"Waiting on Pins and Needles: Popular NYC Acupuncturist Tests the West Chester Market"

Prinz Acupuncture was featured in “Hello, West Chester!,” the source of local news and happenings. This article is part of a series on West Chester entrepreneurs who are taking an innovative approach to the mantra, “Follow your dream.”

HELLO, WEST CHESTER

AUGUST 9, 2023 — CARA CORRIDONI — ENTREPRENEURS

In 2000, Erika Prinz Ben-Zur graduated from college. In her hand, she held a Business degree from the University of Richmond. Within a few years, she had a decent job and a 5th-floor walk-up in New York City. Then the former ballerina injured her knee. Despite visits to numerous doctors, the pain persisted, and no one could tell her why. 

“It was life stopping,” said Erika. Hesitant to undergo surgery without an exact diagnosis and desperate to make it stop, Erika was willing to try anything – even the hypnotist her mom found – but nothing worked. Finally, she decided to try acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practice that works by balancing the flow of energy – or chi – through the body. 

With weekly treatments, the pain began to subside. Not only did the sessions lessen her suffering, but the whole experience was different from other doctor’s visits. There was a focus not just on the pain, but on the emotions around the injury. 

“It had this compassion woven in,” said Erika. She knew then she was going to change her life.

Growing Pains

In 2009, she quit her job and enrolled in a full-time, three-year master’s program in acupuncture. “I haven’t looked back since,” she said. In 2012, she established her private practice, Prinz Acupunture. In 2019, she opened a wellness center, a collective of alternative medicine solutions. She was successful and well-regarded, consistently ranked a top NYC acupuncturist by Expertise.com. Then 2020 hit.  

While she worked non-stop to keep her practice and the health center open and safe, it became clear her priorities were changing. Erika, who grew up in West Chester, still wanted to help people, but she also wanted to be closer to her parents and she was ready to start her own family. She and her husband decided to move. She closed the center and set out to begin again, but replicating success in New York won’t be as easy as opening a new practice. 

According to employment data, there are currently 3700 acupuncturists working in the state of New York, and the profession is expected to grow a robust 15 percent over the next 10 years. By comparison, in Pennsylvania, there are 1140 licensed acupuncturists, or less than one-third of New York, and the profession’s growth rate sits at a dismal 3 percent. Awareness and understanding of the practice just aren’t the same. 

“Part of my self-proclaimed job is education,” she said of her move to West Chester. 

Moving Beyond the Pain

Acupuncture works by inserting very thin needles at strategic points throughout the body. It is commonly used to treat pain, but it is increasingly being used to help with a variety of ailments. 

“Things that don’t take you to the doctor, but things you don’t have to live with either,” said Erika. The World Health Organization has endorsed acupuncture as a treatment for digestive disorders, seasonal allergies, depression, anxiety, stress, and addiction. 

It is these other applications Erika, who has done extensive work with postpartum moms, would like to see more focus on. “I’m all for Western medicine and I am all for other ways to look at things.”

Erika has now opened her second location of Prinz Acupuncture in the Gay Street Plaza. She is operating within the “In Harmony Wellspring” Wellness Studios and is currently accepting new clients.

Acupuncture Q&A

Are needles reused? “That’s a hard no.” 

Will you need treatment forever? “Acupuncture is cumulative over four to six regular sessions. I don’t want anyone to come here forever,” she said. 

When should you consider acupuncture? When something is off. “Any symptom is something out of balance with the system,” said Erika, who uses a detailed intake form to help her get a complete picture of a patient’s health. If something has been persistently bothering you, it’s worth a consultation. 

"Share the Love" Refer a Friend Program is Back!

We know you already appreciate the incredible benefits of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, so why not share the love with someone who could also benefit?

Give your friends $20 towards their first acupuncture session and get $20 to apply to your next session when you refer a friend to Prinz Acupuncture and they give us a try!

All your friend needs to do is mention your name when they come in for their first session, and we'll take care of the rest.

