Info

• Philosophy
  We take a holistic approach to treating body, mind, and spirit. The roots of Traditional Chinese Medicine are found in ancient Taoist philosophy. Taoism views the individual as an energy system in which body and mind influence and balance one another to maintain good health. We believe that acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, nutrition and exercise are essential elements for maximizing health and preventing illness in a stressful world.

• Promise
  Our goal is to create a respectful healing partnership to pursue each client’s path to wellness. We listen carefully and reflect on each individual’s history and current needs in order to maximize well-being. We approach healing with intention and integrity. You will receive high quality services from highly-trained, experienced health professionals.

Heath Care Services and Specialties

• We offer comprehensive alternative and complementary healthcare services for a wide range of physical and emotional conditions. Our specialties include:

Fertility

• Treatment for Optimum Fertility
  For centuries Traditional Chinese Medicine has used acupuncture and herbs to successfully treat couples dealing with infertility. East-West Integrative Clinic takes a holistic and highly individualized approach to maximizing fertility, treating the whole person in order to arrive at conception, a healthy pregnancy, and a health baby. Clinical research has shown that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for infertility. There is growing scientific and anecdotal evidence that optimizing health and nourishing the reproductive system using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may enhance reproductive function in both men and women.

• Treating the Whole Person
  Fertility is often associated with an individual’s overall health. As we focus in on the source of a couple’s fertility challenges, we develop a unique treatment plan that may include acupuncture and herbs, as well as lifestyle changes in diet, exercise and meditation. East-West can help couples diagnosed with “infertility” to use natural therapies to strengthen and nourish their bodies and reproductive systems, and focus their energies to prepare for conception and pregnancy. Though infertility can be caused by a variety of factors, we recommend that couples pursue treatment together to improve general health and enhance reproductive system function. This partnered approach can produce benefits for the couple beyond conception and pregnancy, including increased overall health, emotional support and satisfaction.

• How Treatment May Help Women
  Many factors can influence a woman’s ability to conceive. Before beginning acupuncture and herbal treatment, it is helpful to consult your Western healthcare practitioner or fertility specialist to help rule out obstructions, hormonal imbalances, endometriosis, anovulation or other possible causes of infertility. A Western medical diagnosis, coupled with your Chinese medicine diagnosis — which we determine after your first visit — is key to developing a successful treatment plan. You may choose to use your East-West treatment plan alone, or in conjunction with Western medical therapies. On its own or in conjunction with Western treatments, TCM may improve many functions effecting fertility, such as reducing stress, strengthening the immune system, regulating hormone levels, regulating the menstrual cycle and ovulation, and increasing the production of cervical fluid.

• How Treatment May Help Men
  Semen analysis is very important in determining whether male factors could be a cause of infertility. Abnormalities in sperm, including low sperm count or semen volume, abnormal sperm shape, decreased motility, and poor liquefaction can all be sources of infertility. Acupuncture and herbal medicine may help address these issues. It’s a good idea to start treatment as soon as possible, since sperm maturation takes approximately 70-90 days.

• A Growing Body of Research
  Evidence can be conflicting and further research is needed, but studies published in reputable medical journals such as Fertility and Sterility, Human Fertility, Human Reproduction, and others indicate that acupuncture may also: Improve the quality of the ova; Improve sperm quality (shape and motility); Increase follicular development; Increase sperm counts. Increase blood flow to the uterus to produce a thicker lining that is more viable for implantation: Help regulate hormone levels, specifically gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which may improve ovulation rates; Help women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and anovulatory cycles. Increase chances of conceiving in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF); Improve reproductive outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF); Reduce the side effects of strong drugs used in conjunction with advanced reproductive technologies (ART).

• Treatment Cycle
  If you are using acupuncture and herbs as your sole treatment, visits are normally once a week for three to six months. If you are using TCM in conjunction with IVF, you may need treatments once or twice weekly depending on the specifics of your case.

• Research on Acupuncture for Infertility
  Increase chances of conceiving in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), Improve reproductive outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Healthy Pregnancy

• A Healthy Pregnancy, Naturally
  For centuries, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been employed as a safe, supportive and natural way to help women enjoy healthy pregnancies. More recently, a growing body of research has shown that acupuncture is an effective, non-invasive complement to conventional medical pregnancy care. It can ease discomfort from common pregnancy-related symptoms so you can focus on the joy of expecting new life. Several East-West practitioners have received specialized training in acupuncture to treat common pregnancy-related symptoms:

• 1st Trimester:
  Traditional Chinese Medicine is often employed in the first trimester to reduce chances of miscarriage, manage morning sickness/nausea, regulate sleep and increase energy, relieve bloating, swelling and constipation, reduce anxiety and promote a strong sense of wellbeing.

• 2nd Trimester:
  Acupuncture treatment through the second trimester can help maintain overall health and energy. A safe and effective alternative to painkillers, acupuncture can help relieve sciatica, back, hip, pelvic, and headache pain. Acupuncture can also help alleviate indigestion, insomnia, and stress.

