Viola Pircher
Restoring Health With Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs
story by KAREN SNYDER photos by SUSAN DELOACH
What if someone told you that you could work with your own body to heal what ails you? It’s true. The practice of Chinese acupuncture, dating back some 5,000 years, is again finding its place in today’s world as an option for those looking to deal with illness, injury, or chronic pain.
Thankfully, Viola Pircher, owner of Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs, has been providing acupuncture to Beaufortonians since opening her location at 1214 Prince Street in 2018. According to Viola, acupuncture offers many benefits to those seeking improved health. “From a Western perspective in dealing with pain management, acupuncture does several things. One example is, it increases blood circulation into the area being treated, which helps with inflammation and healing,” she explains.
Viola has been practicing acupuncture since 2009 after having completed 2,880 hours of study and receiving her Master of Science degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A native of the Denver Metro area, she first brought her practice aboard cruise ships, sailing the seas and sharing her knowledge of acupuncture with people from around the world. After her travels, Viola returned home to Colorado but missed the ocean. In search of a new home, she headed up the coast from Florida toward Chesapeake, VA. Once she stopped in Beaufort and saw the Lowcountry’s beauty, she decided to go no further!
“I am honored to be an acupuncture provider for the Veterans Choice Program. The VA is recognizing and valuing acupuncture as a way to manage chronic pain and are utilizing it as an alternative to opiates,” says Viola. Those interested in pursuing treatment should first contact their primary care provider at the VA. Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs provides a variety of services and offers a free consultation to interested clients to discuss treatment plans that best suit their needs.
Other services include cosmetic acupuncture called Collagen Induction Therapy. “I use a handheld device with 36 tiny needles to open channels on the surface of the skin to stimulate collagen production. This also provides open pathways for hyaluronic acid and other products to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin, resulting in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.” Viola says she also uses various Chinese herbs in her practice and treatment because they “work synergistically with acupuncture to enhance treatment outcomes.” Her cosmetic treatments also address age spots, acne, rosacea, and even stretch marks.
Whether migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, shoulder pain, chronic conditions, or just general aches and pains, Viola says acupuncture helps to improve her clients’ quality of life. “My role is to minimize or even to eliminate their pain, so they can enjoy their life.” Sessions typically run 45-60 minutes, and most patients need multiple treatments depending on their specific needs. Depending on the provider, the cost of her services are sometimes covered by insurance.
For those who may be a bit needle phobic, preventing them from seeking acupuncture treatment, Viola says she uses less than 10 needles throughout the body. “My clients are always surprised when they realize they can’t really feel where I’m placing them,” she assures, explaining that her “needling” technique avoids placing needles directly in areas of inflammation.
“Unfortunately, many of my clients come to me as a last resort,” she says. “I’d like to encourage those who are experiencing pain to seek me out first to possibly avoid more invasive measures or surgery,” she adds. To book a consultation or appointment, reach out to Viola at (843) 605-1086 or schedule online at www.nourishinghealthacu.com.
