Natural Medicine in Tucson

The treatment room at Tucson Community Acupuncture almost resembles a literary salon where, after a particularly active discussion, the visitors have all fallen asleep. In reality, they are just relaxing as strategically placed needles work to stimulate their bodies' healing energies. Licensed acupuncturists walk between the plush recliners to seat newcomers, prompting them to roll up their sleeves and pants cuffs for the distal treatment—a discipline that places needles on the hands, feet, and head to relieve nearly any ailing area.

Staffers believe that everyone should have access to their services, not just those who can afford private appointments or aggressive pet hedgehogs. They operate on a sliding-scale-based payment system, enabling clients to pay what they can for each visit. By performing affordable acupuncture in a group setting, the clinic follows Asian traditions of communal healing and helps guests establish a regular habit of receiving treatment. This approach has garnered favorable attention from Arizona Illustrated and Tucson Weekly —the readers of Tucson Weekly have voted the clinic Best Alternative Health Center for the past three years.

Undoubtedly, the comforting ambiance also serves as a draw. Patients remain in their chairs for as long as they like and can bring personal items, such as iPods, pillows, and miniscule balls of yarn to knit with spare needles. Flexible hours in the morning, afternoon, and evening suit busy schedules seven days a week.

At DC Chiropractic, Dr. Diego Camacho takes a whole-person approach to assisting patients with their healthcare goals. A patient's initial visit to his office usually includes a thorough consultation, exam, and x-rays, helping to identify the root causes of ailments. The doctor of chiropractic then recommends a customized treatment plan, which may include spinal adjustments, physical therapy, or soft-tissue massage. He and his staff further promote overall wellness by dispensing lifestyle advice, from tips about nutrition to guidelines for beneficial at-home exercises.

For licensed acupuncturist Kym Kleiman, it’s not enough to merely cure the physical symptoms of a disease. Kym’s background in traditional Chinese medicine—an umbrella that includes holistic disciplines such as acupuncture, cupping, and Tui Na bodywork—has taught her the importance of healing’s spiritual element.

When asked to explain how her acupuncture treatments work, Kym sometimes calls upon the metaphor of a garden. Developed thousands of years ago by a Chinese civilization that took humans’ symmetry with nature for granted, acupuncture charts out the body’s most fertile points of energy. In this metaphor, the acupuncturist is the caretaker, or gardener; her bodywork techniques allow energy to flow more freely, and her needles gently aerate the back while intimidating crows that fly too near.

The second half of Liferoot Acupuncture and Healing Arts’ name also refers to the center’s massage-therapy services. Licensed therapists Marcella Arieta and Gunnar Carlson—like Kym, devotees of holistic healing—work to align the mind, body, and spirit with gentle strokes and firm pressures. Both therapists listen attentively to their clients before melting stress with hot stones or hurling knuckleballs at clumps of tension during sports massages. Fitness trainer Marisa Alcaraz stops sports injuries before they happen by holistically assessing each client’s condition and leading personal training sessions that match their abilities.

Treehouse Thai Massage Spa’s knowledgeable staff rely on their extensive schooling in massage therapy and holistic healing to help clients de-stress and detoxify their bodies. Their services range from traditional full-body massages to those concentrated on the legs or head and neck. Treehouse also renders two- or three-hour packages that include herbal compresses, acupressure, foot scrubs, reflexology, and more.

In addition to caring for clients, the Treehouse Thai Massage Spa hosts massage workshops for aspiring practitioners. These workshops cover crucial topics for massage therapists, such as proper body mechanics and how to imitate the soothing intonations of Morgan Freeman.

At Peaceful Spirit, owner and licensed massage therapist Mara Concordia and her staff help patients attain improved wellness through therapies that balance their physical and mental energies. To do so, they consult with each client and create tailored, integrative care plans that may draw upon treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and spa therapies. Through such customized care, Peaceful Spirit's practitioners have helped patients overcome everyday ailments as well as manage diseases such as Parkinson's and cancer.

They also focus on teaching clients how to heal themselves through classes in Qi Gong, an ancient Chinese healing philosophy that combines simple movements and attentive breathing in order to cleanse the body and cultivate life force—known as qi or chi. In addition to Peaceful Spirit's five locations, therapists can meet patients in their homes or tree houses.

Dr. Paul Pratt is a licensed chiropractic physician who uses a "whole-person approach" to treating patients. This approach involves seeking out underlying causes of disturbances or disruptions in the body, and suggesting interventions and lifestyle adjustments to optimize the patient's health. Dr. Pratt will use the information gleaned from your consult, exam, and x-rays to investigate causes of pain and soreness, and provide you with a corrective spinal adjustment. He will also be able to offer counsel about further treatment options. Wellness Chiropractic Center boasts many satisfied customers whose lives have been improved as a result of treatment. Contact these spinal sages to schedule your appointment.