Common conditions treated by acupuncture, which I work with on a regular basis, include: 

• Pain & injury: sports injuries, chronic musculoskeletal pain, TMJ, migraines

• Women's health: period issues / PMS, fertility, IUI/IVF, pre- & postpartum, menopause

• Mental & emotional concerns: insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression

• Digestive: IBS, constipation, nausea, bloating

• Respiratory: allergies, common cold/flu, asthma

• Skincare & Rejuvenation: acupuncture facial rejuvenation, nano-needling and micro-needling for face, decollage and hair regrowth

• Among many others: just ask!

Hello, Summer: Welcoming Joy & Connection

Welcome Summer, Heart & Fire!

According to the solar calendar, May 6th is the first day of Summer. This movement marks the beginning of a process that will result in the perfect balance of the Summer Solstice on June 21st. In Chinese Medicine, a new ‘external season’ signals a new ‘internal season.’ The change of seasons always generates seasonal health conditions (which I observe in my clinic every single year) and opportunities for growth in body, mind and Spirit.

What’s Summer all about in Chinese Medicine?

The season is filled with abundant energy, long days and sunshine. This is the most yang time of year. Summer is about expansion, growth, activity and creativity. 

• Element: Fire

• Color: Red

• Nature: Yang

• Organs: Heart, Small Intestine

• Emotion: Joy

The Summer is associated with the Element of Fire, and the organs of the Heart and Small Intestine. Fire is symbolic of maximum activity or greatest Yang; nature at its peak of growth, and the motion is upward.

The Heart is the Emperor of the body and is associated with Joy, or lack thereof. When it is in balance, our heart spirit radiates into the world and we have effortless control that flows from intuition; the mind is calm and sleep is sound. When the fire element is imbalanced, we may either lack joy (depression) or have an excess of joy (mania). Agitation, nervous exhaustion, heartburn and insomnia are other indicators of imbalance in this area.

The Small Intestine is all about sorting the pure from the impure by burning away the mundane, which empowers transformation. It also helps us communicate clearly in the world. Imbalance can look like indigestion or confused communication.

Now that it’s Summer, let your inner fire burn bright! It can propel you to tap into your deep knowing, create the new, destroy the old, and/or fly to heights you only imagined before. If you feel like you’re going too hard and burning out, remember to take it easy, drink or sink into water, quiet time, and eat cooling foods (see below for some food tips).

In terms of living in accordance with the Summer season,, here are some concrete Chinese Medicine tips for health:

• You can go to sleep later than usual, while still waking early (less sleep is a-okay!)

• Avoid getting angry or hold grudges, and uphold a joyful nature (smile even when wearing a mask)

• Stay physically active and get your sweat on

• You can have a more sex than usual, but be sure not to overindulge and deplete yourself (be safe, lovers!)

• You can eat more raw and uncooked foods than usual, but remember not to overdo it and cool down your digestive fires too much (if you start to get loose stools or discomfort, reincorporate more warm and cooked foods)

• Foods to incorporate into your Summer diet include melons, grapes, coconut, figs, cucumber, broccoli/cauliflower, spinach, avocado, eggs, crab, peppermint

By incorporating these guidelines, you’ll help to support your physical health and also safeguard against fatigue and illness in the upcoming Fall Season.

The change of Season is also an optimal time to receive acupuncture. Treatment enables you to transition more seamlessly, and helps your body, mind and Spirit acclimate to the new conditions and avoid illness.

* Art by Sarai Llamas, @saraillamas

My Interview with The Preppy Yogi

I had the pleasure of speaking with the fabulous Jessica Hildebrand, founder of The Preppy Yogi and creator of (Re)treat Women’s Wellness Weekends, where I will be offering a workshop this April (join us!). We chatted about my personal path to wellness and wholeness through acupuncture, what we can expect from my workshop, and my own daily care practices. Come hang with us for a bit and give it a read!

Meet: Erika. Healer, guide, + award-winning acupuncturist

J: What inspired you to pursue a career in wellness?

