1. What
is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is one of the therapies of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, with a written
history in China of 2000 years but dating back
before recorded history. It is currently used by
a quarter of the world’s population, mostly in
Asia, and its popularity is growing rapidly in
the west as scientific trials prove its
efficacy. Acupuncture consists of the insertion
of extremely fine needles into specific points
to regulate the systems of the body and
alleviate pain.
Acupuncture is used along with herbal
medicine and dietary therapy to help the patient
heal naturally and completely.
2. How does
acupuncture work? The Chinese
have developed, over thousands of years, a
working theory of acupuncture. They discovered
pathways along the body that related to the
organs and systems of the body, through which
"qi" traveled. They found that when there was
illness the qi was blocked, excessive, deficient
or unbalanced. Acupuncture was one way of
restoring and balancing the flow of qi. By
inserting needles in certain points along the
channels and manipulating the qi flowing through
those channels organ function could be
regulated, muscles relaxed, inflammation
reduced, pain alleviated, etc.
Over the thousands of years that have passed
the doctors recorded their observations, every
generation learning from and improving upon
those that came before. Today acupuncture is
benefiting from modern research techniques.
(The exact mechanism is still unknown, and if
you are interested in recent theories and
research please check out the resources page.)
3. Is acupuncture
safe?
Yes. The acupuncture needle is an extremely
fine, disposable (one-use), sterile, FDA
approved medical device. A licensed
acupuncturist has undergone years of training in
its safe implementation.
4. Is acupuncture
painful?The needle bears little
resemblance to the hypodermic syringe used for
shots. Acupuncture needles are created as thin
as possible and when inserted by a skilled
professional they should not hurt. The feeling
of insertion is like a little tug on a body
hair.
5. How many
treatments will I need?
Depending on the nature, severity and
duration of the complaint, the course of
treatment will vary. Most problems can be fixed
quickly, while more chronic conditions may be
relieved only with time and effort. The speed of
progress with long-standing chronic issues is
much determined by the patients willingness to
live and eat well in conjunction with the
treatment.
He that takes medicine and neglects diet,
wastes the skill of the physician. [Chinese
Proverb]
6. What is
Chinese herbal medicine?
Chinese herbs are an important aspect of
Traditional Chinese Medicine. The history of
Chinese herbal medicine dates back even before
the development of acupuncture. Chinese herbs
are prescribed in formulas that are specifically
designed for the patients needs. The herbalist
will make a diagnosis and prescribe a
traditional formula that corresponds to the
patient’s pattern and disease diagnosis. If the
patient is taking an herbal decoction or "tea",
then a formula can be custom designed, unique to
the patient’s specific condition at that time.
As the patient’s health changes so will the
formula need to change to best fit the patient’s
needs. Patients may also prefer to take pills,
tinctures, etc.
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