Testimonials
"I had an unscheduled c-section in 2003, so when my husband and I found out we were expecting a baby in March of 2011, I desperately wanted to experience a vaginal birth. I was praying for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). At my first prenatal visit with my OB, she informed me of the risks of VBAC's. To be honest, I was slightly depressed afterward. Then I came to accept the unknown. As long as my baby and I were healthy after the birth, then I was okay with a necessary cesarean. Having a VBAC was my dream, but a healthy mommy and baby was my goal. A good friend of mine, who spent many years as a midwife, gave me Natalie's card and recommended acupuncture as a way to help prepare my body for birth. I had never experienced acupuncture but had always been curious about it. Natalie was awesome! She worked me into her schedule as soon as possible. I had my first two treatments on a Thursday and Friday morning and went into labor on Friday afternoon and delivered my baby boy at 11:09am on Saturday. I had a successful VBAC! I was able to experience a vaginal birth! HIP HIP HOORAY! Thanks to Natalie and acupuncture, I had the labor and delivery experience I had dreamed of! I will recommend Natalie to anyone and everyone who will listen! I cannot put into words my appreciation for her and all that she did for me!"
~Colleen M.
"I feel very fortunate to be under the care of Natalie Allard for the past seven months. As a medical doctor, I was initially skeptical of the benefits of acupuncture or other practices of complementary and alternative medicine. However, I knew when I first met Natalie that she was very knowledgable about her specialty, and her warmth and experience made me comfortable and confident of her skills. My husband and I have been trying to start a family for several years and have been through two pregnancy losses. One due to severe preeclampsia at twenty weeks and the other from blighted ovum. After the second loss, my cycles were irregular, and I decided to try acupuncture. One of the reasons I chose Natalie is that she practices in such a convenient location, and I am so grateful I did. After several weekly sessions, my cycle became regular and I noticed relief of other symptoms of liver qi stagnation as well. We conceived in September, and my pregnancy has been going smoothly now for 18 weeks. The ultrasound was today and my baby girl is healthy and growing appropriately! We look forward to having a new addition to the family this summer! "
~Teresa P.
"I have been seeing Natalie for about 8 months now. I was diagnosed with PCOS over 3 years ago. For over a year, I tried different things to get my body back in rhythm in order to start a family, but all were unsuccessful. I started taking fertility drugs in order to ovulate, which had a lot of negative side affects for me and I had to stop. I spoke with my OB/GYN about acupuncture as I had heard it could be helpful. She told me that she had many patients who swore by it, so I called Natalie. Natalie was very empathetic and asked a lot of questions about my overall health and not just my complaints. After the consultation, she discussed with me how acupuncture could help and her recommendations for treatment. I took her advice and after a few treatments, I noticed a change in my overall wellbeing and I decided to start the fertility drugs again and this time I did not have side affects. I am glad to inform you that my baby is due in August of 2011. I know that without Natalie this would not have been possible."
-Lisa M.
"What a wonderful experience to have spent the last eight months under the care of Natalie Allard. I have had two miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy that led to complications with fertility. After not successfully responding to treatments with a specialist for 18 months I visited the wonderfully calm and reassuring office of Natalie Allard. I am now 36 weeks into my pregnancy looking forward to the birth of my first baby girl. With Natalie’s expert guidance this has been a most positive experience for me and my family. I was so confident in her practice I traveled 3 hours each trip for treatment. I am extremely fortunate to have found her."
-Melinda F.
"I began acupuncture treatments with Natalie to aid with my fertility. Her gentle, nrturing "table-side" manner immediately put me at ease thus making me feel well cared for. Together we struggled with my fertility challenges;yet I was comforted knowing my regular acupuncture treatments only enhanced my fertility. This left me feeling so much more relaxed and calm thus reducing my stress levels and thereby increasing my confidence in this endeavor. Since becoming pregnant, I have continued acupuncture treatments with Natalie to help ease my nausea and prepare my body for the next critical stages of pregnancy. Natalie had played a vital role with my success. I am very grateful to her for everything she has done to help me advance along the path to becoming a mom!"
~Marie T.
