Chinese medicine has been used for over 2500 years for health concerns ranging from the common cold to chronic pain, mental health, and preventative care. People who seek better health turn to Licensed Acupuncturists to help them achieve optimal health.
Acupuncture in the United States can address everything but life threatening conditions. It treats the root cause of many diseases and conditions with little to no negative side effects and doesn’t mask the symptoms. It is known for treating pain, anxiety, depression, smoking cessation, addictions, obesity, acne & skin disorders, stress management, fitness and sports & prevention of injuries, clearing mental function, immune boosting, allergies & more.
It works by balancing out the body including dilation of blood flow, and regulating nerve response. Acupuncture is like a highway grid system running through your body. The points help activate and clear out blockages that signal as pain or other symptoms which are often from our own choices like stressful work, repetitive use, overeating or injuries from sports.
Acupuncture is a safe, effective, and natural way to help restore health and is often a choice when western therapy has side effects or is not working. It allows you to make decisions about your health care that is cost effective more so at times than conventional treatment. The old saying an ounce of prevention is worth a thousand cures holds true in acupuncture. There are many research studies and science showing the positive outcomes and effects of acupuncture use.
Each session is customized to your individual needs and personal history. Typically, a treatment session will last 1 ½ hours for the initial session, and 45 minutes to an hour on follow ups for an individual treatment. A group acupuncture session can last 45 minutes approximately.
You can expect that your practitioner will take about 15-30 minutes to ask complete a medical intake with you and ask a few in-depth question. After the intake, we look at your tongue, feel your pulses for a couple of minutes, and you are then needled, and rest for about 30 minutes while the needles are retained in your body. Often people feel relaxed or even fall asleep. Other modalities, like cupping, take about 30 minutes. It is recommended that you wear comfortable loose clothing that can be rolled up to the elbows and knees, and sometimes midsection.
Fear of Needles? No worries! Carla has worked with children and adults who have had this same concern. Through practice and methods, she has discovered gentle and effective techniques, as well as alternate methods to still have a successful and helpful session. Don't hesitate to let your practitioner know if you are anxious so we can help you have a more effective treatment.
Cupping Use of tempered glass cups and a flame to create a suction on the body help release and remove pain. This is typically used on the back and legs. Cupping breaks up the fascia in our body, which is a web like connective tissue between the skin and viscera that can get knotted up, stiff or stuck. By using cupping we break up the fascia thus sending a signal in the affected area, as a result this brings better blood flow to the affected area, and loosens up otherwise tight muscles and knots. People love cupping!
Acupuncture Clean Needle Teahnique~Use of sterile, one time use disposable needles, inserted throughout the body. The needles are usually retained in the body for the time of the treatment session, and can be stimulated to create
E-Stim A.k.a. Electro-Acupuncture, electrodes are attached to the needle to stimulate the muscle fibers to twitch. With injury it can shorten the recovery time and quicken the healing process.
Qi Gong/Meditation/Breathing techniques Directed by the practitioner or performed with the patient and given as homework. Mind/body/image techniques.
Tui Na Chinese medical massage. It is not typically a relaxation style massage. We use vigorous techniques to loosen up the fascia.
Ear Beads/Auricular Acupuncture Although ear acupuncture has been around for centuries we often use a protocol called battlefield acupuncture on the ears. It includes use of needles or a silver or gold plated beads attached to an adhesive bandage, placed on specific points of the ear that correspond to different areas of the body or Acupuncture meridians. Typically they are put on at the end of your acupuncture session, and given instruction on how to use.
Eastern Food Therapy Based off of the principles of Chinese and Ayruvedic food therapy concepts, coaching of nutritional intake and recommendations are made for individual circumstances. Private sessions and seminars are available upon request and are announced on the website.
Meet the Acupuncturist
Carla Ghani has the training and expertise to address many ailments with over 1500 hours of study and internships. She was formally trained in Western classes including Biomedicine, Anatomy & Pathophysiology, Women’s, Men’s and Pediatric health, Naturopathic Nutrition and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She graduated from Northwestern Health Sciences University, in Bloomington, MN, a nationally recognized University for its internships in hospital and care settings as well as multi-modality approaches to health care. She is licensed by the Minnesota State Medical Board to practice Acupuncture (L.Ac.) and is a Diplomate of Acupuncture (Dipl. Ac.) through NCCAOM, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to work with patients for best and safe outcomes with Acupuncture and its accessory techniques.
Internships: Carla’s experience includes: *Athletics-management and injury prevention * depression*addictions-street and prescription drugs * stress management * anxiety * chemo and radiation side effects * common cold * chronic pain * aging nation * ptsd* diabetes sequelae * peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms * Eastern nutrition therapy * insomnia * digestive issues ……..and many other health concerns She interned at: ~ University Health Services Clinic ~ Bloomington Natural Care Center~Center for Human Performance (athletes) ~ Cerenity Senior Assisted Living Care ~ Pillsbury House Community Clinic ~ Salvation Army Harbor Lights Clinic
Mission: It is Carla’s mission in life to coach each patient towards their best qualitative life possible. She expects to teach, honestly guide and holistically approach each patient’s health concerns on an individual case by case basis.