Barbara Berger, L.Ac
Nationally Recognized Expert in Microcurrent Therapy.
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About 35 years ago. I opened my acupuncture office in San Francisco but nobody came because acupuncture was virtually unknown. Men were worried that acupuncture would make them impotent, and woman were asking about bringing band-aids to the treatment.
In my office building there was chiropractor treating professional athletes using a microcurrent device to relax muscles before making an adjustment. I think he felt sorry for me because I didn’t have any business. He told me he had a colleague who knew techniques and protocols for microcurrent facial rejuvenation and he offered to have his colleague teach me the techniques. Following training, the chiropractor sent me my first microcurrent facial patient.
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She was a woman in her forties. I treated one side of her face and gave her a mirror to notice if she saw a difference. She did. Her eyebrows were lifted, her cheekbones were higher. We were thrilled! I was about to treat the other side of her face when I realized that I forgot to turn the device on!
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You can do the muscle techniques with manual stimulation. Physical Therapists had been using these techniques for years to treat body muscles. Microcurrent Facial Rejuvenation all started in the 1960's and is based on the work of chiropractor, George Goodheart, inventor of Kinesiology, the science of body movement and muscle imbalance.
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​As interest in microcurrent grew, manufacturers developed specific devices for the delicate muscles of the face. I was invited by acupuncture schools throughout the country to teach Microcurrent Continuing Education for Facial Rejuvenation and Pain & Injury at the following schools:
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Acupuncture & Integrative Traditional Chinese
Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Yo San University of TCM, Los Angeles, CA
Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences, Oakland, CA
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego, CA
Five Branches University, San Jose, CA
Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Santa Monica, CA
University of East-West Medicine, Sunnyvale, CA
Southwest Acupuncture College, Boulder, CO
Florida College of Integrative Medicine, Orlando, FL
Swedish Institute: School of Acupuncture, New York
New England School of Acupuncture, Newton, MA
Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA
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Microcurrent is rarely taught at acupuncture schools and commonly confused with other types of electrotherapy devices. Helping acupuncturists and estheticians build a solid microcurrent foundation of this exceptional healing modality is very rewarding.