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. Carla has personally found that 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.
Each session is customized to your individual needs and history. Typically, a treatment session will last 1 ½ hours for the initial session, and 45 minutes to an hour on follow ups, with variations from 30minutes to 2 hours.
You can expect that your practitioner will take about 15-30 minutes to ask you questions about what your sleep is like, what stressors and habits you have and your digestion. After the intake, you are then needled, and rest for 15-30 minutes while the needles are retained in your body. Often people feel relaxed or even fall asleep. Other modalities, like cupping, take 10-30 minutes. It is recommended that you wear comfortable loose clothing that can be rolled up to the elbows and knees, and sometimes midsection. If you are having a treatment that requires needling on the back or cupping, we will have you change into a robe.
Fear of Needles? No worries! Carla started her masters program with anxiety about needles, and she 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 remove pain and what Chinese medicine calls stagnation. There is a saying “where there is pain there is stagnation, where there is stagnation, there is pain.” This is typically used on the back and legs but can be used most areas of the body, herb infused oils are used to move the cups when this technique is warranted. You can expect that circle markings will remain on the body from 1 day to two weeks. Cupping breaks up the fascia in our body, which is a web like connective tissue between the skin and fat and organs that can get knotted up, stiff or stuck. By using cupping we break up the fascia thus sending a signal to the body that repairs are needed in the affected area, as a result this brings better blood flow to the affected area, and loosens up otherwise tight muscles and knots.
Acupuncture Clean Needle Teahnique~Use of sterile, one time use disposable needles, inserted into various anatomical areas of the body, mostly on the limbs, and trunk, and can include the head and feet areas. The needles are usually retained in the body for the time of the treatment session, and can be stimulated to create “De Qi”, in other words to help move the energy or blockages in your body to restore balance. Carla is also very good at adapting to patient needs for those of us with needle sensitivity and fears around being needled. There are approximately 400 (up to 2000) points that are frequented for acupuncture point selection, depending on treatment needs, a session will typically use 10-30. If you have more or less needles used this is not an indicator of a better or lesser treatment.
E-Stim ~A.k.a. Electro-Acupuncture, electrodes are attached to the needle to increase Qi sensation and movement of blockages in the body. Typically used with TBI, stroke sequelae, and chronic tense muscular issues or injury.
Qi Gong/Meditation/Breathing techniques ~Directed by the practitioner or performed with the patient. Mind/body/image techniques.
Tui Na ~Chinese medical massage. It is not typically a relaxation style massage.
Ear Beads/Battlefield Acupuncture ~Did you know that an M.D., Dr. Richard Niemtzow, who works with the armed services is credited with creating an auricular acupuncture system that would assist soldiers to return to battle, or recover from battle related stress, anxiety, injury, pain and PTSD? Although ear acupuncture has been around for centuries we often use a protocol called battlefield acupuncture on the ears. It includes silver or gold plated beads attached to a adhesive bandage, placed on specific points of the ear that correspond to different areas of the body or Acupuncture meridians. Often they are used to help with addiction symptoms and stress. Typically 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.
Herbal ~Chinese medicine believes that a person should first address their life style, then adjust their food intake accordingly, second, they should exercise, third, use acupuncture, and fourth for constitutional tendencies as well as lifestyle, chinese medicinal herbs should be prescribed and used to balance the body.
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. She is honored that you have entrusted her with your health concerns.
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*geriatric population * ptsd* diabetes sequalae* *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 (preventative maintinence for 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.
You may always contact Carla directly with any questions you have about procedures 612-845-7990, or the Contact Us section on the Services/Prices tab