Acupuncture is an ancient healing practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This therapy involves the insertion of ultra-thin needles at specific points on the body, known as acupuncture points. The micro-trauma that is created stimulates your body’s own healing mechanisms, thereby removing blockages, restoring the flow of Qi (energy) and Blood, and reducing inflammation.
In New York City, where stress levels are often high due to the city’s fast-paced lifestyle, acupuncture offers a holistic approach to wellness. Whether you’re seeking acupuncture for pain relief, stress management or for internal conditions, Grand Madison Acupuncture offers a time-tested therapeutic option by providing personalized acupuncture treatments designed to address the unique health concerns of each patient.
What Acupuncture Treats
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment for over 90 health conditions that have been shown in controlled clinical trials to benefit from acupuncture. The American College of Physicians, the CDC and Joint Commission all recommend acupuncture as a first line of defense for natural pain relief over opioid medications.
- Abdominal pain
- Acne vulgaris
- Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
- Alcohol dependence and detoxification
- Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
- Bell’s palsy
- Biliary colic
- Bronchial asthma
- Cancer pain
- Cardiac neurosis
- Cholecystitis
- Cholelithiasis
- Competition stress syndrome
- Craniocerebral injury
- Depression
- Diabetes mellitus
- Dysentery
- Dysmenorrhoea
- Earache
- Epidemic haemorrhagic fever
- Epigastralgia (peptic ulcer, gastritis)
- Epistaxis
- Eye pain due to subconjunctival injection
- Facial pain (craniomandibular disorders)
- Facial spasm
- Female infertility
- Female urethral syndrome
- Fibromyalgia and fasciitis
- Gastrokinetic disturbance
- Gouty arthritis
- Headache
- Hepatitis B virus carrier status
- Herpes zoster
- Hyperlipaemia
- Hypertension, essential
- Hypo-ovarianism
- Hypotension, primary
- Induction of labor
- Insomnia
- Knee pain
- Labor pain
- Lactation, deficiency
- Leukopenia
- Low back pain
- Male sexual dysfunction
- Malposition of fetus
- Ménière disease
- Morning sickness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Neck pain
- Neuralgia, post-herpetic
- Neurodermatitis
- Obesity
- Opium, cocaine and heroin dependence
- Osteoarthritis
- Pain due to endoscopic examination
- Pain in dentistry (dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)
- Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans
- Periarthritis of shoulder
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Postextubation in children
- Postoperative convalescence
- Postoperative pain
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Prostatitis, chronic
- Pruritus
- Radicular and pseudoradicular pain syndrome
- Raynaud syndrome
- Recurrent lower urinary-tract infection
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
- Renal colic
- Retention of urine, traumatic
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Schizophrenia
- Sciatica
- Sialism, drug-induced
- Sjögren syndrome
- Sore throat (including tonsillitis)
- Spine pain, acute
- Sprain
- Stiff neck
- Stroke
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
- Tennis elbow
- Tietze syndrome
- Tobacco dependence
- Tourette syndrome
- Ulcerative colitis
- Urolithiasis
- Vascular dementia
- Whooping cough (pertussis)
How Acupuncture Works
Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body, helping to rebalance your energy flow. This ancient technique can promote healing, alleviate pain, and improve overall wellness. To understand how acupuncture works, read the biomedical explanation below.
Biomedical Explanation
The human body is essentially an electromagnetic field, generating electric potentials and currents to conduct impulses along nerve fibers, regulate body tissues and organ functions, govern metabolism, as well as many other processes within the body. In Western terms, this concept is known as bioelectricity. In Eastern medicine, this concept of vital life force energy is known as Qi.
Acupuncture has been used for over 2,500 years to essentially rewire and redirect the bioelectric circuitry of the body to regulate homeostasis and stimulate biological responses, encouraging the body to heal itself. Acupuncture points are located in areas with a higher concentration of nerves, blood vessels and neuromuscular attachments. Once a needle is inserted, sensory neurons are stimulated, affecting the connective tissue. Signals then travel to the brain and spinal cord, affecting the Central & Peripheral Nervous Systems. From there, a cascade of signals are activated, stimulating the release of neurotransmitters and hormones which then regulate the Endocrine, Immune, Cardiovascular and Digestive Systems.
Various acupuncture points can be selected to affect these systems. For example, acupuncture may be used to regulate blood pressure by stimulating the release of vasodilators. Serotonin and noradrenalin can be stimulated for the treatment of anxiety, depression and mood disorders. Sleep and stress disorders may be addressed by regulating the Parasympathetic and Sympathetic “fight or flight” response by decreasing cortisol levels in the body. Functional MRIs show evidence that certain points such as LI4 stimulate certain areas of the brain and effectively shut off pain receptors, thereby affecting the “fight or flight” response. Similarly, GB37 which is known in Chinese medicine to be the empirical point for the eye, has been shown in functional MRIs to affect the area of the brain controlling optic function.
Acupuncture is most popularly used for pain relief. Post-surgically and for trauma or wound healing, acupuncture serves to increase blood flow to the area, reducing inflammation and swelling. It has also been shown to accelerate healing by removing obstructions and allowing white blood cells and other healing agents to reach the site more quickly and effectively. Studies show that stimulation with an acupuncture needle releases opioid peptides and endorphins to produce an analgesic effect, which is why acupuncture is now being recommended by the CDC and Joint Commission in the current opioid crisis for natural pain relief over opioid medications. It is also recommended by the American College of Physicians as the first line of defense for low back pain.
