PURDUE NIELSEN WELLNESS CENTER Acupuncture By Dr. Patrick Purdue, DOM When the subject of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comes up in many conversations the typical response is, “Oh, that’s acupuncture”. Acupuncture has become synonymous with TCM to the point where many people see it as fully inclusive of all that TCM has to offer. I’ve had many patients who come to me with internal medical problems like gynecological issues, heart disease, etc., who seem surprised that I didn’t immediately treat them with acupuncture. Thus, in this article I am providing insights into the benefits of acupuncture, including what it can and cannot most effectively treat. The history of TCM spans over 2,000 years. The literature is mostly about internal medicine, or the use of highly complex herbal formulas and dietary recommendations to correct physical function. In fact, roughly 90% of the TCM literature focuses on internal medicine. That leaves around 10% of the TCM to discuss physical medicine or external medicine, or, in our modern language, orthopedic medicine. Acupuncture is a part of this branch of TCM which also includes tui na, or “pushing and grasping,” which includes manipulation of the bones, physical therapytype routines and exercise (known as qi gong) to rehabilitate problems with the musculo-skeletal system. So much of TCM is internal medicine that at one point in time an ancient Chinese emperor banned the use of acupuncture as part of medicine because the “real” medicine was internal medicine. Thank goodness that was subsequently changed, but I think you can get the idea of what TCM is about. In modern China acupuncture is provided in the orthopedic department of hospitals and clinics. I have followed this time-honored tradition in my treatments, using acupuncture as it was intended, and using the expanse of the TCM literature to treat internal medicine problems with my patients. Acupuncture is an exceptionally effective technique for pain. The history of over 2,000 years of its use, as well as much modern research, shows that it treats a wide variety of painful conditions such as arthritic pain, headaches, muscle aches and pains, muscle spasms, fibromyalgia pain and much more. If you’ve experienced acupuncture you may recall the tremendous sense of relaxation after a treatment. In fact, there are acupuncture techniques that can combat the effect of stress. When acupuncture is used as it was originally intended, patients experience significant results and great benefits. Feel free to contact our Wellness Center to have answered any question you may have about acupuncture and TCM. Dr. Patrick Purdue’s Treatments Include, but Are Not Limited to: *Aches, pains, injuries, bone and disc problems, joint problems, muscle pain/spasm, headaches, nerve pain, sciatica *Cold and flu, infections *Gynecological Conditions, hormonal problems, menopause, vaginal infections and discharge, UTI’s *Prostate Problems *High Blood Pressure and cholesterol problems *Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome *Autoimmune Conditions *Arthritis, Including Rheumatoid Arthritis *Digestive Disorders Dr. Ann Marie Nielsen’s (LMHC FL8181) Treatments Include but Are Not Limited to: *Counseling/Psychotherapy *Regenerative Relaxation Response *Support for Physical Wellness *From Depression to Happiness *From Anxiety to Ease *Sleep Therapy *Healing Intense Emotional Reactions *Hypnotherapy *Couples Therapy *Parent/Child Counseling *Career Success and Prosperity *Clearing Emotional Blocks that Contribute to Dis-Ease *Cellular Regeneration and Healing Cellular Imprints *Greater Peace and Clarity *Re-Patterning to Positive Beliefs and Emotions *Energy Medicine *Medical Qigong *Chinese Medicine Five Phase Analysis and Balance We welcome you to call 727-319-8819 to schedule an appointment.