Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE?
HOW DOES TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE DIFFER FROM WESTERN MEDICINE?
WHAT IS QI?
HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
DOES ACUPUNCTURE HURT?
WHAT IS A TYPICAL TREATMENT LIKE?
WHAT ARE CHINESE HERBS?
WHAT IS MOXIBUSTION?
CAN ACUPUNTURE BE EFFECTIVE WHEN OTHER TREATMENTS HAVE FAILED?
HOW DO YOU BECOME AN ACUPUNCTURIST?
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PRACTITIONER?
WHAT IS TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE?
Acupuncture and herbal medicine are a part of a system of healing that has existed in China for thousands of years. The history of medicine in China is well documented and remarkably unchanged in its general principles. This wonderful body of knowledge was almost extinct in practice and only recently has there been renewed interest in this fascinating yet powerful medicine power.
The theories and techniques are explained in a book called the Neijing ,compiled some three centuries B.C. ago, which still forms the foundations of teaching and practice today. The concept of harmony is central to Chinese medicine.The human body is a miniature of the cosmos and must stay in tune with the seasons and the physical environment. Internally, the organs work in unison.
Based on ancient texts, it is a result of a continuous process of critical thinking,as well as extensive clinical observation andtesting.It represents a thorough formulation and reformulation of material by respected clinicians. It is also,however,rooted in philosophy,logic,sensibility and habits of a foreign civilization. TCM considers certain aspects of the human body important that are not considered important in Western medicine. Strange to our ear terminology is used such as "dampness," "heat," and "wind" to denote an imbalance.
Eight principles of diagnosis are: excess/deficiency, yin/yang, interior/exterior, full/empty. To be able to recognize the nature of the disharmony allows you to treat even complex configurations.
HOW DOES TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE DIFFER FROM WESTERN MEDICINE?
Western medicine is concerned with isolable disease categories or agents, which it focuses on,isolates, and tries to change,control or destroy. Western medicine starts with a symptom then reaches for an underlying mechanism-a precise cause for a specific disease. This disease may affect various other parts of the body but it is relatively self-contained. Precise diagnosis frames an exact, quantifiable description of a narrow area.
In contrast, the Chinese physician directs attention to the complete physiological and psychological individual. All revel ant information is gathered and woven together into a "pattern of disharmony." This pattern then describes a situation of 'imbalances." This diagnostic technique does not turn up a specific disease entity but renders a poetic yet workable description of a whole person. No single part can be understood without it relation to the whole.
The vital energy of the mind,body and spirit flows through main pathways or channels called meridians. Each meridian is associated with an organ. This vital energy is called Qi (pronounced 'chee'). Qi is very difficult to translate as the Chinese character means "vapor","steam" and "gas" signifying immaterial substance and it also means (uncooked) "rice" meaning steam is produced from cooking rice. It is of a fluid nature and can change depending on its manifestation. Mental or physical illness arises when any of these channels becomes blocked,or when the Qi is deficient in any meridian. It is necessary to restore the flow of Qi in order to treat illness. A very famous acupuncturist,Ted Kaptchuk, states Qi is matter on verge of becoming energy or energy on point of materializing.
The vital element in acupuncture is the life energy or Qi in the body which controls the circulation of the blood and bodily fluids,as well as the nerves and functions of the organism as a whole. When the Qi flows freely the patient has good health. If the Qi becomes blocked or impaired due to trauma,poor diet,excessive emotion,cold,heat,stress or other pathogenic factors, the individual then becomes sick or vulnerable to illness. By selecting and then properly stimulating the acupuncture points on the body with the needles, the acupuncturist enables flow of the Qi within the ailing body to return to normal. Acupuncture has proven to be the most effective in relieving pain-physical as well as psychological pain. Many Western studies have documented the release of endorphins,the bodies own pain relievers, whenever the needles are inserted. At the very least, we know the insertion of acupuncture needles stimulate a variety of chemicals that reside in our central nervous system. These chemicals,neurotransmitters, affect the body as a whole changing its responses to various ailments.
Surprisingly, the answer is no! If the needles are properly inserted, the acupuncture treatment is painless. Many people are unnecessarily frightened by the prospect of receiving a treatment because they equate a hypodermic needle as the same as an acupuncture needle. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Hypodermic needles are large,hollow and have a razor-sharp beveled point for piercing the tissue. On the other hand, acupuncture needles are extremely thin;often no thicker than a human hair. They are made of solid,stainless steel with a rounded pencil like tip that pushes the tissue aside without cutting it. As a result only a slight pin-prick sensation is felt when the needles are inserted. Once the needle is in place a characteristic tingling or heaviness,spreading or warmth is experienced. Although this sometimes may feel strange or unusual,most patients report no pain. Studies have shown that approximately 5% of the population are hypersensitive to needling as well as any other procedure. Disposable,pre-sterilized needles are used and then disposed of in proper containers.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL TREATMENT LIKE?
