Patient Testimonials
Fatigue, Menstrual Irregularities, Anxiety, Poor Circulation, Sugar Cravings
"I have been a patient at Plum Blossom Acupuncture Clinic for just over six months, and in that time frame I have experienced amazing results from much improved circulation, decreased anxiety, increased energy, much less stress, perfect menstrual cycles, alleviated pain in my hip, to a dramatic reduction in my sugar cravings! Before coming to Plum Blossom, I thought I was just getting older, and now I understand that no matter one's age, it is perfectly normal to expect to feel young and vibrant! Thanks to all of the acupuncturists at Plum Blossom, especially Mark, for making me healthier!"
Meralgia Paresthetica (Leg Numbness)
"So, for years, I have had Meralgia Paresthetica in my left leg. I was told it was common in pregnant and overweight women. For me it simply meant the outside of my left leg went numb if I lay on my back or stomach. Somehow that particular position pinched the nerve. So I've done a lot of sleeping on my sides or waking up with my leg asleep and turning over and waiting while it woke up and I fell back asleep. It's caused some nerve damage in the leg over time and increased the sensitivity. The doctor explained that if it got painful, they could cut the nerve but really, there wasn't much else they could do and that losing weight might improve things which, when I did, wasn't the case. This morning, I woke up on my back with no numbness! I'm shocked. This is cool."
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome: diarrhea, cramps, bloating)
"I first learned about the Plum Blossom Clinic at a lecture entitled 'Natural Solutions to Digestive Issues' in Brookline. I was drawn to the lecture because I had had the last straw with traditional medicine's approach (or lack thereof!) toward treating my IBS and other digestive issues. I had been to a variety of doctors for over 10 years and had mostly been told that my severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and abdominal bloating were symptoms I would just need to 'deal with' throughout my life. I felt repeatedly brushed off and as though my debilitating symptoms were being minimized by the health care professionals I was seeking help from! I had been given fiber supplements and muscle relaxants, eliminated all dairy and spicy foods from my diet, and even met with a GI specialist who wanted to know why I was even bothering to see him. Despite all of these attempts at intervention, nothing was helping. I was spending most of my life running to the bathroom or curled up in a ball of pain, and I was exhausted all the time! I was sick continuously throughout the day, affecting my work, and personal & social life. I read about Julie's lecture when I was in the middle of a particularly bad stretch and was feeling like maybe I would at least get a few ideas of how to manage these symptoms on my own. Instead of just a few ideas, I feel like I have been given the gift of true wellness. I began a course of acupuncture at that time, learned about relaxation techniques, and was given concrete dietary suggestions for my condition. The clinicians at Plum Blossom listened compassionately and thoroughly to me and have shown unending patience and commitment to my overall health. The clinic is an extremely caring environment, making it easy to talk about even the most embarrassing health issues. I am so happy to say that I am now symptom-free and I truly feel better than I ever thought I could feel. I cannot thank everyone at Plum Blossom enough!"
Plantar Fasciitis (Foot and Heel Pain)
"Thank You! So I awoke this morning and stretched my foot as I always do, and there was nothing. So I stepped onto the floor...NOTHING. Walked to the bathroom...NO PAIN! Not even the residual bruised feeling I've had of late.
It may get sore by the end of the day, but I just have to point out that right this moment, I am SO HAPPY! This is the first morning in nine months that I've woken up pain free. Thank you!"
FINDING CH’I
Poet Jeanne L. Cook was inspired by her experiences with acupuncture
to write this poem:
Six months ago I went to a nurse practitioner with a pain in my arm.
He poked a thumb in my elbow said you have lateral something or other charged me eighty and sent me to an occupational therapist who gave me ultrasound and iontophoresis and dozens of exercises which made it worse so she charged a thousand and sent me to a surgeon who said it’s not that it’s this and charged me a hundred and sent me to a neurologist who did some medieval testing and said madam I concur charged seven hundred and sent me to a hand and arm specialist who gave me fifteen minutes of his time and a cortisone shot charged two twenty-five and said come back in six weeks which I did and he spent five minutes and charged a hundred said come back in six more weeks and we’ll talk surgery.
