At Starting Point Acupuncture in Bothell, our providers specialize in the treatment of chronic conditions such as neuropathy, arthritis, migraines, and IBS. Give our office a call today, (425) 686-4498 to learn more about how we can help.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment in Chinese Medicine that uses sterile needles to help the body’s natural ability to heal itself. It was developed thousands of years ago, way before Western Medicine existed, and was one of the primary medicines to help heal and treat people. It is still used today to help prevent and treat numerous ailments. Now with Western Medicine interested in how and why acupuncture works, there is more studies backing up the effectiveness and validity of acupuncture in our health care system.
Why? Because Acupuncture Works!
How can acupuncture help you?
Did you know that acupuncture’s main function is to help keep you healthy? While acupuncture may not be known for preventive care, it should be. Waiting until there is an injury or illness will only cause the treatments to take longer. Using acupuncture preemptively will help you fight off illness and let you recover more quickly.
Treatment Benefits Include:
- Reduce pain and inflammation
- Speed recovery from sports injuries such as tennis elbow, neck pain, frozen shoulder, sciatica, knee pain, foot and ankle pain
- Chronic migraines and headaches
- Fight fatigue and increase energy
- Calm anxiety
- Improve sleep
- Regulate digestion…keep you regular!
- Improve skin and eczema or psoriasis
- and more!
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture works by turning on your parasympathetic nervous system. This is the nervous system that turns on when we go to sleep. It’s our repair and rejuvenation system. It is one way acupuncture has been found to elicit its effects on the body.
Benefits Include:
- Reduces Inflammation
- Increases Blood Flow
- Increases Range of Motion
- Reduces Muscle Spasm
- Decreases the side effects of medication
- Increases Relaxation
When an acupuncture point is stimulated (by pressure or a needle), it causes the release of endorphins, a neurotransmitter. The release of endorphins cause pain signals to be calmed as well as bring oxygen and blood to the area that was stimulated. This increase in blood and oxygen cause the muscle fibers to relax and encourages the natural healing process of the body to take place. In short this is one way by which it can help to reduce pain and inflammation.
What to expect during your treatment:
Acupuncture needles are very fine, sterile, painless, and safe. They are, of course, the main component of the treatment plan. They are placed into certain points on the body, either locally (at the pain site) or distally (away from the pain). The needles are retained anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes and most find the treatment to be relaxing and calming. Expect to even be so relaxed you take a little nap!
To learn more about how we can help you and to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (425) 686-4498.

Dr. Ellie Heintze
- Master’s Degree in Acupuncture
Bastyr University - Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine
Bastyr University - Master’s Degree in Chemistry
Northern Arizona University