13 minute read
The Healing World of Acupuncture: Bonna L. Nelson
The Healing World of Acupuncture
by Bonna L. Nelson
Acupuncture is a JAB well done Life happens, acupuncture helps ~ Unknown
Lying alone on a heated treatment bed, draped in white linen and gold polka-dot sheets, surrounded by calming, meditative music with singing bowls, pan flutes, chimes and water falls, I quickly drifted away into a peaceful sleep or acunap. Though, fully dressed in loose clothing, twenty or so acupuncture needles of varying sizes inserted in my head, ears, chest, shoulders, hands, stomach, legs and feet were working to soothe, heal and restore my body to whole health after months of cancer treatments and a year of COVID stress. Referred by a friend who was also being treated with acupuncture for cancer procedural side effects, I was amazed and grateful that many of my symptoms resolved after only a few treatments. It is thought that the insertion of extremely fine needles into the skin at specific acupunc-
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17 Goldsborough Street Easton, MD 21601 O: 410-673-3344
The Healing World Located in St. Michaels, HALo Wholistics, a natural health and acuture points releases endorphins, puncture clinic, is an inviting, tranthe body’s natural pain-killing, quil, healing space. Owner/operator feel-good chemicals. It also affects Caroline Wrightson, L.Ac., Dipl., the part of the brain that governs Ac is a nationally board-certified serotonin, a brain chemical that acupuncturist and a knowledgeable, is involved in mood. I usually nap beautiful, compassionate, gentle both during treatment and at home soul. Wrightson graduated magna afterward. Mind, body and spirit are cum laude with a Clinical Masters balanced, and anxiety and stress are Level Diploma of Acupuncture from reduced. the Eastern School of Acupunc-
When seeking a specialist in any ture and Traditional Medicine in field, be it a doctor of traditional Bloomfield, NJ. She has a Maryland Western medicine or a carpenter or acupuncture license and a National a plumber, one seeks to learn about Certification Commission for Acuthe specialist’s credentials and puncture and Oriental Medicine experience. Personal referrals are Certification. always a plus. Satisfied customers are the assurance we seek in making a decision. I had the comfort of a personal referral and a satisfied customer, as well as a website to refer to for credentials, experience and services offered when selecting an acupuncturist. Additionally, and particularly important to me, Wrightson is also certified in adjuvant cancer care from Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine Department. As an independent contractor, she treated patients diagnosed with cancer at the Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center, East Stroudsburg, PA. Her holistic and highly effective acupuncture treatments encompass treating symptoms of disease and disease management (not treatment of the disease itself). Wrightson said, “Witnessing the
The Healing World style of acupuncture treatments and how she has helped me, I want body’s innate ability to heal is such to share what I have learned about a miraculous gift. Every day is just acupuncture from Wrightson and amazing for me!” She focuses on my research. the patient’s body structure, physi- Though Chinese medicine and ological systems and emotional and acupuncture are difficult subjects to psychological state. Her treatment understand completely without years is designed to help patients live a of serious study, I found it helpful to healthier, holistic and authentic read about the history of acupunclifestyle. ture, current practices, acceptance in
In addition to treating musculo- Western medical circles and some of skeletal disorders, digestive com- the terms used in the practice. plaints, autoimmune disorders, According to Sarah Swanberg, Lyme disease, mold illness and pain, acupuncturist, MS LAc, in A PaWrightson specializes in cancer tient’s Guide to Acupuncture, Evtherapy, reproductive health and erything You Need to Know, acupediatrics, including autism. Before puncture, the primary therapeutic more discussion about Wrightson’s method of Chinese medicine, has treatment services and type and been practiced for more than 2,000 years but has only recently gained popularity and acknowledgement in Western societies. It may surprise you to know that my health insurance plan, a major national plan, and many other health insurances cover acupuncture treatments. The reason? Acupuncture saves insurance companies money and has proven to be an effective way to treat a variety of health issues. Over the past two decades, medical insurance companies have moved toward a more holistic approach to overall wellness. Acupuncture is recognized as a safe alternative to treat a variety of issues, including arthritis, headaches and migraines, ADD and ADHD, sciatica, stress and anxiety, cancer treatment side effects and
The Healing World energy' or 'life force' that circulates through the body in meridians and pain in the neck, back and shoulder. is manipulated by acupuncture.”
