About
Meet Michelle Manto, DACM, your licensed acupuncturist in Great Barrington, MA
“Striving for wholeness, balance and positive growth during life’s ups and downs”
~ Michelle Manto ~
I’m delighted to welcome you to the healing art of Berkshire Acupuncture & Wellness. As a Great Barrington acupuncturist, I’ve helped people throughout the Berkshires find balance and better health.
Inspired by my relationships with my grandparents, each, in their own way, taught me the importance of being healthy. They valued the natural order of things and believed that the body’s inherent desire for a healthful life was to be nurtured, supported and strengthened.
I acknowledge my professors who have contributed to the body of knowledge that I draw from and am able to pass on to everyone I meet.
I have learned that life, like medicine, is an art and though interpretations of how to live may differ, the desire to create a meaningful existence unifies us all.
Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine ~ DACM, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
Cranial Sacral Therapy 1
Master Reiki ~ Usui System of Reiki Healing
Licensed Acupuncturist Massachusetts
Acupuncturist New Jersey
Diplomate Oriental Medicine NCCAOM ~ National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Experience & Professionalism
2018: Completed advanced studies in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
2013-2020: Wrote feature articles on Health & Wellness for the Berkshire Record
2008: Started the acupuncture clinic at Volunteers in Medicine, Great Barrington, MA
2007: Offered general health and wellness treatments to the faculty of Monument Valley Regional High School, Great Barrington, MA
2006: Designed Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment options for smoking cessation classes at Fairview Hospital, Great Barrington, MA
1998 ~ Present: Private Practice, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
1998: Graduated Summa cum Laude, Academy of Chinese Healing Arts, Sarasota, FL.
Warm, Quiet & Inviting
At Berkshire Acupuncture & Wellness, you’ll be so relaxed, the rest of your world will fade away so that you can focus on your health. Our treatment room is calming serene and designed for a private appointment.
Your Great Barrington Acupuncturist
Helping People Heal at Berkshire Acupuncture & Wellness
The Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture offered at Berkshire Acupuncture & Wellness can be an important part of your integrated healthcare experience. Studies have shown that patients who use a multi-faceted approach benefit from a healing process that’s more balanced and whole. When used alone or in conjunction with other types of medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture supports the benefits of Chiropractic, Osteopathic and Western medicine, and can enhance the outcomes associated with each. It also helps to minimize side effects from treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation and prescription pharmaceuticals.
Part of the healing process is recognizing that choices you make every day affect your health. For instance, food choices and even the time of day that you eat may cause frequent headaches and/or digestive issues…emotions can cause muscle pain. What you do, and how you think, is connected to how you feel. Traditional Chinese Medicine takes the whole person into account. We are here to listen and help you navigate all aspects of your health so that you can make the best possible choices concerning your well-being.
Berkshire Acupuncture & Wellness explores the current literature, research and the most advanced treatment techniques to ensure that you receive the best possible wholistic care now and in the future. What we learn, we impart to you, as education is essential to helping one heal. Any advice that will facilitate a better lifestyle is an important part of treatment. Years of experience has shown that when a person learns how their body responds to life’s ups and downs, their choices are better informed, which means they can enjoy a more healthful life.
We care about your comfort & convenience and provide a number of treatment options
Berkshire Acupuncture & Wellness was created to help you experience the greatest possible health and wellbeing. We have a number of Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment options that include Acupuncture, Cosmetic Acupuncture, ear or Auricular Acupuncture (all with or without needles), food and nutritional therapy, Chinese herbal medicinals, warming moxibustion, cupping and gua sha (treatments to improve circulation and remove toxins), tuina massage, topical liniments, oils and plasters. Each plan is tailored to you by an experienced Great Barrington acupuncturist.
Our office is open Monday through Friday, and appointments can be scheduled for individual sessions (initial consultations and treatments will vary). Initial treatments are typically 90 minutes and follow up appointments 60-75 minutes. Whether you’re new to acupuncture or returning, your first visit with a Great Barrington acupuncturist starts with a thorough consultation.
Single-use needles are used and treatments are extremely gentle.
For your convenience, we have reserved parking spaces for anyone with an appointment to Berkshire Acupuncture & Wellness.
There is also a handicap parking space in front of our office. The building is handicap accessible.
Contact me to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions regarding how Berkshire Acupuncture & Wellness can support your health by creating an individual plan that works for you & your lifestyle.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture offers a wide range of health benefits that are supported by both traditional practice and modern scientific research. It is commonly used to manage various types of pain, including chronic conditions such as back pain, osteoarthritis, migraines, and tension headaches. By stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture can help reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, and activate the body’s natural healing mechanisms.
In addition to pain relief, acupuncture has been shown to alleviate symptoms related to stress, anxiety, and depression by promoting relaxation and helping to balance the autonomic nervous system. This can lead to improved mood, reduced muscle tension, and enhanced overall well-being.
Acupuncture may also support digestive health by regulating gastrointestinal function and relieving symptoms such as nausea and indigestion. It has been found to enhance immune system function, potentially increasing the body’s resistance to illness and infection. Furthermore, acupuncture can improve sleep quality by addressing underlying imbalances that contribute to insomnia or restless sleep.
Scientific studies indicate that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to release endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters that modulate pain perception and mood. It may also influence blood flow, reduce inflammation, and regulate immune responses, contributing to a holistic improvement in health.
Often used as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medical treatments, acupuncture provides a holistic approach to health and wellness, addressing both physical symptoms and underlying imbalances to promote long-term healing and balance. As a Great Barrington acupuncturist, Michelle regularly collaborates with local physicians and chiropractors as part of her patients’ care.
- Increases energy levels
- Promotes emotional balance
- Supports digestive health
- Improves overall wellness
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Relieves chronic and acute pain
- Enhances sleep quality
- Boosts immune system
Additional Studies
Reiki is a safe and gentle “complementary” therapy that activates the parasympathetic nervous system to heal body and mind. It has potential for broader use in management of chronic health conditions, and possibly in postoperative recovery. Reiki is not an alternative to allopathic medicine—it is a “complementary” therapy that can be implemented alongside all other medical and therapeutic techniques. It is a gentle technique that is suitable for even very fragile patients, so it is accepted widely in hospitals and hospices around the world. The profound relaxation produced by Reiki has been anecdotally reported to alleviate anxiety and stress, the perception of pain, and to promote a feeling of psychospiritual well-being. Reiki was developed by Mikao Usui in Japan in the 1920s. It is a relaxing form of healing therapy that is applied through noninvasive, nonmanipulative gentle touch. Reiki involves lightly laying of hands just above or on the clothed body, working over the front and back in a slow progression of hand positions. Reiki has no religious doctrine and is accepted by people from all backgrounds and belief systems.
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) was pioneered and developed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger following extensive scientific studies from 1975 to 1983 at Michigan State University, where he served as a clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics. CST is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system – comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Using a soft touch generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.By complementing the body’s natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.