Island Acupuncturist Opens Bradenton Office

had found their home.  The small-town feeling, the friendliness of Islanders and the

beautiful beaches and blue water entranced the pair.  “It reminds me off growing up in

Cape Cod,” said Greenberg.

Last month, the two settled into their Holmes Beach home.  Prag, a hypnotherapist who

conducts seminars for weight-loss, smoking-cessation and wellness, works through

area hospitals.  Greenberg, an acupuncturist, recently opened his new office, the

Acupuncture Center of Bradenton.

Greenberg became interested in acupuncture while working as a paramedic.  “I was a paramedic in New York City for 12 years,” he explained.  “I kept seeing the same people with the same problems, but with bigger bags of medication.  I went to the library and researched the systems that have existed successfully through time.  I learned that acupuncture has been the predominant medical system in China for centuries, in contrast, modern medicine is only 150 years old.”

Greenberg, who has a B.S. degree in emergency medical services, began studying at the Tri-State Institute for Traditional Chinese Acupuncture.  After completing his three years of study, he served a one-year internship in chronic pain at Boston’s Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, one of the only hospitals where acupuncture is used to treat chronic pain.”

Greenberg pointed out that although many people still think of acupuncture as unusual or experimental, the American Medical Assn. Classifies it as a form of preventative medicine: “Acupuncture is practiced in every country of the world, and is still evolving.  The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as a safe, effective treatment for more than 48 medical problems.”

According to Chinese philosophy, said Greenberg, “when the body is strong, illness does not come to it.  The Chinese did not believe in opening the body with surgery, so they developed acupuncture as a preventative form of healing.  The principal is that all living beings have intrinsic , natural healing energies that if in balance maintain health and harmony.

Greenberg said acupuncture works for functional problems such as menstrual, back and neck pain; headaches; and arthritic and stress-related conditions: “Eighty percent of all illnesses seen by primary-care physicians are stress-related.”

“Everyone has a certain area of the body in which he or she puts stress, creating a pattern of stress-related problems that a person may not know are related.  With acupuncture, I find t hose stress patterns and release them,” he said.

Acupuncture promotes healing through three mechanisms, said Greenberg: it relaxes muscles and increases the flow of blood and lymph to the affected area; it releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers; and it creates a very small immune response to the affected area.

“Acupuncture is a medical science—a primary system of medicine,” Greenberg said.  “In Florida, acupuncturists are considered primary health-care providers.  People need to know that they have alternatives-physicians are beginning to refer their patients to acupuncturists for treatment, and I refer people to physicians in cases of disease.”

Greenberg said it takes three to five treatments to get a sense of whether acupuncture will be beneficial to a particular patient.  Treatments cost $75 for the initial visit and $50 for each additional visit-each last an hour.

In addition, he can perform electrical stimulation to the ear for those who desire to quit smoking.  This stimulation, which eliminates the physical symptoms of withdrawal, is also very effective in treating drug addiction said Greenberg.  This treatment costs $80 per session.

The Acupuncture Center of Bradenton is at 414-26th St. W.  Patients are seen by appointment only and hours are flexible.  The phone number is 749-1807.

At the Acupuncture Center Of Bradenton we specialize in treating many pain conditions including; arthritis, back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain and sciatic pain.  For over 24 years we have provided acupuncture services for the communities of Bradenton, Palmetto, Sarasota, Longboat Key and Ellenton.  Please call for a free consultation!