Acupuncture - Alan Rivenson, Lic Ac

Acupuncture - Alan Rivenson, Lic Ac My own involvement with acupuncture came about as a result of addressing side effects from surgery. I graduated from the Eastern School of Acupuncture in 2005.

Debilitating night sweats kept me from sleep for months until a talented acupuncturist stopped my symptoms with a single treatment! My curiosity was peaked which led to another graduate degree, this time in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. With those amazing results, I knew I had to learn this great art and share it with as many people as possible. Helping people move beyond the pain and suffering is my passion and my reason for living. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to assist people over my many years as an acupuncturist. I am licensed to practice acupuncture in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. With my wife, Michele, I have operated our clinic in Canaan, CT since January 2006

03/17/2022

COVID-19: Can acupuncture help the long-haulers?

Evidence suggests coronavirus could cause a chronic debilitative post-viral syndrome in some people, and indicates that acupuncture can help them.

We are hearing many reports of patients still suffering after having had COVID – they can’t seem to get back to normal. They continue to struggle with lingering symptoms long after testing negative for the virus. Reports of fatigue, joint pain, and cognitive difficulties are common. We are also seeing new research out confirming what clinicians have known all along: that acupuncture can help calm the inflammation associated with chronic post-coronavirus symptoms.
Viruses are responsible for many long-term illnesses. We know a virus causes chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and suspect viruses are a major component in bringing on autoimmune diseases. Now we have evidence COVID-19 induces a chronic post-viral syndrome in many patients. Symptoms Vary Widely. Symptoms of post-viral syndromes include:
• Fatigue that is persistent & often worse with activity
• Un-refreshing sleep - Waking up exhausted after a full night of sleep
• Cognitive/neurological problems - Difficulty remembering things, poor concentration, brain fog, inability to process new information
• Muscle or joint pain
• Digestive symptoms - Nausea, diarrhea and/or constipation
• Increased sensitivity to light, smell, or sound
• Racing heart beat
• Headaches

Fatigue is often the most common and pronounced symptom. Fatigue often follows a viral infection, but people usually bounce back. This kind of fatigue is persistent and often worse after even just light exercise or performing simple tasks. It can be so bad that people will skip bathing or preparing meals because it just takes too much effort.

Other symptoms that COVID can bring on include insomnia, anxiety or depression. These are not usually directly caused by the virus, but result from the atmosphere of prolonged uncertainty we are currently experiencing in learning how to adapt to living with it.

It is not fully understood why some people develop long term symptoms, but one factor seems to be a “cytokine storm”. Cytokines are inflammatory markers, and when they stay elevated, indicate your immune system is stuck in overdrive. Many patients with post-viral syndromes will exhibit these elevated cytokine levels, indicating the body thinks it is still sick.

Acupuncture has a long history of excellence in treating these lingering syndromes. Master physicians wrote texts 2,000 years ago outlining how to successfully treat the epidemics sweeping through Asia at the time.

Modern research backs up the tradition. A recent study demonstrated acupuncture as very effective in calming the cytokine storm of an out-of-control immune system.

We still don’t know the full long-term consequences of COVID-19. As a result of this virus, some people are reporting experiencing a post-viral syndrome for six months now.

10/13/2021

Acupuncture for the changing seasons

There is a slight nip in the air. The days are starting to get shorter. And just as the squirrels have gotten down to the business of storing nuts for the winter, we find ourselves a little more serious and less carefree than in summer. Whether you’re preparing for school or preparing for a new business venture, you know that Fall has arrived.

Fall is the beginning of the yin cycle when the daylight lasts less than twelve hours. It’s a time of harvest when we gather the colorful fruits and vegetables for winter storage. Pumpkins and squashes are our symbols of bounty. We also store wood for the fire and get out our warm clothes for the colder, darker days of winter.

According to Oriental medicine, the season of autumn is associated with the element of Metal, which governs organization, order, communication, the mind, setting limits, and protecting boundaries. It’s a good time to finish projects that you began in spring and summer, harvest the bounty of your hard work. It's also the perfect time to begin more introspective, indoor projects.

During the summer, which is ruled by the Fire element, we deal more with the external by traveling and playing outdoors. Fall, on the other hand, is a time of organizing your life for the winter season ahead and coming more inside your body and mind to reflect on your life.

The lung and large intestine are the internal organs related to Fall and the Metal element. Lung is associated with the emotion of letting go. This process is difficult for those who love the summer. They find it hard to give up the long days of sunlight, warm temperatures, and open windows. Others feel differently and love autumn, from the crisper air to the vivid red, orange, and yellow leaves on the trees. If letting go of summer is hard for you, extra support from your licensed acupuncturist may be in order to help you make the transition.

