Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the world's oldest, continually practiced form of medicine with a history that goes back over 2,500 years. Although historically practiced in China and other Asian countries, many physicians now recognize the benefits of TCM therapy and it is gaining increasingly widespread acceptance in the United States and other western countries. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are the two most recognized therapies of TCM.

How Does Acupuncture Work? Acupuncture is the gentle insertion of fine needles at specific points along energy pathways in the body called meridians. These needles are disposable and used one time only. In Traditional Chinese Medical theory, the needles stimulate the flow of Qi (pronounced chee) or life energy. Acupuncture balances the body's Qi and restores the harmonious energy balance that is present in healthy individuals. Needles may be inserted at the site of the injury or at points distant from it. Acupuncture also adjusts the qi of the internal organs, enabling the body to adjust to the injury and heal faster.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?
The gentle insertion of fine, flexible needles may cause a feeling of pressure, heaviness or a tingling sensation. Most people describe any discomfort as minor and many people relax to the point where they fall asleep during treatment. The curative effects of acupuncture, in any case, far outweigh any initial discomfort that may be experienced.

Conditions that Acupuncture Treats

Acupuncture is highly effective in managing pain, reducing stress, increasing vitality and energy, and enhancing the immune system’s ability to eliminate health threats. Below is a partial list of conditions commonly treated by Acupuncture:

Neurological and Muscular Disorders – Headache and Migraine, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Shingles, Sciatica, Bell’s Palsy, Dizziness, Parkinson’s Disease, Post Stoke Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Neck pain, Back pain, Knee pain, Tendonitis, Multiple Sclerosis, Facial Palsy, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Emotional Conditions – Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia

Digestive Disorders – Indigestion, Constipation, Diarrhea, Acid Reflux, Ulcers, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Acute and Chronic Colitis, Acute and Chronic Gastritis

Respiratory Conditions – Allergies, Sinusitis, Acute Rhinitis, Asthma, Emphysema, Bronchitis, Sore Throat, Common Cold

Skin Disorders – Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema

Circulatory Conditions – Hypertension, Poor Circulation, Edema

Gynecological and Genitourinary – Infertility, PMS, Pre-Menopause and Menopause Syndrome, Urinary Tract Infection, Impotence, Prostatitis

Other – Stop Smoking, Weight Loss, Addiction

Other Forms of Chinese Medicine

Tui Na is a technique of massage often used in conjunction wtih acupuncture to stimulate the flow of qi along meridians. It is also used to decrease muscle spasms by increasing the circulation of blood to the area.

Chinese Herbal Medicine is administered as a prescription based on the practitioner's TCM diagnosis. The prescription is made according to the individual's diagnosed "pattern" which takes into account both the symptom and disease as well as the patient's physical and emotional makeup. Herbal medicine and Acupuncture are part of a holistic approach, that is, treating the whole of the individual and not just the individual complaint or symptom.

Moxabustion consists of the burning of an herb near the body. This herb is commonly compressed into a stick form. The heat penetrates the skin, helping release a stagnant condition or resolve tissue swelling by driving out cold.

Cupping involves the use of bowl-shaped glass jars, which range in size from a golf ball to a softball. After the jars are heated they are swiftly placed on the skin. The suction created improves blood circulation and helps release tension and muscle spasms.

Gwasha is an effective technique for removing metabolic buildup (e.g., lactic acid) from overworked or strained muscles. Microtears in muscles leave clotted blood trapped between the muscle bundles and gwasha helps move these clots. The skin over the affected area is first oiled, then pressed and scraped. This process moves irritants out of knotted muscles into the dermis where the blood supply can then clear them away.

Microcurrent stimulation applied to acupuncture needles is becoming more widely used by acupuncturists to treat sports injuries. It may be used to enhance the healing effects of the acupuncture. The Chinese began applying electicity to needles in the 1950s to help stimulate the flow of qi around the needle. Robert Becker, a retired orthopedic surgeon, proved the existence of acupuncture points by showing them to be areas of lowered electrical resistance. He also found that injured tissue produces a very weak current which he called a "current of injury". Applying a weak current or microcurrent to injured tissue decreased healing time.

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