1. What Is Acupuncture?
  2. Does Acupuncture really work?
  3. What are the needles like?
  4. Is Acupuncture Painful?
  5. Is Acupuncture Safe?
  6. How Long Does It Take To See Results?
  7. How Long Is Acupuncture Visit?
  8. Is There Anything I Need To Do Before or After Receiving An
    Acupuncture or Acupressure Treatment?
  9. Can I Combine Acupuncture and Western Medicine?
  10. What is TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)?
  11. What is Moxibustion?
  12. What is TDP Heat Therapy?
  13. What is Acupressure and Tuina?
  14. What is Cupping?

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1.What Is Acupuncture?  

Acupuncture, which originated in China more than five thousand
years ago, is a major component of Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM). It involves the insertion of sterile, hair-thin needles at specific
points on the body.

The practice of acupuncture is based on the concept that a universal
life energy - Qi (Chi) - is present in every living creature. This energy
circulates throughout the body along specific pathway, called
meridians. As long as energy flows freely, health is maintained. If,
however, the Qi has any interruption, depletion or stagnation, the
system is disrupted and pain and illness result. Acupuncture works
to unblock the pathways and balance the energy by stimulating
certain points along the meridians.

To perform treatments, acupuncture practitioners begin by taking a
thorough medical history. Then they perform physical examination,
check some parts of the body. as well as pulse, tongue, and skin or
other information. Then organize all the information to get diagnosis
patterns. This will guide them to chose acupoints and to perform
operation of the needles.

Acupuncture was first codified as early as A.D.25, and was described
in the ancient text The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine.
Experiences over thousands years and reports from modern
researches have shown that acupuncture is an effective method of
healing. The advantage of acupuncture is that it is a natural healing
process. Without taking medication, it help the body to rid itself of
diseases, to balance energy, and to become strong.

Acupuncture is not only specific in "symptom management", but also
focus on whole health of the person. An experienced Acupuncture
practitioner may link your skin conditions and stomach problems to
your newly stress, then figure out some acupoints to put needles,
and give you some advices for both treatment and prevention
purpoes. the disorders. Sometimes other therapies, such as
moxabustion or TDP heat therapy, acupressure/deep tissue
massage, or exercises are incorporated with the acupuncture
treatment.   

In American, acupuncture is now one of the most vital and "modern"
of all areas of complementary and alternative medicine. It is now
widely used as a primary treatment for chronic pain, and is a very
popular complementary therapy for substance abuse recovery,
nausea, cancer, immune disorders, stroke and many other
conditions.
                                 

2. Does acupuncture really work?

Yes. In the past 2,000 years, more people have been successfully
treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbs than with all other
health methods combined.

A panel of the National Institute of Health (NIH) of USA endorsed
acupuncture for some conditions in 1997. "there is sufficient
evidence of acupuncture’s value to expand its use into conventional
medicine." The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture
and Traditional Oriental Medicine’s ability to treat over 40 common
disorders.

A landmark study showed that acupuncture provides pain relief and
improves function for people with osteoarthritis of the knee and
serves as an effective complement to standard care. This study was
funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), both components of
NIH, USA. The findings of the study--the longest and largest
randomized, controlled phase III clinical trial of acupuncture ever
conducted--were published in the December 21, 2004, issue of the
Annals of Internal Medicine.

Some researches have showed that acupuncture can promote the
release of endorphins, this may be one of the reasons it works for
pain. It also stimulates reactions including changes in brain activity,
blood chemistry, endocrine functions, blood pressure, and immune
system response. Acupuncture not only works to resolve the
immediate symptoms of the ailment, but also works to resolve the
root cause of the disorder.

Today acupuncture is practiced widely in Asia, Europe, Africa and
America. It is now being used more and more in American by
acupuncturists, physicians and other medical practitioners. Surveys
showed that nearly one out of every ten U.S. adults has tried
acupuncture and the number of them has steadily increased in past
30 years. Out of the estimated $14 billion a year that Americans
spend on alternative medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine
accounts for $1 billion, 75 percent of which goes for acupuncture.


3. What are the needles like?

Acupuncture needles have a coiled handle and an extremely fine
shaft with a sharp point. The needles are solid and no substances
are injected into the body. Needles come in different lengths and
thickness according to the areas of the body which is treated. For
example, 0.25mmx40mm(1.5"), 0.18mmx25mm (1"), 0.16
mmx13mm (0.5").  Most of the practitioners in North American use
pre-packed and sterilized disposable needles that are used only
once. Some of the practitioners still prefer to use re-usable needles
that require to be sterilized. Patients could enquire information of the
types of needles used prior to treatment.

We use disposable needles only.


4. Is Acupuncture Painful?

No. Compared with the needles used to take blood or deliver
medicine, acupuncture needles are many times thinner, solid rather
than hollow, flexible rather than rigid and rounded at the tip. You may
feel a minor tingling or slight pinch as the needle reaches the correct
point under the skin and as it is operated for "meeting" with your Qi
(chi) on meridians. Sometimes a slight warmth, distention or
numbness is experienced, but these sensation are only momentary.
In most cases, the needles can hardly be felt at all when insertion;
often, patients are unaware that  insertion is taking place.  

















5. Is Acupuncture Safe?

Yes. In the hands of a comprehensively trained acupuncturist, your
safety is assured. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin, sterile,
stainless, steel, and generally cause no bleeding. They are far
different from the hypodermic needles used for injections. The
specific area on your skin will be cleaned with alcohol before
insertion. One of the greatest advantages of this method is the
absence of any harmful side effects associated with its use.  


