Acupuncture at CORE
At Santa Cruz CORE, we have a passion for what we do. We make an effort to spend significant time and energy with each patient to ensure their needs are met. For us, it’s more than just acupuncture; the acupuncturists work with multiple healing modalities during an acupuncture session to get you feeling better. Working to create positive change in the body, we use a combination of needling, moxa, gua sha, cupping, ear seeds, massage, and Tai Chi and Qi Gung. Each individual is treated as such, an individual with an unique body and we use our various tools to create the most healing we can in each session. We also provide acupuncture at our Watsonville location.
New! Discounted Community Acupuncture
Experience the Benefits of Acupuncture at a Discounted Price! Our new Community Acupuncture program takes place every Saturday and Sunday at our Santa Cruz location. After an initial one-on-one private session, you'll be able to get continuing visits at an exclusively discounted price. Community Acupuncture is the newest, most affordable way to receive acupuncture treatments!
Call us today at 831.425.9500 for pricing and more information.
Santa Cruz CORE Specializes in the following treatments
chronic pain
hormone balancing
quitting smoking
orthopedic limitations
back pain
migraines and chronic headaches
stress management
fertility
anxiety
insomnia
skin conditions
chronic disease
arthritis
auto immune disorders
Gua Sha
Tai Chi
Dry needling
Traditional Chinese Acupuncture
Moxa
Herbal Remedies.
Do you live in the Santa Cruz or Watsonville area?
Call 831-425-9500 or info@santacruz.com
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Ancient Practice & Modern Science
Qi energy circulates throughout the body along specific pathways called meridians. As long as this energy flows freely, health is maintained. When the flow of energy is blocked due to stress, lifestyle or other causes, the system is disrupted and pain and illness occur. Acupuncture works to restore normal functions by stimulating certain points on the meridians with fine needles. The specific combination of points is chosen after your TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner applies in-depth systematic TCM diagnostic techniques, used to address the root cause of your symptoms and identify potential patterns that may cause disease or illness.
The primary focus of TCM is on correcting the underlying cause of an illness or disease and thus producing lasting relief. Symptoms can often be relieved in a matter of hours or days, but correcting the illness itself is a much longer process. It is important, therefore to take an adequate number of treatments to ensure the best results.
Acupuncture is an ancient healing modality originating in China. It involves the insertion of very fine, sterile metal needles into the body at acupuncture points. These acupuncture points are powerful accessors to the rivers of energy or meridians that run through our bodies. The meridians regulate energy flow and thus determine our state of sickness or health. An unbalanced body is in a state of sickness, which has various manifestations. A balanced body is in a state of health. Acupuncture works to restore balance in our body’s energy flow so that our mind, body, and spirit can achieve its birthright of health and wellness.
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture is a non-invasive method that works with your body to enhance your complexion and reduce wrinkles and fine lines! Very fine acupuncture needles are placed on and around the face to draw circulation to the area and create minor ‘trauma’ (the same principle as laser face treatment) so that the body produces more collagen to the areas of reduced collagen/wrinkles. The body is also treated holistically, so points are chosen for acupuncture that treats the individual and their own imbalances which may lead to premature aging.
The Nu Skin Galvanic Spa treatment clarifies your complexion and fights signs of aging using advanced technology. This patented technology works in two stages to leave your skin in optimal condition a Pre-Treatment Stage and Treatment Stage. The Galvanic Current adjusts to your individual skin needs and works together with the Galvanic Spa Facial Gels to drive the ingredients deep within the skin, and to remove any impurities and pore clogging debris.
Cupping & Gua Sha
Cupping and Gua Sha are methodologies under the heading of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – of which Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Herbal Therapy, Nutrition, Tuina / Massage and Medical Qigong are also part. Cupping and Gua Sha are highly effective for treating musculoskeletal disorders where blood and energy have become stagnant, causing pain. It is also very effective for overall health / immunity, asthma, and digestive complaints. Cupping involves a suctioning cup that is either stationary or moved over the skin, drawing out impurities and improving blood flow to the area.
Gua Sha involves “scraping” the skin with a tool made of buffalo horn, jade, or porcelin. By doing so, blood flow is improved, tension released, and pain reduced. Both therapies will result in what the Chinese refer to as “Sha” – markings of color ranging from a light red to black which appear on the skin after Cupping or Gua Sha. These marks indicate that the toxic energy or blood has been resolved and new blood is able to circulate in the area. The marks may appear strange to the onlooker, but the person receiving the therapy feels immensely better and will heal faster. Marks generally go away completely in one to two weeks.
