How I Approach Treatment
Every treatment is tailored to you. I start by looking at your main concern, health history, tongue and pulse, and the overall pattern behind your symptoms. From there, I choose the combination of techniques that makes the most sense for what we’re trying to improve — whether that’s pain, muscle tension, movement, stress, sleep or helping your nervous system settle.
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Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses very fine, sterile needles placed at carefully selected points based on your symptoms and overall presentation. I don’t necessarily just needle where something hurts — treatment may include points elsewhere on the body to address the broader pattern, along with more targeted local points when appropriate.
The goal may be to reduce pain and muscle tension, improve movement, support sleep and digestion, or help calm an overactive nervous system. Many patients find the treatment itself deeply relaxing.
Dry Needling & Targeted Muscle Treatment
Dry needling is a more targeted approach used when a particular muscle or tight area appears to be contributing to pain or restricted movement. I may use local points — similar to what Chinese medicine calls Ashi points — to work directly with tender or restricted areas.
I use it as one tool within a broader acupuncture treatment when it makes sense for your presentation. The goal is to reduce local muscle tension and improve comfort and movement without losing sight of the bigger picture.
Electroacupuncture
Electroacupuncture uses a gentle electrical current between selected acupuncture needles. I use it when I want more consistent stimulation of a particular area than manual needle stimulation alone may provide.
It may be useful for certain pain and musculoskeletal concerns, including back pain, sciatica and stubborn muscle tension. The intensity is adjustable and should feel like a comfortable pulsing or tapping sensation — not something you have to push through.
Cupping
Cupping uses gentle suction over the skin and soft tissues. I most often use it when an area feels tight, stiff or restricted, especially around the back, shoulders and other muscular areas.
Patients often describe the area as feeling looser or easier to move afterward. I generally use cupping as a supporting part of the treatment rather than treating it as a separate therapy on its own.
Ear Seeds
Ear seeds are small seeds or beads secured to specific points on the ear. They allow you to continue gently stimulating selected points between appointments.
I may use them to support things we’re already working on — such as stress, sleep, pain or cravings — and to help carry some of the treatment momentum through the week.
Why I Combine Different Techniques
You don’t need every technique at every appointment. My job is to choose what will give us the most useful treatment without doing more than necessary. One visit may simply involve acupuncture and heat. Another may benefit from cupping, targeted local needling, electroacupuncture or ear seeds. The techniques are tools. The treatment is built around what you’re trying to improve.
Ready to Get Started?
Book an initial assessment and we’ll build a treatment plan around what you’re dealing with.