Life Point Acupuncture Newport Beach

The licensed board-certified acupuncturists at Life Point create individualized treatment plans based on each patient’s needs. Our integrative approach gets to the root of your symptoms, unlocking the body’s healing potential. Explore some of the ways acupuncture works below:

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a safe and effective healing technique in Chinese medicine that restores biochemical balance in the body, relieves muscle tension, and stimulates the immune system. While most associate it simply as a system of inserting needles at specific points to alleviate pain, acupuncture is a proven medical protocol that has been used for thousands of years to prevent, diagnose and treat various diseases and ailments, as well as to improve and maintain health and wellbeing.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) research has shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment either by itself or in conjunction with Western therapies for a wide variety of ailments, including back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, nausea, TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder), dental pain, addiction, headaches (including migraines), menstrual cramps, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, and arthritis, among others.

With a growing body of research touting its efficacy, more and more insurance companies in the US are offering acupuncture coverage. Millions of Americans receive acupuncture treatments for issues and disorders, or simply to stay in good health.

How Does Acupuncture Help?

After a consultation and diagnosis, your Life Point acupuncturist inserts single-use needles into highly-specific locations of the body known as acupuncture points. These points promote and restore the balance of energy in the body and stimulate nerves that transmit impulses to the brain. The brain responds to these impulses by releasing neurotransmitters and hormones, including serotonin and endorphins, the body’s natural pain killing hormones. Other physiological effects include increased circulation, decreased inflammation, muscle relaxation and increased T-cell count, strengthening the immune system.

What Happens During an Acupuncture Treatment?

If you are new to Life Point, we welcome you to your first acupuncture appointment by asking a series of questions to help put together a detailed medical history. Based on your diagnosis, we then create an individualized treatment plan for you that includes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) modalities. Some of our services include:

Acupuncture

We use sterile single-use needles at specific areas known as acupuncture points. These points send energetic information via the fascia to restore balance in the body, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, decrease pain, and promote healing.

Massage

Our acupuncturists are highly skilled in shiatsu, tui na, circulatory, reflexology, pediatric, motor point, and sport specific cross fiber massage. We incorporate these modalities into each treatment. Massage and acupuncture help restore balance in the body while relieving muscular tension, soreness, and pain.

Cupping

A modality used in conjunction with acupuncture to stimulate balance, help the body remove toxins, and improve muscle recovery time. It works like this: a pump pulls the skin gently into the cups, which encourages fresh oxygenated blood to flow into the area. Drawing the skin up into the cups also has the welcome effect of brining toxins to up to the surface of the skin, which helps the body eliminate them. Cupping might leave a mark (recall Olympic swimmers like Michael Phelps with some bruising on his back) but it definitely aids the healing process, especially for athletes in training.

Gua Sha

We use gua sha during your acupuncture session to loosen tight muscles, improve circulation in a specific area, and break up scar tissue. For those of you who want tips on how to do gua sha at home, we created this video to help.

Moxibustion

Moxa is an herb we commonly use to warm and stimulate acupuncture points. Moxibustion improves circulation, thus relieving pain and boosting energy. We also use moxa in infertility treatments to warm the fetus and during pregnancy acupuncture sessions to encourage breech babies to turn.

Chinese herbs

Our acupuncturists are trained experts in the administration of Chinese herbal remedies to aid in treating whatever brought you to us. Unlike pharmaceuticals, Chinese herb therapies are tailor made for each individual based on their diagnosis. We ensure that any recommended herbs do not interact with prescription medications. Our herbs are exclusively sourced from trusted vendors manufacturing only the highest quality products.

Does Acupuncture Really Work?

Hundreds of patients from all around Orange County have come through our doors at Life Point to treat a wide variety of issues and ailments. They can attest to the effectiveness of regular acupuncture treatments. Their experience with us is borne out by research from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, which has found that acupuncture works as an effective treatment for more than 100 conditions, including (but not limited to):

• Back or pelvic pain during pregnancy

• Menopause hot flashes

• Perimenopausal & postmenopausal insomnia

• Aromatase-inhibitor-induced arthralgia

• Plantar heel pain

• Weight loss

• Temporomandibular (TMJ) pain 

• Cancer pain

• Cancer related fatigue

• Anxiety

• Insomnia

• Sciatica

• Chronic pelvic pain syndrome

• Recovery after colorectal cancer resection

• Restless leg syndrome

• Lateral elbow pain

• Depression (with medications)

• Hypertension (with medications)

• Shoulder impingement syndromes

• Neck Pain

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Yes. Acupuncture is safe when administered by a trained professional and it often comes with fewer side effects than medication. The US FDA regulates the use of acupuncture needles and restricts their use exclusively to licensed practitioners. The FDA also requires acupuncture needles to be sterile, nontoxic, and labeled for single use.