E: I began my acupuncture journey as a result of a trial in my early 20’s: a knee injury that created chronic pain and stopped me from doing what I loved, ballet & dance. I hadn’t found any answers or relief with Western medicine, and didn’t want to undergo surgery or take endless pharmaceuticals. I eventually went to acupuncture as a “last resort” and to my surprise, it was the only modality that really made a difference. Not only did I experience long-lasting pain relief from the treatments, I immediately resonated with the holistic and compassionate approach to healing. It was the first time a healthcare practitioner listened to everything that was going on and looked at me as a person, not just an isolated injury.

I was hooked, and I was impassioned. I chose to leave my career in marketing to pursue the path as a healer. In 2009, I embarked upon my Masters of Science in Acupuncture at the Tri-State College of Acupuncture and earned my graduate degree in 2012. Acupuncture helped me recover fully, and led me to my new path in life.

J: What can we get excited about for your workshop at the (re)treat?

E: I’ll be offering a super interactive and experiential workshop that provides a fun introduction to acupuncture.I find that for most people I meet, acupuncture is something they’ve only heard about and probably not experienced… but once they learn a bit more or receive a treatment they become fascinated or even hooked! I plan to demystify this magical medicine by sharing a bit about my experience as a practitioner over the past ten years and explain the basics about what it is and how it works.From there, I’ll jump into an interactive, hands on acupressure session that teaches attendees how to use specific acupuncture points to drop into a deep state of relaxation, no matter where they are.I’ll also give each person a relaxing acupuncture point or points so that they can experience what acupuncture feels like.

J: What is your favorite wellness practice?

E: My morning self-care routine is sacred to me. It helps me slide into the day with grace and fluidity. I always do a Qi Gong routine that activates all of my meridians, joints & muscles, and my breath. I follow it up with several minutes of facial Gua She and cupping (with a rose hydrosol & oil that smells heavenly)! Even if I didn’t get a great night of sleep (I have an 18 month old who is still waking up at night), my skin gets a nice glow and puffiness clears out. I finish it up with some lemon water! And then onto coffee and cuddles with my boy.

(Re)treat Yourself! Join Me In April for Relaxation & Rejuvenation

I'm thrilled to be a part of an upcoming women’s wellness retreat in April that's all about self-care practice, meaningful connection, and nourishment. Created and led by The Preppy Yogi, the retreat will serve up a variety of care practices, yoga and meditation, to help you de-stress and welcome rest into your mind and body. You’ll depart with a renewed sense of inner peace, as well as take-home tools to assist with your everyday busy-ness.

I'll be offering my expertise with acupuncture to help attendees further drop into a space of healing and self-love. It will be a super interactive and experiential workshop that provides a fun introduction to acupuncture… including a sweet & relaxing needle or two!

If you're craving a weekend of total relaxation, female bonding, unique workshops, farm to table food, and nature, please join us! You can come for the day, a night, or for the. full weekend. Rumor has it that a full picnic lunch in the countryside, under the sun and linden trees, will be offered on Sunday morning, so I suggest you stick around for its entirety!

Seasonal retreats are held quarterly, on the weekends of April 21st, July 14th and September 22nd, offering a unique, seasonal experience at a serene Lancaster County setting, the gorgeous Inn at Twin Linden.

Learn more and sign up here. Can’t wait to see you, my wellness warrior ladies!

Welcome Spring & Love Your Liver!

It’s time to celebrate! We’ve made it to Spring.

Spring represents the shift from the waning darkness (Yin) to the growing light (Yang). The length of the days gradually increase, the earth slowly warms, and plants begin to push their heads out of the ground, reaching to the sun! Kind of like us, as the winter falls away and brightness takes over.

This external change signals internal changes for humans. 

Tune in and you may notice some subtle — or not so subtle — shifts in your physical, emotional or mental health. Spring is associated with the Liver— making it the time when our energy rises and moves outward. Generally, the Liver is the organ of flexibility, anger, eyes/vision, the tendons, and circulation of the blood and qi (think circulation, digestive and women’s health issues).

The role of the Liver: Psycho-emotional and physical health are intertwined. 

• Vision: An important aspect of the Liver is vision— meaning our actual eyesight AND our ability to have vision for where we are headed. If there is a deficiency, we may experience blurriness or floaters, and/or we can’t envision plans and take the necessary action to move forward to our destiny.

