Top 10 most responsive conditions in our practice.

Fertility problems

Fertility is one of the more complex and also one of the most rewarding areas of our practice.  I am always amazed at how a woman’s cycle is a guide map to her overall health and how effectively it can be nourished and regulated with acupuncture. 

A recent German study published in April 2002 found that just two acupuncture treatments on the day of embryo transfer increased the chances of becoming pregnant through IVF by a staggering 62%.

Researchers at the Christian-Lauritzen-Institute in Ulm, Germany included 160 patients undergoing IVF for the study. The patients were all required to have good quality embryos and were evenly and randomly divided into two study groups according to similar age and diagnosis characteristics.

When the patients were examined using ultrasound six weeks after IVF procedures, 42% of the patients who had received acupuncture had become pregnant as compared to 26% within the control group. It is worth noting that this staggering result is based only on two acupuncture treatments having been received. It is reasonable to assume that even greater results would have been achieved if acupuncture treatment was continuously received during the entire IVF process.

Western science has established the following proven benefits that acupuncture offers to reproductive health:

• Regulates the menstrual cycle.
• Invigorates sperm, enhancing both sperm count and motility.
• Strengthens the immune system and enhances general health.
• Reduces stress, controls anxiety, enhances sleep and increases energy level.
• Balances endocrine system, regulates hormones and improves egg quality.
• Increases blood flow to the uterus, improving endometrial lining (implantation). Improves blood flow to the ovaries, increasing ovarian response - more follicles and better egg production.
• Lessens the side effects associated with hormonal treatment.
• Protects against miscarriage, improving live birth rate.
• Increases the chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

With a track record like this, why would anyone wanting to achieve pregnancy not incorporate acupuncture?

“Tara has assisted in getting some of our most difficult cases pregnant.”

Cheirel Gustavis-Person
RN at Reproductive Partners in Beverly Hills
as quoted in “Conceptions and Misconceptions”
a well-respected and informative book on achieving fertility.

“Thank you so much for helping me conceive my two children.  My husband and I were just about to turn to fertility drugs and invitro, and I am so happy that we didn’t have to!”

Susan Pascal
Mother/Homemaker

“Tara’s knowledgeable approach to acupuncture was recommended by my gynecologist as an alternative and proactive infertility treatment.  What I have found with Tara is much, much more.  To quote my mother, I am now a new “better” person.  With each visit, new physical, emotional, and spiritual layers reveal themselves.  In a nutshell, Tara has helped me discover an energizing, relaxing, inspiring and calming path within myself.”

Julia L. Pike
Educator

“I feel certain my acupuncture sessions with Tara not only helped to balance my monthly cycle but also contributed to achieving my long awaited pregnancy.  I appreciate Tara’s expertise and I plan to continue sessions throughout my pregnancy.  Thanks Tara!”

Michelle James
Media Sales

Bell's Palsy (facial paralysis)

One of the most responsive conditions in our practice and one of the most gratifying is the treatment of Bell’s Palsy.  Bringing normal facial movement and the ability to smile back to someone’s face is a joy.  Whether a patient has had the condition for a day, a week, a year, or many years, we don’t know of any treatment that comes anywhere close to our safe and rapid resolution of Bell’s Palsy.  Even other acupuncturists have routinely referred their patients here for fast and effective treatment of Bell’s Palsy.

“When I count my blessings for this past year. You shine!!  The numbness in my face that I had for over three years is gone.  I completely attribute the diagnosis and cure to you!”

Dina Stange
Real Estate Project Manager

“I experienced a severe case of Bell’s Palsy at the age of two.  This left me with limited use of the left side of my face for over forty years.  I was fortunate enough to meet with Tara for acupuncture treatment.  After ten sessions, I was able to smile more than I have in my entire adult life!  Great stuff!”

Albert Rollins
Real Estate Developer

“I am so impressed with the improvement Tara made to my Bell’s Palsy in just one session.  This is particularly amazing, as this facial paralysis has afflicted me for three years.  I have tried other acupuncturists without success.  During Tara’s treatment, it felt as if I could feel all the previously inactive nerves and muscles firing.  I can’t wait to get back to Los Angeles for another treatment!”

Joseph Beste
Investor

Migraines/Headaches

The crippling pain of migraines, severe headaches and cluster headaches can be extremely debilitating.  Unfortunately, traditional medicine often has little to offer other than drugs and the avoidance of allergens.

These chronic and stubborn head problems are favorably responsive in the majority of patients.  We have seen many patients significantly or completely relieved of life long recurring head pain in less than ten sessions. 

A recent study reported in the British Medical Journal found that over a 12 month period of time, patients who received regular acupuncture sessions reported fewer headaches and migraines, enjoyed a higher quality of life, missed fewer days of work used less medications and made fewer visits to their conventional medical doctors. 

