Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs
Pearl B. Chen L.Ac.,Dipl. Ac.(M.D. Repubublic of China)
18434 N. 99th AVE. Suite #5 Sun City, AZ 85373 (623) 977-2257
10814 N. Scottsdale Rd. Suite B. Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (480) 609-8555

This article is taken from the
Daily News-Sun, the April 2, 2004 edition.

Ancient practice delivers relief for today's ailments

An ancient Chinese practice is bringing pain relief and healing to Sun Citians.

Susan Varga of Sun City visited the Sun City Acupuncture Clinic Thursday for her seventh treatment in a series to relieve the constant pain in the bottoms of her feet associated with peripheral neuropathy. Before coming to the Acupuncture Clinic three times a week for 20 minutes sessions, Vagra had suffered for almost a decade with the same problems and tried everything, including eight epidurals. Varga is pleased with the results of the acupuncture and herbal medications.

"So far, it's been very helpful. It's not a cure, but it's helping me quicker than anything else," she said. "I've been through a lot and this is such a comfort. It gives me the feeling that I'm taking control."

The clinic, at 18434 N. 99th Ave., is led by Dr. Pearl B. Chen, L.Ac., a medical doctor from the Republic of China who's a state certified acupuncturist and former board member for the Arizona State Board of Acupuncture Examiners.

"Cure is not a word to describe results; acupuncture stimulates the patient's body to help heal itself," Chen said. "You don't always need a lot of needles - you don't need to make a patient look like a porcupine for it to be effective."

Chen specializes in Oriental medicine, providing natural and holistic heath care. About 90 percent of her patients from the retirement communities are desperate for pain relief or seeking treatments for asthma, allergies or depression.

Acupuncture and herbal medications treat these ailments and a host of health problems, including colds, insomnia and high blood pressure, Chen said.

Images of a acupuncture needles poking into the skin can seem frightening but Chen and her patients say it's not painful or scary.

"Acupuncture is very safe. We are well trained and know what we're doing," Chen said, describing the needle that range in gauge and length. "It feels just like a pin prick. I sometimes tell people it feels like an ant bite."

Most patients also are prescribed herbal medications to complement their acupuncture treatments. Unlike Western medications such as Tylenol, the herbal medications are designed to target the area of the body that requires healing or pain relief, Chen said.

Acupuncture was first documented in China between 300 B.C. and 100 B.C., but is considered to have been around before then, maybe even 7,000 years ago. The realignment of the energy field is based on the Chinese concept of Chi, which is the underlying energy of life, according to the Acupuncture Answer Book. Asian medicine deems that good heath is determined by a balanced distribution of Chi throughout the meridian paths that influence the organs and bodily systems. Along the meridians are points where Chi can be affected by acupuncture needles or finger pressure. Acupuncturists find those paths and apply needles to bring healing.

Following one of the philosophies of acupuncture, Chen stimulates Varga's healing and eases her foot pain by "balancing her body." To do this, she inserts the needles into Varga's head, the opposite end of the body from the pain's source.

"This stimulates the patient's body to heal itself. We balance the body and balance the energy," Chen said. "If people have pain in their right side, we put needles in their left side and move the energy to balance it."

Varga not only understands the process, she embraces it's effects.

"When she puts the needles in my head, I get this feeling of overwhelming peace, comfort and relaxation," she said.

Renee Hickman of Sun City West heard about acupuncture from her husband, who discovered the procedure in China during World War II. She said she had past acupuncture treatments that worked wonders for her. Now a senior, she is fed up with pain killers that don't ease the pain and stiffness in her arthritic thumbs, so she turned to Sun City Acupuncture Clinic.

"I recommend it for anyone with pain," Hickman said. "The Chinese have lots of medicine that's very good. Sometimes people are afraid and don't want to use anything but western medications, but this works."

The results of acupuncture may not be as speedy in older adults, but she still praised the effectiveness of the treatments. Chen has stimulated Hickman's hands with as much as eight needles at a time and expects her patient's pain will be completely gone after this series of treatments.

Hickman realizes that people may shy away from acupuncture because the needles seem painful or intimidating.

"Everyone thinks it hurts, but it doesn't," she said. "Anyone who is under the impression that it's painful, needs to see Dr. Chen."

It's imperative for those with chronic pain or ailments to receive a complete series of acupuncture sessions to treat the problem, she added. Those with acute pain, caused by an isolated problem such as a sprained ankle, may require only one treatment. Receiving the optimal benefits of acupuncture can be difficult for some because Medicare and some other insurance policies don't cover the expense of treatments, however, Chen does offer senior citizen's discount and multiple treatment discount.

To schedule an appointment at the Sun City Acupuncture Clinic please call (623) 977-2257 or our Scottsdale office at (480) 609-8555.