Acupuncture

Safe natural therapy to heal illness and improve well-being

Oriental Medicine is one of the fastest growing fields within the booming American health care industry. Although millions of Americans have benefited from Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, the philosophy behind such treatments remains strange and mysterious for some. Here are some of the most frequent questions about Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs. Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique that has been used for the last 3000 years by billions of people world-wide for a wide variety of conditions.

Although it has evolved considerably with time, the fact that it is still widely practiced today speaks to its efficacy and durability. It uses fine needles to balance and facilitate the flow of Qi, or “vital energy” in the body, thereby maximizing its innate healing abilities. Acupuncture is a branch of Oriental Medicine, which also utilizes herbal remedies, dietary therapy, massage, exercise, and/or meditation to achieve overall physical, mental and spiritual health.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique that has been used for the last 3000 years by billions of people world-wide for a wide variety of conditions. Although it has evolved considerably with time, the fact that it is still widely practiced today speaks to its efficacy and durability. It uses fine needles to balance and facilitate the flow of Qi, or “vital energy” in the body, thereby maximizing its innate healing abilities. Acupuncture is a branch of Oriental Medicine, which also utilizes herbal remedies, dietary therapy, massage, exercise, and/or meditation to achieve overall physical, mental and spiritual health.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

From a Western scientific point of view, acupuncture has been proven to stimulate parts of the central and peripheral nervous systems, which in turn, affect all other systems of the body. Acupuncture triggers the release of natural pain fighting chemicals (ex. Endorphins, enkephalins), neurotransmitters that affect the mood, as well as other neurohormones in the brain. From a Traditional Chinese perspective, acupuncture regulates and balances the flow of Qi (“vital energy”), in order to maximize the body’s own innate healing abilities. Qi is considered to be the driving force behind the maintenance of life, and therefore, any blockage, deficiency or misdirection of Qi can result in pain, dysfunction and disease.

What are Acupuncture Points & Meridians?

Acupuncture points are considered low resistance, high conductivity points along the skin that act as major conduits of energy flow. They are located along meridians or channels through which Qi is said to circulate. Some scientists compare the meridian system to the nervous system.

What Conditions Can Be Helped With Acupuncture?

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be used for a very wide variety of conditions, including musculo-skeletal, neurological, gastro-intestinal, respiratory, gynecological, urogenital, dermatological and psycho-emotional disorders. The World Health Organization (WHO) and National Institute for Health (NIH) have formally recommended acupuncture for over 50 disorders. Please refer to the homepage for a listing of specific disorders helped at our clinic. Problems for which acupuncture is not particularly effective are addressed through herbal remedies, homeopathy, nutritional supplements and/or other techniques.
Secondly, Chinese herbal formulas are designed to treat underlying causes and patterns of overall symptoms instead of only treating isolated symptoms. For example, if you have a headache, Western medicine has a number of standard drugs that are relied on, but Chinese medicine would utilize one of many different formulas depending on the underlying causes and the overall holistic pattern of presented symptoms.
Thirdly, Chinese herbal medicine advocates combining herbs in a formula and only rarely uses individual herbs. The herbs are combined in a special way to enhance each other’s therapeutic effect and to minimize the chance of side effects and toxicity.

What Can I Expect During/After a Treatment?

The most important thing you can do during a treatment is to relax and breathe comfortably. Feel free to ask the practitioner any questions you may have. You can also minimize discomfort by avoiding sudden movements or changes in position. Treatment times can range anywhere from twenty to forty-five minutes, depending on the condition. In the rare event that you are uncomfortable or experience dizziness, nausea, cold-sweat or light-headedness, let the practitioner know immediately. Alcohol, drugs and strenuous physical activity should be avoided for at least six hours before and after the treatment.

Are Acupuncture Treatments Painful?

Acupuncture needles are as fine as hairs and generally cause very little discomfort. They are nowhere near as painful as hypodermic needles that are stiff, hollow and thick and are intended to inject or withdraw fluids. A slight pricking sensation may be felt when acupuncture needles pierce the skin, after which very little pain is felt.

How Many Treatments Should I Expect?

Because all patients are unique with respect to their condition and response to treatment, the number and frequency of treatments vary. In general, acute conditions require fewer treatments but greater frequency than chronic conditions. An example for an acute condition would be 2-3 treatments per week for 3-4 weeks. Some patients respond very favorably after 1-2 treatments, while others may take multiple treatments. After acute care, many patients follow a maintenance schedule.

Do Insurance Companies Cover Acupuncture?

Although all insurance companies do not cover acupuncture, most major companies have started to provide coverage. Green Crescent Clinic is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Cigna. Our office can assist you in determining the details of your coverage.

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