Ancient Arts Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine
What is Acupuncture?
Our bodies are flowing with energy. This energy flows throughout our entire bodies, but there are certain areas within our bodies that act as a kind of "highway" for this energy. In acupuncture these "highways" are called meridians. Much like a highway, the energy that is flowing along meridians can get blocked or clogged up. If and when this happens, it can manifest itself in various ways, some of which we notice as pain, or illness. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting tiny needles into various points on the body to release this blocked energy, relieving pain, or for any other various therapeutic purposes. This practice was developed in China a long time ago, some believe as far back as the Stone Age. For a more comprehensive look at acupuncture, visit the Wikipedia entry here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know where to insert the needles?
Many years of schooling and equal amounts of practice have trained the practitioner to know where to place the needles. Where the needles are placed depends on what you are getting treated for.. The most common areas the needles will be placed are on hands, feet, arms, legs, and torso, or any combination thereof.
Does it hurt?
The needles that are used are very fine. I use a tiny guiding tube to help me place the needle, and most often patients will only notice the guiding tube as I apply a bit of pressure, not the needle itself. In other words, no, it does not hurt. Remember, however, that these needles are being placed on meridians that flow through your body, so sometimes a placed needle will create a bit of tingling sensation as energy is released. This isn't painful, but can come as a bit of a surprise. Having a needle placed is nothing like getting an injection, or having blood drawn. The needles used for those procedures dwarf the size of acupuncture needles
What are the needles like?
As I said, the needles used in acupuncture are very fine, about the size of a horse hair. The insertion is painless. For most patients the process is very relaxing, and it is quite common for people to take a nap while they get treated. All the needles used are individually wrapped, sterile, and properly disposed of after use.
How long does a treatment take?
A treatment will usually last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.
How many treatments will I need?
The amount of treatments you may need will vary, depending on your ailment. For minor ailments you might only need 3 treatments. For tougher ailments it might take as many as 10 to 15 treatments. Other times you might only need 1 treatment. I will give you an estimate as to the number of treatments I feel you will need in our introductory consultation
What can Acupuncture treat
Acupuncture can be used to treat almost any ailment. I have successfully treated individuals for back pain, weigth loss, depression, anxiety, symptoms related to menopause, infertility, irritable bowel syndrome, and much much more. Acupuncture can be used alone, or in conjunction with other treatments, such as physical therapy or with a chiropractor. If you have a problem you want to address, acupuncture can most likely help, even if it is something as simple as concentration, or moodiness.
What is Herbal Medicine?
Herbal Medicine has been used with acupuncture for thousands of years. When used together they create a powerful tool for combating chronic and acute problems. You may already be familiar with some of the plants used in herbal medicine, such as Echinacea or ginseng. Herbs like these can be found at many grocery stores and various other shops. While these herbs can be effective when used on their own, in TCM herbs like these are combined with many other herbs to create an herbal formula. By combining different herbs at the clinic, we are able to create and tailor individual formulas to meet each patient’s unique needs. The herbs combined in these formulas are chosen so that they will enhance each other's therapeutic properties while simultaneously counteracting their side effects and toxicities.
Herbs come in three different forms: loose herbs, capsules, and granules.
Loose herbs are cooked and prepared in tea form. This is the method that the ancient Chinese would prepare their herbs. It is the most potent method, and therefore a bit more effective, however, it takes the longest to prepare and the formula can have a very strong taste.
Many of the herbs are available in capsule form. These capsules are taken just like any other medicine in pill form. The downside to capsules is that they are not as potent as the teas, and therefore not quite as effective
Lastly are herbs that come in granule form. These are herbs that have been ground down, and can be made into a tea, similar to instant coffee, or instant tea. The benefit of this approach is that they are less time consuming to prepare, and have a milder flavor and aroma than their loose herb counterparts. This is a great option for patients who don't have the time to prepare the loose herb teas, yet still want to see results quickly.