Acupuncture
General Disorder
At Optima Family Health, we offer our patients a variety of acupuncture protocols, tailoring them to best fit your needs in the relief of general health disorders.
The World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. National Cancer Institute together report acupuncture as an effective treatment option for a multitude of conditions. While there are numerous conditions where clinical studies have demonstrated Acupuncture's effectiveness, some of the typical conditions include:
- Improvement of general conditions such as high blood pressure, nausea, depression, menstrual cramps, improved immune system response, and more.
- Pain management related to: arthritis, headache, ulcers, sports injuries, post operative pain, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, chemotherapy and radiation side affects, and more.
- Allergy management for asthma, hay fever, and others.
- Addiction management due to abuse of drugs, smoking, alcohol, and more.
Cosmetic Acupuncture
» Scar Treatments
Acupuncture techniques can greatly reduce, and in some cases eliminate, scars from injuries and surgeries, as well as provide relief from pain often associated with post surgical and traumatic injury scarring. Post surgical scars can be painful for months or even years after surgery, and need to be treated properly for rapid and effective healing. Examples of scars that typically cause pain, and where acupuncture is effective are those from C-section birth, appendectomy, and surgeries for hernias, shoulders, hips, knees, and well as many others.
It is best to treat a scar that is more than one month old as this will greatly reduce the potential for infections. The healing process will also depend on the area of the body, how sensitive the scar is to touch, and the age of the scar. Depending on the age and extent of the scar, often just a few treatments can result in marked improvement.
Visit the “Appointments” page of our website to arrange for a free consultation by phone to find out more information, or to schedule an in-office appointment for an in-depth assessment of your scarring.
» Facial Rejuvenation
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture is a gentle and less-invasive treatment for improvement of your facial skin’s appearance than more costly techniques such peels, microdermabraision, photo rejuvenation, biotoning, Botox and Collagen Injection, etc. often used by stars in the entertainment industry (e.g., Sandra Bullock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Cher, supermodel Elle Macpherson and others). Facial Rejuvenation clients report marked improvement in fine lines, deeper wrinkles, puffiness, drooping eyelids, and that cheeks show increased firming even after the first few treatments.
Specialized Protocols
» Cancer
The physical and mental challenge that cancer places on you is enormous. If you are currently being challenged by this disease, Umai Health wants you to know that we are here to help you with this journey, as both a partner and a friend. Acupuncture protocols for cancer involve relief of symptoms such as nausea, pain, and fatigue from surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. In addition, the National Cancer Institute reports: “the effect of acupuncture on the immune system of cancer patients showed that it improved immune system response.” One of the mechanisms by which acupuncture works for cancer the patient is almost certainly associated with the physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain from the insertion and stimulation of the acupuncture needles at specific locations. These responses then cause the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions, and thereby affect blood pressure, body temperature, boosting of immune system activity, and release of the body's natural painkillers, such as endorphins, to relieve pain. In effect, in the hands of a trained and skilled practitioner (hyperlink to “About your Doctor”), acupuncture assists your body in activating its own defense systems. To find out more about acupuncture relative to cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute’s website at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/acupuncture/patient/.
The Optima Family Health teams with the Northern Virginia Inova Health System’s Life with Cancer Program, providing some of our services free of charge for the Life with Cancer Center patients (http://www.lifewithcancer.org).
In addition to our services through Life with Cancer, Umai health also offers cancer related acupuncture services outside of the Inova system. At your convenience, please schedule either an in-person or phone appointment to find out how wee can offer the assistance that is right for you. Please call to ask us about our My Umai Cancer Care Program which may be able to offer you services for free or at reduced costs (space is limited). We will design and employ specific acupuncture protocols to improve your immune system response; critical to helping your successful combat of this disease.
» Immune System Disorders
Many immune system disorders, like asthma and allergies, are caused by an imbalance, or hyper reaction in your immune system; others are caused by either a deficient or over reactive immune system. At Umai Health, we work closely with the International Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, where our Senior Acupuncturist is also a Senior Research Associate at the Georgetown University Medical Center. As such, Optima Family Health provides you a unique mix of both traditional and complimentary expertise relative to immunological issues, including the ability to consult and refer if necessary your case to world-class researchers in the field.
Our center maintains state-of-the-art knowledge and expertise to assist in the treatment of your immune system based issues. At your convenience please schedule either an in-person or phone appointment to find out more how together we can help you onto a path of improved immune system function and improved quality of life.
» Detoxification / Addictions
Optima Family Health maintains certification by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) as Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists. Using the NADA protocols we can provide you with effective treatment for Smoking and Other Substance Addictions. This method uses a 5-point ear acupuncture protocol used by more than 1500 clinical sites and practitioners in the US, Europe, Australia and the Caribbean.