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Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE?
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an extensive medical system including the following major forms: acupuncture and moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, and Chinese acupressure massage (Tui Na).
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a nearly 4,000 year old system of medicine. Originated in China, it is based on a complex theory of energy flow in the body.
All techniques in TCM assume that energy that normally flows smoothly through the body gets stuck in certain places when we are not feeling well, and TCMs treat problems by regulating the energy flow.
ACUPUNCTURE: IS IT FOR YOU?
Acupuncture is a form of healing, which is several thousand years old and has only become part of the vocabulary of the average American in recent years. Although many people have been skeptical about acupuncture, it has increasingly gained acceptance as more and more people have been treated and helped by it. The fact that acupuncture benefits many people who have not been helped by conventional medical methods is indicative of its potential usefulness in this country.
Frequently, people who choose to undergo acupuncture treatment have little knowledge about acupuncture in general or about the actual treatment procedure in particular. This brochure is a collection of frequently asked questions in acupuncture clinic. It is to provide an introduction and a reassuring guide for those contemplating acupuncture treatment.
WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?
Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medical Therapy, which has been empirically proven effective in treating specific disorders. It uses very fine, thin stainless needles at specific points of the body; these points have been mapped out by the Chinese for a period of 4000 years. Recently, these locations have been confirmed by electromagnet.
According to traditional Chinese Medical Theory, the basic energy force of life which flows through all living things is called Chi - meaning "energy flows". When this force flows through the human body, it travels along twelve primary and two secondary channels or meridians. As Chi flows through the channels, it helps circulate the blood and also affects the nervous system. Along these channels there are 365 major acupuncture points.
Chi (energy flow) has two aspects to it: Yin and Yang . Yin and Yang must be in balance for Chi to flow freely and for all living beings to function properly. When Yin and Yang are out of balance, the body is susceptible to pain and illness.
An acupuncturist, in observing symptoms of disease, is able to locate the points on the body that govern a particular section of the channel that is blocked. The acupuncturist then stimulates those points to clear the channel and allow the life energy to flow freely again. By placing and manipulating the needles in the proper points, the skilled acupuncturist brings Yin and Yang back into balance. This restores good blood circulation and a healthy nervous system.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
Since people are so unique, treatments can take many different courses. Acute conditions may only require 2-3 treatment to have a curative effect. Chronic conditions take longer to resolve. A general rule is that for every year a person has had a problem, he or she needs a month of weekly treatments. That doesn't mean that you won't have any benefit from a couple of treatments, it just means that it takes some more time to correct the underlying cause of the problem. For example, if someone comes in for treatment of his or her low back pain that has lasted for 10 years, pain relief could be obtained within a couple of treatments. If that patient then stops the treatment since he feels better, the pain may come back. If the patient continues treatment to correct the underlying weakness that causes the pain to manifest in the first place, the pain may never return.
ARE THE NEEDLES CLEAN?
Yes. This clinic only uses presterilized, individually packaged, single-use, disposable needles, thus assuring that there is no transmission of communicable disease from patient to patient. The certification of Acupuncturist includes a Clean Needle Test as part of every national board examination in America.
DO ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES HURT?
In general, acupuncture is painless. However, if the correct stimulus of the needles has been obtained, the patient should feel some heaviness, distention, tingling, or electric sensation either around the needle or up and down the affected energy pathway or meridian. In any case, if there is any discomfort, it is usually mild.
HOW DO I DECIDE IF ACUPUNCTURE IS FOR ME?
Some key things to keep in mind when choosing a particular mode of treatment are the frequency or the length of the treatment and the cost. Acupuncture can be very effective with just one treatment, but for many chronic disorders that involve a patient's constitution, several consecutive treatments may be necessary. How many and how often can be worked out between you and your acupuncturist.