"After the birth of my son, I developed post-partum thyroiditis. I had so many awful symptoms, the worst being that I was severely weak and tired, and my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. With the first visits several of my symptoms improved and on the fourth visit, when I got up from the table, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my entire body. I have felt that good since then. I have energy again and my heart rate is back to normal. All the other symptoms are gone too. Natalie is not only excellent at the technical side of the treatment, she is so caring and compassionate. She would help me see the positive as we progressed, which also really helped. I am so so so glad that I came to her because I feel a million times better. Thank you so much Natalie!"
Janet
"Two years ago I decided to give acupuncture a try. My face had dermatitis patches that would not go away and my body itched all over. The symptoms cleared up within 6 months as well as some severe springtime allergies I'd developed in my 40's. My four daughters love coming with me to see Natalie. The 11 year old has seen her for ear infections with great success. My 17 year old sees Natalie to help with anxiety. I really believe our immune systems are being strengthened through acupuncture. We all agree that Natalie has a gentle touch and is easy to talk to."
~Mckenzie K.
"I've been a patient of Natalie Allard's for close to two years and my wife even longer. When I first went to her, I was trying to make the transition from living my whole life in New York City to now living in Asheville. At that point, I was still commuting to NY every month and frankly my anxiety level was extremely high-even for a New Yorker.
Natalie understood my difficulty in"easing into Asheville", and worked with me through acupuncture but also getting an understanding of my needs & how best to deal with the move. When I made the decision to move here full time, Natalie was instrumental in easing that anxiety, and I truly feel that my hypertension ended and whatever she has been doing has greatly improved my overall physical and mental health. My wife and I see her regularly and I would heartily recommend her to anyone wishing to seek an alternative treatment for their problems."
-Charlie L.
When I first came to Natalie Allard, I was suffering from severe necrotic bone pain that I had been experiencing 24/7 for the previous two years, just prior to moving to Asheville. Since being on narcotic pain medication on an ongoing basis was not a viable solution, and no other type of pain killer was even remotely effective, an orthopedic specialist pronounced the verdict that I would simply have to put up with the pain for the rest of my life. My response was: “That’s not an option I’m willing to settle for.” I set out to find an acupuncturist and I feel so grateful to the person who referred me to Natalie. After completing around 4 months of weekly treatments, my condition progressed from a gradual reduction in the intensity of the pain to being totally pain-free. Now, many months later, I only need to see Natalie once every three weeks for maintenance treatments and I continue to be completely pain free! I will likely progress to once a month.
I was very impressed with the way Natalie conducted her initial diagnostic workup. Being a professional counselor myself, I am extremely sensitive to the manner in which medical professionals form (- or fail to achieve) their initial stages of a “therapeutic alliance.” I need to feel heard and acknowledged as a whole person so that my physical condition is also viewed from the perspective of my emotional life, my relationships, my work in the world and, when appropriate, my spiritual orientation. Natalie’s reflective listening skills were on a par with those of an experienced counselor. She displayed what I have come to call “deep listening skills,” wherein I knew that she was totally present to me and, for the most part, only interjected follow-up questions for clarification or to obtain information specific to diagnosis within the Chinese medical model. The experience of being truly heard is, in and of itself, profoundly healing. Natalie makes a beautifully warm connection with her patients while maintaining excellent professional boundaries.
As an Oriental medical practitioner – not just an acupuncturist – Natalie has a full knowledge base of Chinese herbal remedies. I have been able to purchase a number of Chinese herbal formulations directly from Natalie at the close of sessions and have found them to be immensely effective for a number of other minor or short-term medical conditions which have arisen during the period of my treatment for the necrotic bone pain.
And finally – a message for the men out there who are either curious about or have been given a recommendation to seek acupuncture: While Natalie advertises a specialization in women’s health and medical issues, she is fully experienced and well qualified to address the whole range of men’s medical issues throughout the lifespan.
