WHY WE ARE DIFFERENT

A Note from Clare O’Nan

I have been practicing acupuncture for well over 20 years. For much of that time, I was practicing what is known as traditional acupuncture, where needles are placed in the body for 30-45 minutes, often requiring weekly treatments.

After some years, however, I began to find traditional acupuncture alone frustrating. I never felt that it fully addressed the root cause; patients always had to come back for “tweaking.” While it’s true that life sends us curveballs - and so of course some kind of maintenance is necessary - I wanted to be able to help people more long term, especially when it came to chronic and complex medical conditions.

Over the years, I began to notice something interesting: my patients with the most complex
conditions also tended to have the most sensitivities and/or the most restrictive diets. That observation started me investigating allergies and sensitivities and ultimately led me to Dr. Nader Soliman’s SAAT (Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment) and Auricular Medicine.

Once I began incorporating SAAT and Auricular Medicine, I noticed that many of my patients were feeling better in other areas of their lives as well, and the improvements they experienced were long lasting. Slowly, my practice began to transform.

Today, I feel like I am in the “golden age” of my practice. We are wondrously made, and our immune system, when functioning as it should, is capable of incredible things. My approach has therefore evolved to focus heavily on supporting immune system function and looking at the individual patient as a whole rather than simply treating a collection of symptoms.

I truly believe that for any treatment program to be profoundly effective it needs to impact the patient's entire life in a positive way. Whether the treatment is Western, Eastern, or Hybrid (what we do), it should be understandable to the patient and recognize the connected impact of mind, body, and spirit on health.

Today, I am having the time of my life treating my patients with this approach. Most people who seek me out have heard about me from someone else who has experienced this for themselves, and there is no greater compliment than that.

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not just tolerated; I would love to be instrumental in helping you enjoy yours more.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture primarily works by relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and restoring homeostasis (returning your body to its metabolic equilibrium). It does this by optimizing blood flow to targeted areas so that they can begin to heal. Acupuncture points are points of heightened neurovascular sensitivity that cause a cascade of events (neurologic, vascular, immunologic, and endocrinologic) to occur, both locally and distally, when needled.

What is Auricular Medicine?

Auricular Medicine is based on holographic theory, which holds that, when it comes to the body, the brain projects images of itself onto unlimited other areas of the body (called “microsystems” in acupuncture). Thus, we can put a needle in someone’s leg, or hand, or anywhere else, to treat their shoulder, for example. It is a highly effective form of acupuncture.

Auricular Medicine Acupuncture uses points in the ear because the ear happens to be the most researched of all the microsystems. The tiny needles are placed in areas of the body represented in the ear that are key players in allergy responses, pain, addiction, and detoxification in general. The needles in Auricular Medicine Acupuncture are typically covered with surgical glue and adhesives and left in place for days to weeks. One advantage to this type of treatment is less frequent visits than with Traditional Acupuncture.

Who Can Practice Acupuncture?

Licensed Acupuncturists: Licensed acupuncturists have completed three to four years of graduate-level study and are nationally board certified by the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM). Their course of study includes not only East Asian Medicine/Acupuncture but also Western (conventional) Medicine. As part of the licensing and certification process, acupuncturists must be up-to-date on clean needle technique and in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Licensed acupuncturists here in Mississippi are licensed and governed by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure, the same board that licenses medical doctors.

Medical Doctors: Medical doctors in Mississippi can practice medical acupuncture upon completion of a 200-hour course of study. Medical acupuncture is more Western in its approach than the traditional acupuncture that is practiced by a licensed acupuncturist. In other words, medical acupuncture bases its point selection more on Western anatomical and physiological training than on an Eastern understanding of the body. Medical Acupuncturists, being medical doctors, are also governed by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure.

Physical Therapists practice Dry Needling (not acupuncture): In Mississippi, physical therapists who perform dry needling are required to complete a minimum of 50 hours of face-to-face dry needling training. Dry needling is based on Western muscular and trigger point patterns. It can be very effective for musculoskeletal conditions, but it is important to note that it is not acupuncture. Furthermore, it is important to note that physical therapists in MS are not required to complete any clinical training in dry needling prior to certification; if you pursue dry needling with a physical therapist, therefore, make sure they have some experience behind them. Physical therapists are not governed by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure.

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Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.

Hippocrates