Why Chinese Herbs
During your time at MCA your acupuncturist might have brought up adding Chinese Herbs to your treatments. Why? The simplest answer is, sometimes acupuncture isn’t the only or best way to address various health concerns.
Chinese herbs are the medicine that makes Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM as it is commonly referred to) a complete system of healthcare. It is the yin to the yang of acupuncture. There are thousands of traditional formulas of herbs, all of them based on a system of understanding that combines taste (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, & bland) and temperature (cold, warm, hot) of a plant material (leaves, twigs, bark, roots) to create a desired effect on the chemistry of the body. An easy analogy for Chinese herbs is food. We eat certain foods to have certain effects inside the body. For example, lemons are bitter and sour and create the pucker that helps to create saliva, while bone broths would be considered sweet and bland and help to repair tissue after illness. Chinese herbs are used to help the body to repair itself over time instead of masking the symptoms like an over the counter medication would.
Chinese herbs can be used to address a variety of symptoms and conditions. They are not recommended for everyone, especially those on certain medications like blood thinners, but in the right circumstance herbs can help improve conditions faster than acupuncture alone. At MCA we like to use acupuncture first and then add herbs as needed (or desired) on a patient by patient basis. All of our acupuncturists are board certified in Chinese Herbology, and during their training spent many hours studying Chinese herbs and formulas. All of the Chinese herbs at MCA are tested for safety and efficacy, and come as a pill similar to a supplement. We carry a wide array of formulas that address everything from constipation and menstrual issues to the common cold and sinus congestion. Chinese herbs range in price, and can cost anywhere from $10-15 for a two week supply.
So the next time you see your acupuncturist, ask how Chinese herbs could benefit you!
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Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Bay View neighborhood, Milwaukee Community Acupuncture provides quality, convenient and low-cost healthcare to members of our community.
The clinic will be closed on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day.
Learn more about Al:
Al’s discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine began when he sought out an alternative treatment for depression and insomnia. Unfortunately, the side effects from conventional medications were placing a substantial strain on his health, home and work life. Heeding a friend’s advice, Al began seeing an acupuncturist, and his improvement in sleep quality and well-being were almost immediate. It was truly a life-changing experience.
Inspired by the power behind his own healing, Al decided to leave a long career in real estate and finance to pursue a calling in Chinese Medicine. He enrolled and graduated from the Master’s program at Midwest College of Oriental Medicine and is NCCAOM board-certified in acupuncture and herbal medicine. He also holds a Bachelor Degree in Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, and an MBA from the University of Arizona.
Practicing in the suburban Chicago area since 2019, Al specializes in the treatment of acute & chronic pain, migraines, neuropathy, sleep disorders, stress management, digestive issues and fertility. Al’s previous experience includes having his own practice, Restorative Acupuncture & Wellness, in Deerfield, as well as working on staff with Family Tree Holistic Health in Arlington Heights and Aligned Modern Health in Deerfield.
Al will be seeing patients on Tuesdays from 12-5, Wednesdays 3:20-8:20 and Saturdays 9:30-2:30.
Megan Bielinski, one of our acupuncturists, is pregnant which is wonderful news. Unfortunately, she is experiencing medical complications and is no longer able to work, effective immediately. Megan is planning to stay home with her children afterwards, so this is goodbye. We know she will be missed both by staff and patients alike. If you would like to bring in a card for Megan please feel free to leave it at the desk with reception, and we will get it to her. Please bear with us as we shuffle around the schedule this summer.
Here is a message from Megan:
As we all know, life is full of ups and downs. For my family, the good news is that our almost three-year old daughter Nora will become a big sister this fall, as we await the birth of our son.
On the unexpected side, last week at work I experienced a medical emergency that required EMT assistance and a hurried trip to the ER. Thanks to their help, the baby and I are now doing well.
Since that day I have made the difficult decision to immediately step away from my work at MCA to prioritize the continued health of myself and our unborn child.
Working at MCA for 11 years has been one of my greatest joys. Moving on is hard to do. I have been fortunate to meet and serve so many wonderful individuals who have become treasured patients and friends. And I was blessed to work with like-minded colleagues who became family, that are as deeply committed to affordable healthcare and patient well-being as I am. I would love to come back someday, but for now I need to put my family first as we
navigate this next chapter of life.
Thank you all for everything you have given me over the years, I will deeply miss seeing your smiling faces. Thank you for your trust in me and the acupuncture profession. Be kind to yourself and others. And until we meet again, I wish you the best of health and happiness.
Love,
Megan
Donations to MCA help fund our pay-it-forward program and are tax deductible. For every $20 donated to MCA, we will give 1 free acupuncture treatment to a community member.
All new patients need to call to schedule their first appointment. You will be able to schedule subsequent appointments online.
MCA is a Community Care Network provider through the VA. Veterans can request a referral from the VA and receive acupuncture treatments at no cost to them with an active referral.
Please reschedule if…
You feel ill or have any symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, or new loss of taste or smell. Even if you have tested negative, please wait until your symptoms have subsided to come in for an appointment.
You currently have allergies and can’t control coughing or sneezing.
Check in with the receptionist.
If you are new to our clinic, please fill out our online paperwork before your appointment time or arrive early to fill it out in the office.
Pay for your appointment before heading back to the treatment room.
Sliding scale is $20-$50.
Enter treatment room, choose a chair with a Ready sign in the seat.
Monday 9 - 8
Tuesday 9 - 8
Wednesday 9 - 8
Thursday 9 - 8
Friday 9 - 6
Saturday 10 - 2
Sunday Closed
435 E. Lincoln Ave.
2nd floor
Milwaukee, WI 53207
414.943.2915
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