Carolyn Shannon Sullivan LIC. AC

Acupuncturist

24 S Main St. Randolph MA, 02368 Show map

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About

Carolyn Sullivan is an acupuncturist practicing in Randolph, Ma. She evaluates and treats patients based on the concepts of oriental medicine. Acupuncturists complete their evaluations by getting a patient history and examining abnormalities in skin discoloration, sensitivity, scar tissues and the like.. Then, they place very fine acupuncture needles into specific points on the body based on a patients' diagnosis. Stimulation of the needles is how the energy system, or qi, is activated. Acupuncture is a great way to treat physical pain as well as emotional stress in a gentle, non-invasive manner. Call today to see if acupuncture is right for you!

Education and Training

New England School of Acupunct Masters of Acupuncture 2009

Provider Details

Female English

Carolyn Shannon Sullivan LIC. AC

Carolyn Shannon Sullivan LIC. AC's Expert Contributions

My Answers

How long does it take for acupuncture to work for insomnia?
I'm sorry you are having trouble sleeping. How quickly one responds to treatment varies between individuals and depends upon many factors. Are you on any medications that have insomnia as a side effect? Are you drinking caffeinated drinks or foods (chocolate) late in the afternoon or evening? Do you work out late at night? Do you have an irregular work schedule? All of these and more can be the cause of your insomnia. Very often it is due to stress...at work, home, financial worries. I would suggest avoiding watching the news late at night, as this can be very anxiety producing especially in the face of worries over the pandemic. I would avoid those around you that cause you stress. Taking part in internal exercises such as yoga, meditation, tai chi are very helpful in cases of insomnia. Try to avoid spicy or greasy foods and increase your fiber intake...leafy greens and other fruits and veggies. Cherries are high in melatonin, nature's natural sleep remedy. Try to avoid eating late at night. Do some light stretching before bed to relax you. Drink some chamomile tea, sleepytime tea, warm milk, etc. All of these things can help you sleep better, but if you still find that you are having trouble, acupuncture can be very helpful. But it's still important to isolate the cause of your insomnia. If it is stress that is keeping you up, you may consider seeing a professional for counseling. Acupuncture can be helpful only insofar as you are willing to help yourself. Good luck!!! READ MORE
Is acupuncture for your neck safe?
As long as you go to a licensed acupuncturist and not someone who practices dry needling (non-licensed). Practitioners who have gone through a master's level degree program, who have had extensive training and have knowledge of anatomy have learned how to needle safely. Needles are inserted at the correct depth in the correct orientation as it is outlined in our training as acupuncturists. Generally, a half inch to an inch deep is sufficient to illicit a qi sensation resulting in a physiological change in the body's nervous system. This change can be felt as a burning, tingling, tugging etc, type feeling that one can expect before getting true benefit from treatment. So, again, as long as you are seeing someone who is licensed to perform acupuncture, needling anywhere on the body is safe. READ MORE
How many sessions of acupuncture do you need for neck spasms?
That is dependent upon the severity of your condition and many other variables. How long has this been going on? The longer you suffer with a condition, the longer it will (or may) take to heal. What other forms of treatment have you tried so far? If you've taken an active part in your health and have sought out other methods of healing, then it may not take as long. What is your past history in regards to MVA's, falls, sports injuries? The more damage your body has sustained with accidents or repetitive stress conditions, the harder it will be to treat. What do you do for work? Are you on the computer all day/ a lot??? Acupuncture may work well and quickly for you, but if you are doing something daily and frequently, the spasms will return or you may get poor results with acupuncture. In the meantime, try some heat on the neck/upper back, alternate with ice, do some LIGHT stretching of the neck muscles, drink plenty of water, get a pillow that supports your neck properly and lastly, watch what you are doing for work and play.....any repetitive motions and try to limit the action/motion as much as possible. Try to get up and walk around occasionally during the day if at all possible. Doing one or all of these things daily may be enough. Good luck!! READ MORE
Do acupuncture needles go into nerves?
