Acupuncture, the ancient Chinese therapy, has gained popularity and credibility in the United States. The National Institutes of Health says that acupuncture, used in conjunction with traditional medicine, shows promise in treating a variety of conditions, including pain, headache, fibromyalgia and asthma.

Acupuncture is based on the premise that many illnesses and diseases occur when the body's energy, called qi (chee), is blocked. Practitioners insert tiny needles into specific points throughout the body in the belief that they are balancing the forces of yin and yang and restoring the natural flow of qi.

"Acupuncture treats the whole body with few side effects," says Jinny Yoon, MD, a board certified physiatrist at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center. "It helps many patients when traditional medicine has no answers."

While a resident physician in the specialty of rehabilitation medicine at the New York University Medical Center/Hospital for Joint Diseases and the prestigious Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation, Dr. Yoon turned to acupuncture herself when traditional medicine couldn't relieve her debilitating back pain. She was so impressed with the results that she studied acupuncture in the United States and China, in addition to successfully completing her medical training.

Today, Dr. Yoon is not only a fully licensed medical doctor, but also a certified physician acupuncturist. She uses the best of traditional medical therapy, including interventional pain management procedures, as well as acupuncture, to improve function in patients recovering from a stroke or suffering with back pain or other chronic conditions.

To make an appointment with Dr. Yoon, call 260-3555.

The Valley Health System c/o Valley Hospital Medical Center 620 Shadow Lane Las Vegas, NV 89106