GREENWICH An Old Greenwich resident who just opened her own acupuncture business on the west end of town said her interest in the alternative medicine practice was borne from her own experience in managing pain.

I hurt my shoulder swimming 15 years ago, said Susan Knight, who is a general practitioner of acupuncture.

We had had so many sports surgeries in my family that I just couldnt bear it. I went and received acupuncture, and in 11 sessions I was healed. I went in not being able to lift my arm over my shoulder, she said. It was then that I began amassing my collection of books.

After operating her practice out of her home, she launched Susan Knight Acupuncture at 100 Melrose Ave., off West Putnam Avenue near Wendys, in June with a soft opening and held an official ribbon-cutting on Wednesday.

The acupuncture practice focuses on mental health benefits as well as physical benefits, Knight said. She treats chronic pain as well as neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

A patient looking to avoid shoulder surgery, for example, can come to her for help, she said, or a patient can come in after surgery. Using acupuncture could allow a patient to steer clear of potentially dangerous and addictive opioids as pain medication, Knight said.

On her website, she cites the National Library of Medicine in saying, Despite overwhelming evidence of a mind-body connection, many people remain unaware that their chronic pain has a direct impact on their mental health. In recent research, acupuncture has been proven to treat psychological disorders, specifically those related to pain.

Worried about needles? No worries, she said, comparing the size of the needles to a coarse human hair. In fact, patients often fall asleep on the table, she said.

This is nothing like receiving a shot, Knight said.

She also pointed out her other services: Acupuncture is more than needles, Knight said. We do dietary therapy and breathing techniques and fire cupping.

The National Institutes of Health said studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment alone or in combination with other therapies to treat nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and cancer chemotherapy, dental pain after surgery, addiction, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and asthma as well as aid in stroke rehabilitation.

The NIH said it can help with problems related to digestion; emotions; the eyes, ears and throat; the gynecological, musculoskeletal and respiratory systems, and more.

Acupuncture puts the person out of the sympathetic/dominant state, which is like the fight or flight state of your nervous system, Knight said. It can put people in the resting/parasympathetic state. Basically it treats the nervous system and when you put in the acupuncture needles the body releases endorphins, which are natural pain killers.

Acupuncture can be particularly good for teenagers, who are typically not fazed by the needles, Knight said.

Young people have seen it all on Instagram, she said. The fire cupping is something they have seen on Olympic athletes. Anyone under 30 seems to know all about alternative medicine already.

Knight said she would like to help teen anxiety, which she called an epidemic. Knight said she would like to put together a panel of local experts to take on the problem.

There has to be way for us to talk constructively and figure out some community solutions, she said. I would love to make an impact.

During her three years of home practice, Knight earned her masters degree as well as her clinical doctorate. She said she decided it was time to take her work out of the home and into the community.

Knight also said she is prepared for the challenge of owning a business. She has an MBA in marketing and started out in that field.

I didnt want to go back and promote more soda pop, Knight said. I wanted something in line with my values. I thought acupuncture was fascinating and it really works.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com

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New Greenwich acupuncture practice focuses on physical and mental health, working as a 'natural pain killer' - Greenwich Time