Golden Hour Acupuncture | Chicago
Our Acupuncture Services
Acupuncture
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Acupuncture dates back to the fifth century BCE and remains one of the oldest, most commonly used systems of healing in the world. We use sterile, single use filiform needles to stimulate specific points along the 68 channels within the body. The channels are responsible for maintaining the everyday functioning of the body as well as the protection of the internal organs. It approaches the mind and body as one and is one can expect to enjoy relaxation and invigoration of the mind, body and spirit as we work toward your health goals.
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Auricular therapy, or ear acupuncture, is based on the idea that the ear is a microsystem which reflects the entire body. Very small needles are placed on the surface of the ear to affect physiological change and bring balance into the body. This type of acupuncture is particularly good at treating addictions such as smoking and alcohol, stress, psychological trauma such as PTSD, and supporting weight loss efforts. Auricular treatments are typically done more frequently to support lifestyle changes and physiological re-patterning.
Cupping
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Cupping is a technique in which small glass or pneumatic cups create suction on the skin. This traditional healing technique uses gentle suction to lift the skin and underlying tissues, promoting circulation and relieving muscle tension. This therapy helps reduce pain, release stagnation, support detoxification, and improve mobility. Cupping is commonly used for musculoskeletal pain, stress, and recovery from physical exertion.
Gua Sha
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Gua Sha is a traditional East Asian healing technique that uses a smooth-edged tool to gently scrape the skin, stimulating circulation and encouraging the release of tension and stagnation. This gentle manual therapy treatment helps reduce pain, improve mobility, support lymphatic flow, and promote overall balance in the body. Gua Sha can be used both therapeutically and preventatively to support healing and recovery.
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East Asian herbal therapy, primarily rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), utilizes hundreds of plant, animal and mineral substances to restore the body’s internal balance. Supplements are customized to each individual patient, based upon health goals and physical needs. They are safe, effective and administered in pill or tea form.
Herbal Therapy
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Moxibustion (Moxa) is a traditional East Asian therapy which warms and stimulates points using gentle heat. The heat is created by burning mugwort. This deeply nourishing treatment helps improve circulation, support digestion, boost immunity, ease pain, and promote overall balance. Moxa is especially beneficial for cold patterns, fatigue, menstrual discomfort, and chronic conditions, creating a comforting, restorative experience.
Moxibustion
Nutrition and Lifestyle
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Helping you to eat and live wisely, in order to find and maintain health and vitality. The east asian approach to dietary therapy is less concerned about macro and micro nutrients or optimization and more about the qualities and energetics of food and principles of healthy living that are simple and impactful.
Conditions Treated with Acupuncture
WOMEN’S HEALTH
We support the generative capacity of all bodies and all family structures throughout the life cycle
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Difficult periods, long periods, short periods, irregular periods, absent periods, PMDD, PMOS, fibroids, PCOS, endometriosis.
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Whether you’re just beginning your fertility journey or have been trying, we delight in assisting! This includes IUI and IVF journeys.
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Acupuncture is safe throughout pregnancy, but we generally only treat during the first trimester, in order to help secure the pregnancy and smooth the transition in to motherhood. When there is persistent nausea and vomiting, reflux, pain or other issues we continue treatment. Labor support starts at 36/37 weeks: we use acupuncture to manage stress and help calm and clear the mind, ensure the baby is positioned optimally, ripen the cervix and relax the tissues. After labor we are still here for you: muscle aches, postpartum depression, anxiety and lactation support are some of the common reason s why people continue care.
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Helping you navigate the transition and all of the challenges and opportunities that come with it.
Pain
A medicine that excels at helping you live your life more fully - without surgery or pharmeceuticals
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Pain in the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, hands or particular fingers, back pain, disc problems such as herniated disc or slipped disc, SI joint pain, heel pain, arthritis of all types, muscular cramps and spasms, plantar fascitis, shin splints, tendonitis, Headaches and Migraines, TMJ, tooth pain
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Carpal Tunnel, Migraines, Sciatica, Neuropathy due to chemotherapy, radiation, diabetes, nerve compression or infection
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Recovery from labor and C-section, athletic training, trauma, accidents, broken bones, Fibromyalgia
Ear, Nose and Throat
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Tinnitus, Vertigo, Ear Infections, itchy ears, popping sounds
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Sinus pressure, Acute and Chronic Sinus Infections, Allergies, Rhinitis, Runny or Stuffy Nose
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Sore Throat, Vocal Cord issues, Tonsillitis
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Cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, asthma, wheezing
Supporting your body through illness and recovery, gently and safely.
