Are you looking for acupuncture in Central Minnesota?

You have come to the right place! Pinpoint Acupuncture has been providing acupuncture in Central Minnesota since 1999. That likely makes us the oldest clinic in St. Cloud and surrounding areas! Since that time, we have helped thousands of patients improve their health. Here’s more information about acupuncture, and how it can help you feel better, too.

When I first started doing acupuncture in Central Minnesota in 1999, not too many people knew about acupuncture, or how it could help them improve their health. 

The goal of the following  information is to give you a better idea of how acupuncture can help you improve your health, and feel your best–even if other types of treatments have let you down in the past.

So what is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of bodywork that uses thin, sterile, and single-use acupuncture needles (known as filiform needles) to stimulate specific points in your body (known as acupuncture points).

Stimulating these points help to unlock your body’s natural healing ability–or “Qi” (pronounced: chee).

When stimulated, the acupuncture points send signals to your brain, that in turn, jump start your mind-body connection, and help to balance your health.

Acupuncture is based on principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that are thousands of years old.

TCM believes that energy flow in your body, in predictable pathways (known as meridians). These meridians relate to organ functions and hormonal health.

By stimulating acupuncture points, I can help your body balance its energy in the meridians, which  leads to improving physical health.

There are no known side-effects from acupuncture, and it is considered one of the safest systems available to us today.

If you are looking for acupuncture in Central Minnesota (and are ready to improve your health using a proven, natural health care approach), then contact us today. 

What to expect during your acupuncture appointment

1. Acupuncture Consultation and Treatment Plan

Before we begin an acupuncture treatment, I will spend time talking to you to better understand your health concerns. I will also use your body as a “feedback loop” to see what signals it is telling me about your health. 

This means I may check your tongue to see its color and coating, feel your pulses to understand their rate and qualities, as well as observing qualities such as skin temperature, changes in skin color, strength of voice and general muscle tone.

My method of making a Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) assessment takes your whole mind-body-spirit presentation into consideration.

Once I have a clear picture of what we need to work on, I will let you know how many treatments I think you may need to improve your specific concerns.

If I feel that I am unable to help you, I will refer you to someone I know, like and trust. My approach is to help you find the answers you need, whether from me, someone else or a combination of the two.

For the record, over 90% of the patients I have treated in Central Minnesota, report improved health with acupuncture, often after just a few treatments.

2. The Acupuncture Treatment

During your treatment, you will have acupuncture needles gently placed into specific acupuncture points, to stimulate your body’s natural healing energy.

You can expect to have between 10 and 15 needles placed into specific areas of your body.

The majority of these acupuncture points are on the lower legs, feet, forearms and hands.

Some needles may be used on your back, neck and shoulders, depending upon what type of health imbalances you have.

The needles stay in place for 15 to 30 minutes, allowing you to relax your body, rest, and reset your nervous system.

Your treatment will take place in a warm, comfortable and calming environment that encourages rest and relaxation.

You may fall asleep during your acupuncture treatment. You will likely begin to look forward to the deep relaxation that acupuncture offers you.

3. Types of acupuncture (and supporting therapies) I may use during your treatment:

There are many styles of acupuncture available, since many countries in the Far East developed their own “take” on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Not all of these modalities are commonly used for acupuncture in Central Minnesota, so I am pleased to offer you a variety of options “under one roof”.

I like to use the following acupuncture traditions:

+ Traditional Chinese acupuncture: This method involves using stronger stimulation at the acupuncture point, in order to jump start the body’s natural healing energy.

+ Japanese acupuncture: This approach uses thinner gauge acupuncture needles, inserted with very little sensation and very little stimulation. This coaxes the body’s natural healing ability into action. This gentle approach is an option for you if you think that having an acupuncture needle in your body would be scary or uncomfortable.

+Master Tung acupuncture: Known for it’s quick and often profound ability to relive pain, Master Tung acupuncture points are often placed far away from the area of complaint in the body. For example, your ankle pain may be resolved by using acupuncture points in the wrist.

For example, your headache may be relieved by acu-points in your foot or hand. Master Tung’s treatments are great when you want to move a painful joint through its range of motion, while keep the acupuncture needles far away from the part of the body being moved.

+ Auricular (Ear) acupuncture: The ear is full of points that have a calming effect on your nervous system. Many patients benefit from the calming addition of ear acupuncture points to the rest of their full body treatment. Ear points are especially effective for PTSD, addiction recovery and generalized anxiety.

4. Purpose of Acupuncture Treatments

The World Health Organization generated a list of 40 health conditions for which acupuncture is likely to be beneficial.

Some of the listed conditions include muscle pain and tension, stress reduction, digestive support, hormonal support, and supporting digestive health.

Because acupuncture works to help your body’s natural ability to heal, almost any condition will benefit from acupuncture–some more than others–but will benefit nonetheless.

Therefore, I recommend you contact me so we can talk about your health concerns, and what you want to achieve with acupuncture.

Over my years doing acupuncture in Central Minnesota, with thousands of patients, I have developed a good sense of what conditions respond well to acupuncture, and which conditions do not. I will tell you if I think acupuncture is a good choice for you, or not.

If you have noticed good results from acupuncture in the past, then you can confidently move forward with your treatments, knowing the benefits that acupuncture offers you.

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