- Cloud 9 Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine22 West Padonia Rd. Suite A-203
Timonium, MD 21093 - By Appointment Only
-
Latest Articles:
- • Add These 10 Immune-Boosting Foods to Your Fall Diet •
- • Keep Your Skin Healthy and Glowing with these Fall Skincare Tips •
- • Beat End of Year Burnout with these Fall Self-Care Rituals •
Autoimmune Disease
Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia: Can It Help?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain and fatigue. It is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as sleep problems, cognitive difficulties, and mood disorders. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of conditions, including fibromyalgia. Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. When needles are inserted into acupuncture points, it is believed that they can help to balance the nervous system and reduce pain.
There is some evidence that acupuncture can be effective in treating fibromyalgia. A 2018 systematic review of randomized controlled trials found that acupuncture was effective in reducing pain and improving function in people with fibromyalgia. The review also found that acupuncture was well-tolerated and did not have any serious side effects.
Another study, published in 2019, found that acupuncture combined with conventional fibromyalgia treatment was more effective than conventional treatment alone in reducing pain and improving function.
The evidence suggests that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for fibromyalgia. If you are considering acupuncture for fibromyalgia, begin with calling today for a consultation with our doctor.
If you are interested in learning more about acupuncture for fibromyalgia, please visit our website or contact us today. We would be happy to answer any questions you have.

Acupuncture for Rheumatoid Arthritis: How Can It Help?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. There is no cure for RA, but there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of conditions, including RA. Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. These points are believed to be connected to the body’s energy pathways, or meridians. When needles are inserted into these points, it is believed that they can help to balance the body’s energy and reduce inflammation.
There is some evidence that acupuncture can be effective in treating RA. A 2018 systematic review of randomized controlled trials found that acupuncture was effective in reducing pain and improving function in people with RA. The review also found that acupuncture was well-tolerated and did not have any serious side effects.
Another study, published in 2019, found that acupuncture combined with conventional RA treatment was more effective than conventional treatment alone in reducing pain and improving function.
The evidence suggests that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for RA. If you are considering acupuncture for RA, it is important to talk to your doctor first. They can help you decide if acupuncture is right for you and can recommend a qualified acupuncturist.
If you are interested in learning more about acupuncture for RA, please visit our website or call us today. We would be happy to answer any questions you have and help you find a qualified acupuncturist in your area.

Acupuncture for Chronic Pain, Failed Surgeries, and Autoimmune Conditions
If you’re suffering from chronic pain, failed surgeries, or an autoimmune condition, you’re not alone. Millions of people around the world struggle with these conditions, and they can be incredibly debilitating.
Traditional Western medicine often doesn’t offer much relief for these conditions. In some cases, surgery may be an option, but it’s not always successful. And even when surgery is successful, it often doesn’t address the underlying cause of the pain or condition.
That’s where acupuncture comes in. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment that has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, failed surgeries, and autoimmune conditions.
Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body with thin, stainless steel needles. This stimulation helps to improve the flow of qi, or vital energy, throughout the body. When the flow of qi is restored, the body is better able to heal itself and reduce pain and inflammation.
There is a growing body of scientific evidence to support the use of acupuncture for chronic pain, failed surgeries, and autoimmune conditions. For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that acupuncture was effective in reducing pain and improving function in people with chronic low back pain.
Another study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that acupuncture was effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
If you’re considering acupuncture for chronic pain, failed surgeries, or an autoimmune condition, it’s important to find a qualified acupuncturist. A qualified acupuncturist will have extensive training in Chinese medicine and will be able to assess your individual needs.
Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain, failed surgeries, and autoimmune conditions. If you’re looking for a natural way to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life, acupuncture may be a good option for you.

The Best Way to Find the Best Acupuncture Clinic for You
Whether you’re suffering from low back pain, or neuropathy, infertility or headaches, you’ll want to find the best acupuncture clinic that suits your needs the best.
The very best way is to call and speak with the receptionist of your clinic of interest and ask them if they have experience in or specialize in your primary condition you are seeking care for. While most acupuncturists have trained extensively for 3-5 years in graduate level study acupuncture programs, and receive a Master’s degree or a Doctorate (also known as a Acupuncture Physician), it’s still best to work with an acupuncturist or clinic that has experienced success in treating your condition.
Some questions you can ask when you phone a prospective acupuncture clinic:
Has the acupuncturist treated my type of condition before?
What is the success rate of treating my condition at this clinic?
How many years of experience does the acupuncturist have?
Do you offer any additional therapies beyond acupuncture to help address my condition?
What can I expect during my first visit? (Is it just a consultation, or will I receive treatment that day?)
Most of our patients are referred by word of mouth, from former patients who have also experienced success. Our acupuncturist Dr. Laura Parks does specialize in chronic, complex conditions and has been practicing for over 13 years. She received her acupuncture doctorate from Five Branches University, and acupuncture masters from Maryland University of Integrative Health (formerly Tai Sophia). Dr. Parks has been treating Fertility patients for over 13 years and specializing in neuropathy for over 4 years, with over a 85% success rate.

Becoming Resilient to Stress
I once had to write an essay on the book, “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers” by Robert Sapolsky and I can summarize it to this day… The sympathetic nervous system elicits the “fight or flight” response. A third response is to freeze in place.
Modern humans often freeze in place, stall. Usually, we do not fight others or run (flight) like zebras run away from lions, but we just sit or stand in place, doing the same exact thing physically we were doing prior to the stress trigger. The cortisol elevates with the stressor, the adrenaline surges… and we sit (or stand) in place instead of using that fuel to launch into a sprint away from a predator (lion, tiger or bear, oh my!)
Zebras have no choice. They run or they die, or they run and die. Either way, they really must run. In turn, their bodies burn off the adrenaline surge and other stress hormones. This is why they do not get ulcers.
However, humans do get ulcers, because their ancient wiring “fight or flight” response designed to keep them alive during times of war with neighboring tribes, or being hunted by predators, simply goes off at very inopportune times… like when we’re stuck in traffic, or getting flack from our boss, or a friend phones with bad news … goes off, constantly, daily, sometimes multiple times per hour. This creates a cascade effect with the nervous system, the neuro-endocrine hormones and creates inflammation, extra body fat, cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, headaches, autoimmune disease, insomnia, and more. Everyone responds to stress differently.
Most people respond very well to acupuncture because it brings the nervous system and endocrine system into balance. Over time, with regular acupuncture treatment, patients become less triggered by stress as the “fight or flight” response becomes much more self-regulated.


