By:  Kristi Larsen

I usually don’t stick out my tongue at health care professionals.  But oddly enough, that’s exactly what I was asked to do at my first acupuncture appointment. 

I have always wanted to try acupuncture but I did not know how you found an acupuncturist and I guess I did not have a good enough “reason” to try it.  In my mind, you did acupuncture to treat a condition or ailment… not just for the heck of it.

So just recently I decided I have a good enough reason to give it a whirl.  After trying to get pregnant for a couple years with only an early miscarriage on the record, I decided to investigate our fertility options.  I decided I am not ready for traditional fertility treatments involving painful and invasive test, shots, hormones, etc.  Since several friends and many fertility clinics recommend acupuncture either alone or in conjunction with traditional fertility treatments, I decided to start there.

I contacted Dawn Sherin of Acu Pointe Healing Therapies in Ahwatukee and set up an initial appointment.  Dawn is a Licensed Acupuncturist with the State of Arizona.  Dawn studied at RainStar University in Scottsdale Arizona, where she graduated with honors with a Masters Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental medicine.  She specializes in the treatment of chronic illness and fertility.  When I first spoke with her she said the initial appointment would run up to 2 hours (what health care provider spends 2 hours with you- ever- unless they are operating on you?). 

I arrived at her office not sure what to expect.  She had a questionnaire for me that covered my general health history, gynecological history, and many other seemingly random questions such as “Are you generally hot or cold?”  We sat and chatted for another 30 minutes as Dawn clarified my answers in detail. 

Then we started the actual treatment in a warm, relaxing room where she played soothing music.  She took my “pulses” on both wrists and looked quizzically at my tongue and made some notes.  Both tests seemed to confirm her initial beliefs that I had some Chi (a Chinese word, pronounced “chee” and roughly translated as “vital energy”) stagnation in specific key areas of the body.  If this energy flow is blocked or interrupted it can cause pain, dysfunction and disease.  This is part of the reason Dawn was examining my tongue- acupuncturists think your tongue can reveal energy imbalances in the body. 

Dawn had me remove my socks and shoes and lie down fully clothed on a massage table.  She used aromatherapy oils on specific places on my body including my stomach, hands, shins and feet.  Then she started with the needles.  I am not squeamish about needles at all and I have a high pain tolerance so I was not nervous at all about the actual needle part… I was more curious as to how it would feel.

Dawn uses a new package of needles for each patient.  She mapped out the points specific to my Chi deficiencies, fertility needs and various other points intended to enhance digestion and such.  She started with a point on the top of my head by telling me to take a deep breath.  As I exhaled, she quickly tapped the needle into my skin.  I barely felt it.  She inserted another needle into my forehead right between my eyebrows.  Again, pretty pain free.  She continued on with about 21 needles in total at locations all down my body, including my feet.  Certain points hurt quite a bit more than others, specifically the ones in my ears and on my feet.  The extra sensitivity I felt can be attributed to different types of qi sensations.  Each point can feel either aching, itching, electric shock or tingling.  Each needle goes into an acu point that sends messages down the meridians directly towards organs that strengthen the energy of each organ.  Even the most painful spots only stung for a second or two. 

When she finished inserting all the needles, Dawn placed a far infrared TDP heat lamp over my abdomen to stimulate energy and heat into the meridians.  That felt amazing.  Amazingly that small lamp warmed my entire body.  She left the room for 10 minutes leaving me to relax to the soothing music.  When she returned, she checked and gently twisted each needle.  In the 20 minutes I’m on the table, I realize something ironic: having 21 needles stuck in my body is surprisingly relaxing.  Dawn then returned and removed each needle one-by-one, discarding the needles in a biohazard container for sanitary purposes.  I left her office feeling energized and my mind peaceful and centered.

Acupuncture is most effective when treatments are done repeatedly over a period of time, so despite my microscopic puncture wounds; I have continued to see Dawn twice a week now for just about 6 weeks.  Only time will tell if acupuncture will really help add a bundle of joy to my life.  Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend it to others. 

No one is entirely sure how acupuncture works, but groups like the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) agree it’s a useful remedy.  The WHO lists more than 40 conditions for which acupuncture is often used, including addictions, nausea and vomiting, asthma, digestive issues, sinitus, osteoarthritis, various pain, depression, allergies and many more.  A minimum of 3 visits is recommended to see if it is working.  For chronic conditions, expect at least 6 to 10 appointments, spaced no more than a week apart. 

If you would like to try acupuncture, contact Dawn Sherin of Acu Pointe Healing Therapies in Ahwatukee.  Dawn is a Licensed Acupuncturist with the State of Arizona.  Dawn studied at RainStar University in Scottsdale Arizona, where she graduated with honors with a Masters Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental medicine.  In April of 2006 Dawn traveled to Beijing China, where she did an oriental medicine internship at the prestigious Guang An Men Hospital.  Her website is:  www.AcuHealingTherapies.com and her phone number is 480-221-5808.