Christopher Dawson Hudson, Dipl. Ac, L. Ac
National Board Certified Acupuncturist from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Pennsylvania Licensed Acupuncturist from the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs
Located at the Medical Arts Building, Close to Rittenhouse Square, Center City Philadelphia
1601 Walnut Street, Suite 1326
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-292-9264
* Over 11 years in practice, an Experienced Practitioner
* Former Faculty Member of the Eastern School of Acupuncture, having taught Oriental Medical Theory to Second Year Students
* Ultrafine, Painless, Disposable, Pre-Sterilized Needles
* Guest Lecturer at various Institutions including The Medical College of Pennsylvania, Pre-Med Alternative Medicine Course at
University of Pennsylvania and The Hahnemann Physician Assistant Program of Drexel Univesity
* Experience working directly with Doctors in a Clincal Situation
* Choosen to partake in a research study to determine the effectiveness of Acupuncture for Neuropathy
* Trained in Chinese Herbology and a thorough knowledge of Supplements and Western Herbs and their uses, helping you to sort out what is effective and safe in Alternative Medicine
* I prefer to maintain a smaller practice giving more time and more attention to my patients
The beauty of Acupuncture is that many symptoms can be addressed in a treatment at once. People who recieve Acupuncture report better energy, are able to handle stress more effectively, are far more relaxed and have an overall feeling of better well being. Acupuncture is NOT a coverup. It is truly healing. Most people after an Acupuncture Treatment report a sense of relaxation and groundedness similar to massage except it can last many hours and sometimes days. People look forward to their Acupuncture Treatments and not something to be endured.
What Acupuncture can address:
The diversity and breadth of conditions that Acupuncture can treat is vast. Many people think of Acupuncture as only used for pain or smoking cessation. What is generally not known is that Acupuncture can be very effective for internal organ problems. Respiratory Problems such as asthma, shallow breathing, sinus problems, frequent colds and bronchitis. Digestive Disorders such as nausea, heartburn, GERD, poor digestion, constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel. Female Reproductive System disorders such as PMS, cramping, fertility, hotflashes, irregular menstration. All types of pain including Neck and Back, Shoulder, Joint. Tendonitis, Frozen Shoulder, Muscle Pain, Muscle Spasms and Knots, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Hand and Foot Pain, Knee Pain, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Osteoarthritis and Rhematoid Arthritis, Sports Injuries. Other conditions that respond to Acupuncture include Urinary Incontinance, Impotence, Prostatitis, Gallbladder and Liver problems, Headaches of all kinds including Migraines and Cluster Headaches, Vertigo, Tinnitus, Conjuctivitis, Anemia and other blood disorders, Immune Disorders including low immunity, auto-immune disorders, side effects from Chemo and Radiation Therapy, Fatigue, Stress related conditions. It is also beneficial as an adjunct for Depression and Anxiety.
How Acupuncture works and what it does:
Acupuncture involves the stimulation of Acupuncuture Points by way of needles, heat (moxibustion) or magnets. Each type of stimulation having a distinct action. Acupressure, which is pressure applied to Acupuncture points also works and in some cases, instruction is given to use at home but acupressure has a much milder effect on Acupuncture Points as opposed to needles or heat (moxibustion). Acupuncture is an electromagnetic phenomenon which the Chinese call "Qi" . The Chinese mapped out these pathways of "Qi" 2500 years ago. At various points along the pathways of these meridians are the Acupuncture Points that move and balance this Qi when stimulation is applied. When Acupuncture Points are stimulated, this Qi is moved and stimulated causing homeostasis to return to various organs and tissues in the body. This is what is meant when it is said that Acupuncture is balancing. . Acupuncture therefore, is excellent for "functional disorders" which means that a person has symptoms but tradtional Western Medical Tests and Diagnosis might not show a problem. In this way, Acupuncture is also PREVENTATIVE for future illness as there can be functional disturbances before something shows up on a Western Medical Test. Here I must state that Acupuncture is NOT a substitute for Main Stream Medical Care by a Qualified Physician but is complementary.
When can you expect results and how many treatments will it take?
Results can sometimes be seen with one treatment but usually three or more treatments are advised to determine the effectiveness. Any changes within 1 to 3 days after a treatment can be attributed to Acupuncture provided there have been no other types of treatment. The amount of treatments depends on a few factors.
1. The severity of the illness. A condition that is mild responds more quickly while something that is much more entrenched requires more treatment
2. The time the condition has existed. A condtion that has only gone on for a few days or a few weeks will respond to treatment faster than a condition that has gone on for
many months or years.
3. The overall health of the person. Someone in relatively robust health will respond more quickly while someone who's health is not as good will take a bit longer
These are overall guidelines and not necessarily true for all people. I have treated people in relatively poor health with a condition that has gone on for sometime with dramatic results in a few treatments.
Initial Consultation and Treatment:
In the Initial Visit and Treatment, a Health History Questionaire is filled out. This includes all past illnesses and symptoms as well as current. An evaluation of current Vitamins, Herbs, Supplements, Diet and Lifestyle recommendations is given. The Pulse and Tongue are read which is an important aspect of Chinese Diagnosis.What is important is how a person directly experienced there symptoms such as what weather makes the problem worse or better, does movement help or hurt the symptom, does stress play a factor, what times during the day are the symptoms worse or better. Chinese Medicine's Strength lies in the individualization of symptoms. The initial visit and treatment usually takes about an hour and a half. Follow up treatments can take up to an hour but usually 45 minutes is sufficient.
Education:
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Rutgers University 1993, New Brunswick, NJ
Acupuncture: Diploma of Acupuncture, Tri-State College of Acupuncture 1993, (formerly Tri-State Institute of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture) NY, NY
Post Graduate
2 year course in Chinese Herbology with Cara Frank, L. Ac, Philadelphia PA
Pulse Classes with Leon Hammer, MD, Author of "Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies: Psychology and Chinese Medicine" dragonrises.org
5 Element Acupuncture with Lonny Jarrett, L. Ac., Author of "Nourishing Destiny, The Inner Tradition of Chinese Medicine"
www.spiritpathpress.com
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture with Virginia Doran, L. Ac
www.holisticbeauty.com
Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture System with Martha Lucas, Ph. D., L. Ac and Denise Ellinger, L. Ac.
www.cosmeticacupunctureseminars.com
Style of Acupuncture:
At Tri-State College of Acupuncture, we were trained in diverse styles of Acupuncture but most notably TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) which is the main system in China and Japanese Acupuncture with Kikko Matsomoto. Upon Graduation I studied 5 Element Acupuncture (sometimes called 5 Phase Acupuncture) under Lonny Jarrett
who is one of the foremost 5 Element Practitioners in the world today. The 5 Element System is a more Psychospiritual System that involves a Constitutional Diagnosis
of what Organ System (in Chinese Thought) is the weakest link. The Constitutional Diagnosis also implies what emotion comes up more readily and what color glasses people view the world through. It's a very sophisticated style of Acupuncture. Sometimes, both physical and emotional symptomatology can be tied together.
Techniques Used:
Acupuncture, Indirect Moxibustion, Auricular Acupuncture (treatment of the Ear), Magnets, Chinese Herbal Formulas (I only use Chinese Herbal Formulas in tablet form
manufactured in the United States) , Cupping and Gua Sha (scraping tension)
