17. How frequent should I get acupuncture?

The frequency of acupuncture varies from twice a day to once a month. If the illness is acute and severe, acupuncture should be give more frequently, such as once a day, twice to three time a week. If the disease is mild and chronic, such as depression, low energy, fibromyealgia, insomnia, etc. may be treated once a week. But usually, the more frequent you get the treatment, the sooner you will recover.
Because each patient’s health problems and response to treatment are unique, the number and frequency of treatments vary. Typically, the recommendation is one to three treatments per week for five to 20 treatments, although some patients respond favorably after only one or two treatments. Some may not improve until the eighth or tenth visit. Others may require two or three treatments per week for several months for maximum results. And sometimes, despite the acupuncturist’s best effort and skill, the patient does not respond to treatment. In general, acute conditions require less treatment than chronic conditions.                                      (Back to top)

18. Is acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine a science, religion, believes or spiritual?

Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture is a science. Many of the practices has been proved through clinical practices and lab and animal experiments. There are plenty of clinical and lab data supporting the medicine. Some people are absorbed in the practice of spiritual acupuncture, and they may achieve some result by doing that (as placebo), but that had never been proved by any scientific study.

19. What cautions should I take before I get an acupuncture treatment?

Including before and after acupuncture, you should not get too hungry, drunk, starving, angry, exhausted, extremely nervous, and you should not eat too much or have sex.

20. What are the main objectives of acupuncture treatment?

The main objectives are three:
(1) relieve pain and other symptoms.
(2) Strengthen the immune system.
(3) Balance, harmonize, and integrate functions of the organs with each other, making for a unified, healthy person, rather than a collection of fragmented, disharmonious parts.                                                                                                                                                                                          (Back to top)

21. What happens when the flow of Qi becomes blocked?

Qi is meant to flow freely throughout the meridian network carrying its balanced vital force to all the body’s parts, organs, and systems, thereby encouraging them to function with each other in a natural, harmonious way. That leads to sound health. But any sustained blockage or other disruption of a balanced flow or distribution of Qi may bring on pain, a weakened immune system, and ill health.
It’s important to realize that while such blockage causes diminished Qi in one organ or part, it may also cause excessive buildup of Qi in another area. That phenomenon can be understood by visualizing a meridian carrying Qi as like a freeway carrying cars. On a freeway we know what happens when one or more lanes become blocked. It’s a similar idea on a meridian. A blockage may cause a deficiency of Qi beyond the blockage and a buildup of Qi behind the blockage, which may mean diminished activity of some organs and accelerated activity of others. Either way, Qi is unbalanced, so its flow must be normalized through an acupuncturist’s skilled and expert care.

22. What can be done about blocked, unbalanced Qi?

After the initial consultation and examination, the acupuncturist completes the diagnosis and begins carrying out the treatment plan. The objective is to normalize the flow and distribution of Qi and balance its circulation by stimulating the selected acupoints via needles or other means. The treatment plan will most likely call for treating one to twelve or more points on each visit. At the practitioner’s discretion, herbal therapies may be prescribed.

23. What are needle treatments like? Are they painful?

Patients who have received inoculations or other medical injections from a hypodermic needle are sometimes fearful that acupuncture treatments will be as painful. But such is not the case. Medical hypodermic needles are stiff, hollow, and thick for forcing liquid into the patient’s flesh, usually an uncomfortable, if not painful, procedure.
Typically, acupuncture needles are fine and flexible, no bigger around than a human hair or piece of thread. Deftly inserted into an acupoint by a skilled acupuncturist, the slender needle produces little or no sensation at all. When the needle makes contact with Qi, the energy, most patients experience a slight tingling, distention, or numb sensation. First-time patients are usually amazed at how comfortable they are during treatment.                                                            (Back to top)

24. Besides needles, what are other treatment option?

While needle treatment is traditional, other effective means of bringing about the desired physiological response include acupressure (finger pressure), blunt probes, pressure massage, electronic stimulation, laser, heat, cold, ultrasound, moxibustion, herbal therapy, to name a few.
In selection a treatment method, the acupuncturist considers the following:
----patient’s age and physical condition
----location of points to be treated
----desired effects
----preference of the acupuncturist.

25. How does the flow of Qi become blocked or unbalanced?

The desired balance in the flow of Qi can be affected by any noxious substance, both external and internal, including poor nutrition, adulterated food, toxic air or water, infectious or contagious diseases, malfunction of an organ, ergonomic or overuse injuries, as well as home, work, sports, and auto injuries. Excessive dampness, wind, cold, heat, even emotional responses to life such as worry, anxiety, stress may affect Qi’s flow through the meridians.

