5 Element Hosts Open House Friday From 10 to 2
By Laura Mellow
Hampton Union, Tuesday, November 13, 2007
[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]
HAMPTON -- While acupuncture may still be unfamiliar ground for many area residents, 5 Element Acupuncture owner Louis Bornstein is taking it to the streets. Every Friday afternoon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bornstein will be offering a community access acupuncture clinic at his Lafayatte Road location in Hampton.
"The goal is to introduce acupuncture to the community at large," Bornstein said.
His other goal is to support the troops.
In addition to lowering his usual fee of $100 per hour to $35 per 40-minute session for the general public during the community clinic, Bornstein is offering his services to soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan for only $10.
"It's an amazing opportunity to give back to people, to give back to the community and to meet more of the community," Bornstein said, adding that he hopes the clinics will promote dialogue between community members as well as foster an environment where soldiers may be able to connect with other soldiers who are experiencing similar war-related symptoms.
Bornstein is running the clinic as part of Acupuncturists Without Borders' Veterans Project which was developed to treat soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or other physical ailments. Acupuncturists Without Borders is a foundation which was formed after Hurricane Katrina in order to provide treatment to communities in need or that have experienced trauma.
Bornstein is hoping that those members of the community who are able to afford more than $35 fee will contribute further to the Veterans' Project.
The community clinics will have Bornstein treating five to six people at once, a skill he honed while working at an acupuncture detoxification center at in New York City.
"That was my first exposure to community acupuncture," Bornstein said. "It really helped them to get their lives back together." The same logic applies to soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
"For people who've been through traumatic experiences it really offers the opportunity to reach out," Borstein said of how human connection can contribute to recovery.
Acupuncture has also been said to help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"The aspect of coming back ...; certain sounds can trigger memories for them," said Bornstein. "The acupuncture helps them to relax and get away from that constant triggering, that constant cortisol response."
Excessive cortisol levels can adversely affect the immune system and trigger other physical ailments.
"Our whole society has a lot of that fear-based trauma going on," Bornstein said referring specifically to post-9/11 society. "So it's there for the vets and it's there for the rest of us."
Acupuncture is said to treat such physical ailments ranging from migraines and back pain to ulcers and asthma. Acupuncturists have also had success in the areas of fertility and spiritual health. "Acupuncture has been found to produce an endorphine-like response in the body which is the response basically of healing," he said.
Bornstein said that he is hoping that people take advantage of this opportunity to experience acupuncture.
"The biggest myth is that it will hurt and it doesn't," Bornstein said, adding that the needles do not draw blood and that all needles are disposed of after use. "There is no risk of getting somebody else's needles.Bornstein said if the community clinic is successful he may consider expanding the program to an additional day.
"I think it's a good chance for more people to access the system," he said, adding that there is an even more important reason to attend.
"There's a lot of people who say 'support the troops,' this is a great opportunity to take that stand." The community access acupuncture will take place at 5 Element Acupuncture's Hampton location at 540 Lafayette Road. For information, contact Borstein at (603)773-9975. No appointments necessary. 5 Element Acupuncture, Ltd also has a Portsmouth location at 1 Greenleaf Woods.