The UofL Trager Institute now offers comprehensive acupuncture services at its Republic Bank Foundation Optimal Aging Clinic. These new acupuncture services are offered in partnership with .
鈥淭he UofL Trager Institute is thrilled to offer this new acupuncture set of services to our community,鈥 said Anna Faul, executive director of the UofL Trager Institute. 鈥淭hese new services available at our Republic Bank Foundation Optimal Aging Clinic are part of a broader effort to provide a one-stop shop of comprehensive services that support long-term wellbeing.鈥
Acupuncture is the anchor of traditional Chinese medicine that involves the placement of fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body to heal disease, restore balance and promote health. AcuBalance providers say the services offered at the UofL Trager Institute can help address a wide range of both neuromusculoskeletal and internal/mental-emotional including:
- acute and chronic pain
- arthritis
- fibromyalgia
- addiction and recovery
- autoimmune issues
- cardiovascular health
- indigestion and digestive health
- cognition and brain health
- reproductive and sexual health
- hormone and thyroid health
These services are known as integrative treatments because they are to be used in conjunction with a primary care physician.
Colby Helton and Andrea Helton, offering services at the UofL Trager Institute, are fully licensed to practice acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine in Kentucky, having passed four National Board Exams through the . The providers have completed a four-year master鈥檚 degree in acupuncture and TCM that included over 3,000 hours of didactic education as well as 1,000-hour clinical residency programs. Colby Helton holds a doctorate in TCM, which required an additional 1,200 hours of didactic education, including additional training in gerontological acupuncture, clinical experience and a doctoral capstone project.
鈥淲e are elated to offer acupuncture services in partnership with the UofL Trager Institute at the Republic Bank Foundation Optimal Aging Clinic,鈥 Helton said. 鈥淲e bring a unique approach to our acupuncture and body therapies as we have extensive training specifically in providing acupuncture to older adults. Our services also will be a great resource for individuals needing pain management support and those looking for anxiety and stress relief. Utilizing an integrative approach and in collaboration with primary care, we can help patients with nearly any condition, from chronic pain and inflammatory conditions to hormonal and emotional imbalances.鈥
In addition to offering integrative services designed to help individuals achieve optimal health as they age, the new acupuncture services at the UofL Trager Institute may provide anxiety and stress relief specifically related to COVID-19.
鈥淥ver the past few months, we鈥檝e seen a dramatic increase in anxiety, depression and stress among health care providers and caregivers, especially our frontline and long-term care workers. Without proper self-care, health care workers face a burnout like we鈥檝e never seen before, which can turn into varying degrees of psychological crises and PTSD,鈥 Helton said. 鈥淚ntegrative therapies like acupuncture help offer significant relief and reprieve by addressing the biological, mental and emotional components of stress and burnout. Specifically, we work to increase parasympathetic tone and reduce stress reactivity, which can balance the mood, sleep cycles, energy, cognition, digestion, cardiovascular health and even immunity. Essentially, we can help our fellow health care workers navigate the COVID landscape with a bit more ease and grace.鈥
Acupuncture services are available to any member of the community, with appointments available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1to 6 p.m. To make an appointment, visit the , or call 502-588-4340. Services are provided on a private payment structure.
