Chinese Medicine and Your Health

My name is Paul Gerst, and I am your local Acupuncturist. I was asked to write an article introducing myself, and my business to you, even though I have practiced here in Cumberland for over 2 years. I intend on telling you who I am, and what Chinese Medicine can do for you.

I was raised in the Twin Cities, went to a Christian private high school, then attended the University of Minnesota before designing a degree in Counseling (with a holistic medicine emphasis) at Metro State University. After graduating, I went to The Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, also in Minnesota, and in 4+ years, graduated and opened my clinic in the cities called, The Balanced Path.

After a few years, my desire to live in a rural community won me over, so I moved to Spooner, WI., and started practicing in Hayward at North Woods Community Health Center. A year later, I stopped to thank Tom Toftness and Jodi Griffith for referrals, and an hour later, I had agreed to open a new location out of the Toftness Clinic. A year after opening this location, I was asked to open a third in Chetek, my most successful endeavor to date.

Coming from a Western Medical family, I saw myself practicing medicine, but after working in Physical Therapy, and a couple medical clinics, my frustration with conventional medicine; over-prescribing of drugs that masked symptoms instead of tackling the roots of the problems, unnecessary surgeries, and so on, was growing. I read a book titled: The Web That Has No Weaver, by Ted Kaptchuk. That book changed my life, and the lives of many of my patients.

Chinese Medicine, which consists of acupuncture, acupressure, bodywork, moxa (herbal heat therapy), cupping (suction to relieve congestion/tension), magnets, exercise and stretching, diet, herbs, and more, is one of the oldest, safest, and effective forms of medicine on the planet. It is used by more people around the world than any other form of medicine to date. Chinese Medicine is very effective at treating chronic disease and pain, along with some minor to moderate acute conditions such as cold symptoms, bronchitis, sinusitis, etc.

Chinese Medicine successfully treats (I will include problems which I have seen in my clinics, but the overall list is more extensive): mild to moderate depression, chronic sinusitis, allergies and asthma, digestive disorders (diverticulitis, colitis, ulcer, etc.), sensory problems (vision, hearing, touch, disturbances), musculo-skeletal pain, arthritis, neurological problems, insomnia, headaches, and more. Why take drugs to mask your problem when there IS a solution? Chinese Medicine can help you deal with the underlying problem.

Your first visit will consist of a detailed assessment and a treatment (most patients receive acupuncture, unless they prefer otherwise). This first visit takes approximately an hour and a half. You may be given dietary advice in this or follow-up visits, along with lifestyle counseling, exercises, stretching, etc. The number of visits depends on the severity of the patient’s complaints, and how they respond to treatment. An average number of visits is 8, one per week, and then the number of treatments is reduced when the patient is 90% or better, and finally, it is recommended that patients come 10-12 times per year for maintenance so they can stay well.

Many patients have discussed a fear of needles. For many, this feeling goes away after they have a thorough explanation of the treatment and for some, simply seeing the needles is enough to make their fear dissolve. There are a few that opt to by-pass acupuncture in favor of acupressure or micro-current probe stimulation to the acupuncture points, which, although is less powerful than acupuncture, it can be quite effective. Most of my patients express surprise at how relaxing these treatments are, and many of these patients even nap during their 20+ minute session.

For questions or to schedule, in Cumberland, call 822-2135 at the Toftness Clinic, or in Hayward, call 634-2541, or in Chetek, call 924-9124. Take control of your health and get on the path to wellness and a happier future.