• Stuckness: If there is an excess or stagnation of Liver Qi, we may notice pounding or pain and/or find ourselves pushing make things happen in an untimely manner, getting frustrated or irritable. It’s also common to feel more short tempered than usual or have sudden bursts of anger.

• Flow: Acupuncture is all about smooth movement, and this is especially true for the Liver Channel. The Liver controls the “smooth flow of all things.” If we can remain flexible, we can execute our plans and vision with greater ease. When the body is tense, we experience aches, pains, coldness and other symptoms.

• Other Symptoms: Specific symptoms such as migraine headaches, hay fever, vertigo, digestive distress, and PMS can all flare up when Liver Qi is out of balance.

Self-care tips to help you love your Liver and ease into Spring:

• Acupressure on Liver 3: This powerful point on the Liver channel is often translated as Supreme Rushing. Whether you’re feeling stuck physically, mentally, or emotionally, stimulation of this point can offer the movement you crave and a sense of ease. To find it, place your foot flat in front of you. Identify the webbing between and below your 1st and 2nd toes (see below for an image). This point is usually tender. Massage for 30 seconds to a minute, while taking deep breaths, every day.

• Walk and move: The forward, swinging motion of walking matches the forward action of the Liver. Just ten minutes a day can get your Liver qi moving smoothly. A brisk walk can also push out pent-up anger.

• Focus your vision: As you know, a healthy Liver can see the path, not get bogged down in stressors, and be flexible when needed. Find things that help you clarify your short term and long term vision. Consider journaling, a vision board, or even a life coach. I’m in a weekly life & career coaching group with GEM that I highly recommend!

• Eat green & light: We’ve moved on from winter stews! Leafy, upward growing greens nourish the Blood and gently move Liver qi. Spring is also the time to incorporate dishes that are cooked more lightly and for less time. Here’s a recipe for delicious Savory Stir-fried Greens (you can add chicken or meat)!

• Acupuncture: This list wouldn’t be complete without it! The change of the seasons is an ideal time for an acupuncture tune up. You’d be amazed at how much difference one or two acupuncture treatments can make in balancing Liver energy and creating the free flow that we all desire.

Opening the Doors to Prinz Acupuncture, West Chester!

The second location of Prinz Acupuncture has officially arrived. Our beautiful, welcoming space is located at 1515 West Chester Pike, Suite A-3, West Chester, PA and we started welcoming patients on Tuesday, February 28th.

It’s an honor to start offering wellness support in my hometown and to reach even more people with this incredible medicine. My sessions are rooted in more than a decade of experience in acupuncture and Traditional Medicine, and woven together with the healing powers of compassion, intuition and deep respect for my patients and this medicine.

Online booking is now available: Www.prinzacupuncture.com

I look forward to seeing you in West Chester or New York City!

Expansion and Growth.... Coming Home!

“The next message you need is always right where you are.”

Ram Dass, Sunbeams 

While major change can be challenging to embrace at times, it’s always a gift to deeply listen and receive the next message of your journey.  And friends, I announcing a massive & radiant step forward: after living, dreaming, playing and creating in New York City for more than 20 years, it is time to say farewell, for now. My family and I have decided to put down roots in my beloved, vibrant hometown of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

NYC has felt like home for so long and my community and ties there are so rich, deep and wide. But becoming a mama changed me inside and out. The type of life we want to offer our sweet son beckoned us to a place of green trees, extended family and fresh air. And it feels exactly right…. it’s the container we need to create even more stability and joy.

The best part: I will now have TWO Prinz Acupuncture locations to offer acupuncture and Traditional Medicine.

• My original space at Nest Wellness in NYC, where I will continue to offer sessions to my beloved established patients.

• The NEW Prinz Acupuncture of Chester County! I’m now a licensed acupuncturist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and I will soon be opening a second Prinz Acupuncture location that embodies all of the magic, healing, support, and compassion that my original practice offers.

