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Exploring Acupuncture And Herbology Spending Time With Elizabeth Scheuerman

photo provided Elizabeth Scheuerman offers her patients a unique blend of herbology, acupuncture and alternative treatments based on eastern medicine.

photo provided Showing just one of approximately 100 Chinese herbs she imports and uses, Elizabeth Scheuerman explained some of the multiple uses for herbs based on the ancient Chinese practices.

Tuesday August 30, 2011

By Cookie Steponaitis

     For most Americans, history is studied by decades or centuries. Emphasis on older ways of treating maladies and health issues are often brought forward and combined with new technology and ideas. Herbs, plants and the use of natural ingredients to heal the human mind and body date back almost a century. Now consider the following. The Chinese methods of herbology, oriental medicine and acupuncture are entering the fifth millennium of use on the planet. For one quarter of the earth’s population, the concepts of energy based systems of medicine that treat the spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing of a person not only overlap but are the norm. Known in the west as forms of alternative medicine, these medical disciplines and practices are gaining use in America and have been a part of offerings to Vermonters for over thirty years.

    Scheuerman of the New England Center for Acupuncture & Herbology in Shelburne, is eye-opening because she does not propose that Chinese medicine is for everyone but that it opens the mind and doorway to an alternative way of looking at the health and wellbeing of each person as unique and connected. Nationally licensed as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and internationally trained in traditional Chinese medicine and a licensed acupuncturist, Elizabeth’s journey began with studying western herbs when she was in her early twenties. Her travels took her to India, where she lived in a monastery and studied energetic and spiritual healing methods as well as eastern herbs. From there she traveled to China and studied the eastern methods of medicine, bringing together for her patients a wide spectrum of ways to treat not just a condition, but the overall health of the whole person. When asked to help explain or dispel some of the myths associated with alternative medicines, Elizabeth quickly pointed out that, “Acupuncture does not treat everything,” and while she sees many people in her practice related to women’s disorders, headaches, vertigo, digestive tract issues and back pain, she strongly suggests that the best practice for a person looking to start exploring alternative medicine is to read about different treatments and to call the alternative health care practitioners  and share with them what are the issues and if they feel that they could help them achieve success. “Test it out,” Elizabeth Scheuerman remarked. “It is important to find out what works for you and go at least three times to see what the results will be.”

    While in India and again when she studied in China, Elizabeth saw doctors trained in both western and eastern practices of medicine. One of the most intriguing facets of her training was not only the knowledge and use of Chinese herbs, but the training to mix and create individual prescriptions for each person’s needs. Lining one wall of her office are containers with almost a hundred different herbs imported from China. When asked to share some of the uses of the herbs, Licensed Acupuncturist Scheuerman illustrated two herbs that exist in both western and eastern herbs but with very different uses and applications. Dandelions, referred to as Po Gong Ying in China can be used for such diverse needs as breast abscesses and liver cleanses. Chrysanthemum, known to the Chinese as Ju Hua, is often used in both nations for eye disorders. It was quickly apparent that unlike the approach of one standard use for each herb, the Doctor of Oriental Medicine uses herbs to craft an individual treatment plan based on the patterns of health in the individual.

    Coming to Vermont to practice in 1999, Elizabeth was immediately struck by the differences in patient to doctor numbers here. “In China,” she shared, “there might be 10-30 people in the same room waiting for an acupuncture or herbal treatment. It is very much a group use of time and efforts. Here I am able to see a person one on one and treat them individually.” While the Chinese have access to both western and eastern methods of treatment the ability to meet one on one with a doctor is very limited.

    Acupuncture is another facet of Elizabeth Scheuerman’s practice and one that usually results in diverse questions asked about the practice. “First and foremost,” Scheuerman remarked, “the needles invoke qi or energy sensation which by the book means a needle sensation of distention, ache, cold, heat, electrical, numbness, heaviness, or itchy ... these sensations lead into a feeling of deep relaxation.” She then went on to explain that there are several different styles of acupuncture and depending on whether it is a Japanese, Chinese or Korean focus defines the location, needle style and use in the treatment for the individual. Fundamental to the understanding of the use of acupuncture is recognition of the oriental medicine approach of treating patterns. A healthy person emits patterns in their body that radiate throughout. These patterns disperse throughout the body and can shift to present themselves in different organs with singular or overlapping causes. Acupuncture and alternative forms of medicine use diagnosis to differentiate these patterns of health or illness and formulate a treatment that works for the individual.

    While Scheuerman has always relied on word of mouth to bring people to her practice, she shared that people also come because they hear from a friend just how different and great it is, or someone is looking to embrace the alternative possibilities in health care and come because they feel drawn to trying new approaches. In the little over an hour this reporter spent at the New England Center for Acupuncture and Herbology, three things were apparent. First, the knowledge base of Elizabeth Scheuerman was extensive not only in western medicine, but in several layers and methods of eastern medicine and treatment as well.

   Second, she openly suggests that alternative methods are not for everyone but that people must be encouraged to find what works for their health and their lifestyle. Third, that the acupuncture patent and bulk herbal prescriptions, dietary and lifestyle counseling, and energetic and spiritual healing offered at her Shelburne location are all tools used by a person who truly cares deeply for the health of each person she encounters. As ancient as civilization itself, the Chinese methods of treatment have their place in the world along side the western methods so commonly accepted as the only way to be treated. For those looking for new pathways to health, Elizabeth Scheuerman can be reached at 10 Marsett Road, Route 7, Suite 4, Shelburne, Vermont 05482 or by phone at (802)985-0718. For those who are in need, at a point of transition in their own health care, or just plain curious research what Vermont particularly Addison and Chittenden Counties has to offer and see for yourself that, as was noted almost five thousand years ago, “…the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

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