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

What does acupuncture actually do?
Hello! Have you been to your primary care for blood labs and an exam? If you have and nothing is amiss, then you may want to visit a chiropractor to check and see if your spine is out of alignment. This can often lead to headaches. Food allergies, such as celiac disease, can often be the culprit. The best way to test that out right away is to start to take away known allergen- containing foods such as wheat, and only wheat, to see if that relieves headaches. If it doesn't, then work on eliminating another food, such as processed sugar. If you find that foods are not the issue, then you may want to see your gynecologist (I'm assuming you are a woman!!!) to check your hormone levels. Hormones are famous for causing migraines. You may need to get on the pill (Again, assuming you are a woman!!!) which has been shown to stop or decrease headaches. You may be allergic to certain scents in your home or work. Make sure you have working Carbon Monoxide detectors at home and work. There may be some non toxic but nonetheless bothersome cleaning chemical that could be causing the headaches. Acupuncture works to regulate qi (energy) and blood flow that is either deficient (lacking something) or excess (stagnation). Your practitioner will take a detailed health history and check your tongue and pulse. The tongue may show a multitude of things such as dampness or discoloration, scalloped edges, red points and so on. Your acupuncturist can explain what these things signify. Your pulse will show different "qualities" will will also help diagnostically. Once a diagnosis has been made, a point prescription will be designed specifically for your condition based on health history and tongue and pulse diagnosis. Needling (as well as other modalities) work to correct any imbalances and restore the acupuncture meridians to their proper flow. In addition, I would recommend trying a cervical pillow when sleeping. This can help put the neck in its natural position whereas a pillow that is too soft could make the neck scrunch up and impede blood flow. Lastly, I would suggest doing neck rolls multiple times per day and stretch the trapezius muscles in your neck/shoulders to increase blood flow and work out any kinks you may have. Good luck!!! READ MORE
Relieving pain with acupuncture?
Firstly, you should see your PCP to rule out anything more serious. He or she may want to order tests. Is it at all possible that you have been exposed to any toxic chemicals? Do you have a carbon monoxide monitor in your home and work? Have you been tested for Celiac Disease? Headaches can often to be related to food allergies. If your spine is out of alignment that can cause headaches as well, you may want to consult a chiropractor. Acupuncture can be effective if your practitioner does a very detailed health history and accurately diagnoses your condition. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses different methods of diagnosing health concerns than typical Western Medicine. Acupuncture helps to balance qi and blood flow as well as "break up" stagnation in the channels which often cause pain. It may take 6-8 treatments before you see any results, so be patient. Usually it doesn't take that long but you need to make sure you are doing your part by avoiding allergen causing foods, exercising (neck rolls would be ideal), drinking PLENTY of water and getting proper sleep. Additionally, using a cervical pillow will help in allowing the neck to relax in it's natural position instead of using a soft pillow which can cause the neck to scrunch up and decrease blood flow, possibly leading to headaches and neck pain. I hope this was helpful...good luck!! READ MORE
Can acupuncture help fertility?
Acupuncture has been shown to improve outcomes in fertility but with some caveats. First, structural problems such as fibroid cysts or tumors have to be ruled out, motility problems with the sperm and so on. If these types of issues exist, then acupuncture may be of no avail. But not necessarily. Chinese medicine views infertility as problems with regulation of the period. Do you have erratic periods? Blood clots? Excessive bleeding? Normalizing the cycle and hormonal rhythms may be the key to successful conception and retention of the fetus. Consider making dietary changes to increase your chances of getting pregnant. Visit your PCP to get recommendations on a knowledgeable dietician. Make sure that there are no environmental concerns either at home or your workplace that could effect fertility. Follow a regular sleep regimen and in my opinion, the most important factor....reduce stress as much as humanly possible. I see way too many fertility patients that have way too much on their plate and are professional "doers". Let someone else worry about the minutiae and you just focus on you. Engage in self soothing exercises such as yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, meditation. Let go of worries. All of these things, in combination with acupuncture, can increase your chances of getting pregnant. Good luck!!! READ MORE
Can acupuncture work for acne?
