Acupuncture For Wellness

The Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes acupuncture, Herbal remedies, Chinese Massage (Tui Na), Breathing exercise (Qi gong) and a proper diet to form a complete health care system.

TCM emphasizes the restoration and maintenance of health and also the prevention of disease.

The energy that flows through the body is Qi ("Chee"). It is the life force of the human body. It keeps the blood circulating, the blood warm, and the internal organs functioning.

Qi flows along channels which form a network throughout the body linking all parts and functions together so that the body works as an integrated whole.

5. How does the practitioner diagnose a disease?

A skilled practitioner compiles a complete health history, observes the patient, examines the tongue, and takes the pulse. All this information is gathered and considered together in order to understand the pattern of disharmony. This is the patientąs holistic approach, which the practitioner adopts to diagnose and treat a patientąs illness.

6. How is acupuncture performed?

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific anatomical points.

7. What will the patient feel?

Once a needle is inserted a patient may feel a characteristic tingle or a slight pressure. The needles are left in place for a period of time during which patients typically experience a feeling of deep relaxation. Following a treatment session most people feel revitalized both mentally and physically

8. How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture allows Qi to flow toward areas where the energy is deficient and to flow away from areas where the energy level is excessive. Through this balancing of energy flow, the body is able to make self-adjustments to promote health.

9. Is Acupuncture safe?

100% sterile, disposable needles are used to eliminate the risk of disease transmission through acupuncture.

Patients are prescribed a herbal formula for their particular condition. The formula may be in the form of pills, capsules, granules or raw herbs from which tea is made.

Modern medicine tends to treat a particular symptom by blocking the normal process of the body. Chinese herbal remedies are designed to restore balance between body systems and to promote harmony of all processes.

Careful attention to dosage and combination of herbs, as well as any known drug-herb interactions are covered in comprehensive Chinese herbal medicine education programs. In addition, the Chinese herbal profession is working with the FDA to ensure the quality and safety of Chinese herbs imported into this country.

There are only very minor side effects. The most common problem is stomach upset (gas and bloating) due to difficulty in digesting the herbs. The practitioner usually changes the formula if this side effect occurs.

Each personąs physical constitution differs as does the duration and severity of the individualąs complaint. Therefore, it is difficult to generalize the number and frequency of treatments that will be required. A course usually involves 10 sessions having up to one hour each session, however chronic conditions may require more. Often one to four treatment sessions significantly improves a patientąs condition.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Chronicle of the United Nations (1980) has listed several conditions that can be effectively treated by Acupuncture. A few of them are listed below: