Dr. Patricia would be glad to talk to you over the phone or meet with you in person for a free consultation to decide if acupuncture could benefit your health.

While pursuing her doctorate degree at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Dr. Patricia Johnson fell in love with acupuncture.  After finishing her degree there she continued her studies at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture (PIHMA).  Dr. Patricia now sees patients at ASU's Student Health Wellness Center as well as at Papillon Acupuncture.  She is also an instructor at PIHMA.

Papillon is french for "butterfly" which is symbolic of the metamorphis and transformation that can take place in one's health through acupuncture.  In early Christianity the butterfly was a symbol for the soul, and in China it was used as a symbol of the marriage of bliss and joy.  Butterflies also appear to dance, and remind us of the sweetness that dance can bring back into our lives. 

Acupuncture has existed as a part of China's health care system for at least 2,500 years.  The theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow (or Qi) through the body that are essential for health.  The disruption of this flow is responsible for pain and disease.  Acupuncture is used to correct imbalances of this flow. 
    The use of acupuncture in the United States was relatively rare until the visit of President Nixon to China in 1972.  Since that time, there has been a rapid growth in the interest in the application of acupunture to Western medicine.  Acupuncture has been used by millions of Americans for a variety of health conditions.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently removed acupuncture needles from their category of "experimental medical devices" and now regulates them under the same category as surgical scapels and hypodermic syringes.
    The National Institute of Health (NIH) recently conducted a non-Federal, non-advocate, study of the use and effectiveness of acupuncture for a variety of conditions.  Their study supports the efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunct treatment or as an acceptable alternative in a comprehensive management program for conditions like addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma.