In the fifth grade, I got a tetanus shot and promptly fainted. The doctor prescribed ice cream. In eighth grade health class, during a detailed discussion about the brain, I turned green and nearly passed out. Several years ago, I had surgery on my hand to remove a ganglion cyst. Not long into the procedure, I felt myself go clammy and drip with cold sweat. “Don’t be alarmed,” I told the physician slowly, “but I am about to pass out. I’ll be fine, so don’t worry.” (I was supine on the table.) “Why didn’t you tell me that might happen?” she exclaimed, hastening to sew up my hand as I came to moments later.
Knowing all this, you now can understand why I’ve never tried acupuncture, and you may well be just as faint of heart and relate to my experiences. Recently, family stress and travel left my usually healthy body and systems feeling out of whack and dealing with daily bouts of unwelcome hives that were disruptive to my peace of mind and ability to work at my normal level of productivity. After much reading, I felt strongly I could resolve the problem on my own. And so, with a self-prescribed regimen of exercise, sleep, a 3-day juice cleanse from Liquiteria, deep massage, some soul searching and a lot of research, I decided that now was the time for me to try acupuncture.
I made an appointment with Jacqueline Fazzalari at DASHA®’s Grand Central location. Jacqueline is a NCCAOM Certified Acupuncturist Herbalist licensed in New York State. She holds a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from the Tri-State College of Acupuncture, speaks fluent Spanish and English, and comes from a long lineage of natural and western healers.
Jacqueline’s bedside manner immediately put me at ease. She began the session by asking what was bothering me and looking at my tongue to assess what she would do. Jacqueline tells you everything she is going to do before she does it, so there are no surprises – a very gentle and helpful quality to have in a wellness profession. She said that the most I would feel would be like a mosquito bite. And she was right! The needles don’t hurt when they are inserted. And if you do have the tiniest bit of discomfort, it’s likely indicative of an area in your body that needs some help, and she can easily make an adjustment. (This happened with my left ear.) Jacqueline covered me with a very light blanket so I would stay warm, dimmed the lights, and left me to relax on the table and listen to soothing music. She checked in on me ten minutes later, and then, another 10-15 minutes after that, the session was over. Jacqueline suggested I could drink chamomile tea, which is handy for reducing inflammation both internally and externally.
That evening I slept rock solid, like a baby, and I tend to be a bit of a light sleeper, so I appreciated the very deep slumber. I’ve been able to return to my work with the high level of intensity I am used to operating with, and my hives are 98% gone – and the moments they do flare up are extremely brief. I look forward to making another appointment with Jacqueline for a tune-up in the future.
Acupuncture improves the body’s functions and promotes natural self-healing through the stimulations of specific anatomic sites. It has been proven to help with stress, fertility issues, chronic pain, allergies and more. If you are thinking about giving acupuncture a try, go for it. I didn’t pass out, scream or cry, and you won’t either. And you’ll leave feeling better than when you walked through the door.
Jacqueline works at DASHA® Grand Central on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Easter Yi, the DASHA® Flagship Location acupuncturist, works Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Call the concierge at 212.755.5500 to book your appointment and begin your healing now.
DASHA® is a luxury lifestyle brand and New York City-based wellness center created to offer a truly holistic approach to wellness. To learn more, visit dashawellness.com.