26. What is involved in acupuncture diagnosis?

From its ancient beginnings to this day, acupuncture diagnostic procedures center on finding blockages and imbalances of Qi. In examining meridians, today’s acupuncturist still utilize traditional diagnostic methods. The following outline gives only a glimpse into some ancient diagnostic procedures which, at first, may seem strange to western patients, although for untold centuries these procedures have proved reliable for eastern patients.
·Inspection of spirit, color, body shape, texture and condition of the skin, of the hair, etc.                                                                                   (Back to top)
·Inspection of tongue, including the color of tongue and coating of tongue
·Hearing the voices, such as speech, cough, snoring, sneezing, beltching, asthma, etc.
·Inquiry of patients about their history of the illness, the patient’s feelings, lifestyle, appetite, diet, cold or heat preference, sweating, head and body sensations, pains, urination and defecation, sense of hearing, thirst, menstruation, pregnancy, birth of child. All of those, as well as emotional problems may contribute to Qi’s imbalance.
·Feeling for tender points is a reliable diagnostic tool because certain acupoints are related to specific areas and functions of the body, and tenderness may relate to a specific problem.
·Palpating the pulse at the wrists is another important method of Chinese medical diagnosis. An intricate expert evaluation of the pulses reveals excesses, deficiencies, disharmonies of Qi and what organs are involved.

27. How to know which acupoints to treat?

Since the primary treatment goal is to unblock Qi and also achieve its equilibrium within and between the meridians, so the body can heal itself, the crux of the matter is this: where to access and stimulate the meridians in relation to a given health problem?
Repeated experience in similar cases provides the acupuncturist with many tried and proven formulas. In addition, traditional formulas fitting each diagnosis are readily available in charts and books----formulas which have worked through the ages for billions of sick men, women, and children. Those formulas confirm which acupoints ot treat.

28. Are acupuncture needles sterile and safe?

Yes. The government requires acupuncturists to follow very strict sterilization procedures. In addition, presterilized acupuncture needles are manufactured, packaged, and shipped in sterilized containers to ensure compliance with the law. Most of the acupuncturists are using disposable needles, and those needles are used only one time.

29. What are ear and hand acupuncture?

Strange as it may seem, the surface of the ear contains an invisible upside-down representation of a fetus and points on the ear correspond to bodily parts and organs. Stimulating appropriate ear points often effectively treats pain and disease in the corresponding parts or organs. Alcohol and drug addiction can be treated in that way as well.
Stimulating certain points on the hand is often the treatment of choice for many conditions.                                                                           (Back to top)
Besides ear and hand acupuncture, there are other micro-system acupuncture methods, such as eye acupuncture, foot acupuncture, wrist and ankle acupuncture, the second
metacarpal bone acupuncture(bio-holographic principle), scalp acupuncture, face acupuncture, etc.

30. What is Qi Gong?

Qi Gong is a time-honored exercise method of addressing many health issues while enhancing one’s physical and mental vitality. Through a process centered on pleasant, flowing movements, one gathers Qi – the life force --- and directs that energy to specific organs and meridians.

31. What are Yin and Yang?

The given-and-take of yin and yang in the human body is a concept foreign to western experience, but is a cornerstone of Chinese acupuncture thought. Fortunately, understanding yin and yang is not essential to benefit from acupuncture treatment, but getting comfortable with the concept can be very enlightening.
In Chinese philosophy and culture every entity in the universe carries both negative and positive influences. The negative influence is called yin, the positive influence yang. Yin dark, yang light; yin cold, yang warm; yin passive, yang active; yin night, yang day, etc. the shady (yin) side of a hill balanced by the sunny (yang) side is a classic example. Yin and yang are indivisible, never static, always fluctuating. They are the opposing balancing influences of every entity, and with yet another interesting factor: there is always a little yin in yang and a little yang in yin. (see symbol of yin and yang, or Taiji picture)
This concept flows into Chinese medicine where the symbol for yin and yang helps us visualize the balancing act that goes on constantly in every entity of the human body, from the organs and bodily systems to the smallest cell, as well as the vital force itself.
If one is to enjoy good health, Chinese medicine teaches that a harmonious alance between yin and yang influences must already exist in organs and meridians, or it must be attained. The attainment of such harmony is the goal of acupuncture treatment.
Symbol of Yin and Yang:
Dark represents yin, white represents yang. The cured line separating the two speaks of their fluctuating interplay, an ever-changing influence on each other. The small dark and white dots tell us there is some yin in yang and some yang in yin.                                                                                            (Back to top)

32. Acupuncture, America’s fastest growing health care method

If you have an unresolved health problem, consider acupuncture. Through at least 5000 years acupuncturists have successfully treated billions----- literally billions --- of Chinese people, including mighty Chinese emperors, for a wide variety of symptoms, conditions, injuries, and diseases.
Now it’s our turn to reap the benefits of acupuncture, the fastest-growing health care method in a America, its phenomenal growth due primarily to word-of-mouth acclaim of satisfied patients. Though millions of Americans have already discovered this ancient healing art and rely on it for their health care needs, many persons in need of acupuncture stay away because its procedures and philosophy seem strange and mysterious.
Now here’s the web page, which in a few minutes reading time, translates the essential facts of acupuncture into an easy-to-understand message for anyone wanting complementary alternative medicine. And it points out why virtually everyone could benefit from energizing acupuncture treatments.

