Frequently Asked Questions
What problems can acupuncture address?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture can help relieve more than 40 common issues, including:
Internal and Chronic Medical Problems, including: - High and low blood pressure - Ulcers - Colitis - Indigestion - Digestive disorders - Diarrhea - Constipation Musculoskeletal & Neurological, including: - Pain - Arthritis - Neuralgia - Sciatica - Back pain - Bursitis - Tendonitis - Stiff neck - Bell's palsy - Trigeminal neuralgia - Headache - Stroke - Sprains ​ Genito-Urinary & Reproductive, including: - Premenstrual syndrome - Menopausal discomfort - Irregular periods or cramps - Infertility - Urinary problems - Impotence ​ Skin, including: - Eczema - Acne - Herpes - Poison oak and ivy ​ Respiratory, including: - Colds and flu - Asthma - Allergies ​ Mental & Emotional, including: - Insomnia - Depression - Anxiety - Stress - Grief and sadness ​ Acupuncture is also helpful in post-surgical recovery and adjunct support during cancer treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation side effects.
How Does Chinese Medicine Work?
Chinese medicine looks at the body as a whole system made up of smaller interdependent elements. When each individual functioning system of the body is working in harmony, health is achieved and maintained. When disharmony or weakness or injury occurs in one system of the body the entire balance and function of the body will begin to be effected. An example of this is the essential interaction between the heart and lungs or cardio-pulmonary system. An illness affecting the heart will eventually affect the function of the lungs. These imbalances are the very root of disease or dysfunction. Chinese medicine identifies imbalances in the body. It does so through a detailed patient history of inquiry, observation and even palpation. This detailed history is used to evaluate systems of the body and to determine energetic patterns that may have become problematic. Acupuncture serves as a stimulus to gently encourage the body to return to a more balanced state. Acupuncture can help strengthen the body to promote its own healing power. Chinese medicine is unique in its ability to create individually tailored plans to improve the immune system, reduce stress and anxiety, improve general health and vitality, benefit fertility, and address issues of pain and injury. This also makes acupuncture a highly effective tool when combined with other western therapies and medicine practices. Chinese medicine is not a substitute for western care, but instead is a great enhancement and complement to western care.
What's the channel got to do with it?
In Chinese medicine the body is described as an energetic system. This energetic system is used to gain treatment results, by stimulating the functions of the bodies own self-healing mechanisms. Acupuncture meridians or pathways in the body may receive benefit from the fascia tissue of the body and may include the interstitium, also, and may involve more benefits than we currently have determined. By stimulating acupuncture points along channel pathways, an acupuncturist can treat identified imbalances in the body. This stimulation of acupuncture points is used to encourage the body to shift out of or let go of an unhealthy pattern of being. We can think of this energetic system of the body's nervous system as very similar to electricity. In fact, we learn in biology or basic science classes, that every cell in our body carries an electrical charge. Research on acupuncture has shown that part of the system of acupuncture does work by interacting with the nervous system. However, acupuncture has the ability to connect with many other functioning systems of the body. This bodily systems connection gives acupuncture the ability to benefit a wide variety of health issues, and not only pain and injury.
What should I expect?
Sterile disposable single-use needles are placed at selected acupuncture points to stimulate a healing effect in the body. The needle itself is a solid (filiform) thin stainless steel needle about the same diameter as a hair. Insertion of these needles ranges from painless to a brief discomfort. Deep relaxation is usually experienced during and after the treatment. Increased energy and a sense of vitality can also be experienced after the treatment. Anywhere from one to twenty needles may be used in a single treatment. Generally the needles are retained for 15-40 minutes while lying on a comfortable treatment table in a peaceful setting. The number of visits needed to work on a specific problem or health issue will vary per each individual. Several factors can be evaluated to determined estimated length of treatment.
How Can I Use Acupuncture?
Acupuncture can address numerous problems. It is not fully known how acupuncture works. It is known that acupuncture has an effect on the autonomic nervous system. Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system and the nervous system effects the function of the entire body. It is because of this relationship that acupuncture can impact a broad range of health issues.