Acupuncture, is part of the 2000 year old Oriental Medical system that along with Chinese herbs, is booming in the United States and throughout the world today because it treats the whole person, not just their symptoms, safely and effectively. The State of California recognizes acupuncturists as primary health care providers and acupuncture needles are regulated by the FDA which states that they are a Class II medical device. Licenses in California are issued only after completion of a four year course of study that includes
Oriental medical theory and practice as well as Western life sciences, and the passing of extensive written and practical examinations.

The word “Acupuncture” comes from two Latin words, “Acus”, meaning needle, and “Punctura”, which means pricking. Acupuncture is the technique of inserting ultra-thin needles into specific points on the body that are located on energetic pathways called meridians, that the Chinese discovered many years ago. It is based on the concept that there is a vital energy or life force within each one of us, that they called Chi.
A person’s health is determined by an adequate, stabilized and continuous flow of chi through the meridians that cover the body. Whenever this energy is blocked or is excessive or deficient, illness or pain can occur. The acupuncture needles will re- direct this energy and unlock it to allow it to flow freely and improve the state of health.

Acupuncture works without drugs or chemicals. It has no known side effects, and is safe and comfortable for almost everyone. A small pin-prick or a slight tingling sensation may be felt, and typically the needles are inserted about one quarter of an inch in depth. Needles rarely cause bleeding on entry or removal and only sterilized, disposable, needles are used to eliminate the possibility of infection. Treatments last between twenty and forty minutes and the number of treatments depends upon the nature of your illness, its severity and duration.

Some patients may respond favorably after one treatment but usually one or more series of five treatments are optimal , and on-going re-evaluation is a unique feature of treatment.

Acupuncture is very cost-effective. It treats illness by bringing the body’s energy back into balance so the body can ultimately heal itself. Diagnosis is made after assessing all the vital activities : physical, mental, spiritual and emotional,; and with regular wellness treatments , about four times a year at the change os seasons, illnesses can be prevented before they become serious. Insurance companies throughout the United States now cover acupuncture.

Research has shown that acupuncture releases endorphins that can block the pain response associated with arthritis and sports injuries. It increases the circulation of oxygen and blood and provides needed nutrients to nerves and muscles to begin healing. Acupuncture can normalize bodily processes, increase cell growth and regeneration and influence the hormonal system. Endorphins, released through acupuncture, not only calm the nervous system and relax the whole body, but they regulate serotonin levels in the brain which affect our moods. This is why anxiety and depression can be treated by acupuncture. Acupuncture strengthens the immune system and has an anti- inflammatory effect on cells and tissues. This may be why it works well on allergies and chronic fatigue.

Acupuncture treatments may also include a variety of non-needle techniques such as heat treatment, called moxibustion,and acupressure . Chinese herbal formulas have tremendous healing potential. and since their properties and combinations have been researched and used for hundreds of years, there is little chance for side effects, and prescriptions are custom-made for your particular condition.

Other modalities used may include Tuina, a type of manipulative massage, and Tai Chi , Oriental medicine’s unique form of physical therapy. Aromatherapy is also used because the fragrance of the essential oils is known to enhance the calming and therapeutic effects of treatment. Nutritional consultation and non-surgical facelift treatments are also available that use acupressure, needles, or a combination of both.

Joey Komada is a California licensed acupuncturist and herbalist and is nationally recognized as a board-certified Diplomat in acupuncture by the NCCA. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Boston University in cultural anthropology and her Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine from Emperor’s College in Santa Monica. Before beginning private practice in Torrance, California, in 1993, Joey completed a post-graduate internship in Acupuncture and herbology in Beijing ,China at the World Health Organization designated center for Traditional Medicine.

Joey began her career in Oriental medicine as a patient. When she suffered a complication during her second pregnancy in Japan, her gynecologist recommended Chinese herbs to rectify the problem. The Eastern remedy not only helped, it inspired her to make a mid-life career change from teaching. Her decision to go into medicine was not entirely unexpected, however, as her father was a Family Practice M..D. and her mother a Registered Nurse. She has practiced alongside medical doctors since the inception of her practice, and believes that Oriental and Western medicine complement each other and that patients can receive treatment from both simultaneously without adverse effects.

Joey feels that her life abroad for fourteen years in Japan and the Middle East prepared her to embrace non-Western methods of healing as well as encourage a holistic outlook on the influences of body, mind, spirit, environment and tradition on one’s health.