• What is Acupuncture?
• How does Acupuncture Work?
• What are the treatments like?
• How can I get an Appointment?

The Dorchester House embraces alternative medicine such as acupuncture, and its numerous benefits for patients. As part of our holistic view of medicine, we offer acupuncture services as medical services so that they can be billed to insurance, and the cost of the treatment does not fall on the patient - unlike many other acupuncture clinics. Our talented staff include Dr. Ivy Brackup, a Family Practitioner with a Masters of Acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture, and Dr. Judith Yen Lin Loh, a Family Practitioner and Medical Acupuncturist trained by the Helms Medical Institute.

What is Acupunture?
For thousands of years, healing professionals in China have successfully used Acupuncture to help people live healthier lives. By placing needles in specific bodily locations, the body may be encouraged to heal itself. Acupuncture is the study of this form of healing.

How does Acupuncture Work?
The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. Pain or illnesses were seen as blockages of energy, and placing needles could help the energy flow and decrease pain. The scientific theory to explain acupuncture is that placing needles in certain points on the body stimulates the nervous system to release special chemicals in the muscles , spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals may change the experience of pain, or they may trigger the release of other natural chemicals which influence the body’s own internal regulating system. Conditions that are commonly treated include:

Arthritis Asthma Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Cough Fibromylagia Crohn’s Disease Depression Fatigue Irritable Bowel Syndrome Low Back Pain Migraine or other types of headache

Nausea Pain Painful and Irregular Periods Plantar Fasciitis Repetitive Stress Injury Sinusitis Sports Injuries Sprains/Strains Stress Strokes Trigeminal Neuralgia

What are treatments like?

On your first visit, the provider will review your medical history and the history of your current condition. During the acupuncture treatment, sterile, disposable needles are painlessly inserted at precise acupuncture points to balance the circulation of energy in the body. Most people find the treatments deeply relaxing and refreshing. The first visit will take about an hour and follow up treatments about 30 minutes.

How can I get an Appointment?

If you would like to get an acupuncture treatment, please see your primary care provider at the Dorchester House to get a referral.