Finally, whether or not you can have acupuncture done on you depends on how you feel about it. If you fear needles, perhaps Acupressure Massage (TuiNa), Cupping Therapy, Moxibustion Therapy, Chinese Herbs, Reflexology, Swedish Massage work better for you. All of these can be done at an acupuncture appointment.
WHAT IS CUPPING?
Cupping is a therapy that stimulates the flow of blood and Qi to the superficial muscle layers. It is used to break up blockages of Qi, for sore muscles, tension, neck pain, and the common cold. In this therapy, your acupuncturist will place small glass "cups" over specific areas on your body. A vacuum is created under the cup using heat or suction. Sometimes your acupuncturist may slide the cups over certain areas, or just leave them still. You may leave the office looking as though a large octopus gave you a big hug. But don't worry; the slight redness will dissipate quickly.
WHAT IS CHINESE MASSAGE OR TUINA?
TuiNa (pronounced twee nah) is classical TCM( Traditional Chinese Medicine) Chinese Massage. In China we call it TuiNa, but in America, we often say Acupressure, Chinese Acupressure Massage or Chinese Massage. It involves the use of special hand techniques or tools to stimulate the acupoints or the meridians, the energy pathways along which the acupoints are located and through which Qi or energy flows. TuiNa is a medical treatment and is different than massage because it works on the energy level of the body and not solely on the muscles and tissues. Though different than acupuncture, TuiNa can be just as effective. Actually for some conditions, like sports injuries and simple sprains, it is more useful and easier on the patient. Sometimes, when it is appropriate, TCM doctors use acupuncture and TuiNa in combination, and this can accelerate the healing benefits. For Chinese Massage, patient usually wear comfortable clothing, such as shorts and a t-shirt, except when you want to use massage lotion or oil. We usually suggest that prior to getting Acupuncture, it is better to get a Chinese Massage, because Chinese Massage not only treats your current problems, but also discovers other hidden problems that the client may not be aware of. The hidden problems may be related to the client's current problems, so diagnosis of these hidden problems is of vital importance.
WHAT IS CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE?
Chinese herbal medicine has been used in China for five thousand years. Chinese herbs often have prompt results in enhancing overall energy while calming nervousness and improving function of all organs. There are more than 500 basic Chinese herbal formulas and 400 single herbs. Sometimes the single herbs are added to basic formulas, which results in the formation of several thousand herbal formulas, treating a large variety of problems. The effectiveness of using these formulas depends upon the professional's knowledge of Chinese Medicine and experience. Dr. Fang has a National Certification in Chinese Herbal Medicine (from National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists). He is trained to ensure your safety and the effectiveness of treatment.
WHY DID MY ACUPUNCTURIST RECOMMEND HERBS?
Chinese herbs can be a powerful adjunct to acupuncture care. They can strengthen your body, or clear it of problems like a cold, fever, pain, or infertility, fatigue, or chronic problems. Herbs can be used daily, and they are inexpensive.
WHAT IS EAR-ACUPUNCTURE?
Acupuncture has been used in China for five thousand years. It may be considered a ˇ°new alternativeˇ± medicine in America. Basically, Acupuncture uses very fine needles to influence the functioning of the body. Ear-Acupuncture, also called Auricular therapy, is the practice of stimulating specific parts in the ear via the autonomic nervous system. There are over 200 acupuncture points in the ear. Auricular therapy is documented as far back as 500 B.C. in Greek and Chinese history. More than 40 years ago, French physician Dr. Paul Nogier first developed a ˇ°somatotopicˇ± map of the human body and super-imposed it onto the ear. In the beginning, herbal seeds and needles were adopted to be put on the ear for treating different diseases. Now the therapy has combined with western technology (exp electro magnetized pellets and surgical stainless steel staple) to provide effective results.
Ear-Acupuncture can help lose weight. It helps by sending a message to your brain that your stomach is full, therefore controls your appetite, regulates the hormone system and helps enhance your metabolism; consequently, excess fat within the body is used up, and the desired weight will be achieved. The therapy requires no rigid diet, for the treatment itself will invigorate you, and you won't crave for food.
