Atsuki Maeda pokes and needles his patients to health.

Literally.

Maeda runs Maeda Acupuncture & Medical Therapy Group in Torrance, where he performs both Japanese and Chinese acupuncture.

While treating such symptoms as aches and pains, Maeda, 46, also uses acupuncture for stroke and dementia patients.

The Rolling Hills Estates resident has practiced acupuncture for 23 years, having trained in his native Japan as well as China.

What does your job entail?

I like to help people. I think the reason I became an acupuncturist and came to the U.S. is to use my knowledge to help people.

What do you use Chinese acupuncture for?

To treat stroke and dementia patients. It requires the Chinese way to manipulate the needle to stimulate the brain by activating blood flow to the brain to revive the damaged brain cells.

So the Chinese style is less gentle?

Yes, it’s more stimulation, so the patient may get more achy. Most of my patients get my Japanese style, which is for the rest of the health problems.

What’s the Japanese style like?

Japanese acupuncture uses a much smaller needle. It’s 0.12 millimeter, thinner than a human hair. We use a special insertion technique to make the insertion painless. I use this technique for pain, and most of the time you see immediate results. Once the needle goes in, the pain goes down. Also it’s good for women problems, gynecological problems. Acupuncture rebalances a person’s system energy and that helps bring them back to normal.

Is Japanese acupuncture also good for other problems?

It’s also for male problems. Most male problems are erection problems, hypertension, insomnia, stress, depression.

How do you manipulate the needle when it’s in the skin?

After the needle is inserted to the desired depth, I will either twirl the needle and/or go in and out to stimulate. sometimes you combine them. sometimes I use the Phoenix technique on certain points.

What’s the Phoenix technique?

That’s when I, for example, twirl the needle clockwise and flick it counter-clockwise to create vibrations to increase the stimulation. We call it increasing the qi. That’s a Chinese word for the life force we have in our body.

What’s the best part of your job?

To see patients leaving my office with a big smile and saying, “Oh, I feel so refreshed.”

And the worst part of your job?

This is something I can never avoid, but when I see the limitations of this medicine I feel helpless. I am not a god.

Are most of your patients Japanese?

It’s about half Japanese. The rest are a mix.

How long is one of your sessions?

The initial visit is about one hour, and the follow-ups are between 40 and 50 minutes.

How much do you charge?

The regular price for a visit is $80. That’s with insurance. With the cash payment, the price is $65. for the stroke and dementia protocol, it’s $70 with cash.

Have you ever been afraid of needles?

When I was a kid. I think no kid likes a needle.

What’s the best way to get over a fear of needles?

I’m confident that I can insert the needle painlessly. So just trust me.

FIND OUT MORE

Maeda Acupuncture & Medical Therapy Group

3248 Sepulveda Blvd.

Torrance

310-891-1111

maedaacupuncture.com