Acupuncture and herbal medicine are terms that we, in Western society, are becoming more familiar with, but most of us still do not understand or appreciate – myself included. So, like I always do when I need to research or study something, I sought out the experts in the field so I could learn from the best. That search led me to Alberto (Al) and Amy Galvan the owners of Galvan Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine in the Haile Plantation Village Center. I was able to sit down with them and learn A LOT about what they do, how they do it, and how it can help us in our quest for a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Enjoy.
Dan: How did you two decide to make a career out of acupuncture and herbal medicine?
Al: I had an acupuncture physician teach me oriental theory while in massage school 15 years ago. That interaction led me to pursue acupuncture as a career. For a number of years I traveled the country looking for an acupuncture program that was accredited by the Department of Education, and that offered a superior curriculum. In 2002 I learned a new program was to be headed by Leon Hammer MD, world renowned in the profession for teaching Contemporary Oriental Medicine (COM) and Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis (CCPD) integrated with western medicine, and I enrolled. In 2007 I completed my 5-year post-graduate studies under his direct tutelage.
Amy: I was applying for med school in 1999 when I fell ill with a debilitating case of multiple sclerosis. At that time, there was little western medicine could do for me. My neurologist suggested acupuncture, and it honestly changed my life in many profound ways. I worked in a hospital healing arts center 3 years as a therapist and fell in love with what acupuncture and herbal medicine can do by looking at health from a different perspective.
Dan: What type of initial assessment or screening process do you implement with new patients?
Al & Amy: Because each person experiences their disease or injury in a unique way, our job with new patients is to assess the unique ways their body is trying to restore health; given its strengths and weaknesses. New patients receive a comprehensive workup that includes western primary care components such as chief complaints or wellness goals, health history, family history, birth and childhood details, medications, allergies, and previous workups or treatments by other healthcare providers. Depending on a patient’s health concerns, our examination may involve elements of physical exam for nerve, muscle, bone, heart, lung, balance, hearing, or other targeted systems. We follow with Chinese medicine examinations of the ear, eye, tongue, torso, and pulse examinations. Pulse diagnosis is a sophisticated system of examining the radial artery in over 20 positions at 5 depths under movement and pressure. It can take up to 30 minutes. Patients will be asked lifestyle general health questions about their sleep, diet, habits, appetite, digestion, bowel movements, breathing, heart palpitations, urination, sweats, dizziness, vision, pain, memory, and emotions. New patient visits can take 90 to 120 minutes to gather enough information to form a comprehensive Chinese pattern diagnosis that reveals strengths, weaknesses, and disharmonies of the body’s innate healing systems.
Dan: Is acupuncture safe for everyone? Children?
Al & Amy: Acupuncture is safe for most patients, including children, older adults, and even pets. The risk of adverse events is equivalent to taking penicillin—almost negligible. It is so safe that there has never been a lawsuit against an acupuncturist in the U.S. We use sterile disposable stainless steel needles to prevent infection.
Dan: How can acupuncture & herbal medicine be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle and wellness program?
Al & Amy: Acupuncture and herbal medicine are the perfect fit for those who want to pursue a healthier lifestyle. Monthly visits can promote a greater sense of wellbeing, reduce stress, boost athletic performance, help you recover from injuries faster, raise metabolism to aid weight loss, and promote detox. It can be easily added to any wellness program for prevention and integration with standard western medical care to get the best of both worlds. Insurance covers most patient visits, and discounted rates are available if your insurance does not cover office visits.
Dan: What are the most common injuries & ailments that you treat at your office?
Al & Amy: We see the full spectrum of injuries and ailments in our office. Amy focuses on treating women’s issues, neurological disorders, auto-immune disorders, chronic diseases, digestive disorders, headaches, OB/GYN problems, menopausal syndrome, stress, anxiety and depression. Alberto focuses on treating sports injuries, pain management, injury recovery, neurological disorders, chronic diseases, headaches, migraines, stress, anxiety and depression.
Dan: Roughly how many visits does it take before someone begins to see/feel the results from acupuncture?
Al & Amy: We discuss this with each patient after their first visit assessment. It is important to take into account the severity and chronicity of a patient’s main concern. It is also important to realize that since everyone is unique, no two people respond the same to treatment nor heal at the same rate. The general rule is for every year a person has an illness, it takes about 1 month of consistent treatment twice per week to see a benefit. For less severe illnesses or conditions some patients report improvement within 4-5 visits.
Dan: Any final words of wisdom.
Al & Amy: Acupuncture and herbal medicine offer a different perspective on disease, health, and healing. It is not a magic bullet. It is therapy and maintenance just like diet and exercise. It takes time to lose your health and it takes time to restore the body’s healing mechanisms. Acupuncture and herbal medicine allow us to heal in accordance with nature, safely and effectively, without side effects.
Dan: That was great. Thank you guys so much!
Alberto Galvan, LMT, AP and Amy Galvan, AP own and operate Galvan Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine located in the Haile Plantation Village Center. They can be reached at 352-327-3561 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
