New Winnetka Acupuncturist Takes a Holistic View of Health

After five years practicing acupuncture, Highland Park native Dana Hoffman expanded her practice in July by setting up an office in Winnetka.

Hoffman, who also works in Chicago, decided to set up shop in Winnetka so that she could partner with Samuel Moltz, a doctor of comprehensive internal medicine. Moltz works with patients to try to deal with their chronic health issues and reduce their dependence on medication, goals that are also very important to Hoffman.

“The body is self-healing,” she said. “When you fall and scrape your knee it mends itself. All of these things that people come to see me for are symptoms that something is wrong, and its my job to promote more blood flow and kick up the release of endorphins and neurotransmitters.”

Acupuncture calls on connections between parts of the body to treat a variety of maladies, ranging from migraines to muscle spasms.

“This is early neurology,” Hoffman said. “Sometimes a needle in the foot can clear pain in the eye.”

“I get a lot of the ‘We don’t know what else to do’ people.”

Hoffman said she often sees people who are on many medications for long-term problems. She uses a combination of acupuncture, herbal remedies and diet and nutrition recommendations to wean them off prescriptions.

“I get a lot of the ‘We don’t know what else to do’ people,” Hoffman said.

Doctors sometimes refer patients to Hoffman, but often people come to her because modern medicine has failed to solve their problems. Chicago resident Cyrus Rivetna was told that a twitch in his eye was a symptom of his migraines and that it could take years to go away. After a few treatments at Hoffman’s Chicago office, his symptoms disappeared.

“There’s no harm, so why not give it a try,” he said. “I was a little bit hesitant because the thought of people putting needles into me wasn’t too pleasant, but it was very relaxing and I thought it was great,” he said.

About 20 percent of Hoffman’s business comes from cosmetic acupuncture, which she said helps restore color and fade freckles and dark circles. She also sometimes integrates health treatments into her cosmetics practice.

“I was a little bit hesitant because the thought of people putting needles into me wasn’t too pleasant..."

“The health of the body is manifest in the skin,” she said.

Hoffman said she thinks that Winnetkans are healthier on average than the people she sees in Chicago.

“They want to be more proactive about their health,” she said. “I’ve been received very well.”

The Winnetka-Northfield Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting for Lake Shore Acupuncture and Dr. Samuel Moltz at 5 p.m. Sept. 5 at their offices at 914 Green Bay Rd.