About Acupuncture

If you’re not familiar with acupuncture, here’s a quick definition: acupuncture promotes healing by stimulating specific points of the body with very thin needles. The stimulation promotes the movement of energy (or “qi”) through the body to address imbalances and help restore optimum health.

The first thing you may be wondering is…

"Does acupuncture hurt?"

I know the idea of using needles to relieve pain may sound a little strange – and perhaps even unnerving. But acupuncture is nothing like getting a shot or having blood drawn. Acupuncture needles are up to 30 times thinner than hypodermic needles and are solid rather than hollow. You’ll barely notice them, and often, you won’t feel a thing. If you do feel a slight prick, it lasts for less than a second.

Acupuncture sessions are calming and enjoyable. Most of my clients find themselves so relaxed that they forget about the needles entirely.

With your acupuncture sessions, my ultimate goal is to help you achieve your very best health. But my first order of business is to put a stop to your pain.

Freedom from pain is just the beginning!

Because acupuncture is a holistic healing practice, your sessions will address your entire physical condition to provide benefits that go well beyond any one ailment or problem area. Here are just some of acupuncture’s many benefits:

Pain relief: Quick relief from physical pain is our first objective. How does it work? According to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to release pain-relieving endorphins and other chemicals in your body. These are chemicals that change your experience of pain, influence your body’s own internal regulating system and stimulates your natural healing abilities.

Stress relief: Stress is accepted as a “normal” part of our everyday 21st century lives, but for thousands of people, stress is a very real problem – sometimes even debilitating. Worry, fatigue, anxiety, and feelings of unease – all of these can cause internal imbalance. As acupuncture helps restore physical and emotional balance, stress relief is a typical “side effect” of sessions. In fact, after pain relief, stress is the biggest reason why my clients come to see me.

Acupuncture sessions are very relaxing – you might even fall asleep on the table. These “cat naps” can leave you feeling like you’ve just had a full 8 hours of peaceful sleep. When you wake up, you’ll feel refreshed and energized.

NOTE: If you experience constant headaches, muscle tightness, trouble sleeping or if you just don’t feel well and your doctor doesn’t know why, stress might be the cause. Acupuncture has helped millions with the same problems. It may help you. When we meet for the first time, please let me know if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms.

Increased energy: Acupuncture promotes balance and healing by stimulating the movement of energy throughout your body. As balance is restored and healing begins, an increase of energy occurs naturally. Many of my patients report a feeling of increased energy from their very first treatment, dramatically improving over time.

No matter what your present condition, it’s very likely that acupuncture can help you feel so much better. And the results are often fast. Many of my clients report a dramatic decrease (65-90%) in their pain levels after just one session.

Deborah Collins is one such client. Please take a moment to read her story – I think you’ll find it compelling (and perhaps you can relate)…

"After my first visit, my pain was reduced by 85%…"

For 3 years, I suffered with severe plantar fasciitis. It was so bad that I had to sports tape my feet each morning before I could even get out of bed. I also walked on crutches to alleviate some of the pressure on my heels. At the time I went to see John, I had been to 6 doctors and had undergone x-rays, MRI's, electro-corporeal shock treatment of both feet, cortizone shots to both heels, arthroscopic surgery to cut one of the tendons in my left foot, three pairs of orthotics, physical therapy, iontophoresis, lidocaine patches. Nothing worked.
Someone suggested I try acupuncture so I did some research and found John literally right up the block from me. After my first visit with John, he reduced my pain a good 85%. After just about 6 visits I was pain free. The pain was totally gone. I felt so wonderful. It was like having a whole new lease on life not to be in severe, debilitating pain every day.
I just continued going to John for maintenance purposes. I always tell John that he should have T-shirts printed that say 'If you like the way I move, see my acupuncturist!' If anyone is in pain, they owe it to themselves to give acupuncture a try with John. It was a blessing for me.
Deborah Collins
Westwood, NJ

When you don’t want to choose between
the right treatment and feeling good…

Deborah’s experience is not at all unusual. As you probably know, one of the risks when taking medication or undergoing any kind of treatment is painful (or even harmful) side effects. Sometimes my clients tell me that their treatment decisions often come down to "a lesser of two evils".

