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The subtle scent of lavender fills the air. Lo-fi jazz plays softly in the background. Paintings, pottery, and handmade dolls decorate the waiting room. Medicinal herbs and salves stock the shelves.
In many ways, a visit to Mountain Path Healing Arts Studio feels different from your typical doctor's appointment. While the atmosphere may feel unfamiliar to new patients, the specialists here practice healing modalities that are centuries old.
Acupuncture is one of the oldest known, continuously practiced forms of medicine. The first evidence of acupuncture appears in the Huangdi Neijing , the world's oldest medical textbook, estimated to have been written in 300 BC.
For thousands of years before microscopes and autopsies taught us about the inner workings of the body, acupuncturists relied on what they could observe with the naked eye and described the actions of the body using symbolic language. For these doctors, the interconnected waterways of the Chinese landscape provided a metaphor for the pathways, or "meridians," through which energy flows in our bodies. They called this vital energy qi (pronounced "chee,") and observed that many ailments were relieved or cured by inserting thin, flexible needles into specific points along the body's meridians. The needles unblock, drain, or redirect qi to promote healing.
If you're thinking of the large subcutaneous needles used for vaccinations, this may not sound very pleasant. But acupuncture uses thin needles, with diameters no larger than a thick strand of hair, shallowly inserted into the skin. Most people don't feel much of anything. In some cases, there is a tingling sensation, but rarely pain. In fact, most people find acupuncture deeply relaxing and patients tend to fall asleep during treatment.
For those of us accustomed to the invasive procedures, powerful drugs, and inevitable side effects of western medicine, it can be hard to believe that low-impact, even relaxing procedures like acupuncture can make a difference in our health.
Nonetheless, patients testify, and studies confirm, that acupuncture is an effective treatment for many ailments, including migraines, neurological conditions, and anxiety. In the late 90s, the National Institutes of Health recommended acupuncture for post-surgical nausea, headaches, stroke rehabilitation, menstrual cramps, and more. The World Health Organization has endorsed acupuncture for over 40 conditions, including digestive disorders, allergies, drug withdrawal, and insomnia. The Department of Veteran Affairs has been steadily expanding its coverage of acupuncture because it has proven so effective for treating conditions such as chronic pain, depression, and PTSD. Acupuncture may provide a safe, pain-relieving alternative to addictive opioids.
Here in Woodbury, we are lucky to have Brian Guanzon, an experienced, licensed acupuncturist. His practice, Mountain Path Healing Arts Studio, is located at 111 Main Street. Next week, on Saturday, December 15 from 10 am to 4 pm, Mountain Path will host their first Community Care Day, where patients can receive short sessions of therapeutic treatments on a walk-in basis, free of charge.
This is a wonderful opportunity to talk to experienced practitioners about your health concerns, and to try out complementary treatments. In addition to acupuncture, there will also be an opportunity to practice yoga and reiki with Irma Preischat. River Williams will offer chair massages for hands-on healing of the back, neck, and shoulders. Leo Pardo will share sessions of medical qigong, a calming movement practice that addresses physical and emotional challenges. Herbalist Drea DeVraie will be available to recommend plants to aid in healing and will teach a class on preparing herbal medicines at home.
The Community Care Day is part of Mountain Path's commitment to offering healing opportunities in Cannon County. The practitioners at Mountain Path believe that "healing should be accessible to ALL of our neighbors."
