Living Well 60+ November – December 2014 | Page 7

NOV/DEC 2014 Acupuncture Makes a Good Point Ancient art reputedly cures a variety of sicknesses by Abby Malik, Staff Writer Have you ever considered trying acupuncture to treat your sickness, pain or stress? Perhaps instead of reaching for an over-the-counter remedy the next time you feel a new or familiar ache, pain or other problem, you might first consider exploring acupuncture’s benefits. Kris McClanahan, M.Ac., L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist at Artemesia, a community acupuncture and wellness center in Lexington. Working with colleague Kathleen Fluhart, RN, M.Ac., L.Ac., McClanahan has used acupuncture to treat an array of issues, including insomnia, arthritis, menopause, allergies, hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes and more. “My job is to really look at the heart of what’s going on,” McClanahan said. “I see people who come here just wanting to relieve pain.” Within the first five to 10 minutes of an acupuncture session, a patient can begin to feel a sense of relaxation, and then, bit by bit, a gradual alleviation of discomfort. Once patients experience relief, they want to know how acupuncture is achieving that relief. “The needles restore balance,” McClanahan said. “In the body, whenever there is pain, there’s blockage, and acupuncture releases th