“Tara Perry is a miraculous individual.  My body was in shambles and my headaches were so intense.  In a few sessions my headaches have been relieved and I feel so much better.  I immensely recommend Tara’s work.”

Diana Khalil
Bookkeeper

“I have been suffering from cluster headaches for over three years.  A few months ago I was in the middle of a storm of migraines that had been going on for four weeks.  I was completely at a loss of what to do and was told to go see Tara Perry.  Within a few days of my first two treatments, my headache pain had gone from seriously painful to just a dull pain.  A week later, after just three sessions, my headache was gone.  It’s been a couple of months and with a few “preventative and maintenance” treatments, I have been headache free.”

Gretchen Slack
Sales Representative

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)

"TMJ" stands for TemporoMandibular Joint, commonly called the jaw joint. There are two of these joints - one in front of each ear, connecting the lower jawbone to the skull. These joints allow movement up and down, side-to-side, and forward and back—all the mobility necessary for biting, chewing and swallowing food, speaking, and making facial expressions.  Disorder of this joint is typically characterized by pain, cracking sounds and/or limitation of movement.

At any one time, it is reported that over 10 million Americans suffer from TMJ. 

TMJ can be aggravated by conditions such as injury to the jaw area, arthritis, dental problems, genetics, hormones, infections, autoimmune problems or just plain stress.   Stress is one of the primary contributors we see in TMJ.  The Masseter Muscle (the small muscle that connects the upper jaw to the lower jaw) is, pound for pound, the strongest muscle in the body.  It is a very primitive and common response to stress to clench this muscle.  In our daily world of stress, it is not uncommon that we chronically clench our way into TMJ. 

At Acupuncture of Santa Monica, we have treated dozens of cases of TMJ.  The majority of our patients find significant to complete relief of their symptoms within a course or two of treatment (a course being ten sessions).  Most often when a patient’s improvement has stabilized, the need for continued treatment greatly diminishes or ceases.  Sometimes there are some lifestyle changes that accompany acupuncture treatment – such as better ergonomics at work, avoidance of a food or environmental allergen, stretches, or relaxation techniques.

“At my work I was hit in the head with a steel door resulting in severe TMJ (as well as extreme vertigo, headaches, ear ringing, and blurry vision).  Within 10 sessions at Acupuncture of Santa Monica, my TMJ was 75% better and many of the other symptoms were greatly improved as well.  When traditional medicine had little to offer, I am so glad I have access to this therapy.”

Tyrus Thomas
Musician

 

“My TMJ muscles were in such severe spasm that I could not open and close my mouth fully.  It was also quite painful.  After one session with Tara, I awoke the next morning to a completely normal mouth.  There was no pain, no stiffness and complete freedom of movement.  These symptoms have not reoccurred.  I also experienced the same rapid healing of a back spasm some time later.  I fully recommend Tara Perry enthusiastically for the gentle and knowledgeable treatments."

Dr. R. Eichenstein
Psychologist

 

Neck Pain

A team of researchers from Germany and Switzerland conducted a study with 177 patients with chronic neck pain.  The results were published in the British Medical Journal in 2001.

They divided the patients into three groups: one receiving acupuncture, one massage and one placebo (i.e. deactivated laser).  At the end of only five sessions, each group was evaluated by a “blinded” observer (i.e. the observer did not know what treatment the patient received) for reduction of pain, increased range of motion and tolerance to pressure.

At the conclusion of these five sessions, the acupuncture group rated their improvement a 24 (on a 100 point scale) compared to the 8 given by the massage group.  The results were even higher for the myofascial pain patients (which is estimated to be present in 90% of people with chronic neck pain) and patients who reported having their neck pain for over five years.

At Acupuncture of Santa Monica, we encourage our patients not to settle for chronic neck pain, but to give acupuncture a course of treatment and find out how much more pain free your life can be.

“I have worked with Tara Perry for several years and I continue to be awed by her ability to pinpoint my needs and relieve my pain.  Every couple of months, the stresses of life get to me a lodge into my left shoulder and neck.  If I let it go too long, it’s difficult to turn my neck and the pain is severe.

I have tried a variety of remedies and treatments and none of them work.  Tara is the only one who can make the pain go away.  I used to be someone who didn’t like the thought of acupuncture, but it is so effective that now it is something I incorporate into my life. 

Tara is always educating herself, staying on the cutting edge so she can help her clients.  I value her input in my overall health and the products she recommends have always made a huge difference in how I feel.  She is bright, sensitive and caring – everything you want in a health care professional!”

Brooke Maile
Business Owner

“I was experiencing such severe stiffness and tightness in my neck that I felt as if I had to turn my entire body to look right and left.  This was making driving particularly difficult.  After a few sessions with Tara’s amazing “release the neck points”, I could move my head freely again.” 

