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Acupuncture Diagnosis & Treatment


Our office offers a style of acupuncture testing and treatment that utilizes the ancient knowledge of Chinese medicine systems, and the revolutionary Evidence Based Acupuncture that integrates electronics and computer interpretation.   This progressive approach allows the doctor and patient to evaluate the organ energy status together as a team. 

The Digital Meridian Imaging (DMI) device takes electrical resistance readings at specific acupuncture skin points on the wrists and feet with a moistened Q-tip.  The patient will able to see the normal and imbalanced meridian systems instantaneously with easy to understand graph charts.   The DMI establishes the initial baseline readings and can compare subsequent measurements after acupuncture treatments.   The DMI uses the traditional Chinese medicine systems such as 5-Element balancing and others.

How does it work? The entire AcuGraph exam takes less than a few minutes. Here’s an overview:


  1. MEASURE each meridian with AcuGraph’s computerized measurement probe, as the computer guides you, point-by-point with clear photographic illustrations and verbal prompts.

  2. WATCH in amazement as AcuGraph instantly provides complete graphical analysis and interpretation of the patient’s meridian energetics in 9 different graph styles, including; yin/yang, 5-elements, horary, and complete symptomatic associations, in a format patients readily embrace. The Personal Integrated Energetics (P.I.E.) score boils the results down to a single number that is easy to understand.

  3. TREAT the most effective acupuncture points for the patient, based on AcuGraph’s intelligent analysis and 9 available guided treatment protocols.

  4. COMPARE the incredible results experienced by our patients and tracked by subsequent AcuGraph examinations. Only AcuGraph gives you Evidence-Based Acupuncture™ documentation and tracking for superior documentation and patient compliance.

What can acupuncture help?

In an official report, Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Trials, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the following symptoms, diseases and conditions that have been shown to be treated effectively by acupuncture:

Asthma, Allergic rhinitis/hayfever, acute pain disorders including low back, neck, dental, sciatica, facial, knee issues, tennis elblow, carpal tunnel, PMS, headaches, migraines, strains and sprains, nausea and vomiting, digestive issues such as ulcers, colic, gastritis, morning sickness.  Additional health concerns such as addictions, infertility, irritable bowel, bronchitis and sinusitis have been helped by acupuncture.

Methods of Acupuncture Therapy

Acupuncture works to "re-program" and restore normal functions by stimulating certain points on the meridians in order to free up the Chi energy.  There are hundreds of acupuncture points that are used for a multitude of purposes. 

The traditional needle therapy method is the insertion of very fine needles into the points.   The vast majority of time this is a gentle and relaxing experience.   Most of us have had the experience of medical injections or blood draws, and acupuncture is nothing like that.  In fact, many patients are not even aware that needle insertion has been initiated.   After a period of time the needles are removed.

We also offer non-needle acupuncture therapy including the new medical lasers called Low Level Laser Therapy.  These soft lasers have no perceptible sensation or awareness other than the probe resting on the skin.  We utilize the most advanced lasers on the market that vary in emitted frequencies depending upon what is needed.  For example, in acupuncture therapy we will select a 635 or 660 range.  Laser therapy is also very effective for tissue repair in cases of injury such as a whiplash, wrist strain, etc. and for recurrent inflammation problems like carpal tunnel or tennis elbow.  We can select other laser frequencies for these health issues if necessary.

We also utilize another non-needle therapy device called Microcurrent Electrical Stimulation.  The patient may feel a slight buzz sensation that is very gentle.  Acupuncture points respond to various types of stimulation - needle, finger pressure, electrical, laser, magnets, etc.   The basic idea is to move energy where it needs to go regardless of the technique. 

Acupuncture Research

September 24, 2007: German researchers found even superficial acupuncture treatments were more effective than conventional therapy for lower back pain relief.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found both traditional Chinese acupuncture -- with needles inserted 5 to 40 millimeters deep -- and sham acupuncture -- needles are only inserted to a depth of 1 to 3 millimeters -- were more effective than combining medication, physical therapy and exercise.

Dr. Michael Haake, of the University of Regensburg, in Bad Abbach, Germany, led a randomized clinical trial involving 1,162 patients, who had experienced an average of eight years chronic lower back pain. After six months, the response rate was 48 percent in the traditional acupuncture group, 44 percent in the sham acupuncture group and 27 percent in the conventional therapy group involving medication, physical therapy and exercise.

"The superiority of both forms of acupuncture suggests a common underlying mechanism that may act on pain generation, transmission of pain signals or processing of pain signals by the central nervous system," Haake said in a statement. "Acupuncture gives physicians a promising and effective treatment option for chronic low back pain, with few adverse effects or contraindications. The improvements in all primary and secondary outcome measures were significant and lasted long after completion of treatment."