Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture includes Acupuncture, Acupressure, Tuina, Cupping, Scraping, Moxibustion, E-stim, and Chinese herbs.

What is acupuncture?  How does it work?

Acupuncture is the use of hair-thin filiform needles to stimulate and balance the vital life force energy (Qi) of the body. 

 

Qi flows through the body through fourteen major pathways called meridians.  These meridians travel through the body connecting to specific organs and glands providing nourishment and energy to the body.

 

When Qi is disrupted by trauma, stress, lack of exercise, overexertion, seasonal changes, poor diet, emotional and physical imbalances, or accidents, a blockage of Qi can occur.  This restriction in Qi flow will cause a decrease in nourishment to the body and its vital organs causing health problems.

 

The purpose of Chinese Medicine is to restore the balance of Qi to the body to treat disease.  Acupuncture releases endorphins in the body to increase circulation, decrease inflammation, and help control pain.

 

What are the benefits of Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is beneficial because it is a holistic healing practice. It deals with balancing the body as a whole to treat disease. Acupuncture can help relieve symptoms and signs of many health conditions in a safe,  natural, drug-free, and effective manner.

 

What does acupuncture feel like?  Will it hurt?

Patients may or may not feel any sensations when being needled. Sensations range from tingling, pressure, distension, electrical conduction, soreness, and dull aching. Though acupuncture may be uncomfortable, most patients find the sensations tolerable.

What if I’m afraid of needles?

While many find our needling technique to be very gentle, supplemental forms of treatment such as acupressure, tui-na, shiatsu-anma, cupping, scraping, moxibustion, and Chinese herbs may be used.

 

What can acupuncture treat?

According to the National Institute of Health and the World Health Organization, acupuncture is effective in the treatment of:

• Addictions • Anxiety • Arthritis • Asthma • Carpal Tunnel • Chronic Fatigue • Colitis • Cold/Flu • Dental Pain • Depression • Diarrhea • Digestive Problems • Dizziness • Dysentery • Emotional Issues • Eye Issues • Facial paralysis • Fatigue • Fertility • Fibromyalgia • Gingivitis • Headache • Hiccough • Incontinence • Indigestion • IBS		• Low back pain • Menstrual problems • Migraines • Morning sickness • Nausea • Osteoarthritis • Pain • PMS • Pneumonia • Reproductive problems • Rhinitis • Sciatica • Shoulder pain • Sinusitis • Sleep disturbances • Smoking cessation • Sore throat • Stress • Tennis elbow • Tonsillitis • Trigeminal neuralgia • Urinary tract infections • Vomiting • Wrist Pain

How long do treatments take?

A first visit will last 90-120 minutes while follow-up visits are approximately 1 hour.  The actual acupuncture treatment will average 20-30 minutes depending on the patient’s condition and treatment plan. 

How many treatments and how often?

Because each patient’s health condition and response to treatment is unique, the frequency and number of visits will be vary.  Some patients may respond positively to initial treatments whereas others may see improvement after several visits.  Some conditions require multiple treatments per week for several months for optimal results.  Your acupuncturist will create an individualized treatment plan for your specific condition.