What should I see an acupuncturist for?

• Western medicine such as over the counter and prescriptions drugs typically have severe side effects or interfere with one another, leading undesired results for a patient.

• Chinese medicine is a great natural alternative to drugs and prescription medicine.

• The acupuncture treatment can help stop pain, stimulate immune function, or even resolve phlegm issues. The treatment can also help with other functions, like treating rashes or constipation, hormone imbalances, digestion issues, pain management, anxiety and more.

• Acupuncture is also a great supplemental support to cancer management, helping the body heal and manage symptoms.

• When a patient has a condition that does not respond to conventional treatment, acupuncture is a great safe alternative approach to try.

How does acupuncture work?

• Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on an energetic model, instead the biochemical model of Western medicine. The ancient Chinese knew of the essential energy that is in all living things. This energy, which is called Qi (pronounced chee) exists throughout the body.

• These specific channels communicate with the body's surface at specific pinpoints (also known as acupuncture points). When needles are placed in these points, it can influence the Qi that flows to the internal systems of the body. Acupuncture can also target areas of pain resulting from injury or trauma. A needle placed close to the area of a strained muscle or tendon will redirect the Qi and nutrients to that area. This can reduce pain and accelerate the healing process.

• Diagnosis through pulse and tongue, missed with findings gathered by research over similar symptoms and physical examinations, the acupuncturist determines the location of the affected Qi pathway. The acupuncturist will use this to create a treatment system to find a solution to the patient's condition.

• From western biomedical research, we know that acupuncture influences a number of physiological functions. Acupuncture can release endorphins (natural pain killing chemicals), restore proper circulation in diseased areas, stimulate hormonal glands, and improve immune system function.

How Many Treatments Does it Take to Feel Results?

• The number of treatments required depends on the individual. Some patients respond to the treatment immediately, and others might require further treatment. Typically, you will see some response within 3-5 treatment sessions.

Does Acupuncture Always Help?

• The effectiveness of acupuncture depends on the individual. Some respond to treatment quickly, and others may require more extensive treatment. In rare cases, patients have been classified as non-responders to the treatment.

Are the Needles Safe?

• Yes, the needles are safe. The law requires all acupuncture needles to be single-use, sterile, and disposable.

Do you use herbs?

• Yes. Chinese herbal medicine has an extensive history, going back thousands of years in China and other parts of East Asia.

How do herbs differ from Western Medicine?

• There are a few differences between Chinese herbal medicine and Western Medicine. For example, Western medicine approaches the patient as a healthy individual with a particular problem, whereas Chinese herbal medicine's approach is to the patient is to examine the patient, asking a series of questions to determine all of the possible causes. Chinese medicine will try to discover as many sources for the patient's symptoms as possible by examining all of the physiological circumstances that could be surrounding it.