CHI Memorial Integrative Medicine Associates - Chattanooga

At CHI Memorial Integrative Medicine Associates, we provide a holistic approach to care, focusing on the whole person. We offer services like nutritional counseling, soft tissue therapy, acupuncture, hormone therapy and more to support your overall well-being. Nutrition counseling focuses on choices for optimum health and well-being, controlling or reversing chronic disease or achieving your weight loss goals.

Acupuncture is an effective, non-invasive way to manage chronic pain and overuse injuries. Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body to activate its natural healing process and improve overall function. It's particularly helpful for conditions like back, knee or shoulder pain. It’s usually an excellent option for those who prefer non-medication treatments. Acupuncture can also support patients who are working with their physician to reduce or eliminate reliance on pain medications.

Acupuncture is recognized as an effective treatment for a range of conditions, including: 

• Abdominal pain

• Allergic rhinitis

• Anxiety 

• Bell's palsy

• Chronic gastritis

• Diabetes

• Earache or headache

• Facial pain or spasm

• High blood pressure

• Morning sickness and induction of labor

• Insomnia

• Knee or shoulder pain

• Nausea or vomiting 

• Neck, spine or low back pain 

• Plantar fasciitis

• Post-operative pain

• Prostatitis 

• Rheumatoid arthritis 

• Sciatica

• Smoking cessation

• Sore throat 

• Stroke

• Tennis elbow

• TMJ dysfunction 

• Ulcerative colitis

Most patients feel little to nothing, while others may experience a slight tap followed by warmth or heaviness. Many find acupuncture to be relaxing. For sensitive, weak or older patients, we can adjust the technique. In Chinese medicine, Qi (vital energy) flows through the body, protecting it from pain and illness. This energy circulates along specific pathways called meridians, and its balance influences health. Qi can be affected by physical or emotional stress, trauma, lack of exercise, overexertion, diet and seasonal changes.

Acupuncture can benefit most people. Many use it to relax and manage stress, while others turn to it for longstanding or acute conditions. Often, people know someone who has had acupuncture and can share their experience.

The number of treatments and frequency vary depending on factors like your health, the severity of your condition and your Qi. Some feel relief immediately, while others need a longer treatment plan, with at least one month needed to see significant changes.

Each person's medical history is unique, so we offer personalized solutions tailored to individual needs, considering factors like lifestyle, age and activity level.

At your appointment, the acupuncturist will take a detailed health history, including symptoms and lifestyle, followed by a physical exam of your pulse and tongue. This helps identify any Qi imbalances.

Once detected, thin, sterile needles are inserted to unblock energy pathways and restore balance. These needles create small microtears, triggering the body to send healing agents like collagen to the area. You may feel a sensation of heaviness, tingling or a dull ache, which is a normal sign that the treatment is working. This process helps eliminate pain and supports your body's natural healing abilities.

Cupping is a therapeutic technique with a history of over 2,000 years, originally from China. It can be used alone or combined with acupuncture or moxibustion (heat therapy) for enhanced results.

The process involves creating suction with a glass cup, which is placed on the body at specific points. The suction draws the skin into the cup, promoting blood and energy (qi) circulation, which can help reduce pain, inflammation and improve mobility. Cupping often leaves temporary red marks on the skin.

There are various cupping methods:

• Retention Cupping: The cup stays in place for a period of time.

• Flash Cupping: The cup is applied and removed rapidly multiple times.

• Sliding Cupping: The cup is moved back and forth to treat a larger area.

Cupping can help with conditions like headaches, dizziness, asthma, indigestion and pain in the neck, shoulders and back. It should only be performed by a qualified practitioner, and is not suitable for certain conditions such as skin ulcers, fever or pregnancy.

Insurance coverage for acupuncture sessions can depend on several factors, including the acupuncturist’s credentials, your plan’s limitations and exclusions, and whether your insurance covers the specific type of treatment you need. Before your appointment, please contact your insurance provider to confirm whether your visit will be covered.

Our clinic provides a range of mental health services focused on helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and improve emotional well-being. Our licensed professional counselor specializes in evidence-based therapies, including cognitive and behavioral techniques, designed to provide simple, concrete steps that lead to lasting change. These types of therapies are used to treat  conditions such as anxiety and depression. 

Please note: While we offer therapeutic counseling services, we do not provide psychiatry care and are unable to prescribe or manage medications. If you require medication management, we can help connect you with appropriate resources.

Insurance coverage for counseling sessions can depend on several factors, including the counselor’s credentials, your plan’s limitations and exclusions, and whether your insurance covers the specific type of counseling you need. Before your appointment, please contact your insurance provider to confirm whether your visit will be covered.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a treatment method that seeks to correct hormone deficiencies using molecules (hormones) that are identical to the hormones found in the human body. The majority of individuals using this treatment are postmenopausal women, but it is sometimes useful for premenopausal women and men as well.

"Natural" or "bio-identical" hormones are chemically identical to those produced by the human body. "Synthetic" hormones, on the other hand, are created in a lab and have a chemical structure that mimics the body's natural hormones but isn't identical. These terms are commonly used in practice, but don’t fully align with dictionary definitions.

While the ingredients in bio-identical hormones may not always require a prescription, compounded medications—customized for individual patients—must be prescribed by a healthcare provider.

The cost of bio-identical hormone treatments is often comparable to other hormonal therapies and can sometimes be less expensive, ranging from $40 to $55 per month depending on individual needs.

Insurance coverage varies widely. To determine if your plan covers the medication, take your insurance card to the compounding pharmacy for clarification.

Side effects may occur if one hormone becomes unbalanced. If you're not seeing significant improvement or experiencing few side effects, a follow-up appointment is recommended to adjust the dosage. Most patients see improvement and symptom resolution within 2 to 4 months.