Kara Acupuncture & Wellness

Kara Acupuncture & Wellness Kara Acupuncture & Wellness is a clinic run by Laura Shahinian Kara, M.S.,L.Ac, diplomate with NCCAOM. Laura Shahinian Kara M.S., L.Ac. (1989, 1990).

Her treatments focus on managing chronic pain, healing injuries, arthritis, PMS, and menopause; as well as infertility, digestive disorders and stress. brings over 20 years of shiatsu therapy experience and an in-depth knowledge of the meridian system to her acupuncture practice. She has advanced certifications from both the Ohashi Institute of Shiatsu in New York and The British School of Shiatsu

in London. She received her Masters Degree from Tri-State College of Acupuncture in 2003. Laura has taught at the Snowlion Center Healing School in Provence, France (1997-2000) and was a member of the core faculty of Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City from 2003 to 2008. She is certified in Sports Medicine Acupuncture. Laura is board-certified by the NCCAOM and licensed in the State of Connecticut. Know your acupuncturist’s qualifications! Your acupuncturist should be comprehensively trained, licensed and board-certified by the NCCAOM. A fully-qualified acupuncturist is one who has received a Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine after having completed a 3- to 4-year graduate program comprising didactic and clinical skills training, totaling over 3000 hours of study. This is significantly more intensive than the 300-hour Acupuncture Certification courses offered to Western medical doctors and chiropractics.

This year has been a doozy for allergies! Many of my patients are suffering as am I (and I haven’t had allergies in year...
05/22/2026

This year has been a doozy for allergies! Many of my patients are suffering as am I (and I haven’t had allergies in years!) As the seasons change, many people look forward to blooming flowers and warmer weather—but for others like us, it signals the start of seasonal allergies. Sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and sinus pressure can make even the most beautiful days feel uncomfortable.
While antihistamines and medications are commonly used, more people are turning to acupuncture and herbs as a natural, holistic approach to managing allergy symptoms and strengthening the body’s defenses.
Learn more in my latest blog below!





Struggling with seasonal allergies? Learn how acupuncture reduces inflammation, relieves sinus congestion, and strengthens your immune system for natural, lasting relief.

I never take for granted my work and the training it took. It's so affirming with patients like this! 💝 I'll miss you to...
05/19/2026

I never take for granted my work and the training it took. It's so affirming with patients like this! 💝 I'll miss you too!

If you've read the latest news on acupuncture in the New York Times, you'll have heard of the word "interstitium." In re...
05/15/2026

If you've read the latest news on acupuncture in the New York Times, you'll have heard of the word "interstitium." In recent years, scientists have renewed interest in a fascinating structure within the human body known as the interstitium—a vast network of fluid-filled spaces woven throughout connective tissues. Some researchers believe this system may play a major role in communication, circulation, immune activity, and even chronic inflammation.
For many acupuncturists, this discovery feels surprisingly familiar.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has long described the body as an interconnected network through which Qi, blood, fluids, and information travel. While modern science and acupuncture use different languages, emerging research on fascia and the interstitium is creating intriguing conversations about how the body communicates internally.

Learn more in my latest blog below!






What is the interstitium, and how does it relate to acupuncture? Explore the fascinating connection between fascia, connective tissue, meridians, and modern research on the body’s hidden communication network.

Is this an Oreole on my willow tree? I think I'm in love! ❤️
05/09/2026

Is this an Oreole on my willow tree? I think I'm in love! ❤️

If you’ve been curious about acupuncture but feel nervous about the needles - you’re not alone. It’s one of the most com...
05/08/2026

If you’ve been curious about acupuncture but feel nervous about the needles - you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common concerns patients share before their first visit. The good news? Acupuncture needles are nothing like the ones used for injections, and most people are surprised by how comfortable, and even relaxing the experience is.

This guide walks you through exactly what to expect at your first session, so you can feel informed, confident, and at ease.

Learn more in my latest blog below






Nervous about acupuncture? Learn what to expect at your first session, how acupuncture needles feel, and why the experience is relaxing—not painful.

05/04/2026

This was a fun treatment with 2 different estim HZ. Medium on the tendon and low on the muscles. She teported a lot of relief in her wrist and thumb after treatment.


