Frequently Asked Questions

Treatment

Oriental Medicine

Acupuncture

Q How long is each session?
A First office visit takes about an hour. Follow up visits take about 45 minutes.

Back to Top

Q How often do I have to come?
A If the symptom is acute, generally less office visits are required. More visits might require for chronic symptom.

Back to Top

Q What is Oriental Medicine?
A Oriental Medicine is a comprehensive system of health care with a continuous clinical tradition of over 5000 years. It includes acupuncture and herbal medicine and exercise.
These therapies work with the natural vital energies inherent within all living things to promote the body's ability to heal itself. This system of health care is used extensively by one-quarter of the world's population who reside in the Orient and is rapidly growing in popularity in the West.

Back to Top

Q How does it work?
A Oriental Medicine is based on and energetic model rather than the biochemical model of Western medicine. The ancient Chinese recognized the vital energy behind all life forms and life process.
They called this energy "Qi"(pronounced chee). In developing an understanding of the prevention and cure of disease, the ancient physicians discovered a system of cyclic energy flowing in the human body along specific pathways. Each pathway is associated with a particular physiological system and internal organ.
Disease is considered to arise because of deficiency or imbalance of vital energy in the energetic pathways and their associated physiological systems.
The pathways or meridians of energy communicate with the surface the body at specific locations called acupuncture points. Each point has a predictable effect upon the vital energy passing through it. Modern science has been able to measure the electrical charge at these points, thus corroborating the locations of the meridians mapped by the ancients.
Oriental medicine has also developed methods of determining the flow in the meridian system, using an intricate system of pulse and tongue diagnosis. Findings from these modalities are combined with other signs and symptoms to create a composite diagnosis. A treatment plan is then formulated to induce the body to a balanced state of health.

Back to Top

Q What can I expect if treated?
A Many conditions may be alleviated very rapidly by acupuncture and herbs; however, some conditions which have arisen over a course of years will be relieved only with slow, steady progress. As in any form of healing, the patient's attitude, diet, determination and life style will affect the outcome of a course of treatment. Oriental Medicine is also an educational process in which the patient becomes more aware of his or her own body, thus increasing its ability to maintain well-being.
Although there are techniques in Oriental Medicine for healing most conditions, there are medical circumstances which can be dealt with more effectively by Western medicine. In such cases, your acupuncturist will recommend that you contact a physician. As is the case in China, acupuncture should be seen as complementary to Western medicine.

Back to Top

Q Is Acupuncture safe?
A In the hands of a licensed Acupuncturist, your safety is assured. The needles are available in a sterilized disposable form.

Back to Top

Q Is Acupuncture painful?
A Acupuncture bears no resemblance to the feeling of receiving an injection, since the main source of pain from injections is the larger diameter, hollow needle and the medication being forced into the tissue by pressure. Acupuncture needles are very firm and flexible, about the diameter of a thick hair. In most cased, insertion by a skilled practitioner is performed with a minimum of discomfort. Most patients find the treatments very relaxing and many fall asleep during the treatments. In some cases, it is not necessary to use needles at all.

Back to Top

Q What is Cupping?
A Cupping is a technique used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Bulb shaped glass cups are placed on the skin with suction. This is believed to influence the flow of energy and blood in the body.

Patients are usually lying down for a cupping treatment. Cups are made of strong glass. They will create a vacuum with a flame from a lighter on a cotton ball, and place the cup on your skin. This will create a strong suction. Several cups may be used to cover a larger area. The acupuncturist may leave the cups in place or move the cups by rubbing oil on the skin first. This will allow the cups to slide easily.

Cupping is a safe and non-invasive therapy that can be used for problems with the internal organs, lung infections and colds, muscle and joint pain or spasms and more.

Cupping is generally a painless procedure and is thought to stimulate blood circulation.

Back to Top

Q What is NAET®?
A Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques, also known as NAET®, are a non-invasive, drug free, natural solution to eliminate allergies of all types and intensities using a blend of selective energy balancing, testing and treatment procedures from acupuncture/acupressure, allopathy, chiropractic, nutritional, and kinesiological disciplines of medicine. 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. It may take several office visits to desensitize a severe allergen. NAET® was discovered by Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad in November of 1983.

Back to Top

Q What are Chinese Herbs?
A Chinese herbs have been the foundation of Chinese for over 5000 years. Chinese Herbs are a great tool of Chinese Medicine to help patients.
All ingredients come from a natural source such as plants or minerals. And because of that side effects are minimal.
Chinese Herbs can help the body strengthen the immune system, detoxify toxins, reduce stress or improve the circulation system, among other benefits. When combined with acupuncture the effects of both greatly improve.
 

Back to Top