Meanwhile.
The pain in my arm was still there so my poetry teacher gave me a gift certificate to see her acupuncturist who stuck six needles in my arm said come back in two weeks which I did and he stuck six more needles in my arm and poof - in a couple more appointments the pain was gone.
Two thousand two-o-five for nothing.
A friend and a poem for everything.©
Rheumatoid Arthritis
"It may seem dramatic but I truly believe Plum Blossom Clinic has given me my life back. My family was suffering, I was struggling to cope with my job, and I felt miserable, helpless and hopeless. A colleague at work recommended the Plum Blossom Clinic. I am very anxious about needles but I was desperate to find relief from the pain and an alternative to the drugs and their awful side effects. The staff at Plum Blossom Clinic are professional, thorough and understanding. Plum Blossom helped me understand how acupuncture works and highlighted my responsibility for my own health. By doing my best to follow simple recommendations for diet and lifestyle I have made a significant contribution to my recovery. I have experienced significant and steady improvement both physically and emotionally since I began my treatment. Before I tried acupuncture I worried that it may not work since I was not a firm believer, but here I am a walking advertisement for Plum Blossom Clinic! I am amazed by what acupuncture has done for me and I can’t recommend Plum Blossom Clinic highly enough."
Constipation
"Prior to my acupuncture treatment with Julie and her team at Plum Blossom Clinic I couldn’t go to the bathroom regularly without taking laxatives. I was miserable; my body was under too much stress due to the laxatives and my preoccupation with going to the bathroom – if I would go, when I would go, where I would be. I have suffered with this chronic constipation for 10 years and I have been to see many Internists and GI Specialists. It was always the same thing from the doctor – 'drink more water, eat more fiber, don’t eat rice, & avoid bananas'. The doctor would prescribe something and while I was taking the medicine I went to the bathroom fine but as soon as I came off it, I would have the same symptoms & problems again. Under treatment at Plum Blossom I have learned a diet that is specific to me and how my body functions. Through the acupuncture treatments and diet I go to the bathroom every day now without needing any laxatives. I feel wonderful and healthy. Julie and her team are exceptional and they provide a holistic approach to health. They have given me excellent treatment both physically and mentally and I feel better than I have felt in many years."
Thank you note from a patient
"Julie and Mark,
As we approach my year marker of coming into the clinic, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come together. Thank you for being so dedicated to my treatment, for being so patient with me throughout this process and for always being the quintessential professionals that you are. I truly appreciate the wellness we’ve been able to achieve together and I value all that the two of you have meant to my life. The kindest hearts expect no reward and deserve it all the more: Thank You."
Weight Loss, Recurrent Colds, Depression
"Prior to my treatment at Plum Blossom Acupuncture Clinic I was an unhealthy individual. I was constantly sick, had no energy, over weight, poor diet, depressed and stressed, it seemed as something was always wrong. During my treatment I was encouraged to change some of my foods and behaviors. I went twice a week and followed their instructions. In a matter on one month, my body began to change. I started to have more energy, feeling better with fewer symptoms. Between 3-5 months, I started to lose weight and lose my sickness. I wasn't getting sick, my immune system became stronger and I am able to ward off sickness. Now at month nine, I don't get sick. I don't have poor eating habits; I've learned a new behavior. My body is under control and knows how to handle stress. With acupuncture, herbs and education, I've become a new person."
Insomnia
"Julie is incredible!! Since I have been under her care I have had many improvements in my life. I am much more relaxed, I can sleep longer and better, and I am enjoying life more than ever. Julie is always very competent and patient. She would do anything to have her patients improve their lifestyle. I am blessed by having the chance to be one of her patients. Thank you, Julie!!!"