6. How Long Does It Take To See Results?

It mainly depends on clients’ conditions. Normally for acute
conditions, it takes one to three treatments to achieve benefits or to
be cured. It usually takes more than 5 to 6 visits or longer to see
results for chronic conditions.


7. How Long Is Acupunture Visit?

Usually the first visit is the longest in order to allow for a complete
history taking and exam - typically 45 to 60 minutes. Follow-up visits
are shorter, 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the patient’s situation.
Typically for most of cases, the needles will stay in the body 30-40
minutes. Please don't think that the longer the better.     


8. Is There Anything I Need To Do Before or After Receiving An
Acupuncture or Acupressure Treatment?

You should not come in hungry, nor should you come right after a
large meal. You could keep your routine diet. Avoid treatment when
excessively fatigued or emotionally upset or shortly after sex. Plan
your activities so that after the treatment you can get some rest, or at
least not have to be working at top performance. This is especially
important for the first few visits.

For Allergy treatment, you will be given special instruction after each
treatment.


9. Can I Combine Acupuncture and Western Medicine?

Usually it does not matter to be given acupuncture, herbs and
acupressure treatment, while treated in internal  medicine,
osteopathic, chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy or massage.

A lot of patients undergo herbs treatment alongside conventional
medication. It is advisable, however, that herbal medicine and
conventional medicine be taken at different times of the day. With
acupuncture / TCM treatment, Western medication can usually be
reduced slowly as the patient's health improves, in consultation with
both the patient's conventional doctor and TCM practitioner.


10. What is TCM?

TCM means Traditional Chinese Medicine. TCM is a complete
theoretical and terapeutic system, and includes a variety of carefully
fomulated techniques, such as acupuncture, herbs/diet, bodywork,
exercises/Qigong, et al. Unlike the way conventional medicine in
western countries looks at the human body, TCM views our health in
a holistic fashion. A human body is viewed as being made up of two
opposing forces, such as shown in the Chinese Yin-Yang symbol.  
When the two forces in our bodies are out of balances, we will then
feel sick and symptoms will arise.

As a result, a practitioner of TCM will diagnose your illnesses
differently than your GP. Apart from the usual history of the illness, the
practitioner will also look at or touch different parts of your body to
gain more information about your internal organ and their energies.
For example, pulse palpation above your wrist could be used as a
way to get some proofs of pathological condition; the changes of
information from your tongue can show some changes of internal
organs condition or disease.

Once an illness is diagnosed, a TCM practitioner will prescribe a
treatment that will focus on restoring the balance of the body's Yin-
Yang. Treatments such as acupuncture, herbal medicine or
exercises will be used. In addition, the TCM practitioner will treat the
entire person, including both the physical and the mental aspects.

The system of TCM has been evolved  by cumulating of clinical
experiences of practitioners, generation after generation; while the
system of western medicine has been developed based on modern
sciences and experiments.

Presently, about one-quarter of the world's population uses TCM.


11. What is Moxibustion?    

Moxibustion , also called heat therapy, involves the burning of a cigar-
shaped roll of moxa--an herb also known as mugwort, above the
acupuncture point. Sometimes laying a slice of fresh ginger root, or
some salt directly on the treatment site based on diffrent conditions
of each client. Moxibustion results in a deep penetrating heat and
subsequent pain relief. It is an extremely effective treatment for
conditions of weakness and sensitivity to cold.    


12. What is TDP Heat Therapy?

TDP is an electromagnetic therapeutic apparatus. With the functions
of promoting metablism, balancing some physiological disorders,
diminishing inflammation and easing pain, it has been applied in
almost all hospitals and some families in China, and more and
more used in Europe and USA. It looks like a lamp and feels warm.

Moxibustion and TDP usually have been used to strengthen the effect
of acupuncture treatment


13. What is Acupressure and Tuina?

Acupressure is an ancient Asian healing art that uses the fingers to
press key points on the surface of the skin and thus stimulate the
body's immune system to self heal. When stimulated, these points
relieve muscular tension, and promote the release of endorphins --
neurochemicals that relieve pain. Acupressure uses the same
points and meridians (patterns of energy flow) as acupuncture, but
instead of needles, treats with firm pressure of fingers and hands.
With acupressure, the client may either to remain fully clothed, or to
undressed and suffer no side effects from drugs, while experiencing
a safe treatment. It is an excellent way to balance the body and
maintain good health by reducing tension, increasing circulation and
strengthening the body's resistance to illness.

Tuina is a name showed in Chinese pronunciation, for expressing  
massage method of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It includes
acupressure and some ways of deep style bodywork to treat
common diseases and relax the body.


14. What is Cupping?

In the ancient China, cupping was called " horn method". While
cupping, one or many jars are attached to the skin surface to treat
pain and some other disorders. It cause local congestion through
the negative pressure. Sometimes the jars are put along specific
meridians or around the pain area. The cupping has the function of
warming and promoting the free flow of Qi ( chi ) along meridians,
dispelling cold dampness, diminishing swellings and pains. The
cupping method is mainly used to treat Bi syndrome caused by wind
dampness, such as pain of the low back, shoulders, and leg,
gastrointestinal disorders such as stomachache, vomiting, and
diarrhea, and the lung disease such as cough and asthma.
Acupuncture FAQs