--John B., Psychotherapist, Asheville NC
"The first time I came to Natalie I was experiencing tendonitis around my thumb joints.As a massage therapist, it was affecting my work. After one treatment, they felt better and I was able to work. After the second treatment, I have not had a problem since and that was 3 years ago. I appreciate your alertness, thoroughness, and your knowledge in applying appropriate and effective care." --- Grace S., LMBT
"Natalie's approach was wholistic, knowing that all my choices predict a response from my body, she helped guide me to make more positive choices without being overbearing. Best of all her needling was painless!" -- Shonna C., RYT, LMBT
"When I was approaching my due date with my second baby, following an induction with my first, I was looking into alternative ways for creating balance in my body that would lead to a successful, natural entry into labor. Natalie was recommended to me by my midwives and to this day I am grateful. Natalie was kind, compassionate and skilled. Her gentle nature and experience without a doubt lent itself to a state of mind and body that worked with not just me, but my baby as well. Just a few days later I was in labor; the gift that I had been hoping for throughout my pregnancy. Now that I am an apprenticing midwife (with the same midwifery practice that first recommended Natalie), I still hear positive recommendations for her and her practice-and give them myself! One would be blessed to have Natalie as an ally in creating, improving and maintaining health and wellness."
--Jenn M.
"I saw Natalie for a few different conditions. At my first visit, she patiently sat with me for a while and asked me very appropriate questions about my whole health, not just my complaints. She really got to the core of all my issues. She is sweet and sincere and very gentle. A few superb treatments really helped my arthritic knee and my overall health improved. One time I went in for a treatment (for my knee) and happened to be at the beginning of a cold. I was extremely congested and uncomfortable. In a matter of seconds from Natalie putting some needles in, my nasal passages cleared right up. It was incredible. I highly recommend Natalie and her services for supplemental treatment or as your main treatment. she rocks! "
--Julie S.
" I have been seeing Natalie for acupuncture treatments over the past four years. The main reason I started was due to the fact that I was suffering with allergies for about 10 months out of the year. I was constantly getting sinus infections and I was absolutely miserable! Once I started treatments I could tell a difference right away. I was having fewer allergy attacks and sinus infections. Now, I feel like a different person. I rarely have sinus infections and when I do have an allergy attack, the symptoms are less problematic and shorter in duration.
Natalie has also helped me with digestive problems, stress, and psoriasis. She also relieved some pain I was having due to ovarian cysts. When I am starting to get a cold, the treatments reduce congestion and help me get better faster. I feel like my immune system is a lot stronger due to acupuncture treatments.
The best part about receiving acupuncture from Natalie is that she is a great listener. She is a very caring and professional individual. You know you are in good hands from the moment you step into her office!"
-Angie T.
"I brought both of my boys to see Natalie when they were laid low by a wicked stomach virus. Both of them were pale, weak, and feverish as well as vomiting everything they took in, including small sips of water. The change in their health was immediate and dramatic. Within minutes of receiving very child friendly treatments, they were both looking and feeling better. Their fevers were reduced immediately and neither of them vomited following the treatment. Within hours of our visit they were both running around, feeling great and even eating small amounts of food. Most importantly, Natalie was gentle, kind and obviously very comfortable treating them.
I also received acupuncture and found her to be much more gentle than any other acupuncturist I've ever seen. The session was relaxing and informative. I definitely plan to use her as our primary source of care from now on, as I can't imagine having better results and the type of whole body healing that acupuncture offers, with traditional medicine. I still can't believe the transition in our boys and I'm excited to see how acupuncture can help me with both chronic and acute issues I'm currently facing. I plan to annoy everyone I know with constant recommendations to call Natalie, I am a true believer."
-Kate A.
"Natalie was incredibly warm and yet professional. I knew she cared from the start. When I was diagnosed with a complete placenta previa at eighteen weeks, I was devastated as I had been told there wasn’t much to do except wait for it to resolve (which I was told it wouldn’t). So faced with the possibility of a scheduled c-section and possible preterm labor, I was elated when Natalie came highly recommended. Under her care, my persistent sciatica resolved, the usual complaints of pregnancy disappeared and my placenta moved. I am now cleared for a natural birth and healthy, normal pregnancy thanks to Natalie’s healing touch."
-Sara W.
"When I first decided to see Natalie, I must admit I was uncertain what to expect. I had been experiencing chronic pain and discomfort in my back due to degenerative disc disease for nearly a year. As someone with an aversion to medications, I was used to dealing with my symptoms but desperately wanted some relief. I didn't know much about acupuncture, but am glad that I was willing to give it a try. After less than two months of treatments my back pain had almost disappeared. Since then I have continued to see Natalie regularly and am so grateful to feel like a normal person again. She was amazing from the beginning, not only treating me for my back pain but assisting with my overall health. I can honestly say that Natalie's acupuncture treatments have changed my life." Danielle C.