DIGESTION
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Esophageal Issues such as reflux, GERD, motility; stomach issues such as gastritis; issues affecting the duodenum; Heartburn, Bloating, Abdominal Discomfort / Pain
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When absorbing nutrients and water and expelling the rest gets complicated: Celiac Disease, Crohn's Disease, and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticulitis, Hemorrhoids, malabsorption and motility issues, constipation, diarrhea
A mind-body medicine for the gut-brain axis: we help you find relief from digestive difficulties and trust in your body.
SLEEP, ENERGY & FATIGUE
We help you find restoration, rest and vitality.
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Insomnia, easy waking, nightmares, sleep apnea, snoring, difficulty falling asleep.
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Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, chronic fatigue, weight gain or loss, endocrine disorders, feeling cold, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, side effects of diseases and their treatment, such as cancer, MS, stroke, Lyme Disease.
MENTAL + EMOTIONAL
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Whether new, chronic, mild or major the experience of depression is profoundly difficult. We work with you and your team to transform its physical, emotional, cognitive and social impacts.
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Anxiety shows up in different ways: tight chest, racing heart, tension in the back, social isolation, … in all cases, acupuncture and the other modalities of East Asian Medicine are gentle and effective tools to help you harmonize your inner and outer experiences more seamlessly
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Grief, Loss, the Emotional toll that frequently accompanies chronic pain, frequent miscarriage or unsuccessful IVF or IUI attempts.
There are so many internal and external challenges to peace of mind - we’re here to help you navigate them.
Pediatrics
Gentle, safe medicine for your little ones
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We’re always happy to treat children! Needles are even thinner than usual and are not left in as long. Whether needles are even used is up to you and your child. Often we skip them entirely and stimulate points with moxa, essential oils and / or acupressure. We talk through issues, give dietary and lifestyle recommendations, lifestyle suggestions and employ herbal formulas that are safe and effective.
Digestive issues, frequent colds, earaches, injury recovery (breaks, sprains), mental health.constipation, irritability, nightmares, bed wetting.
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All of the considerations of pediatric care still apply, and for those entering the teen years we often see more cases involving hormonal shifts, social discomfort, anxiety and nervousness, ennui and apathy, dermatological issues and difficulty focusing.
This list reflects many of the conditions we commonly treat, but it's far from complete. Acupuncture touches a wide range of health concerns — including things that don’t fit neatly into a single category, such as autoimmune conditions. If you don't see your concern listed, please reach out. We'd love to talk through how we can help.
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Complicated doesn’t always mean more sophisticated, or better. Sometimes it's the simple approach that gets the biggest result. We work to identify the clearest treatments for your specific conditions. These treatments may include acupuncture, herbal supplements, and simple, doable lifestyle tweaks to get the strongest impact to help you heal naturally.
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Bodies are wise — they want to be efficient. We wake up the body’s natural healing mechanism to get back to this state of well-being, pain-free.
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We work on healing your body, at the deepest levels, with acupuncture, herbal supplements and simple lifestyle recommendations, to show your body the way back into balance. Your body wants to be healthy, balanced and thriving. We remind it how to get there, and give you simple steps to keep it there.
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There’s a numbers game component to medical conditions & treatments. Lots of getting within particular ranges, and optimizing numbers. We help you reach those goals, but we also care about how you FEEL. Your body is not a machine, it is a container for your lovely human self. We treat the whole person, not JUST the numbers. Because the proof is in how you feel, how you are sleeping, how you are moving through your day.
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We work on identifying exactly WHY your body is out of balance, and then we simply and steadily bring it back into balance.
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We meet each patient where they are at in their health journey, and give appropriate recommendations based upon that. Sometimes it’s a simple stretch. Sometimes it’s a doable lifestyle tweak. Sometimes it’s focus on getting a little more sleep. Our goal is for you to feel good in your body and your life, and we provide tools for you to get there faster.
