Frequently Asked Questions

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 3,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James

Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery.

The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.

How widely is acupuncture used in the United States?

In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States. The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being "widely" practiced--by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners--for relief or prevention of pain and for various other health conditions. According to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey--the largest and most comprehensive survey of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by American adults to date--an estimated 8.2 million U.S. adults had ever used acupuncture, and an estimated 2.1 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture in the previous year.

What is the purpose of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine?

The purpose of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine is to return flow of energy and blood back to normal and to reinstate optimal organ function. This will, in turn, encourage restored function to the affected area and the body will begin to health itself. If detected early, organ malfunction and blood and/or energy stagnation may respond well to Oriental Medicine with an excellent chance for a complete and painless recovery.

What does acupuncture feel like?

Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed.

How Big Are The Needles?

They're not very big. The typical Chinese fine needle measures .25 to .30 millimeters in diameter, and 30-50 millimeters in length. The diameter is similar to your own hair. Acupuncture needles, unlike hypodermic needles, are neither hollow nor rigid, and the tip is shaped to increase the patient's comfort during insertion. It has often been stated that anywhere from half a dozen to a dozen acupuncture needles will fit inside the bore of a hypodermic needle; this depends, of course, on the diameter of all needles under consideration. Some Japanese-made needles are quite a bit finer than their Chinese counterparts. Interestingly enough, needle diameter has very little to do with insertion comfort; needling technique and needle tip shape are much bigger factors.

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Yes. Acupuncture is safe and without any serious side effects, one of the reasons for its acceptance. The stainless steel needles themselves are pre-sterilized, and they are disposed of after each treatment. The sterile, stainless steel needles used at our clinic are of the highest quality. The areas on your body used in treatment will be cleaned in advance with a cotton ball saturated with food-grade ethyl alcohol. You may experience two sensations with acupuncture: the insertion (which may feel like a mosquito bite), and the arrival of energy at the tip of the needle (which may feel achy, distending, warm, electric... each person has a unique experience).

Acupuncture has been used by millions of Americans and is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices, and rates them in the category of "safe and effective." The National Institutes of Health finished a two and one-half year study of acupuncture, electrical acupuncture and microcurrent therapies last year, and published their Consensus Statement in November, 1977. The Consensus Statement from the NIH states that, "While it is often thought that there is substantial research evidence to support conventional medical practices; this is frequently not the case. This does not mean that these treatments are ineffective. The data in support of acupuncture are as strong as those for many accepted Western medical therapies. One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions."

Did you know that acupuncture is at least three thousand years old?

In addition to Qi, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine recognize a subtle energy system by which Qi is circulated through the body. This transportation system is referred to as the channels or meridians. To better visualize the concept of Qi, and the meridians, think of the meridians as a river-bed, over which water flows and irrigates the land; feeding, nourishing and sustaining the substance through which it flows. (In Western medicine, the concept would be likened to the blood flowing through the circulatory system.) If a dam were placed at any point along the river, the nourishing effect that the water had on the whole river would stop at the point the dam was placed. The same is true in relation to Qi and the meridians. When the qi becomes blocked, the rest of the body that was being nourished by the continuous flow, now suffers. Illness and disease can result if the flow is not restored.Acupuncture is one tool used to restore the flow of Qi, by inserting needles into the acupuncture points (located on the meridians). These insertions are said to clear any residing blockages, or dams, thus freeing the river to better feed the body in its entirety.

What are the Acupuncture Channels?

Channels or meridians, are rivers of energy that flow on the body, Acupuncture points are located along the 12 meridians and 8 extra channels. There are 365 mapped acupuncture points along the 12 channels, as well as hundreds of extra points found all over the body. Qi (pronounced "chi") is the Chinese word for the energy moving through out the channels. The movement of the Qi assists in balancing the Yin, Yang, excess, deficiency, disperse or to tonify.These are selected according to the current presentation of the patient, as well as underlying constitutional excesses or deficiencies.

Do I Have To Believe In Acupuncture For It To Work?

Acupuncture's theoretical models are not based on faith. Acupuncture works on horses, dogs, babies, and people in comas. Its world view arises from empirical observation, and the acid test for the validity of the view is the result of its application by skillful practitioners. Simply put: faith is not a requirement.

How Can Acupuncture Help Me?

Reduce stress
Pain free treatments
Needle-less therapy is non-invasive. Receive all the benefits of acupuncture without needles.
Feel better & eliminate pain
Work more productively
Improve your sleep
Enhance focus
Smooth out emotions
Manage stress more effectively
Feel more relaxed and centered.
Improve athletic performance
Have more endurance and flexibility.
Acupuncture helps reduce cravings, keeps you calm and enhances detoxification.

What are some medical conditions acupuncture helps?

Addictions
Alcohol, nicotine, food, drugs

Circulatory
Hypertension, post-angina, arteriosclerosis, anemia

Emotional and Psychological
Stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia

Gastrointestinal
Food allergies, heartburn, peptic ulcer, constipation, chronic diarrhea, indigestion, anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, among other conditions.

Gynecological
Hormone imbalances, irregular and painful periods, PMS, infertility in women and men, menopause, fibroids

Muscular-skeletal
Back, neck,shoulder, and knee pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendinitis, bursitis,sprains and strains

Neurological
Headache, migraine,sciatica, peripheral neuropathy, post-stroke

Respiratory
Emphysema, sinusitis, asthma, allergies, bronchitis

Urological
Incontinence, urinary tract infections, sexual dysfunction, prostatitis

Other
Fatigue, hypertension, chemical addictions, support for chronic and debilitating conditions

Definitions for Better Understanding

Energy - Vital substance produced by the organs flowing on pathways to every cell in the body. Energy moves the blood.

Blood - Fluid circulated by the organs and energy through the vascular system, carrying oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the body. Blood nourishes the energy.

Organ - Part of the body adapted for specific functions that govern health, including the production of blood and energy.

Acupuncture - Insertion of hair-thin needles into the body at specific points in the treatment of health problems.

Chinese Herbal Medicine - Method of composing herbal formulas taken internally in the treatment of health problems.

Oriental Medicine - Term used to denote a complete medical system in use for over 23 centuries that includes seven major branches of healing.

Oriental Medicine recognizes 12 organs; the lungs, large intestine, stomach, spleen, gall bladder, liver, heart, small intestine, urinary bladder, kidney, pericardium, and the overall digestive tract. They produce blood and energy, which are the building blocks of proper body function. Blood flows in the blood vessels throughout the body. Energy flows on specific pathways throughout the body.

Physical, chemical, or emotional stressors can cause the organs to malfunction, blood to stagnate, and energy to stagnate. The function and healing process of vital body parts are affected at this point and although extreme health problems have been observed, it is more often not noticed at all. If the condition is allowed to go untreated, the body will attempt to support the affected area, but as the problem increases, the area starts to degenerate.

The longer the condition is allowed to go untreated, the less chance there is for recovery. What began as a minor problem or discomfort may lead to irreversible damage.