Dr April Lopez has is pleased to introduce Jonathan Tran, L.Ac., C.Ad.
Jonathan is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Certified Addictionologist, and has been in practice since 2003. He is graduate from South Baylo University of Oriental Medicine and the American College of Addictionology and Compulsive Disorders.
He and his staff are well-versed and ready to serve your needs. Jonathan’s philosophy is the healing process needs to take place in three areas; the mind, body and spirit, with the understanding that the body has the ability to heal itself through natural therapies.
Jonathan’s services such as Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, Auriculotherapy, Cupping Therapy, Addiction Therapy, Foot Spa Detoxification (and much more) are now available at Stadium Chiropractic.
FAQ
Does Acupuncture hurt?
It depends on each individual. Some points are more sensitive than others – usually there is a minor discomfort that subsides in a few seconds after the needle has been inserted. After that- a patient will probably feel more relaxed. Acupuncture treatment is safe when performed by a qualified, licensed practitioner. Bleeding is a minimal, if not rare. Most acupuncture patients describe the treatment as virtually painless. Sensations have been described as ranging from nothing to mild tingling; numbness to a dull ache, and electrical pulsations.
How long does a treatment take?
Your first visit will take about 1 1/2 hours. This includes filling out a medical history form and going over your case history. Each patient’s therapy is different as it is based on the individual’s history and goals of treatment. Each case will be reviewed and treatment options will be discussed. Usually, a treatment takes between 35-55 minutes. During the first office visit, I will determine the number of treatments needed for your condition. As treatment progresses, your case will be re-evaluated and the number of visits could increase or decrease depending on how your system responds to acupuncture. Follow up visits are 30 minutes to 45 minutes in length.
What type of response will I expect?
Each person responds differently. Your response can be immediate or delayed, dramatic, or slow and subtle.The only way to tell is to watch for differences. With pain conditions- look for any diminished effects regarding the intensity. With functional disorders, such as constipation or allergies, the desired effect may take more time.
Can acupuncture be helpfull when all other treatments have failed?
Yes, each system of medicine has its own areas of efficiency and excellence. Acupuncture excels in those areas in which conventional medicine usually comes up short such as chronic diseases, pain control and stress reduction.
Are there any contraindications with acupuncture?
As with any medical modalities there are contraindications in some rare instances. It is imperative to be open and honest regarding medical history and modes of treatments.
What is Auriculotherapy
Auriculotherapy is the stimulation of the auricle of the external ear for the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions in other parts of the body. Compared to auricular acupuncture, which is done by inserting acupuncture needles on the surface of the ear, auriculotherapy is done with electrical stimulation on the surface of the ear flex point. Specific points on the ear can also be stimulated by manual pressure such in the case of auricular acupressure or ear reflexology. Today, acupuncture points in the ear can also be stimulated with ear pellets, magnets, and lasers.
What is a Microsystem in auriculotherapy?
The word microsystem has also been referred to as micro-acupuncture or micro-reflex system. The auricle serves as a microsystem in the external ear and is a representation of an inverted body. Many different types of microsystems have representations of the whole body. For example, the microsystem of the foot, the hand, the face, the scalp, and the eyes.
What is the history of auriculotherapy?
One of the earliest written record dates back to 500 BC, in the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine in a comilation of acupuncture proceduces. Within this extensive text that covers a variety of acupuncture treatments, it specifically points to the relief of certain medical disorders on the external ear.
What conditions can most be helpful with auriculotherapy?
The external ear is connected with the micro system (whole body connection in the ear) which can stimulate other parts of the body; thus a range of conditions can be alleviated with auriculotherapy. Many conditions can be affected to some degree by the stimulation of ear reflex points.
The most common usages reported have been for the control of chronic pain, drugs addiction detox, weight loss, quiting smoking, reduction of nausea, and hypertension
What are Remote Reflexes?
As with distal acupoints in body acupuncture, the auricular microsystem can be used to treat health conditions in distal parts of the body. Stimulating points on the ear not only can alleviate problems near areas of the face and head, but also can relieve disorders in the chest, abdomen, lower back, hands, and feet. According to the micro-system theory, it is not so much that there are connections between the ear and the back or the ear and the foot. But, rather, nerves in the ear connect to reflex centers in the brain which send neurological reflex pathways to the spinal cord and then to neurons going to spine or to the foot.
