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Claudia Laufer, L.Ac.

Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Nutrition and Lifestyle Counseling

Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist

Welcome to Holistic Care Acupuncture!

My mission is to offer holistic care to my patients that takes into consideration not only the presenting symptoms, but also all contributing factors such as diet, lifestyle, exercise patterns, amount of stress in their lives, and more. Whether you are looking to increase your energy, improve your sleep, help manage your stress, alleviate depression, manage chronic diseases like autoimmune diseases or diabetes, or get relief from pain, I am here to help. My treatments include acupuncture, a review of all supplements and medications, dietary & lifestyle counseling and exercise recommendations. I also have a complete herbal pharmacy so any herbal formulations prescribed will be provided at the end of the treatment. Here at LA Health & Wellness, I am sharing offices with chiropractors Dr. Neil Snyder and Dr. Frank Derratt, and massage therapy is available as well. We offer regular free lectures on various topics regarding health, and we are committed to helping you get on the path of optimum health.

Treatment Modalities

Acupuncture is only one of the many tools an Eastern medicine practitioner will use. Here is a short description of modalities that may be used during your treatment:

Acupuncture

During acupuncture, thin needles are inserted into specific points on the body. The needles are extremely thin (average needle thickness is 0.14 to 0.25 mm), so acupuncture is generally painless.

Acupressure

Acupressure is a great option for people who are afraid of needles and for pediatric patients. The practitioner will stimulate specific points and areas of the body by gentle pressure.

Moxibustion

During moxibustion, the practitioner will use a burning stick made of an herb called moxa (also known as mugwort) to gently warm the affected acupuncture point or painful area.

Cupping

Cupping is often used to alleviate pain, or to fight off the beginning of a cold. The practitioner will apply a glass suction cup to the skin. With stationary cupping, the vessel is left in one place. In the case of running cupping, the suction cup will be moved on the skin, and the sensation the patient experiences is similar to that of a strong massage.

Electro-Stimulation

E-stim is a commonly used modality to increase the pain-relieving effects of acupuncture. The practitioner will apply a mild, pulsating electrical current to the acupuncture needle. This is very similar to the electrical muscle stimulation many chiropracters apply to the affected area before adjusting the patients.

Gua Sha

Gua Sha is used for pain conditions. The practitioner will scrape or rub the skin in the affected area with a small, spoon-like tool made of plastic or various other materials. The area will be treated until a slight, purplish bruising occurs. The skin discoloration will usually fade within a few days.

Tuina

Tuina is a form a massage that uses very light touch to manipulate the body's energy, or Qi. It can be used for painful conditions, and is also a vital part of facial rejuvenation treatments.

Nutritional & Lifestyle Counseling

What we eat every day, and how we choose to live our lives forms the most basic element of our health. Making healthy food choices, along with getting adequate rest, proper exercise and managing our emotions and stress appropriately build the foundations of our health. Many diseases can be alleviated or prevented by adjusting your diet and lifestyle to match your own constitution.

What is "TCM"?

Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, is a medical system that is rooted in ancient Eastern philosophy and has been utilized for thousands of years, long before medicine became what we know it as today. The system of this medicine relies heavily on the observation of all natural cycles within nature and this world, and then applying these observed principles to the human body. An Eastern practitioner hence will observe each patient as a unique ecosystem, and with his or her diagnosis will identify areas of imbalance within this ecosystem. So instead of giving the diagnosis of acute tonsillitis, you may get a diagnosis of toxic heat in the throat brought on by an exterior wind-heat attack.

Whereas Western medicine thrives at fixing acute or emergency health conditions, Eastern medicine is best at treating problems before they become severe. Regular visits to an acupuncturist can function as a "natural flu shot" by strengthening the immune system and de-stressing the body. Acupuncture can help with peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms, and together with herbal formulations can often help prevent the need for hormone replacement therapy, especially if started at the first appearance of symptoms.

Pain management is another area where acupuncture and herbs excel. Many Western MDs will refer patients with acute and chronic pain conditions to an acupuncturist for pain management. Scientific studies show that acupuncture has a direct effect on the brain and body chemistry. MRI imaging studies have shown that inserting a needle into a point on the leg that is said to treat eye and ear disorders will in fact activate areas of the brain that are responsible for vision and hearing. Moreover, acupuncture has shown to cause the body to release more natural opioids to stop pain. Many patients feel a relief in their pain conditions within a few treatments.

Many patients come to see us with a long list of different ailments, each of them requiring them to see a different doctors. For example, a patient presenting with depression, menstrual irregularities, cramping in the legs and visual disturbances will will be treated by several specialists - a psychologist or psychiatrist for the depression, an OB/GYN for the menstrual issues, an optometrist for the vision problems, and a family practitioner for the cramping. The may also be various pharmaceutical drugs, many of which have considerable side effects. Even with these treatments, some of these conditions may never be resolved completely.

An Eastern medicine practitioner will understand that all these symptoms are linked to the same imbalance in the patient (in this case a Liver Qi imbalance), and by balancing the energetics of the liver, all four symptoms will subside and health will be restored. This balancing is achieved by acupuncture, herbal teas, and by lifestyle and dietary changes, all of which have little or no side effects.