SERVICES
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of primary health care based on traditional Chinese medical concepts and modern oriental medicine techniques.
Acupuncture is one of the treatment techniques of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This form of medicine has been practiced for more than 3000 years and is currently practiced in almost every country around the world. It is a highly effective complementary alternative medicine treatment. Very fine sterile, almost painless needles are inserted into various points on the body to affect the tissues below the skin including the nerves, muscles, and blood vessels in order to restore health and body function. The selected areas are based on a combination of traditional theories derived from TCM, and myofascial trigger or motor points, and physiological responses as defined by western medicine. Research shows acupuncture to be more effective than drugs, surgery, and physical therapy for several conditions and is quickly becoming a first-line of recommendation for pain, especially chronic pain.
How is the acupuncture at Healing Elephant Acupuncture & Wellness Clinic performed differently than at other clinics?
Not all acupuncture is created equal…
Our Clinic Director, Ronel Corbin, is one of Miami’s top acupuncture physicians. Ronel has more 5,400 hours of study in the field of Natural Holistic Medicine. On top of that, she’s also invested more than 1000 additional hours of education learning advanced acupuncture techniques.
Ronel is trained in the following acupuncture modalities:
- Traditional Chinese & Japanese Medicine acupuncture
- I Ching Acupuncture
- The Balance Method Acupuncture
- Master Tung System of Acupuncture
- Motor point acupuncture
- Auricular acupuncture
- Distal Needling Acupuncture (DNA)
- Medical Pulse Diagnosis (MPD)
Some conditions that acupuncture is used for:
Join the Healing Elephant community and receive a FREE ebook on How Stress Affects the Body and Brain.
LEARN ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE
Using her in-depth knowledge of acupuncture, Ronel is able to craft tailored treatments based on your unique condition.

Musculoskeletal
- Pain
- Arthritis
- Athletic performance
- Back pain
- Joint pain (knees, elbows, shoulder)
- Muscle cramping, Muscle pain/weakness
- Neck pain, Sciatica, Trauma
- Knee Osteoarthritis

Digestive
- Epigastric pain
- Peptic ulcer
- Gastritis
- Gastric Spasm
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Nausea
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vomiting
- Morning Sickness

Neurological
- Bells Palsy
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Neurogenic
- Bladder dysfunction
- Parkinson’s disease
- Postoperative pain
- Stroke

Gynecological
- Infertility
- Menopausal symptoms
- Hot flashes
- Menstrual problems
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Promote lactation – after childbirth

Autoimmune
- Chronic fatigue
- Immune system tonification
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Gout

Respiratory
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Common cold
- Sinusitis
- Smoking cessation
- Tonsillitis

Emotional
- Addiction control
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Neurosis
- Stress reduction

Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat
- Cataracts
- Gingivitis
- Poor vision
- Tinnitus
- Toothache
ACUPUNCTURE IS GENTLE AND EFFECTIVE
FAQs
Many people have heard about acupuncture but are cautious to try it for the first time because of some of the following questions. So, let’s do some question answering.
I tried it once. Why didn’t it work?
In China, patients go for acupuncture every day for what ails them. But in the US, you will often hear “I tried acupuncture once for back pain I had for 20 years and it didn’t work”. There seems to be the concept that if acupuncture doesn’t work after 1 treatment then it doesn’t work at all. It is true that some people see quick, dramatic changes especially if it is an acute problem such as a stiff neck from sleeping poorly the night before. Others experience more gradual, subtle effects especially those that have a chronic condition, an autoimmune condition or chronic pain that you have suffered from for 20 years or longer. How can it be a realistic expectation that 1 acupuncture session or 1 anything will resolve this? If you take conventional medical treatment for the same problem, 1 tablet is not likely to resolve it either, neither is one physical therapy session or 1 of any other modality you may try especially if it’s a chronic problem. Acupuncture has been helping people for thousands of years around the world, it would not be so popular if it wasn’t working.
Occasionally, people find that acupuncture doesn’t help them, and in those cases, as a primary care provider we will work to find a referral to another type of health care provider. Your health and wellness is our ultimate priority.
Ouch! What if I am afraid of needles?
Acupuncture needles are about the size of a hair on your head. They are super thin. It is a pity they are called needles because the word is often associated with having blood drawn or vaccinations with a hypodermic needle. That needle has a hole so that liquid can pass into the body. Acupuncture needles have no such hole, which is why they can be so fine. You may feel a very brief prick or mosquito bite sensation when the needle first goes in but this eases almost immediately. You will feel a little discomfort but this doesn’t mean that you won’t have any sensation. While the needles are left in, some people feel a radiating sensation around the needle or a heavy feeling at the point. These are good signs. Some of our therapies don’t even use needles, but still treat acupuncture points. Don’t let fear of needles deter you from acupuncture, as there are so many options available.
Will Acupuncture conflict with my medication, chiropractic, physical therapy and other ‘mainstream’ conventional medical treatments?
There is no conflict between acupuncture and conventional medicine; they complement and often enhance the results of each other. For example, chiropractic adjustments may last longer when paired with acupuncture. If you’re unsure, talk with our acupuncturist and your other health care providers about a coordinated treatment plan. We are happy to send your medical provider with a progress report on your acupuncture care.
Does Acupuncture only treat pain?
Acupuncture is great at treating pain, including knee pain; back pain; headache; stomach pain and menstrual cramps. As a matter of fact, the military uses it on the battlefield for wounded soldiers. Because acupuncture affects so many of our bodies’ systems, acupuncture can be also used to improve nausea/vomiting, chemotherapy side effects, morning sickness, hypertension (high blood pressure), allergies, depression, infertility and many other conditions. The list goes on, see the World Health Organization (WHO) for a current list of valid treatment options.
Is Acupuncture a new age voodoo medicine and would a legitimate healthcare professional recommend it?
Acupuncture is a treatment option that many medical institutions recommend including:
- Cleveland Clinic
- Mayo Clinic
- All Canyon Ranch properties
- United States military uses acupuncture on the battlefield for wounded soldiers
- United States military uses acupuncture at Veterans Clinics
- Drug Rehab facilities around the country
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds many clinical research trials on acupuncture
- Both the NIH and the World Health Organization (WHO) recognize acupuncture as a valid treatment for a wide range of conditions