Minneapolis Family Acupuncture

Before I go into more detail, let’s take a surface level look at the differences between Eastern and Western medicine. Dr. Emill Kim does an excellent job of explaining the different approaches, using a fisherman to represent the Eastern philosophy and a fishmonger to represent Western:

A fisherman spends his days in the ocean understanding the currents, the temperature of the water, and the restlessness of the waves. Over a lifetime, he learns the habits, preferences, idiosyncrasies of his catch. He already knows if it swims alone or in a school; acts as predator or prey; migrates with the changing seasons or stays in local waters. The fisherman and fish have a living, dynamic relationship because they share the same home. Like family, what affects the fish will affect the fisherman.

The fishmonger, on the other hand, lives in an environment far removed from the coastal depths or briny shores. His work place is one of sterility and smelling of chemical disinfectant. He wears a white smock often bearing a sharp knife. His understanding of fish anatomy is quite detailed and he can deconstruct one readily. The fish who arrive in his clutches are already dead or dying so he has little or no interest in how they swim, play, or interact. He’s likely never seen one vibrantly alive.

Acupuncture utilizes your body’s own nervous system to circulate energy and blood through the insertion of teeny tiny painless needles. It works with your body system as a whole, vs. singling out individual parts.

I’ve always been interested in “alternative” medicine, so the idea of treating myself and my family via non-traditional Western means isn’t totally out of the norm for me. And when I heard about an acupuncturist who specialized in children’s ailments, I knew I HAD to check it out. We suffer from allergies and frequent ear infections in this house, and the less medications I’m doling out on any given day, the better.

Up until the day I went to Minneapolis Family Acupuncture, I was still a little nervous about acupuncture. I had seen it performed on others, I had heard about the amazing results people had from it, but ….. needles. All. The. Needles. Even knowing it was supposed to be painless, I still had prepared myself for pain. (Spoiler alert! There wasn’t any.)

When I arrived, Naomi brought me into her office, and talked to me about her background. We also talked about why Eastern medicine is so successful. She is so personable and open, and I loved talking with her.  She has been in the industry for about 14 years, and has worked and studied all over the world. She ran an integrative pediatric wellness center in Los Angeles for 5 years and then, most recently, moved her practice from Las Vegas (where she saw about 1,000 patients per year) back to her home state – and I’m so glad she did!

Naomi works with patients of any age, but really loves working with children. She’s one of only a handful of acupuncturists in the state that specializes pediatric care. The results she’s seen from sessions with children have been nothing short of extremely impressive. (For a partial list of common childhood ailments people see Naomi for, click here!) She hears from a lot of families who suffer from headaches, ear infections, colic, constipation, eczema, and allergies – but the list of what can be treated with acupuncture is endless.

In addition to acupuncture, Naomi uses a number of other Chinese Medical techniques, like Chinese Pediatric Massage (Tui Na), cupping (plastic suction cups placed on the back), and more commonly herbal medicine for kids and adults. Some families shy away from the idea of needles for children (even tiny ones) and Chinese Medicine offers other natural healthcare solutions for them as well.

I personally suffer from migraines, so we talked a bit about what causes them, triggers, and how acupuncture can help to alleviate them. She had me remove the necessary clothing and lay on a very comfortable and warm massage table. Then she worked her magic – the needles went in quickly AND PAINLESSLY. Once the needles were in, she turned on this wonderfully warm heat lamp over me, put some extremely relaxing music on, and left the room (and me to relax!) After about a half hour, she returned and removed the needles as quickly as they went in. It was a very peaceful experience.

A few tidbits on how to prepare and what to expect: You want to make sure you eat a little something before you go in and, like a massage, drink some water after the appointment. Acupuncture helps your body to release toxins, so the water helps flush those out. (You also want to make sure to use the restroom before your session!) You may see reddening of the skin around the insertion site – but that’s okay. Some people, like myself, are just more sensitive to the needles and the redness goes away pretty quickly. If you plan to take your kids, Naomi can talk your whole family through the process before your appointment!

While it was my first time giving acupuncture a try, I’m sold. I was so relaxed, and I felt awesome afterward. The “why” behind acupuncture being successful makes a lot of sense, and I will be making it part of my healthcare regimen. Additionally, I will definitely be bringing my children in to see Naomi. If there’s a way to make them healthier and more comfortable, all without medicine, it’s a no-brainer!

Naomi Richman, L.Ac.
Minneapolis Family Acupuncture
11654 Wayzata Blvd.
Minnetonka, MN 55305
info@myACUfamily.com
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For additional information on acupuncture and publications featuring Naomi, click: here, here, and here!