Acupuncture is an ancient medical practice originating in China that uses the insertion of very thin needles into various parts of the body to restore the body's life energy and balance (called Chi or Qi). Disruption of the Chi flow results in pain and/or illness.

At Artemesia, all Acupuncturists have had extensive training and are licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Medicine.

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In Chinese Herbal Medicine, herbs grown in China, Korea, Japan, or the USA, are used to achieve similarly powerful results as in Acupuncture. They may be used stand-alone or to support and strengthen the effects of Acupuncture.

Most Chinese herbs are usually used to help build and strengthen the body. At Artemesia, select Herbal Formulas are prescribed, which are safe, purified, and free of animal products.

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NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique) is a unique method, using applied kinesiology, and Acupuncture or Acupressure to help rid allergies.

At Artemesia, a certified NAET practitioner has used this method effectively since 1997.

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European Biological Medicine is based on the findings of two German researchers, Dr. Günter Enderlein, and Dr. Reckeweg. By studying the progression of disease, similarities were found between Classical Chinese Medicine theory and different stages of illness.

Biological Medicine takes into account childhood illnesses, exposure to toxins, current lifestyle and diet before designing an individualized treatment plan.

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Lymph Drainage is a manual, very gentle method, encouraging coagulated lymph fluid back into flowing motion.

The body's lymph system acts like a waste transport system. Certain lifestyles and diets cause lymph fluid to stagnate and become toxic, in extreme cases causing swelling and pain.

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One of the most commonly and successfully treated conditions in Acupuncture is pain - acute or chronic. Pain is a warning signal - an alarm that goes off when your body is trying to tell you that something is wrong and out of balance.

Often, the first action we take when in pain is taking medication. Or we try to ignore it. At times, it goes away by itself, but more often the source of the pain does not disappear completely. Eventually, it becomes chronic.

What can you do?

You may have tried various NSAID's just to realize that the pain returns the moment the effect of the medication has worn off. Your doctor may suggest steroidal injections, which work momentarily, but often, the pain returns. Pain is a form of energy stagnation, which can come from Trauma, repetitive motion, living in the wrong climate, having the wrong diet, or it can be life-style dependant.

Pain is effectively unblocked and treated through Acupuncture. The more recent the occurrence, the quicker the relief. Acupuncture is a time-tested, safe, effective, natural and drug-free way to eliminate pain. Unlike other methods for handling pain, there are no side effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) acknowledge the benefits of acupuncture in treating and eliminating pain due to a wide range of causes.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes a deep look at the underlying condition(s). Those can be allergies, hereditary, food-based sensitivities, climate-related, exercise-induced, etc. In TCM, we go a step further: The Lungs have a close relationship with the Large Intestine. So, if the bowel is not working properly, or is not ridding itself of mucus matter, it is sent up to the Lungs, blocking normal breathing.

Another TCM premise is that the Kidneys/Adrenal System need to "grasp the air" from the Lungs and turn it into energy. Shallow breathing often follows emotional trauma (esp. fear, grief, sadness). This stops the air from moving deeply throughout the body, and gets stuck in the Lungs, leading to anxiety, cough, and asthma.

At Artemesia, we have treated many Children and Adults successfully with Acupuncture, Cupping, Allergy desensitization, Homeopathy or Herbal Remedies. As always, we determine the source of the problem, and design a treatment plan that is individualized for your specific situation.

At Artemesia, we primarily use NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique) to eliminate allergies. We have found this method successful in about 65% of people suffering from allergies. It is highly effective for hay fever, animal allergies, food and spring allergies.

Some people suffer from such a multitude of allergies, and tend to over-react to everything new. They often suffer from Fibromyalgia, MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities), bowel problems such as colitis, irritable bowel or Crohns disease, skin diseases, etc.

For this group of clients we recommend thorough but gentle detoxification, as their elimination organs (bowel, liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, and skin) often are overburdened.

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Who has not had a numbing and throbbing headache, that has interrupted normal daily activities? If you are a person that suffers frequently from headaches or migraines, you know that Pain medication helps temporarily, only to find the headaches return the same week, or within a short time. You may be trying to find a way out of the vicious cycle.