Absolutely not. Needles are inserted into muscle, fascia and tendons, to a safe and appropriate depth depending upon where in the body. Sometimes the manipulation of the needles, once inserted, can feel powerful and a bit shocking, but it is not because they are hitting nerves. Most of my patients are pleasantly surprised at how painless the needles are. I admit, some points on the body can feel a bit pinchy, such as the hands and feet, because of the lack of musculature and a large number of nerves. But you will see that acupuncture needles are very thin and very different from hypodermic needles used in taking blood. The slight and very temporary discomfort felt from needling will be overshadowed by the pain relief and relaxation you will experience from acupuncture. Good luck! READ MORE
How many acupuncture treatments are needed for sciatica?
There is no pat answer for that, I'm afraid. Outcomes are variable and dependent upon a multitude of things. Have you isolated the root of the problem? Which vertebrae are involved? If it's a piriformis issue? Do you sit all day for your job? Do you wear supportive footwear? Do you stand all day for your job? How active are you? Do you do a lot of bending? As you can see there are many variables involved, another being...do you have a previous injury and are you being treated for that injury? How I would proceed to treat sciatica would depend upon the extent of damage/injury amongst other things. This would not be a quick fix and many treatments may be warranted. There is no way to tell you how many until I see how you respond to treatment. In the meantime, you can help yourself by wearing supportive shoes (no flip flops, walking on bare feet, etc.), doing daily stretches (as tolerated), using heat or ice as desired, doing more light walking or exercise, drinking plenty of water, using support pillows in your chairs and bed to allow for lumbar support. Seeing your PCP and most definitely a chiropractor should be your first stop. If the bones/tendons/muscles are out of place, you may need an adjustment and then seek acupuncture services. Good luck and feel better!! READ MORE
Can acupuncture help neuropathy in feet?
There has been some success in treating neuropathy, outcomes vary between patients. Acupuncture is a person-focused medicine, not problem focused, therefore, treating neuropathy will entail having a full health history done to understand the whole person in order for treatment to be effective. If you seek out a qualified licensed practitioner, not someone who does dry needling, then you are more likely to see results over the course of several weeks. Of course, how quickly, or if, a person responds to acupuncture will vary and could depend upon severity of condition and other co-morbid conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. But acupuncture has had some success stories with neuropathy, so long as the patient allows enough time (enough treatments) to dedicate to receiving acupuncture and is realistic about time frame of outcomes. Good luck!! READ MORE
Is acupuncture in the neck safe?
Any practitioner who is somewhat familiar with the anatomy of the neck will carefully place needles to the required depth that is safe for that area. Generally, I don't insert a needle much more than a quarter of an inch, depending on the area. A needle can go in at an angle as well to get a further depth. I would strongly suggest NOT getting dry needling, which is trigger point insertions with no training of acupuncture meridians and the implications of treatment. A licensed acupuncturist goes through at least 3 years of extensive training, both of a western and eastern perspective and formulates a TCM diagnosis based on your symptoms as well as details from your health history. Acupuncture treats the whole person and not just the problem. So the acupoints chosen for your diagnosis are based on symptoms, pulse and tongue diagnosis, co-morbid conditions, sleep patterns, digestion and so on. Besides, the problems/pain in your neck may stem from elsewhere and need to be treated accordingly. So make sure your practitioner is a licensed acupuncturist to ensure safety with needling and the best outcome of treatment. Good luck!!! READ MORE
How often should I get acupuncture for panic attacks?
At least once a week is recommended. It is important, too, that you seek some sort of professional counseling to deal with your issues. Acupuncture alone will not stop panic attacks if you are not doing your part to combat them. It might be worth mentioning that spicy foods, sugary foods and caffeine are notorious for raising blood pressure and can contribute to anxiety. It would be wise to avoid those along with therapy while you are doing acupuncture. Good luck!! READ MORE
What are the benefits of acupuncture for generalized anxiety disorder?
Acupuncture has been known to provide relief from anxiety and depression, promotes a sense of well-being, helps improve sleep, amongst other benefits. Of course, seeing a therapist is definitely recommended as acupuncture alone cannot compare to the therapeutic value of one on one counseling. It's important to identify exactly what causes you anxiety and a qualified therapist will help you do that and facilitate in learning healthier coping mechanisms. READ MORE
Does acupuncture lower stress about covid-19?
