FAQs

How does Oriental Medicine work? Does this stuff really help? What are the different things acupuncture can help with? Does acupuncture hurt? What does acupuncture do other than poke people with needles? Is acupuncture safe? If I have a problem with needles, what preparation should I do before my first treatment? What is the full duration of a acupuncture treatment? Is there only one session, or is there an overall treatment plan? I've been dealing with this issue for years. Can you help me? What can I expect following the procedure? Is it covered by medical insurance?

Oriental Medicine works by balancing all parts of an individual, including the mind and the body. As long as the body is in balance, and all systems are working optimally, and in synergy, there will be no disease or pain. When there is imbalance due to stressors such as physical or emotional trauma, or an unhealthy lifestyle, the body is rendered too weak to fight off invasions of pathogenic (disease causing) factors. When the body is strengthened, it's innate ability to fight off disease is restored.

Many times, Oriental Medicine can help where Western Medicine has been unable to because Oriental Medicine diagnoses a patient differently than does Western Medicine. For example, two patients with the same "named disease" may have two different Oriental diagnoses based on their symptoms, medical history, and constitution. While at the same time, two patients with different diseases may have the same Oriental diagnosis. This approach ensures that each patient is treated as an individual, and not in "cookie cutter" fashion.

Thousands of years of use will say that yes, it does, but I believe the question here is more of a "how" does it help. Here are five explanations accepted amongst the Western community:

Gate Control - Pain signals must pass through a number of "traffic controls" as they pass through the spinal cord to the brain. Like a highway, the nerve pathways can only handle a limited number of signals at one time. Acupuncture generates a counter-stimulus and effectively interrupts the neurotransmitters of the pain signals from reaching the brain.

Augmentation - Acupuncture raises levels of triglycerides, hormones, prostaglandins, white blood cells, gamma globulins, and antibodies. This means that acupuncture can treat disorders of immune deficiency and hormonal imbalance.

Endorphin - Acupuncture stimulates the secretion of endorphins within the body (especially enkephalins). Endorphins are our natural painkillers, and are 1000 times as strong as morphine.

Neurotransmitter - Levels of certain neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine in particular) are affected by acupuncture. This is why acupuncture is so successful in dealing with depression, anxiety and other mood disorders, and with weight loss (serotonin deficiencies may cause sugar cravings).

Circulation - Acupuncture has an effect on the dilation and constriction of the blood vessels, due to the release of vasodilators (such as histamine). Increasing the local availability of red and white blood cells to an injured area helps to promote quicker healing. Acupuncture is effective in treating edema in this way, by promoting dilation and circulation.

The WHO (World Health Organization) officially recognizes the role Oriental Medicine and acupuncture plays in the treating of 40 different conditions. In brief, these conditions can fall into any bodily system: eyes, ears, nose and throat; dermatological, genito-urinary, digestive, mental/emotional, neurological, musculo-skeletal, and cardio-pulmonary.

Oriental Medicine is widely used (by 70% of the world's population) as a preventive medicine as well. So even if you feel as if nothing is "wrong", you can still benefit from its abilities to strengthen your body, and catch slight imbalances before they manifest as symptoms of disease or pain.

This is probably one of the most common questions we are asked. Discomfort is a very subjective experience. Think about getting blood drawn...some barely notice that they have had the needle inserted, whereas others will cry from the sensation that the needle elicits. Now consider this...FORTY acupuncture needles can fit into the bore of an 18 gauge hypodermic needle- the one most commonly used for blood testing.

To be more direct, however, most patients will agree that while some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, the feeling of the needles being inserted is scarcely noticed. The sensations that they elicit during the treatment are more pronounced, but should never be painful. Feelings of tingling, heaviness, movement, and vague numbness are common, and I liken them to the feelings you may get when a limb "falls asleep" on you. Letting your body relax into these sensations and falling asleep on the treatment table is a common occurrence. If there are any feelings of true pain, let us know right away, and adjustments will be made. We want your treatments to be relaxing and stress free.

While acupuncture itself is a modality solely involving needles, Oriental Medicine as a whole employs many other forms of treatment. In most cases, we will send you home with a customized herbal prescription, which is taken several times a day. Herbal medicine works in similar ways to pharmacological prescriptions, but are more gentle, with little to no side effects. We also employ hands-on techniques such as massage therapy, and tui-na (site-specific medical massage) to physically correct musculo-skeletal and connective tissue dysfunction. Changes to your diet may also be suggested, along with certain exercises. We may also refer you to other specialists, such as mental health counselors, and other preventive-focused practitioners. This is to ensure that you are treated as a whole physical, mental, and spiritual being, and not a set of symptoms.

