Q&A
What is acupuncture and does it hurt?
Acupuncture is eastern medicine treatment method in which you insert in the body needles after being diagnosed by practitioner. In eastern medicine say when the body has disease, it caused by stagnation of qi or lack nourishment of qi, so the needles open the blockage or help in the nourishment of the qi. The acupuncture is made by inserting sterile, one time usage of needles in acupoints. After inserting the needles, there is no pain, like most people think, for example:
when going to check the blood, but there must be some kind of sensation, although it subjective sensation, mostly like:
heaviness, kind of mild pain, heat feeling or sensation of energy going through the body.
The needles are much thinner than the ones which are used for injection, our needles are not for the use of injection.
Usually after the first few treatments, it’s better to go back home for rest, mainly when feeling tired. But it’s individually decided.What can be expected from the first appointment?
The first appointment is longer than the rest. The practitioner need to diagnose the specific condition for which you have come to the clinic, and also the general health condition, meaning diagnose where and why cause the disharmony in the body and from there can decide how to treat.
The practitioner will ask about the specific symptoms and which kind of treatments did you get for this condition, general and medical history, diet, sleeping etc. all these will help the practitioner.
In addition to the questioning, the practitioner will check both your arm pulses and check your tongue with the western checking, to help complete the diagnosis.
After all this will be done, the practitioner could decide what is the best treatment method for you, including Chinese herbal formula, acupuncture treatment, diet etc. Regarding clothes, the best way is to wear training clothes, because sometimes need to insert needles in the legs, hands, in areas which aren’t necessary have connection to the problem. The acupuncture affect the organs of the body, for example: man suffer from back pain, the acupuncture will include insertion of needles on the legs except the back itself.
Sometimes as part of the treatment, the practitioner will use moxa (kind of herb which is called arthemisia) which is useful for pain problems but not just, electro and other.What is the number of treatment which is needed?
The number of treatments is; of course, depend on the health condition and the severity of the condition. For acute problems maybe 3 treatments will be enough and for chronic diseases or difficult diseases, like: autoimmune system disease, will need maybe 10 treatments to see some change. Things need to know or bring for the treatment? Acupuncture usually fit for anyone from infants one month old to elders 100 years old. Better not to do treatment on empty stomach, right after eating or in very strong weakness. Few hours before treatment, better not to clean the tongue, not put makeup and don’t eat stuff with colors which can change the color of the tongue. For the treatment better wear training clothes. For the first appointment, better bring summary letter from the medical doctor describing all the medical history and medications.
The main treatment methods: herbs versus acupuncture? These are the 2 main treatment methods of the eastern medicine, every method has its own advantages but together is the ideal combination.
The acupuncture is being famous for its good affect on orthopedic, pain problems, good rapid healing of injuries. In addition it’s famous in its stress relief.
Its less familiar that the Chinese herbs have good result in treating internal medicine problems which can help in problems, from cold, coughing, gynecological problems, digestive system problems to autoimmune system and cancer. Therefore it’s important who prescribe the herbs. How about taking medications with Chinese herbs? Very important question!
During acupuncture there is very small chance of disturbing the function of the western medications, but with herbs, it have big potential of helping us, in lowering the dosage of medications which are taken by the patient (of course with the medical doctor agreement) and in lots of other cases can help in preventing the “back fire” of the disease, for example: taking steroids treatment.
Still the potential of interaction of herbs and medications must be taken under consideration, so the practitioner must ask the patient to take the herbs in a gap of 1-2 hours from the medications in general and more specific when taking thinning blood medications. What about infants and small children treatment? Infants from one month old can be treated by a good method which doesn’t need to insert needles.
Japanese method called: SHOUNI BARI. Very common method in which use kind of tool which is made from bronze and with it the practitioner stimulate areas which want to help the healing process.
Very quick and affective method