Benefits and coverage will vary When Qi becomes blocked at some by plan for the number of allowed point in your body, pain and other sessions and specific medical is- physical symptoms can occur. sues. My plan covers 24 treatments Which leads to the question, what per calendar year. As of 2020, even are meridians? “Meridians are a Medicare began covering acupunc- pathway or channels in the body ture for patients with lower back along which qi flows." pain.
Insurance companies are also aware that various medical-related organizations have validated the use of acupuncture as an acceptable and useful alternative treatment for numerous conditions. In 1997, the National Institutes of Health released a report on the use and effectiveness of acupuncture for a variety of conditions, including postoperative pain, osteoarthritis, headaches and menstrual pain. In 2003, the World Health Organization released a list of conditions that it found to be effectively treated by acupuncture, And, lastly, what is the Chinese and in 2017 the Acupuncture Evi- Yin and Yang concept? “Yin and Yang dence Project expanded this list to are manifestations of Qi…Freeing include 117 conditions. the blockages with carefully placed
What is acupuncture? Swanberg needles helps balance Yin and Yang… stated that “Acupuncture is one of opposite forces that balance each the primary treatments under the other. Yang is generally warm, creumbrella of Chinese and East Asian ative and active, while yin is colder medicine…The treatment itself and nurturing.” The exterior of the involves the insertion of hair-thin body is dominated by yang, while the needles at specific points on the interior is primarily yin. body to promote balance and heal- Swanberg admits that the coning and regulation of Qi.” cepts of Chinese medicine, acu-
What is qi (pronounced “chee”)? puncture, qi, meridians and the Again, from Swanberg, “Qi is 'vital additional components of yin and 28
The Healing World is essential to maintaining health, Swanberg explained. yang are difficult for Westerners The acupuncturist takes a holistic to comprehend because they are approach to treatment. They act like so complex, take years of study to a detective, investigating patients’ totally understand and are so very various symptoms and using them as different from Western medicine. clues to identify a pattern of imbal-
My acupuncture practitioner, Car- ance in the body that may be causing oline Wrightson, continues studies the symptoms. in her field with the guidance of her Western medicine tends to spementor, Kiiko Matsumoto, an inter- cialize in identifying and treating nationally acclaimed acupuncturist one particular symptom. Western and teacher whose style relies on pal- medicine thinks of the body as a pation for diagnosis and treatment. machine, where broken parts need Palpation is a classic diagnostic tool to be fixed or replaced. Chinese involving tracing the body pathways medicine thinks of the body as a of the twelve main channels with the natural ecosystem that is dependent hands and fingers to determine the on many factors, The body is viewed quality of qi and blood flow in order as a whole, with signs and symptoms to relieve pain and ailments and find collected to identify a root imbalance blockages. and to create a treatment plan.
To summarize, in Chinese medicine, health depends on a delicate balance of yin and yang in the body. Yin and yang become unbalanced when the flow of qi becomes interrupted or blocked. Qi is the life force that regulates all of the body’s processes. It flows through meridians, or channels, in the body and twelve organs, which have more to do with function than physical form…blockage in the flow of qi, in one of the twelve organs or its corresponding meridian can cause an imbalance of yin and yang and lead to illness.