Acupuncture is regarded as being a very safe treatment option. We, as part of our Masters in Oriental Medicine program, take a "clean needle technique" class in our first semester. The class is followed by evaluation by written and practical examination before we are allowed to proceed further in learning needling techniques. Maintenance of an aseptic field, via frequent hand washing, disinfection of treatment surfaces between patients, and alcohol swabbing of points prior to needle insertion is a high priority in our office. Furthermore, the use of individually packaged, sterile, single-use needles essentially eliminates the concern of transmitting blood borne diseases from person to person. These factors also render auto-infection a very remote possibility. The most "common" unpleasant effect from acupuncture is the occasional bruise at the site of insertion.

We want your treatments to be pain- and stress-free, so if you suffer from a needle phobia, please let us know. We feel that familiarity helps to eliminate fear, which can largely be caused by the unknown. Therefore, let us point out some unique features of acupuncture needles: An acupuncture needle is extremely thin and flexible. In fact, 40 acupuncture needles can fit into the bore of an 18 gauge hypodermic needle! They are also different in design. A hypodermic needle has a beveled edge which is designed to cut through connective and muscular tissue in order to deliver medication, or withdraw blood. An acupuncture needle, by contrast, has a solid tip which can part its way through the tissues, leaving them intact upon withdrawal.

If you wish, you can ask to to examine a needle for yourself. This is usually a very reassuring experience, as you can see and feel for yourself just how thin and flexible they actually are.

Timing the insertion of a needle to your breathing rhythm always helps the body to relax and accept the needle. If need be, your first treatment can consist of only one or two needles to help your body adjust to the sensations they elicit. Above all, be patient with yourself and simply allow your body to feel what it feels, no strings attached. Should you find yourself unable to progress past your fear, we can refer you to a counselor or hypnotherapist who can help you.

Your initial visit with us generally takes two hours. This is because Oriental Medicine takes into account many different factors to arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan. We begin with a very thorough health history questionnaire, asking you about the specific nature of any symptoms, as well as getting an overview of the functioning of your body as a whole. This includes your mental/emotional state and any other factors such as diet, working conditions, level of physical activity, habits, sleep patterns, etc. We also do a physical examination of the areas of concern, including palpation of the body's organ meridians that may be involved, an in-depth analysis of your tongue and pulse and Western vital signs. This is followed by an acupuncture treatment, which itself lasts 15 to 30 minutes. Any other treatment modalities, such as bodywork, moxibustion, or cupping (see "Oriental Medicine" page for explanation) are accomplished within this time. While you are relaxing on the table, we will put together your herbal prescription. Afterwards, we make sure any questions you have regarding your condition and its course of treatment are answered before you leave.

Follow-up sessions take about an hour. Although we do ask about any changes you have experienced systematically since your last visit, the in-depth nature of the initial appointment is only necessary once annually on average.

For something caught in its acute stage (a common cold, a sprain or pull, or an infection), two or three treatments in short succession may be all that is needed. More rapid results are achieved when acupuncture and herbs are used together. For an ongoing issue that has lasted less than a year, we may be able to come to a resolution in twice-weekly sessions for a month. Anything with which you have been dealing for years or even decades, we might ask that you see us every week for 6 months to a year. Particulars, of course, vary from person to person, but this is a general guideline.

Oriental Medicine can most certainly be of help in managing chronic conditions. Of course, the longer you have been dealing with an issue, the longer you may be in treatment. Someone who has been dealing with any given health condition for a decade or so may be coming in for weekly treatments for six months or more. Generally speaking, the earlier you seek treatment, the quicker the progress. Keep in mind also that certain manifestations of disease cannot be reversed by Oriental Medicine. For example, if a patient is being seen for the management of glaucoma, we will be able to assess the cause (in an Oriental diagnostic model) of the rising intraocular pressure and help keep that pressure in check. However, we are not able to reverse any damage to the vision that has already taken place.

The most common experiences immediately following an acupuncture treatment is either a profound sense of relaxation or euphoria. The relief of pain and the amelioration of symptoms is, of course, the desired outcome, and is generally achieved and maintained for a period lasting a few hours to a few days, or even a week. The period of remission and the degree of relief typically increase after each successive treatment.

We ask that you eat and drink an hour prior to your appointment time in order to avoid dizziness or lightheadedness that may occur following the redirection of your body's energy.

Occasionally, a flaring up of symptoms will occur before improvement can take place. If this happens, it is usually on the same day as a treatment, and lasts a few hours. This is the result of a disease-causing factor being pushed outwards during the body's attempt to eliminate it entirely. Please don't hesitate to call us if this happens and is of concern to you.

As Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine are becoming more widely used, coverage by major insurance companies is being demanded more and more by subscribers. As of now, however, there are restrictions regarding the number of visits, and in some cases, only "pain" conditions are being covered, and in many cases, must be prescribed by an M.D. Although we do not, as of now, accept insurance assignments, we will provide you with a properly coded "superbill" that you may submit to your insurance company for reimbursement directly to you, per your policy.

We will make sure to notify our patients of any changes as insurance coverage for Oriental Medicine becomes more inclusive.