Various systems of self-mastery teach that by controlling your breath, you can achieve and maintain physical vigor, mental clarity and emotional tranquility. The ancient Taoists developed a practical discipline of breathing called Qi Gong to increase vitality, extend lifespan, and prevent disease. This is a wonderful skill to learn as the Summer gives way to Fall.

Sleep is another important aspect of staying healthy in the Fall. The ancients advised that people should retire early at night and rise with the crowing of the rooster during the autumn.

Lung is considered by Oriental medicine to be the tender organ. This is because the lung is the uppermost organ in the body and especially susceptible to wind and cold. During the change in temperature, be sure to dress for the weather.

The lungs control the circulation of the Wei-Qi, which is the defensive Qi that protects you from the invasion of flu and colds. The Wei-Qi circulates on the surface between the skin and muscles and works to warm the body. If the Wei-Qi is weak, the skin and muscles will not be warmed properly. A weakness in the lungs can lead to a weakness in the Wei-Qi, making a person prone to frequent colds.

The nose is the opening to the lungs, and you can prevent colds by keeping your nose and sinuses clean and clear. Using a neti pot with some sea salt and water helps rid the nose of excess mucus. If you suffer from a runny nose or sinus infections, acupuncture is wonderful for alleviating that problem.

What you eat also greatly affects the health of your lungs. Eating excess cold and raw foods creates dampness or phlegm which is produced by the spleen and stored by the lungs. Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, cream, and butter also create phlegm, while moderate amounts of pungent foods like garlic, onions, ginger, horseradish, and mustard are beneficial to the lungs.

The transition from Summer to Fall is a time when the Qi is unstable. The Qi from healthy lungs should descend. If the Lung Qi goes upward, it is rebellious, and the person experiences a cough. The Lungs inhale the Heavenly Qi (air) and exhale the dirty Qi (carbon dioxide). Now is the time to strengthen your Qi to prepare for winter and get a tune-up from your licensed acupuncturist to strengthen your immune system.

05/18/2021

Our new sign is finally up at 140 West Avenue, Great Barrington, MA
413--644-6608
www,berkshireqi.com

Two eggs but, no Mom Robin all day today during a mighty rain and hail storm with precipitous drop in temperatures.
04/21/2021

Two eggs but, no Mom Robin all day today during a mighty rain and hail storm with precipitous drop in temperatures.

04/13/2021

We are pleased to announce the reopening of our clinic. After a long closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We will be opening at our new location at 140 West Avenue in Great Barrington, MA Call today for an appointment!

All CDC, State and Local Covid-19 precautions are followed with health screening prior to being treated and disinfection of all common areas, and fresh linens for each client. Masks are required for all patients and staff.

ACUPUNCTURE TO TREAT PATIENTS WITH LONG HAUL COVID-19 SYMPTOMS At a time when there is an increasing number of people ex...
04/13/2021

ACUPUNCTURE TO TREAT PATIENTS WITH LONG HAUL COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

At a time when there is an increasing number of people experiencing debilitating lingering symptoms after having had Covid or Covid symptoms, acupuncture can help with recovery.

Patients still struggling with fatigue, respiratory symptoms of breathlessness, tightness of the chest, muscle aches and other neurological signs such as headaches, brain fog etc. have been diagnosed with what is being call “Long Haul Covid”.

I have been heartened to see the changes patients have experienced when starting acupuncture in most cases with immediate improvement.

Many of these people contracted what they think was Covid-19 earlier in the year, when it was not yet possible to get tested and receive confirmation that they in fact had contracted Covid-19. As we know, the anti-body tests have also been found to not be that reliable, with patients having had all the typical symptoms yet showing negative to anti-body testing.

In Eastern Medicine (the broader term used for all styles of acupuncture) we don’t just treat symptoms but use our differential diagnoses including tongue, abdominal and pulse diagnosis and assessment of the meridians to tailor an individual treatment to support the body to bring itself back to health. Many of these Covid symptoms relate to the Lung meridian, as this is predominantly a respiratory related virus. However, other symptoms such as muscle aches and in particular brain fog, nausea, etc relate more to the Spleen & Stomach meridians and can be indications of lingering pathogens in the body such as dampness. In one case, soon after treatment, the patient experienced enormous amounts of mucus coming out for the first time, leading to a massive clearing out and easing of all her symptoms for the first time in months.

Needless to say, these uncertain times and the constant talk about the virus each time we read the news unsurprisingly creates anxiety and even depression, as our daily activities are curtailed and planning ahead becomes increasingly difficult. Acupuncture calms the nervous system, helping us to quieten the stress hormones of flight and fright and to turn on the parasympathetic nervous system. Many of the points on the chest and upper back that help with breathing also have a very calming effect.

As with any chronic condition, it is important to support the system with good quality rest and relaxation; healthy nutritious eating and if possible, gentle exercise.

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Great Barrington, MA
01230

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Wednesday 10am - 5pm
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