The balance of yin and yang relates very closely to the Western idea of homeostasis ~ the delicate balance of all of the body’s systems, which 30
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The Healing World points that elicit a series of endocrine, hormonal and biochemical
Using my answers to a very de- reactions in the body. The healing tailed questionnaire, in-person technique activates the innate healdiscussion, examination and palpa- ing processes within each patient’s tion, Wrightson used acupuncture body and can restore physical and to relieve joint pain and many side emotional well-being. effects from cancer treatment. She My acupuncture treatment with wanted to know about my medical Wrightson eliminated my shoulder history, symptoms, diet, habits and and thumb joint pain, eliminated lifestyle. At each treatment session, my back pain, reduced fatigue and she asks me how I feel and about new increased my energy levels, reduced problems and symptoms and places most of my cancer treatment side efneedles in appropriate meridians to fects, improved my sleep, improved correct the blockages causing those my balance, cured my eye photosensymptoms. sitivity and brought me closer to a
Wrightson carefully and patiently balanced, peaceful qi. explains which organs and merid- Wrightson also treated me with ians she is working on during treat- moxibustion. She burned a small ment. She explained that the needles dried plant pod, which smelled like are inserted into certain strategic marijuana, on the tip of an acupunc-
The Healing World sues, hearing issues, brain fog and digestive issues, just to name a few. ture needle. According to the Ameri- She explained that it is helpful can Institute of Alternative Medicine, for me to remember that the chemomoxibustion is a traditional Chinese therapy that I received to kill cancer medicine technique that involves the cells took my body to the brink of burning of mugwort, a small, spongy death. Chemotherapy kills all rapidly herb, to promote healing with acu- growing cells, which is why it attacks puncture. The purpose of moxibus- the digestive system, blood cells, bone tion, as with most forms of traditional marrow, the cells in the lining of the Chinese medicine, is to strengthen mouth and throat, the kidneys, the the blood, stimulate the flow of qi and liver, the brain, hair follicles and on maintain general health. and on. Once treatment is completed,
It was immediately evident to the chemotherapy drugs start to be me that Wrightson knew about and eliminated from the body, but it can anticipated the cancer side effects take years for the effects of the toxins that I was experiencing, as well as to be overcome and the body to heal. my various body aches and joint pain It can take years or forever for the from arthritis and being inactive body to become whole again. during treatment. I also experienced Curious about what a treatment major fatigue, low energy, vision is- is like? As I mentioned at the begin-
The Healing World clients range in age from babies to a 95-year-old. Her personalized treatning of this story, treatment is given ment helps clients who have been unin a private room on a comfortable able to receive improvement through warmed bed, with soft sheets and conventional, traditional medicine. a pillow to cradle the head. After Wrightson says that the body is we discuss my symptoms and well- designed to heal if given the proper being, Wrightson palpates areas of tools. She wants to help more people my body and then inserts sterile feel their best through natural healmetal filiform stainless steel one-use ing modalities. She loves her work needles in the locations she deter- According to the National Instimines will improve my symptoms tutes of Health studies, the types of and my qi. The needles vary in length conditions that acupuncture helps and diameter, as indicated by their include addiction, allergies, anxiety rainbow-colored handles in colors and depression, chemotherapy-inlike violet, red, green, turquoise and duced and post-operative pain naublue or plain metal. sea and vomiting, chemotherapy and
Do they hurt? I am often asked. radiation side effects, dental pain, The needles are as thin as hairs, and fatigue, headaches and migraines, I cannot feel when most of them are high blood pressure, insomnia, labor inserted. If Wrightson needs to use a pain, lower back pain, menstrual larger needle for a specific purpose, cramps and PMS, neck pain, osteoshe tells me and I feel a little pinch arthritis and respiratory disorders, on insertion and then nothing. among other conditions.
The needles stimulate places For more information or to schedon the body that influence nerves, ule an appointment, contact Carolyn muscles and connective tissue. Wrightson, HALo Wholistics LLC, at Acupuncture induces the relaxation 410-253-5310, or email at caroline@ response, hence the acunap. I usually halowholistics.com. Her website is relax and rest peacefully, sometimes www.halowholistics.com. a full nap, after the needles are in- The office is in St. Michaels where serted for 40 minutes or more. Wrightson lives. She grew up on a
Wrightson uses acupuncture, farm in Easton and is happy to promoxibustion, cupping, and other vide her support to our community techniques through safe and sound and share her love of acupuncture. protocols and highly effective individualized treatment. She uses func- Bonna L. Nelson is a Bay-area tional medicine theory combined writer, columnist, photographer with acupuncture to treat patients and world traveler. She resides from all over the Eastern Shore. Her in Easton with her husband, John. 38
