What is Acupuncture?
Does Acupuncture hurt?
How many treatments will I need?
Is Chinese Medicine safe?
Is there anything that I must do before treatment?
What can I expect after treatment?
What is Traditional Oriental Medicine?
How does the Chinese medical practitioner determine what is out of balance?
How is balancing accomplished and what methods are used?
What is Chinese Medicine good for?
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders
Respiratory Disorders
Circulatory Disorders
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Urogenital Disorders
Gynecological Disorders
Psycho-Emotional and Neurological Disorders
What is Chinese herbal medicine?
What is the difference between Western folk medicine and Chinese herbal medicine?
How are Chinese herbs taken?
Can pregnant women take Chinese herbs?
Can children take herbal medicine?
How long does it take to see results with Chinese herbal medicine?
Cupping
Moxibustion
Tui na
Acupuncture is one of the modalities of Oriental Medicine. Fine needles are inserted into the body at specific points that have shown to be effective in the treatment of specific health conditions. In the past three decades, electromagnetic research has confirmed the existence and location of these points. Acupuncture stimulates your body’s natural healing processes. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners believe that acupuncture activates the flow of energy forces that nourish tissues, stimulate blood flow and enhance the body’s systems.
Acupuncture needles are typically not much thicker than a strand of hair and the insertion is practically painless. In some points, you may not even feel the needle and in others, you may feel a slight tingling sensation. The area may feel itchy, heavy, warm or even numb. The sensation feels almost like the same sensation when you bump the tip of your elbow.
How many treatments will I need?
That depends on the severity of your condition. If it is acute, maybe one to three treatments will do. If it is chronic, estimate 10-12 treatments. As a rule of thumb, estimate 4 treatments for every year that you have had the condition. Your constitutional health and how compliant you are play a major role in the healing process. The practitioner may suggest diet and lifestyle changes as well as exercise and relaxation techniques. Much of the healing is dependent upon the patient.
When acupuncture is practiced by a licensed practitioner and herbs are prescribed by a certified herbalist, it is very safe. There are hardly any side effects and if a patient reports any side effects, the practitioner will see to it that these side effects are relieved. They will have to rebalance the body and not just treat the symptoms. In general the herbs used are put into a formula and not used-singly, —by themselves. A formula will consist of about 6-12 herbs. The herbs in the Chinese materia medica are very well tolerated and do not have dangerous side effects, especially when compared to even common over the counter Western drugs. The Acupuncture needles are all single-use, sterile, stainless steel, disposable needles.
Is there anything that I must do before treatment?
Before a treatment it is suggested that you eat something light, not a full meal. You should not go for a treatment when excessively fatigued, hungry, upset, or shortly after sex or drinking alcohol.
What can I expect after treatment?
You may notice a change after one treatment, or you may not. Acupuncture requires a series of treatments to be effective. Many people report a better night’s rest and an improved ability to handle stress, in other words, they feel more relaxed.
What is Traditional Oriental Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic approach which dates back about 2500 years. It incorporates both Acupuncture and the use of Chinese Herbs. The focus is on the interaction of all body systems to restore the health and well being of the whole person–body, mind and spirit. This means to balance yin and yang, balance between the five phases, balance between the viscera and bowels, and the balance between qi, blood, and bodily fluids. Some of the physical benefits of acupuncture include pain reduction, restored health from a recent or long-standing illness, faster recovery from injuries, decreased symptoms of stress, strengthened immune system function and improved circulation.
How does the Chinese medical practitioner determine what is out of balance?
The Chinese medical practitioner determines what is out of balance in the body by employing the four basic examinations. The first is questioning about one’s signs and symptoms and taking into account the whole person’s health and family history. The second is by visually inspecting one’s face, body and especially the tongue. The concentration is placed on the coating, color and any demarcations on the tongue. The third is by listening to one’s voice and the sound of one’s breathing as well as any excretions or odors emanating from the body. The fourth method is by palpation. The prectitioner palpates various parts of the body and also take pulses on both wrists. By incorporating all four of these methods, the practitioner can determine the pattern of disharmony and rebalance the body.
How is balancing accomplished and what methods are used?
Through the insertion of fine, thin, sterile, stainless steel needles in selective points, the practitioner is able to move stuck energy or release excess heat. Vice versa, if the body is deficient, where it is cold or does not have good blood circulation, the practitioner can tonify the body using a slightly different needling technique. Acupuncture as well as moxibustion or herbs may be employed. In addition, Chinese practitioners may also use Tuina massage and they may prescribe preventative exercises like Tai Chi or Qi Gong. There is also a strong emphasis on diet and lifestyle.
What is Chinese Medicine good for?
