Acupuncture has quickly become a popular form of alternative medicine in the United States. As such, there are several acupuncture offices that have sprung up around the St. Louis area in the past few years. Acupuncture can, among other things, help manage chronic pain and ease mental stress/anxiety.
Of course, you may not know much about acupuncture. So we put together this comprehensive guide on the best acupuncture offices in St. Louis for our CDS patients and caregivers. We will talk about the features of a good acupuncture clinic and pick a few of the best in the St. Louis area.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine where a professional inserts thin needles at specific points on your body.
It is an ancient Chinese practice based on the philosophy that diseases happen when energy (known as Qi) does not flow freely through pathways or channels in the body. It has also been explained as a means of stimulating the body’s nervous system to release natural substances that alleviate pain.
Acupuncturists believe that acupuncture can regulate the flow of energy, restore balance to the body and promote healing.
What can Acupuncture help you with?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized acupuncture as an effective therapy for various health conditions.
These conditions include, but are not limited to:
● Headache & migraine
● Low back pain
● Neck pain
● Fibromyalgia
● Osteoarthritis
● Menstrual cramps
● Anxiety
● Depression
● Insomnia
● Blood pressure problems
● Post-operative pain
● Menopausal symptoms
● Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
● Fertility
● Addiction
● Chronic pain
● Digestive problems
Nonetheless, you should be aware that acupuncture should not stop you from keeping up with your ongoing treatments and medications. You may want to discuss with your doctor before stopping any medication.
What are the negative side effects of Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is safe when you work with a licensed acupuncturist. However, similar to all common medical procedures, there are associated side effects that you should be aware of before commencing treatment.
Common side effects seen with acupuncture include:
● Bleeding
● Infection
● Soreness
● Allergic reactions
● Fatigue
● Muscle twitching
● Lightheadedness
● Bruising
● Accidental lung collapse
If you experience any of these symptoms after your acupuncture treatment, you should notify your acupuncturist immediately.
Though you may want to minimize the risk of complications by visiting a professional, certified practitioner. They are required by U.S Food and Drug Administration standards to work with disposable, properly sterilized needles to administer acupuncture treatments.
However, some disease conditions can put you at a higher risk of complications. Such conditions are:
● Bleeding disorders.
● Pregnancy
● If you take blood thinners
● If you have a pacemaker
Which schools do acupuncturists attend to become certified in St. Louis?
To become a certified acupuncturist in St. Louis, you need to attend an institution offering acupuncture programs. They are often called Traditional Oriental Medicine Schools or Traditional Chinese Medical Schools. These schools must have received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).
What is the minimum qualification to be a certified acupuncturist in St Louis?
Every state has different local requirements to be a certified acupuncturist. To practice in St. Louis, you need at least a Master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school.
You are also required to take the National Certificate Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) certification exam for your acupuncture license.
What are the 10 best acupuncture offices in St Louis?
Here are our selected 10 best St. Louis acupuncturists you should consider visiting:
Yong Kang Chinese Medicine Clinic
Rating: 5.0
Yong Kang Chinese Medicine Clinic provides acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, cupping, and gua sha services in Kirkwood, MO.
Dr. Michael Max is a licensed acupuncturist with over 15 years of practice. He earned a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine, and also trained at Taiwan Shifan University.
He specializes in men’s and women’s health and also treats a wide range of other ailments including musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory, digestive, psychological, and skin conditions. He uses Chinese medicine to find out the root cause of diseases and help relieve your symptoms.
Community Acupuncture of St Louis
Rating: 5.0
Community Acupuncture of St. Louis is an acupuncture clinic in St Louis with three licensed acupuncturists on staff; Dr. John Schmieder, Dr. Bryan Wagner, and Dr. Toby Donaker with a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
They focus particularly on allergies, musculoskeletal disorders, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, fertility, PMS, sleep disorders, sports injuries, headaches, migraines, and general pain management.
Community Acupuncture offers a sliding scale of $25 to $50 per acupuncture treatment, where you decide what you can afford to pay. They aim to make treatment affordable enough for you to receive treatment more frequently.
Life Essentials Center for Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Rating: 5.0
Life Essentials Centre is an acupuncture clinic in Chesterfield, Missouri with a focus on natural, holistic treatment through traditional Chinese medicine.
Dr. Jing Shen and Dr. Julian Zhu started this clinic in 2007 to improve quality of life using traditional Chinese acupuncture, herbal formulas, nutritional supplements, counseling customized and unique to each individual.
