Success Stories
It is our pleasure to help people activate their natural ability to heal, and it thrills us to hear success stories from those we have helped.
Fertility + Hormonal Health
Leigh, Thank you so much for your help throughout my pregnancy. We have a perfectly healthy baby boy! Labor and delivery was very easy, only lasting 4 hours total and able to do it without epidural! We appreciate all your help! — Nicole M.
I saw Leigh at Essential Acupuncture for moxibustion and acupuncture at 35 weeks pregnant for a breech baby. A week later, I found out that the baby had turned! Leigh’s calming presence and personalized treatment put me at ease and I enjoyed all of our interactions. The space itself is clean and lovely. I highly recommend Leigh and Essential Acupuncture. — Ashley B.
Leigh saw me through two pregnancies. She helped with preparing my body for the process and the also throughout the aches of pregnancy. She's the best! — Mollie R.
Leigh treated me with acupuncture while I was pregnant. She helped relieve some of my pregnancy stress points, while taking such consideration of my lifestyle and experiences. I love the space. It's very soothing and welcoming, without being corporate or stuffy. — Sarah D.
Pain Relief
I'd originally had sciatic pains and couldn't find a solution. My family suggested trying acupuncture. Wow. I'd researched a few places online and found Essential to be highly rated. It has been a life changing decision and I continue to go for pain and overall wellness sessions. Leigh has been a blessing. She shares the details of what procedures she is doing, how it remedies my ailments, and suggests preventative exercises I can do on my own to resolve future pains. I would highly recommend trying Acupuncture. I can only speak for me, yet it has been a game changer. — Mike T.
I started coming to Leigh at Essential Accupuncture about 15 years ago, when I was new to acupuncture and this was her new business. She has helped me manage my pain and counteract my loss of mobility better than anyone or anything I have tried over the years! I visit biweekly for what I like to call my maintenance. I deal with a number of physical issues that no amount of exercise, diet, rest, or medicine can treat alone. But in combination with Leigh's incredible skills, I am able to keep doing the things I love, and do them much more comfortably and with more confidence. She has taught me more about myself than any other wellness practitioner I have had on my care team. And I appreciate that she not only treats my body, but shows concern for my mind and emotions as well. Leigh is highly knowledgable, easy to talk to, and is the best of the best when it comes to acupuncturists! — Krista K.
It's been my good fortune to have found Leigh. I was amazed that her treatments for both my TMJ and lower back pain brought instantaneous short-term relief, and over the course of only three treatments, has completely resolved the TMJ. The change in my back has been nothing short of astounding! Her treatments have not only brought me a virtual total elimination of pain and stiffness, but have changed the internal sensation of how I experience the lower back. Where once it felt brittle and inflexible, it now feels malleable and dynamic. The change in my quality of life has been nothing short of remarkable. I have referred her to many of my friends as I regard Leigh as a highly intuitive and skillful practitioner of the healing arts. — Russ K.
ADHD
When I was 13, I'm now 15, I was struggling with my ADHD. I was taking two separate drugs for my focusing and another for my insomnia caused by my hyperactivity. The medication worked, but the side effects were damaging me. With my focusing medication, it caused me depression and anxiety. My parents stopped giving me the pills, but that didn't solve the problem. I was unfocused, tired, and still depressed! There seemed to be no hope, till my mom found acupuncture. It was a new, foreign thing that I have never heard of. After I took my first treatment of acupuncture, which was very comfortable and I didn't even feel the needles, it was only time that could tell. But within the week I got the treatment, my depression subsided, no bad side effects. My ADHD decreased too, not a huge, instant difference but a change. A good one. I was making great progress; by the 3rd treatment, my ADHD wasn't interfering with my life, even my teachers saw a change in my focusing. One of them said that "it's as if she's an average person who doesn't have ADHD" my focusing kicked a**!! I was getting 8 hours of sleep, I actually felt awake like I was suppose to in the morning! Not energetic, five hour energy awake of course, but getting up like a normal person should. I felt good externally, best part was this: NO SIDE EFFECTS OR CASUALTIES. I was well and healthy. I'm 15 now, and I still take acupuncture ever since my first treatment. I'm gonna lie, since it's natural healing, it works slow. So don't expect freaky fast results. Overall, go try acupuncture and, coming from a teenager, try it too. Don't be scared, there is really nothing to be scared off. It's a lot less scary than pills. — Nina L., age 15
Insomnia + Sleep Disruptions
I can't describe how much I love this place and my accupuncturist Leigh! I was referred by my friend and am so grateful! This was my first experience with accupuncture and now I'm hooked.
It's a clean, relaxing, & friendly environment. Their prices are really reasonable as well. Leigh has this calming presence about her and she really takes the time to understand you and your body. She then customizes your treatment accordingly explaining the whys behind everything along the way. In just 5 weeks my circulation, allergies & sleep cycle are so much better. I would recommend Essential Accupuncture to anyone and everyone. It's so wonderful! Thank you so much Leigh!! — Kristin H.
This is my first experience with acupuncture. I cannot say enough about how impressed I am. I have seen Leigh for a couple weeks, and have already seen results. I'm sleeping better and feel less stress in my life. I highly recommend Essential Acupuncture, Leigh is caring, compassionate, and kind. Definitely give acupuncture a try!!!! — Melissa W.
Anxiety + Depression
I can't like this enough. Leigh is phenomenal. I started here 3 years ago for my anxiety (lifelong) and seasonal depression (I'm from the sunny South originally). I can honestly say after going to Leigh regularly in the winter, I haven't had any issues with SAD and my anxiety has dramatically dropped. — Mollie R
I am so incredibly thankful that I found Leigh and discovered acupuncture a couple of months ago. When I first stepped foot in the doors of Essential Acupuncture back in April, I was going through a terribly difficult time- experiencing anxiety and frequent panic attacks for the first time in my life. I was determined to find a natural treatment plan, and Leigh was exactly what I was looking for. She is caring, calming, nonjudgmental, and so knowledgeable about her field. She takes her time with me and truly customizes each treatment. Within a few weeks, she had me feeling grounded and back to my normal self. I have to say, I was never planning on becoming a regular acu patient but now I am hooked for life. I highly recommend Leigh to anyone looking for a holistic approach to supporting struggles with anxiety. Thanks for everything Leigh! — Katie K.
I have been seeing Leigh at Essential Acupuncture for nearly 6 months and it has been tremendously helpful in many aspects of my life. I had never had acupuncture before, and didn't think I'd stick with it for so long, but I was pleasantly surprised at how deeply therapeutic the practice is. Leigh is gentle, kind, and patient. She is an amazing listener, and has helped change the way I view my own stressors and anxieties. She has a very soothing presence. She is experienced, and very, very good at what she does! — M G.
Digestion + IBS
Leigh Gilkey has been my acupuncturist for a little over 2 years. She has been a great help, the best really because I have been drug free for 2 years with a condition called Ulcerated colitis!! Of course this is not an overnite treatment or voodoo she did! It's been lots of work on her side (Chinese herbs) and patience on my part. I would highly recommend her to anybody who wants an alternative for a doctor visit. She is a great people person who really cares and listens well. — Ceciel F.
Questions about our treatments?
Feel free to contact us with any questions, we are happy to offer a free consultation to help you understand the process and benefits.
Who We Are
Owner-Practitioner, Leigh Gilkey, has an integrative approach to healthcare and sees healing as a collaboration between herself, the individual—with all of their lived experience—and their other healthcare providers. Leigh sees working with people to restore and promote their health as an honor and is committed to thoughtful, compassionate, and respectful care for everyone.