The main areas for practice focus are:

Chronic Pain | Dermatological  | Thyroid  |  Orofacial Pain   |  Head & Neck

Below is a list of some of the most common conditions that are being treated at this office.   An assessment or initial consultation is free, whether in person or on the phone.

• Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid (including autoimmune)
• Chronic constipation
• Fibromyalgia
• Joint and muscle pain
• Neuropathic pain (peripheral neuropathy, dysesthesias, paresthesias)
• Chronic neck, jaw, or head pain
• Back and hip pain
• Rotator cuff and shoulder problems
• TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder)
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Atypical orofacial pain
• Headache and Migraine
• Cervical spondylosis
• Eczema or dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Acne and acne rosacea
• Facial rejuvenation

This list is not comprehensive.  If you would like to discuss your specific health concerns, please use the contact form on the “Appointments” page. You will be contacted shortly.

Treatment Times:

Michelle typically sees patients on a long-term basis, particularly for issues that involve digestive or immune health.  This includes many pain conditions that are not responding well to medications, or that have become chronic.  A health plan for most patients will involve a weekly or bi-monthly course of acupuncture that can span anywhere from a few weeks to up to 2 or more years.

As patients improve, the frequency of treatment lessens.  Note that there are also many people who only require a couple of treatments to feel better, and may only be seen once or twice a year.  There is definitely a lot of variation, as the response time is quite individualistic and can fluctuate with stress, diet, lifestyle.

Specialties:

Michelle has advanced training in thyroid disorders with Apex Energetics, a sponsor for educational seminars on endocrine, immune, and nervous system topics. Common signs and symptoms of thyroid problems include chronic fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, insomnia, and dysmenorrhea. Using a plan that includes acupuncture, herbals, vitamins, minerals and enzymes is key to healing on a deeper level. Lab testing may be advised and can be ordered through this clinic. Some insurances cover this cost as well.

Michelle has worked at the Orofacial Pain Clinic at UNC Dental Faculty Practice for the past 3 years. This clinic is located within the UNC hospital system on Manning Drive. Patients travel from all over the state, and outside of NC, to receive treatment for complex orofacial pain syndromes. This work requires a gentle approach, skillful health history review, and advanced knowledge of Chinese medicine as it relates to neural and musculoskeletal pathways. Acupuncture strategies for TMJ, trigeminal neuralgia, headache, migraine, and cervical (neck) structural or organic issues are chosen to reduce pain and restore function.

Chinese medicine is more than acupuncture. Please read or skim through some of the blog posts to learn more about the benefits of this wonderful medicine.

Modalities used in this office:

Acupuncture of Chinese, Japanese, and auriculotherapy (ear) style

Acupressure (press and rub, or press and hold along the meridians). Especially useful for those with pain syndromes who will benefit from hands-on work.

Gua sha (Vietnamese style scraping with ceramic or plastic implement). Used to disperse very stagnant energy, for example, fascial constrictions around muscles that restrict movement of joints. Usually performed on the back muscles.

Cupping (placement of glass cups on back, legs, arms and abdomen to release areas of focal tension or stagnation).

Moxibustion (warming technique using rolled herbal ingredients over the back or abdomen). Very helpful for internal Cold stagnation, for example, menstrual cramps, intestinal cramping, tight paraspinal muscles, cramping and spasmodic pain).

Herbal medicine.  The advantages of herbal cures are significant and greatly underutilized in this country. Herbs enter into tissues without creating circulatory disturbances to the blood or organs, and gently yet profoundly alter blood chemistry to heal many conditions. Used for digestive, respiratory, immune system health, and even topically for dermatological conditions.