33. Acupuncture has helped billions of people over the past 5,000 years

Acupuncture care helps to relieve symptoms and signs of many health problems. It can also uncover the underlying root cause(s) of those symptoms.
The goal of this dynamic and integrated health care system is to activate the natural, self-healing abilities of the body. It can also strengthen and support the body to prevent future illness and disease.
Acupuncture is safe, natural, drug-free and effective. It is the perfect way for you to get well and stay healthy.
Here’s how it works…..
Inside of you is an intelligent, energetic system that maintains health and balance.
Einstein showed us that everything is made of, and radiates, energy. This subtle form of energy supports, shapes and enlivens our physical body and activates our lives.
For the past 5,000 years, practitioners of acupuncture have called this intelligent energy, Qi (Chee).
Numerous cultures have described this energy and called it by many names: prana, baraka, pheuma, spirit, wakan, material force, vital force, orgone, ether, and ruach.
Qi is matter on the verge of becoming energy, or energy at the point of materializing.

34. Meridians are like rivers inside the body.

Wherever a river flows, it carries water that provides nourishment and sustenance for life on our planet.                                             (Back to top)
Similarly, meridians are the rivers where Qi flows inside of us.
Qi flows through meridians as an invisible current, energizing, nourishing and supporting every cell, tissue, muscle, organ and gland.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (WHO)

35. Health is wholeness and balance.

Health is an inner resiliency that allows you to meet the demands of life. Being in a state of health helps you thrive in the face of environmental, physical, emotional and mental stresses.
When Qi is balanced and flowing freely, the body’s natural self-healing abilities are activated, enabling internal stability and harmony to occur. The body will flourish, and true health and well being can be achieved.

To live is to have Qi in every part of your body, to die is to be a body without Qi.
For in order to be healthy, the proper balance of Qi must be obtained; neither too much, nor too little.

36. The stresses of daily life affect the quality and flow of Qi.

Different stresses affect meridians and organs in different ways, disrupting or blocking Qi flow.
If a garden hose is blocked, it can’t provide an adequate supply of water to a plant. Eventually, the plant will be unable to thrive, grow and blossom.
Likewise, a blockage in the meridians will restrict the supply of Qi required to nourish and support the cells, tissues, muscles, organs and glands.
This blockage can manifest into various signs and symptoms. Over time, the body as a whole becomes weakened, and its self-healing abilities compromised. Eventually, it becomes susceptible to pain, disease, and ill health.
An acupuncturist views each individual as a dynamic, integrated whole, observing how signs and symptoms weave together in order to nderstand the underlying, energetic profile of a person’s health.

37. An acupuncturist develops keen diagnostic skills to effectively evaluate the quality, quantity and balance of Qi flowing with the body.

Diagnosis involves four main techniques:                                                                                                                                      (Back to top)
Looking
A person’s appearance, demeanor and tone of voice, as well as the color, shape and size of the tongue, provide an acupuncturist with vital clues about internal health.
Asking
By asking questions, information is gathered about past medical history, present health, lifestyle and emotional state.
Physical examination
Palpation to specific areas and acupuncture points can reveal imbalances.
Pulse diagnosis
Over 28 subtle variations in the quality of the pulse are felt at six different positions on each wrist.
Once the problem affecting the flow of Qi has been detected and corrected, the intelligent, energetic, self-healing powers within the body begin restoring health and balance to our lives.

38. Acupuncturists use various treatment methods to restore and maintain health.

Acupuncture
Tiny, disposable, sterile needles placed gently into specific acupuncture points.
Herbs
Chinese herbal medicine draws from a pharmacopoeia of thousands of herbs for specific conditions.
Moxibustion
The dried leaf of mugwort is rolled into a stick or placed on the end of needles, then burned as a warming therapy during treatment.
Nutrition
Specific foods used to strengthen, rebuild, and balance the body
Qi Gong
Specific movements and breathing exercises used to improve health and vitality.
Electro-acupuncture
Acupuncture points are stimulated using a safe, gentle, electrical current.
Acupressure/ Tuina
A massage technique which stimulates the meridians, facilitating the flow of Qi.                                                                                  (Back to top)
Gua Sha
A gentle scraping of the skin surface using a Gua Sha tool to increase circulation of Qi and blood.
Cupping
Using glass or bamboo cups to create a vacuum in order to increase warmth and circulation.
Tai Ji
Movement exercises that help develop harmony and balance, and promote maximum health.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture has proven effective
in the treatment of many common problems……….

39.Ancient medicine for a modern world

Cancer
Acupuncture is safe, natural, drug-free and effective. Here are a few studies:
Evidence suggests that the holistic approach of traditional Chinese medicine is effective in the supportive care of cancer patients.
Pain
Acupuncture can provide significant benefits and relief from pain.
Headaches
Acupuncture produces better relief from migraines and muscle tension headaches than standard drug therapies.
Depression
Acupuncture is an effective alternative to drugs for treatment of depression.
Morning sickness
Acupuncture can reduce psychological and behavioral problems that accompany morning sickness at the same time as it suppresses nausea and vomiting.
Osteoarthritis
Acupuncture produces significant pain relief and improved function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Asthma
Acupuncture provides a natural approach for asthma.

And and much much more.

Acupuncture works!!                                                                                                                          (Back To Top)