Acupuncture and Chinese
Herbal Medicine have been an integral part of East Asian
Medicine (EAM) for more than 3,000 years. Diagnosis in
EAM is based on the movement of Qi, the life force or
energy, of the individual. Qi travels throughout the
body along pathways, called meridians, that generally
correspond to our internal organ systems.
EAM works with the Qi of
one's body to remove blockages and replenish
deficiencies that create pain and other physiological
dysfunctions or disorders. While the Western medical
community has not yet identified how EAM works from a
biomedical perspective, both the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) support its efficacy.
Conditions
Commonly Treated
East Asian Medicine can
treat a wide range of disorders effectively, including:
A detailed health
history questionnaire and intake interview.
Individualized
diagnosis and treatment.
1.5 - 2 hours for the
initial treatment; additional treatments 1 - 1.5
hours.
Discussion of your
treatment plan with the practitioner after your
treatment.
Common
Questions About Acupuncture
1) How does it
(Acupuncture) work?
Acupuncture works with
the Qi (life force or energy) of one's body to remove
blockages and replenish deficiencies that create pain
and other physiological dysfunctions or disorders. Qi
travels throughout the body along pathways, called
meridians, that generally correspond to our internal
organ systems.
While the Western medical
community has not yet identified how East Asian Medicine
works from a biomedical perspective, both the World
Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) support its efficacy.
2) Are the needles
sterile?
Yes, all of the needles
are disposable, stainless steel needles that are used
once and then discarded.
3) What are the side
effects of acupuncture?
Acupuncture is one of the
least invasive therapies available to return your body
to a state of health, therefore, there are little to no
side effects. The most common reported side effect after
a treatment is relaxation.
4) How long does a
treatment take?
The initial treatment can
take as long as 2 hours. However, the average initial
treatment time is 1.5 hours. Follow-up treatments last 1
to 1.5 hours.
Oriental medicine is a
comprehensive health care system encompassing a
variety of traditional health care therapies that
have been used for more than 3,000 years to diagnose
and treat illness, prevent disease and improve well
being.
Acupuncture is one of
the essential elements of Oriental medicine. Other
elements include Chinese herbology, bodywork (e.g.
Tuina, acupressure, Shiatsu), diet and exercise
(e.g. Tai Chi, Qigong) based on traditional
medicinal principles.
All Oriental medicine
modalities are intended to improve the flow of qi
(pronounced "chee"). Qi regulates the
body's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical
balance and is influenced by the opposing forces of
yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy).
According to traditional Chinese medicine, when yin
and yang are balanced, they work together with the
natural flow of qi to help the body achieve and
maintain health.
According to a
National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus panel
of scientists, researchers, and practitioners who
convened in November 1997, clinical studies have
shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment for
nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and
cancer-related treatments, as well as for dental
pain experienced after surgery. The panel also found
that acupuncture is useful by itself or combined
with conventional therapies to treat addiction,
headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow,
fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, lower
back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, and to
assist in stroke rehabilitation. The NIH concluded
"Further research is likely to uncover
additional areas where acupuncture interventions
will be useful."
Outside the United
States, the World Health Organization (WHO), the
health branch of the United Nations, lists more than
40 conditions for which acupuncture can be a useful
treatment.
Respiratory
Asthma
Bronchitis
Common cold
Sinusitis
Smoking cessation
Tonsillitis
Source:
World Health Organization United Nations
In response to the
public's increased use of Complementary and
Alternative Medicine such as Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine, an Office of Alternative Medicine
was established at the National Institutes of Health
in 1992. The Center became the National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 1998 and
now has an annual budget of more than $100,000,000
dedicated to CAM research.
