New Acupuncture Practice Opens in Lake Forest

Jana Bricker didn’t initially set out to become an acupuncturist – in fact, she was busy working in advertising in Chicago when she used acupuncture as a means of recovery from a shoulder surgery.

“It was truly like magic,” she said. “I became more and more fascinated with it.”

Eventually, Bricker decided to enroll in the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago, which is one of the largest and busiest clinical training programs in the United States. The four-year program focuses on both acupuncture and herbal medicine.

“I love [Chinese medicine] because although the theory is complex, it fundamentally makes sense, the practice is precise and the results are effective, comparatively inexpensive and have virtually no negative side effects,” she said.

Bricker noted that she wasn’t planning on the career change, but as she began to learn more and more about acupuncture and herbal medicine, she wanted to share it with others.

“It’s thousands of years old, but it’s really just beginning here in the United States,” she said.

Acupuncture can be used as a means of treating basically any ailment you may have, including headaches, digestive issues, back and joint pain, colds, flus, menstrual issues and everything in between.

“Basically all of the chronic stuff that western medicine doesn’t know what to do with,” Bricker said.

She also noted that Chinese medicine is really more about prevention care than treatment and therefore, in a session, she checks for symptoms that may signal a possible issue years down the line.

“It’s a whole other way of approaching medicine,” she said. “[Those following Chinese medicine] go to the doctor to not get sick in the future.”

Apex Acupuncture and Wellness’ website states that the focus of the business is to “help individuals achieve and maintain whole-body health,” with focus on combining physical, mental and emotional aspects of well being.

Apex is located at 725 N. McKinley Rd., Suite 202 in Lake Forest. You can contact Jana to set up an appointment at (847) 989-7176, or by email at jana@apexacu.com. From now until the end of the year, the intitial consultation is discounted by $30, so act quickly!