Arthritis affects millions of people worldwide, causing joint pain, stiffness, inflammation, and reduced mobility. Wheth...
05/02/2026

Arthritis affects millions of people worldwide, causing joint pain, stiffness, inflammation, and reduced mobility. Whether it develops from wear and tear or autoimmune processes, arthritis can significantly impact quality of life.
While conventional treatments often focus on medications and symptom management, many patients are turning to acupuncture and electro-acupuncture (electrical stimulation) as a complementary approach to reduce pain, improve function, and support long-term joint health.
From an acupuncturist’s perspective, this approach doesn’t just mask symptoms -it works to restore balance, improve circulation, and enhance the body’s natural healing mechanisms.
Learn more in my latest blog below!







Discover how acupuncture and electro-acupuncture relieve arthritis pain, reduce inflammation, and improve joint mobility. A natural, science-backed approach to joint health.

04/29/2026

This is her 6th treatment after a really bad knee injury. A full ACL tear with partial MCL tear, fractured bruised bones at the end of the fibula and tibia. Small tear at the bicep's femorous attachment and swelling of the knee.
Since she is not an athlete, her ortho recommends not doing surgery. So she has decided to be treated with acupuncture with electric stim. She is back to work and doing well! I love that our medicine can do this! So grateful for my training




Many of you may have read the NY Time’s article on Dry Needling last Sunday. I found it misleading and disconcerting. Th...
04/24/2026

Many of you may have read the NY Time’s article on Dry Needling last Sunday. I found it misleading and disconcerting. The article quotes an acupuncturist framing acupuncture as Traditional Chinese Medicine and dry needling as separate.

Acupuncture has hundreds of styles. TCM is just one of them. Many licensed acupuncturists specialize in exactly the musculoskeletal Trigger Point needling (aka Dry Needling) along with electro-acupuncture and manual therapy. My Master’s Degree in Acupuncture founded Trigger Point needling and I have been trained by the best as have many other Licensed Acupuncturists.

If you’ve explored treatment options for pain or muscle dysfunction, you’ve likely come across both acupuncture and dry needling. These two approaches are often compared—and sometimes confused.

From an acupuncturist’s perspective, dry needling is not separate from acupuncture, but rather one specific technique within a much broader, time-tested system of medicine.

Understanding how these methods relate can help patients make more informed decisions about their care.

Learn more in my latest blog (link in bio)





Is dry needling the same as acupuncture? Learn how dry needling fits within Chinese medicine and how acupuncture offers a broader, more holistic approach to pain and healing.

As temperatures rise, many people notice a familiar pattern - restless nights, lighter sleep, and waking up feeling unre...
04/18/2026

As temperatures rise, many people notice a familiar pattern - restless nights, lighter sleep, and waking up feeling unrefreshed. While it’s easy to blame discomfort alone, the real reason goes deeper. Heat directly impacts the nervous system, disrupting sleep cycles, stress regulation, and overall recovery.

From both a modern physiological and acupuncture perspective, understanding how heat affects the body can help you sleep better, regulate stress, and stay balanced during hot weather.

Learn more in my blog below!




Struggling to sleep in hot weather? Learn how heat affects your nervous system and how acupuncture helps regulate sleep, reduce stress, and restore balance naturally.

As an acupuncturist, two conditions consistently stand out above all others: low back pain and neck pain. Day after day,...
04/12/2026

As an acupuncturist, two conditions consistently stand out above all others: low back pain and neck pain. Day after day, patients walk into the clinic with stiffness, tension, sharp pain, or chronic discomfort in these areas.
But why are these issues so common?
From both a modern medical and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, the answer lies in how we live, move, and respond to stress in today’s world. Understanding the root causes of these conditions, and how acupuncture addresses them, can help patients find lasting relief rather than temporary fixes.
Learn more in my latest blog below!






Discover why low back and neck pain are the most common issues treated in acupuncture clinics. Learn the root causes and how acupuncture provides lasting, science-backed relief.

Address

268 Greenwood Avenue
Bethel, CT
06801

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 11:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 11:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 2:30pm

Telephone

+12034707072

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