Acupuncture Basics

Acupuncture has helped billions of people over the last 5,000 years.  Acupuncture and Oriental medicine, a unique medical system with its own medical theory, diagnosis system, and treatment techniques, has a written history which goes back more than 2,000 years in China and has been practiced even longer.  Oriental medicine is based on the idea that qi (energy) and blood flow through the channels and collaterals of a healthy human being.  When we get sick the qi and blood have either become stagnant and do not flow as well, or they have become deficient and weak, or both.  Oriental medical therapies seek to harmonize the flow of the qi and the blood, as well as strengthen and tonify the qi and blood when necessary.  In other words, Oriental medicine seeks to aid the body in healing itself.  Diagnosis of diseases are based on the signs and symptoms presented by the patient, on palpation of the anatomical meridians and acupoints, and on observation of the patient’s tongue and pulses.

Treatment Therapies

Acupuncture is the medical practice of inserting very fine needles into specific acupuncture points of the body. These acupuncture points are located on meridians that traverse the body.  We only use sterile, disposable, single-use needles.  Patients may feel a dull, achy sensation, heaviness, heat, or an electrical sensation. As long as it is not unduly painful, these are normal, positive sensations that enhance the treatment.

Acupuncture points may also be stimulated by:
moxibustion – an external herbal heat therapy;
gua sha – stimulation of the skin with a broad flat instrument;
electro-acupuncture – electrodes are clipped to the needles and stimulated with a very low current;
ear seeds – for stimulating ear acupuncture points; and
cupping – a type of suction stimulation

Treatments for acute syndromes and pain get dramatically effective results, and are our specialty.  Treatments for chronic conditions yield very good results as well but may require ongoing treatment.

Here is a list of some of the conditions treated according to the National Institute of Health(NIH) Consensus Statement on Acupuncture;
adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain,addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, asthma,tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome.

Conditions commonly treated by Acupuncture

Pain
plantar fasciitis, ankle, knee, leg, RLS, hip,low back, spinal, sciatica, neuropathy, neck and shoulders, whiplash, headache, migraines, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, arthritis, numbness, tingling.

Internal
GI:  heart burn, gastritis, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, IBS, crones disease, ulcers, parasites
EENT:  Allergies, sinusitis, nosebleeds, tooth pain, bell’s palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, vertigo, ear infections
Others:  asthma, bronchitis, chest pain, heart palpitations, cholesterol, high blood pressure, Liver enzymes, immunity, gallstones, kidney stones, UTI, PID, interstitial cystitis, PMS, dysmenorrhea, infertility, adrenal fatigue, hormone imbalances.

Being a complete medical system with many facets, Oriental Medicine can be said to treat any condition or disease, and those listed above are just a sample.  Please call with any questions or concerns about your specific condition.

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