MARGARET RYDING
TRADITIONAL ACUPUNCTURE
TRADITIONAL ACUPUNCTURE
When we live according to the different energies of the universe, we will find it easier to be in harmony with nature and find balance in our lives.
Five Element Acupuncture helps us find that balance.
“My passion is to help patients feel their best, physically, spiritually and emotionally.”
Margaret practices Five Element Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medicine that understands and heals imbalances in the human body. She brings enthusiasm, compassion and 25 years of experience to her practice, creating a unique personalized treatment plan for each patient.
When not practicing at her office in Arlington MA, Margaret lives on a beautiful farm in Western MA where she raises chickens, grows flowers, fruit trees, berries and vegetables.
Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing practiced for over five thousand years in China. Acupuncture uses needles that are gently inserted to change and balance a person’s energy, or qi (气). When our energy is flowing well, we are healthy. When this flow is disrupted, illness can result.
Acupuncture “points” are locations on the body where the energy comes to the surface and can be affected by needles that are thinner than a human hair. The goal of acupuncture is to balance your energy, allowing you to heal with nature’s help and to feel your best.
Acupuncture was practiced in ancient China to prevent disease, which remains an important use of acupuncture today. Keeping energy balanced helps keep people healthy. However, people often come to acupuncture when trying to treat an illness, sometimes as a last resort after trying many other therapies.
Acupuncture stimulates the immune system and healing process. The World Health Organization lists many conditions for which it considers acupuncture to be helpful. These include:
In Chinese Medicine, health is more than the absence of symptoms.
True health has to do with the state of balance and harmony, internally and externally. In Chinese Medicine, the laws of the universe are based on observing nature. The seasons are seen as energetic movements in nature which affect all living things. In spring, plants sprout, in summer they grow and flower, in late summer they bear fruit, in autumn they produce seeds and release them, and in winter they die. That is the cycle of the seasons and nature.
It was observed in ancient China that humans also follow this flow of energy and are microcosms of the larger universe. When we are in balance we also change according to the laws of nature, following the cycle of the seasons. The different elements associated with the seasons are: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
When we live according to the different energies of the universe, we find it easier to be in harmony with nature and find balance in our life. The Chinese philosophy of the “Tao” means “the way”. Finding our “way” can come through watching nature - how it changes and living accordingly.
The Wood Element is connected to the spring season, a time of new birth and creativity as the earth comes alive. This element is related to the liver and gall bladder. While creativity is connected to the Wood Element, without an outlet, anger or frustration can dominate.
The Fire Element is related to summer, the most ‘yang’ and outward time of the year. The heart and circulation are under the domain of the Fire Element. When out of balance there may be circulatory problems, or depression or lack of joy.
The Earth Element is associated with late summer or the harvest season and is associated with the emotion of sympathy. The Earth Element controls the stomach and spleen - our organs of digestion. When out of balance, digestive problems can arise or an excess of worrying.
The Water Element is the element of winter and is associated with the emotion of fear. This is the storehouse of our vital essence. When the kidneys are depleted, we can feel fatigue, lethargy, and a lack of vitality. This is the most yin or inward energy of the year.
Acupuncture needles are extremely fine and flexible. When the needles are inserted, you may feel a dull ache, which lasts only 1 or 2 seconds. Patients do not typically describe their treatment as painful.
Only sterilized disposable needles are used. All safety regulations are followed meticulously.
Each treatment is $120. Margaret offers a sliding scale for special cases based on extreme financial need.
Fees are paid in person when you come in for a treatment. Cash, card, Venmo or checks are accepted.
Many insurance companies will reimburse or discount acupuncture treatments. The best way to check if yours does is to call and ask them for details. I am a provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield MA and Harvard Pilgrim.
Treatments last one hour. For newcomers, the first treatment might last a little longer to include initial on-boarding questions.
No need to prepare - just bring yourself! Please arrive on time, wait quietly in sitting area outside the treatment room, and wear comfortable clothing. Note that your first treatment will include some initial questions about medical and family history, lifestyle, sleep, and digestion.