (a single wavelength) and polarized (it concentrates its beam in a defined location or spot). These properties allow laser light to penetrate the surface of the skin with no heating effect, no damage to the skin and no known side effects. Rather, laser light directs biostimulative light energy to the body's cells which the cells then convert into chemical energy to promote natural healing and pain relief.

The History of Laser Therapy
The word "laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The theory was first described by Albert Einstein (1879-1955) who paved the way for the development of the therapeutic laser.
The first low-level therapeutic laser was developed in 1962. By the end of the 1960's, Endre Mester in Hungary was reporting an improved healing of wounds through low-level laser radiation. Since then, scientists and doctors around the world have been using laser light to treat conditions that can affect all age groups.

High Power vs. Low Power Medical Lasers
There are two types of medical laser: high power and low power. High power lasers are used to cut through tissue. Low-level lasers, on the other hand, are used to stimulate tissue repair through a process of bio-stimulation.

What Is Low Level Laser Therapy?
Low-level laser therapy is the application of red and near infrared light over injuries or wounds to improve soft tissue healing and relieve both acute and chronic pain. Low-level therapy uses cold (subthermal) laser light energy to direct bio-stimulative light energy to the body's cells without injuring or damaging them in any way. The therapy is precise and accurate; and offers safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions. The energy range of low level laser light lies between 1 and 500 mW (milliwatts), while for surgical lasers the energy range lies between 3000 and 10000 mW.

How Does Low Level Laser Therapy Work?
Low-level lasers supply energy to the body in the form of non-thermal photons of light. Light is transmitted through the skin's layers (the dermis, epidermis and the subcutaneous tissue or tissue fat under the skin) at all wavelengths in the visible range. However, light waves in the near infrared ranges penetrate the deepest of all light waves in the visible spectrum.
When low level laser light waves penetrate deeply into the skin, they optimize the immune responses of our blood. This has both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. It is a scientific fact that light transmitted to the blood in this way has positive effective throughout the whole body, supplying vital oxygen and energy to every cell.

The Physiological Effects of Low Level Laser Therapy

1. Biostimulation
   -   Improved metabolism
   -   Increase of cell metabolism
2. Improved blood circulation and vasodilatation
3. Analgesic effect
4. Anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects
5. Stimulation of wound healing

How Does Low Level Laser  Therapy (LLLT) Benefit Users?

• Relieves acute and chronic pain
• Increases the speed, quality and tensile strength of tissue repair
• Increases blood supply
• Stimulates the immune system
• Stimulates nerve function
• Develops collagen and muscle tissue
• Helps generate new and healthy cells and tissue
• Promotes faster wound healing and clot formation
• Reduces inflammation