Micky Freeman
Retired Publicist

Low Back pain

(Including herniated disks, degenerative disk disease (DJD), bone spurs, & Spondylolisthesis)

Low Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek acupuncture treatment, and for good reason.  It works!

A study of 86 patients reported in “Medical Acupuncture” in May of 2004 revealed that weekly acupuncture provided complete improvement for 68.6% of the participants and significant improvement for 16.3%.  Only 15.1% reported that they did not experience improvement.  These patients were experiencing back pain from a variety of causes including Degenerative Disk Disease (DJD), herniated disks and laminectomies.

These results are consistent with what we experience at Acupuncture of Santa Monica.

“I have suffered from chronic back pain since childhood and it was not improving.  I spent years taking ibuprofen with little relief.  After a few incredibly valuable sessions with Tara, I was finally able to surf all day AND sleep through the night without pain or muscle spasms awaking me.”

Amie Arbuckle
Computer Consultant

 “I was experiencing severe lower back pain due to a disk herniation.  I was fearful of acupuncture because it was the unknown.  I am thrilled and amazed at the immediacy of the results!  I tried other methods of treatment without success, but in two sessions with Tara I achieved 80% relief.

Lucille Kall
Retired School Teacher

“I have had consistent and exceptional results with Tara’s acupuncture for my radiating low back pain.  It keeps me functional and pain free in my life”.

David Van Middlesworth
CFO Strategic Data Corporation

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body.  It is a group of nerves that exit the spinal cord in the lower back that forms the sciatic nerve in the buttock area, which in turn goes down the leg to service the tissues of the lower leg and feet.  Because it is such a large nerve and a nerve that is used extensively in motion and compressed while sitting, Sciatica is usually severely painful and debilitating. 

Sciatica can be caused by several factors such as Spondylolisthesis (slippage of one lumbar disk over another), Herniated Disks, Degenerative Disk Disease (DJD) or Periformis Syndrome. 

Any of these conditions can respond very favorably to acupuncture treatment.  We have had patients with higher grades (i.e. more advanced levels) of Spondylolisthesis become greatly improved or pain free.  Most cases of pain due to herniated disks and DJD respond favorably as well.  Periformis Syndrome is usually an easier condition to treat as it is due to muscle spasm and not from more fibrous or bony tissue obstruction. 

It is our experience that when a patient has reached a sustained level of improvement, he or she can greatly reduce and often discontinue their treatment.

“Before I started seeing Tara, my pain level was at a 9.5.  As soon as I started getting treatment, it was better.  Almost all of my sciatic pain is gone now and my body thanks me for it everyday.  I love Tara!”

Josh Elliot
Set Designer

Joint Pain

Acupuncture’s ability to safely and effectively alleviate joint pain is well known and well established.  There simply isn’t enough room on this page to address all the joints in the body and all the studies that have been done revealing its efficacy. 

In December of 2004 the LA TIMES reported the conclusion of one of the largest and most rigorous clinical studies to date.  The results for 570 patients ages 50 and older who were experiencing “significant” pain in their knees due to arthritis were a 40% decrease in pain and a 40% improvement in function. 

Another smaller study conducted by Peter Dorsher, MD, revealed that acupuncture done on 22 patients for tennis elbow (inflammation of the lateral aspect of the tendons and muscles of the forearm) brought about significant or complete relief in an average of just four sessions.  Most of these patients had extensively unsuccessfully tried traditional therapies such as physical therapy, steroid injections and even surgery before turning to acupuncture. 

“ I have confidently referred many patients to Tara for acupuncture care.  I have found it effective for my patients who need or want noninvasive treatment, and often it eliminates the need for more invasive treatment.”

Dr. J Randal Davis
Orthopedic Surgeon
LA Sports Medicine and Surgery Group

“I have been a patient of Tara’s for eight years.  Tara’s acupuncture has helped me recover from numerous physical ailments in a very short amount of time (knee surgery, back problems and elbow problems to name a few).  Tara’s treatment is safe and effective and I am happy to recommend it to others.

Jacques Gravett
TV Film Editor

"After damaging the tendon at the top of my shoulder, I sought the help of another highly recommended acupuncturist. After six or seven treatments, my shoulder was still no better than when I first injured it. At that point, I opted to see if perhaps Tara could heal my shoulder.  Tara had my shoulder working just as it had prior to the injury. I genuinely wish I had gone to her sooner...she is in a league of her own."

Brian Weiner
CEO, The Illusion Factory

“Thank you for fixing my arm.  In four sessions I’m just about 100%!  And it feels great not to be in pain.  I’ve been dealing with this for well over a year and no treatments have worked prior to this.  I’m shooting a movie now, working hard and enjoying my gig!”

