FAQ's The National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recognized acupuncture to be effective in treating: Addiction, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Bronchitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue, Colitis, Constipation, Dental Pain, Depression, Diarrhea, Digestive trouble, Dizziness, Dysentery, Emotional problems, Eye problems, Facial Palsy, Fatigue, Fertility, Fibromyalgia, Gingivitis, Headache, Incontinence, Indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Low back pain, Menstrual irregularities, Migraine, Morning Sickness, Nausea, Osteoarthritis, Pain, Pneumonia, Rhinitis, Sciatica, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Shoulder pain, Sinusitis, Sleep Disturbances, Smoking Cessation, Sore throat, Stress, Tennis elbow, Tonsilitis, Tooth pain, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Vomiting, Wrist pain. AcupunctureRooted in Taoism, the Five Element acupuncture system is over 2000 years old, yet in many ways is more applicable today than ever before. In our ever-changing world, our ability to be flexible in mental functions such as beliefs, emotions and attitudes, as well as being adaptable in our biochemistry and immunology is crucial to our health. Acupuncture can help with a wide range of conditions, but the effect of good acupuncture is more than simply curing the symptoms. This system of medicine recognises that many ailments are the product of emotional as much as physical distress, and gives us a framework of how to assess and treat the cause of illness. How it worksAccording to traditional Chinese philosophy, our health depends on the state of the body's vital energy, or Qi. A smooth and balanced flow is associated to a healthy state of the individual, while a disrupted, obstructed or deficient flow manifests in illness. The theory of Yin Yang balance is a fundamental concept in acupuncture. Modern studies have revealed that acupuncture can raise the level of specific hormones, prostaglandin, T-cell counts, gamma globulin, opsonins and overall anti-body levels. In other words, the insertion of fine needles into specific points along the body's energy pathways can stimulate the human body's natural healing response, release pain-killing endorphins and improve functioning of the hormonal system. |
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What does acupuncture treat?Chinese Medicine may be generalized or specialized depending on the practitioner. Many ailments can be treated with acupuncture, so it’s possible for me to to say acupuncture treats stress, muscle pain and tension, hot flashes, digestive disorders, insomnia, migraines, allergies, and so on, but the reality is that whatever symptoms you present, acupuncture looks at the big picture. Meaning, you are not a bunch of symptoms, but an entire being presenting a pattern or multiple patterns. Acupuncture works to balance these patterns and in turn help your entire body function optimally. Often Chinese herbal medicine is used in conjunction with acupuncture to speed-up, enhance, or compliment treatments. Do I have to believe in acupuncture for it to work?Fortunately, no. It works on animals and young children--both of which do not appear to have a belief system about acupuncture. Does acupuncture hurt?The needles used for acupuncture are hair-like in diameter and solid, not hollow like a hypodermic, so they do not cut. There is typically a light pricking sensation and then other sensations occur such as heaviness, tingling, warmth, movement, pulling, a slight dull ache, numbness, or a spreading sensation. The sensations stop once the needles are removed. Following treatment it is common for patients to feel relaxed. How can I best be prepared for my acupuncture treatment?Eat before treatment and wear comfortable, loose clothing. Eating keeps you from feeling light-headed or weak after treatment. For full benefit, refrain from rigorous exercise two hours before or after treatment. |