PLATTSBURG — North Jersey native and former cheesemonger Michael Nevelman has remained in Plattsburgh since opening Gong Sun Family Acupuncture in December 2023.
Nibelman is a New York State Certified Acupuncturist and holds a Master of Science in Acupuncture from the New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a history of more than 2,000 years.
“Through critical thinking and clinical observation, a rational framework for understanding and treating the disease has been developed,” Nebelman said.
“Modern biomedicine treats the same diseases using a different vocabulary.”
Nebelman originally pursued a degree in music with an emphasis on Indian classical music. He knows how to play the guitar and tabla and still does.
whole body, one piece
About nine years ago, Knebelman was working as a cheesemonger at a cheese shop in Queens when he began training in traditional martial arts, which led him to TCM.
“‘Whole body as one’ was a core concept in my kung fu practice,” Nebelman said.
“TCM similarly deals with the big picture. For example, the mind is housed within the body, and there is an important two-way dialogue between mind and physical health.”
According to Nebelman, achieving this mind-body meditation through Kung Fu made him realize he needed to change careers.
“It wasn’t until I was in my 30s that I decided I wanted to go to acupuncture school,” he says.
Nibelman met his wife, a Plattsburgh native, while in Queens. They returned to the North Country together.
According to his website, his training includes acupuncture, tuina, herbal medicine, and cupping.
Nibelmann studied hand, scalp, and classical acupuncture under Master Yu Shoubin, which has been passed down through 500 years of Yu family lineage.
The Yu Daai method used by Nebelman focuses on traditional pressure points on the scalp, arms and legs, combined with special Tuina, Chinese massage techniques.
“I learned the most by observing my masters,” Nebelman said.
Yu’s family’s method is from Wuping County, China, the hometown of Ma Danyang, a 12th-century Taoist physician famous for his sophisticated needling techniques and use of fewer acupuncture points.
Nebelman prefers to use “away points,” or acupuncture points far away from the location of the pain.
For example, if someone comes in with neck pain, use pressure points on their forearms and calves.
According to Nebelman, TCM and acupuncture have evolved over time.
“Even though it has ancient roots, time has not stood still. Like our patients, it has continually evolved,” he said.
“Today is an exciting time for the integration of Eastern and Western approaches to medicine.”
training, background
Nibelmann’s approach to acupuncture is based on martial arts and meditation practices.
Since 2015, he has been trained in Dacheng Kung Fu, Meihua Mantis Kung Fu, and Yang Taijiquan as a disciple of Wang Rengang.
In his treatment, Nebelman strives to integrate the mind and body, harmonizing the patient’s inner and outer feelings.
According to Nevelman, the biggest comparison between TCM and biomedicine can be seen in the approaches.
While biomedicine typically focuses on “cause and effect,” TCM focuses on “patterns of disharmony.” In other words, it is a one-size-fits-all medical science compared to individualized treatments.
TCM focuses on both the “roots” of the problem and the symptoms, or “branches.”
Two people with similar headaches may require two completely different treatments.
Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including pain, stress, insomnia, and anxiety.
It also helps treat digestive disorders such as IBS, acid reflux, Crohn’s disease, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, as well as genitourinary disorders such as enlarged prostate, recurrent urinary tract infections, and frequent and urgent urination.
4 actions
According to Nebelman, there are four movements involved in inserting the needle during acupuncture.
• Increased blood, or blood flow, to an area.
• Immune response due to needle microtrauma.
• Endorphin release due to nerve stimulation
• Stimulation that provides collagen to the area and stimulates collagen production.
“The goal is to bring the body back into balance so that it can utilize its innate ability to heal,” says Nebelman.
“If you are young and fit, you may benefit from acupuncture more than someone who is older.”
Results vary from person to person depending on the strength of these natural resources and other factors such as age and duration of illness.
Generally, in most cases, 4 to 8 treatments are required for permanent results, followed by maintenance treatments to ensure results are maintained.
When combined with proper sleep, diet, and exercise, many health disorders can be treated with acupuncture.
To find the root cause, Knebelman likes to warn patients that hesitation and immediate strange or painful feelings are normal.
“I warn them that this is a normal feeling when you get a needle,” he says.
“It might hurt and you’ll definitely feel some strange sensations.”
One of the most common side effects of acupuncture is bruising where the needles were inserted.
According to his website, effective acupuncture often causes a “sensation of qi” at the site of the needle insertion, which may become hard, swollen, or bruised, depending on the acupuncture points used. You may experience a burning, burning, tingling, or shifting sensation.
The name Gong Sun comes from the popular acupuncture point, which means “grandfather’s grandson.”
“It honors my teachers,” Nebelman said.
His respect and faith in the experiences of generations past and ancient texts.
“The mind and body are inseparable and completely connected,” he said.
