Neuro-inclusive Acupuncture in Burlington, VT

Jan. 18 

East Asian Medicine is so much more than just acupuncture pins. It is a complete system of medicine which offers seven non-needle techniques and plant medicine to heal physical, mental-emotional, and spiritual concerns. When your practitioner is trained to use these seven techniques, it opens up acupuncture to kids, folks with sensory differences, and those whose fear of needles have kept them from trying acupuncture. Thanks to this approach, our clients are able to find either a neutral or comfortable way to benefit from acupuncture. Whether you have sensory needs that aren’t well-understood or respected by other practitioners, or identify with these neurotypes (ASD, ADHD, SPD, PDA), acupuncture and herbal medicine can open pathways to feeling more calm, getting better sleep, improving digestion, cognition, reducing pain, and more. 

Kids, Teens, and Adults with ASD, ADHD, and Various Sensory Needs Are Welcome Here

Here, we understand that all brains are different and worthy of understanding. That means that we ask you what kind of touch feels good and what doesn’t. Before you even come in, our intake form asks you to share your sensory needs including things like a scent-free environment, low-light, or wearing your own headphones during treatment. Here, you can enjoy the freedom to stim without judgement. And if we didn’t ask you something on the intake, don’t worry, there will be time to share your sensory needs as we go along.

When in the office, some questions that we may ask you are:

What kind of pressure feels neutral or good?

During treatment, we only touch the head and neck, back, abdomen, arms, and legs. Are any of these areas a “no” for you today?

Would you like to me to demo an acupuncture pin and then you can decide if you want to try one? 

Is there a non-needle technique you want to try? These include laser, microcurrent, herbal compress massage, acupressure, phototherapy patches, moxibustion, or pyonex. Let’s look at some together and we can go from there.

Here, we understand that Autism is a spectrum because, well, every single person is on it! I thank my teachers in the field of disability justice (especially Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha) for this framing and for the ways that it has inspired me to better serve folks who are neurodiverse/neurospicy. 

Herbal Compress Massage For Deep Sensory Input

We always ask for consent and only use treatment methods that feel neutral or good to you. For those who need deep input, herbal compress massage uses firm pressure to activate acupuncture points. Herbal compresses look like socks filled with rice and tied-off at the top. They are soaked in hot water and then steamed for a few minutes. Then, either you or I apply them to different areas of the body. They can be used by tapping, scraping, pushing, circular pressure, and more. We experiment to see what feels best and treatment is guided by your feedback.

Herbal compress massage helps to develop proprioception, reduce allostatic load (stress), address pain, and improve the quality of your digestion and sleep. Over time, it can also improve speech and cognition. Each compress is filled with herbs tailored to you. In addition to the soothing nature of a warm compress, they smell great.

Tools for Light Sensory Input

For those who prefer no touch or light touch, we can choose from:

• medical-grade lasers, 

• tiny taps,

• phototherapy patches, or 

• microcurrent

All of these options are low-sensation and some you cannot feel other than the tool resting on the skin. These tools can be used quickly so that there is minimal physical proximity and touch from the practitioner. All of these methods balance the Qi in the meridians, bring down pain sensitivity, startle response, and help the systems of the body to function more smoothly.

Some folks who like light sensory input really enjoy more “traditional” acupuncture treatments. What makes our approach more sensory-inclusive is our explicit consent approach paired with pins that are super fine, about the thickness of a single strand of hair. Meaning, the insertion is gentler and many people cannot feel them while resting on the table in a low-light, quiet environment for 20-30 minutes.

Acupuncture For ADHD, ASD, and Sensory Processing Differences

Here we are committed to offering acupuncture that is accessible to folks with ADHD, ASD, SPD, and sensory processing differences. Acupuncture and herbal medicine is a profound, 5,000 year old medicine system that cultivates a sense of belonging in your body and mind. It can help to support cognition, speech, digestion, sleep, reduce pain, and bring calm to the body and mind. 

As a Queer-owned, sensory-inclusive practice just across the street from the new Burlington, VT YMCA and in the old VDT Building in Bristol, VT, I look forward to collaborating with you.