These are very difficult times we are forced to deal with today. I am sorry you are feeling stressed but the upside is that there is something you can do about it. Acupuncture has long been touted as a great stress reliever amongst many other things! Of course, what you do for self care is KEY. The needles alone are not going to help you escape from what is going on out there. It is important that you do what you can to promote relaxation. Tai chi, yoga, meditation, deep breathing and cardio exercise are just a few of the things that can help tremendously with stress. Avoiding the news when possible, negative people and stressful situations; getting enough and deep REM sleep, eating a balanced, regularly scheduled diet are known stress-relievers. Avoiding late night snacking especially fried, sugary or caffeinated foods which can raise blood pressure and blood sugar, raise cortisol levels (which all contribute to stress) is important as well. Acupuncture works by balancing that which is out of balance, regulates hormone levels, promotes better sleep all which result in lowering stress. But first start with the aforementioned suggestions and you will well be on your way. Good luck and be well. READ MORE
Can acupuncture help with energy levels?
I've had good results with improved energy levels with several treatments of acupuncture. But it depends upon many variables. One, if there is an unknown medical condition that has not yet been explored, such as diabetes, heart issues, etc, you may not see an increase in energy with acupuncture alone. Two, If you are overweight and do not exercise at all or have poor eating habits, then you probably won't see a huge increase. Three, if you are on multiple medications or if there is a conflict with one or a few of your meds that could explain poor energy. Four, if you are not sleeping regularly and soundly because you are overworked and stressed, then you will not see a change quickly or at all. All of this being said, it is important to note that acupuncture is not a substitute for good health but an adjunct to it. One must take care of oneself by getting proper rest, eating more healthfully and not late at night, avoiding sugar and caffeine as much as possible, incorporating an exercise routine at least 3 times a week and avoiding stress as much as humanly possible. While it is understandable that no one can possibly "do it all" perfectly, the more you try to incorporate healthy habits into your daily routine, the more energy you will have. Acupuncture can certainly assist in this process but cannot conjure up energy if you are not doing your part. I hope this helps!! READ MORE
Why does acupuncture hurt sometimes?
Some areas on the body are more sensitive than others, for example, thin-skinned areas like the hands, feet, ears. But some people tend to be needle sensitive anywhere. I use a guide tube that the needle comes encased in to insert the needle, which helps with the uncomfortable sensation. But a skilled acupuncturist will try different methods to ensure that the needling is as painless as possible or use fewer needles. They can also use pressure points on the acupoints or utilize other modalities such as magnet therapy, press tacks and so on. READ MORE
Can acupuncture treat sweating?
Well, it depends upon what the problem is exactly. In TCM terms (Traditional Chinese Medicine), sweating usually is derived from "wind." Excess wind in the channels. Acupuncture works to treat wind and treat any imbalance therein. If your sweating is caused by an unknown medical condition, or a medication interaction, it may be more difficult. As with any condition, there is no guarantee that acupuncture will work. But it has been my experience that acupuncture helps where western medicine has been able to. But it may take many treatments to get to the root of the problem. There is no magic pill or quick fix with acupuncture. You need to heal from the inside out, which can take time. If you are willing to invest in a treatment modality that may not be immediate and take suggestions regarding diet and lifestyle, then with that you may be pleasantly surprised at the result. Good luck!! READ MORE
Is acupuncture good for osteoarthritis?
Acupuncture can help with pain and inflammation from arthritis but it will depend upon lifestyle factors. For instance, if you are doing too much repetitive action/movements despite feeling better, than you probably won't see good results. It is important to not only rest after acupuncture, but limit or stop the action that's being overdone. I had a patient that got great results with arthritic pain from playing tennis. He felt so good, that he started playing again 3-4 times a week. He later complained it wasn't helping. He did not rest adequately or at all, even, and he was unwilling to slow down his number of days playing or the intensity with which he played. We have to understand and accept our limitations and act accordingly. If you are in your forties, chances are you cannot do the things you used to and you will have to either find a new way to exercise and re-evaluate what you are doing and maybe change the mechanics of your activity. A physical therapist or personal trainer can help identify these problematic repetitive motions that will only add to your pain and retrain you on proper body mechanics. In addition, proper nutrition, enough deep, restorative sleep and stretching properly will help with muscle and bone repair. Non weight-bearing exercise is advised by professionals, as weight bearing can cause undue stress on bones/tendons/muscles and only worsen your arthritis. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about what is recommended for activity level and nutrition for your age and BMI. Good luck! READ MORE
