Acupuncture
Dr. Allen is a 1986 graduate of the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. He is certified by the Colorado Board of Chiropractic Examiners to practice acupuncture. He treats skeletal and non-skeletal conditions in adults and children with acupuncture.
Typical skeletal conditions addressed (this is not a comprehensive list) are:
| sciatica | carpal tunnel syndrome | osteoarthritis | headaches |
| fibromyalgia | anklyosing spondylitis | trigger point syndrome | neck pain |
| tennis elbow | disc disorders | TMJ disorder | back pain | myofascitis |
Typical systemic conditions addressed (this is not a comprehensive list) are:
| metabolic disorders | rheumatoid arthritis | fatigue | weight loss |
| irritable bowel syndrome | hormonal disorders | numbness | peripheral neuropathy |
| multiple sclerosis | circulatory disorders | addiction control |
Neuroscientists believe that acupuncture relieves pain by decreasing the nerve signals specifically involved in pain transmission and by reducing inflammation. It is also believed that acupuncture causes the release of serotonin and endorphins further decreasing pain. The acupuncturist's goal is to restore balance to the body's energy system by utilizing a combination of acupuncture points located on the twelve meridians. The most common technique involves the use of an acupuncture needle - usually of incredibly thin gauge compared to hypodermic needles. Usually painless, the needle is inserted for up to twenty minutes in the clinically indicated point. Patients who do not want needles can receive laser acupuncture wherein a 'cold' laser is used to stimulate the points. This is our standard method of acupuncture treatment for children. The Arthro Stim instrument, delivering a very gentle tapping motion, can also be used instead of needles to perform acupressure on specific points and meridians. Many patients report virtually the same results with the Arthro Stim or the laser as they do with traditional needle treatment.
| Traditional Treatment | Electro Treatment |
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| Typical Acupuncture Treatment | |
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Gua Sha treatment is sometimes performed in conjunction with acupuncture treatment. Think of it as a traditional form of friction massage currently used by thousands of musculoskeletal therapists worldwide.
Though pulse diagnosis has been the mainstay of acupuncture diagnosis for centuries, it is nonetheless variable and subjective from practitioner to practitioner. Five different acupuncturists performing pulse diagnosis will come up with five different diagnoses. Pulse diagnosis is giving way to modern technology with the advent of electro meridian imaging or EMI. The practitioner places a small, painless electronic pen on the skin over specific acupuncture points. By way of a sensitive metering device, the electrical potential of the point is measured. The information is transmitted to a computer and the body's meridian balance - or lack of balance - is determined. This method of examination is extremely reliable and reproducible (hallmarks of a real science) and is becoming the standard internationally. Five acupuncturists performing EMI properly will get the same diagnosis.
| View Electro-Meridian Imaging Bar Graph |
View Electro-Meridian Imaging Results |
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Click on thumbnail for larger view |