The following are some commonly asked questions about Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture.

What Is Acupuncture?

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

What Happens During An Acupuncture Treatment?

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

How Do I Prepare For My Acupuncture Visit?




What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a form of medicine practiced for over 4000 years.  The basic principle of Acupuncture, which is one modality of treatment of Oriental Medicine, is to realign and rebalance the energy in the body.  Just as a Chiropractor realigns and rebalances your skeletal system, and a massage therapist helps to realign and rebalance your muscular system, an Acupuncturist realigns and rebalances the energy systems in your body.  There are 14 main meridian pathways in your body through which energy flows.  These Meridian pathways have been compared to rivers, that bring life-giving water to the land, animals and people who live near them.  Within your meridian pathways flow life-giving energy, or Qi (pronounced chee) to every cell, tissue, muscle, and organ in your body.  An obstruction in your meridian system can be caused by an injury (trauma), lack of movement, and/or deficiencies or over-abundance of dietary intake.

An obstruction of Qi-flow in your body is like a dam in a river, or a traffic jam on an interstate.  If Qi becomes “backed-up” in a particular meridian, there then becomes an accumulation of Qi in that area, which can cause pain.  An accumulation of Qi in one area of your body can lead to a depletion of Qi-flow in another area.  A defencency of Qi can lead to fatigue, weakness, or depression.  This imbalance of Qi throughout your system will lead to pain, a lack of well-being, or if severe enough or left out of balance for too long, disease.

It is the objective of Acupuncture to optimize, or in some instances, restore the balance of energy throughout your body.  This is accomplished by placing needles into specific acupuncture points, which either dispersing or eliciting Qi.

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Does Acupuncture Hurt?

The acupuncture needle is very thin and is NOT hollow.

The type of needle used in Western medicine is a hypodermic needle that is hollow and designed to displace tissue in order to inject or remove fluid.  The type of needle used in Acupuncture is thin, and the approximate width of a strand of hair; many find little or no pain or blood associated with their Acupuncture treatment.  Most patients describe the sensation as a slight sting or prick that only lasts a moment.

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What Happens During An Acupuncture Treatment?

During your initial Acupuncture treatment, a comprehensive intake is done, during which past and present medical history,  general health and current complaint are discussed.  Pulse and tongue diagnosis, along with appropriate physical examination are also done prior to treatment.  Once the imbalances of Qi are identified, sterile, one-time use needles are inserted into specific points along the related meridian pathway(s).

With the insertion of the needles, messages are relayed to various related pathways in the meridian system to enable Qi to freely circulate throughout the body, reestablishing adequate nourishment to cells, tissue, organs, and muscles in your body.  This realignment of energy will restores and eventually optimize balance and harmony within your body.

Your initial Acupuncture treatment will be from 60-90 minutes, with follow-up treatments lasting from 45 minutes to an hour.

Other modalities that may be part of your treatment are Tui Na (Chinese Massage), Cupping, Moxibustion, and Auriculotherapy.

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How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The number of treatments needed vary from person to person.

Depending on the duration and severity of the imbalance, some patients receive immediate relief, while others may need a series of treatments.   Chronic (existing 3 months or longer) conditions tend to require more treatments than acute ones.  Most patients require a minimum of one month to feel significant changes.

The frequency of treatment depends on a variety of factors.  The Acupuncturist may suggest one to three treatments per week, or one treatment a month for a “maintenance” phase of healthcare.

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How Do I Prepare For My Acupuncture Visit?

Eat at least a small meal or snack within 3 hours of your appointment

Dress in loose fitting, comfortable clothing for easy access to your forearms, and lower leg

Do not brush your tongue before your visit

Bring a list of all medication and supplements you are currently taking

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