How Does Acupuncture Work?

I started seeing Monica after working with two other acupuncturists for infertility over the course of nine months without any success. She came highly recommended and I was impressed right away with how she explained her philosophy on treating infertility with acupuncture. She put me at ease by giving me practical advice and by explaining why and how she would use each acupuncture point. She also addressed diet and herbs, which were important to me. I left my first treatment feeling encouraged, optimistic, and more cared for than I had with previous practitioners. I started seeing her weekly and was amazed when only two weeks later I was able to shift my care from infertility treatment to maternity treatment! I continued to see her for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, which was extremely helpful both for sustaining the pregnancy and for reducing nausea. I would strongly encourage anyone in a similar situation to seek Monica’s help!

I had a spine fusion surgery in January 2012. The operation was satisfactory in terms of off-setting stenosis, but not so much for alleviating back and hip pain, unfortunately.  I cannot stand still for more than one hour without experiencing back pain. I finally sought help from Monica last fall… I am so glad I did! The intensity of the pain has decreased tremendously for as long as I see Monica every two-to- three weeks. When the interval gets longer, I start noticing the pain more frequently and intensely. One thing people have to keep in mind, though, is that acupuncture is not a magic or a quick fix to whatever the symptoms you have.  It takes time for your body to undergo biological changes. But once it starts happening, you do feel as if it is magic!

So…why Monica?  I say because she is focused on treatment. You’d say, “Isn’t that what all therapists do?” No. I mean, she really cares about YOU. She is also very confident with her skills and most importantly, she cares about what she does. I also believe that you need to create a positive relationship with your therapist for the treatment to work.  That’s why I encourage you to talk to Monica and find out for yourself. Happy healing!

I am having acupuncture and cupping treatment with Monica. She is the best and she has really strong professional skills. I have back pain and also I need stress relief. After the treatments, I feel instantly better, have much more energy and relaxed. I especially love her cupping treatment. It gives me an immediate stress release. She is amazing!!

Thank you very much Monica!

I came to Seattle Acupuncture seeking help with high cholesterol and to avoid the common practice by traditional medicine of treating the problem by prescribing statin drugs. Since seeing Monica over the past year for acupuncture and Chinese herbal supplements, I am pleased to report that my cholesterol is now down over 20 points overall and the particle numbers (a more significant indicator as determined by an NMR test) have also come down 200 points. These are very positive result! Also, new research shows many negative outcomes for post-menepausal women who take statins, which confirms my reluctance to treat the problem with traditional medicine. I am optimistic that continued treatments with Monica will bring even greater positive results.

If you have not tried acupuncture then you are truly missing out on better health. I was asked by my doctor if I would like to try acupuncture. They could not help the pain I was having and I could hardly walk. I had to really think about it for a while because I thought needles weren't for me, but I was in so much pain that I decided to try acupuncture at least one time.

After the first visit I was so impressed: would you believe that I can even go to sleep while having the treatment? I feel so much better after an acupuncture treatment that I have continued going because Monica has also worked on other parts of my body (arms, shoulders, hips) for better health. (Note: this patient has received bi-weekly acupuncture treatments since 2002.)

Monica and her office staff are so nice that it is a pleasure to go. Monica is so gentle and kind and really listens to you. She has even called me at home to check up on me when I have been ill. I have never had that kindness from a doctor before. I could go on more but I will end in saying that everyone should try acupuncture at least once!

I had never really thought much about acupuncture until I had my back injury. Physical therapy was going SO slowly that my spirits were quite down. When my friends first suggested acupuncture, I thought, "yeah, right, sure." After a couple more weeks of very little progress with my PT, I decided that maybe I would give it a try. I was still quite trepidatious when I visited Monica for the first time, but her bright personality made it difficult to remain so.

She explained the process in detail, showed me the needles and how they worked (which was a great relief when I saw how small and slender they were), and was just so warm and friendly through the whole process. However, what sold me on the process was the results, 24 hours later. I had noticeable improvement in my mobility and less pain. By my third visit, I was no longer bent over in pain by the end of my work day. At my last visit, I caught myself snoring on the table. I never would have believed I could be that relaxed with needles stuck in me. It is really amazing what Monica do with those little needles and she is such a pleasure to work with that I am a convert to acupuncture. Thanks, Monica!

I started seeing Monica after a coworker recommended her after success she had seen during her pregnancy. I was experiencing very bad sciatica and lower back pain related to my pregnancy. I could barely walk, so was looking for any relief possible to get me through the final weeks of my pregnancy. Monica was a great listener and answered all of my questions and concerns as I had never received acupuncture before. I started to feel a little relief after my first appointment so decided to continue. After my third treatment I began to feel considerable relief and felt this was the most beneficial of all the specialists I had been seeing. I continued to see Monica through the rest of my pregnancy until the day after my due date. My son was born almost exactly 24 hrs after my last visit to Monica. Even though this was my second child, and it is expected to be a shorter delivery, I really think that all the treatments from Monica leading up to delivery made labor that much quicker and more manageable.

I came to Monica for help with extremely irregular cycles and ovulation. I was trying to get pregnant, but was having difficulty; I didn't ovulate until day 45-55 of every cycle, and had been unable to conceive. The first month of acupuncture with Monica, I ovulated on day 19 instead, and successfully got pregnant that month. We now have a healthy, active toddler as a result! Monica has a warm, caring demeanor combined with expertise on fertility issues, and I would recommend her to anyone struggling with infertility.

After months of dealing with doctors, a stomach specialist and multiple tests that showed nothing explaining the cause of my stomach pain I researched acupuncture and found Monica had glowing reviews. She promptly got me in and explained the principles of acupuncture and why it would be effective. I immediately showed signs of improvement and with follow up appointments, herbs and Monica's knowledge of what needed to be eliminated from my diet I am pain free! Thank you so much for your help Monica.