Migraines, Migraines and more Migraines
"For almost 10 years I suffered from migraines/headaches as frequently as five times a week during a bad stretch. Like most people I went to my doctor first which then led to neurologists and specialists. And though for years they tried to help me, they tried the Western way - with prescriptions and pills. The pills treated the symptoms but not the problem and I was much too dependant on them. 'Having a headache' ran my life. Then in the Fall of 2005 a friend told me about acupuncture and the rest is history. After only a few months with the Plum Blossom team I saw a decrease in my headache frequency and severity. And as time went on I only got better. And now I'm happy to say that I'm permanently off prescription pain medication and headache free. I truly thought I was just a 'headache person' and would be for life. The Plum Blossom team has not only taken away my pain but given me so much in return. I'm healthier and happier - they gave me my life back. So now I tell everyone about acupuncture at Plum Blossom Clinic because I want others to feel the relief and general happiness that I feel."
Digestive Disorders
"My stomach and I operated on two different planes of this world for several years. I have seen GI doctor after GI doctor, therapists, and have had four abdominal surgeries to treat unbearable gastrointestinal pain, digestive problems, intestinal obstructions, and an undiagnosable digestive disorder. Nothing remedied my digestive symptoms. At my last GI appointment in June 2006, I was taking 5 prescription medications, as well as 2 over-the-counter medications several times daily and only meeting with mild success at managing my discomfort. I had grown very disillusioned with Western medicine and had lost faith of ever feeling well again. I have been going to Plum Blossom Acupuncture Clinic since July 2006. Two months later, I was able to discontinue all medications that I had been taking to manage my gastrointestinal distress. Now I wake up feeling well on most days, whereas before I rarely woke up feeling anything but lousy. I have more energy, less anxiety about my condition, and a greater feeling of overall health since starting treatment. I have come to appreciate the connection between mind-body-spirit and have really embraced the process of getting well. Through treatment and dietary recommendations, I have come to understand what practices and things contribute to my symptoms and those that alleviate them. Now when I don't feel well it is generally because I have eaten or drank something that I shouldn't. In short, acupuncture has changed my life. . . and I'm loving the new world it's afforded me! I would strongly recommend Plum Blossom Acupuncture Clinic to anyone who is in need of a second chance at health and wellness. . . a second chance at life. "
Gallstones, PMS, allergies, TMJ, sciatic pain, low energy, acne...
"When I first went to Plum Blossom Clinic, I was in severe pain from having gallstones. I also had a long list of more minor complaints. Along with alleviating all of my pain, Julie educated me about changes that I could make to speed my recovery. Eight months later, all of my complaints are either completely gone or greatly reduced. I am overflowing with energy and feel and look the best that I have in years. Please don't wait until you're in severe pain to go to Plum Blossom Clinic. You don't have to accept minor conditions that western medicine ignores or marginalizes. The acupuncturists here will be able to help you feel the best you have in years."
Neck and Back Pain
"I highly recommend this acupuncture clinic, it is by far the most professional I have experienced. My practitioner educated me about Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and I was given the option to try Chinese style of acupuncture that uses very gentle needles or to have Japanese style of acupuncture that uses completely painless alternative therapies and no needles. After just a few treatments, my neck and back pain disappeared and did not return. I appreciate the thorough nature of this care. Highly recommended. Do yourself a favor and go to the best and most caring practitioners around."
Insomnia and Acne
"I had tried EVERTHING, and I mean everything, to heal my acne and poor sleep and nothing worked. With just a few months of acupuncture treatements my skin looks fabulously clear and radiant and I sleep straight through the night every night. If you are even considering acupuncture as a treatment option definetly check out Plum Blossom! The doctors are extremely professional and knowledgable. They make you feel very comfortable and educate you about every facet of your treatment so you are a partner in your own healing. Thank you so much to this clinic for all you have done for my health!"
Allergies
"I finally feel like I'm in control of my allergies instead of the other way around. I first came to Plum Blossom Clinic early last spring as I've been a lifelong sufferer of seasonal allergies. My allergies were not a problem at all this year despite the record breaking pollen counts we experienced here in New England. The practitioners at Plum Blossom Clinic are wonderful - professional, attentive and friendly. I am so happy that they've been able to help me."
