Still Mountain Acupuncture

202 Providence Mine Road, Suite 205,
Nevada City, CA 95959 · 530-265-1950
StillMountainAcupuncture.com

When most of us think of acupuncture, we have an image of being stuck with needles. Actually, acupuncture is only one component of the 5000 year-old practices known today as Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM), which also includes herbal medicine, nutritional consultation and more.TOM is a complete system of health care, effectively treating a multitude of medical conditions. Nevada City's newest practitioners of TOM are Donna Olenick and Sarah Sostrin of Still Mountain Acupuncture.

Donna and Sarah both graduated with honors, at the top of their class, from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, after a four-year Master's program. Both are licensed by the California Acupuncture Board, and nationally certified by NCCAOM. As recognized primary care practitioners of the state of California, they have an understanding of biomedical disease, possible drug-herb interactions and can effectively communicate with western medical professionals.

In college, they were study partners, found that their aptitude and commitment were alike, and they encouraged and motivated each other to achieve high goals. After graduation, they decided to continue their successful collaboration and open a practice together. Donna and Sarah visited Nevada City, with Sarah's fiancé who grew up here, and chose to locate their practice here because of the strong sense of community they felt.

Donna has a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and in her early career, she was a Director of Information Technology Services on Wall Street in New York City. Her experience with a chiropractor, working on her chronic low back pain, coupled with a desire for a more fulfilling career, led to an interest in healing. After being treated with acupuncture, she found her calling. She says, "The philosophy of helping the body be in balance appeals to me."

Sarah has always had a desire to help others, and with her degree in Psychology, she counseled at a women's and children's shelter. After her fiancé was treated in the acupuncture clinic at Pacific College, her interest in helping others took a new direction and her plans to pursue a PhD in Psychology were put on hold. She was captivated, and as a result, enrolled in the programtwo weeks later. "Acupuncture canmake a change in someone's health, and it opens up doors", Sarah says of the unanticipated additional benefits often resulting fromacupuncture therapy.

Among the many services they offer are community acupuncture, private acupuncture, Japanese acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, and the latest in micro-current facial rejuvenation. Their offices are unlike the "doctor's office". With comfortable chairs, soft lighting, a water feature, living plants, and artwork on the walls, it feels more like a place for meditation.

One of their goals at Still Mountain Acupuncture is to "make health and wellness an option for every member of our community", and that is the purpose of community acupuncture. Looking at the demographics, they realized that over half the population can't afford a series of acupuncture treatments. Community acupuncture fees are on a $25 to $45 sliding scale and cost less than many insurance co-pays. Appointments are required. Patients are treated one at a time in a group setting, and privacy is respected. Community acupuncture takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays,10 a.m.-noon and 4-6 p.m.

So, what is a community acupuncture treatment like? It starts with a consultation and analysis of the patient's health history.The practitioner looks for patterns unique to the individual to determine the course of treatment. For example, a headache may have several different causes, and each one will have a different treatment. Once the course of treatment is determined, you are seated in a comfortable reclining chair. As the very thin, sterilized needles are inserted, you feel only the slightest sensation, and once they are in place, you may not even know they are there. As you sit in the chair in a peaceful setting, you reach a deep state of relaxation. Depending on the treatment, you may sit there for 15 to 45 minutes, and then the needles are removed.

To learn more about their services, you can visit StillMountainAcupuncture.com on the web, or call for an appointment at 265-1950.

By Richard Gorman, KVMR Underwriter Coordinator