Erica Olstein is a licensed & Nationally Board Certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM), Acupuncture Physician (AP), Licensed Cold Laser Therapist and Primary Care Physician at A Better U Healthcare in her hometown, Ocala, FL. Having an interest in health as a young child, a career in the alternative health field came naturally to Dr. Olstein. She attended the University Of Florida and Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and a Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Dr. Olstein is an active member in many local, state, and national organizations, and frequently holds seminars and workshops to educate the community about the many alternative healthcare options available.
After hearing Erica speak at a symposium put on by Assisted Transition, I asked her if she would share her wisdom with my audience on acupuncture and Eastern Medicine for those in their senior years and she provided me with the following information.
There is no worse time to feel lost than when you are searching for safe and effective healthcare. With a wealth of medical options to choose from nowadays, seniors in particular are often burdened with the difficult choice of deciding which medical route is best suited for their needs.
While many of the more conventional Western medical therapies have great exposure in the media, often times the field of acupuncture and Eastern medicine is overlooked as a reliable option to seniors in need. These therapies enhance your body’s natural ability to heal itself so that you can live a longer, better quality life. With a great emphasis on prevention, acupuncture and the accompanying Eastern medicinal therapies such as cupping, gua sha, and Chinese herbal medicine, prove to be ideal in slowing, stopping, and preventing the downward spiral of health complications that many seniors have a tendency to fall into. While many of the therapies that doctors of oriental medicine and acupuncture physicians practice may seem foreign, they are all therapeutic avenues to achieving optimal health with little to no side effects.
In existence for approximately 5,000 years, Eastern Medicine has stood the test of time. It is no wonder that it is one of the primary forms of medical care in China as well as many other countries around the world. Additionally, Eastern medicine is quickly gaining popularity in the United States, with statistics showing that at least one third of all hospitals in the United States have now incorporated acupuncture into their treatment plans.
Acupuncture and Eastern medicine treat the sourceof your health problems, not just your symptoms as conventional medicine focuses on. By treating the source of your ailment, it is much more likely that even your most nagging symptoms will not return. This focus on prevention is a great complement to those conventional Western medical interventions seniors already use by their medical doctors (MD). A routine Eastern medical checkup can help ensure that you remain in the best of health by means of diagnostic tests such as the tongue diagnosis and pulse diagnosis to track future health concerns before they hit.
Eastern medical practitioners can treat a wide range of ailments, especially those that effect seniors. In the state of Florida, doctors of oriental medicine and acupuncture physicians are recognized as primary care physicians. This means that nearly any ailment your body can suffer can be treated with these techniques. Urinary incontinence, depression, gout, asthma, diabetes, and joint pain can all be treated, just to name a few.
Eastern medicine is appropriate for all ages and most health conditions. Whether you developed the health condition today or 30 years ago, Eastern medicine still proves to be highly effective. This is great news for the senior population, as the aging process in particular is of importance because seniors experience a unique group of health disorders that need both an aggressive and gentle approach to healing the body. Eastern medicine offers a balanced approach that is done in a subtle enough manner to elicit a huge impact.
Despite common misconceptions that circulate acupuncture, mostly from movies, the therapy is a very relaxing experience.  To most people’s surprise, most patients fall asleep during the treatment.  This is  not due to the efforts of the physician, but because of the relaxing nature of the treatment.
Rest  assured,  all  acupuncture  needles  are  sterile,  disposable,  and  for  the  purpose  of  one  time use. acupuncturists use filiform needles, which are solid stainless steel.  Nothing can be injected into  your body from these needles.
If you are all too familiar with the medical maze, acupuncture and Eastern medicine may interest you. Seniors are used to being referred back and forth from one doctor to another. A possible solution may be using alternative medical to supplement your care and lessen your need for multiple doctors’ visits and medical testing. Acupuncture works quite well for seniors for many different reasons. There is no danger of drug interactions, a well-known precaution that must be considered to ensure a positive and safe outcome. Additionally, needling can be done in as gentle a fashion as the patient needs. Seniors generally face chronic ailments that, over time, can cause them to be frail and weak. Having a powerful tool that can be applied in a delicate manner is invaluable.
Whether suffering from diabetes, fighting bouts of constipation, or even experiencing mental and physical exhaustion or fatigue, seniors might be surprised to find that these ancient forms of healing are well suited for their modern day illnesses. Don’t be shy, give it a try!
For questions or comments, please contact Jane Bloom, The Other Daughter, at 425-299-6020, via email at janeinthevillages@gmail.com , or visit her online at www.theotherdaughter.org.
