Acupuncture Treatments - FAQ

What is Chinese Medicine? 

What are the major unique features of Chinese Medicine?
Are the needles clean?
How do I feel after acupuncture needling?
Are there any treatment without needles?
What treatment methods do you use?
Can acupuncture help infertility?
Do you treat kids?
How do I prepare for my consultation and acupuncture treatment?
What do I expect from my first visit?
How many acupuncture treatments do I need?
How often do I need to receive acupuncture treatment?

What is Chinese Medicine ?

Chinese Medicine is one of the oldest medical systems in the world with more than 5,000 years of history. It is based on a unique Yin Yang theory, diagnosis standards and treatment methodologies. Acupuncture, herbal medicine and Tui na are important components of this ancient natural medical system. Two major goals of TCM are prevention and treatment. Prevention is better than a cure.

What are the major unique features of Chinese Medicine?

1. Its holistic approach
   Chinese Medicine treats the human body as a whole, not merely its parts; it concentrates on the actual person who has a disease, instead of on the disease of a person.
2. It is harmony at all levels
   In order to have better health, finding harmony at all levels is important:
   - Harmony between the Yin and Yang;
   - Harmony between the human being and nature;
   - Harmony between the mind and body;
   - Harmony between the individual and society;
   - Harmony within family and work.
3. The treatment focuses more on the underlying causes of the problems, instead of chasing after symptoms.
4. Individual treatment plans
   Every patient will receive a different treatment plan, depending on his or her pattern of disharmony, immunity, age, the season and many other factors.
5. The belief that the human body is capable of self-recovery, self-adjustment and self-healing
   Chinese Medicine emphasizes the importance of improving homeostasis and the immune system for prevention and treatment.
6. Less adverse effects
   All Chinese Medicine treatment methodologies have no or few adverse effects when compared with bio-chemical medications and other medical procedures.

Are the needles clean?

Yes, we only use disposable needles.

How do I feel after acupuncture needling?

Because acupuncture needles are very thin when compared with hypodermic needles, you will only feel a little pinch when the needle breaks through the skin. Then you may feel numbness, heaviness, distention, tingling, soreness or an electric sensation around the puncture site. Some patients who are very sensitive to the meridians may feel the Qi passing through. At the end of the acupuncture treatment, some patients might have minor bleeding when the needles are taken out, or discoloration of the skin and a little bruising around the puncture sites. These are normal and will disappear soon.

Are there any treatment without needles?

Yes, in the case of adult patients for whom acupuncture is not suitable (very sick, weak, nervous, etc.), and some children, we use Tui na/acupressure, moxibustion and other Chinese Medicine methods to achieve the same clinical results.

What treatment methods do you use?

At our clinic, we use the following treatment methods:

- Acupuncture
- Chinese herbs
- Tui na/acupressure/massage
- Moxibustion
- Cupping
- Electric or magnetic stimulation
- Gua sha (derma-friction)
- Infra-red heat lamp
- Seven-star needling

In order to achieve better clinical results, and to do so more quickly, it is necessary to combine different treatment methods for complicated cases.

Can acupuncture help infertility?

Yes, acupuncture can:

Help woman
- Improve the pregnancy success rate of IVF treatment;
- Regulate menstrual cycles and reduce premenstrual syndromes (PMS);
- Lessen uterine contractions after embryo transfer;
- Increase blood flow to ovaries and uterus;
- Improve ovarian function; encourages production of follicles; enhances their quality;
- Improve thickness of uterine wall lining;
- Reduce side effects from contraceptive pills and other medication.

Help man
- Improve sperm count, mobility and quality;
- Improve libido.

Help both
- Regulate hormones balance;
- Reduce physical and emotional stress related to infertility;
- Improve individual constitution and immune system.

Do you treat kids?

Yes, I often treat children. In fact, children respond very well to Chinese Medicine treatments. Chinese Medicine is very effective for kids who experience bed wetting, diarrhea, otitis, asthma, allergies, eczema, ADHD, low immune system, side effects from bio-chemical medicines and vaccines, digestion and sleeping problems.

What do I expect from my first visit?

During your first visit, I will take your medical history and ask all related questions. Then I will make a diagnosis according to Chinese Medicine by taking your pulse and examining your tongue, and I will evaluate your energy based on Chinese Medicine. I will determine your Qi and blood level, as well as the pattern of the disharmonies in your body. An individual treatment plan will be determined for you, based on your age, gender, overall health condition, the current season and weather condition, and many other factors. I will also give you some suggestions about your diet, beneficial exercises and other health recommendations. You will receive your first acupuncture treatment right after the consultation.

How do I prepare for my consultation and acupuncture treatment?

- Please bring the copy of your related medical records and the list of your medication, if possible;
- Please do not brush your tongue;
- Please do not come in with empty stomach;
- Please wear loose clothing during the treatment;
- Please plan a period of one hour and 30 minutes for your first visit and of one hour for follow-up.

How many acupuncture treatments do I need?

For acute problems such as a high fever, acute lower back pain, etc., it may take three to five treatments to see a difference. Chronic problems, degenerative conditions and complicated cases may require treatment sessions over a longer period of time.

How often do I need to receive acupuncture treatment?

New patients:
To achieve better clinical results, I highly suggest that new patients receive at least two treatments per week for the first few weeks. When the patient’s condition becomes stable, he or she may receive one acupuncture treatment per week to reinforce the results achieved.

The reasons are:

1. If the interval between each treatment is too long, the treatment results that have already accumulated from previous treatments may be reduced. That means that the overall recovery time will be longer. Therefore, treatments that are given twice per week for two consecutive weeks are better than treatments received once per week during four weeks.
2. Early intervention is very important in order to prevent further development of the disease.

IVF patients:
Acupuncture treatments before, during and after IVF treatments are necessary.

Hay fever or allergies:
Preventive treatments should begin one month before the onset of allergy season.

PMS, irregular menstruation, and cramps during menses:
Treatments should start five days before the patient’s next period.
General health maintenance and preventive care:
Acupuncture treatments are necessary from time to time, just like car tune-ups.