TCM/Acupuncture will take an analyzing look at the reasons for your headaches, which can be due to:

• Allergies
• Structural imbalances (often in the neck, mid or lower back)
• Food sensititvities - Histamine-based headaches
• Old or new trauma
• Tension / Stress
• Emotional stress
• Poor sleep
• Hormonal imbalance
• Nutritional deficiencies
  
  

Based on the findings, we develop a treatment plan, which may include Acupuncture, Nutritional Supplements, Homeopathy, or detoxification to help with headache relief and elimination.

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Today's busy, and often unhealthy life style can interrupt a women's monthly cycle in many ways. Observing teenage girls, we notice a much earlier onset (avg. 12 to 18 months earlier) of their first period. Many reasons have been considered, incl. hormones ingested through meat and dairy, earlier mental development. Often, these initial months or years of menstruation can be very difficult: irregular, painful, too heavy or scanty menses are not uncommon.

Irregularities may continue into later years, accompanied by PMS, headaches, and other discomfort. TCM/Acupuncture is a safe and effective way of treating hormonal, or other menstrual imbalances. When we analyze the problem, we often find the following underlying problems:

• Diet too cold or imbalanced
• Stress
• Hormonal imbalance
• Too much / too little exercise
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Hereditary reasons
  
  

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Acupuncture, frequently combined with herbal medicine, has been used for centuries to treat several causes of infertility. From irregular menstruations to endometriosis, acupuncture has been beneficial in helping a woman prepare for pregnancy. It has shown to improve ovarian and follicular function. Additionally, acupuncture can increase blood flow to the endometrium, helping to facilitate a thick, rich lining.

Acupuncture treatments should be started as soon as a woman notices an infertility problem. It has been used as standalone treatment for infertility, and conception has occured without medical interventions.

Women are often treated for three to four months before an insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or donor-egg transfer. This period of treatment seems to have a therapeutic effect.

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According to Chinese Medical theory, menopause occurs when a woman's body begins to preserve blood and energy in order to sustain her vitality and allow for the maximum available nourishment for her body. The body, in its wisdom, conserves the flow of blood in order to nourish the woman's spirit and extend her longevity. Thus, in the Chinese Medicine, menopause is seen as true change in life from mother to enlightened and wise being.

Menopause itself is not a disease and requires no treatment. However, the intense changes of the hormonal system can cause all the well-know menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, insomnia, memory problems, lack of sexual energy, to name a few.

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Insomnia is more than tossing and turning. It's more serious than an inability to fall asleep early and has more debilitating effects than are commonly recognized. An estimated 32 million people suffer from insomnia in the U.S.

For some, the inability to fall asleep is the most noticeable symptom while others are unable to reach a deep level of sleep and awake with every noise. When insomnia is experienced over long periods of time, more serious issues surfac - the daytime effects. These can include physical tiredness, difficulty concentrating and feeling depressed, irritable or lethargic.

Acupuncture, with its focus on healing whole syndromes rather than individual symptoms, is widely used as an insomnia remedy and has shown great success treating those who experience insomnia. It focuses on patients' individual insomnia symptom and builds a whole-healing plan from each symptom. It also has been widely successful in treating depression, stress and physical pain.

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Our bodies are great storage vessels for toxins we absorb during normal daily activities: breathing, eating, drinking. In the US, approx. 400 NEW chemicals are released into the air, earth and water ways annually. How do our bodies deal with this fact? In order to protect our vital organs, we store toxins in the bowel, adipose tissue, and intra-cellular tissue.

Our body compensates, until "the barrel is full". When it begins to overflow, we become sick. Syndromes such as Fibromyalgia, non-specific pain, fatigue, as well as serious illnesses like cancer have been linked to a build up of toxins.

At Artemesia, we understand that Acupuncture can be much more successful after a good detoxification. The digestive system, liver, kidneys and skin will be in much better shape and perform optimally after thorough detoxification.

Each client receives an individually planned detox program, tailored to their specific symptoms and needs.

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