I’ve tried acupuncture before. How is Blue Ridge Acupuncture & Integrative Health different from other clinics?

With us, you have a team working with you to help you resolve your concerns.  You're not dealing with your problem by yourself.  When you need something, we are here for you. And, you're in really good hands.  Dr. Gorla has over 20 years experience treating patients (18 here in the High Country!) and has administered over 55,000 acupuncture treatments through the years.  He's also the only practitioner around who is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and also a naturopathic doctor, and patients love him.

What modalities are available to me as a patient?

Depending on your health concerns and your goals, we have lots of options to help you feel better:

  • Acupuncture
  • Functional Medicine
  • Nutrition
  • Chinese Herbal Formulas
  • Professional Nutritional Formulas
  • Lab testing
  • Detox
  • Health Coaching
  • Lifestyle and Stress Management
  • Oriental Physical Therapy
  • A Supportive Team

You don't have to worry about which modalities are best for you.  Dr. Gorla will be happy to go over your options with you at your Courtesy Consultation.

 

 

 

 

 

How do you support patients with lifestyle changes?

We have seen in our years of practice that most people don’t have all the knowledge and tools they need to be healthy and well long term.  There is so much confusing information “out there” that it is hard to know what is best to eat, what nutrients to take, what type of exercise to get, etc.  We take the guess work out of it and design a customized nutritional program just for you (based on your labs), and empower you with knowledge so you can make the best choices.

We offer:

  • Private Facebook Group (Wellness Warriors)
  • Individual and group coaching
  • Classes in Detoxification, Chinese nutrition, and Stress Management

Do I have to live locally to be a part of the practice?

No.  Many people drive fro pretty far away to seek our specialty services. Once you are established as a patient, all appointments can be conducted through our HIPAA-compliant video chat.  Health coaching services are available nationwide and do not require any in-office visits. 

Shouldn’t I just expect my health to decline as I age? Isn’t that just a normal part of aging?

No,  it is a common myth that our health declines as we age.  It  doesn’t have to be that way.  Being healthy, well, and free of the need for pharmaceuticals is a natural way of being.  Pain and symptoms are simply our body’s way of letting us know that something needs attention.  Regardless of your age, you deserve to live pain free and enjoy the life that optimal health brings.

What is functional medicine?

Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses today's healthcare needs. It shifts the focus from a "disease management" approach to focusing on optimizing health, a "wellness" approach. 

  • Patient-centered approach. Time is spent with patients, understanding their needs and concerns.  We work in partnership with our patients to help them understand what is going on in their bodies and how they can optimize how well their bodies are functioning.  
  • Science-based care. Functional medicine practitioners look at all the complex interactions of affecting a person's health, including history, phsiology, and lifestyle that can lead to illness.  Health begins with our cells, and by understanding what is going on at the cellular level and creating a treatment plan based on that information, along with nutritional and lifestyle support, patients see dramatic results in how they feel, and can see the transformations in their chemistries. 
  • Integrating best medical practices. By incorporating the lifestyle elements of nutrition, exercise, and stress management techniques, along with the latest diagnostic testing, nutritional formulas, detoxification programs, and therapeutic diets, functional medicine incorporates the best strategies to treat the "whole person."

 

 

 

Do the acupuncture needles hurt?

Acupuncture shouldn't hurt!  Because acupuncture needles are quite thin, about the size of a hair, solid, and nothing is injected through them, acupuncture is a painless process. Blue Ridge Acupuncture & Integrative Health uses the highest quality needles which are both sterile and disposable, and Dr. Gorla is very skillful at needle insertion. Most patients don’t feel them!

We have many other options to address your concerns besides acupuncture.

What is naturopathy/naturopathic medicine/naturopathic physician (N.M.D.)?

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care-an art, science and practice of preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions of the human mind and body.  Naturopathic physicians work with their patients to prevent and treat acute and chronic illness and disease, restore health, and establish optimal fitness by supporting the person’s inherent self-healing process.  This is accomplished through prevention, diagnosis, education, and the rational use of natural therapeutics.