Acupuncture & PainL i n d a L l o y d , L . A c .

The vast majority of our patients come to our practice for pain related issues such as back pain, fibromyalgia pain, elbow pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, abdominal pain, neck pain, just to name a few. From a Chinese medical perspective, pain is an indication that there is a blockage in the body. We refer to it as stagnation of qi and blood. Qi is the vital life force that is necessary to move blood.

Our job as acupuncturists is to unblock the stagnation. By inserting needles in acupuncture points, we are able to break up these blockages to allow for the smooth flow of qi and blood. Once the blockages are clear, pain disappears.

There are over 450 acupuncture points on the body. Each of these points relates to a specific pathway or meridian. We spend over three years in school learning each of these points and point combinations. In order to practice in Virginia, we have passed the National boards in acupuncture which certifies our competency. It is our job to diagnose which meridian is affected by the pain and then choose those points and meridians to clear the blockages causing the pain.

It is not required that we insert needles directly into the painful area. The reason is that these pathways run over the entire body and start or end in the hands, feet or head. All of these pathways relate to each other depending on several various factors and have the ability to clear blockages from other pathways depending upon their relationships with each other. For example, we may decide to treat a headache by using points on the feet and ankles because the pain is located on a

pathway that begins on the face and runs down to the feet. Another example is treating knee pain by inserting needles in the opposite elbow.

A normal protocol of treatment for pain related issues is six to ten treatments. We request that patients schedule two treatments a week for two weeks. Within that time frame, the pain typically begins to abate. Weekly treatments will follow this regimen until the pain resolves or depending upon the nature of the pain reduces to a manageable level. We recommend that patients who have had chronic pain that we are able to help come in for maintenance treatments every four to six weeks.

We recommend to all potential patients that they try acupuncture first before opting for surgery as we have been able to help many of our patients avoid

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“Try acupuncture first before opting for surgery....

surgery entirely. There are no guarantees with surgery. It can be risky and it is permanent.

We are always willing to talk to anyone interested in trying acupuncture for any pain the may be experiencing. You can reach us at 703-370-1077 and please visit our website at www.acupuncturenova.com.

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The Acupuncture Center of Northern Virginia is one of the oldest acupuncture practices in Virginia and has been in a since

1997. It is owned by Linda Lloyd. Ms. Lloyd believes that acupuncture is a safe and natural way for patients to help heal

themselves by bringing their bodies into balance.

Lloyd is also a strong advocate of informing patients of the practice about all the daily activities that they can do for

themselves to maintain optimal health. It is her passion to encourage patients to do as much as they can for themselves as

their daily activities has a far greater impact on their health than periodic visits to a health professional. She is a Diplomate

in Acupuncture from the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She is

licensed to practice acupuncture by the Virginia Board of Medicine.

About the Author: Linda Lloyd, L.Ac.