ACUPUNCTURE

Chinese medicine is the longest continuously practiced form of medicine in the world, dating back over 3,000 years.  It is a holistic medicine that looks at all facets of an individual in evaluation of health.  We consider not only your symptoms, but also your diet, emotional well-being, amount of exercise, hereditary factors, environmental, and seasonal factors.  This medicine is based on the concept of balance.  Your body has amazing abilities to heal itself.  By bringing your body into balance and removing obstructions to this healing, we can facilitate your recovery, and improve your overall quality of life.  

Chinese medicine works with a number of different modalities including; acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, moxibustion, and cupping.  Acupuncture is the insertion of tiny needles into specific points of the body to change flows of blood, body fluid, and bio-electric energy in internal pathways called meridians.  These acupuncture points are the places on the body where electricity can most easily move, or points of lowest electrical resistance.  Numerous modern scientists have electronically tested for and verified the location of the ancient acupuncture points.  Further testing has shown clear evidence of not only electrical flow in the meridians, but also movement in body fluid when these points are stimulated.  These points have been shown to affect the circulatory, lymphatic, nervous, and endocrine system, in effect all of the major regulatory systems of the body.

Chinese diagnosis works by analyzing your symptoms, examining your complexion, posture, range of movement, appearance of your tongue, and by feeling your pulse.  The tongue is connected to many different channels and acts as a mirror to what is going on inside the body.  There are three pulses on each wrist; they correspond to the three sections of the chest and abdomen and the organs each contains.  The pulses on the right hand tell us about the condition of your energy, and the pulses of the left hand tell us about the condition of your blood.

The needles that are used are very tiny; in fact some are as small as a human hair.  They are sterile and used only once, eliminating the chance of any form of infection at the needle site.  Most patients state that they feel only a slight tap or nothing at all when the needles are inserted.  Once the needles are in it is normal to feel various types of sensation ranging from warmth and tingling, to a pressure or mild ache that can collect around the needle or move down the channel.  This shows that the energy is responding to the needles and is balancing its flow.  Not all people feel these sensations and it is different for everyone.  The needles are retained in the body for around 20 minutes.         Chinese herbs can be utilized in many different forms from teas, pills, capsules, and powders.  The Chinese have characterized over 15,000 naturally occurring substances and their medical properties.  These days there are around 400 commonly used herbs in the modern clinic.  Chinese herbs are most often used in formulas of multiple herbs.  These formulas have been time tested and reduce the chance of side effects.    Chinese herbs allow the patient to continue their treatment at home between visits and are invaluable in our efforts to balance the body.

Moxibustion is the burning of an herb in the chrysanthemum family to warm strategic acupuncture points.  In my clinic this is done using a cigar like roll of pre-charred herbs.  Moxa has a warming, strengthening, invigorating action.  It opens the channels and directly adds warming energy to the system.  It is helpful in cases of injury, weakness, and stagnation.

Cupping is a method of using a glass cup to create a vacuum.  This vacuum pulls on the skin and body fluids to break up stagnation.  By pulling stagnated blood and fluids out of an area you allow new blood and fluid in.  This greatly relieves stiffness, and increases healing rate.  Cupping can also be used to fight early stages of cold and flu.  This is done by placing cups on the upper back, stimulating point that relate to the releasing pathogenic factors and stimulating the body’s immune response.

Your first visit will take around an hour and a half.  This will give us time to come to an understanding of your condition and administer your first treatment.  Subsequent visits will only take approximately one hour.  I recommend having eaten something a few hours before your session, and wearing loose comfortable clothing.  It is also helpful if you arrive a bit early to give yourself a few minutes to relax before we begin.  This gives you a chance to fill out any paperwork, and allows your pulses a chance to reach their normal rate.  It is also helpful if you bring a list of all supplements and medication you are currently taking.

Most people describe acupuncture as a very relaxing, and rejuvenating experience.  We look forward to meeting you and helping restore you to vibrant health.

The WHO (World Health Organization) released a list of over 50 things that their research shows that acupuncture and Chinese herbs can effectively treat.  This is only a starting point of all the ways Chinese medicine can be used to help improve your health and overall quality of life.  These include:

Respiratory System

              Acute sinusitis

              Acute rhinitis

              Common cold

              Acute Tonsillitis

              Acute Bronchitis

              Bronchial asthma (especially in children, and patients without

              complications)

              Asthma

              Dyspnea

              Lung paralysis

              Pulmonary consumption or abcess

Eye disorders

              Acute conjunctivitis

              Central retinitis

              Myopia

              Cataract (without complications)

Mouth Disorders

              Toothache (especially post extraction)

              Gingivitis

              Acute and chronic pharyngitis

Gastro-intestinal Disorders

              Esophageal spasm

              Hiccup

              Gastroptosis

              Acute and chronic gastritis

              Abdominal pain

              Gastric Hyperacidity / Acid Reflux

              Pain relief for chronic duodenal ulcer

              Acute duodenal ulcer (without complications)

              Acute and chronic colitis

              Acute bacillary dysentery

              Constipation

              Diarrhea

              IBS – irritable bowel syndrome

              Vomiting

Neurological and Musculo-skeletal Disorders

              Headache and Migraines

              Trigeminal Neuralgia

              Early stage of facial palsey

              Pareses following stroke

              Peripheral neuropathy

              Osteoarthritis

              Low back pain

              Sciatica

              Meniere’s disease

              Nocturnal enuresis

              Frozen Shoulder

OB/GYN

              Menstrual disorders (pain, irregularity, light or heavy, etc.)

              Disorders of the vagina (burning, itching, discharge, fibroids)

              Disorders of the breast (abcess, lactation problems, tenderness)

              Lower abdominal masses

              Menopause

              Infertility

             Disorders during preganacny (morning sickness, threatened          

              miscarriage, breach baby, etc.)

              Postpartum disorders (constipation, depression, fatigue, etc.)

Other Conditions

              Chronic fatigue

              Diabetes

              Hypochondriac pain (pain in the lower ribs)

              Narcolepsy

              Excessive tiredness

              Angina

              Insomnia

              Depression

              Manic Psychosis

              Palpitations

              Enuresis

              Impotence

              Urinary tract infection

              Jaundice

              Retention of Urine

              Dizziness

              Sexual dysfunction

              Bipolar disorder