Rachel Martinez 

Doctor of Acupuncture 

Acupuncture is a medical system based in Chinese or East Asian medicine, developed over thousands of years.  Single use needles are inserted in precise locations throughout the body seeking local and systemic effects.  

Acupuncturists are rigorously trained and supervised over their intensive three(+) year, graduate level course of study, then required to submit to national board certification and state licensure.  In Rhode Island, we are called Doctors of Acupuncture.  Acupuncture is a stand alone treatment but is often combined with adjunctive therapies such as moxibustion, cupping, electro stimulation and gua sha as indicated by patient’s treatment goals and practitioner’s training.  

An Acupuncturist is trained to evaluate patients seeking care based on diagnostic methods such as pulse reading, abdominal palpation, and tongue diagnosis.  During an initial visit you will be interviewed about your main complaint, but also about how your system functions as a whole.  The combination of signs and symptoms reported by the patient and found during the physical examination teach the acupuncturist to determine the root cause, in the body.  Acupuncture treatments are structured across the sequence of visits, as well.

In traditional Chinese medical thought symptoms – disease – in the body arises from a lack of balance in the body’s systems.  

When physiological function is impaired- disease or symptoms arise.  These symptoms are the bodies best attempt to restore a weakened balance (emotional, physical, spiritual).  The body keeps score.  A symptom is the body’s request for help – which starts out quietly- and becomes louder the longer it goes unaddressed.  

With guidance and wisdom, the body will do what it knows how to do: heal, recover and thrive.