New Year, New Me! How Can Acupuncture Help?

Goodbye 2018 and hello 2019! For many, the start of a new year brings with it an array of new opportunities as well as experiences. Many Americans create “New Year’s Resolutions” in the hope that they will be able to make (at times) radical changes to themselves and the world around them. While these personal expectations can be achieved, most are often thrown to the side before the snow starts to melt. Why you ask? Often the goals are much larger than we believe and it leads to not achieving the results desired in the allotted time.

How can Acupuncture and Chinese medicine help? For most individuals their goals are health related; trying to lose weight, eat better, etc. Acupuncture can help in a variety of ways to keep you on track to seeing the results you’d like. A chief complaint I see from patients is a lack of or poor sleep. This leads to reduced energy and desire to be active. TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) can help improve not only the quality of sleep, but also address the underlying symptoms of insomnia.

Stress is also a key factor in our societies inability to follow through with helping ourselves be the healthiest we can be. With busy lives, children’s activities and just not enough hours in the day we put ourselves last instead of first. The many modalities in TCM can greatly reduce stress. Auricular Acupuncture (Acupuncture of the ear) is often used for reducing stress and patients can even go home with non-invasive (non-needle) treatments to see them through until their next appointment!

I also often work with my patients on a variety of subjects including food therapy. TCM has many thoughts regarding the power of food and its ability to make a positive change on your body. With just a few minor adjustments to your diet, individuals can see results very quickly. As a TCM practitioner I was taught to add nourishing foods/drinks to your diet rather than take things away. For many, just having a positive experience with your provider goes a long way in helping to stay on track with your goals.

In conclusion, many individuals think that if they don’t “have a problem” that Acupuncture and Chinese medicine doesn’t have a place in your healthcare routine. Routine care of your body is the best way to ensure that it keeps working smoothly in the long run. Getting acupuncture, eating good nourishing foods, being active, etc. is just the start to living your best life and being the very best version of yourself.

Happy New Year!

Stephanie Ykema-Stunes, M.Om., Dipl.Ac., L.Ac., is an Acupuncturist and Herbalist. She has a passion for Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and her goal is to enrich the lives of her patients through holistic, patient-driven care.

Like most Acupuncturists, Stephanie came to the medicine in a roundabout way. After being in a car accident, she stumbled upon acupuncture as a treatment for her neck pain and fell in love. That love turned into a true passion and in 2013 she started graduate school. She holds a Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Northwestern Health Sciences University. The program consisted of more than 3,000 hours of training. She graduated in August of 2016.

Stephanie enjoys treating patients of all kinds and truly loves the challenge of a difficult case.

When she has down time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Corey riding bicycle and enjoying the outdoors with her dog Clifford.