The practitioners at Life Point went to some of the country’s best acupuncture schools in the country. All are board-certified and have been in practice for years. Life Point acupuncturists always use brand-new single-use needles with every treatment.

Does Acupuncture Help Back Pain?

Yes. Multiple acupuncture studies have found that treatment can help relieve back pain. One large study found acupuncture worked better than conventional treatments for persistent back pain lasting more than three months. At Life Point Acupuncture in Newport Beach, we have effectively treated countless patients with back pain, including sciatica, sacroiliitis, pinched nerves, arthritis, acute back strain/sprain, back spasms, ankylosing spondylitis, and shingles pain. 

How Many Acupuncture Treatments Do You Need for Back Pain?

The number of treatments needed for back pain vary depending on the patient. The North American Spine Society recommends between six and twelve treatments, plus some maintenance sessions throughout the year as an acceptable treatment plan for back pain. Of course, every patient is different and people respond to acupuncture differently. If your back pain is acute, we recommend two or three treatments a week for a period of about 4 weeks. If your body responds and you feel relief, keep coming in until the pain is manageable, then reduce treatments as needed for pain management.

How Much Does Acupuncture Cost?

At Life Point, acupuncture costs between $100 and $300 depending on the services we provide. This is the cash price and does not take into account insurance benefits. If we take your insurance, the cost to you will likely amount to a co-pay for visiting a doctor. We are happy to check your insurance benefits before you book your first appointment with us. Please contact us or call the clinic at 949.387.8715 and we will give you an estimated cost.

You can learn more about our pricing here.

Is Acupuncture Good for Women’s Health Issues?

Yes. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help with several vital women’s health issues, including:

Pregnancy and Postpartum Support

Acupuncture treatments help relieve lower back and pelvic discomfort that can come during pregnancy. Research also shows that acupuncture is an effective treatment for morning sickness. After pregnancy, many women seek out acupuncture to restore and heal the body, regulate blood flow, reduce inflammation, increase breast milk production, and deal with postpartum depression.

Infertility

An irregular cycle and endometriosis can be factors in female infertility. Acupuncture is an effective treatment for both; treatments can help regulate menstrual cycles and direct blood flow to the reproductive organs.

Endometriosis

The medical literature suggests that acupuncture for endometriosis can reduce pain and serum CA-125 levels.

Perimenopause and Menopause

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an effective treatment for a wide variety of menopausal symptoms, including night sweats, hot flashes, heart palpitations, sleeplessness, and anxiety. Regular acupuncture appointments and Chinese herbs are safe and natural solutions to the hormonal shifts that all women experience.

Skin Rejuvenation

Acupuncture treatments increase collagen production and elastin, which helps make the skin firm, reduce puffiness, and fill out wrinkles. Whereas treatments like Botox are expensive and use chemicals, acupuncture is a safe and natural way to improve your skin tone, elasticity, and complexion.

Is Life Point Acupuncture Near Me?

Life Point Acupuncture in Orange County is conveniently located near John Wayne Airport in the city of Newport Beach right off the 73 freeway at Birch St. and off the 405 freeway at MacArthur. Our acupuncture clinic is within 15 minutes of Costa Mesa, Irvine (Spectrum, Northwood, Woodbridge, Woodbury, Quail Hill, and Turtle Rock), Tustin, Huntington Beach, Corona Del Mar, Lake Forest, Fountain Valley, and Santa Ana.

Patients that move away from the Orange County area have the option to schedule zoom health consultations, which can be booked online. For those who do not reside in OC but would still like some guidance on finding an acupuncturist in your area, please review our blog on the topic for things to consider when choosing the best acupuncturist for your needs. We are also happy to point you or family members to a trusted acupuncturist in your area if we have any references.

Can I schedule an acupuncture house call?

Yes. Life Point can do acupuncture house calls in the greater Orange County area by request. If you would like to schedule an acupuncturist house call appointment, please contact us or call the clinic at (949) 387-8715.

When a person suffers from pain, anxiety, depression, infertility, hormonal imbalances, or side effects of cancer treatment they lose some of their life. The reason behind the name Life Point is that our goal is to bring you back to life.

- Lauren Messelbeck, Owner and Acupuncturist at Life Point Acupuncture