With acupuncture, your pain relief occurs naturally, using your body’s own systems and energy. There are no drugs to take and no painful movements to make. The overwhelming majority of acupuncture patients experience zero side effects. Those with an extreme fear of needles may experience some dizziness; others may incur some very slight bruising. But these cases are rare, and the effects are minor.

"Zero major adverse side effects…"

In one study of over 55,000 treatments by 73 acupuncturists over a 5-year period, 99.8% of them were performed with no significant minor adverse effects and zero major adverse incidents. And according to a well-known statement from The National Institute of Health, the adverse side effects of acupuncture are extremely low and that the incidence of such effects is "substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same condition."

If you’re already using conventional treatments, they may have worked to some extent for you. However, as more and more people seek alternatives to conventional treatment, acupuncture has exploded in popularity. Many patients report faster, more effective results – with NO side effects. And the conventional medical community has taken notice: both the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health recognize acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of many disorders.

Acupuncture can often work wonders when used in conjunction with more conventional treatments, such as physical therapy. When we meet, I’ll be sure to go over the course of treatment your doctor has prescribed and create an acupuncture plan tailored to your specific needs. If your current treatment is too much to bear, acupuncture can help put a stop to the pain.

What to do when you’ve already tried everything

By the time my clients come to me, they’ve often already tried and failed to be finally free of what ails them. Most of them are in terrible pain, and nothing has worked. They say things like, "I don’t ever want to go through that again" and "I’m at the end of my rope." A female client once told me that one of her previous treatments was "twice the pain of childbirth".

It’s my deep belief that you should not have to endure more pain to be rid of pain. So I’ve made it my mission to provide you with a safe and effective option to relieve your pain.

"I tried everything, but nothing worked…"

After a car accident 25 years ago, I suffered acute pain in my back and legs. I was always trying to reduce the pain. I tried everything, but nothing really worked. Someone told me to try acupuncture, so I started looking around and found John Garbarini, right here in Westwood, New Jersey.

From my first visit, I felt very comfortable and secure with John. After working with him I noticed a big improvement in my physical health. His sessions took away the pain, but that was only the beginning. I began to notice an increase in my energy, and my stress levels went down. His treatment to my stomach also improved my digestive system. I highly recommend John's acupuncture services.

Amira Pozo,
Garfield, NJ

What conditions can be treated with acupuncture?

You may already have heard that acupuncture can be helpful if you’re trying to lose weight or stop smoking. But you may be surprised to know that acupuncture is also used to help people suffering from:

Back and neck aches: lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, disc problems
Muscular and skeletal disorders: knee pain, joint pain, stiffness in limbs, muscular cramping, arthritis
Women’s health issues: fertility problems, menstrual pain and problems
Athletic injuries: sprains and strains, knee and ankle injuries
Digestive problems: abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhea
Mental and emotional imbalances: feelings of stress and anxiety, emotional distress, sleep problems
Weight management and smoking (Important note: you must be ready to make the required lifestyle changes.)

Acupuncture is becoming more and more common and is even recommended by some doctors. But because acupuncture falls outside the realm of traditional western medicine, it’s still new to many people. Many of my first-time clients ask…

So what’s an acupuncture session like?

If it’s your first session, we’ll start with a conversation about your health, your needs, and the results you’d like to achieve. We’ll discuss your biggest pain points, and we’ll go over any treatments you’re currently undertaking, if any. Then I’ll make my determinations and create the best acupuncture plan for you.

Your acupuncture session will take place on a padded table and I’ll make sure you’re comfortable before we begin. Most sessions last between 20 and 30 minutes. Yours might take a little longer, depending on the specifics of your condition.

Your comfort and relaxation are of the utmost importance when we work together. My office is a clean, safe, relaxing environment. I maintain the strictest standards for safety and cleanliness and use only sterilized, disposable needles.

During your session, you’ll leave your worries and pain behind. You’ll close your eyes, relax, and let your cares slip away. Acupuncture time is time for yourself, and I’ll do whatever I can to help you fully enjoy the experience.