Living with a chronic illness often feels like a full-time job. Whether you are navigating an Autoimmune diagnosis, Fibromyalgia, or the lingering effects of Lyme or Long Covid, the burden is both physical and emotional. Standard medical care often treats the parts—a specialist for your joints, another for your gut, another for your fatigue—but rarely sees the whole.
At Brooklyn Qi, I treat the ecosystem, not just the symptom. My approach to chronic illness is rooted in Systemic Regulation. We work to lower your baseline inflammatory load and regulate a hypersensitive nervous system, giving your body the resources it needs to heal rather than just survive. We treat the root (underlying cause) of the illness and also the branch (symptoms expressed from the illness).
Quieting "Central Sensitization."
In many chronic pain conditions, the volume knob on the nervous system gets stuck on "High." This is called Central Sensitization.
Research suggests that acupuncture can down-regulate the central nervous system, effectively turning that volume knob down. By stimulating specific nerve pathways, we signal the brain to release natural opioids (endorphins) and lower the threshold for pain processing.
Complex Cases Welcome.
- Autoimmune Disease (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hashimoto's, Lupus): We focus on modulating the immune response to reduce flare-ups and manage systemic inflammation.
- Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue: Addressing the "tired but wired" state by nourishing the adrenal system (Kidney Qi) and improving sleep quality.
- Long Covid & Post-Viral Syndromes: Targeting the Vagus Nerve to restore autonomic balance and combat brain fog, fatigue, and dysautonomia.
Restoring Your Reserves.
Chronic illness drains your battery faster than the average person. My treatments are designed to be restorative. We use gentle techniques to nourish your deep constitutional energy (Jing), helping you build a larger reserve so you can engage with your life without crashing.
Common Questions
Can acupuncture help with autoimmune flare-ups?
Yes, as an integrative adjunct to your medical management. Acupuncture modulates inflammatory cytokine activity and helps regulate an overactive immune response — the same mechanism that drives autoimmune flare-ups. It is not a replacement for your rheumatologist or immunologist, but it can meaningfully reduce the frequency and severity of flares, manage joint pain and fatigue between episodes, and support overall resilience. Many patients find it most useful as a consistent maintenance practice rather than crisis management.
What is Long Covid and how does acupuncture address it?
Long Covid refers to a cluster of persistent symptoms following acute Covid-19 infection, including fatigue, brain fog, breathlessness, and dysautonomia (disrupted autonomic nervous system function). Acupuncture addresses Long Covid primarily through vagal nerve stimulation — improving autonomic balance, reducing sympathetic overdrive, and supporting mitochondrial recovery. It is also useful for managing the anxiety and sleep disruption that compound Long Covid fatigue. Treatment is supportive and requires a consistent course; most patients need at least 8 to 12 sessions before assessing progress.
How does acupuncture treat fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia involves central sensitization — the nervous system's pain-processing volume is turned up systemically, making normal sensations feel painful. Acupuncture down-regulates this sensitization by stimulating endogenous opioid release and modulating pain gate signaling in the spinal cord. Treatment is gentle, using fewer needles with lighter stimulation, and focuses on calming the nervous system rather than aggressive local work. Improvement is gradual and cumulative — most patients notice meaningful changes after 6 to 8 sessions of consistent weekly treatment.
Is acupuncture safe alongside my current medications?
Yes. Acupuncture has no known interactions with pharmaceutical medications and is safe alongside immunosuppressants, biologics, corticosteroids, and most other treatments used for chronic illness. Liz will take a complete medication history at your first appointment. The only general precaution is for patients on blood thinners, who may experience more bruising at needle sites — this is cosmetic only and not clinically significant. If you have a port, PICC line, or compromised lymphatic drainage, let Liz know and she will adapt placement accordingly.
Serving Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Gowanus, Kensington, Fort Greene, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Sunset Park, Downtown Brooklyn, and neighboring communities in Brooklyn and NYC