Samuel Fries
Cinematographer

“My orthopedist told me I would need surgery for my elbow if the medications didn’t work …they didn’t.  I tried weeks of chiropractic treatment, which didn’t help either.  In two sessions with Tara, the problem was gone and it didn’t return”.

Ali Biglar
Owner, The Wine Expo

“I injured my knee while working on a film as a camera operator.  My knee was quite swollen and I was in severe pain.  I had 80 cc’s of fluid aspirated from my knee, but the pain persisted.  (It turns out I had one lateral and one medial meniscus tear).  The worst part was that I couldn’t continue working in this condition.  When I first came in to see Tara, I was walking with a cane and a knee brace due to the fact that my knee couldn’t support any weight on its own.  Did I mention that I was in a lot of pain?

After my first acupuncture session nearly all of the pain was relieved.  After just a few treatments, I was able to return to work having only missed four days of shooting.  Tara has now treated me for three weeks.  My knee is almost 100% back to normal and I have absolutely no pain.  My orthopedic surgeon does not feel that surgery will be necessary.   Thank you Tara!”

Anthony Hardwick
Cinematographer

“I literally hobbled into Tara Perry’s office with a left knee that was painful as well as almost non-functional.  Since all the adverse publicity about vioxx, celebrex, etc., I stopped taking medication for my arthritis.  Three session of acupuncture later, my knee is as good as it gets.  I have had acupuncture before but I find that with Dr. Perry results are swifter.”

Mimi Klein
Retired

 “Tara Perry treated me for foot pain while at a training seminar in Canada in July 2004.  Pain in one foot was chronic, resulting from an injury 30 years ago.  Pain in the other foot was more recent (two months) but much more severe.  After the first of two treatments, the long-term pain in one foot only occurred in a stressed position, not when walking or running.  Prior to her treatment, I had anticipated a lifetime of pain in this foot.  The pain in the other foot, which prior to the treatment was at about 7 on a scale of 1 to 10, was now reduced to about a 2.  Considering the severity of the activities undertaken at that (outdoor) seminar, this is remarkable.  Tara Perry was so totally unassuming and masterful in her work that I had to go online to find out more about her background (e.g. being supervisor of the Arthur Ashe Clinic at UCLA).  I can’t recommend her highly enough.

Jack Earley
Investor

Depression/Anxiety/Stress

We have had many patients referred to Acupuncture of Santa Monica from various psychiatrists and psychologists, as well as other satisfied patients who were suffering from depression, anxiety and/or stress. 

Some of the patients were on one or more medications.  Some just did not respond well to any medication.

Most of the patients in this category are either

• Those who have experienced a temporary set back in their life and need relief from the acute anxiety and stress.
• Those who feel somewhat “off” in a mental/emotional area of their life, but are otherwise functional and able perform their daily work.

Acupuncture in general is very soothing to the central nervous system.  While these issues tend not to resolve right away, with regular treatment (i.e. once or twice per week for several months) the patient generally experiences a much greater sense of well being.  Burdens feel more manageable.  One's outlook tends to become more optimistic.

“I have been seeing Dr.Tara Perry for acupuncture treatments to find relief from severe depression and anxiety.  I told Dr. Perry that I really had no expectations that her treatments could help me with depression or with anxiety.  I was also unsure of any physical relief it could provide for my neck and back pain due to my auto accident.  However, after 5 treatments I feel amazed that I am not walking under a cloud of gloom and doom” waiting for the world to fall apart.  I am not looking at my world with a sense of despair as I have for the past three years.  I did not believe I could ever feel any way except hopeless and alone as if my life was over and served no purpose any longer.  I know there will be ups and downs in the future but I no longer feel the “downs” are a permanent state.  And yes, my back and neck have REALLY improved with her treatments.  Dr. Perry is really an amazing person and I am so grateful to have been lucky enough to find her and to be able to feel good again.”

 

Julie Ericson
Retired School Teacher

Bleeding Hemorrhoids

Bleeding Hemorrhoids is a painful and embarrassing condition that is traditionally treated with surgery.  Surgery on this tender and functional area of the body, is generally unpleasant and recovery painful.  Moreover, the problem frequently recurs. 

With traditional oriental medicine there are ways to “take the pressure” off of the meridians (i.e. energy pathways) that “overload” the anal area.  We have had many grateful patients thank us for saving them this highly “sensitive” surgery. 

“I was suffering so much from painful, puffy hemorrhoids that bled regularly.  I was looking in to having surgery to correct this very bothersome condition.  Thankfully, in just six sessions at Acupuncture of Santa Monica, the pain, swelling, and bleeding have reduced so much that I am no longer considering surgery.”

Name omitted for privacy