Chinese Herbal Therapy & Nutrition
Chinese Herbal Therapy and Nutrition involve prescribing traditional Chinese herbal combinations in the form of tea, tincture, pills, powders, washes, plasters, or patches in order to effect healing. Nutritional, dietary, and lifestyle counseling involves assessing a person’s constitution and addressing its rebalancing through advice with its roots in the traditional chinese thinking of tastes, temperatures, and temperaments of persons, seasons, and foods.
Medical Qigong
Medical Qigong is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine that focuses mainly on energetics. Although its idea may be less palpable than acupuncture, cupping, or herbal therapy, its principles are the same, as are its effects. Medical Qigong is a hands on or hands off approach that involved the practitioner re-balancing the patient’s energy fields. It can be used alone or in combination with acupuncture or cupping. Areas that are stagnant are moved and regulated, areas that need bolstering are tonified, and areas that are excessive are drained. Medical Qigong is useful for any disorder that acupuncture is also useful for. However, it excels in the healing of emotional and mood disorders, which are often the precursors to any number of physical disorders according to the concept of mind-body.
Benefits of a Galvanic Spa Facial
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: You mentioned that it helps with fine lines. I’m most interested in addressing the (fairly deep) “11” lines between my eyebrows. Can Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture (FRA) do anything about these?
Q: Would I need to do the base of ten treatments to get to a maintenance level?
Q: Would I have to continue the once a month treatments to maintain results?
Acupuncture Recognized for Treating Disease
The World Health Organization has recognized Acupuncture as effective for many diseases. The diseases or disorders for which acupuncture therapy has been tested in controlled clinical trials reported in the recent literature can be classified into four categories as shown below.
1. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved through controlled trials to be an effective treatment:
2. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed:
3. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which there are only individual controlled trials reporting some therapeutic effects, but with acupuncture is worth trying because treatment by other therapies is difficult:
4. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture may be tried provided the practitioner has special modern medical knowledge and adequate monitoring equipment:
OUR ACUPUNCTURIST
Craig Sakimoto is a Licensed Acupuncturist in the State of California and has been practicing acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for the past 5 years. He is also Anat Baniel Method practitioner who works with adults and children with special needs. He attended Five Branches University in Santa Cruz, CA and graduated with a Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese. He also holds Bachelors Degree in Mathematics. Craig specializes in the treatment of psycho-emotional issues, pain management and internal medicine. Craig strives to listen deeply to the needs of every patient and provides a sense of trust and compassion. He takes his time with each patient. He believes combining a caring relationship with traditional treatment skills make for the most effective healing process. Craig is a strong supporter of the integration of Eastern and Western medicine in maintaining the best health possible. By integrating wellness, patients get the most comprehensive care and best possible outcomes.
Debra Mayah is an Acupuncturist and Wellness practitioner specializing in chronic immune, pain, and fatigue challenges. She utilizes an integrative combination of modalities to help align the spine, redirect and balance the flow of Qi through the body and nervous system. She received her dynamic training right here in Santa Cruz by some of the nation's leaders in Integrative Health and Herbal Medicine. She has also traveled and studied throughout India, Asia, and South America, gathering gems of experience and knowledge she considers a gift to share.
Consultations include medical history, constitutional evaluation, personalized nutrition, herbal, and supplement protocols, and other therapeutic recommendations.
Debra embraces a self-care made simple philosophy, and a passion for educating and empowering people on their paths to health and vitality.
Lawrence Plageman is a licensed acupuncturist with a master's degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. His ever-deepening passion for the practice and philosophy of acupuncture is balanced by a steadfast attention to modern scientific study. Lawrence’s patients can expect his treatment protocols to reflect the most recent and sound research. In the process of examining and diagnosing illness, it is common for him to perform allopathic exams and order or request modern testing when appropriate; such as blood panels, imaging studies, etc. At the root of Traditional Chinese Medicine, good health is obtainable through a balance between our internal bodies and our external environment. Through this partnership, Lawrence aspires to lead his patients to better, stronger, and happier lives.
She completed her postgraduate at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, specializing in massage, Tui Na and Shiatsu. She later went to Thailand to study Thai massage. Johanna specializes in therapeutic settings, with vast experience working with physical therapists and chiropractors.
She is a board-certified massage therapist with the National Massage Board (NCBTMB), which requires over 1000 hours of education. She also holds her CA and NV massage licenses. She has her national license in acupuncture and herbology through the NCCAOM and her CA State Board Certification in TCM.
Johanna has a first-hand understanding of the healing abilities of her traditional practice. While at ACTCM she was able to rehabilitate an injury to her right arm and wrist with Tui Na massage. At CORE, Johanna works to deepen her knowledge and provide a holistic and deeply traditional healing service to the community of Santa Cruz.