Eastern Medicine

Ellen Arndorfer,

Licensed Acupuncturist

“I am most interested in helping people become integrated human beings.” –Ellen Arndorfer

“Chinese medicine is a complete medical system that has diagnosed, treated, and prevented illness for over 23 centuries. While it can remedy ailments and alter states of mind, Chinese medicine can also enhance recuperative power, immunity, and the capacity for pleasure, work, and creativity.”

-H. Beinfield & E. Korngold

Ellen Arndorfer began studying Oriental Medicine in China in 1985 and has been a practicing acupuncturist for 20 years. She has been licensed in the state of Wisconsin since 1990, after graduating from the Midwest Center for the Study of Oriental Medicine.

Ellen did post-graduate study in Chinese Herbal Medicine, and has prescribed herbal medicines for the past 18 years.

In 2005, seeking a deeper spiritual understanding of her art, Ellen embarked on the study of Classical Five Element Acupuncture at the Institute of Classical Five Element Acupuncture in Santa Monica, California, completing the full course of study.

Now, drawing from the depth of her education and the breadth of her experience, Ellen practices both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Classical Five-Element Acupuncture.

“You read the books diligently for 20 years. You study what the ancestors have done and you graciously utilize their knowledge to serve humanity. After the first 20 years, you give your books to your students and practice from a different place, an artistic place where the rules bend in their own unique way.” - Acupuncture teacher

Ellen’s personal life feeds her practice, helping her understand what it means to have a full and integrated life. She is a wife and the mother of two boys; involved in Waldorf education; a 16-year supporter of CSAs; a member of a twice-weekly workout group; part of an ongoing women’s group; and an active member of her small town community.

Ellen holds a deep respect for the healing power of the human body and feels honored to assist her patients on their journey toward wholeness.

What to Expect?

Ellen gets to know a new patient through a thorough interview, lasting up to 1 1/2 hours, after which she can discern and recommend the most beneficial course of treatment: TCM, Classical Five-Element Acupuncture, and/or Chinese Herbal Medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
TCM practitioners recognize 14 main meridians in the body. Symptoms patients are experiencing are related to those meridians, or the organs associated with them. Once Ellen knows the symptoms, she will treat the meridians or organs with which these symptoms are associated. It is possible to treat several meridians/organs at once.

“The primary goal of Chinese traditional medicine is to create wholeness and harmony within a person, allowing the mind/body/spirit to heal itself.”
-Misha Ruth Cohen, O.M.D., L. Ac.

Classical Five-Element Acupuncture
In Classical Five-Element Acupuncture, the practitioner’s job is to identify a patient’s primary elemental imbalance or “causative factor”. There are unique (to Classical Five-Element Acupuncture) diagnostic techniques to identify these primary elemental imbalances. Each of the five elements has a corresponding color, sound, emotion, and odor, which can be perceived when a particular element is out of balance. When Ellen has identified the causative factor, she treats that element. Once this primary imbalance is treated, any other imbalances resolve naturally.

“Until you see the God in each patient, you cannot practice this medicine.”
-J.R. Worsley

Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbs are often prescribed in conjunction with acupuncture in order to complement the body’s ability to heal itself. Herbs can be combined in formulas that enhance their individual properties, reflecting the particular conditions and needs of each patient.

“Ultimately, the internal tradition of healing is concerned with the evolution of the individual, rather than solely with her survival ( the domain of modern medicine).”
-Lonny Jarrett

Oriental Medicine successfully treats a wide variety of conditions. The following list represents conditions agreed upon by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as effectively treated by Acupuncture:

Neck and shoulder pain
Jaw, back, and hip pain
Post-surgical pain
Migraine headaches
PMS and menstrual cramps
Menopausal symptoms
Colds and flu
Asthma
Allergies
Chronic sinus conditions
Irritable bowel syndrome
Chronic bladder infections
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Tennis elbow
Stress
Lowered immunity
Digestive problems
Emotional conditions
Injuries

“I am committed to facilitating and assisting the healing process in all my patients, to the best of my ability, using all my knowledge, skill and compassion.”
-Ellen Arndorfer

Testimonials:

“I will never find the words to express my thanks and gratitude for all that you have done for me physically, emotionally and spiritually. You have been a significant piece of the journey I am traveling to health, peace, and happiness. I am sure you make a very positive impact on every client you see.” Karen P.

"Ellen makes Acupuncture a pleasant, peaceful experience which helps me achieve the balance I need to cope with everyday stress.I have always felt that Ellen's practice is an extension of her life, not a side from it. Her dedication, passion for healing, knowledge and high standards set her apart from other practitioners." Jan B.

Appointments:

To schedule an appointment with Ellen, please call the Healing Arts Center at (608) 637-7600, or click here to send her an e-mail.

Additional office hours at:

VMH Family Practice and Complementary Medicine Clinic
407 S. Main Street, Suite 102
Viroqua, WI

Organic Valley (Thursdays)
One Organic Way
La Farge, WI. (in the Water Conference Room)

For appointments at both offices:
608-606-9083 (cell phone) or 608-637-7600 (Viroqua office)

Health Evaluation Forms:

Download my intake form here.