Vital Balance

Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine Practice

Meet Larissa

Board Certified Acupuncture Practitioner & Alternative Health Specialist

As an experienced practitioner of Western medicine, Larissa Semenoff encompasses both the fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the depths of the Western School of Medicine. She is focused on the holistic approach of helping patients from all backgrounds to lead healthy lives. Larissa holds both a Master's Degree in Nursing and a Master's Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition, she has more than 20 years of experience as a Registered Nurse in many fields and capacities, ranging from Surgical, Cardiac Cath Lab, Emergency Room, and Endoscopy. Larissa has also worked as a Certified Forensic Nurse Examiner, while simultaneously managing her nursing career, and family, and pursuing higher education.

Having worked in healthcare for over 20 years, she has gained an immense amount of experience and skill sets, making her a well-rounded healthcare professional. As a person with an interest in traditional medicine, she has become an acupuncture clinic apprentice and has learned the ins and outs of this holistic modality. Because of her strong desire to help those in need, she has volunteered with Operation Smile’s surgical medical mission and has worked in several different countries such as Egypt, India, and Peru to provide otherwise not attainable surgeries.

Larissa’s concentration on the holistic approach to well-being represents her own philosophy of healing: striking a delicate balance between life’s endless demands and the body’s, immediate or latent, unquestionable response to strain.

During her leisure time, Larissa enjoys sailing, hiking, and camping with her husband and her two daughters. They live in Edison with their dog, Ruby and their cat, Pushkin!

Meet Amelia

Why Naturopathy

Why Acupuncture?

It can help with

Digestion

Acupuncture helps by balancing the gut-brain axis and nervous system to reduce stress, which in turn improves digestive function.

Allergy Relief

Certain parts of our body can be targeted in acupuncture therapy to alleviate allergic symptoms. Targeting the front of the body, namely, the hands, feet, nose, and ears. The main point here is that acupuncture can help build up defensive Qi which is directly responsible for managing our immune systems and allergic reactions.

Mental Clarity

Acupuncture can help reduce anxiety and this in turn can improve mental clarity. It can take the brain from an overactive state of anxiety to a normal state. All of the cells in the brain are connected through complicated networks and stress can negatively affect all of them. Acupuncture focuses on reducing stress and it can induce a sense of calm that will help with better attention, as well as retention and mental clarity.

Pain Relief

Acupuncture is the process of inserting fine needles into certain points in the skin. This relieves pain because the insertion of needles releases endorphins which are the hormones that naturally alleviate the sensation of pain in the body. Acupuncture stimulates the nerves and muscles in the body because of the tactical “pressure points” that the needles are inserted into. It is not simply physical pain relief that acupuncture relieves but also emotional pain because it also releases Serotonin which helps put individuals in better moods.

Weight Loss

Acupuncture can help weight loss by regulating hormone production, improving the metabolism, optimizing digestion, suppressing appetite, and lessening water retention, and optimizing other bodily functions that are related to obesity and weight loss.

Stress Relief

One of the well-known stress hormones that is released when we are stressed is Cortisol. High levels of Cortisol are unhealthy for the body, because they create serious health conditions like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, etc. For the average person, Cortisol levels increase or decrease as the day progresses but a build-up over time of high levels of Cortisol is problematic and acupuncture can help reduce it. Acupuncture combats the release of cortisol by releasing “feel good” hormones, and balance "fight or flight" body's response.It is a good treatment for patients looking to control their anxiety levels and restore body's natural equilibrium.

Hair Restoration

Acupuncture improves the blood circulation in the skin. It can encourage hair growth by stimulating the hair follicles and nerves in the scalp. Acupuncture can be a useful treatment for those struggling with alopecia and looking for alternative ways to promote hair growth.

Smoking Cessation

Smoking is a difficult habit to break. Acupuncture treatments can ease the process of quitting. Acupuncture releases endorphins which can relieve nicotine cravings. It can also reduce the stress that comes with quitting this habit. Along with the mental hardships of smoking cessation, there are physical symptoms that make the process hard such as headaches, restlessness, and digestive issues. Acupuncture can help with not only the mental symptoms but the physical ones as well.

Testimonials

"Larissa is very knowledgeable and very precise with her technique. I feel so relaxed and my pain is gone after an acupuncture session. Her hands are hands of a healer!"

Kevin Hall