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Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the inserting hair-thin needles into the skin and looks painful, but ask around - it isn't!

Acupuncture has been best described by the Chinese as an organized medical system as early as 3000 years ago, but there is strong evidence for its use by pre-Columbian Native Americans and even a 5300 year old man preserved by European glacial ice tattooed with what appear to be acupuncture points.  In fact, many ancient peoples recognized the benefit of adjusting the body's electromagnetic field.

Acupuncture is based on movement of energy (Qi - pronounced "chee"), a sort of bioelectric current that is generated and sustained by differences in electrical charge between our millions of cells.  Interestingly, the movement of Qi nourishes our body systems (that have developed within it) producing what we now understand as a network of channels or meridians that traverse and intersect at various points near the body surface - the acupuncture points.

Acupuncture works by allowing communication between these networks, fostering energetic homeostasis or healing which is noted by tissue and functional changes in organs, pain receptors, etc.  According to medical research, acupuncture modulates the nervous system by changing the concentration and diversity of neuro-transmitters and neuropeptides.

Dr. Helms commonly uses acupuncture alone or in combination with neuro-fascial release to remove physical pain and dysfunction as well as the emotional and mental components that are held in the nervous and muscle tissues. The benefits patients gain through acupuncture have inspired many to accept that we can not separate the energetic body from our physical condition.