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SustainingHealthAcupuncture_Team_HJ — Photo by Megan McCardwell

Sustaining Health Acupuncture Offers Healing in Hamburg

March 25, 2020

Healthy in Hamburg

Healing in the Neighborhood with Sustaining Health Acupuncture

Sustaining Health Acupuncture has always been in Hamburg (formerly in Stonecrest), but their new location in the Brighton Shoppes marks a significant expansion.

In deciding to make the move, practice founder Dr. Jacqui Kinzig says, “When I began my practice in Lexington in 2012, I remember setting a goal of helping one person each week feel less pain. Over the next 8 years, the practice blossomed in such a way that required hiring another acupuncturist, then an office manager. Finally, just this year, we’ve hired another acupuncturist and moved into a new, larger office. While we have grown in size, our patient-first philosophy and family-like atmosphere have been maintained; we love developing a relationship with our patients. We take pride not only in the results we achieve for our clients, but also in the way we care for everyone.”

“My husband and I chose to settle in Hamburg because we love how it’s almost like a city in and of itself. I love how Hamburg really does feel like a community. I can joke with our patients and neighbors that I try to avoid traveling anywhere that means crossing Alumni, and everyone understands.”

—Dr. Jacqui

Dr. Jacqui Kinzig of Sustaining Health Acupuncture (Photo by Megan McCardwell)

Of course, no one expects a state-wide “Healthy at Home” shutdown in the middle of planning their Grand Opening and Open House, but Dr. Jacqui is taking it all in stride.

She says, “We can offer telephone or virtual herbal consultations while our office is closed to in-person visits. Herbal medicine can be used to support the immune system, help with stress or anxiety, treat headaches and pain, assist with coughs and other symptoms of illness, and much more. All three of our acupuncturists are able to prescribe Chinese herbs that can be delivered directly to a person’s home. Interested persons can simply email office@sustaininghealthacupuncture.com to set up a consultation.”

Asked to share success stories, she says, “One of our patients actually just told us this week that when he started acupuncture, he was in so much pain and on so much medication that he had lost hope. He said acupuncture has ‘literally helped save his life.’ It still puts me in tears thinking about it! Currently, I have another patient who could hardly leave the house due to anxiety two months ago; now he is working a regular job. One time a patient called me in tears because she was so happy that her orthopedic surgeon had just cancelled her spinal surgery (a discectomy) since her symptoms were fully resolved after two months of acupuncture. I will also never get tired of seeing the look on a woman’s face when she finds out she is pregnant after being told she was unable to conceive via western medicine!”

“We receive referrals from several different types of doctors to assist in managing their patients’ symptoms. In fact, we are one of the largest acupuncture providers for the Lexington Department of Veterans Affairs.”

Dr. Jacqui describes the practice as “a full-serve acupuncture clinic. That means that we offer not only acupuncture, but also dry needling, cupping, gua sha (also called scraping or Graston), dietary recommendations, and Chinese herbal formulas and supplements. We also treat children by using special, smaller needles called ‘taps,’ or with non-invasive techniques such as acupressure. Our wide variety of treatment options allows us to help people of all ages with all different types of ailments.”

Kinzig believes that both western medicine and acupuncture have their place in society; neither is “better” than the other. Asked why patients often seek out a more integrative east-meets-west approach, she says, “Many of our patients seek acupuncture as an alternative to pain medication or to help delay (or sometimes even avoid) surgery. We also see patients for assistance managing side effects of their western medicine treatment, such as nausea, fatigue, or pain following medication for chemotherapy, rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple sclerosis. Acupuncture has also been shown to help manage chronic diseases such as hypertension, asthma, depression/anxiety, IBS, PANS/PANDAS, and atrial fibrillation. We receive referrals from several different types of doctors to assist in managing their patients’ symptoms. In fact, we are one of the largest acupuncture providers for the Lexington Department of Veterans Affairs.”

Sustaining Health Acupuncture also offers pediatric care. For those who are curious about the reasons a parent might seek out acupuncture for their child, Kinzig responds, “The most common reasons we see children in our clinic are for the ‘Big A’s:’ ADHD, allergies, anxiety, and asthma. We have also successfully helped children manage digestive complaints (such as constipation or colic), bedwetting, PANS/PANDAS, problems with immunity, and headaches.”

Dr. Kinzig on cover of Hamburg Journal April 2020 Issue She adds, “Parents are often surprised at how open their children are to trying ‘taps!’ Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have a lower side effect profile than many other forms of treatment, which is one reason parents are drawn to our approach.”

If you’ve ever considered acupuncture, but been a little nervous about needles, you wouldn’t be the first. Kinzig says, “One of the most common misconceptions out there is that acupuncture is painful. While it’s true that patients occasionally feel a slight pinch, many patients feel absolutely nothing throughout the process (Hayley from the Lee and Hayley show just demonstrated this on their show). It isn’t uncommon for people to fall asleep on the table! Another thing that often surprises people is the extent of our training. Entry level acupuncturists have at least three years of graduate school after undergrad; some of us go further to pursue a doctorate.”

On a first visit, “patients can expect to spend time discussing not only their chief complaint, but the overall state of their health. One of the hallmarks of acupuncture is that we don’t treat any two patients the same —your points and treatment are usually selected based on what your body needs overall to help it heal, not based on a one size fits all protocol. This is what helps results last even after you’ve left our office for the last time! Your acupuncturist may also look at your tongue and pulse, which further helps us decide how best to treat you. You will then be placed in either a recliner or a padded massage table in order to receive treatment. Once the points have been placed, you are left to rest and doze for 20-30 minutes (depending on the patient and the condition being treated). You will always have a buzzer that allows you to page us immediately if you need us (yes, even just to scratch your nose —it happens!). After your points are removed, you’ll want to take your time getting up —many people feel very relaxed after treatment. Even patients who are squeamish about needles usually do fine with acupuncture as long as they don’t watch. (Remember, we can fit 20 of our needles into the syringe you’re using to seeing at your doctor’s office.) However, for those too uncomfortable to try, we do have needle-free options: acupressure, manual therapy such as cupping or guasha, or herbal therapy.”

Kinzig was born in Lexington but says, “my father was in the Air Force, so we moved away when I was young. I fell in love with Lexington again when I returned for college and always knew I’d move back after leaving for graduate school. My husband and I chose to settle in Hamburg because we love how it’s almost like a city in and of itself! The people here are so friendly, and it’s great getting to live and work in such a beautiful section of town.” She adds, “I love how Hamburg really does feel like a community. I can joke with our patients and neighbors that I try to avoid traveling anywhere that means crossing Alumni, and everyone understands!”