I went to acupuncture as a teenager myself for acne. It helped me, along with daily herbs, proper skin care and most importantly, cleaning up my diet. But it wasn't an overnight thing. It took a long time.....9 months. But that was my experience, it may not be the case for you. Hormones are a big factor in acne and to some extent, you just have to let it run it's course. But what you do for your skin care routine can affect that. It's important to not let your skin get too dry, because the oil glands will secrete more oil to help moisturize the skin, causing more breakouts. The skin needs moisture, though, but only after a thorough cleansing and some experts say using a toner before moisturizer. Wearing makeup to cover your skin will only make things worse. I'm sure you have read about how important diet is in affecting acne. Fried foods, chocolate, dairy, etc can definitely make acne worse and conversely, eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, unprocessed foods, plain water, etc. has shown to improve skin OVER TIME. All that being said, acupuncture can help but it may take months and only if you are eating right and taking care of your skin properly. In addition, getting enough and deep sleep, avoiding stress and exercising are a huge factor in positive outcomes. I would strongly suggest doing yoga, tai chi or any other stress reducing internal exercises, drinking plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated, maintain a regular sleep schedule, exercise as often as possible and make dietary changes. All of these things along with acupuncture can help over time. Good luck!!! READ MORE
Can acupuncture be used to treat depression?
So glad you are looking out for your friend!!! Yes, acupuncture has been shown to help depression by balancing meridians, improving blood and qi flow, raising cortisol and serotonin levels, and so on. Of course, change in lifestyle plays a big part whether depression can be treated successfully. Partaking in therapy, taking on a exercise routine, going out with friends or surrounding oneself with a support group are key to treating depression. But acupuncture can certainly help in getting the ball rolling. Even my patients who aren't depressed report that their mood is most definitely improved after treatment. Good luck to you and your friend!! READ MORE
Will acupuncture help me with hand pain?
I am sorry that you are in constant pain. Have you had an MRI to rule out anything more serious than carpal tunnel? If nothing serious is found, acupuncture has been seen to be very helpful with your condition. Everyone has a different response to acupuncture. Sometimes surgery is warranted, but I think it is wise to first seek out other less invasive means of treatment. As there is no guarantee with surgery, there is no guarantee with acupuncture. It depends upon the nature of your condition, how severe it is, what you do occupationally insofar as overuse of the hand that will affect treatment outcomes. I have had good results with carpal tunnel cases, even those that have had it a long time. But if you work at a job that requires you to constantly use the affected hand, acupuncture may be minimally effective. It needs proper rest, heat and/or ice, and probably could use some physical therapy. How you choose to handle it may depend upon your insurance, but consult with your primary care to see how he/she thinks you should proceed. Good luck and feel better!!! READ MORE
Can acupuncture help with migraines?
Acupuncture has been found to help with migraines but other factors may be involved. Often times, foods have been seen to cause or worsen migraine pain. A damp or toxic environment (such as mold infestation or pollutants in the air) can cause migraines as well. Neck or spine pain- bulging discs and the like could be at fault. Try neck rolls several times throughout the day. Your neck muscles I'm sure are overly tight. Getting restful and enough quality sleep along with using a cervical pillow may help. Also, avoiding eating too close to bedtime and employing stress reducing exercises (such as yoga, tai qi, etc) into your routine should help. If none of this helps then I would suggest talking to your doctor about getting an MRI. Good luck!! READ MORE
Is acupuncture effective for migraines?
It can be. Have you gotten an MRI to rule out anything more serious? If so, then acupuncture ALONE may not be enough. Is there anything in your home or work environment that could be toxic to your health? Do you have carbon monoxide detectors in your home/work? You also have to look into your diet....certain foods such as caffeine, chocolate, spicy foods, and so on, can make migraines worse or more frequent. I know for myself I get them because of severe arthritis in my neck. When I do stretching, massage, daily neck rolls, etc, they aren't nearly as frequent or severe. Doing yoga, tai chi and the like can strengthen the muscles that may be tight and contributing to the headaches. Other factors such as not getting enough or quality sleep, living in a damp or dusty environment, eating late at night, not exercising at all can certainly affect migraines. Looking into these things and making lifestyle changes should get you on the right road. Good luck!!! READ MORE
Can acupuncture lower blood pressure?