What is Addiction Treatment?
Medical Definition of Addiction : A chronic relapsing condition characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and abuse and by long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. Addiction is the same irrespective of whether the drug is alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or nicotine.
The term “addiction” from The American College of Addictionology & Compulsive Disorders is a multi-factorial disease having psychosocial, genetic, spiritual, and metabolic components. The most predominant mechanism of this disease process is manifest through neuropsychological insult within the Brain Reward Cascade Model known as Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS).
The medical model or disease concept of addiction establishes the Brain Reward Cascade as the hallmark of compulsive disorders along with five addictions, which are: chemical, food, work, sex, and gambling.
All these conditions can be treated through a combination of amino acid therapy, acupuncture, auriculotherapy, chiropractic, individual and group counseling. Some of which services can be self-help referral out to AA, NA, GA groups , IOP facility, or PHP facility.
What is Chinese Herbology?
Chinese herbs are an integrated part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and can be considered the sidekick of acupuncture. The utilization of herbology in TCM can be dated as far back as over 3000 years. Chinese herbs are sometimes used alone in cases where the patient decline acupuncture. However, research supports that traditional modes of acupuncture and herbs produce greater results.
Chinese herbs now come in many different forms. The classic dried form which is formulated together and cooks as a tea. This is one of the best ways to take Chinese herbs/formulas. There are also pills, capsules, powders, and granulated forms for those who would rather not taste the pungent flavor of the herbs. Each formula can consist of 4-16 different herbs depending on what is being treated.
Your overall well being is our utmost concern, therefore, prior consultation with your doctor is recommended when taking herbal remedies.
What is Foot Spa Detoxification?
Detox foot spa is the latest therapy, although known for many years, now recently becoming mainstream. It works by pulling out positively charged toxins in the body through 2000+ pores in the feet by producing negative ions in a foot bowl. It is a highly effective drug free method to detoxify, cleanse, and balance the whole body.
It has also been known to energize body cells to release oils, acids, heavy metals, fats, cellular debris, and other toxins. As the body becomes detoxified, cleansed, and balanced, you will experience a feeling of well being, an increase in energy, and an improvement of mental clarity. For ladies, it can reduce symptoms of PMS.
Other health benefits include: increase in Lymph System function thus increasing the immune system and optimizing health. It is also effective for drug addiction, chronic pain, arthritis, gout, edema, headaches, parasitic infections, gall bladder, and liver ailments.
What is Cupping Treatment?
Cupping is an ancient Chinese therapy (281-341 A.D.) in which a jar (bamboo or glass) is applied to the skin surface to cause local congestion through the negative pressure created by introducing heat in the form of an ignited material. During ancient times, cupping was known as the “Horn Method”, which was used for draining pustules. The modern name for cupping is “baguanfa” (suction cup therapy). Stationary (dry cupping) and gliding cupping (wet cupping) techniques are commonly used today with baby oil or lotion.
The cupping method has the function of warming and promoting the free flow of Qi and blood in the meridians, dispel cold dampness, diminish swellings, and pains. Cupping is extremely effective for the treatment of colds, flu, along with varieties of muscle strain injuries, gastro-intestinal disorders, and lung diseases (especially chronic cough and asthma). Cupping over acupuncture needle is also performed for the treatment of arthralgia (joint pain). Cupping is known to increase white blood cell count which in turn will speed up healing time.
Generally, cupping is left in place for approximately 15-20 minutes. The skin becomes red due to the congestion of blood flow which will leave large areas of bruising depending on the severity of the condition. Large red marks or bruising will dissipate after several days.
Cupping should not be performed on patients with skin ulcers, high fever, convulsion, cramping, and edema, on areas overlying large blood vessels or abdominal and sacral regions of pregnant women. It is not suitable to perform cupping on patients susceptible to spontaneous bleeding or those currently taking anti-coagulant medication.
Call us and make an appointment for a session of cupping to relieve pain, tension and tightness or if your desire is to relax.