Stay tuned for the exact location and hours for Prinz Acupuncture, West Chester — details are in the works, with an expected launch date of February 21st.

I think this life, with its twists and turns, is simply a mirror for what we need to learn and evolve. Starting “fresh,” with endless support around me, is an incredibly nourishing and exciting venture that I’m relishing with every step.

THANK YOU for reading this and for everyone who’s woven into my long and winding NYC story, and my heart.

Love,
Erika 

IMAGE: Danielle Bhvya Winter

Maiden to Mother: Guiding Your Passage

Traditional medicine acknowledges and marks rites of passage and cycles of life. Cultures across the globe marked seminal shifts in the lives of men and women with ceremony and support.

Why and how have we lost this in our current space and time?

The theme of "Maiden to Mother" has been percolating inside of me ever since giving birth 14 months ago. Traveling through the fires of hell and ecstasy of heaven to meet your child is a divine initiation. But why doesn't our culture ceremoniously honor this rite of passage?**

The deep change is glossed over with a glass of champagne, a couple weeks of maternity leave, and the promise that you'll "bounce back."

Bounce back to WHAT and WHO, I ask? To the former version of yourself?!?

To ALL Mothers: I am preparing a very special offering for YOU.

I am amalgamating my 10+ years of expertise as a practitioner of acupuncture & Traditional Medicine, extended studies and deep spirit work, and experience as a birthing mother to create a program that honors, supports and guides your passage from Maiden to Mother. Whether you are trying to conceive, are pregnant or have already birthed (a human or life-changing idea or thing), I have something for you.

** Note: This passageway isn't just for mama's of children; it is for all who evolve into the full season of their womanhood, and birth creations of all kinds. I'm simply writing this through the lens of my own experience of having a child.

Stay tuned! Mothers: I love you, I see you, I value you.

Fire Cupping: The Top Five Reasons I Love This Modality (And You Should Too!)

In honor of Valentine’s Day, here are the top 5 reasons I love to use traditional fire cupping in my practice (when appropriate and deemed valuable for the particular patient, of course):

1. Time tested. People have been practicing fire cupping in Europe, Asia and Africa for thousands of years, with the earliest record of medical use dating back to 1550 B.C.

2. Pain free, SAFE, and effective when performed by a licensed acupuncturist (do NOT try this at home friends; it requires training & practice)

3. Incredible for unraveling “knots” in sore, tired, aching muscles where the blood flow has been restricted to the area. It does so by resetting the fascia that lies under the muscle and keeping the shape of the muscle. Tension and stagnation can alter the tone of the muscle and fascia and create “knots” and trigger points. Cupping helps disperse this stagnation. This is super helpful for athletic recovery!

4. Effective in treating bronchitis, coughs and colds and also serves as a detox for the body. The cupping action draws toxins to the surface of the skin where the immune system is better able to eliminate them. Additionally, the use of heat addresses ‘cold’ conditions in the body.

5. Feels warming & wonderful —like a deep massage but from the inside out! Think: reverse massage. This therapeutic treatment relaxes muscles and restores internal organ function like no other form of therapy can.

How is Fire Cupping performed?

For Fire cupping, cups are applied to the skin using a flame to create a vacuum. Instead of applying pressure like a massage, the skin is gently drawn upwards by creating a vacuum in a cup over the affected area. The cups stay in place for around 5-15 minutes. I often do some Tui Na (Chinese Medical Massage) with natural oil before the fire cupping, allowing me to get a better feel for what is happing with the muscles and meridians AND for it’s therapeutic benefits.

What about those dark marks afterwards?

Cupping can sometimes result in temporary discoloration of the skin called petechiae. These marks are associated with improved blood flow to the area and naturally, dissipate within a few days. They tend to look like small circular bruises. While a bruise may hurt, cupping marks do not.

Why glass fire cups, versus silicone (like some other practitioners)?

I primarily use glass fire cups, versus the unheated silicone pump cups, in my sessions. Why? I think the traditional method feels more comfortable and is more effective. Questions about cupping or how it can show some love to your body? Email me anytime.

These awesome heart shaped cups & photo are by @lovecupping.