How does acupuncture relieve pain?
Acupuncture is great for quieting pain and reducing swelling and inflammation. You may not see immediate results but many of my patients do after one treatment. Not everyone responds that quickly, as you may need to come for several weeks before you see improvement. How well or how quickly you respond may depend upon many factors. Proper nutrition, sleep and exercise affect pain levels significantly. Extra body weight can increase pain levels because excess weight can add stress to bones/muscles/tendons. If there is an untreated medical condition that is responsible for your pain, you may need to evaluate, along with your doctor, the best course of treatment for you. You may need to get tests, blood labs taken to find out the western diagnosis of your condition. Armed with the correct health information from your doctor(s), acupuncturists work to formulate a Chinese medical diagnosis based on signs and symptoms and tongue and pulse diagnosis. You may need to look at your work station, if you work at a computer and how it affects your body mechanics=pain. You may need to change your footwear to something more supportive/comfortable. I would strongly suggest doing regular stretching/yoga/tai chi daily to loosen muscles/tendons and strengthen them. Meditation can also help pain immensely, as learning to listen to your body and respond to its needs is key to learning how to fix or address your issues. Avoiding stress as much as humanly possible will also help to alleviate pain or at least not contribute to it. Good luck!!! READ MORE
Can acupuncture cure sweaty hands and feet?
Well, first of all, I don't like to say "cure". Acupuncture can help with a plethora of conditions but what the patient does to assist in the healing of said condition plays a part also. Sweating seems like a harmless issue but it could be an underlying symptom of something else. In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) we call that internal heat of one or several channels. If we can get to the root of the problem in a TCM diagnosis, which may take many treatments, then you should see an improvement over time. It may be related to something in your diet that is causing excessive heat, stress, hormonal shifts and so on. Taking a look at your diet (eating spicy foods, getting checked for food allergies, gluten intolerance), working diligently to control stress and getting your blood levels checked for any imbalances are a good start. A seasoned practitioner should be able to find the root cause, after you have ruled out other things medically with your doctor, and hopefully find some relief. READ MORE
Can acupuncture help with skin problems?
Father time is cruel, isn't it???? Acupuncture works to balance meridians and organ systems. It is based on the idea of restoring qi and blood flow. Your acupuncturist will do a full health history work up on you to find what is out of balance and work to rectify the said imbalance. Any imbalance or disruption of qi or blood flow can cause issues that could ultimately result in cell death, which can manifest as wrinkles (among other things). Of course, the best way to limit wrinkles is to drink plenty of water daily, avoid caffeine, sugar, fried, fatty foods and limit sun exposure and wear sunscreen. Getting good quality restorative sleep and avoiding stress as much as possible is also very important. If none of these boxes are checked for you, than all of the acupuncture in the world is not going to make a difference in your skin. A lot of people I have come across have assumed that if they don't see a change immediately from acupuncture than it doesn't work. Chinese medicine works by getting to the root of the problem, which takes time, weeks, even months sometimes. If you are expecting astounding results for wrinkles but are doing nothing to take care of your skin then you will be disappointed. Acupuncture should be used as a complement to your health care routine, not a substitute for it. All of this being said, with age comes wrinkles and to an extent, there's not a lot you can do about it. But you can affect how quickly you get them or how many. I, myself, do not practice facial acupuncture, but you may want to talk to a practitioner that does and you may get a different response to your questions. Good luck but more importantly, good health!!! READ MORE
How long does acupuncture take to work for depression?