They are both licensed acupuncturists in the state of Missouri.
Dr. Jing Shen has thirteen years of experience in women’s health, infertility, and chronic pain. She also provides needle-free and cosmetic therapies. Dr. Julian Zhu specializes in men’s health and chronic physical pain.
Madosky Chiropractic & Acupuncture Center
Rating: 5.0
Located in the Richmond Heights Area of St. Louis, Madosky Chiropractic & Acupuncture center offers chiropractic and acupuncture care.
Dr. William Madosky provides nutrition & diet lessons, exercise programs, and also mind-body integration techniques to give you a healthy, energetic body.
He earned his Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from Logan University and became certified in acupuncture and auriculotherapy. He also served as a member of the Missouri Board of Chiropractic Examiners. He has been dedicated to health and wellness for 40 years.
Wellbody Acupuncture and Chiropractic Clinic
Rating: 5.0
Wellbody Acupuncture and Chiropractic Clinic uses Traditional Chinese Medicine to formulate a treatment plan appropriate to each patient. The clinic is managed by Christine Kleinschmidt and Gregory Kleinschmidt, licensed practitioners in the state of Missouri.
Christine has extensive herbal training specialized in women’s health and fertility-related conditions. She also uses acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine to treat many internal medical ailments.
Dr. Greg obtained his Doctorate of Chiropractic in 2007 from Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield. He has a special focus on using exercise, massage, and chiropractic techniques to help with musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, sciatica, neck & shoulder pain, chronic muscle soreness, migraine headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Whole Health and Wellness Center
Rating: 5.0
Dr. Caroline Ricker offers chiropractic, acupuncture, functional medicine, allergy treatment, pain management, stress management, nutrition, and homeopathy services at Whole Health and Wellness.
She has extensive training on Sacro Occipital Occipital Technique and Applied Kinesiology, which helps her to serve St. Louis, Missouri, and surrounding areas.
Dr. Caroline earned her degree from Logan College of Chiropractic where she graduated on the Dean’s list. She is also Webster certified, which enables her to support pregnant women with comprehensive care.
Authentic Oriental Healthcare Clinic
Rating: 4.9
Dr. Shanna Zang, the chief practitioner at Authentic Oriental Healthcare Clinic, uses acupuncture to treat physical pain.
This includes joint pain, back pain, menstrual cramps, dental pain, and cancer pain.
She is also a specialist in Chinese herbal medicine, useful in treating depression and anxiety.
Dr. Zang is a Missouri licensed Acupuncturist; an Oriental Medical Doctor with over 33 years of clinic experience in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
Rating: 4.9
Located in Brentwood, Modern Acupuncture aims to provide relief to individuals who are under constant stress and in pain. All professional services are carried out by licensed acupuncturists, Corry Meyers and Peter Schechter.
Corey holds a Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree from Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland. The other member of the team at Modern Acupuncture, Peter, attended AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine in Austin.
The clinic’s other services include skin health, needling practices, and maintenance treatments for chronic conditions. They offer you a personalized treatment plan according to your wellness goals.
Rating: 4.8
Indigo Massage and Wellness consists of a team of licensed Massage therapists, Yoga instructors, Acupuncturists, and Skincare specialists. The team is led by Anne Childers, the founder of Indigo Massage and Wellness. She is a nationally certified licensed massage therapist, by the State of Missouri.
She graduated from the Healing Arts Center in St Louis and is a member of AMBP. With her years of experience, she has mastered the art of Therapeutic and Swedish massage with a blend of Acupressure and Connective tissue techniques. She also specializes in Orthopedic massage for patients with chronic pain.
Indigo Massage and Wellness offers a wide range of services, including Cosmetic acupuncture, Fire cupping, and professional acupuncture treatments rooted in traditional Chinese medicine.
Authentic Chinese Herb & Acupuncture
Rating: 4.6
Authentic Chinese Herb & Acupuncture has successfully treated thousands of patients using Traditional Chinese medicine since 1991.
Dr. Pingfan Lui, a licensed acupuncturist with over 20 years of experience, was certified by NCCAOM to specialize in acupuncture treatments, Chinese herbal consultation, Chinese Tui Na massage, and foot reflexology.
He graduated from Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Wuhan, China before earning a Masters in Western Medicine and Chinese Medicine from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.