After obtaining a health history, a classic acupuncturist will examine the tongue and take the pulses. The tongue is the only muscle in whole body that is not covered by skin so it is like getting a inside view of your tissue. The coating on your tongue should be a thin,white coating. The Chinese say that the coating is the springing of the intestines; therefore many intestinal abnormalities can be easily diagnosed with this evaluation. The taking of the pulses is very important not only is a rate taken but the strength and quality of the pulse is evaluated. The combination of the tongue,pulse and history will give you the diagnosis. The imbalance in the body is determined and then proper points can be chosen. If Chinese herbs are recommended this can be discussed also. The initial visit lasts for 1 1/2 hours and fillip is 1 hour. After each treatment most patients describe a feeling of contentment and relaxation.
Chinese herbal medicines treat the disorder as diagnosed by a trained practitioner. It is said that the treatment is antagonistic to the disease process,i.e. heat is treated with cold herbs,cold is treated with hot herbs and stagnation is treated with promoting movement. Unlike Western herbology, a formula is prescribed for the patients usually consisting of 10-15 herbs. It would be extremely rare to just prescribe one herb by itself. It is the synergy of this formula which balances the disharmonies in the body.
Usually herbal formula are taken as tablets; but more stubborn conditions may require powdered herbs or raw,single herbs decocted into a tea. All the herbs are native to China and grown in China. I use only American companies who have strict manufacturing standards. Most herbs are of plant origin. while some substances are obtained from animals, these can be avoided if the patient prefers to take only plant products.
The basic idea behind acupuncture is that the insertion of very fine needles into points along the meridians can rebalance body disharmonies. A related technique,moxibustion, entails the application of heat via a burning herb held near the needle. The primary herb is moxa or Chinese mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). It is sometimes rolled as a cigar or available as loose leaves which can easily be formed and burned in cones as needed. The Moxa can warm what is cold,circulate what is stagnant and reduce what is excessive.
CAN ACUPUNTURE BE EFFECTIVE WHEN OTHER TREATMENTS HAVE FAILED?
Absolutely! Each system of medicine has its own areas of greatest effectiveness. Acupuncture excels those areas in which conventional,Western Medicine falls short. Chronic disease,pain control and those conditions listed below are some of those specialties.
Neurological Musculo-Skeletal Digestive Eye, Ear, Dental Respiratory Headache Muscle pain and weakness Abdominal pain Poor vision, central retinitis Allergies Migraines Sciatica Hyperacidity Cataract (without complications) Sinusitis Post-operative pain Backache or pain Chronic diarrhea Tinnitus, nervous deafness Common cold Stroke residuals Sports injuries Indigestion Toothache Tonsillitis Parkinson's disease Fibromyalgia Constipation Post extraction pain Bronchitis Bladder dysfunction Muscle cramping Hepatitis Gum problems Asthma Trigeminal neuralgia Arthritis Krohn's disease Disc problems Irritable bowel syndrome Ulcers Ulcerative colitis Gynecology Emotional Metabolic Disorders Cancer Aids Fibroids/ ovarian cysts Insomnia Hyper/ Hypothyroidism During/ after radiation or chemotherapy (especially nausea, poor appetite, pain) Neuropathy Infertility Depression Diabetes Pain PMS, cramps Anxiety Peripheral neuropathy General welfare Menopausal symptoms Nervousness Dysmenorrhea Neurosis Amenorrhea Another method is Chinese herbal medicine. Prescriptions are taken internally,either to nourish a deficient condition, or to clear blockages and pathogens.
HOW DO YOU BECOME AN ACUPUNCTURIST? AND HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PRACTITIONER?
So frequently my patients have asked me what it took to become an acupuncturist, and my reply is that it was the hardest endeavor I have ever undertaken and the most fulfilling one. To get into a reputable school, you must have a baccalaureate and fulfill all science prerequisites for the Masters of Science program for Traditional Chinese Medicine. The school is a full-time load for 3-4 years and requires complete dedication. The student will have over 4,000 contact hours as a intern and memorize over 150 formulae and over 350 herbs and their properties along with learning acupuncture points, location, meridian theory,diagnosis, nutrition, and trad. Chinese medicine theory and philosophy. It is a complete and integral medicine and will stand the test for any family medicine, gynecological, gastrointestinal, neurological, and internal medicine.
Up until 1994 acupuncture was not even licensed in state of Texas and anyone could start a practice with just the rudimentary knowledge of needling. This means that a large majority of acupuncturists were grand fathered in as acupuncturists who never attended a school. Also, if you are a medical doctor or a dentist; you can practice acupuncture in this state but this usually indicates that the physician did not attend a full program in study of Chinese Medicine.
Now the requirements are very rigorous and you must have attended and graduated from an accredited school and have passed the National Acupuncture and Herbal Exams and Clean Needle Technique course to be licensed. So please ask your future acupuncturist if they actually have taken these exams and where they went to school; you will be doing yourself a great favor.