If you’re interested in acupuncture and other holistic treatments, but have little opportunity or means to get outside, AcuCare Mobile may be just the thing for you. Or maybe you have animals that need care, and they can get treatment, too. This mobile clinic was founded by a family that practiced in San Diego for over 30 years before moving to Nevada County to start a ranch and was itching to get back into acupuncture.
When asked what first sparked her interest in Eastern medicine, Huber explained that her health problems were resolved through acupuncture and a drastic dietary adjustment. “At the time, the diet of people in this country was dominated by casseroles,” she said, adding, “Casseroles were basically full of dairy products, meat, and so on. I later found out that my body couldn’t tolerate those things.”
As a young woman, she suffered frequent bronchitis and sinusitis, taking multiple rounds of antibiotics each year. After moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico after graduating from college, she began attending a clinic attached to a local acupuncture school. “That changed everything for me,” Huber said of the dramatic improvement in her health. She studied and trained under one of Japan’s top acupuncturists, Nakazono Sensei, and earned a master’s degree in traditional Oriental medicine.
It wasn’t until later in her career that she decided to treat animals as well. In 2007, she adopted a French bulldog named Bella from a puppy mill. Bella had a litany of health issues, including anxiety, allergies, disk problems and pancreatitis. “I know quite a bit about nutrition and have had dogs for many years, so I did my research and tried different things with Bella and we started seeing good results,” Huber said, adding that her patients became increasingly interested in her findings.
The difference between her furry and human patients is that with animals, she usually prefers laser acupuncture over acupuncture, and animals respond surprisingly quickly to treatment, which Huber attributes to the high levels of stress most people are under, which impedes their recovery.
According to Huber, acupuncture can treat many conditions beyond pain. “Acupuncture can also help with a lot of conditions that aren’t related to pain, like depression, insomnia, allergies, and more,” Huber explains. Plus, because the body is all connected, treating one condition can have “side effects” on other, seemingly unrelated conditions.
Rather than discarding Western medicine, Huber understands the strengths and weaknesses of both. That said, Eastern and holistic medicine have strengths when it comes to “dealing with chronic, debilitating conditions — conditions that are really undiagnosed.” “That’s why it’s best to get the best of both worlds if you can,” Huber said.
In an area like Nevada County where traditional Eastern and holistic medicine is strong, Huber knew she wanted to find her niche with AcuCare Mobile. “One of my patients is in hospice and can’t get out, and the other has young children at home, so it’s easier for her,” she said.
Wildwood Independent Editors