Acupuncture has been shown to help control BP, but sometimes, it is not enough if one has dangerously high numbers. It might be wise to first consult with your doctor, but if he/she feels that it is safe in your case, to slowly lower the dosage over time. If your BP is well under control and is closely monitored, then sure, try acupuncture to keep it that way. That being said, it is VERY important to consider other factors that may be contributing to your high blood pressure. Are you overly stressed at home or work? Then you may need counseling or to employ stress reduction techniques such as yoga or meditation. Is your diet unhealthy or do you eat late at night? Then it may be time to see a nutritionist and make some changes to your eating habits. Are you overweight? Then getting that under control will certainly help to make your numbers go down. Either way, making a commitment to your health by making some serious lifestyle changes may be all it takes to lower your high blood pressure. Too often, people are looking for a quick fix or a magic pill to make it all go away. Acupuncture will only work if you work WITH your practitioner and take steps to help yourself. Good luck!!! READ MORE
How many acupuncture treatments are needed for migraines?
There is no pat answer to your question. Treatment outcomes vary depending upon a multitude of factors. Could your migraines be related to your diet? If so, you need to figure out what the offender is and eliminate from your diet. Could they be caused by toxicity in your environment? Have you gotten an MRI to rule out anything more serious? Do you have unresolved neck or vertebral pain that may be unchecked and therefore causing issues in the spinal column? This could cause migraines also. If you have been given a thorough work-up, then I would say give acupuncture a try with at least 4 treatments. Sometimes it takes longer. There are other things to take into account such as posture, improper footwear, occupational hazards/concerns. All of these things can worsen or cause migraines. So elimination of these things one by one will be the test to help understand what is causing them. Good luck!! READ MORE
Can I do electroacupuncture if I have titanium plates?
I have seen research pro and con for the use of electro acupunture. I would check with your surgeon and PCP to see if they feel it is safe. If you get the go-ahead, I would just tread lightly....very few needles and if there's no adverse effects, slowly add more spanning over several treatments. Good luck! READ MORE
Can acupuncture help with anxiety attacks?
There are no guarantees with any medicine, but I have had good luck with anxiety on several conditions. One, that my patients come on a regular basis. One treatment is not a cure all. Or coming every 2 months just isn't going to cut it either. Two, that you are doing all you can on your end to combat your anxiety....going to counseling, practicing deep breathing techniques daily, doing some sort of internal exercise such as tai chi or yoga, etc. Three, that you keep a log of what happens before an anxiety attack hits. Are there certain foods that trigger it? Sugar? Carbs? Alcohol? Is it caused by social situations, family issues or relationship issues? What do you do to deal with the anxiety? Do you self medicate? Do you eat or sleep excessively? How you handle an anxiety attack may cause you to beat yourself up later therefore, causing more anxiety. The more information you are armed with, the better handle you can get on your anxiety. I hope this helps.....good luck!!! READ MORE
Does acupuncture relieve arthritis pain?
Arthritis can be quite tricky to treat, to be honest. It depends how much damage is done, how long you have had it, what repetitious activities you do that may worsen it, what kind of environment you live and work in that can affect it and so on. Have you had any other treatment for it in the past? Do you take any supplements/medications to relieve the pain currently? Also, things like poor sleeping habits, poor dietary habits, stress, lack of movement can negatively affect arthritic pain. I think it's important to start with taking supplements like calcium with vitamin D, or Glucosomine, magnesium....talk to your doctor about what works best for you. Also dietary changes like avoiding sodas, alcohol, caffeine and eating more leafy greens, fruits and calcium rich foods is a good start. Getting proper rest, incorporating a regular exercise program into your daily schedule, even if only 15 minutes a day, all of these things can start to improve bone pain and increase bone density over time. That being said, there is no guarantee that acupuncture in itself will take care of arthritis, but acupuncture alone, without any work to improve your health on your end, will not be enough unless you invest in taking better care of your body. Even if you do eat well, are not overweight, exercise and have good sleep habits, all of us can always improve and make positive lifestyle changes. Good luck!! READ MORE
Are acupressure mats safe?
I haven't read any negative research about acupressure mats. My opinion would be they are safe, only applying pressure to sore spots on the feet, not needling. I use reflexology on my patients as well as needling, to target specific areas of the body that can also be worked out through the feet, which is great because some patients cannot be touched due to severe pain. Look up Nogier on Google. He created something called auriculotherapy which denotes that all of the body can be accessed through the ear in what is called a microsystem.....a smaller representation of the body mapped out on the ear. He also has a similar system on the foot....reflexology. It can be quite effective, especially when patients are too sensitive to palpation. Try it!!! Good luck. READ MORE
Should I consider acupuncture for anemia?