How quickly people respond to treatment varies from person to person. How frequently you visit, if you are on or not on medications and what you do to help yourself will affect treatment outcomes. I am assuming you are in therapy for your depression??? Addressing your issues is the first thing you should be doing. Depression can be quite debilitating and expressing your feeling is key and over time will help with your symptoms. I have had patients that did everything right to combat depression but stayed in an abusive/controlling relationship....obviously, with poor results. Your living/domestic situation plays a huge part in one's sense of happiness and staying when you probably should be leaving should be considered. Maybe your partner needs to accompany you to therapy? If the situation does not involve another person, it's important to look at what you are doing professionally, in your personal relationships as to why you feel unfulfilled. Exercise helps increase serotonin levels in the brain that directly relate to mood. Engage in regular exercise if you aren't already and push yourself out of your comfort zone in other areas of your life. Sometimes, even when doing all of these things, medication is still needed. If that's the case, please don't feel bad about needing it. Chemical imbalances are common and can be easily treated with the right med or combination of meds. Some foods are known mood-boosters and can help with depression. Good luck!!! READ MORE
Where do you put acupuncture needles for anxiety?
There are some common ear acupoints that deal with stress and anxiety, but where else on the body they go depends upon a TCM ( Traditional Chinese Medicine) diagnosis formulated by your practitioner. Chinese medicine takes into account the whole person, not just your diagnosis. If there are some deficiencies, for instance, the kidney channel is often affected long before there are any outward signs of anxiety. But that may not necessarily be the case for you. Doing a detailed health history before treatment, taking the pulse and looking at the tongue helps your acupuncturist to garner the information needed for diagnosis. The acupoints chosen are dependent upon all of these. Acupuncture is not a problem focused medicine but an integrated picture of the whole person. That being said, your practitioner can choose points all over the body. If you are concerned about how many needles are used or where on the body they are placed, talk to him or her about your fears and I am certain that he or she will explain what they are doing to hopefully assuage those fears. Good luck!!! READ MORE
What is the success rate of acupuncture for quitting smoking?
That depends upon several variables. It's important for you to change habits that you engaged in while smoking ....for instance, if your daily habit is to get up in the morning and drink a cup of coffee with a cigarette, maybe you need to skip the coffee until after breakfast. If you are used to lighting up immediately after eating, replace that habit with something else. If you smoke for stress relief, try other things to relieve stress such as cardio exercise, yoga, tai chi, etc. There are a lot of reasons why we resort to bad habits to deal with problems but we have to look at our coping skill set if we want to change those habits. All of that being said, acupuncture can help only insofar as you are willing to change your habitual patterns of living/coping with life's stressors. You are dealing with a physical and psychological addiction and it will take a lot of willpower and work on your part to combat this addiction. The success rates I have seen have been mixed. Some people are not willing to change habits or deal with the uncomfortableness of withdrawal and they give in. Acupuncture can help with the emotional part of addiction but you do need to deal with the physical component of detoxing from nicotine and put something else (hopefully a healthier alternative) in it's place. Those that have told me that acupuncture didn't work for smoking were not willing to deal with the difficulty of detoxing and gave in, blaming acupuncture for their inability to stay stopped. Aside from doing internal exercises such as yoga, tai chi, etc., you might want to look into counseling to help reveal why you need to smoke. Acupuncture is not to be used as a quick fix or a magic pill, you need to take some responsibility for your addiction and develop a healthier lifestyle. I quit smoking many years ago and was dismayed to find that I put on 20 pounds in a very short time. Most of us turn to food, sweets, alcohol to replace the addiction and it is normal to gain weight after smoking. Your metabolism changes (among other things) after quitting so it is important to accept that weight gain is inevitable but you have ways to combat that. It is far better to see higher numbers on the scale than to end up in the future with lung cancer, COPD or life long breathing difficulties. Go for a run or lift weights every time you want to light up and I'm sure you will shed those pounds in no time. Good luck!!! READ MORE