By Christine Graf
Nutrition is now an emphasis at Acupuncture Nirvana, at 451 Glen St., Glens Falls, with the addition of a mew registered dietician.
Danielle Kiser has joined the staff of Acupuncture Nirvana. She received her M.S. in dietetics from SUNY Oneonta.
Kiser does not promote dieting or extreme calorie restrictions. Instead, she works with clients to create realistic and sustainable lifestyle changes.
According to owner Katherine “Kat” MacKenzie, having a nutritionist on staff will benefit many of the practice’s acupuncture clients. Patients who combine dietary changes with acupuncture are often better able to manage their symptoms.
“I see a lot of people who have issues that are related to diet,” said MacKenzie.
For example, she said she worked with a patient who suffered from migraines. The woman was unaware her crippling headaches were triggered by an undiagnosed gluten allergy.
MacKenzie has been working as an acupuncturist for 10 years and received her M.S. in acupuncture from Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City. Before becoming an acupuncturist, she worked on Wall Street for seven years.
“I got the job I wanted the most—a job as a market manager for hedge funds. It was my dream job, and I ended up hating it,” she said. “I had to think about what I really wanted to do for a living.”
MacKenzie was attracted to the health care field, and has always has been interested in medicine. Her father was a medical doctor and she often shadowed him when she was younger.
“I really loved what he did, but I didn’t want to be a medical doctor. I wanted to do more alternative medicine because my dad died of cancer when I was twenty-three. And I felt like there were a lot of breakdowns of all of his systems, and I wanted to deal more with that,” she said.
After completing her M.S., MacKenzie worked as an acupuncturist for a multidisciplinary practice in New York City. She specialized in pain management and worked with doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors.
She worked in the city for two years before relocating to Glens Falls to be near her brother. She said she arrived with a vision of setting up a practice in a small town.
After opening Acupuncture Nirvana, she worked there part time and attended nursing school. She abandoned plans to get her nursing degree after her practice took off.
“My acupuncture business got to the point where it blew up in a big way. People were trying to get in, and it was packed every time I was open. I realized it was time to go full time, and it kept growing really fast.”
She attributes her success to hard work and the fact that acupuncture works. Her patients have found relief from chronic pain, digestive issues, headaches, migraines, PMS, menopausal hot flashes, and many other health issues. She also works with many athletes who are rehabbing from injuries.
“You have to come in eight to 10 times to get that impact where everything starts improving. Not just your pain but also your digestion, your sleep, your allergies, your sinus congestion, your headaches. All that starts improving,” she said.
Many of her patients are hesitant to try acupuncture because they are terrified of needles, but MacKenzie said they are pleasantly surprised after receiving their first treatment.
“People think it feels like a shot, but it’s closer to a tiny little pinch. A lot people don’t even feel it. They end up saying, ‘Oh, that was nothing.’”
Acupuncture Nirvana’s growth has been fueled by positive word of mouth, and MacKenzie is hoping to bring on a third acupuncturist.
To schedule an appointment, call 518-409-6993 or visit www.acunirvana.com. Online appointment scheduling is available.