Chinese medicine is a non-invasive, natural, holistic approach for treating many disorders and illnesses. Each area of our being; physical, mental and emotional is treated. If a disease is extremely advanced and there are changes in the organ tissue, Chinese medicine alone may not be strong enough. It still will support the body’s immune function. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is excellent as a preventative and curative modality. It is highly recommended for chronic medical conditions that western medicine has been unsuccessful in treating. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be used together with Western treatment without conflict. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be used together with Western treatment without conflict. Acupuncture is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine that is recognized all over the world for its effectiveness in treating a wide variety of ailments. It’s a healing art that is used to treat almost anything.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment modality for many conditions, including:
Low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ, frozen shoulder, sciatica, tennis elbow and arthritis
Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders
Toothache, earache, sinusitis, rhinitis, and laryngitis
Colds and flues, bronchitis, asthma, allergies and emphysema
Hypertensions, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris
Food allergies, nausea, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome.
Cystitis, stress incontinence, neurogenic bladder, prostatic hypertrophy
Menstrual irregularity, Endometriosis, PMS, infertility, menopausal syndrome, Fibroids
Psycho-Emotional and Neurological Disorders
Depression, anxiety, insomnia, headache, migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, post stroke paralysis, dizziness, tinnitus.
What is Chinese herbal medicine?
Herbal medicine is the main modality in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is the world’s oldest continually practiced, professional medicine. Its written history stretches back to over 2500 years and its practice is undoubtedly much older than that. Chinese herbal medicine is quickly establishing itself as one of the most popular and effective alternative therapies in the West.
What is the difference between Western folk medicine and Chinese herbal medicine?
Western folk medicine primarily treats diseases or symptoms, such as headaches, runny nose, menstrual pain, etc. Chinese herbal medicine is based on an individualized pattern diagnosis as well as a disease diagnosis. This means the TCM patient receives a custom written herbal prescription designed to treat both the symptom or disease and also their individual pattern. Such a TCM pattern is made up of a person’s signs and symptoms as well as their emotional temperament and bodily constitution.
The most common method of taking Chinese herbal medicine is in a decoction. This means that the herbs are boiled for approximately 45 minutes and then strained and drunk 2-3 times per day. However, there are also herbal pills, tinctures and powdered extracts for those who do not have the time or taste for drinking traditional decoctions.
Can pregnant women take Chinese herbs?
Yes, if prescribed by a professional TCM practitioner. Chinese herbal medicine has been used for over 2000 years to treat diseases and symptoms during pregnancy without any harm to the fetus. Likewise, lactating mothers can take Chinese herbal medicine as long as it is prescribed by a trained practitioner.
Can children take herbal medicine?
Yes again, Pediatrics is a specialty within TCM and children can be given reduced dosages. There are also prepared pediatric medicine in pill and powder form. Chinese herbal medicine can treat colic, the fussiness of teething, earache, diarrhea, cough and fever in babies and children.
How long does it take to see results with Chinese herbal medicine?
In acute conditions, results can be expected in a matter of minutes. In chronic conditions, some results should be seen within two weeks. Although chronic conditions may require taking Chinese herbal medicine for a long time, nonetheless, signs that the medicine is working should be apparent to patient and practitioner.
Cupping is a therapy in which a jar (glass, plastic, or bamboo) is attached to the skin surface to cause local congestion through negative pressure created by heat or mechanical suction.
Cupping has the function of warming and promoting free flow of Qi and blood in the meridians, dispelling cold and dampness, diminishing swellings and pains. It is mainly used to treat low back, shoulder, and leg pain, gastrointestinal disorders such as stomachache, vomiting, and diarrhea, and lung diseases such as cough and asthma.
Moxibustion or Moxa for short is an ancient form of heat therapy. Moxa uses the ground up leaves of the plant Mugwort (Artemesia Vulgaris). The powdery substance is either rolled into sticks for indirect moxa, or made into tiny cones and burned on ointment or ginger for direct moxa. It has the function of warming the meridians, expelling cold, and promoting the smooth flow of Qi and blood. Moxibustion is good for any type of pain conditions, gastrointestinal or female disorders.
Tui na (pronounced twee na) is a bodywork therapy that was developed in China over 2000 years ago. The work is done entirely with the practitioner’s hands to help increase the beneficial flow of Qi through the patient’s meridian system. Tui na methods include the use of hand techniques to massage the soft tissues (muscle and tendons) of the body, acupressure techniques to redirect the flow of Qi, and manipulation techniques to realign the musculoskelatal and ligaments. Tui na is well suited for the treatment of specific musculoskeletal disorders and chronic stress-related disorders of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems.
