Acupuncture

Barbara Bittinger holds Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Master of Science in Oriental Medicine degrees from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine. Her practice specializes in treating pain and healing traumatic injury and diseases of the skin using micro-current therapy, acupuncture, and herbal formulas. Barb is available for acupuncture on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Acupuncture used to be considered "alternative" medicine. Today, this gentle and elegant therapy has been proven to be a valuable addition to standard treatment of many common health problems.

By stimulating specific areas of the body with hair-thin wires, an acupuncturist activates natural mechanisms in the patient's body which can help to overcome specific symptoms. Side effects are rare and minor, and the treatment costs less than most conventional medical procedures.

Acupuncture is based on the premise that the human body is an integrated system, every part of which is connected through an intricate network like a miniature ecosystem. Because of this holistic view, symptoms in one part of the body are often treated by stimulating a completely different area. Knee pain, for example, may be treated by stimulating a point on the elbow. Nausea can be treated by stimulating a point on the forearm. A headache might be treated by stimulating a point on the foot.

Following is a list of conditions which are commonly, safely, and effectively treated with acupuncture:

  • Any type of pain
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Depression / Anxiety
  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Infertility
  • Stress
  • Food cravings
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Hot Flashes
  • Poor concentration
  • Medication side-effects
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • IBS
  • Addictions
  • Allergies / Asthma
  • Arthritis
  • Frequent urination / Urinary Tract Infections
  • Numbness / tingling in the hands and feet
  • Palpitations
  • Gas and bloating
Acupuncture is a licensed and regulated profession in most states, including Wisconsin. Practitioners must graduate from a three to four year postgraduate program, pass a national board exam, and meet safety training requirements in order to obtain licensure. Many acupuncturists focus their practices in medical specialties such as oncology, pediatrics, obstetrics-gynecology, psychology, orthopedics, or geriatrics.

Integrating Acupuncture and Chiropractic Care

Acupuncture and chiropractic complement one another beautifully and are often combined in order to provide a more comprehensive level of treatment. The coordinated use of these therapies is one of the most effective natural strategies for managing difficult health conditions such as chronic pain and headaches.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Practitioners of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) use carefully composed combinations of natural medicinal substances to treat complex health problems. Standard formulas (of which there are thousands) can be individually modified based on the needs of each patient. The inherent flexibility of this process enables practitioners of CHM to effectively treat many conditions without causing dangerous side effects.

CHM is often used as an alternative to conventional medications. In recent years, however, much research has been conducted exploring the combined and coordinated use of CHM and pharmaceuticals. This synergistic approach is particularly common in the field of cancer care where patients receiving chemotherapy, for example, will be prescribed an herbal formula in order to minimize side effects such as nausea, decreased immunity, fatigue, digestive disturbances, etc.

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