HOW CAN I LOSE WEIGHT?
We use Acupuncture, or Ear-Acupuncture, or Herbal Medicine to help you lose weight. Aside from suppressing your appetite and regulating your hormone system, balancing the Yin and Yang in your body, enhancing your metabolism, and helping you lose weight, these kinds of treatments can calm you down, ease your mind, relieve pain, eliminate sugar cravings and help with GastroIntestinal problems. So you simply don't eat as much, you stress less than before, and you have more energy.
1. How much weight can you lose?
Depending on each person's sensitivity to the treatment, the amount of weight lost varies. However, most people will lose anywhere from 10-30 pounds a month. The positive effect is not a mental placebo, but an actual physical reaction through acupuncture. Sometimes you can find treatment on one ear helps you lose more weight and another ear helps lose more inches. So if you treat two times, you can feel the difference.2. Do you need to follow a diet plan?
Not really. However, your treatment will be enhanced by following an easy meal guide (See the attached guide). Also, once the desired weight is reached, you should continue to balance your diet and maintain good eating habits in order to keep your ideal weight. We suggest you don't eat too much every evening.3. How many kinds of treatment and how much does each cost?
1) Ear needles plus Pellets. $30.00 7-10 days for each treatment. 5 treatments make one course. If you are not resident here, or you don't live here for one month, you should use this program.
2). Besides ear acupuncture, we also use body Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to enhance the result.
A. Acupuncture $60.00. Usually once a week; 5 treatments make one course. That treatment can sometime accompany with Ear Acupuncture. It can enhance Ear Acupuncture effect. Also body Acupuncture is more effective with heavier stomach, legs and arms.
B. Chinese Herbal Medicine includes tea, herbal pills: $8-$55. It can be used separately or
sometimes with Ear Acupuncture to enhance the result.
3) Staple plus Ear needle and pellets. Keep one month. $50.00 (included take out the staple fee). Pellets and needle will fall off about 7-10 days or you can take them off anytime; only staple stay for one month.Precautions:
1. All the materials we use are new and disposable. Your ear will be cleaned with alcohol. Greasy skin, sweat, dust and water can loosen your adhesive which keeps the points in place. Avoid wetting the points with very hot water or scrubbing them too much.
2. Swimming will not cause the tape or staple to loosen or affect it negatively, but we suggest you don't swim to avoid infection for the first two days.Other Applications: In case of Quit smoking, Quit drugs, Stress, Depression, Insomnia, High blood pressure, Headache, Constipation, Diarrhea, Indigestion, Heartburn Gastric reflux and other pain problems, Ear Acupuncture will help cure these problems or greatly improve the situations.
Our clinic uses Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques to help you eliminate your allergy. Dr. Fang is trained and certified in using these techniques and has had many cases of success.
1. What are Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques?
Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques, also known as NAET®, are a non-invasive, drug free, natural solution to eliminating allergies of all types and intensities using a blend of selective energy balancing, testing and treatment procedures from acupuncture/acupressure. One allergen is treated at a time. If you are not severely immune deficient, you may need just one treatment to desensitize one allergen. A person with mild to moderate amount of allergies may take about 15-20 office visits to desensitize 15-20 food and environmental allergens. Basic essential nutrients are treated during the first few visits. Chemicals, environmental allergens, vaccinations, immunizations, etc. are treated after completing about ten basic essential nutrients. NAET® can successfully eliminate adverse reactions to egg, milk, peanuts, penicillin, aspirin, mushrooms, shellfish, latex, grass, ragweed, flowers, perfume, animal dander, animal epithelial, make-up, chemicals, cigarette smoke, pathogens, heat, cold, other environmental agents. NAET® was discovered by Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad in November of 1983.2. What are allergies?
