When Lucas Kadar presses a small needle into his left index finger, he does it as casually as others push straws into plastic lids on top of paper cups. After all, this is a man who has spent most of his 37 years inside an acupuncturist’s office, so needles don’t faze him.
In fact, needles are a very big part of Lucas’s life. And they always have been. His father, Peter, has been an acupuncturist for as long as he’s been alive. It’s the family business.
“It’s kind of funny, because in some ways I was a little rebellious toward it growing up,” Lucas says. “Now I feel fortunate to have this opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives. It’s what I appreciate most.”
He runs the Acupuncture Center of New Jersey, a practice his parents started in Morristown in 1987. They’re currently a team of four practitioners.
Lucas has done just about everything there is to do in the office, from cleaning to handling paperwork and insurance, and now running the show. He’s officially been an acupuncturist for just under a decade. He started his own practice in Brooklyn before taking over the Morristown office from his father, who, at age 73, still works there but has stepped back.
“I feel well,” Peter Kadar says. “I like doing it, so I don’t have a plan to stop. I enjoy it. I don’t need to manage the place or be the boss anymore. I’m in a good place.”
What’s made Peter’s transition go smoothly is the fact that the business is now in the capable hands of his son, who approaches the practice with the same passion his father always had.
Lucas Kadar studied at the Pacific College of Health and Science in Manhattan, where he says he was able to get a ‘hands-on’ education on top of what he already knew about acupuncture due to his family ties.
Now, he believes acupuncture is the best way to cure and prevent a plethora of health issues, especially in men. Two of the biggest issues they treat at the office are sports injuries and stress issues. Both of which can often be neglected. Acupuncture can also support sexual wellness, hormonal balance, and overall wellness in men.
“Men are under a lot of stress,” Lucas says, “and it manifests in different ways—sexual wellness, fertility issues, anxiety, digestive issues. Speaking for myself as a man, we kind of need support sometimes.”
Peter emphasizes that it’s important for men to understand that acupuncture is not just something to be used as a treatment for a problem, but also as a preventative solution. “You’re not always trying to fix something,” he says. “Sometimes you’re trying to protect yourself and counterbalance the stress state a lot of men live in.”
MensHealth.com conducted research in 2020, citing a significant reduction in stress and improved sleep after running a course of acupuncture treatments. A simple Google search will show countless studies within recent years showing its positive effects.
Father and son have both studied Chinese medicine and the philosophies that accompany it. And they both feel acupuncture can and should be used as a legitimate alternative to conventional modern medicine. There’s a huge positive change in the way others look at the things they’ve been practicing and preaching for decades.
“Now a lot of hospitals and clinics will have acupuncture, natural foods, and emphasize exercise, including yoga, tai chi, and martial arts,” Peter says. “It’s much more incorporated now than it was way back then.” When he started showing interest in acupuncture, many people in his life were skeptical. Now, it’s become so accepted that most insurance companies cover it, a sign of how far it’s come since he started the business decades ago.
“A lot of people come see me only after nothing else worked, and then I’m able to help them,” Lucas says. “I’d like more people to know it’s an option sooner.”
Learn more at https://www.acupuncturecenterofnj.com/
Featured model: Chris Jones @infinitifitness_nj
Recommended Resources from the Acupuncture Center of New Jersey
Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine by Harriet Beinfield & Efrem Korngold
A comprehensive and accessible book that demystifies traditional Chinese medicine for Western readers.
The Web That Has No Weaver by Ted Kaptchuck
A classic guide to Chinese medicine, explaining its holistic approach to health, which views the body as an interconnected system.
Website: https://acupuncturetoday.com/
This website provides in-depth, up-to-date resources.
Store: https://kamwostore.com/
A trusted herbal supplier with a wealth of information. Shop online or at their Chinatown location. The website has a useful search tool for symptoms and herbs.