Acupuncture

Ashley has been practicing acupuncture since 2005, with advanced training in motor point acupuncture for musculoskeletal and spinal issues, women’s health, and cosmetic acupuncture. She combines acupuncture with cupping, ear seeds, therapeutic injection therapy, shockwave and deep tissue laser therapy to treat musculoskeletal pain, women’s health concerns, pregnancy-related issues, stress and anxiety, and digestive complaints.

How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture is a core part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, based on the idea that energy, or Chi, flows through the body along pathways called meridians. When that flow is blocked, pain and illness can follow. Acupuncture uses thin, sterile needles at specific points to relieve blockages and restore balance.

From a modern perspective, stimulating these points signals the nervous system to release natural pain-relieving and regulating chemicals, supporting the body’s own healing response. It’s used for both musculoskeletal issues and a wide range of internal, systemic concerns, including histamine intolerance and allergy symptoms.

Techniques Ashley Also Offers

Acupuncture is often paired with complementary techniques for faster, longer-lasting relief.

Turning Breech Babies with Moxibustion

A gentle, well-studied technique to help encourage a breech baby into a head-down position before delivery.

If your baby is breech in the third trimester, Ashley offers moxibustion — a traditional technique that uses the gentle heat of burning mugwort (moxa) near an acupuncture point on the outer edge of the little toe, known as BL67 — to help encourage your baby to turn head-down on their own.

This is one of the more well-researched uses of acupuncture-adjacent care in pregnancy. A frequently cited clinical trial published in JAMA found that moxibustion at this point significantly increased the rate of cephalic (head-down) presentation compared to observation alone, and later research pooling multiple studies has found a similar trend — especially when moxibustion is paired with acupuncture and positional exercises like the knee-chest position.

Treatment is typically most effective between 33 and 35 weeks of pregnancy, before options like external cephalic version (ECV) are usually considered. It’s a gentle, non-invasive, drug-free option, and sessions are done alongside — never in place of — your regular prenatal care.

Moxibustion doesn’t guarantee your baby will turn, and results vary from patient to patient. We always recommend staying in close contact with your OB or midwife throughout the process.

Conditions Acupuncture Can Help With

The World Health Organization recognizes over 40 conditions that respond well to acupuncture, including:

Ready to see if acupuncture is right for you?

Schedule a visit with Ashley or start with a complimentary consult.