From a Western medical perspective, allergy is an overreaction by the immune system. In NAET®, allergies are viewed from a holistic perspective, based on Oriental Medical principles. An allergy is a condition of unusual sensitivity of one person to one or more substances that may be harmless to the majority of individuals. In the allergic person, the allergic substance (known as an allergen), is viewed by the brain as a threat to the body's well-being. Therefore, for our purposes, an allergy is defined in terms of what a substance does to the energy flow in the body. Allergies are the result of energy imbalances in the body, leading to a diminished state of health in one or more organ systems.
When contact is made with an allergen, it causes blockages in the energy pathways called meridians. Thought about in another way, it disrupts the normal flow of energy through the body's electrical circuits. This energy blockage causes interference in communication between the brain and body via the nervous system. This blocked energy flow is the first step in a chain of events which can develop into an allergic response.
3. How do I find and treat my allergies?
Conventional Western medicine has several methods for testing allergies. These include the "Intra-dermal test," "Patch test," "Scratch test," and various blood tests such as the "RAST test" and the "ELISA test." These can identify dozens of allergens from one test or from one blood sample.NAET uses one of the testing procedures called NST (Neuromuscular sensitivity testing).The efficacy of NST-NAET to screen food sensitivity will be evaluated in comparison with one of the well accepted, established, traditional medicine allergy testing known as the IgE-specific antigen test.
The most effective treatment option until now has been complete avoidance of the offending allergen(s). This can be difficult and in some cases impossible. Now, however, there is an alternative... NAET®, Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques, which use Acupuncture points to remove and clear allergies.
4. Traditional allergy testing and treatments are painful and expensive. Is there a way I can get rid of my allergies?
Yes. By testing and treating with the Nambudripad's Testing Techniques(NTT)! This revolutionary approach is particularly relevant for dealing with allergies, one of the most stubborn health problems facing mankind today. It is a natural, drugless, painless, non-invasive method that can be used safely on a newborn infant, on the elderly, even on a healthy person to treat hidden allergies that could cause disease in the future. It can be used on pets, invalids, children, even patients in a coma. NAET® can reduce or eliminate allergies to the items cleared by this method.With this technique, allergens are cleared (treated) one at a time, in a specific order. The good news is that following the prescribed formula, allowing for the 25-hour avoidance of the treated substance, one session is all it usually takes to reduce/clear an allergy. Highly sensitive individuals may require additional ‘combination’ clearings.
5. How do acupuncture and acupressure relate to allergy treatment by NAET®?
Since acupuncture (or acupressure) points fall along the body's energy pathways, or meridians, either of these methods may be used to balance the nervous system to bring the body to a state of homeostasis. This is done in the presence of a given allergen, so that an allergic reaction will not result upon future contact with that same substance. When this result is obtained, the patient is said to have been 'cleared' of his allergy to that substance.
6. How long does this ‘clearance’ last?
In our experience, if clearance is still effective 24 hours after treatment, it is lasting and should be for the life of the patient. We have not seen any recurrence of allergies from a successfully treated allergen in 20 years. So we believe it should be for the life of the patient.ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECT FROM USING ACUPUNCTURE?
One of the great advantages of acupuncture is the absence of serious side effects associated with its use. This is in contrast to many potent Western medicines in which severe side effects in certain cases may be worse than the disease being treated.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) AND WESTERN MEDICINE (WM)?
TCM uses the inductive and synthetic method; WM uses the reductive and analytical method. TCM is individualized; WM is standardized. TCM is experience based; WM is evidence based. TCM is a summary of clinical observations; WM is the result of laboratory experimentations. TCM is a healing art; WM is strictly a science. TCM emphasizes the role of the body in healing; WM mainly relies on medication and procedures. TCM uses herbs and natural agents; WM uses pure chemical compounds. TCM looks at the behavior of the system as a whole; WM looks at the structure and function of the parts. TCM works to maintain health; WM manages disease.
In the modern era of science and technique, it is not surprising that WM has become the main system of medicine while TCM became so called alternative or complementary medicine.
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