In this 6 week program, each patient will receive –

• 8 Acupuncture Treatments (2 sessions per week for the first 2 weeks followed by 1 session per week for the next 4 weeks).
• A personalized constitutional evaluation according to Chinese medicine. This evaluation outlines the “patterns of disharmony” or imbalances that cause headaches and other health problems.
• An individually tailored eating plan. This plan outlines the specific foods that treat each patient’s imbalances and which foods to avoid. Each personalized eating plan includes simple and healthy recipes.
• A customized herbal formula. Recommended herbs are individualized to address each patient’s unique needs. Herbs can be taken in the form of teas, powders (which dissolve in hot water), or capsules.
• A stress reduction/relaxation program that includes gentle exercise and meditation techniques. Patients will be given a meditation CD and a Qi Gong DVD.

Cost of Program: $745 (includes CD, DVD, and binder with above-mentioned materials).

Additional cost for herbs varies: (approximately $20-$30/week)

 Some insurance plans partially or fully reimburse patients for the cost of the program. Contact your insurance company directly for details of your acupuncture coverage. 

Live outside the LA area? Ask us about our 10-day intensive program for visiting patients.

About the Practitioner

Antonia Balfour, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., Dipl. CH is a nationally certified acupuncturist and herbalist running the Balfour Healing clinic in Pacific Palisades, California. As a practitioner of mind body medicine, her specialty is treating chronic pain and women’s health conditions. Founder of Qi Blends Herbs, Antonia holds a Master’s degree (highest honors) in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San University.

Educating the public on Chinese medicine as a holistic health modality is a passion for Antonia. She has written numerous articles on women’s health and pain relief for newspapers, journals, and websites and has lectured for non-profit organizations such as Trinity Care Hospice, Pharmaca, and LA Help. She has also appeared on local and national radio programs focusing on holistic healthcare and Chinese Medicine. Antonia serves as a Vice President of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce.

About Headaches & Chinese Medicine 

The key to successfully treating headaches with Chinese medicine is to bring balance to the body and emotions. This is done with acupuncture treatment, dietary therapy, and herbal remedies that are specific to the individual needs of each patient. Instead of treating every person’s headache the same way, Chinese medicine addresses their “patterns of disharmony” (or areas or imbalance).

Patterns of disharmony take into account - 

·       Yin & Yang –

Yin and Yang are opposites. A person’s symptoms can be looked at in terms of yin/yang parameters. For example, cold is yin and heat is yang.  Damp is yin and dry is yang. An acupuncturist’s job is to apply the theories of yin and yang to all aspects of the patient. Specifically for headaches, one would ask – are the eyes dry or watery? Is there a cold sensation in the head, or a sensation of heat with burning eyes? 

·       Qi, Blood, and Body Fluids –

Qi (vital energy), blood, and body fluid are fundamental substances that sustain health. Imbalances in these three areas can cause a variety of health problems. Qi, blood, and body fluids can be weak and deficient, in which case they are unable to nourish the body and function properly. Deficient qi causes a dull headache with an empty sensation in the head along with fatigue and shortness of breath. Deficient blood and body fluids create a dull headache with dizziness and possibly blurry vision. On the other hand - qi, blood and body fluids can be excess and overflowing in which case they become stuck or stagnant. Qi and blood that are stuck can cause a sharp, fixed pain that may be severe. On the emotional side, stuck qi can cause frustration and irritability. To attain balance, these three vital substances need to be strong and healthy in their flow.

·       Channels and Collaterals –

The channels and collaterals are considered to be a series of connecting passages through which qi and blood flow. The primary channels are indicated by the lines that are shown on acupuncture charts. Ten of the 12 primary channels are named for organs they are associated with. It’s important to note that these organs in Chinese medicine are not the same as their western counterparts. The Chinese Kidney, for example, may have some of the same functions as the western Kidney, but it is a much broader concept than simply the anatomical organ. If the yin of the Kidney meridian is deficient there may be a headache with an “empty” sensation in the head. A Kidney yang deficiency creates a dull headache possibly with a cold sensation in the head. In both these cases, it’s likely that the anatomical kidney is perfectly healthy. Imbalances in the Liver meridian also cause headaches. When yang energy rises up the Liver meridian, this causes headaches at the top of the head or in the temples. Excess heat, or fire, in the Liver meridian creates a headache with a distended feeling in the head and red eyes. Chinese meridians also have emotions associated with them. The emotion of the Kidney is fear and the emotion of the Liver is anger or irritability.

This brief explanation of patterns of disharmony just touches the surface in describing the many different ways an acupuncturist analyzes imbalance. Most people have multiple patterns going on at a time, sometimes as many as eight or ten.

The Chronic Headache Treatment Program focuses on a combined approach to addressing all areas of imbalance. Through the use of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary therapy, gentle exercise, and relaxation techniques, whole health and wellness is within reach!