Acupuncture for Back Pain
Acupuncture offers a natural, non-invasive method for relieving back pain. By targeting specific points, it can help release blocked Qi, promoting healing and reducing inflammation. At Grand Madison Acupuncture, we provide specialized treatments for back pain, tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re dealing with chronic lower back pain or recovering from an injury or surgery, acupuncture can aid in pain relief, improved mobility, and enhanced quality of life.
Acupuncture for Neck Pain
Grand Madison Acupuncture is a viable option for those seeking neck pain relief. Acupuncture targets specific points to alleviate tension, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. This drug-free therapy has been recognized as an effective treatment for managing and preventing chronic neck pain.
Acupuncture for Post-Stroke Symptoms
Post-stroke recovery can be a challenging journey. At Grand Madison Acupuncture, we offer acupuncture therapy to help manage post-stroke symptoms. Acupuncture is often used for post-stroke rehabilitation in hospitals and medical centers due to its ability to stimulate neurological response and strengthen nerve function while targeting facial muscle motor points. By stimulating specific acupoints, our treatments aim to restore balance in the body, improve motor and sensory function, and mitigate conditions such as spasticity, aphasia, deviated eyes or mouth, drooping eyelids (ptosis), and Bell’s Palsy. We offer a supportive, non-invasive approach to healing and rehabilitation in your post-stroke journey.
Acupuncture for Shoulder Pain
Acupuncture has shown effectiveness in relieving shoulder pain. It can help reduce inflammation, release tight muscles, and increase range of motion for various shoulder problems. Regular treatments can help manage inflammation and prevent recurring pain, making it a valuable tool for chronic shoulder issues.
Acupuncture for Migraines
Struggling with migraines? Acupuncture therapy at Grand Madison Acupuncture may be your solution. Acupuncture helps to relieve muscle tension, targeting specific points to balance the body’s energy, reduce stress, and alleviate migraine symptoms. Acupuncture can be an effective solution to treat not only symptoms, but their root cause resulting in decreased frequency and intensity. Experience a holistic approach for migraine relief and improved overall wellbeing.
Acupuncture for Gastrointestinal Disorders
At Grand Madison Acupuncture, we offer treatments that can help manage gastrointestinal disorders. East Asian medicine believes all disorders are rooted in the digestive system and similarly Western biomedicine believes immunity and brain health lies in the gut. A healthy digestive system is often part of the focus for any treatment, regardless of complaint.
Our acupuncture services have been recognized for their effectiveness in dealing with common conditions such as bloating, nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhea, as well as the symptoms of more complex disorders such as Celiac and Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and GERD.
Acupuncture for Emotional Health
Grand Madison Acupuncture understands that emotional health is just as important as physical well-being. Acupuncture has been shown in studies to regulate the Nervous System by inhibiting the release of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine while stimulating the release of natural endorphins and “happy hormones“ including serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin.
In Eastern medicine, an imbalance of different organ meridian systems may produce corresponding emotional responses, and the balancing of those systems may be helpful for emotional disorders such as depression, irritability, frustration, grief, worry, fear, anger and anxiety. By allowing the free flow of Qi, emotions may also be released and allowed to flow unimpeded.
We offer acupuncture treatments to regulate the nervous system and rebalance the body’s energy, which can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. This holistic approach promotes mental well-being and emotional balance.
Acupuncture for Sleep Disorders
Are you struggling with sleep disorders? Grand Madison Acupuncture may be just the solution you need. In Eastern medicine, sleep disorders indicate an imbalance of the organ meridians, and may also be caused by excess heat in the body. By working to balance the meridian systems, drawing pathological heat from the body, regulating the Nervous System and restoring natural sleep patterns, our patients have regained the ability to relax and fall asleep quicker with improved quality sleep, leading to increased energy and overall emotional wellness. Whether you’re battling with insomnia or waking up throughout the night, our non-invasive approach may help to improve your sleep quality.
Acupuncture for Allergies
Allergy symptoms can be significantly reduced or eliminated with the acupuncture services at Grand Madison Acupuncture. We provide a natural, drug-free option for allergy relief. Allergies are a reaction by the immune system that can trigger a series of symptoms including nasal congestion, sneezing, hives, and itchy, watery, or red eyes. By balancing and strengthening weak organ meridians and channels, acupuncture may help to reduce inflammatory processes and provide immune support to not only alleviate the symptoms, but reduce or eliminate their occurrence.
Acupuncture for Women’s Health and Fertility
At Grand Madison Acupuncture, we offer specialized treatments for women’s health and fertility. Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate and balance the release of hormones, and can help to reduce pain and inflammation. When used for fertility, in addition to regulating hormones and stress, acupuncture and moxibustion may be used to increase blood flow and to warm and nourish the uterus in order to effectively change the environment to become more fertile. Studies have shown that acupuncture may improve the rate of pregnancy, and whether used in conjunction with IVF or natural methods, Eastern medicine can be a powerful tool for male OR female infertility.
Other commonly treated conditions include PCOS, endometriosis, PMS, menopause, dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation.
Accessing Acupuncture Therapy in NYC
Acupuncture is widely acclaimed for its therapeutic benefits. A certified acupuncture therapist can provide effective treatments for pain relief and overall wellness. To access acupuncture in New York City, schedule an acupuncture appointment at Grand Madison Acupuncture. With two convenient locations in Midtown East across from Grand Central Station and Midtown West near Columbus Circle, it’s never been easier to access high-quality acupuncture services in Manhattan. Experience the holistic healing power of acupuncture today and embark on a journey towards better health and well-being.