Region Ten and Common Ground Healing Arts of Charlottesville have worked together for many years, with a common goal: removing barriers to services and care.
Alicia Lenahan
Common Ground has been accepting appointments for acupuncture and massage at Region Ten’s Blue Ridge Center since September 2023, with many services being offered at a discount or free of charge, which aligns with Common Ground’s mission to alleviate collective and individual suffering and foster resilience by giving communities access to local, affordable acupuncture and massage.
This community-based program model enables access to treatment by eliminating unnecessary socio-economic and environmental barriers to starting a wellness program. Common Ground bridges the gap between services available for free and those offered by private practitioners. Income-based sliding scales ensure that all members of the community can receive treatment. As one community member recently said, “Community acupuncture and massage is a lifesaver for me. It gives me hope that I don’t have to suffer through pain and loneliness as I get older – and that I can actually afford it.”
Anyone else reading this…
Acupuncture is part of the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a medical system that has evolved over thousands of years to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. At Common Ground, we have seen amazing things happen: patients experience dramatic reductions in pain and other symptoms, break addictions and improve relationships with family, friends and communities.
A man who had suffered from depression for years reduced his medication and began to see a spark in his life, a woman who had a stressful home situation gained the confidence to navigate life better and ease the tension for everyone, and several cancer patients found their chemotherapy and radiation journey to be more manageable.
One man who couldn’t afford to take time off work for knee replacement surgery found that his pain was relieved enough that he could move with ease. Another man who came for sciatica not only found relief from his pain, but also began to drink less alcohol. One patient said, “I’ve always been grateful for Common Ground’s community acupuncture services. It’s a great way to heal with other people supporting the community and the prices are reasonable, so it’s an affordable service for me.”
These are just some of the cases we see during clinical shifts at Common Ground.
Similar to acupuncture, people can receive complimentary short chair massage sessions in a variety of settings. Longer treatments in private settings allow practitioners to establish a sense of safety and connection. This foundational relationship ensures regular visits, leading to lasting improvements. Massage has been practiced for thousands of years, and studies have shown it can be effective in reducing back and joint pain, improving circulation, and reducing swelling, muscle tension, headaches, stress, and anxiety.
Massage improves oxygenation to soft tissues and muscles. It also helps with sleep. Issues reported by new patients include chronic back pain, scoliosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress from being recently released from prison, and schizophrenia. One patient recently told me, “I have PTSD with anxiety. An affordable massage helps improve my well-being.”
Acupuncture and massage are beneficial for many people, but every patient and treatment plan is different. Different amounts of treatments are needed to be effective, depending on the problem being treated. Some of the people who benefit most from acupuncture and massage are also the ones who can least afford it.
Check out these community resources:
■ Blue Ridge Center in Region 10: A free ear acupuncture clinic will be held weekdays at 1 p.m., open to all community members.
■ Central Virginia Community Acupuncture: A free ear acupuncture clinic is held every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
■ Common Ground Healing Arts: A community event offering free chair massages and ear acupuncture.
Alicia Lenahan is executive director of Common Ground Healing Arts.
