Santa Cruz
Family Acupuncture
Acupuncture for the whole family.
With award winning acupuncturist Spring Smith, L.Ac
Where treatments are gentle enough for babies
and effective enough for athletes.
Santa Cruz
Family Acupuncture
Acupuncture for the whole family.
With award winning acupuncturist Spring Smith, L.Ac
Where treatments are gentle enough for babies and effective enough for athletes.
Certifications
Acupuncture is an ancient and rich medicine, which can treat just about anything under the sun.
I am an award winning California Board licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and a nationally certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine with over a dozen years in private practice, specializing in treating pain, injury, and internal medicine. I am the owner of Santa Cruz Family Acupuncture, where I provide acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat a wide range of health concerns for women, men and children. As a dual acupuncturist and herbalist, I have extensive training in the world’s most sophisticated medical herbal system, bringing this knowledge to my treatments, offering herbal consultations and nutritional guidance to increase the efficacy and positive outcome for each patient. Santa Cruz Family Acupuncture patients range from babies and children to professional athletes and great-grandparents. As an acupuncturist and primary care provider, I utilize the exceptional tools of Chinese medicine to provide effective and life changing treatments to each patient.
Acupuncture & Electro Acupuncture
I practice a style of acupuncture based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). I also integrate Japanese style palpation-based practices and protocols into treatments. In Electro Acupuncture, a mild electric current passes between selected needles during treatment. This current applies stimulation to acupoints, increasing the efficacy and positive outcome of the treatment. Electroacupuncture is intended to help increase the potential healing effects of standard acupuncture.
Cupping
In addition to acupuncture, I also offer cupping therapy. Cupping increases circulation to promote cellular repair, while reducing pain and muscular tension. This relaxing treatment promotes muscle relaxation and overall well-being, much like a massage. For athletes, cupping is used to increase blood supply to a muscle group, speeding up recovery time while reducing pain. This is why we see our Olympic athletes covered in cup marks.
Gua Sha
In this ancient healing technique, a smooth edged tool is used to scrape or rub along the tissues, stimulating micro-circulation and lightly breaking up adhesions in the connective tissue while promoting cellular repair. Gua Sha is used not only to reduce pain but also to promote beauty! In facial Gua Sha, small tools are used to stimulate circulation and the repair of facial tissue, while reducing the tension patterns that lead to wrinkles.
Herbal Formulas & Nutritional Support
As a traditionally trained, and licensed herbalist, I take pride in using only the highest quality herbs and nutritional supplements to naturally support your body’s intelligence and well-being. All of the herbal formulas I use are tested for purity, safety and potency by following standards of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) established by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO) guaranteeing that you receive the highest quality product that is safe and effective.
Specialties
Back Pain/Neck Pain/Sciatica and Neuropathies
These are conditions I treat every day in my clinic with great success! Acupuncture works to reduce pain and inflammation, increasing circulation while promoting tissue regeneration.
Knee and Shoulder Issues
Including sports injuries, as well as pre and post operative treatments to reduce pain and speed up recovery time.
Wrist Pain/Hand Pain/Carpal Tunnel
These conditions (both acute or chronic) are commonly treated in my clinic, responding well to a combination of acupuncture, Gua Sha, and cupping.
Migraines and General Head Pain
I use a combination of Acupuncture and manual therapies along with herbal formulas and lifestyle support to address these conditions.
Head Pain, Jaw Pain, and Post Concussion
Acupuncture is a very important and effective tool in treating these conditions. Acupuncture reduces the pain and inflammation while stimulating the micro-circulation necessary for a full recovery.
Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia
Acupuncture offers natural relief for these conditions. Acupuncture is recognized by the World Health Organization as an effective and recommended therapy for depression, anxiety and insomnia. Some studies have found acupuncture to be just as effective as leading pharmaceuticals but with no side effects!
Fatigue and Poor Immune Function
These are conditions very commonly treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine. While I do not treat any infectious conditions in the clinic, I support my patients in building healthier more robust immune systems.
Women's Health/Dysmenorrhea/Hormonal Balancing
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine have been shown to be highly effective at relieving period pain and assisting in hormonal balancing.
Auricular Acupuncture
Ear acupuncture involves placing acupuncture needles or small seeds (on an adhesive) to specific points around the ear. These points correspond to specific organs, emotions or sensory feelings.
Bell's Palsy
Bell's palsy or idiopathic facial palsy is an acute facial paralysis due to inflammation of the facial nerve. Acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial for facial palsy, beneficial for facial palsy, encouraging a faster recovery and improving positive outcomes.
Sports Medicine and Acute Injury
Acupuncture effectively treats pain and injury by reducing inflammation, stimulating circulation and promoting a faster recovery. Research suggests that acupuncture activates natural painkillers in the brain and body.
Pediatric Acupuncture
One of my earliest internships was in a pediatric clinic where I was trained in the unique practice of treating infants and children. Oftentimes treatments consist of a variety of gentle, manual therapies much like massage. Rarely are needles used and only if the child is very comfortable with the idea. During a pediatric treatment I also teach the parents techniques that they can use at home.
Pre and Post Operative Acupuncture
Treatments assist in reducing pain and inflammation while encouraging repair and a more complete recovery. Acupuncture may help both to reduce stress prior to surgery and boost the immune system to support a more positive outcome. After surgery, acupuncture may help reduce postoperative pain, potentially reducing the need for medication. Acupuncture is known to reduce inflammation, increasing positive outcome, speeding up recovery time and reducing overall discomfort.
Digestive Disorders: GERD/IBD/IBS
One of my earliest specialties within Chinese medicine was working with digestive disorders. In Chinese medicine we consider digestive health to be one of the pillars of overall health and well being. I use a combination of acupuncture , manual therapy, along with diet, herbs and lifestyle support to assist my patients in healing from digestive issues.
Hemorrhoids and Organ Prolapses
Most people are surprised to learn that acupuncture is an effective treatment for hemorrhoids and organ prolapses (depending of course on the severity of the issue) and I have had many happy patients cancel scheduled surgeries after a series of treatments for prolapses.
Acupuncture For Teens and Young Adults
Teenagers and young adults are emotionally vulnerable, often lacking the tools to manage anxiety/depression. Studies show this generation of young people to be under more stress than previous generations. As we age, we gain more perspective and more tools for handling stress but our youngsters are still gaining these tools and need extra support in the process.
Stroke Recovery
Acupuncture is widely used to improve motor, sensation, speech, and other neurological functions in patients recovering from strokes. Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and dependency. Acupuncture offers many benefits that can help survivors enhance their stroke recovery.
We will work together to create individualized treatment plans.
"I see acupuncture as an art form, a practice of restoring harmony and well being in the body."
SPRING SMITH
I became curious about acupuncture and Chinese Medicine as a young teen when I first experienced its healing effects. I chose to pursue the path of Chinese medicine and acupuncture because I knew it was an ancient and profound medicine that would never grow old, but always have more to offer – I’ve remained passionate about acupuncture to this day.
