Jennifer Layne is the owner of Jennifer Layne Acupuncture and Wellness, in Rutherford, New Jersey.

What inspired you to become an acupuncturist?
I was always interested in health and nutrition growing up, which led me to pursue my first career in dietetics. After working for several years in the health club industry alongside personal trainers, I was inspired to add an additional skill set to assist in my approach towards helping others obtain optimal health. I was interested in a whole-body approach that would complement my nutrition knowledge base.

What do you like most about your practice and helping others?
My job is truly a blessing and humbles me daily. Every patient has a new story, and it's my responsibility to do everything in my power to help them reach their individual goal. I think I learn as much from my patients as they learn from me.

Do you have a specialty that sets you apart from other acupuncturists?
In my practice, we have two primary specialties. I specialize in the treatment of pain and musculoskeletal disorders. Trigger point acupuncture is the technique that I use to accomplish this. It is a more modern form of acupuncture that aims to release "knots" and tight tender musculature. Most common areas of pain are neck and back, but also can be in the form of headaches and migraines.

Can acupuncture enhance fertility?
The use of acupuncture for fertility concerns has really exploded in popularity over the past few years. Studies show that the use of acupuncture, in conjunction with IVF treatments, increases the chances of pregnancy by 35 to 40 percent. I have dealt firsthand with the challenges of being diagnosed with infertility and then experiencing the miracle of a healthy childbirth using acupuncture and IVF.

We have a new fertility and women's health specialist, Livnat "Libby" Hai Choron, LAc, mainly treating women and men trying to conceive, with acupuncture alone or in conjunction with IVF/IUI treatments. She is a graduate of the Eastern School of Acupuncture, in Montclair, New Jersey, and specializes in this type of treatment.

Do you work primarily with athletes or does trigger point therapy help others?
I do treat many athletes and really love working with them Athletes typically respond quickly to trigger point releases and are very in tune with their bodies. On the other hand, you don't have to be an athlete to benefit from this type of treatment. Many of the people I treat have areas of pain from being at a computer all day and confined to very uncomfortable positions at their desk.

Do you offer other services at your practice?
As a phenomenal complementary treatment to acupuncture, massage therapy and reflexology are also now offered at our center. Grace Camporeale, LMT, specializes in both Swedish and deep tissue and trigger point massage. Denise Salatto-Moore, ARCB, has been practicing reflexology since 2002.

What's a common misconception about acupuncture?
The misconception that acupuncture is painful is most likely the number one fallacy that I hear. I know it is hard to imagine, given that we are working with needles, but treatments are very calming ,and most times patients are sleeping when I return to the rooms. Secondly, acupuncture is not a religion or a belief system. You do not have to believe in acupuncture for it to work. Acupuncture is a physical medicine and can be explained in very modern terms. The best proof of this is the successful use of acupuncture in the treatment of animals. Many veterinarians perform acupuncture on pets with spinal problems, pain and arthritic conditions with great success.

Jennifer Layne Acupuncture and Wellness is located at 54 Ames Ave., in Rutherford, NJ. For more information, call 201-687-7350 or visit JenniferLayne.com