I think it's great that you are open minded enough to consider alternatives!! Yes, acupuncture does many things; building up and fortifying the blood, stabilize hormone levels (which may be partly to blame if you have heavy periods), generally balance anything that is out of balance. Of course, eating iron rich foods like spinach, lentils, tofu, broccoli to name a few, are the best way to get your iron. But if there is something inherently wrong with your iron stores, if your body is not assimilating them correctly, you may not be getting the nutrition that you think you are. I would start by asking your doctor to give you regular blood tests while eating plenty of iron-containing foods to see if your body is absorbing them. If you are a heavy bleeder (assuming you are a female!!!!) then you may need to consult your GYN. Good luck and be well!!! READ MORE
Is acupuncture safe?
Have you seen your PCP about this issue to rule out nerve damage? Is the pain accompanied by numbness or weakness? Once you are checked out by a physician and anything medically serious has been ruled out, then yes, acupuncture is very safe. Make sure you convey your concerns to your acupuncturist first to see if he or she will offer you a plan of treatment that you are comfortable with. I usually start with minimal needles (too many can be too much for a new patient to handle and may exacerbate the pain) but the amount of needles isn't so much important as the needling technique and the other methods employed with needles (cupping, moxa, gua sha, magnets, etc). A practitioner that is sensitive to your needs and concerns will take the time to check in with you frequently to see how you are handling the affect of the treatment while they are needling. I have worked with patients that are so nervous about needles that I just did pressure point work on the acupoint. Needles do not necessarily need to be used to cause an effect. Good luck!!! READ MORE
Will acupuncture help with knee pain?
Acupuncture can certainly help knee pain. Was this caused by some sort of accident or injury? Did you get x-rays or see a doctor for it? I think it's wise to first rule out any damage that may need more invasive treatment. If it is just generalized dull pain and no injury occurred, then I would recommend acupuncture. Needles would be inserted at the location of pain and at adjacent points along the acupuncture meridian that the knee point is found on. Each practitioner has his or her own technique, but I would follow channel (or meridian...where the acupoints lie) theory as well as hot spots of the knee that are affected. I may place them in the same area but at different angles. I may also use an electro- acupuncture machine to further stimulate the needles. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and do not keep the knee immobilized, it will become more stiff if you favor it over the other when walking. Keeping heat or ice (which ever makes it feel better) on it at rest will help. Good luck!! READ MORE
Will acupuncture help my knee pain?
It certainly can help! But first, you should get an x-ray of your knee. If there has been structural damage causing chronic pain, there may be something more serious wrong. Surgery may be warranted and the condition could get worse if not treated quickly. Besides, the way you are walking on it (or not using it) could be hurting rather than helping. If bone, nerve or tendon injury have been ruled out, then acupuncture could be very helpful. But it depends upon how much damage has been done. It won't be a quick fix, more so especially because you waited a month to treat it. As with any type of medicine, acupuncture will assist in healing from the source of the problem and may take many treatments. We are so used to the take a pill and it will feel better mentality that we fail to see that we are just masking the pain and not really treating the true nature of the injury. It is also important to find out if you should be resting it or stretching, doing PT, depending on your diagnosis. Good luck!!!! READ MORE
Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture needles are only slightly thicker than a human hair. That being said, if the acupuncturists uses the guide tube to insert the needle, it is barely a pinch. Depending upon what part of the body that the needles are inserted, the "pinch" or mosquito bite feeling can feel only slightly uncomfortable or have no sensation at all. I certainly would not call acupuncture painful. Good luck and be well!! READ MORE
Do you need a diagnosis to get acupuncture?
I am sorry you have been experiencing so much pain. You do not need a Western medical diagnosis and even if you had one, acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which encompasses its own diagnoses and treatment. Oftentimes, as your doctors have so aptly demonstrated, blood tests, scans, MRI images cannot detect subtle nerve, bone or muscle abnormalities and therefore they cannot explain away your symptoms. There may be no detection of disease/discord but that certainly does not mean that you are imagining your pain. Acupuncture deals with subtle cues from the body and we as practitioners are trained to look for these subtleties. Things that you think may have nothing to do with your pain may have everything to do with it. Things such as hormonal imbalances, bowel movements, sleep patterns, diet and so on. Just because you can't see it on a scan, doesn't mean it's not there. A little understanding and active listening on the part of your acupuncturist can go a long way in treating your condition, whatever it may be. READ MORE