• 3rd Trimester:
  As you approach labor and birth in the third trimester, you may choose to employ acupuncture to help encourage optimal presentation by turning a breech or posterior baby; ripen the cervix; and reduce anxiety or high blood pressure. Acupuncture can also be used to induce labor if you are past your due date. Acupuncture treatments can enhance your wellbeing throughout pregnancy, and can help lead to a safe and satisfying birth.

Post-Partum Care

• Bonding, Nourishing and Restoring
  During the very special weeks after the birth of a child, it’s essential to support the health and strength of both mother and baby. To recover from the demanding and draining process of labor and delivery it’s important that a new mother be able to rest. The new mother must also replenish her strength so she can bond with and meet her new baby’s needs. The thrill of a new life calls for a natural process without drugs. East-West practitioners can help provide support new mothers need as they embark on a new journey with their baby. Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques may help: Increase milk production; Prevent postpartum depression; Restore the new mother’s energy; Support the healing process.

Pain Relief

• Pain is part of life for most of us. It may be occasional or chronic, dull or sharp, focused or felt throughout the body. We may know the cause of the pain, or the cause may remain unknown. While there is no panacea, research shows increasing evidence that acupuncture works to relieve pain, sometimes for months at a time.
• Why Choose Acupuncture?
  There are many reasons to choose acupuncture for pain relief. Acupuncture can be used alone or in conjunction with conventional therapies or pain relieving drugs to treat various types of pain. It is a drug-free way to minimize or eliminate pain from a variety of conditions. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that there are “fewer adverse effects associated with acupuncture than with many standard drug treatments (such as anti-inflammatory medication and steroid injections) used to manage painful musculoskeletal conditions.”

• Common Conditions Treated
  Sources of pain people most commonly turn to acupuncture to treat include:Chronic Low Back Pain – Back pain is the most commonly reported pain for which people seek acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture is believed to be as effective as conventional therapies in treating low back pain. Joint Pain and Arthritis – Including carpal tunnel syndrome, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) and tennis elbow. Neck pain, Headaches – Appears to be as effective, and possibly more effective, than conventional medicine in preventing migraines and tension headaches. Menstrual cramps.

• How Does it Work?
  Traditional Chinese Medicine theory holds that stimulating meridians through acupuncture can correct energy or “Qi” imbalances. Acupuncture is also believed to decrease pain by increasing the release of endorphins, which are naturally-occurring chemicals produced by the body that block pain. According to Spine-Health.com, “While the specific mechanism is not understood, it is believed that acupuncture contributes to pain relief by releasing opioid peptides in the brain that have a natural analgesic effect. Acupuncture may also alter the secretion of specific neurotransmitters that play a direct role in the sensation of pain.”

Mei Zen Facial Rejuvenation

• Cosmetic acupuncture is a gentle, safe and effective way to give your face a “lift” and look your best. If you would like to increase your inner wellbeing and outer radiance, consider the benefits of this non-invasive alternative to surgery. The reported benefits of facial acupuncture include: Improvement of fine lines, Increased muscle tone, Reduced acne, rosacea and puffiness.
• A Holistic Approach
  The demands of busy lives can catch up with us and can manifest on our faces. Stress, sun damage, diet and lifestyle all contribute to how we look and feel, inside and out. Chinese medicine takes a holistic approach, addressing your internal imbalances during your treatment. This holistic approach sets Mei Zen acupuncture apart from surgical procedures that address only the “outside”. When we are feeling good in our bodies physically and emotionally, our wellbeing radiates from our face. Facial Rejuvenation works best when combined w/nutrition and herbal medicine.

• Treatment Cycle
  Treatment consists of meeting with your acupuncturist twice weekly to achieve consistent and plentiful production of collagen and elastin. Acupuncture is followed by application of an organic mask, selected especially for your skin type. Depending on other factors, the use of Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional supplements may be advised.

• Benefits
  Benefits can be seen as early as five weeks. You may choose to stop treatment when you feel you have achieved the benefits you desire. During the course of treatment, we recommend 2-3 facials with a like-minded professional esthetician. After treatment, monthly ‘tune-ups’ can maximize long-term benefits.

Mental Health

• Acupuncture and Mental Health: Restoring Balance
  To be human is to experience occasional imbalance or emotional upheaval. When that upheaval disrupts an individual’s ability to cope with normal daily routines, Traditional Chinese Medicine can help provide relief and restore balance. At East-West Integrative Medicine Clinic, we approach treatment holistically, to enhance the individual’s overall wellbeing. We seek the root cause of a mental or emotional imbalance or disorder, and work to open the energy pathways that may be blocked. Some of the mental health issues we can address with acupuncture and herbs include: Addiction, Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Emotionality, Insomnia, Lethargy, Stress.